Mark 1
Mark 1:15
"Repent, and believe in the gospel"
(Mark 1:15).
Ever wondered about people who say they
believe in Jesus yet demonstrate no evidence of a change of heart? They
show no remorse for wrongdoing, no longing for righteousness. They lack
repentance.
Several years ago a prominent
underworld figure attended a large evangelistic crusade. Realizing that
the cause of evil would be weakened if this man would be converted, those
conducting the meeting witnessed to him about Christ. One night they urged
him to "open the door" of his heart and let Jesus in. The man supposedly
accepted the Lord, but as the months passed his lifestyle remained the
same. When confronted with this fact, the gangster said that no one had
told him that in saying yes to Jesus he would be turning his back on his
former life. He knew of Christian football players, Christian cowboys,
Christian politicians—why not a Christian gangster? When they explained
the need for repentance, the man wanted nothing more to do with
Christianity.
The Greek word for repentance,
metanoia, means "to change the mind." This involves thinking rightly about
sin, self, and God. We recognize that we are condemned sinners before God
and unable to save ourselves. We turn from our self-sufficiency to Christ
and by faith receive Him as our Savior.
If we are willing to repent, God will
empower us. But we need to know that turning to Christ means turning from
sin. We can't have one without the other. —D. J. De Haan.
We do not repent in order to go to
Christ; we go to Christ in order to repent.
Our Daily Bread
Mark 1:13
He was with the wild beasts; and the
angels ministered unto Him.
In what different circumstances is the
last Adam to the first! He began in a garden which the Lord God had
planted; but his great Antitype in a wilderness, the thorns of which spoke
of that primal sin. But whereas the first Adam transformed the garden into
a wilderness, the last will convert all desert places into gardens —
whether they be in the heart, or the world around — so that they shall
blossom as the rose.
To Adam the beasts came, that be might
name them; but at the coming of the last Adam they were wild. “He was with
the wild beasts.” Yet they were tame to his pure manhood. “He had dominion
over the works of God’s hands.” On his brow the crown of royalty over the
inferior races, which man had lost, was already placed. Is it not also
true that holy men still have power over the lower creation? Certainly
Francis of Assissi had. And in the ages, yet future, the children shall
play, unhurt, amid the wild beasts of the forest.
Again it is true of thee, O son of man,
that, like thy Lord, thou art between the wild beasts and the angels. On
the one side thou teachest the lower, and on the other the higher. At
every moment thou art called to choose between these twain. Thy body calls
thee this way, and thy spirit that. Be sure to deny the lower appetites;
rule them; be king and lord in the realm of thy soul. Make them crouch
around thee, as the lions of Daniel’s den. Get thy Lord to master them for
thee. Else thou wilt miss the angels of God, who come to encamp around
thee, and minister to thee, as one of the heirs of salvation. Was it here
that Christ learnt to contrast his homelessness with the lairs of the
beasts!
Meyer, F. B. Our Daily Homily
Mark 1:35
WHEN we set aside time to study the
Bible, read a devotional guide, and pray, we may feel as if we are doing
God a favor. We think that the primary reason to spend time with God is to
make Him happy.
But look at the devotional life of
Jesus. Why did He set aside time to pray? Mark 1:35 describes what Jesus
did just prior to His first preaching tour of Galilee. Before He began to
teach, He went to a desert place to pray.
On another occasion mentioned in Luke
5, Jesus' ministry was gaining fame, causing more and more people to come
to Him. How did Jesus meet the challenge? "He . . . often withdrew into
the wilderness and prayed" (LU 5:16). And in Matthew 14:23, Jesus had
spent time with God just before He rescued the disciples from a storm at
sea.
Jesus established a pattern for us to
follow. First He drew aside and prayed; then He went out to help others.
Our time alone with God should both prepare and motivate us to do good
works. Devotion to God leads not to withdrawal from others but to a life
dedicated to helping others in God's power--J D Branon
Our Daily Bread
Mark 2
Mark 2:22
New wine into fresh wine-skins.
Ah, our Lord! Thou hast been speaking
of the bridegroom and his coming to the feast. Thou remindest us of the
olden comparison of thy love as better than wine, and of thy first miracle
at Cana of Galilee. May thy love be poured into ear hearts as the fresh
juice crushed from the grapes! We have no love of our own to offer Thee;
but, oh, pour thy love into hearts that yearn to love Thee with thy love.
And let it not be only the memory of the love that was, but the living,
fresh enjoyment of the love that is ever new. The new wine of thy love is
what we long for, that it may sweep into our hearts as the spring tide
along the golden sands, which it frees from their accumulation of débris
and waste. Oh for the constraints of thy love — new, fresh, living!
But the Master says, Children, if you
have your request, the new wine may refuse to take on with the old shapes;
it will make for itself new channels and forms of manifestation; when
others fast, you will feast; when others feast, you will be sad. You will
be counted eccentric and peculiar. Men will murmur at you, and find fault.
They may even cast you out of their churches and social circles.
There is but one answer: Leave us not
to ourselves. Permit us not to follow the promptings and suggestions of
our undisciplined wills; but provide for us the new wine-skins also. Show
us what Thou wouldst have us be and do; and let the methods in which our
hearts’ devotion shall express itself be so lovely, so befitting, so
helpful to the world, and so full of God, that men may recognize thy hand,
and adore Thee. Let not thy love be spilled, but stored for the
refreshment of others; through our lives. Oh, give us love!
Meyer, F. B Our Daily Homily
Mark 3
Mark 3:14
He appointed twelve.
This is the threefold work of the
Church, and of each disciple.
That we might be with Him. — The Master
dearly loves our company. Let us seek it more. Not necessarily praying, or
praising, or learning — but just being quietly with Him. It was said of a
holy man, Mons de Rentz, that his union and converse with God were so
wonderful, that after he tied spent several hours therein, he found
himself in the end as if he had only then begun it, except only that he
had then yet more desire to continue it. And at length he arrived to that
height that it seemed as though he never ended it at all; being wholly and
constantly in inward recollection and application to God. After whose
example let us press, that we may enjoy like near approach to God, and our
lives be suitably ordered for his glory.
That He might send them forth to
preach. — He cannot come forth train the secret chamber of eternity to
preach, as once He was wont to do; and therefore He is ever raising up
voices, witnesses, lips which He teaches how to speak, and touches with
his live coal. Has He not sent you forth, if not by lip yet by life, to
bear witness to his love? Like the seraphim, if you have two pairs of
wings for reverent modesty, you have at least one pair for flight. On,
breathe the prayer, Send me.
That they might have authority over
demons. — The power of Satan is strong; it mastered Adam, but it mot more
than its match in the Christ-nature. If that nature is regnant in you,
you, too, will have power over all the power of the enemy, Nothing shall
by any means hurt you, and you will be able to deliver others who have
long been held captive.
Meyer, F. B Our Daily Homily
Mark 4
Mark 4:1-20
"Good Soil"
Other seed fell on good ground and
yielded a crop that sprang up, increassed, and produced - Mark 4:8
John Chrysostom was one of the most
captivating preachers of the early Christian church. However, he
recognized that even great orators cannot make everyone listen.
Chrysostom noted, "My preaching is
addressed to all..., but it is the duty of each one of my listeners to
take what is suited for his affliction. I do not know who are sick, who
are healthy. Therefore, I discuss subjects of every sort and suited to
every illness."
In Mark 4, the parable of the sower and
the soils teaches the importance of how we respond to the Word of God. It
tells us the success or failure of a crop isn't necessarily in the skill
of the farmer or in the power of the seed, but in the quality of the soil.
Some listeners are like rich soil, and
the message takes root in their heart. Other audiences resemble the church
parking lot, and the seed simply bounces off them. Still others are like a
weed patch that chokes potential growth.
Preaching is not "the fine art of
talking in someone else's sleep." We need to "drink in" the teaching of
the Word just as the sick need medicine or as crops need rain. That's why
Jesus urged, "Take heed what you hear" (v.24). Whether or not you benefit
from a sermon is largely up to you. - H W Robinson
As planted seed in fertile soil
Has life and will take root,
God's Word, if nurtured in our own
hearts,
Will grow and bring forth fruit.- Hess
Thought for the Day: In good soil, the
seed takes root and will soon bear fruit.
Our Daily Bread.
Mark 4:19
Cares;… Riches;… Lusts.
There is enough nutriment in the land
for the thorns alone or for the wheat alone, but not for both; and so
there is a brief struggle, for mastery, in which the sturdy weed prevails
against the slender wheat, and chokes it. Nourishment which should go to
its support is drained away from it; and though it does not actually
expire, it leads a struggling existence, and becomes unfruitful. What are
these weeds?
For the poor man — Cares. — The Greek
word for care is Division. Cares divide our heart, and distract it in many
different directions. What shall we eat? What shall we drink? Wherewithal
shall we be clothed? How shall we meat our rent and other expenses? It is
almost impossible to settle to our prayer, or Bible study, or Christian
work, or to the culture of the soul-life, while questions like these
intrude. What shall the poor man do to prevent the word becoming
unfruitful? He must take his cares to his Father, and by one act deposit
them in his safe keeping. And thereafter, as a care tries to break in on
the peace of his heart, he must treat it as a positive temptation, handing
it over to God.
Far the prosperous man — riches. — They
will distract as much as anxiety does. How much they amount to! Oh, the
endless figurings in the brain—how to keep, or invest, or increase. The
case for him is to look on all be has as a stewardship for God, deducting
only a moderate percentage for himself.
For us all — lusts. — Strong and
inordinate desires for what may be right in itself, but which we follow
with extravagant zest. What is right in itself may become wrong if we put
it in God’s place, and allow it to monopolies us unduly. On, Great
Husbandman, root up the thorns by thy Holy Spirit!
Meyer, F. B. Our Daily Homily
Mark 4:4
LOSING THE WORD
as he sowed, some [seed] fell by the
wayside, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it. Mark 4:4
What a strange sight greeted my gaze as
I looked out over the bay. There was old "Pete the pelican" bobbing around
on the waves, and perched right on top of his head was a sea gull. Looking
more closely I discovered that "Pete" had caught a fish, but its tail was
sticking out one side of his huge beak. What a dilemma the old pelican was
in! He had gotten his fish, but now to eat it he would have to open his
mouth, and sitting right there ready to snatch it as soon as he did so was
Mr. Sea Gull. He knew he had "Pete" right where he wanted him.
As I saw the wise old sea gull ready to
grab the food from the pelican's mouth, I was reminded of Jesus' parable
about the sower and the fact that as some seed fell by the wayside, "the
fowls of the air came and devoured it." Jesus explained that this was a
picture of Satan's tactics in taking the Word from the hearts of those
who, although receiving the message of grace, fail to understand and
believe it.
How important it is that we not only
"receive" the Word, but also that we study it and meditate upon it. Unless
we do so, we are the losers. It is possible for the "seed" to be sown in
our hearts, and yet not to take root! How many there are who, having been
really blessed by a message, come out of a church service, only to be met
by friends who begin at once to talk about the weather, the ball game,
business, world conditions—anything and everything but the Word of God
which they have heard. And the first thing you know, that which had been
received is snatched away, and the precious seed fails to bear fruit. The
Psalmist declared, "Thy word have I hidden in mine heart . .." (Ps. 119:
11). Remember, when the Word is sown, receive it gladly, meditate upon it
intently, talk about it to others, memorize it, and then allow it to bring
forth fruit in your life!
The seed of the Word falls on many a
soil,
The fertile, the thorny, the hard;
Lest haply it fruitless in thy heart be
sown,
Blest soul, be thou ever on guard. —
H.G.B.
Take heed to the Word; remember, a
man's spirit needs daily food as well as his body! —Edmund Nelson
Our Daily Bread
Mark 4:35-41
Facing Hardships
Even when believers follow Christ’s
bidding, they may face hardships. For example, Jesus’ disciples were doing
God’s will when they took Him across the lake, for he had commanded them
to do so. Yet they were buffeted by a dreadful tempest, and they seemed to
be in danger of drowning. A storm - and Christ on board! It seems a
contradiction. Wouldn’t His presence ensure a peaceful journey? Not at
all! Life frequently becomes more difficult after a person has accepted
Christ as Savior and Lord. The Christian encounters the devil’s
opposition. But a storm - and Christ asleep! That even deepens the
perplexity! Our Lord’s silence, the frustrating delays, the mysteries of
his dealings - these are too profound for us to understand. Yet we can be
certain that His purpose in testing our faith is to strengthen it. God
will surly fulfill his plan for us through our struggles, and His
deliverance will lead us to praise Him.
Needless fears beset the disciples
because they did not trust Jesus words. If they had just thought for a
moment, they would have remembered that he had said, “Let us pass over
unto the other side.” He didn’t say, “Let us go to the middle of the lake
and be drowned.” They should have been saying to the raging waves, “You
can do us no harm, for Christ the mighty Savior is on board!”
Our Daily Bread
Mark 4:39
Breton fishermen on the coast of France
have a brief prayer that humbly acknowledges God's control of nature and
life:
"God, your sea is so great and my boat
is so small."
In recognizing that the sea belongs to
God, the fishermen see God as the only source of safety for their boats.
In calming the Sea of Galilee, Jesus
taught the disciples not only about His power over nature but also about
external and internal peace. The lesson about external peace was the
easier of the two; He stopped the storm. Dealing with the storm inside the
disciples was more difficult; fear had replaced the disciples' faith.
Trust and tranquility are twins in the
spiritual life. Perfect peace comes from complete trust (lsa. 26:3). —D.
J. De Haan
Better the storm with Christ, than
smooth waters waters without Him
Sometimes God calms the storm,
sometimes He lets the storm rage and calms His child.
Mark 5
Mark 5:19
"Go home to your friends, and tell them
what great things the Lord has done for you" (Mark 5:19).
Many Christians, enthusiastic about
foreign missions, answer the call to service. By going to foreign
countries, praying faithfully, or giving financial support they help reach
the lost in faraway lands. Yet some who have a great burden for people in
spiritual darkness across the sea seem oblivious to the same need in their
neighbors across the street.
A young woman, excited about her
salvation, wanted to share the gospel with others, so she asked her pastor
where she might go to serve most effectively. He told her to come back the
next day and he would have an answer ready for her. When she returned to
his office at the specified time, the pastor handed her a folded slip of
paper. "I'm suggesting someone who needs you right now more than anyone
else in all the world," he said. The young woman quickly left the pastor's
study, eager to read where her mission field might be. When she opened the
note, she saw that the pastor had written two words: "Your father." She
had been so enthusiastic about reaching the lost in distant lands that
she had neglected someone close to home. Convicted of her negligence, she
acted on the pastor's advice. She visited her dad regularly, ministered to
his physical needs, showered her love upon him, and witnessed to him.
Serving the Lord on some remote mission
field is challenging, and the tremendous sacrifices and hardships are
praiseworthy. But, like charity, missions must always begin at home. —R. W
De Haan
There is no "home" or "foreign" in
God's missionary vocabulary.
Our Daily Bread
Mark 5:35
Thy daughter is dead: why troublest
thou the Master any further?
What hopelessness! They had watched the
sweet flower fade, till no color was left on the pale cheek, and the merry
voice was still; and then they thought of the Galilean Teacher: “Why cost
thin time and trouble? his visit will be useless now! It was very kind of
Him to be willing to come! But it is now of no use! Very kind; but no
use.”
We go to God in comparatively small
trials, and think He can help us. But there are times when we say: It is
no use troubling farther; we must just bear our trial as well as we can,
God Himself cannot help us. Can he give back that twin-soul? Can He
restore the love that has died out? Can He nude this unhappy marriage? Can
He deliver from that life-long paralysis? Life is extinct; hope is dead;
the light has dipped below the horizon. It is no use to trouble God or
man. We have no alternative but to suffer till eternity explain the
mysteries of time.
But Jesus knows the way out. He says in
his sweet undertone, “Fear not! only believe.” He has the keys of death.
He never would have let things come to this awful pass by his delay unless
He had known that, even if the worse came to the worst, all would end
well. He has purposely delayed till this, that He might have the better
opportunity of showing you what God can do. Fear not! the hand of the
Almighty Savior has yours within its grasp. He will not let you stumble as
you go down this dark staircase by his side. Only believe: have faith in
Him. All may seem very mysterious now, but you will came to see that it
was the wisest and best after all. You shall yet clasp to your heart the
lost one, arrayed in resurrection beauty.
Meyer, F. B. Our Daily Homily
Mark 6
Mark 6:14-29
KIND DISAPPROVAL
Have no fellowship with the unfruitful
works of darkness, but rather expose them.--Ephesians 5:11
How should we as Christians relate
to people who are living contrary to biblical standards?
I faced this question recently in a
shopping mall when I met two people who had left their mates and
children and were living together without getting married. They
were friendly, and I greeted them politely. I did not berate them, but
neither did I imply that I approved of what they had done and were doing.
On another occasion a father told me
that his son had declared himself to be a practicing homosexual.
"I know you are a preacher," said the father, "but I hope you
are enlightened enough to understand." I told him that I didn't despise
his son or feel any ill-will, but that God says such conduct is sinful.
John the Baptist told King Herod that
he had no right to have Herodias as his wife, because she had divorced
her husband to marry him (Mark 6:17-18). Although the Bible doesn't
tell us John's manner, I think he was respectful but firm. If his rebuke
had unduly antagonized Herod, the king would not have continued to
respect and listen to John.
Let's be kind toward those who live in
sin, but let's always make it clear that God hates sin, and that
there are serious consequences for those who don't repent. H V Lugt
The sad world with all its repining,
Its bitterness, care, and tears,
Needs the wealth of your lovingkindness
To sweeten the sin-soiled years.--Hall
True kindness warns and rescues.
Our Daily Bread.
Mark 6:30
They told Him all things, whatsoever
they had done, and taught.(r.v.)
Talking things over with Jesus! It is a
precious secret! When one has been out in the world, it is delightful to
talk over what has happened in the seclusion of the home. We have read of
a wife who reserved one room in the house, which no one was permitted to
enter but her husband and herself; and there they interchanged their
mutual confidences. So it is a blessed habit to talk over everything with
Jesus, and to review the events of the past beneath the light of his
loving eyes.
“We have had much success, Master,” “we
cry; the cities were moved; the devils were subject; the crowds followed
us everywhere.” Ah, children, He seems to say, Those who cry “Hosanna”
today will cry “Crucify” tomorrow: the real work of God is not done amid
congratulating crowds, but in the heart’s depths, and in the ante-chamber.
See that ye dwell not on the excitement of the outward reception, lest you
attribute vent success to something in yourselves, and pride yourselves
upon it, and become unsuitable for my use. All success comes from above.
“We have been greatly persecuted, and
our mission seems to have been a failure, Master,” we cry at another time.
“Who hath believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord
revealed?” Care not for it, the same wise Counsellor replies: I at least
am satisfied; I will see to it that your reward is according to your
faithfulness, if not to your success; and there shall be a remnant of good
soil that shall repay one hundredfold.
Thus his loving words extract the
poison from success, and rally us from despondency. Oh, Christian workers,
get into the secret of his presence, that He may correct, criticize, or
encourage, as He please.
Meyer, F. B. Our Daily Homily
Mark 6:31
THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT
"Come ye yourselves apart, and rest
awhile: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so
much as to eat."—Mark 6:31.
THERE IS something in our blood which
cries out at certain times for |rest and change. We may love our home, our
work, and chance of doing our share in the toil of this work-a-day world,
but when the summer comes we long to escape from the crowded city, the
arduous toil, and pine for respite and rest. The love of Nature is a
sacred heritage from the love of God, and it is His voice that calls to
us: "Come, My children, Be glad with Me, breath the scented air which I
have flavoured in its passage through clover-fields, gorse, and heather;
rejoice in the woods and flowers, golden sunsets and purple mountains; the
glory of the ocean and the sea-shore."
But we must be unselfish, if we would
really enjoy our holiday. It is difficult to resist the temptation to
obtain the best possible return for our money, and a little over, even at
the expense of others. Always think of some one else--the short Zacchaeus
who cannot see over your shoulder! The child who loves to look out of the
carriage window; the invalid who cannot stand the draught! the tired
mother with the restless children! Look out for daily opportunities for
showing the gentleness, sweetness, and unselfishness of the Lord Jesus.
Make time to be alone sometimes. It is
a mistake always to be in the presence of another. The soul must be still
and quiet. There are accents in the voice of God so deep and still, that
the breathing of a companion may make them inaudible. But it is delightful
to have a choice friend and companion with whom you can hold sweet
fellowship, and "there is a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother."
He will draw near and walk with you, and as He talks with you by the way,
your hearts will bum within you.
Remember those who are in poverty, in
sickness, and in need, and amidst your own gladness and joy, send a
portion unto them for whom nothing is prepared (Neh 8:10-12).
PRAYER
What shall I render unto the Lord for
all His benefits to me?
I will praise, and bless, and give thee
Thanks, all the days of my life. Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive
glory, and honour, and power. AMEN.
F B Meyer. Our Daily Walk.
Mark 6:31
GETTING AWAY
"Come aside by yourselves to a deserted
place and rest a while." - Mark 6:31
I'm not writing this article from my
usual office location. Most of the time when I talk to you through the
pages of Our Daily Bread, I'm hidden behind the walls of my office,
routinely going about another workday.
Today, though, I've decided to get away
from all that. I've taken my computer to a campground where I can hear
birds singing and feel a warm breeze. It's amazing how the change makes
it easier to read the Bible and pray.
It wasn't my idea. My daughter Julie
needed a getaway day -- far from the rigors of school and the pressures of
junior-high life. So she brought her bike and I tagged along. While she
is rejuvenating by the lake, I am finding how mind-clearing it is to
escape into the quiet.
Of course, the idea of getting away is
not original with Julie. Jesus did it too. He took time to escape. He
went to the desert to rest and think about the death of John the
Baptist,and He went to the mountain to pray (Mk. 6:14-31,46).
When God speaks, we listen more
attentively, it seems, if there are fewer distractions. That's why it's
good to carve out some time to get away. Even if the retreat is a city
park or a booth at a restaurant, take time to escape. Then talk with God
and let Him lift your spirit. -- J. David Branon
Alone with God, the world forbidden,
Alone with God, O blest retreat!
Alone with God, and in Him hidden,
To hold with Him communion sweet.
Those who wait on the Lord renew their
strength.
Our Daily Bread.
MARK 6:31
According to tradition, when the
apostle John was overseer in Ephesus, his hobby was raising pigeons. It is
said that on one occasion another elder passed his house as he returned
from hunting and saw John playing with one of his birds. The man gently
chided him for spending his time so frivolously. John looked at the
hunter's bow and remarked that the string was loose.
"Yes," said the elder, "I always loosen
the string of my bow when it's not in use. If it stayed tight, it would
lose its resilience and fail me in the hunt."
John responded, "And I am now relaxing
the bow of my mind so that I may be better able to shoot the arrows of
divine truth."
We cannot do our best work with nerves
taut or frayed from being constantly under pressure. When Jesus' disciples
returned from a strenuous preaching mission, their Master recognized their
need for rest and invited them to come with Him to a quiet place where
they could be refreshed. Jesus invites you too. —D. J. De Haan.
If we are to function our best, time is
needed to rest.
Our Daily Bread
Mark 6:31
Aesop Riddle - According to a Greek
legend, in ancient Athens a man noticed the great storyteller Aesop
playing childish games with some little boys. He laughed and jeered at
Aesop, asking him why he wasted his time in such frivolous activity. Aesop
responded by picking up a bow, loosening its string, and placing it on the
ground. Then he said to the critical Athenian, “Now, answer the riddle, if
you can. Tell us what the unstrung bow implies.”
The man looked at it for several
moments but had no idea what point Aesop was trying to make. Aesop
explained, “If you keep a bow always bent, it will break eventually; but
if you let it go slack, it will be more fit for use when you want it.”
Our Daily Bread, June 6, 1992
Mark 6:34
Jesus, when He came out, saw a great
multitude and was moved with compassion for them (Mark 6:34).
At times, the world seems to be an
uncaring, unsympathetic place. People are often cruel and indifferent, not
giving a second thought to the plight of their suffering neighbors.
Wrapped up in their own interests, they don't seem to notice the anguish
and despair that is at their doorstep.
