God's Word For Every Day

Mark 1-3 Jesus came, preaching the Kingdom - but He did more than just preaching. He demonstrated the Kingdom His Word was spoken with power - the power of God. We see this in His mighty miracles which declare the coming of the Kingdom among us. The coming of God's Kingdom was a mighty victory over the kingdom of Satan. Those who walk in the will of God walk in the Lord's victory over Satan. Mark 4-7 To read a few chapters of this Gospel is to be made aware of how extraordinary Jesus is. His teaching and miracles proclaim Him as the Son of God. Nevertheless, His power is not released where there is a "lack of faith" (chapter 6). The Gospel calls us to faith. We are to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the way of victory over the devil. This is the way of true happiness (chapter 7). Through Christ, we are able to hear the Word of God and speak the Word of God (chapter 7). Mark 8-9 In these chapters, we see Jesus looking ahead to His death and resur...

The resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ declared His victory over the powers of evil - the triumph of His love for sinners. Reading the words of the angel - "There is no need for you to be afraid ... He has risen", we rejoice in the truth that "perfect love casts out fear." The perfect love, by which Christ gave Himself as the Saviour of sinners, reached its climax in His resurrection. Evil men crucified the Son of God, but God raised Him from the dead. There is no need to fear. The love of God has triumphed. The love of God is victorious. This victory is to be proclaimed to the world. This was the last command of the Lord Jesus Christ - "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go, therefore, make disciples of all nations ... I am with you always."

Reading the story of the last days of Jesus' earthly life gives to us a sense of the progressive closing in on Jesus of the powers of evil, as He entered more fully into His suffering for the sins of the world. This is "the old, old story", yet it is "ever new." Out  of the depths of Christ's suffering, many centuries ago, comes the voice of God concerning His love, which remains constant for every generation.

Jesus, in His parables, emphasizes that the Gospel calls for a response. If the response is lacking, "there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." This will take place at Christ's return. Then, the sheep and the goats will be separated. It will become clear that men and women, in their response to Christ, have chosen either "eternal punishment" or "eternal life."

The way of hypocrisy must be avoided (chapter 23). It is a way which comes under the stern judgment of the Lord Jesus Christ. The seeds of judgment are sown by the hypocrite in this earthly life. The fruit of judgment on hypocrisy will be seen in its fullness when Christ returns – “there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (24:51). Be true – true to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus’ parables of the Kingdom were a significant part of His ministry. It is still true today that there are those who, when they hear God’s Word, see what it’s all about, while there are others who miss the point altogether. We should not be discouraged because some do not believe, but we should give thanks to God for those who do believe. Never give up. Keep on believing that God is fulfilling his purpose of salvation.

Jesus teaches us how we are to relate to God. He, also, teaches us how we are to relate to one another. Our relationship with God shapes our relationship with others. We, who love God, are to show our love for God in our love for others (chapter 18). Our relationship with God, also, shapes our attitude toward things. Love for God must come first, if we are not to be swallowed up by the things of this world (chapter 19). The whole of our life is to be grounded in the grace of God and shaped by the grace of God. This grace comes to us through the death and resurrection of Christ. It is this grace which will lead us on to the glory of heaven. We can only understand these things when our spiritual blindness has been removed by the Lord (chapter 20).

The Lord Jesus Christ stood in stark contrast to the religious leaders of His day. They were false hypocrites. He was, in reality, the Christ, the Son of the living God (16:16). In chapter 17, Jesus is preparing His disciples for the events that lay ahead of Him - His death and resurrection. We must not think of His death without his resurrection or His resurrection without His death. We must focus our attention on both - His death and resurrection.

Much of Jesus' ministry was carried out under the watchful eye of the Pharisees.These men were out to get Jesus. For all their religion, they had no time for Jesus. Jesus' teaching in parables was hidden from proud religious unbelief and was revealed to simple, childlike faith. As Jesus did mighty works, faith arose in the hearts of the people who were with Him - following Jesus' walking on water, the disciples said, "Truly, You are the Son of God." We, like His first disciples, are called to have faith in the Son of God.

The disciples are sent out in the name and in the power of the Lord. As disciples of Jesus, we are to point away from ourselves to Jesus, who is far more than a prophet. As we point men and women to Him, we are to echo His words, "Come to Me ... " (11:28). We do not invite our hearers to come to ourselves. We  invite them to come to Christ.

The great works, done by Jesus, provoked the question - "What sort of man is this?" His mighty works led to the declaration: "Nothing like this has ever been done in Israel" (chapter 9). To come face-to-face with Jesus Christ is to encounter His uniqueness - no ordinary man but the eternal Son of God and the Saviour of sinners.

In "the Sermon on the Mount", we learn, from Jesus, that the way to happiness is the way of holiness. Holiness is to be seen. Happiness is to be shared. Holiness must take shape in our lives - the shape of Jesus Christ, living in us. The truly happy life is the Christ-centred life. It's the life that makes the Kingdom of God its first priority. The alternative to holiness is hypocrisy. There can be no true holiness where our lives are marked by hypocrisy. We are to hear Christ's words and act upon them.

We read of John, the baptist, and Jesus, the baptized. The baptism of Jesus is a high point - we read of the Spirit's descent and the Father's declaration. It is followed  by a low point - the wilderness of temptation. In 3:17, we read of the Father's interest in Jesus. In 4:1, we read of Satan's interest in Jesus. In 3:16, we read of the Spirit's power. In chapter 4, we read of the power Satan uses in his attempt to defeat Jesus. The highs and lows we experience may be seen in the life of Jesus. There is, however, a difference between Jesus and us. Like us, He was tempted, Unlike us, He did not sin. The reason for life's highs and lows is clear. There is not only a God. There is also a devil. To defeat the devil, we, like Jesus, must stand on God's Word. As we, following Jesus, stand on God's Word, we will grow in strength.   

In chapter 1, we learn of the way of God's working - "by the Holy Spirit" - and the outcome of His working - the birth of our Saviour. This is, still, a lesson for us concerning the new birth - through the Spirit, Christ is born in us. In chapter 2, we see men being led to Jesus. Wise men sought Jesus. They still do. In finding Christ, we find wisdom. Christ is our Wisdom.