Category: Mark

This was the only way. Jesus knew it…

Mark 8:31-33
31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.

33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

Just the other day, I had this amazing confirmation of getting to know Jesus better. I was waiting to coach in the tournament in Houston and suddenly the veil seemed to be lifted off of my eyes, and I felt like I knew Jesus more than ever before. It’s hard to explain, but I know that it is coming from the fact that I seek Him daily and every night. He is my Shepherd.

When I read the above verses, and I read of Peter rebuking Jesus, I can really understand Peter’s reaction. As we know, Peter is of this world, as are we. What I like most, though, is the response from Jesus. He rebukes Peter. Rebuke means a sharp disapproval of a particular act or something said.

The understanding that He has given is one of a true teacher. The best teacher. A teacher who had to learn the Law that He passed down as a man, not as God. He learned the Law perfectly so that He could clarify it for us.  That is what He came to do. So, Peter is looking through the eyes of this world, while Jesus looks through the eyes of eternity and of salvation. I love to be rebuked. The direction that it sends you and the valuable lessons learned from Him are amazing. #JesusSaves

Amen
DK

Tonight. The topic is love. I was watching a documentary on the 1 Percent in America, and I have to quote this man that was driving a van talking to the grandson of Johnson and Johnson Pharmaceuticals. The man said:

“My family is one of the richest families in the world, but not with money. With love, kindness, calmness, and patience. Qualities that are worth more than money, and you can’t buy that.”

The doc is called the 1 Percent. I am not a Socialist, by any means. I am a lover of Christ Jesus and His teachings.
Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah

Mark 8:27-30
27 Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”

28 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”

29 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”

30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.

We are Him
He resides in us.
He will never leave us.
He has set up a permanent camp in you.
He died for you.
He is waiting, with arms wide open for you.
He loves you.
Tonight, or just before you gobble down that turkey tomorrow, raise your hands to Him. Thank Him. Love on Him. It will be the best-tasting turkey you ever had.

God Bless you all. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your loved ones. Eat, drink, and be Merry. But…bring Jesus to the table. Prepare a place for Him, as He has prepared a place for you.

Jesus is the Messiah. The Savior. The Redeemer. The Alpha and Omega. The Beginning and the End. The Way, the Truth, and the Life. Raise Him high in your house. Place Him at the Head of Your table. Give Him thanks, because every heart that beats, beats for His glory.

Amen.
DK

Jesus must know our hearts….

22 They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. 23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?”

24 He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.”

25 Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26 Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into the village.”

I love my commentary on the Bible by Warren Wiersbe. This verse required study.

Upon reading this, you would think it deals with Jesus just healing another blind man. There is more. Healing is not just healing, it’s teaching how to heal. They are lessons on the supernatural method of healing an injury.

As I have read through the Gospels in Matthew, Luke, and now Mark, I have found tools to help me through this life in His name. I have found a way to heal. I didn’t even know this existed prior to last year. I had heard of it, but I was always skeptical. However, the more I get to know Jesus, the more I realize that the restrictions of this world are not meant for me. As a believer in Jesus, my instructions come from Him and Him alone. He is my Way, Truth, and Life.

In these verses, Jesus is showing us how to use the tools He left us. How to activate. It’s awesome. Let me share the methods used:

1. Don’t seek after signs, but live by Faith in His Word.

2. Trust in Jesus to meet needs.

3. Avoid false doctrine.

4. Let Jesus work as He wills, and experience the variety.

With these four rules to guide us, we can learn to remove the limitations of sight. It is our eyes that fool us, and at many times our false understanding of this world. Hand it over. Give Him the keys to the castle. After all, it’s His anyway. #JesusSaves

Amen
DK

How quickly we forget in times of trouble. Remind you of anyone?

Mark 8:14
14 The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. 15 “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.”

16 They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.”

17 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”

“Twelve,” they replied.

20 “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”

They answered, “Seven.”

21 He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”

Down to the very last detail, Jesus is teaching. He has them remember and compare the baskets of leftover bread after feeding the 5000 and then the 4000. He has them remember. This goes to show just how deliberate and well-planned all the miracles were. Every single angle and every detail taken into consideration. This is the lesson that we must learn. The product of that is faith.

The focus of this verse is on the inability of even those closest to Him to see that they will always be taken care of. The lack of trust and understanding that plagues our walk on this earth, and the need for His teaching to make our way towards the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Towards Jesus.

The questions Jesus asks are incredibly thought-provoking and should serve as a reminder to us that Jesus elicits change in our lives. That He expects it, and He will forever know our hearts.

Love your God with all of your heart, all of your soul, all of your mind first. Then love yourself the same way. Then you will be able to love all others. #JesusSaves

Amen.
DK

Jesus sees the strong faith of these people that love Him. And as promised, He takes care of them…

Mark 8:1-13
1 During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, 2 “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. 3 If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.”

4 His disciples answered, “But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?”

5 “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked.

“Seven,” they replied.

6 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people, and they did so. 7 They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. 8 The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 9 About four thousand were present. After he had sent them away, 10 he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha.

11 The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. 12 He sighed deeply and said, “Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to it.” 13 Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side.

The miracle of the feeding was not meant to be seen as a spectacle. After all, He is God in human form. This miracle was something that is promised, and Jesus explains in the Gospels that as believers we will be taken care of. Still an amazing event.

Once all had eaten, there was still food left over, miracle #2 in this scene, which goes to show us that God not only provides enough, but He provides more than enough. Remember this scenario this Thanksgiving when you are stocking away leftovers.

Lastly, the Pharisees ask for a sign from Jesus. A timed event that would “justify” Him in front of others so that they can believe. Jesus just doesn’t answer, He sighs. A deep sigh of sadness, I am sure. He knows us. He knows all of us.

Remember that time you prayed and asked for a sign? Well, the signs are all around us. Every morning when you get up is a sign that you are forgiven. Every heartbeat a miracle. Every breath a gift. Even if you are in the valley right now, in a rough patch, in a dry season, He is with you. Helping you through. There’s your sign. #JesusSaves

Amen
DK

Mark 7:31-37
31 Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis.[h] 32 There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him.

33 After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. 34 He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means “Be opened!”). 35 At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.

36 Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. 37 People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

We are so attached to what we see and hear and speak that we fail to see the true miracle of Jesus Christ. He removed our sins. We will no longer suffer for eternity because of Jesus. We are forgiven because of what He did for us. For you and I and the whole world.

Jesus tells those He heals and those who witness the miracle not to tell. Why? I would imagine it is because, to Jesus, the temporary fixes of this world are not what He came for. He came for our hearts. He knew exactly who to heal and how to heal them. Those He healed would become witnesses to Him for all Jews and Gentiles. It was not random, but rather it was determined prior to every action He took according to what the Father wanted.

We can stand in amazement, but truth be told, all we need to do is thank Him daily. The miracles are promises. So promised that once baptized with the Holy Spirit, you will heal all you touch as well. It is the gift that He left us. You just need to be ACTIVATED. #JesusSaves

Amen.
DK

This woman saw herself as lowly as a crumb…

Mark 7:24-30
24 Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre.[g] He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. 25 In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an impure spirit came and fell at his feet. 26 The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.

27 “First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

28 “Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”

29 Then he told her, “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.”

30 She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.

Blessed are the meek. This verse typifies that precious sermon Jesus gives us on the Mount. This woman said, literally, that even a small crumb, even the waste from the Creator, is enough to do anything. Yes…anything. God will provide. It is our want that drives us crazy and causes man to see only what is lacking and not the cup that is full.

Through this, we see that Jesus, although not wanting anyone to know what He is doing quite yet, allows this heathen Greek woman’s daughter to be healed. It is by His stripes that we are healed. In Jesus’ name.

Through Him all captives are released. He brings the dead to life, heals the sick, all for the glory of God. All for the Glory of God. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray for your continued blessings from your table, as we know that it is more than enough.

We love you.

Amen
DK

The most amazing teacher to ever walk the Earth didn’t have to teach. He chose to teach because He loves us and always will…

Mark 7:1-23
1 The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus 2 and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. 3 (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.[a])

5 So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?”

6 He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:

“‘These people honor me with their lips,
    but their hearts are far from me.
7 They worship me in vain;
    their teachings are merely human rules.’[b]
8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”

9 And he continued, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe[c] your own traditions! 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’[d] and, ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’[e] 11 But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is Corban (that is, devoted to God)— 12 then you no longer let them do anything for their father or mother. 13 Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.”

14 Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. 15 Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.” [16] [f]

17 After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable. 18 “Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? 19 For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.)

20 He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. 21 For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”

It is not what goes in but what comes out of our bodies that defiles. In this way, Jesus tells us that who we really are will come through in our actions, both in public and in private. It is so refreshing to hear our Creator tell us how to love and live. It’s a handbook for life. He says not to fret the small stuff. Our little rules are just that, little. Let them go. The ceremony didn’t please Jesus then, and it does not please Him today.

What will please Jesus is love for Him and making sure that He is a part of your day and a part of your life. He is first, and we are second. Don’t mix that order up. All belongs to Him. Pray to Him and thank Him every day. If you are walking, talking, and healthy, it is time to get off the sideline and enter the game. This game has eternal implications, as those who wait until it’s too late will be left with nothing. Make a choice today.

Accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior today. Contact me and I can show what He has shown me. It will blow your mind, and it’s all free. The most valuable and precious gift ever given belongs to us. It’s time to RECEIVE it NOW! #JesusSaves

Amen
DK

Mark 6:45-56
Jesus Walks on the Water
45 Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.

47 Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. 48 He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50 because they all saw him and were terrified.

Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 51 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, 52 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.

53 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. 54 As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. 55 They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.

What amazing faith the people had in the ability of Jesus to heal with just a touch of His cloak. That’s strong faith. Even stronger faith is in you as you walk believing in Him every day. Worry not, He knows you love Him.

So why the doubting of His disciples? I would suggest that they were so comfortable with Jesus that they were not afraid to show their dis- or un-belief. They truly believed that when Jesus said to seek Him and ask questions, He would never go back on His promises. He has never, and continues to be consistent and compassionate every day of our God-given lives. Jesus believes in us and loves us. Always. #JesusSaves

Amen
DK

I’m sure Jesus loves our questions. I know I love to sit and listen to my son ask me questions. It brings me joy…

Mark 6:35-44
35 By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. 36 Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”

37 But he answered, “You give them something to eat.”

They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages[e]! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?”

38 “How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.”

When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.”

39 Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. 41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. 42 They all ate and were satisfied, 43 and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. 44 The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.

Yes! A miracle. Jesus fed 5000 men, not to mention the women and children that were present with them at the time. He fed them all. Yes! With five loaves of bread and two fish. He fed them all!

Do you believe it? Of course you do. Have you doubted it? Of course you have. Why do you and I doubt? Because it doesn’t fit. It doesn’t fit our world. To be able to do that would rob our understanding of how this place works. It is simply not possible! Or is it?

This is Jesus, everyone. Jesus Christ, the Creator and savior of this world and our lives. That’s it. That’s all you need. It is HIM!

Now ask your question… How are we to feed all of these people? Then ask Jesus. Really. Ask Him now. And then go feed them today. #JesusSaves

Amen.
DK