Tag Archives: Galilee

MARK’S GOSPEL…NOT HETE! – 43

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Mark‬ ‭16‬:‭1‬-‭6‬ ‭NIV‬

“When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.”

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What a starling announcement! Not here! “But He is supposed to be here! We saw His body being carried here. Why is He not here? Who carried Him away? Where is He?”

A thousand questions flooded the confused thoughts of these two women. Who is this young man? What is he saying? The last thing on their minds was…Jesus is alive! That was an impossibility beyond common sense. 

The stone slab on which Jesus body lay was bare…empty…the body gone! A faint bloodstain was  the only evidence that a broken body had indeed been on that piece of rock, but where was He?

They hardly heard the young man’s explanation. Risen! That was not possible. Nobody can simply rise and walk away from his own burial place, especially since the entrances was blocked by a massive, immovable stone!

They could not deny the fact that the tomb was empty… so, where next? 

“Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid…

‭‭Mark‬ ‭16‬:‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Terrified out of their wits, the women fled the scene, ignored the angel’s instruction, and went to ground, hiding their secret from even their closest associates…and here Mark’s story abruptly ends. What happened to the end of the manuscript?

There is no explanation for this inconclusive conclusion except that the final triumphant declaration of the resurrection might have somehow got lost or deliberately been removed. Who knows? 

However, this magnificent story  could not have been left incomplete. The message must be told. “He has risen. He is not here. See the place where they laid him.”

Some unknown writer closed the gap. In a brilliant summary, taking into account all the events after the resurrection of Jesus, including the disciples’ stubborn unbelief until they themselves saw Him, and the unseen world of Jesus’ exaltation, we are assured of the truth, “He is risen indeed!”

“When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. 

When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it. 

Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either. 

Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen. He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 

And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” 

After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭16‬:‭9‬-‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

THE POWER OF WORDS

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THE POWER OF WORDS

“After two days He left for Galilee. (Now Jesus Himself had pointed out that a prophet has no honour in his own country). When He arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed Him. They had seen all He had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival. for they had also been there.

“Once more He visited Cana in Galilee where He had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to Him and begged Him to come and heal his son who was close to death.

“‘Unless you people see signs and wonders,’ Jesus told him, ‘you will never believe.’ The royal official said, ‘Sir, come down before my child dies.’ 

‘Go,’ Jesus replied, ‘your son will live.’ The man took Jesus at His word and departed.” John 4:43-50 (NIV).

Jesus spent two days with the Samaritans in Sychar. What must it have been like for His disciples? Were they still so wrapped up in their prejudice that they spent an uncomfortable two days, champing at the bit to get out of there, or were they so enthralled with the teaching of Jesus that they forget where they were? Most definitely the former, I think. They were still their old Jewish male selves and probably couldn’t wait to put Samaria behind them!

They must have breathed a sigh of relief when they finally put their feet back on Galilean soil, back to friends and family and familiar territory to take a break from their hectic schedule. But not for long. They were no sooner back in Cana than there was someone clamouring for Jesus’ attention.

John described him as a “royal official”. Was he someone from Caesar’s household or was he of Herod’s clan? John doesn’t tell us. We only know that he was someone important in social circles but that didn’t make him immune from potential tragedy in his family. His son was dying and he had no-one to turn to in his anxiety…until Jesus arrived in Cana.

Jesus could do nothing without it being broadcast around the country. He was the current sensation in Galilee. People who had been at the Passover were buzzing with news about Him. He was the “homeboy” who was making waves wherever He went and they loved Him, for now.

The stricken family pricked up their ears when they heard He was back. The father wasted no time in setting off from Capernaum to Cana. He wouldn’t even risk sending a servant to enlist Jesus’ help. When he arrived in Cana and found Jesus, his earnest entreaty received an uncharacteristic rebuff from Him. ‘All you people are looking for are signs and wonders to boost your faith. You want what I can do, not me.’ 

The frantic father brushed Jesus’ words aside. His errand was too urgent to engage in a discussion. ‘Please,’ he begged, ‘come and heal my son before he dies.’ Jesus was satisfied that the man’s request for help was genuine and not another ploy to get Him to do a miracle to entertain the crowds. He did not even need to be there in Capernaum to heal the official’s son. ‘Go,’ He said, ‘your son will live.’

This man’s faith in Jesus was tested to the limit. Jesus did not respond to his plea, ‘Come down and heal my son.’ There was no need for His physical presence to do the miracle. His word was enough and the royal official knew that. He understood how authority worked, and he recognised Jesus’ authority in the unseen realm. He set off home with complete confidence in Jesus’ spoken word.

What will it take for us who claim to believe in Jesus to have that kind of confidence in His word? His promises, printed in a book, have no less authority to do what He has said than the words He spoke to that desperate father that day.

Do you believe that?

Acknowledgement

Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

THE GOSPEL OF MARK – YOU ARE MY SON

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YOU ARE MY SON

 

At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” Mark 1:9- 

This is an unembellished record of Jesus’ first public appearance – baptism by the hand of John. This practice of ritual washing was a recognised part of Jewish religion. It happened on many occasions and for many different reasons. It was a symbol of old and new, cleansing and initiation into something new. For Jesus, a big part of its meaning was identification – full participation with the human race so that He could be a faithful high priest (Hebrews 4:16).

According to Mark, the voice from heaven that accompanied Jesus’ baptism was heard by Him, not necessarily by the crowd, and yet the message was an affirmation of His sonship and God’s total approval of phase 1 of His human existence.

Three times in the gospels, God, the Father, speaks audibly. The first time He acknowledges His Son’s flawless hidden years, at His baptism; the second time His equally flawless public ministry, on the mount of transfiguration; the third time the Father responded to Jesus’ prayer “Father, glorify your name,” (John 12:28), at the end of His public life and on the eve of His crucifixion.

The Father’s affirmation is accompanied by the Holy Spirit’s manifestation – again seen and experienced by Jesus as a visible and personal presence. Why did Jesus need the Holy Spirit? As always, the triune God functioned as ECHAD, indissolubly intertwined in their salvation plan. Jesus was the last Adam, created in the image of the first Adam, innocent but not righteous. He had every potential to fail, like the first Adam but, like the first Adam, He also had the Spirit of God to empower His choices.

Jesus had to navigate the treacherous path of life under the total focus of the enemy without one slip into self-sufficiency or independence. He offers to all who believe in Him the same Spirit that empowered Him, to live the same life of obedience to the Father and complete trust in Him, and He showed us how it was done.

THE GOSPEL OF LUKE – PASSING THE BUCK

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PASSING THE BUCK

“But they were vehement.’ He is stirring up unrest among the people with His teaching, disturbing the peace everywhere, starting in Galilee and now all through Judea. He is a dangerous man, endangering the peace.’

“When Pilate heard that, he asked, ‘So, He’s a Galilean?’ Realising that He properly came under Herod’s jurisdiction, he passed the buck to Herod, who just happened to be in Jerusalem for a few days.” Luke 23:5-7.

How convenient for Pilate! Herod was responsible for governing Galilee. Jesus was a Galilean. Herod “happened” to be in town. Pilate must have heaved a sigh of relief. Jesus was a “hot potato” and he did not want to handle Him. Was it “Providence” that organised the circumstances to let him off the hook?

How does one go about finding reliable witnesses in a crowd of volatile people who were so stirred up by their religious leaders that any tiny spark could set the whole mob on fire?

Their accusations against Jesus were touching raw spots in Pilate’s mind. His role in Judea was to keep the peace by enforcing Rome’s domination. The Roman overlords, represented by the military, did whatever was necessary to suppress rebellion by oppressing the people. The gospels give hints of Roman cruelty even at the instigation of Pilate. On one occasion he ordered the murder of worshipers in the temple. Any sign of insurrection was ruthlessly crushed. Jewish blood flowed for very little reason and yet, Pilate was reluctant to deal with Jesus.

What was it about the man that caused him to hesitate to pronounce Him guilty and pass the death sentence to appease the Jewish leaders? One more dead Jew would be one less troublemaker for him. But somehow he couldn’t do it because of the man!

He had never had a prisoner like Jesus. Every time he looked at Him, he felt guilt overwhelming him. The man’s eyes bored into him like a laser beam, exposing the deepest secrets of his heart, and yet he felt, not condemned but loved. How was it possible for a “rabble-rouser” to arouse such mixed emotions in him? He was drawn and repelled at the same time. He wanted to love Him in return but he was supposed to be indifferent, just there to do a job.

It was a relief to have Herod in Jerusalem as a back-up. Let him handle Jesus. After all, He was his responsibility because He was a Galilean. And so Pilate hoped that his brief encounter with this man would end and be forgotten.

Would Pilate be able to shake Jesus off that easily? He did not know that he had been brought face-to-face with the man who would one day be his judge. Destiny had caused their paths to cross for one brief moment but, unknown to him; it was a dress rehearsal for a much greater encounter in the future. Passing the buck seemed a simple solution to his dilemma but he was to learn that he could not evade his responsibility then, just as he would not evade his accountability on Judgment Day.

That was not only Pilate’s moment. It will be ours as well. “Just as man is destined to die once and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people, and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.” Hebrews 9:27-28 (NIV).

To those who have recognised who He is and have willingly given Him the reins, His coming will be the most joyous occasion ever. For those who tried to get rid of Him, there will be the inevitable consequences of their rejection. This is not a threat to garner supporters. This is the sober truth that warns of the outcome of cutting ties with our Creator and trying to establish our own rebellious rule.

We have to learn, like Pilate, that we cannot pass the buck. Accountability is inevitable. There is no such thing as all religions worshiping the same God; all roads do not lead to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. There cannot be more than one Lord, and God has declared that the title belongs to Him alone. Jesus is Lord and to Him every knee will bow!

THE GOSPEL OF LUKE – MISSING!

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MISSING!

“When they finished everything required by God in the Law, they returned to Galilee and their own town, Nazareth. There the child grew strong in body and wise in spirit. And the grace of God was on Him.

“Every year Jesus’ parents travelled to Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover. When He was twelve years old, they went up as they always did for the Feast. When it was over and they left for home, the child Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but His parents didn’t know it. Thinking He was somewhere in the company of pilgrims, they journeyed for a whole day and then began looking for Him among relatives and neighbours. When they didn’t find Him, they went back to Jerusalem looking for Him.” Luke 2:41-45.

What a contrast! Twelve years of trouble-free childhood, and then He goes missing!

Twelve was a magical age for a Jewish boy. Bar mitzvah! He had come of age. He was permitted into the company of the men to take His place among them. Admittedly He was still a “junior” man and had lots to learn, but nevertheless He was still a MAN. As a man He also had responsibilities. He took part in the Jewish “rehearsal” feasts. Did Jesus know at this stage that He was celebrating the ritual of His own death?

Luke pulls a veil of secrecy over the first twelve years of His life – His apprenticeship for manhood. Instead he sweeps it aside with a summary statement that says everything; no intimate details about nappy rash, teething problems, potty training, learning to walk, measles, chicken pox or a runny nose! Did Jesus participate in all these minor details associated with growing up?

A healthy, strong, wise child – that’s all we know. Those of us who are parents can fill in the details against the backdrop of our own experience! His family life must have been chaos; at least six brothers and sisters pitted against Him. Did they victimise Him because He was the firstborn and had to take the rap for everything they did? Did they gang up against Him and deliberately do things to make trouble for Him? Did Mom try to shield Him from their vindictive pranks?

We know that His brothers refused to believe in Him until after the earth-shattering event that took place in Jerusalem thirty three years later. He walked out of a sealed tomb – alive! That shook them to the core. They mocked and ridiculed Him because they didn’t understand. He knew exactly how it felt to be the cause of a split right down the middle of a family. He spoke about it. “I did not come to bring peace, but a sword…a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household” Matthew 10:34b, 36 (NIV).

And then, after twelve years of a perfect record, He goes missing! What was He thinking? Was He aware of the anguish He was causing His parents? This seems to have been the moment when He crossed over from boyhood to true manhood. In the rituals of the Passover He began to see His role in God’s big plan. With His mind filled with the Torah, which He already knew by heart, He pondered the greater truths hidden in the old story of deliverance from Egypt.

His parents had not caught up with Him. They were still Mom and Dad, doing their best to raise this kid who was placed in their trust, the Son of God and the Saviour of the world. They didn’t learn that at school! What crazy thoughts went through their minds as they frantically searched through the company for their missing son? Were they thinking, ‘After twelve’s years He’s gone and blown it. Has He been kidnapped? We’ve messed up. It’s our fault. We didn’t keep an eye on Him.’

They were so used to an obedient and compliant Jesus that this shook them to the core. What were they to do now? What if they never found Him? How would they explain that one to God?