authority

Give God His Due

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13 And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk. 14 And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone’s opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” 15 But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.” 17 Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at him. – Mark 12:13-17 ESV

Jesus’ ransacking of the temple courtyard had caused quite a stir. As a result, His already strained relationship with the Jewish religious leaders took a turn for the worse. These men questioned His authority as well as His sanity, having earlier claimed that Jesus was possessed by a demon and in league with Satan. But when they met Him face to face, they found that He was anything but crazy. Jesus proved to be a formidable debater who, although an uneducated Rabbi from Nazareth, could stand toe-to-toe with the best and brightest members of the highly trained Sanhedrin. These professional religious scholars and experts in the Mosaic law found Jesus to be no pushover. In today’s passage, we see the Sanhedrin take a tag-team approach, sending wave after wave of their best thinkers to confront and confound this backwater Rabbi.

In Chapter 11, Mark recorded the first onslaught. He described the chief priests, scribes, and elders confronting Jesus in the Courtyard of the Gentiles. But their attempt to trap Jesus didn’t go well. This led the Sanhedrin to send another team made up of Pharisees and Herodians. This was a particularly strange alliance because these two groups were normally diametrically opposed. The Pharisees were a highly conservative religious sect, while the Herodians were essentially a political party that, as their name suggests, supported Herod Antipas, the Roman puppet king of Israel. To the Pharisees, the Herodians were sell-outs, whose support of Herod and willing tolerance of Roman rule greatly compromised Jewish independence.

Yet, these two opposing groups found unity in their shared hatred for Jesus. So, they made an unholy alliance, joining forces in an effort to trap Jesus. Luke adds that these “spies” were driven by a desire to find condemning evidence that would lead to Jesus’ arrest.

The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him at that very hour, for they perceived that he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people. So they watched him and sent spies, who pretended to be sincere, that they might catch him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor. – Luke 20:19-20 ESV

As soon as the Pharisees and Herodians began questioning Jesus, it was clear why the Sanhedrin paired these two groups together. The entire scene was a set-up that began with false flattery. They tried to lower Jesus’ defenses by stroking His ego.

“Teacher,” they said, “we know how honest you are. You are impartial and don’t play favorites. You teach the way of God truthfully. Now tell us—is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay them, or shouldn’t we?” – Mark 12:14-15 NLT

Their reputation as enemies was well known, and that was part of their scheme. They led Jesus to believe that they needed Him to help settle a dispute over the Roman poll tax. The Pharisees saw this annual Roman-imposed tax as violating their own laws about the sabbatical year. This was a head tax that every Jew was required to pay each year, with no break during the seventh or sabbatical year. To the religiously-minded Pharisees, this tax was unacceptable. But to the Herodians, who supported the Roman government, it was a cost they were willing to pay because it helped maintain the peace.

But this entire “debate” was a ploy. The Pharisees must have assumed that Jesus was conservatively minded, just as they were, and would side with them. If He did, this would provide the Herodians with more than enough evidence to accuse Him of fomenting revolution against the Roman government. Their ultimate goal was to get Jesus in trouble with the civil authorities.

But “Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and said, ‘Why are you trying to trap me?’” (Mark 12:15 NLT). He was not fooled for a second. Their motives were painfully transparent, and Jesus refused to step into their poorly conceived trap. Instead, He asked to see a denarius, a Roman-minted coin. Jesus was about to turn their question regarding taxation into a lesson on veneration.

When they presented Him with the coin, Jesus asked a simple question: “Whose picture and title are stamped on it?” (Mark 12:16 NLT, and they quickly responded, “Caesar.” What Jesus said next would leave them amazed.

“Well, then,” Jesus said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.” – Mark 12:17 NLT

This was not what they expected to hear. With His response, Jesus neither favored nor opposed the poll tax. Instead, He turned the whole debate into a lesson on loyalty and spiritual faithfulness. The Herodians prioritized keeping the Roman-imposed laws; the Pharisees countered that God’s laws took precedence over those of men. But Jesus was emphasizing that both groups were guilty of worshiping the wrong thing.

“The denarius of Tiberius portrayed the emperor as the semi-divine son of the god Augustus and the goddess Livia and bore the (abbreviated) inscription ‘Tiberius Caesar Augustus, Son of the Divine Augustus’ on the obverse and ‘Pontifex Maximus’ on the reverse. Both the representations and the inscriptions were rooted in the imperial cult and constituted a claim to divine honors.” – Lane, William L. The Gospel According to Mark. New International Commentary on the New Testament

For Jesus, this had nothing to do with taxation or Roman occupation; it was all about the heart. Both groups were guilty of false worship. In a sense, the Herodians worshiped Caesar because they believed he provided them with protection and allowed them to enjoy their relative power and freedom. On the other hand, the Pharisees worshiped their oral and written laws, treating them with greater veneration than the One who had originally given them to Moses.

Caesar required coins that bore his image as payment for services rendered. His troops kept the peace, his government provided social order and stability, and those who benefited from these amenities were expected to pay.

Jesus had no problem rendering unto Caesar what belonged to him. The coins bore his image, so they were rightfully his. But mankind bears the image of God and, therefore, rightfully belongs to Him. That is why Jesus said, “Give to God what belongs to God.”

God doesn’t need our money. He doesn’t even need our feeble attempts at religious rule-keeping and Pharisaical posturing. Jesus knew that the Pharisees were guilty of going through the motions and only pretending to revere and worship God, and He exposed them as nothing more than hypocritical posers.

“You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’” – Matthew 15:7-8 NLT

Jesus took the conversation back to the issue of authority. Because of his position and power, Caesar had every right to demand a tax from the people he ruled. But God also had the authority to demand worship from those whom He had made. Every man and woman on the planet bore the Imago Dei (the image of God) and were expected to give God what rightfully belonged to Him: Their lives and their worship. Yet, as the apostle Paul disclosed, ever since the fall, mankind had repeatedly refused to render unto God what was rightfully His.

Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles. – Romans 1:21-23 NLT

For Jesus, the issue was the religious leaders’ failure to honor Him for who He was: the Son of God and the Savior of the world. While it’s doubtful that the Herodians viewed Caesar as a god, they treated him like one, showering him with veneration and willing subjugation. The Pharisees had made Judaism their god, and falsely believed that keeping its rules and regulations was the only hope of salvation. But both failed to recognize that God was among them. The Son of God had come to dwell with them, and all He asked was that they give Him what was due Him: Their lives and allegiance.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Authentic Authority

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27 And they came again to Jerusalem. And as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to him, 28 and they said to him, “By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them?” 29 Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 30 Was the baptism of John from heaven or from man? Answer me.” 31 And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 32 But shall we say, ‘From man’?”—they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John really was a prophet. 33 So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” – Mark 11:27-33 ESV

(Verse 26 is not included in the ESV translation because it does not appear in the most important ancient manuscripts of Mark’s Gospel. It is believed that Jewish scribes added it later so Mark’s gospel would align with Matthew’s. See Matthew 6:13.)

For the disciples, it probably didn’t take long for the image of the withered fig tree to be replaced with the thought of wielding power that could cast mountains into the sea. These men had a habit of hearing only what they wanted to hear when Jesus spoke. The true meaning behind most of His lessons escaped them, and this one was no different.

When they had heard Jesus say, “I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours” (Mark 11:24 NLT), they were probably thrilled. The very thought of having their every wish fulfilled just by asking God would have been a dream come true. It’s fair to assume the initial ideas that filled their heads weren’t what Jesus had in mind.

So, as they left the withered tree behind and continued their trip into Jerusalem, the disciples were probably thinking about the incredible implications of what Jesus had just told them. But soon, they found themselves back in the temple courtyard, standing in the very place where Jesus had staged a one-man riot the day before. Less than 24 hours earlier, Jesus had ransacked the booths of the vendors selling overpriced sacrificial animals. He overturned the tables of the moneychangers, who charged high fees to thousands of foreign pilgrims who needed temple currency to buy their sacrificial offerings. Driven by righteous indignation and zeal for the holiness of His Father’s house, Jesus turned the carnival-like atmosphere of the temple courtyard into chaos and confusion.

When Jesus walked out of the temple complex after His attention-getting tirade, it seemed He would never return. If anything, He would be unwelcome and on the Sanhedrin’s watchlist. But He was back, and the first people to greet Him were “the chief priests and the scribes and the elders” (Mark 11:27 ESV). These were the representatives of the Sanhedrin, the high council of the Jews. This august body comprised some of the wealthiest and most influential men in Jerusalem. They were also members of the primary religious sects within Judaism: the Sadducees, Pharisees, and Essenes. Some were experts in the Mosaic Law, and all were knowledgeable of the Hebrew Scriptures. They were powerful men who wielded great authority and saw Jesus as a threat to their way of life. His little escapade the day before had been a public attack on the entire system of greed and graft for which they were responsible.

So, when they saw Jesus, they immediately confronted Him, demanding to know the reasons for His unacceptable and costly actions the day before.

“By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them?” – Mark 11:28 ESV

By this time, they had repaired the damage He had done the previous afternoon, and things had returned to normal. These men were probably there to protect their investments and to ensure there would be no repeat performance of the previous day’s disruptive and costly episode.

Their question to Jesus revolved around authority. In essence, they were asking Jesus to explain why He thought He had the right to do what He did. They also seemed to fear that He might do it again. His actions had been a direct assault on their authority as the religious leaders of Israel. In their minds, Jesus had invaded their territory and begun a war on their way of life. As the nation’s supreme rulers, they saw His actions as nothing less than insurrection; He was attacking their right to rule, and they wanted to know what possessed Him to do it.

Jesus could have answered by declaring Himself the Son of God. He could have told them that He was the long-awaited Messiah of Israel, “the anointed one” (Hebrew – mashiyach). But He knew they would refuse to accept those answers. They had already determined that Jesus had no right to do what He did. He was a loose cannon, operating on His own initiative and in direct opposition to their authority, and nothing Jesus could say would change their minds.

So, Jesus made them a proposition. He offered to answer their question, but only if they could answer one He had for them.

“Was the baptism of John from heaven or from man? Answer me.” – Mark 11:30 ESV

Jesus subtly changed the focus from Himself to John the Baptist. But notice that He kept the emphasis of His question on authority. By shifting their attention to John the Baptist, Jesus forced them to consider the true source of all authority.

John had burst onto the scene years earlier. This strangely dressed man had suddenly shown up in the Judean wilderness, preaching a message that the Kingdom of Heaven was near and calling the people of Israel to repentance. A large part of his ministry involved baptizing those were willing to repent and confess their sins.

People from Jerusalem and from all of Judea and all over the Jordan Valley went out to see and hear John. And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River. – Matthew 3:5-6 NLT

John had attracted large crowds of people, who believed him to be a prophet of God. Even Herod Antipas, the Roman-appointed puppet-king of Israel, had understood John’s reputation among the people.

Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of a riot, because all the people believed John was a prophet. – Matthew 14:5 NLT

Herod ultimately put John to death, but this did nothing to diminish John’s standing among the people. So, when Jesus asked the religious leaders to state the source of John’s authority to baptize, He knew they would refuse to answer. No matter what they said, they would find themselves in a no-win situation. These men had no love affair with John. After all, while he had been alive, he had treated them with disrespect and disdain. At one point, he had publicly humiliated them, calling them a “brood of snakes” and exposing them as spiritual frauds.

“Who warned you to flee the coming wrath? Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.” – Matthew 3:8-10 NLT

But if they said John was acting on his own initiative, they faced the people’s ire. On the other hand, if they tried to placate the people by admitting that John’s authority was from heaven, it would imply that their opposition to John had really been aimed at God.

After weighing their options, the religious leaders decided that pleading ignorance was best. But when they failed to answer Jesus’ question, He refused to answer theirs. Their silence condemned them.

The truth was that John had been a prophet sent by God. Everything he said and did was on God’s behalf. His entire mission had been to herald the coming of the Messiah. That is why he declared, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said” (John 1:23 ESV).

Yet Israel’s religious leaders rejected his mission and message. When John announced Jesus as “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29 ESV), the Pharisees, Sadducees, and scribes refused to believe it. They accused Jesus of doing miracles by the power of Satan. They condemned Him for His association with sinners. They accused Him of being a drunk. They spread rumors that He was illegitimate. They declared Him to be guilty of blasphemy for repeatedly claiming to be the Son of God. And this charge had led them to try to stone Him to death.

These men refused to accept Jesus because they could not bring themselves to believe that His power and authority were from God. While they couldn’t explain how Jesus did all the things He did, they refused to even consider that He might actually be the Messiah. To do so would require them to relinquish their own authority, and their overinflated egos wouldn’t allow them to do that.

Since they were unwilling to answer His question, Jesus responded, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things” (Mark 11:33 ESV). He owed them no explanation. He had provided them with ample evidence that He was who He claimed to be. His miracles spoke for themselves. And yet, these stubbornly self-righteous men had repeatedly refused to recognize and acknowledge the God-given authority of Jesus. One of the greatest assessments of their spiritual blindness came from the lips of a man who had been the undeserving recipient of Jesus’ divine authority.

“He healed my eyes, and yet you don’t know where he comes from? We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but he is ready to hear those who worship him and do his will. Ever since the world began, no one has been able to open the eyes of someone born blind. If this man were not from God, he couldn’t have done it.” – John 9:30-33 NLT

Now, back to the lesson of the withered fig tree. When the disciples witnessed Jesus’ remarkable power to condemn the tree to death, they were amazed. When He told them, “You can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen” (Mark 11:23 NLT), they were thrilled. He was offering them access to the same kind of authority He had. All they had to do was ask, and anything was possible. But there was a caveat. Jesus had told them to “have faith in God” (Mark 11:22 ESV). This was not about their authority; it was about God’s.

Everything John the Baptist accomplished was by God’s authority and for God’s glory. The same was true of Jesus, and it would be true of His disciples as well. God’s authority would be available to them so they might accomplish His will and display His glory. By contrast, the scribes and Pharisees relied on their own authority and sought their own glory, and they were unwilling to have this no-name Rabbi from Nazareth disrupt their way of life.

Jesus used this encounter with the religious authorities to help His disciples understand that faith in God was the key to accessing His power. He would be the key to doing the impossible. With His help, they could “move mountains,” but it would be for His glory, not their own.

In His High Priestly Prayer, uttered in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night of His betrayal, Jesus called out to His Father, “The hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you. For you have given him authority over everyone. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him. And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began” (John 17:1-5 NLT).

Little did the religious leaders know that they were standing before the One whom God had given all authority. Their antagonist was the Son of God and the Savior of the world, but they viewed Him as a fraud and troublemaker. When Jesus condemned the fig tree, it symbolized His indictment of these spiritually fruitless leaders’ self-righteous posturing. Their flowing robes and outward displays of piety disguised their true spiritual state, but Jesus saw through the facade. He had the authority to cleanse or condemn them but, in the end, the choice to believe was theirs.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Lessons on Leadership and Leastness

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13 And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” 16 And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them. – Mark 10:13-16 ESV

Sometimes it seems as if Jesus’ 12 disciples are a few bricks short of a full load, and this occasion is one of them. After reading this passage, it’s difficult not to draw one of two conclusions: Either the disciples are stubborn or simply stupid; they just don’t seem to get it. No matter how many times Jesus addresses an issue with them, they fail to grasp His meaning. Even all His after-class, one-on-twelve tutoring sessions don’t seem to help.

Before we look at the scene in today’s passage, let’s revisit a few earlier, closely related exchanges between Jesus and His disciples. First, while they were back in Galilee, Jesus overheard the disciples arguing over who was the greatest. This debate came fast on the heels of Jesus’ announcement that He would soon be delivered into the hands of men and be killed (Mark 9:31). So, immediately after hearing Jesus announce that He was going to lay down His life, they got into a heated argument over which of them was the greatest. This led Jesus to give them an object lesson.

And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.” – Mark 9:36-37 ESV

Jesus used this small, seemingly insignificant child to drive home an important point. With the prideful disciples gathered around Him, Jesus stood among them, holding this unnamed child in His arms. He placed the least significant in the place of greatest prominence. The child had done nothing to earn the special favor Jesus extended to Him. He was not powerful, impressive, gifted, or even capable of repaying Jesus for His kindness. We’re not even told his name. But the child trusted and was willing to place his full confidence in Jesus.

Yet, immediately after witnessing this living object lesson, John brought up what he believed was a more pressing matter. He reported that an unnamed individual had been casting out demons in Jesus’ name. This unidentified competitor concerned the disciples so much that they repeatedly tried to issue him cease-and-desist orders, but their efforts failed. John told Jesus, hoping He would shut down this rogue exorcist. But instead, Jesus rebuked His own disciples.

“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.” – Mark 9:42 ESV

The Greek word Mark uses is mikros, meaning “small” or “least.” Jesus seems to be referring to this unknown exorcist as one of His children. Although he wasn’t one of the 12 disciples, this man was casting out demons in the name of Jesus. He was performing the same good deed that Jesus had commissioned His disciples to do. That’s why Jesus told John, “Don’t stop him!…No one who performs a miracle in my name will soon be able to speak evil of me. Anyone who is not against us is for us” (Mark 9:39 NLT). This man was on their side. Yet Jesus calls him one of the “least.” He was so insignificant that the disciples didn’t even know his name. However, he was important to Jesus. 

This brings us back to the scene taking place in chapter 10. Jesus and His disciples are back in the region of Perea, just east of Judea on the other side of the Jordan River. Mark opens this chapter by noting that Jesus’ arrival in the region drew the usual large crowds. While many hoped to see Jesus perform a miracle, others came out of curiosity because Jesus was a 1st-century celebrity. But Mark indicates that some “were bringing children to him that he might touch them” (Mark 10:13 ESV). Evidently, parents brought their young children to Jesus so He might bless them. But Mark states that “the disciples rebuked them” (Mark 9:13 ESV). These men took it upon themselves to restrict access to Jesus. They wrongly assumed they had the authority to decide who was worthy to enter Jesus’ presence.

This whole scene makes even more sense when you consider Luke’s account. He provides essential details that make the disciples’ actions even more egregious. He records a parable Jesus told “to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt” (Luke 18:9 ESV). In this parable, “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector” (Luke 18:10 ESV). The Pharisee stood before God and, in a blatant display of self-promotion, bragged about his superior righteousness, evidenced by his unparalleled fasting and tithing. But the other man stood before God, eyes lowered, and declared his abject sinfulness and desperate need for mercy. And then Jesus said, “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 18:14 ESV).

Superiority and inferiority. Pride and humility. Greatness and weakness. This parable prefaces the arrival of the parents with their children and explains why Jesus became so indignant with His disciples and demanded, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:14 ESV). Their parents brought the children to Jesus. Too young to come on their own, they were at the mercy of others, showing complete dependence and trust. They showed no self-righteousness or moral superiority, yet the disciples deemed them unworthy to enter Jesus’ presence. Had these men so quickly forgotten the young boy Jesus had held in His arms? Had the words Jesus spoken to them simply gone in one ear and out the other?

“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.” – Mark 9:37 ESV

Yet here was Jesus having to rebuke them again for their arrogant display of moral superiority. They didn’t get it. They were still harboring their own false conceptions about status in the Kingdom. In their eyes, children were non-contributors because they had nothing to offer. They were takers, not givers. But Jesus had a different perspective. To the disciples’ surprise, Jesus “took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them” (Mark 10:16 NLT).

The disciples had been right; these “little ones” had nothing to offer Jesus, but Jesus had something to give them: His divine blessing. They came before Jesus as helpless and hopeless children, most likely carried in the arms of their parents. Some were probably too young to walk or talk. But each one, regardless of age, intellect, family background, or prospects for success, received the same undeserved gift from Jesus’ hand. The Son of God touched and blessed each one.

The Kingdom of God will not be comprised of the successful, gifted, morally exceptional, intellectually superior, or socially acceptable. In fact, Paul reminds every Christ-follower that their adoption into the family of God had nothing to do with them. They brought nothing to the table and did nothing to deserve the grace and mercy God showed them.

Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God. – 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 NLT

Jesus had repeatedly shown His disciples that He had come to minister to the weak, helpless, and hopeless. He went out of His way to heal the sick and minister to the outcasts and socially unacceptable. He exposed the hypocrisy of the self-righteous religious leaders of Israel. He willingly associated with tax collectors and prostitutes. Yet His disciples still struggled with thoughts of their own superiority and hoped to earn a place of honor and distinction in His coming Kingdom.

But the lessons would continue until the end. Even in the upper room on the night Jesus was betrayed, He gave them another illustration of humility and service by washing their feet. Ultimately, Jesus performed the greatest act of humility by offering His life as a ransom for many. The greatest of all would become the least of all so that the foolish, the powerless, the despised, and the unimportant might become children of God.

The disciples continued to wrestle with how their concept of leadership differed from Jesus’. His emphasis on “the least of these” didn’t make sense to them. Not only that, it was unattractive and uninspiring. They were interested in prominence and power. In fact, Matthew records that 10 of the disciples became indignant when they overheard the mother of James and John ask Jesus, “In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left” (Matthew 20’21 NLT).

Rather than rebuke the well-meaning mother, Jesus addressed James and John.

“You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?” – Matthew 20:22 NLT

Unaware of the meaning behind Jesus’ question, the two men responded, “Oh yes…we are able!” (Matthew 20:22 NLT). They had no idea that He was talking about His arrest, trials, and crucifixion. Had they known about the two thieves who would be crucified on either side of Jesus, they would never have had their mother pose the question.

Sensing the other disciples’ jealousy, Jesus gave them another lesson on servant leadership.

“You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” – Matthew 20:25-28 NLT

The disciples had a lot to learn, and time was running out. But Jesus would patiently continue to teach and model the life of “the least of these.” Every day, He would sacrifice and serve, loving the lowly, feeding the hungry, healing the hurting, and calling the hopeless to place their trust in Him. This wasn’t what the disciples had signed up for, but it was why they were called. And, one day, it would all make sense.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

How Long?

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14 And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. 15 And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. 16 And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” 17 And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. 18 And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” 19 And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” 20 And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21 And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 23 And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” 25 And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. 28 And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” 29 And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.” – Mark 9:14-29 ESV

The next day (Luke 9:37), when Jesus, Peter, James, and John rejoined the other disciples, they found chaos and confusion as a large crowd encircled the other nine disciples, who were in a heated argument with the scribes. But as soon as Jesus arrived, He became the focus of attention, drawing the crowd like moths to a flame.

Like a father coming home to find his children in an unexpected predicament, Jesus tried to discern the cause of the trouble. It didn’t take Him long to discover the conflict involved His disciples. The rest of the crowd were like rubberneckers at an accident, drawn by the spectacle and curious to see what would happen next. When Jesus asked what was causing the argument, a man in the crowd spoke up.

“Teacher, I brought my son so you could heal him. He is possessed by an evil spirit that won’t let him talk. And whenever this spirit seizes him, it throws him violently to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid.” – Mark 9:17-18 NLT

This father came expecting to find Jesus, but instead he encountered the nine disciples Jesus had left behind. In his gospel account, Matthew describes the man kneeling at Jesus’ feet, showing his high regard for Jesus and his belief that Jesus could help him. He brought his son to Jesus for healing, but when he discovered Jesus was gone, he turned to the disciples for help. However, they weren’t up to the task.

“I asked your disciples to cast out the evil spirit, but they couldn’t do it.” – Mark 9:18 NLT

Disappointed that he couldn’t find Jesus, the anxious father turned to the disciples for help. The text makes it clear that these men made a valiant effort to cast the demon from the man’s son, but without success. Their failure is so significant because Jesus had given all the disciples authority to cast out demons (Mark 3:15). When Jesus sent them out in pairs to preach, teach, and heal, they had successfully demonstrated that authority. Mark reports that “they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them” (Mark 6:13 ESV).

Yet, on this occasion, their efforts fell short. The argument that ensued must have begun when the disciples started making excuses for their failed attempts to exorcise the demon. Perhaps they began to question whether this man or his son had broken a particular Mosaic law, and whether that violation had caused the boy’s condition. They were clearly frustrated by their inability to exercise authority over the demon and were trying to figure out what was standing in their way. When all the dust settled, they even asked Jesus, “Why couldn’t we cast out that evil spirit?” (Mark 9:28 NLT).

The scribes may have been dragged into the argument to explain the Mosaic Law and give their opinions on the boy’s condition and the demon’s persistent power over him. The whole scene had quickly devolved into a shouting match, with each side pointing fingers at the other. All the while, the boy remained demon-possessed.

Then Jesus, the one who calmed the wind and waves, entered this storm of confusion and chaos and proved He alone could bring peace and calm. Jesus, disappointed by the sordid scene before Him, voiced His frustration.

“O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” – Mark 9:19 ESV

To fully appreciate Jesus’ words, one must recall the transfiguration that Jesus had just experienced on the mountaintop. For a brief moment, Jesus was transformed into His future, glorified state. Two of the great patriarchs of the Hebrew people, Moses and Elijah, joined Him, and they discussed His coming “exodus,” or departure, from this life. It was a much-needed reminder that His days on this earth were coming to a close and that He would soon return to His Father’s side. But when He descended from the mountain, Jesus encountered a scene of faithlessness and spiritual apostasy.

This recalls a similar scene from hundreds of years earlier. Moses, the great deliverer of the Hebrew people, had just spent 40 days and nights atop Mount Sinai, where he had enjoyed intimate communion with God and received the Ten Commandments. But when He descended from the mountain, he found the people of Israel worshiping a false god. He returned to chaos and confusion, brought on by the faithlessness of God’s people.

After descending from the mountain of transfiguration, Jesus witnessed a similar scene. Faith was in short supply, and the enemy was having his way among God’s people. The disciples’ inability to cast out the demon had left the boy still possessed and persecuted. More importantly, their lack of faith left the people in doubt and uncertainty.

But Jesus stepped into the darkness of the moment and focused His full attention on the boy’s condition. The father provided Jesus with a blow-by-blow description of his son’s condition, explaining in detail how relentlessly the demon had tormented his child. You can sense his growing desperation as he begs Jesus for help.

“But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” – Mark 9:22 ESV

At this point, he is unsure if Jesus can do anything about his son’s condition; he is losing hope. But Jesus gently rebukes the man’s timid, half-hearted faith by repeating the father’s doubtful statement, “If you can!” One can almost sense Jesus’ exasperation at the faithlessness around Him. As always, His primary concern was the 12 men He had chosen as His disciples. This whole situation resulted from their lack of faith. So when Jesus said, “All things are possible for one who believes” (MRK 9:23 ESV), He was addressing the boy’s father, but also His disciples. Jesus was saying that it wasn’t a matter of whether He could heal the boy, but whether He would. This was less an indictment of the man’s faith than an exposure of his misunderstanding of who Jesus was.

The father, anxious to see his son healed, cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24 ESV). He desperately wanted to believe that Jesus could heal his son, but he had seen the disciples try and fail. He remained hopeful but apprehensive and asked Jesus to remove all doubt by casting the demon out of his son. And Jesus did just as the man wished. Addressing the demon directly, Jesus commanded, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again” (Mark 9:25 ESV).

Convulsing the boy one last time, the demon obeyed and left him in a catatonic state that made it appear as if he were dead. But Jesus raised the boy, restoring him to full health.

Jesus turned this entire scene into a primer on faith. But His focus was not on the father; He was exposing His disciples’ faithlessness. Matthew records that after Jesus exorcised the demon, the disciples asked why they had failed. His response must have left them stunned and confused.

“Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” – Matthew 17:20 ESV

Jesus had told the father, “All things are possible for one who believes” (Mark 9:23 ESV). Jesus emphasized His own faith, not the father’s. Jesus fully believed He had the power and authority to cast out the demon, and He proved it by doing so. He knew who He was and what He could accomplish with the power God had given Him. But the disciples were another matter; their belief had proven insufficient. But the problem wasn’t the amount of their faith; it was their inability to understand the true source of their power. According to Jesus, even the smallest faith, combined with God’s power, could “move mountains.” Faith is not a resource we possess or produce; it is confidence in God’s power.

Their ability to cast out demons did not reside in themselves; it was not a power they possessed, but it was meted out to them by God. That is why Jesus told them that “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer” (Mark 9:29 ESV). They had failed to understand that their earlier experience of casting out demons had been authorized by Jesus and made possible by God’s power, not their own. But they mistakenly assumed they personally possessed that power; that it was permanently resident within them.

In trying to cast out the demon, they had put their faith in themselves. Like the Israelites in the wilderness, the disciples ended up worshiping a false god: themselves. They thought they possessed power, but discovered they were powerless. So, Jesus reminded them that even the smallest faith in God’s power could produce the greatest miracles. Jesus believed He had authority over the demon because He had God’s power and authority at His disposal. His life proved that “All things are possible for one who believes.”

The transfiguration was a mountaintop experience for Jesus. He had communed with His Heavenly Father and two of the great patriarchs of the Hebrew faith. But when it was over, He received a stark reminder of the spiritual darkness He had come to dispel. That is why He said, “You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you?” (Mark 9:19 NLT). During His brief stay on the mountain, He, Elijah, and Moses had discussed His coming death and departure. His mind was focused on His God-ordained mission to sacrifice His life on behalf of sinful men. He knew His death was imminent and imperative because “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins” (Hebrews 9:22 ESV). As long as He remained on earth, He knew the people would continue to struggle with doubt, fear, and faithlessness. Even His disciples would continue to wrestle with His identity and misunderstand His mission because they lacked the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. 

Jesus knew His disciples were operating at a deficit because they were operating in the flesh. Their faithlessness was a byproduct of their own impotence. That is why Jesus later told them, “I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven” (Luke 24:49 NLT). After His resurrection and before His ascension, Jesus promised them,  “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you…” (Acts 1:8 NLT).

The Holy Spirit was the missing element. Without Him, the disciples would remain powerless and faithless. But when He came, they would be radically transformed and equipped for service.

“…when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.” – John 14:29 NLT

“And when you are brought to trial in the synagogues and before rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how to defend yourself or what to say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what needs to be said.” – Luke 12:11-12 NLT

In the meantime, Jesus continued to teach and model what dependence on the Spirit looked like. He carried out his entire ministry in the power of the Spirit. From the moment He came up out of the waters of the Jordan, Jesus was “led by the Spirit” (Matthew 4:1 ESV). Having set aside His divine privileges, Jesus relied on the Holy Spirit’s power throughout His earthly ministry. He modeled the Spirit-filled life that every believer would experience after His death and resurrection. The disciples would have to wait to experience that kind of life-transforming power, but it wouldn’t be long, as Jesus would soon make clear.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Eyes to See, Ears to Hear

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22 And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. 23 And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” 24 And he looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.” 25 Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26 And he sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.”

27 And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 28 And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” 29 And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” 30 And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him. – Mark 8:22-30 ESV

In this passage, Mark combines two incidents from Jesus’ life to convey an important truth. In the first, Jesus performs the second miracle that Mark records in his gospel. Chapter 7 records Jesus healing the deaf man who also suffered from a speech impediment. And there will be some similarities between these two miraculous healings.

Jesus and His disciples had traveled from the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee to the town of Bethsaida, located not far from the sea’s northernmost tip. This was not the first time Jesus had been to Bethsaida. In fact, Matthew reports that Jesus delivered a stinging indictment against the city for its inhabitants’ stubborn refusal to repent.

Then Jesus began to denounce the towns where he had done so many of his miracles, because they hadn’t repented of their sins and turned to God. “What sorrow awaits you, Korazin and Bethsaida! For if the miracles I did in you had been done in wicked Tyre and Sidon, their people would have repented of their sins long ago, clothing themselves in burlap and throwing ashes on their heads to show their remorse.” – Matthew 11:20-21 NLT

This rather harsh statement from Jesus provides insight into the miracle Jesus performed. When Jesus arrived in Bethsaida, a group of people brought a blind friend in need of healing. Mark says that these compassionate friends “begged him to touch the man and heal him” (Mark 8:22 NLT). What Jesus did next was both interesting and insightful.

To fully appreciate Jesus’ actions, one must consider everything that had happened up to this moment. Earlier that same day, Jesus transformed seven loaves of bread and a few fish into a meal that fed thousands. He had followed up that miracle with a warning to His disciples about the “leaven of the Pharisees.” After seeing His miracle of the loaves and fish, the religious leaders demanded a “sign from heaven” to prove His claim to be the Messiah. These prideful, arrogant men were blind to all that Jesus had done, refusing to accept His miracles as proof of identity. So Jesus warned His disciples not to let the Pharisees’ teaching influence them. The unrepentant hearts of these self-righteous men caused them to reject Jesus and encourage others to do the same. Like yeast spreading through a batch of dough, their unbelief was beginning to permeate and influence the people of Israel. But the disciples failed to understand the meaning behind Jesus’ warning, thinking instead that He was upset that they had failed to bring enough bread. So, Jesus addressed their inability to comprehend His words.

“Why are you arguing about having no bread? Don’t you know or understand even yet? Are your hearts too hard to take it in? ‘You have eyes—can’t you see? You have ears—can’t you hear?’ Don’t you remember anything at all?” – Mark 8:17-18 NLT

Notice the last thing Jesus said to His disciples before they left for Bethsaida: “Do you not yet understand?” (Mark 8:21 ESV). All of this sets up what happens next and reveals God’s sovereign hand behind everything Jesus did. It was no coincidence that a blind man was brought to Jesus. His lack of sight symbolized the disciples’ lack of understanding. The way Jesus chose to heal the man was intentional and purposeful. First, He isolated the man from his well-meaning friends by leading him outside the village. Once they were alone, Jesus spit on the man’s eyes and touched him. But why? Couldn’t Jesus have simply commanded the man to see? Did this healing require spit and human contact? The text also seems to show that Jesus’ first attempt to restore the man’s sight failed.

…spitting on the man’s eyes, he laid his hands on him and asked, “Can you see anything now?”

The man looked around. “Yes,” he said, “I see people, but I can’t see them very clearly. They look like trees walking around.” – Mark 8:23-24 NLT

Jesus’ methodology seems odd, and its outcome appears less than successful. But everything Jesus did was intentional. Unable to see what Jesus was doing, the blind man could hear Jesus spit and feel it on his eyes. He could sense Jesus’s hands gently touching his eyes. Yet, when he opened his eyes, his sight was only partially restored. He could see, but not clearly; everything was fuzzy and indistinct. He describes men as looking like trees walking about.

This man had gone from complete blindness to partial sight. His condition, though much improved, was not what he had hoped for. Blurred sight was far better than no sight at all, but it was still not ideal.

Earlier, Jesus had healed a deaf man by restoring his hearing. This time, He restored the sight of a blind man. Both hearing and seeing are metaphors for the human capacity to understand. That is why Jesus had said to His disciples: “You have eyes—can’t you see? You have ears—can’t you hear?” (Mark 8:18 NLT).

They had seen Him heal the deaf man and heard His warnings about the Pharisees. Yet, they still did not fully understand, just as the blind man did not fully see. But Jesus did not intend to leave the man with imperfect sight.

Then Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes again, and his eyes were opened. His sight was completely restored, and he could see everything clearly. – Mark 8:25 NLT

Jesus finished what He began. He didn’t leave the man with slightly improved sight; He completely restored his vision so he could see everything clearly. This two-part healing provides an important lesson. It reminds us that Jesus came to restore far more than physical sight or hearing. He came to open the eyes of the spiritually blind so that they might see the glory of His presence. He came to open the ears of the spiritually deaf so they might hear the good news. But what they see and hear must include the full scope of God’s redemptive message.

The disciples thought they understood who Jesus was. They saw Him as their long-awaited Messiah. They had high hopes that He would set up His Kingdom on earth and reward them with places of honor and prominence in His administration. But when they heard Jesus speak, they became increasingly confused by what He said. When He began to talk of His pending death in Jerusalem, they struggled to comprehend and accept His words.

The apostle Paul reminds us that God’s plan is far greater than we can understand. Much of what we experience in this life appears out of step with our understanding of God’s will. We are like men with partially restored sight, viewing everything through distorted lenses that give an imperfect image of reality.

Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. – 1 Corinthians 13:12 NLT

The disciples didn’t fully comprehend who Jesus was and what He had come to do. But Jesus was gradually opening their eyes to the truth of His ministry and mission. In time, they would see clearly. But as Paul reminds us, we will not fully understand God’s ways until His plan of redemption is complete.

After telling the newly sighted man to avoid returning to the village, Jesus and His disciples went north to Caesarea Philippi. On the way, Jesus struck up a conversation with His disciples and asked, “Who do people say that I am?” (Mark 8:27 ESV). He wanted the disciples to wrestle with the various rumors concerning His identity. In a sense, Jesus asked them to reveal who people thought He was. When they saw Him perform miracles, what did they conclude? When they heard Him speak, who did they think they were listening to? The disciples revealed that the people had all kinds of opinions.

“Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other prophets.” – Mark 8:28 NLT

The people were like the man with partially restored sight. They could see, but not clearly. Their view of Jesus was incomplete and inconclusive. Notice that no one mentions Jesus being the Messiah. When the people looked at Jesus, it was like they were viewing Him through distorted lenses; He appeared indistinct and blurry.

This prompted Jesus to turn to His disciples and ask them the same question: “But who do you say that I am?” (Mark 8:29 ESV). Since deciding to follow Jesus, these men had spent their every waking minute with Him. They had witnessed all of His miracles and heard every one of His messages. They enjoyed intimate access to Jesus and the privilege of hearing Him explain some of His more cryptic parables. So, who did they understand Him to be? And the ever-impulsive Peter was the first to respond, “You are the Christ” (Mark 8:29 ESV).

In his gospel account, Mathew records that Peter added the further description: “the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16 ESV). Speaking on behalf of all the disciples, Peter acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of God. His words revealed a level of understanding and insight that the rest of the people did not share. But Matthew lets us know that Peter did not come to this conclusion on his own.

“Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.” – Matthew 16:17 ESV

God had revealed this insight to Peter. In that moment, his partially blinded eyes opened, and he saw the truth of who Jesus was. Peter’s statement was like an epiphany. Even as the words came out of his mouth, Peter must have wondered whether he truly believed them. He would later reveal that his understanding of who Jesus was and what He had come to do was still cloudy and indistinct. He would continue to wrestle with the weight of his words and the expectations of his heart. But the time would come when he and his fellow disciples would see everything clearly and distinctly.

It is one thing to proclaim Jesus as the Messiah; it is another to believe it. It will become increasingly vital that the disciples understand the Messiah’s God-given role. Their expectations must take a back seat to God’s will. They envisioned the Messiah as a conquering king who would reestablish the kingdom of Israel. Their hopes were based on a flawed and incomplete understanding of the Messiah’s role. But Jesus did not come to rule and reign; He came to suffer and die. Even at His trial before Pilate, He said, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36 NLT).

Jesus was the Messiah, and He was also David’s son and heir to his throne. But before He could wear the crown, He had to bear the cross. Which is why He told Pilate, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true” (John 18:37 NLT). And Pilate, blind to the reality of Jesus’ identity, calmly replied, “What is the truth?” (John 18:38 NLT). 

The answer to that question is simple, yet difficult to understand. The spiritually blind can’t perceive it, and the spiritually deaf can’t hear it. But Jesus clearly articulated it:

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!” – John 14:6-7 NLT

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

“Take Heart, It Is I”

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45 Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. 47 And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48 And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, 50 for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” 51 And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, 52 for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened. – Mark 6:45-52 ESV

Three of the four gospels include this story, and all three indicate that it happened immediately after the miracle of the bread and the fish. Context is essential to understanding what happens and offers much-needed insight into Mark’s rather condemning conclusion: “they still didn’t understand the significance of the miracle of the loaves. Their hearts were too hard to take it in.” (Mark 6:52 NLT).

Mark’s harsh-sounding critique seems to paint the disciples in an unflattering light, but in context, it gives the reader a fair and honest assessment of their ongoing spiritual transformation. They were works in progress. Their comprehension of Jesus’ true identity was in a constant state of flux, and complicated by their own personal agendas and expectations. Their concepts of the Messiah were shaped by their Hebrew roots and strongly influenced by the religious indoctrination they received as young boys at the local synagogue in their hometowns. Their experiences with Jesus were informative and instructive, but also confusing and at odds with their preconceived notions of the coming Messiah.

Jesus didn’t operate according to their expectations. His miracles, though powerfully impressive, didn’t seem to usher in the Kingdom the disciples had long anticipated. His words, while spoken with authority and filled with interesting stories and fascinating parables, didn’t always make sense. He spoke cryptically and about subjects that seemed out of keeping with someone who had come to be King of Israel.

So, this particular story must be viewed within the immediate context of the surrounding events. Mark indicates that as soon as the disciples finished gathering the 12 baskets of leftover loaves and fish, Jesus instructed them to take a boat to the village of Bethsaida. Jesus then dismissed the crowd and went to a secluded spot for some time alone with God the Father. Mark provides no details concerning this divine conversation between Father and Son, but it is safe to assume that it mirrored the other prayers of Jesus recorded in the gospels. These moments of isolation and intimate communion with His Heavenly Father were important to Jesus. During these occasions, Jesus shared His heart and received instructions. Perhaps He prayed for the disciples, sharing His frustration that they could not grasp the meaning of His messages and miracles. Jesus knew God had given these men to Him, but He also knew they struggled to understand who He truly was and the real purpose behind His incarnation.

After Jesus finished His time in prayer, He made His way back to the shoreline, where He saw the disciples “making headway painfully, for the wind was against them” (Mark 6:48 ESV). John indicates that “they had rowed about three or four miles” (John 6:29 ESV). 

Don’t minimize the circumstances surrounding this scene. It was around 3:00 a.m.; the sky was pitch black, the wind howled furiously, and white-capped waves pounded against the sides of the small fishing boat. The disciples, four of whom were professional fishermen, struggled to keep the boat afloat as it headed to their final destination. And Jesus witnessed all of this from the safety of the shoreline.

But then He did something extraordinary and unexpected. He stepped out into the sea and began to walk on the water, and Mark adds a very important detail to his narrative.

Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. He intended to go past them… – Mark 6:48 NLT

Jesus walked toward the disciples but was fully intending to walk right past them and on to Bethsaida. He wanted them to see Him and take hope and confidence in Him. If He could walk on the waves in the midst of the storm, they had no reason to fear. Just the sight of Jesus walking calmly and confidently on the tops of the waves should have instilled peace in the disciples’ hearts. Instead, they reacted with fear.

…but when they saw him walking on the water, they cried out in terror, thinking he was a ghost. They were all terrified when they saw him. – Mark 6:49-50 NLT

They hadn’t been looking for Jesus, so when He suddenly appeared, they didn’t recognize Him because they weren’t expecting Him to show up in that inhospitable context. It’s interesting that the disciples showed no fear until Jesus appeared unexpectedly. There’s no indication that the disciples feared the storm. They were simply struggling against the wind and waves, trying to make their way to Bethsaida as Jesus had instructed. But their demeanor quickly shifted from focused determination to abject fear when they spotted this strange figure walking toward them amid the storm’s darkness and violence.

Sensing their terror, Jesus quickly identified Himself to the frightened men.

“Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” – Mark 6:50 ESV

They had not recognized Him because they had not expected Him. In fact, no one in the boat had called out to Him. In the midst of their difficulty, they had forgotten all about Jesus. They were so consumed with the task at hand that they forgot the very one who had sent them on this storm-tossed, ill-fated excursion. Seeing Jesus calmly walking on the water amid the storm should have been enough to remind them of His power and authority. They had just seen Him feed thousands of men, women, and children with nothing more than five small loaves and two fish. They had returned from a recent missionary journey, having cast out demons and performed other healing miracles. But in the wee hours of the morning, amid a storm-tossed sea, no one thought of miracles or the Messiah. They just wanted to survive.

In a characteristic act of mercy and grace, Jesus changed His plans and joined the disciples in their struggle. Rather than walk by, He entered the boat with them, and as soon as His foot touched the deck, “the wind ceased” (Mark 6:51 ESV). His presence brought peace, and the disciples “were utterly astounded” (Mark 6:51 ESV). Mark uses the Greek word existēmi, which literally means they were beside themselves. One has to ask why this particular miracle had such an impact on them. Had they not seen Jesus do other incredible, mind-blowing miracles? What was it about this one that left them “beside themselves” in wonder?

Mark provides the answer:  “for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened” (Mark 6:51 ESV). They had not connected the dots. The bow of the boat likely held the 12 baskets of leftovers they had gathered. But they still could not understand the significance of the miracle Jesus had performed. By transforming five loaves and two fish into enough food to feed an army, Jesus had clearly demonstrated His divine power and authority over the creation. He had done the impossible. Yet, the disciples did not understand. They fully grasped the reality of the miracle because they had seen it happen, but they were blind to the message it was intended to send: Jesus was God.

Mark notes that their hearts were calloused and hardened. In their fallen human state, they couldn’t discern the message behind Jesus’ miracles. They failed to connect the dots and see the picture being revealed right before their eyes. But step by step, miracle by miracle, Jesus continued to disclose Himself to these men. He patiently and persistently displayed His power and authority so that, eventually, their beliefs about Him would align with God’s will, not their own.

They believed Jesus was their long-awaited Messiah, but He was demonstrating His identity as the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity. Jesus wasn’t just a man whom God had anointed as David’s seed and the rightful heir to his throne; He was God in human flesh and possessed all the power, rights, and privileges of deity. The apostle Paul explained Jesus’ divine identity in powerful terms.

Though he was God,
    he did not think of equality with God
    as something to cling to.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
    he took the humble position of a slave
    and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
   he humbled himself in obedience to God
    and died a criminal’s death on a cross. – Philippians 2:6-8 NLT

The disciples didn’t understand. Even when they had previously witnessed Jesus calm the storm, they were forced to ask, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:41 ESV). His power was evident but inexplicable. This Rabbi from Nazareth could control the winds and the waves, but the disciples couldn’t grasp His true identity. Jesus was God, but because of their hardened hearts, the disciples failed to recognize Him. Yet, they would have been familiar with Psalm 46.

God is our refuge and strength,
    always ready to help in times of trouble.
So we will not fear when earthquakes come
    and the mountains crumble into the sea.
Let the oceans roar and foam.
    Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!

“Be still, and know that I am God!
    I will be honored by every nation.
    I will be honored throughout the world.”

The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
    the God of Israel is our fortress. – Psalm 46:1-3, 10-11 NLT

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Incomparable Power and Compassion

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30 The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32 And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. 33 Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. 35 And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. 36 Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” 37 But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” 38 And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” 39 Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. 41 And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. 42 And they all ate and were satisfied. 43 And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. 44 And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men. – Mark 6:30-44 ESV

After a brief diversion to inform his readers about John the Baptist’s fate, Mark brings the focus of his narrative back to the 12 disciples. Jesus had sent them in pairs to preach the gospel of the Kingdom and call the people to repentance. To validate their message, He gave them the power to perform miracles. Mark gives no hint of the length of this missionary journey, but simply states, “The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught” (Mark 6:30 ESV). 

This anticlimactic description of their return leaves much to the imagination. There is no sense of excitement, and Mark reveals nothing about their exploits. But we can assume these men had stories to tell and were eager to share them with one another. Luke provides an idea of the kinds of reports these men would have given to Jesus upon their return. He recalls another occasion when Jesus sent out 72 additional disciples and gave them the same instructions He had given the 12.

“Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’” – Luke 10:9 ESV

When these disciples returned from their mission, they eagerly shared what had happened with Jesus. The focus of their report reveals much about their takeaway from their experience:

The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” – Luke 10:17 ESV

They mentioned nothing about the message of the Kingdom or the peoples’ response to it. They were blown away by their ability to cast out demons, just as Jesus had done. They focused on the more sensational aspect of their mission. But to bring their egos back to earth and refocus their attention on what was truly important, Jesus responded, “Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20 ESV).

So, when the 12 disciples returned from their missionary journey, they likely shared similar stories about casting out demons and healing the sick and the lame. Recognizing that these men were excited yet worn out from their journey, Jesus led them to a remote place where they might get some much-needed rest. But isolation and alone time were difficult to come by for Jesus and His disciples. Everywhere they went, they encountered large crowds and constant attention, and this time would be no different.

Mark indicates that they crossed the Sea of Galilee by boat and headed to a desolate area near the town of Bethsaida (Luke 9:10). But the crowds watched their every move. So, as Jesus and His disciples made their way by boat, the people ran along the shoreline, trying to guess where they were headed. When the boat reached shore, Jesus and the disciples found themselves surrounded again. The weary disciples were probably frustrated by this turn of events. They had just returned from a long, arduous trip and looked forward to some much-needed R&R, but it was not to be. Mark indicates that Jesus saw the crowd and “had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd” (Mark 6:34 ESV).

This statement sets up a subtle contrast between Jesus and His disciples that becomes clearer as the story unfolds. Jesus was moved by the people’s helpless, hopeless state. The very fact that they kept following Him revealed their desperate desire for leadership and direction. There were people in the crowd who were hurting emotionally and physically. Others were poor and needy, lacking the resources to meet basic necessities. Luke indicates that Jesus “taught them about the Kingdom of God, and he healed those who were sick” (Luke 9:11 NLT). 

It’s interesting to note that Jesus did for these people exactly what He had commanded the disciples to do on their recent missionary excursion. Yet the text doesn’t mention the disciples teaching the people or performing any acts of healing. It is almost as if they were taking the day off. They had done their part, and now it was time to relax. One can almost sense their eagerness to bring this long day to a close in what they said to Jesus.

“This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the nearby farms and villages and buy something to eat.” – Mark 6:35-36 NLT

Those words show little compassion. The disciples were ready for the crowds to disperse so they could finally get the rest they so richly deserved. Their feigned concern for the people’s well-being was nothing more than a way to get rid of them. Yet Jesus, always aware of what was on the hearts and minds of those around Him, simply said, “You give them something to eat” (Mark 6:37 ESV).

The ludicrous nature of this command is easy to miss because we don’t know how many people Jesus is actually referring to. Mark doesn’t reveal the crowd’s size until later in the story. But the disciples could see the problem with their own eyes. As they heard Jesus speak those words, the disciples stared at thousands of men, women, and children. And don’t forget that when Jesus sent these men on their missionary journey, He told them to “take nothing for their journey except a walking stick—no food, no traveler’s bag, no money” (Mark 6:8 NLT).

They had just returned and had no resources to fulfill Jesus’ command, and you can sense their confusion and frustration in their sarcastic response.

“With what?” they asked. “We’d have to work for months to earn enough money to buy food for all these people!” – Mark 6:37 NLT

They estimated it would take at least 200 denarii to buy enough bread to feed a crowd that size. A denarius was a day’s wage for a common laborer. Their quick calculation was meant to show how impossible Jesus’ request was; they didn’t have those resources. In fact, they were broke. To expose the true nature of their insufficiency, Jesus had them take an inventory of the food on hand.

“How much bread do you have?” he asked. “Go and find out.” – Mark 6:38 NLT

Don’t miss what happened next. Jesus sent the men among the crowd, just as He had sent them into the towns and villages of Galilee. But this time, they came back with a less-than-thrilling report. After canvassing the crowd, the disciples returned with a miserly five loaves of bread and two fish. It was not good news.

But Jesus was nonplussed. As the disciples watched, He told the people to sit in groups of 100 or less. This would have required some organizational planning on the disciples’ part. When their work was complete, Jesus “took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people. He also divided the fish for everyone to share” (Mark 6:41 NLT).

It seems the disciples acted as waiters, distributing the food to the various groups of people. As Jesus broke the bread and fish, the disciples kept returning to find more food to hand out. They brought back an empty basket, only to be handed another full of bread and fish. To stress the truly miraculous nature of this scene, Mark holds off the most important detail until the end.

A total of 5,000 men and their families were fed. – Mark 6:44 NLT

Even that large number is a bit misleading. It is safe to assume many of those men were married, and their families had at least one or two children. So, the actual number of people fed that day was likely twice what Mark reported; it could have been as many as 15,000. Yet, as Mark makes clear, “They all ate as much as they wanted” (Mark 6:42 NLT). No one remained hungry. No one went without or left wanting, including the disciples.

But the truly amazing fact is that when the crowd had dispersed, the disciples picked up 12 baskets of leftovers. They had shown up that day with no food, but each man walked away with a basket filled to the brim with bread and fish. It is no coincidence that when Jesus had sent them on their missionary journey, He had told them to “take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts” (Mark 6:8 ESV). 

These men, who lacked compassion for the people, received a once-in-a-lifetime lesson in God’s power to provide for the needs of the helpless and hopeless. When Jesus looked at the crowd, He saw sheep without a shepherd. But the disciples saw only a problem with no solution, and sadly, they had no desire to find one. Despite their success in casting out demons, healing the sick, and preaching the gospel of the Kingdom, these men failed to learn the most important lesson of all: that with God, all things are possible.

The man with whom they had linked their lives was God in human flesh, fully capable of meeting mankind’s physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Yes, He could provide bread, but He had come to be the Bread of Life. He could fill stomachs, but He had come to satisfy mankind’s hunger and thirst for righteousness. As these men walked away with baskets brimming with bread and fish, their hearts and minds still lacked full assurance of who Jesus was and what He had come to do. But they were learning.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Freedom In Christ

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1 They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. 2 And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. 3 He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, 4 for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. 6 And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. 7 And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” 8 For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” 9 And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” 10 And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. 11 Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, 12 and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” 13 So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea.

14 The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. 15 And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. 16 And those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs. 17 And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region. 18 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. 19 And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled. – Mark 5:1-20 ESV

After their harrowing night on the Sea of Galilee, the disciples sailed to the eastern shore and arrived in a region known as Gerasene. It seems unlikely this was their original destination when they set sail, but the storm must have blown them off course. Yet, in God’s sovereign will, He orchestrated everything that had happened, including their arrival at this desolate place.

The disciples, exhausted from all the rowing and bailing of water they had done during the storm, were probably glad to be on dry land. But before they could relax, they found themselves in yet another tense and potentially dangerous situation. Mark records that as soon as Jesus stepped out of the boat, “immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit” (Mark 5:2 ESV). There were no crowds of people eager to watch Jesus perform yet another miracle. No scribes or Pharisees dog His steps, anxiously seeking evidence to use against Him. 

Jesus was welcomed by a greeting party of one: a demon-possessed man. In his gospel account, Matthew describes a second demon-possessed man, while Mark and Luke only mention one. This seeming discrepancy is likely nothing more than Mark and Luke focusing on the one man who showed the greatest transformation after his encounter with Jesus. While Matthew records Jesus casting out demons from both men, he provides no details regarding what happened next. Yet Mark and Luke recount that one of the men was dramatically impacted by Jesus’ deliverance.

To help his readers understand the violent nature of the situation, Mark describes the man in great detail.

This man lived in the burial caves and could no longer be restrained, even with a chain. Whenever he was put into chains and shackles—as he often was—he snapped the chains from his wrists and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Day and night he wandered among the burial caves and in the hills, howling and cutting himself with sharp stones. – Mark 5:3-5 NLT

Mark’s mention of chains and shackles reveals that this man had probably become a threat to the community. Their attempts to bind him had failed, and this poor man spent all his time wandering among the dead and despised by the living. Mark wants us to understand how hopeless this man’s situation was. He was out of control. His life was not his own. Yet when the man saw Jesus, “he ran and fell down before him” (Mark 5:6 ESV).

You can almost sense the battle going on within this man. He saw Jesus, and in his desperation, ran to him for help. Somehow, the man recognized that Jesus could do something about his hopeless condition. Probably naked, filthy, and covered in scars, the man must have been a frightful sight to behold. His sudden appearance and shocking condition must have made the disciples step back in revulsion and fear.

But as the man knelt before Jesus, a voice came from his body that was not his own. The demon controlling him cried out, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me” (Mark 5:7 ESV).

Whatever spark of humanity remained in this man was overwhelmed by the presence and power of the demonic forces residing in him. And Mark makes it clear that Jesus knew what was wrong as soon as He saw the man. He didn’t need to hear the demon speak to know that the man was possessed. As the man knelt before Him, Jesus said, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” (Mark 5:8 ESV), and this forceful command prompted the demon to speak.

In the same way Jesus recognized the presence of a demon, the demon recognized the presence of the Most High God. He addressed Jesus by His proper title and revealed his understanding that Jesus possessed a power greater than his own. The demon had met his match in Jesus and knew it. When Jesus addressed the demon and demanded to know his name, the demon revealed that he was not alone.

“My name is Legion, for we are many.” – Mark 5:9 ESV

This poor man was being tormented by a host of demonic beings, which explains the extreme nature of his condition. Jesus alluded to this very kind of situation in an address He gave to the scribes and Pharisees. In attempting to expose the unrepentant and adulterous condition of the people of Israel, Jesus compared them to a man possessed by a demon. Even if they could somehow remove the demon, they would find themselves worse off than before. Their unrepentant hearts would leave them exposed and an easy target for the enemy.

“When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none. Then it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and in order. Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before. That will be the experience of this evil generation.” – Matthew 12:43-45 NLT

Mark provides no details regarding this man’s past. We don’t know how he came to be possessed or how long he had suffered under this condition. But his circumstances were aggravated by the presence of many demons. However, as plentiful and powerful as these demonic forces may have been, they were no match for Jesus, and they knew it. They begged Jesus not to cast them out, and they alluded to the fact that they knew a day would come when God would punish them. They knew their days were numbered, but they had no desire to suffer their fate prematurely. Interestingly, the demon(s) pleaded with Jesus by the name of God.

“In the name of God, I beg you, don’t torture me!” – Mark 5:7 NLT

The demons knew that God had a future judgment in store for them. The apostle John was given a vision of what will happen to Satan and all those who aligned themselves with him. The day will come when Jesus, according to the will of God the Father, will deliver a final blow to Satan and his minions, casting them into hell where they will remain for eternity.

Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. – Revelation 21:10 NLT

Fearing the worst, the demons begged Jesus to allow them to leave the man and possess a herd of swine. Their greatest fear was that Jesus would consign them to their future fate prematurely. Rather than having to face eternal torment, they begged that Jesus would let them take up residence in the pigs. When Jesus agreed, the results were immediate. The 2,000 pigs, suddenly possessed by demons, hurled themselves off a nearby cliff. As Jesus alluded to in His address to the scribes and Pharisees, a dispossessed demon is left to wander until it can find another soul to possess. With the deaths of the swine, these demons would be forced to seek out another host to torment.

But freed from the demons’ control, the man “was sitting there fully clothed and perfectly sane” (Mark 5:15 NLT). He had been radically transformed; so much so that when Jesus prepared to leave, the man begged that he might be allowed to go with Him. But Jesus had other plans, encouraging him, “No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been” (Mark 5:19 NLT).

The man obeyed Jesus and immediately set off to the surrounding towns and villages, “to proclaim the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them” (Mark 5:20 NLT). He had his work cut out for him because people from a nearby town were upset about what Jesus had done to their herd of swine. They even begged Jesus to leave, fearing that He might do more damage.

Mark notes several times in this story when Jesus was approached by those who begged or pleaded with Him. The first instance was when the demons begged (parakaleō) Jesus not to torment them. The second is when they begged Jesus not to cast them out of the country, but to allow them to possess the swine. The third was when the townspeople begged Jesus to leave the region. The fourth and final instance was when the man begged Jesus to let him become His disciple. Interestingly, everyone got exactly what they asked for from Jesus, except the man. The demons were cast into the swine just as they had asked. Jesus left the region, just as the townspeople had requested. But the man was not allowed to go with Jesus. Instead, Jesus commissioned him to carry the news of what He had done: “Tell them how much the Lord has done for you” (Mark 5:19 ESV). This formerly demon-possessed man now possessed a calling from Jesus Himself. He had purpose in life and a mission to spread the good news of all that Jesus had done for Him. 

The demons were forced to wander until they found another victim. The townspeople focused on their loss. But freed from the demons and his chains, the man could use his restored voice to shout the praises of the One who had set him free. He had experienced the truth of Jesus’ claim when He had read from the prophet Isaiah in the synagogue in Nazareth.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.” – Luke 4:18-19 NLT

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Peace. Be Still!

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35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”  – Mark 4:35-41 ESV

It had been a long and event-filled day for Jesus and His disciples, and as it came to an end, they sought to escape the constant pressure of the ever-present crowds. Jesus instructed the disciples to take Him by boat to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, but Mark indicates that “other boats were with him” (Mark 4:36 ESV). It seems that there would be no rest for the weary. Perhaps these additional boats were carrying home those who had traveled from other towns in the region to see Jesus. Or it could be that when some of those who had been following Jesus saw Him sail away, they decided to continue their pursuit by boat. They wouldn’t let Him out of their sight.

Interest in Jesus was at an all-time high. His miracles had clearly attracted many, but His messages about the Kingdom had also proven to be a draw. Rumors were already circulating that Jesus might be the Messiah, and His healing of the man with the withered hand (Mark 3:1-6) prompted some to wonder if those rumors might be true. These same people had seen Jesus heal those possessed by demons and had heard the demons shout, “You are the Son of God” (Mark 3:11) as He had cast them out.

But not everyone believed; His own family members had claimed He had lost His mind (Mark 3:21), and the religious leaders declared that He was in league with Satan (Mark 3:22). The reviews were mixed, yet the crowds continued to show up, day after day. Even as Jesus and His disciples made their way across the Sea of Galilee, some followed in His literal wake.

But something significant happened as they crossed the sea. As Jesus slept in the stern of the boat, “a great windstorm arose” that turned the placid surface of the sea into a boiling cauldron, with waves so high that they washed over the sides of the boats. The unique geography surrounding the Sea of Galilee makes it extremely susceptible to these kinds of sudden and violent storms. These extreme weather conditions often appeared without warning, leaving even the most seasoned fishermen fearing for their lives.

So, even though Simon, Andrew, James, and John were all professional fishermen, they were just as concerned as the other disciples. The boat quickly filled with water, and the risk of capsizing was becoming increasingly likely. Yet, amid the chaos and confusion, Jesus remained in a deep sleep, likely indicating His extreme weariness. But in fear and desperation, the disciples woke Him up and exclaimed, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” (Mark 4:38 ESV).

Whether they realized it or not, their reaction to the storm and their response to Jesus revealed much about the condition of their faith in who He was. In this moment of uncertainty, they addressed Him as “teacher.” Unlike the demons, the disciples of Jesus didn’t acknowledge Jesus as “the Son of God” or call out to Him as their Messiah. In the middle of a life-threatening storm, they saw Jesus as nothing more than a physically worn-out Rabbi who was sleeping while they were suffering.

But if you read the accounts of this event in Matthew and Luke, it becomes clear that at least a few of the disciples saw Jesus as more than just a Rabbi. In the confusion of the circumstances, the disciples shouted as they tried to make themselves heard over the howling wind and crashing waves. One of them cried out, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing” (Matthew 8:25 ESV). Another one shouted, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” (Luke 8:24 ESV). Those terms, “Lord” and “Master,” indicate only that the men in the boat regarded Jesus as their official leader. They were turning to Him for guidance and wanted to know what He thought they should do about their dire circumstances.

This whole scene began with Jesus’ rather innocuous statement: “Let us go across to the other side” (Mark 4:35 ESV). When He said those words, the disciples thought nothing of them. Most of these men had made the same trip countless times, but this time was different. Yet Jesus’ words were more than a suggestion; He pointed to a destination and assured their arrival there. But the unexpected presence of the wind and the waves had caused the disciples to lose hope and to take their eyes off the objective of their trip. They no longer cared where they were going or why they had begun the trip in the first place. All they cared about was their own physical safety.

Mark matter-of-factly states that Jesus “rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’” (Mark 4:39 ESV). Matthew adds, “there was a great calm” (Matthew 8:26 ESV). At Jesus’ words, the wind and waves immediately subsided, the storm ceased, and the threat of danger faded away. Chaos and confusion gave way to a great calm. Just picture the scene for a moment. The disciples stood in the boat, drenched to the bone. They breathed heavily from all their efforts to row, bail water, and keep the boat afloat in the storm. But now, they were surrounded by placid waters that gently lapped on the bow of the boat. The crisis was over in an instant.

But these men were also dumbstruck by what they had just witnessed. When they woke Jesus, they had no idea what He would do. They had no preconceived expectations for how He would get them out of their predicament. But He spoke, and the waves and winds immediately ceased. Calamity was replaced by calm.

But Jesus’ next words had the greatest impact. He looked at His disciples and said, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” (Mark 4:40 ESV). Luke records that Jesus asked them, “Where is your faith?” (Luke 8:25 ESV). This simple question seems to reveal what Jesus was trying to expose. He was addressing a pre-existing condition. The storm had not caused their lack of faith; it had only exposed it. Jesus knew they had struggled with His identity since the day they first met Him. Despite all the miracles they had seen Him perform and the messages they had heard Him deliver, they still questioned His identity. They were filled with doubts and questions. Could He truly be the Messiah? Was there a chance his family was right, and Jesus was nothing but a lunatic? What about the religious leaders? Could these learned men be telling the truth? Had Jesus been doing miracles by Satan’s power?

All of these thoughts must have crossed their minds at one time or another. But in the heat of the moment, when the storm pressed in, and their lives were threatened, the disciples began to have serious second thoughts about Jesus. But He was completely aware of the thoughts that had filled their minds as they faced what they believed to be their certain deaths.

After Jesus rebukes them, Mark describes the disciples as “filled with great fear” (Mark 4:41 ESV). The storm was over, but their fear remained; this was a different kind of fear. They were awestruck by what they had just witnessed. With nothing but His words, Jesus had completely eradicated a violent storm. He spoke, and the winds and waves obeyed. This experience left them dumbfounded, but not speechless. Mark records that they turned to one another and said, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:41 ESV).

Their response reveals their limited understanding of who Jesus was. Matthew reports that they asked, “What sort of man is this?” (Matthew 8:27 ESV). This man was their Rabbi, teacher, Lord, and master, but He had just done the unthinkable and inexplicable. He had displayed mastery over the forces of nature.  The miracle they had just witnessed was like something from the writings of Moses. It reminded them of the day God parted the waters of the Red Sea so the people of Israel could pass through on dry ground (Exodus 14). It was like the time God delivered the people of Israel by destroying their enemies with hail and prolonging the battle by causing the sun to stand still in the sky (Joshua 10).

What Jesus had done had been God-like; it had God’s handprints all over it. But all they could manage to say was, “What sort of man is this?” Was He a teacher, a prophet, a holy man, or could He possibly be who He claimed to be: the Son of God? At this moment, they were still wrestling over who Jesus was, but in time, their faith would grow. Mark later records Jesus asking these same men, “Who do people say I am?” (Mark 8:27 NLT). They responded, “Some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other prophets” (Mark 8:28 NLT). But when Jesus asked, “Who do you say I am?” Peter replied, “You are the Messiah” (Mark 8:29 NLT).

With each passing day, their faith and confidence grew. The more time they spent with Jesus, the more convinced they became that He was the long-awaited Messiah. But centuries of faulty interpretation of God’s promises clouded their understanding of the Messiah’s role. Like their ancestors before them, they were looking for a Savior, but not one who would deliver them from slavery to sin and death. They expected a king who would rise to power, free them from Roman oppression, and restore Israel to power and prominence. If Jesus could still the raging storm, He could certainly defeat Israel’s enemies. At least, that was their hope. But when Jesus said, “Peace. Be Still!” He wasn’t just addressing the wind and waves; He was speaking to the storm raging inside the hearts of His disciples. They were being blown by the winds of expectation. They were storm-tossed by waves of doubt and disappointment. If Jesus was the Messiah, what was He waiting for? Why was He wasting time in Galilee when He should be mustering an army to take the battle to Rome? 

These men were confused and conflicted. They had heard Jesus say, “Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword” (Matthew 10:34 NLT). But in the garden, when armed guards came to arrest Jesus and Peter cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant, Jesus said, “Put away your sword…Those who use the sword will die by the sword. Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?” (Matthew 26:52-54 NLT).

Jesus was the Messiah, but He had come to His Father’s will, not to fulfill the expectations of His disciples. He was bringing a Kingdom, but it would not be what they longed for. And while they continued to watch, wait, and wrestle over their understanding of who Jesus was, He would quietly say, “Peace. Be Still!”

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

God Alone

/ kdmiller55 / Leave a comment

1 And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. 3 And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 4 And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. 5 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— 11 “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” 12 And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!” – Mark 2:1-12 ESV

Mark has noted that Jesus “went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons” (Mark 1:39 ESV). One of the miracles He performed on his ministry junket was healing a man with leprosy. Jesus physically touched the unclean man, removing all traces of the disease and leaving him completely whole and ceremonially pure. And though Jesus had warned him to tell no one, the man couldn’t keep his mouth shut. Eager to spread the news about his restored condition, “he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter” (Mark 1:45 ESV).

Eventually, Jesus returned to Capernaum, a small town on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, which served as His base of operations. But as news of His miracles continued to spread throughout the region, the crowds grew in number and intensity. They had heard rumors that Jesus had “healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons” (Mark 1:34 ESV). 

These unbelievable reports created hope and longing among others who suffered from sickness and affliction. Their desperate desire for healing and restoration drove them to seek this miracle-working Rabbi from Nazareth. Mark indicates that they showed up in Capernaum, surrounding the place where Jesus was staying. This was most likely the home of Simon and Andrew, where Jesus had healed Simon’s mother-in-law.

The emboldened crowd pushed its way into the home, filling it to capacity and spilling out into the street. Jesus took advantage of this captive audience by “preaching the word to them” (Mark 2:2 ESV). The Greek word Mark used is logos, which can be translated as “word,” but refers to the communication of a particular concept or idea. Earlier in his gospel, Mark indicated that Jesus had picked up the ministry that John the Baptist had begun by “proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel’” (Mark 1:14-15 ESV).

So, those who had crowded into the home of Simon and Andrew were forced to hear a sermon from Jesus. They came seeking healing but received a lesson on their need to repent. The good news was that the Kingdom of God was near, but the bad news was that they were not prepared to enter that kingdom; they had sins for which they needed to repent. That was the whole purpose of John the Baptist’s ministry in the Judean wilderness.

John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. – Mark 1:4-5 ESV

It seems likely that “the word” Jesus spoke that day contained ample references to the need for confession, but confession without forgiveness is insufficient. As John wrote in his first letter, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9 ESV).

Confession and repentance, while necessary, will not provide anyone with entrance into God’s kingdom. Without forgiveness, the stain of sin remains, leaving the confessor impure and unworthy to enter God’s presence. The entire Jewish sacrificial system was based on the fact that “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins” (Hebrews 9:22 ESV). Sacrifices had to be made. An innocent life had to be taken. Blood had to be spilled.

So, as Jesus preached to the people, He likely declared their need for forgiveness. They came seeking physical healing, but He made sure they understood their need for something far more significant. In God’s sovereign will, an opportunity presented itself to demonstrate what Jesus was trying to communicate.

As Jesus preached, four men showed up carrying their paralyzed friend on a pallet. When they found it impossible to get through the crowd packed into the small home, they went to the roof. In desperation, they cut a hole in the roof and lowered the pallet into the room where Jesus was speaking. The noise and debris must have brought Jesus’ sermon to an abrupt end. All eyes in the room turned to watch as the paralyzed man was lowered into the room.

What happened next is significant. Mark states that upon “seeing” the faith of the friends who had lowered the man into the room, Jesus spoke. But before we look at what Jesus said, we need to examine how He “saw” their faith. These men had come with a specific purpose in mind. They had carried their friend to the home, dug a hole in the roof, and lowered him into the room because they believed that Jesus could heal him. Their faith was evident in their actions. They longed to see their friend made whole, and they believed Jesus had the power and authority to do it.

They had heard that Jesus could heal and were confident He could restore their friend’s mobility. But they didn’t know Jesus could forgive sin. Their pressing need was the healing of their friend’s paralysis, but Jesus knew that physical healing was not enough.  But upon seeing their faith in action, Jesus spoke. He turned to the man laying on the pallet and said, “Son, your sins are forgiven” (Mark 2:6 ESV). Rather than offering physical healing, Jesus declared him spiritually whole. He gave the man something no one in the room had come to receive, and Jesus’ words left the crowd in stunned silence. They didn’t know what to say.

But some Jewish religious leaders in the room heard what Jesus said and immediately declared Him a blasphemer.

“Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” – Mark 2:7 ESV

These scribes were anxious to see whether the rumors about Jesus were true. Could he really perform miracles? But when Jesus offered the paralyzed man forgiveness for his sins, they were shocked and appalled. In the minds of the Jews, sickness was a byproduct of sin. Sickness and disease were considered punishments from God for sins committed against Him. The worse the disease, the more egregious the sin that caused it. They considered this man’s debilitating paralysis a punishment from God, and yet Jesus declared that his sins were forgiven. They must have keenly observed that the man remained completely immobilized and unable to move from his pallet.

Jesus, well aware of the impact of His words and the accusation of the scribes, posed a question: “Why do you question these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’?” (Mark 2:8-9 ESV).

In their minds, Jesus had committed the unpardonable sin. He had dared to place Himself on equal footing with God, who alone can forgive sins. But Jesus pointed out that forgiving someone’s sins was easy; anyone could do it. The question was whether He had the power and authority to do so. In their minds, the answer was no; Jesus had no business offering this man forgiveness for the sins that had caused his paralysis.

But to prove He had the power and authority to forgive the man’s sins, Jesus did the more “difficult” thing; He healed the man. But He made sure they understood the motive behind the miracle He was about to perform.

“So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” – Mark 2:10 NLT

Then He did something that left everyone in the room slack-jawed and surprised.

Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” – Mark 2:10-11 NLT

It required no effort for Jesus to speak those words; anyone could have done it. But when Jesus spoke, amazing things happened, and this time was no different than all the others. As soon as the words left Jesus’ mouth, “the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers” (Mark 2:12 NLT). In a split second, the man’s paralysis was completely gone; he had been miraculously restored to full health and vitality. If this man’s sickness resulted from sin, then his sins must have been forgiven. Everyone in the room could see that he was no longer under any form of divine punishment or condemnation.

Jesus’ actions did not confirm the scribes’ erroneous belief that illness is caused by sin. He demonstrated that He had the God-given power and authority to restore both physical and spiritual health. He could eradicate the effects of sickness and eliminate the condemnation of sin.

Jesus did not make the formerly paralyzed man sinless; He made him physically whole. The sad reality is that, in his newly restored state, that man went on to live a life marked by sin; it was inevitable and unavoidable. But by healing the man, Jesus displayed His divine power. If He could restore a paralyzed man’s ability to walk, He could also restore the spiritual health of a humanity paralyzed by sin, and that is why He came to earth.

The people “were all amazed and glorified God, saying, ‘We never saw anything like this!’” (Mark 2:12 ESV). They were blown away by the man’s healing, but they missed the point Jesus was making. They saw healing as more difficult and more important than forgiveness of sins. The restoration of the man’s physical condition overshadowed Jesus’ renewal of his spiritual condition. No one in the room had come to receive forgiveness of sins; they longed for healing or the chance to witness a miracle. But all the signs and wonders Jesus performed were intended to demonstrate His power and authority over sin, death, and the grave. He was the Son of God and came to give sinful humanity a way to receive forgiveness for their sins and a restored relationship with God the Father.  Yes, He could heal diseases, but His real mission was “to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10 ESV).   

“Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’?” (Mark 2:9 NLT). The truth is, both are easy to say, but it takes someone with power and authority to back up their words with actions. Jesus spoke, and the man was healed. He forgave the man’s sins, and it was so. Because He had the power and authority to make the man whole, both physically and spiritually. 

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.