Mark 9:30-32 - July 2, 2010

Mark 9:30-32 “They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, 31 because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise." 32 But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.”

Mark 9:30-32 is an insightful lesson in leadership and mentoring. In this passage Jesus continues to demonstrate a powerful commitment to making time to train his key people on a deeper level than the rest of multitudes that are attracted to His ministry. Many leaders get caught up in the business of success and fame and lose sight of the long term goals of what they are leading. It would have been very easy for Jesus to focus solely on the crowds, the miracles and the opportunities to enlarge His following but throughout the pages of scripture it is clear that Jesus consistently makes time for two primary things; His personal relationship with the Father and the development of the team of people that will someday soon take over the primary leadership of His organization.

In verse 30 Jesus one of the more subtle sides of Jesus is seen. There are only a few references in the gospels to this aspect of Jesus’ ministry but it is thought provoking to read “Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, because He was teaching His disciples.” Jesus understood the need to make Himself inaccessible to the needs and the demands of the crowds that were around Him. He displays a tremendous capacity to restrain passion for the sake of wisdom. Many people get caught up in their zealous energy. Yet Paul wrote a very balancing statement to the Romans when he exhorted them Rom 12:11”Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” Simply put his point was Keep the passion but keep it yoked to the purpose! A similar phrase heard commonly in the workplace today is “work smarter, not harder!” And it is this that Jesus is demonstrating.

Based upon the disciple’s reaction to the news that He will die and be raised from the dead Jesus has recognized the need to invest more deeply in their preparation. He sees that they do not really understand what He is trying to prepare them for and so He is has set aside time for a deeper investment to teach them more thoroughly.

There is, however, a secondary and yet common problem that is seen in this little passage. Even though Jesus is making this focused investment in helping them to grasp what He has been trying to say it simply is not getting through. It is in the midst of this that the disciples make a key error because of their fear. They do not ask any more questions. Whether to protect themselves from rebuke or out of pride or simply because they are intimidated by the things that He is saying to them, the disciples miss the opportunity to search out the matter. Jesus has created an environment where they are alone, and He is available and yet they still do not seize this chance to seek understanding because of their fear. This condition is far too common even in today’s workplace. As a result many of the things that could have helped the disciples through their transition to the primary leadership had to be learned on their own. Perhaps this is part of what Jesus meant when He said to them in John 16:12-13 "I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth.”

Mark 9:28-29 - June 30, 2010

Mark 9:28-29 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we drive it out?" 29 He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer."

Where do you go to for answers? Mark 9: 28-29 presents to us a tremendous picture of the search for understanding. The disciples have just been faced with the reality of the great distance between the authority that they are experiencing and the authority that Christ walked in and it is perplexing to them. They have just encountered a need that left them feeling helpless because they could not cast the demon out of this child and yet Jesus came onto the scene with such confident ability and displayed no struggle in evicting this demonic oppressor. The tension of their very public failure within the context of Christ’s seemingly effortless and faith filled demonstration seems to have left them perplexed and confused as to what it was they were lacking that left them unable to meet the need.

This condition seems to follow the lives of all of those who take up the yoke of Christ and say yes to His calling to a life of serving. We are chronically met with situations and needs that are seemingly greater than we have the capacity to respond to. Like the disciples we are faced with the great distance between the example of Christ that we see in the word and the measure of our own wisdom and power. And it is for such a time as this that Mark 9:28-29 is waiting for us!

What is it about Mark 9 that speaks to us with such simple clarity? The disciples take their uncertainty over the outcome they have just experienced to the best possible place. They go inside with Jesus and ask Him privately! There is no place better for finding answers than inside the secret place of God’s presence. When you are perplexed about the outcomes in your life there is no better course of action than to have a private meeting with the Lord Jesus Christ! But, if you are going to seek Him out, if you are going to ask for understanding from the Holy Spirit there must also be a willingness to accept the answers that are given. Truth can at times be diluted by an unwillingness to embrace it! When what we here in the presence of the Lord lies contrary to the desires of our heart a struggle of the will can erupt within us.

In the case of Mark 9:28-29 the answer is foundational. Jesus responds to the inquiry of the disciples with a truth that goes to the very core of their lifestyle. He does not explain some mystery that they needed to understand. He does not teach a formula that they had never heard before. Nor does He instruct them in a technique or method that would have helped them. Jesus addresses the foundation of their spiritual life, “this kind can come out only by prayer.” Some translations include in this passage the phrase “and fasting.” To some this is the missing ingredient but whether we are talking about prayer and fasting or simply prayer the answer of the Lord is quite simple. His answer to His disciples is at its essence the Lord saying “Your spirit man is not mature! You need to dig deeper into your spiritual relationship with the Father.”

This reality is powerful in its message about the ministry of Christ. Through this one short answer Jesus is saying to His disciples “my public ministry is a reflection of the inner life that I have developed before my heavenly Father. If you want to do the things that I do in public, first do the things that I do in private.” The needs of the world are awaiting a generation of people who will develop a secret life in God that will leave them powerful in their public ministry. Shut the door to your secret place of prayer and let your life be empowered by encountering God!

Mark 9:25-27 - June 29, 2010

Mark 9:25-27 “When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit. "You deaf and mute spirit," he said, "I command you, come out of him and never enter him again." 26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, "He's dead." 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.”

Welcome to deliverance 101! This passage is a continuation of this powerful lesson on deliverance ministry as Jesus casts out a spirit that was beyond the measure of what His disciples were able to perform successfully. In this instance Jesus is compelled to immediate action by the growing crowd that is headed His way. He recognizes that there will soon be a level of chaos gathered around Him that could make this time of ministry more difficult. Or, was Jesus allowing the crowd to gather so that the impact of the miracle was greater.

There is no way to know for certain what was in the mind of the Lord at this moment but the thought of a large crowd arguing, debating, and just the general chaos of the moment would seem to be a motivator to end this dramatic scene quickly and move on. In particular the pain that this father and this son would have both been experiencing emotionally would have seemed to indicate the Lord’s desire to spare them from any further emotional suffering at the hands of a thoughtless and calloused crowd. When interpreting the actions of Jesus and applying their lessons to our own lives it would seem safe to always assume that the love of Jesus would compel Him to minister in such a way that protects the person who is the center of the actions taking place.

As Jesus directs His energy towards setting this boy free He wastes no time in addressing the demonic spirit that is behind the boy’s condition. He now demonstrates the outcome of His diagnosis and discernment as He identifies a deaf and dumb spirit as the source of the boy’s condition. By this fact we can once again learn that in many cases demons are specialists. This demonic spirit’s function is specifically to bind people with deafness and muteness, but it is educational to realize that the impact of this spirit goes beyond simply the realm of speech and hearing. Even though this is the dominant condition being generated by this demonic presence it also is able to so overcome the boy that he is convulsed and thrown into the fire or water.

The scope of Jesus’ authority is also on display in this passage and we are given a small glimpse of Christ’ dominance over evil spirits. Not only does Jesus command the spirit to leave the boy, He also commands the spirit to never enter him again! This principle by implication carry over to us in that we have been told that we will do greater works than Christ because of His heavenly intercession and the victory of the cross. When this is considered in the context of His teaching that those who believe will cast out demons how can we not assume that the scope of authority that can both evict and regulate this demonic interference extends to the believer as well.

This powerful lesson in spiritual authority and personal ministry continues as the demonic spirit is expelled. In this case the demon does not leave quietly but rather with a measure of drama as it compels a shriek from the boy upon exiting and then the boy’s physical reaction comes in the form of one great, violent convulsion and then the boy is left lying on the ground as if dead from the intensity of this experience. How are you prepared to react when the Holy Spirit comes upon someone that you are ministering to and they are set free but with external manifestations that might even seem contrary to your expectations?

The visual impact upon those observing is so great that many assume that the boy has died in this encounter. Jesus however is not disturbed and simply takes the boy by the hand and helps him to his feet, restoring him to his father completely free. This passage is a great lesson in perseverance as Jesus resists the discouragement created by His disciple’s failure. It is also a tremendous lesson in walking by the Spirit not judging by external manifestations. Though it seemed very messy and quite dramatic it was very much the work of the Holy Spirit, not the work of the devil as at times some of the spiritual leaders of the day accused the works of Jesus as being. Inside every one of Jesus’ encounters with hurting people there is a depth of wisdom and insight waiting to be found by those who will search for this precious treasure. Take up the search and let your heart grow rich in the revelation of Jesus Christ!

Mark 9:24 - June 28, 2010

Mark 9:24 Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"

This passage illustrates the most concise and powerful prayer a man can pray… “help me Jesus!” Mark 9:24 is a picture of a willing but struggling heart. This father is faced with the grievous condition of his son and the repeated failure of others to provide any lasting help. His most recent disappointment has been the failure of Jesus’ disciples to exorcise this demonic presence that is threatening the life of the man’s son. And now Jesus has spoken life to him. “Everything is possible for him who believes.” Whispers of hope begin to rise in this wounded heart and he lifts up a cry to the Lord. “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.”

One of the powerful messages contained in this passage is revelation of what faith is. Faith is not the absence of internal conflict but rather the determination to not submit to the fears that assault the heart and mind. “I do believe, help me…” To some people this condition would appear as unbelief, but to the Lord this was a heart of desperate faith. What is reflected in this passage is the compassion of the Lord. When we consider this passage it becomes clear that Jesus’ response to this man is a response filled with the awareness of all that this man has suffered. There is not condemnation for his wounded condition. He had no power to help this son that he loved. All that he had been able to do for these many years had been to suffer with him as together they explored every conceivable avenue of help.

The struggle within this man to believe is immense but the intensity of his immediate response is fueled by the passion that comes from a glimpse of hope returning to his heart! Prov 13:12 states passionately “hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life,” and it is this principle that is speedily at work in the heart of this father. With the words of Jesus something that has been dead inside of Him is beginning to come to life. With the words of Jesus the hold that despair has had upon his heart is beginning to lose its grip! And so he cries out “I do believe, help me…”

How many other people find themselves at just this same place in their lives? Their hearts are shut down by their pain and they cannot see a doorway that leads to hope. That doorway is Jesus! Jesus is the doorway for the desperate heart! Turn to Him in your moments of despair, your times of weakness. You will not be despised for it. In fact the scriptures make it clear that one of the main goals of the humanity of Christ was to present to all mankind a compassionate God who is mindful of our weaknesses and who deals with us in mercy. He is slow to anger, patient and kind. Take your pain to the Lord and join yourself with the heart of this father who received mercy from the Lord by lifting up the very same cry “Lord I believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”