Does Your Life Reveal Jesus

 

Introduction

On this Mother’s Day of 2022, as a people of God, we remember the mothers of the Bible, women, like Esther, Ruth, Naomi, Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Mary, Martha, Lydia, and the much-heralded Proverbs 31 women. We even recall our own mothers and the gifts they shared with us and other people, gifts like love, compassion, forgiveness, wisdom, a cool hand on a fevered brow, a meal out of little food, an effervescent joy in the face of difficulty, and an unparalleled love of God. We also can remember the women in our lives who loved us, encouraged us, gave us food, sent cards to us, and helped us in our hour of need. We might not remember their names, but we remember their actions. I know for me, as I recall actions of kindness, goodness, and love, several women served God by caring for me. I do not remember their names, but when I think about each one, I say, “You know, Ms. Whatshername.”

Today, I will use a much forgotten and possibly unknown woman of the New Testament. Six verses in three Gospels - Matthew, Mark, and Luke - tell us about her. This woman is the unnamed mother-in-law of Simon, later called Peter. Mark’s recounting to his readers about this incident wants them to understand the woman’s name is not as important as Jesus. He is the object of this brief retelling in the Gospels. We will call Simon’s mother-in-law Ms. Whatshername.

What if you heard about a young lady who finally had finished her formal studies and began her career? She was a diligent worker. One Mother’s Day, she surprised her mother. She told her mom to dress sharply. This young lady had something she wanted her mom to see. She drove to where her mother lived, a house without running water or electricity. A house she herself remembered as home, a home filled with unending love by a mother who raised her and her four siblings. That day, she drove to her mother’s home and took her to an unknown destination. She and her mother walked into a building and met a young man. This man dressed sharply, too. He handed the mother a royal blue box with a red bow on it. The mother looked at her daughter, then back at the box. The young lady nodded at her mother. The mother took the box and looked at her daughter again. The daughter smiled and nodded. The mother, trembling, gently lifted the hinged lid. She saw a shining key in the box. The mother looked at her daughter with a question in her eyes. The daughter told her to hold on to it. Next, mother and daughter returned to the daughter’s car and rode several kilometers from the office. The daughter stopped in front of a yellow house. It had a front porch and clean windows, surrounded by blue shutters. The daughter got out of the car, opened her mother’s door, and helped her out of the car. She took her mother’s arm and walked her to the front door. The mother stood trembling. “Could it be?” she wondered as her daughter opened the box for her, then placed the key in her mother’s hand. The daughter pointed toward the keyhole and watched her mother insert the key with trembling hands. As the lock turned and the door opened, the mother, with tears in her eyes, turned to her daughter and hugged her. This loved daughter had given her mother a house for Mother’s Day. More than that, she had shown to her the love she had sown in her. The person to focus on in this story is the mother. Her daughter’s life revealed even more who the mother was.

Background

¹⁶As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and his brother, Andrew, casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ¹⁷“Come follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” ¹⁸At once, they left their nets and followed Him.

¹⁹When He had gone a little farther, He saw James, son of Zebedee, and his brother, John, in a boat, preparing their nets. ²⁰Without delay, He called them, and they left their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired me and followed Him.

²¹They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. ²²The people were amazed at His teaching because He taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. ²³Just then, a man in their synagogue, who was possessed by an impure spirit, cried out, ²⁴“What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are–the Holy One of God!”

²⁵“Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” ²⁶The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.

²⁷The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching–and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits, and they obey Him.” ²⁸News about Him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee. (Mark 1:16-28 [NIV])

In the day or two before the time at Simon’s house, Jesus had traveled around the Sea of Galilee and called four fishermen to come with Him. As they walked into Capernaum, He and the men entered the synagogue because it was the Sabbath. While there, Jesus taught the scriptures with power and authority and cast out evil spirits from a man (Mark 1:21-24). The evil spirits recognized who Jesus was. They said He is the “Holy One of God.” Jesus commanded them to be silent (vs. 25). The time for His identity to be known had not come. The people in the synagogue were amazed at what and how Jesus said taught. They wondered aloud at the power and authority by which He did and spoke these things (vs. 27-28).

Mark’s Gospel emphasizes the unfolding ministry of Jesus. His purpose was to tell people who Jesus was by telling of His ministry. For this reason, Mark did not begin with Jesus’ genealogy, like Matthew. With the first two chapters of Mark, Jesus’ ministry rapidly unfolds, showing readers and listeners Jesus’ power and authority. He did this so they would come to believe in Jesus as the Messiah.

The Encounter

²⁹As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. ³⁰Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. ³¹So He went to her, took her hand, and helped her up. The fever left her, and she began to wait on them. (Mark 1:29-31 [NIV])

Matthew’s account of this is found in Matthew 8:14-15. He said, “When Jesus came into Peter’s house, He saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. He touched her and the fever left her, and she got up and waited on Him.” (NIV) Luke’s retelling of this same encounter is in Luke 3:38-39. He said,

³⁸Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. ³⁹So, He bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them (NIV).

Each of these men tells of this encounter Jesus had with Simon’s mother-in-law, whom we will call Ms. Whatshername, and the men who were with Him. Though each man wrote about it from his own perspective, each included three key details. Jesus looked at the woman with the fever. The fever left her. Ms. Whatshername was healed. The passive verb tense in Mark shows Ms. Whatshername is the recipient of the healing; Jesus did the action; He healed her.

In each of the Gospel accounts, the joint story moves from the woman, who is sick, to the fever having left her. In two of them, Jesus touched her. In one, He rebuked the fever and commanded it to leave her. In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus raised the Ms. Whatshername from her lying down to sitting. Next, He helped her to stand. The fever would have dehydrated her and made her weak. Jesus shared His strength with her. At this point, Mark makes the statement that the fever left the Ms. Whatshername. He does not state Jesus’ touch healed her. Neither Matthew nor Luke said this either. Mark made this emphasis on Jesus easier to understand when, later in chapter one, he wrote about Jesus healing the leper. In that encounter, Mark told his readers and listeners, “A man with leprosy came to Him and begged Him on his knees, ‘If You are willing, You can make me clean.’ Jesus was indignant. He reached out His hand and touched the man. ‘I am willing,’ He said. ‘Be clean!’” (Mark 1:40-42 [NIV]) The healing Jesus did for Ms. Whatshername occurred because Jesus willed it. Jesus desired, willed, to heal her like He did the leper.

Jesus wants everyone to be free from their bondage, be it sin, illness, demons, false teaching, or anything else that keeps people from believing in Him for salvation. Jesus desired to heal Ms. Whatshername, and she was. Jesus is most important to remember and focus on as one reads the Gospel accounts. The person He “touched” is secondary. Jesus was the One who changed people’s lives back then and now. His intention for all people to come to know Him as their Savior is why He came to earth, died on the cross, and rose to life again. Jesus, by using His power to heal Ms. Whatshername, opened a door for her to be receptive to the gospel.

The Purpose

Since each encounter with Jesus has a purpose, what were the purposes of this mother-in-law’s encounter with Jesus? What are the purposes for us and each person who listened to and/or read about this story? Jesus met people. He did things for them. Why? The obvious Sunday School reason is so they would believe in Him and be saved. Think deeper than that. Jesus did these things so that His disciples would see and model them and teach about them. Why was it so important they and Jesus did these things?

Power and Authority

It was important to show Jesus’ power and authority over sickness. Just as Jesus showed He has power and authority to cast out demons and preach the scriptures authoritatively, He could heal people. Remember, Mark’s Gospel shows people Jesus really is the Messiah. That would hopefully lead them to trust in Him for salvation. The mother-in-law’s life revealed Jesus as the Messiah to the people who watched, listened to stories and read about her encounter with Jesus. Consider it another way. Jesus met Ms. Whatshername because she was sick. His meeting with her could reveal even more who He is.

Think about the story of Lazarus. Jesus did not go to Mary and Martha until four days after Lazarus died. Why? Jesus explained it to His disciples in John 11:14-15 when He said, “Lazarus is dead, and for your sake, I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” Consider the Jewish point of view. For Jews at the time, a person’s death was verified if they had not awakened within three days after a dying. Jesus going to Bethany, where Mary, Martha, and Lazarus lived, on the fourth day proved something for the Jews. It proved to the Jews Lazarus was undeniably dead. When Jesus called Lazarus to come out of the tomb, they would know without a doubt Jesus raised him from the dead. Jesus used Lazarus to reveal who He is. He used Ms. Whatshername of Mark 1:29-32 to reveal who He is. He proved He is all-powerful and has all authority.

Love and Compassion

We Christians believe Jesus has power and authority. We have had two-thousand years to read about Him and see God work in amazing ways during this time. Let us consider another reason Jesus used Ms. Whatshername to reveal Himself. What purpose did Jesus have? Jesus showed His love for her and had compassion for her because she suffered from a high fever. Back then, no antibiotics existed for infections. Fevers came in many ways, including malaria, typhoid, cholera, or flu. What Jesus noted was this woman was sick. She was special to Simon and Andrew. How do we know this? They mentioned her to Jesus, hoping He would do a miracle and cure her. Jesus recognized their love for the woman. Jesus loved her, too. He wanted to help her. Jesus revealed His love and compassion for Simon’s mother-in-law by healing her.

Equal Importance

Though different statuses existed in the ancient world of Jesus’ time and people’s value depended on who they were or what they did (Does this sound familiar?), Jesus showed to the people in Simon’s house and to Ms. Whatshername that all people are equal in importance. God made each person in His image. When He finished creating them, He said, “It is good.” God did not choose one person or people group to be less important or inferior to others. Similarly, Jesus considered women as important as men. “Whether slave or free, man or woman, Jew or Gentile, all people are one in Christ (Galatians 3:28).” In that vein, all people in the world are made in God’s image. Jesus came to save each person. He does not care if you come from a Christian, other religious, or atheist background. Jesus includes all people to receive the salvation He offers for sins. When any person believes in Jesus for salvation, he or she gains identification as a child of God. That means God begins making the person into the image of Christ by the Holy Spirit that lives in him or her. Paul said in Romans 8:15b-16, “The Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by Him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” People who trust in Jesus for salvation are no more what they were. The Holy Spirit transforms him or her into the image of Jesus. Read these verses to understand more. 

For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son that He might be the firstborn among man brothers and sisters. (See Romans 8:29 [NIV])

Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–His good, pleasing, and perfect will. (Romans 12:2 [NIV])

And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His image with an ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18 [NIV])

Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. (2 Corinthians 4:16 [NIV])

Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6 [NIV])

Jesus met Simon’s mother-in-law to reveal He loves everyone without prejudice.

Gratitude

Ms. Whatshername’s life revealed gratitude. Because of Jesus’ care for her, His love and compassion because He healed her, she cared for Him. This healed woman wanted to thank Jesus. She thanked and loved Jesus by serving Him. Ms. Whatshername may have served Jesus by washing His feet, giving Him the best pillow to sit on, taking His outer garment to clean, and feeding Him her best food. The Gospel writers did not say in what way she served them. Ms. Whatshername knew how to serve. This loved woman wanted to give her best to the man who healed her. She said, “Thank you,” with her actions. Ms. Whatshername recognized who healed her, thanked Him with what she had, and thanked Him openly so other people saw. This story of Jesus’ encounter with her shows people how they can express gratitude and that saying thank you is a good thing. Jesus' encounter with Ms. Whatshername came to be written and shared. The writers told the story to point to Jesus and tell who He is. It shows what He does. Ms. Whatshername’s life became an example of how to respond to meeting Jesus. Her life spread the news about Jesus. Does your life spread the news about Jesus and the salvation He gave you?

Think about the opening story of the young lady giving her mother a beautiful house. Is there someone you have not thanked? Do you take what they gave for granted? Does your life give a testimony about who helped you? We each have Ms. Whatshernames in our lives. We remember the kindness they showed us, but we cannot remember her name. Her life was not her own, just as yours is not. You are made in the image of God, like her. The young lady did not give her mother a house to display the amount of money she was earning. She gave her the house because of what her mother had given to her. A heart of gratitude and generosity. Consider who you have not thanked. Consider if that may be Jesus. Have you thanked Him and testified about Him because of His power and authority, love and compassion, and unprejudiced gift for you?

Recap and Conclusion

Jesus came to save people from their sins. Simon’s mother-in-law was no exception. None of us are sinless. The Gospel writers wrote about Jesus and His encounters with people to show He is who He says He is. His ability to speak with power and authority, to heal and cast our demons with power and authority, and to die and rise to life again all come from who He is, the Son of God, Deity. Jesus is part of the Trinity and has all power, might, love, compassion, mercy, forgiveness, grace, etc. needed to do what He did and continues to do in this world.

On that day, Jesus taught the scripture with power and authority. He told four men to follow Him. He walked to the home of two of the fishermen. Simon and Andrew told Him about Simon’s extremely sick mother-in-law. Jesus knew of this woman’s illness. He realized Simon and Andrew were concerned for her health. Jesus understood before the day began what would occur and who He would meet. At the right time, He arrived at the home. One purpose Jesus followed Simon and Andrew to their home was to heal Ms. Whatshername. At the right time, Jesus understood her illness would be concerning. He recognized the time was right for people to see the truth of His deity by seeing His power to heal Ms. Whatshername’s body.

We do not know if Ms. Whatshername had heard of Jesus. He had only made Himself known in Capernaum that day. Would news have traveled to her about Jesus’ teaching in the synagogue even while she was sick? Whether or not she had heard of Jesus’ power and authority and the miracle He performed, Jesus walked to her and compassionately raised her up to sit. His power over life and death healed her. This woman may not have known yet that Jesus is the Messiah, but she recognized Him as a guest, a man with power, and the one who healed her. She arose from her bed and served Jesus and the other people who arrived at their home with Him.

Jesus revealed to people who He is through Simon’s mother-in-law’s life. Consider another way to say it. Ms. Whatshername’s life revealed who Jesus is. How so? Her life, because of this illness, resulted in six things being known. 

1.     Her life resulted in her family loving and respecting her.

2.     Her life resulted in Jesus showing compassion and love that led to showing His power through healing her.

3.     Her life resulted in praise and thanks to Jesus.

4.     Her life resulted in the spread of Jesus’ name and fame.

5.     Her life showed Jesus’ modeling for His disciples how to minister to and heal people.

6.     Her life resulted in the men being well-fed. (Which man does not want plenty of tasty food?)

Matthew, Mark, and Luke’s writings about Ms. Whatshername’s high fever allowed each person who read or listened to the story about her to learn of another area of Jesus’ power. It causes us to consider if our lives reveal who Jesus is. Three questions you should ask yourself.

1.     Who is your life story about you or Jesus?

2.     Does your life reveal Jesus to other people?

3.     Do you show your gratitude by trusting Jesus, and loving and serving Him?

God made you in His image. You should reflect Him. If not, what is in the way? Do you believe in Jesus as the Son of God and that He died for your sins? Have you confessed your sins to Jesus and promised never to do them again? You can avoid sins by relying on Him for strength. If you have never made this decision to believe in Jesus for salvation, today is not too soon. Your life can still reveal Jesus. Most importantly, Jesus is showing you, right now, who He is. Will you trust what He has revealed to you and become a child of God? Will you accept Jesus as your Savior?

Jesus was unafraid to show He is the Son of God. He was bold. You never walk in your own power to live your faith boldly. The Holy Spirit will give you strength and empower you to be bold for Jesus.

Be like the daughter who continued to reveal who the mother is.

Be like Simon’s mother-in-law and reveal who Jesus is through your life.

Who do You say I am?

“When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?’” (John 21:15-19 [ESV])

We’ve all heard teachers and preachers teach that the second time Jesus confronted Peter and asked him three times, "Do you love Me," He was reinstating Peter as his disciple. A new thought came to mind as I read this passage. This questioning by Jesus caused Peter to decide and state for himself and for those listening the depth of his love and devotion to Jesus.

Before Peter denied being one of Jesus' disciples after His arrest, he had followed Jesus when his brother Andrew introduced him to Him. Peter, Andrew, James, and John followed Jesus when He commanded them to follow Him at the start of His ministry (Mark 1). These men and other people watched Jesus heal people, cleanse them from demons, and teach with authority. More and more people followed Jesus, but these four men and the other eight disciples did not stop following Jesus, except for Judas when he betrayed Him. When Jesus commanded Andrew, Simon Peter, James, and John to follow Him on the first day of ministry, they did it from instinct. This man, Jesus of Nazareth, was compelling.

On the day Jesus restored him, Peter concluded for himself he would follow Jesus. He did this because of his own conviction of who Jesus is (the Son of God) and because of his love for Jesus. Peter, with his affirmations to Jesus' three questions in John 21:15-19, internally devoted himself and externally testified to those listening of his decision to follow Jesus.

Today, we each must decide for ourselves. Are we following Jesus because we are part of a crowd of people who want to see what He will do? Or are we following Jesus because we affirm He is the Son of God Who takes away the sin of the world and we dedicate ourselves to Him out of love and devotion to Him?

Today is the day for you to decide for yourself who Jesus is to you - the Son of God or a charismatic man. What is your decision?

Lord, You are God above all things and You died to save me from my sins. Forgive me for denying You when You tell me to do or say something. Forgive me this rebellion. Help me to stand firmly stating You are my Lord and Savior. Let the words I speak, the actions I do, and the thoughts that go through my mind, attest to Your Lordship in my life and lead people to seek You as their Lord and Savior. Use my life for Your purposes and glory. Amen.

Choosing to Face the Storms

Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak! (Matthew 26:41 [NLT])

Think about boating on Lake Erie or the Mediterranean Sea. The day begins with sun, calm seas, and a small breeze. You and a friend decide it’s  a beautiful day to take the sailboat out on the water. You raise the sails to get out of port. As you laze on deck with sails furled in the middle of the lake or sea, a wind arises that makes your boat rock furiously from starboard to port. Unfurling the sails will only cause you to catch too much wind and make your boat toss and turn at the storm’s mercy. A large ocean-going vessel comes to your starboard offering ropes to moor your boat to the ship’s sheltering side away from the wind. What should you do? Accept the offer or take your chances to ride out the storm?

Jesus knew about storms. He knew what caused humanity to stumble, when we face temptations and act upon them. These temptations when acted upon lead to sin. Each person alive has sinned. It’s part of the curse when Adam and Eve ate from the tree of which God told them not to eat. Jesus knew from where sin came. He addressed it immediately after his baptism by John in the Jordan River.

As Jesus came up out of the water, He saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on Him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and You bring Me great joy.” The Spirit then compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness where He was tempted by Satan for forty days. (Mark 1:10-13a [NLT])

Jesus understood humanity had great difficulty facing temptations. He faced temptations immediately after John baptized Him. Jesus faced temptations like any human does throughout His life. At any point in His three-year ministry, He could have said He wasn’t the Son of God, the Son of Man, the Christ, or the Messiah, then the Jewish religious leaders wouldn’t have challenged Him daily. Jesus could have said He was just a man whom God called to be a prophet. That’s what the people thought He must be.

Jesus faced the temptation to back down from the challenges presented by the people and the challenges presented by Satan. He willingly walked the path set before Him. Why? So, sin would be defeated and Jesus would have victory over death-eternal death, which is separation from God. Jesus faced and overcame temptation so that as sinless man, He could give power over temptation and sin to every person who believes in Him as their Savior and Lord. In the desert, Jesus was hungry. It would have been wonderful to enjoy a full stomach and so turn the stone into bread. But He didn’t do it. It would have been a relief if the angels of God’s kingdom carried Him from the heights while Satan tempted by Him. But He didn’t ask for their help.

Jesus faced the temptations to sin as a man and as the Son of God so He could give strength to people and enable them to overcome temptations without sinning. Our temptations do not differ from anyone else’s temptations. The foremost thought we have is to put our own selves first instead of seeking God and His will.  Paul said this in 1 Corinthians 10:13. He said, “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure.” [NLT] When you face  temptations, God is there ready to help you overcome them. In overcoming temptations, you must battle them, not ignore them. These battles strengthen you if you rely on the strength of God to get through the temptation and not to sin. If you rely on your own strength, you do not grow, but become prideful, another sin. This is key to overcoming power. We must rely on God to overcome by going through the struggle against temptation. Only God is all-powerful and all-knowing. Only He knows how to get through and become stronger.

Jesus chose to go through temptations instead of avoiding them. Avoiding them would not have made Him the conqueror. Facing temptations and overcoming them makes conquerors of people who believe in Jesus Christ. Jesus’ choice to face temptation, stand up to it, and overcome it, gives His followers His power to do the same thing. Consider what Paul wrote in Romans 8:31b-39.

If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since He did not spare even His own Son but gave Him up for us all, won’t He also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for His own? No one-for God Himself has given us right standing with Himself. Who then will condemn us? No one-for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and He is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened to death? (As Scriptures say, “For Your sake, we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, Who loved us.

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow-not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below-indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. [NLT]

Jesus, because of His and the Father’s great love for us, came to earth to live as a man, to face temptation just as a man, and to overcome temptation because He is God. He died and rose to life again to provide us, each believer in Him as Lord and Savior, the ability not to sin and not to face eternal death. Jesus did not turn away from temptation but chose to go through it to prove He is the Son of God. By this, He gives us power to overcome and grow through our times of temptation. No wonder Jesus challenged His inner circle of Peter, James, and John when He repeatedly found them asleep as He was praying for strength to face, battle, and overcome His biggest challenge, the challenge to save our souls and make a way for us to be righteous and be in a relationship with God. With these words, these three disciples heard Jesus’ challenge, and He recognized their weakness. “Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” (Matthew 26:41 [NLT]) These three men wanted to be faithful disciples of Jesus, but they were unable to face the temptation to sleep instead of keeping watch-praying.

We can overcome temptations and weaknesses and become stronger because of it. Jesus said that strength comes from God through prayer. Acknowledge your weakness. Ask God for His strength to walk with you through the temptation and to grow you as you walk with Him through it. Then pray with thanksgiving, praising God for the strength He gave you and the growth He caused because you walked with Him instead of falling asleep or walking in your own strength at the time of trial.

Consider the sail boat tossed furiously by the sudden storm. Consider yourself in that storm-tossed boat when a large steady ocean-going vessel offers you mooring ropes by which to secure your boat to the calmer side of that ship. Jesus is like that large ship. He provides His strength for you to hold on to while facing your temptations, your storms. With His strength and guidance, you can get through the storm and to your destination with less injury than if you faced the storm by yourself. You will be able to face another day and be wiser because of it. After having gone through that storm with Jesus, you will be able to help someone else face their temptations. Those temptations have made you more than a conqueror. You have become a stronger Christian in your prayer, thought, and physical life.

We are more than conquerors.

How?

Through Christ Jesus, who loves us.

Only with Jesus will we get through a temptation, conquer it, and become more than we were before the temptation. We are more than conquerors because of Jesus.

Lord, I have faced temptations. I have failed at times, too. I hate going through hard times. You, Lord, chose to face temptations because of Your love for me. I don’t understand why anyone would choose to do that, but You did it anyway. You loved me before You even knew me. Lord, I am undeserving of Your love. Make me more like You. Forgive me of my sins and wanting to live life my way. Help me not to shrug away battles and temptations because I am afraid, but to seek You by prayer and walk with You through them. Help me grow to be more like You, for You, Lord, are almighty. You are all-knowing. You chose to come to the world to die for my and other people’s sins because You love us. Thank you, Lord. Make me more like You. Mold me into Your image for Your purposes and glory. Amen.

The Best

Jesus gives us an excellent ministry plan to follow. Consider what Mark had to say in the first chapter of his gospel. Unlike Matthew and Luke, he did not begin with Jesus’ genealogy, His birth, or His childhood. Mark began his testimony with the beginning of Jesus’ official ministry on earth. He said this with the first verse, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” [NASB] Mark showed Jesus realized what was most important for people.

To support what he testified as an eyewitness, Mark included Isaiah’s prophecy about the one who would go before Jesus’ ministry and what that messenger would say. He said, “As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: ‘Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way; Make ready the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.’” (Mark 1:2-3 [NASB]) Next, Mark explained who this prophesied messenger of God was, John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin. His other supporting testimony about the validity of Jesus as the Son of God came from the life of this cousin, John in verses four through eight. Next, we learn John, baptized his cousin, Jesus, the One about whom he told his followers.

From this point, Mark began his eyewitness testimony of Jesus’ ministry on earth. First, he noted John baptized Jesus and “Immediately coming up out of the water, He (Jesus) saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit (Holy Spirit) like a dove descending upon Him; and a voice came out of the heavens: ‘You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.’” (Mark 1:10-11 [NASB]) Notice Mark often used adverbs and action words to enliven and make poignant his testimony. As soon as John baptized Jesus, “immediately” He saw the heavens open and heard the voice of the Lord. Next Mark said, “Immediately the Spirit impelled Him to go out into the wilderness.” Jesus’ status as the Son of God impressed the hearers. He next showed His status and power as the Son of God in the wilderness while withstanding temptations for 40 days. Through those days, Jesus knew what ministry was most important for humanity.

Did Jesus go home and rest after being in the wilderness once God proclaimed Him as His Son? Did He take His ease and say, “Ah, finally, water, food, and rest, just what I needed? Now I can sit and ponder what the Father said and did.” No, Mark said in verses fourteen and fifteen, “After Herod’s soldiers took John into custody, Jesus came into Galilee preaching the gospel, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” Jesus’ time had come. The kingdom of God was at hand. It was closer than at any other time in history since Adam and Eve sinned in the garden. What Jesus declared is the theme of Mark’s testimony. What we need to realize is Jesus did not just get baptized and then tell the time for earth; He got busy.

Mark gave many examples of Jesus being busy about the Father’s work. First, after Jesus returned from the desert, he went to Galilee, which was near the desert, and said, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” [NASB] Next, as He walked along the Sea of Galilee, He called fishermen to follow Him. First Andrew, who introduced Him to Simon (Peter), then, He called James and John. Note, of these first four disciples, three of them–Simon, James, and John–became Jesus’ inner-circle of closest friends. These were the ones He took to the garden at the transfiguration, and when He prayed before His arrest after Judas’ betrayal. Note also, these four men did not tell Jesus, “Wait, I must help my father haul the fishing nets in.” Mark said, “Immediately He called them, and they left their father and followed Him.”

Now, if Jesus was just a man wanting to build up fame and gain followers, He could have stopped there. Yet, we don’t see that happening. Jesus is about the Father’s business, to tell people, “The kingdom of God is here; repent and believe in the gospel.” What we next read in the Gospel of Mark is Jesus traveled to Capernaum and immediately He entered to the synagogue and began to teach. The people listened with amazement at His teaching; He spoke as one who had authority, not as a scribe or a local man taught what to say by a Rabbi.  What Jesus taught wasn’t new. How He taught was. Jesus taught with power and freshness. What He said wasn’t the same lesson the people listened to as the scribes spoke.

A challenge, an example, occurred next. A man with an unclean spirit was inside the synagogue and this unclean spirit challenged Jesus. This spirit said in verse twenty-four, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are-the Holy One of God!” What this unclean spirit said in the synagogue was significant in several ways. First, through the man’s voice, the spirit spoke for all demons. Second, it proved even demons know who the Son of God is. Third, this demon recognized the extent of Jesus’ power and challenged Him. Jesus acted. Immediately Jesus rebuked (sharply disapproved) the demon for declaring who Jesus is. Jesus said, “Be quiet!” He also commanded the demon to leave the man’s body. With one last attempt to remain in the man’s body, the demon threw the man into convulsions, then screamed with a loud voice and exited the man (vs. 25-26). Jesus did not only teach with authority, He had authority. He showed He had authority over the spiritual realm by commanding the unclean spirit to be quiet and to leave the man. Mark emphasized Jesus’ authority in action. The demons, the spiritual realm, acknowledged Jesus’ authority and power. Jesus has authority in heaven, on earth, and under the earth.

Did Jesus end His ministry with a pat on His back and His chin raised? No. When Jesus exited the synagogue, He went to Simon’s house. Being the Sabbath, the men probably shared the Sabbath meal. Simon found his mother-in-law sick with a high fever and he immediately told Jesus. Jesus did not say, give me a minute and some food so I can recover. With great care and love, Jesus went to her, raised her up, took her hand, and the fever left her. Jesus showed His love and showed He has power over the health of people. In gratitude, Simon’s mother-in-law waited on them. She gave them something to eat and drink. After the Sabbath ended at sunset, the people of Capernaum, having heard of Jesus’ teaching, casting out demons, and healing the sick, brought other people for Jesus to heal and from whom to cast out demons. Some people came to watch.

Jesus’ fame began, but the people still only sought Him for what He could do for their physical bodies. They still did not repent and believe. This may possibly be the reason the disciples searched for Jesus when He left the house to pray in a secluded place. They recognized His abilities, too, just like the people who gathered at Simon’s house to watch Jesus heal and cast out demons. Possibly they sensed there was more to Jesus than that. Mark recorded these four disciples searched for Him because everyone was looking for Him. Of course, this was an exaggeration. Only the people around Capernaum, a town-village of a couple thousand people, heard what Jesus had done there.

Jesus knew He must tell everyone-people outside of Capernaum,“The kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe.” He said that is why He came to earth in human form. Healing and casting out demons were good things to do. Because of Jesus’ love, and His power and authority over all things, He came to make people whole-physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Healing showed Jesus’ power and gave physical wholeness, but His primary task was to preach. Because of Jesus’ love for people, He wanted, and wants still, to make people completely whole by uniting them with the Father by making them righteousness. Jesus knew nothing a person could do would make him or her righteous. Righteousness for humankind required a perfect sin sacrifice as a substitution for the judgment because of their sins. This perfect sin substitution would free them from having to offer their lives as the judgment for their sins. Jesus’ preaching the kingdom of God is near meant God had come down and was right then among them; accept, repent, and believe. Without His preaching, people would not know and accept Jesus’ gift of His sacrifice and then become clean from sin, become righteous. Only this way can people become whole physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Jesus never lost the compulsion to preach the Good News. He preached, taught, healed, raised people from the dead, cast out demons, and in other ways made people well. Jesus never forgot to preach and teach the Good News. Helping people heal and become well is good, but without spiritual righteousness, no one can ever be completely whole. Spiritual righteousness given through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection is how God makes people completely whole. Often, we followers of Jesus get baptized, begin to listen to and work for God, then forget the mandate. Nothing is wrong with helping people, but if they don’t know Jesus, the work we do is just good. When we tell people the Good News of Jesus Christ, that work is best. Jesus loved and so healed. Jesus loved people and died so they could be made righteous, made whole, and have an eternal relationship with God.

Here’s where it gets real. Are you a Christian who began your walk with Jesus by telling people about Him? Did Jesus give you a heart of love for other people and so you care about their life situation? Look around; have you gotten lost in the process of doing good for people by helping them with rent money, medicine, learn a language, etc.? Have you forgotten to tell them why you have a heart of love for them, which is because Jesus loves them enough that He died in their place as the penalty for their sins? That’s what our lives should be about. Nothing is wrong with helping people, but helping people without telling them the Good News is just that, good, not the best.

Tell the Good News.

That is the greatest act of love for a person.

Jesus still calls to people. Will you allow yourself to be used by Him for this purpose?

Good vs Best–What will you do?

Christ still lives in the world today,

Tell the good news, tell the good news;

Giving strength to all souls who pray,

Tell the good news, tell the good news.

Tell the good news, tell the good news,

Tell the good news that Christ has come;

Tell the good news, tell the good news,

Tell the good news to everyone

-Tell the Good News by Gene Bartlett

Lord, I gave my life to You. I asked You to save me and use me for Your service. I’ve not hated or hurt anyone, but in my doing, I forgot the best. Lord, forgive me for not loving You more and for not loving other people well so that I did not tell them Your good news. Forgive me for allowing my works to tell the good news and not my voice. Lord, You never forgot to be about the Father’s business. Make me constantly aware and vigilant of where You are working so I can join You and tell Your good news. Make me and use me for Your purpose for Your best.

Miracle of Faith (John 4)

In studying the Bible, I am aware that true miracles, things unexplained by human reason, can only occur when Jesus does them. Consider first the Pharaoh’s wizards and advisors. When Moses came before Pharaoh with the ability to turn a rod into a snake, Pharaoh countered by having his advisors do the same. Pharaoh did not attribute the “miracle” to Yahweh. When Moses, at the prompting of God, had locusts enter Egypt and eat the harvest, Pharaoh was perplexed because he could not explain the influx of locusts, but it did not trouble him. When Moses said God would kill the first-born of every household that did not smear the blood of an untainted lamb on the doorposts (believers of Yahweh did this), Pharaoh scoffed, but did not do it. Pharaoh believed the next morning because he saw the might of Yahweh. Until physical miracles affect the spiritual side of a person, they are not true miracles. In other words, a physical miracle must instill the awe of God in the person so the person believes God actually did the action and worships Him. 

Let us consider a few miracles Christ performed while He was doing His ministry on earth. First, look at the story of Peter’s mother-in-law in Mark 1:29-31. When Jesus, John, James, Andrew, and Peter arrived at Peter’s house, Peter told Jesus his mother-in-law was sick. Usually women prepared the meal or other food and drink for guests. Peter explained his mother-in-law was unable to serve them. Peter’s wife would serve. It does not appear Peter asked Jesus to do help his mother-in-law, but Jesus showed the disciples He has power to heal the sick. He just showed He could remove demons from a person (a spiritual need). Now Jesus showed He could physically heal a person. He offered no fancy words for Peter’s mother-in-law to hear to help her trust Him. Jesus took her hand and helped her arise from the bed. The mother-in-law had to believe Jesus for her body to be able to stand. No words passed between them, but their spirits connected. She trusted in who Jesus is. 

Consider, too, the man with leprosy in Mark 1. This man came to Jesus. He accepted Jesus was able to heal people. The leper just had to be in Jesus’ presence to ask for healing. He asked for Jesus’ blessing of healing by saying, “If you are willing, you can make me clean” (Mark 1:40). Jesus willingly healed the leper’s body and thereby made him ritually clean. Having leprosy in those times made a person unclean in the religious sense. The Mosaic laws disallowed him to go to the synagogue. Being unclean meant lepers lived outside the city/town as an outcast away from other people. Yet, this leper had such faith in Jesus he presented himself, though unclean, before Jesus and asked for healing. This was the prelude to Jesus’ ministry on earth. Jesus came to make sinners clean so they can be in God’s presence for eternity. He healed this man’s body and cleansed him spiritually.  

Consider now a nobleman’s child. In John 4:46-54, a royal official walked from Capernaum to Cana (about 27 miles) to meet with Jesus. He asked Him to go to his house.  The nobleman believed that if Jesus came to his house, He could heal his child. Theologians and historians consider this nobleman was a courtier of the king. Others understand he was the king of a small location, like a tetrarch. Still others figure this nobleman was a centurion under Herod Antipas. Whatever he was, he was a Roman royal subject. It says a lot that a Roman would hear of and trust Jesus, a Jew, could heal his child. This Roman believed good could come from the Jews and Jesus could heal his child. His faith, though, was not complete. The Roman asked Jesus to go to his home and heal his child. Jesus confronted the Roman’s unbelief when he said in verse 48, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe.” He challenged the Roman’s faith and required him to believe. The Roman still did not trust and requested Jesus to come with him in verse 49. In verse 50, though, Jesus commanded him, a Jew commanding a Roman, to “Go; your son lives.” At that point, the Roman believed and returned to his home. Before he arrived home, his servants met him on the road and told him his son no longer had a fever. The fever broke when Jesus proclaimed the Roman’s son healed. Jesus rewarded the Roman’s belief. The physical miracle met with spiritual belief and a true miracle occurred. A new believer was born. 

Jesus healed many people during His ministry. He touched many people and many people touched Him. Some people Jesus did not touch, but commanded. His ability to command obedience among the Jews as well as among the leaders of the country is astounding considering He was a carpenter’s son. This showed God’s Spirit spoke to the person’s spirit affirming who He is. Cleansing, healing, and becoming children of God could not occur without the person’s belief. For a true miracle to occur, a spiritual belief along with a physical blessing must occur. When only physical occurrences happen, it cannot necessarily be said the miracle came from God. When we automatically give glory to God for a physical blessing, then we acknowledge a true miracle. This sounds simple, but if it was simple, why were the Hebrews, particularly the Jewish leaders (Pharisees and Sadducees), unable to believe in Him? Part of the reason is like the reasons people state today; they do not want to give control of their lives over to someone else, especially to some personage "out there”. People want to “see to believe,” about which Jesus challenged the Capernaum Roman nobleman. Jesus challenged Saint Thomas on this point, too. Thomas did not believe until he saw the nail prints in Jesus’ hands and feet. Jesus, at that point, told the disciples, blessed is he who believes without seeing.   

Miracles occur nowadays. We observe them every day when healing occurs to cancer patients. When these occurrences affect our spiritual life, then they are true miracles. Jesus’ miracles affect both the physical and the spiritual aspects of life. God blesses us when we believe without seeing. He blesses us with faith if we will ask Him for this gift. Believing is not hard to do. We must be willing to accept God is real and He has an eternal gift for us – faith - that leads to belief in Jesus Christ. The question we must each ask ourselves is will we believe God is. On this hinges not the stuff of our lives and our eternity.