When Life Is Unfair - Mark 15:15-20,29-32,37-39; 16:5-7

I learned as a young boy that life is sometimes unfair to the best of people. Some of my best friends had gated saddle horses and a good saddle to ride on errands and for fun. I rode a brown mule named Old John, bare backed with two bushels of shelled corn in front of me to the Turnage grist mill where I traded one bag for the grinding of the other; no fun, but better than walking.

I wanted to be an athlete and to be accepted. Base ball and basketball were my favorite sports but I weighed about 120 pounds, was slow and had two left feet and was always the last one to be chosen to play on a team.

At eighteen and subject to the draft, I volunteered for the air force because I had a desire to be a pilot. I had owned three old cars and overhauled the motors, transmissions and installed mechanical brakes. I was mechanically minded and knew I would enjoy flying a plane. With my mechanical experience and a high school education I had no problems with the aptitude test for the Corps and past the entire test with flying colors. Then I failed the physical test because of a doctor’s error in his diagnosis. Six months later I was drafted into the Infantry and walked everywhere I went, and slept in fox holes instead of air force barracks. By the time I was twenty and serving in the 5th Army in Italy, I was convinced that life is unfair.

My father was in poor health when I left home to enter the service. He soon became unable to work, and died at the early age of sixty in 1948. I had returned to the states and got to be with him only a few months before he died far two early in age. He was denied the good years he could have enjoyed with us; especially his two grand children. I loved my dad dearly and dealt with a great deal of anger toward God, and what I saw as life’s cruelest demonstration of unfairness. That was not the last experience I had with unfairness, but I have learned that unfairness is a work of the devil and evil people and does not come from the hand of God. It has sometimes been hard to admit, but God may allow strife in the life of one of his children; but if He does it is only as a test of our faith. Mine has always been a mustard seed faith, growing, but oh so slowly. I continually pray for greater faith.

No one desires to be treated unfairly but if you are a mature adult you know by now that it happens in a wicked world of imperfection. There are times when you will know the perpetrator and you feel that others are to blame but that does not remove the pain or displeasure and the misdeed can not be undone. Revenge never pays dividends; in fact it only tends to make things worse. Placing blame on others or blaming ones self, giving up on life and people and failing to cope with the situation will never solve the problem.

You have an alternative. In Romans 8: 28 we learn that we should blame no one and turn to God in faith believing that all things work for good to you in your problems if you are one of his called—and you are living in his will for your life. Ask yourself…am I the only one that is or has been mistreated? The answer definitely is NO. You have the best example known to man, right here in verse 15 of this lesson. “Then, willing to gratify the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. And after having Jesus flogged, he handed Him over to be crucified.” WAS THIS UNFAIR?

Listen, dear friend, all was well and there was no unfairness in this beautiful, wonderful, and perfect world until God, in his honesty and fairness, gave Adam and Eve the privilege of choice. The first individual choice to please one’s self instead of God was made by Eve in the Garden of Eden.

Please study carefully all the vivid descriptions of UNFAIR treatment that was dealt to the Son of God. He carried his own cross until total weakness caused him to fall. He was beaten until his body was bloody from the blows; nailed by hands and feet to the cruel cross; spit upon and offered only bitter liquids instead of a drink of water. He knew beyond any doubt that all of this mistreatment was underserved and was coming from bitter enemies—but he never became angry, and in the end made the astounding request of his Heavenly Father—“Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing.

This entire horrid picture simply explains what had to be done to save mankind from total destruction. It was necessary. It had to be. It was God’s only plan. If this is true in the case of Jesus Christ, is it not possible that our unfair treatment is possibly a necessary part of our Christian life? Bear it and pray that your heavenly Father will forgive your enemies.

How to Develop Your Faith- Mark 8:11-13,16-21,27-33

Listen friend, you must realize that by faith you are saved. And without faith you can do nothing. You please God through your faith. With faith the size of a grain of mustard seed, you can remove mountains. And faith without works is dead. It is easy to conclude that there is no real encounter with Jesus Christ except through faith. I believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God in the same way that I believe that I am the son of William T. Vandiver. All evidence indicates this to be true. Then the bible teaches me that if I have a true life changing experience where I accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior, then I become His son. I am heir and joint heir with the Lord Jesus Christ and all others who truly believe in Him.

Why do I believe this? How did I develop this faith? The bible teaches it as truth. I believe the word of God to be truth. Therefore my faith is developed through the study of the word and its application to every day life. The Jews had developed a mind set that caused them to be more concerned with the keeping of the law than keeping the faith. It is at this time and place that the critics accused Jesus of breaking religious tradition because he allowed his disciples to eat food with unclean hands. One of the most important teachings comes out of this incident. Jesus tells his critics that it is not the unclean that enters man that is his problem…but it is what comes out of him that matters 7: 14. Nothing that is outside of man can make him unclean by going into him. Rather it is what comes out of man that makes him unclean.

Verse 20…he went on to say. What comes out of man is what makes him unclean. For from within and out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, greed, malice, and deceit. We are what we think, say and do. Our outward expressions and manifested feelings and desires indicate what we really believe our responsibilities are toward others.

The bible defines faith as the substance of things we hope for when the evidence is unseen or unknown. Things may be unseen or unknown to us but we believe because we believe the word of the Lord which has assured us that through the grace of Jesus Christ and our true belief that all things are possible when we are in Christ. No promise has ever been broken and none will ever be. Our only responsibility is to truly believe that Christ is and will always be the savior of man kind. It is a matter of faith, we simply must believe. It is a simple but very complicated truth that must have permeated your total being. In the beginning was God and nothing else. Do you believe that? From nothing, God created all things that are. Do you believe that? God and his son Jesus Christ [one and the same] are in total charge of this world and all that takes place therein. Do you believe that?

These truths and many others are recorded in God’s word for us to use to use as proving grounds for our faith. There is no way one can grow their faith other than to read the bible and learn of the ways that God deals with man, always consistent and in complete fairness. When you know this to be truth, you can truly say “my faith is sufficient.”

How to Be Courageous - Mark 6:35-52

Anyone with courage has the ability to conquer fear or despair and are said to be courageous. A coward is one who lacks courage. Most men have vanity and pride and are devastated at the thought of being called a coward. Any father that believes his children reorganize him as a coward is most miserable. Children who have parents that they believe to be non courageous are never proud of their heritage. Therefore, it becomes absolutely and imperatively necessary for all adults and especially parents to strive to be courageous. Mark thought it to be so important that he spent some time teaching us how to be courageous. It really is not difficult since the only requirement is that we recognize that all power and strength comes from God.

As a young person I was afraid of the dark. I felt uncomfortable around a grave yard at night. Walking alone at night caused uncomfortable sensations that I did not understand. For me to be totally free from fear became an elusive goal. This was more important to me than it would have been to many of you, because I lived during a time when a young man needed to be strong and independent. His family had faith in him and trusted their security into his keeping. As a young man during the depression years I was involved in hunting and trapping for fur barren animals. One of the constant fears that plagued me was that I would encounter a rabid animal. The common ones were the dog, skunk, mink, and fox; with any of which I might have some contact at any given time. Survival required more than just courage, it also required plain common sense in how to prepare for and handle courageously any circumstance that presented itself.

It is amazing to me that the hazards of life present circumstances that cause us fear and we always find ways within our own power to work them out…but when the danger involves the demons of evil at work in this world today that affect the lives of our love ones, children, grandchildren, and sometimes us individually, we hesitate and sometimes refuse to go to the God of all power for the strength we need to survive and even find happiness in some of our sorrows.

In our lesson today we find one woman that had lived in constant fear for twelve years. She had been loosing blood for all these years before she finally submitted to the source of power to heal, and simply touched the tassels on the corner of Jesus’ robe and was healed by her faith…Mark 5:34. This woman detained Jesus who was on his way to heal the daughter of a synagogue ruler. The daughter died, but fear did not overcome the parents because Jesus encouraged the ruler, urging him to have faith. He went in alone to the girl’s room assuring all that she was only sleeping. As the world still does…they laughed at Him; but as He still does, he raised her from her from death.

If you study this passage you will find that he was at home with his own people who DID NOT HAVE FAITH in Him. He tells us that he had to leave his own people in Nazareth, his home town, because of their lack of faith he could not do any more for them. Notice, it is only when WE LOOSE OUR FAITH, that the power is removed. The power is not in OUR FAITH, but it is the ONE IN WHOM WE BELIEVE. It takes both…our faith and Jesus. We not only become courageous by faith in Him, but we receive our power to survive by our faith in Him.

In order to increase the spread of the gospel, Jesus sent his disciples out two by two to preach throughout the Galilean area. The crowds grew, and their work increased until they had problems finding a time to eat and rest. When Jesus found his disciples on the banks of the lake, he disembarked and was amazed at the crowds that had gathered. Fear had overtaken his disciples because they were tired and hungry and had no time to rest. Note: They were allowing their fear to overwhelm them. The press of the people depending on them was great, and they FORGOT where the power could be found that would solve the problem.

When Jesus appeared, they let him know their fears and suggested that He send the crowd away into some town where they could get food and lodging. His answer must have been a shocker. It was, “You give them something to eat.” Their question was one such as you and I might ask Him. Do you want us to go buy bread? Where will we get the money? As you will recognize this is the beginning of the feeding of the 5000 with five loaves and two fish. It must have been the greatest of all his miracles because it is the only one that is recorded in all four of the gospels.

The application that we should make here is that there is no need for our fear of anything that we are ordered to do if it is in God’s will…He will furnish the power and provision. We only must furnish the faith and follow the command. There is a wonderful contrast in this story as it shows us the difference in the attitude of Jesus and the attitudes of the disciples regarding those in need. It shows us two reactions to human need. We must never say send them away…get rid of them. When we meet those in need…we must be ready to give them something that will meet their need.

This story tells us there are two reactions to human resources. Some would say it is too expensive and I just can not afford the cost—anything I have would not meet the need…it would be of no use at all. Jesus simply asks...What have you got? And then he says use it. I know what you are thinking…but if we put ourselves into the hands of Jesus Christ, thee is no telling what He can do with and through us. There is one thing for sure; we do not have to fear what ever he does.

Mark says that when the crowd had eaten, Jesus sent the disciples away before he dismissed the multitudes of people. Mark does not tell us why, but I think you can find the answer in John’s account of this incident. John says that there was a move among the crowd to take Jesus to the mountain top and crown him their new King. I do not think that Jesus wanted his disciples to witness this outburst of affection…it was not the time or place. As soon as he was alone he went up into a mountain to pray and was there alone with God his Heavenly Father.

This must have happened about mid April, it was time for Passover. Passover was scheduled at full moon…Easter still is. It was about three o’clock in the morning, still dark but the moon allowed Jesus to see that there was a mighty wind on the lake and his friends were having trouble staying afloat. Note: This is just another incident in the life of Christ. He took care of the 5000, was alone with God only a short time dealing with his own problems and immediately he saw his disciples in trouble and went to their rescue. To Him the cry of his people for help surpassed any personal need that he suffered. He came to them treading the waves under his feet, and so he does today, put all our tumults of life under his feet. Why are we ever afraid? How can we be courageous? Why can we not see and believe that when our storms of life threaten…He is the one that will always be there to calm the winds. There is a condition for us to meet—we must walk with Christ and that is what brings us the power of conquest over our storms.

Is God Still Working in the World? - Mark 4:14-32

If you had ask me this question when I was a new Christian at 21 years old, I would have given you an overwhelming YES because I had just encountered his love and influence on my life and I was sure that things happening around me each day were as a result of his daily intervention as my life bringing about frequent and noticeable improvements. I was a happy young Christian.

I was young, industrious, constantly associated with young people and could experience daily examples of their reactions to me, others, and life in general. These kids were far from perfect, but were normal and natural and not mixed up in mind and spirit. The young and older were not perfect, never was, but would admit that God was ever present, working his will through all that would accept his love in their life.

That was sixty-four years ago and I will still give you an overwhelming YES, God is still here with us, working his will into the lives of believers, because in these many years I have learned much more about God’s nature and why he sent his Son to save his people. No deity would invest so much in his holdings and walk off and leave it without attention. He was in charge the day the earth and all therein was created, and He still is. The fallen angel, Lucifer, was powerful and at war with God the first day, and he has never stopped. Admittedly in something over six thousand years, the devil has learned many new ways to confuse people and lead them to believe that God has gone back to heaven to live in luxury and is no longer at work on earth in our behalf.

In those early days of my Christian life the energy flowed and activities involving Christ and people stood out as proof of his intervention in our affairs. In these latter days when energy levels are low, I depend on the may years of experience, and the fact that there is an inter feeling of binding love and appreciation for His word which has convinced me that he has never left me alone and will never forsake me.

Lack of paper, ink and time will prevent me from being inclusive about all the adverse changes that I have witnessed, but I will assure you that it is not a myth—it is truth; Satin is more experienced than ever, and has learned many new way to attack God’s people. Admittedly, at times it seems that evil is winning over God’s worldly influence, but if you know and believe the bible this should not be a surprise. Christ is not willing that any should perish, but that all should become children of God. It is not his will that one single person wind up in Hell. But you can not accuse him of being ignorant; he knew from the start that many would reject him. He told us that the Low Road to hell is wide and well lighted and that MANY of the people will travel this LOW road and spend eternity in hell. In the same passage He told us that the High Road is narrow, [evidently not as well lighted and marked with signs that men could choose to follow] and FEW will find their way to heaven by traveling the HIGH road.

I know that it sounds harsh and brash, but just because Christian Believers are in the minority, and seem to be falling behind in numbers in the world today, does not mean we are loosing. Just the opposite; it means that we are one of the FEW that will enjoy eternity with Christ in Heaven. So look up in fear and trembling if you are one that disbelieves that God no longer works among men today; that mean that you are one of those traveling the Low Road to hell on a fast train—maybe a jet-liner or a 20-lane, one-way super highway, wide, well lighted, and going down hill…it is the LOW road to Hell.

I heard on ABC evening news today that some survey shows that a shocking percentage of those that claim to be Christians go to more than one church. The national news [all of them are guilty] reports only those things that are shocking and controversial. What they should be interested in reporting is how many go to church anywhere. I have gone regularly for over sixty-five years. Why do they not interview people like you and me who go the church of our choice and trust God all the way?

I know this preparation is going to sound personal. It is, because it tells you what I know to be true and is the story you need to hear. Yes GOD IS STILL WORKING IN THE WORLD AS 2009 DRAWS TO AN END. I could be critical of my church, and would have reasons to tear it down, but I choose to go positive.

I Joined First Baptist, Heber Springs, in 1975, 34 years ago last July and we are just about the same size if you count heads in membership. Regular attendance on Sundays has varied from about 300 to 500 or a few more. The facts that are much more convincing regarding God at work, is when you add to the regular Sunday morning attendance, all of the activity in the Children’s church, in the youth department, in the individual and specific church activities such as the women’s study groups, the nail benders, and the list goes on, and there is much duplication, but by the end of each week the number could easily be a thousand or more. Multiply this by 52 weeks times the 34 years and it looks like God may have been working in this neighborhood at least 176,800,000 times. The only feet and hands He has to work with are those belonging to dedicated Christians and they can be found in all the other God fearing churches in the community—that means that the 176 million plus is just a drop in the bucket.

We at Heber First have our good and bad times, but have never stopped working in this world. And then there are all of the outreaches from our church that add to God’s influence. We sponsor local, state, national and foreign missions—and ours is the most generous of any congregation of any where I have ever been a member. People, hear me now; we are God working in this world. I warned that it would sound as if I am tooting our horn…personally. I realize that our efforts are only a drop in the bucket and that we could do more. When we fail we only limit Him, we never stop him from working to save the lost and feeding his sheep.

The scriptures suggested to be use as background material for our lesson today is found in Mark 3: to 6: 6a, and the passage for emphasis is found in 4: 1-34. Jesus and his disciples were along the shores of Galilee and the people were already so impressed with [God working in the world at that time] that the crowds had grown until the press of the people was causing problems. Notice that Christ was working, and [His disciples who could be thought of as the people in his church of that day] were at his side helping each day. Note: Christians today are at His side working today in this world.
In that day His church was small in number of members. Jesus told us that he established His church, and the gates of hell would never prevail against it. It is still here on earth, working, and has MORE members than ever.

Jesus taught in parables, and he has left his word, with his parables as examples for us to use as teaching materials. That has not changed. He used highly recognized people and things to teach life-giving and life changing lessons and Christians do the same today. One of the parables he used concerned the farmer that sewed seeds in four different kinds of ground, three of which failed to produce a harvest. Yes, he warned them that three out of four seed beds would fail. That phenomenon has not changed. The devil never ceases to remind us of all of our failures and tries to make us believe that God is no longer working as he once did. Don’t believe his lies. Christ told us that good seed sewn in good ground [which represents those of us who hear the word, and embrace the word] will produce a crop that will be 30 to 100 times what was sewn. Christian seed are still being sewn and many new converts are still being reborn in the world today.

Jesus taught the balance of life message in verse twenty-four, and today it is the lazy and unbelieving that are finding fault and accuse God of forsaking his people. He told the people that they would get what they gave. Man reaps what he sews. This is true in the study of the word; the more you are willing to study the word the more you will learn from it. It is true in worship, the more you take with you to church, the more you will get from your worship. We do have a problem today. Far too many go to church to get and are not willing to give. Want to know who they are? Listen and see who is criticizing the preacher; who dislikes the music director and criticizes the music program.

In this passage you will find the Law of Increase. It is hard and harsh but true. To him who already has still more will be given; and from him who has not; even what he has will be taken away. For example, it is true of knowledge. The more you know, the more you are capable of knowing—so study to show thyself approved. It is true in effort; within the limits of your bodily strength, the stronger you are the more you can do. If you take what you have and exercise you will become stronger. Sit and do nothing and you will weaken each day. [Oh, do I know this to be true. Arthritis teaches this truth. It is true of one able to bear responsibility. If you refuse to be responsible you will soon be irresponsible. Finally, it is true regarding any skill. Work hard and make first chair in the band; refuse to practice and you will be asked to drop out of the band altogether.

Men who forget this law of increase are the ones that look around today and think God has quit, simply because they are not willing to do what they have to do in order to see spiritual things happen. I ask you—have you quit exercising, practicing, studying and learning, an accepting your responsibility in the kingdom work? Do you go to church to GET or GIVE?

What Does Jesus' Call Mean for Me? - Mark 2:15-28

There are literally hundreds of direct statements given in the Bible that answers the question proposed in the title of our lesson. When considered within the context intended there is no contradiction and no verbatim repetition; however there are numerous reinforcements.

Christ came to seek and save lost people. He came not to condemn the law but to fulfill it. He came to die on a cross. He came to do the will of his Father, God. He came to forgive everybody of their sin. He came to judge all men. He came to be crucified. He came to arise from the dead and prove that there is life after death. He came to defeat Satin. He came to be the promised Messiah. He came to earth as the only Savior of sinful man. He came to give us a picture of what God looks like and who God is. He said that if we have seen Him we have seen the father. He came to live a life of example, teaching us how we should live. He came to prove that he is the way, truth and light of the world. And so the list goes on with hundreds of statements proving that men are eternally lost and without hope when they reject the true Christ, the Son of God—the Christ that is in every Christmas.

Never before in the history of this world…and especially in the history of the United States of America, have people faced a more dismal picture of what people see when they observe this Christmas season. There has been an urgent and dedicated effort to remove the word CHRIST from the season. It breaks my heart to see true Christian people willing to give up so easily and allow the business world change the name of the tree, the day, the season, to a shallow and meaningless by-word “holiday” In order to emphasize their effort, they tell us that it is no longer politically correct to talk about CHRISTMAS, but we should say happy-holiday. This tendency has not happened over night, we have for years now, experienced {with deep sorrow} the wording of Christmas songs changing to the secular mode. We no longer feel the hair on our neck standing erect and the joy in our heart causing creepy feelings ascending and descending our spine as we hear the words of age old hymns that we love so well. It is different now as the words of the songs of the holiday cause us to visualize mother kissing Santa Clause, and deformed rein-deer that have grown noses of red. [I have never been a deer hunter, but might be tempted to start if the noses of the ‘legal to shoot deer’ would light up red identifying the prey.]

Let us get back to the question of why Jesus came to earth. As you read the story of his first years of life as recorded in Luke 2, there is very little recorded there that would give us any reason why people have decided to welcome and worship him in so many secular ways. In verses six and seven, Luke gave the very simple account of the birth of Christ in so remarkable few words. [Go there and read] He had just proclaimed that Caesar Augustus called for a census to be made. People abroad were required to return to Bethlehem for the census. Joseph and Mary {who was with child} had to leave Nazareth and return to Bethlehem. “While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.” Note: Firstborn here indicates she had others later.

Josephus quotes the actual law that required the censuses to be taken. Their censuses were taken every fourteen years. According to Barclay we possess actual documents from every census taken from AD 20 until AD 270 and if no errors were made this census referred to in Luke 2 must have been taken in 8 BC. That means that Jesus was born in 8 BC. Luke was the only gospel writer that referred to gospel events in comparison to historical events. His audience was predominantly Greek. At that time Palestine was under Roman rule and Caesar Augustus, the first roman emperor was in charge. A part of the problem lay in the fact that Caesar was believed to be God, in contrast to the new born Messiah.

The census was taken to provide names for those that would be placed in the army and for the purpose of collecting taxes. Jews did not have to serve in the army, but was required to pay taxes, so Joseph made the trip of eighty miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem along with his pregnant wife and a donkey. Think about that. Why? Because it had been prophesied that it would happen that way in Micah 5:2. God controls all of history so through the decree of a Roman emperor even the date and place of this birth was determined to be as Micah had predicted.

Bethlehem was crowded with people and all of the hotels, motels, bed and breakfast places, and rooms for rent were filled to capacity. Mary and Joseph were lucky to be able to stay in the stable where their donkey was being kept and fed. And there, Jesus was born and wrapped in a square of cloth and lay in the manger which was probably a stone which had been hewn out to contain food for animals. There was no room for him in the Inn…indicates that there was no room for him in the hearts of men. In fact, it tells us that there was only one place where there was plenty of room for him and that was on the Old Rugged Cross.

Luke tells us that the message of His birth came first to a group of shepherds that were tending sheep in the fields near Jerusalem. This must have been a blow to the Jewish elite. Angles came to the smelly old shepherds before they did to the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Sanhedrin movers and shakers. These shepherds were probably the ones that had furnished the lambs used for sacrifice in the Temple all these years. They were privileged to grow the sacrifices that had announced his coming and now they were privileged to announce the coming birth of the Sacrifice for all man kind, Jesus himself.

Luke tells us that Jesus did not disobey the law. In this passage we see Jesus undergoing three ancient ceremonies which every Jewish boy had to undergo. [i] One was Circumcision. Every Jewish boy was circumcised on the eighth day after birth, and given his name. This law was so important that it could be administered on the Sabbath Day even though the law forbade almost every other act of work. [ii] One was the Redemption of the First-born. According to Exodus 13:2 every first born of man and animal belonged to God, and had to be purchased back from God at birth. [iii] One was the Purification after Childbirth. A mother was considered unclean for forty days after the birth of a son and eighty days if the child was a girl. She could go about her work at home but could not go to the temple or share in a religious experience. In Leviticus 12 you find that a sacrifice of lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon for a sin offering was necessary. I believe these laws were kept to prove to the people that it was true that Jesus did not come to condemn the law but to make if full, complete it, obey it as if to say that law is necessary and to be obeyed. It is important that you see that Mary offered the two pigeons instead of the lamb. Some could not afford the Lamb. The pigeons were known as the offering of the poor. The home of our Lord was just an ordinary one. Our Lord knows what it is like to be unwanted, and poor. His love for mankind is absolutely inclusive.

The time has seemingly come in our day when older Christians are not afforded the respect and appreciation they rightfully deserve. There are two individuals mentioned by Luke that should cause the reader to gain great respect for and of the elderly.

The greater number of the people believed that because the Jews were the chosen people they were bound some day to become the masters of the world and lords of all the nations. Some believed that some great celestial champion would descend upon the earth; some believed that there would be another king of David’s line arise and days of old would revive. In contrast there were a few people known at The Quiet in the Land. They had no dreams of violence and powerful armies. They relied on prayer, fasting and quiet watchfulness until the coming of the Messiah. All their lives they had waited quietly and patiently upon God.

Simon was one of these. All his life he had waited quietly and patiently upon God to arrive on the scene and comfort his people. God blessed this man and had him waiting at the temple entrance when Mary and Joseph arrived with the baby Jesus. He held the child in his arms and blessed the family. He was wise in old age and able to give these parents information they needed even if it hurt. He said “Jesus will be the cause whereby many will fall.” Many will not accept Him. Are you one of these? Then he said, “He will be the cause whereby many will rise.” He was and is the extended hand let down to sinful men to help us rise above our selves toward God. Are you one of these? Then he said, “He will meet with much opposition.” Now we know that there are no neutral grounds we either surrender to him or we are at war against him. Where do you stand? Hear this old man, your fate is up to you, decide now!

Anna was 84 years old, one of the Quiet Ones in the Land like Simeon, a widow, lived in the temple, praying and fasting and witnessing to all that would listen. Old, but never ceased to hope, worship, pray and witness. I visualize my Granny Pankey as being another Anna.

I too am old, 85, and still have my greatest hope abiding. I pray and witness, and sometimes it becomes so discouraging when so few seem to hear my plea. Simeon had a prayerful wish and it was that he could hold Jesus in his arms before he died. His wish was granted. I have a prayerful wish and God and I only know what it is; it shall remain that way and then if it comes true, I will know that God has answered my Simeon request. Got problems? Write or call me and I will pray for you.

How Can Jesus Help Me? - Mark 1:14-31

The first three books, Matthew, Mark and Luke are known as the synoptic gospels. ‘Synoptic’ is a Greek word meaning that two or more words, books, ideas or things should be viewed together—or side by side, in order to show their likeness, difference, order of origin like first or last. William Barclay placed these three books side by side and analyzed every word written checking the terms that are alike and the ones different. This study produced some very interesting information. Barclay deducted that Mark is the most important of the synoptic gospels; in fact he thinks that is good argument that it is the most important single book in the world. Of course this would only be possible if you contend that the Bible is a compilation of sixty books.

Mark is the first book of the birth and life of Christ that was written and is still available and unchanged. It is known that others made simple attempts to write the story of Jesus’ life; but Mark’s gospel is the oldest that has survived. It is not only difficult to realize that at the time of the writing of Mark there were no mechanical ways to print a book; and there was not a single printed book in the world. None of the books in the New Testament were printed—all were written by hand; there were very few copies of any book in existence. You may wonder…and indeed, you may ask how we know that Mark was the first gospel written.

First, even after being rewritten by hand; and changed into print—and changed from the original Greek language to English—THERE ARE REMARKABLE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE SYNOPTICS.

1. They contain the same incidents often told in the same words.
2. Teachings of Christ contain accounts of teachings of Jesus which are close to identical.
3. Compare the feeding of the 5000 in the synoptic and they use almost exactly the same wording.
4. It is amazing. Compare the story of the man who was sick of the palsy and you will find four words in parenthesis—“he said to the paralytic” occurs in all three gospels in exactly the same place.
5. It is clear to see that two of these sources used the third as reference—or all three used a fourth as reference. There are several reasons why bible scholars have decided that Mark wrote first and Matthew and Luke used his book as their reference.

Notice this fact. There are only twenty-four verses in Mark which do not occur somewhere in Matthew and Luke. This should cause you to place a high honor on Mark’s writing, and should cause all of us to honor him for being the first to establish this truth regarding the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Who was this man, Mark? Before we go into the study assigned for today, here are a few more vital statistics that we need to hang securely on one of our pegs of remembrances.

Mark was the son of Mary, an important lady of Jerusalem who was an important member of the Church that furnished food and lodging for leaders serving in the area—Acts 12:12. Mark was the nephew of Barnabas and went with them on their first missionary trip. Mark was not one of the original apostles but went with Paul who contended that he was one of God’s missionaries because of his calling on the Road to Damascus. No doubt about it, Mark was brought up in the very center of the Christian fellowship.

Mark was the nephew of Barnabas or he would not have become connected to Paul on his missionary journeys. I have taught this lesson several times, and have tried to find the reason why Mark decided to leave Paul and Barnabas; I still do not know for sure. In Acts 13: 13, it says that Mark decided to go home. Paul was unhappy with him and called him a quitter. The only clue we have says that he went home because he wanted to be with his mother. I have been made to wonder who his father was and how he fit into this story. {Seriously, if you know and can contribute to this part of our lesson today, please let me know who the father was and how he fit in.}

I believe I know why Mark wrote the book named for him…Mark. He had no other reason but that he wanted to present the work and teachings of Jesus Christ in whom he believed and felt committed. Mark wrote by hand the book of Mark. He is the Author. He lived in Rome, and from Rome he wrote Mark to the Christians in Rome—and to John Vandiver, and all the rest of you Christians living in Arkansas, and throughout the world. The date of the writing of this synoptic gospel was somewhere between A.D. 55 and 65.

The setting was the Roman Empire under the Caesar. The common language, the great transportation and communication system was ripe and growing and ready to hear about the new message of Jesus Christ which was spreading from nation to nation.

The key verse that I see as being important because Mark was writing about Christ, who he was, and what he came to do was Mark 10:45: “FOR EVEN THE SON OF MAN DID NOT COME TO BE SERVED, BUT TO SERVE, AND TO GIVE HIS LIFE AS A RAMSOM FOR MANY.” We need to notice who Mark listed as the Key people involved in this part of the Live of Christ. They were: Jesus, the twelve disciples, Pilate, the Jewish religious leaders, and the key places were Capernaum, Nazareth, Caesarea, Philippi, Jericho, Bethany, Mount of Olives, Jerusalem, and Golgotha.

Mark is a special feature. The evidence is strong that Mark was the first gospel ever written, and it is the only one written in chronological order. The other gospels quote all but thirty one verses of Mark. Mark is the shortest of the four gospels—however it records more miracles than does any other gospel. Other gospels begin with the birth of Christ but Mark begins with the works of Christ and the first thing recorded came from Isaiah’s conversation with Him when he was told that John The Baptist would be sent to prepare a way for Him to follow as He did the work of his Father.

Mark writes the gospel in dramatic action-packed stories that makes it easier to understand. He gives us the most vivid account of Christ’s activities. He features facts and actions rather than teachings. The way Jesus lived his life is the perfect example of how we should live our lives today.

Soon after John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee where he started his preaching of the Good News that simply proclaimed that “The time has come.” “The kingdom of God is near.” “Repent and believe the good news!” As Jesus walked along the shore of Galilee He saw two fishermen, Simon and his brother Andrew. Jesus told them to follow him and he would make them fishers of men. They obeyed.

A short time later he saw James and John, sons of Zebedee, fishermen, mending and preparing their nets. He called them and they followed him, leaving their father with only his hired-hands to help him. Fishing for fun is still hard work; however fishing for a living is even harder. It is a business, and these four men had some heavy investments in equipment and must have been successful since they were able to hire extra help needed. We need to realize that they gave up their way of living upon one command…”Follow Me.”

They left the lake and went to Capernaum where Christ preached on the Sabbath. He was approached by one who was possessed y an evil spirit that cried out asking what He wanted with them. Jesus told the evil spirit to “Be quiet and come out of the man.” The evil spirit obeyed Christ. People began to question and wonder why he was able to do this.

They left the synagogue and went to the home of Peter, where his mother-in-law was ill. She was healed. Her fever subsided and she got up and waited on all of them. That night, many others came and were healed and there were demons cast out. Demons were told not to talk about it. Why? I believe that Jesus wanted everyone to accept him on his own words and deeds and to believe that he was the Son of God; and therefore did not want the demons explaining to the others what had happened to them.

The work of Christ includes prayer, preaching, healing, miracles, and at no time did he brag of his power but always gave His Father God all the glory. It is amazing how Mark is able to cram so many facts, so many incidents and many things about our Savior into this the smallest of the synoptic gospels.

Listen, this is a Vandiverism, but oh, so important. This first chapter of Mark is so important, so complete that you have already studied enough scripture to save every person in the world if they would simply accept and obey what has been taught.

God Wants Us to Value Everyone - Genesis 1:27; 9-6/Matthew 5:21-22; 36-41/Mark 10: 46-52.

If you are a member of a church that is struggling to pay the bills and stay afloat are you as pleased to receive a new low income family into your membership as you are to receive a family of professionals that are among the top income group in the community? If both families join your church, will they receive the same treatment, the same welcome and will both be well pleased with the way they are integrated into church activities? Do the staff, deacons, teachers, and members treat the two families differently? Before you answer, remember that I will never know whether or not you are truthful; however, God knows your innermost thoughts and you can not hide the desire of your heart from Him. The value of a soul is not measured by the size of ones income, position, or political power—and does not depend on whether or not the person is a regular tither.

For your information, I use Life Way Literature to select this series of lessons and as one source of my reference information. Life Way prepares the literature for the Southern Baptist Convention. The Convention has chosen a few special days out of the year to emphasize Bible teachings regarding certain subjects—like Christmas, Easter, missions, and this case today—where the emphasis is on the sanctity of human life. This need became more relevant and very important in the mid-twentieth century when sanctioned abortion finally got completely out of hand. I will hasten to say that the sanctity of human life relates to life from conception to the grave and not just abortion, even though I personally feel that the abortion issue has moved up equal to or beyond the problems we have with manslaughter and murder in all degrees.

We have recently started the study of Genesis and there we found that God created all things that are. He spoke his WORD and things became something from nothing but when he got to man…He said “Let us MAKE man” and he created man in his own image. No other part of the creation has this honor. Then he placed the world under man’s dominion and that is the highest honor he bestowed upon any of his creation. Then in 9:6 he told us for the first time… [Thou shalt not kill each other.] And he said that if we caused the blood of a man to be spilled; there would be a death penalty passed on us…and we too would lose our own life. Ladies and gentlemen, brothers and sisters in Christ, our lord created man to be his family, he created us to worship him and praise him, and not to be targets for demonic spirits to kill or destroy. He created man so that he would have a family to love and protect and it meant so much to him that he called us “His people,” “His church,” and “His bride” and he loved us so much that he gave his only son to save us from our sins. Then as the Savior, he loved us so much that he gave his life on the cross that we might be set free from our man made bondage. GOD LOVES US SO MUCH! I can never explain how much he loves us…but I can tell you that he is heart broken when we fail to value one of his little ones—all the way from the inception to the day of burial.

We will now go to Matthew 5: 21-40 and the truth we find recorded here may be shocking to some of you. This is the teaching of Jesus Christ, who has all authority in heaven and on earth. Jesus had the authority to change the entire meaning of some of the Laws of the Old Testament. We do not have the authority to add to or take away one jot or title of God’s word…but Jesus did and he used his authority in these verses. He did not contradict what the writers of old had said, but he added new concepts that are relevant to our daily associations with our fellow man. The new requirements under the new covenant are much more demanding than those under Law…so much different that when he finished his sermon on the mountain—Matthew 7: 28 says; “When Jesus finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.”

The devout Jews all through history down to the day that Christ preached his sermon on the Mt. had believed the law to be absolutely holy and absolutely divine, and totally complete without error. They reverenced the law, completely. Their very life here on earth and hereafter was rooted in law. That is what every Jew that heard this sermon thought, believed, and had lived by. And now five times in 5: 21, 27, 33, 38, and 43 Jesus quotes the law and then contradicts it by substituting a new teaching of his own. Please note what I am saying; his contradictions did not deny the truth that was in the law, but it pointed out to all men that life in Christ was much more…much broader…more in depth…and required much more of man than the original law indicated.

Jesus claimed his right to point out the inadequacies of the sacred law [ten-commandments and mosaic] and he claimed the right to use his perfect wisdom to correct man’s highest wisdom making them complete and totally correct. The OT is the inspired word of God as he gave it to his chosen leaders. They explained his word to us to the maximum extent they were able and capable, but it was not complete until Jesus’ writers of the NT added to it and gave the full explanation of every item in the old covenant law.
The first two examples given here in Matthew has to do with murder and adultery. The law said, “Thou shalt not kill” but Christ said that if you are angry with your brother to the point that you would even think of killing him…or striking him, then you are as guilty as if you actually followed through with the crime. He explained that it was not only the man that committed adultery that was guilty; but the man who allowed the desire to dwell in his heart was also guilty. This was a new teaching, and it raised the problem of self control, and it is a problem that we have never been able to fully master. Jesus said that it was not enough not to commit adultery, but to fully satisfy the law under the new covenant; one could not even wish, want, desire, or think about committing adultery. Before you condemn a brother for his acts…ask yourself this question…Have I ever ‘thought about doing the same thing?’ Get the mote out of your eye before trying to get the stick out of his eye.

Since you became a Christian, you may have never struck another person. Can you truthfully say that you have never had the desire to punch anyone? You may have never committed adultery; but who can truthfully say that they have never had a desire for the forbidden? Jesus taught that thoughts are just as important as deeds. Man watches what we do; while Christ is just as concerned about our thoughts. For this reason we are not to judge others, only Christ has the knowledge and authority to judge the sin of his people.

It is not unusual for any one of us to fall short of the demands required under the new covenant with Christ. The Bible says that “all have sinned and come short” somewhere at some time. Should we be concerned? Sure! Should we be distraught? No! We all have something like a split personality; it has followed us all the way from the Garden of Eden. Eve wanted a forbidden thing—and that evil desire caused her to bring Adam in on the actual participation in the evil action. It is the way we are; one part wants to do right and another part yearns for the forbidden. This paradox troubled the Apostle Paul to the extent that he found it necessary to admit his problem. He said for some reason, and he never explained why but when he wanted to do that which was right…he still would fail. If Paul had to live with this problem, it will probably always haunt me, because I admit freely that Paul was more committed to doing right than I will ever be.

If you are sincerely interested in an in-depth study about the sanctity of human life you should go immediately to Matthew five and carefully study verses 17 through Chapter seven, verse 20. When we place value on human life, the commitment goes far deeper and much further than murder, adultery and abortion. Jesus insists the one of the gravest of all sins against your brother is to destroy his reputation and take his good name away. He teaches that no punishment is too severe for the malicious tale-bearer, or gossip at the coffee house or beauty shop which murders another persons’ reputation.

Jesus did not destroy the law…but He did change the full meaning of the law. What Jesus is telling us in Matthew is this: “In the old day [under law] men condemned murder because it is forever wrong. But I tell you that not only are a man’s outward actions under judgment; his inmost thoughts are also under the scrutiny and the judgment of God. Long-lasting anger is bad; contemptuous speaking is worse, and the careless or malicious talk which destroys a man’s good name is worst of all.

In 5:23-24, Jesus tells us that we can not continue to worship him during a period of time when we are having serious problems with our neighbor. He says that if your fellow man has something against you; you don’t take your offering and go to church expecting the problem to go away. First, you go to your accuser and settle the argument. Because you are a confessed Christian, you must be willing to go the second mile, accept the fact that you may have said or done something that provoked him and settle your differences. When you are right with your adversary, then you have a clean heart that is worthy of the right to worship at His alter.

The second explicit example used in this lesson today that constitutes sin against another person is the act of adultery…Exodus 20: 14 says “You shall not commit adultery.” Christ is not condemning a person for their natural and normal human nature which a part of the human instance…that is God made…He created man with this normal desire. The man that is condemned is one who deliberately uses his eyes to create lust in his heart. In this world there are many things that are deliberately designed to excite desires for the forbidden; things like books, plays, pictures, billboards, and TV is one of our worst. It is a sin to view these things knowingly wanting to be stimulated in the forbidden. He emphasized the problem that ‘seeing’ or ‘looking with lust’ has, when he advises us to “pluck the eye out” if it is our stumbling block.

I do not believe that the Bible teaches us to mutilate our own bodies. The meaning is this. If you are associating with the wrong people; change your company. If you are indulging in porno literature, burn it and buy no more. If you are watching movies or TV programs that incite you to desire the forbidden…don’t go to the movies and turn the TV to another station or turn it off. You can operate on anything you have that is leading you to become addicted to sin. You can pluck it out or cut it off.

When the desire of your heart is made right in the sight of Jesus Christ, you will find yourself in the same relationship with him as those in the New Testament to whom Christ said; “Go thy way and sin no more.”

To complete this lesson, read Mark 10: 46-52 and you will find that Christ is as concerned with a beggar as he is a priest or king. The lesson for us is simply that we can not knowingly mistreat anyone because of who they are, or what they are not. If we are to be Christ-like, then we must value everyone—rich and poor, friend and foe. Can you “Turn the other cheek?” This requires the spiritual strength that comes only through knowing Christ.