Omnipotent – Yet Prudent! Mark 3:9-12

Text: “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30.

          “Behold (look, and fully understand), My servant shall deal prudently, He shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.”

Isaiah 52:13. 

Good morning, prudent Christian!  You, like the author, when Spirit-empowered and used of the Lord God to do some service to King Jesus Christ – have learned the lesson well, that it is most prudent to give God the glory, and to acknowledge at all times, His power at work.  Praise God for prudent Christians who have served the Lord God without seeking to steal His glory for doing so!

“I am the Vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for (a conclusion) without Me ye can do nothing.”  (John 15:5)

In today’s selected verses of our Marching In Mark series, we find the Lord Jesus exercising Divine prudence instructing His disciples to procure a “…small ship…”, for them to escape from the multitude, “…lest they should thong Him.  For He had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon Him for to touch Him as many as had plagues.”  (V.9-10)

The Lord God is never the author of confusion, and instructs you and I and all His ‘church’ to perform our duties to Him in a manner that is at all times done, “…decently and in order…”

“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”   (1 Corinthians 14:33)

“Let all things be done decently (properly) and in order.”                           (1 Corinthians 14:40)

Dictionary Definition: Prudent – (adjective) cautious and wise in conduct; discreet; characterised by, behaving with, showing, having or dictated by forethought… (The Chambers Dictionary, page 1326)

Using what I have referred to as our ‘sanctified imagination’, we can paint a picture of what was taking place at that time.  Great crowds from Galilee, Judaea; from Jerusalem and Idumaea; beyond Jordan; and even from Tyre and Sidon had heard that Christ was come and was performing wondrous miracles of healing; and delivering many from demon possession.  Is it any wonder that these multitudes had sought to bring their sick, diseased, and demon-tormented family members and friends to Jesus to be healed? 

“For He had healed many (not all!); insomuch that they pressed upon Him for to touch Him, as many as had plagues.  And unclean spirits, when they saw Him, fell down before Him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.”  (V.10-11)

The Lord was, no doubt, swamped by this great thong of needy people, imagine the scene, people pleading, crying, screaming out to be healed; screaming out for the Lord to heal their loved ones and friends; even the very demons of Hell were falling down before the Lord of all life, for all Hell knew that Jesus was the Christ of God; God the Son, the Creator Lord of all things!  All had to yield before the Almighty Lord of all life.  Hallelujah!  Glory to the Lamb!  

The scene was a scene of pure mayhem and uproar, and amazement!  Therefore, the Lord Jesus sent His disciples to procure a vessel to take Him and his group out of the immediate area of confusion, and even charged the demons that they should not make Him known.

“And He straitly charged them (the unclean demons) that they should not make Him known.” (V.12)

The Lord Jesus, throughout His earthly ministry, never sought fame, or publicity, He always acted with great Divine dignity, prudence; and humility.  What a Saviour/Lord!

Look also at the enemies of Christ, what they were doing while observing all this miraculous activity; all this Divine healing and putting souls at peace by the Lord Jesus.  For in doing so, we who seek to follow and serve the risen Lord today shall be forewarned of similar danger, hindrance, and ill-will.

J.C. Ryle Comments:

“It is good for all Christians to keep this before their minds. Wherever we go, and whatever we do, let us remember that, like our Master, we are “watched.” The thought should make us exercise a holy jealousy over all our conduct, that we may do nothing to cause the enemy to blaspheme. It should make us diligent to avoid even the “appearance of evil.” Above all, it should make us pray much, to be kept in our tempers, tongues, and daily public demeanour. That Saviour who was “watched” Himself, knows how to sympathize with His people, and to supply grace to help in time of need.” (J.C. Ryle’s Expository Thoughts on the Gospels 1816-1900)

With all this opposition, Spiritual warfare, in mind therefore, we 21^st Century Christians – Bible-believing and born again – should be mightily encouraged by the fact that even the “…unclean spirits…” knew exactly who the Lord Jesus Christ was at that time.  Not only did they know that Jesus was “…the Son of God…”; but because He was also God the Son, with a Name that is above all names; they had to also “…fall down before Him…” (V.11)

“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a Name which is above every name.  That at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in Heaven…earth…things under the earth…to the glory of God the Father.”  (Phil. 2:9-11)

Thought:  Jesus Christ: Omnipotent, yet remaining prudent, Lord God Almighty.