Familiarity Breeds Contempt Mark 6:1-6

Text: “But Jesus said unto them, ‘A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.’”

Mark 6:4.

Good morning, dishonoured Christian!  Throughout your own country you feel dishonoured.   Among your own family you feel dishonoured.  You even feel dishonoured within your very own home.  But fret not, faithful friend, in fact, rejoice and be exceedingly glad; for great is your reward in Heaven.  Why?  Because in like manner the prophets of God, and the Lord Jesus Himself, were similarly dishonoured and persecuted before you.  You are in the best company!

“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution.”  (2 Timothy 3:12)

When worldly hearts hear the Gospel message, they do one of two things: they are convicted deeply of their sins, repent of them, receive Christ and are saved; OR they do what the haters of the Gospel message have done since the time it was revealed to mankind - they seek to dishonour the Gospel messenger.  (Revelation 3:21-22)

Thus, the nature of the message reveals the nature of the hearer; and the reception of the message determines the treatment of the messenger.  (Matthew 5:11-12) (Acts 7:51-54)

“Woe unto you, when all men speak well of you for so did their fathers unto the false prophets.”  (Luke 6:26)

Dishonoured in Country:  Loyalty to one’s country, State allegiance; or deep respect for the National monarchy and flag are certainly characteristics of any true citizen of any given country.

However, born again believers in Christ Jesus, by faith, have given their PRIMARY allegiance to Him.  Therefore, we are become pilgrims in this land, seekers of the new Heavenly country prepared for us by God, and our first loyalty is to that Person and to that Heavenly Throne.  (Hebrews 11:14-16)

But, as soon as we declare loyalty to Christ, as our Primary loyalty - over loyalty to our country - fellow citizens of the temporal territory immediately show us dishonour; and persecution soon follows.

“Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.”  (Luke 6:20-26)

Dishonoured Among Kin:  King David knew the heartache of being dishonoured by his own kinsfolk. A reading of Psalm 38: clearly reveals the hurt this caused him.  (Psalm 38:11)

Paul the apostle grieved because his kinsmen rejected Jesus, his Sovereign King of all kings.  (Romans 9:1-5)

Allegiance to King Jesus brings believers dishonour from tribe, tradition and kin.  Natural alliances detest a Supernatural allegiance.  (Philippians 1:29)

Dishonoured At Home:  The Christian’s foes shall be those of his/her own household, as the believer declares Christ as First Love before love of his/her own natural flesh and family.  (Revelation 2:1-5)  A person’s own close family can be the hardest to reach for Christ.  The entrance of Christ into a human heart, in fullness of faith, often precipitates upheaval within the home and bitter variance among the family.  (Matthew 10:34-42)

J.C. Ryle Comments:

“This passage shows us our Lord Jesus Christ in “his own country,” at Nazareth. It is a melancholy illustra­tion of the wickedness of man’s heart, and deserves special attention.  We see, in the first place, how apt men are to undervalue things with which they are familiar. The men of Naza­reth “were offended” at our Lord. They could not think it possible that one who had lived so many years among themselves, and whose brethren and sisters they knew, could deserve to be followed as a public teacher.

“Never had any place on earth such privileges as Nazareth. For thirty years the Son of God resided in this town, and went to and fro in its streets. For thirty years He walked with God before the eyes of its inhabitants, living a blameless, perfect life. But it was all lost upon them. They were not ready to believe the Gospel, when the Lord came among them, and taught in their syna­gogue. They would not believe that one whose face they knew so well, and who had lived so long, eating, and drinking, and dressing like one of themselves, had any right to claim their attention. They were “offended at Him.”

“There is nothing in all this that need surprise us. The same thing is going on around us every day, in our own land. The holy Scriptures, the preaching of the Gospel, the public ordinances of religion, the abundant means of grace that England enjoys, are continually undervalued by English people. They are so accustomed to them, that they do not know their privileges. It is an awful truth, that in religion, more than in anything else, familiarity breeds contempt.” (J.C. Ryle’s Expository Thoughts on the Gospels 1816-1900)

Therefore, today’s Bible study proves without a doubt that the reverse of this order is, in many cases, also a true reflection of one’s Christian witness.  Worldly dishonour, slander, and persecution can often be a means of measuring just how effective one’s Christian witness is among one’s closest associates, family, and social group.  So, take heart, Christian dishonoured by the world, the Lord God holds you in high esteem.  Victory is yours and mine, in Christ Jesus!

Thought:  Worldly dishonour can reflect Spiritual honour from God – Stand Fast!

“Be Not Afraid, Only Believe!” Mark 5:35-43

Text: “But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he/she that cometh to God must believe that He is (exists), and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”

Hebrews 11:6.

Good morning, doubting Christian!  If you are like the author of this Marching In Mark Bible Teaching series – you seek to be faithful at all times, but this reality is often not just as perfectly achieved; and therefore, you and I are honest enough to admit the fact that we are far too often dabbling in doubt and not exercising the faith we are adamant we possess.  At times such as this, we need to go to where renewed faith is found – God’s inspired Word.

“So then faith cometh by hearing (or reading), and hearing by the Word of God.”  (Romans 10:17)

When you and I – disgustingly normal and fallible Christians – read such Gospel accounts of the Lord Jesus’ ministry, and the seemingly impossible miracles he openly performed – we cannot help but receive new faith to continue right on in trusting our Saviour/Lord for the solutions to every seemingly impossible situation and circumstances we experience.  Praise God for an open KJV Bible and the help of the Author, God’s Spirit, to renew our faith!

Bad news often comes to Christian believers - as it does to all others – in double doses!  Like the waves crashing over the foredeck of a ship in the midst of a raging storm – one wave has not fully broken and washed over the main deck, when another is mounting up and assaulting the ships bow!  All but the experienced sailors can be caused to doubt the ability of the vessel to right herself, and rise back out of the foaming troughs of the sea.

Jairus was found in such a position when, after receiving new hope of having his beloved daughter healed by Christ, the worst news he could get immediately came from certain people, “Which said, Thy daughter is DEAD: why troublest the Master any further?” (V.35)

Now read/hear what our altogether lovely Lord Jesus said to Jairus, when He heard this tragic news: “As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.”  (V.36)

The Lord Jesus is saying the exact same words to you and to me, if we are ‘His people’ today – “Be not afraid, only believe.”  When bad, sad, horrible times come – let us not be afraid, let us continue to TRUST and BELIEVE in the Living Lord Jesus Christ.

“…Be content with such things (and circumstances) that ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.  So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my Helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”  (Hebrews 13:5-6)

“…And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world. Amen.”  (Matthew 28:20)

J.C. Ryle Comments:

“A GREAT miracle is recorded in these verses. A dead girl is restored to life. Mighty as the “King of terrors” is, there is One mightier than he. The keys of death are in our Lord Jesus Christ’s hands. He will one day “swallow up death in victory.” (Isaiah 25:8)

“Let us learn from these verses, that rank places no man beyond the reach of sorrow. Jairus was a “ruler;” yet sickness and trouble came to his house. Jairus probably had wealth, and all the medical help that wealth can command; yet money could not keep death away from his child. The daughters of rulers are liable to sickness, as well as the daughters of poor men. The daughters of rulers must die.

“It is good for us all to remember this. We are too apt to forget it. We often think and talk as if the posses­sion of riches was the great antidote to sorrow, and as if money could secure us against sickness and death. But it is the very extreme of blindness to think so. We have only to look around us and see a hundred proofs to the contrary. Death comes to halls and palaces, as well as to cottages, —to landlords as well as to tenants, — to rich as well as to poor. It stands on no ceremony. It tarries no man’s leisure or convenience. It will not be kept out by locks and bars. “It is appointed unto men, once to die, but after this the judgment.” (Hebrews 9: 27) All are going to one place, the grave.” (J.C. Ryle’s Expository Thoughts on the Gospels 1816-1900)

It is worth noting that the Lord Jesus did not allow anyone else to follow Him to the house of Jairus, where, of course, He knew He was about to perform a mighty Divine miracle – the raising of the dead daughter of Jairus to life!

A lesson each of us Christians – as well as just ‘doubting Christians’ - can take from this Scripture is this: The Lord God reserves special times of close fellowship for born again believers that are seeking to separate themselves from sin and walking in the light constantly with Him.  Only Peter, James and John were permitted to experience Christ raising the dead to life at this crucial point in Scriptures. (V.37)

“But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the Blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin…If we confess our sins (to God alone!), He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:6-9) When the Creator Lord of all life uttered His Word: “Talitha Cumi; which is being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise…”, life returned into this little twelve-year-old girl; for death has no power or presence in the Divine Presence of King Jesus Christ. (V.41) Hallelujah!  What a Saviour!  All glory to His Name!

Thought: “Let us learn, for another thing, how almighty is the power of our Lord Jesus Christ. That message which pierced the ruler’s heart, telling him that his child was dead, did not stop our Lord for a moment. At once he cheered the father’s fainting spirits with these gracious words, “be not afraid, only believe.” (J.C. Ryle’s Expository Thoughts on the Gospels 1816-1900)

Asking the Seemingly Impossible? Mark 5:21-34

Text: “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?”

Matthew 7:11.

Good morning, impossibly needy Christian!  You believe, and have perhaps been genuinely saved and on the road serving Christ for many years.  Yet, you have a very profound need in your life, in the life of a child; or a family member perhaps, that seems just too impossible to be met.  This need is so seemingly impossibly great that you are wary of even praying to the Lord God for it to be met.  If this describes you, beloved Christian Reader – read on, for the Word of the Lord has good news and encouragement for you today.

“Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for everyone that asketh receiveth; and he/she that seeketh findeth; and to him/her that knocketh it shall be opened.”  (Matthew 7:7-8)

In our March in Mark’s Gospel this morning, we find the case of a man called Jairus, asking the Lord Jesus Christ to do what was seemingly impossible.  Jairus was a ruler of the local synagogue, with religious authority in that location – but he was powerless to do anything for his seriously sick daughter, who was by then lying, “…at the point of death…”  (V.23)

Jairus did what we believers all must do in such seemingly impossible cases – he did the very best thing he could do – he took his unsolvable problem to the Lord God in prayer, and beseeched Him to do the impossible: “…I pray Thee, come and lay Thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.” (V.23)

Fervent prayer to the Lord God should be the FIRST thing we believers do, when all else seems humanly impossible!  Divine power is Sovereign and unlimited!

So often when we have brought our seemingly impossible prayer requests to God, we want a miracle to happen right away, for our human patience is at all times challenged by waiting.  However, the Lord God is a Sovereign Lord God, and always works in His own Sovereignly ordained time frame.  But the Lord will often send us HOPE and encouragements, as we wait upon Him to answer our sincere prayers.

“Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart (entire essence of being): wait, I say, on the Lord.”  (Psalm 27:14)

The Gospel writer, Mark, continues on in this account of events, and reveals the fact of Christ’s encouragement of Jairus, as he journeys with Christ towards the eventual healing of his seriously ill daughter.  Jairus could well have been thinking, ‘Oh dear, this is all taking too long.  Jesus will never reach my home in time to heal my poor daughter, it seems impossible that I can receive the help I need for her.’

The Lord Jesus had agreed to go with Jairus to help his daughter, and as they travelled to Jairus’ home – “…much people followed Him, and thronged Him.”  There always seems to be hinderances placed upon Christian service, by others, and in the case of healing Jairus’ daughter, there was no exception.  Jairus must have begun to despair of ever reaching his daughter in time to save her life.

Proof of Christ’s Healing Power:  What greater encouragement could the Lord Jesus give Jairus at this time of profound anxiety about his sick daughter, than to actually show Jairus His power to heal a dear woman along the way?

This dear woman had tried for twelve full years – all the entire lifespan of Jairus’ daughter – to have physicians heal her “…issue of blood…”, without any success.  But fully believed that, by merely touching the hem of Christ’s garment as he travelled nearby – she could indeed be every whit healed.  This is true Christian faith in action!  Praise God!

“For she said, If I may touch but His clothes, I shall be whole.  And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.”  (V.28-29) Hallelujah!  With God, nothing shall be impossible!  (Luke 1:37)

“And He said unto her.  Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.”  (V.34)

Jairus had been also renewed in hope/faith that Christ could heal his sick daughter also.

J.C. Ryle Comments:

“Let us mark, in the second place, how different are the feelings with which people draw near to Christ. We are told in these verses that “much people followed” our Lord, “and thronged him.” But we are only told of one person who “came in the press behind,” and touched Him with faith and was healed. Many followed Jesus from curiosity, and derived no benefit from Him. One, and only one, followed under a deep sense of her need, and of our Saviour’s power to relieve her, and that one received a mighty blessing.

“We see the same thing going on continually in the Church of Christ at the present day. Multitudes go to our places of worship, and fill our pews. Hundreds come up to the Lord’s table, and receive the bread and wine. But of all these worshippers and communicants, how few really obtain anything from Christ! Fashion, cus­tom, form, habit, the love of excitement, or an itching ear, are the true motives of the vast majority. There are but a few here and there who touch Christ by faith, and go home “in peace.” These may seem hard sayings. But they are unhappily too true! (J.C. Ryle’s Expository Thoughts on the Gospels 1816-1900)

I believe it was a much more encouraged Jairus, a Jairus granted a real boost of renewed faith, that travelled on with Christ in his journey home to heal the daughter he loved.

Thought: “Thou art coming to a King – large petitions with thee bring.”  (John Newton, 1725-1807).  Pray on, needy Christian, the Lord's healing is on its way.