Jesus: Spiritual Physician Mark 7:24-37

Text: “Heal me, oh Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved - for Thou art my praise.”

Jeremiah 17:14.

Good morning, afflicted Christian!  Whether it be by despair, distraction, disease or disablement - your lot in this life is an unenviable one; one which we able-bodied Christians frequently forget; one which you, of course, can never forget for a moment - for your affliction is forever with you.  Let every Christian pray for our long-term afflicted brethren.

Yet, take heart suffering one, the Spiritual Physician is at hand to bless, heal, and give strength to bear all sufferings suffered in accordance with His own sovereign will.

“Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb?  Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.  Behold (look, and fully understand), I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands; thy walls (defences) are continually before Me.”  (Isaiah 49:15-16)

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness.”  (Isaiah 41:10)

Today’s Scripture passage reveals Christ as a Supernatural Physician operating a ministry of Omnipotent healing in TWO distinct ways: one by faith, and the other by personal application - and “...doing all things well...”. (Mark 7:37) Praise the Lord God!  Hallelujah!  Amen.

Physician by Faith: (Vs 25-30) James, by the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit, wrote: “And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up...”  (James 5:15)

Faith is, of course, the gift of God to “His people”, a gift He loves to see us exercise.  (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Without God-given faith it is quite impossible to please God the Almighty faith Giver.  (Hebrews 11:1;6)

Therefore, when we exercise this faith publicly, as the women in our Bible passage for today did - all things are possible to us. 

“Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth (believes/trusts, and continues to believe/trust.)” (Mark 9:23)

It is very interesting to note the Supernatural order of progression contained in this piece of Scripture.  The woman ‘HEARD’ of Jesus (Romans 10:17); she ‘FELL’ at Christ’s feet, an act of submission to His will as well as an act of open worship of Him (Romans 10:9-11); she ‘BESOUGHT’ Him, or prayed of Him a favour (Matthew 7:7-11); she ‘HUMBLED’ herself to His will (Psalm 10:17); yet ‘REASONED’ with Him (Isaiah 1:18) - and her humble, worshipful, prayer was miraculously answered.  Praise God!  What a Saviour!

“Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”  (Jeremiah 33:3)

Not all who pray for healing are so immediately healed, if ever.  Yet, God gives His dear sufferers added grace to enable us to bear our sufferings victoriously, and often, in some mysterious way, to His greater glory.  (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)

Let us who are more able-bodied play our part in alleviating the sufferings of others also.  Remember?  We are instructed in God’s Word to: “Bear ye one another’s burdens...”.  (Galatians 6:2) Amen.  So be it, Lord God.

J.C. Ryle Comments:

“In the first place, this passage is meant to encourage us to pray for others. The woman who came to our Lord, in the history now before us, must doubtless have been in deep affliction. She saw a beloved child possessed by an unclean spirit. She saw her in a condition in which no teaching could reach the mind, and no medicine could heal the body, —a condition only one degree better than death itself. She hears of Jesus, and beseeches Him to “cast forth the devil out of her daughter.” She prays for one who could not pray for herself, and never rests till her prayer is granted. By prayer she obtains the cure which no human means could obtain. Through the prayer of the mother, the daughter is healed. On her own behalf that daughter did not speak a word; but her mother spoke for her to the Lord, and did not speak in vain. Hopeless and desperate as her case appeared, she had a praying mother, and where there is a praying mother there is always hope. (J.C. Ryle’s Expository Thoughts on the Gospels 1816-1900)

Physician by Touch: (Vs.31-37) The deaf person cannot speak properly because he/she cannot hear the verbal sounds they require to utter.  Thus, the Master Physician, Jesus, hearing the pleas of those who had brought the infirm to Him, first took the infirm out from the multitude (John 6:44-48); opened his ears with a touch (Proverbs 20:12); gave utterance to his tangled tongue (Isaiah 35:3-6); and no doubt a new song of deliverance to sing!  (Psalm 40:1-3) Hallelujah!  What a gracious Lord God!  What a Supreme Saviour indeed!  Has He not done all things well?  (Joshua 21:45)

Ah yes, afflicted Christian.  Medical science, surgery, and human healing techniques are all God’s gifts to the human species - but only Christ Jesus can heal the sin-sick soul.  Let us bring all types of afflictions to Him, He is only a prayer away.  Ask.

Thought:  If bruised or broken, return immediately to the Creator – the Lord Jesus Christ.  (John 1:10 (Hebrews 1:1-2)

Heart of Darkness Mark 7:14-23

Text: “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; who can know it?  I, the Lord, search the hearts, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”                                                                                                                                                                         Jeremiah 17:9-10.

Good morning, totally depraved Christian!  Let all self-righteousness take a timely beating this morning.  Let each of us who profess the name of Christ declare HIS righteousness, and thus let HIS light shine into our hearts of darkness.  Amen! 

“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me: but how to perform that which is good I find not.”  (Romans 7:18)

“As it is written, ‘There is none righteous, no not one.’”  (Romans 3:10) (Psalm 14:1-3)

Essential Confession:  No person, woman or man, can ever have the full righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ imputed unto them by God, unless she/he first admits, both to self and to others, the total and utter depravity of mankind’s heart - the consequences of the original sin of Eve and Adam in Eden’s Garden.

“By one man sin entered into the world, and death (i.e., Spiritual death!) by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.”  (Romans 5:12)

Total Depravity: Total depravity, the result of our progenitor’s disobedience to God’s instruction after their Creation, is passed down to each individual heart, the essence of our being, in the same manner in which a hereditary disease is communicated from parent to child. 

“Behold (look, and fully understand), I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.  Behold, Thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part Thou shalt make me to know wisdom.” (Psalm 51:5-6)

Thus, mankind became totally depraved in Adam.  We are unrighteous beings in God’s impeccably pure and Holy sight.  (Habakkuk 1:13)

“But we are ALL as an unclean thing, and ALL our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we ALL do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” (Isaiah 64:6) (Genesis 6:5-7)

Our total depravity is revealed by Christ in today’s Bible reading - the Lord lists just some of the vile, depraved, evil things which proceed from the essence of our beings to further defile us and to prove our natural, totally depraved, state.  (Vs.20-23)

We therefore, don’t become sinners when we commit our first sin - we commit acts of sin NATURALLY because we are natural born sinners!  (John 8:44-47)

Today’s text from the prophet Jeremiah clearly shows just how totally depraved our hearts actually are - we are so depraved inside that we can even deceive ourselves and believe a self-made lie!  We can believe we are not really that bad, and if we just do some ‘good deeds’ we will please God and enter into His Holy Heaven when we die.  What deceitful error!  This lie leads countless millions into Hell’s fires daily.   (2 Thessalonians 2:8-15)

No human heart can do a truly righteous deed, unless it is first, fully quickened and led by God the Spirit to be BORN AGAIN (Spiritually regenerated) by Christ Jesus, and then to do something from a pure motivation that will, perhaps, help others and bring greater glory to the Lord God.  (Matthew 5:16)

Deeds that outwardly APPEAR to be ‘good’ in man’s depraved eyes, are often unacceptable in the Holy eyes of a thrice Holy Lord God Almighty.  Clear recognition of this Scriptural fact is our first step towards Salvation through Christ’s righteousness ALONE.               (Acts 4:12)

“...for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.”                    (1 Samuel 16:7b)

J.C. Ryle Comments:

“We see, in the second place, from this passage, that the heart is the chief source of defilement and impurity in God’s sight. Moral purity does not depend on washing or not washing, —touching things or not touching them, —eating things or not eating them, as the Scribes and Pharisees taught. “There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, these are they that defile the man.”

“There is a deep truth in these words which is frequently overlooked. Our original sinfulness and natural incli­nation to evil are seldom sufficiently considered. The wickedness of men is often attributed to bad examples, bad company, peculiar temptations, or the snares of the devil. It seems forgotten that every man carries within him a fountain of wickedness. We need no bad company to teach us, and no devil to tempt us, in order to run into sin. We have within us the beginning of every sin under heaven.

“We ought to remember this in the training and educa­tion of children. In all our management we must never forget, that the seeds of all mischief and wickedness are in their hearts.” (J.C. Ryle’s Expository Thoughts on the Gospels 1816-1900)

In conclusion, therefore, let us rejoice together.  Why?  Because in spite of the Scriptural fact that Adam’s fall from grace brought us, all mankind, Eternal death - according to those same God-breathed Scriptures, Christ Jesus, “...the last Adam...”, by His Cross, can bless us with Eternal Life. Hallelujah! What a Saviour!  Thanks be to God for true and everlasting Salvation, in Christ Jesus!  Amen.  (Romans 5:15-21)

Thought: The Gospel cries, “New hearts for old hearts!”.  (Ezekiel 36:24-29)

Traditions Verses Truth! Mark 7:1-13

Text: “He (Jesus) answered and said unto them (the Pharisees/Scribes), Well hath Isaiah prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.’” 

Mark 7:6.

Good morning, Bible-believing Christian!  All the customs, rituals and traditions of your country, creed, or church denomination take a far off second place to your belief in the inspired Word of God.  Rejoice with me, dear friend, for the Lord takes pleasure in your Scriptural faith and, praise God, in mine - for it is His own personal gift to us. 

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he 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) 

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

So often throughout the visible Church in this twenty-first century, we find the following professions of Christian faith: some sincere, some not so sincere; some professing one thing and doing another; holding onto Church rituals, while ignoring the Word of commandment God has given us.  As Christ said, “Teaching for doctrines the commandments of men...”! (V.7)

For the sincere Christian to allow him/herself to live in this manner - adhering to double standards; practicing double-mindedness - is a Laodicean trait and, as such, an abomination unto the Lord God.  (Revelation 3:13-19)

“A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:8)

The Pharisees and Scribes of today’s Bible passage had physically spotless hands, but spiteful hearts; their mouths seemed honourable, but their minds were heinous; hateful; odious, “...far from God...”. (Vs 6-9) 

These people of the ‘religious’ community rigidly loved their traditions, while they self-righteously rejected the commandments of God.  Take heed, latter-day Christian!  Be a doer of the Word, not a hearer/reader only! (James 1:22) “Ye MUST be born again!” (John 3:3-8)

Bad News: The bad news today is that nothing has changed.  Human nature is exactly the same today!  Red-robed judges rule rigidly in the courthouses, yet are caught kerb-crawling for prostitutes at night.  Police officers commended for swiftly solving crimes in one decade, are condemned in the next for falsifying evidence.  Ordained ministers of the Church receive and affirm belief in Scriptural ‘Articles of Faith’ and are ordained to uphold these truths, yet go out into the various parishes to practically denounce these same clearly defined ‘Articles’.

They reject the commandments of God, written clearly in His Word, in order to keep the traditions of men.  Christian, beware of the apostasy of ecumenism! 

“What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?”  “Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”  (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)

“No servant can serve two masters: for either he/she will hate the one, and love the other; or else he/she will hold to the one, and despise the other.  Ye cannot serve God and mammon (riches, worldly position, self-gain)” (Luke 16:13)

Apostates today, while seeking to be men-pleasers, merely succeed in displeasing the Living Lord God.  It is such deadly traits and practices we Christians must guard against day and daily - lest we also abandon the “...faith once delivered unto the saints...”.    (Jude 3-4)

“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3:22-25)

J.C. Ryle Comments:

The first thing, which demands our attention in these verses, is the low and degraded condition of Jewish religion, when our Lord was upon earth. What can be more de­plorable than the statement now before us? We find the principal teachers of the Jewish nation finding fault, “because our Lord’s disciples ate bread with unwashen hands!” We are told that they attached great im­portance to the “washing of cups, and pots, and brazen vessels, and tables!” In short, the man who paid most rigid attention to mere external observances of human invention was reckoned the holiest man!

The nation, be it remembered, in which this state of things existed, was the most highly favoured in the world. To it was given the law on Mount Sinai, the service of God, the priest-hood, the covenants, and the promises. Moses, and Samuel, and David, and the pro­phets, lived and died among its people. No nation upon earth ever had so many spiritual privileges. No nation ever misused its privileges so fearfully, and so thoroughly forsook its own mercies. (J.C. Ryle’s Expository Thoughts on the Gospels 1816-1900)

Religious traditionalists, and cold legalists, work diligently to wash the cups; the plates; the hands; of their outer profession of Christian faith - believing that their works will in some way gain them the Salvation they so desperately need.  But God looks not on outer appearances, God looks upon the human hearts.  (1 Samuel 16:7b)

Works, performed with righteous motives, are always to be encouraged.  But only true Bible-believing faith justifies the sinner.  (Romans 4:1-8) If therefore, truth alone sanctifies our souls - as opposed to mere rituals and traditions - let us forever honour the Truth.  Christ Jesus IS the living Truth. (John 17:17) (John 14:6)  Freedom in Christ!

Thought:  You serve Christ in your way - and I’ll serve Him in His WAY! (i.e., according to His Word.)  Thank God for an open KJV Bible!

Christ Comes in Christ’s Perfect Time! Mark 6:47-56

Text: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.”

Psalm 46:1-3.

Good morning, impatient Christian!   There is a great degree of hypocrisy that fills the author’s mind as I write this opening addressed to ‘impatient Christians’ – for of all Christians on this 21^st Century earth today, the author of this Marching in Mark’s Gospel exposition must be the most impatient man of all! 

A prayer I once prayed, before realising the profound depth of my own impatience, was, “Lord, please grant me more patience – but grant me it NOW!”  I had not even the patience to wait for the Lord to grant me the patience that I needed.  “O wretched man that I am…” (Romans 7:24-25)

Seriously, patient waiting upon the Lord’s perfect timing in all things pertaining to personal life; personal service to Christ; and personal enduring of tribulations, can be a wearying experience for folk like thee and me, who are short of the grace of patience. 

Yet, we can also more easily relate, perhaps, to the Psalmist David, when he expresses versed Scripture like this: “I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry.  He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.  And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.”  (Psalm 40:1-3)

When impatient servants of Christ receive the Divine help, provision, and direction we earnestly pray for; what a wealth of rejoicing fills our very souls, that the Lord has, once again, fulfilled the promises of His Word to us.  He IS a very present help in trouble to us.  Praise and all thanksgiving unto His Holy Name!  Amen.

With our use of sanctified imagination, let us commit our thoughts to empathy; empathy with the tired disciples who, after a long, hot, dusty, and absolutely wonderful ministry to the large multitude who were miraculously fed with the contents of a boy’s packed lunch, were now obediently rowing a ship across a stormy sea to Bethsaida. Can we imagine it?  Tired, working hard on an oar, putting our backs into rowing against a storm, wishing we were at the other side, perhaps in a nice comfortable bed, on dry land.

Then, SUDDENLY, upon looking up, we see a man, actually walking calmly across the stormy waters, so unconcerned that He would have walked past us as we toiled?  My heart is quickening today merely thinking about the scene!  What shock!  What opening of the eyes wide!  Is it any wonder at all that the disciples cried out in fear and confusion?

“But when they saw Him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: for they all saw Him, and were troubled…”  (Vs. 49-50)

Christ’s timing is always perfect.  Wait on His coming and His always-given aid.

I love the Spirit-inspired words that Mark now uses: “And IMMEDIATELY He talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.” (V.50)

When God’s perfect time has come, His hand works in an immediate manner to grant us help; comfort; guidance; and renewed faith to overcome all our fears.

J.C. Ryle Comments:

“The event first recorded in these verses, is a beautiful emblem of the position of all believers, between the first and second advents of Jesus Christ. Like the disciples, we are now tossed to and fro by storms, and do not enjoy the visible presence of our Lord. Like the disciples, we shall see our Lord face to face again, though it may be a time of great extremity when He returns. Like the disciples, we shall see all things changed for the better when our Master comes to us. We shall no longer be buffeted by storms. There will be a great calm.

There is nothing fanciful in such an application of the passage. We need not doubt that there is a deep mean­ing in every step of His life, who was “God manifest in the flesh.” For the present, however, let us confine our­selves to the plain, practical lessons which these verses contain.

“Let us notice, in the first place, how our Lord sees the troubles of His believing people, and in due time will help them. We read that when “the ship was in the midst of the sea, and He alone on the land,” He “saw His disciples toiling in rowing,”—came to them walking on the sea, —cheered them with the gracious words, “It is I, be not afraid,”—and changed the storm into a calm.

“There are thoughts of comfort here for all true believ­ers. Wherever they may be, or whatsoever their circum­stances, the Lord Jesus sees them. Alone, or in company, —in sickness or in health, by sea or by land, —in perils in the city, —in perils in the wilderness, —the same eye which saw the disciples tossed on the lake, is ever looking at us. We are never beyond the reach of His care.” (J.C. Ryle’s Expository Thoughts on the Gospels 1816-1900)

Sunday school choruses reflect the Scriptural content of this Bible passage: “With Christ in the vessel we can smile at the storm…smile at the storm…smile at the storm.  With Christ in the vessel, we can smile at the storm, as we go sailing Home.”  (John Newton 1725-1807)

“And He went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.” (V.51)

Thought: “And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.”  (2 Thessalonians 3:5) “Even so, Come Lord Jesus…”