Chronic And Acute

Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. Mark 5:25-26

Twelve years brings out the sympathy from us, especially for a problem so serious. This woman's problem was chronic in nature, meaning it was long-lasting, persistent, and frequently recurring. But in the same crowd was an acute problem with Jairus, who wanted help for his daughter who was dying right that moment. Right now, as we would say, meaning suddenly coming on with severity, and usually short in nature. Then, the woman reaches out to touch the robe of Jesus. And almost as soon as Jesus lets her know it is alright with Him, the servants of Jairus tell of the acute condition passing. As in, passed away, the daughter along with the problem. Well, that wasn't the resolution we wanted to hear from short and severe! But this is Jesus the man came to, and He will not leave it like that.

Praise God for the miracles available to both chronic and acute suffering,

Bucky

A Refused Opportunity

Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine. Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region.  Mark 5:15-17

When the time of judgment comes for us, we do not want to be among those who saw Jesus, knew of His work, and responded with a 'go away!'. The evidence sits before them clothed and now in his right mind. They knew well the man's former condition. Jesus brings healing and release of the captives. Their response is to plead with Jesus to depart. Was this for the loss of their pigs? Perhaps it was from all that was new too suddenly? They had their large herd of pigs and their demoniac. Then suddenly they didn't. And Jesus stood there asking for just a little faith in what was new to them. They got together and refused Him. 

Pray that those who refuse Jesus once will get another chance to believe.

Bucky

Knowing Who To Go To

...a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones. Mark 5:2-5

As we read in our scripture today, an unclean spirit is no joke. This thing is mean to the man. We can take a peek ahead in the story and see that it is not just one unclean spirit. So between the spirits the man is forced to cut himself with stones, live among tombs, travel between mountains and tombs, cry out, and break apart shackles and chains. The last might sound like a benefit, but human bones, ligaments, tendons and skin do not do well against iron. And though the mean spirits may have lent a bit of strength, they probably didn't help with the cutting, tearing, and possibly breaking of bones that went on with breaking up the iron. The man was a mess, but he knew who to go to for help.

May we always see Jesus as our first help,

Bucky

Immediate Meeting

Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes. And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. Mark 5:1-2

Jesus hardly has time for a deep breath after another trip across the sea before He is met by the enemy. But, the enemy has a prisoner. For combat, we were trained to kill the enemy if met upon our landings. Training to go in guns blazing back in the day would not have prepared us for the enemy holding our beloved hostage on the beach. It presents a problem where simply blowing the enemy away does not work. What will Jesus do? This introduction begins the famous tale of Jesus and a gang of evil thugs going by the name of Legion. The difficulty comes from this gang inhabiting one of our Lord's beloved humans. As there is much to be analyzed and said about this meeting, I will not pile it all on you today.

Rejoice in the Lord and pray for one another,

Bucky

Have Faith, The Kingdom of God Grows

And He said, "The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how."  Mark 4:26-27

Some years I can recall where farmers in these parts may have contemplated planting rice seeds in paddies. This year they may be looking for cactus seeds to plant. Whatever combination of soil temperature and composition, sunlight, type of seed, depth in the soil, and of course moisture, causes a seed to burst open and send up a plant has been studied by many sharp people for a long time. I'm sure they are still surprised at times. Any farmer or gardener might tell us that for all the years of consistency, seeds can still have a mind of their own. Like the year I planted a bunch of marigolds in a tub and carrots grew on the roots. Still not sure what happened there. I have been offered several explanations, and I resemble some of them. 

I am completely with the man in the parable today. When my seeds sprout, I rejoice. When they don't? Well, that just shows the level of my gardening ignorance. That same year of my uh, carrotgolds, I planted several rows of leaf lettuce in a raised bed. None of the seeds sprouted. I think the yard windmill must have frightened the seeds. By the parable, I know the same about the kingdom of God. Seeds are scattered and somehow they grow and thrive. I'll just put my faith in God and let it come!

Bucky

Take Heed, And Get More

Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.” Mark 4:24-25

Believing in Jesus for our salvation was not the end of our journey but the beginning. As we read and learn from Him, we get more to learn. As we learn more from Him, we gain more understanding in His word. It tells us of a life-long journey with treasures in the word of God to be found all along the way. The second verse for today also warns us of the danger of the dusty Bible.

A frightening concept even for those who believe in Jesus. We see that those who do not have (That is, have never believed in Jesus) face an eternity without what they could have had in Him. Frightening as it should be, it tells of a time when the decision to believe in Jesus will no longer be available.

May God grant all those we love, who do not yet believe, a little more time.

Bucky

Let Us Hear And Heed

"If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given." Mark 4:23-24

Jesus said that a lot. Of course those with ears would hear, wouldn't they? Unless there might be something preventing that hearing? Jesus issued the divine command, "Let him hear." He would not have said it if it were not necessary. And to those who would hear, there was a further command to take heed, also known as pay attention, to what they had heard. And then a promise that with usage, our response to His word, we will be measured out some more of His word. It tells us of a progression. We do not hear His word one day and then we're done. No, we hear what we are able, and then come back for more. The word of God is that food we must eat and then return to for more of His sustaining word.

May our ears hear and heed His beautiful Word!

Bucky