The
Messiah’s Secret – The Surging Crowds
Evening Lectionary Mark 3: 7-19 Genesis 4: 1-16.
The celebrities of today have huge following both on line and at gigs. They also have people around them who look after their well being, especially when the teenagers want more than a glimpse of their celebrity. They would like an autograph or something that belongs to them or just to touch them.
The celebrities of today have huge following both on line and at gigs. They also have people around them who look after their well being, especially when the teenagers want more than a glimpse of their celebrity. They would like an autograph or something that belongs to them or just to touch them.
There were so many people Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the Sea of Galilee. Jesus told his disciples to have a boat ready for him so that he would be kept safe from the swell of the crowd surging forward in order to touch him.
“For he healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed upon him to touch him.” Mark 3: 10. Luke 6: 17-19.
Jesus instructed his recently chosen disciples to assist him by having a boat ready for him because of the crowd, in case they should crush him. Part of the disciples ministry was to protect Jesus from the enthusiastic crowd.
Jesus used the boats that sailed on the Galilee to transport him from place to place.
In Mark Chapter five Jesus went from there (Gerasenes) by boat and crossed over to the other side of the sea and as soon as he landed a great crown gathered around him. Jairus a ruler of the synagogue came to him and asked him if he would go with him and lay his hands on his dying daughter so that she would be made well and live.
From among the crowds that were following Jesus on the way to Jairus' house, was a woman who had heard the reports about Jesus, so she came up behind him and touched his garment. For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I shall be made well.” We read that she was healed immediately. Jesus perceived that someone had touched him as he felt the power leave his body. He stopped and turning to the crowd he asked who had touched him. His disciples were surprised that he asked this question when there were so many people pressing up against him. The woman acknowledged that it was she who had touched him. Jesus said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” Mark 5:21-34.
The crowds wanted to touch Jesus.
Whether it was as a result of this woman’s healing that the crowds wanted to touch Jesus or whether other people had been healed through touching his garments and she had heard about it and responded in faith seizing the opportunity.
News Spread abroad
The disciples were surprised when Jesus asked, “Who touched me.’ If a person had been healed on a previous occasion they perhaps would have reacted differently. But we read it did become a frequent occurrence, as we follow Jesus and his disciples on their journey from Bethsaida across the Sea of Galilee to Gennesaret. The news quickly spread that Jesus had arrived in their vicinity. When the people there heard he was about to come to a town or a city or country they brought out their sick on pallets and besought him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment and as many touched it were made well. Mark 6: 53-56.
On the fringe of his garment were prayer tassels, small knotting along the edge. Numbers 15: 37-41. Matthew 23: 5.
From the security of the boat Jesus preached and healed many people.
There were so many people wanting to be healed that the boat was an ideal platform to preach from, Jesus must have had a strong clear voice to be heard above the water lapping on the shore and the movement of children, The disciples were more than likely helping to control the flow of those who came forward for healing.
In Mark Chapter four Jesus preached from the boat the parable of ‘The Sower’. We see a connection with this parable with our reading in Genesis. Cain the eldest son of Adam and Eve was a tiller (worked on the land/gardener) of the ground, he was following in his father Adam’s footsteps.
“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to till it and keep it Genesis 2: 5, 15. 3: 23.
Cain’s offering to God was the produce from the ground that had been cursed; as a result God was not pleased with his offering.
Why was Cain’s offering of fruit not pleasing to God?
Adam working in the garden was instructed by God not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Moses illustrated through this Adam's innocence had been compromised. To be obedient to God was good, and both Adam and Eve only had that knowledge. Disobedience - listening to the Devil took them into a place of understanding evil, as the Devil opposed God. (cast out of heaven)
Now they were separated from God and fell under the tempters power. Afterwards they were expelled from the Garden of Eden and the ground was cursed by God.
Moses illustrated through this Adam's innocence had been compromised. To be obedient to God was good, and both Adam and Eve only had that knowledge. Disobedience - listening to the Devil took them into a place of understanding evil, as the Devil opposed God. (cast out of heaven)
Now they were separated from God and fell under the tempters power. Afterwards they were expelled from the Garden of Eden and the ground was cursed by God.
Adam still worked on the land, only now his job was much harder as he toiled and sweated removing the thorns and the thistles that grew among the crops. Unless they were weeded out they would choke the crops.
Parable of the ‘Sower.’ “Other seed fell among the thorns and the thorns grew up and choked it and it yielded no grain.” (Under the curse)
Jesus interpreted the parable: the Sower sows the words of the kingdom of God. “The ones sown among the thorns; they are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world, and the delight in riches, and the desire for other things, enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.” Mark 4: 7, 18.
Cain’s younger brother Abel was a keeper of sheep; he gave the produce of his labour the firstlings of his flock and their fat portions which pleased God.
Abel's innocent blood.
God used animal skins and made them into garments for Adam and Eve. Abel’s offering was prophetic in its association with the shedding of the blood of a lamb in order to cover the hereditary sins of Adam and Eve.
The Passover lambs blood brought freedom for God’s people Israel from Egyptian slavery. Jesus the Son of God, the Lamb of God his blood shed brought freedom from the slavery of sin and death for all mankind.
Judas Escariot when he took back the 30 pieces of silver and threw them down onto the temple floor he said that he had betrayed innocent blood, in reference to the innocent blood of Abel. (Also the Messiah)
Before Jesus made his way to Calvary, the Roman soldiers placed upon his head a platted, entangled, crown of thorns. Through Jesus' death on the cross he redeemed us from the curses that God placed upon Adam and Eve and their descendants and he redeemed the land.
God used animal skins and made them into garments for Adam and Eve. Abel’s offering was prophetic in its association with the shedding of the blood of a lamb in order to cover the hereditary sins of Adam and Eve.
The Passover lambs blood brought freedom for God’s people Israel from Egyptian slavery. Jesus the Son of God, the Lamb of God his blood shed brought freedom from the slavery of sin and death for all mankind.
Judas Escariot when he took back the 30 pieces of silver and threw them down onto the temple floor he said that he had betrayed innocent blood, in reference to the innocent blood of Abel. (Also the Messiah)
Before Jesus made his way to Calvary, the Roman soldiers placed upon his head a platted, entangled, crown of thorns. Through Jesus' death on the cross he redeemed us from the curses that God placed upon Adam and Eve and their descendants and he redeemed the land.
We can see why Cain’s offering was not pleasing to God, the produce was from the land that was cursed. His response we read that he was downcast and angry as a result he killed his younger brother Abel. God warned Cain that sin was couching at the door: its desire is for you, but you must master it.” He did not master the thoughts that led to his actions when he killed his brother.
Cain had been given a verbal warning by God, the words were snatched away by Satan as Jesus described in the parable of the Sower. The seeds, the words of the kingdom sown along the path the birds came and ate them. These were those who heard the word, then Satan came and snatched the words away from them. Mark 4: 15.
God questioned Cain about his brother Abel’s death, but he denied it. But we read that God could hear his brother’s blood cry out to him from the land.
Jesus mentioned this when he was dining at a Pharisees home the Pharisee was astonished when Jesus did not wash before dinner, he spoke of their hypocrisy, “The blood of all the prophets, shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah.” Luke 11: 50, 51. 2 Chronicles 24: 20, 21.
Jesus mentioned this when he was dining at a Pharisees home the Pharisee was astonished when Jesus did not wash before dinner, he spoke of their hypocrisy, “The blood of all the prophets, shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah.” Luke 11: 50, 51. 2 Chronicles 24: 20, 21.
The Israelites in their history turned against their prophets because the words of the prophets shed God’s light on their thoughts, words and deeds.
In the previous verses in Chapter three the Pharisees and Herodians were displeased when Jesus healed the man with the withered hand on the Sabbath Day, they plotted against Jesus wanting to see his demise.
Jesus continued to heal people even though the thoughts and spirit of the Pharisees and Herodians were against him and his disciples.
I do not think that the crowd that surrounded Jesus were influenced by
the Pharisees and Herodians. The crowd had no intention to cause Jesus any
hurt. Through pressure of numbers and desperation to find a cure for their
ailments they were understandably pushing forward to get their healing.
The parable of the Sower concludes with a blessing to those who hear and receive the seeds the words of the kingdom will produce fruit in abundance that is pleasing to God.
As Jesus and his disciples travelled from place to place by boat Jesus managed the crowds with the help of his disciples.
Learning to sail with the Holy Spirit.
(The passages begin with words in bold that have been taken from ‘Learning to Sail’ Web Site)
To learn to sail is to learn about what the terminology means and to put theory into practice and so it it for us to put what we believe and taught into practice.
To learn to sail is to learn about what the terminology means and to put theory into practice and so it it for us to put what we believe and taught into practice.
It is a good idea to practice procedures on a calm day. Knowing how to right your boat is a necessary skill.
My brother and his colleague before they started the voyage crossing the Atlantic in his boat ‘Henry Wood’ they had to go through this safety procedure, ' rescuing a man overboard to save him from drowning. (he had to notify the relevant authorities beforehand.)
Getting right with God, through faith in Jesus he will save us, rescuing us from certain eternal death, as a result entering into the freedom of the Lord’s forgiveness.
Getting right with God, through faith in Jesus he will save us, rescuing us from certain eternal death, as a result entering into the freedom of the Lord’s forgiveness.
Adjust for the wind. Sailboats cannot sail directly into the wind.
Discerning the movement of the wind. A desirable change has taken place in our lives and we listen for the sound of the wind God’s Holy Spirit. When we first feel the movement of the Holy Spirit we are filled with joy and we are gently moved on: like sailing on a warm comfortable breeze and the new found calm of a fulfilled life in knowledge and in fellowship with God our Father.
You will start tilting away from the wind. A heel of more than 20 degrees usually indicates that you are being overpowered. Releasing the mainsheet momentarily lessons the amount of heel, and you will return to a more comfortable sailing angle of 10 to 15 degrees of heel.
A new Christian will find that Satan will try to regain his hold over us, but to no avail as we are upheld by the prayers of other Christians.
Sail into the wind to a destination. Sail a heading that is as close to the wind as you can.
Our destination is God’s eternal kingdom. As we are on a journey with many twists and turns along the way, it's necessary to keep close to Jesus, our eyes focused on him and on his word and listening for the Holy Spirit's guidance to do God's will.
The wind may change direction; If anything changes, you have to adjust the sails in response.
Constant vigilance on keeping our lives on track is not easy, it places demands on us to spend time in prayer and study.”As therefore your received Christ Jesus the Lord, so live in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” Colossians 2: 6, 7.
Close reach. Your sails are acting like the airfoil of an airplane: the wind is pulling the boat instead of pushing it.
We can be moving in the wrong direction and therefore, we struggle trying to work out what the Lord has called us to do. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight.” Proverbs 3: 5. Do not lean on your own understanding. (King James Bible)
Watch your wind indicators (telltales). If you see it change so that the wind is coming from a direction that is more behind you, you will be wasting energy. Let out the sail till it luffs, and tighten again till it stops. You will be doing this constantly; watching the sails, the telltales, and trimming sails if for no other reason than to see where you're at.
The Lord calls his people to ‘Watch and Pray’ pray for discernment and wisdom. These gifts the Lord will give to us in abundance. James 1: 5.
The Lord calls his people to ‘Watch and Pray’ pray for discernment and wisdom. These gifts the Lord will give to us in abundance. James 1: 5.
When running with the wind, you can sometimes you can pull the jib over to the other side of the boat where it will fill. This is called wing-on-wing, and you have to maintain a steady hand on the tiller to keep this sail configuration. Be sure to be vigilant of obstacles and other vessels, as having both sails in front of you blocks a significant portion of your view.
James the Lord's brother refers to the tiller of the boat in connection with teachers of the word of God. "Look at the ships also; though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs." James 3: 4. The responsibility of the teacher to teach the truth, knowing that the truth sets a person free from the world's strong winds of unbelief in Jesus.
Christ's body. This reminds us that we are part of a bigger picture that Jesus is the head of his world-wide Church.
James the Lord's brother refers to the tiller of the boat in connection with teachers of the word of God. "Look at the ships also; though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs." James 3: 4. The responsibility of the teacher to teach the truth, knowing that the truth sets a person free from the world's strong winds of unbelief in Jesus.
Christ's body. This reminds us that we are part of a bigger picture that Jesus is the head of his world-wide Church.
Be careful—when the boat is running, the sails will be way off to the side, and because the wind is basically behind you the boom can change sides suddenly, coming across the cockpit with quite a bit of force. When this happens the boom can hit you with enough force to knock you unconscious and out of the boat (overboard).
Many a time I seem to be stopped from entering into a problem of one kind or another. The Holy Spirit will bring scripture to mind that helps to make what turns out to have been the right decision. I also believe in the ministry of angels.
Sail safely. Remember that your anchor and its cable are important pieces of safety gear and can be used to stop your boat from going aground or can even be used to get the vessel floating again should grounding occur.
St Paul on his way to Rome to stand trial, he traveled by boat. A storm blew up and four anchors were used to try and stop the boat going aground.
Very often when we pray, we receive the assurance of our prayer being answered, and on some occasions in the way that we have been led to pray. As a result overcoming the situation and we sail through the storms of life.
When the wind is at your back and side, this is the most efficient point of sail as both sails are full of wind and pushing the boat at full force.
Thank you, Lord, for your Holy Spirit's ministry among us in making Jesus known to us and directing our path to rescue with the guidance of the Holy Spirit those who are drowning in a sea of despondency, fear, worry, pain and grief with no hope of life after death, for them and others to come to know Jesus.
Very often when we pray, we receive the assurance of our prayer being answered, and on some occasions in the way that we have been led to pray. As a result overcoming the situation and we sail through the storms of life.
When the wind is at your back and side, this is the most efficient point of sail as both sails are full of wind and pushing the boat at full force.
Thank you, Lord, for your Holy Spirit's ministry among us in making Jesus known to us and directing our path to rescue with the guidance of the Holy Spirit those who are drowning in a sea of despondency, fear, worry, pain and grief with no hope of life after death, for them and others to come to know Jesus.
