Moments

  Mark 2: 1-4 And again He entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised the He was in the house And straightway many were gathered together, in so much that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and He preached the Word unto them.   It didn't take long before people were aware of Jesus in their midst.  Don't we wish it were that way now?  Word traveled fast.  The Word was back in town. And here is that word of immediacy again -"straightway"- many came together. This meeting didn't evolve - it happened.  They moved in on Jesus and the small house and He was in quickly ran out of room.   Nothing like company barging in without invitation or notice to make you a cranky host. Folks filled up the house and even crowded around the door.   In the midst of all this Jesus never got cranky, never lost focus of His calling. He did what He came for.  He saw what they lacked and He had what ...

  That is the end of Chapter 1 of the The Book of Mark.  A lot has gone on in those 45 verses. Things are moving    quickly in "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God."  In those verses "forthwith" is used twice.  "Immediately" and "straightway" are used four times each.  It starts with John the Baptist preaching to "prepare ye the way."  Then Jesus comes and is baptized and the voice of God confirms the ministry of Jesus when He came out of the water.  Immediately He is taken to be tempted by satan.  Jesus then went to Galilee and started preaching. On the shore of the Sea of Galilee He called Peter, Andrew, James and John to "follow" Him.  They Immediately left what they were doing and obeyed.   He then went to Capernaum and preached in the synagogue and to the amazement of everyone He spoke "as one with authority."   Jesus cast out the demons of an unclean man, aga...

Mark 1:42-45 And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed. And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away. And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.   It is always best to obey Jesus.  The healed leper didn't.  He could have said, "I just couldn't help myself."  There are varied thoughts as to why Jesus told the leper to not tell and follow the then prescribed law "which Moses commanded."  But my guess is that it wasn't the time "to blaze abroad the matter."   But as dread a disease - socially, personally, and physically - as leprosy...

  Mark: 1: 39-41 And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, if thou wilt, though canst make me clean. And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will: be thou clean. And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed. In the last post                                                                                     Moments: #15 - The Book of Mark - A Need to Pray (seeingglassdrarkly.blogspot.com  ,  Jesus had gone apart early to pray and when the disciples found Him, they told Him "All men seek ye." But Jesus had been talking to t...

  Mark 1:35-38 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. And Simon and they that were with him followed after him And when they had found Him, they said unto him, all men seek for thee. And he said unto them, let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth. Jesus needed time alone and thought it important enough to get up before daylight and go to a solitary place. And He prayed.  He wasn't going to be turned aside by His present popularity.  He saw through all that and wanted quiet time with the Father.  He needed to pray.  When was the last time you were at the top of your game, that you took out early before daylight to go pray?  That is not usually when people really stretch themselves to pray.   I have a place I go to pray in the woods here, but I usually go there when my tail is in a crack, or I want God to intervene ...

  Mark 1:32-34 And even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed of devils. And all the city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him. W ord travels fast in a small town especially about miraculous happenings.  The ministry of Jesus had begun in earnest.  It would never be the same. He and His miracles would be sought after by multitudes from now on.  He healed many and many more came wanting something from Jesus.  I wondered how many really benefited spiritually from being healed physically.  Prayers are easy to come by when the storms roll in, but when the storm is passed, the gratitude is reasserted as something achieved by yourself.  I've done it many times.  I have prayed and prayed for this illness or this or that, and when I get it answered, I  My d...

  Mark 1: 29-31 A nd forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andres, with James and John. But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of fever, and anon they tell him of her.   And he came and took her by the hand, and lifter her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them. A fter a miraculous experience in the synagogue, Jesus, Peter, Andrew, James, and John went to Simon Peter's house.  It was customary to have the meal right after the service.  Not much has changed.  But Peter's mother-in-law was sick with fever.  You know how fever makes you feel; pretty sickly and weak.  Perhaps it was not a good time to bring visitors for the big meal.   When they told Jesus about her, He immediately went to help.  That's Jesus. He might have been tired. He might have been hungry. But there was a real need and Jesus went to fill it.  If I want to be more like Jesus...