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Showing posts from October, 2020

Authority over Sea and Storm

Editor: David Maas
One day, after teaching the multitude, Jesus set out to cross the Sea of Galilee. But a violent storm descended suddenly, frightening the disciples. Storms were common enough on that body of water, and several of the men were fishermen familiar with its moods. Their terror indicated this was an especially severe storm.
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Unpardonable Sin

Editor: David Maas
A line is crossed when the activities of God’s Spirit in the words and deeds of Jesus are attributed to Satan – Mark 3:22-35 .  Christ’s statement about the “ unpardonable sin ” was in response to the scribes from Jerusalem who came to examine his conduct and teachings. In the preceding paragraph, his “ friends ” had concluded that he was “ beside himself .” In the present story, the representatives from the Temple accused him of being in league with “ Beelzebul ,” the Devil.
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Twelve Apostles Appointed

Editor: David Maas
Jesus chose his Twelve Apostles from among a larger group of followers, including two surprising candidates  -  Mark 3:13-21 .  After preaching to the crowds near Capernaum, Jesus departed to a “ mountain ” and summoned his disciples, where he chose twelve men from among a larger group. The resultant company corresponded to the twelve tribes of Israel; effectively, he was reconstituting the covenant people of Yahweh, only now, around himself and not the  Torah  or Temple.
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Crowds Press, Demons Profess

Editor: David Maas
The crowds welcomed Jesus because of his miracles, only demons recognized him as the Son of God - Mark 3:7-12 .  Mark describes several incidents that occurred while Jesus was teaching in Capernaum. Eager to see his healing powers, the crowd thronged him to the point it became necessary for him to speak from a boat just off the shoreline. But in the middle of his preaching, demons began to declare that he was the “ Son of God .”
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Lord of Sabbath

Editor: David Maas
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The Pharisees and Scribes objected to the looseness of Jesus to their Sabbath regulations, but he used the opportunity to demonstrate that the “ Son of Man ” is “ Lord ” even over that day . God ceased His creative activities on the seventh day. Still, its formal establishment as a regulated day on which no work could be done did not occur until the Torah was given at Mount Sinai (“ Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy ”).
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Mercy, not Sacrifice

Editor: David Maas
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Forgiveness links the call of the tax collector to the healing of the paralytic – Christ’s authority to discharge sins and restore men  – Mark 2:13-17. When Jesus pronounced the paralytic’s sins “ forgiven ,” he offended the Scribes and Pharisees. He alienated them further by  showing mercy  to “ sinners ” considered especially unacceptable by more scrupulously religious Jews. Seeing Jesus eating with “ tax collectors ” and “ sinners ,” the Scribes and Pharisees insinuated that the Nazarene also was a notorious sinner – (Mark 2:1-17).
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Discharging Sins

Editor: David Maas
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The literary unit in chapters 1 and 2 of the  Gospel of Mark  includes five stories highlighting the authority of Jesus as the “ Son of Man .” It also shows the growing conflicts between him and the religious authorities based in the Jerusalem Temple, especially over issues of ritual purity and Sabbath regulations. There are parallels between the present story and the preceding one about the cleansing of the leper.
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Authority over Ritual Purity

Editor: David Maas
The touch of the Nazarene cleansed a leper from ritual impurity, restoring him physically  AND  religiously. Moreover, Jesus touched the leper  BEFORE  he was cleansed of his ritual defilement. Any concern over contracting “uncleanness” did not prevent the Messiah from healing a son of Israel. In fact, the Son of Man’s touch drove out the disease and the impurity - (Mark 1:40-45).
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Authority over Disease

Editor: David Maas
Jesus did not allow scruples over purity regulations to keep him from healing the sick and delivering the oppressed from demonic spirits. Neither Sabbath restrictions nor Levitical rules on ritual purity were intended to prevent human needs from being met, at least, not if the Messiah of Israel was present and implementing the Kingdom of God.
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Authority over Satan

Editor: David Maas
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Jesus defeated Satan in the wilderness by rejecting his temptations and lies. The effects of that victory were demonstrated when he exercised authority over demonic forces in the village of Capernaum near the Sea of Galilee. The first incident occurred in the local synagogue, typically, a place where Jews would gather to study the  Torah  and pray.
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Four Fishermen Summoned

Editor: David Maas
The discipleship taught by Jesus differed from that of the rabbis of his day. His followers were called to leave everything behind if need be, and to dedicate their entire lives to his mission. And they were called  TO FOLLOW HIM . In contrast, students educated in rabbinical schools became disciples of the Torah and not of individual teachers.
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The Forerunner

Editor: David Maas
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All four gospel accounts apply the same passage from the Book of Isaiah to John the Baptist, the messenger who summoned men to repent “ for the remission of sins ” in preparation for the Messiah. The passage identifies John as the forerunner who was expected before the “ Day of the LORD ” - “ The voice of one crying, in the wilderness, prepare the way of the LORD ” - (Isaiah 40:3-5).
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POPULAR POSTS

Construction De Barrières

Editor: David Maas
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Le retour à la juridiction de la Torah signifie la restauration des anciennes barrières sociales entre Juifs et Gentils . Le troisième chapitre des  Galates  est essentiel à l'argument de Paul pour l'unité du peuple de Dieu. Les anciennes divisions sociales sous la Législation Mosaïque sont inappropriées dans la Seule Communauté d'Alliance de Dieu depuis que “ la Postérité d'Abraham ” promise est arrivée, à savoir Jésus de Nazareth. Dans l'Assemblée du Christ, “ Il ne peut plus y avoir de Juif ou de Grec! ”
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The Faith of Jesus

Editor: David Maas
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We are not acquitted before God from the works of the Law but through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ – Romans 3:21-26. Having demonstrated that all men violate God’s revealed will, Paul concludes that no one is acquitted before God “ from the works of the Law .” Instead, we are justified “ through the faith ” or faithfulness of Jesus. We are reconciled with our Creator because of the gracious act of the Messiah for us. Since we deserve condemnation and death, all we can do is respond with repentance and faith to what God has done through the obedient death of His Son.
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