November 9, 2007 7:17 AM
rik wrote:
there is so much in this chapter it is overwhelming. I read trying to see the character of Jesus. It is earley and I am haveing trouble thinking clear. I will read it later and see if I can get a better pewrspective. Reply to this
November 9, 2007 7:19 AM
Sam wrote:
Mark 9. I guess the Scripture that hit me the most this morning was Jesus' reply to the man with the boy who had a spirit in him since birth. "If you can?", Jesus sadi. IF you can. If YOU can. If you CAN. I see that it makes a difference how Jesus might have said that...where did he put the emphasis. Probably on the word CAN, but I am not sure. Jesus almost seems bewildered at this man's idiocy. If you CAN? Well, OF COURSE, I can...I am God. Then the answer we get from the man is, "I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief." HUH? Ya either do, or ya don't. I think Jesus took pity on him and the boy, and also saw an opportunity to improve his and other people's beliefs. Notice that Jesus acted when he saw a crowd running to the scene. Many of us kinda, or is that KINDA, believe that everything is possible. I have doubts that gold can be turned into silver, for example. But, ya know, if I REALLY believed it could happen, and probably prayed to God, AND it was a good reason, it could happen. The same comes with our belief in prayer. Some believe more than others that prayers to God ARE answered. Even in this story, Jesus tells his disciples that the kind of spirit he just removed could only be driven out by prayer. But in that prayer, I am sure belief had to be strong. God does things on his time table, and for reasons he decides. However, the Bible has plenty of examples of men convincing God to act in a different manner. We can do that through prayer....with belief, however, that we can change God's mind and/or actions. What impossible prayer are YOU going to pray today, fully believing that God can/will make it so?
Sat at 1 ok for the Book Meeting tomorrow? Reply to this
November 9, 2007 8:39 AM
Tony wrote:
Mark 9 Why was He talking to Elijah and Moses? I thought Elijah was taken up in a chariot and moses died outside of the promise land. What is the significance of their meeting? What did Elijah restore in his day,"13 But I tell you, Elijah has come," Why was the crowd overwhelmed with wonder as soon as they saw Jesus? Did he have the glow about Him that Moses would get when meeting with God? I have always found that funny when he says if you can. Several times at church during prayer I have heard if you can. God can do anything! It is not if you can but if it is your will. Verse 24,"I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!". This is so the world today. We all believe, yet we don't believe. If we truly believed like Jesus did we would have no sickness or problems. How many times do we read about Jesus not having what he needs, or a problem that He could not overcome? None, He overcame everything. From 40 days and nights in the desert to satan himself. Why? Because he believed in the Father, 100 percent with no doubt. We say we believe and we do. We believe that God created the world and everything in it. We believe in Heaven and Hell. Yet when it comes to the not so obvious, if we can't see it do we truly believe? A mustard seed is so small, yet when we do not see results, in our marriage, with our families and loved ones, at our jobs, how strong is our faith? People were drawn to Jesus, are people drawn to us? I dare say no, why would they? Verse 28 ,"After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we drive it out?" 29 He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer." Jesus says that this type of demon requires prayer, when did Jesus pray? Verse 25,"When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit. "You deaf and mute spirit," he said, "I command you, come out of him and never enter him again." If salt is supposed to be good why say vs 49,"Everyone will be salted with fire. 50 salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other." Allot to absorb this morning, just glad to be alive and in the word. Sat is good Reply to this
November 9, 2007 2:36 PM
Rich wrote:
After many days of seeing how awesome Jesus is, today I sort of focused on the people around Jesus. And I took comfort that many are just like me. Peter, James and John witness something that I can not even imagine. Elijah and Moses appear with Jesus. Jesus clothes become "whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them." And what is their response? They are so frightened that they say about the most ridiculous thing imaginable. But you know what, I am sure I would have said something even less intelligent. I take some comfort in their reaction.
Then, the other disciples are arguing with the crowd because they do not have the power to drive out the demon. They failed at doing what Jesus taught them and so they start arguing! Sounds like something I would probably do.
Then the father says "if you can...." As you guys have said above, this is somewhat strange. Even stanger is the father's response to Jesus. But, it is also just like me. Like Tony said, I believe but I do not believe! My faith in Jesus is growing, but I am light years away from surrender.
Next the disciples, after all they have seen and heard to this point, are arguing about who is the greatest! Again, sounds like something I think about (Confession time: I struggle thinking this sometimes in the blog. I love this blog and I love to hear what you guys have to say. You are all so wise and have so much insight and experience. But I also find myself wanting to make sure that things I say are "deep" and "insightful" and "impressive" to you. That is sad. I am no different than these guys arguing among themselves about who is the best. I am sorry to you all. I am trying to love and appreciate all that everyone has to say and to learn how to be more open and humble).
Then the disciples "goof" by telling someone to stop doing something and they get corrected by Jesus. I bet (thinking that these guys are just like me) that they were thinking that Jesus was going to say "great job" or something like that. They thought that they were going to impress Jesus with their boldness and depth of insight. But, again they were wrong.
All of the above is to say that today I took comfort to see that Jesus loved these people even though they were very, very far from perfect! They were flawed and they made goofy mistakes. But this did not reduce Jesus' love for them. He loves us just like we are. I am often so insecure about the fact that I am not a "super" disciple. Jesus is not interested in me because I am a something. He loves me just the way I am. He wants much more for me. I am sure that Jesus wanted much more for everyone in this chapter, but he accepted them just the way they were and he taught and spent time with them to help them become better. I love Jesus even more seeing his patience with these people, since I see them as being no different (probably even better) than me. Reply to this
November 9, 2007 5:35 PM
Sam wrote:
Rich....the more deep, insightful and impressive you are, the more we gain. That is the PURPOSE of this blog. I am GLAD you spend time to be impressive--if we didn't each 'brag' (that is not a good term, but you know what I mean) about the knowledge we want to share, we might as well stay home because no one would gain anything from reading each other's comments. This blog is a great venue for preaching, cajoling, urging, confessing, teaching, counselling, and yes even 'discipling'. Keep up your impressive display of knowledge which the HS has opted to GIVE to you. I see this in each of you blogging out there. I love to see us all learn from our reading, and then ALL learn from reviewing each others' blogs. I hope at the beginning of each day when you first start to blog, that you look at the previous day's just to see if anybody blogged after you did. That is the very first thing I do, even before reading the day's 'assignment'. Mac Reply to this
there is so much in this chapter it is overwhelming. I read trying to see the character of Jesus. It is earley and I am haveing trouble thinking clear. I will read it later and see if I can get a better pewrspective.
Reply to this
Mark 9. I guess the Scripture that hit me the most this morning was Jesus' reply to the man with the boy who had a spirit in him since birth. "If you can?", Jesus sadi. IF you can. If YOU can. If you CAN. I see that it makes a difference how Jesus might have said that...where did he put the emphasis. Probably on the word CAN, but I am not sure. Jesus almost seems bewildered at this man's idiocy. If you CAN? Well, OF COURSE, I can...I am God. Then the answer we get from the man is, "I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief." HUH? Ya either do, or ya don't. I think Jesus took pity on him and the boy, and also saw an opportunity to improve his and other people's beliefs. Notice that Jesus acted when he saw a crowd running to the scene. Many of us kinda, or is that KINDA, believe that everything is possible. I have doubts that gold can be turned into silver, for example. But, ya know, if I REALLY believed it could happen, and probably prayed to God, AND it was a good reason, it could happen. The same comes with our belief in prayer. Some believe more than others that prayers to God ARE answered. Even in this story, Jesus tells his disciples that the kind of spirit he just removed could only be driven out by prayer. But in that prayer, I am sure belief had to be strong. God does things on his time table, and for reasons he decides. However, the Bible has plenty of examples of men convincing God to act in a different manner. We can do that through prayer....with belief, however, that we can change God's mind and/or actions. What impossible prayer are YOU going to pray today, fully believing that God can/will make it so?
Sat at 1 ok for the Book Meeting tomorrow?
Reply to this
nope I am going to the commisary. nine was good for me.
Reply to this
Mark 9
Why was He talking to Elijah and Moses? I thought Elijah was taken up in a chariot and moses died outside of the promise land. What is the significance of their meeting? What did Elijah restore in his day,"13 But I tell you, Elijah has come," Why was the crowd overwhelmed with wonder as soon as they saw Jesus? Did he have the glow about Him that Moses would get when meeting with God? I have always found that funny when he says if you can. Several times at church during prayer I have heard if you can. God can do anything! It is not if you can but if it is your will. Verse 24,"I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!". This is so the world today. We all believe, yet we don't believe. If we truly believed like Jesus did we would have no sickness or problems. How many times do we read about Jesus not having what he needs, or a problem that He could not overcome? None, He overcame everything. From 40 days and nights in the desert to satan himself. Why? Because he believed in the Father, 100 percent with no doubt. We say we believe and we do. We believe that God created the world and everything in it. We believe in Heaven and Hell. Yet when it comes to the not so obvious, if we can't see it do we truly believe? A mustard seed is so small, yet when we do not see results, in our marriage, with our families and loved ones, at our jobs, how strong is our faith? People were drawn to Jesus, are people drawn to us? I dare say no, why would they? Verse 28 ,"After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we drive it out?" 29 He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer." Jesus says that this type of demon requires prayer, when did Jesus pray? Verse 25,"When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit. "You deaf and mute spirit," he said, "I command you, come out of him and never enter him again." If salt is supposed to be good why say vs 49,"Everyone will be salted with fire.
50 salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other." Allot to absorb this morning, just glad to be alive and in the word. Sat is good
Reply to this
After many days of seeing how awesome Jesus is, today I sort of focused on the people around Jesus. And I took comfort that many are just like me. Peter, James and John witness something that I can not even imagine. Elijah and Moses appear with Jesus. Jesus clothes become "whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them." And what is their response? They are so frightened that they say about the most ridiculous thing imaginable. But you know what, I am sure I would have said something even less intelligent. I take some comfort in their reaction.
Then, the other disciples are arguing with the crowd because they do not have the power to drive out the demon. They failed at doing what Jesus taught them and so they start arguing! Sounds like something I would probably do.
Then the father says "if you can...." As you guys have said above, this is somewhat strange. Even stanger is the father's response to Jesus. But, it is also just like me. Like Tony said, I believe but I do not believe! My faith in Jesus is growing, but I am light years away from surrender.
Next the disciples, after all they have seen and heard to this point, are arguing about who is the greatest! Again, sounds like something I think about (Confession time: I struggle thinking this sometimes in the blog. I love this blog and I love to hear what you guys have to say. You are all so wise and have so much insight and experience. But I also find myself wanting to make sure that things I say are "deep" and "insightful" and "impressive" to you. That is sad. I am no different than these guys arguing among themselves about who is the best. I am sorry to you all. I am trying to love and appreciate all that everyone has to say and to learn how to be more open and humble).
Then the disciples "goof" by telling someone to stop doing something and they get corrected by Jesus. I bet (thinking that these guys are just like me) that they were thinking that Jesus was going to say "great job" or something like that. They thought that they were going to impress Jesus with their boldness and depth of insight. But, again they were wrong.
All of the above is to say that today I took comfort to see that Jesus loved these people even though they were very, very far from perfect! They were flawed and they made goofy mistakes. But this did not reduce Jesus' love for them. He loves us just like we are. I am often so insecure about the fact that I am not a "super" disciple. Jesus is not interested in me because I am a something. He loves me just the way I am. He wants much more for me. I am sure that Jesus wanted much more for everyone in this chapter, but he accepted them just the way they were and he taught and spent time with them to help them become better. I love Jesus even more seeing his patience with these people, since I see them as being no different (probably even better) than me.
Reply to this
Rich....the more deep, insightful and impressive you are, the more we gain. That is the PURPOSE of this blog. I am GLAD you spend time to be impressive--if we didn't each 'brag' (that is not a good term, but you know what I mean) about the knowledge we want to share, we might as well stay home because no one would gain anything from reading each other's comments. This blog is a great venue for preaching, cajoling, urging, confessing, teaching, counselling, and yes even 'discipling'. Keep up your impressive display of knowledge which the HS has opted to GIVE to you. I see this in each of you blogging out there. I love to see us all learn from our reading, and then ALL learn from reviewing each others' blogs. I hope at the beginning of each day when you first start to blog, that you look at the previous day's just to see if anybody blogged after you did. That is the very first thing I do, even before reading the day's 'assignment'.
Mac
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