The Authority of Our Lord Jesus

The Servant's Authority

Book of Mark Chapters 4 and 5

Before we get to Chapter 5, we get to read about the authority and the deity of our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ.

We read of the many parables that give us some of the truths of Heaven in ways we can understand.

The miracles the Lord did and the lessons He has taught us attest to the absolute authority of our Creator.

The four Gospels contain many Scriptures reflecting upon the absolute authority of the Messiah, our Savior.

Every miracle is backed up by Scripture such as, the miracle of healing the blind man.

Psa 146:8  The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous:

The water to grape juice in Cana. We should understand that the Lord Jesus would never make wine!

Isa 12:3  Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. 

The feeding of the five thousand.

Isa 30:23  Then shall he give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt sow the ground withal; and bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be fat and plenteous: in that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures. 

The Lord's authority over the animal world.

Isa 11:6  The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. 

Isa 11:7  And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 

Isa 11:8  And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.

The raising of the dead.

Isa 65:20  There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed. 

We should consider these things that only God can do, as we take a closer look at the miracle when the Lord raised a young female child from death.

*****Mar 5:21  And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him: and he was nigh unto the sea. 

The Lord Jesus had now crossed by over the Sea of Galilee again, to a location near Capernaum which had become His base after he had left Nazareth again according to Scripture.

Mat 4:13  And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: 

Mat 4:14  That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, 

Mat 4:15  The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; 

Mat 4:16  The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. 

We can find these things prophesied in the Book of Isaiah.

Isa 9:1  Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. 

Isa 9:2  The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. 

We begin to see that the Lord Jesus could be no one else, but the Messiah come from Heaven!

There were so many things that the children of Israel had missed from the Old Testament, and much of the reason was that the Priests refused to teach the truth of the Word of God just like so many are doing today.

From this point to the end of this chapter, we will see how the support of the multitude will always change.

We will also see how those who should have supported Jesus refused to do so.

His friends said that Jesus had gone mad and insane. 

We must believe Jesus and show our faith in Him. 

We may have to go against our friends.

The religionists said that Jesus was demon possessed. 

Religionist do not really know the truth of God.

His own family said He was an embarrassment to them. 

We must surrender to Jesus regardless of what our families think of us!

These things will always be said about the true Christian and we will have to deal with them all our lifetime, without sin.

As soon as the feet of the Lord Jesus touched the shoreline one of the rulers of the local synagogue came running to Him.

The fame of our Lord Jesus had spread everywhere.

*****Mar 5:22  And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet, 

Mar 5:23  And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.

Mar 5:24  And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him. 

We might ask ourselves, was it just his lucky day? 

We know the Lord did not heal everyone He came in contact with, and we know He knew ahead of time who had ailments and who did not.

We must know there was a reason behind every move the Lord made, but we already know of His great compassion for all humans.

Joh 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 

Joh 3:17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 

Joh 3:18  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Some people say that Jesus had to be very careful that He did not go against the teachings of the Old Testament, the Laws of Moses, and all the things written by the prophets but this is simply not true!

The Lord did not need to put forth effort, because these are all things that He just did because He is the True and Living God!

If Jesus had not done the things, He did then, He would be outside His character!

This father was desperate and he knew there was no other means to save his daughter than the Lord Jesus Christ!

But Our Lord will not do anything if there is a lack of faith!

1) This man exhibits humility and falls at the feet of Jesus.

2) This man exhibits believing, because he knows Jesus is omnipotent, has all power and the power to heal and bring new life.

3) This man boldly goes to the Lord Jesus in the face of all the people, many of whom would not react well, because he was a ruler of the synagogue.

None of the synagogues recognized the Lord Jesus as the Messiah.

The Lord Jesus went with him because these are the actions, we must all take to be saved! It is called faith!

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 

Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast. 

The Lord Jesus will meet the needs of the desperate if they have that saving faith!

A crowd was gathered including the twelve disciples and they all went toward the place of Jarius.

*****Mar 5:35  While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further? 

Mar 5:36  As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe. 

Our lesson skips right over the woman who had an issue with her blood for twelve years, who just touched the robe of our Savior and was immediately healed.

This was also a message of faith from someone desperate for life!

Even though there was great rush for the Lord Jesus to get to this child before she died, the Lord Jesus did not have to rush and took the time to heal that woman.

If Jarius had the faith that he said he had, he would have known that there is no need to rush the Almighty God.

He is the giver and the taker of life!

Did Jesus know this child would die if He did not get there in time? Sure He did!

Though we cannot always understand why the Lord does what He does, we can understand that there is reason and purpose in every move that Jesus made while He was upon this world.

One of those was the fact that He wanted to establish His resurrecting power!

The Lord Jesus also wanted to show the difference between little faith and true faith.

True faith has no feeling of hopelessness!

True faith has nothing to do with fear and despair!

While the Lord Jesus Christ was still talking to that woman who did have that blood issue, someone from the home of Jairus came with some terrible news, his daughter had died.

Did the Lord Jesus cause this death? No

We can only imagine how Jairus felt having just witnessed the healing power of the Lord Jesus Christ, and realizing had Jesus not stopped to do this, that He may have made it to his daughter before she died.

Jairus was devastated and crushed and believed it was now too late to save her life.

We know that the Lord Jesus is never too late, but that He is always on time!

What did the Lord Jesus say to him? What happened to your faith?

"be not afraid, only believe."

Fear is the exact opposite of faith!

Believing God eliminates fear!

Believing that God actually cares and will deliver us through all of our fears, is essential in our relationship with the Lord.

The Lord certainly cares about our feelings and our times of despair.

Without believing that God cares for us, will lead to fear!

We should understand that we will face things in our life that no other human being can help us with, but then there is Jesus who cares for us if we only trust Him.

For those who do not know the Lord in a personal way, they have no one to go to and they will be filled with fear and despair.

The Christian should never feel this way!

Though we cannot help it, there is little need to mourn over the death of a Christian as they have returned to the God who created them!

There is very little mourning in faith!

If we mourn, let us mourn for those who do not know the Lord our Savior.

There is never a time that the Lord Jesus can do nothing!

There is never a time that God is twiddling His thumbs or even wondering what He should do next!

There was no need for the crowd to go any further because so many of them had no faith at all.

*****Mar 5:37  And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. 

Mar 5:38  And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. 

Mar 5:39  And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.

Here we see the first time that the Lord Jesus only took Peter, James, and John, with Him, to be witnesses of things not permitted to be seen by the other nine.

Jesus did the same thing at His Transfiguration.

Jesus did the same thing when He was under agony in the Garden of Gethsemane.

The thing that Jesus was about to do, to raise this child from the dead, did not need to have those that might have doubt in the same room!

We should understand that the family of this child would surely mourn for her, but most of those remaining were hired to mourn.

It was a belief of the Jews, that those that were hired to mourn would make it easier for those in the family.

Notice Mark writes that it was tumultuous and more like a commotion, but it also tells us that the child had already died before Jesus had arrived.

Jesus first words were: Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.

Jesus Christ is the Lord of Life because He is Life!

Joh 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 

We will learn as Christians that a believing faith will be scorned by this world and we see this more today than at any other time in history.

We will also be abused and persecuted by those who have no faith!

*****Mar 5:40  And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying. 

The Lord let them have their laughter because He knew they were about to be silenced!

The Lord Jesus and Peter, James, and John, along with the two parents, entered into the room where the dead child was lying.

All the rest were deemed unworthy to witness the power of the Messiah.

The reason that no one sees the miracles that happen in today's world, is the fact that there is no faith!

Even in the Church there is a great lack of faith today and the Church has lost its power!

It is no wonder we seldom hear of the miracles of God anymore.

The power of Jesus Christ over all evil spirits, over incurable sickness, and over death itself, demonstrates His deity and how He honors simple faith above all other of our characteristics.

Jesus walked over to the child to do what He came to do.

*****Mar 5:41  And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. 

Mar 5:42  And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment. 

The Pharisees had concluded that the Lord Jesus had a devil living within Him.

The relatives of Jesus had said Jesus was a mad man and beside Himself.

The Lord Jesus had begun teaching by parables so people could see without perceiving and hear without understanding.

But the Lord Jesus proves He is the Master of all the forces in this life.

The Lord Jesus proves that He is not only the Master of Life, but also the Giver of Life!

Mark preserved the actual words that Jesus said here, no doubt getting them from Peter the eyewitness.

We all know that our children are special to us at any age and we know that they grow so fast, but that age just before they blossom into adulthood is truly a special time.

This young lady was twelve years old preparing to take on the world when for some reason, she had succumbed to death, but as we know Jesus changes things!

Straightway this child rose up and walked and all that were in the house of Jarius, were astonished.

The Lord said, feed this child for she is hungry.

*****Mar 5:43  And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat. 

By eating, she could prove to all that she was no spirit but had returned to normal existence.

Even when this child was restored to life, then she would have to return to the things of this life that sustained life, such as food and water.

It was for the sake of these parents that Jesus brought this girl back to life!

Her life in no way could change the providence of God for this world.

This is why God can answer prayer!

This child completed her growth in a home of saving faith and at death she returned to Heaven because this home had faith!

Amen 

God Became A Servant To His Creation

 The Servant's Arrival

Book of Mark Chapter 1

If we are familiar with the New Testament, we know this disciple Mark, is called John Mark in many places.

Mark was not one of the twelve disciples who became the Apostles.

John was his Hebrew name and Mark was his Roman name.

Mark was led to the Lord by the Apostle Peter and is said to have spent a lot of time with Peter and this is where he learned most of his doctrine and where he learned about the Lord because of Peter's close relationship with the Lord.

We can see the struggles of the Apostle Peter in the New Testament but we can also see that when Peter finally understood the Lord Jesus Christ, Peter became steadfast and dependable and a true Saint of God.

The Apostle reminds us our own struggles in the life of becoming a Christian.

We know that Mark also spent some time with the Apostle Paul and Barnabas and was kin to Barnabas.

The Book of Mark was written before the destruction of the Jewish Temple as we can tell because of what was written.

It may have been written around 50 AD.

Some say it was written to the Roman world which means it was written to the Gentile world.

The purpose of the Book of Mark is to show that Jesus is unquestionably the Son of God!

Mar 1:1  The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; 

Mar 1:2  As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 

In the Book of Mark, our Lord Jesus is declared to be the Son of God at His baptism.

In the Book of Mark, our Lord Jesus is declared to be the Son of God at His transfiguration both times by the Heavenly voice of His father.

Our lessons in this quarter will teach us of the Lord Jesus Christ as God's Heavenly Servant come to this earth to save all those who believe the truth of the Messiah.

Mark wrote that even the demons said that Jesus was the Son of God.

Mark wrote that even at the end of the life of Jesus, even a Roman Centurion said that Our Lord Jesus was the Son of God.

Mark wrote that Jesus Himself said that He was the Son of God!

I do not know about you, but I believe the Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of God, a third part of the Holy Trinity!

Still one God, but in three persons.

These lessons from the Book of Mark are intended to help our learning more about our Savior who came as a Servant.

The Bible begins by teaching us that God created us in His image and this was true until sin entered into the world.

The Lord Jesus spent His life teaching us, that He will remove the curse of sin and we can once again be created in the image of God our Savior!

The Lord Jesus is our example in all things and Mark begins with the baptism of the Messiah!

There is no salvation that comes from baptism, but it seems that baptism is still essential if we are to walk in the ways of our Lord Jesus Christ!

The Apostle Peter wrote:

Act 2:38  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 

Act 2:39  For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 

The Apostle Paul:

Rom 6:3  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 

Rom 6:4  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 

Rom 6:5  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 

Rom 6:6  Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

Again, we are not saved by baptism, but it is included in our walk with the Lord Jesus.

If we pay attention, we will see that our baptism should be a full immersion if we are to be like Christ.

Buried and then raised to a new life.

In the baptism of our Lord Jesus we get a picture of what happens when we decide to totally submit to the Lord.

Joh 13:17  If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. 

*****Mar 1:9  And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. 

Nazareth was a small town where Joseph and Mary came to raise Jesus.

The word Nazareth means separated.

Joseph and Mary wanted a place where the Lord Jesus would be safe, as Herod had already tried to murder the Lord.

The Lord Jesus had grown up in peaceful seclusion, but in this time nearly thirty years, He had grown in favor with God and man.

Luk 2:52  And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

The town of Nazareth was not mentioned in the Old Testament.

Our Lord Jesus left the city of Nazareth to be baptized and then He began His ministry of salvation.

The Lord Jesus was immediately recognized by His forerunner John the Baptist.

Mat 3:13  Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 

This is the first place that our Heavenly Father made the world to know that the Lord Jesus was His Son.

Luk 3:21  Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, 

Luk 3:22  And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

The Lord Jesus left all behind to begin the ministry He had come from Heaven to perform.

He left a cheerful home.

He left a close nit family.

He left behind a good profession; He was a carpenter.

He left his childhood friends.

Many a missionary will do these same things.

Many servants of God have to do these same things.

Many believers have to do these same things today.

He began His ministry to save this wicked world.

He had only thirty-six months to complete His mission.

1Pe 2:21  For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 

1Pe 2:22  Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 

1Pe 2:23  Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 

1Pe 2:24  Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

We should understand that the decision we make to follow the Lord Jesus, is an important decision probably the greatest decision we will make all our lifetime.

It involves surrendering our all and sacrificing ourselves completely to the Lord, but a decision not to follow the Lord will lead to a tragic life that is wasted on sin.

Mark describes to us what happened on the day of His baptism.

*****Mar 1:10  And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: 

Mar 1:11  And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

We can only imagine what it means to say that the heavens opened up.

The Lord Jesus was being commissioned and set apart by Heaven itself.

The Spirit of God came down from Heaven in the actions of a dove not looking like a dove.

Watch how a dove lands as it ends its flight to see this.

It is different from all other birds.

This event identified the Lord Jesus as the promised Messiah.

This event declared that the Holy Spirit of our Heavenly Father brought His power down from Heaven to do the work God had promised written in the Scriptures.

Notice the Holy Spirit descended upon our Lord not inside of Him.

**We should know that when we are called to the work of God and we accept that calling, we are also empowered by our Heavenly Father to do the work given to us by God Himself.

The only difference being that the Holy Spirit will move into us and abide in us forever, if we show faith in the work that the Lord Jesus has done to save us.

Before the Lord Jesus we had an evil spirit. After accepting the Lord Jesus Christ, that evil spirit is replaced with the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit will not share His existence with an evil spirit inside us!

First, we must decide to submit to the Lord Jesus Christ and the work He has done for our salvation. This is where our faith becomes so important. We must be willing to surrender all we have, even our own life.

Mar_8:34  And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

**Second, as we begin that work, He has given to us, we must identify with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Luk 10:16  He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me. 

Most of us lack the commitment to serve the Lord! 

We just do not identify ourselves with the Lord and the world never sees us as a follower of Christ Jesus.

That word "opened" means that God ripped the heavens apart to give His Son this message.

The baptism of Jesus involved God's approval and also God's encouragement!

Remember the Lord Jesus was one hundred percent God, but He was also one hundred percent human.

The Lord Jesus Christ had to pay an enormous price to serve His Heavenly Father!

As a human He needed the perfect assurance of God just as we do.

Psa 2:7  I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

Isa 42:5  Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: 

Isa 42:6  I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;

Again this is where our faith comes in.

God will see to it that we know His will for us, but we can also have the assurance that we are in His will for us!

God will speak to our hearts and give us signs of His approval.

Once the Holy Spirit was upon the Lord Jesus, He drove Him straight into the wilderness.

He had to be tested. We should understand that without a test we will never have a testimony!

*****Mar 1:12  And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness. 

Mar 1:13  And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him. 

Without a doubt, we are going to face temptation all the days of our lives!

We must have a good understanding of just what temptation is!

We should study this time of temptation of our Lord Jesus to learn all we can.

Why had the Lord Jesus been sent to earth?

1Jn 3:8  He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 

1Jn 3:9  Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 

Because the Lord Jesus had come to destroy the works of the Devil then, the first thing that Jesus did was to enter into the conflict with the Devil.

This means we are wrong if we do not inform Satan that we are the "born again" children of God!

We cannot be ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

We do not have to challenge Satan, but we do have to stand our ground against him!

Satan is our true enemy, but we should have no fear of him!

We see that the Lord Jesus allows Satan to tempt Him for forty days and nights.

The Devil could not have victory over the Lord Jesus and therefore he left, but he had plans to continue to tempt the Lord Jesus all the days He remained upon this earth.

Luk 4:13  And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season. 

We should understand that the temptations we go through are steppingstones and not stumbling stones.

They are simply opportunities for the Holy Spirit to make us stronger and earn rewards.

When we are stronger, we are more able to do the things that God requires of us.

When we face temptation, we need to sit down with God and seek His power to overcome that temptation.

Remember, the battle with Satan is the Lord's battle, we must not allow ourselves to be drawn into the middle of it!

Satan will do everything he can to arouse our flesh to sin, and we must use the strength of the Holy Spirit block him.

John the Baptist had completed his job as forerunner and it was time for him get out of the way, so the Lord Jesus could begin His own ministry which was far more important.

John had told his own disciples it was time he got out of the way of the Lord Jesus the Messiah.

Joh 3:28  Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. 

Joh 3:29  He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. 

Joh 3:30  He must increase, but I must decrease. 

It may not seem fare for John to be put in prison, but we must cling to our faith that God always does the right thing.

It was not God who caused the arrest of John the Baptist, but He did allow it to take place.

*****Mar 1:14  Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 

Mar 1:15  And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. 

In the process of time, at least a complete year had passed between verse 13 and verse 14.

John the Apostle gives us most of the information that Mark leaves out during this period of time.

The Lord Jesus had selected His disciples during this time.

The Lord Jesus had moved His headquarters to Capernaum during this time period.

The Lord Jesus had gone to Jerusalem to observe the Passover Feast.

The Lord had met Nicodemus.

The ministry of the Lord Jesus was moving along at a fast pace for the kingdom of God was truly at hand!

Our own ministries to our friends and family need to move on at a faster pace today, because the kingdom of God is surely at hand today and the return of the Lord.

God saves us for two purposes:

1) To obey Him and He gives us the Bible to know what to obey.

2) To lead others to obey Him and this means people of all nations and all cultures.

God's goal is for all mankind to become His family.

This means those who freely choose to join the family of God!

God calls us children to put us in the right frame of mind so we can learn to obey just as we instill this in our own children.

The Gospel declares that time is fulfilled.

All the things of the Old Testament had brought the people to the time of the Church.

Gal 4:3  Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: 

Jesus the Messiah came to bring salvation to all mankind.

Gal 4:4  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 

Gal 4:5  To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 

Gal 4:6  And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 

The law had been in place and had done its educational work.

Rom 3:20  Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 

Gal_3:24  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Gal_3:25  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

It was now time for "faith" to take the center stage of our salvation.

Repentance came to the forefront.

Just to repent is not enough!

Payment must be made for the laws that were broken.

This is why we must believe and place our faith in the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord Jesus lived a sinless life as our example of what it takes to please God.

We have to become sin free to please God.

This is where the Gospel and Grace comes in.

Rom 3:25  Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 

Rom 3:26  To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. 

The world was an open door for the spread of the Gospel.

Elijah had come in the person of John the Baptist.

John had moved out of the way so the Gospel could be preached around the world, beginning with the Lord Jesus to the Jews and then the Gentiles and the Apostles to the uttermost parts of the world, which remains our job today.

The Church is now in its last days and the return of Jesus Christ is very near.

And the Lord Jesus shows us how we are to minister.

*****Mar 1:21  And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught. 

We see that the Lord Jesus began His ministry with worship, immediately.

That word “straightway” means immediately.

The Jews worshipped on the Sabbath (Saturday) and Jesus chose the synagogue at Capernaum.

To the Jew, the synagogue was the most important institution and it was the center of their worship.

Most of them only went to the Temple three times a year, but to the synagogue they went every Saturday.

The synagogue was also the place of learning and education.

It is like Sunday School of today, where the Scriptures are to be studied by all ages.

The Lord Jesus seized on this opportunity to teach in this synagogue.

See, Jesus was the only One who knew how much time He had left and we know He had only about three years before that cross.

Joh 9:4  I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. 

Joh 9:5  As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. 

We are in those dark days now awaiting the return of the Lord Jesus.

In fact, our nation is becoming darker and we might not have much longer to freely teach the Bible.

What do we do?

We lose time and just allow it to pass by.

We ignore time and just let it pass.

We neglect time with a non-caring attitude.

We abuse time, and do the opposite of what we should be doing.

This sounds harsh, but we have very little time to reach our children and grandchildren and even friends that we know who are lost.

I’m just as guilty as anyone else.

The Lord Jesus seized upon the little time He had left and this is the story behind the Gospels.

The Lord Jesus did not waste time!

None of the average people had a copy of the Scriptures, but there was one in the Synagogue.

In fact, services and discussions were conducted daily in most synagogues.

Even when the Jews were scattered around the world, no matter how small a group of them were, they would build them a synagogue.

In some cities there were more than one synagogue.

It is said that there were more than one hundred synagogues in Jerusalem even in the time of Jesus.

A service in a synagogue would have prayers, Scripture reading, and then discussion.

Distinguished persons, local or strangers, were invited to take part in the service and we see that our Lord Jesus joined in and began to read from the Scriptures.

The Apostle Paul used this same strategy.

*****Mar 1:22  And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes. 

These Jews were aroused by the teaching of Jesus Christ because He preached the truth, with authority.

The Scribes taught using tradition of the elders, the oral law with enough Scripture as the source of their authority.

Their teaching was second handed, because they only repeated what the Rabbis taught.

The scribes use the words "it has been said".

Jesus taught with personal authority because He is the Author!

The Lord Jesus used the phrase, "I say unto you".

What is the best time to teach people? When they gather on their day of worship. 

The sabbath for the Jews.

What is the best method of teaching on the day of worship? Preaching.

1Pe 1:12  Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. 

1Co 2:4  And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 

1Co 2:5  That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 

1Th 1:5  For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. 

1Co 1:17  For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 

1Co 1:18  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 

1Co 1:23  But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 

1Co 1:24  But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

The Lord Jesus was certain and He was positive.

The Lord Jesus stressed our need for the truth in this world full of Satan's lies.

The Lord Jesus preached on matters of the heart and life. The world only teaches thoughts and rationalism.

The Lord Jesus preached life and life eternal, while all others preached religion, philosophy.

The Lord Jesus practiced and lived what He preached, while others twist and interprets the laws of God to their own liking and live by their own thoughts.

2Jn 1:9  Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 

2Jn 1:10  If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 

2Jn 1:11  For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. 

The Lord preached to make everyone part of His family and all others preached division of family and groups as it is today.

Amen