Daily Bread for Oct 18, Mar 1-3

Today’s readings are Mar 1-3.

Mark writes to a Gentile audience. His primary theme is discipleship. He details what it means to be a disciple, what it will cost and how Jesus will set the tone for being a disciple by becoming a suffering servant.

Mar 1:1-8 portrays John the Baptist as an Elijah-like figure (2 Kings 1:8). The Baptist is indeed the second Elijah and a fulfillment of prophecy.

Immediately after John baptizes Jesus (Mar 1:9-11), the Spirit drives Jesus out to the wilderness where He is tempted by Satan (Mar 1:12-13). It is significant that the Spirit is the one who sends Him out to be encountered by Satan. God has a part in all that happens even in how Satan is used to prove the faithfulness of Christ. Satan did not ambush Jesus; the Spirit took him there. 

Consider that the very first thing Jesus experiences, as He begins His ministry and calling, is temptation and an encounter with the evil one. Jesus is faithful to answer each temptation by reciting Scripture, a perfect model for how to engage in spiritual warfare. Jesus does not practice histrionics, shouting and melodrama. He merely quotes the truth to Satan. Satan has no defense and is compelled by Jesus to leave, not only disarming the evil one but demonstrating Jesus’s authority.

As Christ begins to assemble His disciples, one of the first signs Jesus performs are the casting out of demons, demonstrating His authority over all evil. Another early sign is healing, showing His ability to restore and make whole (Mar 1:16-45). Carefully note that the signs Jesus puts on display are always accompanied by His teaching and preaching. These activities accompany Him everywhere He goes, preaching, teaching, signs and wonders. The signs and wonders are used in two ways, either to call attention to His teaching or to prove it is authentic. They are never used to dazzle or impress His followers. Furthermore, He never acquiesces to a request to perform a miracle merely for the sake of it.

In Mar 2:1-11, Jesus makes it succinctly clear that His power and authority to heal extends to the ultimate healing, the forgiveness of sins. This is another vitally important point. Jesus can undoubtedly heal whenever and wherever He likes. Yet, we are not promised physical healing all the time. Paul had a thorn in the side (2 Cor 12:7) that was never healed, and he was the greatest theologian of all time, a man entirely transformed who never received healing for his ailment. We all know good, strong Christian people who are ill, some even die. We know, from practical experience that physical healing does not always come to faithful, mature Christians. The absence of physical healing is not an indicator of weak faith. After all, Paul could never be accused of having weak faith. When the healing doesn’t come, it’s only a sign that God has something greater planned.

Ultimately, there is a healing that is promised by God, that of our sins. We will be made new and clean and pure. Physical healing may happen here on earth. God may use us to show His power and glory. But, if the healing doesn't come, as with Paul, we are guaranteed a complete, spiritual healing in eternity if Jesus is our Savior and Lord.

This way we know that the prayer of faith will bring healing (Jas 5:15). Faith is evidence of belief. Belief brings eternal life. Eternal life trumps any mortal sickness or suffering we may endure. The healing we all so desperately need is from the consequences of sin. Jesus tells us it can be found only in Him.

After establishing His Lordship over demons and sickness in Mar 1, Jesus calls an outcast to be a disciple and claims Lordship over the Sabbath in Mar 2:13-28. Both actions are an affront to the Jewish leaders and a portent of what is to come. 

In Mar 3:13-20, Jesus calls the rest of the disciples. There are twelve. This is a biblical pattern. Jacob had twelve sons whose descendants became the twelve tribes that occupied Canaan at the end of the wilderness wanderings. Because of their unfaithfulness, they were taken captive and scattered. The twelves disciples are a sign that the twelve tribes are being reconstituted in Christ. Those who are in Him are God's chosen people. They, like the sons of Jacob, will multiply and be blessed by God. Notice, Jesus does not "invite" them. He calls, and they respond - no altar calls, no sinner's prayer - nothing but radically changed lives based on the call of God.