Question of the Day: What is something you can't live without?
Thanks to my husband for teaching today. I am preaching this morning and wasn't sure I could do both.
This week we will continue in Mark chapter 3.
READ: Mark 3:7-12
Crowds Follow Jesus
7 Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed. 8 When they heard about all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon. 9 Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him. 10 For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him. 11 Whenever the impure spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” 12 But he gave them strict orders not to tell others about him.
The first thing here that I think is worth noting is that Jesus withdrew.
Jesus withdrew.
I appreciate these two words so much because sometimes we all need to withdraw. Withdraw from church, from our duties, from even friends and work. Sometimes we need to get away. Last weekend was just that for Chris and I. We withdrew to a hotel up near DC. It was great. I must say I am thankful that all that we were walking away from didn't follow us!
Do you ever feel guilty for withdrawing?
When should we withdraw? Or is that a question that we can answer?
I also love that Jesus withdrew to a lake. There is just something wonderful about water! Water is restful, peaceful and overall relaxing. I can think of few things I like more than to sit beside a body of water and just be still!
What happened?
Why did so many follow him?
Where did they come from?
This is also before instagram or facebook or even phones and yet so many found him and so many were pushing in to get close that he had to get into a boat to give some separation.
We struggle to get people to come to our churches, our evangelistic meetings, and yet without advertising, Jesus was mobbed even while trying to get away.
That should tell us something about our efforts, our way of doing things. We spend lots of money advertising, and marketing to those around our churches and still less than 10% show up.
What could we be learning, or doing differently?
What keeps us from doing it this way?
Are people still needing healing today?
Besides hospitals, what kinds of healing can we help out with in our communities?
Are we even living it ourselves?
What do we make of this part about the evil spirits?
Why did Jesus not want them to tell others about him?
Let's continue on....
READ: Mark 3:13-19
Jesus Appoints the Twelve
13 Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve[a] that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach 15 and to have authority to drive out demons. 16 These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), 17 James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), 18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot 19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
This passage doesn't say much about the men. This passage doesn't tell us much about their reaction except that they they came. So what can we learn from this passage?
If you put this passage together with the previous passage maybe that helps us find what the author was getting at.
Jesus was literally being pushed into the water by the crowds and the demons were call him out. He couldn't get away, he couldn't get a break.
He needed a team.
I know it is easy to look at Jesus as God, therefore without need. We usually look at the disciples in terms of what following Jesus did for them, but what about what it did for Jesus?
Jesus was fully human with the weight of all those who needed him on his shoulders. Jesus had a grueling ministry ahead of him, and he needed a team to come along side him and help out.
What a difference does it make to be on a team?
What are the benefits?
How are the disciples that team for Jesus?
Are you on a team?
Maybe it is your family. Are they a team?
Maybe it is a small group within the church, or at work, or a team that serves the community, or a team that even plays sports.
If you are not part of a team I want to challenge you to find a team. Even if it is a group of friends, come together and find a purpose, a goal, a mission and start working on it together. I know personally this time has made team work challenging.
We don't have worship teams any more. We all are working more solo than in teams, fellowshipping and collaborating together. Don't forget to find a team!
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