And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

Mark 4:35-41

And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. Mark 4:39

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 4:35-41, which is the text for the next chapter of the commentary - which offers six divisions for this text. Excerpts from the commentary's fourth (of six) division (v39): 

• The commentary's title for this division is "Jesus Has Authority over Nature Because He Is God."  
• "God and only God is thrice “omni.” He is omniscient: He knows all things (actual and potential). He is omnipresent: He always exists everywhere. He is omnipotent: He is all-powerful."
• "Jesus’ gracious humility is on display as He does not chasten the disciples for their less-than-charitable summons. In a simple, non-magical statement He rebukes the wind and says to the sea, 'Silence! Be still!'"
• The commentary highlights in the the original Greek, Jesus uses the same word from Mark 1 to rebuke the demons as He does here to rebuke the wind.
• We must understand that only God has such authority - Jesus must be God! 

For readers of scripture today, we can only read about Jesus's death and resurrection, and about the miracles from His ministry.  We must take it as faith the scripture is Truth and inerrant. While we cannot experience the miracles as Jesus's disciples did, we have all seen God's hand in our own lives.  I saw my own mom profess faith and be baptized at 81 years old - she died 3 years later.  My mom was Jewish her whole life and lived 2000 miles away from me - Jesus was at work for sure as He is in all salvations because only He softens hearts and brings people to faith - Ephesians 2:8-9. There is so much more I can say about God's hand in my life and miraculous things He has done in my life.  God is SO good!

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves, saves, never leaves or forsakes, etc. Thank You Jesus, but I am not deserving of how You save and how You never stop working for me interceding on my behalf. My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.  

“You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.”

 Hebrews 1

“You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed.  But you are the same, and your years will have no end.” Hebrews 1:10-12

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. My focus this morning is Hebrews 1:7-12, the third division of 1:1-14 as described by my commentary. The commentary shares how v7-12 build on Hebrews author's emphasis that Jesus is greater than angels, describing how language from the text refers to Psalm 45:6-7 and 102:25-27. Key to this division, however is v10-12 which my commentary highlights as "the distinction that exists between the creature and the Creator....The contrast is specifically between things permanent and things temporal. Creation will perish. It will “wear out like clothing.” The Son, on the other hand, will not. The Son is eternal and permanent. Whereas the created order is subject to change, decay, and ultimate destruction, the person of Christ is unending and unchanging. His years have no end. He knows no change."  This distinction is core for believers to understand as an attribute of God and also so that we do not become too enamored with creation but instead enamored with God. Also, the author of Hebrews will ultimately delve deep into what God has done but is setting the stage first by establishing who God is. Understand who God is and be enamored with Him!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - I know that Your Kingdom lasts forever and that You are saving a place for me in Heaven.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. v1-5

According to BibleOverview.com, "John is the fourth and last Gospel (an account of Jesus’ life and ministry) in the new Testament. John focuses on the deity of Christ more so than the other four: we see Jesus as the Word of God, the Son of God, and God Himself. Jesus is a great miracle worker, an omniscient teacher, a compassionate provider, and a faithful friend".

BibleOverview.com also indicates that, unlike the other (synoptic) gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), "John does not aim to chronicle the whole life of Christ—in fact, John doesn’t think the world could contain such a document (John 21:25). Instead, John presents a few signs and teachings that should compel us to believe in Jesus".

Verses 1-5 are a great place for us to start regarding who Jesus is.  I am excited to dive into my study of John.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an amazing God You are!  You are Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit!  You live in my heart, and Your live in Your Word and my study of Your Word allows me to hear from You and learn about and from You - thank You Jesus for all of this!  I am undeserving of such a God.  I worry and I am full of stress.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.   Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.