And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.

Mark 4:1-20

And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold. Mark 4:8

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, I focus on an unassisted review of Mark 4:1-20, which is the text for the next chapter of the commentary. Observations of the text based on the Sword Bible Study Method: 

Here Jesus teaches us the Parable of the Sower - also found in Matthew 13 and Luke 8.  

• What do we learn from the passage about God?: God seeks a relationship with us, so He gives us His Word and provides teachers for us to know God and to build a relationship with us.  V1 describes how God prioritizes teaches and emphasizes that when He is with the lost, yes He seeks to heal physically and draw people to Him, but most importantly He is seeking believers and followers who know, follow and are obedient to Him.  God is also compassionate and patient in His teaching helping us understand, recognizing that it often takes time to comprehend what He is teaching - our journey with God is one of steps over a lifetime as a believer.  
• What do we learn from the passage about people?: People can be wooed by signs and wonders but this must be followed by faith and belief in God such that we ask God into our hearts to cultivate and fan the flame of faith such that we grow closer to Him through daily study of His Word, corporate worship, prayer, service, and other spiritual disciplines.  Satan and sin can distract us (v15), weak faith fails us during periods of persecution/hardship (vv16-17), and desires/cares of this world "choke the word" (v19).  We are told to build our faith on solid rock to withstand storms (Matthew 7:24-27, Luke 6:47-49) and to not become friends of the world (James 4:4).
• Is there anything from the passage God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey)?: As previously stated we should build our house on rock by cultivating strong spiritual disciplines and avoiding friendship with the world (or allowing sinful desires and influences from overcoming us or choking the word).  If we cultivate these spiritual disciplines we are promised to bear fruit (vv8, 20).  See also John 15:1-10. 

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My Prayer: Father God You are an awesome God who loves me and who gives me Your Word, the Holy Spirit, the church, and so much more so that I can know You, love You, grow closer to You, and to further the sanctification process bringing about greater obedience.  Thank You!  I am not deserving of my salvation, nor any of the other unbelievable blessings You pour out for me. My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me 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. 

For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.

Mark 3:31-35

For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother. Mark 3:35

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, I focus on a commentary-assisted review of Mark 3:35, which is the text for the third division for 3:31-35. Excerpts from the commentary for the third division: 

• Pointing to Kent Hughes' commentary on Mark and referencing Christ's emphasis on being part of the family of God vs earthly bloodlines, the commentary shares 'this new family relationship is far superior, far stronger, far more satisfying, far more demanding, and far more dear than any human family relationship (ibid.). It is an eternal relationship that is marked by unshakeable grace, and those who receive such grace are marked by humble obedience.'
• The commentary then points us to Tim Keller's commentary where Keller compares v35 to the Prodigal Son: 'Jesus . . . is the true elder brother. He willingly brings us into the Father’s family at his expense. He died for us, he was plundered for us. We sit at the Father’s table dressed in Jesus’ clothes, with his ring on our finger. All through him. We must celebrate and live out the fact that we are members of a kingdom family, and it is all at the expense of our big brother, Jesus Christ. Do you live every day as if you are a member of God’s family, accepted and loved? Remember, a child in a family obeys not in order to be loved and accepted, but because he already is loved and accepted.'
• The commentary then points to scripture that highlights text on the topic of the "will of God:" Acts 13:22, Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 1:1, Ephesians 6:6, 1 Thessalonians 4:3, 5:18, 1 Peter 4:2, and 1 John 2:17.  

The commentary then offers the following observations about the family of God and His will:

1. "We became children of God by spiritual birth, not by physical birth (John 3:1-8). 
2. No one is born a Christian. You become a Christian and a member of God’s family only by adoption (Romans 8:12-16; Galatians 4:4-7). 
3. Becoming part of the family of God begins when we receive and believe in Jesus, which is a sovereign work of His will, not ours (John 1:12-13).
4.  Doing the will of God gives evidence that we are part of God’s family (Mark 3:35). 
5. Those incapable of knowing and understanding the will of God are objects of God’s saving grace and mercy in Christ. People spend eternity in hell as a result of their conscious and willful acts of rebellion and disobedience against the revelation of God they have received, and those who are incapable of understanding God’s will cannot rebel in this way (see Deuteronomy 1:39; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:11-12). (For more on this, see commentary on Mark 10:13-16 and Akin and Mohler, “Why We Believe.”) 
6. Revelation brings responsibility. The more you know of God’s revealed will, the greater is your accountability. Punishment is not all the same in hell, and rewards are not all the same in heaven. 
7. In spite of sophisticated and even well-intended arguments, there is no biblical warrant or evidence that people will have an opportunity after death to believe in Jesus or that eventually all persons (and perhaps even demons) will be saved. Just as eternal life is forever, so is eternal death. 
8. If it were true that all will eventually be saved, evangelism would be unnecessary, and missions would be a waste of time, lives, and money.
9. Because the Bible promises that people from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation will be in heaven at the throne to worship the Lamb (Revelation 5; 7), we rejoice in knowing that the family of God will consist of the 16,600-plus people groups scattered around the world, 7,000-plus of which are still unreached. It is the will of God that they hear and believe and that we go and get them for His glory."  

Confess your sins, surrender your heart and life to Jesus as Your Savior, and be adopted into His family! 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves me and who saved me - while still an enemy and hostile to You.  Thank You God for saving me and for adopting me into Your family.  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 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. 

And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers!

Mark 3:31-35

And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Mark 3:34

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, I focus on a commentary-assisted review of Mark 3:34, which is the text for the second division for 3:31-35. Excerpts from the commentary for the second division: 

• "The room is overflowing with those who were attracted to Jesus. They loved His miracles and exorcisms. They loved the show and what He could do for them. Remember, the crowds are never viewed in a favorable light in Mark. Crowds do not follow and stay for the long haul. Individuals do, of their own volition and decision. Hence Jesus looked around at those who were seated around Him."
• "People follow Jesus for different reasons and with different agendas. Some reasons are good and others are bad. Some want Him; others want what He can give them and do for them. Some follow for who He is; others follow for what they make Him out to be. They want someone they can fit into their world, wants, plans, priorities, and preconceived notions."
• The commentary then points us to John 2:23-25 where the text is pointed in this respect - we should not follow Jesus because of we want to follow someone who "can fit into [our] world, wants, plans, priorities, and preconceived notions."  No, we should follow Jesus because He alone saves, and provides life to the full now - unshackled from the slavery of sin.  It's not that we stop sinning, it's that Jesus makes us a new creation and we become more like Him every day until we meet Him in Heaven face to face and the sanctification process becomes complete.    

Jesus is not just a good role model - I made this mistake early in my journey with Christ - I thought I should follow Jesus because He was Holy and I could become more like Him.  While this may be true, it is insufficient - we must acknowledge our sin and that Jesus alone saves us from sin.  We must confess with our hearts our sin, seek Jesus to forgive us and for Him to enter our heart and lives, and we must follow His call for our lives (as each of us play a role in the church and Great Commission). Romans 10:10.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves us and who died for us so that we can have forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and abundance of life now - free from the slavery of sin.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You save...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. 

And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.” And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?”

Mark 3:31-35

And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.” And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” Mark 3:31-33

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, I focus on a commentary-assisted review of Mark 3:31-33, which is the text for the first division for 3:31-35. Excerpts from the commentary's introduction to 3:31-35 and the first division: 

• "Jesus makes clear in verse 35, that (1) no physical family connection is ultimately necessary to be in God’s family; (2) no particular racial or cultural background is ultimately essential; (3) when you are a member of the family of God, you are part of the only family that really matters; (4) the family of God is a spiritual reality and not a physical one, joining together Zealots, tax collectors, thieves, murderers, liars, cheats, legalists, self-righteous religionists, and all kinds of others sinners just like you and me."  

The commentary also highlights how the text, even though this is not Jesus' intent, flatly rejects "universalism" which "is the belief that everyone will be saved."  This is of course not true as many people who some might refer to as "good" are condemned for eternity because they did not place their faith in Jesus Christ.  It is a mystery why God softens some hearts but not others.  Regardless, God calls all believers to share the Good News with the intent that He is the Savior - we are simply messengers of the Good News.  God wants us to show "mercy on those who doubt" as we seek to "snatch others from the fire" (Jude 22-23).

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God - as You loved me first, while still sinning and an enemy of You.  You never leave or forsake me, and Your mercies are new every morning and never cease - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You save nor any of the blessings or mercies You pour out for me.  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. 

He answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”

Mark 3:31-35

He answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.” Mark 3:33-35

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, I focus on an unassisted review of Mark 3:31-35, which is the text for the next chapter of the commentary. Observations of the text based on the Sword Bible Study Method: 

• What do we learn from the passage about God?: God seeks to create a family of believers whose bond is stronger than that of bloodlines.  Our love of God is more important than our love of others, including family.  Describing to the apostles the coming persecution they will face, Jesus shares how we can count on Him but be aware that even family will let you down and may indeed also be part of this coming persecution (Matthew 10:21). Bonds between those who share a love of Jesus and seek to do the will of God are stronger than than any other including with family.  God seeks for us to surround ourselves with other believers that can encourage, pray, and support one another in their journey with Christ, particularly during times of hardship and persecution.  
• What do we learn from the passage about people?: People will let us down.  It's not that we can't love them and form relationships with them, it's just that we should be aware that all sin, even in the church. First and foremost we should trust in Him.  We should be aware and remain humble that even in the church we are all broken and sinful and this should drive us into the arms of Jesus seeking to know and love Him more.    
• Is there anything from the passage God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey)?: Family is important, but we should place Christ first, above all, including in marriages. We can also claim the promise that Jesus unlike any other, including family, Jesus will always be faithful and never let us down or disappoint us in any way and He will never leave or forsake us.  We should be mindful of the corollary which is that we should avoid placing our trust in family or others  above Christ.   

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My Prayer: Father God You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of incredible grace and compassion, pouring out mercies ceaselessly and every morning. I know You will never leave or forsake me and You have saved me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and grace.  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 accept 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. 

“Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— for they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”

Mark 3:22-30

“Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— for they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.” Mark 3:28-30

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, I focus on a commentary-assisted review of Mark 3:28-30, which is the text for the third (of three) division of 3:22-30 per the commentary. Excerpts from the commentary for the third division:

• "Jesus declares the gracious forgiveness and mercy of God in forgiving sins. “All sins,” literally, “whatever blasphemies they may blaspheme,” will be forgiven. All sinners can find the forgiveness of God if they will come to Him in repentance and faith."
• "However, verses 29-30 note the one tragic and fearful exception. If someone speaks against the Holy Spirit verbally and continually, with willful and malicious intent that reveals a hardened heart beyond the possibility of repentance, there is no forgiveness, and they are 'guilty of an eternal sin.'"
• "In this historical context, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit denotes the conscious and deliberate rejection of the saving power and grace of God released through Jesus’ word and act...The considered judgment that his power was demonic, however, betrayed a defiant resistance to the Holy Spirit. This severe warning was not addressed to laymen but to carefully trained legal specialists whose task was to interpret the biblical law to the people. It was their responsibility to be aware of God’s redemptive action. Their insensitivity to the Spirit through whom Jesus was qualified for his mission exposed them to grave peril (Lane, The Gospel of Mark - The New International Commentary on the New Testament)."
• "The unpardonable sin is to knowingly, willingly, and persistently attribute to Satan the works of God done by and in Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit, who testifies to these truths in your heart. (1) It is a sin of full knowledge. (2) It is an ongoing disposition of the heart that resists the conviction of the Holy Spirit. (3) It is a verbal act that attributes the works of the Holy Spirit to Satan. (4) It is a willful rejection of God’s grace in Jesus. (5) It is rooted in unbelief. (6) It is a sin a Christian cannot commit. (7) It is a sin not committed by one who is concerned that he may have committed it."
• "There is a boundary of sin where, once passed, there is no possibility or hope of return. Do not even think of going there. Instead, run to Jesus in faith and repentance. You will find open arms there! You will find forgiveness free and eternal."       

It is remarkable that such learned men, knowledgeable of the law, would act in such a way as to blaspheme God's name.  They were so blinded and hard hearted that their own status as supposed experts in the law was threatened by Jesus and this prevented them from actually seeing who Jesus truly is - the one promised in the Old Testament.  Those of us who truly seek to deeply understand God's Word should be careful that such study and the resulting knowledge should not become an idol as it did for the scribes.  We should all remain humble and our humility should acknowledge that whatever knowledge we do have it comes from God and whatever gifts God gives us in wisdom, teaching, etc. also come from God and it is God working in and through us.  God gets the glory - not us!  Thank You Jesus for the mercies You pour ceaselessly.  I pray that I can remain humble knowing that I continue to sin and that it is You alone that forgives, provides, is in control, and deserves the glory.  We exist to glorify God. 

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an incredible God who saves and whose mercies never run out and are new every morning.  Thank You Jesus!  You are worthy of all glory, honor and praise.  Please forgive me for my sin as it continues...daily.  Help me turn from and overcome such sin and turn 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.  

He called them to him and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house.

Mark 3:22-30

He called them to him and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house. Mark 3:23-27

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, I focus on a commentary-assisted review of Mark 3:23-27, which is the text for the second (of three) division of 3:22-30 per the commentary. Excerpts from the commentary for the second division:

•  "Jesus gives a parable. Satan is the “strong man,” and Jesus is the One breaking into his house, his realm, to bind and plunder. Satan is indeed a strong man in this world. His house is a house of horrors, filled with sin, sickness, death, demon possession, and all that is evil and wicked. His possessions are human beings, enslaved by all these evils. Demons are his agents who delight in carrying out his diabolical agenda. No one but Jesus can invade his realm and carry away his possessions. No one but Jesus is more powerful than this strongman."
• "Jesus’ point is that He has come, and He can and will bind Satan. This is what Jesus is doing and will do climactically at the cross."   

Believers can take great comfort that Jesus sets free - not just in this life but for eternity.  All are slave to something and all of humanity is slave to sin and condemned for eternity.  Yet Jesus came to set free those who believe in Him - for eternity.  These eternal benefits can be enjoyed now knowing that this life is not the end.  Additionally, we have Jesus in our hearts through the Holy Spirit and with His Word and this gives what we need to remain steadfast in our faith.  See also Matthew 7:24-27.  Build Your house on The Rock!

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My Prayer: Father God, You are the Rock that can never be shaken and I can place my faith in You because You lead me into green pastures and provide and of course save!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You save and how You have already defeated sin and death - for me! 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.  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.