Mark 7:1-13

• Eternal – What does this passage teach me about Jesus?

Jesus was sure to point out hypocrisy. Here He quotes Isaiah’s description of hypocritical Israel, “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” That verse is a pretty clear description of any hypocrite – these verses are a pretty clear demonstration of how Jesus feels about hypocrisy.

• Internal – What does this passage teach me about myself?

I need to discern between God’s law and man’s law. God gave us some clear directives and if we are not careful we can elevate the rules/traditions of men to the level of God’s commands. In this passage Jesus refers to a law of man that was being used to negate a command of God. Keep the distinction clear and give the appropriate priority to each category.

• External – What does this passage teach me about other people?

We like to play by our own rules. Jesus was pointing out that the scribes chose which laws they wanted to obey or enforce. It would be so much easier if everyone would play by the rules that we feel are important or the rules that we make up as we go along. It doesn’t work that way. We must play by the rules that God has established.

• Eternal – What does this passage teach me about Jesus?

Though He is a Spiritual healer and leader, He is concerned with physical needs. Jesus had just sent the disciples out to preach and minister and when they got back He said, “let’s take a break.” However, the people followed them and Jesus “had compassion on them.” Jesus worked miracles and then even fed all of the people. He wanted the disciples to rest, He wanted the people to be healed, and He wanted the people to be fed- why? He cared about their physical needs.

• Internal – What does this passage teach me about myself?

If I am going to be like Jesus and the disciples, I should be willing to delay rest and food to work among people. Jesus told the disciples to take a break because there were so many people they couldn’t even eat. Jesus wanted the disciples to get the rest and food they needed, yet when the people followed them on the retreat He didn’t send them away. Jesus didn’t expect the disciples to go beyond what was physically possible, but He exemplified giving all you can.

• External – What does this passage teach me about other people?

They respond to having physical needs met. Verse 55 tells that when people recognized that it was Jesus they ran through the region gathering the sick. The church has carried on the ministry of meeting physical needs by feeding the hungry, supporting medical missions, etc.

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I feel it is important to remind us that Jesus ministered to physical needs by healing the sick and feeding the hungry, but His overarching purpose was meeting the great spiritual need. Meeting the great spiritual need must be the overarching purpose behind any ministry we do.

• Eternal – What does this passage teach me about Jesus?

To some people, He will always be a carpenter’s son. The people that knew Jesus as a boy couldn’t imagine Him as a prophet much less the son of God. In our generation, even though people didn’t grow up with Jesus around the corner they have a hard time believing that Jesus could have been more than a man born to Joseph the carpenter. Perhaps the familiarity with Jesus has bred contempt or maybe some people have hard time believing in something simple.

• Internal – What does this passage teach me about myself?

I need greater faith. In this passage, I most easily identify with the disciples that Jesus is sending out since I am a preacher. Jesus told the disciples to “pack light” and trust that their needs would be provided for by people they would encounter. Like most people, I enjoy having money in my pocket and knowing where my next meal will come from.

• External – What does this passage teach me about other people?

They can enjoy a perplexing message. The phrase “When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.” really stands out to me. Herod was “perplexed” by what he heard, but he enjoyed hearing it. I believe I have seen this in our church. People who do not yet believe in and follow after Christ enjoy hearing the gospel preached. It is as if they want to understand and believe…

• Eternal – What does this passage teach me about Jesus?

He is not “troubled.” While Jesus is making His way to Jairus’ house a woman touches His robe and is healed. When Jesus asks who touched Him, the woman comes forward fearfully. Jesus was not angry and He spoke tenderly to her. Then a messenger tells the group that Jairus’ daughter has died so they do not need to “trouble” Jesus any further. Jesus continues to the house because this is not trouble or inconvenience- it was why He was there. We are not an inconvenience to Jesus. I believe He takes great pleasure in helping us.

• Internal – What does this passage teach me about myself?

I want less fear, more faith. Jesus said “Fear not, only believe” to the man who had just been told that His daughter had died. Though I was a little “taken back” by the fact that Jesus said that to a parent who just lost a child, I can’t think of a situation where that would be inappropriate. In all situations, we need less fear and more faith.

• External – What does this passage teach me about other people?

The best thing to do with scorners is prove them wrong. The mourners mocked Jesus because He planned to “wake up” the daughter who died. Jesus did not debate them or present evidence of past resurrections and miracles. He simply proved them wrong. Go prove some scorners wrong today!

• Eternal – What does this passage teach me about Jesus?

He is more powerful than evil which is also pretty powerful. The power that evil displays in this man’s life is amazing, and the awful effect of evil is very vivid. Evil had overtaken this man and turned him into a force that no one could reckon with- that is until Jesus. While evil’s power is impressive, it is reduced to making requests in the presence of Jesus.

• Internal – What does this passage teach me about myself?

I love redeemed lives. My favorite phrase in this passage is, “and [they] saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid.” The man who had terrified them by tearing chains and shackles apart was now terrifying them by being normal. The change, the “before and after” was compelling. I love what God does with broken lives.

• External – What does this passage teach me about other people?

In spite of or even because of their background, they can accomplish a great mission for the gospel. This man that Jesus helped was notorious. He was known to be dangerous and uncontrollable. So when the people saw the change in him and they heard the message he shared, they marveled.

• Eternal – What does this passage teach me about God?

He is powerful yet calm. God is never in a panic.

• Internal – What does this passage teach me about myself?

Like the disciples, I want to know what Jesus is waiting for. The disciples could not believe that Jesus was sleeping in the back of the boat. They eventually cry out, “don’t you care that we are all going to die!” The disciples were struggling to keep the boat above water and Jesus was sleeping, but as soon as they cried out to Him they were saved. I can identify with the disciples. I often wonder when God is going to get involved and help me out- doesn’t He see how hard I am working!? Finally, when I see that I am sunk without Him, I call for His help. Turns out, that was all I needed to do. The lesson here is to quit struggling and call on Jesus sooner. If you have faith that Jesus can calm the storm, you will spend less of your own energy fighting it without Him.

• External – What does this passage teach me about other people?

They are afraid. In this passage the disciples were frightened by the storm, by Jesus’ surprising calmness, and Jesus’ demonstration of power. They were afraid the storm would kill them, they were distraught that Jesus didn’t care, and they were terrified at the fact that Jesus controlled the weather. In all stages and situations, people can find something to fear. In verse 40, Jesus seems to think that indicates a lack of faith.

Jesus wanted everyone to hear. As the crowd got larger, Jesus got into a boat and used the water to help all the people see and hear Him as he taught. Most likely the shore sloped down into the water and with Jesus a few feet into the water it would have been like stadium seating. Plus, water works as a natural sound amplifier, and before Jesus started the parable He basically said, “Hey, listen up” to get their attention.

• Internal – What does this passage teach me about myself?

I am a seed sower. Thinking back on times that I was receptive and non-receptive, I can remember when I was like each of the different types of soil. However, because I am a preacher I most easily associate myself with the seed sower. I can identify with different reactions and results though the seed is the same…

• External – What does this passage teach me about other people?

They are all different. It is tempting to boil people down into stereotypes- to pick up on one trait and assume many others. Jesus illustrates that people hear and receive or reject the gospel in different ways and for different reasons.

Jesus was misunderstood. While the scribes were biased against Jesus, one would assume that Jesus’ family was biased for Him. Both Jesus’ family and the scribes misunderstand Him in this passage of scripture.  I recently read that being misunderstood usually comes with the territory when serving God- Jesus definitely serves as an illustration of that concept (Jesus is probably the most misunderstood person of all time).

• Internal – What does this passage teach me about myself?

I care what some people think. When I was reading this, I thought about how upset I would be if someone close to me seriously suggested I see a shrink or if a church leader accused me of demon possession. I also thought about times that strangers, distant acquaintances, and even enemies have misunderstood me and that doesn’t bother me as much.

• External – What does this passage teach me about other people?

We are related! Jesus said that anyone who does the will of God is His family. I love this idea, so I use this analogy often when explaining the church. However, I have realized that simply comparing the church to family is a negative for some people. Many people do not have a positive family experience to relate to…

Following Christ brings you into a family like no other family.

Jesus got angry. Before we jump to conclusions about Jesus’ anger, we should look at what made Jesus look with anger: hard hearts. The Bible also tells us that this “grieved” Jesus. Jesus reasoned with them that it must be acceptable to help someone on the Sabbath, but they just sat quietly. Their hearts were hard, their minds were made up and their will was stubborn.

• Internal – What does this passage teach me about myself?

My priority should be people. The religious people were upset with Jesus for healing someone on the Sabbath because their law and traditions had become the priority. To Jesus, the man was the priority.

• External – What does this passage teach me about other people?

They are watching. The phrase that stands out to me the most is, “ And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him.” They were watching Jesus to find fault (remember they were finding fault in healing someone…crazy!). People are watching…hopefully their motives are purer than these scribes.

He is perceptive (that might be the understatement of the year). Jesus looked at the scribes and saw the reasoning taking place inside. A few years ago I read a fictional account of someone who met Jesus during His ministry on earth. One portion has stuck with me, it went something like, “when He looked me in the eyes, He wasn’t looking at my eyes, He was looking into my heart, my soul.” That kind of put a personal touch on the fact that God knows my heart.

• Internal – What does this passage teach me about myself?

I should minister like the four men who carried their friend to Jesus. They demonstrated unity (it takes more than one person to lower the guy through a roof), tenacity (they didn’t give up), creativity (did I mention they lowered the guy through the roof), and charity (they got their friend to Jesus).

• External – What does this passage teach me about other people?

The sick ones need a doctor. Jesus told the scribes that He came to those who needed and would accept His help. The truth was that they all needed Jesus, but the “righteous” people were like sick people who think they are well- they have little use for a doctor.