Saturday, February 7, 2015

Discernment

I wrote about some of this in an earlier post :Mark 8:11-25 Some insight we got in class Wednesday.
I'd like to continue with that topic, because I find it very interesting and I feel inspired.

I don't mind telling you that to many people, the verses in Mark 8 and 9 seem disjointed and disconnected, a series of events and no flow.
I assure you, nothing is farther from the truth, and once I realized that God wouldn't present us material in such a fashion, it was our class's and my obligation to seek Him for revelation on what He meant by it.

Mark Chapter 8 and 9.

  1. Jesus gave the disciple authority and sent them out to do battle, and they came back thrilled with stories of having heeled the sick and casting out demons.
  2. They saw huge crowds gather and Jesus miraculously feeding them (acting as if He expected them to handle it).
  3. They got in a boat to come back, and in the boat realized they only had one loaf of bread.
    I imagine they said this in such a way that Jesus would hear and multiply it for them.
    Jesus instead says something "odd". "Beware the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod". But He doesn't explain it, and they think His remark has something to do with their want of bread. This however is the key verse that explains so much to follow.
  4. He then chastises them for not understanding (eyes to see, ears to hear, etc.).
    It then seems he expected of them to either:
           a. Multiply the loaf themselves
                                 or
           b. Not worry about it.
    But the fact that they do not understand is crucial and links back to the leaven comment.
  5. Jesus heals the blind man. Not just his vision, but his perception. His understanding.
  6. Jesus asks the boys who men say He is.
    He then asks who they say He is (testing their understanding).
    They think He is the Messiah or they wouldn't be following Him around.
    They also assume that they are His chosen lieutenants, if not generals, and bound for imminent glory as He takes His throne.
    Peter says He is the Christ for that reason.
    Jesus clearly points out that He is about to die, arise in three days, etc.
    Peter grabs Him and says "That's crazy talk!".
    Jesus tells Peter, Get thee behind me Satan. Why? Peter is telling Jesus that he is bound for a soon coming earthly kingdom, what Satan offered Him in the desert. Jesus hears Satan tempting Him again through Peter's words. I don't know why I never saw that before.
  7. Jesus then talks about gaining the world and losing your soul. That is the leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod. Ruling the world without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit will cost you your soul. This lesson is not easily learned.
  8. Next is the Mount of Transfiguration.
    Moses and Elijah (the Law and the Prophets, the Old Testament) appear and the guys want to build them houses, expecting that they'll stick around for the imminent Kingdom.
    The Father says instead, "This is My beloved Son: hear Him!". (Forget your pre-conceived notions of the coming kingdom).
  9. Jesus tells them to keep it on the down low until He rises from the dead. He has told them a few times that He will die and rise from the dead. It's as if they never heard him. Not Understanding.
  10. After the "Mountain Top Experience" they come down (literally and figuratively) to find the guys left behind can't cast a demon out of a boy. Jesus does it and says "These come out by much prayer and fasting.
    At least in the King James he does. Not the NIV. That's another discussion.
    What is fasting? In it's simplest definition, it is denying oneself of something. Typically food.
    Jesus may have been referring to His earlier comment about denying oneself.
    My pastor and I believe the disciples may have been guilty of grandstanding while attempting to cast the demon out, in essence, not denying themselves. 
  11. Next, He plainly tells them what is to come, and they can't grasp it.:
    31 For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.
    32 But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.
  12. Then he calls them out for an argument they didn't want Him to hear:
    34 But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.  The leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod.
    He answers them with "receive the children" which I interpret as "don't think you're too important to interact with the powerless".
  13. They complain about someone doing works in Jesus name that isn't one of them.
    Someone is stealing their thunder. Jesus says in effect, "Get over it".
  14. 43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: Get rid of the leaven, it is a cancer.
    Another take on this is leaven based: No one goes Hollywood with a limb missing or an eye missing. Stop going Hollywood. Stop worrying about your glory. It could cost you your soul.
    Do not offend the powerless with your haughtiness. 
  15. 50 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.
    Can you eat one potato chip? (Scherie can, but I digress).
    Make yourself attractive and approachable to others so they'll come back for more, and quit vying for position.
Well, if you're still there, thanks for listening.
This is one of the most important posts I've ever done.
There have been other topics I've wanted to pursue, but we're doing a product launch at work with many twelve hour days.
If you think this has value, please inform your Christian friends of it.

23 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. Nicely discerned, sir. Far too many have never gotten it, and won't get it now. But spiritual things are spiritually discerned (1 Cor. 2:14), and so those without the leadership of the indwelling Spirit of God remain blind and rudderless.

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    1. Your omment and presence here are much appreciated, Paul. Thanks.

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  3. I think this is brilliant. I love the way you put it in today's vernacular for today's young, and old, people. You have put some ideas in my head I had not realized needed to be there. I really like this: Someone is stealing their thunder. Jesus says in effect, "Get over it".

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    1. Thanks, Ruth. I highly value your opinion, also.

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  4. Thanks for this.
    We are all weak. We are all sinners. We need to admit that and try to do "what Jesus would do".
    But I'm always amazed...
    Peter walked with Jesus and saw him perform many miracles. He truly believed Christ was the Messiah. Yet, when the rubber met the road, he denied him.
    Christ still "built his Church" on that rock.
    We're not perfect.
    But we're STILL loved, aren't we? :)

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  5. Well done, Ed...thanks so much.
    And I, too, find it fascinating that Jesus hears Satan again in Peter's words...... makes a lot of sense.
    I just finished a Christian Event (on Simulcast, but a little delayed) from Austin, TX Friday night and all of Saturday....about 12 hours in total. I'm WIPED OUT.
    It's called IF GATHERING and it was so uplifting..fabulous music, amazing teachings all by women. Beautiful stuff.
    Particularly reassuring and wonderful was the amount of young women in the audience and all around the world participating in the event....
    Every church's women ought to do this next year. I highly recommend it.

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    1. Tell me more so I can recommend it.
      I have a lot of nieces.

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    2. Not much more to tell; this was their second annual event and your nieces can Google it and recommend it to their church or just have it at their homes and watch with friends. MANY were seeing it around the world this time!
      I think there's either a small charge, or we did just to help them make their ends meet; I wasn't on that part of the committee to know what we paid, but it was well worth it, whatever it was. Top notch speakers and worship singers.
      http://ifgathering.com/
      that's the link!

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    3. Not much more to tell; this was their second annual event and your nieces can Google it and recommend it to their church or just have it at their homes and watch with friends. MANY were seeing it around the world this time!
      I think there's either a small charge, or we did just to help them make their ends meet; I wasn't on that part of the committee to know what we paid, but it was well worth it, whatever it was. Top notch speakers and worship singers.
      http://ifgathering.com/
      that's the link!

      Delete
  6. Well done, Ed...thanks so much.
    And I, too, find it fascinating that Jesus hears Satan again in Peter's words...... makes a lot of sense.
    I just finished a Christian Event (on Simulcast, but a little delayed) from Austin, TX Friday night and all of Saturday....about 12 hours in total. I'm WIPED OUT.
    It's called IF GATHERING and it was so uplifting..fabulous music, amazing teachings all by women. Beautiful stuff.
    Particularly reassuring and wonderful was the amount of young women in the audience and all around the world participating in the event....
    Every church's women ought to do this next year. I highly recommend it.

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  7. Good job, Ed. Our understanding increases exponentially the more we go to the well of the Gospels. And never stop at just one chip!

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  8. Thank you, Ed. I enjoyed this very much.

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  9. well done Ed, thanks and I'll pass it along!

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  10. Excellent exposition, Ed. Z forwarded your note, and I've been digesting your thoughts since I came home from a big event today. I particularly like the insight on the leaven of the pharisees. As I understand that, it's a desire for a sign from God to discern only what can be discerned spiritually. I like how you develop that. Thanks for putting so much into this. It's a blessing.

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  11. Given that Jesus said it to Peter, whom Jesus also identified as the Rock upon which His Church was to be built, I that the warning stands for all time.

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  12. hope alls well Ed...Happy Valentines Day!! xoxox

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