Tearing the Roof off the Joint

Customer Service at the DMV?

Every once in a while we experience an event so incredibly wild and stupendously crazy that what went down breaks all the rules of what we thought could ever happen.

That unexpected upset by an total underdog over a powerhouse that suddenly turns into a blowout. A total snoozefest explodes into the best party ever. Hospitality and customer service so crazy good at the DMV that you think you’re at the Apple Store’s Genius Bar.

Each is a complete surprise that blows the lid off the joint.

A First Century Flash Mob

In the second chapter of his bio of Jesus (Mk 2:1-12), Mark describes an event so unexpected, so sudden, so ludicrous, so improbable that nobody saw coming. And I mean nobody. The time is around 30 AD. The scene is the modest home of a couple of local commercial fishermen in the boondocks of Galilee.

A crowd suddenly gathers when word gets out that the amazing new Rabbi/Carpenter from Nazareth is in the ‘hood. It’s a First Century flash mob. The people just keep coming. And coming. And coming. Before you know it, there are more folks standing in the front yard than inside the house.

A Hole in the Roof

We haven’t even got to the crazy part. Without any warning, four friends are ripping apart the roof of a crowded house so they can get their buddy down to Jesus. But that’s small potatoes compared to how the Lord rips apart folks’ perception of who He is and what He can do.

Let’s just say it’s the day Jesus blows the roof off the place.

Jesus’ Earthly Home Office

We pick up the action with the Son of God coming back after laying low after publicity got WAY out of hand (Mk 1:45). “When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that He was back home” (v1).

Capernaum is a small blue collar town that’s known for it’s fishing fleet. It’s earning a new rep as Jesus’ temporary headquarters for a large chunk of His three-and-a-half year ministry. Call it the Son of God’s earthly home office.

Peter’s Version

The phrase “back home” is actually “in the house” in the original Greek. You can pretty much bet our Savior has set up shop at Peter and Andrew’s home, the scene of that crazy Sabbath of healing and exorcism (Mk 1:29-34).

Remember, the second Gospel is actually Peter’s version of Jesus’ bio as told to John Mark. That was the commonly belief of the early followers of Christ believed this. As a result of his source VERY close to the story, Mark consistently drops knowledge we don’t find in the other two versions of this event (Mt 9:1-8; Lk 5:18-26).

Crowded Inside and Out

We see one of those juicy tidbits in the very next verse. “Soon the house where He was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door” (v2). Thanks to Pete, Mark is the only Gospel writer to let us know that it’s so crowded inside that it was crowded outside!

This is like one of those a crazy house parties teenagers throw when their parents are out of town. Relax, I’m NOT talking about your kids. They would NEVER try to pull anything like that, would they?

Getting in the Way of God

Picture the scene. People are hoping meet the One they’ve heard so much about. There’s just one problem. They can’t get anywhere close to Him. That stuff still happens to this day. Too many times we put too much stuff in folks’ way that makes really hard to get near Jesus. They may hear about Him. But they never meet Him.

You know the kinds of stuff I’m talking about. In some churches, you have to dress a certain way. In others, you got all sorts of rules to follow and hoops to jump through. And some others, we get so hip and relevant that you can’t see our Savior through the smoke machine and laser lights.

The Life of the Party

For those who could make it inside the house, they have a front row seat as Jesus is “preaching God’s Word to them” (v2). Throughout Mark’s Gospel, Christ says this is THE big reason He has come (Mk 1:38-39; 3:14; 6:12; 13:10; 14:9). He’s sharing the awesome news of God’s gracious Gospel. More on that in a moment.

You can actually translate this phrase as “He was talking to them about the Word.” Jesus may have been preaching but He just as well could be involved in something a lot less formal. Think of it as more of a casual conversation.

All throughout the four Gospels, we consistently see Christ as life of the party. This would be a perfect example. As the center of attention, He’s leveraging the moment to tell people in Pete’s living room all about His good, good Father. And why not? The grace of God is His favorite topic.

Locked and Loaded for the Lord?

So what do I love to talk about when I’m hanging out with my friends? The latest movie franchise? My most recent show that I’ve binged watched on Netflix? The playoff chances of my favorite team? Hey, there’s nothing wrong with any of those (Okay, you’re on shaky ground if you pull for the Patriots, but that’s another matter for another day).

Does my love for Jesus and what He’s done in my life regularly pop up in my conversations. Does His grace naturally flow out of me? No, I’m not talking about cramming an awkward list of religious rules down folks’ throats. Am I so consumed with Christ that I can’t contain myself when I’m with others?

I like how Pete puts it. “If someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way” (1Pet 3:15-16). Sometimes people may not ask. Other times they will. When they do, am I locked and loaded to talk about the Lord? 

Four Men and a Friend

Meanwhile things are about to pick up back at the shindig at Pete and Andy’s place in Capernaum. “Four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat” (v3). Once again, Mark provides a fact we don’t see in Matthew or Luke. He tells us how many guys have come together to carry their buddy to see Jesus.

We don't get the back story of why he’s disabled. Mark uses a Greek term (Gr. παραλυτικος/paralutikos) five times in this short passage which describes someone unable to walk, disabled, weak, feeble, or lacking strength. It’s actually a compound word which literally means “destroyed on one side.” Whatever happened to him, he’s severely paralyzed. MacArthur speculates the poor guy could actually be a quadriplegic.

When We’re Running on E

While we don’t know his medical history, we do know he has four great friends. These guys have rallied around him in order to do for him what he couldn’t do for himself. Sometimes we have to carry a friend who’s too weak to carry themselves. Not when they’re physically weak, but emotionally and spiritually feeble as well.

Have you ever wanted to throw in the towel on God but a great friend came along who was willing to sit right there in the mess with with you? Keep an eye out for people you know who might be running on E. Maybe it’s their faith. Maybe it’s their heart. Maybe it’s their body. Be the kind of friend Paul writes to the Galatians about. “Share each others burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ” (Gal 6:2).

When You Can’t Go Through, You Go Over

Imagine the reaction of these four friends when they pull up to Peter and Andrew’s house and see people filling the front yard. Instead turning around, they get creative. “They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above His head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus” (v4).

They don’t go through the crowd. They go OVER it! Homes in First Century Palestine are a bit different than the two-story brick transitional on the cul-de-sac just down the street. These places had rooftop patios for cooling off at the end of the day and sleeping on a hot night which you could access by an external stairway.

Unroofing the Roof

Instead of the asphalt shingles on most American homes, the roof is made of slabs of burnt or dried clay placed on wooden beams. That’s how the four friends are able to take apart the place apart so easily.

Mark describes how “they dug a hole through the roof” (v4). He has a pretty cool way of saying it in the original language. “Dug a hole” (Gr. αποστεγαζω/apostegazo) and “roof” (Gr. στεγη/stege) come from the same root word. In other words, they literally “unroofed the roof”!

Meanwhile in the Living Room

Put yourself in the living room with Jesus and the lucky few who made it inside the house. You hear some scratching above you. Suddenly pieces of the ceiling begin falling on you. Before you know it, there’s a good-sized hole and someone’s being lowered on a stretcher right in front of Christ!

The effort and ingenuity of these four men is something to see. They literally tore the roof of the joint that day! If you’re like me, you may be wondering what’s going through Jesus’ mind when He see this crazy scene. What’s His reaction going to be? Will He freak out at the dust in His hair? Will He be upset that they interrupted what He was saying?

Seeing Their Faith

The Lord is anything but upset. Nope, just the opposite. “Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, ‘My child, your sins are forgiven’” (v5). Did you catch whose faith He saw? “Seeing THEIR faith” (v5 emphasis added). These four guys have just put their trust that Jesus could and would heal their buddy on display for everyone to see.

Jesus’ own kid brother James is blunt when it comes to legit trust in God. “Faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless” (James 2:17). These men didn’t just stand outside the crowd wishing and hoping Jesus might be able to do something for him, they did something!

An Obvious Faith

Their faith got busy. Their faith got down to business. They didn’t just talk the faith talk, they walked the faith walk. They put their faith into action and on the line. They were going to do anything and everything possible to get their boy to Jesus. And when they did, He saw THEIR faith!

This is when I need to take a long, hard look at the guy in the morning mirror and ask some very blunt questions. I may talk a good game at times but do people actually see my faith? Is my trust in Jesus blatantly obvious by what I do? Do I put the needs of others ahead of my own because of my faith in Christ?

A Symptom of Spiritual Disease

Back inside Pete and Andy’s house, Jesus is about to kick things up a notch. What? You thought that four guys busting through the roof to lower their disabled friend was wild enough? Oh baby, you ain’t seen nothing yet!

Christ’s response to the whole stretcher-through-the-ceiling move is about to rock everyone’s world. He tells “the paralyzed man, ‘My child, your sins are forgiven’” (v5). Sins? You assumed they brought their buddy because he couldn’t walk. Our Savior diagnoses the man’s deeper problem and understands his physical disability is actually just a symptom of his spiritual disease.

Apparently this man’s sin has resulted in severe impairment. A boatload of Bible scholars see Jesus’ forgiveness to mean the guy’s paralysis is the direct result of his rebellion against God. Sometimes it’s not. Take the blind man Christ heals during the holidays (Jn 9:1-3). But sometimes we can connect the dots of our disobedience with our disease.

Not the Only Sinner in the Story

This is a great time to remember that the paralyzed gentleman isn’t the only sinner in the story. That description fits everybody in the crowd at the house. Peter. Andrew. The four faithful friends. It also includes the author of the story everyone who has ever heard it. As a matter of fact, it also includes everybody who hasn’t!

That’s because we all we’re all sinners. You. Me. Us. Them. It’s Paul’s big point in a letter to Roman believers. “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard” (Rom 3:23). “Everyone” and “all” pretty much covers it, don’t you think?

Our Sinless Savior

Everybody except Jesus. He’s the sinless Son of God who does for us what we could never dream of doing for ourselves. He came to live the perfect life that we failed to live. He came to die the brutal death for our sin that we should have died. He rose to a glorious new life that we don’t deserve.

Here’s the Good News in a nutshell. “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ” (2Cor 5:21). In other words, Jesus exchanges us His complete perfection for our sinful rejection. Trusting in that trade results in God’s forgiveness.

Blasphemy!

Back at the crowded house in Capernaum, things are about to get, shall we say, messy. Here’s how Mark puts it. “But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves, ‘What is He saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!’” (v6-7).

Apparently these religious experts got there early for front row seats. They saw it all. The hole in the roof. The lowering of the stretcher. If that didn’t blow their minds, Jesus’ offering of forgiveness to the paralyzed man sure did.

Putting God in a Box

Just who are these guys? They’re what are often called scribes. They’re men who study the Old Testament and interpret them for the average Joe. That’s all well and good but they rarely stop there. They don’t just teach the lesson. They like to help God out by cooking up with their own crazy curriculum loaded with extra commands.

As a result, God has to fit into THEIR box and play by THEIR rules. And that’s why they get their religious undies in a bundle when Jesus has the gall to forgive someone’s sin. The scribes blow a gasket because the new Rabbi in town is claiming to be God by doing things only God can do!!

Jesus Claims to Be God

You may hear people say Jesus never claimed to be God. He may have been a radical who challenged the status quo. But NOT God. He may have been a miracle-working healer. But NOT God. He may have been a great teacher. But NOT God.

Well, let’s be clear. That’s EXACTLY what Jesus is doing here in Mark 2. The religious police don’t turn on the blue lights because He teaches and heals. It’s all because Jesus is claiming to be God. And according to the OT, that’s a capital crime (Lev 24:10-23; Num 15:30-31).

The funny thing is that they’re both wrong and right…all at the same time! They’re absolutely right. Only God CAN forgive sin. But their totally wrong. It’s NOT blasphemy…because Jesus IS God! The Lord isn’t just tearing apart their box and ripping up their rules. He’s tearing the roof off the joint!

Putting a Leash on the Lion

Too many times I end up taking a page out of the scribes’ playbook and try to limit our unlimited God. Go ahead, put a leash on the Lion of Judah and see how that works for you. He’s going to do what He wants to do. NOT what I expect Him to do.

“The LORD does whatever pleases Him throughout all the heaven and earth, and on the seas and in their depths” (Ps 135:6). Did you catch that? Whatever He wants. Wherever He wants. That includes both a First Century Galilee or 21st Century America and anywhere in between. It’s all part of being God.

Exposing Dark Secrets

But not only does the Lord see the faith of the four men and their friend, He knows what’s rattling around in the heads of the religious teachers. “Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking” (v8-9). He doesn’t just forgive sin. He exposes are darkest secrets.

Even if the scribes didn’t roll their holier-than-thou eyes, the Son of God reads them like an open book. Jesus’ best buddy John puts it this way. “No one needed to tell Him about human nature, for He know what was in each person’s heart” (Jn 2:25). Nobody reads a room or knows a crowd better than Christ. And that’s still the case.

Take Your Best Shot

Whether the Son of God supernaturally reads their minds or just caught the scribes rolling their it really doesn’t matter. Suddenly He drags them from the sidelines onto center stage. “So He asked them, ‘Why do you question in your hearts? Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man, “Your sins are forgiven,” or “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk?” (v8-9).

It’s Jesus’ way of saying, “Go ahead, boys. Take your best shot. Give it a try. Pick one…forgive his sins or heal his disease. Your choice. You call. Let’s see what you got.” From a spiritual sense, it’s impossible for anybody but God to forgive someone’s sin. From an earthly sense, it’s unthinkable for anybody but God to heal paralysis. What’ll it be?

He’s Got the Godly Goods

The Lord doesn’t leave us hanging. “‘So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.’ Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, ‘Stan up, pick up your mat, and go home!’” (v10-11).

Jesus is about to demonstrate to the scribes and everybody else jammed in the joint that He’s got the godly goods. He’s Messiah. He’s got authority. He can forgive sin. He can heal disease. In other words, He’s God.

A Description of Divinity

This is the first time in Mark’s Gospel when Jesus drops His favorite nickname for Himself, the Son of Man. He’s dusting off one Daniel’s favorite descriptions of divinity. Danny gives us a prophetic play-by-play of something he saw in the heavenly throne room.

“I saw Someone like a Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into His presence. He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that the people of every race and nation and language would obey Him. His rule is eternal—it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed” (Dan 7:14-15).

Calling Himself the Son of Man is Jesus’ not-so-subtle announcement that He is God. God the Father has given Him complete authority to do whatever He wants, whenever He wants, wherever He wants. He will rule forever. Ladies and gentlemen, meet the Messiah and King of Kings.

Love through the Roof!

I’m not saying what the four guys did for their disabled friend wasn't something to see. They ripped the roof off the place in order to get their buddy to the Lord. But that’s JV compared to what Jesus has done. The Son of God didn’t just descend through a hole in the roof. He dove all the way from heaven to earth in order to save us. God’s love for us is through the roof!

Forgive sin? Piece of cake. Don’t believe Him? Just sit back and watch Christ restore full mobility to a paralyzed man. “And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, ‘We’ve never seen anything like this before!’” (v12).

The Ultimate Walk off

Jesus drops the mic on the scribes. Good night. Game over. Drive home safely. He didn’t need to say another word to these religious bullies. When the man walks home, Jesus delivers the ultimate walk off. He’s God. Period. End of discussion.

Jesus blows the lid off the joint. He unroofs the roof. And He still does.

©2017
Jay Jennings

God's Gut Reaction

Is God Paying Attention?

It happens a lot at our house. The TV is on but it’s nothing more than background noise while we do something else (Okay, I admit that we watch WAY too much television). We’re not really paying attention. Sometimes I turn it on as white noise while I take a Sunday afternoon nap. Come on, is there anything more soothing than a whispering golf announcer?

That’s the picture many of us have of God when it comes to what’s going on down here on our little third rock from the sun. He might be watching but He’s not really paying attention. He’s got the volume turned way down.

Maybe He’s doing something else, something more important. Or maybe He just doesn’t care. It doesn’t take much for us to picture our Creator catching a few Zs in a His heavenly throne that kicks back like a divine La-Z-Boy.

The Compassion Reaction

There’s only one little problem with all that. It’s not true. Not even close. God IS paying close attention. He DOES care and cares deeply. Better yet, He not only cares but is so deeply moved and invested in what’s going on that He’ll do something about it. That’s what happens when God is moved in the gut by what He sees.

God is paying attention. He cares with every fiber of His eternal being. He’s fully and passionately involved whether we know it or not. He not CAN do something about our pain and suffering…He WILL do something about it!

God’s gut reaction is compassion.

Buckle Your Seat Belt

This is exactly the point of a story Mark tells near the end of the opening chapter in his bio of Jesus (Mk 1:40-45). Man, these opening pages are action packed! There’s a LOT going on in just a few short paragraphs. Don’t open the second Gospel of the New Testament without buckling your seat belt. This rascal is the original Fast and Furious!

The story begins with holy road construction (Mk 1:1-3). Jesus’ weird bug-eating cousin John gets the crowd ready for the coming Messiah (Mk 1:4-8). When the Son of God gets baptized, the Father and Spirit join Him to make a rare public appearance by the Trinity (Mk 1:9-11).

Christ is probably still dripping with river water when He heads off to a forty-day duel with the devil in the desert (Mk 1:12-13). After staring down Satan, it’s go time for the Son of God in Galilee (Mk 1:14-15). He then begins drafting the team He’ll use to save the world by picking four commercial fishermen (Mk 1:16-20).

One Slamming Sabbath

Next thing you know, Jesus shocks the crowd at the Capernaum synagogue on the Sabbath, not only with amazing teaching but a rather raucous exorcism (Mk 1:21-28). After church, He heads to Simon and Andrew’s house and heals Simon’s mother-in-law (Mk 1:29-31).

Later that evening, the Lord transforms the humble home into crowded urgent care clinic as people show up hoping Jesus will heal them (Mk 1:32-34). Instead of sleeping in the next morning, our Savior gets up at o-dark-thirty for some alone time with His Dad and to get laser-focused on His upcoming mission and message (Mk 1:35-39).

Kind of a Big Deal

Which brings to a little story we see not just in Mark but Matthew (Mt 8:1-4) and Luke (Lk 5:12-14) as well. Here’s a little tip. When three of the four biographers of Jesus include the same event, that’s a clue that this is kind of a big deal.

Matthew gives us the “when” while Luke gives us the “where.” Matt says this happens right after Jesus preaches His most famous message, the one we call the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 8:1). According to Luke, the location is one of the local Galilean villages (Lk 5:12).

The Big L

As we pick up the action back in Mark, we see someone going out of his way to get to the Son of God. “A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. ‘If You are willing, You can heal me and make me clean,’ he said” (v40).

Let’s face it, we don’t exactly see a whole lot of leprosy in 21st Century America. A little plaque psoriasis maybe. A nasty case of eczema possibly. Or teenager embarrassed by their complexion. That’s about it. We don’t see commercials from a pharmaceutical company encouraging us to ask our doctor about the latest and greatest leprosy wonder drug.

But leprosy in ancient times was a HUGE health problem. First Century Jews called leprosy “the Finger of God” or “the Stroke.” While there were a long list of skin disorders that fit the label of the Big L, the worst kind was chronic, incurable, and eventually fatal. One Bible commentator calls it “the living death.” It’s known today as Hansen’s disease.

Outcasts from Society

A quick check of Scripture tells us that leprosy turns the skin white as snow (Ex 4:6; Num 12:10; 2Ki 5:27). A victim doesn’t expect any healing or relief (2Ki 5:7). Like the spiritual disease of our own sin, there’s no cure without from God’s involvement. Similar to folks with HIV/AIDS today, lepers were outcasts from society that no one wanted anywhere near them.

We don’t know this guy’s name that Mark describes but we do have a pretty good handle on his condition when he comes to Christ. Dr. Luke diagnoses the dude with “an advanced case of leprosy” (Lk 5:12). It’s bad. REALLY bad. This awful disease has probably cost him a finger or two and maybe even a foot. Let’s just say he wasn’t looking to Jesus for a little relief from a pesky rash.

A Gut Feeling about Jesus

The guy “came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed” (v40). From our perspective, it makes sense. The Rabbi/Carpenter is blowing up after that crazy day of healing in Capernaum. Surely He’s the answer. He goes all in on the Son of God. He doubles down on his belief that Christ could heal him too. He’s got a gut feeling about Jesus.

But what we may not realize is that in his desperation, the poor man totally breaks all the rules. According to the Old Testament, any sign of leprosy means quarantine and isolation (Num 5:1-4; 12:10-15). To make matters worse, someone with this dreaded disease has to warn anybody not to come near them (Lev 13:45-46).

Hopeless and Homeless

We don’t know how long he’s suffered. But put yourself in his sandals for a second. You’re body is literally and slowly rotting away. You’re forced to live outside the city. You can never hug your kids again. You can never kiss your wife again. You’re utterly lonely and completely hopeless…until you hear about Jesus!

Basically living homeless outside the city limits, you’ve come to believe that God isn’t paying attention. That He doesn’t care. He may be the Creator but He must have better things to do than spend time listening a leper’s prayers in the backwater boondocks of Galilee.

Rules, Schmules!

But that all changes when you hear the news about the miracle working Messiah making rounds in the neighborhood. You don’t realize it at the time, but your potential source of healing is actually THE Son of God. God DOES care. He cares SO much that He’s left the luxury of the heavenly palace to come on the ultimate rescue mission to heal us and save us.

And now you hear He’s headed your way. Rules, schmules! You’re going to find a way to see Him. You don’t give a hoot whether you’ve got an appointment or not. You’re hoping against all hope that Jesus is taking walk-ins! You’ve got a gut feeling He’s your best and last chance.

It doesn’t take much to picture the man stumbling as fast as he can and throwing himself on his knees before the Lord. In worship. In complete submission. In total dependance. In utter desperation. He’s out of options. The scene reminds me of what Corrie Ten Boom said. “You never know Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have.” At this point, Jesus IS all he has.

Ain’t Too Proud to Beg

Once he has Christ’s attention, he pulls no punches on his request. “If You are willing, You can heal me and make me clean” (v40). He knew Jesus could. He didn’t know if He would. He knew Christ had the power. He didn’t know if He had the want to. But one thing was for sure, the man was going to ask. He was going to plead. He had absolutely nothing to lose. As the Temptations like to say, he ain’t too proud to beg!

This comes back to that core question. Do I REALLY believe He can heal me? And if I do think the Son of God’s got the goods to cure me, do I believe He’ll deliver? Do I NOT ask Him because I don’t think He can or, even worse, don’t think He cares? Is Jesus even paying attention to little ol’ me? Doesn’t He have better things to do? More important items on His divine to-do list?

A Cathartic Moment

Mark tells us that the man knows that IF Jesus wants to, “You can heal me and make me clean” (v40). The author uses a Greek word here (Gr. καθαριζο/katharizo) that the NLT translates as “heal me make me clean” which means to purify, clean, purge, rid of disease, or even make acceptable to God.

It’s where we get our word catharsis, a cleansing or purging that brings about a renewal. John Mark uses it three times in three verses in this passage. Here in verse 40. Again when Jesus responds “be healed” in the next verse. And one more time in verse 42 at the end of the treatment. But let’s not get ahead ourselves.

Splag-what?

So back to the big question. Not could Jesus, but would Jesus? We get our answer in Mark’s description of our Savior’s response. Christ is “moved with compassion” (v41). Excuse me while we drill down a bit in the original language again. This is the word σπλαγχνιζομαι/splagchnizomai, which means to feel sympathy for, experience great affection for someone, or take pity on someone.

How deep is this emotion? Check this out. The term comes from another Greek noun (Gr. σπλαγχνον/splagchnon) which actually means bowels, intestines, or internal organs. Back in ancient times, your innards were thought to be the seat of deep love and all passionate emotion.

Moved to His Core

The man’s disease and desperate request punches Jesus in the gut. The Lord has a visceral reaction to his situation. He’s moved to His holy core. His stomach turns at the sight.

God’s gut reaction is compassion!

The Compassion of Christ

It’s important to note that the only time we see it in the New Testament is when the writers are talking about Jesus or when He’s telling a parable describing His Heavenly Dad. Here are a few examples.

The Son of God has a gut reaction when the people are harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd (Mt 9:36; Mk 6:34). It happens when He sees the massive crowd coming to Him from the surrounding cities (Mt 14:14). One more time when another huge audience is starving after a three-day lakeside Bible study (Mt 15:32; Mk 8:2).

It doesn’t take a big crowd to rock Christ to His core. It happens when he meets two visually impaired men near Jericho who desperately want to see again (Mt 20:34). There’s the time when a heartbroken dad pleads with Jesus to do something to help his demon-tortured son (Mk 9:22). Once again when He sees a widowed mother in a funeral procession for her recently deceased son (Lk 7:13).

Compassion in the Parables

When Jesus tells the story of the unforgiving employee, the worker’s original boss “was filled with pity (Gr. σπλαγχνιζομαι/splagchnizomai) for him, and he released him and forgave his debt” (Mt 18:27). In the parable of the kindhearted Samaritan, this despised foreigner is the only one whose heart breaks for the man who had been mugged and left for dead on the side of the road (Lk 10:33).

Then there’s the famous story of the faithful father and his two knucklehead sons. The dad is overwhelmed with compassion that he sprints off the porch to meet the one son who returned in repentance (Lk 15:20). The big idea? There’s no one more deeply moved by our situation than God Himself.

Sympathy, Empathy, and Compassion

Don’t get compassion confused with sympathy or empathy. Sympathy is pity for somebody else’s problems. Empathy is the ability to relate to somebody’s situation vicariously. But compassion is both an understanding of someone else’s pain AND the desire to do something about it in someway.

Our Savior certainly understands and relates to our situation. That’s what His incarnation is all about. It’s the point of Jesus being our priest. “This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same testings we do, yet He did not sin” (Heb 4:15).

But Christ doesn’t simply care. He has the desire to do something about it. On some level, the man understands the truth we read in Hebrews. “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most” (Heb 4:16).

God’s gut reaction is compassion.

Jesus Reaches out

Which brings us back to the leper’s dermatological appointment with the Great Physician in Galilee. Jesus’ instinctively responds to him with love and care. As a result, He’s moved to do something. “Jesus reached out and touched him” (v41). Yeah, that’s right, Jesus reaches out and touches him!

For someone in the first century with a diagnosis of leprosy, this is the last thing you would expect to happen. Reach out and touch? No way. More like turn around and run. Lepers commonly had to dodge rocks from from folks trying to scare them away. Jesus reaching out to touch was totally unexpected.

It’s My Pleasure

But the radical Rabbi/Carpenter did just make loving contact with him, He responds to his request. “‘I am willing,’ He said. ‘Be healed!’” (v41). Jesus not only wants to heal, He’s going to heal! I love how the Bible in Basic English translates the Lord’s reply. “It is My pleasure; be made clean” (v41 BBE).

In other words, we’re not wasting Jesus’ time when we ask. He looks forward to helping us. He’s SO glad when we ask! We’re not bothering Him. It’s no inconvenience. It’s not a hassle. He loves when we come to Him and invite Him to be involved. Why?

God’s gut reaction is compassion.

Immediate Healing

Jesus wastes no time getting down to business. “Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed” (v42). The Son of God doesn’t write the guy a prescription for a topical ointment and tell to apply twice a day for two weeks. He heals him. Immediately. On the spot. Christ liberally applies the love of God and miraculously cures him.

For the tenth time in his opening chapter, we see Mark use favorite adverb ευθεος/eutheos. It describes something that happens immediately, at once, straightaway, next, and indicates the immediate event in a sequence.

The author uses a form of this word eleven times in chapter one for a grand total of more than 40 times the second Gospel. That’s more than the rest of the New Testament combined! Think the Bible is boring? Then you need to read Mark’s bio of Jesus. It’s more like a non-stop action flick.

He WANTS Us to Ask

Will Jesus give you and me instantaneous healing like the leprous man in Mark? I honestly don’t know. But here’s what we DO know. He cares and He can. We don’t know until we ask Him. He WANTS us to ask. He loves when we invite Him to get involved.

There are times when He has a reason to delay our healing. Take Paul for example (2Cor 12:5-9). He begged God repeated to rid him of an unnamed pain. But Jesus told him this particular pain has a specific purpose. The Lord allowed it in order to keep the apostle humble. Each time Paul asked, Jesus’ response was the same. “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness” (2Cor 12:9).

Delayed Response

In other words, sometimes Jesus’ compassion is actually the reason His response is delayed. Say what?!?! As with Paul, the Son of God is more concerned with my holiness than my happiness. His healing is anything but a one-size-fits-all kinda deal. Christ probably won’t do for me what He’s done for you. Maybe He will. One thing that is for sure is His compassion.

God’s gut reaction is compassion.

Where’s MY Compassion?

Here’s where I need to press “pause” and ask myself some hard questions. Do I have sympathy and empathy for those who are suffering? Does my heart break for those in pain? What’s more, do I have compassion for others? I may not be Jesus but there are plenty of times when I can do something to help. That’s what being the church is all about, isn’t it? Isn’t it?

Working through Established Channels

At this point, Jesus tells the guy how he should spread the word to anyone and everyone about the miracle. Not. Pretty much the opposite. Christ warns him, “Don’t tell anyone about this. Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed” (v43-44).

Jesus has a very specific audience He wants to hear the news. The local priest. He’s telling the man to follow the instructions God gave Moses about being cleansed from leprosy (Lev 14:2-32). The Son of God wants the word of the healing to get out through His Father’s established channels. It’s important that the priest knows Jesus’ ministry is legit!

Staying on Schedule

There’s another important reason for our Savior to keep a lid on what’s going on in Galilee. He has a three-year timetable. He needs to stay on schedule. If word gets back to the religious leaders and Roman politicians that the REAL King of the Jews has made the scene, things are going to get messy in a big hurry.

“But the man went and spread the word, proclaiming to everyone what had happened” (v45). Well, so much for keeping things on the down low. It just goes to show you that everything in the Bible isn’t all buttoned up. It’s not all smooth sailing.

This is what happens when God interacts with imperfect people like you and me. Too many times, we ignore His instructions. We think we know better than the One who knows everything. We make the mistake of getting ahead of God and forcing our agenda on Him. FYI, that never works out well for you and me.

Going Gaga in Galilee

The next thing you know, Galilee’s going gaga over the Son of God. “As a result, large crowds soon surrounded Jesus, and He couldn’t publicly enter a town anywhere. He had to stay out in the secluded places, but people from everywhere kept coming to Him” (v45).

Christ has to change His game plan. He calls an audible. There’s a lot more camping involved because of the buzz. But that certainly doesn’t dampen His demand. Folks flock to find the Lord wherever He is. Despite it all, Jesus doesn’t turn anyone away.

That’s because God’s gut reaction is compassion.

©2017 

Jay Jennings

Staying on Mission and Staying on Message

Turning Points

There are critical turning points in every story. It’s that moment when the choice is made that will make all the difference. Maybe you don’t realize it at the time. Maybe the decision may not make sense at the time. It’s only when you have the luxury of time and perspective that you see this was a decisive and defining moment.

Things happen. Momentum builds. As a result, the next move seems obvious. But suddenly with little warning, the story makes a sharp left when the whole world expected it to turn right. The narrative reverses field and goes surprisingly against the grain.

The Very Urgent Versus the Most Important

Has this happened in your life? Too many times we lose focus on our original purpose. Why? The very urgent overtakes the most important. We allow circumstances to sidetrack us. We take the obvious next step. Before we know it, we’re so far off mission that Google Maps can’t save us.

But there’s one Person who seized those moments and made the right call…even when it didn’t make sense at the time. Jesus never allows the very urgent to overtake the most important. How? By spending time alone with the One who sent Him, His Heavenly Dad. As a result, the Messiah stays on mission and stays on message.

Sabbath Saturday in Capernaum

That’s what we see in Mark 1:35-36. Jesus is blowing the lid off the joint in Capernaum. It all escalates quickly. VERY quickly. The incredible momentum begins to build when He picks His first four followers, two pairs of brothers who are career commercial fishermen (Mk 1:16-20).

Stuff really begins to pick up steam on a Sabbath Saturday at the local synagogue. The Rabbi/Carpenter from just up the road in Nazareth gets the privilege to preach. And does He ever! Worshipers have never heard anything or anyone like Him before (Mk 1:21-22). If that’s not enough, Christ performs an on-the-spot exorcism right in front of everybody and sends the evil spirit running packing (Mk 1:23-28).

When Opportunity Pounds

Follow that up with His instantaneous healing of Simon’s mother-in-law after leaving the synagogue (Mk 1:29-31). Clearly word gets out about what’s gone down and it transforms Simon and Andrew’s home into a crowded urgent care clinic well into the night (Mk 1:32-34).

As this crazy day comes to a close, you think you know what’s coming. Jesus sleeps in after a very busy day. When He does wake up, He sets up shop in Capernaum and people continue flocking to see Him.

It only makes sense. He’s the hottest thing in town. He’s gotta leverage the moment. The door is opening and He needs to walk right through. Opportunity isn’t just knocking. It’s pounding with both fists!

Choose Your Own Adventure

At this moment, Mark’s Gospel reminds me of those “Choose Your Own Adventure” books. These little jewels give kids the chance to make critical choices in the storyline and determine the main character’s actions and the plot’s outcome. You get a few options at critical points. Whatever you pick directly impacts the end of the story.

But Jesus does EXACTLY the opposite of what everybody expects. It’s been a super busy Saturday. It was late into the night when He healed the last person and chased away the last demon. Who could blame our Savior for catching a few extra Zs on Sunday morning?

Zero Dark Thirty

If you’re like me, you’re surprised to see our Savior stirring at Simon and Andy’s house before sunrise. Not only is the Rabbi/Carpenter awake but He’s on the move. “Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray” (v35). The sun may not be up yet but the Son of God sure is.

A closer look at the Greek confirms just how early Jesus gets going. The phrase “before daybreak” (Gr. εννυχον/ennuchon) is actually a compound word that literally means “in the night” or “at night.” That’s why some other translations call Christ’s nocturnal exit as happening “while it was still dark” (v35 NIV, NASB, ESV).

Mark follows that up with a few more specifics on just when the Lord leaves. “The next morning” is actually just one little word in the original language (Gr. πρωι/proi) which describes what First Century Jews called the last watch of the night. In other words, between 3-6am. We’re talking Zero Dark Thirty.

100% God and 100% Man

Instead catching a bit more shuteye and recharge for Day 2 of more crowds and a crammed calendar, “Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray” (v35). He does the opposite of what we might expect. He wakes up early. He leaves before sunrise. Why? To get alone with His Heavenly Dad.

It’s usually at points like this in the story of Jesus that we need to remind ourselves that He’s the God Man. 100% God. No question about it. But He’s also 100% human as well.  Theologians cooked up a fancy schamcy term called the Hypostatic Union to try and wrap their heads around the Incarnation of God into a human body.

As the God Man, Jesus is fully man. He’s not some sort of heaven-sent Superman just pretending to be Clark Kent. In other words, He needs a good night’s sleep just like the rest of us. I’ve got a sneaking suspicion the Lord is wiped out when He rolls out of the rack. In doing so, He reveals the priority of His relationship with His Father. It means devoting the very first part of His day to His Dad.

No Distractions

The Lord looks for “an isolated place to pray” (v35). Long before dawn, Jesus gets alone. No crowds. No TV. No iPad. No smartphone. No distractions. If you had the chance to chat with the Sovereign God of the universe, wouldn’t you want to hear Him clearly?

I’m tapping out these words on my laptop early on a Wednesday morning. The sun hasn’t hit the horizon yet. I don’t do this to thump my own chest or earn bonus points from God. I get up in order to eliminate distractions so I can hear from Jesus. Am I tired? You betcha. But He consistently uses these quiet moments to meet with me so I want to hear Him clearly.

God uses our early AM appointments to get me ready for the day. But maybe mornings aren't your jam. You may be able to find a lonely place at lunch. You could be one of those people who can spend time with the Lord just before bed. Whatever time it is, make it a habit get alone with God. With no distractions. I promise, you won’t regret it.

The Divine Dance

Meanwhile back in Mark’s Gospel, we see Jesus getting alone…to pray?!?! Here’s another one of those unexpected turns the story takes. Why would the Son of God need to pray. Why does God need to talk to God? For heaven’s sake, He’s the Second Person of the Trinity. It’s easy to think that if ANYBODY doesn’t have to pray, it’s Jesus!

Did you ever cross your mind that our Savior WANTED to pray? That He LONGED to pray? It makes perfect sense when you think about it. The Holy Trinity is the perfect relationship. Father, Son, and Spirit absolutely love being together. So much so that ancient preachers saw the Three Persons of the Godhead in a divine dance.

The Son Calls Home

After leaving heaven on this holy rescue mission, Jesus desperately wants to hear His Dad’s voice. Think of calling home when you’re on the road. You need to hear the voice of the one you love. I know I do. 

Here we see the Son calling home. Just to let you know, the Father would love to hear from us when we have a moment. When’s the last time we called our heavenly home?

Just how close are the Father and Son? So close that on the night before His murder Jesus asks His Dad that His followers “may be one as We are one…May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that You sent Me and that You love them as much as You love Me” (Jn 17:22, 23). Our Savior wants us to enjoy the depth of His relationship with His Father.

Too Busy NOT to Pray

Jesus also prays BECAUSE of the gravity of His mission. In the words of Bill Hybels, He’s too busy NOT to pray! This quiet time alone with His Dad resets Christ after that crazy Saturday in Capernaum. You can bet He thanks Abba for all He was able to do the day before.

But this is just the beginning of what He came to do. There’s so much more to do. So many more people who need to hear the Good News of God’s kingdom. So many more who need a healing touch. So many more who need the love that will drench the planet from a Roman cross at Calvary. This quiet moment allows the Messiah to stay on mission and stay on message.

In High Demand

This becomes glaringly apparent as we pick up the action in Mark’s Gospel. Suddenly Jesus is no longer alone. “Later Simon and the others went out to find Him. When they found Him, they said, ‘Everyone is looking for You’” (v36-37). Here’s something we’ll a lot more of in Scripture. Simon Peter taking the lead. In this case, he’s probably leading the other three fishermen.

Pete and the boys let Jesus know He’s in high demand back in town. Now’s Your chance. Opportunity is pounding on the door. Come on back to Capernaum and capitalize on the buzz and excitement that just went down on the Sabbath! Let’s do this!!

Keeping Jesus All to Ourselves

Who can blame them? That was quite spectacle on Saturday. The only problem is that folks want a show, not a Savior. They want miracles, not a Messiah. Be honest. We’re still doing the same thing. We would still rather watch Him than worship Him. Let’s not be too quick to throw the Galileans under the bus.

In his version of this same story, Luke tells us how the people did everything they could to try and keep Christ from leaving town. “They begged Him not to leave them” (Lk 4:42). They hope to keep Jesus all to themselves. Instead of sharing Him with the world, He would be their local attraction.

Trending on Twitter

But once again, the Lord makes the unexpected choice. He tells His boys, “We must go on to other towns as well, and I will preach to them, too. That is why I came” (v38). After spending a quiet time alone with His Father, Jesus refuses to allow the very urgent to trump the most important. He won’t allow the fact that He’s suddenly trending on Twitter to trash what he came to do.

Because of His morning, the Messiah stays on mission and stays on message.

Christ Includes Us

Did you catch that Jesus says “WE must go” (v38 emphasis added)? He could do it all by Himself but He includes His brand new followers. He certainly doesn’t need them. The Lord is still involving us in His work to this day. Christ invites us and includes us in His mission. We don’t just have front row seats to watch Him do His thing, He wants us on the playing field right next to Him!

Think about what might have happened if Simon and the boys had been able keep Him in Capernaum. The Messiah’s message never leaves town. He never completes His mission. If that’s the case, do you I ever hear about God’s amazing grace?

A couple of thousand years later, we’re still trying to put Jesus in a box. Too many times I’m trying to force Him to follow my agenda and stay focused on my to-do list. Hey, here’s an idea…let’s join Jesus in what He is doing. He says the same thing to us that He did to Simon and the boys. “We must go.”

The Lord Has Target Lock

And with that, they hit the road. “So He traveled throughout the region of Galilee, preaching in the synagogues and casting out demons” (v39). So that Sabbath Saturday in Capernaum was simply a sneak preview of what was to come (Mk 1:21-28). Because of His morning in prayer, the Lord has target lock. No mission creep here.

Prioritizing Prayer

So if prayer’s good enough for the Son of God, shouldn’t it be something I must prioritize? Do I rationalize away my lack of quiet time with God by pointing to my calendar? Have you seen all I have to do today? Seriously, am I really busier than Jesus? Not so much. Instead, there’s a pretty good chance I’m too busy NOT to pray.

Setting our eyes on Jesus allows us to choose the most important over the most urgent. We start making unexpected decisions. People will probably scratch their heads when they think we’ll go one way but we go in an unanticipated direction. Only from God’s perspective do these choices make perfect sense.

When I do set aside time in the morning with Him, a funny thing happens. His choices become my choices. His mission becomes my mission. His message becomes my message. Other than God, who saw THAT coming?

©2017
Jay Jennings

God Makes House Calls

No Deductibles, No Copays

With the ongoing debate over healthcare (take a deep breath, we’re NOT getting political here!), it’s almost impossible to think of a day when doctors actually made house calls. Yup, it’s true. I remember back in a previous millennium when the family physician would come to you when you couldn’t get there.

No calls to the insurance company about whether something is covered. No worry about whether this doctor was “out of network.” No deductibles. No copays. The doc and his little black bag would simply swing by and bring healing your house. When you couldn’t get to help, help came to you.

Capernaum’s Urgent Care Clinic

In Mark’s bio of Jesus, he writes about the day the Son of God makes a house call right after church (Mk 1:29-34). Before it was all said and done, the Great Physician transforms one of his new disciples’ homes into a crowded and crazy urgent care clinic in Capernaum.

From Zero to Sixty

But let’s back up for a little context. The opening chapter of Mark’s story of the Messiah certainly gets off to a rip roaring start. This Gospel goes from zero to sixty like the meanest muscle car. Your head is spinning after just a few short verses. Once you’re strapped in and ready, we’ll review. Punch it!

The story begins with some quick road construction in order to prepare the highway for the high speeds we’re about to experience (Mk 1:1-3). Next, Jesus’ weird cousin John shows up as the opening act to get everyone ready for His message (Mk 1:4-8).

Things really get going the day Christ comes to the Jordan to be baptized by John. The other two Members of the Trinity can’t get there fast enough (Mk 1:9-11). Then Jesus wastes no time and opens His schedule by playing the toughest road game you can imagine, winning a forty day duel with the devil in the desert (Mk 1:12-13).

The Original Fast and Furious

Right after that, the radical Rabbi/Carpenter begins building the team He’ll use to transform the world. No, not with summa cum laude seminary grads and spiritual superstars. Instead He drafts four commercial fishermen (Mk 1:16-20). Not long after, Jesus shocks folks at a sleepy local synagogue not only with His incredible teaching but a rather raucous exorcism (Mk 1:21-28).

That’s all in just the first chapter! Is your head spinning? It’s my contention that Mark’s writing the original Fast and Furious. Well, we’d better hang on. The action doesn’t stop there!

Lunch after Church

We pick things up with Jesus and His first four followers leaving that crazy day of worship in Capernaum. “After Jesus left the synagogue with James and John, they went to Simon and Andrew’s home” (v29). Christ and His brand new crew head are apparently coming over for lunch after church.

There are a few neat points to notice in this little verse. Both Matthew and Luke tell this very same story as well but Mark is the only one who mentions Jim and John. I mean, it certainly makes sense. Jesus asked them to join Him the same day as Simon and Andrew.

Two Boys from Bethsaida

Notice that Simon and his little brother Andy share the same home in the fishing village of Capernaum. You may remember John tells us these two guys are originally from Bethsaida (Jn 1:144). That’s just a little less than nine miles up the beach of the Sea of Galilee. Bethsaida sat at the foot of what’s known today as the Golan Heights.

Tradition holds that this home was just a block away from the synagogue. How do we know that? If you’re lucky enough to swing by Capernaum today, you’ll not only see the remains of an ancient synagogue but the place folks believe where Simon lived just down the street. Modern Christians built a church that looks like a flying saucer right over the location of the home. Nothing says First Century faith like a UFO.

The Married Disciple

Mark let’s us know from Jump Street that Simon and his kid brother share the home with their extended family. “Now Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever” (30). The apostle Jesus nickname’s Peter is clearly married BEFORE he started following our Lord.

This kinda trashes the idea that you have to be some sort of unmarried monk in order for God to use you in a big way. As a matter of fact, Paul makes the point that Pete and his lovely bride do a good bit of traveling together as they spread the news about Jesus (1Cor 9:5).

Caring for Those Who Can’t Care for Themselves

The fact that Simon’s mother-in-law is living with her daughter’s family probably means that her husband has died. Remember, there’s no Social Security, nursing homes, or retirement communities back in those days. An elderly widow had no way of supporting herself. She desperately needed friends and family in order to survive.

This is why God goes out of His way to tell Jesus’ followers to take care of widows, orphans, and anyone else who can’t take of themselves (James 1:27). Paul instructs Timothy that younger ladies who’ve lost their husbands shouldn’t be looking for a free ride (1Tim 5:16). But the church has the responsibility to help women who have no family support (1Tim 5:9-10, 16).

She’s Got a Fever!

Meanwhile back at Simon’s house, his mother-in-law is burning up and can’t get out of bed. Mark uses a Greek word (Gr. πυρεσσω/puresso) to describe her fever which literally means to be on fire. We all know just how terribly helpless we are when our body temp soars into triple digits.

How sick is she? When Dr. Luke diagnoses Pete’s mother-in-law, he uses medical language in the original text to say she is “very sick with a high fever” (Lk 4:38). MacArthur says that the good doctor hints that her condition is critical and quite possibly life threatening. Remember, it’s not like she could pop a couple of aspirin or ibuprofen to knock the fever down.

She’s got a fever and the only prescription is NOT more cowbell. (My apologies to Bruce Dickinson. I just had to get that out of my system.) Whatever they’ve tried to this point has clearly not worked. Her temp has spiked and she needs help right now.

Tell Jesus First

Once Jesus walks through the front door, everything changes. Maybe it’s because of what just what they saw the Lord do at the synagogue, but they don’t waste a second in asking Him to help. “They told Jesus about her right away” (v30).

Mark once again uses his favorite Greek word ευθεος/eutheos. It means immediately, at once, right away, and indicates the very next event in a sequence. He drops it eleven times in chapter one alone! A form of this word shows up more than 40 times in Mark…that’s more than the rest of the NT combined!!

The Priority of Prayer

Had they already pleaded with God for healing? Was Jesus appearance that Sabbath an answer to their prayers? We don’t know. It IS clear that once Christ arrives, they waste no time in telling Him exactly what’s going on.

Here’s one thing you and I can take away from this moment at Pete’s house. We need to make prayer our priority. I like how Oswald Chambers puts it. “We tend use prayer as our last resort but God wants it to be our first line of defense.” Too many times we wait until nothing else has worked. Too many times we pray as a last option. Let’s give God a shout right from the start.

He IS Help

He’s always right there and ready. One of the hit songs in the boxed set of the great worship tunes we call the Psalms makes that clear. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Ps 46:1 ESV). Notice how the psalm writer personifies God as help. He not only helps. He IS Help. The folks at Simon’s house are going to find that out in just a few minutes.

When we can’t get to help, Help comes to us.

Home Comes for Us

After they tell Jesus of her high fever, He wastes no time. “So He went to her bedside, took her by the hand, and helped her sit up” (31). Did you catch that? Christ comes to her! And why wouldn’t He? If the Son of God is willing to leave the comforts of heaven to come and save us, there’s nothing that will stop Him from coming to our house to help.

That’s the core of the Gospel right there. God is THE Initiator. He’s the One who is on the move to come to our rescue and make things right. It’s actually the truth behind the tagline for the movie “Dunkirk.” When we can’t make it home, home comes for us.

Jesus’ Go-To Move

But Jesus didn’t just stand there and stare at Pete’s mother-in-law. He gets personal and “took her by the hand” (v30). Jesus touches her. You see, touching is His go-to move. Over and over again, Christ scores with a touch.

NBA fans know what I’m talking about. Kareem had the Skyhook. George Gervin had the finger roll. Olajuwon had the Dream Shake. Jesus has His Touch. We see Him reach out and make physical contact time and time again (Mt 8:3; 9:29; 20:34; Mk 1:41; 7:33; 10:16; Lk 22:51). Touching is His go-to move. And in order to touch, He has to get close.

When we can’t get help, Help comes to us.

Get Well NOW!

They don’t have wait long at Pete’s house for healing. The very moment Jesus touches Simon’s mother-in-law, “then the fever left her, and she prepared a meal for them” (v31). Notice that little word “then.” There’s Mark’s favorite little adverb once again, ευθεος/eutheos! Jesus has His go-to move. Mark has his go-to word.

As the Great Physician, Christ has the miraculous ability to heal ASAP! No convalescence. No recovery room. No waiting. No “get well soon.” This is get well NOW! Matthew and Luke back that up the story of immediate healing (Mt 8:15; Lk 4:39). That’s a sure sign that Someone has supernaturally gotten involved with your healthcare!

Sandwiches as Worship

In case we don’t have enough proof of a miracle already, Simon’s mother-in-law jumps out of bed and starts whipping together lunch! She makes the meal as an act of worship. It’s her response to what He has done for her.

If you’re looking for a definition of worship, you’ve got one right here. It’s our response to who God is and what He has done. When you think of all that He’s done, it’s hard to sit still. You’ve just GOT to do something! You’ve got to worship! You’ve got to respond to His goodness! Yeah, sometimes worship might mean making everybody sandwiches.

Notice what she is NOT doing. Peter’s mother-in-law is NOT cooking as a way of paying Jesus back. This is her way of saying “thank you.” She didn’t have to make the meal to pay for the heal.

But Wait, There’s More

You’d think that would make for a full Saturday. Let’s run down the list of all that’s gone down. Teaching with amazing authority at the synagogue. Chasing a demon out of a dude during worship. Instantaneous healing in the home down the block. We top it all off with a spread of delicious food with friends and Pete’s family.

But wait, there’s more.  “That evening after sunset, many sick and demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus” (v32). Remember a few verses back when “the news about Jesus spread quickly throughout the entire region of Galilee” (Mk 1:28)? Mark wasn’t kidding. At dusk, a line forms at the front door.

Twisting God’s Top Ten

Don’t miss how the writer points to the clock on the all and tells us how this happens “that evening after sunset” (v32). Sunset is the official sign that the Saturday Sabbath is over. God graciously gave His people the Sabbath as a day off after 400 years of nonstop work as Egyptian slaves (Ex 20:8-11).

Without giving too much away about what’s to come in Mark’s Gospel, the Sabbath is going to become a BIG hairy deal in his story of Jesus. These events at Simon’s house as well as that demonic throw down at the synagogue foreshadow what’s coming.

Religious bullies have twisted God’s Top Ten into a complicated code of commands that make the US tax code and NCAA manual look like children’s picture books. That includes the Sabbath. They’ve gone so far as to limit carrying people on stretchers to get help as “work.” So with the sun now down, people begin bringing friends and family who need Jesus’ healing touch.

Peter’s Story of Jesus

Since Help has come all the way from heaven to Capernaum, people line up at Simon’s house. “The whole town gathered at the door to watch” (v33). Folks come not just to get a miracle but to watch them being performed. Does Mark really mean every single person in this little fishing village came to Pete and Andy’s place? Got anything else to do on a sleepy Saturday evening in Galilee?

Once again, John Mark includes a detail the other Gospel writers do not. “The whole town gathered at the door to watch” (v33). Where does he get this observation? Straight from the Apostle Peter! Remember, some of the earliest church fathers said Mark’s Gospel is actually Pete’s personal memoir of Jesus’ life. It’s like one of those books we see. “Peter’s Story of Jesus…as told to John Mark.”

Ground Zero for Heaven’s Healing

Put yourself if Simon Peter’s sandals for just a moment. The past few days have been a whirlwind. The One you believe is Messiah has made you and your kid brother His first round draft picks. You see Him rock the crowd and kick demonic butt at your hometown synagogue. He heals your mother-in-law from her high fever in a heartbeat.

Now your humble home is ground zero for heaven’s healing and everybody’s come to watch. Imagine your pride, your gratitude, and your awe. And we know something that Peter didn’t at this point in the story. He ain’t seen nothing yet! The next three years will not only rock his world but ours too!!

No One-Trick Pony

Christ gives the crowd exactly what the came to see. Better yet, He gives those suffering exactly the healing they desperately need. “So Jesus healed many people who were sick with various diseases, and He cast out many demons” (v34).

The Son of God isn’t just some one-trick pony. He’s not a specialist only dealing with one sort of health problem. He can do so much more than break a high fever. He heals all sorts of crazy illnesses. Demons are no big deal when He gets involved.

Does Jesus Still Heal?

Let me guess what some of you are thinking. A lot of folks believe Jesus may have been able to provide His healing touch back in the day, but that was then. This is now. He’s gone home to heaven and taken His miracles with Him.

Here’s the truth of the matter. The Son of God still heals. He provides the ultimate and final treatment for every one of His followers. For many, Jesus allows doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to use the gifts, talents, and abilities that He’s given them to heal people.

Not If but When

For a few others, the Great Physician gets personally involved in their care and supernaturally heals them. The rest of God’s children receive their miracle on the other side of eternity. Being the presence of God means no more pain, no more crying, no more disease, and no more death (Rev 21:4).

So for those of us who’ve placed our trust in Jesus, healing isn’t a matter of if but when. And we’re talking total healing. Physical. Emotional. And, most importantly, spiritual. It’s the kind of cure Isaiah writes about. “He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed” (Is 53:5).

Controlling His Messianic Mission

Let’s swing by Simon and Andrew’s place and wrap things up. Once again, we see Jesus stuff a supernatural sock in the demons’ mouths when He casts them out of their victims. “But because the demons knew who He was, He did not allow them to speak” (v34).

Why wouldn’t Christ let them reveal His identity? Well, think about it. Would you let your sworn enemies run your PR campaign? Didn’t think so. Jesus has His own agenda. He has His own plan. And it doesn’t include allowing evil spirits to put their sinful spin on His messianic mission.

Break Glass in Case of Emergency

So what’s all this mean for you and me? First of all, we can’t leave Jesus at church when we leave. Just like He came home with Peter and Andrew, He wants to come home with you and me. He’s not just for Sundays anymore. As a matter of fact, He never was!

Second, let’s remember to go to Jesus for help and healing right from the start. He shouldn’t be one of those “break glass in case of emergency” doohickeys. Prayer should be our first call, not our last resort.

Third, let’s recognize that the Son of God is the ultimate source of all healing. No matter how it happens, it all comes from Him. He was. He is. He always will be. It’s all part of being the “the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Heb 13:8). He still heals.

Help comes to Us

That means inviting Him to be a part of your healing. Are you sick? Do you have a common cold or even cancer? Has an addiction grabbed ahold of your soul and won’t let go? Do you struggle with mental illness? Pray to the Son of God for His healing touch. Maybe, just maybe, He’ll work a miracle on this side of eternity. We’ll never know until we ask.

We can be sure that God still makes house calls. When we can’t get help, Help comes to us.

©2017

Jay Jennings

The Ground Is Level at the Foot of the Cross

Critters on a Blanket
 

Here in Acts 10, the Gentile centurion Cornelius has invited the Apostle Peter to come from Joppa to Caesarea Maritima.  God gave both of these men visions reinforce the importance of their meeting.   

Pete properly understood his rooftop vision of critters on a blanket to mean that "I should not call any person common or unclean."  In other words, God Himself was throwing the door of salvation open wide to non-Jews.  This would have been absolutely unfathomable to first century Hebrews (Acts 10:1-33).

Our Impartial God

After Cornelius tells Pete about his vision, the apostle uses the opportunity to preach to those at the home in Caesarea.  He begins by stating a powerful truth.  A truth that he is still trying wrap his brain around.  "Truly, I understand that God shows no partiality" (v34).

Or as Billy Graham likes to say, the ground is level at the foot of the cross.

Through Jews to Gentiles

Pete was seeing first hand that God's gracious offer of salvation wasn't limited to His chosen people.  And God was using Pete to take that Good News THROUGH Jews to Gentiles.  The Scriptures are full of passages proclaiming God's divine impartiality (Dt 10:17; 2Chr 19:7; Rom 2:11; Acts 15:9).  But only now is Pete beginning to understand exactly the scope of this truth.  

The ground is level at the foot of the cross.

Only One Door but Open to All

Pete's sermon is loaded with statements loved by both who see the divine sovereignty and control of God (Calvinists) as well as those see our personal responsibility and accountability to respond to His offer of grace through faith (Arminians).

This might be the best way to get a theological grip on such a slippery issue.  Almighty God has opened the door of salvation to all (how VERY inclusive!).  Yet there is only one door (how VERY exclusive!).

Your Invitation to the Party

"In every nation anyone who fears Him and does what is right is acceptable to Him" (v35, emphasis mine).  Catch that? ANYONE who fears the Almighty.  Not a limited to a particular race or people group.  Anyone.  God has an invitation to His party with your name on it.  It doesn't matter who you are or where your from.  You are invited!  Don't miss the chance to RSVP to the most awesome event in all eternity!

No Limits on Forgiveness

Pete concludes this message by saying, "Everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name" (v43, emphasis mine).  Again, God extends His offer of forgiveness to everyone.  It's not limited to a particular neighborhood, zip code, skin color, background or demographic.  Everyone.  Do you fall into the category of "everyone?"  Thought so.  Again, we find this all-inclusive invitation throughout the Bible (Jn 3:16-18; Rom 10:11; Gal 3:22; Acts 13:38-39).

The ground is level at the foot of the cross.

Marching Orders for a Message

In his sermon, Peter tells of being an eyewitness to the mission and ministry of the amazing Rabbi/Carpenter from Nazareth.  Jesus has extended the offer of a once-and-for-all peace treaty with God (v36).  The baptism of Jesus was actually God anointing His Son with His Spirit (v38).  This enabled Christ (i.e. "the Anointed One") to do miraculous things "because God was with Him."

The apostle describes seeing firsthand Jesus' brutal crucifixion (v39).  But he also talks about it didn't end there.  "God raised Him on the third day and made Him to appear" to those He had handpicked as witnesses (v40-41).  And Pete tells his Caesarean audience how the risen Jesus gave these witnesses marching orders to take His message of salvation and forgiveness to the entire world (v42).

Anyone and Everyone 
If you only remember two words from Pete's preaching, remember these.
-Anyone.
-Everyone.

We're all invited to God's party.  Anyone.  Everyone.  You.  Me.  Us.  Them.  Yes, even them!  The Good News is very bad news for those who think God's people will be some sort of homogenized racial society.

But there is ONLY one party.  It's only through the door of faith in Jesus and His completed work on the cross.  It's both inclusive and exclusive.  And if you accept His invitation, there's one thing you discover when you walk through the door.

The ground is level at the foot of the cross.

©2011
Jay Jennings

When Authority Comes to Town

Going to Church…Again

You wake up, rub your eyes, and roll out of bed. Before your feet hit the floor, you realize you’re headed to church today. It’s what you do every weekend…whether you want to or not. You know that’s the wrong attitude. But it’s the truth.

As you pour your coffee, you think about the day ahead. You’ll get together with friends and neighbors to hear some holier-than-thou guy talk about God. He’ll talk a lot of religious dumbo jumbo, most of which is way over your head. Pie-in-the-sky-sweet-bye-and-bye kinda stuff.

Same old Sabbath

When the preacher does teach something that makes some sense, it doesn’t exactly send your heart soaring. Quite the opposite. His message is nothing more than a religious ball and chain. A loathsome list of impossible dos and don’ts.

What’s even worse, you’ve heard it all before. Last week. The week before. The month before. The year before. Same old Sabbath. Same old synagogue. Same old sermons. Same old stuff. The faces of the preachers may change but there’s one thing that doesn’t. That religious rehash they warm up and serve every weekend.

A Podunk Village in Palestine

Sound familiar? Hit too close to home? For too many of us, this is EXACTLY what going to church was (and still is!) all about. Here’s the crazy thing. This was the very same attitude people had 2,000 years ago in a podunk fishing village in Palestine. Well, at least until the day Jesus came to town.

That’s exactly the scene Mark sets in his bio of Jesus midway through his opening chapter (Mk 1:21-28). The place is Capernaum, a tiny blue-collar burg on the northwest shore of a large freshwater lake we call the Sea of Galilee. It’s Saturday, the Jewish day of worship.

People fill the streets as they head to the local synagogue. It’s not like some go to First Baptist or Saint Moses Catholic or Capernaum Community Church. The synagogue is the only game in town. It’s not just the center of worship but the center of life for the city.

A New Rabbi in Town

But Mark tips us off that this particular Sabbath is going to be different. An unfamiliar face is there. There’s a new rabbi in town by the name of Jesus. He’s accompanied by four of His brand new followers who you swear you saw working as fishermen just a couple of days ago.

Here’s how the author describes that day. “Jesus and His companions went to the town of Capernaum. When the Sabbath came, He went into the synagogue and began to teach” (v21). Same old Sabbath. Same old synagogue. But this is going to be a VERY different sermon. What’s about to go down is about to change absolutely everything.

Snap out of It!

Right out of the gate, this Rabbi/Carpenter from up the road in Nazareth is like no other teacher you’ve ever heard before. “The people were amazed at His teaching” (22). Jesus totally blows your mind. Normally folks can’t wait for the sermon to end. Today they don’t want Him to stop.

John Mark uses a word (Gr. εκπλεσσω/ekplesso) that the NLT translates as “amazed.” It literally means to hit something or someone suddenly in order to get something to leave. Ever see the movie “Moonstruck”? Cher’s character slaps Nicolas Cage to get his attention. “Snap out of it!” (Well, let’s be honest. Who hasn’t wanted to do that to Nic after sitting through one of his flicks?)

Jesus blindsides the boredom right out of the sleepy crowd at the synagogue. He snaps you out of it. He catches you off guard. He astonishes. He astounds. He bewilders. There’s just something about Him that grabs you by the shoulders and forces you to pay attention.

Shock and Awe

Christ’s teaching amazes people, not just once. But over and over and over (Mt 22:23; Mk 6:2). Jaws drop when He drops the mic at the end of His most famous sermon (Mt 7:28-29). Shock and awe are His signature.

Jesus awes the crowds when He brings the heat. Forget “amen” and “hallelujah.” You hear “oohs” and “aahs" when the Lord preaches and teaches. His lessons and lectures were absolutely amazing. And they still are!!

Blowing away the Religious Fog

What a great reminder that we need to regularly blow the religious fog out of the story of Jesus. Too many stale Sunday School lessons and mundane messages have covered His dazzling life under a thick layer of church dust. Grab a new Bible translation. Read Jesus fresh. Walk with Him for the first time all over again.

Remember, He’s unlike anyone or anything the world has ever seen. He brings a Gospel no one has ever heard before. He’s bringing grace and mercy straight out of heaven. Instead of demanding a hopeless climb to an unapproachable God, He brings God all the way down to us.

Real Authority

What is Jesus’ secret sauce for His sermons? “He taught with real authority—quite unlike the teachers of religious law” (v22). Did you catch that? He wasn’t some self-promoting, self-proclaimed expert blogging from his parents’ basement. He has “real authority.”

The word most Bibles translate “authority” here is εχουσια/exousia. It describes power, strength, jurisdiction, or influence. At its core, the term means doing exactly what you want when you want where you want to whom you want.

Where does Jesus get this incredible ability? Right before He heads home to heaven, He tells His followers that His Father is the source. “I have been given all authority (Gr.εχουσια/exousia) in heaven and on earth” (Mt 28:18). It’s that kind of heavenly authority that qualifies Him as Lord.

Tasteless Leftovers

This new Rabbi is so radically original that all you and your fellow worshipers can do is compare Him to the men who have taught before in the synagogue. His impact and influence is nothing like the tasteless leftovers that have been part of the regular diet on Sabbath. His new teaching is fresh and delicious!

The regular teachers simply taught the Old Testament by quoting the opinion and interpretation of rabbis. The Message puts it this way. Jesus was “not quibbling and quoting like the religion scholars” (22 The Message). Their teaching is more like a nonstop argument trying to prove who’s right rather than pointing people toward God.

The Ultimate Authority

A couple of thousand years later, this garbage still goes on. You’ve heard the arguments. They’re all over the interweb. Who’s team are you on? John Piper’s or Rick Warren’s? John MacArthur’s or Bill Hybels’? Let’s be honest. We spend WAY too much energy arguing in public about which teachers are right when it comes to stuff like predestination, speaking in tongues, evangelism, and even style of worship. Come on, people.

We still play the same silly games as the Capernaum rabbis. We LOVE to quote folks like Chuck Swindoll, Matt Chandler, Andy Stanley, and C.S. Lewis. Don’t get me wrong. These are heavyweight teachers when it comes to Scripture. I love them all. But why not read about Jesus straight from Jesus? Why not get God’s Word directly from God’s Word?

But Jesus doesn’t quote other rabbis and their opinions. He didn’t need to. As the Son of God, He’s the Go-To Guy on what Scripture says and what it means. Forget the Bible Answer Man. Christ doesn’t need to Google or Youversion. He IS the Ultimate Authority.

When Worship Goes off the Rails

If Saturday at the synagogue wasn’t crazy enough already, we’re about to turn it up a notch or two. “Suddenly, a man in the synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, ‘Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!’” (v23-24).

Here in the middle of Jesus’ message, a guy shouts back at the new Rabbi. Whoa. Sure, there have been a few times I felt like the pastor has gone from preaching to meddling in his message, but I’ve never stood up and shouted at him to stop! This worship service in Capernaum has officially gone off the rails! I mean, WAY off the rails!!

The Weird Guy in Town

On the other hand, you’re not really all that surprised at the dude challenging the guest Speaker. He’s the weird guy in town. Yeah, THAT guy. The guy who mumbles to himself a lot. He makes you uncomfortable. Shoot, he makes EVERYBODY uncomfortable! Conversations with him are bizarre and messy. You head the other way when you see him coming.

Mark explains just why the man is so bizarre. He’s “possessed by an evil spirit” (23). We’re not exactly sure how or when it happened, but a demon has made itself at home in the man and is calling the shots. And now the filthy spirit is calling out Christ.

Satan and His Evil Army

Throughout the Bible, these nasty spirits cause people all sorts of serious problems, including both physical and mental illness (Mt 12:22; Mk 9:17-25; Lk 8:27-28; 9:39; Acts 8:7). This does NOT mean the devil’s demonic crew is behind all of them. But we need to be aware of the potential spiritual aspect of any sort of sickness.

A couple of important ideas. On one hand, blaming the enemy and his unholy horde for every little thing that happens in life gives him way too much credit. This leads to a victim mentality. I’m not saying Satan hasn’t set his sites on me, but my biggest problem is the knucklehead I see in the mirror each morning.

The other problem is ignoring our enemy completely. Jesus makes it clear the devil does is demonic best to “steal, kill, and destroy” (Jn 10:10). The prince of darkness is real. To ignore that satanic snake and his evil army is a MASSIVE mistake! We have a defeated enemy but he’s still a dangerous enemy.

Jesus’ Heavenly Identity

Clearly the demon controlling this guy knows there’s a new sheriff in town. “Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth?” (v24). The evil spirit tips us off that Christ isn’t simply going one-on-one. In order to help the man, He must deal with a minimum of one demon. It’s not unusual for them to torture folks in massive teams (Mk 5:9, 15; Lk 8:30).

In essence, this particular satanic spirit tells Jesus to stop jacking with him and his human host and mind His own business. The demon not only calls the Rabbi/Carpenter by His earthly name, “Jesus of Nazareth” (24), but also clearly understands His heavenly identity. “I know who you are—the Holy One of God” (v24). This is one of those times Christ’s kid brother James writes about when he says even demons believe in God but “tremble in terror” (James 2:17).

Evil Gets Antsy

It’s interesting that the demon inside the dude couldn’t simply sit there quietly with the Son of God in the room. That’s because wherever Jesus shows up, evil gets antsy. You see it all throughout the four bios of Christ. There’s nothing like the Light of the World to expose sin and filth (Eph 5:13). Like cockroaches on the run when the light comes on.

Do you start to squirm when Jesus is around? Do you think He should get His holy nose out of your personal business? Do you get more than a little anxious when you think the Lord might know all about those nasty little “habits” you do behind closed doors?

Guess what. He already knows. Our Savior is fully aware of our deepest, darkest secrets. As a matter of fact, Jesus knows more about that junk that we do (Ps 44:21: Jer 23:24). And He came to free us from it and replace it with a “rich and satisfying life” we can only know through Him (Jn 10:10). Tell Him and trust Him. Get it off your chest and get Him into your life. What are you waiting for?

A Screamin’ Demon

If this Sabbath at Capernaum synagogue wasn’t already crazy enough, wait until you see what happens next! “But Jesus reprimanded him. ‘Be quiet! Come out of the man,’ He ordered. At that, the evil spirit screamed, threw the man into a convulsion, and then came out of him” (v25-26).

In the words of Ron Burgundy, “Well, that escalated quickly!” No sooner does the demon challenge Jesus than the visiting Rabbi tells him to stuff a sock in it and get the heck out of Dodge…or at least get out of the poor guy he had possessed.

The evil spirit certainly doesn’t go without a fight. When Christ gives him the order and sends him packing, the demon screams and gives the guy one last nasty shake. This is like an ump tossing a player out of game. Before the player leaves, he throws a juvenile tantrum, involving bats, balls, hats, and the Gatorade cooler. He pitches a fit, but he’s still leaving.

Jaw-Dropping Authority

If you think folks were impressed by Jesus’ sermon, having a front row seat for an exorcism takes this Sabbath to a whole new level. “Amazement gripped the audience, and they began to discuss what had happened, ‘What sort of new teaching is this?’ they asked excitedly. ‘It has such authority! Even evil spirits obey His orders!’” (v27).

Just in case you had any doubts about whether this new Teacher and His message could move the needle, they’re gone now. Those doubts ran out the door with the demon. Everybody is picking their jaw up off the floor of that small-town synagogue. This new Rabbi not only exposes evil but sends it running with its forked tail between its legs.

A Game Changer

The authority Jesus is a total game changer. Nobody has ever seen anything like Him before. I’m talking EVER. Not before. Not since. Not ever. It’s the role He was born to play. And that role is the incredible combo of Savior and Lord.

As our Savior, He’s the Hero the Father first promised He would send to clean up the mess our first parents made (Gen 3:15). The Son of God leaves the luxury of the heavenly palace to come to our rescue. Or as Jesus announces at a big shindig in Jericho, “The Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost” (Lk 19:10).

As the Lord, He has total authority. Complete authority. Unlimited authority. So much so that when Jesus says so, it IS so. Just ask the demon He evicted from the dude in the synagogue. Oh, that’s right. You can’t. The Lord told him to shut up and leave.

The 800-pound Gorilla

Here’s the 800-pound gorilla when it comes to Jesus as Lord. Are WE actually going to do what He says? Am I going to obey His commands? Do I believe that believe that He is God and what He wants for me is good? Or do I think He’s holding out on me? In case you haven’t heard the story, but that’s how things fell apart in Eden in the first place (Gen 3:1-8).

Here’s the rub. We love the whole Jesus as our Messiah/Hero idea. That’s awesome. But once He saves our eternal bacon, we really want nothing to do with His leadership as our Lord. Savior, yes. Lord, no.

There’s just one little problem. I can’t pull the two apart. Jesus as my Savior and Lord is a package deal. In other words, I can’t simply buy the fire insurance. I must also willingly to submit to His leadership and guidance. It makes sense when you think about it. My very limited authority certainly hasn’t been able to get me to make any real changes in my life so far.

The Buzz in the Burg

Back in Capernaum, there’s a quite a buzz in the little burg as people leave the synagogue. “The news about Jesus spread quickly throughout the entire region of Galilee” (v28). Word gets around about not only the new Teacher, His amazing message, but His astonishing authority.

Because of Jesus’ authority, the Sabbath will never be the same. Going to synagogue will never be the same. Life will never be the same!

Let’s just say things are about to get rather complicated for Jesus and His team. But He’s up for it. He’s got the brand new message folks have been waiting to hear. And He’s got the authority they desperately need. 

That’s what happens when Authority comes to town.

©2017
Jay Jennings

Are You Gonna Go My Way?

Lyrics about the Lord

I was born long ago,
I am the chosen, I’m the one.
I have come to save the day,
And I won’t leave until I’m done.

But what I really want to know is…
Are you gonna go My way?

Back in 1993, Lenny Kravitz hit it big when he asked the musical question “Are You Gonna Go My Way?” Did you know Lenny wasn’t extending the invitation to join him on his next tour? He’s actually singing about Jesus.

Yes, THAT Jesus. The lyrics are all about the same itinerant, homeless Jewish Preacher/Teacher/Healer described by Mark in his bio of the Son of God.

Leaving Stuff Behind

Lenny got the idea for this single from an invitation Christ made to four commercial fishermen while walking lakeside in the boondocks of Israel (Mk 1:16-20). Two pairs of brothers. Simon and Andrew. James and John. These boys drop all they’re doing and gain…well…everything.

This all goes down the day the Son of God asks the four fishermen if they’re willing to go His way. But in order to follow Him, they have to leave stuff behind. To keep up and we have to put stuff down. In order to go this way we have to put something down.

Buckle Up

Let’s get a running start at our story by catching up with Mark’s look at the life of Jesus. And when I say “running,” I’m not kidding. The particular bio doesn’t mess around. It’s no frills and pedal to the metal. John Mark gives us the original Fast and Furious. You probably want to buckle up.

First of all, Christ’s weird, bug eating, leather wearing cousin John the Baptizer does the work of getting folks ready for Messiah (Mk 1:1-8). As folks flock to John for baptism, the prophet is shocked to the One he’s prepping people for standing in line to get wet.

A Rare Public Appearance

My guess is John isn’t expecting what happens next. The Spirit tears apart the sky and soars down like a dove. The Father’s voice booms from heaven with the ultimate “attaboy!” (Mk 1:9-11).

Ladies and gentleman, I give you the Trinity. We see the Father, Son, and Spirit making a rare public appearance together at the Jordan River. It doesn’t happen often. But when it does, it’s a very big deal.

Playing a Road Game

Jesus’ first day on the job of His public ministry is actually a private one. The Spirit sends Him to play a road game in the most hostile environment possible (Mk 1:12-13). The place is the wilderness. The opponent is the devil.

Forty days later with a “W” under His belt, Christ rolls into Galilee broadcasting the Gospel of God (Mk 1:14-15). Repent from sin and believe in the Good News. Turn and trust. It’s Go Time.

Jesus Doesn’t Need You but He WANTS You

Jesus is about to assemble His team. It’s interesting when you think about it. As the Son of God, He really doesn’t need one. You do realize He could do this all by Himself, right? Christ doesn’t need them. He doesn’t need me. He doesn’t need you. But He WANTS us to be part of His mission. He’s still inviting us to join Him in His work today.

Now if you were putting together a small squad of spiritual ninjas that would change the world forever, where would you go? Who would you choose? What skills would you be looking for? I don’t know about you, but I’m heading to Jerusalem in order to draft the best and brightest from Jewish seminaries.

Average Joes

Once again, Jesus does just the opposite of what we would expect. Instead of climbing the ivory tower, He makes a beeline for blue collar boys. Instead of bright lights and big city, Christ takes a casual stroll in the boonies. Instead of looking for Bible scholars, He sees working stiffs. Average Joes.

As a matter of fact, religious bigwigs are blown away by just how average these guys were. After Jesus’ resurrection and return home to heaven, members of the Jewish leadership council describe Peter and John as “ordinary men who had no special training in the Scriptures” (Acts 4:13).

A closer look at the original language of the passage tells us this was actually a serious put down. They actually call them “illiterate idiots.” I’m not kidding. Not even one bit. They also made another powerful point that is just as important. There was no doubt that these men “had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13).

Knuckleheads, Goofballs, Weirdos, and Losers

Two thousand years later, Christ is still looking for average folks. Oh sure, He can certainly use highly trained scholars who have more degrees than Fahrenheit. On the other hand, He loves using the ordinary. And the Lord specializes in using knuckleheads, goofballs, weirdos, and losers. That’s exactly Paul’s point to that incredibly jacked up bunch of Jesus followers in Corinth (1Cor 1:27-28).

A New Kind of Fishing

Meanwhile, we see our Savior walking along the shore of Lake Galilee (v16). He spots a couple of those average Joes we’ve been talking about. Meet Simon and John. They’re fishing. This is no hobby. It’s their job. Their career. And it’s VERY hard work. Early mornings. Late nights. If something smells fishy, it’s probably these two.

As they’re throwing their nets, Jesus throws them a line. “Come, follow Me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” (v17). Stop what you’re doing, boys. The radical Rabbi/Carpenter has a whole new kind of fishing He wants to show you. But you’re going to have to drop what you’re doing in order to find out.

Get Over Here!

Christ’s invitation to “follow” is actually a pair of words in the Greek. The first is δευρο/deuro, which is an adverb meaning “come here” or an urgent call to come now! It draws one toward a goal at or near the speaker and implies movement. It’s Jesus’ way of saying, “Get over here!”

The second word is οπισω/opiso. It’s another adverb which means after, in back of, or behind someone or something. The term describes location, place, or position. The Lord invites the boys fall in behind Him so that He can show them where to go and what to do.

The Lord Leads

I’ve always got to remember that following Jesus means He’s in front. Our positions in this amazing relationship are critical. The Lord leads. I follow. He’s in front. I’m behind. Too many times I find myself behind the wheel or at least acting like an annoying backseat driver telling Him where we should go and how to get there.

He IS God. He knows exactly where He’s going. He knows EXACTLY when we need to get there. On the other hand, following is what followers do. Leave the leading to the only One who’s qualified. The Lord leads. I follow. Am I gonna go His way?

The Long Process

Jesus then makes a very interesting invitation to these dudes. He says if they will follow His lead, “I will show you how to fish for people!” (v17). Actually the folks who translate the ESV have a different take on our Savior’s words. “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men” (v17 ESV). If you think you’re a pro when it comes to fishing now, just wait until Jesus gets done with you!

Mark phrases it a little differently from Matthew (Mt 4:19) and Luke (Lk 5:10). He drops in a Greek word (Gr. γινομαι/ginomai) which means to be or become something. It emphasizes the long process involved in learning how to fish for people. It won’t happen overnight. Following Jesus places us in His process. It’s a process He promises He’ll finish (Phil 1:7).

Jesus Does the Heavy Lifting

In other words, all we have to do is hang with Jesus and He’ll do the rest. He’s the One doing the real work. He’s the One doing the heavy lifting. Our role in the process is to simply be obedient, simply do what He says. When we spend time with Him, hang out with Him, He’s the One who transforms us.

That’s what happens when we go His way. Jesus talks about it like a gardener over John’s Gospel. “Yes, I am the Vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing” (Jn 15:5). As branches, we don’t make anything unless we’re connected to the Vine. He’s the One that gets it done when we go this way.

You probably know what happens next. “And they left their nets at once and followed Him (v18).” Another example of things happening fast in Mark’s Gospel. Simon and Andy don’t waste any time. They take Jesus up on His offer. I can picture these two brothers chucking their gear and running home to pack.

Leaving the Family Business

Jesus doesn’t stop there. He moves on up the beach and has a similar conversation with another pair of commercial fishermen. James and his kid brother John are working for their dad Zebedee and fixing holes in their nets (v19). Well, not for long. Not when Jesus asks them to go this way.

“He called them at once, and they followed Him, leaving their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired men (v20).” Darned if Zeb’s boys didn’t bail on him to spend time with Jesus. Jim and Johnny didn’t just give up a career but turned their back on inheriting what appears to be a successful family business. Note that their dad has other employees.

The Rearview Mirror

Both sets of brothers leave something behind in order to hit the road with the Rabbi. Before we can follow Jesus, there’s a pretty chance we need to put something in the rearview mirror. Simon and Andy leave their nets and their careers. Jim and Johnny turn their backs on success in business.

When I walk His way, I need to put something down. And it’s probably something significant. Something big. Something of value. Something that has the potential to compete with affection for Jesus.

Distracted Discipleship

Have I left everything behind? Have I dropped it all in order follow my Savior? You’ve heard of distracted driving. We’re talking about distracted discipleship. I need to dump anything that might distract me.

What could possibly steal my focus from Him? Well, let’s take a look around. Maybe it’s a destructive habit? How about a hobby that’s gotten out of control? The drive for success, money, and security? It might even be a relationship you know is wrong and would lead you farther from where God wants you to go.
 
What am I trying to drag along with me while I follow Jesus? It’s a good idea to travel light when I go His way. I can’t let anything slow me down. Don’t worry about what you abandon. Christ came to give His followers “a rich and satisfying life” (Jn 10:10). When I leave stuff behind, He has something so much better to replace it.

Hitting the Road

All four fishermen become Jesus’ first followers. In both descriptions, Mark uses the same word we translate as “followed” (Gr. ακολουθεω/akoloutheo). It describes accompanying another and allowing them to determine the direction. It’s going behind someone who takes the lead. They’re going His way.

Interestingly, this comes from a root word meaning a road or journey. If that’s the case, being a follower paints a picture of a traveling partner. Few things deepen a friendship more than hitting the road with a buddy. It really doesn’t get any better when that buddy is Jesus.

The Back Story

I have to admit there was something that has always bugged me about these “Come, follow Me” Jesus stories. Anybody else think it’s just a little weird that four dedicated, hardworking commercial fishermen would ditch their careers just like that? Some random Rabbi makes a crazy offer out of left field and you chuck it all just like that in order to walk this way!

Well, as we said before, Mark’s story moves quickly. He’s not much for details. John’s Gospel helps us fill in the back story. You see, Jesus had met at least a couple of these guys before (Jn 1:35-42). Andrew was a follower of John the Baptizer (Jn 1:40). And given the way John never names Andy’s fellow disciple, he probably was too.

After the two hang out with Jesus for a bit, Andy gets his big brother Simon and brings him to meet the One he believes in the long promised Messiah (Jn 1:41). Andy has this habit of bringing of bringing people to meet Jesus (Jn 6:8-9; 12:22). Not a bad rep, huh?

The First Four

So when we read the story on the shore of with Jesus and the four fishermen, we need to remember they already had a relationship. They already knew each other. When Christ was ready to build His team, He knew exactly who to ask. These two pairs of brothers would be the first four to go this way. They’ll eventually have another eight guys on the team.

The Original Rocky

Jesus gives Simon the nickname Peter which actually means Rocky (Jn 1:42). As the Christ’s original first round draft pick, Pete becomes the leader of the Discipling Dozen. Unfortunately, Rocky crumbles under pressure and denies Jesus three times at the very worst time.

But in one of the great examples of grace you’ll ever see, the Lord restores Pete after His resurrection (Jn 21:15-18). And what are Jesus’ last words of restoration to this former fisherman as they walk along this very same beach? “Follow Me” (Jn 21:19).

There’s also an important connection to Rocky and Mark’s story of Jesus. One of the earliest church pastors says Mark’s Gospel is actually Peter’s eyewitness account of what it was like to say “yes” to Christ’s question, “Are you gonna go My way?”

Two Thousand Years Later

Fast forward a couple of thousand years. Jesus is still extending that same offer. The offer to follow. If we take Him up on it, there’s a good chance we need to do something first. We need to leave something behind. In order to go His way, we need to put something down.

It’s a decision we need to make each day. Are we going to follow Him diligently and without distraction? If so, what do I need to ditch? I promise you, whatever He gives you is WAY better than what you put down. You will not regret it.

So, Jesus has a question for us. Are we gonna go His way?