7/01 Mark 2:1-3
When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home. Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them, four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat.
MIRACLES
The people of Galilee were seeking someone to make their life better. They were convinced that God would destroy the Romans by force. Their new king from God would provide the leadership for that force. Jesus came as a servant. He did not bruise even a reed. The people of Capernaum saw Him as someone who could ease the discomfort of their life. They didn’t recognize Him as the Lord. Be careful in your life. Are you surrendered to the Living Lord? Or are you seeking only to get Jesus to do stuff for you that will ease your life?
7/02 Mark 2:4-5
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. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.”
NEEDS
People who arrive as quickly as these folks crowding around Jesus come for one reason-the miracles that Jesus performed. There were two types, those who needed healing and those who wanted to see Jesus heal. He offers us His friendship. Is Jesus your friend?
7/03 Mark 2:6-7
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!”
CONTROL
These religious leaders thought they had God under their control. Religion was their profession. They were the pros. They felt that they knew what offended God. Of course they didn’t have a clue about the things that disturbed God. The Lord is interested in our hearts.
7/04 Mark 2:8-9
Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this 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’?
KNOWLEDGE
Jesus knows everything about us. Amazing and impossible for us to understand but the truth is that Jesus is never without perfect knowledge. We however never have perfect knowledge, in fact we often don’t even have partial knowledge about what is going on in front of our eyes. With that in mind, remember that when you go to Jesus to talk with Him about your daily life, He is the only one that knows what is going on.
7/05 Mark 2:10-11
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, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”
JESUS
Jesus is the creator of all things. He knows what we need. When we come to Him He will meet our need. This man needed healing to walk. Jesus did exactly what the man needed. Speak your need to the Father and He will answer you.
7/06 Mark 2:12
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!”
HEALING
The world cannot heal like Jesus heals. The world is dead in its trespasses and sin seeking to go its own way. The world seeks to supplant God and present itself as the power. God in Christ is all power. He knows all things and is victorious over the world, flesh, and the devil. Jesus simply speaks healing and it is done.
7/07 Mark 2:13
Then Jesus went out to the lakeshore again and taught the crowds that were coming to him.
JESUS
Jesus felt deep compassion for the masses. He knew they were struggling just to survive. Jesus taught them that the Lord would meet their needs. He taught that following the world always leads to death. Follow Him and you will be led in a victorious life. All power and honor and glory to the risen lamb, Jesus, He loves us and would that we not be overcome by the world.
7/08 Mark 2:14
As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Levi got up and followed him.
FOLLOW
Jesus calls each one of us to follow Him. We have to be His child to hear what He is saying to us. Follow the Lord. Spend time cultivating your listening skills. Jesus will give you wisdom, mercy, grace and understanding and He will not leave you.
7/09 Mark 2:15
Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of this kind among Jesus’ followers.)
JESUS
Jesus loves each one of us as if there were no other of us. You are loved. When we discover His love for us we so desperately want to have it and keep it that we will gladly do whatever we must to be in fellowship with Him. The mistake people make is that without Jesus we are all sinners and disreputable.
7/10 Mark 2:16
But when the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees saw him eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with such scum?”
PEOPLE
Jesus loves people most of all. He came and lived a perfect life for us then willingly went to the cross and died for us. On the third day He was raised from the grave by the power of God. He is alive now seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven.
7/11 Mark 2:17
When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”
SIN
Sin is rampant in the world. We are surrounded by it and sin assails us at every opportunity. We are at war with the powers and principalities of the air. Christ is the one who saves us. If we believe in our hearts that Jesus is Lord and ask Him to save you, the Word says He will save you unto eternity.
7/12 Mark 2:18-20
Once when John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting, some people came to Jesus and asked, “Why don’t your disciples fast like John’s disciples and the Pharisees do?” Jesus replied, “Do wedding guests fast while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. They can’t fast while the groom is with them. But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.
QUESTIONS
The religious leaders always asked the wrong question. They thought they controlled God. They refused to listen to the Lord. Jesus turned the tables on them. They had just witnessed a great miracle and yet instead of bowing down and worshipping Jesus they were wasting His time asking questions for which they already had the answer. The religious leaders were off track. Jesus noted that they were outside the will of God.
7/13 Mark 2:21
“Besides, who would patch old clothing with new cloth? For the new patch would shrink and rip away from the old cloth, leaving an even bigger tear than before.
OLD ORDER
The world is dead in its trespasses and sins. The way of the world is against the way of God. Christ came into our world to save us from our sin. His way is redemptive. His way is totally different than the way of the world. Christ calls us to surrender to Him and let Him give us direction for living.
7/14 Mark 2:22
“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the wine would burst the wineskins, and the wine and the skins would both be lost. New wine calls for new wineskins.”
CHRISTIANITY
The world is committed to doing things without full knowledge and on its own. The world is a place where the fittest survive. Christianity is committed to everyone surviving and taking care of the needy. When we come to Christ and serve Him we learn to love the unlovely. Our life in Christ is a life committed to putting people first.
7/15 Mark 2:23-24
One Sabbath day as Jesus was walking through some grainfields, his disciples began breaking off heads of grain to eat. But the Pharisees said to Jesus, “Look, why are they breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath?”
THINGS
The world only sees things. It is committed to the those things that are passing away. Christianity is committed to people. People count with the Lord. People have great needs and are always in need of direction for living. Christ comes to us to give us the things we need and to teach us the ways of God. When we are of the world we live a life of solitude and we are always striving to fill a need we can’t quite identify. Christ touches us in that area of need and meets it. Jesus is Lord and He will give us the very things that we need for real life.
7/16 Mark 2:25-26
Jesus said to them, “Haven’t you ever read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He went into the house of God (during the days when Abiathar was high priest) and broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests are allowed to eat. He also gave some to his companions.”
NEED
What is your need? Christ is in the need meeting business. Christ will meet you where you are and take you to where you need to be. Let Jesus have control of your life and He will guide you on the right path.
7/17 Mark 2:27-28
Then Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!”
LORD
Jesus loves you. He loves you because He chose you to be in His family. When we accept His Word about us we will become part of His family. God is at work in the world to find those who love Him. Tell everyone about your relationship with Jesus. Tell them about your answered pray. Tell others about your sweet relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ for He is indeed Lord of all.
7/18 Mark 3:1-2
Jesus went into the synagogue again and noticed a man with a deformed hand. Since it was the Sabbath, Jesus’ enemies watched him closely. Would he heal the man’s hand on the Sabbath? If he did, they planned to condemn him.
JESUS
Notice that Jesus was available and willing. His enemies hated Him and Jesus knew this. Jesus also knew that this man had a great need. Christ is in the need meeting business. Take your need to Him. Jesus is not afraid to meet your need.
7/19 Mark 3:3-4
Jesus said to the man, “Come and stand in front of everyone.” Then he turned to his critics and asked, “Is it legal to do good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing harm? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?” But they wouldn’t answer him.
RELIGION
Religion wants you to meet its need. Jesus came to meet the needs of people. He shows the Pharisees how they could be useful in the Kingdom and they totally missed the point. Their hatred for Jesus clouded their minds. Jesus knew this man’s need and was willing to meet the man exactly where he was.
7/20 Mark 3:5
He looked around at them angrily, because he was deeply disturbed by their hard hearts. Then he said to the man, “Reach out your hand.” The man reached out his hand, and it became normal again!
HEALER
Jesus the Creator is our healer. He is serious about meeting our need. Spend time getting to know the Lord. Talk with Him about every need that you have. You will be amazed at how important you are to Jesus. He will meet your need.
7/21 Mark 3:6
At once the Pharisees went away and met with the supporters of Herod to discuss plans for killing Jesus.
FOCUS
Religion focuses on its needs. Christianity focuses on peoples needs. Jesus is concerned about you and your life. He will walk with you as you face each day. Jesus will give you wisdom, mercy and the grace that you need to do what the Lord has called you to do. Grow in your relationship with Christ. Spend time with Him.
7/22 Mark 3:7-8
Jesus and his disciples went out to the lake, followed by a huge crowd from all over Galilee, Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, from east of the Jordan River, and even from as far away as Tyre and Sidon. The news about his miracles had spread far and wide, and vast numbers of people came to see him for themselves.
PEOPLE
People are dealing with a life that at times is overwhelming. They seek to be independent. They want their way from birth. Jesus knows the way that we should go and He is able to deal with each individual life. He will teach us the right way. There is no “silver bullet” for living. Life is a daily activity. We have great needs and Jesus will meet those needs.
7/23 Mark 3:9
Jesus instructed his disciples to bring around a boat and to have it ready in case he was crowded off the beach.
DETAILS
Jesus deals with details. Too often we think “oh, that is too much detail to talk with Jesus about.” It isn’t. Jesus is concerned about everything in our life. He loves us so much more than we ever realize. He is especially concerned about each one of us. We are special to Him. The details of our life are important to Jesus.
7/24 Mark 3:10
There had been many healings that day. As a result, many sick people were crowding around him, trying to touch him.
HEALING
Jesus could do miracles. His miracles were to show the people who He was. He was the King of all Kings and Lord of Glory. All the people saw was the miracles. It didn’t occur to them to think about who He was. Instead they focused on the miracles. Who do you think Jesus is? Is He the Lord of your life?
7/25 Mark 3:11-12
And whenever those possessed by evil spirits caught sight of him, they would fall down in front of him shrieking, “You are the Son of God!” But Jesus strictly warned them not to say who he was.
DEMONS
The evil spirits know about Jesus. They know who He is and they tremble in fear of Him. Jesus wants a relationship with you. He wants you to get to know Him. Spend time with Jesus today and every day. Claim Him as Lord and leader of your life.
7/26 Mark 3:13-19
Afterward Jesus went up on a mountain and called the ones he wanted to go with him. And they came to him. Then he selected twelve of them to be his regular companions, calling them apostles. He sent them out to preach, and he gave them authority to cast out demons. These are the names of the twelve he chose: Simon (he renamed him Peter), James and John (the sons of Zebedee, but Jesus nicknamed them “Sons of Thunder”), Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, Simon (the Zealot), Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him).
CHOSEN
Jesus chose the disciples and gave them a ministry. He was very specific with what they were to do. His instructions were to be carried out by them. He has also chosen you and is calling you to serve. Jesus has a specific activity that only you can do. Surrender to Him today and serve the Lord.
7/27 Mark 3:20
When Jesus returned to the house where he was staying, the crowds began to gather again, and soon he and his disciples couldn’t even find time to eat.
MINISTRY
It is hard to minister to lost people. They want us for what we can do for them. They are not interested in ministering together with us. Are you doing that for which you and only you were created? Is Jesus filling you with the Holy Spirit so that you can serve in kingdom work? All of us are called. All of us have an opportunity to serve. Ask the Lord what He wants you to do and He will tell you.
7/28 Mark 3:21
When his family heard what was happening, they tried to take him home with them. “He’s out of his mind,” they said.
WORLD
The world and sometimes other Christians will fail to see the ministry that you are doing as God called. Others will try to control us. His call is easy but what makes it hard is our trying to do it on our own. Jesus called you and He will direct you. He will take you along a victorious path and you will be effective. Give the Lord have your plans and then seek to listen to His plans for you.
7/29 Mark 3:22
But the teachers of religious law who had arrived from Jerusalem said, “He’s possessed by Satan, the prince of demons. That’s where he gets the power to cast out demons.”
EVIL
Evil always points at good and declares it evil. Remember that the lost are dead in their trespasses and sin. We must know the Word of God and we are charged with the responsibility of knowing good from evil. It is important that we not mistake the evil things we do for good. Also, that we not declare the activity of God as evil. Know the Lord and He will instruct you in the proper way to go.
7/30 Mark 3:23-30
Jesus called them over and said to them by way of illustration, “How can Satan cast out Satan? A kingdom at war with itself will collapse. A home divided against itself is doomed. And if Satan is fighting against himself, how can he stand? He would never survive. Let me illustrate this. You can’t enter a strong man’s house and rob him without first tying him up. Only then can his house be robbed! “I assure you that any sin can be forgiven, including blasphemy; but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. It is an eternal sin.” He told them this because they were saying he had an evil spirit.
EVIL
It is easy to recognize evil. It goes against God. It claims its exception to the things of God. Evil is always independent from the things of God. It goes its own way. It whispers in our ear that this time will be okay. Listen to the Lord. He will put His finger on sin and he will never give you a pass. Sin is always sin.
7/31 Mark 3:31-35
Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived at the house where he was teaching. They stood outside and sent word for him to come out and talk with them. There was a crowd around Jesus, and someone said, “Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you.” Jesus replied, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” Then he looked at those around him and said, “These are my mother and brothers. Anyone who does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”
GOD’S WILL
Do God’s will. It is easier to live right than to justify living wrong. Today we are living in a nation that is calling sin good and good sin. Be careful who you follow. The world is always against the things of God. People count with Jesus but in the world might makes right.
