"The Whole Book"

Friday, October 21, 2022

#1340 Mark 8 Crock Pot

In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat, he called his disciples to him and said to them, 2 “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. 3 And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away.” 4 And his disciples answered him, “How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?” 5 And he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven.” 6 And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd. 7 And they had a few small fish. And having blessed them, he said that these also should be set before them. 8 And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. 9 And there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away. 10 And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.

The Pharisees Demand a Sign

11 The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. 12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” 13 And he left them, got into the boat again, and went to the other side.

The Leaven of the Pharisees and Herod

14 Now they had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. 15 And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” 16 And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread. 17 And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.” 20 “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” 21 And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?”

Jesus Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida

22 And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. 23 And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” 24 And he looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.” 25 Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26 And he sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.”

Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ

27 And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 28 And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” 29 And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” 30 And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him.

Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection

31 And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For what can a man give in return for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” Mark 8 ESV

Mark 8

How can one feed these people - The disciples are still in Jesus seminary, and this is following many miracles, including the feeding of the five thousand. Matthew and Mark record this other incident of food, and Jesus' display of power over the elements. Not every miracle is mentioned in the Bible, and I think the reason for the mention of two feeding miracles bears significance as a gage of how far the disciples have come.

How many loaves do you have - I imagine this was said with a measure of disappointment. I think they should have just brought Him what they had and trusted Him with the increase. He has already told them that He has compassion on the crowd, that they have been with Him for three days, and He doesn't want them to faint of hunger on the way home. His intent should be fairly clear, and the precedence is the feeding of an even larger crowd.

Seven baskets full - These were larger, different baskets than the ones used in the feeding of the 5,000. It is interesting that in giving up the few loaves, and the fish that oddly showed up later, the disciples weren't out anything, the crowd was fed and they were fed, and there was a surplus of food left over. It is human fallen nature to hoard, to live with a tight grip upon what we think is ours rather than bringing it to the Lord. It becomes so much more in His hands, by His power, with us as trusting bystanders, ready to disperse the Lord's blessings.

Large baskets (4711)(spuris) refers to large flexible baskets, large enough to hold a man (which they did in Acts 9:25!). All except Acts 9:25 describe the 7 baskets of left-over bread in feeding the 4000. Contrast the 12 baskets left over from feeding the 5000 in Mark 6:43, a different Greek word kophinos. In both Matthew and Mark when Jesus describes the feeding of 5000 and 4000, He uses these two words with the same distinction (Mark 8:19-20 +.; Matt. 16:9-10 +). The two terms are always kept distinct in reference to the two miracles, evidence that different kinds of baskets were used. - Precept Austin

Seeking a sign from heaven to test Him - In Matthew we learn that His resurrection, the sign of Jonah, who spent 3 days in the belly of the whale, would be their sign. He was going to fulfill all righteousness, become the Passover Lamb, be buried and then rise again on the third day. They are wanting a sign in the heavens as though He is hear not as the Lamb, but as the Lion, as though He is coming now to reign on His throne for a thousand years. Surely they have read the prophets, have heard of the suffering Servant in Isaiah, the One born of a woman, Whose heel will be bruised in crushing the head of the serpent, that One is here now and they are rejecting Him just like Isaiah predicted. If they were so earnest in wanting to know, wanting a sign from heaven as though He was Gandalf visiting the Shire, well those Magi from the east followed His star at His birth. The voice of the Father was heard at His baptism, and the Spirit descended upon Him in the form of a dove. There is no end to their unbelief, and their probing for the truth is by design no way to find it, for the truth is what they don't want. It is like removing all the evidence from the scene and then going in to look for evidence, demanding a specific type of evidence, that which will usher in the kingdom according to you but not according to God.

#1339 Mark 7 The Syrophoenician Curve

Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem, 2 they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. 3 (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands properly, holding to the tradition of the elders, 4 and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches.) 5 And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” 6 And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written,

“‘This people honors me with their lips,

but their heart is far from me;

7 in vain do they worship me,

teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’

8 You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”

9 And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 11 But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban”’ (that is, given to God)— 12 then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, 13 thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.”

What Defiles a Person

14 And he called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand: 15 There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.” 17 And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. 18 And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, 19 since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) 20 And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. 21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

The Syrophoenician Woman's Faith

24 And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. 25 But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. 26 Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 And he said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” 28 But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.” 29 And he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” 30 And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.

Jesus Heals a Deaf Man

31 Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. 32 And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him. 33 And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. 34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” 35 And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. 36 And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. 37 And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.” Mark 7 ESV

Mark 7

…4Thus the administrators and satraps sought a charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom, but they could find no charge or corruption, because he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was found in him. 5Finally these men said, “We will never find any charge against this Daniel, unless we find something against him concerning the law of his God.” 6So the administrators and satraps went together to the king and said, “O King Darius, may you live forever!… Daniel 6: 4-6

With hands that were defiled - The Scribes followed an extrabiblical set of laws as laid out in their traditions. Jesus will call them out for this, in that they put more on the outward and ceremonial, and inwardly they themselves are unclean.

And had seen that some of His disciples (mathetes) were eating their bread with impure hands, that is, unwashed - Notice Mark gives Gentile readers the definition of impure hands as hands that are unwashed. Note Mark does not say "dirty" hands (so this has nothing to do with personal hygiene but only with "pseudo holiness!") but impure (see koinos below) hands, which speaks of ceremonial or ritual impurity as defined by the traditions of men, not by God's Law. Unwashed is aniptos (only here and Mt 15:20) and means not washed according to Jewish traditions for washing hands. Note that "had seen" is interrupted by an explanation in vv3-4 and picks back up in Mk 7:5 with "The Pharisees and the scribes asked Him...." "The scribes and Pharisees were not objecting because the disciples were eating with dirty hands but because they had not gone through the accepted purification rituals before eating with their hands. Most Jews regarded breaking these traditions as sin." (Constable) The Jewish writer Edersheim adds "Indeed, a Rabbi who had held this command in contempt was actually buried in excommunication." - Precept Austin

According to Josephus, “The Pharisees have imposed on the people many laws from the tradition of the fathers not written in the Law of Moses” (Ant. 13.10.6 §297). - PA

This people honors me with their lips - Lip service, sucking up, learning to say the right things, reading books on how to win friends and influence people, all legalism which bears only a semblance to good, yet is only an outward nod, not the true condition of the heart. Jesus is quoting Isaiah.

…12Or if the scroll is handed to one unable to read, he will say, “I cannot read.” 13Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men. 14Therefore I will again confound these people with wonder upon wonder. The wisdom of the wise will vanish, and the intelligence of the intelligent will be hidden.”… Isaiah 29: 12-14

Honor your father and your mother - They didn't mind washing their hands, but in their greed were desperate to take their inheritances, yet not care for their parents at their time of need. The Pharisees allowed that those who raised and took care of them were not to be considered by way of a loop hole, and put off the weightier matters of their own slander. These scribes were much more like lawyers offering men loopholes in the law. God is not so easily bound, He knows what He meant when He said it, our preferences and language do not change His intent.

Speaks evil (2551) kakologeo from kakos = evil + lego = to speak) means literally to speak evil of, to curse (e.g., of parents in Mt 15:4, Mk 7:10). Kakologeo means tio use unjustified and abusive language against someone. Kakologeo is used in Mark 9:39 in regard to someone who was casting out demons. Louw-Nida says kakologeo means to revile or "to insult in a particularly strong and unjustified manner." The derivative word katalogos was a "slanderer." Hellenistically, kakologeo means to imprecate evil on, to curse someone (Lxx - Pr. 20:20; Ezek 22:7; Ex 22:28).

Corban (that is given to God) then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother - They were being legalist and siding with cultural traditions as usual. Many times the gift to the temple did not come any where close to the amount needed to care fro the parents, but the religious rulers did not mind so much because now they at least got some. Both parties were corrupt because the son pocketed the rest. Both parties were wrong because they departed from God's intent. People still look for religions that suit their fancy and preachers who tickle their ears today.

Simply by saying "Corban" over a gift, a son could be freed of the obligation of having to give the gift to their needy parents! In essence the Pharisees and their evil traditions were promoting sinful behavior by sons! Talk about being deluded by doctrines of men! These Pharisees had no concept of the truth of God nor of the true and Living God. That's the deadly effect tradition can have on a heart! The heart becomes so unbelieving, so hardened, that it thinks it is doing right when in fact it is actually doing wrong. This is exactly what happened in the horrible days of the Judges where we read "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. (NOTICE EVEN THOUGH THEY DID WRONG, THERE WERE SO DECEIVED, THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE DOING RIGHT!)" (Jdg 21:25 +).

In answer to the Pharisees’ question, Jesus told them that they had rejected the commandment of God in order to keep their own tradition (Mark 7:6-9). Jesus gives the proof of their corruption of the Law by citing their use of “Corban.” Moses had instructed God’s people to “honor their father and mother” (Exodus 20:12), but the Pharisees negated that command by teaching that they could give money to the temple in lieu of helping their parents in need. Whatever money might have been used to provide for aging parents could be dedicated to the temple treasury instead. Saying, “It is Corban” would exempt a person from his responsibility to his parents. In other words, the Pharisees took a legitimate Corban offering and used it in an illegitimate and devious way to defraud their parents (and enrich themselves). Thus, the Law of God was nullified.

Jesus tells the Pharisees that their misuse of Corban was an evil rationale to avoid doing what they should. God never intended that the good principle of devoting something to the temple should be twisted to dishonor fathers and mothers. Ritual without reality is what the Pharisaic religion was all about. It was also ritual without righteousness and without relationship. Jesus taught that, without a personal relationship with God, ritual profits nothing, and the traditions of man should never usurp the authority of God’s Word. (Source: GotQuestions.org) - Precept Austin

From within, out of the heart of man - It wasn't outside temptations, it wasn't a man's eyes that caused him to lust, or be greedy for what his neighbor has, that sin originated in his heart. Through the lens of sin he takes in what he sees, and rather than repent most justify, laugh, and look for more.

…9Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities. 10Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 11Cast me not away from Your presence; take not Your Holy Spirit from me.… Psalm 51: 9-11

More on what defiles a man from Matthew 15 post

Yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs - What a lesson, how arrogant we are, she recognized the sole way in front of her. She had probably experienced every other possible dead end, and she does not relent. She doesn't take it personal as so many today do, "you can't call me a sinner, if you point out what I did then you have four fingers pointing back at you." She didn't care, she saw salvation for her kid in Jesus and realized that His scraps were better than anything this world could offer. Very different approach than the self esteem gospel, vastly different than the I'm a good person cult or the cult of snow flakes. For this statement you may go your way, the demon has left your daughter. Paul echoes this woman only after he has been broken and matured as a Christian, he looks back and present and says, "oh wretched man that I am." Be offended as you want, but I am not special, you are not special in this, we are all the same, dead in our trespasses and sins. There is One Who is special, He Who knew no sin and became sin on our behalf so that we might become the righteousness of God. Jesus is the only One born of a woman, God being knit with humanity, deity taking on flesh, being special in that He did not fall into sin, in that He did not deserve it's wages, that's special, that's different, and if you want to be different then conform to that image. Otherwise you're like everyone else out there who is trying to explain how special they are through coloring their hair, piercing, tattooing, pushing the envelope, chasing what the world says makes you great, chasing the dollar, having all the toys that are supposed to make you special. If you want to be different, be humble, it's the last frontier, the most unknown and seldom visited place in the human experience, follow Christ.

More on His encounter with this woman from Matthew

22“The Son of Man must suffer many things,” He said. “He must be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” 23Then Jesus said to all of them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. 24For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.… Luke 9: 22-24

Ephphatha - Be opened.

…21At that very hour Jesus healed many people of their diseases, afflictions, and evil spirits, and He gave sight to many who were blind. 22So He replied, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. 23Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me.”… Luke 7: 21-23

…4Say to those with anxious hearts: “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance. With divine retribution He will come to save you.” 5Then the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. 6Then the lame will leap like a deer and the mute tongue will shout for joy. For waters will gush forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.… Isaiah 35: 4-6

#1338 Mark 6 Hometown Heroes

He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. 2 And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? 3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. 4 And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” 5 And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And he marveled because of their unbelief.

And he went about among the villages teaching.

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles

7 And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8 He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— 9 but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. 10 And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. 11 And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” 12 So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.

The Death of John the Baptist

14 King Herod heard of it, for Jesus' name had become known. Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” 15 But others said, “He is Elijah.” And others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” 16 But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.” 17 For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because he had married her. 18 For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife.” 19 And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, 20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.

21 But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22 For when Herodias's daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” 23 And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” 24 And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” 25 And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” 26 And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. 27 And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John's head. He went and beheaded him in the prison 28 and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

30 The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32 And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. 33 Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. 35 And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. 36 Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” 37 But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” 38 And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” 39 Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. 41 And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. 42 And they all ate and were satisfied. 43 And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. 44 And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.

Jesus Walks on the Water

45 Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. 47 And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48 And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, 50 for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” 51 And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, 52 for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

Jesus Heals the Sick in Gennesaret

53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored to the shore. 54 And when they got out of the boat, the people immediately recognized him 55 and ran about the whole region and began to bring the sick people on their beds to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well. Mark 6 ESV

Mark 6

Came to His hometown - This is Nazareth where He was a carpenter.

More on this from Matthew 13 without honor

Throughout the centuries, some people have thought that Jesus’ employment as a carpenter somehow discredited His message. In ancient Rome, there was a terrible persecution under the Emperor Julian. At that time, a philosopher mocked a Christian, asking him “What do you think the carpenter’s son is doing now?” The Christian wisely answered, “He is building a coffin for Julian.” - E Word

…45Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the One Moses wrote about in the Law, the One the prophets foretold—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46“Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip. 47When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, He said of him, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is no deceit.”… John 1: 45-47

Is not this the carpenter - This is an interesting vocation for the head of the church, Who also identified with shepherds as a parallel to His ministry. Sadly, and most mistakenly, those who farmed, tended the sheep we eat, and those who build with wisdom the houses we live in, were not so highly esteemed.

…17Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven. 18And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. 19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”… Matthew 16: 17-19

Son of Mary, Brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon - The Roman Catholic Church holds a doctrine that not only says that Jesus was born of the virgin Mary, but that she remained a virgin and was born of a virgin birth herself. The gospel writers do not support this, it is among many false and heretic teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, so as always, Come out of her. In the next line we are also made aware of her daughters.

Proclaimed that people should repent - This is still the message, men are still born everyday into sin, all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Everyone needs to come to this knowledge, realizing that the answer is not within themselves, and solely put their trust in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Where the people would not receive them they were told to dust of their feet. We are responsible to proclaim the truth in love, but we are not responsible for it's results.

#1337 Mark 5 Issues And The Walking Dead

They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. 2 And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. 3 He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, 4 for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. 6 And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. 7 And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” 8 For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” 9 And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” 10 And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. 11 Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, 12 and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” 13 So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea.

14 The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. 15 And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. 16 And those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs. 17 And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region. 18 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. 19 And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.

Jesus Heals a Woman and Jairus's Daughter

21 And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. 22 Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet 23 and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” 24 And he went with him.

And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. 25 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, 26 and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. 27 She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. 28 For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” 29 And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” 31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” 32 And he looked around to see who had done it. 33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. 34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

35 While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler's house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” 36 But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” 37 And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. 38 They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 40 And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child's father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. 41 Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” 42 And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. 43 And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat. Mark 5 ESV

Mark 5

Matthew 8 account of Legion

A man with an unclean spirit - This was what was obvious at a glance, whether you believe in demons, possession or not, it was clear that this man was crazy. In another gospel it says two men, but only one of the two returns in the end, and one is the dominant leader here, the spokesman with the head demon.

But he wrenched the chains apart - People had tried to subdue him before, but they failed miserably, for the man had super human strength, an ability to ignore and push through pain. This is the relationship of the devil to mankind, the thief comes to kill and to destroy. His promises are sweet in the evening but putrid the next morning. He wants to keep men from the knowledge of the truth, to have men build towers and from them scream out their hatred of the living God.

…9I am the gate. If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness. 11I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.… John 10: 9-11

Crying out and cutting himself with stones - His was a tortured existence, imagine finding relief this way, or trying to. You see vestiges of this today, even the popularization of this among teenagers, whole online communities of those that cut and mutilate themselves. You see a great delusion amongst those that are said to possess wisdom, understanding, a cult like following of the politically correct, those that oppose logic, reason, sanity, God. They go so far as to encourage the mutilation of children as a cure for mental illness, calling boys girls and visa versa. In their minds and mouths the cure for such anomalies, for such gross departures from reason and sound mind, is for the whole world to embrace the insanity, to pretend with the confused, to play make believe and call things the opposite of what they clearly are, and anyone who disagrees, call them a bigot. It is widely known that when some cut themselves there has been sexual abuse in their past, and the answer should be to get them justice, to get them sound medical help, to love them, not lie to them, not ignore the real issues brought about by sin.

He ran and fell down before Him - He is submissive to Christ's Lordship, and it is a wonder to us considering that these are rebels, that they have been cast down. The demon, which turns out to be the head of many, recognizes the Creator, knows that He is over all things, and he trembles, grovels before Him. The demon is a created being, a spiritual being, and so must answer to the One that made him. Men don't do this yet, not until the Spirit makes them willing, teaching them the truth, opening their eyes to the reality of being the clay and not the Potter. It is frightening that men beat their chest where demons tremble, and it is humbling to see that, diminishing, what a wonder that I am still alive.

15The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.… Colossians 1: 15-17

So He gave them permission - Learn from this, don't fear ghosts and ghouls, fear God, the most fearsome and scariest of all creatures fear only God. And learn from this the value of a man as well, the value of a soul. Jesus sends the demons, called Legion, for they were many, into the herd of pigs which numbered 2,000, and this set one, maybe two men free. Only one seems to return desiring to follow Him, and Christ bids him to stay and testify to what happened here. He could say, "I was a slave to a harsh master, a prisoner, and Jesus set me free. I was a mad man as all who saw me remember, and now I am a new creature. I was worth more than 2,000 swine, Jesus saved me. He purchased me, I am now a slave of Christ."

…5But stretch out Your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse You to Your face.” 6“Very well,” said the LORD to Satan. “He is in your hands, but you must spare his life.” 7So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and infected Job with terrible boils from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head.… Job 2: 5-7

My little daughter is at the point of death - If you notice, there is a growing degree of difficulty with the miracles, but only from a human perspective. That she is at death's door is no deterrent for Jesus; it only has to be within the will of the Father, for they are One with each other, and Christ has taken on humanity in order to do the will of God. Part of fulfilling humanity's obligation to God is perfect obedience, man being made in His image, the image now marred by sin. It is a curiously marvelous thing, and no wonder that angels long to look upon such matters, God the Son, fulfilling a role of obedience, that which we soiled, and submitting Himself to our place. He does not resent this, only being surrounded by sin, only the thought of what lies ahead, being forsaken of the Father. You will find no greater defense of human dignity than in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

14The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15John testified concerning Him. He cried out, saying, “This is He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’” 16From His fullness we have all received grace upon grace.… John 1: 14-16

…6For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from that time and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this. Isaiah 9: 6-7

Who touched My garments - He is in the form of a man, and submitting to the limitations of a man, but He knows that power has gone out of Him. The disciples think it a silly question, but it was not the tug upon the garment, but the power of the Holy Spirit within Him.

More on the woman with the issue and Jairus's daughter from Matthew

Your daughter is dead - The degree of difficulty increases, but these miracles are essential to showing Who He is. Who has power over death? Who has power over nature? Who has power over the spirit world?

Why trouble the Teacher any further - Oh the agony and the grief, but everyone there is dying physically, from the moment you enter this world, and the real kicker, the thing that they are oblivious to, they are all already dead spiritually.

1And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2in which you used to walk when you conformed to the ways of this world and of the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, fulfilling the cravings of our flesh and indulging its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature children of wrath.… Ephesians 2: 1-3

Do not fear, only believe - You know what He means, but wow, my head would start doubting what I heard Him say, "believe what, what do you not want me to fear? What do you plan on doing?" As one individual replied, "Lord, I believe, help me with my unbelief."

They laughed at Him - His power, His authority to heal doesn't come because He exudes confidence, not because He practices the healing arts, stomps on a stage, get's everyone into a frenzy, no, it is the power of God wielded by the authority of God. They don't have to believe in Him, their belief doesn't make Him Who He is, and this miracle will show His authority over death, it will testify to the resurrection of the dead.

Talitha Cumi - Little girl, arise. She does and not to the sickness preceding her death. She is fully capable once again, fully awake and hungry. Give her something to eat because she's hungry and also to show that she is not an apparition as the superstitious would probably surmise. Not very dramatic, no stage, no lights, no music except the mourning from outside, and so few were invited to this inner chamber.

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