TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Mark 1:1-12
Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.� - Matthew 3:15
TODAY IN THE WORD
In his best-selling book Rick Warren notes that the search for purpose in life has puzzled people for thousands of years. The reason, he explains, is because we usually begin at the wrong starting point. We begin with ourselves. The real secret to purpose is found in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Today we are beginning a month-long study of the life of Jesus as it is described in the Gospel of Mark. It is a lively account, full of action. In it we will see how all that Jesus did during His earthly ministry was influenced by His own sense of purpose. Our lives will lack purpose without a proper understanding of Christ.

Mark's gospel begins with a brief description of the ministry of John, the one who came baptizing in the desert and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Mark indicates that John's ministry of preaching and baptism fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 40:3. John was sent to set the stage for the coming Messiah and announce His purpose. John's message promised that the one who came after him would indeed baptize with the Holy Spirit.

According to Matthew's Gospel, John objected when Jesus came to him to be baptized by him. Jesus convinced him by explaining that it was “proper to fulfill all righteousness” (Matt. 3:15). This phrase might just as well have been Jesus' mission statement. The appropriateness of Jesus' actions were confirmed by God the Father's public testimony. When the Holy Spirit visibly descended in the form of a dove, it affirmed the Father's love for Jesus and marked Him as the one who would baptize in the Spirit. It is significant that the first action Jesus took once He began His public ministry was to respond to the prompting of the Holy Spirit (v. 12).

Jesus' actions exemplify the two most important dimensions of a life of purpose. He knew what God the Father had called Him to do, and He was responsive to the leading of the Holy Spirit in His life. We too have a purpose to fulfill and are led by the Spirit of God (Phil. 2:13; Rom. 8:14).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
As we begin this study of the purpose of Christ as it is revealed in the Gospel of Mark, take a few minutes to think about your own life. Look over your calendar for the last month. In what have you been investing your time? Take a few minutes to review your finances. What do they say about your priorities? Now summarize your conclusions in a single purpose statement that accurately reflects what you have seen. Are you satisfied with it? If not, ask God to use our studies in the next few weeks to show you where changes need to be made.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Mark 1:14-20
I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. - Luke 5:32
TODAY IN THE WORD
Evangelist D. L. Moody was deeply affected by the observation of Henry Varley who said, “The world has yet to see what God can do with and for and through and in a man who is fully and wholly consecrated to Him.” It is a challenging question. Yet it brings to mind an even more challenging one. What can God do with an ordinary person?

Few of us would say that we meet the criteria described by Varley. It's not that we are unconsecrated to God. It's just that we see ourselves as falling into the class of people that can best be described as “average.” We are not the brightest or the boldest. We do not stand out in a crowd. We're just regular people.

According to today's passage, we are just the sort of people that Jesus Christ seeks to be His followers. The first disciples that Jesus called were fishermen casting their nets into the lake. He did not go to the religious elite to select those who would become His apostles; He went to common men as they went about their daily business. This is often the context for God's call. Moses and David were called to special service while guarding the flock (Ex. 3:1; 1 Sam. 16:11). Elisha was called while plowing his father's field (1 Kings 19:19).

When the call to special service finally came, it brought with it the expectation of an immediate response. Simon, Andrew, James, and John all answered Christ's call “without delay” (v. 20). They left their nets and their families behind in order to take up a new calling as “fishers of men” (v. 17). In each case obedience was costly. They abandoned their livelihood and may have faced family disapproval for taking up a more controversial and certainly less lucrative calling.

Later in his ministry Peter would remind Jesus of the sacrifices they had made and inquire about what they would gain in return. Jesus promised that anyone who has left goods or family behind for the sake of the kingdom of God will eventually receive a hundred times as much in addition to eternal life (Matt. 19:28-29; Mark 10:29-31).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Are you longing to do something “great” for God? In most cases the greatest thing we can do for God is the thing He has put in front of us to do. It might be doing your best on the job or serving your family with an attitude of joy. Serving God is a matter of daily obedience that is worked out in the home and on the job.

Remind yourself of your responsibility to consecrate yourself to God by copying Henry Varley's quote and placing it where you will be able to see it as you go about your daily affairs.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Mark 1:21-38
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news. - Isaiah 52:7
TODAY IN THE WORD
Joseph Pulitzer, the nineteenth-century newspaper baron and founder of the Pulitzer prize, believed in the power of the press. Not only was Pulitzer convinced that a newspaper ought to be one of the most powerful institutions on earth, he believed that its influence ought to extend beyond the earth. Pulitzer once conceived of a scheme to erect a sign so large that it would be visible on the planet Mars. He planned to use it to advertise his newspaper.

Pulitzer was right about one thing: good news can have a global impact. That's especially true when the message being spread is the good news of the gospel. In the New Testament the term that is translated “gospel” literally means “good news.” The verbal form is the word from which we get the term “evangelize.” To evangelize is to proclaim the good news. Another term used in the New Testament to speak of the proclamation of the gospel is a word that meant to act as a herald.

Jesus came to announce the good news of God's grace and the offer of forgiveness. Although He performed many miracles, He did not see working miracles as His primary mission. When Jesus was being pursued by those who were chiefly interested in the healings He had performed, He did not stay behind and bask in their acclaim. Instead, He took His disciples to the next village and continued to proclaim the gospel without delay.

Miracles were an important part of Jesus' ministry but they served a particular function. Their purpose was to authenticate Jesus as God's chosen Messiah and to highlight His message. If we had needed only a miracle worker, God could have sent one of the prophets. We needed much more. What makes the gospel “good news” is its message that Jesus Christ came to give His life on behalf of sinners. Divine healing may provide health for a lifetime, but only Jesus can make us whole for all eternity.

Jesus' determination not to be a distraction from His primary mission of proclaiming the gospel helps us to put our own lives in perspective. The health of the body is indeed important. But the health of the soul is most important of all.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Have you allowed other important responsibilities to distract you from the responsibility of sharing the good news about Jesus Christ with others? We're busy, and it's easy to get distracted by obligations and concerns that crowd their way into our world. Make a list of people you know that you have not yet had an opportunity to speak to about Jesus Christ. Now choose the name of the person on the list you are most likely to see in the next week. Pray daily for the Spirit to give you an opportunity to share what Jesus has done for you.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Mark 2:1-12
They were amazed at his teaching, because his message had authority. - Luke 4:32
TODAY IN THE WORD
President Harry Truman had a sign on his desk that read, “The buck stops here.” This slogan served as a reminder to the president that being in authority meant that he must answer for the things done on his watch. Others might be able to “pass the buck” and avoid responsibility. He could not.

All human leaders possess authority, but it is derived authority—part of a stewardship that has been entrusted to them by those who have appointed or elected them and ultimately by God. Jesus exercised an even greater authority. His authority was innate rather than derived.

In Mark 2:1-3:19, Mark describes how Jesus demonstrated His authority through action. He proved that He had the authority to forgive the sins of a paralytic man by healing him. This miracle complemented Christ's declaration of forgiveness and was intended to show the skeptical religious leaders that “the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” (v. 10).

Jesus also demonstrated His authority by ignoring the traditions of the religious leaders. He compared their traditions to old wineskins and old garments (vv. 21-22). Their old system of man-made rules was unsuitable for Christ's message of new life.

The Savior's authority was so great that it extended even to the Sabbath. The Pharisees objected to Jesus healing on the Sabbath. They believed that such a practice violated God's law. In reality, their restrictions actually distorted God's intent for the Sabbath. The law's command to rest on the seventh day was meant to be a blessing for God's people rather than a burden. As Jesus put it, “the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (v. 27). Because He was God incarnate—both fully man and fully God—Jesus was both Lord of the Sabbath and its beneficiary. As our representative, sent by God to fulfill the Law in its entirety, He could not violate Sabbath. Jesus observed it according to its true intent. As the divine Son of God, Jesus had the authority to define what was a legitimate or an illegitimate way to keep the Sabbath.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The Pharisees tried to build a hedge around God's law by adding their own rules and regulations. Even worse, they usurped God's authority by trying to compel others to live by their code.

Can you think of at least one unwritten rule that you try to get others to live by? Has there been a time when you conformed to someone else's standard, simply because they expected you to do so? Ask God to help you evaluate whether these rules measure up to the standard of grace revealed in the gospel.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Mark 3:20-34
Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?� - John 10:20
TODAY IN THE WORD
A young man took a beginner's class in drawing while in high school. During the course he drew a portrait in pen and ink and excitedly showed it to his father, who had gone to art school and made his living by drawing. The father spent several minutes criticizing the portrait, pointing out its flaws. When the father was finished, his son put the portrait in a drawer along with his pen and ink. He never drew another portrait.

It is easier to criticize than to encourage. It is especially discouraging when the one giving the criticism is someone we care about. Some of the criticisms leveled against us are constructive, designed to help us overcome weakness or improve a skill. The comments of a coach or teacher may be hard to bear but are good for us. Yet there are many times when the criticism we face is unwarranted.

This was Jesus' experience during His ministry. His enemies called Him a glutton and a drunkard (Matt. 11:19). They accused Him of blasphemy and claimed that He cast out demons by the power of Satan (Matt. 9:3, 34). Some of the harshest criticism Jesus faced came from members of His own family.

When Jesus' relatives heard that a large crowd had come together in a house to listen to Jesus teach, His family members attempted to take Him into their custody. They explained Jesus' behavior by saying, “He is out of his mind” (v. 21). This shocking assessment of Jesus' ministry has raised questions about who actually spoke these words. It does not seem likely that Jesus' mother Mary uttered them. Joseph, if he was still alive at this time, also seems like an unlikely candidate. Perhaps they were the words of his brothers and sisters (Matt. 13:55-57). Or they may have been spoken by his uncles and aunts.

Whatever the source, Jesus shared the same experience that many who follow Him have also faced. He was disowned by members of His own family because of His obedience to God's call. Yet He did not let this dissuade Him from His mission.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Jesus told His disciples that His claim to their allegiance was higher than any other human relationship (Matt. 10:34-38). Are there any family members who have not yet heard about your personal commitment to Jesus Christ? Think of a way to share that allegiance with them today. You might write a letter, send an e-mail or make a phone call. If they live nearby invite them out for coffee and tell them face to face. They might think you are crazy, but you won't be the first to hear such an accusation.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Mark 4:1-33
God made it grow. - 1 Corinthians 3:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
When Mike was a boy he dreamed of growing up to become a farmer like his father. As Mike grew older he realized that his dream would probably never come true. The rising cost of equipment combined with lower prices in the market made it increasingly difficult for other farmers in his community to make a living. When Mike graduated from high school he reluctantly decided to choose a different career path.

Despite its popular image, farming is not really a “simple life.” It is a challenging vocation that requires a high degree of technical ability. To be successful, a farmer must know a little of everything, including chemistry, mechanics, and finances. Even then there is no guarantee that he will succeed. There are many variables outside his control that affect the outcome.

Although farmers in Jesus' day did not use high-tech equipment, they too had to cope with a variety of conditions and variables. Jesus drew on this to illustrate the impact of the gospel of the kingdom. Outwardly His effort in sowing the Word of God may not have appeared very successful. Like the farmer's seed in the parable of the four soils, most of it seemed to fall on unfruitful ground. This did not discourage Jesus. He was determined to sow the Word, even when there seemed to be little immediate result.

Jesus used other parables to emphasize the remarkable fruitfulness of His message. He compared the growth of gospel of the kingdom to the effort of a farmer who watches the planted seed sprout and grow “though he does not know how” (v. 27). In the parable of the four soils the result was determined by the nature of the soil.

In the parable of the farmer who watches the seed grow, the soil produces a crop mysteriously and automatically. Jesus continued to emphasize the theme of growth in His third parable about seeds. In this parable He compared the kingdom of God to the growth of the tiny mustard seed. Despite its small size, the mustard seed blossoms into a huge shrub with branches large enough to provide a shelter for the birds.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
One way to help you visualize the truth of this parable might be to plant some seeds of your own. Or if you are afraid that you don't have a “green thumb,” purchase a small plant from the local nursery. Use it as a reminder of someone with whom you have shared the “seed” of the gospel. Pray for that person each time you water your plant, and ask God to cause the message that was sown to take root and produce spiritual fruit. It is our responsibility to scatter the seed, but only God can make it grow.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Mark 4:35-41
Without faith it is impossible to please God. - Hebrews 11:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
On September 2, 1935 a storm that was arguably one of the worst in known history struck the Florida Keys. One of only three category five storms to hit the United States, it was on par with Hurricane Camille in 1969 and Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Although it was never named, this storm's 200-mile-per-hour winds and 30-foot waves ensured that it would never be forgotten by those who suffered through it. The Labor Day hurricane of 1935 was later called “the storm of the century.”

Today's reading describes the disciples' encounter with their own “storm of the century.” Although it may not have been as fierce as the Labor Day hurricane of 1935, it was strong enough to cause these seasoned veterans of the waves to fear for their lives. In the biblical text Mark gives us a sense of how significant this storm was by using a term that was commonly used to speak of a whirlwind or a hurricane to describe it. He adds that it was as a “furious” or “great” storm (v. 37).

Storms were not unusual on the Sea of Galilee. This body of water is actually a heart-shaped lake approximately thirteen miles in length and located in a basin that is surrounded by mountains. It is well-known for sudden violent thunderstorms like the one described in today's passage. The danger to Christ's disciples was further magnified by the fact that this particular storm arose at night.

The disciples had embarked on their nighttime voyage at Jesus' request. Once they set sail, the Savior made His way to the stern of the ship and fell fast asleep. Perhaps that is the reason their plea for help included a note of recrimination. They seem to have wondered, “Why would Jesus lead us into a situation like this and then go to sleep on us?” Despite its accusing tone, there is also a note of implied confidence embedded in their cry. They appear to have believed that if Jesus were awake, He could somehow help them. They misread His slumber as a lack of awareness of their circumstances and ultimately as a lack of concern. It was this misinterpretation that prompted Him to chide them for their lack of faith (v. 40).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The tranquility of our lives is often disturbed by the unexpected. During those times God's apparent silence can cause us to wrongly conclude that He is unmoved by our plight. He is still there, He is aware, and He still cares about you. One way you can celebrate this fact and remind yourself of His concern is to find a hymnal and sing or simply read the hymn entitled “Be Still, My Soul” by Katharina von Schlegel. It joyfully declares, “The wind and waves still know His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.”

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Mark 5:1-20
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins. - Ephesians 2:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
In an article in Fortune magazine, David Whitford wrote of the shocking discovery prior to his father's death that his dad had amassed a six-figure debt on high-interest credit cards. There had been clues that his father was having financial problems, but when Whitford had tried to talk about it his father immediately changed the subject. “At one point,” Whitford writes, “he put his hands over his ears and made a humming noise.” Yet two days after his father's death, Whitford found these words scrawled on his father's desk: “Help me. I'm drowning.”

Whitford's story illustrates a tragic reality. There is little we can do for those who refuse our help. Fortunately, God is able to help those whose problems are so great that they are beyond all human help. That was true of those whose plight is described in today's Scripture reading. It is likely that others had tried to help the demonized man. Eventually they decided that he needed to be restrained, probably for his own protection and the safety of others. When even that failed, they left him to wander among the hills alone. The caves he frequented were used by the mostly Gentile residents of that region as tombs. Terrorized by the demons that inhabited him, this poor man spent his days and nights crying out in agony and cutting himself with sharp stones.

He was not the only one with a problem. When the local residents saw this formerly demonized man dressed and in his right mind, they begged Jesus to leave the area. This was similar to the initial response of the man who had the legion of demons. In both cases those who spoke did not really understand the significance of what they were saying. The townspeople's request is the most ironic. Undoubtedly, they were convinced that they were the “sane” ones. They were not demon-possessed, but they were as spiritually bound as the man with the legion of demons. Jesus complied with the townspeople's request to depart from their shores, but He did not abandon them. He left behind the man who had been delivered from the legion of demons as a witness to His power.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
According to Ephesians 2:2, those who have not trusted in Jesus Christ follow “the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.” Apart from God's grace there would be no hope for recovery. The good news of the gospel is that God “made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions” (Eph. 2:5). We all know people who seem to be hopeless cases. If you can do nothing else for them, you can at least do this: tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how He has had mercy on you.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Mark 5:21-34
Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering. - Mark 5:34
TODAY IN THE WORD
One of the greatest social problems facing the nation today is the challenge posed by rising health care costs. As health care costs increase, the number of people who are able to afford insurance coverage decreases. This combination of economic factors is a recipe for anxiety. Imagine, then, what it must have been like in Jesus' day when there was no insurance, and the practice of medicine was more superstition than science.

The woman in today's reading who interrupted Jesus' conversation with Jairus the synagogue ruler is a good example. Her plight was social as well as physical. The nature of her condition would have meant that anyone who came in contact with her became ceremonially unclean according to the Law of Moses. This woman was not only troubled by a physical affliction, she had suffered at the hands of the doctors to whom she turned for relief. In the process she watched her financial resources shrink as her condition grew worse.

The medical profession in Jesus' day did not enjoy a good reputation. It was listed as one of the “despised trades” in the collection of Jewish writings known as the Talmud. In fact, physicians are criticized for being more interested in profit than in the health of their patients. A popular saying declared that even the best doctor was destined for hell.

Disappointment and desperation prompted this woman to seek help from Jesus in secret. The measure of her faith is signaled by her certainty that she would be healed, if she could “just touch his clothes” (v. 28). Her attempt to steal away unnoticed through the crowd after being healed was thwarted when Jesus asked who had just touched Him. Although the request of Jairus was an urgent one, Jesus stopped the procession until she came forward and admitted what she had done.

The rabbis condemned the physicians of their day because they favored the rich and powerful. Jesus made Jairus, a man of influence, wait while He pronounced a blessing of peace upon this despised and insignificant woman. Not only did He provide her with the cure they could not, He showed her a compassion they lacked.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Do you know of someone who has been suffering from a long illness? Think of some concrete way you can show Christ's compassion to that person. It may be by visiting or writing a note saying that you have been praying for them. You might also think of doing something for the family, such as bringing a meal or offering to do housework. If you don't know anyone who is ill, your pastor may be able to point you to someone who is in need of compassion at this time.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Mark 5:35-43
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. - Psalm 27:14
TODAY IN THE WORD
A medical center in Edmonton, Canada, recently launched a pilot program to recruit and train volunteers who will serve as greeters in the emergency waiting area. The greeters' mission is to provide comfort and to support patients and family members who must often wait hours before being seen by one of the medical staff. This initiative was prompted by a survey that showed that customer satisfaction was especially low by those people who had to use the medical center's emergency facilities.

Nobody likes to wait, even under the best of circumstances. Waiting with a loved one who needs medical treatment is even more stressful. Imagine what it must have been like for Jairus as he waited for Jesus to help his daughter. According to the biblical text, she was already at the point of death when this synagogue ruler came to Jesus and pleaded for His help.

Jairus was a person of authority in the synagogue, serving as chairman or president of its board of elders, and he was used to being treated with deference. One dimension of Jairus's role as president of the synagogue was to discipline its members. It must have been especially difficult for him to wait while Jesus dealt with a woman in the crowd whose condition would have made her an outcast in his assembly.

While Jesus spoke to the woman who had just been healed, messengers arrived to tell Jairus that his daughter had in fact died. They seem to convey their news with a bluntness that's hard to explain. Perhaps they were frustrated because they had warned Jairus against seeking help from Jesus. They assumed that Jairus was now needlessly troubling Him, since his daughter was already dead.

The mourners at the house show a similar callousness, moving from weeping to laughter in a matter of minutes. Their attitude could indicate that at least some of them were professional mourners, hired for the occasion by the family. Or possibly they understood Jesus' statement to mean that He would raise the girl from the dead—and they did not believe Him.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Jesus urged Jairus to take courage, saying, “Don't be afraid; just believe” (v. 36). Our Lord must have recognized that the delayed answer to Jairus's request was a breeding ground for doubt.

In the same way, we can be tempted to doubt when the answers to our prayers seem to be delayed. During the long wait it can bolster our faith to remember how God has answered our prayers in the past. If you keep a prayer journal, take the time to review God's answers to your requests.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Mark 6:30-44
I can do everything through him who gives me strength. - Philippians 4:13
TODAY IN THE WORD
Sir James Barrie, the British journalist and playwright, cherished his privacy and did not appreciate the intrusiveness of many reporters. A reporter once visited his home with the hope of obtaining an interview. When Barrie opened the door, the reporter smiled and said, “Sir James Barrie, I presume?” Barrie replied, “You do,” and slammed the door in the reporter's face.

Like many public figures, Jesus' privacy diminished as His popularity grew. Although the people of Nazareth had demonstrated skepticism towards Jesus, the apostles' ministry of preaching, driving out demons, and healing expanded His fame among the populace to such a degree that He found it necessary to find a quiet place to rest. The persistence of the crowd made this impossible. When they realized that Jesus and the Twelve planned to cross by boat to the northeast side of the lake, many in the crowd ran ahead on foot and actually arrived there before Jesus, rendering their solitary place no longer solitary.

Instead of resenting such an intrusion, Jesus responded with compassion. He did not view their presence as an imposition, viewing it instead as an opportunity to minister. The needy crowd seemed like sheep without a shepherd to the Savior. The patience of the disciples, on the other hand, eventually reached its limit when evening fell and the crowd showed no signs of diminishing. Noting the lateness of the hour and the need for food, the disciples urged Jesus to send the multitude away. Instead of complying with their request, Jesus told the disciples to solve the problem by providing food for the crowd themselves.

The disciples were understandably dismayed by this command. It was an unreasonable expectation, given the extremely limited resources at their disposal. There was nothing wrong with the disciples' calculation of the amount of food they had on hand, an amount so small that it would not even have been enough to feed the twelve of them. Their mistake was in not taking into account the power of Christ. Jesus' intent seems to have been to make them aware of their weakness and His power.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
How do you feel about interruptions? Do you see them as intrusions that keep you from doing what you would like to do? Or do you consider them to be “divine appointments?” The next time there is an unexpected knock at the door or unanticipated phone call, try to look at it as God's way of breaking into the routine of your day. You may not feel prepared for the opportunity presented by your next interruption, but our God is always ready to show Himself strong on behalf of those who depend upon Him.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Mark 6:45-56
Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid. - Mark 6:50
TODAY IN THE WORD
A little boy who was afraid of the water was playing in the sand along the shore when his father offered to give him a ride on his shoulders. The boy climbed up giggling with delight, but his laughter turned to tears when he felt his father stride into the waves. He watched the water rise around him and begged him to return to the shore, but his father held him tightly in place and spoke reassuring words. When the boy realized that he was secured by his father's strong arms, he relaxed and began to enjoy the ride. His fear of the water never did return.

Jesus taught His disciples a similar lesson when He sent them into the storm following the feeding of the five thousand. Immediately after the crowd had been fed, Jesus compelled his reluctant disciples to get into a boat and cross to the other side of the lake. The text does not say why He felt it necessary to “make” the disciples get into the boat (v. 45). One possibility is that they were reluctant to sail because of the lateness of the hour. They may also have seen signs in the weather that indicated that the passage across the lake would be difficult. Whatever the reason, Jesus refused to take no for an answer and instructed them to begin the journey while He went up on the mountainside to pray.

Before long the disciples' reluctance seemed justified, when they found themselves struggling against the wind and unable to make it to the other side of the lake. The storm that blew up as they made their journey seems to have been more of a frustration than a threat. They rowed against the wind for hours and were unable to make any headway, until Jesus came walking to them across the water.

Even though they had just witnessed an incredible miracle, they hadn't understood its true significance (v. 52). Jesus wanted to test the depths of their faith, to see if they had learned the lesson of faith in His power. Though they were fearful, He still exercised His authority over the weather to comfort them.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Our prayers often reflect a desire to avoid the storm and to complete our journey with ease. God, on the other hand, often seems to send us unto the wind and waves. His disciples had just seen Jesus feed the multitude, yet they still needed their faith strengthened through the experience of the storm.

As you reflect back over the past seven days, can you think of times when you experienced Christ's power in the midst of the unexpected storms of life? Thank Him now for showing up.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Mark 7:1-23
You who brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? - Romans 2:23
TODAY IN THE WORD
Actor and comedian W. C. Fields was an avowed agnostic, so he surprised his friends when they discovered him reading a Bible while on his deathbed. When asked why, Fields replied, “I'm looking for a loophole.”

The religious leaders of Jesus' day approached God's law with the same goal. They formulated an elaborate system of man-made regulations allegedly designed to protect God's commands but that instead provided loopholes for those who wanted to get around them. Although those who established these traditions probably introduced them with the good intent of helping God's people comply with the Law's requirements, these traditions had become an end in themselves.

Jesus commented on this tendency when the Pharisees and the teachers of the Mosaic Law criticized His disciples for eating with “unclean” hands (v. 2). This was not a complaint about the disciples' personal hygiene but their failure to comply with the practice of ceremonial washing prior to eating. After shopping in the marketplace, the Pharisees observed a ritual washing to “cleanse” themselves from any contact they may have had with Gentiles and non-practicing Jews.

Some viewed compliance with such rituals as synonymous with obedience to God's command. Preserving the traditions became more important than obeying the laws that they were meant to reflect. As an example, Jesus cited the practice of declaring property “Corban” (v. 11). This term is a transliteration of a Hebrew word that meant “offering” or “oblation.” When something was declared Corban it still belonged to the owner but was no longer available for ordinary use. Apparently some used this as an excuse to shield their assets, even from their needy parents.

In other instances, focusing on such rules and traditions caused people to lose sight of the importance of the heart. They felt that the ritual alone was sufficient. Jesus compared the people of His generation with those condemned by the prophet Isaiah (vv. 6-7; cf. Isa. 29:3). Although meticulous in their religious practices, they did not truly honor God but offered only lip service.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Every church has traditions. Many of them are helpful and even necessary. Some, like baptism and the observance of the Lord's Supper, are commanded. The problem arises when our traditions become an end in themselves and keep us from fulfilling the true intent of God's commands. Make a list of five unwritten rules that shape the values and practice of the church you attend. How do they help the church in its worship and obedience? Do they ever get in the way?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Mark 7:24-37
For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him. - Romans 10:12
TODAY IN THE WORD
Eddie's sixth-grade teacher wanted to motivate her students to work harder. She gave the class a test and arranged the desks according to the results. The student with the best score was assigned the first seat in the first row. The worst student was assigned the last seat in the last row. When Eddie learned that he had been assigned the lowest seat in class he put his head down on his desk and wept. He did not show up for class for the rest of the week. He felt like he had been branded by the teacher as “the dumbest kid in the class” and carried the sense of shame that came with that label for many years.

On the surface, it appears as if Jesus had labeled the woman in today's passage similarly. Mark underscores her Gentile status first by noting where this meeting took place. It occurred while Jesus was in the vicinity of Tyre, a Phoenician port and important center of commerce. He also points out that she was a Greek born in Syrian Phoenicia, marking her as a pagan who did not hold to Jewish beliefs or customs. The Jews of Jesus' day would have considered her unclean and believed that simply having contact with her defiled them.

Jesus emphasized the woman's status by comparing her to a dog. The Jews considered dogs unclean because they were scavengers that may have touched or eaten something that was unclean. They did not keep them as pets. It was a common Gentile practice to keep domesticated dogs as pets, and the Jews often called Gentiles “dogs” to signify these aspects of uncleanness.

Still, the woman pressed for the healing of her daughter after Jesus refused her initial request. His example emphasized the priority of the “children” but did not exclude those who were not (v. 27). This same principle was later echoed by the apostle Paul when he declared, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile” (Rom. 1:16). Jesus came to show compassion on Gentiles as well as Jews.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Jesus' contemporaries viewed this woman as an outcast unworthy of God's interest. Do you know anyone like her? Perhaps it is a neighbor whose social or ethnic background makes others in the community nervous. It may be a homeless person that you pass on the way to work. Look for an opportunity to express an interest in such a person today. Greet him with a smile, or ask her how her day is going. God may use your friendliness to begin a relationship that will allow you to share the bread of life with someone starving for a morsel.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Mark 8:14-9:1
Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. - Isaiah 50:7
TODAY IN THE WORD
James Thurber went to a dinner party after he had lost his eye sight and speculated to a friend that one of the couples there was on the verge of breaking up. Thurber's friend objected, “That's not possible! I've never seen such friendliness and smiling.” “Yes,” Thurber replied. “You saw them. I heard them.” A few months later the couple divorced.

We don't always see as clearly as we might think. That is especially true when it comes to spiritual insight. Although Jesus' disciples enjoyed the privilege of observing the Savior's miracles and sitting under His teaching, they often did not immediately grasp the significance of His ministry. When Jesus used metaphors to make a spiritual point, they often took Him too literally. At other times they understood Jesus, but only partially. In many respects they were like the blind man at Bethsaida who was healed in stages by Jesus. Spiritual insight came gradually to them.

Nowhere is this more evident than in Peter's confession of Christ. Unlike the multitude who merely considered Jesus to be a prophet, Peter recognized Him as the promised Messiah. Peter soon followed this remarkable insight with a misguided attempt to dissuade the Savior from going to the cross after Jesus had spoken frankly to the disciples about His approach- ing death and resurrection (v. 32). Peter may have grasped only half the message or was doubtful about the possibility of Christ's rising from the dead. The sharp rebuke he received in answer indicated Jesus' determination to complete His mission. To deviate from it would have played into the hands of Satan.

Peter's counsel was not only misguided, it was dangerously one-sided. It reflected a perspective that was too limited, taking into account the things of men rather than the things of God. Peter's self-centered mentality was inconsistent with Christ's mission and unworthy of a disciple of Christ. Jesus calls His followers to live with a similar sense of purpose, even to the point of death. As the hymn writer said, “Must Jesus bear the cross alone and all the world go free? No, there's a cross for everyone and there's a cross for me.”
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Some people have found it helpful to write a personal mission statement. Try writing one that reflects the calling Jesus gives to His disciples in today's passage. Make it short—no more than a few sentences. It should be personal and should state the core values that inform your priorities. State what you believe to be most important and then what you plan to do about it. It will probably take you longer to think about the values that drive your mission statement than it will to write the statement itself.