Reflective Bible Study Gospel Adventure

A Little Bit of Faith: Mark 5:21-34

Published April 21, 2023 in Written Journal Entries

Focus Passage: Mark 5:21-34 (NCV)

²¹When Jesus went in the boat back to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him there. ²²A leader of the synagogue, named Jairus, came there, saw Jesus, and fell at his feet. ²³He begged Jesus, saying again and again, “My daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so she will be healed and will live.” ²⁴So Jesus went with him.

A large crowd followed Jesus and pushed very close around him. ²⁵Among them was a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years. ²⁶She had suffered very much from many doctors and had spent all the money she had, but instead of improving, she was getting worse. ²⁷When the woman heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his coat. ²⁸She thought, “If I can just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” ²⁹Instantly her bleeding stopped, and she felt in her body that she was healed from her disease.

³⁰At once Jesus felt power go out from him. So he turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”

³¹His followers said, “Look at how many people are pushing against you! And you ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ”

³²But Jesus continued looking around to see who had touched him. ³³The woman, knowing that she was healed, came and fell at Jesus’ feet. Shaking with fear, she told him the whole truth. ³⁴Jesus said to her, “Dear woman, you are made well because you believed. Go in peace; be healed of your disease.”

Read Mark 5:21-34 in context and/or in other translations on BibleGateway.com!

In some of the events in the gospels, I try to distance myself from the disciples’ reaction. Perhaps this is because I know the end of their story, and things make a lot more sense looking back on what happened.

But in other events, such as the one in this passage, even knowing the end of the story doesn’t change the reality that I probably would have said the exact same thing to Jesus that the disciples did.

In this event, a woman is trying to be secretive and anonymous about getting Jesus to heal her. In her mind, she doesn’t need Jesus’ time, touch, or even His attention. All she needs is a moment to touch the edge of Jesus’ robe – and she gets her chance.

But Jesus is too aware of what is happening around Him, and He stops the crowd with the question, “Who touched my clothes?” (v. 30b)

This is where I can relate with the disciples. Not only is the crowd surrounding Jesus and pressing in on all sides, but Jesus is trying to make His way through the crowd on a mission to save a little girl.

When Jesus stops everything with that question, I would be right with the disciples countering Jesus’ question in the same way they did: “Look at how many people are pushing against you! And you ask, ‘Who touched me?’” (v. 31)

But Jesus knows what was happening around Him, and that not all touch is equal. Jesus knows the difference between a bump in the crowd and a healing touch that is filled with faith.

To the disciples and the crowd, there was no way of distinguishing these two types of contact. On the outside, there would be no way to tell this.

But on the inside, both the woman and Jesus knew what had taken place. While the woman’s illness was internal, so was her healing. While she wanted to stay anonymous, possibly because she was embarrassed about her condition, Jesus places her up as an example to all about how powerful her faith was.

Jesus wasn’t saying this simply for the crowd’s benefit. He wanted His followers at that point and throughout history to understand that a little bit of faith can go a long way, and when that faith has been placed in Jesus, He is able to multiply it into everything we need: from healing and health, to community and security, and even to strength when facing trials. This woman needed physical healing and emotional healing, and Jesus helped her with both in a way that helps us see God’s character through Jesus.

This thought was inspired by studying the Walking With Jesus “Reflective Bible Study” package. To discover insights like this in your own study time, click here and give Reflective Bible Study a try today!

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The Man Satan Couldn’t Kill: Luke 8:26-39

Published April 20, 2023 in Audio Journal Entries

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Continuing our journey through Luke’s gospel, brings us to a powerful example of God’s love as Jesus travels to a remote location seemingly to see just one person. However, I wonder if this wasn’t what Jesus had intended even if it was what happened.

In this event, and the miracle of healing Jesus does to help a man trapped by demonic forces, we are able to see just how powerful God is in relation to Satan, and just how much He loves those who are trapped by sin.

Our passage for this episode is found in Luke’s gospel, chapter 8, and we will read from the New International Version of the Bible. Starting in verse 26, Luke tells us that Jesus and His disciples:

²⁶[They] sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. ²⁷When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. ²⁸When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!” ²⁹For Jesus had commanded the impure spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places.

³⁰Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”

“Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. ³¹And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss.

³²A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and he gave them permission. ³³When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.

³⁴When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, ³⁵and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. ³⁶Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured. ³⁷Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left.

³⁸The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, ³⁹“Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.

Whenever I read this event, I am amazed. From the details Luke describes, Jesus and His disciples sail across the lake, heal this one individual, and then sail away. While Jesus likely wanted to help more people from the region, I don’t think this rejection surprised Him. However, this event teaches us that Jesus was willing to travel to a region for one specific person.

Immediately before this, Luke recorded how Jesus calmed the worst storm the expert fishermen disciples had ever experienced with a simple word. Jesus was sleeping in the back of the boat and the disciples were convinced that they all were going to die. It wouldn’t surprise me to discover this was a supernaturally created storm Satan caused to try to stop Jesus from reaching this man.

However, the big idea I want to draw our attention onto in this event is what we see Jesus allow the demons to do. From the details Luke shares about this event, there were hundreds, if not thousands of demons possessing this man. When we look at what Luke describes, the first thing the demons do when they leave the man and enter the pigs is to stampede the pigs off the edge of a cliff.

This brings me to an interesting observation. God allowed the demons to kill the pigs, but these demons did not, or maybe even could not, kill this man. Part of me wonders if God’s protective power was over this man’s life even if he was possessed by more demons than anyone could count. I wonder if Satan had dispatched a whole legion of demons to kill this man and the closest they could get was driving him from society. Satan then sent a massive storm in an attempt to keep Jesus from reaching this man.

However, nothing could stop Jesus from reaching this man. Nothing Satan could do could stop this from happening. While the demons weren’t restricted from killing the pigs, they were powerless to kill this man under God’s protection. It didn’t matter how many demons were present in this man, God’s protection of this man’s life was clearly stronger.

These demons may have been tired of not being successful and so when given the opportunity to leave the man and enter the pigs, they happily accepted because they wanted to succeed killing something and the pigs were the next best choice.

Little did the demons know that this would attract the attention of the town, and that would bring more people to see Jesus.

This whole event is amazing. One command from Jesus sent thousands of demons out of person they desperately wanted to kill. God’s protective hand on this man’s life withstood the attacks and attempts these demons used to try to kill this man. It is likely God also prevented these demons from leaving the region with this man when discovering that the storm the night before didn’t knock Jesus off course.

The biggest theme in this event is that when Jesus wants to heal a life, free a life, or change a heart, the best Satan can muster is no match for a single command from Jesus’ mouth. And from what Jesus did for us on the cross, nothing Satan can muster can steal eternal life away from those God has chosen and called!

God is calling you. Are you going to accept His invitation?

As we come to the end of another podcast episode, here are the challenges I will leave you with:

As I always challenge you to do, intentionally seek God first in your life and choose to trust God. Know that God is infinitely stronger than Satan and nothing Satan can do is able to stop God from achieving His goals. One of God’s goals is eternal life for you and me, and the amazing thing about God is that He defeated Satan so we could have the choice of salvation. God isn’t going to force people into heaven against their will, and Satan is powerless to stop someone from accepting Jesus and turning to God when they choose to make that decision.

Also, pray and study the Bible for yourself and grow a personal relationship with God. God wants a personal relationship with you that begins in this life, because a relationship with God in this life leads to a forever, eternal relationship with Him when Jesus returns! Don’t let anyone, Satan included, trick you out of the life God has freely offered to you and me!

And as I end every set of challenges by saying in one way or another, never stop short of, back away from, chicken out of, or abandon where God wants to lead you to in your life with Him!

Year in Luke – Episode 16: In an amazing event the gospel writers include, Jesus makes a special trip across the lake to see one man who was trapped by Satan. Discover how God used this event to demonstrate just how powerful He compared with anything and everything Satan could muster. Discover why this truth is significant for our lives today!

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Jesus the Magnet: John 12:37-50

Published April 19, 2023 in Written Journal Entries

Focus Passage: John 12:37-50 (GNT)

³⁷ Even though he had performed all these miracles in their presence, they did not believe in him, ³⁸ so that what the prophet Isaiah had said might come true:

Lord, who believed the message we told?
To whom did the Lord reveal his power?

³⁹ And so they were not able to believe, because Isaiah also said,

⁴⁰ God has blinded their eyes
      and closed their minds,
   so that their eyes would not see,
      and their minds would not understand,
      and they would not turn to me, says God,
      for me to heal them.

⁴¹ Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.

⁴² Even then, many Jewish authorities believed in Jesus; but because of the Pharisees they did not talk about it openly, so as not to be expelled from the synagogue. ⁴³ They loved human approval rather than the approval of God.

⁴⁴ Jesus said in a loud voice,
Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in him who sent me. ⁴⁵ Whoever sees me sees also him who sent me. ⁴⁶ I have come into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness. ⁴⁷ If people hear my message and do not obey it, I will not judge them. I came, not to judge the world, but to save it. ⁴⁸ Those who reject me and do not accept my message have one who will judge them. The words I have spoken will be their judge on the last day! ⁴⁹ This is true, because I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has commanded me what I must say and speak. ⁵⁰ And I know that his command brings eternal life. What I say, then, is what the Father has told me to say.

Read John 12:37-50 in context and/or in other translations on BibleGateway.com!

In our passage for this journal entry, we read a side-note that John includes in his gospel about the reaction Jesus had on those who He was teaching and preaching to. The big idea I want to draw our attention to comes from something that Jesus says in verse 40: “God has blinded their eyes and closed their minds . . .”

What is even more startling about this is the reason Jesus gives in the very next verse: “Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.”

Isaiah prophesied that God will blind their eyes and close their minds because he saw Jesus’ glory.

This passage then makes me believe that God’s glory, shining through Jesus, could be similar in a way to a magnet: attracting some people and repelling others. The same glory shining down could, similar to the sun, harden “clay-like” hearts that are unreceptive, or soften “butter-like” hearts that are receptive: same sun (i.e. same glory); opposite results.

While God’s glory, shining through Jesus, is the same glory that shines towards everyone, perhaps the focus and choices in our lives plays a role in whether we are attracted to God, or repelled away from Him. It seems as though there is no real middle ground: Either Jesus is the Son of God and the person He claimed to be, or He is the greatest imposter who ever lived. Lots of culture would lean towards the idea of Jesus being a “good teacher”, but this belief is based in complete ignorance from people who want to not irritate either side. Read Jesus’ teaching, and you’ll be forced to pick from either “Son of God” or “potentially sincere, but solidly delusional, counter-cultural teacher”.

But in either case, our big idea remains: God’s glory, which shone through Jesus, polarizes people. Some people will be attracted, and others will be repelled.

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The Eyewitnesses: Matthew 28:11-15

Published April 18, 2023 in Written Journal Entries

Focus Passage: Matthew 28:11-15 (NASB)

The eyewitnesses to the resurrection were a very unlikely group of people. Jesus’ disciples, who He had tried to share details with, were nowhere to be found; they were hiding in an upstairs room with the door locked. The actual eyewitnesses were placed at the tomb by the people who heard what Jesus said, and were the most nervous about it. The religious leaders and chief priests placed guards by the tomb to make sure that it was not disturbed.

Something I find interesting about this event is about what gospel actually includes it: Matthew. Of all the gospels I would have expected to find this in, the most likely one would be Luke, the researcher and interviewer of the eye-witnesses to Jesus’ life.

But Matthew is the one to share about this event, which makes me wonder if he made friends with one of the guards who was bribed, and learned what happened surrounding the chief priests bribing the guards. Or perhaps Matthew, being a tax collector by trade, noticed the shift in lifestyle that the eyewitness guards had following this event, and he concluded that a large sum of money changed hands because the guards now had a greater level of luxury – something that if it had been anyone else would have created higher taxes for them.

But I also wonder if one or more of the guards actually converted to Christianity following this event. I wonder if some of them helped start the rumor, but when Jesus began appearing to people during the weeks following the resurrection, they gave up the lie in favor of sharing the truth. I wonder if being an eyewitness to the actual resurrection actually changed the hearts of some of these rough, calloused soldiers.

For Matthew to have known and included this detail when Luke did not tells me that Matthew included it for a purpose, and that purpose was not only to describe how far the priests and leaders had gone to rejecting Jesus, but perhaps also to let us know that not all of the guards held fast to the lie. Some of them may have even become followers of the resurrected Christ!

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