Welcome to Cam’s Reflective Bible Study Journal

Cam’s Reflective Bible Study Journal is a blog/podcast where Cam, one of Reflective Bible Study's founders, shares things he has discovered from his time studying the Bible (usually from one or more of the four gospels).

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Belief vs. Doubt: Mark 9:14-29

Published January 10, 2025 in Written Journal Entries
Focus Passage: Mark 9:14-29 (NIV)

14 When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.

16 “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked.

17 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.”

19 “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”

20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.

21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?”

“From childhood,” he answered. 22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”

23 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”

24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”

26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.

28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

29 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”

Read Mark 9:14-29 in context and/or in other translations on BibleGateway.com!

While Jesus was coming down from the mountain where He revealed a glimpse of His glory to the three closest disciples, we find an event that began the day earlier with the rest of the disciples. During the time Jesus was up on the mountain with Peter, James, and John, the remaining disciples were being met by a father who was possessed by an impure spirit.

When Jesus comes down from the mountain, we learn that the disciples who were there were unable to cast this particular spirit out of the boy. It is worth noting here that the disciples had been successful in previous events, and Jesus had sent them out in pairs where they were able to cast out demons.

I’m not sure whether the father was losing hope because of the failure of Jesus’ disciples but when Jesus learns about what has happened in his absence, He replies by saying, “You unbelieving generation. How long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” (v. 19)

All three of the gospel writers who include this event include Jesus saying the exact same reactionary response. Each of these gospels record Jesus first commenting on the unbelieving nature of that generation. While we later learn from Mark’s gospel that prayer is a necessary ingredient for removing this sort of impure spirit, when we look at this event in Mark’s gospel through the lens of belief and unbelief, we get a picture of something powerful.

First of all, the disciples had belief that they could cast out this spirit, but I am fairly certain they had been neglecting prayer. Because they only had half of what they needed in this case, they failed. Perhaps Jesus knew this was the reason for the disciples’ failure and that is what prompted His statement.

However, just a few verses later, when asking the father more about the boy’s condition, the father hints at his own growing doubts by saying, “if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” (v. 22)

Jesus immediately challenges the doubt in this statement head on, and by doing so, He pushes the boy’s father to share what sort of belief he has. Mark tells us that, “Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, ‘I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!’” (v. 24)

This is enough belief for Jesus. Even a simple acknowledging that there is belief present – even if it is mixed with doubt – is enough for Jesus to work with. What matters in this statement is what we are focusing on.

Are we focusing on our doubts, or are we focusing on our faith? We cannot focus on both at the same time! Jesus challenges this father and those present to focus on whatever faith they currently have and then He uses this amount of faith to perform the miracle.

The same truth about faith, doubt, and belief that Jesus draws our attention onto in this passage is true for us today. While culture as a whole is perverse and unbelieving, this is because that is where they have placed their focus. Jesus’ challenge to this father is a challenge to everyone who calls themselves a believer of Jesus: Will we focus on our doubts, or will we focus on our faith? Jesus can only use one of these things for His glory, so we should be intentional about what we are focusing on!

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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A Kingdom that Lasts Forever: 2 Samuel 7:8-17

Published January 9, 2025 in Audio Journal Entries

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As we step forward in our year podcasting prophecies of Jesus, we come to a prophecy that was given to David through Nathan the prophet, and then this prophecy was referenced leading up to Jesus’ arrival in this world. From this prophecy, we get a big overview picture of who Jesus is, and we also see within this prophecy one reason why the religious leaders in the first century believed the Messiah would not die.

Let’s read what Nathan told David and discover how this shapes the understanding of the Messiah in the first century. This passage and prophecy is found in 2 Samuel, chapter 7, and we will read it using the New American Standard Bible translation. Starting in verse 8, God tells Nathan:

8 “Now therefore, thus you shall say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people Israel. 9 I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make you a great name, like the names of the great men who are on the earth. 10 I will also appoint a place for My people Israel and will plant them, that they may live in their own place and not be disturbed again, nor will the wicked afflict them any more as formerly, 11 even from the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. The Lord also declares to you that the Lord will make a house for you. 12 When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he commits iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and the strokes of the sons of men, 15 but My lovingkindness shall not depart from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.”’” 17 In accordance with all these words and all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.

Within this prophecy, we discover God promising that the Messiah would be David’s descendant, and that God would establish His kingdom that would last forever. One level of this prophecy is that Solomon, David’s immediate descendant, would build the temple. The next level of this prophecy is that a future descendant would ultimately be the Messiah.

On its surface, this prophecy as it relates to God’s Messiah, taken out of the context of other prophecies that describe suffering and temporary death for the Messiah, suggests that God’s Messiah would usher in an earthly kingdom that would last forever. From this foundation, it is a small leap to then believe that this earthly kingdom would militarily overthrow any occupying nation because it had been set up by God.

In contrast, the kingdom Jesus ultimately established could best be described as a spiritual kingdom, and this kingdom would exist on a different level than the earthly kingdoms of that era. While sounding a little idealistic, this hasn’t stopped people from Jesus’ kingdom from seeking political power, or from trying to blend His spiritual kingdom with any of many earthly kingdoms.

However, taking a step back, how can we know that this prophecy relates to Jesus, and not a different messiah figure?

Jumping into the New Testament, into the gospel of Luke, we uncover an amazing reference back to this prophecy in an angel’s visit to a young engaged woman. Reading from Luke, chapter 1, starting in verse 26, Luke tells us that:

26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was. 30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.”

Jumping out of the passage here, it is amazing in my mind how Gabriel references back to the prophecy Nathan gave David, while also expanding on it. Gabriel’s message to Mary is that Jesus would be given the throne of David, and that His kingdom would have no end.

However, tucked within Gabriel’s words is an interesting idea that is easy to overlook. Gabriel describes Jesus, the Messiah, as reigning over the “house of Jacob”. In my own mind, I am fascinated at this designation, since a case could be made for any number of other individuals to be included here, such as Adam, Abraham, Judah, or even David himself. It is also interesting that Gabriel calls Jacob by that name, rather than Israel, which was the name God gave him for the last part of his life.

Every part of this message, while having a literal component to it, has a spiritual truth. If God had told Gabriel to say Adam, this would symbolize that Jesus came for the entire human race. While there is an aspect of truth to this idea, Jesus didn’t come for those in humanity who would reject him. By not saying Adam, God makes the distinction that a part of humanity will ultimately reject Jesus.

Instead, God could have prompted Gabriel to say Abraham. However, while God had promised Abraham that he would become a great nation, from the choices Abraham and his wife made trying to help bring about God’s plan, multiple nations were formed, and not all of these nations were equally God fearing.

While I could go on with potential names Gabriel could have included, I think you get the picture.

It is amazing in my mind that Jesus came for the subset of humanity that was the house of Jacob, which included the twelve tribes of Israel, even when the history between Jacob and Jesus was filled with countless failures.

On its surface, it might appear as though Jesus came only for a specific ethnicity or nationality of people, but from reading the gospels, and how Jesus interacted with people, it is more likely that Jesus came for people who were interested in allying with the spiritual house of Jacob, which might be different than the literal group of descendants. Jesus talks about God cutting away parts of His vine that don’t produce fruit, pruning the parts that do, and grafting in parts that want to be connected with Him.

This means that whatever your past happens to be, we can choose today to ally with Jesus and be connected with His Kingdom that God has promised will last forever!

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 ally your life with Him. Choose to invite Jesus into your heart and life and let God graft you into His family.

Also, as I regularly challenge you, continue to pray and study the Bible for yourself to grow your personal relationship with God. While other people have interesting ideas, always filter what God wants to teach you through the truth found in His Word.

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 deviate away from where God wants to lead you to in your life with Him!

Year of Prophecy – Episode 2: Part way through David’s life, God sends the prophet Nathan to give him a message. In this prophecy, discover hints at the kingdom God promised to establish through his descendants.

Join the discussion. Share your thoughts on this passage.

Dying to Finally Live: John 12:20-36

Published January 8, 2025 in Written Journal Entries
Focus Passage: John 12:20-36 (NIrV)

20 There were some Greeks among the people who went up to worship during the feast. 21 They came to ask Philip for a favor. Philip was from Bethsaida in Galilee. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went to tell Andrew. Then Andrew and Philip told Jesus.

23 Jesus replied, “The time has come for the Son of Man to receive glory. 24 What I’m about to tell you is true. Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only one seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it. But anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it and have eternal life. 26 Anyone who serves me must follow me. And where I am, my servant will also be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

27 “My soul is troubled. What should I say? ‘Father, keep me from having to go through with this’? No. This is the very reason I have come to this point in my life. 28 Father, bring glory to your name!”

Then a voice came from heaven. It said, “I have brought glory to my name. I will bring glory to it again.” 29 The crowd there heard the voice. Some said it was thunder. Others said an angel had spoken to Jesus.

30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 Now it is time for the world to be judged. Now the prince of this world will be thrown out. 32 And I am going to be lifted up from the earth. When I am, I will bring all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show them how he was going to die.

34 The crowd spoke up. “The Law tells us that the Messiah will remain forever,” they said. “So how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”

35 Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light. Do this before darkness catches up with you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. 36 While you have the light, believe in it. Then you can become children of light.” When Jesus had finished speaking, he left and hid from them.

Read John 12:20-36 in context and/or in other translations on BibleGateway.com!

Many times throughout the gospels, Jesus shares something that is simple, profound, and challenging. In this journal entry’s passage, Jesus shares an idea that is all three of these characteristics, and it has layers of meaning hidden within it.

Immediately following the news that some Greeks came to see Him, Jesus shares the following words in verse 24, “Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only one seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” There are multiple ways we can understand this idea, and the context of Jesus’ words allow for multiple meanings.

The first and most basic understanding is the literal one. Only when a grain of wheat has fallen to the ground, and its connection to the stalk has been broken, can it then become a plant of its own, capable of producing many more seeds. As long as the grain stays connected to the original stalk, it remains only as a seed – and its full potential is never realized.

Taking the grain of wheat analogy to the next level of understanding, we can see Jesus foreshadowing His upcoming death, burial, and resurrection/rebirth. Just like a grain of wheat needing to fall to the ground for it to realize its full potential, Jesus can only become the full revelation of God’s amazing love for us by giving up His life for us. The rebirth/resurrection that happened launched the early church movement, powered by the Holy Spirit, and united by the truth of Jesus’ resurrection.

But the hardest analogy for us to handle with the grain of wheat illustration is when we apply it to our own lives. It is only when we give up our life and submit ourselves to God’s will that we will ever be able to realize our full potential. Many people have displayed extraordinary amounts of potential and achieved amazing things in our world today, but if any of them are living outside of God’s plan for their lives, they are stopping short and are only living as one seed when God would have them be seed-makers.

“Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only one seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” (Verse 24)

Only after Christ died on the cross were we truly able to see how much God loves us, and only after we die to ourselves and let God resurrect us into the life He created us to live will we be able to walk the plan that leads us into the men and women He created us to be – a life that starts now and leads directly into the promised eternal life when Jesus returns!

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 Promise in a Warning: Luke 12:1-12

Published January 7, 2025 in Written Journal Entries
Focus Passage: Luke 12:1-12 (GW)

1 Meanwhile, thousands of people had gathered. They were so crowded that they stepped on each other. Jesus spoke to his disciples and said, “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees. I’m talking about their hypocrisy. 2 Nothing has been covered that will not be exposed. Whatever is secret will be made known. 3 Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight. Whatever you have whispered in private rooms will be shouted from the housetops.

4 “My friends, I can guarantee that you don’t need to be afraid of those who kill the body. After that they can’t do anything more. 5 I’ll show you the one you should be afraid of. Be afraid of the one who has the power to throw you into hell after killing you. I’m warning you to be afraid of him.

6 “Aren’t five sparrows sold for two cents? God doesn’t forget any of them. 7 Even every hair on your head has been counted. Don’t be afraid! You are worth more than many sparrows. 8 I can guarantee that the Son of Man will acknowledge in front of God’s angels every person who acknowledges him in front of others. 9 But God’s angels will be told that I don’t know those people who tell others that they don’t know me. 10 Everyone who says something against the Son of Man will be forgiven. But the person who dishonors the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

11 “When you are put on trial in synagogues or in front of rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say. 12 At that time the Holy Spirit will teach you what you must say.”

Read Luke 12:1-12 in context and/or in other translations on BibleGateway.com!

During one of the times Jesus was teaching the disciples, a large crowd was present and listening in. Within this teaching that focused in on warning the disciples about the dangers of hypocrisy, Jesus tells them something about how God relates to each of us that is powerful, challenging, and incredibly fair.

In the middle of this teaching, Jesus comes out and says that “I can guarantee that the Son of Man will acknowledge in front of God’s angels every person who acknowledges him in front of others. But God’s angels will be told that I don’t know those people who tell others that they don’t know me.” (v. 8-9)

This short two-verse message is incredible to think about. In essence, Jesus basically tells us that He will recognize everyone who publicly acknowledges Him in front of others, while those who keep their faith a secret and don’t share Him with others are at risk of losing out. While Jesus says that He will tell the angels that He doesn’t know the people who say they don’t know Him, there is little difference in openly telling others that you don’t know Jesus and simply not saying that you do.

Jesus’ words in this verse might be challenging for some people to face, but I see this as one of Jesus’ most amazing promises. While this is a warning for those who want to keep their faith a secret and those who don’t want to acknowledge they are followers of Jesus, in the words of this warning Jesus basically gives us the easiest way to be sure we are recognized by Jesus and the easiest way to be known to Him. All we have to do is share Him publicly, and to tell others that we are on God’s/Jesus’ side.

When challenged by those opposed to God, will we let them ridicule us into denying our faith, or will we stand firm even if we don’t know all the answers. Jesus promises us that He will “acknowledge in front of God’s angels every person who acknowledges him in front of others” and we can claim this promise when faced with the decision whether to publicly live for God when faced with opposition.

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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