Looking for Jesus according to Mark

[JLG]

11) Jesus vs the religious leaders

Mark 6: On the Sabbath, Jesus starts teaching in the synagogue, and most who hear him are astounded!

- They don’t understand such a wisdom!

- They don’t understand such powerful works!

- Because he is the son of the carpenter and of Mary!

- And they know his brothers and sisters!

- They clearly don’t want to listen and understand Jesus’ words!

- Of course, they don’t accept him because he didn’t go to their schools!

- And he doesn’t speak according to their own interests!

- So they are ready to find any excuse!

- They can hear his teaching and see his miracles, but no!

- They have their own decisions, their own responsibilities, their own choices!

- We can’t let others take decisions for us and decide for us!

 

[JLG]

12) Jesus vs the religious leaders

Mark 5:

- Jesus tells us about a woman who has been having a flow of blood for 12 years.

- She has suffered much at the hands of many physicians and has spent all her resources, and she is no better but, rather, has become worse!

- When she hears the reports about Jesus, she comes up behind him in the crowd and touches his outer garment!

- She thinks she can be cured just by touching his outer garments!

- And the Pharisees don’t know that!

- Come on, it is ridiculous!

- You get people coming to Jesus from everywhere!

- Thus the Pharisees are stupid or they don’t want to listen to Jesus!

- And immediately her flow of blood dries up, and she senses in her body that she has been healed of the grievous sickness!

- Immediately Jesus realizes in himself that power has gone out of him, and he turns around and he wants to know who has done it!

- Jesus is close to people, they can approach him easily except when they are too many people! We can’t say the same of religious leaders!

- Jesus lives among people! We can’t say the same of religious leaders!

- Jesus eats with people! We can’t say the same of religious leaders!

- Jesus lives like people! We can’t say the same of religious leaders!

 

[JLG]

12) Jesus vs the religious leaders

Mark 5:

- Jesus tells us about a woman who has been having a flow of blood for 12 years.

- She has suffered much at the hands of many physicians and has spent all her resources, and she is no better but, rather, has become worse!

- When she hears the reports about Jesus, she comes up behind him in the crowd and touches his outer garment!

- She thinks she can be cured just by touching his outer garments!

- And the Pharisees don’t know that!

- Come on, it is ridiculous!

- You get people coming to Jesus from everywhere!

- Thus the Pharisees are stupid or they don’t want to listen to Jesus!

- And immediately her flow of blood dries up, and she senses in her body that she has been healed of the grievous sickness!

- Immediately Jesus realizes in himself that power has gone out of him, and he turns around and he wants to know who has done it!

- Jesus is close to people, they can approach him easily except when they are too many people! We can’t say the same of religious leaders!

- Jesus lives among people! We can’t say the same of religious leaders!

- Jesus eats with people! We can’t say the same of religious leaders!

- Jesus lives like people! We can’t say the same of religious leaders!

 

[JLG]

13) Jesus vs the religious leaders

Mark 7:

- The Pharisees and some scribes see some of his disciples eat their meal with defiled hands, that is, unwashed ones. (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands up to the elbow, clinging to the tradition of the men of former times…

- Once again we hear about the religious leaders who follow man’s tradition!

- How easy it is to become blind or to stay blind because of man’s tradition!

- It prevents us from understanding God’s Word!

- It prevents us from opening our eyes and ears and heart!

- It makes us insensitive!

- It leaves us in the past when we must live in the present and prepare for the future!

 

[JLG]

14) Jesus vs the religious leaders

Mark 7:

- The religious leaders follow many traditions such as baptisms of cups, pitchers, and copper vessels.

- Once again, the religious leaders are only interested by man’s tradition!

- In fact, they put a heavy load on ordinary people!

- They mix man’s tradition with God’s teaching!

- They dilute God’s teaching!

- How do you want ordinary people not to be puzzled?

- What a responsibility!

 

[JLG]

Which law did God give us that we are not able to keep? In what way are we not able to be righteous, holy and sanctified before God?

- Someone answers:

We'll John- for starters 613 Laws ,need I go through them all- surely you can read God's Written Word,read the "Law" and see how many you think man could keep?

We are Made Righteous,Holy & Sanctified only by the Previous Blood of the Perfect Lamb of God- there is no other Way except in Christ Jesus- the Way,the Truth ,& the Life

 

[JLG]

- My answer :

- For example, let’s have a look at Jesus’ answers when the devil tempted him :

- Matthew 4 :4 :

“It is written:
Γέγραπται (Gegraptai)
Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1125: A primary verb; to 'grave', especially to write; figuratively, to describe.

‘Man
ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 444: A man, one of the human race. From aner and ops; man-faced, i.e. A human being.

shall not live
ζήσεται (zēsetai)
Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2198: To live, be alive. A primary verb; to live.

on
ἐπ’ (ep’)
Preposition
Strong's 1909: On, to, against, on the basis of, at.

bread
ἄρτῳ (artō)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 740: Bread, a loaf, food. From airo; bread or a loaf.

alone,
μόνῳ (monō)
Adjective - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3441: Only, solitary, desolate. Probably from meno; remaining, i.e. Sole or single; by implication, mere.

but
Ἀλλ’ (All’)
Conjunction
Strong's 235: But, except, however. Neuter plural of allos; properly, other things, i.e. contrariwise.

on
ἐπὶ (epi)
Preposition
Strong's 1909: On, to, against, on the basis of, at.

every
παντὶ (panti)
Adjective - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

word
ῥήματι (rhēmati)
Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4487: From rheo; an utterance, ; by implication, a matter or topic; with a negative naught whatever.

that comes
ἐκπορευομένῳ (ekporeuomenō)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 1607: From ek and poreuomai; to depart, be discharged, proceed, project.

from
διὰ (dia)
Preposition
Strong's 1223: A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.

[the] mouth
στόματος (stomatos)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 4750: The mouth, speech, eloquence in speech, the point of a sword.

of God.’”
Θεοῦ (Theou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.

 

[JLG]

- Then let’s have a look at Matthew 4:7 :



“It is also written:
γέγραπται (gegraptai)
Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1125: A primary verb; to 'grave', especially to write; figuratively, to describe.

‘Do not put
ἐκπειράσεις (ekpeiraseis)
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 1598: To put to the test, make trial of, tempt, try. From ek and peirazo; to test thoroughly.

[the] Lord
Κύριον (Kyrion)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2962: Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master.

your
σου (sou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

God {to the test}.’”
Θεόν (Theon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.

 

[JLG]

- Then Matthew 4:10 :

“For
γάρ (gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

it is written:
γέγραπται (gegraptai)
Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1125: A primary verb; to 'grave', especially to write; figuratively, to describe.

‘Worship
προσκυνήσεις (proskynēseis)
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4352: From pros and a probable derivative of kuon; to fawn or crouch to, i.e. prostrate oneself in homage.

[the] Lord
Κύριον (Kyrion)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2962: Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master.

your
σου (sou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

God
θεόν (theon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

serve
λατρεύσεις (latreuseis)
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 3000: To serve, especially God, perhaps simply: I worship. From latris; to minister, i.e. Render religious homage.

Him
αὐτῷ (autō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

only.’”
μόνῳ (monō)
Adjective - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3441: Only, solitary, desolate. Probably from meno; remaining, i.e. Sole or single; by implication, mere.​

 

[JLG]

- Think about Matthew 5 !

- Think about Matthew 6 !

- Think about Matthew 7 !

 

[JLG]

15) Jesus vs the religious leaders

Mark 7:

- The Pharisees and scribes accuse Jesus’ disciples to eat their meal with defiled hands and thus not observing the tradition of the men of former times!

- Jesus tells them that Isaiah prophesied about them, calling them hypocrites, as it is written, “This people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far removed from me. It is in vain that they keep worshiping me, for they teach commands of men as doctrines.” You let go of the commandment of God and cling to the tradition of men.”

- How powerful!

- How accusing!

- How striking!

- How real unfortunately!

- How sad!

- May people remember these words of Jesus!

 

[JLG]

16) Jesus vs the religious leaders

Mark 7: Jesus tells the Pharisees they disregard the commandment of God in order to keep their tradition. Thus they make the word of God invalid by their tradition.

- They use man’s tradition against God’s word to serve their own interest!

- They turn the truth into falseness and falseness into the truth!

- They turn people away from God!

- They just bring emptiness!

 

[JLG]

17) Jesus vs the religious leaders

Mark 8: Jesus warns his disciples against the Pharisees and their leaven and the one of Herod!

- Yes, the religious leaders are dangerous because they look for their own interests!

- They are more interested in man’s tradition than God’s word!

- It can only lead to the wrong way!

- Remember the destruction of Jerusalem!

- The foreign army would come and leave and come again to stay!

- When they first left, it was the signal to go away!

- But the religious leaders didn’t follow Jesus’ advice!

- And Jerusalem was destroyed and the inhabitants who didn’t listen to Jesus but to the religious leaders paid a high price!

About Mark:

- Yes, I prefer to do like the Bereans in Acts 17:11 who used to examine carefully the Scriptures daily to check what Paul was telling them!

- But concerning what happened after Jesus’ death is another story!

- It went in all directions and the religious leaders were eager to defend their own interests and pay more attention to man’s tradition!

- Remember the “super apostles” Paul speaks about!

- And Christianity became the religion of the Roman Empire and they mixed everything!

- It became an exotic mixture which had nothing to do with Jesus’ teaching!

- The religious leaders were busy going nowhere except serving their own interests!

- Is that the lambs among the wolves or the wolves among the lambs?

- Death or slavery!

- And the scenario didn’t happen once!

- Exactly the same situation and the same end!

 

[JLG]

18) Jesus vs the religious leaders

Mark 8: Jesus tells the crowd and his disciples that to come after him means disown oneself and pick up his torture stake and keep following him!

- Losing his life for Jesus’ sake and for the sake of the good news means save it!

- There is no worth gaining the whole world and lose his life!

- Yes, the religious leaders want to gain the whole world and lose their lives!

- It is not possible to get both!

- it is not possible to serve two masters at the same time!

- We need to make a choice!

- But you can’t let the religious leaders decide for yourselves!

- You must do it yourselves!

 

[JLG]

19) Jesus vs the religious leaders

Mark 9: Jesus asks his disciples about what they are arguing about on the road!

- They don’t want to answer because it is about who is greater!

- So he tells them that the one who wants to be first must be last of all and minister of all!

- Religious leaders, political leaders and commercial leaders want to be greater!

- They are only looking for power!

- But power leads to destruction!

- Each empire went up and down!

- And the world is going down!

- But the worst is that it is going down faster and faster!

- But religious leaders, political leaders and commercial leaders are not going to last, they just think about the present, they don’t care about the future!

- They just need illusion, they don’t care about reality!

 

[JLG]

20) Jesus vs the religious leaders

Mark 10: Some Pharisees asks Jesus whether it is lawful for a man to divorce a wife!

- If The israelites were authorized to divorce their wives by writing a certificate of dismissal according to Moses and their hardheartedness, from the beginning of creation, man and woman must become one flesh and can’t divorce!

- Once again man’s tradition vs God’s word!

- You can’t choose both!

- You must choose one!

- It’s a simple one!

- Man tries to find ways not to choose!

- It doesn’t work!

- There is only one way!

- Man is always trying to follow his own way!

- He will only get lost!

- The Israelites chose the wrong one and they got lost!

- Humanity will always choose the same wrong way and get lost!

 

[JLG]

21) Jesus vs the religious leaders

Mark 10: People bring young children to Jesus so he can touch them!

- But the disciples reprimand them!

- Jesus is indignant!

- He tells them to let them come to him because God’s Kingdom belongs to such one!

- He says it is necessary to receive God’s Kingdom like a young child otherwise it is not possible to enter into it!

- These words are incredible!

- Because this world is turning young children into ZOMBIES!

- Yes, this superficial world is taking away CURIOSITY from young children!

- They just want to watch TV and play video games!

- They don’t want to know anymore!

- So think about today’s adults!

​

 

[JLG]

22) Jesus vs the religious leaders​

Mark 10: Jesus tells the man to sell everything he has and give it to the poor and become Jesus’ follower !

- But the man grows sad because he has many possessions !

- Yes, the religious leaders look for their personal interests !

- Yes, they have always loved money and materialistic pleasures !

- Yes, definitely different from Jesus !

- Yes, far away from a good shepherd who whole-heartedly cares for his sheep !

- Yes, bad luck for the sheep !

 

[JLG]

23) Jesus vs the religious leaders

Mark 10: Jesus tells his disciples that it will be difficult for those who are rich to enter into the Kingdom of God!

- The religious leaders like money!

- They want to defend their personal interests!

- They are not interested in God’s interests!

- They are not interested in people’s interests!

- They need people to control them and to get power!

- People don’t need them!​

 

[JLG]

24) Jesus vs the religious leaders

Mark 10: Jesus tells his disciples that they must not act as the nations do!

- On the contrary, if one wants to become great among them must be their minister and their slave!

- They must act as Jesus didministering and giving his life as a ransom for many!

- Yes, those who have power use it for their own benefits!

- Power is never enough!

- They always want more!

- It’s always a competition to be the greatest!

- It shouldn’t be so!

- People should be careful!

- But do they really care?

​