February 21, 2014: Welcome to Jesus' World!

Mark 3:1-19

Amplified Bible (AMP)

3 Again Jesus went into a synagogue, and a man was there who had one withered hand [as the result of accident or disease].

2 And [the Pharisees] kept watching Jesus [closely] to see whether He would cure him on the Sabbath, so that they might get a charge to bring against Him [formally].

3 And He said to the man who had the withered hand, Get up [and stand here] in the midst.

4 And He said to them, Is it lawful and right on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to take it? But they kept silence.

5 And He glanced around at them with vexation and anger, grieved at the hardening of their hearts, and said to the man, Hold out your hand. He held it out, and his hand was [completely] restored.

6 Then the Pharisees went out and immediately held a consultation with the Herodians against Him, how they might [devise some means to] put Him to death.

7 And Jesus retired with His disciples to the lake, and a great throng from Galilee followed Him. Also from Judea

8 And from Jerusalem and Idumea and from beyond the Jordan and from about Tyre and Sidon—a vast multitude, hearing all the many things that He was doing, came to Him.

9 And He told His disciples to have a little boat in [constant] readiness for Him because of the crowd, lest they press hard upon Him and crush Him.

10 For He had healed so many that all who had distressing bodily diseases kept falling upon Him and pressing upon Him in order that they might touch Him.

11 And the spirits, the unclean ones, as often as they might see Him, fell down before Him and kept screaming out, You are the Son of God!

12 And He charged them strictly and severely under penalty again and again that they should not make Him known.

13 And He went up on the hillside and called to Him [for Himself] those whom He wanted and chose, and they came to Him.

14 And He appointed twelve to continue to be with Him, and that He might send them out to preach [as apostles or special messengers]

15 And to have authority and power to heal the sick and to drive out demons:

16 [They were] Simon, and He surnamed [him] Peter;

17 James son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, and He surnamed them Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder;

18 And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew (Nathaniel), and Matthew, and Thomas, and James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus (Judas, not Iscariot), and Simon the Cananaean [also called Zelotes],

19 And Judas Iscariot, he who betrayed Him.

Do you feel singled out sometimes? As if the good things you are attempting to do are twisted into bad things? As if some are criticizing your every move? Does it feel like there are those just waiting to pounce? Welcome to Jesus' world! The church people of His day frowned disapprovingly as He healed the man's withered hand! Puhleez! 

They wouldn't even speak when He asked them a simple question. They simply stood there, waiting for Him to perform a miracle. So they could pounce. 

He was extremely angry and grieved in His heart by their ridiculous and evil behavior.

He looked them in the eye, one after another, angry now, furious at their hard-nosed religion. He said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” He held it out—it was as good as new! The Pharisees got out as fast as they could, sputtering about how they would join forces with Herod’s followers and ruin him. Mark 3:5-6, the Message

Are there those in your path who are trying to ruin your ministry? 

If your ministry is smooth sailing, and you never get criticised, you probably don't understand or need this encouraging word.

However, if there are those who constantly try to tear you down, this is for YOU!

They NEVER let up on Jesus. All the way to the cross, He was ridiculed, scorned, mocked and criticised. By "religious" people. He never got a break from the constant barrage of negativity pointed His way. Did He give up in despair? No!!! Should you and I give up in despair? A thousand times no!!!

He just kept reaching, loving, healing, and forgiving. As we should. 

And when we are exhausted to the point of giving up, we must reach up to Him for rejuvenation and encouragement.

"Jesus, please forgive me for whining. My life is a walk in the park compared to Your lonely life here on earth. Help me follow Your perfect example when all the good You did was picked apart and turned into something sinful. Thank You for the wake up call this morning. I love You. You are my everything! My All in all! Praise Your name, Jesus! AMEN."