This quarter's lessons are taken from the Gospel as written by John Mark.

Who was John Mark?

John Mark was a young man living during the the time of Christ.
His father was most likely, a Gentile, (so we see John Mark having a Roman name, Mark}
His mother was Jewish (Thus John Mark was considered Jewish as well)

Colossians 4:10 says that Mark was a cousin to Barnabas.

It is suggested that his mother Mary, a aunt to Barnabas, married a Gentile and was not in Jerusalem during the earlier ministry of Jesus, and when her husband died, she, with her son, moved back to her families estate in Jerusalem. She was a fairly wealthy woman, and appears rather suddenly as a strong supporter of the early Christian church.
John Mark was not a follower of Jesus in his early ministry, probably because he, with his mother were not in Judea during those earlier years.
Another tradition, maintains that the Last Supper (Mark 14) was held in the home of Mary. This is based on the text that the church also gathered in her home to pray for Peter when he was in prison. (Acts 12:12)
The tradition points to Mark 14:51-52, suggesting the young man that lost his garment while fleeing from Christ's captors, was John Mark, who, being intrigued by Jesus, and wanting to know more about Him, had secretly followed Jesus and His disciples as they left the upper room of the house and went to Gethsemane. He was hiding in the bushes watching as the mob came to arrest Jesus, a temple servant spied John Mark in the bushes and tried to catch him.

Next we see John Mark with his cousin Barnabas joining Paul (Saul) on his first mission trip.
John Mark is not used to the rigors of missionary life, and probably complained some and was reprimanded, and finally left on the first ship he could find that took him back home to Jerusalem. (Acts 13:5)

Time passes and Barnabas and Paul come home. Barnabas probably spent time with his aunt and nephew and told them all about the mission trip and the churches they raised. John Mark expresses interest in trying to be a missionary again.

But when Paul and Barnabas make plans for a second journey, and Barnabas mentions John Mark would like to come with them, Paul is adamant, NO WAY! He is not taking that deserter with them again. The dispute becomes so sharp that Paul and Barnabas separate and Barnabas takes John Mark on a separate mission trip with him to Cyprus.

We don't hear too much more, but according to the letters of Paul and Peter, John Mark did become a reliable and good missionary and helper.
Paul refers to him as a ?fellow worker? (Philemon 24) and ?very useful to my ministry? (2 Timothy 4:11)

The early church unanimously claimed the Gospel of Mark was written by Mark the Evangelist, and that he was closely associated with Peter, basing the gospel on Peter?s account.

Mark doesn't waste much time or space introducing the gospel.
In the first 14 verses we learn:

1. A forerunner was prophesied
2. The forerunner came and announced the Messiah's coming.
3. Jesus came and was baptized and received the anointing of the Holy Spirit and verification from the Father.
4. Jesus was tempted (harassed by) the devil.

THE GREAT CONTROVERSY IN THE BOOK OF MARK

That theme is emphasized in the book of Mark.
Christ came to save. The devil and his demons fight against him.

It starts in verse 10
Jesus is proclaimed the Messiah by heaven
IMMEDIATELY Jesus finds himself in the wilderness tempted by Satan 40 days.

verse 14
Jesus begins preaching "the kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe the gospel."
IMMEDIATELY Jesus is the synagogue and a demon possessed man challenges Him. "Leave us alone! Did you come to destroy us, I know who You are the Holy One of God"

verse 30 The sick and demon possessed are brought to Jesus after the Sabbath.
Jesus cast out many demons and did not allow them to speak

verse 38 Jesus suggests they visit other towns
And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee and casting out demons. .



" Jesus Christ is the channel of communication of that light to those who are in darkness. Let
one lose his connection with Christ, and Satan seizes the opportunity to lead him to dishonor Christ by words, by spirit, by action, and thus Christ's character is misinterpreted. "

.

A SABBATH WITH JESUS
Mark, in chapter one, tells about a remarkable Sabbath in Capernaum.
.
Jesus has just begun His ministry.
They have just recently arrived in Capernaum

It's Sabbath so Jesus and His newly called disciples, Simon (Peter), Andrew, James and John went straightway to the synagogue there in Capernaum, to worship.
They didn't just come sneaking in the back door either. For the next sentence tells us Jesus took the position as MAIN SPEAKER!
1:22 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.

Jesus, "Who being the brightness of Gods' glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power," (Heb. 1:2) was here on earth, in human form, teaching in a Jewish synagogue that Sabbath morning, telling them heavenly truths with rich spiritual meanings.

But someone is very angry! Satan and his legions!
One of satan's powerful demons rose up in that synagogue where Jesus was teaching and speaking through a man who was under his control, cried out 1:24 "Saying, Leave us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? have you come to destroy us? I know thee who You are, the Holy One of God".

Indeed the demon knew Who Jesus was! But he was not praising Jesus. He was speaking with bitter resentment. That demon had once been in heaven, he had been there listening and accepting Lucifer's lies when the rebellion took place in heaven (Rev. 12) He remembered Who cast him and all his rebel friends out of heaven.

Jesus rebuked the demon, saying, "Hold thy peace, and come out of him." Jesus wasn't about to argue with the demon, but simply told him to be quiet and leave the man; to stop controlling the human that had been brought under the power of demons.

The man wanted to be free. But the demon wasn't about to give up without a fight.



The man was free! He praised the Lord with genuine thanksgiving! The people were dumb with amazement. As soon as they recovered speech they exclaimed, one to another, "What is this? a new teaching! with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him." Mark 1:27,

But that wasn't the end of that particular Sabbath.

After the service they went to Peter's house where Peter's mother-in-law lay sick. Jesus healed her, and she got up and made them dinner!

Outside people were talking. "Did you hear what happened at the synagogue this morning?"
Then we see in 1:32 "And at even, when the sun did set, they brought to Jesus all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils. And all the city was gathered together at the door."

So all Saturday evening Jesus was busy and healed many that were sick of many different diseases, and He cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.
Those demons knew Jesus had come to save people from their control, and they wanted to contest their right to control their victims, most of whom had "played" with the demons thus inviting them in to control their lives. But Jesus won't argue with any demons, He told them to be quiet and leave the victim, giving those people another chance to cling to the ONE, who offers them grace, and life, and liberty from sin!

The Secret of Christ's Power.

1:35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

As we continue to read Mark chapter 1, we find that Jesus, after an evening helping large crowds of people, Got up very early the next morning to pray.

What was the secret of Christ's power?
Some may think -- well the Bible tells us us, the Word (Jesus) was God, and was with God (John 1:1) the Creator of all things, and was now in human form, (flesh) John 1:14, so why ask such a question, isn't He all powerful?

But Jesus came to this world to live as a man; to face sin as a human.
Humans do not have a power within themselves to resist sin.
As a human Christ would NOT depend upon His own divine power, He would depend fully upon His Father for power to live a righteous life.

And we, looking at His example, see the secret of finding the strength to overcome.
Just as Jesus connected constantly with God the Father Who is in heaven, so we must, through prayer, connect constantly with Christ, our eternal mediator Who is in heaven.

THE LEPER in Mark 1:40-45.



Leprosy was a dreaded skin disease, that caused the victim to be ostracized from society.

n many ways, leprosy is symbolic of sin. Like leprosy, sin is an awful, contaminating, degrading, unclean thing. It starts out small, a little innocent looking spot, but it grows and festers until it takes over the whole person, and ends in death.

The work of Christ in cleansing the leper from this terrible disease is an illustration of His work in cleansing human beings from sin.
The man who came to Jesus was "full of leprosy." He was NOT a handsome sight, the evidence of His disease having robbed him of several functions as deadly poison permeated his whole body.
The prophet Isaiah describes sin in language that could be used for leprosy:
Isaiah 1:6 From the sole of the foot even unto the head [there is] no soundness in it; [but] wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.


The leper begs Jesus "If you want to heal me, You can!
And Jesus reaches out to touch the kneeling man before Him. That person had probably not experienced a gentle touch for many years. It was against the law to touch anyone with leprosy! To touch a leper was to be defiled.
But in placing His hand upon the leper, Jesus was not defiled. The current was going the other way as His touch imparted life-giving, healing power. The leprosy was gone, the man was cleansed.

Go show yourself to the priest.

What is the priest's role in this story of the leper?
We realize leprosy is symbolic of sin.
The Levitical priesthood foreshadowed the work of Christ.

In what way does the Levitical priesthood foreshadow the work of Christ in this situation?

Hebrews draws our attention to the Great Better Priest in the heavenly sanctuary.
In the shadow of the Jewish system, the priest in Leviticus would take the blood of the sacrifice and make an atonement for the sinner.

" the priest shall make an atonement for him and his sins shall be forgiven him." is a phrase repeated over and over in Leviticus.
And so Christ's work in the heavenly sanctuary is to take the amazing benefits of His atoning sacrifice on the cross and apply it to the repenting sinner.
Christ's sacrifice and priestly work in forgiveness for sinners is central!

However, the priest also had another work.
The work of a judge.
In Leviticus 13 we read that the priest was the judge and anyone suspected of having leprosy be brought to the priest who would examine them carefully, and pronounce them either "clean" or "unclean" and anyone pronounce "unclean" would be cut off from society and sent out to dwell alone.

So too, Jesus is our Judge. There is an investigative judgment.

The issue is this. Jesus plans to return to earth and gather and bring a lot of "lepers" into the heavenly kingdom. Remember leprosy (the rebellion of sin) was cast out of heaven. How is this possible, that Christ would bring a whole host of lepers back into heaven? And so we see in Daniel 7 the millions of angelic beings watch as the court is seated and the books are opened. Jesus is brought in and declared worthy to define the citizens of His kingdom.
In Revelation 3:5 we see Him defending those who overcame by His power, they are NOT blotted out of the book of life. They are cleansed and dressed in white robes They have been cleansed by the blood of the Lamb (Rev. 7:14, and 12:10-11)
They will inherit the eternal kingdom with Christ their King and Savior.

LESSON THREE
CONTROVERSIES
Covering passages in Mark two and three.

The calling of sinners.

Tax collectors were not liked in Judea, especially if they were Jewish and had sold out to Rome in order to gather taxes from their own people and give it to the Romans. They were considered to be the lowest of the low. Traitors, liars, thieves (as they lined their own pockets with the extra taxes collected.

Yet, Jesus, walks up to a man sitting at the tax collecting desk and invites him to follow Him. This man's name is Levi Mathew the son of Alphaeus. And Levi arose and followed Christ.
That seemed bad enough to the disciples and the onlookers. But Jesus did more, going against ridged customs, Jesus attended a supper in the publican Levi's house. Levi had invited many of his tax collecting friends to this supper as well. For many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples.

Controversy breaks out!
Jesus isn't dealing with demons here (not directly anyway) he is confronted by leaders in the church who are very indignant that Jesus, who presents Himself as a teacher of heavenly things, would dare openly to attend a "party" of publicans!
These religious leaders confront the disciples who are probably also reeling a little over Jesus actions.
"Why is the one you call master eating with publicans and sinners?"
The disciples can't answer that question, but Jesus does:
He says, "They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

A lot of thoughts can be gleaned from that story!

1. Jesus calls sinners to follow Him.
Levi's mouth probably dropped open in surprise, Jesus was calling him, a despised and low down sinner????? Wonder of wonders, Jesus saw something worthwhile in him, and Levi responds and follows Jesus. In his joy he invites his friends -- come see Jesus, this Man has come to save despised sinners like us!
We should never think we are "too sinful" to come to Christ, He will lift us up and cleanse us and set our feet on missions for Him. In fact, God wants us to let Him into our lives, so He can transform our lives.

2. Does this Bible story give us an excuse to go party with sinners? That's a hard question, for the Bible tells us both to forsake all this worldly entertainment and stop mixing with the world, but it also tells us to get out there among the people, where we can reach people, mingle with them and bring them to Christ. Probably the important question to ask is, "Which way is the current going"? Did we come to a worldly party to enjoy being part of worldly things, thus we drift in the downward current of sin?
Jesus, at that party of publicans set the current to move strongly in an upward way. For " many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him".

3. Jesus came to call sinners unto repentance, not the righteous. But there is a hidden meaning here. We are all sinners, who need to accept the call and come to Jesus. So who are these "righteous"? There doesn't seem to be any. Only those who THOUGHT they were righteous.
One of the most dangerous thoughts that can keep us out of Christ's kingdom, is to think we are righteous and don't need to be called to repentance, and thus have no need for a Savior. That is the condition of the Laodicean church -- the church of today, a people who think they have it all together, so they don't seek for Christ. But they need Him just as much as those publics and sinners who came to sit with Jesus at that supper.

4. How do we regard people who are classified as "sinners"? Do we envy them and wish we were "free" to indulge? Do we despise them and flaunt our own supposed "righteousness"? Or can we, like Jesus see their potential as people for whom Christ died to save them (just as He died to save us) and seek to point them to our Savior?

LESSON THREE
CONTROVERSIES continued
Covering passages in Mark two and three.

The Sabbath Controversy.
That is one controversy that seems to hit everyone in some form or other throughout Christian history.

This controversy seems to be based on people thinking, or being told that Sabbath is a ritual.
The Jews had turned it into a ritual by encumbering the Sabbath with a long list of rules of does and don'ts as to what can or can't be done on the Sabbath.

Thus the disciples were accused of Sabbath breaking when they plucked a handful of food to eat, as they passed through a field. It was considered an act of harvesting and harvesting is not done on the Sabbath.

On the other side, many push aside the Sabbath as simply a ritual and since Christians don't do rituals in order to be saved, therefore, they reason the Sabbath is no longer binding.

Either side, have based their wrong concepts about the Sabbath, because, in their minds the Sabbath is simply a ritual. But the Sabbath is not a "ritual", it is a gift from God, an invitation to enter into special time with Him. A time to remember God's creation and love and connect with God without having to worry about business work. Stopping from work, frees us so we can connect with God without the pressures of life distracting us, on this special day.

Jesus meets the controversy by saying
The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
Therefore the Son of Man is Lord, even of the Sabbath Day (Mark 2:27-28)

-- these two verses are important!
1. The Sabbath was created for humans. At Creation (See Gen.2:2) when the Sabbath was made, it was created for humans, not just Jews. In answering the accusers, Jesus reverts back to Sabbath's origin in Eden. The Sabbath was made/created on account of man and not man on account of the Sabbath.
The Sabbath was created right after the creation of man, (not invented at Sinai) created for the human race to enjoy.

2. Not man for the Sabbath. The Sabbath doesn't demand a round of rituals to establish it's holiness. The institutions that God has established are for the benefit of mankind. The Sabbath was made holy, blessed and sanctified by God at creation for the benefit and spiritual enjoyment of mankind! "Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise." Psalm 100:2-4.

3. Lord of the Sabbath.
The Sabbath belongs to Christ. For "all things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made." John 1:3. Since He made all things, He made the Sabbath. By Him it was set apart as a memorial of the work of creation. It was made for mankind. The Sabbath is a sign of Christ's power to make us holy. And it is given to all whom Christ makes holy. As a sign of His sanctifying power, (See Ez.20:12)

Which day is the Sabbath of the Lord?
Duet 5:14 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God:

LESSON THREE
CONTROVERSIES continued
Covering passages in Mark two and three

Sandwiches?
I see these verses in Mark chapter three as the controversy over who is "family"?

There are two contrasting stories woven into one, which at first seem different, but on closer thought deal with the same principle. Who is Christ's family? A central theme is also how much authority over us do family members have?

We talk of our "church family"
and we talk about our "biological family".

But in the center of the story we see who is part of Christ's true family.

The biological family. Here we see Jesus' mother and brothers coming to "protect" Jesus. They think Jesus isn't taking proper care of Himself and doing things that hurt His ministry. Jesus doesn't even have time to eat. And He's getting into more and more trouble with the church leaders. They feel they need to talk to Him to lead a more "balanced" life. To stop irritating the church leaders and try to work in a more harmonizing way with them, and to take better care of His health. They have good intentions.

BUT, while we are to honor father, mother, and treat brothers, and sisters with love and respect. There is also the danger that they may be on the side of the enemy.
Throughout His life, Jesus' mother and His brothers did not comprehend His mission. Their unbelief and attempts to control His work, cast a shadow over the earthly life of Jesus. There was controversy at home, especially from the brothers.
"They thought that He was beside Himself (crazy) in claiming divine authority, and in placing Himself before the rabbis as a reprover of their sins. They knew that the Pharisees were seeking occasion to accuse Him, and they felt that He had given them sufficient occasion.

But Jesus would not be turned aside, He had to do the will of His Father in heaven. That's what He came to earth to do!

The church family
The church leaders were looked up to as the authorities on religious and life style matters. But Jesus faced some serious accusations from these leaders. They felt threatened in their position as leaders. To try to undermine the many evidences that Jesus was truly the Son of God come down from heaven, they said everything He did was by the power of Satan. This was taking their own power struggle as the religious leaders to dangers levels! To attribute God's work to Satan is to insult the Holy Spirit and court the unpardonable sin.

Too often we see destructive power struggles in our churches as well. Hopefully we can discern between those who are fighting to maintain or gain their position of power in the church, from those who are true shepherds leading the flock to Christ.

So who are part of Christ's true family?

"Jesus answered and said unto him that told Him, Who is My mother? and who are My brethren? And He stretched forth His hand toward His disciples, and said, Behold My mother and My brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of My Father which is in heaven, the same is My brother, and sister, and mother."

All who receive Christ by faith are united to Him by a tie closer than that of human kinship. They, have their thoughts fixed upon Him, they long to become one with Him, and as we draw closer to Christ, we find ourselves close with those who also look to HIM and long to become one with Him.

LESSON FOUR
PARABLES
Covering Mark chapter 4

What is a parable?
A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning, a simple yet powerful story that conveys important moral and spiritual truth.

Why did Jesus use parables?
Jesus used parables in giving instruction, and both revealing and concealing spiritual truths.

The Scripture says, "All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; . . . that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world." Matthew 13:34, 35. Natural things were the medium for the spiritual; the things of nature and the life-experience of His hearers were connected with the truths of the written word. Leading thus from the natural to the spiritual kingdom." (COL 19}

Christ had truths He wanted to share, but the people were unprepared to accept or even to understand them. So He taught them in parables. By connecting His teaching with the scenes of life, experience, or nature, He secured their attention and gave them stories they would remember. Afterward, as they looked upon the objects that illustrated His lessons, they remembered what Jesus had said. To minds that were open to the Holy Spirit, the meaning of these parables unfolded more and more. Truths they had found hard to grasp became plain.

Then there were the people who were always following Jesus in order to find fault with Him.
Jesus understood the character of these men, and He presented truth in such a way that they could find nothing that they could take back to the Sanhedrim and use to condemn Him.
With parables He rebuked the hypocrisy and wicked works of those in high positions.
The parables clothed the truth and made it less direct, for had it been spoken in direct language it would have been so cutting, they would not have listened to His words, and would have worked even harder to put an end to His ministry.

LESSON FOUR
PARABLES
Covering Mark chapter 4
The parable of the Sower

A well known parable in which the seeds representing Biblical, gospel truth. The seed is freely distributed to the whole field. There is no attempt to let it fall only on the most fertile ground. The truth is to go out to all.
So why doesn't it all grow and flourish?



The parable also points out that everyone HEARD the truth of the gospel! They all heard the word!
And it actually grew in three of those four different soils!
At first it looked like there would be a good crop from the whole field. (Except the path)
But there was a progressive dying off, till only the seeds that fell on good ground survived until the harvest.

Looking at this from a "witnessing" stand point --

THE WAYSIDE
The first field would be the most discouraging. The truth just doesn't penetrate, and the people leave with no change or indication of being influenced by it. Satan snatches the truth out of their minds before it can take root. There is a hardness that resists the truth.
There is IMMEDIATE failure.


THE STONY GROUND

It was actually the second field that at first looked the more promising -- where the soil was also rather hard and full of stones. But immediately the seeds germinated and sprang up and started to grow. Immediately there seemed to be success. The stony ground was the first to look nice and green!
Here we see people who seemed very excited with the message. It's what any evangelist likes to see. People responding with excitement and enthusiasm.
BUT there is no depth. It's a surface emotion stimulated by the atmosphere of the moment. After the excitement is over, it is noticed that there is no depth to their understanding, no real desire to dig into scripture and prayfully seek an ever growing understanding. They face resistance and start to resent the conditions their decision has imposed upon them. It doesn't take long before old friends, family, old habits and the old lifestyle turn their attention away for the truth in Christ, and they retreat back into their old ways.
Failure comes after just a few weeks.

THE THORNY GROUND
Here we see people who worry and often have heavy burdens, or have habits that have a firm grip upon them. The truth germinates a little slower, but it does germinate and starts to grow. The gospel sounds good to them, but here these people tend to see the gospel more like the people who flocked to Jesus because He provided fish and loaves for them to eat. They sing songs like "Rolled away, rolled away, all the burdens of my heart rolled away".
But they fail to actually give Christ their burdens and surrender to His will in their lives. The pressures, disappointments and responsibilities and even their favorite "escape" habits of life, didn't roll away, they begin to doubt God's goodness and His truths get choked out of their lives.

There is failure possibly months or even years after hearing and accepting the seeds of truth and those seeds did struggle to grow. But it's a slow choking of faith and trust and commitment.

THE GOOD GROUND
Good ground usually means it has been tilled, weeded, and has all the troublesome stones dug out.
The sower does not always meet with disappointment. Some of the seed fell into good ground. Jesus said, This "is he that hears the word, and understands it." Personalizes it. He has an honest heart who yields to the conviction of the Holy Spirit. He confesses his guilt, and feels his need of the mercy and love of God. He has a sincere desire to know the truth, that he may obey it. The good heart is a believing heart, one that has faith in the word of God. Without faith it is impossible for the seed of the word to really grow. "He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." Hebrews 11:6.

A knowledge of the truth depends not so much upon strength of intellect as upon pureness of purpose, the simplicity of an earnest, dependent faith. To those who in humility of heart seek for divine guidance, angels of God draw near. The Holy Spirit is given to open to them the rich treasures of the truth. {see Christ's Object Lessons page 58-59.}



ARE WE LOCKED IN TO WHAT EVER SOIL WE HAVE INSIDE?

The wayside, the stony-ground, the thorny-ground hearers do NOT need to stay that way.
The Holy Spirit of God is ever seeking to break the spell and power of sin, that holds people back from fully accepting and believing in Christ. It is by resisting the Holy Spirit that people become inattentive to or neglectful of God's word and swamped by the stones of worldly entanglements for their foundation, and thorns of smoothing worries and pressure.

The soil needs to be tilled, broken up by deep repentance for sin. Poisonous, Satanic plants must be uprooted. The soil once overgrown by thorns can be reclaimed only by diligent labor. So the evil tendencies of the natural heart can be overcome only by earnest effort in the name and strength of Jesus. The Lord bids us by His prophet, "Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns." "Sow to yourselves in righteousness; reap in mercy." Jeremiah 4:3; Hosea 10:12. This work He desires to accomplish for us, and He asks us to co-operate with Him.

LESSON FOUR
PARABLES
Covering Mark chapter 4
Lamps and measuring baskets


Mark 4:21 And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?
4:22 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.

These are illustrations to make a point, not really stories.
Question is basically,
Why do people avail themselves of a lamp?
If a person gets a lamp it's probably to see something that is shrouded in some degree of darkness.
It would be totally unproductive to turn a light on and then try to keep it from sending forth it's rays of light.

And yet, in a way that is what happened.
Let's add these verses and see what Jesus may very well be saying in the above text.

John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again saying, I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
John 9:5 I am the light of the world.
John 1:5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 3:19 But this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
3:20 For every one that does evil hates the light, neither comes to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
3:21 But he that wants and does truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

Yes, Christ is THE Light, but Christ's light is also to be reflected in the lives of Christ's followers -- for ye are the light of the world.

It is Christ's lukewarm followers that tend to hid the light under a bushel. They have received light, but they still seek and try to enlarge the corners of darkness. To try to make the light less bright and more conducive for darkness to share the space.


Measuring Baskets
4:24 And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.
4:25 For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.

So it's not only how people respond on a personal level to the light but also, How do Christ's followers reflect or obscure the heavenly light that they are to radiate out to the world?

To try to "reflect" only a little, dimmed down light and seek to shield oneself and others from it's brightness, may cause that light to dim in ones own understanding and life. That person may lose what light he had.
There is something about sharing Christ's light of truth, that causes us to see the light with more brilliance ourselves.

A day is coming when the light will be so exceedingly bright, that nothing can be hid in the darkness any longer. Those who think the darkness is hiding the sins they are clinging to, will find them all exposed.

The stony ground is what we see with most Christians, they respond to show themselves before others, but as soon as the event that caught their attention dies down their enthusiam and excitement fades away.

LESSON FIVE
MIRACLES AROUND THE LAKE
Covering Mark chapter 4 and 5


Jesus's miracles were illustrative of His message, a call to faith, a testimony that He was the Son of God come down from heaven to save.
He did not perform miracles to "show off" His power. Christ never worked a miracle except to supply a genuine necessity, and every miracle was of a character to lead the people to the source of life.

For example -- in feeding the 5000, Christ did not give them a great luxurious feast. But He meet their need for food, with a simple meal.
Yes, it was a miracle to multiply those five loaves and two fishes and feed 5000 with food left over. But do we realize that in feeding the five thousand, Jesus lifts the veil from the world of nature, and reveals the power that is constantly exercised for our good. How is it that we can put a handful of corn kernels in the ground and a few weeks later go out and gather baskets full of ears of corn?

How is it we can put a pail full of potatoes in the ground, and a few weeks later go out and dig up bushels of potatoes. How did this multiplication take place?

Or how is it that we can accidentally cut ourselves, or break a bone, and yet several weeks later the cut is gone, healed, the bone is mended, strong again. Where did this life force come from that restores damage seemingly automatically?

When Christ went about healing the sick, restoring people in health. He was simply showing where the power of life and growth and healing resides. He is the life. He is the One Who causes little seeds to turn into plants and multiply food.

No it's not just "natural", nature did not automatically develop this amazing ability, it is the power of God that put the life and ability to grow and heal into living cells.
If we want life and healing, there is only one true source in which to find it? That is in Christ.

Yes, Christ healed and even brought people back from death, while He was on this earth. But, it was only a restoration of the temporal life, all those people are dead in their graves now. But it was a promise. We can study those miracles and in them see Christ's compassion and ability to restore and give life -- They are a revelation that indeed, Christ is life, He has the power over death and can break it's power over us.
Christ has promised "every one who recognizes the Son, and believes on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:40

LESSON FIVE
MIRACLES AROUND THE LAKE
Covering Mark chapter 4 and 5

Storms
The account:
Jesus has been teaching all day. He is very tired. He and His disciples get into a boat to sail across the Sea of Galilee to hopefully find a quiet place to rest. Jesus falls asleep in the boat.
A storm threatens to destroy them all. Jesus continues to sleep. Finally, in desperation, the disciples turn to Him for help. The sea obeys His command to "Peace, be still" .

Mark 4:40 He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?"
" As Jesus rested by faith in the Father's care, so we are to rest in the care of our Saviour. If the disciples had trusted in Him, they would have been kept in peace. Their fear in the time of danger revealed their unbelief. In their efforts to save themselves, they forgot Jesus; and it was only when, in despair of self-dependence, they turned to Him that He could give them help. {DA 336.2}

"How often the disciples' experience is ours! When the tempests of temptation gather, and the fierce lightnings flash, and the waves sweep over us, we battle with the storm alone, forgetting that there is One who can help us. We trust to our own strength till our hope is lost, and we are ready to perish. Then we remember Jesus, and if we call upon Him to save us, we shall not cry in vain. Though He sorrowfully reproves our unbelief and self-confidence, He never fails to give us the help we need. Whether on the land or on the sea, if we have the Saviour in our hearts, there is no need of fear. Living faith in the Redeemer will smooth the sea of life, and will deliver us from danger in the way that He knows to be best. {DA 336.3}

"Sin has destroyed our peace. While self is unsubdued, we can find no rest. The masterful passions of the heart no human power can control. We are as helpless here as were the disciples to quiet the raging storm. But He who spoke peace to the billows of Galilee has spoken the word of peace for every soul. However fierce the tempest, those who turn to Jesus with the cry, "Lord, save us," will find deliverance. His grace, that reconciles the soul to God, quiets the strife of human passion, and in His love the heart is at rest. "He makes the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so He brings them unto their desired haven." Psalm 107:29, 30. {DA 337.1}

LESSON FIVE
MIRACLES AROUND THE LAKE
Covering Mark chapter 5

The Demon Possessed

The Great Controversy revealed in its starkest reality.

First we see the utter wretchedness to which the devil can bring mankind. Robbing him of all nobility, dignity and soundness of mind and turning him into something lower than the beasts. What a great contrast from the Adam before sin, created in the image of God, with this man taken over completely by the demons. A man, breaking free from all restraints, terrorizing the neighborhood, abusing and cutting himself, living with the dead in the tombs, helpless in the grasp of the evil one.
(The same story is told in Matthew 8, but according to Matthew there were two demoniacs)



The man came charging toward Jesus, but Jesus was not afraid. Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us! The demons tremble before His power. In Christ's presence a ray of hope entered the darkened mind of the possessed man. He sensed that salvation was near, and in His heart cried out for help and he fell down and worshipped Christ! But the demons try to drown out that silent cry for help.

Those demons know exactly who Jesus is. They still vividly remember the battle in heaven when they sided with Lucifer and his deceptive lies, and were driven out of heaven by this same Jesus. They (for there were many tormenting this victim) KNOW Christ is more powerful than they. Interestingly they include God the Father in their "loud cry" demanding they be left alone.
"What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me".

We need to always remember, "The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.? (Prov 18:10) Satan trembles and flees before the weakest soul who finds refuge in that mighty name.

Satan's demons, knowing they were defeated made a request. "Don't send us out of the country, let us enter those pigs."
They didn't want to inhabit those pigs, they saw in them a means to destroy Christ's influence. Demons know on what points people are easily turned away from God, economic matters are a strong point they use on us humans all the time. People are easily persuaded to ignore God, or even turn against Him, when economic benefits or loses are facing them. There are many in these days who refuse to follow Christ and His teachings, because in so doing they must sacrifice some worldly interest.
So, the demons entered the herd of about 2000 pigs, drove them in a mad dash to a cliff and plunged them into the sea, wiping out the economic profits of that region.

But what about the man from whom those demons were driven out? He was completely changed. The wild crazed look was gone. He was clothed and in his right mind, sitting at the feet of Jesus in loving, thankful reverence, listening to His words.

BUT, the demon's plan was working. Soon an angry crowd came pouring out of the city. Even though awestruck by the change they saw in the former demoniac, they still wanted nothing to do with Jesus. Go away, they demanded, before you totally ruin our country.
Like the Gadarenes who placed economic profits ahead of spiritual blessing ,there are many in society and even in the church, who overlook his grace, and ruthlessly drive away his Spirit from them. Remember Christ's words -- "Ye cannot serve God and mammon."

But one of the greatest witnesses of the power and grace of God, Jesus sent to the Gadarenes.
A man, once controlled by demons, was now free by the power of Jesus. He was praising God, his very life a testimony that, yes, there is One greater than those controlling demons. He was sent to tell them of his deliverance.

We need to always remember, "The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.? (Prov 18:10) Satan trembles and flees before the weakest soul who finds refuge in that mighty name.

LESSON FIVE
MIRACLES AROUND THE LAKE


Everywhere Jesus goes people are healed. But only a select few have their stories told in scripture to point out the scope of Jesus mission.

Jesus delivers and heals people hopelessly trapped in sin
(Casting out the demons that control them, Mark 1:25 and 5:8)

Jesus forgives their sins.
(The paralytic suffering the results of his sin is forgiven and healed, Mark 2:5-10)

Jesus cleanses those suffering from ailments that mark them as "unclean".
(Lepers Mark 1:40, Blood issue, Mark 5:25-34)

Jesus restores broken and diseased bodies. Doing good, relieving suffering.
(Withered hand healed, Mark 3:1-5, a mother healed Mark 1: 30-31, a blind man can see, Mark 8:22)

Jesus is LIFE, even death is defeated by Him. Giving us the promise of the resurrection.
(Raises Jairus' daughter who had died, Mark 5:35-41)

Jesus supplies temporal needs.
(Feeding the 5000 thousand. Mark 6:37-42 and feeding 4000, Mark 8:3-9)

Jesus can still the storms in our lives
(The winds and waves obey Him, Mark 4:37-40)

He went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. Acts 10:38

LESSON FIVE
MIRACLES AROUND THE LAKE
Covering Mark chapter 5-6

Popular but facing Rejection
Misapplied and misinterpreted prophecy played a part in this rejection.

Yes, Jesus was very popular (for a time) as thousands flocked to be near Him, crowds followed Him everywhere He went, He could hardly eat or rest. Even when He and His disciples tried to find a quiet time in some remote place, the crowds would find them.

On this particular day, "much people", followed Jesus into a remote desert like area. It was a "great multitude". When Mark gives the number, he says "5000 men". If that is only the count of the men, we can conclude there were several thousand more, counting women and children. Jesus sees them as sheep without a spiritual leader, and all day He shares the truths of the kingdom of God with them.

However, there are 5000 men, gathered around Jesus out in a remote desert area. This does not look good, if the Roman overlords should notice. Another thing is that those 5000 men, as well as the disciples have a different KINGDOM in mind than the one Jesus is explaining to them. Had the Romans noticed this huge gathering they would have been right in their assumption that those people wanted a leader to drive out the Roman overlords and make Israel an independent nation once more.

When Jesus fed them all with a mere two fishes and five barley loaves, the excitement grew to a fevered pitch!



The next day the crowds find Jesus again, they are still eager to support Him as their Messiah (at least their view of what the Messiah would do). We can read the discussion in John chapter six. While Jesus does care and provide for people's temporal needs, it is not the reason or purpose of His mission.
He had come to bring salvation. He came to this world to give His body as a sacrifice and shed His blood for our salvation. He had come to wage war and win over the arch-enemy satan, sin and death.
His kingdom is NOT of this world.
Loaves and fishes may satisfy a very temporary hunger and sustain life for a day, but He came to provide freedom from sin and give eternal, everlasting life!
He admonishes us to eat His flesh, (study and mediate, internalize, believe in Him and His sacrifice for our salvation). Drink (internalize into our lives the truth of) His blood which was shed for the remission of our sins.

When the crowds heard this, and realized Christ was not talking about liberating them from the Romans and establishing a kingdom in this world, they forsook Him and stopped following Him.

All the above is just as true today as it was 2000 years ago. When preachers and religious leaders present Christ as offering temporal prosperity, fame and fortune, people are more likely to profess Christianity. But when people hear Christ's kingdom is one that requires sin to be put aside, a transformation of character, they aren't interested.

Also, the misunderstanding of prophecy played a big role in their rejection of the true Messiah.
In the years following Christ's life on earth, the Jews supported several men, who met their understanding of a Messiah. They tried to fight off the Romans, but that all ended in disaster.
John 18:36 "Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world" He has not come to fight in the worldly manner of battles to gain supremacy.

Revelation warns there is a "false prophet" (Rev. 16:13 & 19:20) very active in the end times which will be quite successful in deceiving the world. Misinterpreted prophecy will again play a big role.
But God has also given the church the spirit of prophecy which is in harmony with the Word of God. We need not be deceived. But like all the Biblical prophets, the false prophets were many and popular, but the true prophets were despised.
We still see in the religious world, people looking for an earthly kingdom, which they will try to make "good" by legislation, civil laws, force and war, and who expect Messiah to come and reign in such an earthly Jerusalem.

LESSON SIX
INSIDE OUT
Mark seven and eight.

The washing of hands

Jesus has left Galilee and arrives in Jerusalem.
A group of Pharisees and Scribes have gathered and they are watching Jesus with critical eyes.

To understand what happens next we should look a little at the Jewish practices.
In Moses time, the command was given to build a laver containing water, at which priests washed their hands and feet before entering the tabernacle. See Exodus 30:17-21. This ritual cleansing symbolized the need for spiritual purification and consecration before engaging in sacred duties or encountering the presence of God. Morally, it represented the cleansing of the priests? hearts and minds from sin and impurity, preparing them to stand before the Lord in righteousness.

After the exile, some of the leading Rabbi's thought it would be a good practice for everyone to do, so they outlined the program as to how this washing (which was actually pouring water from a cup over their hands twice) was to take place, and they built washing stations to help encourage people to do this every morning and before eating any meals that contained Bread.
They were to pray the following:
"Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe who has sanctified us with divine commandments, and commanded us concerning the washing of the hands."

Mark 7:2-3 Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they began to criticize. Because the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash theirs hands as prescribed, holding the tradition of the elders.

So what was the problem? We still practice symbolic washing ceremonies to this day, like baptism and foot washing.

Mark 7:6-9 And he said to them, ?Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, ??This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.? You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.? And he said to them, ?You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition!
1. God had not commanded this ceremonial washing which was expected of all Jewish people.

2. While the original intent of the washings was to remind them of God's power to wash away their sins, that meaning had been almost wholly lost. They uttered the words, but it didn't come from the heart.

3. They were making these minor (added) rules as very important and using them to make themselves look very pious in the eyes of the people, while in their hearts they were plotting murder and harboring all manner of evil.

LESSON SEVEN
Teaching Disciples, Part One
Mark eight

Mark 8:27-29
On the road He asked His disciples, saying them,
"Who do men say that I am?
So they answered, "John the Baptist, but some say Elijah, and others, one of the prophets.
He said to them,
"But who do you say that I am ?
Peter answered and said to Him, "You are the Christ".

The story is also in Matt. 16:13-38 and Luke 9:18-26

The most important question we need to ask ourselves.
Who do I say that He is?

A great teacher?
A good man?
The best man that ever lived?
A gifted man?
A great prophet?
An incarnation of a previous human man? (Elijah? John the Baptist?)

There are many answers given by people. And many have SOME truth, BUT all of them deny the true identity of Who Jesus is. So are they complimentary, or are they insulting?
Remember Necodemus, he started the conversation with what seemed a compliment, "We know you are a great teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him".
Jesus ignores all those supposed compliments and launches into spiritual realities including a very important message as to who He was, and what He had come to earth to do. (See John 3:13-19)

The great question urges us to look beyond the obvious historical human being that was walking the streets of Palestine. Who is Jesus?

This is an all important question,
He who believes in Him is not condemned but he who does not believe is already condemned because he has not believed in the name.
It's a life and death question.
The truth which Peter had confessed is the foundation of the believer's faith. It is that which Christ Himself has declared to be eternal life. For this is life eternal to know God and Jesus Christ.
Yet it is a truth that is not natural to the human mind. It is revealed by God, little by little as we meditate and humbly seek Him, then our knowledge of Him deepens through the workings of the Holy Spirit which enables us to discern spiritual realities.

Peter's realization of Christ's true identity was a real turning point for the disciples. Yet none of them fully understood Christ's mission.

Spiritual growth is not a full blown all at once event, it grows richer and deeper as we walk with Christ.

LESSON SEVEN
Teaching Disciples, Part One
Mark eight

SEEING CLEARLY
Mark 8:22 And he came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to him, and besought him to touch him.
8:23 And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.
8:24 And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.
8:25 After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.

WHY TWO TOUCHES?
The restoration of sight for this blind man is symbolic of the growth of faith. In the disciples' minds the true identity of Jesus was just beginning, their faith was weak and clouded with human limitations They could see it only dimly as it developed step by step. Remember just previously in Mark 8:14-21 in connection with the leaven, when the disciples only interpreted Jesus words as speaking of literal bread, Jesus exposed their lack of spiritual discernment and faith? Jesus was seeking to build their faith in Who He literally was and why He had come to this earth.

DON'T TELL ANYONE
Why not tell everyone that Jesus was the Messiah? Isn't this what everyone needs to know?
But the people were not ready. The true meaning of Messiah and His mission on earth was basically unknown by the people. They wanted a military deliverer not a Savior.
They would see the pronouncement like men seeing a tree walking, something to use for their own political advancement. They first need faith in a Savior to save them from their sins.

WHAT CAN WE LEARN
When we present the gospel story do we take into consideration the present understanding of the audience? For example, have we presented the Sabbath before they know the Lord of the Sabbath?

LESSON SEVEN
Teaching Disciples, Part One
Mark eight

Mark 8:31 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
8:32 And he spoke that saying openly. And Peter took Him, and began to rebuke Him.
8:33 But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for you are not in favor of the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.

Peter has just acknowledged his realization that Jesus Christ is the Messiah come down from heaven.
Now Jesus begins to explain to them, as He had explained it previously to Nicodemus, (John 3:14-15) what the heavenly Messiah's mission on earth entails.

Why were the disciples so strongly opposed to Jesus' words?

When Jesus started talking about the cross and the resurrection, it was just so dramatically opposite to what the disciples expected of the Messiah, that it was just not acceptable, it just couldn't be true. It must not happen!



A Messiah who suffers and is executed on a cross just didn't match their expectations Their Messiah was to produce spectacular victories with miraculous powers vanquishing all Israel's enemies, and they were to be important men over Israel, beside this conquering King.

But if God Himself, wanted Messiah to die, what did that mean for them?
It might well be His will that the Messiah's disciples should also suffer and possibly die a horrible death. The disciples were not thinking about "everlasting life" at this point, their minds were in the channel of this earth wanting fame and glory and power and a good earthly life.
Even later they were still arguing over who would be greatest in their hoped for earthly kingdom.

Get behind me Satan

Jesus is not calling Peter, Satan. But Peter's words originated from Satan.

LESSON SEVEN
Teaching Disciples, Part One
Mark Nine

The Mount of Transfiguration

Jesus wanted to lift the disciples thoughts above the humiliation and poverty of this world, so Jesus now points the disciples to His coming glorious kingdom. It was not about an earthly throne here in the present world, but one with the glory of God and eternal life in heavenly glory. He takes three disciples, Peter, James and John to show them a small glimpse of His kingdom.

Mark 9:1 And He said to them, Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.

What does the text mean? To the disciples this glory seemed far away. Their thoughts were fixed upon the possibility of an earthly life of poverty, humiliation, and suffering. Would they have to give up their glowing expectations of what they had understood about the Messiah's kingdom? Were they not to see their Lord exalted to the throne of David? It was all so confusing to them.

Now Jesus tells them some of them would not taste death till they see the glory of the kingdom of God!
Concerning the phrase "will not taste death" the Adventist Bible Commentary notes: "It is significant that all three Synoptic Gospels record the narrative of the Transfiguration immediately following this prediction. (SDABC vol. 5:p.436)

Mark 9:2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart y themselves, and He was transfigured before them.
3. His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them.
4 And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.

It is evening as Jesus and the three disciples climb up the mountain. Near the summit, they kneel to pray. The disciples soon fall asleep but Jesus continues to pray.
"He pleads that his disciples may witness a manifestation of His divinity that will comfort them in the hour of His supreme agony with the knowledge that He is of a surety the Son of God and that His shameful death is a part of the plan of redemption. {DA 419.4}
"His prayer is heard. While He is bowed in lowliness upon the ground, suddenly the heavens open, the golden gates of the city of God are thrown wide, and holy radiance descends upon the mount, enshrouding the Saviour's form. Divinity from within flashes through humanity, and meets the glory coming from above. Arising from His prostrate position, Christ stands in godlike majesty. The soul agony is gone. His countenance now shines "as the sun," and His garments are "white as the light." {DA 421.1}
The disciples, awaking, behold the flood of glory that illuminates the mount. In fear and amazement they gaze upon the radiant form of their Master. As they become able to endure the wondrous light, they see that Jesus is not alone.

WHY MOSES AND ELIJAH?

They were symbolic of the redeemed. Moses represented those who shall come forth
from the grave at the resurrection of the just. Elijah, who had been translated to heaven without seeing death, represented those who will be living upon the earth at Christ's second coming, and who will be "changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump;" when "this mortal must put on immortality," and "this corruptible must put on incorruption." 1 Corinthians 15:51-53.

The Saviour's promise to the disciples was now fulfilled. Upon the mount the future kingdom of glory was represented in miniature,--Christ the King, Moses a representative of the risen saints, and Elijah of the translated ones.

Mark 9:7 And a cloud came and overshadowed them and a voice came out of the cloud saying, This is my beloved Son; hear Him.

LESSON EIGHT
Teaching Disciples, Part Two
Mark Ten

God's plan for Marriage

10:6 But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.
10:7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;
10:8 And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.
10:9 What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

The context is in a discussion of divorce.
But divorce is a result and sign of sin and a failure of mankind finding God's plan, not only for marriage, but also God's plan for our lives.
Divorce is caused by the innate selfishness of human nature, and humans excuse and seek divorce due to the level of selfishness in one or the other, or of both partners.

What is God's plan for marriage?
What was it to represent?
What was it's experience to be like?
What does it mean to be "one" in the Biblical sense?

LESSON EIGHT
Teaching Disciples, Part Two
Mark Ten

God's plan for Marriage
Our God is a covenant God, and a marriage covenant is to be symbolic of God's everlasting covenant with His people.

"God hates divorce," most literally means God hates when couples are faithless to their partners, violate their covenant, and send them away.
In the Jewish economy it was the man who could divorce, he could initiate it and send his partner away, the woman really didn't have much of a choice. A divorced woman had very few resources to fall back on. Much of the strong words are against the men who break their marriage covenant and reject their wives for selfish reasons.
It renders a covenant virtually meaningless. How can people understand the binding promises of a covenant when they so easily toss aside their covenants, made before God, to their partner?

The idea of "rejection," failure to love, honor and cherish, the disloyalty, the disregard of the pledges of the covenant they made, and thus ending the marriage, is a tragic picture.
Our world emphasizes self first, but when one or both fight for self first rights, and seek to gratify their self desires at the expense of the partner, there can be no oneness.
A covenant is an important pledge to love, honor, respect, cherish and be faithful to each other.

Malachi is pretty strong on this subject!

Malachi 2:11-16 ties together the two concepts. The nation of Judea has married daughters of foreign gods, (they are unfaithful to God) they have put away their wives (unfaithful to their wives) and broken God's covenant. Then they come to the temple with their sacrifice with weeping and in tears, but God rejects their sacrifice, because they have broken the covenant with the wife of their youth, by which they were to raise godly children.

Paul gives a very important formula to men for marriage.
Ephesians 5:25-31
"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it....So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
or no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord the church: When that kind of love is evident in a marriage then respect for, and willing co-operation with her husband, whom she also loves, is much easier.
Selfless love, respect and faithfulness in both, bind a couple together and brings them into the true oneness God intended.

LESSON EIGHT
Teaching Disciples, Part Two
Mark Ten

JESUS AND THE CHILDREN
Mark 10:13-16 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and [his] disciples rebuked those that brought [them].
But when Jesus saw [it], he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
And he took them up in his arms, put [his] hands upon them, and blessed them.

Christ places a high esteem on children. He died for them just a verily as He died for you and me!
Children are the heritage of the Lord, and the plan of redemption includes their salvation as well as ours.

"The soul of the little child that believes in Christ is as precious in His sight as are the angels about His throne. They are to be brought to Christ and trained for Christ. They are to be guided in the path of obedience, not indulged in appetite or vanity." {AH 279.3}

"Children are most susceptible to the teachings of the gospel; their hearts are open to divine influences, and strong to retain the lessons received. The little children may be Christians, having an experience in accordance with their years. {FLB 270.4}

" Never allow your children to suppose that they are not children of God until they are old enough to be baptized. If properly instructed, very young children may have correct views of their state as sinners and of the way of salvation through Christ. {FLB 270.7}

The work of raising children for the Lord and for useful service is the most important work for parents.

"The mothers of the present day are making the society of the future. How important that their children be so brought up that they shall be able to resist the temptations they will meet on every side in later life! {FE 159.1}

" We must cultivate useful habits in our children, and must instruct them in the things of God. It costs something to do all this. It costs prayers and tears, and patient, oft-repeated
instruction. We are sometimes put to our wit's end to know what to do; but we can take the children to God in our prayers, pleading that they may be kept from evil, praying, "Now, Lord, do Thy work; soften and subdue the hearts of our children," and He will hear us. He hearkens to the prayers of the weeping, careworn mothers. When Christ was on earth, the burdened mothers brought their children to Him; they thought that if He would lay His hands upon them, they would have better courage to bring them up as they ought to go. The Saviour knew why these mothers came to Him with their little ones, and He rebuked the disciples, who would have kept them away, saying, "Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God." Jesus loves the little ones, {FE 160.3}

LESSON EIGHT
Teaching Disciples, Part Two
Mark Ten

Jesus and a Young Adult (Choosing between worldly security or the Best Investment)

Mark 10:17-22 And as Jesus was going out on the road, there came one running, and knelt before him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
And Jesus said unto him, Why do you call me good? [there is] none good but one, [that is], God.
You know the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing you still lack: go your way, sell whatsoever you have, and give to the poor, and you shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
These words made the young man sad, and he turned away sorrowfully, for he had great possessions.

The chapter so far has placed considerable emphases on the family.
The importance of marriage in which there is love, respect and commitment, in which they are to find a oneness, not only physically but spiritually, and in their purpose of life, with the result that godly children will be raised. And that parents are to bring their children to Jesus at an early age, introducing them to Jesus, seeking His blessing, and teaching them the ways of truth.
Now we come to a young adult. A young man of which it is specifically said that Jesus loved him.

Jesus first words to this young man is a question, basically asking the young man if he understands who He, Jesus, really is. "Why are you calling Me good?" Does the young man recognize Christ's divinity? Does he recognize that Jesus has come to this world to give eternal life. The young man is obviously recognizing that he needs something more than what he is and has, he's been applying the law to his life for as long as he can remember. He's been raised to observe the law, he had also been taught to look upon the rich as the favorites of heaven. But inside he realizes it's not enough. "What shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?" he asked.
What He needs is a Savior.

THE BIG DECISION

The biggest decision people make is their choice between following Jesus with all their heart and mind, or choosing the temporal securities of this life above Jesus.

The young man came to Christ because he saw in Him something he wanted. His heart was drawn toward the Saviour. But he was not ready to accept the Saviour's principle of self-sacrifice. He chose his riches before Jesus. He wanted eternal life, but would not receive into the soul that unselfish love which alone is life, and with a sorrowful heart he turned away from Christ.

The young man turned away sorrowfully, but I think the greater sorrow was in Jesus' heart. It specifically says, Jesus loved him!

LESSON NINE
Jerusalem Controversies
Mark 11

The last week of Jesus life on earth receives the greatest emphases in all four gospels.
While there is some question on the exact order of the events, the following general sequence is fairly clear.

TRIP TO JERUSALEM -- they pass through Jericho where blind Bartimaeus cries out, and says, Jesus, thou son of David. Basically (though not intentionally) announcing Israel's true king was approaching Jerusalem. (Mark 10:46-50)

FRIDAY -- Jesus arrives in Bethany. Where He apparently stays with Mary, Martha, Lazarus. (Matt. 17:21

SATURDAY -- They go to a supper at Simon's house. (Mark 14:3-9, John 12:1- 8; Matthew 26:6-13. Luke 7:36-48)

SUNDAY -- The triumphal entry, after which they return to Bethany. (Mark 11:7-10, John 12: Matthew 21:7-9. Luke 19:35-41)

MONDAY -- Returns to Jerusalem from Bethany, passing a fruitless fig tree (Mark 11:13, Matt. 21:18-21)
MONDAY -- Second cleansing of the temple (Matt. 21:12-15, Mark 11:15)
MONDAY -- Teaching in the temple.

TUESDAY --The fig tree withered. (Mark 11:20)
TUESDAY -- Last day at temple, Greek pilgrims seek out Jesus (John 12:20)
TUESDAY -- God speaks from heaven confirming Christ (John 12: 28-31)
TUESDAY -- Judas finalizes a bargain with priests to betray Jesus to them. (Matt. 26:14, Mark 14:10, Luke 22:3-6)

WEDNESDAY -- Most likely time Jesus spent with disciples explaining prophecies on destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the world. (Mark 13, Matthew 24, Luke 21:6-36)


THURSDAY -- Preparation for Passover meal.
THURSDAY EVENING -- Last supper
THURSDAY NIGHT -- Gethsemane, and Jesus betrayal and arrest
THURSDAY NIGHT -- Illegal trial before the Sanhedrin

FRIDAY -- Continuing trials -- Pilate, Herod and back to Pilate
FRIDAY -- Crucified and buried

SABBATH -- Resting in the tomb, guard of soldiers at the tomb

SUNDAY MORNING -- Resurrection
SUNDAY AFTERNOON -- walk to Emmaus
SUNDAY EVENING -- appears to disciples in upper room

LESSSON NINE

The Triumphal Entry

SUNDAY -- The triumphal entry (Mark 11:7-10, John 12:12-16 Matthew 21:7-9. Luke 19:35-41)

To get the full picture, read all the accounts of this day in Jesus ministry.

I often wonder why it is called the "Triumphal Entry".
It's actually a heartbreaking demonstration of failure.
Not God's failure, but the people's failure.

It's what "could have been", had they accepted Christ as their Messiah and Savior.
But here we see Jesus fulfilling His part, riding like a king coming to His temple, but it ends in Him crying bitterly as He sits on that donkey overlooking the doomed city.

Luke gives us the emotional side of that scene.
First the rejoicing Luke 19:37-38, and then the bitter tears.

Luke 19:41-44 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, Saying, If you only knew, even you, at least in this your day, the things which belong unto your peace! but now they are hid from your eyes.
For the days shall come upon you, that your enemies shall cast a trench about you, and completely surround you, and keep you in on every side And shall lay you even with the ground, and your children within you; and they shall not leave in you one stone upon another; because you did not know the time of your visitation.


Though Jerusalem failed, it's definitely not complete failure, it was still a victory presentation pointing to the glorious future, in the greater view of victory over all sin. We realize it will be fully fulfilled in the earth made new, when sin will be no more, and peace will cover the earth, and Jesus will be king forever. Yet, what would it have been like if Jesus, as the Messiah from sin, and the bringer of righteousness had been accepted back then?

We can learn from this how much Christ wants to save, and how we pierce His heart when we reject the most wonderful gift Christ offers us.

LESSON NINE
JERUSALEM CONTROVERSIES

Why did Jesus curse the fig tree?

Mark 11:12-14 And on the morrow, (Monday morning, the day after the triumphal procession) when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:
And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if perhaps he might find any figs thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.
And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.

The show of leaves indicated that there should also be figs, even though it was early in the season.
The tree was symbolic of Israel with it's show of worshipping God, yet not producing the fruit this connection with God should produced, if it were a true connection.

Remember the day before Christ had fulfilled a Messianic prophecy, showing that He was the Messiah that was to come. He came to Jerusalem in a way the people should have recognized. But there was nothing. The temple, in which everything pointed to HIM, did not register any recognition at all that this triumphal procession meant anything.

Mark 11:11 And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.

THE SYMBOLS OF ISRAEL



In contrast to that beautiful sculptured vine with it's massive clusters of fruit at the entrance to the temple, we find the story of that fig tree. That tree was the true representation of Jerusalem, with its showy wealth of leaves suggesting it's high connection with God, but it was barren of fruit.

That Monday, when Jesus pronounced the fig trees doom, it was symbolic of the doom that was soon to befall Jerusalem and the temple. He then entered the temple, where the money handlers were doing business as usual. Jesus drove them out, one more time, clearing the temple, where He spent the day ministering to the people, while priests and religious leaders tried to trap Him and stir up controversy looking for a way to destroy Him

The symbolic fig tree was dying, as Jerusalem's temple with it's religious leaders were cutting off their hope of salvation in those final days of Jesus, ministering in the temple.

The next morning as the disciples, with Jesus, passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. (Mark 11:20)

And that evening (Tuesday) Jesus left the temple for the last time.

Matthew 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you that kill the prophets, and stone them which are sent unto you, how often would I have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and you would not!
23:38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.

Jesus has no joy in seeing the wicked heading into everlasting destruction, He came down from heaven to save them, to give peace and freedom from sin, and He wept bitterly when they rejected Him.
But He came anyway for the joy of saving the remnant who believe and cling to Him, bringing forth the fruit of righteousness.

LESSON NINE
Jerusalem Controversies

The Parable of the Vineyard and the Unfaithful Vineyard Keepers

Mark 12:1-8 A man planted a vineyard, and set a hedge around it, and dug a place for the wine vat, and built a tower, and leased it out to vinedressers, and went into a far country.
At the vintage time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that he might receive fruit from the vineyard.
But those vinedressers caught the servant, and beat him, and sent him away empty.
Once again he sent another servant to the vinedressers; yet they cast stones at him, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated.
And yet again he sent another servant; this one they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some.
Having a son, his only and well beloved, he sent him at the last to them, saying, They will reverence my son. But those vinedressers said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours. And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. Therefore, what shall the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy those vinedressers, and will give the vineyard unto others.

"The vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah His pleasant plant." Isaiah 5:7. Upon this people God had bestowed great privileges, blessing them richly from His abundant goodness. He looked for them to honor Him by yielding fruit. They were to reveal the principles of His kingdom. In the midst of a fallen, wicked world they were to represent the character of God. {COL 285.1}



They understood the parable, but the warning in it changed nothing.
It's the same warning we see illustrated in the object lesson of the fig tree.
These were Christ's last strong calls to the leaders of Israel, the vinedressers, who had been placed in charge of the Lord's vineyard, and who, that very week would initiate His crucifixion.

That beautiful sculpture of a grape vine with huge clusters of grapes, adorned the pillars of their temple, represented what God had intended for them. But Jesus pointed out the reality which was resulting in their rejection of the ONE Who was everything to them.

We read what happened back then, but how does it apply to us today?
Who are the vinedressers today?

Are the principles of His kingdom being revealed today in the midst of a fallen, wicked world?

LESSON NINE
CONTROVERSIES IN JERUSALEM

What authority?

Notice the religious leaders no longer asked for a sign, instead they challenged Christ's authority.

They had all the signs.

--authority over demons (they obeyed His command to leave)
--authority over nature (even the wind and waves obeyed Him)
--authority over all manner of disease (even that of leprosy)
--Power to create (wine from water, enough fish and loaves to feed thousands)
--Power of life and resurrection (the dead were raised)
--Power to know the hearts and thoughts of the people (time and again He addressed their unspoken thoughts and questions)
--Power to cleanse the temple (they all fled, they could not stand up against His command "to take these things out") as well as cleanse people from sin.

They had the signs!
Now they ask by "whose authority were they done?"

The devil was moving his forces in for the final conflict upon which everything was at stake, not just in the immediate circumstances but for all eternity! It was he, (satan) who had challenged Christ's authority in the heavenly courts and started the war against Christ's authority and position.
The religious leaders were angry that Jesus' righteous authority had caused them to disrupt their money making market in the temple. His righteous life had been exposing their hypocrisy and challenging their unrighteous ways and they resented this.
The great battle, or controversy of the ages was all about authority. Lucifer complaining that he resented Christ's righteous and loving authority over the heavenly hosts. Ignoring all the goodness, love, and harmony of heaven, he started demanding that they should have the freedom to do whatever they wanted to do, thus bringing the whole mess of sin and misery into existence.

Jesus in previous a parable said, "But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this [man] to reign over us." Luke 19:14

And that's what those caviling leaders were saying, and just like the parable of the vinedressers, Satan was inspiring those leaders to kill the Son of God, to kill the Creator, in the twisted idea that this would establish their freedom in an unhindered kingdom of rebellion.


Yet, Christ's death and resurrection did bring freedom -- freedom from sin and eternal life to all who accept HIM as their Lord and Master and Savior. Satan is defeated, though still raging in rebellion against the authority of Christ, and showing the absolute horror that rebellion brings, will soon be gone forever.

CHAPTER TEN
The Last Days

Mark 13:1 And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings [are here]!
13:2 And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
13:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,
13:4 Tell us, when shall these things be?

The destruction of Jerusalem is used to typify the last great destruction of the world,
But according to both Matthew 24 and Mark 3:10 the gospel must first be published among all nations.

Even though it was just two days before the crucifixion, this discourse was given at a time when the disciples still believed the Messiah would bring glory to Jerusalem, and the temple was the central architecture to this kingdom.
What a shocking statement! Not One stone of their magnificent Temple would be left standing upon another?
Could it be that the magnificent temple, which was the nation's glory, was soon to be a heap of ruins?
As they passed with Him out of the temple, they called His attention to its strength and beauty. The stones of the temple were of the purest marble, of perfect whiteness, and some of them of a most fabulous size. How those mighty walls could be overthrown the disciples could not comprehend.

Yet, they listened, and when the reality happened 40 years later, they remembered, and not one Christian perished in the fall of Jerusalem, as they recognized the sign and were able to get out in time.

What lessons can we learn for out time?
1. Can our preconceived ideas hinder our comprehension?
Could we be looking too much at our great "structures" and institutions which had their origin in God's plan and guidance, but though they look grand and prestigious now, could be heading for a great fall at the last.

Do we know the signs that give the warning to "flee"?
Yes, this is the last church, with the last message, but remember it's not the structure, not the institutions, it's the people who follow Christ Who will be saved in the end. The buildings and institutions will fall when the final crises comes.

An interesting record of a conversation with EGW, may warn us not to depend on the magnificent "buildings" and institutions, but to make sure we have the right message and connections with our Lord and Savior in our hearts and minds.



The above was not written by Ellen White herself, as it was recorded by someone who heard the conversation.

Yet structural temples, that we look to with pride, will fall when the crises hits What counts is what is in the soul temple in connection with Christ that clings to the cord of faith even when all else is gone.


Notice, even though there is a scattering, there is a regathering.
EGW never advanced the thought that, as we near the close of time, every child of God will act independently of any religious organization. But a lot of things in the system that we look to will tumble.

*******
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ADDED below are quotes written by EGW herself pretty much saying the same thing.

Mark 13:10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations.
Matt. 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

This gospel -- the gospel of God's kingdom
is to be preached in all the world
Why? For a witness.

The Greek word translated as ?witnesses? is martyres, which primarily conveys the idea of someone testifying at court.
Interesting, it doesn't say to "convert the world" but to be a "witness" in all the world. To be Christ's witnesses.

Isa. 43:9-12 Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and show us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth.
You are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant: that you may know and believe me, and understand that I am He: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no Saviour.
I have declared, and I have saved, and I have shown, when there was no strange god among you: therefore you are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God.

The whole world is to be brought to a point of decision. Two sides are presenting their position, which will people choose, for, or against Christ and His kingdom. The gospel presentations are a witness for Christ. They are to be powerful witnesses for Christ, not only in words, but in the transformed lives of the witnesses. The devil has plenty witnessing for him, trying to make people believe his ways,
In the end the whole world will be brought to decision for Christ's kingdom, or for the kingdom of disobedience.


The book of Acts details the expansion of the Christian faith, starting with the Day of Pentecost when 3,000 people joined the fold (Acts 2:41).
For 40 more years Jerusalem watched as the power of the gospel spread. Many individual's in Israel went forth as witnesses for Christ, yet the main leadership chose the earthly kingdom, and it was rent from their hands.

In the end, the whole earth will be lighted up with people witnessing and testifying for Jesus. (Rev. 18:1,2) The gospel of God's kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world! The whole world will be brought to decision. But the world in general will reject the gospel of God's kingdom and will seek to extinguish Christ's witnesses, choosing instead the earthly kingdom, but that earthly kingdom is already in big trouble and is headed for destruction.
"The destruction of Jerusalem foreshadowed that great, great destruction to befall the whole earth.

Jesus didn't promise a peaceful, high esteemed life for His faithful witnesses. They would meet with lots of resistance, betrayals and hard times, but in the end, to be Christ's redeemed witnesses will be worth it all, and more!!!

LESSON TEN
THE LAST DAYS

The Abomination of Desolation

Mark 13:14-18 But when you shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it should not be, (let him that reads understand,) then let them that are in Judaea flee to the mountains:
And let him that is on the roof of his house, not go down into the house, nor go in to take any thing out of his house:
And let him that is in the field not go back again to pick up his clothes.
But woe to them that are pregnant with child, and to them that are nursing their infants in those days!
And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter.

What is this "abomination of desolation"?
In Daniel 9, we see this abomination at work when Jerusalem is destroyed.
We generally translate this as Roman standards set up close to the temple.
When the Roman armies surround Jerusalem with their banners or standards, there was a brief interlude during which Christians in Jerusalem fled.
We project that to the end time to mean when Papal Rome with full support of other denominations, mandates Sunday worship laws, it's a sign to flee.

In other parts of Daniel we references to this abomination set. It was prophesized to be set up at a later time. after Christ's life on earth, it would be set up by Christianity itself, (11:31, 12:11, and lasting for over a thousand years. In Dan. 8:12 its called transgression of desolation)

How can we identify the 'abomination'?

An abomination detestable thing or idol.

Daniel's use of the word matches Strong's Number H8251 Hebrew word (siqquṣ),
which occurs 28 times in 26 verses in the WLC Hebrew.

Duet. 29:17 " their abominations, H8251 their idols, wood and stone, silver and gold
1 Kings 11:5 Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination H8251 of the Ammonites
1 Kings 11:7 Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination H8251 of Moab
1 Kings 11:7 and for Molech, the abomination H8251 of the children of Ammon
2 Kings 23:13 builded for Ashtoreth the abomination H8251 of the Zidonians, and for Chemosh the abomination H8251 of the Moabites,
2 Kings 23:24 all the abominations H8251 that were spied in the land..Josiah put away
2 Chr. 15:8 Asa...put away the abominable idols H8251 out of all the land of Judah
Jer. 4:1 put away thine abominations H8251 out of my sight,
Jer. 7:30 they have set their abominations H8251 in the house which is called by my name
Jer. 13:27 thy whoredom, and thine abominations H8251 on the hills in the fields
Jer. 32:34 they set their abominations H8251 in the house, which is called by my name
Ez 7:20 they made the images of their abominations and of their detestable things H8251
Ez 20:7 Cast ye away every man the abominations H8251 of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols

Obviously this is talking about honoring and serving gods that are not God.

Now, the Roman army required a device for the various units to recognize, watch, and follow in the heat of battle. These standards were held, by the Roman army, in very high regard. Not only were they important in the establishing order in the army, acting as signaling posts, they also represented strength from the various pagan gods.
The standards also played key roles at religious festivals. On these occasions, they would be anointed with precious oils and decorated with garlands. So revered were the standards during such ceremonies, that it might be argued the standards themselves were worshipped by the troops.
The eagle (Aquila) became the supreme symbol because of its association with the god Jupiter.

The Jews well understood about an abomination surrounding the temple. Just recent to Jesus discussion, Pilate had, by night, brought some of these standards into Jerusalem. When the Jews saw them they formed a delegation to protest this "assault" before Pilate. Pilate refused to remove the standards. Pilate had the protestors surrounded by troops, but when he demanded they accept the standards or die, the protesting Jews bared their necks and said they'd rather die. Pilate relented.
The disciples grasped the meaning of these abominable standards surrounding the city. They later recognized the sign and all Christians fled Jerusalem before the final Roman assault took place.

But how does the "abomination" fit in the other references?
Well, did the Roman church accept standards that honored gods that were not the true God! Did they not raise a "sign" of their authority to worship as they pleased, in defiance to what God commanded? Sunday is their sign and rally point, that they have power over God's commandments.

Thus the end time sign-- when the standard signifying the power that claims it has authority over and above the signet sign of the Creator God, is marshaling it's armies to subject the nations to it's authority, and are surrounding God's people with the aim of making them yield, it's high time to flee.

LESSON TEN
THE LAST DAYS
The Second Coming

Mark 13:21-27 And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; do not believe him: For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.
But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.

And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.

As the Holy Spirit is being withdrawn from the earth, Satan puts forth supreme effort to gain control of the whole world. This is a time when religion will actually be in a key position in the world, as it's frantic battle by Satan, who wants the worship that belongs only to God. There will be false prophets all over the place, claiming to be speaking for God. There will be people claiming to be Christ.


Take heed! Jesus, Himself warned us there will be powerful deception aimed to get people to turn away from the true Christ and Savior. It will be the "easy" way. As trouble and calamities are all around, this supernatural, dazzling and gentle being will appear offering peace and healing. It is what everyone is longing for -- but it's a huge deception.

The TRUE Christ will never negate His law. The 7th day Sabbath sign of His creative and sanctifying power is in the very heart of His eternal law.
Also, the TRUE Christ will come in clouds of glory and great power. With a host of angels who will gather all God's children from every part of this earth!

Is. 25:9 Lo, this [is] our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this [is] the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

1 Thess. 4:16-17 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

LESSON ELEVEN
Taken and Tried
Mark 14

Two contrasting stories

A woman with perfume honors Christ.

Mark 14:3 And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he, (Jesus) sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head....
14:8 She has done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.

All four gospels tell this story some adding more details. This woman responds to Jesus with a thankful heart. Her sins which were many, Christ had forgiven. For her Jesus meant everything. The other gospels tell us this is "Mary". When we hear about this Mary, we find her at the feet of Jesus, listening,
Luke 10:42 One thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
Now, just a couple days before Christ's death, she is again at His feet, honoring Him the best way she knew. Giving the best she could buy to Christ.
She has chosen to love Christ with all her heart, soul and strength.

A man, one of the ordained twelve, dishonors Christ, with outright betrayal.

Mark 14:4 And there were some that felt indignation within themselves, and said, Why is there this waste of the ointment?
14:5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.
14:10 And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them.
14:11 And when they heard what he would do, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.

Judas had spent three and half years in company with Jesus. He had seen and heard. Intellectually he had recognized there was something special about Jesus, but somehow His heart was not moved. Judas lacked a deep relational fellowship with Jesus.
Judas did NOT chose the good part, but sold his Savior for a few pittance

LESSON ELEVEN
Taken and Tried
Mark 14

Who are You?

Do we know who we really are?

The story of Peter is a most interesting and revealing story of a person who wants to be with Jesus and spends three years in close fellowship with HIM, yet he is not converted, he is impetuous and self assured, desires the applause of men, fearless but succumbers to fear, he is deeply committed, yet ends up denying the One he loves, but he acknowledges his sin in deep repentance and finally is converted.

We may wonder about Peter, but how many of us are like him? We have moments when we are close to Jesus enjoying spiritual fellowship with Him, even sharing our testimony of praise and wanting to do great things for HIM. But we vacillate, doubting, wanting people to appreciate us, so we do things that compromise, even hiding our connection with Christ, because we fear the lose of acceptance with people around us.

What does it mean to be converted?
Wasn't Peter converted the moment he left his fishing boats behind and left everything to follow Jesus?

Contemplating on what transformation was needed before Peter was in actuality converted, and from that trying to find the true meaning of conversion.

The true sign of conversion seems to be a turning from self sufficiency and self reliance, to recognizing our helplessness and putting our full trust in God. Depending fully upon Christ strength and salvation.

LESSON TWELVE
TRIED AND CRUCIFIED

Mark 15:1 And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate.
Mark 15:13 And they cried out again, Crucify him.

John 1:9 He was the true Light, which lights every man that comes into the world.
1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
John 19:6 When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.

Isaiah 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
53:4 Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.

Why would the religious leaders, who had the scrolls of the prophets, who had the temple with it's symbolic telling of the story of redemption, they were well versed in the scriptures: why would they crucify the King of the universe? Why turn against the One Who had given them MANY signs that He was the Messiah, the One Who had come to redeem them?

LESSON TWELVE
TRIED AND CRUCIFIED
Mark 15

Who is Jesus?

Mark 14:61 He held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?
14:62 And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

Mark 15:2 And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto him, Thou sayest it..

Jesus did not defend Himself over the conflicting accusations people were saying against Him.

Then when Caiaphas, raising his right hand toward heaven, addressed Jesus in the form of a solemn oath: "I adjure Thee by the living God, that Thou tell us whether Thou be the Christ, the Son of God." (Matt. 26:63)
To this appeal Christ could not remain silent.


Pilot too, wondered who Jesus really was.



The priests thought it would be easy to get Pilate to sign the death warrant. He usually didn't worry about the lives of prisoners. If the Jews wanted one of their own dead, what was that to him.

But Who is this Man? Pilate did not want to condemn him. So he started demanding,

The Jewish priests accused Jesus of plotting against the Roman government and calling Himself, the king of the Jews.


Poor, vacillating Pilate, he was convicted, this was no criminal, no ordinary man. He was impressed with Christ's dignity and noble bearing, yet the screams of the mob and the insistent cries demanding Jesus' death, telling Pilate he was no friend of Caesar's if he didn't sign the death warrant, broke any resolve Pilate had to save Jesus life, and he not only signed the death warrant but had Jesus cruelly beaten, twice.

The power of the mob, especially a mob inspired by the evil spirits of darkness, has great force. People get swept into it, even when their logical thinking is letting them know the mob is in terrible error.

In contrast is the power of our Savior, standing there, even in His agony, calm, longing to save sinners, surrounded by an angry sea of shouting, false accusation, and demands for His death. His meekness and patience exalt Jesus above humanity, and prove His kinship to God. His abasement was the pledge of His exaltation. The means of our salvation.

LESSON TWELVE
TRIED AND CRUCIFIED
Mark 15

Mocking the KING of the Jews

Mark 15:16 And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band.
15:17 And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his [head],
15:18 And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!
15:19 And they (repeatedly) smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing [their] knees worshipped him.
15:20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.

During all this mocking and violence, Jesus suffered silently. He was not only the King of the Jews, but King of kings and Lord of lords, but He opened not His mouth to defend Himself against this onslaught of hate, mockery and violence.

Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: ..and justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

The prophets John and Daniel tell us these "mockers" will be raised to life to see Jesus as King of kings coming in the clouds of glory.

Dan. 12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame [and] everlasting contempt.
Rev,1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they [also] which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

During their lifetime, Jesus called them: "I have called, and you refused; I have stretched out My hand, and no man regarded; but ye have set at nought all My counsel, and would none of My reproof." Proverbs 1:24, 25. That voice which now calls them from their graves, awakens memories which they would like to forget. With vivid power they remember words Jesus spoke, adjured by the high priest,
"Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven." Matthew 26:64.

Now they behold Him in His glory.




The lesson asks: "These men had no idea what they were doing. Why, will their ignorance not excuse them on Judgment Day?"

In those who don't know or have rejected truth there are moments when conscience awakens, and the Holy Spirit calls for them to turn to Christ. The evidence was there, even in those demonic infused hours, when Jesus was tortured and abused, the evidence was there that this was NOT an ordinary man. There was another Spirit also at work, the Holy Spirit, stirring up people's minds to see truth.

We see the thief on the cross, hurling insults at Jesus, but he suddenly changes. He sees and remembers things concerning this man, The Holy Spirit illuminates his mind, and little by little the chain of evidence is joined together. In Jesus, bruised, mocked, and hanging upon the cross, he sees the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world. Hope is mingled with anguish in his voice as the helpless, dying soul casts himself upon a dying Saviour. ?Lord, remember me,? he cries, ?when Thou comest into Thy kingdom.?

There was the centurion, a Roman soldier and captain over 100 solders, taking part in the crucifixion. He heard the voice of the Holy Spirit, as He looked at Jesus, the divine patience of the Saviour, and His sudden death, with the cry of victory upon His lips, had impressed this hardened soldier. In the bruised, broken body hanging upon the cross, the centurion recognized the form of the Son of God. He could not refrain from confessing his faith.

LESSON TWELVE
TRIED AND CRUCIFIED
Mark 15

My God, My God why have you forsaken Me?

Did God forsake Jesus? The Father was still there!
But yet there was a "forsaking."

Jesus, was bearing the sins of the whole world, upon the cross; the guilt was like a huge ocean sitting upon Him, engulfing Him that had no sin. Swamped with all the sins from the the worst criminals to the most pious, Jesus "tasted" the second death of the lost.

He could not feel the Father's presence, He could not see beyond the tomb. The sins (not His) that rested on Him were terrible, horrendous, sins, separating Him from connecting with the Father.


I peter 2:21-24 Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: ....
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

During this time, Jesus could not depend upon feelings. His feelings told Him He was abandoned by all friends, abandoned by God the Father Himself. The light on the other side of the tomb, was not shining.
He had to rely on faith alone. Faith in the promises of the covenant.

Two things we learn from this.
1. When we feel God isn't present, don't give up. Faith believes even when feelings don't confirm our faith.
2. Jesus tasted the second death, the final death of those whose sins are not forgiven, who die having no hope for eternal life. He was dying to forgive those sins He was carrying, they were not His sins, but was His own righteousness enough to bring Him through to victory?
Because His righteousness was enough, we never have to taste the second death, if we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

LESSON THIRTEEN
The Risen Lord
Mark 16

1 Cor. 15:14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
15:15 Yea, and we would be found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
15:16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
15:18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.

Mark 16:6 Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here:




Ephesians 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, God has quickened us (raised us to life) together with Christ, by grace ye are saved;
2:6 And has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
2:7 That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in [his] kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Romans 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

And those who die to sin by God's grace are raised to new spiritual life, can, also know they will be raised from physical death at the last trump!
.
1 Thess. :16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
4:17 Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Very good lesson, I was to teach it but the hurricane sidetracked it a bit...