You 🫵 May Not Be That Far Away

Mark 12:37 (KJV) “Thou art not far from the Kingdom” After Jesus has dealt with the question of the woman and seven husbands there comes one of the scribes. Remember that a scribe was an interpreter of the law. This is what he had to say Mark 12:28 (KJV) And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? This scribe saw how well and truthful Jesus answered, ask Him another question; 

Which is the first commandment of all? Then Jesus tells him  Mark 12:29 (KJV) And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: They had a problem with hearing just like we do. If a person fails to hear, listen then how will they ever know? Then Jesus goes on Mark 12:30 (KJV) And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. After realizing that there is only one God, our love at that point should be forced on one God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Then Jesus says

Mark 12:31 (KJV) And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. The scribe had no problem saying Lord you are right but Jesus said this to him  Mark 12:34 (KJV) And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question. Not long ago I was talking to a man that I had gone to High School with. He made this statement “I just have been baptized” and then he made this statement “glad I have gotten that out of the way.” I'm sure he didn’t mean it the way it sounded. But too many have the idea that if they get baptized all is well. But this is not true at all, water can never wash away our sin. Church attendance can never make things right with God. Why, even being good isn’t good enough. Oh no one must realize that they have sinned against God. Just as King David did with his sin of adultery with Bathsheba the wife of Uriah, one of David’s soldiers out fighting for Israel at this time. Later in life David cries out to God about his sin. 

Psalms 51:3 (KJV) For I (David) acknowledge my transgressions: and my(David) sin is ever before me. Notice what David says next 

Psalms 51:4 (KJV) Against thee, thee only, have I (David) sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Who did David say he sinned against? David said he had sinned against God and Him alone. Our sin is not someone else’s fault, we didn’t sin because someone else made us do it, no we did it on our own, it was our choice and we sinned against God when we sinned. Don’t be like the scribe thinking that just because you know the truth you will be ok 👍 No the same will be said about you “Thou art not far from the kingdom of God.”

Back To The Drawing Board

Mark 12:13 (KJV) And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words. Could this be the chief priest, scribes and the elders we read about in chapter 11 who questioned Jesus' authority?  Mark 11:27 (KJV) And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders, 

Mark 11:28 (KJV)  And say unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? Well they think they are going to trip up Jesus in paying tax. Well here they come. First they say Jesus, we know that you tell the truth. You don't favor individuals because of who they are or their status. Rather, you teach the way of God truthfully. Luke says be careful when 

Luke 6:26 (KJV) Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets. 

Well here comes the big question: the reason they came. “Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?”

Jesus' answer is simple Mark 12:17 (KJV) And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him. Well that didn’t go the way they had planned, back to the drawing board. 

Who Is In Charge Here? Nope You’re Wrong!

 Chapter 11 ends with Jesus in the Temp as the chief priest, and the scribes, and the elders asking questions about Jesus's authority. Chapter 12 Jesus began to teach Mark 12:1 (KJV) And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted   vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country. In the verses that follow He teaches by a parable. What is a Parable? “A fable or relation or representation of something real in life or nature, from which a moral is drawn for instruction” We read of a “certain man” planting a vineyard, building a wall, digging a winefat or wine press and also builds a tower then he leaves and went to a far country.  The certain man leaves others in charge and goes into a far country. Those that were left in charge forgot that they were not the owners of the vineyard and when the owner sent others they were beaten , wounded and even killed. The owner finally sent his only son and those who had been left in charge killed HIs only son. This sounds much like what our Heavenly Father and those who thought they were in charge like the Chief Priest, the Scribes and the Elders. Then the Son that was sent sounds like Jesus Christ the only Son of God. So they killed the Son thinking they could do what they liked. But I don’t understand their thinking. Did they not think the Father would just sit by and do nothing about what was done to His Son? Oh, the ones Jesus was teaching got the picture they understood. How do I know? We are told what they did.

Mark 12:12 (KJV) And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way. The problem is they didn’t learn. The question: does fear teach? Apparently not for later we will read where Jesus God’s only Son will be put to death. Ezekiel 25:17 (KJV) And I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious rebukes; and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall lay my vengeance upon them.

Keep The Troops From The Base Camp

 Mark 11:27 (KJV) And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders,

As I read this verse the word ‘TEMPLE” jumped out at me. In the book of Mark the word ‘TEMPLE” is mentioned 12 times and Jesus is go, coming or nearby. Then I thought about the word “SYNAGOGUE”. It is mentioned 9 times and there too Jesus was going in, or coming out. Jesus spent some time in these two places. The first place we read that Jesus took His disciples was the “SYNAGOGUE.”   Mark 1:21 (KJV) And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.

This is one reason we need to be at Church. But this is another reason, the enemy wants to weaken the Church. Remember an enemy  is a foe and adversary who hates another and wishes him injury. 

We have seen that Churches across our land, that  on Sunday only have one service and then on Sunday night they are closed. Our school system for our children are not run like that. I don’t guess there is a Biblical reason for having Church on Sunday night other than if we don’t have some type of set schedule we will not have much activity. Let me explain, how many times have you said to a friend we need to get together more often? Only much later that time never came? Our Bible says this Hebrews 10:25 (KJV) Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. So the less we assemble ourselves together the better opportunity 

  our foe, adversary, enemy has to destroy. Keeping the troops from the base camp will always result in much needed supplies such as food and ammo and many other needful supplies to fight the enemy. So it is with our Church attendance the less we attend the less we have to combat the enemy with. If the Home and The Church are not strong we begin to lose ground and our foe gains ground. Jesus teaches  the Temple and the Synagogue are important. But here on this day Jesus is questioned about His authority by the Chief Priest, the Scribes and the Elders. What boldness! Who do these Big Shots think they are? They just questioned but many in our day aren’t questioning they are denying. We can ignore, we can deny but we can’t do away with who Jesus is or His Authority. 

Forget🤔

 Here is another portion of scripture I don’t fully understand. So when I don’t understand I look for what I do understand. In verse 24 I understand that I need to pray. Mark 11:24 (KJV) Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

(when ye pray) But when I pray I need to be real at what I am praying for, (believe) that there’s a God in heaven that hears what I’m praying and He also knows if I believe what I’m asking. But then there is another verse  Mark 11:25 (KJV) And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. I should pray believing what I ask. But I should also be willing to forgive others. Jesus Christ forgave others. We read of the way He was treated, Isaiah tells of what mankind will do to the Son of God. 

Isaiah 50:6 (KJV) I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.  Picture yourself if someone was to spit in your face. Forget the beatings and your facial hair being pulled out and the shame. Would you forgive those who did such to you? Jesus said for us to FORGIVE. If I  see just those 3-things and ask myself, Do I believe I should PRAY! Do I believe that when I pray I should BELIEVE that God can answer my Prayer. But am I willing to FORGIVE others after they have wronged me? Do you think that forgiving is forgetting? So I asked myself when God forgave me of all my sins, passed, present and future did He forget? Does God forget? If we make God to be like you and I then the answer would be yes. If God can forget then He might forget about me and you too, where in the world would that leave us?  Hebrews 8:12 (KJV) For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. It did read FORGET. No it read REMEMBER. There are things that have happened to me and I have a choice to forgive or remember. Forgive is not to Forget but it is a choice not to keep bringing it up. My children disappointed me many times and I, as their dad forgave them. But I didn’t stop there. I refused to remember what they did to the point of almost forgetting about what they did. God could if He wanted to bring up every detail of my sin but He chooses not to bring them up. So God says I want you to do that too. 

May Not Be

Mark 11:22 (KJV) And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

Have Faith in God! That’s the very first thing the child of God must have. Why is that so important??  Without faith it is impossible to please God. 

Hebrews 11:6 (KJV) But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

As the hero’s of faith march across Hebrews chapter 11 we stand amazed. The faith of Noah, Abraham, Sara, Moses their faith leaving home, family, jobs heading out not always knowing where they were going; now that took big faith. But let’s not forget the ones who had big faith, their faith brought them into many different places.   

Hebrews 11:35 (KJV) Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: TORTUREDDD!!! Yes their faith was so strong when faced with being tortured or being delivered they chose torture. What kind of torture?

Hebrews 11:36 (KJV) And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

Hebrews 11:37 (KJV)  They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

Hebrews 11:38 (KJV) (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

By their actions they showed their faith in God. So what’s faith? Good question, here's the Bible answer. Hebrews 11:1 (KJV) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Wait a minute here! Let me get this right, Faith is asking to put trust in something not seen? Yes, that's it. If I can see it, touch it, feel it, it's not faith. But faith will produce something all can see. If you never plug the lamp to the electricity you will never have light. But once you plug the lamp into the electricity the lamp lights up. Until you have faith in God neither can you see or understand the things of God. You can see it in others that have faith. Never plug up your lamp and you will have no light. Look out your window and your next door neighbor is all lit up and they are seeing and reading fine. But you, my friend, are still in the dark. Why is that? Failure to plug in your lamp so the light can shine out.  But these we read about in Hebrews 11 are plugged in and willing and did die for what they had faith in, God! I am waiting to ask them questions, you may ask how is that going to happen? Easy, I too have faith in God and one day in the near future I will see those I have read about for the last 50 years. What stories they will have to tell if that even really matters anymore. For we are with the one we put our Faith in. In that wonderful place we call Heaven that’s indescribable. 1 Corinthians 2:9 (KJV) But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. So the next time you hear someone describe Heaven listen closely, if they can describe it with terms you can’t understand it’s not the Heaven those in Hebrews 11 entered into. 

Joy Robbed

Mark 11:21 (KJV) And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.

When I read this verse the words of Peter “calling to remembrance” I thought of a song by Tommy Walker titled “We will Remember.” He says in that song 

“You're our creator, our life sustainer

Deliverer, our comfort, our joy

Throughout the ages You've been our shelter

Our peace in the midst of the storm

With signs and wonders You've shown Your power

With precious blood You showed us Your grace

You've been our helper, our liberator

The giver of life with no end 

We will remember, we will remember”  

He goes on and sings 

“When we walk through life's darkest valleys

We will look back at all You have done

And we will shout, our God is good

And He is the faithful One”

I thought of Psalms 77:11 (KJV) I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. Like Peter, are we too calling to remembrance the things our God has done for us in the past?  As the song continues 

“I still remember the day You saved me

The day I heard You call out my name

You said You loved me and would never leave me

And I've never been the same”

Can you identify with those words? The day He Saved You! Oh what a day. Then the proof beyond that day “I’ve never been the same.”  Hallelujah! But don’t let all the things God has done for you be a memory. Let it be an everyday reminder. Don’t let Psalms 106 happen. This Psalms starts off  Praise and Thanks and the Goodness of God. For 5 verses God is great and in verse 6 it all falls apart “We have sinned ” yeah, that will do it every time. Rob you of your Joy.