No Questions Asked

 Mark 11:1 (KJV) And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples, The Lord sent 2, could it be that 2 work better than 3? I don’t know how many times I have heard my wife say that when she is keeping the grandkids that 2 of them are fine but when I’m keeping 3 they fuss and fight with one another. I’m not sure that these men would fuss with one another but then I’m not sure. Why would I say that? Here’s why. Mark 10:37 (KJV) They [James & John] said unto him,  Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory. Look what that did  Mark 10:41 (KJV) And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John. Anyways here we read of Jesus sending two of His disciples again. 

Mark 14:13 (KJV) And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him. No questions asked, these 2 disciples do what they are asked to do. How would you feel if you had gone to get a pitcher of water and all of a sudden you noticed two men following you? You turn to the left and they turn to the left. You turn to the right and they too follow you.  Then they come to your house . Then they ask you where the quest chamber is? Then this man show them a larger upper room. The disciples say this will do. We'll have our Passover here. Then they say sir we are going to start getting things ready now.

Mark 14:16 (KJV) And his disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover. So what’s the message here? Could it be the Lord will never ask you to do what you can’t do? It may seem impossible, you may have unanswerable questions but the blessings will come if you do what the Lord would have you to do. Too many times and I don’t like to remember them, let alone write about them. But I felt strongly about something God wanted me to do and I let the fear🫣 of it steal my blessings. Now I will never know what would have or could have happened. 😞

A Night of Deliverance

 Mark 14:12 (KJV) And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover?

The first time we read the word Passover is in 

Exodus 12:11 (KJV) And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD'S passover.

This was a night of deliverance but also a night to be much observed.  Exodus 12:42 (KJV) It is a night to be much observed unto the LORD for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the LORD to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations.  So without the Passover there would have been no first born that would have left Egypt. In the New Testament we get a clear look at the Passover. Read what the Apostle Paul said in     1 Corinthians 5:7 (KJV) Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Christ is our Passover it was His blood that was shed for our sin. Just like those in Egypt that first night, without the blood they died. Christ Jesus is now this world's Passover and we as a people must accept what Jesus did on the Cross at Calvary. If not, then there will be no deliverance for us. It’s not the lying, cheating,  illicit sex, or adultery, homosexuality, drugs, alcohol, murder, or anything else you might think of. No it’s as simple as rejecting Jesus as your Passover. What would you think of a man that is in a burning house with no way out. He is on the second floor. The stairway has already been burned and has fallen to the first floor, all is in full blaze. Then all of a sudden there’s a fireman on a lift outside the window, but the window will not open. The fireman takes his ax and knocks the window out. There is now a big opening easy to get to the fireman and the lift that will deliver this man from the fire. But the man refuses to leave the room; he's not sure that the lift will hold both of them. The fireman assures him it will but he still refuses and burns alive in that room. What would you say about that man who was burned alive? I’m not sure what you would call him but I would say he didn’t make the right decision and it cost him his life when deliverance was just outside his window. The same is true today for those who for whatever reason refuses what Jesus did on Calvary’s Cross for them.  Revelation 3:20 (KJV) Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Jesus is standing, He is knocking to anyone, just open the door and let Him in and He said I will come in. Those who do there’s deliverance and for those who don’t there’s no hope of survival. If asked the question if you were to die next week would you go to heaven? What would be your answer? The answer could be a lot of things. Then ask yourself, has my answer changed anything in my life? Do I have a relationship with the God of the Bible? Do I talk with Him in prayer? Do I hunger to read about Him in my Bible? Do I want to live for Him? Do I want others to know about Him? Do I remember a time in my life when it changed because of Him? If not, why not? Are you like the man in the burning house? Refusing to get on the lift because you are afraid it won’t hold you? What do you think will be the results if you refuse Jesus Christ?

The Mole Within 😳

Remember verse 1 of Mark 14? The chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take Jesus by craft, and put him to death. But because of the feast day they didn’t think it was a good time.

So now an opportunity opens. Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus' disciples walks in with the purpose of betraying Jesus.  Mark 14:10 (KJV) And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them. The perfect plan one of Jesus own is going to help us.  When they heard this they were glad and then they offered him some money.  Mark 14:11 (KJV) And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.

When the  chief Priest and the scribes heard it they were glad. Proverbs 17:5 (KJV) Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.  [ruin: - calamity, destruction.]  shall not escape punishment. The clock starts ticking, the plans are about to be made, how this task of destruction will take place, Judas the mole within the group. He is so well hidden within that the other 11 never thought it was him but they did think that maybe it was there on self.  Mark 14:18 (KJV) And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me. Then watch what happened. Mark 14:19 (KJV) And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? and another said, Is it I? I have heard it and I have even said it myself “I’ll never do that!” Only to do what I said I would never do. So here they were thinking and saying will it be me that betrays? John the Baptist even said is Jesus the one or should we be looking for another. 

Matthew 11:3 (KJV) And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? John is in prison; the disciples have just been informed that one of the 12 will betray Jesus and they aren’t sure about themselves. Remember these guys aren’t some super hero from the past, no, they are and were just like you and I. Maybe you have said “Lord I have given all to serve you, why am I suffering so?” The answer to that question is I don’t know! Why would 11 men ask the question, am I the one that will betray you Lord? I don’t know. Could it be that they were unsure of what they might do? Wonder if Peter felt he was the one when he denied Jesus 3 times? I’m not sure but Peter may have thought that it was him. He may have said within himself it’s me, I’m the one. I don’t know but I think he may have. 

Is My Name Really Important?🤔

 Her name was not known, but what she did was. There are not many whose name is still remembered two thousand years later. But somewhere worldwide she is read about everyday. Jesus says that wherever the gospel is preached she will be made known.  

Mark 14;9  Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her. For what reason? A Memorial not to Jesus but of her, this no named woman. It’s not your name you need known or your name in lights, oh no it’s what you did. Have you ever heard someone say “my dad, Grandad, mother taught me that or I learned it from them?” I never remember asking that person what the name of their dad, or grandad or mother was. It just wasn’t important who they were but what they did was. My name and yours too will be nobody in a 100 years or less after we are gone. So knowing that, wouldn’t you rather be known like this woman for what you did than who you were? I don’t know, but some of the writers said that this woman was a woman of the night before she gave her heart to Jesus. Maybe that’s why Jesus kept her name off the pages of scripture. Those who wrote that, know nothing about her; it was just a guess on their part. 

But what she did was not in question, who was she? Well, I don’t know and neither does anyone else. God just wanted it that way. I remember the story my Pastor told back in the late 70’s. He said back in the long ago when a person was caught stealing sheep they would brand SS in their foreheads. They did that so that everyone that saw them would know that they were sheep stealers. This man moved from that town to another and tried to begin a new life. It wasn’t long before someone told him of the love Jesus had for him and he soon gave his heart to the Lord. Years went by and everyone in his town loved him. If someone needed help he was always there, helping and doing what he could. He attended a small church in town and did what he could there. One day a man asked another man what that SS in his forehead meant? The other man said I’m not really sure but my guess is Super Saint, because he is one of the finest men I know. It’s not our name that’s all that important. 

They Complained

Mark 14:1 (KJV) After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him (Jesus) by craft, and put him to death.

Mark 14:2 (KJV) But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people. 

Looks like it’s always been, people who think they are in a place of power, do what they want, lf they just have the timing right.

The Plot; then we read about The Perfume  

Mark 14:3 (KJV) And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he 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.

Here she comes, this woman with her costly and precious perfume and she opens and pours it on the head of Jesus. Well that didn’t go over very well. There were some there that were irritated about what she did. They saw it as a waste. 

Mark 14:4 And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made? Excuse me, whose perfume was it? Not theirs. Could not this woman do what she wants to with her perfume? It wasn’t for sale therefore it couldn’t be sold and given to the poor. 

Mark 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. Just like today other people telling you and whoever will agree with them what YOU should do with your stuff. It was this woman’s perfume and she could do what she wanted too with it. She chose to anoint Jesus that was her choice. I love what Jesus said. Mark 14:8 She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. She did what she could the others did what they could, complain.

What a PRIVILEGE!

 Only two times in the book of Mark and in the same chapter and back to back do we read the word “DECEIVE.”  We are to regard with care “take heed.” That you are not “deceived.”  

Mark 13:5 (KJV) And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you:

Make sure you are not “deceived” because many will be.

Mark 13:6 (KJV) For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

Then I noticed  the little phrase “Take heed”. It's mentioned  6 times in the book of Mark and 4 of those times are in Mark 13.  Be careful not to let anyone deceive you. 

Take Heed that mankind doesn’t Deceive you.

Take Heed to yourself, don't be ignorant.

Take Heed of what I have told you, don’t be forgetful. 

Take Heed and watch and pray, keep your eyes open. Don’t get confidence in yourselves and forget to pray. Mark 12:24 (KJV) And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?

Some just see someone 

Down on their knees 

Talkin' to the air 

Words lost on a breeze

Some just see tear drops 

Fallin' to the floor 

Just a waste of time 

Not anything more

But it's a direct line to the throne room 

Where you can find someone who cares 

And if you need some proof, I can tell you 

There is power, power in prayer

Prayer, it’s our Privilege to pray one for another. It’s our Duty to pray for each other and if that isn’t enough  God has asked us to pray for each other. James 5:16 “pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” Why? Because you may be one of the few praying; not only that there will come a day when you can’t. When you might ask? When death comes and takes you away. Oh what a privilege to pray. We get to pray one for another! What a PRIVILEGE!

👂Listening In 🤔

 Mark 13:3 (KJV) And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,

This is a private conversation between Peter, James, John and Andrew. When you hear of a private meeting does your curiosity wonder what they are discussing? Well, we are invited to this private conversation, we get to read what was said. No one has ever come to me and said “did you read about the private conversation? It’s all written down, 📝what was said and talked about.” Can you hear it?👂It’s private, so you may have to stick your ear closer. Here it comes the question, listen.

Mark 13:4 (KJV) Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?

Tell us When these things shall be?

Tell us What shall be the sign?

Tell us When these things shall be fulfilled?

Jesus answers Mark 13:5 (KJV) And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you: This is not going to be that easily understood and you guys are going to have to watch out for there will be people who will try to mislead you. Listen to me you are going to hear of wars but don’t be troubled because the end is not yet..

Mark 13:7 (KJV) And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. There’s more? Yes there’s more, listen. 

Mark 13:8 (KJV) For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows. This is just the beginning of what’s to come.  There will be beating, because of trusting and speaking in My Name, they will stand before those in authority. But no need to worry the Holy Ghost will give you words to speak but first the Gospel must be published among all nations. I Can see these four men looking at each other thinking 🤔Holy Ghost, Gospel????? Published?????Jesus said well you boys wanted to know when or what’s ahead didn't you? Many in our day want to know what’s ahead and they, just like those disciples, get lost in the conversation because they just don’t understand what’s being taught. It was the last night Jesus would be with His disciples that He told them about the Holy Spirit coming to dwell on the inside of them. John 14:17 (KJV) Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

There was a lot these men were taught, a lot they witnessed. How would these men remember all that? When Jesus left them and they were left on their own? Remember your first day when left to do what you had been trained to do? Did you make mistakes? You sure did. But you also learned from your mistakes. These men will make mistakes, yes   they will. But Jesus didn’t leave them helpless; they had within them the Holy Spirit of God to lead them, teach them and correct them. So do those who have repented of their sins! Jesus called the Holy Spirit the Comforter. John 14:26 (KJV) But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Don’t be deceived. Neither should we for our Heavenly Father has got this.