King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Tuesday, October 08, 2024
Chapters: John Chapter 5, Matthew Chapter 12, Mark Chapter 3
Message: Jesus Is The Cure
Hello My Friend,
A hurricane is headed straight for my state and is supposed to come through my area as a Category 2. My husband went to the store and witnessed a fight over a bag of sugar, so you can imagine things have been pretty chaotic. I am not worried because this has been the second hurricane to come through in a week and just two years ago one came through that took out the front part of our carport that kept everything from being flooded. I will tell you this, I think my house needs to be condemned with all the issues that we have, but for some reason God has His hand on us and for that reason I know even if the house falls apart, my foundation stands and that is Christ. [2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.]
We have been reading about all the miracles that Jesus performed while He walked the earth in the flesh, He cured everyone who came to Him, even if they did not believe in who He is. As we continue in the reading of the Gospels, Jesus, had been walking on the scene for about four or five months, people are following Him wherever He went, and not just a few, multitudes would show up. It was time for one of the three feasts in which all the Jews would gather in Jerusalem. As Jesus arrives, He fastens His eyes on a pool that had quite a few people around it. This was no ordinary pool, it was known for its healing properties.
[John 5:2-6 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. 4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. 5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?]
[whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole] Bethesda, means House of Grace, or Mercy. In this case, the man had been suffering from his disease for thirty-eight years, he is crippled and unable to walk, but still has faith of being cured, but who was he putting his faith in? Was it the angel? Was it the water? Was it someone willing to help him into the pool? Or was it God? Well, the man responds to Jesus and pretty much tells Him what he was putting his faith in.
[John 5:7-11 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. 8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. 9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath. 10 The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed. 11 He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.]
[He that made me whole…said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.] The religion of the Jews had largely become a matter of dead form, without the true understanding of love and mercy, they could care less that the man had been unable to walk, but because he took it upon himself to carry it on a Sabbath he was breaking the Law. While it was true that the Law prohibited works of servitude on the Sabbath, but necessary works were not forbidden. This fool basically told them that Jesus made him do it, he had no idea that the one who cured him would know how he responded. Jesus, confronted him in the Temple.
[John 5:14-18 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. 15 The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole. 16 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day. 17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. 18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.]
[sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.] You see, God, is not a respecter of persons in who He cures, in fact, all cures comes from God regardless of whether or not one is saved. The issue comes as to whether or not one recognizes that it was God, those who do will not only glorify Him, but find out that they need to come to Him through Christ. This is what Jesus was trying to convey to the man, if he believed that the cure came from anyone else, but God then he was in danger of a far more than becoming ill again.
[Matthew 12:43-45 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. 44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. 45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.]
You see, the devil cannot touch the soul of true believers of Christ, but he can do what he will to the ones who are not. It is fun to play the believer for a little while, but the truth will come out once the sin comes back. You cannot be touched by the hand of God, and expect anything good to come out of it if you refuse to accept that it is Him. In fact, Jesus, flat out tells them all that if they do not believe in Him then they will die.
[John 5:21-25 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. 22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: 23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. 25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.]
[when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God:] Jesus, admits it right here that every soul will spend an eternity somewhere. He goes on to say where those who do hear His voice will go, [John 5:28-31 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. 30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. 31 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.]
[as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just;] There is no way that Jesus can deny who He is, just like we cannot deny who we are. And it does not take a scholar to know that some things are just wrong, including killing someone because they told someone to pick up a chair. There are times when God will use strict force to put fear into people to repentance, but He knows what He is doing. Again, He is not a respecter of persons, [Romans 2:9-11 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: 11 For there is no respect of persons with God.]
[If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.] Jesus, is referring to the Holy Spirit here, He is the third person of the Trinity of God in which all three serve a great purpose. Since they are one in the same, of course He is going to be a witness that He is the Son of God and God Himself in the flesh. Christ, not only would become the sacrifice to save His believers from hell, He set His believers free from these corrupted false religions. Jesus, goes on to confirm to those who think that their religion will save them that are lying to themselves when even the Scriptures of old prove that He was coming here.
[John 5:39-42,45-47 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. 41 I receive not honour from men. 42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. 45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. 46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. 47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?]
[For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me:] Jesus, was referring to this passage, [Deuteronomy 18:18-19 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. 19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.]
Speaking of the Scriptures, these men were harping about Jesus telling the man to carry his bed on the Sabbath according to the Law, but if they were so knowledgeable about the Scriptures than they would know the times that it was necessary to exert yourself on the Sabbath. These religious nuts were obsessed with the Sabbath, they were convinced that even lifting one finger would be the cause of death. Jesus, calls them out when they found the disciples in a corn field picking corn.
[Matthew 12:1-3,5-7 At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat. 2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day. 3 But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; 5 Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless? 6 But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. 7 But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.]
[if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice,] Jesus, was referring to this verse, [Hosea 6:6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.] These all self righteous thinking, Law abiding thinking fools, thought that they knew the Scriptures and the Law, little did they realize that their beliefs were leading them straight to hell. You know, Jesus, did often do things to instigate the Jews, not to provoke them, but to see if any would open their hearts and believe. On yet again another Sabbath, He entered in a synagogue and walked up to a man with a cripple hand, and straight out asked them was it lawful heal someone on a Sabbath.
[Mark 3:1-6 And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand. 2 And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him. 3 And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth. 4 And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace. 5 And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other. 6 And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.]
[took counsel…how they might destroy him.] I think these men were so wounded by their broken egos that their every thought was on how to destroy Jesus before the people start learning about just how much of a fraud they were. These people were not following Scripture, they were following tradition, which He often called them out on as well, but much of what we saw was fulfilled just as Isaiah prophesied.
[Matthew 12:17-21 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, 18 Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles. 19 He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. 20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. 21 And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.]
[neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.] Jesus, did not come here to fight with the people of the world, He came here to save those who believe in Him. You see, Jesus was attempting to show them that everything He was doing was according to the Law, but they really had no clue what the Scriptures said. Now, it had been a long day, Jesus, was tired so He went up to a mountain that was close to His hometown to rest and while there He decided to give twelve of His disciples some more responsibility. Once He did that they went to the home of a childhood friend to eat, but it did not take long before a crowd to come and well you can say the friends were a little overwhelmed.
[Mark 3:13-21 And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him. 14 And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, 15 And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils: 16 And Simon he surnamed Peter; 17 And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder: 18 And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite, 19 And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house. 20 And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread. 21 And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.]
[when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him:] They thought that Jesus was in over His on this, taking on way too much responsibility, and it was making Him crazy. So they set out from where they were to take Him with the purpose of getting Him the rest He needed. Jesus, was the Son of God, in the flesh and He might become tired and weak in His human state like the rest of us, but He would not submit to them. Now, there were some Pharisees there as well and all they needed to hear was that Jesus beside Himself for them to conjure up that He was not the Son of God, but rather the son of the devil.
[Matthew 12:24-29 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. 25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: 26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? 27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. 28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. 29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.]
[except he first bind the strong man?] In other words, Jesus was telling them that His power came from the Holy Spirit and had He been what they accused Him of, then the in order for a son of the devil to cast out an evil spirit he would need to cast Satan out first, which Satan would never do. Then Jesus goes on to tell them exactly what was going to happen to them for blaspheming the Holy Spirit like they had done.
[Matthew 12:31-33,36-37 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. 32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. 33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. 36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.]
[For by thy words thou shalt be justified,] [Idle; Useless; vain; ineffectual.] Useless words of no profit, they are often brought on by religious people who do not even follow their own rules. Jesus, was angry at how hardhearted they were. He knew who these people were, that they were only out to destroy Him, that nothing good that He did mattered. Jesus, will forgive and save anyone, who comes to Him, but those who down right call God evil are reprobates, and are subject to the same fate as Satan. Jesus, goes on to tell them just how evil they are.
[Matthew 12:39-41 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: 40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.]
[An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign;] Those who search the Scriptures and believe in them, do not need to physically see a sign that they are justified through their faith in Christ, they know they are by their faith alone. True Christians live Godly lives, not because it is required by the law, but because they want to please God. They are not perfect, we are all sinners and have something that we need to work on, that is why we need to embrace God’s gift of eternal life, not put it to the side like some gift we have no use for. It is not about following a set of rules, it is about living to please God and no one else, [Galatians 5:13-14 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.]
Sin takes one to a level that is beyond recognizable, when it takes over the one it is subject to. In fact, friends and family will see it before you do, and Jesus is the only cure. Now, since Jesus was close to home among the crowd was his mother and earthly family, [Mark 3:31-35 There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him. 32 And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee. 33 And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren? 34 And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! 35 For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.]
[For whosoever shall do the will of God,] Today, it seems like Jesus limits His cures, but I have come to realize that there are several ways that God cures people and while it is not always physical cures, His grace surely is sufficient to see us through whatever cure He sees fit that will glorify Him the most, [1 Peter 4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.]
Jesus Christ Revealed/Magnified: [John 5:17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. John 5:25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. Matthew 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Mark 3:35 For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.]
Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You for Your simple plan, You do not make us follow a bunch of rules that we have no way of keeping, You just want us to embrace You and let the Holy Spirit be our guide to live in a way that pleases You. I embrace Your gift of eternal life that You have given to me for believing in the finished work of Your Son on the cross. I may be weak, but Your Word is powerful to fight off the temptation to sin and reassure me that You are with me even when others may forsake me. I can do this because I know that Christ, who lives in me gives me the strength to do so. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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