Mark | Ch. 1
From Daniel's Desk on 3/26/2020
My Title: IMMEDIATELY
My Verse: 35
"35 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He departed and went out to a desolate place, and there He prayed."
My Response:
Immediately. - Jesus was baptized and immediately driven into the wilderness to be tempted by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan.
Immediately - Jesus went to the fishermen to call his first disciples to follow Him. They left their livelihood immediately to follow Him.
Immediately - Immediately He called his brother James and John. They left their father with the hired servants to go and follow Jesus.
Immediately - On the Sabbath Jesus immediately begins teaching with AUTHORITY in the synagogue in Capernaum.
Immediately - There is a demon possessed man that Jesus heals.
Immediately - He leaves the synagogue immediately to go to the house of His disciples. Simon's mother-in-law lay ill.
Immediately - They told Jesus about her. Jesus heals her.
Immediately - Jesus is approached by a leper who says, if you WILL you can. Jesus says "I WILL, be clean." and immediately the leprosy left him.
I get it Lord. You have put it before me to do this thing that I am afraid will fail. But to JOIN you in what you are doing, it has to be done IMMEDIATELY.
I will begin today.
How Will This Make You a Better Husband/Father/Man:
Following Jesus requires an immediate response. - In Matthew 8, the scribe and the disciple sincerely wish to follow Jesus... when it's convenient. Jesus' response can seem a bit harsh but His point is there are no half measures. If you aren't all in, the Christian life will eventually wear you out because if you don't fully surrender to Him you wont ever be able to fully surrender yourself to allow yourself to accomplish HIS WILL, IN HIS POWER. - The call of the Lord is never convenient and most often requires immediate and drastic action. From Abraham to Paul, I can't think of any Bible story that didn't require bold faith and obedience. (Even Solomon's heart was tested when God asked Him what he would ask of Him at the beginning of his reign as king. His answer was for wisdom to judge God's people correctly. His heart started out to do the will of God.)
My point is, your call wont be any different. God created you. On purpose. Draw near to His heart. LISTEN for His voice!
My Notes:
Jesus Christ is the SON OF GOD.
God called His shot through Isaiah. He would send His messenger to prepare the way.
"Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight."
John appeared in the wilderness PROCLAIMING a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins! This was a radical movement.
John KNEW that Jesus was coming after him and that He would baptize with the HOLY SPIRIT.
John would never see Jesus baptize with the Holy Spirit in this life time but he KNEW his identity and role in God's GRAND story. Do you?
Jesus was baptized by John and immediately He saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove.
A voice came from heaven. "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased." God, you are awesome.
Immediately Jesus is tempted... but it's the Spirit that drove Him out into the wilderness.
He was tempted for 40 DAYS! By Satan. The great deceiver. Liar. Cunning snake.
The angels were ministering to Him. He was never alone.
God's timing is perfect. AFTER John is arrested, Jesus comes into Galilee, proclaiming the GOSPEL of God and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."
Jesus calls His first disciples... not by going to the temple, but by looking at men's hearts. He looks among the FISHERMEN. - I can't imagine fishermen were any more holy than they are today.
The men He called IMMEDIATELY left their livelihood to follow Him. - Jesus didn't come to bless their fishing business or even save their family business. He came to call them OUT of the business. < Stop and THINK about that.