Digging for Spiritual Gems – Mark 3-4
Week of April 23-29
Mr 3:29 What does it mean to blaspheme against the holy spirit, and what are the consequences? (“blasphemes against the holy spirit,” “guilty of everlasting sin” study notes on Mr 3:29, nwtsty)
Blasphemy refers to defamatory, injurious, or abusive speech against God or against sacred things. Since holy spirit emanates from God himself, willfully opposing or denying its operation amounted to blasphemy against God. As shown at Mt 12:24, 28 and Mr 3:22, the Jewish religious leaders saw God’s spirit at work in Jesus as he performed miracles; yet, they attributed this power to Satan the Devil.
guilty of everlasting sin: refer to willful sin that has eternal consequences; there is no sacrifice to cover such sin.
Mr 4:26-29 What can we learn from Jesus’ illustration of the sower who sleeps?
(Wt14 12/15 pg12-13 par 6-8) First we have to admit that we have no control over the spiritual growth of a Bible student. So must avoid the temptation to pressure or force a student to get baptized. All we can to assist and support the person, but we humbly admit that ultimately the decision to make a dedication belongs to that person. Dedication is something that must spring from a willing heart motivated by love for God. Ps. 51:12; 54:6; 110:3.
Second, understanding the lesson behind this illustration will help us not to be discouraged if we do not at first see results from our work. We need to be patient, (Jas. 5:7, 8) Even if the seed does not bear fruit, and if we have done our best to help outcome is not a sign of unfaithfulness on our part. Jehovah allows the seed of truth to flourish only in a humble heart that is willing to make changes. (Matt. 13:23) So we should not judge the effectiveness of our ministry merely by the results. In Jehovah’s eyes the success of our ministry is not determined by the response of those whom we teach. Rather, he treasures our faithful efforts regardless of the results. Read Lu 10:17-20; 1Co 3:8.
Third, we do not always discern the changes that are taking place within a person. For example, a couple with whom a missionary had been studying approached him, asking to become unbaptized publishers. He did not know the couple has stop smoking several months before. Their newly developed love for Jehovah helped them to make the right decision. They had grown spiritually, even though the missionary had no idea of the change that had taken place.
What does this week’s Bible reading teach me about Jehovah?
Mr 3:3-4: Jehovah care about people and animal, so Jehovah acting in their interest gave them the Sabbath. It gave all the people, including slaves, and even the domestic animals, a period of needed rest and refreshment. Also gave them a way to pleased the Most High God by setting aside the day as especially devoted to him on spiritual matters.
Mr 3:10: Jehovah has the power to cure all sorts of disease and infirmities. Jehovah demonstrated it in Jesus his Son and the apostles Acts 2:22, 10:38. What a wonder and caring God, Jehovah will use that power again in his Kingdom for all faithful ones.
Mr 3:11; 4:30: The Kingdom of Jehovah/God is the expression of Jehovah’s universal sovereignty toward his creatures, or the means used by him to express that sovereignty. This term is used particularly the manifestation of God’s sovereignty through his Son, Jesus.
Mr 4:14-20: Jehovah is the one search the heart and knows the true motives behind the heart for we are told at 1Ch 28:9 “for Jehovah searches through all hearts, and he discerns every inclination of the thoughts.” Jehovah looks for the good in us to work on it to make us grow. 1Ch 28:17; Pr 17:3; 1Sa 16:7
Mr 4:31-32: Jehovah make it grow (Acts 13:48; 1 Cor. 3:7) and he want us to know this so we do not get discourage of not seeing grow in our territories. The growth of the Christian congregation has been unstoppable for now over 8.5 million have found lodging in his houses of true worship.
Mr 4:37-39: Jehovah is shows us that he is fully capable of controlling the forces of nature also like the flood in Noah’s days. Jehovah has the power to fulfill his promise of a future living in security. For it was Jehovah power that control the storm through Jesus as shown at Acts 2:22.
What other spiritual gems have you discovered in this week’s Bible reading?
Mr 3:1-2: The Jewish religious leaders were seeking a pretext to condemn Jesus. Likewise today “a slave is not greater than his master,” we are told at John 15:20. Also Jesus warns us in this verse “If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have observed my word, they will also observe yours.”
Mr 3:3-4: Jesus knew that the religious leaders had adopted an extreme, unscriptural view of the Sabbath law at Ex 20:8-10. May we never take extreme view of Jehovah instructions of us today in our dealing with our brothers and sisters.
Mr 3:5: Jesus was “thoroughly grieved at the insensibility of their hearts. May our heart encourage us to treat our brothers and sisters with love, respect, and dignity, because we will make the hearts of Jehovah and Jesus rejoice.
Mr 3:6: The religious leaders conspire to kill Jesus because they did not want to lose their authority over the people. So they used false testimony and lies about Jesus. Like Jesus made himself God, which many who teach the trinity try to use as proof Jesus is God. John 5:18.
Mr 3:10: Here we see Jesus cure “all those who had serious diseases.” How different than those so are call faith healers who cannot cure all but usually blame the one with the disease lack of faith.
Mr 3:11: The demons and Satan knew that Jesus was not God but the Son of God. See Mt 4:3,6. Yet today most religions teach that Jesus is God part of a trinity. Even when Jesus made it clear at John 20:17 that he has the same Father and God as we do, with the words “my Father and your Father and to my God and your God.’
Mr 3:14: Jesus taught his disciples who were also call apostles to preach, setting an example for all who would be disciples of Jesus and who command us to do so at Mt 28:19-20.
Mr 3:21: Jesus’ relatives were unbelievers. Hence, he is empathetic toward those who because of their faith are opposed or mocked by their unbelieving family members.
Mr 3:29-30: Holy Spirit emanates from God himself, willfully opposing or denying its operation amounted to blasphemy against God. As shown at Mt 12:24, 28, Jewish religious leaders saw God’s spirit at work in Jesus as he performed miracles; yet, they attributed this power to Satan the Devil.
Mr 3:31-35: At his baptism, Jesus became God’s spiritual Son, and “the Jerusalem above” was his mother. (Gal. 4:26) From then on, Jesus’ disciples were nearer and dearer to him than his fleshly relatives were. This teaches us to put spiritual interests first in our lives. Mt 12:46-50; Lu 8:19-21.
Mr 3:35: Another scripture that show Jesus is not part of the trinity. Jesus speaks of doing “the will of God, are the ones who are his brother and sister. If we are doing the will God just like Jesus is doing the will of his Father as shown John 4:34, 6:38; Mt 26:42, we will be worthy of Jehovah.
Mr 4:10-12: Why could they not understand, was because they were not willing to dig down and get the deeper meaning of his of his words, so that their hearts would motivate them to action in behalf of the “good news.” May we always look into deep things of God so we can strengthen our faith.
Mr 4:14-20: We need to remember all we can do is plant the seed of truth and nurture it, but it is only Jehovah who can make it grow as shown at 1Co 3:6-7. So if we have territory that is unresponsive it has nothing to do with us, but Satan world. Jehovah knows the heart of mankind. 1Ch 28:9
Mr 4:21: Jesus is encouraging us not to hide our spiritual light under a figurative “measuring basket.” Instead, he admonished us “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your fine works and give glory to your Father who is in the heavens.” Mt 5:14-15
Mr 4:24: If we give Jesus our fullest measure of attention, he will respond by giving us information and enlightenment beyond our expectations. So we will be enriched and better able to impart understanding to others. In his generosity, Jesus will favor us with more than we expected.
Mr 4:26: Jesus is encouraging us to preach the word in these last days we are living. For that is the only way the Jehovah can make the seed grow in the hearts of humans. They must hear in order to know who Jehovah is, what is his purpose for mankind.
Mr 4:27-29: We learn three things from this illustration. First we have no control over the spiritual growth of a Bible student. Also not to be discouraged if we do not see results from our work and we need patient. (Jas. 5:7, 8) Finally we do not always discern the changes that are taking place within a person and we need to trust in Jehovah.
Mr 4:37-39: Jesus our future King has the power that was given to him to control storms. This is to reassure us that when Jesus give full attention to the earth during his Kingdom rule, all faithful servants of Jehovah will dwell in security from terrifying natural calamities.
Mark 3:23-27
I always had a hard time understanding this reasoning. How would you explain (is there maybe already another thread on this same subject?):
Mark 3:26 “If Satan has risen up against himself and has become divided, he cannot stand but is coming to an end.”
1. So does it mean that the kingdom of Satan is not divided against himself ?
2. Why did Jesus seem to say that it was inconceivable to think that Satan would not stand and would be coming to an end ?
Mark 3:27 “No one who enters the house of a strong man is able to steal his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Only then can he plunder his house.”
3. In this illustration, who is the strong man, who is the plunderer, how does he tie the strong man up and what possessions does he steal ?
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