Sermon Notes; a Daily Devotional

Mark 5:35 & 36 "35 While He yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further? 36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe." Between yesterday's verses and today's verses... the woman who touched Jesus' garment was healed! There is healing everywhere Jesus goes! BUT! We learn the news in verse thirty-five; Jiarus' daughter is DEAD! "WHY troublest thou the Master any further?" Jiarus' head must be spinning and his heart pounding out of his chest. He might even be experiencing a PANIC ATTACK! Jiarus hoped she could be healed. But that chance is GONE. She is dead. She was his everything. He was willing to risk his reputation and his livelihood to save her life. He through himself at Jesus feet in hopes of saving her and now she is gone. Daddy has failed to get help for h...

Mark 5:23 & 24 "23 And besought Him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay Thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live. 24 And Jesus went with him; and much people followed Him, and thronged Him." We are all "Children of The Heavenly Father." We are studying YOUNG people in the Holy Scriptures. This week are reading about an ASTONISHING event of "Healing and Hope." We are in the Gospel of Mark, chapter five, this is right after Jesus has healed the demon possessed man and in the midst of this event the woman who touched Jesus' garment is healed! There is healing everywhere Jesus goes! He is a BIG deal. In yesterday's verses we were introduced to "one of the RULERS of the SYNAGOGUE, Jairus..." The Synagogue is where the Jewish people gathered. This is where Pharisees held power and influence. They did NOT like Jesus' ministry. As one of the local synagogue leaders...

Mark 5:21 & 22 "21 and when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto Him: and He was nigh unto the sea. 22 and, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw Him, he fell at His feet," We are all "Children of The Heavenly Father." So, are studying YOUNG people in the Holy Scriptures. We have studied: "A Child Like Faith." "Sibling Rivalry." And, "Growing in Body and Spirit." This week we will be reading about an event of "Healing and Hope." Throughout the Holy Bible we read ASTONISHING stories! Things unfold in such a way that they GRABBED the attention of everyone involved. We might even realize that all these events are there to guide our attention to the event of all events; Jesus Christ's resurrection! We return to the Gospel of Mark, chapter five, this is right after Jesus has healed the demon possessed man and in the midst of the...

2 Peter 3:18 "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and for ever. Amen." This past week pondered the Son of God growing up. "Growing in Body and Spirit!" We are accustomed to seeing the Baby in the manger, the Preacher of the Sermon on the Mount and even the Man dying on the cross. But what about the Boy running racing and playing with brothers, sisters and friends? The young Man learning carpentry from His earthly father? And all the other common human experiences; illness, yearning, happiness and sadness. Jesus experienced them all for you and for me. Knowing this needs to inspire us to grow our own life experience and behavior. Not only becoming self sufficient but also needing to grow spiritually. Don't repeat past mistakes or revert back to immature behavior. Avoid old bad behaviors and grow in our walk with Jesus with prayer, Holy Bible reading, daily devotions and weekly church attendance. T...

Luke 2:51 & 52 "51 And He went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but His mother kept all these sayings in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man." In today's verses the Holy Family gets to go home to Nazareth. Mary always remembered these events on this Passover trip, she "kept all these sayings in her heart." Years later she recounted them to Doctor Luke who recorded them here in his Gospel for you and me!  It is a unusual thought to picture the Son of God growing up. "Growing in Body and Spirit" but that is what really happened; "Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man." We are accustomed to seeing the Baby in the manger, the Preacher of the Sermon on the Mount and even the Man dying on the cross. But what about the Boy running racing and playing with brothers, sisters and friends? The young Man learning carpentry from His earth...

Luke 2:49 & 50 "49 And He said unto them, How is it that ye sought Me? wist ye not that I must be about My Father's business? 50 And they understood not the saying which He spake unto them." Mary, Joseph and Jesus had traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover in the year Jesus was twelve years old going on thirteen. On the trip home Mary and Joseph realized that Jesus was NOT with them and they returned to Jerusalem searching for Him! After THREE days they found Him in the Temple. "And all that heard Him were ASTONISHED at His understanding and answers." This is The Son of God, One of The Holy Trinity in the Temple classroom discussing the day's lesson.  "His mother said unto Him, Son, why hast Thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought Thee SORROWING." She has been searching for THREE days! Looking EVERYWHERE for the young Jesus. Going through the emotional anguish of having a missing child. The high anxiety as they specul...

Luke 2:47 & 48 "47 And all that heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. 48 And when they saw Him, they were amazed: and His mother said unto Him, Son, why hast Thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought Thee sorrowing." They FOUND Jesus!!! He was in the LAST place they looked! He was in the Temple! Sitting at the feet of the teacher of the day. Only it must have been the teacher getting the lesson, today's verses; "And all that heard Him were ASTONISHED at His understanding and answers." This is The Son of God, One of The Holy Trinity in the Temple classroom discussing the day's lesson. Just think of the surprise of all those present as they figure it out over the next few years as Jesus ministry becomes public and He eventually will go on to return from the grave!!! But, today His Mother has found Him. She has been searching for THREE days! Looking EVERYWHERE for the young Jesus. Going through the emotional anguish...

Luke 2:45 & 46 "45 And when they found Him NOT, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking Him. 46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions." They LOST Jesus!!! Jesus was NOT with them anymore!?!?  While this is an amusing turn of phrase, this is seriously every parents worse nightmare. Mary and Joseph's Son has disappeared. They thought He was with family as the journied back from Jerusalem having observed Passover. Try to understand their experience; "they TURNED BACK again to Jerusalem," having checked with all their family and friends traveling together and NO Jesus. Next they are back tracking to all the places they visited. Looking EVERYWHERE for the young Jesus. Try to imagine the emotional anguish of a missing a child. The high anxiety as they speculate about what MIGHT HAVE happened. They mush have had the adrenaline pumping as they so...

Luke 2:43 & 44 "43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and His mother knew not of it. 44 But they, supposing Him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought Him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance." We are all "Children of The Heavenly Father." This week we are studying a event when Jesus was growing up, about to become a man. Under Jewish law, the age by which a person is obligated to fulfill all the Mitzvot is 12 for a girl and 13 for a boy. (Mitzvot are commandments, traditionally understood to come from God and to be intended for the Jewish people to observe.) Jesus probably did not HAVE a Bar Mitzvah "ceremony" though He did BECOME Bar Mitzvah when He became 13. At this time He is regarded as ready to observe religious precepts and eligible to take part in public worship.  We have turned to the Gospel of Luke, chapter two, in yesterday's ve...

Luke 2:41 & 42 "41 Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. 42 And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast." We are in our multi-week study of young people in the Holy Scriptures, titled "Children of the Heavenly Father." We have studied: "A Child Like Faith." And "Sibling Rivalry." So far. If there is one thing we have learned so far, it is  that we are all "Children of The Heavenly Father." This week we will focus on; "Growing in Body and Spirit" as we turn to the Gospel of Luke, chapter two, verse forty-one; "Now His parents went to Jerusalem EVERY YEAR at the feast of the passover." Missing Passover for a Jew would be like a Christian missing Christmas or Easter! Unthinkable! In addition there is only One Temple in the entire country. If you want to celebrate Passover; you have to travel to Jerusalem. This was NOT just another Pas...

Genesis 33:1 & 4 "1 And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids." "4 And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept." Decades later, in today's verses, Esau and Jacob reunited. Kissed and made up, so to speak. Things never got to a point where it was like the SIBLING RIVALRY never took place. It's effects went on for MANY generations. The Edomites, Esua's descendents will always be trouble for the Israelites. Their interactions were chariterized by enmity and many times outright hostility. Like many of the situations in the Holy Scriptures this is a CAUTIONARY EXAMPLE. We are NOT supposed to be like Jacob and Esau. We should not let RIVALRY ruin our relationship with our SIBLINGS, or anyone else! We need to value people more than your own ego. It is this very human str...

Genesis 25:33 & 34 "33 And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright." Esau trades EVERYTHING that was his Father's for A BOWL of soup!!! Did he NOT value his own BIRTHRIGHT??? Esau said; "what profit shall this birthright do to me?" At the end of today's verses we learn; "thus Esau DESPISED his birthright." While it was a VERY POOR choice to trade his birthright for soup; when we keep reading we will get the idea that Jacob tricked Esua. And, Esua will carry a grudge for decades and his descendants will continue the SIBLING RIVALRY for MANY generations. The Edomites, Esua's descendents will always be trouble for the Israelites. Their interactions were chariterized by enmity and many times outright hostility. Like many of the situations in the ...

Genesis 25:29-32 "29 And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: 30 And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom. 31 And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. 32 And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?" SIBLING RIVALRY or not, today's verses record some VERY strange behavior. Esau is starving to such a GREAT degree that he is willing to sell his BIRTHRIGHT for a bowl of soup!!! By the custom of the day Esau was the FIRST born son and would receive EVERYTHING that was his Father's! And! He trades that for A BOWL of soup!!! Did he NOT value his own BIRTHRIGHT??? At the end of today's verses; "what profit shall this birthright do to me?" While it was a POOR choice to trade his birthright for soup; when we keep reading we will get the idea that Jacob tricked Esua. And, Esua will carry a gru...

Genesis 25:27 & 28 "27 And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents. 28 And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob." SIBLING RIVALRY has plagued people since the beginning. In our study this week the Holy family genealogy begins; Isaac and his wife Rebekah have TWIN sons. And, these twins are nothing alike; their SIBLING RIVALRY began BEFORE their birth! Even showing at birth with Jacob holding onto the heal of his brother Esau as they were born! This birth foretales their life events.  Today's verses begin the account of their lives; "And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents." These twins could not be MORE different. Opposites, almost. What was different at birth seems to be accentuated as they grew up.  Their parents played a role too, maybe even exasperating the situation; ...

Genesis 25:25 & 26 "25 And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. 26 And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them." SIBLING RIVALRY has plagued people since the beginning. It is part of our sinful condition. Just reread the Cain and Abel account in Genesis chapter four. It is an all too common and part of the history of our FAITH. In our study this week we read the Holy family genealogy begin; Abraham, considered the Father of FAITH, his son Isaac and his wife Rebekah. They CONCEIVED and Rebekah is having a tough pregnancy.  She had spent many years worrying about NOT being pregnant. Now she gets to worry about being pregnant! She takes her worries to the LORD. GOD explained to her; "TWO NATIONS are in thy womb... the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the you...

Genesis 25:22-24 "22 And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD. 23 And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger. 24 And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb." SIBLING RIVALRY plays out over a lifetime and can become multi-generational. It can hurt everyone involved. It is all too common and part of the history of our FAITH. We are in the pages of Genesis, chapter twenty-five, starting with verse nineteen where we see the Holy family genealogy begin; Abraham, considered the Father of FAITH, his son Isaac and his wife Rebekah who have Jacob who will be renamed by GOD, ISRAEL. It is Israel's sons who became the twelve tribes of the Jewish people. Jacob also had a twin brother and...

Genesis 25:19-21 "19 And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham begat Isaac: 20 And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian. 21 And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived." Last week we began our multi-week study of young people in the Holy Scriptures, titled "Children of the Heavenly Father." Last week was "A Child Like Faith." We studied how Jesus' message is for ALL AGES!!! And, Heaven is all of us with a childlike heart. Today we begin a study on SIBLING RIVALRY. Sibling rivalry plays out over a lifetime. And can become multi-generational. It can hurt everyone involved. It is all too common and part of the history of our FAITH. We will learn from the pages of Genesis, chapter twenty-five, starting with verse nineteen; "And these are the ...

John 3:13 "And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven." In the Gospel of Mark chapter ten, where we were studying, Jesus taught; "Whosoever shall NOT receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall NOT ENTER therein." Follow the example of little children; being open to opportunities. Ready to BELIEVE and ready to TRUST. As "Children of the Heavenly Father" we want to cultivate "A Child Like Faith" chariterized by an innocence and simplicity that allows us to interact with others very openly and honestly.  To put an emphasis on this lesson we turned to the Gospel of John where Jesus tells His audience; "If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?" AND! Jesus puts an exclamation point after this with today's verse saying; "I AM from Heaven!" John chapter three verse thirteen; "...

John 3:11 & 12 "11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?" In the Gospel of Mark chapter ten, where we are studying, Jesus taught; "Whosoever shall NOT receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall NOT ENTER therein." Follow the example of little children; being open to opportunities. Ready to BELIEVE and ready to TRUST. It takes courage. • BELIEVE is to know that something works. • TRUST is to take action based on your knowledge and belief. TRUST completes the bridge of FAITH.  Today's verses, from the Gospel of John is to say; pay attention, Jesus is teaching the most important things to know. "...how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?" We need to receive the teaching of our Lord and Savior without being cynical and jaded. In J...

Mark 10:16 "And He took them up in His arms, put His hands upon them, and blessed them." Jesus blessed the children. When His Disciples did not like the children coming and INTERRUPTING Jesus' teaching. Jesus switched up His lesson saying that Heaven belongs to the children. In fact Jesus' main point is; "Whosoever shall NOT receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall NOT ENTER therein." Follow the example of little children; being open to opportunities. Ready to BELIEVE and ready to TRUST. It takes courage. BELIEVE is to know that something works,  Believe that prayer works. Yet, even the devil believes in God… the devil doesn't TRUST God. Doesn't follow God. TRUST is to take action based on your knowledge and belief. TRUST completes the bridge of faith. Faith is doing what we cannot see. TRUSTING GOD to help you in just the way that is best for all.

Mark 10:15 "Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein." Jesus was just teaching another lesson. Then some people started bringing their children to Him for a blessing. The Disciples did not like this, they thought these children were INTERRUPTING the teaching. They tried to stop the children from coming to Jesus! Perhaps they thought Jesus was TOO busy to waste time on kids! This "displeased" Jesus and He begins teaching to His Disciples; "ALLOW the little children to come unto Me." And, He prefaced today's verse with; "for of such is the kingdom of God." Children have an innocence and simplicity that allows them to interact with others very openly and honestly.  Behold today's verse; "Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall NOT receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall NOT ENTER therein." Maybe Heaven has a sign that reads "NO grown ups A...

Mark 10:14  "But when Jesus saw it, He was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God."  We are studying young people in the Holy Scriptures in our series titled; "Children of the Heavenly Father." This week we are focused on "A Child Like Faith." Here in the Gospel of Mark Jesus was teaching a crowd. Some start bringing their children to Him for a blessing.  Some of Jesus' closest followers did not like this; the Disciples thought these children were interrupting the teaching that is taking place. They REBUKED the people bringing young children. And, the Disciples are about to learn a lesson, today's verse; "But when Jesus saw it, He was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God."  SUFFER is one of the KJV words that can trip us up. We think of SUFFER ...

Mark 10:13 "And they brought young children to Him, that He should touch them: and His disciples rebuked those that brought them." We begin a series titled "Children of the Heavenly Father." We will spend several weeks studying young people in the Holy Scriptures. This first week we will focus on "A Child Like Faith." Here in the Gospel of Mark we will learn that Jesus doesn't draw a line between kids and adults. His message is for everyone. All ages! Jesus was teaching a crowd again. Some in the crowd start bringing their children to Him for a blessing. Today's verse; "And they brought young children to Him, that He should touch them:" Jesus was laying His hands on them and blessing them. Like the blessing a child receives when coming to Holy Communion today.  Some of Jesus' closest followers did not like this; "and His disciples rebuked those that brought them." Rebuke is a sharp disapproval or criticism. The Disciples thi...

Mark 10:13 "And they brought young children to Him, that He should touch them: and His disciples rebuked those that brought them." This week make some changes in our daily devotions. Today is our debut on the Blogger platform. This location will make the posts easily accessible and shareable. If you find something worthwhile in these posts; please share it. Today we also begin a series titled "Children of the Heavenly Father." We will spend several weeks studying young people in the Holy Scriptures.  Today, the first day of the first week we will focus on "A Child Like Faith." Here in the Gospel of Mark we will learn that Jesus doesn't draw a line between kids and adults. His message is for everyone. All ages!!!