because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him.
Mark 6:20//
There will be people in my life who do not believe in God, but will want to hear Him discussed. It is in a man’s deepest part of his soul that knows the truth, but refuses to recognize it.
She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.”
Mark 5:26-28//
Jesus is the Great Healer. When modern medicine fails and we are down to our last penny and emotionally exhausted, Jesus is still our only hope for healing and peace.
20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”
Mark 4:20//
Lord, enable and help me to produce a massive crop.
Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent. He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored.
Mark 3:4-5//
Jesus was angered at intellectual dishonesty and distressed at stubborn hearts. When I am angry for intellectual dishonesty against Christ, I am in good company.
Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on.
Mark 2:3-4//
Lord, grant me friends as faithful as these.
Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!”
Mark 1:41//
I wonder why there are times Jesus is willing? Is there ever a time He is not willing?
When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.
Matthew 28:17//
It wasn’t just Thomas. It was more than one who doubted. When I have doubts, I can know that I am in good company because even those physically at His feet after His resurrection still had doubts.
Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed.
Matthew 27:1//
It was a planned, deliberate, and pre-meditated, murder with many conspirators. Satan starts with a few sinners and extends it to the many. Fortunately, his plan backfired.
He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
Matthew 26:42-44//
Even Jesus asked God to answer His prayer multiple times, but the answer was either “no” or “I won’t.” Ultimately, God knew what was best.
46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Matthew 25:46//
Lord, help me to give to the least of our brothers and sisters. Thank You for saving me from my sins, so that I can be among those You make righteous and have eternal life with You.