An interesting journey

 

To Journey with Jesus has some unusual twist and turns. Reading the record of Mark's Gospel will help to deliver us from creating a Jesus of our own imagination.

I am up to chapters 2 and 3.

The healing of sick people was wonderful. His claim to have authority to forgive sins was unexpected. – read chapter two. Then He chooses one of the tax collectors to be a trusted disciple. Tax collectors were considered traitors and dishonest. How embarrassing for the disciples to have dinner with such persons. The Lord was making an important point – He came into the world, not to call righteous people, but sinners to repentance. (like a doctor healing sick people).

As the journey continued, His contempt for unhelpful religious regulation became clear. Healing on the Sabbath was to Him more important than being bound by a rule. Plucking ears of wheat on the Sabbath invoked criticism. But again He makes a great claim – to be Lord over the Sabbath!

I am sure many wondered what was He about? Was He seeking to reform religion? Was He seeking to save lost sheep? Was He seeking fame?

The more important question was who does He think He is ?  - and that is so important. Little by little He unveiled His true identity.  We hardly know who we are or where we have come from, or why we are here, or where we are going! But He knew His own identity precisely and the purpose of His coming to planet earth.

Read again Mark 1-3 and place yourself in the shoes of Andrew or Peter.  What might they have been thinking?

Keep reading, and let  the Bible speak for itself.

JRM

Bible reading and meditations.

 

I invite you to travel with me through the Gospel of Mark.

This Book in the New Testament is a brief biography of Jesus with particular focus on Him as active in serving God.

The first Adam was given a job to do – care for the garden of Eden – and he failed. Jesus, the last Adam, was given the task of rescuing  lost humanity – and He fulfilled His task which will be finalised soon.

At the beginning He is identified as the Christ, the Son of God.

His commission to serve God was in harmony with the Old Testament prophecies.

He showed His empathy with the people by being baptised by John (although He had  no sin to confess)

His personal worthiness is declared by a voice out of heaven.

He had total victory over the deceiver – Satan

His dominion over wild animals and angels was evident

At the time appropriate He goes public (after thirty years in obscurity).

The anointed Messiah calls others into training, and to assist Him.

His teaching is different – with authority

His rescue work means dispelling demons.

Sickness is dispelled.

A new day begins and Jesus is found alone praying with God in a quiet place .

Please read Mark chapter one again, and catch the beauty of God's servant moving in God's will to save a world of lost people. So far we notice He is teaching the people the truth about God and caring for their present needs. He does not seek to build another religious party, but moves on to other villages, to help more people that need the Lord.

Astounding revelations

 

Book Review – "The book that changed your world"  - Vishal Mangalwadi

This thick book is well written and very enlightening. The author uses extensive history research to show that the Bible is the basis for so many good things which we take as normal. (Not by church, not by religion).

Let me list some of the things he expands upon as being the outcome of the Bible becoming available to the common people.

Humanity – the value of every human as made n the image of God

Rationality – encouragement to think

Technology – inventing to achieve more

Revolution – the world changed by Bible translation

Language and  literacy – the power for democracy

University – to educate and lift the people

Science – discovering what God made

Morality – why some countries are less corrupt

Family – Bound together by the Bible

Compassion – caring develops medical research

Wealth – the responsibilities of stewardship

Liberty – true freedom flows from the Bible

Mission – bringing people together

The future – with or without the Bible

This brilliant book is a must read for every thinking person.  It has, in a different way confirmed my 55years of making the Bible available and known to the masses of humanity.

He finishes the book with a beautiful story from his home country – A 'Johns gospel' got into a headhunting tribe. After only five days of explanation, one convert sent his son into the city to find out more about this Jesus. The result – the tribe was converted and the 'son' who translated the New Testament into the tribal language then went on to create an organisation called

"Bibles for the world"

See the movie on this story on you tube 'Beyond the next mountain'

I recommend the book and pray that it will impact many for the glory of God.

The Book of books

 

Holy Scriptures " All scripture is inspired by God"

2 Timothy3:16

How blessed I have been to grow up with an emphasis on Bible reading, Bible study, Bible obedience, Bible preaching, Bible exposition.

It gives wisdom and guidance on how to be saved from sin's power and penalty – by faith in Jesus Christ.

This unique book (Scripture) was written by many men, as Peter explained, "Holy men of God wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit"

It is a book to be revered, but a book that brings great blessing to those who read and hear it:

It makes us realise what is wrong in our lives.

It straightens us out and teaches us what is right

It is God's way of preparing us in every way for every good thing that God wants us to do.

How sad that for many this book is a closed book – too hard, too confronting, too transforming!

For others it is considered a holy book for religious leaders, others it is just a book for church, although few take it to church any more (the entertainment is done on stage and screen). For others it is a book of ethics and wisdom.

But for those who read it, meditate on it, obey it, then it becomes God revealing Himself to humans finally in the person of Jesus Christ.

It is my pleasure to distribute Bibles to many people (Old and young) – if you don't have one, send me an email

God still speaks to those who take the time to listen!

johnmckee@internode.on.net

Early days

 

"Seek the Lord while He may be found, call on Him while He is near"

This Bible verse from Isaiah 55 was special to me as a child. As I listened to the gospel about the Lord Jesus Christ dying for my sins, dying to make me right with God, I would pray the words of an old hymn-

'Pass me not O gentle Saviour

Hear my humble cry

While on others Thou art calling

Do not pass me bye.'

He answered the desire of my heart, and after 57 years of knowing His love and grace, nothing is better than time alone with Him.

Another old hymn that I learned from my Mother's record player, remains precious :

'I come to the garden alone

While the dew is still on the roses (as this morning)

And the voice I hear falling on my ear

The Son of God discloses

And He walks with me and He talks with me

And He tells me I am His own

And the joy we share as we tarry there

None other has ever known'

Many have known that precious experience of seeking the Lord and finding Him (Him finding us)

See  www.asiaharvest.org  for story of Mr Chen.

Sometimes I feel like asking "why me?"   - but the answer quickly comes from Ephesians 1

"for the praise of HIS glory"

johnmckee@internode.on.net

God's wonderful grace

 

Grace is the  word of triumph in the Gospel of the New Covenant.

Grace is God's undeserved favour, in spite of who we are, or where we have been or what we have done. Grace is God's Holy Spirit giving us a new start (born again) on God's terms and by His strength.

It does not eliminate repentance – the need "to turn to God from idols".

It is not the modern psychology that says 'you are ok as you are'.

God's grace grants complete forgiveness.

     "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from every wrong."       Bible – 1 John1

God's grace sets us free from Satanic domination.

      "By grace you are saved, through faith"   Ephesians 2

God's grace gives us the gift of eternal life without works.

     "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."     Romans 6

God's grace brings us into complete acceptance with a Holy God.

      "Accepted in the Beloved one"      Ephesians 1

A thinking person will ask – 'But how?  I must do my best for judgement day'  -      no.    Grace depends on God , not on us!!

How  can God forgive?    -   by the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ.

How can we overcome the Devil? – by the resurrection victory of Jesus.

How can God promise eternal life to stumbling followers? – because life is in His Son.

How can rebels become part of God's family? Because God is Love.

 

Because of God's activity in grace, we can choose to be more than conquerors through Him who loved us.   Romans 8

May encourage you to read the Bible references given, in their context, to discover the wonderful love, mercy and grace of God to us today. If you do not have a Bible , contact me   johnmckee@internode.on.net

Totally up to date

 

Making sense of the Bible 5

New expectations:  Many wanted to make the Gentile converts into Jewish adherents. i.e.  committed to Torah laws and traditions. This wasn't working so the Acts15 conference was called. Paul and Barabbas described the transformation of ungodly heathens to Christ followers. Peter related to the elders how God taught him not to call God fearing Gentiles unclean (Acts 10). James connected the Divine interest in Gentiles from the Old Testament prophecies.

So the conclusion of the elders and apostles was to write the new terms and expectations of converted Gentiles.

1   "Abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols '   - worship

2   ' Abstain from blood and things strangled'   -   food

3   ' Abstain from sexual immorality '     - morals

These were significant in the  Gentile context, but please observe what was not included – Sabbath keeping, clean/unclean food, visiting the temple for festivals, offering sacrifices, vows, racial expectations, central government....

For many Jewish zealots, this was not good enough, and Paul was persecuted by them to the end of his life. Peter summarized the situation very well:-

"We believe that we will be saved through the grace of our Lord Jesus , just as they will"  (Acts 15:11)

Notice the word GRACE -  That means that Jews and Gentiles would be accepted on equal term by God and by one another.

Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ – faith in Him the Son of God.

They preached this good news throughout the world  even to Spain and India. The Gentile believers faced many problems, so Paul with others gave direct instructions that reflected the holiness of God (repentance) and the overflowing grace (undeserved favour and forgiveness) that changes an ungodly Gentile into a follower of Jesus Christ the Lord. This is not presented as a new set of rules, but a new life, led by the Holy Spirit to live and love as the Lord Jesus.

The same Holy God of the Old Testament, honoured in a different way – grace removing sin and radiating the glory of His Son (2 Corinthians 3)

May I now encourage you to read the history of ' Acts', followed by the explanation of the Gospel in 'Romans'.  Then read the instructions to these groups of believers who like us were living in an ungodly society. You will be blessed.