This is Mark's record of what has been called the "Last Supper". It was actually the observance of the "Passover Seder" which is the "meal" where Jews celebrate the Exodus out of Egyptian bondage, which took place 3,500 years ago.
The "Passover Seder" is observed annually since the very first Passover, Exodus 12. It was at that time the Lord commanded the Jews to rehearse, at a special gathering, every year the Lord's provision and protection throughout these thousands of years.
The one-day "feast day" of "Passover", and the seven-day "feast" of "Unleavened Bread" are observed together, an eight- day celebration. The actual day of Passover was 24 hours, starting from the evening of Passover, during the time of Jesus Christ on Wednesday evening, until sundown on Thursday evening.
The disciples, Peter and John, had prepared the meal and they met together with Jesus and the other disciples in an "Upper Room", verse 15, in the city of Jerusalem for the actual meal and the other activities.
The ingredients of the meal were "roast lamb" that represented the "Passover lamb"; "unleavened bread" which represents the "separation between the bondage and freedom"; and "bitter herbs" which represents the bitter time in the Egyptian bondage for the Jewish people.
They would also have "bread and wine" in the meal. By the way, the wine was not an "intoxicating wine" because they weren't allowed to have "leaven" anywhere near the meal. Remember, grape juice can only ferment when leaven is added. That should settle an argument or two out there.
That night, Jesus and His disciples rehearsed the story of Passover and the sacrifice of the "sacrificial lamb". It would be at 3:00pm the next afternoon that Jesus Christ would be crucified on the cross to become our "sacrificial lamb".
Jesus became our "Passover lamb" by His death in Jerusalem, I Corinthians 5:7. Jesus actually fulfilled the Jewish feast day of Passover, for the Jewish people. We, as Christians, derive the spiritual benefits of our Lord's death, burial and resurrection which is our way to salvation, I Corinthians 15:1-5 and Romans 1:16.
After the "Passover Seder" Jesus instituted what we call the "Lord's Supper", the communion service, verses 22-24. Now, each time we celebrate the "Lord's Supper", the communion, we do it in remembrance of Him, I Corinthians 11:23-26.
Notice the last directive for the "Lord's Supper", "do this until I come." Each communion service should "look back" to what our Lord did for us; "look in" so we can get our hearts right with the Lord; and "look up" for Him to come.
As Jesus closed out the "Passover Seder", He said the next time He would join us for this sweet communion supper would be in the "Kingdom" that is yet to come.
What a heritage we receive from the Jews, and what prophetic truth in all that they are, and do today.
PRAYER THOT: Thank you Lord Jesus for being my "Passover", help me to tell others this great story.
Our devotional recently was from Matthew 24:1-14 which is a record of the "Olivet Discourse" as reported by the disciple, Matthew. Luke also recorded the "Olivet Discourse", Luke 21:5-38.
Our devotional for today Mark 13:28-37 is a section of Mark's record of the most "profound prophetic conference" ever held on the Earth with Jesus, the Messiah, as the teacher.
As we discussed in the devotional from Matthew, the first portion of the Lord's message dealt with six major "signs" of the soon coming of Jesus Christ, His second coming to the Earth. We drew an interesting parallel between the "signs" Jesus gave, Matthew 24:4-7, and the "seals," the sealed judgments found in Revelation 6.
As we look at Mark's record of the "Olivet Discourse" we bypass additional "signs" that we will look at in another devotional. At the conclusion of the Lord's discourse, He used a parable to emphasize how to recognize the time and nearness of His coming. It's the parable of the "fig tree".
Jesus would often use the natural surroundings of where He was teaching to drive home His point. Let me remind you that this parable is not using the "fig tree" as the nation of Israel.
It's a simple illustration of how in the spring, which was the time of the year when the discourse was given, two days before the spring Feast of Passover. The Lord says to His disciples, "notice that when leaves show up on a bare limb of a fig tree, it means summer is near".
Then Jesus says, "so likewise when ye shall see these things", these things were deception, war, famine, pestilence and earthquakes, the sealed judgments, know that it will be His time to return to Earth.
Our key verse even gets more specific, verse 30. "This generation shall not pass, until all these things be done", Jesus will come back to the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem.
When the Lord referred to "this generation" He was not referring to those with Him that day on the Mount of Olives, they have passed away. Jesus was referring to the generation who "sees these things", the "signs".
Therefore, those people who are seeing "these things", they are the people who will not pass until He comes. The people who are seeing these things are "we" that are alive today. Some of this generation will die but the main group could well be the "generation" that sees Jesus come back to the earth.
PRAYER THOT: Thank you Lord for your "prophetic word" that gives the evidence of the nearness of Your soon return, which helps me to be watching for this "glorious appearing."
But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:
The portion of scripture selected for our devotional today is from the Olivet Discourse, the message that Jesus gave on Tuesday afternoon of "Passion Week", the week of our Lords crucifixion.
In response to a question from His disciples, Jesus was explaining what will happen during the seven year Tribulation Period that leads up to the Second Coming of our Lord.
The disciples had asked the Lord for some "signs" of His Second Coming, His return to the earth to set up His kingdom, Mark 13:4.
Remember these are Jews asking for "signs" of the Second Coming. I Corinthians 1:22 reveals that God will give the Jews "signs"; however, "signs" are not for Christians.
We're not looking for "signs", we are listening for a "sound", the sound of the trumpet, the Lord's shout and the voice of the archangel, I Thessalonians 4:16, and we go to the heavenlies to ever be with the Lord.
By the way, there is not one prophecy that must be fulfilled before the Rapture. All prophecies yet to be fulfilled come after the Rapture.
Now back to the "signs" for the Jews, Jesus told them, verse 14, when you see the "abomination of desolation" spoken of by the prophet Daniel, Daniel 9:27, they were to flee to the mountains.
The "abomination of desolation" is when the Anti-christ walks into the Temple, into the "holy of holies" and claims to be God, II Thessalonians 2:4. That is when the Temple is desecrated. That happens at the mid-way point of the Tribulation Period, some 3 1/2 years after the Rapture.
This then means that there must be a temple on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem in the first part of the Tribulation Period. All preparations have been made for a temple to be erected and go into full operation, today.
For the first time in history, all that needs to be done to fulfill the Lord's prophecy is in place. The Lord also gave additional information to describe when this all would happen, verse 22, when false teachers and false prophets were actively using signs, wonders and miracles to deceive and seduce the world.
This passage of scripture describes our day, today, which seems to indicate that we are so close to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy. Only one thing has to happen before all of these prophecies will be fulfilled, the Rapture of the Church, which could happen at any moment.
Prayer Thot: Perhaps today will be the day, Jesus, that You shout for us to join You in the heavenlies. Even so come, Lord Jesus, and help me to live in that expectancy.
And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.
Our reading for today is focused on the day, by tradition, that we refer to as "Palm Sunday." A quick reading of our extended portion for today seems to verify the account that we have long proclaimed as the presentation of Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of prophecy, the long awaited Messiah. Indeed, the passage does reveal the events of at least three days in the life of Jesus Christ during Passion Week, the week of the death of our Lord.
Jesus was abiding at the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus located in Bethany on the backside of the Mount of Olives. He had arrived on Friday afternoon just in time for the Shabbat meal, the special meal for a Jewish family on Friday evening which is technically the Jewish day of Saturday, the Sabbath.
John 12:12 states that the next day, Saturday, the official presentation of Jesus Christ as King took place with His “Triumphal Entry” into the city of Jerusalem. That means that it is "Palm Saturday" we should celebrate, not Palm Sunday as is the custom according to tradition.
Take a deep breath and simply look at the Scriptural facts. Jesus arrived at Bethany on Friday afternoon and the next day, entered the Temple Mount area having been hailed as the Blessed One, the One who comes in the Name of the Lord, verses 9 and 10.
Notice that the day of His Triumphal Entry He walked onto the Temple Mount as the “Potentate”, the King of Kings, verse 11. The next day, Sunday, when He came to the Temple complex, the money changers were set up and doing business and He overthrew their tables and ran them out of the area, verses 15-18. He had come to the Temple as the “Priest”, the High Priest. That evening, He returned to Bethany and the next day, He returned to the Temple Mount as the “Prophet” and would teach His disciples “things to come”, verses 27-33.
The narrative clearly teaches that the order of appearances on the Temple Mount is as I have described it. The money- changers were not in the Temple complex the first day, Saturday, or Jesus would have thrown them out then. They were not there because it was the Sabbath and they did not work on that day. However, the next day, Sunday, the first day of the Jewish work-week, they were in their regular place and Jesus took care of them.
I present this to you because we must be correct on our understanding of Scripture. Luke 19:41-42 tells us that Jesus showed up the exact day He was to be there for the official presentation of Him as King according to Daniel's prophecy of the day as foretold in Daniel 9:25-26. He didn't arrive a day early or a day late - but right on time the day He was to be there to fulfill prophecy. God's work is exact.
PRAYER THOT: Help me to be a true student of God's word - it matters.
Mark's record of the transfiguration reveals a number of practical and prophetic truths that will benefit each of us as we read and realize these are for our everyday consumption.
Remember this event follows the story of Jesus and His disciples in Caesarea of Philippi where Peter pronounced Jesus the "Christ", the Messiah. It was then that Jesus told His disciples to stop telling men of Him and who He was. It was here also that Jesus first revealed His upcoming death, burial and resurrection.
Now, we come to the record of the transfiguration and the events surrounding the Lord's appearance in His “glorified body”. Jesus told His men that there would be some of them who would not die before they saw Him in His “kingdom to come”.
Then, six days later, the Lord takes the "inner circle" up the mountain, on the slopes of Mount Hermon and Peter, James and John personally witnessed Jesus in His glorified body. They would also see Moses and Elijah in their glorified bodies as well. The Lord was speaking prophetically and the prophecies were being fulfilled.
Peter's statement at the transfiguration reveals that he thought the "kingdom" had come. That's why Peter wanted to setup three "tabernacles". He wasn't talking about putting up three statues to honor Jesus, Moses and Elijah. Peter wanted three "succas" to be built which is what the Jewish people do during the seven day Feast of Tabernacles.
A "succa" is a thatched hut similar to the ones the Jews used during the forty years of wandering in the wilderness. The Jewish people erect a "succa", tabernacle, and live in it during the Feast of Tabernacles today. The Feast of Tabernacles is a prophecy of the Kingdom Period yet to come.
Peter, seeing Jesus in His glorified body thought the "kingdom" had come, therefore the setting up of the three tabernacles. Of course, it was not the Kingdom Period beginning, but only a foretaste of things to come. What happened next is very significant.
God the Father interrupted the event and made a very profound statement, "This is My beloved Son, hear ye Him." What a statement, God the Father confirms Jesus as His Son and then the exhortation to all of us, "Hear ye Him." We must hear what the Lord says because He is the Son of God, the One with what we need to hear.
PRAYER THOT: Thank You Lord for Your words, the Word of God, the Bible. Help me to listen closely to what You say and then to do it.
As we come to our devotional reading for today, I selected this portion of Mark because I was just at Capernaum and read from this passage. Our key verse records the Lord's ministry of casting out demons throughout the Galilee region.
Several thoughts come to mind as we read together this scripture. The New Testament Gospel writers reveal to us that “demonic activity” was prevalent during the time of the Lord's ministry on the earth.
This casting out of demons by the Lord was for the benefit of the one demon-possessed, of course, but it also demonstrated the authority of Jesus,verse 22, and that He had power over the "satanic world."
Remember that a "demon" is an “evil angel” that has taken up habitation in the body of a human and through this possession controls the person's every activity.
Jesus did have authority to cast out demons and He gave that authority to the apostles and no one else. The casting out of demons is not a ministry for today. In fact, if you confront someone that is demon-possessed, do not dare demand that the demon do anything. That would be dangerous and it is for the Lord to do that.
What we can do is lead the “demon-possessed” person to the Lord Jesus Christ. Once someone is saved, the Holy Spirit takes up habitation of the newly saved demon-possessed person. A demon and the Holy Spirit both cannot live in the same body and the Holy Spirit will take care of the demon by driving him out.
Another interesting insight from our reading would be included in the thought that the demons would talk to Jesus and the demon recognized who it was that he was dealing with,verse 24. Did you notice, even the demons will confess that Jesus is the “Holy One of God”? Every tongue will confess Him as the One from God.
As at the first coming of Jesus Christ when there was much demonic activity, there will also be an intense struggle between the good angels of God and the evil angels of Satan at the Second Coming of Jesus. In fact, the closer we get to the time of the Lord's return, seven years after the Rapture, demon activity will increase ten fold.
Jesus confirmed this in His Olivet Discourse, Matthew 24, when in response to the questions from the disciples, Jesus said the first, most important sign of His Second Coming will be “signs, wonders and miracles with unhindered demonic activity”, Matthew 24:4,5,11 and 24.
These Satanic attacks that happen near the Lord's return are one of the indicators that Jesus will soon shout for us to join Him in the air. In fact, that shout could come today for the Rapture. Keep looking up………….Until
PRAYER THOT: Thank you for the strength, Lord, to avoid the satanic attacks and in fact the ever increasing attacks, as we draw near to the Rapture of the Church.
The events in the life of Jesus Christ, was written about in the Gospels, recorded by four men who spent much time with Him when He was here on earth. Mark wrote of the “servant” that Jesus became to all people He dealt with during His ministry.
At the same time, Mark brings to our attention the ministry of Jesus in the little village where He would be headquartered for 3 1/2 years of ministry, the fishing village of Capernaum.
This was also the town where Peter lived with his wife and mother-in-law, Mark 1:30. After a service on the Sabbath day, the Lord went to Peter's house and healed Peter's wife's mother. This event attracted attention to Jesus and His healing ministry and the people gathered to watch as Jesus healed those people brought to Him.
Early the next morning, Jesus went out to pray alone. But leave it to Peter to go out and find Jesus as He was praying. Peter told Jesus that all men were seeking Him. Notice what Jesus said to Peter, "Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also".
Then Jesus informed all those who gathered that He had come to preach, heal, cast out devils and serve the people. This is what the ancient Jewish prophet Isaiah had written that the “true Messiah” would do when He came to the earth, Isaiah 61:1-2a.
Even the demons could recognize who Jesus was. The demons that Jesus called out of the man in the synagogue in Capernaum told Jesus that even though he was a “demonic creature”, he knew who Jesus was, "the Holy One of God."
The preaching, healing and casting out of demons ministry of Jesus not only drew the people in the Galilee to Him but these ministries also authenticated Jesus as the Son of God, the “holy one” of God, who came to be the Saviour of the world.
Jesus was, and is, the focus of Bible prophecy. The fact that Jesus fulfilled Isaiah's prophecy is evidence that He will fulfill additional prophecy pertaining to Him. The “end time” prophecies related to the “second coming” of Jesus Christ are nearing their fulfillment.
What unique days we are living in today. This is a “day” when He could come in the clouds above us and “shout” to have us join Him in the air - let's keep looking up.
PRAYER THOT: Help me to live recognizing that Jesus is the “Holy One of God” and that He could call for us to join Him in the air, today.
This is Mark's record of what has been called the "Last Supper". It was actually the observance of the "Passover Seder" which is the "meal" where Jews celebrate the Exodus out of Egyptian bondage, which took place 3,500 years ago.
The "Passover Seder" is observed annually since the very first Passover, Exodus 12. It was at that time the Lord commanded the Jews to rehearse, at a special gathering, every year the Lord's provision and protection throughout these thousands of years.
The one-day "feast day" of "Passover", and the seven-day "feast" of "Unleavened Bread" are observed together, an eight- day celebration. The actual day of Passover was 24 hours, starting from the evening of Passover, during the time of Jesus Christ on Wednesday evening, until sundown on Thursday evening.
The disciples, Peter and John, had prepared the meal and they met together with Jesus and the other disciples in an "Upper Room", verse 15, in the city of Jerusalem for the actual meal and the other activities.
The ingredients of the meal were "roast lamb" that represented the "Passover lamb"; "unleavened bread" which represents the "separation between the bondage and freedom"; and "bitter herbs" which represents the bitter time in the Egyptian bondage for the Jewish people.
They would also have "bread and wine" in the meal. By the way, the wine was not an "intoxicating wine" because they weren't allowed to have "leaven" anywhere near the meal. Remember, grape juice can only ferment when leaven is added. That should settle an argument or two out there.
That night, Jesus and His disciples rehearsed the story of Passover and the sacrifice of the "sacrificial lamb". It would be at 3:00pm the next afternoon that Jesus Christ would be crucified on the cross to become our "sacrificial lamb".
Jesus became our "Passover lamb" by His death in Jerusalem, I Corinthians 5:7. Jesus actually fulfilled the Jewish feast day of Passover, for the Jewish people. We, as Christians, derive the spiritual benefits of our Lord's death, burial and resurrection which is our way to salvation, I Corinthians 15:1-5 and Romans 1:16.
After the "Passover Seder" Jesus instituted what we call the "Lord's Supper", the communion service, verses 22-24. Now, each time we celebrate the "Lord's Supper", the communion, we do it in remembrance of Him, I Corinthians 11:23-26.
Notice the last directive for the "Lord's Supper", "do this until I come." Each communion service should "look back" to what our Lord did for us; "look in" so we can get our hearts right with the Lord; and "look up" for Him to come.
As Jesus closed out the "Passover Seder", He said the next time He would join us for this sweet communion supper would be in the "Kingdom" that is yet to come.
What a heritage we receive from the Jews, and what prophetic truth in all that they are, and do today.
PRAYER THOT: Thank you Lord Jesus for being my "Passover", help me to tell others this great story.
Our devotional recently was from Matthew 24:1-14 which is a record of the "Olivet Discourse" as reported by the disciple, Matthew. Luke also recorded the "Olivet Discourse", Luke 21:5-38.
Our devotional for today Mark 13:28-37 is a section of Mark's record of the most "profound prophetic conference" ever held on the Earth with Jesus, the Messiah, as the teacher.
As we discussed in the devotional from Matthew, the first portion of the Lord's message dealt with six major "signs" of the soon coming of Jesus Christ, His second coming to the Earth. We drew an interesting parallel between the "signs" Jesus gave, Matthew 24:4-7, and the "seals," the sealed judgments found in Revelation 6.
As we look at Mark's record of the "Olivet Discourse" we bypass additional "signs" that we will look at in another devotional. At the conclusion of the Lord's discourse, He used a parable to emphasize how to recognize the time and nearness of His coming. It's the parable of the "fig tree".
Jesus would often use the natural surroundings of where He was teaching to drive home His point. Let me remind you that this parable is not using the "fig tree" as the nation of Israel.
It's a simple illustration of how in the spring, which was the time of the year when the discourse was given, two days before the spring Feast of Passover. The Lord says to His disciples, "notice that when leaves show up on a bare limb of a fig tree, it means summer is near".
Then Jesus says, "so likewise when ye shall see these things", these things were deception, war, famine, pestilence and earthquakes, the sealed judgments, know that it will be His time to return to Earth.
Our key verse even gets more specific, verse 30. "This generation shall not pass, until all these things be done", Jesus will come back to the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem.
When the Lord referred to "this generation" He was not referring to those with Him that day on the Mount of Olives, they have passed away. Jesus was referring to the generation who "sees these things", the "signs".
Therefore, those people who are seeing "these things", they are the people who will not pass until He comes. The people who are seeing these things are "we" that are alive today. Some of this generation will die but the main group could well be the "generation" that sees Jesus come back to the earth.
PRAYER THOT: Thank you Lord for your "prophetic word" that gives the evidence of the nearness of Your soon return, which helps me to be watching for this "glorious appearing."
But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:
The portion of scripture selected for our devotional today is from the Olivet Discourse, the message that Jesus gave on Tuesday afternoon of "Passion Week", the week of our Lords crucifixion.
In response to a question from His disciples, Jesus was explaining what will happen during the seven year Tribulation Period that leads up to the Second Coming of our Lord.
The disciples had asked the Lord for some "signs" of His Second Coming, His return to the earth to set up His kingdom, Mark 13:4.
Remember these are Jews asking for "signs" of the Second Coming. I Corinthians 1:22 reveals that God will give the Jews "signs"; however, "signs" are not for Christians.
We're not looking for "signs", we are listening for a "sound", the sound of the trumpet, the Lord's shout and the voice of the archangel, I Thessalonians 4:16, and we go to the heavenlies to ever be with the Lord.
By the way, there is not one prophecy that must be fulfilled before the Rapture. All prophecies yet to be fulfilled come after the Rapture.
Now back to the "signs" for the Jews, Jesus told them, verse 14, when you see the "abomination of desolation" spoken of by the prophet Daniel, Daniel 9:27, they were to flee to the mountains.
The "abomination of desolation" is when the Anti-christ walks into the Temple, into the "holy of holies" and claims to be God, II Thessalonians 2:4. That is when the Temple is desecrated. That happens at the mid-way point of the Tribulation Period, some 3 1/2 years after the Rapture.
This then means that there must be a temple on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem in the first part of the Tribulation Period. All preparations have been made for a temple to be erected and go into full operation, today.
For the first time in history, all that needs to be done to fulfill the Lord's prophecy is in place. The Lord also gave additional information to describe when this all would happen, verse 22, when false teachers and false prophets were actively using signs, wonders and miracles to deceive and seduce the world.
This passage of scripture describes our day, today, which seems to indicate that we are so close to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy. Only one thing has to happen before all of these prophecies will be fulfilled, the Rapture of the Church, which could happen at any moment.
Prayer Thot: Perhaps today will be the day, Jesus, that You shout for us to join You in the heavenlies. Even so come, Lord Jesus, and help me to live in that expectancy.
And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.
Our reading for today is focused on the day, by tradition, that we refer to as "Palm Sunday." A quick reading of our extended portion for today seems to verify the account that we have long proclaimed as the presentation of Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of prophecy, the long awaited Messiah. Indeed, the passage does reveal the events of at least three days in the life of Jesus Christ during Passion Week, the week of the death of our Lord.
Jesus was abiding at the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus located in Bethany on the backside of the Mount of Olives. He had arrived on Friday afternoon just in time for the Shabbat meal, the special meal for a Jewish family on Friday evening which is technically the Jewish day of Saturday, the Sabbath.
John 12:12 states that the next day, Saturday, the official presentation of Jesus Christ as King took place with His “Triumphal Entry” into the city of Jerusalem. That means that it is "Palm Saturday" we should celebrate, not Palm Sunday as is the custom according to tradition.
Take a deep breath and simply look at the Scriptural facts. Jesus arrived at Bethany on Friday afternoon and the next day, entered the Temple Mount area having been hailed as the Blessed One, the One who comes in the Name of the Lord, verses 9 and 10.
Notice that the day of His Triumphal Entry He walked onto the Temple Mount as the “Potentate”, the King of Kings, verse 11. The next day, Sunday, when He came to the Temple complex, the money changers were set up and doing business and He overthrew their tables and ran them out of the area, verses 15-18. He had come to the Temple as the “Priest”, the High Priest. That evening, He returned to Bethany and the next day, He returned to the Temple Mount as the “Prophet” and would teach His disciples “things to come”, verses 27-33.
The narrative clearly teaches that the order of appearances on the Temple Mount is as I have described it. The money- changers were not in the Temple complex the first day, Saturday, or Jesus would have thrown them out then. They were not there because it was the Sabbath and they did not work on that day. However, the next day, Sunday, the first day of the Jewish work-week, they were in their regular place and Jesus took care of them.
I present this to you because we must be correct on our understanding of Scripture. Luke 19:41-42 tells us that Jesus showed up the exact day He was to be there for the official presentation of Him as King according to Daniel's prophecy of the day as foretold in Daniel 9:25-26. He didn't arrive a day early or a day late - but right on time the day He was to be there to fulfill prophecy. God's work is exact.
PRAYER THOT: Help me to be a true student of God's word - it matters.
Mark's record of the transfiguration reveals a number of practical and prophetic truths that will benefit each of us as we read and realize these are for our everyday consumption.
Remember this event follows the story of Jesus and His disciples in Caesarea of Philippi where Peter pronounced Jesus the "Christ", the Messiah. It was then that Jesus told His disciples to stop telling men of Him and who He was. It was here also that Jesus first revealed His upcoming death, burial and resurrection.
Now, we come to the record of the transfiguration and the events surrounding the Lord's appearance in His “glorified body”. Jesus told His men that there would be some of them who would not die before they saw Him in His “kingdom to come”.
Then, six days later, the Lord takes the "inner circle" up the mountain, on the slopes of Mount Hermon and Peter, James and John personally witnessed Jesus in His glorified body. They would also see Moses and Elijah in their glorified bodies as well. The Lord was speaking prophetically and the prophecies were being fulfilled.
Peter's statement at the transfiguration reveals that he thought the "kingdom" had come. That's why Peter wanted to setup three "tabernacles". He wasn't talking about putting up three statues to honor Jesus, Moses and Elijah. Peter wanted three "succas" to be built which is what the Jewish people do during the seven day Feast of Tabernacles.
A "succa" is a thatched hut similar to the ones the Jews used during the forty years of wandering in the wilderness. The Jewish people erect a "succa", tabernacle, and live in it during the Feast of Tabernacles today. The Feast of Tabernacles is a prophecy of the Kingdom Period yet to come.
Peter, seeing Jesus in His glorified body thought the "kingdom" had come, therefore the setting up of the three tabernacles. Of course, it was not the Kingdom Period beginning, but only a foretaste of things to come. What happened next is very significant.
God the Father interrupted the event and made a very profound statement, "This is My beloved Son, hear ye Him." What a statement, God the Father confirms Jesus as His Son and then the exhortation to all of us, "Hear ye Him." We must hear what the Lord says because He is the Son of God, the One with what we need to hear.
PRAYER THOT: Thank You Lord for Your words, the Word of God, the Bible. Help me to listen closely to what You say and then to do it.
As we come to our devotional reading for today, I selected this portion of Mark because I was just at Capernaum and read from this passage. Our key verse records the Lord's ministry of casting out demons throughout the Galilee region.
Several thoughts come to mind as we read together this scripture. The New Testament Gospel writers reveal to us that “demonic activity” was prevalent during the time of the Lord's ministry on the earth.
This casting out of demons by the Lord was for the benefit of the one demon-possessed, of course, but it also demonstrated the authority of Jesus,verse 22, and that He had power over the "satanic world."
Remember that a "demon" is an “evil angel” that has taken up habitation in the body of a human and through this possession controls the person's every activity.
Jesus did have authority to cast out demons and He gave that authority to the apostles and no one else. The casting out of demons is not a ministry for today. In fact, if you confront someone that is demon-possessed, do not dare demand that the demon do anything. That would be dangerous and it is for the Lord to do that.
What we can do is lead the “demon-possessed” person to the Lord Jesus Christ. Once someone is saved, the Holy Spirit takes up habitation of the newly saved demon-possessed person. A demon and the Holy Spirit both cannot live in the same body and the Holy Spirit will take care of the demon by driving him out.
Another interesting insight from our reading would be included in the thought that the demons would talk to Jesus and the demon recognized who it was that he was dealing with,verse 24. Did you notice, even the demons will confess that Jesus is the “Holy One of God”? Every tongue will confess Him as the One from God.
As at the first coming of Jesus Christ when there was much demonic activity, there will also be an intense struggle between the good angels of God and the evil angels of Satan at the Second Coming of Jesus. In fact, the closer we get to the time of the Lord's return, seven years after the Rapture, demon activity will increase ten fold.
Jesus confirmed this in His Olivet Discourse, Matthew 24, when in response to the questions from the disciples, Jesus said the first, most important sign of His Second Coming will be “signs, wonders and miracles with unhindered demonic activity”, Matthew 24:4,5,11 and 24.
These Satanic attacks that happen near the Lord's return are one of the indicators that Jesus will soon shout for us to join Him in the air. In fact, that shout could come today for the Rapture. Keep looking up………….Until
PRAYER THOT: Thank you for the strength, Lord, to avoid the satanic attacks and in fact the ever increasing attacks, as we draw near to the Rapture of the Church.
The life of Jesus Christ was written, in the Gospels, by four men who spent much time with Him when He was here on earth. Mark wrote of the “servant” that Jesus became to all people He dealt with during His ministry.
At the same time, Mark brings to our attention the ministry of Jesus in the little village where He would be headquartered for 3 1/2 years of ministry, the fishing village of Capernaum.
This was also the town where Peter lived with his wife and mother-in-law, Mark 1:30. After a service on the Sabbath day, the Lord went to Peter's house and healed Peter's wife's mother. This event attracted attention to Jesus and His healing ministry and the people gathered to watch as Jesus healed those people brought to Him.
Early the next morning, Jesus went out to pray alone. But leave it to Peter to go out and find Jesus as He was praying. Peter told Jesus that all men were seeking Him. Notice what Jesus said to Peter, "Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also".
Then Jesus informed all those who gathered that He had come to preach, heal, cast out devils and serve the people. This is what the ancient Jewish prophet Isaiah had written that the “true Messiah” would do when He came to the earth, Isaiah 61:1-2a.
Even the demons could recognize who Jesus was. The demons that Jesus called out of the man in the synagogue in Capernaum told Jesus that even though he was a “demonic creature”, he knew who Jesus was, "the Holy One of God."
The preaching, healing and casting out of demons ministry of Jesus not only drew the people in the Galilee to Him but these ministries also authenticated Jesus as the Son of God, the “holy one” of God, who came to be the Saviour of the world.
Jesus was, and is, the focus of Bible prophecy. The fact that Jesus fulfilled Isaiah's prophecy is evidence that He will fulfill additional prophecy pertaining to Him. The “end time” prophecies related to the “second coming” of Jesus Christ are nearing their fulfillment.
What unique days we are living in today. This is a “day” when He could come in the clouds above us and “shout” to have us join Him in the air - let's keep looking up.
PRAYER THOT: Help me to live recognizing that Jesus is the “Holy One of God” and that He could call for us to join Him in the air.
