July 11
Two Responses
Jesus answered, “We should go to other towns around here so I can preach there too. That is why I came. … Jesus warned him strongly, “Don’t tell anyone about this….” But he began to tell everyone that Jesus had healed him, and so he spread the news about Jesus. As a result, Jesus could not enter a town if people saw him. He stayed in places where nobody lived, but people came to him from everywhere.
Mark 1:38, 43-45 (NCV)
… the man who was freed from demons begged to go with him. But Jesus would not let him. He said, “Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you….” So the man left and began to tell the people in the Ten Towns about what Jesus had done for him. And everyone was amazed.
Mark 5:18-20 (NCV)
Two men—one a leper, the other demon possessed; two divine healings; and two different sets of instructions—the contrasts are both interesting and challenging.
Jesus tells one man to be silent and the other to preach, because He knew best how to reach the masses—both Jewish and Gentile. So Jesus commands these men in different ways.
Though both men would speak out boldly for Christ, their hearts were very different. The man once possessed by demons denied his own desire (to go with Jesus) and did what Jesus asked. He went back to the ten Gentile towns. The former leper, on the other hand, was beside himself—Jesus had cured the incurable. The reason for his disobedience is unimportant. The fact is, he did not obey our Lord’s command and it impacted Christ's ministry in a negative way.
The lesson is this: there will be times when we must declare God’s message boldly and there will be times when we must remain silent and do God’s will quietly. The key is listening to the Divine Word.
Has He spoken to your heart lately? If so, what will you do?
Lord, You have had mercy on all of us. Thank You for these reminders: You want our obedience most of all. Help us to listen and obey. Amen.
Two Responses
Jesus answered, “We should go to other towns around here so I can preach there too. That is why I came. … Jesus warned him strongly, “Don’t tell anyone about this….” But he began to tell everyone that Jesus had healed him, and so he spread the news about Jesus. As a result, Jesus could not enter a town if people saw him. He stayed in places where nobody lived, but people came to him from everywhere.
Mark 1:38, 43-45 (NCV)
… the man who was freed from demons begged to go with him. But Jesus would not let him. He said, “Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you….” So the man left and began to tell the people in the Ten Towns about what Jesus had done for him. And everyone was amazed.
Mark 5:18-20 (NCV)
Two men—one a leper, the other demon possessed; two divine healings; and two different sets of instructions—the contrasts are both interesting and challenging.
Jesus tells one man to be silent and the other to preach, because He knew best how to reach the masses—both Jewish and Gentile. So Jesus commands these men in different ways.
Though both men would speak out boldly for Christ, their hearts were very different. The man once possessed by demons denied his own desire (to go with Jesus) and did what Jesus asked. He went back to the ten Gentile towns. The former leper, on the other hand, was beside himself—Jesus had cured the incurable. The reason for his disobedience is unimportant. The fact is, he did not obey our Lord’s command and it impacted Christ's ministry in a negative way.
The lesson is this: there will be times when we must declare God’s message boldly and there will be times when we must remain silent and do God’s will quietly. The key is listening to the Divine Word.
Has He spoken to your heart lately? If so, what will you do?
Lord, You have had mercy on all of us. Thank You for these reminders: You want our obedience most of all. Help us to listen and obey. Amen.
posted by Craig Soderquist at 6:08 AM
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