Prayer: Lord, as we read your word, may it truly be a lamp to our feet and light to our path. You speak Lord through your word, may we hear you today. In your mighty name we pray, Amen

OBSERVATION - ( What is the text about? Who, What, How, Why, When & Where) - This text is about Jesus choosing a group of men to be with Him during his earthly ministry and also to send them out to preach. He gave each one authority to drive out demons. The text names each man that Jesus chose, some even changing their names! Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter),  James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”),  Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James, son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas.

INTERPRETATION - (What is the message of the text? What is the context?) - The context is that Jesus's work on earth will continue. The message is that even Jesus did not minister alone. He established an inner circle of men to be with him, a smaller group that was separate from the crowds. A smaller group  , He chose because He wanted them with Him.

APPLICATION - (What does it mean for me personally? What needs to change in me?) - I just have to start by saying that the prayer above (for me) was answered! God's word has again 'spoken' to my heart, and I hope and pray that the same has happened to you! At first, I was going to include more text than just these seven verses, but when I saw the heading 'Jesus appoints the Twelve,' I decided that this was too important an event and would be worthy of a study in itself.

I was not disappointed!

I have always thought this event was more about training the chosen apostles, yet today it's the words "called to Him those He wanted" that spoke to my heart! Even Jesus did not choose to minister on His own! He wanted people with Him while He ministered on the earth. In verse 14 it confirms this by saying "he appointed twelve that they may be with Him!" Somewhere along my years as a Christian, I overlooked this important fact.

If Jesus wanted people with Him, then we can be sure He wants the same for us. The way Jesus does things is always an example for us in how to live life as a christian. This speaks volumes to this introverted woman who prefers to do things on her own.! It speaks so clearly that I will take this to prayer in the coming days and weeks and begin to ask the Lord about my group of people. This is especially challenging now that He has moved me to a new outback town, yet I don't doubt that Jesus knows what He was doing there as well!

I am challenged to be in prayer and to be prayerfully open to new people coming into my life. Perhaps the Lord wants me to teach them something and encourage them to use their gifts, or to send them out to share the gospel with others. Yet, while that may sound like a worthy cause, I'm more on the lookout for new friends, friends of the heart that I choose to include in the inner circle of my life.

Why? Because I want to be more like Jesus! I want to follow Him and live life like He did! I'll be honest, this won't come easy for me. I will need to lean on Jesus for wisdom. God made me the way I am, and I am not ashamed to say that my personality is introverted. Understanding this about myself has brought much freedom, but I do tend to keep to myself more than I should. I am reminded that Jesus also withdrew to have time to himself. So, although I feel challenged and know I will be out of my comfort zone, I am also encouraged that if I let Him lead me, all will be well! Thank you, Jesus, you sure are an amazing God!

So.... How about you? Did God's word speak to YOU today as you read these 7 verses from Mark 3?

It might just be ONE word that was highlighted to your heart! I'd love it if you could share it with me!

You can share here or head on over to my Facebook Page and share there. It's a good idea to write it down when God speaks to your heart, too! You can look back on your notes later and realise how far God has brought you since that date, and it can be a good prayer reminder too when we write it down.

Bless you heaps! More coming soon! Love Jenspen.

OBSERVATION - ( What is the text about? Who, What, How, Why, When & Where) - There is so much to observe in these 5 verses.... we read in the previous verses that Jesus was in the synagog and that his experience there grieved him. No wonder he wanted to withdraw afterward to a lake, away from the city. I think he may have just wanted some time to process this with his disciples, but he couldn't due to the crowds that were following him. He was in Galilee, yet people from surrounding cities had come because the news of his healings and miracles was spreading far and wide. It says that many people followed him, and such was the crowd that Jesus had to consider what to do if the people all became too much. 

INTERPRETATION - (What is the message of the text? What is the context?) -

• Summary of Jesus's growing ministry: This passage serves as a snapshot of Jesus's immense popularity and the chaotic, overwhelming response to his healing work. People from all over the region came to him because they had heard about his miracles.
• Controlling public perception: Jesus sought to avoid being crushed by the sheer size of the crowds, so he prepared a boat to move away from the people pressing in on him. This highlights a practical concern, but also a deeper strategy for managing the public response to his ministry.
• The demons' acknowledgment: Ironically, only the unclean spirits recognized Jesus for who he was, crying out, "You are the Son of God".
• The "Messianic Secret": Jesus repeatedly commanded the demons not to reveal his identity. This is part of a larger theme where Jesus often instructed people not to speak about his miracles, indicating that he was in control of how and when his true identity as the Son of God was revealed.

APPLICATION - (What does it mean for me personally? What needs to change in me?) - This reminds me of incidents I have heard of where revival is happening. Revival draws crowds! This would have been the beginning of the very first revival, don't you think? People heard and had to come and see for themselves, and a lot of them were sick and demon-possessed and desperate to be free. And isn't this the cry of our hearts still today? We long to be truly free! For some of us it is physical sickness and disease; for others it is mental health. For all of us, it is the God given desire we all have that can only be satisfied by knowing Jesus, by knowing He is the Son of God and our way to eternal life. Like the crowds following Jesus, we don't see Him for who He really is, and instead, we look to the world for answers that only He can truly satisfy. The revelation I got today was that the crowds came and followed Jesus because of the healings and miracles they had heard about, yet they did not recognise Him for who He really was. Lord, do I follow a man who is able to bring miracles into my life, or do I follow and serve the one and only living God and my Saviour! Wow! Thankyou Jesus.