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Mark 4:
Jesus said a farmer sowed
some seeds but some fell on the path, and birds ate them. Others fell on
rocky soil; they grew, but got dried out by the sun because their roots were
shallow. A few fell on soils with thorns, which grew, but the thorns overtook
them and they yielded no grain. The rest fell on good soil and yielded abundant
harvest. The seeds are the Word of God and those that fell on the path are
people who hear God's Word but Satan steals it immediately. Those on
rocky soil are the one that gladly receive the word, but reject it because of
persecution against the Word, such as inability to work, make money, or join
groups because of their faith. Those that fell on thorns receive
the Word, but need for money, opportunity, to join favored groups, or associate
with popular people makes them unfruitful. Those on good soil receive the
Word and are fruitful because of it. Jesus teaches that whatever is hidden
will be revealed and those that have will be given more, but those that do not,
even what they had will be taken away. He says that the kingdom of God is like a
mustard seed, which is the smallest of all planted seeds, but grows to be the
biggest of all garden plants that provides shade for birds. Jesus also commanded
the wind and the waves to stop.
Mark 5:
A demon possessed man that
lived among the tombs came to meet Jesus. No one could bind him anymore because
he now broke the chains to free himself, and he would cry out day and night as
well as cut himself with stones. This man had many spirits within him.
The evil spirits in him
acknowledge that Jesus was the Son of God and begged that Jesus should send the
into the pigs rather than drive them out of the area. Jesus granted their
request, but about 2,000 pigs drowned themselves as soon as the spirits entered them.
The people begged Jesus to leave their town because of what happened. The healed
man wanted to go with Jesus, but Jesus told him to go tell his people what God
had done for him. Jesus healed a woman that had a bleeding problem for 12 years
because she touched Jesus' clothes and Jesus raised a 12 year-old girl from
death. |
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The Political & Spiritual Purpose of the
Holy Land
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Mark 6:
Jesus
went to his home town and people were amazed at his teaching and miracles. They
were jealous at his wisdom because they knew his family well and did not expect
much from Jesus. Jesus then told them that a prophet has no honor in his
hometown and Jesus did not do much in Nazareth because of their lack of faith in
him (familiarity breeds contempt). Jesus sent his 12 disciples out in pairs,
told them to only wear sandals and clothes with nothing extra, and they were to
preach repentance, drive out demons, and heal the sick. King Herod thought Jesus
was the resurrected John the Baptist he had beheaded because Jesus was now very
popular. Herodias, former sister-in-law, but now wife of Herod, wanted John dead
because John claimed that their marriage was illegal. Herod one day told Herodias' daughter that he would grant her request publicly and Herodias made
her demand the head of John. Herod enjoyed listening to John while he was
arrested, so he was in great distress when he had to behead him. Jesus feed 5,000
men with five loaves of bread and two fishes, which is equal to eight months of
a workers wage. |
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