{"id":2213,"date":"2021-03-21T18:30:36","date_gmt":"2021-03-22T01:30:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/?p=2213"},"modified":"2021-03-20T22:38:38","modified_gmt":"2021-03-21T05:38:38","slug":"abiding-in-the-lord-mark-ch-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/blog\/abiding-in-the-lord-mark-ch-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Abiding in the Lord: Mark Ch. 3"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

(Translated version, original article written in Chinese by Pastor Mickey Hsiao)<\/em><\/p>\n

Worship<\/strong><\/h3>\n

By singing praises and hymns, awake your soul, open your heart to the Lord, and prepare yourself to welcome the presence of God and receive the Word of God that will be given to you.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Thanksgiving<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Petition with thanksgiving to God for a wonderful day and pray sincerely for a focused Scripture reading time! (Do not rush into reading the Bible without starting with prayers!<\/strong>) (e.g., you may start with a simple prayer like this: “Dear Lord, what will you be speaking to me today?)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Scripture Reading<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Get the following items ready in advance: your devotional notebook, paper, pen, and\/or electronic devotional articles so that you can easily write down the Bible verses, questions, and thoughts you have noticed! You are encouraged to open your Bible and vocally read out the scriptures (Try to practice this reading method daily or once a week)!<\/p>\n

Scripture Reading: Mark Ch. 3 (ESV)<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Meditation<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Take a moment to quietly reflect on today’s Scriptures. Through such exercises, let God’s Word be gradually written into our hearts and be inscribed to our mind.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Devotional<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Read the devotional articles prepared by CBCLWA (*Read the Bible first before reading any devotional materials.<\/strong>)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(vv. 1-12)\u00a0<\/span>As written in\u00a0<\/span>today’s<\/span>\u00a0scripture reading<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>there was always\u00a0<\/span>a great crowd follow<\/span>ing Jesus<\/span>\u00a0wherever<\/span>\u00a0he<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>visited.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>D<\/span>emons\u00a0<\/span>appeared before Jesus\u00a0<\/span>many times<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and<\/span>\u00a0they<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>shout<\/span>ed\u00a0<\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>him<\/span>:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>“You are the Son of God<\/span><\/b>.<\/span><\/b>“<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>Wh<\/span>y did Jesus\u00a0<\/span>purposely\u00a0<\/span>hide his own identi<\/span>t<\/span>y?<\/span>\u00a0The Books of Gospels\u00a0<\/span>give us some<\/span>\u00a0clues<\/span>\u00a0for his reasons, which can be\u00a0<\/span>explained\u00a0<\/span>in three likely conditions<\/span>, the\u00a0<\/span>\u201c3Ms<\/span>:\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  • M<\/span>oment<\/span>\u00a0(wrong timing): It was not the appointed time for Jesus\u2019s crucifixion yet. We know\u00a0<\/span>God will do things according to His own time;<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • M<\/span>essage<\/span>\u00a0(wrong message)<\/span>:\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0It would\u00a0<\/span>have\u00a0<\/span>been\u00a0<\/span>a confusing message if people\u00a0<\/span>regarded\u00a0<\/span>Jesus<\/span>\u00a0as someone who just came to heal the sick and\u00a0<\/span>drive out demons.\u00a0<\/span>The most important purpose of Jesus’ coming is to\u00a0<\/span>bring God\u2019s grace and salvation to his people<\/span>, not<\/span>\u00a0to perform\u00a0<\/span>miracles<\/span>\u00a0that came along<\/span>;<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
      \n
    • M<\/span>essenger<\/span>\u00a0(wrong messenger):\u00a0<\/span>It was prohibitive for these<\/span>\u00a0demons\u00a0<\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>act like<\/span>\u00a0a\u00a0<\/span>messenger<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>of Jesus\u00a0<\/span>even if they had known the true identi<\/span>t<\/span>y of Jesus.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      To fulfill his Godly mission,\u00a0<\/span>Jesus\u00a0<\/span>chose to\u00a0<\/span>hide his identi<\/span>t<\/span>y<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>he\u00a0<\/span>wait<\/span>ed<\/span>\u00a0patiently\u00a0<\/span>until the appointed time. Will I be willing to submit to God today<\/span>?\u00a0 Will we\u00a0<\/span>seek God\u2019s will\u00a0<\/span>earnestly\u00a0<\/span>for\u00a0<\/span>the purpose of our life,<\/span>\u00a0whether\u00a0<\/span>at work<\/span>\u00a0and at home?\u00a0<\/span>May the Lord help us!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      \u00a0<\/span>(vv. 13-19)\u00a0<\/span>The Gospels\u00a0<\/span>of\u00a0<\/span>Matthew, Mar<\/span>k and Luke<\/span>\u00a0and the Book of Act<\/span>\u00a0list<\/span>ed<\/span>\u00a0the<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>names of Jesus\u2019\u00a0<\/span>disciples<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Peter\u00a0<\/span>is always\u00a0<\/span>listed\u00a0<\/span>first\u00a0<\/span>on\u00a0<\/span>the<\/span>\u00a0following lists<\/span>\u00a0of names<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Judas,<\/span>\u00a0the one who betrayed Jesus,\u00a0<\/span>is always\u00a0<\/span>shown as\u00a0<\/span>the last\u00a0<\/span>person\u00a0<\/span>on the<\/span>se<\/span>\u00a0lists. For your reference, we\u00a0<\/span>organized\u00a0<\/span>t<\/span>he\u00a0<\/span>names<\/span>\u00a0of these disciples for each list by dividing them into\u00a0<\/span>3 groups<\/span>, with 4 names in each group. In the table below, the first person listed in each group is the same across\u00a0<\/span>all\u00a0<\/span>4 columns.\u00a0<\/span>By the time when the Book of Act was written, Judas already passed and only 11 disciples were left on the list<\/span>\u00a0from the Book of Act<\/span>s<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      \"\"(vv. 20-35) <\/span>Can you imagine how challenging\u00a0<\/span>Jesus’ ministry<\/span>\u00a0was?! On the\u00a0<\/span>day of the\u00a0<\/span>Sabbath, Jesus, in his good will, wanted to save lives<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and yet\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>Pharisees\u00a0<\/span>want<\/span>ed<\/span>\u00a0to kill\u00a0<\/span>Jesus. Jesus drove out demons who\u00a0<\/span>had shouted to him\u00a0<\/span>\u201ct<\/span><\/b>he\u00a0<\/span><\/b>S<\/span><\/b>on of God<\/span><\/b>\u201d<\/span><\/b>\u00a0and yet\u00a0<\/span>Jesus\u00a0<\/span>was accused by people that he<\/span>\u00a0was<\/span>\u00a0possessed by\u00a0<\/span>Beelzebul<\/span>, the prince of demons.\u00a0<\/span>Jesus<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>was busy preaching\u00a0<\/span>that he had no time to eat<\/span>, and yet,\u00a0<\/span>his family said\u00a0<\/span>Jesus\u00a0<\/span>was out of his mind.\u00a0<\/span>In today\u2019s scripture reading,\u00a0<\/span>Jesus<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>apparently was\u00a0<\/span>attacked by religious figures<\/span>\u00a0and<\/span>\u00a0disturbed by spiritual forces<\/span>, rejected by\u00a0<\/span>his family and relatives, and so on.\u00a0<\/span>In the face of these challenges<\/span>, Jesus\u00a0<\/span>continued\u00a0<\/span>his ministry<\/span>\u00a0and<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>perform<\/span>ed<\/span>\u00a0miracles<\/span>\u00a0still<\/span>. Jesus\u00a0<\/span>appointed\u00a0<\/span>the twelve d<\/span>isciples\u00a0<\/span>that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>It is generally believed that\u00a0<\/span>Thaddaeus<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>i<\/span>n the<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Gospel<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>of Mark<\/span>\u00a0and Matthew<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>was actually called\u00a0<\/span>Judas (son of J<\/span>ames<\/span>)<\/span>\u00a0by\u00a0<\/span>the apostle\u00a0<\/span>Luke<\/span>. And\u00a0<\/span>in the Gospel of John<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Bartholomew<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>was known as\u00a0<\/span>N<\/span>athaniel<\/span>\u00a0who\u00a0<\/span>came along with\u00a0<\/span>Philip.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      Brothers and sisters,\u00a0<\/span>when the followers of Jesus\u00a0<\/span>get up and serve, they\u00a0<\/span>are anticipated to be challenged\u00a0<\/span>in many ways<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Fear not!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>I<\/span>n the face of these challenges<\/span>, let us\u00a0<\/span>be abiding<\/span>\u00a0in\u00a0<\/span>the Lord<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>at all times<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>If\u00a0<\/span>we follow and obey God\u2019s will in everything we do<\/span>\u00a0and serve him<\/span>, we\u00a0<\/span>shall\u00a0<\/span>see\u00a0<\/span>the expansion of God\u2019s Kingdom<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      Pray<\/strong><\/h3>\n

      Give thanks to God for His enabling us to read the Scriptures and for our response for living out the Word of God today! (e.g., You may start with a simple prayer like this: \u201cDear Lord, what\/where are you going to lead me to today?”)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":2111,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[73,71],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2213","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-abiding-in-the-lord","category-pastor-mickey-hsiao"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2213","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2213"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2213\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2215,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2213\/revisions\/2215"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2111"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2213"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2213"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2213"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}