Gold for the heart

Mark 6

Jesus taught with wisdom and did mighty works

1 And he left there and came into his own country; and his disciples followed him. 2 And when the sabbath day came, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, Where did this man get these things? And what wisdom is this that is given to him, that such mighty works are done by his hands? 3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

Verse 3 is tells us that Mary was only a virgin until after the birth of Jesus.
She had 4 sons and at least 2 daughters after Jesus was born.
This carpenter built the heavens and the earth (John 1:3).

Hebrews 11:10 For he (Abraham) looked for a city that has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

4 But Jesus said to them, A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and among his own relatives, and in his own house. 5 And he could do no mighty work there except he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.

Romans 10:17 faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Jesus has power over unclean spirits

7 And he called the twelve to him, and began to send them out two by two; and gave them power over unclean spirits; 8 And commanded them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no scrip, no food, no money in their purse: 9 But wear sandals; and not put on two coats. 10 And he said to them, Wherever you enter into a house, stay there until you leave that place. 11 And whoever will not receive you, nor hear you, when you leave, shake the dust off your feet for a testimony against them. Truthfully I say to you, It will be more tolerable for Sodom or Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.

This verse confirms that a day of judgment is coming and there are degrees of punishment.

12 And they went out and preached that men should repent. 13 And they cast out many devils, and anointed many that were sick with oil, and healed them.

Repent means to turn and go the other direction—back to God rather than away from Him.
When an army conquers an area they cast out the enemies living there.

14 And king Herod heard of him; (for his name was spread abroad:) and he said that John the Baptist was risen from the dead and therefore mighty works show themselves in him. 15 Others said that it is Elijah. And others said that it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets. 16 But when Herod heard it he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead. 17 For Herod himself had sent and arrested John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her. 18 John had said to Herod, It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife. 19 Therefore Herodias held a grudge against him, and wanted him killed; but she could not: 20 because Herod feared John and kept him safe, knowing that he was a just and holy man; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. 21 And when a convenient day came, Herod, on his birthday, made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee; 22 And when the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and those that sat with him, the king said to the girl, Ask of me whatever you want, and I will give it to you. 23 And he swore to her, Whatever you ask of me, I will give it to you, up to half of my kingdom.

The Lord gives us more than this offer Herod made the girl as a gift, no pleasing dance necessary.

John 16:24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name: ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

Revelation 21:7 He that overcomes will inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he will be my son.

24 And she went out and said to her mother, What should I ask? And she answered, The head of John the Baptist. 25 And immediately she rushed in to the king and asked, saying, I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter. 26 And the king was exceedingly sorry; but for his oath's sake, and for their sakes who sat with him, he would not reject her. 27 And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison, 28 And brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl: and the girl gave it to her mother. 29 And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.

Herodias was incredibly selfish. She suggested nothing for her daughter who danced and pleased the king. She could have had half of the kingdom for her daughter.

30 And the apostles gathered themselves together to Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught. 31 And he said to them, Come apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were so many coming and going that they did not even have time to eat. 32 And they left by boat into a deserted place by privately. 33 And the people saw them leaving and many knew him, and ran on foot out of all cities, and outran them, and came together to him. 34 And Jesus, when he came out, saw many people, and was moved with compassion toward them because they were like sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.

Since God promised to give anything we ask, and believing that is the key to receiving it. By teaching them, the Lord was giving them what they needed to solve all problems.

Ezekiel 34:12-16 As a shepherd seeks out his flock … I will bring them to their own land, and feed them on the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country. 16 …and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick

The Lord amazes beyond measure

35 And when the day grew late his disciples came to him, and said, This is a deserted place, and it is getting late: 36 Send them away so that they may go into the surrounding country and into the villages, and buy themselves food: for they have nothing to eat. 37 He answered and said to them, You give them food. And they said to him, Can we go and buy two hundred denarii of food, and give them to eat? 38 He said to them, How many loaves do you have? Go and see. And when they knew, they said, Five, and two fishes. 39 And he commanded to make them all sit down by companies on the green grass. 40 And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties. 41 And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and he divided the two fishes among them all. 42 And they all ate and were filled. 43 And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes. 44 And they that ate the loaves were about five thousand men.

Psalm 145:16 You open your hand, and satisfy the desire of every living thing.

He comforts us in fearful circumstances with His presence

45 Immediately he made his disciples get into the ship, and go to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he sent away the people. 46 And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray. 47 And when evening came, the ship was in the middle of the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48 And he saw them straining in rowing for the wind was against them: and about the fourth watch of the night he came to them walking on the sea, and would have passed by them. 49 But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a spirit, and cried out: 50 For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and said to them, Be of good cheer: I AM; do not be afraid.

We have no reason to fear because the One with all the power is with us.
The sea was symbolic of chaos in ancient times and the spirit they feared Jesus to be was an evil spirit from the deep come to take them.
The words ‘pass by’ are the same God used to Moses when Moses wanted to see God’s glory.
God said, I will hide you in the cleft of the rock and ‘pass by’ and you can see my back.
The same words were used at the same mountain to Elijah in 1 Kings 19, because Sinai and Horeb are the same.

1Kings 19:11 And he said, Go out and stand on the mount before the LORD. And, behold the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: 12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

Hebrews 13:5 Let your life be without covetousness; and be content with what you have: for he has said, I will never leave you or forsake you.

51 And he went up to them into the ship; and the wind stopped: and they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. 52 For they had not considered the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened. 53 And when they had passed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore. 54 And when they were come out of the ship, immediately they knew him, 55 And ran through that whole surrounding region and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, to where they heard he was. 56 And wherever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and sought to touch him even just the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.

Colossians 2:10 you are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

Mark 7

The Lord taught that life is about the heart

1 Then the Pharisees and certain of the scribes who came from Jerusalem came together to him. 2 And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, with unwashed hands, they found fault. 3 For the Pharisees and all the Jews, holding the tradition of the elders, do not eat unless they wash their hands often. 4 And when they come from the market they do not eat unless they wash. And they adhere to many other things they have received like the washing of cups and pitchers and copper pots and tables. 5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why don’t your disciples walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with unwashed hands? 6 He answered and said to them, Isaiah has prophesied rightly of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7 In vain they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

The word ‘hypocrite’ means false face.
God has commanded many things but never the washing of pots and cups for worship.
The leaders weren’t teaching what God said, but their own traditions.

8 For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold to the traditions of men like the washing of pitchers and cups: you do many other things like that. 9 And he said to them, You are good at rejecting the commandment of God so that you may keep your own tradition. 10 For Moses said, Honor your father and your mother; and, Whoever curses father or mother, let him die the death: 11 But you say, If a man says to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatever you might be profited by me; he will be free. 12 And you no longer allow him to do anything for his father or his mother; 13 Making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have delivered: you do many things like this.

We have a book written by the One who made all things.
In it He has told us all truth.
All other books have been written by men.
James 3:2 says men err in much.

Ecclesiastes12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.

14 And when he had called all the people to him, he said to them, Listen to me every one of you, and understand: 15 There is nothing outside a man, that entering into him, can defile him: but the things which come out of him, that is what defiles the man.16 If any man has ears to hear, let him hear. 17 And when he entered into the house from the crowd, his disciples asked him about the parable. 18 And he said to them, Are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not perceive, that whatever enters the man from outside, it cannot defile him; 19 because it does not enter into his heart, but into the belly, and goes out into the waste-bowl, purging all foods? 20 And he said, What comes out of the man, that defiles the man. 21 For from inside, out of the heart of men, proceeds evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 thefts, covetousnesses, wickednesses, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within and defile the man.

Proverbs 4:23 Guard your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he

1Samuel 16:7 the LORD does not see as man sees for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.

24 And from there he arose and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into a house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hidden. 25 For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet: 26 The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she sought him to cast the devil out of her daughter. 27 But Jesus said to her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not proper to take the children's bread, and to cast it to the dogs. 28 And she answered and said to him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs. 29 And he said to her, For this saying go your way; the devil is gone out of your daughter. 30 And when she came to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid on the bed.

Jesus resistance displayed this woman’s great faith.
This woman knew enough about God’s mercy and love to know that He would do this for her even though Israel was first.

Matthew 15:28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, O woman, great is your faith: be it unto you even as you desire. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

The Lord does all things well

31 And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came to the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis. 32 And they brought to him one that was deaf, and had a speech impediment; and they implored him to put his hand on him. 33 And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue; 34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. 35 And instantly his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke correctly. 36 And he ordered them to tell no man: but the more he ordered them, the more abundantly they proclaimed it; 37 And were astonished beyond measure, saying, He has done all things well: he makes both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.

Luke 18:27 And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

Mark 8

The Lord fills and satisfies

1 In those days the crowd was very great and had nothing to eat. Jesus called his disciples to him and said to them, 2 I have compassion on the multitude, because they have been with me for three days now and have nothing to eat: 3 And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for some of them have come a great distance. 4 And his disciples answered him, Where can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness? 5 And he asked them, How many loaves do you have? And they said, Seven. 6 And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and broke, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they set it before the people. 7 And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set these also before them. 8 So they ate, and were filled: and they took up of the broken food that was left seven baskets. 9 And those that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away.

‘Compassion’ is sighed deeply, from the bottom of His heart. His Spirit was stirred to the depths.

John 6:35 And Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life: he that comes to me will never hunger; and he that believes on me will never thirst.

10 And immediately he entered into a ship with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha. 11 And the Pharisees came out and began to question him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him. 12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and said, Why does this generation seek after a sign? Truthfully I say to you, No sign will be given to this generation.

God walked among man in Jesus. Day after day He did miracles. He showed who he was by what He did. No one else has ever walked on water and raised the dead.
Life itself is a miracle to man because man cannot make a single blade of grass or breath of air. Yet they asked Him for a sign.

2Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of those that do not believe, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

13 And he left them, and entering into the ship again departed to the other side. 14 Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, they only had one loaf with them in the boat. 15 And he ordered them, saying, Watch out, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod. 16 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread. 17 And when Jesus knew it, he said to them, Why do you reason this, because you have no bread? Do you still not perceive, nor understand? Do you still harden your heart? 18 Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments did you take up? They say to him, Twelve. 20 And when I broke the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments did you take up? And they said, Seven. 21 And he said to them, How is it that you do not understand?

Romans 10:17 faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

22 And he came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to him, and asked him to touch him. 23 And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands on him, he asked him if he saw anything. 24 And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. 25 After that he put his hands on his eyes again and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly. 26 And he sent him away to his house, saying, Do not go into the town or tell it to any in the town.

Revelation 3:18 I counsel you to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich; and white clothing, that you may be clothed, and that the shame of your nakedness does not appear; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.

27 And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and on the way he asked his disciples, saying to them, Who do men say that I am? 28 And they answered, John the Baptist: but some say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets. 29 And he said to them, But who do you say that I am? And Peter answered and said to him, You are the Christ. 30 And he warned them to tell no man about him. 31 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. 33 But when he had turned around and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get behind me, Satan: for you are not setting your mind the things that are of God, but the things that are of men.

These men were expecting Jesus to overthrow Rome and bring perfect environment to the world in His kingdom.
But the kingdom can’t be enjoyed when man’s heart is rotten. Jesus had to clean up man’s evil heart first.

He is coming in the glory of His father

34 And when he had called the people to him with his disciples also, he said to them, Whoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whoever will save his life will lose it; but whoever will lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? 37 Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 Whoever therefore is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; the Son of man be ashamed of him also when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

God is life. When we put Him first in our lives, we truly live.
When we put ourselves first we lose everything wonderful.

Matthew 6:22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore your eye/focus is single, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

Psalm 16:11 … in your presence is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures for evermore.

Ezekiel 1:26 And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and on the throne was the likeness of a man above upon it. 27 And I saw as the color of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from his loins upward, and from his loins downward, I saw the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about. 28 As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.

Matthew 25:31-34 When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory: 33 And before him will be gathered all nations: and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats…

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SUMMARY: Mark 6-8

Jesus taught with wisdom and did mighty works
He has power over unclean spirits
The Lord amazes beyond measure
He comforts us in fearful circumstances with His presence
The Lord taught that life is about the heart
The Lord does all things well
The Lord fills and satisfies
He is coming in the glory of His father