Title: Our work/Mark 9:14-29
Contents
Our work/Mark 9:14-29
Everything in the world has a purpose for which it was created. Even the world God created has a purpose. In particular, there is a clear purpose for those who were created in the likeness and image of God and breathed with the breath of God to become living beings. It is our job to do what God wants us to do. We want to receive grace by thinking about what it is and how much we can bear.
Today's text is the scene of Jesus going up the Mount of Transfiguration with the three disciples, in glory, and then descending. The scribes and disciples were arguing in the midst of a large crowd of spectators. Looking at verses 18 and 22, he asked the disciples to heal a child who had epilepsy, but he could not. Then Jesus came and healed the child. It is our job to live our lives to the glory of God. (Short Catechism No. 1 Isaiah 43:7,21) Then, it was natural for the disciples to heal children and glorify God by preaching the gospel while Jesus was away. However, he did not do his job and was rebuked. Are you suffering from a disease that is unfavorable to this society and the country, like a child suffering from epilepsy? Ethics and morality have fallen to the ground a long time ago, and what should we do in a reality where we have to be more lewd and rebellious? Through the text, we will try to think about what we should not do and what we should do to heal the patient.
I try to think of things I shouldn't do first.
1. You shouldn't just be arguing. (verses 14 and 16)
2. You must not test God. (verses 23 and 24)
Since the child's father came to heal him, he seems to have faith. But when he came to Jesus, he said, “If you can do anything… If you reverse the words, "If you can't do it, stop," it is an act of testing God by saying, "If you can, try it once." We are not to be anything that is neither this nor that. He rebuked the lukewarm Laodian church (Rev 3:14-16). You must move forward with active faith, and you must not put God to the test.
3. Don't even be a spectator. (verses 14, 15, 26)
The great crowd watching the argument were worthless spectators in the display of God's glory. These are the people who say that after the demon has gone out, they see the child's condition and die. They are indifferent spectators who live without even thinking about the reality of families, groups, churches, and countries as people who do not have their own opinions or arguments and are swept here and there even when they are arguing. We shouldn't be like that. You must live with a sense of mission, “You are the light and salt of the world.”
What should we do next?
1. We must live with strong faith. (Verses 19,22-24)
“O unbelieving generation… “Nothing is impossible for those who believe,” said the Lord. Why did the disciples who were so zealous had no faith? The disciples showed the ability to cast out demons and heal diseases in Mark 3:15, 6:13. But now, Jesus is not there, and the scribes were arguing with them because they were criticizing Jesus, so they could not do what they were supposed to do and were shaken. Satan hinders the growth of faith and shakes the work of God through our environment and people. Just as Peter, who was walking on the water when he saw Jesus, saw a storm and fell into the water, we can overcome everything and give glory to God only when we stand firm in faith in Jesus. Therefore, it is our duty to “stand firm by faith in Jesus, who is the Lord of our faith and can make me perfect” (Hebrews 12:1).
2. There must be the word of power. (verses 25-26)
Jesus commanded the demons with the word to drive them out and healed the child. The Lord who is the Word (John 1:1,14) is with us even now. (Matthew 28:20, John 14:26) A life filled with the Word of the Lord with Him is a victory, and power is revealed to God in such a person. You will be glorified. Therefore, faith does not become a theory or knowledge, but when we obey and live so that God's word rules our life, the word of power will come, and when we testify to it, we will have power, and those who meditate and rejoice day and night will be blessed. Psalm 1:2,3) The only offensive weapon to defeat Satan is the Word. (Ephesians 6:17) It is our duty to arm ourselves with the Word and bear witness.
3. We must pray to God. (Verses 28-29)
Let me finish my speech.
God still accomplishes His will through us and fulfills His work. He also wants to be glorified. It is impossible to glorify God by becoming a spectator, as if your faith is weakened by useless arguments and you are testing God or doing things from afar. Because we are God's children through the merits of the shed blood of Jesus Christ, we must stand firm in faith and accomplish the Lord's work on this earth by not turning to the left or to the right. (John 14:12) Heb 14:12) We must overcome all trials and tribulations in the world, overcome all trials and tribulations, and be refreshed by praying to God and receive power to overcome the world and to glorify God. If it is judged that it should not be done, I pray in the name of the Lord that you will be greatly blessed and become a saint who gives glory to God by boldly throwing it away and doing our best in what we should do.