As we continue through our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for another year, we will recognize references to the coming Messiah all through the Old Testament. They KNEW that God was sending them a Savior, they just expected that Savior to save them by becoming King of Israel and saving them from their oppressors. When Jesus came to this earth and ministered for three years, even those closest to Him, who knew that He was sent from God, expected Him to take charge and do something in the natural realm that would show Who He was! Little did they realize, at that time, that He was doing that very thing! He was preaching the Gospel, healing the sick, cleansing the leper, raising the dead to life and casting out devils and demons. He said it Himself in Luke 4:17-21:
17 And there was handed to Him [the roll of] the book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened (unrolled) the book and found the place where it was written, 18 The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon Me, because He has anointed Me [the Anointed One, the Messiah] to preach the good news (the Gospel) to the poor; He has sent Me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed [who are downtrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity], 19 To proclaim the accepted and acceptable year of the Lord [the day when salvation and the free favors of God profusely abound]. 20 Then He rolled up the book and gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were gazing [attentively] at Him. 21 And He began to speak to them: Today this Scripture has been fulfilled while you are present and hearing.
Jesus had already done, and would continue to do, all of these things! Just as Isaiah had prophesied about Him! Many did not recognize that, though! AS we see from today's reading in Mark, even some of His closest friends and His family didn't 'get it' yet! Look at Mark 3:21:
21 And when those who belonged to Him (His kinsmen) heard it, they went out to take Him by force, for they kept saying, He is out of His mind (beside Himself, deranged)!
And Mark 3:31-35:
31 Then His mother and His brothers came and, standing outside, they sent word to Him, calling [for] Him. 32 And a crowd was sitting around Him, and they said to Him, Your mother and Your brothers and Your sisters are outside asking for You. 33 And He replied, Who are My mother and My brothers? 34 And looking around on those who sat in a circle about Him, He said, See! Here are My mother and My brothers; 35 For whoever does the things God wills is My brother and sister and mother!
Even Mary, His mother, who had been told that He would 'save His people from their sin"(Matthew 1:21), did not yet understand! It was not until later, after she, and they, were born again, did they begin to understand the TRUTH! On a side note, NO, Mary was not 'immaculate', she was a sinner, just like all of us. She was blessed with the opportunity to be a vessel through which God the Son could become a man in order to become the PERFECT bridge between God and man! She had to receive JESUS as HER Lord and Savior, and she did! Then she was filled with Holy Spirit in the upper room and THEN the greater understanding began to come! Once her spirit became alive again, IN HIM, she was able to understand the Word of God which cannot be 'mentally' understood, but must be 'spiritually' discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14)! This is why we are sent to preach the Gospel to the lost, and NOT to teach them the Word, because the only part of the Word of God that a sinner is able to comprehend is that they NEED a Savior, and JESUS is the ONE! Acts 4:12:
And there is salvation in and through no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by and in which we must be saved.
Once the lost are saved, then they can BEGIN to comprehend the Word and it's true meaning. This ability to comprehend is increased extraordinarily once they receive the INFILLING of Holy Spirit. The very first 'sign' of being filled with the Spirit is speaking in tongues, but the next is an understanding of the Word that had not previously been present. This has been true in my life, and has increased tremendously as I have continued to "be filled' with Holy Spirit and to 'study to show myself approved'! I hope that this has helped YOU to recognize the importance of growing up in the Word of God and of doing so with the fullness of Holy Spirit revealing every Word! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Worship with "Your Word":
Shalom in Him!
