Who Then is This?

Jesus and the twelve were in a boat on an evening after a long day of teaching. A wind storm came upon them and the boat began filling with water. Jesus was in the stern. Asleep. On a cushion. The disciples woke Him and said, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" (Mark 4:38; NASBU).

Jesus got up. He rebuked the wind. He said to the sea, "Hush, be still" (Mark 4:39; NASBU). The wind died down. The sea "became perfectly calm" (Mark 4:39; NASBU).

Jesus then spoke to the twelve. He asked two, what must have been, confusing questions. "Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?" (Mark 4:40; NASBU). As the boat filled with water the hearts of the disciples filled with fear. Fear for their lives. Now Jesus is asking them why. And He is asking them about their faith.

All of this served to unnerve them even more: "They became very much afraid..." (Mark 4:41; NASBU). In response to Jesus' two questions they raise one among themselves: "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?" (Mark 4:41; NASBU).

Who then indeed. That seems to be the question of questions. Once the twelve answered this question everything else fell into place for them.

By the way...The more I come to know Him...the more my fear is replaced with faith.

Jason Cicero

With Him

Jesus set apart twelve men for a number of reasons. I am most envious of the one I read about in Mark 3:14. He chose these men to "be with Him."

What I do by faith, they did in the flesh. They saw Him with their eyes. They heard His voice with their ears. Their hands touched Him. They walked with Him. They worked with Him. They played with Him. They were "with Him."

Oh, how I want to be with Him! My joy is full knowing what awaits. "They shall see His face..." (Revelation 22:4).

Jason Cicero

The Great Physician

Jesus was eating at Levi's house. So were many tax collectors and sinners. This did not sit well with the scribes and Pharisees. "How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners," they asked. When Jesus heard their question He put things in perspective: "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance" (Mark 2:17; NKJV).

It helps me to know that Jesus ate with sinners because I am one. It helps me to know that He came to meet the needs of those who are sick because I am sick. It helps me to know that He came to call sinners to repentance because I have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

What I most desperately need...He is.

Jason Cicero

Do I Do What He Did?

To be a disciple of Jesus Christ is to discipline oneself to be like Him. Jesus prayed without ceasing. He kept the converstation with His Father going.

"Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed" (Mark 1:35; NKJV).

Jesus had the same amount of time in a day that I have. Jesus needed sleep as much as I do. Jesus had a greater purpose that I do.

His time, His needs, and His purpose did not keep him from getting away from it all to talk to His heavenly Father. Do mine? Then He said to me, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny Himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me" (Luke 9:23; NKJV).

Jason Cicero

Hidden in My Heart

Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM." (John 8:58; NKJV)

Sunday Morning Starters

Christ has given us the great responsibility to teach others about Him (Matthew 28:18-20). It may be that we fail to teach others because we do not know what to say or where to begin. Consider this. When Jesus began His public ministry He called Philip to “follow Me” (John 1:43). Philip then found Nathanael and explained that they had “found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote - Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph” (John 1:45). Nathanael was less than impressed. Nathanael believed that folks from Nazareth were from the wrong side of the tracks so he dismissed Philip’s idea that this Nazarene was the Messiah altogether (John 1:46). Philip simply said, “Come and see” (John 1:46).

Most folks we will try to teach will be similar to Nathanael. They will be unimpressed. Unimpressed that we have Lord’s Day Bible classes, that we preach from the Bible, that we come together on Wednesday evening to read and study God’s word. Why not simply say to them, “Come and see”? This seems to be an effective way to bring others to Jesus. For Nathanael did come and Nathanael did see (John 1:47-49). In fact, this same method is used by Jesus and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 11:27; Revelation 22:17).

As the Lord’s Day approaches, let us be about the business of inviting others to “come.” To “come and see.” To “come” and hear the good news about Jesus; the good news about His death, burial and resurrection; the good news about the forgiveness of sins; the good news about a heavenly home. Let us say to those who need Jesus, “Come."

Jason Cicero

Mark's Portrait of Jesus

Mark presents Jesus as an active, compassionate, and obedient Servant who constantly ministers to the physical and spiritual needs of others. The distinctive word of this book is euthus (translated “immediately”), and it appears more often in this compact gospel than in the rest of the New Testament. Jesus is constantly moving toward a goal that is hidden to almost all. Mark clearly shows the power and authority of this unique Servant, identifying Him as no less than the Son of God (1:1, 11; 3:11; 5:7; 9:7; 13:32; 14:61; 15:39). Chapter by chapter, the book of Mark unfolds the dual focus of Christ’s life: service and sacrifice. The purpose of Mark is to present the Christ as the servant of the LORD.

Jesus calls me to be His servant and the servant of others. Jesus calls me to discipleship: “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (8:34). I am to “be last of all and servant of all” as His disciple ( 9:35). To be great in this Man’s kingdom is to be a “servant” and a “slave of all” (10:43-44). I am to follow His example: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (10:45).

Jesus calls me to sacrifice my life for Him and for others. To save my life I am to lose it in Him and for Him (8:34-37). Like the Rich Young Ruler, I am to sacrifice whatever it takes to follow Jesus (10:21). The sacrifice I make for Him and others will be rewarded now and in eternity: “…who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time – houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions – and in the age to come, eternal life” (10:29-30).

Jesus calls me to victory through suffering. A cross is an instrument of death: “…let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me” (8:34-38). His victory came after persecutions, suffering and death (10:30, 33-34). Mine will too.

See Mark’s portrait of Jesus and give your life to the service of the Lord, sacrificing your time, energy, your very life for others!

Jason Cicero

Forgiveness

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7; NKJV).

Forgive. To forgive is “to send away” (Thayer’s). To truly forgive is to cease to feel angry or resentful toward, to remit or let off. Some synonyms of forgive are overlook, pay no attention to, clear, let off, cancel, erase. God sends our sins away from us and from Him. He ceases to feel righteous indignation toward us when He forgives. He remits our sins and removes the punishment. With Micah we stand in awe and ask, “Who is a God like You?” (Micah 7:18-20).

Forgiveness. Forgiveness in involves “release – as from bondage, imprisonment” (Thayer’s). Some synonyms of forgiveness are mercy, compassion, grace. God releases us from the bondage of sin when He forgives. We release others from the bondage of sin when we forgive them of the sins they have committed against us. We rejoice that “there is forgiveness” with the true and living God that each of us has sinned against (Psalm 130:5).

I am to pray for forgiveness. “And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us” (Luke 11:4; NKJV).

When someone repents, I am to forgive them. “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32; NKJV).

God will not forgive me unless I forgive those who have sinned against me. “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses” (Mark 11:25-26; NKJV).

Lessons from “The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant” (Matthew 18:21-35). The difference between the two amounts is the difference between the sins against our neighbor and the sins against Almighty GOD. No one can pay the debt due from him to his Lord. Forgiveness is God’s amazing Grace in action. Forgiveness is God’s mercy in action. Learn to give people not what they deserve, but what they need. As I forgive without limit, so His mercy is infinite and will be extended to me in measure unbounded.

We pardon to the extent that we love. Receive His love. Receive His grace. Receive His forgiveness. When and only when you receive His love, grace, and forgiveness will you be able to give it to others. “Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little” (Luke 7:47; NKJV).

Jason Cicero

In Everything Give Thanks

"In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18; NKJV)

To give thanks is to express gratitude. Thankfulness is gratefulness expressed to another. Thanksgiving is the expression of gratitude. Tis the season of thankgiving. Our Heavenly Father is to be the recipient of our thanksgiving.

Our GOD created us in His image (Genesis 1:26-27). We share in His likeness. He is worthy of praise because He is the Creator: “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created” (Revelation 4:11; NKJV). Thank Him!

Our GOD sustains us (Colossians 1:17). In Him we “live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). Apart from Him there is no life or breath (Acts 17:25). He upholds us “by the word of His power” (Hebrews 1:3). Thank Him!

Our GOD has redeemed us through His dear Son (Revelation 5:9-10; Ephesians 1:3-14). Created in His image with the ability to think, reason and choose, each of us has defaced that image by falling short of His glory (Romans 3:10-18, 23). Sin defaces the image of GOD in our lives. Love compels Him to restore His image in each of us: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8)! Christ Jesus has “redeemed us to God” by His blood (Revelation 5:9). Thank Him!

Indeed, “Every good and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:17; NKJV). It is all about Him, it is all from Him, it is all returning to Him! Thank Him!

Jason Cicero

A Blessing or A Curse?

"Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you today; and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way which I command you today, to go after other gods which you have not known.” (Deuteronomy 11:26-28; NKJV)

Created in His image, each of us has the freedom to choose. The Creator has set before us a choice. He would have us see fully how desirable the blessing, how dreadful the curse. I am free to be a blessing. I am free to be a curse.

A Blessing. Am I a blessing to my Father in Heaven? Am I a blessing to my Savior? Am I a blessing to the Spirit? Am I a blessing to the Kingdom? Am I a blessing to my family? Am I a blessing to my neighbor? Am I building people up? Am I leading others to Jesus? Am I a blessing?

A Curse. Am I a curse to GOD? Am I a curse to the Kingdom? Am I a curse to my family? Am I a curse to my neighbor? Am I building people up or am I tearing them down? Am I leading others to Jesus or causing them to flee from Him? Am I a curse?

The Choice. I am free to choose. Free to choose to be a blessing. Free to build up others. Free to praise my Father. Free to be spent for the Kingdom’s sake. I am free to choose to be a blessing to you.

Beloved, choose wisely: “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them." (Deuteronomy 30:19-20; NKJV)

Jason Cicero

A Faithful Saying

“This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him. If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.” (2 Timothy 2:11-13; NKJV)

"For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him." To die with Christ is to be baptized into His death - "...who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death" (Romans 6:3; NASBU). He died for us that we might live for Him and with Him.

"If we endure, We shall also reign with Him." To endure is to abide up under whatever burden comes our way because of Him - "Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Timothy 3:12; NASBU). He endured on our behalf so that we might reign with Him.

"If we deny Him, He also will deny us." To deny is to disavow, to reject - "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23; NIV). He would have us treat Him as we would long to be treated by Him.

"If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself." To be faithless is to betray the trust of the Faithful One - "...for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day" (2 Timothy 1:12; NASBU). As faithful as Jesus is to save those who believe in Him, He is equally faithful to judge those who do not.

A faithful saying...am I faithful to the saying?

Jason Cicero

Hidden in My Heart

Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM." (John 8:58; NKJV)

Sunday Morning Starters

Tomorrow we will continue to explore "The Abba, Father Relationship."

AM: God Loves Me

PM: God Loves Me Even in My Imperfections

And He said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will." (Mark 14:36; NKJV)

I Was Glad

"I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go unto the house of Jehovah" (Psalm 122:1; ASV).

Psalm 122 is a song the Israelites would sing as they made their way to Jerusalem. The Psalm speaks of physical Jerusalem. The "house" refers to the Temple where Jehovah dwelt. The people of GOD prayed for the peace of the city of GOD as they made their way to Jehovah's dwelling place.

There is a "New Jerusalem" where all of Jehovah's children will live forever and ever. In Christ, "we have no continuing city" (Hebrews 13:14). As we journey to the "New Jerusalem" we sing! "Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name" (Hebrews 13:15; NKJV).

Jason Cicero

Listen to GOD Everyday

Our Father in Heaven speaks to us today through His Son (Hebrews 1:1-2). The Son sent the Holy Spirit to reveal all truth to the Apostles (John 16:7-13). When we read the holy Scriptures we hear the voice of GOD.

It is possible to be "tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting" (Ephesians 4:14). We must listen to GOD every day to overcome the daily voices that vie for attention. If we are to avoid the lies of the Devil we must know well the voice of GOD.

Read GOD'S word today and listen to His voice: "Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice" (John 18:37).

Jason Cicero

Talk to GOD Everyday

By definition prayer is simply talking to GOD. Jesus taught us to pray to our Father in Heaven. Christ is our mediator. The Holy Spirit intercedes for us when we talk to our Father.

Question: How does GOD long for us to talk to Him?

Answer: "Pour out your heart before Him..." (Psalm 62:8)

Jason Cicero

Greatly Beloved

Daniel was "greatly beloved" by the true and living GOD (Daniel 9:23; 10:11, 19).

Every Christian has been "accepted in the Beloved" who is Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:5-6).

Hear the conclusion: "Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another" (1 John 4:11).

Jason Cicero

The Two Surprises of Prayer

Scripture: Psalm 65

My study of prayer was met with two surprises.

1. God listens to me. “O You who hear prayer, To You all flesh will come” (Psalm 65:2; NKJV). The Creator hears my prayers. He listens. He cares. He responds.

2. I don’t pray more. I think about it. I worry about it. I talk about. Knowing He listens, cares, and responds when I pray, why don’t I pray more?

Note to self: “…pray without ceasing…” (1 Thessalonians 5:17; NKJV).

Jason Cicero

Hidden in My Heart

Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM." (John 8:58; NKJV)

Sunday Morning Starters

Psalm 95:1-11; NKJV

1 Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.

2 Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.

3 For the Lord is the great God, And the great King above all gods.

4 In His hand are the deep places of the earth; The heights of the hills are His also.

5 The sea is His, for He made it; And His hands formed the dry land.

6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.

7 For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand. Today, if you will hear His voice:

8 "Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, As in the day of trial in the wilderness,

9 When your fathers tested Me; They tried Me, though they saw My work.

10 For forty years I was grieved with that generation, And said, 'It is a people who go astray in their hearts, And they do not know My ways.'

11 So I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest.'"

This Amazing Assemblage

Hebrews 11 has been described as an "amazing assemblage." Men and women who lived by faith are held up as examples of how GOD would have us live today. By faith, the men and women of Hebrews 11 glorified Jehovah.

Of all the names, perhaps the most surprising is Samson. When you read Judges 13-16 you see that Samson fell short in his relationships with others. Yet, there he is in Hebrews 11:32. Consider what is said of those in Hebrews 11 in verses 30-40 and appreciate that those things are true of Samson too.

Living by faith doesn't mean that we always get it right. It means that when we get it wrong we turn to Him. There is grace, mercy and forgiveness to be found in Him. Samson found it. Will we? If so, He will add our names to His "amazing assemblage."

Jason Cicero

Samson Lived By Faith

"And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson..." (Hebrews 11:32; NKJV).

Samson fell short of GOD'S glory. He was strong in the Lord, but weak in his relationships with women. He was led by women to sin against Jehovah. Yet, he died in faith. His sacrificed his life as an act of faith in GOD and to GOD'S glory in taking out so many of the Philistines.

It's not how you start; it's how you finish.

Jason Cicero

Samson Called Unto Jehovah

"And Samson called unto Jehovah..." (Judges 16:28; ASV)

In the days of the Judges life was about relationships. Manoah had a good relationship with Jehovah. He prayed to true and living GOD as his personal Lord.

Samson's relationship with Jehovah was strong. He struggled in his relationships with women. Yet, in the end, he prayed and Jehovah answered (Judges 16:28-31).

Draw near to Jehovah and pray His blessings on your relationships with others.

Jason Cicero

Samson's Dad

Manoah lived in the days of the Judges. He watched his people sin against Jehovah. He saw the justice of GOD as Jehovah raised up the Philistines to punish His people. Manoah's wife was visited by the Angel of Jehovah. After she told him about the visit, Manoah prayed: "O my Lord, please let the Man of God whom You sent come to us again and teach us what we shall do for the child who will be born" (Judges 13:8; NKJV).

Samson's dad prayed that Jehovah would teach them what to do for their child.

Follow Manoah's lead. In these difficult days, pray for your children. Allow the Lord to work in your life and in the lives of your kids!

Jason Cicero

A Father's Prayer

Then Manoah prayed to the LORD, and said, "O my Lord, please let the Man of God whom You sent come to us again and teach us what we shall do for the child who will be born." (Judges 13:8; NKJV)

As we strive to bring our children "up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord," we need Him to "teach us what we shall do for the child" (see Ephesians 6:4 and Judges 13:8).

As you raise your children, pray this prayer fervently!

Jason Cicero

Hidden in My Heart

"Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:9-11; NKJV)

Sunday Morning Starters

Question: How can we overcome those who make war? (Revelation 6:15-17; 16:14; 17:14; 19:15-21; Psalm 2:8-9)

Answer: Through Christ!

"These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful." (Revelation 17:14; NKJV)

Life in Christ and Kindness

Plummer says "kindness" refers to the "sympathetic kindliness or sweetness of temper which puts others at their ease, and shrinks from giving pain."

On the tongue of the virtuous woman is "the law of kindness" (Proverbs 31:26).

Three questions for us:

1. What is on my tongue?

2. Is the Holy Spirit leading me to speak kind words?

3. Or, do I allow my flesh to speak sharp, condescending, discouraging words?

Jason Cicero