Day 55 - Numbers 11-13 & Mark 5:21-43
While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler's house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.”... Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. (Mark 5:35-36, 42-42 ESV)
Jesus makes two life-altering statements in this account.
“Do not fear, only believe.”
and
“Little girl, I say to you, arise.”
How life-altering to live by faith and not under fear. The only One who can back up such a directive is He who created all things. Jesus backs up His words and His desire by calling the dead little girl to come back to life.
This is exactly what He does to and for us daily by calling us to faith and repentance.
Do you have any fear in your life? Listen to Jesus, the One who guarantees forgiveness and heaven to all who repent and believe. With such gracious and life-altering promises, you can truly be at peace no matter what your circumstances in life may be!
Lord Jesus, thank You for calling me to faith by defeating my greatest fears. Please keep me strong in that faith all my days. And then, in Your time, grant me the gift of eternal life with You. Amen.
Pastor Dave Paape
Daily Bible Reading Chart
http://www.wholesomewords.org/family/bibleread/truth.pdf
Day 54 - Numbers 8-19 & Mark 5:1-20
As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled. (Mark 5:18-20 ESV)
Can you imagine the sense of joy and thanksgiving that overwhelmed the formerly demon possessed man? His horrible nightmare was over. Jesus had freed him from a doomed life. And, naturally, he wanted to stay with Jesus. Instead, Jesus had a better idea. He gave his life a divine purpose:
“Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”
There is a parallel between the formerly demon-possessed man and us. When we realize what Jesus has done for us, we too are filled with joy and thanksgiving. Luther’s explanation of Baptism helps us understand this blessing.
“What does such baptizing with water indicate?
It indicates that the Old Adam in us should by daily contrition and repentance be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires, and that a new man should daily emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.” (Luther’s Small Catechism)
Our response to Jesus freeing us from sin, death and the devil is joy and thanksgiving. Jesus’ response to us is the same also.
“Go... and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how He has had mercy on you.”
Lord Jesus, thank You for freeing me from sin, death and the devil. Help me to remember what this means. Empower me to live for You today by telling others what you have done for me. Amen.
Pastor David Paape
Daily Bible Reading Chart
http://www.wholesomewords.org/family/bibleread/truth.pdf
Day 53 - Numbers 7 & Mark 4:21-41
And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him? (Mark 4:3-41 ESV)
“Hush, little baby, don’t you cry...” So starts a lullaby intended to comfort an infant into peaceful and quiet sleep. “Peace, be still” are the words of our Savior Jesus intended in this text to quiet both the raging storm and the anxious hearts of His disciples.
“Peace! Be Still!” Do you ever find yourself in need of the Savior’s word of comfort in your life? If you are human, like the rest of us, you desperately need such assurance. Whatever storms come into your life, Jesus is able to grant you His peace. That is the message of the cross where He secured the perfect peace of sins forgiven and heaven promised!
♬ When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to His cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
(“When Peace, Like a River,” The Lutheran Service Book, CPH 2006, #762 stanzas1&3)
Lord Jesus, thank You for calming the storms in my life and granting me the peace of sins forgiven and the promise of heaven. Help me to remember Your peace-giving presence today and always. Amen.
Pastor David Paape
Daily Bible Reading Chart
http://www.wholesomewords.org/family/bibleread/truth.pdf
Day 52 - Numbers 5-6 & Mark 4:1-20
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them,
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.” (Numbers 6:22-27 ESV)
"The Aaronic benediction is still repeated in Christian worship. Note that the divine name Yahweh (LORD) is used three times in reference to the triune nature of God. What a blessing it is to know that God the Father blesses all aspect of our lives, that God the Son has redeemed us poor, miserable sinners, and that God the Holy Spirit calls us by the Gospel. He saves us by His name, applied to us in Holy Baptism and invoked by us throughout our lives.” (Lutheran Study Bible, CPH, 2009, page 225)
Every time this blessing is proclaimed, the name of the Lord is placed on you and you are truly blessed by the Lord. So...
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Amen.
Pastor David Paape
Daily Bible Reading Chart
http://www.wholesomewords.org/family/bibleread/truth.pdf
Day 51 - Numbers 3-4 & Mark 3:22-35
And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.” And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother. (Mark 3:31-35 ESV)
Thank God He has made us brothers and sisters OF Christ. He has done this by means of...
● the Cross where Jesus fulfilled God’s will on our behalf.
● the body and blood of Jesus given and shed for the forgiveness of sins.
● our Baptisms where the Holy Spirit gave us saving faith in Jesus.
● the promises of God’s Word all pointing to Jesus and you.
Yes, thank God we are brothers and sisters of Christ. And because of this, we are also brothers and sisters IN Christ.
1. Sing Alleluia! Amen! Let your prayers and your praises ascend.
Lift up your voices and sing to the Lord God, our Savior and King!
Here brought together by grace, We are gathered as friends in this place.
And assembled as one in the Name of the Son,
Lifting hearts, lifting hands, celebrating as friends,
And proclaiming the Lord, All our praises afford. We are brothers and sisters in Christ.
2. Man walked alone and in need, Without faith, hope or promise or creed;
Wandering aimlessly lost, unaware of the staggering cost;
That God in His mercy would save All His people from death and the grave
And assembled as one in the Name of the Son,
Lifting hearts, lifting hands, celebrating as friends,
And proclaiming the Lord, All our praises afford. We are brothers and sisters in Christ.
3. Lord teach us how to proclaim, All Your goodness, Your love and Your name!
Lord teach us how to forgive, and in love, teach us Lord, how to live.
Raising our voices in song, Help us tell all the world we belong.
And assembled as one in the Name of the Son,
Lifting hearts, lifting hands, celebrating as friends,
And proclaiming the Lord, All our praises afford.
We are brothers and sisters in Christ. Amen.
[Words and music by Terry Dittmer, copyright 1983 by the author]
Pastor David Paape
Daily Bible Reading Chart
http://www.wholesomewords.org/family/bibleread/truth.pdf
Day 50 - Numbers 1-2 & Mark 3:1-21
Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.” And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him. (Mark 3:1-6 ESV)
The artist captured well the drama in these short six verses.
● A man in need.
● A judgmental crowd.
● A question put forth.
● Silence.
● Righteous anger and hardened hearts.
● A hand restored.
● Hatred eagerly unleashed.
Why did Jesus go ahead and miraculously restore the man’s hand on the Sabbath? He knew what the Pharisees were up to. Why didn’t He just wait until the next day?
Have you ever seen a police officer directing cars to go through a red light? He has the authority to override the traffic laws if the situation demands it. Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8). He is God, the One who gave the Sabbath laws in the first place. He had the right to help the man in need. Healing on the Sabbath was the right thing for Jesus to do!
There may be times when it is not popular, and sometimes not legal, to obey the will of God. At times like that, Peter’s words echo in our ears: “We must obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29 ESV)
Yea, Lord, ’twas Thy rich bounty gave
My body, soul, and all I have
In this poor life of labor.
Lord, grant that I in ev’ry place
May glorify Thy lavish grace
And help and serve my neighbor.
Let no false doctrine me beguile;
Let Satan not my soul defile.
Give strength and patience unto me
To bear my cross and follow Thee.
Lord Jesus Christ, my God and Lord, my God and Lord,
In death Thy comfort still afford.
Amen.
(“Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart” Lutheran Service Book Bible, CPH, 2006, #708 v 2)
Pastor David Paape
Daily Bible Reading Chart
http://www.wholesomewords.org/family/bibleread/truth.pdf
Day 49 - Leviticus 26-27 & Mark 2
Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. And people came and said to him, “Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day. No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins.” (Mark 2:18-22 ESV)
“Jesus stresses that the time of fulfillment has arrived, and thus totally new ways of thinking and acting are in order. In our own lives, the same dynamic is at work. It will not do simply to patch some little bit of the Gospel on our existing lifestyle and expect it all to hold together. Thankfully, the Lord offers such surpassingly great promises that the old is made obsolete. That is what Paul meant when he said in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.” (Lutheran Study Bible, CPH, 2009, page 1659)
How can such life changes and such newness come about?
● Prayer - for God’s guidance and insight into His will.
● Study of the Word of God - where we are shown the will of God.
● Weekly worship - where God comes to us in His Word and Sacraments.
● Regular reception of the Lord’s Supper (weekly?) - given and shed for you.
● Consolation of the brethren - sharing life’s challenges and joys with fellow Christians.
Children of God,
Dying and rising,
Sing to the Lord a new song!
Heaven and earth,
Hosts everlasting,
Sing to the Lord a new song!
He has done marvelous things.
I too will praise Him with a new song!
Amen.
(“Earth and All Stars,” Lutheran Service Book, CPH, 2006, #817 stanza 7)
Pastor David Paape
Daily Bible Reading Chart
http://www.wholesomewords.org/family/bibleread/truth.pdf
