SETBACKS AND SALVATIONS IN JESUS' MINISTRY

SETBACKS AND SALVATIONS IN JESUS' MINISTRY

John 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out.

Eph. 2:2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.

The deliverance of the man they called Mob, 5:1-20

SETBACKS – THE SUDDEN STORM

Jesus had been teaching crowds of people on the Galilee shore near His base in Capernaum, telling people stories about everyday life with a point that told them about the kingdom of God. Then after dark they set off to the other side of the lake. Jesus – exhausted after teaching without a break – was asleep in the stern when a sudden storm blew up, with wind and waves so strong that the boat was in danger of being swamped. The disciples shook Him awake and He rebuked the storm and shouted to the sea, "Hush! Calm down! All at once the wind stopped howling and the water became perfectly calm.

SALVATIONS – THE MULTIPLE DELIVERANCE

From Mark 5:1-20

The story of the man in chains they called 'Mob'

They arrived at the other side of the lake, at the region of the Gerasenes. As Jesus stepped ashore, a demon-possessed madman came out of the graveyard and confronted him. The man had been living there among the tombs of the dead, and no one was able to restrain him, not even with chains. For every time they attempted to chain his hands and feet with shackles, he would snap the chains and break the shackles in pieces. He was so strong that no one had the power to subdue him. Day and night he could be found lurking in the cemetery or in the vicinity, shrieking and mangling himself with stones! When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran to him and threw himself down before him, screaming out at the top of his lungs, "Leave me alone, Jesus, Son of the Most High God! Swear in God's name that you won't torture me!" (For Jesus had already said to him, "Come out of that man, you demon spirit!") Jesus said to him, "What is your name?" "Mob," he answered. "They call me Mob because there are thousands of us in his body!" He begged Jesus repeatedly not to expel them out of the region.] Nearby there was a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside. The demons begged him, "Send us into the pigs. Let us enter them!" So Jesus gave them permission, and the demon horde immediately came out of the man and went into the pigs! This caused the herd to rush madly down the steep slope and fall into the lake, drowning about two thousand pigs! Depending on weight, the cost of two thousand live pigs today could be as much as £250,000. The economic cost to the community over the loss of this herd was significant. Now, the herdsmen fled to the nearby villages, telling everyone what they saw as they ran through the countryside, and everyone came out to see what had happened. When they found Jesus, they saw the demonised man sitting there, properly clothed and in his right mind. Seeing what had happened to the man who had thousands of demons, the people were terrified. Those who had witnessed this miracle reported the news to the people and included what had happened to the pigs. Then they asked Jesus to leave their . And as Jesus began to get into the boat to depart, the man who had been set free from demons asked him, "Could I go with you?" Jesus answered, "No," but said to him, "Go back to your home and to your family and tell them what the Lord has done for you. Tell them how he had mercy on you." So the man left and went into the region of Jordan and parts of Syria to tell everyone he met about what Jesus had done for him, and all the people marvelled!

SALVATIONS – MIRACLES RESTORE LIVES IN CAPERNAUM

Return to Capernaum. Jairus pushes through crowd, implores Jesus to come

5:21-43 A healing and a raising from the dead

Mark 5:21-43 TPT

[21] After Jesus returned from across the lake, a huge crowd of people quickly gathered around him on the shoreline. [22] Just then, a man saw that it was Jesus, so he pushed through the crowd and threw himself down at his feet. His name was Jairus, a Jewish official who was in charge of the synagogue. [23] He pleaded with Jesus, saying over and over, "Please come with me! My little daughter is at the point of death, and she's only twelve years old! Come and lay your hands on her and heal her and she will live!" [24] Jesus went with him, and the huge crowd followed, pressing in on him from all sides. [25] Now, in the crowd that day was a woman who had suffered horribly from continual bleeding for twelve years. [26] She had endured a great deal under the care of various doctors, yet in spite of spending all she had on their treatments, she was not getting better, but worse. [27] When she heard about Jesus' healing power, she pushed through the crowd and came up from behind him and touched his prayer shawl. [28] For she kept saying to herself, "If only I could touch his clothes, I know I will be healed." [29] As soon as her hand touched him, her bleeding immediately stopped! She knew it, for she could feel her body instantly being healed of her disease! [30] Jesus knew at once that someone had touched him, for he felt the power that always surged around him had passed through him for someone to be healed. He turned and spoke to the crowd, saying, "Who touched my clothes?" [31] His disciples answered, "What do you mean, who touched you? Look at this huge crowd-they're all pressing up against you." [32] But Jesus' eyes swept across the crowd, looking for the one who had touched him for healing. [33] When the woman who experienced this miracle realised what had happened to her, she came before him, trembling with fear, and threw herself down at his feet, saying, "I was the one who touched you." And she told him her story of what had just happened. [34] Then Jesus said to her, "Daughter, because you dared to believe, your faith has healed you. Go with peace in your heart, and be free from your suffering!" [35] And before he had finished speaking, people arrived from Jairus' house and pushed through the crowd to give Jairus the news: "There's no need to trouble the master any longer-your daughter has died." [36] But Jesus refused to listen to what they were told and said to the Jewish official, "Don't yield to fear. All you need to do is to keep on believing." [37] So they left for his home, but Jesus didn't allow anyone to go with them except Peter and the two brothers, Jacob and John. [38] When they arrived at the home of the synagogue ruler, they encountered a noisy uproar among the people, for they were all weeping and wailing. [39] Upon entering the home, Jesus said to them, "Why all this grief and weeping? Don't you know the girl is not dead but merely asleep?" [40] Then everyone began to ridicule and make fun of him. But he threw them all outside. Then he took the child's father and mother and his three disciples and went into the room where the girl was lying. [41] He tenderly clasped the child's hand in his and said to her in Aramaic, "Talitha koum," which means, "Little girl, wake up from the sleep of death." [42] Instantly the twelve-year-old girl sat up, stood to her feet, and started walking around the room! Everyone was overcome with astonishment in seeing this miracle! [43] Jesus had them bring her something to eat. And he repeatedly cautioned them that they were to tell no one about what had happened.

SETBACKS – PEOPLE TAKE OFFENCE AT THE MESSAGE

Mark 6:30-34, 53-56

People take offence at Jesus in His home synagogue, but people in the villages flock to the Messiah who heals them

Capernaum, on the lake, where Peter lived, was a different kind of place from Nazareth, a few miles inland. Jesus was well-known there, especially after Jairus, who looked after the synagogue, had implored Jesus to come to his house when his young daughter was seriously ill. Jesus reached the house when it seemed it was all too late. The child had stopped breathing, and the village mourners were already crying out and making a lot of noise in the traditional Jewish way of marking a death. Even a poor family needed several professional mourners at a funeral and Jairus, holding an important position in the community, was better off than most. Burial, in a hot climate, needed to be swift and the mourners arrived for the funeral when the death occurred. This was all under way by the time Jesus arrived.

Mark 6:1-4 TPT

[1] Afterward, Jesus left Capernaum and returned with his disciples to Nazareth, his hometown. [2] On the Sabbath, he went to teach in the synagogue. Everyone who heard his teaching was overwhelmed with astonishment. They said among themselves, "What incredible wisdom has been given to him! Where did he receive such profound insights? And what mighty miracles flow through his hands! [3] Isn't this Mary's son, the carpenter, the brother of Jacob, Joseph, Judah, and Simon? And don't his sisters all live here in Nazareth?" And they took offence at him. [4] Jesus said to them, "A prophet is treated with honour everywhere except in his own hometown, among his relatives, and in his own house."

He was unable to do any great miracle in Nazareth, except to heal a few sick people by laying his hands upon them.

He was amazed at the depth of their unbelief!

Then Jesus went out into the different villages and taught the people.

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles

SALVATIONS – IMPARTATION GIVEN TO THE DISCIPLES

Jesus gathered his twelve disciples and imparted to them His authority to cast out demons. Then he sent them out in pairs with these instructions:

"Take only your staff and the sandals on your feet – no bread, no knapsack, no extra garment, and no money. And whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave the area. Whatever community does not welcome you or receive your message, leave it behind. And as you go, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them."

So they went out and preached publicly that everyone should repent. They cast out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.

SETBACKS – WHILE THE MISSION WAS ON, A LOSS

[[Mark 6:20-22,28-29 TPT

[20] But Herod both feared and stood in awe of John and kept him safely in custody, because he was convinced that he was a righteous and holy man. Every time Herod heard John speak, it disturbed his soul, but he was drawn to him and enjoyed listening to his words. [21] But Herodias found her opportunity to have John killed-it was on the king's birthday! Herod prepared a great banquet and invited all his officials, military commanders, and the leaders of the province of Galilee to celebrate with him on his birthday. [22] On the day of the feast, his stepdaughter, the daughter of Herodias, came to honour the king with a beautiful dance, and she flattered him. Her dancing greatly pleased the king and his guests, so he said to the girl, "You can ask me for anything you want and I will give it to you!" [28] He brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl brought it to her mother. [29] When John's followers heard what had happened, they came and removed his body and laid it in a tomb.]]

[[Mark 6:24-29 TPT

[24] She immediately left the room and said to her mother, "What should I ask for?" Her mother answered, "The head of John the Baptiser on a platter!" [25] So she hurried back to the king and made her request: "I want you to bring me the head of John the Baptiser on a platter-and I want it right now!" [26] Deeply grieved, the king regretted his promise to her, but since he had made his vow in front of all his honoured guests, he couldn't deny her request. [27] So without delay the king ordered an executioner to bring John's head, and he went and beheaded John in prison. [28] He brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl brought it to her mother. [29] When John's followers heard what had happened, they came and removed his body and laid it in a tomb.]]

The apostles returned from their mission and gathered around Jesus and told him everything they had done and taught.

There was such a swirl of activity around Jesus, with so many people coming and going, that they were unable to even eat a meal. So Jesus said to his disciples, "Come, let's take a break and find a secluded place where you can rest a while." They slipped away and left by sailboat for a deserted spot. But many of the people saw them leaving and realised where they were headed, so they took off running along the shore. Then people from the surrounding towns joined them in the chase, and a large crowd got there ahead of them.

By the time Jesus came ashore, a massive crowd was waiting. At the sight of them, his heart was filled with compassion, because they seemed like wandering sheep who had no shepherd. So He taught them many things.

SALVATIONS – FEEDING OF THE 5,000

Mark 6:31,35-44 TPT

[31] There was such a swirl of activity around Jesus, with so many people coming and going, that they were unable to even eat a meal. So Jesus said to his disciples, "Come, let's take a break and find a secluded place where you can rest a while." [35] Late that afternoon, his disciples said, "It's getting really late and we're here in this remote place with nothing to eat. [36] You should send the crowds away so they can go into the surrounding villages and buy food for themselves." [37] But he answered them, "You give them something to eat." "Are you sure?" they replied. "You really want us to go buy them supper? It would cost a small fortune to feed all these thousands of hungry people." [38] "How many loaves of bread do you have?" he asked. "Go and see." After they had looked around, they came back and said, "Five-plus a couple of fish." [39] Then he instructed them to organise the crowd and have them sit down in groups on the grass. [40] So they had them sit down in groups of hundreds and fifties. [41] Then Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, gazed into heaven, and gave thanks to God. He broke the bread and the two fish and distributed them to his disciples to serve the people-and the food was multiplied in front of their eyes! [42] Everyone had plenty to eat and was fully satisfied. [43] Then the twelve disciples picked up what remained, and each of them ended up with a basket full of leftovers! [44] Altogether, five thousand families were fed that day!

SETBACKS – BATTLING AN ADVERSE WIND

Mark 6:45-52 TPT

[45] After everyone had their meal, Jesus instructed his disciples to get back into the boat and go on ahead of him and sail to the other side to Bethsaida. [46] So he dispersed the crowd, said good-bye to his disciples, then slipped away to pray on the mountain. [47] As night fell, the boat was in the middle of the lake and Jesus was alone on land. [48] The wind was against the disciples and he could see that they were straining at the oars, trying to make headway. When it was almost morning, Jesus came to them, walking on the surface of the water, and he started to pass by them. [49-50] When they all saw him walking on the waves, they thought he was a ghost and screamed out in terror. But he said to them at once, "Don't yield to fear. Have courage. It's really me-I Am!" [51] Then he came closer and climbed into the boat with them, and immediately the stormy wind became still. They were completely and utterly overwhelmed with astonishment [52] because they failed to learn the lesson of the miracle of the loaves, and their hearts were unwilling to learn the lesson.

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SALVATIONS – ALL WHO TOUCHED HIM WERE HEALED

They made landfall at Gennesaret and anchored there. The moment they got out of the boat, everyone recognised that it was Jesus, the healer! So they ran throughout the region, telling the people, "Bring all the sick – even those too sick to walk and bring them on mats!" Wherever He went, in the countryside, villages, or towns, they placed the sick on mats in the streets or in public places and begged Him, saying, "Just let us touch the tassel of your prayer shawl!" And all who touched Him were instantly healed!