Christian Family Services Ministry

1-26-2024 – A Word to the Wise – As I look back on my teaching over the years, other than the Sermon of the Mount most of my time has been focused on Jesus’s miracles and parables. This evening a sobering insight came to me. Jesus emphasis is on His teaching not His healing. Notice please:

Mark 1:14-15

“Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God”

Mark 1:21-22, 27

on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and was teaching

Mark 1:34

He would not permit the demons to speak

Mark 2:2

While this is another healing episode, Mark sets up the narrative in terms of teaching. “And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And He was preaching the word to them

Mark 2:13-14

“and all the crowd was coming to him, and He was teaching them”

Mark 4:1-2

Jesus is teaching such a packed crowd that He must get into a boat to teach the people on land.

Mark 4: 24-25

“He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (v. 9); and, “If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear” (v. 23).

Mark 4:39

And He awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’

Mark 6:1-6

Jesus enters a synagogue and begins “to teach them there (6:2). The people are “astonished.” While the people marveled at His authority in Mark 1,

Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:32

And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things”

Mark 8:38

Jesus does not speak of those who are “ashamed of me and of my deeds.” Rather, we are confronted once more with the significance of the of Jesus with his words and teaching that reflects our allegiance to him.

Mark 10:1

“Again, as was his custom, he taught them”

Mark 13:31

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

This is why people being healed was a side benefit, the main purpose was to hear his lessons. They would walk 200 miles and sit without food 3 days just to hear Him.

People wonder why churches are losing members. This is why. I would drive 500 miles in a blistering snow to hear, (an RVL, or Heiser (now deceased). Other “teachers” I would not walk across the street to listen too.

So pay close attention to the lessons Jesus presented.