Lesson 279: "Over-Load"
Jesus was an incredibly busy man. The Gospels records only fifty-two days of His life, but what a whirlwind of activities are written in those few hundred hours. John tells us that; “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down I suppose the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written” (John 21:25). Our Lord’s busiest time is found in Mark’s Gospel. The seconds after He was baptized by John the Baptist, the Spirit sent Him into the desert where the devil tempted Him for forty days. “And the angels attended Him” (Mark 1:13). He passed the tempter’s tests and went into Galilee proclaiming the Good News. He walked along the Sea of Galilee calling His first disciples to follow Him and become fishers of men. Jesus and the first four disciples went to Capernaum where Jesus amazed everyone with His authority and knowledge. The citizens did not know who He was but the evil spirits did. They called Him “Jesus of Nazareth” and the “Holy One of God”. With only five words from the Miracle Worker the demons was cast out with a shriek. He raised Simon’s mother-in-law from her sick bed and AFTER SUNSET the whole town gathered with the sick and demon-possessed to this man they did not know but immediately trusted in His power.
Early the next morning Jesus found renewed strength through solitary prayer and then He was back on the road, preaching and healing. He was filled with compassion for all the people but forced into lonely places outside of town because of their demands. He continued to heal, preach, cast out demons and He even ATE WITH SINNERS. This brought the self-righteous Pharisees out in full force; full of accusing questions. Why are you eating with sinners? Why are you not fasting? Why are you picking the heads of grain on the Sabbath? Whether Jesus went into a town, a house or to the lake, the people crowded to Him. The Pharisees were now joined by the teachers of the Law who came down from Jerusalem to accuse THE SPIRIT of having an evil spirit.
Jesus tried to explain the Kingdom through a series of parables; everyone listened; few understood. Even His disciples doubted His power when the storm came against them. “Quiet! Be Still!” He issued a command to the ferocious waves and a posed a question to the fishermen; “why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith”? They were terrified first of the ripping winds and then of the man who calmed them. As He stepped out of the boat, a man possessed with a legion of demons, living in the tombs, fell at Jesus’ feet and shouted at the top of his lungs; “what do you want with me Jesus, Son of the Most High”? All the evil spirits knew He had come to destroy their master, Satan and begged not to be sent back to the pits of hell.
A synagogue ruler and a sick woman pressed in among the crowds of curious people to seek and receive healing. Everyone was amazed but again, few believed causing the Son of God to be amazed at their lack of faith. The Bread of Life fed thousands with five loaves of bread, walked on water to give courage once again to the storm-swept disciples and healed all who came to Him amid the accusing hypocrites; the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law. He healed the deaf, the blind and even the “dogs” (Mark 7:24-30). In Mark Chapter nine, Jesus took a “break”, went upon a mountain and met with Elijah and Moses, receiving encouragement from His Father; “this is my Son whom I love”! With renewed power Jesus continued to heal, cast out evil spirits, spoke more parables and predicted His betrayal and death. He cleansed the temple, withered a fruitless fig tree, answered questions with questions and stated the greatest Commandment. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength”. He explained about the signs of the end of time, assuring them that no one, not even He or the angels knew the day or the hour when He would return to earth. Since no one understood where He came from, nor the manner of death and for sure not comprehending the Resurrection, His Second Coming was far out of reach of their finite minds.
Next came the Lord’s Last Supper, Judas’ betrayal and Peter’s denial. The trip to the Garden of Gethsemane brought about both anguish and peace to God’s Son as He prayed earnestly and His sweat was like drops of blood and an angel strengthened Him (Luke 22:41-44). Jesus was arrested on the word of one of His own disciples, Judas, sent before the Sanhedrin where He was falsely accused; before Pilate where the soldiers mocked and flogged Him and finally sent to the Cross. When you begin to think you are over-loaded with the responsibilities of spreading the gospel, witnessing for Jesus and bring lost souls to Christ, remember Jesus did it all in three and one half years. And let us never forget that for us He died and in death He forgave us all.
“FATHER, FORGIVE THEM, FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO” Luke 23:34