Daily Devotionals Text to read: Mark 6:1-13 and 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 from Monday, 2 July 2018 through Sunday, 8 July 2018 of The First United Methodist Church at 2111 Camino del Rio South in San Diego, California 92108, United States for Wednesday, 4 July 2018.
John Fanestil
Daily Devotional:
Wednesday, July 4, 2018
Text to read: Mark 6:1-13 and 2 Corinthians 12:2-10
- Read Mark 6:7.
- What does it mean to be “called?”
Mark 6:1 Then Yeshua left and went to his home town, and his talmidimfollowed him. 2 On Shabbat he started to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They asked, “Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom he has been given? What are these miracles worked through him? 3 Isn’t he just the carpenter? the son of Miryam? the brother of Ya‘akov and Yosi and Y’hudah and Shim‘on? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. 4 But Yeshua said to them. “The only place people don’t respect a prophet is in his home town, among his own relatives, and in his own house.” 5 So he could do no miracles there, other than lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 He was amazed at their lack of trust.
Then he went through the surrounding towns and villages, teaching.
7 Yeshua summoned the Twelve and started sending them out in pairs, giving them authority over the unclean spirits. 8 He instructed them, “Take nothing for your trip except a walking stick — no bread, no pack, no money in your belt. 9 Wear shoes but not an extra shirt. 10 Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place; 11 and if the people of some place will not welcome you, and they refuse to hear you, then, as you leave, shake the dust off your feet as a warning to them.”
12 So they set out and preached that people should turn from sin to God, 13 they expelled many demons, and they anointed many sick people with oil and healed them. and 2 Corinthians 12:2 I know a man in union with the Messiah who fourteen years ago was snatched up to the third heaven; whether he was in the body or outside the body I don’t know, God knows. 3 And I know that such a man — whether in the body or apart from the body I don’t know, God knows — 4 was snatched into Gan-‘Eden and heard things that cannot be put into words, things unlawful for a human being to utter. 5 About such a man I will boast; but about myself I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses. 6 If I did want to boast, I would not be foolish; because I would be speaking the truth. But, because of the extraordinary greatness of the revelations, I refrain, so that no one will think more of me than what my words or deeds may warrant. 7 Therefore, to keep me from becoming overly proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from the Adversary to pound away at me, so that I wouldn’t grow conceited. 8 Three times I begged the Lord to take this thing away from me; 9 but he told me, “My grace is enough for you, for my power is brought to perfection in weakness.” Therefore, I am very happy to boast about my weaknesses, in order that the Messiah’s power will rest upon me. 10 Yes, I am well pleased with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions and difficulties endured on behalf of the Messiah; for it is when I am weak that I am strong. (Complete Jewish Bible).
Mark 6:1-13
Verse 3
[3] Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.
Is not this the carpenter? — There can be no doubt, but in his youth he wrought with his supposed father Joseph.
Verse 5
[5] And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.
He could do no miracle there — Not consistently with his wisdom and goodness. It being inconsistent with his wisdom to work them there, where it could not promote his great end; and with his goodness, seeing he well knew his countrymen would reject whatever evidence could be given them. And therefore to have given them more evidence, would only have increased their damnation.
Verse 6
[6] And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.
He marvelled — As man. As he was God, nothing was strange to him.
Verse 7
[7] And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;
Matthew 10:1; Luke 9:1.
Verse 8
[8] And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse:
He commanded them to take nothing for their journey — That they might be always unincumbered, free, ready for motion.
Save a staff only — He that had one might take it; but he that had not was not to provide one, Matthew 10:9; Luke 9:3.
Verse 9
[9] But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats.
Be shod with sandals — As you usually are. Sandals were pieces of strong leather or wood, tied under the sole of the foot by thongs, something resembling modern clogs. The shoes which they are in St. Matthew forbidden to take, were a kind of short boots, reaching a little above the mid-leg, which were then commonly used in journeys. Our Lord intended by this mission to initiate them into their apostolic work. And it was doubtless an encouragement to them all their life after, to recollect the care which God took of them, when they had left all they had, and went out quite unfurnished for such an expedition. In this view our Lord himself leads them to consider it, Luke 22:35: When I sent you forth without purse or scrip, lacked ye any thing?
Verse 10
[10] And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place.
Matthew 10:11; Luke 9:4.
Verse 12
[12] And they went out, and preached that men should repent.
Luke 9:6.
Verse 13
[13] And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.They anointed with oil many that were sick — Which St. James gives as a general direction, James 5:14,15, adding those peremptory words, And the Lord shall heal him - He shall be restored to health: not by the natural efficacy of the oil, but by the supernatural blessing of God. And it seems this was the great standing means of healing, desperate diseases in the Christian Church, long before extreme unction was used or heard of, which bears scarce any resemblance to it; the former being used only as a means of health; the latter only when life is despaired of. and 2 Corinthians 12:2-10
Verse 3
[3] And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
Yea, I knew such a man — That at another time.
Verse 4
[4] How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
He was caught up into paradise — The seat of happy spirits in their separate state, between death and the resurrection.
Things which it is not possible for man to utter — Human language being incapable of expressing them. Here he anticipated the joyous rest of the righteous that die in the Lord. But this rapture did not precede, but follow after, his being caught up to the third heaven: a strong intimation that he must first discharge his mission, and then enter into glory. And beyond all doubt, such a foretaste of it served to strengthen him in all his after trials, when he could call to mind the very joy that was prepared for him.
Verse 5
[5] Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
Of such an one I will — I might, glory; but I will not glory of myself - As considered in myself.
Verse 6
[6] For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.
For if I should resolve to glory — Referring to, I might glory of such a glorious revelation.
I should not be a fool — That is, it could not justly be accounted folly to relate the naked truth.
But I forbear — I speak sparingly of these things, for fear any one should think too highly of me - O where is this fear now to be found? Who is afraid of this?
Verse 7
[7] And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
There was given me — By the wise and gracious providence of God.
A thorn in the flesh — A visitation more painful than any thorn sticking in the flesh. A messenger or angel of Satan to buffet me - Perhaps both visibly and invisibly; and the word in the original expresses the present, as well as the past, time. All kinds of affliction had befallen the apostle. Yet none of those did he deprecate. But here he speaks of one, as above all the rest, one that macerated him with weakness, and by the pain and ignominy of it prevented his being lifted up mere, or, at least, not less, than the most vehement head ache could have done; which many of the ancients say he laboured under. St. Paul seems to have had a fresh fear of these buffetings every moment, when he so frequently represses himself in his boasting, though it was extorted from him by the utmost necessity.
Verse 8
[8] For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
Concerning this — He had now forgot his being lifted up.
I besought the Lord thrice — As our Lord besought his Father.
Verse 9
[9] And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
But he said to me — ln answer to my third request.
My grace is sufficient for thee — How tender a repulse! We see there may be grace where there is the quickest sense of pain. My strength is more illustriously displayed by the weakness of the instrument. Therefore I will glory in my weaknesses rather than my revelations, that the strength of Christ may rest upon me - The Greek word properly means, may cover me all over like a tent. We ought most willingly to accept whatever tends to this end, however contrary to flesh and blood.
Verse 10
[10] Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
Weaknesses — Whether proceeding from Satan or men.
For when I am weak — Deeply conscious of my weakness, then does the strength of Christ rest upon me. (John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes).
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