What Will Jesus Do? What Is Jesus' Will?

Today’s Bible Reading:  Numbers 12-13, Psalm 90, Mark 2

Topic: God’s will

SCRIPTURE:  Mark 1:21-2:11 (a few excerpts follow):

²¹…immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught...

²³ Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, ²⁴ saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”
²⁵ But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” ²⁶ And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him…

²⁹ Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. ³⁰ But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. ³¹ So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them.

³² At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed. ³³ And the whole city was gathered together at the door. ³⁴ Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons.

³⁵ Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed…

³⁹ And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons.

⁴⁰ Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”  ⁴¹ Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed”…

^2:1 And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. ² Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. ³ Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. ⁴ And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.
⁵ When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”
⁶ And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, ⁷ “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
⁸ But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? ⁹ Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? ¹⁰ But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, ¹¹ “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” ¹² Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

OBSERVATION:

Before moving on to Mark chapter 2 in today’s reading, I’d like to look at the rest of chapter 1 taken together with chapter 2, verses 1-12. In reading this portion of scripture we can learn much by asking, “What will Jesus do?” When we observe what Jesus does, it will help us answer the question, “What is Jesus’ will?”

Then, I must ask myself:  What is my resolve to do the will of Jesus and to see the will of Jesus done in and around my life?

Note what Jesus does:

-  He prays  (1:35)

-  He preaches and teaches  (1:21, 38, 39, 2:2)

-  He heals  (1:30, 31, 34, 41, 2:9-11)

(Particularly notice how verses 40-45 in chapter 1 indicate Jesus’ willingness to heal.  He says, “I am willing.” It IS Jesus will to heal).

-  He casts out demons  (1:32-34, 39)

-  He forgives sins  (2:5)

APPLICATION:

What is our resolve to see Jesus’ will done in and around us? The story of the four friends lowering their paralyzed buddy down to Jesus speaks to us about the matter of resolve. 

What obstacles prevent us from getting to Jesus? Sin, Ignorance, Disobedience, Blockades?

How may we overcome these obstacles?

1.         Repent and receive forgiveness of sins.

2.         Hear and receive the truth.

3.         Trust and obey.

4.         Refuse to be blocked from Jesus.

PRAYER:

Lord, thank You for revealing so clearly Your will, and the model I am to follow. Grant to me the strength to overcome all obstacles that would prevent me from receiving every touch it is Your will that I receive. By Your Holy Spirit may I be empowered to minister to those in need in Your name. Amen.  -AP