JESUS BRINGS PEACE
" Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth; give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14:27If we look around us today we don't see or hear much about peace. We do hear a lot about war and dissention. It seems to be prevelant in the world. Will it get better? I doubt it! Personally I think things are being put into place for the Saints of God to be raptured out and the Tribulation to begin. If we look at all the circumstances around us we could get discouraged. But Jesus said "My Peace I give unto you." It is "That Peace" we want to look at today.
I'm glad that Jesus can still bring Peace to a troubled soul. He is the Master of the sea in the storms of life. There is nothing impossible with Him. The 5th Chapter of Mark has been called the "high water mark of his gospel. There are three persons that in the sight or thoughts of man are incurable.
1. Those possessed with devils.
2. Those with incurable diseases
3. Those that are dead.
"Here we see three hard cases"! What would we do with them?
Probably find some place to put the deviled possessed. We would find the uncurable in some hospital where they are left to die. And the dead we would bury. Right?
By a simple act of compassion and Love - Jesus made all three perfectly whole.
They were not a hard case for Him, Who is health and Who is life, Himself.
Jesus had just spoke the Parables to the multitude. He encountered some half hearted followers. The crowd was so great that Jesus had to get into a boat to speak to the people. The people did not want Him to leave. They wanted Jesus to stay. We need to remember though Jesus was God, yet at the same time He was human. He got weary and tired and needed rest! The day had been long and tedious. Jesus felt the need to cross over the Sea of Galilee to the Gadarenes. "And the same day; when the even was come, he said unto them, Let us pass over to the other side." Mark 4:35" The ship probably belonged to Peter and was ready for the Masters use. If you read on in verses 36-41 you will see where a storm came up and the waves had filled the ship. There was great danger of the ship going down.
In the mean time Jesus was so exhausted that He fell asleep. It seems as knowing that Jesus was in the ship with them that they would not be afraid. The storm did not disturbed Jesus at all. The storm was no problem to Him. He was the One that created the winds and they were at His command.
To the disciples the storm was real. Contrary winds and sudden storm that had rushed down upon them filled them with despair.
"How many times are we faced with contrary winds and a sudden storm in our spiritual life? Do we feel sometimes that we are going down"? Jesus had such perfect trust in His Father's care and protection that He just slept.
Finally the discilpes called and said: "Carest thou not that we perish?" Jesus got up and rebuked the winds with just three words to the sea "Peace! Be still!"
The forces of all nature are under His control. The sea immediately were calm!
(The story is told of a little girl abroad a vessel being tossed by an ocean storm. All the passengers were frantic except this little girl. Finally one of the men ask her "Daughter, aren't you afraid?" Pointing to the control room she said "No sir, my daddy is up there.)
In the storms of life our Heavenly Father is in control. That gives us hope and peace to know we will not have to ride out our storm by ourselves!
Jesus could have said to the disciples, "Why are ye such cowards in the storm. Why do you fear when I am in control?" Not only did his words calm the raging storm, but it calmed the troubled souls on board that ship. The disciples were so amazed that they looked at one another and said: "What manner of man is this that even the winds and the sea obey his will?" Seems their faith is rising!
Society couldn't put up with Jesus, so He made His home with the dead in the cemetery. Jesus knew exactly where He was going to land when He reached the other shore. There was a need in the cemetery, of all places! Man could not intervened here with the demon possessed. But Jesus could!
"(THE DEVIL AND EVIL SPIRITS ARE REAL BEINGS! WE SEE THIS A LOT TODAY, OR RATHER, WE HEAR ABOUT IT. FORTUNE TELLERS, PALM READERS, SEANCES, SPEAKING WITH THE DEAD ETC. IT MIGHT REALLY SCARE US IF WE KNEW JUST HOW MUCH OF THIS EXISTS AND JUST HOW CLOSE WE MAY BE TO IT!" )
In the cemetery Jesus found a man that felt he was worthy of eternal torment.
His cry was for deliverance. He hated his condition but was helpless to free himself. "But Jesus spoke Peace to his soul". Later we see him clothed and in his right mind. This Demonic from Gadara became a beautiful example of what Paul said in Corinthians 5:17: "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature, old things have passed away, behold all things are new."
There is a sad ending to this miracle! The people ask Jesus to leave their coast. They were more upset over the loss of a few hogs than they were in the healing of this man. It seems they are in need of a healing themselves, but here they are telling Jesus to leave!
Going on Jesus encountered Jairus who was a ruler of the synagogue. He fell at Jesus feet and pled for the life of his daughter. She was dying. Jesus started on the road to Jairus' house when he came across more needs. "The woman with the issue of blood for twelve years." She finally reached through and touched the hem of Jesus garment. Jesus knew some one had touched Him.
"Who touched my clothes?" The woman fearing and trembling came and fell at His feet and made her request. "Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plaque!" About that time someone comes and tells Jarius that his daughter is dead. Jesus told Jairus not to be afraid, only believe.. Jesus goes on with Jairus and they found great weeping and wailing for the dead girl. Jesus then tells then the damsel is not dead, she is asleep.
He went in and took the damsel by the hand and said: "Damsel, I say unto thee, arise." And straitway the damsel arose. "He spoke peace!"
Jesus can still speak Peace to a troubled soul today! He can deliver from the chains of sin!~ He can bring life to a soul that is dead spiritually.
By Aliene @meditationsandmemories.blogspot.com
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