Series: Flowers in the Desert
John 14:1 ESV
Mark 3:1-5 (Healing of the man with a withered hand)
Mark 3:6 ESV
Mark 3:7-8 ESV
Mark 9:30-32 ESV
2 Corinthians 1:20 ESV
There isn’t a person on the planet who hasn’t seen their fair share of troubles every day. We ALL face daily challenges.
Take today for example. Within an hour of getting up I had been faced with three troubling things going on. I don’t think that’s unique to me. I think it’s because we all have trouble.
Yet, the Apostle wrote in John 14:1, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.”
In other words…even though you have trouble, don’t be troubled.
Thankfully, he didn’t stop there. Jesus gave us the answer.
In this one short verse John gave us great words to live by!
It makes us wonder what kind of trouble John and the other disciples faced in the first century following Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension to heaven…
For the answer to that we can look at 1st Century history.
We have to remember who was in charge in the region where Jesus walked and the disciples lived.
We know from history that the Roman Empire was in power in the region from 30 B.C.E. through 285 C.E.
After Jesus gained attention in the region the Roman Empire perceived Jesus as a threat, probably because as time went on Jesus became more popular and attracted many followers. Following the healing of the man with a withered hand in Mark 3:1-5, we learn from Mark 3:6, “The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.”
Also, after the healing we know from Mark 3:7-8, “Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea, and a great crowd followed, from Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem and Idumea and from beyond the Jordan and from around Tyre and Sidon. When the great crowd heard all that he was doing, they came to him.”
The Roman Empire carefully watched Jesus from that point on and events worsened that led to His arrest. None of that was a surprise to Jesus. In Mark 9:30-32 we read, “They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know, for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.” But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.”
Even after Jesus’ death and ascension to heaven the Romans didn’t give up. The Roman Empire continued to persecute the followers of Jesus and they did not support the rise of Christianity following the death of Jesus.
Remember, John 14:1 reminds us, don’t be troubled, believe in God and in the Son.
God had and has a plan.
And so it is today. The stage and setting have changed, but trouble remains all around us.
The point is that even though there is and will be trouble God is in charge.
It doesn’t matter what kind of trouble comes, God is greater than all our fears.
2 Corinthians 1:20 says, “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.”
Nothing we face is greater than God.
Our ‘Yes’ is in God.
AND every day in every way regardless of our problem when we turn to God, there is rejoicing in heaven.
We find our yes in God and we do not need to fear.
Today’s desert plant, Indian Rice Grass reminds us that trouble is as plentiful as grass…it’s everywhere. But never fear, so is God.
Spiritual Practice: Do Not Fear
Give your troubled to God and leave it with God. When you feel the urge to pick it up again, give it to God. Every time you want to pick it up, return it to God. Even if you need to do it 10 times, or 100 times, or 1000 times, give it to God. Remember God has already said yes.
In God, Deborah
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