60IN60 Day 6 - Sat Jul 11

It's Day 6 and we're in Mark 6.

We have lots of excuses for why we don't read the Bible: "I'm too busy," "I don't know where to start," "I tried it once and got confused," "I just never got around to it." I hope "60IN60" helps you to be able to overcome those excuses and experience a rewarding time in the Word. 

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 34 - That's what so many congregations need: a shepherd to care for them and love them. They are sheep without a shepherd.

Help:
- Verses 2-3 - Before He began His ministry, apparently He was not someone who people looked at thought, "He's going to do amazing miracles some day." He blended in well.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

Your Questions and Comments:

- Mark 5. "I’ve always wondered about this passage for a couple of reasons. 1. Why would Jesus cast the demons into the pigs- that was someone’s livelihood. 2. Did the demons drown with the pigs? Is that why he didn’t simply cast them out?  Why would Jesus respond to their request?" - Good questions on a difficult passage. I don't feel like I have full answers that satisfy me on several details in this story, but I'll offer what I've got. First, why cast the demons into the pigs that were someone's livelihood? It does seem an odd thing to do. The one thought I have (and this doesn't fully satisfy me) is this. The pigs drown and those tending the pigs go to tell the town what happened. They all come out and see a miracle: a man they all knew to be demon possessed now in his right mind. What would be the right response to that? To praise God, to find out who had the power to perform that miracle, and then follow Him. But they didn't. They begged Jesus to go away. Part of the reason was fear of something they didn't understand and part of the reason was (this is the answer to your question) that they valued material prosperity more than spiritual breakthrough. The loss of the pigs does create a moment when these people emphatically choose the material over the spiritual. Second, did the demons drown with the pigs? No, they did not. They are spiritual beings. Before being sent into the pigs, they begged Jesus not to "send them out of the area" (v. 10). It's a little clearer in Luke's version of this story the larger thing the demons were afraid of. There the demons beg Jesus not to send them "into the abyss" (Luke 8:31). (This agrees with Mark because it's also out of the area but tells us more specifically where it would be.) This speaks to the demons being cast into hell, from which they would not be able to return. This tells us that the demons were aware of the power Jesus possessed over them. They are begging Him not to cast them into hell in this moment. Third, why would Jesus respond to their request? Why did Jesus grant their request? It is a bit of mystery to me. The closest I can get echoes an earlier point. Perhaps He allowed it because He wanted to create the moment when the true priorities of all these people would be revealed: material prosperity over spiritual victory. If that's the reason, He was using the demons to cause the result He wanted.

- A comment from one of our 60IN60 participants. Mark 5. "In regard to the little girl whom Christ raised from the dead: 'and they laughed at him.' Christ immediately puts the scoffers out of the room and proceeds to raise the dead. I'm sure the ones who scoffed, proceeded to marvel.  So much for the opinion of man." 

60IN60 Day 5 - Fri Jul 10

It's Day 5 and we're in Mark 5.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 31 - Not everyone receives the same thing when they come near Jesus.  Those with great faith receive more.

Help:
- Verse 17 - Why would they want Jesus to leave?  I think He scared them with the change in the man and I think He worried them with the destruction of the pigs.  Some people would rather have their comfort than to encounter the real God.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a comment or question, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 4 - Thurs Jul 9

It's Day 4 and we're in Mark 4.

If you've got questions about your reading, I love answering those. Feel free to email me. Unless it's something personal, I'll usually anonymously share the question (and answer) in the following day's email so everyone can benefit from it. 

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 22 - I want all the truth I can get - bring it all out in the open.  Lord, take away the false things that I've learned and hold onto and reveal the fullness of Your truth to me.

Help:
- Verse 12 - The way "otherwise they might" sounds at first reading, it makes you think it's saying, "I'm doing this because I don't want them to get saved."  I think it actually should be read, "Otherwise they could turn and be forgiven!"  The issue at the center is the hardness of their hearts, not God keeping them at arm's length.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 3 - Wed Jul 8

It's Day 3 and we're in Mark 3.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 5 - What makes Jesus angry?  One thing is stubborn hearts.

Help:
- Verse 21 - This tells us that Jesus was not seen by His family from the beginning as Super-Savior.  Evidently before He began His ministry He did not appear all that different from everyone else.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com. 

60IN60 Day 2 - Tues Jul 7

It's Day 2 and we're in Mark 2.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 9 - The spiritual miracles are even greater than the physical ones, as amazing as they were.

Help:
- Verse 14 - As I shared yesterday, Mark tends to move quickly through stories, so this sounds like Jesus walks up to Levi having never met him and gets him to follow.  In fact, from the other gospels, we know they had talked before.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 1 - Mon Jul 6

It's Day 1 and we're in Mark 1.

If for some reason you don't get your daily email, you can always check the day's 60IN60 post on the 60IN60 website: 60IN60Bible.org.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 40 - "If you are willing" - I think a lot of people doubt whether God wants to help them.  They've messed up too much or they've wandered too far, they think.  And yet the truth is that God is always willing.

Help:
- Verses 17-20 - Because Mark tells stripped-down versions of these stories and moves through scenes quickly, this sounds like Jesus walks up to total strangers, tells them to follow Him, and they do it.  We know from other gospels, though, that Jesus had talked to them before.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

Your Questions and Comments:

- A comment from one of our 60IN60 participants:  Acts 8. "I've always wondered if Simon the Magician accepted Christ. I know he gets a bad reputation here as he offered Simon Peter money for the gift of the Holy Spirit, but it should be pointed out that, until then, currency was all he knew. Surely he knew his spells were claptrap, for when he saw something he couldn't control or pretend to summon, he bargained in the only way he knew how. Also, after Peter curses him for such thoughts, he immediately asks Peter to pray for him. Did an acceptance of Christ follow?"

60IN60 Next Round

The next round of 60IN60 will begin tomorrow.