Assurance In Jesus Christ

2 Samuel 7:1–14a

Psalm 89:20–37

Ephesians 2:11–22

Gospel Mark 6:30–34, 53–56

We become cured and made whole only by touching God and our only way to God is through the blood of Jesus.

Mark 6:54 When they got out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him, 55 and ran about that whole country and began to carry here and there on their pallets those who were sick, to the place they heard He was. 56 Wherever He entered villages, or cities, or countryside, they were laying the sick in the market places, and imploring Him that they might just touch the fringe of His cloak; and as many as touched it were being cured.

What does it mean to know being cured and made whole by touching Jesus?

First being whole means an awareness of knowing you are alive spiritually. That means you are actively participating in a loving relationship with God.

To illustrate consider When your relationship is right with your spouse you can touch your spouse because you are in a committed relationship. You know the importance of Having a good relationship with your spouse; because it offers daily the reassurance of love, peace and unity.

Likewise being at one with God means being secure about yourself. It is not a one time event, when God extends the opportunity for a relationship it is progressive. God respects your free will.

In reading Mark 6:30–34 the timing of that writing follows two different reports being brought to Jesus. The disciples of Jesus are returning with the reports of the success of their mission work. The disciples shared with the Jewish villages the teachings of Jesus. The other report came from the disciples of John. They have brought the news regarding the death of John the Baptist. The focus of Jesus is upon these disciples and their need for some one on one time. He said come away with me and rest awhile.

There are times in our reading about Jesus when his role as the Son of God really stands out. An example would be when Jesus stands in a boat and addresses a squall to be quiet and still. Or when Jesus commands a healing miracle that defies nature. But there are times like this report from today's reading when Jesus reminds us of his human nature. Emotions have a way of robbing our energy, we need our time of rest.

We need to rest with Jesus. We know Jesus is both Son of God and man but how does that play out in God's plan? Jesus has a unity with God that is active daily. The body, soul, and spirit of Jesus are secure in his connection physically and emotionally with God. Jesus came to touch the lives of humankind in a special healing way. A way that allows the presence of God's love to know sinners. This way allows humankind to experience peace in the death to come.

In Second Samuel chapter seven we learn about a time King David was not engaged in warring but instead was enjoying a rest the Lord had given him peace on every side from all of his enemies.

1 Now it came about when the king lived in his house, and the Lord had given him rest on every side from all his enemies, 2 that the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells within tent curtains.” 3 Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your mind, for the Lord is with you.”4 But in the same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying, 5 “Go and say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Are you the one who should build Me a house to dwell in?

6 “For I have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought up the sons of Israel from Egypt, even to this day; but I have been moving about in a tent, even in a tabernacle. 7 “Wherever I have gone with all the sons of Israel, did I speak a word with one of the tribes of Israel, which I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’ ” ’

God planned a time of peace and rest for King David before his next task. But King David does a very human thing. David looks at how nice his house of cedar is. And then contrast only a tent covering the ark of the covenant.

It is our human nature to be like King David and the disciples. Our focus is more on our story instead of our role in God's story. King David would have been very comfortable putting God in a box. Opening the box when we face the challenges and struggles of life.