American businessman, motivational speaker, and futurologist, Joel A. Barker, tells the story of a wise individual - who was a writer - who would go to the beach to do his writing. Before he began his work, he would go for a walk along the shore, One day, during his daily walk, he spied an individual doing what appeared to be dancing to the day! Smiling to himself, he began to walk faster so that he could catch up with this amazing individual!
As he got closer, he saw that it was a young man; and, he wasn’t dancing - he was reaching down to pick something up; and, gently throwing it into the ocean. Getting even closer, he called out, "Good morning! What are you doing?" The young man paused, looked up; and, replied, "Throwing starfish into the ocean."
The writer said, "I guess I should have asked, ’Why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?’" "The sun is up and the tide is going out. And, if I don’t throw them in they’ll die" came the reply! "But young man, don’t you realize that there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it. You can’t possibly make a difference!"
The young man listened politely; then, he bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it into the ocean, far past the breaking waves. ’It made a difference for that one,’ he said!”
John 21:25 (KJV)
25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.
Jesus is all about making a difference…
Just as the young man changed the fate of the star fish that he could reach, So does Jesus even now reach for us…
His intent is simple, make a difference for each one that he can touch…
We too, must make a difference for those we touch…
Let me say it this way, we must touch them before we can make a difference…
They don't care how much you know, till they know how much you care…
As we gear up for the big Easter push, we need to be aware of how we are perceived…
How does your friends and family look at you?
How do you see your friends and family?
Are you offended by the way you are perceived?
There is nothing more offensive that being viewed in a manner that you would deem minimizing or belittling…
It may be true, but that doesn't make it any less hurtful…
Perhaps you have worked on improving yourself in a certain area, and you run into someone that only remembers that aspect of you…
May its where you live… or were born… a speech impediment… perhaps a physical trait… you were over weight… or under weight…
When someone identifies you as something you use to be… perhaps you have even worked at changing that area of your life…you have taken pride in your accomplishment’s… but that one reminder of who you were can effect how you operate in the presents of the one that remembers…
Jesus understands…
Mark 6:1-7King James Version (KJV)
6 And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him.
2 And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?
What limited Jesus?
It was not his lack of love, after all he is love…
It was the the opinions of those that were in the church that day…
What had they heard Jesus was doing? What was the mighty works they acknowledged?
verse one states that he went out from hence and came to his own country….
where he had left was the country of the Gaderenes!
What happened there?
He was perceived as a deliverer…
Legion met him at the shore…
But fear of those who know legion rose and they told Jesus to leave…
Again perfect love is effected by the opinions of the crowd…
Jesus was leaving and Legion was so moved by him that he begged to come along…
He didn't want the attitude of those around him to effect his victory…
Jesus told him to go home to his friends and tell them how great things the Lord had done for him and how he had compassion for him… The men marveled at his story…
His testimony was stronger than his haters…
Jesus was rushed out of town and he crossed the sea again the people had came out, and this time he was perceived to be a healer…
Jarius, a ruler of the synagog fell at his feet…
He cried out…My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.
Notice that his perception was that Jesus had to touch his daughter… Jesus responded to his perception… and went with him…
The crowd followed him…
In the crowd was another that perceived that he was a healer, her perception was different from Jarius’…
Jarius felt that Jesus needed to come lay his hands on his daughter… but this one had faith that all she had to do was touch the hem of his garment…
As her faith brings her healing, the delay, brought death to Jarius’ daughter and the word come to him…Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?
Jesus turns and give Jarius, life changing advise…
be not afraid, only believe…
What was he saying…. Jarius, for me to do what you have asked of me, all I need is one person with faith…
Jesus know that when he walked in the room, there were going to be scoffers… there was going to be a mountain of doubt…
Jarius, if you have the faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say unto this mountain, be though removed…
Jesus told them to quit making such a fuss, she is only sleeping…. They laughed him to scorn…
I can see Jesus glance over at Jarius…
Give him the look…
The words echo in his head…. be not afraid, only believe…
Jarius, looks around the room and his eyes fall once again on his dead daughter… he lifts his eyes towards Jesus…smiles and nods…
Jesus took the damsel by the hand, and said, Talitha cumi;
Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.
WORSHIP
It was after these great acts that Jesus went home…
But they could not see him as anything more than little Jesus that grew up to be a carpenter…
3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.
They reacted to the person, not the deity…
As we have fought Jesus was all God, and all man…
He was dual nature… He could operate as God and as man…
His response from this home town was this…
A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.
Their lack of understanding of who he was was the cause of verse 5…
5 And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.
Their unbelief is simply a lack of revelation…
They did not have a revelation of who Jesus was, and as such were powerless…
Peter had the revelation… Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God.
WORSHIP
Jesus at that time was operating in the flesh and the spirit…
Jesus did not take offense at their perception, his love for humanity did not waiver…
He just shifted into the Spiritual side and kept reaching…
Verse 6 says that he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.
7 And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;
He gave them spiritual power… so much so that Herod thought John the Baptist had rose from the dead…
Others thought he was Elias… or one of the other prophets…
He made a greater impact in the spiritual after empowering his disciples than he could in the limitations of the flesh…
ALTAR CALL
Why was Jesus so willing to react to the perceptions of man?
To make a difference in their lives…
There were those he could touch…
Legion… the woman with the issue of blood… Jarius’ daughter… his disciples…
There were those he could not touch…
those afraid at the shore where Legion was delivered…
the crowd of onlookers as the woman was healed of her issue…
The scoffers in the room with a dead girl…
The young man could not save all the star fish, for he was operating in the limitations of the flesh…
Jesus may not be able to save all humanity, but he is reaching for all in the spirit…
Jesus is not limited by the flesh, but by the crowd that gathers…
But the opinion of the crown, the purpose of the mob… is overpowered by the faith of just one…
Legion was healed, the crowd was frightened…
The crowd watched as the woman was made whole…
The scoffers standing on the other side of the door, had to move aside as Jarius paraded his miracle through the home and into the streets…
What is your perception of God?
He is what you need today… it is all in him…
is he a …
Healer
deliverer
savior
peace speaker
way maker
bridge over troubled water
Or is he just a distant God?
A story too good to be true?
a fable that you struggle with?
My friend, he will respect that perception as well, he will respond accordantly…
