The Faith of the Syrophoenician Woman (Mark 7:24-30)

 

The Faith of the Syrophoenician Woman (Mark 7:24-30)

Who is truly blessed? It isn't determined by human flesh and blood. Factors like being Jewish or Gentile, time or place, race, or wealth do not decide it. Faith that seeks God’s grace is what truly makes one blessed. Jesus blessed anyone who came to Him in faith (Mark 5:34; Matthew 8:10). However, He rebuked a lack of faith regardless of who the person was (Mark 4:40).

In Mark 7:24-30, Jesus blessed the faith of a Gentile woman—a Syrophoenician—and delivered her demon-possessed daughter. Jesus tested the faith of this woman who came seeking grace, not to reject her, but to make her faith even stronger.

He Could Not Keep His Presence Secret

"Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret." (Mark 7:24)

Tyre was a Gentile region. Jesus left Galilee and went north to a house in Tyre, wanting to remain unnoticed. Yet, His arrival could not be hidden. This signifies that the Lord reveals Himself to those who believe.

Conversely, He hides himself from those without faith. When Jesus went to His hometown, the people rejected and refused Him instead of welcoming him. As a result, he could not do any miracles there (Mark 6:5).

Even though Jesus, the Son of God, was right before their eyes, His true identity remained hidden from them. Therefore, those who believe in Jesus Christ cannot miss where He is. God spoke through the prophet Jeremiah: "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13) Jesus gave this same message to His disciples, adding a beautiful promise (Matthew 7:7-8).

"Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" (Matthew 7:9-11)

Jesus also gave the Great Commission to go and teach the gospel to all nations, promising to be with His disciples always, even to the end of the age. Indeed, Jesus dwells within us. This is the "glorious hope" for every believer (Colossians 1:27).

A Woman Pleads for Her Daughter

"In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an impure spirit came and fell at his feet. The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter." (Mark 7:25-26)

God sent His Son to this earth to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). All people were lost in Adam, trapped under the power of sin and death, influenced by Satan. However, not everyone comes to the door of salvation. The way to salvation is narrow.

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (Matthew 7:13-14)

Yet, those chosen before the creation of the world respond by believing in Jesus. This woman in Tyre was also a daughter of God, chosen before time began. Jesus was sent by God to find her, which is why He visited Tyre.

In His infinite wisdom, God places His chosen people exactly where they need to be. No one in Christ is in a certain place by accident; they are there to witness to the Father's love. This starts in the home—as husbands, wives, and children—to reflect God's light. It continues in our jobs and schools. We live "missional lives" wherever we are.

On the surface, this woman’s life seemed miserably tragic. Seeing a daughter suffer from a demon is desperate for any mother. But when she heard the news of Jesus, it was God opening the door of heaven and ringing the "Good News" in her heart.

Israel had become like sheep without a shepherd. For 400 years after Malachi, there were no prophets. People were hungry for the Word of God. The prophet Amos described this spiritual famine:

"The days are coming," declares the Sovereign Lord, "when I will send a famine through the land—not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord." (Amos 8:11)

Finally, when the time had fully come, God sent His Christ. He opened the heavens and announced the news to shepherds:

"But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.'" (Luke 2:10-11)

Children’s Bread and the Dogs

"First let the children eat all they want," he told her, "for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs." "Lord," she replied, "even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs." (Mark 7:27-28)

At first glance, it might seem like Jesus was insulting her. But Jesus never rejects those who come to Him. He had deep compassion for those who were like sheep without a shepherd.

"A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory. In his name the nations will put their hope." (Matthew 12:20-21)

Jesus was teaching a truth here. The "children" referred to the believers (Israel), and "dogs" referred to the Gentiles. But salvation is not by blood or flesh; it is by faith. No one "deserves" salvation. The Syrophoenician woman admitted she had no claim to grace on her own merit.

Blessed are the Poor in Spirit

This is what it means to be poor in spirit (Matthew 5:3). She had no "self" to protect. She didn't fall into a victim mentality or anger over being slighted; she simply asked for grace. Our Lord Jesus modeled this humility on the cross. Though He was God, He did not cling to His status.

"Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!" (Philippians 2:6-8)

Because of this, the Father exalted Him:

"Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth." (Philippians 2:9-10)

Humans naturally want to be high up and well-treated. But the riches of this world are fleeting. Jesus told a story of a rich man who wanted to build bigger barns, but God called him a fool.

"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'" (Luke 12:20)

Therefore, being exalted and receiving honor does not depend on human hands. All authority and glory come from God the Father (Rom 13:1; John 19:11). God both exalts and brings low. God hardened Pharaoh’s heart, so he would not listen to Moses (Exod 9:12). This means He allows Pharaoh to not listen to His word.

God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble (Jas 4:6; 1 Pet 5:5). Through the cross of His Son, Jesus Christ, God shows the secret of how one is exalted. The cross is the ache and pain of dying and disappearing; it is shame and insult. The cross is being abandoned and becoming a nobody. The cross has no beauty or majesty to attract us to him (Isa 53:2).

However, if we take up the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ and follow Him, there is hope in the glorious resurrection. We sit at the right hand of the heavenly throne with Christ and reign together (Eph 2:6). No cross, no resurrection. No pain, no crown. Jesus taught this secret through the parable of the seed:

"Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds" (John 12:24).

Jesus gladly accepts the faith of the Syrophoenician woman

Then he told her, "For such an answer, you may go; the demon has left your daughter." She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone (Mark 7:29-30).

God opened the gates of heaven and bestowed spiritual blessings upon the Syrophoenician woman. When she came to the Lord Jesus Christ in faith and sought grace, the Heavenly Father answered. Jesus gladly accepted her faith and strengthened it further. Coming to Jesus to seek grace while acknowledging that one has no merit aligns with the principle of the cross.

What was life like for her daughter after being healed? Everyone knows that the household would not remain perfectly peaceful without any further trouble. Anyone is exposed to illness, accidents, or disasters. Human relationships are like time bombs that could go off at any moment. We cannot help but be affected by changes in geopolitical politics and the economy.

Does this mean Jesus healing her daughter was meaningless? Not at all. Continually, whenever difficulties arise, one holds onto that same initial faith and the truth of the cross, entrusting everything to God in Christ. After that event, Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went back into the region of Galilee. There is no record in the Bible of Him going to the vicinity of Tyre again.

If so, how do we continue to come before the Lord Jesus Christ? The period Jesus spent on this earth was short. He cannot always be physically present. Therefore, God sent the Spirit of Truth into those who believe in Christ.

"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you" (John 14:16-18).

God sends His Spirit to those who believe and dwells within them forever. Therefore, in Christ, we always remain in God, and God remains in us. We can come closer to God anytime and anywhere. He is just in us and we are in Him.

Amen!

April 5, 2026

Buffalo Livingstone Church ©2026, David Lee Ministries ©2026 – All Rights Reserved.

Scripture quotes are from the NIV.

 

What Comes Out of a Person Defiles Them (Mark 7:1-23)

 

What Comes Out of a Person Defiles Them (Mark 7:1-23)

How do we keep the Word of God perfectly? It cannot be done through deeds. We obey through faith. That faith is believing that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died for the sins of this world, was buried, and rose again on the third day. Furthermore, it is believing that Christ ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the throne of God to rule.

In Mark 7:1-23, Jesus taught what truly defiles a person. It is not the food we eat, but all kinds of evil that come from within the heart. In Christ Jesus, we love God with all our heart, strength, and mind, out of freedom and a willing spirit. Keeping the law means doing so without coercion or force.

The Traditions of the Elders (Matthew 15:1-20)

1 The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus 2 and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. 3 (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.) 5 So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?” (Mark 7:1-5)

The tradition of the elders began as a means to obey God’s Law. It started with good intentions. Based on the Pentateuch of Moses, there is the Written Torah consisting of approximately 613 commandments. However, around the 2nd century BC, the Mishnah was compiled based on oral traditions, categorizing rabbinic debates, legal applications, and interpretations of the Torah.

While the Torah is considered the written Word of God, the Mishnah is a topical legal code consisting of 63 tractates covering agriculture, festivals, damages, marriage, holy offerings, and purification rites. The Torah provides general principles, while the Mishnah provides specific and practical details regarding those laws.

For example, there are 39 categories of work forbidden on the Sabbath, such as threshing, kneading, washing, hunting, writing/erasing two letters, and extinguishing/kindling a fire.

Example: On the Sabbath, if a wound is minor, one does not squeeze out the blood but gently wipes it, places ointment on it without rubbing it in, and then applies a bandage. Since one cannot turn lights on or off during the Sabbath, timers are set in advance. To prevent the internal light from turning on when opening the refrigerator, the bulb is removed beforehand or the "Sabbath mode" is set.

They washed their hands before eating, which was a ritual requirement rather than a matter of hygiene. They accused the disciples because they did not follow this regulation. "Defiled hands" meant they had not performed the ritual according to the tradition of the elders.

Honoring Me with Lips, but Hearts are Far From Me

6 He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 7 They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’ 8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.” 9 And he continued, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’ 11 But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is Corban (that is, devoted to God)— 12 then you no longer let them do anything for their father or mother. 13 Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.” (Mark 7:6-13)

Jesus did not agree with their accusation; instead, He rebuked them. God does not look at the outward appearance but looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). God sees the motivations deep within. Therefore, through the prophet Isaiah, God rebuked the people of Israel who revered Him only with words while their hearts were elsewhere.

They were preoccupied with fulfilling their own interests and greed. They pushed aside the commandments of God and instead risked their lives for human traditions. Instead of obeying God's command to honor parents and not insult them, they prioritized the tradition of Corban (קָרְבָּן).

Corban was a human tradition cleverly crafted to avoid providing financial help to parents. It was a wickedness that abused and deceived God’s holy name. In this way, they were blinded by seeking their own gain and tried to deceive the Holy God.

God’s Loving-kindness and Love are Everlasting

God’s hand is not too short, nor is He stingy; His loving-kindness, love, and grace are everlasting (Isaiah 59:1; Lamentations 3:22-23). However, the people of Israel greatly misunderstood this. When King David sinned against the Lord, God rebuked him through the prophet Nathan:

"I gave your master’s house to you, and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you all Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more." (2 Samuel 12:8)

First, God commanded, "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you" (Exodus 20:12). However, "anyone who speaks evil of their father or mother must be put to death" (Matthew 15:4; Exodus 21:17).

Parents spare no effort or devotion to give birth to and raise their children. In one sense, a parent's love for their child closely resembles the love of God. God loved us so much that He did not spare even His own dear Son but gave Him up for us (John 3:16). Therefore, it is only right to be thankful for God’s grace and love. Those who do not know God’s love and grace are foolish (Jeremiah 4:22; Romans 1:21-22).

2 Hear me, heavens! Listen, earth! For the Lord has spoken: “I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me. 3 The ox knows its master, the donkey its owner’s manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.” 4 Woe to the sinful nation, a people whose guilt is great, a brood of evildoers, children given to corruption! They have forsaken the Lord; they have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him. (Isaiah 1:2-4)

The Purpose of Giving the Law

The Jews created the Mishnah to obey the words of God's commandments. However, they strayed from the original purpose for which God gave the Law. If you keep the Law, you receive a blessing, but if you break it, you receive punishment. The problem is that there is no mortal flesh that can perfectly keep the Law from birth until death. God, who instituted the Law, could not possibly be unaware of this fact.

The purpose for which God gave the Law is to make us aware of sin (Rom 3:20). Because the Law is the written expression of God's holy character, it is holy and blameless. However, since no one can keep the Law, both Jews and Gentiles alike are found to be sinners before God (Rom 3:9-18). Therefore, they fall short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23).

Then, how does one keep the Law? This is an important question. This is because if you do not keep the Law, you will surely face death. Since we are weak and cannot keep the Law, the Lord Jesus Christ took the sins of this world upon Himself and was hung high on the cross. This is the righteousness of God that has been made known apart from the Law, to which the Law and the Prophets testify (Rom 3:21).

Therefore, whoever believes in and obeys the Lord Jesus Christ has been set free from the snare of the Law (Gal 5:1). Specifically, believing in Jesus means that we have died with Him, been buried, have risen again, and have ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of the throne of God (Rom 6:4; Eph 2:6).

Now, in Christ, we keep God's Law perfectly through freedom and willingness (Jas 1:25; Rom 6:17). It is impossible through fearful legalism. We keep His holy Law through that very love poured out as a gift from God (John 14:15).

God commanded His people to love the LORD God with all their heart, soul, and strength (Deut 6:5). However, God first demonstrated His love by giving His beloved Son as a sacrifice while we were still sinners (Rom 5:8).

1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome. (1 John 5:1-3)

Food Does Not Defile a Person

14 Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, "Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. 15 Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them." (16) 17 After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable. 18 "Are you so dull?" he asked. "Don't you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? 19 For it doesn't go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body." (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.) 20 He went on: "What comes out of a person is what defiles them. 21 For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and defile a person." (Mark 7:14-23)

The food one eats cannot defile a person. Jesus declared all foods clean. In the regulations regarding food in Leviticus, it lists unclean animals/birds/insects that must not be eaten (Lev 11:7-8). However, this does not mean that certain things were unclean from the beginning. Everything God created was good in His sight. The food regulations were to teach His people what is unclean and what is clean.

The traditions of the elders can make a person neither unclean nor clean. What defiles a person is what comes from the heart, and this is what prevents a person from standing boldly before God. In Adam, humans are filled with the spreading toxin of sin. This cannot be healed by keeping traditions. There is no other salvation except through the merit of the precious blood of Jesus Christ.

Our ability to love God and keep the Law perfectly is possible because we have already received the forgiveness of sins and made new by believing in the blood of Christ. It is not that we are declared righteous after first keeping the Law. There is no flesh that can do so (Rom 3:20). God not only demands perfect obedience, but He also gives the strength and power to obey. This is faith in Christ.

We have become new people in Christ. This is because our old self has died with Christ. By the grace of God, we now love God and love our neighbors in Christ. God promised through the prophet Ezekiel to give a new spirit and a new heart.

26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. (Ezek 36:26-27)

Amen!

March 29, 2026

Buffalo Livingstone Church ©2026, David Lee Ministries ©2026 – All Rights Reserved.

Scripture quotes are from the NIV.

 

Jesus Walks on the Water (Mark 6:45-56)

 

Jesus Walks on the Water (Mark 6:45-56)

How do we rule as God intended to do from the beginning? We live by faith. Jesus fed five thousand people with five loaves and two fish. Because Jesus trusted in His Heavenly Father, He lacked nothing in feeding that great multitude (Psalm 23:1). By believing in a faithful God, we lack nothing regardless of our situation.

In Mark 6:45-56, Jesus came to His disciples walking on the water. Jesus demonstrated a new creation that transcends human limitations. We live by faith and hope in the invisible love of God and His kingdom. This is what it means to live a life walking on water.

Going Up on a Mountainside to Pray

Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray (Mark 6:45-46).

After feeding the five thousand with the five loaves and two fish, Jesus immediately had His disciples get into a boat to go to the other side toward Bethsaida. Mark records that Jesus "immediately" made His disciples leave. The miracle of the loaves and fish was undoubtedly an astonishing event for the disciples. The crowds, likewise, were amazed.

However, this event carried the risk of people misunderstanding Jesus Christ as a Messiah who simply came to solve their bread problem. In fact, according to the Gospel of John, the crowd tried to take Jesus by force to make Him their king (John 6:15). They expected that by doing so, their food problems would be solved.

The disciples also saw this event as an opportunity for their dreams of Jesus ascending as an earthly Messiah to grow even larger. They longed for a Messiah who would liberate them from the powerful Roman oppression that ruled the Mediterranean coast at the time.

When they saw that Jesus not only healed the sick but also calmed the wind and sea and fed five thousand with five loaves and two fish, they were convinced that He was the Messiah.

Jesus is in God, and the Father is in the Son

After sending the disciples to the other side of the sea first, Jesus went up to a mountain to pray. Jesus habitually went before God the Father to pray (Mark 1:35). Jesus was always in the Father, and the Father was in the Son (John 17:21). During His time on earth, the incarnate Jesus was always with the Heavenly Father (John 5:19).

The example shown by our Lord Jesus Christ represents the intimate relationship between Christ and us believers. The Lord Jesus Christ is in us, and we always abide in Christ (John 17:21). Therefore, while living on this earth amidst storms and challenges, we fix our eyes on the Lord (Hebrews 12:2).

Consequently, we no longer live by our own strength and ability, but by the power of the resurrection of Christ who lives in us (Galatians 2:20). In Christ, we no longer live according to our own dreams and plans; instead, we surrender everything to Christ, who bought us with the price of His blood (1 Corinthians 6:20).

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20).

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship (Romans 12:1).

The Disciples See Jesus Walking on the Sea and Think He is a Ghost

47 Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. 48 He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out (Mark 6:47-49).

The disciples were straining at the oars because of a strong headwind. Shortly before sunrise while it was still dark—Jesus came toward them walking on the sea and was about to pass them by. When the disciples saw someone walking on the water, they cried out, thinking it was a ghost. It is unimaginable for a human to walk on water.

That is true. Water is dangerous for humans. While we can swim to a limited extent, walking on water is impossible. Jesus walking on the water transcends the laws of nature. Jesus was treading upon the sea water. This shows that the Lord rules over all things as the Creator.

In the beginning, God made fish to swim freely in the water and birds to fly freely in the sky (Genesis 1:20-21). In contrast, humans dwell on the land. However, Jesus, by walking on the water, surpassed human limitations. He walked on the water as if it were dry land. The water was no obstacle at all.

Therefore, this is a new creation. The creatures God made reveal the purpose and will He established. Through the birds of the air and the fish of the sea, God shows us a life filled with the Spirit. In Christ, we have been washed by His blood and set free from the chains of sin and death. We have now become a new creation before God.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17)

We Sit with The Lord at The Right Hand of The Throne of God and Rule

Although we still wear this earthly body, in the spirit, we are no longer slaves to sin and death but sit and rule with the Lord at the right hand of God’s throne (Ephesians 2:6). We do not sink into the mire of greed, jealousy, hatred, and complaining; instead, we look forward to the hope of the eternal kingdom of heaven and enjoy thankfulness, joy, and rest. By enduring through trials and hardships, we store up heavenly rewards of love, joy, and peace.

In the past, we worried, were anxious, and trembled with fear, but now we adore God’s peace and joy. No matter how urgent or pressing the situation may be, just like the Lord who slept in the midst of the storm, we find peace and rest by dwelling in God through faith.

Even amidst the deceptions and plots of the devil—who hides in unseen places, trying to swallow us up with all kinds of lies and threats—we repel the devil’s lies and threats through the power of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has overcome this world. After everything was made, we enter into the rest of God, who is the Lord of rest (Genesis 2:2-3).

Faith Wins the Victory

People fundamentally live by faith. For example, when starting a car and driving toward school or work, we set out believing we will arrive. When we go to bed at night, we seek sleep believing we will wake up the next morning. We believe the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. We believe that eating food will supply the nutrients our bodies need.

Nevertheless, there is something people often refuse to believe and reject: believing in and obeying Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Instead, they rely on experience, education, and knowledge. Over thousands of years, God has made us realize through historical facts that we are to live by faith alone.

There are Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, David, Elijah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Hosea, Malachi, and a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us (Hebrews 12:1). Through John the Baptist, the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth, God prepared the way for the coming of Christ, the Son of God.

Our Lord Jesus Christ, who came to this earth as evidence sent by God, healed the sick and drove out demons through signs and wonders. There is no praise for people in the Bible. However, Jesus blessed the faith of anyone who came to Him with faith. And Jesus opened the gates of heaven, giving the treasures of the kingdom—the Father’s love, joy, and peace—as gifts.

Therefore, we now obey and live by faith alone, walking on water. Long ago, the prophet Habakkuk said, "The righteous will live by his faith" (Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17).

To him who overcomes until the end,
He will give white robes and eternal life;
what a joyful thing.
Passing through this dark world to reach that heavenly fortress,
By the power of believing in the Lord Jesus,
we overcome the whole world.

Faith is the victory!
Faith is the victory!
Believing in the Lord Jesus overcomes the whole world. (Hymn)

Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid.

50 because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 51 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, 52 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened. 53 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. 54 As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. 55 They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed. (Mark 6:50-56)

Jesus told the terrified disciples to take courage and not be afraid. Here, who was it that made the disciples so terrified? It was the Lord Jesus Christ. Who was it that made them feel safe and relieved? It was the Lord Jesus Christ.

We might think this uncertain world is what startles us. Unexpected difficulties and pain cause us to be afraid. However, none of this can happen without God’s permission. It is a process of discipline and refinement, preparing us as the holy bride of Christ, without spot or blemish (Philippians 1:6; Ephesians 5:25-32).

Therefore, the hardships and pain we experience on this earth are neither accidental nor bad luck. Through Jesus walking on the water in the midst of the storm, the disciples confessed that He is truly the Son of God (Matthew 14:33). "Son of God" means that Jesus is equal to God.

Even after the miracle of the five loaves and two fish and walking on the water, Jesus continued His ministry of healing the sick and driving out demons. Everyone who touched even the edge of His cloak was healed, just like the woman who had suffered from bleeding (Mark 5:34).

Jesus’ work of healing the sick and driving out demons has continued for the last 2,000 years, and He continues it among us today. We know this if we look back at how our week has been. Many challenges and pains follow one day after another. Our hearts are heavy and troubled by things not yet resolved. That is why, even today, if we come to Him in faith, Jesus pours out the living water that flows from the heavenly throne of grace. Amen!

Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:13-14)

Amen!

March 22, 2026

Buffalo Livingstone Church ©2026, David Lee Ministries ©2026 – All Rights Reserved.

Scripture quotes are from the NIV.