Mark 1:44-45 - “And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.”

Why did Jesus instruct the man not to tell that he had been cleansed from leprosy? I don’t know what reason Jesus had, but I can see what happened afterward. The man did not obey the law of God to go to the priest (Leviticus 13:16-17), and he did not obey the command of Jesus. As a result “Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places.” How many have rejected Christ, answering that religious people don’t agree on who He is, and are hypocritical in their faith? How many people would be surprised to learn that you call yourself a Christian and are part of a church? We may think that it’s a private matter when we choose to do other than what is written in the Bible, but our disobedience might very well be preventing others from hearing Jesus and being saved. Such is the effect of the entire system of sectarianism, and such is the effect of every individual’s disobedience.

Mark 6:52 - “And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.”

The twelve had seen the multiplying of loaves, were amazed at the uniqueness of it. As with the people (John 6:26), they likely enjoyed the personal benefit of the filled stomach, but they didn’t consider the implication of the miracle (Matt. 16:9-10). That’s how sects persevere: people are satisfied just to be amazed and to receive a personal, worldly benefit. Enjoying the praising of men, preachers settle just for amazing the crowds with “good words and fair speeches” (Romans 16:18). Multitudes today are content to bask in the love and mercy of God, never giving a thought to the possibility that Jesus intends us to believe every word and obey every command (John 14:15; 15:10). Is your heart hardened against taking God seriously?

Mark 7:3 - “For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.”

Mark explains why the Pharisees found fault with Jesus: He didn’t behave as they had determined was necessary. Tradition can be a good thing. Families have traditions that bind them together generation after generation. Businesses and nations have traditions beyond their founding documents that make them more or less desirable to their constituencies. The Lord’s church has traditions which Christians are supposed to hold, and after which they must walk if they are to receive God’s blessing (I Cor. 11:2; II Thess. 3:6). These are the teachings of Jesus and His apostles (II Thess. 2:15). But when the traditions that grow up from our long practice result in our losing that hold on the traditions of Christ, we have laid aside the commandment of God (Mark 7:8) and made the commandment of God of none effect (Matt. 15:6). God commands the church to preach His word to the lost world (Matt. 28:18-20; Eph. 3:10), but in most places today we are content to assemble and preach to ourselves. God commands the church to feed the hungry and clothe the naked (Matt. 25:31-46), but many of us have a tradition of judging the worthiness of the individual who is asking for our help. In whatever it teaches, does the word of God have an effect in your life, or have you laid it aside for your own traditions?

Mark 16:14 - “Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.”

Mary Magdalene had found the tomb empty, and had seen Jesus alive. She had talked with Him, and He had told her what to tell the eleven. They heard, but didn’t believe. Two disciples, apparently well known and trusted before this time, had walked in the country with Jesus. They came back and reported the good news to the apostles, but “neither believed they them.” Men like to think themselves intelligent and objective in making decisions, but Jesus called their unbelief “hardness of heart.” One of those eleven later wrote, “That ... which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life ... declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full” (I John 1:1-4). What better evidence could we ask for something that we had not personally seen? Yet, there are the miracles, the witness even of His enemies and dis-interested third parties. There is the testable-and-proven-true inspired record. Still many refuse to believe that Jesus rose from death, proving His ability to save and authority to command. Be honest with the evidence.