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Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (Romans 5:11)
When the angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds he announced, "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). Now, in one sense, all births are moments of great joy. But this moment in time was categorically different. This was a time of great joy—accompanied by hosts of angels singing glory to God! After all, the entire course of human history shifted as a result of this baby's birth. Our trajectory changed completely. Nothing would ever be the same again.
A Savior had been born—someone who could rescue and redeem God's people. More specifically, the angel called this baby "the Messiah," a word heavy-laden with meaning, emphasizing his role as the one promised from of old, looked forward to in the prophets, and hoped for by the people. Not only that, this was great news for "all people."
When Paul talks about "boasting" in God, what he really has in mind is a kind of rejoicing that is totally God-centered. There's no pride involved when we boast in God. We revel in His goodness and delight in His provision. And we celebrate with joy the incredible gift of reconciliation.
Good news. Great joy. For all the people. A Savior. The Messiah. The Lord. That's what Christmas is really all about.
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, while we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! (Romans 5:9-10)
New believers jump for joy when reminded of the incredible gift that they have received in Christ. The promise of peace with God is so fresh and new that it inspires boldness in evangelism and great faith in believing. But truth be told, over time, for most of us, the excitement starts to wear off and our enthusiasm often begins to wane. With a little bit of distance, the fact that "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" loses its edge and no longer generates the same passion.
For those of us who maybe find ourselves falling into that camp occasionally, Paul has a wonderful note of encouragement. Our salvation is not just a past fact, or even a present reality, but a future promise as well. "Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!"
God has already accomplished the far more difficult task of reconciling a sinful, hopeless people with Himself. It was a gift that came at a great cost to God, requiring the death of His son, the very same child whose birth we will celebrate and remember just a week from today. Given the great lengths to which God has already gone to save us from our sin, we can be absolutely confident that in the final judgment we will indeed be saved from God's wrath.
We were made right with God when we believed, we are being increasingly conformed into His likeness through the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit, and we will ultimately be rescued from God's wrath when He returns. The entirety of our salvation, beginning, middle, and end, is in God's hands, and promised to us with a certainty that can never be shaken.
So this Christmas, when you look at the nativity scene, don't just look back at what happened in the past, but cast your eyes ahead to the salvation that God is already working out for us in the future as well. May that deepen and expand our worship this Christmas season.
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6-8)
As it turns out, human history has many examples of people laying down their lives for the sake of another. Most cultures look favorably on one who sacrifices their own life, whether that's in the pursuit of a noble cause, or in order that some other (good) person might live. Even bodyguards, although paid to take a bullet for the person they are protecting, choose to enter that profession knowing full well that they may face death as a result.
The qualitative difference between Jesus and all that came before or since, is that when He died, He died not for a noble cause or a good person, or even for personal financial gain, but to achieve forgiveness for the worst of all sinners. Jesus died so that we might all have the chance to be forgiven and enter into God's presence without fear or trepidation.
The most astonishing part of Christmas is realizing that the baby lying in a manger would one day willingly go to the cross and die for us. On our best days this truth seems so obvious it's almost boring. "Of course Jesus died for me," we think. "After all, I'm a good person, who has never cheated or lied or stolen anything." And yet, if we're honest, there are times when the darker side of us pokes through, and we wake up in the morning feeling dirty and dishonest; a phony trying to play it straight so nobody catches on. In some ways those are the moments we should be thankful for—moments when we catch a glimpse of who we really are, and where we would be headed as a result, were it not for God's gracious intervention on our behalf.
Jesus didn't die to make good people better, He died to bring the dead to life. He died to set prisoners free. He died so that those living on death row might receive an eternal pardon for their crimes against God. He died for you. He died for me.
"While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." We don't clean our act up and then come to God. He comes to us to clean us up first. He took the first step. Before we could confess, before we could repent, before we even began to realize how lost and hopeless we really were, He sent His Son to die for us. What better gift could we get at this time of year than the reminder that we no longer have to strive for our salvation, but can rest in this most incredible demonstration of God's great love for us?
Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:3-5)
When I was a child "suffering" was a broad category that included anything I didn't want or like to do. So, while being sick was in some sense "suffering," it was a much harder trial for me to have to do homework every single day (and sometimes on weekends!). I had to suffer through tedious tasks such as straightening up my room, or vacuuming the floor, or cleaning up after the dog, or taking out the trash. It was awful.
And in the middle of such terrible trials my parents would encourage me by saying, "Just remember, suffering breeds character!" Sadly, such a promise was of course completely lost on me. After all, my "character" was just fine as it was. What I really wanted to do was to go back to playing with my toys.
Now I am a parent myself, the temptation is there to spout the same words of wisdom to my own children. However, although there is a kernel of truth to the saying, the end goal of suffering, according to this passage, is not character itself, it's hope. And that hope is not a vague sense of hopefulness that one day things will get better, but a solid faith in the God whom we know holds all things together and works all things together according to His divine plan.
In other words, we rejoice in our sufferings not because we are masochists, but because we know that when set against the backdrop of God's unchanging nature and absolute faithfulness, they will only lead us to grow in our faith, and ultimately in our hope. Moreover, the assurance God gives us that our hope is not in vain is the gift of the Holy Spirit, who doesn't merely reside in us passively as a theological truth, but is in some way a conduit or vehicle by which we come to experience God's incredible, unmatched and overwhelming love for us.
For the most part we don't talk much about the Holy Spirit at Christmas, but this passage reminds us that our experience of love, joy, and ultimately, in some sense, peace, is mediated through the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. He is the one through whom God pours out His love into our hearts.
So today, pray for God's help not just to merely endure suffering, but to catch a glimpse of His hand at work through it, that you might grow in perseverance and land in a place of hopeful confidence in God's ability to provide and protect you going forward.
Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be." Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah's womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness." The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. (Romans 4:18-5:2)
As we press on into Advent, and Christmas draws ever closer, the pressure to make everything awesome, amazing, and perfect just keeps getting more and more intense. Christmas concerts, office parties, illnesses, and conflicts with family all combine with the never-ending list of presents that have to be bought to create a perfect storm of stress, anxiety and worry. Christmas cards may proclaim "Joy to the World," and our church decorations may announce, "Peace on Earth," but at this time of year those lofty ideals rarely seem to land in my day-to-day life.
The truth is there is indeed peace, hope and joy on offer to us this Christmas, but it's not found wrapped in a present under the tree or snuggled up to a warm fire with a steaming mug of hot chocolate. True peace, hope, and joy come only in and through the incredible work that God did on our behalf through Jesus Christ. And one of the clearest passages of Scripture on this topic is in chapters 3, 4, and 5 of Paul's letter to the Romans.
We don't have time to examine all that Paul says in these three chapters—that would take an entire sermon series—but this week we will examine the central argument of Romans 5—that "we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
What an amazing statement that is! Now, this peace is certain, absolute, and concrete. It is not based on our circumstances, emotions, or actions. Our Christmas plans may fall to pieces, our health may fail, and our friends may abandon us, but we still have peace with God.
You see, although we tend to fixate on the material problems and challenges of this world, the Bible is clear that our most significant problem by far is our separation from God. In our natural state we are all enemies of God, destined not just for death, but for judgment. Set against that bad news is the good news, repeated over and over again throughout Romans, that we no longer have to fear the wrath of God.
"Peace" in this sense refers to the end of all hostility. We are no longer enemies facing the sentence of death, but children welcomed warmly into the family of God. It is only because we first have peace with God that we can begin to hope for any kind of peace on earth as well. Peace with God is not one kind of peace among many, but the ground and source for all peace everywhere.
So today, we have much to be thankful for. Whatever challenges we may face over the next week, we can be certain of one thing—we have peace with God. May that truth bring you comfort and joy this Christmas.
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. (Ephesians 2:19-22)
There's been a lot of talk recently in the news about immigration, but whatever else we may think about the various policies being proposed, one thing is clear—there is a huge divide between citizens and immigrants (whether legal or illegal). Spiritually speaking, Paul says that we were all at one time foreigners and strangers. We were all outcasts—enemies of God living east of Eden.
But because of Christ's atoning death on the cross, we are "no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens." This was no amnesty—a penalty had to be paid; a sacrifice had to be made. In the end, Jesus died so that we might live. But even more than just being given rights as "citizens," the Bible talks about us becoming "members of his household." We're not just one among many, but treasured children; beloved sons and daughters of a great and merciful king.
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:12-13)
And more than that, God is building us together, each and every one us, into this supernatural entity called the Church. Although we often get so focused on our own spiritual growth and development that we lose sight of the big picture, Paul reminds us here that salvation has a corporate component to it as well. We've been saved into a new community, a new family, a new people. And it's together with other believers that God is at work building something truly amazing.
Our church is an imperfect place filled with imperfect people. We stumble, we fall, we make mistakes, we rub each other the wrong way and we let each other down. We also encourage, bless, provide and care for each other in ways that are both sacrificial and surprising. The Church is not an institution that makes a lot of sense from a strictly human perspective, but under he leadership and guidance of the Holy Spirit it can become a window through which we catch glimpses of the glorious future when all people will finally come together in perfect unity to worship God.
In the meantime, we pray, and we forgive, and we love, and we worship, together with our fellow citizens, our spiritual family, as we walk down the bumpy and difficult road of life.
If you're reading this devotional on Thanksgiving Day, you get double bonus point and an extra gold star for setting aside time to worship God on one of the busiest, craziest days of the year!
Perhaps you're grabbing a little break while the turkey cooks and before the guests arrive. Or perhaps everyone has come and gone already, and this is your time now to unwind from the day and decompress a little. Either way, there couldn't be a better way to worship God today than to read a psalm.
You could pick almost any psalm really, but I've selected Psalm 103, and although we've reprinted it here for ready reference, you could just as easily grab your own Bible and read it there. Read it quietly as a prayer of personal reflection, or out loud with others as a time of communal celebration. And may God bless your time today as you give thanks to Him for all the ways He has provided for you this year!
Psalm 103
Of David
1 Praise the Lord, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6 The Lord works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:
8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities,
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
14 for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.
15 The life of mortals is like grass,
they flourish like a flower of the field;
16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.
17 But from everlasting to everlasting
the Lord's love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children's children—
18 with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.
19 The Lord has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Praise the Lord, you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.
21 Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts,
you his servants who do his will.
22 Praise the Lord, all his works
everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the Lord, my soul.
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. (Ephesians 2:14-18)
As a child growing up in England, I remember hearing often of the time during World War I when both sides engaged in an unofficial cease-fire over Christmas. It's almost impossible to believe now, but in December 1914, towards the beginning of the war, British and German soldiers in the trenches took the opportunity to venture into no-man's-land to meet each other. They talked, sang songs together, and shared gifts. There are even stories claiming that the British played a soccer match against the Germans on Christmas Day, although that's still being debated. Either way, these unofficial ceasefires around Christmas 1914 provided a rare moment of humanity in the middle of a war otherwise fueled by a complete disregard for human life.
That visual image of peace between two warring parties sticks in my mind as we read our passage in Ephesians today. Whereas once upon a time Jews and Gentiles had been kept apart by the Law, in Christ the two became "one new humanity." All previous divisions were abolished. Peace was established between the two groups as Jesus fulfilled the Law, "setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations."
Not only that, but now, through Jesus, "we both have access to the Father by one Spirit." From a spiritual perspective, all ethnic, cultural and religious distinctions have been erased and can no longer stand as an impediment to the Gospel. Jesus has become "our peace." Not just peace for Gentiles, but peace for the Jews as well. Not just peace for "those" people far off, but peace for those who are near as well. All have now been reconciled with God.
The brief moments of peace enjoyed by British and German soldiers over Christmas 1914 were touching, but ultimately insufficient. Shortly afterwards, fighting resumed as before, and hundreds of thousands more people died before the war finally ended four years later. What Christ did once and for all on the cross was categorically different. His death wasn't a temporary ceasefire, but a permanent end to all hostility.
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day, but for some of us, our immediate circumstances may not leave us feeling very thankful. Some of us may have lost loved ones this year, and others may be facing significant financial crises. But whether we are rich or poor, feeling blessed, or battling loneliness, the great promise of the Bible is that we can know with certainty that the most significant relationship of our life is stable, secure, and completely unshakeable. Whatever our background, we have now peace with God. Amen!
This Sunday we will take a short break from our study of the life of David in order to dive into our Advent preaching series, entitled "Peace on Earth." The title comes from the pronouncement of the angels to the shepherds in Luke 2:
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests." (Luke 2:1-14)
That promise of "peace," however, is a weighty topic, and as such we'll take time each week exploring a different facet, such as, "Family Peace," "Personal Peace," and of course, "Peace with God." This week, however, we'll introduce the theme with a brief foray into Ephesians 2, as we consider the person at the very heart of Christmas—Jesus Christ Himself.
11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (which is done in the body by human hands)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:11-13)
Paul begins this section of Ephesians (which will go on to identify Jesus as "our peace"), with a reminder to his readers of their old life before Christ. After all, tt's hard to appreciate the astonishing significance of salvation when we forget the utter bleakness of life before Christ. Although here Paul is writing specifically to a Gentile audience, emphasizing their separateness from the Jewish people and the promises given the Patriarchs, his point extends down through history to us as well. Regardless of our ethnic, cultural or religious background, the Bible as a whole is clear that "There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"(Romans 3:22-23). Without Jesus, we are all lost. As Paul says of the Gentiles, "without hope and without God in the world."
That's the bad news.
But the good news is that, "now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ" (Ephesians 2:13). Paul's Gentile audience had no hope of ever being able to experience the full blessing of being part of the chosen people of God, let alone the blessings promised by the coming Messiah. Yet, incredibly, when the Messiah came, something new and unexpected happened. Those who were once far away were brought near.
We, too, were once far away. Without Christ, we were lost at sea; paddling our little lifeboats around in hopeless circles, with no hope of rescue. Yet, at just the right time, God reached down and plucked us out of the jaws of death. Whether that happened when we were five, twenty-five, or fifty-five doesn't matter. The result is the same—new life, new hope, new meaning, new purpose.
"Therefore, remember…" says Paul. As we celebrate Thanksgiving this week may we indeed remember the trajectory of our life without Christ, and give thanks to Him for the new life that we have now in Christ.
But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:21-24)
Yes, you read the title correctly. Twelve months have passed us by once again, and Christmas is just around the corner. Although today is not the first day of Advent (we haven't even celebrated Thanksgiving yet!), our devotionals this week will prepare the way for the coming of Advent this Sunday, November 30.
Now, I may not be able to see the future, but I've been around long enough to know that there will be any number of chaotic and unexpected ups and downs between now and the New Year. Despite our best efforts to create a Christmas worthy of a Martha Stewart special, the reality is that physical illnesses, relational challenges, and financial troubles will undoubtedly end up playing at least some role in our Advent.
Knowing that ahead of time, I challenge each and every one of us to draw a spiritual line in the sand this year. Will you join with me and commit to doing whatever it takes to stay grounded spiritually over the next six weeks? These devotionals are nice (I'm biased here), but the real challenge I am laying down is to read your Bible and to pray every day of the week. I'm not offering any prizes. You don't win anything at the end. But those 10-15 minutes (or more) you set aside each day will be the best possible investment you can make this entire Christmas season.
So, will you join me? You can read anywhere you like, but if you're looking for ideas, the Gospel of Luke has 24 chapters, which allows room for a few missed days between now and the New Year.
How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
By living according to your word.
10 I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.
11 I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.
12 Praise be to you, Lord;
teach me your decrees.
13 With my lips I recount
all the laws that come from your mouth.
14 I rejoice in following your statutes
as one rejoices in great riches.
15 I meditate on your precepts
and consider your ways.
16 I delight in your decrees;
I will not neglect your word.
(Psalm 119:9-16)
But one son of Ahimelek son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled to join David. He told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. Then David said to Abiathar, "That day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, I knew he would be sure to tell Saul. I am responsible for the death of your whole family. Stay with me; don't be afraid. The man who wants to kill you is trying to kill me too. You will be safe with me." (1 Samuel 21:20-23)
Once again, however, Saul's mad rampage falls short of its intended outcome, for not everyone is killed by Doeg. One son of Ahimelek, Abiathar, manages to escape. With the freedom to go anywhere in the country, he nevertheless heads straight to David. Rather than drifting away into the nameless, faceless masses, Abiathar steps forward to be with David. He gives tacit approval for David's claim to the throne, and sticks closely by David's side throughout his reign. Abiathar, in fact, remains faithful until he is removed by Solomon in favor of the priest Zadok (1 Kings 2:28-29).
Note carefully David's response to Abiathar. Clearly, Doeg and Saul are the ones who bear the most guilt for the massacre at Nob. Yet David recognizes his own complicity in the event as well. Had he not travelled to Nob and sought the assistance of Ahimelek, none of this would have happened. The priest, his family, and their entire city ended up as collateral damage in a war that was being waged between David and Saul.
And yet, even though David was the innocent party, his righteousness shines through as he sees clearly the toll the people around him are experiencing. Saul, meanwhile, remains blinded to his sin, and sinks deeper into the darkness.
We may or may not have a "David" in our lives we can flee to for help, but the Bible assures us that our Father in Heaven will protect us from the enemy and one day bring us safely home. As we close this week, take heart that whatever Satan throws our way, nothing can separate us from God's love, as revealed in the person of Jesus Christ.
6 Now Saul heard that David and his men had been discovered. And Saul was seated, spear in hand, under the tamarisk tree on the hill at Gibeah, with all his officials standing at his side. 7 He said to them, "Listen, men of Benjamin! Will the son of Jesse give all of you fields and vineyards? Will he make all of you commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds? 8 Is that why you have all conspired against me? No one tells me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse. None of you is concerned about me or tells me that my son has incited my servant to lie in wait for me, as he does today."
9 But Doeg the Edomite, who was standing with Saul's officials, said, "I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelek son of Ahitub at Nob. 10 Ahimelek inquired of the Lord for him; he also gave him provisions and the sword of Goliath the Philistine."
11 Then the king sent for the priest Ahimelek son of Ahitub and all the men of his family, who were the priests at Nob, and they all came to the king. 12 Saul said, "Listen now, son of Ahitub."
"Yes, my lord," he answered.
13 Saul said to him, "Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, giving him bread and a sword and inquiring of God for him, so that he has rebelled against me and lies in wait for me, as he does today?"
14 Ahimelek answered the king, "Who of all your servants is as loyal as David, the king's son-in-law, captain of your bodyguard and highly respected in your household? 15 Was that day the first time I inquired of God for him? Of course not! Let not the king accuse your servant or any of his father's family, for your servant knows nothing at all about this whole affair."
16 But the king said, "You will surely die, Ahimelek, you and your whole family."
17 Then the king ordered the guards at his side: "Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because they too have sided with David. They knew he was fleeing, yet they did not tell me."
But the king's officials were unwilling to raise a hand to strike the priests of the Lord.
18 The king then ordered Doeg, "You turn and strike down the priests." So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck them down. That day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod. 19 He also put to the sword Nob, the town of the priests, with its men and women, its children and infants, and its cattle, donkeys and sheep. (1 Samuel 21:6-19)
In this awful moment, the story of Ahimelek, which started so innocently with the bread he gave to David, comes to its gruesome end. The kind of utter destruction that was previously reserved only for those totally opposed to God is now wrought on Israel's own people. The king who was supposed to protect and provide for God's people has resorted instead to cold-blooded murder. In Saul's mad quest to thwart the will of God, his violently impulsive behavior continues to spin ever more out of control.
The ruthless nature of this mass killing stands in stark contrast to the divinely ordered destruction of the city of Amalek, which Saul failed to follow through on (1 Samuel 15). In that situation, God ordered Saul to utterly destroy the Amalekites. Yet, Saul chose instead to keep some of the spoil for himself and for his people. It was a grievous mistake which Samuel was quick to point out to Saul.
As Samuel turned to leave, Saul caught hold of the hem of his robe, and it tore. Samuel said to him, "The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to one of your neighbors—to one better than you. He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a human being, that he should change his mind." (1 Samuel 15:27-29)
Perhaps in some twisted way Saul thought that in this case he was doing the right thing by destroying every last part of the city of Nob. More likely, however, is the fact that Saul can no longer see straight for his paranoia and rage. His jealousy over David's consistent success has taken him down an increasingly dark road that can surely only end in death.
Saul's actions here serve as a grim reminder of the powerful effect of sin on our life. Left unchecked, sin can, and will, multiply and bear hideous fruit in our lives. As James would later warn:
but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. (James 1:14-15)
Do not give sin a foothold in your life. Confess, repent, and seek both the forgiveness of God and the support of your brothers and sisters in Christ to turn away from evil and walk instead on the path that leads to life.
There is a psalm in the Bible that is directly connected to this particular time in David's life. Although the superscription refers to "Abimelek," most experts agree that that phrase is more akin to a title, like "King" or "Pharaoh" than a personal name. So, the consensus is that the king in question is indeed the king of Gath, before whom David did indeed pretend to be insane, as we studied yesterday. As you read this psalm today may it bring you strength and confidence in God's great plan for your life!
Psalm 34
Of David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left.
1 I will extol the Lord at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
2 I will glory in the Lord;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3 Glorify the Lord with me;
let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
6 This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.
8 Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
9 Fear the Lord, you his holy people,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
11 Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 Whoever of you loves life
and desires to see many good days,
13 keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from telling lies.
14 Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are attentive to their cry;
16 but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
to blot out their name from the earth.
17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
19 The righteous person may have many troubles,
but the Lord delivers him from them all;
20 he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.
21 Evil will slay the wicked;
the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord will rescue his servants;
no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.
That day David fled from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath. But the servants of Achish said to him, "Isn't this David, the king of the land? Isn't he the one they sing about in their dances:
"'Saul has slain his thousands,
and David his tens of thousands'?"
David took these words to heart and was very much afraid of Achish king of Gath. So he pretended to be insane in their presence; and while he was in their hands he acted like a madman, making marks on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard.
Achish said to his servants, "Look at the man! He is insane! Why bring him to me? Am I so short of madmen that you have to bring this fellow here to carry on like this in front of me? Must this man come into my house?" (1 Samuel 21:10-15)
David's behavior in Gath is strange, to say the least. Why would he go to Goliath's home-town unless he was absolutely confident of God's ability to protect him? And if he was confident of God's protection, why did he then break down and resort to pretending to be mad instead?
The text doesn't spell it out for us, but Gath as a city made geographical sense, given its proximity to Nob as David moved away from Saul. Moreover, it's probable that he was indeed emboldened by the reminder of God's powerful provision in the mighty sword he now carried on his back.
However, having entered the city on a high, the reality of being all alone in a foreign and potentially hostile environment came crashing in all around him. There was no sneaking in unnoticed, no lurking in the shadows. Word of his arrival spread quickly. The people knew exactly who he was and what he had done. David may have been thinking that defeating Goliath was one thing, but escaping from the middle of a crowd of people was another matter entirely.
So, David resorted to trickery, pretending to be insane so that he would appear to pose no threat to anyone. We may find it odd, but his strategy was indeed successful, and the king of Gath dismissed David quickly, allowing him to flee back into the countryside.
What I appreciate about this passage is the human element which we so often gloss over in our study of the Bible. David was a great king and a mighty warrior, but he was still just a man like you or me. He made mistakes, he fell down at times, and sometimes got everything plain wrong. Yet, he never gave up on God. He never wallowed in his failures to the point of ignoring the sovereign power of God to bring redemption.
We, too, make mistakes. In fact, the fear of taking a false step often leaves us incapacitated completely. What I see in David is a man willing to step out in faith, and trusting that God will help him through. May we have similar confidence to face the challenges that come our way this week.
David went to Nob, to Ahimelek the priest. Ahimelek trembled when he met him, and asked, "Why are you alone? Why is no one with you?"
David answered Ahimelek the priest, "The king sent me on a mission and said to me, 'No one is to know anything about the mission I am sending you on.' As for my men, I have told them to meet me at a certain place. Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever you can find."
But the priest answered David, "I don't have any ordinary bread on hand; however, there is some consecrated bread here—provided the men have kept themselves from women."
David replied, "Indeed women have been kept from us, as usual whenever I set out. The men's bodies are holy even on missions that are not holy. How much more so today!" So the priest gave him the consecrated bread, since there was no bread there except the bread of the Presence that had been removed from before the Lord and replaced by hot bread on the day it was taken away.
Now one of Saul's servants was there that day, detained before the Lord; he was Doeg the Edomite, Saul's chief shepherd.
David asked Ahimelek, "Don't you have a spear or a sword here? I haven't brought my sword or any other weapon, because the king's mission was urgent."
The priest replied, "The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, is here; it is wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you want it, take it; there is no sword here but that one."
David said, "There is none like it; give it to me." (1 Samuel 21:1-9)
After a two-week interlude for Local and Global MissionsFest 2014, we return this week to the life and times of David—Shepherd, Warrior, King, and Sinner. The two chapters we will work through this week tell the sad story of Ahimelek the priest and the people of Nob. David's life as a fugitive begins to have consequences for everyone around him, and Saul slips deeper and deeper into an ever more volatile paranoia.
Everything begins with a visit to the town of Nob, and the priest there, Ahimelek. Ahimelek was the great-grandson of Eli the priest, who had served the Lord in Shiloh, which was the center of worship before the Temple was built in Jerusalem. Eli, you may remember, raised Samuel, and it was Samuel who had anointed first Saul, and then later, David, to be king of Israel.
David is on the run from Saul. Having bid farewell to Jonathan (1 Samuel 20), he finds himself now at the city of Nob. Leaving his travelling companions outside, David approaches the chief priest, Ahimelek, to ask for his assistance. He needs food and a weapon. Ahimelek, though a priest, appears to be in a position to provide both.
Whether David is caught lying here or not is difficult to say with certainty. Saul could have ordered David to go to Nob before the big argument that led to David fleeing for his life. The "king" could also possibly refer to God Himself, sending David on a divine mission. Either way, David and his men really do need food, and Ahimelek provides that for them. In doing so, Ahimelek gives tacit approval to David, and anyone reading this account will note therefore an implied note of affirmation for David's authority and kingship.
Perhaps the most intriguing element of this brief conversation, however, is David's request for a weapon. It can hardly be a coincidence that David unknowingly happens to stumble upon the man who has been keeping Goliath's sword safe all this time. We can't say for sure, but perhaps the sword of Goliath was David's real reason for coming to Nob? Now that David is facing the full wrath of King Saul, he searches out a tangible reminder of a previously monumental victory to bolster his waning confidence.
Of course, the real confidence booster was not the sword itself—after all, it was David's sling and stone that took down Goliath. The real source of David's strength was his God. And it's possible that it took holding the sword of the great giant Goliath to be reminded that the battle against Saul was not David's alone, but the Lord's.
Our own confidence in God's sovereign plans often waxes and wanes in similar ways, leaving us fearful at times, and uncertain of what lies ahead. So today, rather than worrying about what lies ahead, spend some time casting your attention backwards instead. How has God been your refuge and strength in the past? When did He meet your needs in marvelous and miraculous ways?
Give thanks to the Lord for those moments of providential care and concern, and pray forward with confidence that God will continue to provide into the future as well.
Note that yesterday we said that God is always victorious. And we saw that clearly in David's incredible defeat of the Philistine army. However, as we all know, while God Himself may be victorious, that doesn't necessarily mean that each of us will experience earthly triumph and success over all our enemies.
Sadly, it will often be the case that the unrighteous will seem to prosper while the righteous are persecuted and attacked. It will often be the case that God's people will be trampled on by their enemies, and many will die without ever seeing the victory they had hoped and prayed for.
For example, although in God's eyes the outcome of World War II was never in question, many people still died over the years of bitter fighting. Some lived to see victory both in Europe and in Japan, while others left this world wondering if good could ever possibly prevail against such unspeakable evil.
The author of the Book of Hebrews wrote something much to the same effect while discussing the impressive acts of faith of God's people throughout history:
There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.
39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. (Hebrews 11:35-40)
Although David's victory over Goliath and the Philistines was significant, it wasn't lasting. The Philistines would eventually regroup and continue to press against the Israelites for some time. They won the battle but didn't win the war. Lasting peace hovered briefly before their eyes during the reign of King Solomon, but was quickly dashed to the ground after his death as the people of God slipped slowly and almost inevitably towards exile.
The amazing news for them, and for us, however, is that whatever we happen to experience during our brief stay here in the flesh, there will be a day when God will judge all evil and Satan will be fully and finally defeated. We know this for a fact because we have a real savior, mightier than any human warrior, wiser than any earthly king, and greater than any priest or prophet before or since—our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who died on the cross to allow us entrance into the presence of God. With Him on our side, we no longer have anything to fear, not even death itself:
When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."
55 "Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?"
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:54-58)
48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. 49 Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.
50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.
51 David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine's sword and drew it from the sheath. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword.
When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran. 52 Then the men of Israel and Judah surged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines to the entrance of Gath and to the gates of Ekron. Their dead were strewn along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron. 53 When the Israelites returned from chasing the Philistines, they plundered their camp.
54 David took the Philistine's head and brought it to Jerusalem; he put the Philistine's weapons in his own tent. (1 Samuel 17:48-54)
What Goliath didn't know was that this battle was over long before it ever began. David's secret weapon was not his staff or his sling, but his God. David fought, not as an individual battling under his own strength and abilities, but as a chosen and beloved son of the most high God, representing not just himself or his nation, but the living God Himself.
The battle didn't end with David killing Goliath. Although that was the climactic moment in this drama, the ensuing slaughter of the Philistines drove the victory home with a resounding and punishing finality that nobody could have expected. David wasn't merely slaying some emotional or psychological "personal demon," that had plagued him for years. No, his victory was far simpler. He knocked down, killed and beheaded a real enemy, and then moved on quickly to finish the job by destroying the rest of the Philistine army as well.
Here in the West we tend to be suckers for underdogs, especially in sports. When some small scrappy baseball team faces up against someone like the Yankees, we jump straight to the David and Goliath story as a way to talk about overcoming the odds and becoming an unlikely victor.
But don't we have it all backwards? David and Goliath isn't a story about an underdog securing victory against all odds, it's a story about the absolute power of our God to secure victory for His people and glory for His name. God isn't an underdog. He's never the little guy. He is always victorious.
This particular confrontation was rigged from the beginning, and if anyone was the underdog, it was Goliath, trying to take on the God of Israel all by himself, with nothing more than a pathetic wooden spear and a shield-bearer walking in front of him. One man against the God of the Universe is long-odds indeed.
In the end, this account has less to do with David's faith, and more to do with God's will. The moral of this story is not that we must try harder, be braver, or muster up stronger feelings of faith. Rather, this moment in David's life is a reminder that "the battle is the Lord's," and nothing can stand in His way.
41 Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David. 42 He looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome, and he despised him. 43 He said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 "Come here," he said, "and I'll give your flesh to the birds and the wild animals!"
45 David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give all of you into our hands."
48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. 49 Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground. (1 Samuel 17:41-49)
If we are honest, God's presence with us is often elusive. We know that He is there, but we can't always feel Him. We understand that He will never leave us nor forsake us, but there are moments when we find ourselves wondering. One of Satan's greatest triumphs is dragging us down to the place where we begin to think that God has maybe turned a blind eye to our suffering. We've all been there at one time or another. It's a dark and lonely place where deep depression lurks in the corners, waiting to drag us down even further.
However, when we read the story of David and Goliath, we are reminded once again of God's faithfulness to His people and His constancy in provision. David saw clearly that this fight had nothing to do with him, and everything to do with God. He was convinced that God would give him victory. This wasn't just another skirmish between two tribes fighting over land. This was a battle between the God of Israel and the false gods and idols of the Philistines. This was a victory God had promised long ago as the people had prepared to enter the Promised Land. And David knew that God would go before him and be present with him in this fight too.
We may stand amazed at David's bold confidence in God's ability to provide, but the truth of the matter is that David was not always so sure of God's presence with him. As we read the psalms we discover many moments of raw emotion—times when David was fearful for his life, surrounded on all sides, and left feeling alone and abandoned. Yet even in those dark places when he was no longer sure he could go on, what did he do? The only thing he knew to do—he cried out to God for help.
The same is true for us today. For the believer, every battle, every struggle, and every challenge is in some way the Lord's. Cry out to Him for help. You may not always feel Him at your side, but He is there with you always, providing for you in times of victory and sustaining you through moments of defeat.
It's tempting when speaking about David and Goliath to jump straight to the question, "Who are the Goliaths in your life?" Certainly we all face many threats (as I noted yesterday), but if we're not careful this kind of thinking carries the risk of reducing David's very real battle to the level of a parable, proverb or an allegory. The "story" of David and Goliath is first and foremost a historical account of a real battle fought between combatants, with real consequences on the line:
25 Now the Israelites had been saying, "Do you see how this man keeps coming out? He comes out to defy Israel. The king will give great wealth to the man who kills him. He will also give him his daughter in marriage and will exempt his family from taxes in Israel."
26 David asked the men standing near him, "What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?"
27 They repeated to him what they had been saying and told him, "This is what will be done for the man who kills him."
28 When Eliab, David's oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, "Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle."
29 "Now what have I done?" said David. "Can't I even speak?" 30 He then turned away to someone else and brought up the same matter, and the men answered him as before. 31 What David said was overheard and reported to Saul, and Saul sent for him.
32 David said to Saul, "Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him."
33 Saul replied, "You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth."
34 But David said to Saul, "Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, 35 I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. 36 Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. 37 The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine."
Saul said to David, "Go, and the Lord be with you."
38 Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. 39 David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them.
"I cannot go in these," he said to Saul, "because I am not used to them." So he took them off. 40 Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.
41 Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David. 42 He looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome, and he despised him. 43 He said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 "Come here," he said, "and I'll give your flesh to the birds and the wild animals!" (1 Samuel 17:25-44)
Goliath was not a problem the Israelites could ignore, but nobody quite had the courage to face up to him either. Despite the incredible rewards on offer from Saul, not one man had stepped forward yet to face the giant Philistine. On the one hand, it's hard to blame them. After all, almost certain death awaited anyone foolish enough to attempt such a bold and brash attack.
Yet into this stalemate walked David, a "mere" youth in the eyes of his older brother, and a pathetic looking sight all decked up in the king's royal armor. Somehow, his courage was so certain and his boldness so grounded that he swept everyone along with him. Even though all their fates rested in his hands, something about David convinced them that he might actually be able to achieve the impossible and defeat their enemy.
Goliath was not a metaphor representing "fear" or "loneliness" or "temptation." He was a violent giant of a man, breathing out curses and ready to snap David like a twig. If David did not win this fight, the nation would be over-run, Saul would most likely be put to death, and Israel would find themselves enslaved once again by a foreign nation.
So David stepped out onto the field. His five smooth stones don't represent five things we need to do to defeat the giants in our lives. They were simply five stones. Five stones of the sort David had apparently used a hundred times previously in his life to defeat bears and lions who attacked the sheep he was watching. Although almost unfathomable to us, such "primitive" weapons could apparently be almost as deadly as a rifle. And soon they would find their mark in the giant's ugly skull.
David knew this was a real fight he was entering, and he knew the danger was very real. But more importantly he knew that he served a mighty God who was bigger than any enemy, however fearsome or terrifying. That didn't mean, however, that God was going to do the fighting for him. Although occasionally God acts supernaturally to slay our enemies from a distance, most often we have to stand and fight.
David reassured Saul, "The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine." However, David still had to go out face the giant all alone, in front of the vast armies waiting on both sides to see what would happen.
Sometimes I long for God to do the fighting for me, and occasionally He has, and He does. But David's story here reminds us that there are real fights we will all face, and even though we can have confidence because God is on our side, the enemy will nevertheless still need to be engaged. So pray for confidence and prepare to fight!
Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war and assembled at Sokoh in Judah. They pitched camp at Ephes Dammim, between Sokoh and Azekah. Saul and the Israelites assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah and drew up their battle line to meet the Philistines. The Philistines occupied one hill and the Israelites another, with the valley between them.
A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. His height was six cubits and a span. He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing five thousand shekels; on his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin was slung on his back. His spear shaft was like a weaver's rod, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels. His shield bearer went ahead of him.
Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, "Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us." Then the Philistine said, "This day I defy the armies of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other." On hearing the Philistine's words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified. (1 Samuel 17:1-11)
The odds against Israel were enormous. The Philistines out-numbered the Israelites and possessed vastly superior military technology. All things considered, the Israelites didn't stand much of a chance against this invading force. Goliath was just the tip of the iceberg, backed-up as he was by a vast army of fighters ready to take on and thoroughly defeat the Israelites. The Philistines in general, and Goliath in particular, were a very real and very dangerous threat to Saul's kingdom and the peace and prosperity of his people. What would they do?
Now, certainly, as the Apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesians, "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:12). Our real battle is ultimately against Satan and his forces of darkness. We should never forget that. However, that doesn't mean we should spiritualize everything, and in doing so negate the very much more present perils that press in on us daily.
Jesus told the disciples before he was crucified, "In this world you will have trouble" (John 16:33) and we can probably all attest to the truth of His statement. Even if there are spiritual root causes behind the troubles, the troubles are no less real and no less immediately threatening as a result.
David seems to have lived his whole life threatened by others. His victory over Goliath was just the beginning of a life dominated by fighting. As you read the psalms he wrote it is astonishing how many of them are pleas for help against enemies who are pressing in on all sides.
This would appear to be a somewhat normal pattern for human existence. Even in the relative peace and quiet of the west suburbs, where we have no civil wars or terrorist bombs, there will nevertheless be other threats that come our way this year. It might be a relationship that goes sour, or a boss that doesn't like us, or a car accident that ruins us financially, or even a medical problem that sends our life down a different course entirely. Real threats loom on every horizon.
As the Israelites looked out across the battle field, the Bible tells us that, "Whenever the Israelites saw the man [Goliath], they all fled from him in great fear" (1 Samuel 17:24). How will we respond to the threats that come into our own lives?
In Hebrews 10:25 believers are encouraged, "let us not give up meeting together...but let us encourage one another." It sounds wonderful. I want to engage. My heart is in on board. However, my head is dragging its metaphorical feet. That is, I long for deep community with other believers, places where we can encourage others and be encouraged ourselves, but then I remember all the headaches, heart-aches and hassles involved with that process. And I wonder, am I ready to go through all that again?
Yet, there is no escaping the fact that the writer of Hebrews is not content for believers to merely assemble together. Gathering in one place is not community and misses the point. The point of not going it alone is that we should instead be actively involved in each other's lives—like team-mates encouraging each other on to win the race.
Of course, to do that, to encourage each other on in our walk with Christ, requires a certain depth that most of us are not willing to go to. Do you really want to know what's going on in my life right now? It's messy and complicated and will probably stymie your attempts to give pat answers.
In fact, deep community resists Christianity "lite." It requires time and effort, but is also a non-negotiable element of Christ-centered, Great-Commission faith. It is almost impossible to get through any letter in the New Testament without being reminded over and over again of the importance of actively participating in life together. Which forces me to demand of myself, why I am resisting such a clear teaching of the Book I hold to be both inerrant and authoritative?
For many years, before I was a Christian, I would tell people, "Christianity is a crutch. It's for weak people who can't make it through life alone." From my perspective I thought it was clear that there was nothing more to life than enduring day to day until you die. Against this philosophy of life the Christian claim of a hope for the future seemed ridiculous and the constant need to be meeting and praying together was clearly a sign of weakness and neediness.
Although I now see life from a different perspective, I think there was a tiny bit of truth in what I observed. The reality is that we are weak. We are needy. That's exactly the point! As the writer of Hebrews says, "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds" (Hebrews 10:23-24). We need each other. There is some sense in which Christianity is indeed a crutch. I cannot get through this life without Jesus, nor would I want to try. As the psalmist once wrote:
But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted;
you consider their grief and take it in hand.
The victims commit themselves to you;
you are the helper of the fatherless.
Break the arm of the wicked man;
call the evildoer to account for his wickedness
that would not otherwise be found out.
The Lord is King for ever and ever;
the nations will perish from his land.
You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted;
you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,
defending the fatherless and the oppressed,
so that mere earthly mortals
will never again strike terror. (Psalm 10:14-18).
Given the amazing truth that we can now draw near to God, what is keeping you from admitting your need and looking to Him for help? What if the primary way that God wants to bring about healing, hope, restoration and growth is through our tangible relationships with other believers? How can you embrace that? Take some time now to pray about this. Ask God to show you what steps He wants you to take.
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other. (John 15:9-17)
A few years ago I saw a film called "The Village," which focused on a group of people who tried to create their own utopia, far away from the evils of the world. However, despite their best efforts and good intentions they were eventually overcome by their failures and had to admit defeat. From a Biblical perspective they failed to take into account the insidious and powerful nature of sin.
Community is our goal but it can never be achieved under our own power. Nor will it ever be perfect. Pastor and author Eugene Peterson has noted, "Anyone who joins a church expecting to be part of a happy and harmonious gathering of put-together people sooner or later is in for serious disappointment. We can also suspect that such a person hasn't read the Scriptures very carefully. There are exceptions...but Christian communities, all of them, are communities-in-progress, baptized sinners in various stages of development in the life of love."
This is why Jesus' prayer for us is so important. We can not do this by ourselves. It is the God who created something out of nothing who alone can bring our sins and failures together to form a loving community. And the primary way in which He accomplishes this task is through the power of the Holy Spirit. "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you" said Jesus (Acts 1:8), and the disciples did! The Holy Spirit took this rag-tag band of misfits and used them to start a revolution in the middle of the Roman Empire. The Book of Acts records their attempts to start a new community, including not just the wonderful moments of incredible unity but also the darker times of deep divisions and failure. The sustaining force behind it all, however, was the Holy Spirit.
Identify ways in which you may have been relying too much on external criteria to guide and shape groups and small communities you've been a part of. Now, pray that "the Counselor," "the Spirit of truth," will take over as the controlling force behind all your future relationships.
In his book Life Together, Dietrich Bonhoeffer says, "No sooner are people together than they begin to observe, judge, and classify each other." It's a natural, yet unfortunate, tendency that over time can destroy any efforts towards community. Although none of us like to admit it, we quite often make snap judgments about people based on the way they look or speak or act. Or, perhaps you have found yourself the object of such judgment and classification, automatically excluded from the group because you don't quite fit their expectations. When we become the final arbiters of human value, that's a dangerous place to be.
The Apostle Paul, however, in writing to the Romans, exhorts a different way of living in community:
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. (Romans 12:3-8)
Paul argues that we are to reject the temptation to somehow "rank" other people. When Paul says that we shouldn't think too highly of ourselves that means we shouldn't think too little of others as well. Indeed, "we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others" (Romans 10:5). We firmly believe that all people are valuable, made as they are in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27).
What are some ways in which you may have been ranking people based on their personalities, education, appearance or social skills? Pray for help to see the image of God in the people you have a tendency to want to ignore or avoid (Romans 12:10). Pray for insight to discern how God might want to use them in powerful and perhaps unexpected ways in our church community.
Lastly, be encouraged that you too have a vital role to play in God's community, whatever anyone else may say. As Paul reminded the Corinthian believers:
Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. (1 Corinthians 12:12-14).
I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. "I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. (John 17:9-13)
Where do we go to find joy—that deep sense of pleasure and delight? Watching a funny movie? Going for a relaxing walk on the beach? Playing with our children? Enjoying a fine meal? Amazingly, in Jesus' great prayer recorded in John 17, Jesus seems to draw a connection between being in community and experiencing joy. The first part of the prayer request is that God would help us to "be one" in the same way that Jesus and God are one. That kind of unity is, by itself, already a pretty radical request. After all, God the Father and Jesus the Son are inseparable (John 10:30). Jesus doesn't pray that we would merely "get along" with each other, but that we would be intimately connected with each other.
How does that make you feel? As a philosophical concept, that sounds great. But in practice, I find myself a bit more hesitant. If I am being totally honest, I have to admit that often I shy away from getting too close to people unless I know for sure I can really trust them. Relationships can be so difficult and messy and I've been burned too many times before. Nowadays I carefully guard who I "let in." Yet, Jesus' prayer really blows apart the nice little box I've constructed. His prayer envisions a community that will undoubtedly require a lot more of me than I currently give in relationships. That's a struggle.
How about you? How open are you to letting people into your life? What would motivate you to do that? Look again at John 17:13: "I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them."
Now that's unusual. The reason Jesus prays for our unity is so that we might experience His joy within us. Evidently there is something much deeper to be learned, something more profound to be experienced, through community, than we can ever accomplish by individual one-on-one relationships with God.
In light of this gap between what God calls us to do, and what we are inclined to do, right now pause to ask God to help you understand the joy that Jesus wants us to experience, and for a willingness to open yourself up to life in community.
Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have. Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. (Philippians 1:27-2:4)
Ultimately the primary call on our lives is not, "Get in a Bible study!" or, "You need to be more involved!" or "Serve the church!" Instead, as Paul makes abundantly clear in these few verses, "Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ." Even if we get turned around, twisted up and all confused about everything else in life, this one thing should always be front and center—living a life that reflects the gospel of Christ. But how do we do this?
We do this when we "stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel." Paul's assumption is that people are already living in community of some sort together. The goal now is to live in unity, bound together through the power of the Holy Spirit, committed first and foremost to the gospel. As long as we pursue our own goals and agendas, we will frequently find ourselves in conflict with others. When we can set aside our own needs for the sake of the gospel, God can work to bring us together in ways that we never would have expected.
This kind of living is reflected in people who are "like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind." Such people will "in humility value others above [themselves], not looking to [their] own interests but…to the interests of the others." This is true Christian community. This is what we all want to say "yes" to! And to some extent, it all begins with us. Meaning, instead of looking out at others waiting for them to get on board with this grand vision, we are the ones who can take the first steps towards creating this kind of beautiful gospel community.
So, as you reflect on the passages we've read from Philippians this week, what is God calling you to do differently this Fall? What are the next practical steps you can take towards achieving these goals? How can we support you in this endeavor?
Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and God's provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. 20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me. (Philippians 1:18-26)
Paul was confident of the fact that the Philippians were praying for him. Even though he was not there with them in person, he knew that they were praying for him on a regular basis. It was the prayers lifted up for him by this community which gave him the strength and confidence to press on against all odds. It was the prayers of this little church family which gave the boldness to proclaim the gospel, even though he was in chains, facing possible death. Paul knew that if the people were praying for him, then he could rest secure in the confident assurance that whatever came to pass, God's will would be done and His glory would be magnified.
Building upon this foundation, Paul could even go so far as to say that it didn't matter if he lived or if died. Although I don't think Paul was planning or hoping to die, his point was that whatever happened, his life would be in God's hands. If he lived, he would be living to the glory of God, dedicated to the spread of the gospel. If he died, he would be present with Christ, and what could be better than that? Such confidence was rooted in both the presence of the "Spirit of Jesus Christ" and the prayers of the Philippians.
One of the many blessings of living life together in community is the opportunity for time spent together in prayer. Although we often think about this in a more limited and restrictive sense, as in a small group having prayer time together at the end of the evening, praying with and for each other is something we can be doing all the time. Who can you be praying for today?
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:9-11)
When we think of the term, "love" we most often think about affections. Love is an emotion we celebrate in movies, music and magazines. We sentimentalize it in greeting cards, and write about it at great length in novels. We're told that "love makes the world go around," and we've probably all had moments when it seemed as if our hearts would split in two and crumble into a thousand pieces if our love went unrequited. Because the word is so broad in definition, and our applications are so varied and inconsistent, "love" can end up meaning different things to different people.
So, when Paul shares the content of his prayer for the Philippians, and begins by talking about love, we need to be clear about what kind of love he is talking about. Certainly, within the context of talking about the close-knit community enjoyed by the Philippians, there is obviously an emotional component to this love. Just as Paul feels a tender affection for the Philippians, he hopes that they will continue to have a tender affection for each other as well. However, as he continues in this prayer, we learn that the love Paul has in mind goes much deeper than this.
Paul's hope is ultimately that their love would "abound more and more" not just in feeling, but "in knowledge and depth of insight" as well. Their love is not be rooted in the vagaries of emotions, which come and go, but in the certain truths of the gospel. Their love is to be grounded in facts more than feelings. Paul's prayer is that they would grow in their knowledge and understanding of who God is, as revealed not just in the Scriptures, but most fully and completely in the person of Jesus Christ as well.
As a result of this kind of spiritual growth, they will mature to the point of being able to make wise decisions. They will know right from wrong, choosing what is good and pure and noble, while rejecting everything that is false and dark and evil. They will discern the ways of God and orient their lives around obedience to His will. As the Spirit of God works in their lives, they will finish the race "pure and blameless."
This is the kind of love that Paul prays for the Philippians—not a wishy-washy emotion that is entirely dependent on how they happen to feel about each other, but a deep-rooted and theologically astute way of living which impacts everything they are and everything they do. This is the kind of love that we need most in our communities. Will you join with me in praying for this?
As we continue our series on community, we'll spend some time this week looking at Philippians 1, which Pastor Jeff Walser will be preaching from this coming Sunday. Paul begins his letter with the following warm and tender greeting:
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all God's holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:1-8)
One gets the sense reading Paul's letters that the idea of a Christian drifting through life largely divorced from any kind of significant connection with a church community would have been almost impossible to imagine. The kind of rugged individualism that is so often celebrated in Western cultures, and which keeps so many of us separated and apart from our brothers and sisters in Christ, would not have made any sense at all to a follower of Christ living in the first century. The two were so tightly entwined together that we might almost be able to say that there was no faith without a community to sustain it.
So, although it may seem blatantly obvious to point this out, we should linger a little bit on the fact that Paul's letter to the Philippians is addressed not just to one individual, but "To all God's holy people." The young church in Philippi was a community effort, and Paul's words of encouragement are intended for everyone there.
This emphasis continues as he goes on to thank God for them. When he says, "you," he's not addressing his letter to a single person, but to all the people there. He thanks God every time he remembers the Philippians collectively as a church. He prays for all of them, collectively, and he prays with joy because of all their partnership with him in spreading the gospel. "All" of them "share in God's grace" with Paul, and indeed, he longs "for all of [them] with the affection of Christ Jesus."
The church in Philippi would appear to be, from Paul's comments at least, truly one body—living, loving, praying, encouraging, preaching, teaching and ministering together as one. Doesn't your heart yearn for such a place? Don't you wish you could be part of something that wonderful? So how can we be at work to make our communities places filled with a similar love, unity and tenderness? What steps can we take towards being the kind of people who are truly "one" in the way the Philippians seemed to have been?
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but we're slowly moving here towards the end of Summer. And as we prepare to launch all our ministries for the fall, we'll be taking the next two weeks to (re)consider the important topic of community. Both through these devotionals and also through our Sunday morning programming we'll be encouraging you to get (re)connected into community here at Wheaton Bible Church. Christianity is not a solitary endeavor, and we want to help you find a place here where you can both know other people, and also be known yourself; a place where you can pray and encourage others, and be prayed for and encouraged yourself. Here in the devotionals we'll be exploring some familiar passages of Scripture that talk about community, and then on Sunday we'll have some concrete action steps you can take to get you connected.
Now, I remember a few years ago teaching my five-year old daughter how to ride a bike. It wasn't an easy task. In fact, there were moments when it seemed like it would never happen. Persevering through the fear, the falls and the failure were hard work. At times my daughter questioned whether it was even worth it, whether she could actually push through and achieve what seemed to be impossible. Then the day came when, after hours of practice and tears, she rode about 12-15 feet by herself. That afternoon she went about 50 feet by herself. The next day she was riding figure eights in the parking lot, giddy with delight. As we all know, practice makes perfect.
Turning to the Bible, let's look at a well-known passage from Acts that is foundational for our understanding of Christian community:
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47)
Luke talks about the young believers "devoting" themselves to community life. What does that word "devote" mean to you? The underlying thought is of a commitment that goes beyond mere assent. It involves perseverance; pressing on through hardship and struggle. It's about practice; doing the same thing over and over again until we get it right. Community has never been easy. Humans were the same 2,000 years ago as they are today. Yet somehow these early believers pressed through the difficulties to pursue a goal they considered more important than anything else.
We work for what we consider to be valuable. How much do you value community with other believers? It doesn't matter how much we believe something to be important if we never do anything about it. Right belief doesn't necessarily lead to right action. Or any action. Sometimes we just have to jump in and work at it. The perfect community is never going to arrive on a silver platter.
Over the next two weeks we're going to be exploring this topic of community as we prepare for our special Community Sundays events on August 24 and 31. So, today, what role is it that God is calling you to play in our community? What part can you have in pressing on, devoting yourself to these key elements of community?
While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him.
"You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus," she said.
But he denied it. "I don't know or understand what you're talking about," he said, and went out into the entryway.
When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, "This fellow is one of them." Again he denied it.
After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, "Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean."
He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, "I don't know this man you're talking about."
Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times." And he broke down and wept. (Mark 14:66-72)
And on that note we end, not just our week of devotionals, but our entire 36 message series on the Gospel of Mark. No rousing finale. No wonderful display of courage and strength. Just failure. Our series is entitled, "Follow Me," and yet we end with Peter denying Jesus instead. Not just once, but three times. Rather than "fishing for men," (Mark 1:17) Peter is left trying to wriggle off the hook himself.
Perhaps, however, this is the best place to end. While we may not find ourselves denying Jesus outright in the same way that Peter does here, we are all nevertheless keenly aware of the many other ways in which we fall short every day. Our failures are different, but the problem is the same—we are weak and broken and sinful people stumbling around trying to serve a holy, perfect and mighty God. We are always going to come up short.
However, rather than leaving us depressed and down, it is because of Jesus' death and Resurrection that we can rejoice, recognizing that His strength shines brightest in the midst of our weakness. Peter's agonizing act of denial here isn't the end of the story, but rather sets the stage for a touching moment of grace and restoration later.
So although this chapter of Mark leaves us with Peter weeping with guilt and shame, we will instead now end our series with the wonderful encouragement found at the end of the Gospel of John. May God bless you as you read these wonderful words:
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?"
"Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."
Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."
The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!" (John 21:15-19)
Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, "Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?" But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.
Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?"
"I am," said Jesus. "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."
The high priest tore his clothes. "Why do we need any more witnesses?" he asked. "You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?"
They all condemned him as worthy of death. Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, "Prophesy!" And the guards took him and beat him. (Mark 14:60-65)
Many times throughout this series people have asked why it is that Jesus seems determined to hide His true identity as the Messiah. Over and over again Jesus has asked His followers to keep their mouths shut:
But he gave them strict orders not to tell others about him. (Mark 3:12)
He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat. (Mark 5:43)
Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him. (Mark 8:30)
It's been confusing, and even somewhat strange at times. Yet now, in the most tense and significant environment imaginable, Jesus makes it crystal clear to everyone that He is indeed the Messiah. The "secret" finally comes out. Whereas previously the timing was never right, and Jesus ran the risk of people misunderstanding His identity or misconstruing His mission, there is no holding Him back any more.
In fact, in this context such a clear declaration of identity and purpose can only lead to one certain outcome—death. However, again, we have to keep in mind that although this seemed like the worst possible scenario for His disciples and followers at the time, we can look back now and see that this was exactly what Jesus intended to happen. Although Jesus was the one in chains, the people around Him were still acting in accordance with a plan that was outside their ability to comprehend.
Jesus is the Messiah. He is the "anointed one;" the King; our Savior. He alone is worthy of our praise, He alone is powerful enough to pick us up when we fall, and He alone is gentle enough to restore us when we fail. He is the One who hears our prayers and delights to answer our petitions. Take your requests boldly before His throne today.
They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders and the teachers of the law came together. Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire.
The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.
Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: "We heard him say, 'I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.'" Yet even then their testimony did not agree. (Mark 14:53-59)
False accusations have been flying against Jesus since almost the very beginning of His ministry. No stranger to controversy, Jesus has deflected and fought off attacks for several years as He has moved around the region preaching and healing and performing miracles. When His opponents weren't denying His divinity they were accusing Him of collusion with Satan.
There's essentially nothing new about these attacks at all. It's the same tired tirade of the religious leaders as they desperately struggle to find some charge that will stick. Ironically, even after going to such great lengths to find and finally arrest Jesus, they still can't seem to pin anything against Him. Despite having paid off Judas to betray Jesus, and having rounded up people to falsely accuse Him, they are still left with no charge that can stand officially against Him.
The bottom line is that evidence against God cannot be found. It could not be found 2,000 years ago and it cannot be found today. No-one can stand against God. Nobody brings any complaint against Him that can stand. He alone is Holy, perfect, pure, with spot or blemish. He is our Creator, the source of everything. As Peter would one day refer to Jesus, He is "the author of life" (Acts 3:15).
Were it not for the fact that a man's life hangs in the balance, this entire scene would be comical. The very idea of a group of men arresting, accusing, trying and convicting God Himself to death is ridiculous. The failure of the religious leaders to find a suitable charge against Jesus highlights the fact that the only way this series of events can continue to its dark conclusion is because God Himself is directing the actions from off-stage.
Astonishingly, the death that Jesus is about to endure is the very thing that will enable those falsely accusing Him to be forgiven and restored with God. That same grace extends to us today as well. However far we may have strayed, however weak and worthless we may feel, God gave Himself up for us. Our angry accusations can all be forgiven when we turn back to God in repentance, seeking restoration with our Father in Heaven.
Then everyone deserted him and fled.
A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, he fled naked, leaving his garment behind. (Mark 14:50-52)
It's one thing to be betrayed by a close confidante, but it's a different kind of pain altogether to be abandoned by your friends. Betrayal speaks of malice and anger, jealousy and pride. Abandonment speaks of disloyalty, disillusionment, and disappointment. When your friends leave you all alone, you have to begin to wonder how close they really were to begin with.
Some commentators try to dismiss the impact of these verses by emphasizing that the disciples had no other options available to them. After all, Jesus told them not to fight their enemies. However, while it may be true that Jesus wasn't expecting or wanting the disciples to act as His bodyguards, that doesn't mean there were no other options open to them.
Sadly, however, even this desertion was foretold in Scripture as well, as Jesus had just told them moments earlier:
"You will all fall away," Jesus told them, "for it is written:
"'I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered.'
But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee."
Peter declared, "Even if all fall away, I will not." (Mark 14:27-29)
The image of a young man fleeing naked captures well the idea of sheep being scattered. It's a moment of utter panic, fueled simply by fear. The disciples won't fully regain their composure until they see Jesus ascend into Heaven, and are soon after given the gift of the Holy Spirit.
The good news for us is that, although "We all, like sheep, have gone astray," and "each of us has turned to our own way;" yet, "the Lord has laid on him [Jesus] the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 58:6). We've all walked away from Jesus in some way or another, but because He remained faithful to the end, we can now be restored in relationship with God our Father once and for all.
Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders.
Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: "The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard." Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Rabbi!" and kissed him. The men seized Jesus and arrested him. Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
"Am I leading a rebellion," said Jesus, "that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled." (Mark 14:43-49)
This is the last week of our series in the Gospel of Mark. Since we already covered chapters 15 and 16 (the Crucifixion and Resurrection) over Easter, we will end the series here with Chapter 14.
The moment Jesus has been praying for strength to endure has finally arrived. The end is imminent, and Judas is the one leading the way. It would appear as if the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders are finally getting their way. This troublesome teacher who has caused them so much embarrassment will now be finally and definitively taken care of.
Yet, even as they come at Him with swords and clubs, even as they move to seize Him and arrest Him, Jesus is clear to set their evil intentions within the context of God's greater plan. This is not some trap Jesus has accidentally fallen into that will now derail His ministry. Rather, this is the very will and plan of God. As Jesus tells them, "the Scriptures must be fulfilled."
In some sense all of human history has been building up to this moment, and however awful and painful the coming days will be, the certainty of that fact will sustain Jesus to the end. We live only because He died. However low we may feel, however lonely and isolated our lives may become, whatever suffering and pain comes our way, we can read this passage and be encouraged by God's great love for us. Here we see a love that willingly submitted itself to betrayal and arrest in order to secure for us absolute forgiveness and eternal rest.
They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray." He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death," he said to them. "Stay here and keep watch."
Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. "Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."
Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Simon," he said to Peter, "are you asleep? Couldn't you keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."
Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.
Returning the third time, he said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!" (Mark 14:32-42)
When my wife and I were first married we tried praying together at night. As long as I was the one praying, everything was fine. However, whenever it was my wife's turn she would get to the end of her prayer only to realize that I had fallen asleep. I wish I could say this was an isolated occurrence, but sadly it happened more times than I care to remember. I wanted to stay awake, but however noble my intentions her voice was just so calm and soothing that it was almost impossible to do.
The least the disciples could have done was stay awake with Jesus as they prayed together in the garden of Gethsemane. Three times they fail to keep their eyes open, and three times Jesus is left isolated and alone to wrestle with the weight of the world and the enormity of the task that lay ahead.
Yet, in contrast to their weakness, a weakness I share in myself, what stands out in this passage is Jesus' perseverance. Human failure is contrasted sharply with divine faithfulness. What we are all powerless to do in and through our own strength, Jesus would accomplish with flying colors on our behalf. Ultimately, then, Mark's account is not meant to be a challenge for us to stay up late in prayer like Jesus did. Rather, this moment is a beautiful reminder that Jesus goes before us in everything that we do. As the apostle Paul would say later,
Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)
We may be weak, but He is strong. That's the message that comes through loud and clear as we consider Jesus praying in the garden.
When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
"You will all fall away," Jesus told them, "for it is written:
"'I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered.'
But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee."
Peter declared, "Even if all fall away, I will not."
"Truly I tell you," Jesus answered, "today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times."
But Peter insisted emphatically, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the others said the same. (Mark 14:26-31)
Wouldn't you love to know what hymn Jesus and the disciples sang together that night? Perhaps it was one of David's psalms of lament. Or maybe, realizing finally who Jesus was, they sung one of the Messianic psalms? Or maybe they sung Psalm 22, which was clearly on Jesus' mind as He hung on the cross ("My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"). While we can't know for certain, many commentators believe that it was common practice for Jews to sing Psalms 113-118 during the Passover meal, so it's possible they sung something from that selection. Psalm 118 would have been particularly powerful in that setting, for it begins:
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
Let Israel say:
"His love endures forever."
Let the house of Aaron say:
"His love endures forever."
Let those who fear the LORD say:
"His love endures forever."
When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord;
he brought me into a spacious place.
The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?
The Lord is with me; he is my helper.
I look in triumph on my enemies.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in humans.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in princes.
All the nations surrounded me,
but in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
They surrounded me on every side,
but in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
They swarmed around me like bees,
but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns;
in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
I was pushed back and about to fall,
but the Lord helped me.
The Lord is my strength and my defense;
he has become my salvation.
(Psalm 118:1-14)
As Jesus faced into the storm that lay ahead of Him, He took comfort from the assurance that we can "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever" (Psalm 118:29). Despite their protestations, Jesus knew that His disciples would "all fall away," leaving Him utterly alone in the darkest and most difficult moment of His life.
Yet, He could take comfort knowing that even if everyone abandoned Him, even when hard pressed on all sides, "pushed back and about to fall," the Lord would nevertheless still be there to help Him. The disciples were not alone in their failure. We have all, in one way or another, abandoned God and lived in rebellion against Him. We have all over-promised and under-delivered when it comes our devotion to God.
But despite our failures, God is still faithful. He remains steadfast and resolute in His unending love for us. Because Jesus persevered where we could not, we can call on the Lord as our helper and have confidence that He will respond. May that encourage us as we face whatever challenges the world brings our way today.
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take it; this is my body."
Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it.
"This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many," he said to them. "Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God." (Mark 14:22-25)
Some of the richest times we have experienced as a family have been around the table, over a meal. Whether it was a large gathering of extended family members, with aunts and uncles, cousins and nephews, or just our immediate family at home, there is something special about a meal that brings people together. Of course, such gatherings can also devolve into disagreements and deep division, but that's for a different devotional.
When we "break bread" with someone else, some of the natural defense mechanisms we put around our hearts come down. Sharing a meal involves far more than just passing around items of food. By sitting down at the same table with another person we invite them into our lives. We begin to open up about the things that truly matter, and in the process, grow closer as a result. The very first Christians knew this, and sharing a meal together was an integral part of the early Church:
Undoubtedly there is a reference here to the Lord's Supper. After all, Luke wouldn't comment on the fact that they "devoted themselves" to eating unless it had some significance beyond satisfying hunger. At the same time, however, it is equally certain that there is a reference here to enjoying fellowship meals together as believers in Christ. Although they met regularly "in the temple courts," they also "broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts."
The Passover meal was the pinnacle feast of the Jewish calendar, representing as it did the Exodus from Egypt and God's sovereign power to both punish evil and rescue and redeem His people. As such this meal, perhaps more than any other, was uniquely positioned for Jesus to imbue it with new meaning. In the middle of this intimate gathering of friends, Jesus took the bread and wine and used them as an object lesson pointing forward to a new work God was preparing to do on a global, universal scale—simultaneously exercising judgment on all evil everywhere, while providing redemption and rescue for His people in the process.
Although we only pause to formally recall this event once a month at our church, it's a moment that we can keep in mind any time we break bread together with other believers in Christ. May the depth of our new relationships with each other and with God fill our meal-time prayer and fellowship with new meaning and purpose today.
On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus' disciples asked him, "Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?"
So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, "Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. Say to the owner of the house he enters, 'The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there."
The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.
When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, "Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me."
They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, "Surely you don't mean me?"
"It is one of the Twelve," he replied, "one who dips bread into the bowl with me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born." (Mark 14:12-21)
I'm not sure that I've ever experienced betrayal before. I've had plenty of arguments, disagreements, and all kinds of miscommunication, but never betrayal. The horror of having a close and trusted friend stab you in the back must be one of the most acute pains imaginable. As Israel's great king David lamented:
If an enemy were insulting me,
I could endure it;
if a foe were rising against me,
I could hide.
But it is you, a man like myself,
my companion, my close friend,
with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship
at the house of God,
as we walked about
among the worshipers. (Psalm 55:12-14)
There is a unique kind of agony associated with betrayal. We know and expect the worst from our enemies—their challenges are obvious and we can prepare for them accordingly. A friend, on the other hand, is supposed to have our back, not stab us in it. When trust has been completely undermined in this manner, the heart is laid bare for all to trample upon.
In another psalm David wrote the very words Jesus may have had in mind when speaking to the disciples during this last supper:
Even my close friend,
someone I trusted,
one who shared my bread,
has turned against me. (Psalm 41:9)
Sharing a meal is an intimate act meant to bring people together. It's an opportunity to experience fellowship and bonding; camaraderie and support. Yet, in this case, during the celebration of Israel's most important fellowship meal of the year, one of these "close friends" was preparing secretly to abandon the faith and betray his teacher. Although we rightly focus a lot on the physical pain Jesus endured at the hands of the Roman soldiers, the emotional trauma of betrayal was in many ways just as severe.
However, despite such treachery, we can take comfort in the assurance that nothing can thwart the plans of God, for, as Jesus affirmed, "The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him" (Mark 14:21). His death, however awful, happened exactly as it was meant to happen. It was a plan set in place long before Judas' birth, and with ramifications that would extend far beyond Judas' death. Therefore we, too, can take comfort knowing that whatever suffering, pain, heartache or betrayal we are experiencing now has not caught God by surprise.
We may not be able to discern in the moment what God's purposes are, but we can rest assured that He has not abandoned us or forsaken us. The same Jesus who willingly and obediently gave Himself over to be betrayed, beaten, and crucified is the same Jesus who rose from the grave three days later, proving definitively His power over sin and death. As such Jesus is intimately aware of our pain and suffering, but also ultimately capable of bringing His divine power to bear to bring healing and hope.
Now the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. "But not during the festival," they said, "or the people may riot."
While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.
Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, "Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor." And they rebuked her harshly.
"Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."
Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over. (Mark 14:1-11)
Although we often think of little children zealously protecting their toys with the cry, "It's mine!" there are other times when they can be almost embarrassingly generous with their stuff. I remember our youngest daughter once tried to give away an entire bag full of random toys to a friend who had come over for a play date. They understand love and generosity long before they can begin to grasp concepts like money and budgeting.
What makes this event in Mark's Gospel so shocking is that the woman who anointed Jesus' head knew exactly what she was doing. The expense and extravagance of the gift was the very reason she did what she did. The woman wasn't acting out of ignorance, but reverence.
Her astonishing gift (equivalent to a year's wages), stands in stark contrast to the evil machinations of the chief priests and the teachers of the law. While she gave lavishly in recognition of Jesus as her Lord and King, the priests instead chose to invest their money in order to arrest Jesus and kill him.
The disciples rebuked her harshly for wasting her money, but Jesus affirmed her actions as a worthy investment, since she was in some way symbolically preparing his body for burial. Though wasteful in the eyes of the world, her actions would nevertheless be remembered "wherever the gospel is preached."
Ultimately, of course, even the money spent by the chief priests to secure Judas' willing betrayal of Jesus would instead be turned around and used to God's glory. For unbeknownst to them, it was God's plan for Jesus to die, to pay the penalty for even the very sin they were in the process of committing. It's an incredible picture of God's grace.
God's sovereign purposes will not be overturned by our failures, nor will they be thwarted by the attacks of Satan. That should drive us to our knees in worship. As the woman gave freely and generously of herself to Jesus, how are we giving freely and generously of our hearts and lives in worship to the Lord?
Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. (Mark 12:41-43)
Our final passage for the week is an encouraging contrast to the greedy grabbing attitudes of the teachers of the law. As the people moved through the Temple, leaving donations for the treasury, Jesus observed many people giving, but what stood out to Him most was the startling generosity of a poor widow, who gave "two very small copper coins."
Two coins, for Jesus, amounted to "more…than all the others." Two coins, for Jesus, was something significant enough to notice, mention, and subsequently, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, enshrine forever in the words of the Holy Bible. Two coins, for Jesus, flew in the face of all the ostentatious show-casing of the teachers of the law and their parading about like pompous oafs. Two coins, for Jesus, stood in direct condemnation of those who would in turn willingly "devour" the homes of such widows in greedy pursuit of their own gain.
As Jesus has repeated many, many times in the last few chapters we have been studying, the economy of the Kingdom of God is in many respects the absolute opposite of the world in which we are used to operating. In God's Kingdom, the first will be last, and the last will be first, the greatest will be the least, and the least the greatest, the proud and rich will be last (if they are there at all), while the poor and humble will be first.
God's economy operates with a totally different currency than ours. Where are we investing?
As he taught, Jesus said, "Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely." (Mark 12:38-40)
I've been wondering about something for quite some time now, and I'd love to get your feedback. Would it be ok with you if I bought a brand-new BMW 760Li sedan (starting price $141, 200)? What if I told you I had the money to afford it (although, of course, I actually do not)? Why would it be any different than if someone else in our congregation bought the same car? Or what if I made some upgrades to my house that amounted to some $43 million (as a bishop in Germany was fired earlier this year for doing)?
Although on the one hand pastors are people just like anyone else in the congregation (equally sinful and equally in need of God's grace), when it comes down to it there are some things that are just different. Even if, by some miracle, and for some very legitimate reason, a pastor were to have enough money to enable him to buy a Maserati, doing so would ultimately severely jeopardize his ability to live in a way that models humility for his flock. We know this almost instinctively, and yet it seems to happen all too often these days nonetheless.
As it turns out, the same problems that plagued the teachers of the law at the time of Jesus continue to plague us today. The problem is not so much money per se, but what that money does to our greedy, sin-sick hearts. The root problem Jesus condemns in our brief passage today is pride. Pride that makes the teachers of the law want people to stop and stare at them. Pride that make the teachers of the law look for special treatment and pride of place in every situation. Pride that makes the teachers want to put themselves first, regardless of anyone else.
Bad enough as it is, however, the sin Jesus condemns in the teachers doesn't end with their own arrogance, but extends out into the lives of others as well. Pride, far from being a victimless crime, apparently had practical implications in the lives of the widows of their community as well. Instead of caring for the widows, and ensuring their needs were being met, the teachers of the law were in some way "devouring" the homes of the widows, presumably putting them out on the street as a result.
It's no wonder then that Jesus assured his listeners of the coming judgment on such men. They would "be punished severely."
The application of all this is a reminder for me personally, and hopefully all pastors and spiritual leaders everywhere, that the world is watching us closely. How does our life match up with our faith? Are we living in a manner that is congruent with the things we claim to believe? Greed and self-indulgence can never be tolerated among spiritual leaders, and we should be warned that punishment will be severe for those who stubbornly persist in un-repentance.
While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he asked, "Why do the teachers of the law say that the Messiah is the son of David? David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared:
"'The Lord said to my Lord:
"Sit at my right hand
until I put your enemies
under your feet."
David himself calls him 'Lord.' How then can he be his son?"
The large crowd listened to him with delight. (Mark 12:35-37)
The Psalm that Jesus refers to here is Psalm 110, listed in most Bibles with the heading "A Psalm of David." Indeed, Jesus affirms this to be the case, declaring that it was David speaking when he wrote this psalm. Moreover, Psalm 110 seems to have been considered a "Messianic" psalm, talking about a King who would one day come to rule over everyone.
A further clue towards helping us unravel this mysterious statement is the knowledge that many people expected the Messiah to be a descendent ("son") of David. Note, for example, that when Jesus entered Jerusalem in triumph, the people shouted:
"Hosanna! "
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
"Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!"
"Hosanna in the highest heaven!" (Mark 11:9-10)
So, given what we now know about the "Lord", and knowing who wrote the psalm, we might gain some clarity about the content by re-writing the first couple of lines. Although I am not usually a fan of the book, "The Message," in this case I think that author and pastor Eugene Peterson helps us see all these nuances with his take on this passage:
While he was teaching in the Temple, Jesus asked, "How is it that the religion scholars say that the Messiah is David's 'son,' when we all know that David, inspired by the Holy Spirit, said,
God said to my Master,
"Sit here at my right hand
until I put your enemies under your feet."
"David here designates the Messiah 'my Master'—so how can the Messiah also be his 'son'?"
The answer is clearly that He cannot. And that seems to Jesus' point. The Messiah is David's Lord, David's Master, and David's superior, but not David's son. Now, don't get confused. Obviously Jesus' lineage is indeed traced back to David, as Matthew makes abundantly clear in the first chapter of his gospel account. However, Jesus is not talking about genealogy here, he's talking about roles. The earthly, human descendent of David might be a good king and even a mighty ruler, but would still stand in David's shadow. The Messiah, on the other hand, would stand alone, with God, as absolute sovereign over all, even David himself. This particular teaching has very little to do with family trees, and far more to do with Jesus' role as the promised Messiah, the Son of God.
How do you respond to this good news? Mark tells us that, "The large crowd listened to him with delight" (Mark 12:35-37). It's unclear, however, whether they had any clue what he really meant, or what the implications might be for them or for anyone else for that matter. However, we know exactly what Jesus' role as Messiah would entail—death on a cross. The path to salvation would require the ultimate sacrifice.
One day, all enemies will be placed finally and definitively under Jesus' feet. There will be no more suffering, no more pain, no more heartache and no more tears. Struggle, strife, war and dissension will end, and Jesus will reign in absolute peace. In those days we will finally experience the rest our hearts all long for so desperately. Until that time we can take confidence knowing with absolute certainty that Jesus was not just another itinerant teacher with a grand following, but truly and without doubt our Messiah.
While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he asked, "Why do the teachers of the law say that the Messiah is the son of David? (Mark 12:35)
Why indeed did the teachers of the law say this? Where did they find precedence for this in the Bible? Was Jesus implying they shouldn't be saying this? Who would the Messiah be in that case? Was He not going to be the son of David?
One can only imagine the questions swirling in their minds as the people as they listened to Jesus teaching. Despite the best attempts of the chief priests, scribes, elders, Pharisees, Herodians and Sadducees, Jesus was still holding court, confounding His opponents and garnering the praise of the people. Now, instead of merely responding to challenges as they came up, He would begin to teach them directly, challenging one of their core convictions about the Messiah:
While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he asked, "Why do the teachers of the law say that the Messiah is the son of David? David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared:
"'The Lord said to my Lord:
"Sit at my right hand
until I put your enemies
under your feet."'
At first glance this passage is incredibly confusing. Who is speaking to whom about whom? Why isn't the Messiah David's son? Or is He? Part of the confusion lies in our English translations. Jesus quotes here from Psalm 110, which was written originally in Hebrew. In Hebrew, the first "Lord" in the sentence is actually the word that was used to describe God. This is why in most English translations of the Psalm you'll see the word written as, "Lord." But why do that? I think the following note taken from the introduction to the ESV Bible is very helpful in this regard:
First, concerning terms that refer to God in the Old Testament: God, the Maker of heaven and earth, introduced himself to the people of Israel with the special, personal name, whose consonants are YHWH (see Exodus 3:14-15). Scholars call this the "Tetragrammaton," a Greek term referring to the four Hebrew letters YHWH. The exact pronunciation of YHWH is uncertain, because the Jewish people considered the personal name of God to be so holy that it should never be spoken aloud. Instead of reading the word YHWH, they would normally read the Hebrew word adonai ("Lord"), and the ancient translations into Greek, Syriac, and Aramaic also followed suit. When the vowels of the word adonai are placed with the consonants of YHWH, this results in the familiar word Jehovah that was used in some earlier English Bible translations. As is common among English translations today, the ESV usually renders the personal name of God (YHWH) with the word Lord (printed in small capitals). An exception to this is when the Hebrew word adonai appears together with YHWH, in which case the two words are rendered together as "the Lord [in lower case] God [in small capitals]." In contrast to the personal name for God (YHWH), the more general name for God in Old Testament Hebrew is 'elohim and its related forms of 'el or 'eloah, all of which are normally translated "God" (in lower case letters). The use of these different ways to translate the Hebrew words for God is especially beneficial to the English reader, enabling the reader to see and understand the different ways that the personal name and the general name for God are both used to refer to the One True God of the Old Testament. (http://about.esvbible.org/about/preface/)
We'll discuss the implications of all this for Jesus' teaching in tomorrow's devotional, but for now, look back over this passage, and Psalm 110, and try to wrestle through for yourself what you think Jesus may be trying to explain to the people about both His lineage and also His true identity.
Every year Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you."
"Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" But they did not understand what he was saying to them. (Luke 2:41-50)
Although we generally think of Jesus' ministry not really starting until He was much older, the first hints of His unique authority go all the way back to when He was a young man. Even at twelve years old he enjoyed lingering in the temple courts, "sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers."
Even though the presence of the Lord had left the Temple years before, and even though there was so much wrong with the systems of worship that had developed in the intervening years, Jesus nevertheless saw the Temple as being, in some sense at least, His "Father's house."
It was only fitting then, that at the end of His public ministry He would find Himself back in the same place, perhaps even surrounded by some of the same teachers, fielding questions; being challenged and tested.
On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: 'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations' ? But you have made it 'a den of robbers.' "
The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching. (Mark 11:15-18)
They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him. "By what authority are you doing these things?" they asked. "And who gave you authority to do this?" (Mark 11:27-28)
Then the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders looked for a way to arrest him because they knew he had spoken the parable against them. But they were afraid of the crowd; so they left him and went away. Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. They came to him and said… (Mark 12:12-14a)
Then the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. "Teacher," they said, (Mark 12:18-19)
One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" (Mark 12:28)
It was a steady stream of activity as Jesus was peppered with questions. The young man who surprised and amazed the teachers at age twelve was now, some 20 years later, sitting in a position of authority as the center of attention; the hub around which swirled every other player vying for power in Jerusalem at that time.
Jesus attracted a significant amount of attention. Everyone wanted to hear what He had to say; they wanted to see how He would respond to the Pharisees and all the other teachers of the Law. He was a curiosity that held them in rapt attention.
Jesus continues to draw significant amounts of attention today. People from all walks of life are drawn to His teaching, and fascinated with His life and message. However, mere interest alone is insufficient for bringing us to salvation. Reading magazine articles and watching documentaries on television about Jesus is completely different from submitting ourselves completely to Him as our Lord and King—an act we do, not just once at the moment of conversion, but daily, perhaps even hourly, as we battle against our all-too-human tendency to assert our own rights and needs over our duties and obligations to our Savior.
What areas of your life do you continue to cling so tightly to today? What would it look like to cede control of those relationships, decisions, or activities to God? Will you commit to worship Him as your King?
As we close our week we end with a time of reflection on the Word of God. As you read the following passages, pray for God to open your heart to be led by Him. When He calls, will you weigh the cost and, deciding it is too much, walk away sad? Or will you embrace the call like a little child, eager to follow?
Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." (Mark 10:15)
At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. (Mark 10:22)
"Truly I tell you," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first." (Mark 10:29-31)
"You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:42-45)
Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road. (Mark 10:52)
Pause for a moment and try to recount everything we've covered over the last couple of weeks. Two weeks ago we studied the following passage:
People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them. (Mark 10:13-16)
Note the disciples attempt to rebuke the children (and/or parents) is contrasted with Jesus' warm welcome and blessing. Following close on the heels of that story was the encounter with the rich young man, who though eager to follow Jesus, and eager to obey all the commands of the law, was not able to relinquish his wealth and went away sad as a result.
Then, this week already we have examined a bizarre attempt by James and John to get a leg up over the other disciples. Their strong desire to be exalted in glory with Jesus is thwarted by the reality check that the path to glory goes through the cross, and the positions of authority are for the Father to grant, not the Son.
This is turn leads to fighting amongst the other disciples, who similarly fail to grasp the significance of Jesus' words, and are indignant at the thought they may be missing out on something.
After these three negative examples come one final positive example of humble obedience to Christ:
Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means "son of Timaeus"), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called to the blind man, "Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you." Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. "What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked him. The blind man said, "Rabbi, I want to see." "Go," said Jesus, "your faith has healed you." Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road. (Mark 10:46-52)
If we wanted an example of how to receive the Kingdom of God "like a little child," this would have to be a pretty good one. As they did with the children, "many rebuked" Bartimaeus and tried to keep him away. Jesus, however, stops to listen, and as the man turns to Jesus in total humility and subservience, Jesus responds with healing and blessing. His simple faith stands in stark contrast to the materialism of the rich young man, the pride of James and John, and the indignant bickering of the disciples.
Blind Bartimaeus is a model for us all. Whatever our needs, whatever our struggles, and whatever our desires, our attitude when approaching Jesus should always be focused around repentance and faith. "Have mercy on me!" captures the cry of a heart that is broken by sin and desperate for healing. "Have mercy on me!" is a reminder that Jesus is King and we are not. What is your prayer for Him today?
When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:41-45)
As a parent of four young children I can't help but see this entire scene through the eyes of a father trying to untangle a bunch of bickering boys. Having failed in their attempt to secure a position of superior standing amongst the disciples, they have returned to the group, who, upon hearing about the conversation with Jesus, respond with indignation. Like little children demanding their fair share, there is the sense here that they are frustrated James and John got to Jesus first.
How quickly they have all forgotten where they are headed and why! Perhaps, when they heard James and John recount Jesus' words that the two brothers would "drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with" they imagined that to be something they should have as well.
Jesus' words set them straight almost immediately. Whereas the existing power structures around them exhibited a strong top-down pattern of leadership and authority, in the Kingdom of God it was to be different. Jesus' followers were instead to demonstrate humility and sacrifice, focused on serving others, not being served.
The specific historical situation may have changed quite considerably since that time, but the basic human drive to put ourselves first has not. Almost every institution in our culture is structured around this model of power, where those in charge exercise authority over everyone else underneath them. It's so much a part of our lives that we barely even notice it anymore.
Yet Jesus seems to be challenging the disciples, and therefore us as well, to consider a totally different, and potentially much better way. At the very least amongst the body of believers, our ways of relating each other should be marked by an attitude of loving service. Our primary goal should never be getting ahead of someone else, but serving someone else.
Jesus gave His life "as a ransom for many." It was an act of sacrifice that set a new model for us to follow as disciples of Christ. Having been set free, how can we embody this life of humble service in our relationships with other people?
Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. "Teacher," they said, "we want you to do for us whatever we ask." "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked. They replied, "Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory." "You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said. "Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?" "We can," they answered. Jesus said to them, "You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared." (Mark 10:35-40)
Peter always gets a bad rap for being the bold and brash one among the disciples, but James and John really push the limits here with their bold demand to Jesus. Can you imagine waltzing up to Jesus and saying, "We want you to do for us whatever we ask"? It's almost unbelievable, especially given the fact that Jesus has just rattled off what is going to happen to Him when they arrive in Jerusalem: "They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him" (Mark 10:33-34).
Jesus, in a display of incredible patience, nevertheless entertains their demand and asks them what exactly they are looking for. They freely admit their desire to share Jesus' glory and position of prominence. Whether they actually understood what that would involve or not is unclear, but their boldness cannot be faulted. Their pride and arrogance may be surprising and make us uncomfortable, but clearly they were willing to follow Jesus wherever He was leading them (unlike the rich young man).
What exactly, however, would granting their request require? For starters, Jesus is clear that following Him would necessitate the same mockery, abuse, and death as He was about to face. That would be inevitable. However, even if they did all that, and were obedient all the way to the grave, the assignment of such high positions of authority was out of Jesus' hands. It "is not for me to grant."
It's very hard to relate to the kind of arrogance on display from James and John, right? We would never be quite to foolish or self-seeking, would we? Yet, not a day goes by when we don't have to wrestle our own selfishness down to the ground as it seeks to assert itself over against the ruling authority of God. We would never say make such crude remarks out loud, or even silently in prayer, but in the dark recesses of our hearts nevertheless lie subtle seeds of sedition.
Perhaps, like James and John, we would in fact in some way be better off confessing our struggles out loud, so that we might be reminded of our true position in life as followers, not rulers. Perhaps, in admitting our pride, in admitting our desire to get ahead, we might be able to face into that addiction and begin to receive the help we so desperately need from the Holy Spirit to set us on the straight path once again. Jesus is headed to Jerusalem to die for exactly the kind of greediness so visibly on display here. Will we apply that Gospel for ourselves today?
They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. "We are going up to Jerusalem," he said, "and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise." (Mark 10:32-34)
Head downtown at this time of year and you'll be overwhelmed by the number of tour-groups milling around the city. As the weather slowly improves, people will come from all over the world to marvel at the architecture, tour the river, and shop on Michigan Avenue. Meanwhile, as schools draw towards the end of the semester, bus-loads of children will be hitting the museums for chaotic field-trips.
At the head of every small clump of people, whether it's little children or foreign tourists, you'll find a tour-guide leading the way. Waving their hands in the air to get everyone's attention, they cry out with one voice, "My group, follow me!" And their motley crew will shuffle obediently forward, trying not to get lost or separated. The people may have no clue where they are headed next, but they know enough to trust their leader. Wherever that person goes, they go too.
The disciples find themselves in a similar predicament, but with far graver consequences. Jesus has His eyes fixed resolutely on Jerusalem. His mission is crystal clear, and His objective has been laid out before Him. He must be delivered over, condemned to death, abused, and then killed. However, through the astonishing power of God, somehow He will be raised again.
Nobody seems to buy this narrative yet except for Jesus. In fact, it appears to make no sense to anyone at all. And so, as Jesus leads the way, boldly pressing on towards this awful fate, the disciples trail behind, "astonished" by what is happening, astonished at His teaching, astonished at these repeated predictions concerning their leader's coming death and resurrection. They have to follow, for they have grown to trust Jesus and know that this is the right thing to do. The questions continue to linger nonetheless.
Meanwhile, the broader crowd of hangers-on are just plain "afraid." Without any confidence in Jesus as God, all this talk of death and punishment and pain and suffering simply elicits fear and trembling.
As we attempt to follow Jesus, there may be many times when, just like the disciples, we are astonished, or like the crowd, even afraid. Where He leads us doesn't always make sense. Where He wants us to go is rarely comfortable, easy, or without significant sacrifice. In fact, following Jesus is a lesson in continually dying to self and learning to live in humble obedience to a King who demands absolute loyalty.
Jesus is calling out, "My group, follow me!" As you set out on this journey today, how will you handle your fear and anxiety? What will you do with your doubts and concerns?
Then Peter spoke up, "We have left everything to follow you!" "Truly I tell you," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first." (Mark 10:28-31)
Since we often come to church in two cars, when our children were little they would often want us to race home to see who could get there first. One time I lost, and in a misguided effort to assuage the ensuing tears of my young passenger, I told her it was ok, because the "the first will be last, and the last first."
Well, the next time we drove home from church, we beat the other car. So I was shocked to see my daughter in tears once again. What could possibly be wrong? Well, she had listened to my words of wisdom the week before, and since we had arrived first at the house, that now meant "we would be last."
Obviously, this is not what Jesus had in mind at all. If we can resist the awful temptation to pull Bible verses out of context, we'll see that this entire passage is actually talking about the incredible cost involved in following Jesus.
Entrance into the Kingdom is a gift freely given to us ("With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."). However, following Jesus demands that we relinquish all other allegiances in order to follow our true King ("Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.").
According to Jesus there will be blessings beyond number, but that has to be held in tension with the suffering and persecution He promises us as well. Ultimately, however, whether we live long or die young, all who follow Jesus will receive eternal life. The very thing the rich young man wanted the most can indeed be ours, with God's help. We may finish the race last in the world's eyes, but in God's economy victory will always be ours.
The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." (Mark 10:26-27)
Like so many verses in the Bible, this one is frequently taken completely out of context. Most often I hear people quote this to emphasize God's ability to help them accomplish all kinds of amazing things. The focus usually ends up being less about God and more about personal success and achievement. However, the saying in this context is aimed squarely at the far more significant issue of salvation.
A camel cannot pass through a needle. It's impossible. And the disciples quickly realize that if Jesus is saying rich people will have just as hard a time getting into the Kingdom of Heaven, then, "Who…can be saved?" Jesus, however, rather than softening the force of the illustration, actually takes it to the next level. He makes a stunningly definitive statement about our ability to save ourselves: "With man this is impossible."
We have to be reminded over and over again that being good or nice is insufficient to gain entry into the Kingdom of God. Good intentions won't get us through the door. It is impossible. We may be better or more obedient than someone else, but nobody is good enough, rich enough or holy enough in and of themself to gain entry into the Kingdom of God.
However, the good news, as Jesus goes on to say, is that "all things are possible with God." Entrance into the Kingdom, forgiveness of sins, and the inheritance of eternal life are all made possible for us simply and solely through the sovereign power of God. Later, Paul would capture this thought beautifully in his letter to the Romans:
Without Christ's work in our lives we are left dead in our sins. In and of our own strength we can do nothing. Even the best, brightest, richest and most obedient law-abiding citizen falls short of the mark. There is no entrance into the Kingdom without Christ.
Today, you may not be feeling happy or holy. Indeed, you may be feeling like you don't even come close to measuring up to what a Christian "should" be. However, with Christ's help, the impossible is possible and His grace extends even to you. He paid the price so that we could be set free. Praise the Lord for such abundant love and mercy!
Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!" The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." (Mark 10:23-25)
First we must address the very common assumption that Jesus is talking here about a gate in the city wall that was low and small enough for people to walk through, yet almost impossible for a large camel to pass through without being completely unloaded and going through on its knees. Although we've all heard that interpretation many times before, there is, sadly, no archaeological evidence to support the claim.
So we are left instead with a far more dangerous and challenging comparison to work with. What Jesus is describing sounds impossible. A camel can never get through the eye of a needle. However, that doesn't necessarily mean that Jesus is saying that neither can a rich man enter the kingdom of God. The saying is intentional hyperbolic. Jesus is using a rich and dramatic image to press a point, not make a statement of fact.
The clear intention here is to emphasize the exceedingly great challenges that wealthy people will face when called to set aside the things of this world in order to follow Jesus. The sacrifices will, by definition, be far greater indeed. In fact, for some, perhaps even many, it will prove to be impossible. The rich young man who just walked away from them despondent was the perfect case in point. The call on his life was too great.
Regardless of our bank balance or net wealth compared to other people, Jesus offers us the only path to true life, eternal life. The question is, will we choose to follow Him on that narrow road?
But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:7-14)
"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: 'You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.'" "Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy." Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. (Mark 10:18-22)
When Elijah called Elisha to follow him, Elisha responded by slaughtering the oxen he was using to plough the fields, burning the equipment, and then giving all the meat away. It was an act that signified in the most dramatic way possible his total commitment to the cause. There could be no turning back, no second-guessing his decision.
It may not have been quite so dramatic, but when Jesus called His first disciples, Mark tells us, "At once they left their nets and followed him" (Mark 1:18). They left everything to follow Jesus. Clearly they didn't always understand what Jesus was doing, or where He was leading them, but they followed Him nonetheless.
Even Zacchaeus, when called upon by Jesus, voluntarily surrendered half his possessions to the poor (and as a "wealthy" tax collector that was probably worth a substantial amount of money).
Jesus was not just another teacher. He was not a mere miracle worker and healer. Nobody else could demand such radical acts of sacrifice from his followers. Yet people were willing to abandon everything for Jesus because they recognized Him as their true King.
Sadly, however, this was not the case for the man with "great wealth." Jesus appears to have been happy to hear that the man had kept the Ten Commandments—that was a great start. However, when challenged to make a definitive break with his past, and to set aside everything in order to follow Jesus, the man was left speechless. He simply could not let go of his wealth.
Jesus extends a similar call to each of us as well. When we want to talk about how good we've been, Jesus responds with a simple command—"Follow me." What excuses come to our mind? What sacrifices are too much for us to bear?
Following Jesus requires sacrifice. It's not a decision made in a vacuum. There are massive consequences and we have to be ready to count the cost. Have you?
As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" (Mark 10:17)
The man's question was a good one. In fact, it's the most important question any of us can ask. Assuming this broken world is not all there is, how can we be sure to "inherit eternal life"? What issue could matter more than that? If we are not certain about what happens after death, then how can we live with any sense of meaning and purpose before we do indeed die? As Paul puts it so eloquently, "If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied"(1 Corinthians 15:19).
This particular question comes right on the heels of a seemingly un-related incident, which sets the stage for a broader discussion about the Kingdom of God:
People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them. (Mark 10:13-16)
Entrance into the Kingdom of God (ie, eternal life), is simple, but costly. There is no complicated trick, but it will require everything we have. As Jesus made clear at the very beginning of His ministry, the requirements are repentance and faith. All who would enter the Kingdom must renounce self and commit to following Jesus. It's a sacrifice that children appear able to make almost instinctively. The older we get, however, the harder it becomes to let go of the things that tie us down to this world.
As Jesus noted in one of His parables, "Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful" (Mark 4:18-19). As attractive as the offer of eternal life may be, the things of this world all too often end up exerting a far more powerful pull on our hearts, tethering us to a lesser kingdom that will one day spoil, perish and fade.
"What must I do to inherit eternal life?" This is the question that should be at the top of our minds for each and every one of us. For without this eternal perspective, we can't hope to invest our lives in ways that will ultimately mean anything at all.
Jesus' call to "receive" the Kingdom in the way that a small child does is sometimes easier said than done. Why do we hold back? What keeps us from jumping in? Unlike children, adults have all kinds of responsibilities. We are all grown up now. We have things to do, places to go. We have burdens and bills. There's a schedule to keep and people depending on us. A child-like faith sounds nice, but not practical.
Jesus, however, is constantly calling us away from what is practical. Consider, for example, his challenges to these three men, as recorded in the Gospel of Luke:
As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." Jesus replied, "Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." He said to another man, "Follow me." But he replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family." Jesus replied, "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:57-62)
Many people in the crowds following Jesus wanted a piece of the action. They pressed in around Him, clamoring for healing, for attention, for a miracle. They wanted new teaching, perhaps even political power. Jesus, however, consistently cut through the crowds, challenging would-be followers in ways that were often uncomfortable and unexpected.
On this occasion, three different men approached Jesus with a desire to follow Him. The first man was challenged to consider the fact that Jesus had no home, and as such His disciples would likewise be looking at a transient lifestyle, constantly on the move.
The second was challenged to reconsider his priorities. On the one hand he wanted to follow Jesus, and yet on the hand he was trying to hedge his bets and stay at home.
Finally, the third man was pushed to consider whether he was really as committed as he said he was. Which way would he turn? Would he follow or not?
With a wife and four young children at home, I can relate with some of these concerns. I feel a heavy burden to provide for my family. We stay up late working on our budget. We have family members who need our help, and all kinds of other pressures and problems piling up around us daily. I have a hundred reasons to hold back and follow from a distance. I could create all kinds of rational arguments for sitting on the sidelines and letting others take the lead. But Jesus calls me to step outside my comfort zone and receive the Kingdom with the trust of a child. I don't need to know all the answers. I don't need to figure out all the problems. He's simply asking for my trust. Will I follow? I am fearful to say yes. But I can't say no.
Today again we return to Scripture and suggest reading and meditating on John 14.
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going."
Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."
Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us."
Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. (John 14:1-14)
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:25-34)
Perhaps one of the biggest impediments to a child-like faith in God is fear. In fact, left unchecked, fear can consume us. Our greatest asset (our ability to think) can quickly become our biggest liability, as we allow our fears, doubts and worries to overtake our faith. We've all been there at one time or another, and that kind of fear can be debilitating, choking out the very life from within us.
In contrast, Jesus encouraged the disciples to "seek first [God's] kingdom and his righteousness" (Matthew 6:33). In response, our anxious, harried hearts cry out, "It's not that easy! What about this, and this, and this?" But Jesus just points to the birds and says, "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap…and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" (Matthew 6:26)
We want to press the point some more--"No, you don't understand, it's not that simple. My life is complicated. There's too much going on." Jesus smiles again and looks down at the ground, "See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?" (Matthew 6:28-29)
Our fears are indeed many. The pressures are incredibly real. The stresses are not imaginary. Jesus knows that. Following Jesus is not a call to abandon reality and live in the clouds. Jesus' obedience to the Father sent Him to the cross, and countless souls have met a similar fate in the years since then. Christianity is firmly grounded in reality.
Yet, at the same time, Jesus calls us to have faith like a child. We are exhorted to trust in Him no matter what, even when things don't seem to make any sense. God never promises us total clarity and complete understanding regarding our lot in life, but He nevertheless exhorts us to put our trust completely in Him anyway. How will we respond?
Take some time today to simply read through Ephesians 2 (below) and marvel at the free gift extended to you through Jesus Christ.
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:1-10)
It's perhaps one of the more touching scenes in the Gospel of Mark. Recreated in countless children's Bibles and paintings over the years, the image of Jesus welcoming the little children captures our hearts and our imaginations. It's an intensely human moment, and a visual reminder of God's great love for us. There's a tenderness and compassion that comes through here that stands somewhat in contrast to the awe and majesty of the Transfiguration.
However, the point of this passage is not primarily to communicate Jesus' love for children, or even His love for us. Those things may both be true, but the primary message here is about the Kingdom of God and how we gain entrance into it. It's about faith, and trust, and hope. Again, we have to go back to the very beginning of Mark's Gospel to be reminded as to why Jesus came in the first place:
After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!" (Mark 1:14-15)
The Kingdom of God is at the very heart of His ministry, and it's a topic we'll keep coming back to in the coming weeks. Jesus wants us to hear the good news. He wants us to be in the Kingdom. The children are used as an example of the kind of simple faith and trust that are required to enter. It's not complicated. It's not difficult. Repent and believe.
The longer we have been walking with Jesus, sometimes the more complicated we end up making things out to be. Jesus' offer extends to us as much as to any would-be convert. Repent and believe. Put aside your fears. Cast all your anxieties on Him. Confess your sins and failures. And then trust that He really will take you in.
And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them (Mark 10:16).
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:29-32)
Christian community should be filled with a grace that almost defies understanding. Kindness and compassion should infuse all our relationships, especially in our families. We should be overflowing in love towards each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. Within the Church there should be no rom for anger or bitterness, slander or malice. Even more so within the precious institution of the family.
Our words matter. Not just what we say, but the way in which we say it, can have a huge impact on the spiritual lives of those around us. By God's grace we have the incredible blessing to speak words of healing and encouragement to other people. Sadly, however, the opposite is also true. Our words can cut more deeply and wound more permanently than any weapon we can lay our hands on.
Although our natural tendency may be to react, or to lash out, or to have the last word, Paul's encouragement to us is to forgive, and to keep on forgiving, over and over again. We are to show love and forgiveness "just as in Christ God forgave [us]." Such an attitude is both counter-cultural and counter-intuitive. It goes against the grain because "the grain," in our case, is our sinful nature, which tends to only be concerned with itself.
Ultimately, of course, we are called to love: "Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us" (1 John 4:11-12). What are we doing today to love those closest to us?
When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. He answered, "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery." (Mark 10:10-12)
It's one thing for us to talk at length about how opposed to divorce God is, but what about all those people who are already divorced? What if you agree with all of these verses, and never wanted a divorce, but found yourself forced into it by a spouse who wasn't interested in seeking help or considering alternatives? Conversely, what if you yourself initiated, encouraged or even just allowed a divorce to happen, and only recently have begun to realize the error of your ways? What happens now?
The first and most important thing we can do is to remember, again, the great events we celebrated less than a week ago. On Good Friday Jesus Christ willingly gave up His life for us; all of us. He died in our place. He paid the penalty for our sins. His death secured our life. As the Apostle Paul said, "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst" (1 Timothy 1:15). Or again, in his letter to the Romans, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). Or again, later in the same letter, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering" (Romans 8:1-3).
Divorce is not an unpardonable sin. If you confess and repent of your involvement in the divorce, it can still be forgiven, whether it happened three years ago or thirteen years ago. Moreover, if neither of you got remarried in the meantime, there is still the possibility of reconciliation and restoration. I myself had the blessing of presiding over the marriage ceremony of a couple who had been divorced for years before realizing their mistake and getting remarried. When God gets involved, amazing, almost unbelievable things can and do happen.
If you were the wronged party in the divorce, the same verses of encouragement apply to you as well. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Guilt and shame are not from the Lord. Your value is not determined by your ex-spouse, but by God. Your identity is found in Christ, not your marriage. You may have been rejected by your ex, but God promises to never leave you nor forsake you. In Christ you have everything you need, and He will sustain you through this trial, however dark and bleak things may look in the moment. As the Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans:
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:37-39)
Nothing can separate us from the love of God, not even a divorce.
As best we can tell, the debate that was raging at the time of Jesus was not about whether or not divorce was permissible, but rather about the specific circumstances under which it would be legal. There were two schools of thought on this issue. One group argued that a man could divorce his wife for any reason. The other group argued that divorce was reserved simply for cases of infidelity.
In this case, rather than get pulled into a debate that was, after all, primarily intended to trick Him, Jesus side-stepped their question entirely:
"It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law," Jesus replied. "But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female.' 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate." (Mark 10:5-9)
Whatever exceptions Moses might have intimated were allowable, God's plan before the Fall was always for one man and one woman to be joined together in one marriage, for life. From the beginning of the Bible to the end, the message stays absolutely consistent. There is no middle ground, and Jesus leaves no room for debate.
In some respects it's remarkable that the religious leaders of the day were more fixated on the ways and means for getting out of a marriage than trying to discern God's original plan for marriage to begin with. However, perhaps we shouldn't be too surprised. Sin has turned all of us into rebels constantly looking for short-cuts, escape clauses, exclusions and exceptions.
How often do we dream up elaborate excuses for ourselves before engaging in sin, trying to weasel our way around what we know to be wrong? In our infinite creativity we like to imagine that we can somehow obey the letter of the law while simultaneously breaking it in such a way as to suit our immediate needs. We should hardly be surprised when God doesn't take the bait, instead seeing straight through our pathetic ploys and convicting us of sin in the process.
The Pharisees were left without any answer. After all, whatever clever arguments they may have been able to dream up regarding possible reasons for divorce, they couldn't argue against the fact that it was never part of God's original plan for men and women. A fact that remains true for us today.
Now, one last thing before we close our thoughts for today. Please note who Jesus' audience is here. He's not talking to the woman whose husband has been physically abusing her for years, or the husband whose wife has moved in with another man. He is speaking to a group of men engaged in esoteric debates that completely ignored God's original plan for caring, loving marital relationships. To these people Jesus' words were stern and specific.
However, if you are the abused or victimized party in a divorce, then God's grace extends to you as much as to anyone else wronged by sin. "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit" (Psalm 34:18). Jesus' words are not meant to heap shame and guilt on those hurt by divorce, but rather to condemn those people who would willingly flaunt God's Creation design and abandon their spouse for almost any reason whatsoever.
So today, if you are considering a divorce, for whatever reason, please reach out to one of our pastors for prayer and counsel. We would love to talk with you in person and help you in whatever way we can. We want to pray with you and would love to be a support and encouragement for you during this difficult time.
Today we return to our series on the Gospel of Mark. Admittedly, having just studied the Crucifixion and Resurrection, it almost seems anti-climactic to go back in time to study the chapters we missed. It's a bit like reading the end of the book first—now we know what's going to happen, so why read the rest?
Well, for starters, we already knew what was going to happen anyway, so it's not like some big surprise has been ruined. More importantly, however, there is still much to learn from chapters 10-14. So this week we'll be examining the first twelve verses of Mark 10, in preparation for our sermon next Sunday by Pastor Lon Allison.
Jesus then left that place and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds of people came to him, and as was his custom, he taught them.
Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?"
"What did Moses command you?" he replied.
They said, "Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away."
"It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law," Jesus replied. "But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female.' 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate."
When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. He answered, "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery." (Mark 10:1-12)
Marriage is one of those hot-button topics that seems to constantly be in the news these days. Our culture is busy trying to redefine everything—what is a man? What is a woman? What is marriage? We keep drifting further and further away from Biblical concepts of gender and sexuality, and in the process losing sight of God's good and great plan for His Creation. If things appeared to be in a sorry state of affairs in Jesus' time, it sure seems as if things are even worse today.
As so often happened in Jesus' ministry, the issue of divorce was raised, not because the Pharisees genuinely wanted to know what Jesus had to say about marriage, but because they wanted to test him. Their objective was to try and trick Jesus in some way.
Jesus' response gets at the heart of the issue in no short measure. Divorce was only ever tolerated as a concession to their hardness of hearts, but God's plan was that there should never be divorce.
God is opposed to divorce. There's no wriggling around that uncomfortable fact. There might be limited exceptions in specific circumstances, but even those don't mitigate the fact that God hates divorce. It's never part of His plan for our marriages for them to end in divorce.
That said, as we noted yesterday, God is a God of grace, and what we just celebrated over Easter was the forgiveness that can now be ours because of the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. No sin is too big that it can't be forgiven. No marital pain is too great that it can't be healed by the power of the Holy Spirit. We serve a mighty God, and as much as He hates divorce, He loves us even more.
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Timothy 1:12-17)
These brief words from the Apostle Paul, written to his "true son in the faith" Timothy, are a fitting way to begin the week after Easter. In the coming days and weeks we should be filled with thankfulness for the mercy He has shown towards us. We should sing with hearts full of joy because of the grace poured out on us in abundance. We should awake each day amazed by the truth that, "while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). Whatever else may happen today, nothing can change what God has already done. Our salvation is now secure. As a result, nothing can ever separate us from our Heavenly Father.
The Resurrection allows us to move forward in life with a boldness we may never have felt before. We can be confident of the fact that, "he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6). Whatever the external circumstances of your life, Jesus will not give up on you and will never stop working in and through you. Whatever trials and tribulations come your way, the Holy Spirit will not leave you or cease to be a living presence in your life. The Resurrection is an assurance that God will never abandon us.
Such abundant grace extends out to us even when we wander away. Even when we get distracted and allow ourselves to be led away into sin, God's grace is big enough to draw us home. Even when we feel low and lousy and unlovable, God's grace is there to right our ship and re-orient our life to Him. "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners," a work He continues to this very day. We are all works in progress, and Jesus displays "immense patience" towards us all the time.
So let us begin this week with praise to the Lord for the Resurrection, and the mighty power He displayed in raising Christ from the dead.
Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen! (1 Timothy 1:17)
As we pause to contemplate the gravity of the crucifixion and all that means for our lives, let's together spend time reflecting on the words of Paul from Romans Chapter 5:
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, while we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—
To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone's account where there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come.
But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!
Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, "So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, come down from the cross and save yourself!" In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. "He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself! Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe." Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" (which means "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?").
When some of those standing near heard this, they said, "Listen, he's calling Elijah."
Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. "Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to take him down," he said.
With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.
The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, "Surely this man was the Son of God!" (Mark 15:27-39)
A crucified king. It's an image familiar to us, but completely foreign to the people of Jesus' time. How could anyone possibly reconcile those two seemingly opposing images--conquering king and crucified criminal?
So there they stood--wondering, marveling, confused. Instead of recognizing that He was quoting Psalm 22, a Psalm of David, they thought he was calling out to Elijah. And then, Jesus died. It was a real death. He didn't pass out. He didn't faint. He didn't go into a coma. He died.
Something astonishing happened in that moment. Something about the way He died, something about the manner of His death, something about the entire event so shook the centurion standing guard over the criminals, that he was driven to faith. The sign posted on the cross that labeled Jesus as the "King of the Jews" was meant to belittle our Lord. Yet in His death He was recognized with a title even more amazing--the Son of God.
In that moment, "the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom." It was a dramatic visible sign that Jesus' sacrifice was sufficient to pay the price, not just for our sins personally and individually, but for all sins corporately and completely. In that moment the Temple and its entire sacrificial system was rendered obsolete. The shadow was replaced by the substance of Christ (Colossians 2:17). In that moment, the path was cleared for us to boldly enter in God's very presence. Praise the Lord for that gift!
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.
The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. And they began to call out to him, "Hail, king of the Jews!" Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.
A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross. They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means "the place of the skull"). Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get.
It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. The written notice of the charge against him read: The King of the Jews. (Mark 15:16-26)
One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Romans 8:1, which says, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." What an encouragement that is! Whatever awful memories may pop into our minds, whatever situations arise that make us feel guilty and ashamed, if we are in Christ then we have been forgiven once and for all. There is now no condemnation. Nothing can be held over our heads. No charge can be brought against us. We have truly been set free.
Of course, such a glorious freedom came at a very high cost indeed. Our sins were not, and indeed could not, simply be ignored. They weren't swept under the carpet, nor were they merely overlooked. Sin had to be dealt with in a definitive manner. And in today's reading we see that awful price begin to play out in the death of Jesus.
Mocked, ridiculed, tortured and abused, He was treated as if He was nothing; a worthless, valueless, insignificant criminal. Nailed to a cross, He was left to die a slow and painful death. It was a cruel death, to be certain, but the goal was as much humiliation and shame as it was pain and suffering. The cross was the ultimate way to assert power and authority over another human being.
The written notice hanging on the cross summed it up nicely. Here was their supposed king--reduced to nothing more than the shell of a man, a naked, beaten and bloodied body left to die on a cross.
Yet, as the disciples would soon discover, it was this very death, in all its shame and horror, that ultimately paid for all our sins. As Peter would later write, "'He himself bore our sins' in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; 'by his wounds you have been healed' " (1 Peter 2:24). Jesus "endured the cross, scorning its shame," in order to complete the task God had appointed for Him to do, paying the penalty for our sins (Hebrews 12:2).
What charges have been leveled against you? Who stands against you in accusation? What guilt and shame seems to continually rear its head in your life? As we prepare to celebrate Easter, look to the cross and be reminded that it was there that sin met its match, and death was swallowed up in victory, so that you might be set free.
Now it was the custom at the festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested. A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.
"Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?" asked Pilate, knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.
"What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?" Pilate asked them.
"Crucify him!" they shouted.
"Why? What crime has he committed?" asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, "Crucify him!"
Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified. (Mark 15:6-15)
Christmas and Easter are without a doubt the two biggest events on the Church calendar. For as many different denominations that we have scattered across the world, these two celebrations are a common thread that bind us all together as followers of Christ (even if we sometimes end up celebrating them on different days). It makes sense, since Christmas marks Jesus' birth, and Easter His death (and Resurrection). They function as book-ends to Jesus' earthly life and ministry, and as such have a very different feel to them.
Just a few months ago we celebrated with joy His arrival as a baby, remembering the great prophecy of Isaiah:
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David's throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this. (Isaiah 9:6-7)
Yet, today, as we read Mark 15, there appears to be no throne, no kingdom and no peace. Instead we see a man condemned to die. That precious child has grown to become a threat. As a result, He must be removed.
Indeed, in the chaotic moments before Jesus was condemned, as Pilate offered the people a choice between Barabbas and Jesus, the chief priests seemed to be the ones pulling all the strings. They were the ones working the crowd into a frenzy, inciting the people to cry out for Jesus' crucifixion. Isaiah promised "no end" to Jesus' government, and yet Mark tells us Pilate simply "handed [Jesus] over to be crucified."
Note, however, the last line of Isaiah's prophecy. "The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this." Just as the Kingdom of God could not be ushered in with human hands, neither could it be snuffed out through human efforts. The Lord Almighty is always at work, establishing His definitive will in His definitive way. What He has determined will come to pass, and nothing can thwart those plans.
Although the disciples couldn't see it at the time, although it made no sense in the moment, and even though everyone thought all hope was lost, God was still in control. In fact, it wasn't until several years later that the Apostle Paul, through the power of the Holy Spirit, would capture the astonishing truth for us in the following way:
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
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!
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,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:6-11)
The Lord moved sovereignly in Jesus' birth, He moved sovereignly in Jesus' death, He moved sovereignly in Jesus' Resurrection, and He continues to move sovereignly throughout His Kingdom even to this very day. We serve a mighty God who does mighty things. Do not ever let the struggle of the moment take your focus off our King. He lives, He rules, He reigns. Let us praise Him today!
Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, made their plans. So they bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate.
"Are you the king of the Jews?" asked Pilate.
"You have said so," Jesus replied.
The chief priests accused him of many things. So again Pilate asked him, "Aren't you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of."
But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed. (Mark 15:1-5)
Today marks the entrance into a special time of reflection and introspection that the Church has often referred to throughout history as "Holy Week." It's the week before Easter—the final days before Jesus was crucified. So, in preparation for our services this Friday and Sunday, we're jumping ahead in our study to Chapters 15 and 16, where Mark records these last moments of Christ in detail.
Most of us are so used to this story by now that the weight of the facts are sometimes lost on us. But look at this one little phrase, "So they bound Jesus…" That's astonishing. Just think about who it is they are tying up with ropes. This is no mere man, this is "Jesus Christ, the Son of God" (Mark 1:1).
This is the man who called His first disciples with an authority that compelled them to leave everything and follow Him. The One who healed a man with an unclean spirit, healed Simon's mother-in law of a fever, healed a lepor, healed a paralytic, healed a man with a withered hand, taught with authority, and then calmed a storm.
This is the man who healed a man with a demon in such a powerful manner that the people begged Jesus to leave that area because they were astonished at his power. He healed a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years, and raised Jairus's daughter from the dead.
Jesus fed five thousand people, and then walked on water, before healing yet more people, including a Syrophonecian woman's daughter who was beset by a demon. He healed a deaf man, fed four thousand people, healed a blind man, and then went up on a mountain where He was "transfigured" in the presence of Peter, James, and John.
And those are just the highlights. For three years Jesus moved throughout the region, healing people everywhere He went, teaching with authority, and pointing people to God. He caused such a stir that upon entering Jerusalem, the crowds assembled to wave palm branches before Him, honoring Him as their Messiah and King.
This is the man whose own family couldn't stop Him, the one who repeatedly avoided capture and evaded every trap and trick thrown at Him by the religious leaders who were increasingly frustrated by His very presence among them.
But more than any of this, this man was God Himself. The Creator allowing Himself to be bound by His Creation. The coup that was begun in the Garden of Eden comes to completion in this awful moment, as the King is bound and handed over to be judged and executed. The symbolism could not be more powerful—God's chosen people finally and definitively handing over their King to be crucified.
Thankfully for us all, of course, the story does not end there. However, as we move through this week we should pause here to consider the ways in which we still, even today, continue to rebel against our King. We bristle against His authority. We push back against the boundaries. We look to greener pastures, and constantly seek to assert our own independence. May we see in those attitudes and emotions the awful similarities to the men who bound Jesus and handed Him over to be killed. May we see them, and be broken, and repent.
For our final devotional of the week we turn our hearts and minds fully towards God, spending time meditating on the following verses from Paul's letter to the Colossians. May our prayers echo Paul's, and may our hearts sing with joy for the salvation Jesus purchased for us on the cross.
3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God's people— 5 the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel 6 that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God's grace. 7 You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, 8 and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.
9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
(Colossians 1:3-14)
They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise." But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it. (Mark 9:30-32)
Cast your mind back over the last four or five months of this sermon series. As we've worked our way through the Gospel of Mark we've encountered example after example of Jesus' absolute authority over all things. He has the power to calm storms, the power to raise people from the dead, the power to cleanse people of demonic possession, and the power to heal even the most severe injuries and illnesses. Everywhere He goes people are stunned by the depth of His wisdom and the power of His teaching. He can even walk on water!
Yet now the story seems to move in a different direction. Until this point, Jesus has been an almost unstoppable force moving through the region. But now His journey seems to be moving in another direction, and He begins to repeat a new and almost incomprehensible message to the disciples. This "Son of God" is not planning on conquering Jerusalem and stealing the throne, but will instead "be delivered into the hands of men [who will] kill him" (Mark 9:31).
How could anyone reconcile these two seemingly opposing narratives? Jesus was just transfigured before their eyes! Jesus just healed another boy who had been possessed by a demon! What force left in the world could possibly be strong enough to crush such an incredible person?
We now know, of course, that it was only by God's plan that Jesus was handed over to be killed. He was not taken by surprise or defeated by Satan. Rather, this was God's will from the very beginning. Charles Wesley captured something of this amazement in his hymn, "And Can It Be, That I Should Gain." As we close today, may this be our song and our prayer as well:
And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior's blood?
Died he for me, who caused his pain?
For me, who him, to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be
That thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be
That thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. "You deaf and mute spirit," he said, "I command you, come out of him and never enter him again."
The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, "He's dead." But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.
After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we drive it out?"
He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer. " (Mark 9:25-29)
As if to highlight the absolute power and authority of God over all things, Jesus proceeds to heal the boy absolutely and definitively. "Everything is possible for one who believes" (Mark 9:23), and here we see the proof. The boy who had been afflicted since he was a child is healed with a word of command from Jesus. Truly anything is possible with God.
Yet, at the same time, there's a problem. Although Jesus clearly has power to defy the forces of darkness and turn back the ravaging effects of sin, the disciples are left wondering how come they couldn't affect those changes themselves. The answer, it turns out, has nothing to do with their limitations as mortal creatures as opposed to Jesus' divine perfection. Rather, the problem lies in their failure to pray.
Are you noticing a common thread in our devotionals so far this week?
It would seem that Jesus really wants us to pray. So what is it about prayer that makes it such a vital component of our spiritual life? The most obvious answer, in this particular case, is that it connects us with a source of power and strength that is so utterly beyond ourselves that it's almost impossible to fathom. With God, everything is possible, and prayer connects us to that possibility.
Secondly, prayer clearly demonstrates our total dependence on God. When we pray, we acknowledge that we don't have all the answers, that we don't have all the power, and that we don't have all the authority. In fact, when we pray, we are essentially admitting our total helplessness. It would appear that the disciples had perhaps lost sight of this crucial fact, and were perhaps beginning to think that they were the ones casting out demons, not the power of God working through them.
Finally, prayer is a reminder that God is not an abstract concept, but a loving Father. He longs to be in relationship with us, and prayer affords us the opportunity to connect with God in one of those most intimate ways imaginable.
So now, as we close out our devotional time, I encourage you to pray with renewed energy and focus today. God loves you and wants to hear from you. He has the power to help you. Recognize your own helplessness and turn to God for healing today.
When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.
"What are you arguing with them about?" he asked.
A man in the crowd answered, "Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not."
"You unbelieving generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me."
So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.
Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?"
"From childhood," he answered. "It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."
" 'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for one who believes."
Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" (Mark 9:14-24)
The first question that comes to mind when reading this passage concerns unanswered prayer. If, as Jesus seems to imply, "Everything is possible for one who believes," then how come we don't see more miracles today? Are we not believing enough? Is our faith too weak?
But before we jump to those questions, we need to examine the text more closely. Jesus does not say, "Everything is guaranteed to happen in accordance with the fervent prayers of someone who has enough faith." God is not a genie in a bottle, beholden to the wishes and desires of whoever wakes Him up. What Jesus does say is, "Everything is possible for one who believes."
The key word here is "possible." Think about it this way. When we pray to God, we are not grasping at straws, hoping that perhaps one of the many possible divine entities that may or may not actually exist "out there" deigns to get involved in our lives to tilt the balance in our favor.
No, when we pray, we are entering into the throne room of the one true King, the Lord of Lords, the God of the Universe. This is the God who holds all things together, the One who created everything out of nothing. He is more mighty and powerful than we can ever possibly imagine. That's the kind of power and authority we have access to when we pray. So of course all things are possible. After all, this is God we are talking about!
If we believe that He is who He says He is, then everything is possible. That means that while there is no guarantee of healing, there is a very real potential for it (not just a vague wished for hope). While there is no guarantee of provision in a time of crisis, the act of praying for it is not futile or pathetic, but vital and important, for the possibility of relief and supernatural intervention is absolutely real.
If God is involved, anything is possible. I am not the source of potentiality, God is. As such, miracles can happen even for those who feel weak, weary and worn down by life. As the boy's father cried out to Jesus, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" May we have the courage to approach our Father in Heaven with that kind of faith today.
When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.
"What are you arguing with them about?" he asked.
A man in the crowd answered, "Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not."
"You unbelieving generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me."
So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.
Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?"
I have uttered many prayers for help throughout my life, but none with such pleading and desperation than the time my wife experienced a miscarriage. As we began to notice that things were not going well with the pregnancy, we both prayed with a fervency we had never experienced before. And yet, my wife still miscarried. Why didn't God intervene to heal her and save the baby?
I think this is the kind of question we all have in mind after reading a passage like this. What we want to know, what we long to understand, is why God doesn't heal, provide or protect in the ways we are hoping and praying that He will. Jesus healed the boy "possessed by a spirit," so why won't He heal me? Or my spouse? Or my friend?
That question, of course, is far bigger than anything we could possibly cover in a brief devotional, but it's instructive perhaps to consider Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane. Not one of us could ever hope to pray with more trust, faith, and belief than Jesus, and yet God, in His wisdom, nevertheless chose not to answer that particular prayer. Clearly there are aspects of God's sovereign will that we can never fully comprehend this side of Heaven.
Tomorrow we'll continue our examination of this passage, considering more carefully Jesus' conversation with the man about his sick son. But for today, one thing we do know, for sure, without any doubt, is that God wants us to pray about everything. Even when things don't make sense and we have absolutely no clue what is going on, God wants us to pray.
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. (Luke 18:1)
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)
Two actions steps lead out of these verses. First, take your requests and concerns to God today. Now. Whether it makes sense or not, whether you feel full of faith or not, whether the situation seems bleak and hopeless or not, persist in prayer and do not give up. Second, please let us know how we can be praying for you. We gather as a staff to pray for you every Tuesday. We would love to pray specifically for you tomorrow.
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?
If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels." (Mark 8:34-38)
When I was a child we often gave things up for Lent. So, for 40 days (more or less), we would be deprived of candy, or chocolate (note how we managed to keep those as separate categories), or perhaps television or cookies. My parents may have tried to explain this to us, I'm not sure, but I admit I was never really very clear as to why we were suddenly giving up such essential pieces of my childhood life. The calendar said "Lent," therefore we were obliged to give something up.
So at this time of year, in particular, it's hard not to read Jesus' words in a similar way. Following Jesus, in this view, seems to imply that we should be focused on denying ourselves pleasurable things in this world so we can experience spiritual treasures in the next.
But according to New Testament Professor R.T. France, Jesus is talking about something "on a different level altogether from giving up chocolates for Lent. 'It is not the denial of something to the self, but the denial of the self itself'" (R.T. France, The New International Greek Testament Commentary on The Gospel of Mark, p.340). This corresponds much more precisely with Jesus' encouragement to follow Him to the cross, to die. He's not talking about temporary inconvenience, He's talking about absolute submission. It's an all-or-nothing decision. There's no middle ground when it comes to following Jesus.
That said, when it comes right down to it, we all do a pretty miserable job at setting our own selfish needs and desires to one side for the sake of Jesus and the Gospel. Maybe some days are better than others, but the bottom line is that we can't do this perfectly or completely. We've all had exciting moments of total shining commitment to our Lord and Savior, that are invariably followed by painful reminders of our own weakness and timidity.
Rather than see this as failure, however, such an analysis should lead us to worship instead. Depriving ourselves, or denying ourselves, or even denying our "selves," doesn't earn us more favor with God. Our righteousness is dependent on one thing only. Jesus. It's His perfect obedience and His total denial of self that saves us and allows us entrance into the presence of God. Thank goodness it doesn't depend on me!
He is the King. We are His servants. We are called to follow. We are commanded to obey. We are exhorted to grow. But when, as we seek to follow in Jesus' footsteps, we do stumble and fall, we can take heart knowing that His grace makes up the difference.
Following Jesus is not something we undertake lightly or casually. It is more than attending church or wearing a cross around our neck. Jesus makes a claim on our very lives. How will we respond? As you read this passage today, pray for God to reveal areas in your life you've been holding back, and ask for His help to bring your whole life under His authority.
As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them ?" But Jesus turned and rebuked them. Then he and his disciples went to another village.
As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."
Jesus replied, "Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."
He said to another man, "Follow me."
But he replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."
Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."
Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family."
Jesus replied, "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:51-62)
He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. "Get behind me, Satan!" he said. "You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns." (Mark 8:31-33)
I like to think that I am a good communicator, but apparently when it comes to my children it would seem that I am not. When I say something simple and straightforward like, "Please clean up the dishes from the table," I am working on the basis that this is a pretty simple command to follow. Yet their ability to misconstrue, misunderstand and in general try to argue their way out of doing it often leaves me totally dumbfounded.
In a similar way, it's hard to understand how it is that after Jesus speaking so "plainly" about His coming arrest, death and Resurrection, the disciples could still not understand, and indeed Peter could even feel obligated to rebuke Jesus (whom, by the way, he had just identified as the Messiah).
Once again, however, we find ourselves caught up in a historical challenge. Although we know what Jesus is talking about, and although it all therefore seems quite plain and straightforward to us, it was almost too much to comprehend for the disciples. How could it make any sense that the Messiah, the Savior, the Promised One they had all been looking for, would suffer, be rejected and then finally killed? How could it make any sense that the same man who had recently walked on water could let Himself be mocked and humiliated and executed in such a manner?
If I had been there, would I have been able to understand? In fact, looking back to my life before I was a Christian, did I have any ability to understand anything at all before the Holy Spirit made it clear to me? The understanding that I have now is a gift that has come as a result of God's work in my life, not through my own brilliance. I brought nothing but sin to the table, but God responded with grace and patience, opening my eyes so I could finally see.
Humanly speaking, a life lived for Christ will never fully make sense to the world around us. It will seem counter-intuitive, backwards and upside-down. The priorities will seem skewed, the ambitions will appear to be off-track, and the accomplishments and legacies invisible or insignificant.
Those, however, are all "human concerns," and we have been called to set our hearts and minds on pursuing the "concerns of God" instead. As followers of Jesus, we claim to follow a King whose ways will always create confusion for those who don't yet understand. Whatever persecution or opposition we may face along the way, let's pursue those paths nonetheless, and continue to pray with fervor that all would come to know Jesus as their King.
There are two highly significant passages of Scripture that inform our understanding of Jesus as the Messiah. On the one hand, He was indeed the great King who conquered death and established God's Kingdom rule. On the other hand, He was a suffering servant, humiliated by the forces of evil and led to a tortuous death. As you read these passages today, ask the Lord to lead you into a place of awe and wonder at the great God whom we serve.
"In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. (Daniel 7:13-14)
Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
4 Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was punished.
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
11 After he has suffered,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.
(Isaiah 53)
Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, "Who do people say I am?"
They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets."
"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
Peter answered, "You are the Messiah."
Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him. (Mark 8:27-30)
Almost any commentary you might happen to read on the Gospel of Mark will say that these verses mark a turning point in the story. From this point forward, Jesus sets His face towards Jerusalem. Although there will be much that happens along the way, there is a shift away from the kind of circuitous ministry we've encountered so far, as Jesus instead moves decisively towards the cross.
Once again though, we have a challenge as readers, because we know far more about what's going on than the disciples do. We know who Jesus really is, we know what's going to happen, we know all about the birth of the early church, and we have experienced the work of the Holy Spirit in our own lives today.
The disciples may have had the unique opportunity to walk with Jesus, but that's it. The rest was yet to come. All they had to go on was a unique calling on their lives, some incredible healings, unbelievable miracles, and difficult teachings. They had moments of clarity, when all these data points connected clearly for them and the truth started to come into focus, but for the most part they were still in the dark.
The brief interchange Mark records for us here is one of those rare moments of clarity. Jesus pushes them to provide a definitive answer about the question of His identity, and Peter, bold as ever, hits the nail right on the head: "You are the Messiah."
Why would Jesus then order them to keep such good news (from our perspective) a secret? There are many different interpretations, but perhaps the most likely is the fact that our conception of "Messiah" is vastly different than theirs would have been.
There is a fair amount of evidence indicating that at the time of Jesus, some people believed that the "Messiah" would be a political or even military leader. However, while Jesus may have come preaching that, "The kingdom of God has come near" (Mark 1:15), His mission was never meant to overthrow Roman rule in order to establish His own. His identity as "Messiah," therefore, was to be kept secret in order to prevent any possible misunderstanding until such time as Jesus Himself could demonstrate how He would function as their real Messiah, by dying on the cross.
As we read these verses some 2,000 years later, the reminder for us is that Jesus is not just the Messiah in a general sense, He is our Messiah in a very personal and specific sense. I need to hear this on a daily basis. Jesus died for our sins. He came to rescue us from slavery and set us free to live for Him. He came to adopt us as His children and establish Himself as the Lord of our lives. It is only when we have absolute clarity as to who Jesus is that we can begin to have clarity about who we are as well. Are you resting in your identity as a child of God?
They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man's eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, "Do you see anything?"
He looked up and said, "I see people; they look like trees walking around."
Once more Jesus put his hands on the man's eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. Jesus sent him home, saying, "Don't even go into the village." (Mark 8:22-26)
For the blind man whose eyes were opened as a result of Jesus' healing touch, this was an astonishing miracle. The blind do not spontaneously regain their sight, and for this man the change in his life must have been extraordinary.
However, since Mark doesn't provide a detailed account of each and every miracle Jesus ever performed, we have to ask if his reason for putting this story here has any greater significance beyond a further demonstration of Jesus' absolute power over all of Creation.
Clearly, the Pharisees did not understand who Jesus was, nor were they interested in what He had to offer. Their spiritual blindness to the truth appears to be fixed, leading them on a path to separation from God.
Even the disciples, we learn, were still largely blind to who Jesus was and what was going on. Jesus repeatedly challenged their lack of comprehension, but rather than dismissing them as He did the Pharisees, He continued to work with them, helping them to make sense of everything that was happening around them. It was slow going at times, but slowly, gradually, the disciples came to understand more and more, until eventually, after Jesus' death, resurrection, and ascension, when the Spirit fell on them all, their eyes were opened and everything finally came together.
It's a journey that to some extent we are all on in our own lives. Although the moment of salvation may be as sudden and dramatic as someone flipping on a light switch in a dark room, our understanding of the fullness of who Jesus is continues to grow and shape and develop as we grow in our faith and grow closer to Him.
How are you growing in your understanding of who Jesus is and what He wants from us?
The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. "Be careful," Jesus warned them. "Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod."
They discussed this with one another and said, "It is because we have no bread."
Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: "Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don't you remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?"
"Twelve," they replied.
"And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?"
They answered, "Seven."
He said to them, "Do you still not understand?" (Mark 8:14-21)
Looking for a passage that helps bolster your claim that the Gospel accounts are authentic? Look no further than this example of the disciples stumbling once again through an awkward conversation with Jesus. Who would invent such a story, especially if they were trying to start a movement that held up these men as their founding members?
But aside from any apologetic value this passage may or may not have, it does give us a welcome comedic interlude in a series that has been both challenging and convicting. The poor disciples. Having just been warned about the dangerous influence and potentially negative impact of the Pharisees, they display their total lack of comprehension once again.
I suppose I can't judge them too harshly. I need (like?) to eat every few hours, and when I get hungry everything else does kind of fade into the background. It's quite possible that I, too, might have thought Jesus' comment about "the yeast of the Pharisees" was really a comment about the bread He had just multiplied for four thousand people, and which we now didn't have enough of on the boat. After being intimately involved in two such incredible miracles, it would be hard not have bread on the brain.
In some ways, however, this returns us to the same challenges we discussed yesterday. Since we are physical creatures living in a physical world, it's easy to get sidetracked by physical things. Sadly, in doing so, we often end up losing sight of the deeper spiritual reality we are actually a part of. We discover that we have "eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear."
How "tuned in" are you to Jesus today?
One of the other pastors here at church is currently engaged in a very deep conversation with his buddy about the existence of God, and it's been exhausting. What seems so blatantly obvious to us appears to be a logical impossibility to his friend. This friend is not merely an agnostic, uncertain about his beliefs, or on the fence about what is true, he is an avowed atheist, absolutely and definitively rejecting God. In fact, he denies anything supernatural whatsoever. It's not just Christianity that comes under his condemnation, it's all world religions.
How can this be possible? What about truth and beauty? What about love? Where does he think these things come from? What about the soul? Are we really just animated matter that is alive (whatever that means) one moment, and then dead the next?
Although I don't like looking back to the time when I was not yet saved, I do remember quite clearly that at the time my own atheism seemed to be the most rational, sensible outlook on life available. I lived in a material world, and if I couldn't measure it, see it, feel it, hear it or touch it, then I wasn't interested in believing it.
I think one time a Christian tried to reach out to me in college, and my answer was something along the lines of, "If Jesus showed up here and proved his existence to me, then I'd believe." My colleague's friend, the atheist, would I think say the same thing. If God wants our allegiance, then the burden, apparently, is on God to prove himself to us.
Jesus faced a similar challenge in his own ministry:
The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. He sighed deeply and said, "Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to it." Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side. (Mark 8:11-13)
"Prove yourself Jesus!" I can hear the echoes of my old college self in the demands from the Pharisees. I can hear our atheist friend offering a similar challenge from off in the wings somewhere. So why wouldn't Jesus do it? Surely He wanted everyone to believe? Wasn't it reasonable to ask for some evidence, some proof to back up His astonishing claims?
Clearly, Jesus did not see it that way. In fact, if we look a little closer the prevailing pattern in Mark is of growing opposition and challenge from the Pharisees. They weren't interested in discovering who Jesus really was, they wanted to "test" him, to catch Him out, to look for some way to condemn Him (which eventually they would do).
Was the feeding of the four thousand not enough? Or the feeding of the five thousand? Or any one of the many, many, many healings? They didn't approach Jesus with a humble and open heart genuinely seeking answers, they came looking for a fight, looking for a confrontation, convinced of what they already believed.
It took God's supernatural intervention in my life to soften my heart and make me receptive to hearing the Gospel. It will take God's supernatural intervention to soften the hearts of those around us who have yet to believe. And that means we need to be on our knees in fervent and persistent and ongoing prayer for their salvation. Who are you praying for today?
During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance."
His disciples answered, "But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?"
"How many loaves do you have?" Jesus asked.
"Seven," they replied.
He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people, and they did so. They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. About four thousand were present. After he had sent them away, he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha. (Mark 8:1-10)
Every Tuesday morning at 11:30am we gather as a staff to pray for our congregation. We pray for healing, for provision, for wisdom, for direction, for hope and for salvation. The needs are many, and at times it seems almost overwhelming. There is so much brokenness in this world, and so much pain and suffering, that it is sometimes hard to see how anything is going to come out in the end.
The wonderful encouragement for me from this passage is the demonstration of Jesus' great love and care for our very real physical needs. Was His primary mission on Earth to provide a free meal to these people traveling around with Him? Of course not. But did He do it anyway? Amazingly, yes. In fact, He does so without prompting:
Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance."
His compassion for the people, and His desire to provide for their immediate physical needs, is a great comfort to me to persevere in prayer for the many, many needs all around me right now at church. Not only does Jesus save, but He provides. Not only does He care about our ultimate eternal destination, but He cares deeply about our temporary, broken current situation as well. And He extends His power to solve problems in both the spiritual realm as well as the physical.
So as we turn to the Lord today on your behalf, how can we be praying for you?
We begin our week with a passage of Scripture that is not found in the Gospel of Mark, but is linked thematically with much that we will study this week. This comes from the Gospel of John:
Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?"
Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."
So they asked him, "What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'"
Jesus said to them, "Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."
"Sir," they said, "always give us this bread."
Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day." (John 6:28-40)
I was blessed last week to have the opportunity to share the Gospel with a guy I met, and he ended up giving His life to Christ. It was an exhilarating moment for us both! I don't consider myself to be particularly adept or experienced at sharing my faith. You might say I'm an "accidental evangelist" when it comes to spreading the Gospel. But in this case, as I responded to the Spirit's leading in this man's life, the Gospel came tumbling out and He responded with faith.
I say all this because the man I was ministering to was starving to death spiritually. He was desperate for answers, and eager to hear about the One who could offer Him true and lasting rest. All I did was point Him to "the bread of life."
What a promise Jesus makes: "Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." In the midst of all our prayers for God to provide for us and for others financially, relationally and vocationally, (and these are all good prayers to pray), I sometimes wonder if we lose sight of how desperately we all need Jesus at a much deeper level.
Those who are far from Christ spend their lives cramming all kinds of spiritual junk food into their empty hearts, desperately trying to fill that aching void with a patchwork mess of new-age ideas, self-help mantras and cobbled together traditions and ideas they get from family and friends. Such an endeavor, we know, is ultimately always a lost cause. But who will be bold enough to let them know? Who will share with them the only hope that is secure, and the only food that will fill and the only water that will truly satisfy?
Meanwhile, those who know Christ and have called upon Him as Lord can often become distracted by the dazzling, dizzying busyness of life, and slip back into old habits of securing happiness and hope through and in the things of this world. Their salvation is not in peril, but the primary object of their devotion has shifted from Creator to Creation. Such an endeavor, we know, will only result in disappointment and distress, for the idols of this world are empty and meaningless. But who will be bold enough to let our fellow travellers in the family of faith know that they are placing their trust in all the wrong places? Who will remind them again of the only hope that is secure, and the only food that can truly satisfy our deepest desires?
"For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."
This week, my prayer is that we may we be conduits of that life, in whatever context God has placed us. I pray that we would sow the Gospel into every corner of Creation, praying faithfully and expectantly for God to do mighty and marvelous things as He grows and spreads His Kingdom throughout the world.
Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis. There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him.
After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man's ears. Then he spit and touched the man's tongue. He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, "Ephphatha!" (which means "Be opened!"). At this, the man's ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.
Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. People were overwhelmed with amazement. "He has done everything well," they said. "He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak." (Mark 7:31-37)
It sometimes seems as if we end every week talking about another miracle from Jesus, and that could very well be true! The Gospel accounts are packed full of healing miracles. Almost everywhere Jesus went, people were healed. Even in Nazareth, where He was rejected by His own family and friends, still some were healed. Imagine, the power of God walking around, touching, speaking, healing. I love the way Mark puts it, "People were overwhelmed with amazement." Wouldn't you be?
In this particular case, Mark may be recording this miracle for a couple of reasons. First, it's another sign of the incredible power of God, a power unlike anything seen or heard of before. Moreover, it's another sign of God's desire to work even amongst the Gentiles, and it shows God's care and compassion for specific, individual people. Christianity is not about large-scale abstract philosophical principles, but is the intimate story of a God deeply committed to the restoration of His lost and broken Creation.
However, at a deeper level Mark may also be making a theological point about Jesus' role as the promised Messiah. As New Testament scholar R.T. France has pointed out, the situation and language in this particular miracle recalls the following passage from Isaiah:
Strengthen the feeble hands,
steady the knees that give way;
say to those with fearful hearts,
"Be strong, do not fear;
your God will come,
he will come with vengeance;
with divine retribution
he will come to save you."
Then will the eyes of the blind be opened
and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
Then will the lame leap like a deer,
and the mute tongue shout for joy.
Water will gush forth in the wilderness
and streams in the desert.
The burning sand will become a pool,
the thirsty ground bubbling springs.
In the haunts where jackals once lay,
grass and reeds and papyrus will grow. (Isaiah 35:3-7)
These words, spoken to comfort God's people as they faced Exile, promised a day when all things would be made right again. Not just in the immediate sense of being restored to their homeland, but in the larger sense of God bringing all things back together to the way they were always supposed to be. It's a promise that was partially fulfilled when the people did, indeed, return from Exile, and was partially fulfilled in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, but will only reach it's ultimate and complete fulfillment in the Last Days.
Until then we hold on in hope and pray for God to continue His work here amongst us. Will everyone who has faith and prays and asks God for healing experience such restoration here and now? Sadly, no. Even Jesus didn't heal everyone who needed it. But in a larger sense, one day we will indeed all be healed. We will graduate out of these weak and broken bodies and experience new life in the very fullest and most complete way possible, in the very presence of our Savior Himself.
He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon."
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. (Revelation 22:20)
When Jesus purposefully entered the region around Tyre, and then healed a Gentile woman's daughter, He signaled a significant shift in His ministry. Instead of restricting His influence to Jews only, He gave clear hints that the Kingdom would actually include all people, Gentiles and Jews together. Although it may be hard for us to make sense of such a debate now, at the time this was a very significant issue. As we read in Acts:
Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved." This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the believers very glad. When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.
Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses."
The apostles and elders met to consider this question. After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: "Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."
The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. When they finished, James spoke up. "Brothers," he said, "listen to me. Simon has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles. The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:
"'After this I will return
and rebuild David's fallen tent.
Its ruins I will rebuild,
and I will restore it,
that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,
even all the Gentiles who bear my name,
says the Lord, who does these things'—
things known from long ago.
(Acts 15:1-18)
What about us? Are there ways in which we are artificially, or perhaps even just unintentionally, constructing walls and barriers towards other people hearing the Gospel? A good friend of mine said to me the other night, "Jesus calls us to fish for men, not clean the fish. Yet, all too often we see our job as cleaning people up so they can enter the Kingdom, instead of getting them into the Kingdom and letting the Holy Spirit clean them up afterwards."
As we try to communicate the Gospel with our friends, family members and co-workers, can we honestly say that we share with Jesus the grand vision of God for all of "mankind [to] seek the Lord"? How can we expand our vision for the lost to truly include all people, even those we may have perhaps dismissed in our minds and hearts as somehow unreachable?
Today we return to our study of Mark, and as we prepare for the sermon on Sunday we find ourselves faced with a particularly challenging passage of Scripture to interpret.
24 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. 25 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. 26 The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.
27 "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."
28 "Lord," she replied, "even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs."
29 Then he told her, "For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter."
30 She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.
(Mark 7:24-30)
Although commentators, pastors and professors have come up with all kinds of creative ways to explain what is going on here, on first glance at least this does not appear to be the Jesus we learned about in Sunday School. There's a tone here, and a harshness, that seems completely out of place with our understanding of God's great love for everyone.
While there is no solution that makes this passage completely palatable, at least two things in particular help frame the conversation for me. First, this was a conversation in large measure prompted by Jesus Himself. Although He gives the very clear impression of being opposed to helping a Gentile, Jesus was the one who put Himself in that situation to begin with.
As we read above, "Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre" (Mark 7:24). Jesus specifically and intentionally chose to enter this Gentile region. Nobody made Him go there. This woman didn't approach Him in a synagogue in Galilee. Jesus left the Jewish region and went into a place where there would only be Gentiles, and lots of them. Why would He do that? It's a small detail, but clearly something more must be going on here than meets the eye.
Secondly, whatever the dialogue Jesus and this woman have, the result is a truly spectacular healing. "Then he told her, 'For such a reply, 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 7:30).
Jesus doesn't touch the girl or even see the girl. He simply announces that the demon has gone. There was something about her tenacity, her insistence, her urgency, her love for her child, something, that led Him to respond with healing. Earlier, we read that Jesus' ministry in His hometown of Nazareth was severely hampered because of their lack of faith. Could it be that this woman stands as a counter-point to the rejection Jesus experienced from his own family?
Ultimately, of course, not one of us actually has the right to approach Jesus for anything at all. Mired in sin, we can't say we "deserve" God's intervention in our life in any way, shape, or form. But in this little interlude we catch a glimpse of God's gracious provision and His boundless love for those who know how little they deserve, but come humbly to God nonetheless.
As we close our devotional today, consider the Parable of the Tax Collector and Pharisee. Where is our heart?
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'
"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'
"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." (Luke 18:9-14)
As I noted yesterday, we will spend some time again today reflecting on what God has already taught us through our study of Mark, and how we should be putting that into practice in concrete ways. It's one thing to hear a sermon or read a devotional, and to be convicted or challenged, but are we then taking the next step of actually setting goals and enacting change as a result?
Consider, for example, Paul's challenge to the Romans:
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. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. (Romans 12:1-9)
The title for this sermon series comes from Mark 1:17: "'Come, follow me,' Jesus said, 'and I will send you out to fish for people.'" When we follow Jesus, we don't merely listen to sermons and teachings, but as our own lives are transformed, that change spills over into the lives of those around us as well.
What is your plan for putting God's Word into action?
But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. (2 Thessalonians 2:13-17)
Every now and then we take a brief pause to reflect back on the passages we've been studying. Consuming information is easy to do; in fact, we're programmed by our culture to consume ever-increasing amounts of data on a daily basis. Whether it's news stories, or cultural commentary, or emails, texts, Facebook updates, Tweets, short videos on Vine or long videos on YouTube, TV shows, video games, books, magazines, or even conversations—we are constantly sifting inputs and trying to make sense of it all.
In the middle of this data deluge it can be hard to pause long enough to listen for the voice of God speaking to us from the pages of His Word, or through the power of a sermon, or the conviction of the Holy spirit. We consume a lot of Christian stuff, but how much of it do we allow to sink in deeply to the level of our hearts? What kind of transformation is happening as a result? To put it in more Biblical terminology, "Where is the fruit?"
So for the next two days I suggest we all take a moment to press pause on consuming more new information, and spend time reflecting on what we have already learned. What difference has any of it made?
We're more or less half way through our study of the Gospel of Mark. That means we've studied seven chapters of the Bible, listened to 17 sermons from the pulpit and read 85 devotionals from me. But as you reflect back on the last five months, how has God used all that content to produce change in your life?
As Paul encouraged the Thessalonians:
So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. (2 Thessalonians 2:15)
Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, "Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them."
After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable. "Are you so dull?" he asked. "Don't you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? 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.)
He went on: "What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person's heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person." (Mark 7:14-23)
I think I've mentioned this here before, but my wife has an aunt and uncle who are devout followers of a Hindu religious leader named Sai Baba. Among other things, they are firm believers that what you put into your body really can and does defile you spiritually. In fact, it's a very significant issue for them. They pray over their food, not to give thanks for it as we do, but to cleanse the food of any defilement that might contaminate them spiritually as a result of consuming it. It may sound ridiculous, but they've been living this way for probably 40 years now, and have raised their children to do the same thing. And they're not alone.
Jesus, of course, points out the obvious hole in this theory. What you eat is simply fuel. It's food that enters the digestive system, is broken down, and then the waste is passed out of the body. The real problem, Jesus challenged the people, is with "a person's heart." Eating too much salami may give us heartburn, but in and of itself does not separate us from God. Lying repeatedly, cheating on your spouse, stealing from someone else—all of these things both reflect a heart that is already drifting away from God, and are also actions that serve to separate us from His presence even more.
Is Jesus contradicting the purity laws of the Old Testament by making such a bold claim? No, I think what He is trying to do here is to emphasize that sin is embedded within us, and reflected in the thoughts, feelings, intentions and actions that are stirred up as a result. This reflects the overall teaching of the Bible that everybody has been rendered guilty through the infection of sin, and nobody is innocent. Contrary to popular belief, we are not born in purity, only to be corrupted by the world. We are born corrupted, and our only hope of escape is through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He is our only way out.
So eat all the organic, free-range, antibiotic-free food that you want. It may indeed be of great physical help to your body. But let us never forget that the far more important issue is what we are doing to solve our sin problem. Are we constantly striving to save ourselves? Or are we leaning on our Savior, content in the righteousness that comes from Christ alone?
As we have discussed issues of purity and holiness this week, today it seems appropriate to pause for a moment to spend some time in prayer, spurred on by David's powerful psalm of repentance:
Psalm 51
For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.
1 Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
and justified when you judge.
5 Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
you taught me wisdom in that secret place.
7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
so that sinners will turn back to you.
14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
you who are God my Savior,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
15 Open my lips, Lord,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart
you, God, will not despise.
18 May it please you to prosper Zion,
to build up the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,
in burnt offerings offered whole;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.
And he continued, "You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! For Moses said, 'Honor your father and mother,' and, 'Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.' 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)— then you no longer let them do anything for their father or mother. Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that." (Mark 7:9-13)
Without wishing to sound too negative, the twisted lengths to which some people will go in an attempt to justify, or even legitimize, sin is astonishing. Just when I think I've seen or heard it all, I encounter some new corruption that makes me shake my head in disappointment and bewilderment. It is surely incredible that God's patience has not run out yet, and that He chooses to pour out grace and love instead of wrath and judgment.
Our endlessly creative hearts continue to come up with new and ever more inventive ways to work around the clear commands of God. And that's at the heart of Jesus' condemnation of the Pharisees in this passage. Some of them had even come up with ways to use the Law in order to get out of doing the Law. Read what Professor R.T. France says in his commentary on The Gospel of Mark:
"In rabbinic literature the term [corban] recurs frequently as a formula used when making an offering (whether of food, money, or property), as a result of which the thing dedicated becomes unavailable for normal use; in practice the formula seems to have been used primarily for the negative purpose of excluding a particular person from the use of the property…rather than positively transfer it to divine use." (R.T. France, The Gospel of Mark, The New International Greek Testament Commentary, p.286)
In other words, the people had managed to so twist the Law around to suit their own selfish needs that they would dedicate something to God with the express purpose of keeping it away from someone else.
Jesus, of course, had no patience for this whatsoever. As he told the people who did this, "You nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down." Now, if I came up to you and asked if you would like to nullify the word of God today, you would most likely say no. Most people don't initially set out to oppose God. In fact, even the Pharisees, were, in their own way, trying to pursue God as fervently as possible.
However, we underestimate the power of sin if we think we're completely immune to similar temptations today. How many times has someone justified a couple of extra drinks with the claim that it's important to have times of rest in our busy lives? Or how often do we invest significant sums of money in the sporting activities of our children, while telling a close friend who needs some help that things are too tight right now?
The way out of this mess isn't complicated or clever. It's the same thing believers have been doing for two thousand years. Repent and believe. The power for living in a way that glorifies God doesn't come from within, but from God. As Paul told the Romans:
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." (Romans 1:16-17)
May God grant us strength to live that way today.
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.
They worship me in vain;
their teachings are merely human rules.'
You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions." (Mark 7:6-8)
I sometimes think our faith would be a whole lot easier if we could simply judge things by the way they look. It would level the playing field, lower the bar, and generally make things a lot easier for everyone. The reality, of course, is that clean living does not necessarily equate with holiness. We can probably all call to mind certain Christian men and women whom we thought were walking with the Lord, but turned out later to be leading a double-life. Although horrible to consider, it is possible to say and do all the right things, while at the same time embracing a hidden life that is completely opposed to God.
However, while it may seem as if this is a problem unique to our contemporary culture, influenced perhaps by the entertainment industry or easy access to pornography, Jesus reminds us that our tendency towards deceitfulness is nothing new at all. In fact, His condemnation of the Pharisees was not much different from Isaiah's condemnation of the people of Israel, which was itself not much different from Joshua's concern about the way the people were drifting towards idolatry, which was itself not much different than the descent into sin that led to the Flood, which was really just the culmination of a problem triggered in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve first set themselves up in opposition towards God.
Our heart problem is a sin a problem. And our sin problem is a human problem, impacting everyone everywhere. It's a disease that may become more visible at times, when certain people let it run rampant in their lives, and they act out accordingly, but we've all been infected. None of us is able to sit on the sidelines and judge objectively. None of us can point fingers without coming under the holy gaze of God ourselves.
Isaiah chastised the people for choosing to honor God with their lips, while their hearts were far from Him. That's a hidden sin; a deceit that disguises itself behind rites and rituals meant to impress others with religious devotion. Who can tell what is really going on?
Paul warned the Galatians as follows:
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. (Galatians 6:7-8)
God alone knows our hearts. And we, alone, know what the conviction of the Holy Spirit feels like. The choice, then, is ever before us. Will we sow to please the flesh, or sow to please the Spirit? Which path will you choose today?
The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. 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.) 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)
I don't know about you, but I do wash my hands before eating, and I encourage my children to do the same thing. It's not just a habit or a custom, it's plain good hygiene, especially at this time of year when so many people are sick. We've been washing our hands for years, and will continue to do so into the foreseeable future.
But this passage is clearly about so much more than just practicing good hygiene. Jesus doesn't want you to ditch the hand sanitizer just yet. The washing of hands (or not) was what we might call, "the presenting problem." The real, deeper issue, however, was the use of traditions that controlled such ceremonial washing. The Pharisees and teachers didn't come all the way from Jerusalem because they were worried about the disciples getting sick from not washing their hands before eating. They came from Jerusalem because they were concerned about their power and influence over the people. This was an issue of control; an issue of authority.
Far from being some ancient argument that no longer matters to us today, the debate continues to plague us in the contemporary church. Why do we do the things we do? What is the difference between a church tradition and a command of God?
Our traditions in large measure make us who we are. We eat and think and talk and act and sing the way we do because that's the way we do things here in Wheaton, Illinois in 2014. And while some of those things may be guided by principles we pulled from the Bible, some of them may owe more to the culture we live in. This becomes particularly apparent when you sit down with, say, a Congolese refugee, who wants to know why the pastors don't personally visit everyone in the congregation. This would be normal for churches where they come from, yet it's not something we do here.
Traditions in and of themselves may be good, noble, and even God-honoring in some sense. However, we are moving into dangerous territory if they ever become equal in importance to God's direct instruction to us in His Word, the Bible.
What good habits or Christian practices have become immutable traditions in your faith? How do you feel when someone challenges them, or contradicts them, or dismisses them?
When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 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 6:53-56)
The faith of the people in Gennesaret stands in stark contrast to the hardness of heart and lack of understanding of the disciples. Whereas the disciples apparently struggled to make sense of the feeding of the five thousand, and were terrified when Jesus approached them walking on water, the everyday people of Gennesaret actively sought Jesus out for help and healing. They were single-minded in their focus; they needed healing, Jesus had the power to heal, so they did whatever they could to get near Him. Even touching "the edge of his cloak" was enough.
Is it possible, perhaps, that sometimes we overthink things too much? Is it possible that with all our education, all our books and all our vast reasoning capacity, sometimes we overlook the obvious answers right in front of us as we try to make sense of things that we will never understand? Do we sometimes lose sight of the forest as we focus so intently on the trees?
I am an academic-type of person. I love to read and I love to learn. These are gifts from a God who encourages us to think and reason and read and write. However, I know from personal experience that sometimes my over-analytical mind can crowd out my need for a heart-felt faith. Jesus often commends the faith of those who had a simple faith, those who were not looking for answers for every last conundrum of the universe. Might I need to sometimes take a page out of their book and stop trying to solve everything myself?
The story of these healings is told simply and plainly. In many ways there is nothing remarkable or special about this interlude at all. And yet, perhaps that's exactly the point. The disciples, with all their access to Jesus, were still as hopelessly confused as ever. These people, however, were intimately aware of their needs, and just took them to Jesus for help as-is, no questions asked.
What are some ways in which over-thinking things can sometimes get in the way of our faith? In what areas of your life do you need Jesus' healing today?
Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.
Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. 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, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified.
Immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened. (Mark 6:45-52)
How quickly it is that we move from faith to fear, or belief to befuddlement. One moment we can be high as a kite from the dramatic answer to a particular prayer, and then the next moment we find ourselves down in the dumps, convinced that nobody, not even God, has the power to solve a particular problem.
We like to think of our spiritual lives as being far more constant, but if we're honest these cycles of confidence and concern consume much more of our time and energy than we'd like to admit.
The disciples were in exactly the same boat. "Straining at the oars" against a terrible headwind, barely able to make any progress, they found themselves totally out of their league. Although they had just finished a missionary journey where they themselves were given authority from Jesus to cast out demons and heal the sick, and despite the fact that they had just seen Jesus supernaturally divide five loaves and two fish in order to feed five thousand people, nevertheless, when Jesus appeared, walking on the very lake itself, they assumed it must be a ghost, and they cried out in terror.
As Mark records for us in particularly somber tones, "They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened" (Mark 6:52). Despite everything they have seen and experienced, apparently the disciples simply do not understand what is going on around them. "Who is this?" (Mark 4:41) they asked, after Jesus calmed the storm. Several significant miracles later, they still cannot wrap their heads or hearts around an answer.
Now, although we may suffer from the same human tendency towards being slow to understand, there is a very significant difference that separates us from the disciples and their denseness. In our natural state we're just as blind as the disciples, but for those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ, He has given us the gift of the Holy Spirit to help us see.
We're not left alone, stumbling through the world trying and failing to make sense of the craziness around us. We have a counselor; a helper; an advocate, who will lead us into "all the truth" (John 16:13). The Holy Spirit gives us eyes to see and ears to hear. The Holy Spirit helps us to read the Bible and understand what it says. The Holy Spirit equips us to see God's hand at work in this world and to respond in faith as a result.
We may experience moments of weakness and doubt, but the Holy Spirit will lead us back into faith and security as we seek His guidance and put our faith in His presence. How do you need the Spirit's help in your life today?
By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. "This is a remote place," they said, "and it's already very late. Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat."
But he answered, "You give them something to eat."
They said to him, "That would take more than half a year's wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?"
"How many loaves do you have?" he asked. "Go and see."
When they found out, they said, "Five—and two fish."
Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand. (Mark 6:35-44)
If we had a fire drill here at Wheaton Bible Church on a busy Sunday morning around 9:45am, we'd end up with about 4,500 people outside the building in the parking lots. Obviously it's a far cry from a typical crowd at a professional sporting event, but it's a very large crowd nonetheless. Now imagine being tasked with feeding all of them. Furthermore, imagine you are not sitting right on North Avenue, but are way out in the countryside somewhere, with no restaurants or stores nearby. What would you do?
When posed with a similar problem, the disciples made what seemed to be a pretty reasonable suggestion to Jesus, namely that He "send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat." Who could possibly provide food for that many people? Why would you even try? They've had enough teaching for the day, so now just send them along on their way.
Jesus, of course, had other plans, and the five thousand people were fed from these five loaves and two fishes. Moreover, not only was everyone "satisfied" with what they ate, but "the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish."
Having fed the people spiritually through His teaching, He now fed them abundantly through the bread and fish. Jesus came not merely to heal, but to give hope; not merely to preach, but to provide as well. As John would later quote Jesus saying, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10).
Which miracle is more amazing: feeding the five thousand or raising the little girl from the dead? Calming the storm or healing the demon-possessed man? Helping a lame man to walk, or enabling each and every one of us to be born again?
Over and over again we come face to face in the Gospel accounts with a man who was completely unlike any other person to ever walk the face of the Earth. This world is horribly broken; infected by sin and rotten at its core. You just have to look at the headlines to realize that this is not the way things are meant to be.
Yet in Jesus we catch a glimpse of the way things are meant to be. He's a window into a world un-marred by sin; a vision of hope for a future where there is no more sin and no more death. Each and every miracle, while amazing in and of itself, gives us another sneak peek into a time and place where everything will be made right; where children don't die unexpectedly, cancer doesn't exist, there are no storms, and nobody ever goes hungry again.
That day can't come soon enough. But in the meantime Jesus calls us to stay awake and be prepared; to live in the present with an eye to the future. How can you make the most of the opportunities God has given you today?
But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things. (Mark 6:33-34)
Sadly, although Jesus was hoping to provide the disciples with some much needed rest and recuperation, His popularity was exploding and everywhere He went, large crowds were gathering. In this case, as Jesus and the disciples traveled by boat to a quiet location, the people ran ahead and were waiting for them when they landed.
Rather than send them away, however, Jesus chose instead to engage with them. In fact, Mark tells us that Jesus "had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd." It's a powerful image that has roots in the Old Testament, particularly in longer passages such as this one from Ezekiel:
The word of the Lord came to me: "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally. So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals. My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them.
"'Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, because my flock lacks a shepherd and so has been plundered and has become food for all the wild animals, and because my shepherds did not search for my flock but cared for themselves rather than for my flock, therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock. I will remove them from tending the flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed themselves. I will rescue my flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them.
"'For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord. I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.
When set against the backdrop of this powerful prophecy, Jesus' care and concern for the people gathered to see Him takes on a whole new level of meaning. Clearly, we have here the beginning of the fulfillment of God's promise to "look after" His sheep and "rescue them from all the places where they were scattered."
Jesus didn't merely look at all the people and feel badly for them and all their needs, He had a deep passion and love for them as His personal flock; His people; His precious Creation.
So what did He do next? Did He set up a ministry? Did He reach out and heal? No, "he began teaching them many things." As the passage before and after this one will make abundantly clear, Jesus is deeply concerned with the very real physical challenges and pressures we face on a daily basis. But in this situation His compassion led first and foremost to teaching. Jesus knew, perhaps better than anyone else, that ultimate peace and rest could only come from a right understanding of His mission. As we noted yesterday, Jesus came "proclaiming the good news of God" (Mark 1:14), and His message was clear: "'The time has come,' he said. 'The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!'" Without hearing that good news first, healing and feeding would never possibly accomplish everything promised by God through the prophecy to Ezekiel.
In the midst of our varied physical needs today, how and where are you pausing to remind yourself, or be reminded by others, of the central message of the Gospel? Jesus was preparing to do an incredible miracle by feeding five thousand people, but first He had things to teach them about the Kingdom of God. What is God teaching you?
The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. (Mark 6:30-32)
I don't know about you, but when it comes to winter, I have a very strong hibernation instinct. All things being equal, I'd much prefer to stay inside with the heat cranked up, a big mug of hot coffee or chocolate in my hand, and the Winter Olympics on the television. If those crazy athletes want to work out in the snow and ice, good for them. I admire their tenacity. I'll live vicariously through them. But cold is not my thing and I'd prefer to not be out in it. At all.
So in the middle of a miserable winter like this, a little rest sounds like a wonderful idea. In fact, it's a beautiful thing to read of Jesus' care and concern for the disciples after everything that happened to them on their first missions trip. He may or may not have been interested in debriefing with them about the spiritual impact of their missionary work, but what we know for a fact from the text is that He knew they were hungry and needed rest.
Of course, in an ultimate sense, Jesus was primarily concerned with "proclaiming the good news of God" (Mark 1:14). His message was clear, "'The time has come,' he said. 'The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!'"
Yet, at the same time, this good news was never meant to be simply an abstract theological premise. Jesus spent thirty-some years fully embedded in this very physical world of rain and snow, and hot and cold, and hunger and thirst, and work and rest. He didn't float into Galilee on a cloud as an ephemeral spiritual presence. He was born into a real family, grew up in a real town, and as He embarked on His ministry, He walked along dusty roads and spoke with the downtrodden and touched the dirty.
God built our entire world around patterns of work and rest. Our bodies are designed to sleep for a full third of each day. The sun and moon are set in place to provide cycles of night and day. God even modeled this pattern for us Himself when He chose to rest on the seventh day of Creation, establishing it as a Sabbath day of rest (Genesis 2:2).
While my desire to hunker down and do nothing right now may be driven more by mild seasonal depression than anything else, it is true that God has programmed us for cycles of rest to follow cycles of work. We see it throughout the Bible, we see it in the care with which Jesus seeks to treat the disciples after their missionary trip, and we see it in the ultimate rest we will all experience in the New Heavens and the New Earth.
Finally though, note that while Jesus is concerned for their physical needs, such as eating and resting, He doesn't send them away for that, He draws them to Himself instead.
I may be able to find physical rest for my body by reclining on my couch in front of the television, but I will never find spiritual nourishment in doing so. In order to be fully refreshed we need to spend time with Jesus during our cycles of rest and relaxation. How are you "re-hydrating" yourself spiritually today?
For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, whom he had married. For John had been saying to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him.
Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests.
The king said to the girl, "Ask me for anything you want, and I'll give it to you." And he promised her with an oath, "Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom."
She went out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask for?"
"The head of John the Baptist," she answered.
At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: "I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter."
The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John's head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison, and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. On hearing of this, John's disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb. (Mark 6:17-29)
The Puritan pastor and author John Owen once wrote, "be killing sin or it will be killing you" (Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers, Chapter II, accessed online here: http://www.ccel.org/ccel/owen/mort.i.v.html). His point was simple. Don't mess with sin. Don't fool around. Don't let it get a foothold in your life. Don't go up to the line and peek over the edge. Don't think that you'll be strong enough to resist the temptation. Instead, work with all the strength the Holy Spirit gives you to put to death the sin that lingers in your heart.
It's a lesson we all need to learn, and re-learn, on a regular basis, for sin is a far more powerful and potent force than we often like to imagine. Indeed, but for the grace of God, we are all just one bad decision away from utter ruin and disaster. In our Bible reading for today, Herod provides an excellent case in point.
One minute Herod was enjoying a fine party at his palace, the next minute he found himself ordering the execution of a man whom he "feared" and "protected," "knowing him to be a righteous and holy man." What happened? Where did he go wrong?
In this particular case the culprit seems to have been lust. It was Herod's unchecked lust for the beautiful young daughter of Herodias that led him down the path he never meant to take. It was the rash vows he found himself making as a result of his desire to please this young dancing girl that led to John's execution and the subsequent guilt and shame at his own foolish decision.
Sin will get the better of us if we give it a chance. While our own rash decisions may not have caused heartache and pain on quite the same level as Herod's, if we don't keep our eyes out, sin will overtake us sooner or later. As Peter warns so wisely,
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 5:8-11)
Continuing with the theme of repentance from yesterday's devotional, we turn today to David's song of confession. Perhaps there are major sins you need to repent of today, or perhaps not. But as you read this Psalm ask the Lord to convict you of any ways in which you may find yourself being deceitful. The Lord offers to be our "hiding place," if we will put our trust in Him.
Psalm 32
Of David. A maskil.
1 Blessed is the one
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
2 Blessed is the one
whose sin the Lord does not count against them
and in whose spirit is no deceit.
3 When I kept silent,
my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night
your hand was heavy on me;
my strength was sapped
as in the heat of summer.
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you
and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, "I will confess
my transgressions to the Lord."
And you forgave
the guilt of my sin.
6 Therefore let all the faithful pray to you
while you may be found;
surely the rising of the mighty waters
will not reach them.
7 You are my hiding place;
you will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
9 Do not be like the horse or the mule,
which have no understanding
but must be controlled by bit and bridle
or they will not come to you.
10 Many are the woes of the wicked,
but the Lord's unfailing love
surrounds the one who trusts in him.
11 Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous;
sing, all you who are upright in heart!
King Herod heard about this, for Jesus' name had become well known. Some were saying, "John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him."
Others said, "He is Elijah."
And still others claimed, "He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago."
But when Herod heard this, he said, "John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!" (Mark 6:14-16)
Guilt can drive us to say and do some pretty remarkable things. Politicians will devise the most elaborate lies in order to cover up their adulterous affairs. High-flying businessmen will invest vast amounts of money to try and cover up their failed investments. Hundreds of years before Jesus was born, King David sent a man to his death in an effort to cover up his affair. Somehow, when sin gets a hold of our lives, it becomes easier to believe the lies we create than the truth we need to confess and repent.
Such was certainly the case for Herod. Here Mark gives us a brief glimpse into the court of Herod, who, while not officially recognized as a king by the Romans, nevertheless liked to consider himself as such. We don't know how Mark came to know all this, since he wasn't there at the time, but perhaps a servant at the court told him about this conversation later. Either way, Herod was very disturbed to hear about the commotion Jesus was causing throughout Galilee. Imagine hearing that there is a man wandering about your town casting out demons, bringing back little children from the dead, and even calming a storm in the middle of the lake! No wonder Herod was confused and threatened. And no wonder, then, that having impulsively had the innocent John killed in an effort to impress a beautiful young woman, Herod was now convinced that John the Baptist had been brought back from the dead.
Guilt can eat us slowly from the inside out. It's a rare person who is able to completely erase the feelings of guilt and shame that come from committing an egregious sin. Whatever kinds of excuses and rationalizations we may conjure up for ourselves in an effort to cover everything up, there is ultimately only one way to get rid of the stain forever. Confession, repentance and forgiveness through Jesus.
Guilt and shame over un-confessed sin can bubble up at the most inopportune and unexpected moments. It can impact our relationships, lead to all kinds of foolish decisions, and, if left unchecked long enough, eventually destroy our health.
But the good news for us is that it doesn't have to be that way. God is not interested in how good we are at "spinning" our sins so as to make them seem less awful. He just wants our willingness to turn to him in confession and repentance. And when we do get to that point, the healing and restoration that God can work is truly miraculous. It's a gift that Herod never got to enjoy, but one which Jesus offers to each and every one of us today. How will you respond?
As we consider the ways in which God has called us to live lives of obedient sacrifice to Him, today we turn to Psalm 33, which extols God's majesty while recognizing our position as humble worshipers.
Psalm 33
1 Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous;
it is fitting for the upright to praise him.
2 Praise the Lord with the harp;
make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.
3 Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully, and shout for joy.
4 For the word of the Lord is right and true;
he is faithful in all he does.
5 The Lord loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of his unfailing love.
6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
their starry host by the breath of his mouth.
7 He gathers the waters of the sea into jars;
he puts the deep into storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear the Lord;
let all the people of the world revere him.
9 For he spoke, and it came to be;
he commanded, and it stood firm.
10 The Lord foils the plans of the nations;
he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.
11 But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever,
the purposes of his heart through all generations.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
the people he chose for his inheritance.
13 From heaven the Lord looks down
and sees all mankind;
14 from his dwelling place he watches
all who live on earth—
15 he who forms the hearts of all,
who considers everything they do.
16 No king is saved by the size of his army;
no warrior escapes by his great strength.
17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance;
despite all its great strength it cannot save.
18 But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him,
on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
19 to deliver them from death
and keep them alive in famine.
20 We wait in hope for the Lord;
he is our help and our shield.
21 In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.
22 May your unfailing love be with us, Lord,
even as we put our hope in you.
Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits.
These were his instructions: "Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them."
They went out and preached that people should repent. They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them. (Mark 6:7-13)
For the most part, the twelve disciples do not come across very well in the four Gospels. They are slow to understand and slow to act. They often withdraw in fear, and regularly fall short in matters of faith. Although most of the time it's only Peter who puts his foot in his mouth, none of the disciples come across as particularly astute or spiritual aware, and one often marvels that Jesus chose these men at all. In the end, one will betray Jesus, another will deny Him outright, and the others will run away and hide. And yet, here in this brief passage we catch a glimpse of something amazing; the disciples following Jesus' commands and bearing incredible fruit as a result.
The description is brief and to the point. Jesus called the twelve disciples to Himself, and then gave them their marching orders. They were to go out in pairs, taking nothing with them except a staff. They were to rely on the hospitality of the people they visited, and were not to linger in places where they were clearly not welcome.
And the results? "They went out and preached that people should repent. They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them" (Mark 6:13). That's a pretty successful ministry! They preached repentance, drove out demons, and healed sick people. Having walked with Jesus and observed Him closely for quite some time, this was now their chance to put all that learning into practice. Apparently they managed to hit this one right out of the ballpark.
On the one hand, this assignment was set up specifically for the twelve disciples, and does not carry over directly to us today. Jesus is not ordering all of us to go out two by two, taking nothing but a staff, and so on. On the other hand, the underlying principle still applies. Jesus called and commissioned the disciples for a particular task, and although it may have seemed impossible or overwhelming, they obeyed Him nonetheless.
As becomes clear as we read through the rest of the New Testament, all believers have been called and commissioned to share the Gospel in some way with those around them. The Gospel is a story that has been embedded in our lives; it's more than just mere information, it's become an integral part of who we are. Jesus wants us to share that story of transformation with others. Will we, too, respond with obedience?
He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. He was amazed at their lack of faith. (Mark 6:5-6)
On the surface of it, this is kind of a confusing statement to make. Was Jesus really stopped dead in His tracks by the lack of faith of the people? Does this mean that there are things that God can't do? Does a similar principle hold true today? Am I failing to see miracles because I don't have enough faith?
The previous chapters of Mark give us enough data to see that clearly there is nothing Jesus cannot do. He has demonstrated over and over again His absolute authority over all things, whether it's physical ailments, spiritual opponents or even the natural elements. Whenever Jesus speaks, the Creation responds in obedience.
As such, we can affirm with certainty that it was not the people's lack of faith that somehow stymied Jesus' attempts to perform miracles. Rather, despite the fact that the people recognized His power and wisdom, they clearly didn't want to have any part of it whatsoever. They didn't appreciate Him bringing His miracle-working ministry to their small town and they certainly didn't want Him to stay there. And as such, in a display of great patience and grace, Jesus left.
One little fact that is easy to overlook as we rush to condemn the people of Nazareth is that some people were, in fact, healed. Jesus wasn't completely silenced. His power wasn't completely stifled. Yes, "He was amazed at their lack of faith," but at the same time, he did "lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them." Certainly the implication is that there could have been so much more, but I think about the incredible impact His healing must have had on those few who did have faith. Their lives were, perhaps, changed forever as a result. Most notably of all, it was those who realized just how needy they were that wound up as the recipients of His healing.
Which I think brings us back around to the question of faith in respect to healing. God can heal, and does heal. God looks for faith, and responds to faith. But our faith alone is never the determining factor in His willingness to heal. The few sick people in Nazareth who did in fact turn to Jesus for help were healed. God honored their faith, however weak and tentative it might have been, and chose to act. But sometimes God acts even in the absence of our faith. For example, when Jesus calmed the storm, rescuing everyone from certain death, He did so despite the fact that, in Jesus' own words, the disciples perhaps had no faith at all.
So take heart and be encouraged. Our faith is not about trying harder to be better people, or drumming up more faith, but leaning more on Jesus, the One who has already accomplished everything on our behalf. Our weakness and failures should lead us more deeply into communion with the One who alone is perfect, the One who alone has the power to provide everything that we need to make it through the day today.
7 Answer me quickly, Lord;
my spirit fails.
Do not hide your face from me
or I will be like those who go down to the pit.
8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I entrust my life.
9 Rescue me from my enemies, Lord,
for I hide myself in you. (Psalm 143:7-9)
Although the people in Jesus' home-town rejected Him, those of us who have put our trust in Him have nowhere else to turn. We have experienced His life-altering power in our lives, and now we just need regular reminders to keep us tightly connected to our Lord. As you read the Psalm today, pause to remember all that the Lord has done for you, "meditate" on His works, and pray for His wise and generous direction in your life.
Psalm 143 (New International Version)
A psalm of David.
1 Lord, hear my prayer,
listen to my cry for mercy;
in your faithfulness and righteousness
come to my relief.
2 Do not bring your servant into judgment,
for no one living is righteous before you.
3 The enemy pursues me,
he crushes me to the ground;
he makes me dwell in the darkness
like those long dead.
4 So my spirit grows faint within me;
my heart within me is dismayed.
5 I remember the days of long ago;
I meditate on all your works
and consider what your hands have done.
6 I spread out my hands to you;
I thirst for you like a parched land.
7 Answer me quickly, Lord;
my spirit fails.
Do not hide your face from me
or I will be like those who go down to the pit.
8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I entrust my life.
9 Rescue me from my enemies, Lord,
for I hide myself in you.
10 Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God;
may your good Spirit
lead me on level ground.
11 For your name's sake, Lord, preserve my life;
in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble.
12 In your unfailing love, silence my enemies;
destroy all my foes,
for I am your servant.
Christian author Randy Newman has been working on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ since 1980. God has used him to share his faith in many ways, times and places throughout that time, but one of the most challenging contexts for him has always been family. So, he wrote a book about it, called "Bringing the Gospel Home." He begins the book with the following story:
"When I informed a friend I was writing a book on witnessing to family, he told me he had the perfect chapter titles:
Chapter 1: Don't Do It!
Chapter 2: Don't Do It!
Chapter 3: Did You Think I Was Kidding?
Chapter 4: Pray For Somebody Else To Do It
Chapter 5: Review Chapters 1, 2 and 3" (Bringing the Gospel Home, 13)
Now, obviously that's a little bit of an exaggeration, but for anyone who has actually tried to share their faith with family members, perhaps you can relate? It's a challenge, right?
I suppose we shouldn't be too surprised, however. Remember how, earlier in the Gospel of Mark, Jesus' own family came and tried to keep Him from ministry?
When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, "He is out of his mind." (Mark 3:21)
We see a similar pattern again here, as those closest to Jesus, who presumably grew up with Him and knew His family, are opposed completely to His ministry.
Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home." (Mark 6:3-4)
The problem here was not that Jesus failed to live up to the hype, but that the people couldn't think of Him as anyone other than a mere carpenter. Their hearts were hardened towards Him, and most likely no amount of evidence would have convinced them otherwise.
You may have encountered all kinds of difficulties, challenges and set-backs as you have sought to share the Gospel with your family members. You may even have been tempted to give up completely, to in effect move out and move on with your life. However, God gave you this family and these relationships for a reason. We diminish the power of God when we try to use this story in Mark as an excuse to set aside witnessing to our family in favor of seeking out more fruitful mission fields. Even if we have been rejected by them every step of the way, we still have a responsibility to pray—an action that nobody can complain or argue with you about.
And we'd love to pray with you for your family members as well. You may not want to submit their names publicly on the blog, but please let us know via email whom we can pray for this week.
Although many of the passages we choose for these devotionals are meant to be encouraging, a thorough understanding of the Gospel begins with repentance. Confession of sin is not something we like to think or talk about, but it's an essential step in our relationship with God. Without repentance, there can never be complete restoration. So as you read through this Psalm, pray for God to reveal to you areas of sin and unbelief in your life, and then ask for His help to bring them back under His authority.
Psalm 32 (New International Version)
Of David. A maskil.
One of the more significant problems we face as believers today is over-familiarity with Jesus. We've read the New Testament accounts before, we've listened to radio dramas, we've seen movies, plays, and television shows, we've been in Bible studies, and tried sharing the Gospel with other people along the way. As we read through the Gospel of Mark, it's almost impossible to put ourselves back in the shoes of the original audience. We know what's happening and we know how the story will end.
As such, we can sometimes lose a little bit of the sense of absolute awe and amazement that followed Jesus around wherever He went. The miracles are amazing, but perhaps, for some of us, they get relegated to the realm of theology rather than practice. They are fodder for thought, rather than calls to action. They are data points for defending the faith, but not always moments where we pause to marvel at the God who came to dwell amongst us.
Think about the way in which you responded to the miracles we read last week. Now, how would you react if someone stopped a stormy sea dead in its tracks today? What would you say if you saw a dead girl come back to life in your own house? It would be almost unbelievable, right?
And indeed, this is what we see over and over again in Mark's Gospel—people marveling at this man called Jesus. Anyone who claims Jesus was just a nice guy and a good teacher has clearly never read the Gospel accounts. Mark describes a man utterly unique in the history of the world, a man completely unlike any other, a man without any equal.
So, it's not surprising that upon returning to Nazareth, where He begins teaching again in the synagogue, the same questions start to come up again:
Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.
"Where did this man get these things?" they asked. "What's this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? (Mark 6:1-2)
Although, as we are about to find out, these people did not want in fact want to put their faith in Jesus, they could not deny that He spoke with a wisdom that was startling to everyone, and possessed a power to perform miracles that was unexplainable. Even those opposed to Jesus could not withhold their amazement at His power.
It's a pattern we continue to see even today. Some reject Jesus right off the bat. They won't even consider His claims or look at the evidence. Others, however, hear the Gospel, but choose to turn away nonetheless. It's as if they see Jesus, but can't (or won't) really look at Him.
Sadly, I think, if we're honest, even believers can be guilty of turning their backs on Jesus. More than anyone else we know first-hand the power of God to save and heal and restore. And yet sometimes it is almost too much, and we back away from Him, choosing to engage our own fears or failures instead.
Oh how we need Jesus! All of us! The lost need to be saved, and the redeemed need to be continually rescued from the sin that lingers in our lives and keeps tugging at our idolatrous hearts. I don't just need Jesus' teaching, as amazing as that is, I need His direct intervention in my life to turn my ship around and keep my eyes fixed firmly on Him.
May we be people who pray that into our own lives and the lives of those around us this week.
A large crowd followed and pressed around him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, "If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed." Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.
At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?"
"You see the people crowding against you," his disciples answered, "and yet you can ask, 'Who touched me?' "
But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering." (Mark 5:24-24)
This incredible story of power is a tough one to unpack for me right now. I know so many people struggling with chronic diseases or cancer that it's hard to read about such a dramatic and immediate healing. I know of God-fearing believers filled with the Spirit who prayed earnestly for similar healing, but it never came. I know of people caught up in pain and suffering right now who have tons of faith, but are seeing no release from their symptoms. What does this passage say to them?
Experientially we can affirm that we live in a broken world where our personal lives will be filled with pain and suffering. Sin has infected everything, down to the tiniest building blocks of life, and as a result nothing really works properly anymore. Bodies slowly deteriorate over time. Minds fail. Relationships fall apart. Nothing has been left unsullied by the corruption of sin.
However, to end on that depressing note would be to leave the story unfinished. What we have in Jesus is a powerful reassurance of God's care for us and His desire for the world to be rid of sin once and for all. We know from Revelation that His plan is to return one day and make all things new; to put an end to all pain and suffering once and for all. One day there will be no more crying, and that gives us hope for today.
But this story of the woman being healed is a reminder that God is not only concerned about some day far off in the future, but He cares for us here and now as well. Jesus' ministry involved countless personal encounters with ordinary people. The goal was not simply to come and die, but to come and dwell. That's astonishing to me.
I cannot begin to explain or understand the reasons God has for healing one person while leaving another to suffer. But I am also continually amazed at the healing He does work in so many ways and places. He intervenes in ways we will probably never fully understand or appreciate until we come face to face with God in eternity. But that doesn't keep me from trusting in Him for today.
The greatest promise we have in Scripture is that Jesus will never leave us or forsake us. Whatever happens, His presence with us is guaranteed, and He will never let us go.
I know that many people are going through some very difficult times right now. As a staff we would love to pray for you and support you through it all. Please contact us, or use the comment box below to let us know what's going on and how we can help.
When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. He pleaded earnestly with him, "My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live." So Jesus went with him. (Mark 5:21-24)
While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. "Your daughter is dead," they said. "Why bother the teacher anymore?"
Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, "Don't be afraid; just believe."
He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. He went in and said to them, "Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep." But they laughed at him.
After he put them all out, he took the child's father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum!" (which means "Little girl, I say to you, get up!"). Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat. (Mark 5:35-43)
As if the power to halt a storm in its tracks was not enough, Jesus uses this tragic moment in the family of Jairus to put an exclamation mark on His absolute, total, and complete authority over all things, even death. Healing someone is one thing, but raising a dead child to life again is a different matter entirely.
Now, sometimes critics will try to claim that in such ancient times people were not as medically astute as they are today, and as such, in all likelihood this little girl was not really dead at all. However, while they may not have been able to diagnose genetic disorders or understand all the complexities of the human body, death was something that ancient people would arguably have been far more familiar with than we are today. Death was an everyday reality for people living in the Roman Empire. Plagues, fires, diseases, infant mortality, murder, and low life expectancies would have made death something everybody was painfully experienced with.
So without a doubt this girl was dead. And yet Jesus, with just a simple spoken word, and a touch of His hand, raised her back to life. The people "were completely astonished," and with good reason. Dead people simply don't come back to life. Again, we are faced with the difficult question that arises as a result. Who is this man who can conquer even death? What kind of power can launch a full frontal assault on the "great leveler"?
Death will come for us all one day. There is no escaping it, and no fleeing from it. We will all be consumed. But in Christ we have hope, because in Christ, death is not an end, but a glorious beginning. It's the moment when our mortal bodies will be "swallowed up by life" (2 Corinthians 5:4). Life! In Christ death is no longer to be feared, because in Christ it means entrance into the very presence of God Himself.
For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. (2 Corinthians 5:1-4)
As we consider the impact that an encounter with Jesus had on the demon-possessed man, today we explore the powerful change that happened in the life of Paul. As you spend time reading God's Word today, pray for Him to reveal Himself to you in both powerful and personal ways.
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God—the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name's sake. And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.
To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. God, whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God's will the way may be opened for me to come to you.
I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith. I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.
I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."
(Romans 1:1-17)
Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.
As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, "Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed. (Mark 5:14-20)
How did the people react to finding the man "dressed and in his right mind"? It's somewhat astonishing but Mark tells us "they were afraid." In fact, they were so fearful of what Jesus had done that they "began to plead with Jesus to leave their region."
Jesus was clearly so much more than just a nice guy or a profound teacher. After all, people don't shrink back in fear from someone just because He has interesting ideas about living together in community. People don't "plead" with someone to leave their region simply because He is preaching an ethic of love for others. No, these accounts in Mark are intended to show without a shadow of a doubt that Jesus was indeed the Son of God.
In fact, this entire section of Mark's Gospel should be incredibly encouraging for all believers, showing as it does Jesus' incredible power over sickness, disease, demonic oppression, the forces of nature, and even death. Jesus stands completely alone amongst all other great men of history.
However, the way the people respond to Jesus is a stark reminder that not everyone actually wants to experience the power of God in their lives. Although, as we noted last week, we should indeed have a healthy fear of the Lord, the reaction of the people in this story is surely not what God had in mind.
What kind of "fear" do you have for the Lord? Do you welcome His powerful presence into every corner of your life? Or, if you're honest, would you prefer He stayed away from the all those nooks and crannies where nobody can see what's going on? Where does God need to be at work in your heart today?
They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.
When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God's name don't torture me!" For Jesus had said to him, "Come out of this man, you impure spirit!"
Then Jesus asked him, "What is your name?"
"My name is Legion," he replied, "for we are many." And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.
A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. The demons begged Jesus, "Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them." He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. (Mark 5:1-13)
Whatever our personal presuppositions about demons may be, it's clear from Scripture that there are indeed evil forces at work in this world. We may not be comfortable with the idea, but that doesn't make it any less true. In fact, there's a very fine line between what we like to think of as healthy skepticism and ultimately un-Biblical denial.
Just look at the New Testament. It's impossible to read through the Gospels without coming face to face with the brutal, dehumanizing, and God-opposing forces of darkness organized by Satan. A significant part of Jesus' ministry involved freeing people from the grip of demon possession, and this story is perhaps the most vivid.
We ended our devotionals last week with the disciples wondering out loud, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!" (Mark 4:41). In the very next scene, it is a demon who provides the explicit answer. This man who has absolute authority over the chaotic forces of nature is none other than the "Son of the Most High God" (Mark 5:7). And Jesus proves this to be true by casting out not just one demon, but a whole legion of them.
Is it demon possession or mental illness? Is it Satan at work, or simply the random brokenness of a fallen world? Is it evil invading my life, or is it my poor health and over-active imagination? We can spend hours debating the answer, but the solution is always the same. In every situation, Jesus has proven that He absolutely has the power and the authority to bring healing.
Where do you need Jesus to intervene in your life? How can we pray for you today?
That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"
They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!" (Mark 4:35-41)
We can only begin to imagine what it would have been like to see the storm abate so suddenly. To go from crashing waves to "completely calm," must have been astonishing—and an enormous relief. Whereas previously the men had feared for their lives, now they found themselves completely safe.
Although they might have had a legitimate and understandable fear of the storm while they were in the middle of it, when they saw Jesus stop the wind and the waves dead in their tracks, their fear shifted focus to the man they were with. "Who is this?" they exclaimed, looking at Jesus. "Even the wind and the waves obey him!" Healing miracles and exorcisms were astonishing enough, but such a powerful demonstration of absolute authority over the physical world put Jesus in an entirely different realm altogether.
Although Mark doesn't say it out loud, the answer is clear enough. Only God has that kind of power over Creation. And here Jesus gives the world a glimpse of that same divine authority over all things. More than a miracle worker, more than a healer, more than a wise teacher, Jesus was God. And even the wind and the waves obeyed Him. The question is, do we?
I am afraid of sharks. Big sharks, little sharks, sharks in tornadoes, sharks with lasers on their heads—it doesn't matter, I'm deathly afraid of all of them. You'd think it wouldn't be that big of a problem, especially since the nearest ocean is over a thousand miles away, but that's the nature of fear. It's often irrational, and most of the time can't be argued against logically. Fear grabs a hold of our gut and refuses to let go. The disciples, as we noted yesterday, were understandably afraid of drowning on the lake. They probably knew people who had lost their lives in storms exactly like the one in which they found themselves trapped. But they boat didn't sink, and they didn't drown. Read what happened instead:
That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"
Given the circumstances, Jesus' question is a little bit confusing. I can imagine at least one person in the boat, probably Peter, thinking to themselves, "Are you kidding me? Did you see the lightning? Did you feel the wind? Were your clothes not soaked through with water? Do you see any life preservers on this thing? Who wouldn't be afraid?"
What Jesus wanted them to see, however, was that their fears were misplaced. Think back to the wise words of Proverbs 1: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction" (Proverbs 1:7). Or the parallel structure of the last verse of Psalm 111 and the first verse of Psalm 112:
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
To him belongs eternal praise.
(Psalm 111:10)
Praise the Lord.
Blessed are those who fear the Lord,
who find great delight in his commands.
(Psalm 112:1)
Certainly, this "fear" of the Lord is not meant to leave us cowering in the corner, terrified of what God might do next, in the way an abused dog might fear its owner. However, to speak of fearing the Lord as merely showing God respect or honor fails to capture how mighty and marvelous and holy God really is. When Isaiah saw a vision of the Lord (just a vision!) he fell on his face in fear for his life. Moses' limited encounters with God left him so visibly changed the people demanded he cover his face with a veil. Our God is not really "our" God at all. He alone created all things, sustains all things, and will bring all things to completion. He is the potter and we are the clay.
The irony of the situation in the boat was that the disciples had no clue just who exactly was sitting in the boat with them. The apostle John would later see the risen Lord Jesus in a vision, and, like Isaiah, fall on his face "as though dead." (Revelation 1:17). Rather than being afraid of the storm, they should have been afraid of the one who had control over the storm. A startling conclusion they were about to come to themselves, and which we will study in more depth tomorrow.
For today, however, consider your own fears. Are you looking at them in light of your own limited experiences? Or do you live your life in the trust and faith that those fears, however real, pale in comparison to the One who made all things, knows all things, and controls all things? May God give us eyes to see His work in our lives, and faith enough to lean on Him even when things seem hopeless.
When disaster strikes, what's our knee-jerk response? Where do we turn for guidance and direction? There are times, I know, when I've somehow been able to stay calm and collected, and simply turned to God in prayer, and waited patiently for Him to provide. However, if I'm honest, more often than not, my first reaction is rarely that holy and spiritual.
We live in a broken world, and although it's often hidden by the relative peace and prosperity we enjoy here compared to other places in the world, sin has corrupted, and continues to corrupt, every single part of our existence. So it's no wonder that we often find ourselves wondering what on earth is going on. Where is God in the middle of all this? It's a question much like the one the disciples found themselves asking as they rode their boat into a storm on the Sea of Galilee.
In the heat of the moment, as the waves crashed around and over them, and the water began to pool in alarming amounts at the bottom of the boat, the disciples were understandably fearful for their lives. And as things appeared to go from bad to worse, their leader, their teacher, their Lord, slept soundly at the stern. Who wouldn't be somewhat exasperated? What is going on? Are they going to die? "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"
They spoke as if they were certain they would drown while Jesus, by remaining asleep, would somehow escape a similar fate. Or perhaps at some level they already knew that everything was different with Jesus, and that the normal rules somehow wouldn't apply to Him. Either way, the problem was a real one—the storm was not a metaphor for something else. They weren't trapped inside a parable. As fishermen who knew all too well the terrible toll that such storms could take on boats like theirs, they had good reason to be concerned, even afraid.
The problem is that their knee-jerk question was entirely wrong. Instead of asking for help, they called into question Jesus' love and concern for them. Uttered in the heat of the moment, it sounds reasonable, normal even. But spoken to God, it implies a shocking degree of misunderstanding. It's vaguely reminiscent of Satan's temptation to Eve in the Garden of Eden: "Did God really say…" (Genesis 3:1) In other words, "Are you really so sure that God loves you?" "Are you certain that He wants the best for you?"
The disciples found themselves not only thinking that very question, but blurting it out loud. And we'll find out how Jesus responded tomorrow. In the meantime, what's your first response when suffering, sorrow, or even just the struggles of life come your way? Anger? Frustration? Fear? Sadness? There is much in this world that can cause legitimate fear, pain and grief, but while we work through those extremely difficult emotions, may God protect us from calling His perfect goodness and total holiness into question.
As we prepare our hearts and minds for the sermon this coming Sunday, we pause today to consider a passage that perhaps sets some context for our study on Mark 4:35-41, "Jesus Calms the Storm." As you read these brief verses from Isaiah, pray for God to reveal Himself to you.
I am the Lord, and there is no other;
apart from me there is no God.
I will strengthen you,
though you have not acknowledged me,
so that from the rising of the sun
to the place of its setting
people may know there is none besides me.
I am the Lord, and there is no other.
I form the light and create darkness,
I bring prosperity and create disaster;
I, the Lord, do all these things.
"You heavens above, rain down my righteousness;
let the clouds shower it down.
Let the earth open wide,
let salvation spring up,
let righteousness flourish with it;
I, the Lord, have created it.
"Woe to those who quarrel with their Maker,
those who are nothing but potsherds
among the potsherds on the ground.
Does the clay say to the potter,
'What are you making?'
Does your work say,
'The potter has no hands'?
Woe to the one who says to a father,
'What have you begotten?'
or to a mother,
'What have you brought to birth?'
"This is what the Lord says—
the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker:
Concerning things to come,
do you question me about my children,
or give me orders about the work of my hands?
It is I who made the earth
and created mankind on it.
My own hands stretched out the heavens;
I marshaled their starry hosts.
(Isaiah 45:5-12)
Do you ever feel as if you can't quite catch your breath? That everything is moving so quickly you can barely keep up? We're not even two weeks into January, and I think for many of us it already seems like two weeks too many. New Year's Resolutions are already straining under the stress of our crazy busy lives. Good intentions regarding rest and renewal have gone out the window. Our workload is as busy as ever, the weather is grim, and summer seems like an eternity away.
But don't lose hope or give up! God doesn't wait for us to clean up our lives and get everything in order before He acts. Your uppity great-aunt may not visit unless your house is neat and tidy, and the tea is all laid out on a perfectly pressed tablecloth, but God engages us where we are, warts and all.
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:1-9)
I waited patiently for the Lord;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the Lord
and put their trust in him.
(Psalm 40:1-3)
We may be near the middle of January already, and you may already be feeling "behind," but with God there is no such thing as a lost cause. Today is just as significant a day as January 1st. Every moment we are alive God gives us opportunities to start over, to reset, to reboot our lives. If we turn to God in totally honest helplessness, and look to Him for guidance and direction, He will light the path for us.
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory displayed in the face of Christ.
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. (2 Corinthians 4:4-10)
My encouragement for all of us comes directly from Paul's words to the Corinthians:
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
I only watched the last 15 minutes or so of the New Year's Eve celebrations from Times Square, but it was enough to be completely appalled at the level of debauchery that appears to be so commonplace everywhere I turn these days. Books, TV shows, movies, songs—the collapse of morality is everywhere around us and seems to be rapidly gaining momentum. Against such a depressing background it's hard not to lose hope. I often talk with people who express their sadness and frustration with "the way things are going," and there is always a sense of powerlessness—that we're sliding down a slippery slope with no way to put on the brakes.
But the Bible tells us a different story. All hope is not lost. Instead of being cynical and pessimistic, we should be hope-filled and optimistic. Just listen to this parable:
Again he said, "What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade." (Mark 4:30-32)
Jesus was born into a tiny, insignificant family in a tiny, insignificant town. His ministry was opposed and challenged at every turn, and He was eventually put in prison and executed. Most of His disciples fled, and all were fearful for their lives. Yet, with this tiny group of believers God sparked a movement that changed the world. From almost pathetic beginnings Christianity has grown to influence almost every corner of Creation. It's impossible to count how many people have been saved through an encounter with the Living God. The Gospel has not just grown, it has exploded across the world, taking the Good News into all levels of society, from rich to poor and everything imbetween.
Moreover, we know with absolute certainty that God is in control, and Jesus is coming back. The Creation will be redeemed. Nothing will be wasted. All will be made right. Praise the Lord! The world we live in is indeed corrupt and falling apart. But it's where God has placed us at this particular time in our lives, for purposes that only He knows. We can and must speak out as God convicts and leads us, but we can, and must, at the same time continue to preach the Gospel with all the strength that God gives us.
Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.
Those who are far from you will perish;
you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds.
(Psalm 73:23-28)
Again today we spend time in quiet reflection on God's Word. How is God speaking to you through this passage today?
How lovely is your dwelling place,
Lord Almighty!
My soul yearns, even faints,
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
for the living God.
Even the sparrow has found a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,
Lord Almighty, my King and my God.
Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
they are ever praising you.
Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
they make it a place of springs;
the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
They go from strength to strength,
till each appears before God in Zion.
Hear my prayer, Lord God Almighty;
listen to me, God of Jacob.
Look on our shield, O God;
look with favor on your anointed one.
Better is one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
from those whose walk is blameless.
Lord Almighty,
blessed is the one who trusts in you.
(Psalm 84)
He also said, "This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come." (Mark 4:26-29)
The celebration of a New Year invariably brings with it the desire to establish a whole series of New Year's Resolutions as well. It's a time of year when we can pause to assess where we've been, and make plans for where we want to go now. This is particularly true in the area of spiritual growth and development. How is our relationship with God? How vibrant is our prayer life? How often do we connect with God through worship? What do we need to change in order to draw closer to God this year?
While this kind of goal-setting is important to do (and indeed, I just started a Bible-reading plan myself), it's important to keep in mind who it is who ultimately is doing the work in our lives. Last week we considered the Parable of the Four Soils, and it's hard not to walk away from that passage without wondering, "what kind of soil am I?" or, "What kind of soil do I want to be?" Although those questions are good, they can sometimes imply that the growth is then entirely up to us. In other words, a parable largely meant to explain the different reactions to hearing the Gospel can be twisted into a charge to "do more and try harder."
The brief parable we are looking at today stands as a corrective to such a mis-reading. Although the man is the one keeping the field and scattering the seed, the growth essentially happens completely by itself, "though [the man] does not know how." This should be a great encouragement to those of us who so often fall short of the goals and expectations we set for ourselves. It should be an encouragement for those of us who recognize that as often as we try to be that "fourth soil" that bears so much fruit, all too often we end up feeling a lot like the "first," "second," or "third" soil instead.
God is the one growing His Kingdom. We get to work with Him on that mighty endeavor, but He is the One who brings growth and change, not us. He is the One who changes lives, not us. He is the only One who has access to someone else's heart, not us. The Gospel has a power in and of itself. We can share it, explain it, teach it, preach it, and proclaim it, but God alone directs whether or not it takes root and whether or not it ultimately grows.
So this year, go ahead and set goals, make plans, and work hard in the areas of your life where you know God has been convicting and challenging you to grow, but at the same time rest in the assurance that it is God who is at work bringing about the fruit.
Today's devotional is set aside as a time of private, personal Bible reading and prayer. Consider the following verses from the Sermon on the Mount and ask God to reveal Himself to you as you read His Word today.
Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.
He said:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
(Matthew 5:1-16)
He said to them, "Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don't you put it on its stand? For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear."
"Consider carefully what you hear," he continued. "With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them." (Mark 4:21-25)
My children love playing with flashlights. In fact, as a result I can rarely find a flashlight when I need one. The ability to bring light into darkness is almost miraculous, and clicking that little on/off switch brings my daughters incredible joy. If I'm honest, I'm kind of amazed by it myself as well.
For Jesus and the disciples, living in a time and place when batteries and electricity didn't exist, the darkness would have pressed in even more closely than it seems to do today. In such a context, who would light a lamp only to then hide it under a bowl or a bed? Jesus chooses such a ridiculous image on purpose. He wants to emphasize his point, that "whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open." Just as a lamp is meant to illuminate a room, so to is the Gospel meant to be shared with the world. As we studied at the very beginning of this series, "After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 'The time has come,' he said. 'The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!'" (Mark 1:14-15)
I don't know what kind of wonderful gifts you received over Christmas, but nothing brings more permanent, lasting peace and security than the Gospel. No gadget or gizmo, however shiny and amazing it may be, can bring the same kind of joy and hope that the Gospel does. God is working to grow and spread His Kingdom. He's not forcing anyone to get involved, but let's pray that we all have "ears to hear" the message Christ is preaching, and that our hearts would be changed as a result.
Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. (Mark 4:18-19).
We live in a world chock-full of distractions. Fear controls us. Money consumes us. Desire drives us. The word of God is living and active, but all too often we drown it out with a cacophony of competing voices.
As we close this week, read Matthew 6:19-34:
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
What does Jesus suggest to be a good perspective on wealth and money? What is the connection He makes between fear and wealth? What is His closing challenge in this passage?
The wise person is the one who does not just hear these words and stories and parables of Jesus. The wise person is the one who takes them to heart and lets them reorient his or her way of life.
Jesus describes four soils, four types of people who hear the word but respond in very different ways. The challenge is to be fruitful, to internalize the law of God and let His voice drive and control every last nook and cranny of your life. Pray for the Holy Spirit to enable that way of life for you today.
Then Jesus said to them, "Don't you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? The farmer sows the word. Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown."
"Consider carefully what you hear," he continued. "With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them." (Mark 4:13-25)
Commenting on the parable of the sower, New Testament professor Klyne Snodgrass concludes, "People think they can look like giant oaks without putting down deep roots. When they realize how much effort it takes to put down deep roots, they too often settle for being bramble bushes."
Bramble bushes or oaks? Nobody wants their life to be described as anything other than fruitful and magnificent, but are we really willing to dig in and act on the things we know deep down that God has called us to do? Are we going to ever step up and be the people we know God wants us to be?
All too often the word "grace" is thrown around as if it means we don't really have to do anything difficult for God. After all, so the argument goes, we don't live under the law any more. Yet, this completely misses the point. Grace is what saves us. Grace is God giving us what we don't deserve. Grace is what enables us to actually live a life that is pleasing to God. Grace doesn't lower the bar, it raises it.
Take some time today to assess your relationship with God. What are you going to do this month to start laying down the kind of deep roots that we all so desperately want to have?
(Klyne Snodgrass, Stories with Intent, 176.)
Whenever we eat out at a Thai restaurant I am always amazed at the statues and figures representing the gods they worship. Perhaps it's all just decoration to make the meal seem more authentic. Perhaps some people really do worship these golden idols. Either way, it seems blatantly obvious that these figures are simply pieces of wood or metal. Who could possibly think they have any power? Someone made them in a factory!
Yet, while we may dismiss these more obvious idols as silly, when we cease listening to God we are in effect creating idols of our own. Our idols may not be painted in gold, but they are just as useless and just as potentially harmful to our relationship with God.
This idolatry is part of the problem Jesus addresses in his parable of the sower.
When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. He told them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that,
"'they may be ever seeing but never perceiving,
and ever hearing but never understanding;
otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!'"
(Mark 4:10-12)
With this in mind we go back to Isaiah, and while we could read all of Isaiah 2, just consider the following verses:
You, Lord, have abandoned your people,
the descendants of Jacob.
They are full of superstitions from the East;
they practice divination like the Philistines
and embrace pagan customs.
Their land is full of silver and gold;
there is no end to their treasures.
Their land is full of horses;
there is no end to their chariots.
Their land is full of idols;
they bow down to the work of their hands,
to what their fingers have made.
So people will be brought low
and everyone humbled
do not forgive them.
(Isaiah 2:6-9)
Isaiah's critique is of the people of Israel, but does this passage not hit a little close to home?
Where have idols crept into your life recently, perhaps subtly taking the place of the voice of God? How seriously are you going to take God's charge to root out and destroy all of them?
The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
made by human hands.
They have mouths, but cannot speak,
eyes, but cannot see.
They have ears, but cannot hear,
nor is there breath in their mouths.
Those who make them will be like them,
and so will all who trust in them.
All you Israelites, praise the Lord;
house of Aaron, praise the Lord;
house of Levi, praise the Lord;
you who fear him, praise the Lord.
Praise be to the Lord from Zion,
to him who dwells in Jerusalem.
Praise the Lord.
(Psalm 135:15-21)
Embedded in the middle of this long passage in Mark 4 is a quote taken from Isaiah 6. In order to fully understand the relevance of this quote for the parable of the sower, it helps to read Isaiah 1 first. As you read through this poetic and prophetic introduction, circle, underline or otherwise take note of all the language about hearing, listening and saying/speaking.
Note, for example, that in Isaiah 1:3 even the cattle know their master, yet Israel has failed to understand theirs:
The ox knows its master,
the donkey its owner's manger,
but Israel does not know,
my people do not understand."
Your pets know your voice and, for the most part, pay attention to your commands. Yet do we treat God with the same kind of attentiveness? Or do we consider such faithful obedience as being somehow above us? Are we too proud to accept that we really are not our own? That we are created beings, not the creator? That we've been bought at a price?
Or look at Isaiah 1:19-20:
If you are willing and obedient,
you will eat the good things of the land;
but if you resist and rebel,
you will be devoured by the sword."
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
God was clear that listening was not enough. The people were to be obedient as well (but of course, they were not). How often do we listen to God speak through the Bible or through a sermon and then fail to let any of it impact the way we live our life? What is God's judgment on this kind of behavior?
The concluding images of Isaiah 1 are of an oak with fading leaves and a garden without water:
You will be like an oak with fading leaves,
like a garden without water.
The mighty man will become tinder
and his work a spark;
both will burn together,
with no one to quench the fire." (Isaiah 1:30-31)
In both cases there is no fruit, no vitality, no life. This is the absolute opposite of a "Psalm 1 life," rooted in God. It is an image that Jesus would return to often in his ministry. In your prayer time today ask God to reveal the ways in which you have been shunning His authority in your life. Seek His face now, while there is still time and grace to turn and hear and understand.
Now that we have concluded our series on Advent, we return again to the Gospel of Mark and our series entitled, Follow Me. We pick up the story in Mark 4:1-25
Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water's edge. He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: "Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times."
Then Jesus said, "Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear."
When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. He told them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that,
"'they may be ever seeing but never perceiving,
and ever hearing but never understanding;
otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!'"
"Consider carefully what you hear," he continued. "With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them."
Have you ever had a conversation with someone, only to realize later on that you really don't remember what they said? Or worse, have you ever told someone something and then discovered later that they weren't really listening? In some ways the parable of the sower addresses just this situation. The people were listening to Jesus speak, but were they actually grasping what He had to say? The people heard words come from His mouth, but would they listen and understand the implications for their life?
The central challenge of the parable of the sower is to hear and understand what Jesus says. We are to reject the "easy-believism" of so much that passes for Christianity today and we are to embrace instead the life-changing demands that Jesus places on all who would call themselves His disciples.
Failing to hear my wife when she asks me to pick up some milk at the store may lead to an argument, but in the big scheme of things, it is largely irrelevant. Failing to take God's Word to heart is, as God repeats over and over again, a matter of life and death.
As we prepare for the sermon this Sunday, read and reflect on the following verses from the Book of Ephesians. Jesus leaves us with ongoing comfort and joy because we have been sealed with the Holy Spirit. What a great gift He is to us!
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.
(Ephesians 1:11-14)
Since Christmas is such a crazy busy time of year for everyone, the devotionals this week are focused entirely on Scripture. So today, slow down, catch your breath, pray, and ask God to speak to you as you read His Word. We've talked a lot about Jesus being God's great gift to us, but as we prepare for the sermon this coming Sunday, we will now look ahead and consider God's other great gift to us—the Holy Spirit.
"If you love me, keep my commands. 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. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them."
"All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
(John 14:15-21, 25-27)
"… you are filled with grief because I have said these things. But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned."
"I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you."(John 16:6-15)
On Christmas Day many of us are so busy with a hundred other activities it can be hard to make time for a private quiet time as well, but if you are able to do so, I encourage you to work in some time for prayer today, and we've selected the following Psalm to read as well. Merry Christmas!
I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart;
before the "gods" I will sing your praise.
I will bow down toward your holy temple
and will praise your name
for your unfailing love and your faithfulness,
for you have so exalted your solemn decree
that it surpasses your fame.
When I called, you answered me;
you greatly emboldened me.
May all the kings of the earth praise you, Lord,
when they hear what you have decreed.
May they sing of the ways of the Lord,
for the glory of the Lord is great.
Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly;
though lofty, he sees them from afar.
Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life.
You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes;
with your right hand you save me.
The Lord will vindicate me;
your love, Lord, endures forever—
do not abandon the works of your hands.
(Psalm 138)
Christmas is upon us. It's the moment when the Kingdom of God broke into this world, and everything changed as a result. As you prepare your heart for Christmas this year, consider the great opening chapter of 1 Peter:
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To God's elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood:
Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."
Since you call on a Father who judges each person's work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For,
"All people are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of the Lord endures forever."
And this is the word that was preached to you.
As we move closer to Christmas, it helps to consider the incredible ramifications of the Incarnation. The baby lying in a manger in Bethlehem was God-in-the-flesh; God dwelling among us. We are blessed beyond imagination to find ourselves living on this side of that momentous occasion, with the astonishing gift of God's Word to us, and the perspective to see all of God's workings from Creation until now. Regardless of what happens this Christmas, we have so much to be thankful for! In your quiet time today, read and reflect on the opening words from the Book of Hebrews:
In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.
For to which of the angels did God ever say,
"You are my Son;
today I have become your Father"?
Or again,
"I will be his Father,
and he will be my Son"?
And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says,
"Let all God's angels worship him."
In speaking of the angels he says,
"He makes his angels spirits,
and his servants flames of fire."
But about the Son he says,
"Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever;
a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
by anointing you with the oil of joy."
He also says,
"In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
They will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
You will roll them up like a robe;
like a garment they will be changed.
But you remain the same,
and your years will never end."
(Hebrews 1:1-12)
We can't talk about the "Prince of Peace" without pausing for a moment to look ahead to Easter. In fact, the reason that Christmas is so amazing is because of what we will celebrate just a few months from now at Easter. The incarnation is a miracle—an astonishing moment in the history of the world. But it goes so much further than that. The miracle is not simply that God took on human flesh and dwelled amongst us, but that the mighty God of the Universe also lived the perfect life we could never live, paid the horrible penalty we all deserve, and conquered death once and for all so that we might be restored in relationship with our Heavenly Father once again. That's what we are really celebrating at Christmas. Behind all the sparkly lights and festivities is the best gift of all—peace with God, bought at a price we could never pay. Give thanks to God for that today.
Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
(Isaiah 53:4-6)
As we draw nearer and nearer to Christmas, I encourage all of you to draw nearer and nearer to God through prayer as well. Whenever and however you choose to pray, do not neglect this most vital component of your spiritual walk with Christ this season.
Hear me, Lord, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.
Guard my life, for I am faithful to you;
save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God; 3 have mercy on me, Lord,
for I call to you all day long.
Bring joy to your servant, Lord,
for I put my trust in you.
You, Lord, are forgiving and good,
abounding in love to all who call to you.
Hear my prayer, Lord;
listen to my cry for mercy.
When I am in distress, I call to you,
because you answer me.
Among the gods there is none like you, Lord;
no deeds can compare with yours.
All the nations you have made
will come and worship before you, Lord;
they will bring glory to your name.
For you are great and do marvelous deeds;
you alone are God.
Teach me your way, Lord,
that I may rely on your faithfulness;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.
I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;
I will glorify your name forever.
For great is your love toward me;
you have delivered me from the depths,
from the realm of the dead.
Arrogant foes are attacking me, O God;
ruthless people are trying to kill me—
they have no regard for you.
But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
Turn to me and have mercy on me;
show your strength in behalf of your servant;
save me, because I serve you
just as my mother did.
Give me a sign of your goodness,
that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,
for you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.
(Psalm 86)
Marshal your troops now, city of troops,
for a siege is laid against us.
They will strike Israel's ruler
on the cheek with a rod.
"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times."
Therefore Israel will be abandoned
until the time when she who is in labor bears a son,
and the rest of his brothers return
to join the Israelites.
He will stand and shepherd his flock
in the strength of the LORD,
in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.
And they will live securely, for then his greatness
will reach to the ends of the earth.
And he will be our peace…
(Micah 5:1-5a)
When the Magi from the east approached King Herod asking about the King of the Jews, Herod turned to the teachers of the law for advice. They, in turn, quoted this prophecy from Micah by way of answer. It made no sense at the time—after all, Bethlehem was a tiny village, insignificant and irrelevant. However, the words were clear, and Herod went to horrific ends in order to kill the perceived threat to his throne.
What God has willed, however, cannot be stopped by the mere hands of men, and so the young Jesus escaped the tyrant Herod and with his family went to live temporarily in Egypt. As John would later say, somewhat poetically, in his Gospel: "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" (John 1:5). Indeed, the darkness could not ever overcome it.
Although there is clearly a sense in which Jesus functions to bring peace into our communities, neighborhoods, families and friendships, the primary gift of His peace is seen in our restored relationship with God Himself. Jesus ushered in the Kingdom of God, and peace follows after Him everywhere as a result. However, more importantly, Jesus embodied that peace, and indeed became our peace, providing us access back into the presence of our Heavenly Father.
As the Apostle Paul tells us, "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1). Or again, "For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross (Col. 1:19-20).
The great gift of Christmas is the promise of this restoration. What once was broken has now been restored and made new. What once was lost has now been found. May that be the source of our comfort and joy this Christmas.
"Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you" (2 Thessalonians 3:16)
Our focus this week is on Jesus as our "Prince of Peace." It's a title heavy-laden with meaning, and rich in implications for every aspect of our lives. Read the following passage from Isaiah, and marvel at the way in which God promises that a baby boy will be the one to conquer the forces of evil and darkness. God will not impose His peace forcibly through a display of His mighty power, but humbly, through the birth of a child. Incredible!
Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—
The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
You have enlarged the nation
and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
when dividing the plunder.
For as in the day of Midian's defeat,
you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor.
Every warrior's boot used in battle
and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
will be fuel for the fire.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David's throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
(Isaiah 9:1-7)
In what area of your life are you seeking the "zeal of the Lord Almighty" to be at work? How can we be praying for you this Christmas season?
Twenty years ago the world honored South African leaders Nelson Mandela and F.W. de Klerk with the Nobel Peace Prize, "for their work for the peaceful termination of the apartheid regime, and for laying the foundations for a new democratic South Africa" (http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1993/mandela-facts.html). It was a monumental moment in the history of South Africa. After years of painful injustice and bitter strife, the way appeared to be clearing for a new day of freedom and justice.
As I watched the news and read the articles about Nelson Mandela's funeral last week, I was struck by a couple of things. First, I was reminded that we live in a fallen, sin-ridden world, where conflict is the norm, not the exception. We argue, fight, steal, kill, hurt and maim. We often oppress others and seek to exert power in truly horrible ways. Indeed, human history is filled with countless examples of human evil; evidence of the Biblical truth that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).
That said, the outpouring of grief at Mandela's funeral was also a clear sign to me of just how much we yearn for something, or someone, to give us hope. Our hearts crave it. We may try to suppress the truth that our world is broken, and we may try to hide the sin that lurks in our own hearts, but deep down we are all keenly aware of how desperate our situation really is. In this way, Christians and non-Christians alike all seek a savior. We are all looking for a light shining at the end of the tunnel.
The sad truth is, however, that Nelson Mandela was not that savior. He was a great leader, honored by many, and a trailblazer for change in a very difficult political environment, but he was not the savior South Africans were really looking for. Although many things have changed in his country since 1993, there is still fighting and oppression and injustice and pain and suffering. No human has the power to change that.
But at Christmas, we celebrate the arrival of One who came to bring lasting peace:
"For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. (Ephesians 2:14-18)
In Christ we can experience peace with God and peace with each other. In Christ we can catch glimpses of God's Kingdom breaking through into our broken world. In Christ we have hope that one day all things will be restored and made whole once again.
The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together;
and a little child will lead them.
The cow will feed with the bear,
their young will lie down together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
The infant will play near the cobra's den,
and the young child will put its hand into the viper's nest.
They will neither harm nor destroy
on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.
(Isaiah 11:6-9)
Are you feeling it yet? Comfort? Joy? Peace? Hope? These are the words we see most often on Christmas cards. These are the words plastered on the walls of our sanctuary this Advent. These are the words that fill our Christmas carols and Christmas songs. Perhaps, for you, Christmas is indeed "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year," and these emotions come as easily as an old car fish-tailing on black ice.
However, for others of us, these words may represent everything we don't have, and yet want most. Comfort and joy may be as elusive as a parking spot in the mall on Black Friday. What then? Where do we turn? Are we left pasting a fake smile on our face as we join the Christmas joy parade?
No amount of eggnog will solve our sadness, or assuage our sense of loss. But Jesus reminds us that there is someone we can turn to for help:
"'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.'
(Matthew 6:9-13)
Prayer is not a magic pill that will suddenly turn our depression into delight. However, the marvelous gift of Christmas is that because of Jesus we now have free and total access through prayer to our perfect, loving Father in Heaven, who alone has the power to do all things. And it is through His power that maybe, just possibly, we might be able this Christmas to join with David in proclaiming,
You turned my wailing into dancing;
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.
Lord my God, I will praise you forever.
(Psalm 30:11-12)
We can't leave our brief study on Jesus as our "Everlasting Father" without considering what is perhaps the most significant text on this subject in the New Testament—the Parable of the Prodigal Son (or, as some have called it, the Parable of the Two Lost Sons).
Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.
"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.' So he got up and went to his father.
"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
"The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.
"Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'
"The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'
" 'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' " (Luke 15:11-32)
What does this parable tell us about Jesus? What kind of a father is He to us?
When opposed by the Jewish leaders for having healed someone on the Sabbath, Jesus responded:
"Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him. "Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. (John 5:27)
Isaiah 9:6 contains a strange inversion that we don't pause to think about very often. The verse promises that a child will be born to us, yet we are told he will have the name, "Everlasting Father." Obviously at some point most baby boys grow up to be fathers, but something different is going on here, for these titles seem to be bestowed on the baby at birth, as a reflection of characteristics he already possesses.
I think that the passage from the Gospel of John, above, gives us perhaps a brief glimpse into the truth Isaiah is trying to capture in his prophecy. And it's here that we begin to catch sight of some element of the Trinity. For ultimately the language of fathers and sons only scratches the surface of God's divine identity.
What we learn from Jesus, however, is that the Father and the Son are completely in synch with each other. "Whatever the Father does the Son also does." The Son is obedient to the Father, but this is not a master-slave type of relationship. Rather, the Son is the perfect reflection of the Father. More than that, He acts as if He were God Himself. "For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself." What we affirm as followers of Christ is that Jesus was indeed God.
Many today still try to explain away Jesus as just another wise teacher. But the Gospel accounts simply don't allow us that option.
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one."
Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?"
"We are not stoning you for any good work," they replied, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God."(John 10:27-33)
What Isaiah reminds us, especially at this time of year, is that the "little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay" is also our King of Kings and Lord of Lords; He is the Alpha and the Omega, our only hope in a dark world that is hopelessly broken by sin and death. He is our light, shining brightly in the darkness.
It may feel as if we were just celebrating Thanksgiving, but now Christmas Eve is just two weeks away. We will all invest a significant amount of time preparing our homes and yards for Christmas, but how much time will we invest in preparing our hearts through prayer and reading God's Word?
As we continue to explore this idea of Jesus, our Savior, being called our "Everlasting Father," today we will consider a few more passages that help flesh that idea out for us.
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young meh stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
(Isa. 40:28-31)
"When Israel was a child, I loved him,
and out of Egypt I called my son.
But the more they were called,
the more they went away from me.
They sacrificed to the Baals
and they burned incense to images.
It was I who taught Ephraim to walk,
taking them by the arms;
but they did not realize
it was I who healed them.
I led them with cords of human kindness,
with ties of love.
To them I was like one who lifts
a little child to the cheek,
and I bent down to feed them.
(Hosea 11:1-4)
Lord, you have been our dwelling place
throughout all generations.
Before the mountains were born
or you brought forth the whole world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
(Psalm 90:1-2)
Yet you, LORD, are our Father.
We are the clay, you are the potter;
we are all the work of your hand.
(Isaiah 64:8)
The people stood on the edge of the Promised Land, anxious about what would happen next. Could this really be it? Would they really be able to take such a vast territory? What about all the people living there already? What if they tried to fight them and lost? Then where would they go and what would they do?
As they teetered on the brink, hesitant about what to do next, 12 spies were sent into the land to survey the territory and report back to Moses and the leaders. But when they returned, speaking of highly fortified cities and powerful armies, the people turned away in fear. There are giants in there! We can't possibly go in. So Moses said to them,
"Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the wilderness. There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place." (Deuteronomy 1:30-31)
It's a beautiful image of God's care and concern for His people. The "Almighty God" (Isaiah 9:6) scooping up His beloved child, and with tenderness and care, carrying him through the desert. I can't help but think of the way in which I hold my daughters in my arms when they are tired, or sick, and can't take another step by themselves. When it comes to picturing God leading the people of Israel through the desert, we are quick to remember the pillar of cloud and pillar of fire, but often forget this more personal aspect of God's presence; not just leading, but providing with love and patience.
The two parts of God's character come together in Isaiah's enigmatic promise that one day a child would be born "to us," and His name would be "Everlasting Father" (Isaiah 9:5-6). Our Heavenly Father is omnipotent, omniscient, and eternal, yet at the same time also a Father, a caring parent who speaks of us as His children, and calls us to be a part of His family.
It's almost too much to hold together in my head. The Lord "laid the earth's foundation," and "marked off its dimensions." He "shut up the sea behind doors" and gave "orders to the morning" (Job 38:1-12). And yet at the same time, He approaches us with the kind of loving care and concern that only a Father could display:
So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)
So today, instead of being overwhelmed with the craziness of Christmas, pause to reflect on, and rest in, the wonderful promise of God's absolute provision. Whatever you are going through right now, your Heavenly Father promises to strengthen you and help you. The baby lying in a manger guarantees it.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
(Isaiah 9:6)
Our God is a mighty God and a wonderful counselor; a King of Kings who is mighty to save and sovereign over all things. At the same time, however, this mighty God, our Savior, came and lived among us, taking on human flesh, coming to us as a mere baby, a child no less, lying in a manger, surrounded by animals, and largely hidden from everyone. Such an arrival was a miracle few expected or understood.
The miracle of Christmas is that our King humbled Himself to save us. He sacrificed Himself to bring us peace with God. Our comfort doesn't rest in material goods, but in the presence of our Heavenly Father. Our joy has less to do with the way life is going, and far more to do with the "grace in which we now stand."
As we finish this week's devotionals, consider the great promises Paul lays out for us in his letter to the Romans, and be encouraged by the security of God's great love for you.
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, while we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (Romans 5:1-11)
Advent can be a wonderful time to look back and consider the wonderful prophecies God provided for His people hundreds of years before Jesus was born. These powerful words speak volumes about God's great love for us, and convey again the mighty power of a God who has been working out a plan since before the dawn of time. Be encouraged today that this same mighty God is "with you" personally, and indeed takes "great delight in you."
Sing, Daughter Zion;
shout aloud, Israel!
Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,
Daughter Jerusalem!
The Lord has taken away your punishment,
he has turned back your enemy.
The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you;
never again will you fear any harm.
On that day
they will say to Jerusalem,
"Do not fear, Zion;
do not let your hands hang limp.
The Lord your God is with you,
the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over you with singing."
"I will remove from you
all who mourn over the loss of your appointed festivals,
which is a burden and reproach for you.
At that time I will deal
with all who oppressed you.
I will rescue the lame;
I will gather the exiles.
I will give them praise and honor
in every land where they have suffered shame.
At that time I will gather you;
at that time I will bring you home.
I will give you honor and praise
among all the peoples of the earth
when I restore your fortunes
before your very eyes,"
says the Lord.
(Zephaniah 3:14-20)
Who is this King of glory?
The LORD, strong and mighty,
the LORD, mighty in battle!
(Psalm 24:8)
We serve a mighty God. That much should be undeniable. As we consider the grand sweep of history, from the dawn of Creation until the present day, God's hand is visible everywhere we look. His reach extends from the high courts of kings and rulers all the way down to the plain and ordinary lives of people like you and me. God has been working since before the beginning of time, and will continue to work long after we shed this mortal coil.
The great truth set before us in Scripture is that our God is a mighty God. He is the One who spoke the world into existence. He is the One who breathed life into Adam. He is the One who gave Abraham and Sarah a son. He is the One who saved Joseph from certain death, and then used him to save a nation. He is the One who rescued His people from slavery, delivering them from the hands of Pharaoh. He is the One who brought the people into the Promised Land, and went before them to vanquish their enemies. He is the One who conquered Israel's enemies, even when the odds were repeatedly stacked against them. He is the One who sent His own people into Exile as discipline for their ongoing idolatry and rebellion. He is the One who brought them back home again, and enabled them to rebuild Jerusalem.
This is what we mean when we talk about the sovereignty of God. He is ruler of both Heaven and Earth. He holds all things in His hands—not just the big events that play out on the main stages of the world, but the little ordinary moments that make up the day-to-day existence of each and every one of us. He doesn't just observe everything that happens from a distance—He has a vested interest in our lives, and plays an active role in each and every moment. Only a God this big could possibly be our "comfort and joy."
"Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
and he will bring justice to the nations.
He will not shout or cry out,
or raise his voice in the streets.
A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;
he will not falter or be discouraged
till he establishes justice on earth.
In his teaching the islands will put their hope."
This is what God the Lord says—
the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out,
who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it,
who gives breath to its people,
and life to those who walk on it:
"I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness;
I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you
to be a covenant for the people
and a light for the Gentiles,
to open eyes that are blind,
to free captives from prison
and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.
"I am the Lord; that is my name!
I will not yield my glory to another
or my praise to idols.
See, the former things have taken place,
and new things I declare;
before they spring into being
I announce them to you."
(Isaiah 42:1-9)
As I mentioned yesterday, my own personal Bible reading plan for this month involves reading through Deuteronomy. The passage below is taken from Deuteronomy 10, which speaks to this week's focus on our "Mighty God" (Isaiah 9:6). What do you learn about God from these verses? How will you respond?
And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?
To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it. Yet the Lord set his affection on your ancestors and loved them, and he chose you, their descendants, above all the nations—as it is today. Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer. For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt. Fear the Lord your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name. He is the one you praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes. Your ancestors who went down into Egypt were seventy in all, and now the Lord your God has made you as numerous as the stars in the sky.
Love the Lord your God and keep his requirements, his decrees, his laws and his commands always.
(Deuteronomy 10:12-11:1)
Although Advent is meant to be a time of quiet contemplation as we prepare for the "coming" (or "advent") of Jesus, for many of us it is simply a time of increased stress and strain. In fact, it is easy to become completely overwhelmed with ever-growing shopping lists, endless parties, and a feeling that we should be happy all the time. Christians will talk a lot about "putting Christ back in Christmas," but the question is, "How?"
One simple way we can push back against all these pressures is to zealously guard our quiet time with God. This isn't legalism, it's common sense. God will love us the same whether we read our Bible and pray every day or not. As a display of His grace, God will still work in our lives and answer our prayers even if we fail to slow down to listen to His voice.
However, we will feel closer to God, and feel more grounded in the middle of all the chaos, if we invest some time each day to read God's Word and pray. Moreover, while we are glad to provide these devotionals as a resource to you, they do not function in the same way as reading God's Word. For example, this month I am personally going to read through the Book of Deuteronomy, and I may read some Psalms in there as well. I encourage you to pick a plan that works for you, and then go for it.
As for the devotionals, this week we continue our series, "Comfort and Joy," rooted in two key texts often associated with Christmas. Read and reflect on the following passages. How is Jesus' birth good news for you this year? In what areas of your life are you praying for God to shine His light, bringing hope and healing and restoration?
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 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. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." (Luke 2:8-15)
The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
You have enlarged the nation
and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
when dividing the plunder.
For as in the day of Midian's defeat,
you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor.
Every warrior's boot used in battle
and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
will be fuel for the fire.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David's throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this.
(Isaiah 9:1-7)
Well you did it. You made it through Thanksgiving! I hope that it was a wonderful time of rest and that you experienced the grace of God in the midst of your gathering. But whatever happened, (or didn't happen), today is a new day, and a new opportunity to turn afresh to God to be refreshed by His Word and encouraged by His Spirit.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David's throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this.
(Isaiah 9:6-7)
As I noted earlier this week, our focus for the sermon this Sunday will be on the ways in which Jesus is our "wonderful counselor." On Wednesday we explored the word "wonderful," and so today we look at the word "counselor." Again, this is a word which, in English, has a wide range of meanings, but in Isaiah the prevailing sense is of someone who gives advice. Clearly Isaiah is drawing a marked contrast between the ways of man, which tend towards idolatry, and the way of the Messiah, whose heart will be perfectly in tune with God. Isaiah draws this out more completely a few chapters later, when he says:
A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of might,
the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD—
and he will delight in the fear of the LORD.
He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
or decide by what he hears with his ears;
but with righteousness he will judge the needy,
with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.
He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;
with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
Righteousness will be his belt
and faithfulness the sash around his waist.
The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together;
and a little child will lead them.
The cow will feed with the bear,
their young will lie down together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
The infant will play near the cobra's den,
the young child will put its hand into the viper's nest.
They will neither harm nor destroy
on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD
as the waters cover the sea. (Isaiah 11:1-9)
The coming Messiah, Isaiah seems to be saying, will be unlike anyone else before Him. In contrast to every fallen leader and wicked king, the Messiah will be filled with "the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD." The vision that Isaiah lays out after that is stunning in scope. This "shoot" won't just be a wise man, but a ruler who will turn everything upside down. The needy and poor will see justice, "the wolf will live with the lamb," and eventually "the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD."
Jesus came and dwelt among us in the most unlikely manner, being born in an inconsequential town far away from Jerusalem. Yet the angel of the Lord announced to the shepherds that this was an event of massive importance. "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. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger" (Luke 2:10-12).
The sign was a baby. Wrapped up and lying in a manger. The promised Savior appeared as the ultimate symbol of helpless dependence and total neediness. Truly even in His birth Jesus embodied the very "foolishness" that the cross would later appear to be to His opponents. And yet through that same "foolish" death Jesus would ultimately make a way for any and all to taste forgiveness, find freedom, and experience new life in Christ. May that drive us all to praise and worship today!
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written:
"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."
Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. (1 Corinthians 1:18-25)
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:12-17)
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:12-17)
There can be no better time of year than Thanksgiving to be reminded of God's admonition for us to live in peace and unity with each other. "As God's chosen people," we have a duty, an obligation, to relate to others in community in a way that reflects God's character.
What does that look like? Paul spells it out clearly: we are to display "compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." If that wasn't enough, we are also called to "bear with each other and forgive one another." Given that Thanksgiving is a time when most of us are gathering together with immediate and extended family, we will no doubt be given many opportunities today to practice this command.
So how can we bear with people we don't particularly like? How can we display kindness and compassion when others rub us the wrong way? How do we forgive each other rather than engaging in heated confrontation? By looking to God and being reminded of the many ways in which God has forgiven us.
Yes, we should give thanks to others for the ways in which they have blessed and encouraged us. Yes, we should give thanks to God for the many ways in which He has provided for us. However, let us also never forget that the biggest, most significant blessing we have ever received from God can't be bought, stored or held. Peace and restoration with our Heavenly Father deserves far more than a simple one-time prayer of thanksgiving—it should drive us to worship every moment of every day.
So today, as we carve up turkeys, watch football, and gripe about the weather, may we remember the Gospel. May we take Paul's words to heart, and
"Let the message of Christ dwell among [us] richly as [we] teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in [our] hearts. And whatever [we] do, whether in word or deed, [may we] do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Colossians 3:16-17)
"Let the message of Christ dwell among [us] richly as [we] teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in [our] hearts. And whatever [we] do, whether in word or deed, [may we] do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Colossians 3:16-17)
As we work our way through Advent, over the coming weeks we'll be exploring the following well-known verses in depth, spending a week on each "name" of God.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
(Isaiah 9:6)
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
We hear these verses almost every Christmas, but how often do we stop to ask ourselves what they actually mean? What is a "wonderful counselor"? We might think of a wonderful meal, or a wonderful vacation, but a wonderful counselor?
For help in understanding this phrase I turned to Bible scholar and pastor Alec Motyer, who has done extensive studies in the Book of Isaiah. In his commentary on Isaiah, he notes that the word "wonderful" is used in many places throughout the Old Testament, but most often it carries with it a sense of something being outstanding, incredible, and almost inexplicable. When used to speak about God it means "supernatural."
For example, if you turn to Genesis 18:14 in your Bible, where Sarah questions her ability to bear a child in her old age, the LORD responds by saying, "Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son." Depending on your translation, there may be a footnote indicating that the word "hard" could also be translated "wonderful," because the underlying Hebrew word is the same.
As God worked supernaturally and wonderfully to overcome all obstacles and bless Abraham and Sarah with a son, so, too, would God work supernaturally and wonderfully to bless Mary and Joseph with a son. This is the prophecy of Isaiah 9.
Pastor Motyer then points us to another example in Psalm 118, where we read:
The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
the LORD has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
The LORD has done it this very day;
let us rejoice today and be glad. (Psalm 118:23-24)
The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
the LORD has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
The LORD has done it this very day;
let us rejoice today and be glad. (Psalm 118:23-24)
Of course, Jesus would later quote these verses and apply them to Himself and His ministry. He was the cornerstone, set in place by a dramatic and supernatural work of God to change the course of history forever. Here again, the word "marvelous" is the same word translated as "wonderful" in Isaiah 9:6. The idea is of something awesome and amazing, totally outside of the realm of anything we could imagine or hope for. Such indeed was the birth of Christ.
Our wonderful counselor is Jesus, the One whose appearance amongst us, and substitutionary death for us, made it possible for us to be reconciled with God. No wonder the angel proclaimed to the shepherds, "I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people"
(J. Alec Motyer, The Prophecy of Isaiah, pp. 101-105)
Although the title for our Advent series is rooted in Luke 2, the verses we will be exploring are taken from Isaiah 9. So today, spend some time reading this great passage of Scripture, and preparing your heart for what God would speak to you this Advent season.
Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—
The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
You have enlarged the nation
and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
when dividing the plunder.
For as in the day of Midian's defeat,
you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor.
Every warrior's boot used in battle
and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
will be fuel for the fire.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David's throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this.
(Isaiah 9:1-7)
The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
You have enlarged the nation
and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
when dividing the plunder.
For as in the day of Midian's defeat,
you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor.
Every warrior's boot used in battle
and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
will be fuel for the fire.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David's throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this.
(Isaiah 9:1-7)
Is it really Advent already? We're not even done eating turkey! Well, yes and no. Technically speaking, Advent begins this coming Sunday, December 1. So don't worry—you're not behind yet. That said, our pattern with the devotionals is to prepare for what's coming on Sunday at church. As such, although it feels early, we're going to ease into Advent this week as we begin to look beyond Thanksgiving and towards Christmas.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 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. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." (Luke 2:8-15)
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 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. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
"Glory to God in the highest heaven,
Our theme for Advent this year is "Comfort and Joy." It's a reference to the well-known refrain from the Christmas carol, "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen," which refers back to this passage in Luke, where an angel of the Lord appears to some shepherds out in the fields near Bethlehem, proclaiming, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people" (Luke 2:10).
At first glance, we might wonder where the idea of "comfort" comes from. After all, it's not included in these words from the angel, and doesn't seem to figure very highly in the New Testament explanations of Jesus' mission. However, if we look back to Isaiah 40, we read the following prophecy:
Comfort, comfort my people,
says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and proclaim to her
that her hard service has been completed,
that her sin has been paid for,
that she has received from the LORD's hand
double for all her sins. (Isaiah 40:1-2)
Comfort, comfort my people,
says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and proclaim to her
that her hard service has been completed,
that her sin has been paid for,
that she has received from the LORD's hand
double for all her sins. (Isaiah 40:1-2)
The incredible blessing we celebrate at Christmas every year is rooted in this promise. Namely, that our hard service has been completed, our sin has been paid for, and that we can now be reconciled with the Lord.
So, while we may not personally always experience a life of physical, emotional or financial comfort, we can nevertheless experience God's comforting presence through each and every trial. We may not personally feel happy all the time, but we can experience true, lasting joy when we consider that "there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus," (Romans 8:1) and as such, nothing "will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:39).
Then Jesus' mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, "Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you."
"Who are my mother and my brothers?" he asked.
Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother." (Mark 3:31-35)
These are difficult verses. What we're used to hearing in the Bible is a focus on the family; an over-arching ethic that elevates familial bonds over all others. Didn't God Himself command us to, "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)? So how are we to make sense of Jesus apparently rejecting His own family in favor of His disciples?
Pastor Rob will give you that answer on Sunday.
In all seriousness, it's a tough passage. Given that we know Jesus lived a perfect life without sin, He can't be breaking one of the Ten Commandments here. Moreover, there is nothing in the rest of the Gospels to indicate animosity towards His family. In fact, His mother and brothers will appear again in accounts of His crucifixion and as members of the early Church.
Most likely then, we have here the first hints that the community Jesus was forming was going to be radically different than anything that had come before. At the end of our devotionals last week we read from John 1:12-13: "Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God."
This is surely at the heart of Jesus' comments to the disciples in Mark 3:33-35. Jesus used the opportunity of His birth family coming to take Him away from all the craziness of His ministry in order to positively affirm the new relationships that the disciples would have with their Heavenly Father. Seen in this light, His comments are more positive than negative, more focused on affirming a new freedom of access to God than decrying or diminishing existing relationships to family here on earth.
Our earthly families may be wonderful or stressful. We may have a close family, or no family. There are all kinds of relationships, and all kinds of people. However, Jesus is clear that whatever our family of origin, if we have been born again, then we have been grafted into a new family, with a perfect Father whose love for us will never waver or fade. As we draw nearer to Thanksgiving, and enter a season of the year when family tensions can sometimes reach boiling point, it's a wonderful reminder to keep in mind.
As we reflect on the power of God to save lives, and His grace and patience in working with us as flawed, imperfect, and inconsistent followers, we turn our attention today towards the brief letter from Paul to Titus. These two passages in particular serve as great reminder of the incredible love that God has shown, and continues to show, towards us. How is God speaking to you through these verses today?
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. (Titus 2:11-14)
And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, "He is possessed by Beelzebul! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons."
So Jesus called them over to him and began to speak to them in parables: "How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. In fact, no one can enter a strong man's house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong man's house. Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin."
He said this because they were saying, "He has an impure spirit." (Mark 3:22-30)
If you're reading this devotional, the chances are very good that you have not committed what we so often refer to as "the unforgivable sin." The point of this passage is not to strike fear into the hearts of believers who are keenly aware of their own faults and failures. Rather, Jesus is decrying a fixed hardness of heart represented by the teachers of the law, who stubbornly and consistently rejected Jesus, even going so far as to ascribe His power and authority to Satan.
Moreover, we know that Jesus' grace and forgiveness extends even to those who persecute Christians and challenge God directly. Take the Apostle Paul, for example. He stood by while Stephen was stoned to death. He took an active role in trying to crush the early Church and stamp out Christianity. People have sinned against God throughout history and yet still managed to find freedom and forgiveness in the good news of the Gospel of Christ.
It's never too late for the "prodigal sons" of every family and every generation. If in your heart you feel guilt, shame, concern, fear or frustration over your sins, then most likely you have not yet hardened yourself completely against God, and there is therefore still time and space for you to experience forgiveness and healing and new life. Use this time today to repent of your sins and turn to God for help. He loves you, and we can be certain of that because His Holy Spirit is convicting you. Don't turn away. Don't waste another minute. Run to God today.
As Jesus faced all kinds of opposition, so we, too, encounter all kinds of suffering and struggle. Whether it's physical illness, financial hardship, or relational tension, it can often seem as if the hits keep coming with no let-up in sight. In the face of all that, we can take comfort in God's Word, and the following verses in particular have been of great encouragement to me personally. As you read these words, ask God to impress them on your heart so they might sink in deeply and impact you profoundly.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
(Ephesians 1:3-14)
After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!" (Mark 1:14-15)
A few nights ago we gathered together as a church to celebrate about 70 people getting baptized. It was an amazing evening, filled with incredible testimonies, wonderful worship and a powerful display of unity between members of both the Spanish and English speaking congregations.
We do many things as a church, but baptizing believers is one of the most exciting and encouraging moments of the year. After all, each baptism represents a changed life—someone who has been rescued from the "the dominion of darkness and brought…into the kingdom of the Son he loves"(Colossians 1:13). With each baptism we catch a glimpse of the reality promised by Jesus in the verses above, "The Kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!" (Mark 1:15)
As such, it is almost impossible to understand how the teachers of the law could have seen Jesus' ministry as something Satanic. Yet sadly, that was exactly the charge that they leveled at Him.
Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, "He is out of his mind."
So Jesus called them over to him and began to speak to them in parables: "How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. In fact, no one can enter a strong man's house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong man's house. (Mark 3:20-27)
The grace and patience which Jesus shows in dealing with such a charge is amazing. He doesn't strike His accusers down, or curse them, or in any way exercise His divine power against or over them. Instead, He uses their challenge as a chance to explain to the people gathered His plan for dominating Satan completely.
Paul would later tell the church in Ephesus, "…our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms"(Ephesians 6:12). Nevertheless, Jesus defeated Satan once and for all at the cross, and therefore we have nothing else to fear. Instead we can celebrate with Jesus the good news that the Kingdom has drawn near—good news for us, and good news for those we care most about. As you persevere through whatever trials God has set before you this week, stand firm, take courage, and "be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power" (Ephesians 6:10).
Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means "sons of thunder"), Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. (Mark 3:13-19)
I never had much luck getting picked for things as a kid. As teams would form for people playing soccer or capture the flag, I was usually the last one selected. Tall and gangly, I wasn't the most coordinated person around, and as a result I was more of a liability than an asset. Now, perhaps if we had had a Trivial Pursuit team or some kind of writing game, then things would have been different. However, most elementary school boys are not playing those kinds of things during recess.
Jesus, as we know, attracted massive crowds of people wherever He went. He had all kinds of people following Him. Some sought healing, others simply wanted to see a good show. Some were intrigued by His teaching, while yet others were actively looking for ways to stop Him in His tracks. However, out of this amorphous mass of people, Jesus chose a specific group of men to be His closest companions; the twelve disciples.
We don't know for sure why He chose these particular men over any others. Unlike the captains on the playground teams of my childhood, Jesus wasn't looking for the biggest, strongest, most capable-looking men. In fact, He chose twelve men who genuinely struggled to make sense of their master and His mission. One would deny Him, another would betray Him, and all would fail to see what was really going on until after the Holy Spirit came on Pentecost.
The emphasis here is not on the men themselves, but on the One who chose them to begin with. Mark is clear to point out here that one of their primary tasks as Jesus' chosen ones was simply to "be with him" (Jesus). They would walk with Him, talk with Him, listen to Him, pray with Him, eat and sleep with Him, and over time, in theory, in some small way, begin to think and act like Him.
As amazing as it was that Jesus selected these men to be part of His inner circle, it's even more incredible that since that time Jesus has drafted each and every one of us onto that same team. Your selection has no basis in any gifts, talents, or abilities you may or may not have. Your income, background, age, gender and race make no difference whatsoever. There is no selection committee or voting behind closed doors.
God extends His grace freely and unilaterally into our lives, and we have the wonderful opportunity to become a part of the family. Do you realize what a blessing that is? Your value and significance in life is rooted in nothing else than God's great, unending love for you, as displayed in His Son, Jesus Christ. May that encourage you in your walk today!
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. (John 1:12-13)
As we consider this week the amazing ways in which God works to heal us and include us in His family, I encourage you today to read and re-read, and then pray through the following Psalm of David.
Psalm 139
You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.
You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,"
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when I awake, I am still with you.
If only you, God, would slay the wicked!
Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!
They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries misuse your name.
Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord,
and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?
I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.
Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus. (Mark 3:6)
While popular with many, Jesus was not liked by everyone, and His encounters with the religious authorities were particularly difficult. In this case, after teaching so forcefully about the dangers of legalism in regard to the Sabbath, the Pharisees and the Herodians even went so far as to begin plotting how they might kill Jesus. It's not surprising then that Jesus and the disciples moved to a different place to minister, as we read in the passage below.
Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed. When they heard about all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon. Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him. For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him. Whenever the impure spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, "You are the Son of God." But he gave them strict orders not to tell others about him. (Mark 3:7-12)
Such a move may have taken them away from the immediate threat, but it was far from a defensive retreat into isolation. Instead of avoiding the limelight, Jesus seemed to attract even more people to Himself, as Mark records a large crowd coming from all over the country to see Him.
The needs must have been overwhelming in scope. The sick, the demon-possessed, the lonely, the hurting, the broken—everyone wanted to see Jesus and be healed by Him. The crowds pressed in enough that Jesus even asked for a boat to be ready so He would have a little space around Him.
Clearly, however, this was where Jesus knew He was meant to be. He withdrew from the Herodians and Pharisees specifically in order to engage with the people crowding in around Him. He wanted to heal. He wanted to cast out demons. He wanted to be right where He was.
Later in the Gospel of Mark we'll read, "When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things" (Mark 6:34). The God who created the Universe and everything in it came and walked among us, not as a distant, aloof, unapproachable deity, but as a man filled with love and care and concern for a people broken by sin and living in death.
We see here in Jesus a man we can draw near to, a God who is approachable. He doesn't shy away from our mess, but reaches out in love. And He continues to do so today. Whatever the sin, whatever the problem, whatever the issue, we are never too dirty, too broken, or too far away to draw near to Jesus and be healed. He came from Heaven to Earth to restore our fractured world, and He wants to restore you as well.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
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!
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,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
(Philippians 2:5-11)
Today we jump back into our series on the Gospel of Mark, and rejoin Jesus and the disciples as they continue on their incredible journey around Galilee. As we've done on previous Tuesdays, today's devotional is really just a selection of texts directly from the Bible. We encourage you to read and meditate on these words, and consider the following questions: What do we learn about Jesus from these passages? How does that knowledge of His character impact the way we live our lives today?
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them. Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.
(Matthew 4:23-25)
Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to bring charges against Jesus, they asked him, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?"
He said to them, "If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath."
Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.
Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill. He warned them not to tell others about him. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
"Here is my servant whom I have chosen,
the one I love, in whom I delight;
and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
He will not quarrel or cry out;
no one will hear his voice in the streets.
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 12:9-21)
He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coastal region around Tyre and Sidon, who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by impure spirits were cured, and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all. (Luke 6:17-19)
Yesterday we were privileged to hear from author and speaker Tom Doyle as he shared about his passion for encouraging and supporting the persecuted church around the world. Although it can sometimes seem as if the problems are so big that there is nothing we can do to help, there is actually still much that we can do from right here in the West suburbs of Chicago.
First and foremost, we can pray. This, perhaps, is the greatest test of our belief in prayer--when there is literally nothing else we can physically do to help, do we really believe that our prayers will have a significant impact? Is it possible for some words I mutter under my breath here in Wheaton to change things that are happening across the world in Syria?
How we answer that question will determine what we do with a sermon like Tom's yesterday. If, when it comes right down to it, we're really just not sure our prayers will make a difference, then we'll file his sermon away as something interesting but not applicable. After all, the bottom line is that we can't do anything anyway. We'll feel sorry for "those people" for a little while, but then move on with our lives as before.
If, however, we understand the incredible power that resides in faithful prayer, then learning about the incredible suffering of the persecuted church becomes an opportunity instead of a burden. According to the Bible, the Christian believers living throughout the Middle East are our brothers and sisters--they are family. Hearing about their plight, and their faithfulness to Jesus in the midst of incredible suffering and struggle, is a great encouragement. It makes me want to pray more, not less! After all, we serve a God who works miracles! We serve a God who sustains us in times of great weakness and need! We serve a God who answers prayers in surprising and amazing ways that serve to bring Him even greater glory!
So today, I encourage you to join me in praying for the persecuted church, and to guide us in that prayer I've included a psalm below:
Psalm 143
Lord, hear my prayer,
listen to my cry for mercy;
in your faithfulness and righteousness
come to my relief.
Do not bring your servant into judgment,
for no one living is righteous before you.
The enemy pursues me,
he crushes me to the ground;
he makes me dwell in the darkness
like those long dead.
So my spirit grows faint within me;
my heart within me is dismayed.
I remember the days of long ago;
I meditate on all your works
and consider what your hands have done.
I spread out my hands to you;
I thirst for you like a parched land.
Answer me quickly, Lord;
my spirit fails.
Do not hide your face from me
or I will be like those who go down to the pit.
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I entrust my life.
Rescue me from my enemies, Lord,
for I hide myself in you.
Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God;
may your good Spirit
lead me on level ground.
For your name's sake, Lord, preserve my life;
in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble.
In your unfailing love, silence my enemies;
destroy all my foes,
for I am your servant.
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)
Over the last month a number of people have approached the church for help as they have faced into some very challenging situations. We've seen people with significant financial needs, relational needs, physical needs, and spiritual needs. Although the exact source of the problem may vary from person to person, the bottom line is that everyone is looking for help and hope.
Without a doubt Romans 8 stands as one of the most encouraging and uplifting passages of Scripture when it comes to the many difficult situations we are presented with each day. As Paul reminds us, although we may experience pain and suffering in the short-term, ultimately there is not a thing on this planet that can separate us from God Himself. This is good news, because He alone is the source of healing and hope.
As we close our week of devotionals on Romans 8, spend some time reading and praying through the following passage of Scripture. Whatever challenges lie before you right now, you can stand firm in the knowledge that you have been reconciled to God through Jesus Christ, and can stand "without blemish and free from accusation." What a glorious promise that is!
The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant. (Colossians 1:15-23)
We serve a mighty God. Our Lord is a God who is majestic, marvelous, and magnificent. He sees all things and reigns over all things. He holds time in His hand. He is deeper than the deepest ocean, and higher than the highest mountain. In considering the greatness of God, Paul was able to declare, with absolute certainty,
Yet, despite this greatness, our Heavenly Father is just that, a father. He is gentle, compassionate, patient and loving. He cherishes us as His beloved children, and treats us with care and concern. As we meditate on the astonishing depths of God's great love for us today, spend some time reading and praying through the following psalm. May it lead you, as it did David, to praise the Lord with all your soul.
Psalm 103
Of David.
1 Praise the Lord, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6 The Lord works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:
8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
14 for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.
15 The life of mortals is like grass,
they flourish like a flower of the field;
16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.
17 But from everlasting to everlasting
the Lord's love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children's children—
18 with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.
19 The Lord has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Praise the Lord, you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.
21 Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts,
you his servants who do his will.
22 Praise the Lord, all his works
everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the Lord, my soul.
As we continue our study in Romans 8:38-39, begin your devotional time today with a moment of reflection. What fears and concerns are attempting to drive a wedge between you and God? Call them out by name and ask God directly and specifically for His intervention. Pray for His Spirit to comfort you and give you strength as you do battle against the many pressures of the day.
Now, we return to Romans 8, and look at another source of stress in our lives that God has complete control over:
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)
Time is the most precious resource we have, and yet we treat it as if we had an unlimited supply. Days turn into weeks, and before we know it, a year can fly by, with goals unmet and dreams unfulfilled. The transient nature of time creates anxiety in all of us. We can become consumed with regrets about the past, or overwhelmed with fear and concern about the future. Even living in the present can be crowded out with the many pressures of work and family. And yet, as Jesus pointedly remarked, "Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?" (Matthew 6:27). It's a rhetorical question, with an implied answer, "No." Yet, if we're honest, it doesn't keep us from worrying nonetheless.
Paul says that, "neither the present nor the future…will be able to separate us from the love of God" (Romans 8:38-39). This is great news indeed, but how could these things be threats to our relationship with God to begin with?
Perhaps we catch a glimpse of this in the Parable of the Four Soils, where Jesus notes,
The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful (Matthew 13:22).
Many of us live insanely busy lives, rushing from one thing to the next, constantly on the move, rarely slowing down to breath. We bounce from one email to the next, from one text message to the next, from phone call to phone call, fooling ourselves into thinking we are multi-tasking, while in reality we are simply trying to do too many things at the same time. Jesus warns us that the danger of life is that the many good things we pursue can become, if we're not careful, ultimate things that threaten to choke out God's Word from our lives.
The solution? Jesus tells us:
So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:31-34)
How will you "seek first his kingdom and his righteousness" today?
Last week the vast majority of Americans celebrated Halloween. Children around the country dressed up in silly costumes, went trick-or-treating, and ate way too much candy. For most, it was simply a time to be goofy and silly, with no thought given to any underlying spiritual components at all. Some might argue that Halloween has grown in popularity simply because businesses have discovered how much money they can make from it (apparently it's second only to Christmas now). However, I think it goes a little deeper than that. Every year around this time I find myself reminded of C.S. Lewis's famous opening words in the Preface to his book, The Screwtape Letters.
"There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors, and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight" (The Screwtape Letters, 15).
Halloween is the perfect example of such double-mindedness in our culture. On the one hand, many people are quick to play down the whole affair as just some harmless fun, since after all there are no real witches, ghouls or goblins. On the other hand, others seem almost a little too eager to embrace the evil and dark elements of Halloween. The person who downplays Halloween as simply another Hallmark holiday ignores the Biblical teaching about the reality of demonic forces that are active in this world. The person who overplays the evil and lives in fear of the coming zombie apocalypse ignores the Biblical teaching about the sovereignty of God over all things, including the spiritual realm.
Let's be clear. The Bible teaches us that Satan is real, demons are real, and angels are real. Moreover, there is a supernatural world swirling around us that we can't always see, but is real nonetheless. As Paul tells the Ephesians,
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:10-12).
That said, the amazing and encouraging news for us is that, although demons may be real, we have nothing to fear from their presence around us. Why? Because they are not equal and opposite in power to God. They are created beings and cannot operate outside of God's will. Moreover, while they may strike us with many blows, their ultimate defeat has already been decided. They cannot win. That means that not even spiritual attack can sever our relationship with God. If we have put our faith in Jesus, if we have been sealed with the Holy Spirit, then no demonic force has the power to take that away.
We take another brief interlude from our study of Mark this week as we prepare to hear from special guest speaker Tom Doyle. Tom currently serves as the Vice President for Church & Ministry Partnerships, and Middle East Strategy Director for an organization called e3 partners, which seeks to equip believers, encourage evangelism and establish churches around the world. Tom is also a published author, and has spoken at Wheaton Bible Church in the past. This coming Sunday he will be sharing with us some of his experiences working with the persecuted church around the world, basing his message on Romans 8:38-39:
Nothing, perhaps, is more scary to us in this world than death. It lingers quietly in the corners, hovering patiently in the dark shadows of our communities, silently stealing loved ones from us and leaving behind incredible pain and deepest sorrow. Death can't be controlled and can't be avoided. We talk about "cheating" death, but ultimately we all live on borrowed time. The young are convinced it will never happen to them. The elderly wait nervously for its imminent arrival. Even the strongest Christian often carries with them a hesitant uncertainty concerning the moment of their passing.
Paul was not immune to these thoughts. He had personally experienced incredible pain and suffering throughout his ministry. We know for a fact that he was there when Stephen was stoned to death, but he had undoubtedly seen many other people die throughout his life. Then, as now, death was the great leveler. Rich or poor, Roman ruler or lowly farmhand, all had to die. Yet, somehow, despite everything, Paul managed to maintain a hopeful outlook on life. As he declares here, not even death itself can "separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:39).
God's great love for us is not limited by the boundaries of this visible world. Death may seem like the end of everything, but according to the Bible in many ways it is just the beginning. As Paul says elsewhere, "We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord"(2 Corinthians 5:8). Death, in this view, is not the great and horrible "going away" that we fear, but more of a comforting "coming home" that we can look forward to with eager anticipation.
Believers, then, can live with courage and boldness this side of Heaven, knowing that whatever happens, even if their very lives are taken from them, nothing can ever separate them from their Heavenly Father. In fact, as martyrs throughout the history of the church have been so keenly aware of, death simply serves to bring us closer to God.
The fear of death is one of the greatest fears we have ever faced. Yet, as Paul reminded the people of Corinth, "When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: 'Death has been swallowed up in victory' " (1 Corinthians 15:54). This is amazing news. Whatever fears we may be facing right now, even the very worst-case scenario we can imagine cannot interrupt our relationship with God. As Paul ends his letter to the Corinthians:
"Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain" (1 Corinthians 15:58).
We began our week with Jesus declaring boldly, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath" (Mark 2:38). If the Sabbath was somehow "made," or set apart, for us, what does that mean for the way in which we treat it? Where, ultimately, do we find our Sabbath rest? Today we turn to a Psalm which perhaps captures the heart of God's ultimate purpose for the Sabbath.
Psalm 62
Truly my soul finds rest in God;
my salvation comes from him.
Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
How long will you assault me?
Would all of you throw me down—
this leaning wall, this tottering fence?
Surely they intend to topple me
from my lofty place;
they take delight in lies.
With their mouths they bless,
but in their hearts they curse.
Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
my hope comes from him.
Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor depend on God;
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Trust in him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.
Surely the lowborn are but a breath,
the highborn are but a lie.
If weighed on a balance, they are nothing;
together they are only a breath.
Do not trust in extortion
or put vain hope in stolen goods;
though your riches increase,
do not set your heart on them.
One thing God has spoken,
two things I have heard:
"Power belongs to you, God,
and with you, Lord, is unfailing love";
and, "You reward everyone
according to what they have done."
Where do you find rest? Do you even have time for rest in the midst of your busy schedule? If you don't want to set apart Sunday as a "Christian" Sabbath, then how, when and where are you carving out time to be with God, so that your soul might find rest in Him?
As we continue our devotionals this week, I encourage you to spend some time today in prayer. Reading the passages below may only take a couple of minutes, but instead of rushing straight off to check your email or go to the gym, invest another five or even ten minutes (!)in prayer. Force yourself to sit still in one place, close your eyes, and, if the situation allows it, pray out loud to God. Prayer is one of the primary ways in which we can connect with our Heavenly Father. Reach out to Him today!
One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched. There in front of him was a man suffering from abnormal swelling of his body. Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?" But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him on his way.
Then he asked them, "If one of you has a child or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull it out?" And they had nothing to say. (Luke 14:1-6)
So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him. In his defense Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working." For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. (John 5:16-18)
Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, "Stand up in front of everyone."
Then Jesus asked them, "Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they remained silent.
He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus. (Mark 3:1-6)
Today's passage of Scripture takes us back to the Gospel of Mark, and a further confrontation between Jesus and the Pharisees revolving around obedience to the Sabbath laws. As Mark tells the story, this is clearly a little bit of a set-up: "Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath." Even at this early point in Jesus' ministry, the Pharisees were actively trying to catch him doing something wrong. Jesus, however, was hardly caught by surprise, and instead of side-stepping their "trap," chose to engage them directly and completely healed the man with the shriveled hand.
Although this brief interchange is primarily intended to focus attention around a discussion of the Sabbath, for the man with the shriveled hand this was far more than just a high-minded esoteric debate about matters of theology. For this poor man, the encounter with Jesus had everything to do with his broken, warped hand. This moment with Jesus undoubtedly changed his life forever. This miracle was yet another example of Jesus' absolute, unequivocal authority over every part of Creation. Moreover, in total contrast to most other faith-healers of the time, Jesus uttered no special spells and incantations, nor did he apply any special medicines. Instead, a part of Creation that was twisted and bent out of shape responded instantly to the simple but powerful words of the One in whom "all things were created" (Colossians 1:16).
In the Gospel of John Jesus is recorded as saying, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10). Jesus came to rescue His Creation from the curse of death and offer us eternal life. He came to bear the punishment for sin and to conquer death and Satan once and for all. That's good news! As we read yesterday in a similar passage in Luke, many "people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing" (Luke 13:17). And even today, every week people hear the Gospel and respond with relief and joy.
However, others were not convinced, and, much like Pharaoh did when he was faced with the awesome power of God over all of Creation, they responded by hardening their hearts and even plotting for ways in which "they might kill Jesus" (Mark 3:6).
You, too, may know people like this in your own life—men and women who have heard about Jesus and perhaps even seen God move in amazing ways, and yet stubbornly refuse to worship Him as Lord. As frustrating and hopeless as it may sometimes seem, do not give up on them. The amazing truth we celebrate every year at Easter is that Jesus is alive, and that means He is still actively at work in this world, softening hearts and changing lives.
We serve a mighty God who is able to do far more than we could ever imagine, and we look forward to seeing His mighty power work a miracle in the lives of those we pray for the most.
There is a clear pattern throughout the Gospels of Jesus teaching on the Sabbath. However, periodically this teaching was accompanied by dramatic healings as well:
On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, "Woman, you are set free from your infirmity." Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.
Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue leader said to the people, "There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath."
The Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Doesn't each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?"
When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing. (Luke 13:10-17)
What do these verses tell us about Jesus? Now scroll back up and re-read the story again. What is God saying to you through this passage?
As we close our devotional time today, spend some time praying for wisdom and discernment as you consider how God might be speaking to you about what it means to observe the Sabbath.
What do you do on a typical Sunday? Do you consider it a "Sabbath" and treat it as such? Do you work? How much? What kind? What did you do yesterday, for example, after you came home from church? Did you check your email? Mow the lawn? Watch TV? Do some laundry? Finish some homework? What does it mean to rest? Are we even required to keep the Sabbath?
Although it's no longer the sort of hot button issue it once was, the questions surrounding Sabbath-observance are many. Although you may have found over the years that you've fallen into a certain set of habits regarding the Sabbath, this week we encourage you to revisit those conclusions and pray about how God might be speaking differently to you today.
We begin our study in the Gospel of Mark:
One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?"
He answered, "Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions."
Then he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." (Mark 2:23-28)
Now, keeping the Sabbath was core belief for the Jews. As God communicated clearly to Moses, "Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it is to be put to death; those who do any work on that day must be cut off from their people"(Exodus 31:14). There's not a lot of wiggle room in that command, and the consequences for disobedience are among the strongest possible. Of course, defining what exactly God meant by "work" was where things got complicated. Thus, over the years honest, well-intentioned, God-fearing religious leaders attempted to bring further definition to the law, predominantly out of a desire to help people keep the Sabbath holy and not inadvertently sin against God.
Jesus, however, sidesteps all of this and boldly asserts that He Himself "is Lord even of the Sabbath" (Mark 2:38). The Sabbath was one of the most sacrosanct elements of the Jewish faith. Keeping the Sabbath was enshrined in the Ten Commandments, the very heart of the Law of Moses: "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God." (Exodus 20:8-10). Jesus doesn't engage in debate about what can or cannot be done on the Sabbath, but instead uses this opportunity to put Himself on the same level with God Himself. There was only one Lord of the Sabbath, and as such Jesus' words here are in effect yet another claim to divinity.
If nothing else then, our own thoughts, opinions, habits and customs surrounding the Sabbath have to be lined up against the person and teaching of Jesus Christ. If He is truly the Lord of the Sabbath, then what we decide to do (or not do) today has to line up with what Jesus said and did back then. Who is the Lord of your Sabbath?
Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." So he said to the man, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!" (Mark 2:8-12)
After 15 years of marriage I've noticed that my wife often skips ahead to the end of a book in order to find out what's going to happen. How can she do that? It ruins all the suspense! Well, for me it does. However, for my wife it removes any uncertainty and allows her to enjoy the slow unfolding of the plot as it winds its way to the conclusion she already knows about.
In some ways, we all approach the Gospel accounts in this manner. We know where they are headed and we know what's going to happen. But even if we didn't, Mark seems to ruin the surprise for us here as he recounts Jesus' words to the people gathered to hear Him preach:
"Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." (Mark 2:9-10)
In the very first sermon of this series, Pastor Rob noted that we would bounce back and forth between two key themes that come up in the Gospel of Mark: "Who is Jesus?" and, "Am I following Him?" The dramatic scene that began with four men hacking their way through the roof of a house in order to bring their paralyzed friend to Jesus for healing now ends with absolute amazement among the people as Jesus not only forgives this paralytic for his sins, but heals his broken body as well. Mark recounts for us the people's startled reaction, "We have never seen anything like this!"
Who is Jesus then? Mark is crystal clear. More than a great teacher, more than a mere healer, He is truly and unequivocally the Messiah, the Son of God. To Him alone belongs all authority. But while that may be true in my head, does that theological truth play out in the day-to-day reality of my life? I may affirm "Jesus is Lord" with my mouth, but do I give Him complete control of my heart?
Although Jesus forgave the paralytic without any apparent confession or obvious repentance, the general pattern we have in the Bible is that if we are to be restored in relationship with God we must first turn away from sin. No psalm captures this better than David's prayer after he was confronted about his affair with Bathsheba.
As you read through this psalm, ask God to reveal the sin that lingers in your own heart, and then turn to God in confession and repentance, so that you may in turn experience His grace and be restored.
1 Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
and justified when you judge.
5 Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
you taught me wisdom in that secret place.
7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
so that sinners will turn back to you.
14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
you who are God my Savior,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
15 Open my lips, Lord,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart
you, God, will not despise.
18 May it please you to prosper Zion,
to build up the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,
in burnt offerings offered whole;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.
Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, "Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" (Mark 2:6-7)
There's been a lot of commentary recently about a very popular television show called "Breaking Bad." I'll admit up front that I've never an episode myself, so I can't comment on the details of the show itself. However, I can comment on what I perceive to be the cultural forces that would lead so many people to watch such a dark story. And I think in large measure it's wrapped up in the painful self-awareness we have of the sin in our lives.
Although many people today try to resist the Biblical concept of sin, there is nevertheless a pretty clear understanding of evil, and shows like "Breaking Bad" explore that evil in meticulous detail. We're fascinated with it. Where does it come from? What makes people do awful things? What drives someone over the edge? Is it a sudden change, or a gradual process? Will the wicked truly be punished, or will they continually evade justice? Does anyone notice or care?
Of course, the Bible is clear that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). That applies not just to drug dealers and murderers, but to school teachers and businessmen as well. In fact, apart from the grace of God, we are all "dead in [our] transgressions and sins" (Ephesians 2:1). And something has to be done to pay for that sin. It can't be ignored or swept under the carpet. There has to be a penalty. Justice must be served.
When Jesus announced to the paralytic that his sins were forgiven, the teachers of the law were not just mildly annoyed, they were shocked and appalled. Even though this poor sick man was in no obvious or apparent way a "bad" person, even so it was inconceivable to them that Jesus had the right to unilaterally announce that his sins had been forgiven.
Their unspoken question hung in the air, pregnant with expectation. "Who can forgive sins but God alone?" (Mark 2:7). It's a question that each and every one of us has to stare down in our own lives even today. Who can forgive sins?
Is justice served because someone "gets what they deserve"? If I work hard enough and feel badly enough, can I somehow spiritually pay off the debt I know I've accumulated from a lifetime of less-than-perfect living? Is it enough to feel guilt and shame or is something else needed? What will happen to the people who have hurt me the most? Who will ensure that the great evils of this world will someday be made right?
One of the most significant gifts God has given us is free, ready, and open access to the Bible. Aside from the hundreds of foreign language versions available to us, there are at least a couple of dozen English variations, in various styles, covering every possible stylistic preference.
We can read the Bible on our mobile phone or tablet, our desktop or laptop, even on an Xbox. We have large print Bibles and pocket Bibles, plain Bibles or study Bibles. We have been blessed beyond the imagination of anyone else in all of human history with free access to the very words of God Himself. But to what end? Are we actually reading it? Are we taking the time out of our day to actually read and study and meditate and ruminate on the words that supposedly bring life?
Today we have included a Psalm for your devotional reading. It's Psalm 86--a prayer of David looking to God for help. Although the paralyzed man who was let down through the hole in the roof and healed by Jesus said nothing, we can probably all empathize with what he might have been feeling, emotions that are captured powerfully and poetically by David in the following psalm.
Psalm 86
A prayer of David.
Hear me, Lord, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.
Guard my life, for I am faithful to you;
save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God; have mercy on me, Lord,
for I call to you all day long.
Bring joy to your servant, Lord,
for I put my trust in you.
You, Lord, are forgiving and good,
abounding in love to all who call to you.
Hear my prayer, Lord;
listen to my cry for mercy.
When I am in distress, I call to you,
because you answer me.
Among the gods there is none like you, Lord;
no deeds can compare with yours.
All the nations you have made
will come and worship before you, Lord;
they will bring glory to your name.
For you are great and do marvelous deeds;
you alone are God.
Teach me your way, Lord,
that I may rely on your faithfulness;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.
I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;
I will glorify your name forever.
For great is your love toward me;
you have delivered me from the depths,
from the realm of the dead.
Arrogant foes are attacking me, O God;
ruthless people are trying to kill me—
they have no regard for you.
But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
Turn to me and have mercy on me;
show your strength in behalf of your servant;
save me, because I serve you
just as my mother did.
Give me a sign of your goodness,
that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,
for you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.
A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, "Son, your sins are forgiven." (Mark 2:1-5)
Last week we spent a significant amount of time studying Jesus alone in prayer. He woke up early in the morning, before anyone else was around, and disappeared off to some quiet location where, presumably, He hoped nobody would find and disturb Him. We talked about the need for solitude and emphasized the vital importance of creating space in our schedules to pray. Why? Because prayer is one of the most significant ways in which we can stay connected to our Heavenly Father. Without a regular diet of prayer we're effectively running on fumes and will eventually come up empty.
Our passage this week finds Jesus in a completely different location. Instead of the peace and calm of that early morning prayer, Jesus finds Himself surrounded on all sides by huge crowds of people. In fact, Mark tells us, "they gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door" (Mark 2:2). The people were packed in like sardines.
I wonder what the four men thought when they first showed up with their friend who was paralyzed? Were they frustrated? Confused? Did they consider coming back at another time? Did they wonder if it was hopeless trying to get through the seething masses?
Whatever they may have thought, they persevered nonetheless, and somehow managed to get up onto the roof of the house where Jesus was preaching. Yet, still another problem faced them--the very roof they were standing on. There were no trapdoors or obvious points of entry.
I can't imagine the noise and mess they made as they tore apart the packed dirt, baked clay, and heavy wood beams to create a space big enough to let down the paralyzed man on his stretcher or mat. It's hard to see how Jesus would have been able to keep preaching during the process. The scene was no doubt etched in the minds of everyone who was there for years to come. It's not surprising then that Jesus commends the faith of the men who brought their sick friends to him. Their perseverance in the face of numerous setbacks was astonishing, and their absolute confidence that it was all worth it because surely Jesus could heal their friend was commendable.
The broader passage that this little scene sets up is meant to focus our attention on Jesus as the one who has the power and authority of God to both heal broken bodies and forgive sins. In short, the passage as a whole points decisively towards Jesus as God. But at the same time we are given here a glimpse into the faith of a few men who cared deeply for the physical ailments of their friend.
These men simply sought physical healing, knowing nothing of Jesus as their Savior. We, however, have complete understanding and insight into the significant power and unique authority that Jesus has to give us access into the presence of God. We know first-hand His life-giving power and ability to restore and renew. So, how far are we willing to go to share that good news with the people we care most about?
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: "Everyone is looking for you!"
Jesus replied, "Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come." So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons. (Mark 1:35-39)
For the first disciples, following Jesus was an exercise in learning to expect the unexpected. Just when they thought they had figured out what was going on, Jesus would change gears and move in the other direction. Undoubtedly this often led to frustration as well as confusion. Ultimately, of course, it led to abandonment, as the disciples looked at his arrest and crucifixion in complete disbelief.
Here at the beginning of Jesus' ministry it was simply a case of learning to follow where Jesus led. Given the positive reception He had received so far, and the large crowds He was attracting, it would have made sense for Jesus to remain where He was. But His mission, as He tells the disciples, was far bigger in scope.
And so the disciples chose to follow Jesus, as "he traveled throughout Galilee." They learned to follow where He led; moving when He moved, and stopping when he stopped. As they traveled, Jesus preached His message regarding the Kingdom of God, and drove out demons wherever they appeared.
Following Jesus means different things for us today than it meant for "Simon and his companions." We can't literally follow Jesus around the countryside. However, we have been called to give our lives back to our Savior as an act of worship and in total obedience to follow Him wherever He may lead. What does that look like for you?
Prayer is such a vital component of our spiritual lives that Jesus gave the disciples a pattern to follow. Although we are not obligated to fit all of our prayers into this pattern, we would do well to take Jesus' words at face value and consider using this model more frequently than we perhaps do. Spend some time today praying through the Lord's Prayer, as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, below:
"This, then, is how you should pray:
"'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
(Matthew 6:9-13)
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: "Everyone is looking for you!" (Mark 1:35-37)
Simon and the disciples were confused. Where had Jesus gone? After such a busy time healing people and casting out demons He was in great demand. Where could He be? His sudden disappearance no doubt had them worried. When they found Him, there's clearly some frustration. What was He doing? Didn't He realize people were looking for Him?
Jesus, however, was not about to be hurried, hassled or squeezed into someone else's mold. The disciples may have been confused, but Jesus was not.
Jesus replied, "Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come." So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons. (Mark 1:38-39)
Instead of setting up shop in Capernaum and solidifying His reputation there, Jesus announced His plans to keep moving throughout the villages of Galilee instead. The goal was never centralization, but constant movement out into the lives of as many people as possible.
The disciples didn't understand that then, and we continue to struggle with this today. Our natural tendency is to settle in and settle down. We crave stability, certainty, and consistency. These are not necessarily bad things, except when it comes to the Gospel. The Gospel is meant to go out into all the world. Instead of settling in, we should be going out. Instead of centralizing our faith we should be spinning it out into the four corners of the earth. As Pastor and author Ed Stetzer often says, "multiply everything!"
Experts often remind us that the controlling verb in the Great Commission is "make disciples," and not "go." That is, although in most English translations it sounds as if the command is "go!" it is actually "make disciples!" Be that as it may, the underlying assumption of the Great Commission is that disciples are being made as we are going. Movement out into the world is the assumed starting point of discipleship. Something Jesus tried hard to model for His disciples, even though they struggled to make sense of it all.
How is Jesus leading you to multiply your faith in the lives of others?
The Bible contains a number of references to prayer, but the following verses taken from the New Testament capture the heart of God's will for our lives when it comes to prayer:
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:4-7)
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. (Colossians 4:2)
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
How will your rejoice in the Lord in prayer today? What can you give thanks for? What concerns are you presenting to God?
Today we return to our study of Mark, exploring a small, but important, interlude in Jesus' early ministry.
Right in the middle of some of Jesus' most significant early ministry "successes" (in human terms), he took time out of His schedule in order to get away somewhere and pray. This was not something he did begrudgingly, out of duty, but willingly, out of necessity. The need for communion with His Father was so great that he fought back tiredness in order to get up early so He could be alone. Mark, it should be noted, is usually pretty sparse in his descriptions, but in this passage he takes time to emphasize that not only was it "very early in the morning," but it was so early that "it was still dark."
It is sometimes possible to so over-emphasize the divinity of Jesus that we can overlook His humanity as a result. I think that in this brief snapshot of Jesus in prayer we catch a glimpse of the human side of Him. We don't know what He was praying about, but perhaps He was seeking comfort, wisdom, direction and guidance.
We've all heard this sermon before--if Jesus took time to pray, then how much more so should we? Yet, despite the painfully obvious application of this passage, we persist in trying to go it alone, sometimes avoiding prayer altogether for days at a time. Why? Because we're busy? Tired? Distracted? Are we waiting for the right time when we will somehow feel like we're "in the praying mood"?
Prayer is as much a choice as anything else in life, and we have to consciously carve out time in our schedules to be in prayer. We talk all the time about wanting to avoid legalism and creating empty rituals, but I can't help feeling that when it comes to prayer most of the time it's just laziness or an over-inflated sense of our own strengths and abilities. Perhaps, if we're honest, a lack of prayer may even indicate a lack of faith.
Whatever the root cause, there's no time like the present for re-connecting with God. Guilt over a failure to pray can actually keep us from prayer, so instead of feeling defeated by shame, turn to God right now in prayer. Confess your struggles to Him, and ask for His help in re-structuring your schedule to make prayer a more significant part of your daily life.
You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
(2 Timothy 3:10-17)
We frequently turn to this passage in order to defend the inerrancy of Scripture, or the sufficiency of Scripture, or to talk about the way in which Scripture is "God-breathed." Rarely, however, do we consider the broader context, which emphasizes, again, the incredibly close mentoring relationship that Paul had with Timothy.
We already know that Paul considered Timothy to be his "dear son," (2 Timothy 1:2), whom he prayed for "night and day" (2 Timothy 1:3). But here in this passage Paul gives us the most detailed look yet into their relationship.
First, Paul taught Timothy. That's not hard to believe. Paul taught at length everywhere he went, so it's no surprise that in the time he spent with Timothy, teaching was a major component. But we've all had good teachers. What made Paul's relationship so different?
Beyond the teaching we see here that Paul let Timothy into the inner workings of his life. Timothy got to witness first-hand Paul's "way of life…purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings" (2 Timothy 3:10-11). Timothy was part of what we might call Paul's "inner circle." He got to see the real Paul, warts and all. Which, by the way, is funny to think about, given how blunt Paul often is in his letters. How much more "real" could Paul be?
Paul allowed Timothy to see, not just the ups, but also the downs; not just the ministry successes, but the horrible failures and significant challenges as well. Nothing was hidden, because Paul was committed to sharing his entire life with Timothy. Why? So that Timothy would in turn do the same thing for someone else, and so on and so on, down through the generations. As Paul says to Timothy, "continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of ."
It's popular these days to mine the Bible looking for leadership principles we can pluck out and apply in order to have more successful businesses or ministry endeavors. But in this case what we see is a model of life-on-life discipleship leading not necessarily to personal riches and success for either Paul or Timothy (note his heavy emphasis in this passage on suffering and persecution), but leading instead to the growth of God's Kingdom, the only kind of fruit that has any lasting value or significance in this world. Where are you investing yourself?
What does it mean to multiply our faith in the lives of others? As we spend some time today in God's Word, reflect on the following verses in the context of our broader discussion about following Jesus. What is God calling you specifically to do differently this Fall? We'd love to hear how God is leading you--please leave us a comment using the link below.
Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. (1 Thessalonians 2:8)
You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. (2 Timothy 2:1-2)
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:9)
Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. (1 Corinthians 11:1)
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. (1 Timothy 1:1-2)
Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, (1 Timothy 1:18)
Jesus bid Simon, Andrew, James, and John to leave everything in order to follow him. He was calling them to be His disciples--they would follow in his footsteps and learn from Him as they went. They observed, they questioned, they poked, prodded, explored, listened, forgot, took steps of faith, regressed terribly, and then, finally, with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit they launched the Church.
However, as we noted earlier this week, Jesus poured Himself into these first disciples not simply for their own personal edification, but to set a pattern, a model, for the multiplication of faith from generation to generation. Jesus built His Church around a community of men and women who lived in partnership and connection with each other, spurring each other on "toward love and good deeds" (Hebrews 10:24).
We see this pattern displayed in the relationship between Paul and Timothy. Paul loved Timothy, his "true son in the faith," and clearly spent a significant amount of time investing in this capable young leader. Two books of the New Testament are letters written specifically to Timothy, and he is mentioned by Paul in numerous others as well.
I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me.
(Philippians 2:19-23)
Even a cursory reading of the New Testament is enough to highlight for us just how busy Paul was. He was a man on the move, rarely settling anywhere for very long, deeply burdened by the desire for people to experience the life-saving gospel of Jesus Christ in their own lives. He planted more churches than we will probably visit in a lifetime, and was a prolific writer and speaker at the same time.
Yet, in the middle of all this vitally important, Kingdom-oriented work Paul still found time to mentor young Timothy. We don't know all the details--Paul doesn't give us a how-to manual, and Timothy didn't leave us a diary of his experiences sitting at the feet of Paul. However, we do see the results. Paul's letters are filled with references to the many people he served in ministry with, but Timothy sticks out as someone Paul clearly had a very different kind of relationship with. There is a tenderness and affection in his language that rarely appears when speaking of other believers.
According to Paul, Timothy "proved himself" quite capable, because "as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel." As the disciples served with Jesus, so Timothy served with Paul. It's a pattern that has been repeated down through the centuries, a pattern that God has used over and over again to identify, train, and then release new leaders to support His growing Church.
We're all crazy busy. We all have a thousand things coming at us every day. But if Paul found time to mentor Timothy, who is God calling us to invest in?
Jesus didn't call the disciples simply so they could enjoy a special relationship with Him, He called them in order that they would then take His message out into the world, making disciples; multiplying their faith. As we move into our Scripture reading for today, keep in mind this vision Jesus had for pouring into a few in order to influence the many.
Psalm 145:1-7
1 I will exalt you, my God the King;
I will praise your name for ever and ever.
2 Every day I will praise you
and extol your name for ever and ever.
3 Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.
4 One generation commends your works to another;
they tell of your mighty acts.
5 They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
6 They tell of the power of your awesome works—
and I will proclaim your great deeds.
7 They celebrate your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your righteousness.
To whom are you "commending" God's works? Who are you telling about God's "mighty acts"?
Psalm 71:15-18
15 My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds,
of your saving acts all day long—
though I know not how to relate them all.
16 I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign Lord;
I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.
17 Since my youth, God, you have taught me,
and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.
18 Even when I am old and gray,
do not forsake me, my God,
till I declare your power to the next generation,
your mighty acts to all who are to come.
The Psalmist talks of declaring God's power "to the next generation." Certainly this includes the next biological generation (our children), but thinking more broadly, where is the next generation of faith starting to grow and bear fruit as a result of your testimony? That might involve sharing the gospel with your neighbors, or mentoring a younger man or woman here at church, or engaging others in spiritual conversations as the Spirit leads you.
Proverbs 13:20
Walk with the wise and become wise,
for a companion of fools suffers harm.
Finally, who are you walking with in your life? We're all spiritually following in the footsteps of Jesus, but whose real presence are you spending time in on a regular basis? How are you growing (or not) as a result? Conversely, who is walking with you?
As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will send you out to fish for people." At once they left their nets and followed him. (Mark 1:16-18)
This coming Sunday we will take a small detour out of our Mark series in order to hear from author and speaker Leighton Ford. For those of you who may not know Dr. Ford, he worked alongside Billy Graham from 1955 to 1985, traveling the world and speaking at crusades to millions of people. Currently Dr. Ford serves as the President of Leighton Ford Ministries, an organization dedicated to equipping and encouraging young Christian leaders. It's in this role that he'll be sharing with us on Sunday, and, it turns out, his topic fits extremely well with where we are currently in the Gospel of Mark.
Last week Pastor Rob highlighted the fact that Jesus chose to inaugurate His Kingdom with ordinary men from the relative backcountry of Galilee. These men were not members of the Jerusalem elite. They were not scribes, or Pharisees, or teachers of the law. Yet, in His grace, He reached out to them and chose them, calling them to follow Him. And they did!
When they first stepped out of their boats and into Jesus' life they had no idea what they were getting into. They hadn't gone to some ancient equivalent of Moody Bible Institute or Wheaton College, and weren't planning on entering ministry full-time. Nevertheless, over the course of the next three years Jesus discipled these men--shaping, forming, changing and growing them. In effect, He was preparing them to launch a movement that would change the world forever. The call to "follow me" was followed up with hours and days and months and years of life-on-life mentoring, as Jesus taught, modeled, explained and challenged these regular men to be the apostles upon whom He would build His Church.
Following Jesus was never designed to be a solitary endeavor. God's plan, as modeled by Jesus Himself, was for followers of Christ to live in community with other believers, learning from those who have gone before them, and passing on the faith to those following behind. Last week Pastor Rob challenged us to follow Jesus. This week we'll look at the ways in which Jesus often uses other believers to help us grow and become "fishers of men."
How have you experienced the call of Christ in your life? In what ways have you responded? Where are you still holding back? Why?
We'd love to hear more of your stories! Leave us a comment on the website using the link below.
39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons. 40 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean." 41 Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" 42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.
43 Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: 44 "See that you don't tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them." 45 Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the