Mark 15:1-5

Mark 15:1-5 

English Standard Version 

  I can't remember what I ate for lunch yesterday, but I can still remember mean things people said about me a few decades ago.  The human mind is amazing, right?  We zero in on the negative things people say, while often the good things wash right over.

  Here, Jesus is being accused of all sorts of things.  We remember that Jesus is perfect, but that doesn't stop them from making false accusations.  Jesus is calm in the face of it all -- he is completely confident in his identity as a beloved child of God.  He has no fear of false accusations.  He knows that everything is held in God's hand.

  May we find the same courage to ignore the false and malicious things people say about us, and may it lead us to a place of peace, where we don't worry about the negative things coming from others, and we focus instead on the fact that God loves us and wants more for us than we can possibly ask or imagine.

Mark 14:66-72

Mark 14:66-72 

English Standard Version 

  I've said it before and I'll say it again -- I love Scripture because of how human and accessible it is.

  You've probably heard the argument that every Olympic event should have one average person in it just so we could truly appreciate how great Olympic athletes truly are.  We take their greatness for granted because that's all we see during the Olympics, but if you saw me struggling to throw a javelin more than 5 feet or watched me fall on my tail 16 times during an ice-skating event, you'd probably recognize how great those athletes are.  

  When we read Scripture, we can take the same mentality into it if we're not careful.  We can look at people like Peter and Paul and David and Abraham and think they're super-human and super-Christians, but the Bible doesn't portray them like that.  The Bible tells us their flaws and shows us how broken they are.  They don't hide their imperfections -- Mark tells us how Peter promised Jesus he would never forsake them and then reveals how Peter denied knowing Jesus shortly after.  This is the same Peter who would go on to be a leader in the church, and everyone knew his flaws.  

  The message here is that your flaws don't disqualify you from membership in the church.  There is a place for you, brokenness and everything, because the church is always and has always been a community of sinners, each of us redeemed through the love and grace of God.

Mark 14:53-65

Mark 14:53-65 

English Standard Version 

  Have you ever decided you didn't like something before you tried it?  Or made a decision about a person before you got to know them?  Maybe you went to a restaurant that didn't look very nice, but the food was fantastic, and you found yourself surprised at how good the food was.  Or maybe you met someone who didn't look like they'd be very impressive, and then you discovered how kind or wise they were.

  The high priests had already decided that Jesus was guilty.  They didn't like the threat that he represented to the power that they held. They saw him as an enemy, and nothing he said would've mattered.  

  I think there are a lot of people in the world who have formed opinions about Jesus based on what they've heard from people other than Jesus.  Maybe they heard a piece of a talk or read something a leading Christian wrote, and that was enough.  It's unfortunate, but people form their opinions based on followers of Jesus.  It's so important that we go to the Gospels, that we hear from Jesus himself, to read his words and learn about his actions, so that we have an unfiltered opinion and hear the wonders and love directly from him.  We can use others to help us learn, to help us grow, but nothing is a substitute for hearing directly from God, in study of the Word and prayer.

Mark 14:51-52

Mark 14:51-52 

English Standard Version

 I hope everyone had a very merry Christmas!  It will never cease to amaze me that of all the ways God chose to enter the world, a poor couple in a stable was the preferred method.  Given that the magic of Christmas is still celebrated around the world thousands of years later, this was clearly the correct choice, but it's not the one that I would've come up.  I would've designed something different, based on human wisdom, and it would've failed.  

  The Gospels are simply unique, and the story is triumphant because God's wisdom is greater than our own.  They are true, because they don't hide the bumps in the road that are part of every journey, but they show us the larger story arc winning out despite human weakness.

  Take this short part of Mark, in the midst of Jesus being arrested.  This is thought to be autobiographical, with Mark including this detail about his own flight to safety away from the soldiers.  Mark was running for his life.

  Why would you include this if you were making up a story?  It's embarrassing.  It's awkward.  Mark is forever known as the guy who ran away naked rather than risk association with Jesus in the garden.

   You'd only include it if it was true.  You'd only include it if your failure had been redeemed by the love of one so powerful that even death itself is no longer a threat.  You'd only include this if you were in a place where you could laugh at your weakness because human frailty doesn't matter anymore -- it's been covered by grace, and only hope and redemption matter now.

  You'd only include this if you believed the truth of the Gospel had won the day. Thanks be to God that it has!

  Merry Christmas!

Mark 14:43-50

Mark 14:43-50 

English Standard Version 

  It's fascinating to be reading this at Christmas time -- we have both ends of Jesus' life, each fraught with risk and human frailty.  And yet this was always the plan.  God wanted to save God's beloved people, and it required a perfect sacrifice.  It was never going to be easy or clean, because sacrifice never is, and yet it is somehow infused with perfect love throughout.  The elders and scribes who Jesus came to save were only interested in preserving their own power, so they turned against him.  Judas was lost, and he ran from Jesus, but Jesus didn't give up on him.  

  So at Christmas, we peer into the manger to see the wonder, and the pain of Good Friday only amplifies the miracle.  God knew redemption would lead through the cross, and yet God still chose this path, because it was the only way.  The people fled and Jesus was alone, and yet Jesus remained on the course.  Love remains faithful, even to the end.

Mark 14:32-42

Mark 14:32-42 

English Standard Version 

  What do you say to people who let you down?  It's hard to resist the temptation to needle them a little, to remind them of what a disappointment they are in the moment.  We often do this without thinking, because our tongues get sharper and we tell people that we expected better.

  Jesus is about to be killed, and he asks the disciples to stay up and pray with him, and to show their dedication and devotion to him... they instantly fall asleep.  It's a pivotal night in Jesus' life and he needs them to be a community for him... and yet they completely fail.  Three times.  

  Jesus could have said all sorts of things, and yet he says the kindest thing possible.  He finds something nice to say about them in the moment -- that their spirits are willing, but the flesh is weak.  He looks for the bright spot in this, and highlights their willingness to be with him, and blames their bodies for not keeping up with him.  Jesus didn't have to say this, but he chose to be kind and look for something good to say.

  May we do likewise when others reveal their flaws to us.  

Mark 14:26-31

Mark 14:26-31

English Standard Version 

  Jesus knows us better than we know ourselves.

  We often don't think of Jesus as the God of the Psalms, but it's the same God.  Jesus knit us together in our mother's wombs, and he knows us completely.  He knows our every weakness, and he still loves us, which is remarkable.  He knows Peter's weaknesses, and he calls Peter and loves Peter.  Peter doesn't realize how far he is about to fall -- Peter thinks he is stronger than he is, Peter thinks he'll be able to resist his self-preservation instinct and remain faithful.

  It all falls apart for Peter, just as Jesus knew that it would.

  But Jesus called him anyway, Jesus loves him anyway, and he will redeem Peter's failure, just as he will do for you and I.

Mark 14:22-25

Mark 14:22-25 

English Standard Version 

  So much of the Bible revolves around sharing meals together.  Adam and Eve started it off by sharing the wrong food, opting to eat what looked good but wasn't good for them spiritually.  Then God fed the Israelites manna in the wilderness.  Moses and some of the elders dined with God on Mt. Sinai.  Elijah was fed by the ravens in the wilderness.  Jesus fed several large crowds miraculously.  

  Here's Jesus, inviting the disciples into a new kind of meal, one that symbolizes the type of community the church is -- one that is formed around Jesus himself.  He is the sustenance that we need, he is the one that binds us together.  We cannot survive without the nourishment that he brings, which he gladly pours out for us so that we might be sustained and redeemed.  

  I don't know that we think about Jesus like this, as something that we need every day.  We likely focus more on breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  May we wisely recognize the food that our souls need to survive the journey, and make time every day to sit and dine with Jesus. 

Mark 14:17-21

Mark 14:17-21 

English Standard Version 

  Sometimes, we have the ability to be incredibly honest with ourselves.  We often deceive ourselves, but every once in a while, complete honesty comes through.  That's what I see here from the disciples -- when Jesus tells them that one of them will betray him, they don't immediately deny it.  Each of them asks if it is him, as though they don't know.  They don't know if they're capable of such a thing, but they also don't seem certain that they aren't.  They wonder if it could be them.

  May we be aware of our limitations, and watch out for the ways Scripture warns us about weaknesses.  May we form a community around ourselves to help us be strong, that we may encourage one another in steadfastness, in faithfulness, in humility, that when we gather around the table we may be a community holding each other accountable to pursue Christ above all else.

Mark 14:12-16

Mark 14:12-16

English Standard Version

  There were so many things that Jesus could've been doing that final week of his life.  His ministry had three years of momentum and thousands of people would press in on him every time he went to speak.  He could've sought to maximize public speaking and teaching opportunities, or to perform as many miracles as possible.  And he likely did some of those -- but what we learn throughout the Gospels is that Jesus opted to prioritize spending time with his friends, sharing a meal with them.  They didn't know what was about to happen, despite him telling them about it time and time again, but looking back on it, it must have been remarkable to have spent his final hours in such company.

  May we choose relationships as well.  There are so many pressures in life, and it often feels like there are so many things to get done.  May we pause and choose to spend time with those who are around us.  We don't know what the future holds -- so let us enjoy a feast, even a modest one, in the company of friends and family, giving thanks for such opportunities.

  And may we rejoice that God wants to spend time with us in such a way.  God comes to us as a Savior, but also as a friend, to be known and to know us.  We find God in breaking bread, in a common meal, for God wants to be found by us.

Mark 14:10-11

Mark 14:10-11 

English Standard Version 

  There was probably a time in Judas' life when he never could've imagined doing this.  It likely would've appalled him to merely think of betraying Jesus.  He would've reacted like Peter when Jesus told Peter that all the disciples would abandon him.  Judas likely would've denied even having the thought.

  But something happened.  It likely didn't occur all at once, but things changed inside of Judas, and his heart grew cold.  He turned into a different person than the one who chose to follow Jesus at the start, and eventually, that led here.

  There but for the grace of God go I.  We don't know what the future holds.  It's easy to say that we'd never do something, but we've often never experienced the circumstances that others have which have led them to do such things.  May we have pity on one another, extend grace towards one another, and pray for the wisdom and courage to endure the path of discipleship, no matter how hard things get, so that we may be true to our calling and true to our Savior, resisting the temptation to turn aside and let our hearts grow cold.

Mark 14:1-9

Mark 14:1-9

English Standard Version 

  In a country as diverse as ours, there is massive diversity among individuals, and it grows daily.  Some value money while others value relationships.  Some value popularity and fame, while others value family and simplicity.  Some value faith and service, others humility.  Our own values can bounce around, changing depending on who we're near and what we're doing, if we're not careful.  

  These verses show us the different values of the people who were around Jesus.  We see the chief priests and scribes are experiencing a threat to their authority and power, so they want to eliminate that.  They don't value honest inquiry and intellectual curiosity -- they value their position in society, and will do anything to protect that.  

  Others around Jesus value money -- they're instantly thinking of the cost of the ointment, wondering if this is the best use of it.  They want to see something monetized so they can count its value.

  This woman -- she values Jesus above all else.  This costly ointment means so little in comparison to Jesus, that she is willing to pour it upon Jesus as an expression of love.  Everything else pales compared to the surpassing value of Jesus.  

  Spend some time today thinking about your own values and how you express those in your life.  What do you value above all else, and how do you show that?

Mark 13:32-37

Mark 13:32-37

English Standard Version 

  When I was in high school, I worked at the airport on the oversize bag belt.  I was also responsible for walking around the various baggage carousels and grabbing bins as they made their way around.  It wasn't an incredibly strenuous job, but a good portion of my time was spent sitting by the oversize bag talking with other employees.  One evening, the manager made his way out to find us sitting around talking rather than working.  I still remember the shame of being found slacking off when I should have been working.  The manager rarely made his way out there, so I grew lazy, and I was caught.

  This is like that, only it's actually important!  Jesus is telling us to stay ready, to be on our guard, because he'll be coming back.  He doesn't tell us when, and two thousand years later, we've all grown rather comfortable.  We don't really expect Jesus to come back any day now, do we?  So we prioritize our own items, telling ourselves that we'll get around to putting faith first.

  Stay awake, Jesus tells us.  This world is not our true home, despite the temptation to think so.  May we not be found asleep, but instead, let us continually invest ourselves in the things of God's Kingdom, that our lives may be caught up in joining God's work, rather than putting our own work first.  Each morning, may we choose the things of Christ, and let Scripture be a constant reminder that life is more than what we see, more than what we know here -- all of that is enriched by our lives of faith.

Mark 13:28-31

Mark 13:28-31 

English Standard Version 

  The rhythms of nature are embedded within us -- Jesus is telling us that we naturally know some things.  We see them occuring in the natural world, and we know what follows.  What fits this for you?  Maybe when you feel the first chill wind in the fall, you know the leaves will start turning, or when you see the crocus budding the first signs of spring, you know you'll see more wildlife out and about.  Many of these things are ingrained into us -- we just know them.  

  So it should be, Jesus says, with our lives and Scripture.  Do we know Scripture well enough that when we see things out in the world, we understand it spiritually because we've been learning from Scripture and know what it means?  Are we immersing ourselves in the World of God so that we know and understand how the world points back to God and trains us to worship in the midst of everything we do?  Are we constantly learning?  

  

Mark 13:24-27

Mark 13:24-27 

English Standard Version 

  When it rains, it's hard to feel optimistic.  Rainy days feel dreary to me.  As I think about that, I don't think I'd be overly optimistic if I saw the stars falling from the heavens.  If the sun is darkened and the moon fails to give forth light, I would be pretty discouraged.  It'd be easy to give up hope.

  On the other side of that trial, however, there is God, sending out angels to gather up the faithful.  There is Jesus, coming in clouds and robed in glory.  On the other side of suffering, there is hope -- this is the message of Scripture, all with the purpose of helping us hold onto hope in the midst of suffering, so that our faith might be strong enough to believe that God is with us in the suffering and will give us the power to endure through it to the glory on the other side.

Mark 13:14-23

Mark 13:14-23 

English Standard Version 

  Lots of people think Jesus is a good moral teacher, but little else.  These people don't read the full words of Jesus, only the things they see cross-stitched on a pillow.  Jesus was very serious about who he was, and he was looking at the world through the lens of a Creator.  He knew the reality of sin and brokenness, and he knew the salvation that was coming as well.  He saw it all, and he talked openly about it -- not just the commands to love one another, but the reality that the church would suffer, that there would be violence and pain, and that there would be a lot of uncertainty surrounding these events.

  May we give thanks that Jesus addressed real-world issues.  Jesus didn't hide from it, and he prepared the disciples for it.  The road he calls us on is not easy, but he promises us that it is worth it.  A life of discipleship will be challenging, but Jesus is always urging us to keep the Kingdom in mind.  It's worth it to endure, for the treasures of God far outshine any suffering this world can offer.

Mark 13:9-13

Mark 13:9-13 

English Standard Version 

  We don't exactly print this on t-shirts to sell in the gift shops!  

  But what a gift to so many in the early church who did suffer violent persecution.  We forget that in this country, in this time and place, but untold souls have been killed for their faith.  The Gospels gave them a tremendous gift -- they could go forward in peace, without anxiety, completely dependent on Christ in their moment of trial, trusting that the Holy Spirit was present and at work, and that enduring through the midst of their trial would bring them salvation.  It reminds me of Daniel's 3 friends who are about to be thrown into a fiery furnace.  They are uncertain if they are to be saved, but they will not bow a knee to a false God regardless, because they believe that what they are doing is right.

  So much of this is exactly that -- a reminder that our faith is right, and despite the world turning against us, it is worth it to endure for the sake of Christ.  The Kingdom of God is bigger than this world, bigger than this life, and we are wise to choose that, regardless of circumstances, that we may attain the laurel wreath of glory that transcends any honor this world might offer.

Mark 13:3-8

Mark 13:3-8

English Standard Version 

  I was listening to a preacher I really enjoy the other day, and he started to get into this a little -- with the disclaimer that while we don't know when the end will be, he started to list off things that made him think it was coming soon.  I'm on the fence for even going that far -- part of me appreciates digging into the Scriptures and recognizing that they have something to say to us in modern times.  But mostly, I hear Jesus start with a warning for us not to be led astray by anyone who begins to claim to know when such things will take place.  The world has been a violent place for thousands of years, with too much chaos and too much violence taking too many innocent lives.  Nations are in conflict with nations, and it startles me every time I see the list of conflicts going on in the world.  We long for peace, we pray for peace, but the ultimate peace is only on the other side of great tribulation.

  As the church, all we can do is trust in God and work for peace.  We can see where people are hurting, and we can serve, and we can love, and we can pray.  Thy Will Be Done -- each and every day.

Mark 13:1-2

Mark 13:1-2 

English Standard Version

  A few years ago, when Notre Dame in Paris burned, I remember being in shock as I watched the steeple collapse.  I will never forget sitting in that sanctuary in 2003 and feeling a sense of the presence of God.  It was real in that place in a way I've never experienced in other churches.  The majesty and power of the building communicated in an incredible way.  

  The temple in Jerusalem was like that to the Jews in the first century, only moreso.  God could reside in the Holy of Holies, where even the high priest could only go once a year.  It was a building of power and presence.  

  And yet, Jesus said every stone would be thrown down.  It would not stand.  

  The people would have been shocked, understandably so.  But Jesus was pointing beyond a building -- the Kingdom of God doesn't have power trapped in a building, but it rests in a person, in Jesus Christ, and the loss of a building doesn't derail the power of the movement.  He's pointing away from buildings and to people.  A building is just a building -- what it enables is what matters, but it's replaceable.  The church that will stand forever -- that is comprised of people from every time and place, and that's what Jesus is focused on, and that's what we should be focused on.  We should be good stewards of our buildings, and use them as helpful tools for gathering and worship and for serving, but let us not confuse the building with the purpose.

Mark 12:41-44

Mark 12:41-44 

English Standard Version 

  We often think of giving as a purely personal decision.  What's always fascinated me about this passage is the idea of Jesus sitting down opposite the treasury and watching people put money into the offering box.  I try to imagine if I pulled up a chair during the offering and watched people put money into the plate -- I can imagine a number of people taking offense at this.  I have no interest in doing it, and I certainly don't think this is the primary behavior that Jesus is hoping I'll emulate, but it's interesting that not only does Jesus watch, but he then calls the disciples together and teaches based on what he observes.  We all know that we can learn a lot about what someone values based on where they spend their money.  Jesus is clearly able to deduce a lot about what we value based on how we give.

  May we spend and give like Jesus is watching, and may that drive us to be thoughtful and prayerful about how we invest our resources.

Mark 12:35-37

Mark 12:35-37

English Standard Version 

  It's interesting to me to see how many times Jesus is teaching in the temple.  It's tempting to think of him as a complete outsider, but he was clearly engaged with the Jewish leadership.  He spent a lot of time in the temple -- so he isn't one to cast out religion.  He came to reform everything, not to throw it all away.  He wanted the people to draw closer to God and closer to one another, and to ensure their religious practices weren't woodenly pulling them away from that goal.  It's easy for our practices to sometimes get in the way -- so Jesus comes to remind us why we have these practices, why we have rituals.  Rituals can be a gift, as long as we use them in such a way so that we're drawing closer to God.  

  I think if Jesus were here today, he'd spend a lot of time in various churches.  He wouldn't stand outside, but he'd go in, and reorient our practices, holding us accountable in all the right ways.  Jesus would embrace and challenge, always calling us to grow in faith.

Mark 12:28-34

Mark 12:28-34

English Standard Version 

  Imagine standing outside the greatest restaurant on earth and experiencing the aroma of all that great food, knowing that a feast is going on inside.  How satisfying is that?  

  Knowledge gets us close, but it's not all the way there.  The scribe agrees with Jesus that these are the true and greatest commandments, and Jesus tells him that he is not far from the Kingdom.  His knowledge has brought him near, he can perhaps peer beyond the wall and see inside... but only the experience of Jesus will carry him into the Kingdom.  To know with our heads is one thing, to experience with the heart is another -- it's the second step that completes.  We need both -- one without the other, I think, is incomplete.  

  So may we seek knowledge, but pair it with worship and service, where we experience what we learn and grow in faith and knowledge, drawing closer constantly to Christ.

Mark 12:18-27

Mark 12:18-27 

English Standard Version 

  I can't imagine that it feels great to hear Jesus Christ look at you and say 'you are quite wrong'.  But we need that sometimes, because we are.  We come at things from the wrong angle -- the Sadducees are trying to trap Jesus, trying to force him to debate them on their premise, so that they can shrink God down into something they can wrap their minds around, but Jesus is having none of it.  Jesus isn't focused on the technical question of how many angels fit on the head of a pin -- he's trying to direct our eyes to the glory of God, to the wonders of heaven, and to the community to which we are committed.  If we spend our time lost in debate on the minutiae, we miss the bigger picture.  When we start with the bigger picture, when we start with the immensity of the divine mystery and root ourselves in God's love for us, then, and only then, can we move into questions about the details, but always with an air of humility.  We don't know the full answers to every question about heaven -- we can ask them, but only when we come with humility, when we come with grace, when we come with the spirit of trusting God that all will be dealt with in love and grace.  It's ok to not get answers, as long as we let worship drive us and lead us.

Mark 12:13-17

Mark 12:13-17 

English Standard Version 

  Do you let wonder transform you?  

  Think back to things that have left you in wonder.  Is it the sound of a child laughing?  The beauty of a natural landscape?  A good book?  

  It's easy for us to get caught up in wonder and then quickly forget about it.  That's clearly what the Pharisees did.  They marveled at Jesus, but it didn't touch their hearts.  Their hearts were hard as ever, and ultimately, they simply saw Jesus as a threat, so while they marveled, that wasn't enough to change how they looked at him or the world.  They could only see opportunities to grab more power or threats to their power.  Wonder never changed them.

  If we read the Gospels and look for opportunities to wonder, we see them everywhere.  We see a King who spends time with the poor and outcasts, and yet he also can mix with the Pharisees, too.  He lets children come to him while also preaching in the synagogue.  He is a wonder, marvelous, and kind, and he has come to show you the width and breadth and depth of God's love.  It's marvelous, because he is marvelous, and if we sit back and contemplate how great it is, it will change our hearts, day by day.  

  

Mark 12:1-12

Mark 12:1-12 

English Standard Version 

  I know that I've said it before, but it continues to confuse me -- as society moves away from church and Christian-based ethics, where will we get our clarity of right and wrong from?  It society decides that there isn't a Creator and we're all here by random chance, then there's no grounding or uniting sense of right and wrong.  If we're random accidents in a random universe, then how can there be a sense of right and wrong?  

  However, Jesus knew otherwise -- he told this story knowing that the listeners would be outraged, because the tenants disrespect the landowner.  They've made an agreement, and yet they violate it brazenly, thinking they can seize for themselves what doesn't belong to them.  All the hearers would have been outraged, because it is so very wrong.  It goes against who we are as a society and how we live together, and punishment would've been demanded in such a case.  

  Jesus is drawing the parallel -- humans, who have been created in the image of God and live in God's good creation, have seized for themselves what rightfully belongs to God.  There is punishment owed.

  And yet, God steps in.  God receives the punishment and we receive the glory due to God's perfect Son in Jesus Christ.  It's a free gift.  This is the Gospel.  This is how we live, and this is what rules our life and guides our days and hearts -- that we have received much as a free gift from God, and as a result, we then live differently, as a people whose hearts are defined by gratitude.

Mark 11:27-33

Mark 11:27-33

English Standard Version 

  It takes a great deal of humility to admit that you don't know something.  It's far easier to pretend that you do know, to go along with the moment and hope no one asks you any questions.  

  The Pharisees don't say this out of humility -- they're struggling to figure out how to trap Jesus.  They're worried that they're not in charge, and they need to be the ultimate authority.  They're so cemented in their own certainty about being in charge that they're unwilling to submit to the authority of another. 

  Humility is the definition of accepting the authority of another.  It's admitting that you don't need to be in charge and in control.  It makes me think of Martin Luther, writing letters to his good friend Philip Melancthon, reminding him that he needed to cease to rule the world.  Let Jesus be Lord of all.  Every morning, let us submit to his authority and rule over our life.  Thy Will be Done, is the way the prayer goes.  It's quite possibly one of the hardest prayers we can pray, but it's one of the wisest, too, and will lead us deeper into communion with God.

Mark 11:20-26

Mark 11:20-25

English Standard Version 

  Ever notice those adds for nutritional supplements that promise the moon?  One simple pill a day that can cure baldness and fight fatigue and re-grow cartlidge -- I see them advertised constantly, as though we wouldn't all be lining up for them if they actually worked.  But we're always eager to grab for something that promises great things.

  Somehow, though, we discount the promises of prayer.  We'll try any medicine or get-rich-quick scheme or any other shortcut, but we hear the promises that God makes to us about prayer and we assume that it won't work or be reliable, so we skip that.  We don't offer it the same credence that we often do to other things that make great promises.

  Why do you suppose that is?  Part of it is that I think we often approach God like a vending machine in the sky.  We make a list of what we need for God to do for us, then wait for God to get results, which I don't think is in perfect keeping with the way our relationship is supposed to go with the God of the universe.  

  Remember how Jesus taught us to pray?  They will be done.  It's the hardest prayer in the world -- to set aside our own will and ask for God's will to take over.  But if we can pray that, day after day, we'll grow as disciples, and God has shown us what a small group of committed disciples can do.  They can change the world.  

Mark 11:15-19

Mark 11:15-19 

English Standard Version 

  I sometimes stop and wonder what Jesus would say to me if we had the chance to have dinner.  I like to think that it would be all affirmations and good news.  I also like to think calories eaten after midnight don't count.  I think both are probably incorrect.

  Jesus was confrontational.  He wasn't afraid to confront the Pharisees, and he wasn't afraid to go after the money-changers in the temple, either.  He called Peter 'Satan' when he was upset with him.  We have these images of Jesus as a meek and mild lamb, but he is also passionate and ferocious at appropriate times.  I believe he can still be affirming and loving, but he's not afraid to name the places in life where we need to change and grow.  I think I'd get called out for any number of faults -- not to belittle, but to help open my eyes to areas where I let sin and selfishness reign, and ways that I don't love God more than other things.  

  It's probably a helpful thought exercise -- imagine having lunch with Jesus.  Where would he comfort you?  How would you bask in his love?  And where would he challenge you?

Mark 11:12-14

Mark 11:12-14 

English Standard Version 

  Every time I read this, I feel sorry for the fig tree.  It wasn't the season for figs, and yet it gets cursed for not having any figs.  It's not the tree's fault, I want to yell!

  And yet, Jesus is the one who designed the fig tree.  He made it -- he would know that.  

  And the God who reacts graciously throughout Scripture, even when it's undeserved, would surely be willing to extend grace.  The disciples all abandon Jesus, and yet he welcomes them back after his death.  So surely, Jesus has good reasons for his actions, and if they are consistent with everything else I read in Scripture, those actions are rooted in grace and love, more than I can imagine.

  So when the world confuses me, and I don't understand what God is doing (or not doing), I try and remember that God consistently acts with grace and love, so the problem isn't with God -- it's that I don't have enough facts, or am simply not waiting long enough.  On a long enough arc, God is consistently loving and faithful and cannot act outside of that.

Mark 11:1-11

Mark 11:1-11 

English Standard Version 

 Can you hear those in power trembling?  Can you feel the ground shifting?  I'm sure they can.  They recognize that Jesus has come not just as a good teacher -- he's come to change things, and those in power never like change.  The people are gathering around him, and the leaders feel threatened.  They're afraid of losing what they have.

  It's interesting to hear people today talk about Jesus.  Many talk about him in such a way that they isolate his ministry to merely teaching and healing.  But Jesus was more than that -- if he had only been that, the Roman and Jewish leadership wouldn't have seen him as a threat.  They understood that Jesus wasn't just a teacher -- he'd come to fundamentally change the way we relate to power, the way we relate to one another, the way we practice religion.  

  If religion is just about power, then it's under threat.  But if religion is about genuinely pursuing selfless love and service of others, and chasing a relationship with God above all else, then that recognizes what Jesus is doing and chases it.  If we keep that vision of the ultimate reality, when people come from north and south and east and west and sit together under a tree to dine together... that's a beautiful vision that is worth investing our lives in.

Mark 10:46-52

Mark 10:46-52 

English Standard Version 

  There's so many times where I'm uncertain exactly what Jesus has in store for me.  I'm trying to think about the next step, or what a faithful response looks like in a certain situation, and I just get it wrong.

  I take great comfort in reading the Gospels, where the disciples are also consistently getting it wrong.  Here, a blind beggar is yelling for Jesus, but rather than invite him closer, as you'd think Jesus would want them to do, many are rebuking the beggar.  They don't want Jesus to be disturbed, but Jesus has come just for this purpose.  To be disturbed, so that he can demonstrate his mastery over sin and death.  He's come for this reason, and he will not be denied.  

  In the same way, he has come for you.  You are his prize, and he will not be denied!

Mark 10:41-45

Mark 10:41-45 

English Standard Version 

  From when we're young kids, we're taught to seek positions of power and authority.  That's the way the world works -- to try and climb to the top of the pyramid.  Sometimes, it's no matter what -- at any cost, try and rise above others. 

  Then the church shows up, and we tell people that the purpose of life isn't to accumulate power and privilege, but rather to seek to serve.  True greatness is found in service of others.  Jesus Christ, the single most powerful and wise person to have ever lived, washed the feet of others and didn't consider a single person beneath him.  Can you imagine a modern CEO doing that?  Or a political leader?  They'll occasionally pose with people for publicity sake, but they rarely have authentic hearts focused on serving others.  

  May we seek opportunities to serve, and in so doing, discover the true heartbeat of God's Kingdom.

Mark 10:35-40

Mark 10:35-40 

English Standard Version 

  This reminds me of Peter saying that he'll never abandon Jesus, right before he abandons Jesus.  James and John want to sit on either side of Jesus in heaven, but they don't understand what that comes with.  They want the glory, but not the sacrifice.  Jesus ascends to such a position because he's willing to pour himself out, offering his own life so that the breach between humans and God can be repaired.  This interaction shows that we can't truly comprehend the gap between ourselves and God -- we think we need to be just a little bit better, when in reality, we need complete transformation.

  It's a terribly hard thing to pray for God's will to be done, because sometimes God's will doesn't seem to align with our will.  But God's will is so much bigger, so much grander, so much better than our own.  May we entrust ourselves to God, setting aside personal ambition and desires for glory, and trust the God who is able and willing to give us impossibly more than we can ask or imagine.

  

Mark 10:32-34

Mark 10:32-34 

English Standard Version 

  Remember -- the disciples heard this, and yet when it happened, they fled out of fear.  The warnings of Jesus didn't give them courage, because they didn't really understand.  When the big thing happened, they still reacted poorly.

  Things happen on the road of life, things that you didn't plan for and aren't prepared for.  Things happen, and they quickly overwhelm you and leave you wondering how you'll get through them.  Things happen, and even though you think you ought to be ready to face them, you aren't.  Life can be hard.

  So take heart.  Like the disciples, there is much we don't understand.  Jesus tries to prepare us, but we miss a lot, because we're overwhelmed.  Jesus still calls us, still loves us, and still redeems us, thanks be to God!

Mark 10:23-31

Mark 10:23-31 

English Standard Version 

  Who can be saved?  

  That is the ultimate question, the one's we ask ourselves at 3 in the morning, the ones our souls cry out when we let the noise from the world diminish and give ourselves time to think.  This is the ultimate question, the only one that truly matters -- who will be saved?

  Jesus tells us that it is impossible for us to do on our own, but with God, all things are possible.  Which leads us to the next question, of who does God choose to save?

  For this answer, we look to Jesus and wonder what kind of Savior he is, and what we find is someone more gracious than we can imagine.  What we find is someone willing to offer salvation to those who are crucifying him.  We find someone willing to go to the lost and the lonely, to those on the outskirts of society and well outside traditional power structures.  We find a God willing to offer salvation to people not on their merit, but on his unconditional love.

  Who can be saved? 

  Thanks be to God that is dependent on God, not on us.

  

Mark 10:17-22

Mark 10:17-22 

English Standard Version 

  Have you ever seen a kid throw a temper tantrum at Disney World?  Not always the happiest place on earth, is it?  Yet, they never show that in the TV commercials.

  People like to talk about Jesus like he is just a great teacher.  And he certainly is that, but he didn't come just to teach.  He came to be Lord, which means at times he has to challenge, and at times people are uncomfortable, because our natural inclination is to be our own Lords.  We don't want someone else to be Lord.  But Jesus hasn't come to leave us as he found us.  Jesus has come to save us, to deliver us, from the things that ensnare us, even when we don't realize it.

  If Jesus were just a great teacher and nothing more, there wouldn't be people who leave disappointed.  But some turn down Jesus' challenge, preferring short term comfort over eternal promises.  Jesus asks for much, but always promises more.  True treasure rests in him and in him alone, no matter how shiny the world's treasure may seem.

Mark 10:13-16

Mark 10:13-16

English Standard Version 

  One of the biggest ways we see faith taking root in someone's life is the way they treat other people.  And by other people, we mean all people.  Jesus didn't simply focus on people who were socially equivalent to him -- he spent time with complete outcasts in society.  He didn't hesitate to sit with someone who was completely beyond the fringe of polite company.  People who were demon-possessed and outcast for other reasons -- he was drawn to them.  Children weren't treasured the same way they are in our society, but Jesus made time for them, and he taught the disciples that they were to honor them as well.  The Kingdom of God is often revealed one interaction at a time, and may we put up no barriers to anyone, young or old, that they may see the love of God and experience it in the ways they are treated when they encounter Christ's followers.  

Mark 10:6-12

Mark 10:6-12

English Standard Version

  Do you remember playing in the yard as a kid?  Things were simpler then.  You weren't worried about emails and politicians and wars on the other side of the planet.  You simply played.  Sometimes, I watch Charlotte run around our backyard without a care in the world, and I envy that.  I wish I could regain that freedom.  

  In the beginning, when we were in the Garden of Eden, things were pure.  They were as they were meant to be, unspoiled by sin, untainted by brokenness.  Adam and Eve were together.  They walked in the cool of the evening with God.

  Sin spoiled that, but Jesus is reminding us of how things are meant to be.  He is speaking to the part of us that remembers Eden, and calling us to strive for that.  

Mark 10:1-5

Mark 10:1-5 

English Standard Version

  The Pharisees were intent on trapping Jesus.  They didn't want to engage with integrity, to have an honest conversation and discover where they might be wrong and what they could learn.  They wanted to be proven right, because they knew everything they needed to know.  They were experts -- and Jesus didn't have the right credentials, so they wrote him off.  

  It must have taken them aback when Jesus told them that there was a difference between what was allowed in the Law and what was ideal.  Jesus is pushing people past mere compliance with the law -- he wants their hearts and minds captive to the Lord.  He wants them to push for the ideal, for the Garden of Eden picture of people living at peace with God and one another.  He wants more than merely learning so they can past the test -- he wants their hearts overflowing with love for God and others.

  When we read the text, may we look for ways to engage all of our hearts.  May we pray for God to transform us, to pull us closer, that we might not merely obey, but fall in love, over and over again.

Mark 9:42-50

Mark 9:42-50 

English Standard Version 

  It's always startling for us to hear the seriousness with which Jesus considers hell.  We've largely relegated hell to the idea of a fairy tale, a threat to use when people behave badly.  We've turned Satan into a comic character or a Halloween costume, but the fear is gone, replaced with comedy.  

  And yet Jesus speaks of hell often, which makes me think that we should listen to what he has to say, and consider it more than just a fairy tale, more than an idle threat.  If the one who crafted the universe speaks of it in such tones that it's worth losing a foot than even entertaining the danger of going there, then perhaps a little fear in us is a wise thing.  Perhaps it will motivate us, and encourage us to take seriously things that are easy to put off for another day.  

  Think of the list of spiritual goals you have, and what can be done today that has been waiting?

Mark 9:38-41

Mark 9:38-41 

English Standard Version 

  One of the sayings of Jesus that I think of a lot is when he tells the disciples in John 10 that he has other sheep that they do not know about.  He's reminding them that there is a much larger picture that Jesus sees, and just because they don't or can't see the whole picture, it doesn't mean that God isn't at work in places and ways and people that they may not fully grasp.  

  It's an important thing for us to remember as well.  It's easy to think that in the modern age, we have a complete grasp on everything.  But there are plenty of mysteries.  God is still in charge, and while we have plenty of understanding about how God works, there is still a lot we'll only know on the other side of the veil.  May we remember this and stay humble, focused on praising God and trusting God to take care of all the things we cannot see.

Mark 9:33-37

Mark 9:33-37 

English Standard Version 

  I remember when I was younger and I'd end up in really pointless conversations and an adult would ask me what I was talking about and there'd be a long drawn out silence as I tried to figure out how to say that I was actually talking about something else, something that would make me sound more intelligent.  At those times, I always felt ashamed.  Have you ever had a moment like that, where you were caught red-handed and you tried to come up with a better reason?

  This is where the disciples are -- they're with the literal son of God, and they're arguing about which of them was the greatest.  They're not focused on Jesus at all -- rather about elevating their own status.  

  Jesus upends all of that, by putting a child in front of them and telling them that greatness comes through service.  It's not about building up a reputation based on your merits -- it's about finding ways to serve others.  We become great by building up others, including children.  Such is the path to greatness, the one that Jesus walked and then invites each of us to walk as well. 

Mark 9:30-32

Mark 9:30-32 

English Standard Version 

  I listen to a number of podcasts, often when I workout, and it's not uncommon for me to get to the end of one and realize that I missed a good portion of it.  I either zoned out or wasn't paying close attention, but rather than rewind and listen again, I press on to the next, figuring that in the grand scheme, I'm probably not missing anything vital.  

  It works for me when listening to podcasts.  For the disciples, listening to Jesus, they probably should have considered this worth asking a question or two.  They should have asked Jesus to rewind -- they're missing a rather critical piece of the picture here!  But they didn't want to look dumb, so they went along.  Think how helpful this message would have been a little later when Jesus was killed and they were waiting for him to rise from the dead! 

  But we do the same thing to Jesus.  When we stop to pray, do we always make time to listen?  It's easy to say our prayers, listing out what we want from God, and then rush off to the next thing we have to do.  Do we wait and listen for God?  Are we patient?  Do we keep asking God when we're unclear as to what to do next, or do we rush forward, assuming we'll figure it out along the way?

  I understand the disciples, because it's easy to see myself in them sometimes.  May we learn from their mistakes and make time to hear what God is likely trying to say to us!

Mark 9:20-29

Mark 9:20-29 

English Standard Version 

  This passage always gets me.  In so many ways, it sums up the Gospel perfectly.  We have an evil spirit that seeks for nothing but destruction from the moment we are young.  We have a longing to be rid of it, but we are uncertain how to do so, and aren't even sure if Jesus can heal us.  We believe, but we do so imperfectly.  Fortunately, Jesus does need us to have perfect belief -- when it comes to perfection, Jesus achieves that so we don't have to.  When Jesus heals us, the world is confused by what it sees, but Jesus can restore us to right relationships with God and one another.  Finally, we can't figure out why we can't do these things on our own, and Jesus is teaching us that only submission to God's will can bring true healing.

  Each one of those ideas is worthy of a book, worthy of study for the rest of our lives.  Eternity is not long enough to sink ourselves into the reality of what Jesus offers us.  He gives us a glimpse of it here in Mark 9, but even if you were to memorize this and repeat it every hour, it wouldn't be enough.  It's never enough, because the truth is so much greater than we are, and yet it's given to us, a free gift, poured out in love for the restoration of our souls, thanks be to God!

Mark 9:14-19

Mark 9:14-19 

English Standard Version 

  Remember what's happened right before this -- Peter, James, and John have gone up on to a mountain with Jesus and experienced the Transfiguration.  They experienced something divine that transcended this time and place, and they saw Jesus with Moses and Elijah.  Peter was ready to build tents so they could stay there.

  And from that experience, they immediately go into a fight over who can and cannot heal a boy with a demon who throws himself into a fire.  You can hear Jesus' frustration as they argue about this.

  This is life.  We go from mountaintops to valleys, from joy to sorrow, all in the scope of a day or week or month.  It's all part of the experience of being human, part of the experience of being a disciple.  Being in a valley doesn't mean that you're far from Jesus -- you can rest assured that Jesus is right there with you, and that this valley will be something you go through.  It's not a place to stay, and you're not there alone.  God is with you, even in the valley, and will see you through.

Mark 9:9-13

Mark 9:9-13 

English Standard Version 

  Jesus was a great teacher, and he was kind and gracious, but he was also very clear about his identity as the Son of Man, and he spoke openly about his coming death and resurrection.  The disciples may have been somewhat confused, as they were still expecting Jesus to lead a political revolution to establish a worldly kingdom, but Jesus never gave up telling them what he was going to do.  There was suffering in his future, and he knew it, but he stayed faithful to the road, because that's where he was called, and because he loves you enough to remain true and steadfast.  It's hard for us to walk into any situation knowing there is danger, knowing there are threats, and yet he did exactly that, out of God's great love for you and for me.

Mark 9:1-8

Mark 9:1-8 

English Standard Version

  It's always interesting to me to watch the crowds at sporting events after a big win -- there is a tremendous celebration, and eventually the crowd starts to taper.  You can't stay in the arena or stadium forever -- you have to leave and carry on the celebration somewhere else, but there is always a reluctance to leave, as though things won't be the same once everyone leaves.

  That's what Peter, James, and John are experiencing.  They are a part of something transcendent, and they don't want to leave.  Peter wants to build tents so that everything can stay, but that's not the mission of Jesus.  Jesus is always sending people out, encouraging them to take their experience and use that to serve the world.  They haven't been given this experience simply to keep it -- they've been given it to share it with the world through their mission and ministry.  

  The same is true for each of us.  Everything we've been given is meant to be shared, and those mountaintop experiences should lead us back out into the world.

Mark 8:34-38

Mark 8:34-38 

English Standard Version

  Our kids sometimes pretend they don't hear things we ask them to do, because they don't like it or they don't want to, and so we'll have to repeat ourselves over and over again until they finally realize that we aren't going to stop nagging them until they do it.  Good times.

  When I read these verses, I feel like I want to do this to God.  I love to focus on all the things that God does for me.  I tend to slide right by all the things that God asks of me.  I'm sure God understands how busy I am, right?  We tend not to put these verses on the sign out front, and we don't recite this every week in church... but maybe we should.  Maybe we need to be reminded how incredible the gift of discipleship is, and what a privilege it is to have the opportunity to follow Jesus, and that the rewards are worth giving up everything.  In our 21st century minds, we much prefer instant gratification, so we downplay the eternal rewards, which leads us to minimize discipleship that has a cost.  We don't like to sacrifice, especially for things that are far in the future and unclear due to the fact that they often lay on the other side of death.  

  But, truly, what could we offer in exchange for our soul?  We offer it to lots of things in the world that promise us wealth and comfort.  Jesus is calling us to deny ourselves and take up our cross and pursue selflessness, which isn't a winning message in modernity.  But in eternity... it's the rhythm of life.

  Do we have the courage to hear the challenge of Jesus and pray for Holy Spirit wisdom to live into this now?  Can we take seriously the call of Christ and the urgency of discipleship?  Will we do the hard work of living for Christ, of turning away from the noise and the greed and the consumerism?  Can we chase holiness and service and faithfulness?  

  I know what I want my answers to be, but day by day, hour by hour, my life reveals my choices, and I often can be caught building my own kingdom, which may seem sturdy now, but one day, it will topple.  In that day, what will catch me?  Will I be found to have built as a life of folly without considering eternity?  Or will I have made the wise choice to join with Christ in building his kingdom?  Will I give freely from the earthly treasure I have now because I recognize the surpassing value of heavenly treasure, which looks nothing like dollars and cents and silver and gold?  Or will I measure my own worth by the amount in a bank account?

  Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote a fantastic book called The Cost of Discipleship that is worth your time if you haven't read it.  But to read it is to expose yourself to the same challenge we find here at the end of Mark 8.  It asks us to risk everything, and it leaves me uncomfortable.  I used to listen to a lot of sermons by David Platt, who has also written a few excellent books that challenge us all to pursue discipleship with greater fervor.  It's a hard message to hear from my place of comfort where I often sit.

  That's probably enough for today, right?  This is a message that's hard for me to hear.  Which means it's probably very, very important for me to hear.  For us all to hear.  And to pray over.  And to follow.  

Mark 8:31-33

Mark 8:31-33

English Standard Version 

  We all have in our heads an idea of what a leader should look like.  We've seen and heard enough successful leaders that we understand what a great politician or coach will be like.  Once that image is in our heads, it can be hard for us to support someone who doesn't fit the image -- it's harder to imagine that person as successful.

  Peter had been following Jesus for long enough that he surely understood that Jesus was unusual, but he still had an idea of a successful Messiah in his head, and that image didn't include the Messiah suffering and dying on a cross.  Nobody thought the Messiah would be killed, because that seems like it ought to be a failure, and it would be if the Messiah was only concerned about power in this world.  However, if the Messiah were conquering things bigger than this world, then perhaps the problem is not with the Messiah but rather with our image of what the Messiah ought to be like.  In other words, our internal image and expectations were too small.

  I think we often suffer from having expectations that are too small.  We can be guilty of the same problem in our own lives.  We want Jesus to make things a little bit better, to marginally improve bits and pieces here and there, when in reality Jesus wants to completely overhaul how we live and be Lord and King of everything.  

Mark 8:27-30

Mark 8:27-30

English Standard Version 

  Ever pretend you understand something that you really don't?  It's fine as long as nobody asks you any specific questions.  But when you're put on the spot, it's quickly revealed whether you have a complete grasp or not.

  The question always moves from the general to the specific.  The wisdom of crowds is one thing -- but we can only ride on the coattails of the crowd for so long.  Eventually, we'll have to make a decision about what we believe, about what we affirm.  When it comes to Jesus, are you willing to stand out, even if you're different than the crowd?  Are you willing to follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit, wherever it may go?  

  Peter was willing to state what he believed.  The crowd may have been uncertain, but he was not.  He knew what he believed, and he knew why he believed that.  

Mark 8:22-26

Mark 8:22-26 

English Standard Version 

  Some authors are great because they write books where you can so closely identify with the main characters that it feels like it was written just for you.  That's the mark of a great story.

  This is one of those stories -- Jesus comes to the blind man to heal him, but the first time he lays hands on him, the blind man isn't completely cured.  He's better, but it's still a little hazy.  I look at this and I think -- that's what happened to me, to you, to all of us.  When Jesus comes into our lives, things get better.  The more of Jesus we have in the more of our lives, the better we are... but we're not perfect.  There is still sin in our lives.  I'm still selfish at heart.  I still make bad choices.  I've still got a long way to go, and until I pass through the veil of death and complete my baptism, I will always be this way.  There will come a time when Jesus completes the work that has begun in me.  Until then, I'll be imperfect, but blessedly so, having been claimed by Jesus, and I'll do what I can to turn over more and more of my life to him.

Mark 8:14-21

Mark 8:14-21 

English Standard Version 

  Ever set something down and then can't remember where you put it?  I was working in the bathroom the other day and set down my vise grips then spent the next 5 minutes looking for them despite the fact that they were right in front of me.  I don't know how I missed them.

  There were times that the disciples were like that.  Jesus has multiplied bread in front of the disciples, and yet there they are, lamenting that they don't have enough bread.  They've seen him work miracles, and yet they can't figure out what will keep them from starving.  Jesus is trying to help them see past material food, since he's going to feed them in ways that will last for eternity, but they're just worried about the short-term.

  May we recognize the reality that Jesus brings, and work to look beyond the surface.  What do we really need?  How does Jesus address our deepest fears and concerns?  He has come for all of us -- to provide for our material and eternal needs.

Mark 8:11-13

Mark 8:11-13 

English Standard Version 

  The image of Jesus sighing at the Pharisees is interesting to me -- it's a sigh that comes out of deep frustration.  The Pharisees seem to be looking for a reason not to believe that Jesus is who he says he is.  They come seeking a sign, and you can imagine Jesus pointing around at all the miracles that have been performed, wondering if that's enough while all the while knowing that it will never be enough.  They're determined not to believe.

  So the question comes to us -- do we come with questions borne out of honest inquiry, seeking to know more, or do we find questions that are simply reasons not to believe, not to trust, not to move forward?  Sometimes, we come up with questions because we want an excuse not to change, while sometimes, we have questions because we want or need to know.  They're two different questions, and I think God can tell the difference.  The honest ones we should pursue with all vigor, and I trust in God that they'll lead us to a good place of deeper trust.  

Mark 8:1-10

Mark 8:1-10 

English Standard Version 

  It doesn't make sense that the people would come back with more than they left with.  Trips always cost something -- they cost money and time and energy.  They often fill up some reservoir, be it emotional or spiritual, but there is always a cost.

  But when we come to Jesus, things work differently.  When we come to Jesus, no matter how empty we are when we come, we leave with more than we brought.  When we come to Jesus, we are hungry, then we are satisfied, and there is abundance left over.  It doesn't make sense to the scarcity mindset we so often bring to the world, but Jesus doesn't come to us the way the world comes.  Jesus comes to give, to share, to relieve our burdens and show us another path.  

  Life in Jesus is fundamentally different than life without Jesus.  It's not just regular life turned up another degree.  It's a completely different way to see and experience the world.  Until we grasp that, really grasp that, then we'll have a hard time understanding the call of Christ in our life.  Jesus didn't come to take our regular life and make it a little bit better -- he came to transform us.  

  So we come hungry, and we are satisfied.

Mark 7:31-37

Mark 7:31-37 

English Standard Version 

  In 2 Timothy, Paul warns of a time when people won't adhere to sound doctrine, but they'll have itching ears and find teachers in accordance with their own desires.  I think about that passage a lot -- it's easy to find someone proclaiming authority whose perspective matches your own and doesn't challenge you on anything.  It's like the old saying that when all of God's enemies are the same as your enemies, perhaps you need to re-think a few things.  But it's so easy to close our minds to challenging words -- and in doing so, we become like a deaf man, unable to hear, except that our impediment isn't easily noticed, partly because everyone else is doing the same, and if we're all doing it, then it can't be wrong, correct?  

  Jesus comes to open our ears and eyes and hearts, but we often resist.  We're comfortable in having our itching ears scratched by those who know what to say to keep us comfortable.  As a society, we crave comfort.  We go out of our way to avoid being confronted by points of view different than our own.  We isolate ourselves so that we only hear what we want.  Jesus opens us up to another perspective, one defined by grace and love.  May we have the wisdom and strength to let Jesus lead us, to let him teach us, to let him guide us, that we may grow in faith and knowledge.

Mark 7:24-30

Mark 7:24-30 

English Standard Version 

  At some point this summer, we all went over to Dayton and spent some time at the children's museum there.  They had a planetarium and we watched a show all about the universe.  There was a certain point where I was completely lost at the size and scope of it all.  It was overwhelming to think about and exceeded what my mind could grasp.  I simply didn't understand.

  We all have intellectual limits.  There are many people whose limits go far beyond me, but even the brightest minds come up against things that they can't wrap their heads around.  And that's ok -- we are created by God and live within the universe, so our minds have limits just as our bodies do.  Part of maturing is learning to accept our limitations, which are constantly changing.  

  I don't understand this passage.  I read it over and over, and I understand that Jesus is talking about the Jewish community and how God's grace and favor extends beyond it, but as to why a fence seems to be put up and the woman has to convince Jesus that others, like dogs, should have the crumbs, I don't have a good explanation.  I've learned to be ok with this -- I don't understand why God does everything that God does.  I trust the love and grace of God, because I see the fullness of that on the cross, and I hear Jesus inviting a thief under the penalty of death into God's infinite kingdom and I realize that God is more gracious than I can imagine, and so I accept that Jesus' motives here are loving, just as Jesus' motives are loving when he deals with you and I.  Some of the details are above my intellectual plane, and I can be ok with that.  Some things I'll learn on the other side of the veil.

Mark 7:14-23

Mark 7:14-23 

English Standard Version 

  When things go wrong, it's easy to look for someone to blame.  There was a time in my life when I was in terrible shape, and I wanted to blame all the circumstances that had caused that, but in reality, it was my own poor choices.  I was unhealthy because I hadn't prioritized health, and my body reflected that.  Similar to my second and third knee surgeries -- there were lots of opportunities to blame others, but it was only my poor choice to keep playing soccer that was responsible for my knee injuries.  The pain I was in was a result of my own choices.  

  Lots of things happen to us in life that are beyond our control.  Many things happen that are in our control that we don't want to accept responsibility for.  Jesus is trying to help us see the difference -- what can we control, and what kind of person do we want to be?  The things in life that just happen without our control or input?  Those don't defile us.  The responses we choose -- those are the things that shape our character, the type of people we are.  Jesus tells us to pay attention to that, for those things that flow out of our hearts, those actions define us, and often, it's how others will perceive the church -- through our words and actions.

Mark 7:5-13

Mark 7:5-13 

English Standard Version 

  In recent years, my expectations for politicians continue to decrease.  I'm at the point where I don't really even ask for much.  I think I'd be satisfied if they simply did the things they say they'll do when they campaign.  Is that too much?  Even if they can't get them done because of the obstructions of one group or another, they could at least try, right?  Maybe it'd be enough if they just pretended to try.  It's sad how low my standards are for America's politicians... 

  Jesus is speaking to the same reality, which is comforting in knowing that people don't truly change.  This is comforting because it means we can hear the words of Jesus and know that he speaks to our condition, too, even though thousands of years separate his words from our ears.

  Jesus is speaking to people who say things but don't really mean them.  They use words that might honor God or other people, but their hearts aren't in it.  We all know what this is like.  We've all done this, at one point or another.  It's easy to do, and we feel like it doesn't really hurt anyone.  But it does -- it introduces cracks in relationships that suddenly aren't fully authentic.  They're based on empty flattery.  

  So let us say what we mean and mean what we say.  May our hearts and our words align, that we may be the people we say we are, and show the world true authenticity.

Mark 7:1-4

Mark 7:1-4 

English Standard Version 

  What's it mean to be clean?  There's the feeling of your teeth right after you walk out of the dentist, when you don't want to eat anything because of how clean your teeth feel.  There's something satisfying about washing your car and seeing it gleam in the sunlight on a nice day, so that you're not afraid to touch it because of how much dirt has accumulated.  Or there's the idea of having a clean heart and mind, of resisting temptation and focusing on love and selflessness.  

  All very different, yet all the same.  It's easy for us to say that a clean heart and clean mind are more important, but cleanliness in other areas of life are important.  Cleaning your teeth regularly keeps you healthy, and cleaning your car helps the paint last longer.  They're important to do, but shouldn't be the most important thing.  

  The Pharisees got their priorities a bit backwards, and so they focused intently on cleaning surface items, like their hands, and perhaps lost track of their hearts.  It's not a hard thing to do in a fast-paced & results-focused world.  I probably spend more time each day washing my hands than I do thinking about the cleanliness of my heart.  Jesus called the Pharisees out on this, and he calls us out, too.  Not to distance himself from us, but to help us recognize our sins and come to God as children, trusting in the love of God to heal and redeem us, to truly wash us in the waters of baptism and mark us clean forever.

Mark 6:53-56

Mark 6:53-56 

English Standard Version 

  What do you think the first followers of the Beatles thought of them?  Do you think they knew how big they would get?  How would they have acted differently if they knew, if they really knew, how popular they would end up being.  It reminds me of reading stories about supermodels who were dumped by their boyfriends in high school for some minor reason -- do you think the boyfriends would have acted differently if they knew their girlfriend at the time would go on to be a famous model?  

  In Mark 6, this is still early in Jesus' ministry.  Word about him is clearly getting out, and Jesus is becoming very popular.  They bring the sick out into the market in the hopes that his clothes might make the sick well.  They revere him and have great faith.

  And this is all well before he rises from the dead.  This display is but an iota of the ultimate power he'll demonstrate over sin and death.  And still people stream from all around to come and see him.

  The question it leaves me with is this -- do I, knowing the full story and the resurrection from the dead, revere him as much, if not more, than these people, who have only had a glimpse of his power?  Or do I take it for granted and allow Jesus to fade into the background because I have other things that seem more urgent than attending to the personal relationship that the God of the universe wants to have with me?

  So what do I need to change?

Mark 6:45-52

Mark 6:45-52 

English Standard Version 

  Our culture is such a lens in front of our faces that we scarcely notice it at times.  If I tell you I spent $60 putting gas in my car, most American adults might think this is about average, while a toddler might think I've spent a fortune on such a transaction.  It all depends on your experiences and expectations.

  For a first century Jew, the chaos of a storm, combined with the darkness, represents the largest primordial forces beyond understanding or control.  It was the very universe trying to rip itself apart.  To see Jesus control such storms with a word is to see the Creator exercising power over the created.  It inspired awe and fear as they wondered just who this might be.  They knew he was more than a man, but how can a man that looks just like them be so much more than just a man?  They saw, but could they believe their eyes?  They were astounded and amazed and terrified at the power he possessed.

  As someone once said, you can't ask someone like that to simply be an assistant.  To have such a man in your life is to hand over the reins, to cede all power and authority to him.  He is the source of power and wisdom in the universe -- let Jesus be Lord, that his wisdom may guide us, that his power may rle over us, and that we may submit to Christ as Lord in all things.

Mark 6:37-44

Mark 6:37-44 

English Standard Version 

  If you make dinner reservations somewhere fancy, you're expected to show up in proper attire at the time of your reservations.  If you are late, they are unlikely to send a car to find you, and while some places will have a coat if one is required, they don't have a full wardrobe ready in the event you show up underdressed.  You have to come ready.

  Jesus, however, meets us where we are.  Crowds show up hungry and underprepared for the event, but Jesus has compassion on them.  He sees them, he sees their needs, and he loves them, so he serves them.  He brings about a miracle so that their needs can be met, and because he combines love and power and chooses to use these for the people, they are satisfied.

  What's remarkable is that Jesus doesn't stop there.  He combines love and power and ascends the cross -- no barrier is too high for Jesus.  He'll do anything, such is his love.  Even if he has to die.

  You are deeply loved, and Jesus pursues you, wherever you are, no matter what.  He starts with where you are.

Mark 6:30-36

Mark 6:30-36 

English Standard Version 

  When you book your vacation, what do you look for in a destination?  You'd likely want to ensure there were places to stay and ways to get food.   You'd want to have your basic needs provided for.  Otherwise, you'd probably think about going somewhere else.

  But Jesus draws us in.  When we focus on Jesus, we are willing to go to desolate places.  He invites us there, because everything is stripped away in the desolate places.  Ever notice how much time you spend in the kitchen preparing meals?  You can't do that in a desolate place.  There are no distractions there -- only you and the Word of God.  

  There are ways to recreate this in your own life.  You don't have to disappear deep into the wilderness.  Just find a quiet spot in your home, turn off your phone, and just be.  Jesus is enough.  

Mark 6:21-29

Mark 6:21-29 

English Standard Version 

  If you found out that every word of your next phone call would be played back for people to hear for the next 2,000 years, would you have to change how you spoke?  If the next email or text message you send is archived for perpetuity, how differently would you write?  If I told you that children might look to your words for wisdom in 700 years, would you craft them more carefully?

  Herod was careless with the life of John the Baptist. He felt like it was more important to uphold his image than to spare the life of John.  He never would've imagined that John the Baptist, an iteninerant preacher with camel's hair for clothing and some odd ideas about personal hygiene, might someday be viewed as more important than him.  He would've laughed at the thought, so he was careless with John's life.

  May we never be careless with our words to the extent that they might harm another.  May we recognize that each person has eternal importance and value to God.  Each person you talk to is precious and beloved enough by God for Jesus Christ to die on a cross for that person.  Ponder that as you speak, as you write, and may it change the way we treat one another, that we may handle each other with care and grace.

Mark 6:14-20

Mark 6:14-20 

English Standard Version 

  What's the path of least resistance?  Water follows it -- which is why it can be so hard to keep out of your house, because any little crack or opening, and water will seep into it.  It exploits any weakness.  We often follow the path of least resistance in our own life, opting for what is easy, even when we know the harder path will lead us to the place we want to be.  We can easily end up in a rut and stay in it.

  John the Baptist took the harder path.  He had an easier one available -- he didn't have to speak openly to Herod about his situation.  He could've let it lie and opted for an easier route.  But for John, he chose what was faithful, even at great risk to himself -- he knew it might cost him his life to oppose Herod, but he followed what was right over what was easy.

  Hopefully, doing what is right won't cost us our lives.  But God calls us to discipleship, and calls us to love God more than our own lives, and if we're willing to commit everything, we'll discover a wealth greater than we can imagine, a wealth worth giving up everything for.  John had a vision of this.  How can we have the same passion?

Mark 6:7-13

Mark 6:7-13

English Standard Version 

  Life has any number of challenges.  You can probably think of some new ones you encountered just this week.  Sometimes, things go wrong that we didn't even know could go wrong!  I feel that way a lot of times when I talk to my doctor -- I'm learning about parts of the body that I didn't know about because something isn't working right.  Uncertainty seems to be the rule some days.

  Into this world, where all sorts of things can and do go wrong, Jesus sends the disciples, two by two.  He doesn't send them out on their own.  Think of the things they'll face, these newly converted disciples who are learning as they go.  They have so much to learn about the faith, but they'll learn together.  They have someone to talk with, someone to bounce questions and ideas off.  They have a companion.  Like Adam in the garden and Moses in leadership, they're not alone.

  May we develop and seek companionship as we grow in faith, so that we have people to ask big questions, so that we have someone to confess our fears and our shortcomings, and so that we have someone to celebrate with.