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.