"Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!" – Luke 14:15b (ESV)
After a conversation about being generous to those who cannot repay, people at the table were excited about the future coming kingdom of God. Jesus takes the opportunity to define entrance into the kingdom of God with a parable. One of the points of this parable is that people who were invited initially did not come and those who would have never hoped to receive an invitation were compelled to join in the feast. As one who is coming in from around the highway or the hedges (v 23), I am glad that the Lord desires His house filled.
2/28/2006
2/27/2006
Luke 13 – Going to Jerusalem
He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem.
At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, "Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you." And he said to them, "Go and tell that fox, 'Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course. Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.' – Luke 13:22, 31-33 (ESV)
Geographically, Jesus is steadily going to Jerusalem. Now, He has been to Jerusalem before (Luke 2, etc.), but His life is a journey that will culminate at Jerusalem. The point of this progression is that Jesus, with all His talks of discipleship and counting the cost, will actually demonstrate what discipleship will be: God appointed dying. Our lives may not be physically taken like Jesus’ was, but our lives will have persecution and opposition if we truly follow the Lord. Persecution and opposition does not automatically mean that you are living the life God desires, but truly following the Lord will have these things present. Our Lord understands the pain of God’s plan (Luke 12:50), and He does not ask of His followers anything that He Himself hasn’t endured.
At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, "Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you." And he said to them, "Go and tell that fox, 'Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course. Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.' – Luke 13:22, 31-33 (ESV)
Geographically, Jesus is steadily going to Jerusalem. Now, He has been to Jerusalem before (Luke 2, etc.), but His life is a journey that will culminate at Jerusalem. The point of this progression is that Jesus, with all His talks of discipleship and counting the cost, will actually demonstrate what discipleship will be: God appointed dying. Our lives may not be physically taken like Jesus’ was, but our lives will have persecution and opposition if we truly follow the Lord. Persecution and opposition does not automatically mean that you are living the life God desires, but truly following the Lord will have these things present. Our Lord understands the pain of God’s plan (Luke 12:50), and He does not ask of His followers anything that He Himself hasn’t endured.
2/26/2006
Luke 12 – Value and cost
Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows. – Luke 12:6-7 (ESV)
Framed by two passages that show problems for Christ’s followers (death and persecution), we see this passage about birds. By using the language of economics, Jesus describes our value in the midst of statements that describe the cost we must pay to follow Him. While He says our lives have value, He asks that these lives would be spent in service for Him. A life that is spent in loyal faithfulness to the Lord is a life that has value. Paying a great cost for God is worth the price.
Framed by two passages that show problems for Christ’s followers (death and persecution), we see this passage about birds. By using the language of economics, Jesus describes our value in the midst of statements that describe the cost we must pay to follow Him. While He says our lives have value, He asks that these lives would be spent in service for Him. A life that is spent in loyal faithfulness to the Lord is a life that has value. Paying a great cost for God is worth the price.
2/25/2006
Luke 11 – The example (?!?) of Jonah
'This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.' – Luke 11:29-32 (ESV)
There was this video that was done while I was at Mizzou where one of my fellow staff workers was Jonah. It was quite funny; the way he portrayed Jonah made us all realize that living in a fish would be gross. But unlike my friend's portrayal, Jonah is not a very great guy. He refused to give news to Nineveh, because he knew God would have mercy on them if they repented. To say that Jonah was a reluctant prophet is being quite generous. Now if the people of Nineveh could hear the word of the Lord from Jonah, how much more could the crowds hear from Jesus? Jesus is not just a prophet; He is more than a prophet. And if God can work through a wretch like Jonah, how much clearer is the word of the Lord when He is ‘personally’ involved?
There was this video that was done while I was at Mizzou where one of my fellow staff workers was Jonah. It was quite funny; the way he portrayed Jonah made us all realize that living in a fish would be gross. But unlike my friend's portrayal, Jonah is not a very great guy. He refused to give news to Nineveh, because he knew God would have mercy on them if they repented. To say that Jonah was a reluctant prophet is being quite generous. Now if the people of Nineveh could hear the word of the Lord from Jonah, how much more could the crowds hear from Jesus? Jesus is not just a prophet; He is more than a prophet. And if God can work through a wretch like Jonah, how much clearer is the word of the Lord when He is ‘personally’ involved?
2/24/2006
Luke 10 – I love the clarity
After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. – Luke 10:1 (ESV)
Unlike a mystery novel where you need to wait until the end to find out the big twist, Luke lays out what is going on, even in the narrative passages (versus parts that contain dialogue). He uses the title of "Lord" for Jesus (the word Lord is used nearly 100 times in Luke). Luke shows us his hand; he is unwilling for the identity of Jesus to be left to deduction or speculation. So the question is: does my own life reflect such clarity about the Lordship of Christ? Make it so Lord Jesus, make it so.
Unlike a mystery novel where you need to wait until the end to find out the big twist, Luke lays out what is going on, even in the narrative passages (versus parts that contain dialogue). He uses the title of "Lord" for Jesus (the word Lord is used nearly 100 times in Luke). Luke shows us his hand; he is unwilling for the identity of Jesus to be left to deduction or speculation. So the question is: does my own life reflect such clarity about the Lordship of Christ? Make it so Lord Jesus, make it so.
2/22/2006
Luke 8 – Support-raising
Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means. – Luke 8:1-3 (ESV)
Having developed a support team for my 5 ½ years on campus staff at Mizzou, having received support from my home church for my 3 years in seminary, and now being currently supported by the giving at a local church, this passage may mean a bit more to me that to some other people. Here is the support team for Jesus and the Twelve – women who had been affected by Christ’s ministry. Being supported really puts your life in perspective; people give so that you can more freely do the work of the Lord. The people that were (and are) a part of my various support structures have been very generous people who did not have extraordinary means. Christian ministry is not done through influencing the particularly rich (even if Chuza had some money, how much control did Joanna have over her family finances anyway), but through the provision of God.
So this one is a shout out to all my brothers and sisters who are raising support, who are maintaining support, or who are a part of a Christian ministry funded by giving – Jesus knows and He is faithful.
Having developed a support team for my 5 ½ years on campus staff at Mizzou, having received support from my home church for my 3 years in seminary, and now being currently supported by the giving at a local church, this passage may mean a bit more to me that to some other people. Here is the support team for Jesus and the Twelve – women who had been affected by Christ’s ministry. Being supported really puts your life in perspective; people give so that you can more freely do the work of the Lord. The people that were (and are) a part of my various support structures have been very generous people who did not have extraordinary means. Christian ministry is not done through influencing the particularly rich (even if Chuza had some money, how much control did Joanna have over her family finances anyway), but through the provision of God.
So this one is a shout out to all my brothers and sisters who are raising support, who are maintaining support, or who are a part of a Christian ministry funded by giving – Jesus knows and He is faithful.
2/21/2006
Luke 7 – The woman of the city or Simon the Pharisee
A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?" Simon answered, "The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt." And he said to him, "You have judged rightly." – Luke 7:41-43 (ESV)
In this parable, it is good for us to do the hard work of seeing who we are like, the woman or the Pharisee. The point here is one of need: the woman saw that she had great need for Jesus, Simon did not. What is interesting is that Paul, the “Hebrew of Hebrew’s” (Phil 3:4-6) saw this sort of standing as “rubbish” compared to Christ (Phil 3:7-9). Everyone needs Jesus, but not everyone realizes it.
In this parable, it is good for us to do the hard work of seeing who we are like, the woman or the Pharisee. The point here is one of need: the woman saw that she had great need for Jesus, Simon did not. What is interesting is that Paul, the “Hebrew of Hebrew’s” (Phil 3:4-6) saw this sort of standing as “rubbish” compared to Christ (Phil 3:7-9). Everyone needs Jesus, but not everyone realizes it.
2/20/2006
Luke 6 – A sure foundation
Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. – Luke 6:47-48 (ESV)
As I sit and interact with these men at this Pastor’s Conference, I hear stories of how the waves of life are beating upon them. But yet, their houses are built upon the solid rock of our Lord’s words. Unshakeable – not because of skill or capacity or systematic handling of the different problems that come before them, but because of the sure foundation our Lord gives.
As I sit and interact with these men at this Pastor’s Conference, I hear stories of how the waves of life are beating upon them. But yet, their houses are built upon the solid rock of our Lord’s words. Unshakeable – not because of skill or capacity or systematic handling of the different problems that come before them, but because of the sure foundation our Lord gives.
2/19/2006
Luke 5 – Men and fish
Upon graduation from TEDS, my wife's parents gave us a couple of fishing poles (which we were very excited about). Here Luke (vv 5:1-11) tells us of the call of Peter and the mandate for believers to be following Jesus. What was interesting to me was comparing people and fish. Fish: it's good to be in the water; it's bad to be caught, because being caught means death. People: it's bad to be in the water; it's good to be caught, because being caught means life. Praise God, because He has pulled me from the waters of destruction to His net of eternal life! (I'm also glad I'm not a fish, either in or out of water.)
2/18/2006
Luke 4 – Why so angry?
And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. – Luke 4:22a (ESV)
When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. – Luke 4:28 (ESV)
The crowd's response changes quite a bit from v 22a to v 28. A strong possibility is that in v 22a, they were finally hearing what they had waited for, the long expected Messiah, and they were marveling. But as Jesus clarifies that (1) 'I know won't be liked by you' and (2) His ministry, like the ministry of Elijah, will be going to the Gentiles as well, they are enraged. In their minds, the Messiah is for the Jews and He will crush the Gentiles – not to save the Gentiles. Jesus' plan often offends; His intentions bring about the secrets of our hearts. Oh Lord, give me a steadfast heart that doesn't sway as you reveal Yourself to me.
When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. – Luke 4:28 (ESV)
The crowd's response changes quite a bit from v 22a to v 28. A strong possibility is that in v 22a, they were finally hearing what they had waited for, the long expected Messiah, and they were marveling. But as Jesus clarifies that (1) 'I know won't be liked by you' and (2) His ministry, like the ministry of Elijah, will be going to the Gentiles as well, they are enraged. In their minds, the Messiah is for the Jews and He will crush the Gentiles – not to save the Gentiles. Jesus' plan often offends; His intentions bring about the secrets of our hearts. Oh Lord, give me a steadfast heart that doesn't sway as you reveal Yourself to me.
2/17/2006
Luke 3 - On being worthy
John answered them all, saying, "I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie." – Luke 3:16a (ESV)
In a land where anyone can become powerful, where anyone can become rich, where anyone can become president, few would say that they are unworthy of anything. And if someone says that they are unworthy, the images that pop up are like a poor person meeting with Bill Gates or an assistant shift manager meeting their senator, but even that sort of thing usually goes against our sensibilities. Here is John, a child of promise (Luke 1) that has a special role in the redemption of mankind, but he is also one who acknowledges his place before the holy and mighty Lord. It is only by the grace of God that we can stand before Him.
In a land where anyone can become powerful, where anyone can become rich, where anyone can become president, few would say that they are unworthy of anything. And if someone says that they are unworthy, the images that pop up are like a poor person meeting with Bill Gates or an assistant shift manager meeting their senator, but even that sort of thing usually goes against our sensibilities. Here is John, a child of promise (Luke 1) that has a special role in the redemption of mankind, but he is also one who acknowledges his place before the holy and mighty Lord. It is only by the grace of God that we can stand before Him.
2/16/2006
Luke 2 – The firstborn ceremony
The LORD said to Moses, "Consecrate to me all the firstborn. Whatever is the first to open the womb among the people of Israel, both of man and of beast, is mine." … And when in time to come your son asks you, 'What does this mean?' you shall say to him, 'By a strong hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery. For when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of animals. Therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all the males that first open the womb, but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.' - Exodus 13:1-2, 14-15 (ESV)
Mary and Joseph take Jesus to the temple to present Him before the Lord (Luke 2:22). Here the parents are partaking of a consecration ceremony where the firstborn son is about to be redeemed. This particular ceremony is interesting for two reasons. First of all, who needs the redemption? Is it Jesus? No it is Mary & Joseph, the priests in the temple, the whole world – Jesus is the one who came to redeem us (1 Cor 1:30). Secondly, what will become of Jesus? Well, He will be the sacrifice for our sins (Heb 7:27, 9:11-14). God’s strong hand of deliverance means the death of His firstborn Son. As Mary and Joseph dutifully perform what God required, we are reminded of what the Lord has done for us.
Mary and Joseph take Jesus to the temple to present Him before the Lord (Luke 2:22). Here the parents are partaking of a consecration ceremony where the firstborn son is about to be redeemed. This particular ceremony is interesting for two reasons. First of all, who needs the redemption? Is it Jesus? No it is Mary & Joseph, the priests in the temple, the whole world – Jesus is the one who came to redeem us (1 Cor 1:30). Secondly, what will become of Jesus? Well, He will be the sacrifice for our sins (Heb 7:27, 9:11-14). God’s strong hand of deliverance means the death of His firstborn Son. As Mary and Joseph dutifully perform what God required, we are reminded of what the Lord has done for us.
2/15/2006
Erratic blogging?
After a week of not blogging and then placing several backdated posts, some people who read this blog may wonder – what is going on with this blog? This is a good time for me to note some differences between my blog and other blogs.
1) This is a part of my personal journal that I have made public. Therefore, there are some things / days I will not post because those thoughts are quite personal and what items I do post I try to give some universal appeal. While I do want to journal something everyday, there are days when I simply do not. It is a hard (but rewarding) discipline for me – and that is why I wanted to help others who endeavor to journal by posting this blog.
2) This journal follows a Bible reading plan and the main purpose is to encourage Scripture reading and reflection as a part of one’s devotional life. Therefore, the thoughts will (generally) come from my daily readings. However, the blog is not in any way to be Todd’s commentary on the Bible. Since it is a journal and an encouragement, I don’t have the comments option activated – the goal of this blog wasn’t to create a forum. If you want talk to me about one of the posts, simply email me; feedback is most certainly welcomed.
3) We should all order our lives according to certain priorities. In my attempts to somewhat prioritize my life, blogging has been placed lower on the order of importance. But I still try to note (outside of this blog) whatever thoughts I may have from a given devotional. That means that sometimes posts will be posted later than their inception date. A friend has written a post that is worthy of reading – his pattern is something I strive to emulate.
Please continue to read, but realize that this is a different sort of blog. Maybe someday I will have a more traditional blog where I share thoughts on a broader scale, link you to my friends, tell you what I am reading, etc. Friends of mine do have these sorts of blogs and some of them are quite excellent. Maybe some day…
The Lord’s grace and peace to you all - Todd
1) This is a part of my personal journal that I have made public. Therefore, there are some things / days I will not post because those thoughts are quite personal and what items I do post I try to give some universal appeal. While I do want to journal something everyday, there are days when I simply do not. It is a hard (but rewarding) discipline for me – and that is why I wanted to help others who endeavor to journal by posting this blog.
2) This journal follows a Bible reading plan and the main purpose is to encourage Scripture reading and reflection as a part of one’s devotional life. Therefore, the thoughts will (generally) come from my daily readings. However, the blog is not in any way to be Todd’s commentary on the Bible. Since it is a journal and an encouragement, I don’t have the comments option activated – the goal of this blog wasn’t to create a forum. If you want talk to me about one of the posts, simply email me; feedback is most certainly welcomed.
3) We should all order our lives according to certain priorities. In my attempts to somewhat prioritize my life, blogging has been placed lower on the order of importance. But I still try to note (outside of this blog) whatever thoughts I may have from a given devotional. That means that sometimes posts will be posted later than their inception date. A friend has written a post that is worthy of reading – his pattern is something I strive to emulate.
Please continue to read, but realize that this is a different sort of blog. Maybe someday I will have a more traditional blog where I share thoughts on a broader scale, link you to my friends, tell you what I am reading, etc. Friends of mine do have these sorts of blogs and some of them are quite excellent. Maybe some day…
The Lord’s grace and peace to you all - Todd
Luke 1 – Who is blessed?
"Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord." – Luke 1:42-45 (ESV)
I like the progression Elizabeth makes. I like it because ultimately she includes me in on the blessing. Elizabeth starts out by blessing Mary for being the mother of Jesus (quite unique to Mary). Elizabeth is then excited about the reaction Mary’s voice gave to her own special child (quite unique to Elizabeth). But then Elizabeth makes the pronouncement: “Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” Yes, this is special to Mary and Elizabeth because they have been given special angelic messages and they are both having children who play very special roles in salvation history. There is a shift, however: blessing is for the one who trusts that God will do what He says. And that is where I am at. I am trusting that the Lord will do what He said: restoration, redemption, sanctification, a new home, a new body – to be with Him, worshiping Him in all His glory forever and ever!
I like the progression Elizabeth makes. I like it because ultimately she includes me in on the blessing. Elizabeth starts out by blessing Mary for being the mother of Jesus (quite unique to Mary). Elizabeth is then excited about the reaction Mary’s voice gave to her own special child (quite unique to Elizabeth). But then Elizabeth makes the pronouncement: “Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” Yes, this is special to Mary and Elizabeth because they have been given special angelic messages and they are both having children who play very special roles in salvation history. There is a shift, however: blessing is for the one who trusts that God will do what He says. And that is where I am at. I am trusting that the Lord will do what He said: restoration, redemption, sanctification, a new home, a new body – to be with Him, worshiping Him in all His glory forever and ever!
2/14/2006
Luke 1 – Mary the servant
And Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." – Luke 1:38 (ESV)
As Protestants, we often recoil at accolades given to Mary. We make statements to distance ourselves from any sort of Catholic thought: “She’s just a girl the Lord used,” “She sinned just like everyone else,” and so on. But what we often miss is that Mary is a model for Christ-followers. When confronted with the plan of God, her attitude is one of submission. I can’t help but reflect on what Jesus says later in Luke:
Luke 8:20-21 (ESV) And he was told, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you." But he answered them, "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it."
Luke 11:27-28 (ESV) A woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, "Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!" But he said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!"
In Luke 1:38, Mary is showing herself to be a true mother of Jesus – she hears the Word of the Lord and submits to it. She is not blessed simply because of how God used her, but she is blessed because of the work of the Lord in her life, a work which enables her to say, “I am the servant of Lord.” Mary is a true servant – not to be deified, but someone whose faith is to be imitated.
As Protestants, we often recoil at accolades given to Mary. We make statements to distance ourselves from any sort of Catholic thought: “She’s just a girl the Lord used,” “She sinned just like everyone else,” and so on. But what we often miss is that Mary is a model for Christ-followers. When confronted with the plan of God, her attitude is one of submission. I can’t help but reflect on what Jesus says later in Luke:
Luke 8:20-21 (ESV) And he was told, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you." But he answered them, "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it."
Luke 11:27-28 (ESV) A woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, "Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!" But he said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!"
In Luke 1:38, Mary is showing herself to be a true mother of Jesus – she hears the Word of the Lord and submits to it. She is not blessed simply because of how God used her, but she is blessed because of the work of the Lord in her life, a work which enables her to say, “I am the servant of Lord.” Mary is a true servant – not to be deified, but someone whose faith is to be imitated.
2/13/2006
Mark 16 – Failure
And he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you." And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. – Mark 16:6-8 (ESV)
From what I understand, it seems that Mark ends his Gospel on v.8. What a way to end! The women did not do what they were supposed to do; instead they were afraid and hid the good news of Jesus’ resurrection. While I am far from advocating that we fail as Christ’s followers, I do take some comfort that our Lord uses people who do fail. I fail. I want to be obedient, I so desperately want to grow, but I do not always measure up. Praise God for His recovery and use of broken vessels. These same cowardly, unbelieving followers were used by the Lord to change the world for Christ. If God can use them, He can use and redeem anyone, even a wretch like me!
From what I understand, it seems that Mark ends his Gospel on v.8. What a way to end! The women did not do what they were supposed to do; instead they were afraid and hid the good news of Jesus’ resurrection. While I am far from advocating that we fail as Christ’s followers, I do take some comfort that our Lord uses people who do fail. I fail. I want to be obedient, I so desperately want to grow, but I do not always measure up. Praise God for His recovery and use of broken vessels. These same cowardly, unbelieving followers were used by the Lord to change the world for Christ. If God can use them, He can use and redeem anyone, even a wretch like me!
2/11/2006
Mark 14 – A streaker?
And a young man followed him, with nothing but a linen cloth about his body. And they seized him, but he left the linen cloth and ran away naked. – Mark 14:51-52 (ESV)
This verse brings back memories. During some of my summers in college and while I was on staff with a campus ministry, we would go to Myrtle Beach for a summer-long program called Leadership Training. The summer between my freshman and sophomore year, I worked at a Kroger’s grocery store where I happened to meet a local youth pastor. This guy was a bit squirrelly; he came across in a very interesting sort of way. At any rate, he shared this verse with me and some of my friends and gave a brief proof of how this had to be the author, Mark. The argument went something like this: (1) Mark was ashamed of his nakedness and his fear, so he didn’t want his name put in the gospel story, but (2) it is not found in any other gospel because it is an important feature is to connect the author as giving eyewitness testimony. Therefore, according to this gentleman, we have Mark streaking in the Bible – he didn’t want to spell it out, but yet thought it was important to give the reader enough clues to let them know that he was indeed there.
Even if this does happen to be Mark (which is still conjecture), the greater point is this: Jesus was abandoned by his closest followers. While v. 50 tells us everyone left, vv. 51-52 show that they were willing to go without clothes rather than suffer with Jesus. What are we willing to do to avoid suffering? Oh how costly it is to follow Jesus.
This verse brings back memories. During some of my summers in college and while I was on staff with a campus ministry, we would go to Myrtle Beach for a summer-long program called Leadership Training. The summer between my freshman and sophomore year, I worked at a Kroger’s grocery store where I happened to meet a local youth pastor. This guy was a bit squirrelly; he came across in a very interesting sort of way. At any rate, he shared this verse with me and some of my friends and gave a brief proof of how this had to be the author, Mark. The argument went something like this: (1) Mark was ashamed of his nakedness and his fear, so he didn’t want his name put in the gospel story, but (2) it is not found in any other gospel because it is an important feature is to connect the author as giving eyewitness testimony. Therefore, according to this gentleman, we have Mark streaking in the Bible – he didn’t want to spell it out, but yet thought it was important to give the reader enough clues to let them know that he was indeed there.
Even if this does happen to be Mark (which is still conjecture), the greater point is this: Jesus was abandoned by his closest followers. While v. 50 tells us everyone left, vv. 51-52 show that they were willing to go without clothes rather than suffer with Jesus. What are we willing to do to avoid suffering? Oh how costly it is to follow Jesus.
2/06/2006
Mark 9 – The Transfiguration
And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, "This is my beloved Son; listen to him." – Mark 9:7 (ESV)
Yet again, we see another pivotal point for Peter. He reflects on this event later (2 Peter 1:17-18) as reason that he is a credible witness to the majesty of God. Jesus is showing Himself to be the great prophet mentioned in Exodus. But instead of being Moses or Elijah, like the people thought, He is greater than these men. Does the majesty of Jesus captivate us? Do we think of Jesus as the one who has the very words we need to live by? God certainly tells us to think this way.
Yet again, we see another pivotal point for Peter. He reflects on this event later (2 Peter 1:17-18) as reason that he is a credible witness to the majesty of God. Jesus is showing Himself to be the great prophet mentioned in Exodus. But instead of being Moses or Elijah, like the people thought, He is greater than these men. Does the majesty of Jesus captivate us? Do we think of Jesus as the one who has the very words we need to live by? God certainly tells us to think this way.
2/05/2006
Mark 8 – The pivotal point
And on the way he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" And they told him, "John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets." And he asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Christ." – Mark 8:27b-29 (ESV)
This is a turning point for Peter. He now articulates who Jesus truly is, the Christ, the expected, chosen one of God. This is also a huge step forward for the reader; while we have had this notion that Jesus was someone special, we now know that this IS the one we are to expect. There is no other. Our hope lies in Him and Him alone. This is the turning point for us all – the revelation of who exactly Jesus is.
This is a turning point for Peter. He now articulates who Jesus truly is, the Christ, the expected, chosen one of God. This is also a huge step forward for the reader; while we have had this notion that Jesus was someone special, we now know that this IS the one we are to expect. There is no other. Our hope lies in Him and Him alone. This is the turning point for us all – the revelation of who exactly Jesus is.
2/03/2006
Mark 6 – Understanding Jesus
And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened. – Mark 6:51b-52 (ESV)
It is interesting that a hard heart is tied to a lack of understanding. Sometimes we are surprised by what God does. Yes, we should be in awe of the Lord and His glory, and yes, He works in ways we don’t expect, but sometimes God works and we are surprised that God would do whatever He does simply because we lack understanding. Many times we pray but we don’t really think that the Lord will act. Other times, the Lord will intervene in someone’s life and we will almost be put off by it. This could be symptomatic of a hard heart. But even the Lord is able to work with our hard hearts. Here the people with the hard hearts are not Pharisees or fickle crowds, but the disciples; they have failed our Lord once again. Jesus, in all His patience and mercy is able to make a hard heart soft, to give understanding to the one who lacks it, to draw the person who is farthest from Him to Himself.
It is interesting that a hard heart is tied to a lack of understanding. Sometimes we are surprised by what God does. Yes, we should be in awe of the Lord and His glory, and yes, He works in ways we don’t expect, but sometimes God works and we are surprised that God would do whatever He does simply because we lack understanding. Many times we pray but we don’t really think that the Lord will act. Other times, the Lord will intervene in someone’s life and we will almost be put off by it. This could be symptomatic of a hard heart. But even the Lord is able to work with our hard hearts. Here the people with the hard hearts are not Pharisees or fickle crowds, but the disciples; they have failed our Lord once again. Jesus, in all His patience and mercy is able to make a hard heart soft, to give understanding to the one who lacks it, to draw the person who is farthest from Him to Himself.
2/02/2006
Mark 5 – Who needs Jesus?
In Mark 5, we see two stories (and two sub-stories) of people who need Jesus. The first person is a demon possessed man in the country of the Gerasenes. He clearly needed Jesus, physically hurting himself and being cast out from the community. The second person is Talitha, the daughter of the synagogue ruler Jarius. She is has something that has made her very sick, even to the point of death. There is also a woman who has been suffering for 12 years and she needs Jesus too. And what about all the people in the town that the demoniac was in, don’t they need to hear about the grace of God as well? If you have a name (Jarius) or not (the woman who was suffering from the hemorrhaging), you need Jesus; if you have a high place in society (Talitha) or low (the demoniac), you need Jesus; regardless of your health, regardless of your geography or heritage, regardless if you have a demon or not – everyone needs Jesus. It is easy to forget that well-meaning, well-behaved, likeable, socially decent people desperately need the grace of God in their lives. Or that the grace of God can extend to the lowest rung of society.
2/01/2006
Mark 4 – How small is small?
And he said, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade." – Mark 4:30-32 (ESV)
Inerrancy – are the scriptures reliable for matters of not only faith, but can the reliability of the scriptures extend into areas of science, history, sociology, psychology, etc.? People who say that scriptures are unreliable outside of the realm of faith, would point to this verse and note that the poppy seed is much smaller and the sequoia is much taller, therefore, the Bible is wrong. For those of us who think that the Bible can be trusted and is the reliable Word of God, this passage seems to present a difficulty. In response to this difficulty, I would like to note several items. The association of it being planted by the hearers shows that Jesus is describing something that is actually planted by the hearers, and the planting context is in a garden. This implies that the smallest on the earth is confined to the types of seeds they actually plant in a garden. Also, (and in my mind, more importantly) this is an analogy not a botany lesson. With proverbial wisdom and other analogies, the intention is to bring light to a greater principle, not to make absolute statements regarding the illustration. This type of statement should prevent us from ascribing intention from Christ that was not meant. Taking into consideration authorial intention is taking scripture literally. Reading into the passage statements that were not meant to be taken out of it is doing violence to the author. Jesus is using comparison and contrast to illustrate a greater lesson. The takeaway: let’s not miss the forest through the trees (to continue the theme of plant life).
Inerrancy – are the scriptures reliable for matters of not only faith, but can the reliability of the scriptures extend into areas of science, history, sociology, psychology, etc.? People who say that scriptures are unreliable outside of the realm of faith, would point to this verse and note that the poppy seed is much smaller and the sequoia is much taller, therefore, the Bible is wrong. For those of us who think that the Bible can be trusted and is the reliable Word of God, this passage seems to present a difficulty. In response to this difficulty, I would like to note several items. The association of it being planted by the hearers shows that Jesus is describing something that is actually planted by the hearers, and the planting context is in a garden. This implies that the smallest on the earth is confined to the types of seeds they actually plant in a garden. Also, (and in my mind, more importantly) this is an analogy not a botany lesson. With proverbial wisdom and other analogies, the intention is to bring light to a greater principle, not to make absolute statements regarding the illustration. This type of statement should prevent us from ascribing intention from Christ that was not meant. Taking into consideration authorial intention is taking scripture literally. Reading into the passage statements that were not meant to be taken out of it is doing violence to the author. Jesus is using comparison and contrast to illustrate a greater lesson. The takeaway: let’s not miss the forest through the trees (to continue the theme of plant life).
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