Welcome, it is sounding like we are going to have a warm weekend for November. I hope so as I still have work to get done outside. I apologize for this being late but on Monday night my son, who was suffering from food poisoning, had to be taken to the ER and so I got to sit and watch the CBS national news loop, until I discovered Entertainment Tonight, all night with him while they gave him medicine and fluids. I got home in time to see the sun rise and attempted to sleep all day Tuesday. Needless to say I am a day late on everything. But, all is well and he is healthy now. I admire the staff at a hospital that can work all night, it isn’t an easy job and they were very nice.
Our text for Sunday is back in Mark. It is Tuesday of the last week of Jesus’ life. He is in the Temple teaching. The Jewish leaders are sending representatives to ask him difficult questions to try to trip him up and prove he has no authority. Every time he has given an answer that stymies them and they leave humiliated. He has the authority to interpret the law, theirs is in question.
V38-39 He attacks the scribes. They had asked a question in verse 28 about commandments which Jesus had answered for them. Now he attacks some things about them. They walk around in long robes. The nobility wore long robes to be noticed and a long robe doesn’t allow the wearer to walk fast so the scribes had to walk slowly and this was a way of being noticed and associated with nobility. They liked to be greeted with titles of rabbi, meaning “my great one”, in the market and to sit in the special seat in the synagogue. There was a chair in the front of the synagogue by the ark where the scrolls were kept, which faced the crowd. That is where they like to sit so they could be noticed. They also jockeyed for the best positions of honor at a banquet so the other guests could see how important they were to the host. It was all about “see and be seen”. The more you are noticed the more important you seem to be. We still have this today, people will do anything to be on TV, just watch Entertainment Tonight at 4am. I’ve heard that some people in Hollywood get paid to show up at a party, which is their only contribution to society but they become famous for it.
V40 Perhaps they convinced widows to donate their houses to them for promises of greater things in Heaven. They say long prayers which they directed to God but were really for them to be noticed. “Look how good this scribe can pray.” Jesus says they have their reward here. They are noticed by men but will be condemned by God as they were to be shepherds to the people, not to prey upon the people like wolves.
V41 Jesus then moved into the Court of the Women where there were 13 boxes shaped like inverted trumpets for collecting the temple tax to cover expenses for the Temple, help for widows and other expenses. He sat down with his disciples and watched the people coming to the Temple and putting money in those collection containers. The rich were putting in large sums.
V42 A poor widow came and put in 2 small coins. The coin was called a lepton which literally meant “a thin one”. One was worth 1/40th of one pence. It was all she had to live on and she gave it to God. A widow in those days had no way of earning money. She only had support if she had sons alive to help her otherwise she was dependant on donations which is why the Temple collected money for widows.
V43-44 Jesus calls his disciples attention to the woman and her donation. She has put in more than all of the others because they gave out of their excess and she gave all she had to live on. He is instructing the disciples on giving to God what is Gods in the first place. Most of the people had more than enough to live on and gave a portion of the excess, the widow gave it all. We are not owners of anything, God owns it all. We are simply managers of what God has entrusted us with. As managers we are to use his gifts wisely and for the good of his kingdom. In the gospel of Matthew chapter 25 verses 31-46 we are told to feed the hungry, cloth the naked, give drink to the thirsty, care for the sick, visit those in prison and welcome the stranger. As November is stewardship month we must decide how we are going to manage Gods goods. In what ways are we going to feed, cloth, give drink, care, visit and welcome our brothers and sisters in this family we have joined.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Sunday November 1, 2009 John 11:32-44
Welcome to All Saints Day. Before we start I would like to announce that starting January 13, 2010 I will be teaching a class on Wednesdays from 6-7 at church entitled See Through the Scriptures. We will be using a DVD prepared by Crossways Inc. which will have 30-40 minutes of Dr. Harry Wendt teaching, plus a manual and workbook with a question and answer period to follow. We will also look at the highlighted texts in the Bible that Dr. Wendt has just taught about. All are welcome to attend and if you have friends or anyone else you know that would like to join us please invite them. This is not limited to members of Crown of Glory but open to all. The objective for the study is to see and start to understand the overarching story of the bible (the big picture). Dinner is available from the confirmation groups and child care will be provided. This is going to be a fun time of learning and studying. Most importantly we will not memorize anything; we will just explore the story. Please sign up at the welcome desk and join us for a fun, informative hour.
One of the two texts for All Saints Day is John 11:32-44 however if I just start at those verses some of the significance of the story will be missed so we will look at the beginning of the chapter too.
V1-4 Jesus has fled across the Jordan River because the authorities have tried to arrest him in Jerusalem. While he is across the river Mary and Martha send word to Jesus that their brother Lazarus is ill. They would like Jesus to come to them to heal their brother. Mary, Martha and Lazarus live in the town of Bethany which is located on the Mount of Olives. Jesus has stayed with them many times and is close to this family. Upon hearing the news of Lazarus’ illness Jesus doesn’t leave for their house but stays where he is for two more days. He could have made it back in a few hours but he waited.
V7-16 After two days he tells his disciples that they will travel to Judea again. The disciples are alarmed as the Jews have tried to stone him and the authorities have tried to arrest him, they don’t want to return to Judea. Jesus replies as long as they are with him-the light-they will be OK. It is those who walk by darkness-not with him-who will stumble. He tells the disciples that Lazarus has fallen asleep and he is going to wake him up. The disciples miss the metaphor for death that Jesus has just told them and reply that if Lazarus is just sleeping he will be ok and they need not risk their lives just to wake someone up. Jesus then explains to them that Lazarus has died and he will use this event to help them with their belief of who Jesus is. Thomas still believes that they are at risk of being killed but vows to accompany Jesus even if it means death for them.
V17-27 When Jesus arrives Lazarus has been in the tomb for 4 days. Lazarus is really dead and there is no denying it. By now the body is decomposing and smells. Mary and Martha are in the house grieving for their brother with people and friends who had come to grieve with them. When Martha hears that Jesus is coming she leaves the house to go to him. The Jews sat shiv’ah for 7 days of mourning and were not to leave the house. Martha set this custom aside and left to confront Jesus. Mary meanwhile stays in the house. In agony Martha confronts Jesus and says that if he had been there Lazarus would not have died. Jesus responds that her brother will live again and she says she knows he will rise again in the resurrection of everyone on the last Day of Judgment when the Messiah comes in the future. Jesus responds I AM the resurrection and the life, meaning the hopes of a future resurrection has come to fulfillment in my life. He is conquering death now. Resurrection is happening now and will not be some future hope anymore. Does she, Martha, believe him? Martha responds with an acclimation of faith and belief that he is the Messiah, the Son of God and because of this, the Day of Judgment, the Age to Come, has indeed come with Jesus.
V28-31 Martha returns to the house to get her sister Mary and let her know Jesus has come as is asking for her. Mary quickly rises to go and those in the house mourning with the sisters think she is going to the tomb so they follow.
V32 Mary, in agony, says the same thing to Jesus that Martha had. They have just lost their brother and question why hadn’t Jesus their close friend and teacher come to help? Why had he left them alone?
V33 When Jesus saw them weeping he began to weep, he is deeply moved by their sorrow. He understands human sorrow and can enter into it also. He is not removed from us and our emotions. However he can see past what we do and has an understanding that we don’t possess yet. He wasn’t sad that Lazarus had died because he knew he was going to raise him, he wept for his friends.
V34-38 Jesus asks where the tomb is and they take him there. Along the way some of the people notice he is weeping and wonder why as they know he can heal the blind so why didn’t he heal this man, his friend? Why cry over it now when it is too late to offer the healing help he could have and avoided this situation?
V39 Jesus orders the stone covering the entrance to the tomb be rolled away but Martha protests because the body will have begun to decay and an awful odor will be released. This is one of the reasons they wrapped and anointed a dead body with oil and fragrance; to combat the stench of decay.
V40 Jesus reminds her of their discussion upon his arrival. He is the resurrection and life has come in him. She had earlier professed to believe this in their conversation but now has had a lapse of understanding. Remember people were not raised from the dead then or now. Even if this was us standing at this grave we too would be just as confused, as Jesus is changing and rearranging her whole system of belief-he’s redefining it.
V41-42 Jesus looks upward and speaks to God, not so God will notice him, but to direct the attention of the people to God and what God is about to do. This isn’t coming from Jesus, the man, but from Jesus, the Son of God, and Gods’ representative here on earth. God is about to do an amazing thing and Jesus is attributing it all to God for the benefit of the crowd.
V43 Jesus cries for Lazarus to come out. Can you imagine the reaction of the crowd or your own reaction had you been there? This man is calling out a man that has been dead for four days. Do you think he will come out? If so, what will he look like? Yuck!
V44 Out came Lazarus still bound with the grave wrappings but walking on his own. The crowd must be astonished at this. He is a whole human being. He is alive. I wonder what Lazarus thought and what his reaction was after learning the whole story. For him it may have been like waking up from a coma, but for everyone else, they have just witnessed a miracle beyond their comprehension. A dead man lives. Unfortunately Lazarus had to die again, but he was a celebration of life and a future that had come.
In the Gospel of John this is the final act that gets Jesus killed. The rabbis taught that when the Messiah came he would stand on the Mount of Olives and raise the dead. Dan 12:1-2, Zach 14:4 and Is 26:19. Jesus has stood on the Mount of Olives, Bethany, been called the Messiah the Son of God, on the Mount, and raised Lazarus. The authorities are furious and in verse 53 they plan to kill him. Can you see the irony? They had been waiting for a Messiah and when he finally came and preformed the signs that the Messiah was suppose to, the learned people wanted to kill him because he wasn’t the kind of Messiah they wanted. If they followed him they would loose their own grip on power so they had to kill him. And He Let Them.
One of the two texts for All Saints Day is John 11:32-44 however if I just start at those verses some of the significance of the story will be missed so we will look at the beginning of the chapter too.
V1-4 Jesus has fled across the Jordan River because the authorities have tried to arrest him in Jerusalem. While he is across the river Mary and Martha send word to Jesus that their brother Lazarus is ill. They would like Jesus to come to them to heal their brother. Mary, Martha and Lazarus live in the town of Bethany which is located on the Mount of Olives. Jesus has stayed with them many times and is close to this family. Upon hearing the news of Lazarus’ illness Jesus doesn’t leave for their house but stays where he is for two more days. He could have made it back in a few hours but he waited.
V7-16 After two days he tells his disciples that they will travel to Judea again. The disciples are alarmed as the Jews have tried to stone him and the authorities have tried to arrest him, they don’t want to return to Judea. Jesus replies as long as they are with him-the light-they will be OK. It is those who walk by darkness-not with him-who will stumble. He tells the disciples that Lazarus has fallen asleep and he is going to wake him up. The disciples miss the metaphor for death that Jesus has just told them and reply that if Lazarus is just sleeping he will be ok and they need not risk their lives just to wake someone up. Jesus then explains to them that Lazarus has died and he will use this event to help them with their belief of who Jesus is. Thomas still believes that they are at risk of being killed but vows to accompany Jesus even if it means death for them.
V17-27 When Jesus arrives Lazarus has been in the tomb for 4 days. Lazarus is really dead and there is no denying it. By now the body is decomposing and smells. Mary and Martha are in the house grieving for their brother with people and friends who had come to grieve with them. When Martha hears that Jesus is coming she leaves the house to go to him. The Jews sat shiv’ah for 7 days of mourning and were not to leave the house. Martha set this custom aside and left to confront Jesus. Mary meanwhile stays in the house. In agony Martha confronts Jesus and says that if he had been there Lazarus would not have died. Jesus responds that her brother will live again and she says she knows he will rise again in the resurrection of everyone on the last Day of Judgment when the Messiah comes in the future. Jesus responds I AM the resurrection and the life, meaning the hopes of a future resurrection has come to fulfillment in my life. He is conquering death now. Resurrection is happening now and will not be some future hope anymore. Does she, Martha, believe him? Martha responds with an acclimation of faith and belief that he is the Messiah, the Son of God and because of this, the Day of Judgment, the Age to Come, has indeed come with Jesus.
V28-31 Martha returns to the house to get her sister Mary and let her know Jesus has come as is asking for her. Mary quickly rises to go and those in the house mourning with the sisters think she is going to the tomb so they follow.
V32 Mary, in agony, says the same thing to Jesus that Martha had. They have just lost their brother and question why hadn’t Jesus their close friend and teacher come to help? Why had he left them alone?
V33 When Jesus saw them weeping he began to weep, he is deeply moved by their sorrow. He understands human sorrow and can enter into it also. He is not removed from us and our emotions. However he can see past what we do and has an understanding that we don’t possess yet. He wasn’t sad that Lazarus had died because he knew he was going to raise him, he wept for his friends.
V34-38 Jesus asks where the tomb is and they take him there. Along the way some of the people notice he is weeping and wonder why as they know he can heal the blind so why didn’t he heal this man, his friend? Why cry over it now when it is too late to offer the healing help he could have and avoided this situation?
V39 Jesus orders the stone covering the entrance to the tomb be rolled away but Martha protests because the body will have begun to decay and an awful odor will be released. This is one of the reasons they wrapped and anointed a dead body with oil and fragrance; to combat the stench of decay.
V40 Jesus reminds her of their discussion upon his arrival. He is the resurrection and life has come in him. She had earlier professed to believe this in their conversation but now has had a lapse of understanding. Remember people were not raised from the dead then or now. Even if this was us standing at this grave we too would be just as confused, as Jesus is changing and rearranging her whole system of belief-he’s redefining it.
V41-42 Jesus looks upward and speaks to God, not so God will notice him, but to direct the attention of the people to God and what God is about to do. This isn’t coming from Jesus, the man, but from Jesus, the Son of God, and Gods’ representative here on earth. God is about to do an amazing thing and Jesus is attributing it all to God for the benefit of the crowd.
V43 Jesus cries for Lazarus to come out. Can you imagine the reaction of the crowd or your own reaction had you been there? This man is calling out a man that has been dead for four days. Do you think he will come out? If so, what will he look like? Yuck!
V44 Out came Lazarus still bound with the grave wrappings but walking on his own. The crowd must be astonished at this. He is a whole human being. He is alive. I wonder what Lazarus thought and what his reaction was after learning the whole story. For him it may have been like waking up from a coma, but for everyone else, they have just witnessed a miracle beyond their comprehension. A dead man lives. Unfortunately Lazarus had to die again, but he was a celebration of life and a future that had come.
In the Gospel of John this is the final act that gets Jesus killed. The rabbis taught that when the Messiah came he would stand on the Mount of Olives and raise the dead. Dan 12:1-2, Zach 14:4 and Is 26:19. Jesus has stood on the Mount of Olives, Bethany, been called the Messiah the Son of God, on the Mount, and raised Lazarus. The authorities are furious and in verse 53 they plan to kill him. Can you see the irony? They had been waiting for a Messiah and when he finally came and preformed the signs that the Messiah was suppose to, the learned people wanted to kill him because he wasn’t the kind of Messiah they wanted. If they followed him they would loose their own grip on power so they had to kill him. And He Let Them.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Sunday October 25, 2009 Mark 10:46-52
Welcome, I hope all of you with kids had a good MEA weekend with them. It’s nice to get a break every now and then. The text for Sunday continues on in Mark. We have just read about James and John requesting the seats of honor after Jesus’ coronation but they have no clue as to what that actually meant. They are traveling to Jerusalem for the Passover which was an exciting celebration for them as it commemorated God rescuing them from slavery in Egypt. His followers are doubly excited because they feel this is the time that Jesus will reveal himself to be the Messiah and will start a revolt which will result in the over through of Rome. Rome will be kicked out and what better time to have this happen than Passover which celebrated freedom from oppression.
Some background to the verses from William Barclay. “The main road ran right through Jericho. Jesus was on his way to the Passover. When a distinguished Rabbi was on such a journey the custom was that he was surrounded by a crowd of people, disciples and learners, who listened to him as he discoursed while he walked. This was a common way of teaching. It was the law that every male Jew over twelve years of age who lived within 15 miles of Jerusalem must attend the Passover. It was impossible that every one would be able to go so those who were unable to go lined the streets of towns and villages through which the pilgrims were passing and bid them godspeed on their way.
There were attached to the Temple 20,000 priests and levites which were divided into 26 groups that served at the Temple in rotation. Many of these priests and levites lived in Jericho when they were not on Temple duty. Even though all were needed to be on duty for the Passover there must have been some in the crowd that day as they had not left yet for their service.”
V46 As Jesus approaches and passes through Jericho a large crowd has gathered around him. Bartimaeus, a blind beggar is sitting along the road side asking for money. Blind people had no way of earning money so people would toss money onto the blind mans’ cloak for him to use.
V47 Bartimaeus hears this large crowd approaching and is wondering who it is. Someone must have told him it was Jesus of Nazareth so he began to shout “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” He doesn’t just shout it once but over and over. In addition to calling attention to himself he was shouting a politically dangerous statement. Son of David indicated Messiah-new king and temple priests are watching and listening.
V48 Many tell the man to be quiet but what they are actually saying is “shut up, quit causing a scene, this is an important teacher and he doesn’t have time for you.” But Bartimaeus yells even louder.
V49 Jesus stops and says bring the man to me so the people around Bartimaeus tell him the Rabbi has stopped and is calling for you. Think of the excitement that Bartimaeus must have felt to find out a well known Rabbi was asking for him. Nobody asked for Bartimaeus, ever. He was invisible on the side of the road. We love to pass by the invisible people and to be noticed ourselves.
V50 Bartimaeus throws off his cloak. The money he has collected from begging is sent flying. This money was all he had in the world to survive on and away it flies with the cloak. A blind man doesn’t just toss his stuff away as it would be almost impossible to find it again. But this time a blind man “sees” what the sighted crowd around Jesus cannot “see”. This is the Son of David, the Messiah who would bring healing and if Bartimaeus can be healed so be it. This is the first time in Mark that someone calls Jesus the Son of David-the king. Prior to this only the demons have called Jesus “the Holy One of God. The demons have seen who Jesus is; the people have been blind to it.
V51 Jesus asks what Bartimaeus wants from him and the obvious answer would be sight but that meant a total life shift for Bartimaeus as now he would have to work for money. Income would not come as easily as it had while he was blind and only had to sit by the side of the road. Bartimaeus says “Rabboni” (My Teacher) let me see again. If he wants to see again he must have at one time had sight and lost it. He wants to be whole again, he wants to be able to enter the Temple and worship (as a blind man he could not enter the Temple), he wants to be apart of the community again.
V52 Jesus replies “Go, your faith has made you well”. What faith has made him well? His faith and knowledge that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah; his faith that Jesus could and would heal him and his faith in that healing to return his sight back to him as he had tossed his cloak wildly aside. Immediately his sight is restored by his faith in Jesus and he followed him on the way to Jerusalem. Jesus has said “Go” but Bartimaeus didn’t go his own way rejoicing in his good luck he followed the man who had restored his sight. An invisible man on the side of the road has been noticed by Jesus and is now a part of his community. I wonder if the others could see Bartimaeus as Jesus did or were they annoyed that a defective man was now with the “in” crowd. Most of the crowd is excited for the revolt that they think will be taking place and their king is stopped by an invisible, loud man who calls attention to himself. Furthermore their king stops and pays attention to the man; I think they may have been a little miffed, jealous and mad. Our king has more important things to do than to be bothered by you, Bartimaeus. Don’t we exhibit the same reaction? We have more important things to do for the church than dealing with some invisible people on the margins of society. Our work is lofty but Jesus says No! I, Jesus, formed the church for the primary purpose of helping the invisible people on the margins of society. If I can take the time to stop and help in my journey so can you. You were made for service and I have demonstrated that to you with my own actions. One of the most eye opening things of this economic downfall is how fast one can move from the “in” crowd to the margins of society, from the visible to the invisible and how we just pass by them thinking “Gee that’s too bad I’m sure it’s something they have done, otherwise they would not be in that mess; our church work is more important.”
Some background to the verses from William Barclay. “The main road ran right through Jericho. Jesus was on his way to the Passover. When a distinguished Rabbi was on such a journey the custom was that he was surrounded by a crowd of people, disciples and learners, who listened to him as he discoursed while he walked. This was a common way of teaching. It was the law that every male Jew over twelve years of age who lived within 15 miles of Jerusalem must attend the Passover. It was impossible that every one would be able to go so those who were unable to go lined the streets of towns and villages through which the pilgrims were passing and bid them godspeed on their way.
There were attached to the Temple 20,000 priests and levites which were divided into 26 groups that served at the Temple in rotation. Many of these priests and levites lived in Jericho when they were not on Temple duty. Even though all were needed to be on duty for the Passover there must have been some in the crowd that day as they had not left yet for their service.”
V46 As Jesus approaches and passes through Jericho a large crowd has gathered around him. Bartimaeus, a blind beggar is sitting along the road side asking for money. Blind people had no way of earning money so people would toss money onto the blind mans’ cloak for him to use.
V47 Bartimaeus hears this large crowd approaching and is wondering who it is. Someone must have told him it was Jesus of Nazareth so he began to shout “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” He doesn’t just shout it once but over and over. In addition to calling attention to himself he was shouting a politically dangerous statement. Son of David indicated Messiah-new king and temple priests are watching and listening.
V48 Many tell the man to be quiet but what they are actually saying is “shut up, quit causing a scene, this is an important teacher and he doesn’t have time for you.” But Bartimaeus yells even louder.
V49 Jesus stops and says bring the man to me so the people around Bartimaeus tell him the Rabbi has stopped and is calling for you. Think of the excitement that Bartimaeus must have felt to find out a well known Rabbi was asking for him. Nobody asked for Bartimaeus, ever. He was invisible on the side of the road. We love to pass by the invisible people and to be noticed ourselves.
V50 Bartimaeus throws off his cloak. The money he has collected from begging is sent flying. This money was all he had in the world to survive on and away it flies with the cloak. A blind man doesn’t just toss his stuff away as it would be almost impossible to find it again. But this time a blind man “sees” what the sighted crowd around Jesus cannot “see”. This is the Son of David, the Messiah who would bring healing and if Bartimaeus can be healed so be it. This is the first time in Mark that someone calls Jesus the Son of David-the king. Prior to this only the demons have called Jesus “the Holy One of God. The demons have seen who Jesus is; the people have been blind to it.
V51 Jesus asks what Bartimaeus wants from him and the obvious answer would be sight but that meant a total life shift for Bartimaeus as now he would have to work for money. Income would not come as easily as it had while he was blind and only had to sit by the side of the road. Bartimaeus says “Rabboni” (My Teacher) let me see again. If he wants to see again he must have at one time had sight and lost it. He wants to be whole again, he wants to be able to enter the Temple and worship (as a blind man he could not enter the Temple), he wants to be apart of the community again.
V52 Jesus replies “Go, your faith has made you well”. What faith has made him well? His faith and knowledge that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah; his faith that Jesus could and would heal him and his faith in that healing to return his sight back to him as he had tossed his cloak wildly aside. Immediately his sight is restored by his faith in Jesus and he followed him on the way to Jerusalem. Jesus has said “Go” but Bartimaeus didn’t go his own way rejoicing in his good luck he followed the man who had restored his sight. An invisible man on the side of the road has been noticed by Jesus and is now a part of his community. I wonder if the others could see Bartimaeus as Jesus did or were they annoyed that a defective man was now with the “in” crowd. Most of the crowd is excited for the revolt that they think will be taking place and their king is stopped by an invisible, loud man who calls attention to himself. Furthermore their king stops and pays attention to the man; I think they may have been a little miffed, jealous and mad. Our king has more important things to do than to be bothered by you, Bartimaeus. Don’t we exhibit the same reaction? We have more important things to do for the church than dealing with some invisible people on the margins of society. Our work is lofty but Jesus says No! I, Jesus, formed the church for the primary purpose of helping the invisible people on the margins of society. If I can take the time to stop and help in my journey so can you. You were made for service and I have demonstrated that to you with my own actions. One of the most eye opening things of this economic downfall is how fast one can move from the “in” crowd to the margins of society, from the visible to the invisible and how we just pass by them thinking “Gee that’s too bad I’m sure it’s something they have done, otherwise they would not be in that mess; our church work is more important.”
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Sunday October 18,2009 Mark 10:35-45
Welcome, I can’t believe that we have had snow two separate times. It’s only October! I still had hoses to put away and a garden to clean up. The cold has also brought a tom cat to our house and he would really like it if we would invite him in, however the other pets would have a fit so Tom will have to live outside in the garage and look for his buddy Jerry. It is my hope that all the Jerry’s will be chased away. For that I’ll gladly feed and pet Tom plus make him a bed out of a box and rags.
Our text continues on in Mark. Jesus has just interacted with the young rich man while he and his disciples are traveling up to Jerusalem. People traveling to Jerusalem went up as it sat on the highest peak around. That way they were as close to God as they could be. For the third time he predicts to the disciples that he will be killed when he reaches Jerusalem. For the third time this goes over the top of their heads.
V35-36 Two of the disciples come forward to talk with Jesus as he, in rabbinic fashion, is walking ahead of his disciples. They have a request to make. So Jesus asks what they want.
V37 They reply that they want to sit on Jesus’ right and left when he is placed on his throne. These were positions of honor in a kingdom. “Could we just have two little thrones on either side of you?”
V38-39 Jesus responds “You have no clue as to what you are asking for, do you? Are you able to drink the “cup” that I drink, or be baptized with what I will be baptized with? The “cup” in the Old Testament was used to describe the experience allotted to men by God, usually meaning the wrath of God. Baptism here means submerged into an experience. Are they able to endure (be submerged into) the wrath that he will take upon himself as the representative of the new Israel? All of Israel had broken the covenant and sinned and someone had to pay for that sin. Something had to die and each Israelite providing a lamb at Passover wasn’t getting Gods message across about how important sin was to Him. Now a bigger price was to be extracted and Jesus had volunteered to be that perfect Lamb of God for sacrifice. This was his last event of serving others and it was going to be the most horrifying and gruesome event ever. Crucifixion wasn’t a game. He was going through with this for everyone, even those who hated him. We would die for someone that we love but would we die for someone who hates us? The disciples were still in a fog about what was going to happen in Jerusalem. They just couldn’t let go of their view of how the events would unfold and how they would be part of a royal court. We are the same way still. We still always want the outcome to be our ideal. Jesus then tells them that even though they don’t understand what is about to happen they too will go through the same gruesome trials. They will receive the same treatment.
V40 Jesus then tells them that it isn’t his decision to make about who sits beside him on his throne but that it is his fathers.
V41 The rest of the disciples find out about the request and become angry. They too feel they want to sit in positions of honor and it isn’t fair that James and John have asked first. Had they thought about it first they certainly would have asked but now it has been requested by others.
V42 Jesus replies to the whole bunch of angry men that are to be following him that they are seeing his kingdom set up as a worldly Gentile power structure. Worldly rulers lord their power over other people.
V43-44 My kingdom is to be different from the worldly kingdoms. In Gods kingdom the lowest man, the slave, who has to perform all the grossest tasks will be first because he served others. I, the Son of Man, the true way of being Israel (how Israel was originally to be) came to serve others, not to be served by others. I also came to give my life for others, to pay the awful price for sin that each should pay themselves but it will be my final act of servanthood to pay that price for each of you so each of you can be reconciled to God.
We see a lot of ourselves in this passage. We don’t want to hear the truth so we manufacture how events will unfold, always to our advantage. If we don’t like it we block it out but there always comes a time that we have to face up to the truth. Things aren’t going to go the way we want. No matter how much creative thinking and interpretation we apply the truth always triumphs. We are held accountable for our actions. The question is: do we live with this world’s top-down power structure or Jesus’ bottom-up power structure?
Our text continues on in Mark. Jesus has just interacted with the young rich man while he and his disciples are traveling up to Jerusalem. People traveling to Jerusalem went up as it sat on the highest peak around. That way they were as close to God as they could be. For the third time he predicts to the disciples that he will be killed when he reaches Jerusalem. For the third time this goes over the top of their heads.
V35-36 Two of the disciples come forward to talk with Jesus as he, in rabbinic fashion, is walking ahead of his disciples. They have a request to make. So Jesus asks what they want.
V37 They reply that they want to sit on Jesus’ right and left when he is placed on his throne. These were positions of honor in a kingdom. “Could we just have two little thrones on either side of you?”
V38-39 Jesus responds “You have no clue as to what you are asking for, do you? Are you able to drink the “cup” that I drink, or be baptized with what I will be baptized with? The “cup” in the Old Testament was used to describe the experience allotted to men by God, usually meaning the wrath of God. Baptism here means submerged into an experience. Are they able to endure (be submerged into) the wrath that he will take upon himself as the representative of the new Israel? All of Israel had broken the covenant and sinned and someone had to pay for that sin. Something had to die and each Israelite providing a lamb at Passover wasn’t getting Gods message across about how important sin was to Him. Now a bigger price was to be extracted and Jesus had volunteered to be that perfect Lamb of God for sacrifice. This was his last event of serving others and it was going to be the most horrifying and gruesome event ever. Crucifixion wasn’t a game. He was going through with this for everyone, even those who hated him. We would die for someone that we love but would we die for someone who hates us? The disciples were still in a fog about what was going to happen in Jerusalem. They just couldn’t let go of their view of how the events would unfold and how they would be part of a royal court. We are the same way still. We still always want the outcome to be our ideal. Jesus then tells them that even though they don’t understand what is about to happen they too will go through the same gruesome trials. They will receive the same treatment.
V40 Jesus then tells them that it isn’t his decision to make about who sits beside him on his throne but that it is his fathers.
V41 The rest of the disciples find out about the request and become angry. They too feel they want to sit in positions of honor and it isn’t fair that James and John have asked first. Had they thought about it first they certainly would have asked but now it has been requested by others.
V42 Jesus replies to the whole bunch of angry men that are to be following him that they are seeing his kingdom set up as a worldly Gentile power structure. Worldly rulers lord their power over other people.
V43-44 My kingdom is to be different from the worldly kingdoms. In Gods kingdom the lowest man, the slave, who has to perform all the grossest tasks will be first because he served others. I, the Son of Man, the true way of being Israel (how Israel was originally to be) came to serve others, not to be served by others. I also came to give my life for others, to pay the awful price for sin that each should pay themselves but it will be my final act of servanthood to pay that price for each of you so each of you can be reconciled to God.
We see a lot of ourselves in this passage. We don’t want to hear the truth so we manufacture how events will unfold, always to our advantage. If we don’t like it we block it out but there always comes a time that we have to face up to the truth. Things aren’t going to go the way we want. No matter how much creative thinking and interpretation we apply the truth always triumphs. We are held accountable for our actions. The question is: do we live with this world’s top-down power structure or Jesus’ bottom-up power structure?
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Sunday October 11, 2009 Mark 10:17-31
Welcome, I hear snow flakes are on the way. The season is changing fast. In our text Jesus is on the way to Jerusalem to die. Along the way he is teaching. A rich young man has a question for Jesus.
V17 Jesus is walking to Jerusalem and a man in the crowd ran up to him, knelt before him and asked a question addressing Jesus as Good Teacher. The man wants to know what he can do to take part in eternal life with God. Note he wants to know what he can do. He and we tend to think of entering eternal life with God as a merit system. If we just do enough good things we are in. The issue is how much is enough? What rules do I keep to assure entry?
V18 Jesus stops him with a question, why do you call me good? Why the flattery? Jesus wants the man to stop and think about who the man considers good. Is Jesus good only because he has been healing, “doing” things? Only God is good. The man needs to think about who Jesus is pointing to. Jesus hasn’t come to promote himself but to point to God.
V19 Jesus then lists some commandments given by Moses. The Jewish people of the day thought that if they followed all of the law codes given in the Torah and because they were God’s special people they would get to be included in the Age to Come-eternal life.
V20 The man replies that he has kept the rules his whole life. Great, he is in! He has done the “right” things.
V21-22 Jesus then bursts his happy bubble by adding one more thing to do. He needs to sell what he has and follow Jesus. The man must have been shocked by the statement. What sell everything I have? The stuff I’ve spent a lifetime acquiring? Jesus, knowing the mans reaction to the request, loved him. Jesus didn’t scoff at him and belittle the man because he couldn’t leave his wealth, rather he looked at him with love as the man left grieving because he couldn’t bring himself to let go of his possessions. It wasn’t that the man was bad but it was because he clung tightly to his stuff that he couldn’t enter eternal life. He needed to put God first and foremost in his life ahead of his stuff. Even though he had done the “right” things in verse 19 he still lacked. Had he put God first? Had he helped the poor? Had he lived the way in which God had intended? The 10 commandments were never meant to be a merit system to get into a special club but were to be guidelines for living with God. All throughout the Old Testament God emphasizes helping the poor, the widow and the orphan. Had the man done those things or had he kept a list of rules perfectly? We live as that man. We want a list to check off to assure us of entry.
V23-24 Jesus then addresses his disciples about entering the kingdom of God with wealth. The disciples are confused at this statement. This isn’t what they’ve been taught. They have been taught that to have a vast amount of wealth shows Gods favor. God only gives wealth to those he likes. The poor have committed a sin that got them to that point. God is punishing the poor for something. Jesus has just inverted the traditional way of thought. Jesus then repeats his statement as he knows their confusion.
V25 In order to emphasize his teaching about wealth he uses an exaggerated illustration. A camel (huge animal) can go through the eye of a needle (extremely tiny thing) easier than a rich man can enter the kingdom of God.
V26 The disciples are blown out of the water. If a rich man, whom we thought God favored, can’t share in the Age to Come than who can? What is the list of items we must complete to enter?
V27 Jesus looked at them and said “you can do nothing on your own to enter into eternal life. Eternal life is a gift from God. You must believe what God has told you to enter into life with him.”
V28 Peter is beginning to grasp this idea and it occurs to him that he has been trying to do the right things in following Jesus. He may not be included either! Who can be included?
V29 Jesus replies that anyone who has given up most everything to follow him will receive even more in eternal life. They also will receive more now as they will become part of a family in a divine community. They will have many brothers and sisters. They will have many houses in which they are welcome. They will have many sets of parents. (Just like when you were a kid and spent so much time at your friend’s house that they considered you a part of the family. Or when the whole neighborhood would report your behavior to your parents.) We are part of a much bigger family. Only God can solve this paradox.
V31 Many who this world, our society, puts first will be last and many who give up some of their wealth and comfort to serve others will be first in God’s kingdom.
So naturally this verse is used against wealthy people but Jesus doesn’t say wealth is bad. He says our clinging tightly to it is. We can have wealth but we need to share it with those less fortunate. This is part of God’s plan. Remember the old cartoon of uncle Scrooge Mc Duck rolling in all of his money in the bank vault laughing? He clung so tightly to it that he had to have it locked up so only he could enjoy it. (I date myself with this cartoon.) That is not what God calls us to do. If we have anything we are to share it to further his kingdom. Poor people have not lost favor with God but have hit upon hard times. We are not to judge the reason that they are poor but help them become whole again. God loves everyone, the poor, the worst of the worst, the downtrodden of society and the wealthy. He hasn’t shown the wealthy favor and the poor disfavor. We are called to be God’s arms, legs and body here on earth and do as He would. We don’t own anything; we are merely managers of Gods things.
V17 Jesus is walking to Jerusalem and a man in the crowd ran up to him, knelt before him and asked a question addressing Jesus as Good Teacher. The man wants to know what he can do to take part in eternal life with God. Note he wants to know what he can do. He and we tend to think of entering eternal life with God as a merit system. If we just do enough good things we are in. The issue is how much is enough? What rules do I keep to assure entry?
V18 Jesus stops him with a question, why do you call me good? Why the flattery? Jesus wants the man to stop and think about who the man considers good. Is Jesus good only because he has been healing, “doing” things? Only God is good. The man needs to think about who Jesus is pointing to. Jesus hasn’t come to promote himself but to point to God.
V19 Jesus then lists some commandments given by Moses. The Jewish people of the day thought that if they followed all of the law codes given in the Torah and because they were God’s special people they would get to be included in the Age to Come-eternal life.
V20 The man replies that he has kept the rules his whole life. Great, he is in! He has done the “right” things.
V21-22 Jesus then bursts his happy bubble by adding one more thing to do. He needs to sell what he has and follow Jesus. The man must have been shocked by the statement. What sell everything I have? The stuff I’ve spent a lifetime acquiring? Jesus, knowing the mans reaction to the request, loved him. Jesus didn’t scoff at him and belittle the man because he couldn’t leave his wealth, rather he looked at him with love as the man left grieving because he couldn’t bring himself to let go of his possessions. It wasn’t that the man was bad but it was because he clung tightly to his stuff that he couldn’t enter eternal life. He needed to put God first and foremost in his life ahead of his stuff. Even though he had done the “right” things in verse 19 he still lacked. Had he put God first? Had he helped the poor? Had he lived the way in which God had intended? The 10 commandments were never meant to be a merit system to get into a special club but were to be guidelines for living with God. All throughout the Old Testament God emphasizes helping the poor, the widow and the orphan. Had the man done those things or had he kept a list of rules perfectly? We live as that man. We want a list to check off to assure us of entry.
V23-24 Jesus then addresses his disciples about entering the kingdom of God with wealth. The disciples are confused at this statement. This isn’t what they’ve been taught. They have been taught that to have a vast amount of wealth shows Gods favor. God only gives wealth to those he likes. The poor have committed a sin that got them to that point. God is punishing the poor for something. Jesus has just inverted the traditional way of thought. Jesus then repeats his statement as he knows their confusion.
V25 In order to emphasize his teaching about wealth he uses an exaggerated illustration. A camel (huge animal) can go through the eye of a needle (extremely tiny thing) easier than a rich man can enter the kingdom of God.
V26 The disciples are blown out of the water. If a rich man, whom we thought God favored, can’t share in the Age to Come than who can? What is the list of items we must complete to enter?
V27 Jesus looked at them and said “you can do nothing on your own to enter into eternal life. Eternal life is a gift from God. You must believe what God has told you to enter into life with him.”
V28 Peter is beginning to grasp this idea and it occurs to him that he has been trying to do the right things in following Jesus. He may not be included either! Who can be included?
V29 Jesus replies that anyone who has given up most everything to follow him will receive even more in eternal life. They also will receive more now as they will become part of a family in a divine community. They will have many brothers and sisters. They will have many houses in which they are welcome. They will have many sets of parents. (Just like when you were a kid and spent so much time at your friend’s house that they considered you a part of the family. Or when the whole neighborhood would report your behavior to your parents.) We are part of a much bigger family. Only God can solve this paradox.
V31 Many who this world, our society, puts first will be last and many who give up some of their wealth and comfort to serve others will be first in God’s kingdom.
So naturally this verse is used against wealthy people but Jesus doesn’t say wealth is bad. He says our clinging tightly to it is. We can have wealth but we need to share it with those less fortunate. This is part of God’s plan. Remember the old cartoon of uncle Scrooge Mc Duck rolling in all of his money in the bank vault laughing? He clung so tightly to it that he had to have it locked up so only he could enjoy it. (I date myself with this cartoon.) That is not what God calls us to do. If we have anything we are to share it to further his kingdom. Poor people have not lost favor with God but have hit upon hard times. We are not to judge the reason that they are poor but help them become whole again. God loves everyone, the poor, the worst of the worst, the downtrodden of society and the wealthy. He hasn’t shown the wealthy favor and the poor disfavor. We are called to be God’s arms, legs and body here on earth and do as He would. We don’t own anything; we are merely managers of Gods things.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Sunday October 4, 2009 Mark 10:2-16
Welcome, fall came overnight it seems. I spent some time at my parent’s farm this past week and the harvest has started. The smell of fall is in the air. Our text for Sunday occurs while Jesus is traveling to Jerusalem to face his death. He starts his travel in Mark 10:1 and is traveling down the east bank of the Jordan River. The crowds gather around him as he travels and he teaches them, note he doesn’t preach to them.
V2 Some Pharisees come to him with a hotly debated question of that time. The question was about divorce and there were differing opinions about it. Also, the man claiming to be king of the Jews, Herod, had divorced and remarried. John the Baptist had rebuked Herod for the behavior and had landed in prison with his head on a platter. The two rabbinic schools of the time-Hillel (liberal interpretation) and Shammai (conservative interpretation) debated the topic quite a bit and the Pharisees had come from one school or the other. So they put the question to Jesus and who knows why. Maybe they really wanted his opinion or maybe they wanted to trap him in his answer or maybe some of both.
V3 In typical rabbinic style Jesus doesn’t give an answer but asks a question. What did Moses say about this? In other words what do your scriptures teach about divorce?
V4 They reply that Moses allowed them to divorce. The scripture in question is the interpretation of Deuteronomy 24:1 which reads “Suppose a man enters into a marriage with a woman, but she does not please him because he find something objectionable about her, so he writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house, she then leaves his house”. The sticky wording was “something objectionable” and they wanted that defined, that way they could adhere to the law. Women in that day were regarded as property. They had no rights so if the husband invoked a liberal interpretation of “something objectionable” such as burning food, talking to strange men or a loud woman he could write a certificate of divorce and kick her out. She would loose her means of support and be reduced to begging as no other man would likely marry her.
V5 Jesus responds that Moses allowed divorce in Deut 24:1 because of the Israelites hard hearts. God had chosen Israel to be his renewed people and had expected them to live as such but unfortunately they behaved just as the rest of the world so Moses had to comment on their behavior possibly to try to control the divorce situations. It wasn’t that he was, as Gods representative, permitting them to do so.
V6-9 Jesus then takes the Pharisees back to the original plan of God for humanity in Genesis 1:27. God had intended for man and woman to marry and out of this union a third entity (bond) was formed that was never to be broken. It seems the Pharisees have been focusing on the wrong scripture, as we often do. They were looking for a way out and therefore picking scripture that might possibly allow it if the “correct” interpretation was upheld. Jesus responds by pointing them to the original idea. Over and over with any controversy we see people picking and choosing scripture to support their ideals and we have to get past that to what does God want from us.
V10 Jesus has now entered a house and the disciples ask for further clarification on the topic.
V11-12 Jesus teaches them that divorce is adulteress conduct in Gods original plan. “Jewish men had thought that it was permissible to divorce but now Jesus has defined it as a sin, something Jewish interpretation had overlooked. Furthermore, the same guilt is incurred by a woman who repudiates her husband-a second innovation.” (Harry Wendt)
This issue becomes what are we doing to prepare people for marriage to avoid the result of divorce? All of the cable shows on marriage are all about the fancy ceremony and the amount of money spent. It’s all about the “show” of the ceremony. Most are in the relationship for what they can get out of it. At times I’ve been appalled at the comments made by these people. We need to change the focus to the relationship that will result from the marriage. Are we willing to serve each other? Are we willing to put the needs of our partner before ours? Are we willing to work on the difficult issues for the betterment of the marriage? Anyone who has been married knows these are difficult issues to overcome and at times it would be easier to run away. This is not to condone abuse in a relationship. The ideal is one thing the reality is another.
V13 People are bringing kids to Jesus so that he might bless them but the disciples are trying to prevent them from doing so. Children did not have a high position in that society so were kept in the background.
V14 Jesus responds by scolding the disciples and telling them to let the children come. This is how we are to be (like a child) to enter the Kingdom of God.
V15-16 We are to come to God as a child, with humility, obedience, trust and confidence in other people. Children do not expect other people to be bad; they will make friends with almost anyone. We as adults become jaded and judgmental about others. We are to put that aside and return to more child like qualities. I love this picture of Jesus with the children and envision him smiling and laughing. What adult, when watching small children, doesn’t start making funny faces and smiling? Sometimes I’ve done this all during a service if there is a small child seated with their parents in front of me. Remember Jesus is on a journey to Jerusalem where, in a few days, he will be hung on a cross and he takes the time to teach his disciples plus enjoy the little children. He is still focused on showing us what his father is like in heaven.
V2 Some Pharisees come to him with a hotly debated question of that time. The question was about divorce and there were differing opinions about it. Also, the man claiming to be king of the Jews, Herod, had divorced and remarried. John the Baptist had rebuked Herod for the behavior and had landed in prison with his head on a platter. The two rabbinic schools of the time-Hillel (liberal interpretation) and Shammai (conservative interpretation) debated the topic quite a bit and the Pharisees had come from one school or the other. So they put the question to Jesus and who knows why. Maybe they really wanted his opinion or maybe they wanted to trap him in his answer or maybe some of both.
V3 In typical rabbinic style Jesus doesn’t give an answer but asks a question. What did Moses say about this? In other words what do your scriptures teach about divorce?
V4 They reply that Moses allowed them to divorce. The scripture in question is the interpretation of Deuteronomy 24:1 which reads “Suppose a man enters into a marriage with a woman, but she does not please him because he find something objectionable about her, so he writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house, she then leaves his house”. The sticky wording was “something objectionable” and they wanted that defined, that way they could adhere to the law. Women in that day were regarded as property. They had no rights so if the husband invoked a liberal interpretation of “something objectionable” such as burning food, talking to strange men or a loud woman he could write a certificate of divorce and kick her out. She would loose her means of support and be reduced to begging as no other man would likely marry her.
V5 Jesus responds that Moses allowed divorce in Deut 24:1 because of the Israelites hard hearts. God had chosen Israel to be his renewed people and had expected them to live as such but unfortunately they behaved just as the rest of the world so Moses had to comment on their behavior possibly to try to control the divorce situations. It wasn’t that he was, as Gods representative, permitting them to do so.
V6-9 Jesus then takes the Pharisees back to the original plan of God for humanity in Genesis 1:27. God had intended for man and woman to marry and out of this union a third entity (bond) was formed that was never to be broken. It seems the Pharisees have been focusing on the wrong scripture, as we often do. They were looking for a way out and therefore picking scripture that might possibly allow it if the “correct” interpretation was upheld. Jesus responds by pointing them to the original idea. Over and over with any controversy we see people picking and choosing scripture to support their ideals and we have to get past that to what does God want from us.
V10 Jesus has now entered a house and the disciples ask for further clarification on the topic.
V11-12 Jesus teaches them that divorce is adulteress conduct in Gods original plan. “Jewish men had thought that it was permissible to divorce but now Jesus has defined it as a sin, something Jewish interpretation had overlooked. Furthermore, the same guilt is incurred by a woman who repudiates her husband-a second innovation.” (Harry Wendt)
This issue becomes what are we doing to prepare people for marriage to avoid the result of divorce? All of the cable shows on marriage are all about the fancy ceremony and the amount of money spent. It’s all about the “show” of the ceremony. Most are in the relationship for what they can get out of it. At times I’ve been appalled at the comments made by these people. We need to change the focus to the relationship that will result from the marriage. Are we willing to serve each other? Are we willing to put the needs of our partner before ours? Are we willing to work on the difficult issues for the betterment of the marriage? Anyone who has been married knows these are difficult issues to overcome and at times it would be easier to run away. This is not to condone abuse in a relationship. The ideal is one thing the reality is another.
V13 People are bringing kids to Jesus so that he might bless them but the disciples are trying to prevent them from doing so. Children did not have a high position in that society so were kept in the background.
V14 Jesus responds by scolding the disciples and telling them to let the children come. This is how we are to be (like a child) to enter the Kingdom of God.
V15-16 We are to come to God as a child, with humility, obedience, trust and confidence in other people. Children do not expect other people to be bad; they will make friends with almost anyone. We as adults become jaded and judgmental about others. We are to put that aside and return to more child like qualities. I love this picture of Jesus with the children and envision him smiling and laughing. What adult, when watching small children, doesn’t start making funny faces and smiling? Sometimes I’ve done this all during a service if there is a small child seated with their parents in front of me. Remember Jesus is on a journey to Jerusalem where, in a few days, he will be hung on a cross and he takes the time to teach his disciples plus enjoy the little children. He is still focused on showing us what his father is like in heaven.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Sunday September 27, 2009 Mark 9:38-50
Welcome, Life has a way of changing in an instant and this past week it happened to me. One minute I’m preparing for the Sunday adult education class and a phone call later I’m driving to St. Cloud to meet my mother who is being airlifted for medical treatment. I’ve spent the last few days hanging around the hospital and the teachings that I blog about became rather clear. The staff at the hospital truly served us, from information to support. They live a servant lifestyle and I’ve discovered that I miss that as I used to work in a hospital. They see people, patients and family, at their neediest and take time to care even if it is only to give directions to the cafeteria. In our busy world we need to follow their lead and take a minute to ask how others are doing (and mean it), give simple directions or smile at someone who is feeling pretty vulnerable. In some providence greater than I can comprehend I somewhat lived out part of the lesson for Sunday.
V38 John reports to Jesus that a group of the disciples has observed a man casting out demons in Jesus’ name. In that time, and even now in many places in the world, people feel as though illness is caused by demons. If they can rid themselves of the demon they will be healed. One of the ways to do this was to have a “holy man” call on a spirit more powerful than the demon. They would command the demon to come out of the person in the name of the more powerful spirit. In this case the man was using the name of Jesus so his disciples tell the man to stop as he is not a follower of Jesus. He’s not in the “club”.
V39 Jesus replies with an answer that must have surprised the disciples – don’t stop him. If he is doing this in the name of Jesus and having success this may lead the man to seek out Jesus.
V40 There is a war going on between Jesus and the demonic and even though this man doesn’t know Jesus he is still fighting on the same side.
V41 Even the small act of giving a cold cup of water to a thirsty man in the name of Jesus will grant you reward. This does not mean that we need to do acts to get rewards but rather that we need to do kind acts because God has treated us with such kindness that we must pass it forward. A cold cup of water is almost a small insignificant thing unless you’re the one who is thirsty. Directions to a cafeteria are a small thing unless you are overwhelmed by the maze of hallways in a hospital and your mind isn’t on directions. Friendly nursing staff is a small thing unless it is your mom in the bed. Turning off an overhead glaring light is a small thing unless you’re the one in the hospital bed dizzy, nauseous and having heart trouble. Even the action of darkening a room out of consideration for another is a “cold cup of water”.
V42 If any one of us does any action that causes someone else to loose faith in Jesus it would be better if you were drowned in the sea with a cinder block around your neck. The Romans actually did this to people as punishment.
V43-47 This is not to be taken literally but to show that what ever causes us to stumble in our following of Jesus must be eradicated. Maybe it is the people we associate with or the habits we have picked up but they must go if they prevent us from serving others. This doesn’t mean that we don’t associate with people that are not like us but that as we associate with them we are to model the life of Jesus. Remember Jesus searched out the outcasts of his day to bring them to life with him but he didn’t start acting like them, rather they started acting like him.
V48 The hell that he speaks of was the garbage dump outside of Jerusalem. This valley had been used at the time of some of the kings in the Old Testament as a place for child sacrifice practiced by the Jewish people. (2 Chronicles 28:3) The place was so detestable and declared unclean that it was only good enough now for a garbage dump that had a smoldering fire going all the time to burn the garbage. This image comes from Isaiah 66:24 where it was used to describe the fate of Israel’s enemies. Now Jesus is using that image from Isaiah to refer not to Israel’s gentile enemies; but to people who are enemies of his (the new Israel’s) way of living.
V49-50 This may be linked to Leviticus 2:13 where they are told to offer sacrifice that has been salted. Salt is good, in fact too many people today use way to much salt. If we are to be the salt which enhances life, as actual salt enhances the taste of food, and we loose that quality; what good are we? In that day salt was expensive and a coveted trade item. I’ve seen pictures of camels in caravans with blocks of salt strapped to their sides. It was a needed commodity and they didn’t have Morton’s in their cupboard. Imagine if we loose the rare ability to effect others lives, if people observe our life and don’t see a lifestyle enhanced by Jesus?
The man spoken of earlier was being salt, enhancing others lives, in the name of Jesus even though he wasn’t a part of the group around Jesus. The disciples wanted to stop him but Jesus said no, even though he isn’t a part of our group he is still acting in my name, spreading my spirit. How many times do we do that today? Do we try to stop others from carrying out their role in life because they aren’t in our exclusive “church” club? I don’t know how many of the staff in the hospital that took care of my mom were members of a church, nor do I care. All of them were “salt” in my mothers stay. All of them enhanced the servant lifestyle of Jesus weather they knew him or not. None of them served in that way because I was sitting there watching, they just did it. An important thought to leave you with is: Who is watching you and the way you live your life? Are you an example or are you as worthless as salt that has lost its saltiness and must be tossed out?
My mom is recovering at home now and I am left with a question; who is watching my example of the way I live and is it worth watching?
V38 John reports to Jesus that a group of the disciples has observed a man casting out demons in Jesus’ name. In that time, and even now in many places in the world, people feel as though illness is caused by demons. If they can rid themselves of the demon they will be healed. One of the ways to do this was to have a “holy man” call on a spirit more powerful than the demon. They would command the demon to come out of the person in the name of the more powerful spirit. In this case the man was using the name of Jesus so his disciples tell the man to stop as he is not a follower of Jesus. He’s not in the “club”.
V39 Jesus replies with an answer that must have surprised the disciples – don’t stop him. If he is doing this in the name of Jesus and having success this may lead the man to seek out Jesus.
V40 There is a war going on between Jesus and the demonic and even though this man doesn’t know Jesus he is still fighting on the same side.
V41 Even the small act of giving a cold cup of water to a thirsty man in the name of Jesus will grant you reward. This does not mean that we need to do acts to get rewards but rather that we need to do kind acts because God has treated us with such kindness that we must pass it forward. A cold cup of water is almost a small insignificant thing unless you’re the one who is thirsty. Directions to a cafeteria are a small thing unless you are overwhelmed by the maze of hallways in a hospital and your mind isn’t on directions. Friendly nursing staff is a small thing unless it is your mom in the bed. Turning off an overhead glaring light is a small thing unless you’re the one in the hospital bed dizzy, nauseous and having heart trouble. Even the action of darkening a room out of consideration for another is a “cold cup of water”.
V42 If any one of us does any action that causes someone else to loose faith in Jesus it would be better if you were drowned in the sea with a cinder block around your neck. The Romans actually did this to people as punishment.
V43-47 This is not to be taken literally but to show that what ever causes us to stumble in our following of Jesus must be eradicated. Maybe it is the people we associate with or the habits we have picked up but they must go if they prevent us from serving others. This doesn’t mean that we don’t associate with people that are not like us but that as we associate with them we are to model the life of Jesus. Remember Jesus searched out the outcasts of his day to bring them to life with him but he didn’t start acting like them, rather they started acting like him.
V48 The hell that he speaks of was the garbage dump outside of Jerusalem. This valley had been used at the time of some of the kings in the Old Testament as a place for child sacrifice practiced by the Jewish people. (2 Chronicles 28:3) The place was so detestable and declared unclean that it was only good enough now for a garbage dump that had a smoldering fire going all the time to burn the garbage. This image comes from Isaiah 66:24 where it was used to describe the fate of Israel’s enemies. Now Jesus is using that image from Isaiah to refer not to Israel’s gentile enemies; but to people who are enemies of his (the new Israel’s) way of living.
V49-50 This may be linked to Leviticus 2:13 where they are told to offer sacrifice that has been salted. Salt is good, in fact too many people today use way to much salt. If we are to be the salt which enhances life, as actual salt enhances the taste of food, and we loose that quality; what good are we? In that day salt was expensive and a coveted trade item. I’ve seen pictures of camels in caravans with blocks of salt strapped to their sides. It was a needed commodity and they didn’t have Morton’s in their cupboard. Imagine if we loose the rare ability to effect others lives, if people observe our life and don’t see a lifestyle enhanced by Jesus?
The man spoken of earlier was being salt, enhancing others lives, in the name of Jesus even though he wasn’t a part of the group around Jesus. The disciples wanted to stop him but Jesus said no, even though he isn’t a part of our group he is still acting in my name, spreading my spirit. How many times do we do that today? Do we try to stop others from carrying out their role in life because they aren’t in our exclusive “church” club? I don’t know how many of the staff in the hospital that took care of my mom were members of a church, nor do I care. All of them were “salt” in my mothers stay. All of them enhanced the servant lifestyle of Jesus weather they knew him or not. None of them served in that way because I was sitting there watching, they just did it. An important thought to leave you with is: Who is watching you and the way you live your life? Are you an example or are you as worthless as salt that has lost its saltiness and must be tossed out?
My mom is recovering at home now and I am left with a question; who is watching my example of the way I live and is it worth watching?
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