Tag Archives: Jesus

Day Forty-Nine with Mark: Mark 12:35-44

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Today we are going to look at three different stories as found in Mark 12:35-44:

35 While Jesus was teaching in the temple, he said, “How can the scribes say that the Messiah is the son of David? 36 David himself, by the Holy Spirit, declared,

‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
until I put your enemies under your feet.”’
37 David himself calls him Lord; so how can he be his son?” And the large crowd was listening to him with delight.

Jesus Denounces the Scribes
38 As he taught, he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, 39 and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! 40 They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

The Widow’s Offering
41 He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. 43 Then he called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. 44 For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

We see in these passages the conclusion of the stories in Mark 12 where different religious leaders come to Jesus, not for real answers, but to test Him and try to trip Him up.

So what we see in conclusion to Mark 12 is three different stories where Jesus puts many of these debates to rest.  What we see here in 35-37 Jesus proving to the religious leaders that He is superior to David and the traditions of the people.  In this passage, Jesus takes a Psalm and shows how in it David is giving a prophecy of Him.  So, even David knows that the Messiah is greater than he is and the Jewish traditions.

David is the icon of what it means to be a great king.  And here the great king is saying that the coming Messiah is greater than he.  So, if you regard David with authority (which the leaders did) you have to agree that the messiah is superior, and Jesus is the Messiah.  So, by their own standards, they should listen to and follow Him.  But they don’t.

Then in 38-40 Jesus warns people about following the religious leaders.  They really aren’t interesting in following God or leading others to God.  They are more interested in their own power and authority.

They aren’t worried about giving glory to God (even they claim to be) they are worried about their own glory and their own power.

james-c-christensen-the-widows-mite1This is seen to be true in the last story, 40-44, where the religious leader makes an offering and demands attention for the gift that he is given.  That is contrasted with the widow is give out of her poverty, but gives all that she is has.

The widow is not giving for attention or power of anything like that.  She’s giving out of devotion to God.

That’s what Jesus is trying to show us.  It’s about that love, that devotion, that desire to know and be faithful to God. That’s what the humble followers possess.  That’s what the powerful leaders lack.

Today may we desire and have the same type of humble following of Jesus Christ!

Next week we are going to spend a few days in Chapter 13.

What questions do you have?  How does this strike you?  Shoot me an email, comment below, or connect with me through social media.

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Day Forty-Six with Mark: Mark 12:13-17

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Today in Mark we look at Mark 12:13-17:

13 Then they sent to him some Pharisees and some Herodians to trap him in what he said. 14 And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not? 15 Should we pay them, or should we not?” But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why are you putting me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me see it.” 16 And they brought one. Then he said to them, “Whose head is this, and whose title?” They answered, “The emperor’s.” 17 Jesus said to them, “Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were utterly amazed at him.

tiberiusToday we look at Jesus’ famous teaching “give to Ceaser that which si Ceaser’s.”  The NRSV has it give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s.  But what is Jesus really talking about here?

The first thing to notice in this text is  the reason why they are coming to Jesus at all.  It isn’t to learn from Him or seek His wisdom.  They are coming to test him.  But Jesus knew this.  He knew they weren’t really coming to seek wisdom or be drawn closer to God.

They wanted to trap Him and ensure that they would have reason to incite the crowd against Him.

Perhaps that is why they are so amazed at His answer.  He gave the perfect answer, one that was the truth of the situation, while also robbing them of their ability to turn the crowd against Him.

It was a useful straw man argument to talk about not paying taxes.  The point the religious leaders were making was that Ceasar claimed to be a god and shouldn’t a good Jew refuse to honor a false deity.  The argument they were framing was more about idolatry than taxes.  The cultural point of their argument was to pay that tax was to basically honor a false God.

But the thing was, they didn’t believe this. They didn’t actually believe this point they were making.  The Herodians gained their status from King Herod, who was a king appoint by, and who was loyal to, Ceaser, who the false God they were talking about. So their own allegiance and belief showed they didn’t believe in the point they were making, they were just trying to mess with Jesus.

The point for us in this, is this, why and how to do we come to Jesus?  Do we come for wisdom and help?  Do we come with a sincere heart?  They did not. And they didn’t truly see Jesus.

Notice how Jesus answers this question.  He takes the money and say, whos’s face is on it?  Ceaser’s.  So, this money came from Him, it’s not from God anyway.  So, give to Ceaser what he is due.  The money wasn’t from God, it was from Rome, so give it back to them.

So, give to Ceaser what is Ceasers.  We should be good citizens. We are told all through scripture to be good citizens.  Respect authority.  Pray for our leaders.  Be good citizens of our nation.

But most importantly, give to God what is God’s.  And in all things, give God glory.

Tuesday we’ll look at Mark 12:18-27.

What questions do you have?  How does this strike you?  Shoot me an email, comment below, or connect with me through social media.

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Day Forty-Five with Mark: Mark 12:1-12

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Today in Mark, we look at Mark 12:1-12:

Then he began to speak to them in parables. “A man planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a pit for the wine press, and built a watchtower; then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. 2 When the season came, he sent a slave to the tenants to collect from them his share of the produce of the vineyard. 3 But they seized him, and beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. 4 And again he sent another slave to them; this one they beat over the head and insulted. 5 Then he sent another, and that one they killed. And so it was with many others; some they beat, and others they killed. 6 He had still one other, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 7 But those tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 8 So they seized him, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. 9 What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others. 10 Have you not read this scripture:

‘The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
11 this was the Lord’s doing,
and it is amazing in our eyes’?”
12 When they realized that he had told this parable against them, they wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowd. So they left him and went away.

cornerstone-720x340Philip Yancey wrote a book many years ago entitled The Jesus I Never Knew.  In this book, Yancey talks about what he saw when he just read the Gospel.  I didn’t want to look at what others said about Jesus.  He didn’t want to go off what preachers had preached about Jesus.

He wanted to just see what Jesus actually said and did.  Not what he thought Jesus said and did.  And when he did that, he found something surprising.  The Jesus he found in Scriptures was very different from the Jesus that he expected to find.

For instance, look at this passage.  Jesus is just calling out the Pharisees.  He is going through the history of the people, how each prophet that God sent had been rejected and killed, until finally God sent His beloved son, and He too was to be rejected and killed.

And we see a quote from the Old Testament, the stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.  And the Pharisees and religious leaders leave because they know that Jesus is talking about them.

Jesus is a lot of things.  But He is not harmless.  He is not passive.  For those of us that follow Him, He demands that we do just that.  Follow.  He knows that we will make mistakes.  He understands.  And He forgives.

But He always calls us to follow Him.  Keep going.  Keep walking.  Keep chasing.  Keep being faithful.  Keep coming after Him.

The Pharisees rejected.  And in this passage (and in more to come later) He tells them about it.  He points out their mistakes.  He shows them that they have rejected.  He tells them that there will be consequences.

But while they rejected the stone, others plan to build their lives around it.  And for us, that’s our calling today.  To build our lives around this cornerstone.  To make Jesus the foundation of our lives, our families, our everything.

To build everything around Jesus. And with that as the cornerstone, we will have a firm foundation, able to stand up to any storm that faces us.

Today, may Jesus be the cornerstone of lives!

Monday we’ll look at Mark 12:13-17.

What questions do you have?  How does this strike you?  Shoot me an email, comment below, or connect with me through social media.

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Day Forty-One with Mark: Mark 11:1-11

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Today in our walk through Mark, we look at Mark 11:1-11, the Triumphal Entry, Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday:

11 When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples 2 and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. 3 If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.’” 4 They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, 5 some of the bystanders said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6 They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. 7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. 9 Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting,
“Hosanna!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
11 Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

Triumphal-entryOne of the things that we miss here in the West when we read the Bible is that we read it through eyes that are American.  We see things sort of as we see them here.  An example of this for me personally is when I read about Jesus going into the wilderness to be tempted, me being someone that grew up in south Mississippi, when I thought of wilderness, I thought of trees.  It’s just what I pictured in my mind when I thought of wilderness.

Well, when you go to Israel you see that the wilderness that Jesus was tempted in wasn’t trees and forest it the most dreary and desolate desert that you’ll ever see.  Understanding the land and the context really helps you to understand the Word.

Today’s passage is another one that understanding the context really helps you understand.  We see in this Jesus ride into Jerusalem on a donkey, and think of conquering western kings or armies parading into town on the back of a horse or coming in great triumph.

So we see Jesus do this and think – oh, look at Jesus’ humility!  Now, it is true that Jesus is humble, but that’s not what is happening here.  Jesus is not being humble, in coming into town on a donkey, in fact He’s doing just the opposite.  He’s declaring Himself as king.

The triumphal entry is an act of humbleness, sure, but in that context it’s an act of kingly humility. It’s the act of a king.

If someone ever tells you that Jesus never declared Himself as the Messiah, point right to this passage.  That’s exactly what He is doing here.  He is telling everyone who He is.  He is king.

And notice the reaction from the people.  They call Him the one that is to to come from David.  They understood what was happening.  They understood what Jesus was saying.

They understood that He was king.

But, what we will see is that He was not the king that they were expecting.

Today, though, we see Jesus getting the praise and worship that He deserves.  We see Jesus as king.

May He be king in our lives as well.

Tomorrow we’ll look at Mark 11:12-14.

What questions do you have?  How does this strike you?  Shoot me an email, comment below, or connect with me through social media.

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Day Forty with Mark: Mark 10:46-52

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I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!  Now we are entering into the time of Advent, getting ready for Christmas.  During this season, may our eyes, our ears, our hearts, all that we are be looking for the grace of Christ in each moment!

Today we look at Mark 10:46-52:

46 They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; get up, he is calling you.” 50 So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51 Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher, let me see again.” 52 Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.

Blind Bartimaeus alteredToday we see Jesus heal Bartimaeus, we see Jesus restore his sight. And when we read this passage, there are a couple of things that stand out to me.  First, notice what the man calls Jesus.  Son of David.  Jesus is called Son of God a lot in the Bible.  He calls Himself Son of Man a lot as well.  But this is a unique title that is telling.

Bartimaeus, in calling Jesus Son of David, understand that He is the one that is to come from the line of David.  The Messiah is to be a descendant of David.  Bartimaeus is speaking the truth, Jesus is the one that is to come from David’s line. But here’s the thing.  The Messiah, the Son of David, that they were looking for was a political king that would drive out the Romans and establish that earthly kingdom like David.

So, yes, Bartimaeus was right in knowing who Jesus was.  But he was wrong in understanding what Jesus was here to do.  He made assumptions about who Jesus was.  And he missed what Jesus was wanting to do.

Let’s not make the same mistake.

Second, notice that once again Jesus heals someone’s sight. Someone is able to see because of what Jesus has done.

One thing to always remember in the Gospels when Jesus heals the blind and restores sight, He isn’t just restoring physical sight.  He’s restoring the ability to see spiritually.  In 2 Corinthians 4:4 it says:

In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Without Christ, we may be able to “see” but we can’t see.  The sight that Jesus provides is more than physical.  It’s spiritual.  Jesus grace (we in the United Methodist tradition call this grace prevenient) restores our ability to see.  To know.  To understand.  Jesus’ grace, given to all, allows us to choose, to follow, or to reject.  To not follow.  Not all that Jesus healed followed Him.

But when He restores our sight through His grace, we can see.  We can choose.  We can follow.  We can see.

Today, may we allow His grace into our lives, may we see.  And may we follow Him, wherever He calls!

Tomorrow we’ll look at Mark 11:1-11.

What questions do you have?  How does this strike you?  Shoot me an email, comment below, or connect with me through social media.

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Day Thirty-Nine with Mark: Mark 10:32-45

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Like Wednesday to get a better picture of what Jesus is doing, let’s look at two stories together, Mark 10:32-34 and then verses 35-45:

32 They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them; they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them what was to happen to him, 33 saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death; then they will hand him over to the Gentiles; 34 they will mock him, and spit upon him, and flog him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise again.”

The Request of James and John
35 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” 36 And he said to them, “What is it you want me to do for you?” 37 And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” 38 But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” 39 They replied, “We are able.” Then Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; 40 but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”

41 When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. 42 So Jesus called them and said to them, “You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. 43 But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

Jesus-washing-feetWhat we see here is two contrasting ideals, and Jesus trying to reconcile them.  We see Jesus teaching about what must happen, that He must suffer and die to save the people from their sins.  His purpose is to teach us to love, to care, to serve, to forgive and ultimate go to the cross (and the empty grave) for our sins.

Jesus is teaching them that.  But they aren’t getting it.

Then we see in the second portion James and John trying to wiggle their way into being the greatest in the kingdom.  And Jesus says, (paraphrasing) guys, you are missing the point here.

Your life, your greatness, it doesn’t come from power or prestige or titles.  It comes from serving.  The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve.  That is the path He walks.  And that is path that He calls us to walk.

Serve. We are not like the world.  It is “not so among us.”  We’ve got to be different.  The only way that we change the world is to be different.  The only way that we can make a difference in the hardened hearts of this world is through service.  To love God and love our neighbor.

That’s what Jesus calls us to.  That’s the path to greatness for us a Christians.  Not in power.  But in service.

Today, and in this soon to be Advent season, may we live out that love of God.  May we serve.

Monday we’ll look at Mark 10:46-52.

What questions do you have?  How does this strike you?  Shoot me an email, comment below, or connect with me through social media.

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Day Thirty-Eight with Mark: Mark 10:17-31

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Today in Mark we look at Mark 17-31:

17 As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.’” 20 He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.” 21 Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” 22 When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.

23 Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 They were greatly astounded and said to one another, “Then who can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.”

28 Peter began to say to him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.” 29 Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age—houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

This is another one of those passages that have a lot going on it in it.  Let’s break down what’s happening

richyoungrulerFirst, we see the rich young man.  Here’s the take away from him.  He was arrogant and thought he had it all together.  He was coming to Jesus for affirmation more than for instruction.  He thought he had all the answers already.

How do we know this?  When Jesus tells him the commandments, he says, I’ve done all this.  We also see this in Jesus initial greeting to him, when the man calls Jesus good, Jesus reframes it, saying no one is good but God.  And then youth man basically says – nope, I’m good too!  This young man things He has it all together and everything is great.  And he’s missing the point.

Because next we see Jesus’ response.  He loved him.  He wasn’t mad at him.  Jesus wasn’t trying to punish him.  He was trying to set him free.  His “stuff” had trapped him and made him a prisoner.  Jesus was trying to set him free for real life, because He loved him.  But Jesus’ words weren’t what the man wanted to hear.  Or what the disciples.  wanted to hear.

See because in that culture,  wealth = blessing.  So, if this rich man lacked what was needed to get into heaven, then who could get in?  If he couldn’t make it, then what chance did a regular person have.  We see Peter ask this, Lord, what about us?  We’ve left everything to follow you.

And Jesus says, and you’ve found true life.  True life is in following God.  Not in following the world or following power or privilege or anything like.  True life is in following Jesus.  Even if it costs, it gives you life.

Because He is life. And if we “lose” something to follow, we actually gain.  Because we gain life.

Today, may we seek after true life.  May we seek after Jesus.

Friday we’ll look at Mark 10:32-44.

What questions do you have?  How does this strike you?  Shoot me an email, comment below, or connect with me through social media.

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Day Thirty-Eight with Mark: Mark 10:1-12 and 13-16

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Today we look at Mark 10: 1-12:

10 He left that place and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan. And crowds again gathered around him; and, as was his custom, he again taught them.

2 Some Pharisees came, and to test him they asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” 3 He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” 4 They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her.” 5 But Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you. 6 But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ 7 ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, 8 and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

10 Then in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. 11 He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; 12 and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

Ok, today’s passage is one of those tough passages, one that can really be a challenge to understand.  That’s why I think it’s good to read it in context with what follows, Mark 10:13-16:

13 People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. 14 But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. 15 Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.

jesuskidsHere’s the importance of context, we can see a bigger picture of what Jesus is doing.  When we look at passages that are tough and hard to understand, that context is key.  In both of these passages, Jesus is lifting up those that were forgotten and taken advantage of.

In the first passage, first we see that Jesus was being tested, the religious leaders wanted to see if they could trip Him up, so they asked about divorce.  What was happening in that day was this.  Men would marry and after a few years, divorce their wife and remarry because they could.  In that culture, that would leave the wife basically poor and powerless.

And what Jesus is saying is this.  No!  That’s not the way it’s supposed to be.  You can’t do this to your wife.  It’s not the way that God intended.  She’s made in His image.  You can’t, you shouldn’t do that to her.  It’s wrong.

This passage is about affirming the worth of the wife, of the female, of the one that in that culture didn’t matter.  Jesus is saying, this – she matters!

And the same thing with the child.  Children (like women) in that culture were little more than property.  And Jesus is telling the people this, these children matter.  Welcome them.  They count. They are important.  Welcome these little ones.

Jesus is telling us today that everyone matters.  Everyone is important.  Everyone has worth.  Even those that we are tempted to miss or tempted to ignore.

They matter to Jesus.

So, today and each day, they should matter to us.

Tomorrow we’ll look at Mark 10:17-31.

What questions do you have?  How does this strike you?  Shoot me an email, comment below, or connect with me through social media.

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Day Thirty-Six with Mark: Mark 9:38-41

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Today we look at Mark 9:38-41 and we see Jesus tell us about how we can work together as different churches:

Another Exorcist
38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” 39 But Jesus said, “Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 40 Whoever is not against us is for us. 41 For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.

around-the-crossToday we see Jesus giving us a picture of what “church” should be like. We see the disciples saying, we saw people casting out demons in Jesus name, but they weren’t part of their group. And they tried to stop them, because they weren’t part of their group.

And Jesus says no.  If they do good my name (in other words, through me) then they can’t be against me.  In other words, if they are part of Jesus, but not part of us, you know what?  It’s ok.  Jesus’ team, Jesus kingdom is bigger than just you and me.  It’s bigger than just my local church.  Or my denomination.  Or those that worship like I do.  Or believe exactly like me.  Or have my theology.

Jesus team is made up of all those that believe in Him and part of Him.  Even if they aren’t “part” of our group.  Because you know what?  If they are in Christ, they are part of us.

Through Jesus, we are one.  Even if we disagree or have differences of opinions.  If we are in Jesus, we are one.

Imagine what we could do as Christians if we all worked together.  Imagine what could happen in our communities, our world, everywhere, if we all worked together in Jesus name.  We could (and we can) change the world.

Look at the good that was being done.  In Jesus name.

Today, may all of us that are in Jesus name, may we work together for the same goal, the same purpose, the same plan, the same savior.

May we all, no matter what group we are part of, work for Jesus!

Monday we’ll look at Mark 9:42-50.

What questions do you have?  How does this strike you?  Shoot me an email, comment below, or connect with me through social media.

If you’d like to receive these thoughts by email, be sure to click here and join my email devotional group!

Day Thirty-Six with Mark: Mark 9:30-37

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When you read the Gospels consistently, you begin to really get a picture for who Jesus is and see some real things begin to emerge.  Listen to what we read in Mark 9:30-37:

Jesus Again Foretells His Death and Resurrection
30 They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it; 31 for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.” 32 But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him.

Who Is the Greatest?
33 Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” 34 But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. 35 He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” 36 Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”

follow-JESUS1When you read about Jesus, from beginning to end of a Gospel, you see what matters to Him, what is truly important, what is essential.  And here’s the deal.  The Bible tells us that Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God.  So when we see Jesus, we see who God is.

Who do we see today, and who have we seen?

Today, we see in Jesus that He knows He must die for the sins of the world.  When you read the Gospels, this is impossible to miss.  He tells them and teaches them that over and over again, and until after the resurrection, they never fully understood it.  But He continued to teach it.  He continued to point to it.  He continued to stress it to His followers.  He must be betrayed, be killed, and be raised again.

It is all heading towards the resurrection.  We can not take this part out of Jesus teaching. It is what it is all headed towards.  That is unmissable in the Gospels.

But look what else is unmissable.  In 33-37, he teaches that to be great in the kingdom of God, we have to be humble.  We have to serve.  We have to understand that it’s not about what we get, but what we give.  It’s about being the servant of all, not seeking power.  It’s about laying down our lives for His sake.

Those things are right there in front of us in the text today, and they are right there in front of us in the Gospels.  They are right there in front of us in the life of Jesus.

And as Christians, we are called to follow in the way of Jesus.  That means laying down our lives.  That means being humble.  That means serving. And that means understand that Jesus died and was raised for me.  And for you.  For all of us.  For the sake of the world.

These things are all over the Gospel.  And let’s not get so busy reading about Jesus that we forget what truly mattered and was important to Jesus.

He laid down His life to redeem us.  And He calls us to love and serve others.  Those things are in the forefront of Jesus’ ministry.  May they be in the forefront of our lives.

Friday we’ll look at Mark 9:38-41.

What questions do you have?  How does this strike you?  Shoot me an email, comment below, or connect with me through social media.

If you’d like to receive these thoughts by email, be sure to click here and join my email devotional group!