Our assignments for this week are: Monday chapter 5, Tuesday chapter 6, Wednesday chapter 7, Thursday chapter 8 and Friday chapter 9.
We begin week 2 of our journey through the New Testament with an exciting account of Jesus and his power. The chapter divisions in the Bible are arbitrary and having a weekend break between chapters 4 and 5 exacerbates the division between Jesus calming the storm in chapter 4 and the confrontation with the demon possessed man in chapter 5. As Mark wrote this account the events follow each other in series and that is important for us to consider today.
Mark is showing us here that this Jesus of Nazareth is more than an itinerant preacher from Nazareth. Mark is showing us that Jesus has power over the elements, the spirit realm and power over sickness and disease before chapter 5 ends.
Jesus heals a woman who has suffered for 12 years. She is healed by simply touching Jesus in faith. Jairus’ daughter is raised from the dead as the chapter ends. Interesting that the woman had suffered for 12 years and the little girl is 12 years old.
Mark presents his readers with a savior who is powerful and willing and able to save us. This is Jesus our Lord.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Friday, January 4, 2008
Mark 4
In the parable of the sower in Mark 4 Jesus talks about 4 different results found in the sowing of seeds. Sowing seeds in this culture was a random scattering method where the seeds would be broadly broadcast in an area. Much different than our focused careful planting methods today. In the parable some of the seed fell on the path, some on rocks, some in thorns and some in good soil.
The seeds that fall on the path are quickly plucked up and have no lasting impact. The seeds that fall in the rocks spring up quickly, but because there is no depth of soil in which to root, they soon die off. The seeds that fall in the thorns grow up only to be choked off and killed by the thorns. Finally some seeds fall on good soil and grow and produces 30, 60 and 100 fold increases.
As I read this parable I come back to one of the primary tasks for me as a Christ follower and as a pastor. I find all 4 types of soil in my life and in the lives of the people in my care. There are areas in my life and in the lives of the people I pastor that are hard packed and inflexible, areas that are interested in truth but shallow, areas that are fertile but already preoccupied with non-Kingdom issues, and there are areas of good fertile soil.
I feel my call is to help reclaim all of these fields by working the corner of the vineyard to which I am assigned. I am here to pick rocks, to break up hard hearts, to clear out thorn bushes and nurture the fertile areas – in my life and in the lives I come into contact with where ever and when ever possible. Part of the task is to identify the areas that need attention and fight the complacency in my own life and in the lives of others. The first and hardest task is the work that needs to be done in me.
The seeds that fall on the path are quickly plucked up and have no lasting impact. The seeds that fall in the rocks spring up quickly, but because there is no depth of soil in which to root, they soon die off. The seeds that fall in the thorns grow up only to be choked off and killed by the thorns. Finally some seeds fall on good soil and grow and produces 30, 60 and 100 fold increases.
As I read this parable I come back to one of the primary tasks for me as a Christ follower and as a pastor. I find all 4 types of soil in my life and in the lives of the people in my care. There are areas in my life and in the lives of the people I pastor that are hard packed and inflexible, areas that are interested in truth but shallow, areas that are fertile but already preoccupied with non-Kingdom issues, and there are areas of good fertile soil.
I feel my call is to help reclaim all of these fields by working the corner of the vineyard to which I am assigned. I am here to pick rocks, to break up hard hearts, to clear out thorn bushes and nurture the fertile areas – in my life and in the lives I come into contact with where ever and when ever possible. Part of the task is to identify the areas that need attention and fight the complacency in my own life and in the lives of others. The first and hardest task is the work that needs to be done in me.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Mark 3
As you read the Gospel of Mark, make sure you keep track of the word "immediately". Mark uses this word and others to speed his narrative along. Jesus, or the Pharisees, or others are constantly doing things "immediately".
Yesterday Elizabeth (my brilliant niece)commented, "I always try to imagine how I would respond if someone 1) said they could heal someone on the spot or 2) said they could forgive someone of their sins. Likely, I would meet the person with extreme doubt and skepticism. I try then to realize that I would likely have been a skeptic in Jesus' day too - or like Thomas, I would have certainly wanted to see things with my own eyes."
I have been thinking about that and I agree. I often tell people in our church that Thomas was called the twin because he is my twin. Today Jesus flies in the face of the accepted tradition by healing on the sabbath, and the chapter ends with Jesus disrespecting his mother -- at least that's the way it would have played in my family.
We have the advantage of hind sight as we smugly watch Jesus. We sometimes marvel at the disciples unbelief and ask how they could have been so dense and faithless. But what if we were living it? What if we didn't know how each story ends before it begins?
Let me ask you to live with these question today. What if Jesus is moving around you every day in radical new ways? Will you follow Jesus today? Will you even recognize it if God moves outside of the parameters and prejudices you've accepted? What if God does a new thing among us? Will we walk with God? or will we complain and scoff and "immediately" conspire against him, how to destroy him?
Yesterday Elizabeth (my brilliant niece)commented, "I always try to imagine how I would respond if someone 1) said they could heal someone on the spot or 2) said they could forgive someone of their sins. Likely, I would meet the person with extreme doubt and skepticism. I try then to realize that I would likely have been a skeptic in Jesus' day too - or like Thomas, I would have certainly wanted to see things with my own eyes."
I have been thinking about that and I agree. I often tell people in our church that Thomas was called the twin because he is my twin. Today Jesus flies in the face of the accepted tradition by healing on the sabbath, and the chapter ends with Jesus disrespecting his mother -- at least that's the way it would have played in my family.
We have the advantage of hind sight as we smugly watch Jesus. We sometimes marvel at the disciples unbelief and ask how they could have been so dense and faithless. But what if we were living it? What if we didn't know how each story ends before it begins?
Let me ask you to live with these question today. What if Jesus is moving around you every day in radical new ways? Will you follow Jesus today? Will you even recognize it if God moves outside of the parameters and prejudices you've accepted? What if God does a new thing among us? Will we walk with God? or will we complain and scoff and "immediately" conspire against him, how to destroy him?
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Questions from day 1 reading
In a question from day 1 MW asks the following questions:
“Good morning, Pastor :)
I have two questions on our reading.
1. In Mark 1:12 (NKJV), It states that the Spirit "drove" Jesus into the wilderness. I am curious why the word drove is used here. We normally associate that word with driving out demons, or Jesus driving out those who bought and sold in the temple...We know the Spirit leads, directs, tugs, pulls, instills, convicts, etc.
In this verse the Spirit "drove" Jesus...is this significant in this tense?
2. In Mark 1:13 (NKJV), The Angels are "ministering" to Jesus during His 40 days in the wilderness.
How would they minister? In what fashion? We know He fasted, so what needs did the Angels provide?
Thank you for this site, your time, and your love - I look forward to the growth your assignments will provide.
mw”
Great questions! I looked up the Greek word used here for drove. It is the Greek word ekballw. Ekballw is used in scripture about 80 times and in 52 of these instances it is means “to cast out – excommunicate”! I had a New Testament professor who translated it “to hurl or throw”. It is in fact the word used in John 2 when Jesus drives the money changers from the temple and in Mark 16:9 indentifying Mary Magdalene as the woman from whom Jesus cast out seven demons. I wonder if it implies here that the Spirit compelled him to go.
As for the angels ministering to Jesus, I found some interesting information. The Greek word for ministering used here is diakonew. This is where we get our word Deacon. The NRSV says, “…the angels waited on him.” The same word is used in Hebrews 1:14 where it says of the angels “Are not all angels spirits in the divine service, sent to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?” Perhaps the protection and comfort afforded Jesus in his wilderness experience is available to all of us who by his grace inherit salvation!
“Good morning, Pastor :)
I have two questions on our reading.
1. In Mark 1:12 (NKJV), It states that the Spirit "drove" Jesus into the wilderness. I am curious why the word drove is used here. We normally associate that word with driving out demons, or Jesus driving out those who bought and sold in the temple...We know the Spirit leads, directs, tugs, pulls, instills, convicts, etc.
In this verse the Spirit "drove" Jesus...is this significant in this tense?
2. In Mark 1:13 (NKJV), The Angels are "ministering" to Jesus during His 40 days in the wilderness.
How would they minister? In what fashion? We know He fasted, so what needs did the Angels provide?
Thank you for this site, your time, and your love - I look forward to the growth your assignments will provide.
mw”
Great questions! I looked up the Greek word used here for drove. It is the Greek word ekballw. Ekballw is used in scripture about 80 times and in 52 of these instances it is means “to cast out – excommunicate”! I had a New Testament professor who translated it “to hurl or throw”. It is in fact the word used in John 2 when Jesus drives the money changers from the temple and in Mark 16:9 indentifying Mary Magdalene as the woman from whom Jesus cast out seven demons. I wonder if it implies here that the Spirit compelled him to go.
As for the angels ministering to Jesus, I found some interesting information. The Greek word for ministering used here is diakonew. This is where we get our word Deacon. The NRSV says, “…the angels waited on him.” The same word is used in Hebrews 1:14 where it says of the angels “Are not all angels spirits in the divine service, sent to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?” Perhaps the protection and comfort afforded Jesus in his wilderness experience is available to all of us who by his grace inherit salvation!
Mark 2
When we come to Chapter 2 we find in the NRSV that Jesus is "at home". I did some research on this and it doesn't seem that the original Greek speaks of Jesus being at a home that he owned, but more implies that they new he was in a home. Some theologians guess that it was the home of Simon Peter. All of this is interesting I suppose, but what really catches me as I read this is the friends of the man in need.
There is a paralyzed man whose friends believe can be helped by Jesus. They are not stopped by the great crowds or any other obstacle in there determined attempts to get their friend to Jesus.
I am struck this morning by my lazy attempts at evangelism compared to these friends.
Do you know someone this morning that could be helped by Jesus? Are you willing to bring that person to meet the Savior? What are you willing to do to make sure your friend receives what they need from the Lord?
It seems to me that casual, incidental faith is not very attractive, nor is it very effective. But these friends, for all their inappropriate behavior, get results!
There is a paralyzed man whose friends believe can be helped by Jesus. They are not stopped by the great crowds or any other obstacle in there determined attempts to get their friend to Jesus.
I am struck this morning by my lazy attempts at evangelism compared to these friends.
Do you know someone this morning that could be helped by Jesus? Are you willing to bring that person to meet the Savior? What are you willing to do to make sure your friend receives what they need from the Lord?
It seems to me that casual, incidental faith is not very attractive, nor is it very effective. But these friends, for all their inappropriate behavior, get results!
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Mark 1
Wow, Mark is in a hurry. He begins this book with a loaded sentence and never pauses to unpack it or explain. “The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” Mark 1:1 NRSV
We have just finished celebrating the birth of Christ with all of the church services and familiar songs. In our church, Advent season is a time when we slowly approach the celebration of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth and ponder the second coming of Jesus. Mark doesn’t take any time with shepherds or Bethlehem or angel proclamations. He hurries right into John the Baptist and disciples and preaching tours in Galilee. Unclean spirits are exercised and lepers are cleansed before we get out of chapter one. Mark is in a hurry, and it occurs to me this morning that his gospel approach more closely mirrors my crazy life.
As I turn the calendar into 2008 I would like to make a resolution to hurry less, to take time to ponder and listen more. I would like to promise to myself and to anyone that reads these words that I will take better care of myself and my closest relationships, that I will major in the major things and not the minor ones. I would like to make these promises, and on some level I will, but I know me. I am a lot like Mark. I am in a hurry and I tend to fill my days and weeks until there is little margin for error or even pleasure.
Do you see what Jesus does in the midst of Mark’s hurried presentation? In vs. 35 we find this; “In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed.” Mark 1:35 NRSV. OK, this is where I will meditate today. How will I make time to take time to get away and pray, to refocus and commune with God. Where will you make time friend?
We have just finished celebrating the birth of Christ with all of the church services and familiar songs. In our church, Advent season is a time when we slowly approach the celebration of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth and ponder the second coming of Jesus. Mark doesn’t take any time with shepherds or Bethlehem or angel proclamations. He hurries right into John the Baptist and disciples and preaching tours in Galilee. Unclean spirits are exercised and lepers are cleansed before we get out of chapter one. Mark is in a hurry, and it occurs to me this morning that his gospel approach more closely mirrors my crazy life.
As I turn the calendar into 2008 I would like to make a resolution to hurry less, to take time to ponder and listen more. I would like to promise to myself and to anyone that reads these words that I will take better care of myself and my closest relationships, that I will major in the major things and not the minor ones. I would like to make these promises, and on some level I will, but I know me. I am a lot like Mark. I am in a hurry and I tend to fill my days and weeks until there is little margin for error or even pleasure.
Do you see what Jesus does in the midst of Mark’s hurried presentation? In vs. 35 we find this; “In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed.” Mark 1:35 NRSV. OK, this is where I will meditate today. How will I make time to take time to get away and pray, to refocus and commune with God. Where will you make time friend?
Happy New Year!
As we begin this new year together, we also begin a new adventure. Finally the day has come for us to begin our journey through the New Testament of the Bible together!
There are 260 chapters in the 27 books of the New Testament and this lends itself well to our new program. We will read 1 chapter every week day during 2008. I will post some of my thoughts as I read and I hope you will respond with insights and questions. I am not looking for right and wrong answers, I am looking for an opportunity for us to think together, to confront the Bible and be confronted and comforted by it.
If you would like to join us in this journey simply read 1 chapter each weekday from the assigned text. Feel free to sign on here and ask questions or post your observations. I hope that we will use this site as a safe forum to exchange ideas and express our faith together. We will not agree on every article of faith or interpretation of scripture, and that will bother us more than it will bother God.
We begin our journey in the Gospel of Mark. The assigned readings for this month are simple:
Tuesday January 1 -- Friday January 4 -- Mark chapters 1,2,3 and 4.
Monday January 7 -- Friday January 11 -- Mark Ch. 5,6,7,8 and 9.
Monday January 14 -- Friday January 18 -- Mark Ch. 10,11,12,13 and 14.
Monday January 21 -- Friday January 25 -- Mark Ch. 15,16, Romans Ch. 1,2 and 3
Monday January 28 -- Friday February 1 -- Romans Ch. 4,5,6,7, and 8
Use Saturdays to catch up if you fall behind and join us for worship Sundays where I will preach from the texts we have read that week. I am working on a way to post our Sunday morning worship services on line and I will post the site where you can find this when it becomes available.
I am excited about this opportunity for our extended Church family to read and learn together. I hope you will consider yourself a member of this family even if geographic location prevents you from being physically present with us. Let's begin this journey.
There are 260 chapters in the 27 books of the New Testament and this lends itself well to our new program. We will read 1 chapter every week day during 2008. I will post some of my thoughts as I read and I hope you will respond with insights and questions. I am not looking for right and wrong answers, I am looking for an opportunity for us to think together, to confront the Bible and be confronted and comforted by it.
If you would like to join us in this journey simply read 1 chapter each weekday from the assigned text. Feel free to sign on here and ask questions or post your observations. I hope that we will use this site as a safe forum to exchange ideas and express our faith together. We will not agree on every article of faith or interpretation of scripture, and that will bother us more than it will bother God.
We begin our journey in the Gospel of Mark. The assigned readings for this month are simple:
Tuesday January 1 -- Friday January 4 -- Mark chapters 1,2,3 and 4.
Monday January 7 -- Friday January 11 -- Mark Ch. 5,6,7,8 and 9.
Monday January 14 -- Friday January 18 -- Mark Ch. 10,11,12,13 and 14.
Monday January 21 -- Friday January 25 -- Mark Ch. 15,16, Romans Ch. 1,2 and 3
Monday January 28 -- Friday February 1 -- Romans Ch. 4,5,6,7, and 8
Use Saturdays to catch up if you fall behind and join us for worship Sundays where I will preach from the texts we have read that week. I am working on a way to post our Sunday morning worship services on line and I will post the site where you can find this when it becomes available.
I am excited about this opportunity for our extended Church family to read and learn together. I hope you will consider yourself a member of this family even if geographic location prevents you from being physically present with us. Let's begin this journey.
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