On the Right or Left

 

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK

ON THE RIGHT OR LEFT

Mark 10:35-40

35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. "Teacher," they said, "we want you to do for us whatever we ask." 36 "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked. 37 They replied, "Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory." 38 "You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said. "Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?"  39 "We can," they answered. Jesus said to them, "You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, 40 but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared." 

NIV

This is somewhat a strange request by James and John, the sons of Zebedee. Matthew records that their mother was the one who made this request. This would not be out of place in the sense there were women among the group, even just when it was the twelve traveling with him. Women were there, perhaps doing the cooking, or darning a torn garment, or as in some cases anointing Jesus with perfume, or sitting at his feet, such as Mary did, while Martha was preparing a meal. Some women may have been of substance who gave to the ministry. Nevertheless, this request was strange in itself. To sit at the right and left of Jesus when he came in his glory. What did they understand was his glory? Were they still thinking he was going to set up an earthy kingdom? Were they thinking about his being in heaven and they wanted to die alongside him and thus sit with at his sides in the heavenly kingdom? We cannot be sure just what they were thinking as we are not told other than this request. The response of Jesus tells us that they will indeed follow him in death, and even be crucified. All the disciples except for John died some horrible death for the sake of the gospel. So then what Jesus said about them both drinking the cup he drank and being baptized with the baptism he was may not be referring to their kind of deaths, but they're being raised from the dead into enteral life. He will offer them a cup to drink from, the one he drank from at the dinner they would have later in that upper room. They would also be baptized with the same Spirit Jesus was baptized with at the Jordon when he was with John the Baptist. Of course, our scholars of old may make more of this than we have, but we are always not in agreement with their assessment of things, for they are but men as we are. However, this right side and left side of Jesus and the fact he said that was not for him to grant, for those places belong to those whom they have been prepared. Some would say this implies that Jesus does not have the authority to give rewards yet that is not the case. Jesus will be given all authority to judge all men, and all will receive their due reward. What may well be the meaning here is that when Jesus sits upon his throne in Heaven and all men will stand before him to receive their reward, He will divide the people, the goats on his left and the sheep on his right. There are the right and the left sides of Jesus which have been prepared as promised. The difference is that those on the left will not remain there, for they will be cast into the lake of burning sulfur, while those on the right will enter into his peace, and will remain with Jesus for all eternity. Jesus was right, as always, in that the places on his left and right belong to those for whom they have been prepared.

Knowing What's Ahead

 

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK

KNOWING WHAT’S AHEAD

Mark 10:32-34

32 They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. 33 "We are going up to Jerusalem," he said, "and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, 34 who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise." 

NIV

There is a great truth for us within these words of Jesus, but first, it is interesting how this translation and some others, but not all, would make it seem there is a distinction between the disciples and those who followed, as it were two groups of people. Certainly, there were more than just his disciples that were following him up to Jerusalem, however, the Greek does not make that distinction. It is more like as they followed him they were amazed and afraid. This could have been just the disciples or all the people that followed him. The reason for this may well be on account that for some time now the Pharisees and chief priests have been trying to kill Jesus and now he is going right into the hornet’s nest, so to speak. If we were to actively and purposefully put ourselves in danger, some of our family and friends might well be astonished that we would do that, as well as could exhibit some fear for us, or be afraid of what was going to happen. This is the sense we get from what Mark is saying about the disciples and those who were following him. So, to calm them, He assured them all that is going to take place has already been determined and is the plan of God. Here now is the truth we can glean for our lives. Jesus knew full well what was ahead for him.  He knew that he was going to be condemned to die at the hands of the very people he came to save. They would betray him and convince the Romans, the gentiles to kill him. He would suffer at their hands and die and subsequently be buried, but in three days-time he would once again be alive, that he would rise from the dead. What we see here, is that Jesus was not afraid of death for he knew that was not to be the end of him, but rather that he would then be back in his once glorified state, and would soon after return to his rightful place at the right hand of the Father. Having known that, he also would have known that he was going to be in the place where he would be preparing for us. What we know here, is that we too should not fear death, for it is simply our staging area for life, that we too will rise from the dead and we will be in a glorified state, for this corruptible with put on incorruptible and this perishable with be clothed with imperishable and we will be in that prepared place with Jesus, for we can be assured that he will return to take us there. So then the question we have to ask is why so many of us cling so dearly to this corruptible, perishable life? Is it because this is known and the life everlasting is still in some sense the unknown? Jesus knows all things and he has told us all that we need to know about the life after the death of our bodies and, therefore it is not the unknown, but the known. So then why do we cling to this life? Why do we do anything and everything to keep it going? It is strange. We can understand why those who have no hope in Jesus, who have rejected Him and live for their own self pleasures would not embrace death. Of course, so many of them think because they are a good person they will go to heaven, but then if that is true, why do they still put off death for as long as they possibly can? Now, Jesus also knew this was his time. There were times when he avoided Jerusalem so that he could continue his ministry among the people, but now he knew the time was right. That too may be a clue for us, that we may know when the time is right, for the Spirit will tell us our time has come and we should face our destiny, our future of everlasting life. Until then we will continue to minister among God’s people, right up to our time. Jesus never retired from ministry, nor should we. Let us live this life to its fullest until the beginning of our everlasting life, for we know what’s ahead.

 

The Family

 

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK

THE FAMILY

Mark 10:28-31

28 Peter said to him, "We have left everything to follow you!"

29 "I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields — and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first." 

NIV

There is a difference of thought by our scholars of old regarding these words of Jesus, but of course, they are of old and the world, and the church, were quite different in their times than of ours today. Why would that matter and why did we even consider that it mattered? There was a great deal more formality in both society and, in perhaps a greater sense, of purity or at least puritanical thinking in the church. So their interpretations may well have been influenced by the current sentiment of thought within the Church. In addition, we also have to always consider their denominational bias which also has some impact on their writings. So do we disregard them? We too have certain aspects of both our society in the world and the church which may well have some bearing on how we approach the word. So how do we handle these words of Jesus? Was he just speaking to his disciples because after his ascension they did travel the countryside preaching the gospel and as was the custom of that day, as they traveled they would have found lodging in homes of people friendly to their message? So in a sense, as they may have left many families behind, they found a far greater family of believers ahead. Certainly today we might find lodging on occasion among friends in other towns, but most likely the great abundance of hotels are our lodging. Nevertheless, there is another sense we might take his words. Although our ancestral family will always be our family as we are connected by genetics, there may well be a separation due to our becoming a follower of Jesus. Our moral compasses have taken to point in different directions. Our views of current events may well have even caused a chasm between us. Yet, as we gather in the house of God and with those other believers we find a closeness, a new family as it is, with those who love the Lord as we do, and we may well find a far greater number than we ever had in our genetic family. What we can also be certain of is that as we left any family behind for the sake of the gospel we absolutely will find eternal life. Once again, a promise by Jesus and He has never failed to keep his promise. Yes, we will always love our family members from which we were born into. There will never nor could ever be anything that would shake our love for them. However, they may not feel the same, and feel that we have left them, or betrayed them in some manner and thus in a certain sense persecute us with their criticism of our faith. This is certainly true in other cultures today, where one who accepts Jesus is considered dead by their family and cast out. Yet, the truth still stands, that as we leave one family in one sense, we gain a far greater number in the family of God, and we gain eternal life. As far as the first and last, we may never know exactly what he meant.  This could be the Jews and the Gentiles, as the Jews who were first, rejected Jesus and the last, us Gentiles are now first, and at some point, the Jews will return to Jesus, as it is said that all of Israel will be saved. That could mean Israel as a nation, or as Paul has said whoever is circumcised in the heart is now Israel. Either way, we can be sure that it does not matter first or last, we all will be there in heaven with Jesus and all the family of God.

Passing Through

 

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK

PASSING THROUGH

Mark 10:24-31

24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said 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 a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."  26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, "Who then can be saved?" 27 Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."  28 Peter said to him, "We have left everything to follow you!" 29 "I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields — and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first." 

NIV

There have been those who have decided to make the eye of the needle into what it may not actually mean. There is a thought that the church of the Holy Sepulchre was built over an ancient gate in the wall of the old city of Jerusalem called the “needle gate”, but that has not been proved. When we take his words within the context of Jesus’s response to the rich young man about going and selling everything and then come and follow Jesus, we have to see this statement about the camel and the eye of the needle as a hyperbole. However, if we were to say there was such a gate, it would have been like many of the gates within walled cities which have a large opening that would allow the main trade traffic access to the markets, which would include camels loaded with goods. At night for security reasons these gates would be closed, however, they would also have a small door just large enough for one man to pass through, so it would permit a traveler to still enter the city for lodging. Perhaps one camel, if he were to be unloaded of all its goods, might squeeze through and this may be what Jesus was meaning in that in order to enter the kingdom of God this rich young man, and all others would need to unload the trappings of the world or the idol of wealth. That is still the meaning if Jesus meant a sewing needle, and then its meaning would be even greater, as we are absolutely positive a camel could never pass through one of those eyes. We even have difficulty getting a small thread through those small eyes of a needle. His disciples understood his meaning because they ask as to who then could be saved, for not a single camel could ever get through the eye of a needle. Here is one of the greatest truths in all of scripture, at least in our mind's eye. It is impossible for us to do anything to get saved, but it is possible with God for us to be saved. Our salvation has nothing to do with our efforts, our abilities, or any amount of our doing good things or deeds. All our efforts are likened as to trying to get ourselves to pass through an eye of a needle, we just cannot do it. That is the same with the kingdom of God. We cannot get in, we are left looking in from the outside if we try to get in by something we have or did. Jesus is the only way in, period, and all we can do is accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. All things are possible with God, we just need to sit back and let God do that which he does, save us. We will leave the rest of what Jesus said until later, for now, let us be content to know that God can do all things, and we cannot do anything to enter into the kingdom, except believe in Him. Once we believe, then we will pass through the eye of the needle.       

He Knows

 

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK

HE KNOWS

Mark 10:17-25

17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 18 "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good — except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'"  20 "Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy." 21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."  22 At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. 23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!"  24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said 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 a rich man to enter

NIV

Before we get into the concept of the deception of wealth, we should consider this idea of being good. We have said once in a message to the people of God, that we have never met a good person. We have, however, met many sinners saved by grace. Jesus makes it very clear that the one who is good is God alone. Although the man was correct when he called Jesus a good teacher, as Jesus is good because He is God in the flesh. Still, being in the flesh and subject to the limitations of the flesh, although he certainly demonstrated great divine power, including the authority to forgive sin, he still appeared to the people as a man, and not God. This is why Jesus made that distinction that only God is good. We have heard some Christians talk about being a “Good Christian” and that is simply against the words of Jesus, for he clearly said no man is good. We are either a Christian or we are not, but we cannot be a “Good Christian”, for only God is good all the time and all the time God is good. So let us be honest with ourselves and see the truth that we are but sinners saved by grace, and that as much effort as we can muster, we are still not going to be good, as we cannot be good enough, for we still fail, still falter, still sin, as much as we would want not to, for the spirit may be willing,, but the flesh is weak. A thought, an attitude that sneaks in, a misspoken word, or unintentional misdeed, or even a willful act, happens sometime in our daily lives. So let us not deceive ourselves into thinking we are a “Good Christian” just because we think we are doing good things, and not doing what we think are bad things. First of all, we are surely not doing all the good things there are to do, therefore we have already missed the mark, and cannot be considered good. Secondly, we cannot make sure we are not doing all the bad things, but only the short little list we have made up. Now as to the question this young man asked. What we also know is that Jesus did not answer him directly by just telling him to take up his cross and follow him, that he can inherit eternal life by accepting Jesus as the Messiah, that by faith in Jesus he would inherit eternal life, for we all are saved by grace, and not by works lest any of us should boast. But Jesus knew this man’s heart and although he did all the right things according to the law, his heart was not in the right place, as he still put his trust in his wealth. There is a great danger for anyone who puts their trust in the principles of this material world, who sees their income as their source for life. The word is very forthright regarding the fact we cannot serve both God and money. That is not to say we should all be poor, but Jesus tells this man to sell everything and give it all to the poor. That is a bit extreme, but he was making the point, showing his young man he had his priorities in the wrong place, being religious, doing all the right things, but still trusting in the world’s system for his life. He could not do both, trust in his money and follow Jesus to eternal life. We could continue about how difficult it is to gain eternal life when we put our faith in money to meet all our needs and wants, and we store up as much as we can for a day we may never see, for as that rich farmer, tonight our soul may be required of us. But we will leave that for now, and simply reassert our faith in Jesus, our trust in him, not just for eternal life, but for our life in the here and now. We reaffirm that we will always seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and we will believe, as He has promised, He will add all the other stuff, our needs, to our lives, as He knows the plans He has for us. He knows our needs according to His plan. He knows all He has in store for us, and where we need to live, work and worship. Just as He knew that young man’s heart, He knows our heart.

In His Arms

 

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK

IN HIS ARMS

Mark 10:13-16

13 People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."  16 And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

NIV

Once again we see this child-like faith that is needed in order to, not just see but enter into the kingdom of God. As we know, most attitudes are learned over time, and when we were little children, small enough to be taken up in the arms, we did not have any of the learned adult attitudes that can prevent us from entering into the kingdom of God. Jesus has told us that it is not what goes into us that defiles our body, for it enters the stomach and at some point leaves the body, but it is what comes out of our mouth, our words, which defile our bodies. This is what he meant by that as we think so are we. What is in our heart, or rather our mind, our attitudes which dictate our behaviors or our interactions with others and we learn those attitudes as we grow up from childhood. So Jesus wants us to go back and remember the innocence of our childhood, the simple faith of believing what we were told by our parents, just pure faith, without doubt, without complications of trying to discover some hidden agenda or reason for what they said. This is the faith we need to come to Jesus, to hear his words and believe everything he said and trust that it is all truth, all of it, the whole of it, and not try to decide which of what is said that was only for them, and not for us, or what happened then no longer applies to us today, or try to make more of it then it should be, or that God put in all these mysteries that we have to decipher what is meant. Children do not care about such things, they only have faith and believe. Now that is another thought which strikes us as well. Receiving, or having faith in the kingdom of God like a little child is also being taken up in the arms of Jesus and being blessed. To not just be leaning on the everlasting arms of Jesus, as the lyrics of that song by the same words, “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms”, but to be taken up into His arms as he did with those children. That is the blessing, it is to be held in His everlasting arms. He promised that no one would ever be able to snatch us from his hand, or we could also take that to mean His arms. We often say that we have to hold on to the truth, but the truth is also that Jesus holds onto us. We also say that we should bless the Lord, as another song would suggest, Bless the Lord, oh my soul and all that is within me, but that truth is also that Jesus blesses us, as we come to him, as we accept the truth about the kingdom of God like a little child, with pure unashamed faith, He Blesses us and takes us up in His everlasting arms.

Becoming One

 

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK

BECOMING ONE

Mark 10:1-12

10:1 Jesus then left that place and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds of people came to him, and as was his custom, he taught them. 2 Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" 3 "What did Moses command you?" he replied. 4 They said, "Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away." 5 "It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law," Jesus replied. 6 "But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female.'   7'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife,   8 and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."  10 When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. 11 He answered, "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. 12 And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery." 

NIV

This is not about the testing of the Pharisees, to trap Jesus, although it might have that element in this narrative, first when would have to know all that Jesus was teaching, and Mark leaves all that out. The real issue is marriage and divorce which Jesus does deal with both with the Pharisees and later alone with his disciples. Here is where we get into the idea of whether the culture has influenced the church, or the church is influencing the culture. Because there are divorce and remarriage within the church or the body of Christ, certainly not as raging as it is in the world, it would seem the world’s culture has invaded the culture of the church. The very first question that we must ask is when two people marry, are they joined together by God and become one? That is to say, does a civil marriage constitute God joining two and making the one? We would have to think it should, but then when man decides who should be married, it may not be what God has determined, but like the Israelites under the law of Moses, their hearts are hard, they do not or have not accepted Christ into their hearts and therefore have hard hearts. So then in the culture of the world, filled with hard hearts, divorce and remarriage are permitted without any stigma attached to that practice. However, for those of us whose hearts have been softened by Jesus, who live, not by the traditions of men, but by the word of God, we should be living differently. Here, we have been married in the sight of God, we are asking the blessing of God upon our joining of two people and we have to believe then that we two have become one. Jesus makes sure to tell them that it was God’s plan from the start, from creation, that when he created woman from man, He intended them to still be one. Of course, in our culture of individualism, including this recent, “Me too” movement along with all the gay, lesbian, transgender, anti-gender, and who knows what ideologies, the culture has adapted, there is no concept of two becoming one. Yet, here we are, members of the body of Christ and we are to believe that when God is blessing our marriage, he has made the two of us one, and then the question remains. How can someone divide one and get two? How can man divide the one God created? Do we simply ignore God when, as believers, we divorce? Some have said, because of what Jesus said to his disciples in private that divorce and remarriage have to be the unforgivable sin. But then what we have to come back to is whether when we marry, are we doing so in the flesh only, or are we joining together in the sight of God and becoming one. We think, we have to believe, that when we are joined together by God we are one. We also have to believe the world’s culture has invaded the church and we believers have accepted this practice of divorce perhaps all too often. That is not a judgment against anyone that finds themselves in a divorce, for no one knows all the circumstances of another. What we know for sure is we two are one and will remain one, until death do us part, we believe God has joined us two and we have become one.

A Salty Character

 

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK

A SALTY CHARACTER

Mark 9:49-50

49 Everyone will be salted with fire.

50 "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other." 

NIV

Although Jesus included this statement with those about cutting off a member of ourselves that causes us to sin, and about causing someone else to sin, we included no comment about this fire and salt. The reason we left it alone then was that it appears to be very complicated and we have to spend time pondering on these words, before we might be able to glean a truth we can apply to us. When Jesus said that everyone will be salted with fire, which had to include us, for we are or would be considered one of the “everyone” he was speaking about. So what does it mean to be salted with fire? When we look back at the law, which we think Jesus was referring to, all the grain offering the Israelites were to bring to the altar were to include salt.

Lev 2:11-13

11 "'Every grain offering you bring to the LORD must be made without yeast, for you are not to burn any yeast or honey in an offering made to the LORD by fire. 12 You may bring them to the LORD as an offering of the firstfruits, but they are not to be offered on the altar as a pleasing aroma. 13 Season all your grain offerings with salt. Do not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offerings; add salt to all your offerings.

NIV

We would have to think that as we have also been instructed that we should offer ourselves as living sacrifices to God, that we should be salted with fire. Now to be salted with fire might mean that the fire could stand for trials, but Jesus also went on to say that salt is good and if it loses its saltiness, it cannot be salty again, and this was explained a little fully in Matthew’s account when Jesus told his disciples, and again that would include us, that we are the salt of the earth and if the salt loses its saltiness it is no good, but to be thrown out and trampled by men. So then if we lose our saltiness, what happens to us? Certainly in the time of Leviticus when the law about salting the grain offer and even in the time of Jesus salt was mainly used as a preservative against decomposition or deterioration which is also called putrefaction. Hence we are either to preserve ourselves unto God, or we are preserved for the future life in the new city of Jerusalem, or we are to be the salt of the earth, preserving it from destruction. However, when we consider salt kept organics from putrefaction, then if we are salted by fire, if we are a sacrifice unto God and are salted, then we should be kept, or keep ourselves from rotting, as being rotted by the impurities of this world. This world is decomposing right before our eyes, it has lost any sense of saltiness and it will, as it is being trampled on by men. Although many of them are focused on environmental issues, they are without salt and thus are trampling on this earth and themselves. They have lost whatever saltiness they might once have had if any at all. Once we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, He salted us with fire, the fire of the Holy Spirit, as it appeared over the heads of the disciples. When we are told not to quench the Spirit that is also in the sense of quenching a fire, extinguishing the flames. So then we let us be that salty character.

Living Mindful

 

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK

LIVING MINDFUL

 

Mark 9:42-50

42 "And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck. 43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out.   45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.   47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 where "'their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.' 49 Everyone will be salted with fire. 50 "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other." 

NIV

Jesus continues with his warning about coming to him as little children including his answer about the unnamed person who has been casting out demons in his name. Now he goes on still with this child in his arms, warning about causing this innocent humble child to sin. Again, Jesus is using the child as an example of the type of faith and character a believer should have and be. That fact is it is not good to destroy the faith of another, in fact, we are instructed to build each other up, to encourage each other, until we all reach unity in the faith. Those whose faith is strong should lift up those whose faith is not so strong, instead of the opposite. Jesus also gives a very stern warning about even causing ourselves to sin. Surely he did not mean to actually cut off a hand, feet, or cut out our eye, but there is this warning against either being the cause of someone else’s sin or of our own. This goes back to being like this child, for they did not cause people to sin in their innocents. But we adults with our prideful or arrogant or boastful attitudes can cause someone to be envious, jealous, or simply greedy, wanting what we have. There are many ways in which our behavior or attitude could cause another to sin. We have heard some say that is not their problem, but the one who is jealous or whatever has the problem. What do we do with these words of Jesus about causing someone to sin? Should we not be mindful of our words and deeds so as to not be the cause of another’s sin? Then what about our own sin? How can we stop doing sin with our hands, foot, or eye? We think the idea here is that we should not place ourselves willing in situations that would please our senses. If in the physical sense, one member of our body were in danger of taking our lives, we would willing to have it taken off as to continue to live, to die a more natural death later. So it is with our soul. If we take our pleasures willingly or walk willing into situations that would incite sin within us, we need to shut off ourselves from that. Yes, we may not be able to be absolutely without sin, as we have discussed being the descendent of Adam, being man, and guilty of both original and personal sin. But as we have been forgiven and redeemed, we should not continue to willfully aim to sin. We fail, we may give in, we may make that mistake unwillingly, but the point is we should not willfully decide to either sin or cause another to sin. That is not our goal, as we desire to please God rather than ourselves. Yet, at the same time, we act in a manner in which we also enjoy. We do not act against ourselves or cause ourselves harm. So how do we handle wanting that which is pleasing and yet not pleasing in sin? We can like things or pleasures that are not sinful, but we have to watch not to cross that line. We simply need to be mindful of this warning so as to live rightly.  

In His Name

 

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK

IN HIS NAME

Mark 9:38-41

38 "Teacher," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us."

39 "Do not stop him," Jesus said. "No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us. 41 I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.

NIV

We do not know anything about this man who was driving out demons, except what we might guess. He could have been one of John the Baptist’s disciples who, at the suggestion, or command of John, followed Jesus, but was not one of the twelve. He could have been one of those seventy that Jesus had sent out in pairs and returned to continue his service in the name of Jesus. What it would seem is the twelve had that attitude of “Us four and no more”. They were the special ones, the ones Jesus specifically called to be his disciples, and therefore all others were just the common believers and had no right to do any miracles in the name of Jesus. Jesus made it clear that a person is either in or out, or we should say, for him or against him. If anyone does good things in the name of Jesus they will not lose their reward. However, let’s see how much of a reward there is if we are trying to do good things in our name. That is the concept of all the humanistic endeavors, done in their name, the name of man. Still, what we should focus more on here in this narrative is not the man, himself who is doing good things in the name of Jesus, but of his disciples, as we have already mentioned having that self-righteous, “Us four and no more” attitude. We can see in a certain sense how this still exists in our post-modern church. There is some division, between the ministers and the common believers. A closed club of those who each denomination has authorized to be called pastor, or evangelist, or whatever other titles they confer on a person who meets their requirements. The pulpit is usually guarded quite well against just another doing good things in the name of Jesus. Oh, sure we might entrust a few others with some title like a deacon, or elder, or such, but we don’t actually expect them to meet all the scriptural qualifications. Then we add other titles like church board or some other leadership group title that have no biblical reference at all. Still, it is some kind of closed club that one has to somehow gain access to from the approval of men, rather than the approval of God, or simply doing the work of God in the name of Jesus, no matter who we are, or the title we possess. That is the story of this unnamed man, doing the work of God in the name of Jesus. Should we not all praise God for anyone who is doing the work of God in the name of Jesus? What matters of the title, what matters of any distinction other than being a child of God, a follower of Jesus? So then let us all be about doing the work of God in His name.

Being Children

 

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK

BEING CHILDREN

Mark 9:36-37

36 He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me." 

NIV

We are still in this conversation about who is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven and of course, Jesus has already answered in one way by saying whoever is last is first, or in other words, we all should be humble and have a servant's heart. However, Jesus continues with taking a child in his arms and makes this statement about welcoming one of these children in his name is welcoming him as well as he who sent him, which is the Father, of course. That in and of itself seems a little strange that we should welcome children. Perhaps many church denominations have made a whole children’s ministry using this as the basis for welcoming the children. However, we would also have to include that which Matthew recorded in order to get this fuller meaning. In Matthew 18 Jesus makes this comparison of becoming like this little child. Jesus tells them unless they change and become like little children, they will never enter the kingdom of heaven. This is very clear, yet in words that are not so clear, so that he who has an ear can hear. Of course, we who are adults cannot go backward and become a child again, although some of us go through what we call our second childhood. The point Jesus was making is the spirit of a child. They have a humble teachable character. They have not yet learned to be haughty, to be prideful and boastful and they are destitute of ambition. This is what Jesus is speaking about here in relationship to being last, being a servant to all. Being converted from those attitudes of adulthood to those of this child. It also would tell us the belief that children have. They have complete faith in their parents to supply their needs.  In many cases, or maybe even most children, they do not even have to ask, the parents simply give them their needs out of love. The faith we had as a child to believe in the Easter bunny, the tooth fairy, and Santa Claus, all fictitious characters because we were told they were real, and our parents are the ones who proved their reality to us as little children. So it is with our faith in Jesus. Our parent, the Father has proven the reality of his Son Jesus to us. But we must have faith like a little child, simply believing because we have been told He is real. Yet, we also have been converted, changed, because of the seal we have, the Holy Spirit, who has come to confirm all the truth to us. This is about having faith, believing like a little child, and having that kind of spirit, humble and teachable. So we welcome that faith child within us, and we welcome Jesus and the Father. True, we also have been told to put away childish things, the way a child reasons. Paul makes that case in his letter to the Corinthians. Yet Jesus wants us to be like this child. We have been changed from the attitudes of adulthood, those attitudes of pride, envy, jealousy, ambition, or greed,  to those we once had as a child, for we are God’s children. Therefore we need to live, being children.

Being Last

 

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK

BEING LAST

Mark 9:33-35

33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the road?"  34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. 35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." 

NIV

As if he didn’t know. We have to believe the only reason Jesus asked them what they were arguing about on the road, was that he wanted them to be honest with Him. However, Matthew records they actually asked him who would be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. We would have to think this is the same moment in time, but why then is there an apparent contradiction? Maybe this is not the same time in their lives with Jesus, because Matthew puts this at the time of the tax collector and Peter fishing so as to get a coin to pay the tax at the command of Jesus. Mark does not say that here, nor about other things that Jesus taught. Still, Mark does make mention about the children next and that is what Jesus talks about as recorded by Matthew. Nevertheless, let us consider how Mark puts this so that we can glean some truth here. What can we think about or discuss among ourselves that Jesus is not aware of? He knew what they were arguing about and simply wanted them to be honest with him about their discussion. His response, his teaching about whoever wants to be first, must be the very last, and be the servant of all, makes it clear that he knew of their argument about which of them would be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. We also have this situation about the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee asking about her sons sitting on the right and left of Jesus when he becomes king. Our humanist nature wants to be recognized, to be exalted or lifted up, to be shown some appreciation for being better than others. We are not by nature humble people, looking to serve others rather than being served. Of course, we would not make it a point to say we want to be served, as that would really look rather selfish and we do want people to think highly of us, to see us as a “Good Christian”, which does smack a little of being prideful. In addition, we have been trained all our lives to be first, to win the race, the contest. We watch sports, not to see the loser, but to root for the winner. We have been told to be all we can be, to make a success of ourselves, to win the prize. So then how do we move from the nature that wants to be served and wants to be first to one that wants to serve and wants to be last? It has to come down to see the fact that we are all sinners saved by grace and that we all are to serve one another and there is no greatest, except of course Jesus, but then he made it a point to tell us that he did not come to be served but to serve. He, being the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, served us all, but laying down his life so that we may have life. We have to take on the nature of Christ, putting the old nature on the cross, as we noticed before. We should not worry about who is first and who is last, but that we are all going there together if we are in Christ. But in the meantime, we should still have the attitude of being a servant, both to Christ and to men, in other words, being last.

Ask Him About It

 

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK

ASK HIM ABOUT IT

Mark 9:30-32

30 They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, 31 because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise."  32 But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.

NIV

We are aware of this well-known fact that Jesus was betrayed and we know it was Judas who did it, and we know Jesus was killed by being crucified on the cross. We also know full-well that Jesus rose from the dead and is alive today, sitting at the right hand of the Father continually interceding for us as well, if he has not already finished it, preparing a place for us. The reason he is, or has, preparing, or prepared this place is that He is coming back for us so that we may be where he is. All this is known and we also know that we can ask the Father anything in the name of Jesus and he will do it. Yet, here are the men who have had the privilege of walking this earth alongside of Jesus, actually seeing all the miracles, even doing some themselves when he sent them out to do so, and being able to hear firsthand his teachings, but were afraid to ask him a question because they did not understand what he said. It is true that fear can cripple us, and keep us from gaining insight. As we read the scriptures we should be able to understand the truth, yet it also seems that we hear sermons and we are wowed because of the insight of another, or read some commentary and are amazed at how that one viewed the scripture. But, if when we read, have we ever asked someone what the word meant when we read a particular portion. Surely there seem to be some mysterious sections, such as with certain prophets or that revelation that was given to John. But are we afraid to ask the questions because we are not sure what it meant? We may not actually have to go to someone and ask as we have so many resources, if we would just avail ourselves of them, do the work, study, research, and pray, seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit to lead us into all, and again not some, not just a little, but all the truth regarding the word of God. God does not want us to be kept in the dark. He wants us to understand, to comprehend, and to gain insight into all the truth about Him and His relationship with his creation. So it is alright to ask without fear and that includes asking him for anything. He has said over and over again to ask and we will receive and that does not just mean about material things but is also includes understanding. We just need to ask him about it.

 

Possible with Prayer

 

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK

POSSIBLE WITH PRAYER

Mark 9:14-29

 14 When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him. 16 "What are you arguing with them about?" he asked. 17 A man in the crowd answered, "Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not." 19 "O unbelieving generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me."  20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. 21 Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?" "From childhood," he answered. 22 "It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us." 23 "'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."  24 Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" 25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit. "You deaf and mute spirit," he said, "I command you, come out of him and never enter him again."  26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, "He's dead." 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up. 28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we drive it out?" 29 He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer." 

NIV

This is a large narrative, but it is complete and it would not be right to break it down into little sections. There is a singular truth and that is about belief. When Jesus said that everything is possible for him who believes, we have to believe he was telling the truth. It appears that his disciples had yet come to the realization that they could have driven that demon out, but apparently they did not believe it. When Jesus told them those types of demons require prayer to command to leave a person, he was being kind in some sense, instead of telling them they failed to believe. We should also note that this translation as well as many others, does not include the words “and fasting”. There are only a few manuscripts that have those words and the Greek interlinear does not. So perhaps Jesus did not include it, but just told them they needed to pray first before attempting to command such a difficult demon. Here is one of those truths we could learn from. Could we say that the one and most difficult sin to overcome is in some sense our personal demon? Then we will never overcome it unless we pray to God, then Jesus will tell it to leave and never return again. If we attempt to overcome on our own merits, our own abilities, we will fail. We cannot will ourselves to overcome it, it requires prayer. The second truth we should consider is the first response of Jesus about not believing and that everything is possible to him who believes. That means everything, not some things, but yet here they were not able to do everything nor are we. Why are we not able to do everything? Is it really because we do not believe? Is this everything really mean everything or it is just related to driving out demons? That would seem to fit the context, yet at other times Jesus also said that if we ask anything in his name he would do it for us. He also said that with men it is not possible, but all things are possible with God. If we believe, our lives should reflect that belief somehow other than just saying we believe, and acting sort of spiritual in church. Yes, we should take a lesson from Jesus and go into the church and teach the truth about the gospel. Yes, we should take a lesson from Jesus and heal the sick or drive out some demons. But the fact is we first need to believe. Are we just going through the motions or do we really believe? Would that also mean, if we believe, we could be free from all sin? Do we give ourselves the excuse that we are just human, and as a descendant of Adam, our nature is sinful, so, therefore, we will sin? Have we not been adopted, accepted by God as his children, and therefore we are not descendants of Adam, but of God. So then, if we believe, all things are possible, including overcoming sin. Maybe we would rather not believe so strongly, but just enough to be saved so that we can give ourselves into some sin once and awhile and not feel guilty about it, excusing ourselves because we are human. Maybe we are, and maybe we will never overcome all sin, but it sure seems that Jesus said that if we believe, all things, everything, not excluding anything, are possible, but it will require prayer.

The Whole Truth and Nothing But the Truth

 

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK

THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH

Mark 9:9-13

9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what "rising from the dead" meant. 11 And they asked him, "Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?" 12 Jesus replied, "To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected? 13 But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him." 

NIV

After seeing that amazing, extraordinary, supernatural event of Jesus being transfigured and having Elijah and Moses appear, Jesus tells them to keep it to themselves until after he has risen from the dead. Not only are they supposed to keep quiet about the transformation, they now have to wonder just what he meant by being raised from the dead. If that had been us, we are not sure we could have kept that secret. But then we are not supposed to keep any secret about Jesus, as he has already been raised from the dead and has already ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father continually making intercession for us. In Fact, we are to boldly go forth and tell the world all about Jesus. Well, back to the narrative. So they ask him this question about why the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first. What we know is that Jesus was not actually saying that Elijah the prophet, who he was just talking with, would return from the dead and come before Jesus was raised from the dead. We know from both the accounts of Matthew and Luke that Jesus was speaking about John the Baptist. John did come before Jesus and his message was about repenting and making straight the way for the Lord. He restored many of the erroneous doctrines about the Messiah. Luke records that the angel told Johns, father, Zechariah, that his son would have the spirit and power of Elijah. But what lesson do we get from this narrative? We know that all scripture is profitable for rebuking, correcting, teaching, and training in righteousness, so then what do we glean from this portion of the word other than history. Because of the account of Matthew, we can be sure the disciples understood Jesus was talking about John the Baptist. What this tells us is that Jesus did not keep secrets from them as he revealed everything to them. This also gives us the truth that everything has been revealed to us as well. Some want to say there is a mysterium tremendum et fasinian, the doctrine of both a dreadful and awe-inspiring God. This has a certain sense of mystery, which we cannot know for sure, such as a murder mystery in which we are not revealed who the murderer is until the very end. That would be like when the end of times, the Last Day when we see God clearly as we stand before him. Until then, we live with this mystery. But we are not completely in agreement with that doctrine. The Word of God reveals all we need to know about God, and about Jesus and the Holy Spirit, in fact, the Spirit leads us into all, not some, not just a portion, not holding back until, but all truth. So if the Spirit leads us into all truth, then where is there any mystery? True, we do not know what God looks like at this point, but we know all about Him. Just as we cannot see the wind, but we know all about wind, we know why it occurs and exactly why it is stronger than other times, and we can see the effects of wind. We can explain every aspect of wind without ever actually seeing it. This is how we can know everything about God, about Jesus and the Spirit. We may not be able to see them in the physical realm, but we can know all about them from the word, and about their power, the effects of the Spirit in our lives. Why would God hold back any truth about himself? Why would God created a mystery about himself, so we could not know him? What we learn is that Jesus told his disciples all the truth and he has told us all the truth and nothing but the truth.

Metamorphosed

 

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK

METAMORPHOSED 

Mark 9:2-8

2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. 4 And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. 5 Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters — one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." 6(He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.) 7 Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!" 8 Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.

NIV

This is an account that is told from the mouths of those who stood there and witnessed this extraordinary event. Although Jesus told them not to say a word until the Son of man was raised from the dead, which we will include in some more conversation in our next look into this gospel, they did eventually tell, because Jesus did rise from the dead. So what happened here? First, what we want to discover is what it means to be transfigured. We seem to think we know, but how and why it happened is the question. The Greek word that is used there is the word that we have come to know as metamorphose. We see this in the way a caterpillar changes over time into a butterfly. It changes form, and that is what happened to Jesus, He changed form, from being fully human to being fully divine, or at least he appeared as fully divine, yet still that Greek word would indicate he went through a metamorphose, a change in form. He glowed, his clothe were shining brightly, his clothes were whiter than anything a human could get white. (The word bleach is not in the Greek text). What is also interesting is that Elijah and Moses appeared, just showed up, as if by magic. The text does not say they descended from heaven, but that they just appeared, as the Greek word implies they just became able to be seen, or visible. This is as if something that was invisible right before our eyes, suddenly appeared so we could see it. What is also interesting is that we know that Elijah, as we are told in 2 Kings, he was taken up into the heavens in a chariot of fire with horses of fire, but Moses, as we are told in Deuteronomy died on Mt Nebo and the Lord buried him there, although, to this day, his grave has never been found. We are also told that Moses was the last man to see God face to face, in fact, the only man, and since him, no one has done as many mighty acts or miracles in the eyes of Israel since him. Of Course, we know now that Jesus has done even more than Moses ever did, but then Jesus is God. Yet here both of them appeared and we would have to believe in a transfigured state as Jesus was, and they talked, they conversed. We are not told as to how long this conversation lasted or as to its content, but what we are told is that the Father also entered into the conversation, but mostly just to Peter, James and John. What must they have thought? They had to be so amazed, maybe even frighten or terrified as this sight and then to hear a voice from the heavens. So what do we learn from this? There are two truths we could see. First, this is the power of God that is at work in our lives. This transfigured Christ, this ascended Jesus who sits at the right hand of the Father is at work in us. We know that we talk about it, and we accept that we have been saved, and we will one day be with Jesus, yet this power, this awesome power that can transform himself or be transformed by the Father into light, and make two men who have long been gone appear with Jesus, this power is within us. That is almost too much to comprehend, yet it is true. Second, we also have gone through this metamorphose in that we have been changed from that old self into a new, born-again self. Yes, it is true that we will actually go through a physical metamorphose, a change from being corruptible to incorruptible, from being perishable into imperishable. We will be changed in a twinkling of an eye. But it is this change we have experienced in this life, from being dead in our sins, to alive in Christ which is the most remarkable change as if being that caterpillar, only able to crawl around so ever so slowly into a beautiful butterfly able to take to the wind and soar. Yes, we who wait upon the Lord will soar on wings, like eagles, we will run and not grow weary, we will walk and not grow faint. We have the power of God in us, so let us do some soaring because we have gone through metamorphosing, we have been changed.

With Power

 

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK

WITH POWER

Mark 9:1

9:1 And he said to them, "I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power." 

NIV

Jesus certainly did not mean his disciples would live until the day of either the rapture of the church or the Last Day of Judgment. So then what would they see before they died? They would see the kingdom of God come with power. We know they all lived through the day of Pentecost and received the power of God from on high. The Holy Spirit came upon them with power, and they spilled out in the streets of Jerusalem praising God and Peter actually stood up on his soapbox and preached one of the all-time best sermons ever in that thousands believed in the Lord Jesus. If that is not the start of the kingdom of God coming with power, what is? Everyone, except Judas, witnessed the fall of the Jewish nation in AD 70, and the whole Jewish system fall apart. They witnessed the church growing with the power of God at work. We also live within the kingdom of God with power. We witnessed His kingdom come into our lives with power. We know nothing happens unless His kingdom is at work with power. How would anyone ever imagine the kingdom of God without also imagining great power? It is possible that we could live within this kingdom and not experience its power. That is we could be living, in some sense, as a crippled Christian, trying to live under our own power. The only way we can stand our ground is to put on His armor, which is His power in our lives. If we are living in His armor then we have His sword, His very words with which to defeat the enemy of our souls. This is the power that resides in the kingdom of God. His kingdom has come, and it is here now with all the power we would ever need to survive in this world, to finish the race, and finish it in style. His disciples saw the advance of the kingdom of God with all its power. Although we are evidence of His kingdom coming into our lives, we also should be able to see His kingdom advancing with power in the lives of others. We know His kingdom is still spreading throughout the world, and in other countries with great power. What we have to make sure is that His power continues to advance in our lives. We cannot remain stagnant in our walk, or just walk in a ho-hum sort of way, ordinary way, living our own path and including being a Christian as part of our lives. No, we are supposed to live in His kingdom with the power of God at work in us and through us. We are supposed to see the kingdom of God come with power.

Everyone, Every time, Every place

 

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK

EVERYONE EVERY TIME, EVERY PLACE

Mark 8:34-38

34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37 Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels." 

NIV

Page three, now it is the end of the story. As we have considered taking up our cross, crucifying our old self, and this idea of trying to gain the world and follow Jesus at the same time, we now need to take a look at this adulterous generation and how that fits into whether we are ashamed of Jesus and his words, in the least little bit, or we are bold outspoken followers of Him. First, we should try to define what he meant by an adulterous generation. What we should remember is that all the people in the world are the creation of God. He created mankind to have fellowship with him. That is our first and foremost responsibility here on earth during our lives. Our purpose is designed to bring honor and glory to God. Out of all He created, we are his crowning glory, for we have been created in His image, and Jesus came to earth to die on the cross, taking all our sins, that is all of all man’s sins upon himself and redeeming all of mankind. However, when any one particular person refuses to accept this and is carrying on an affair with the world instead of being the bride of Christ, they are committing adultery. Here, again it comes back to us who say we have decided to follow Jesus and yet we might well, in some sense, have a love affair with the things of the world. We may not endorse the ideologies of the world, or accept other world religions who worship false gods, but the things, the stuff this life has to offer, our infatuation with sports, and its stars, or entertainment and its stars, or all the material goods that we can collect may be considered having some affection for them, when we are to love the Lord our God with all our mind, all our soul, all our spirit, and all our strength, or body. Is our attention to all those things being ashamed of Jesus in any sense? We have to live our daily lives and do the daily stuff in life and go about being in this world, carrying on the affairs of the living, which have to include certain stuff. But what Jesus was talking about is those, especially those, who seem religious, such as the Pharisees did, and look to their form of beliefs, their form of ideologies, and refuse to see the truth about Jesus and His word. Therein lies that adultery and, being a sinful generation. So when we go back to those traditions that we have established, and that could be how so many different denominations have evolved, we might be coming up with our own form of religion, or traditional thoughts about Jesus and his word. Why so many different ideas, or interpretations of what is supposed to be the truth? Who of us could be that adulterous generation? We all, at least most, accept Jesus is the Lord and Savior of the world, so then is all that other stuff, other particular beliefs matter? Jesus had to be talking about those who refuse to accept Him or His word. We are sure that we do not fall into that category, as we do accept Him and His word and we are not ashamed to admit that to everyone, every time, every place.

No Grey Zone

 

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK

NO GRAY ZONE

Mark 8:34-38

34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37 Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels." 

NIV

Having picked up our cross, with the old self, being crucified upon it, we should also consider the rest of what we are supposed to be doing. Because we have that cross we have lost that old self in order to live a life that is saved by the gospel. However, we still live in this world and are in some sense subject to its rules. This does not mean its ideologies or its practices, but these rules are about our physical placement. That is we have a need for a home, of whatsoever type or size that is. We have the need for a vehicle of whatsoever type and size that is. We have the need for clothing of whatsoever type or style and size that is. We have the need for food and other such soft goods. How we procure these various needs is usually through some type of occupation, of whatsoever type and size compensation we receive for whatsoever type of our labor we perform. We have certain wants beyond those, what might be considered our basic needs. The question which Jesus is posing here is how much time we spend on those needs, both the basic and those of our wants, our desires to have the things this world has to offer. That is to say, there has to be some difference in needing a good reliable vehicle to get to work, and having the most luxuries one, or two or more, just because we can afford them. How large of a home do we need to live comfortably in? How many toys do we really need? This line of thinking could go on and on regarding so many of the things in this world and the way we live. So the question is about how much of this world are we trying to gain, without losing our soul? Can we effectively do both, follow after the things of the world and follow after Jesus? Do we grab all we can by living by the rules of the world and say we have it because of the blessings of God? This is not to say we cannot have some amount of wealth, as the Lord may well provide more to some than others for His plans in putting us within a certain setting so we can have influence in that setting, while others have less wealth in order to have influence in that setting. It is still about living according to the Lord's plans instead of ours, and this is where our contentment must be, because without that contentment, envy, jealously, greed and such all come into play.  It would seem this is a fine line between the two, but just on which side of the line do we live is the question we must ask ourselves. We need to make sure we are not trying to deceive ourselves, but have an honest internal discussion with the Spirit. Jesus was very clear about us seeking his kingdom first and foremost and he would see to it that all these things would be added upon to us. That is to say that the Lord knows that we need to has certain things to live in the world, and he will provide them as he sees fit. This is about being content in Jesus, rather than pursuing and finding our contentment in the things of the world, which by its rules is never achieved, for its rules work in the premise that we always need more, bigger and better, stuff. So there is no both here, it is either one or the other, as Jesus put it, we cannot serve two masters, God and money, or the principles of God or the principles of this world. This has to be one of those areas where there is no grey zone, it is either black or white.

Taking Up Our Cross

 

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK

TAKING UP OUR CROSS

Mark 8:31-38

 

31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. "Get behind me, Satan!" he said. "You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."  34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37 Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels." 

NIV

Page two, the rest of the story. Having considered just what we have in mind, either the things of men or the things of God, we now need to consider what is meant when Jesus said that if we are going to come after him that we must deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow him. What this appears to be is a condition of coming after Jesus. The condition has to be one of choice, not of compulsion, much like the traditions of even the doctrines of Judaism in that if someone from another religion desired to become Jewish, he must do it of his own free will. So this is with following after Jesus, we must decide to do it from our own free choice, or free will. Although the Spirit will convict us of our sin, we still must make the choice to come after Jesus, to follow him. To deny ourselves is not that simple as we have lived with ourselves all our lives up to the moment we have to make the choice to put the old self aside and pick up our cross and follow Jesus. But the point is that we must put that old self on the cross as Jesus was put on the cross. That old self needs to die. That former life now is dead and we, like Christ, have been resurrected into a new glorified condition. Although Jesus was actually glorified, able to appear in a locked room as well, and we are not glorified in that sense, but we are now holy and blameless in the sight of God. That is glorious or glorified in another sense. Now because our old self seems, at times, to want to come back to life, wanting to have its way, that is the reason we need to pick up our cross and carry it with us. This way we can also put that old self back where it belongs, on the cross. There have been other meanings about taking up our cross that would imply we need to be ready to suffer as Jesus did upon his cross, even suffer unto death. It is true that as Paul wrote in his letter to those in Rome that if we are co-heirs with Jesus, being called God’s children, then we are his heirs, and if we indeed share in his sufferings in order that we may share in his glory. In that sense, we may well have to suffer the loss of that old self, who was so used to self-indulgence and self-gratification. This may also go back to this idea about following the traditions of men instead of the truth of God. Still, it is all about that old self dying on the cross, and following after Jesus. We cannot follow him as our old self, we have to deny that self, put it on the cross, and become a new person, born again, or we will never see the kingdom of God. How can two people occupy the same body? How can that be harmony between the old and the new self? How can evil and holiness dwell together? As Paul wrote in his letter to the Corinthians, what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever, for what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? What agreement can we have, being the temple of God, with idols, which our old self held so dear? It seems the cross we carry, with that old self on it, is the only way we can follow Jesus.

Ideas of Men or God

 

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK

IDEAS OF MEN OR GOD

Mark 8:31-38

31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. "Get behind me, Satan!" he said. "You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." 

34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37 Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels." 

NIV

Although this is one whole discourse or teaching, we might need to observe it in two parts. First, this exchange between Peter and Jesus, and second, what Jesus said to the crowd and his disciples. We are not sure if we can do both at the same time, or we need to reserve the second for next time. So let us first note that Jesus was just speaking to his twelve that he had called to be his disciples, who he was pouring all his training into so that on that day when he would be gone, they would carry on the message throughout the world. This would happen, of course, after Jesus had sent the Holy Spirit to give them the power to do what they were trained to do. So, here Jesus does not hold anything back and speaks plainly to them as to what is going to happen. He tells them the exact events that are to take place. What is a bit surprising is that even after Jesus tells them he will be killed, but that after three days he will rise again, Peter still feels the need to rebuke him. It is difficult to understand why Peter would not get the fact that Jesus would be back within just three days. So what is the big deal? Had not Peter been witness to Jesus raising other people from the dead? So why couldn’t Jesus raise himself from the dead? But Peter was not thinking about the things of God, but rather of himself, the things of men. Here is where the rubber meets the road for us. How much do we think about the things of God in comparison to the things of men? That is to say that when something happens in our lives, things that may not seem very pleasant, are we thinking how we are going to resolve it, or deal with it in our human ways, or are we thinking if this as something God is doing in our lives so we will grow more dependent upon him? Is our faith being strengthened, or stretched by some event in our lives?  What about when we become very ill, even to the point of death? Are we thinking as men or as God? What about if someone we love is extremely ill, even to the point of death. Are we thinking that we will now be alone, as men would think, or are we thinking about the things of God? Are we praying for healing so they can stay longer, or are we praying about the things of God? It is a tough call because we do live in this world and we are subject to so many of the things of men. This is our life, our routine if we will, and when it is disturbed, we cannot help but think about how that is going to affect us. This had to be what Peter was thinking. Here he was having been called from his daily life to follow this Jesus, and hear such great teaching and having seen so many miracles, people being healed of all sorts of infirmities and diseases as well as demons being cast out of people, and some being raised from the dead. Peter had been just a simple fisherman, and now he is seen as one of the special disciples of Jesus. Mark does not give us some of the details as some of the other gospel accounts, but most likely Peter had already walk on the water at that time Jesus met them in the boat amidst the storm. So, for Peter, this was going to upset his life, change everything again, and he might have to go back to being just a simple fisherman, for all this would be over, at least in the thinking of men. So he takes Jesus aside, note he does not rebuke Jesus in front of the others. Again, Mark does not give us this reason, but it is either so that the others would not hear him speaking to Jesus, so as to do this in private, not wanting to either embarrass Jesus or not wanting to make a fool of himself in front of the others. Nevertheless, Jesus makes it clear that Peter is speaking from the point of self-interest, “Get behind me Satan”. That is a very strong rebuke from Jesus right back at Peter.  It is to say that when we think like men, or about the things of men, we are being influenced by Satan rather than God? That is a hard thought to ponder. Can we really tell when we are thinking about the things of men and when we are thinking about the things of God? Are we confident of the difference enough to know how each appears in our thoughts? These next words of Jesus about taking up our cross may be of further insight as to how we are to handle the difference, but we must leave that for our next thoughts. But as for now, let us simply consider that we need to be aware of what we think about, the ideas of men, or the ideas of God.