7/30/10 Mark 11:27-33 A Question of Authority

27 They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him. 28 "By what authority are you doing these things?" they asked. "And who gave you authority to do this?" 29 Jesus replied, "I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 30 John's baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin? Tell me!" 31 They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Then why didn't you believe him?' 32 But if we say, 'Of human origin' . . . ." (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.) 33 So they answered Jesus, "We don't know." Jesus said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."

(Luca fa Presto 1660)

Thoughts: Who has authority to tell us what to do?  Is it those with the guns?  Is it the experts?  Is it that NO one has the right to tell ME what to do?  Lost people- like the Pharisees in this case- have no idea what is of God and what is not- so they have no compass- no true north- no way to tell right from wrong- which means they are lost. One of the problems of the Church today is that we have lost our authority as scripture. There is a watch word out there among some "biblical experts" that we should take the Bible seriously but not literally.  I can understand this somewhat.  When the Bible says the sun sets- it is a descriptive terms.  There is poetry in the Bible that is to be distinguished from commands. We should distinguish between laws that were related to the temple and its ceremonies and our own day.  But, too often the phrase "take the Bible seriously not literally" is a way to rationalize away something we don't want to believe or do.  So, we can pick by our expert leanings which commands we think are relevant to our day and which commands are not.  It is not taking the Bible seriously if we do not do what it commands.

Prayer: Lord, give me a submissive heart to you.  Help me to not only hear you but to listen to you.

John Calvin abridged:  The miracles of Christ testified to his heavenly authority, but the scribes chose to ignore this testimony. They were insisting he did not have true authority because they did not vote him in- as if authority rest solely in them.  This is why Jesus did not answer their question. John had been Christ's herald, yet they had refused to recognize his authority too. The priests did not ask themselves what was true.  So the wicked oppose truth if it goes against their own desires.

7/28/10 Mark 11:22-26 Power of Prayer

22 "Have faith in God," Jesus answered. 23 "Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and do not doubt in your heart but believe that what you say will happen, it will be done for you. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25-26 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."

(Mountain falling into sea)

Thoughts: This passage is about the power of prayer.  Jesus had just withered a fig tree in a curse.  There are those who think that when humans pray it interferes with God's plan.  But since God knows all when He makes His plans- including our prayers and His answer- He includes such answers in His plan.  God is active interacting with creation- it is not that God has set His plan in motion a long time agoand is gone- and any prayer is a pesky burden on Him.  The image Jesus uses is of a woman asking a judge for mercy, or begging a neighbor for bread.  Jesus makes some grandiose claims- moving mountains and "whatever you ask."  But such claims are tied to a God who loves us, cares for us in His providence.

Prayer: Give me grace, O Lord, to have faith in you and your ability to answer prayer.

7/28/10- Mark 11:15-18 A Time For Anger

15 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: 'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations' ? But you have made it 'a den of robbers.' " 18 The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.

Thoughts: Jesus was quoting from Jeremiah (7:11) where the prophet points our corruption in the temple.  The temple merchants were taking advantage of people's desire to worship God (especially at Passover), and instead of helping them were price-gouging them.  Jeremiah said these words before the destruction of the first temple, and Jesus said it before the destruction of the temple of Herod.  There is a time for anger.  In our anger we are not to sin, yet the corruption of the pure and faithful is cause for even the most patient to stand up for the right. 

Prayer: Give me grace, O Lord, to be patient, yet also to know when I ought to stand up for what is holy and true.

John Calvin abridged: Though Christ frequently entered into the temple, and its abuses met his eye, yet he only corrected it twice: once at the beginning of his ministry (Jn. 2); and the other toward the end of his ministry.  Here he warns the Jews of the pollution of the temple, and also the new restoration that was at hand.
If the Church of God has contracted any pollutions, all the children of God should burn with grief, but since God has not put the ability to do something about it in everyone's hands, let individuals groan privately until God brings the remedy.  While it is smart to be unhappy about the pollution of the Church, and that it is not enough to be inwardly distressed; the people should avoid spiritual disease and speak up whenever given an opportunity.  But let those who cannot change things with their hands, hold their tongues.

7/24/10- Mark 11:12-14, 19,20 The Need for Fruit

12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14 Then he said to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard him say it....
19 When evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.

20 In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. 21 Peter remembered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!"

Thoughts: In a similar passage about the vine (Jn. 15:5,6):5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned."  Christ was concerned that we not just exist as Christians, but be fruitful for Him.  He was going to the temple where the people were not bearing fruit for Him, and within a generation the whole of the land would be in ruin (70 AD) from a war with Rome.  It is important to bear fruit- and we do that by remaining in Him- staying close to Him.

Prayer: Give me grace, O Lord, to abide in you, bearing fruit for you. 

7/26/10 Mark 11:1-11 The King Came Over the Mountain

1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks you, 'Why are you doing this?' say, 'The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.' " 4 They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5 some people standing there asked, "What are you doing, untying that colt?" 6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. 7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, "Hosanna! " "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" 10 "Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!" "Hosanna in the highest heaven!"
11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

(Ben in the tomb of Lazarus in Bethany- where Jesus started his journey)

Thoughts: Jesus started his journey on the opposite side of the Mount of Olives from Jerusalem.  So he came over the mountain into the city.  I have often seen movies (like Braveheart) where the rescuing force crests the top of the hill and their form is silhouetted and clearly seen against the sky.  Or like the cavalry standing in a line atop the mountain waiting to save the homesteaders holding off raiders in the valley below.  Jesus comes from over the mountain- where he was unseen- to save us.  Bethany was the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus.  Bethany was the place where the woman anointed Jesus for his death and wiped the anointing oil off with her hair.  Bethany was the place where Lazarus was raised from the dead and Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life- those who believe in me, though they were dead yet shall they live."  Jesus starts here toward his cross and resurrection.  So we also should remember that Jesus comes to rescue us from our sins. When we face our crosses, we should remember that Jesus is the resurrection and the life. 

Prayer: Lord, Help me to be aware of your help in this life and the next. Let me live in your hope today.

John Calvin Abridged: It appears from the prophecy of Zechariah that Jesus rode only on the colt.  When they spoke in earnest, Christ accepted them as heralds of his kingship.  "Hosanna" is similar to when we say, "Thy kingdom come."

7/25/10 Mark 10:46-52 Don't Stop People Calling Out to God

46 Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means "son of Timaeus"), was sitting by the roadside begging. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 48 Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" 49 Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called to the blind man, "Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you." 50 Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. 51 "What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked him. The blind man said, "Rabbi, I want to see." 52 "Go," said Jesus, "your faith has healed you." Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Thoughts: A lot happened in Jericho.  Not only did Joshua cause the walls to fall down in this oldest city in the world (8,000 BC), but Elishah cured the water near here; Elijah ascended to heaven near here; the temptation took place in the desert near there; Zacheus met Jesus there; and Bartimaeus was healed there.  It is amazing what God can do- even healing the blind.  We should not limit God.  At the end of June the governors of Texas, Louisianna, FL, AL, MS called for prayer about the gulf oil spill.  Is it a coincidence that the "hurricane" headed there fizzled out and that the spill that had been going on since April stopped within two weeks of the prayer?  The Chicago Tribune had a huge article by Rabbi Adam Chalom (7/6) basically saying the governors should not tell us to pray and that God wouldn't do anything about it anyway [Quoting Ingersoll: "Labor is the only prayer nature answers" and the great theologian George Carlin: "What do you want?  God to change his divine plan...just for you? Isn't that arrogant?"].  For those who do not believe in God's ability to change events- the Gulf Oil Spill has stopped- for the first time since April- after too many engineering failures.  Bartimaeus received his sight.  Jesus stilled the storm.  Personally, I have had too many coincidences to ignore the power of prayer.  That doesn't mean prayer is a magic lamp, or that I don't have to do anything anymore (Bartimaeus DID have to call out- though others rebuked him).  Perhaps those who rebuke people for calling out to Jesus (vs. 48) should learn a lesson from this great story.  Perhaps we should learn a lesson to not be afraid to call out to the Lord, and not try to stop people from praying to Him.
Prayer: Lord, give me grace to pray to you though others tell me to stop. 

7/24/10- Mark 10:17-30 Letting our Possessions Possess Us

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: 'You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall 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 the rich 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 human beings this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." 28 Then Peter spoke up, "We have left everything to follow you!" 29 "Truly I tell you," 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—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first."

(Heinrich Hoffman 1889- "Christ and the Rich Young Ruler")

Thoughts: Wealth and things can easily and subtley become our God. We can allow our possessions to possess us.The man had kept the law, but Things were keeping his heart from following God.  He had not learned to drop his nets and follow Christ.  Having wealth/things as our God is a big problem in our society. One sign that this has happened to us is the total elimination of a Sabbath- a day of rest- in our society.  The Sabbath is a check against our consumerism and greed.  One business group is persuaded that they will make more money by staying open on Sunday- and they persuade the governmnet they will make more money on taxes by allowing them to stay open on Sunday- and then (no matter that the people voted in the 1990 referendum in SC all but two counties voted to keep the Sabbath), the legislators and business-folk find a way around  the law.  Because what counts for them is not that God says to keep a day of worship and rest, but that they want more money.  Now we, who have elevated money and production ahead of keeping God's command, have doubled our unemployment hitting 14% (that is, ironically 1 out of 7) in March of this year. If work or money becomes our God, I believe the true God will take that false God away.  The blessing of God comes with following God-- fully.

Prayer: Lord, do not let my wealth steal my heart.  Keep my heart, my time, my life, fully yours.

John Calvin abridged: We don't have a right to deny that the keeping of the law is righteousness (Dt. 30:19), by which a person who kept the law perfectly- if there were such a person- would obtain life.  But as we are all destitute of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23), nothing but cursing will be found in the law.  The Young man asked about how he might merit eternal life through the law, and Christ gave him an answer that basically it is impossible to earn eternal life through the law.  Christ asks him about keeping only the second table of the law (5th-10th commandments).  Christ puts his finger on the sore of the man's covetousness.  He does not simply say to sell all but to give to the poor (unlike the man Crates who threw his wealth into the sea to save himself). Christ also asks the man to follow him- taking up the cross.
It is easy to infer that Christ is not commanding all without exception to sell all they have.  The worker who supports their children would do wrong to not care for their children.  To keep what God has put in our power, provided that, by maintaining ourselves and ourfamily in a sober and frugal manner, we bestow some porion on the poor, is a greater virtue than to squander it all. The man went away sorrowful. This teaches us that if we are not prepared to endure poverty with faith, then covetousness rules us.