7/7/10 Mark 7:1-8 The Bible Versus the Experts

1 The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus 2 and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. 3 (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles. ) 5 So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, "Why don't your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?" 6 He replied, "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: " 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 7 They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.'
8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions."

"Experts Say..."  Who are the experts?  Who are the authorities?  If someone has a Phd. and lives far away, does that give them more authority than time proven scripture?  A year ago I was in a conference on John Calvin, and the lead speaker had said that it was time to interpret scriptures in the light of our superior expertise, and not just take scriptures for what they say.  In other words, our new "traditions" are better than scripture.  This is (ironically) what Calvin spoke against.  Adding to or taking away from scripture by our  "expertise" gives authority to experts who may not believe or may be writing things out of pride, and dilutes the power of God's Word. If we "know better" than the scriptures, then the scriptures have become a rubber knife- not a sharp, two-edged sword that convicts us (Heb. 4:16).  One of the reasons for the Protestant Reformation is that the Church of that time had elevated tradition to the same status as the scripture.  The watchword of the Reformation was "sola scriptura." 
In this passage, the Pharisees had elevated their tradition above the scriptures- letting go of the commands of God in order to follow mere human rules.  Let us not do this in our day, even if the new tradition-makers, the experts, tell us to do so.

Prayer: Lord, give me ears to hear your word clearly.  Holy Spirit, convict me, lead me, guide me through your Word.

John Calvin abridged: It was always the will of God, that He should be worshipped according to the rule laid down in his word, and therefore no addition to his Law can be endured.  Now as he permits believers to have outward ceremonies, by which they can exercise their faith, this does not mean that He allows them to mix these ceremonies with His own word as if religion consisted in them. Whenever we are so eager to keep human laws so that we pay less attention to keeping God's own law, we are transgressing the law of God.  Whenever holiness is said to consist in anything else than in observing God's Law, people are led to believe that the law may be violated without danger. 

7/6/10 Mark 6:45-56 Trusting in Christ's Power

45 Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray. 47 When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. 48 He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50 because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." 51 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, 52 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.
53 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. 54 As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. 55 They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.

(William Hole 1908)

Thoughts: Mark records "they were amazed for they had not understood about the loaves- their hearts were hardened."  What had they not understood?  Could it be the same thing many of us do not understand- that is, the power of God over life- and even the elements?  Perhaps we are willing to secularize our country and our lives so much- regulating God to a very small portion- because we do not stand at amazement at His power?   The One who changes a little bit of food for enough for many- can change our lives for the better.  The One who changes the wind and walks on water is the One who has offered to be a help to us.  It is truly a great thing when Christians obey God because they trust Him.  We find peace and strength from our Lord when we know we can rely on Him- even in the middle of the storms in our life.

Prayer: Lord, soften my heart; open my eyes; give me grace to understand and trust in you as my everyday Savior.


John Calvin abridged: 46- "He went up to a mountainside to pray" While Paul enjoins us to pray "at all times and places" (1 Tim 2:8), this does not stop the need to pray in solitude.  The slightest interruptions may destroy or cool the passion to  pray.  Praying alone to God encourages us to 1) be more on our guard; 2) to pour our heart into his bosom; 3) be more diligent in self-examination, and 4) remembering we have to do with God and rise above ourselves.  Christ permitted his disciples to be tossed about in a perilous condition by an opposing storm so that their attention would be more powerfully focused on the assistance which he brought to them.  The adverse wind rose about midnight and Christ appears three hours before sunrise.  Their arms were not more fatigued by rowing than their faith was shaken by grievous terrors.  52- They were charged with blindness because they allowed the revealing of his divinity-and his ability to help his disciples- that he showed when he multiplied the loaves to fade from their memories.  Mark uses the term "blindness" to remind us that our hearts are hard unless we are enlightened from above (Deut. 29:4). It is not a new thing when people are blind to the manifest works of God.

7/5/10- Provision in Jesus

30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." 32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. 33 But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things. 35 By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. "This is a remote place," they said, "and it's already very late. 36 Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat." 37 But he answered, "You give them something to eat." They said to him, "That would take almost a year's wages ! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?" 38 "How many loaves do you have?" he asked. "Go and see." When they found out, they said, "Five—and two fish." 39 Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. 41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. 42 They all ate and were satisfied, 43 and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. 44 The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.

(Tabgha altar with Mosaic 4th cent)

The disciples came to Jesus excited about what God had accomplished through them.  Jesus had just learned of John the Baptist's death (Mt. 14:12,13).  Jesus wanted to get away and so he withdrew by boat to a solitary place.  Jesus was seeking to regroup, grieve, and get refreshed.  But the crowds followed him, and they became Jesus' probelm- for there were no places to buy food around.  So Jesus took a little and made it into a lot.  This is a reminder of what God did through Moses- providing food and water in the desert, and through Elishah (2 Kgs 4:42-44).  It is a reminder to us all that God will provide when we do not see a way for Him to do so.  This is the only miracle recorded in all four gospels and even the Gospel of Thomas.

Prayer: Help me, Lord to trust in your provision.

Mark 6:17-28 Against Total Power Resting in One Person

17 For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, whom he had married. 18 For John had been saying to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." 19 So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, 20 because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled ; yet he liked to listen to him. 21 Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22 When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, "Ask me for anything you want, and I'll give it to you." 23 And he promised her with an oath, "Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom." 24 She went out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask for?" "The head of John the Baptist," she answered. 25 At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: "I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter." 26 The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27 So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John's head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison, 28 and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. 29 On hearing of this, John's disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

Thoughts- On this Fourth of July- American Independence Day- we can be grateful for our freedom, and that one man does not have such absolute and whimsical power.  Herod Antipas felt he could do whatever he wanted to do. He even divorced his wife to marry his brother's widow-who was also his niece, Herodias. Ssome rumored he had a part in his brother's death too.  When John the Baptist, popular though he was, rebuked him , he was put in prison.  Here the king made rash promises. He obviously would rather not break a drunken promise than take a prophet's life.  He would rather show off his power than do what was right.  America's system of checks and balances on the executive office by both the legislature and the justice system are not to be taken for granted. 
 
Prayer: Lord, please preserve our country.  We thank you for our freedom, and pray that you will preserve it for us.
 



John Calvin abridged: John the Baptist has furnished us an example for all teachers- not to wink at the faults of those in authority, in order to gain or keep their favor- even if that favor would be used later for the public interests.  Herod shows us how the Spirit of God works even among unbelievers.  In some measure he obeyed God's commands [by not killing John at first],  Yet, whenever unbelievers are hard-pressed, they escape from God's way, and break out into stubborness and even irrational rage. 

7/2/10 The Need to Listen to Rebuke (Mark 6:14-16)

Mark 6:14 King Herod heard about this, for Jesus' name had become well known. Some were saying, "John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him." 15 Others said, "He is Elijah."
And still others claimed, "He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago."
16 But when Herod heard this, he said, "John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!"

Thoughts: Herod Antipas (the Herod mentioned here- son of Herod the Great) had married his niece and his brother's widow, Herodias.  He divorced his wife, the daughter of King Aretus of Nabatea, to do so.  John the Baptist rebuked him for this, and in the end this relationship with Herodias was his undoing.  Not only did he imprison and kill John the Baptist for this- and he obviously- according to this passage- felt guilt about that; but eventually King Aretus fought a war with Herod Antipas- and won.  The Roman Emperor, Tiberias, was going to invade Aretus's land to stick up for Herod but died before he could do so.  The new emperor had no wish to do so.  Herod was furious, lost favor with the emperor, and was exiled to Gaul (France). 
    Herod was a pagan who gave lip service to the Jewish religion.  He wanted to secularize the country, and did not apply God's law to his own way.  When John the Baptist rebuked him for his sin- instead of recognizing the rebuke, he imprisoned him.  Contrast this with King David, who, when Nathan rebuked him for a similar sin, came to God in repentance, keeping Nathan as his life-long advisor.  David was willing to submit to God.  Herod was not willing to submit to anyone- and lived in disfavor with his people, his overseers and his God.
     So how do you handle it when you are caught in some sin?  How do you handle rebuke?  Herod did not know it, but it was a blessing for John the Baptist to rebuke him.  If he had repented, he would perhaps be remembered differently, and may not have played a role in the death of the messiah.  The scriptures say, "Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you" (Pr. 9:8).  I do not see our leaders today listening to rebuke or submitting to advice.  Instead, I see too many grabbing for power as Herod did.  Perhaps they too will be haunted by their own misgivings.
 
Prayer: God bless our country with leaders who will listen- and listen especially to you.  God bless me with an ability to listen as well.
 
John Calvin abridged: Others had suggested to Herod that Jesus was John the Baptist raised from the dead; some said he was powerful like Elijah; others that he was a great prophet or a great man that should be approached in excellence.  It is astonishing that the true interpretation of Jesus' identity was not brought out by anyone.  They knew God had promised a Redeemer, and that they were in desperate need for redemption.  As for Herod, it is important to note that even though the wicked try to harden their hearts to God- and to escape agitation, God comes to them with such blind terrors and gives them no rest.
 


    

7/2/10- Spreading the Light Mark 6: 6-13

Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. 7 Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits. 8 These were his instructions: "Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. 9 Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. 10 Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. 11 And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them."
12 They went out and preached that people should repent. 13 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.

Thoughts: Where the good news spread, evil was defeated.  You can go to http://www.daylightmap.com/ and see which parts of the earth are in day and which parts are in darkness.  As the disciples went from town to town, evil fled that place.  So today, when the good news spreads, and people really respond to the gospel of Christ, sexual immorality and its problems (STDs, HIV) go down; crime decreases, and lives are changed.  The spreading of God's gospel is not a curse, but a blessing to the land.  This July 4th weekend- if only we really believed, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord."  (Psalm 33:12).  Too many want to hide from God- to ignore His blessings (and perhaps hide from the consequences of reaping what we sow). 
The Good news is still alive, and still powerful.  As believers, we should seek to spread it in a culture that lacks deep meaning, in people who are caught up in the possession of evil.  When good spreads, evil flees- of all kinds. Talk about making the world a better place...

Prayer: Lord, use me today to spread a little light- a little good news.

7/1/10- You Can Never Go Home Again

Mark 6:1Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. 2When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. "Where did this man get these things?" they asked. "What's this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles! 3Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. 4Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor." 5He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6And he was amazed at their lack of faith.

(Cliff at Nazareth- Luke 4 records they tried to throw Jesus off here)

Thoughts: Thomas Wolfe said "You Can't Go Home Again."  Wolfe finally did return to Asheville, NC in 1937 before his death in 1938.  However, it is hard for someone famous to go back and live in the place you grow up.  Relatives and childhood friends still see you as the little child, and will not listen.  Jesus was able to go home, but people there were not willing to believe in him.  Luke 4 tells us they tried to throw him off a cliff (see below).  In America, the average person had been moving every 2.5 years.  The question arises- where is their home?  Army (or Armed Services) Brats and Preacher Kids used to be the only ones who didn't know where their earthly home was, but industries today like to move families everywhere-even overseas (adding tot he instability of the family).  It is hard to reach relatives and childhood friends for Christ. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your willingness to reach out to everyone- even those who are hard to reach.  Help me to reach out to my relatives and childhood friends.

John Calvin abridged: The people rejected Christ who had not been educated by humans (but was employed in everyday labor) because of his lack of letters.  They were compelled to admire him, but treated him with contempt, choosing to cover themselves with their own darkness.  We can see here that people look for reasons to ignore Christ- despite miracles he has done.  Mark states strongly "He could not perform many miracles."  Those who should have been the first to recognize him, were the last.  Their unbelief and obstinancy binds the hands of God- but do not overcome Him (Mark says some miracles were still performed there).  The amazing thing is that thought they tried (and we do too) to hinder the grace of God, it rises despite their best efforts against it.