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http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%2011:20-Mark%2013:37&version=NIV
This is the longest section of our readings as it includes extended sayings. Keep in mind Jesus has come to Jerusalem to go public with who He is and to confront the religious atmosphere that had failed, knowing that this all leads to His death. But Jesus sees this all as something God will fully redeem (resurrection) and something that will make a way for our freedom (Mark 10:45). Chapter 13 is particularly difficult and perhaps has to do with the destruction of the temple as well as future events. You may want to focus in on just part of today's reading.
I don't even know where to start. This is either straightforward (widow's offering, taxes, greatest commandment) or completely baffling (tenants, David's Lord).
ReplyDeleteI get the part about proclaiming to Jerusalem who He is and what He came to do. Couldn't He just do it more understandably? (I know, where's the challenge in that?)
D.W. ,I'm with you ! Widow's offering , taxes , and Greatest Commandment I take at face value . Great , great words from Jesus . EZ to understand .
ReplyDeletePerhaps I'm wrong again ( I often am ) but I just don't see how worrying about the end times effects my day to day living . Abomination that causes desolation is the stuff of nightmares .
Am I wrong here ? Can't I just focus on trying to spread His message of love and redemption ?
Work with me friends , please . If I'm going astray with my reasoning , feel free to call me to task .
Not a lot of discussion today? I know it was a lot, and some of it pretty clear and some of it very muddy.
ReplyDeleteA couple of thoughts on some of the reading: we've already talked a little about the fig stuff.
(1) 11:27-33 Once again, it is about the 'who' of Jesus, in particular, His authority. Following the Temple incident, they are asking 'who do you think you are?!' = 'how dare you mess with us?!' Jesus pretty much settles it:)
(2) 12:1-12 the parable of the tenants: failure of Jewish leadership to accept God's message and messengers. Background is probably Isaiah 5 and God as vineyard owner. The message and messengers, (especially Jesus) lined up with God's character all through their sacred texts and liturgies, and yet, Jesus was rejected because it threatened their position, their own authority, their comfort and their own ways. Jesus says, in the end, they will be rejected. I find it important that though they are willing to unjustly do away with Jesus, Jesus could justly do away with them but doesn't even seek to.
(3) 12:13-17 The religious leaders try to trap Jesus with a question about taxes. Lots of commentary on this passage, but it is most clearly understood as a Jesus saying that we shouldn't be preoccupied with looking for a way to evade payment duties to government - even a corrupt, violent unjust government like Rome! More imporant is to focus on giving to God what is God's. Jesus seems to think that if we focus on that and do it faithfully, we shouldn't and don't have to worry so much about the payments to Caesar. Give Caesar his piddly coins for his little man-made 'kingdom.' It is nothing in the end. Our money is not ultimate, so don't make it an ultimate issues. Such things are nothing in God's Kingdom.
12:18-27 Farily clear. Jesus tells the Sadducees who do not believe in the resurrection anyway, that the resurrection is of a very different kind of existence that we have now, so issues of marriage don't seem to be relevant...and then he uses the only part of the Bible they respect (the Pentateuch - Genesis-Deuteronomy) to 'prove' the resurrection and thus that they should believe in it.
ReplyDelete12:28-34 Core passage - for the follower of Jesus, everything is filtered to and through the lens of love: for God and others. It's a great way to test our decision, our positions on issues, our relationships, our actions, etc. Does what we are doing, how we are responding, what we are deciding advance (1) love for God and (2) love for others? If Christians got this, stopped bickering with each other and the world, the church just might be what Jesus intended!
I was surprised enough by chapter 13 get out of bed and come down here to check it out. It reminded me of some of the things I have read in the book of Revelation. I did not expect to see it here.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, Patty. It is often called the 'little apocalypse' or the 'little revelation.' Strange stuff. Anyone have thoughts on it?
ReplyDeleteBrain dead. Must sleep.
ReplyDeleteTons of material here. Wow.
ReplyDelete"Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them and you will have them." There are some that say my faith is my greatest gift, and yet many a prayer has gone seemingly unanswered. I've struggled with this one since the first time I read it.
"And you shall love the LORD your GOD with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength. I know that it takes my entire being sometimes to endure the many trials GOD has planned for me. Sometimes it's my heart that fails, thus my mind (knowledge) has to take center stage. Sometimes my knowledge fails me, but I know in my heart that GOD has masterminded the trial (and thus the salvation). You get the picture. The heart, soul, mind and strength combined are routinely exercised and stengthened for endurance through our sanctification. Speaking of the end times, "If you have run with the footmen and they have wearied you, then how can you contend with horses?" Jer 12:5
I love the story of the widow and her mites. "For they all put in our of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had." Give GOD your best and your all if you want to see the Kingdom quite literally in the here and now. If you've never seen GOD provide at the last minute for something you needed but had no idea how you would get it, I have a camel and a needle for you.
I love Christ's teaching that we shouldn't worry about what we will say or premeditate how to respond in a given situation. Wise words indeed. We spend an awful lot of time fretting about what we fear may happen. The truth is that we have no idea what will actually happen (today's troubles are sufficient unto themselves) and Christ, through the HOLY SPIRIT has promised us not only salvation, but also the words to say. Patience and trust.
13:20 "but for the elect's sake, whom HE chose" are some of the most humbling words in the entire Bible.
The day's reading ends with the admonition, "Watch!" It's difficult to hear GOD when I'm talking, and it's difficult to see GOD when I'm running. Be still, take my time. What's the use in hurrying and worrying. Besides, it's amazing what you can see when you focus on what's "not" there.
GOD's blessings to all and to all a good night.
Just came home from a very busy day and wanted to share an odd event with you. I wrapped up my evening by participating in a speaking engagement at RIT. Afterwards, I was manning our information table and answering questions. An older man came up to me and randomly started rambling something that I couldn't understand. What he said was this "Does what we are doing, how we are responding, what we are deciding advance (1) love for God and (2) love for others? "
ReplyDeleteUh....it's exactly what I just read in one of Matt's posts from today.
Sooo, I am heading upstairs for some prayer time.