Esther 5
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Esther 5:9-13, Haman went out that day happy and in high spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king’s gate and observed that he neither rose nor showed fear in his presence, he was filled with rage against Mordecai. Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home.
Calling together his friends and Zeresh, his wife, Haman boasted to them about his vast wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored him and how he had elevated him above the other nobles and officials. “And that’s not all,” Haman added. “I’m the only person Queen Esther invited to accompany the king to the banquet she gave. And she has invited me along with the king tomorrow. But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate.”
Haman is a piece of work! After being invited to Esther’s banquet, he sees Mordecai and is enraged that Mordecai does not rise in his presence or show fear. I can’t help but think what kind of man needs other men to be fearful in their presence. This is someone who is delusional about their own importance and/or has deep-rooted feelings of insecurity. Maybe both.
Haman then calls together his wife and his friends to brag about how great he is. The only thing that bothers him, he tells this group, is that Mordecai is still sitting at the king’s gate. Their solution is to have Mordecai impaled on a pole before Esther’s next banquet so that Haman can fully enjoy it.
The horror of their suggestion should not go unnoticed. Haman’s own feelings of grandiosity (and his friends desire to please him) have become so inflated that nothing else matters. A gruesome public execution for a seemingly very small offense would serve to demonstrate to the world who has power and who does not. It would instill fear and keep people in line.
As you can tell, there is little value placed on human life as well. They are living in the Persian Empire. There was no issue with slaughtering all the Jews, men, women, and children. Actually valuing human life is a Judeo-Christian concept. Jesus especially changed our thinking by demonstrating that all lives are valuable to God. Because all people are made in the image of God, every single life has value. God loves everyone.
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, May we remember that you love every single person and thus, we are to love and value every single person as well. Please forgive us for the many times we fail in this area. Help us see people through your eyes. In Your Name, Amen.
Esther 4
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Esther 4:12-14, When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”
Now, we get to the crux of the story. The fate of the Jewish people falls into the hands of the new Jewish queen. But wait, the king doesn’t know she is a Jew! Mordecai implores her to approach Xerxes and plead for the safety of her people. But this isn’t as easy as it sounds. One didn’t just show up in front of the king. He was supposed to summon her and he had not done so for awhile. If Esther approached him, she was literally taking her life into her hands. If it pleased the king, he might allow her to approach. If it didn’t, well then things could get messy.
But Mordecai tells Esther that just because she lives in the palace, there was no guarantee she would be spared. Could it be that God put her into this position for just a time as this? Could it be that God had strategically placed her there to do what was right and stand up for her people? Could it be that sovereign God had orchestrated all the pieces? Now, she simply had to respond with courage.
Most of us have never been in such a dangerous and potentially deadly situation. That’s probably a good thing! However, many of us have found ourselves in difficult or serious situations, possibly in the workplace, at church, or even in a family crisis. Have you ever found yourself in a position where you simply knew that God had you there for a purpose? You were there for such a time as this. How did you respond?
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, You call us to do hard things for you. Give us courage and boldness to speak the words you want us to speak and do the things you want us to do. More of you and less of me. In Your Name, Amen.
Esther 3
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Esther 3:8-10, Then Haman said to King Xerxes, “There is a certain people dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom who keep themselves separate. Their customs are different from those of all other people, and they do not obey the king’s laws; it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them. If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will give ten thousand talents of silver to the king’s administrators for the royal treasury.”
So the king took his signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. “Keep the money,” the king said to Haman, “and do with the people as you please.”
Haman is a real piece of work. He hears that Mordecai won’t kneel down before him and he is enraged. Of course, we know that Mordecai is a Jew. He is only supposed to bow down before God. I’m thinking this plays in to Mordecai’s refusal but it could be that Mordecai knows Haman is a royal jerk and he simply won’t give him the pleasure. One can’t help noticing the similarity between Mordecai and Vashti in this story. Both refuse to honor men who do not deserve to be honored and they do so knowing there will be consequences.
And there are consequences. Haman, who seems to be evil inside and out, decides he doesn’t just want to punish Mordecai but his whole people group. He wants to ensure that all the Jewish people are killed. Let’s think about the absurdity of this: Haman wants to kill all the Jews in the kingdom because one Jew, Mordecai, refused to kneel before him. Haman senses that Mordecai is a threat to his power and he wants to punish that threat mercilessly.
Thus, Haman devises a plan. He presents this idea to King Xerxes. There is a “certain group” of people who contaminate his empire and it is not in his best interest to tolerate them. Haman has a ready-made plan for elimination and it even involves a monetary bribe. Xerxes either doesn’t want to be bothered or is incredibly gullible. He basically passes his authority to Haman and says “do what you will” with an entire group of people.
Most of us will read this with a certain amount of horror. How appalling it is that a whole people group could be eliminated with nothing more than a flip of the hand. And yet, this scene, with different characters, has been repeated throughout human history over and over again. What is it about us as humans that we demonize whole groups of people? That we fail to value human life?
In God’s Kingdom, all human life has value. That might be worth repeating. In God’s Kingdom, every single human life has value. And Jesus has called us to expand his Kingdom, to live as Kingdom people, to embody these basic Christ-centered principles. Do we? Do you?
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, Help us see people through your eyes. Always. More of you and less of me, Jesus. Amen.
Esther 2
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Esther 2:17-18, Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. And the king gave a great banquet, Esther’s banquet, for all his nobles and officials. He proclaimed a holiday throughout the provinces and distributed gifts with royal liberality.
Now, the search is on for a new queen. It’s quite the process as well. Beautiful virgins from far and wide are brought into the palace for all kinds of exceptional beauty treatments. Esther is one of those women.
Esther was a Jew. She didn’t reveal her identity to anyone but she was part of the Jewish diaspora, the Jews who were spread outside of Jerusalem, trying to live faithfully in pagan lands. She had been raised by her cousin, Mordecai, who we also meet in this chapter. He loves Esther like his own daughter and is filled with much advice for her.
Esther is exceptionally beautiful and she catches the eye of the king more than any other woman. We also know that God is ensuring that she is chosen to be queen because there is something important that Esther will need to do for her people. While God is not explicitly mentioned in the book of Esther, it is certainly a book that demonstrates the sovereignty of God.
What does it mean that God is sovereign? It means that God is all-powerful and authoritative. He is ruler of the universe and is in all and over all. No matter the situation, God is present and God is at work. But unlike Xerxes, who uses his power selfishly, God uses his power in a moral, righteous way. He seeks what is best for his creation.
While we don’t have time to talk about it today, please read through all of chapter two. There is an interesting subplot at the end of the text, in which Mordecai saves the king’s life. This is a small but important piece to remember and tuck away for later in the book.
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, Thank you for always being present in our lives. Even when things seen dark and desperate, we trust that you are there, always at work, guiding us, leading us, and working through us. May we bring you glory. Amen.
Esther 1
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Esther 1:19-20, “Therefore, if it pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media, which cannot be repealed, that Vashti is never again to enter the presence of King Xerxes. Also let the king give her royal position to someone else who is better than she. Then when the king’s edict is proclaimed throughout all his vast realm, all the women will respect their husbands, from the least to the greatest.”
It was in 539BC that King Cyrus of Persia conquered Babylon. A year later, he allowed the Jewish people to end their exile and return to Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 36). But not all of them went. They had lives and livelihoods and the journey to Jerusalem would mean picking up and moving after generations in Babylon/Persia. Esther and her family, who this book is about, for whatever reason decide to stay put. They give us a picture of what it looks like to be a faithful Jew in a foreign land.
In this first chapter, we meet King Xerxes, who ruled Persia from 485 to 465BC. It was a very large kingdom and Xerxes expanded its borders quite a bit, all the way to what it now Pakistan to the east and Ethiopia to the south. While he may have been a good military commander and strategist, he struggled in the “don’t get drunk and mess up your marriage” area, as we can see in today’s text. Xerxes had thrown a huge banquet with many diplomats and important people from all over the region. He flaunts his wealth and then wants to flaunt his wife. Most Jewish scholars think that when Xerxes asked Vashti to display her royal crown, it meant that he wanted her to appear naked in front of this large group of inebriated men.
Vashti, his wife, isn’t having it. Women in those days had almost no say so in marriage, particularly if one was married to the king. And yet, something gave Vashti courage to say I’m not going to be paraded around like property before this group of drunk men. Maybe this had happened before. Regardless, it was a recipe for disaster and it would have been against custom of staying covered.
But Xerxes had unilateral power. To refuse a command of the king, especially in front of others, would most certainly have consequences. Vashti was willing to subject herself to them. She would rather lose her position in society than lose her dignity. She was brave, and while she knew it would mean something harsh, it was worth it to her. Sure enough, the king, probably under the influence of alcohol and without giving it much thought, decrees that Vashti is never to be in his presence again. Vashti has courageously served and now exited. God is making a way for someone else who will serve for a very specific purpose.
Let’s pray…Lord, Give us courage to serve you with dignity. Give us courage to do what is right in your eyes. Give us courage to lift your name on high. Always. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Mark 16
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Mark 16:4-8, But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”
Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.
We have made it to the best part of the story – the resurrection! I absolutely love this passage. But before we dig in, let’s talk context. Jesus was crucified on a Friday because the Jews had to have it done and over with before Sabbath (which for them runs from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown). Thus, the women who wanted to anoint Jesus’ body for burial had to wait until the Sabbath was over before heading over to the tomb. And three women are specifically mentioned – Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome. I want to point out that these women were also specifically mentioned at being present at the crucifixion. They watched Jesus die. I want you to think about how the reality of suffering and intense grief is hanging over this whole scene. These were women who walked alongside Jesus, took care of his needs, and loved him.
And because they loved him, they wanted to ensure that his dead body was properly prepared for burial. Jews did not embalm but they ceremonially washed the body, wrapped it in cloths, and used herbs and spices to help with deterioration and smell. In that culture, a proper burial was quite important, it demonstrated honor for that individual; for these women, this was an act of love and respect.
As they head over to prepare the body, they discuss what they think will be their biggest obstacle - the stone. They were at the crucifixion. They knew that a large stone was rolled in front of the tomb. How will they move it? What’s interesting to me here is that they have no inkling that the tomb would be empty. Jesus has taught about his death and resurrection but no one got it. But when they get to the tomb and the stone was the least of their worries. It was already rolled away and when they entered the tomb, it’s empty except for a young man dressed in a white robe just sitting there. Mark doesn’t say so, but it’s implied this man is an angel.
The scripture says the women are alarmed. They have been so consumed by their grief and suffering, so focused on taking care of this final act for Jesus, and then the stone is gone and there is this angel-like character sitting inside the tomb. Of course they are alarmed. And this man/angel person tells them that Jesus wasn’t there because he had risen, just as he said he would.
This is all a bit much for these ladies. They were scared. So they flee and say nothing to anyone. And the book of Mark ends. Over the years, people have added more appealing endings to this Gospel. You may even have some of these manuscripts added to the end of chapter 16. But most scholars agree these were added on later.
While Mark’s Gospel may feel a bit unsatisfying in how it so abruptly ends, it also creates a sense of anticipation and yes, even HOPE. We don’t have to make up fake endings for Mark like some of the church fathers may have done. What Mark tells us is enough.
Why?
Because the tomb was empty! Jesus was resurrected.
Because death could not keep Jesus down! Death was defeated.
Because the women were given the message to “Go and tell, Jesus is risen!”
Because all the promises that Jesus made have come true. Every single one. Just as he said, he suffered, died, and was raised. Just as he said, Judas betrayed him, the disciples scattered, and Peter denied him.
We know that eventually these women speak and they must speak a lot. Because the message was shared. After they get over their initial shock, it all begins to sink in. Yes, Jesus had told them this would happen. Yes, they would choose to believe and share the good news. He wasn’t dead but alive!
They chose to believe and share. Will you?
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, We believe in you. Help us share your good news in whatever we do, wherever we go. You are Lord! Amen.
Mark 15
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Mark 15:21-24, A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross. They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get.
In chapter 15, we read about the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. It was a horrific death. He was beaten and mocked by the soldiers, betrayed by his own people, and nailed to a cross to die. I won’t go into the gory details of crucifixion, as you have probably heard them before, but it was a terribly painful and humiliating way to die.
In today’s focus verses, there is one verse that I typically skim over. There was a man named Simon from Cyrene who was passing by and they forced him to carry the cross. Cyrene was on the tip of Africa so this man was far from home! And here he was, just going about his business, and he is enlisted, or more like seized, to carry the cross of the Savior of the world. I’m guessing that Jesus’ physical body was incredibly weak and bloody by this point. And Simon walked by him, carrying the cross that would serve to execute Jesus but also save all humanity from their sin.
We don’t know what happened to Simon after the crucifixion. He isn’t mentioned again in Scripture. But my guess is that his life was never the same again. An encounter with Jesus is always life-changing.
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, Thank you for the cross. In all we do, may we always be reminded of your sacrifice and what it means for our lives. We will never be the same. In Your Name, Amen.
Mark 14
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Mark 14:66-72, While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him.
“You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said.
But he denied it. “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,” he said, and went out into the entryway.
When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.” Again he denied it.
After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.”
He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.”
Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and wept.
This chapter begins the passion of Jesus Christ. It starts with an unnamed woman anointing him with expensive perfume at Simon’s home in Bethany. Then, we have the Lord’s Supper, when Jesus celebrates the Passover meal with his disciples and turns things upside down (as Jesus was prone to do), pointing to his own death. Then, there is Jesus’ prediction of Peter’s denial (which we get to experience later in the chapter), Jesus’ prayer and the disciples’ nap in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus’ arrest, and his time before the Sanhedrin. It’s a rather long chapter and a very important one so try to go through it slowly and take it all in.
For our focus verses today, I chose Peter’s denial of Jesus. I don’t know why but I’ve always been fascinated by this passage. Peter was Jesus’ closest friend. He swore that if all the others fell away, he would not. And yet, he did. What made Peter deny Jesus? Probably fear. Fear does all kinds of things to us as human beings. Maybe he was scared of being arrested himself, or of being ostracized by the Jewish leaders, we don’t really know. But whatever the reason, he vehemently denies Jesus three times. When Peter realizes this, he has tremendous remorse and begins to cry.
Maybe I’m fascinated by this text because I have so often found myself in the same boat. I have denied Jesus. I haven’t spoke up with I knew I should have, I haven’t stood firm on certain issues, I haven’t loved others the way Jesus calls me to, I haven’t put Jesus first, I could go on and on. I have denied Jesus.
I hope that I’ve gotten to the place in my spiritual walk in which I deny Jesus less. But I know that I am far from perfect and there are still those times. When I realize my denial, like Peter, I cry and I’m filled with sorrow and I have to go back to Jesus and repent. And just like he did for Peter, I’m forgiven and restored.
Think about your own life. How have you denied Jesus? What has been your reaction when you realize this?
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, We are all sinners. I have sinned. The church has sinned. Forgive us. We want to do better. We want to live as the people you have called us to be. Guide us, Lord, and give us courage. More of you and less of me. In Your Name, Amen.
Mark 13
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Mark 13:32-37, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.
“Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”
The topic of this chapter is eschatology, or end times. Scholars agree that this chapter most likely gathers all of Jesus’ teachings on the topic and consolidates them here. I think one of the key features of this text is that Mark warns readers against making timetables and searching for the signs of the end of time. Instead, Jesus tells his disciples to be watchful, to be ready, and to be on guard. They are not to be deceived by the various signs or the people who think they know the signs. After all, Jesus himself does not know the day or hour. Simply be ready.
Are you ready?
I find it fascinating how people have been trying to predict the end of time for hundreds, possibly thousands of years. Around the world, people have pointed to various geographical and sociological signs and said, “This day will be doomsday!” I’ve been around many people in Christian circles who want to point to this event or that event and say, “The end times must be near.” And yet, Jesus clearly warns us against doing this in today’s reading. As Christians, there is not anything for which we need to fear. We simply have to be ready.
Are you ready?
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, Help us focus on you and you alone. Help us be ready and watchful for your return. Help us continue to point more people to your love and grace so they too can be ready and watchful. In Your Name, Amen.
Mark 12
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Mark 12:6-11, “He had one left to send, a son, whom he loved. He sent him last of all, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’
“But the tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’
So they took him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. “What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others. Haven’t you read this passage of Scripture:
“‘The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’?”
Chapter 12 is filled with many different teachings that are quite important to Jesus’ ministry. We can’t discuss all of them today but I do encourage you to read through the whole chapter if you haven’t done so already.
Our focus verses for today come from what is called the Parable of the Tenants. I’m sure most of you have heard it before. A man plants a vineyard and hires some tenant farmers to tend to it. Tenant farmers rent the land from the owner and typically pay their “rent” in either money or crops. In this parable, the landowner is seeking his rent in some of the fruit that was produced. He sends several servants to go collect the produce from the tenant farmers and each servant is either beaten severely or killed. Finally, the landowner sends his own son to collect the debt but the wicked tenant farmers kill him as well.
As with all parables, this has much deeper meaning. The tenant farmers represent the Jewish leaders and teachers of the law. God continues to give them chances to respond to his prophets and the prophets are continually rejected. Finally, God sends his own son and he is killed. At any point, the chief priests and teachers of the law could have turned away from their plot to kill Jesus. They actually stood there and listened to this parable as Jesus shared it. Rather than being convicted, they became all the more intent on killing this man who threatened their way of being.
Let’s pray…Almighty God, May we see your hand at work in the world and in our lives. Open our eyes that we may see things through the lens of Jesus. More of you, Jesus, and less of me. Amen.
Mark 11
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Mark 11:15-18, 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, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 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.’”
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.
Be sure to read through this whole chapter. There is a lot of substance here. The chapter begins with the Palm Sunday passage, the Triumphal Entry, when Jesus comes into Jerusalem on a colt that had never been ridden. Truly, everything about his arrival to the city was royal. Jesus is Messiah and king. He might not be the king they wanted or expected but he is still king.
Then, we move on to today’s focus verses, the clearing of the temple. Let’s talk a little bit about the temple. It was Israel’s third temple and it was still under construction. It was huge! It had four sections: the Court of the Gentiles (which was a large open air area), the Court of Women, the Court of Israel (for circumcised Jewish men), and the Holy of Holies (all three of these sections were in the inside sanctuary). Jesus encounters the unholy commerce in the Court of the Gentiles. There were many, many merchants selling animals for sacrifice and there were money changers present for foreign Jews to exchange their money to the local currency for the temple tax. So why was Jesus so upset? Wasn’t this all part of the sacrificial system?
This was the one area of the temple designated for Gentiles (the nations) to pray. They weren’t allowed in any other area of the temple. And the Jewish people had taken over the entire area for trade and profit. Lots of money was being made here. Jesus is beyond angry.
The religious leaders have an interesting reaction to this. They are scared. I’m thinking that they know they are in the wrong but they don’t want to submit to this Jesus character. Thus, they begin to plot how to kill him.
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, May our worship be pleasing to you. May our worship be a place for all people to praise and glorify your name. Amen.
Mark 10
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Mark 10:21-27, 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.”
At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”
The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”
In this chapter, Jesus teaches that following him will affect how we behave in the most fundamental parts of our lives. He starts the chapter by teaching on divorce; teaching that marriage is not simply a contract, but a creation of God, and that both men and women are equal partners in the marriage. At that time in Jewish marriages, divorce was common but the men were clearly in control of the marriage, as they could easily discard their wives and remarry. But Jesus is turning this upside down. He is saying, no, in God’s Kingdom, marriage is a covenant between the man, the woman, and God. The commitment is sacred.
He goes on to teach about children. Parents were bringing children to him to be blessed and the disciples scolded them. Jesus intervenes and says, no, let the little children come to me. Keep in mind that children in the first century weren’t seen as having much value. Again, Jesus is flipping things upside down. He says that to follow him, we have to become like little children – vulnerable, powerless, needing someone else to provide safety and sustenance.
And then we come to the teaching highlighted by our focus verses. A man comes to Jesus and asks, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Jesus says, “Well you need to follow all the commandments.” And he lists them, you shall not murder, commit adultery, steal, give false testimony. You shall honor your father & mother. He adds one, you shall not defraud. This wasn’t in the 10 commandments, possibly Jesus added it because many of the wealthy were wealthy because they had taken advantage of the poor. If that was the case with this man, we don’t know. The man simply says, “Yes, I’ve done all those things since I was a boy.”
Then, Scripture says, “Jesus looked at him and loved him.” The word for love used here, in the Greek, is the highest form of love in the New Testament, meaning love that characterizes God. There must have been something really rare and admirable about the man, because this is the only place this form of love is used in Mark.
Because he loved the man, Jesus looks at him and says there is still one thing you lack. Yes, you follow all the laws, but there is still something you lack. It was assumed that if one followed the law perfectly (we know that’s impossible but if one did a good job following the law) then they would receive eternal life. Jesus is saying, that is not the case. Jesus isn’t denying that this man is following the law, he isn’t disputing that. This is obviously a man of high integrity who is clearly doing all he can to be obedient to God’s laws.
“One thing you lack,” Jesus said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” The text says that the man’s face fell. He went away sad because he had great wealth. This is the irony. The children in the former story who possess nothing are told that the kingdom of God is theirs; yet this man who possesses everything still lacks something! Only when he sells all he has—only when he becomes like a vulnerable child—will he possess everything. But he isn’t willing to do that. He decides to walk away from Jesus. The man wasn’t expecting to have to make that kind of sacrifice. He had no idea following Jesus would be so hard.
And the disciples are really confused by this. At that time, most people believed that being wealthy was a sign of God’s blessing. Jesus is saying that this man has to sell everything and give it to the poor. And that’s when Jesus says the really, really hard thing…it’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
They ask, “Then who possibly can be saved?” Jesus says, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” Most of us should feel at least slightly uncomfortable when we read this passage. Don’t dismiss that feeling, rest in it a bit before you move on. The reality is that we are all wealthy in comparison to the rest of the world. Jesus isn’t saying that having possessions is a bad thing. Allowing our stuff, our resources, to get in the way of our relationship with Jesus is a bad thing though.
What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus? I think we have so often fallen into the trap of thinking that following Jesus, being a disciple, is about following a list of rules: following commandments, generally being a good person, going to church, giving some money to good causes, and doing good “Christian” things. But here Jesus is saying that being a disciple is not about following a list of rules. If that were the case, then the rich young ruler would have been a shoo-in. Jesus is saying, following him is about denying yourself and picking up your cross. And we don’t like to deny ourselves. We don’t like to be uncomfortable. It means looking at your life and renouncing any part of it that gets in the way of your walk with Jesus.
That means that following Jesus isn’t one part of our life; following Jesus isn’t simply one activity in a busy life filled with lots of great stuff. No, following Jesus means radically reorienting our life. Jesus comes first and our devotion to Jesus as Lord and Savior affects every other area of our lives. Our dedication to Jesus affects how we treat other people, it affects how we spend our money, it affects how we spend our time, it affects how we behave. Following Jesus means a radical adjustment to priorities.
What is it that keeps you from fully following Jesus? What part of your life have you not yet submitted to him? What do you need to renounce in order to submit your whole life to Christ?
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, I belong to you and you alone. In Your Name, Amen.
Mark 9
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Mark 9:2-6, 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. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.
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.” (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)
Today, we join Jesus, Peter, James, and John, on the mountaintop. This text is referred to as the transfiguration. They all trek up to the top of the mountain and Jesus “transfigures” right before their very eyes. For just a moment, put yourself in the position of these three men. They had only know the flesh and blood Jesus. We know Jesus as risen Lord and Savior. I think we would expect him to wear dazzling white robes and be all shiny and glorious. But they didn’t. Right before their very eyes, they get a glimpse of Jesus’ glory that was unexpected, as they had never seen before. Jesus was radiating the very presence of God and they got to be witnesses to it.
Then, Moses and Elijah appeared before them and they were talking to Jesus. We don’t quite know why Moses and Elijah appear on the mountain with Jesus except that they were two Old Testament figures who anticipated the coming of Jesus, the final prophet to come and deliver God’s people once and for all. Their work, their ministries, are basically fulfilled by the person of Jesus. They were servants of God but they weren’t God. Jesus, on the other hand, is God and the disciples get a glimpse of that right here.
But there is something about being confronted by the power and glory of God which can make us uncomfortable and even fearful. In awe, yes, but also frightened. Maybe you’ve been there. Peter is there. He struggles to simply rest in the presence of God’s glory. He doesn’t know what to do or say so he blurts out, “let’s set up three shelters – one for you, Jesus, and one for Moses and Elijah.” Now, Peter is referring to the festival of booths or tabernacles which faithful Jews participating in every year. They make structures in their yards as a sign of when God will tabernacle with his people. So, this might seem like a weird thing for Peter to say to us but it wasn’t too off the wall. He is like, “umm…I think God is tabernacling with us and we need to make the shelters.” He is kind of panicky. It seemed like a good thought at the time.
What Peter doesn’t quite understand yet is that before his eyes God’s dwelling with humanity is present, for Jesus is the new tabernacle of God dwelling with humanity. The shelters aren’t needed. God is present with his people through Jesus Christ.
There is something about mountain-top experiences – times in which we get a glimpse of the glory and presence of God in our lives. I’m hoping you have each had some kind of mountaintop experience in your walk with Jesus, times in which the veil was removed, you’ve gotten a taste of the presence of God. These are times in which we are confronted with God’s power and it can’t help but change us. You realize that Jesus wasn’t just a good, wise man who walked the earth 2000 years ago but rather was God himself, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.
Let’s pray…Lord, Show us your glory. We want to know you, feel you, and experience you more. Amen.
Mark 8
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Mark 8:34-38, Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”
What does it mean to truly follow Jesus? This is what today’s focus verses are addressing. Somehow, in our American Christian lifestyles we have lost sight of what it means to really be a disciple. We tend to think that being a disciple is about going to church, being a good person, and maybe sometimes giving some money to a worthy cause. We have narrowed down discipleship to a list of tasks. We have accepted comfort and being good enough. How wrong we have been.
Being a disciple of Jesus is not about tasks, it is certainly not about comfort, but all about heart. There is self-sacrifice and maybe even some pain involved. Jesus says, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Wow. How many of us like to deny ourselves? That doesn’t sound very comfortable. We also have to take up our cross. Ouch. Carrying a cross doesn’t sound like much fun either. I would imagine it would be heavy and quite difficult. And yet, this is how Jesus describes following him.
Then, he says that those who want to gain their lives will have to lose them. Total surrender to him. We are no longer our own. We belong to Jesus.
Are you ready to be a true disciple of Christ?
Let’s pray…Lord, In our own power, we cannot do this. In yours, we have a chance. Fill us, transform us, use us. In Your Name, Amen.
Mark 7
Today's reading is from Mark 7. Jesus' followers have been observed not obeying Jewish laws and traditions by not washing their hands. Jesus turns the Pharisees' and Jewish leaders' words back on them, saying they've replaced God's word with "tradition."
Traditions are not inherently bad, as long as we treat them as traditions and hold them loosely and not with a death grip. Or that we don't claim that a certain way is the "only" way. Jesus says in verses 8-9, and 13.
"For you ignore God’s law and substitute your own tradition.”
Then he said, “You skillfully sidestep God’s law in order to hold on to your own tradition... And so you cancel the word of God in order to hand down your own tradition. And this is only one example among many others.”
When Jesus pulls the disciples aside later, he elaborates in verses 20-23;
"It is what comes from inside that defiles you. For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.”
My - and Jesus' - challenge is this: The next time you notice something isn't how you remember it and you claim "that's not how church is done," stop yourself and look to scripture. As in the days of Jesus, there are those claiming "new rules" and saying they are "the law," but as John Wesley taught us, "we must recognize the primacy and authority of Scripture as understood through the light of tradition, reason and experience."
Prayer
Lord, help me to put aside my own biases and preferences when church doesn't happen the way I want it to and remember to weigh every decision about church, worship and what I believe against scripture first, and then tradition, reason and experience. Amen.
For additional information, I didn't grow up Methodist, but I have come to appreciate Wesley Theology. To learn more about what those in the Methodist tradition call the "Wesleyan Quadrilateral" check out this video and blog post: https://www.wesleyan.org/the-wesleyan-quadrilateral
Mark 5
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Mark 5:30-34, At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”
“You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ”
But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”
In this chapter, Jesus is healing and transforming lives. Remember, in God’s Kingdom there is no sickness so Jesus healed people physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
The focus verses for today describe Jesus healing the woman who had been bleeding for twelve years. This is probably my favorite miracle (if we are allowed to have a favorite.) I can’t help but think about this woman’s difficult life. To be bleeding in Jewish culture meant she was unclean. She couldn’t go to the synagogue, nor was she really supposed to be around people. If she had been married, her husband would have long left her because of her condition. She would have lived a very isolated, lonely life, not to mention being poor and physically weak.
And then Jesus comes along. She must have heard about him. She knows where he will be passing and she takes a chance. She wasn’t supposed to even be in the crowd because she was unclean. But something within her knows that this man could change things. Her faith is beyond what Jesus has seen in the religious people or those in high positions. When he asks who touched him, my guess is he knew exactly who touched him. This would be a teaching moment.
He calls out the bleeding woman and holds her up as an example. In a crowd of people who see themselves as righteous and important, Jesus elevates this humble woman above all the others. She is no longer ostracized but healed, whole, and part of Jesus’ family. That word “daughter” would have been so healing for her. Condemned by the rest of society, Jesus empowers this woman and calls her his own.
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, Thank you for calling me your own. Despite my sins and the ways I mess up over and over again, you include me in your family and that makes all the difference. Help us be about empowering others as you do. Help me see people through your eyes. More of you and less of me. In Your Name, Amen.
Mark 6
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Mark 6:7-13, Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits.
These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”
They went out and preached that people should repent. They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.
Jesus calls his disciples to be missional, to go into the towns and villages and proclaim the Good News of the Gospel message. They weren’t supposed to wait for people to come to them. Rather, they were taught to GO, GO, GO. I’ve been thinking about this quite a bit. This same model of ministry applies to us as well. We are also Jesus’ disciples. He has also called us to go into the towns, villages, streets, schools, shops, neighborhoods, and workplaces, to proclaim the Good News of the Gospel message. The Christian life was never intended to be passive.
The other noteworthy part of this text is that Jesus gave very specific instructions to his disciples. If they were not welcomed, then they were simply to wipe the dust from their feet and move on. How often do we worry and stress over those people who don’t want to hear our message? We think, “maybe if I had worded it differently” or “maybe if I could just be more relevant.” We are just messengers and the Holy Spirit does the work. While we should always care about those who are lost, we don’t need to be anxious when people aren’t interested in hearing about the Gospel. Not everyone listened to Jesus and his disciples 2000 years ago, why in the world would we think everyone is going to listen to us? Simply say a prayer for them and move on.
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, Give us the courage and motivation to go into our communities and proclaim your message! In Your Name, Amen.
Mark 4
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Mark 4:30-32, Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”
In this chapter, Jesus begins to tell stories, what we call parables, about the Kingdom of God. What is the Kingdom life all about? One example is that it’s like a mustard seed. Mustard is an ancient condiment, and mustard seeds were very common in Jesus’ day. The listeners would have been familiar with these little seeds; they were the smallest of all the garden seeds available in Palestine during the time of Jesus. But even though they were small, these seeds could grow into a really big bush or tree. Interestingly, it was actually against the law to plant these seeds in a public garden because they would literally take over and choke out the other plants. Something so little, almost invisible really, could become something that took over the whole garden.
What can we learn from this mustard seed?
God’s economy is different. In the world, our default setting if you will, big things are valued – big money, big jobs, big cars, big houses, big, flashy, noticeable - these are all things that indicate power, prestige, control. God’s Kingdom says it’s okay for things to be small. Small, seemingly insignificant things can make a huge difference. Mustard seeds, yeast, loaves & fishes, a random act of kindness, a kind or encouraging word, spending time with God in prayer, offering a prayer over someone else, the widow’s mite, a humble life lived with integrity, sharing our faith story with someone, or our willingness to serve others. Small things that all can yield huge results for God’s Kingdom. Our daily prayers can yield huge, miraculous results. Tithing, even when we don’t make much money, makes a difference; God can take it and multiply it many times for his Kingdom. What we think is small, God can make big. God’s economy is different.
God does the work but human action is required. In many of Jesus’ parables, there is human action that is part of the growth. The seed must be planted in the ground and probably watered too. Although God could accomplish this growth on his own, he asks us to invest part of ourselves in his work. Then, God honors our obedience, he honors our effort, our willingness, and our faith, no matter how small and insignificant we think it is AND he grows it exponentially. The Kingdom of God demands our action. It means not waiting for someone else to do something. It means not rationalizing that we are too young, too old, too tired, or you have already done enough. If we aren’t dead, we aren’t done. We don’t retire from a life following Jesus. Rather, we partner with God to grow his Kingdom on earth, to actively work to make this world the way God always intended it to be.
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, Help us be part of building your Kingdom. Take my small contribution and multiply it many times. More of you and less of me. Amen.
Mark 3
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Mark 3:13-19, Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve[a] that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
In this chapter, we read more about the beginning stages of Jesus’ ministry. He is already upsetting people by his unconventional way of doing things. He values people more than rules and he isn’t afraid to upset the establishment.
In our focus verses for today, Jesus is calling his disciples. I always find it amazing that these men left their day jobs and families to serve as apprentices of Jesus Christ. There was definitely something unique about them. While they were just regular men, they knew that following Jesus would call them to a higher purpose.
The other really important aspect of this text is that Jesus called people at all. Afterall, Jesus is God. He didn’t need people to do the work of the Kingdom. He could have taken care of it all quite nicely. But he called them for their benefit. Ministry is not a solo activity. We are stronger together. We are better together. Jesus was setting up a system for how ministry could and should be done well after he ascended into heaven.
We all need people with whom to do life and follow Jesus. Who are your people? Can’t think of someone? It just may be time to start in a connect group!!! Ministry and church were never intended to be done alone.
Let’s pray…Bind us together, Lord, with cords that cannot be broken. Please, Lord Jesus, put people in our lives who can support us, guide us, and with whom we can walk side by side as we do your work in this world. Amen.
Mark 2
Good morning and welcome to the daily SOAP from New Hope. This is Tara Prather and our reading for today, October 28th comes from the book of Mark Chapter 2. I encourage you to go and read the entire chapter but I will be focusing on verses 14-17.
I’ll be reading from the New International Version
As he walked along, he (Jesus) saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. Follow me, Jesus told him and Levi got up and followed him. While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?
On hearing this, Jesus said to them, it is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.
Tax collectors were considered the lowest of the low in Jewish society in the time of Jesus. They were seen as traitors because they worked for the Romans to take money from the Jews. So, in the passage, Levi is considered a hated outsider & the worst of all possible sinners. But, when Jesus calls him, he immediately follows.
Our mission here at New Hope is to make more and better followers of Jesus Christ. Sometimes it’s easy for the church to turn inward…focusing all of our energy and efforts o the people that are already in the pews. And, while our regular members and attenders are vital to the life of the church, we need to always remember to look outward to those who do not know Jesus. I think that we also need to be very careful about judging people based on how they look, or what they do, or how they act. After all, even us regular church goers fall short of the glory of God. We are all sinners and Jesus died to save all of us, not just those of us sitting in church on Sunday mornings.
Let us pray….Dear God, forgive us for the times that we have turned inward and turned our backs on those searching for you. Help us all to see the struggling & needy around us and to show them the way to you. In Jesus’ holy name, Amen.