Cherryville Baptist Church Pastor Tom's Weekly Blog

Pastor Tom Roberts Pen

You can contact Pastor Tom
by calling (908) 782-7831 or
send him an email at PastorTom@Cherryvillebaptist.org

Joseph Sgno and Pastor Tom Part One
Joseph Sgno and Pastor Tom Part Two
See Cherryville Baptist Church

The Apostle’s Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth;
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord:
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
Born of the Virgin Mary,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, dead and buried;
He descended into hell;
On the third day he rose from the dead;
He ascended into heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
From thence he will come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
The holy church throughout the world,
The communion of saints,
The forgiveness of sins,
The resurrection of the body,
And the life everlasting.
Amen.

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“If you would have your faith made vivid and strong, study much the story of your Saviour’s death. Read it: read it: read it: read it. ‘Tolle: lege,’ said the voice to Augustine, ‘Take it: read it.” So say I…Read it by day and by night till you familiarize yourself with the whole story of his griefs and sin-bearing. Keep your mind intently fixed upon it; not sometimes, but continually. Crux lux: the cross is light. Thou shalt see it by its own light. The study of the narrative, if thou pray the Holy Ghost to enlighten thee, will beget faith in thee; till at last thou wilt say: “I cannot doubt.” Charles Spurgeon

Mark 15

¹ Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, reached a decision. They bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate.

² “Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate.

“Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied.

³ The chief priests accused him of many things. ⁴ So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.”

⁵ But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.

⁶ Now it was the custom at the Feast to release a prisoner whom the people requested. ⁷ A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. ⁸ The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.

⁹ “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate, ¹⁰ knowing it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. ¹¹ But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.

¹² “What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them.

¹³ “Crucify him!” they shouted.

¹⁴ “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.

But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

¹⁵ Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

¹⁶ The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. ¹⁷ They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. ¹⁸ And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” ¹⁹ Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. ²⁰ And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.

²¹ 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. ²² They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). ²³ Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. ²⁴ And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get.

²⁵ It was the third hour when they crucified him. ²⁶ The written notice of the charge against him read: THE KING OF THE JEWS. ²⁷ They crucified two robbers with him, one on his right and one on his left. ²⁹ Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, ³⁰ come down from the cross and save yourself!”

³¹ In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! ³² Let this Christ, this King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

³³ At the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. ³⁴ And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”—which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

³⁵ When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.”

³⁶ One man ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said.

³⁷ With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.

³⁸ The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. ³⁹ And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”

⁴⁰ Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. ⁴¹ In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there.

⁴² It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, ⁴³ Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. ⁴⁴ Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. ⁴⁵ When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. ⁴⁶ So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. ⁴⁷ Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Amen.

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Our scripture for today is everything that Mark wrote about this day, the day before Jesus' crucifixion. It includes some of the most important passages in all the Gospel! We will commemorate these events tonight at 7 p.m. with a Maundy Thursday Service of Candlelight and Communion, and then an hour of silent prayer after the service for those who wish. The word Maundy comes from the Latin word mandatum from which we get our word mandate, or command. This day is called Maundy Thursday because it was on this night that Jesus gave his disciples a new command, a new mandate if you will, to love one another.

Mark 14:12-52

¹² On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus disciples asked him, Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?

¹³ So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. ¹⁴ Say to the owner of the house he enters, The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples? ¹⁵ He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.

¹⁶ The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.

¹⁷ When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. ¹⁸ While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, I tell you the truth, one of you will betray meone who is eating with me.

¹⁹ They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, Surely not I?

²⁰ It is one of the Twelve, he replied, one who dips bread into the bowl with me. ²¹ The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.

²² While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, Take it; this is my body.

²³ Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it.

²⁴ This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many, he said to them. ²⁵ I tell you the truth, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God.

²⁶ When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

²⁷ You will all fall away, Jesus told them, for it is written:

I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered.

²⁸ But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.

²⁹ Peter declared, Even if all fall away, I will not.

³⁰ I tell you the truth, Jesus answered, todayyes, tonightbefore the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.

³¹ But Peter insisted emphatically, Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you. And all the others said the same.

³² They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, Sit here while I pray. ³³ He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. ³⁴ My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death, he said to them. Stay here and keep watch.

³⁵ Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. ³⁶ Abba, Father, he said, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.

³⁷ Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. Simon, he said to Peter, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? ³⁸ Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.

³⁹ Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. ⁴⁰ When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.

⁴¹ Returning the third time, he said to them, Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴² Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!

⁴³ Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders.

⁴⁴ Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard. ⁴⁵ Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, Rabbi! and kissed him. ⁴⁶ The men seized Jesus and arrested him. ⁴⁷ Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

⁴⁸ Am I leading a rebellion, said Jesus, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? ⁴⁹ Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled. ⁵⁰ Then everyone deserted him and fled.

⁵¹ A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, ⁵² he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.

Instructions concerning the Lord's Supper, the agonized prayer in the Garden, with the faithful ending: "Yet not what I will, but what you will", the betrayal by Judas, these words are the air we breathe, they are our daily bread. Just as a note, many scholars surmise that the young man who fled without his garment may have been Mark himself, the author of this Gospel.

I have attached the bulletin for the Good Friday Service. Please come as you are able to remember the Lord's suffering on the cross for you and for me.

Just a note, sunrise on Easter is just a few minutes after 6. We will begin gathering at 5:45, and we will meet just at the north end of the horse fence past the cemetary, same direction but a little short of where we usually meet.

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We will begin with scripture today from Mark’s Gospel, but please read on. The Last Supper and all that will follow is drawing closer and a woman came to Jesus to extravagantly, beautifully worship Jesus and prepare Him for what would follow. This act of love is surrounded by a growing plot to kill Jesus:

Mark 14

¹ Now the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some sly way to arrest Jesus and kill him. ² “But not during the Feast,” they said, “or the people may riot.”

³ While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.

⁴ Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? ⁵ It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.

⁶ “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. ⁷ The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. ⁸ She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. ⁹ I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

¹⁰ Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. ¹¹ They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

Six weeks ago today, we began to prepare you to worship Jesus this week. Since that Ash Wednesday, March 9, you have been prayed for by name each day by some member of your church family. That prayer has been for your spiritual well-being and growth in this season, based on Colossians 1: 9 – 12.

On that day, I began to send out daily devotions that have allowed us to read through and prayerfully consider most of the Gospel of Mark.

On Sundays, and Wednesday evenings, we have studied the 7 miraculous signs that Jesus did and that John recorded in his gospel, “that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20: 31)

Like Jesus in the scriptures, we are standing at the brink of the remembrance of his last days. The Lord has blessed us as a church with some wonderful, worshipful ways of remembering Jesus’ sacrifice for us.

Tomorrow evening we will have a Tenebrae Service in the sanctuary at 7 p.m. The service follows a tradition of the church dating back to the eighth century. Tenebrae is the Latin word for “darkness” and it commemorates the final hours of our Lord’s life on earth. The candlelight is gradually extinguished, symbolizing the fading loyalty of the disciples and friends of Jesus. The gradual darkening of the church portrays the diminishing light of the world as Christ was departing from it. As part of the service tomorrow, which our choir will lead, we will share communion, remembering Jesus’ last supper with his disciples.

When the service ends tomorrow evening, we leave the sanctuary open for one hour for silent prayer. It was after the last supper that Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. He asked his sleepy disciples to “keep watch with me for one hour…watch and pray…” (Matthew 26:40), and so we offer the opportunity for you to watch and pray with the Lord for one hour.

On Friday, we worship together from noon to three p.m., remembering the Crucifixion, and the Seven Last Words of Christ from the Cross. It is a service at which you can stay for the entire time, or come for 20 minutes or a half hour as you are able. Tomorrow I will attach a bulletin for the Good Friday Service with times and speakers.

I encourage you all to make time for these remembrances of the most Holy times in our Lord’s life. I invite you to do “a beautiful thing” for Jesus, as the woman in today’s scripture did, an extravagant act of worship of our Lord.

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The scripture readings will be longer this week. The most important part of any story gets the most attention and detail, and there is no doubt that the events of Holy Week, the events surrounding the cross of Jesus Christ, are given the greatest attention by the Gospel writers. Think of the math: Mark devoted 10 chapters to the three years of Jesus' public ministry, and 6 chapters to the final week! I once did the counting of the verses in Mark, and as I remember it was something like 60% of the verses for the public ministry, and 40% of the verses for the final week. Literarily, as well as spiritually, the cross of Jesus Christ is the focal point of the Gospel!

Our scripture reading today are some of the events of the Tuesday of Holy Week. The tension between the religious leaders and Jesus is escalating quickly, we know that it will culminate in execution in just a few days. Jesus disputes with the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders, then tells a parable that they realize is directed toward them. We understand verse 6: "He had one left to send, a son, whom he loved. He sent him last of all, saying, They will respect my son.'" Sadly, ironically, they did not.

I included the tax story, because, well, it is the day after taxes, and it is somewhat heartening to know that Jesus dealt with all of the issues that we deal with, and he teaches us to do so with honor and integrity. It is the job of the IRS to enforce that you render unto Ceasar that which is Ceasar's. It is my joyful task in our devotions and other ways to encourage you to render unto God that which is God's!

Mark 11:

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 from men? 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, From men (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.)

³³ So they answered Jesus, We dont know.

Jesus said, Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

Mark 12:

¹ He then began to speak to them in parables: A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a pit for the winepress and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and went away on a journey. ² At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants to collect from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. ³ But they seized him, beat him and sent him away empty-handed. ⁴ Then he sent another servant to them; they struck this man on the head and treated him shamefully. ⁵ He sent still another, and that one they killed. He sent many others; some of them they beat, others they killed.

⁶ He had one left to send, a son, whom he loved. He sent him last of all, saying, They will respect my son.

⁷ But the tenants said to one another, This is the heir. Come, lets kill him, and the inheritance will be ours. ⁸ So they took him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.

⁹ What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others. ¹⁰ Haven't you read this scripture:

   The stone the builders rejected
   has become the capstone;
¹¹ the Lord has done this,
   and it is marvelous in our eyes?

¹² Then they looked for a way to arrest him because they knew he had spoken the parable against them. But they were afraid of the crowd; so they left him and went away.

¹³ Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. ¹⁴ They came to him and said, Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? ¹⁵ Should we pay or shouldn't we?

But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. Why are you trying to trap me? he asked. Bring me a denarius and let me look at it. ¹⁶ They brought the coin, and he asked them, Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?

Caesar's, they replied.

¹⁷ Then Jesus said to them, Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's.

And they were amazed at him.

In every way, be amazed at Him this week!!

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Mark 11

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.

¹⁵ On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area 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.

¹⁹ When evening came, they 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!”

²² “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. ²³ “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. ²⁴ Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. ²⁵ And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

On the Monday after Palm Sunday, Jesus cleanses the temple. Think about it: Messiah enters the Holy City and the Temple of the Living God and would rightly expect to find fruitful worship. Instead he finds dishonest commerce.

The episode with the fig tree that sandwiches the cleansing of the temple is a parable in action that demonstrates that the worship of the Jews in the Temple has been unfruitful, has not been what God intended, and henceforth, the worship of God through Jesus Christ will bear fruit by focusing on the three important things Jesus mentions in verses 22 and following:

Have faith in God

Pray believing

Forgive as you have been forgiven

Are these things, faith, prayer, and forgiveness, the characteristics of your relationship with Jesus Christ? Are you bearing fruit in this way? Ask God today that you might!

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Mark 10:

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

³⁵ Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”

³⁶ “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.

³⁷ They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”

³⁸ “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”

³⁹ “We can,” they answered.

Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, ⁴⁰ but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”

⁴¹ When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. ⁴² Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. ⁴³ Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, ⁴⁴ and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. ⁴⁵ For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

For the third time, Jesus announces his Passion to his disciples. As in the two earlier occurrences, the story which follows the announcement illustrates the disciples' failure to grasp what he is saying.

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Mark 10: 17 - 31

¹⁷ As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. Good teacher, he asked, what must I do to inherit eternal life?

¹⁸ Why do you call me good? Jesus answered. No one is good except God alone. ¹⁹ You know the commandments: Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.

²⁰ Teacher, he declared, all these I have kept since I was a boy.

²¹ Jesus looked at him and loved him. One thing you lack, he said. Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.

²² At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

²³ Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!

²⁴ The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.

²⁶ The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, Who then can be saved?

²⁷ Jesus looked at them and said, With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.

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

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

The thrust of this story is that attachments to anything or anyone which take precedence over one's attachment to the kingdom of God are obstacles which hinder one from entering the kingdom. The question raised is: What commands my highest allegiance? What are the things in life which compete for your allegiance and loyalty?

When you have thought about what exerts a claim on your loyalties, then ask yourself what would be involved for you to pledge your highest loyalty to the kingdom of God. Do not be content with vague generalities. Allegiance to the kingdom demands action as specific as Jesus' command to the young man to "sell everything you have and give to the poor." What concrete action, what revisions of priorities, what re-orientation will be demanded of you if you heed Jesus' call to
"come, follow me" ?

Today's Prayer: (from Ignatius of Loyola) Teach us, good Lord, to serve thee as thou deservest; to give and not to count the cost; to fight and not to heed the wounds; to toil and not to seek for rest; to labor and not to ask for any reward, save that of knowing that we do thy will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Mark 9:30-41

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

³³ They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” ³⁴ But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.

³⁵ Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.”

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

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

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

For the second time, Jesus prophecies his betrayal, death, and resurrection. The disciples still do not understand.

Jesus then contrasts the faith of a child, with the childish behavior of the disipcles arguing about which of them was greatest.

The Kingdom of Jesus Christ is an upside down kingdom from our earthly perspective. The first is last, the greatest is servant, and children are the ones deserving of our great welcome. How about this, in welcoming children, we welcome not only Jesus, but also the Father who sent Him. I think it must be pretty important to welcome children! This makes me doubly thankful for the wonderful Christian Ed meeting we had last night.

Something to think about: what does it mean to do something in the name of Christ? What does this phrase teach us about our motivation? Our authority? As you go through the day today, take a break now and then and ask yourself which of your activities you could honestly say you’ve done “in the name of Christ.” Consciously try to approach each situation with that motivation and authority.

Today’s Prayer (from Thomas Aquinas) : "Give me, O Lord, a steadfast heart, which no unworthy thought can drag downwards; an unconquered heart, which no tribulation can wear out; an upright heart, which no unworthy purpose may tempt aside. Bestow upon me also, O Lord our God, understanding to know you, diligence to seek you, wisdom to find you, and a faithfulness that may finally embrace you; through Jesus Christ our Lord." Amen.

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Mark 9:14-29

¹⁴ When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. ¹⁵ As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.

¹⁶ What are you arguing with them about? he asked.

¹⁷ A man in the crowd answered, Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. ¹⁸ Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.

¹⁹ O unbelieving generation, Jesus replied, how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.

²⁰ So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.

²¹ Jesus asked the boy's father, How long has he been like this?

From childhood, he answered. ²² It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.

²³ If you can? said Jesus. Everything is possible for him who believes.

²⁴ Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!

²⁵ When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit. You deaf and mute spirit, he said, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.

²⁶ The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, Hes dead. ²⁷ But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.

²⁸ After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, Why couldn't we drive it out?

²⁹ He replied, This kind can come out only by prayer.

There is so much to note and learn from in this wonderful story. Even though Peter, James, and John have seen the transfigured Christ, they still fumble and falter. If Jesus' own disciples were so slow to grasp what it means to follow Jesus, there is hope for me also!

How often in the scriptures we see parents bringing their children to Jesus. There is no more urgent crying out to the Lord than a parent for his or her child.

The father says "But if you can..." and Jesus answers, "If you can? Everything is possible for him who believes." That is a great verse to memorize!

And the father's exclamation: "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" That is a prayer we all can ask!

Finally, Jesus comment, "This kind can come out only by prayer." There are some things in the Christian life that only come to be through prayer.

An important reminder to us of the importance of prayer and faith.

Today's prayer: "I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief!"

Today's confession of faith: "Everything is possible for him who believes."

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Mark 9:2-13

² After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. ³ His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. ⁴ And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.

⁵ Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” ⁶ (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)

⁷ Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

⁸ Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.

⁹ As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. ¹⁰ They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant.

¹¹ And they asked him, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”

¹² Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected? ¹³ But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him.”

From Larry R. Kalajainen on this passage:

“In all of our journeys, there are times when, for a moment at least, we are given glimpses of glory. Sudden insights into ourselves or into God flood our consciousness. We have been plodding along, and suddenly we make a breakthrough to a new level of love, joy, faith, courage, or hope. Maybe a retreat or a conference we’ve attended has been such a high point for us. Perhaps some inner conflict has been resolved. Maybe on one particular day, our prayer ceased to be a discipline and we found ourselves caught up in rapture and overwhelmed by God’s nearness. All of us have had such mountaintop experiences.

The disciples wanted to stay up there on the mountaintop with the transfigured Jesus. They wanted to build houses and live there. But Jesus led them down from the mountain just as he had led them up. We often make the mistake of the disciples, wishing we could stay “high” with Jesus. However, life goes on in the valley of human need, and that is where we must live. High points of religious experience are given to illuminate or transfigure the valleys where we live out our discipleship.”

In your prayer, as you remember your mountaintops, give thanks for them as God’s gift to you to help you prepare for the hard road of discipleship. Let the memory of those moments of spiritual insight or revelation renew you for the journey in the valley of daily life.

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Mark 8: 34 – 9: 1

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

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

There is a threefold movement to the decision to be a disciple, and it is the same movement that Jesus himself travelled to fulfill his earthy mission. Self-denial, cross-bearing, and following constitute this movement of the spiritual life.

Self-denial does not mean self-hatred or self-discouragement. It means taking self off the throne of my life in order that I may lose my self-centeredness and thus find my true self in God.

Taking up the cross was a very specific act for Jesus. It can be no less specific for his followers. For Jesus, it meant accepting suffering and death. What will it mean for you to take up the cross?

The word follow is a special word for discipleship. To follow Jesus means to take the same road, make the same kinds of choices, face the possibility of the same end he did. What will it mean for you to follow Jesus? Where is your point of departure? What road will you travel as you walk in his footsteps?

If you can see no cross on the road, you may be on the wrong road.

Singing Prayer:

I have decided to follow Jesus

No turning back, no turning back.

The world behind me, the cross before me

No turning back, no turning back.

Looking forward to seeing and worshipping with you tomorrow

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Mark 8:31-33

³¹ He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. ³² He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.

³³ But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

Poor Peter, just got an A for the day with his blessed answer to Jesus question "Who do you say that I am?", when he goes and gets himself in trouble again. Here Jesus makes the first of three (great number) Passion predictions that Mark records in his Gospel. It is so meaningful that immediately after Peter correctly identifies Jesus as the Christ, that Jesus reveals what it means to be the Christ of God: that he will suffer, be rejected and killed, and after three days rise again.

No one was expecting a suffering Messiah. Everyone expected a triumphant, conquering Messiah. That is why Peter, fresh off his divine insight, took him aside and began to rebuke him. You can almost imagine the conversation: "Jesus, you aren't going to suffer, nobody is going to hurt you, we are going to Jerusalem and you will put those Romans in their place."

Jesus rebukes right back, in the strongest possible terms: "Get behind me, Satan!" Strong words, but it was Satan in the wilderness who had tempted Jesus to fulfill his mission without suffering. Jesus would triumph over sin and death, but not in the way people expected.

Jesus "spoke plainly" to the disciples, and he will speak plainly to us about what it means to be his disciple today. Ask the Lord today to put in your mind the things of God and not the things of men.

As you pray, speak plainly to Him: your fears, your misunderstandings, your sins. What He suffered, He suffered for you: knowingly, willingly, obediently, intentionally.

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We have just seen a blind man healed in two stages, and now Peter begins to see and testify to who Jesus really is. The full vision of Jesus for Peter and every Christian can only come at the cross:

Mark 8:

²⁷ Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, Who do people say I am?

²⁸ They replied, Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.

²⁹ But what about you? he asked. Who do you say I am?

Peter answered, You are the Christ.

³⁰ Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.

I remember this particular scene from the Franco Zeffirelli movie "Jesus of Nazareth." It is dark, and the disciples are gathering again on the top of this mountain after returning from their missionary work, and Jesus asks the question "Who do people say I am?" The disciples laugh out loud as they reveal the "crazy" answers people have come up with. One disciple says "Some say John the Baptist" and they all roar. Another says "Elijah" more laughter, "one of the prophets" and the group guffaws. In the movie, Jesus is smiling too.

Then Jesus asks the question: "But what about you? 'Who do you say I am?" Silence. All the laughter and jollity ends. Silence. Serious silence. The question breaks the light hearted mood and pierces their hearts. Then soberly, strongly, Peter breaks the silence. "You are the Christ." And the group quietly ponders this profound confession.

This is the turning point in Mark's Gospel. From this point on, Jesus' disciples are more in focus than the crowds. Jesus begins to direct his attention and teaching to those who were his closest followers. In telling this story of decision, Mark is also calling his readers, both the original readers and all subsequent readers of the Gospel, to the same point of decision. In effect, Mark is saying, "All right, now you've seen and heard this man Jesus as he has gone about Galilee teaching and preaching. You've witnessed the authority of his words and his life. Now it's decision time. Who do you say that Jesus is?"

I have always contended that this is the decisive question of our universe. Every human being is given a lifetime to respond to Jesus' question: "But what about you? Who do you say I am?" Your answer makes an eternal difference.

Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Amen

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Mark 8:22-26

²² They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. ²³ He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?”

²⁴ He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.”

²⁵ Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. ²⁶ Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t go into the village.”

A unique healing in the ministry of Jesus in that the healing takes place in two stages. We have spoken on more than one occasion of both the physical and spiritual significance of Jesus bringing sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf. This particular healing highlights those instances when Jesus brings us sight and understanding in stages.

Think of a specific time in your spiritual journey when you were like the man after the first touch by Jesus – you had partial sight, but you really didn’t see “everything clearly.” Maybe you are still at that stage. Can you remember a point at which you felt that Christ had given you a second touch? Was there a sudden insight into yourself, a new understanding of how God is working in your life, a liberation from an enslaving habit, or a breaking out of old patterns of behavior? Thank God for his healing!

In what areas of your life do you now need a second touch? Confess it to God now and ask him to put his hands on your eyes again.

A little Wednesday story: John Wesley, the father of Methodism, received such a second touch, and it set him free to become the spiritual dynamo who transformed England in the 18^th century. For years, Wesley had been a pious and devoted Christian, a priest in the Church of England. He had pursued a holy life with such purpose and method that he and his friends were given the derogatory name “Methodists.” Yet, at one essential point, he remained blind: he did not feel the assurance in his spirit that God had accepted him and claimed him. Here is his description of his second touch:

'In the evening (of May 24, 1738) I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther's preface to the Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation: and an assurance was given me, that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.'

The next morning Wesley wrote: 'The moment I awaked "Jesus, Master" was in my heart and in my mouth.'

May Jesus, Master be in your heart and in your mouth today!

Hope to see you tonight!!!

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To appreciate this passage, you need to remember that Jesus has just finished feeding 4000 people, the second miraculous feeding of his ministry. We are not too surprised that the Pharisees would ask for a sign, but it is very surprising that Jesus' disciples are still worried about having no bread! The story heading for this episode could be "Uh Duh!"
Mark 8:
11 The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. 12 He sighed deeply and said, Why does this generation ask for a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to it. 13 Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side.
14 The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. 15 Be careful, Jesus warned them. Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.
16 They discussed this with one another and said, It is because we have no bread.
17 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don't you remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?
Twelve, they replied.
20 And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?
They answered, Seven.
21 He said to them, Do you still not understand?
Way back in Mark Chapter 4, Jesus had spoken about teaching in parables and had quoted Isaiah 6: they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding". At this point that seems to describe the disciples. (verse 18)
What are the blind spots in your walk with Jesus. What has he provided for you a thousand times over that you still fret about? What have you "heard" in the scripture, but not really heard? Ask the Lord to heal your deaf ears and your blind eyes.
Also today, listen to someone you've never really listened to before. That someone may be a family member, an in-law, a co-worker, or a neighbor. Tune in the ears of your mind and heart to hear what others are saying to you, perhaps without words. As you hear them "speak" to you, lift them up in prayer.
I want everyone reading this to know, that during the 40 days of Lent, the following scriptural prayer is being prayed over you, by name, every day:
"...we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light." Amen (Colossians 1: 9 - 12)

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Mark 8

¹ During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, ² “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. ³ If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.”

⁴ His disciples answered, “But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?”

⁵ “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked.

“Seven,” they replied.

⁶ He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people, and they did so. ⁷ They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. ⁸ The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. ⁹ About four thousand men were present. And having sent them away, ¹⁰ he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha.

This is the 2^nd miraculous feeding that Mark records in his Gospel. Reflect on the different responses of Jesus and his disciples to the hunger of the crowd. Jesus has compassion; his disciples are realists. They recognize the impossibility of feeding such a large number of people with such meager resources.

How do you respond to needs of other people when you become aware of them? Do you see the situation as one which has great possibilities for the exercise of faith? Or are you a realist, saying, “It’s a shame the way things are, but what can one person do?”

Seven loaves in the hands of pragmatic and at least faith-challenged disciples are certainly not enough to feed a multitude. In the hands of Jesus, blessed with compassion and faith in God’s power, they become a feast which not only is sufficient but also produces seven baskets of leftovers.

What is the equivalent of the seven loaves in your life? What do you have that you could give Jesus to multiply? As you identify the gifts, abilities, interest, resources, and whatever else Jesus has given to you, consciously turn them over to Christ. He may use them to feed a multitude!

Prayer: Be pleased, O Lord, to save me; O Lord, come quickly to help me. Psalm 40: 13

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Mark 7:31-37

³¹ Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis. ³² There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged him to place his hand on the man.

³³ After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. ³⁴ He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means, “Be opened!”). ³⁵ At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.

³⁶ Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. ³⁷ People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

On more than one occasion, Jesus restores the hearing of a deaf person. The healings of Jesus certainly have a physical dimension, but they also very clearly have a spiritual dimension as well. Twice already in Mark’s gospel Jesus has said “If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”

My prayer for you today, and tomorrow in worship, is that you will “hear” the Word of Christ. That He would unplug your ears, and you would hear afresh, hear with meaning, what God would say to you through scripture and the Spirit.

Again today, we will pray the prayer of St. Francis :

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy Peace!
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sorrow, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not
so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

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Mark 7:24-30

²⁴ Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. ²⁵ In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an evil spirit came and fell at his feet. ²⁶ The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.

²⁷ First let the children eat all they want, he told her, for it is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs.

²⁸ Yes, Lord, she replied, but even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.

²⁹ Then he told her, For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.

³⁰ She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.

What a marked (pun intended) contrast with the previous story. Whereas the religious leaders of Israel have made a mockery of the religious law and thereby proved they are spiritually defiled, this Gentile woman, whom the Israelites would have considered as defiled, is really the one who is spiritually pure. While the religious leaders find fault with Jesus, she desires only what he can do for her.

This is a good time for us to confess the times we have allowed ourselves to feel superiority and contempt for others, forgetting the great love the Lord has for those who are downtrodden, especially for those who are downtrodden!

It is also a good time for us the think of times we have felt rejected and treated as an outcast by others for whatever reason. Allow the "crumbs" from Christ's table to fall on your plate! Remember that Christ offers us not "crumbs" but a banquet!

Today's prayer from Francis of Assisi:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
when there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

Grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand,
to be loved as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

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Jesus' Feast of Life:

Mark 6:33-44

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 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 eight months of a man'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.

What a contrast between the banquet Jesus provides for those who come to hear him and the banquet Herod provided for those who came to flatter him! Have you ever thought of the Christian life as a banquet? It is the same image that occurs in the story of Jesus changing water into wine at the wedding feast in Cana of Galilee that we considered on Sunday. Spend a few moments reflecting on the abundance and richness of God's grace. Remember especially that the verbs of verse 41: "taking...gave thanks...broke...gave," are the words of the Lord's Supper. The ultimate meal with which Jesus feeds us is himself given for us.

The following prayer goes back to the 5th Century and is called St. Patrick's Breastplate:

I bind unto myself today
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.

I bind this day to me for ever.
By power of faith, Christ's incarnation;
His baptism in the Jordan river;
His death on Cross for my salvation;
His bursting from the spicèd tomb;
His riding up the heavenly way;
His coming at the day of doom;
I bind unto myself today.

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Jesus' Feast of Life:

Mark 6:33-44

³⁷ But he answered, You give them something to eat.

They said to him, That would take eight months of a man'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, Fiveand two fish.

The following prayer goes back to the 5th Century and is called St. Patrick's Breastplate:

I bind unto myself today
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.

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With the disciples sent out by Jesus to preach and heal, Mark takes the time to tell the story of a banquet thrown by King Herod. Here we discover the fate of John the Baptist, whose preaching prepared the way for the ministry of Jesus. It is both a foreshadowing of what awaits Jesus, if this is what happens to the messenger, we know that there is worse in store for the Message, but also a contrast with tomorrow’s story of the feeding of the multitude by Jesus. Side by side we see the dramatic contrast of the banquet of Herod which produces death and the banquet of Jesus which gives life and abundance.

Mark 6:14-29

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, the man I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!”

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.

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Mark 6: 7-13, 30-32

⁷ Calling the Twelve to him, he sent 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 tunic. 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.

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.

Notice that the summary of this mission trip of the disciples corresponds to the mission of Jesus and to the summary of that mission in 1: 15: “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”

The mission of Jesus’ disciples is an extension of Jesus’ own mission. Begin to reflect on your understanding of your own mission. In what conscious and deliberate ways have you attempted to be an extension of Jesus’ mission in your own situation – at home, at work, in your neighborhood, at church?

Try to be conscious of where the Lord might be sending you in mission. If you deliberately think of yourself as being sent by Christ, you will begin to discover where and to whom you are sent. Look at all of your interactions today as opportunities for becoming a missionary for Christ.

Notice also how upon their return to Jesus they withdraw together to a lonely place, to the wilderness. The rhythm of Jesus’ life and of his disciples was that a period of action is followed by a period of retreat and rest. That is the rhythm of the Christian life, and tomorrow, the Lord’s Day, is that weekly day of reflection, refreshment, and rest in lives lived for Jesus Christ. See you then!

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In studying Mark's gospel, we have seen a section of episodes in which Jesus brings miraculous peace and restoration to difficult situations: calming a storm, restoring a possessed man, healing a sick woman, and raising a dead girl. Large crowds have gathered, as we might expect, but what we don't expect is the misunderstanding and rejection of Jesus by those close to him, today his hometown people in Nazareth:

^{from Mark 6:}

¹ Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. ² When 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! ³ Isn’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.

⁴ Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor.” ⁵ He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. ⁶ And he was amazed at their lack of faith.

Anyone who has ever experienced rejection by close family and friends should find it easy to identify with Jesus as he was rejected in his hometown. Why did the people of his hometown synagogue "take offense" at him? What was the result of the rejection Jesus suffered by those close to him?

Have you been guilty of rejecting Jesus in your life? Has familiarity with Jesus and His story led you to deny or reject the miraculous about Him?

What experiences of rejection by people close to you have you had? Was your behavior responsible for the rejection or was the mindset of your friends or family responsible? How did you deal with the hurt you felt?

Maybe today is a good day to give up the feelings of resentment and anger you may feel toward those who rejected you. In doing so you will be like our Savior: "He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering." (Isaiah 53: 3)

Today is a good day to forgive or to ask those we have rejected to forgive us.

Prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me, a sinner." Amen.

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Greetings all: Sorry I missed you yesterday. The computer was down in the church office so no email. We did have a blessed Wednesday night fellowship and service together!

We will finish the story today that Mark had begun before the episode with the bleeding woman whom Jesus healed:

²¹ When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. ²² Then one of the synagogue rulers, named Jairus, came there. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet ²³ and pleaded earnestly with him, My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live. ²⁴ So Jesus went with him....

³⁵ While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. Your daughter is dead, they said. Why bother the teacher any more?

³⁶ Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, Don't be afraid; just believe.

³⁷ He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. ³⁸ When they came to the home of the synagogue ruler, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. ³⁹ He went in and said to them, Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep. ⁴⁰ But they laughed at him.

After he put them all out, he took the childs father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. ⁴¹ He took her by the hand and said to her, Talitha koum! (which means, Little girl, I say to you, get up!). ⁴² Immediately the girl stood up and walked around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. ⁴³ He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.

Notice that the recent series of stories has had a progression from a hopeless situation involving the impersonal and inanimate forces of nature (storm) to the more personal but supernatural forces of evil which affect a person (Gerasene demoniac) to the deeply personal matter of physical illness (hemorrhaging woman) to the most personal and most hopeless situation of all - death (Jairus' daughter).

Picture yourself among the crowd of mourners gathered at Jairus' house. If you had been there, what would your reaction have been to Jesus' announcement: "The child is not dead but sleeping"? Would you have joined in the laughter?

Notice that Jesus leaves 9 of the disciples outside, and brings in just the inner circle: Peter, James, and John and the parents. There was no room for doubters for this miracle.

We all have in our baptism experienced this transformation. We have died to our sinful selves, and have been raised up by the touch and command of Jesus.

There is no more wonderful verse to memorize than Jesus' words to the grieving father: "Don't be afraid; just believe." Hear Jesus say that to you today.

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After a wonderful morning of worship over it yesterday, one more look at Jesus stilling the storm.

The last petition in the Te Deum relates well to this story. "Oh Lord, in thee have I trusted, let me never be confounded."

"Let me never be confounded" is one of the most meaningful and profound prayers we can pray. In the scriptures, God's creating and sustaining activity always tends toward order and harmony. The biblical word for this is cosmos. The antithesis of cosmos is chaos, or confusion, the force which opposes the order of creation. In the first chapter of Genesis, we are told "The Spirit of God hovered over the chaos" (AT from the Hebrew). Then come the creative acts of God: "And God said, 'Let there be...'". Out of chaos comes cosmos - divinely given order or harmony. So the prayer "Let me never be confounded" is a plea that my life will not dissolve back into chaos or confusion but will know and manifest the harmony of God's creative and sustaining work.

³⁵ That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” ³⁶ Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. ³⁷ A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. ³⁸ Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

³⁹ He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

⁴⁰ He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

⁴¹ They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

Spend some time simply repeating that one petition: "Oh Lord in thee have I trusted, let me never be confounded." Allow the Holy Spirit to hover over your personal chaos and bring order to it.

As the Lord leads, pray for others who are in chaotic situations.