I was so driven to sit down, I just couldn't wait to get to the keyboard and write this out, now I don't know where to start. I have heard people say that God is a Jew, that in heaven the language will be Hebrew. I have lived with and fought both sides of Pre-destination vs. Free will. God has seen every sin ever committed and He is completely pure. In God's character there is not a shred influenced or affected by sin, yet we still say I'm too sinful for God. If He could see the things I've done He'd never want me. If I were to step foot in a church lightening would strike me. This is one way of putting God in a box. We bring Him down to our level, to our understanding. To simplify that which cannot be simplified.
What would be the simplest of creatures? An ant? Maybe a goldfish? Not the simplest but pretty simple. The comparison of my brain to that of the ant or goldfish would be similar to that of God and man. We are so woefully inadequate to understand the simplest things of God. So much so that God sent a part of Himself to earth a couple thousand years ago and spent 3 years or more trying to explain the most basic parts of God's character so we would have some way to take the first steps of relationship with Him. Everything I know screams aloud that language and music in heaven will be so beautiful, so enchanting, so impossible to understand with our small minds. Is there anything on earth that reserves a place in heaven apart from the soul of man? Why would that be? Because man is not fit for heaven. The Bible says we will be transformed (in the blink of an eye). Yet, we were made for this place. This place was made for us. Like two pieces of a puzzle that fit perfectly together, the earth and man are like that. But, we were made for so much more. God reached down into this disposable earth, into disposable man, and stuck deep within him eternity. As Rich Mullins says, the stuff of earth competes for the allegiance we only to the giver of all good things. We are called to greatness. Far beyond Olympic gold and Grammy's and Oscars, Nobel peace prizes and government office, we are called to another kind of greatness. Like a child is made for the playthings of childhood and then grows to adulthood, we are made for the playthings of this earth but we will grow to adulthood. A spiritual adulthood. One day we will graduate, either to heaven or to hell.
So back to boxes. Is it predestination or free will? No or Yes. No or yes? Don't you mean one or the other? Absolutely not. It is both. The church has fought this battle as long as there has been a church. The Bible says we have been predestined. To those who have been called. But, it also says that God wills that none should perish but all would have eternal life. It is our tiny minds that cannot understand how it can be both. There is more scripture that would support both sides but you will have to search it out yourself. We see this in our lives every day. God has called me. He put that desire in my heart to search Him out. Yet, I have to step out. I must take a step closer to Him.
Ooh, how about law versus grace? Which side of this is God really on? Or which side must I be on to be where God wants me? None of this is really a boxing issue until we put it on another. You must serve God by following the law. Or, it's really all about grace, don't worry about the law my friend. In each of us lives a grand design unique to us. That means to see God in the way that I can get close to Him I need a certain amount of law and a certain amount of grace. But these are not even a constant in my life. As I grow and mature those percentages are changing. There is no specific amount of either. But there is an amount that is right for me today, for the part of the journey I am on right now.
Or how about daily devotions and prayer and scripture reading/memorization? What is the correct amount? There are endless amount of devotions out there. Every color and style imaginable and more being made each day. Bible reading plans? 365 day, chronological, random, New Testament twice and Old Testament once per year. This is what I do, you should try it. How do we search for the right amount, the right thing for us. What do you want for me God? How do I find time for you? How much time to I commit to you each day? Always we try to put it in numbers. Quantity per day, per week, even per year. Is there a right quantity of God per day? How do we put Him in that box? This is a deeply personal search. It is a relational search between each person and God. For example: I used to do a 365 reading plan but would get into what I was reading and stray off plan regularly. Then, I gave up the plan and would read from beginning to end like I do any book but at the same time each day. This worked good for me. I would read and then pray for people buuut, at the end of the day I was like, oh yeah, God, how have you been? Like once that part of the day was over I would scarcely think of God again. No matter what I did it seemed to turn into a ritual also. Dead and cold. Reading just to read, dreading it, and not getting anything out of it. So one day I just quit. It was a horrible feeling. I felt like I was betraying God. But I didn't keep this to myself. No, I talked to God about it all the time. So I quit my devotions and picked up relations with God. It seems so simple put that way but it was not and is not simple. As I don't think it should be for most of us. We cannot can devotions. One size does not fit all. The search for what is right for me, the search for intimacy with God daily is the goal. In the striving we find victory. So I read scripture. I can't tell you how much per day cause it doesn't work that way. I pray for myself and others, but I have no record. I have no list. I pray what God brings to mind, what is on my heart. If this seems mature, it doesn't feel that way. What is maturity anyways? One more thing.
On fb came this message, an argument against Kirk Cameron's saving Christmas. The crux of the issue is that Dec 25th is not Jesus' birth date. So why celebrate on that day? This day is a pagan celebration dating at least a thousand years before Christ's birth. Somewhere along the line Christians stole it and claimed it for Christ. But why not just make our own holiday on the right date? The well respected commentator made this comparison. What if you decided to celebrate your anniversary or your wife's birthday on a different day? Maybe a few months away. How would your wife feel? Seems like a good argument. Except for one detail. It is us that need things to be a certain way at a certain time. Time and space were made for man. God is outside of such trivial things. And what are the emotions your wife would feel if you changed her birthday? Anger, frustration? Don't you care about me? This is part of my identity, my being. How do you think you can so easily change it? God is not like us. We are made in His image but we are not like Him. We cannot transfer what we would feel to God and expect that He feels this way. Nor is God concerned about timelines, specific dates and such as we are. The other side of this issue is this. God is in the business of reclaiming sinful things every day. Taking that which the enemy has meant to steal kill and destroy and turning it for His glory. So these little ant Christians that are made in the image of God have done the same. They have taken a pagan holiday and turned it into a celebration of their savior. Redemption. What a great thing it is. Once again my belief does not a box make. Nope. It is when I shove my belief on you and expect you to believe the same that it becomes a box.
The Roman Catholic church is full of ritual and tradition. To the founders however, this was how they came close to God. and to many millions since, it is also how they have grown towards God. It is not perfect, not even good in many way as I see it, but it works for many people. Just as my Christianity is not perfect and does not work for many others. It is mine. It is not specifically meant for everyone. It is my relationship between God and me. Boxing day in Canada is not so much about boxing at it is about unboxing. Just as Christmas is here. It is time to take our Christianity out of the boxes and share the gift free of strings, free of our expectations.
Monday, November 24, 2014
Monday, November 17, 2014
personal savior/personal relationship with savior
I have some people in my circle who are vehemently opposed to the term personal savior. I am not opposed to them, I actually agree, but sometimes the comments are said so strongly and with so much emotion behind them that I don't want to even listen. This is similar to the idea of legislating morality. What I mean by that is that this is just a term representing what's underneath. If we attack the top instead of going deep inside to the root(s) of the problem we might as well stand on a street corner with a sign stating our opinion.
This is not what bothers me so much though. We need a personal relationship with God. For those with a lesser understanding the term personal savior could interchange with personal relationship with savior. Until you have a personal relationship, you may not know the difference.
I read some stories when I was young about missionaries who went deep into the jungle searching for some unreached people group to witness to. Sometimes it was a man by himself and others were families. I came to a place where I wanted to be like them. No, not the jungle part. I want the part where they can be away from their church, their Godly community, and still maintain an active living breathing relationship with their creator. That's what I seek. And to a great extent I have found it. It is a personal relationship with God. Not religion. No religion anywhere to be found. Just me and God. To everything there is a season. I really enjoy going to Coth on Sunday, listening to Bruce and/or Jason and being surrounded by God's people, but there are many other times when I can't. I have loved my table discussions with those in the pastor's class Wednesday nights and my Tuesday Bible study with Paul and Carol. Other Bible studies past and I'm sure those to come. Buuut, if I were to live and exist solely off of these times I would still not be growing. Really I'd be dying. No, in order to live I have to have a deep personal relationship with the one who made me. Who understands me in the dark places. It is this deep intimacy between me and my savior that all of the other things of my life need to flow. Not that they do now, not that they ever will, not all of them anyways, but more now than yesterday, and more tomorrow than today.
Community is critical. Community is where my faith becomes faith. It is here that faith grows hands and feet and commits itself to action. Where others' faith is consummated by reaching into my life with action. Without others faith is not faith but merely thought. But all things must come from somewhere. There must be roots underneath. Those roots are my personal times with God. Quiet time reading, praying, being still, glorious nature, Sunshine. Yes, I capitalized sunshine. It's that important. Music. Yet all this could be confused with personal savior. The foul here would be to inadvertently tell one who doesn't know the difference that community is all important and one's personal relationship with God is not as important as or even worse, not what God wants. That it's a bad thing. I don't say this to stir up the poop pot as my wife would kinda say, but because we could easily offend someone who doesn't understand the term. Just some food for thought. Sometimes we are too quick to throw our terminology around and not quick enough to throw our theology around. We need to give a why and not just a what. Thanks.
This is not what bothers me so much though. We need a personal relationship with God. For those with a lesser understanding the term personal savior could interchange with personal relationship with savior. Until you have a personal relationship, you may not know the difference.
I read some stories when I was young about missionaries who went deep into the jungle searching for some unreached people group to witness to. Sometimes it was a man by himself and others were families. I came to a place where I wanted to be like them. No, not the jungle part. I want the part where they can be away from their church, their Godly community, and still maintain an active living breathing relationship with their creator. That's what I seek. And to a great extent I have found it. It is a personal relationship with God. Not religion. No religion anywhere to be found. Just me and God. To everything there is a season. I really enjoy going to Coth on Sunday, listening to Bruce and/or Jason and being surrounded by God's people, but there are many other times when I can't. I have loved my table discussions with those in the pastor's class Wednesday nights and my Tuesday Bible study with Paul and Carol. Other Bible studies past and I'm sure those to come. Buuut, if I were to live and exist solely off of these times I would still not be growing. Really I'd be dying. No, in order to live I have to have a deep personal relationship with the one who made me. Who understands me in the dark places. It is this deep intimacy between me and my savior that all of the other things of my life need to flow. Not that they do now, not that they ever will, not all of them anyways, but more now than yesterday, and more tomorrow than today.
Community is critical. Community is where my faith becomes faith. It is here that faith grows hands and feet and commits itself to action. Where others' faith is consummated by reaching into my life with action. Without others faith is not faith but merely thought. But all things must come from somewhere. There must be roots underneath. Those roots are my personal times with God. Quiet time reading, praying, being still, glorious nature, Sunshine. Yes, I capitalized sunshine. It's that important. Music. Yet all this could be confused with personal savior. The foul here would be to inadvertently tell one who doesn't know the difference that community is all important and one's personal relationship with God is not as important as or even worse, not what God wants. That it's a bad thing. I don't say this to stir up the poop pot as my wife would kinda say, but because we could easily offend someone who doesn't understand the term. Just some food for thought. Sometimes we are too quick to throw our terminology around and not quick enough to throw our theology around. We need to give a why and not just a what. Thanks.
Life...the great adventure
This last weekend Josh had his birthday Saturday evening and his friend Brandon stayed over night. Sunday morning I wasn't sure how or when Brandon was getting home before church. His parents aren't too keen on him going to church with us and we don't try to push that in any way. However, this morning was no walk in the park as Emma was not happy. She's had a runny nose for a few days and finally showed a fever. Chris wanted to stay home with Emma and try to get some homework done. Yeah, those two things don't really go along, but it's worth a try right? All the kids ended up staying home so I got to fly solo for church. I don't usually like going by myself but this day was different. I was almost driven to be there. For some reason I didn't yet know, I was excited to get to church. Didn't take too long to figure out why. Today was another baby dedication. For me this was a really special occasion. You see, many months ago when this baby was just a small baby bump I had the incredible privilege of going up front and praying for this couple. Well, I went up front to pray for whoever would come my way but it wasn't me just praying for them, really we all prayed together. The willingness and exuberance of each of them to open up and talk to God in our small group of three and whoever else might be close enough to hear was incredibly encouraging. I have worked with so many broken people. And so often the hurt and pain of these broken lives could have been never a issue if Jesus had been in front. If He had ruled their lives. Yet here is hope. Not just a little hope but a whole dump truck full. Here is this couple with their 8mo and one day old baby who are starting something new, something incredible. Something the angels in heaven are rejoicing for. And those in the grandstands are standing and cheering, screaming and whistling. They've got their video camera's and heavenly ipads out recording every moment. It hasn't been all lollipops and roses though. There has been pain, that evil that seems to befall so many of my friends, miscarriage. But they have not lost hope. No, their hope is fresh and new every day. And now one part of that hope is curled up in her arms.
I love that part of the movie where the kid opens the forbidden book, The Neverending Story, or the treasure map is found, or the secretive man shows up and says you are the one remaining descendent who would save us from the coming doom. Is there anything better? Now I'm hooked. How does this little kid become the savior, or find the treasure? I want to know. But this isn't a movie or a book or a map. No, this is an adventure even greater. That of two people coming together not to fall into someone else's pre-written story but to write that of their own. In the last couple of years I have seen many of my friends find that someone special and begin to write their new story together. I really badly want to list out some names but this isn't my private notebook but rather the world wide web and I don't have permission. But if I could, I would talk of a wonderful worship leader who puts hands and feet to thought and plays for and feeds the homeless as well as the souls of many many others. Of one who used to run and play with my kids in the back of the youth group but sailed across the pond to live happily ever after with her prince charming. Or a wonderful young princess who attacks life with a fervor, running aimlessly through town with a camera and several youths in tow or tearing up the streets on a lengthy board. And let's not forget to throw in at least one young man who also likes to run the town on a long board, even hitting freeway speeds near the high school. Make sure to keep my story right by getting married to her, ok dude.
These are some of the real treasures in my life. The things that fill my heart to nearly exploding if it could. And it is not just because of marriage but because I see God's work in action. God's story being written. It is that thing deep down inside of me, placed there before time began, connecting my story to their story to the greater story, that of eternal consequence and eventual glory. The best part is I get to continue to watch from a distance as families begin to grow (you can start now, by the way), but so many more of you are just going about your lives looking for mr/mrs right, serving God right where you are while God is preparing you for the next step of the journey and for most one day that next step will be marriage and family. Enjoy the ride.
I love that part of the movie where the kid opens the forbidden book, The Neverending Story, or the treasure map is found, or the secretive man shows up and says you are the one remaining descendent who would save us from the coming doom. Is there anything better? Now I'm hooked. How does this little kid become the savior, or find the treasure? I want to know. But this isn't a movie or a book or a map. No, this is an adventure even greater. That of two people coming together not to fall into someone else's pre-written story but to write that of their own. In the last couple of years I have seen many of my friends find that someone special and begin to write their new story together. I really badly want to list out some names but this isn't my private notebook but rather the world wide web and I don't have permission. But if I could, I would talk of a wonderful worship leader who puts hands and feet to thought and plays for and feeds the homeless as well as the souls of many many others. Of one who used to run and play with my kids in the back of the youth group but sailed across the pond to live happily ever after with her prince charming. Or a wonderful young princess who attacks life with a fervor, running aimlessly through town with a camera and several youths in tow or tearing up the streets on a lengthy board. And let's not forget to throw in at least one young man who also likes to run the town on a long board, even hitting freeway speeds near the high school. Make sure to keep my story right by getting married to her, ok dude.
These are some of the real treasures in my life. The things that fill my heart to nearly exploding if it could. And it is not just because of marriage but because I see God's work in action. God's story being written. It is that thing deep down inside of me, placed there before time began, connecting my story to their story to the greater story, that of eternal consequence and eventual glory. The best part is I get to continue to watch from a distance as families begin to grow (you can start now, by the way), but so many more of you are just going about your lives looking for mr/mrs right, serving God right where you are while God is preparing you for the next step of the journey and for most one day that next step will be marriage and family. Enjoy the ride.
Monday, November 10, 2014
Demons
Boy do I have my demons. I guess there's all sorts of different aspects of life I could look at in this respect. I've been married for almost 20 years, yet much of my time is spent close to that of a single father. My wife, my lover, my best friend, she is the adult in our relationship. She works a full time job and then carries a full load between college and university working towards her bachelors and I think probably masters degree after that. I am the stay at home sloth. See, there's one of my demons poking his head out. I always believed in working hard and supporting a family. Being the stay at home dad/work at home dad sure has it's moments, moments where the condemnation of not doing my part, of being too lazy, not keeping the house up, not keeping everything in time, is just about more than I can handle. It is so hard to share this load with anyone. It's hard to find time to share anything with anyone, at least that's what it feels like. It's not right to unload it on Chris, she has more than one should have to carry already. Class comes two nights a week and every other Saturday, then three of the four kids have an activity one night a week that one of us has to get them to. The remaining one weekday night is my Bible study twice a month. Boy do I need that.
It's not just the busyness of it all but there aren't a lot of adults to talk to at work. I make sure to talk to myself as much as possible, guess I'm gifted that way, but it is nice for the voices to be outside my head sometimes. Maybe the bigger enemy is my dysfunction. There are two main buggers here: Asbergers and Seasonal Affect Disorder. My spellcheck didn't like asbergers and wanted to change it to beefburgers. Sure would taste better. So asbergers is a social disease to a great extent. Difficulty socializing, making new friends, meeting new people. My first impression is often jerk. I'm sure that might be good if I was a Communist leader but not helping my life much. And Sad is the Northwest disease. Without exposure to sun and it's warmth my whole world turns dark. What makes this a trifecta is depression. I always figured my depression was pretty mild, but with the death of Robyn Williams, it has become apparent to me that it is quite the opposite. During that time I posted on fb what it is like inside of me during depression. It was the first time I've ever been able to imagine myself into that mental state in order to explain it. Unfortunately, I spent a few weeks or more trying to dig myself out of the hole that caused. I don't think I can read that again without crying. Some days I drop the kids off at school, put Emma to bed after a while, and then curl up on the couch under a blanket and sleep. The world just looks so cold and ugly.
So here's my plan. Change and new things are enemies of mine so the plan, the very very simple plan, will take some time to implement. I'm gonna try cinnamon flavor fclo and when I can't seem to venture out to the world (actually the world is ok, like Walmart or Autozone, but going to the shop or just doing laundry is hard) I'm gonna partner with my savior. Maybe reading scripture and journaling or blogging (see, already started) or praying for myself and others. These are probably the more positive things but a movie is not a terrible thing. All things in moderation right? Something like that. All said and done, I have a very blessed life. I have a great job, an awesome wife, super duper kids, and God provides for all my needs. Yes, even in my depression God is there. Clearing some rocks out of the way, pulling my sorry butt over others, He never leaves, He never will. He blesses me sooo richly.
This is not to make you feel bad for me. These are my demons--some of them. You have your demons. We all do. So what are your demons? How will you, how do you handle them? This is why we have the body of Christ. Why we NEED the body of Christ. There are many people who lighten my load, who help me put it in perspective. Sometimes I get to help with your burden. We need each other. Sometimes those demons are conquerable. I desperately want to be there to help you find relief from your burdens. To shine God's light in the dark places. To offer hope. There is light, and here is where it is. Some of you will never find relief until I step into the place, the void reserved for me, and do what God has reserved just for me. Some of my stuff will never be healed until you step into that similar empty place and do what God has given you to do. What a shame it is when we see church as only take, as only what will fill me. This is a selfish disease, probably most pronounced in Americans. Just like marriage, if I give first I will surely be filled.
Is this a good place to end? I really get inspired about things but then often don't know how to wrap up so to speak. My mom just called to tell me her dog hurt Josh pretty good on his leg below the knee so now my thoughts are kinda scattered. It's how life goes, huh? Something always bumping off course. Mmmm, beefburgers.......it is past lunch. Now I feel kinda extra stupid. It's aspergers with a p not a b. Now added to my spellcheck dictionary. but beefburgers is in there. Wouldn't that be two words? Hmmm.
It's not just the busyness of it all but there aren't a lot of adults to talk to at work. I make sure to talk to myself as much as possible, guess I'm gifted that way, but it is nice for the voices to be outside my head sometimes. Maybe the bigger enemy is my dysfunction. There are two main buggers here: Asbergers and Seasonal Affect Disorder. My spellcheck didn't like asbergers and wanted to change it to beefburgers. Sure would taste better. So asbergers is a social disease to a great extent. Difficulty socializing, making new friends, meeting new people. My first impression is often jerk. I'm sure that might be good if I was a Communist leader but not helping my life much. And Sad is the Northwest disease. Without exposure to sun and it's warmth my whole world turns dark. What makes this a trifecta is depression. I always figured my depression was pretty mild, but with the death of Robyn Williams, it has become apparent to me that it is quite the opposite. During that time I posted on fb what it is like inside of me during depression. It was the first time I've ever been able to imagine myself into that mental state in order to explain it. Unfortunately, I spent a few weeks or more trying to dig myself out of the hole that caused. I don't think I can read that again without crying. Some days I drop the kids off at school, put Emma to bed after a while, and then curl up on the couch under a blanket and sleep. The world just looks so cold and ugly.
So here's my plan. Change and new things are enemies of mine so the plan, the very very simple plan, will take some time to implement. I'm gonna try cinnamon flavor fclo and when I can't seem to venture out to the world (actually the world is ok, like Walmart or Autozone, but going to the shop or just doing laundry is hard) I'm gonna partner with my savior. Maybe reading scripture and journaling or blogging (see, already started) or praying for myself and others. These are probably the more positive things but a movie is not a terrible thing. All things in moderation right? Something like that. All said and done, I have a very blessed life. I have a great job, an awesome wife, super duper kids, and God provides for all my needs. Yes, even in my depression God is there. Clearing some rocks out of the way, pulling my sorry butt over others, He never leaves, He never will. He blesses me sooo richly.
This is not to make you feel bad for me. These are my demons--some of them. You have your demons. We all do. So what are your demons? How will you, how do you handle them? This is why we have the body of Christ. Why we NEED the body of Christ. There are many people who lighten my load, who help me put it in perspective. Sometimes I get to help with your burden. We need each other. Sometimes those demons are conquerable. I desperately want to be there to help you find relief from your burdens. To shine God's light in the dark places. To offer hope. There is light, and here is where it is. Some of you will never find relief until I step into the place, the void reserved for me, and do what God has reserved just for me. Some of my stuff will never be healed until you step into that similar empty place and do what God has given you to do. What a shame it is when we see church as only take, as only what will fill me. This is a selfish disease, probably most pronounced in Americans. Just like marriage, if I give first I will surely be filled.
Is this a good place to end? I really get inspired about things but then often don't know how to wrap up so to speak. My mom just called to tell me her dog hurt Josh pretty good on his leg below the knee so now my thoughts are kinda scattered. It's how life goes, huh? Something always bumping off course. Mmmm, beefburgers.......it is past lunch. Now I feel kinda extra stupid. It's aspergers with a p not a b. Now added to my spellcheck dictionary. but beefburgers is in there. Wouldn't that be two words? Hmmm.
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Journaling on Mark 16
There wasn't much I really felt needed to be journaled on in chapter 16. That time when your dad leaves for work and you don't want him to go. Even though the second time Jesus left them was a supernatural leaving I have to imagine there was heart break burning inside. Kinda sealed who Jesus is.
Journaling on Mark 15
15:1-15 Pilate is just one of many people who are like pieces in a giant cosmic clock. As each piece does it's job, Jesus gets closer and closer to the cross, to redemption for all of mankind. In a way we should be thankful to Pilate, for his cowardice. For bowing to the people instead of doing what he knew was right.
15:3-5 Pilate had had many men come before him. Most of them would say anything to escape death. Jesus says nothing but what is necessary to ensure death. Imagine for a moment all these people; Pilate, Judas Iscariot, the high priest and his cohorts, the company of soldiers in vs. 16, imagine all of these people met God 1900 years ago and know the story in a way we don't yet. I wonder how they would tell their story now. They killed Jesus and then met Him in His glory. Awkward! Imagine they know what they've done and yet Jesus and His daddy still love them. What a sad revelation to find this truth too late.
15:29-32 As I read this I want to rise up and defend Him. As if Jesus has some insecurity that needs to be defended. But it's only my insecurity showing up that I care about what people say about me.
15:33 I would think there would have been mass panic when it suddenly got dark from 12-3pm. If there was it was not important to the gospel writers, nor is there any mention of how it went dark--like sun went out or dark clouds or? I've always been curious.
15:3-5 Pilate had had many men come before him. Most of them would say anything to escape death. Jesus says nothing but what is necessary to ensure death. Imagine for a moment all these people; Pilate, Judas Iscariot, the high priest and his cohorts, the company of soldiers in vs. 16, imagine all of these people met God 1900 years ago and know the story in a way we don't yet. I wonder how they would tell their story now. They killed Jesus and then met Him in His glory. Awkward! Imagine they know what they've done and yet Jesus and His daddy still love them. What a sad revelation to find this truth too late.
15:29-32 As I read this I want to rise up and defend Him. As if Jesus has some insecurity that needs to be defended. But it's only my insecurity showing up that I care about what people say about me.
15:33 I would think there would have been mass panic when it suddenly got dark from 12-3pm. If there was it was not important to the gospel writers, nor is there any mention of how it went dark--like sun went out or dark clouds or? I've always been curious.
Journaling on Mark 14
14:1 Amazing. These guys had waited hundreds and hundreds of years for the son of David to show up. The excitement for His coming passed down from generation to generation. The day finally arrives, He's here, and they can't wait to kill Him. To silence this man, this teacher, who seeks to overturn their way of life, to remove the comfort of their sacrifices and outward piety. He shows them their faults, and they want to bury Him and keep all their dirty little secrets and shame buried deep. But, aren't we just like them when we think our way is best and God, well, He just doesn't understand.
14:2 Was it that Jesus was stealing their thunder or that Jesus was condemning their religion? Probably both! The people as a whole loved Jesus for all the reasons the Pharisees hated Him. The Pharisees have controlled the people for a long time so they understand there is a time and a place for all things. And control they did. For in a weeks time the crowd they didn't want to riot against them would riot for them for to execute the king. Jesus.
14:3-9 Verses like this make me smile because almost 2,000 years ago Jesus said her story would be told in memory of her and I sit here reading it.
14:10-11 I've always kinda wondered why He had to be betrayed. Like if Judas hadn't betrayed Him the Pharisees would have just given up. Well guys, if someone could just tell us where to find this Jesus Christ superstar we could find a way I'm sure to kill Him, somehow. But, oh well.
14:17-19 The heart can be a scary creature. These guys have spent 3 to 3-1/2 years together and I'm sure know each other inside and out, yet they each question themselves rather than another of the group. They must have had no idea Judas was capable of this betrayal. Maybe too, they had each been shown so much of themselves they didn't know was there, the thought is. I don't think I could be the one but maybe Jesus knows something about me that I don't. I hope not. In another place it says Jesus told Judas to go and do it. Even with this the disciples did not know Judas was betraying Jesus.
14:27-50 There is a certain romance about the future or glorification of response in a yet to happen circumstance. I imagine myself greater, nobler, capable of withstanding great pain or humiliation. Yet when the time comes, often the delusions shows itself. This is what happened here. The reality came suddenly, a fairytale ended and darkness exploded. What are you doing? He's done nothing wrong. He's a good guy. He wouldn't hurt a fly. Where are you taking Him? This doesn't even make sense. He's a teacher, He's not hurting anyone. In an instant the world of each disciple was turned upside down, inside out. Jesus, show them who you are. Your daddy is God. Did you lie to us? How can man hurt the son of God? This doesn't make sense. And Judas, what the heck are you doing? You are one of us. Just a bit ago we were eating together, what happened to you? I can't imagine in myself how turned around the world of each disciple was. The confusion and hurt inside must have been sickening. Yet this was the furnace. This was the time that forged something inside the 11 that would lead many others to glory and each of them to their death.
14:53-64 Jesus was not guilty of any crime, certainly not one worthy of death. Had He offered defense of Himself He likely would have been set free so He keeps His mouth shut. When He does finally speak, He says something very true but something He knew would anger the high priest and ensure He continued on His road to death. I believe He also came to a place where it would have been highly disrespectful to not answer. It may seem silly to us the need to be respectful, but Jesus loved or I guess loves this high priest just the same as you or I or Peter or John and was in a position due respect.
14:65 These are the highest of the religious leaders and should understand the need to love and respect all men even if you don't like them. Jesus displays this while they display the opposite.
14:66-72 This is Peter's undoing here, his unraveling. These three denials are the first half of his final forging. The other half is coming soon. I imagine everything inside of Peter is all jumbled up. He's given everything to Jesus, seen the unbelievable time after time. This is the Messiah. The Messiah! Upstairs being beaten. What could possibly be going on? What plan could Jesus have now? Just days ago we were coming into town triumphantly. The king coming home. All around was joyous celebration, laughing and dancing. Where has it all gone wrong? My king, were we wrong? You were so convincing. All those miracles. You calmed the sea. How can you have done so much and not been our savior, the Messiah? The one who would save us, restore our land, make all things right? None of this makes sense. No, it's not right. C'mon Jesus. Show them who you are. Use your power. Save yourself and us. But.....Are you just a fraud? As I write this I imagine if I were inside Peter's mind at these moments his thoughts would be shooting so fast, this way and that. Just a short glimpse would likely fill a book and I imagine that book crying. Sitting on the shelf with tears pouring out. Such anguish of soul was Peter that He had no faculties to make sense of it. Somewhere deep inside he knows the truth. That Jesus is about to die. But this truth has never fit into the story right. It doesn't belong. He even told Jesus as much and Jesus called him Satan and said to get behind him. What was that? This is the great intersection. All Peter knows one way, and all he doesn't the other way. The stoplight is broken and it's all crashing together. He responds just as most of us would. He's not denying himself, but Jesus. Soon it will all change.
14:2 Was it that Jesus was stealing their thunder or that Jesus was condemning their religion? Probably both! The people as a whole loved Jesus for all the reasons the Pharisees hated Him. The Pharisees have controlled the people for a long time so they understand there is a time and a place for all things. And control they did. For in a weeks time the crowd they didn't want to riot against them would riot for them for to execute the king. Jesus.
14:3-9 Verses like this make me smile because almost 2,000 years ago Jesus said her story would be told in memory of her and I sit here reading it.
14:10-11 I've always kinda wondered why He had to be betrayed. Like if Judas hadn't betrayed Him the Pharisees would have just given up. Well guys, if someone could just tell us where to find this Jesus Christ superstar we could find a way I'm sure to kill Him, somehow. But, oh well.
14:17-19 The heart can be a scary creature. These guys have spent 3 to 3-1/2 years together and I'm sure know each other inside and out, yet they each question themselves rather than another of the group. They must have had no idea Judas was capable of this betrayal. Maybe too, they had each been shown so much of themselves they didn't know was there, the thought is. I don't think I could be the one but maybe Jesus knows something about me that I don't. I hope not. In another place it says Jesus told Judas to go and do it. Even with this the disciples did not know Judas was betraying Jesus.
14:27-50 There is a certain romance about the future or glorification of response in a yet to happen circumstance. I imagine myself greater, nobler, capable of withstanding great pain or humiliation. Yet when the time comes, often the delusions shows itself. This is what happened here. The reality came suddenly, a fairytale ended and darkness exploded. What are you doing? He's done nothing wrong. He's a good guy. He wouldn't hurt a fly. Where are you taking Him? This doesn't even make sense. He's a teacher, He's not hurting anyone. In an instant the world of each disciple was turned upside down, inside out. Jesus, show them who you are. Your daddy is God. Did you lie to us? How can man hurt the son of God? This doesn't make sense. And Judas, what the heck are you doing? You are one of us. Just a bit ago we were eating together, what happened to you? I can't imagine in myself how turned around the world of each disciple was. The confusion and hurt inside must have been sickening. Yet this was the furnace. This was the time that forged something inside the 11 that would lead many others to glory and each of them to their death.
14:53-64 Jesus was not guilty of any crime, certainly not one worthy of death. Had He offered defense of Himself He likely would have been set free so He keeps His mouth shut. When He does finally speak, He says something very true but something He knew would anger the high priest and ensure He continued on His road to death. I believe He also came to a place where it would have been highly disrespectful to not answer. It may seem silly to us the need to be respectful, but Jesus loved or I guess loves this high priest just the same as you or I or Peter or John and was in a position due respect.
14:65 These are the highest of the religious leaders and should understand the need to love and respect all men even if you don't like them. Jesus displays this while they display the opposite.
14:66-72 This is Peter's undoing here, his unraveling. These three denials are the first half of his final forging. The other half is coming soon. I imagine everything inside of Peter is all jumbled up. He's given everything to Jesus, seen the unbelievable time after time. This is the Messiah. The Messiah! Upstairs being beaten. What could possibly be going on? What plan could Jesus have now? Just days ago we were coming into town triumphantly. The king coming home. All around was joyous celebration, laughing and dancing. Where has it all gone wrong? My king, were we wrong? You were so convincing. All those miracles. You calmed the sea. How can you have done so much and not been our savior, the Messiah? The one who would save us, restore our land, make all things right? None of this makes sense. No, it's not right. C'mon Jesus. Show them who you are. Use your power. Save yourself and us. But.....Are you just a fraud? As I write this I imagine if I were inside Peter's mind at these moments his thoughts would be shooting so fast, this way and that. Just a short glimpse would likely fill a book and I imagine that book crying. Sitting on the shelf with tears pouring out. Such anguish of soul was Peter that He had no faculties to make sense of it. Somewhere deep inside he knows the truth. That Jesus is about to die. But this truth has never fit into the story right. It doesn't belong. He even told Jesus as much and Jesus called him Satan and said to get behind him. What was that? This is the great intersection. All Peter knows one way, and all he doesn't the other way. The stoplight is broken and it's all crashing together. He responds just as most of us would. He's not denying himself, but Jesus. Soon it will all change.
Journaling on Mark 13
13:1-2 Because we have never experienced anything but this world it is difficult for us to take our focus off of it. While it is true the temple did get destroyed, I think Jesus is saying that even the greatest things in this world will pass away, our treasure must be above.
13:3-37 After Jesus had told the disciples above that the beauty of this world, the temple in this case, would pass away, He goes on to tell really of the end of all the earth, and of the son of man coming back. Imagine if, with our perspective, we could go back to this moment and be like, guys, this is Him. The one telling you the story will be the one coming in the clouds with fire. I don't think they would get it. I don't think I really get it. Oh, I know the basic facts, but don't think I really grasp the majesty of it all.
13:5-8 Boy, have we not seen a lot of wars and rumors of wars? Are we close? Maybe, maybe not. I don't really know. Four hundred years ago or so we had the seven year war. The whole world at war. one hundred years ago WWI, seventy years ago WWII. Everything can get worse than it is now. Likely it will. Jesus said to keep our eyes open, to watch the times, but He never changes our job, to be fisher's of men. The time will come when it's time, but now is our time. Our time to grow in relationship with our creator, to build up and grow others out of that relationship.
13:10 A lot of people are hanging their hats on this verse. Like the last item for God to check off on a long list and then, Bam, Jesus comes. I don't think it's like that. More like the workings of a clock. Hundreds of pieces all working together to bring about the desired end result. The correct time. Our world, our universe is a giant organism. And like that clock, it has an infinite number of pieces all working together to bring about the correct result--the right time. This is not to argue about the 10/40 window or any such thing. Every piece has it's purpose and will bring the whole into completion. I'm just not going to narrow down the prime importance of Christians as a whole to just one thing.
13:11-31 We could spend entire lifetimes deciphering Jesus' words on the end times, Paul, John, Daniel, and others, but to what end? The Pharisees and scribes and teachers of the law knew the scriptures better than anyone, yet they missed the Messiah. Not only missed, but killed. To me, this is a lesson showing the limits of projecting the picture on the wall when there are so many pieces that can be fit differently, and will make a different picture. Jesus said it--don't worry about tomorrow, today has enough worries of it's own.
13:14 The abomination that causes desolation-let the reader understand. I think when this happens, we will understand.
13:36 Do not let Him find you sleeping. Sleeping in this case would be immersed in the dream of this world wholly ignorant to the call of Christ.
13:3-37 After Jesus had told the disciples above that the beauty of this world, the temple in this case, would pass away, He goes on to tell really of the end of all the earth, and of the son of man coming back. Imagine if, with our perspective, we could go back to this moment and be like, guys, this is Him. The one telling you the story will be the one coming in the clouds with fire. I don't think they would get it. I don't think I really get it. Oh, I know the basic facts, but don't think I really grasp the majesty of it all.
13:5-8 Boy, have we not seen a lot of wars and rumors of wars? Are we close? Maybe, maybe not. I don't really know. Four hundred years ago or so we had the seven year war. The whole world at war. one hundred years ago WWI, seventy years ago WWII. Everything can get worse than it is now. Likely it will. Jesus said to keep our eyes open, to watch the times, but He never changes our job, to be fisher's of men. The time will come when it's time, but now is our time. Our time to grow in relationship with our creator, to build up and grow others out of that relationship.
13:10 A lot of people are hanging their hats on this verse. Like the last item for God to check off on a long list and then, Bam, Jesus comes. I don't think it's like that. More like the workings of a clock. Hundreds of pieces all working together to bring about the desired end result. The correct time. Our world, our universe is a giant organism. And like that clock, it has an infinite number of pieces all working together to bring about the correct result--the right time. This is not to argue about the 10/40 window or any such thing. Every piece has it's purpose and will bring the whole into completion. I'm just not going to narrow down the prime importance of Christians as a whole to just one thing.
13:11-31 We could spend entire lifetimes deciphering Jesus' words on the end times, Paul, John, Daniel, and others, but to what end? The Pharisees and scribes and teachers of the law knew the scriptures better than anyone, yet they missed the Messiah. Not only missed, but killed. To me, this is a lesson showing the limits of projecting the picture on the wall when there are so many pieces that can be fit differently, and will make a different picture. Jesus said it--don't worry about tomorrow, today has enough worries of it's own.
13:14 The abomination that causes desolation-let the reader understand. I think when this happens, we will understand.
13:36 Do not let Him find you sleeping. Sleeping in this case would be immersed in the dream of this world wholly ignorant to the call of Christ.
Journaling on Mark 12
12:1-11 Could not this vineyard be the earth? Men come proclaiming there is more, a great God, but they don't want more than this life, they don't want greatness, outside of this earth, they want to control what they see, to be lord over themselves. I don't know about you, but I'm looking forward to leaving this degenerated wasteland and going home. There is so much ugliness all around us. To think that people would steal kill and destroy for this. Sheesh, get a life.
12:13-17 We just had a discussoin on f.b. about idols. It ranged from you have to worchip it for it to be an idol, to any image is an idol. I thought of this scripture because Jesus does not say the coin is an idol, He doesn't say all belongs to God, quite the opposite. He says the coin belongs to Caesar because his name and image are on it. Jesus' entire mission was to usher in grace through His sacrifice and with that change our religion from what is seen on the outside to what is in the heart. Even in this instance they are hung up on who gets what. The real question is, where is your heart?
12:18-27 I once read a book that had about the same premise as the Shack. In this book people would get to heaven and meet in a circle of people comprised of their earthly family. This scripture came to mind. I just don't think our relationships will be the same. Plus, we will all be brothers and sisters of Christ so we are all brothers and sisters. It seems we will however know each other as evidenced by Jesus' telling of the rich man, Lazarus, and Abraham. The rich man knew Abraham and called him by name. Trying to understand our relationships and those dynamics in heaven while still on earth is quite futile. I believe things will change in ways we can't process with our sad little earth brains.
12:35-38 This is a genius scripture. Jesus is trying to peel back the veil that separates our reality from the truer reality. To take their minds off the idea that it's all about this world and introduce to them that there is so much more going on. To see the eternal implications of heaven and it's kinda smacking them in the face even if they don't realize it yet, because the Christ is right in front of them. They are touching the eternal every day.
12:38-40 Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. That's the saying anyways. The teachers of the law had long since forgotten why they had power and where it came from. Ironically, God has absolute power and is incorruptible. Sometimes the greatest leaders are those who don't want it because they are aware of the dangers--the pitfalls of power.
12:41-44 I have nothing to give. Jesus knew we would come up with this excuse, it's almost become a motto. But, He pre-empted our pathetic excuse by telling us about this widow who gave it all though it amounted to barely more than nothing. I know your thoughts says Jesus. Give something, give anything, just give.
12:13-17 We just had a discussoin on f.b. about idols. It ranged from you have to worchip it for it to be an idol, to any image is an idol. I thought of this scripture because Jesus does not say the coin is an idol, He doesn't say all belongs to God, quite the opposite. He says the coin belongs to Caesar because his name and image are on it. Jesus' entire mission was to usher in grace through His sacrifice and with that change our religion from what is seen on the outside to what is in the heart. Even in this instance they are hung up on who gets what. The real question is, where is your heart?
12:18-27 I once read a book that had about the same premise as the Shack. In this book people would get to heaven and meet in a circle of people comprised of their earthly family. This scripture came to mind. I just don't think our relationships will be the same. Plus, we will all be brothers and sisters of Christ so we are all brothers and sisters. It seems we will however know each other as evidenced by Jesus' telling of the rich man, Lazarus, and Abraham. The rich man knew Abraham and called him by name. Trying to understand our relationships and those dynamics in heaven while still on earth is quite futile. I believe things will change in ways we can't process with our sad little earth brains.
12:35-38 This is a genius scripture. Jesus is trying to peel back the veil that separates our reality from the truer reality. To take their minds off the idea that it's all about this world and introduce to them that there is so much more going on. To see the eternal implications of heaven and it's kinda smacking them in the face even if they don't realize it yet, because the Christ is right in front of them. They are touching the eternal every day.
12:38-40 Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. That's the saying anyways. The teachers of the law had long since forgotten why they had power and where it came from. Ironically, God has absolute power and is incorruptible. Sometimes the greatest leaders are those who don't want it because they are aware of the dangers--the pitfalls of power.
12:41-44 I have nothing to give. Jesus knew we would come up with this excuse, it's almost become a motto. But, He pre-empted our pathetic excuse by telling us about this widow who gave it all though it amounted to barely more than nothing. I know your thoughts says Jesus. Give something, give anything, just give.
Journaling on Mark 11
11:1-11 Prophecy of Old Testament fulfilled right here.
11:12-14, 20-25 I find it hard to believe that God (Jesus) withered the fig tree just so He could lecture the disciples about faith again. Maybe this is so. They passed this tree two days in a fow so maybe it was in a place that would offer a continued reminder of Jesus and of faith as Jesus was being killed and of course afterwards.
Scary thought to think that God will not forgive our sins if we do not forgive others also.
11:27-33 Jesus seems to only answer their (the religious leaders) questions with another question or a parable--there are exceptions of course. If they had seen Jesus heal and cast out demons yet didn't know where His power came from.....they knew it wasn't satan and they refused to believe it was God--the only two possible answers. So really, they knew the answer deep inside, just as all men do.
11:12-14, 20-25 I find it hard to believe that God (Jesus) withered the fig tree just so He could lecture the disciples about faith again. Maybe this is so. They passed this tree two days in a fow so maybe it was in a place that would offer a continued reminder of Jesus and of faith as Jesus was being killed and of course afterwards.
Scary thought to think that God will not forgive our sins if we do not forgive others also.
11:27-33 Jesus seems to only answer their (the religious leaders) questions with another question or a parable--there are exceptions of course. If they had seen Jesus heal and cast out demons yet didn't know where His power came from.....they knew it wasn't satan and they refused to believe it was God--the only two possible answers. So really, they knew the answer deep inside, just as all men do.
Journaling on Mark 10
10:2 This is the spirit of a Pharisee. How far can I go? How much is ok? If this is ok, can I do that too? The exact opposite of the gospel. First shall be last, get underneath and lift up, Jesus, others, and self.
10:2-12 The single biggest result of sin in our world is family breakdown. This break down is like a sin multiplier. First, sin causes families to implode, explode, or disintegrate in other ways, and this in turn leads to multitudes of more sin. Porn, affairs, prostitution, drugs, alcohol, abuse. All these and more are before and after effects of divorce and other family dysfunctions.
10:13-16 I have seen myself and many many others suffer and struggle much because we simply made simple things difficult. Over and over Jesus tells us to come to Him as a little child. I wonder if there could be some connection between our struggles and the things Jesus tells us repeatedly?
10:17, 18 Jesus never sinned, His death as a spotless, sinless lamb atoned our sins, and yet Jesus says He's not good. But Jesus also said "when you see me you see the Father". It seems to me that one answer here would be--good equals not tempted by sin, but even Jesus was tempted. Maybe Jesus was also trying to keep a type of separation here between Himself and God which could serve to keep their view of God undiluted by earthly things. Jesus could and would be accused of many things but being "good" like God would make Him equal in a way that they could accuse or see God in the same way. If we believe God can be tempted or weak in any way than He is no longer God. Maybe Jesus is trying to keep the filter they viewed God through spotless.
10:17-22 This man had lived a pure, morally upright life, but Jesus cuts right to the heart of the matter. His heart. Who or what held his heart? It turns out that his wealth held his heart. The place where Jesus needed to be king.
10:23-25 In America our greatest wealth is security. We rely on our job to support us. If that fails, we have unemployment, cash assistance, food stamps, food banks, clothing banks, missions, churches and so on. We rely on our friends, our networks, our cars, government, schools, policemen, firemen, doctors and more. Netflix and Facebook we turn to for company. When do we truly have to rely on God? None of these things are evil. So what would be a definition of evil be? I think evil is absence of God. So anytime we go to these "other" things to get what we should rely on God for I think would be sin. How hard it is to put all this aside and give preference and rule and reign to God.
10:26, 27 This I believe is where God comes into our story, where grace comes in and makes the impossible possible.
10:28-31 Jesus is making a leftover stew here. You know, the one where you take all the leftovers in the fridge and make one stew or noodle mystery casserole. Or maybe it's more like the prize package at the end of a daytime tv game show. If you've left everything you get all this.....1.a hundred times as much in this age, 2. persecutions, 3. eternal life, 4. the last first and first last. Each part of this could be a whole sermon. The hundred times as much is looking pretty good (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields) until He sneaks in persecutions at the end. Umm...I'll pass on the 100x as many persecutions. It seems the positives would come from the body of Christ and the persecutions would be from outside-evil working against God. How sad it is that many times it is the body that persecutes it's own members. I have seen people leave the Christian church and God altogether and some go to other religions due to being hurt by fellow believers. Some of my Hebrew roots friends fall into this category. At least a few of them were hurt inside the Christian church. A close family member of mine has ended up in a new age religion. Where is the Love? First-last, last-first. Think Pharisees and Zaccheus. The teachers would have been expected to be first in line for Heaven but Jesus says "you brood of vipers, who told you to flee?" Zaccheus was considered the worst of sinners but as soon as he experiences Jesus, everything changed. Jesus says, today salvation has come to this house.
10:35-45 For the third time in as many chapters Jesus tells them He's gonna be killed. Right after this, or soon after, James and John ask to be seated at His right and left side in His kingdom. This is another reason I'm not Jesus. I'd only have had 10 disciples left after this. Bam! See that spot there,That was James and John. Once again Jesus reiterates that in this new thing He's teaching them the first are last and the last are first. In that culture, He would have had an easier time explaining space ships. They were born and raised in an external-works based society. Not until they received the Holy Spirit and fully grasped everything of the last 3-1/2 years do I think this started to make sense. Jesus taught them well because once they got it, they became the teachers, and they are still teaching us today.
10:46-52 Your faith has healed you. He had one of two ingredients necessary. He had faith, Jesus had power. With the Holy Spirit we now have both ingredients. Then he turned and followed Jesus. I wonder what became of him. He gets healed, follows Jesus, then a week later his Messiah is killed.
10:2-12 The single biggest result of sin in our world is family breakdown. This break down is like a sin multiplier. First, sin causes families to implode, explode, or disintegrate in other ways, and this in turn leads to multitudes of more sin. Porn, affairs, prostitution, drugs, alcohol, abuse. All these and more are before and after effects of divorce and other family dysfunctions.
10:13-16 I have seen myself and many many others suffer and struggle much because we simply made simple things difficult. Over and over Jesus tells us to come to Him as a little child. I wonder if there could be some connection between our struggles and the things Jesus tells us repeatedly?
10:17, 18 Jesus never sinned, His death as a spotless, sinless lamb atoned our sins, and yet Jesus says He's not good. But Jesus also said "when you see me you see the Father". It seems to me that one answer here would be--good equals not tempted by sin, but even Jesus was tempted. Maybe Jesus was also trying to keep a type of separation here between Himself and God which could serve to keep their view of God undiluted by earthly things. Jesus could and would be accused of many things but being "good" like God would make Him equal in a way that they could accuse or see God in the same way. If we believe God can be tempted or weak in any way than He is no longer God. Maybe Jesus is trying to keep the filter they viewed God through spotless.
10:17-22 This man had lived a pure, morally upright life, but Jesus cuts right to the heart of the matter. His heart. Who or what held his heart? It turns out that his wealth held his heart. The place where Jesus needed to be king.
10:23-25 In America our greatest wealth is security. We rely on our job to support us. If that fails, we have unemployment, cash assistance, food stamps, food banks, clothing banks, missions, churches and so on. We rely on our friends, our networks, our cars, government, schools, policemen, firemen, doctors and more. Netflix and Facebook we turn to for company. When do we truly have to rely on God? None of these things are evil. So what would be a definition of evil be? I think evil is absence of God. So anytime we go to these "other" things to get what we should rely on God for I think would be sin. How hard it is to put all this aside and give preference and rule and reign to God.
10:26, 27 This I believe is where God comes into our story, where grace comes in and makes the impossible possible.
10:28-31 Jesus is making a leftover stew here. You know, the one where you take all the leftovers in the fridge and make one stew or noodle mystery casserole. Or maybe it's more like the prize package at the end of a daytime tv game show. If you've left everything you get all this.....1.a hundred times as much in this age, 2. persecutions, 3. eternal life, 4. the last first and first last. Each part of this could be a whole sermon. The hundred times as much is looking pretty good (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields) until He sneaks in persecutions at the end. Umm...I'll pass on the 100x as many persecutions. It seems the positives would come from the body of Christ and the persecutions would be from outside-evil working against God. How sad it is that many times it is the body that persecutes it's own members. I have seen people leave the Christian church and God altogether and some go to other religions due to being hurt by fellow believers. Some of my Hebrew roots friends fall into this category. At least a few of them were hurt inside the Christian church. A close family member of mine has ended up in a new age religion. Where is the Love? First-last, last-first. Think Pharisees and Zaccheus. The teachers would have been expected to be first in line for Heaven but Jesus says "you brood of vipers, who told you to flee?" Zaccheus was considered the worst of sinners but as soon as he experiences Jesus, everything changed. Jesus says, today salvation has come to this house.
10:35-45 For the third time in as many chapters Jesus tells them He's gonna be killed. Right after this, or soon after, James and John ask to be seated at His right and left side in His kingdom. This is another reason I'm not Jesus. I'd only have had 10 disciples left after this. Bam! See that spot there,That was James and John. Once again Jesus reiterates that in this new thing He's teaching them the first are last and the last are first. In that culture, He would have had an easier time explaining space ships. They were born and raised in an external-works based society. Not until they received the Holy Spirit and fully grasped everything of the last 3-1/2 years do I think this started to make sense. Jesus taught them well because once they got it, they became the teachers, and they are still teaching us today.
10:46-52 Your faith has healed you. He had one of two ingredients necessary. He had faith, Jesus had power. With the Holy Spirit we now have both ingredients. Then he turned and followed Jesus. I wonder what became of him. He gets healed, follows Jesus, then a week later his Messiah is killed.
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