Loving God and Your Neighbor - Pt. 1

 

And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” (Mark 12:28-34 ESV).

 

In our reading today we come to what is commonly known as “the Great Commandment.” Jesus taught that loving God is the greatest commandment, and that the second greatest command is to love our neighbor as ourself. As this is definitively the basic truth in how we relate to both God and others, we have a few questions that become important.

 

First, we ought to ask, “What is love?” The Apostle Paul gives us a beautiful answer to this basic question (cf. 1 Corinthians 13). In fact, Paul’s words in this chapter guide our understanding of love because of God’s love for us. And we can apply that to our love for God as well as for our neighbor.

 

I find this as a most contemporary issue. Somehow, we have forgotten to separate our passion for individual issues and individuals. I find it altogether contradictory to talk about our faith and belief in Christ while calling others names in any circumstance. Social media has given us a measure of anonymity and emboldened some to stoop to such practice. However, this is absolutely contrary to the Great Commandment. It does not come from a love for God or a love for others.

 

We must seek to trust, hope, and persevere in doing what is right, to honor God (cf. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.) Remember that God first loved us. He is infinitely patient and eternally kind. And God’s love “never fails” (cf. 1 Corinthians 13:8). This is a great time to examine our love—for God as well as others—and to thank God for his love.

 

Giving to God

 

And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk. And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone’s opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me to the test? Bring me ia denarius and let me look at it.” And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.” Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at him. (Mark 12:13-17 ESV).

 

Jesus was teaching in the temple courts. He was popular with the people, but the religious leaders were out to arrest and kill him. Some were sent to “catch him in his words,” hoping to find some fault they could use against him. They approached him with flattering words about integrity and his truthful teaching.

 

Then they posed a question that they hoped would get him into trouble with the Romans: “Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?” But Jesus wasn’t about to be trapped. He knew their hypocrisy.

 

He asked to see one of their coins, and he used it to teach about meeting our obligations to authorities (cf. Romans 13)—and recognizing that “what is God’s” is a whole lot more. All that there is, is the Lord’s—“the earth … and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it” (Psalm 24:1). That includes you and me and everyone else today, as well as in the past. We’re all God’s!

 

Thus, we are all called to give of who we are and what we have to God. It’s stated this way in an ancient confession: “I belong—body and soul—to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ” (Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 1). And as God’s Word puts it, “Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God” (Romans 12:1). Giving God his due still means honest giving and taxpaying.

 

The Stone Rejected by the Builders

 

Have you not read this Scripture: “‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?” And they were seeking to arrest him but feared the people, for they perceived that he had told the parable against them. So, they left him and went away. (Mark 12:10-12 ESV).

 

In ancient times a capstone was the most important stone of a great building. From Psalm 118:22, the passage Jesus quoted in our reading, we find that this term literally means “head of the corner,” so it could also refer to a cornerstone. A cornerstone was essential for laying a firm foundation. This stone was very large and was set carefully in place at the beginning of a construction project. All other stones were set in line with the cornerstone. Everything was built around it and depended on it.

 

In God’s plan of salvation, Jesus himself is the cornerstone (cf. Ephesians 2:20), and everything is built around him. Though his enemies rejected him, he remains the pivotal center of God’s saving work.

 

Jesus was saying that although his enemies would kill him, they could not defeat him—and that is precisely what happened. Jesus’ enemies sentenced him to death on a cross, but three days later he rose triumphantly from the dead. He was rejected on our behalf so that all who believe in him as Lord may be accepted by God and forgiven of their sins.

 

Let’s ask ourselves: Is Jesus our personal cornerstone? Are all the things we do, the values we hold, and the goals we pursue centered in him? If not, we’d better look out, because we’re building our lives the wrong way!

 

The Patience of the Master

 

And he began to speak to them in parables. “A man planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a pit for the winepress and built a tower and leased it to tenants and went into another country. When the season came, he sent a servant to the tenants to get from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed. Again, he sent to them another servant, and they struck him on the head and treated him shamefully. And he sent another, and him they killed. And so, with many others: some they beat, and some they killed. He had still one other, a beloved son. Finally, he sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But those tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ And they took him and killed him and threw him out of the vineyard. What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others. (Mark 12:1-9 ESV).

 

This parable—usually called “The Parable of the Tenants”—is really misnamed. The story is not mainly about the tenants but about the incredible patience of a loving God.

 

The parable is an adaptation of God’s picture of his people in Isaiah 5:1-7. In Isaiah the vineyard is identified with Israel, whom God punished for a time by sending them off to exile. In Jesus’ parable the vineyard also represents God’s people, the Jews (now returned from exile). And their leaders know Jesus is talking about them (v. 12).

 

In Jewish storytelling, incidents were often repeated three times to indicate the completion of an episode. Three servants are sent to the tenants to collect fruit, but the first two are abused and the third is killed. The crowd likely expects the parable to end with that. So, the next words come as a surprise: “He sent many others; some of them they beat, others they killed.” Jesus is talking about the many prophets God sent to his people in the past, who would not listen but would abuse his messengers. What incredible patience God had!

 

The story continues by saying the landlord sends his own beloved son to express his great care for his vineyard. But in rebellion the tenants reject and kill him too. In the end God’s grace triumphs as he gives the vineyard to others (who become the church of Christ). As God’s people today, my prayer is that we are faithful in serving our Lord.

Genuine Authority

 

And they came again to Jerusalem. And as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to him, and they said to him, “By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them?” Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Was the baptism of John from heaven or from man? Answer me.” And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But shall we say, ‘From man’?”—they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John really was aa prophet. So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” (Mark 11:27-33 ESV).

 

The three major groups of religious authorities—the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders—came to ask Jesus about his authority. But they were not really asking for information. Their question was filled with disdain and accusation.

 

They were not searching for understanding. They were making a hostile inquiry, seeking to undermine Jesus. Earlier in this chapter we read that they were “looking for a way to kill him” (v. 18)—so we know they were not looking to be enlightened, and Jesus knew that too.

 

Even so, their question is a good one to ask, as long as we are not hostile and we really want to know: “Jesus, how do you have the authority to do what you are doing and to teach what you are teaching?”

 

In a world where there are so many different teachings and authorities, it can be hard to know which way is right or true. We need to know why we should listen to Jesus and follow him. And Jesus gladly shows us the way. He is not threatened by our honestly seeking understanding. Jesus invites us to see that he is the Son of God and that he has divine authority to heal and forgive. He also has authority to lay down his life for our sake, and to take it up again (cf. John 10:17-18).

 

Jesus has done all this for our salvation, and this is the most important truth to know!

 

A Place for All Nations

 

And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and were seeking a way to destroy him, for they feared him, because gall the crowd was astonished at his teaching. And when evening came they went out of the city. (Mark 11:15-19 ESV).

 

In our reading today, Jesus became angry and cleared out the temple. He saw that this house of prayer had been turned into a thruway and a marketplace. There are two practical applications for us today.

 

First, one of the things that made Jesus upset was that this place of worship was supposed to be "for all nations," but it was not serving the nations well at all. The section that had become a marketplace was known as the court of Gentiles, the only place in the temple where people of non-Jewish descent were permitted to come and worship God. But with all the busyness of a major marketplace, how could anyone worship there? The temple authorities who allowed this traffic were showing little concern for Gentile believers who came to Jerusalem to worship God. The second application takes us to the principle for our personal lives. We are the “temple of God”. Our lives should reflect a concern and grace for all nations. Our attitude must be a reflection of God’s concern and love for all people.

 

We should also see Jesus grieved by the fact that these people whom the Father loved couldn't worship there free of distractions. For Jesus, the temple symbolized the Father's passion to connect with the nations of the world. But that wasn't happening. That mission had been forgotten. I wonder how much of a distraction our churches present to people today with our practices. Now that Jesus has died for us and risen from the dead, we who are Christians have become the temple of God, with the Holy Spirit living in us (cf. 1 Corinthians 3:16). So, let's remember that we are now made holy and that God calls us to connect with the nations for Jesus' sake.

 

Nothing but Leaves

On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it. (Mark 11:12-14 ESV).

 

I grew up around fig trees. I call them trees since they were big enough to climb their branches to pick the figs from the top without a ladder. It was always a treat for me when they began to ripen. Even today I consider fresh figs to be a wonderful snack.

 

As Jesus and his disciples walked along toward Jerusalem, they came across an unexpected surprise: a fig tree in full leaf. This was a surprise because it was too early in the year for figs. But where there was a fig tree in leaf, therefore, you could expect figs. So, Jesus and the disciples went over to the tree to see if it had any fruit. It had none. What seemed at first to be a remarkable tree turned out to be a disappointment. So, Jesus said to the tree: "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And he walked away.

 

The next day, as they left Jerusalem and passed by the same tree, the disciples were astonished to find the tree totally withered. When Peter expressed his surprise about the tree, Jesus used the opportunity to teach two lessons. The first lesson was about failure. The empty tree serves as a warning that we cannot pretend to be spiritually alive, for we won't bear any fruit.

 

The second lesson is about faith. Jesus says, "Have faith in God." We are to trust in him for all the life and strength we need to serve him. When we are rooted in Jesus through sincere prayer, our faith will bear fruit. Our faith in Christ will be strong enough to help move people to believe in Jesus and enter his kingdom. Through his strength in us, we'll show he's alive!

 

Be a fig tree in full leaf with plenty of fruit!

  

A Victory Parade

 

Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’” And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go. And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!” (Mark 11:1-10 ESV).

 

Perhaps you have been a part of a parade. Often when a team wins a championship they are celebrated with a parade through the city. Last year when the Texas Rangers won the World Series there was a large parade in their honor through Arlington. It was quite a celebration! In fact, there was an estimated 700,000 fans from across the Dallas-Fort Worth region who turned out for the parade to celebrate at the Texas Rangers first World Series victory.

 

This is the setting we see described in today’s reading. For many who saw Jesus riding into the city, it was a day of celebration. They lined the streets, shouting, “Hosanna!” (a shout of praise), expecting Jesus to restore Israel to its former glory. With excitement and religious fervor, the people shouted, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”

 

Today we look differently on Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. We know that the people shouting “Hosanna” had false expectations. They expected Jesus to set up an earthly kingdom, with them at the top. But that wasn’t his mission, and they were soon disappointed. In fact, just a few days later, the mood became ugly. A disciple of Jesus betrayed him; religious leaders called for his execution; soldiers mocked him, flogged him, and spat on him; and the Roman governor had him crucified. Three days later He was resurrected making it possible for all believers to be forgiven and gain eternal life! Now… that’s worth a real victory parade!

The Gift of Mercy

And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.” And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way. (Mark 10:46-52 ESV).

 

Bartimaeus had been crying out to Jesus to have mercy on him. And Jesus’ question to the man may seem a bit odd at first. Didn’t Jesus realize that Bartimaeus was blind? Jesus certainly knew the man was blind. But Jesus’ question invited Bartimaeus to think about and tell the Lord what he really needed. Bartimaeus had probably been asking for donations at the gate of Jericho for a long time—perhaps even years. He was in the habit of begging from everyone else for a coin or a piece of bread. But in the presence of Jesus, he could ask for his sight—and that basically meant asking for his life back.

 

What do you want from Jesus? All of us could use a little help or a favor. Maybe Jesus could even fix a thing or two like a broken relationship or financial debt. No doubt, he could! There are all kinds of things we could ask Jesus to help us with, but Jesus invites us to be honest enough with ourselves to be bold enough with him.

 

What we really need is God’s mercy and grace. What we really need to say is “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

 

So go ahead, tell Jesus what you really need—because that is the reason why he was on the road, heading toward Jerusalem.

  

The Path to Greatness

And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for woman.” (Mark 10:35-45 ESV).

 

As the disciples learned more and more about Jesus, it was slowly dawning on them that they were in the presence of a king. So, a couple of them decided to make a bold request. They quietly approached Jesus to ask if they could serve as prime ministers in his kingdom.

 

When the other disciples got wind of this, they were totally put off, probably because they wished they had asked first. We can almost hear them squabbling, "Why should James and John get a higher position than us? Who do they think they are?"

 

Notice that Jesus doesn't seem nearly as bothered by what they ask for. He corrects James and John by saying, in effect, "Your request is not something for me to answer. The Father decides who sits in the places of honor." Then Jesus adds, "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all."

 

Jesus would love to give every one of us a seat of honor in his kingdom. He wants success for us all. We learn that it isn't wrong for us to want to succeed. But success in God's eyes is far different from the world's ideas of success. It means living like the One who "did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

  

The Saddest Verse in the Bible

 

And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. (Mark 10:17-22 ESV).

 

Our reading today contains one of the saddest verses in all of Scripture. The story began so hopeful. A fine young man, wealthy and well educated, came to Jesus, bowed before him, and asked a very important question: "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" Admittedly, it was not asked exactly correct. The young man wanted to inherit eternal life. Perhaps this was because all of his wealth and position was inherited and he knew nothing else. However, the question was not the young man’s problem.

 

Most people came to Jesus for some benefit, such as healing or food for themselves or for a loved one. But this man was interested in spiritual matters. The story ended sadly, though, with the rich young man leaving “sorrowful” by Jesus' response. He didn’t hear what he wanted to hear from Jesus at all. It ought to cause us to wonder what was the real problem. There were three problems.

 

First, he loved his wealth more than he loved God. Possessing wealth is not wrong, but letting wealth stand in the way of surrender to God brings spiritual disaster. Second, the young man misunderstood God's way of salvation. He believed he was good, claiming he had always kept the commandments. And he wanted Jesus to tell him one more good work he might do that would guarantee him a place in paradise. Instead, when Jesus suggested that he give up what was closest to his heart, the young man showed that he did not see himself as a sinner in need of God's forgiveness. Third, he walked away from Jesus. Like so many others over the years, he refused God's offer of salvation by free grace alone. How terribly sad! Don’t copy this young man’s action!

 

The Challenge of a Lasting Relationship

 

And Pharisees came up and in order to test him [Jesus] asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.” And Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” (Mark 10:2-9 ESV).

 

The painful reality of divorce is a challenge for the church today. But this was also true in Jesus' day. To test him and try to get him into trouble with legal experts, some religious leaders wanted to debate with him on this subject. But notice that he turned the tables to explain the impact of marriage.

 

Jesus reminds us that marriage is not based on feelings. Marriage is the amazing and mysterious miracle in which two persons, a man and a woman with different backgrounds and families, become one unit. According to God, when two people come together in marriage, they create a new living thing: they become one flesh. So, when I promised, "I do," to my wife nearly 55 years ago, life was no longer just about me; it was about us.

 

To hold this beautiful vision of marriage is tough in a world that is so focused on the individual. Messages bombard us from all sides to try to convince us that the self is most important. Others would have us believe it's all about what we feel, what we want, what we need.

 

For those of us who are married, Jesus invites us to die to that selfish spirit and work to build up and bless our spouse.

 

And for those of us who know the pain of a broken marriage, God invites us to experience the forgiveness, grace, and healing that give renewed peace and joy.

 

Helping Others in the Journey

[Jesus said] “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into shell, ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.” (Mark 9:42-50 ESV).

 

Mary and I have reached the stage in our lives where it is much easier to help each walk. Mary has developed Neuropathy and uses a cane to walk, though she can still be a bit wobbly. I’ve just gotten older and often find it very helpful to hold on to her for stability. I suppose there are those who might giggle a bit at the sight of us walking together, me carrying her purse and holding on to her while we walk along slowly and cautiously avoiding a fall. I do know it is very encouraging knowing we have each other to hold on to.

 

Our reading today uses a similar image as Jesus cautions His disciples not to cause someone to stumble in their spiritual journey. Causing someone else to stumble in their faith could be devastating. Jesus took it so seriously that he said it would be better to tie a giant rock around your neck and drown than to cause someone to stumble. I’ve worked with people of all ages for many years, and while I’ve been a mentor and role model to many. My great hope is that everything I’ve taught and modeled has helped them not to stumble. This is especially true of the younger people.

 

Our calling as followers of Christ is to walk with others who are journeying the same way we are. We support each other in our faith. We strive to be there when questions are asked. We try to be a shoulder to cry on and a partner to laugh with. We journey together. Jesus reminds us to be a support for others rather than causing them to stumble or fall. We must also watch out for the things in our life that can cause us to stumble. Are you helping others in their journey?

  

Like a Child

And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.” (Mark 9:33-37 ESV).

 

Our world is obsessed by status, and that causes a lot of hurt. In our world, people are measured by the color of their skin, the way they dress, how much money they have, and more. In Jesus' day, people were defined by whether they were Jew or Gentile, male or female, religiously clean or unclean, rich or poor, and on and on.

 

It was this kind of thinking that moved the disciples to argue about whom Jesus loved most. And as soon as Jesus asked what they were talking about, they were embarrassed.

 

But Jesus didn't get angry. Instead, he turned the occasion into a teaching moment. He said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." Then he took up a child in his arms and said, "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."

 

With this beautiful image, Jesus tells us that when we accept him as Savior, we are no longer defined by how we measure up against other people. What defines us is where we stand in relation to Jesus. In Jesus, we are part of a new social structure centered around Jesus. We are like that child, embraced by him. And Jesus' embrace frees us to love and serve all people, no matter what status they have in the world. It really is not about us at all. It is all about Jesus!

  

Help My Unbelief!

 

And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.” (Mark 9:14-29 ESV).

 

Jesus had just been encouraged by God on a mountaintop, and three of his disciples—Peter, James, and John—had been allowed to watch. The disciples saw the power and glory of God in Jesus as never before. They saw Jesus’ clothing become dazzling white. They saw Moses and Elijah, prophets of Israel from ancient times, talking with Jesus. They heard words from heaven: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” (Mark 9:7). The impact of all this was overwhelming.

 

But when they came down the mountain, the disciples faced a problem. A troubled father had brought his demon-possessed son for healing, but the disciples who had stayed behind were powerless. The evil spirit made the boy unable to hear or speak, and it threw him to the ground gnashing his teeth. The father was desperate. The disciples couldn’t help, but could Jesus?

 

“Bring the boy to me,” said Jesus, and he commanded the spirit to leave and never return. The spirit shrieked, shook the boy violently, and came out. Jesus lifted the boy to his feet, and the boy stood up. “Why couldn’t we do that?” the disciples later asked. Then Jesus taught them a great lesson about prayer, which calls for faith in the power of God. Power doesn’t reside in the person praying or in the act of praying itself. Power comes from God through faith in Jesus!

The Coming of Elijah

 

And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean. And they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” And he said to them, “Elijah does come first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt? But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.” (Mark 9:9-13 ESV).

 

Continuing to read in this chapter of Mark’s Gospel we see the disciples on their way down from the mountain where they'd seen the glory of Jesus, and where they had seen Moses and Elijah. The disciples had some questions about Elijah. They had been taught since they were young that Elijah would come back in a dramatic way to prepare for the coming of the Messiah (cf. Malachi 4:5-6). On the mountain, they saw clearly that Jesus was the Messiah. They wondered where had Elijah been?

 

In response, Jesus said Elijah had come, and he was referring here to John the Baptist (cf. Matthew 17:13). But what did it mean that Elijah (or John, in the spirit of Elijah) would restore all things?

 

Elijah, along with Moses, was one of the great prophets in the history of God's people, Israel. Elijah's calling was to challenge people to give up false faith and religion and turn back (be restored) to God. Before he went up to heaven, Elijah passed along his mantle, or cloak, to Elisha, who would carry on this work in God's name (cf. 2 Kings 2). In the spirit of Elijah, John the Baptist brought the same message, calling people to repent and turn back to God (cf. Luke 1:17).

 

In the spirit of Elijah, we also call men and women to prepare for Christ's coming into their lives. And we have more good news: Jesus has come, and all who believe in him as Savior can be restored to God. We are not waiting for our redemption… it has already come!

 

Seeing the Real Jesus

 

And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only. (Mark 9:2-8 ESV).

 

There are those times in our lives when we see something in person for the first time and simply cannot understand the magnitude of it until that moment. Some years ago Mary and I traveled with her sister and her husband to visit Yellowstone National Park. Of course, one of the sights we had to see was Old Faithful. This geyser, which is just one of many in the area, has been erupting at regular intervals with its boiling water. These eruptions regularly reach more than 130 feet and typically last for several minutes. It is difficult to understand the scale from the photo I’ve included. However, we were nearly 100 yards away from the actual eruption site. It was an awesome display of God’s power in nature. You truly must see it to believe it!

 

In our reading, Peter, James, and John experienced such a sight. They experienced the Son of God like no one else ever had. They witnessed a conversation between Moses, Elijah, and Jesus. Jesus invited the three disciples to hear and see that God had confirmed and affirmed that Jesus was the fulfillment of the promise of grace and mercy shown through these Old Testament representatives. The voice of God, who has the last word, declared, “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

 

Jesus wanted his disciples to remember from this event that God had come down to us in the person of Jesus to suffer and die and then rise again. His death and resurrection changed everything! While we cannot literally see Him, He is closer to us today than we might think. He has given us the Holy Spirit. He lives in us, knows us, and reminds us that we are in a vital relationship with him. And we don’t need to travel to a specific location to see and know the only Savior we will ever need. He is as close as your spirit!

 

The Voice of Satan

 

And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you bare not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:31-38 ESV).

 

Our reading today is very insightful as we determine what the “voice of Satan” sounds like. It concerns Peter, who certainly meant well. He was drastically mistaken, however. Peter didn’t like it when Jesus talked about his approaching death and resurrection.

 

A short time earlier, Peter had made the bold profession, “You are the Christ.” But now Peter couldn’t accept Jesus’ words about suffering, rejection, and death. Peter’s vision for Jesus and his fellow disciples was far different from that. So, Peter took Jesus aside and tried to set him straight.

 

Jesus rebuked Peter in the strongest possible language: “Get behind me, Satan! … You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” Peter had replaced God’s will with his own. Jesus’ purpose in coming to earth was to “save his people from their sins” (cf. Matthew 1:21).

 

In thankfulness to him we are called to follow his lead, whatever the cost may be. We must honestly admit that we are a lot like Peter. We easily yield to the temptation to make the Christian faith something different than Jesus intends it to be. We want the benefits of Christ’s cross, but we resist the price of following him. Again and again we need to be reminded that in God’s kingdom, life follows death and victory follows surrender. And we will only save what we are willing to lose.

 

Who Do Say that He Is?

 

And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him. (Mark 8:27-30 ESV).

 

In our reading for today we encounter the central question of Jesus' ministry. This is a question that Peter must answer. It is also the question that every person who has ever lived must answer when Jesus asks, "Who do you say I am?"

 

This is a fascinating question, because Jesus focuses not on his teaching but on himself. In our day this often gets confused. We must remember that our Christian faith is not just based on a set of propositions but on a Person. Without Jesus himself, our faith crumbles. Without Jesus, our faith is empty.

 

That's why it doesn't work to dabble in just a little bit of the Christian faith, taking in a little of this or that and ignoring the rest. We cannot settle for a little bit of Jesus. We must accept him as he is, on his terms.

 

Peter, with guidance from the Father (cf. Matthew 16:17), jumps in with an answer that was wiser and more profound than even he realized at the moment: "You are the Christ." In other words, Peter was saying, "Jesus, you are not just a great teacher or prophet. You are the Messiah, the promised one sent by God who has come to save his people. You are the One who will rescue us from the consequences of our sins."

 

Jesus wants to hear your answer to his question too. Who do you say he is?

 

Poor Vision and the Right Doctor

 

And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” And he looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.” Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. And he sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.” (Mark 8:22-26 ESV).

 

Not long ago I went to an ophthalmologist to check my eyes. I had a slight episode that concerned me in reference to my retina in the right eye. Going through the exam, which was thorough, I was a bit surprised that my vision was not nearly as much of a concern to the doctor as it was to me. Ultimately, we got to the issue of cataracts and I was told that I was not old enough to do anything about them. I said, “You do remember that I am 75, right?” He replied, “Really? Your eyes are much better than I would have expected. My thought then was that since I am legally blind (correctable so far) this doctor has no interest in my vision getting better. I do find my vision getting a bit worse as the months pass, so another visit to the doctor is in order, although a different doctor is in the plan.

 

Our reading today tells us of Jesus’ healing of a blind man. Jesus healed the man, but asked how well he could see. The blind man in our story today had the choice to tell Jesus the truth or to go through life seeing a blur. Because of the man’s honesty, Jesus touched him a second time and brought him from blurry vision to clear sight. I bet he was beyond overwhelmed at what he could see.

 

There are times when we have been blinded by our circumstances, our pain, or all the distractions around us. A friend may step in and invite us into a conversation with Jesus. If we accept the invitation, we may have an opportunity to be healed by Jesus. Sometimes our healing can take place progressively rather than instantaneously. Jesus walks with us. He continues to engage in the conversation, and he asks for our honesty. When we admit where we are in our circumstances, Jesus continues taking us from blurry sight to clarity. He is the right doctor!

 

The Power of a Little Yeast

 

Now they had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread. And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive for understand? Are your hearts hardened? Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.” “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?” (Mark 8:14-21 ESV).

 

Mary and I don’t eat a lot of bread; however, we both like the aroma and taste of fresh baked bread. There’s nothing quite as good as fresh baked bread. The “store-bought” bread just isn’t as good. I typically bake a one-pound loaf when I bake. It is remarkable how little yeast is necessary to permeate the entire loaf. Watching it rise is wonderful. This is the background for Jesus’ story in today’s reading.

 

The disciples were worried. As they traveled by boat, they discovered they didn't have enough bread. Jesus overheard what they were talking about and said something that sounds strange to us: "Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod." This sounded strange to the disciples too. It started quite a discussion among them because they didn't understand it.

 

Jesus went on to explain that their worry was directly connected to the unbelief of the Pharisees and Herod, the religious leaders and the local king who refused to accept that Jesus was the Son of God. Twice the disciples had watched Jesus take a little bread and feed huge crowds. And yet they were anxious when they didn't seem to have enough to eat. They knew who Jesus was, and yet they were still worrying about their everyday needs. In that sense, said Jesus, "the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod", the poison of unbelief, was flowing through their veins.

 

Worry can be a form of unbelief, and there's still plenty of that poison around today. If Jesus is Lord, why are we so anxious about the details of our lives? Why do we worry so much about our finances or relationships? Why are we so concerned about the future?

 

Jesus offers the antidote to our anxieties. Trust in Him!

 

The Abundance of Jesus' Provision

 

In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat, he called his disciples to him and said to them, “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away.” And his disciples answered him, “How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?” And he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven.” And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd. And they had a few small fish. And having blessed them, he said that these also should be set before them. And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. And there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away. And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha. (Mark 8:1-10 ESV).

 

In today’s reading, Jesus has compassion for a huge crowd of people again—and this time it’s simply because they are hungry! When the disciples raise the question of available resources, Jesus begins with a resource inventory. Seven loaves and a few small fish are way too few for feeding so many people. But what the disciples are not counting, of course, is the compassion of Jesus. What’s more, he only asks us to give what we have, and he will provide all that is needed.

 

I often find that there’s a big gap between my available resources and the needs I hear about. In effect, the disciples have asked a particularly critical question: How can the needs of the world be met? They see the gap and do not yet see that the answer is standing right in front of them. This is a lesson I am forever learning. I tally up what I have, and it is not enough for all the needs around me. I do not have enough time, patience, hospitality, skills, wisdom, energy, or finances. But Jesus doesn’t ask me if I have enough; he asks what I have—and in his hands he will make it enough.

 

What about you? I hope you know that Jesus will take and use what you have to extend holy compassion to others.