Some thoughts...

I was reading the end of Mark 8 this morning - the part where Jesus tells the disciples around him that if they want to become his followers they must deny themselves, take up their cross and follow him. I don't have any profound thoughts on this - I understand the deny myself stuff - logically, it's just a lot harder to put into practice. One thing that caught my curiosity is the take up your cross phrase. I've never given this a lot of thought. Obviously Jesus knows where he is heading (to the Cross and Calvary) but I don't think that this statement would have made any sense whatsoever to the disciples Jesus is talking to. Now, that doesn't usually stop Jesus from saying things, I'm just wondering if this is a phrase attributed to Jesus after his death/resurrection/ascension. Also - what does it mean, exactly, to take up my cross? What do you think it means?

I watched the Bears-Vikings game yesterday, that was a lot of fun (48-41) but the one thing that struck me was Kyle Orton is good - not just a nice breath of fresh air after watching Rex Grossman crap the bed for 3+ years - but Orton makes good checks at the line, good decisions with the ball and a great passer rating. So this is what it's like to have an NFL QB!

Amy and I watched Iron Man last night - I'm not usually a big fan of the superhero movies (I loved the last two batmans, hated the last spiderman, refuse to watch edward norton degrade himself as the hulk, ect.) Actually, of all the superhero movies this decade (and there have been tons) I liked the first Spiderman, and the two Batmans. But I really liked Iron Man. It was fun, I was entertained the whole time and I've always liked RDJ - in spite of his issues, he's always hooked me in his movies. So, I liked Iron Man and I recommend it.

Now you know that. Oh and happy birthday to my friend Rich.

Ramblings

I read Mark 6 this morning, the part when Jesus sends out his followers 2 X 2 and they proclaim that all should repent and they didn't bring food or even a change of clothes. It's interesting, but I'm still contemplating the significance of the whole thing.

The Bears won yesterday, destroying the Detriot Lions, but the Lions are terrible, so it's hard to feel as good about that victory as say, the win over Philly last week. But, Kyle Orton had a really good day, and even if it was against a bad team, Grossman would have fumbled 3 times and thrown 2 int's.

The White Sox won yesterday as well, now they face a must win today to force a game 5 and send it back to Tampa Bay. I like their chances today at home with Floyd pitching - I'm more worried about what could happen Wednesday.

What I saw this past week:
Heroes - it's good again like season 1 - not crap like season 2. I really liked the first couple episodes - I love (as always) the Hiro storyline and think that his new "nemesis" is fantastic. I'm (as always) indifferent to Peter, Claire and Parkman. And I am wonderfully excited that they killed Ali Larter's character and made her a completely different character (hopefully no more episodes with her irritating son!)

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles - it's a fun show. Not overly amazing, but I like the mom (the queen from 300) and I've always been a Summer Glau fan (River from Firefly). I don't really like the guy playing John - and I am surprisingly happy about Brian Austin Green. Last Monday's episode was the best ever.

NCIS: Par for the course with NCIS.

The Mentalist - a new show, I like it - it is like a serious version of Psych (one of my favorite shows). If you haven't seen ths show - give it a watch this Tuesday (provided of course that it's on and not some senate debate).

Pushing Daisies: They didn't resolve the end of last season, and moved forward like it never happened - this is a problem for me. But it's pretty to watch in HD.

The Ex List - I made it to the second commercial break, then deleted it - this show was awful, terrible, horrible, boring, really bad. Don't give it a watch. There is a reason it premiered on a Friday Night.

The Unit - amazing. Sunday nights 10 PM Eastern/Pacific 9 PM Central/Mountain. Watch it!

I'm currently reading: Night Probe by Clive Cussler (I had the book and Cussler is always a fun read). Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell (starting it today).

Hmmmm

It's interesting that the people who should have/could have known Jesus the best were the ones who don't believe in Him. Mark gives another contrast in the beginning of chapter 6. We have just read of the little faith of Jesus followers during the storm on the Sea of Galilee, Mark then takes us to the faith of the Garasene Demoniac, followed by the faith of Jarius the Synagogue leader and the faith of the hemorraghing woman. Then we get to chapter 6 and Jesus goes to his hometown and instead of being amazed - they make snotty comments like: "Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary..." And it says that they stumbled because of him or that they took offense at him. So many times when people encounter Jesus in Mark, they leave amazed - but here it is Jesus who is amazed - at the people's unbelief.

So, what camp do you land in? Is Jesus so commonplace to your life and world that you miss the amazement and think (maybe unconsciously) it's just Jesus. Or are you amazed daily that the son of God, the Holy One is breaking into our world. Lord, let me always be amazed by you and never take your presence in my life for granted.

Jarius

I have two daughters, Allyson is 2 (3 in December) and Lauren is almost 17 months and they (along with their mother) are the delight of my life. I love playing with them, watching them have fun, learn things and experience life. I believe that this is how Jarius must have felt about his own daughter, which is why I think he is so stricken with worry. Jarius' daughter is sick, very sick - so sick, in fact, that this synagogue leader has turned to Jesus for help. If this were a movie and not a sunday school story, I would watch it on the edge of my seat, I would be tense and my heart would ache with Jarius. Especially when Jesus, Jarius and friends were making their way through the mob of people and Jesus suddenly stops and demands to know who touched him. Really?!?! Who touched you? Who hasn't touched you! But Jesus persists in seeking out the hemorrhaging woman whose incredible faith healed her. This woman's faith is an amazing story - but it costs Jarius' daughter her life. Because, while Jesus was speaking people came from Jarius' house to tell him that his daughter had died. Devistating. But this is where Jarius really amazes me - Jesus tells Jarius to not fear but believe - and he does. We know the story, Jesus shows up tells the mourners that the girl is only sleeping, they laugh at him, he sends everyone out except Jarius, his wife, Peter, James and John then raises the girl to life. A happy ending! I'm still amazed at the faith and trust of Jarius and pray that I can trust as well as he.

Mark has something important in all these stories of Jesus - he is healing all sorts of disease and infirmities (sickness, blindness, lameness, withered hands, ect.) he has cast out unclean spirits, he has calmed nature and has raised the dead - don't miss Mark's picture of Jesus.

Contrast

Earlier in Mark, when Jesus heals people he specifically tells them to go and tell no one. They then go and tell everyone that they meet. In Mark 5, Jesus heals the Garasene Domoniac – Legion. When Jesus is about to leave this man is begging to come with Jesus – but Jesus tells him to go home and tell how much the lord has done for him and what mercy he has been shown.
Why does Jesus tell some folks to stay quiet and another to tell everyone? I really don’t think it is reverse psychology that Jesus is trying to use on some folks (you know tell them one thing and they do the opposite). Instead – it’s all about timing. The folks Jesus tells to be silent all live in Israel, but this cured demoniac did not (Jesus and co. had gone across the sea to the Decapolis). The difference is the presence of the Pharisees and teachers of the Law – these guys were already getting a belly full of Jesus and looking to get rid of him – only it wasn’t time to die yet. That is why in Israel he asks the people he heals to not tell anyone – but when he is in the Decapolis he tells the man to tell what the Lord has done.

Who then is this...

I usually try to give the apostles the benefit of the doubt – it’s hard for me to look at things from their perspective – I’m not a first century Israelite, and I have a concept of who Jesus is from a “hindsight” perspective. The apostles and disciples on the other hand had to muddle through their belief, doubt and everything else first hand. So, I try not to think these guys were a bunch of idiots too much – but then I read the story of Jesus calming the storm – and it’s not the fear that makes me wonder about them (I would have been afraid also) but it’s at the end of the story when they say “’Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?’” Really – are you asking that question, you’ve been up and down Judea with Jesus, watching him heal diseases, silence and cast out unclean spirits, forgive sins, etc. I understand their amazement at Jesus stilling the storm, it’s an amazing thing – it just seems odd that Jesus calming the storm seems to come from out of nowhere to these guys – to the point that they start wondering who Jesus is. Shouldn’t that question have been raised a long time ago? Anyway – I’m just glad that the Holy Spirit came upon these guys and the light bulb finally went on because they really are amazing men of faith.

The Measure I...give?

He said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under the bushel basket, or under the bed, and not on the lampstand? For there is nothing hidden, except to be disclosed; nor is anything secret, except to come to light. Let anyone with ears to hear listen!” And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear; the measure you give will be the measure you get, and still more will be given you. For to those who have, more will be given; and from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.” (Mark 4:21-25; NRSV).
My oldest daughter sleeps with a night light – but she doesn’t like it shining on her at night so we have to put a blanket up in front of the night light to diffuse it. Now, that’s not quite like taking a light and hiding it under a basket but the point is this: the whole purpose of having a light is for it to shine in the darkness and illuminate things – if you hide the light, it no longer serves its purpose (and is just a waste of electricity or batteries). In the Kingdom, Christ calls us to be light in the darkness, to be light among other Christians, to shine all the time o ya.
The measure you give has nothing to do with the financial amount of money you drop in the plate or donate to charity – or at the very least it isn’t limited to that. What if the measure you give is talking about the amount of light you shine upon others. In other words, how much are you contributing to God’s Kingdom? The 21st Century Church has become pretty consumer driven – it’s all about what the church has to offer me and my family, it’s how much I like the songs or the sermon – it’s all about what I can be given. But notice that Jesus turns that on its head – it’s the measure that you put in (involvement, ministry, contribute) that defines what you will receive in turn. The Kingdom is bigger than our societal concept of offering something for “me” but rather it is a God given mission that, as Isaac Watts penned, “demands my life, my soul, my all.”

Parable of the Soils or Parable of the Sower

Again he began to teach beside the lake. Such a very large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat on the lake and sat there, while the whole crowd was beside the lake on the land. He began to teach them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: ‘Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and it sprang up quickly, since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose, it was scorched; and since it had no root, it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. Other seed fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.’ And he said, ‘Let anyone with ears to hear listen!’ (Mark 4:1-9; NRSV).
Okay, so I know that Jesus explains the parable in verses 10-20, that the seed (the Word) sown onto the path is quickly taken away, that the seed sown onto the rocky soil springs up quickly but dies because it has no roots (no endurance), that the seed sown among the thorns grows but is quickly overcome by the cares of the world. But what if this parable is not about me? (WHAT!?! Isn’t everything in Christianity about me, paging Joel Osteen, paging Joel Osteen). It’s true though – I read this and think what kind of soil am I? What kind of soil are you?
What if, the parable of the sower is actually about the sower? What if it is about a great and gracious God who generously sows the Word everywhere? I’m certain that any sower (farmer) is not just going to go off chucking seed on the road, in the briar patch and on the rock face of a mountain – that just doesn’t make sense – you save the seed for good, cultivated soil. But God sows everywhere, seeking the Word to take hold in places I may not expect – what an awesome God. Lord, that you for being generous and extravagant in your love toward me and all humanity.

Confessions of Faith...

This is like my Gospel of Mark crossover. Mark gets a little repetitive in the beginning of his letter, wanting his audience to understand the wonder and amazement at Jesus. The text starting in 3:7 has crowds pressing Jesus to the point that he was worried the crowds would crush him. This thought ends with vs. 11 where people with unclean spirits see Jesus, they fall down before him and shout “You are the Son of God!” and Jesus orders them not to speak.
An interesting thought hit me while I was reflecting on this. These words coming from the unclean spirit are pretty important and powerful. They are, after all, very similar to Peter’s confession for which Jesus gives some nice words to Peter. So, what’s the difference? I recall the words James writes “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe – and shudder.” (James 2:19; NRSV). I think James point in the greater context of ch. 2 is the same difference between the confession of the unclean spirit and the confession of Peter – it’s all about what you do with that belief. Believing in God is about more than just believing in God – it is about having a relationship with him; it is about living out your belief in him (not in a legalistic – earn soul points to get into heaven; but a faith compelled acting out of your belief). I suppose I wouldn’t be one of Martin Luther’s favorite students – but I agree wholeheartedly with James. We can profess our belief in God all day, but ultimately actions speak louder than words: are you in a back and forth relationship with God? Are you in a relationship with God’s church (a functioning part of the body)? Do you utilize your talents and gifts for ministry in the Kingdom? These are important questions to ask ourselves because just believing in God isn’t all that big of an accomplishment – it only puts you on par with unclean spirits. God give us the heart of Peter in our faith in you.

The Sabbath

One sabbath he was going through the grainfields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?” And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need of food? He entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and he gave some to his companions.” Then he said to them, “The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath; so the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”
Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. They watched him to see whether he would cure him on the sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come forward.” Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. He looked around at them with anger; he was grieved at their hardness of heart and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him. (Mark 2:23-3:6; NRSV)
So first off, I just want to say that the Pharisees are jerks, but that is obvious and everyone hammers on the Pharisees. I will note that they are not very different from some church goers today. But I’m sure no one has ever had something happen at church that they didn’t agree with or think was “scriptural” so they waited for the next time something like that happened so they could complain to their friends, or the elders or whatever. I’m not trying to be negative, I’m just saying the Pharisees are more normal than we realize. However, that isn’t the point to all this. The Pharisees were hung up on the minutia of the law – the oral lobe (yes, I just wanted to say lobe) of the law – meaning that it wasn’t the God given law of the Torah but the man added law of the Talmud. What Jesus is after is that they have completely misconstrued the meaning of the Sabbath (rest) and have created so many do’s and don’ts that instead of providing relief the Sabbath is now bringing complication and even pain. I wonder, what have we turned into a “sacred cow” which God never intended? Lord, help us worship in spirit and in truth.

Mark 2:13-17

Jesus went out again beside the sea; the whole crowd gathered around him, and he taught them. As he was walking along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. And as he sat at dinner in Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were also sitting with Jesus and his disciples—for there were many who followed him. When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” When Jesus heard this, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.” (Mark 2:13-17; NRSV)
Again, I hear Jesus’ call: Follow me. As it turns out, so did many other people, not only Andrew, Peter, James, John and Levi but “there were many who followed him.” Jesus seems to draw people to himself – even those who are skeptical of him. I love seeing the heart of Jesus in this passage. Jesus clearly desires relationship with those who need him. I think at the heart of this is that the “sick” or “sinners” the tax collectors, etc. do not view themselves as righteous. These “sinners,” if they were around today, would be the folks who acknowledge their need for a savior. The scribes of the Pharisees on the other hand already were righteous, following the letter of the law down to the least pen stroke – what need have they of a savior? Father, let me always acknowledge my need for your grace and mercy, and never become self reliant on my own legalistic righteousness.

The Paralytic

When he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them. Then some people came, bringing to him a paralysed man, carried by four of them. And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’ Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, ‘Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?’ At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, ‘Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven”, or to say, “Stand up and take your mat and walk”? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins’—he said to the paralytic— ‘I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home.’ And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, ‘We have never seen anything like this!’ (Mark 2:1-12; NRSV)
A couple things jump out to me in this text. First, I have never noticed before that in vs. 1 it mentions that Jesus returned to Capernaum and it was reported he was at home. I guess I never thought Jesus owned a house (or rented if he is like me), I just kind of always thought he moved from place to place, but this seems to indicate he had a place he would come back to. Interesting.
Second, I want friends like those this paralytic had. These guys were determined to get this man to Jesus, which speaks both to their faith in what Jesus could do, and their devotion to their friend to get him before Jesus. I would imagine it isn’t every day that people are digging through Jesus’ roof.
Third, Jesus doesn’t respond in the way these guys expect. Obviously Jesus has been healing people and casting out demons all over the region and these men most certainly had been present for a few of these “gospel meetin’s” (which would account for their faith). So when they drop the guy through the dug up roof, right into the middle of everything, I think it would be fair to deduce that they expected Jesus to lay hands on the paralytic and make him walk. But Jesus first addresses the paralytic bigger issue – his sin. Side note: I think that my relationship with God works this way a lot, I come to Him asking for something, and He responds in a way that is totally unexpected – but if I will just trust in Him I will see that He is doing something unbelievable in my life. Just like Jesus did something incredible in the life of this paralytic – he forgave his sins (I don’t know about you, but if Jesus looked at me with love in His eyes and told me that my sins are forgiven, it would be a memorable moment in my life).
Fourth, authority revisited. So, Jesus forgives sins now – blasphemer. The thoughts of the scribes are clear. They know that only God can forgive sins, so who is this – a mere human to offer forgiveness (especially when this paralytic hasn’t made all the ceremonial cleansing and offerings required for forgiveness – can anyone else hear Lt. Caffey saying “I know the law.”) I like how Jesus confronts the scribes here: “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and take your mat and walk’?” The answer is not that its easier to say your sins are forgiven, the answer is that neither is easier because I can’t tell the man his sins are forgiven any more than I can tell him to take up his mat and walk. The answer had to enter the minds of this group of scribes, which makes what Jesus does next amazing. Basically, what Jesus says is: you cannot do either, but to show you that I can forgive sins I say: take up your mat and walk – and the man is instantly healed. All the people glorified God and they were all amazed.

The Leper

A leper came to him begging him, and kneeling he said to him, “If you choose, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, “I do choose. Be made clean!” Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. After sternly warning him he sent him away at once, saying to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” But he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the word, so that Jesus could no longer go into a town openly, but stayed out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter. (Mark 1:40-45, NRSV).

This is a great story – the first thing I notice is the faith of the leper. It wasn’t a question to him of whether or not Jesus could make him clean, it was only a matter of choice to Jesus.
Jesus, in turn is moved with pity, he is filled with compassion for this man, a societal outcast and He touches the leper cleansing him and renewing his life.
So, when Jesus instructs the former leper not to say anything, I’ve heard some people suggest that Jesus is just using reverse psychology, you know the: if I tell him to do one thing, he’ll do the opposite. However, I just don’t see that. I really think that Jesus didn’t want all these people he had healed to go talking about it because sooner or later word is bound to get to the Pharisees, and it isn’t time for Jesus to die yet, He has a lot to do. (Plus look what happens here, this former leper goes out spreading the word and Jesus couldn’t move freely and had to stay in the countryside and even there he is swarmed by people. It isn’t that I think Jesus didn’t like being around all these people, I just think that Jesus had a lot of things he needed to get accomplished (like training his disciples).

Very Early in the Morning

Word must have spread, Jesus has been teaching with authority, then displaying his authority, he silences the unclean spirits then casts them out. I imagine I would be pretty fired up to see someone like that, as it turns out so was the entire Galilean countryside. They all showed up to Peter’s mother in law’s house (who Jesus has also healed from a fever). Actually, it says the whole town showed up! And Jesus healed everyone and drove out demons – he was busy in the ministry business.
I’ve had busy days in ministry, and usually after those busy days when I go home, I like to do nothing, just veg out watch some tv, not shave, not think about anything except my family and some sports.
That is what has always struck me about this story (it has long been one of my favorite stories about Jesus). After a long, full day (it started in the synagogue and ended well past midnight at Peter’s mother in laws) this is what happens:
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: "Everyone is looking for you!"
Jesus replied, "Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come." So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
Jesus gets up before the sun to spend time with the Father. Jesus knew where his energy, strength and power came from. I bet I would recharge my spiritual batteries a lot better doing some quiet time and prayer (which I usually neglect on my days off). Jesus then continues his focus on spreading the good news of the kingdom of God.
Lord draw me deeper into relationship with you.

Authority

They were astounded at his teaching. I love this side note in Mark 1:22. The thought that runs through my mind is “lucky – I want to hear Jesus preach.” I love that Mark points out that in the crowds mind Jesus teaches as one who has authority, not like the scribes. See the scribes and teachers of the law had to prove that they were authorities on the law by quoting previous rabbis and scribes – but when Jesus begins to teach, he didn’t have to quote the scribes, he had the authority. So this starts with the crowd perceiving that Jesus has authority, and continues with him showing he has authority. A demon possessed man shows up, the demon confronts Jesus but Jesus silences the unclean spirit and casts it out of the man. And everyone was amazed. I like the note that Mark leaves this on – “a new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” (1:27b).
A thought for this text – Jesus has been given all authority, everything has been subjected to him and placed under his feet. However, Jesus doesn’t exercise his authority in my life until I ask/allow him to. This is, I think, (and in answer to my friend Rich’s question) what free will is: that God has the power and authority to make us do anything but gives us the choice to choose whether or not to love him.

Mark 1:16-20

Mark 1:16-20
Follow me. I’m sure Andrew, Peter, James and John had heard Jesus speak – he was, if you recall, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God in Galilee. So, when Jesus calls, he is no stranger but the response of these men is what always stirs my heart in this text. Vs. 18 “and immediately they left their nets and followed him.” Also vs. 20 “and immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.”
It’s like Jesus said, follow me, let’s be about kingdom business and without waiting for explanation, these four men dropped what they were doing and followed Jesus. I wonder if I would have done the same, would I drop everything to follow my savior’s call? When I read this story, I think of the outcome of these men and I’m reminded of Bonhoeffer’s quote “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” In a sense, Jesus bid Andrew, Peter, James and John to die in two ways – first in the sense that he called them to die to themselves and make Him the Lord of their life; and second in the physical sense that 3 of the 4 would be martyred (Andrew was crucified on a cross in the form of crux decussate (an X); Peter was crucified upside down; James was killed by the sword; John was not martyred but was exiled to the island of Patmos).
I am filled with a great many thoughts about Christ’s call of “follow me” as he calls each of us to follow him into the kingdom of God, but most of all I’m struck by the thought that the kingdom of God is not Disneyland. I think that is my usual first thought about the Kingdom, comes from Sunday school where we learn about flannel graph Jesus who is nice and wants everything to be flowers and sausages, where I can have my best life now and that if I follow Jesus he will bless me and enlarge my territory. And I’m not saying those things can’t happen, I just don’t think that is the promise that comes from following Jesus into the kingdom of God, I think to enter I must die to my wants, desires, myself. I am convinced that if, at the end of their lives, I could give Andrew, Peter, James and John the opportunity to go back in time to this meeting with Jesus and re-choose, none of them would choose differently they would drop their nets, leave dad with the hired men and immediately follow Jesus – even to the cross. God, give me the faith, boldness and decisiveness of these disciples.

The Gospel of Mark

I’m reading the Gospel of Mark. I love the differences in the Gospels – Matthew’s focus on Jesus as the prophesied Messiah; Luke’s “orderly account” and the compassion seen for the less fortunate; John’s stories and the sense that he truly loved Jesus – I love all of these aspects of the Gospels, but there is always something that draws me to the simplicity of Mark who reveals Jesus. (Side note – I would really really like some Indiana Jones archaeologist to find the Gospel Q (Quelle) I would love to read that).
Mark 1:1-15 – What about Christmas?
No birth story – even John references Jesus’ birth (“and the word became flesh and dwelt among us…”). Mark has an opening line telling us what this is about and jumps in with John the Baptizer who is gathering quite an audience in the Judean countryside. Then Jesus shows up from Nazareth, gets baptized by John, God speaks, Jesus goes to the wilderness for forty days and after John was arrested Jesus came to Galilee.
Why is there no birth story – isn’t it important? I think it is important, but it isn’t Mark’s point. Mark chooses not to start off with censuses, stables, shepherds, angels and Christmas carols, not because they are not important, but because he wants us to see the story of Jesus begin with Jesus’ main goal:
“Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel (good news).’” Mark 1-14-15.
The Kingdom of God is at hand – that’s the point, that is where Mark wants to start, the first thing he wants to reveal about Jesus.