Mark 9:38-50
Jesus said," No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us." (9:39-40)
Christians assert confidently that there is only one way to heaven - through Jesus Christ. Scripture affirms that view. This declaration should give confidence and hope; instead it has become a divisive weapon that sets Christian and non-Christians apart. At the centre of this division is the claim is not Jesus but our determination to know who will be IN and who is EXCLUDED from heaven.
While we like black and white, and the Bible is printed in black on white paper, the actual situation is not so clear. Within the text there are enough clues to point beyond our prescriptive solutions.
The phrase 'in my name' means more than just uttering words or flashing credentials. It involves acting within the spirit and character of the person we claim to represent. While a company may boast 'service is our signature' or claim to be environmentally sensitive the actions of employees can either assert the truth of the claim or reveal it as a lie. On the other hand a person can serve freely and willing or act in a way that cares for the environment without belonging to that company. People can live in a way that reflects the values of Christ, even if they do not claim to be Christian. What this passage makes clear is that Christ views such actions favorably. Where will those people be in eternity? Jesus is the one who will answer that question.
The task of the Christian is to live out daily the values of Jesus, seek to do the will of God as revealed through the Word and by the Spirit, and encourage others to join in submission to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. In doing that we should encourage Christlike actions in others whether they claim to be Christian or not.
Other readings:
Esther 7:1-6.9-10 9:20-22
James 5:13-20
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Saturday, September 19, 2009
September 20 (Proper 20)
Mark 9:30-37
"Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all." (9:35)
We have moved in our journey and in our text to the point of discipleship.
Walking with Jesus has enabled us to see him as Messiah, but has also challenged our understanding of Christ's anointed. In Mark's gospel Jesus began to reshape the disciples understanding of the Jewish Messiah. On two occasions in this narrative he has pointed to his suffering and death (8:31-33; 9:30-32). This was not easy teaching for the disciples. On the first occasion Peter rebukes him. The second time Mark records that 'they did not understand'.
As they walked along the road the disciples were having a game of one-upmanship - my boat is better than your boat, or I was chosen first so I must be the best. It was an argument that sought to develop a 'pecking order'.
The world in which we live makes it clear that those 'on the top' are the greatest. They have the money, power or influence to get things done. Sadly the reality is that in the process those who have seem to keep getting more at the expense of those who have little. Jesus offers a different perspective. The servant of all is the greatest of all.
What would life be like in the West without the cleaners and garbage collectors? It is not a scenario that we would want to think about too much. Just recently I was surprised by service at a petrol station. Even more surprising was the view of one attendant that service had gone by the board because of abuse by customers. While the cost of service and advances in technology have no doubt driven the change the abuse of one who serves is all too common. It seems that many still have a warped view of status. In Australia we don't easily acknowledge position. Our egalitarian society refuses to give credit just because of an office or title held. Achievement may be feted, accomplishment may be recognized, but position granted by privilege will not. Despite this far too many treat those who serve with contempt, and offer abuse or criticism if their work fails to please in some way.
Our world is operating upside down. Jesus said the greatest are those who are the servants of all.
Where do you rate on Jesus scale of greatness?
Other readings:
Prov 31:10-31
James 3:13-4:3,7-8a
"Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all." (9:35)
We have moved in our journey and in our text to the point of discipleship.
Walking with Jesus has enabled us to see him as Messiah, but has also challenged our understanding of Christ's anointed. In Mark's gospel Jesus began to reshape the disciples understanding of the Jewish Messiah. On two occasions in this narrative he has pointed to his suffering and death (8:31-33; 9:30-32). This was not easy teaching for the disciples. On the first occasion Peter rebukes him. The second time Mark records that 'they did not understand'.
As they walked along the road the disciples were having a game of one-upmanship - my boat is better than your boat, or I was chosen first so I must be the best. It was an argument that sought to develop a 'pecking order'.
The world in which we live makes it clear that those 'on the top' are the greatest. They have the money, power or influence to get things done. Sadly the reality is that in the process those who have seem to keep getting more at the expense of those who have little. Jesus offers a different perspective. The servant of all is the greatest of all.
What would life be like in the West without the cleaners and garbage collectors? It is not a scenario that we would want to think about too much. Just recently I was surprised by service at a petrol station. Even more surprising was the view of one attendant that service had gone by the board because of abuse by customers. While the cost of service and advances in technology have no doubt driven the change the abuse of one who serves is all too common. It seems that many still have a warped view of status. In Australia we don't easily acknowledge position. Our egalitarian society refuses to give credit just because of an office or title held. Achievement may be feted, accomplishment may be recognized, but position granted by privilege will not. Despite this far too many treat those who serve with contempt, and offer abuse or criticism if their work fails to please in some way.
Our world is operating upside down. Jesus said the greatest are those who are the servants of all.
Where do you rate on Jesus scale of greatness?
Other readings:
Prov 31:10-31
James 3:13-4:3,7-8a
Thursday, September 10, 2009
September 13 (Proper 19)
Mark 8:27-38
"Who do people say I am?" v.27
"Who do you say I am?" v.29
It is crunch time. The disciples have been with Jesus, they have seen him perform miracles, they have listened to his teaching, and they have seen him in homes and on the street as he interacted with people. Now comes the question "Who do you say I am?".
That is not an easy question to answer. Consider you own responses when someone asks you "What do you think about me?". We hedge and hesitate. Often we know that a blunt answer that focuses on any fault will bring offence. A blatant piece of flattery will be ignored, and we may be wary of offering too much praise in case they become too proud.
Jesus asked two questions.
The first was impersonal and non-threatening. What do other people think? Who do they say I am? That is easy to answer. No personal revelation needed, just reportage. No personal investment here, just information.
The next question required far more. It required that the disciples make a considered response and reveal publicly what they thought about Jesus.
For all of us this is a key question, perhaps even the key question.
Our view of who Jesus is will shape our lives.
Jesus asks the question: "Who do you say I am?"
Other readings for this week.
Prov 1:20-23
James 3:1-12
"Who do people say I am?" v.27
"Who do you say I am?" v.29
It is crunch time. The disciples have been with Jesus, they have seen him perform miracles, they have listened to his teaching, and they have seen him in homes and on the street as he interacted with people. Now comes the question "Who do you say I am?".
That is not an easy question to answer. Consider you own responses when someone asks you "What do you think about me?". We hedge and hesitate. Often we know that a blunt answer that focuses on any fault will bring offence. A blatant piece of flattery will be ignored, and we may be wary of offering too much praise in case they become too proud.
Jesus asked two questions.
The first was impersonal and non-threatening. What do other people think? Who do they say I am? That is easy to answer. No personal revelation needed, just reportage. No personal investment here, just information.
The next question required far more. It required that the disciples make a considered response and reveal publicly what they thought about Jesus.
For all of us this is a key question, perhaps even the key question.
Our view of who Jesus is will shape our lives.
- If he is just a figure of history we can read about him with minimal interest and ignore his teaching.
- If he is a great teacher we can learn from him, and select the teaching we apply to our lives.
- If he is the Messiah, God's chosen one, we may need to view him as a divine instrument and take his every word and action seriously.
- If he is the Son of God we raise the stakes again. He is divine, powerful, and an object of worship.
- If he is the Savior, we have a moral debt to repay for he has done something for us that we cannot do ourselves.
- If he is Lord we must respond with obedience.
Jesus asks the question: "Who do you say I am?"
Other readings for this week.
Prov 1:20-23
James 3:1-12
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
September 6 (Proper 18)
Mark 7:24-37
"For saying that, you may go - the demon has left your daughter." (29)
This is a quite remarkable incident - at many levels.
Jesus is in foreign territory, Gentile territory. He is seeking peace and quiet away from the crowds. He is inside a house.
A Syrophoenician woman enters the house and bows at his feet.
She breaks many cultural taboos by her actions. She crosses the ethnic barriers, and tramples over the gender wall to beg Jesus to heal her daughter. An unaccompanied woman should not have approached a man; she should not have entered the house alone. This woman did. And then she got the better of Jesus in a verbal joust - or at least that is what it seems like.
This passage challenges the scholars and every thinking believer. Our view of a gentle and magnanimous Jesus is under threat. An insensitive and exclusive recluse apparently replaces the Jesus, who is always perceptive, seeing below the surface and knowing what is happening behind the scenes.
What are we to make of references to giving food to dogs? Was Jesus calling the woman and her kind dogs? Surely not! Yet the implication is there in the text. Scholars try to get around the issue by examining the words - and maybe 'dogs' should be translated 'puppies'. A little better perhaps, but the woman and her kind are still nowhere near being members of the family, and equality with the people of Israel is a long way off.
Such words would have been enough to dent the confidence of most, but not this feisty and desperate woman.
She pleads for a crumb - that will be enough. Jesus gives it to her. Her daughter is healed.
Other readings:
Prov 22:1-2,8-9, 22-23
James 2:1-10
"For saying that, you may go - the demon has left your daughter." (29)
This is a quite remarkable incident - at many levels.
Jesus is in foreign territory, Gentile territory. He is seeking peace and quiet away from the crowds. He is inside a house.
A Syrophoenician woman enters the house and bows at his feet.
She breaks many cultural taboos by her actions. She crosses the ethnic barriers, and tramples over the gender wall to beg Jesus to heal her daughter. An unaccompanied woman should not have approached a man; she should not have entered the house alone. This woman did. And then she got the better of Jesus in a verbal joust - or at least that is what it seems like.
This passage challenges the scholars and every thinking believer. Our view of a gentle and magnanimous Jesus is under threat. An insensitive and exclusive recluse apparently replaces the Jesus, who is always perceptive, seeing below the surface and knowing what is happening behind the scenes.
What are we to make of references to giving food to dogs? Was Jesus calling the woman and her kind dogs? Surely not! Yet the implication is there in the text. Scholars try to get around the issue by examining the words - and maybe 'dogs' should be translated 'puppies'. A little better perhaps, but the woman and her kind are still nowhere near being members of the family, and equality with the people of Israel is a long way off.
Such words would have been enough to dent the confidence of most, but not this feisty and desperate woman.
She pleads for a crumb - that will be enough. Jesus gives it to her. Her daughter is healed.
Other readings:
Prov 22:1-2,8-9, 22-23
James 2:1-10
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)