Mark 11: 11-14 New Living Translation 11 So Jesus came to Jerusalem and went into the Temple. After looking around carefully at everything, he left because it was late in the afternoon. Then he returned to Bethany with the twelve disciples. 12 The next morning as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 He noticed a fig tree in full leaf a little way off, so he went over to see if he could find any figs. But there were only leaves because it was too early in the season for fruit.14 Then Jesus said to the tree, “May no one ever eat your fruit again!” And the disciples heard him say it. Time Square in New York has always looked like such an amazing place on TV. The streets, the lights, all the signs and the amount of people we see gathered there for New Years Eve is staggering. But when I went there and seen it in person, I was a bit disappointed. What looked impressive on TV simply didn't look so much so in person.
When I read today's portion of scripture I thought, what did Jesus think this side of heaven of the Temple. It doesn't tell us anything about what He thought, it simply says, "Jesus came to Jerusalem and went into the Temple. After looking around carefully at everything, he left because it was late in the afternoon." The temple is essentially God's dwelling place and it has been God's intention to dwell with man since the beginning. God used to walk in the garden with Adam but because of sin, God now dwells in heaven while man dwells on earth. The Hebrews were instructed to build a tent where God would meet them, then Solomon Build a more permanent and glorious structure that we refer to as The Temple but in Christ we are made part of His Body which is the ultimate Temple of God until the day when God once again makes His home here with us. "I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them." Revelation 21:3 If Jesus were to take a walk inside of us what would He find? We may never know this side of heaven but we have some clue as to what dwells in us. We do need to remember that the reason we do or don't do things is just as important as what we say and do.
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Mark 11:7-11 New Living Translation 7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it, and he sat on it. 8 Many in the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others spread leafy branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting, “Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! 10 Blessings on the coming Kingdom of our ancestor David! Praise God in highest heaven!” 11 So Jesus came to Jerusalem and went into the Temple. After looking around carefully at everything, he left because it was late in the afternoon. Then he returned to Bethany with the twelve disciples. People get really excited about something or someone , the funny thing is that when that player or team, or whatever it is they have hoped in to win looses they turn on them with just as much passion as they followed them. In the end they followed them for what that expected not just for them. The people in Jesus day weren't any different. They wanted a messiah, they just wanted him on their terms. They where waiting for the one who would set them free and Jesus would but it would be from their bondage to sin, guilt and shame not from the struggle of this world, that would come at His second coming.
The people cried out, "Praise God!" which is what hosanna, a Hebrew word, would come to mean after time but in Jesus day the people where actually crying out, "Save us, we pray". The people also cried out, "Blessings on the coming Kingdom of our ancestor David! " They were looking for an outward salvation but Jesus came, "to serve and give His life as a ransom for many". So many people come to Jesus for help with addictions, health and/ or marriage problems but if we were truly to come to Jesus, we must come to Him for Him, or else it would be like putting a band-aid on a broken arm. Healing will come but in His time not ours. For us Jesus riding on donkey doesn't have much significance but the people in Jesus' day should have recognized that coming on a donkey was a mission of peace not war. Jesus will one day come riding on a white horse to rule with iron fist but His first coming was to peacefully conquer sin and death. Besides that, it was foretold hundreds of years earlier that messiah would come that way, "Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey— riding on a donkey’s colt." Zachariah 9:9 Let us humble ourselves and let Jesus rule as King not as we see fit but as He does. Mark 11:1-6 New Living Translation 11 As Jesus and his disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead. 2 “Go into that village over there,” he told them. “As soon as you enter it, you will see a young donkey tied there that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks, ‘What are you doing?’ just say, ‘The Lord needs it and will return it soon.’” 4 The two disciples left and found the colt standing in the street, tied outside the front door. 5 As they were untying it, some bystanders demanded, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 6 They said what Jesus had told them to say, and they were permitted to take it. 7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it, and he sat on it. We are now in the third and final part of Mark's Gospel where Jesus fulfills the purpose of His first coming which He declared just before this chapter, "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many." Mark 9:45 By this time, on three different occasions, Jesus told His disciples flat out that He would be handed over, die and be raised again but all three times the disciples allowed it to go in one ear and out the other.
The request He made today may have seemed odd but once again Jesus proved who He was because all that He said was as He said it would be; the young donkey tied up,the question they would ask even the authority with which He sends them all points to the fact that He indeed is, The Lord as He said. After reading today's passage to my wife Dalia I asked her what stood out to her and she pointed out something that I would not have thought of. She said what stood out to her was Jesus' request and that the people actually gave Him the donkey. She went on to say that it reminded her of the people of Israel who were told to ask for articles of silver and gold and for clothing. The Bible says, "The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold and for clothing. The Lord had made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and they gave them what they asked for; so they plundered the Egyptians." Exodus 12:35,36 Dalia then said that God must of had to move the hearts of those who owned the donkey so that they would give it up to a complete stranger. To live by faith means to act on what you believe to be true until your faith becomes sight or in other words until you see it. These two unnamed disciples acted by faith in what Jesus said and it turned out just as He said. We too need to move our feet in whatever direction Jesus points them and walk in the truth we know to be His. Mark 10:46-52 New Living Translation 46 Then they reached Jericho, and as Jesus and his disciples left town, a large crowd followed him. A blind beggar named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road. 47 When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 “Be quiet!” many of the people yelled at him. But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 When Jesus heard him, he stopped and said, “Tell him to come here.” So they called the blind man. “Cheer up,” they said. “Come on, he’s calling you!” 50 Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus. 51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked. “My Rabbi,” the blind man said, “I want to see!” 52 And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road. As a kid I missed out on so much because I was so shy. Better to keep my mouth shut than draw attention to myself was my train of thought. In today's Bible reading we meet Bartimaeus whose name literally meant Son of Timaeus. He is introduced to us as not only a blind beggar but also a son. This is important for us to hear because to often we read the Bible and do not allow the weight of what is being described to impact us. Mark doesn't just describe him as a blind beggar but a man's son. Someone cared about this man who couldn't care for himself and maybe at this point he was all alone in the world and was only seen as Timaeus' son.
Well as the son of Timaeus and a blind beggar he had nothing to loose. Knowing Jesus was there he begins to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" and even when people try and get him to shut up, "he only shouted louder". Jesus then asks something of him, "Tell him to come here." just imagine, no one must have ever ask him for anything and here is the Son of David , as he called Him, calling him to Himself. Bartimaeus believed that Jesus was the promised King of Israel by calling Jesus that. Not only did Jesus give him the dignity of coming to Him but he also asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus gave him his sight and the man responded by following Jesus.This shows us the man didn't just have a faith that was for the moment but one that followed after Jesus. His desire was not only for what Jesus could give him but for Jesus Himself. We should be often reminded that Jesus is not our comic genie but the Son of David and as such the Rightful Ruler and worthy of our praise. It is us that should be serving Him but we can know that He is a merciful King which provides for his subject as well. Mark 10: 32-45 New Living Translation 32 They were now on the way up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. The disciples were filled with awe, and the people following behind were overwhelmed with fear. Taking the twelve disciples aside, Jesus once more began to describe everything that was about to happen to him. 33 “Listen,” he said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die and hand him over to the Romans. 34 They will mock him, spit on him, flog him with a whip, and kill him, but after three days he will rise again.” 35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came over and spoke to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do us a favor.” 36 “What is your request?” he asked. 37 They replied, “When you sit on your glorious throne, we want to sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.” 38 But Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink? Are you able to be baptized with the baptism of suffering I must be baptized with?” 39 “Oh yes,” they replied, “we are able!” Then Jesus told them, “You will indeed drink from my bitter cup and be baptized with my baptism of suffering. 40 But I have no right to say who will sit on my right or my left. God has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen.” 41 When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant. 42 So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 43 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” It is said that revenge is a dish best served cold but on the flip side the love of God is best served by example. Jesus was a dynamite teacher, able to use anything masterfully as an illustration. Both the message and the messenger were authenticate by miracles which were performed through Him in the power of the Holy Spirit but the lessons of humility and true greatness would be demonstrated personally through His ministry and ultimately through His surrender and submission to the Father on the cross. Jesus proclaimed this as He declared His purpose for coming, "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many."
I love that Jesus told James and John, "But among you it will be different." Notice He didn't say, I hope it will be, He says confidently, "it will be". This is what Jesus expects and will bring about in His Church the Body of Christ. Those outside of the family of God will try and gain status in this world by any means possible, including serving others, but in the end they are exulting themselves and have no desire for God to be glorified but rather seek their own benefit. Seek to be the greatest but in God's way, follow Jesus' example. He led the way. Mark 10: 23-31 New Living Translation 23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!” 24 This amazed them. But Jesus said again, “Dear children, it is very hard to enter the Kingdom of God. 25 In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!” 26 The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked. 27 Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.” 28 Then Peter began to speak up. “We’ve given up everything to follow you,” he said. 29 “Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, 30 will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property--along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life. 31 But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.” Rockefeller was at one point the world's richest man and first ever American billionaire. Considering he was a billionaire in the early 1900's he is still considered as the richest person in modern history. When a reporter asked him, “How much money is enough?” He responded, “Just a little bit more.”
read more: starwinar.wordpress.com/daily-short-story/just-a-little-bit-more/ We may not be billionaires but we live in one of the richest countries of the world and by comparison the least of our citizens have far more than most people around the world. We would fall under the rich that Jesus talked about, so I consider myself blessed finding myself in Christ as I sit here writing today's devotional. According to Jesus, a rich person getting saved, "Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God." So I say, Thank you Jesus! , for coming after me. If it wasn't enough that God would seek us out, He also promises reward for those who refuse to hold on to their earthly riches including, "house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News" On this side of the Cross we have the blessing knowing this but just consider the disciples, in their day they just got up and left everything in order to follow Jesus. He didn't promise them reward. But who doesn't wonder at some point, after receiving Jesus as Savior, if leaving their routined life for a life that is uneasy doesn't look back from time to time. Thank God for His word which reminds us to keep our eyes on eternal things and not on what we can see. Powerful promises Jesus gave but take note of what what He said before the promise of eternal life..."will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property--along with persecution." Do not be alarmed when it comes your way. I love how James, the brother of Jesus put it, "Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing." James 1:2-4 Mark 10:17-22 New Living Translation 17 As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good.19 But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.’” 20 “Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.” 21 Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions. When I was a kid my family and I would to Mexico and visit family. I vividly remember drawing water from a well probably because it wasn't something I had to do in Chicago. We take for granted that we can just go to our kitchen or bathroom, turn a faucet and out comes clean water. In Mexico, at least wear my family is from, you had to dig your own well or walk to the town well if you wanted water. It's obvious if you want water your going to need an empty bucket to get it out of the well. But somehow we think we can come to Jesus with our hands full and expect to receive something.
The man in today's reading, "came running up to him, knelt down, and asked". It all sounds so humble but Jesus quickly gets to the heart of the man or in other words what he treasures most. The came up to Jesus and asked Him what he must do to inherit eternal life and Jesus, determined to show him his inability to keep the Law, told keep the commandments. Somehow in in all of us to try and do good thinking this will gain us points with God. Even as believers we tend to view the world this way and we prove it the moment something in our world goes wrong we either say it out loud or think it in our heart, why me I always serve you or something along that line. The Law is summed up in two, love God and love others. This man thought he had obeyed the second and Jesus proved him wrong when he told him, “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” In other words, empty your hands and I will fill them. The bible tells us, "The man's face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions. How many people today fill our pews with hands that are full expecting God to give them something. When will we learn the only way we can come to God and expect to receive anything form Him is with empty hands. Jesus indeed is good and loved this man enough to tell him the truth knowing he wouldn't receive it. We are called to share the good news regardless of the outcome. This man couldn't even receive the bad news, that we are all sinners in need of the Savior. It's no wonder he rejected the Good News, in his eyes his hands were already full. Mark 10:13-16 New Living Translation 13 One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him. 14 When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. 15 I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” 16 Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them. A lesson I once learned and will NEVER forget is that I have to make time for people no matter what. There was a day that a pastor of our local church and I were rushing down the stairs on a Sunday morning and A woman said, "Good morning" to him and he was in such a hurry, with good reason he was about to preach, that he didn't even hear her. As he was passing by she expressed her disappointment by saying, "If the pastor doesn't have time for his people we're in a really bad place." I will never forget those words. He did say good morning, apologized to her then went on to his pressing appointment. We all can get caught up and ignore the pleasant and needed interruptions that we get from time to time. They remind us that we don't live for activities, no matter how holy they are, but for people.
Jesus, just a chapter earlier, told his disciples, “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not only me but also my Father who sent me.” A lesson soon forgotten considering the disciples response to the parents bringing their children to Jesus so He could bless them, something that would have taken but a few minutes. Let us be alert to the opportunities God gives us to serve Him, they come in all shapes and sizes. Mark 10:1-12 New Living Translation 10 Then Jesus left Capernaum and went down to the region of Judea and into the area east of the Jordan River. Once again crowds gathered around him, and as usual he was teaching them. 2 Some Pharisees came and tried to trap him with this question: “Should a man be allowed to divorce his wife?” 3 Jesus answered them with a question: “What did Moses say in the law about divorce?” 4 “Well, he permitted it,” they replied. “He said a man can give his wife a written notice of divorce and send her away.” 5 But Jesus responded, “He wrote this commandment only as a concession to your hard hearts. 6 But ‘God made them male and female’ from the beginning of creation. 7 ‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, 8 and the two are united into one.’ Since they are no longer two but one, 9 let no one split apart what God has joined together.” 10 Later, when he was alone with his disciples in the house, they brought up the subject again. 11 He told them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery against her. 12 And if a woman divorces her husband and marries someone else, she commits adultery.” Whenever I here this song it sets my eyes in the right direction, toward our Lord Jesus Christ. You see marriage, since the beginning, was meant to be a picture of our covenant relationship with Jesus Christ. As the Church we are, among many names, called the Bride of Christ. Paul wrote to the Church of Ephesus concerning relationships and how we are to relate one to another, "As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband." Ephesians 5:31-33
You see Jesus loves us like He loves Himself, the question is do we respect Him? Do we honor Him with our thoughts, words and actions? Of course it's easier said than done but it's what we are called to and Jesus will NEVER divorce His bride which is why when married couple decide they will get a divorce, they corrupt the very picture that God intended to for us to see so clearly. Some of us need to be content until we figure out what an abundant life in Christ really means but until then can we just be broken together. Mark 9: 38-50 New Living Translation 38 John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he wasn’t in our group.” 39 “Don’t stop him!” Jesus said. “No one who performs a miracle in my name will soon be able to speak evil of me. 40 Anyone who is not against us is for us. 41 If anyone gives you even a cup of water because you belong to the Messiah, I tell you the truth, that person will surely be rewarded. 42 “But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone hung around your neck. 43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand than to go into the unquenchable fires of hell with two hands. 45 If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one foot than to be thrown into hell with two feet. 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out. It’s better to enter the Kingdom of God with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 ‘where the maggots never die and the fire never goes out.’ 49 “For everyone will be tested with fire. 50 Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? You must have the qualities of salt among yourselves and live in peace with each other.” We live in very selfish and divided generation. People think of what is best and beneficial for themselves. The saddest part is that this includes the Church. We set aside the unity we should have in our Lord Jesus Christ and rather than being light in a dark world we bite and devour one another even as we were warned in scripture. 13 For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. 14 For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”15 But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another. Galatians 5:13-15
As Jesus followers our aim is for God's best. As new babes in Christ we learn what is good and bad and try and do good but in time we learn what is better and ultimately best not just for us but for the whole Church, the Body of Christ. Jesus warned them to aim for the better because it's better to spend eternity with Him having denied yourself on earth rather than indulging yourself on earth and paying for it for eternity. Good Works will never save us but they will reveal who we really are. Jesus said,"You must have the qualities of salt among yourselves and live in peace with each other." Let us do just that. |
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