In the second half of Mark’s Gospel, we are introduced to a new situation. Jesus faces rejection. The first half he was questioned, but now his message is rejected and people turn their backs on Jesus. The rich man receives the answer to his deepest question, but walks away. The scribe answers correctly and is not far from the kingdom of God (Mark 12:34). Yet they did not dare go any further.
I try to put myself in the position of the rich man and scribe. What would make me reject Jesus and the promise of eternal life? I guess there are several reasons. One could be that I would want to keep my options open. You never can tell when something better will come along. Another reason maybe I think there is plenty of time and I do not have to commit now. Yet the story line of Mark is taking Jesus to Jerusalem and he never returns to these men.
I am sure there are other reasons we could list why would a person in general or these men in particular reject Jesus. But it comes down to my own personal experience. Do I reject Jesus? When he asks me to give something or do something, do I just turn and walk away? When he challenges my opinions about the Bible or my way of living, do I shut my mouth and hope that there is not another mention of the problem? And, taking it further, how do I respond when I am rejected for following Jesus?
Rejection of the gracious gift of eternal life in Christ happens. Our call is to be faithful in sharing the good news of Jesus’ love. Rarely can we argue someone into the Kingdom of God. It is not just us having to give the correct answer. It is a spiritual problem. The Spirit of God is the one that must call the person to Christ. When rejections come, they first are rejecting the Spirit before they reject us. That is why we must be faithful in well doing.
Pastor Greg
Feb 16
Jesus Faces Rejection Too
Feb 08
Coming with Power
And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. Who is it who conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 John 5:4-5
The power of the Kingdom of God (cf. Mark 9:1) has sadly been misinterpreted by so many. Our sensibilities today try to avoid militaristic images in our faith or terms that invoke a use of forceful coercion. This has hampered us as we apply justice, righteousness, and compassion in the affairs of human society.
There is a struggle between the world and our faith. There is a way of living that leads to victory. Our faith provides that victory. But how does it do that?
In this Sunday’s text (Mark 8:27-9:8), the apostles finally acknowledge who Jesus is, he’s the Messiah. And immediately he calls the crowds to himself and tells them that if they want to follow him, they must take up their cross. The cross was the most shameful way in the Roman world. This means the way of no pride, no self-interest, and only yielding to your situation.
One commentator on Mark says the message is “Our leader was crucified, come and join us?” The faith that overcomes follows Jesus as he was fully submitted to the will of God, he died and unjust death, but God demonstrated that Jesus was accepted when he raised him from the dead, declaring that he is the Son of God (cf. Rom 1:4). As we are fully submitted to the will of God, the righteousness of God that comes through the faith of Jesus, we are confident that we too will be declared to be God’s own in the resurrection. That is our faith that God will justify the one who has the faith of Jesus dwelling in them. We overcome not by political power, but by humbly following the way of the cross, the way of the faith of Jesus.
Pastor Greg
Feb 01
Kingdom Time and Our Problems
How long, O Lord? -Psalm 13:1
The Psalmist in Psalm 13, repeatedly cries out, “How long…?” Our patience and God’s time rarely coincide. When it comes to personal tragedy, time is always at a premium.
In Mark’s Gospel time is noted for us in times of tragedy or trial. This keeps with the urgency of the gospel message, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news. (1:15)” Then we are thrown into a flurry of activity when time seems so urgent. A great example of that is in this week’s text, Mark 5:21-43. We see two situations. A very prominent leader in the religious community who has a daughter dying at home, and a woman who has an affliction now for 12 years.
We can hear the urgency in the pleading of Jarius for Jesus to come and lay his hands on his precious daughter before it is too late. We hear the frustration of the woman that for 12 years has suffered, and it has cost her everything. We can see Jarius walking ahead of Jesus, trying to move the crowds to get Jesus there faster. We can hear the conversation of the woman with herself as she jostles and tries to get closer to Jesus.
I am sure both of them are praying, “how long, O Lord?” Then when Jesus stops precious moments are slipping away for Jarius, couldn’t the woman had waited 15 more minutes. This gives us the perspective of what I call, Kingdom Time. The urgency of the Kingdom message was not just for Jarius when his little daughter is slipping toward death, it also includes the woman’s wait for 12 years to be delivered from her affliction.
What brought these two times together? Jesus was there. He was delaying his arrival, nor was he in a hurry to move on. He was there to bring Kingdom nearness to the lives of these two people. One had the attitude of this must happen “Now!” The other had the attitude of “now” I can touch him! If we discern the nature of our “now” or “how long”, we can be ready to allow the presence of Jesus and his power to come in and touch our personally tragedy.
Pastor Greg
Jan 18
Spiritual Attention
Mark 4:1-20
We often make our spiritual lives more complicated than they need to be. It goes back to the time where the sisters Mary and Martha were hosting Jesus in their home. Martha was in a flurry and bothered by all that needed to be done, but Mary was at the feet of Jesus listening to his teaching. The passage of the seed and the soils brings our attention to this.
Jesus tells us “The one that has ears to hear, then hear.” For me that calls me to where am I giving my attention. We allow so much to distract us from just hearing what Jesus has to say. But when his words some puzzling, Jesus comes to the disciples and explains it to us. Jesus does not want us to miss the secrets of the life he wants to live in us. He says, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God.” And that understanding is for those who use their ears to hear his words and pay attention to what he is teaching us.
Listening to what the Spirit is saying is always the key to our spiritual prospering.
Pastor Greg
