Readings

Isaiah 64:1-9

Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19

1 Corinthians 1:3-9

Mark 13:24-37

Devotion

Peace be with you!

There is a certain level of anxiety that comes with waiting. Will my new son or daughter be born healthy? Will my husband or my wife make it through surgery? Will the builder make the deadline, or will the bank have to re-evaluate my construction loan? Will my son or daughter ever be healthy enough to escape the intensive care unit? Will my friend wake up from his/her coma? Will I achieve my life long dream – [whatever “it” is]? Will the government approve my request for public assistance? Or will [whatever “it” is] ever happen? It could be as simple as waiting for a friend to show up and as intense as waiting for a jury’s verdict.

The not knowing what will happen causes us to have anxiety, because we are so use to knowing what is to come. The day I defended my MA thesis was nerve racking for me. I had to defend my work in front of two professors who I respected whole hearty and felt unworthy to present before. After my defense, I was asked to leave the room for ten minutes while my thesis advisors deliberated. I remember driving my electric wheelchair in a figure eight in front of the library doors and having a friend come out to calm my nerves. After two years of studies and a year of writing, my fate was left up to those two professors. Although I was asked to reword a few topics, I was grated the pass to graduation. While I was relieved I got a pass, the ten minutes of waiting were nerve wracking, which has really never left me, especially now as I attempt to prove myself as a New Testament scholar.

Waiting is one of the hardest things to do, especially when you do not know what is going to happen or what the outcome will be. Sure, you may have an idea of what is going to happen and have an ideal outcome.

So here we are with Prophet Isaiah speaking to the Lord about forgiving the Israelites. By doing so, Prophet Isaiah reminds the Lord that we are his clay to scalp into his image (Isaiah 64:8). We are all children of God (Isaiah 64:9) as Prophet Isaiah reminds the Lord as well as the Israelites and us. God forms us in his own image.

Prophet Isaiah is reminding God of his ways and reminding us of how we are to live in order to honor God. We are being reminded of our relationship with God the Father and his love for us. We are created in his likeness, and we are his people – all his people.

Prophet Isaiah also has news of the Lord coming to meet Israelites (and us) in the world. We need to be alert and be prepared for his arrival by following the Ten Commandments and honor his ways. Each individual honors the Lord in different ways. One person maybe honor God by being a pastor, while another person may honor God by being a nurse, a newspaper seller, a politician, or [whatever “it” is] you do to bring the good news to others. When we live out our calling(s), we bring honor to the Lord.

While the Israelites were waiting for the first coming of the Lord, we, as Christians, are waiting for Jesus Christ to come again. The Advent season helps us to remember the promise of Jesus’ return to judge the living and the dead. The season of waiting is where we come to appreciate the Jews’ anticipation of the coming of the Lord and what it was like not to understand how the Lord was going to fulfill his promise. As Christians, (in my opinion at least) it is easy for us to skip a few and end up at Jesus’ crucifixion, death, and resurrection that we miss the anticipation in not knowing. Or do we experience anticipation of our own?

In Mark 13:24-37, we read about Jesus’ second coming. Jesus is talking in parables to his disciples in this section. Just a few verses before this parable Jesus warns the disciples about false messiahs who will “come in the Lord’s name” (Mark 13:22-24). But here Jesus is stressing the importance of keeping and being alert, because he will be back (Mark 13:33, 35, 36). Jesus is saying I maybe leaving for now, but I’ll be back as Arnold Schwarzenegger would say. We cannot forget what Jesus did for us on the cross, because he keeps on doing it and will have the final say.

Although we may know how the Christmas story, we do not know when, how, where, why, etc Jesus’ second coming. As the Jews had anticipation as to when, how, where, why, etc the Messiah was going to come, we, as Christians, have the same anticipation of Jesus’ second coming.

As I reflect on Jesus’ second coming, I cannot help to ask the when, how, where, why, etc questions. Are we almost to the end? Will I go to heaven? Have I made the Lord glad in my answer to his calling? I invite you to experience the anticipation the Jews/Israelites felt when they were waiting for the coming Messiah.

Another way to look at it is to forget the ending of the story for a moment and dwell on what it would be like to experience the wonderment of not knowing the when, how, where, why, etc answers. Try to hear the Christmas story for the first time. Walk with Mary and Elizabeth as they carry their sons. Feel their amazement, fear, joy, love, and anticipation as they begin the story that would change our lives forever.

Come, O Lord, come.

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for the opportunity to join in the anticipation of waiting for Jesus to come again. Help us to forget the ending of the Christmas story in order to feel Mary’s and Elizabeth’s raw emotion as the impossible happens. Thank you for inviting us to experience the Christmas story. Amen.

Works Cited

Thanks to the Triune God – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Reflective Questions

Please answer the following reflective questions in the comments below.  Please agree to disagree and be respectful to each other. (If you have not already done so, please also take a moment, to sign the comment covenant.)  You can answer as many questions as you would like. 

1. How do you honor God?

2. How are you going to relive the Christmas story?

3. Where are do you feel God is calling you?

Readings

1 Kings 17:8-16

Psalm 146

Hebrews 9:24-28

Mark 12:38-44

Devotion

Peace be with you!

The impoverished widow puts her last two coins in the offering plate, and Jesus says she has contributed more than all the rest (Mark 12:42-43). The widow had practically nothing to her name, yet she put in all she had. Meanwhile, the scribes dress in the best robes and want to be greeted in the marketplace and at banquets with honor. They really believe that it’s “all about them.” The scribes are the ones who are given authority over the Jewish laws. The scribes are supposed to live humbly among God’s people, yet they live “high on the hog” instead. The scribes are supposed to tend to the needs of the poor and needy, yet they fill their wardrobes with most elegant clothes.

Jesus is appalled by the scribes’ lack of caring for God’s people. He laments over the fact that the poor widow feels the need to give all she has to the treasury, yet no one tends to her needs as a child of God. The poor widow has nothing, yet she tends to the needs of others. Something is wrong with this picture, according to Jesus.

As God’s people, we are called to tend to the needs of the poor, people with disabilities, and others who need help. It is not enough to just read God’s Word and pray. God wants us to live in community with each other and take of each other, especially those who are less fortunate than ourselves. God entrusts us with resources not so much for our own pleasure, but to enable us to take care of one another.

Thanks be to God!

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for entrusting us with the responsibility to care for one another. Help us not to be like the scribes, but rather to be caring to one another. Give us a loving heart to show compassion to individuals who are poor, disabled, elderly, and less fortunate. Thank you for giving us a community to live in as your people. Amen.

Works Cited

Thanks to the Triune God – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Reflective Questions

Please answer the following reflective questions in the comments below.  Please agree to disagree and be respectful to each other. (If you have not already done so, please also take a moment, to sign the comment covenant.)  You can answer as many questions as you would like. 

1. Who are the scribes in today’s world?

2. Who is the poor widow in today’s world?

Readings

Deuteronomy 6:1-9

Psalm 119:1-8

Hebrews 9:11-14

Mark 12:28-34

Devotion

Peace be with you!

The world Jesus lived in and the world we live in are not much different. The world was and still is a hostile place – Satan still lives among us. As the Pharisees and the scribes plot to have Jesus arrested and killed, Jesus is in the temple in Jerusalem when a scribe asks him what the greatest commandment is (Mark 12:28c). As Jesus faces the upcoming ordeal of the cross, the question allows him one last chance to teach the masses.

The scribe’s question comes out of sincerity; even though most of the scribes aligned themselves with the Pharisees, some of them were open to Jesus’ message. If Jesus is the Messiah (or even just a great teacher, as far as the scribe knows), then he should know which of the commandments is the greatest. The scribe wants to know what God really wants from his children. The scribe is asking, “What is at God’s heart?” (Mark 12:28c).

The answer is simple: love your God with your whole being – heart, understanding, soul and strength (Mark 12:29-30; Deuteronomy 6:4-5). This is the positive side of the first commandment: you shall have no other gods. Our God is the one above all of the other gods. No other god can love us more than our God. He deserves the wholeness of our love.

How do we express our love to God? Jesus gives us a second commandment: love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:31; Leviticus 19:18). God shows us love through others’ actions, and we show others God’s love through our actions. Micah 6:6 says that God wants justice, kindness, and humility to be how we live out our lives and express his love to others.

As you look at the devastation Hurricane Sandy left in the northeast, I invite you to think of ways to show God’s love to those trying to rebuild their lives. Will you donate to Red Cross? Will you help with the clean-up? Will you send teddy bears to the children who lost their homes and toys in the storm? Will you make meals for those who now have nothing? Will you make families without a bed a quilt? Will you shovel your elderly neighbor’s snowed-in driveway? Will you drive a person in a wheelchair to safety? Hurricane Sandy is having a great effect on the northeastern part of United States. What a great excuse for us to love God by loving others.

Thanks be to God!

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for loving us by sending Jesus Christ to die for our sins. Help us to show others your love through our actions of justice, kindness, and humility. Remind of your love through the actions of others. Thank you for allowing us to show others your love. Amen.

Works Cited

Thanks to the Triune God – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Reflective Questions

Please answer the following reflective questions in the comments below.  Please agree to disagree and be respectful to each other. (If you have not already done so, please also take a moment, to sign the comment covenant.)  You can answer as many questions as you would like. 

1. What is at God’s heart? What does God want from us?

2. How will you love God by loving those affected by Hurricane Sandy?

Readings

Jeremiah 31:7-9

Psalm 126

Hebrews 7:23-28

Mark 10:46-52

Devotion

Peace be with you!

Jesus is leaving Jericho for Jerusalem with his disciples, surrounded by a crowd. As he goes on his way, a blind man yells out to Jesus, begging for healing. The crowd gathered around Jesus attempts to silence him (Mark 10:46-47, 52). With a sense of urgency, the blind man yells out again, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me” (Mark 10:47b, 48b; NRSV).

How many times do we hush others when something more important – in our eyes – is going on? Maybe we just want the individual to wait for a more appropriate time. Parents will ask their children to be quiet when an adult is talking. The crowd senses Jesus is on an important mission as he leaves Jericho for Jerusalem. After Jesus’ three predictions of his crucifixion, the readers understand Jesus is heading to the cross to bring about the forgiveness of our sins. The needs of the blind man seem small in comparison. How often have you felt that your prayer concerns were so small in comparison with the needs of the world? How many times do you stop yourself from asking Jesus Christ for [whatever “it” is] that would make your life easier?

However, perhaps the blind man understands that this is his last chance to be healed by Jesus. He calls out to Jesus, desperate for his mercy and healing. Jesus stops and calls the blind man over to ask what he wants (Mark 10:49a, 51a). The blind man springs forward asking Jesus to allow him to see again (Mark 10:50, 51b). Jesus knows something the crowd does not know: the blind man will become a follower of Jesus and will become one of his disciples (Mark 10:52b).

Jesus answers the blind man’s request by simply saying, “Go; your faith had made you well.” (Mark 10:52a; NRSV). Upon regaining his sight, the man follows Jesus to Jerusalem (Mark 10:52b) where Jesus will die on the cross for our sins.

Jesus knows he is not just healing a blind man; he is calling a man to become one of his disciples. What seems like something minor to us can be something huge to the Triune God – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. By healing the blind man, Jesus is bringing the man into the light and giving him the blessing of eternal life. The blind man knows what it is like to live in the darkness; he understands the dangers of the darkness; he knows the feeling of being alone.

When the blind man seeks the healing, he is not only asking for his sight back, but he is asking to live in the light in community with Jesus’ disciples. The blind man wants a relationship with God. Nothing is more important than bringing an individual into the light to be in a relationship with the Triune God and in community with other followers of Jesus Christ.

Thanks be to God!

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for stopping to tend to the needs of the blind man, even as you were heading to the cross. Help us to ask for [whatever “it” is] that burns on our hearts and holds us back from sharing the good news. Remind us that no prayer request is too small or too insignificant for you to answer.  Thank you for healing us of [whatever “it” is] that holds us back, so we can continue to share the good news. Amen.

Works Cited

Thanks to the Triune God – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Reflective Questions

Please answer the following reflective questions in the comments below.  Please agree to disagree and be respectful to each other. (If you have not already done so, please also take a moment, to sign the comment.)  You can answer as many questions as you would like. 

1. What are the things you have trouble bringing to Jesus in prayer, worried that they are too insignificant? How could [whatever “it” is] help you further Jesus’ good news?
2. How does Jesus continue to call you to share the good news?

Readings

Isaiah 53:4-12

Psalm 91:9-16

Hebrews 5:1-10

Mark 10:35-45

Devotion

Peace be with you!

I do not deserve Jesus’ forgiveness through his grace. I hated my mom as a teenager. I have lied to friends and family. I am divorced. I do not keep the Ten Commandments – let alone all of the laws of the Torah. I am a sinner.

Jesus comes into our lives and becomes the ransom for our sins. Jesus enters the world as both God and a sinless human being; he is perfect. He is above the law because he is sinless, and yet he associates with sinners and outsiders, not with the elite. How many times have you walked away from a situation or a person because you felt above them? I do it all the time, and when I catch myself doing it I stop myself and try to understand the situation or person. I have a colorful set of friends from all different walks of life. I have friends with tattoos all over their bodies to friends who are pastors. Jesus hung out with all sort of people from all different walks of life. He knew these folks are not as burdened with pride, but are much more humbly aware that they need a Savior.

Jesus immersed himself in communities where the “righteous” religious people refused to go. Not only that but Jesus took on the sins of the world – past, present, and future – and made them his own. Luther says in his Commentary on Galatians 3:13, “And all the prophets saw this, that Christ was to become the greatest thief, murderer, adulterer, robber, desecrator, blasphemer, etc., there has ever been anywhere in the world. Now He is not the Son of God, born of the Virgin.  But He is sinner, who has and bears the sin of Paul, the former blasphemer, persecutor, and assaulter; of Peter, who denied Christ; of David, who was an adulterer and a murderer, and who caused the Gentiles to blaspheme the name of the Lord (Rom. 2:24). In short, He has and bears all the sins of all men in His body—not in the sense that He has committed them but in the sense that He took these sins, committed by us, upon His own body, in order to make satisfaction for them with His own blood.”

Jesus fulfills the law and brings forgiveness and grace into the world. According to the law, we should do righteous works and earn our own way into heaven, which we fail to do on a daily basis. Jesus takes on our sins and takes them to the cross so that can become the righteousness of God in him (Mark 10:45).

Jesus takes on our sins as if they are his own and pays the ultimate price. Jesus takes the sins of the world – past, present, and future – and pays the ransom. This salvation is nothing we could do on our own; only Jesus could accomplish our freedom from the penalty of sin.

Although I am a sinner, I am forgiven through Jesus Christ paying the ransom on the cross.

Thanks be to God!

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for sending Jesus to accept our sins as his own and to meet us in our daily routines. Help us to live a life worthy of all you have done for us.  Thank you for loving us when we were “yet sinners” (Romans 5:8). Your love is unconditional. Amen.

Works Cited

Thanks to the Triune God – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Reflective Questions

Please answer the following reflective questions in the comments below.  Please agree to disagree and be respectful to each other. (If you have not already done so, please also take a moment, to sign the comment covenant.)  You can answer as many questions as you would like. 

1. The Great Exchange means that Jesus has taken all of your sin on himself and given you his righteousness in its place. How does the Great Exchange affect your daily life?

2. How does the freedom we have found in Christ call us to a new life?

Readings

Job 23:1-9, 16-17

Psalm 90:12-17

Hebrews 4:12-16

Mark 10:17-31

Devotion

Peace be with you!

I have more money than most individuals my age. When I was born, the nurse forgot to put the oxygen on when she placed me in the incubator. This disastrous mistake led caused me to develop Cerebral Palsy; consequently, my parents were able to get a settlement from the hospital. The blessing of having money is that I can do what I want. I can take trips around the country to visit friends and family. I can afford a second electric wheelchair that can break down and fit in most cars for when I travel. I can afford things most of my friends can only dream about buying – not that I am particularity proud of the fact. However, it is a responsibility to have money, because I am called to share my wealth with those that have little. So maybe I do not buy new clothes as I would like, and instead I use the money to help a friend buy food for her family. My abundance allows me to serve others in order to give them the knowledge, tools, and resources they need to be successful in the world.

A rich man approaches Jesus with a question: How does one enter the Kingdom of God? (Mark 10:17). Jesus begins by recalling the Ten Commandments: you shall not commit murder, adultery, steal, or lie and you shall honor your mother and your father (Mark 10:19). Anyone who grew up reading the Torah knew the Ten Commandments and was also able to obtain a higher education if their parents had money. The rich man had studied the Torah and kept the laws of the Torah (Mark 10:20). Any other teacher would commend the rich man for keeping the Law since his youth – but not Jesus. It is not enough to keep the Ten Commandments. Jesus says the rich man needs to sell all of his possessions and give the money to the poor (Mark 10:21). It is a harsh word for the rich man to hear, because he has many possessions that mean a lot to him. The rich man was keeping the bare minimum of the Law, but he was not fulfilling the larger challenge to use his resources to help those in need.

As humans, we accumulate a lot of things over our lifetime. We are always looking for something better — for ourselves. People stood in line for hours — or even days – when the new iPhone 5 was released. Men are always looking forward to buying a new car with more horsepower. Women like their clothes and jewelry. I have enough books for a small library. We like to surround ourselves with stuff.

Yet Jesus calls us to surrender all of our stuff in order to help the poor. He calls us to use our wealth to build community by helping those who do not have the essentials. Maybe instead of buying a new iPhone whenever Apple releases a new version, you could donate food to the food pantry every other time. The $199+ could feed a family of four for a week. There is a responsibility when you have money, because there is always someone who needs a hand.

Serving others do not mean we give out handouts to everyone who asks for help. Some people will always use the system and so giving wisely is important, but even those who might not have made the best decisions in life need help to become better individuals. We need to equip individuals with knowledge and tools to be productive in our society, so they can go out and serve others. As the Chinese Proverb says, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”

Last January, I went on a cruise where I met a mother with a son who could not verbally communicate. I basically handed the young boy my iPad and showed his mom and him my Proloquo2Go app, which allows an individual to program phrases and sentences to use when he is talking to others. The young boy was able to be involved in our conversation. The mother and I talked about how she could get her son an iPad with the Proloquo2Go app through insurance and other funding sources. I gave the mother knowledge to get her son the tools he needs to be successful in school and participate more in society. Jesus calls us to share our knowledge, tools, funding, and all of our other resources to help others to be successful. When we answer Jesus’ call, we put our trust in the Triune God who will take care of us in our time of need.

Thanks be to God!

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for giving us an abundance to share with others. Help us to put our trust in you as we go out and serve others. Remind us that wealth is a blessing and a responsibility to serve others.  Thank you for allowing us to serve others in order to make them successful in the world. Amen.

Works Cited

Thanks to the Triune God – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Reflective Questions

Please answer the following reflective questions in the comments below.  Please agree to disagree and be respectful to each other. (If you have not already done so, please also take a moment, to sign the comment covenant.)  You can answer as many questions as you would like. 

1. How much are you willing to give up? What are you not willing to give up? Why?

2. What do you trust God with? How?

3. How do you serve God? How do you serve others?

Readings

Genesis 2:18-24

Psalm 8

Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12

Mark 10:2-16

Devotion

Peace be with you!

This passage cuts a bit close to home. I was eleven when my parents separated and eventually got divorced. I am not quick to share about this time in my life and few people know about it, unless they knew me then.  Flash forward two decades and after six years of being in a relationship with a man I called my husband I find myself having to end my marriage after much careful prayer and discernment.

Divorce. A few centuries ago hardly anyone knew anyone who was divorced. It just was not something done. Mark 10:2-16 was probably read with a nod. Individuals who were divorced got looked down upon. Today is another story. I envy my few friends with parents who are still together and I admire the couples who are able to weather the storms throughout the years together. I remember my mom squirming in the pew when my pastor preached on this text a few years after my parent’s divorce. I did not completely understand why my mom eventually walked out during the sermon. Now I do.

Jesus has some harsh words regarding the topic of divorce. Any man or woman commits adultery when he/she divorces his/her spouse for another (Mark 10:11-12). It is not an easy statement to swallow. Yet I invite you to think about what Jesus is saying. To me, Jesus is saying, “Do not divorce your spouse just because you are having a rough time. Marriage is a relationship between two people who are committed to each other.” I think of how the Gazettes have reports on the shortest marriages. Most of us have heard the jokes regarding Britney and Jason’s fifty-five hour marriage. Marriage is not taken very seriously in our culture today. Jesus’ stern tone reminds us that marriage is a serious relationship between two people and is not meant to be entered into unless the two individuals are committed in making the marriage last the long haul.

I also believe Jesus does not want individuals with an abusive spouse or a cheating spouse to be in an unhealthy marriage – a relationship God intends to be holy. God wants his children to experience the unconditional love that he has for all of us. Marriage is a holy relationship that two individuals enter into by committing themselves to the other person. When one spouse repeatedly breaks the relationship with harmful words and actions, the marriage becomes harmful to other spouse. I do not think God intends an individual to stay in a marriage where it is harmful to them.

Even with Jesus’ harsh words regarding divorce, I also hear his words of grace. The Kingdom of God belongs to the little children (Mark 10:14-15) who are innocent and love with their whole hearts. Although I am divorced, I love as a little child; I am forgiven; I am still invited to enter the Kingdom of God.

Thanks be to God!

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for making marriages holy with your love. Help us to enter into marriage with another individual who will love us unconditionally and help us to love our spouses with unconditional love as well. Give individuals in marriages that are broken the courage to do what is best for both parties. Give your love to the couples struggling to make it through the storms.  Thank you for inviting us to enter the Kingdom of God, even in the midst of our brokenness. Amen.

Works Cited

Thanks to the Triune God – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Reflective Questions

Please answer the following reflective questions in the comments below.  Please agree to disagree and be respectful to each other. (If you have not already done so, please also take a moment, to sign the comment covenant.)  You can answer as many questions as you would like. 

1. Where is God in the midst of a troubled marriage?

2. How do you know if a marriage is irreparably broken?  How do you know when you should keep trying?  How does this passage inform your view?

Readings

Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-20

Psalm 124

James 5:13-20

Mark 9:38-50

Devotion

Peace be with you!

There is something annoying about the street corner preachers who hold a Bible in one hand and shout verses to passersby. Don’t get me wrong: the street corner preachers are not all bad. Their goal is to bring non-believers to know Jesus Christ, the Son of God. But I find myself wondering if their approach will actually achieve the desired response. They often come across as judgmental and disinterested in actually knowing and loving the people to whom they preach.

The disciples have witnessed another man, who is not a follower of Jesus, perform an exorcism in Jesus’ name. The disciples are outraged that a man who does not believe would use Jesus’ name. How could he be so vain to use another’s man name to appear more powerful? You cannot just use Jesus’ name superstitiously to perform miracles! Before I go on, I should tell you there were other exorcists, healers, and miracle workers during this time in history. Jesus was not unique in doing exorcisms, healings, and other miracles, but he did these things on behalf of God the Father. When Jesus sends his disciples out, they perform exorcisms, healings, and other miracles in Jesus’ name for God the Father. So when the disciples see another man perform an exorcism in Jesus’ name, they are disturbed.

The disciples tell Jesus about the man performing the exorcism in his name and how they tried to stop him (Mark 9:38). You would think Jesus would thank his disciples for attempting to stop the man. Jesus has warned his disciples about false prophets.

How many times have you said or thought, “That is not how we do it”? You call a new pastor, and she wants try a new coffee or a different worship schedule. I am guilty of analyzing sermons I hear in church, especially if I go to a different Christian denomination. The other week I went to a Bible church where the pastor attempted to give a sermon on building walls to keep the Devil out based on the book of Nehemiah. Unfortunately, the way the sermon came across resulted in miscommunication. The pastor seemed to be suggesting that I should build relational walls in my life to keep Satan out of our lives, which is all fine and dandy until we build walls to keep people who follow him out of our lives, and therefore we prevent the spread of the good news. I believe building walls is a more of a sinful motivation (blocking God’s love and good news from others) rather than building up relationships in love. Needless to say, it is a sermon I am still arguing with. “I wouldn’t preach a sermon that way!” I proclaim to myself.

Jesus has an unique insight. Even if the man does not intend to lead people to know him, Jesus knows other people will wonder who Jesus is and will come to know him. Just his name will lead people to him.  In the sermon I heard, maybe it was just the thing someone else needed to hear that day.  Maybe God used it in a way I couldn’t anticipate.

As Christians, we fall into the trap of thinking our way is the right way. If others do not believe the same way we do, we want to bring them to know and love Jesus the way we do. We get so caught up in our own traditions and ways of thinking that we forget other faith traditions have their own important aspects to their followers, and Jesus came for them as well. Jesus is warning his disciples to not get stuck in one way of thinking. When we do, we keep the good news from spreading, because we close our hearts to other people. Our narrow ways of thinking become our stumbling blocks. Jesus calls us to keep our hearts open in order to spread the good news. This does not mean we have to accept every idea or religion that comes along, but it does mean that we should never demonize those who believe differently, but we should love and befriend them. For those who are not yet believers in Jesus, God may open up an opportunity to talk with them about faith. But if we approach them with a megaphone and judgment, why would they want to listen to us? In Jesus Christ, we have been given love for those who are different from us. Through the Holy Spirit, we are empowered to live out that love!

Thanks be to God!

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for keeping helping us to keep an open mind in order to spread the good news. Help us to get out of our narrow ways of thinking so we can allow the good news to flow through us. Remind us the good news is for all, not just those who think and believe and look like us.  Thank you for setting our hearts free from being so judgmental so that we can be freed to spread the good news. Amen.

Works Cited

Thanks to the Triune God – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Reflective Questions

Please answer the following reflective questions in the comments below.  Please agree to disagree and be respectful to each other. (If you have not already done so, please also take a moment, to sign the comment covenant.)  You can answer as many questions as you would like. 

1. Can God work through others involved in different faith traditions?

2. Who can use Jesus’ name? When can they use his name?

Readings

Proverbs 31:10-31

Psalm 54

James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a

Mark 9:30-37

Devotion

Peace be with you!

During my orientation week at Luther Seminary, I remember one professor saying that the more knowledge you obtained, the more questions you would have, like when a hot air balloon fills up with air the larger the surface area it has. It seems funny – you should have more answers with more knowledge. After three years of seminary and two years of writing devotions, I can honestly say I have more questions now than before. As students, we learn to side-step our questions and keep them internalized for a simple reason: we want to graduate. We want to appear scholarly, like our professors. We forget that some scholar before us probably asked (and answered) a similar question. Of course, his or her answered question probably just led them to yet another question!

Jesus’ proclamation that the Son of Man will be betrayed into human hands to be killed and that he would rise (Mark 9:31) leaves the disciples dumbstruck. What does Jesus mean he says he will be betrayed? Who will betray Jesus? Is it one of the other disciples…or is it me? Why would anyone betray Jesus? How could anyone betray Jesus? To whom would anyone betray Jesus to? The disciples were afraid to ask Jesus these questions. What would Jesus think?  Would he mock them for not understanding?

There are questions we as Christians struggle with and internalize too for fear of not knowing the right answer. When is a child ready to take communion? Should infants be baptized? What do we do when Bible passages contradict other passages, like the Gospels and Paul – the role of women in the church? Do the elements of communion – the bread and the wine – have to be blessed by an ordained pastor or can I bless the elements before a meal? Instead of facing the important questions – the ones presenting difficult solutions, the disciples turn their attention to a somewhat more comfortable question: Which disciple was the greatest (Mark 9:34)? They turn their attention away from Jesus and his impending death to who is the greatest among them and who is going to lead them. If Jesus is going to die, who is going to lead us? Who will be Jesus’ successor?

Jesus overhears the disciples’ spat among themselves and asks them what they are arguing about. Of course, the disciples fall quiet as if they know a lecture is coming. It is like when my mom yells from another room, “What are you and brother arguing about?” We both fall quiet because if we told her about our little argument, Mom would be annoyed. The disciples know that if they told Jesus they were arguing about who is the greatest among them that he would be annoyed. However, Jesus uses the opportunity as a teaching moment.

The question is not who is the greatest; rather, the question is who wants to serve. The first will be last and the last first (Mark 9:35). No one person is more important than the next one. A child is just as important as adult. Children and adults each have roles in the community. Adults teach children everything that they know while children take the knowledge and use it to better the world. We should serve each other and live as a community. It is the community that is the greatest, not any individual. Greatness comes not through elevating ourselves but through lowering ourselves to serve one another. And that is just what Jesus has done for us!

Have more questions? Let them keep you in God’s Word. There is always more to learn. As we learn, we can lower ourselves in humility before Jesus.

Thanks be to God!

Dear Heavenly Father, We give thanks that Jesus was honest with us, even if we do not always understand what he means. Help us to ask the difficult questions within our families, congregations, and communities.  Thank you for being patient with us as attempt to understand what you calling us to do. Thank you that there is always more to discover and learn in your kingdom. Amen.

Works Cited

Thanks to the Triune God – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Reflective Questions

Please answer the following reflective questions in the comments below.  Please agree to disagree and be respectful to each other. (If you have not already done so, please also take a moment, to sign the comment covenant.)  You can answer as many questions as you would like. 

1. What questions are you afraid to ask? Why?

2. Where and how do you serve others?

Readings

Isaiah 50:4-9a

Psalm 19

James 3:1-12

Mark 8:27-38

Devotion

Peace be with you!

What kind of reputation do you have? Your reputation might be something silly or something serious. I have a reputation for crashing into things. I do not know why. My house only has two walls and a door with holes in them, and yet I have crashed into and moved couches, tables, and chairs in my electric wheelchair. (I cannot help it that the tables and chairs were in my way!) And do not listen to my seminary friends, who will claim I drove straight into a giant red planter coming out of Greek class one day! Ok, maybe it is true. Maybe I deserve my nickname, “Crash,” after rolling my brother’s go-kart, but I do not always crash into things – only when I am tired or upset.

The passage in Mark for this week deals with Jesus’ reputation. Jesus has been with his disciples a few years, and he knows people are talking about him. Jesus asks his disciples what his reputation is among the people (Mark 8:27). The disciples say people think he is John the Baptist, Elijah, or a prophet (Mark 8:28). These answers are not so out of line. Jesus and John the Baptist both have the same message or the same good news. The Old Testament says Elijah will appear on the last day. People can tell that Jesus, like the prophets, is called by the Lord. There is some logic to his reputation.

Then Jesus asks, “But who do you say I am?” Peter answers him, “You are the Messiah’” (Mark 8:29, NRSV). You would think Jesus would be overjoyed to be recognized as the Messiah. However, “Messiah” means two different things to Peter and Jesus. To Peter, the Messiah will purify the world of sins, make Israel the world’s superpower, and bring peace and hope into the world using military power. By calling Jesus the Messiah, Peter is telling Jesus he has big expectations for him.

Jesus rebukes Peter because of his worldly expectations. Peter has half of the story right, but misses the central point of what the Messiah is all about. Jesus will purify the world through his crucifixion, death, and resurrection, not by condemning the unclean. Jesus will make Israel the world’s superpower by extending a relationship with God the Father to everyone in the world, not by separating out the Israelites as God’s chosen people. Jesus will bring peace and hope into the world by giving those who come to believe in the Triune God forgiveness and grace, not by waging war against the Romans.

Yet Jesus goes on to explain that we must follow Jesus to the cross. We must die with Jesus daily by confessing our sins and denying ourselves of our old ways. We have to turn our backs on Satan to follow Jesus to the cross of forgiveness. We must lose ourselves in order to find new life. The glory is hidden beneath the cross.

I may have the reputation of crashing into things, but I also have a reputation as a true Christian. I pray daily, confessing my sins and thanking God for the many blessings he bestows on me. I welcome everyone I meet to hear the good news of Jesus Christ. Now I am not saying I am a perfect Christian. I fall every day, but I confess my sins and die and rise with Jesus daily.

Thanks be to God!

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for allowing us to follow you to the cross. Help us to turn away from our old ways and follow you.  Thank you for inviting us into a relationship with you. Amen.

Works Cited

Thanks to the Triune God – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Reflective Questions

Please answer the following reflective questions in the comments below.  Please agree to disagree and be respectful to each other. (If you have not already done so, please also take a moment, to sign the comment covenant.)  You can answer as many questions as you would like. 

1. What is Jesus’ reputation today?

2. Who do you say Jesus is?

3. How do you follow Jesus to the cross?