RTNT Mark 14

Reading through the New Testament in 2012 M-F   (Link to the Schedule) 

Mark 14:35-38   Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him "Abba, father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will." Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Simon," he said to Peter, "are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

We moved into the second house of my childhood when I was 6 years old.  As far back as I can ever remember in that house there hung a picture of Jesus praying in the garden of Gethsemane.  I don’t know where it came from, but it was a cross-section of a pine tree with the classic painting of Jesus praying in the garden by E. Goodman.on it.

That picture was a daily reminder of this incident in the life of Jesus recorded in Mark 14.  Two things have always stuck out for me in this story. The first is the characteristic surrender of Jesus as he faced the horrors of being forsaken by the Father for our sins, “If there is some other way . . . Nevertheless, not my will but yours be done.”  

The humanity of Jesus is so vivid in that moment and presents Him in such a way that the truthfulness of the scriptures is verified.  Had this been a fable of human origin Jesus would have never been presented in such a way. This honest, vulnerable moment of Jesus, deeply desiring to avoid the cross if possible is powerful, yet he still surrenders to it, if this is the Father’s plan.  The classic line comes to mind, “The needs of the many, outweigh the needs of the one.”   

Here, perhaps was a struggle even more difficult than the wilderness temptations of Satan to take the shortcut by surrendering to the prince of Darkness.  To avoid the cross would be paramount to giving in to the tempter.  Mel Gibson was quite accurate in the opening scenes of them Movie “The Passion” to show the serpent moving around throughout the time Jesus was praying.

To me this is the epitome of what it means to pray “in Jesus Name.”  To do anything in the name of someone else is to act as their representative with their authority, or in the same character as they would.  Jesus always subjected His will to that of the Father.  

That is the kind of pray-er I want to be.

The second thing that has always struck a responsive chord in me is the statement, “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  I have always wondered if Jesus was speaking about Himself and this is why He desired Peter and the others to stay awake while He prayed needing their prayer support, or if He was referring to their inability to stay awake.  Ultimately it doesn’t really matter, because the expression fits both well, and is a phrase expressing what  I, and no doubt all authentic followers of Jesus struggle with.  Our physical existence in the body at times comes into direct conflict with the desire to please God.  Whether it is the desire to escape discomfort and seek safety or the reality that we get tired and can’t stay awake, our body often causes us to struggle with doing the will of God.  This is similar, although not identical with the struggle Paul presents in Romans 7.  The best counsel Jesus can give the disciples and us is to pray through it.  

That’s the kind of pray-er I want to be. 

RTNT Mark 13

Reading through the New Testament in 2012 M-F (Link to the Schedule)

Mark 13:12-13   Brother will betray brother to death and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

This chapter is known to some as the little apocalypse because it is full of the type of language of the Book of Revelation and in some ways it is the heart of that end times message.  Jesus describes a tribulation time of horrific proportions to the point of extreme hatred and betrayal of Jesus followers.

There are some, when they view this topic, design systems of exemption for believers such as a secret rapture.  My point here is not to argue for or against such an idea, but to indicate that Jesus is specifying here that some will have to go through these horrific times that are His followers.  I understand the desire to create an escape from such a terrible time, but in reality many believers, even today face this kind of hatred and betrayal at the hands of their relatives and governments.

Over the years as I have read this passage I have always paused at the statement, “he who stands firm to the end will be saved.”  When I read these words it almost sends shivers up my spine because of the questions it causes me to ask. “Would I be able to stand firm under such circumstances?  Would I renounce my faith if faced with a gun to my head, or the head of my family?  And if I would capitulate would that mean I would not be saved, i.e. lose my salvation?  What does this mean?”  This could become a very anxiety provoking passage if we fail to take the entire message of the scriptures into account.  I often find there are balancing passages that help bring clarity to challenging sections like this.

I discovered this quite by accident.  When I became an authentic follower of Jesus at age 17 I was fortunate to have received a “Living Bible” as a gift for my High School graduation from my Aunt.  It had sat untouched on my shelf until the night I gave my life to Jesus.  I knew that I found the King James Bible difficult to read as a child, so I turned to something easier to understand.   I devoured it. 

After a time, some of my childhood learning began bubbling up and I wanted to compare the verses as I had learned them from the King James Version with the Living Bible, so I began reading the two side by side.  I had received a nice leather bound KJV Bible from my parents for Christmas when I was 10 years old (I still have it) and so I began to use it in my parallel study.  After a while I began asking myself what the little letter superscripts were beside some of the words.  I soon figured out these corresponded to references that were in the margins of this Bible.  As I began to look up some of these referenced passages I was amazed at how much scripture explained scripture.  I had discovered cross-referencing.   All this time I had a great tool box at my fingertips unopened and unused.

The balancing cross-reference to the statement in Mark 13, “he who stands firm to the end will be saved,” is fond in 1 Corinthians 1:8-9  “He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.” 

God will supply whatever we need to face such extreme times, if that be our lot.  Enduring to the end is not the means of salvation.  Salvation is a gift; it is never earned, or given as a reward.   But endurance is a grace given.  The balance of these two passages could be stated this way; “Only those who endure to the end will be saved and only the saved will endure to the end.” 

RTNT Mark 12

Reading through the New Testament in 2012 M-F   (Link to the Schedule) 

Mark 12:41-44   Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on."

Jesus was a people watcher!  He could read much about the heart of a person simply by observing their actions.  When he was calling His first disciples He made the comment that He saw in Nathaniel the heart of a true Israelite just by watching him meditate under a tree.  On this occasion, Jesus sat across from the offering boxes in the temple area and watched people as they gave.  I don’t think it would be too off the mark to say Jesus is still watching the way people give!  I think He is interested in why people give, how people give (showy or reverent) and even how much people give.

Why would Jesus be interested in our giving?  Jesus knows this is one of the areas we are “temped” to hide from Him, and that we are the most vulnerable to disaster in this area.  The story in Acts 5 about Ananias and Sapphira illustrates just how much spiritual damage misplaced priorities on money can bring.  Paul told young Pastor Timothy that “People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs”  1 Timothy 6:9-10. 

Jesus also warned about the danger of money competing in the heart for God’s affection; "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money” Matthew 6:24.  In fact he said the way a person handles this stewardship may be the greatest indicator of character.  "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much” Luke 16:10.  Someone has commented that money is a great servant but a cruel master.

While I think Jesus is looking at why we give, how we give, and how much we give, He is not really impressed with the size of our gift as the only measurement of how much we give.  This story illustrates that proportion not portion is the key issue, and even more important is the attitude behind the size of the gift.  Paul the apostle later reminded the church at Corinth that “if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have”  I Corinthians 8:12.

As Jesus watched a poor widow woman give two small coins He called her act to the attention of His disciples as an object lesson. “ "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on" Mark 12:43-44.

Perhaps we should measure the size of our gifts not by what we give, but by how much we have left over after we give!

Many times people stumble over this story as an impossible standard for our giving.  It can help us to understand some of the contextual issues involved, before we start trying to apply what Jesus said then, to how we live today.  We want to live how Jesus wants us to live, but we need to make sure we are comparing apples to apples.  Having said that, I do want to remove the dramatic power of this story and the significant point Jesus was making.

This woman gave the bit of money she had that would have purchased her meal for the day.  She went home and like poor “Mother Hubbard” the cupboards were bare.  She lived in a day to day economy, but tomorrow she would go back to either her begging or whatever way she earned her daily money for food, and would eat again, but she gave that day and went without something simply because she wanted to give.  She did not give out of her excess.  She truly gave sacrificially.  We do not have to empty all our bank accounts and investments and strip our homes of everything to give like this woman did, but we do have to learn a few key lessons.

There are a couple of crucial elements make up the attitude this woman demonstrated.  Our giving should be viewed as our share of the responsibility, our help in “carrying the load.”  Although it would be very easy for this woman to excuse herself from giving because of her hard circumstances, she still desired to participate, even in a small way, in what the offerings to God were used for.  Even in a condition where she could be focused only on herself, she was thinking of others.

Our giving must also be of faith, believing God will supply our need, even if we have created a hole by our giving.  This woman was practicing what Paul would later call “cheerful giving.”   The word Paul used to describe this kind of giving is actually the word from which we get “hilarious.”   It was a bit hilarious or even ridiculous that this woman would give all she had for an offering.  It was a bit hilarious or even ridiculous that she would think her tiny bit would make a difference, but that is the kind of giving that honors God, and God honors.  The response of God to this kind of giving was highlighted when Paul said, “Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion”  2 Corinthians 9:10-11.

This woman gave believing God would still supply her need and we don’t know the rest of the story.  She may have been leaving the temple and someone, feeling generous, slipped her a few coins.  She may have been walking home and spotted a few coins on the ground.  She may have been invited into someone’s home and been treated to a much grander meal that she would have provided for herself.  She may have gone home, slept on an empty stomach, and the next day, after working or begging for her daily meal enjoyed it much more that she had in a long time, knowing in her heart she trusted God and had a part in what God was doing.

That day Jesus did not approach her and commend her giving, but he did point it out to his disciples and it was recorded in the gospels.  For over 2000 years this woman’s giving has blessed and challenged others, and I have a feeling that she may well know now how much her giving impressed Jesus.

I want my giving to impress Jesus like that.

RTNT Mark 11

Reading through the New Testament in 2012 M-F   (Link to the Schedule) 

Mark 11:22-25   "Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.

This teaching on the power of faith and requests made to God is one of those passages that can cause even the most stalwart believer to pause and ask questions?  Is Jesus being literal or hypothetical?  If literal, why would you want to say to a mountain, “'Go, throw yourself into the sea?” unless perhaps you were a road engineer and it would make your job a lot easier.  If it is literal, I suppose we have never seen a person with that kind of faith, because all the mountains seem to be in the same place.   I have often heard the safety valve offered of “If it is God’s will that the mountain be moved, it would happen.”  But Jesus doesn’t seem to offer that disclaimer.

So I think going with the figurative would be better, however there is the added difficulty of the context of what was happening when Jesus offered this teaching.  He had cursed a fully mature green fig tree and then the next day it was withered.  That sets the context for some pretty literal prayer requests.

And let’s go down another little path.  Why did Jesus do that?  When he saw the tree from this distance it had leaves, giving the suggestion that it would have figs, although it was not the season for figs.  When he got there the tree had only leaves.  He cursed it as a deceptive plant.  For centuries Christian interpreters have pointed out that one of the symbols for Israel is the fig tree.  Jesus expects Israel to bring forth the fruit to God that it should bring, but it has only leaves and is deceptive.  We do see that immediately after the tree incident He cleanses the temple with the words “My house shall be called a house of prayer for the nations, but you have made it a robbers hideout.”  External form, lots of religion (leaves) but no righteousness (figs).

So whether Jesus was speaking of something literal or figurative, He was teaching on the power of faith to accomplish big things when making faith requests.

But here is another question that begs to be asked.  Why did Jesus follow up immediately with “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”  The conjunctive “and” indicates that Jesus was not changing subject.  Jesus seems to be indicating that holding a grudge with forgiveness hinders this kind of mountain moving faith from happening.  Unforgiveness towards another is a faith diluter in God’s opinion.  Why is that?

Holding a grudge (a form of vengeance and judgment) is a lack of faith in God really being able to exercise reprisal on the offender for us.  Paul was pretty emphatic about this; “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord. (Romans 12:19)” Holding a grudge says, “God, I don’t really believe you can handle this one, I’ll take care of it for you.”

Holding a grudge is a lack of faith in God’s ability to help us move beyond the hurt.  Holding a grudge is a lack of faith in God’s ability to work in another’s life and change them.

This is not the first time Jesus has spoken of the spiritual dynamic between giving forgiveness to others and having his forgiveness work in our lives.  Perhaps the most pointed is the story where the master forgave a servant of a ginormous debt and then the forgiven one would not let a small, miniscule debt go.  What any one person could do to us that would cause us to hold a grudge is nothing in comparison to our sin and the cost of Jesus dying for it so we could be forgiven.  Holding a grudge puts a despairing comment on Jesus sacrifice.  No wonder Jesus said it block mountain moving requests.

There is a scene in the old T.V. show “Reba” that is a favourite of my son.  Reba is talking to someone about leaving some hard feelings behind.  She says in that thick southern drawl of hers; “I got one word for you; ‘let-er-go.’”  I think Jesus would say that same thing about holding grudges.

RTNT Mark 10

Reading through the New Testament in 2012 M-F   (Link to the Schedule) 

Mark 10:50-52   Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to 

Jesus. "What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked him. The blind man said, "Rabbi, I want to see." "Go," said Jesus, "your faith has healed you." Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

 

Sometimes faith is just obvious.

This story during Jesus’ travels is one of my favorites.  As Jesus is leaving the city of Jericho a blind man begins calling out for Jesus to heal him.  When people try to stop his annoying calling out he just get louder.  Ultimately Jesus calls for the man and asks him what he wants.  It really is obvious, but Jesus likes people to articulate what they desire, just to be clear.  When he told Jesus he wanted to see, Jesus responded, “Your faith has healed you,” and immediately his eyes were opened.

This was not a case where Jesus had to question the man about the reality of his faith like he did earlier in this chapter to the rich man.  Just look at the ways this man’s faith was obvious.

He called Jesus the Son of David.  That is a faith statement declaring Jesus to be the long awaited descendent of King David of Israel that would sit on the throne forever.  He believed Jesus to be more than just a prophet or a healer; this was God’s promised Messiah.

He called out to Jesus for mercy.  He really believed Jesus could relieve his condition and sought it.

When people tried to quiet him he persisted all the more.  He did not care who he offended.  He would let nothing get in the way of receiving from Jesus.

When he was told that Jesus was calling for him it specifically says he threw his cloak aside and ran to Jesus.  If you have ever been around blind people you know they are meticulous with their possessions and where they place them.  They put them in specific places so they can find them.  This man, uncharacteristically, threw his coat aside.  He knew when he returned he would be able to see it!

When Jesus asked him what he desired, without any hesitation, or qualifications he expressed what he wanted.  This is a statement of positive faith, knowing that Jesus could accomplish this.

The final evidence of faith is that he began to follow Jesus as he traveled.  He was not just focused on his own need being me and then go his own way.  He was going to demonstrate his gratitude by taking his stand as a follower of Jesus.

Sometimes faith is just obvious.

I want to have that kind of faith. One that is not only obvious to Jesus, but to everyone else as well.

RTNT Mark 9

Reading through the New Testament in 2012 M-F   (Link to the Schedule) 

Mark 9:30-32 Leaving that region, they traveled through Galilee. Jesus didn't want anyone to know he was there, for he wanted to spend more time with his disciples and teach them. He said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies. He will be killed, but three days later he will rise from the dead." They didn't understand what he was saying, however, and they were afraid to ask him what he meant.

Jesus took His disciples on a bit of a retreat, away from the crowds so He could teach them more specifically about His pending death.  They always stumbled on the “rise from the dead” part.  It is not that they did not understand what resurrection meant.  This was a cardinal belief of most Jews except for the Sadducees, but the emphasis always fell on the total resurrection of all the saints at the culmination of the ages.  

This end time emphasis can be seen in Jesus interchange with Martha when He spoke of Lazarus living again. (John 11:22-26)

"Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask."

Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."

Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;And whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

"Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ the Son of God, who was to come into the world."

She believed in the resurrection, but it was relegated to the last day.  Likewise, whenever Jesus spoke about his death and resurrection, the disciples could not connect with what he was saying.  The resurrection was not an individual matter so what was Jesus talking about?  How could He rise from the dead and they not be part of it?

This went over their head, but Jesus wanted then to be prepared for it when it happened.  We know from having read the end of the gospels that they were totally shocked by Jesus resurrection as the firstfruit of the total resurrection to come, but it was not for a lack of Jesus taking time to speak to them about it.  The sad commentary was “they were afraid to ask him what he meant.”

I wish they would have asked, because we would have benefited from His clarification.  This perhaps is one of the things we fail to understand about asking questions.  When we hesitate to seek clarification about questions we have we are not the only ones that miss out.  Others, listening in, miss out as well.

Why do we hesitate to ask questions, especially about spiritual matters?  We don’t want to appear like we are not keeping up.  We want to appear more spiritual than we are, or for a host of other reasons, but in doing so we stunt our own spiritual development.  The old cliché really is true; “The only stupid question is an unasked one.” 

Seek clarification.

I have found that beyond not being afraid of asking clarification questions in a public setting, asking questions of the scriptures helps bring new insight.  The old Kipling ditty is very helpful.  “I keep six honest serving-men (They taught me all I knew); Their names are What and Why and When And How and Where and Who."

“Who is speaking? Why did they say that?  What did they think the others would do?  How can I do that same thing?  When will this happen?”  The list of potential questions and the insights gained is almost endless.

Seek clarification. 

Ask questions of your pastor.  Ask questions of your small group. Ask questions of your mentor. Ask questions of Jesus.  They all want to help you get there.

RTNT Mark 8

Reading through the New Testament in 2012 M-F   (Link tothe Schedule) 

Mark 8:38    If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."

This is one of those passages that really bothered me as a kid.  I could play the role and talk the stuff on Sunday, but I knew that I kept it all a secret during the week.  I had enough belief to make me miserable!  I had enough belief to not want Jesus to be ashamed of me and exclude me from heaven if He came, but I didn’t have enough belief to be unashamed of Him in public.

After I became a true follower of Jesus I knew that this element was important, but one of the images that continued to flash in my mind of a person unashamed of Jesus was a street corner preacher shouting at people as they walked by “You are going to hell.”  “Jesus loves you.”  “Turn or burn”  “Jesus died for you.”   I could never see myself in that role and wondered, was I ashamed of Jesus because I cringed at that picture.

Now, years later I am much more comfortable with the ways that I see of not being ashamed of Jesus before others (beyond the church setting).   Paul emphasized this topic as well.

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.  Romans 1:16

So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God,  2 Timothy 1:8

That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day. 2 Timothy 1:12

Peter picked up on it too:

However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 1 Peter 4:16

I think a turning point for me was hearing a sermon by John MacArthur on Hebrews 2:11-12

Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. He says, "I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises."

I don’t remember his exact phrase but it was something to the effect of:  "I have done plenty of things to make Jesus embarrassed, and he has plenty of reason to be ashamed of me, yet he publicly declares he is not ashamed to call me brother.  And my brother who has never done anything that I would be ashamed of, I sometimes hesitate to acknowledge publicity.  God forgive me."

Well said.