THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 9:33-37 “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, the servant of all.” (Mark 9:35) Among chickens, there is a pecking order… among humans too. We want to establish ourselves in a good place, to rise up in the ranks. There is something normal and healthy in this… God…
Still lots of questions
THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 9:30-32 “They did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.” (Mark 9:32) If Jesus was the clearest revelation of God (Hebrews 1:1-2), why couldn’t they understand? We’re so familiar with Jesus’s death and resurrection, we don’t wonder enough. We’ve come up with our theological answers and explain…
A still, quiet soul!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 131 “I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.” (Psalm 131:1) Life and reality are more complicated than we care to admit. We like to reduce everything – including God – to a formula we can understand. We are critical when God and things about God…
To do or not to do… something
THE STORY OF JESUS: Proverbs 24 “If you falter in a time of trouble, how small is your strength!” (Proverbs 24:10-11) The point in this verse is to not stand by and do nothing when someone is in need. Do something, help those who are dying, speak up for the abused, stand with the bullied. I found…
The path to life, prosperity and honor?
THE STORY OF JESUS: Proverbs 21 “Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.” (Proverbs 21:21) Jesus pursued righteousness and love – what did He find? That depends on WHEN we’re looking in His life. For His life on earth, He did not find life, prosperity and honor. But after His death, God found Him…
Depends on what you believe!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 9:14-29 “Everything is possible for one who believes.” (Mark 9:23) Is this ACTUALLY true, can believing make the impossible possible? It depends in part on who or what we believe in. If I believe in something weak, I cannot expect strong results. If I believe in something evil, I cannot expect good…
Still lots to discuss today!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 9:9-13 “Discussing what “rising from the dead” meant.” (Mark 9:10) Being with Jesus must have been an inspiring yet confusing time. Jesus was constantly challenging their ways of thinking about things. They’d been taught the Torah in Sabbath school, but not how Jesus explained it. I am encouraged by the fact that…
Love shines through!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 9:1-8 “The kingdom of God has come with power.” (Mark 9:1) The disciples were eager to see the kingdom of God come with power. This is why Peter was so adamant that Jesus the Messiah would not die. But Jesus challenges the way they think about the kingdom of God. It is…
Do I really want this?
THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 8:34-38 “Whoever wants to be my disciple…” (Mark 8:34) Look at this list, at what Jesus says is involved: do you want this? When I speak with other Christians, I assume that we WANT this. But if we wanted it, we would be pursuing it… right? We wouldn’t wait for it to…
If God kept a record…
THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 130 “If you, LORD, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand?” (Psalm 130:3) As a Jesus follower, I am very much aware of my sin. Not just specific sins, but my whole sin nature. I am painfully aware of my self-serving, self-loving nature. In subtle, and not-so subtle ways, I…