October 11/12, 2014
Mark 4-7
In these four chapters, Jesus’ identity begins to crystalize in our minds as readers.
In chapter four, Mark introduces us to Jesus’ authoritative, yet mysterious, teaching through pictures (like the lamp on the stand) and parables (like those about seeds). Jesus says that he uses parables to misdirect the unbelievers and to feed those who do believe (4:11-12).
This leads to four miracles that simply shout the divinity of Christ. At the end of chapter four, Jesus calms the storm at sea with a command. The disciples wonder “Who is he?” (4:41), but we are beginning to be sure. In chapter five, Jesus releases a demon-possessed man from the grip of a “legion” of them, sends them into a herd of pigs. They rush into the sea and die! Mark then describes the famous “miracle on the way to a miracle. “My daughter is dying,” the synagogue ruler says, and Jesus went with him. Along the way, a hemorrhaging woman touches the edge of Jesus’ robe and is healed. Jesus notices, stops and commends the woman’s faith. This delay makes him too late to save the dying daughter, but Jesus says, “Don’t be afraid, just believe.” (5:36) He raises her from the dead! As clear as Jesus’ identity is to us readers, the people in Jesus’ home town reject him (6:1-6).
It’s at this point that we begin to understand the cost of discipleship: hard work and rejection. Jesus sends out the Twelve, two by two—the good news requires such work. John the Baptist is beheaded—carrying the good news can be dangerous. At the end of a long day of teaching, Jesus feeds the 5000—despite the work, Jesus provides! In the midst of another storm, Jesus walks across water to calm both the disciples’ fears and the raging winds—no matter what, we can count on Christ’s presence!
In chapter seven, Jesus is confronted by the Pharisees, but believed on by a Gentile woman! And at the end of today’s reading, Jesus opens the ears and loosens the tongue of a man who was deaf and mute.
Are we among those who believe, who strive to understand the parables, who receive the miracles, who cling to Christ’s presence in the storms of life? Then, despite the trials, let your loosened tongues proclaim his love!
Your fellow pilgrim through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Saturday, October 11, 2014
Friday, October 10, 2014
OCTOBER 10 MARK 1-3
October 10, 2014
Mark 1-3
Mark, the straight-forward, no-frills gospel, has the shortest of introductions, no genealogy, and no mention of Jesus’ birth. In other words, with Mark, we hit the ground running. John the Baptist speaks of “One coming after me,” and Jesus appears for baptism. The Father says, “You are my Son...” and the Spirit sends him out to be tested by the devil. But we don’t have time to hear about each temptation; we’ll have to read Matthew and Luke for that!
Before the first chapter is over, Jesus has called disciples, driven out demons, healed many, and tried to get away to pray. If you read the old King James Version of Mark, you’ll see the word “immediately” again and again. Things move quickly in Mark. Peter’s no-nonsense approach may be the eye-witness testimony behind this gospel.
Chapter two brings more healing, more calling of disciples, and many clues as to Jesus’ identity. Here are some of my favorites:
After Jesus forgave the paralytic’s sins, the teachers of the law say, “Only God can forgive sins!” (2:7) Hmmm.
When people complain about the company Jesus’ keeps, he says, “I have come not to call the righteous, but sinners!” (2:17)
When others complain about the disciples’ eating grain on the Sabbath, Jesus’ last word on the matter is amazing: “The Son of Man is Lord, even of the Sabbath!” (2:27)
In chapter three, Jesus attracts large crowds and rounds out his 12 disciples. Here, we see the very humanness of Jesus’ mother, Mary. Luke tells us of her magnificent faith, Matthew tells us of her submission and courage, and John tells us of her part in Jesus’ first miracle. But here in Mark, Mary first appears as a doubter. She, along with Jesus’ little brothers, think, “He is out of his mind!” (3:21) They finally catch up with Jesus to “take charge of him.” When Jesus is informed of his family’s arrival, he calmly says that everyone who does God’s will is his family.
Are you a member of Christ’s family?
Your fellow pilgrim through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Mark 1-3
Mark, the straight-forward, no-frills gospel, has the shortest of introductions, no genealogy, and no mention of Jesus’ birth. In other words, with Mark, we hit the ground running. John the Baptist speaks of “One coming after me,” and Jesus appears for baptism. The Father says, “You are my Son...” and the Spirit sends him out to be tested by the devil. But we don’t have time to hear about each temptation; we’ll have to read Matthew and Luke for that!
Before the first chapter is over, Jesus has called disciples, driven out demons, healed many, and tried to get away to pray. If you read the old King James Version of Mark, you’ll see the word “immediately” again and again. Things move quickly in Mark. Peter’s no-nonsense approach may be the eye-witness testimony behind this gospel.
Chapter two brings more healing, more calling of disciples, and many clues as to Jesus’ identity. Here are some of my favorites:
After Jesus forgave the paralytic’s sins, the teachers of the law say, “Only God can forgive sins!” (2:7) Hmmm.
When people complain about the company Jesus’ keeps, he says, “I have come not to call the righteous, but sinners!” (2:17)
When others complain about the disciples’ eating grain on the Sabbath, Jesus’ last word on the matter is amazing: “The Son of Man is Lord, even of the Sabbath!” (2:27)
In chapter three, Jesus attracts large crowds and rounds out his 12 disciples. Here, we see the very humanness of Jesus’ mother, Mary. Luke tells us of her magnificent faith, Matthew tells us of her submission and courage, and John tells us of her part in Jesus’ first miracle. But here in Mark, Mary first appears as a doubter. She, along with Jesus’ little brothers, think, “He is out of his mind!” (3:21) They finally catch up with Jesus to “take charge of him.” When Jesus is informed of his family’s arrival, he calmly says that everyone who does God’s will is his family.
Are you a member of Christ’s family?
Your fellow pilgrim through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Thursday, October 9, 2014
OCTOBER 9 MATTHEW 26-28
October 9, 2014
Matthew 26-28
Passion. We use the word for romance: “They had a passionate love affair.” We use it for any pursuit that consumes our time and interest: “He has a passion for model trains or baseball.” But one of the most accurate uses of the word, “passion,” occurs when we connect it to the suffering and death of our Lord Jesus Christ, for passion comes from a Latin root that means “to suffer.”
Matthew 26 and 27 describe the passion of Christ, beginning with the Jewish’ leaders plot against him, contracting Judas for betrayal. Jesus announces this at the Passover meal, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me” (26:23). During supper, he prefigures his broken body and shed blood through bread and wine, and predicts the denial of Peter and the desertion of the others.
The agonizing prayer in the garden is followed, in rapid succession, by his arrest, his mock trials and Peter’s actual denial. Jesus is taken to Pilate, flogged and mocked by Pilate’s soldiers, rejected by the crowd and led out to be crucified. Of the “Seven Last Words” of Jesus from the cross, Matthew only reports one: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
When Jesus breathes his last, Matthew reports a series of amazing events: the temple curtain between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place, which contained the Ark of God’s Presence, was torn from top to bottom. An earthquake broke open tombs, and many of the dead came to life. A centurion believes.
After his passion, Jesus is buried and his tomb is guarded. Some of the women, who had seen where he was laid, wait through the Sabbath, and go to the tomb on Sunday, but Jesus is not there. An angel announces his resurrection, and then Jesus himself appears. He instructs the women to tell the disciples to meet him in Galilee. Once there, on a certain mountain, he commissions them AND US to go and make disciples of all peoples! Lord, give us the grace to obey!
Tomorrow, we begin the gospel of Mark.
Your fellow pilgrim through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Matthew 26-28
Passion. We use the word for romance: “They had a passionate love affair.” We use it for any pursuit that consumes our time and interest: “He has a passion for model trains or baseball.” But one of the most accurate uses of the word, “passion,” occurs when we connect it to the suffering and death of our Lord Jesus Christ, for passion comes from a Latin root that means “to suffer.”
Matthew 26 and 27 describe the passion of Christ, beginning with the Jewish’ leaders plot against him, contracting Judas for betrayal. Jesus announces this at the Passover meal, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me” (26:23). During supper, he prefigures his broken body and shed blood through bread and wine, and predicts the denial of Peter and the desertion of the others.
The agonizing prayer in the garden is followed, in rapid succession, by his arrest, his mock trials and Peter’s actual denial. Jesus is taken to Pilate, flogged and mocked by Pilate’s soldiers, rejected by the crowd and led out to be crucified. Of the “Seven Last Words” of Jesus from the cross, Matthew only reports one: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
When Jesus breathes his last, Matthew reports a series of amazing events: the temple curtain between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place, which contained the Ark of God’s Presence, was torn from top to bottom. An earthquake broke open tombs, and many of the dead came to life. A centurion believes.
After his passion, Jesus is buried and his tomb is guarded. Some of the women, who had seen where he was laid, wait through the Sabbath, and go to the tomb on Sunday, but Jesus is not there. An angel announces his resurrection, and then Jesus himself appears. He instructs the women to tell the disciples to meet him in Galilee. Once there, on a certain mountain, he commissions them AND US to go and make disciples of all peoples! Lord, give us the grace to obey!
Tomorrow, we begin the gospel of Mark.
Your fellow pilgrim through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
OCTOBER 8 MATTHEW 24-25
October 8, 2014
Matthew 24-25
“Christ has died! Christ is risen! Christ will come again!”
These words from the communion liturgy reflect Biblical truths about Jesus that should shape us every day. Christ has died; we’ll read Matthew’s account of Jesus death tomorrow in chapters 26-27. Christ is risen; we’ll read Matthew account of the resurrection tomorrow, as well, in chapter 28. Christ will come again; Jesus took time, the week of his passion, to describe the hope that has encouraged the church for nearly 2000 years. It seems that God intended for every generation of believers to expect Christ’s return in their lifetimes; and Jesus’ words allow for this.
In Matthew 24, the disciples are admiring the temple from across the Kidron Valley on the Mount of Olives. Jesus interrupts their reverie with this news: Every stone of that temple is coming down! This prompts the disciples to ask about Jesus’ coming and the end of the age. In their minds, the destruction of the temple, the end of the age of the coming of Christ to his throne would all happen at once. Jesus seems to describe the “end of the age” in vv. 4-14, the destruction of Jerusalem in vv. 15-22, and the second coming in vv. 23-31. If this is true, Jesus is jumping back and forth from the distant future to A.D. 70 back to the distant future, for the end and Christ’s return haven’t happened yet. The end of the age will be marked by signs and stress. The destruction of the temple is a certainty, for it already happened. And the second coming, Jesus warns us, will be falsely announced many times. But when it comes, it will be unmistakable, “All nations” will notice! All believers will be gathered up!
In the rest of Matthew 24 and in all of Matthew 25, Jesus is teaching us how live in the light of His sure and certain return. Since “no one knows the day or the hour,” (24. 36) we must always be ready. This doesn’t mean we stop what we’re doing, put on white robes and head for a mountaintop to be whisked away. It means that we are serving like the Master has called us to serve (24:46), prepared like the 5 virgins (25:10), as busy as those who put their “talents” to work (25:21, 23), and ministering to people as if they were Jesus himself (25:40). Doing so, we will be ready for anything!
Tomorrow, we walk with Jesus through His passion.
Your fellow pilgrim through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Matthew 24-25
“Christ has died! Christ is risen! Christ will come again!”
These words from the communion liturgy reflect Biblical truths about Jesus that should shape us every day. Christ has died; we’ll read Matthew’s account of Jesus death tomorrow in chapters 26-27. Christ is risen; we’ll read Matthew account of the resurrection tomorrow, as well, in chapter 28. Christ will come again; Jesus took time, the week of his passion, to describe the hope that has encouraged the church for nearly 2000 years. It seems that God intended for every generation of believers to expect Christ’s return in their lifetimes; and Jesus’ words allow for this.
In Matthew 24, the disciples are admiring the temple from across the Kidron Valley on the Mount of Olives. Jesus interrupts their reverie with this news: Every stone of that temple is coming down! This prompts the disciples to ask about Jesus’ coming and the end of the age. In their minds, the destruction of the temple, the end of the age of the coming of Christ to his throne would all happen at once. Jesus seems to describe the “end of the age” in vv. 4-14, the destruction of Jerusalem in vv. 15-22, and the second coming in vv. 23-31. If this is true, Jesus is jumping back and forth from the distant future to A.D. 70 back to the distant future, for the end and Christ’s return haven’t happened yet. The end of the age will be marked by signs and stress. The destruction of the temple is a certainty, for it already happened. And the second coming, Jesus warns us, will be falsely announced many times. But when it comes, it will be unmistakable, “All nations” will notice! All believers will be gathered up!
In the rest of Matthew 24 and in all of Matthew 25, Jesus is teaching us how live in the light of His sure and certain return. Since “no one knows the day or the hour,” (24. 36) we must always be ready. This doesn’t mean we stop what we’re doing, put on white robes and head for a mountaintop to be whisked away. It means that we are serving like the Master has called us to serve (24:46), prepared like the 5 virgins (25:10), as busy as those who put their “talents” to work (25:21, 23), and ministering to people as if they were Jesus himself (25:40). Doing so, we will be ready for anything!
Tomorrow, we walk with Jesus through His passion.
Your fellow pilgrim through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
OCTOBER 7 MATTHEW 20-23
October 7, 2014
Matthew 20-23
During the course of today’s reading, we enter into Jesus’ final week before his death and resurrection; “Palm Sunday” is described at the beginning of chapter 21. The events of these chapters, as well as Jesus’ teaching, seem to have “end times” application. They prepare us for Jesus’ teaching at the beginning of tomorrow’s reading, when he discusses the end times and his glorious return in some detail from the top of Mt. Olivet, in full view of the temple in Matthew 24!
In chapter 20, we read what Jesus’ taught and did on the Jericho Road leading up to Jerusalem. He reminds them again of his upcoming suffering, death and resurrection. He teaches them not to begrudge those who enter the kingdom at the 11th hour (vv. 1-16), and not to fuss with one another about places of honor in the coming kingdom (vv. 20-28). Just outside of Jericho, he heals two blind men! Though he has important work to do in Jerusalem, he always had time for the humble cry, “Have mercy on us!”
In chapter 21, Jesus enters Jerusalem to the crowd’s cries, “Hosanna!” and heads to the temple to turn things up-side-down. Among other things, this is a foreshadowing of Christ’s second coming as conquering King and Judge! Though his authority is questioned by the chief priests and elders, Jesus authority is confirmed by the withered fig tree (vv. 18-22) and the powerful parables he tells. In the parable of the wicked tenants, Jesus identifies Himself as the “Stone that the builders rejected,” which becomes “the chief Cornerstone!” (Psalm 118:22-23).
Matthew 22 outlines the priorities of the kingdom. We subjects of the King say “yes” to the King’s invitation (vv. 1-14). We are subject to earthly authorities, but ultimately subject to the Heavenly King (vv. 15-22). And our service to Him does not end with our physical death (vv. 23-33). The work our King gives us to do is unchanged since God inspired the books of Moses; we are called to love God and others (vv. 34-40).
Today’s reading ends with Jesus’ harshest words to the proud religious leaders of His day. Their priorities have been wrong, fixated on the unimportant aspects of the law, they “have neglected the weightier matters: Justice, mercy and faithfulness (Matthew 23:23). As a result, they have rejected Jesus, their Messiah, as well.
Tomorrow, we see what we can learn about the end times!
Your fellow pilgrim through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Matthew 20-23
During the course of today’s reading, we enter into Jesus’ final week before his death and resurrection; “Palm Sunday” is described at the beginning of chapter 21. The events of these chapters, as well as Jesus’ teaching, seem to have “end times” application. They prepare us for Jesus’ teaching at the beginning of tomorrow’s reading, when he discusses the end times and his glorious return in some detail from the top of Mt. Olivet, in full view of the temple in Matthew 24!
In chapter 20, we read what Jesus’ taught and did on the Jericho Road leading up to Jerusalem. He reminds them again of his upcoming suffering, death and resurrection. He teaches them not to begrudge those who enter the kingdom at the 11th hour (vv. 1-16), and not to fuss with one another about places of honor in the coming kingdom (vv. 20-28). Just outside of Jericho, he heals two blind men! Though he has important work to do in Jerusalem, he always had time for the humble cry, “Have mercy on us!”
In chapter 21, Jesus enters Jerusalem to the crowd’s cries, “Hosanna!” and heads to the temple to turn things up-side-down. Among other things, this is a foreshadowing of Christ’s second coming as conquering King and Judge! Though his authority is questioned by the chief priests and elders, Jesus authority is confirmed by the withered fig tree (vv. 18-22) and the powerful parables he tells. In the parable of the wicked tenants, Jesus identifies Himself as the “Stone that the builders rejected,” which becomes “the chief Cornerstone!” (Psalm 118:22-23).
Matthew 22 outlines the priorities of the kingdom. We subjects of the King say “yes” to the King’s invitation (vv. 1-14). We are subject to earthly authorities, but ultimately subject to the Heavenly King (vv. 15-22). And our service to Him does not end with our physical death (vv. 23-33). The work our King gives us to do is unchanged since God inspired the books of Moses; we are called to love God and others (vv. 34-40).
Today’s reading ends with Jesus’ harshest words to the proud religious leaders of His day. Their priorities have been wrong, fixated on the unimportant aspects of the law, they “have neglected the weightier matters: Justice, mercy and faithfulness (Matthew 23:23). As a result, they have rejected Jesus, their Messiah, as well.
Tomorrow, we see what we can learn about the end times!
Your fellow pilgrim through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Monday, October 6, 2014
OCTOBER 6 MATTHEW 16-19
October 6, 2014
Matthew 16-19
If we were among the followers of Jesus, we’d have already begun to suspect that Jesus was something more than mere man. He’d forgiven a man’s sins (9:2); the teachers rightfully grumbled about it. Only God forgives sins. He allowed his disciples to pluck grain on the Sabbath, and answered the critics by saying, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath” (12:8). He claimed to be “something greater than Jonah” (12:41). He walked on water (14:25)! He healed the sick. He fed the multitudes.
So, when Jesus takes his disciples on what I imagine to be a camping trip up near Mt. Hermon in the region of Caesarea-Philippi and asks them, “Who do people say that I am?” and, more importantly, “Who do you say that I am? Peter’s response is not unexpected: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (16:16)
Three of the disciples hear more affirmation of Jesus’ identity from God the Father on the Mount of Transfiguration, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (17:5). After that, Jesus begins to prepare them for his upcoming death and resurrection!
But even with these explicit signs of Jesus’ true identity, the disciples fuss with one another over “Who is the greatest?” (18:1) They wonder how often they need to forgive one another (18:21). And Jesus has to humble them twice by using little children (18:1-6; 19:13-15).
Today's reading ends with a poser: if we were in the rich, young ruler’s shoes, would we give up all we had to follow Jesus?
Your fellow pilgrim through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Matthew 16-19
If we were among the followers of Jesus, we’d have already begun to suspect that Jesus was something more than mere man. He’d forgiven a man’s sins (9:2); the teachers rightfully grumbled about it. Only God forgives sins. He allowed his disciples to pluck grain on the Sabbath, and answered the critics by saying, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath” (12:8). He claimed to be “something greater than Jonah” (12:41). He walked on water (14:25)! He healed the sick. He fed the multitudes.
So, when Jesus takes his disciples on what I imagine to be a camping trip up near Mt. Hermon in the region of Caesarea-Philippi and asks them, “Who do people say that I am?” and, more importantly, “Who do you say that I am? Peter’s response is not unexpected: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (16:16)
Three of the disciples hear more affirmation of Jesus’ identity from God the Father on the Mount of Transfiguration, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (17:5). After that, Jesus begins to prepare them for his upcoming death and resurrection!
But even with these explicit signs of Jesus’ true identity, the disciples fuss with one another over “Who is the greatest?” (18:1) They wonder how often they need to forgive one another (18:21). And Jesus has to humble them twice by using little children (18:1-6; 19:13-15).
Today's reading ends with a poser: if we were in the rich, young ruler’s shoes, would we give up all we had to follow Jesus?
Your fellow pilgrim through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
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