Saturday, July 22, 2017

Mark 2:14-28 Levi is called, questions about fasting and the Sabbath

Mark 2:14-28 Levi is called, questions about fasting and the Sabbath

Vs.14-17- Jesus calls Matthew or Levi to follow him. This is also in Matthew 9:9-13 and Luke 5:27-32. The word "follow" is akoloutheo means to follow one who precedes or it can mean to accompany to join as a disciple. This dinner in Luke account is called a reception. The tax gatherers and sinners is denoting that these were unrepentant sinners who were invited. Jesus said in vs.17 that he came to call or invite the sinner not the healthy. The word “to call” vs.17 is kaleo or to invite, to call by name. When Matthew got up from the tax booth he left everything else behind to follow him and never looked back.  Isn't it interesting how sinners felt comfortable and even loved in the presence of Jesus.  How often is that the case in our churches today that people feel loved and accepted?

Vs.18-22- Jesus and his disciples were walking through a grain field and John’s disciples and the Pharisees wanted to know why the disciples didn’t fast. Jesus compares himself to the bridegroom and says that while the bridegroom is with them they don’t fast, but they will one day. The bride is the church. This same section is in Luke 5:33-39. The Pharisees typically fasted twice a week Luke 18:12. One day Jesus is coming back for his bride. Revelations 19:7-9 for the marriage supper of the Lamb.

Vs.23-28 This is also in Matthew 12:1-8. Jesus declares his lordship over the Sabbath and says that the Sabbath was created for man’s benefit. Jesus told them according to version in Matthew that he desires compassion and not sacrifice and that they were condemning the innocent. The Pharisees had a blind spot to compassion when it came to following the law. A similar thing is said in Hosea 6:6. Could it be that following the law still gives people the same blind spot. Jesus said he didn't come to call the self sufficient but the sinner who has need of him.

Vs.21 Jesus was saying it is not wise to try and patch the old system with the new. That the two are not compatible.

The reference to the consecrated bread is 1 Samuel 21:1-6 where David is running from Saul and takes the consecrated bread and Goliath’s sword.

Sunday, July 16, 2017

Jesus calls his first disciples Mark 1:14-20


     After Jesus had completed his time of temptation in the wilderness, he was ready to start his public ministry.  His preaching ministry begins with these words in Mark 1:15

  'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel"

    In my studies, I thought about what it meant for Jesus to say that the time is fulfilled.  The word fulfilled is pleroo or it means to make full, complete.  It carries with it that this is the time when the fulfillment of all the promises of the prophets will be completed.  Jesus was saying that in his coming he is the fulfillment of what the prophets had talked about.

    So, Jesus begins to build his team of disciples that he will live with and teach closely over the next three years.  And it says that he was in Galilee sometime after John the Baptist had been taken into custody and he saw Simon and Andrew and James and John fishing.  He calls to them and tells them they will become fishers of men and their response is to immediately leave what they have and go to him.  I wish I would always be that obedient to the calling God has for me.  For all of the grief that Peter takes for betraying him here he is immediately faithful to leave his prosperous fishing business and follow without hesitation.

    Luke adds to this story in a way that Matthew and Mark do not, by adding that prior to this Jesus had asked to borrow Peter's boat to sit in while he was preaching Luke 5:1-11.  After he had completed his message he told Peter to let down their nets for a caught.  This was odd because with casting nets the nets would normally be cast at night since the fish would come to the top of the water at that time and go lower when it was daylight.  Peter was already tired and frustrated and yet he was also obedient.  To him, to do fishing now simply didn't make sense.  In verse 5 he protests, "Master, we worked hard all ngiht and caught nothing, but at Your bidding I will let down the nets."

    The result is that the net start to break due to the large amount of fish they haul in.  To the point, that Peter signals James and John to come help them.  Peter is astonished.  He realizes that nothing has changed except that now Jesus is there.  His response is "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord."  Peter realizes that while he did Jesus bidding it was with a heart that didn't believe it would matter and that they were all wasting their time.  But, now Peter is wiling to repent of his poor attitude and doesn't even feel worthy of being with him.

   It reminds me of seasons in my life when God has worked despite me instead of because of me.  It also shows me that even when we are reluctant to his will the simple act of obedience is rewarded.  God knows our weaknesses and our struggles and it is transparent before him.  Psalm 139:3 says,

   "Thou dost scrutinize my path and my lying down, and art intimately acquainted with all my ways."

  So, Jesus knew what was in Peter when he called him and was not surprised by Peter's sinful attitudes or actions.  Neither is he surprised or caught off guard by ours.  He simply calls us to repent and believe in Him, to put our trust in Him.  These type of situations where there is little hope and then the boat is full shows us that God can provide at all times and he is completely trustworthy.

Thursday, July 6, 2017

Like a Oak Tree Romans 5:3-5

    When I was first married, we lived next store to a couple that had large pin oak trees in their backyard.  These trees were a hundred or more years old (not the one in the picture).  It made it so that they couldn't grow grass in their backyard because it got very little sun.  Some of those trees may have been around when Thomas Jefferson was alive.  It always amazes me when I look at a large tree and see its massive root system.

    You don't really see and can't tell that a large tree is still growing.  it is growing though and continually strengthening itself over time.  The roots are slowly spreading out to support its growing size and strength.  You can tell though when a storm comes and instead of breaking the tree moves and bends and bears up under the power of a storm.  I think that is true in a christian's life as well, the best way to see the growth is that it has good roots and it has been through some storms.

    Paul spoke alot about the storms of life because he knew that they would come to all of us.  But, he also knew that God could use them to strengthen us.  In Romans 5:3-5 he says "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."  This passage tells us that God is up to something in our adversity.  He is attempting to make us stronger through the adversity and will bring something good out of it.

    I've had seasons in my life where it didn't seem like much was happening.  I could see no great growth going on.  Much like trying to watch a tree or grass grow it is hard to see in the minute to minutes times of life.  But, then an adversity will come along (as it always does) and it tests the root system.  These tests can come in all forms of troubles and anxiety of life.  Mine will not be the same as yours as there are things that bother me that might not bother someone else.  The point is, that God is up to something in the middle of it.  We can do our part by putting down a good root system during those times when we can study, pray, read and witness and worship.

    It reminds me of the story about Jesus being tempted by the devil.  Of course, Jesus was God in the flesh and knew scripture because it was His Father's Words.  But, he had also grown up in the synagogue as a boy being taken there by Joseph and Mary.  He had hidden God's word in his heart and when there was a trial it was there to be used to defeat the devil.  Psalm 119:105 says, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."  By spending time in God's word it helps us to have light during those dark times in our life when trouble comes.  It always amazes me about how ignorant people are about the Bible and what it says.  Your job as a believer is to get into the word, to study it, to read it to live it, so that you stay out of situations you have no business being in.  But, also it helps guide you during those times when trouble is unavoidable.   I want to be more like those trees in my neighbors backyard that stood strong when storms came.

Psalm 32:5-7 God is Ready and Eager to Forgive

  Psalm 32:3-7 3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. 4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me...