Month: January 2017

Re:Verse reading–Mark 8:27-38 (day two) “But who do you say that I am?” vs. 29b

In our reading last week Jesus condemned the Pharisees for saying things with their lips, but having a heart far from him (7:6). This week we read of a more personal encounter with his disciple. Those who know Jesus, who read about him, worship him, and place our hope in him; who do we say that he is? When asked to give an account for the savior, what is your answer. There is no equivocating. He either is or isn’t the Christ. Our hearts must be turned to him, and what flows from our mouths must reflect that dependency on Jesus. Check your heart, and let your praise flow.

Re:Verse reading–Mark 8:27-38 (day one)

“He began to teach them that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected. . .and be killed, and after three days rise again.”–v 31.

It was a turning point.

Some talk of “progressive revelation”.  Things true and obvious to New Testament believers were not clear to the Old Testament saints.

In many ways, God follows the same pattern with the development of each individual believer.  Once Peter confesses Christ (see v 29), Jesus begins to tell them of the coming cross and resurrection.  Previously only hinted at, the cross now becomes the subject of intense and plain instruction.  They were ready.

“Whoever has, more shall be given” says Jesus in Matthew 13:12.  One of the prerequisites of learning more about God is to pay careful and faithful attention to what He is presently saying.  To be ready for the “next thing”, I have to pay attention to the “now thing”.

Re:Verse reading – Mark 7:1-23 (day seven)

“The Pharisees. . .did not eat unless they carefully washed their hands.”  v 3.

When I was a kid, there was a character on a TV commercial. Buff.  Bald.  White T-shirt and pants.   I still remember the jingle.  “Mr. Clean gets rid of dirt and grime and grease in just a minute.  Mr. Clean will clean your whole house and everything that’s in it.”  The appeal to women was obvious.  Handsome guy.  Does housework!

But clean to Christ wasn’t about hygiene.  It was (still is) about holiness.   About a heart surrendered to God. Wash your hands all you want, said Jesus, but until your heart is obedient to God you are not clean.  Religion’s only value is to help you see the real problem.

Puts a new perspective on worship, doesn’t it?  At the end of the hour this morning, will your heart be soft?  Will your courage be strong?  Will you be clean?

Re:Verse reading – Mark 7:1-23 (day five)

Mark 7:6, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites”, Mark 7: 8-9 ^“Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men. You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition”. Mark 7:13 “thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.”

Why was Jesus so harsh to the Pharisees? Why were His words to them always so personal and severe? Was He picking on them?

No! He was showing them and those around them the importance and prominence of Scripture and the rightful place and priority of human tradition and regulations.

Scripture will guide a person to better understand the heart of God and in stark contrast the see clearly heart of man. Traditions, legalism, and idolatry will ultimately elevate that which is human above that which is divine- a very dangerous place.

Be careful of leaders/teachers who don’t clearly teach and preach the Holiness and Mercy of God’s heart. Be equally as cautious of teachers/preachers who don’t clearly communicate the dark sinful nature of the human heart.

Re:Verse reading – Mark 7:1-23 (day four)

It is so easy for us to look for someone else to blame for our shortcomings (better interpreted as sins).  The scribes and Pharisees had come up with all kinds of laws and traditions to avoid having to be obedient to God’s laws.  Jesus discerned their true motives and pointed out the reality of their hypocrisy.  It is what comes out of you…your heart…that defiles you!  We find the same excuses.  It is the people I am around, the culture I have grown up in, the circumstances of my life that have affected my decisions.  Jesus says, “Wrong!”

The evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness…these come from our sinful hearts!  Have you ever thought—‘I’ve done pretty good lately and don’t really have any sins to confess’?  Maybe you have, but a lot of darkness hides in our hearts.  Ask God to continually search your heart and see if there is any wicked way.  He can clean it!

Re:Verse reading – Mark 7:1-23 (day three)

“All these evils come from inside and make a man unclean.”  That sin comes from within is one of Jesus’s more depressing revelations.  It means sin cannot be managed because the manager is compromised.  It means a man must entrust himself for safekeeping to someone who remains pure.  Human beings want to be self-helping, but we are instead self-damning.  Pride, and every sin, proceeds from the heart, and we would follow those sins to the death.  The sin from within is loud.  Even so, the Lord has allowed us a part of our reasoning that would listen to this Savior.  Those at the table with Jesus listened to him over the clamor of their own sin.  The years have not dimmed his voice.  We can still hear him if we will.

Re:Verse reading – Mark 7:1-23 (day two) After He called the crowd to Him again, He began saying to them, “Listen to Me, all of you, and understand: there is nothing outside the man which can defile him if it goes into him; but the things which proceed out of the man are what defile the man.” Vs. 14-15

Have you ever considered that the law is good? Most of us just think of it as a necessary nuisance. In the spiritual sense it serves to point out that we are all flawed sinners. But the Jews observe several ceremonial laws that served them well. The need for hygiene in the ancient world was not widely understood. The idea of cleaning your body, your cookware, and your utensils likely did more to help the general health of the population that was ever clearly understood in the ancient world. These laws served a purpose, but like most things after time people have a way of focusing on the minutiae and they forget the intent. If, as we follow the law it beocomes only about following orders and it does nothing to bring glory to God, then our motivation should be re-examined. We don’t follow the ceremonial laws of ancient Israel, but there are areas of our lives that could stand some scrutiny. Why do you pray the way you do? How do you treat your family, strangers, the lost?

 

Re:Verse reading–Mark 7:1-23 (day one)

” This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.”–v 6.

It is a problem.

No, it is THE problem.

And religion doesn’t make it better. Worse actually. Because religion hides from us the severity of the issue and the urgency of a fix.

We don’t WANT to do GOD’S WILL.  Not when it is costly or uncomfortable. Apologize! Wait on the Lord! Rejoice in the Lord! Honor your parents! A clear and comprehensive list rising from an ancient picture of who He wants us to be. Clear. Unbending, and sometimes unwelcome.

In Mark 7, Jesus confronts the Pharisees on this issue. Ignoring the 5th Commandment, they have found “religiously acceptable” ways to NOT care for their parents.  A loop-hole. A rationale.

Proof and warning, isn’t it? It is one thing to SAY that we love the Lord. It is ANOTHER to surrender our hearts and DO His will.

Re:Verse reading– Mark 6:1-13 (day seven)

“And they went out and preached that people should repent.”–v 13.

My favorite holy day.  Better than Christmas or Easter or Thanksgiving because it captures the spirit of them all.  New Year’s Day calls us to repent.  To change.  To think again (meta noia).

Sure, I love Christmas Eve Candlelight,  Easter sunrise service,  family around a Thanksgiving table, but none of these equal, for me, the energy of this day!  “Forgetting  the things that are behind I press forward toward the prize! ” shouts Paul.  (Philippians 3:13)

Unless I am careful, I will miss this exciting day!  I’ll be lazy.  Procrastinate. Make excuses. Take another day off. But, as the disciples observed in Nazareth, people who can’t change and grow forfeit the assistance of God.  “He could do no miracle there”–v 5.

Today, will you rethink your life, your call, your love for God?  Will you start again with fresh enthusiasm?  Happy New Year, everyone!