Today's Bible reading is the 15th chapter of the Book of Mark. You can read it here at Bible Gateway: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%2015&version=NASB
Today's chapter of Mark includes the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus. Although not found in Mark's gospel, in Luke's we read that when Jesus was being crucified He said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." Mark does record the crucifixion and before its completion, the severe mistreatment and mocking that Jesus was subjected to. Such amazing words they would have been to anyone with a softened heart and such amazing words they are to the believer today; "Father, forgive them". Of course, in a sense, they knew exactly what they were doing. With great hatred and disdain for Jesus of Nazareth, the religious leaders were seeking His death and the Roman soldiers were carrying out His "sentence".
From the text it appears that the Roman Centurion, the one in charge of the soldiers, would not only supervise the crucifixion but also act as the "medical examiner" if you will. When Joseph of Arimathea comes to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus, it is the centurion that Pilate consults with to confirm Jesus' death. And during the crucifixion itself we find the centurion "standing right in front of" Jesus. It seems clear that one of the reasons he is doing so is so that he can declare when death has occurred. I have no doubt that this centurion had witnessed many men die by crucifixion. Our text today tells us that when the centurion "saw the way He breathed His last", he declared of Jesus, "Truly this man was the Son of God!" What was so different? What was unique about the way He had breathed His last? As already indicated, I believe this centurion had witnessed many men breath their last breath as their life was taken from them. The difference? I suppose it may have been that he had never seen a man willingly give his life, willingly breath His last as Jesus had. That's all the difference in the world.
Friday, February 28, 2014
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Today's Bible reading is the 14th chapter of the Book of Mark. You can read it here at Bible Gateway: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+14&version=NASB
With 72 verses, Mark 14 is a difficult chapter to pull a brief thought from. In this chapter Mark records the account of Jesus praying in Gethsemane after sharing in the Passover meal with His disciples in the upper room. He had already told them that one of them would betray Him, that Peter would deny Him three times and that all of them would fall away from Him. After arriving at Gethsemane, He had some of the disciples sit while He took Peter, James and John away from the rest. And then telling the three to remain and keep watch, He went a little further by Himself and began to pray, asking the Father, that if it were possible that "the hour" might pass Him by. He then affirmed His desire to do the Father's will and not His own. When He returned He found the disciples sleeping. Three times Jesus would go to pray and upon His return find the three sleeping.
It is not the disciples sleeping and their inability to do what He asked of them that I wish to write about. It is, what I believe to be, the wonderful example given to us by our Lord regarding prayer. After His first prayer, the text tells us that during each subsequent prayer He was "saying the same words". Again, I so much appreciate His example. Remember, "the hour" was near and it would be His most trying one. He does not continue to pray the same thing because He lacks faith. He continues to pray the same thing because He is showing us the source of His strength and His desire to do His Father's will. When we struggle through "the hours" of this life, we should never be ashamed for going to our Father time and again. He bids us to boldly come to the throne of grace and find help in our time of need. The worst thing we can do is stop coming.
With 72 verses, Mark 14 is a difficult chapter to pull a brief thought from. In this chapter Mark records the account of Jesus praying in Gethsemane after sharing in the Passover meal with His disciples in the upper room. He had already told them that one of them would betray Him, that Peter would deny Him three times and that all of them would fall away from Him. After arriving at Gethsemane, He had some of the disciples sit while He took Peter, James and John away from the rest. And then telling the three to remain and keep watch, He went a little further by Himself and began to pray, asking the Father, that if it were possible that "the hour" might pass Him by. He then affirmed His desire to do the Father's will and not His own. When He returned He found the disciples sleeping. Three times Jesus would go to pray and upon His return find the three sleeping.
It is not the disciples sleeping and their inability to do what He asked of them that I wish to write about. It is, what I believe to be, the wonderful example given to us by our Lord regarding prayer. After His first prayer, the text tells us that during each subsequent prayer He was "saying the same words". Again, I so much appreciate His example. Remember, "the hour" was near and it would be His most trying one. He does not continue to pray the same thing because He lacks faith. He continues to pray the same thing because He is showing us the source of His strength and His desire to do His Father's will. When we struggle through "the hours" of this life, we should never be ashamed for going to our Father time and again. He bids us to boldly come to the throne of grace and find help in our time of need. The worst thing we can do is stop coming.
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Today's Bible reading is the 13th chapter of the Book of Mark. You can read it here at Bible Gateway: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+13&version=NASB
After speaking of the end times, describing signs that would be indicative of those times and warning of false prophets and false Christs, Jesus tells His disciples, "but of the day or hour no one knows". He goes on to explain that neither the angels in Heaven or even Himself knows the day or the hour but His Father alone. Because they do not know when these end times will come to pass, He instruction to them is to "keep on the alert". He says this in verses 33 and 35 and then in the final verse of the chapter He says, "What I say to you I say to all, 'Be on the alert!'"
Over the years it has seemed that Christians have often been more concerned with figuring out the "day or the hour" than they have been about being on the alert. God does all things well and there is no doubt in my mind that this includes His sovereign choice to not disclose these things to us. We ought to be well content with not knowing, knowing that He does what is best for His children. But we ought to heed the words of our Savior and endeavor to be alert. Spirit lead I believe we can "discern the signs of the times" as we remember the words of the Hebrew author who wrote, "For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay." Of this we are sure.
After speaking of the end times, describing signs that would be indicative of those times and warning of false prophets and false Christs, Jesus tells His disciples, "but of the day or hour no one knows". He goes on to explain that neither the angels in Heaven or even Himself knows the day or the hour but His Father alone. Because they do not know when these end times will come to pass, He instruction to them is to "keep on the alert". He says this in verses 33 and 35 and then in the final verse of the chapter He says, "What I say to you I say to all, 'Be on the alert!'"
Over the years it has seemed that Christians have often been more concerned with figuring out the "day or the hour" than they have been about being on the alert. God does all things well and there is no doubt in my mind that this includes His sovereign choice to not disclose these things to us. We ought to be well content with not knowing, knowing that He does what is best for His children. But we ought to heed the words of our Savior and endeavor to be alert. Spirit lead I believe we can "discern the signs of the times" as we remember the words of the Hebrew author who wrote, "For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay." Of this we are sure.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Today's Bible reading is the 12th chapter of the Book of Mark. You can read it here at Bible Gateway: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+12&version=NASB
Motive means much. We have two examples in today's passage of scripture where people engage Jesus in a conversation with impure motives. about things they really have no genuine interest in. We first see some men, described as Pharisees and Herodians, who had been sent to trap Jesus into saying something that could be used against Him. They call Him teacher, tell Him that He is truthful and say that He teaches the word of God in truth. But these words of praise were not from the heart and not prompted by their faith in Him. They were simply words used in their efforts to accuse Him. We then see some from the Sadducees come to Him, address Him as teacher and then ask Him questions about the resurrection. But they do not really consider Him their teacher and their question is intended to challenge the truth of the resurrection which they do not believe in.
Captured in scripture, the story of the "widow's mite" has endured through the ages. Mark records it in the final verses of today's chapter. It is a story of how God would use a "poor widow" to teach a lesson to those present at the time and to generations that would follow. In contrast to the above, it is no doubt an example of pure and heartfelt motive. The story begins with Jesus sitting down, "opposite the treasury", as He observes people putting money into the treasury. We read that "many rich people were putting in large sums." When Jesus observes a widow put two small copper coins into the treasury, He gathers His disciples and tells them that she had put in more than all of the others who had contributed. While they had "all put in of their surplus", this woman had given out of her poverty. She had given all that she had and not just everything that she had on her person at the time of her giving, but all she had to live on. It really was Christ-like giving. We don't know her name but her powerful story lives on. May we learn from her love for our God. May God grant us each some portion of this widow's heart for the giving of ourselves, our time, our possessions and all to the Lord.
Motive means much. We have two examples in today's passage of scripture where people engage Jesus in a conversation with impure motives. about things they really have no genuine interest in. We first see some men, described as Pharisees and Herodians, who had been sent to trap Jesus into saying something that could be used against Him. They call Him teacher, tell Him that He is truthful and say that He teaches the word of God in truth. But these words of praise were not from the heart and not prompted by their faith in Him. They were simply words used in their efforts to accuse Him. We then see some from the Sadducees come to Him, address Him as teacher and then ask Him questions about the resurrection. But they do not really consider Him their teacher and their question is intended to challenge the truth of the resurrection which they do not believe in.
Captured in scripture, the story of the "widow's mite" has endured through the ages. Mark records it in the final verses of today's chapter. It is a story of how God would use a "poor widow" to teach a lesson to those present at the time and to generations that would follow. In contrast to the above, it is no doubt an example of pure and heartfelt motive. The story begins with Jesus sitting down, "opposite the treasury", as He observes people putting money into the treasury. We read that "many rich people were putting in large sums." When Jesus observes a widow put two small copper coins into the treasury, He gathers His disciples and tells them that she had put in more than all of the others who had contributed. While they had "all put in of their surplus", this woman had given out of her poverty. She had given all that she had and not just everything that she had on her person at the time of her giving, but all she had to live on. It really was Christ-like giving. We don't know her name but her powerful story lives on. May we learn from her love for our God. May God grant us each some portion of this widow's heart for the giving of ourselves, our time, our possessions and all to the Lord.
Monday, February 24, 2014
Today's Bible reading is the 11th chapter of the Book of Mark.You can read it here at Bible Gateway: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+11&version=NASB
Only days before His arrest and crucifixion, Jesus entered the temple in Jerusalem "and began to drive out those who were buying and selling in the temple" we read in today's passage. I can only imagine that this must have been a most unusual event to have witnessed. After entering the temple we see Jesus overturning "the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves". His passion about the matter must have been evident to all as the tables and benches were being turned over. His displeasure is clearly towards all involved. The sellers, the buyers, and both those who approved of the activity and those who were indifferent to it. As He confronts them we see Him quoting the prophets, Isaiah and Jeremiah, when He says, "Is it not written, "MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL THE NATIONS'? But you have made it a Robbers' Den."
Although I write the following with some hesitancy, as I read this portion of today's chapter of scripture, I couldn't help but wonder how the Lord feels about the commercialization of so much in the Church in our day. Music, books, arts and crafts, seminars, speaking engagements, and the list goes on and on. As indicated, my intent is not to render a verdict against all who have profited financially from matters related to our faith. I simply and honestly wonder what the Lord thinks of it all. I believe the He has been pleased with a portion of it, although perhaps that portion is small in comparison to the whole.
Although not limited to just these reasons, I say this, at least in part, in light of the life He lived and the things that He said to the twelve when He first sent them out to minister. Matthew records Jesus telling them, "Freely you received, freely give. Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, or a bag for your journey, or even two coats, or sandals, or a staff; for a worker is worthy of his support." No, He doesn't forbid them from earning money through ministry, but He seems concerned for their "support" in ministry and not their wealth. May the Lord help us to have a Christ-like perspective on ministry and the new and abundant life He has given.
Only days before His arrest and crucifixion, Jesus entered the temple in Jerusalem "and began to drive out those who were buying and selling in the temple" we read in today's passage. I can only imagine that this must have been a most unusual event to have witnessed. After entering the temple we see Jesus overturning "the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves". His passion about the matter must have been evident to all as the tables and benches were being turned over. His displeasure is clearly towards all involved. The sellers, the buyers, and both those who approved of the activity and those who were indifferent to it. As He confronts them we see Him quoting the prophets, Isaiah and Jeremiah, when He says, "Is it not written, "MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL THE NATIONS'? But you have made it a Robbers' Den."
Although I write the following with some hesitancy, as I read this portion of today's chapter of scripture, I couldn't help but wonder how the Lord feels about the commercialization of so much in the Church in our day. Music, books, arts and crafts, seminars, speaking engagements, and the list goes on and on. As indicated, my intent is not to render a verdict against all who have profited financially from matters related to our faith. I simply and honestly wonder what the Lord thinks of it all. I believe the He has been pleased with a portion of it, although perhaps that portion is small in comparison to the whole.
Although not limited to just these reasons, I say this, at least in part, in light of the life He lived and the things that He said to the twelve when He first sent them out to minister. Matthew records Jesus telling them, "Freely you received, freely give. Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, or a bag for your journey, or even two coats, or sandals, or a staff; for a worker is worthy of his support." No, He doesn't forbid them from earning money through ministry, but He seems concerned for their "support" in ministry and not their wealth. May the Lord help us to have a Christ-like perspective on ministry and the new and abundant life He has given.
Friday, February 21, 2014
Today's Bible reading is the 10th chapter of the Book of Mark. You can read it here at Bible Gateway:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+10&version=NASB
In this 10th chapter of the Book of Mark there are so many choices on which to write some short thoughts. Jesus' teaching concerning divorce and the hardness of men's hearts. The story of the rich young ruler and the difficulty presented by riches. Jesus telling His disciples of His coming arrest, death and resurrection. James' and John's request to sit next to Jesus in His glory, one on His right and one on His left. The healing of the blind beggar, Bartimaeus. But I was drawn to something that many would consider much simpler I suppose. In verses 13 through 16 we read that children were being brought to Jesus so that He might touch them. When Jesus saw His disciples rebuking those who were bringing the children to Him, we read that He became indignant with them. And then He is quoted as having said to His disciples, “Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.” And then verse 16 tells us that He took the children into His arms and began blessing them. Perhaps in a different way, this seems so similar to what has occurred in my life and the lives of all others who find themselves in Christ. Jesus took me into His arms one day and began blessing me. And although that day has now been over thirty years ago, I remain in His arms and I remain in His blessings. Oh, how thankful we ought to be for being in the arms of Jesus.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+10&version=NASB
In this 10th chapter of the Book of Mark there are so many choices on which to write some short thoughts. Jesus' teaching concerning divorce and the hardness of men's hearts. The story of the rich young ruler and the difficulty presented by riches. Jesus telling His disciples of His coming arrest, death and resurrection. James' and John's request to sit next to Jesus in His glory, one on His right and one on His left. The healing of the blind beggar, Bartimaeus. But I was drawn to something that many would consider much simpler I suppose. In verses 13 through 16 we read that children were being brought to Jesus so that He might touch them. When Jesus saw His disciples rebuking those who were bringing the children to Him, we read that He became indignant with them. And then He is quoted as having said to His disciples, “Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.” And then verse 16 tells us that He took the children into His arms and began blessing them. Perhaps in a different way, this seems so similar to what has occurred in my life and the lives of all others who find themselves in Christ. Jesus took me into His arms one day and began blessing me. And although that day has now been over thirty years ago, I remain in His arms and I remain in His blessings. Oh, how thankful we ought to be for being in the arms of Jesus.
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Today's Bible reading is the 9th chapter of the Book of Mark. You can read it here at Bible Gateway: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+9&version=NASB
The 9th chapter of Mark begins with Mark's account of the transfiguration of Jesus that took place as Peter, James and John were gazed on. They were the only invited guest to witness this event. Matthew and Luke also record this event in their Gospel accounts. As you may recall, Jesus is transfigured before the three apostles and Moses and Elijah also appear, both of them talking with Jesus. During the transfiguration Jesus' garments are described as being "radiant and exceedingly white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them." This statement reminds me, that as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, I stand before God clothed in the righteousness of Christ, a righteousness that far surpasses and cannot be attained by any plan or device of man on earth. During the transfiguration, the scripture tells us that a voice came out of a cloud saying, “This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!” These are clearly words spoken by the Father, the God of all creation. Oh, how our lives would be ever changing if we would daily, "Listen to Him."
The 9th chapter of Mark begins with Mark's account of the transfiguration of Jesus that took place as Peter, James and John were gazed on. They were the only invited guest to witness this event. Matthew and Luke also record this event in their Gospel accounts. As you may recall, Jesus is transfigured before the three apostles and Moses and Elijah also appear, both of them talking with Jesus. During the transfiguration Jesus' garments are described as being "radiant and exceedingly white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them." This statement reminds me, that as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, I stand before God clothed in the righteousness of Christ, a righteousness that far surpasses and cannot be attained by any plan or device of man on earth. During the transfiguration, the scripture tells us that a voice came out of a cloud saying, “This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!” These are clearly words spoken by the Father, the God of all creation. Oh, how our lives would be ever changing if we would daily, "Listen to Him."
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