disciples: found napping

Posted on August 17, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

sleep

 

Mark 14.  Mark highlights the irony in that Jesus had just warned his disciples to stay awake (13:35, 36) and then follows with several stories that show that they are found napping – literally and figuratively.  Significant events are happening all around them, and they are unaware.

 

  1. A woman prepares Jesus’ head for burial by anointing it.  All the disciples could see was how expensive the oil was (3-9).
  2. Judas had set in motion the event of Jesus’ betrayal.  Meanwhile the disciples are not even aware of their own innocence (1-2, 10-21).
  3. Jesus is aware of the ensuing tragedy, while the disciples stubbornly ignore it.  They are caught napping when they should have been praying.  When the crowd comes, Jesus is ready to go with them.  the others flee (22-52).
  4. Peter was following at a distance.  He might have heard Jesus confess who he really was, but peter continued to deny who he  was until the rooster reminded him.  Wake up, Peter.

LORD,  perhaps today will be a significant time for us to share your gospel and acknowledge who we belong to.  May we not be found napping.

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disciples: questions about the future

Posted on August 16, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

temp-modMark 13.  Jesus and his disciples were on the Mount of Olives, overlooking the temple area – so vast that it covered 1/6th of the entire area of Jerusalem.  Jesus had just “dropped the bomb,” indicating that it would be destroyed.  The four fishermen disciples asked some questions about the future.  They wanted to know when “these things” (the destruction of the temple) and “all these things” (his coming and the end of the age) would happen.

  1. Jesus warned that the destruction of the temple was immanent.  It would happen within their lifetime.  It was part of God’s judgment upon the present Jews in Jerusalem for having rejected their Messiah.  It would not be delayed (14-20; 28-31).
  2. Most of the other signs (false Christs, wars, persecutions, earthquakes, famines, etc.) will come and go throughout the entire age – intermittently, like birth pains.  They are not signs of the end, but of the age itself.  During this age the gospel will be preached to all nations, then the end will come (5-13; 21-23).
  3. When Christ does come, it will be obvious – a cataclysmic event which cannot be hidden..  But no one will know the day nor the hour beforehand, so believers must keep awake and prepared for it at any time (24-27; 32-36).

LORD,  may we keep awake and proclaim your gospel to the nations in anticipation of your appearing.

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disciples: contributions to the kingdom

Posted on August 15, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

widows-mite1

 

Mark 12.  Jesus continues to teach his disciples by drawing attention to spiritual realities they are observing in the physical Jerusalem.  He points out a poor widow and her offering of two leptas – about 1/64th of a day’s wage  — insignificant in everyone’s eyes except God’s.

  1. The religious and political leaders in Jerusalem were the ones with clout and significance, and they liked it that way.  Jesus’ parable of the tenants was directed toward them (1-12).
  2. The Herodians rightly said that Jesus was “no swayed by appearances.”  He could see through them.  He knew they did not seek to honor God (13-17).
  3. The Sadducees’ problem with the resurrection was their failure to recognize who God is (18-27).
  4. The scribe was close.  He knew what mattered to God, but was not willing to live out his knowledge (28-34).

Jesus taught that these professional teachers of the law and religion should be avoided.  Their public display of spirituality hid a private lust for power and money.  They made no contribution to the kingdom.

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disciples: learning about faith

Posted on August 14, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

fig

 

Mark 11.  The disciples caught several visible demonstrations in this chapter, and learned about true and false faith from all of them.

 

  1. They saw Jesus curse a fig tree for looking like it might be fruitful, but not bearing any fruit.  Later, they noticed that the tree had withered.  Jesus taught them to believe that what they pray for will come to pass.  That’s true faith.
  2. They saw Jerusalem welcome Christ with shouts of Hosanna  at his triumphal entry. Then they saw the temple, which revealed the hypocrisy of a people who valued money above prayer.  The leaders questioned Jesus’ authority to do ministry.  That’s false faith.

LORD,  grant us a faith that bears fruit.  We want a faith that dares to believe it will receive what it asks for.  We want our trust in you to be genuine.

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disciples: fairness and the kingdom

Posted on August 13, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

fair

 

 

Mark 10.  The disciples learn a valuable lesson about the kingdom of God in this chapter: it’s not fair. 

 

 

  1. It’s not fair that God intends marriage to last a lifetime. What if you find that you are incompatible? (1-12).
  2. It’s not fair to waste the master’s time on children and beggars. There are important things for him to do (13-16; 46-52).
  3. It’s not fair that so many who are first in God’s kingdom have so little to show for it (17-31).
  4. It’s not fair that the Son of Man must suffer and be killed in Jerusalem (32-34).
  5. It’s not fair that leaders in the kingdom must be slave to other people’s needs (35-45).

Yes, the kingdom of God is not fair.  Mercy is not fair.  Grace is not fair.  If we really got justice, we would all be condemned to destruction in hell.  Being a disciple means getting over yourself and what you think you deserve.

LORD,  may we give ourselves to others, like you did when you came not to be served, but to serve – and give your life as our ransom.

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disciples: no guts, no glory

Posted on August 12, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

Via DolorosaMark 8:27-9:50.  The disciples learn something about Jesus in the events described in this section.  They learn that Jesus is the Christ, and that he is going to come in  glory, so people should listen to him above all others.  But they also learn that before Christ comes in his glory he will be rejected, punished unfairly, and brutally murdered.

Jesus uses these events to teach his disciples that they too must surrender all of their ambitions of greatness and be willing to even surrender their lives in order to enter the future kingdom.  Self-denial is how we follow Christ, because he denied his rightful place to become our savior.

LORD, give us the courage to deny our ambitions of greatness and serve one another as your disciples.  Give us the courage to sacrifice ourselves in order to gain your kingdom.  Forgive us for seeing your kingdom as a way to advance our station and status.  We choose to take up our crosses and follow you on the Via Dolorosa.

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disciples: holiness and defilement

Posted on August 11, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

holiness_2Mark 7:1-8:26.  Disciples of Christ must seek for true holiness, and not settle for the mere appearance of holiness.  Those who were considered super-spiritual in 1st century Judaism were those whose religion was based on ritual, taboos, or ancestral lineage.  Jesus rejected all those as a basis for true holiness.

 

  1. The ritual of ceremonial washing before meals led those who practiced it to look down on those who did not, or could not practice it (7:1-13).
  2. Jesus taught that defilement comes from within, and is expressed by what one says (7:14-23).
  3. It appears that Jesus is acting in a proud manner toward the Gentile Syrophoenician woman.  He is actually allowing her to reveal her humility, and commends her for it.  Holiness is humble (7:24-30).
  4. The miracles Jesus performed were not to impress the crowds or to prove himself to his enemies.  They were given to help his disciples understand his message (7:31-8:26).

LORD, make us truly holy.  may we do nothing for appearance sake, but out of the inner resources of changed lives.

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disciples: preaching and hardened hearts

Posted on August 10, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

five-loaves-two-fishMark 6.  One of the facts of discipleship that we must be aware of is that our ministry will not always be accepted and appreciated.  Many hearts are hardened to God’s truth. 

 

 

 

  1. Even Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth was offended at his words.  He could not do many miracles there, and marveled at their unbelief (1-6).
  2. He sent out the twelve to a successful ministry, but warned them that some communities would reject them.  He advised them to shake the dust off their feet and move on (7-13).
  3. The hardened heart of Herodias conspired to murder John the Baptist (14-29).
  4. Jesus did miracle after miracle.  He fed 5000 with a small lunch, walked on water, and healed many.  Yet the disciples themselves did not understand what he was doing because even “their hearts were hardened” (30-56).

LORD, soften our hearts, so that we not only obey you, but also understand what you want.  Give us the courage to keep preaching when we encounter those who are offended at your word.

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disciples: faith overcomes fear

Posted on August 9, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

jesus_storm_calms_4Mark 4:35-5:43.  In this group of stories, the disciples learn that Jesus has great power, and that their faith in him should help them to overcome irrational fear.

 

 

 

  1. A great windstorm threatens to capsize the boat where Jesus lies sleeping.  They awaken him in fear, but Jesus rebukes the wind – and then the disciples.  They should have trusted him through the storm (4:35-41).
  2. A woman works her way through the crowd to touch his garment, and she is healed.  Jesus confronts her and calms her fear.  She had no reason to fear the one who came to heal her (5:24b-34).
  3. Jairus sought healing for his little daughter, but by the time Jesus got to his house, he was told it was too late.  She was dead.  Jesus told him not to fear.  To Jesus, the dead are merely asleep. He woke her up (5:21-24a, 35-43).
  4. It was the demons who rightly feared Jesus.  Having witnessed the loss of the pigs, the Gerasenes irrationally asked him to leave their region! (5:1-20).

LORD, we have faith in you and your ministry. Help us to overcome irrational fears, and welcome your Holy Spirit’s presence and power in our lives.

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disciples: privy to the secret

Posted on August 8, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

top_secret1

 

Mark 4:1–34

As Jesus taught beside the sea, the crowds pressed in so tightly that He stepped into a boat and used the shoreline as His sanctuary. Outsiders listened to Him speak, but they could not grasp what He was saying. They heard stories about seeds and soils and assumed He was giving farming tips. They heard about lamps, baskets, beds, and stands, and wondered why a traveling rabbi was suddenly interested in interior design.

They heard the words — but not the meaning.

Jesus wasn’t hiding truth from them; He was revealing truth in a way only the humble could receive. The parables were not puzzles for clever minds but invitations for surrendered hearts. Only the disciples — the ones who had left everything to follow Him — were given “the secret of the kingdom of God.” They stayed close. They asked questions. They lingered after the crowds went home. And in those quiet moments, Jesus “explained everything” to them.

The difference wasn’t intelligence.
It wasn’t education.
It wasn’t a spiritual pedigree.

The difference was submission.

Those who stood at a distance only heard stories.
Those who drew near to Jesus received revelation.

Mark 4 reminds us that understanding Christianity is not primarily an intellectual achievement. It is the fruit of surrender. The kingdom opens to those who bow. The mysteries of God unfold for those who sit at Jesus’ feet and let Him shape their minds, their desires, and their way of seeing the world.

If we want to understand the kingdom, we must live as its citizens now — listening, obeying, and preparing for the day when the King brings the next phase of His reign in fullness.

Prayer

LORD, we surrender to You as our Lord and Master.
We surrender our minds, our assumptions, and our understanding.
Teach us the secrets of Your kingdom.
Help us live as faithful citizens today as we prepare for the glory that is coming.
Amen.

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