Mark 2:1-2

Passage

After some time in the wilderness, Jesus returned home to Capernaum.  Again the crowds come out, more than could possibly fit into his house.  There was no room for them even to stand comfortably near the door.  While the crowds came to Him, Jesus preached God’s Word.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Jesus goes back to Capernaum.  A few weeks ago in my sermon research I stumbled upon some data that comes out in these verses.  The Bible calls Capernaum the place where Jesus had a home.  Think about it for a second.  He was born in Bethlehem.  He was raised in Nazareth.  But as an adult He has chosen to call Capernaum home.  That should tell us something about the spiritual receptivity of Capernaum at this time and the relative non-receptivity of Nazareth.

Imagine being a part of Capernaum and knowing that Jesus chose to live among you!  How do you think you would respond if Jesus took up physical residence right next door to you?  What is the range of statements that could be made about your neighborhood if Jesus lived among you?

Second Thought:

The crowds hear about Jesus and they come.  They want to see what Jesus is up to.  The want to be there should something incredible happen.  Perhaps like all of us, on some level they just want to be entertained.  Whatever the reason, they come.  I think this is one of the primary reasons Jesus chooses Capernaum in which to dwell.  People are willing to respond.

Why is response important?  What kind of other attributes does response bring?  Think about how Jesus’ house must have felt.  How would you have described?  Energy?  Mood? Excitement?  Style?

Third Thought:

Jesus teaches about God’s Word.  Jesus has a captive audience, so He talks to them about God.  There is no better lesson than to teach about God’s Word and how it applies to our life.  People want to use all kinds of gimmicks and tricks.  The best lesson is starting with the truth and then applying it to life.

How often do you talk about God’s Word?  Why do you think many people feel the need to use tricks and gimmicks to talk about God’s Word?

Passage for Tomorrow: Mark 2:3-5

Mark 1:43-45

Passage

After the man was healed, Jesus spoke sternly to him.  He sent him away with an order to not say anything to anyone except to the temple priests.  There he was to show himself as proof of his cleanliness according to the Law.  Instead, the man who was healed went out and talked openly about it.  Soon Jesus could not enter into a town because His popularity was so great.  Jesus had to restrain Himself to the deserted places – and people were still coming out to see Him!

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

We get our first look at a disobedient person.  The man started so well.  Yesterday I praised him for his humbleness.  But today we see that the humbleness was merely a ploy.  The man wasn’t interested in obedience.  He disobeys Jesus’ order and for all we know he disobeys Jesus and doesn’t go to the priests as proscribed by the Law.  The man just wanted to be healed.  He wasn’t looking to change his life or follow Jesus.  He simply wanted to get his problem fixed and then take advantage of the 15 minutes of fame that such a healing would afford.

What can this whole passage teach us about the motivations of people and why we need to be careful?  What else does it teach us since clearly Jesus knew what would happen but He healed the man anyway?

Second Thought:

Now we see one of the first clear problems with disobedience.  The man goes out and talks freely about Jesus – which originally sounds like a good thing because we live in an age where Jesus has told us to go and talk freely about Him.  In the day of this story, however, this is a horrible act of disobedience to Jesus’ direct words.  Because of the man’s disobedience, Jesus’ popularity rises sooner than Jesus intended.  He couldn’t go into the towns anymore.  The effect of this man’s disobedience is that Jesus can’t go into populated areas anymore.  Think of all the people that didn’t get to see Jesus in person because this man thought more of himself than God’s work.

What can you learn from this passage about doing God’s work and discerning what God’s work actually is?  How does this passage show us that just because an act sounds like a good thing (talking about Jesus) it may not be a good thing?  How can you find help discerning what is God’s will and what just sounds like a good thing?

Third Thought:

Jesus goes out into the desolate places.  His disciples follow Him.  People still come to Him.  But this is not likely how Jesus desired to go about God’s work. If it was, then Jesus wouldn’t have told the man to stay quiet.  Instead, it is likely that God’s plan has to change to accommodate the influence of human sinfulness.  God’s plan is still accomplished, of course.  But it is done in a way that is not God’s original plan.

What can you learn today about the fact that God’s plan changes because of human sinfulness?  What does it say to you that God’s plan can still be accomplished in spite of human sinfulness?

Passage for Tomorrow: Mark 2:1-2

Mark 1:40-42

Passage

A man with leprosy came and knelt before Jesus.  The leper told Jesus that he believed that if Jesus desired it, Jesus could cleanse him of his leprosy.  Jesus felt great compassion for the man.  Jesus touched the man and said “I desire, be clean.”  Immediately the leprosy left the man and he was cleansed of the disease.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

The leper begins by doing everything right.  He humbles himself before Jesus by kneeling before Him.  He makes a confession of belief in Jesus’ power.  Here is a man who knows that he doesn’t deserve to be healed but that he has had a great opportunity to be healed fall right into his lap.  Rather than blow the opportunity, he has the presence of mind to humble himself before God.

Is it easy to be humble, especially when you need something as bad as the leper needed healing?  What kind of humbleness do you display on a regular basis?

Second Thought:

Jesus desired it.  He literally willed it to happen.  Jesus felt compassion upon the man and reached out to touch him.  Can you imagine the rest of the disciples’ reaction?  It is bad enough that Jesus let this man get close to Him; but when Jesus reaches out to touch him He is acting well into the abnormal.  But Jesus does touch the leper.  He does enter into the world of sickness and disease.  Jesus understands that in order for the sick to be healed, the well need to put themselves at risk and go among the sick.

What is your first reaction when someone who is sick, diseased, or otherwise unclean gets too close to you?  What about someone who is picked on, outcast, or otherwise rejected by community?  What does Jesus teach us here about being willing to go among those that the rest of the world wishes would just go away?

Third Thought:

The leprosy left.  Immediately.  There’s that word again.  When Jesus wills something to happen, it happens.  Jesus doesn’t need to wait.  It’s not like He’s got to charge His batteries.  When Jesus wills it and acts, it happens.  That is the power of God.

How do you typically think about God working in your life?  Does God ever seem to move very slowly in changing you or your circumstances?  When have you seen God work suddenly, too?

Passage for Tomorrow: Mark 1:43-45

Mark 1:35-39

Passage

Early the next day – before the sun was even up – Jesus heads out into an absolutely deserted place in order to pray.  Simon (Peter) and the rest of the people who were His disciples at the time search for Him.  When they find Him, Peter tells Jesus that everyone is looking for Him.  Jesus gives Peter a different agenda.  Jesus tells Peter that they must move on and go to other towns, because Jesus was sent to get His message out.  So they head out throughout all of Galilee while preaching and casting out demons.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Jesus gets up early to spend time with God.  This is important because you will remember that Jesus had a busy day on the prior day.  Jesus went home with His disciples, healed Peter’s mother-in-law, and then healed everyone who was brought to Him.  If anyone needed to sleep in, it was Jesus on this morning.  But Jesus understands and acts upon a spiritual truth.  There is more to being refreshed than simply getting good sleep.  One must be in tune with God to truly feel refreshed.

How would you describe the kind of refreshment that comes from God?  Where do you find the refreshment that Jesus seems to find in prayer? 

Second Thought:

Peter and the rest of the disciples searched for Jesus.  Clearly, they were curious as to where He was.  However, they are also demonstrating a spiritual truth – consciously or subconsciously we don’t know.  They understand that they had just decided to follow Jesus.  They left their former lives to follow Jesus.  So when they can’t find Jesus, they look for Him!  They don’t go back to their old way of living.  They look for Jesus when they can’t find Him.

Have you ever been in a time or a place in your life where you didn’t feel like you could find Jesus?  In those times, how easy is it to simply give up and go back to the former things that we tried to leave behind when we set out to follow Jesus?

Third Thought:

Jesus tells them that it is time to leave.  Jesus didn’t come to save Capernaum; Jesus came to save the world.  Jesus doesn’t want to just focus on one place regardless of how well that place responds to Him!  Jesus came for the sake of the world, and His disciples needed to learn that what is important is going out into the world.  Those who follow Jesus are missional and discipleship focused by our very nature.

How easy is it to stay where we are safe and secure in life?  What happens to us when we “go?”  What happens to the world if we are content to stay where we are safe and secure?

Passage for Tomorrow: Mark 1:40-42

Mark 1:32-34

Passage

As the night progressed, more and more sick people were brought to Jesus.  Soon an incredible crowd was gathered at the door of Andrew and Peter’s house.  Jesus healed many sick people.  Jesus cast out many demons.  But He forbade the demons from speaking because they knew who He was.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Grammar is such an interesting thing.  In the Greek text, there is no subject of the verb “brought.”  Like most declined languages, this happens often – so it’s no big deal.  From the form of the verb, we know it is 3^rd person plural.  So, we grab the appropriate pronoun and insert it because English demands a subject.  The appropriate pronoun is “they.”  That’s not the neat part.

What is neat is that in these cases, the subject of the verb is assumed to be the prior noun of the same gender and number.  {We pretty much do the same thing in English when we’re trying to figure out the antecedents to an English pronoun.}  The prior noun is found at the end of verse 31: “them.”  Who are “them?”  It is Jesus’ own disciples!  The people that Peter’s mother served are the ones who bring all the sick to Jesus.  So often we think that the crowds of Capernaum brought their own sick to pester Jesus while He was trying to have an intimate moment with His disciples.  This is not what happened at all!  It is the disciples – amazed at how Jesus has already worked in their lives – who are going out and bringing people to Jesus!  Isn’t that a novel concept?

Who do you go out and bring to Jesus?  What has Jesus done in your life that you should be using to help bring other people to Him?  What does it say about us if we aren’t actively going out and trying to bring people to Jesus?

Second Thought:

Jesus healed many sick people.  Imagine the scene.  A large crowd gathers.  Someone is healed.  Another person is healed.  The whooping!  The ahhh-ing!  The excitement builds.  If we let Him be, Jesus is a person that creates and incredible amount of excitement in our life.

When you think of faith and spirituality, do you get excited?  Is excitement something people usually associate with faith and religion?  What does this tell us about how we may be sending the wrong message to the world?  How can we change that message?

Third Thought:

Jesus refuses to let the demons speak because they know who He is.  Again, it might be confusing as to why Jesus doesn’t want His identity getting around.  After all, aren’t we supposed to talk about Jesus?

The truth is that Jesus wants people to discover Him based on His teaching and the movement within people’s hearts.  He doesn’t want them to get caught up in the whole “Messiah is going to overthrow Rome and make us a great nation” turmoil.  Jesus wants people to come because they believe in how He can change their life, not because they think Jesus can bring them earthly glory.  With Jesus, it is all about personal relationship and personal growth.  It is not about glory and power and prestige.

How does this passage help you begin to understand why the “Jesus movement” stayed so small?  How does this passage help you understand that Jesus isn’t as interested in the big group mass-of-humanity as He is in the small discipleship 1-on-1 kind of conversations?

Passage for Tomorrow: Mark 1:35-39

Mark 1:29-31

Passage

Immediately Jesus leaves the synagogue and goes in to stay with Peter and Andrew.  James and John are also there, as is Peter’s sick mother-in-law.  Immediately they tell Jesus about her illness.  Jesus went to her side, took her hand, helped her to her feet, and she was healed.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Jesus goes to stay with Peter and Andrew.  Here’s something really interesting, though.  In Matthew 4:12-13 (prior to calling his first disciples), we are told that Jesus makes a home in Capernaum.  In Mark 2:1-3 we are told that the paralytic man’s friends actually cut the hole in Jesus’ own rooftop in Capernaum!  So we know that Jesus had a house in Capernaum.  So why would Jesus go and stay with Peter and Andrew instead of going to His own house for the evening?  The answer rests in making valuable use of time.  The time when a person’s heart is truly open to Jesus is remarkably small.  Satan knows when a person is willing and loves nothing more than to fill that sensitivity with the things of the world.  Jesus goes to stay with Simon and Andrew while the call to discipleship is young and they are the most vulnerable – and receptive.

Have you had times in your life where you were looking for God and that searching wasn’t filled?  What filled that searching?  Does this help you understand why Jesus would take advantage of the opportunity now?  What does this teach us about being ready ourselves to take advantage of opportunities when other people are likewise searching?

Second Thought:

Peter and Andrew don’t hesitate to tell Jesus about their mother-in-law.  It’s not that they want to impose.  Rather, it is that they know Jesus can do something about it.  Notice that they also don’t force their will upon Jesus.  They merely tell Jesus about it and then wait for Jesus’ response.  That’s how the disciple-mentor relationship works with Jesus.  We should not be afraid to lay our burdens at the feet of Jesus.  Neither should we expect Him to resolve our burdens for us and in the manner we desire.

How often do we pray for things to go our own way?  How often in our relationship with God do we actually assert our will rather than let Him know we are humbling ourselves to His will?  Do you think God doesn’t already know our desires?  If so, what is more important – telling God our desires or telling Him we are humble and willing to abide by His?

Third Thought:

Jesus heals the woman.  In fact, we also don’t have any record that Jesus did anything but touch her and lift her up.  Jesus doesn’t need any mystical mantra.  He doesn’t have to say any magical words or do a magical routine.  He doesn’t have to have any particular holy symbol.  The presence of God’s Messiah is enough to make all the difference in her life.  Literally, Jesus just reached down and lifted her up out of her condition.

How neat is it to see that Jesus doesn’t need a special magic set of words or a special holy object?  What does it say to you about the presence of Jesus being all you need?

Passage for Tomorrow: Mark 1:32-34

Mark 1:27-28

Passage

The people were all amazed and asked what was happening.  Jesus had a new teaching with authority.  They were impressed because Jesus could even command evil spirits and they obeyed Him.  Immediately His fame spread everywhere in Galilee.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Notice the difference between how the people in Capernaum react to Jesus versus how the people in His own hometown react (See Mark 6:1-6).  The people in Capernaum are not questioning Jesus’ character but rather they are amazed at His teaching.  They don’t question the man; they allow themselves to witness the power of God!  They don’t ask, “Who is this?”  Instead they ask, “What is this?”  As disciples, we can look upon this passage and realize that we should be looking for the power of God in our lives regardless of who it is that God uses to bring that power into our life.

How often do we get caught up in “whom” when we should get caught up in “what?”  Why do we put so much emphasis in people rather than God’s work?

Second Thought:

Jesus’ teaching was “new.”  This word in the Greek means, “significant while being previously unknown.”  The people in Capernaum had every opportunity to know the power of God before Jesus came on the scene (They had the Law and Prophets, after all!).  The people in all over Israel had that same opportunity to know God.  But they had missed out on that opportunity.  Had Christ not come, they would have continued to miss out on that opportunity.  It is important that we understand just how “new” Christ’s teaching is and why we should be careful not to miss our opportunities to draw close to God.

What is “new” about Jesus in your life?  How have you been in danger of missing God’s power in the past?

Third Thought:

Again we have the word immediately.  Immediately Jesus’ fame spread everywhere in Galilee.   Contrast this verse with how many times in the rest of the Gospel we’ll hear Jesus command people to not speak about what has happened.  It is easy to wonder why it is that people talking about Jesus could ever be a bad thing.

Human nature is what it is.  We like to gossip.  We like to talk about the amazing and the miraculous.  Thus, there is a fine line between genuine proclamation of Jesus as one of His disciples and unfortunate gossip.  The difference is the motivation.  When we encounter other people, do we truly desire that they become disciples of Jesus or do we want them to be impressed at our ability to tell the tale?  We shall see as we progress through Mark just how many of these people who are talking about Jesus’ amazing ability actually want to be His disciple versus how many are just interested in the gossip.

Why is it easy to gossip about amazing and incredible things?  Why is it difficult to truly speak about faith on a personal level of commitment?  Does it make sense to you that proclamation of Jesus under the wrong attitude could ever be a bad thing?

Passage for Tomorrow: Mark 1:29-31

Mark 1:23-26

Passage

Immediately in the synagogue there was a man with an unclean spirit.  The man, together with the unclean spirit, cries out to Jesus.  They want to know what Jesus will do about them.  He wonders if Jesus has come to destroy them.  He then identifies Jesus as the Holy One of God.  Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit by first commanding him to be silent and then commanding him to come out of the man.  The unclean spirit shrieks in a loud voice and obeys Jesus.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Again we have the word immediately.  No sooner did Jesus begin to teach with authority than that authority was challenged.  This is actually a pretty cool point.  So often when we step out in faith we are immediately challenged.  We often hear the challenge and our first instinct is to retreat.  But there are two points that we should consider.  First, if the powers and principalities of evil challenge Jesus as soon as He steps out, why should we expect anything different?  Second, it only makes sense that they would want to challenge Jesus.  If Jesus is going to be knocked down, it is going to happen when He is just starting out, not once He has gained a bunch of experience.  If this is true for Jesus, why would it not be true for us as well?  Why wouldn’t Satan and his powers want to attack us just when we begin to grow in our faith and are most vulnerable?

How often do you think about growing in your faith?  How often do you think about stepping out into new faith?  How often do you genuinely consider how much Satan would prefer to see you fail the first time you step out?  Why is it important to consider such things?

Second Thought:

The unclean spirit comes at Jesus with questions.  The unclean spirit wants to know Jesus’ intent.  There is something neat about this point as well.  The powers of darkness do not know the future.  This unclean spirit did not know what Jesus would do with it.  It assumed Jesus was there to destroy it, but it did not know.  So often we assume that the powers of evil know as much as God.  This passage strongly suggests otherwise.

What does it say about the powers of evil that they do not know the future for certain?  What does it say about those who choose to serve evil instead of God, who does know the future?

Third Thought:

The unclean spirit shrieks and comes out.  It is obedient.  Granted, the obedience of the unclean spirit is resistant.  It doesn’t willingly obey.  But in the end, it does obey.  I believe this will be the state of everything in the end.  All will come face to face with God and be forced to bend their knee at God’s supremacy.  Some will be obedient willingly and pass on into God’s glory.  Others will bend the knee only under God’s judgment and they will pass on into that judgment.  But all will obey God.

Which one are you?  Do you bend your knee to God willingly?

Passage for Tomorrow: Mark 1:27-28

Mark 1:21-22

Passage

Jesus and His newly acquired disciples went to Capernaum.  On the Sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and began to teach.  The people in Capernaum were astonished at Him because He taught as someone who had authority rather than as the scribes taught.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

On the Sabbath, Jesus went to church (I know, I know.  Synagogue doesn’t necessarily equal church).  But really, think about it for a second.  Does Jesus need to go to church?  Isn’t He God?  Doesn’t church kind of follow Him around?  Jesus goes to church to demonstrate two principles to those who would follow Him.  First, regardless of who you are, worshipping God is a necessary part of a truly godly life and the main reason to go to church.  Second, being in the habit of having a spiritual community and having the opportunity to talk about one’s faith is an important thing.

Why do you go to church?  How often do you go to church?  Do you ever see going to worship God as a sign of obedience to Him?  Does it make you feel good to know that when you go to worship God you are mimicking Jesus?

Second Thought:

Jesus not only goes to church, but while He is there He teaches.  Okay, I get it.  He is the Son of God.  He probably has a few things to say and He’s got confidence in abundance.  We don’t always have those two qualities.  Yet, we should realize that going to worship God should not be a passive thing.  We should not always go to “receive.”  We should go to participate.  We should lift up our gifts and use them in the worship of God.  We should be an active voice that proclaims our relationship with God to others – even in church.

Are you passive about proclaiming your faith when you go to worship God?  What makes it easy to be passive?  When you focus only on receiving from God, what might you be missing out on?

Third Thought:

The people of Capernaum were astonished.  First, they were probably astonished because Jesus actually did have a public faith.  Testimonies of public faith are hard to come by in any day.  Second, and more importantly, they were astonished because Jesus taught as one with authority.  He taught with authority because He spoke the words of God.  He taught with authority because He was in tune with what God was doing through Him.  He taught with authority because He believed in God’s plan.

What is God’s plan for you?  Why is it hard to live with authority if you don’t know what God is trying to do through you?  Who in your life teaches with authority?  What can you learn from their example?

Passage for Tomorrow: Mark 1:23-26

Mark 1:16-20

Passage

As Jesus was walking beside the sea, Jesus finds Andrew and Peter.  They were fishing – after all, they were fishermen.  Jesus calls to them and says, “Follow me, I will make you fishers of men.”  Immediately they left their nets and followed Jesus.  Going a little further, Jesus sees James and John, the sons of Zebedee.  They were fixing their nets.  Jesus calls to them and they immediately start to follow Jesus.  They left their father with his hired servants.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Simon (Peter) and Andrew were fishing.  Jesus calls them to be fishers of men.  I love the way that Jesus ties the call to their vocation and their gifts.  Jesus didn’t call them to be “evangelists.”  No, that would have probably scared them away.  Rather, Jesus called them to do what they already knew how to do.  Jesus calls them to fish.  But rather than casting their physical nets into the sea for fish, Jesus would teach them how to cast their verbal nets into the crowd in hopes of catching a disciple or two.

I think this is really a new way of thinking about ministry for me today.  Rather than calling people to be “evangelists,” we should call people to do what they already know how to do.  Jesus called me to teach – but to teach Him among people rather than mathematics.  Jesus can call a mother to become a mother over many disciples, thus increasing her spiritual children. Jesus can call a wood-worker to shape a people (raw material) into a useful part of God’s house.  The call to discipleship is not a call to something foreign.  It is a call to take your expertise and apply it in a new direction.

What is your expertise?  How can you use it in a new way?

Second Thought:

Immediately.  This is a word that we will hear often in Mark.  Andrew and Simon (Peter) immediately leave their nets and follow Jesus.  James and John immediately leave their work and follow Jesus.  The response to the Lord’s call is immediate.  Either we hear His call and listen, or we choose to ignore.  Now, this doesn’t mean that Andrew, Simon (Peter), James, and John were perfect.  No, they learned along the way and their skill as a disciple improved in time under Jesus.  But their response – their willingness to take their trade in a new direction – that was immediate.

Are you willing to immediately follow God where He leads?  Are you willing to listen when He bids you to come and follow Him?  Are you willing to do it right now?

Third Thought:

James and John leave their father – and his hired hands.  Don’t lose that small detail in the midst of this.  Zebedee was wealthy enough to have hired hands.  In today’s terminology, that made him a business owner.  James and John weren’t some poor fishermen who left Jesus because they had no better alternative.  No, James and John were probably sitting fairly well off compared to the rest of the people in Galilee.  Their family had enough resources to own their own business.  James and John walked away from the family business completely.  That takes guts.  They walked away from a sure thing the rest of their life to follow this Jesus.

What does this passage have to say about choosing between the physical and the worldly?  What does this passage teach us about the cost of discipleship?

Passage for Tomorrow: Mark 1:21-28

Mark 1:14-15

Passage

John the Baptizer was arrested for what he was preaching.  Afterwards, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming God’s good news.  Jesus told people that God’s timing was satisfied for the kingdom of God has come.  Jesus also taught that our proper response was to repent and believe in the good news of God.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

John is arrested – we’ll hear more about this later.  For now, we can take comfort to know that he was arrested for proclaiming what God wanted him to proclaim.  We should also not lose sight of the fact that Jesus ends His ministry by being arrested, too.  Oh yeah, pretty much all of Jesus’ disciples get arrested.  So does one of the other main figures in the whole of the New Testament: the Apostle Paul.  In fact, all of these people also die for the message that God wants them to proclaim.  The truth is inescapable.  God doesn’t call His followers to a life of ease.  He doesn’t call His followers to a life of being pampered.  When God calls, we have a choice between thinking about our needs or thinking about what God needs us to do.

Why is it scary to think about the way that many of the central figures in the New Testament lived and died?  Why do you think we spend so much time in America ignoring this reality and instead celebrating safe topics like love, God's glory, and prosperity?

Second Thought:

The next thing we hear in these verses is that Jesus came to proclaim the good news of God.  Jesus didn’t come so that He could talk about us or even Himself.  He came so that He could talk about God.  God is the center.  God’s agenda is the one to be followed.

Why is this an important understanding when we look at what it means to be a disciple?  Why is it difficult to live a life that has God and God’s agenda at the center?

Third Thought:

Jesus came to bear truth.  We are sinners.  Our walk with God begins in repentance.  Our walk with God doesn’t begin with us accepting ourselves for who we are or us rationalizing our weaknesses.  We are sinners through and through and our walk begins fundamentally with our repentance.  Only after we are willing to repent and confess our sinfulness can we approach the idea of faith and faithfulness.

Why don’t we like to talk about repentance?  Why don’t we care to speak about our faults and our inability to save ourselves?  Why do you think this is the absolute right place to start with respect to our faith life?

Passage for Tomorrow: Mark 1:16-20

Mark 1:12-13

Passage

The Holy Spirit thrusts Jesus into the wilderness.  While He was in the wilderness, He was under temptation from our adversary, Satan.  His only company was the wild animals.  The angels of God were ministering to Him. 

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

The Holy Spirit thrusts Jesus out into the wilderness.  No sooner does God declare Himself present among humanity than Jesus takes leave of humanity.  He goes out into the wilderness.  There are several thoughts as to why Jesus would spend this first 3.65% of ministry time on earth all by Himself.  Jesus needed to prepare for spiritual battle.  Jesus needed to prepare for the blindness of humanity.  He needed to be ready for what was going to happen.

How do times when we are all alone help us prepare for life?  Can you connect with God when you are alone?  When have you needed alone time most in your life?

Second Thought:

Unfortunately, Jesus wasn’t only allowed to prepare while He was in the wilderness.  Jesus was tempted by Satan.  There is a clear point in this story.  We can flee from sin.  But we cannot avoid temptation.  Even when we are alone and separated from the world we will undergo temptation.  Furthermore, we know that we can have confidence in our temptation.  If Jesus was tempted and overcame temptation, we can be confident that if we truly humble ourselves to Him then He can help us to overcome temptation as well.

How do you deal with temptation?  How do you prevent temptation from becoming sin?  What role does God’s Word and the Holy Spirit play in this struggle? What role does your spiritual community play in this?

Third Thought:

Speaking of spiritual community, notice that God’s angels cared for Jesus while He was in the wilderness.  Furthermore, Jesus was among the wild animals.  As for the angels, we don’t really know how it was that the angels cared for Jesus.  But it does remind us that God does not leave us alone when we need Him.  As for the animals, this is a neat fulfillment of Old Testament literature.  Hosea 2:18-20 talks about a covenant between us and the beasts of the earth.  Isaiah 11:1-10 talks about God’s Messiah and the fact that the beasts of the earth will be at peace with Him and lie down with one another.

How has God helped you when you most needed Him?  Have you ever felt as though God had left you alone only to see how He has provided for you all along?  What do you think about this idea of creation being at peace with God’s Messiah?  How can you demonstrate this peace in your relationship with creation?

Passage for Tomorrow: Mark 1:14-15

Mark 1:9-11

Summary

Jesus came from Nazareth to where John the Baptizer was baptizing, and Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River.  When Jesus came up out of the water He saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit was descending upon Him as a dove.  A voice from heaven sounded out and told Jesus that He was God’s beloved Son and that God was well-pleased with Jesus. 

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Have you ever wondered why Jesus was baptized by John?  After all, we just learned that the water in baptism represents a turning from the ways of our old life.  Certainly Jesus didn’t have old ways to turn from – He was sinless!  For Jesus, this is largely a moment of identification and approval.  John the Baptizer has been out in the wilderness calling people to change and wait for the Messiah.  Now, the Messiah was here.  It was time for Jesus to identify with this spiritual moment and receive the public approval from God.  Certainly, Jesus didn’t need to repent.  But those who repented needed to identify with Jesus.

What does it mean to you to realize that Jesus’ ministry began with the baptism of the Holy Spirit and your ministry begins with the same moment?  Does the fact that Jesus went through the baptism of the Holy Spirit help you feel connected to Jesus?

Second Thought:

The heavens are torn open.  This picture is similar to the event we have at Jesus’ crucifixion where the veil in the temple is torn in two.  Jesus’ ministry begins with God – who was thought to live far separated from earth in heaven – tearing down that barrier and speaking directly into the world.  At the crucifixion we’ll see how God goes one step further and through the tearing of the veil demonstrates that anyone can have direct access to God.  It is neat to see at each end of Jesus’ ministry that God made a point to demonstrate just how near He desires to come to humanity.

Have you thought about this voice from heaven with respect to God drawing near to humanity?  How does this point teach us about how closely God is willing to come to us?

Third Thought:

Jesus receives God’s approval.  The ministry of Jesus is blessed by the voice of God.  With the Holy Spirit, Jesus embarks upon a journey to change the world.  This is also mirrored by an event at the end of Jesus’ story.  After the resurrection – according to the Gospel of John – Jesus appears to His disciples and breathes upon them so that they might receive the Holy Spirit.  He then tells them to go out and change the world, too.  They do.  The point we can learn here is that those with the Holy Spirit go out and change the world.

Do you have the Holy Spirit within you?  How does thinking about this passage help you to understand the significance of having the Holy Spirit within you?  How does this passage help you desire to be active in what the Holy Spirit is calling you to do – that is, to change the world?

Passage for Tomorrow: Mark 1:12-13

Mark 1:6-8

Summary of Mark 1:6-8

John the Baptizer wore camel’s hair with a leather belt and he ate honey and locusts.  He focused his teaching on the one who was coming – the one who is mightier than himself.  John says that he’s not worthy to even untie the sandal of the one who is coming. John tells the people that while he may baptize with water, the one who is coming will baptize people with the Holy Spirit.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

John’s lifestyle is intentional.  This isn’t the case of someone living in an ancient culture being different than us modern folks.  This is the case of someone in an ancient culture being different than the rest of the people in that same ancient culture!  Yes, John’s dressing habits were probably meant as a reminder of the prophets of the Old Testament.  However, I think there is something more to it.  John’s dressing and eating habits are a sign that following God implies a certain level of casting off the ways of the world.  To truly follow God and live according to God’s ways, we will necessarily need to forfeit some of the luxuries afforded to us by the world.

Why do you think most of us find John’s habits a bit odd?  On a spiritual level, what does it say about humanity that we see John as odd rather than as a true visionary and an obedient follower?  What luxuries in this life might you be better of forgoing in order to trust in God’s provision?

Second Thought:

John focuses on one who is mightier than him.  John’s focus is not on himself. His focus is on the coming Messiah, the one who will set us right with God, the one who will allow us to be in a direct relationship with God, and the one who will do for us what nobody else can do.  John’s focus isn’t on his own greatness but on God’s greatness and our utter need to rely upon God for forgiveness and righteousness.  He does what every good follower of God should do: he points to God.  {And for those of you who listened to my sermons the past few weeks … let me remind you that not only does he point to God, but John also makes disciples!}

Who is the center of your life?  Who is the center of your speech?  Who is the focus of your actions?  Why is it such a necessary challenge to remind us all that our focus should be on giving glory to God {and making disciples}?

Third Thought:

John is not worthy to untie the sandals of the Messiah.  The household servant/slave was the one who would untie the sandals of a visitor.  Then the servant/slave would wash the feet of a house guest.  John is saying that he isn’t even worthy enough to be a servant in the house that God’s Messiah will visit.  That’s humility right there.

How often do we as human beings become filled with self-righteousness?  How often do we think we are entitled to a visit from God?  Why is it important to remember that technically weren’t like John – not even worthy enough to be a slave in a house that Jesus should visit?  How cool is it to know this and also know that God visits us anyway?

Fourth Thought:

John pronounces a baptism of water for repentance (turning from out old lifestyle).  John also pronounces that Jesus will have a different kind of baptism: Holy Spirit.  I think it is important to keep these two baptisms separate.  All over the New Testament we see stories of people who encounter these baptisms at different stages in their life.  Many encounter water baptism prior to the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  Others encounter the baptism of the Holy Spirit prior to the water baptism.  What is rare in the New Testament is to find a story about a person who encounters the baptism of water and the Holy Spirit at the same time.  However, when we understand them as separate events (even if they should overlap the same moment of life) we can allow each component to do its part.  The water is a symbol of the turning away from our prior lifestyle.  As Paul says in Ephesians 1:13-14, the true reception of the Holy Spirit is our guarantee of salvation.

Have you spent much time contemplating the two kinds of baptisms represented in the New Testament?  What benefit is there to continuing to think of them as two baptisms that can happen in any order or even simultaneous to one another?

Passage for Tomorrow: Mark 1:9-11

Mark 1:4-5

Summary retelling of Mark 1:4-5

John appeared.  He was baptizing in the wilderness, proclaiming the truth that people needed to repent in order to be forgiven.  He was baptizing people as a sign of their repentance.  The people of Judea (the countryside surrounding Jerusalem) and even Jerusalem itself were going out to hear John.  They were confessing their sins and being baptized by John.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

I believe that as Mark writes this, he desires to intentionally set up the reader to think about the Old Testament.  We find John preaching in the wilderness.  We should remember another great teacher who taught in a wilderness and who paved the road for people to come into possession of a new relationship with God: Moses.  Moses literally wandered in the wilderness while his people prepared themselves for Joshua to lead them into the Promised Land.  Now John the Baptizer is preaching in the wilderness preparing a new group of people for Jesus (Jesus is the Greek equivalent to the Hebrew name Joshua) to lead them into a spiritual Promised Land.

Have you ever thought to compare Jesus and Joshua with respect to their leading people into a Promised Land?  If Moses was a great teacher (but we also know that the whole generation of people to whom he taught except Joshua and Caleb died in the wilderness because of their disobedience) and if John is the New Testament analogy of Moses, what do these facts tell us about God’s opinion of the likelihood that people will actually receive and respond to John’s message?  What can we surmise about God’s opinion of whether or not people will respond to Jesus’ message?

Second Thought:

John’s baptism was about repentance.  Literally John called for repentance.  As people repented, their baptism was a symbol for the washing away of their old lifestyle.  Baptism is not a symbol of the washing away of sin, because nothing we do can ever wash away our sin.  Only Christ’s blood can permanently wash away our sin.  Rather, water baptism is a symbol of the washing away of the old lifestyle.  Literally, this is what the idea of repentance is all about.  The word repent literally means to turn around.  When we repent of our sinful nature, we are turning away from our sinful nature.

Why is it important to understand that the first major discussion in the gospel of Mark is about repentance?  If we want to be a disciple of Jesus, how does John’s preparation for the coming of Jesus help us believe that the first step in following Christ is working through our repentance and by the grace of God actually changing our ways?

Third Thought:

The people were going out to John.  In John’s day, society had become so corrupt that people were looking for truth.  Organized religion had become so corrupt and ill-focused that there was no truth to be found in it.  So the people went out to find truth wherever they could.  Notice that John’s message of telling people to change did not drive everyone away as we think it might.  People know the reality of their life.  They know they are not perfect.  They don’t want someone to pacify them by telling them they are okay.  They want a relationship with someone who can successfully navigate with them the change that they know needs to occur in their life.

Why do we assume people don’t want to hear that they aren’t perfect?  In what ways can it be freeing to confess our imperfection?  Why is it helpful to find others around us who can help us not only see the change our life needs but also walk with us as we go about trying to implement that change?

Passage for Tomorrow: Mark 1:6-8

Mark 1:1-3

Summary of Mark 1:1-3

We begin the Gospel of Mark with a simple statement: this book is about the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  Then we have two quotes, the first from Malachi 3:1 and the second from Isaiah 40:3.  The Lord will send a messenger before His Messiah to prepare the way, and the messenger will not only prepare the way but also make straight the path for God’s Messiah.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

The purpose for this book is to tell the good news about Jesus Christ.  This book is solely written for the purpose of introducing people to not only the story of Jesus but also His work among us.  This story is to teach us and broaden our perspective about Jesus.  But make no bones about it.  This book will revolve around Jesus and tell the story of Jesus.  Jesus is the central figure of history.

Why is it important to remember that this is fundamentally a story about Jesus?  How does remembering that this story is about Jesus {And thus, God} help to keep us humble?

Second Thought:

The first quote that we have comes from Malachi 3:1.  If you flip to Malachi 3:1-5 you will notice that this quote in its original context is actually a threat.  We think of the messenger as a good thing from our perspective of already being in Christ.  But in Malachi, we are reminded that the coming of the Lord’s Messiah will bring about a time of judgment.  People will be refined.  Lives will be changed.  God’s Messiah steps into the life of a person and purifies them.  That is one of the main roles of God’s Messiah.  Thus, although we look happily upon the coming of John the Baptizer, we need to remember that the first duty of Jesus is to convict us and bring us to repentance and refinement.  That is not always the easiest process.  John the Baptizer was sent to get people ready for that process.

Does it scare you to think about God’s Messiah as a refiner?  Why can this take on a bit of a threatening element?  Why is it important to realize as we approach the story of Christ that we all have a need for someone to prepare the way for Jesus to enter into our life?  Who are those people in your life?

Third Thought:

The second quote is from Isaiah.  We have a bit of an overlap with the quote from Malachi, but we also see here that part of the job of the messenger was also to prepare the way for God’s Messiah.  In ancient days, a messenger was sent ahead of a royal caravan.  The messenger had two roles.  First, the messenger was to alert the people along the route that royalty was coming so that they could be prepared to receive them.  Second, the messenger was to look for places in the road that need to be fixed so that the royal procession could go on uninterrupted.  John the Baptizer’s job was to do this very thing.  He was to prepare the way for Christ to come into life.  He was to “fix” the proverbial “holes” in the lives of the people around him.  He was to bring people to conviction so that when Jesus came onto the scene people were ready to receive Him and listen to His leading.

What holes in your life need to be fixed?  Where can you go to help those places in your life become exposed all the more?  Is it a painful process to have holes in your life in need of repair?

Passage for Tomorrow: Mark 1:4-5

Hebrews 13:22-25

Summary retelling of Hebrews 13:22-25

The author of Hebrews ends with an appeal.  He acknowledges that this letter is brief about many topics that could be expounded upon in greater depth.  He also announces that Timothy has been released (likely from prison) and the author places to visit the recipients of this letter with Timothy soon.  He asks them to greet everyone in the community for him.  He also sends greetings from those in Italy.  Finally, he ends the letter with a pronouncement of God’s peace.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

First of all, I love the opening thought of this section of scripture.  The author considers this 13 chapter treatise on the significance of Christ’s work to be “brief.”  Here is a pastor at heart!  But it is also reality.  Look at how much even the thoughts of this blog have expounded upon the letter of Hebrews.  I’m sure that the conversation on these verses could go on far more deeply beyond where we have taken it.  Think about all that has been said and could be said.  That is why the author confesses to this as a “brief” treatise.  With God, there is always another layer of depth to explore.

How cool is it to know that we can never reach the end of our relationship with God?  How does this make our relationship different than other academic foci?

FYI – this letter would have been read to a congregation upon being delivered.  It likely would have then been read in the nearby congregations as well.  It can certainly be read aloud start to finish in less than an hour ... but it would have been read in its entirety.  Think about that the next time you complain about a pastor’s sermon being “long” when it goes over 15 minutes!  We really are pretty theologically sissified when it comes to listening to theology being pronounced in our midst.

Second Thought:

The author announces that Timothy has been released from prison and that he hopes to travel with Timothy to visit the recipients of this letter.  We don’t really know what this reference is to.  But it does make it sound like the author is familiar with Timothy.  This is one of the reasons why some people think that Paul is the author of this letter.  The end of the letter does indeed feel very much in the style of Paul’s other letters.  Regardless of who wrote the letter, we can learn that Timothy had undergone some kind of persecution but was now free of it.  God has provided.

Have you ever been under persecution for your faith?  How did it feel once it was over?  What did you want to do once the persecution was over?  What can we learn about ourselves and our reaction to persecution through this?

Third Thought:

The author sends God’s grace as well as a greeting from the believers in Italy.  We don’t know if this was a letter written from Paul while he was in Rome.  We don’t know if this is a letter from someone who knew Paul and travelled with Timothy who also knew some people in Rome.  We also don’t know if they weren’t in Italy at all but there was a group of Italians with them who were also known to the recipients.  We don’t know much about the ending of this letter.  But we can know one thing.  Christians are a communal people.  We are meant to be in relationship with one another.

Why is it great to be in Christian relationship with each other?  What does it feel like to know that there are Christians out there who love one another regardless of whether they see each other on a regular basis or not?  How can that bring strength to our own individual lives?

Passage for Tomorrow: We begin the story of Jesus in Mark 1