"It's me. Don't be afraid."Daily Scripture
Mark 6:45 Immediately Yeshua had his talmidim get in the boat and go on ahead of him toward the other side of the lake, toward Beit-Tzaidah, while he sent the crowds away. 46 After he had left them, he went into the hills to pray. 47 When night came, the boat was out on the lake, and he was by himself on land. 48 He saw that they were having difficulty rowing, because the wind was against them; so at around four o’clock in the morning he came toward them, walking on the lake! He meant to come alongside them; 49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought it was a ghost and let out a shriek; 50 for they had all seen him and were terrified. However, he spoke to them. “Courage,” he said, “it is I. Stop being afraid!” 51 He got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. They were completely astounded, 52 for they did not understand about the loaves; on the contrary, their hearts had been made stone-like.
53 After they had made the crossing, they landed at Ginosar and anchored. 54 As soon as they got out of the boat, the people recognized him 55 and began running around throughout that whole region and bringing sick people on their stretchers to any place where they heard he was. 56 Wherever he went, in towns, cities or country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the tzitzit on his robe, and all who touched it were healed.
***Reflection Questions
After Jesus fed 5,000 people (Mark 6:33-44), he sought solitude for prayer. Prayer seemed to be the most renewing “break” activity in Jesus' life. But the disciples’ little boat got into trouble in a strong wind on the lake. Jesus walked out to them to help. At first terrified, the disciples were glad when the wind settled down. But they “were so baffled they were beside themselves… because they hadn’t understood about the loaves.”
- What had the disciples not understood? In verse 50, “Jesus seems to identify himself with the divine name I Am (see Exod 3:13-15; Isaiah 41:4; 43:10-11).”* But even after watching Jesus feed 5,000 people, they didn’t fully see that, in Jesus, God was here inaugurating God’s kingdom. What helps you trust Jesus to be with you during life’s worst storms, in all his divine compassion and power?
- Seeing Jesus walking on the lake, the disciples were terrified. It wasn’t the lack of power that frightened them, but the idea of a power beyond their imagining. In C. S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Mr. Beaver said of Aslan the Lion (the book’s Christ figure), “‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good.”** Do you ever find the idea of God actually “showing up” a bit scary? In what ways is Jesus “not safe”? What gives you confidence that “he’s good”?
Loving God, at times I’m comfortable with this world’s broken ways. Then your power to change the world can frighten me. Make me secure in trusting that you are always good. Amen.
* Suzanne Watts Henderson, study note on Mark 6:50 in The CEB Study Bible. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2013, p. 79 NT.
** Lewis, C.S. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe(Chronicles of Narnia Book 2) (p. 80). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.
Read today's Insight by Randy GreeneRandy Greene is a part of the Communications team at the Church of the Resurrection. He helps develop and maintain the church's family of websites. He is also a student at Central Baptist Theological Seminary and loves to write stories about faith for his blog.
“Be encouraged! It’s me. Don’t be afraid,” Jesus said.
In the midst of the tremendous storm, while the waves rose around them and the fear of the deep threatened to take their souls, Jesus spoke those simple words to his disciples.
Be encouraged.
Be filled with courage.
Be strengthened, emboldened.
Be hopeful.
Be expectant.
Don’t be afraid.
Don’t hide.
Don’t cower, don’t give up.
Don’t fear.
Don’t turn away.
Don’t hesitate to act.
Don’t worry about tomorrow.
And what reason did he give?
“It’s me,” he said.
The one you’ve anticipated.
The deliverer.
The hope, the dreamer.
The peace.
The center.
The light in the darkness of the deep.
The spark of brilliant life.
The I AM.
Jesus was far more than words could ever capture. Theologians have discussed the who of Jesus for millennia, but the essence of his God-ness still eludes us. Yet here, in seven words, Jesus summarized not only his identity, but what the reality of his identity means to us.
“Be encouraged! It’s me. Don’t be afraid.”
***"He had compassion on them" for Monday, 5 March 2018
Daily Scripture
Mark 6:30 Those who had been sent out rejoined Yeshua and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31 There were so many people coming and going that they couldn’t even take time to eat, so he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a place where we can be alone, and you can get some rest.” 32 They went off by themselves to an isolated spot; 33 but many people, seeing them leave and recognizing them, ran ahead on foot from all the towns and got there first. 34 When Yeshua came ashore, he saw a huge crowd. Filled with compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, he began teaching them many things.
35 By this time, the hour was late. The talmidim came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s getting late. 36 Send the people away, so that they can go and buy food for themselves in the farms and towns around here.” 37 But he answered them, “Give them something to eat, yourselves!” They replied, “We are to go and spend thousands on bread, and give it to them to eat?” 38 He asked them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and check.” When they had found out, they said, “Five. And two fish.” 39 Then he ordered all the people to sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 They sat down in groups of fifty or a hundred. 41 Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, and, looking up toward heaven, made a b’rakhah. Next he broke up the loaves and began giving them to the talmidim to distribute. He also divided up the two fish among them all. 42 They all ate as much as they wanted, 43 and they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces and fish. 44 Those who ate the loaves numbered five thousand men.
***Reflection Questions
When Jesus met people with problems (illness, hunger or many other human challenges) he did not lecture them about what they’d done wrong, say God was teaching them a lesson or try to duck responsibility for helping. When his disciples said, “Send these people away,” Mark said Jesus' reply was “You give them something to eat.” Jesus regularly showed compassion, and a desire to make things better.
- Any gardener or farmer expects to harvest multiple ears of corn, bearing a few hundred kernels each, from planting one corn kernel. God built many miracles of multiplication like that into the natural world at creation. Jesus multiplied “seven loaves and a few fish” to feed 5,000 people—the same power at work, but in a more unusual, immediate way. How has God used miracles (usual, everyday ones or unusual ones) to sustain and fill your life?
- Note the contrast between how Jesus responded to the crowd and how the disciples did. “You give them something to eat” seemed to alarm the disciples. When you see people hurting, are you more inclined to respond like the disciples or like Jesus? What concerns or fears do you have, if any, about what might happen if you more often responded to suffering with active compassion?
Lord Jesus, remind me that the good things that come into my life are not there just for me to hoard. Make me more responsive to your commands to bless others. Amen.
Read today's Insight by Melanie HillMelanie Hill is the Guest Connections Program Director at Resurrection.
I don’t know what it is like to feed 5,000 people, but with a family of 6 it sometimes feels that way. There are days that it’s not only a struggle to get dinner on the table, but to just figure out which end is up. I imagine the disciples were feeling a little like this that day.
They had already done a significant amount of work, to the point that Jesus recognized that they needed a break. My husband can recognize days like this for me as well. The tell-tale signs usually include a raised voice when talking to my children, the aimless wandering from place to place trying to remember where I put. . .“what was I looking for again?” accompanied by the faint smell of something burning. It’s in these moments that my wise husband will ask if I need a few minutes of downtime. (After he turns off the oven of course.)
I imagine Jesus saw the same look on the disciples faces; weary from a long day of good work. Unfortunately, on this day there would be no rest for the weary, for as they reached the shore they were confronted with another large crowd. Mark tells us that Jesus felt compassion for them and began to teach them, but I imagine the disciples were more annoyed than anything else. Have you ever looked forward to a well-deserved break only to realize that you have more work to do? Parenting can often feel like this. Just as you put out one fire another pops up.
- Maybe you’re the mom who celebrated the success of potty training a little too early.
- Or you successfully taught your kids not to write on the walls but forgot to tell them about writing on themselves. This picture was taken one night while I was making dinner and my youngest daughter was making “art.”
- Or maybe it’s the child that you helped survive the teenage years and launch into adulthood only to have them come right back home and move back in.
- Or maybe you’re the parent who has raised your own kids and now you find yourself raising your grandkids.
There are a lot of things we can glean from this simple reply. The thought that speaks to my heart the most is that Jesus looks at the disciples (and me and you) and sees beyond their fatigue, beyond their financial resources, and believes that they have what it takes to accomplish the task. More than that, He invites them to solve the problem and there’s power in the invitation. While I often look at my resources, at myself, as not enough Jesus sees unlimited potential. Just as the disciples brought what little they had in the way of food, I can offer up what I do have to be used by God. My job isn’t to perform the miracle--that’s God’s work. My job is to make it possible by offering what I do have.
Jesus turns the box of macaroni and cheese I donate into 92,000 pounds of food for those in need in our community. He turns the encouraging note I send to someone into the motivation they need to get through the next week. And, yeah, let’s be honest, sometimes what I have to give is tired, haggard, and not so pretty but God can use that too. In fact, sometimes it’s in the last little efforts I have to give that God does some of His best work.
I bet if you were to ask the disciples at the end of that day if they would have rather just sat back and rested they would tell you no. To do so would have been to miss out on the miracle! Jesus believes in you. He believes in us. Like the disciples, wouldn’t it be fun to see what God can do with what we have? How might Kansas City be different? And through it all how might you be different in the end?
***
Prayer Tip: "A Question and a Calling" for Sunday, 4 March 2018
Daily Scripture
Mark 8:27 Yeshua and his talmidim went on to the towns of Caesarea Philippi. On the way, he asked his talmidim, “Who are people saying I am?” 28 “Some say you are Yochanan the Immerser,” they told him, “others say Eliyahu, and still others, one of the prophets.” 29 “But you,” he asked, “who do you say I am?” Kefa answered, “You are the Mashiach.” 30 Then Yeshua warned them not to tell anyone about him. 31 He began teaching them that the Son of Man had to endure much suffering and be rejected by the elders, the head cohanim and the Torah-teachers; and that he had to be put to death; but that after three days, he had to rise again. 32 He spoke very plainly about it. Kefa took him aside and began rebuking him. 33 But, turning around and looking at his talmidim, he rebuked Kefa. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said, “For your thinking is from a human perspective, not from God’s perspective!”
Prayer Tip
Despite the fact that I have lived in the Midwest my entire life, I do not like winter. Every year, by mid-February, I almost start to believe the cold, dreary days will never come to an end. But then, usually about this time in early or mid-March, when we have sunny days and temperatures in the 50s, I am pleasantly surprised by the promise and hint of spring. Even though there’s still a chill in the never-ending Kansas wind, the birds are singing in the morning, the first shoots of daffodils are springing forth from the cold earth, and tiny leaf buds are appearing on the trees.
Here at Resurrection, we often hear Pastor Adam say, “The worst thing is never the last thing.” Winter may not be the worst thing, but it’s certainly the worst season in my opinion. In our lives, we go through seasons of winter, when it feels as if there’s nothing good going on, but even in those dark moments, there is the promise of spring. As physical spring draws near, let us pray for God’s reminder of the metaphorical spring.
Take a listen to this beautiful “Hymn of Promise”, which reminds us of the coming brighter season.
Holy God,
Thank you for the cycle you have set in motion where spring always follows winter. Some of us and some of those we know are facing a dark time of “winter” right now. We pray, Lord, that you will give us those glimpses of spring that you know we need to keep our hope alive – even if there’s still a long winter ahead.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen. (Angela LaVallie Tinsley, Resurrection Funeral Ministry)
Prayer Tip: "A Question and a Calling" for Sunday, 4 March 2018
Daily Scripture
Mark 8:27 Yeshua and his talmidim went on to the towns of Caesarea Philippi. On the way, he asked his talmidim, “Who are people saying I am?” 28 “Some say you are Yochanan the Immerser,” they told him, “others say Eliyahu, and still others, one of the prophets.” 29 “But you,” he asked, “who do you say I am?” Kefa answered, “You are the Mashiach.” 30 Then Yeshua warned them not to tell anyone about him. 31 He began teaching them that the Son of Man had to endure much suffering and be rejected by the elders, the head cohanim and the Torah-teachers; and that he had to be put to death; but that after three days, he had to rise again. 32 He spoke very plainly about it. Kefa took him aside and began rebuking him. 33 But, turning around and looking at his talmidim, he rebuked Kefa. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said, “For your thinking is from a human perspective, not from God’s perspective!”
34 Then Yeshua called the crowd and his talmidim to him and told them, “If anyone wants to come after me, let him say ‘No’ to himself, take up his execution-stake, and keep following me. 35 For whoever wants to save his own life will destroy it, but whoever destroys his life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News will save it. 36 Indeed, what will it benefit a person if he gains the whole world but forfeits his life?
***Prayer Tip
Despite the fact that I have lived in the Midwest my entire life, I do not like winter. Every year, by mid-February, I almost start to believe the cold, dreary days will never come to an end. But then, usually about this time in early or mid-March, when we have sunny days and temperatures in the 50s, I am pleasantly surprised by the promise and hint of spring. Even though there’s still a chill in the never-ending Kansas wind, the birds are singing in the morning, the first shoots of daffodils are springing forth from the cold earth, and tiny leaf buds are appearing on the trees.
Here at Resurrection, we often hear Pastor Adam say, “The worst thing is never the last thing.” Winter may not be the worst thing, but it’s certainly the worst season in my opinion. In our lives, we go through seasons of winter, when it feels as if there’s nothing good going on, but even in those dark moments, there is the promise of spring. As physical spring draws near, let us pray for God’s reminder of the metaphorical spring.
Take a listen to this beautiful “Hymn of Promise”, which reminds us of the coming brighter season.
Holy God,
Thank you for the cycle you have set in motion where spring always follows winter. Some of us and some of those we know are facing a dark time of “winter” right now. We pray, Lord, that you will give us those glimpses of spring that you know we need to keep our hope alive – even if there’s still a long winter ahead.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen. (Angela LaVallie Tinsley, Resurrection Funeral Ministry)
Read today's Insight by Angela LaVallie TinsleyAngela serves as the Funeral and Prayer Program Director, overseeing on-site funerals and assisting with prayer classes, vigils, walk, retreats, and other events. She began working at Resurrection in April 2007 and in that time has worked with the Singles, Seniors, Young Adults, and Guest Connections ministries.
***
"Immoral power alarmed by moral strength" for Saturday, 3 March 2018
Daily Scripture
Mark 6:7 Yeshua summoned the Twelve and started sending them out in pairs, giving them authority over the unclean spirits. 8 He instructed them, “Take nothing for your trip except a walking stick — no bread, no pack, no money in your belt. 9 Wear shoes but not an extra shirt. 10 Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place; 11 and if the people of some place will not welcome you, and they refuse to hear you, then, as you leave, shake the dust off your feet as a warning to them.”
12 So they set out and preached that people should turn from sin to God, 13 they expelled many demons, and they anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.
14 Meanwhile, King Herod heard about this, for Yeshua’s reputation had spread. Some were saying, “Yochanan the Immerser has been raised from the dead; that is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” 15 Others said, “It is Eliyahu!” and still others, “He is a prophet, like one of the old prophets.” 16 But when Herod heard about it, he said, “Yochanan, whom I had beheaded, has been raised.”
17 For Herod had sent and had Yochanan arrested and chained in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. Herod had married her, 18 but Yochanan had told him, “It violates the Torah for you to marry your brother’s wife.” 19 So Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted him put to death. But this she could not accomplish, 20 because Herod stood in awe of Yochanan and protected him, for he knew that he was a tzaddik, a holy man. Whenever he heard him, he became deeply disturbed; yet he liked to listen to him.
21 Finally, the opportunity came. Herod gave a banquet on his birthday for his nobles and officers and the leading men of the Galil. 22 The daughter of Herodias came in and danced, and she pleased Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want; I will give it to you”; 23 and he made a vow to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom.” 24 So she went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” She said, “The head of Yochanan the Immerser.” 25 At once the daughter hurried back to the king and announced her request: “I want you to give me right now on a platter the head of Yochanan the Immerser.” 26 Herod was appalled; but out of regard for the oaths he had sworn before his dinner guests, he did not want to break his word to her. 27 So the king immediately sent a soldier from his personal guard with orders to bring Yochanan’s head. The soldier went and beheaded Yochanan in the prison, 28 brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When Yochanan’s talmidim heard of it, they came and took the body and laid it in a grave.
***Reflection Questions
Herod Antipas divorced his wife to marry Herodias. She had previously married his half-brother Herod Phillip. John the Baptist denounced that example of royal decadence, and Herodias hated him for it. Herodias sent a young woman, probably her daughter by Phillip, to dance at Antipas’ birthday party. Dazzled, Herod publicly promised the girl anything she asked. And Herodias told the girl to demand an end to the life of the fearless preacher Jesus called “more than a prophet” (Matthew 11:7-9).
- Neither Mark nor Matthew gave the name of the young woman who danced before Herod. The Jewish historian Josephus named her as “Salome.” Scholar William Barclay wrote that Herod “kept his promise to Salome because he had made it in front of his cronies and was unwilling to break it. He feared their jeers… he feared that they would think him weak.”* How do you define true strength for yourself? Has trying to look “strong” to others ever made you weaker?
- Few Bible stories show more vividly why it matters that our faith take the long view. To human eyes, Herodias won. John’s abrupt, unjust execution seemed to silence his voice. But which of them has had a better impact on the world in the centuries since Herod’s feast? Which of them could be more confident of eternal life with God?
Lord Jesus, even though Antipas arbitrarily arrested and unjustly killed John, you sent your followers out to proclaim your kingdom. It’s much safer for me to share the good news—but sometimes I’m still afraid. Give me more of your courage—and John’s. Amen.
Family Activity
Prepare to watch a family movie featuring superheroes (Star Wars, Lego Batman and the upcoming Incredibles 2 would be good choices!). Before you view the movie, invite your kids to watch for ways different characters use their power. As you view the movie, serve a fun snack and enjoy! Following the movie, ask your kids one or more of the following questions:
- “Who was good/evil in the movie?”
- “Why do you say that?”
- “What were some choices the characters had to make regarding how they would use their power?”
- “What do you imagine you would have done when…?”
* William Barclay, Daily Study Bible Series: The Gospel of Mark (Revised Edition). Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1976, p. 153.
Read today's Insight by Darrell HoltzDarrell Holtz serves as Program Director for Adult Curriculum and Writing at Church of the Resurrection. He has two adult children, and two smart, handsome grandsons.
The Herod in today's reading is not Herod the Great, the paranoid king who had all the infants under two years of age killed after the magi from the East told him they believed a new king had been born. Though vicious and insecure, that Herod had enough administrative ability that the Romans trusted him to rule over Palestine as their vassal. But when he died, he knew none of his sons were that capable. So, in his will, he split up his territory. He left Judea and Samaria to Archelaus, the farthest north territories of Trachonitis and Ituraea to Phillip, and Galilee and Perea to Herod Antipas.
Archelaus ruled ineptly, and Rome replaced him before long--that's why, when Jesus was crucified, it was the Roman procurator Pontius Pilate who condemned him in Jerusalem. Matthew, in Matthew 14:1, referred to Herod Antipas more precisely as "tetrarch," not "king." "Tetrarch" was a lesser title, which meant something like "ruler over a small region." But Herod Antipas thought of himself as a powerful, important man. At one point, he visited Rome. There he met a woman named Herodias, the daughter of one of his half-brothers (another son of Herod the Great by a different mother), who was married to Herod Phillip, yet another of his half-brothers by yet another different mother. Herod Phillip was not even a tetrarch, just a private citizen--so somehow (we're mercifully spared the details) Herodias left her husband to marry his half-brother Herod Antipas, who must have seemed more powerful and important.
And John the Baptizer, preaching in the desert, had the nerve to denounce the previously married tetrarch's marriage to his previously married niece and sister-in-law as wrong! Antipas put John in prison for that. But locking up the prophet didn't satisfy Herodias. When Antipas threw himself a birthday party, Herodias sent her daughter Salome in to dance (probably not classical ballet) before the (probably drunken) guests. And when Antipas recklessly promised to give the dancing girl anything she asked for, her mother saw her chance and told her to ask for John's head on a platter. The woman of influence got her way, because the powerful, important tetrarch was afraid of looking foolish in front of his guests. Sure, the ragged desert prophet lost his life. But the powerful, important people no doubt felt some relief that they had stopped his annoying moralizing.
But an odd thing happened. The prophet's voice didn't go away. If anything, it got louder as Antipas started hearing about some rabbi from Galilee named Jesus, who healed people and preached idealistic notions about love and righteousness. He began to wonder if John had somehow come back to life. Ridiculous, he knew, but still. . . (Later, of course, he'd hear even more insistently that the executed rabbi HAD come back to life. We can only guess how that shook his confidence.)
This is one of many Bible scenes that remind us that our human ideas of who is important and powerful are often mistaken. Jesus, bruised and bloodied, looked far less important to human eyes than Pilate, representing the power of Rome. Some years later, the powerless, penniless itinerant evangelist Paul was hauled out of his jail cell to stand in rags before the mighty Emperor Nero, who sentenced him to death.
Scholar F. F. Bruce wrote a biography of Paul, not Nero.* He dedicated it to his grandchildren, including a boy named Paul, with these words: "Bearing in mind T. R. Glover's comment on a Roman Emperor's condemnation of the Apostle to the Gentiles--that the day was to come when men would call their dogs Nero and their sons PAUL." As you read the tragic story Mark told in today's Scripture, keep in mind that most people today wouldn't even name their dog Herod--but the name John is honored and respected.
* F. F. Bruce, Paul: Apostle of the Heart Set Free. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1977.
***
"A trusting synagogue leader, a "repulsed" home town" for Friday, 2 March 2018
Daily Scripture
Mark 5:35 While he was still speaking, people from the synagogue official’s house came, saying, “Your daughter has died. Why bother the rabbi any longer?” 36 Ignoring what they had said, Yeshua told the synagogue official, “Don’t be afraid, just keep trusting.” 37 He let no one follow him except Kefa, Ya‘akov and Yochanan, Ya‘akov’s brother. 38 When they came to the synagogue official’s house, he found a great commotion, with people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 On entering, he said to them, “Why all this commotion and weeping? The child isn’t dead, she’s just asleep!” 40 And they jeered at him. But he put them all outside, took the child’s father and mother and those with him, and went in where the child was. 41 Taking her by the hand, he said to her, “Talita, kumi!” (which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). 42 At once the girl got up and began walking around; she was twelve years old. Everybody was utterly amazed. 43 He gave them strict orders to say nothing about this to anyone, and told them to give her something to eat.
Reflection QuestionsMark had already documented that Jesus’ ministry met hostility from the religious authorities (see Mark 2:6, 24; 3:6, 22). With his daughter deathly ill, Jairus (“one of the synagogue leaders”) laid aside any objections he might have had to Jesus. When messengers came saying the girl had died, Jesus encouraged Jairus, saying, “Don’t be afraid; just keep trusting.” He repaid the synagogue leader’s trust by giving him back his daughter. Then he went to Nazareth, his home town, where familiarity apparently bred contempt and disbelief.
Lord Jesus, you were (and are) so much more than just “the carpenter.” Help me to find and value time with you. Nourish my spirit, and fill me with your resilience. Amen.
"A trusting synagogue leader, a "repulsed" home town" for Friday, 2 March 2018
Daily Scripture
Mark 5:35 While he was still speaking, people from the synagogue official’s house came, saying, “Your daughter has died. Why bother the rabbi any longer?” 36 Ignoring what they had said, Yeshua told the synagogue official, “Don’t be afraid, just keep trusting.” 37 He let no one follow him except Kefa, Ya‘akov and Yochanan, Ya‘akov’s brother. 38 When they came to the synagogue official’s house, he found a great commotion, with people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 On entering, he said to them, “Why all this commotion and weeping? The child isn’t dead, she’s just asleep!” 40 And they jeered at him. But he put them all outside, took the child’s father and mother and those with him, and went in where the child was. 41 Taking her by the hand, he said to her, “Talita, kumi!” (which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). 42 At once the girl got up and began walking around; she was twelve years old. Everybody was utterly amazed. 43 He gave them strict orders to say nothing about this to anyone, and told them to give her something to eat.
6:1 Then Yeshua left and went to his home town, and his talmidim followed him. 2 On Shabbat he started to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They asked, “Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom he has been given? What are these miracles worked through him? 3 Isn’t he just the carpenter? the son of Miryam? the brother of Ya‘akov and Yosi and Y’hudah and Shim‘on? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. 4 But Yeshua said to them. “The only place people don’t respect a prophet is in his home town, among his own relatives, and in his own house.” 5 So he could do no miracles there, other than lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 He was amazed at their lack of trust.
Then he went through the surrounding towns and villages, teaching.
***Reflection QuestionsMark had already documented that Jesus’ ministry met hostility from the religious authorities (see Mark 2:6, 24; 3:6, 22). With his daughter deathly ill, Jairus (“one of the synagogue leaders”) laid aside any objections he might have had to Jesus. When messengers came saying the girl had died, Jesus encouraged Jairus, saying, “Don’t be afraid; just keep trusting.” He repaid the synagogue leader’s trust by giving him back his daughter. Then he went to Nazareth, his home town, where familiarity apparently bred contempt and disbelief.
- When Jesus said the girl was “only sleeping” (Mark 5:39), he did not mean she hadn’t died. People then as now could tell death from unconsciousness. They didn’t ask for professional mourners if a person was still breathing. But with Jesus there, the girl’s time in death would be no longer than a sleep (see also John 11:11-14). How is Jesus' power over even death a source of hope and confidence for you as you face life with all its uncertainties?
- In Nazareth, Jesus met rejection and anger. (Luke wrote that Jesus defined his mission by claiming God was fulfilling the words of Isaiah 61:1-2 through him—cf. Luke 4:16-21.) In what ways did “Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t he Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon?” express doubt about Jesus' messianic claim? Why would Jesus' work to address physical and spiritual bondage, poverty and blindness “repulse” his home town?
Lord Jesus, you were (and are) so much more than just “the carpenter.” Help me to find and value time with you. Nourish my spirit, and fill me with your resilience. Amen.
Read today's Insight by Ginger RothhaasGinger is a graduate of Saint Paul School of Theology. She and her husband Rob have a son, a daughter, and a high energy dog. She loves writing, conversations over coffee, and teaching spiritual classes.
When Jesus traveled to his hometown to preach, he ran into familiar critics who questioned his motives, credibility, and worthiness. This story could be themed with ‘familiarity breeds contempt’ or ‘it is hard to believe this is God when he is one of us.’ However, as I read it this time, I notice the doubting phrases of the crowd sound very similar to the voice in my head that I call my “inner critic.”
Who do you think you are? Where are you getting your information? Have you had enough experience to give advice? Are you really the real deal?
As we look at how Jesus handles this situation, we find that he loses his mojo a bit. It seems this criticism temporarily dims his passion for ministry. The people closest to him wounded him with their words and doubt. Jesus shows us that this is part of the human experience…and it hurts when it happens.
Critics, external and internal, can cause us to dim our light. But God needs our light to shine as bright as possible to push back the darkness. Part of fueling our light is taming our inner critic and enduring the external critics. We have to remind ourselves of what God might say to us:
You are just as I created you to be. You are enough. You are not alone. You have a story to tell and I will use it to help people. Do not be afraid. Do not listen to the hurtful critic. Listen to me. I will make sure you have everything you need to keep going.
If your light is dim right now, figure out what you need to do to shine. For Jesus, it meant relocation and a different audience. Jesus didn’t waste time trying to change their opinions, he moved on, reminding us that prophets aren’t always welcomed.
We are all called to be prophets--sharing where we see God in our lives so that others may be inspired to form their own relationship with God. Don’t let the critics, (external or internal) tell you that you aren’t a prophet.
Who am I to be a prophet?
Who are you NOT to be a prophet?
A prophet teaches love. A prophet speaks up for justice. A prophet is an instrument of hope. A prophet reminds people of God’s love. You are a prophet.
The arrogance is not in thinking of yourself as a prophet…the arrogance is thinking you can avoid your job as a prophet. We have a lot of work to do. Let’s get going!
***
"Healed by a furtive, faith-filled touch" for Thursday, 1 March 2018
Daily Scripture
Mark 5:
"Healed by a furtive, faith-filled touch" for Thursday, 1 March 2018
Daily Scripture
Mark 5:
21 Yeshua crossed in the boat to the other side of the lake, and a great crowd gathered around him. 22 There came to him a synagogue official, Ya’ir by name, who fell at his feet 23 and pleaded desperately with him, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Please! Come and lay your hands on her, so that she will get well and live!”
24 He went with him; and a large crowd followed, pressing all around him. 25 Among them was a woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years 26 and had suffered a great deal under many physicians. She had spent her life savings; yet instead of improving, she had grown worse. 27 She had heard about Yeshua, so she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his robe; 28 for she said, “If I touch even his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Instantly the hemorrhaging stopped, and she felt in her body that she had been healed from the disease. 30 At the same time, Yeshua, aware that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” 31 His talmidim responded, “You see the people pressing in on you; and still you ask, ‘Who touched me?’” 32 But he kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 The woman, frightened and trembling, because she knew what had happened to her, came and fell down in front of him and told him the whole truth. 34 “Daughter,” he said to her, “your trust has healed you. Go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
***
Reflection Questions
A desperate woman had heard about Jesus. He moved away, followed by a crowd, to help a synagogue leader named Jairus’ sick daughter. (We’ll look at that case tomorrow.) The woman’s problem would be serious today, but it was worse then. Jewish law saw her condition as permanently “unclean,” like a leper (see Leviticus 15:25-27). She couldn’t legally touch anyone; hence her stealthy touch of Jesus’ garment. But “Jesus recognized that power had gone out from him.”
Lord Jesus, thank you for letting your power flow for the fearful, forlorn woman in this story. Even when I’m afraid or ashamed, I ask you to continue healing me. Amen.
* William Barclay, Daily Study Bible Series: The Gospel of Mark (Revised Edition). Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1976, p. 129.
Reflection Questions
A desperate woman had heard about Jesus. He moved away, followed by a crowd, to help a synagogue leader named Jairus’ sick daughter. (We’ll look at that case tomorrow.) The woman’s problem would be serious today, but it was worse then. Jewish law saw her condition as permanently “unclean,” like a leper (see Leviticus 15:25-27). She couldn’t legally touch anyone; hence her stealthy touch of Jesus’ garment. But “Jesus recognized that power had gone out from him.”
- What a burden of shame this woman must have carried, along with her physical issues. Many people saw ailments like hers as judgments from God (see John 9:2). How do you see yourself? Are there things in your life you’d rather keep hidden? Was Jesus being unkind when he called the healed woman forward—or was he freeing her from shame as well as from her physical disorder?
- Commentator William Barclay noted that the Jewish Talmud offered cures for this woman’s condition like “carrying the ashes of an ostrich-egg in a linen rag in summer and a cotton rag in winter; or carrying a barley corn found in the dung of a white she-ass.”* Have you tried to deal with shame, guilt or other pain on your own, using various self-help “folk remedies”? How can Jesus' love redirect your efforts along more effective paths?
Lord Jesus, thank you for letting your power flow for the fearful, forlorn woman in this story. Even when I’m afraid or ashamed, I ask you to continue healing me. Amen.
* William Barclay, Daily Study Bible Series: The Gospel of Mark (Revised Edition). Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1976, p. 129.
Read today's Insight by Matt OzmentMatt is the Media Services Production Manager in the Tech Arts ministry at Church of the Resurrection. He joined the staff in December 2014 and supports the technology needs of each special or weekly event outside of weekend worship at Resurrection Leawood. In his free time, he spends time with his 2 kids, supports his wife’s cake business, and aspires to be a novelist.
This is one of my favorite stories of Jesus in the Bible. A lot is revealed here. One is the immense faith of the woman who has nothing left to lose. It would have been easy for her to have given up all hope after twelve years of suffering and of being an outcast. In fact, one could look at this faith as more of a last hope scenario, but Jesus points out that her faith is what had healed her. Jesus, who knows the heart, sees that her faith in Him is completely genuine. Her faith that He has the power to heal her is everything.
And that leads me to the other part of the story I love: Jesus’ humility. Verse 34 could just as well have said, “He responded, ‘Daughter, Look what I’ve done. I’ve healed you; go in peace.’” But He doesn’t say that. Instead, He says, “Yourfaith has healed you.” He gives her the complete credit for the healing. He didn’t touch her--she touched Him. He wants her, and us, to see that the power of faith knows no bounds. At the same time, He gives us a lesson in leadership: For those who are in positions of authority and influence, the best response in any scenario is humility, to always give credit instead of take credit.
Last week I was on a pilgrimage with 45 other young adults in the Holy Land, walking where Jesus walked. One day we visited Magdala (where Mary Magdalene was from). In this small town there is a chapel dedicated to the women who were pillars in the Bible. In the lower level, in a room where you walk on the ancient road, was a beautiful tapestry depicting this scene (the painting is “Encounter” by Daniel Cariola). The picture of this is seen below. Here you can see the woman's hand touching just the hem of Jesus garment, and the glow of Jesus' power flowing into her:
If you are interested in exploring your own Spiritual Gifts and how God may be able to use you, check out Resurrection's upcoming Spiritual Gifts class.
***
"Calming outer and inner storms" for Wednesday, 28 February 2018
Daily Scripture
Mark 4:35 That day, when evening had come, Yeshua said to them, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” 36 So, leaving the crowd behind, they took him just as he was, in the boat; and there were other boats with him. 37 A furious windstorm arose, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was close to being swamped. 38 But he was in the stern on a cushion, asleep. They woke him and said to him, “Rabbi, doesn’t it matter to you that we’re about to be killed?” 39 He awoke, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” The wind subsided, and there was a dead calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you no trust even now?” 41 But they were terrified and asked each other, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the waves obey him?”
5:1 Yeshua and his talmidim arrived at the other side of the lake, in the Gerasenes’ territory. 2 As soon as he disembarked, a man with an unclean spirit came out of the burial caves to meet him. 3 He lived in the burial caves; and no one could keep him tied up, not even with a chain. 4 He had often been chained hand and foot, but he would snap the chains and break the irons off his feet, and no one was strong enough to control him. 5 Night and day he wandered among the graves and through the hills, howling and gashing himself with stones.
6 Seeing Yeshua from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him 7 and screamed at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Yeshua, Son of God Ha‘Elyon? I implore you in God’s name! Don’t torture me!” 8 For Yeshua had already begun saying to him, “Unclean spirit, come out of this man!” 9 Yeshua asked him, “What’s your name?” “My name is Legion,” he answered, “there are so many of us”; 10 and he kept begging Yeshua not to send them out of that region.
11 Now there was a large herd of pigs feeding near the hill, 12 and the unclean spirits begged him, “Send us to the pigs, so we can go into them.” 13 Yeshua gave them permission. They came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering around two thousand, rushed down the hillside into the lake and were drowned. 14 The swineherds fled and told it in the town and in the surrounding country, and the people went to see what had happened. 15 They came to Yeshua and saw the man who had had the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were frightened. 16 Those who had seen it told what had happened to the man controlled by demons and to the pigs; 17 and the people began begging Yeshua to leave their district.
18 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been demonized begged him to be allowed to go with him. 19 But Yeshua would not permit it. Instead, he said to him, “Go home to your people, and tell them how much Adonai in his mercy has done for you.” 20 He went off and began proclaiming in the Ten Towns how much Yeshua had done for him, and everyone was amazed.
***Reflection Questions
Jesus’ followers (who’d fished Galilee for a living) had a healthy respect for the strong storms that could blow up on that landlocked lake. Only God, Hebrews believed, could restrain the sea’s stormy chaos (cf. Jeremiah 5:22). To see Jesus exercise that divine power before their eyes awed them. Mark then portrayed a man on “the other side” of the Sea—Gentile territory. And the man lived like a beast—terrifyingly strong, unstable, isolated “among the tombs,” where “he would howl and cut himself with stones.”
- Think of one big personal life “storm” you’ve had to live through. How did you make your way in that stormy season of life? Did you have any sense Jesus was “in the boat” with you? Scott Krippayne sang, “Sometimes He calms the storm, And other times He calms His child.”* In which of those ways has Jesus most supported you in life’s storms? How has that impacted your relationship with God, and shaped the person you are today?
- In Why Do Christians Shoot Their Wounded?,** Christian psychologist Dwight Carlson noted that some Christians tragically use a story like Mark 5 to argue that all cases of severe mental/emotional illness spring from spiritual failings. But Jesus did not condemn the man for his condition—he simply set things right. How can activities like Resurrection’s Leawood Care Night (click here for more information) or our Counseling Referral Ministry make church a safer place for people facing mental and emotional struggles?
Lord Jesus, when you met a man from whom everyone else wanted to run away, you cared, and you healed. Thank you for being willing to care about and heal the parts of me that frighten even me, too. Amen.
* Lyric from “Sometimes He Calms the Storm.” Songwriters: Benton Kevin Stokes, Tony W. Wood © Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol Christian Music Group.
** Dwight L. Carlson, Why Do Christians Shoot Their Wounded? Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1994.
Read today's Insight by Wendy ConnellyWendy Connelly is wife to Mark, mom to two kids and a seminary student at Saint Paul School of Theology. She will be leading the "Christianity and World Religions Immersion" this month for Resurrection Downtown.
Today’s scripture presents an interesting juxtaposition. First, a terrible storm at sea, followed by a man possessed among the tombs. Jesus calms the storm outside and then, going ashore, calms the demon-possessed man’s inner tumult.
It’s inevitable in this life that waves will crash down upon us. Sometimes they come from the storms in life that everyone can see: job loss, a diagnosis, oppression, war, tragedy, Mother Nature, death. Other times, the waves that engulf us are inner struggles that are less visible, but every bit as real: depression, fear, addiction, shame, ennui, angst.
Many years ago, I struggled with the inner storm of severe, crippling anxiety. It permeated my every waking thought, telling me I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t walk without fainting, that I had every diagnosis one could find in a medical journal—and that I would never get better. I believed, during those two terrible and unrelenting years, that I would forever wander among the tombs like the man in today’s story. After some pastoral care, I finally began to climb out of this pit of anxiety, one muddy slog at a time, and eventually felt like “me” again. I went on to work at a university on psychological and behavioral research studies, helping others who were coping with anxiety and depression with far more compassion than I could have known without having had this experience.
I struggle less with anxiety today, but every so often (usually triggered by some external storm) waves of anxiety crash over me still. This past fall, after a string of illnesses without clear answers, I felt this familiar fear jostling me around again. I had been through several medical tests, sought the advice of doctors and specialists, tried different medications… but there were never clear answers, and I felt like my life was spiraling out of control. I was drowning, feeling utterly vulnerable and slightly untethered, wave hitting after wave, no chance to catch my breath. The scripture of Jesus calming the storm became a lifeline. I practiced the Ignatian exercise of visualizing myself in that story, the rain pelting thunderously down, lightning cascading through the sky, and my groggy friend Jesus, walking toward the bow and conjuring an eerie calm.
My other lifeline came in the form of three trusted friends—Lindsy, Darryl and Ginger—who listened to me blubber on about my fears over the phone, and assured me this too shall pass. I’m so grateful for their patience and abundant care.
If you, too, are feeling wind-swept by life’s storms, know that you don’t have to face them alone. Instead, try:
- Visualizing yourself in the boat with Jesus and his supernatural calm
- Reaching out to people you trust with a phone call or visit
- Seeking pastoral care or joining a class at Leawood's Care Night
***
"More parables: lamps, mustard seed" for Tuesday, 27 February 2018
Daily Scripture
Mark 4:21 He said to them, “A lamp isn’t brought in to be put under a bowl or under the bed, is it? Wouldn’t you put it on a lampstand? 22 Indeed, nothing is hidden, except to be disclosed; and nothing is covered up, except to come out into the open. 23 Those who have ears to hear with, let them hear!”
Reflection Questions
Light dispels darkness. It may reveal all the beauty of God’s world, or help lost individuals find their way. Rabbis in Jesus' day often referred to the mustard seed as one of the smallest objects. Jesus' picture of the plant may have been a bit inflated—most mustard plants generally grew from 2-6 feet tall. There was a reason for that. “The language… evokes the image of a great kingdom of old that would be supplanted by God’s kingdom (Daniel 4:12). The glorious future kingdom was already active in a hidden way in Jesus’ ministry.”*
God, as I go about my life today, keep me ever mindful of the people who need to find your light in their world. Fill my heart with love for you so overflowing that I cannot keep it hidden. Amen.
* HarperCollins Christian Publishing. NIV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, eBook: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture (Kindle Locations 219928-219930). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
"More parables: lamps, mustard seed" for Tuesday, 27 February 2018
Daily Scripture
Mark 4:21 He said to them, “A lamp isn’t brought in to be put under a bowl or under the bed, is it? Wouldn’t you put it on a lampstand? 22 Indeed, nothing is hidden, except to be disclosed; and nothing is covered up, except to come out into the open. 23 Those who have ears to hear with, let them hear!”
24 He also said to them, “Pay attention to what you are hearing! The measure with which you measure out will be used to measure to you — and more besides! 25 For anyone who has something will be given more; but from anyone who has nothing, even what he does have will be taken away.”
26 And he said, “The Kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed on the ground. 27 Nights he sleeps, days he’s awake; and meanwhile the seeds sprout and grow — how, he doesn’t know. 28 By itself the soil produces a crop — first the stalk, then the head, and finally the full grain in the head. 29 But as soon as the crop is ready, the man comes with his sickle, because it’s harvest-time.”
30 Yeshua also said, “With what can we compare the Kingdom of God? What illustration should we use to describe it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which, when planted, is the smallest of all the seeds in the field; 32 but after it has been planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all the plants, with such big branches that the birds flying about can build nests in its shade.”
33 With many parables like these he spoke the message to them, to the extent that they were capable of hearing it. 34 He did not say a thing to them without using a parable; when he was alone with his own talmidim he explained everything to them.
***Reflection Questions
Light dispels darkness. It may reveal all the beauty of God’s world, or help lost individuals find their way. Rabbis in Jesus' day often referred to the mustard seed as one of the smallest objects. Jesus' picture of the plant may have been a bit inflated—most mustard plants generally grew from 2-6 feet tall. There was a reason for that. “The language… evokes the image of a great kingdom of old that would be supplanted by God’s kingdom (Daniel 4:12). The glorious future kingdom was already active in a hidden way in Jesus’ ministry.”*
- Have you ever flown over a city at night? Or come out of a long, dark tunnel into bright sunlight? As John would later write about Jesus, darkness can never extinguish light (cf. John 1:5). What dark corners of your neighborhood, your city, and your world need to experience the light of God? What can you do to help God’s light shine into these dark corners?
- Jesus' mustard seed story pointed his followers toward patience and long-term confidence. Like the tiny mustard seed, his kingdom would grow—but not at all at once. When, even in a growing congregation like Resurrection, do you need to exercise patience? What helps you maintain confidence that, in the end, God will fully establish God’s kingdom to end evil and rule the earth?
God, as I go about my life today, keep me ever mindful of the people who need to find your light in their world. Fill my heart with love for you so overflowing that I cannot keep it hidden. Amen.
* HarperCollins Christian Publishing. NIV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, eBook: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture (Kindle Locations 219928-219930). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
Read today's Insight by Brandon GregoryBrandon Gregory is a volunteer for the worship and missions teams at Church of the Resurrection. He helps lead worship at Vibe, West and Downtown services, and is involved with the Malawi missions team at home.
When I was in college, I led a small group Bible study for my college’s campus ministry. One night, I think it was my junior year, we studied today’s passage (Mark 4:21-34) and started talking about what it means. One very eager member of my group, Heather, said, “You know, it’s really about the small things. Just go through each day looking for the small things you can do for other people.”
I was a bit taken aback by this, based on the passage we had just read, and replied, “Small things are good and we definitely need to do them, but the ultimate goal should be to move on to big things. That’s where we really see God at work.”
Heather was a bit shocked that I had just contradicted her, but I could tell she spent some time thinking about what I said. It was like a door had been opened to a whole new realm of possibilities—and at a time when she was transitioning from student to career woman. I can’t take credit for her realization—it was totally a God thing and required a desire to grow on her part—but that’s the sort of realization I think God longs for every Christian to have.
When we go through life, it’s very easy to spot opportunities for small acts of love and kindness because they’re in the scope of what we do every day. It’s much harder to spot opportunities for love and change that span well beyond the scope of a day—maybe even beyond the scope of what we ourselves can do. God wants us to perform small acts of love and kindness, but he truly longs for us to move on to big things too.
It’s a small thing to offer a kind word to a grocery store checkout clerk, but it’s a big thing to be intentional to be caring and attentive every time you see him, even listening to his plans and anxieties about the future. It’s a small thing to tell a depressed friend to call if she needs you, but it’s a big thing to say, “It sounds like you’re in a bad spot. What do you need? I can come over now.” It’s a small thing to befriend and care for someone from an oppressed or vulnerable group, but it’s a big thing to seek out societal changes that will help other people from that group as well as your friend.
Making that leap from small things that span minutes to big things that span days, or weeks, or even years is an important part of our faith journey. Like the farmer in Jesus’s story who spread seed and was surprised to see it grow so quickly, you may very well be surprised to see what your spark of faith can ignite. And like the tiny mustard seed grows into a mighty tree, many small acts of faith can grow into big changes or movements if given enough time. The most important factor to a transformation or movement is not one miraculous moment, but the countless ordinary moments when someone acts with singular purpose and keeps going even when it doesn’t come easy.
Going back to my college friend Heather, I’ll admit, we fell out of touch after college. Since I’m telling her story, I was a bit curious, so I looked her up on Facebook. She’s currently working at a Methodist church, investing her time over the long-haul to build something great for God. You don’t have to work at a church to do this—you just have to commit to something for a long time. Just remember to always be looking for opportunities to move small acts of love and kindness into something bigger that may take much longer to accomplish. God’s kingdom is built on such tenacity.
***
"Parable: a farmer scattering seed" for Monday, 26 February 2018
Daily Scripture
Mark 4:1 Again Yeshua began to teach by the lake, but the crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat on the lake and sat there, while the crowd remained on shore at the water’s edge. 2 He taught them many things in parables. In the course of his teaching, he said to them: 3 “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he sowed, some seed fell alongside the path; and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Other seed fell on rocky patches where there was not much soil. It sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow; 6 but when the sun rose, the young plants were scorched; and since their roots were not deep, they dried up. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked it; so that it yielded no grain. 8 But other seed fell into rich soil and produced grain; it sprouted, and grew, and yielded a crop — thirty, sixty, even a hundred times what was sown.” 9 And he concluded, “Whoever has ears to hear with, let him hear!”
Reflection Questions
Jesus often used stories about common objects or events to teach uncommon truths. Likely a farmer was hand-casting seed on a nearby hillside, in plain sight, as Jesus told this story. Verses 10-12 did not mean that Jesus intended parables to hide his message. He quoted Isaiah 6:9-10, which ironically described what was happening, not what God wanted. Hearers with closed minds, in Isaiah’s or Jesus' day, wouldn’t hear no matter how much they listened.
Lord God, you want me to know you. You reveal yourself in many ways, some of them subtle and quiet. Give me ears to listen, a spirit attentive to all you wish to convey to me. Amen.
* Leland Ryken, James C. Wilhoit, Tremper Longman III, general editors, Dictionary of Biblical Imagery. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, USA, 1998, p. 223.
"Parable: a farmer scattering seed" for Monday, 26 February 2018
Daily Scripture
Mark 4:1 Again Yeshua began to teach by the lake, but the crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat on the lake and sat there, while the crowd remained on shore at the water’s edge. 2 He taught them many things in parables. In the course of his teaching, he said to them: 3 “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he sowed, some seed fell alongside the path; and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Other seed fell on rocky patches where there was not much soil. It sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow; 6 but when the sun rose, the young plants were scorched; and since their roots were not deep, they dried up. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked it; so that it yielded no grain. 8 But other seed fell into rich soil and produced grain; it sprouted, and grew, and yielded a crop — thirty, sixty, even a hundred times what was sown.” 9 And he concluded, “Whoever has ears to hear with, let him hear!”
10 When Yeshua was alone, the people around him with the Twelve asked him about the parables. 11 He answered them, “To you the secret of the Kingdom of God has been given; but to those outside, everything is in parables, 12 so that
they may be always looking but never seeing;
always listening but never understanding.
Otherwise, they might turn and be forgiven!”[Mark 4:12 Isaiah 6:9–10]
13 Then Yeshua said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How will you be able to understand any parable? 14 The sower sows the message. 15 Those alongside the path where the message is sown are people who no sooner hear it than the Adversary comes and takes away the message sown in them. 16 Likewise, those receiving seed on rocky patches are people who hear the message and joyfully accept it at once; 17 but they have no root in themselves. So they hold out for a while, but as soon as some trouble or persecution arises on account of the message, they immediately fall away. 18 Others are those sown among thorns — they hear the message; 19 but the worries of the world, the deceitful glamor of wealth and all the other kinds of desires push in and choke the message; so that it produces nothing. 20 But those sown on rich soil hear the message, accept it and bear fruit — thirty, sixty or a hundredfold.”
***Reflection Questions
Jesus often used stories about common objects or events to teach uncommon truths. Likely a farmer was hand-casting seed on a nearby hillside, in plain sight, as Jesus told this story. Verses 10-12 did not mean that Jesus intended parables to hide his message. He quoted Isaiah 6:9-10, which ironically described what was happening, not what God wanted. Hearers with closed minds, in Isaiah’s or Jesus' day, wouldn’t hear no matter how much they listened.
- Jesus described the usual outcomes when a farmer sowed his seed by hand across a field. Not all the seed grew, but what took root bore an abundant crop. Jesus used that image to teach about the factors that hinder or nurture spiritual life. What steps are you taking to make your mind and heart “good soil” in which God’s word can grow and bear a good crop?
- Jesus ended his parable with a common Hebrew expression: “Whoever has ears to listen should pay attention!” It was not mainly about eardrums. “In the Bible the ear is synonymous with the heart and mind as an organ of cognition (Prov 2:2; Is 6:9–10), and true hearing involves listening and understanding (Job 34:16).”* What has helped you tune your inner, spiritual “ears” to God’s voice? What helps you persist in seeking to understand God’s teachings, rather than just giving up?
Lord God, you want me to know you. You reveal yourself in many ways, some of them subtle and quiet. Give me ears to listen, a spirit attentive to all you wish to convey to me. Amen.
* Leland Ryken, James C. Wilhoit, Tremper Longman III, general editors, Dictionary of Biblical Imagery. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, USA, 1998, p. 223.
Read today's Insight by Chris AbelChris Abel is the Young Adults Pastor at Resurrection, and he describes himself as a "Pastor/Creative-type/Adventurer." A former atheist turned passionate follower of Christ, he completed his seminary education in Washington, DC. Before coming to Resurrection, Chris was a campus pastor near St. Louis, MO.
What if I told you that a big crowd might be one of the most dangerous obstacles to changing the world? It sounds counter-intuitive, doesn’t it? Wouldn’t you want to get the word out? Isn’t viral advertising the way things happen these days?
I’m convinced it isn’t.
There’s a story in the book of Mark where Jesus, early in his ministry, begins to be known by the locals. He’s been healing and teaching, and eventually the crowds surround him, forcing him to teach from a boat off the shores of Galilee.
Let’s pause the story for a second and jump into the future. According to Acts chapter 1, after the death and resurrection of Jesus, there are 120 Christians. That’s it. Jesus’ 3 years of ministry, healing, teaching, and miracle-working led to a committed group of 120 people.
That’s not that big.
So how did a group of 120 people grow into the world’s largest religion? It turns out that if you want to change the world, the kinds of people you have in place are more important than the number of people you have in place.
Unpause.
So Jesus begins to teach the crowd a parable. And it’s a little insulting. He compares people to dirt. Some dirt is healthy, and can grow fruit. But most dirt isn’t useful for growth. Here’s how Jesus puts it. “As he was scattering seed, some fell on the path; and the birds came and ate it. Other seed fell on rocky ground where the soil was shallow. They sprouted immediately because the soil wasn't deep. When the sun came up, it scorched the plants; and they dried up because they had no roots. Other seed fell among thorny plants. The thorny plants grew and choked the seeds, and they produced nothing.”
Sometimes we read this passage about the state of the human heart. But I think it was a lot more practical than that. See, Jesus was weeding out the crowd. Again and again, he told stories that were hard to understand and potentially insulting. That’s not how you keep big crowds.
See, big crowds come for all sorts of stuff. They’ll come for the latest movie in theaters. They’ll come for a stand-up comic in town. They’ll come to hear their favorite band. But just because you have a crowd doesn’t mean you’re making a difference.
Jesus continued the parable. “Other seed fell into good soil and bore fruit. Upon growing and increasing, the seed produced in one case a yield of thirty to one, in another case a yield of sixty to one, and in another case a yield of one hundred to one."
See, if you want to change the world, you don’t need a crowd. You need the right people. You need the people who are bought in. You need the people who will reproduce themselves. And not just once. The right people multiply dozens, or even hundreds of times over. That 120 became thousands and those thousands became millions. But it took time. And it took the right people.
John Wesley understood this as well. He once said, “Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not whether they be clergymen or laymen, they alone will shake the gates of Hell and set up the kingdom of Heaven upon Earth.”
See, a small group of dedicated people will beat a distracted crowd hands down every time. Jesus didn’t want the crowds. He wanted a small group of people who were willing to go deep with him. And the same is even true at Resurrection. See, we might have a big church, but the biggest impact comes from 5% of our people. (I made that number up). But I’ve seen this again and again in faith communities—it’s the smallest group of people who make the biggest impact. It’s people who give of their time, energy, and finances. It’s the ushers and greeters, committee members, Sunday school teachers… the small but mighty few who make church possible.
And you can be that person. See, you don’t have to wonder what kind of soil you are. You get to choose the soil you are. There might be a big crowd, but Jesus invites you to be more than a crowd. He invites you to be an agent for change. Anyone can be in a crowd. You can be something more.
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©2017 Church of the Resurrection. All Rights Reserved.
Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
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