This woman loved extravagantly... This jar of perfume cost a year's wages. Let's put it this way - something like $50,000 today. This was most likely this woman's only means to getting married. As this woman poured this perfume over Jesus' head the fragrant aroma filled the room. When we love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, body - it's undeniable. Its fragrant effects are everywhere. How can we love our Lord extravagantly?
In the second part, the Lord's Supper is occurring over Passover (which is going on right now for our Jewish friends). It is a time to remember when death passed over the Israelites because of the blood shed by the lamb (and the blood was painted on the door of the Israelites). Jesus was the sacrificial lamb once and for all and because His blood covers us - death cannot take us. We're talking eternal death in hell here. Every time we take communion (grape juice/wine and bread) we remember that Jesus gave His body and blood for us. This is what we do in remembrance. We may do many things in remembrance of a family member who passed away or a tragic event like 9/11 - we commune at the table and partake of the bread and wine in remembrance of what Jesus did on the cross.
When we remember what Jesus did on the cross, we recognize that because of Jesus we have one commonality - that we're sinners but Jesus saved us. No matter how different we were before, how different our backgrounds are or our preferences -- we all have something in common that brings us together - that we share in the salvation that Jesus gives us. So we come together and partake of one bread and one cup signifying that in Jesus we are the same - sinners saved by grace.
When we have this huge thing in common - nothing can separate us - not status, not wrongdoing (because we're all wrongdoers), not preference -- When we remember Christ's death on the cross - we find that we are all the same, sinners saved by the grace of God. no worse, no better...
Mar 31, 2010
Mar 30, 2010
March 30 - Mark 13
It's obvious that since Jesus' first visit is coming to an end that He would share details on His second coming...
The "abomination" is the Antichrist who will attract and deceive believers (yes, believers) and eventually he will sort of "turn on" God and declare himself God..
Jesus' warning.
Stay alert.
Persevere.
Because perseverance through the tough times will demonstrate the true faith that lies beneath.
Hardship, hard time, difficulties are a part of life and especially a part of life as a Christian. We need these times to test, strengthen and demonstrate our faith.
Persevere. No matter what.
Persevere in peace. Persevere in patience. Persevere in righteousness. Stand firm when temptations come.
The "abomination" is the Antichrist who will attract and deceive believers (yes, believers) and eventually he will sort of "turn on" God and declare himself God..
Jesus' warning.
Stay alert.
Persevere.
Because perseverance through the tough times will demonstrate the true faith that lies beneath.
Hardship, hard time, difficulties are a part of life and especially a part of life as a Christian. We need these times to test, strengthen and demonstrate our faith.
Persevere. No matter what.
Persevere in peace. Persevere in patience. Persevere in righteousness. Stand firm when temptations come.
Mar 29, 2010
March 29 - Mark 12
Verses 1-12 Parable of the Tenants
As you might have guessed the son is Jesus. The tenants are the religious leaders that have been there all along and it is illustrating how they are trying to find a way to get Jesus in trouble. They don't believe and they'll prevent others from believing if they have to. They are stuck in their ways and will not change
Verses 13-40 demonstrate the religious leaders' attempts at trying to find a reason to accuse Jesus. Jesus correctly responds to each test... These powerful religious leaders are demonstrating their power to control and destroy.
Yet, the chapter concludes with the account of the widow's offering. The temple was known as a place where the rich and powerful could demonstrate their power with their offerings. Yet Jesus was more impressed by this widow that gave a really small offering. Why? Because she understood what offering really was - to demonstrate her faith in God, not human beings - by giving everything she had. The "treasury" is not necessarily a treasury of gold coins and money -- imagine it being a treasury of faith.
If churches today were really measured not by the number of members or by the amount of offering received -- but rather by the treasury of faith, how would our church do?
As you might have guessed the son is Jesus. The tenants are the religious leaders that have been there all along and it is illustrating how they are trying to find a way to get Jesus in trouble. They don't believe and they'll prevent others from believing if they have to. They are stuck in their ways and will not change
Verses 13-40 demonstrate the religious leaders' attempts at trying to find a reason to accuse Jesus. Jesus correctly responds to each test... These powerful religious leaders are demonstrating their power to control and destroy.
Yet, the chapter concludes with the account of the widow's offering. The temple was known as a place where the rich and powerful could demonstrate their power with their offerings. Yet Jesus was more impressed by this widow that gave a really small offering. Why? Because she understood what offering really was - to demonstrate her faith in God, not human beings - by giving everything she had. The "treasury" is not necessarily a treasury of gold coins and money -- imagine it being a treasury of faith.
If churches today were really measured not by the number of members or by the amount of offering received -- but rather by the treasury of faith, how would our church do?
Mar 28, 2010
Mar 27, 2010
March 27 - Mark 10:17-52
The rich man had two great loves in his life - his love of God (he followed all the commandments) AND his love of money. If you are following God you can't do both. Everything else must come after God. You can have lots of money. That wasn't the problem. If you use the money for God's glory then the money isn't controlling your life but God is directing the way you use money. So, this man went away sad...because this was hard to do.
If you want to be great, be the servant of all... In this world we want to "lord over" others. We want to be in charge. We take places of prestige, positions that we can mention on our Harvard University applications. Yet, what is true leadership? Jesus demonstrates it here and in his life. To be the greatest means to be the servant of all and this has caught on not only in the church but in the secular corporate world.. If you google "servant leadership" many corporate CEOs have come to incorporate this idea into their leadership. In order to lead, you must learn to serve. A true leader - serves.
And in the most beautiful demonstration of power and of leadership -- Jesus washes the disciples' feet.
If you want to be great, be the servant of all... In this world we want to "lord over" others. We want to be in charge. We take places of prestige, positions that we can mention on our Harvard University applications. Yet, what is true leadership? Jesus demonstrates it here and in his life. To be the greatest means to be the servant of all and this has caught on not only in the church but in the secular corporate world.. If you google "servant leadership" many corporate CEOs have come to incorporate this idea into their leadership. In order to lead, you must learn to serve. A true leader - serves.
And in the most beautiful demonstration of power and of leadership -- Jesus washes the disciples' feet.
Mar 26, 2010
March 26 - Mark 10:1-16
Verses 1-12 - They wanted Jesus to speak against the divorce passage in Deuteronomy so as to catch him. Again, they're stuck in sticking to the "rules" than really getting the point of the law.. The point of the law is to protect people. When two are brought together and united - the tearing apart (divorce) is often a very painful thing because what has been united was never meant to be taken apart.
Verses 13-16 If you can imagine the crowds around Jesus, there are some curious, some like the Pharisees and teachers of the law that just want to find a reason to put Jesus on trial and then there are the children- who genuinely want to know Jesus and have little trepidation in accepting His promises. They don't think too hard about it. They don't get picky about HOW you're supposed to follow a certain law... In fact, sometimes children are smarter in that they get Jesus's simple message that it's about God's love and they're not stubborn or unbelieving...
In this way, of the crowds - the children were probably the brightest of the bunch. Never neglevt the voice of a child or those younger than you. You might learn a thing or two from them.
Verses 13-16 If you can imagine the crowds around Jesus, there are some curious, some like the Pharisees and teachers of the law that just want to find a reason to put Jesus on trial and then there are the children- who genuinely want to know Jesus and have little trepidation in accepting His promises. They don't think too hard about it. They don't get picky about HOW you're supposed to follow a certain law... In fact, sometimes children are smarter in that they get Jesus's simple message that it's about God's love and they're not stubborn or unbelieving...
In this way, of the crowds - the children were probably the brightest of the bunch. Never neglevt the voice of a child or those younger than you. You might learn a thing or two from them.
Mar 25, 2010
March 25 - Mark 9
Verses 2-13 The Transfiguration
Jesus's body was transformed into the form that He would have after the resurrection. it was like a glimpse into what Jesus is trying to teach his disciples. They're still not getting it though. They actually don't want to hear that this amazingly powerful man is going to die...
If God were to show you glimpses of what is to come, how would your faith change? What if God has already shown you glimpses.. like people be transformed and changed by the blood of Jesus? Are we looking for signs when the signs are everywhere?
Verses 14-32 Only by prayer
The disciples, having cast out demons before, couldn't get it this time. And, Jesus points out that it can only come by prayer. Just because they had done it before maybe they were depending on their own strength to do it.. they forgot about the vital part of the equation, God's power and authority. Sometimes when we do something for the first time, we do it with trepidation, with fear.. but when we finally get it.. it's kind of like we lose that fear and we try to do everything ourselves.. In some things, we should learn to do things ourselves but when it comes to the things of God, God's power is key. And, the only way to access that power is through prayer.
In everything we do, may we begin with prayer. Prayer is the beginning of all things with God.
Jesus's body was transformed into the form that He would have after the resurrection. it was like a glimpse into what Jesus is trying to teach his disciples. They're still not getting it though. They actually don't want to hear that this amazingly powerful man is going to die...
If God were to show you glimpses of what is to come, how would your faith change? What if God has already shown you glimpses.. like people be transformed and changed by the blood of Jesus? Are we looking for signs when the signs are everywhere?
Verses 14-32 Only by prayer
The disciples, having cast out demons before, couldn't get it this time. And, Jesus points out that it can only come by prayer. Just because they had done it before maybe they were depending on their own strength to do it.. they forgot about the vital part of the equation, God's power and authority. Sometimes when we do something for the first time, we do it with trepidation, with fear.. but when we finally get it.. it's kind of like we lose that fear and we try to do everything ourselves.. In some things, we should learn to do things ourselves but when it comes to the things of God, God's power is key. And, the only way to access that power is through prayer.
In everything we do, may we begin with prayer. Prayer is the beginning of all things with God.
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