"'they may be ever seeing but never perceiving,
and ever hearing but never understanding;
otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!'"
This sounds a little bit weird, doesn’t it? It sounds like Jesus spoke in parable so that no one would understand! But that’s not quite it.
The main point here is, the Kingdom comes only to those who have gone to great lengths to listen (verses 3, 9, 13, 23, 24). This strongly implies that the Gospel is not something you simply pick up and do. Rather you must wrestle with it, reflect on it, think it out until it “sinks in” (like seed). By using the agricultural metaphor with the repeated call to “listen”, Jesus shows us that it is
extremely possible to think you understand the Gospel when you really don’t. “The penny has to drop”. You may think you “get it” and yet it has not truly touched your heart or penetrated your understanding.
What else does it tell us about the kingdom of God?
• Earthly kingdoms come to the supremely confident, but God’s kingdom comes to the completely humble, receptive. The ground that “gets” the kingdom is not hard but soft and easily penetrated. We have to “open up”, let down our intellectual and volitional defense, and take in his message like the ground takes in seed. The kingdom comes not to the fierce but to the teachable — those who know they have much to learn.
• The power of the kingdom is truth not force. The kingdom of God moves forward not by political or military force, but through teaching and persuading and by hearing and learning. Jesus’ kingdom will conquer through love and service, not force, through sweet persuasion, not coercion, and it will produce loving obedience, not slavery, and therefore it will transform completely, not superficially. Jesus’ kingdom is more like a seed on the heart than a boulder on the head. The boulder smashes from the outside, the seed penetrates to the inside. The entry of a seed is the most gentle of procedures.
• Third, we learn here how small and unimpressively the kingdom of God can start! Afew seeds in the ground are essentially invisible. Nothing appears to have really happened. In the same way, the church of Jesus Christ for many decades consisted of a very small number of socially marginal people. No one would have ever thought that it was going to “take over” the Roman empire.
• Fourth, we learn how slowly and indirectly the kingdom of God can proceed. It may take a very long time and seem to be going nowhere. Some seeds and roots can lie fallow and hidden for an extremely long time and then spring up. So the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is not something that will break in completely and immediately. The agricultural metaphor at least suggests that it will come in stages. It generally grows organically and gradually, not coercively and suddenly.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
January 12, 2010
Up to this point we have seen Jesus heal many and cast out many demons. He has clarified the Sabbath and addressed his critics. Now, finally, Mark records some of Jesus teaching and preaching, which consisted primarily of stories, which biblical scholars call parables.
These stories are typically not allegorical, with a number of “one to one” allusions to something else. Rather they are typically constructed to make one simple (but profound) point. Although today’s story/parable actually gets explained by Jesus in an allegorical fashion, it is still good to ask, "what would Jesus’ one main point be?”.
My take is that those who call this the “parable of the sower” have it exactly right. God just keeps on sowing. He sows everywhere, fertile soil, bad soil, rocky soil, thorny soil. He sows everywhere because everywhere matters. He sows in hope and in love and with eternal optimism and also with omniscient certainty that the seeds will sprout where they will, and the Kingdom of God will, with certainty, eventually “overrun” and renew the planet.
I hope this makes you relax. God is at work everywhere, whether you see it or not, whether you believe it or not, whether, you feel too unworthy or not, whether systems or nations or the all forces of hell oppose Him or not, God is at work and his work and Will will be done.
These stories are typically not allegorical, with a number of “one to one” allusions to something else. Rather they are typically constructed to make one simple (but profound) point. Although today’s story/parable actually gets explained by Jesus in an allegorical fashion, it is still good to ask, "what would Jesus’ one main point be?”.
My take is that those who call this the “parable of the sower” have it exactly right. God just keeps on sowing. He sows everywhere, fertile soil, bad soil, rocky soil, thorny soil. He sows everywhere because everywhere matters. He sows in hope and in love and with eternal optimism and also with omniscient certainty that the seeds will sprout where they will, and the Kingdom of God will, with certainty, eventually “overrun” and renew the planet.
I hope this makes you relax. God is at work everywhere, whether you see it or not, whether you believe it or not, whether, you feel too unworthy or not, whether systems or nations or the all forces of hell oppose Him or not, God is at work and his work and Will will be done.
Monday, January 11, 2010
January 11, 2010
Jesus family thought he was crazy. Some thought he was possessed by demons.
This passage is rather startling. Jesus first used logic to rule out the possibility of his being demonically possessed. He took this a step further however to make one of the most frightening pronouncements in all of the Bible. “Those who blaspheme the Holy Spirit cannot be forgiven”.
These words were spoken to the religious leaders. Interesting isn’t it? Could it be that the legalistically religious are the ones furthest from God, actually the ones most prone to rejecting him in favor of the religious structures they have erected? It is of course true that if the offer of forgiveness accomplished on the cross is rejected eternally, (rejecting/blaspheming the Holy Spirit’s offer of forgiveness), then an unreceived gift is a gift not received. Forgiveness offered, if rejected, results in an unforgiven life, the destiny of which is a Godless eternity which we know by the name of hell.
Many wonder, “am I guilty of blaspheming the Holy Spirit?”. My answer is usually no. Because if you can ask the question, that means that heart is still malleable. Those guilty of this sin, on the other hand, have hearts so hardened toward God that they just don’t care. They are simply and smugly so at home in the dangerous comfort of their own self sufficient world, that the question of their relationship to this sin is simply not on their radar. Typically and sadly it is only severe pain that can break through and open them to the rescue of Jesus Christ.
This passage is rather startling. Jesus first used logic to rule out the possibility of his being demonically possessed. He took this a step further however to make one of the most frightening pronouncements in all of the Bible. “Those who blaspheme the Holy Spirit cannot be forgiven”.
These words were spoken to the religious leaders. Interesting isn’t it? Could it be that the legalistically religious are the ones furthest from God, actually the ones most prone to rejecting him in favor of the religious structures they have erected? It is of course true that if the offer of forgiveness accomplished on the cross is rejected eternally, (rejecting/blaspheming the Holy Spirit’s offer of forgiveness), then an unreceived gift is a gift not received. Forgiveness offered, if rejected, results in an unforgiven life, the destiny of which is a Godless eternity which we know by the name of hell.
Many wonder, “am I guilty of blaspheming the Holy Spirit?”. My answer is usually no. Because if you can ask the question, that means that heart is still malleable. Those guilty of this sin, on the other hand, have hearts so hardened toward God that they just don’t care. They are simply and smugly so at home in the dangerous comfort of their own self sufficient world, that the question of their relationship to this sin is simply not on their radar. Typically and sadly it is only severe pain that can break through and open them to the rescue of Jesus Christ.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
January 9, 2010
In this passage Jesus selects his team among whom are fishermen, a tax collector and an insurrectionist. Matthew had been a traitor, a Jew working for the enemy, a little bit like a Jewish citizen today working for the Palestinian Authority against his own people. Simon the Zealot, on the other hand was a Jewish freedom fighter, an enemy of the empire.
Imagine their conversations. Imagine how Simon must have been tempted to hold Matthew in contempt. Yet the “band of brothers” (Judas aside) held together.
This is a sign of the presence of the Kingdom of God. Wherever you see Christ followers of different background, politics, ethnicity, race, gender, heritage, language, etc, etc. working together in a common bond toward the end of bringing other into a healing relationship with Jesus Christ, you are in the presence of the Kingdom of God.
Wherever there is division, hatred, strife, gossip, posturing, criticism of one another, the world has every right to question whether or not the Kingdom is actually here.
“I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me” . John 17:21 (NLT)
Imagine their conversations. Imagine how Simon must have been tempted to hold Matthew in contempt. Yet the “band of brothers” (Judas aside) held together.
This is a sign of the presence of the Kingdom of God. Wherever you see Christ followers of different background, politics, ethnicity, race, gender, heritage, language, etc, etc. working together in a common bond toward the end of bringing other into a healing relationship with Jesus Christ, you are in the presence of the Kingdom of God.
Wherever there is division, hatred, strife, gossip, posturing, criticism of one another, the world has every right to question whether or not the Kingdom is actually here.
“I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me” . John 17:21 (NLT)
Friday, January 8, 2010
January 8, 2010
"The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath."
Many years ago the youth of our church were not permitted to play pick up ball games on Sundays because it was the Sabbath. The fourth commandment needed to be honored.
Yet Jesus, instead of restricting what we do on the Sabbath, redefined it’s meaning. Apparently the Sabbath was intended to be a day where God’s blessings would expand. Picking and eating heads of grain from the field had been considered work and therefore was prohibited. Jesus indicated that wasa silly rule if it becomes deadening legalism. Healing on the Sabbath was also prohibited because it, too, was work. Yet the Sabbath is for people. God intended it for our welfare. The Exodus command, “keep the Sabbath holy” was God’s way of ensuring that His people would stay connected to the source of all health and welfare, God Himself. Within the context of Honoring God, however, much is permitted if it is life-giving.
Empty ritual deadens. Yet biblical practices, when understood as conduits to “the life that is truly life”, are wonderful. Prayer, worship and fellowship all enliven. But so does play, caring for others, and anything else that elevates God as the source and sustainer of life.
Many years ago the youth of our church were not permitted to play pick up ball games on Sundays because it was the Sabbath. The fourth commandment needed to be honored.
Yet Jesus, instead of restricting what we do on the Sabbath, redefined it’s meaning. Apparently the Sabbath was intended to be a day where God’s blessings would expand. Picking and eating heads of grain from the field had been considered work and therefore was prohibited. Jesus indicated that wasa silly rule if it becomes deadening legalism. Healing on the Sabbath was also prohibited because it, too, was work. Yet the Sabbath is for people. God intended it for our welfare. The Exodus command, “keep the Sabbath holy” was God’s way of ensuring that His people would stay connected to the source of all health and welfare, God Himself. Within the context of Honoring God, however, much is permitted if it is life-giving.
Empty ritual deadens. Yet biblical practices, when understood as conduits to “the life that is truly life”, are wonderful. Prayer, worship and fellowship all enliven. But so does play, caring for others, and anything else that elevates God as the source and sustainer of life.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
January 7, 2010
“While Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" were eating with him and his disciples”
Levi (his other name is Matthew, author of the Gospel by the same name) was a tax collector. This means that he worked for the Roman occupiers, oppressors, of Israel. He had “sold out” to the enemy for money. Further, his job was to seek out any of his fellow citizens, no matter how destitute, who could be squeezed for more money. Even further, he was free to keep any money “squeezed” which exceeded that demanded by the Romans. Needless to say, he would have not been the toast of the party in his community.
Yet Jesus went to a party at his party full of others like him. Jesus made it a practice to hang out with “riff raff”. It’s a big part of what got him in trouble with the religious leaders.
How about you? Would you be found socializing with those who are clearly out of favor with respectable people? Would you hang out with thieves, drunks, and drug abusers? Or do you find in yourself a need to stay “above that”?
Levi (his other name is Matthew, author of the Gospel by the same name) was a tax collector. This means that he worked for the Roman occupiers, oppressors, of Israel. He had “sold out” to the enemy for money. Further, his job was to seek out any of his fellow citizens, no matter how destitute, who could be squeezed for more money. Even further, he was free to keep any money “squeezed” which exceeded that demanded by the Romans. Needless to say, he would have not been the toast of the party in his community.
Yet Jesus went to a party at his party full of others like him. Jesus made it a practice to hang out with “riff raff”. It’s a big part of what got him in trouble with the religious leaders.
How about you? Would you be found socializing with those who are clearly out of favor with respectable people? Would you hang out with thieves, drunks, and drug abusers? Or do you find in yourself a need to stay “above that”?
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
January 6, 2010
This is a weird story, as least as it strikes me. Here come three or four guys carrying a friend to Jesus, actually breaking into the house, jumping to the head of the line, just so their friend could be healed. Instead Jesus forgives his sins!!!! It’s weird because my perspective immediately assumes that the first big issue is the guy’s welfare.
Actually, however, the guy’s welfare is Jesus’ concern too. It’s just that Jesus sees the big picture. There is something that is more basic and radical and necessary than physical health. In fact and in truth the only disease that can kill me is unforgiven sin. If I’m forgiven of my sins, one day, no matter what happens to my body, I’ll be resurrected and live forever. If my sins are not forgiven, my eternal destiny is spiritual death which we know by the name of hell.
The most important result of sickness is always to end up closer to God through it. Forgiveness is the one miracle that can ultimately heal. Yes I want physical healing now for my ailments, but one day Christ’s perspective will be my perspective and on that day my ultimate joy will be in knowing that God took all my sin upon himself and let off an eternal hook. Thank you God.
Actually, however, the guy’s welfare is Jesus’ concern too. It’s just that Jesus sees the big picture. There is something that is more basic and radical and necessary than physical health. In fact and in truth the only disease that can kill me is unforgiven sin. If I’m forgiven of my sins, one day, no matter what happens to my body, I’ll be resurrected and live forever. If my sins are not forgiven, my eternal destiny is spiritual death which we know by the name of hell.
The most important result of sickness is always to end up closer to God through it. Forgiveness is the one miracle that can ultimately heal. Yes I want physical healing now for my ailments, but one day Christ’s perspective will be my perspective and on that day my ultimate joy will be in knowing that God took all my sin upon himself and let off an eternal hook. Thank you God.
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