Who will roll the stone away?
Don't know.
Let's go anyway - I've got the spices.
Is that enough?
Don't know.
Me neither - let's go.
if it's the right thing to do, just do it
rolling the stone away can be somebody else's problem
Sunday, 26 February 2017
HOLY SATURDAY - MARK 15:42-47
there is an understanding that Jesus was key to the creation : John 1:1-3 and Col 1:16
there seems to be a clearer understanding that Jesus is with us still : Mat 28:20
and then there's also 'Jesus is the same yesterday, today, forever' : Heb 13:8
so - Easter Saturday - the only day in history when Jesus was unavailable
Easter Saturday - the divide between the old testament promises and the new covenant
the disciples must have felt lost, scared, furious, let-down, disappointed ...
it must of been the worst day of their lives
it wasn't a great day for the rest of the world either
there seems to be a clearer understanding that Jesus is with us still : Mat 28:20
and then there's also 'Jesus is the same yesterday, today, forever' : Heb 13:8
so - Easter Saturday - the only day in history when Jesus was unavailable
Easter Saturday - the divide between the old testament promises and the new covenant
the disciples must have felt lost, scared, furious, let-down, disappointed ...
it must of been the worst day of their lives
it wasn't a great day for the rest of the world either
GOOD FRIDAY - MARK 15:1-41
so much of this part of the story happens in darkness
the Passover meal doesn't begin until the sun has set - about 7:30
so all of this was in the darkness of night-time :
the last supper
they went out to the Mount of Olives
Jesus prayed that the cup be taken from him
the disciples repeatedly fell asleep
Judas brought the mob to capture Jesus
the first 'trial' with the Sanhedrin and the chief priests
Peter denied Jesus
and then it was morning
Jesus is 'tried' once again
then sent to Pilate
then tortured
then crucified
then the darkness returned again
ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHTHANI
the Passover meal doesn't begin until the sun has set - about 7:30
so all of this was in the darkness of night-time :
the last supper
they went out to the Mount of Olives
Jesus prayed that the cup be taken from him
the disciples repeatedly fell asleep
Judas brought the mob to capture Jesus
the first 'trial' with the Sanhedrin and the chief priests
Peter denied Jesus
and then it was morning
Jesus is 'tried' once again
then sent to Pilate
then tortured
then crucified
then the darkness returned again
ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHTHANI
MAUNDY THURSDAY - MARK 14:12-26
I guess this was the first time that the disciples hadn't been home for Passover. They would have spent every previous celebration with their families. As the time got nearer, it would have dawned on the disciples that they weren't going home but were spending Passover with each other and with Jesus. Maybe Martha started to assume that they would be celebrating at her house but Jesus's plan was to celebrate Passover in Jerusalem with his 'family'. He asked the disciples to do the preparations - probably the first time that any of them had done this, it would have ordinarily been their parents' job. One of them would have had the task of killing the lamb - an unwitting symbolic prophetic action.
During the meal, there were four questions with four answers
During the meal, there were four questions with four answers
- Why is it that on all other nights during the year we eat either leavened bread or matza, but on this night we eat only matza? We eat only matza because our ancestors could not wait for their breads to rise when they were fleeing slavery in Egypt, and so they were flat when they came out of the oven.
- Why is it that on all other nights we eat meat either roasted, marinated, or cooked, but on this night it is entirely roasted? We eat only roasted meat because that is how the Passover lamb is prepared during sacrifice in the Temple at Jerusalem.
- Why is it that on all other nights we do not dip our food even once, but on this night we dip them twice? The first dip, green vegetables in salt water, symbolizes the replacing of our tears with gratitude, and the second dip, Maror in Charoses, symbolizes the sweetening of our burden of bitterness and suffering.
- Why is it that on all other nights we dine either sitting upright or reclining, but on this night we all recline? We recline at the table because in ancient times, a person who reclined at a meal was a free person, while slaves and servants stood.
Dipping food into a bowl and reclining whilst eating were both special features of the Passover meal, both heavy with symbolism and both tying the present to the past. Jesus added new traditions for the future - this is my body broken for you - this is my blood poured out for you.
(unleavened bread snaps when it is broken, you can hear it breaking when it is eaten)
Jesus ruined Passover for loads of people - the mob, the Sanhedrin, the priests - they were all taken away from their homes where celebrations would have been in progress in order to confront Jesus - they would have all been full with food and drink and none of them slept that night (apart from the disciples !!) - an angry, resentful, tired, over-fed, possibly inebriated mob - the perfect storm.
Jesus ruined Passover for loads of people - the mob, the Sanhedrin, the priests - they were all taken away from their homes where celebrations would have been in progress in order to confront Jesus - they would have all been full with food and drink and none of them slept that night (apart from the disciples !!) - an angry, resentful, tired, over-fed, possibly inebriated mob - the perfect storm.
WEDNESDAY 12th APRIL - MARK 14:53-65
This would have been a mess.
Jesus was led/man-handled/dragged into the temple courtyard by an armed mob in order to be confronted by people who wanted him dead.
The accusations would have been loud and angry and physical and all-at-once.
It's hardly a surprise that Jesus stayed silent.
Then the high priest rose to his feet.
"Are you the Messiah?"
Any remaining voices from the crowd would have fallen silent as they waited for Jesus's answer to their key question.
"I am"
what an answer - not just 'yes' but God's name for himself.
Then a frenzy of shock, offence, violence and blood with Jesus at the centre. He was spat upon and Mark says that he was hit with fists - a few days before, Jesus had decried the behaviour of the temple traders as they had made the temple a 'den of robbers', the very same place where he was now being violently assaulted in the presence of the nation's religious leaders.
(Did they blindfold him because he could look through you? as was his custom?)
Only the full Sanhedrin of 71 members could make judgement on a false prophet. So in the midst of all this hate and violence, the religious leaders were still doing the 'right' thing by gathering the entire group together to hear the evidence about Jesus. Religion getting in the way of justice and peace and righteousness - that sounds familiar.
Jesus was led/man-handled/dragged into the temple courtyard by an armed mob in order to be confronted by people who wanted him dead.
The accusations would have been loud and angry and physical and all-at-once.
It's hardly a surprise that Jesus stayed silent.
Then the high priest rose to his feet.
"Are you the Messiah?"
Any remaining voices from the crowd would have fallen silent as they waited for Jesus's answer to their key question.
"I am"
what an answer - not just 'yes' but God's name for himself.
Then a frenzy of shock, offence, violence and blood with Jesus at the centre. He was spat upon and Mark says that he was hit with fists - a few days before, Jesus had decried the behaviour of the temple traders as they had made the temple a 'den of robbers', the very same place where he was now being violently assaulted in the presence of the nation's religious leaders.
(Did they blindfold him because he could look through you? as was his custom?)
Only the full Sanhedrin of 71 members could make judgement on a false prophet. So in the midst of all this hate and violence, the religious leaders were still doing the 'right' thing by gathering the entire group together to hear the evidence about Jesus. Religion getting in the way of justice and peace and righteousness - that sounds familiar.
TUESDAY 11th APRIL - MARK 14:32-52
Jesus had spent 3 years heading towards Jerusalem.
He had spent 3 years heading towards his death.
He had told parables about it, he had prophesied about it, he had spoken about it with bluntness.
Yet, at the crunch, Jesus prays for there to be another way.
In this journey through Mark's gospel, alongside his determination, compassion, confidence and purposefulness, there are examples of Jesus's frustration, disappointment, weariness and uncertainty.
He gets there in the end but via a wealth of very normal human emotions and states of mind.
I suppose if Jesus had gleefully and blissfully marched towards his death, it would have been clear that his 'human-ness' was pretty superficial. Instead, he shows us a hesitant relentlessness - he seeks guidance, he seeks confirmation, then he is FULLY obedient.
He had spent 3 years heading towards his death.
He had told parables about it, he had prophesied about it, he had spoken about it with bluntness.
Yet, at the crunch, Jesus prays for there to be another way.
In this journey through Mark's gospel, alongside his determination, compassion, confidence and purposefulness, there are examples of Jesus's frustration, disappointment, weariness and uncertainty.
He gets there in the end but via a wealth of very normal human emotions and states of mind.
I suppose if Jesus had gleefully and blissfully marched towards his death, it would have been clear that his 'human-ness' was pretty superficial. Instead, he shows us a hesitant relentlessness - he seeks guidance, he seeks confirmation, then he is FULLY obedient.
MONDAY 10th APRIL - MARK 14:3-9
the oil was 'expensive', but something is only worth money if another person is willing to give away their cash in exchange - who would she have been able to sell it to?
I don't think this lady cared about the monetary worth and I can't imagine that she bought it - maybe it was a gift or an heirloom or an inheritance or maybe she was supposed to use it as part of her dowry.
To this lady, this perfume was her best thing, her treasure, her 'keep it for a rainy day', her 'what would you rescue in a fire'.
She wanted Jesus to have it because of what it meant to her not because of how valuable it was. She wanted him to have it in a way that meant no-one else could have it. She didn't just present him with the bottle, she poured the whole lot over his head - the smell would have been on him when he died.
I don't know what 'thing' I'd rescue in a fire - my iPad, old photos - I'm not sure what Jesus would do with my 'red' and 'blue' Beatles albums (I don't think he's even got a turntable) - maybe our 'best' is out time and our energy - can I give those to Jesus in the same reckless way that Mary gave him her perfume?
I don't think this lady cared about the monetary worth and I can't imagine that she bought it - maybe it was a gift or an heirloom or an inheritance or maybe she was supposed to use it as part of her dowry.
To this lady, this perfume was her best thing, her treasure, her 'keep it for a rainy day', her 'what would you rescue in a fire'.
She wanted Jesus to have it because of what it meant to her not because of how valuable it was. She wanted him to have it in a way that meant no-one else could have it. She didn't just present him with the bottle, she poured the whole lot over his head - the smell would have been on him when he died.
I don't know what 'thing' I'd rescue in a fire - my iPad, old photos - I'm not sure what Jesus would do with my 'red' and 'blue' Beatles albums (I don't think he's even got a turntable) - maybe our 'best' is out time and our energy - can I give those to Jesus in the same reckless way that Mary gave him her perfume?
PALM SUNDAY - PSALM 118:1-2, 19-29
cornerstone :
the stone that joins two walls (BC and AD ?)
the key piece in a jigsaw - the piece that you look for first
the most carefully crafted stones in a building
the stones that define the footprint of a building
the stones that define the squareness of the walls
the block that keeps the JENGA pile standing
the stone that joins two walls (BC and AD ?)
the key piece in a jigsaw - the piece that you look for first
the most carefully crafted stones in a building
the stones that define the footprint of a building
the stones that define the squareness of the walls
the block that keeps the JENGA pile standing
FRIDAY 7th APRIL - MARK 11:1-11
Mark 11 lasts 3 days
day 1
Jesus rides on a colt whilst people are singing and waving branches
Jesus looks around the temple
Jesus goes back home because it's getting a bit late
day 2
Jesus heads back into Jerusalem and curses a fig tree
Jesus goes straight to the temple and turns over the tables
Jesus goes back home maybe because it's getting a bit late
day 3
Jesus heads back into Jerusalem passed the dead fig tree
Jesus goes straight to the temple and is met by the chief priests
Jesus is then met by the Pharisees
It seems as though Jesus felt called to travel to Jerusalem.
His first visit as Messiah was heralded by the public but went un-noticed by the authorities.
His second visit caused a stir.
His third visit therefore prompted the interest of a huge number of dignitaries and authority figures.
'hit them where it hurts - silver and gold' - U2
day 1
Jesus rides on a colt whilst people are singing and waving branches
Jesus looks around the temple
Jesus goes back home because it's getting a bit late
day 2
Jesus heads back into Jerusalem and curses a fig tree
Jesus goes straight to the temple and turns over the tables
Jesus goes back home maybe because it's getting a bit late
day 3
Jesus heads back into Jerusalem passed the dead fig tree
Jesus goes straight to the temple and is met by the chief priests
Jesus is then met by the Pharisees
It seems as though Jesus felt called to travel to Jerusalem.
His first visit as Messiah was heralded by the public but went un-noticed by the authorities.
His second visit caused a stir.
His third visit therefore prompted the interest of a huge number of dignitaries and authority figures.
'hit them where it hurts - silver and gold' - U2
THURSDAY 6th APRIL - MARK 13
"do you see all these great buildings?" said Jesus the civil engineer
"yes I do - all of the time - what do you think about mechanical engineering?"
"some trust in cars, some trust in horsepower but we trust in the name of the Lord" (Psalm 20:7)
"yes I do - all of the time - what do you think about mechanical engineering?"
"some trust in cars, some trust in horsepower but we trust in the name of the Lord" (Psalm 20:7)
WEDNESDAY 5th APRIL - MARK 12:18-44
“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself .’ The third is: 'They should always be called Easter Eggs'. There is no commandment greater than these."
TUESDAY 4th APRIL - MARK 12:1-17
They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’ s .”
what is God's? what belongs to God?
Psalm 46 - I have engraved you on the palms of my hands
what is God's? what belongs to God?
Psalm 46 - I have engraved you on the palms of my hands
MONDAY 3rd APRIL - MARK 11
Jesus was hungry
he looked for figs
there weren't any figs
it wasn't even the right time for figs
Jesus cursed the tree
he went into Jerusalem and drove the traders out of the temple
the next morning, they passed the fig tree again
the fig tree had withered
not sure what this means
I'll have to come back to this one
he looked for figs
there weren't any figs
it wasn't even the right time for figs
Jesus cursed the tree
he went into Jerusalem and drove the traders out of the temple
the next morning, they passed the fig tree again
the fig tree had withered
not sure what this means
I'll have to come back to this one
SATURDAY 1st APRIL - JOHN 12:20-33
John 12:20-32 NIV
[20] Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. [21] They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” [22] Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. [23] Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. [24] Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. [25] Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. [26] Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. [27] “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. [28] Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” [29] The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. [30] Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. [31] Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. [32] And I, when I am lifted up g from the earth, will draw all people to myself ."
some gentiles turned up
they wanted to speak to Jesus
Jesus gave them a parable
Jesus told them about the first being last and the last being first
Jesus predicted the future
there was a voice from the skies surrounded by thunder
Jesus told them that it was all for their benefit
that escalated quickly
[20] Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. [21] They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” [22] Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. [23] Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. [24] Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. [25] Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. [26] Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. [27] “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. [28] Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” [29] The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. [30] Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. [31] Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. [32] And I, when I am lifted up g from the earth, will draw all people to myself ."
some gentiles turned up
they wanted to speak to Jesus
Jesus gave them a parable
Jesus told them about the first being last and the last being first
Jesus predicted the future
there was a voice from the skies surrounded by thunder
Jesus told them that it was all for their benefit
that escalated quickly
FRIDAY 31st MARCH - MARK 10:46-52
'Jesus stopped'
The verses from a couple of days ago said that Jesus would talk to the crowd if a crowd gathered. In these verses, he stopped, he stood, he waited. He was reactive to the situations that developed around him. He was focussed on his goals (Jerusalem & sacrifice) but he wasn't blinded by them. He was able to notice others and stop for others and wait for others and give help to others.
The verses from a couple of days ago said that Jesus would talk to the crowd if a crowd gathered. In these verses, he stopped, he stood, he waited. He was reactive to the situations that developed around him. He was focussed on his goals (Jerusalem & sacrifice) but he wasn't blinded by them. He was able to notice others and stop for others and wait for others and give help to others.
THURSDAY 30th MARCH - MARK 10:32-45
this seems to be the third time that the message is to do with putting yourself last
Jesus thinks this is important
Jesus thinks this is important
TUESDAY 28th MARCH - MARK 10:1-16
'as was his custom'
when my daughters look back on their past, they often remember with fondness the things that we 'always' did - the habits that we built together as a family
when we first chose to take the dog to Weston-super-Mare or to get McDonalds breakfast on each other's birthdays, we couldn't have known that they would become regular events
I guess that Jesus chose his habits with a bit more deliberacy - Luke 4 says that he 'always' went to the synagogue on a Saturday - it's just what he did - Mark 10 says that he 'always' talked to the crowd if a crowd turned up - it's just what he did - that must of sometimes been tiring
(Tom Cruise 'always' turns up early to film premieres so that he can talk to the crowds - I wonder if there are times when he wishes that he hadn't made it his 'thing')
What do I 'always' do?
Are the things that I 'always' do good things?
Are any of the things that I 'always' do bad things?
Can I choose a new 'always' thing that could be thought of as a 'God thing'?
an extra thought - if a crowd gathered, then Jesus spoke to them, as was his custom - we gather every Sunday - we should therefore expect Jesus to speak to us
when my daughters look back on their past, they often remember with fondness the things that we 'always' did - the habits that we built together as a family
when we first chose to take the dog to Weston-super-Mare or to get McDonalds breakfast on each other's birthdays, we couldn't have known that they would become regular events
I guess that Jesus chose his habits with a bit more deliberacy - Luke 4 says that he 'always' went to the synagogue on a Saturday - it's just what he did - Mark 10 says that he 'always' talked to the crowd if a crowd turned up - it's just what he did - that must of sometimes been tiring
(Tom Cruise 'always' turns up early to film premieres so that he can talk to the crowds - I wonder if there are times when he wishes that he hadn't made it his 'thing')
What do I 'always' do?
Are the things that I 'always' do good things?
Are any of the things that I 'always' do bad things?
Can I choose a new 'always' thing that could be thought of as a 'God thing'?
an extra thought - if a crowd gathered, then Jesus spoke to them, as was his custom - we gather every Sunday - we should therefore expect Jesus to speak to us
MONDAY 27th MARCH - MARK 9:30-50
"be the servant of all"
I want to live this
as a teacher
as an assistant head
as a church member
as church secretary
as a defender
as a goalkeeper
as a friend
as a son
as a brother
as a husband
as a dad
I want to live this
as a teacher
as an assistant head
as a church member
as church secretary
as a defender
as a goalkeeper
as a friend
as a son
as a brother
as a husband
as a dad
SUNDAY 26th MARCH - PSALM 107:1-3, 17-22
I'm reading this Psalm like this
the people get on with their lives
they call to God only when they are desperate
then God steps in because he had their backs all along
(repeat)
the people don't seem to learn
the cycle of: coping on their own - failure - desperation - prayer - redemption
imagine how much better it would be if God was in the best bits of their lives too
(it reminds me of school - some kids think they know best until it all goes wrong for them, then they turn to the teachers for help - teachers do this time after time but some kids never seem able to trust)
the people get on with their lives
they call to God only when they are desperate
then God steps in because he had their backs all along
(repeat)
the people don't seem to learn
the cycle of: coping on their own - failure - desperation - prayer - redemption
imagine how much better it would be if God was in the best bits of their lives too
(it reminds me of school - some kids think they know best until it all goes wrong for them, then they turn to the teachers for help - teachers do this time after time but some kids never seem able to trust)
SATURDAY 25th MARCH - JOHN 3:14-21
John 3:16 is the verse that is used across the world to sum up the whole Jesus 'thing'
It has been analysed, theologised, summarised, it has had analogies written about it to make it easier to understand. Yet Jesus just said it and Mark just wrote it down as it is with no further addition.
John 3:16-17
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
It's very difficult to read it whilst pretending that I've never heard it before. Jesus and Mark both clearly thought that it didn't need any extra words - it does what it says on the can.
I hadn't realised that this verse was from a private conversation with Nicodemus.
Question - how did Mark find out what was said?
Thought - this hugely important verse was originally said to an inquisitive individual.
It has been analysed, theologised, summarised, it has had analogies written about it to make it easier to understand. Yet Jesus just said it and Mark just wrote it down as it is with no further addition.
John 3:16-17
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
It's very difficult to read it whilst pretending that I've never heard it before. Jesus and Mark both clearly thought that it didn't need any extra words - it does what it says on the can.
I hadn't realised that this verse was from a private conversation with Nicodemus.
Question - how did Mark find out what was said?
Thought - this hugely important verse was originally said to an inquisitive individual.
FRIDAY 24th MARCH - MARK 9:2-29
Peter didn't know what to say, so he said stuff anyway.
Less is often more.
Sometimes it's good to listen.
Sometimes it's good to watch.
Sometimes it's good to think.
Sometimes it's good to take it all in.
You don't have to react to everything.
Consciously say less.
Less is often more.
Sometimes it's good to listen.
Sometimes it's good to watch.
Sometimes it's good to think.
Sometimes it's good to take it all in.
You don't have to react to everything.
Consciously say less.
WEDNESDAY 22nd MARCH - MARK 7:24-37
HOLD ON A MINUTE - DID JESUS JUST CALL HER A DOG?
Mark also describes nothing about her apart from her origins.
That all seems a little bit (very) racist.
HOLD ON ANOTHER MINUTE - DID JESUS JUST CHANGE HIS MIND?
The only time in the Bible that Jesus loses an argument is to a 'dog'.
I don't get this story.
The lady is persistent.
Jesus listens to everyone's prayers.
That can't be it, can it?
I can't get away from Jesus saying something weird.
However, the end of the story is that he has listened to a woman - the end of the story is that he listened to a gentile - he also responded and answered her request with action. He then fed 4000 gentiles with 7 loaves and some fish - what's good enough for God's chosen people (humans) is good enough for gentiles (dogs).
still very confused - is this Jesus continuing to grow in wisdom and stature and in favour with God and man? (Luke 2)
.
Mark also describes nothing about her apart from her origins.
That all seems a little bit (very) racist.
HOLD ON ANOTHER MINUTE - DID JESUS JUST CHANGE HIS MIND?
The only time in the Bible that Jesus loses an argument is to a 'dog'.
I don't get this story.
The lady is persistent.
Jesus listens to everyone's prayers.
That can't be it, can it?
I can't get away from Jesus saying something weird.
However, the end of the story is that he has listened to a woman - the end of the story is that he listened to a gentile - he also responded and answered her request with action. He then fed 4000 gentiles with 7 loaves and some fish - what's good enough for God's chosen people (humans) is good enough for gentiles (dogs).
still very confused - is this Jesus continuing to grow in wisdom and stature and in favour with God and man? (Luke 2)
.
TUESDAY 21st MARCH - MARK 7:14-23
Mark 7:14-15 NIV
“Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them."
“Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them."
that verse works with 'defines' as well
It's not what you hear that defines you, it's what you say.
It's not what you experience that defines you, it's how you respond to it.
It's not what you see that defines you, it's how others see you.
It's not what is done to you that defines you, it's what you do to others.
MONDAY 20th MARCH - MARK 7:1-13
It seems that there were 613 commandments that the faithful were instructed to follow. Jesus said that some were striving to follow the commandments at the expense of the spirit of the law.
Some were declaring their money as 'korban' - dedicated to God - which meant that it then couldn't be used to look after their families - religion getting in the way of love.
from the Message - "you scratch out God's Word and scrawl a whim in its place. You do a lot of things like this."
you can safely assume you've created God in your own image when it turns out that he hates the same people as you
Some were declaring their money as 'korban' - dedicated to God - which meant that it then couldn't be used to look after their families - religion getting in the way of love.
from the Message - "you scratch out God's Word and scrawl a whim in its place. You do a lot of things like this."
you can safely assume you've created God in your own image when it turns out that he hates the same people as you
SUNDAY 19th MARCH - PSALM 19
and Coldplay sayeth unto us "look at the stars, look how they shine for you"
and The Troggs also spake "there's no beginning, there'll be no end, 'cause on my love you can depend"
and The Troggs also spake "there's no beginning, there'll be no end, 'cause on my love you can depend"
SATURDAY 18th MARCH - JOHN 2:13-22
Jesus is always portrayed as being angry when this story is told.
Why?
He took his time - enough time to make a whip. He got everyone to leave. He must have spoken with authority. He was good at speaking with authority. People listened to him and responded. Maybe it's not so surprising that the temple cleared. Not sure why he turned the tables over but this action would have piled the money on the floor and would have left a load of confusion when the traders returned.
Was Jesus angry or was he deliberate?
Was Jesus angry or was he determined?
Was Jesus angry or was he disappointed?
Why?
He took his time - enough time to make a whip. He got everyone to leave. He must have spoken with authority. He was good at speaking with authority. People listened to him and responded. Maybe it's not so surprising that the temple cleared. Not sure why he turned the tables over but this action would have piled the money on the floor and would have left a load of confusion when the traders returned.
Was Jesus angry or was he deliberate?
Was Jesus angry or was he determined?
Was Jesus angry or was he disappointed?
FRIDAY 17th MARCH - MARK 6:45-56
Just in case anyone thought that the feeding of the 5000 was just a lesson in generosity and sharing, Jesus turns up in the middle of lake walking on the water.
and Jesus sayeth unto them "any questions?"
and Jesus sayeth unto them "any questions?"
THURSDAY 16th MARCH - MARK 6:30-44
FEEDING OF THE 5000
2 Kings 4 has a story of 20 loaves feeding 100 soldiers with food left over. This story has 5 loaves and 2 fish feeding 5000 men (plus women and children) with 12 baskets of food left over.
A miracle that is mentioned in all 4 gospels.
A story that shows God's provision.
A story that shows Jesus' compassion.
But, something bothers me - the suggestion is that 5 loaves and 2 fish is all the food they had.
WHO BROUGHT THE BASKETS?
The word for basket is 'spuris' (σπυρίς) - it means 'lunch basket' or 'provisions basket'.
Did 12 families bring empty baskets?
or
Did a load of families bring full σπυρίς then share their food after Jesus finished praying?
Did 12 families then hand their baskets to each of the disciples to be used to collect the leftovers?
or
Something else?
2 Kings 4 has a story of 20 loaves feeding 100 soldiers with food left over. This story has 5 loaves and 2 fish feeding 5000 men (plus women and children) with 12 baskets of food left over.
A miracle that is mentioned in all 4 gospels.
A story that shows God's provision.
A story that shows Jesus' compassion.
But, something bothers me - the suggestion is that 5 loaves and 2 fish is all the food they had.
WHO BROUGHT THE BASKETS?
The word for basket is 'spuris' (σπυρίς) - it means 'lunch basket' or 'provisions basket'.
Did 12 families bring empty baskets?
or
Did a load of families bring full σπυρίς then share their food after Jesus finished praying?
Did 12 families then hand their baskets to each of the disciples to be used to collect the leftovers?
or
Something else?
WEDNESDAY 15th MARCH - MARK 6:1-29
WOW - what a story - John the Baptist's head on a plate.
That story would have spread like wild fire. Everyone would have heard it.
Herod thought that Jesus was John raised from the dead - that must have terrified him.
I've heard the story of Jesus coming back from the dead thousands of times. I've thought about it more. Does the familiarity of that story mean than I no longer view it as incredible? Jesus' defeat of death should be terrifying. It should be mind-wrenching. It should shake me.
That story would have spread like wild fire. Everyone would have heard it.
Herod thought that Jesus was John raised from the dead - that must have terrified him.
I've heard the story of Jesus coming back from the dead thousands of times. I've thought about it more. Does the familiarity of that story mean than I no longer view it as incredible? Jesus' defeat of death should be terrifying. It should be mind-wrenching. It should shake me.
TUESDAY 14th MARCH - MARK 5:21-43
This lady had been untouchable for 12 years - rejected, outcast, scorned. Jesus treated her as a human.
Jesus is good at treating people like humans. How good am I at treating people like humans? It struck me today in a conversation about prison that I was having with a student in my form that if you've been locked away for 12 years, it's tricky to return to a normal life. If you've been locked up for 12 years, what can the church offer you on your release? Is there anything that I could do to show love to people who aren't free?
Jesus is good at treating people like humans. How good am I at treating people like humans? It struck me today in a conversation about prison that I was having with a student in my form that if you've been locked away for 12 years, it's tricky to return to a normal life. If you've been locked up for 12 years, what can the church offer you on your release? Is there anything that I could do to show love to people who aren't free?
MONDAY 13th MARCH - MARK 5:1-20
Jesus arrives by boat on a part of the shore of the Sea of Galilee that he's not been to before, he then causes a scene and then he's asked to leave. There's a lot of shouting, a lot of dead pigs and a miffed pig farmer.
The demon-possessed man seems pleased with how things have turned out and is encouraged to tell his story in the cities that surround the eastern side of the lake. His story would be spectacular. He would have been well known and his transformation through Jesus would have added to the intrigue felt by people towards this miracle-working rabbi.
Few people will have such a dramatic story of how Jesus has changed them. However, we do have a story. Where are we supposed to tell this tale? If we only have our words and our actions then our words are important and our actions are important.
What about the pigs?
Maybe the death of the pigs was symbolic.
Maybe the pigs were startled by the commotion and their deaths were coincidental.
Maybe Mark was just reporting events and had no more idea than me about what their deaths meant.
(interesting note - pigs used to live at Yardley cemetery - so, a question - is that a thing?)
The demon-possessed man seems pleased with how things have turned out and is encouraged to tell his story in the cities that surround the eastern side of the lake. His story would be spectacular. He would have been well known and his transformation through Jesus would have added to the intrigue felt by people towards this miracle-working rabbi.
Few people will have such a dramatic story of how Jesus has changed them. However, we do have a story. Where are we supposed to tell this tale? If we only have our words and our actions then our words are important and our actions are important.
What about the pigs?
Maybe the death of the pigs was symbolic.
Maybe the pigs were startled by the commotion and their deaths were coincidental.
Maybe Mark was just reporting events and had no more idea than me about what their deaths meant.
(interesting note - pigs used to live at Yardley cemetery - so, a question - is that a thing?)
SUNDAY 12th MARCH - PSALM 22:22-31
The verse before this passage - Psalm 22:21 - in the King James Bible mentions unicorns - that is all.
SATURDAY 11th MARCH - MARK 8:31-38
"you are thinking human thoughts, not God's thoughts"
it is said that we are made in God's image but it doesn't typically seem as though human behaviours are very 'Godlike'
you are speaking human words, not God's words
you are displaying human emotions, not God's emotions
you are teaching human lessons, not God's lessons
you are playing human hockey, not God's hockey
you are strumming human chords, not God's chords
listen for God's words
look for God's moves
copy them
use them
live them
it is said that we are made in God's image but it doesn't typically seem as though human behaviours are very 'Godlike'
you are speaking human words, not God's words
you are displaying human emotions, not God's emotions
you are teaching human lessons, not God's lessons
you are playing human hockey, not God's hockey
you are strumming human chords, not God's chords
listen for God's words
look for God's moves
copy them
use them
live them
FRIDAY 10th MARCH - MARK 4:21-41
Imagine the disciples hearing Jesus describe the kingdom of God as a mustard seed - growing and growing and getting bigger and bigger. The disciples captivated by the vision and buzzing for the times to come. Then a few hours later seemingly losing faith, belief and composure once the waves began to fill the boat. Jesus dealt with the problem but didn't speak gently to the storm or his disciples. Is there anything that Jesus is saying to me that starts with the question "really?".
THURSDAY 9th MARCH - MARK 4:1-20
the parable is another story of set back for Jesus - the frustration of seeds being sown to little or no effect is described and then explained by Jesus himself - although the story is a very familiar one, it had never crossed my mind that Jesus was talking of his own experiences and the seeds that had flourished represented the responses to his message by his small band of followers. He also seems frustrated that the disciples struggle with his parables - "I'm Jesus, I tell parables, that's what I do, if you don't like parables, then that's all I've got"
WEDNESDAY 8th MARCH - MARK 3:20-35
Mark 3:28-29 NIV
"Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, [29] but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin ."
the Message says 'whoever saws the branch on which they are sitting'
I was sought out after a Sunday service some years ago - she said "I have a word for you from the Lord" - I remember feeling warm to the idea of a message from God - she told me "you are grieving the Holy Spirit" - that was it - nothing else - then she walked away
I thought and prayed about that message for a while - I guess I still think about it every so often (including right now) - I also thought a lot about why on earth a fellow Christian would think that was a helpful word from God or how that would affect me.
I wonder whether the phrase 'God has told me' should be treated cautiously.
"Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, [29] but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin ."
the Message says 'whoever saws the branch on which they are sitting'
I was sought out after a Sunday service some years ago - she said "I have a word for you from the Lord" - I remember feeling warm to the idea of a message from God - she told me "you are grieving the Holy Spirit" - that was it - nothing else - then she walked away
I thought and prayed about that message for a while - I guess I still think about it every so often (including right now) - I also thought a lot about why on earth a fellow Christian would think that was a helpful word from God or how that would affect me.
I wonder whether the phrase 'God has told me' should be treated cautiously.
TUESDAY 7th MARCH - MARK 3:1-19
Jesus chooses his disciples.
more questions than answers today:
why 12? maybe to reflect the tribes of Israel
were they young lads? Rabbis had disciples, they were usually teenagers. No reason to believe that Jesus did anything different. Only Jesus and Peter paid the temple tax which was only applicable for those over 25.
Maybe Jesus built his church on a bunch of teenagers - B R I L L I A N T
did Jesus have a rabbi? Someone taught him to read, someone showed him how to unroll the scrolls, someone showed him the etiquette of speaking at the synagogue, what else did they have to teach him? what did Jesus know because of who he was? what did he have to learn?
Luke 2:42-47 NIV
When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.
more questions than answers today:
why 12? maybe to reflect the tribes of Israel
were they young lads? Rabbis had disciples, they were usually teenagers. No reason to believe that Jesus did anything different. Only Jesus and Peter paid the temple tax which was only applicable for those over 25.
Maybe Jesus built his church on a bunch of teenagers - B R I L L I A N T
did Jesus have a rabbi? Someone taught him to read, someone showed him how to unroll the scrolls, someone showed him the etiquette of speaking at the synagogue, what else did they have to teach him? what did Jesus know because of who he was? what did he have to learn?
Luke 2:42-47 NIV
When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.
MONDAY 6th MARCH - MARK 2:18-28
No-one puts new wine in old wine skins.
No-one repairs broken concrete with new concrete - this is my area!! Concrete doesn't dry out, concrete undergoes a long, slow, chemical reaction between the cement and the water. The reaction takes months. If concrete becomes damaged, you cannot properly repair it with new concrete. The new stuff will change its shape and its strength and will pull itself away from the concrete that it is supposed to be repairing. The repair just ends up as a lump of ineffectual material adding load to the already broken original structure.
You can't rescue a broken relationship with God whilst clinging to what made it broken in the first place. New means new - new outlook, new direction, new commitment, new person. Repentance means change. Loving one another is tricky if you are still judging one another.
No-one repairs broken concrete with new concrete - this is my area!! Concrete doesn't dry out, concrete undergoes a long, slow, chemical reaction between the cement and the water. The reaction takes months. If concrete becomes damaged, you cannot properly repair it with new concrete. The new stuff will change its shape and its strength and will pull itself away from the concrete that it is supposed to be repairing. The repair just ends up as a lump of ineffectual material adding load to the already broken original structure.
You can't rescue a broken relationship with God whilst clinging to what made it broken in the first place. New means new - new outlook, new direction, new commitment, new person. Repentance means change. Loving one another is tricky if you are still judging one another.
SUNDAY 5th MARCH - PSALM 25:1-10
There seem to be sections of the old testament where the faithful are learning the nature of God. Their descriptions of him and the things that they attribute to him sometimes don't seem to match with the descriptions of God in the new testament. However, this Psalm sounds like the sort of thing that Jesus would say. Yesterday, today, forever.
SATURDAY 4th MARCH - MARK 1:9-15
Jesus's first words in Mark's gospel - ’the time has come'. I can't believe that Mark thought that his writing would still be being read 2000 years later, but people are still reading these words for the first time and for the hundredth time - and nothing has changed - THE TIME HAS COME, the kingdom of God is here, repent and believe. The time to change, the time to act, the time to believe, the time to follow, the time to serve is now - it's always now.
FRIDAY 3rd MARCH - MARK 2:1-17
Jesus chose a tax collector. Tax collectors weren't trusted. Tax collectors were hated. I've heard it said that it was because they were employed by the Romans. However, Matthew (Levi) was from Capernaum in Galilee which was governed by the Herods. His tax booth would have been on Galilee's border with the neighbouring territory. He would have collected taxes as people crossed the border with goods. He was mistrusted and hated just because people love money. Matthew is the only disciple who's job is continually referred to - it seems as though he can't shake it off - Jesus even refers to "sinners and tax collectors" whilst Matthew was right next to him. When Jesus was described as the 'good shepherd', that phrase was seen as an oxymoron - maybe Matthew the 'good tax collector' was another 'in-joke' amongst Jesus and his disciples. Does my job define me? I hope not. Although I do hope that I do my job in a way that makes people occasionally think of me as the 'good teacher'. What turns a tax collector into a 'good tax collector'? What turns a teacher into a 'good teacher'? - Jesus is usually the answer to questions like this, but what does that mean? Trusting that his message of putting others first, loving your neighbour and turning the other cheek ACTUALLY works? Then getting on with putting others first, loving your neighbour and turning the other cheek.
THURSDAY 2nd MARCH - MARK 1:21-45
It seems as though the arrest of John the Baptist prompted Jesus to move back to Galilee. Then the meeting of Simon, Andrew, James and John caused him to settle in their home town of Capernaum. These events were surely a surprise to him but they didn't throw him from his path. He continued to do God's will - he spoke of the good news and he taught at the synagogue - even though it was perhaps a smaller and more 'local' synagogue than he would have predicted a few weeks earlier. Maybe Capernaum felt like a set-back to Jesus. Maybe the geographical distance from Jerusalem felt like a gulf. Maybe the arrest of his cousin hit him hard. However, he remained obedient and with his first four disciples, he started to change people's lives. Capernaum ended up being the site of many of his miracles and it is still remembered as Jesus's 'city'. What is my Capernaum? What is your Capernaum? Are there situations that we find ourselves wrapped up in that we could be understandably disappointed with? Can we continue to do God's will despite our situation? Can God redeem these situations so that our Capernaums can be remembered fondly?
MIRACLES HAPPENED IN CAPERNAUM
David Aylin - After a Jewish wedding, the bride and groom would have open house for a week of celebration with friends and relatives. A rabbinic rule said 'All in attendance are relieved of all religious observances which would lessen their joy'. Hence, Jesus says- 'they can fast after I, the bridegroom have gone'.
By eating the corn in the field, there were making 4 Sabbath day errors- reaping, winnowing, threshing and preparing a meal ! The Sabbath was not created to enslave man but to make his life better.
MIRACLES HAPPENED IN CAPERNAUM
David Aylin - After a Jewish wedding, the bride and groom would have open house for a week of celebration with friends and relatives. A rabbinic rule said 'All in attendance are relieved of all religious observances which would lessen their joy'. Hence, Jesus says- 'they can fast after I, the bridegroom have gone'.
By eating the corn in the field, there were making 4 Sabbath day errors- reaping, winnowing, threshing and preparing a meal ! The Sabbath was not created to enslave man but to make his life better.
ASH WEDNESDAY - MARK 1:1-20
If I was to write a novel, the first line would be important. Mark starts his writing with "GOOD NEWS - JESUS IS GOD'S SON - JESUS IS THE MESSIAH". It tells the whole story in a handful of words. It's like the first chord of 'A Hard Day's Night' or the opening scene of 'The Lion King'.
When all is said and done, Jesus is God's son and Jesus is the Messiah and this is the Good News. Everything else follows on from there.
When all is said and done, Jesus is God's son and Jesus is the Messiah and this is the Good News. Everything else follows on from there.
Thursday, 9 February 2017
INTRODUCTION
Lent for Everyone - Mark
by Tom Wright
please join me in daily thoughts about the book of Mark
David Aylin - MARK'S GOSPEL is the earliest written record of the life of Christ, possibly about 65 AD, just after Peter was killed. Mark was the son of Mary who hosted the early church meetings in her home . (see internet St Mark's Monastery, Jerusalem.) After martyrdom in Alexandria, Egypt, Mark's body was stolen by Venetians and taken to Mark's Square, Venice. His skull is in the Coptic Cathedral in Cairo. Mark emphasises the humanity of Christ without diminishing His divinity.
David Aylin - MARK'S GOSPEL is the earliest written record of the life of Christ, possibly about 65 AD, just after Peter was killed. Mark was the son of Mary who hosted the early church meetings in her home . (see internet St Mark's Monastery, Jerusalem.) After martyrdom in Alexandria, Egypt, Mark's body was stolen by Venetians and taken to Mark's Square, Venice. His skull is in the Coptic Cathedral in Cairo. Mark emphasises the humanity of Christ without diminishing His divinity.
(first day of Lent - Wednesday 1st March)
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