Wednesday Morning: 15 May 2019 – Mark 10:17-31 ~ the handicap of wealth

Wednesday Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening (A Collect for Grace – Wednesday)

O Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Morning Reading – Mark 10:17-31 (NLT)

The Rich Man

As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

“Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good. But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.’”

“Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”

Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!” This amazed them. But Jesus said again, “Dear children, it is very hard to enter the Kingdom of God. In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”

The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked.

Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.”

Then Peter began to speak up. “We’ve given up everything to follow you,” he said.

“Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life. But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.”
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Morning Reflection:

The Handicap of Wealth

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples,
“How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!” – Mark 10:23

Ordinarily, we think of wealth as being an advantage in life – if for no other reason than it makes life easier. But not so, when it comes to the Kingdom of God. Jesus identifies wealth as a handicap to receiving eternal life. His encounter with the rich young ruler is instructive.

+ The young man approached Jesus earnestly and respectfully, but viewed eternal life from the perspective of work rather than faith. “What must I do?”

+ The young man viewed himself as a “good person,” and perhaps saw his success as God’s reward. But something was missing, and he sensed it.

+ Jesus loved the young man enough to tell him the truth. His reliance on wealth as a measure of self-worth was a handicap to following Jesus, to inheriting eternal life.

+ The young man couldn’t let go, and walked away – sad and empty. His value system and world view had been turned upside down.

The problem that Jesus addresses in this encounter is not that there is something inherently wrong with wealth, but rather that wealth (or anything else we rely on to measure our self-worth) is a handicap to following Jesus and, consequently, going to heaven.

Questions for consideration:

Do you see yourself as a “good person,” living a generally moral, decent life? Please explain.
How does your response impact your relationship with Jesus? Do you consider it a help, or hindrance? Please explain.
What is preventing you from drawing closer to Jesus? What would it cost you to “give it away,” so to speak? Please explain.
Have you given up everything to follow Jesus? Please explain.

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Morning Prayer:

The Persecuted Church: Prayer for the families and loved ones of those being persecuted:

Heavenly Father: Comfort the families that are affected by the persecution of their loves ones. Open up safe channels and opportunities for them to support and/or visit those who are imprisoned, or otherwise detained. Empower them by your Spirit to remain faithful to you and to their loved ones, even as they wait patiently for deliverance and release. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

My prayer:

Heavenly Father: Without your mercy and grace, I am hopelessly crippled – relying on the artificial props of this world to keep me standing. But the very things I lean on to keep me upright are the very things that prevent me from leaning entirely on you – my strength and my hope. Give me the courage and faith to “give up everything” to follow Jesus. Help me to understand what that means in my everyday life. And replace any sadness I may feel with the joy and freedom that comes from trusting Jesus with my life. I ask this in his Name. Amen.
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“All My Hope” – Crowder

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Closing:

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, and protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Wednesday Morning: 08 May 2019 – Mark 8:10-26 ~ on demanding miracles

Wednesday Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening (A Collect for Grace – Wednesday)

Morning Reading – Mark 8:10-26 (NLT)

Immediately after this, he got into a boat with his disciples and crossed over to the region of Dalmanutha.

Pharisees Demand a Miraculous Sign

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had arrived, they came and started to argue with him. Testing him, they demanded that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove his authority.

When he heard this, he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why do these people keep demanding a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, I will not give this generation any such sign.” So he got back into the boat and left them, and he crossed to the other side of the lake.

Yeast of the Pharisees and Herod

But the disciples had forgotten to bring any food. They had only one loaf of bread with them in the boat. As they were crossing the lake, Jesus warned them, “Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod.”

At this they began to argue with each other because they hadn’t brought any bread. Jesus knew what they were saying, so he said, “Why are you arguing about having no bread? Don’t you know or understand even yet? Are your hearts too hard to take it in? ‘You have eyes—can’t you see? You have ears—can’t you hear?’ Don’t you remember anything at all? When I fed the 5,000 with five loaves of bread, how many baskets of leftovers did you pick up afterward?”

“Twelve,” they said.

“And when I fed the 4,000 with seven loaves, how many large baskets of leftovers did you pick up?”

“Seven,” they said.

“Don’t you understand yet?” he asked them.

Jesus Heals a Blind Man

When they arrived at Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man to Jesus, and they begged him to touch the man and heal him. Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. Then, spitting on the man’s eyes, he laid his hands on him and asked, “Can you see anything now?”

The man looked around. “Yes,” he said, “I see people, but I can’t see them very clearly. They look like trees walking around.”

Then Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes again, and his eyes were opened. His sight was completely restored, and he could see everything clearly. Jesus sent him away, saying, “Don’t go back into the village on your way home.”

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Morning Reflection:

on demanding miracles

“When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had arrived,
they came and started to argue with him. Testing him,
they demanded that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven
to prove his authority.” – Mark 8:11b

Jesus responds to the religious leaders unbelief with grief and disappointment. His ministry had already included sufficient miraculous signs to persuade open-minded people of his deity; he was not about to “perform” for unbelievers.

Jesus’ miraculous signs were intended to fulfill Old Testament prophecy, e.g.

feeding the multitudes – the Good Shepherd, providing his flock – Ezekiel 34:5
healing the blind – the Messiah, opening blind eyes – Isaiah 29:18.

And they were an expression of God’s love and compassion for those who were helpless and hopeless. Jesus’ performed signs and wonders only in response to what the Father told him to do.

Why is this important? Because Jesus wanted his disciples to understand who he was – both Son of Man and Son of God – so that they could have a realistic and fulfilling relationship with him.

Questions for consideration:

Do you believe that God gives miraculous signs today in order to bolster faith in Jesus Christ? Please explain.
Have you ever witnessed a God-given miraculous sign? How did you respond? Please explain.
Have you ever asked for a God-given sign to bolster your faith? What happened? Please explain.

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Morning Prayer:

Prayer for the families and loved ones of those being persecuted:

My prayer:

Heavenly Father: Open my heart and mind to your Kingdom presence around me. Give me eyes to see and ears to hear of the life-giving presence of your Son, Jesus Christ, through the work of your Spirit moving among us. Have mercy on me and all those who need help, hope, and healing. Make me a channel of your blessing to others, and may I always point them to Jesus – the true source of any goodness that may result. It’s in his Name I ask it. Amen.
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“Make Me a Blessing” – SERAPHS Official

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Closing:

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Wednesday Morning: 01 May 2019 – Mark 5:1-20 ~ Kingdom authority over evil spirits

Wednesday Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening (A Collect for Grace – Wednesday)

Morning Reading – Mark 5:1-20 (NLT)

Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Man

So they arrived at the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus climbed out of the boat, a man possessed by an evil spirit came out from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the burial caves and could no longer be restrained, even with a chain. Whenever he was put into chains and shackles—as he often was—he snapped the chains from his wrists and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Day and night he wandered among the burial caves and in the hills, howling and cutting himself with sharp stones.

When Jesus was still some distance away, the man saw him, ran to meet him, and bowed low before him. With a shriek, he screamed, “Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In the name of God, I beg you, don’t torture me!” For Jesus had already said to the spirit, “Come out of the man, you evil spirit.”

Then Jesus demanded, “What is your name?”

And he replied, “My name is Legion, because there are many of us inside this man.” Then the evil spirits begged him again and again not to send them to some distant place.

There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby. “Send us into those pigs,” the spirits begged. “Let us enter them.”

So Jesus gave them permission. The evil spirits came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd of about 2,000 pigs plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned in the water.

The herdsmen fled to the nearby town and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran. People rushed out to see what had happened. A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons. He was sitting there fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid. Then those who had seen what happened told the others about the demon-possessed man and the pigs. And the crowd began pleading with Jesus to go away and leave them alone.

As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go with him. But Jesus said, “No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been.” So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns of that region and began to proclaim the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them.
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Morning Reflection:

Go and Tell

As Jesus was getting into the boat,
the man who had been demon possessed begged to go with him.
– Mark 5:18

In today’s reading, Mark gives us graphic details on how demonic influence distorts and destroys the image of God in a person.

The poor man was miserable – shunned by neighbors, living in burial caves, out of control in spite of attempts to restrain him, howling and hurting himself. Demonic presence controlled the man’s speech and physical movement.

But Jesus is stronger than any demonic presence – and the demons within the man recognized it.

In a surprising turn of events, they acknowledge that Jesus is their superior and plead with him for their lives. And Jesus grants their request, sort of – by permitting them to enter nearby pigs who immediately plunge down a hill and drown in the lake.

The man was transformed.

He was a new person in Christ – peaceful, fully clothed, in control of himself and his senses, and so grateful for his deliverance that he begged Jesus to go with him in the boat, as Jesus was preparing to leave.

But Jesus said, “No, go home to your family,
and tell them everything the Lord has done for you
and how merciful he has been.” – Mark 5:19

Questions for consideration:

Have you ever encountered a demonized person? How did you know? What happened? Please explain.
How has your life changed because of encountering Jesus? Was the change evident to the people who knew you best? Please explain.
Think about some of the ways that God has shown you his mercy. What are the highlights? Try putting them together into a short story that you could tell to others. It might help to write it down.

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Morning Prayer:

Prayer for the families and loved ones of those being persecuted:

My prayer:

Thank you Jesus for delivering me from evil influences over the course of my life. Give me discernment to recognize demonic presence when I run into it; and show me a way of escape, that I might not sin against you. Give me clarity in remembering the many ways you have shown me your mercy, that I may have a compelling story to tell – of your love, mercy, and grace. All to the glory of your name. Amen.
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“You’ll Come” – Hillsong United

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Closing:

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Wednesday Morning: 24 Apr 2019 – Mark 2:1-17 ~ the authority to forgive sins

Wednesday Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening (A Collect for Grace – Wednesday)

Morning Reading – Mark 2:1-17 (NLT)

Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man

When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home. Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them, four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.”

But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves, “What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”

Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’? So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”

And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!”

Jesus Calls Levi (Matthew)

Then Jesus went out to the lakeshore again and taught the crowds that were coming to him. As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Levi got up and followed him.

Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of this kind among Jesus’ followers.) But when the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees saw him eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with such scum?”

When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”
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Morning Reflection:

Friends bring friends to Jesus

Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man,
“My child, your sins are forgiven.” – Mark 2:5

In today’s reading, the point of contention is Jesus’ authority to forgive sins, and his association with sinners in order to accomplish that very purpose. In both stories, friends bring friends to Jesus.

A few things stand out:

+ The Friends: They were genuinely concerned about their paralyzed comrade and took extraordinary steps to take him to Jesus. They acted boldly out of compassion and faith.

+ The Paralytic: He too acted in faith in response to Jesus’ command – “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home.” He did all three and amazed everyone.

+ Jesus: He demonstrated his Kingdom authority as the “Son of Man” to forgive sin through an act of physical healing. Only God can heal and forgive sin. Jesus chose to do what his onlookers considered harder, in order to show that He could also do what they considered easier.

+ Matthew: He too wanted his friends – sinners who were considered social outcasts – to meet Jesus. And Jesus’ acceptance of the dinner invitation was an offer of peace, trust, friendship and forgiveness. Jesus was simply fulfilling his mission.

Jesus told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.
I have come to call not those who think they are righteous,
but those who know they are sinners.” – Mark 2:17

Questions for consideration:

Have you ever had a friend bring you to Jesus for healing or forgiveness? What were the circumstances? Please explain.
Do you have a friend who needs Jesus in his/her life? What would it take to connect him/her with Jesus? Please explain.
What is your relationship with people living in sin? Does your relationship tacitly approve or disapprove of their lifestyle? How can you help them recognize their need for a fresh start with Jesus? Please explain.

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Morning Prayer:

Prayer for the families and loved ones of those being persecuted:

My prayer:

Lord Jesus: Thank you for staying with me through faith and unbelief, strength and weakness, sickness and health. In you I trust for healing and forgiveness. Give me the humility to readily admit my need, and the faith to live out your directions for my life. Give me your heart for the sick and broken people around me. And give me the courage to overcome all obstacles in bringing them to you. I ask this in your name, and for the Father’s glory. Amen.
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“Forgiven” – Crowder