storiesofvalue

“Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate. “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied. (Mark 15:2 NIV)

Although Biblical prophecy suggests Jesus would be led like a lamb silent to the slaughter, He did say a few things.  He just didn’t say anything with the intent of saving His life.  Nowhere is this clearer than in this morning’s verse.

In the beginning…the very beginning…there was to be no King of the Jews.  When Israel reached the Promised Land, they were still operating under a patriarchal system with Moses administrating the Laws of God.  After the time of the Judges, the Jewish people cried out for an earthly king.  They wanted to operate on the same governmental level as their neighbors. Samuel, the last of the Judges, tried to discourage them, but God told him to let them have their way, even though they were rejecting Him as their leader.

The history of Israel’s kings is well documented in the Bible.  There were a few good ones, but even the ones we know best brought pain and sorrow to the nation.  David put the “D” in dysfunctional family, and Solomon introduced a culture of paganism and extravagance that undermined the integrity of the throne for generations to come.  The Kings helped make Israel a military power, but they ultimately brought down the nation.

So the notion of a “king of the Jews” in New Testament times was a loaded one.  For the Jews, it suggested a Messiah was coming to restore the prestige and power their nation had once known under leaders like David and Solomon.  For Herod the Great, who had himself been proclaimed “king of the Jews” by Rome, baby Jesus was a direct threat.

But in truth, Jesus was the “king of the Jews,” in more ways than one.  He was the promised king who was coming to restore His people.  And He was the king He has always said He was…ruler over everything.  He was very God of very God.

Had Pilate understood the scriptures he could have saved himself a lot of trouble.  Jesus wasn’t a threat to the Roman Empire as a political structure, though His teaching was a challenge to its pagan culture.  Rather, Jesus’ kingdom was above Rome, and all kingdoms on earth.  Theoretically, it was possible for Rome to recognize Jesus as the Son of the Living God, and allow Him to reign, even as it continued to meet the needs of the empire.  Of course the nature of Rome was so entrenched in practices that were opposed to the will of God it is hard to see this as even a distant possibility.

My point is people rejected Jesus for all the wrong reasons.  Pilate and Herod rejected Him because they were afraid of losing political power.  The chief priests and teachers of the law rejected Him because they were looking for an insurrectionist, not a personal Savior.

Yes, He was the king of the Jews.  He was, and still is our king.  The question is, “How have we cast Him?”  Is He a weak king who takes care of our needs, but lets us live anyway we want?  Is He an advocate king who takes up our political causes?  Or is He the ruler of our hearts who challenges our selfish ambition and self-righteousness and leads us to lay down our lives for the sake of the kingdom?  I know this: He will rule as He chooses.  And His “will” will be done.

Dear God, rule over me.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. (Mark 14:7)

Jesus was at the home of Simon the Leper for a meal in His honor.  Soon He would be placed on a cross to die for our salvation.  As the teachers of the law glared at Him and devised a murder plan, and Judas pondered his treacherous act of betraying Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, anointed Jesus’ body with nard.  Nard was an extremely expensive perfume, worth a year’s wages, and the disciples criticized her mercilessly for her extravagance.  Some of them pointed out how many poor people could have been helped with the gift Mary wasted on Jesus.  That’s when Jesus gave us this morning’s passage.

It is a bit perplexing to me that Jesus spoke these words.  After all, He reached out to the poor and downcast, and encouraged His disciples to do the same.  He downplayed showy benevolence and encouraged people not to put too much credibility in material things.  Yet, when Mary covered him with an expensive perfume, He praised her.

Specifically, Jesus praised Mary because He was facing the cross and saw her offering as a way of preparing Him for his burial.  Nard was used in this way.  But what do we make of Jesus’ logic?  Is it ever right to offer an extravagant gift to the cause of Jesus at the expense of the poor?

When I was a teen, a church we were visiting had a huge and very expensive chandelier hanging from the ceiling.  The chandelier had been the subject of much debate and criticism from within and without.  But someone told me the same person who purchased the chandelier for the church ($75,000 at the time, as I remember), was also a big giver in the ministry there, and a huge supporter of world missions.  Therefore, the point was made that the extravagant gift was merely an expression of love for the Lord from a man who would do anything for the kingdom.

What do you think?  It is true, we should always make sure our purchases don’t send a negative message to the world about the mission of the church.  And an extravagant gift for the purpose of gaining recognition will rot a believer and even an entire church family from the inside out.

On the other hand, we should not be fooled by everyone who criticizes the money the church uses to fulfill its mission.  Why shouldn’t the Lord’s people use their financial resources to provide places where believers can come together for worship, fellowship and training?  Are those who criticize giving more money to the poor than the Lord’s people?  Are they clothing the naked, providing shelter for widows and orphans, visiting those in prison and sitting by the homeless whom they don’t even know?  Maybe…and maybe not…

There are always those who give gifts for personal glory.  And there are always those who criticize what others give to the Lord while they live in comfort and give little to charity.  There are religious people who misuse money and non-religious people who are generous.  We have to guard ourselves against assumptions and presumptions when it comes to judging other’s gifts.

But one thing I know about Mary’s gift.  It was given to the right person, for the right reason, at the right time.  And as far as Jesus was concerned, the cost was irrelevant.  What is most relevant to us when we give…the amount or the purpose?

Dear God, show me where to use what You have given me.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.    

“Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?”  Jesus said to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you.  Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many.  When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.  Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains. “You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them.  And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. (Mark 13:4-10)

If you knew the icon of your nation was going to be destroyed in the near future, and the whole world was going to end in the far future, how would you explain it to others?

Such was Jesus’ challenge.  He foreknew the destruction of Herod’s temple by Titus and the end of the world as we know it.  So when His disciples asked, “Tell us: when will these things happen?” it was a little hard to know where to start.

When we remember there were two events on Jesus’ mind, it helps us avoid some of the miscues people have made in their interpretation of end-time events.  Millions of dollars have been made off of apocalyptic novels and movies characterizing the end of the world and the judgment of the wicked as a time of war, earthquakes and famine.  I am not saying these things will not happen when God brings everything to a conclusion, but we should not assume the final end is what Jesus was addressing in our passage today.

In fact, since Jesus was talking to those who were alive at that time, I am much more inclined to think He was referencing events they would experience in their lifetime.  He wanted them to be warned so they could take any steps necessary to protect themselves and their families, and so they wouldn’t be drawn into a religious movement that used the events as a vehicle to recruit followers (Sound familiar?).

Some have thought Jesus’ last statement here, “And the gospel must first be preached to all nations” was a way of saying, “When these things happen, know that it is not the end.  There is a lot of kingdom work that needs to take place before the end comes.  So just be faithful and keep sharing the good news.”

I am not opposed to interpreting the “times” and pondering the end of the world.  And I have known of people who came to the Lord because they suddenly realized this was a possibility at any time and they wanted to be right in their walk.  On the other hand, I have heard a lot of bad theology in the name of end-times, because that sort of stuff sells.  And I have also seen people so wrapped up in how current events tie in with Biblical prophecy they squeeze out the hope of the gospel and lose perspective on how God might want to use their lives for His glory.

Will the end come?  Yes.  Will it be a spectacular event?  Yes.  Do we know when it will happen or what world events will take place when it happens?  Not really.

Just be ready…and don’t be taken in by the apparent permanence of things.

Dear God, help me be ready.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

As he was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!” ² “Do you see all these great buildings?” replied Jesus. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” (Mark 13:1-2)

The temple was the center of worship in Jesus’ day.  There were synagogues in other towns, but the temple was the “mother church” of the Jewish faith.  It was hard to imagine it not being there.

I don’t mean to suggest people were under the delusion the temple could not be destroyed.  Many years before it had been sacked and ruined by conquerors that desecrated Jerusalem’s holy hill and took many of its inhabitants into captivity.  The temple was rebuilt some time afterward, but the quality of construction was inferior to that used earlier by Solomon.  When Herod the Great came into his own in Judea, he wanted to erect a more fitting center of worship.  Herod wasn’t particularly spiritual, but he did have a big ego, and the construction of a first-class temple was his way of building a monument to himself, and making himself a hero to the Jewish people.  Herod’s temple was actually an extreme makeover of the second temple built after the time of captivity.  Herod’s character and sincerity were always in doubt, yet God’s people inherited a grand venue for the expression of their faith.

This is why it was very hard for the disciples to comprehend the destruction of the temple.  But it was destroyed.  In 70 AD Titus entered the city and leveled the temple.  It wasn’t a random act, but rather a response to a rebellion by some Jewish people who were very tired of their pagan oppressors.

Some believe the disciples were referencing a comment Jesus had made earlier in His ministry that He would tear the temple down and raise it in three days (John 2:19).  We know now that Jesus was speaking of His body that would be crucified and raised.  This was, however, one of those quotes people didn’t forget, and it was used to convict Jesus at His trial.  Perhaps the disciples were pushing back on Jesus’ statement a bit here to get Him to think about how crazy it sounded.

But the temple would be destroyed.  And Jesus’ temple would be destroyed and raised up.  Herod’s temple would not be raised up.

Physical structures are important from a practical standpoint, because they provide a place where work can occur.  Church facilities are a tool for ministry, and have been used effectively for years to bring glory to God.

Yet, a building is just that…a tool.  We can do much with it, but any notion that we can hold on to it forever is false.  Ask any member of the congregation I serve who stood with me a few years ago and watched our entire facility burn to the ground as a result of a lightning strike.

We raised a building to replace our old one, but even that is temporary.  Yet, the building Jesus raised up from Calvary is eternal.  His glorious church has no walls, and the gates of hell can’t prevail against it!  I don’t think the disciples understood.  But they would.

Dear God, thank You for Your eternal kingdom.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. (Mark 12:25 NIV)

Here is the context for today’s verse:  Some Sadducees came to Jesus with a riddle.  Sadducees, by the way, did not believe in a resurrection from the dead.  They proposed that a childless woman’s husband died and she married his brother.  This would have been common in Jewish culture where the next brother in-line was expected to marry his dead brother’s widow and bring up offspring to preserve his name.  In the Sadducees story there were seven brothers and each of them died without leaving an heir.  Finally, the widow died.  Given the circumstances, they inquired, whose wife would she be in the resurrection?

Of course, this riddle wasn’t proposed to find truth, but rather to distract and if possible trap Jesus.  And you have to wonder if, in real life, one of these brothers would opt out of the system.  She must have been quite a catch!  (Ok…I know it’s just a riddle)

Jesus’ answer gives us some insight into relationships in heaven.  There won’t be any weddings or marriages in heaven.  Everyone will be like the angels.  This doesn’t mean everyone will be an angel, but rather that everyone will have the status angels have…that of not being married.

I hesitate to say this means everyone in heaven will be single, because I don’t think designations of single and married will even be on our radar at that point.  We will all be with the Lamb of God, and He will define our nature.

Does that bother you?

I have been married for 31 years and I can’t imagine not looking up my wife when I get to heaven.  She will probably also be looking for me if I get there first.  It is only natural.  When we say goodbye on earth, we look forward to seeing one another in heaven.  And when we do, we imagine picking up where we left off, and filling one another in on what has happened since we were separated.  We do have those on earth who have, indeed, had more than one wife or husband, which causes some to wonder about how the conversations I have just described might look.

This brings up another logical conclusion: there won’t be any sex in heaven.  “What!” you say.  “Then I’m not going!”

Before you change your reservations, remember that sex between a man and woman is the ultimate expression of intimacy on earth.  We can’t imagine anything that brings us closer to anyone than becoming “one flesh.”  Yet, in heaven, when we are in the presence of our Savior, we will experience a depth of love and fulfillment we can’t possibly comprehend now.

Will we know our spouses?  I think so.  Will we remember our marriages?  I hope so.  Will we continue as we have on earth?  Not a chance.

One thing I know, though…whatever is great here will be greater there.  You can count on it.

Dear God, thank you for glimpses of eternity.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.  Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.  And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” (Mark 11:23-25)

I tried it once.

A long time ago, like a Jedi, I stood at the base of a mountain and willed for it to be moved.  I think I was in the Great Smokey Mountains.  Nothing happened.

Did I lack faith?  Was the mountain too big?  Or was it the wrong mountain?

I prayed once for someone to get better.  My grandfather suffered a terrible stroke, and in a moment his strength and intellect were gone.  But nothing happened.

Did I lack faith?  Was the stroke too serious?  Or was I praying the wrong prayer?

I struggle with Jesus’ statements, “it will be done for him” and “it will be yours.”  Will it, or won’t it?  And if it will, then what was wrong with my prayers?

Some might say I lacked faith.  In fact, there are those who are convinced if you just have enough faith, you will get what you want.  There are two big problems with this assumption.  First, the Bible tells us to pray for what God wants, not what we want (His will to be done), and secondly, our prayers are not a means of controlling God.  He is in charge.  Therefore, even though God has promised to answer my prayers, it has always been clear they will be answered in His way, and in His time.

I don’t mean to over simplify things, but here is my answer to this perplexing quandary: “it will be” must always be interpreted in light of everything else God has told us.

When I was small and my parents were out for the evening, they would tell me to call them if there was an emergency at home, and they would come to the rescue.  I knew that didn’t mean they would run right home if I let them know there was a problem.  They might do any number of things.  They might tell me how to solve the problem.  They might send someone to help me.  They might tell me not to worry since I didn’t really have a problem.  Or they might indeed rush home.  I knew all of these scenarios and would have taken them into consideration when I called.

In the same way I can’t pray for God to answer my prayers without remembering all of the ways He has told me He will do so…many of which involve not getting what I want.

But there is one part of this morning’s passage that is immediate.  When I am praying, if I need to forgive someone, I can do it.  I don’t have to wait on God to forgive.

But it sounds like He has to wait on me.

Dear God, help me understand how prayer works.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry.  Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs.  Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it. (Mark 11:12-14)

This is known as Jesus’ “cursing of the fig tree.”  When Jesus and His disciples returned to Bethany that night, the tree was dead.

Some have criticized Jesus for killing a fig tree during a season when fig trees did not normally bear figs.  Why would he punish a fig tree for not doing something it was incapable of doing?  Now, I love trees.  In fact, my yard is precariously covered with a canopy of trees, which is homeowner’s suicide in a hurricane zone like mine.  But seriously folks: the fact that Jesus would kill a single fig tree to make a point doesn’t bother me in the least.  He created them all.  Who knows…maybe he raised one up somewhere else in the desert to make things right…sort of like a fig tree mitigation program.

The point of Jesus’ illustration is this: just as fig trees were created to bear figs, people were created to bear good works.  This doesn’t mean good works save us, but rather that good works are an indication of the heart.  They are also our purpose for being.

What we may not know for sure is who Jesus had in mind when he struck the fig tree.  He may have been thinking of the bad fruit of the Pharisees, or the self-absorbed fruit of the disciples.  Maybe it was a general statement meant for all.

Some people use the term “fruit inspection” to describe how God examines our lives.  I like the phrase.  Like a farmer carefully tending his crop, God wants to know how we are using the abilities He has invested in us and the opportunities He has placed before us.

God is likely to walk into His field at any moment, any time of the day, and under any circumstance.  He inspects before, during and after the storms of life.  He inspects in dry and wet seasons.  In short, we are always in His presence and under His scrutiny.

This doesn’t mean God stands ready to zap us if we fail in some way to be the producers we should be.  But He wants us to be growing, producing, bearing and if possible, overflowing.  He knows growth takes time, and production increases with growth.

God is actually an easy farmer to please.  He realizes every tree is different (after all…He made us), and not all fruit is the same.  He just wants us to live with purpose and bear fruit.  Without fruit we are just wasting good soil that could be used by someone who knows what to do with it.

Dear God, help me get ready for inspection.  In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. He answered, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.” (Mark 10:10-12)

Yesterday we reminded ourselves that God’s design for marriage involves a man and woman who completely give themselves to one another in the act and process of becoming “one.”  This morning’s passage has always been problematic for some who have experienced the sting of divorce and those who wish to encourage them in their life and faith.

All I can do is tell you how I presently view this subject, in full awareness of the fact my thoughts are undoubtedly influenced by my deep love and empathy for those who find themselves in these circumstances.

I should remind us all Jesus gives one clear exception to the principle in our passage (though, not really an exception, as we will see).  Elsewhere it is recorded that marriage is not binding on those who have been victimized by an adulterous mate.  This doesn’t mean there is no restoration in a marriage damaged by adultery, but rather that it is acceptable to divorce and remarry if this is the case.

I will state up front, while I do not believe divorce is God’s original plan, I think there is grace for those who experience it, including those who are guilty of adultery.  I will remarry individuals who can demonstrate an awareness of God’s teaching on the subject, and a personal journey of introspection.

With this said, what do we make of this morning’s passage?  I think Jesus’ words make perfect sense if we believe the sexual union of a man and woman in marriage truly makes them “one flesh.”  If these are more than poetic words (and I believe they are), then divorce (and adultery) is a violent tearing apart of flesh.  When people divorce for petty reasons, or without a concerted effort to rebuild their relationship, and especially when they do so because they have already found someone they believe they love more, they are turning their back on a part of their own flesh.  This is why adultery is grounds for divorce, since one member of the marriage union has already torn this “one flesh” in two.

Can God work with this situation, and even bring blessings out of it?  Yes, I believe so.  But Jesus’ teaching explains why divorce is so painful for a man and woman, and their children, and why marriage should not be quickly dissolved without any thought of its spiritual implications.

So if you are divorced and have remarried, please rest assured God’s grace is sufficient to help you build a strong marriage and use your home for His glory.  And if you have committed an adulterous act that has led to a divorce, know that God is a God of forgiveness, and He still wants to walk with you and use you in His kingdom.

It’s just that we must remember marriage is what it is: one flesh.  And divorce is what it is: the tearing apart of flesh.  These things are not just a matter of the exchanging of vows, but an actual union of soul, spirit and body.  If we keep this in mind, we will show care where needed and lean on God’s grace if necessary.

Dear God, thank You for the spiritual union of marriage.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’  ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.” (Mark 10:6-9)

Obviously, this is an important passage in regards to our contemporary debate on the nature of Biblical marriage.  There is no doubt in my mind God’s design for marriage is between a man and a woman, and that their union is among the most sacred of human relationships.

If those who believe otherwise choose to pursue another design, they are free to argue their case in the public arena with the rest of us.  But in my opinion, any attempt to support such things by using the Bible as evidence is either dishonest or misguided.  The Biblical view of marriage is that of a union between a man and a woman.

But this issue is not the purpose of Jesus’ reference here.  He is addressing a question from the Pharisees regarding divorce.  I think it is important to realize, the Pharisees’ goal was to trap Jesus and discredit Him.  But He answered them just the same.

Divorce was not God’s plan since creation.  Not only was marriage a life-time commitment, but the physiology of the sexual union that takes place in marriage has a spiritual dimension.  Something good happens in the souls of a man and woman when they enter into a marriage relationship.  They become “one flesh”, and although they maintain individual personalities, opinions and dreams, they become “one” in every process of life.  As they journey together, they act as “one”, think as “one”, and feel as “one.”

For this reason, adultery and divorce bring immeasurable pain into a man and woman’s life.  How one should deal with these circumstances involve complexities that are too great to discuss in a single devotional.  However, I do wish to say two things.

First, no one is exempt from the possibility of infidelity and divorce.  No one should ever be so arrogant as to think he or she is not vulnerable to Satan’s snare, or a relational breakdown.  For this reason, we should all work hard at practicing good boundaries in our lives, and do everything possible to nurture our marriage relationships.

Secondly, God’s grace is available for those who sin or experience divorce.  Remember, grace is the word we use for the good things God brings into our lives.  Forgiveness is one example of grace, but so is the ability to live at peace with events in our lives we can’t change.

With this said, Jesus reminds the Pharisees the question is not what God wants.  He has always wanted a man and woman to find joy and life-long commitment in their marriage (and offers the option of a pure single life, as well).  Yet, because of the human condition of the heart, Moses provided people with a divorce certificate for the purpose of keeping order in the community, and clearly defining one’s status.

God always helps us restore our shattered dreams.  But He also wants us to do everything possible to keep our dreams alive.  The hair-splitting of the Pharisees misses this point.

Dear God, help me do my best to do what is best.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other.” (Mark 9:50 NIV)

I love salt!

I know it is probably bad for me, but I eat salt on everything.  It goes on my vegetables, my meat and in soups and my precious bowl of grits (which is also laced with salt-packed butter).

I find it in my sodas, and my junk food.  And if you give me some nutritious fruit…you guessed it…I start pouring on the salt (especially apples).

When I was a kid, I visited my great-grandmother in Tuscan, Arizona.  Her mother used to water Chief Cochise’s horse when he cruised through her farm to the south.  We went to a little store in the desert and bought a bag of “saladitos.”  I think they were plums cured in salt.  Field workers sucked on them to stay hydrated.  I sucked them like candy…all of them.

I love salt!

So it makes me sad to think that salt can lose its saltiness.  I have heard salt (like table salt) is a very stable substance, and that it doesn’t lose its saltiness easily: unless it is diluted with something like water.  Diluted salt would certainly be something people in Jesus’ day would have known about.

In our context, Jesus had been discussing sinful behaviors and how they put us in eternal danger.  Then he described hell as the place where the “worm never dies” and the “fire is never quenched.”  Finally, He said, “Everyone will be salted with fire.”

Then, I believe, to protect the integrity of the subject of salt, He said “Salt is good – only thing is if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?”  Once salty properties are washed out by water, it is useless.

And the specific role of salt Jesus addresses in our passage is its “peacemaking” power.  People who are filled with peace salt their relationships with the love of Christ and everyone who meets them experience a taste of the cure.

Wouldn’t it be great if people who don’t know Jesus as their Lord and Savior craved their connections with believers as much as I crave salt?  If a neighbor said, “I don’t know where to turn, but I know John is a Christian…I’ll call him.”  If a co-worker said, “Life must mean more than this.  Susan worships at that church down the street.  Maybe she can help me.”  If a good friend said, “I don’t expect Mark to forgive me.  But he really seems to be sincere in his faith, so it is worth a shot.”

I would rather attract people than make them spit me out of their lives like washed out salt.  I want to be a “saladito” for Jesus!

Pass the chips.

Dear God, make me salty.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.