storiesofvalue

Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”  He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. (Mark 4:36-39)

I have heard this account all of my life and it is one of my favorite.  The part most people like best, me included, is Jesus’ apparent lack of concern for the safety of everyone.  Not only was He asleep, but he was sleeping on a cushion.  His nonchalant attitude seemed so uncharacteristic.

But one aspect of this miracle that escaped me, until someone pointed it out, was Jesus’ authority over nature.  On the surface, you might think this is a bit of a no-brainer, since Jesus’ ability to stop the storm is the central event.

I didn’t actually overlook the miracle.  What I missed was how Jesus’ interaction with nature tied in with His mission, and His kingdom kingship.

There are a couple of ways to look at nature’s response to Jesus.  One is to see it as a force, carried along by processes put in place when the foundations of the universe were established.  Certainly the storm on the sea was a “force” of nature.

However, there is more going on between the storm and Jesus than this.  I believe the storm had a mind of its own.  I don’t mean a mind in the human sense, with memory and self-actualized behavior.  I an suggesting the storm, and other portions of nature, reacted with intentionality toward Jesus.  Consider the darkness that enveloped the cross as Jesus was dying and the crow of the rooster as He was being led away from the Sanhedrin.

When the people praising Jesus during His triumphal entrance into Jerusalem were told to be quiet, Jesus said, “I tell you, if they remain quiet, the stones will cry out!” (Luke 19:40).

I don’t understand what nature understands, or even if nature is capable of understanding anything.  I know there is a big difference between the way a pet responds to me, verses a tree leaf.  But then a dog can’t proclaim the glory of God by changing colors in the fall.

My ramblings here may seem a bit eccentric.  I guess what I am suggesting is that Jesus’ ability to calm the storm was greater than mere power over nature.  I think the storm, in essence, bowed down before Him.  Jesus didn’t just conquer the wind and the waves.  They obeyed Him with a humility I can’t define or explain.  Perhaps this is why Jesus spoke to the storm instead of just holding His hand up in the air.

I hope you don’t think I am personifying nature too much, or dabbling in some sort of mystical hocus-pocus where the things God created are raised to human status.  It is nothing like that.

I just think when the Creator meets the created there is recognition, on whatever level is predefined in God’s plan.  Do you think He told the storm to keep blowing until the disciples grew fearful enough to wake Him up?  The possibilities are very, very intriguing.

Dear God, Your ways are amazing.  In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand.  He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything. (Mark 4:33-34 NIV)

Throughout the years I have heard many definitions for a biblical parable.  The most common is that it is an “earthly story with a heavenly message.”  Yet, it appears Jesus’ parables were also intentionally evasive at times, causing his listeners to grapple with eternal truths and discover new perspectives.  It isn’t that Jesus wanted the basic message of His Father’s love to be misunderstood, but rather that there were some characteristics of the kingdom that required purposeful pondering.

Do you remember when you were a kid and you misbehaved, leading your parents to send you to your room or make you sit in a chair in a forsaken corner of the house?  Perhaps you protested, “What did I do?  I didn’t do anything wrong!”  To which they would reply, “You sit there a while and think about it and maybe it will come to you.”

It is true some of the most important lessons in life are lost to us because we are so wrapped up in activities, emotions and misperceptions we are hardly able to think, let along think in new ways.  But the story part of a parable captures our attention, and as we spend time trying to discern its meaning, our spiritual senses resurface.

It is highly significant that Jesus took time to explain “everything” about His parables to His disciples.  In fact, this makes me jealous.  The gospel writers chose not to pass along “everything”, even though I assume Matthew and John were there to get the complete inside scoop.

Why did Jesus tell the disciples “everything” and why did He leave the crowds to understand “as much as they could?”  Shouldn’t He have explained “everything” to everyone?

Remember, while the parables involve incredibly important kingdom truths, we must not understand them to be saved from sin.  Therefore, Jesus was not putting anyone in eternal danger with His methodology.

I believe Jesus explained “everything” to His closest disciples for two reasons.  First, these were the men who chose to follow Him everywhere and give up their lives with Him if necessary.  They weren’t perfect, but they had already demonstrated a desire to know “everything.”  Secondly, Jesus’ closest disciples needed to know “everything” about the parables because they were the ones who were going to lead the first generation church.  It was imperative they understand the nature of the kingdom better than anyone, and have all of their questions answered.

In regards to the parables, sometimes we are the crowd and sometimes we are His closest disciples, depending on what the Holy Spirit has seen fit to tell us in the biblical record.  But either way, we can’t get Jesus’ parables out of our head.  They are profound and powerful.  I suppose, even if we were taught “everything” we would still be trying to read between the lines.

Dear God, thank you for thing things I know and the things I must strive to know.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.  All by itself the soil produces grain–first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head.  As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.” (Mar 4:26-29 NIV)

Parables are one of Jesus’ primary vehicles for communicating kingdom truths.  In an agricultural community, it makes sense that many of these parables would focus on planting and reaping.  Today’s passage teaches us something about who is in charge of the kingdom harvest.

No doubt, we know a lot more about the process of life today than those in Jesus’ day.  I say this with some reservation because, with all of our knowledge, we are perhaps more ignorant of the eternal values and purposes behind these processes.

The farmer in the first century knew he could plant seeds in the ground and they would produce plants.  He recognized the developmental stages of plants as well as the passing of seasons.  But he wasn’t as aware, as we are, of all of the science behind the seed.

Still, even with our knowledge, plant life amazes us.  A wheat kernel doesn’t have a mind of its own, in the human sense, but it knows when and how to germinate.  The finished product of a stalk loaded with grain is hard-wired into its DNA.

Just because we know more about a process doesn’t mean we have to appreciate it less.  In fact, in some cases, our knowledge can restore our sense of wonder.  The incredible pictures we now have of babies developing in their mother’s wombs are one example of this truth.

The kingdom is no exception.  2000 years of study, theological debate and subjective pondering has not come close to completely satisfying our desire for spiritual answers.  We still want to know how, when and why God moves as He does?

The Pharisees and other teachers of the law in Jesus’ day thought they had it figured out.  They believed they could attain righteousness, and to an extent control their world through good works.  Yet, what good were their works if they weren’t offered to God to do with as He pleased?

Even today, there are those who seek to “claim” God’s blessings by agreeing with other humans upon those things we can expect of Him.  Indeed, God has shared principles in His Word that help us understand His ways, but at no point has He ever asked us to run the universe for Him, or determine how His gifts will be dispensed.

No, the kingdom is not ours to manage.  We are the workers in the field and the servants of the house.  All we know for sure is that the Master is returning to take what is His, and to have a frank conversation with us about our stewardship of those things He has given us.

Until then, we keep planting, and expecting a harvest.  His ways and means are still a mystery. And our role in the process is an adventure in trust.

Dear God, help me understand your ways, and follow them.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. (Mark 4:2-3)

The fourth chapter of Mark opens with one of Jesus’ most familiar parables.  Most people call it the “Parable of the Soils.”  Some like to focus on the seeds, or the sower, but it is basically an illustration of how God’s Word works in our hearts.

Jesus uses four soils to help us understand where God’s Word can work best.  The first soil is a crust of earth on a beaten path through a field.  If a seed falls there, it can’t take root and will be quickly eaten by the birds.  The second soil is rocky and prevents the roots of the seed from growing once it germinates.  A young plant quickly dies.  The third soil has weed seed in it, and as the good plant grows, the weeds grow alongside and choke it out.  And the fourth soil is fertile, free of rocks and weeds, and capable of producing a great harvest.

One of the reasons this parable is so valuable is because Jesus explains it in detail to His disciples.  This was not always the case.  Sometimes Jesus purposely left a parable hanging, and listeners were left to mull over its possible implications.  But this time He made it clear He was talking about people’s responsiveness to the Word of God, and Satan’s attempts (the bird that ate the seed from the path) to stand in their way.

Which seed are you?  What kind of soil do you have in your life?

I will be honest and tell you I feel more like the whole field when I try to relate to this parable.  Sometimes I ignore the Word of God and Satan snatches it away.  Other times I dive into God’s truths with great enthusiasm, only to be distracted by the first trial on the horizon.  Then there are the weeds I allow in my life that choke out some of the growth God is trying to accomplish in me.  But thankfully, much of God’s Word does find its way into my heart, taking root and transforming my being.

At the risk of projecting my experiences on others, I suspect we can all relate to each of these seeds and soils.  The truth is, we are inconsistent in our openness to the things God wants to teach us.

And we probably always will be.  Why?  …Because of that blasted bird!  He is behind it all, devouring our opportunities, blurring our focus, and choking out our efforts.  Where’s my shotgun?

Well, unfortunately, we can’t bring Satan down with a 12 gauge.  But we can outwork him.  We can cultivate our heart by changing our habits and deepening our resolve.  Did you know the decision not to stay up late on Saturday night watching TV, so we can be awake when we study God’s Word with His people, is one way of outflanking Satan?  Sometimes we look for dramatic ways to change our lives, but more often transformation is a result of the small decisions we make as we turn up the soil and make room for God to speak to us.

Here comes the farmer!  Don’t let any seed go to waste!

Dear God, help me be the kind of place where your Word can grow.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.  “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked.  Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers!  Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mark 3:32-35)

Families are defined in various ways.

We are all a part of the human family, sharing Adam and Eve’s DNA and exhibiting common traits that cannot be ignored.  This connection helps us understand the victories, struggles and disappointments of others, regardless of who they are, or where they live.

We are a part of a work family.  Companies often nurture a culture of family where people strive for the common good of the organization, and care for one another as brothers and sisters.

We are a part of nuclear family.  We have mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, and a host of other relatives who make up our family tree.

And finally, we are invited to be a part of a spiritual family.  This is the kind of family Jesus describes in our passage this morning.

Earlier in our study we found Jesus’ nuclear family in distress because they thought He had lost His mind (3:21).  They felt it was their responsibility to “take charge” of Him, which is probably why we find them here, “outside looking” for Jesus.

When Jesus heard His family had come looking for Him, He defined a new kind of family.  It was a spiritual family specifically composed of those who do the will of God.

It occurs to me, these words of Jesus differ from our culture’s take on spirituality.  Some say the human family is linked spiritually by its common nature.  In other words, we are spiritual beings, and therefore, our hunger and thirst for spiritual things makes us one.

But this isn’t how Jesus defines a spiritual family.  Jesus says we are connected by our obedience to the will of God.  Being spiritual does not necessarily make one a part of Jesus’ family.  Rather, our relationship is based on our willingness to do what God asks.

Consider the implications inherent in this kind of spirituality.  It reminds us spirituality is not just about making a connection with God, but also about serving others.  It teaches us a spiritual life is not an exercise in self-absorption, but rather a call to crucify self.

I think Jesus’ family meant well.  They were still trying to understand the nature of the kingdom He came to establish, and His interactions with the religious elite of the day were certainly risky.  It was thoughtful to suggest a break from His ministry to help Him clear His head and gain some perspective.  Unfortunately, that was not His Father’s will, and Jesus was determined to be obedient in all things.

Other people who care about us can help us put life back in perspective, and it is important to realize Jesus didn’t write Mary and His siblings out of His life.  But ultimately, we all need to seek God’s will.   And if we have the support of those who know us best, that is all the better.

Dear God, help me put Your will above everything.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.     

I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them.  But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin.” (Mark 3:28-29)

This passage has been the subject of much debate over the centuries.  Of course, we all want to know the nature of a sin that “will never be forgiven.”  This is the one sin we don’t want to commit.

One strange and confusing twist in Jesus’ teaching is the clarification found in Matthew and Luke that blaspheme against the Son of Man (Jesus) will be forgiven, but not blaspheme against the Holy Spirit.  Why would it be possible to be forgiven for blaspheming Jesus, but not the Holy Spirit, when they are both a part of the triune Godhead (Father, Son and Holy Spirit)?

The most common interpretation is that “blaspheme against the Holy Spirit” is a total rejection of the gospel.  In other words, since the role of the Holy Spirit is to reveal our means of salvation, if we refuse to accept it we have chosen condemnation.  We deny ourselves forgiveness by not accepting the grace God has given.

It is always helpful to look at the context of any Bible passage when making an interpretation, and to look for any direct clues or explanations the scriptures give us.  In the case before us Jesus was accused of being the personification of Satan himself.  This was the Pharisee’s explanation for His ability to cast out demons.  Then in Mark 3:30 we are told Jesus spoke as He did about the Holy Spirit to address the Pharisees’ charge.

We can assume, therefore, the words in our passage this morning involve a response directed at Jesus’ accusers, seeking to refute their accusations, and perhaps turn the tables on their logic.

To be honest, I have always accepted the traditional interpretation cited above, merely because I have not been able to come up with a better one.  I have never been completely comfortable with it because Jesus never specifically said this is what He meant.  But it is consistent with what we know about the role of the Holy Spirit.

The one other interpretation I have mulled over in my mind, and continue to consider is the possibility Jesus might be talking about His personal war with Satan.  In other words, if Jesus was (as the Pharisees suggested) casting out demons by the power of Satan, He would be guilty of collaborating with the enemy.  Perhaps Jesus was describing the illogical conflict that would transpire in the spiritual realm if He was truly using demonic forces to do His work.  He would be guilty of an unpardonable sin against His own person.

For now, since these are just thoughts, and since I cannot presume to be any smarter than generations of theologians who have gone before me, I will stick with the traditional interpretation.

I only know there is a war going on in the spiritual realm that far exceeds our perceptions.  It is just best to stay away from anything blasphemous.

Dear God, show me how to be fully on Your side.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”  And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebub! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.” (Mark 3:21-22)

It is a little difficult to know which “this” Jesus’ family heard about.  As we work our way backward from this passage we find Jesus casting out demons, gathering the twelve Apostles, and ministering in a place that is so full He and the others don’t have time to eat.  Maybe the “this” included all of these things and more.  Maybe Jesus’ family became worried when they saw the radical nature of His ministry gathering momentum.

The “this” for the teachers of the law is easier to discern.  They were accusing Jesus of being possessed by demons.  Otherwise, how could He cast out demons?  Of course this logic was faulty since it was unlikely a demon-possessed man would go around healing demon-possessed men.  But the teachers of the law were convinced Jesus must be working with Satan.

I know Jesus was the Son of God, and certain of His purpose.  Still, I wonder how He managed His emotions when others doubted the validity of His mission.  The spiritual guides who had been so much a part of His life as He was growing up thought He was possessed, and His own parents thought He was nuts!

Have you ever moved ahead with a personal dream, even though others around you were doubtful?

On one hand, it is important to listen to what others have to say.  The people who know and love us can help us discern our gifts and the opportunities God has put before us to use them.  On the other hand, if we only listen to other people, we may never pursue anything important to us.

It is true.  No matter what you do in life, someone is going to try to discourage you.  Some will question your ability and criticize your work.  Others will focus on the risks.  And a small number will intentionally try to stop you from achieving what you set out to do.

Why?  You may never know for sure.  In this morning’s passage Jesus’ family seemed genuinely concerned for His welfare.  They must have thought He was in over His head.  The teachers of the law were probably jealous of Jesus’ following and they also may have convinced themselves they were merely trying to protect others from a blasphemer.

I am not sure where the balance is between good counsel and discouragement, but I know the time comes when we are the only ones on earth who can hold on to our dreams.  With the exception of God, who gave them to us, no one else is going to do this for us.

We must be careful we don’t pursue a dangerous path in our lives and ignore the concerns of others because we are convinced God is behind our ambitions.  But we must also be careful we don’t let others keep us from doing what God wants us to do because they merely want to kill our dream.

A dream is a terrible thing to waste.  Who is controlling your dreams today?

Dear God, give me wisdom as I pursue Your dreams for my life.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

He appointed twelve–designating them apostles–that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder); Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.  (Mark 3:14-19)

This is not the only list of Jesus’ Apostles in the scriptures.  For the others and a short examination of some facts relating to the lists, you might check out this website: http://www.textexcavation.com/twelvedisciples.html

The basic qualifications for an Apostle of Jesus are mentioned in Acts 1:21-22 when the eleven Apostles made the decision to replace Judas.  Peter said: “Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.” (Acts 1:21-22)  A man by the name of Matthias was chosen to fill this role, and there are those who believe the eleven “jumped the gun” on their selection and that God had really planned on replacing Judas with Paul.  The thought is that God aided them in their selection, even though it was unnecessary.  This issue is relevant to those who want to know if the list of twelve Apostles in Revelation includes Matthias or Paul.

Thus, there were at least fourteen Apostles: the original twelve, including Judas, Matthias who was selected to replace Judas, and Paul.  I use the number fourteen with some reservation because there are others in the New Testament called “apostles”, including James, the brother of Jesus and Barnabas.  The word “apostle” means “sent out one”, so it can refer to anyone sent out in the name of Jesus.  Some say there are Apostles with a big “A” and those with a small “a.”  The small “a” apostles were “sent out” but did not necessarily meet the qualifications for a big “A” Apostle, and may or may not have been gifted with supernatural powers.

The Apostles are also called “disciples”, which is a generic name for those who submit to Jesus’ teaching.  Much of the time we hear the words “apostle” and “disciple” used interchangeably, and that is fine.  It is just important to know, while followers today are still considered disciples of Jesus, an Apostle is someone specifically chosen by God for a special mission.  And it would be impossible for a big “A” apostle to be alive today, unless one could prove an encounter with Jesus similar to the one Paul experienced on the road to Damascus.

The authority Jesus gave his Apostles enabled them to cast out demons, heal the sick and raise the dead.  They also had the ability to impart these gifts to others through the laying on of hands (which is why many believe the supernatural powers possessed by the Apostles died out with the next generation of leaders, just as the New Testament was being pulled together in canonical form).

If we were to meet an Apostle, it wouldn’t be the same as meeting Jesus face-to-face, but it would be a really big deal.  Perhaps you have seen the apostle’s team picture.

Dear God, thank You for providing leadership for Your church.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.  So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27-28)

There were a number of Sabbath controversies that followed Jesus throughout His ministry.  In short, the Pharisees and other teachers of the law expected Him to adhere to rules regulating the practice of the Sabbath.

God actually established some rules of His own regarding the Sabbath, in order to define its fundamental purpose.  The Sabbath was an opportunity to rest in God’s presence, restoring one’s soul.  For this to take place it was necessary for people to stop working long enough to refocus their lives.  Many of the rules God put in place enforced this behavior.  Yet, in all of this, God gave man the Sabbath for his own good.

Today’s kingdom scripture followed an incident where Jesus’ disciples grabbed some grain from stalks while walking through a field on the Sabbath.  At other times Jesus healed on the Sabbath, and was sharply criticized.  Why did He do these things?  Because He knew when God communicated His rules to govern the Sabbath He wanted His people to take the day off to restore their souls.  He didn’t want them to neglect critical physical needs.

Of course, there was always the possibility some would abuse the Sabbath, but it was just as wrong to condemn others who were receiving a blessing from God as it was to engage in work.  It is hard to imagine how the Pharisees and teachers of the law came to a place where they hated Jesus for healing the sick on the Sabbath.  They had clearly lost sight of the heart of God.

Now, lest we misunderstand this kingdom principle, I should clarify that Jesus was talking about true needs.  I fear we sometimes err on the other side of spiritual rest by filling our lives with so many activities we don’t have time to worship God.  When we continually put other priorities in front of worshipping God, we are indeed breaking the principle of the Sabbath.  We are “crowding out” the Lord.

So, on one hand, we should make worship and spiritual reflection a part of our lives.  We should take time to worship with others, as the Bible tells believers not to neglect meeting together.

But on the other hand, we must remember that Sabbath rest (which for the Christian is defined as our journey with God as we are clothed with His grace) cannot be regulated.  It is a heart issue…a hunger and thirst for the One who loved us and saved us through His Son Jesus.

Maybe if we get this straight in our minds our misplaced Sabbath won’t necessarily leave us feeling guilty, but rather empty.  Why would we not want to fill up our lives with the One who gave His life for us?

To be honest, I am a lot more concerned about any lack of passion I have for worshipping the Lord than a rule that says I must do so.  Either way, if I am neglecting Him, I need to seriously evaluate my spiritual pulse.

Dear God, teach me how to rest in You.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse.  And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins.” (Mark 2:21-22)

There are two levels of revelation in the book of Mark regarding Jesus the King and His kingdom.  One is the King’s encounters with His subjects and the other is His kingdom teaching.  Today’s devotion focuses on the second of these two.

Jesus gives us two examples to illustrate how change occurs in His kingdom.  Change does not have to mean a “change for the better.”  It can also indicate a change of seasons, or covenants between God and His creation.

Both illustrations are pretty easy to understand.  A new piece of cloth on an old garment is going to shrink when it is washed.  And new wine in an old wineskin (container make of animal skin) is going to ferment, further expanding and eventually bursting the old skin.

This is a great word picture because it helps us understand the relationship between God’s two covenants of law and grace.  God established His first covenant through Abraham and wrote it in stone at Mt. Sinai in the presence of His servant Moses.  He ushered in the second covenant through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.  Neither covenant was bad.  Yet the two were different, which is why it is impossible to live under both.

The covenant of Law was tied to the Nation of Israel, the Promised Land, and God’s plan to use His people as a vehicle through which the second covenant would come.  The covenant of grace fulfilled the first covenant by offering up the very Son of God as a final sacrifice.

Today, through faith in Jesus, we enter into the second covenant of grace.  We can follow the first covenant if we want, but our sins will condemn us and we will have no recourse without the cleansing blood of the Savior.

This is exactly the issue Jesus was trying to address.  The Pharisees were trying to proclaim themselves righteous under the covenant of law, and hold everyone else to their standards.  But the self-righteousness of the Pharisees could not hide their hypocrisy and those they misled became the blind following the blind.

It is impossible to do both.  Either we are condemned by the law or saved by grace.  Both covenants have their place since we would not know grace if there were no law, but now we have been given a new and lasting covenant that fills up what was lacking in our walk with God.

I have never seen a wineskin burst, but I have had a few iron-on patches pull away from the knees on my pants.  And if you remember wearing pants with those patches your mother ironed on them, you know how weird they felt.

I choose grace!  Sorry mom…I know you meant well.

Dear God, thank You for our new relationship.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.