storiesofvalue

Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…” He said to the paralytic, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.”  He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!” (Mark 2:9-12)

Jesus was ministering to a house full of people in Capernaum when a most unusual event occurred.  Well, perhaps I shouldn’t just leave things at “a house full.”  Mark tells us there was no room in the house, or in the doorway of the house.  They were crammed in like sardines, hoping to hear the Master…praying for healing…looking for the One who was to redeem Israel.

I don’t mean to overwhelm your senses, but think about this scene: a packed house near a lake in the Mediterranean region, with fishermen who had been gutting their catch, old men who had walked for miles to get there, mothers holding children who were fussy, sweat dripping off people’s foreheads, and no air to be found.  This was before air conditioning, daily showers and washing machines.  Get the picture?

Then, as people patiently endured this less than ideal setting, dirt started to fall from the ceiling.  It started as a nuisance at first, then a curiosity, and finally a major interruption.  Four men with a paralytic friend had circumvented the crowd, scaled the dwelling, and begun the process of tearing away the roof so they could lower their friend to Jesus.

What a mess this must have been!  But the mess and the unexpected appearance of a man on a pallet was not the biggest surprise.  The shocker was Jesus’ claim to forgive the man of his sins.

You see, in Jesus’ culture, a paralytic was considered a sinner by default.  It was assumed by many that his sickness was a result of his own sin or the sins of his parents.  It was conceivable he might recover from his condition, but absurd to think anyone could take away the root of his problem: sin.

This is why Jesus forgave him first.  “Your sins are forgiven!”  What a simple thing to say, but a much harder thing to do.  The man was indeed forgiven because Jesus had the power to make him right with God.  However, the spiritual guides in the audience were furious!  Had Jesus merely healed the man, they could have claimed His power came from the devil.  But when he forgave the man the matter became one of clear-cut blaspheme…and someone needed to stop Him.

“But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…” Jesus told the man to get up and go home, which he did, in “full view of them all.”

Everyone that day created a stink…the huddled crowd, Jesus who dared to forgive a sinner, the teachers of the law who condemned Jesus’ for His words, and the paralytic who walked out with his bed under his arm.

Somebody open a window…

Dear God, You always seem to stir things up.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are–the Holy One of God!” “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching–and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him.” (Mark 1:21-27 NIV)

Satan and his demons melt in the presence of Jesus.

After Jesus was baptized by John He spent 40 days in the wilderness with wild beasts.  Then on the 40th or 41st day, when Jesus was weakest, Satan tempted Him with three proposals (Matthew 4), failed and fled, leaving Jesus to be comforted by the angels.

In regards to Jesus’ temptation, I have wondered if there was more than one big temptation at the end.  I don’t think the scriptures prohibit me from thinking Satan might have come to Jesus earlier with the same three temptations, approaching Him one last time at the end, but with no success.  It says “After fasting forty days and nights” Satan came.  But was Jesus left without a tempter in the desert before that time?

However it happened, Satan went down in flames, and the Son of God prevailed.  He always does.

It is no surprise to find Him prevailing again in the synagogue in Capernaum.  A man possessed by an evil spirit cried out, “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth?  Have you come to destroy us?  I know who you are-the Holy One of God!”

“Be quiet!  Come out of him!”  Jesus spoke with authority, standing His ground as He had in the desert.  Maybe Satan had warned the spirit… “Watch out…I gave Him everything I had in the desert and He didn’t budge!”  Or maybe they just knew Him.  Maybe all evil spirits have a picture of Jesus on their living room wall with a statement: “Beware of this man…He is very God of very God!” 

However the spirit came to know Jesus, he was terrified when he encountered Him.  The possessed man started to shake uncontrollably.  The spirit grabbed onto his rib-cage…his evil lips flapping as a supernatural force ripped him from his hideout in the man’s inner core.  Maybe he could hold on…just a little…while…longer… “SHRIEEEEEEEEEK!”

And then it was over.  The man was free, the crowd was amazed and the evil spirit was spinning through space in search of a new home.

Evil spirits obeyed Jesus, and they still do.  I don’t know for sure how their boundaries and behaviors changed after Calvary, but I don’t care.  They are wimps!  Spirit-world twerps!  And they have no place in the presence of the King.

Dear God, protect me from the evil one.  In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. (Mark 1:14)

John the Baptist was not afraid to speak his mind.  Therefore, when he saw King Herod, a public figure, doing something irreprehensible, he used his own celebrity status to speak against it.  And Herod wasn’t happy.

Let’s go back and talk about Herod’s sin.  Herod had a brother by the name of Philip.  Through a series of circumstances Herod and Philip’s wife Herodias formed an improper relationship with one another.  Herod decided to take her as his wife, so he arranged to have her brought to his palace.  This is the basic story, and not everyone agrees on all of the details, but there is more in relation to John the Baptist.

When John spoke against Herod’s behavior, the king had him arrested.  Then, one day as Herod’s royal community gathered for a party, Herodias’ daughter Salome danced.  It must have been quite a dance because Herod was so pleased he offered to grant her a wish up to half his kingdom.  Salome said, “Uh, let me check with my mother on that.”  (My paraphrase)  And Herodias’ advice: “Ask for the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”  And that is how John the Baptist died.

There are some other important pieces to this story, such as John’s request, while he was imprisoned, that Jesus let him know if He really was the Messiah (Matthew 11:1-19).  Most people believe John was depressed by his circumstances and needed reassurance from the Lord.  Jesus sent John’s messengers back with this reassuring statement: “Go back and report to John what you hear and see:  The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.  Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.”  We aren’t told whether or not this news strengthened John’s spirit.

I have always been struck by the way Jesus continued on with His mission after John’s arrest, and that we have no record He tried to free him.  It doesn’t seem right in a way.  I mean, couldn’t Jesus have at least sent a messenger to Herod to tell him to let John go…especially since John had come for the purpose of preparing the world for His ministry?

But this is the nature of a servant.  Servants are often treated unfairly.  And when they suffer while doing good things they know there is no guarantee of a rescue.

We can feel like John felt in prison…a little depressed because we have only tried to do what is right and we are suffering for it.  There are no easy answers to these seasons in our lives, but we must remember we are not forgotten.  God’s decision not to rescue us from our earthly circumstances doesn’t mean He doesn’t love us, or that He is not pleased with our service.  This is just the way it is for a servant.

Every now and then we should ask ourselves the tough question: “How do I respond when the commitments I have made as a servant of the Lord suddenly become an inconvenience?”

Dear God, teach me what it means to be a servant.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. ¹¹ And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:10-11)

John the Baptist protested when Jesus asked him to perform His baptism.  How could the messenger who had been sent in the spirit of Elijah allow the Son of God to be baptized for “repentance?”  And how could he, who was not fit to untie the Son’s sandals, do it?

It is important to recognize, while repentance and confession was a part of John the Baptist’s baptism, the point of His message was “prepare.”

Incidentally, if I might take a slight detour…the baptism of repentance performed by John the Baptist had the same form as the baptism practiced later in the church, but not the same purpose.  The baptism that took place in the church was after Jesus’ death and resurrection, and was the point at which believers identified with Jesus in the same.  In other words, as Jesus had died for sin and risen, Christian baptism represented the crucifying of one’s personal sins and one’s resurrection to a new life (Romans 6).  The baptism of John the Baptist didn’t carry this significance.

Now, back to the message of “prepare”…  John was preparing the hearts of those who came to confess and repent.  He was making the path straight for the Savior to enter their lives.

While Jesus did not need to confess or repent, He did need to prepare.  He had come to give His life as a substitute for sinful humanity, and His baptism was His announcement to the world that He was going to be faithful to His Father’s plan.

This is why the Spirit descended like a dove and God said, “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”  We must not miss what Jesus was doing.  He was putting aside all pride and completely surrendering self for our sakes.  He didn’t have to do this, but He did so because of His undying love for us, and His commitment to seek and save the lost.

While Jesus didn’t need to repent, and while He never participated in what we call “Christian baptism” (though He did command it – Matthew 28:19-20/Acts 2:38), there is one way in which we can relate to what He did.

Jesus’ baptism was a demonstration of humility.  I believe this is why He told John He was doing it to “fulfill all righteousness.”  Being right with God involves submitting to His will, even when it leads down a path that will ultimately cause us pain.

Therefore, we are following the example of Jesus anytime we humble ourselves and do something He has commanded.  The fact He has asked us to do it is enough.  I am not saying we blindly follow His commands without trying to understand the “why” behind them.  But ultimately, even when we don’t understand every “why”, we must obey.  This goes for Christian baptism, or a number of other commands Jesus gave us (such as loving our enemies, settling disputes with others one-on-one, etc.).

What is standing in your way of doing what Christ has asked today?

Dear God, help me with my battle with pride.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

…”a voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ “And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. (Mark 1:3-4)

John the Baptist came preaching a simple message: “Prepare!”

We prepare for lots of things in our lives.  We prepare for house guests, trips, college, retirement, surgery and musical performances.  We even prepare for things we can’t calculate.  One of my favorite sayings is, “hope for the best, prepare for the worst, and pray you’ll end up somewhere in-between.” 

But nothing can match the level of preparation required for the presence of the Lord Jesus, our King.

Near the church where I minister, in Jamestown, Virginia, some preparations were under way a few years ago for a visit from Queen Elizabeth II.  Her visit was especially meaningful since she had been in Jamestown 50 years earlier for the 350^th anniversary of the first English colony.  She was coming again for the 400^th.  Lots of projects were undertaken to transform the site, and when the Queen arrived she followed a carefully orchestrated plan.

Still, this was nothing compared to the arrival of the King of Kings.

John the Baptist’s audience was asked to prepare the way for the Lord and make His paths straight.  But the paths they were straightening weren’t made of dirt.  Rather, they were human hearts, burdened down with sin and in desperate need of transformation.

How do we “make straight paths” for the Lord?  I believe we do it by removing every obstacle we can find that might keep him from entering our hearts, or the hearts of others.  And many of these obstacles are composed of sin.

Like rocky residue, overgrown thorns and suspicious characters, sin looms and lurks in our hearts, seeking to blind us to the things Jesus wants to do in our lives.

What can we do about it?

We can repent.  John baptized people with a baptism of repentance as they came confessing their sins.  Why would people come out to the desert in droves to confess their sins and be baptized as a sign of repentance?  They came because they desperately wanted to be ready.  They didn’t want anything to keep them from being in the right place and the right state when the King arrived.

I am convinced even those who have met the King need to work at the pathway to their hearts.  Jesus wants to move in our lives, and He needs us to participate by removing things that get in the way of what He wants to do.

Is there anything you need to remove from the pathway to your heart today?

Dear God, help me make Your paths straight.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God (Mark 1:1)

What is the “gospel?”

Technically, “gospel” means “good news.”  But what comprises the “good news” from a biblical standpoint?

The reason this is important, before we hardly begin our study of the book of Mark, is because Mark opens with these words, “The beginning of the gospel,” then launches right into the story of John the Baptist.

This alone does not appear to be a problem, unless we remember the books or gospels of Matthew and Luke spend considerable time recording the events surrounding Jesus’ birth, before introducing the account of John the Baptist.

So what is the gospel?  If it is only the good news of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection, as recounted by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15, then why does Mark sub-title his entire book with the word?  Does the gospel include the birth of Jesus?  Does it involve His teachings about the kingdom, including His powerful parables?  What about the miracles Jesus performed, the events leading up to His death, and the moments right before His ascension?

Is it all a part of the gospel?

Yes.

It is all good news.  The drama of the gospel culminated on the cross and was confirmed by the empty tomb, but everything the gospel authors give us is supporting material.

From a timeline standpoint, Mark’s gospel begins with the initiation of Jesus’ ministry, at the time of His baptism by John.  This doesn’t suggest Jesus was not tuned into His mission before this, as is evidenced by his conversation with His parents in the temple at the age of 12: “Didn’t you know I was supposed to be about my Father’s business.”  Rather, this is the place Mark chooses to start…after Jesus had grown and was ready to publicly submit to His Father’s plan though His baptism in the Jordan River.

As we will discover in our study of Mark, there were lots of good things shared about Jesus’ life and message, leading up to His death on the cross.  It is all important because it helps us understand why the news about Jesus was so good, and why He was the One who could rescue us.

This is the beginning of a three-year campaign by the King of Kings.  It was time for Him to be revealed to His subjects.  …And what better place than by a river where people had gathered to wait for His arrival.

I love beginnings because they tell us something about the magnificent nature of what is to come.

Dear God, prepare me for the good news.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain. (1 Timothy 6:3-6)

[Friends of Morning Devotions: We will be suspending our study of 1 Timothy for the summer to study Mark in conjunction with Northside’s “Royal Subjects” sermon series.  I hope you enjoy the Mark study.  We will pick up where we left off with 1 Timothy in September]

What does it mean to have an “unhealthy interest”?  There are a number of possibilities.

Some people have unhealthy interests in things that are not good for them.  Others draw the people they care about into their interests, which creates an unhealthy environment for everyone.

But the “unhealthy interest” I think Paul is talking about is an ungodly focus on wealth.  Realize, there is nothing necessarily wrong with wealth.  Money and possessions can be used for our own self-absorption or for more visionary purposes.  The “unhealthy” part of wealth in Timothy’s situation was the desire of greedy men to be so focused on getting rich they were willing to use the church as a vehicle.

The “unhealthy” part of today’s passage is spelled out in these words: “who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.”  Instead, Paul says the greatest gain is “godliness with contentment.” 

In recent years the theology of a “prosperity gospel” has received a lot of attention.  This is mostly due to celebrity preachers and teachers who propose the truth God wants His people to prosper financially on earth.

Again, there is nothing wrong with wealth.  I am certainly of the belief we should work hard and use the talents God has given us to provide for our families and give to others.  I am even convinced God blesses some people with enormous wealth so they can promote His causes.  But with this said, I do not believe the Bible promises every believer who sacrifices for the sake of the kingdom worldly wealth.  In fact, if I read the scripture correctly, the opposite is true.

We should be stewards of the things God has given us, which will help us maximize our wealth.  But it is a sin to use the kingdom as a mechanism for personal wealth, and to live high on the backs of unsuspecting Christian brothers and sisters who think they are honoring God by making us rich.

This is “unhealthy.”  It is unhealthy for our own souls, for the witness of the church, and for the progress of the kingdom.  Instead, we should seek contentment with what God has given us, without using His people as a means to more.

Dear God, help me have a healthy view of wealth.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered. Those who have believing masters are not to show less respect for them because they are brothers. Instead, they are to serve them even better, because those who benefit from their service are believers, and dear to them. These are the things you are to teach and urge on them. (1 Timothy 6:1-2)

For a perspective on the issue of slavery in the early church, go to the www.storiesofvalue.com website and scroll down to our previous study of Titus 2:9.

I have suggested before that it is difficult to draw a direct parallel with the relationship shared by slaves and maters and that of employees and employers.  The big difference, of course, is that an employee can theoretically leave his job, and his community, anytime he wants.  I say theoretically because a couple of generations ago my family was tied to the mines of Eastern Kentucky and the company store.  While that wasn’t slavery, I have heard it was akin to it.

Yet, with this tension in mind, I do believe there is a principle in today’s passage that does cross the line between slave and free.  I will explain.

One of my first jobs was in a bank.  During the summer I was preparing for college I was responsible for microfilming checks so they could be accessed later by customers.  All day long I ran the checks through a machine, marked the film cartridge, and bundled the checks for filing.

I will never forget an employee who was poorly thought of by the office.  Our boss was a Christian and somewhere along the way the employee came up with the idea she should have special favors because she was a Christian too.  So she came in late, left early, took longer than acceptable lunch breaks, neglected her work, and ignored customers.  One day I was in a copier room and she was complaining about having to do a job.  I still remember her words: “I don’t see why (other employee’s name who was a Christian too) can’t do this for me.  We are both Christians.”    

This was a surprise to me.  I am not saying I am the perfect employee, but I was raised to believe Christian people should not only meet the basic expectations of their job, but go above and beyond what is expected to bring glory to God.  And if we are fortunate enough to work for other Christians we should give %110 so we complement their witness.

I know when it comes to the subject of slavery in the first-century church we are dealing with some complicated issues.  Still, Paul’s words are so revealing of human nature, I think it is easy to see how we should apply them to the workplace today.

This does not mean we should disrespect our boss if he or she is not a believer.  That would have a negative effect on our witness as well. You may even choose to do more in this case for the sake of bringing glory to Christ.

The bottom line is that our work ethic is one of the most fundamental witnessing tools we have for the Lord.  And it is also freeing to realize we are ultimately working for the Lord, and our job is just the venue.

Dear God, show me how to bring You glory in the workplace.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them.  In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not cannot be hidden. (1 Timothy 5:24-25)

What a great verse!

I tried to break down Paul’s words and distinguish between the progression of bad deeds and good deeds.  But ultimately, I decided I was being over analytical.  I think Paul’s message is very simple: our deeds cannot be hidden, whether people hear about them before they meet us, or after we are gone.

One thing that does occur to me is the phrase “even worse” and also “even better.”

If a man is guilty of a sin and is convicted in court, his evil act will be remembered, but his reputation may be spared.  Charles Colson is a good example of someone who was convicted of a crime, but had a positive impact on our world through a transformed life.

On the other hand, sometimes the reports that don’t make it to court in time for the conviction destroy a man’s reputation forever.  A crime is bad, but a life of sin that continues to eat away at a man’s legacy is “even worse.”

But the good deeds that are discovered after a man is already recognized for his goodness are “even better.”  I have conducted many funerals where I have shared two or three key characteristics of the departed that blessed the lives of others.  And on more than one occasion a friend has approached me afterward and said, “You know, you were right about that.  Let me tell you another story about the very same thing…”

My father has been dead almost two years now and every now and then I read or hear about someone whose life was blessed by his ministry.  I have yet to hear anything that eats away at the legacy he left me.  Oh, a few people like to laugh about some of his funny habits, such as singing one or two lines of a hymn at the top of his voice and reading his sermon notes through the rest.  And my dad spoke his mind, so I thoroughly expect to meet someone at some point who didn’t like something he said.  But his legacy remains in-tact.  It is “even better” than before.

I have been thinking: the good things I do that people appreciate make me feel good about myself, but the good that is hidden until later will cause my loved ones to feel good about me as well as themselves.  That’s the way legacy works.

I am not suggesting I do good deeds so others will appreciate me.  It feels good to be appreciated, but ultimately I do what I do because it is the right thing to do, and because I represent the Lord in everything.

It is just good to keep these connections in mind.  Sinning makes us feel bad about ourselves, and gnaws away at the memory we leave our loved ones.  It is “even worse.”  Good deeds do the opposite.  I think I want to live the “even better” kind of life.

Dear God, help me think about the legacy I am leaving.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses. (1 Timothy 5:23)

We have to be careful how we interpret today’s verse…and not for the reason you might think.

Timothy evidently had a stomach ailment known to Paul.  It could have been the result of a virus he picked up in his journeys with Paul, a disease, or even the onset of intestinal trouble due to stress.

Paul received word Timothy was treating his ailment by drinking “only water.”  What he was eating, we aren’t told.  Paul’s treatment: “use a little wine.”

One mistake we can make is to assume “a little wine” is always a good remedy for stomach trouble.  Some time ago I talked with a friend whose intestinal trouble was being irritated by wine and his doctor told him to stop drinking anything that contained alcohol.  We can only assume Paul knew exactly what was wrong with Timothy and what would help.  In this case, and in this culture, “a little wine” was a good treatment.

Another mistake we can make is to take this as a command that we “must” drink a little wine if we have stomach trouble.  In our culture we have many cures, as well as a number of tests to determine the exact cause and location of the problem.  If drinking wine violates our conscience, or if we battle the demon of alcoholism, Paul is certainly not saying we have to drink wine.

A third mistake is to use this verse as a justification for drinking unnecessarily, or in excess.  “After all, the Bible says to drink wine for your stomach’s sake” is not exactly what Paul is saying.

Wine was a part of biblical culture.  Water, and especially clean water was often scarce.  And there were not a whole lot of beverage options for special occasions.

It is important to state, as we have elsewhere in our study of 1 Timothy, that drinking alcohol is not a sin.  However, drunkenness is, as is being inconsiderate of the weakness of a brother or sister in Christ who might stumble because of our drinking.

I say all of this so we don’t abuse this verse on either side of the alcohol issue.  It is not a command against drinking for purposes other than medicinal, and it is not a command to drink if it not our custom.  Paul is merely giving medical advice, based on his knowledge of Timothy’s illness and his experience in ministry.

Personally, when I have stomach trouble, my first course of treatment is a Diet-coke.  Then I move on to other, more recognized medications.  I don’t drink alcoholic beverages, and in my experience with medicines that contain alcohol I don’t understand how they can help with a stomach disorder…except perhaps as a sedative.  But I will take Paul’s word for it.

All discussion about alcohol aside, my main take away from today’s passage is that Timothy’s ministry was taking a toll on his body and Paul was trying to help him.  The Lord’s work can be challenging, and I suppose according to our passage, can even drive us to “drinkin’”.

Dear God, ease my stomach.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.