Ge 8:21
I was talking with my four year old daughter the other day and she did something funny that you really only appreciate and understand the true sweetness of it when you really know a young girl. However, it made me laugh and then I said, ‘i love you isabelle’. Her response was one that uplifted me and caused me to fear in the same moment. She said, ‘i’ve been waiting for you to tell me that all day dad.’ Did I really make her wait THAT LONG no, but still … she waited for that from me. She waited on her father to say I love you. In Numbers and Leviticus the phrase ‘a pleasing aroma to the Lord’ pops up 17 times in Numbers and 13 in Leviticus. An aroma is pleasing to God. It is exciting and He finds enjoyment in it. Most if not all the times He is talking about a burnt offering that is for HIM! However, just our obedience is a source of pleasure and pleasing to Him. Do you make God long, pine and desire for our obedience? Do you make Him feel like He has to come to you?
PLEASING
AWAKE
Mk 13:14-37.
“and what I say to you I say to all: stay awake,” (v.37). Jesus is seriously and purposely telling the disciples what is to be expected, that there will be liars, cheats, and people that are only looking to sway you away from what Jesus taught you. They will perform wonders, they will show you signs, they will even do things that you think, “only Christ can do that”, but it won’t be Him. Do you want to know how you can tell if it is from Him? “They will see the (Jesus) coming in the clouds with great power and glory” (v.26). It is so simple and understandable that sometimes we out-think the room. Many people will distract you from Christ because they like to lie, they want a following, they want power and control. Jesus taught us better. He WILL come and when he does come it will be in the clouds and with power and glory that cannot be missed. What does Jesus require of us, stay awake. We are going to get tired, lazy, wanting to follow someone else, eager and frustrated, but stay awake because others will try to “lead astray the elect” (v.22). Don’t let them. Pray for those that need certainty in conviction over who the Christ really is.
WITNESS
Mk 13:1-13.
Jesus talks about the destructon of the temple and the signs of the time. Jesus was not slow to tell others that what they hold dearly to would be gone (temple, their life). Jesus does not mince words and clearly in vs 9-13 he is giving them the brutal truth. In v.9 He says, “you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them.” I don’t know if I had in the past focused on that last part, “to bear witness”. We are supposed to bear witness to neighbors and to friends, but maybe we bear witness to officials by how we get persecuted. We go on trial to bear witness so that means I need to work out my witness. I want to endure to the end, even if that end is not of my choosing but is the choosing of officials. Lord, give me endurance for the end, especially one that I do not foresee or of my choosing.
All for the glory of the One
IDOLS
Mk 13:35-44. Why does David call him Lord, Scribes are evil and lack of something can be an idol. Jesus is tremendous at making a point from the small and simple things. You have to admire the master teacher in that. Not less then sentences in the same chapter Jesus sees the wisdom of one scribe does he then cast them all aside as manipulative. Walking around like they are better, take the best places and take advantage of others. They make themselves to be idols. Then He probably stays with the same people when He mentions some giving out of abundance and this widow giving two coins. Sometimes we assume, wrongly, that the only people that can make money an idol are those with money. The family that doesn’t have a lot can look to money as an idol because they are always trying to get it. It is their paradise, their search, aim, goal. Sometimes if we are always reaching for something it can take the place of us reaching to Christ. Our idols can be right in front of us or our aim. Watch out for your idols, make sure and identify them first and then act.
GREATEST
Mk 12:28-34. A scribe asks Jesus a serious question and not one to try and trap Jesus or to get Him painted into a corner. We know this by the fact that Jesus answers him directly and correctly. In the midst of being tricked and in the midst of conversational land mines to the right and to the left (Mk 12:13-27) this man really wants to know the core of the gospel message. I can understand that because I cannot count how many times I have asked, “If I could ask God just one question?” This is his one question and it is a really good one. It is the best question. How can I be the closest to God? How can I abide with Him? Jesus takes him seriously and answers Him straight forward. Then Jesus gives him a compliment that would be such a encouragement, imagine the Son of God telling you that you are not far from the Kingdom of God? Wow! I would walk around with my chest puffed out for months. The sincerity and the perseverance to ask Jesus the one question is fruit that we get today. Let us ask God questions in our prayers with the sincerity and to the point as this man.
QUESTIONS
Mk 12:13-27. Pharisees ask about taxes and Sadducees ask about marriage. If there was ever two scenarios that Jesus had to feel like he was being setup it was this one. The first question seems to be led by a strong ‘kissing up’ prelude which was fake from 2000 years away. Then he answers them by ‘knowing their hypocrisy’ (v.15). Hypocrisy seems likes a funny thing to claim, it almost gives you to idea that they didn’t pay the tax. Wouldn’t that be embarrassing to ask a question that implicates your selfishness. It is almost like Jesus is amused by he fact that they ask, but don’t even adhere to the discipline that they question. After they marvel at His understanding from the first question (v.17) they then are shot down by his knowledge of scripture. Jesus answers their question by going back to the law of Moses. Lord, let me be knowledge AND wise.
All for the glory of the One
PROMISE
Mk 12:1-2. The Parable of the Tenants. This is a promise from Jesus to the priests with everyone there as a witness. We lose our perspective on this passage because we know that Jesus is killed by the priests and rulers of the day. However, imagine a God-in-Jesus form telling a story about tenants killing a son when Jesus knows what they are planning. He knows they are going t kill Him and their anger towards Him is at an all-time high after his wor in the temple (11:15-19). This is promise to all the priests that are unsure if they should put Jesus to trial and for others it is a promise of the Lord’s Wrath. I would of loved to see Jesus look at the priests when he said verse 10, “What will the owner of the vineyard do?” It is as those Jesus is saying, “I know what your move is, but do you know what my Father is going to do, don’t you get it?” There is so much power in Jesus’ words. It is His promise to them all.
All for the glory of the One
LESSONS
Mk 11:20-33
Jesus teaches on the withered tree and has His authority questioned. When they walked by the withered tree they all saw it (v.20), but it was Peter that asked about it (which just seems like his character). The first words from Jesus were ‘have faith in God’ (v.23). The next verses are very impactful, but His initial thought was to have faith in God as though if he was to have faith in God then many of these small questions are answered. Better yet done by yourself because you have the power of Christ in you. He will provide! It will be done. In the second part of these verses it is interesting to note that Jesus got them off track and didn’t answer their question when in reality it will be in a little bit that He will tell them that His authority is from God. Why not mention it now? Jesus must of known it was not the time. Why? What made this moment not right?
All for the glory of the One
BOUNCER
Mk 11:12-19. Jesus curses a fig tree and throws people out of the temple. I read this scripture and ask, “Is Jesus mad or having a bad day?” Why so harsh? Then I realize that I am more confused by the cursing of the fig tree then by throwing people out of the temple. That is because I think the fig tree didn’t deserve the curse. The fig tree was unfairly judged. Why do I care about a fig tree 2000 years ago? Why is that important? Jesus throws out people from the temple, their jobs really and I am upset about a fig tree. It is because I think the vendors should of known better, but really it was the priests that it was a shot at. The next day the venders were back and they were probably wanted to know from the priests, “What are you going to do about this?” They were allowed to sell there and now they get thrown out. Jesus even goes so far as to not allow people to carry things in to the temple (v.16). He becomes the Temple Bouncer!! That is awesome, can you imagine people trying to get in and having to deal with a guy with the power of God not allowing you to bring in a sheep to sell? In the end the part that I should be focusing in on is that “all the crowd was astonished at His teaching” (v.18).
All for the glory of the One
TRIUMPHAL
Mk 11:1-11. The triumphal entry was momentous in that it highlighted Jesus popularity and the heart change of the people in Jerusalem. However, verse 1 and 11 need to be put in context because he leaves Bethany on the colt going into Jerusalem and in v.11 he goes back to Bethany after he “had looked around at everything”. He came, he saw, he left in the same day! Why? It makes you ask that question, and then what was Jesus’ mindset when He is knowledgable about what will be happening in a couple of days (crucifiction) and the people are almost crowning him already. How did the disciples who were told what was going to happen (10:32-34, 9:30-32, 8:31-9:1)? Did they walk in with heavy hearts or were they still hardened from the feeding of the 4000? At this momentous occasion where were their hearts? Maybe a better question is were they celebrating or enjoying their last moments with Jesus? It makes you ask the question about where our hearts are at momentous occasions? Jesus’ heart did not change in fact at the end of the day he was back in Bethany, where his heart was that morning.
