Ni90: Mark 15-16, Proverbs 23

In the final two chapters of the gospel of Mark, we find the account of Jesus’ appearance before Pilate, His condemnation tot he cross, His crucifixion, resurrection, and commission. The all are connected and cannot be separated into “polite” groups.

Some people want to focus on the resurrection because it is cheerful and hope-filled. But there is no resurrection without the crucifixion. Others focus on the crucifixion and its atoning work…but there is no crucifixion without the willful and intentional condemantion of the people (Israel and Rome)…both groups having handed Jesus over in rejection of His rightful and just place as the Son of God…the Messiah. [By extension, we fit into the condemantion category as well.]

See, part of the overwhelming nature fo the grace God showed in the resurrection is best seen when juxtaposed against our willful rejection of His Lordship. When we delivered over Jesus to die…we rejected God and His Messiah. Yet…He forgave us. He forgave us not due to our merits but due to His nature…due to grace.

It is in light of this grace that we see the commission. Go and preach the gospel to all creatures. Every created being must hear…is the scope of the gospel. God directs us to tell the story of His love to everyone…to our clients, our co-workers, our employers, our neighbors, the market owners, those like us, those different from us, to those of our language group and to every other language group…to every creature.

How could we freely receive the grace of God and not freely serve the God of grace?

Proverbs 23:29-35 is the takeaway today.

²⁹Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes?

³⁰Those who linger long over wine, Those who go to taste mixed wine.

³¹Do not look on the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it goes down smoothly;

³²At the last it bites like a serpent And stings like a viper.

³³Your eyes will see strange things And your mind will utter perverse things.

³⁴And you will be like one who lies down in the middle of the sea, Or like one who lies down on the top of a mast.

³⁵“They struck me, but I did not become ill; They beat me, but I did not know it. When shall I awake? I will seek another drink.”

Substitutes for real peace do not yield peace at all. Only sorrows.

Ni90: Mark 13-14, Proverbs 22

In today’s reading, there are a couple of observations that stood out to me. First relates to Mary’s worship with the perfume (14:3-9). Those around Jesus…even those on the inside of His ministry offered complain at the extravagance of the worship that Mary showed. She took her most treasured perfume…her own burial perfume…which she had been amassing all of her life and used it to anoint Jesus instead. Now this image is a bit “lost” on us in the West in modern times, but a girl would put back a little every week of money and would buy small amounts of perfume and store it for her death. She did so in order to maintain dignity after death as her body went the way of the earth. So…for us it might be that this woman signed over her entire estate to Jesus and gave it at a Crusade event in town. All of her estate. Everything she owned given in a single offering. After this event, she would have nothing tangible for herself saved up. Can you imagine…a 60 year old woman signing over everything to her local church? How would her children respond? What would her neighbors think? I mean…she even gave over her burial plot to the church…

Most would say she had “lost it” or that she was “duped” by some religious fanatic. Jesus said she worshipped…and in so doing, gained a legacy that would far outlast her physical life.

PAUSE and consider that for a moment. Do you worship in a way that is culturally or socially acceptable…or in a way that is so extravagant (tongue in cheek) that anyone who hears of it is flabbergasted and questions…”why would she do that for Jesus?” May we be/become so enthralled with Jesus that we leave a legacy like Mary.

The second observation has to do with promises and performance. Peter promised Jesus, I will never forsake you,” and all of the others were agreeing and claiming the same thing (14:31). Yet…in the end…all forsook Him (14:50).

Sometimes I read stuff about Peter and shake my head…as though my faith/faithfulness were any better. It is not. I make promises that I cannot fulfill in my flesh. I try but can’t do it. Whether it is an act of repentance, or simply disciplining myself to avoid the fridge after a certain hour. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

I have read this story twice now in a week and it hit me both times…every one fo the disciples agreed with Peter…and every one of the disciples failed. I am every one…just like you are every one.

Thank God for His faithfulness and the security of our relationship being based on Him and not on us. We fail, we falter, and He is faithful to forgive when we confess (agree with God) about our sin and our sin nature. Repentance is a decision…one often repeated because we fail. God’s faithfulness…His character never fails. His mercies are new every day. He never runs low on mercy. He is always willing to receive us. He is gracious…demonstrating unmerited favor toward us in every circumstance…even in bringing us to repentance while we live in the midst of rebellion against Him. What a Savior!

Proverbs 22:3 is the takeaway today. “The prudent sees the evil and hides himself, but the naive go on, and are punished for it.”

Ni90: Mark 10-12, Proverbs 21

Two observations for these chapters for me. First is the interaction with the rich ruler (10:17-27). This man was, according to his testimony, a devout religious man who observed the Law with intentionality. Now he was deluded in thinking that he had kept the Law…since no one can keep the Law perfectly…thus, Jesus. V.21 expresses the heart of Jesus toward all people…including the Pharisees who placed trust in the Law and their ability to keep it. Jesus loved this man. He loved the adulteress, the leper, the Samaritan, the tax collector, the loud-mouthed fishermen, and the Pharisee. He challenges the Pharisee at the core…He told him to sacrifice that which he trusted in for provision, his wealth.

NOTE: The issue is not money, but ones trust in money. Solomon was a very wealthy man. Nicodemus was a wealthy man. Wealth is not the issue…but how we use it and the level of dependence we have on it…that is the issue. Jesus’ challenge exposed the shortfall of  the Pharisee. His choice…to forsake real peace by keeping a tight hold on that which brought him imperfect and temporal peace. (BTW: He would not describe it that way. He would say something softer and even more spiritual…but the fact is, he forfeited eternity on the altar fo the temporal.)

We do the same. We forsake financial security by holding tightly to control over our finances. We forsake relational fulfillment by refusing to embrace relationships God’s way. We forsake peace…by refusing to depend on God. We are all…the rich young ruler.

Who can be saved? (v.27). For men who want to control things, salvation is impossible…but for those who will trust in God as a little child trusts (10:13-16)…God will save.

My second observation: 12:2. The Vineyard owner (God) accomplished the construction and planting of the vineyard (the world) and entrusted it to lesees. He did so with one purpose…that they would cultivate and work the vineyard to bring a harvest for the owner that He might take a portion of. They refused. They mistreated and killed the envoys from the Owner. The desired to do it their own way. They chose to make their own destiny. Even when the Son of the Owner came…they killed Him in hopes of keeping the inheritance that was rightfully His. They failed.

God has entrusted the world to us…not for our lordship but for our stewardship. It is still His world. The inheritance belongs to the Owner’s Son…not to us. Even if we try to kill Him (or actually did) the inheritance is still the Son’s. God will hand over to Him the Kingdom. He POSITIONALLY reigns already. He will POSSESSIONALLY reign when all of His enemies are placed under His feet.

Proverbs 21:25-26 is the takeaway today. “The desire of the sluggard put him to death, for his hands refuse to work; all day long he is craving, while the righteous gives and does not hold back.”

Ni90: Mark 7-9, Proverbs 20

A couple of observations from my reading this morning. The first…on tradition. Let me say that tradition is not, in itself, bad. Now in a day of “occupy whatever” and protests, and legislatures not coming to work because they don’t agree with directions of governments away from tradition…my statement doesn’t (always) fall on receptive ears. It is far easier to define what we are against than to lead others to embrace what we’re for. As a church planting minded sort of guy…I can tell you, I have met TONS of planters who explain that they started a church to offer alternatives to what they saw as religious hypocrisy. [What I wish they said...and they often mean...is they want to reach PEOPLE who are unconvinced about the emphasis on tradition...so they want to plant a church that is reformed from the misdirection of the general state fo churches in a region.] It is important to grasp that Jesus was not opposed to tradition itself; rather, He stood firmly against tradition that substituted for godliness God’s way…and tradition that led to self-righteousness, pride, arrogance, and the like. Notice in 7:1-8, He lays out the case and the complaint. They taught tradition as God’s Law (substitution) and they developed self-righteousness as the outcome of keeping the tradition, not the Law. In 7:9-13 he gives an example of how the Pharisees taught that one did not have to care for their parents in their old age…as long as they dedicated to God the resources (corban) they WOULD HAVE used to care for them. They felt justified in breaking the Law by keeping their own rules/traditions.

Again, traditions are not bad. As I told someone once, I had a girl break my heart…but I didn’t swear off girls…I just found one who wouldn’t break my heart. Our traditions remind us of our heritage and serve as a guide to righteousness. After all, should we automatically assume that everyone before us were just “messed up” and we alone have figured out how to truly have a relationship with God? Isn’t that attitude the height of arrogance? As one fella from Texas put it…”You ought not tear down a fence until you know why it was built. There might be a bull in the adjacent pasture.”

Finally in 9:24, I have found a great deal of encouragement. This dude sings my song (or I his). “Lord I believe…help my unbelief.” I couldn’t say it better myself. I trust God but my faith is faulty and sometimes stronger than others. Sometimes…all I have to hold to are those “anchor points” in my journey (baptism, call to ministry, call to my current assignment, call to missions, etc.) Those things have, at times, kept me moving in the right direction when I didn’t have enough faith to think positively about the outcome. I have felt like the disciples when Jesus told them they were going back to Jerusalem. They said, “Let’s go with him so we can die there too.”

WHat I have learned though…is that if I “take the step, the path will appear.” It always…without fail…eventually…becomes clear WHY God has called me to a particular place in the journey. It just takes faith (even imperfect faith) to take the steps to see it.

Proverbs 20:27 is the takeaway today. “The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all the innermost parts of his being.”

Ni90: Mark 4-6, Proverbs 19

Some power-filled chapters today. A couple of observations that struck me.

• 4:26-29 is an explanation of the mysterious nature of the Kingdom. No explanation is given as to HOW the harvest comes about…only that it does and it is a work of God. The man (whose role is explained) is responsible to sow and to reap…but the rest of the process is left to its own. The obvious analogy is to the process of bearing witness/evangelism. Many times “heady” theologians and thinkers will try to define how salvation takes place…while ignoring the responsibility to SOW and REAP. I personally believe…that if we would be busy about our part…God has not changed His view or position…and would bring a crop ready for the harvest.
• 5:30. Jesus is aware of everything going on around Him. We may not see things or understand their significance…but Jesus does. This woman, at the end of her rope, came to Jesus in an act of desperation. Jesus said her FAITH made her well (5:34). There is a connection between our faith and His power. The power is not in our faith, but our faith unleashes the power.
• 5:40. The crowds laughed at Jesus. His statement defied all that they had come to believe and know from experience and reason. They had no faith. They did not trust in what they could not measure or explain. As such…the laughed. They missed the power of the miracle…because they laughed at Jesus. [How often do we laugh at Jesus? He leads us to undertake a project or an initiative and we discount Him by saying it requires too much money or it isn't the right time...or we've done that before. This is laughing at Jesus. The Christian life is a life of faith and not a life of reason. Our faith is REASONABLE when you consider that the One instructing us to act raises the dead, heals the afflicted, demonstrated power over the grave, and promises us POWER. So...is it unreasonable...in light of all of  the evidence He provides...to believe and trust?]
• 6:1-6. Sometimes we can become so familiar with Jesus that we can easily discount Him. Some have heard the stories so much, that the stories have lost their wonder with us. Sometimes, we can even take OFFENSE because Jesus leads us to believe that we are not doing something perfectly. (We think we are perfect and have it all worked out). Our lack of faith CONSTRAINS the power of Jesus to work. Not that we are more powerful than God, but that He will not deny Himself. He does what He does and He chooses to not do great wonders where people are unbelieving.
• 6:31-44. It hit me this AM that the disciples were exhausted and were going away for a sabbatical; however, when they arrived, the crowds were waiting. There was no rest. AND, it was out of their deficit that they ministered so powerfully. Sometimes we think we have nothing left to give…and it is at those times that Jesus gives abundantly and we get a front row seat.

Proverbs 19:15 is the takeaway today. “Laziness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle man will suffer hunger.”

Ni90: Mark 1-3, Prvoerbs 18

First…congrats to those reading with me. It is Day 18 and you have finished 2 Gospels and are about to undertake your third. I am proud of you and want to encourage you to stand firm and finish well.

The Gospel of Mark is written to a primarily Gentile audience. This is important…since when you compare it with Matthew (written to a Jewish audience) you can see that the writers have far different goals, perspectives, and approaches in the details they include.

Mark jumps right in with John the baptizer (Jesus’ cousin) and his attestation of who Jesus is. Most likely…the audience who would have known little and cared little about the genealogy of Jesus, would have been familiar with the stories of the weird preacher from the wilderness who was baptizing people with a baptism of repentance. In my estimation, John would have had a good reputation among the audience and would have given credibility to his preaching and ministry.

That being said…as I read the first 3 chapters today…one word jumped out to me… AUTHORITY. Mark hits it early and often in his “gospeling” of Jesus. John said that Jesus was so lofty in authority, he was not worthy to untie his shoes (1:7). Jesus, like John, preached a message about the Kingdom. Kingdoms have kings with ABSOLUTE authority (1:15). Jesus demonstrated authority over sickness (1:31), demons (1:27), his disciples (1:16-18, 20, 2:14), religious rules (2:27), and Pharisees (3:1-6).

He espoused authority to forgive sin…an authority belonging only to God (2:6-11). He even spoke with authority to judge eternally (3:28-30).

What does Jesus do with this authority? He proclaims the Kingdom…attests to God’s heart by performing signs of the Kingdom…and He entrusts authority to His followers for the same purpose (1:38; 3:13-16).

If He is King…then we must agree that He has absolute authority. We can reject it as the Pharisees did, question it, or embrace it…but the authority is the authority. If we embrace the authority, then there is an entrusting of authority (and power) to preach the Kingdom, demonstrate the Kingdom, act judiciously in the world, minister to others, and proclaim that which is yet to come…the coming Kingdom.

Not only is there authority and power…but an expectation. He did not give us authority and power to sit on it, file it away, or put it on the Mantle to look at on cool winter nights. When we accept it, we must use it…for His glory. After all, all authority comes from Him and is for Him.

Mark spoke of this because every hearer in his day understood clearly what to do when a King spoke. You didn’t run opposition ads or “occupy Rome” rallies against Caesar. You obeyed.  Beloved…BEHOLD YOUR KING!

Proverbs 18:9 is the takeaway today. [Please read it slowly and carefully, considering each word.] “He also who is slack in his work, is brother to him who destroys.”

Take Two: Mark 16, Proverbs 12

So here it is…really fast. They went to the tomb expecting it to be closed, but it was open (vv1-4). They thought they would find a dead Jesus, but instead found a live messenger/angel (vv.5-8). They went to the disciples to share the good news but were dismissed by unbelief (vv.9-13). Jesus met them at their point of need and they believed. He then commissioned them and they went (vv.14-20).

So here is the point…It was not until Jesus met the disciples personally that they actually believed it…but once they did…it was GAME ON for them. They told everyone!

APPLIED: Sometimes we marvel that people we witness to don’t “get it.” We think…”How could you not believe? What are you stupid?” The disciples had been with Him and had heard that He would raise up on the third day…but they still did not believe on the third day.

We would do well to be patient with others…recognizing the things that blind us from seeing what is right in front of our face. The disciples knew but were blinded by grief. The women expected, not an empty tomb but a dead body…they were blinded by reality. The men on the road to Emmaeus (v.12) walked with Jesus and had a leading in their heart…but were blind to His presence.

We all experience some periods of blindness. Still, we would do well to accept Jesus at His Word. Imagine what would happen if we simply “faithed it” like that!

Proverbs 12:17 is the takeaway today. “He who [breathes] truth tells what is right, but a false witness, deceit.”

Tomorrow, let’s jump into the OT Book of Ezra! It should be fun. (BTW: If you have been with me from the beginning, you are three books away from reading the Bible through and many parts twice! Great job!)

Take Two: Mark 15, Proverbs 11

In Mark 15, we find the trial and crucifixion of Jesus from Mark’s account. Certainly some of the details differ but that is to be expected based on context, audience, and the personality of the writer.

Jesus’ claim to be king of the Jews (v.2) was no threat to Pilate. Pilate was a politician and sought only to keep peace in the city. Other writer’s actually articulate the threats of the priests against Pilate stating that if he did not crucify Jesus, they would make trouble for him with Caesar.

In the end, Pilate sought to preserve his own future and delivered Jesus to be crucified at the behest of the Jewish religious leaders.

What stood out to me today (beyond the fact that Jesus willingly embraced the cross to accomplish the will of God to the glory of God and to the benefit of all of us) was the differing perspectives of the religious leaders and the Centurion. Let me elaborate.

The religious leaders had far more knowledge about God, the plan of God, the identity of the Messiah and life of Jesus than did any of the Roman guards…but they refused to believe in Jesus at all (vv.29-32). With all of the knowledge available…they exercised no faith.

OBSERVATION: This is not much different than many religious people I know today. They know all of the facts about Jesus. They have sat in church and Sunday School for decades. They serve on committees or as pastors or deacons…but they exercise no faith. They trust Jesus as far as they can see…and no further. One of the most telling facts supporting this…94% of baptists have never led anyone to faith in Christ…ever. Most have never even “witnessed” to others about the hope in Christ. The scope of their evangelism is an occasional invite to church…which is FAR DIFFERENT than evangelism (though it may be part of the process). I am not certain how any “faith” position can exist while ignoring the prophetic words of Acts 1:8, or the commands of Matthew 28:18-20.

Most professing Christians do not “tithe.” (that is, give a first fruits offering to God of 10% of all of their income). [This includes retirement, pensions, and any other income lives off of.] How is this faith.

POINT: You can be so close to religion and miss the relationship with Jesus…resulting in eternal demise.

The Centurion, on the other hand, had little knowledge of Jesus. He simply evaluated Jesus based on what he saw in Christ, the supernatural occurrences accompanying His death, and the witness of those he had contacted. He had no OT prophesies or thousands of years of oral culture…yet at the death of Jesus…he declared a faith statement, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” (v.39).

POINT: Faith has little to do with knowledge and everything to do with application of what we do know and responding with what we believe.

CONSIDERATION: What do you believe about Jesus…about your mission…about your life in Christ? Look at what you do…and the answer to the question about what you believe will be abundantly clear. If you do not share Jesus with others, then you do not believe the Great Commission (MT 28:18-20) is a command for you. If you do not tithe…then you do not believe God provides for you and as God, is right in demanding your response of faith. If you do not repent early, often, and always, then you do not see your sin the way God sees it. [Or as one old philosopher from Arkansas once said, "What you do speak so loudly, that what you say I cannot hear."]

PS. By the way…this is why we adopted the phrase “LOVE LOUD” for our outreach projects. We must love with ACTION…or it is not really a message that can be heard and understood.

Proverbs 11:22 is the takeaway today. “As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.”

Take Two: Mark 14, Proverbs 10

This is one of the most wrenching chapters of Scripture ever. It opens with the anointing of Mary at Bethany…when she took her life’s savings of anointing oil…that which she had saved all of her working life for her own funeral, and poured it out on Jesus. The disciples were “indignant” at the apparent “waste” of such resources when more pressing matters seemed to be around them…but Jesus affirmed her worship and declared that her story would be told wherever the gospel was preached and her memory honored for her sacrifice.

POINT: How we respond to God is not always “logical” by the standards we use as people. It is not logical to “tithe” our income in a depressed economy…but it is worship and it is required. It is how we respond in faith to God. It is not logical for a church to  reach out to the nations with the gospel when there are needs all around…but it is worship and it is God’s command. It is not logical to take stands for Jesus that place us at odds with the community around us…but it is worship and it is our purpose in God’s economy. When you respond to the Lord…do you do so in worship or according to your own logic?

Vv. 12ff speaks of the last passover and the disciples response. As I read it, I was struck at the graciousness of the Lord. He ate with the betrayer (Judas) and all those who would forsake Him (the rest of the disciples). Everyone at the table would leave Him alone. Those closest (Peter, James, and John) would not even stand watch for Him in prayer. As Jesus said, their spirit was willing, but their flesh was weak (v.38). And this…after swearing that they would die for and with Jesus rather than forsaking Him (vv.29-31).

Jesus was “right” consequently…and yet, He ate the meal with them. He woke them to pray twice. He listened to their boasts and He did not forsake them.

Often times…we “want” to “do” for God and “be” for God…but our flesh…our frame is too weak. We are not victims mind you…we are just broken, fallen, sinful human beings. Our faith is faulty, frail, and fickle. Jesus, however, is firm, resolved, gracious, and loving toward us. He loved the disciples. He knew their sin…their weakness…their evil hearts…and loved them.

So what is the response when we recognize our weakness and His strength? V.72…remorse leading to repentance. This “weeping” Peter is also the powerful proclaimer and the bold witness of Acts.

Thank God for His grace and forgiveness. He is…and as such, we are too….

Proverbs 10:19 is the takeaway today. “Where there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.”

Take Two: Mark 13, Proverbs 9

CH 13 deals with the question of what is “to come” in the days ahead? Jesus stated that the temple would be destroyed (v.2), but that the abomination of desolation would be standing where it shouldn’t (a reference to the Daniel prophesy…to be fulfilled by the antichrist) (v.14); meaning…that the temple will be destroyed and rebuilt. There are also clues in many natural disasters (vv. 7-8) as well as many nations in conflict (political unrest).

There will also be a great persecution to rise against the believers and this is not happenstance, but is PURPOSEFUL that Christians may bear witness before the nations (vv.9-13).

[Note: this is pretty difficult to swallow if you are part of the "happy clappy," "God loves me and wants me to be happy and comfortable" crowd. No such promises exist in the Scriptures. Jesus said, they persecuted Me...how much more can you expect as my followers? GREAT QUESTION!]

This time of tribulation/pressure/persecution and suffering is actually purposeful. It is intended to turn the “elect” to God. The “elect” are different than the disciples that Jesus speaks to [NOTE: Notice the distinction in the language between "you" and "the elect" in vv.9-27.] The elect refers to God’s chosen people…the Jews. See, God made several promises to the Jews that have yet to be fulfilled literally (land/blessing/restoration). There is still a hope to be fulfilled in and through Israel.

So, what is the point of this section of teaching that Jesus gave, the Holy Spirit inspired and preserved…and we just read?

The point/application is found in vv.28-37. We are to be on the alert…be vigilant…to anticipate Christ’s return at any moment. We are to expect His restoration of the kingdom in an instant…maybe today.

Do we anticipate/expect Jesus to return and take us to Himself at any moment? Here are some good indicators:

• Do you keep holy (continual confession and repentance)?
• Do you prepare more for the Kingdom or for retirement? (If you spend more time amassing wealth so you can move to the “Villages” one day…than helping others prepare for the inevitable and imminent return of Christ, you are more prepared for retirement than the Kingdom.
• Do you long more for Jesus’ return than you do comfort in this present age? Often times…our prayer lives are more focused on our current circumstances and struggles than on the “meta-narrative” of Christ’s coming Kingdom.
• What will you be doing when He returns? Will you be on vacation, working overtime, or living LARGE for Jesus?

The point of these questions is not to detract from saving for years when we cannot work any more, or an indictment against “coming away” for a vacation periodically. It is to remind us that the King is returning and we are told to be on the alert! If we ask the question, “are we on the alert?”…how will we answer?

Proverbs 9:12 is the takeaway today. “If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, and if you scoff, you alone bear it.”