Beginnings

I've been thinking about the beginning of each of the gospels, and how each different beginning to each account sets the tone for things to come. I think that my favorite gospel beginning is that of Luke's. Luke gives us background information that is very interesting, and quite interesting. Dr. Foster is going over Luke in church on Wednesdays and that is what really got me thinking about the differences in the beginnings of the gospels. I had yet to read Luke this semester, so reading that first chapter was new to me, because I actually don't remember ever reading it. I think of how I used to think all the gospels were the same identical thing, word for word. Obviously, that was before I read the gospels. To hear four "different" accounts of the gospel that interweave together so beautifully is an amazing thing.

The Three Parables of Luke 15

I think something that is interesting in the three parables of Luke 15 is the use of ratios. In the parable of the lost sheep, you have 100, and one is lost. It seems as if it doesn't really matter because it's just 1/100, yet of course, Jesus cares about that 1 as much as the 99, and He would even leave the 99 in the pasture to go find the 1. In the next parable, the parable of the lost coin, you have a 1/10 situation. 10 coins, one is lost. And as in the first parable, rejoicing takes place when this 1 is found. And in the prodigal son, it gets more personal. It's not 1/100 or 1/10, it's 1/2. "A man had two sons." Again, when the one is found, rejoicing takes place. So with each parable, it seems to hit closer to him and each becomes more personal. Very interesting to me.

Wicked Hands

Wicked hands seized Jesus. Wicked hands beat Him. Wicked hands tore out His beard. Wicked hands nailed Him to the cross. Wicked hands pierced His side. All of this happened to our Savior. The Father was watching and allowing the whole thing. He went through that for me, a sinner. If I was the only person He had to endure all that for, He still would have done it. What kind of love is that? After all this suffering, wicked hands would touch Him no more. The wicked hands did what they could do, being limited the whole time. Not a bone in His body was broken....what an amazing thing! Wicked hands did a lot to Jesus, but they were limited. Now wicked hands can touch Him no more, but only the loving hands of the Father. I can't wait until the time when wicked hands will touch us no more....

Transfiguration

The Transfiguration passage has always intrigued me. I have always wondered why this happened. Why did Moses and Elijah show up? Why did Peter, James, and John get to go with Jesus? I won't take the time to post them all, but Garland gives a chart comparing Jesus with Moses (342). Garland also talks about Elijah. I think it's interesting, and I like what Garland says about the Transfiguration: "It serves to confirm that the suffering Jesus will endure is not incompatible with His glory."
Mark mentions that Peter wants to build three shelters. Verse 6 though, says he did not know what to say because he was afraid. So did he really want to build three shelters? Or did he, in fear, just say something that might sound good to Jesus? I wonder what I would have done if I were one of the disciples that day....and that's something I still wonder, because I don't know what I would have done.

What would I have done?

It's easy for me to look at the Pharisees and say, "How could they have been so blind? Why do they treat Jesus the way they do? What is wrong with them?" They were looking for the Messiah. Jesus did not fit the mold in their eyes. Jesus was not what they were expecting. Things didn't go down quite the way they wanted. I put myself in their shoes. If Jesus didn't meet my expectations of what the Messiah should be, how would I have been? How would I have treated Jesus? I hate to say it, but I can see myself being just as they were. Sometimes, even know, God does things that I don't expect. He even does things I don't necessarily like. It's these times I realize that His ways are above mine. I can't put Jesus in a box and limit Him. I just need to trust that all things work together for the good of those who love Him, and leave it at that, even if I don't understand...and even when He doesn't meet my expectations.

Class Project

I really enjoyed last Friday's class project. Although it lasted quite a while, time flew by, and I even thought we could have used some more time to finish editing. (Oh well). There are several things that I learned about myself during those hours. Like Dr. Foster said, I learned that I knew more about the Bible than I thought I did, but I also learned how much I do NOT know about the Bible. An interesting observation that was made by our group was how much we knew about what "others" said, but not the words of Jesus. So I realized that I need to take heed of the words of my Savior.
Would I do this project again? Yes! I absolutely loved it overall. I really enjoyed our smaller group work. I enjoyed hearing other's thoughts on certain passages and gaining a little extra insight on certain topics. I did have a lot of fun in the small group, but there were also times where we were serious and had pretty good discussions. The large group setting was a little different. To be honest, sometimes maybe it was kind of frustrating and annoying. Just kidding. But seriously. It was just a little frustrating making decisions, which I guess is something people (I) will have to live with, because it happens...and that's fine. Anyway, like I said, overall, I absolutely loved this project and I would do it again in a heartbeat!

Quality over Quantity...

In Mark 12:41-44, Mark tells of when Jesus was observing how the people were putting money in the treasury. It says that many rich people were putting in large sums. Then the poor widow gives all that she has, although it's much less than what the others were giving. The point is she is the only one who made a sacrifice. What the rich people were giving was much more than what she was giving, yet she was giving all she could give. The rich people were not making a sacrifice. Like faith, what matters here is the quality of the gift, not the quantity. The widow put in all that she owned. I know that for me, personally, I need to give to Jesus sacrificially, not just what is convenient for me. Not just financially speaking, but everything...my talents He has given me, my time. To whom much is given, much is required. If the giving isn't sacrificial, it's worthless to Him.

The Rich Young Ruler

The rich young ruler in Mark 10:17-22, wanted to know how to inherit eternal life. He certainly asked the right man. The commands that Jesus mentioned in vs 19, had been kept from the rich young ruler's youth. In vs. 21, it gets tougher for the rich young ruler. Jesus told him to sell whatever he had and give to the poor...and "Come, take up the cross, and follow me." The rich young ruler, a few moments ago so eager, was now heartbroken, and went away grieved. He had to choose between self and self-denial, and he chose self. Had he been poor, I wonder if he would have made the same decision. I don't think he would have. He had so many possessions, he couldn't give them all up to follow Jesus. There seems to be a lot of people in the church that have an easy Christianity. It's casual, comfortable, and there are no hardships in Christianity. Many people are "getting saved" thinking they can continue their old lifestyle. Charles Poole says this: "If we 'get people saved' with the sweet-Jesus gospel that dangles before them the carrot of comfort and success, when do we pull back the carrot to reveal the cross?" Good question. However, compared to the burdens of sin and self....Jesus' yoke is easy and His burden is light.

Faith. . .

Many miracles were performed by Jesus, and it's not because the person in need was good, or deserved it. He did it based on their faith. Obviously, faith is a key aspect in our relationship with Christ. Without faith, it is impossible to please Him. With that being said, salvation is something that is simple. . .yet complex. It's "easy" to obtain, because we don't earn it. We don't have a relationship with Christ because of how good we are, it's because of faith. It's easy to get angry when God doesn't seem to be working in our lives the way we want. We want signs, we want certainty, we want to see...but He asks us to be faithful. Hebrews 11:1 says "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." In the Bible days, before then, and even now, our Father simply asks us to have faith.

God Bless AMiracle!

To be a part of a miracle is without a doubt, a fantastic, marvelous blessing. That God was choose me to have any part of a miracle blows my mind. In Mark 6, in the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus said to His disciples in verse 37, "You give them something to eat ." At this point, they question their ability to do so. I believe that in the command, lies the ability. I think that if they would have trusted God in spite of their "lack" of food, they could have been a greater part of the miracle than what they were. This can be looked at in one or two ways. They could have carried out the command if they would have just trusted God, and been a greater part of the miracle, OR it is to show that Jesus wanted them to see their weakness or inability. I believe the first to be true. Why would Jesus command something to anyone that wasn't possible? So if I will be obedient to my Lord, perhaps I will be a great part of many miracles. And that's the same for all His children.

Clothed with camel hair!!

This post was recognized as a poet of the weAk for honoring M. Henry and DC Talk as great academicians. Repent and sin no more. -rlf 1/24/2007

While reading Mark, the fact that John the Baptist was clothed with camel's hair and ate locusts and wild honey stood out to me. What would we think? "Oh there's the preacher man...just eating locusts and wearing camel hair..." Why did he do these things? Perhaps those were his only options, but I believe that self-denial could have been a reason. Matthew Henry says it was for mortification of the flesh and a holy contempt of the world, and non-conformity to it. "The more we sit loose to the body, and live above the world, the better we are prepared for Jesus Christ," says Henry. I think the main idea is self-denial. We live in a world where self-denial equals insanity. But as Christians, we are to deny ourselves daily. Well, in the words of DC Talk, "What will people say when they find out I'm a Jesus freak?" Well....what will they say?

checking my motives

Matthew 6:1, in the NASB reads "Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in Heaven." This verse stood out to me and it made me think. I had to check my motives on certain things. I guess it is kind of hard for me to do all things for the right reason. And honestly, it's hard for me not to want praise from people after doing something, for example, singing. It is important to do things for Him, I know, but I think that my motive is just as important. For if my motive is to exalt self, then it's not for Him anyway...bye.