Mark: A Walk With The Savior Archives - Page 7 of 8

Mark: A Walk With Our Savior (Day 40)

Posted on Jan 4, 2018 in Mark: A Walk With The Savior |

Read Mark 10:1-12

JESUS TEACHES ABOUT MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE

The Pharisees were trying to trap Jesus with their question. If He supported divorce, He would be upholding the Pharisees’ procedures, and they doubted that He would do that. If Jesus spoke against divorce, however, some members of the crowd would dislike His position; some may have even used the law to their advantage to divorce their wives. More important, He might incur the wrath of Herod, who had already killed John the Baptist for speaking out against divorce and adultery. This is what the Pharisees wanted.

The Pharisees saw divorce as a legal issue rather than a spiritual one. Jesus used this test as an opportunity to review God’s intended purpose for marriage and to expose the Pharisees’ selfish motives. They were not thinking about what God intended for marriage but had settled for marriages of convenience. In addition, they were quoting Moses unfairly and out of context. Jesus showed these legal experts how superficial their knowledge really was.

God allowed divorce as a concession to people’s sinfulness. Divorce was not approved, but it was instituted to protect the injured party in a bad situation. Unfortunately, the Pharisees used Deuteronomy 24:1 as a proof text for divorce. Jesus explained that this was not God’s intent; instead, God wants married people to consider their marriage permanent. Don’t enter marriage with the option of getting out. Your marriage is more likely to be happy if from the outset you are committed to permanence. Don’t be hard-hearted like these Pharisees, but be hardheaded in your determination, with God’s help, to stay together.

Women were often treated as property. Marriage and divorce were regarded as transactions similar to buying and selling land. But Jesus condemned this attitude, clarifying God’s original intention: that marriage bring oneness (Genesis 2). Jesus held up God’s ideal for marriage and told His followers to live by that ideal.

Mark: A Walk With Our Savior (Day 39)

Posted on Jan 3, 2018 in Mark: A Walk With The Savior |

Read Mark 9:42-50

JESUS WARNS AGAINST TEMPTATION

This caution against harming little ones in the faith applies both to what we do individually as teachers and examples and to what we allow to fester in our Christian fellowship. Our thoughts and actions must be motivated by love (1 Corinthians 13), and we must be careful about judging others (Matthew 7; Romans 14). However, we also have a responsibility to confront flagrant sin within the church (1 Corinthians 5).
Luke 9:48 states, “Whosoever is the least among you is the greatest.” In Jesus’ eyes, whoever welcomes a child welcomes

Jesus; giving a cup of cold water to a person in need is the same as giving an offering to God. By contrast, harming others or failing to care for them is a sin, even if they are unimportant people in the world’s eyes. It is possible for thoughtless, selfish people to gain a measure of worldly greatness, but lasting greatness is measured by God’s standards. What do you use as your measure: personal achievement or unselfish service?

Jesus used startling language to stress the importance of cutting sin out of our life. Painful self-discipline is required of His true followers. Giving up a relationship, job, or habit that is against God’s will may seem just as painful as cutting off a hand. Our high goal, however, is worth any sacrifice; Christ is worth any possible loss. Nothing should stand in the way of faith. We must be ruthless in removing sin from our life now in order to avoid suffering for eternity. Make your choices from an eternal perspective. With these strange words, Jesus pictured the serious and eternal consequences of sin. To the Jews, worms and fire represented both internal and external pain. Nothing could be worse.

Jesus used salt to illustrate three qualities that should be found in His people: 1) We should remember God’s faithfulness, just as salt when used with a sacrifice recalled God’s covenant with His people (Leviticus 2). 2) We should make a difference in the flavor of the world we live in, just as salt changes meat’s flavor (Matthew 5). 3) We should counteract the moral decay in society, just as salt preserves food from decay. When we lose this desire to salt the earth with the love and message of God, we become useless to Him.

Mark: A Walk With Our Savior (Day 38)

Posted on Jan 2, 2018 in Mark: A Walk With The Savior |

Read Mark 9:38-41

USING THE NAME OF JESUS

The disciples were jealous of a man who healed in Jesus’ name because they were more concerned about their own group’s position than in helping to free those troubled by demons. We do the same today when we refuse to associate with Christians from other denominations because 1) other people or groups are not affiliated with our denomination, 2) their projects do not involve the kind of people with whom we feel most comfortable, 3) others don’t do things the way we are used to doing things, or 4) our efforts won’t receive enough recognition. Correct theology is important but should never be an excuse to avoid helping people in need.

Jesus was not saying that being indifferent or neutral toward Him is as good as being committed. As He explained in Matthew 12:30, “Anyone who isn’t helping me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.” In both cases, Jesus was pointing out that neutrality toward Him is not possible. Nevertheless His followers will not all resemble each other or belong to the same groups. People who are on Jesus’ side have the same goal of building up the Kingdom of God, and they should not let their differences interfere with this goal. Those who share a common faith in Christ should cooperate. People don’t have to be just like us to be following Jesus with us.

Mark: A Walk With Our Savior (Day 37)

Posted on Jan 1, 2018 in Mark: A Walk With The Savior |

Read Mark 9:33-37

THE DISCIPLES ARGUE ABOUT WHO WOULD BE THE GREATEST

The disciples, caught up in their constant struggle for personal success, were embarrassed to answer Jesus’ question. It is always painful to compare our motives with Christ’s. it is not wrong for believers to be industrious or ambitious. But when ambition pushes obedience and service to one side, it becomes sin. Pride or insecurity can cause us to overvalue position and prestige. In God’s kingdom, such motives are destructive. The only safe ambition is directed toward Christ’s kingdom, not our own advancement.

Jesus taught the disciples to welcome little children. This was a new approach in a society where children were usually treated as second-class citizens. It is important not only to treat children well but also to teach them about Jesus. Children’s ministries should never be regarded as less important than those for adults.

Mark: A Walk With Our Savior (Day 36)

Posted on Dec 31, 2017 in Mark: A Walk With The Savior |

Read Mark 9:30-32

JESUS PREDICTS HIS DEATH A SECOND TIME

At times, Jesus limited His public ministry in order to train His disciples in depth. He knew the importance of equipping them to carry on when He returned to heaven. It takes time to learn. Spiritual growth isn’t instant, regardless of the quality of experience or teaching. If even the disciples needed to lay aside their work periodically in order to learn from the Master, how much more do we need to alternate working and learning.

Why were the disciples afraid to ask Jesus about His prediction of His death? Perhaps it was because the last time they reacted to Jesus’ sobering words they were scolded. In their minds, Jesus seemed morbidly preoccupied with death. Actually it was the disciples who were wrongly preoccupied: constantly thinking about the Kingdom they hoped Jesus would bring and their positions in it. If Jesus died, the Kingdom as they imagined it could not come. Consequently they preferred not to ask Him about His predictions.