The crowds come on back. What draws them all? What was it about Jesus that pulls the crowds so consistently? Obviously He was still casting out demons and this brought on the next confrontation.
Whatever He was doing, He was so busy He can't eat properly. His worried family want to "lay hold of HIm", to teach Him some sense.
And not just His family, the scribes from headquarters said He is possessed by Satan.
How often have I called the work of God "madness" or "of the devil"? A typical reaction to things that are outside my cultural comfort zone.
I love Jesus' response to these cringing, self-serving accusations...He tells stories.
Can Satan cast out Satan? A house divided against itself... Infighting and division make it impossible for any group to stand against external threats. Even Satan's fractious kingdom couldn't stand such a division for long. Especially with so many people leaving his service.
Would a drug dealer run a rehab centre, or a pub run AA meetings?
But the parable explains exactly why Jesus is doing this. This is not madness but a well thought out strategy of conquest and pillage. Jesus tells about a robbery, not a quiet burglary, but a hold-up, a home invasion, an armed robbery.
His story is about a rich and powerful man, the head of the gang, the mastermind, Mr Big, And one night the tables are turned, he now becomes the victim of violent crime. He is subdued, tied up and his house plundered.
I can see him hog-tied in the corner watching helplessly as his most treasured possessions are stripped from his home. I can hear him shouting pathetic insults and impotent threats, but he is being robbed. He knows what it feels like now!
Jesus is plundering Satan's kingdom. He is the divine Viking, the SAS troops of an invading, colinising army, Francisco Pizarro. He is here for a purpose; to release as many of Satan's hostages as He can.
To do this He must overpower the "strong man", Satan. It is obvious now that the great power we live in fear of, has been beaten and bound. Great news! There is a Saviour, someone more powerful than our greatest enemy, someone able to rescue us.
Now it is my choice, I can rejoice in the rescues or I can be the mouthpiece of Satan, carping about the methods used and the sanity of the people carrying on Christ's conquest today.
Showing posts with label authority. Show all posts
Showing posts with label authority. Show all posts
Friday, 24 August 2007
Friday, 10 August 2007
Mark 3:7-12 Don't Preach!
The Pharisees have begun their plotting against Him, so Jesus withdraws to the sea. But it wasn't a quiet withdrawal because a "great multitude" is mentioned in both verses 7 and 8. People come from all the surrounding areas. His popularity is increasing.
But why do they come? Because of the "many things He was doing". They come not to hear the preaching or even the teaching but to see miracles!
How often do I want God to "do something" when He offers far greater?
Jesus fears the crowds would crush Him. I get the feeling that He is uncomfortable with this popularity. Sure He meets their needs for healing and getting rid of the unclean spirits, but He sternly warns the spirits "not to make Him known". He has enough popularity and pressure.
Once again the unclean spirits know who he is and bow down to Him. They have fought against Him in heaven because they wouldn't worship Him. Now they bow and admit He is indeed God.
But Christ has no need of spirit preachers and commands them to stop.
I have to have more than just a knowledge of Jesus before I can "make Him known". And Mark in the next section tells what this qualification is.
But why do they come? Because of the "many things He was doing". They come not to hear the preaching or even the teaching but to see miracles!
How often do I want God to "do something" when He offers far greater?
Jesus fears the crowds would crush Him. I get the feeling that He is uncomfortable with this popularity. Sure He meets their needs for healing and getting rid of the unclean spirits, but He sternly warns the spirits "not to make Him known". He has enough popularity and pressure.
Once again the unclean spirits know who he is and bow down to Him. They have fought against Him in heaven because they wouldn't worship Him. Now they bow and admit He is indeed God.
But Christ has no need of spirit preachers and commands them to stop.
I have to have more than just a knowledge of Jesus before I can "make Him known". And Mark in the next section tells what this qualification is.
Sunday, 22 July 2007
Mark 3:23-27 Lord of the Sabbath
The 'new wine' needs totally 'new wineskins'! Jesus shows us just what these new ways of operating really are. In this section, ending at Mark 3:6, we deal with the Sabbath and how it works in the new kingdom?
The disciples are accused of breaking the Sabbath law, probably the part where the commandment says ...you shall do no work, because they plucked some grain to eat on the Sabbath.
Jesus reminds the accusers of a story of King David when he ate the showbread in the temple because he was "in need and hungry". This was only to be done by priests!
The implication is that the disciples were hungry and so it was alright for them to be picking grain, even though it seemed contrary to the law because it was to satisfy a real need. In any case it is a pretty fine point of law.
But, as usual, he presses the point home by adding that the Sabbath was made for man not the other way around. So the first principle of 'new wine' Sabbath keeping is that it is good for us. The Sabbath was made, in Eden, to enhance humanity's existence. It is a gift from the Creator to all humans.
God wants us to keep the Sabbath, not as a method of impressing God, but for enhancing our relationship with Him. Jesus explains it by by saying in effect "because the Sabbath is a gift to man, then the 'Son of Man' , through His humanity, can use it for His own good (including satisfying the disciples' hunger).
He, of course is not just a man, He is the Creator as well! He is "Lord of the Sabbath" because He made it! He gladly rules over the Sabbath and ensures that it is a blessing.
So, as He did with fasting, Jesus takes a facet of spirituality and makes it new, not by changing the action, but by changing the motivation behind the action. We are to fast to clear our mind and to clear our time for relating to God. In the same vein, we are to keep Sabbath in order to know its LORD
Once again, Jesus shows that He has authority. He is the Creator and is Lord of His creation, the true 'Time Lord'. He defines the purposes of week, and blesses those who seek for Him.
So far Jesus has shown He has authority in :
He really is LORD!
The disciples are accused of breaking the Sabbath law, probably the part where the commandment says ...you shall do no work, because they plucked some grain to eat on the Sabbath.
Jesus reminds the accusers of a story of King David when he ate the showbread in the temple because he was "in need and hungry". This was only to be done by priests!
The implication is that the disciples were hungry and so it was alright for them to be picking grain, even though it seemed contrary to the law because it was to satisfy a real need. In any case it is a pretty fine point of law.
But, as usual, he presses the point home by adding that the Sabbath was made for man not the other way around. So the first principle of 'new wine' Sabbath keeping is that it is good for us. The Sabbath was made, in Eden, to enhance humanity's existence. It is a gift from the Creator to all humans.
God wants us to keep the Sabbath, not as a method of impressing God, but for enhancing our relationship with Him. Jesus explains it by by saying in effect "because the Sabbath is a gift to man, then the 'Son of Man' , through His humanity, can use it for His own good (including satisfying the disciples' hunger).
He, of course is not just a man, He is the Creator as well! He is "Lord of the Sabbath" because He made it! He gladly rules over the Sabbath and ensures that it is a blessing.
So, as He did with fasting, Jesus takes a facet of spirituality and makes it new, not by changing the action, but by changing the motivation behind the action. We are to fast to clear our mind and to clear our time for relating to God. In the same vein, we are to keep Sabbath in order to know its LORD
Once again, Jesus shows that He has authority. He is the Creator and is Lord of His creation, the true 'Time Lord'. He defines the purposes of week, and blesses those who seek for Him.
So far Jesus has shown He has authority in :
- Teaching Scripture
- Casting out Demons
- Healing diseases
- Cleansing lepers
- Forgiving sin
- Calling sinners
- Fasting
- the Sabbath
He really is LORD!
Friday, 13 July 2007
Mark 2:13-17 Follow Me
This Jesus, who by forgiving sin does greater miracles than He does by healing paralysis, now shows what forgiveness is in practice. He demonstrates that enemies (sin and sickness) are not to be feared "for the LORD your God, the great and awesome God, is among you
Deuteronomy 7:21
Jesus concentrates on teaching, then He calls Levi (Matthew) to discipleship. His teaching demands a radical change such as Levi's was. As Levi was the worst of sinners, a dreaded tax collector.
But even converted tax collectors have friends! So Matthew hosts a dinner to introduce Jesus to his friends, tax collectors and sinners! I wonder what sort of person you have to be to earn the sobriquet of 'sinner'?
It was no little gathering because it uses the word 'many' is use twice in verse 15 but the most interesting thing is that "they followed Him". Jesus is attractive to sinners! No need to be afraid.
But the self-righteous ones disliked this fraternisation and complained to Jesus' disciples. They weren't up to challenging Christ Himself, or maybe they were just creating doubt. But actually it creates the opposite because I once heard a liberal theologian saying that you can only believe those parts of the gospels that were against the social norms of the time. So, even by this sorry logic, Jesus willingly associates with sinners! Good news indeed!
In any case it got back to Jesus who comes up with a great line on many levels. True the well don't need a doctor, only the sick. So Jesus came to call, not the righteous but sinners!
That is against the social norms of our degenerate day, let alone His! I want "a better class of people", 'nice people', 'good Christians" at my church and dinner table. But Jesus was, and is. on a mission, one that actively calls, even the rejects of society, to become disciples.
The truly 'righteous' don't need to be called because they are already with Christ.
And the 'self-righteous' scribes and Pharisees are not being called as they are far too busy building up their 'self worth' by calling others 'sinners'. They don't feel any need of forgiveness. And theyobviously don't believe even miracles of healing can show that Jesus can forgive. "You have to work hard to be forgiven", they say.
Jesus is clear on his mission. He has come to call sinners and forgive them. He is looking for sinners, he wants to be with them, even eat and drink with them. And they responded.
He still says "Follow Me"... Who wouldn't?
Deuteronomy 7:21
Jesus concentrates on teaching, then He calls Levi (Matthew) to discipleship. His teaching demands a radical change such as Levi's was. As Levi was the worst of sinners, a dreaded tax collector.
But even converted tax collectors have friends! So Matthew hosts a dinner to introduce Jesus to his friends, tax collectors and sinners! I wonder what sort of person you have to be to earn the sobriquet of 'sinner'?
It was no little gathering because it uses the word 'many' is use twice in verse 15 but the most interesting thing is that "they followed Him". Jesus is attractive to sinners! No need to be afraid.
But the self-righteous ones disliked this fraternisation and complained to Jesus' disciples. They weren't up to challenging Christ Himself, or maybe they were just creating doubt. But actually it creates the opposite because I once heard a liberal theologian saying that you can only believe those parts of the gospels that were against the social norms of the time. So, even by this sorry logic, Jesus willingly associates with sinners! Good news indeed!
In any case it got back to Jesus who comes up with a great line on many levels. True the well don't need a doctor, only the sick. So Jesus came to call, not the righteous but sinners!
That is against the social norms of our degenerate day, let alone His! I want "a better class of people", 'nice people', 'good Christians" at my church and dinner table. But Jesus was, and is. on a mission, one that actively calls, even the rejects of society, to become disciples.
The truly 'righteous' don't need to be called because they are already with Christ.
And the 'self-righteous' scribes and Pharisees are not being called as they are far too busy building up their 'self worth' by calling others 'sinners'. They don't feel any need of forgiveness. And theyobviously don't believe even miracles of healing can show that Jesus can forgive. "You have to work hard to be forgiven", they say.
Jesus is clear on his mission. He has come to call sinners and forgive them. He is looking for sinners, he wants to be with them, even eat and drink with them. And they responded.
He still says "Follow Me"... Who wouldn't?
Tuesday, 10 July 2007
Mark 2:1-12 That you may know
I love this story. It cuts to the core of what Jesus was all about.
Jesus, after some time, returns to Capernaum to Simon and Andrew's house and 'immediately' He is crowded out
So "He preached the word to them." Jesus is right on task but He about to be interrupted.
Interuptions really rile me up. I resented having to spend so many of my days off cleaning up after last month's storm, despite the good feeling from having thrown out so much junk, cleaning under the house and getting the garden looking good.
But not so Jesus! He looks at the motives, not of the paralytic but of his friends. He saw "their faith". Is this what intercessory prayer is about?
So he forgives the man's sins.
What gives here? Isn't healing the big thing, isn't this the reason the paralytic was brought? Sure he is forgiven but he's still helplessly paralysed.
Is this how God answers prayer? He gives what is needed, not what is asked for. What is more important from God's perspective, health or holiness?
The scribes are there, "reasoning in their hearts". And doing a good job of it. Their reasoning goes like this:
All perfectly logical and true. They are good thinkers. But also human. They, as locals, probably knew this paralytic and knew what sins he had committed. Maybe they had even told him that his paralysis was a result of his sinfulness. And now they accuse Jesus of sin as well. How often have I been ready to think the worst?
But Jesus knows their thoughts. This is amazing! Can He read minds or is He just a shrewd observer of humanity. In any case He answers the implications of their logic with a great question, the answer of which determines my salvation.
"Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ' Your sins are forgiven you" or to say 'Arise, take up your bed and walk'?"
A "no-brainer": it's easy to SAY either, but it's impossible for a human to actually DO either - only God could heal a paralytic (even modern science has to wait for nature to take its time to heal paralysis - there is no immediate cure, even today).
The easiest to SEE however, is the healing. Forgiveness is invisible. So Jesus answers the scribes' unspoken question by using the visible to prove the invisible and also to prove His own divinity.
"That you may know" - I can be sure.
"that the Son of Man" - what Jesus consistently, and humbly, calls Himself
"has power on earth" - He already has authority in heaven, now He claims it here
"to forgive sins" - proof that He is God, and can meet my true needs
"Arise" and "Immediately he arose..."
This is the part I like.: Jesus has the power to do impossible healing so He can do the bigger impossible - forgive. At least one of the reasons that Jesus heals is so I can believe that He forgives, that He can indeed save, even in this world. My salvation is secure!
Glorify God saying "We never saw the like!
Jesus, after some time, returns to Capernaum to Simon and Andrew's house and 'immediately' He is crowded out
So "He preached the word to them." Jesus is right on task but He about to be interrupted.
Interuptions really rile me up. I resented having to spend so many of my days off cleaning up after last month's storm, despite the good feeling from having thrown out so much junk, cleaning under the house and getting the garden looking good.
But not so Jesus! He looks at the motives, not of the paralytic but of his friends. He saw "their faith". Is this what intercessory prayer is about?
So he forgives the man's sins.
What gives here? Isn't healing the big thing, isn't this the reason the paralytic was brought? Sure he is forgiven but he's still helplessly paralysed.
Is this how God answers prayer? He gives what is needed, not what is asked for. What is more important from God's perspective, health or holiness?
The scribes are there, "reasoning in their hearts". And doing a good job of it. Their reasoning goes like this:
- Only God can forgive sins
- Jesus has just forgiven this man's sins
- Therefore Jesus is claiming to be God
- But anyone can claim to be God - that's blasphemy - a big sin indeed (unless He really is God, which is unlikely)
All perfectly logical and true. They are good thinkers. But also human. They, as locals, probably knew this paralytic and knew what sins he had committed. Maybe they had even told him that his paralysis was a result of his sinfulness. And now they accuse Jesus of sin as well. How often have I been ready to think the worst?
But Jesus knows their thoughts. This is amazing! Can He read minds or is He just a shrewd observer of humanity. In any case He answers the implications of their logic with a great question, the answer of which determines my salvation.
"Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ' Your sins are forgiven you" or to say 'Arise, take up your bed and walk'?"
A "no-brainer": it's easy to SAY either, but it's impossible for a human to actually DO either - only God could heal a paralytic (even modern science has to wait for nature to take its time to heal paralysis - there is no immediate cure, even today).
The easiest to SEE however, is the healing. Forgiveness is invisible. So Jesus answers the scribes' unspoken question by using the visible to prove the invisible and also to prove His own divinity.
"That you may know" - I can be sure.
"that the Son of Man" - what Jesus consistently, and humbly, calls Himself
"has power on earth" - He already has authority in heaven, now He claims it here
"to forgive sins" - proof that He is God, and can meet my true needs
"Arise" and "Immediately he arose..."
This is the part I like.: Jesus has the power to do impossible healing so He can do the bigger impossible - forgive. At least one of the reasons that Jesus heals is so I can believe that He forgives, that He can indeed save, even in this world. My salvation is secure!
Glorify God saying "We never saw the like!
Sunday, 8 July 2007
Mark 1 The Real Jesus
In the "Christian Growth" section of the newly opened Argenton branch of Koorong, I found this great book Jesus Mean and Wild. Mark Galli bases his book on Mark's Gospel so I grabbed a copy.
He suggests that Jesus, contrary to the prevailing view, is not gentle, meek and mild all the time. Galli spends his first three chapters in Mark 1 showing us the love of an "untamable God".
Chapter One, entitled "Difficult Love", comes from
Mark 1:11-13. He brings out that straight after being filled with the Spirit and affirmed by His Father Jesus is driven by the Spirit into the wilderness for testing. He sums it up by saying "God loves you and has a difficult plan for your life". Those God loves the most are the ones He tests to their limits and refuses to pamper. Why?...Galli posits that suffering renews our spiritual vitality and strengthens our character, but maybe more importantly, it also prepares us for ministry. He says that God may appear cruel but really He is fashioning us, like he did with Christ in the desert, to go out into the wilderness of this world with the gospel. Just as his Beloved Son did.
Chapter Two, entitled "A Hopeful Repentance" is based on
Mark 1:14-15 where Jesus connects the gospel with repentance (ie. to start living and acting differently). Galli says that the shame and guilt of looking honestly at our lives and realising that we are miserable sinners drives us to Christ and repentance This repentance has hope because God is gracious and will not only heal but will also change our actions. As Galli quotes from Frederica Mathewes-Green:
Chapter Three, "Holy War", about
Mark 1:23-26 where the demon rightly assumes that the Holy one of God is here to destroy evil.. Even though he fears for his life, the possessed man is attracted to Jesus. He realises that Jesus loves him. Galli says
The real Jesus!
He suggests that Jesus, contrary to the prevailing view, is not gentle, meek and mild all the time. Galli spends his first three chapters in Mark 1 showing us the love of an "untamable God".
Chapter One, entitled "Difficult Love", comes from
Mark 1:11-13. He brings out that straight after being filled with the Spirit and affirmed by His Father Jesus is driven by the Spirit into the wilderness for testing. He sums it up by saying "God loves you and has a difficult plan for your life". Those God loves the most are the ones He tests to their limits and refuses to pamper. Why?...Galli posits that suffering renews our spiritual vitality and strengthens our character, but maybe more importantly, it also prepares us for ministry. He says that God may appear cruel but really He is fashioning us, like he did with Christ in the desert, to go out into the wilderness of this world with the gospel. Just as his Beloved Son did.
Chapter Two, entitled "A Hopeful Repentance" is based on
Mark 1:14-15 where Jesus connects the gospel with repentance (ie. to start living and acting differently). Galli says that the shame and guilt of looking honestly at our lives and realising that we are miserable sinners drives us to Christ and repentance This repentance has hope because God is gracious and will not only heal but will also change our actions. As Galli quotes from Frederica Mathewes-Green:
"Jesus didn't come to save us just from the penalty for our sins; he came to save us from our sins - now today, if we will only respond to the challenge and let him.... The Lord does not love us for our good parts and pass over the rest. He died for the bad parts and will not rest until they are put right. We must stop thinking of God as infinitely indulgent. We must begin to grapple with the scary and exhilarating truth that he is infinitely holy, and that he wants the same for us."
Chapter Three, "Holy War", about
Mark 1:23-26 where the demon rightly assumes that the Holy one of God is here to destroy evil.. Even though he fears for his life, the possessed man is attracted to Jesus. He realises that Jesus loves him. Galli says
"The one who loves us is the Holy One who wishes to make all unclean things holy. That means the one whom we cannot stay away from is the same one who is out to destroy those very habits, sins, notions, addictions, and self-justifications that we think we can't live without. And there are times when we feel as if Jesus is out to destroy us.
It is a wonderful and a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the real Jesus."
The real Jesus!
Saturday, 7 July 2007
Mark 1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ
Months ago a friend, whose children have grown up, gave me his old telescope. It is about a metre long, dusty and dirty with its tripod legs rusted in the fully extended position, a result of years stored under his house. The eye pieces were in a plastic bag, and the one I looked at back then was broken and unusable. I held little hope that it worked and didn't even try it out. So it was stashed under our house in all the garden stuff, between the stack of old newspapers and the rusty wire and star pickets. Unused again.
Then the storm came and we were forced to throw the old wire and some of the pickets onto the small mountain of rubbish out on the nature strip. The newspapers, from the past three years, heavy with flood water, now thickly cover the" vegetable" beds, smothering the crops of weeds and grass. The telescope only had its tripod wet so it was one of the few things from that pile under the house to be actually kept.
Being so obvious now, the other night as a fullish moon rose, I dragged out the telescope. and tried out an eye piece. Wow!! I could see the craters on the moon! And the the disc of Jupiter! I dragged the kids out of the warm house, they were vaguely impressed. But it was too cold for my wife.
Then a week ago I noticed that Venus was high in the dusk sky, so the scope came out again and this time I tried out another eyepiece (there are three in all) and this one was a higher resolution and Venus looked like a small version of the waxing moon with a crescent of light on the sunward side. Jupiter was still high and I could see three of its moons!
But below Venus was another untwinkling body. Was it Mercury? It was definitely a planet. I excitedly called the youngest, and his neighborhood friend away from the online games. And it was his 12 year old eyes who found that "Mercury" had rings! Another look and some focusing and it was confirmed, we had Saturn!
I have only ever seen the rings of Saturn through a telescope once before, with a bunch of noisy, pushing kids, but here in the quiet of my backyard (and at much smaller resolution) this sighting made a deep impression on me.
Saturn was real! It actually was up there, I could see it!
So to confirm it, the scope came out last night and the white little planet and the silver rings were still there! I even convinced my beautiful woman to leave the warmth and take a look.
I think Mark One has been a neglected telescope for me. Jesus Christ is real. He has been there all the time but I haven't taken the time to look.
Who is this Jesus I have been introduced to?
Then the storm came and we were forced to throw the old wire and some of the pickets onto the small mountain of rubbish out on the nature strip. The newspapers, from the past three years, heavy with flood water, now thickly cover the" vegetable" beds, smothering the crops of weeds and grass. The telescope only had its tripod wet so it was one of the few things from that pile under the house to be actually kept.
Being so obvious now, the other night as a fullish moon rose, I dragged out the telescope. and tried out an eye piece. Wow!! I could see the craters on the moon! And the the disc of Jupiter! I dragged the kids out of the warm house, they were vaguely impressed. But it was too cold for my wife.
Then a week ago I noticed that Venus was high in the dusk sky, so the scope came out again and this time I tried out another eyepiece (there are three in all) and this one was a higher resolution and Venus looked like a small version of the waxing moon with a crescent of light on the sunward side. Jupiter was still high and I could see three of its moons!
But below Venus was another untwinkling body. Was it Mercury? It was definitely a planet. I excitedly called the youngest, and his neighborhood friend away from the online games. And it was his 12 year old eyes who found that "Mercury" had rings! Another look and some focusing and it was confirmed, we had Saturn!
I have only ever seen the rings of Saturn through a telescope once before, with a bunch of noisy, pushing kids, but here in the quiet of my backyard (and at much smaller resolution) this sighting made a deep impression on me.
Saturn was real! It actually was up there, I could see it!
So to confirm it, the scope came out last night and the white little planet and the silver rings were still there! I even convinced my beautiful woman to leave the warmth and take a look.
I think Mark One has been a neglected telescope for me. Jesus Christ is real. He has been there all the time but I haven't taken the time to look.
Who is this Jesus I have been introduced to?
- He is Good News - He preaches the Gospel everywhere, that is His purpose in coming. He lives the Gospel, by healing the demon possessed, the fevered and the unclean leper. He teaches the Gospel with authority. He invites belief in the Gospel. And all this is just the beginning!
- He is the LORD - the Son of God. The Creator and re-creator, God of the Old Testament, YAHWEH. Even the unclean spirits knew that He was the "holy One of God".
- He is the Cleaner - of men with unclean spirits and unclean diseases (leprosy)
- He brings a new and close-by kingdom - He's the King
- He demands change - Repentance, a change of heart, a change of thinking. The biggest change of all. He has four men leave their occupations and family to become, not fishermen, but fishers of men. Rebuking the spirits, He changes the thought life of a possessed man. He keeps moving, changing location, there is always a "next town". He tries to silence the leper, now bursting with health, demanding he go to the temple silently.
- He cares for the rejected leper, even touching him. He also cares for the loved mother-in-law too.
- He attracts - first disciples then crowds, the sick, the possessed and the curious.
- He prayed - in the wilderness and came back with a sense of mission
Sunday, 17 June 2007
Mark 1:44 For Your Cleansing
Cleaning up after our flood continues. Unfortunately the rain has returned, making things difficult.
The basic process is to wash all the dirty (now smelly) water out with clean water then let the item dry in the sun. This is a tedious process, so lots of things that were once precious are now on the pile to throw out.
Cleansing was no less complex for lepers: The now-clean leper is to go show himself "to the priest and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded".
Moses' commands are found in Leviticus 14.
To summarise this process for a poor man:
Why did Jesus command him to do this, he was obviously clean. already. Why go through all this unnecessary ritual?
Some of the reasons may have been:
The basic process is to wash all the dirty (now smelly) water out with clean water then let the item dry in the sun. This is a tedious process, so lots of things that were once precious are now on the pile to throw out.
Cleansing was no less complex for lepers: The now-clean leper is to go show himself "to the priest and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded".
Moses' commands are found in Leviticus 14.
To summarise this process for a poor man:
- The priest takes the man away from a settled area to examine him for signs of leprosy
- If the leper is found to be clean, the priest will take two "clean and living birds", apparently wild birds, often sparrows. (Was this why two sparrows are sold?) The priest kills one bird over a stream and catches it's blood in an earthen vessel.
- The living bird, along with some cedar wood, scarlet (dyed wool) and hyssop (cleansing herb), is dipped into the blood.
- The drenched living bird is sprinkled, seven times, over the leper, who is now pronounced clean.
- The living bird is released there in the field.
- The now-clean man washes his clothes, shaves completely and washes himself.
- The man goes home, but he is not allowed inside, he has to camp outside for seven days.
- On the seventh day he shaves again (head, beard, eyebrows), washes his clothes and himself in water and "he shall be clean".
- On the eighth day he visits the temple for the first time, taking a male lamb, two doves or young pigeons, 2 litres of fine flour mixed with oil and 300mls of oil. He gives these things to priest at the temple door.
- The priest takes the lamb, as a trespass offering - "to make atonement for him", and the oil and "waves" them before the LORD. The priest then kills the lamb and puts some of its blood on the man's right ear, right thumb and right right big toe.
- The priest pours some of the oil into his left palm and using his right-hand fingers, sprinkles some of the oil "seven times before the LORD", he puts some on the man's right ear, thumb and big toe on top of the blood and the rest is put on the man's head "to make atonement".
- The priest offers one of the doves as a sin offering and the other with the grain as a burnt offering.
Why did Jesus command him to do this, he was obviously clean. already. Why go through all this unnecessary ritual?
Some of the reasons may have been:
- As LORD himself, Jesus would uphold the laws that He Himself had told Moses to enact.
- The purpose of the ritual was to "make atonement", and Jesus' purpose was to preach the good news of atonement.
- His stated purpose in this verse, is that it would be a testimony to the priests. He was intent on converting the priests and didn't want any "illegal" behaviour to get in the way of their acceptance of Him
- My cleansing.requires lots of blood and a long process. It is no simple, one-off event.
- The birds show me justification: Jesus died and washed in that blood I am "free as a bird".
- The wait outside home shows me that, despite the fact that I am clean, I still haven't "arrived" yet, I am still not home, there is more to be done. In a way I'm on probation.
- The real atonement, becoming close to God, didn't happen out in the field, it happens through Christ's sacrifice and work as a priest.
- This atonement is only complete when the "Lamb's" life blood has made a restitution for my wasted and filthy life and the same blood has been applied to my all hearing, doing and going And then the oil (the Spirit?) sanctifies those same areas and blesses my clean-shaven head. So now I am consecrated to God in the same way as a priest.
- The atonement is complete, I am back with God!. But the process is not finished yet. A sin offering must be made. Even though I am clean and at peace with God, I still offend Him. Christ as my High Priest must continue to present His blood for me in the heavenly sanctuary.
Thursday, 14 June 2007
Mark 1:42 And he was Cleansed
Last Friday, Lake Macquarie (and the whole Hunter Valley)was hit by a storm. We had over 300m of rain and 120k/h winds that blew a huge collier up on beach in town (Newcastle).
Andrew,my 17 yo son, picked me up from work that day. It was dark at 5.00 and the rain was blinding. We passed at least 6 "drowned" cars on the short drive home. Andrew has become an excellent driver, I'm not sure that I could have handled the treacherous conditions as well as he did.
Once home our problems had just begun. By 9:30 flood waters were rising downstairs and we had to bring the washing machine and whatever else we could salvage, up stairs. There is nothing worse than watching the water slowly going up the doors of the cars, knowing that there is no way of moving them.
By the time we went to bed the water was knee deep and almost waistdeep out in the back yard. (We went down to rescue the hens, they spent the night in the bathroom). The water was so cold that we were hypothermic after our efforts.
By Saturday morning the water had gone, but all our stored papers, clothes, Julie's sewing materials, the car floors and our camping and garden equipment were covered with a layer of grey mud. The firewood had washed down the backyard and the bananas were over at crazy angles.
We had no power but just a visiting the neighbors, made us realise that we had gotten off lightly. Both neighbors were evacuated and one had water through the living area of the house (and their car was flooded to the roof). On our block, at least 4 houses were flooded that we know of.
So after 5 days of cleaning I'm exhausted but downstairs is almost back to normal (minus the two large piles of things that we used to consider important) So I can sympathise with our leper in today's verse. He wanted to be clean. I know just how wonderful that first hot shower on Monday night felt. Clean at last!
Jesus touch, though wonderful, didn't bring the cleaning, it was His words. His words still had (and have) the same power they held when he spoke the solar system into existence.
The leprosy left. What a wonderful result - nothing like this had happened since Elisha's time. And everything left behind was beautiful and clean.
I know that cleaning is hard work. In this case it was Christ that did the work. And so it is with my sin, He bears the cost.
Speak to me, Lord.
Andrew,my 17 yo son, picked me up from work that day. It was dark at 5.00 and the rain was blinding. We passed at least 6 "drowned" cars on the short drive home. Andrew has become an excellent driver, I'm not sure that I could have handled the treacherous conditions as well as he did.
Once home our problems had just begun. By 9:30 flood waters were rising downstairs and we had to bring the washing machine and whatever else we could salvage, up stairs. There is nothing worse than watching the water slowly going up the doors of the cars, knowing that there is no way of moving them.
By the time we went to bed the water was knee deep and almost waistdeep out in the back yard. (We went down to rescue the hens, they spent the night in the bathroom). The water was so cold that we were hypothermic after our efforts.
By Saturday morning the water had gone, but all our stored papers, clothes, Julie's sewing materials, the car floors and our camping and garden equipment were covered with a layer of grey mud. The firewood had washed down the backyard and the bananas were over at crazy angles.
We had no power but just a visiting the neighbors, made us realise that we had gotten off lightly. Both neighbors were evacuated and one had water through the living area of the house (and their car was flooded to the roof). On our block, at least 4 houses were flooded that we know of.
So after 5 days of cleaning I'm exhausted but downstairs is almost back to normal (minus the two large piles of things that we used to consider important) So I can sympathise with our leper in today's verse. He wanted to be clean. I know just how wonderful that first hot shower on Monday night felt. Clean at last!
Jesus touch, though wonderful, didn't bring the cleaning, it was His words. His words still had (and have) the same power they held when he spoke the solar system into existence.
The leprosy left. What a wonderful result - nothing like this had happened since Elisha's time. And everything left behind was beautiful and clean.
I know that cleaning is hard work. In this case it was Christ that did the work. And so it is with my sin, He bears the cost.
Speak to me, Lord.
Friday, 1 June 2007
Mark 1:32-34 He Healed Many
Even though Jesus had shown that He was alright with healing on the Sabbath, the people waited until after sunset, to bring "all" the sick and demon-possessed to Jesus. It had to be them all because whole town was gathered there. So the town must have been only small.
They must have seen the first healing in the synagogue and heard about Peter's mother-in-law, so they came out for something to do on Saturday night in a small town.
Then in front of the crowd, Jesus heals "many". Does that mean some weren't healed?
And they were sick of "various diseases", so there was no limitation on the type of disease that Jesus healed. He could heal disease, any disease.
And He cast out many demons. So even "many" demons have no authority over Him.
But like the first demon (unclean spirit) from that morning, the demons knew Him. They knew who He was and would have said that if he allowed them. But he didn't allow them to speak. I guess He didn't want demons advertising for Him.
These verses show that Jesus is great healer. A healer who fitted in with the needs of people around Him. Heal me please, Jesus. and do I have faith to bring others to You?
They must have seen the first healing in the synagogue and heard about Peter's mother-in-law, so they came out for something to do on Saturday night in a small town.
Then in front of the crowd, Jesus heals "many". Does that mean some weren't healed?
And they were sick of "various diseases", so there was no limitation on the type of disease that Jesus healed. He could heal disease, any disease.
And He cast out many demons. So even "many" demons have no authority over Him.
But like the first demon (unclean spirit) from that morning, the demons knew Him. They knew who He was and would have said that if he allowed them. But he didn't allow them to speak. I guess He didn't want demons advertising for Him.
These verses show that Jesus is great healer. A healer who fitted in with the needs of people around Him. Heal me please, Jesus. and do I have faith to bring others to You?
Thursday, 31 May 2007
Mark 1:29-31 In-house Healing
The five men go to Simon and Andrew's place for Sabbath lunch after an eventful morning.
"But"... just when things are going well there is a family illness to dampen the enthusiasm. Simon's mother-in-law lay sick with a fever.
Peter is married! Do we ever hear of his wife?
Fevers are still fatal and Mum is in bed so must be quite sick. Maybe even dying. This is family and it's important. "So they told Him about her". Do I take my problem people to Him? They had not seen Him heal fevers, they were expressing their faith - sight unseen. Just as I can't see the miracles either.
He "came and took her by the hand". Jesus please come near to me and take my hand and lift me up.
Suddenly the fever was gone and she served them. They either made the poor woman work or she was so completely well that service was easy. I think the latter.
So he has authority over acute illness too! He is good at fixing things up...making them right. he turns what could have been a bleak afternoon into one where joy of recovery leads to service.
Does my gratitude show itself as service to Jesus? Haven't I been healed from a worse "fever"? Shouldn't my gratitude and service be even greater?
"But"... just when things are going well there is a family illness to dampen the enthusiasm. Simon's mother-in-law lay sick with a fever.
Peter is married! Do we ever hear of his wife?
Fevers are still fatal and Mum is in bed so must be quite sick. Maybe even dying. This is family and it's important. "So they told Him about her". Do I take my problem people to Him? They had not seen Him heal fevers, they were expressing their faith - sight unseen. Just as I can't see the miracles either.
He "came and took her by the hand". Jesus please come near to me and take my hand and lift me up.
Suddenly the fever was gone and she served them. They either made the poor woman work or she was so completely well that service was easy. I think the latter.
So he has authority over acute illness too! He is good at fixing things up...making them right. he turns what could have been a bleak afternoon into one where joy of recovery leads to service.
Does my gratitude show itself as service to Jesus? Haven't I been healed from a worse "fever"? Shouldn't my gratitude and service be even greater?
Sunday, 27 May 2007
Mark 1:21-28 With Authority He Commands
The unclean spirit recognises that Jesus is more than a normal human, so when Jesus orders him out, he complies. Yay! Jesus wins again. He beat the devil in wilderness and now the underling spirit is trounced.
Jesus rebukes the spirit very simply - no fancy, long-winded exorcism just "Quiet... and get out!". The Son of God's words have power.
The spirit tries to hang on and convulses the victim and then cries out. Maybe this is how people knew that the man was possessed. Not only did he have convulsions but he yelled in a voice that was not his own. Then he is gone - to destruction?
Even though He spoke simply (or maybe because of the intriguing combination of dramatic results from a few words) the synagogue's congregation is amazed at Jesus' authority. Authority in both teaching and healing - He obviously generates respect.
Do I respect His authority? Does Jesus exercise this authority in my life? I don't think so. Maybe, like those people, I should spread His fame. But what would I talk about?
Jesus rebukes the spirit very simply - no fancy, long-winded exorcism just "Quiet... and get out!". The Son of God's words have power.
The spirit tries to hang on and convulses the victim and then cries out. Maybe this is how people knew that the man was possessed. Not only did he have convulsions but he yelled in a voice that was not his own. Then he is gone - to destruction?
Even though He spoke simply (or maybe because of the intriguing combination of dramatic results from a few words) the synagogue's congregation is amazed at Jesus' authority. Authority in both teaching and healing - He obviously generates respect.
Do I respect His authority? Does Jesus exercise this authority in my life? I don't think so. Maybe, like those people, I should spread His fame. But what would I talk about?
Saturday, 19 May 2007
Mark 1:21-22 One having authority
Back in verse 12, Jesus was driven by the Spirit. Is everywhere that Jesus goes, where the Spirit drives Him? How much is Jesus and how much is Spirit?
In any case the five men go to Capernaum, and on Sabbath, to the synagogue, where Jesus "taught". So far Jesus has preached, called followers and now taught. What is the difference between teaching and preaching? I guess teaching involves interpreting a piece of Scripture, whereas preaching is more like a speech with only reference to Scripture. Do you agree?
He taught with authority compared to the scribes. The scribes must have taught Scripture while referring to previous commentators. And as a friend of mine says " when you get three rabbis together, there will be four different opinions." So the whole learning experience would have been confusing, with a multitude of authorities quoted.
Jesus, in contrast must have presented His interpretation with a certainty of what it meant. He was certain of who He was and what He had to say. This must have been attractive too, as the congregation was astonished.
Would an assured, self-aware person today would still astonish people today, or maybe we are too confident and in these days of hype and spin. Probably though, all this exposure to commercialistic hyperbole would highlight the genuine more clearly.
Son of God, show me who I am and make me confident in you.
In any case the five men go to Capernaum, and on Sabbath, to the synagogue, where Jesus "taught". So far Jesus has preached, called followers and now taught. What is the difference between teaching and preaching? I guess teaching involves interpreting a piece of Scripture, whereas preaching is more like a speech with only reference to Scripture. Do you agree?
He taught with authority compared to the scribes. The scribes must have taught Scripture while referring to previous commentators. And as a friend of mine says " when you get three rabbis together, there will be four different opinions." So the whole learning experience would have been confusing, with a multitude of authorities quoted.
Jesus, in contrast must have presented His interpretation with a certainty of what it meant. He was certain of who He was and what He had to say. This must have been attractive too, as the congregation was astonished.
Would an assured, self-aware person today would still astonish people today, or maybe we are too confident and in these days of hype and spin. Probably though, all this exposure to commercialistic hyperbole would highlight the genuine more clearly.
Son of God, show me who I am and make me confident in you.
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