Mark 11:12-26 Mean, mean Jesus! Who does he think he is – causing a fig tree to wither? Obviously, he wasn’t environmentally friendly. Maybe we can wish this side of Jesus away by taking our Jeffersonian scissors to the parts of the Bible we don’t like and neatly excising them. Mean, mean Jesus! If our reaction isn’t necessarily one of disdain for the one who withers trees, it’s likely at least to be confusion. Maybe we’re not perturbed that Jesus... Read more
Mark 10:46-52 How wonderful it is when a blind man receives his sight, and how tragic when a sighted man goes blind! How wonderful it is when a lost man is saved, and how tragic it is when one who was saved begins to get lost! Blind Bartimaeus is a picture (for those who have eyes to see) of our salvation. We are the blind man in this story, and Bartimaeus’s story has been preserved for us not only that... Read more
Mark 10:32-45 As children we often say and do things we are later embarrassed by. At home, for example, I still have a large green book filled with pictures I drew, stickers, games I made up, etc. In the front cover of the book stands a statement I wrote that still causes me to laugh to this day. In 1968 I wrote: “Charles Erlandson grew up to be a great football player.” Needless to say, it’s not as a prophet... Read more
Mark 10:17-31 Poor rich young ruler. He just didn’t get it. He thought he had it made in this world. He was rich, he kept the commandments of God from his youth, and he even understood that Jesus was a good teacher. What else could God possibly want from him? What Jesus wanted was the one thing that He told Martha was needful: to truly worship and adore Him. Jesus doesn’t express it this way but instead demonstrates it to... Read more
John 11:45-57 This passage cuts me to the quick (that soft underbelly of the fingernails that used to hurt so much when my Mom cut my fingernails too short.) It’s all very safe to keep the chief priests and Pharisees stored in my head where they can muck about and cause mischief without hurting me. I can even laugh at their shenanigans and show a safe contempt for them. How glad I am that I’m not like those hypocritical Pharisees!... Read more
John 11:28-44 Jesus wept. Every fan of Bible trivia knows that this is the shortest verse in the Bible (though not many could tell you it’s John 11:35). This morning, I’m going to write about 1000 words on just 2 words: “Jesus wept.” Jesus wept. This is an extraordinary statement. Knowing with Martha that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God, knowing that He is fully capable of raising the dead to life, we read that Jesus wept.... Read more
John 11:17-27 I wonder a lot about how the Gospel comes down to us in particular, pre-packaged forms. I wonder about how it is that certain semi-official versions of the gospel became semi-official versions; about how and when John 3:16 became the verse of the Bible; about how Thomas became merely “Doubting Thomas”; about how faithful Joseph became the forgotten man of Christmas; and about how Mary came to be seen as the true defender of the faith over Martha.... Read more
John 11:1-16 “Let us also go, that we may die with Him” said Believing Thomas (it’s always bothered me that we burden St. Thomas solely with the descriptor “Doubting”). I don’t believe Thomas actually knew what he was saying, but I think I know what it might mean to us. “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.” Why would we want to die with Lazarus? Why would we want to die at all? I can think of... Read more
John 10:1-30 – Part III Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, both knows and leads His sheep. But this knowledge (which is love) and this leading (which is love by serving) means that the Good Shepherd also gives His life for the sheep (verse 11 and 15). Jesus, the Good Shepherd, loves His sheep: He loves you more than father, mother, husband, wife love you. Ultimately, He loves you and leads you by being willing to die for you. He gave... Read more
John 10:1-30 – Part II The Good Shepherd not only knows His sheep but also leads them. “He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. And when He brings out his own sheep, He goes before them; and the sheep follow Him, for they know His voice” (verses 3 and 4). The Good Shepherd must go before His sheep and lead the way because we are wandering sheep who do not know the way (but often presume... Read more
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