Mark 6

What is this story about John the baptist doing here? It helps me understand a bigger picture - how people were reacting to Jesus. They are hearing about him and wondering who he is and where his power comes from. Herod is full of fear and curiosity. The conditions are set for the crisis that is to come - for more questioning, for fear, for impulsive, erratic behavior, for suffering.

Herod - acts out of fear of his wife or what is it? Is he afraid she won't love him if he doesn't do what she wants? His actions get him into a lot of trouble- first he has John the Baptist imprisoned, then beheaded. I cannot imagine the inner torment he suffered because of his choices. He let someone else dictate his actions and wasn't true to himself. When do I let others or culture determine my actions?? Sometimes the influence is so subtle.

Mark 3

Jesus' enemies were full of fear and anger. They were so sure of what the Messiah would look like and afraid of how this trouble maker Jesus would upset the equilibrium. What do I miss because "I know" and am sure. The man with the shriveled hand - I wonder what he was doing in the synagogue? Jesus calls him out of his hiding place and asks him to stand in front of everyone. Show them your deformed hand. If it had been me would I have had the courage to stand in front? Would I have turned and run from this one who had found me?? What was it about Jesus that people responded to him with either complete trust or great fear?
Mark 6: day 2: Jesus gave the disciples what they needed - authority over evil spirits not stuff, clothes, food, packed bags. Their message was the same - repent. They did just what they had seen Jesus doing and healed many sick people. What am I doing that is like Jesus?

Relationship not Rules

Just thinking about what I shared on Tuesday about faith. I tend to focus on the relationship we are invited into with Jesus and try not to make it about what we do. However, what we do is important!! As I shared, it was my regular time in Scripture, worship, prayer and Bible study that gave me the foundation of faith I needed when life got hard. Thus the challenge to read Mark 6 every day over the next two weeks. First time through: The people in Jesus' hometown seemed to move from amazement to offense so quickly. The story moves from the incredible faith of the woman and Jairus to the lack of faith of his hometown.
I'll go back to the chapters I haven't covered in the days to come. Keep reading!!

More on Law and Rules

"What is the good of telling the ships how to steer so as to avoid collisions if, in fact, they are such crazy old tubs that they cannot be steered at all? What is the good of drawing up, on paper, rules for social behaviour, if we know that, in fact, our greed, cowardice, ill temper, and self-conceit are going to prevent us from keeping them? I do not mean for a moment that we ought not to think, and think hard, about improvements in our social and economic system. What I do mean is that all that thinking will be mere moonshine unless we realise that nothing but the courage and unselfishness of individuals is ever going to make any system work properly. It is easy enough to remove the particular kinds of graft or bullying that go on under the present system: but as long as men are twisters or bullies they will find some new way of carrying on the old game under the new system. You cannot make men good by law: and without good men you cannot have a good society. That is why we must go on to think of the second thing: of morality inside the individual."



Mere Christianity by CS Lewis p.72

Is there a solution? Think about what Jesus offers - relationship, transformation, new life.

The Law and Us

A quote from Give Them Grace by Elyse Fitzpatrick and Jessica Thompson

Every human heart is always and ever drawn to the law. In the same way that iron filings follow a magnet, our hearts chase after rules - not because we ever really obey them but because we think they make life manageable. Rules elevate us to the position of lawgiver; they help us avoid the humiliation of prostrating ourselves before a bloody, despicable cross. We love to try to approve of ourselves and control others by generating more and more rules. p81

What do you think? Why do we choose rules over relationship?