Posted on May 14, 2014
#54: Words for the Wise
One of Aesop’s fables tells of a donkey and a rooster who were stalked by a hungry lion, desperate for a meal. As the lion began to attack the donkey the rooster crowed loudly, causing the startled lion to flee. When the donkey saw the powerful lion scared off so easily, he gave chase, thinking to teach the lion a lesson. But the lion turned and tore the unprotected donkey to pieces. The moral: False confidence leads to danger.
Much of Jesus’ teaching in Mark 9 is designed to warn His disciples—then and now—against the pitfalls of false confidence. The more we mature in Christ, the greater the risk that we’ll see ourselves as sufficient, forgetting that without Him we are nothing.
Read through Mark 9, paying special attention to Jesus’ interaction with His disciples as you read. This chapter is full of lessons for the mature disciple. Here are five warnings for the wise. Read More
Posted on April 30, 2014
#52: Incidental Greatness
Miss Ivy was a small woman, gray-haired and African-American, with a soft Virginia accent. She worked for many years as hostess in the breakfast room at the Best Western in Colonial Williamsburg. Our family traveled a lot; we’d met many hostesses—but none like Miss Ivy.
She had the usual duties, filling orange juice and milk pitchers, wiping tables, making sure cereal dispensers and bagel trays were stocked. But that’s not what I remember about her. I remember her hugging all the kids, greeting every visitor with her bright smile, memorizing their names. She gave each person the impression they were the most important one in the room. She showed genuine interest, getting to know a bit about them, asking about their plans for the day, offering helpful suggestions. When you left her breakfast room, you felt you’d made a new friend.
Miss Ivy was good for business. Her gentle warmth drew families—including ours—back to the Best Western. She became well-known. When she finally retired, there was a big to-do and newspapers wrote feature articles about her. She never set out to be great. She just served well.
I think Miss Ivy was exactly the kind of person Jesus meant in today’s scripture.
Pick up your Bible and read Mark 9:30-41. Read More
Posted on April 9, 2014
#49: A Feast for Your Soul
Bread. It’s in every country, on every continent, through every era, in some form or other. It’s all through the Bible, from manna (called the “grain of heaven” and “bread of angels” in Psalm 78:24-25), to the Passover’s unleavened loaves, to the raven-carried food of Elijah, to the temple’s showbread, to the Last Supper’s table. It’s the vehicle by which, each week in communion, we remember Jesus’ body sacrificed for our salvation. And it’s the centerpiece of Mark’s eighth chapter.
Welcome to Knowing Jesus, our Wednesdays In the Word study through the book of Mark. With today’s post, we’re halfway through the book, but much more than halfway through the earthly life of Jesus. We’ve watched Him in action, seen Him manage His time, observed His interaction with enemies and friends, and gathered a lot of lessons along the way. And we’re not finished! I’m glad you’re along on this journey to know—and learn to be like—Jesus.
Read Mark 8, thinking back over the past few posts: the hungry 4,000 given bread, Bethsaida’s blind man given sight, the Twelve given insight—and the stone-hearted, stubbornly-blind, sign-demanding Pharisees given nothing.
When Jesus turned a few loaves into a feast for a famished multitude, people marveled at the miracle. (Wouldn’t you love to have had a taste of the bread that passed through His hands? Panera’s best wouldn’t begin to compare!) But the wonder wasn’t really in the bread; it was in the Bread-Giver. Read More
Posted on April 2, 2014
#48: The Beauty of a Cross
At a local jewelry store window, two young women were examining an Easter display of cross necklaces, discussing which was “prettiest.” The people of Jesus’ day would have thought it an odd conversation. To them, there was nothing pretty about a cross. Crosses were cruel, ugly instruments of death. The idea that a cross would be considered beautiful jewelry would be as strange to them as for us to hang a tiny gold guillotine or sterling silver electric chair from a delicate chain and call it “pretty.”
What transformed an ugly cross to a treasured thing of beauty? Jesus “humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8) and instantly a cross became a beautiful emblem of selfless saving sacrifice.
Pick up your Bible and read Mark 8:29-38, then re-read verses 32-38. (Parallel passages are in Matthew 16:15-27 and Luke 9:20-26.) Read More
Posted on March 26, 2014
#47: An “Aha!” Moment
One of my favorite things about Bible study is the “Aha!” moment when a new breakthrough comes. When I see a truth I never saw before. When the Holy Spirit lights up a passage that never made sense before. One aha moment often opens a door to several more insights, giving Him opportunity to teach me more.
I once read advice that Bible reading should be done expectantly, pen and notebook at hand, with a prayer for God to bring fresh understanding. Since then, I always try to approach my study time that way—and if I’m focused, God nearly always thrills me with something new. I love those “Aha!” moments, and I believe He does too.
We do well to remember that we’re not the only active participants in our Bible study time. The Lord is there, loving the chance to speak to us, excited when we “get it.” Just picturing Him there with us, recognizing that He’s involved, can breathe new life into our quiet time.
Welcome to Knowing Jesus, our study through Mark’s gospel, where we’ll see Peter in an “Aha!” moment of his own. Read More
Posted on March 19, 2014
#46: When Blind Eyes See
During my college years, a friend suffered a retinal injury that left him temporarily blind. He wore patches over both eyes for several weeks during which he had to be led around campus. He found amazing ways to adapt. Still, he was relieved to see blurry images once the patches were removed. Over the next week his sight cleared until it was fully restored. He understood like never before that sight is a great gift.
Read Mark 8:22-26, an account only found in this gospel.
Jesus and His disciples had crossed the Galilean Sea and come to Bethsaida. Pause. Let’s talk for a minute about Bethsaida, because the location is significant. Read More
Posted on March 12, 2014
#45: Blind Faith
I’m a fan of contemporary Christian music, with several favorite artists or bands. One of them is Jeremy Camp. I’ve appreciated his unique witness, and several of his songs speak to me. But one of his latest songs has a single line that bothers me: “I will walk by faith even when I cannot see.” Read on and you’ll see why.
Welcome to Knowing Jesus, our ongoing study of Jesus’ life. Get your Bible! Read More
