Chapter 13, this sermon, is known as the Olivet Discourse because Jesus delivered it on the Mount of Olives just east of the temple. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_in_Jerusalem.
"And Jesus said to him, 'Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left upon another which will not be torn down.'" v.2 And, certainly it was in AD 70.
This chapter is dedicated to the end of the age when Jesus will return. It starts with the tribulation and then moves to His second coming. I am not going to do much comment. There are so many different camps on Eschatology (the study of the end times). I was taught one thing as a kid - scared me to death - and believe another as an adult, though I still feel unsettled with the topic until I get a chance for more study. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_eschatological_views
No matter your view, however, the belief that is shared is that Jesus will return: "Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And then He will send forth the angels, and will gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of heaven." v. 26-27
This says to us: "Therefore, be on the alert-for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight or when the rooster crows, or in the morning - in case he should come suddenly and find you asleep. What I say to you I say to all, 'Be on the Alert!'" v. 35-37
If we are going to go through the tribulation or anytime we might be persecuted for our faith, our belief in Christ: "When they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour; for it is not you who will speak, but it is the Holy Spirit." v.11 This brings to mind the young girl at Columbine that had the gun in her face and was asked to denounce Christ. She did not; she proclaimed His name, and was killed.
One particular note in v.14. Jesus says, "...let the reader understand..." Why would Jesus say "reader" when He was speaking in person? John MacArthur says, "This indicates that Jesus was not issuing these warnings to the disciples or to others of their generation who would not experience this event, but to believers in the end time. Those who will read these truths will be prepared and 'understand' the trials they are enduring." Did Jesus say that or did Mark add that as he was writing? Thought it was interesting.
The quotes in the video below are directly from Mark 13. Be sure to watch it to the end. I love the very last picture. Wow!
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Mark 12, con't
"What commandment is the foremost of all? Jesus answered, 'The foremost is: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these." v. 28-31
Well, I guess, that just about says it. Tough though, huh? Interesting what I learned about the ten commandments: "The rabbis had determined that there were 613 commandments contained in the Pentateuch, one for each letter of the Ten Commandments. -Are you kidding me! LOL - Of the 613, 248 were seen as affirmative and 365 as negative. Those laws were also divided into heavy and light categories,, with the heavy laws being more binding than the light ones. The scribes and rabbis, however, had been unable to agree on which were heavy and which were light." John MacArthur
Seriously, what bondage!
So much of the world is striving for peace, reaching out to one another. However, the world is forgetting the prerequisite for loving one another; to love our God with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength. You can't achieve the one without the other.
Well, I guess, that just about says it. Tough though, huh? Interesting what I learned about the ten commandments: "The rabbis had determined that there were 613 commandments contained in the Pentateuch, one for each letter of the Ten Commandments. -Are you kidding me! LOL - Of the 613, 248 were seen as affirmative and 365 as negative. Those laws were also divided into heavy and light categories,, with the heavy laws being more binding than the light ones. The scribes and rabbis, however, had been unable to agree on which were heavy and which were light." John MacArthur
Seriously, what bondage!
So much of the world is striving for peace, reaching out to one another. However, the world is forgetting the prerequisite for loving one another; to love our God with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength. You can't achieve the one without the other.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Mark 12...
The next three chapters in Mark I read in Yosemite. They are filled with a lot of food for thought; I underlined a lot and read a lot of commentary.
Let's start with v.19 where the Sadducees approach Jesus with a question. To preserve tribal names, families and inheritance in case of a death (the head of the household), the widow was to marry his brother. So this particular question was: what if the woman loses 7 husbands (7 brothers), which one would be her husband in heaven?
Jesus' answer, "For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven." John MacArthur's interpretation, "Marriage was designed by God for companionship and the perpetuation of the human race on the earth. Jesus was emphasizing the fact that in heaven there will be no exclusive or sexual relationships. Believers will experience an entirely new existence in which they will have perfect spiritual relationships with everyone else."
This is huge for me, since I have had more than one husband. Note, however, Jesus says nothing about us losing our identities, personalities, or knowledge. For example, will I know my children as my children? I believe so. Jesus says in v. 26-28 "But regarding the fact that the dead rise again,...I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead but of the living;..." I love what my commentary says, "Even though all 3 were dead, God was still their God just as much as when they were alive on earth - and more so in that they were experiencing eternal fellowship with Him in heaven." Wow!!
Rereading these verses today since Yosemite was good timing. On Saturday, after having a complete night's rest (that I never seem to have), a sleep where I never woke up in the night, I was thinking, "what if death is like that sleep, where you have no thought, no memory, no existence, you just never wake up?" First off, I don't like the idea of that and second, I don't need to worry about it because these verses just answered that for me!! Yea!
Let's start with v.19 where the Sadducees approach Jesus with a question. To preserve tribal names, families and inheritance in case of a death (the head of the household), the widow was to marry his brother. So this particular question was: what if the woman loses 7 husbands (7 brothers), which one would be her husband in heaven?
Jesus' answer, "For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven." John MacArthur's interpretation, "Marriage was designed by God for companionship and the perpetuation of the human race on the earth. Jesus was emphasizing the fact that in heaven there will be no exclusive or sexual relationships. Believers will experience an entirely new existence in which they will have perfect spiritual relationships with everyone else."
This is huge for me, since I have had more than one husband. Note, however, Jesus says nothing about us losing our identities, personalities, or knowledge. For example, will I know my children as my children? I believe so. Jesus says in v. 26-28 "But regarding the fact that the dead rise again,...I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead but of the living;..." I love what my commentary says, "Even though all 3 were dead, God was still their God just as much as when they were alive on earth - and more so in that they were experiencing eternal fellowship with Him in heaven." Wow!!
Rereading these verses today since Yosemite was good timing. On Saturday, after having a complete night's rest (that I never seem to have), a sleep where I never woke up in the night, I was thinking, "what if death is like that sleep, where you have no thought, no memory, no existence, you just never wake up?" First off, I don't like the idea of that and second, I don't need to worry about it because these verses just answered that for me!! Yea!
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Mark 11
Here we see Jesus entering Jerusalem. In modern day we refer to this entry as palm Sunday. He and the disciples were very well known here for their teachings and miracles and the people were very excited to see the entrance of the upcoming King.
" Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David; hosanna in the highest!" v. 9-10
The highlighted part of the verse is only recorded in Mark and emphasizes that Jesus was fulfilling prophecy. Wow, a sharp contrast to what this same crowd would do to Him later!
"On the next day, when they had left Bethany, He became hungry, Seeing at a distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if perhaps He would find anything on it, and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. He said to it, 'May no one ever eat fruit from you again!'" v.12-14
I thought this seemed awful harsh for this poor fig tree - it wasn't the fig trees fault, after all. The fig tree was unique because usually when there were leaves there was fruit. But not this tree. The highlighted section, once again only Mark records, to let you know the unusual nature of this particular tree.
John MacArthur, "Jesus cursed the tree for its misleading appearance that suggested great productivity without providing it. It should have been full of fruit, but was barren. The fig tree was frequently an Old Testament type of the Jewish nation and in this instance Jesus used the tree by the road as a divine object lesson concerning Israel's spiritual hypocrisy and fruitlessness."
Next Jesus goes to chase the sellers out of the temple and says, "My House shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations." v. 17 The highlighted part, only recorded in Mark, was taken from Isaiah 56:7, and was addressing the gentiles. Jesus was in the only part of the temple where Gentiles were permitted to be.
Now, my favorite part of the chapter, " Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him. Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them and they will be granted you." v.23-24
"Jesus' point is that if believers sincerely trust in God and truly realize the unlimited power that is available through such faith in Him, they will see His might powers at work." MacArthur
I love this, of course. But case in point: my daughter has just graduated from college and can not find a job in her chosen field. There has been much prayer on my part and hers, but seemingly to know avail. She has done everything she needs to do as far as applying, but nothing. So the question is, what are we doing wrong? How do we truly realize the unlimited power that is available to see His mighty powers?...Doesn't Jesus want the best for her? I was thinking, maybe, He wants to be sure that she (and I) realize that the amazing job he has in line for her is only from Him and not of her own doing, but a gift.
No more blogs for the next week in that we are on our way to Yosemite and I'll be (hopefully) doing my writing by hand to implement when I get back.
" Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David; hosanna in the highest!" v. 9-10
The highlighted part of the verse is only recorded in Mark and emphasizes that Jesus was fulfilling prophecy. Wow, a sharp contrast to what this same crowd would do to Him later!
"On the next day, when they had left Bethany, He became hungry, Seeing at a distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if perhaps He would find anything on it, and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. He said to it, 'May no one ever eat fruit from you again!'" v.12-14
I thought this seemed awful harsh for this poor fig tree - it wasn't the fig trees fault, after all. The fig tree was unique because usually when there were leaves there was fruit. But not this tree. The highlighted section, once again only Mark records, to let you know the unusual nature of this particular tree.
John MacArthur, "Jesus cursed the tree for its misleading appearance that suggested great productivity without providing it. It should have been full of fruit, but was barren. The fig tree was frequently an Old Testament type of the Jewish nation and in this instance Jesus used the tree by the road as a divine object lesson concerning Israel's spiritual hypocrisy and fruitlessness."
Next Jesus goes to chase the sellers out of the temple and says, "My House shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations." v. 17 The highlighted part, only recorded in Mark, was taken from Isaiah 56:7, and was addressing the gentiles. Jesus was in the only part of the temple where Gentiles were permitted to be.
Now, my favorite part of the chapter, " Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him. Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them and they will be granted you." v.23-24
"Jesus' point is that if believers sincerely trust in God and truly realize the unlimited power that is available through such faith in Him, they will see His might powers at work." MacArthur
I love this, of course. But case in point: my daughter has just graduated from college and can not find a job in her chosen field. There has been much prayer on my part and hers, but seemingly to know avail. She has done everything she needs to do as far as applying, but nothing. So the question is, what are we doing wrong? How do we truly realize the unlimited power that is available to see His mighty powers?...Doesn't Jesus want the best for her? I was thinking, maybe, He wants to be sure that she (and I) realize that the amazing job he has in line for her is only from Him and not of her own doing, but a gift.
No more blogs for the next week in that we are on our way to Yosemite and I'll be (hopefully) doing my writing by hand to implement when I get back.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Mark 10
"Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." v.25
Words to heed on our quest for the "American Way of Life". Wealth tends to breed self-sufficiency and a false sense of security, leading those who have it to imagine they do not need Christ. My husband and I were just talking about this the other day. With the year anniversary of Michael Jackson's death, we were talking about other "kings": King of Rock n Roll died at 42, King of Country, Hank Williams, Princess of the people, Princess Diana, Queen of the bomb-shells, Marilyn Monroe, Queen of MGM musicals, Judy Garland, and numerous others that died young. These people were rich and famous but lived very short, tortured lives, leaning on money and fame rather than Christ. Outside of Elvis, I'm pretty sure none of the rest got to enter the kingdom of heaven; the earth was their reward.
However, Jesus did say, "With people it is impossible, but not with god; for all things are possible with God." v.27
I learned from my commentary, "The Jews believed that with alms a man purchased salvation, so the more wealth one had, the more alms he could give, the more sacrifices and offerings he could offer, thus purchasing redemption." Wow, what a prison! There are religions today that pose as Christian, like Jehovah Witnesses, Mormon, that believe the same way.
The passage just before this one talks about divorce and how if you leave your spouse - except for infidelity on his part - and remarry, you commit adultery. - Well, I'm sunk! LOL - It was just one more example that it is impossible for us to be without sin, and our salvation lies only in a relationship with Christ and not of ourselves. "With people it is impossible, but not with God;"...our hope, my hope is in Him.
Starting in v. 35 we see James and John asking to sit at the right and left side of Jesus in Glory. Jesus challenges them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized? They said to Him, We are able." And Jesus said to them, " The cup that I drink you shall drink; and you shall be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized. But to sit on My right or on My left, this is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." v.38-40
In other words, Jesus is talking about His torture, His death; and indeed, James and John did in fact endure suffering, torture and death. But these things would have to be for the Love of Jesus and of God because they would not be able to earn the honors they were seeking. "Honors in the kingdom are bestowed not on the basis of selfish ambition, but of divine sovereign will." MacArthur.
In actuality, the whole of salvation in strictly an act of divine sovereign will. No pulling up of your own boot straps.
Words to heed on our quest for the "American Way of Life". Wealth tends to breed self-sufficiency and a false sense of security, leading those who have it to imagine they do not need Christ. My husband and I were just talking about this the other day. With the year anniversary of Michael Jackson's death, we were talking about other "kings": King of Rock n Roll died at 42, King of Country, Hank Williams, Princess of the people, Princess Diana, Queen of the bomb-shells, Marilyn Monroe, Queen of MGM musicals, Judy Garland, and numerous others that died young. These people were rich and famous but lived very short, tortured lives, leaning on money and fame rather than Christ. Outside of Elvis, I'm pretty sure none of the rest got to enter the kingdom of heaven; the earth was their reward.
However, Jesus did say, "With people it is impossible, but not with god; for all things are possible with God." v.27
I learned from my commentary, "The Jews believed that with alms a man purchased salvation, so the more wealth one had, the more alms he could give, the more sacrifices and offerings he could offer, thus purchasing redemption." Wow, what a prison! There are religions today that pose as Christian, like Jehovah Witnesses, Mormon, that believe the same way.
The passage just before this one talks about divorce and how if you leave your spouse - except for infidelity on his part - and remarry, you commit adultery. - Well, I'm sunk! LOL - It was just one more example that it is impossible for us to be without sin, and our salvation lies only in a relationship with Christ and not of ourselves. "With people it is impossible, but not with God;"...our hope, my hope is in Him.
Starting in v. 35 we see James and John asking to sit at the right and left side of Jesus in Glory. Jesus challenges them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized? They said to Him, We are able." And Jesus said to them, " The cup that I drink you shall drink; and you shall be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized. But to sit on My right or on My left, this is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." v.38-40
In other words, Jesus is talking about His torture, His death; and indeed, James and John did in fact endure suffering, torture and death. But these things would have to be for the Love of Jesus and of God because they would not be able to earn the honors they were seeking. "Honors in the kingdom are bestowed not on the basis of selfish ambition, but of divine sovereign will." MacArthur.
In actuality, the whole of salvation in strictly an act of divine sovereign will. No pulling up of your own boot straps.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Mark 9
The transfiguration. A lot goes into this and even more to take from it.
Before Peter, James and John, Jesus is transfigured into gleaming white and radiance and is joined by Moses and Elijah. I wrote to a pastor friend for help with the significance of this. His words:
"The Jews often called the Scriptures the "Law and the Prophets." Jesus Himself used the phrase in that way (Matt 22:40). Moses was considered the human author of the Law as he was the writer of the first five books of the Bible. Elijah was the most notable historical prophet, though he did not write a prophetic book like Isaiah, Jeremiah, etc. To have the two of them together would have been a testimony to the Jews that the Scriptures were pointing to and being fulfilled in Jesus. That's the message behind their appearance to Christ in the transfiguration: they foretold of His coming and His life and works were totally fulfilling their prophecies -- which countered the accusations from the Scribes and Pharisees that Jesus was somehow living outside the Law (by eating with sinners!) and had no connection to the prophecies that foretold the Messiah."
Another very confusing, for me, part of the chapter is verse 11: "Elijah must come first." (It turns out that I really had no idea about who or the significance of Elijah until now.)
My same pastor friend, "... goes back to the prophet Malachi (ch's 3 & 4) who promised that an un-named messenger would precede the Messiah's coming (3:1), and that Elijah specifically would come before the big day of judgment (4:5). Jesus said that John fulfilled Malachi's prophecy about the coming messenger (Luke 7:27) and many believe that Revelation 11 speaks of Elijah and records the fulfillment of Malachi's prophecy about the great prophet's actual return in the very last days. I would agree with that expectation. John came in the "spirit and power of Elijah" in that he was a great prophet, really, the "Last of the Great Old Testament Prophets" and in God's eyes his importance was ranked up there with the most notable."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transfiguration_(Raphael) A picture we are all very familiar with. The painting also shows the next part of the chapter, starting with verse 14 where a demon-possessed boy is delivered. The disciples could not rid the boy of the spirit, Jesus needed to do it. We are reminded here that we need to go to Christ and God's power for help in life.
The father of the boy says to Jesus, "But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us". v. 22
Jesus' reply, " 'If You can?' All things are possible to him who believes." v. 23.
I need to heed the father's response, "I do believe, help my unbelief." v.24
My doubting, goes without saying. Regularly I need to admit to Jesus that I am doubting but want so much to believe and trust Him. I am a worrier to the 10th degree and that essentially is unbelief that Jesus is in control and hears my prayers. I can't even go into my worries, they are numerous - they keep me awake at night. From having kids in college and one looking to start her career, to if the motorhome will fit into the campsite in Yosemite, to what day shall I pay a particular bill, etc. Ridiculous.
"Father, I do believe. Help my unbelief."
My last comment on this chapter. v. 40 (This chapter has taken me all week.) "For he who is not against us is for us."
But by the same token, "He who is not with Me is against Me;and he who does not gather with Me, scatters." Mt 12:30.
Father, I do believe; help my unbelief.
Before Peter, James and John, Jesus is transfigured into gleaming white and radiance and is joined by Moses and Elijah. I wrote to a pastor friend for help with the significance of this. His words:
"The Jews often called the Scriptures the "Law and the Prophets." Jesus Himself used the phrase in that way (Matt 22:40). Moses was considered the human author of the Law as he was the writer of the first five books of the Bible. Elijah was the most notable historical prophet, though he did not write a prophetic book like Isaiah, Jeremiah, etc. To have the two of them together would have been a testimony to the Jews that the Scriptures were pointing to and being fulfilled in Jesus. That's the message behind their appearance to Christ in the transfiguration: they foretold of His coming and His life and works were totally fulfilling their prophecies -- which countered the accusations from the Scribes and Pharisees that Jesus was somehow living outside the Law (by eating with sinners!) and had no connection to the prophecies that foretold the Messiah."
Another very confusing, for me, part of the chapter is verse 11: "Elijah must come first." (It turns out that I really had no idea about who or the significance of Elijah until now.)
My same pastor friend, "... goes back to the prophet Malachi (ch's 3 & 4) who promised that an un-named messenger would precede the Messiah's coming (3:1), and that Elijah specifically would come before the big day of judgment (4:5). Jesus said that John fulfilled Malachi's prophecy about the coming messenger (Luke 7:27) and many believe that Revelation 11 speaks of Elijah and records the fulfillment of Malachi's prophecy about the great prophet's actual return in the very last days. I would agree with that expectation. John came in the "spirit and power of Elijah" in that he was a great prophet, really, the "Last of the Great Old Testament Prophets" and in God's eyes his importance was ranked up there with the most notable."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transfiguration_(Raphael) A picture we are all very familiar with. The painting also shows the next part of the chapter, starting with verse 14 where a demon-possessed boy is delivered. The disciples could not rid the boy of the spirit, Jesus needed to do it. We are reminded here that we need to go to Christ and God's power for help in life.
The father of the boy says to Jesus, "But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us". v. 22
Jesus' reply, " 'If You can?' All things are possible to him who believes." v. 23.
I need to heed the father's response, "I do believe, help my unbelief." v.24
My doubting, goes without saying. Regularly I need to admit to Jesus that I am doubting but want so much to believe and trust Him. I am a worrier to the 10th degree and that essentially is unbelief that Jesus is in control and hears my prayers. I can't even go into my worries, they are numerous - they keep me awake at night. From having kids in college and one looking to start her career, to if the motorhome will fit into the campsite in Yosemite, to what day shall I pay a particular bill, etc. Ridiculous.
"Father, I do believe. Help my unbelief."
My last comment on this chapter. v. 40 (This chapter has taken me all week.) "For he who is not against us is for us."
But by the same token, "He who is not with Me is against Me;and he who does not gather with Me, scatters." Mt 12:30.
Father, I do believe; help my unbelief.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Mark 8
Jesus is teaching His disciples, "...that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. And He was stating the matter plainly." v.31-32
The disciples, especially Peter, did not want to believe that the Messiah was going to die. But they, like the world today didn't hear the whole message...He would rise again after three days. Jesus always includes the two together: the death and resurrection. The gospel message means nothing without the two being together. The resurrection is just as important if not more than the death on the cross. It is in His resurrection that He appears to Paul, the apostle that wrote most the New Testament. To not believe in the resurrection, is not to be a Christian because it is the completion of the whole story as prophesied in the Old Testament.
These next words are very well known, but takes faith in Jesus Christ to pull off:
"If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. for whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? v. 34-36
These things are not natural for us. We naturally want the world and want attention on us. We are selfish. What Jesus is asking here is impossible without a personal relationship with Him. We cannot will ourselves to deny ourselves and our love of the world. It takes a supernatural strength only given by spending time with Him in prayer and in His word.
The disciples, especially Peter, did not want to believe that the Messiah was going to die. But they, like the world today didn't hear the whole message...He would rise again after three days. Jesus always includes the two together: the death and resurrection. The gospel message means nothing without the two being together. The resurrection is just as important if not more than the death on the cross. It is in His resurrection that He appears to Paul, the apostle that wrote most the New Testament. To not believe in the resurrection, is not to be a Christian because it is the completion of the whole story as prophesied in the Old Testament.
These next words are very well known, but takes faith in Jesus Christ to pull off:
"If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. for whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? v. 34-36
These things are not natural for us. We naturally want the world and want attention on us. We are selfish. What Jesus is asking here is impossible without a personal relationship with Him. We cannot will ourselves to deny ourselves and our love of the world. It takes a supernatural strength only given by spending time with Him in prayer and in His word.
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