Mark 9:38-50
Length: 20:42
This is a message given on September 27, 2009 at the Bowdertown United Methodist Church.
Our scripture reading this morning continues with the theme we saw last week. That is of humility and being like children.
After Jesus’ teaching about humility, John’s conscience was obviously bothered by something he had done or witnessed. So John speaks up and explains they had caught someone casting out demons in the name of Jesus and they tried to prevent the man from doing that because he was not a part of their group.
Apparently Jewish exorcisms were relatively common. This man was using the name of Jesus to cast out demons. This isn’t surprising because Jewish exorcists used the names of powerful historical people to perform their rituals.
The surprising thing here is the fact that using Jesus’ name worked! This tells us that the unnamed exorcist was not a fraud, but was a true believe in Jesus Christ. John and the other disciples opposed this man because they didn’t know him. He wasn’t openly and officially a member of their group.
Jesus ordered them not to hinder the exorcist. “Anyone who is sincerely working for me, in my name, is not going to quickly and easily turn from me.”
There is no neutral ground with Jesus. Those who are not against Him are on His side, but by the same token, those who are not with Him are against Him. Jesus considers acts of kindness done to His followers as if you were doing that act of kindness to Jesus himself.
The point of this passage is not really about denominations as we know them today, however, the application is there. Just because we aren’t Lutherans or Catholics doesn’t me we should try to shut those churches down.
Just because someone doesn’t follow all the rules of the United Methodist Book of Discipline doesn’t mean they aren’t a follower of Christ. Allegiance to Jesus is essential to fellowship. It is a call to cooperate with others to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ.
The Catholics claim Peter as their founding father. That is great. The Baptists claim John the Baptist is their founding father, therefore, that makes them better. Well you know what?
As you saw in our Scripture last week, we shouldn’t be having discussions about which one of us is better. We are all followers of Jesus Christ right? Then let us all humble ourselves and serve God.
Back to our Scripture, Jesus moves from discussing children to discussing discipleship. God takes care of His children as a father cares for his children. Anyone who messes with your child is going to be in trouble, right? God feels the same way about us.
Anyone who tries to trick or trip up a Christian is going to be in a lot of trouble. Jesus said it would be better if a millstone was hung around his neck and cast into the sea. A millstone was a huge stone that was used to grind grain.
This would be a horrifying death. The person would sink to the bottom of the sea real quick and there would be no chance of escape or survival. Even this type of death would be better than what will happen to you if you lead a believer into sin.
Now living in this world today, we cannot possible avoid all temptation to sin. But we cannot avoid the personal responsibility when we are the cause of another person to stumble. We also cannot avoid the responsibility of our own sin. We cannot say the devil made me do it.
Jesus then talks about body parts that “cause” you to sin and removing them. Normally and most often I take a literal view of what the Bible says. This is one of those cases where we are to interpret what Jesus is saying figuratively.
No amount of self-mutilation can deal with sin, it is a matter of the heart. Jesus is simply emphasizing the seriousness of sin and the need to deal with it appropriately, drastically, and immediately. This is simply a call to repentance, a change of life.
Jesus also gives us a very vivid description of Hell here. Gehenna, which is the name of a valley south of Jerusalem, had a garbage dump where a fire was constantly burning. The smell was no doubt repulsive and the heat would have been intense. This became a picture of God’s eternal place of punishment.
Finally, in verse 49, we see a difficult statement from Jesus. “For everyone will be salted with fire.” Verse 50 tells us salt is good, but verse 48 tells us fire is bad! So which is it?
Salt was an essential ingredient in early days before refrigeration. It preserved food. Today, we pretty much just use salt to increase our blood pressure!
There have been many different interpretations about this saying. The way I understand it is you can either suffer with and for Jesus now or you will suffer later and eternally if you aren’t walking with Him.
We know that believers will suffer while working for Jesus in this world and we are purified through that suffering and persecution. When Jesus says to have salt in yourself He is saying that the work of the Word of God and the Spirit of God in your life will produce Godliness and will enable you to act as a preservative in the world.
So what do we get out of Jesus’ teachings this morning?
For one thing, we share a common faith with other Christians, no matter what denomination. And since we share the common faith we also share a common goal. That is to live and proclaim the Word of God.
Correct theology is important, but should not be an excuse to avoid doing what we are supposed to be doing for God. People who are on Jesus’ side have the same goal and our personal differences should not interfere with that divine mandate.
Finally, Jesus used extremely distributing language to stress the importance of removing sin from our lives. Painful discipline is always required of true and faithful followers of Jesus Christ. It might require us to give up a job, a relationship, or a habit that is pulling us away from God. Nothing should stand in the way of our faith.
As salt makes a difference in the way food tastes, we too should make a difference in the lives of those people that we come into contact with. When we lose that desire to salt the earth with the Gospel, then we become useless to God.
Think about how you can make a difference this week. Think about how you can be salt to this world.
Closing Prayer
Lord, help make us the salt of the earth. Help us to make a difference in our surroundings. Help us to reach out to others in faith to minister to the world. Most importantly, help us to recognize and remove the sin from our lives. Help us to truly be salty people. AMEN
Monday, September 28, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Humility
Mark 9:30-37
Length: 20:23
This is a message given on September 20, 2009 at the Bowdertown United Methodist Church.
At the beginning of Mark chapter 9 we read about the transfiguration of Christ. We studied this a few months ago on transfiguration Sunday, so we can skip over it this morning. When Peter, James, John, and Jesus return from that mountaintop experience, they see a large crowd arguing with the other 9 disciples.
Jesus asks what the argument is about. A man speaks up and says, “Teacher I brought my son to your disciples to be healed from his demon possession, but they could not do it.” The father admitted his lack of faith and asked Jesus to increase his faith. Jesus did and commanded the demon to leave the boy alone and it does. The boy is healed.
The crowd starts to grow large, again, not because they want to follow Jesus to eternal life, but because they wanted their physical needs met. Jesus was still following His heavenly timetable. He knew he needed to continue privately preparing the disciples for what was about to come.
So He took the disciples and starting heading through Galilee to Capernaum. The cross is now only a few months away. On the way to Capernaum, Jesus again gives a clear prediction of His death and resurrection.
Even though Jesus clearly stated this prediction, the disciples still did not fully understand and they were afraid to ask Him for further clarification. It wasn’t all their fault though. The parallel account in the Gospel of Luke says that the full meaning was hidden from them. So there is some divine concealment here.
As they continue their journey some discussions arise among the 12 disciples. The discussion or more likely a debate was about which one of them would be the greatest in heaven. Can you believe that?
Here are the future leaders of the Christian church talking themselves up, all while Christ is talking about His impending death. In fact, this was the first of three times that the disciples have this discussion, this debate, this argument if you will about being the greatest.
Quite possibly this discussion broke out because of the privilege that Peter, James, and John had in witnessing the transfiguration of Christ. This discussion also shows the difficulty with which even the disciples had in understanding and practicing the teachings of Christ.
Jesus, knowing their thoughts, asks them what they were discussing. The disciples were of course a little embarrassed to admit their topic of conversation, so they remain silent. Finally, according to the parallel account in the Gospel of Matthew, one of the disciples asks Jesus the question: Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
This question would become more important to them. As I mentioned this is the first time of three that they discuss this question. This was also a common discussion among the religious teachers of the day.
The attitude behind this question is the same attitude that many people still experience today: egoism. It is natural to most people. Most people want to be first in line, they want to have the best seats in the theater, they want the biggest piece of pie.
Egoism is nothing new or unique to us, nor to the people of Jesus’ day. Think back to the beginning, the very beginning with Eve. Why did she eat the fruit? She was deceived into believing she could be like God. She though she would be in charge and she could determine her destiny.
Egoism causes arrogance, selfishness, war, greed, jealousy, and many other evils. Our culture today pretty much accepts it as normal human behavior. It is very widespread and ingrained throughout our lives.
But here, almost 2000 years ago, we see the 12 disciples arguing about which will be the greatest. Who is the best, who is first? Who will get to sit on Jesus’ right and left hand side? No doubt, each disciple could make his case for being the greatest, although each had their weaknesses and failures as well.
So Jesus introduces them to something called humility. “The first shall be last and the last shall be first.” It is through humility that Jesus sees our value, our worth. No doubt, all people are precious to Jesus, but the greatest among us will be the servant of all. As we humble ourselves before God, he will exalt us.
The idea of humility is very easy for us to understand, but it is extremely difficult to put into practice consistently. Most of us have no problem believing that Jesus loves us. The problem we have is believing that Jesus loves our neighbor as well.
To help further clarify His point, Jesus embraces a child and probably sits the child on His lap. Jesus tells the disciples they need to be like children to enter the kingdom of heaven. Jesus is warning the 12 and us as well, unless you change your attitude, you will not make it into the Kingdom of Heaven.
Notice, Jesus doesn’t say childish, but rather He says childlike. Children are totally dependant upon their parents to provide for them. That is the way we need to be with God. Sure God expects us to do stuff for ourselves. But He is the one who ultimately provides and cares for us.
Children are trusting by nature. They trust adults, and through that trust their capacity to trust God grows. God holds parents and other adults who influence young children accountable for how they affect these children’s lives.
How about you? Are you humble? God humbled the disciples many times and He gave Paul a thorn in his side to keep him humble.
Do you serve God or do the things you do, so you can be lifted up and praised and honored? Or do you do the things you do for God. To lift Him up, to honor Him, to give Him the glory.
Do you love your neighbor? Jesus does. What about children? Do you influence children in godly ways?
These are some things to think about as you go about your business this week.
Closing Prayer
Lord, help us to be humble people. Help us to serve others out of love and compassion. Help us to lift you up and give you the glory. Strengthen us so that we may do your will. Watch over our children and enable us to teach them and raise them according to your standards. AMEN
Length: 20:23
This is a message given on September 20, 2009 at the Bowdertown United Methodist Church.
At the beginning of Mark chapter 9 we read about the transfiguration of Christ. We studied this a few months ago on transfiguration Sunday, so we can skip over it this morning. When Peter, James, John, and Jesus return from that mountaintop experience, they see a large crowd arguing with the other 9 disciples.
Jesus asks what the argument is about. A man speaks up and says, “Teacher I brought my son to your disciples to be healed from his demon possession, but they could not do it.” The father admitted his lack of faith and asked Jesus to increase his faith. Jesus did and commanded the demon to leave the boy alone and it does. The boy is healed.
The crowd starts to grow large, again, not because they want to follow Jesus to eternal life, but because they wanted their physical needs met. Jesus was still following His heavenly timetable. He knew he needed to continue privately preparing the disciples for what was about to come.
So He took the disciples and starting heading through Galilee to Capernaum. The cross is now only a few months away. On the way to Capernaum, Jesus again gives a clear prediction of His death and resurrection.
Even though Jesus clearly stated this prediction, the disciples still did not fully understand and they were afraid to ask Him for further clarification. It wasn’t all their fault though. The parallel account in the Gospel of Luke says that the full meaning was hidden from them. So there is some divine concealment here.
As they continue their journey some discussions arise among the 12 disciples. The discussion or more likely a debate was about which one of them would be the greatest in heaven. Can you believe that?
Here are the future leaders of the Christian church talking themselves up, all while Christ is talking about His impending death. In fact, this was the first of three times that the disciples have this discussion, this debate, this argument if you will about being the greatest.
Quite possibly this discussion broke out because of the privilege that Peter, James, and John had in witnessing the transfiguration of Christ. This discussion also shows the difficulty with which even the disciples had in understanding and practicing the teachings of Christ.
Jesus, knowing their thoughts, asks them what they were discussing. The disciples were of course a little embarrassed to admit their topic of conversation, so they remain silent. Finally, according to the parallel account in the Gospel of Matthew, one of the disciples asks Jesus the question: Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
This question would become more important to them. As I mentioned this is the first time of three that they discuss this question. This was also a common discussion among the religious teachers of the day.
The attitude behind this question is the same attitude that many people still experience today: egoism. It is natural to most people. Most people want to be first in line, they want to have the best seats in the theater, they want the biggest piece of pie.
Egoism is nothing new or unique to us, nor to the people of Jesus’ day. Think back to the beginning, the very beginning with Eve. Why did she eat the fruit? She was deceived into believing she could be like God. She though she would be in charge and she could determine her destiny.
Egoism causes arrogance, selfishness, war, greed, jealousy, and many other evils. Our culture today pretty much accepts it as normal human behavior. It is very widespread and ingrained throughout our lives.
But here, almost 2000 years ago, we see the 12 disciples arguing about which will be the greatest. Who is the best, who is first? Who will get to sit on Jesus’ right and left hand side? No doubt, each disciple could make his case for being the greatest, although each had their weaknesses and failures as well.
So Jesus introduces them to something called humility. “The first shall be last and the last shall be first.” It is through humility that Jesus sees our value, our worth. No doubt, all people are precious to Jesus, but the greatest among us will be the servant of all. As we humble ourselves before God, he will exalt us.
The idea of humility is very easy for us to understand, but it is extremely difficult to put into practice consistently. Most of us have no problem believing that Jesus loves us. The problem we have is believing that Jesus loves our neighbor as well.
To help further clarify His point, Jesus embraces a child and probably sits the child on His lap. Jesus tells the disciples they need to be like children to enter the kingdom of heaven. Jesus is warning the 12 and us as well, unless you change your attitude, you will not make it into the Kingdom of Heaven.
Notice, Jesus doesn’t say childish, but rather He says childlike. Children are totally dependant upon their parents to provide for them. That is the way we need to be with God. Sure God expects us to do stuff for ourselves. But He is the one who ultimately provides and cares for us.
Children are trusting by nature. They trust adults, and through that trust their capacity to trust God grows. God holds parents and other adults who influence young children accountable for how they affect these children’s lives.
How about you? Are you humble? God humbled the disciples many times and He gave Paul a thorn in his side to keep him humble.
Do you serve God or do the things you do, so you can be lifted up and praised and honored? Or do you do the things you do for God. To lift Him up, to honor Him, to give Him the glory.
Do you love your neighbor? Jesus does. What about children? Do you influence children in godly ways?
These are some things to think about as you go about your business this week.
Closing Prayer
Lord, help us to be humble people. Help us to serve others out of love and compassion. Help us to lift you up and give you the glory. Strengthen us so that we may do your will. Watch over our children and enable us to teach them and raise them according to your standards. AMEN
Monday, September 14, 2009
Who Do You Say I Am?
Mark 8:27-38
Length: 18:57
This is a message given on September 13, 2009 at the Bowdertown United Methodist Church.
As we now approach chapter 8 of the Gospel of Mark, we see some similar events take place in the life of Christ.
We see the feeding on the 4,000, which is very similar to the feeding of the five thousand, except the 4,000 are mostly if not all Gentiles.
After feeding the people, Jesus leaves and heads back to Jewish territory where the Pharisees and Sadducees confront Him again. They ask Jesus for a sign from Heaven to prove who He is. Jesus knows their wickedness, so He and His disciples leave the area.
On their way to Bethsaida, Jesus warns His disciples about the teachings of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herodians. Jesus then heals a blind man before we get into this mornings Scripture of Peter’s great confession.
As I have said in previous weeks, we are well in to Jesus’ third and final year of ministry. And the disciples still do not have a clear understanding about everything Jesus represents and does and will do.
After His prayer time, Jesus turns to His disciples and asks two questions. First, he asks “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” Now, Jesus already knows the answer to this question, so He really isn’t looking for an answer from the disciples. He is looking more for a response from them and to jump start their thinking about who He really is.
Of course, the disciples give an answer rather than a response. “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.”
Now for sure, Jesus’ characteristics resembled these people, or maybe we should better say that these people resembled Jesus’ characteristics. All of these people spoke the truth. They confronted the religious and political leaders of their day. And they all essentially got beat up for the things they said and did, for standing their ground for what is right and honorably to God.
After the disciples answer, Jesus asks the tough question, “But who do YOU say I am?” As usual Peter is the first to speak and often speaks for the group in general. Now, as you are aware, sometimes Peter says and does some stupid things. But this is one instant and in fact probably the best instance where Peter shines with God’s glory.
He says, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” You are the Messiah, the anointed one. You are Prophet, Priest, and King. You are alive, not some dead pagan idol. Jesus responds with a blessing upon Peter and the other disciples. They will be the leaders of His church.
This, by the way, is an important question. In fact, it is a question that everyone will need to answer. Who do you say Jesus is? The answer every person gives to this question will determine their eternal destiny.
After Peter’s confession, Jesus knows it is time to make known to His disciples who He really is and what must be done. Jesus has alluded to His death a number of times, but the disciples really did not pick up on the hint.
This confession of Peter’s really marks another turning point in the teaching of the disciples. From this point onward, Jesus makes clear to the disciples that He will be executed. As I have mentioned before, anytime Jesus talked about His death, He also spoke of His resurrection as well.
The disciples know that Jesus is the Messiah, but they don’t fully understand what that means yet. They think the Messiah is going to setup an earthly kingdom with a human army. However, they will really get a heavenly kingdom and a heavenly army.
They expect the Messiah to conquer Rome, when they will really get a risen Lord who conquers their sin. It will take time for them to learn this, but they do. Jesus’ death was necessary, not only to fulfill God’s plan but to pay for our sin.
After hearing Jesus plainly state that He must die, Peter takes Him aside and rebukes Him. “Never Lord!” You don’t have to die, surely that is not God’s plan. Jesus turns and says, “Get behind me Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.
Peter goes from being the rock to the stumbling block, all in a matter of minutes. Peter, who had just been praised for being God’s spokesman is now being condemned as Satan’s mouthpiece. Jesus’ sacrificial death was God’s plan and whoever opposed it was advocating Satan’s work whether they realized it or not.
Near the end of our Scripture lesson this morning, Jesus gives a few statements for us to live by. “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
“If anyone is ashamed of me and my words…the Son of Man will be ashamed of him.”
Those who reject the demands of discipleship prove themselves to be ashamed of Jesus Christ and the truth that he taught. Therefore, they are not redeemed from sin at all.
Who do you say Jesus is? Is He your Lord and Messiah? Jesus wants us to deny ourselves and follow Him. Stop trying to control your own life and destiny and let Him direct you. Christ knows us and this world better than we do, let Him be in control.
Closing Prayer
Lord, we thank you for this lesson this morning. It is so nice to read about the Apostle Peter and what a wonderful believing man he was. But it is comforting to hear, that even he screwed up sometimes.
Help us to learn the lessons that he did. Help us to obey Christ, to deny ourselves and follow him. Help us to set our minds on heavenly things this week, so that your power and glory may shine through us.
In Jesus name. AMEN.
Length: 18:57
This is a message given on September 13, 2009 at the Bowdertown United Methodist Church.
As we now approach chapter 8 of the Gospel of Mark, we see some similar events take place in the life of Christ.
We see the feeding on the 4,000, which is very similar to the feeding of the five thousand, except the 4,000 are mostly if not all Gentiles.
After feeding the people, Jesus leaves and heads back to Jewish territory where the Pharisees and Sadducees confront Him again. They ask Jesus for a sign from Heaven to prove who He is. Jesus knows their wickedness, so He and His disciples leave the area.
On their way to Bethsaida, Jesus warns His disciples about the teachings of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herodians. Jesus then heals a blind man before we get into this mornings Scripture of Peter’s great confession.
As I have said in previous weeks, we are well in to Jesus’ third and final year of ministry. And the disciples still do not have a clear understanding about everything Jesus represents and does and will do.
After His prayer time, Jesus turns to His disciples and asks two questions. First, he asks “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” Now, Jesus already knows the answer to this question, so He really isn’t looking for an answer from the disciples. He is looking more for a response from them and to jump start their thinking about who He really is.
Of course, the disciples give an answer rather than a response. “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.”
Now for sure, Jesus’ characteristics resembled these people, or maybe we should better say that these people resembled Jesus’ characteristics. All of these people spoke the truth. They confronted the religious and political leaders of their day. And they all essentially got beat up for the things they said and did, for standing their ground for what is right and honorably to God.
After the disciples answer, Jesus asks the tough question, “But who do YOU say I am?” As usual Peter is the first to speak and often speaks for the group in general. Now, as you are aware, sometimes Peter says and does some stupid things. But this is one instant and in fact probably the best instance where Peter shines with God’s glory.
He says, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” You are the Messiah, the anointed one. You are Prophet, Priest, and King. You are alive, not some dead pagan idol. Jesus responds with a blessing upon Peter and the other disciples. They will be the leaders of His church.
This, by the way, is an important question. In fact, it is a question that everyone will need to answer. Who do you say Jesus is? The answer every person gives to this question will determine their eternal destiny.
After Peter’s confession, Jesus knows it is time to make known to His disciples who He really is and what must be done. Jesus has alluded to His death a number of times, but the disciples really did not pick up on the hint.
This confession of Peter’s really marks another turning point in the teaching of the disciples. From this point onward, Jesus makes clear to the disciples that He will be executed. As I have mentioned before, anytime Jesus talked about His death, He also spoke of His resurrection as well.
The disciples know that Jesus is the Messiah, but they don’t fully understand what that means yet. They think the Messiah is going to setup an earthly kingdom with a human army. However, they will really get a heavenly kingdom and a heavenly army.
They expect the Messiah to conquer Rome, when they will really get a risen Lord who conquers their sin. It will take time for them to learn this, but they do. Jesus’ death was necessary, not only to fulfill God’s plan but to pay for our sin.
After hearing Jesus plainly state that He must die, Peter takes Him aside and rebukes Him. “Never Lord!” You don’t have to die, surely that is not God’s plan. Jesus turns and says, “Get behind me Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.
Peter goes from being the rock to the stumbling block, all in a matter of minutes. Peter, who had just been praised for being God’s spokesman is now being condemned as Satan’s mouthpiece. Jesus’ sacrificial death was God’s plan and whoever opposed it was advocating Satan’s work whether they realized it or not.
Near the end of our Scripture lesson this morning, Jesus gives a few statements for us to live by. “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
“If anyone is ashamed of me and my words…the Son of Man will be ashamed of him.”
Those who reject the demands of discipleship prove themselves to be ashamed of Jesus Christ and the truth that he taught. Therefore, they are not redeemed from sin at all.
Who do you say Jesus is? Is He your Lord and Messiah? Jesus wants us to deny ourselves and follow Him. Stop trying to control your own life and destiny and let Him direct you. Christ knows us and this world better than we do, let Him be in control.
Closing Prayer
Lord, we thank you for this lesson this morning. It is so nice to read about the Apostle Peter and what a wonderful believing man he was. But it is comforting to hear, that even he screwed up sometimes.
Help us to learn the lessons that he did. Help us to obey Christ, to deny ourselves and follow him. Help us to set our minds on heavenly things this week, so that your power and glory may shine through us.
In Jesus name. AMEN.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Do YOU Get It?
Mark 7:24-37
Length: 15:31
This is a message given on September 6, 2009 at the Bowdertown United Methodist Church.
Our Scripture this morning involves two different episodes in the life of Christ. The healing of the Syro-Phoenician woman’s daughter and the healing in Decapolis.
As we saw last week, the Pharisees and the crowd are becoming a little more hostile to Jesus and His disciples. So Jesus takes His disciples to Tyre for some private time, where He can further instruct and prepare His disciples for the future.
Somehow, this Syro-Phoenician women, a Greek gentile, finds Jesus and requests help for her daughter. She has a simple problem. Her daughter is demon-possessed. She knows Jesus can help her, even though she has no right coming to a Jew for help.
Essentially, this gentile women is asking to be blessed by the Jewish Messiah. The women asks Jesus for help, and she does it in a respectfully way and appealing to His Jewish heritage. Jesus hears this and wants her to understand who He really is before He will heal the daughter. So he initially rejects the request by ignoring her.
This seems strange to us. This does not sound like the kind, caring, compassionate Jesus that we all love and know and talk about. He has always helped those in need and this lady is way up there on the needy list. Her daughter is demon-possessed.
The women is persistent though and keeps bugging Jesus, following Him around, and begging and pleading for help. According to the parallel account in Matthew 15, the disciples become annoyed with this women and ask Jesus to address the situation.
The women leaves any pride and dignity she may have and comes to kneel and beg at the feet of Jesus to help her daughter. Jesus flat out tells her that His first responsibility was to preach the gospel to the children of Israel, the Jews.
He then equates her to a dog. To the Jews dogs were dirty animals and it was also a common term the Jews gave to Gentiles. So Jesus is calling this women a dirty dog! That really doesn’t sound like Jesus does it!
This woman was a Greek and the Greeks viewed dogs much like we do today, as wonderful pets and companions. The women responds by saying, even dogs receive table scrapes and crumbs right?
Now it all starts to make sense. Jesus came to preach to the Jews first, but this also meant that there would be a time for the Gentiles to receive God’s blessings as well. This women knew Jesus could help her daughter and now she also realize that she too could be a part of God’s Kingdom.
With this realization she is now ready to receive God’s blessings through Jesus and He is happy to grant her the healing she requested for her daughter. The daughter is healed. Now, this is not the first miracle done for the Gentiles, but it does make it clear that Gentile are part of God’s Kingdom.
The second portion of our Scripture this morning involves another healing and even into Mark chapter 8 we read about the feeding of the 4,000 people. There is really no new presentation of anything with these portions of Scripture.
The only difference we see is from this point on Jesus starts to include the Gentiles into more of His activities and teachings. We need to keep this in mind as we continue to study the life of Christ.
After healing the women’s daughter, Jesus leaves with His disciples to Decaoplis, another Gentile area. The last time He was in this area He cast out a demon and sent the demon into a herd of pigs which all killed themselves. The locals were a little upset and threw Jesus out of their city.
The townspeople heard Jesus was in the area and brought a deaf man, who could hardly talk, to see Jesus for healing. The man’s friends ask Jesus to help him. Jesus takes the man to a private area. Again, Jesus is on a heavenly time table and is not trying to impress crowds, rather He is trying to stir the faith of people.
Jesus puts His fingers in to the man’s ears and spits on His tongue. Then He prays, “Be Opened.” The man is immediately healed. He can hear and talk normally. Jesus commands the Gentiles as He did to the Jews, not to speak of this miracle to anyone.
Again, He did not come as a physical healer and provider. He came as Savior to the world. From the parallel account in Matthew 15, we read that large crowds came to him, bringing their lame, blind, and sick to Jesus for healing.
Just like the Jews, the Gentiles were coming to Jesus for those physical needs, not Spiritual needs. They too missed the point.
That is the question for you this morning, Have you missed the point? Jesus came to save sinners. That was His main purpose. Along the way he helped many people with their physical or mental troubles, but His goal was to save their souls.
Many people spend a lot of time ministering to the physical needs of the poor, sick, and dying, which is great. We should be doing that. But how much time do you spend ministering to the spiritual needs of people.
Think about it the next time you are ministering to the physical needs of someone, try adding a little Spiritual nourishment to the routine as well.
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank you for sending your son to us. Not to heal us or feed us physically or mentally. But to save us from our sin. Help us to convey that message to others we meet this week. As we come to your table this morning, enable us to truly recognize your hand in this world and in our lives. AMEN.
Length: 15:31
This is a message given on September 6, 2009 at the Bowdertown United Methodist Church.
Our Scripture this morning involves two different episodes in the life of Christ. The healing of the Syro-Phoenician woman’s daughter and the healing in Decapolis.
As we saw last week, the Pharisees and the crowd are becoming a little more hostile to Jesus and His disciples. So Jesus takes His disciples to Tyre for some private time, where He can further instruct and prepare His disciples for the future.
Somehow, this Syro-Phoenician women, a Greek gentile, finds Jesus and requests help for her daughter. She has a simple problem. Her daughter is demon-possessed. She knows Jesus can help her, even though she has no right coming to a Jew for help.
Essentially, this gentile women is asking to be blessed by the Jewish Messiah. The women asks Jesus for help, and she does it in a respectfully way and appealing to His Jewish heritage. Jesus hears this and wants her to understand who He really is before He will heal the daughter. So he initially rejects the request by ignoring her.
This seems strange to us. This does not sound like the kind, caring, compassionate Jesus that we all love and know and talk about. He has always helped those in need and this lady is way up there on the needy list. Her daughter is demon-possessed.
The women is persistent though and keeps bugging Jesus, following Him around, and begging and pleading for help. According to the parallel account in Matthew 15, the disciples become annoyed with this women and ask Jesus to address the situation.
The women leaves any pride and dignity she may have and comes to kneel and beg at the feet of Jesus to help her daughter. Jesus flat out tells her that His first responsibility was to preach the gospel to the children of Israel, the Jews.
He then equates her to a dog. To the Jews dogs were dirty animals and it was also a common term the Jews gave to Gentiles. So Jesus is calling this women a dirty dog! That really doesn’t sound like Jesus does it!
This woman was a Greek and the Greeks viewed dogs much like we do today, as wonderful pets and companions. The women responds by saying, even dogs receive table scrapes and crumbs right?
Now it all starts to make sense. Jesus came to preach to the Jews first, but this also meant that there would be a time for the Gentiles to receive God’s blessings as well. This women knew Jesus could help her daughter and now she also realize that she too could be a part of God’s Kingdom.
With this realization she is now ready to receive God’s blessings through Jesus and He is happy to grant her the healing she requested for her daughter. The daughter is healed. Now, this is not the first miracle done for the Gentiles, but it does make it clear that Gentile are part of God’s Kingdom.
The second portion of our Scripture this morning involves another healing and even into Mark chapter 8 we read about the feeding of the 4,000 people. There is really no new presentation of anything with these portions of Scripture.
The only difference we see is from this point on Jesus starts to include the Gentiles into more of His activities and teachings. We need to keep this in mind as we continue to study the life of Christ.
After healing the women’s daughter, Jesus leaves with His disciples to Decaoplis, another Gentile area. The last time He was in this area He cast out a demon and sent the demon into a herd of pigs which all killed themselves. The locals were a little upset and threw Jesus out of their city.
The townspeople heard Jesus was in the area and brought a deaf man, who could hardly talk, to see Jesus for healing. The man’s friends ask Jesus to help him. Jesus takes the man to a private area. Again, Jesus is on a heavenly time table and is not trying to impress crowds, rather He is trying to stir the faith of people.
Jesus puts His fingers in to the man’s ears and spits on His tongue. Then He prays, “Be Opened.” The man is immediately healed. He can hear and talk normally. Jesus commands the Gentiles as He did to the Jews, not to speak of this miracle to anyone.
Again, He did not come as a physical healer and provider. He came as Savior to the world. From the parallel account in Matthew 15, we read that large crowds came to him, bringing their lame, blind, and sick to Jesus for healing.
Just like the Jews, the Gentiles were coming to Jesus for those physical needs, not Spiritual needs. They too missed the point.
That is the question for you this morning, Have you missed the point? Jesus came to save sinners. That was His main purpose. Along the way he helped many people with their physical or mental troubles, but His goal was to save their souls.
Many people spend a lot of time ministering to the physical needs of the poor, sick, and dying, which is great. We should be doing that. But how much time do you spend ministering to the spiritual needs of people.
Think about it the next time you are ministering to the physical needs of someone, try adding a little Spiritual nourishment to the routine as well.
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank you for sending your son to us. Not to heal us or feed us physically or mentally. But to save us from our sin. Help us to convey that message to others we meet this week. As we come to your table this morning, enable us to truly recognize your hand in this world and in our lives. AMEN.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
