Read Today's Passage
Wow. There is a lot of ground covered in today's chapter. Did your head feel full after reading? I know that mine did. I didn't know where to start. So after re-reading in another translation, and checking out a few commentaries, I figured I would start at the beginning.
Divorce is such a heavy subject. To quote the current statistics, the divorce rate amongst Christians is just as high as those who do not claim to be Christians. Right around 50% (it might be higher now). And when the Pharisees try to trap Jesus with a legal question, He turns it on them to show that God never intended for divorce to happen. Only human sinfulness created a desire for divorce. Can God forgive those who go through with divorce? Of course! But we should never enter into a marriage with divorce as an option (Pleasepleasepleaseplease hear me on this. I am not a proponent for staying in an abusive marriage. Just note that here I am merely offering my thoughts on Jesus' position of divorce). Unfortunately this word is broken, and there are times when divorce is the only resolution to a marriage gone horribly wrong. (This could be a good reason to not align ourselves with someone who does not follow God, eh)? But God never desired to see it happen according to Jesus. This could be an entire sermon series, but I'll end my thoughts there for today.
Mark liked to point out when Jesus spoke highly of children! Pretty cool that in a culture where children are no more than property, Mark shows Jesus showering them with attention and reverence. Though after the rich man goes away disappointed that Jesus told him to sell all he owns and follow Him to gain eternal life, Jesus calls His disciples children. Was that just a reference to their own stature in the Kingdom (God's children), or was Jesus using that to tell them they were not thinking as they should? Hmmm...
And that rich man, he reminds me of myself at times. Here is a man who has so much and unfortunately is fixated on it so much that it has become an idol to him, getting in the way of his following after Jesus. And though I do not have much by American standards, I have enough that can get in my way. It is a rough reminder to see someone else called to the carpet for their reluctance to give things in their life over to Jesus.
Two last questions to ponder. Why did Jesus not tell Bartimeus that he could not follow Him? He told him to go, but after Bartimeus started following Him He did not tell him to go away.
And two, How do you suppose we twist verses 29-31 to meet our desires?
What do you think?
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2 comments:
To think of loosing a body part to avoid sin is really crazy. It's so remote from our thinking that it is hard to relate to. But the conviction to leave possessions is a much stronger challenge since we could cut them off but can't because we are too attached. If you are renting be glad that you don't have the responsibility of owning a house. Once you own a house there is constantly someone or some project that needs your time or money because you are responsible for your house. If you are renting, you don't have to worry about anything except the rent, utilities, and maybe the lawn. Once you invest in something like a house or a farm it is hard to just get up and go. But wow, this is America, here we have trouble getting rid of our junk!! How much more trouble do we have letting go of our nice possessions? We are the rich man, a rich company run by greedy politicians and greedier corporations. The disciples ask, "then who can be saved?" and we wonder the same thing about the people in our country. So I read verse 26 and look for circumstances where change has taken place that was certainly God because it is impossible. I can't think of any specifics right now but maybe I will later. .
this chapter was kinda confuzing but i understand
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