Tag Archive | like a child

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (2/5) Mark 9:30-50

Feb5

A 5-day per week study.

February 5– Reading Mark 9:30-50

Read and believe in Jesus.

And He said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”  Mark 9:35

.

The Gospel according to Mark 9:30-50.

Jesus and all his disciples are together again when Jesus heals the boy with the unclean spirit. This demon had been tormenting him with violent and murderous assaults, and the nine disciples alone could do nothing to help.  But Jesus released him and encouraged the father’s small belief.  Afterwards, Jesus told the disciples that this kind of spirit would come out only through totally concentrated, selfless prayer.

.

Vss. 30-32.

Jesus leads His disciples (a few elated by the incident on the Mount, and the rest subdued by their inability to help the boy) back through Galilee.  He didn’t want anyone to know He was there, because He had more to teach them. His time with them was growing short. He is heading more and more towards Jerusalem and His death.

For the second time, as they walked along, Jesus said, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him.  And when He is killed, after three days He will rise.”

This is very understandable to us, 2000 years AFTER the fact, but to the Twelve who believed Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah, this was nonsense.  Die?  No, their Messiah was to establish the Kingdom, defeat the Romans, and rule from Jerusalem!  They did not understand! And it seems they especially did not grasp what Jesus said about resurrection.

But after Jesus’ rebuke of Peter the last time He told them about His death, they were afraid to ask about it now.

.

Vss. 33-37.

As they walked, some of the disciples were arguing about another topic.  Again, it was related to the soon and hoped-for setting up of the Kingdom by their Messiah. When they were once again in Capernaum and safely ensconced in Peter’s home, Jesus quizzed them about it.

“What were you discussing on the way?”  (Wow, is there nothing that Jesus did not know about them??)

Again, they were silent, which was foolish because He already knew.  They had been arguing over who was the greatest.  Surely Peter was a contender, but the brothers, James and John, were also in the inner circle.  Did any of the other nine think they should be on top, too?

Jesus must have been so discouraged with them.  Hadn’t they learned anything about Him? Had they ever seen Him elevating Himself above everyone else?  Hadn’t they observed the Messiah as meek and lowly?  Sure, He taught the scriptures with authority! Sure, he commanded sickness and legions of demons, and they instantly obeyed Him. But had He asked any followers to bow to Him?

“If ANYONE would be first, he must be LAST of all … servant of all.

Then Jesus picked up a child (Peter’s niece or nephew?) and held him in His arms, smiling and perhaps tickling him.  And looking up to His men, He said, “Whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me, and whoever receives Me, receives not Me (only) but Him who sent Me.”

Jesus would say more on this, but John interrupted Him.

.

Vss. 38-41.

“Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.”  (Oh man, was John ever looking for a pat on the head and an “atta boy!”  He thought they had done well.  NOPE.  Also, was this a “dig” on the nine disciples who were UNABLE to cast out that demon?)

Jesus said, “Do NOT stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in My name will be able soon afterwards to speak evil of Me.  For the one who is not AGAINST us is FOR us.  For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.”

Huh?  John (or any of them) said nothing to this rebuke.  Truly, Jesus had a lot more to teach them!)

.

Vss. 42-50.

Again looking to the little one on His lap, Jesus said, “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.”

 

Okay, they understood that. But then, Jesus said,

“If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.”

What??

“And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off.  It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell.”

The disciples must have been stunned!

“AND, if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.  (See Isaiah 66:24)

What were they to make of this?  Surely self-mutilation was NOT what Jesus was teaching.  But sin is serious, whether it involves doing, going, or seeing.  They were to be brutal in eliminating it from their lives.  (Paul would later write, “Present our bodies as a living SACRIFICE, holy and acceptable to God. Do NOT be conformed to this world, but be transformed…  (See Romans 12:1-2)

 

Jesus continued, also thinking of sacrifice, “For everyone will be salted with fire.”

They all would be purified with suffering and persecution – not just Him – like the OT sacrifices that were often accompanied with salt.  Suffering?  Self-denial?  Sacrifice?  What kind of Kingdom was Jesus bringing?

“Salt is GOOD.  Have salt in YOURSELVES. And be at peace with one another.”   

Salt is a good preservative. Let the words of Christ enter and dwell in them (and us), cleansing, cauterising.  Then they will make a difference in the world … for Christ.

And, for goodness sake, STOP ARGUING among yourselves!

 

 

 

 

.

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 295

Oct22

  Day 295—We are in the TENTH month of Bible reading and studying the New Testament Gospels.

    Day 295 – Matthew 18 (parables, temptations to sin, forgiveness, when a brother sins)

Jesus’ disciples are at it again after Jesus tells Peter to fish for a coin out of a fish for the Temple Tax for Peter and Himself.  The rest want to know, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom?’

Maybe they were thinking that Peter was most favored; maybe they were thinking of the late, great Baptist…. or someone else.  Jesus surprised them by picking up a little child and perhaps settling it on His lap. 

“Truly, I say to you, unless you turn (repent) and become like children, you will never ENTER (let alone be greatest) in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the “greatest” in the kingdom of heaven.”

(NOTE: I need to be repentant and humble; childlike, not childish.)

Verse 6. “One of these little ones who believe in Me,”  Jesus warns them never to cause one to sin. 

Verse 10. “One of these little ones,”  Jesus says, “See that you do not despise one.”

Verse 14. “One of these little ones.” Jesus states firmly, “It is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one should perish. Their angels always see the face of my Father.” He illustrates this by telling a story where a man leaves 99 sheep to find a lost little one.

Verses 15-35.  Jesus teaches about sin and forgiveness; 1) what to do if a brother sins against you, 2) how many times are we to forgive a brother who sins against us, 3) the parable about being forgiven much and forgiving others, and 4) HOW to forgive one who sins against you. 

  1.  The steps of reconciliation with a Christian brother who sins against you are: First, go to him privately and talk about it. Second, take a couple believers with you and talk about it. Next, if it’s not resolved, tell the congregation of believers. Finally, if he still refuses to listen, separate him from the group of believers — until he repents — so the discord won’t spread.
  2. When Peter asks Jesus, ‘How many times do I have to forgive a brother who sins against me, seven times?’  You can almost hear Jesus sigh. Oh, Peter, how many times have I forgiven you just this week??  But He doesn’t say that. Instead, Jesus says a number – 490 times – which would be impossible to keep track of.  The point is, don’t keep track. Just forgive! Always.
  3. Jesus then tells them a parable about a servant who is forgiven a vast amount of money by a king ($4-6 million today), who then goes to a fellow servant who owes him a mere pocketful of cash.  The forgiven servant has no pity on the man and has him thrown into debtor’s prison till he can pay.  The king eventually hears what he did and rescinds his forgiveness, calling him “a wicked servant.” Then, this formerly debt-free but unforgiving man is jailed for about 150,000 years until he can pay HIS debt.  
  4. Jesus then looks around at his shocked disciples. “So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”