Tag: disciple

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Mark: If anyone has ears

Read: Mark 4

That day.

You remember.

That day when Jesus spoke to the crowds in pleasing parables that caused us to ponder.

That day.

We learned about scattering seeds, the very Word of God.

When we had to admit we didn’t really understand the depth and breadth of His teaching.

More than pleasant stories to share with children, Jesus taught in ways that no other prophet could.

He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that, “‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’” Mark 4:11-12

He points to Isaiah 6:9-10, just after Isaiah’s call and famous, “Here am I” quote.

Here we are. The secret to the kingdom of God in our hands.

You people who hear me, listen! Think carefully about what you are hearing. God will know how much to give you by how much you understand now. But he will give you more than you deserve. The people who have some understanding will receive more. But those who do not have much will lose even the small amount they have.” Mark 4:23-25

He will give more that we deserve. Amen!

Seeds. It’s all about seeds. Scattering seeds, growing seeds, the mustard seed. Jesus teaches and I suppose few understood, even the disciples were confused:

With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything. Mark 4:33-34

Thankfully, He explains the meaning and the disciples grow in knowledge and wisdom.

This is what caught my eye today. Just after these great teachings, the day comes to an end. Mark gives us a glimpse of a day in the life of Jesus.

That day when evening came.

That day they learned more in a moment that all of the teaching in parables and sideline explanations as they left the crowds behind and boarded their all familiar boats.

The storm is furious.

Jesus takes a nap.

The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. Mark 4:38-39

That day when we see Jesus with our own eyes and still wonder.

He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” Mark 4:40

Do we still have so little faith?

Make that day this day.

Make this day that day.

Don’t wait for Sunday.

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Mark: Jesus is Not Happy

Read: Mark 3:7-35

As the Pharisees began to plot against Jesus, the crowds are overflowing. Mark quickly lists the 12 disciples, then focuses on accusations about Jesus’ motivation. In my mind, this quickly gets ugly. Jesus has some strong words for those who are completely confused. At the same time, we are challenged to consider the sin for which there is no forgiveness. Think about that.

Side note: A zillion years ago, I was part of a group of men who reacted some parts of the Gospels as Jesus and his disciples. The part I was given was Simon the Zealot. You may be surprised at the casting call, but I was on active duty in the Air Force at the time. In those days, “bull in a china shop” was my moniker. I’ve lost a lot of that edge, but fondly remember having endless energy and boundless faith. Oh how I long for younger days!

Here’s a quick outline for the rest of chapter 3:

Of all those who followed Jesus, there were a select few called to be disciples:

Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted… Mark 3:13

Can you imagine? Were others disappointed? Or did it just make sense? I’m not convinced they really knew what they were getting into, but watching this man heal so many, hearing His words of compassion for the least, the lost and the lonely, learning how to serve God with fresh teaching, on and on–that must have been so overwhelming.

Jesus’ family and those who were teachers of the law had a different opinion:

When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.” And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.” Mark 3:21-22

Oh man, Jesus is not happy with being “handled” for sure, but I think He understands the confusion amongst His earthly family. However, the teachers of the law have just taken this a step too far. He tells a sensible parable to debunk their accusation that He is of Satan, then caps it off with this bold assertion:

Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.” Mark 3:28-29

Hear this clearly, teachers of the law, your slanderous words, your sinful desires, your relentless pursuit of knowledge without wisdom can all be forgiven, but calling the Son of God one who is from Satan is a bridge too far–you will not be forgiven if you hold onto this statement.

These men watched Jesus perform miraculous healing, yet their minds are so lost they would suggest this was of Satan. In my wild imagination, I can see the look Jesus gave them when He spoke those words. I see Him say each word carefully and distinctly as He looks at each of them. With that look, Jesus could have vaporized them, but He gives them a chance to withdraw, to change, to recant. Did some? Possibly. Clearly, there were many who were stained by this horrible misperception.

Lord help me to learn to listen without warping Your words. I long to be in that group that hears your voice, that sees your eyes, that watches you gesture and smile.

 

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Mark: Pharisees are Confused about Fasting and Lord of the Sabbath

Read: Mark 2:18-28

The Pharisees continue to rack up evidence against Jesus in these two observations: 1) Jesus’ disciples aren’t fasting like they’re supposed to, and 2) Jesus and his disciples broke the law by plucking some heads of grain on the Sabbath.

These two issues are dealt with directly:

Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast. Mark 2:19-20

He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? Mark 2:25

Both of these answers completely confused the Pharisees. They were so committed to their laws, their rules, their way of life, they were (most of them) unable to see the bigger picture.

Here’s a thought:

  • Why does God highlight the Pharisees in the Gospel record of Jesus’ life?
  • Why do we read so much about the Pharisees?

There is no doubt that Jesus was unhappy with the Pharisees–clearly they have misplaced priorities and have created a system of religion that is centered on their system rather than God. That’s not my question. Why focus so much attention on them?

Some of the reason has to be related to how we have built our version of the church versus the way Jesus intended the church to be built.

Church planting seems to be a big movement, or at least it appears so from my vantage point. Starting a new church when we have some 350,000 churches in this country doesn’t seem to make sense until you look at demographic reports and do the math. But what if 1,000 of these existing churches experienced reformation? This is part of Tom Planck’s vision for Healthy Growing Churches, creating a new culture, a transfusion of sorts, to reenergize the body of Christ by focusing on church health and multiplication. Growing the kingdom on earth today, one church at a time.

Are we willing to say we have become like the Pharisees?

What if we created a Pharisaical Assessment that graded individuals on their tendency toward being like the Pharisees? A score of 100 identifies those found in verses 18 and 24 of the reading above (and many others in the New Testament). This would be a challenging instrument to create for sure. In fact, just creating it would suggest that we have superior knowledge, that we are just a little bit holier than the other guy, so we would get Pharisaical points to start with! But we must ask ourselves the question: are we being like the Pharisees?

Please help me by creating this list of Pharisaical traits. We are acting like the Pharisees when we:

  • inappropriately quote Scripture
  • use scripture to defend our superior wisdom
  • fight about Bible translations
  • insist only paid staff baptize people
  • serve communion by officially ordained pastors
  • (fill in the blank)

Lord, I don’t want to be known as a Pharisee. It’s the least of my desires. How can I be a disciple maker if I tend toward being a Pharisee? How can I effectively share the Gospel, the compelling, crazy, life-changing story of Jesus, if I’m focused on man-made rules? Help me to see clearly when I’m acting proud and haughty, when I’ve elevated myself above others and lost sight of your desire for us to love God and love people more than any other law, commandment, or rule.

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Mark: Dinner with Sinners

Read: Mark 2:13-17

When was the last time you had dinner with sinners? When have I intentionally invited those who are regarded as sinful, shunned by the church, into my home to share a meal? Seriously. Consider the text:

While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Mark 2:15-16

This is not a narrative about feeding the homeless, though that’s a good thing to do, instead we see Jesus rubbing shoulders with those who were rejected by the Pharisees, the proverbial well-to-do people in society, business leaders, those with disposable income, titles, prestige, and all the trappings of a successful earthly life.

Jesus, knowing He will only be walking on earth for 1,200 days (or so), chose to invest one evening with this group. I suspect it was way more than one occasion–probably a common occurrence.

My rough calculations suggest I’ve had over 12,000 dinners as an adult. I know that our concept of dinner is much different than that of 2,000 years ago, but still, how many of those were intentionally set with successful people outside of the church? Honestly, I wonder if I know how to make friends with someone outside of church because I spend so much time inside the church.

On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Mark 2:17

In our modern society it takes about 10 years to become a medical doctor. Imagine becoming a physician that avoids patients. In an instant the Spirit of God can fill a life, change a person for eternity, no need for 10 years of school! In that same instant we can reach out and share the love of Christ around a dinner table, a cup of coffee, or _____ (fill in the blank).

I’m personally challenged by these few verses because I’m sure this happened frequently for John Mark and the disciples. Jesus, friend of sinners, ate with those who were far from God, who were eternally sick, though physically fine.

Lord, open my eyes to those who are far from You, those who are ill, but don’t know it. Show me how to have a relationship with them that will change their lives for eternity–for their benefit and for your glory!

 

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Mark: Jesus’ Ministry Begins

Read: Mark 1

John Mark wastes no time in getting into the story of Jesus’ earthly ministry. The NIV Study Bible notes summarizes his perspective like this:

Mark’s Gospel emphasizes more what Jesus did than what he said. Mark moves quickly from one episode in Jesus’ life and ministry to another.

No joke! In the first 13 verses we read about John the Baptist preparing the way, baptizing Jesus, then the passing reference to His wilderness experience. It’s as if John Mark wanted us to read the other Gospel accounts for more details–his focus was on action!

Take a few minutes to watch The Bible Project’s overview of the Gospel of Mark here:  https://thebibleproject.com/all-videos/?category=&q=mark

Jesus begins to speak into the ultimate Good News:

After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” Mark 1:14-15

Mark’s account of Jesus’ ministry begins with calling the disciples to follow Him, then rebuking an evil spirit while teaching in a synagogue. The people are overwhelmed at His actions:

The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” Mark 1:27

The time for complacency is over. No more frozen-chosen. Mark uses strong words of action in his account of Jesus ministry. In the passage above, Jesus speaks “sternly,” the spirit acts “violently,” and departs with a “shriek.” I’m reading the NIV, but the language is strong in whatever translation you prefer.

Jesus goes on to heal many, but it’s interesting that He starts with Peter’s mother-in-law:

So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them. Mark 1:31

Did you catch that? I missed it at first. Peter’s mother-in-law, i.e., Peter is married. Paul uses this as a teaching point for the Corinthians:

Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas? 1 Corinthians 9:5

At any rate, they are eyewitnesses to the miraculous healing touch of Jesus, in many ways. Jesus goes on to heal many (“the whole town”) and his earthly, physical body grows tired, so He seeks a solitary place to go and pray. This alone is a wonder and a great example for us to consider.  The disciples are so excited they seek out Jesus:

and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons. Mark 1:37-39

Many were healed and though Jesus asked them to keep quiet the news spread quickly and to the point where he “could no longer enter a town openly.” Makes sense to me!

John Mark was close to Simon Peter. Their lives were radically changed by Jesus. Though their personalities were quite different, there is no doubt that from this point on they were living on mission for the Gospel. How about us? Have we been radically moved? We know the rest of the story, how can we keep it to ourselves?

Lord, I pray we are all compelled to act, to spread the news of Jesus by reading the hyper-fast pace of Mark’s Gospel.

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The Rest of the Story: Jesus Has Risen

Read: Matthew 28

The last chapter of Matthew includes the key that separates us from all other religions: Jesus’ resurrection. No doubt, this is this pivot point in time for human existence.

The guards were scared to death, took their bribes from the chief priests and disappeared.

Mary and Mary were the first to discover the empty tomb and Matthew is unafraid to suggest that these women were the ones to carry the great news back to the disciples.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Matthew 28:5-6

Jesus doesn’t dwell on the event, after all, He told people, especially His disciples, this was the way it was going to happen. Instead, Matthew reports briefly on the resurrection and focuses on what we are to do with this information, how we should respond:

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

The phrasing here is significant to me. All authority has been conferred to Jesus–anything is possible at this point, there are no limits, no boundaries, no holding back. He could say, “mount your horses men, let’s take on the world!” With a whisper, the voice that calmed the sea could eliminate Roman rule and demand peace throughout the land. Literally anything.

The Savior of the world leaves us with clear direction: Go and make disciples.

He didn’t say go and plant churches, though that can be an effective method for discipleship.

He didn’t say go and write books, preach amazing sermons, or compose songs that melt hearts of stone, but when Christ is honored in these methods, these can be important elements of reaching the least, the lost and the lonely.

Jesus was pretty clear: Go and make disciples.

How we do that will be different for each individual, but it is not optional. Lord, help us to know how we can do our part of your great commission, how we go into this world, where we can be most effective for your kingdom here on earth. Remind us daily that this simple command is the gas in our tank, the drive in our engine, the reason for our brief appearance on earth in human flesh.

Thank you Lord for making it clear and concise. Let’s lock arms and go into the world!

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Matthew: Jesus’ Trial, Crucifixion and Burial

Read: Matthew 27

Not the end of the story.

Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed. So they bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor. Matthew 27:1-2

When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!” Matthew 27:24

Pilate played his part, ignored his wife’s admonition, and  washed his hands. “All the chief priests and the elders of the people” got their way. All. Sad. Completely deceived.

Jesus, now in the hands of Pilate’s soldiers, was treated with the utmost disrespect. From their perspective, this was just another man to execute. Like the priests and elders, the soldiers were lost in their world, out of touch with humanity. I know it’s horrible to compare priests with brutal soldiers, but both are representatives of systems contrived by humans for their own purpose, their own selfish desires.

Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is Jesus, the King of the Jews. Matthew 27:37

Priests, elders, soldiers — complete disrespect. Then the people, those wandering by to see the latest execution by crucifixion joined to add their voices, mocking Jesus.

In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. Matthew 27:41

The torture of crucifixion is not something to dwell on, though many have explained the agonizing, painfully slow process that always ends in death, one way or another. The soldiers knew the process, but this time something was different. When Jesus breathed his last, a series of events took place that defied explanation.

When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!” Matthew 27:54

Crucifixion complete, the centurion speaks in past tense. I wonder if this centurion was aware of the rest of the story. Surely he would have heard from the company of guards, but that’s the next chapter, I’m getting ahead of myself.

Pilate released Jesus’ body to Joseph of Arimathea, a rich man, probably one that Pilate was quick to appease.  Joseph provided burial clothes and a tomb for the body of Jesus.

The Jewish leaders were concerned that Jesus’ disciples, interestingly absent, would steal the body and assert he had risen as he predicted, so they pulled yet another puppet string on Pilate the governor:

“Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard. Matthew 27:65-66

As Paul Harvey would say, “the rest of the story” is yet to come. For today, I ponder the pitiful state of people at that time, lost in their selfishness. They couldn’t see the extent of their depravity–the deceiver had done his job well. Can we see ourselves? Are we like the elders?

It’s easy to say I’m not like the soldiers, but I’m reluctant to shout I’m not like the Jewish leaders. Raised in Christian tradition, I have been assimilated into the fold. So the challenge, my brothers and sisters in Christ, let us not be normal. We don’t walk in the footsteps of those who blindly follow protocol, but we’re not rebellious for the sake of rebelling.

The featured image on this post is truly strange. The photographer captured what appears to be a common site in Nepal, these Holy men of Pashupati. Grown men that are part of a ritualistic religious group we would be quick to disassociate ourselves with. I could have chosen a photo from the Vatican or NAMB, but this one was so extreme I thought it conveyed the point that men who appear wise in their own eyes look foolish to God.

Lord, my prayer is for clear vision this morning, to truly see what is before me. Help us to not be so caught up in our earthly systems that we miss the piece of heaven that is in front of us.

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Matthew: Plot, Betrayal, Arrest and Denial

Read: Matthew 26

The narrative captured in this chapter covers a wide range of activity during a short period of time. To be fair, this should be nine separate posts, but I’m not trying to write a commentary, simply point out some thoughts from reading through the Bible.

It’s interesting that Matthew provides the most words on The Last Supper in this chapter. Of all the topics he captured, we read 329 words about this event while the fewest words are used to describe Judas’ agreement to betray Jesus.

When Jesus was anointed with precious perfume in Bethany, I remember the words, “the poor you will always have with you” (Matthew 26:11), but today I was drawn to the beginning of the passage,

While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper Matthew 26:6

Jesus was known as the “friend of sinners,” but the significance of meeting in the home of one who is known as “Simon the Leper” escaped me. You simply can’t hang out with lepers! If leprosy.org is correct, the disease still affects more than 3 million people in over 100 countries around the world, and get this:

Scientists don’t fully understand how leprosy is spread.

Interesting, fun fact to enrich the day and give us some appreciation for the context of this occasion — Jesus is hanging out  in the home of a guy that previously had been infected with a mysterious disease that categorized people as unclean and unapproachable. Simon was healed by Jesus and was restored to his position in society, regained his home, but did not lose the label, “the Leper.” This was so common that Matthew lets it slip by as the introductory words for Jesus preparation for burial.

The Last Supper

To gain a Jewish perspective on the events in Jesus’ time on earth, I often venture over to chabad.org. With regard to the Passover celebration in particular, there are lots of steps and procedures to follow. Here’s the process I hope you’ll find interesting:

Ordered Freedom

  1. Sanctify
  2. Cleanse
  3. Appetizer
  4. Break
  5. Tell
  6. Wash
  7. Bread
  8. Matzah
  9. Bitter
  10. Wrap
  11. Set the Table
  12. Hidden
  13. Bless
  14. Praise
  15. Accepted

The disciples, mature Jewish followers of Yahweh knew the process even without the internet, but Jesus changes the final meal from one of anticipation for the “final exodus” to remembrance of His sacrifice.

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Matthew 26:26

We, the professional church people, have this quote engraved in our memory, but this was radically different for Jewish ears to hear. Jesus is the final sacrifice and the elaborate Passover celebration now has a completely new meaning. We’re no longer drinking wine and breaking Matzos crackers just to remember deliverance from Egypt, we’re now remembering His sacrifice for our ultimate escape from the bondage of sin.

At Hope Fellowship, we’re going through a sermon series on Exodus. I hope at some point we arrange to have a Seder meal, to take time to go through the rituals of our Jewish ancestors. It provides an interesting perspective and helps us consider the difficulties they faced in the Exodus. Powerful stuff. Perhaps then we’ll stop and think about “this is my body” with a new perspective and deeper appreciation.

This is a deep chapter that covers many topics. I hope you’ll find something you haven’t seen before as you read through the theme of Jesus’ last hours walking amongst us.

Grace and Peace.

Love God. Love Yourself. Love Others.

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Matthew: The Olivet Discourse, Part 2

Read: Matthew 25

The last of Matthew’s record of Jesus’ teaching through parables includes three lessons:

  1. The Parable of the Ten Virgins: Matthew 25:1-13
  2. The Parable of the Bags of Gold: Matthew 25:14-30
  3. The Sheep and the Goats: Matthew 25:31-46

The first exhorts us to be prepared, the second to be prudent and the third invites us to love the world as Jesus did.

Parable of the Ten Virgins (Bridesmaids)

For some reason, the use of the term “virgins” in the title of the first parable trips me up. I don’t think I’m alone in that category as the NLT translates the Greek as “bridesmaids” based on the context of the term. The Greek is clearly “virgin,” but the context is better aligned with those in the wedding party. My aversion to “virgin” is the connotation of exploiting young girls, something we’ve become keenly aware of these days through news of human trafficking. Talk about a rabbit trail!

The point of the story seems plain and pretty straightforward — be prepared, don’t be a fool and delay the decision to follow Christ.

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. Matthew 25:13

It’s interesting that Jesus uses weddings, feasts, and large gatherings in his parables. We see lots of celebrations, not just the dull, dreary work in the field type of people. The event is special, not an ordinary day — we need to be prepared every day because we don’t know when that day will come. Maybe today will be that day for someone!

Parable of the Bags of Gold or Three Servants

Once again, the NLT provides a slightly different emphasis on this parable. Is the main point about bags of gold or the people? Hmmm. I tend to think the point of this story has less to do with money and much more to do with stewardship (with an emphasis on the steward). In the parable, as the master prepares to go away on a long trip, he calls three of trusted servants and gives them a task.

To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. Matthew 25:15

Each according to his ability. The master knows his servants well and uses this discernment when he apportions each with that which they can handle. I’m pretty confident I’m not a 5-bag level guy, but I hope and pray that I’m not a 1-bag servant!

My friend Nabeel Qureshi died a few days ago at the young age of 34. His earthly body was ravaged by stomach cancer. Incredibly sad. Nabeel was a 5-bag servant, or perhaps a 10-bagger! His short life on earth had a profound impact on the kingdom, literally thousands of Muslims have come to know Jesus as their Lord through Nabeel’s testimony. When I met him in 2012, he wasn’t thinking about writing books to become a Christian superstar, but so many encouraged him to stop and record his thoughts so we could learn from his keen insight. Please read, Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus, when you get a chance. His story of faith is wrapped up in this well-written, significant book.

While I know I’m just a 2-bag guy, I pray that I will in fact use them to support those with 3, 4 or 5 bags! I’m incredibly thankful for that which has been given to me and continue to look for ways to gain two more bags!

Sheep and Goats — The Final Judgment

Over the last year, I’ve been working with Greg Wiens on a project with World Vision that centers on this section of Scripture. We’ve read and discussed it over and over again as we built the Mission Gap Assessment. Basically, we ask individuals to evaluate how they prioritize serving “the least of these” versus “go and make disciples” (Matthew 28). The emphasis is to encourage both–you can’t do one without the other. [Link]

The foundation of both is simply, love. If we hear Jesus’ words from the previous chapter and love God, love ourselves and love others, there is no doubt which side of the fence we will fall on that day of final judgment. Perhaps we’re victims of capitalistic marketing that has inundated our culture for the last fifty+ years, but it’s not all about me! I actually don’t need a bigger house, better car, newer wardrobe, etc. While there are things I actually need, they should not be influenced by marketers desires to add to their sales figures.

When I focus on loving God with everything I have, the rest falls into place. Sad to admit that last sentence begins with “When.” Seems like there is a need for constant reminders about who God is and why He is most deserving above all else. Isn’t this why we gather on Sunday? The weekly reminder is not a box to check, it’s designed to help me remember that loving God is not a task, it’s a privilege and it’s meant to be shared with others.

Another point of the story of sheep and goats is simply this: I am not the judge. Thank goodness! My role is to love others completely. That’s not easy to do, but the more I focus on being patient and kind to everyone, the more I become like Jesus commanded.

All over the charts this morning. The clock says I need to post this and get to work, but I’m lost in thoughts of how to do the things that are covered in this chapter. How can I be vigilantly prudent while loving everyone? What does that look like? Ah, the journey. I’m really thankful to have friends to run with on this path!

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Matthew: The Olivet Discourse, Part 1

Read: Matthew 24

If you have a red letter Bible, or like me, you have “red letter” turned on, chapters 24 & 25 are nearly all red (initially I thought I would cover both chapters). The words of Jesus are carefully transcribed here as part of the last discourse in Matthew’s gospel account. The prophetic voice of Jesus himself addresses the end of time with an emphasis on preparation, on doing, more than observing and talking. It’s time to get out of our comfort zone and into our calling zone. Lord, help us to hear that call clearly!

As I was reading chapter 24 and highlighting verses, a funny thing happened: the verses I picked were 10 verses apart: 14, 24, 34 and 44. Weirdness. Not contrived, just fell that way.

Jesus’ prophecy about the end of time comes with clear warnings:

  • And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 24:14
  • For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you ahead of time. Matthew 24:24-25
  • Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Matthew 24:34
  • So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. Matthew 24:44

Reading this in September of 2017 is radically different than sitting in the room with Jesus when the words were spoken. Ted Dekker’s recent books (A.D. 30 & A.D. 33) help me to appreciate what it must have felt like to be in that room and how difficult it must have been to understand what Yeshua was saying.

Back up a few verses and grab a glass of context, this is a private conversation for the world to hear:

As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” Matthew 24:3

The rare, non-red letters in this chapter describe how Jesus delivered this discourse. It’s absolutely amazing! We only read the important words, but I wonder how many times the disciples raised their hands, scratched their heads, or simply said, “wait, stop, pause, say that again!” This wasn’t a sermon from the pulpit given during the hour of power, this was a conversation where Jesus sat down with his chosen few and painted a picture of what was to be. I truly believe there was a lot of interactive discussion at the time and I further believe Jesus repeated the words so many times so that Matthew, Mark and Luke were able to take notes and provide their perspective on the discourse.

Imagine the first time these fishermen, plus others, heard this statement:

And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 24:14

The whole world. All nations. That had to be something which needed some clarification. No one was checking to upgrade their MailChimp account or update their Facebook status with the hopes of going viral. Jesus is sitting there with them saying the entire world will hear this gospel that they are hearing for the first time. As we read in the previous chapters, the Pharisees and Sadducees are not the ones who will convey this message; rather, it’s these handful that answered the call. All will hear as a result.

But don’t be deceived, it won’t happen without the Tempter himself trying to screw things up:

For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you ahead of time. Matthew 24:24-25

Jesus is speaking in prophetic terms and clearly wants to tell all of us to be aware of false teachers. For the disciples, this provided incredible insight into how they should live out their days. John invests a lot of time reminding us this world will not accept us and Paul would later write about being in the world, but not of the world (Romans 12:2).

When the end comes, it will come with a fury.

Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Matthew 24:34

In one generation God will bring about the end of time as we know it. Will this be the generation? This year? Next year? In our lifetime? Don’t be too quick to say no.

So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. Matthew 24:44

Stop expecting to be the only one that gets the secret message! Instead, be prepared! I’m sure we agree that the type of readiness that Jesus is describing as “be ready,” is a very active state of spreading the good news of the Gospel, but how we go about this business is multifaceted and tied directly to our Spiritual Gifts and personal wiring. The better we understand our calling, the better we will be at serving the body of Christ. However, let’s not get so inwardly focused that we are outwardly useless! This post is already too long, you’re probably not even reading at this point! The next chapter gives us some great words of wisdom to help in the preparation.

We’ve been given the Bible to continue this conversation. When we meet and talk about life, the ups and downs, joy and sorrow, if we’re deeply considering the words in the Bible, these kinds of thoughts just naturally arise — this is a good thing! We should discuss things like, what did he mean by ‘this generation’ and how can we be prepared and act at the same time? We can only do this if we make time in our busy schedules to sit and chat about things beyond football.

Lord, help us to get excited about the journey that is before us, the mission of your church, the Gospel for all nations, for all people, and especially to understand our role in the process.

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