brentsummerhill

Pie Charts and Leaven
Mark 8:14-26

A pie chart is a circle divided into slices to show numerical proportions. Talk about a pie chart and my eyes will glaze over and my mouth will water at the thought of pie. You may want me to understand some vital data by looking at your chart; but you lose me at pie.

Jesus lost the disciples at leaven. You know, the stuff that subtly infiltrates dough and causes it to rise. Jesus was presenting a spiritual lesson. They were thinking about the one loaf of bread they had on the boat to share amongst themselves.

It’s amazing how quickly we can be distracted even from spiritual things by a craving. We can struggle to finish a Bible reading, get through a prayer, or listen to a sermon because of random desires that pop into our head. We can be driving down the road singing praise music one second and the next be cussing with rage at the idiot who cut us off. We can be content and then at a glimpse yearning for forbidden fruit.

They were worried about bread when the Bread of Life was with them in the boat. The desires that distract us will never be satisfied by the things they want. The One who satisfies is in the boat with us. Treasure him.

Again
Mark 8:1-13

The plot sounds familiar: a hungry crowd, a compassionate Jesus, and a perplexed set of disciples. And given the disciples participation with feeding 5000 in Mark 6, their question in Mark 8 sounds strange.

“How can one feed these people with bread in this desolate place?”

Didn’t they watch Jesus keep breaking five loaves and two fish to satisfy the hunger of 5000? And didn’t they collect twelve baskets full of leftovers for themselves after everyone was full? Why would they now ask how these people could be fed?

Why would we? We see Christ work in our lives today only to doubt his ability tomorrow. Confronted with new challenges, our memories of past grace are short-lived.

Our inconsistencies are enough to make us cry out, “O wretched man that I am!” And we wouldn’t be the first (Romans 7:21-24).

But still, like those early disciples, we keep on following Jesus. Not because we are strong and have it all together, but because Jesus is and does.

Up Close and Personal
Mark 7:24-37

As a little kid, I avoided the cooties like the plague. I didn’t know what cooties were any more than I knew what a plague was. But girls had the cooties and I was afraid of them – both the cooties and the girls. I did manage to get over my cootie-phobia, but I’m still working on my female-phobia.

Jesus could heal from a distance and did so on occasion (7:29-30). But he wasn’t afraid to get up close and personal with the sick, the sorrowing, the sinner. He wasn’t afraid of catching something.

The man couldn’t hear and had a speech impediment. Communication with him no doubt involved some form of sign language. So, Jesus sticks his fingers in the man’s ear, then spits and touches his tongue to let him know something was about to happen to his ears and tongue. Then, with a heavenward sigh, he says, “Be opened!” And the man would never need sign language again.

Miracles like this verified who Jesus was as the Messiah. How he did such miracles revealed the compassion of his character. He wasn’t a showman nor a clinician. He was and is the Creator genuinely moved by the plight of his creation.

Jesus doesn’t look at you in your brokenness only to turn and walk away. He’s not afraid of what’s wrong with you. He’s not embarrassed to be seen with you. He died on the cross bearing your sins, your brokenness, your shame. He’s not going to run from you now.

Instead, Jesus says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

Wash Up!
Mark 7:1-23

“The heart of man’s problem is the problem with man’s heart.”

“Wash up! Dinner’s ready!” Mom didn’t want dirty hands at the table. Whether or not cleanliness was next to godliness, it was required at the dinner table.

The Pharisees weren’t so much concerned with hygiene as they were with self-righteousness. Their cleanliness wasn’t about playing in the dirt, but about contact with certain classes of people: lepers, Samaritans, and Gentiles to name a few. And Jesus and his disciples had been in personal contact with these and more (Mark 1:40, 2:13, 5:1, 5:25, 5:35).

Yet, all their scrubbing didn’t make the Pharisees clean. In fact, Jesus calls them hypocrites. And in Matthew 23, he righteously goes off on them and their hypocrisy, saying among other things:

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. (v27)

Their problem is our problem. We are not defiled by who and what we come in contact with, but by who and what we are. “What comes out of a person is what defiles him,” Jesus says. And he gives quite a list of the kinds of things that come from within in verses 21 and 22. In that list is something, or some things, that make each of us uncomfortable because that’s us. And no matter how hard we may try, we can’t wash it off and be done with it.

The truth is we need a cleansing within. To be given a righteousness we don’t possess and cannot produce. To be forgiven of our sins. To be given a new heart.

We need Jesus, the righteous one who died to cleanse us from our sins and give us a new heart. So, quit trying to clean up your act and trust Jesus.

And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. (Ezekiel 36:26-27)

No Time to Eat
Mark 6:30-56

Looking at me, you’ll find this hard to believe, but I don’t miss many meals. (Insert laughter here.) Still, like you I have those days when I get busy and can’t stop to grab a bite. Which means I approach the next meal like I’ve been on a hunger strike.

Jesus’ schedule was always hectic. Even when he tried to get away, people found him. They were so busy, Jesus and his disciples “had no leisure even to eat.” That’s why Jesus takes them on a boat ride to a desolate place for rest and refreshment. Where they were soon found.

Word spread, and thousands of people flocked to Jesus. And with compassion, Jesus taught them and miraculously fed them with the fish and bread.

But what about the twelve? By the time the day was done, they were even hungrier and wearier. When would they experience the compassion of Jesus?

“What about me?” you may ask. You love Jesus and love people. You care, serve, and give. And you get weary and hungry.

Two words: twelve baskets.

Jesus had not forgotten the disciples and their need. His compassion for the masses did not eclipse his care for the twelve.

Jesus has not forgotten you. He who works through you to care for others cares for you. He will refresh your soul. Take your rest in him.

Samaria
Acts 1:1-11

Samaria. It wasn’t really the place, it was the people. Orthodox Jews viewed them as an impure mix of Jewish and pagan blood. They were religious mongrels and ethnic half-breeds. The prejudice was real; the hatred palpable.

While others took the long way around Samaria, Jesus had to go through Samaria. (John 4:4) He had an appointment with a Samaritan woman at a well. She didn’t know it, but the Jewish Messiah was about to change her life presently and eternally.

And now, before he ascends to the Father, Jesus tells his disciples:

“You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (emphasis added)

That day at the well was a lesson for them. And for us.

The Gospel is neither regional nor racial. It is for everyone everywhere. Both sides of the track. Rich and poor. Every shade of red, yellow, black, and white. We are all precious in his sight.

Always
Matthew 28:16-20

He was leaving, but he wasn’t. He was ascending to the Father, yet he would be present among his disciples. Present not just in their memories, but in person – the person of the Holy Spirit.

He would not leave them without a comforter and guide but would be with them always until the completion of the age. Always – all the days. Their days and our days, all the days in between and all the days yet to dawn.

Whether in joy or grief, celebration or persecution, life or death, there has not been a day Jesus’ church has not known Jesus’ presence. And there won’t be until the day he comes personally and bodily to collect us to himself.

He died for me on the mountain,
For me they pierced his side,
For me he opened that fountain,
The crimson, cleansing tide;

For me he waiteth in glory,
Seated upon his throne;
He promised never to leave me,
Never to leave me alone.

No, never alone,
No, never alone,
He promised never to leave me,
Never to leave me alone.

And he hasn’t.

Beheaded
Mark 6:14-29

For Herod Antipas, news of this miracle-working Jewish preacher could mean only one thing: John (the Baptist) was back from the dead. And probably out to get him.

Herod Antipas’ personal life was worse than a soap opera. See if you can follow.

Herod Antipas and Philip were half-brothers, two sons of Herod the Great. Herodias was their niece by another brother.

Philip married Herodias, making him her uncle and husband.  Philip and Herodias had a daughter, Salome. That meant Philip was Salome’s dad and great uncle.

Herod Antipas had married a daughter of Aretas, king of Arabia. But he prevailed upon Herodias to leave Philip and become his wife upon the condition of him getting rid of his current wife, which he did resulting in a war with Aretas. Now, Herod Antipas is Herodias’ uncle, brother-in-law, and husband. And, he is Salome’s uncle (through Philip), great-uncle (through Herodias), and step-dad.

Somehow, John figured all this out and called Herod out on his sins. The result? Herodias prevailed upon Herod to have John thrown in jail and then used her daughter’s dance moves to manipulate her husband. Drunk and slack-jawed Herod made the offer Herodias hoped for and John lost his head.

Sometimes, following Jesus leads to a short-lived yet fruitful ministry where you pay the price for saying and doing the right thing. But the price fades into nothingness compared to the treasure already gained in Christ.

“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” –John the Baptist (John 1:29)

He Sent Them Out
Mark 6:7-13

Frankly, from a strategic viewpoint the timing of their sending doesn’t seem the best. Recently, following the stormy sea incident, Jesus bluntly asked them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” (Mark 4:35-41) And a little later, after he miraculously feeds the 5000, he will meet them on a windy sea where they, scared and screaming, will think they’ve seen a ghost. Mark explains that “they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.” (Mark 6:52)

Not exactly the varsity squad. But Jesus puts them in play anyway to face down demons with limited resources. What was Jesus thinking?

Here’s the fact, Jack. None of us have the abilities or resources to pull off the mission of Christ. They needed to learn what we need to learn: the success of Christ’s mission is not dependent upon the abilities or resources of the sent, but upon the abilities and resources of the Sender. They were sent with little to learn they could trust him much.

That’s good news for imperfect disciples. Which, by the way, are the only kind there are.

Hometown
Mark 6:1-6

Nazareth wasn’t much. J.R. Edwards tells us that “archaeological excavations beneath the imposing Churches of the Annunciation and St. Joseph in Nazareth have uncovered a series of grottoes that date to the time of Jesus. The resultant picture is of an obscure hamlet of earthen dwellings chopped into sixty acres of rocky hillside, with a total population of five hundred—at the most.” (The Gospel According to Mark, p 169)

So, they all knew him as he and his disciples came into town. They knew him when, on the Sabbath, he took the scroll and began to teach in their synagogue. This was Jesus, the carpenter. They knew his family. They remembered his childhood.

And now they are offended. Jesus didn’t come home as the carpenter and son of Mary. Jesus came home as the Messiah and Son of God. He didn’t come home for a reunion, but to demand repentance. But they can’t get past the Jesus they remember to believe in the Jesus who is.

Jesus isn’t your Jesus. The Messiah of your imagination. The king with whom you’re comfortable. A god meeting your demands.

Jesus is Jesus. Revealed in Scripture as the Son of God, the King of kings, and the God making demands of you, namely that you repent and believe in his Gospel.

So, repent and believe in Jesus. He’s more than your imagination can conceive.