Morning Grace

He left that place and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan. And crowds again gathered around him; and, as was his custom, he again taught them. Some Pharisees came, and to test him they asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”  He answered them, “What did Moses command you?”  They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her.”  But Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you.  But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’  ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife,  and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh.  Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” Then in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter.  He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her;  and if she divorces her husband and marries another,

“If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea.  If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.  And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell.  And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell,  where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched. “For everyone will be salted with fire.  Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.” ~ Mark 9:42-50 This is one of those passages where I question the wisdom of taking scripture literal

John said to (Jesus), “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.”  But Jesus said, “Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me.  Whoever is not against us is for us.  For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward. ~ Mark 9:38-41 The theme of insiders and outsiders is ever present in Mark. Here, we are confronted with the question: if someone who is not part of our group or religion or denomination, is what they do in Jesus' name valid without our approval? We've become so accustomed to the Christian faith being broken into denominations, and it seems that from the get go, the disciples were on board with that. "Outsiders don't get to do what we do, Jesus!" Over and over again, Jesus leans in on the side of inclusion. Of generous hospital

Then they came to Capernaum; and when (Jesus) was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?”  But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest.  He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.”  Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them,  “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.” ~ Mark 9:33-37 Let's just skip over the fact about how boneheaded those disciples have to be to talk about who is the greatest after  Jesus' recent sermons to them about his death and resurrection, as well as dying to self and taking up the cross. Regardless of what they've heard, that's what they argue about. And for their troubles, Jesus has more to make clear to them. We've got that word again, "servant," or &qu

- Re-read Mark 9:2-32 from this week's devotions. - Read the passage again and identify a word or phrases that jump out at you. - Read the passage again, and if possible read from a different translation ( biblegateway.com  has many translations you can choose from). Identify where this passage might be touching your life today. How is this relevant to your life? - Read the passage a third time, again in a different translation if possible. Ask yourself what God is calling you to do or to be from this passage. What change might God be moving your toward? - Close with a silent prayer, listening to God rather than speaking to God. What actions will you take today based on this prayer? - Recite the Lord's Prayer.

They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it;  for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.”  But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him. ~ Mark 9:30-32 Two phrases/words plague the disciples in the gospel of Mark:  not understanding and fear. Time and time again, Mark shows that fear is the opposite of faith. And time and time again, the disciples are afraid. Sometimes the fear was born of terror of natural events - dying in a storm for example. But oftentimes the fear is simply a refusal to ask Jesus a question to try to understand. Why are they afraid of this? Don't they want to understand? Are they afraid of his answer? Or that he will get angry? In the previous passage we met a man who lived in terror for his son: a man whose own faith was wavering. Yet he was brave to as

When they came to the disciples (after being on the mountain), they saw a great crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them.  When the whole crowd saw (Jesus), they were immediately overcome with awe, and they ran forward to greet him.  He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?”  Someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought you my son; he has a spirit that makes him unable to speak;  and whenever it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they could not do so.”  He answered them, “You faithless generation, how much longer must I be among you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him to me.”  And they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth.  Jesus asked the father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood.  It has of

As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.  So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead could mean.  Then they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”  He said to them, “Elijah is indeed coming first to restore all things. How then is it written about the Son of Man, that he is to go through many sufferings and be treated with contempt?  But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written about him.” ~ Mark 9:9-13 Again, Jesus references his rising from the dead. Last time he did, Peter ignored the reference and focused simply on Jesus' dying. At this point, they are clearly confused and are looking for some clarification. They aren't just confused about what rising from the dead means, but they are also confused about the fact that Elijah came already, that John the B

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them,  and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them.  And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus.  Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”  He did not know what to say, for they were terrified.  Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!”  Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus. ~ Mark 9:2-8 At Jesus' baptism the Word of God came down to Jesus and said, "You are my son, the beloved." From that moment on, Jesus' life was changed. His identity was assured. But also from that moment on until now, however, Jesus has kept that information close t

- Re-read the Mark 8:14-9:1 from this week's devotions. - Read the passage again and identify a word or phrases that jump out at you. - Read the passage again, and if possible read from a different translation ( biblegateway.com  has many translations you can choose from). Identify where this passage might be touching your life today. How is this relevant to your life? - Read the passage a third time, again in a different translation if possible. Ask yourself what God is calling you to do or to be from this passage. What change might God be moving your toward? - Close with a silent prayer, listening to God rather than speaking to God. What actions will you take today based on this prayer? - Recite the Lord's Prayer.

(Jesus) called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.  For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.  For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life?  Indeed, what can they give in return for their life?  Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”  And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the kingdom of God has come with  power.” ~ Mark 8:34-9:1 Some more about what it means to follow Jesus... For many of Mark's hearers/readers, they literally may have lost their lives to be a follower. Early Christian martyrs were plentiful! But cl

Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?”  And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”  He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.”  And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him. Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.  He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.  But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” ~ Mark 8:27-33 Peter is a lot like me. And I'm guessing maybe like you as well. He's a great stand in for all the followers of Jesus from the last 2000 years

They came to Bethsaida. Some people brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch him.  He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village; and when he had put saliva on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Can you see anything?”  And the manlooked up and said, “I can see people, but they look like trees, walking.”  Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he looked intently and his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.  Then he sent him away to his home, saying, “Do not even go into the village.” ~ Mark 8:22-26 Mark has three distinct parts. And here we begin part two. Part one ended with Jesus asking the disciples whether they had eyes but failed to see or ears but failed to hear - not long after he had healed a deaf man. And now, the heavy symbolism continues as they encounter a blind man who will see. A blind man who had eyes but couldn't see, but now can see clearly. Part two will end with another encounter with a blind man

Now the disciples had forgotten to bring any bread; and they had only one loaf with them in the boat.  And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out—beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.”  They said to one another, “It is because we have no bread.”  And becoming aware of it, Jesus said to them, “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened?  Do you have eyes, and fail to see? Do you have ears, and fail to hear? And do you not remember?  When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?” They said to him, “Twelve.”  “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?” And they said to him, “Seven.”  Then he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?” ~ Mark 8:14-21 This passage marks the end of the first part of Mark. We are half-way through the book. And look where the disciples are. By this point, you'

- Re-read the Mark 7:24-8:13 from this week's devotions. - Read the passage again and identify a word or phrases that jump out at you. - Read the passage again, and if possible read from a different translation ( biblegateway.com  has many translations you can choose from). Identify where this passage might be touching your life today. How is this relevant to your life? - Read the passage a third time, again in a different translation if possible. Ask yourself what God is calling you to do or to be from this passage. What change might God be moving your toward? - Close with a silent prayer, listening to God rather than speaking to God. What actions will you take today based on this prayer? - Recite the Lord's Prayer.

The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, asking him for a sign from heaven, to test him.  And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.”  And he left them, and getting into the boat again, he went across to the other side. ~ Mark 8:11-13 There is something almost humorous about the Pharisees asking for a sign here. What have we been getting from Jesus up until this point in Mark? Have the Pharisees not been paying attention? Or have they been, and they've just decided to discount what they've seen? I wonder if we are all that different/ I'm going to guess that the Pharisees aren't the only ones who wanted a sign...and I'm going to also guess they aren't the only ones who have missed the signs that have been given. Have you ever asked God for a sign? I know I have. Especially lately. This past year has been one where I think we have all at one time or anoth