Tag Archives: the book of Mark

March 11
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“Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, ‘Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.’”  (Mark 9:35, NLT)

Jesus doesn’t ignore humanity’s competitive spirit, but He directs it to the channel of service — and few of us want servitude to be our destination.  Even in our “service” organizations, leadership comes with benefits: Recognition; greater autonomy; and strategic activities.  Conversely, true servitude (e. g. the condition of the servant) is marked by obscurity, slavish obedience, and seemingly menial activities (e. g. “foot-washing” and door-tending).

However, no where else is leadership — as Jesus defines leadership — to be found.

Seldom will you find a line at the doorway to true service, but inside that door you will always find the company of the risen Christ.  Is this Person sufficient, or must we have perquisites (“perks”) as well?   – Luther

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March 9
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“If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”  (Mark 8:38, NLT)

In today’s reading, Jesus illustrates for us the following principle: The relationships and values that we esteem in this life are the relationships and values that we shall inherit in eternity.  In other words: If we are ashamed of Jesus and all that He stands for here in “time”; we shall forfeit Him for all of eternity because He will be ashamed of us for having been ashamed of Him during our time on earth.

The Christian disciple’s challenge in these “adulterous and sinful days” is to be faithful to Jesus and to His message (e. g. the Gospel) in all that we say, and in all that we do.

This means that with joy, we love our enemies — all of them — as He did.  This means that with boldness, we seek reconciliation — always — as He did.  This means that with confidence, we pray for those who abuse us — as He did.

May we be as Paul declared to the Christians in Rome: “I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God to bring salvation to everyone that believes.”  (Romans 1:16a)  – Luther

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March 4
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“Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’”  (Mark 6:31, NIV)

Most of us have been where the disciples were in today’s reading.  Some of us will be there today: In the place where the demands of others are too many, and the available time is too short; and our personal resources are too meager to even begin to satisfy the need.

Most of us would choose to press-on — doing more and more with less and less until we get to the point where the upward curve of frustration meets the downward curve of exhaustion.  It is never God’s will for us to be in such a state.

When we approach that state, Jesus invites us to go away with Him to a quiet place and get some rest.  Will we go; or will we decline His invitation because we know our situation better than He?

Will we go; or will we decline His invitation because we derive personal satisfaction from being “at the wheel” and we see no benefit to spending time away with Jesus — resting?

We have a standing invitation from Jesus to come away with Him to rest, not in permanent retirement from the requirement; but that we might be refreshed spiritually and physically before the next round.  – Luther

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