Centered August 6
Mark 10:27 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”
This divine conjunction, “But Jesus…,” appears often in the Gospels.
There is an event or a statement that shows a misunderstanding. “But Jesus” corrects the error with a clarifying statement or action.
In a world where many work to have abundant wealth and power while the great majority work to attain the bare necessities of life, the former appear to be living a blessed life and the latter are barely existing. Bigger bags and bigger barns support the idea that the rich are blessed.
Indeed, the culture of Jerusalem and Israel and Rome and most any other group at any time focuses on security, the getting and holding onto the things necessary for life. More things yield a better life.
Jesus models the alternative to this incorrect picture. In a world of poverty and disease (spiritual and moral as well as physical), Jesus models the peace that passes all understanding.
Whether He is hungry or rejected or subject to other unkind elements of nature and mankind, He maintains His faith and His character. Although He accepts the gifts of food and shelter offered, He rejects the accumulation of these things. Bearing and caring for baggage is a diversion.
Jesus trusts that what He physically needs will be available. He shows us that less is more. He carries only His faith and His character. These are sufficient and they are not heavy, for they are centered on God.
Leaving All August 7
Mark 10:28 Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.”
Thank you, Peter! He speaks honestly. In doing so, Peter reveals a person’s first thought to a statement from Jesus – “Me.”
Another divine conjunction, “But God…,” occurs frequently throughout the Bible. God intervenes, and difficult issues are resolved. Jesus’ answer in verse 27 could as well be translated as, “…but with God, all things are possible.”
Peter takes the actions of himself and the other disciples as proof they are ready to enter the kingdom. They have “left all” their worldly possessions and relationships. Equally important, they do not desire to increase beyond the few possessions they do have.
Indeed, they truly have left all. As to their following Jesus, this also is true. They still have much to unlearn and learn, however. They have left, but they have not arrived.
Perhaps the lessons of unlearning old ways of doing, speaking, and thinking take a lifetime, as do the new lessons on how to properly live in the world but not of it.
Peter and the disciples have made a good start by their commitment. They are learning the first Beatitude: “Blessed are the poor in spirit” - those who recognize their poverty of spirit and need for redemption - “for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Peter has the kingdom of heaven, but he moves back and forth across the boundary that is still invisible to him.
All Leaving All August 8
Mark 10:29 So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s 30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time….”
Jesus affirms Peter’s statement, assuring all the disciples that their sacrifices will not go unrewarded. And Jesus goes beyond the twelve to include everyone who prioritizes the kingdom of God, while moving relatives and possessions one notch lower on their list of priorities.
He lists all that the disciples have demoted on their priorities’ list: house, brothers, sisters, father, mother, wife, children, and land. These cannot give the blessings of the kingdom, nor can anyone carry these into the kingdom with them.
Jesus says in Matt. 6:21, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” The heart governs, and unless the heart submits to the will of the Father and has its treasure in God’s kingdom, the heart will lead us astray.
The time in the wilderness with Christ, whether literal or figurative, is necessary for shedding the less important in order to lay hold upon the most important. This is the time of the Israelites in the wilderness, of Paul in Arabia and Damascus, and of Jesus in the wilderness for forty days.
This is also the time of the disciples with Jesus, including those unnamed who followed Him then and in succeeding generations. Whether in the wilderness or in Jerusalem, the Mojave desert, or New York City, their old ways are being reshaped into new ways by their Teacher.
Our old ways must conform to new ways, also. This is the beginning of the newness of life.
Receiving the Kingdom August 9
Mark 10:30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
Jesus says that the disciples will receive back all they have left behind “a hundredfold.” This may sound like an exaggeration for effect, but perhaps He is quite sincere.
We see a community living on Christ’s principles as a place where those equal in age are brothers and sisters, the older generation is mother and father, and the younger generation is sons and daughters. The home of any is a home to any other. From this perspective we see the effect of multiplication.
Though not stated, we will not only have these additional dwellings and family members, but we will also provide a home and the appropriate relationship in Christ as we are able.
Mark is telling the story from Peter’s perspective, and Peter adds “persecutions” to the list of what is received in return for turning from the secular society to a divine relationship. Persecution, in whatever form, comes from those who think they deserve to be higher on the priority list. This may be a parent, spouse, child, or government.
Regarding the “first will be last, and the last first,” Jesus reminds them of a previous conversation concerning “who is the greatest” (Mark 9:35). There is One who is to be first on our priority list.
Leading to Death August 10
Mark 10:32 Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him.
Jesus is leading a crowd of followers, including the twelve disciples, on the road to Jerusalem. There is an ominous mood flowing through the ranks. Jerusalem is the heart of opposition to Jesus’ message, so there must be an uncomfortable feeling, somewhat like approaching a lion’s den.
Jesus calls the twelve aside and speaks to them. He does not speak figuratively, but plainly so they do not jump to incorrect conclusions. As He tells them for the third time the events that must follow, He wants them to have a clear understanding.
They are amazed, and they are afraid. That Jesus is knowingly leading them to be witnesses to His betrayal and arrest and death is astonishing. Willing to go to a place from which He – and perhaps they – will never return is terrifying.
Their fear is understandable. They have seen Jesus’ power in His speech and in His miracles. What dark forces must lie in wait ahead that they can be used to cause His death!
Faith and fear compete at the foot of truth. Faith wins a narrow victory as the disciples fearfully follow Jesus to Jerusalem.
Fair Warning August 11
Mark 10:33 “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; 34 and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”
“Calm resolve” might be one of the better descriptions of Christ’s attitude as He reveals the future to His chosen twelve.
“Dejected disbelief” might be an accurate description of how the twelve receive this news for the third time (Mark 8:31 and 9:31). John 11:16 states the disciples’ resignation: “Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, ‘Let us also go, that we may die with Him.’”
Jesus gives enough detail as to what will happen that there is no ambiguity upon which the disciples may pin their hope.
Jesus paints a portrait of the Messiah as the suffering servant (Isaiah 53). This is not acceptable to the vision of the Messiah as a victorious David.
The disciples probably have in mind a vision more like Zech. 14 portraying the Lord’s violent victory over the nations, or at least the king of Zech. 9:9-10: “Behold, your King is coming to you;
He is just and having salvation,
Lowly and riding on a donkey,
A colt, the foal of a donkey….
He shall speak peace to the nations;
His dominion shall be ‘from sea to sea,
And from the River to the ends of the earth.’”
Jesus’ vision is not their vision. Disbelief is their defense against an unacceptable future.
Do What We Ask August 12
Mark 10:34 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.”
36 And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?”
37 They said to Him, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.”
We all have said at times, “Oh, God, please do this for me.”
There is the immediacy of our need, something vital to our real or imagined perception of events. Our need is paramount, and we do not see how this small intervention will ripple through the universe.
The vision of James and John for the future is at odds with Jesus’ vision. They are correct that to sit on His right hand and His left hand as He rules His kingdom are positions of honor. They do not understand the character that must be theirs, both to endure the journey to those positions and to adequately serve there.
The physical and the spiritual kingdoms are as different as day and night. The sons of thunder possess many of the physical attributes for high position in a physical kingdom, but the spiritual kingdom exists in a dimension where few of those attributes have relevance.
We can never appreciate what we want until we can appreciate what we have. And when we appreciate what we have, we may find what we want is little more than what we already possess.
The brothers believe that peace will come when Jesus exercises His power over all creation. They miss the point.
The peace that comes from being in a seat of power is from not having to use that power.
Next day
Mark 10:27 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”
This divine conjunction, “But Jesus…,” appears often in the Gospels.
There is an event or a statement that shows a misunderstanding. “But Jesus” corrects the error with a clarifying statement or action.
In a world where many work to have abundant wealth and power while the great majority work to attain the bare necessities of life, the former appear to be living a blessed life and the latter are barely existing. Bigger bags and bigger barns support the idea that the rich are blessed.
Indeed, the culture of Jerusalem and Israel and Rome and most any other group at any time focuses on security, the getting and holding onto the things necessary for life. More things yield a better life.
Jesus models the alternative to this incorrect picture. In a world of poverty and disease (spiritual and moral as well as physical), Jesus models the peace that passes all understanding.
Whether He is hungry or rejected or subject to other unkind elements of nature and mankind, He maintains His faith and His character. Although He accepts the gifts of food and shelter offered, He rejects the accumulation of these things. Bearing and caring for baggage is a diversion.
Jesus trusts that what He physically needs will be available. He shows us that less is more. He carries only His faith and His character. These are sufficient and they are not heavy, for they are centered on God.
Leaving All August 7
Mark 10:28 Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.”
Thank you, Peter! He speaks honestly. In doing so, Peter reveals a person’s first thought to a statement from Jesus – “Me.”
Another divine conjunction, “But God…,” occurs frequently throughout the Bible. God intervenes, and difficult issues are resolved. Jesus’ answer in verse 27 could as well be translated as, “…but with God, all things are possible.”
Peter takes the actions of himself and the other disciples as proof they are ready to enter the kingdom. They have “left all” their worldly possessions and relationships. Equally important, they do not desire to increase beyond the few possessions they do have.
Indeed, they truly have left all. As to their following Jesus, this also is true. They still have much to unlearn and learn, however. They have left, but they have not arrived.
Perhaps the lessons of unlearning old ways of doing, speaking, and thinking take a lifetime, as do the new lessons on how to properly live in the world but not of it.
Peter and the disciples have made a good start by their commitment. They are learning the first Beatitude: “Blessed are the poor in spirit” - those who recognize their poverty of spirit and need for redemption - “for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Peter has the kingdom of heaven, but he moves back and forth across the boundary that is still invisible to him.
All Leaving All August 8
Mark 10:29 So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s 30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time….”
Jesus affirms Peter’s statement, assuring all the disciples that their sacrifices will not go unrewarded. And Jesus goes beyond the twelve to include everyone who prioritizes the kingdom of God, while moving relatives and possessions one notch lower on their list of priorities.
He lists all that the disciples have demoted on their priorities’ list: house, brothers, sisters, father, mother, wife, children, and land. These cannot give the blessings of the kingdom, nor can anyone carry these into the kingdom with them.
Jesus says in Matt. 6:21, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” The heart governs, and unless the heart submits to the will of the Father and has its treasure in God’s kingdom, the heart will lead us astray.
The time in the wilderness with Christ, whether literal or figurative, is necessary for shedding the less important in order to lay hold upon the most important. This is the time of the Israelites in the wilderness, of Paul in Arabia and Damascus, and of Jesus in the wilderness for forty days.
This is also the time of the disciples with Jesus, including those unnamed who followed Him then and in succeeding generations. Whether in the wilderness or in Jerusalem, the Mojave desert, or New York City, their old ways are being reshaped into new ways by their Teacher.
Our old ways must conform to new ways, also. This is the beginning of the newness of life.
Receiving the Kingdom August 9
Mark 10:30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
Jesus says that the disciples will receive back all they have left behind “a hundredfold.” This may sound like an exaggeration for effect, but perhaps He is quite sincere.
We see a community living on Christ’s principles as a place where those equal in age are brothers and sisters, the older generation is mother and father, and the younger generation is sons and daughters. The home of any is a home to any other. From this perspective we see the effect of multiplication.
Though not stated, we will not only have these additional dwellings and family members, but we will also provide a home and the appropriate relationship in Christ as we are able.
Mark is telling the story from Peter’s perspective, and Peter adds “persecutions” to the list of what is received in return for turning from the secular society to a divine relationship. Persecution, in whatever form, comes from those who think they deserve to be higher on the priority list. This may be a parent, spouse, child, or government.
Regarding the “first will be last, and the last first,” Jesus reminds them of a previous conversation concerning “who is the greatest” (Mark 9:35). There is One who is to be first on our priority list.
Leading to Death August 10
Mark 10:32 Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him.
Jesus is leading a crowd of followers, including the twelve disciples, on the road to Jerusalem. There is an ominous mood flowing through the ranks. Jerusalem is the heart of opposition to Jesus’ message, so there must be an uncomfortable feeling, somewhat like approaching a lion’s den.
Jesus calls the twelve aside and speaks to them. He does not speak figuratively, but plainly so they do not jump to incorrect conclusions. As He tells them for the third time the events that must follow, He wants them to have a clear understanding.
They are amazed, and they are afraid. That Jesus is knowingly leading them to be witnesses to His betrayal and arrest and death is astonishing. Willing to go to a place from which He – and perhaps they – will never return is terrifying.
Their fear is understandable. They have seen Jesus’ power in His speech and in His miracles. What dark forces must lie in wait ahead that they can be used to cause His death!
Faith and fear compete at the foot of truth. Faith wins a narrow victory as the disciples fearfully follow Jesus to Jerusalem.
Fair Warning August 11
Mark 10:33 “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; 34 and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”
“Calm resolve” might be one of the better descriptions of Christ’s attitude as He reveals the future to His chosen twelve.
“Dejected disbelief” might be an accurate description of how the twelve receive this news for the third time (Mark 8:31 and 9:31). John 11:16 states the disciples’ resignation: “Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, ‘Let us also go, that we may die with Him.’”
Jesus gives enough detail as to what will happen that there is no ambiguity upon which the disciples may pin their hope.
Jesus paints a portrait of the Messiah as the suffering servant (Isaiah 53). This is not acceptable to the vision of the Messiah as a victorious David.
The disciples probably have in mind a vision more like Zech. 14 portraying the Lord’s violent victory over the nations, or at least the king of Zech. 9:9-10: “Behold, your King is coming to you;
He is just and having salvation,
Lowly and riding on a donkey,
A colt, the foal of a donkey….
He shall speak peace to the nations;
His dominion shall be ‘from sea to sea,
And from the River to the ends of the earth.’”
Jesus’ vision is not their vision. Disbelief is their defense against an unacceptable future.
Do What We Ask August 12
Mark 10:34 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.”
36 And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?”
37 They said to Him, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.”
We all have said at times, “Oh, God, please do this for me.”
There is the immediacy of our need, something vital to our real or imagined perception of events. Our need is paramount, and we do not see how this small intervention will ripple through the universe.
The vision of James and John for the future is at odds with Jesus’ vision. They are correct that to sit on His right hand and His left hand as He rules His kingdom are positions of honor. They do not understand the character that must be theirs, both to endure the journey to those positions and to adequately serve there.
The physical and the spiritual kingdoms are as different as day and night. The sons of thunder possess many of the physical attributes for high position in a physical kingdom, but the spiritual kingdom exists in a dimension where few of those attributes have relevance.
We can never appreciate what we want until we can appreciate what we have. And when we appreciate what we have, we may find what we want is little more than what we already possess.
The brothers believe that peace will come when Jesus exercises His power over all creation. They miss the point.
The peace that comes from being in a seat of power is from not having to use that power.
Next day
