A Figgy Sandwich (Mark 11)

Today's story confronts us with what some consider to be a very disturbing picture of Jesus. In verses 12-14, Jesus seems at best to have a problem with His temper. At worst, He is a madman. Why would anyone expect figs from a fig tree when the tree was not in season? And not finding figs on a fig tree not in season, why would anyone curse the tree? Jesus' actions in these verses seem beyond explanation.

To understand these verses, we have to understand a literary technique that Mark uses a lot in his Gospel. I am sure there is a very technical name for this technique but I don't know what it is. I just call it the sandwich technique. (I didn't make up that name, but I don't remember who to give the credit to). In his Gospel, Mark likes to make sandwiches of his narrative. He likes to tell part 1 of story A, then tell all of story B, then go back to finish story A. That is what happens in Mark 12. Mark starts with the story of the fig tree (verses 12-14), then he tells the story of the temple (verses 15-19), then he goes back to telling the story of the fig tree. Mark 12 has a classic Marcan sandwich.

Now why does Mark make sandwiches of his stories? It's not just that he likes playing with his food! When Mark wraps two stories together, he is telling us that they are related. He is saying that the two stories provide the explanation for each other. In this case, I think the story of the fig tree acts as a true life parable that explains Jesus' cleansing of the temple. Why did Jesus cause chaos in the house of God? Why was he upset with the place where God's people worshiped? Israelites thought very highly of the Temple. It was a source of pride and joy to them. Why would Jesus disturb such a national symbol? The incident with the fig tree explains.

Fig trees have a unique property. They flower months before they produce fruit. Looking at a fig tree from a distance, one would expect there to be fruit long before there really is. In other words, fig trees will look good long before they satisfy anyone's hunger. In a way, this was a picture of what was happening at the Temple. The Temple looked great. There were majestic buildings. There was the hustle and bustle of thousands of worshipers (especially at the holiday season). But for all the activity, there was no fruit. The buildings and busyness had not really led to people getting closer to God. People were not more obedient. They were actually more disobedient! And so Jesus judged the Temple just as He judged the fig tree. The acts are part and parcel of each other. One explains the other.

It is easy for us to be like the fig tree. I can easily have the look of a religious person without really having the righteous life that God desires. I need to be more than leafy. I need to be fruity too (in the best sense of that term). The Marcan sandwich gives a good reminder that faith is not about appearance. It is about Spirit produced results.

Cry to Jesus (Mark 10)

There is a lot that could be said about Mark 10. My favorite part of the passage has always been verses 35-45. I appreciate the reminder that true leadership is about service not power. But what struck me as I read today were the closing verses of the chapter: the story of Bartimaeus.

I think Bartimaeus stood out to me because of what we studied in our sermon last Sunday. On Sunday, we looked at the reasons that prayer goes unanswered. We said that one reason that we have unanswered prayer is that we are not persistent in prayer. Well, Bartimaeus is certainly an example of persistence. At the beginning of the story, Bartimaeus is calling out to Jesus over the throngs when he is told to shut up. Why were people annoyed by Bartimaeus' cries? I'm not sure. In the first-cenutry, people with handicaps like blindness were thought to be vile sinners or the children of vile sinners. Perhaps the crowds thought Jesus wouldn't want to have dealings with a man like that. Or, maybe Bartimaeus just had a really loud, really annoying voice. I guess we don't know for sure why the crowds told Bartimaeus to be quiet. All we know is that Bartimaeus did not get discouraged. Being told to stop yelling, he yelled all the louder. And his persistence paid off. Jesus heard him and called him. And ultimately, Bartimaeus was healed of his blindness.

I like Bartimaeus' story because it shows that persistence in prayer is rewarded. I also like Bartimaeus' story because of Bartimaeus' response. Being healed of his blindness, Bartimaeus followed Jesus. Having experienced the mercy of Jesus, Bartimaeus knew that he had to follow. And having experienced the mercy of God, we have the same obligation. We are not free to go our own way. Like Bartimaeus, we have to follow. The mercy of Jesus compels us to do what he did.

Freudian Slip (Mark 9)

Mark 9 contains a prayer that I have prayed many times. It is found in verse 24: "I do believe. Help me overcome my unbelief!"

When Jesus comes down from the mountain, the father of the demoniac must have been overjoyed. After hours spent with 9 bumbling disciples, the father had to despair that everything would ever been made right. He must have been thinking that the Jesus movement didnt live up to its advertising. That is why it is hard to blame him for the Freudian slip in verse 22: "But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us." The moment that sentence passed from the father's lips, he must have thought he had blown it. A moment of faithlessness was going to cost his son dearly. But in verse 24, there is a quick recovery. The father reveals himself as a person of faith who needs help believing.

I can relate to that. I too am a man of faith who occasionally needs a little boost in the trust department. That is why Mark 9:24 is a prayer I keep at the ready: "I do believe. Help me overcome my unbelief!"

It All Begins with Compassion (Mark 8)

It is not easy reading through the Gospels in consecutive months. There is a definite danger of deja vu. That is especially true with the "mass feedings" like we have here in Mark 8. Since Matthew and Mark both feature Jesus' feeding of the 4,000 and the 5,000, it is easy to think that we have heard this all before. It would seem like there would be nothing new to say.

As I read Mark 8, I was reminded of the thoughts that I had in Matthew. In the miracle of the loaves and the fishes, we see that Christ can do a great deal with a little if only we will give that little to Him. But today, I saw why we give that little. It is an act of compassion. This great miracle that Jesus does starts with His compassion for the crowd. Where we would see a nameless, faceless mass, Jesus sees need. He is genuinely concerned for the well-being of those who follow Him. It is radical compassion that leads to the blessing of the little for the many.

I am challenged to have compassion like Jesus. God doesn't do great things through the little that we can offer until we have His heart for others. I need a more compassionate heart. Instead of being overwhelmed by the needs I see each day, I need to know that compassion unlocks the power of God so that I can make a difference and help others.

God, give me Your heart of compassion for the needs I see around me. In your power, make the little that I can give a great blessing to others.

Inside Out (Mark 7)

In our passage today, Jesus reminds us of a very important truth. The fundamental problem that you and I have is a problem of programming. In verse 15, Jesus tells us that it is what comes out of a person that makes them unclean. The Pharisees were putting the emphasis on the wrong place. They thought by washing hands and cups they could avoid spiritual corruption. And today, many take the same approach. Put a nice suit on, on Sunday. Carry a big Bible. Genuflect as you pray. It is posture and preening that create piety. The problem is that changing the outside doesn't change the inside.

Imagine your computer stops working. When you turn it on, it just spits all sorts of symbols and characters across your screen. How do you fix it? One approach would be to take Windex and wipe your monitor. But that's not really going to solve the problem is it? To fix the computer, you probably need some reprogramming. It is the inside, not the outside, that needs to be addressed.

When we have faith in Jesus, He gets to the root of the problem. Through faith in Christ, we receive the Holy Spirit. And through the Holy Spirit, our hearts and minds are shaped like the heart and mind of Jesus. It is through Jesus that real inside out change occurs.

Random Thoughts (Mark 6)

Let me just share some random, unconnected thoughts from Mark 6.

1. In our sermon today, we talked about unanswered prayer. We said one reason that prayer goes unanswered is because of a lack of faith. The people of Jesus' town saw Jesus face to face. Their prayer could have been immediate and direct. Yet, Jesus did few miracles in their town because they did not believe. I wonder how often I lack faith becasue Jesus is so familiar I forget that He is still all-powerful God, capable of doing great things if only I trust Him.

2. The story of Herod tells us how far people will go to protect their reputation. Herod kills a man he knows to be righteous just so that he isn't embarrassed by going back on his word. How often do we dumb things in the name of protecting our honor and reputation when we should just confess that we have done the wrong thing?

3. In verse 46, Jesus is alone again, praying. After a busy day of ministry, He needs time to be with His Father. Mark makes it clear that prayer was a major part of Jesus' ministry and life. If Jesus needed time in prayer, how much more do I need it? Jesis' example in Mark continually challenges me to be faithful in prayer.

12 Long Years

I did not think it would be a week between posts. I also didn't think I would get the flu this week! But I did. Now I know why people get flu shots. Even though they are not recommended for my age, I might look into it next year.

Sick as I was, I was not as sick as the woman discussed here in Mark 5. 12 years of bleeding woulkd have been immensely uncomfortable. Yet, it was not only physical discomfort that plagued this woman for 12 years. For a dozen years, this woman also would have been spiritually unclean. Under Jewish law, a woman who was bleeding was considered unclean. In other words, she could not worship at the Temple. Technically, she could not even live at home in her own community. Bleeding like this woman experienced meant that she was to live outside the camp, away from other people.

You see, in ancient Israel spiritual contamination was considered contagious. That is why the woman here is so afraid to admit that she has touched Jesus. Under Old Testament Law, the woman would have just made Jesus unclean. But the woman doesn't understand who she has touched. She cannot make Jesus unclean. Instead, Jesus makes her clean. The great lesson of this story is that there is no spiritual uncleanliness that is beyond Jesus' touch. Even the most corrupt under the Law can be made holy by Him.

12 years of spiritual corruption is gone in a moment. Thankfully, Jesus does the same work today. Even today, His healing touch wipes away years of spiritual corruption. What a great Savior we follow!