Crush Him

7 Jesus left with his disciples and went to the lake. A large crowd followed him because they had heard what he was doing. They were from Galilee, 8 Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, and the area surrounding Tyre and Sidon. 9 Jesus told his disciples to get a small boat ready for him so the crowd wouldn’t crush him. 10 He had healed so many people that everyone who was sick pushed forward so that they could touch him. 11 Whenever the evil spirits saw him, they fell down at his feet and shouted, “You are God’s Son!”12 But he strictly ordered them not to reveal who he was. (Mark 3:7-12, CEB)

Jesus asked the disciples to get a boat ready so the crowd wouldn’t crush Him. You see people are so motivated by their own desires and needs that they will physically harm or kill others to get what we want even when it is the person we are trying to get it from.

Why are we wired in such a way that we look out for ourselves over others? We need to get over ourselves and know that the world doesn’t revolve around us.

We need to love as God loves us.

Love People, Love God.

Agree to disagree

36 Some time later, Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit all the brothers and sisters in every city where we preached the Lord’s word. Let’s see how they are doing.” 37 Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them. 38 Paul insisted that they shouldn’t take him along, since he had deserted them in Pamphylia and hadn’t continued with them in their work. 39 Their argument became so intense that they went their separate ways. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus. 40 Paul chose Silas and left, entrusted by the brothers and sisters to the Lord’s grace. 41 He traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. (Acts 15:36-41, CEB)

It seems like we have come to the point of saying we need to agree to disagree. While there are some things we can do this on and there are somethings we can not do this on, the above is something we can agree to disagree.

Paul and Barnabas were going back to the communities they helped see the love of Christ and started a worship community. Barnabas wanted to bring John Mark and Paul didn’t. This was more to Paul and Barnabas understanding of who John Mark is. Not that this is right but it doesn’t remove rights or privileges from John Mark.

We can not include people in our lives as long as we are not working to keep them down or not allow them to have justice.

We can agree to disagree on things that do not hold people in place of unjust means.

Share love.

Love People, Love God.

message of Hope

The same thing happened in Iconium. Paul and Barnabas entered the Jewish synagogue and spoke as they had before. As a result, a huge number of Jews and Greeks believed. 2 However, the Jews who rejected the faith stirred up the Gentiles, poisoning their minds against the brothers. 3 Nevertheless, Paul and Barnabas stayed there for quite some time, confidently speaking about the Lord. And the Lord confirmed the word about his grace by the signs and wonders he enabled them to perform. 4 The people of the city were divided—some siding with the Jews, others with the Lord’s messengers. 5 Then some Gentiles and Jews, including their leaders, hatched a plot to mistreat and stone Paul and Barnabas. 6 When they learned of it, these two messengers fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and the surrounding area, 7 where they continued to proclaim the good news. (Acts 14:1-7, CEB)

Even in the face of criticism Paul and Barnabas stayed and preached the message until they heard of a plot to be stoned did they leave.

Sometimes people will hear the message we bring with love and open ears and others will be stirred to hatred and not wanting to listen. Our mission is to share the good news and not make people hear or believe. There will be others behind us.

We are sharers of the message testifiers to Christ.

We do not change hearts, we bring good news.

So go every where and share the message of hope.

Love People, Love God.

Good News

29 After leaving the synagogue, Jesus, James, and John went home with Simon and Andrew. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed, sick with a fever, and they told Jesus about her at once. 31 He went to her, took her by the hand, and raised her up. The fever left her, and she served them. 32 That evening, at sunset, people brought to Jesus those who were sick or demon-possessed. 33 The whole town gathered near the door. 34 He healed many who were sick with all kinds of diseases, and he threw out many demons. But he didn’t let the demons speak, because they recognized him. 35 Early in the morning, well before sunrise, Jesus rose and went to a deserted place where he could be alone in prayer. 36 Simon and those with him tracked him down. 37 When they found him, they told him, “Everyone’s looking for you!” 38 He replied, “Let’s head in the other direction, to the nearby villages, so that I can preach there too. That’s why I’ve come.” 39 He traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and throwing out demons. (Mark 1:29-39, CEB)

Jesus came to preach good news to all. Healing is secondary.

Is healing secondary? As I typed that sentence, I thought of yesterdays healing on the Sabbath story and how healing is restoration to community. Healing is restoration to relationships. So healing isn’t secondary, but Jesus came to see the people and tell them about God’s love.

People wanted to see Jesus because of what they heard He was doing, not to hear him, but to be healed or have someone they love healed. Jesus came to tell the good news.

And the good news, restores relationships too.

Do you tell others about Jesus and the good news?

Are you going every day to love people, and love God?

Stretch out your hand

9 Jesus left that place and went into their synagogue. 10 A man with a withered hand was there. Wanting to bring charges against Jesus, they asked, “Does the Law allow a person to heal on the Sabbath?” 11 Jesus replied, “Who among you has a sheep that falls into a pit on the Sabbath and will not take hold of it and pull it out? 12 How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! So the Law allows a person to do what is good on the Sabbath.” 13 Then Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he did and it was made healthy, just like the other one. 14 The Pharisees went out and met in order to find a way to destroy Jesus. (Matthew 12:9-14, CEB)

Does the law allow for healing on the sabbath?

This is a question to entrap. It is asked in order to make Jesus look bad no matter how it is answered. If Jesus says no, then He is insensitive to the needs of humans, and if He says yes, then He is going against the Law.

It is a no win situation. But the answer is a resounding yes. The law allows for healing on the sabbath because that is restoration to relationship. And that is what God is relationship. Healing on the sabbath is restoration to sabbath.

So go and love people, love God.

Living

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Haven’t I seen Jesus our Lord? Aren’t you my work in the Lord? 2 If I’m not an apostle to others, at least I am to you! You are the seal that shows I’m an apostle. 3 This is my defense against those who criticize me. 4 Don’t we have the right to eat and drink? 5 Don’t we have the right to travel with a wife who believes like the rest of the apostles, the Lord’s brothers, and Cephas? 6 Or is it only I and Barnabas who don’t have the right to not work for our living? 7 Who joins the army and pays their own way? Who plants a vineyard and doesn’t eat its fruit? Who shepherds a flock and doesn’t drink its milk? 8 I’m not saying these things just based on common sense, am I? Doesn’t the Law itself say these things? 9 In Moses’ Law it’s written: You will not muzzle the ox when it is threshing. Is God worried about oxen, 10 or did he say this entirely for our sake? It was written for our sake because the one who plows and the one who threshes should each do so with the hope of sharing the produce. 11 If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it so much to ask to harvest some material things from you? 12 If others have these rights over you, don’t we deserve them all the more? However, we haven’t made use of this right, but we put up with everything so we don’t put any obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. 13 Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get to eat food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share part of what is sacrificed on the altar? 14 In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who preach the gospel should get their living from the gospel. 15 But I haven’t taken advantage of this. And I’m not writing this so that it will be done for me. It’s better for me to die than to lose my right to brag about this! 16 If I preach the gospel, I have no reason to brag, since I’m obligated to do it. I’m in trouble if I don’t preach the gospel. (1 Corinthians 9:1-16, CEB)

What do you do in life?

Or how do you make a living?

What we do in life and how we obtain things to live could be two entirely different things.

We all do things to make the means to support ourselves, but all of us have to preach the gospel. Some of us make our living from the preaching of the gospel. And I know I can say I am grateful for those that get that and help support ministries so that God’s work can be done.

But all of us need to preach the gospel, everyday all the time. In everything we do we must share the love of God.

So go and do your job to make a living, but in that, love people, love God.

what matters

2 Look, I, Paul, am telling you that if you have yourselves circumcised, having Christ won’t help you. 3 Again I swear to every man who has himself circumcised that he is required to do the whole Law. 4 You people who are trying to be made righteous by the Law have been estranged from Christ. You have fallen away from grace!5 We eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness through the Spirit by faith. 6 Being circumcised or not being circumcised doesn’t matter in Christ Jesus, but faith working through love does matter. 7 You were running well—who stopped you from obeying the truth? 8 This line of reasoning doesn’t come from the one who calls you. 9 A little yeast works through the whole lump of dough. 10 I’m convinced about you in the Lord that you won’t think any other way. But the one who is confusing you will pay the penalty, whoever that may be. 11 Brothers and sisters, if I’m still preaching circumcision, why am I still being harassed? In that case, the offense of the cross would be canceled. 12 I wish that the ones who are upsetting you would castrate themselves! 13 You were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only don’t let this freedom be an opportunity to indulge your selfish impulses, but serve each other through love. 14 All the Law has been fulfilled in a single statement: Love your neighbor as yourself. 15 But if you bite and devour each other, be careful that you don’t get eaten up by each other! (Galatians 5:2-15, CEB)

It does not matter what you look like on the outside or the things you do that someone says are required. None of these things matter. Circumcised or not circumcised is not the entrance to eternity.

We are set right by God through the grace of Christ. It is not our appearance or adherence to a set of rules. When we love our neighbor and love God we are performing the law, so not external mark is going to make a difference.

We are called to love people and love God and when we do that, that is all that matters.

Be like Jesus

Jesus and his disciples came to the other side of the lake, to the region of the Gerasenes. 2 As soon as Jesus got out of the boat, a man possessed by an evil spirit came out of the tombs. 3 This man lived among the tombs, and no one was ever strong enough to restrain him, even with a chain. 4 He had been secured many times with leg irons and chains, but he broke the chains and smashed the leg irons. No one was tough enough to control him. 5 Night and day in the tombs and the hills, he would howl and cut himself with stones. 6 When he saw Jesus from far away, he ran and knelt before him, 7 shouting, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won’t torture me!” 8 He said this because Jesus had already commanded him, “Unclean spirit, come out of the man!” 9 Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He responded, “Legion is my name, because we are many.” 10 They pleaded with Jesus not to send them out of that region. 11 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the hillside. 12 “Send us into the pigs!” they begged. “Let us go into the pigs!” 13 Jesus gave them permission, so the unclean spirits left the man and went into the pigs. Then the herd of about two thousand pigs rushed down the cliff into the lake and drowned. 14 Those who tended the pigs ran away and told the story in the city and in the countryside. People came to see what had happened.15 They came to Jesus and saw the man who used to be demon-possessed. They saw the very man who had been filled with many demons sitting there fully dressed and completely sane, and they were filled with awe. 16 Those who had actually seen what had happened to the demon-possessed man told the others about the pigs. 17 Then they pleaded with Jesus to leave their region. 18 While he was climbing into the boat, the one who had been demon-possessed pleaded with Jesus to let him come along as one of his disciples. 19 But Jesus wouldn’t allow it. “Go home to your own people,” Jesus said, “and tell them what the Lord has done for you and how he has shown you mercy.” 20 The man went away and began to proclaim in the Ten Cities all that Jesus had done for him, and everyone was amazed. (Mark 5:1-20, CEB)

Notice that Jesus is in a non Jewish land here. We know this because of the herd of pigs.

But Jesus is doing miracles for all people, not just the chosen people of God.

I also have to say that I wish the 2000 pigs had not rushed off the cliff, that is a loss of a lot of bacon. But Jesus freed the man from the spirit that had held him and returned him to his place in society. Evil spirits or uncleanliness in those days would send you out of the city and you had to fend for yourself. And most people would cross the street or go out of their way not to come near you. It was a death sentence. So Jesus literally saved this mans life by restoring him to relationships and community.

That is why community is important, and why we should love all, without question, because Jesus did. And we need to be like Jesus.

Free from concern???

32 I want you to be free from concerns. A man who isn’t married is concerned about the Lord’s concerns—how he can please the Lord.33 But a married man is concerned about the world’s concerns—how he can please his wife. 34 His attention is divided. A woman who isn’t married or who is a virgin is concerned about the Lord’s concerns so that she can be dedicated to God in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the world’s concerns—how she can please her husband. 35 I’m saying this for your own advantage. It’s not to restrict you but rather to promote effective and consistent service to the Lord without distraction. 36 If someone thinks he is acting inappropriately toward an unmarried woman whom he knows, and if he has strong feelings and it seems like the right thing to do, he should do what he wants—he’s not sinning—they should get married. 37 But if a man stands firm in his decision, and doesn’t feel the pressure, but has his own will under control, he does right if he decides in his own heart not to marry the woman. 38 Therefore, the one who marries the unmarried woman does right, and the one who doesn’t get married will do even better. 39 A woman is obligated to stay in her marriage as long as her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry whomever she wants, only it should be a believer in the Lord. 40 But in my opinion, she will be happier if she stays the way she is. And I think that I have God’s Spirit too. (1 Corinthians 7:32-40, CEB)

There is a reason Roman Catholic priests are not supposed to be married. They are married to their congregation, or to God. So their focus is the people and the mission of God.

I can safely say that being a husband, father, and pastor makes for a lack of focus sometimes. But not being married could also cause issues as we have seen from scandals in the church.

So how do we stay free from concerns?

We don’t in this life. But we strive to follow God where God is leading us and to be what God has created us to be. Will we succeed, yes, but we will fall short sometimes.

Just follow God and know that God is always there to help you up when you fall.

Purified

17 When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers and sisters welcomed us warmly. 18 On the next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James. All of the elders were present. 19 After greeting them, he gave them a detailed report of what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 20 Those who heard this praised God. Then they said to him, “Brother, you see how many thousands of Jews have become believers, and all of them keep the Law passionately. 21 They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to reject Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children nor to live according to our customs. 22 What about this? Without a doubt, they will hear that you have arrived. 23 You must therefore do what we tell you. Four men among us have made a solemn promise.24 Take them with you, go through the purification ritual with them, and pay the cost of having their heads shaved. Everyone will know there is nothing to those reports about you but that you too live a life in keeping with the Law. 25 As for the Gentile believers, we wrote a letter about what we decided, that they avoid food offered to idols, blood, the meat from strangled animals, and sexual immorality.”26 The following day Paul took the men with him and went through the purification ritual with them. He entered the temple and publicly announced the completion of the days of purification, when the offering would be presented for each one of them. (Acts 21:17-26, CEB)

What does it mean to be purified?

Is there a ritual for purification?

To purify silver the silversmith holds the silver in the hot fire burning off the impurities until they can see their reflection. So until we reflect God so that others see God and not us we are not purified.

So how do we get purified? Shave our heads and offer sacrifices and follow the Law to the letter?

The law can not make us pure, only God can, so we follow God and do what God has commended, love God and love others, and in this we will be purified.

Do not put you own desires or needs above that of another. Love God, love neighbor.

Love People, Love God!