Standing before Governors and Kings

9“As for yourselves, beware; for they will hand you over to councils; and you will be beaten in synagogues; and you will stand before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them. 10And the good news must first be proclaimed to all nations. 11When they bring you to trial and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say; but say whatever is given you at that time, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 12Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; 13and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. (Mark 13:9-13, NRSV)

Have you ever been asked by someone why you believe in God?

Do you think you need to have all of the answers to every possible question ready for when someone questions your faith?

Do you think if I don’t know the answer then they will never believe in God, or they will continue to doubt that God is real?

You know what, you can’t possibly be ready for every question you will be asked. You will never have every answer. And most importantly it is not your place to make anyone believe in God. Yes, you read that correctly. You can not make anyone else believe in God. You can only tell them why you do. You can only make it plain to them why you believe. Even if they do not follow or hold to your logic. Your place is to tell of your faith, and in those moments God will give you words to speak.

So relax, God will speak through you and do the work of helping others come to believe, you just need to tell why you believe.

Hard Times to Come

14“But when you see the desolating sacrilege set up where it ought not to be (let the reader understand), then those in Judea must flee to the mountains; 15the one on the housetop must not go down or enter the house to take anything away; 16the one in the field must not turn back to get a coat. 17Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! 18Pray that it may not be in winter. 19For in those days there will be suffering, such as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, no, and never will be. 20And if the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would be saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he has cut short those days. (Mark 13:14-20, NRSV)

Hard times will come. God never said that being a believer and following after Jesus would make your life easy and without hardship. In fact, several times in the scriptures Jesus says that people will persecute you because of your relationship with Jesus.

So have faith and hold on. The road might be bumpy but it will be the ride of your life.

Wars and Rumors of Wars

As he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!” 2Then Jesus asked him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.” 3When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, 4“Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?” 5Then Jesus began to say to them, “Beware that no one leads you astray. 6Many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. 7When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. 8For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birthpangs. (Mark 13:1-8, NRSV)

This is one of those texts people say is happening now. This is the beginning, well we have had the beginning before.

Many times people have said this is the beginning. You know who knows when the beginning of the end of times will be? The Father and only the Father. Jesus said not even he knew, that only the Father knows when this will all happen.

We do not know and can not tell. Signs get misinterpreted and we do not have all of the information nor do we understand everything.

SO hold tight and have faith in God.

The Widow’s Gift

41He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. 42A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. 43Then he called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. 44For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”(Mark 12:41-44, NRSV)

We often hear this text as a stewardship text, look at what this widow did by giving everything. When I actually read this as Jesus condemning the system. This widow feels like she has to give all she had, while others give out of their abundance. We are shamed into giving and that is not what God wants. God wants a cheerful giver, for us to give out of our abundance because we see others around us in need and know we can help. We should never feel shamed into giving.

The system should not hold us down. Being a follower of Jesus should free us to love those around us.

Son of David

35While Jesus was teaching in the temple, he said, “How can the scribes say that the Messiah is the son of David? 36David himself, by the Holy Spirit, declared, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet.”’ 37David himself calls him Lord; so how can he be his son?” And the large crowd was listening to him with delight. 38As he taught, he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, 39and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! 40They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.” (Mark 12:35-40, NRSV)

How can this be? I don’t understand because logically it doesn’t make sense to me. This is really where we get into trouble because when we want to make logical sense out of things that don’t make logical sense we stop believing them,

A lot of what we believe is completely on Faith. We must step out and say I can not logically explain this, or understand this but I believe it.

Sometimes things don’t make sense to us. We have to have faith and step out and believe.

Have faith.

Steadfast Love, Not Sacrifice

“Come, let us return to the Lord; for it is he who has torn, and he will heal us; he has struck down, and he will bind us up. 2After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. 3Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord; his appearing is as sure as the dawn; he will come to us like the showers, like the spring rains that water the earth.” 4What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes away early. 5Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets, I have killed them by the words of my mouth, and my judgment goes forth as the light. 6For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. (Hosea 6:1-6, NRSV)

God: What is that smell?

Me: a sacrifice to you. I couldn’t afford a lamb, so I got a raccoon.

God: a raccoon? seriously you think that is what I want?

Me: I’m trying my best with what I have here.

God: uhm, no not really. I don’t want that smelly thing.

Me: then what can I do?

God: Love as I loved you. I took you when you were smellier than that thing and still loved you. Love like that.

Me: I can’t.

God: I know, but try at love and I’ll help.

Me:

God: just try I’ll be there with you.

Love Your Neighbor

13You shall not defraud your neighbor; you shall not steal; and you shall not keep for yourself the wages of a laborer until morning. 14You shall not revile the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind; you shall fear your God: I am the Lord. 15You shall not render an unjust judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great: with justice you shall judge your neighbor. 16You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not profit by the blood of your neighbor: I am the Lord. 17You shall not hate in your heart anyone of your kin; you shall reprove your neighbor, or you will incur guilt yourself. 18You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord. (Leviticus 19:13-18, NRSV)

This whole passage can be summed up in the title, Love your neighbor. Treat the people around you as you would want to be treated.

If you wouldn’t want someone to do it to you, then don’t do it to someone else.

Love God, Love neighbor.

Hear, O Israel

Now this is the commandment—the statutes and the ordinances—that the Lord your God charged me to teach you to observe in the land that you are about to cross into and occupy, 2so that you and your children and your children’s children, may fear the Lord your God all the days of your life, and keep all his decrees and his commandments that I am commanding you, so that your days may be long. 3Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe them diligently, so that it may go well with you, and so that you may multiply greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has promised you.4Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. 5You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. (Deuteronomy 6:1-5, NRSV)

The Shema is 1 of 2 prayers commanded in the Torah and the last 2 verses here start that. Hear O Israel The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. Jews pray this every day.

I wonder how our lives would change if we all prayed this every day before we went to bed. The Lord is our God, the Lord alone, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. How would our lives be different?

I believe we would be less fearful. I know as we live in the time of Covid-19 and we are all washing our hands and singing Happy Birthday or something else, I have started praying the Lord’s Prayer because it is 20 seconds long and is the amount of time needed for proper handwashing, and it puts me at ease, knowing that God is in control and will always provide for my needs.

How would our lives change?

The Greatest Commandment

28One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” 29Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; 30you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ 31The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32Then the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that ‘he is one, and besides him there is no other’; 33and ‘to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength,’ and ‘to love one’s neighbor as oneself,’ —this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that no one dared to ask him any question. (Mark 12:28-34, NRSV)

Love God and love neighbor. There is nothing above this. We can do all of the good deeds and sacrifice as many animals as we want but none of that matters. All that matters is you love God and neighbor.

Do you love God and neighbor?

Debate on Resurrection

18Some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him and asked him a question, saying, 19“Teacher, Moses wrote for us that ‘if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no child, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother.’ 20There were seven brothers; the first married and, when he died, left no children; 21and the second married her and died, leaving no children; and the third likewise; 22none of the seven left children. Last of all the woman herself died. 23In the resurrection whose wife will she be? For the seven had married her.” 24Jesus said to them, “Is not this the reason you are wrong, that you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God? 25For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 26And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the story about the bush, how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? 27He is God not of the dead, but of the living; you are quite wrong.” (Mark 12:18-27, NRSV)

Sometimes we get so hung up on the rules we miss the real thing. God is the God of the living not the dead, so even when we die we go on living.

We are so hung up on getting things right we miss the people for the person doing something we don’t like.

Let us love as God loved us, picked us up when God couldn’t stand to look at us or be with us and loved us.

Love.