Mark is the only gospel writer who gives us a name for an unfortunate beggar who had the good fortune of meeting a well-known miracle worker whose fame was growing. Although the beggar was blind, he could quite clearly see an opportunity when it showed up. And when Jesus came near, he saw that he would better seize the moment; he was not likely to get another one. youtu.be/46HdhqYeQlU
James and John, in requesting seats at the right hand of Jesus, were enamored with power. They viewed the kingdom of God as a place where power would be wielded over people rather than for them. The answer Jesus gave them helps us to know how we should choose to use power today. youtu.be/BASHBI7Gdew
Perhaps no words by Jesus have been interpreted so literally and so misinterpreted so painfully than those from this passage. There is no question Jesus said what he did about divorce and remarriage — but who was he speaking to, what was he telling them and what does it mean for us today? youtu.be/Gjrk93J7evM When the apostle John catches others healing others in the name of Jesus, he tries to put a stop to it, but Jesus will have none of it. We are on the same side. God’s audacious aim is to save the whole world. Therefore, whoever is not against us is for us. Isn’t it just like God to be merciful and hopeful about everyone? Including us. https://youtu.be/x7vfX2ykhSY Our text contrasts a false self-seeking “wisdom” with “wisdom from above” that leads to good relationships. The whole letter of James focuses on right behavior, and says little about Jesus by name. But in light of traditions about wisdom in the Hebrew scriptures that Christians used to speak about Jesus, we can see the letter’s encouragement to live with wisdom as another way of speaking about following Jesus. The incident here foreshadows 1 Corinthians 13, in that we see love, hope and faith in action. We learn further that a community of friends overflowing with faith, hope and love is not sufficient unto itself. One thing is still needed: personal encounter, personal interaction, with Jesus. Put community and personal encounter together, and there will be a movement that tells the world about the Gospel. youtu.be/PbYHlBz0h40 We each carry within us sinful impulses, and things and people outside of us can bring this darkness to the surface. Empty ritual does not prepare us for the battle with temptation but with God’s help, we can heal what lies within us and gain strength to face a world that sometimes calls out the worst in us. With grace, ritual becomes a means of feeding our souls. https://youtu.be/gSZL2viTnic When Peter asks, “Lord, to whom can we go?” he is articulating a bedrock affirmation of the Christian life: that we are radically dependent on Jesus. It is only when we truly accept the fact of our utter dependence on him that we are freed to do real evangelism. youtu.be/ityHRY2yZOg |
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