Carry the Cross

Mark 15

January 25, 2013

Carry the Cross

Any time I read through the events of the trial, the verdict and the crucifixion of Jesus, I am transported.  It doesn’t matter which of the Gospels I’m reading from, I know I am still sitting on my couch, and yet I’m not.  Suddenly I am there in Jerusalem on such a deep level – mentally and emotionally.  I can’t help it.  Such is the power of this part of Jesus’ story.

So I have trouble focusing on just one aspect of this chapter.  Every section – every verse – adds a different observation – a different question – a different way I am pulled into these events that speak to my soul.

Yet this morning as I read it again, I took an extra pause at the one verse in particular.  It said: “A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.”  And like the rest of the Gospel recorded by Mark, he gets in, says his piece, and he gets out.  That’s all the details we get.  There was a man from Cyrene.  His name was Simon.  He is the father of two sons.  He is forced to carry the cross. Next.

But I can’t help but want more details.  Was this just a random choice by one of the soldiers on the crucifixion detail?  The need is clear enough.  Jesus was already bloodied and battered.  Although we know Him to be the Son of God come in human flesh, it was indeed human flesh that had been flogged.  The loss of blood left him weakened to a level I have never experienced.  So he could no longer make it up to the “place of the skull” – carrying that heavy load.  Who was going to carry that cross piece the rest of the way?  The soldier?  No way. So he points to a man in the crowd and says: “You there.  Yes you.  Pick up that cross and carry it – or else.” And Simon from Cyrene knew he had little choice in the matter.

Suddenly he too was part of the story that we now call the passion of the Christ.  And wouldn’t you like to interview him?  Wouldn’t you like to ask questions like: What thoughts flooded your mind when the soldier pointed at you?  What were you thinking as you took the cross bar from the one they called Jesus?  Did Jesus say anything to you?  Did he look you in the eye?  What did it feel like to be in that procession – marching up to Golgotha?

My heart aches also for this man who is thrust into the account of Christ’s crucifixion.  But I can’t help but note one more detail.  He is the father of Alexander and Rufus.  And that quick detail has led so many to believe something else of great significance.  It seems extremely likely that this little add-on tells us that these two sons came to know Jesus on a much deeper level as well.  It would appear that these two boys, had grown up and become part of the community of followers of Jesus.  Otherwise, why give this odd detail?  In fact, why would you even know it, unless there were further discussions with Simon and his two sons? 

“Carry the cross,” said the soldier.  “if anyone would be my follower, they must deny themselves, pick up their cross and follow me,” says Jesus.  That’s what I want to do.  I want to be a part of that continuing story of lives that are transformed by a cross and the One who gave His life on it for all of us.  

Naked ...

Mark 14

January 24, 2013

Naked …

There are so many directions we could go with this chapter that begins with the anointing of Jesus by an unnamed woman and ends with Peter weeping after hearing a rooster crow upon his third denial.  There’s so much to think about and pray about in these 72 verses. 

But I found my mind focusing on verses 51 and 52, where we read about an unidentified person.  Compared to the others, this one seems oddly out of place. The Bible simply says: A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.”

What’s this all about?  I mean, even though the woman who anointed Jesus in Bethany is not given a name in this Gospel’s account, her inclusion because of her “beautiful thing” she did and Jesus own directive, makes her part of the story a vital link.  But what about a young man who ends up running away in his boxers?  Why him?

If you’ll do a little research, you’ll discover that this incident of the young man only shows up in one of the four Gospels – obviously this one. And furthermore, because of that fact, most who write commentaries and study Bible notes believe that this young man had a name.  And that name happened to be John Mark.  Yes, the very same Mark who undertook the writing of a Gospel about “Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” (Mark 1:1)

But what sticks in mind about these two verses is more than this Gospel writer humbly including his less than stellar moment on the night of Jesus’ betrayal.  It is the word “naked.”  I know, the very word “naked” is enough to illicit whispers and laughter among teenage boys trying hard to become men.  But let’s move beyond the juvenile. 

I can’t think of any better term to describe a humiliated John Mark, who has enough nerve to follow close behind the arresting party, but whose courage leaves one step faster than his clothing does when they turn to seize him as well.  His fear is left naked on display for all the world to see.

But he’s not the only one. We see it in the beginning of the chapter when the love of a woman for Jesus is laid bare in her anointing Him for His death.  Face it - Judas poses for a centerfold of greed.  And Peter’s garments quickly hit the floor as his bold intentions, give way to three denials.  The rooster crows and his un-Photoshopped image is burned into our minds.  He doesn’t get airbrushed.  He’s naked and weeping.

So where do we land on this whole “naked” thing?  Do we really think these two verses are only meant to give us a clever hint about the author’s identity? Hardly!  There’s something about this chapter that moves us past all the outward style we use to cover ourselves and make ourselves.  But these seventy-two verses reach out and we are no longer decent.  We stand before our Creator and Redeemer – as my grandfather would say – “naked as a jaybird.”  But when that happens, the Good News is that Jesus has entered the world, took the cross, and now lives to cloth us with His garments of righteousness instead.  But I’m getting ahead of the story. 

Stones ...

Mark 13

January 23, 2013

STONES …

What hit me in this chapter is Jesus’ response to one of His follower’s observation about the Temple that dominated the city of Jerusalem.  The disciple mentions how beautiful this massive structure is – this building dedicated to the worship of the one true God.  And in reply Jesus bluntly states: “Do you see all these great buildings? Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

Okay – this is kind of like walking through the streets of Washington DC and standing there – admiring the monument that bears our first president’s name.  And while you’re doing taking in that gleaming structure pointing towards the sky, someone tells you: “Enjoy it while you can.  Pretty soon it will be a massive heap of white marble.”  It just might get your attention.

Jesus words were shocking on a couple of levels.  First, He had their attention.  It would have been easy for them to dismiss the idea completely, but they’d been to history class. They knew that the temple was a replacement of the temple that had once stood on that very ground.  That original temple, built by King Solomon, had been completely torn down by the Babylonians.  They left no stones intact.  History showed them that such destruction was possible.

But this led to the second shock.  This is Jesus telling them that this will be the fate of Herod’s rebuilt temple.  And yet, they’ve been banking on the belief that Jesus is the Messiah, which they picture as all the Justice League super heroes combined into one.  In their way of thinking, with the Messiah on their side, Jerusalem will become the nation at the center of the universe.  So why is Jesus talking this way?

We could continue down the path of describing the horrific events that fell upon the city of Jerusalem in 70 AD when the armies of Rome would indeed destroy the temple – along with all the rest of the city.  But I find myself thinking more about the world in 2013.  Without going all political on you, and launching off on a tirade about how this party or that party or some politician is ruining everything, I can’t help but wonder … are the stones we think are so rock solid in reality teetering?  There are days when I wonder whether or not, our culture has already pushed the button and started the sequence of self-destruction.  I know we have outside threats in abundance, but I fear that our greatest dangers come from our own, as we seem to be systematically deconstructing the very foundations of what made us strong.  (OK … turn down the patriotic music.  I am definitely not running for office.)

But to get even more personal, I find myself asking: “So what temples in my life do I believe are indestructible?  Have I built buildings with my own two hands – buildings of false pride and ego – buildings of selfishness and greed – buildings of personal treasures I’m accumulating while starving my soul?”  Among the many things Jesus says about the future, He is surely telling us that all these things will one day fall into ruins.  They simply won’t last.  Only that which God builds in us is going to be left standing.  Only His love poured out in us and shared through us will remain.  This is the perspective I want to live with – right here and right now.

Questions ...

Mark 12

January 22, 2013

QUESTIONS …

    As I was reading through this chapter the thing that caught my attention were the poignant questions flying back and forth.  This series of questions actually began at the end of chapter 11, but it sets up the questions that outline today’s chapter.

    As Jesus tells the parable of the tenants in response to the opposition he was facing (see Mark 11:27-33), He depicts the religious leaders as those who would kill the son of the Vineyard owner (certainly not a description that would endear them to Him).  He then asks the question: “What then will the owner of the vineyard do?”

    But this isn’t the only question that fills this chapter.  Other questions include:

            “Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?

            “Why are you trying to trap me?”

            “At the resurrection, whose wife will she be?”

            “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

            “David himself calls him Lord.  How then can he be his son?”

    As I was reading through these forty-four verses, I began asking myself about all the questions and the ways they were used.  At times they were verbal traps – meant to ensnare Jesus and put him into a position where he would make himself vulnerable to the legal action of the authorities or at least to turn the masses of followers against Him.  Such were the questions of the religious leaders who allowed their desperate grasp for power, comfort, wealth and political ambition dictate their response to Jesus.

    At times the questions were posed in order to get the one receiving the inquiry to rethink their thoughts or intentions or actions.  In other words, the question is meant to wake them up before it’s too late.  Such were the questions that Jesus set before the religious powers who opposed the very One whom they claimed to be praying for every day.  Each question was meant to shake them to their core and open their eyes.

    Finally some questions were asked with a sincere desire to expand knowledge and open up true dialog.  That’s how I take the question of the teacher of the law who asked about Jesus view of the greatest commandment (verses 28-34).  I believe he was intrigued by Jesus as he heard him out-maneuver the traps laid before Him.  And Jesus saw that in him too, responding: “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”

    And that leads me to the question I can’t help but asking … What would Jesus ask me today?  What questions would He have for me?  What paths would He ask about?  What words would He choose to wake me up and open up my heart to His Word?  Without a doubt, the answer to the deepest questions life throws at us is this: Jesus.

Am I All Leaves?

Mark 11

January 21, 2013

Am I all Leaves?

In the midst of all this action in Mark 11 there is this strange addition.  I mean the Palm Sunday procession; the clearing of the temple on Monday and the confrontation with the Pharisees on Tuesday all seem to fit together quite nicely.  But in the middle of all this is a fig tree.  At first glance, it may seem strangely out of place.

So why does Jesus take the time to care about whether a fig tree has fruit on it or not?  Is He really that hungry for the stuff that fills Newtons or is there something more to it?  OK, since I’m a guy who researches these kinds of things, I can let you know that in the Old Testament, the nation of Israel is depicted metaphorically as a fig tree. That begins to make sense, but if think I’m going to lead you off into a path of theology as deep and confusing as trying to unravel the politics of the Middle East today, do not fear.  That’s not what these NT 5.1 postings are all about.

But what does the fig tree have to do with triumphal entries, temple clearings, and verbal sparring?  I think it comes down to the word - “purpose.”  What is the purpose for the fig tree?  What is the purpose for a colt that’s never been ridden?  What is the purpose of Pharisees and religious leaders?  What is the purpose for the coming of Jesus?

Without a doubt in my mind, we have to begin with the last question.  Jesus told us just one chapter back: “For even the Son of man came not to be served, but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)  Everything in this chapter smacks of that purpose.  The big Palm Sunday parade lined up with people shouting: “Hosanna” (or translated “Lord, save us!”)  The colt that’s never ridden before is one dedicated to the Lord, and the Lord receives this gift from the unnamed source. 

But in the middle of all this purpose talk are a group of men who just don’t get it.  The purpose of these religious leaders is to love God and love His people – and yet they seem to love their status, their power, and most of all themselves more than the purpose for which they were chosen.  Their purpose is to love God’s Word and love sharing it with God’s people – and yet they twist and turn it in the directions that will support their status, their power, and their love for themselves.  In other words, they are trees full of leaves, but lacking any fruit. 

All I know is that I don’t want to be a tree full of leaves - devoid of the very fruit for which I was born.  I don’t want to blow past my purpose in the life God’s given me, and settle for empty fruit of status, power and self-centered love.  So my prayer this day is to hear a different kind of Word from Jesus.  I want to hear a Word of life, of grace, of forgiveness, of assurance.  He has that kind of Word for me and for you.  I know He does. After all, He came here for that very purpose. 

Swimming Upstream

Mark 10

January 18, 2013

Swimming Upstream

I see it over and over in this chapter.  Jesus is speaking one radical word after another.  Just because we’ve heard His words over and over doesn’t change that reality.  Just because we live in a culture that has been far more influenced by Jesus than our PC driven gatekeepers want to admit, doesn’t change that reality.  The words of Jesus stood out.  They challenged conventional wisdom and accepted practices. They changed minds one at a time.  And in doing so they changed the world.

He challenged their view of marriage and divorce – at a time when the divorce laws didn’t just favor the male, but actually were dictated by the male-dominated society.  I really don’t mean to step on toes here and I know many of those who will read this have had marriages that have ended. I have seen it happen among those I love far too many times.  But I will tell you this in all honesty, it saddens me every time I see it.  My heart aches because it’s not the way it was supposed to be. And I pray that hearts will be softened in every one.

He speaks about bringing children to Him.  We often quote these words at the time of baptisms, but in reality, we have no idea how important those words were in that society.  (Side note – if you’ve secretly bought into the cultural myth that all Christianity has done is mess up things as it spread throughout the nations, I challenge you to read John Ortberg’s book, Who is this Man?  I do not deny that events like the crusades were horrible on more levels than we know, but that is not the whole story.)  In a culture that regularly practiced “exposure” (leaving children out in the woods to perish), these simple words of Jesus changed society to protect the lives of children.  They lived them out by carry for unwanted children.  We would do well to tattoo these words on our minds in our own society that has a split personality on our treatment of children born and unborn.

Jesus challenged the rich not to put their trust in riches.  He called for them to care for the poor. At that time when most believed the rich were especially blessed by God, look at the way He deals with the rich young man.  He pinpoints that for this wealthy twenty-something, his net worth has become his identity and his god.  So He calls him to give it up.

And we even pass by the story of the blind Bartimaeus – forgetting that at the time of Jesus, the blind and lame were considered to be blind and lame because they had somehow offended God.  But Jesus reached out to the blind, the lame, the deaf and the leper.  Every last person was loved by God and so loved by God’s Son.  He was headed to Jerusalem to prove how much God loved them. 

As I said, this is a chapter full of challenges to me.  Jesus challenged the thinking of those at that time, and Jesus challenges my assumptions every day I spend time listening to Him. 

How about yours?

Jesus is so Much Bigger than My Understanding

Mark 9

January 17, 2013

As I was reading through chapter nine of Mark’s Gospel, a thought occurred to me.  There’s this account of the man whose son was tormented by a demon that threw him into convulsions.  Some of Jesus’ disciples tried to cast the demon out of the son, but they were unsuccessful.  So when Jesus shows up, the man asks whether Jesus can do what his disciples could not.  Jesus can and does.  And later when the disciples have Jesus alone, they ask Him why they were unable to cast this demon out of the young man.  Jesus simply responds: “This kind can come out only by prayer.”  

Now at first glance I hear Jesus’ reply and say: “Oh … okay.”  But then that is quickly followed an audible: “What?  What does that even mean?”  So before you even post something or write me and ask me to explain it, I’ll tell you flat out: “I don’t know.”  I know I’m a pastor and I’ve studied this section of the Bible many times, but my honest answer doesn’t change from “I don’t know.” 

I’ve read through the Bible commentators and listened to the theologians pontificate, but what I hear is at best educated guesses and theories.  So it’s time to confess - there are times when Jesus’ words or actions puzzle me.  At one time, that really bothered me.  I thought things like: “How am I going to be a pastor if I can’t explain every red letter word in the New Testament?” 

But these days it doesn’t bother me near as much.  After all, this is Jesus, the Son of God come in the flesh.  Do I really believe I’m going to totally “master” Jesus?  Doesn’t it make sense that Jesus if far bigger than our understanding?

In the realm of seminary, there are different areas of theology that we study.  There’s practical theology (which I can tell you isn’t always that practically understood by a bunch of guys who haven’t tried ministry in the real world yet); historical theology (seems self-explanatory); Biblical Theology (ditto on the self-explanatory part) and something called systematic theology.  As the name would imply in systematic theology, we take the theology taught in the Bible and put it together in a cohesive system. 

Now there’s nothing wrong with systematic theology.  It helps organize the teachings of the Bible in a thematic structure and anyone who knows me, knows I love themes.  But the problem is, God is so much bigger than any system.  The Bible is not given to us in a nice packaged system.  It comes as a revelation from God to a fallen people who have broken off the relationship with God we were created for, and are now slow to respond to the Savior who has come to rescue them.  BTW that would include you and I as well.

So what I do when I have wrestled and wrestled with a part of God’s Word and still found no clear answer?  Sometimes I end up repeating the words of a father who framed his request to Jesus in a most awkward way by telling the Lord: “If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”  Jesus responds with a question and a challenging statement of His own. First he asks: “If you can?”  (like he’s saying – did you really just say that to me?)  He then tells the dad: “Anything is possible for the one who believes.” 

I have to admit that I love the response of the father who is agonizing over his son’s condition.  He tells Jesus: “I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief.” 

Yep.  That I understand.