On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it.
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As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. And Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
This may be one of the oddest passages in the gospels. For the life of me I have no idea why Jesus cursed that fig tree. Honestly, if not for these verses I would not have imagined that the Lord would do such a thing. Even his explanation to the disciples doesn't make sense. It speaks to me of how God's ways are sometimes indiscernible to my mind.
That said, I have to say that I love the way that Jesus answered his disciples. In a few sentences he paints a broad and magnificent image of what it means to have faith in God as we pray. It is obvious from the text that he is now speaking of spiritual trees and mountains. For truly, no obstacle can obstruct us, or hinder our way, when we pray in his name.
Help me today Lord that I might not doubt in my heart when I pray.
The Lord has need of it ...
Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’” And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go. And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it.
Isn't it interesting how this detail of acquiring a colt is included in Mark's gospel? I can only imagine that it was included because of the amazing nature of it. It reminds me of how detailed God can be when He gives us directions. It speaks to the omniscience of the Lord and of His all-knowing nature. Can you imagine how amazed the disciples were when they came upon the unridden colt in the place and manner that Jesus spoke of?
The phrase "The Lord has need of it" reminds me that, although God himself needs nothing, often the Lord desires to use people and things to achieve his purposes. Such was the case with the colt and such is the case with you and me. We were born for a reason and connecting with that purpose is the essence of what life is all about. It speaks to the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives and the ways that he has gifted us to live.
Here am I Lord. Send me. Use me. I offer myself to your purposes in your service.
Isn't it interesting how this detail of acquiring a colt is included in Mark's gospel? I can only imagine that it was included because of the amazing nature of it. It reminds me of how detailed God can be when He gives us directions. It speaks to the omniscience of the Lord and of His all-knowing nature. Can you imagine how amazed the disciples were when they came upon the unridden colt in the place and manner that Jesus spoke of?
The phrase "The Lord has need of it" reminds me that, although God himself needs nothing, often the Lord desires to use people and things to achieve his purposes. Such was the case with the colt and such is the case with you and me. We were born for a reason and connecting with that purpose is the essence of what life is all about. It speaks to the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives and the ways that he has gifted us to live.
Here am I Lord. Send me. Use me. I offer myself to your purposes in your service.
Your faith has made you well.
As he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.” And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.
Do you sense the desperation in the voice and the words of this hurting blind man? Do you also sense the callousness in the words and voices of those who told him to shut up? And do you begin to cheer for this blind soul as he continues to cry out? Aren't you glad that he would not be silenced? Does it not motivate you to pray all the more? It does me!
I find the Lord's question to Bartimaeus to be a bit puzzling as it seems so obvious that his cries for mercy are all about his blindness. It reminds me of that Sunday in August of 1975 when my wife Ellen (who had been blind for three plus years) raised her hand in church to ask Jesus into her heart. Like Bartimaeus her faith had made her well. It is so amazing.
Help me to not lose heart Lord. Help me to continue to cry out for healing.
Do you sense the desperation in the voice and the words of this hurting blind man? Do you also sense the callousness in the words and voices of those who told him to shut up? And do you begin to cheer for this blind soul as he continues to cry out? Aren't you glad that he would not be silenced? Does it not motivate you to pray all the more? It does me!
I find the Lord's question to Bartimaeus to be a bit puzzling as it seems so obvious that his cries for mercy are all about his blindness. It reminds me of that Sunday in August of 1975 when my wife Ellen (who had been blind for three plus years) raised her hand in church to ask Jesus into her heart. Like Bartimaeus her faith had made her well. It is so amazing.
Help me to not lose heart Lord. Help me to continue to cry out for healing.
Whoever would be great among you ...
“Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.”
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And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
What is it in us that wants to have the place of honor? Every day we see, on TV and in our lives, people who struggle to be "number one". In political seasons we often see outlandish displays by candidates wanting to sit in that place of honor. And there is no sadder display of this than in the church when men and women argue over fleshly titles and positions.
In contrast to this quest for positions and titles Jesus speaks of himself as one who came "not to be served but to serve". He is a lasting example to us of true spiritual authority. In Christ we see an example worthy of emulation. He who was born to rule did not aspire to an earthly throne but a servant's cross. His message is clear to all who desire to be great.
Help me to conquer my desire to be first Lord. Help me to be a servant.
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And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
What is it in us that wants to have the place of honor? Every day we see, on TV and in our lives, people who struggle to be "number one". In political seasons we often see outlandish displays by candidates wanting to sit in that place of honor. And there is no sadder display of this than in the church when men and women argue over fleshly titles and positions.
In contrast to this quest for positions and titles Jesus speaks of himself as one who came "not to be served but to serve". He is a lasting example to us of true spiritual authority. In Christ we see an example worthy of emulation. He who was born to rule did not aspire to an earthly throne but a servant's cross. His message is clear to all who desire to be great.
Help me to conquer my desire to be first Lord. Help me to be a servant.
You do not know what you are asking.
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”
I wonder what the relationship looked like between Jesus and his disciples? I love the way that they come to him here in a demanding fashion. It speaks to the close friendship that they must have had. Often we forget that these friends traveled the countryside spending all day and all night with each other. Like Moses these spoke face to face with God as a friend. It reminds me of how God invites us to come boldly to him asking anything in His name.
Even so there are some prayers that He will not answer because, like James and John, we do not really know what we are asking for. Although the disciples did not understand him, Jesus speaks to his dear friends of being baptized with a baptism of persecution and torturous death. He then says that, even though they endure that baptism, He cannot assure them preference in Heaven. It instructs me to the nature of God's sovereignty.
Teach me today Lord to come to you as an undeserving servant when I pray.
I wonder what the relationship looked like between Jesus and his disciples? I love the way that they come to him here in a demanding fashion. It speaks to the close friendship that they must have had. Often we forget that these friends traveled the countryside spending all day and all night with each other. Like Moses these spoke face to face with God as a friend. It reminds me of how God invites us to come boldly to him asking anything in His name.
Even so there are some prayers that He will not answer because, like James and John, we do not really know what we are asking for. Although the disciples did not understand him, Jesus speaks to his dear friends of being baptized with a baptism of persecution and torturous death. He then says that, even though they endure that baptism, He cannot assure them preference in Heaven. It instructs me to the nature of God's sovereignty.
Teach me today Lord to come to you as an undeserving servant when I pray.
Many who are first will be last ...
Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
In a sense Jesus seems to be speaking in double talk when he mentions that his disciples will receive hundredfold blessings with persecutions. Such is the nature of hyperbole. In reality, following God has no assurances because faith involves risk. When we leave all to follow God there is a trust involved that says that our discipleship is not based on the outcome. We follow Him in good times and in bad regardless of visible blessings.
The saying "first will be last, and the last first" is spoken by Jesus several times in the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke to speak to us of the upside-down nature of the kingdom of God. I believe that the Lord is speaking to us saying that things in the age to come will be different than this age we live in. In that day everything will be turned on end. Rulers will serve and servants will rule. Love, mercy and humility will rule the day.
Thank you Lord for the honor of following you and for the promise of the age to come.
In a sense Jesus seems to be speaking in double talk when he mentions that his disciples will receive hundredfold blessings with persecutions. Such is the nature of hyperbole. In reality, following God has no assurances because faith involves risk. When we leave all to follow God there is a trust involved that says that our discipleship is not based on the outcome. We follow Him in good times and in bad regardless of visible blessings.
The saying "first will be last, and the last first" is spoken by Jesus several times in the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke to speak to us of the upside-down nature of the kingdom of God. I believe that the Lord is speaking to us saying that things in the age to come will be different than this age we live in. In that day everything will be turned on end. Rulers will serve and servants will rule. Love, mercy and humility will rule the day.
Thank you Lord for the honor of following you and for the promise of the age to come.
All things are possible with God ...
And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”
When I think of the "all things are possible with God" my mind wanders to miracles and glorious happenings. Yet Jesus does not use it in that way but points to the salvation of a person who trusts in their own abilities, wealth and possessions rather than in God. My thinking is the Lord is not saying that he will save such a one but that he will do whatever is necessary to bring them to a place where they are able to see God for who He is.
The imagery of a camel going through a needle's eye reminds me of how Jesus often spoke in hyperbole saying that mountains can be moved when God is involved. Regardless of how you read this passage it is obvious that Jesus is teaching us that things that seem impossible to us are possible with God. It is a hopeful message for those of us who pray for our family members and friends to come to the Lord and experience the abundant life.
We bring our family members and friends to you Lord asking for your help.
When I think of the "all things are possible with God" my mind wanders to miracles and glorious happenings. Yet Jesus does not use it in that way but points to the salvation of a person who trusts in their own abilities, wealth and possessions rather than in God. My thinking is the Lord is not saying that he will save such a one but that he will do whatever is necessary to bring them to a place where they are able to see God for who He is.
The imagery of a camel going through a needle's eye reminds me of how Jesus often spoke in hyperbole saying that mountains can be moved when God is involved. Regardless of how you read this passage it is obvious that Jesus is teaching us that things that seem impossible to us are possible with God. It is a hopeful message for those of us who pray for our family members and friends to come to the Lord and experience the abundant life.
We bring our family members and friends to you Lord asking for your help.
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