Mark 9: 30-37 There are three predictions in the gospel of Mark Jesus shares of his own arrest, crucifixion and resurrection. At each of these points, Jesus predicts, the disciples respond with misunderstanding, and Jesus instructs his followers about discipleship. We read and heard the first one last week, and the second such foretelling this…
What We’re Meant to Do
Mark 8: 27-38 We’d made plans. We planned for today to be our second Vacation Bible School Sunday. The curriculum was set, the volunteers and their responsibilities were set. Our schedule of activities for the kids was already in black and white. Then exposure to COVID changed everything. The kids and their parents can’t come…
They Begged Him
Mark 7: 24-37 I love the miracles in the gospels! I love hearing them. I love reading them. I love taking stabs at teaching and preaching them. I even love hearing someone explaining away the supernatural elements and translating them into metaphorical fairy tales. But the miraculous in the gospels don’t just straighten people out….
We Come Alive Inside
John 6: 63-69 Through this journey in John 6 we’ve come to Jesus’ question to the twelve that remain, “Do you also wish to go away?” The term disciple means learner. For many who followed Jesus, their learning had ended. Whatever encouraged them to follow in the first place was replaced with discouragement, and they…
Our Only Hope of Understanding
John 6: 51-66 I encourage you to recall that all I just read began with the crowd in this chapter from the gospel of John looking for Jesus the day after he fed them miraculously. In verse 26 of John 6, Jesus said, “You are looking for me not because you saw signs but because…
He Comes to Us
John 6: 32-51 When comic strips appeared in newspapers, and we actually read newspapers, Dennis the Menace’s mother said, as she put him to bed: “Time to say your prayers, dear” Dennis said, “I can’t, Mom.” Mom said, “Why not?” Dennis responded, “Cause I can’t think of the exact words.” “Oh, honey, you don’t have…
When He Arrives, He Satisfies
John 6: 24-35 The late Tommy Lasorda, manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, was being interviewed by a reporter and was talking about his diet. It was not going well. “I am a strong man,” said Lasorda, “but linguini is stronger.” A Weight Watchers member proudly announced at the meeting just after Easter that his…
By Force or By Authority
John 6: 14-21 The people were about to take Jesus and make him king by force. The disciples started across the sea to Capernaum in the evening without him. The people were planning to come to him in order to cease him for their own purposes. The disciples were comfortable leaving him behind. Which is…
Rest A While
Mark 6: 30-34 “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while. (6:31a)” Jesus intended they might all get away and rest, get a little vacation. Little Byron asked his mother, “Why does the minister get a whole month’s vacation in the summer?” “Well, son,” answered the mother, “if he’s a…
Something Is Happening
Mark 6: 7-16 At a local hospital, there was no special place for the ministers to park. They were told to stop by the front desk on leaving the hospital, identify themselves as ministers, and the person on duty would give them a dollar to get up of the general parking lot. One minister had…
Psalm 102 in The Message 