Category Archives: Gospel of Mark

Gospel of Mark

Divorce: Mark 10: 1-12

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 Jesus then left that place and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds of people came to him, and as was his custom, he taught them. 2 Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” 3 “What did Moses command you?” he replied. 4 They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.” 5 “It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law,” Jesus replied. 6 “But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’[a] 7 ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife,[b] 8 and the two will become one flesh.’[c] So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

10 When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. 11 He answered, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. 12 And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.”

Mark 10:1-12

Horsham: 19th January 2024
Divorce

This is a tough area to write or teach about. Relationship breakdowns are desperately complex and damaging to everyone involved. Whether it involves you, a family member or a good friend, you will have your own experience – I certainly have mine!

We’ve come to the point in Mark’s Gospel where Jesus is asked about divorce. This incident is also related in Matthew 19:1-11 and Luke 16:18. The issue of divorce is, and has always, presented a challenge to theologians and teachers. It is a challenge today, as it was a challenge in Christ’s day. Don’t be too surprised, then, that this is one of my longer posts!

Divorce

Many Christian’s are condemnatory of divorce, and in researching this post, I have read articles which propose that Christian people should never get divorced. I think that’s naïve, and puts an unacceptable burden on people who suffer in bad relationships. I don’t think anyone should take the issue of divorce lightly, and like most people I wish it didn’t have to come to that, but people are people and to continue in a broken marriage is not a good thing for anybody.

I’m going to show you why I believe Scripture does allow for divorce where necessary. It may sound as if Jesus is opposed to divorce, but as always, it’s critical to look at the context of his teaching and comments.

Back at the beginning..

Genesis 2:24 makes clear that God intended marriage to be a lifelong commitment. It describes a man and his wife coming together as a single person. Back at the beginning, there’s no mention of divorce. It simply didn’t exist. However, by the time of Moses relationship breakdown and separation were a thing. Men were seemingly unable to live as God intended (the Bible says that they were ‘hard-hearted’). NT Wright points out, ‘the problem was not with the ideal, nor with the law, but with the people.’ (p131) To establish some kind of order, in Deuteronomy 24, Moses sets out the rules for when it was acceptable and how it was to work. Through Moses, God allowed divorce, but only where the woman was ‘displeasing to her husband.’ (Deut 24:1)

Of course, the phrase ‘displeasing her husband’ was open to interpretation, and between the days of Moses and the birth of Christ, plenty of that went on! There was a point in Jewish history when it became commonly accepted for Jewish men to divorce their wives from other tribes so that they could take a wife from a Jewish family (See Ezra 10:1-4).

I believe that it is in that context, Malachi, last of the Old Testament prophets, writes that God says to a sinful nation ‘I hate divorce.’ (Malachi 2:16).

You may have already sensed that men had the upper hand here. A woman in biblical times had no rights, and was generally forced to accept divorce if her husband proposed it. The circumstances in which a woman could divorce were very few and tightly controlled.

New Testament Times

In New Testament times, society and culture remained deeply patriarchal and women continued to enjoy very few rights. The debate over divorce was a very live issue in Jesus’ time. It was political and divisive. The tetrarch, Herod Antipas, who was keen to be seen as the official ‘King of Israel’, divorced his first wife (Phasa’el) in order to marry a woman called Herodias. However, in order for that marriage to proceed, Herodias in turn had to divorce her husband, Philp, who happened to be the brother in law of her new husband Herod. All this sounds rather like the plot of a modern soap opera.

The fact that Herodias, a woman, had divorced her husband would have been appalling in itself, but this carefully arranged remarriage was very contentious. It was his outspoken opposition to this union which led to the imprisonment and later the death of John the Baptist.

It is no accident, then, that this question was put to Jesus as he was passing through the region of Perea which was part of the Herod’s territory where he had considerable support. So we see that in context the Pharisees asked a loaded question.

The Bible says that the Pharisees were ‘testing’ Jesus (v2). Here’s the ‘test’. If Jesus takes the view of John the Baptist and opposes the marriage of Herod and Herodias, the Jews will have the opportunity to have him arrested and potentially killed for treason against Herod. If he doesn’t, he is in favour of divorce in circumstances which goes far beyond the accepted norms of Judaism, and he will be condemned by the Jewish hierarchy.

1st Century views of Divorce

It’s helpful to point out that when it came to divorce, there were broadly two camps in the contemporary culture. The first was a ‘conservative’ view, which we associate with Rabbi Shammai. He held that the ‘displeasing her husband’ mentioned in Deuteronomy 24:1 allowed for divorce only if the woman was guilty of sexual sin. In short, if a woman was an adulteress, there were grounds for divorce (and under Jewish Law, adultery was punishable by death). Of course history is full of instances where women, married or otherwise, have been maliciously deemed to be promiscuous, either because they were no longer finding favour with their husband or even when they were in truth the victim of abuse or even rape.

The second group, associated with Rabbi Hallel, favoured what we might call a rather more ‘liberal’ interpretation. If your wife displeases you in any way, you can go straight to divorce. You might not like her cooking. You may dislike her accent. You may simply be fed up with her. Under Hallel’s principle, go ahead and divorce her.

An encounter with the Pharisees

So, as we’ve seen, this encounter with the Pharisees was a test. Jesus was being tested on a subject in which there were strongly held and diverse views, especially in the political context of Herod and Herodias. They encourage Jesus to step into a political minefield.

Jesus rebuffs the test. ‘What did Moses command you about divorce?’ This isn’t a tricky question for the Pharisees. They know exactly what Moses, and they summarised the teaching of Deuteronomy 24:1. Jesus doesn’t deny that Moses allows for divorce.

Jesus turns the conversation back to Genesis 2, and the creation story which pre-dates Moses teaching. God’s plan at the beginning was that a man and his wife become one flesh – they are no longer two but one. Let no man, says Jesus, separate them. Rather than dealing with the hot political issue of the day, Jesus, Son of God, is declaring God’s intention for marriage. He falls back on God’s intention when he created the institution of marriage.

In Mark’s Gospel, that is where the conversation with the Pharisees ended. Christ’s message to them was simply that God intended marriage to last a lifetime.

An explanation for the disciples…

So, as has happened a number of times, after the argument in the street, we move back inside the house where they are staying, and the disciples ask Jesus for more explanation. Once again, it’s important to try to understand Christ’s comments in context .

Jesus didn’t say that Moses was wrong to permit divorce. Deuteronomy is after all part of the Pentateuch – the Word of God. He didn’t say that men and women must never get divorced. I think he was saying that it would be better if they didn’t need to. I believe that he reiterated God’s plan for all of us that a man and a woman would leave their parents, join together as man and wife and become one flesh. For life.

The disciples are as keen as anyone to hear what Jesus has to say about the marriage between Herod and Herodias. ‘Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.’ In the context of Herod and Herodias, that’s pretty clear. Once more, Jesus has simply put God’s position as recorded in Genesis.

The End Piece

Christians who point at this Scripture and declare that divorce is unacceptable for Christian people are taking no account of the context in which Jesus was asked the question. In Deuteronomy 24:1, Moses permits a man to divorce his wife ‘if she displeases him’.  Jesus didn’t dismiss that, but he pointed right back to God’s original intention in creating the idea of marriage.

Whilst we see the world very differently, our contemporary culture actually takes a remarkably similar view to that given by Moses. As with every other generation, we try to find our own interpretation of  ‘displeasing her husband’. I’m thankful that our culture allows woman equal rights before the law. In our culture, which is very different from that of Moses, a woman is as entitled to look for divorce as a man, so we need to add  the concept of a man ‘displeasing his wife’.

As in 1st Century Israel, there are those in our current society who place the bar of displeasing one’s partner as being ‘sexual sin’ only. But of course you and I know of people who have suffered, often along with their children, in appalling marriages where ‘sexual sin’ is at most only part of the issue.

On the other hand, there are those who regard it as being acceptable to give up on a marriage simply because they are not getting along, or for some reason the marriage has become inconvenient.

For me, the theory is simple. Ultimately, God’s ideal is preferable. In strong, loving marriages, divorce would not be necessary.

Sadly, the practical application is less straightforward. When marriage doesn’t work out, as was the case in Christ’s day, each case has to be taken on its merits. I’d like to think that we view each case with far greater compassion than was the case in the first Century. At least we aim to listen to the voices of everyone involved.

God’s way is preferable, and those of us who enjoy good marriages are truly, truly blessed.  I wish that divorce wasn’t necessary. The fact is that it always was, and it aways will be.

Richard Jackson, West Sussex: LifePictureUK

Gospel of Mark

Salt: Mark 9:49-50

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49 Everyone will be salted with fire. 50 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”

Mark 9:49-50

Horsham: 7th January 2025

William Barclay describes these verses as ‘amongst the most difficult in the New Testament.’ He and other theologians point out that there are actually three sentences, each of which stands alone as a different saying. It’s likely that they were comments made by Jesus to the disciples at different times in his teaching. They are almost certainly unconnected with each other, except by one word. Salt.

Everyone will be salted with Fire

The Levitical Law required that before burning, every grain offering had to be seasoned with oil and salt. (Leviticus 2:13)

‘It was the addition of salt which made the sacrifice acceptable to God, and which his covenant law laid down was necessary. This saying of Jesus will then mean, ‘Before a Christian life becomes acceptable to God, it must be ‘

(Wm Barclay, New Daily Study Bible, Gospel of Mark, Kindle Edition, Loc 4738)

Salt was (and still is) widely used as a preservative. Fire, on the other hand whilst fire is symbolic of purification. The combination of salt and fire would bring to mind ‘sacrifice’ amongst Christ’s contemporaries.

Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness…

We use it less than in times past, but salt is still used to enhance the taste of some foods. Followers of Jesus are called to be ‘salt of the world’.  Salt which has lost its flavour is utterly useless – fit for nothing except trampling underfoot (Matthew 5:13). Flavourless salt simply makes no difference to the food, and similarly Christian’s who have lost or set aside their distinctive calling bring no flavour to their community or the world. The presence of Christian people should enhance our society and culture, but take away the celebration of the Holy Spirit, the very presence of God, from the Christian and they become as useless in the Kingdom as flavorless salt in the kitchen.

Have salt among yourselves..

In ancient literature, salt is sometimes associated with purity. Christ probably means live in purity with each other. Seek good, right and supportive relationships with each other. This was not always the way of his contemporaries, and was certainly not the norm of the Roman world. Only by living selfless lives which aim to be worthy of Christ can we truly live in peace together.

The end piece

Salt and fire are symbolic of so many things. They are symbolic of sacrifice – an act of devotion to God. Salt is a valuable preservative. Salt and fire purify everything they touch. And of course salt adds flavour to anything it is applied to. In context, the original hearers may have seen other associations which we miss.

These sentences seem rather enigmatic, but these adjectives describe qualities which the Christian associates with the power of God, and the presence of Christ in our lives. The wonderful presence of His Spirit within us makes us acceptable to God, and allows us to live peaceable lives with our co-workers in the Kingdom and with our neighbours.  He alone can preserve us when faced with destructive opposition. Turn away from the presence of God, lose your passion for the Spirit, and you will become as useless as wet salt.

Richard Jackson, West Sussex: LifePictureUK

Gospel of Mark

Go to hell… Mark 9 43-48

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43 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. [44] [a] 45 And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. [46] [b] 47 And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 where

“‘the worms that eat them do not die,
    and the fire is not quenched.’[c]

Mark 9:43-48

Horsham: 6th January 2025

In our modern world, ‘denial’ has become something of an art form. A generation ago, holocaust denial would have rightly provoked consternation. Sadly, less so nowdays. In spite of the irrefutable historical evidence to the contrary, extremist politicians and writers openly reference it as an exaggerated or even false historical narrative.

So, as followers of Jesus, how do we react to the widespread contemporary rejection of the existence of hell in western, even evangelical, Christianity? Of course, there is no historic or scientific proof of its existence, but we could say the same about every aspect of our faith (Hebrews 11:1-2). If we are followers of Jesus we need to listen very carefully to His words, and here is a passage in which Jesus warns not only that it is a thing, but he describes the lengths to which his followers should go to avoid ending up there.

Gehenna – An Image of Hell

The word translated here as ‘hell’ is sometimes called ‘gehenna’. This is a word with its roots in the Old Testament, where it referenced a place of child sacrifice and detestable practices in the time of King Ahaz (2 Chronicles 28:3). By Jesus time, it referenced an area outside the city where refuse was dumped and burned. The refuse included the bodies of those who died in poverty or had been executed. It was a horrible place, with the smoke of fires mixing with the stench of corruption, overrun with scavenging insects and parasites, including worms.

A simple discussion on the concept of Gehenna in Judaism and Christianity is here (external link to Christianity.com)

If it Causes You to Stumble – Cut it Off!

Gehenna is a representation of hell – it is not literally hell. In the same way, Christ’s words about cutting off parts of the body or gouging out the eyes are absolutely not to be taken literally. The context is that the disciples have just been arguing about who is the greatest. The meaning here is simple and clear. We are to deal with the areas of our lifestyle which have the potential to cause us to stumble in our faith. The hand represents the things which you do. The foot represents the places you go. The eye represents the things which you are looking at. NT Wright says that there is a spiritual war on, and we need to be fit for the battle and prepared to fight!(i) If you allow yourself to be drawn into or over focussed on any activity, sinful or otherwise, which undermines your service to Christ, you need to deal with it.

The message is simple. Cut the bad stuff out of your life and put it on the waste tip. Leave in in Gehenna. Better than ending up there yourself.

The end piece

Christ’s teaching includes warnings about hell, and how to avoid ending up there. It’s about your decisions. They have consequences.

Look at how you live your life. What do you do? Where do you go? What are you looking at (including the time you spend on social media!)?

Whether your hands are doing things they should not, your feet take you to places you know you should not be going, or your eyes are looking at things you should not be looking at, Christ says deal with the problem! These things are within your control. You need to exercise control.  I can’t tell you what these things are in your own life, but if you stop and think about it, you will recognise them! Try to see yourself through His eyes. These things lead you down a dangerous path. Christ says that it is the path to destruction.

I want to remind you that this is about more than dealing with sinful behaviour –  obviously you need to deal with that! This is about all of your lifestyle choices. Of course, the choice is yours. You could simply ignore Christ’s advice and carry on as you are. You could keep following the wrong path and find yourself ending up in a place like Gehenna, where the worms never die and the fire just keeps on burning. You could just go to hell.

Richard Jackson, West Sussex: LifePictureUK

(i) NT Wright: Mark for Everyone, p124-125

Gospel of Mark

The Stumbling Block: Mark 9:42

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The Stumbling Block:

42 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea. 

Mark 9:42 (NIV)

10th December 2024: Horsham

In previous verses, Jesus encouraged the disciples to look at a small child. In a culture where children have no rights and are often overlooked, Jesus tells them that they need to become like this little one, recognising their own helplessness and dependence on God. Whoever takes the lowly position of a child, will become the greatest in his kingdom (Matthew 18:3). In Mark’s gospel, he tells them that they should welcome the one who is like a child (Mark 9:36-37). He uses the child as a metaphor for the follower of Jesus.

So we come to today’s verse, where again, that metaphor is used. It is a verse which should give cause for thought to every Christian teacher at any level, from University lecturer to Sunday School teacher.

As the previous verse was about encouraging other followers of Christ, this verse is a warning against discouraging Christian people. How easy it is, whilst in the position of teacher, to inadvertently say something which discourages or deflects fledgling faith, and which causes a new or developing Christian to stumble. In every Church, we lament the empty chair or the absence of adolescents, sometimes our own children. Yet how many of them have been ‘put off’ by a careless word or a destructive comment. We need to take the greatest care when we teach others.

Preachers, teachers, bible study leaders, youth leaders, children’s workers, Sunday school teachers – teaching matters of faith bring great responsibility.

‘Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.’ (James 3:1)

Our responsibility is to study and reflect, to pray and to listen, to prepare thoroughly before we speak.

Two bits of context. First, the millstone referred to in this verse would have been very familiar to Christ’s contemporaries. It is the large upper stone which is pulled round in circles by the donkey. It is heavy. Very heavy. Secondly, to the Jew, the sea is a place of great danger. It is to be feared. To be cast into the sea with a millstone round your neck would be an unspeakable horror to anyone.

So, teachers and preachers beware – however, in my personal experience, the discouragement does not always come from the teacher, but from someone in the congregation or bible study group. I have seen people speak in ignorance or arrogance, either speaking from beyond their own knowledge and experience, or simply failing to notice the undermining impact of their words on others.

So be careful, says Jesus. Pay attention to what you are teaching.

42 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea.’ 

Richard Jackson, West Sussex: LifePictureUK

Gospel of Mark

A cup of water: Mark 9:41

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41 Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.

Mark 9:41 (NIV)

8th December 2024: Horsham

For some reason, this short verse is somewhat overlooked in some of my commentaries. It comes in the midst of a wider passage of teaching (which is reviewed in great detail in all the commentaries), which is reproduced in similar form in Matthew 18 and Luke 9. In Luke 9:44, where Jesus introduces his teaching , Jesus tells his disciples to listen carefully. A literal translation of the Greek says ‘Let these words sink into your ears.’ At the time he spoke these words, Jesus was seated in the ‘teaching’ position of a rabbi. Listen, says Jesus. These teaching points, says Jesus, are really important.

I once had a friend who finished his emails to me with the word ‘blessings’. I’m sure his intentions were good, but it always seemed to me to be rather insincere, perhaps because the individual I am thinking of was my boss, and for many reasons, I rarely felt blessed by his emails.

For many years, I have chosen to finish my own emails to Christian friends with the phrase ‘Be encouraged’, or ‘Be blessed and encouraged in Jesus.’ Every time I write that, my heart is to say to the recipients, whatever life is throwing at you today, be encouraged that Christ is risen, he is Lord of your life, and this is His day. In short, my heart is to encourage my fellow believers.

A year or two ago, I came into work to find a blistering response to one of my emails from a local Church leader. She was struggling against enormous personal challenges with her health, her work and life in general. To her, the phrase ‘be encouraged’ sounded as if I was  flippantly offering an evangelical piece of string to someone who was drowning, when what they really needed was a rope and a life raft. I called the lady straight away, and she told me in no uncertain terms how bad her life felt right now. She had good reason to feel down. She graciously allowed me to explain why I finished my emails in that way, and the conversation developed into a friendly and, I hope, supportive one which enabled me to encourage a friend in distress.

The teaching point in verse 41 describes the giving of a cup of water. Essentially, it says if anyone (who is a follower of Jesus), gives you, (another follower of Jesus), so much as a cup of water in the name of Jesus, they will certainly not lose their reward in heaven.

We can lose touch in our western culture with how critical water is to life. In Christ’s culture, to offer a cup of water was not only a sacrifice (if you drink my water, I have less water for myself!), but an act of service. There is a selfless intention in the offering of water to one who needs it, but there is also, in that simple act, something which refreshes and energises the thirsty.

Of course, Jesus is using a metaphor. It’s not really about the water, but it is about the criticality of water to our well being and the refreshment which a cup of water can bring to the thirsty.  It simply says that even the smallest act to encourage a fellow follower of Jesus is important. The omnipresent Spirit sees the heart in which encouragement is offered. The one who does even the simplest act to encourage and bless another, will themselves receive a blessing from the living God.

As Christ once said, ‘Let that sink into your ears!’

Be blessed and encouraged in Jesus.

Richard Jackson, West Sussex: LifePictureUK

Gospel of Mark

Whoever is Not Against Us: Mark 9:37-40

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Whoever Is Not Against Us Is for Us

38 “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”

39 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us. 41 Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.

Mark 9:38-40

7th December 2024: Horsham

The man described here by the disciples is clearly ministering successfully ‘in the name of Jesus.’ He appears to be a follower of Jesus. The problem for the disciples, it seems, is that he is not part of their team. Presumably they see themselves as the only true followers of Jesus. Our way, they seem to think, is the right way, and so this man is wrong and must be stopped.

I have always had an interest in ecumenism (we might loosely define that word as meaning encouraging people of differing Christian denominations to develop relationship and explore ways to work together). Over the years, I have come to appreciate that, whilst we can always find things on which we will not agree, there is often much on which we would. Some of our points of disagreement are quite trivial. Others less so. We should carefully and prayerfully weigh our common ground and our differences. We should guard against allowing our differences become bricks to build a wall of division between us.

There’s no doubt that the disciples had an extraordinarily special relationship with Jesus, but it is clear from the New Testament that there were more than just the twelve following Christ. In these verses, the disciples seem to regard those beyond their immediate group as outsiders to be regarded with suspicion. ‘To this intolerant spirit we owe some of the blackest pages of Church history. Christians have repeatedly persecuted Christians for no better reason than that which is here given by John.’ (Ryle p141) The disciples are constrained by the inverted mindset of humanity which say ‘He who is not with us is against us.’ Jesus has a different default position: ‘He who is not against us is for us.’ This is a position which is challenged repeatedly in the early Church and throughout Church history. It is a lesson which is as important today as it was then.

There may be legitimate reasons to distance ourselves from others, however the assumption that we have all the answers is wrong. We can never fully grasp God’s mind (Isaiah 55:8-9). Our beliefs should always be rooted in Scripture, and we should weigh our own thinking, as well as that of others, carefully. We should be very careful about taking the position that we know how to follow Jesus better than everyone else. The next step can easily become ‘you who disagree with us on one or two points are in the wrong.’ This is a dangerous and slippery path which has too often led to religious infighting, division, persecution and abuse over generations.

There are many people who do not worship the way we do, who do not share the same confession of faith that we have, who interpret biblical passages very differently, yet they are ministering in the Name of Jesus. We have to appreciate and embrace authentic ministry wherever we find it. We also have to distance ourselves from heresy whenever we find it. Simply put, we need discernment.

RC Sproul, p 208

Richard Jackson, West Sussex: LifePictureUK

A helpful summary of why we have different denominations in the UK (External link to www.christianity.org.uk)

Gospel of Mark

Who is the Greatest? Mark 9:33-37

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Who is the Greatest?

33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. 35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”

36 He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”

Mark 9:33-37

29th November 2024: Horsham

First, I want to focus on the argument which had been going on as the disciples walked along the road. When Jesus asked what they had been talking about, they didn’t answer. We’ve seen this response from the disciples before. Maybe this time they were just embarrassed because of what they had been talking about. Perhaps they were anxious of an uncomfortable response from their teacher.

Jesus knew these guys well. He knew exactly what they were talking about.

When he has a lesson to deliver, a rabbi sits down. Jesus sits down.

“Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” v35

In a world where power and strength rule, this is a paradox. ‘These words.. show that the maxims of the world are contrary to the mind of Christ.’ (JC Ryle,   p139). From the perspective of the world the very idea seems upside down. We need to remind ourselves that it is the world, rather than the gospel, which is upside down.

Wanting to be the greatest, wanting to be the best, is a prideful ambition. Jesus discourages pride and encourages humility. Scripture is big on humility. Moses was praised for his humility (Numbers 12:3). ‘What does the Lord require of you?’ asks the prophet Micah? ‘To act justly, love mercy , and walk humbly with God.‘ (Micah 6:8)

“He mocks proud mockers, but shows favour to the humble and oppressed.” Proverbs 3:34

Christ’s whole life is about humility. His attitude is to serve, not to have the place of honour and to be served. Not for nothing is he called the Servant King. Jesus knows that we all suffer from pride, but he encourages his followers to aim for humility.

Children have always been precious to their parents. However, we need to touch base with the fact that in ancient times, the view of small children was significantly different to ours. The risk of infant mortality was very high. Small children were seen as being of little value. The child has no rights. No possessions. They are a mouth to feed, yet they cannot contribute usefully to the family. Their value is lower than that of a servant. In context, pride looks at a child and says ‘this child is of no value at all.‘

I imagine that in the room or the yard in which Jesus was teaching, there may have been a couple of toddlers, playing in the corner. Jesus calls one of them over and sets it on his lap. ‘Look at this child,’ says Jesus, ‘If you welcome one who might seem worthless in my name, you welcome me.’  If we restrict our interpretation to a reaching out to small children we miss the point. Christ, the servant King, is showing us that His way is to look on the one who the world sees as having no value with the deepest compassion and love. In His sight they matter. He directs that the follower of Jesus should welcome them with an open heart.  ‘If you reject one like this,’ he continues, ‘you reject me.’

The End Piece..

‘Let your attitude be as that of Christ.’ Never forget that Christ is the Servant King. Aim to live in humility.

3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

(Philippians 2:3-5)

Now, just take a walk. Look around you. Look at the people you see or meet. Look for the one who is weak, vulnerable or alone in your town, your school, your workplace, your Church. Jesus says “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.” (v37)

Gospel of Mark

Jesus Predicts His Death 2: Mark 9: 30-32

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Jesus Predicts His Death a Second Time

30 They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, 31 because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” 32 But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.

Mark 9:30-32

Horsham: 28th November 2024

In Mark Chapter 8, Jesus and the disciples were in northern Israel, close to the city of Caesarea Philippi. In verse 28 we read about a conversation in which Peter recognised Jesus as the Messiah. This was a turning point in Christ’s relationship with his disciples. At that moment, we might argue that his teaching style changes. Gone are the careful, coded lessons of the parables. Jesus knows that his death is coming soon and he is determined to prepare his disciples for what follows.

Jesus told the disciples directly not to tell anyone else that he was the Messiah. Then, for the first time, he spoke to them about his coming death. On that occasion the Peter argued with Jesus. To the disciples, the idea of the Messiah being put to death in this way was absurd. Peter drew a strong rebuke from Jesus.

By the time we reach todays passage, the disciples have continued their journey, walking south, back to the Galilee area where Jesus had spent much of his time and performed many of his miracles. Once more, he teaches them about his coming death. His return to this affirms the importance of this lesson. It is, perhaps, the most important thing they have to learn. Jesus knows what lies in store for the disciples after his death, and he needs to prepare them. Once more, he is really direct.

‘He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” ‘ (v31)

Once more, they don’t get it. The Messiah? Killed? Resurrected? To the disciples, none of this makes sense. They can’t get their heads around it. This time, no-one’s going to argue with the teacher.

  • Perhaps they are remembering Christ’s response to Peter when they were in Caesarea Philippi.
  • Perhaps they are still struggling with the idea that Jesus isn’t measuring up to their expectation of the Messiah.
  • Perhaps to them, the idea of resurrection didn’t make sense.
  • Perhaps they are embarrassed that they just don’t understand.

Whatever they thought, no-one was going to ask questions.

They say nothing.

‘They did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.’ (v32)

Richard Jackson, West Sussex: LifePictureUK

Gospel of Mark

Only Believe! Mark 9:14-29

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Jesus heals the boy possessed by an evil spirit

14 When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him. 16 “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked. 17 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.” 19 “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”

20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. 21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. 22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” 23 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.

28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” 29 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.[a]”

Mark 9:14-29

See also Coming Down from the Mountain: Mark 9:14-18

Horsham: 20th November 2024

The story is simple. There is a young man who is suffering from what looks rather like epilepsy. Everyone believes that the boy is possessed by a demon. The disciples had tried to exorcise the demon, but they had failed. An argument developed. It attracted a crowd. I wonder whether the Jewish leaders were goading the disciples for their inadequate attempts at healing.

Jesus appears on the scene with James, John and Peter, ‘What are you arguing with them about.’ Is this question aimed at the Teachers or the disciples? The answer comes from neither, but from a man in the crowd who had brought his son to be healed. He speaks of possession by a mute spirit, and describes symptoms which sound like severe epilepsy. The effect is devastating and dangerous. He has been like this for years. ‘Bring him to me!’

The instant that the boy sees Jesus he fits. He’s on the floor, thrashing about. The father is desparate. ‘if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.’ This man lives in fear of serious harm to his son. He has watched him suffer over and over again. 

3 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus.  This is spoken in the midst of a medical emergency. This is the voice of compassion. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”

Misunderstanding of this instruction is problematic. I have seen people pray for the sick and then, when it doesn’t work, they blame the victim for their lack of faith. “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” I do believe, but I’m not sure I have enough faith for this! The integrity of this poor man is humbling. Jesus can take a mustard sees size faith and amplify it for his glory.

Jesus rebukes the spirit. Accept the demonic explanation or not, something extraordinary happens here. There is a scream before the man becomes deeply unconscious. These people are familiar with death. They think the young man is dead.

He is not dead. He is healed.

18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.

Matthew 17:18

Jesus quietly bends down, touches his hand, and helps him to his feet. He is given back to his father (Luke 9:43)

The End Piece

Being the victim of something like epilepsy is unspeakably horrible. To watch the effects of a fit is frightening, and when the victim is someone you love, it is devastating. One feels boundless anxiety and utter helplessness.

Something of the father in this story really moves me. He’s lived with a very sick son for many years. For me, his complex and painful emotions leap out of the story. His love for his son. His desperation for him to be released from the grip of whatever has a hold of him. I have huge empathy for this man.

And then he meets Jesus.

So often I have faced a challenge and I have sense Christ saying ‘trust me,’ ‘have faith,’ ‘only believe’. So often I lack faith, or at least I lack confidence in my faith. So many times, he has taken my ‘mustard seed faith’ and done something with it.

I have been spared the challenges faced by this man, but I deeply identify with him. Time and again, I say the same thing to Jesus.  I pray the same prayer.

“I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

Richard Jackson, West Sussex: LifePictureUK

Epilepsy – First Aid advice (Red Cross)

Epilepsy Action UK

Gospel of Mark

Coming Down from the Mountain: Mark 9:14-18

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Coming Down from the Mountain

14 When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him. 16 “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked. 17 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.”

Mark 9:14-18

See also ‘Only Believe’ Mark 9:14-29

14th November 2024: Horsham

We join Peter, James and John, walking down from the mountain where the transfiguration of Jesus has just taken place. They have just witnessed the most extraordinary scene where, on the mountain, Jesus met with, and talked with, Moses and Elijah. They heard the voice of God affirming Jesus as His Son. It is difficult to imagine a greater ‘spiritual high’ than being present at that moment. Why would you ever want to come down from such a place.

‘But it is the very essence of life that we must come down from the mountain top.’
Wm Barclay: New Daily Bible Study, Gospel of Mark Kindle Ed Loc 4385

Jesus leads the way to this encounter with a child suffering from what looks very like epilepsy.

There is no greater example in the Gospels to demonstrate that, however attractive it might seem,  the spiritual high which will come from a prayerful encounter with Christ is not intended to bring us a permanent state of ecstasy.  We should hope that it is a moment through which the Holy Spirit will encourage, empower and energise us to continue in his service. Like every generation of his disciples, we are called to serve. We are called to follow in the steps of our Leader into the situation to which He has directed us, on the path which He has prepared for us, confident that He goes before us.

Richard Jackson, West Sussex: LifePictureUK