Skip to main content

Day 31 -

Today's reading is from Mark 12. During Lent we are reading the Gospel of Mark.

In the midst of parable telling, Jesus' point begins to sink in to the Pharisees. The story of the landowner who sent his servants to the farmers who rented it from him, only to have those same farmers kill his servants is only a prelude to the real point - that same landowner sends his Son to them: "surely they will respect my son." They did not, Jesus says. They killed him.

It's a picture of the coming days ahead for Jesus. The father had sent Prophets as messengers for centuries and each of them had been, at best, ignored; at worst, killed. Now God's own Son was here and what were they about to do...kill him.

Mark 12:9-11 (NIV)
9 "What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.
10 Haven't you read this scripture: "'The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone;
11 the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?"

It is a reference to Psalm 118 that Jesus quotes from. The cornerstone is the most important stone in the building. It guarantees that the rest of the building will be true. Take Jesus out of the building and what you have is a building without truth, without correctness, without balance and symmetry.

The rest of the chapter only highlights the differences between the religiosity and outward veneer of religion from the real heart of faith. After many encounters with religious leaders, mostly trying to trick Jesus into being a traitor, or a blasphemer, the real picture of faith emerges...a widow offering her gifts of freewill offerings. It is a gift, not a necessity and her two pennies represent both a sacrifice and her heart - to honor God with what she had.

The Pharisees, Saduccees, and scribes all held on to their positions as privileged ones...wealthy because they could exploit the people, and unwilling, unbending, hardened in heart and mind to the revelation of the Son of God; while the widow, quietly, faithfully, sacrificially gives to God what is from the heart. The one has faith, the others reject the person that represents the object of faith.

Let's watch our hearts. It is so easy to get trapped into a religion of outward show. It is so easy to be a people who "manage sin" instead of confess it. It is so easy to make a pride filled stand on how good we look instead of a humble place of sacrifice and service. What we want, what I want, what I hope we each want, is to serve one person...God. Nothing else really matters.

Peace

If you're reading along in the-bible-in-a-year with me, today's reading is from 1 Kings 8 & 9

Comments

Paul said…
I love stories about the Pharisees. They are a great reminder of how not to be. In the definition section in my Bible, it says that Jesus reserved some of the most harshest critizism for the Pharisees. Knowledge is great when used in the right way. Knowledge combined with grace is what I am searching for in my walk. God knows I want that for his people as well. My prayer is that God reveals just how to do it better.
April 14, 2011 at 7:42 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hands Full of Parcels

"A Man whose hands are full of parcels can't receive a gift."   - C. S. Lewis Romans 4:13-16 (ESV) 13  For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14  For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15  For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression. 16  That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all... The last four days have been best described by the word "fatigue".  It's not an uncommon word in our vocabulary.  Listless, tired, sore.  1300 miles of car travel, being sick, not sleeping well, and eating poorly all add up to the word - fatigue.   Someone onc...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Tabernacle

The readings today are Exodus 36, 37, 38 I wanted to post some pictures of what these various parts of the Tabernacle looked like. It's not the easiest read in the world, but if you persevere through it, you can get a picture of all the different pieces that made up the tabernacle. It is a replica of the various parts of the Tabernacle in the Wilderness: First thing in the chapter listed is the outside of the tabernacle which consisted of curtains tied together and put on cross bars through loops. Next at the beginning of 37 is the table and lampstand: Also, the altar of incense: And, the altar for the burnt offering which was in the courtyard: Finally, the courtyard which made it all come together: Hope that helps with what it might have all looked like. Most importantly, this was their "place" of worship they were building. I hope you have a great day of worship. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
1 comment
Read more

The difference between defending and explaining

The news of recent has focused the suffering of Christians in the middle east who have been martyred for their faith in Christ at the hands of Islamic Terrorists. Through the centuries many Christians have lost their lives as a result of their faith. For us, who live in America, there is little chance that we would have this happen here - but it's entirely possibly that terrorism will strike out at Christians sometime.  But, for many Christians in the western world - especially here in the U.S. - being a Christians who believes God's word there is a form of persecution that is defined by words like "ostracized", "passed over", "ridiculed", and more. What do we do in the face of opposition to faith? When the Apostle Peter writes to the early believers who are undergoing great pressure, even persecution for their faith in Jesus, he gives them this charge. 1 Peter 3:8-18 8  Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly lov...
1 comment
Read more