Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus)

Randy and I were blessed to make a trip to Purdue University this past weekend to see our grandson play his instrument with the college orchestra in his first year in college. The music was beautifully and artistically executed.  It was truly a joy to be there and see his talent extended with other students who love to play their instruments.

While there we took a brief tour of the beautiful campus.  We were told about 50,000 students attend this university, making the campus a city of its own.  We were impressed and in awe as we walked around, observing the beautiful old buildings with carved embellishments created in the late 1800’s but kept in pristine shape for this generation to enjoy.  What a great place to learn in the classrooms and halls of study of these great buildings.  This is one of the top engineering schools in the world, so the buildings reflect their engineering ingenuity!  It is easy to be in awe of greatness!

The fishermen of the sea along with others who made their living in small towns follow Jesus into Jerusalem. Like us who marvel at great structures, they, too are in awe of the Temple that rises up in the sky with intricate architecture in the stonework.  They know  how much time and care it took from the creative designer’s drawings along with the sweat of those who carried stone by stone to put in place according to the plan.

Then Jesus redirects their sighs of awe and wonder with what is to come that is greater still!  God has a Plan.

Mark 13, The Message

Doomsday Deceivers

13 As he walked away from the Temple, one of his disciples said, “Teacher, look at that stonework! Those buildings!”

² Jesus said, “You’re impressed by this grandiose architecture? There’s not a stone in the whole works that is not going to end up in a heap of rubble.”

^3-4 Later, as he was sitting on Mount Olives in full view of the Temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew got him off by himself and asked, “Tell us, when is this going to happen? What sign will we get that things are coming to a head?”

^5-8 Jesus began, “Watch out for doomsday deceivers. Many leaders are going to show up with forged identities claiming, ‘I’m the One.’ They will deceive a lot of people. When you hear of wars and rumored wars, keep your head and don’t panic. This is routine history, and no sign of the end. Nation will fight nation and ruler fight ruler, over and over. Earthquakes will occur in various places. There will be famines. But these things are nothing compared to what’s coming.

^9-10 “And watch out! They’re going to drag you into court. And then it will go from bad to worse, dog-eat-dog, everyone at your throat because you carry my name. You’re placed there as sentinels to truth. The Message has to be preached all across the world.

¹¹ “When they bring you, betrayed, into court, don’t worry about what you’ll say. When the time comes, say what’s on your heart—the Holy Spirit will make his witness in and through you.

^12-13 “It’s going to be brother killing brother, father killing child, children killing parents. There’s no telling who will hate you because of me.

“Stay with it—that’s what is required. Stay with it to the end. You won’t be sorry; you’ll be saved.

Run for the Hills

^14-18 “But be ready to run for it when you see the monster of desecration set up where it should never be. You who can read, make sure you understand what I’m talking about. If you’re living in Judea at the time, run for the hills; if you’re working in the yard, don’t go back to the house to get anything; if you’re out in the field, don’t go back to get your coat. Pregnant and nursing mothers will have it especially hard. Hope and pray this won’t happen in the middle of winter.

^19-20 “These are going to be hard days—nothing like it from the time God made the world right up to the present. And there’ll be nothing like it again. If he let the days of trouble run their course, nobody would make it. But because of God’s chosen people, those he personally chose, he has already intervened.

No One Knows the Day or Hour

^21-23 “If anyone tries to flag you down, calling out, ‘Here’s the Messiah!’ or points, ‘There he is!’ don’t fall for it. Fake Messiahs and lying preachers are going to pop up everywhere. Their impressive credentials and bewitching performances will pull the wool over the eyes of even those who ought to know better. So watch out. I’ve given you fair warning.

^24-25 “Following those hard times,

Sun will fade out,
    moon cloud over,
Stars fall out of the sky,
    cosmic powers tremble.

^26-27 “And then they’ll see the Son of Man enter in grand style, his Arrival filling the sky—no one will miss it! He’ll dispatch the angels; they will pull in the chosen from the four winds, from pole to pole.

^28-31 “Take a lesson from the fig tree. From the moment you notice its buds form, the merest hint of green, you know summer’s just around the corner. And so it is with you. When you see all these things, you know he is at the door. Don’t take this lightly. I’m not just saying this for some future generation, but for this one, too—these things will happen. Sky and earth will wear out; my words won’t wear out.

^32-37 “But the exact day and hour? No one knows that, not even heaven’s angels, not even the Son. Only the Father. So keep a sharp lookout, for you don’t know the timetable. It’s like a man who takes a trip, leaving home and putting his servants in charge, each assigned a task, and commanding the gatekeeper to stand watch. So, stay at your post, watching. You have no idea when the homeowner is returning, whether evening, midnight, cockcrow, or morning. You don’t want him showing up unannounced, with you asleep on the job. I say it to you, and I’m saying it to all: Stay at your post. Keep watch.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

We had to read the entire chapter to get the whole story.  Simply put: Jesus is coming back.  Be ready for His coming. 

Mark relates the conversation Jesus had with his disciples in short, imperative statements:

• Watch out for doomsday deceivers!
• Keep your head—don’t panic!
• Preach the Message!  God’s Holy Spirit will give us the words.
• Stay with it—that’s what is required.  Even if they hate you because of Me.
• Be ready to run from evil that will permeate the places evil should not be.  God has already intervened on behalf of believers. No one knows the Day or time—only God. When Jesus arrives—all will know it is Him.  No one will miss it!
• Stay at your post—keep watch!  Keep doing what God has given you to do until He comes—stone by stone.

Peter, who walked with Jesus that day, reminds all of us that in the wait:

“Present yourselves as building stones for the construction of a sanctuary vibrant with life, in which you’ll serve as holy priests offering Christ-approved lives up to God. The Scriptures provide precedent: Look! I’m setting a stone in Zion, a cornerstone in the place of honor.”  1 Peter 2:4-8, (MSG)

Lord,

I believe.  I will keep watch.  Lord, Cleanse our hearts, renew our minds, refresh our souls with your new mercies, and restore the joy of your salvation at work within us, one stone at a time as we build our lives on You, the Cornerstone.  We will keep watch as we keep building upon your firm foundation.

In Jesus Name, Amen

And we’re singing in worship and awe to the One who deserves all praise!—

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness
And I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly trust in Jesus name

When darkness seems to hide His face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil

Christ alone, cornerstone
Weak made strong in the Savior’s love
Through the storm
He is Lord, Lord of all

His oath, His covenant, His blood
Support me in the ‘whelming flood
When all around my soul gives way
He then is all my hope and stay
He then is all my hope and stay

Christ alone, cornerstone
Weak made strong in the Savior’s love
Through the storm
He is Lord, Lord of all
He is Lord
Lord of all

When He shall come with trumpet sound
Oh, may I then in Him be found
Dressed in His righteousness alone
Faultless, stand before the throne

All to Jesus I surrender
All to Him I freely give
I will ever love and trust Him
In His presence daily live

I surrender all
I surrender all
All to Thee
My blessed Savior
I surrender all

This old hymn is playing in the background of my mind as I read this passage that grips my heart every time I read it and meditate on what Jesus is teaching his followers. While on earth Jesus, who refers to Himself Son of Man, is keenly aware of all that is going on around Him.  As the Son of God, Jesus uses everything he observes as a “teachable moment” for his disciples—that’s what a great Teacher does—uses every moment in every day life to help us learn to be more like our Master Teacher who is our Savior and Lord.

I surrender all to His teaching this morning by fixing my full attention on Him.

Mark 12, The Message

^35-37 While he was teaching in the Temple, Jesus asked, “How is it that the religion scholars say that the Messiah is David’s ‘son,’ when we all know that David, inspired by the Holy Spirit, said,

God said to my Master,
    “Sit here at my right hand
    until I put your enemies under your feet.”

“David here designates the Messiah ‘my Master’—so how can the Messiah also be his ‘son’?”

The large crowd was delighted with what they heard.

^38-40 He continued teaching. “Watch out for the religion scholars. They love to walk around in academic gowns, preening in the radiance of public flattery, basking in prominent positions, sitting at the head table at every church function. And all the time they are exploiting the weak and helpless. The longer their prayers, the worse they get. But they’ll pay for it in the end.”

^41-44 Sitting across from the offering box, he was observing how the crowd tossed money in for the collection. Many of the rich were making large contributions. One poor widow came up and put in two small coins—a measly two cents. Jesus called his disciples over and said, “The truth is that this poor widow gave more to the collection than all the others put together. All the others gave what they’ll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn’t afford—she gave her all.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

We spoke of 1 Corinthians 13 yesterday as a way to describe the love of God.  I am reminded just now of the words that begin that description—that is not of God, “If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.” (1 Corinthians 13:1)

Imagine the high and mighty, or as we would say it today, the “rich and famous” pulling their robes back to reveal a huge pouch full of coins.  Everyone watches and hears as they untie the bag and loudly spill the coins slowly so that each piece of precious metal is heard as a “clanging symbol” of their wealth and faux piousness.  They have lots to give and they want everyone to know it.  They come to the big brass offering container and throw in their contribution as loudly as they can.  Everyone sees and hears their contribution fall into the vessel.

Isn’t that the similar to some sport stars who make an insanely amount of money who are prompted to give a portion of their wealth to the needy mainly for the great publicity it is for them?  But we can be that way, too.  Many of us are tempted to be “clanging symbols” in our behaviors of giving.  We love the attention it gives us.  What’s worse is when attach “strings” to our giving to the church.  But that is for another time…

Let’s dive deeper in to this passage.  Jesus not only watched but observed how each giver gave their offering.  To watch is look over and see what is happening.  To observe is to notice or perceive (something) and register it as being significant.  Jesus notices the woman who “gave more to the collection than all the others put together. All the others gave what they’ll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn’t afford—she gave her all.”  Jesus, Son of God, knows the heart of the giver.

When we give, what is in our hearts?  This is what Jesus “observes” in us as we daily give ourselves to Him.  Are we clanging symbols who say we love Him but turn our backs on loving others?  Are we loud in giving but quite in telling His Truth?  Do we give ceremoniously or humbly and quietly—without any fanfare?

All to Jesus I surrender
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine
Let me feel Thy Holy Spirit
Truly knowing that Thou art mine

I surrender all
I surrender all
All to Thee
My blessed Savior
I surrender all

It seems the questions for us to respond to today is; How and why do I give?  What is the condition of my heart when I give?  God knows our hearts and still observes whose hearts are His.  2 Chronicles 16:9 says; “The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.”  God knows and observes our hearts.

Want some advice that is “newer”?  “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”  2 Corinthians 9:6-8

How we give seems to be more important to God.  Are we “clanging symbol” givers or grateful, quiet givers who give all we have and all we are to the One who loves us most?

Paul gives us great advice in Romans 12 about what and how to give;

“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.” Romans 12:1-2, MSG

It’s not about the coins.  It’s about our hearts, minds, and souls.

Lord,

I offer my life to you.  All of it.  Use me a vessel of your love that permeates my being so the love is my habit without thinking about how it benefits me.  It’s not about me.  It’s all about You. 

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen.

All to Jesus I surrender
Now I feel the sacred flame
Oh the joy of full salvation
Glory, glory to his name

I surrender all
Oh, I surrender all
All to Thee
My blessed Savior
I surrender all…

We come so close to thinking we have life figured out.  It is in these “figured out” times that we realize that the more we know, the more we don’t know, and need to know.  We want God on our terms packaged in a way that is readily and easily within reach when we need Him.  We want to put Him in a box, tied up with a beautiful ribbon and a bow on top.  When we do this, we put limits on the God, the One and Only God who knows all, created all, is in all, and above all.  And above it all—He loves us with a relentless love we cannot completely understand or fully describe.

In our passage today, Jesus reminds those within hearing what God wants from us. Jesus is quoting from Deuteronomy 6, a passage that the religious leaders have memorized but not taken to heart.  So, Jesus teaches the religious scholar, one who’s job is to study and interpret God’s Word, the answer to our deepest need—a loving, intimate relationship with the One who loved us from the beginning of creation–even before we were born!  Jesus reintroduces the love of God and our love back to Him as the foundation of our relationship with God and then with others.

Humans without God tend to love with conditions.  I love you—when you do this for me.  I love you—when you give to me.  I love you—when you are good to me.  It’s all about me, isn’t it?  But Jesus presents a love that is beyond normal thinking and takes us to higher Kingdom thinking.  Jesus tells of a love that is found in God’s Kingdom, a committed love for God that drives our thinking and behaving.  Jesus declares this standard of love to be the most important commandment from God to us. 

First love God.  Then love others. 

Mark 12, The Message

The Most Important Commandment

²⁸ One of the religion scholars came up. Hearing the lively exchanges of question and answer and seeing how sharp Jesus was in his answers, he put in his question: “Which is most important of all the commandments?”

^29-31 Jesus said, “The first in importance is, ‘Listen, Israel: The Lord your God is one; so love the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy.’ And here is the second: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ There is no other commandment that ranks with these.”

^32-33 The religion scholar said, “A wonderful answer, Teacher! So clear-cut and accurate—that God is one and there is no other. And loving him with all passion and intelligence and energy, and loving others as well as you love yourself. Why, that’s better than all offerings and sacrifices put together!”

³⁴ When Jesus realized how insightful he was, he said, “You’re almost there, right on the border of God’s kingdom.”

After that, no one else dared ask a question.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

FIRST love God with everything we’ve got within our being.  This love returns all of who we are to all of Who He is.  God is love.  This love is the foundation to intimacy with God that grows with each new day along with God’s new mercies for us to enjoy.  This love builds our character, changing our demeanor which drives our behaviors to be more like Jesus, His Son, while exponentially expanding hearts that are fully committed to Him.  This is the love of God.  To know God is to know real love.  (See 1 John 4)

“You’re almost there, right on the border of God’s kingdom.”—Jesus

THEN love others in the same way we know God loves us.  Randy and I, as ministry leaders, have participated in numerous weddings where Paul’s description of God’s love is read from 1 Corinthians 13.  This wasn’t really a “wedding prayer” but was originally written to the people of Corinth who didn’t have clue about what the love of God was much less how this love was acted upon in real life.  So, Paul explained love to them, using love more as a verb as opposed to merely a feeling.  In our second commandment from God to love others, it is helpful to review Paul’s God-led letter of love to our world who is seeking to know God:

Love Is the Greatest

“If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless.

When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.

Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.”

1 Corinthians 13, NLT

Hebrews 13:8 tells us that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Because He’s the same, we know His love for us doesn’t change either.  Can I get an amen?!

Love God.  Love Others—Two of the greatest commandments that lead to the most important relationship we will ever have in our lives.

Lord,

I do not have it all figured out, but what I do know is that YOU are love.  You put your love in our hearts when we said yes to your salvation.  Your love fills our deepest need.  Your love in us changes us to love others greater because of your great love in us.  Your love is truly amazing.  Your love never changes!  May your love be seen in me.  May your love shine in the darkness, pointing the way back to you.  I love you, Lord, with all my heart, mind and soul. 

In Jesus Name, Amen

And we’re singing…

Your love never fails
It never gives up
It never runs out on me
Your love never fails
It never gives up
It never runs out on me
Your love never fails
It never gives up
It never runs out on me…

(“One Thing Remains,” by Brian Mark Johnson, Jeremy Riddle, Christa Joy Black)

Let’s get right to the Truth for the Truth sets us free!  It is really “sad-you-see” if you don’t believe in Jesus as Savior and Lord, the One and Only Son of God who paid the debt of all the sins of the world.  No one needs to perish in death.  It’s sad-you-see if you refuse the most important, intimate, life-giving, relentless love of the One who loves us most.

“We love God because He first loved us!”  1 John 4:19

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  John 3:16

“Don’t overlook the obvious here, friends. With God, one day is as good as a thousand years, a thousand years as a day. God isn’t late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn’t want anyone lost. He’s giving everyone space and time to change.”           2 Peter 3:9, MSG

It’s “sad-you-see” if we refuse to believe and reject the most important relationship offered to us by God, our Creator!  It’s joy unspeakable and full of glory if we do believe!  We are saved for life everlasting in an intimate growing relationship with God through Jesus work on the cross of reconciliation (reconnecting to God).  Even in the bad times that happen in this imperfect and very temporary world, God holds on to us and never holds back on His promises to always be with us.  God’s love never changes.  God’s promises are true.

Mark 12, The Message

Our Intimacies Will Be with God

^18-23 Some Sadducees, the party that denies any possibility of resurrection, came up and asked, “Teacher, Moses wrote that if a man dies and leaves a wife but no child, his brother is obligated to marry the widow and have children. Well, there once were seven brothers. The first took a wife. He died childless. The second married her. He died, and still no child. The same with the third. All seven took their turn, but no child. Finally the wife died. When they are raised at the resurrection, whose wife is she? All seven were her husband.”

^24-27 Jesus said, “You’re way off base, and here’s why: One, you don’t know what God said; two, you don’t know how God works. After the dead are raised up, we’re past the marriage business. As it is with angels now, all our ecstasies and intimacies then will be with God. And regarding the dead, whether or not they are raised, don’t you ever read the Bible? How God at the bush said to Moses, ‘I am—not was—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? The living God is God of the living, not the dead. You’re way, way off base.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

God wants us to love Him back.  He had a plan in place for us to do just that without the sin that disconnected us from Him.  Jesus demonstrated God’s love on earth by serving humanity with healing and compassion before laying down His life for ours.  God is love.  God provided a way for us to love Him back with all that is in us.  Jesus took all our sin upon His shoulders and took the punishment we all deserve.  Yes, He loved each one of us that much!  THEN three days later Christ arose, defeating death once and for all!  And we, too, will rise with Christ!  I don’t know about you, but grateful praise rises from my soul this morning!

It’s not because of anything I have done but because of Who God is—the One who desires an intimate growing love with us.  He longs to bless us with His character traits developing in us so we will imitate Him as we grow in our undivided, intimate love for Him as our gracious Father.  This love is above all this world has to offer—even beyond the love we share in marriage to our spouses!  Surely, how deep the Father’s love for us, indeed!

I am convinced that I am a believer, not because of how tightly I hold on to God, but because of how tightly God holds on to me!  He will not let me go!  I’ve have strayed and been distracted from Him, but He quickly runs to bring me back with His outstretched arms.  He has brought me out the pit of despair, brought His light into my darkness, as he recues me from deep waters and eminent threats of danger.  He is God.  I am not.  I don’t know how He does it, I just know He does!  I need Jesus’ love growing in me, the love that led him to the cross for my sins every hour of every day. 

Call me weak, but that would be “sad-you-see” for it would seem that you don’t get how God works.  “The living God is God of the living, not the dead”. –Jesus

Jesus summed it up in one verse, John 14:6 – “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.” All of man’s questions of life are answered in this verse. It is Jesus who give us our growing intimacy with God.

“In the beginning was the Word and Word was with God”…”the Word was made “flesh” and moved into the neighborhood” of humanity.  (See John 1, MSG) So let’s “flesh” this truth out so we really understand what LIFE in Jesus means to us not only now but when Jesus comes back to takes us home to dwell in the presence of God for eternity as we pass from this life to the next forever life with Him.  (Yes, I know that was a mouthful.)

Jesus taught his disciples with this encouragement for all of us who believe:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” John 14:1-7

Jesus IS coming back!  It would be really “sad-you-see” if you don’t know that.  Billy Graham once said that the end “will come with the return of Jesus Christ.  “That is why a true Christian believer in Jesus can be an optimist. That is why a Christian can smile in the midst of all that is happening… We know what the end will be: the triumph of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

We have two choices:  Be sad-you-see or glad-you-see.  Choose wisely.  Choose Jesus!  You will be glad you did!  I am!

Lord,

I love how you work in our lives to sort and sift the lies the world tells us while your Truth rises to the top to lead us.  I believe.  I’m listening.  I’m yours.  Guide me all day long and into the night for you are my strength and my song.

In Jesus Name, Amen

“The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it.”    Psalm 24:1

“For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.” Hebrews 3:4

“The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine,” declares the Lord of hosts. Haggai 2:8

“O Lord, how many are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all; The earth is full of Your possessions.” Psalm 104:24

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1

All who teach and study the Word of God have read this truth: God owns it all.  But they still approach Jesus with thoughts of evil because they cannot and will not believe He is God’s Son sent to save them.

Mark 12, The Message

Paying Taxes to Caesar

^13-14 They sent some Pharisees and followers of Herod to bait him, hoping to catch him saying something incriminating. They came up and said, “Teacher, we know you have integrity, that you are indifferent to public opinion, don’t pander to your students, and teach the way of God accurately. Tell us: Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

^15-16 He knew it was a trick question, and said, “Why are you playing these games with me? Bring me a coin and let me look at it.” They handed him one.

“This engraving—who does it look like? And whose name is on it?”

“Caesar,” they said.

¹⁷ Jesus said, “Give Caesar what is his, and give God what is his.”

Their mouths hung open, speechless.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

God created all and owns all, there is nothing God created that He does not possess.  What does God want most from us, His beloved created?  We wants our undivided love and attention.  He wants to bless us with all we need to grow in this intimate loving relationship with Him. 

Man created the monetary system of coins for service.  We pay taxes within this system and are told in scripture, to “pay what you owe.”  Give to Caesar what is Caesars but give to God what we own to Him—Our very lives!  “Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.” Romans 13:7-8

“What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” –Jesus (Mark 8:36)  Our hearts, minds, and souls belong to Jesus who made a way for us to reconcile to God!

“Give God what is His,” Jesus tells the hypocrites and unbelievers. 

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” –Jesus Matthew 6:33 

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8

It is hard to almost impossible to walk with God with our backs turned against God.  We will fall.

Lord,

In this short passage is the message of turning back to you who owns it all and give you our very lives.  I love you, Lord.  You are God and no one else.  There is no one like you.  We pay what we owe to authorities on earth, for that is the right and just thing to do, but most of all we seek to grow in your mercy and grace as we walk humbly with you each day.

In Jesus Name, Amen

When two people decide to have a child produced from their deep love for each other, investments are made for the child even before he/she arrives.  We make a precious space to make room for the little human who will come into our lives and share our home.  We begin to invest in all the things a baby will need so we will be ready for the arrival.  Because of our love, it is easy to invest in their care and provision.

Jesus tells another story within earshot of those who oppose Him as the Son of God. His story clearly tells everyone standing around of the invest God has made in us—all because of His great love for us.  God created the world we live in.  God created each one of us.  God knew us even before we were born.  God invested in us as the world expanded with all kinds of people.  God invested in us when He gave the garden God created to Adam and Eve to manage.  God invests His love in us with every thought, detail, and action from the beginning to eternity!  Yes, God even invested in a plan for our eternity.   Truly, how deep the Father’s love for us…it goes beyond all measure!

Mark 12, The Message

The Story About a Vineyard

 ^1-2 Then Jesus started telling them stories. “A man planted a vineyard. He fenced it, dug a winepress, erected a watchtower, turned it over to the farmhands, and went off on a trip. At the time for harvest, he sent a servant back to the farmhands to collect his profits.

^3-5 “They grabbed him, beat him up, and sent him off empty-handed. So he sent another servant. That one they tarred and feathered. He sent another and that one they killed. And on and on, many others. Some they beat up, some they killed.

⁶ “Finally there was only one left: a beloved son. In a last-ditch effort, he sent him, thinking, ‘Surely they will respect my son.’

^7-8 “But those farmhands saw their chance. They rubbed their hands together in greed and said, ‘This is the heir! Let’s kill him and have it all for ourselves.’ They grabbed him, killed him, and threw him over the fence.

^9-11 “What do you think the owner of the vineyard will do? Right. He’ll come and get rid of everyone. Then he’ll assign the care of the vineyard to others. Read it for yourselves in Scripture:

That stone the masons threw out
    is now the cornerstone!
This is God’s work;
    we rub our eyes—we can hardly believe it!”

¹² They wanted to lynch him then and there but, intimidated by public opinion, held back. They knew the story was about them. They got away from there as fast as they could.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  John 3:16  This is the investment of His love in us.

God also gave us the freedom to choose to love Him back—or not.  This is God’s wisdom.

“Surely they will respect my son.”  But, do we? 

• Are we so busy trying to manage our lives by ourselves, doing what we want based on feelings and trying to just be happy? 
• Are our minds fixed on getting more and giving less?
• Are we so busy doing church as we do any business in the world, that we have forgotten how to be like Jesus, the Cornerstone of the church, who calls us to go and tell as opposed to sitting and stewing in our pride and arrogance of doing life our way on our terms?
• Do we “beat up” God’s called as pastor leaders of His people with slander, mocking, and disrespect? 
• Do we slander others who come into the life of God’s church who can’t seem to get on board and be “like us” so that traditions can be carried on?
• Do we really believe that Jesus died and rose again all because of His great love for us—all of us? 

Instead of asking who Jesus is, maybe it’s time to ask ourselves, Who are we to Jesus?

Those who opposed Jesus got the message loud and clear.  “They knew the story was about them. They got away from there as fast as they could.”  Later they will turn down the investment of God’s love in them by killing His Son.  But where can they hide?

I’m reminded of Psalm 139 in all of this…

“You have searched me, Lord,
    and you know me.
² You know when I sit and when I rise;
    you perceive my thoughts from afar.
³ You discern my going out and my lying down;
    you are familiar with all my ways.
⁴ Before a word is on my tongue
    you, Lord, know it completely.
⁵ You hem me in behind and before,
    and you lay your hand upon me.
⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
    too lofty for me to attain.

⁷ Where can I go from your Spirit?
    Where can I flee from your presence?
⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
    if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
    if I settle on the far side of the sea,
¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me,
    your right hand will hold me fast.
¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
    and the light become night around me,”
¹² even the darkness will not be dark to you;
    the night will shine like the day,
    for darkness is as light to you.

¹³ For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.
¹⁷ How precious to me are your thoughts,^[a] God!
    How vast is the sum of them!
¹⁸ Were I to count them,
    they would outnumber the grains of sand—
    when I awake, I am still with you.

¹⁹ If only you, God, would slay the wicked!
    Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!
²⁰ They speak of you with evil intent;
    your adversaries misuse your name.
²¹ Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord,
    and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?
²² I have nothing but hatred for them;
    I count them my enemies.
²³ Search me, God, and know my heart;
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
²⁴ See if there is any offensive way in me,
    and lead me in the way everlasting.

We can’t really run and hide from God or His investment of His One and Only Son made for our salvation.  We are given a choice.  Choose wisely.  Our choice is a matter of life or death.  Yes, it’s that serious!  Choosing Jesus is the best investment you will ever make!  Jesus changes everything.  Jesus is the best and most important relationship you will ever invest in for your life!

Lord,

Whew, you cut to the chase at times to get our attention and see You for Who you really are!  I’m listening and I believe.  You are God.  I am not.  I repent of haphazard thinking and arrogant actions that offend you, Lord. Cleanse our hearts, renew our minds, refresh our souls with your new mercies, restore the joy of your salvation at work with us.  Then send us out to love like you love us—relentlessly and forever.

In Jesus Name, Amen

As a public school teacher, you learn quickly (or should) to ask questions before deciding the punishment of misbehaving students.  What you observed from a distance might be totally different than what you thought at first when you question the opponents with a mind to understand what it really going on.  It could they are on the same team but do not understand each other and need clarification of intent.  Sometimes it is misinterpreting the rules of the game they’re playing.  And sometimes one is right and one is wrong. 

As the Teacher you must ask questions so the students can say out loud what they are thinking.  This does two things.  First by saying it out loud they hear themselves expressing their true feelings.  In other words, questions teach.  Secondly, they express what they are really wanting to be and do.  The Teacher can then use the situation with more understanding to teach a life lesson.

Jesus is the Master Teacher.  His questions convict and clarify what is really going on by getting the heart of the matter.  His questions alone declare who holds the authority.

Mark 11, The Message

His Credentials

^27-28 Then when they were back in Jerusalem once again, as they were walking through the Temple, the high priests, religion scholars, and leaders came up and demanded, “Show us your credentials. Who authorized you to speak and act like this?”

^29-30 Jesus responded, “First let me ask you a question. Answer my question and then I’ll present my credentials. About the baptism of John—who authorized it: heaven or humans? Tell me.”

^31-33 They were on the spot, and knew it. They pulled back into a huddle and whispered, “If we say ‘heaven,’ he’ll ask us why we didn’t believe John; if we say ‘humans,’ we’ll be up against it with the people because they all hold John up as a prophet.” They decided to concede that round to Jesus. “We don’t know,” they said.

Jesus replied, “Then I won’t answer your question either.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Go ahead, question Jesus, the Master Teacher, Savior, and Lord all you want!  Be honest.  Be sincere.  But be ready for Him to question our motives.  (Ouch).  Jesus teaches us life lessons all day long!

Guided by God’s Holy Spirit, I think the questions He will ask us are:

• Do I really believe what God says about Himself and His Son really real?
• Do I really believe Jesus paid the price for the punishment I deserve for all my sins?
• Do I really believe Jesus died and then three days later came back to life, scars and all, to defeat death forever for all of us?
• Do I really believe Jesus then walked on earth in His risen, nail scarred body for his followers to see and touch?
• Do I really believe He is with me always, knows my every thought, knows what I need before I know I need it and helps me?
• Do I really realize the depth of love and compassion He has for me?

Pause, pray, reflect, let us examine our own hearts as we ponder our responses.

Know this:  When all is thought, said. and done; it is our behaviors that will show the true desires of our hearts.

“Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that’s where life starts. Don’t talk out of both sides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip. Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions. Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you. Look neither right nor left; leave evil in the dust.”                  Proverbs 4:23, MSG

In other words—

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”       Proverbs 4:23, NIV

Lord,

Your are the Absolute Authority.  After ascending back to heaven, You gave your authority to us to tell your story of redemption so others will know you, too.  May we tell it, tendered by your love in us.  Cleanse our hearts, renew our minds, remove what offends you in us, refresh and reset our souls with your new mercies for today, and restore the joy and peace of your salvation at work within us.  I believe.  I really believe you.

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen

There was a time in my life that I will never forget.  There I was, all those years ago, with text books, notes on lectures, and other resources all around me with only a lamp light.  After teaching all day I was studying for finals for the four classes that I took to earn my Masters degree in education.  It wasn’t the learning part, I love learning—it was the overwhelming dread of the tests. I hastily threw up prayers to God asking for help to do well.

On this particular night of study, God spoke to my heart and got my attention with an answer to that quick prayer for help in a way I will never forget.  My Bible was on my nightstand untouched for a few days prior because of this overwhelming schedule in my life.  As I went over my notes about teaching theories and leadership management, God asked, “What if you studied My Word as much as you studied for your classes?”  Right there in the quiet while everyone else in my family slept, I heard God—and embraced what He said, trembling.  “Lord, you are absolutely right.  Forgive me.”

So, I closed the books, stacked the scattered notes around me and reached for my Bible—God’s Word that is my strength.  I turned to my favorite passage, Psalm 143.  As I read, my heart stopped racing, my mind filled with peace. God cleansed my heart, transformed my thinking, reset my soul to default to His will, while restoring the joy of embracing the God-life as opposed to doing life on my own.  Dread turned into confidence. 

I slept well that night. God knew I needed rest more than anything else to face the next day of teaching followed by final tests of graduate work and then drive back home to my family.  I learned to let God set the pace of my life.  I began from that night forward to begin each day with God and His Word, to write what He was telling me in a journal so I wouldn’t forget.  This passage, using Peterson’s Message, clearly shows us what God wants—our full and undivided attention.  Embrace the God-life! 

“Really embrace it, and nothing will be too much for you.” –Jesus

Mark 11, The Message

The Cursed Fig Tree

^12-14 As they left Bethany the next day, he was hungry. Off in the distance he saw a fig tree in full leaf. He came up to it expecting to find something for breakfast, but found nothing but fig leaves. (It wasn’t yet the season for figs.) He addressed the tree: “No one is going to eat fruit from you again—ever!” And his disciples overheard him.

^15-17 They arrived at Jerusalem. Immediately on entering the Temple Jesus started throwing out everyone who had set up shop there, buying and selling. He kicked over the tables of the bankers and the stalls of the pigeon merchants. He didn’t let anyone even carry a basket through the Temple. And then he taught them, quoting this text:

My house was designated a house of prayer for the nations;
You’ve turned it into a hangout for thieves.

¹⁸ The high priests and religion scholars heard what was going on and plotted how they might get rid of him. They panicked, for the entire crowd was carried away by his teaching.

¹⁹ At evening, Jesus and his disciples left the city.

^20-21 In the morning, walking along the road, they saw the fig tree, shriveled to a dry stick. Peter, remembering what had happened the previous day, said to him, “Rabbi, look—the fig tree you cursed is shriveled up!”

^22-25 Jesus was matter-of-fact: “Embrace this God-life. Really embrace it, and nothing will be too much for you. This mountain, for instance: Just say, ‘Go jump in the lake’—no shuffling or hemming and hawing—and it’s as good as done. That’s why I urge you to pray for absolutely everything, ranging from small to large. Include everything as you embrace this God-life, and you’ll get God’s everything. And when you assume the posture of prayer, remember that it’s not all asking. If you have anything against someone, forgive—only then will your heavenly Father be inclined to also wipe your slate clean of sins.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

As we read yesterday, Jesus rode into town on a donkey colt, praised as the King of kings and Lord of lords. Then He was headed for the Temple—a place designated and built for all nations to come to pray to God—the One and Only God.  Jesus observed the carnival atmosphere during the Holy Week of celebrating Passover.  Oh how Jesus must have been repulsed by the behavior of those who turned God’s House into a business—a business of thievery!  The “den of thieves” behavior Jesus referenced was proclaimed by the prophets’ words centuries earlier.  But to now be there and see it up close must have grieved our Lord greatly over watching these sins of disobedience, dishonor, and disrespect of God right there in God’s Temple! 

So, the next day, Jesus who had the authority to do so, “turned the tables” and disrupted “business as usual” with a declaration of who God is with a cleansing of God’s place of worship and prayer to Him.

“Jesus’ condemning of the tree and clearing of the temple were both symbolic acts that illustrated the sad spiritual condition of the nation of Israel. In spite of its many privileges and opportunities, Israel was outwardly fruitless (the tree) and inwardly corrupt (the temple). It was unusual for Jesus to act in judgment, yet there comes a time when this is the only thing God can do (John 12:35–41)”.  –Warren Wiersbe, Bible Commentator

But that’s not all, I pray we do not miss the lesson of what it is like to EMBRACE the God-life of prayer which is the only way, in Jesus Name, to God’s heart.  Ask for anything in faith believing then listen for His response. Jesus teaches us to pray, “May Your will be done”, not our will and wishes, but for God’s best work in us and through us.  Embracing the God-life is trusting with obedience that God knows what He is doing.

Forgiveness opens the door to God’s Kingdom.  “Forgive us our sins AS WE FORGIVE those who sin against us.” (Matthew 6) Jesus teaches us that embracing the God-life is a life of consistent forgiveness.  Jesus closes this passage with, “And when you assume the posture of prayer, remember that it’s not all asking. If you have anything against someone, forgive—only then will your heavenly Father be inclined to also wipe your slate clean of sins.”—Jesus

Jesus says, “Pray like this:

Our Father in heaven,
    may your name be kept holy.
May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us today the food we need,
and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.

Matthew 6:9-13, NLT

Daily, Embrace the God-life!  Because God has embraced us!

Lord,

I pray this day for everything you know I need to walk in your ways while developing your character traits by your work of salvation within me.  Give me wisdom and the power to know the difference between Your voice and the voice of the world.  “Greater are You in me than he that is in the world.” I lean on your promises. I trust you for everything because you are my everything! Cleanse my heart, renew my mind, refresh my soul, and restore the joy of your salvation.

In Jesus Name, For Your glory, Amen

“How bad is it?”  “Is it fixable?”  “Can we rebuild or is it a total loss?”  “What can be salvaged?” These are some of many questions in the minds of those who go through the aftermath of a tornado or hurricane.  People involved automatically and tearfully evaluate while seeing the damage done.  Assessing and evaluating is the highest priority for those who own the property and have suffered great loss.  Yes, insurance, officers of the law, property owners and loved ones who want to help, come to take it all in before forming a plan to save what has been destroyed.

Jesus fulfills Holy Scriptures, written centuries earlier by God’s prophets, as he rides in on a young, never ridden, colt to Jerusalem.  God already has a plan to save what has been destroyed over the years—a relationship with Him. 

Mark 11, The Message

Entering Jerusalem on a Colt

^1-3 When they were nearing Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany on Mount Olives, he sent off two of the disciples with instructions: “Go to the village across from you. As soon as you enter, you’ll find a colt tethered, one that has never yet been ridden. Untie it and bring it. If anyone asks, ‘What are you doing?’ say, ‘The Master needs him, and will return him right away.’”

^4-7 They went and found a colt tied to a door at the street corner and untied it. Some of those standing there said, “What are you doing untying that colt?” The disciples replied exactly as Jesus had instructed them, and the people let them alone. They brought the colt to Jesus, spread their coats on it, and he mounted.

^8-10 The people gave him a wonderful welcome, some throwing their coats on the street, others spreading out rushes they had cut in the fields. Running ahead and following after, they were calling out,

Hosanna!
Blessed is he who comes in God’s name!
Blessed the coming kingdom of our father David!
Hosanna in highest heaven!

¹¹ He entered Jerusalem, then entered the Temple. He looked around, taking it all in. But by now it was late, so he went back to Bethany with the Twelve.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

After the storm of praises from the multitudes of people, Jesus entered the Temple to survey and assess, “to take it all in”.  He looked around to see what the religious, power-seeking leaders and teachers of The Law had allowed to happen over the years in the Temple dedicated to God. His Temple was more like a carnival than a place of prayer.  (More on this, tomorrow.)

What is happening at the time Jesus rode into Jerusalem?  Jerusalem at Passover season was the delight of the Jews and the despair of the Romans. Thousands of devout Jews from all over the world arrived in the Holy City, their hearts filled with excitement and nationalistic fervor. To say the city of crowded was an understatement! 

The population of Jerusalem more than tripled during the festival, making it necessary for the Roman military units to be on special alert. They lived with the possibility that some enthusiastic Jewish Zealot might try to kill a Roman official or incite a riot, and there was always potential for disputes among the various Jewish religious groups. The city was tense on all levels.

Because of the celebration of Passover, the Temple was the place to go for those who have made the journey. But they must deal with the less than noble “carnival types” selling what the people needed for their sacrifices at a higher cost than normal!  This is what Jesus is “taking in” on His first stop to the Temple.  How it must have grieved the Master! 

God’s Plan of Salvation

In fulfilling the words of Psalm 118:25, 26, Jesus accomplished two purposes:

(1) He declared Himself to be Israel’s King and Messiah

(2) He deliberately challenged the religious leaders.

This set in motion the official plot that led to His arrest, trial, and crucifixion. The Jewish leaders had decided not to arrest Him during the feast, but God had determined otherwise. The Lamb of God, the One and Only without sin, must die at Passover.

Jesus will be the final sacrifice for our sins.  He will trade His life for ours. 

Our Hope—Our Victory!

“Our Lord’s “triumphal entry” was nothing like that of a Roman triumphal entry, but it was a triumph just the same. He was God’s anointed King and Savior, but His conquest would be spiritual and not military. A Roman general had to kill at least five thousand enemy soldiers to merit a Triumph, but in a few weeks, the gospel would “conquer” some five thousand Jews and transform their lives (Acts 4:4). Christ’s “triumph” would be the victory of love over hatred, truth over error, and life over death.” –Warren Wiersbe, Bible Commentator

O what a Savior
O what a mighty God
No one is greater
To save our souls!

There is more to come as many of you know, but for now, stop, pause to reflect, and ask

If Jesus rode into my life today, what would He see and take in?

Does Jesus need to clean my house—His Temple—in which I have invited Him to dwell? 

What have I allowed to be a part of and in His Temple—My being—that is offensive to God?

Lord,

We pray the prayer of David when he realized what He had done that was not of you:

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” Psalm 51:10-12

Yes, Jesus, assess the damage, restore what was broken.  Cleanse my heart, renew my thinking, refresh and reset my soul, and restore the joy of your salvation at work daily within me. Thank you for saving our souls! 

To you be the glory!  To you be the praise!  To you be the glory!

In Jesus Name, Amen

According to Matthew, there were two blind beggars sitting by the road (Matthew 20:29–34), and Mark gives the name of one of them— “Bartimaeus.” Both Mark and Luke (Luke 18:35–43) focus attention on him since he was the more vocal of the two. The beggars heard that Jesus of Nazareth, the Healer, was passing by; they did their best to get His attention so that they might receive His merciful help and be healed.

Matthew tells us that Jesus was moved with compassion and touched their eyes (Matthew 20:34), and immediately they were healed. Out of gratitude to Jesus, the men joined the pilgrim band and started toward Jerusalem, following Jesus. This is the last healing miracle recorded in Mark, and it certainly fits into Mark’s “Servant” theme. We see Jesus Christ, God’s Suffering Servant, on His way to the cross, and yet He stops to serve two blind beggars! What love, what mercy, and what grace!

The blind “saw” Jesus with their hearts before seeing Jesus with they eyes.  They knew who could help them.  They knew He had the power to change their lives of begging for pennies to following Him in grateful praise.  It was their faith in the Son of David, Jesus, who could heal their blinded eyes.

Mark 10, The Message

^46-48 They spent some time in Jericho. As Jesus was leaving town, trailed by his disciples and a parade of people, a blind beggar by the name of Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus, was sitting alongside the road. When he heard that Jesus the Nazarene was passing by, he began to cry out, “Son of David, Jesus! Mercy, have mercy on me!” Many tried to hush him up, but he yelled all the louder, “Son of David! Mercy, have mercy on me!”

^49-50 Jesus stopped in his tracks. “Call him over.”

They called him. “It’s your lucky day! Get up! He’s calling you to come!” Throwing off his coat, he was on his feet at once and came to Jesus.

⁵¹ Jesus said, “What can I do for you?”

The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”

⁵² “On your way,” said Jesus. “Your faith has saved and healed you.”

In that very instant he recovered his sight and followed Jesus down the road.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

When called by Jesus, Bartimaeus jumped up to run in the direction of His voice. 

IN AN INSTANT, JESUS CHANGES EVERYTHING!

Jesus pauses only long enough to ask what he really wants.  Bartimaeus responds, “I want to see.”  The blind man becomes the one who can now see instantly because Jesus saw their hearts filled with faith!  What amazing grace!  What amazing love!  What amazing faith shown to Jesus who responds with mercy—that the men cried out for as He passed by…

Think about the “cloak” Bart left behind. 

Author and theologian, Derek Sakowski, relates a perspective that is worth our thoughtful and prayerful pause:

“The cloak of Bartimaeus is so much more than a cloak. It represents a way of life for him – how he had learned to cope and survive in an existence devoid of intimacy, connection, kindness, or care. He was a beggar, yes, but (one can easily imagine) a highly manipulative and cunning beggar who knew how to take advantage of people and get what he wanted without making any actual connections or commitments.

Instead of real relationships, Bartimaeus had his cloak. It kept him warm – warm enough anyway. It wasn’t the warmth of hearth and home, but it was enough to survive and endure. More importantly, he could hide himself in his cloak, staying isolated physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I imagine that, most of the time, he did not want to be seen. Whatever scraps of pleasure he could manage to carve out for himself, he could then indulge in secretly. His cloak was perhaps the closest thing he had to a friend. His life was not one that knew much by way of nurture of soothing. In his cloak, he managed to find fleeting moments of comfort and safety.  I can only imagine, over time, how dilapidated and disgusting his cloak became. But up to that day, it had been his most loyal companion. How many times had other people betrayed him or harmed him, rejected him or abandoned him? His cloak would not do that! It was predictable, even if it was only a surrogate – even if it was providing less and less authentic comfort or warmth.

How astounding it is that Bartimaeus cries out – repeatedly – “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!!” He makes himself so vulnerable. He risks more mocking and rejection.  Apparently he had decided that he had nothing more to lose. He was ready to risk it all.

It is even more remarkable to me that he leaves his cloak behind – even before Jesus heals him. He recognizes that the cloak – his loyal and faithful companion – is actually an obstacle to real connection. It has hindered him from receiving and will continue hindering if he doesn’t change his ways. More importantly, a desire so intense and deep is welling up in his heart – so strong that it overflows and overpowers his “settling” for survival. He wants to be well!  He intuits that Jesus can give him more – so much more. No doubt, he also hears the whispers of his cloak – warning him that he is making a fool of himself, gently enticing him to hide himself away once again and return to the safety of self-protection. But desire wins the day. Bartimaeus not only cries out all the louder; he actually casts aside his cloak and runs up to Jesus. He wants to see. Jesus heals him. He begins following Jesus.

As is so often the case in the Gospels, we don’t hear “the rest of the story.” I am enough of a student of human nature (including my own) to know that Bartimaeus’ following of Jesus in “The Way” was very likely NOT a linear journey, nor a “one and done” moment of salvation. Rather, it was likely a long and arduous transformational journey of conversion, including shining moments of freedom and triumph as well as plenty of other moments of stumbling and shame. We need only look at Peter and the other disciples to appreciate how long and complex the journey of conversion is.

If you are like me, I imagine that you can relate to the cloak of Bartimaeus!”

“What do you want?” Jesus asks us today.  What is the most pressing need that requires God’s mercy?  Tell Him.  He will hear you. He stands ready to listen to each one of us!

Our faith in Jesus changes everything!

Lord,

You know our hearts—sometimes better than we do!  You know exactly what we need but you want us to say it in faith, believing that you are already at work for us.  So, that’s what we will do all day long as we trust in you.  We pray.  You work. 

Thank you for always being with us. Thank you for noticing what each one of us are coping with while providing help because of your relentless love, undeserving mercy, and powerful grace. There is no one like you! 

So, all my hope, trust, and faith are completely in You.  You are life to me.  I love you with all my heart, all my mind, and all my soul.  Jesus, have mercy on us all so that we may see your glory at work today and stop to give you praise!

In Jesus Name, Amen

Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus,
to reach out and touch him, and say that we love him.
Open our ears, Lord, and help us to listen.
Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus.