Mark 9:1-50
Christ is turning a corner with His disciples as He begins to prepare them His crucifixion and the suffering that they will face. They are slow to understand His numerous warnings of His impending death. They keep trying to decide what he means by His death and resurrection because they cannot believe that Jesus will die. Christ knows the future and uses the verses before us to prepare them for that reality.
THE PREEMINENCE OF CHRIST: I think the the point of the transfiguration experience was to fix in the disciples minds the fact that Christ is superior to everyone and everything on this planet. Moses and Elijah were great men but they were only men. We might look with admiration at men like Paul and Peter or a favorite pastor or author of our day. God uses many men and women in each generation to further His purposes, but they are simply people like us. Men have a great impact on us and their investments in us can help us in many ways, but only Christ can be an anchor in the storms of suffering. Christ must be preeminent in our lives.
THE POWER OF PRAYER: The disciples have difficulty with a powerful demon that has tormented a man from his childhood. Some problems are long lasting and cause intense suffering. Once again, Christ proves that He has the power to overcome any problem we might face. The great thing is that His power is always at the tips of our fingers or, maybe more accurately, at the bend of our knees. Through prayer the power of God is available to us. When we face suffering, prayer provides a means by which we can endure and live for the glory of God.
THE PRINCIPLE OF SERVANTHOOD: There seems to be a constant discussion between the disciples about which of them was the greatest. We all have a tendency to compare and compete with one another. The problem is that we do not truly desire greatness for the good of the kingdom and the glory of God. We really want glory for ourselves. Christ makes it clear that true greatness is found in serving with one another not in competing against one another. We don't need to worry about who gets the credit for what; or who gets the most attention on this earth. Those things are all passing and not worth our time. If we are caught in the trap of self promotion and competition we will find ourselves alone and failing in times of suffering. If we serve one anther in love and humility, we will experience grace and great cooperation within the Body of Christ that will give us great comfort and strength in times of suffering.
THE PRIORITY OF HOLINESS: Likely, the greatest source of suffering that we will encounter comes from within ourselves. Much of the pain in our lives is self inflicted in the sense that it comes from the lusts of our own hearts. Christ very graphically illustrates that there is no pleasure that our bodies could ever experience that is worth the consequences of sin. Sin is the source of all suffering, so if we hope to overcome suffering it must be found in the path of holiness. The pain and suffering of loosing hands, feet and eyes is nothing in comparison to the suffering that sin brings into our lives both now and for all eternity apart from Christ. May Christ be praised for taking the suffering of our sin on Himself and giving us freedom from the power of sin far greater than any amputation could achieve.
THE PREEMINENCE OF CHRIST: I think the the point of the transfiguration experience was to fix in the disciples minds the fact that Christ is superior to everyone and everything on this planet. Moses and Elijah were great men but they were only men. We might look with admiration at men like Paul and Peter or a favorite pastor or author of our day. God uses many men and women in each generation to further His purposes, but they are simply people like us. Men have a great impact on us and their investments in us can help us in many ways, but only Christ can be an anchor in the storms of suffering. Christ must be preeminent in our lives.
THE POWER OF PRAYER: The disciples have difficulty with a powerful demon that has tormented a man from his childhood. Some problems are long lasting and cause intense suffering. Once again, Christ proves that He has the power to overcome any problem we might face. The great thing is that His power is always at the tips of our fingers or, maybe more accurately, at the bend of our knees. Through prayer the power of God is available to us. When we face suffering, prayer provides a means by which we can endure and live for the glory of God.
THE PRINCIPLE OF SERVANTHOOD: There seems to be a constant discussion between the disciples about which of them was the greatest. We all have a tendency to compare and compete with one another. The problem is that we do not truly desire greatness for the good of the kingdom and the glory of God. We really want glory for ourselves. Christ makes it clear that true greatness is found in serving with one another not in competing against one another. We don't need to worry about who gets the credit for what; or who gets the most attention on this earth. Those things are all passing and not worth our time. If we are caught in the trap of self promotion and competition we will find ourselves alone and failing in times of suffering. If we serve one anther in love and humility, we will experience grace and great cooperation within the Body of Christ that will give us great comfort and strength in times of suffering.
THE PRIORITY OF HOLINESS: Likely, the greatest source of suffering that we will encounter comes from within ourselves. Much of the pain in our lives is self inflicted in the sense that it comes from the lusts of our own hearts. Christ very graphically illustrates that there is no pleasure that our bodies could ever experience that is worth the consequences of sin. Sin is the source of all suffering, so if we hope to overcome suffering it must be found in the path of holiness. The pain and suffering of loosing hands, feet and eyes is nothing in comparison to the suffering that sin brings into our lives both now and for all eternity apart from Christ. May Christ be praised for taking the suffering of our sin on Himself and giving us freedom from the power of sin far greater than any amputation could achieve.
whoo - good stuff poppa. I'm starting to be glad that I'm a little behind (though, as you'll notice I'm almost caught up - i slowed down there for a bit but i do read at least one every night)=)
ReplyDeleteanyway as I was saying I'm glad i read this one tonight - definitely exactly what I needed to read =) thank-you for the challenging reminder.