Think About It

I'm studying 1 Peter right now...this verse has consumed my thoughts the past few days...

"All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever." (1 Peter 1:24-25, ESV)

Here's a thought centered around those two verses...what are you doing today...what are you investing your life in today that will last forever? What are you doing today that will really matter in 10, 20, 30 years? There are two things today that will last forever...your soul (and others' souls) and the Word of God. Everything else will crumble and pass away. Your body...will pass away. Your riches will be gone in 100 years or less. Your earthly possessions will be outdated in 5 years, irrelevant in 20 years and completely gone in probably 50 years and will mean nothing to anyone in less time than that. But...your soul...and the soul of your family, friends and neighbors...will have just begun to live in 10,000 years. And the Word of God, will still be relevant, active and perfect...forever. So...in light of that. What are you doing this day...that will still matter in eternity? What are you worrying about...that won't matter tomorrow? It all will eventually fade...every bit of everything. What are you 'storing up' for the long haul? Think about it.

Obscurity in Mark's Gospel account II

Okay...here is another verse/phrase that has captured my attention the past few weeks as I have read and re-read the Gospel accounts of Passion Week. It's found in Mark 15:43

"Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the Council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus."

I have read this verse many, many times and yet, the phrase 'looking for the kingdom of God' is what really provoked me. Luke also describes him in this way while Matthew and John use the phrases 'a follower of Jesus' and a 'disciple of Jesus'. I have grown accustomed to the phrases that Matthew and John used. However, for some reason, the phrase that Mark and Luke used helped me understand Joseph a little better. Joseph was a member of the Sanhedrin council, he was a respected man in the community and obviously wealthy. He was surrounded by those that had long cashed in their desire to see the Kingdom come and had instead, decided to create their own kingdom. They were all still religious and were pursuing their 'kingdom' in the name of religion...but they were all about themselves. And this Jesus...this carpenter from Nazareth was beginning to really cramp their style. He was questioning and confronting their pursuit. It had to stop. People were beginning to actually listen to Him. And these religious leaders, while they would probably say they were looking for the 'Rescuer to come'...they had long given up on that and were taking matters into their own hands. If there were a 'Deliverer'...He would have to come on their terms and conform to their religion...because they were there first. They had a pretty good thing going.

Okay...so here is what really intrigued me about Mark and Luke's comment. Somehow...in the midst of this religious, self-seeking environment...Joseph was able to keep a heart for the things of God. Somehow...in this society that was built on the legalism of the law...Joseph continued to look for the True Kingdom. Not a kingdom built by hands. I love this picture. In the midst of all of those that were playing church....Joseph was able to keep his head above the peer pressure of religion. And I'm not even sure that the 'peer pressure' was intentional by the religious leaders...it just happens as more and more people begin to live and operate in a certain way. When everyone else was looking 'this' direction...Joseph was looking 'that' direction. Not by happen stance...but because He was still trusting in the things of God. He was still standing on the promises of the prophets. He was still studying the scriptures with awe and wonder. Somehow, he had been able to escape the entrapment of his riches, the notoriety of his standing in the community and the intoxicating power of his position on the ruling council. Of course, he wasn't the only one. Nicodemus helped him prepare and bury Jesus' body as well. But somehow...these guys were able to disengage from the popular theologies and practices of that day and to keep an eye out for God. Seems like a crazy statement since the Sanhedrin were the religious authorities.

What am I trying to say? I want to be like Joseph of Arimathea. No matter what...I want to be found 'looking for the Kingdom'. I don't want to be so self absorbed in my own ministry, religion or religious pursuits that I miss the plan of God. I want to be able to keep my head above the status quo of religion. I want to be ready for God to do a new and fresh work that may not go over well with the establishment. I want to recognize when God is moving and 'take courage' to follow Him. I believe that while we are working and pursuing God's Kingdom here on earth...that there is a greater Kingdom to come. I am afraid there have been many times that I 'loved this world' and have gotten caught up in my own pursuits and interests in the name of religion and supposedly 'pursuing God'. I have pursued my own kingdom. My gut level, heart wrenching cry is that God will keep my eyes fresh and my heart open to what He is doing. That I might read His Word with wonder and awe and worship Him with great affection, deeper intellect and Holy Spirit infused Truth.

"God...help me to live with this perspective that Joseph had. Give me a heart today to take courage and follow after You."

Obscurity in Mark's Gospel account

Recently I challenged our choir and worship ministry staff at Second Baptist to spend the month of March reading thru each of the Gospel accounts of Passion Week. While Matthew, Mark and Luke are very similar, John gives us a completely different perspective on the happenings of that week. But even within the Synoptics (Matt., Mark, Luke), there are little nuances that set each one apart from the other. Though I have read thru these accounts numerous times, for some reason (this time) I was drawn to a particular detail that is only mentioned in Mark's writing. It's found in Mark 14:51-52 and it reads...

"And a certain young man was following him, clothed in a linen sheet over his naked body. And they tried to seize him, but he left the linen sheet and escaped naked."

What? Did I read that right? Wait...did I miss something or where did that come from? It's such a jarring comment that comes out of nowhere. I've probably had 10-12 questions about those two verses in the past month from those that have been reading the accounts. "Why?", "What's the use?" they have asked. Many have speculated as to the purpose and significance of those two ambiguous verses. So...since I believe that the Word of God is the most intentional book ever written and I believe that every word of it has the power to speak...here is where I am with those two verses:

1) Since these verses aren't included in the other two Synoptic Gospels, it seems to follow that only Mark felt this was significant enough to include. Additionally, there's pretty good evidence that the Last Supper that Christ shared with His disciples took place at John Mark's house (house of Mary, John Mark's mother). With those things in mind, it seems to make sense that the 'young man' in the sheet was probably Mark himself. Further logic would extend to say that Judas returned to Mark's house with the Temple police only to find that Jesus had already left for the Garden of Gethsemane. The stirring probably woke Mark and in his haste to get to the garden, he wrapped himself in his bed linen and left to warn the others. This seems to be the most logical explanation to most of the writers/commentators I have read.

2) So why am I drawn to this? Well, first of all, because I have had so many questions about it lately. It has peaked my interest as well. Secondly...I have wondered what God could say to me and His people thru these verses since they are as inspired as John 3:16 (and every other passage!). What was it about these verses that caused Mark to say... "I need to include these details in the writings". He obviously, intentionally put them in...and the Holy Spirit obviously led Him to do it. So...why? Well, here is where it becomes more subjective...but here is what God has seemed to speak to my heart:

a) First of all, by including these two verses...Mark is saying "I was there". I am an eye witness to what happened in the Garden of Gethsemane...and possibly at the Last Supper. He wants us to know, without stating it, that he was there.

b) I believe we see the passion of a Christ follower in Mark and these two verses. We see humility in that he was so captivated by Jesus...he wasn't concerned with himself or his appearance. Much like David, he was willing to become undignified to follow his King. It may not have even been a conscious decision but he just responded out of his love for Jesus, not considering what others might think. It portrays a raw sense of following Jesus yet tempered with some uncertainty and pensiveness.

c) I am reminded and convicted of my own questions and desire to follow Jesus from a distance at times...my need to have it all figured out before I fully commit or come out of the shadows. I like to manage risk as much as possible. Following Jesus is filled with what we call 'risk' which is really only our perceived control (or lack of control) over our circumstances. This is the very heart of the issue for following Jesus...trust...hope...FAITH!

So...I don't think we'll every really know for certain who this 'young man' was. Some have even speculated that it was Jesus' brother, James and then again others have thought possibly the Apostle John. Regardless, it was intentionally written and included by Mark in his gospel. It's worthy of study and asking God to speak to us thru it. I have been challenged, convicted and encouraged by it.