Isaiah 65

Verse 1 speaks of Israel's beginning as a people who did not know God, but it still speaks to my heart that God is reaching beyond that. We see the promise of God reaching beyond Israel to all who turn to him. As the chapter continues those who trust in God will find that eventually, God is going to make all things right. God is going to create a new heaven and earth, as Revelation echoes. It will be a place of joy and fulfillment.  Today we live in a world of disappointment and dreams that fade, but there is coming a day when that will change and we will be in a world that as CS Lewis says in The Last Battle, "now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read: which goes on forever: in which every chapter is better than the one before."

Photo by Tim Alex on Unsplash

Numbers 30

 

I have long thought that if a husband and wife have a different relationship with God, vast denominational differences, or different religions, then the relationship will suffer. Some have said that it can work out but that is usually because one or both don't look at their relationship to God as strongly or as diligently as they should. I think that is part of the issue here. Those who are in a relationship especially on of dependence and an unmarried daughter and a wife were those in this time. If they were going a different direction than the one they were depending on trouble could come. God however as I have pointed out before has put the entire consequences on the father or husband. To say it another way, If you want to be in charge then you will take the blame. This wasn't just if they nullified a vow later or when it was initially said. God really believed if you had greater power you had greater responsibility and I would add accountability.   

Photo by Carly Rae Hobbins on Unsplash

Mark 14

We see that Jesus gives a warning in the Last Supper when Judas is there that one will betray him. Jesus was trying to give Judas, I believe a chance to change. In fact, when Jesus when speaking about Judas says in Mark 14:21 “But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born,” the word Woe is a lament. Jesus is brokenhearted over what is going to happen to Jesus.

 

Jesus is saddened by the choice of those who choose wrong? Jesus offers them opportunity to forgive while confronting it. Jesus does these things out of love! Jesus did tell us to love not just our friends, family, and those like us. (Sermon on the Mount) He called us to love those who hate us and forgive.

Psalm 50

 God speaks of those who give thanks offerings, also called the fellowship offering. Those who give these offerings are the ones God honors. They are the ones God will save. The thing about this offering is that it wasn’t for a specific sin or to ask for anything but just a way to be in fellowship with God and others. At the end of the day, I would say that what really matters is being in right relationship with God not just doing religious things (sacrifices). 

Photo by William White on Unsplash

Numbers 29

 

It is interesting, that three of the seven feasts God commanded take place in the seventh month. I have been surprised how many feasts God commanded. One would think that the right way to do this would be to spread them out but clearly God didn't think so. It reminds me of the November/December holiday season in the West. When celebrated correctly it is a great time that builds on one another. This is what I believe God was doing here. 

Photo by Tim Cooper on Unsplash

Numbers 28

 

There are two issues that God reminds the people of again. During a sabbath, you aren't supposed to be working and the sacrifices must be unblemished. God had said this before and he reminds it again and again. This may seem repetitive but Israel was learning what it was to be God's people from a culture that was very different. They needed to learn and repetition is one of the best ways to learn. 

Photo by Crawford Jolly on Unsplash

Excuse of Ignorance

 

I recently heard a group of people talking about pacifism. The main teacher was saying that Jesus was calling us not to retaliate. The discussion quickly went to what if someone breaks into your home or what if we wouldn’t have fought against Hitler during World War 2. There was a lot of back and forth. I won’t say what I believe on the issue of these because I agree with the person who said, “It’s not the guy who might break into my house that I have a problem with it’s the guy who cuts me off in traffic or the grocery store.”

This comment made me realize that often we use extreme examples to give us excuses to apply the practical truths. People say almost anything may give you cancer as an excuse to keep doing the things that we know will probably give you cancer. We use the excuse; I don’t like tofu as an excuse not even trying to moderate our diets. When it comes to the Bible, they use the excuse they can’t understand some part of the Bible as a reason not to learn or apply any of the Bible.  This is a problem.

What is the solution? The solution is not to use the extreme or unknown not to apply what we do know. We may not be able to see with clarity how we should respond to a Hitler (fight/passivity) but what I can say is the Bible is pretty clear on how you should respond to your neighbor. Let’s not use the unclear to justify not following what is clear. 

Photo by Marija Zaric on Unsplash

Isaiah 64

 

We see in this chapter the doctrine of creation and the imago deo (Man in the image of God), also the doctrine of sin. Paul will agree with this and we see it in Romans 3 and other places as will many others in Scripture. Yet, despite the sin, Isaiah feels he can call upon God's mercy. The reason is that God does have mercy and that is seen going forward in Isaiah and in all of Scripture, Old and New Testaments. 

Photo by Jack B on Unsplash

Numbers 27

 

I love this picture.

God told Moses he was going to die and that he needed to set Joshua in a position to take his place among the people. For am and many other scholars, it does seem that Moses was preparing Joshua to take his place long before now, but Moses waited until God said, "It's time." This was a reminder that Moses didn't just prepare someone he listened to God about who the person was to be. I have heard it said that preparing someone to follow you in your work is as important or more important than the work. We see Jesus taking a lot of time preparing those who would follow him. In the business world it ahs been seen that a good successor can take the business a long way but a bad one ends in disaster. This chapter reminds me that we need good successors, but also we need to make sure they are God's choice. 

Photo by Kiana Bosman on Unsplash

Mark 13

 

There have been many who have said that a generation after Israel was born as a nation was the fig tree budding that Jesus is talking about. The problem with this is Jesus right after giving the illustration about the tree says no one knows. This means no one knows. We don’t know. The timeline people have created is only good, if and that is a real if, the fig tree represents Israel becoming a nation, and not something else: Israel taking all of their lands?, an event in spiritual Israel?, a revival among Jews?. The idea of a timeline that we can know completely breaks down if Jesus is just using the fig tree in an illustration and the fig tree not being an image, type, or figure of a Jewish nation. At the end of the day, what matters is that we are faithful no matter what is happening around us be it noon, night, morning, or when the rooster crows, which if you have been around roosters is anytime they feel like it. Whichever, WATCH! 

Photo by Tadeusz Lakota on Unsplash

Psalm 49

 

It doesn't matter who you are we are all alike and need to listen to God. In this world there is often a caste system even among those who claim they don't believe in one but that isn't how the Bible teaches it. We have different strengths and gifting but we are at the end of the day all the same. Paul echos this in Galatians 3:28-29: "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise." What makes the difference is if we listen to wisdom, or as Paul would say if we are in Christ.

Photo by Anne Nygård on Unsplash

Numbers 26

If we look only at Numbers 16, it would seem that Korah and his entire family were destroyed. Yet it is clearly pointed out in Numbers 26:11 that the family line of Korah wasn't wiped out. We aren't given a reason for what happened that though the tents of his family fell into a pit some survived. It causes me to think that perhaps some of the complete brutality some claim God showed isn't what they say it is. Whatever did ultimately happen we will see the sons of Korah later. The sons of Korah are credited with writing eleven different Psalms: Psalms 42, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 84, 85, 87, 88. Whatever the father of this line was like it seems to me that the apple clearly did not fall close to the tree (they weren't like him).

Another note in this chapter made at the very end is that other than Joshua and Caleb, no one numbered at the beginning of the book is alive when this numbering took place. As God had said they would all die. One bad choice can change your destiny forever. One bad choice can remove you from the promised land God had in mind for you. Yes, Jesus forgives but actions still have consequences. 

Photo by Tim Wildsmith on Unsplash

Numbers 25

 The actions of Phinehas are to some considered drastic. However, Moses had just ordered the death of those who had committed this sin. So Phinehas is doing not what he thinks is right on his own but in obedience to what God had commanded. Phinehas' action brought an end to the plague going through Israel, which makes me wonder if this wasn't an STD of some sort. Whatever the plague was, it stopped and God blessed Phinehas that his descendants would always have someone in the priesthood. A reminder that our actions can have a lasting impact on our family.

Photo by Liv Bruce on Unsplash

Isaiah 63

isn't afraid to admit that he is, as I have heard said, getting his hands dirty. People often are uncomfortable with the image of God who delivers vengeance or tramples his enemies. But as I have noted other places, God wouldn't be a God of love if he didn't bring judgement on those who do evil. For the ones who are abused, the thought that God will bring equity is calming. We don't have to get even, God will do it and will do it rightly. As is said in Romans 12:19, (Deuteronomy 32:35) God will repay. 

Photo by jesse orrico on Unsplash

Numbers 24

Balaam, it says, didn't try using his normal magical tricks to get a different answer because he knew God had made up His mind. If Balaam had kept with trusting God, he would have been better off. However, this shows wisdom in Balaam at least here to just go with God's plan even when it wasn't what those who were hiring him wanted. In fact, we will see that Balak tells Balaam, basically, you can blame God you're not getting paid. Disobeying man rather than God is worth not getting paid. 

Photo by Gregory Brainard on Unsplash

Mark 12

As I have pointed out, these are the rough notes for my messages. If you come hear the message, you may be surprised how different it is preached. 

MARK 12: 1-12

 

1And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country. 2And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard. 3And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty. 4And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled. 5And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some. 6Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son. 7But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours. 8And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. 9What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others.

 

10And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:

 

11This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

 

12And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.

 

The Unfaithful Tenants

 

Trashing the place- $30,000 damage in 3 months,

 

We  often look at those that abuse what is not theirs with disgust and think that is horrible and maybe even pat ourselves on the back because we are not like that.  

 

However as is often the case of the Bible, what we see as the issues of others are often things in ourselves that we need to deal with.

 

This is where we come to this parable.

 

A man created a vineyard.

1.    Plant a vineyard (Prepare the land)

2.    Put up a wall (Protect from pest, animals, and trespassers, direct water)

3.    Dug a pit for the juice (way to prepare the juice for wine)

4.    Watchtower (ALL THIS IS HARD!)

5.    Hired workers (Do the easier work, but there is still work)

6.    Moved (often to do marketing, get buyers for the wine)

 

The owner sends to get proceeds of the crop. Perhaps to give samples to possible customers so even this action is an act of kindness.

 

A greater market could mean more income for the owner and the tenants.

 

However, the tenants treat the servants that are sent like trespassers.

 

These tenants get worse.

 

Finally the owner sends his son.

Is the Owner stupid? No he is showing love, he is trying to make a connection to the people he believes should recognize him.

 

There were times in the ancient world when a ruler had an area in rebellion that they would send a family member to the area to try and rebuild the relationship. The idea was that others could be doubted (someone just claiming to speak for the master/king) however a relative they couldn’t doubt. The would see the family likeness. If however, they would not accept the family member the king would know that these aren’t as it were wayward children but enemies of the king/owner.

 

The act of sending his son wasn’t an act of ignorance or stupidity, it was an act of love.

 

Jesus is saying that God values the tenants so much he is willing to sacrifice his servants to save them and eventually his son.

 

Side note: To take a step away from this parable, God hasn’t changed. God is still willing to sacrifice his servants to save the wayward. God can ask that of us because he also did it. God isn’t up in heaven calling us to suffer for him while he has it easy. God has suffered for us.

 

Sometimes the suffering in this world is a result of sin, ours or others but other times God allows us to suffer so that other tenants in this world can be saved, just like he allowed others to suffer so that we might be saved.

 

The tenants have faulty logic, they believe that killing the son will mean that they will get the inheritance. (What???)

 

Nowhere in the world does murder mean you get an inheritance. It’s always the way to lose it. Even Klingons wouldn’t go for that. An honorable fight to the death yes, murder never.

 

Jesus asks what will that owner do?

 

This question is like what Nathan did when he confronted David.

 

(This answer is obvious and no one would have argued it.) Tenants will need to be killed (face judgement) and new tenants found.

 

Then Jesus gives a quote from Psalm 118:22,23. The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’ The chief priest and the scribes see this as an accusation against them.

 

Jesus as Paul will say is Ephesians 2:20 and Peter sill say in 1 Peter 2:6 Jesus is this cornerstone and his rejection is a marvelous thing.

 

This is the truth: The rejection and crusifition of Jesus which we will soon celebrate is a victory, not just because he dies for our sins but he is risen and is in victory. He has become the chief cornerstone. Without Jesus nothing holds together.

 

The Chief priest and the scribes know this is directed at them but they see it as against them.

 

This is NOT against them it is a warning to them.

 

The story isn’t a condemnation it is like the story of Hosea a love story a story which is trying to call them back. Yes it carries a warning a dire warning but they need it. These both show God is slow to anger and full of mercy. But eventually if God is going to be just he has to punish.

 

It is like a doctor warning a person who has kidney disease to watch out for the amounts of fluids they drink. He isn’t being mean. He is trying to warn them.

 

Often in the Bible we receive warnings and condemnations about sin. Often people don’t like it but the truth is that if life run on our own principles falls apart.

 

Before people point at the church (as an organization through history) and say they didn’t do well. I would say yes but that is because they may have been saying they were serving God and following Jesus but they weren’t. They were like the chief priest and scribes that we read about here and God will bring judgment on them.

 

The owner has been doing what is right, in a real way he is working for the tenants but the tenants don’t see it. They see a threat to what is THEIRS (even if it isn’t)

 

Unlike David, the Chief Priests and scribes though seeing this was about them, didn’t repent. They wanted to kill and destroy.

 

This is true. Even today if we don’t like what someone says what often takes place is we try to destroy the messenger.

 

We see this but as I mentioned earlier We  often look at these people and think that is horrible and maybe even pat ourselves on the back because we are not like that.  

However as is often the case of the Bible, what we see as the issues of others are often things in ourselves that we need to deal with.

 

Leviticus 25:23 The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine and you reside in my land as foreigners and strangers.

Psalm 24:1 The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it

 

1 Corinthians 10:26

“The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.”

 

Revelation 4:11

“Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things; by Your will they exist and were created.”

 

Everything in this world is Gods.

 

God is trying to work for your best and the best for all. Are you willing to trust him?

 

Or do you attack and dismiss the truth or maybe even the messengers he sends?

 

Today I’m like Nathan, I have shared a parable where you may have said those chief priest and scribes are horrible they deserve to die.

 

I’m here to tell you, if you haven’t surrendered everything to Jesus  (not just saying Jesus I want to go to heaven but really given him everything) then you’re the man.

 

You are refusing to give the God, the owner of your life, what is right.

 

And judgement will fall.

The good news is God is working for you good. He wants to save you and guess what he sent his son to save you. Though our sins put him on the cross, so in a real way we killed Jesus. God wants to save us.

 

God wants you to be in right relationship with him. The true Lord of Life. So will you surrender to him.

 

Dear God,

 Forgive me for I have not let you have all of my life. I have sinned against you and not been obedient. Have mercy on me. I thank you that you sent Jesus to die for my sins and that he was resurrected so I have hope for life everlasting. Jesus be the Lord of my life and help me to serve you faithfully.

I ask in Jesus name, Amen

Photo by Moritz Knöringer on Unsplash

Psalm 48

 

I was recently reminded that though we are a very North-oriented people, ancient Israel was East-oriented. We would see north as up. Israel would have seen the East as up and thus God can destroy those not just from the East (closer to God) but also those from Tarish the very south all the way down there. This psalm is saying there is no place where God isn't King. 

Photo by Monty Allen on Unsplash

Numbers 23

 As I look at this again, I'm reminded how Balak thinks that seeing Israel from a different vantage point will change things. I know this probably has more to do with the pagan idea that some places are controlled by certain forces or gods and therefore moving might get Balak what he wants. It's not the case. God is proving he is God of every place. 

The second thing for us today is just because you change locations doesn't make sin okay. Sin is sin. You might want to try and find an exception in the Bible and therefore excuse what sin you want to do but that doesn't make it so. Do what Balak didn't do, listen to God. God told Balak through Balaam, if you want to be blessed, he needed to bless Israel. Balak had the answer, he didn't want it.

Photo by Drew Saurus on Unsplash

Numbers 22

  I read a book that reminded the reader that fear was something we should listen to. Fear is a response to stimulus that we may understand, but often don't. Fear isn't a bad thing, I believe it is a gift from God for us in this fallen world. The problem with fear, as with anger, is that they can be good tools or signs but bad masters. As we see in this chapter, Balak is afraid of what he sees. His fear causes him to assume that the only way to deal with Israel is to see them destroyed. It seems to me he didn't see Israel as a possible ally or as someone that he could reason with. He didn't try any solution to his problem other than to try and destroy them using what he would have thought of as magic. 

The sad thing is that if Balak had reached out to Israel, then God may have led Israel away from his borders or created an ally. We will never know because Balak allowed his fear to drive him rather than (as I see it) his reason. 

Speaking of people not seeing the obvious, Balaam's donkey served him faithfully, and it was just this day something was different. From the interaction with the donkey, the donkey's actions were out of character. Balaam didn't ask himself why his faithful donkey was acting different, he assumed it was being difficult. Personally, I think he knew he wasn't supposed to go and therefore was in a bad mood. In my experience, those who are doing something they know they shouldn't are often one misstep from anger and rarely see how it is there actions, which are the problem.  

Photo by TS Sergey on Unsplash

Isaiah 62

 Though God has called judgment on Zion and Jerusalem. It is the love for Zion and Jerusalem that God will save them. For God it isn't always about love in the sense of peace and safety that God operates. God's love is about making his beloved better. Like raising children, if you love them you will discipline them. Often that discipline changes depending on the action. The problem with human punishment is that it is often based on what is best to make us feel better than on what is needed for the person doing wrong. God on the other hand always does what is best for the person involved and the community around them. God's anger, as it were, isn't about making God feel better, it's about doing what is right.  

Photo by Nik on Unsplash

Numbers 21

 In the last chapter, Israel walked away, but here they attack and utterly destroy the enemy. God gives them permission and helps them. This seems brutal, yet there is a reason. Typically, when nations or armies attacked a place, it was plundered. The best of everything is taken. Often the reason for attacking wasn't for righteousness but for gain. Moses, by pleading to destroy it all, is saying that we are doing this because it is right, not for us to make a profit. Nations today claim that they are doing things for the right reasons or to defend the rights of others, but unfortunately, too often it is about the bottom line. Moses tells God we won't be doing that and by pleading destruction removes greed from the table. 

Side note: Moses didn't pledge to chase after the people as they fled but to destroy what was there.

Photo by Jingming Pan on Unsplash

Mark 11

 Here again are rough draft sermon notes. 

Mark 11:1-14 (and chapter 14)

 

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’ ”

 

They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,

 

“Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

 

Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

 

The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.

The Triumphal Entry

Repentance and Forgiveness

As we begin to finish the book of Mark and looking at the life of Christ I want us to see something that is critical for the Christian faith and the work and ministry of Jesus: Forgiveness.

 

I will bet in all the years of ministry you have never heard someone link Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem with forgiveness though I am sure that pastors have tacked a plead to accept Christ on the end of a message on the Triumphal Entry.

 

However, there is something we need to understand clearly. Jesus loved his enemies. Jesus wanted to see those who hated him to change.

 

As we saw in last week’s message Jesus gave a truly harsh parable to give a warning to those who wanted to kill him. He wasn’t condemning he was trying to save. By the way, there were many religious leaders who did come to have faith in Christ. Some before now and others in the book of Acts. Jesus knew he wasn’t going to get most of them to change there were going to be only a few which would ask for forgiveness, but Jesus offered it to all of them. He gave them a chance while also warning them of the consequences.

 

Jesus also made it clear that this is the life we are to live. We are to love our enemies and try to bring them to God.

 

Of course, as I have said before this doesn’t mean that we allow them to continue to sin or enable them to do so. But our actions ultimately need to motivated as God’s is by love.

 

So let’s look at Jesus’ entry.

 

It would have been proper in those days when an important religious or Spiritual leader to come to Jerusalem that those in authority should make certain preparations.

 

Preparing for Dignitaries:

1.    Provide transportation (mount or carriage)

2.    They should clear a path (during festivals it was hard to do this)

3.    Provide food

 

Jesus had to provide his own borrowed mount.

A donkey (never ridden, no bond, loyal to death)

They saw donkeys in Scriptures are often (not always) associated with death: Abraham & Issac, Baalam, Sampson, Disobedient Prophet 1 Kings 13,   

 

Jesus disciples cleared a path laying out clothes and palm branches.

 

I’m going to jump ahead a little in the Story to look at the last thing that the religious leaders should have provided: food.

 

In verse 12 and 14 Jesus goes to a fig tree and finds nothing on it. (Frist fruit not the main harvest) Often teachers will say this is Jesus demonstrating that the fig tree that was Jerusalem and it’s religious system had no fruit for the hungry and Jesus was showing in a physical action, live-action parable you could say, that the Jerusalem and the temple were going to be destroyed. This is true!

 

However, there is another story taking place. Writing from the times say that since the first fruits which were to be given to the priest weren’t done regularly, they took it on themselves to go out and clear all of the surrounding trees in the area of the fruit themselves.

 

The problem with this is it wasn’t what God commanded. God said the people were supposed to bring it in not them go take it. Secondly, this meant there was nothing left for the poor. Lastly, though the first fruits were for those chosen by God for a purpose now the religious leaders were the ones deciding who was “chosen.”

 

Jesus curses the tree (more on that in a minute)

 

Return to the Entry

 

People proclaimed (their expectation)

1.    Hoseana – Lord Save us

2.    Son of David – Earthly Kingdom

 

Leaders coming in go to their places of power.

Jesus went to the temple examined what was happening and left doing nothing. (not the place where the people would have thought that an earthly King would start his work)

 

Mark 11:15- 19

Jesus cleanses the temple. What was going on? Thief specifically from those who couldn’t afford it.

1.    Money exchange (fee involved)

2.    Pigeon bought (market cornered, Priest would proclaim wither of not an offering brought in was acceptable- what corruption could happen here? Plenty!)

3.    Stopped all sales (put a stop to the sin)

4.    Proclaimed the truth

 

Withered Tree Mark 11:20-25 “In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!”

 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered.  “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.  Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.  And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

 

 

Jesus has as I said before did a live-action parable, but also by cursing this tree removed another place were the Religious leaders could disobey God.

 

The disciples are amazed by the miracle not what it represents.

 

If God does a miracle there is a reason, even if it is only to show his love.

 

The disciples are still amazed at the things Jesus does. Perhaps thinking that they might have that power too? They had done other miracles.

 

Jesus gives a simplistic example of what faith can do but doesn’t stop there (most teachers do).

 

It is like Jesus is saying Yes faith can do great things but, first forgive so that you can be.

 

Remember Jesus is saying this as they are looking at the symbol of Jesus’ warning and if I could go so far, His call to repentance and later another call in a parable (which we talked about last week)

 

Jesus had every reason to rail against the Religious leaders or begin to talk more about the power of God but Jesus switches it all over and tells the disciples to FORGIVE is you hold anything (right, wrong, indifferent) against ANYONE (EVERYONE!)

 

Later We see that Jesus gives a warning in the Last Supper when Judas is there that one will betray him. Jesus was trying to give Judas, I believe a chance to change. In fact, when Jesus when speaking about Judas says in Mark 14:21 “But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born,” the word Woe is a lament. Jesus is brokenhearted over what is going to happen to Jesus.

 

Jesus is saddened by the choice of those who choose wrong? Jesus offers them opportunity to forgive while confronting it. Jesus does these things out of love! Jesus did tell us to love not just our friends, family, and those like us. (Sermon on the Mount) He called on us to love those who hate us and forgive.

 

Jesus didn’t just tell us to do this he did it himself.

 

Are you?