March 2, 2010

Exodus13

I was eight and one half years old. Obviously, no eight-year-old is a hardened criminal. But I had sinned. Even at eight, I had not made a physical idol, but there were other things that were more important to me than worshipping the Almighty Creator. I had taken the Lord’s name, that name which is more precious than any other, in vain. I had heard others at school do it, and I thought it was cool. Resting in the Lord was a foreign concept to me. There had been times when I had disobeyed and therefore dishonored my parents. Physical murder I had not committed, but there were people that I had hated. Adultery, at eight I was not interested in that yet. Stealing? Well, I had stolen a nickel from off of my dad’s chest of drawers once. There are probably other things that I stole that I don't remember now. Bearing false witness? On many occasions I had misrepresented the truth (lied). Coveting? There were many things that were not mine that I often desired to have. Even at eight sin had a hold on me. I was in bondage to sin. But with a strong hand the Lord delivered me out of bondage. Every time I celebrate communion (which is a form of the Passover meal) I am reminded of how He delivered me. Even at eight I was a slave to sin. He redeemed me, set me free. How did he do it? He did it with His broken body and His shed blood. That is the glory of my Lord. He would take His own demise and apply it in my place. His demise was mine. My demise became His. His resurrection from the dead is mine right now in a spiritual sense. One day it will be mine in a physical sense. Communion (Passover) reminds me of that.
Since then He has led me through life. I am now 54 and soon to be 55. In the good times He has been like a pillar of cloud on the horizon leading me on in the direction that I should go. In the bad times He has been like a pillar of fire next to me giving me warmth and protection from the predators who seek my demise. I need nothing or no one else. He is all sufficient for me. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor john


Mark 8:1-21

I still remember my first experience at mass feeding of people. It was Explo '72 in Market Hall in Dallas, TX. There were 5,000 of us high school students there, and they had 1 hour to serve and feed us all. It was amazing. They had several lines going by a lot of tables. We held our plates out and almost literally ran by servers as they almost threw the food on our plates. The amount of planning and organization that must have gone into planning each meal must have been incredible. Of course as high school students we grumbled and complained about the amount of time we had to wait and the quality of food we received. But having experienced other mass feedings since then, I am now impressed with what they pulled off. But this pales in comparison to what Jesus did with the 4,000 in this passage. After all, the servers at market hall were doing this for a living. They had had weeks to plan and a large staff to carry it off. Not to mention, they had purchased the required food stuffs before hand.

Jesus was different. He manufactured the food from 7 loaves and a few fish. He directed the organization so that some gave to some who in turn gave to some so that it was exponentially distributed. (Indeed it is a lesson to be learned about the distribution of the Gospel.) Why did He do this? He did it because He had compassion upon the multitudes. Now that is glory! Remember this is a Gentile multitude. Usually we look at this miracle and say, "Wow! He can multiply loaves and fish to feed 4,000! That is glory!" But I submit to you that the glory is not the multiplication. The glory is the compassion!

Mark says He left immediately across the Sea of Galilee to Dalmanutha or Magdala on the western shore, Jewish territory. I am sure word of His experiences preceded Him as He traveled. Mark used a very important little word, 'then.' Then the Pharisees came. . .disputing and seeking a sign. EXCUSE me! A sign? What more can you ask? The sick are healed! The dead have been raised! The demon possessed are set free! The hungry are fed! What was it you wanted? Why couldn't they believe? He had compassion on sinners! It did not fit their paradigm of the Messiah. The Messiah was supposed to rule the Gentiles with a rod of iron, not have compassion on these, these, these sinners! He was serving sinners not ruling over saints! The sign they wanted would never be given. And Jesus has a word of warning for His disciples, "Beware the leaven of the Pharisees!"

The problem with the disciples is that they were only a little bit quicker mentally than I am. They didn't get it. Alright! Whose turn was it to buy the bread? Someone dropped the ball again! Judas, get out of the boat and go buy some bread. When Jesus is really saying, "Guys, don't you get it? It is not a matter of bread. I can provide anything you need. It is a matter of compassion for sinners. The leaven of the Pharisees took that away from them." I am constantly falling into the trap of thinking my acceptance before the Holy God is dependant upon my obedience or someone else's acceptance is dependant upon their obedience. The reality is He is compassionate toward us, if we will come to Him. Now that is glory! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor john