It does not fit our Plans

Mark 10:26-34

When Jesus speaks it leaves us astonished; we often are left wondering how to apply His words to how one lives life on planet earth.  Such is the case in these verses, and the question asked of Jesus, “Then who can be saved?”  Let’s examine the account in verses 27-31, “Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” ²⁸ Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.” ²⁹ Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, ³⁰ who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. ³¹ But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

First and foremost one must look to the Father, for Jesus has made it clear that if you have seen the Son, you have seen the Father and all who have entered into a relationship with Jesus are given the Holy Spirit.  As one follows Christ into the ministry they are called, and we are all called and will have many sisters and brothers and mothers and fathers and children.  That’s the good news but why persecution, the human part of us does not do persecution very willingly?  But when we have gone through persecution, we find that our dependence and faith have grown, and we have a more in-depth trust in our Lord.

Now when Jesus makes this statement, it sends our flesh into a tizzy and what was it, ^“ But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”  I’m not sure about your flesh, but I want to be first, and it’s a battle to let others go first, to serve others, to come in second place.  So what is one to do, allow the flesh to win and seek my will or to enable the Spirit that is in me to win and to deny my desires?  That is the battle each one of us faces, not being served but serving others, giving of self and loving those who will never be able to return the favor.

As we began, Jesus’ disciples were astonished by what Jesus had told them and for the third time He tells them what is going to happen to Him.  These are Jesus’ words:  “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, ³⁴ who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”

If you think they were astonished at the above statement, they must have been traumatized when Jesus told them for the third time about how He was going to die.  You see it did not fit the plans they had for Jesus, and often we forget who we're called to follow, for it does not fit our plans to die to our fleshly desires.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Possessions and Wealth are a Hindrance

Mark 10:23-31

Jesus tells us that possessions and wealth are a hindrance to entering the kingdom of God.  He was not talking about performance, but the difference between extreme difficulty and the disadvantage of possessions, when He told his disciples how hard it was for a rich young man to give up all and follow Him.

As we stated yesterday, it is ownership that gets one in trouble, to believe in luck and not blessing, it’s greed, and it fosters the want for more, just a little more.  It is thinking that you’re a self-made man and not a man who has been blessed with wealth from God.  But the sad news is it is common to man, and it requires understanding to know that possessions can be a curse and not a blessing unless you become the manager and not the owner.  I’ve been both at times in my life, and I found no joy in being the owner, but great joy in managing what God has entrusted to me.

Shall we not assume that anything is more significant than receiving the grace of God through faith in the finished work of Jesus on the Cross, in bringing all who will enter into a personal relationship with Christ.  However many of us have allowed the blessing of the Lord in both family and wealth to take away our zeal to take up our calling or mission that only we have been assigned and follow Him.

Peter addressed this with Jesus in verse 28, “See we have left everything and followed you and in the following verses we have Jesus’ response.  ^“Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.  But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Relationships are not easy

Mark 10:17-22

Earlier in the writing of Mark’s gospel, we addressed this question when Jesus asks the crowd and His disciples.  “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?  For what can a man give in return for his soul?  For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”  (Mark 8:36-38)

Life on planet earth is short, and the Bible compares it to a vapor or mist, it is here for a short time and then vanishes.  So if one was to have the goal of gaining the whole world, and yet by doing so forfeits their soul to eternal separation from God and His heaven and spends eternity in a place not prepared for them, but for the devil and his angels, for what a vapor life?  Could it be such a person is a fool or ignorant of what his or her decision will cost?

We have this account in Scripture of a young man running up to Jesus with a question we all should want the answer to.  He is wise in that He is asking the Creator the question; “what must I do to inherit eternal life”?  First, Jesus wanted the young man to understand that He was addressing God in the flesh.  For Jesus told him no one is good but God.  Then Jesus told him “you know the commandments: You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.”  The young man said, I have all that covered, but the showstopper was giving all that you have to the poor and come follow me.  And it is reported the young man was very wealthy and loved his stuff more than he loved God, disheartened he left Jesus for his stuff.

Relationships are not easy, yet Jesus calls all who have entered into a relationship with Him his friends.  Today we kick that word around like love, and many are foolish to believe they have many friends.  But friendships require action, effort, time and come at a price, and it is my belief we have very few friends at any given time in this vapor life.  One of the big blessings in this life is having resources to live on in comfort and be able to help others when the Lord tells you to.  The problems come when your stuff makes you proud and arrogant and selfish, and you only want more.  It can be a blessing or a curse; it comes down to; are you a manager of what has been given you or have you become the owner?  This young man had become the owner, and yet in hindsight the stuff owned him, and it isolated him from God’s blessing of fellowship.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Let them Come!

Mark 10:13-16

Do you like little children?  I so enjoy watching small children interact with their dad, and it tells so much about the man.  But small children have no understanding of your schedule, how important you believe you are or even the need to be quiet in worship.  And often people my age think they should be seen but not heard, or be put in a nursery where they are not seen or heard.  But is that what Jesus thought or taught?  If you are of the persuasion that those little children are best not seen or heard, you could have hung out with the disciples of Jesus Christ and been very comfortable with that opinion.

My hope is you are open to Jesus’ teaching on this significant matter, for it is the only time in Scripture that Jesus is referred to as indignant.  Now if you look up the word indignant, it has this meaning, intense anger and it was directed at His disciples for not allowing the little children to come to him.  The disciples looked at them as a bother, but that is far from the way Jesus perceived children.

We will continue the account in Mark 10:13-16,  ^“And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. ¹⁴ But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. ¹⁵ Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” ¹⁶ And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.”

It amazing to watch little children, they do some cute things, and they can be sweet and open, and they are often shy and reserved.  We so enjoy the ones that are sweet and proper and wonder about those whose parents allow them to scream when they do not get what they want.

But a child is open to receiving love and gifts with no thought of I am entitled, they just take it and rejoice, and that is how one should receive the kingdom of God.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

A Non-Teachable spirit

April 7, 2018

Mark 10: 1-12

For a reason unknown to me, in that I’m ignorant in the area of English grammar I have a need even a calling to leave a record of what God has spoken to me through Scripture and life experiences.  Now my battle each day is time and what would be for some, minutes, but it requires hours for an unskilled person like myself to write correctly andit takes prayer, research, and Jan.

With that said we believe Jesus and the twelve are leaving Capernaum to Judea and that was an area under the control of King Herod Antipas.  He was the dude that had John the Baptist beheaded, and you will see soon how this plays into the hands of the Pharisees.

It seems that wherever Jesus goes He draws a crowd and as usual He begins to teach them.  So let’s pick up the story in verse 2-4, “And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked  “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” ³ He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” ⁴ They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.”

Now it gets interesting; it is believed that the Pharisee's endgame was for Jesus to say what John the Baptist did and reported to King Antipas, hoping he would do to Jesus what he did to John.  But they have a problem; they are trying to trick Creator God in human form, and that’s not going to work.  Let’s look at verses 5-9; “⁵ And Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. ⁶ But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ⁷ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, ⁸ and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. ⁹ What therefore God has joined together let not man separate.”

They had done what so many in the church are doing, closing their hearts to God’s truth that is the hardness Jesus is referring to.  But Jesus is saying let's move pass Moses and look at what was God’s intention from the beginning.  And Jesus also made it clear that marriage is between a man and a woman, a male and a female.

Now as often was the case the disciples had a lot of questions, shall we look at verses 10-12, “ And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. ¹¹ And he said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her, ¹² and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”  Now it is clear from Scripture that one can divorce for adultery, but as one who was forgiven and has a beautiful wife and a life of almost 53 years of marriage that may not be your best path.  And Mark did not give us all of Jesus’ teachings on divorce and remarriage.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

“All religions are the same” - A prevailing View

“All religions are the same” - A prevailing View

Agree or disagree it is a prevailing view in today’s society.  When one makes such a statement, they are addressing pluralism or universalism.  The apologist, Ravi Zacharias, had this to say, “If we think about it carefully, really the opposite is true.  All religions are fundamentally different and only superficially the same.”

I found this study by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religious & Public life to be of great interest.  “84% of the world’s population identifies with a specific religious group.  Therefore, approximately 5.8 billion people around the globe are affiliated with a specific religion – 2.2 billion Christians, 1.6 billion Muslims, I billion Hindus, 500 million Buddhists, and 400 million who practice various folk or traditional religions (African traditional religions, Chinese folk religion, American Indian religions, Australian aboriginal religions, etc.), and 14 million Jews.  An estimated 58 million people – less than 1% of the world’s population – belong to religions like Baha’i, Jainism, Sikhism, Shintoism, Taoism, etc.  These are the only religions that are compatible with pluralism or universalism.  All other religions claim exclusivity of some sort.  That means 99.5% of the world’s religious population (again, 84% of the world population) disagrees with the claim that there are many ways to God.

This does not prove that Christianity is right, and all other religions are false but does show that the world does not agree with the pluralist position.  Think about this, could it be that in reality, pluralism is the more extreme and arrogant position.  It seems the crowd that is saying all religions are the same is not listening or paying attention to what other religions are saying.

Tim Keller had this to say, “Christianity stands in a category of its own.  It cannot be incorporated into other religions, nor can it stand equally beside other religions.”  Tim Keller explains this point by saying “that all other religions have prophets that show them the way to God or some sort of “salvation.”  Yet Jesus never claimed to be a prophet who could show us how to get to God; He was God Himself who came to get us.  Therefore, either Christianity is exclusively true or exclusively false, but it cannot be the same as all other religions.”

So we have the question did Jesus claim to be God, He never claimed to be a great teacher or a prophet, but He often claimed that He and God were one?  Jesus ask this question of His disciples in Matthew 16:15 “But who do you say that I am?”  We have written what Peter said, but Jesus is still asking you and me the same question.  In verse 16 we have Peter’s answer; “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Do you recall this encounter Jesus had with the Jews at the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem at the temple and this question was ask of Jesus; “How long will you keep us in suspense?  If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”  We find Jesus’ answer in John 10:25-30, Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep.  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.  I and the Father are ‘one.”

• You may never stop and give thought to this question, you may have bought the lie that all religions are the same, that we have many ways to God, but Jesus has not left that door open for you, for it is written in John 14:6; Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  Now you, like Thomas has been told, Thomas followed Christ and became His disciple, what will you do with Jesus?

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Note from the writer of the back porch, some of this information came from a lesson we are studying at Oakwood.  The writer of the lesson gave credit to where the information came from in the lesson, and I also have done so.

Jesus said Vs. Pope said

Mark 9:42-50

The headlines read the Pope says there is no hell!  Papal infallibility is a dogma of the Catholic Church that states that, in virtue of the promise of Jesus to Peter, the Pope is preserved from the possibility of error "when, in the exercise of his office as shepherd and teacher of all Christians, in virtue of his supreme apostolic authority, he defines a doctrine. (Taken from Wikipedia)  And once more the world loves this guy, and I bet the Catholic Church goes into a growth mode, like the Mega Church that tickles the ears with what mankind wants to hear, but it is not based on the truth of the Scripture.

Who talked about hell the most in the Scriptures, not Peter, not Moses, not Paul, but Jesus?  And what is recorded about Jesus in the gospel according to John 1:2-5, “He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.  In him was life, and the life was the light of men.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”  Now I am sure you got that Jesus made all things and nothing was made that He did not make, and He is the giver of life, and lies from hell will not overcome the truth.  So today we have a choice; whom do we believe Jesus or the Pope?  Jesus makes it clear that there is a hell, and it is not a place where you're going to hang out with your buddies.

Mark 9:42-50 we have this warning from Jesus;  “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.  And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.  And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell.  And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell,  ‘where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’  For everyone will be salted with fire.  Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

Remember there is only one Creator, all are Jesus’ creations, so put your faith in the one who has the power to give and take life, not in some man or so-called church, no matter what title it has.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Are they the real thing?

Mark 9:38-41

Yesterday, we read that if you want to be first, be last, and servant of all, and most of us even believers and especially American followers of Christ have been programmed with an entitlement spirit.  It’s not Christ centered, it is from the world and the enemy of your soul.

And that leads us into todays Scripture found in Mark 9:38-41, “John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he was not following us.”  But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me.  For the one who is not against us is for us.  For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.”

Back in the 60’s I witnessed the Jesus movement but it was not happening in most churches, it was on the streets with long hair guys and gals who dressed funny and seemed to need a bath.  They made us uncomfortable, yes we were not sure if they were the real deal, and they knew we were not.  It was an awkward time for many churches, but not my friend Johnny Anderson.  Johnny was excited to see the movement and was the first to tell me this is from God, and he rented a large home that I’m not sure he could afford, but invited many to come and live there with him.

Johnny served them, he went out on the street and worshipped with them, and he brought them to the church he attended, and the pastor welcomed them.  Johnny was used by God to do a small part in helping many like me to see them as our brothers and sisters in Christ, and not as weird people.  You may be asking, were they the real thing, and let me answer that with a question; are all church members followers of Christ?

The disciples were not that different than us, this person or persons were doing what the disciples had tried and not been successful at.  We have an account in Numbers 11:26-30 that deals with something very similar.  ^26 “Now two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the Spirit rested on them. They were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. ²⁷ And a young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” ²⁸ And Joshua the son of Nun, the assistant of Moses from his youth, said, “My lord Moses, stop them.” ²⁹ But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord's people were prophets, that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!” ³⁰ And Moses and the elders of Israel returned to the camp.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

A diferent Version of Flesh

Mark 9:33-38

I took years for me to own up to the truth that I was a mess that my problem was I wanted to be the center of my world, at home, at work, and even when I went to the house of worship.  I believe the word for that is self-centered, selfseeking,self-serving, inconsiderate, looking after number one.  Now I bet you are saying, Lord, that Bob is a mess, and I’m sure glad I’m not anything like that, but is that true?

It comes with this human flesh yes we all have a different version of flesh, each of us showed up on planet earth with a sin problem.  And at its center is I want to be in charge of my life, that is a big problem and todays parents overall have added to the flesh problem by not disciplining and teaching respect for authority.

It’s not a new problem twelve men were chosen by God to take the good news to all generations to come where inflicted with the desire to be the greatest.  Shall we examine verses 33-34; “And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” ³⁴ But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest.”  Now how will Jesus deal with the twelve men who He has hand-picked to carry the good news of the gospel to a lost world, in that men see greatness as a privilege?

The following is Jesus’ response to the twelve; “And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” ³⁶ And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, ³⁷ “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”

At almost 76 years of life, I have discovered and fully understand who is the greatest, and I desire to do His will, and I hope to finish this race strongly, honoring my Lord Jesus Christ.  But this morning how I needed that word from the Lord, Jan and I are in a program working with fourth graders, most are respectful and did I say they are all boys.  But it only takes two who have no regard for authority, have only one goal, and that is to be #1, to do as they please and it makes this old guy want to quit.  But Jesus said, when I receive them in His name He receives not only Him but also His Father.  Thank you, Jesus, for your living word.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Afraid to Ask

Mark 9:30-32

^“They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know, for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.”  But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.”

Do not get distracted by fear, it is one of the most hostile and useful tools in the enemy of your soul’s bag.  Jesus has given the disciples some information they had not heard; He is going to be betrayed, betrayal does not come from a casual acquaintance; no it is always from ones trusted friends.  So I’m sure these men are searching their hearts and wondering, could I do that?  Then the finger pointing begins, not outwardly but in their minds, could it be, no way, not him, what about him, yes, he may do that?  Fear always fosters mistrust and destroys unity.

Have you been in that group, they are all your peers, and the last thing you want is to look dumb around this group?  So you sit there and act as if you fully understand, yes fear of man gets us in a lot of trouble, but please remember this you can con your friends, but you will never con Jesus.

Putting myself in that group, I’ve not heard or pondered on He’s going to rise in three days; I’m already wondering who is the rascal that is going to betray Jesus.  So fear keeps one from knowing, has anything changed that much, is it not fear that prevents you from having an accountability partner, or a mentor?

The news is, you and I are a mess, and we are ignorant in many areas of life, so why do you come across as having it all together in your walk with the LORD?  And it is the pride of life, and when we dig down to the roots, we are going to find fear.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Why we Pray

Mark 9:14-29

What I do not know but I think I know is one of the most significant drawbacks to my life as one who desires to follow Jesus.  For example, I have a dear brother in Christ who has a startup business, and it is not going as planned, so he has become anxious.   We meet and discuss the market and him being apprehensive and I tell him I will pray for him.  This morning at 4:45, a time I hoped to be sleeping, this verse popped into my mind; Philippians 4:6-7. “ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”   “It’s all good” once we do as required, not beg for it is our Father’s work, and He is wiser than all and His love is beyond our understanding.  Tell Him how thankful we are to have Him as our Father, and this is the situation and petition His helping hand.

Jesus came upon the crowd with the disciples that He left while on the Mount of Transfiguration with Peter, James, and John they were in a dispute with the scribes.  Once they saw Jesus, the crowd came to him, and He asked this question: “What are you arguing about with them?”  And when the dad who needed Jesus’ help and he and his son were at the center of the argument spoke and we have this exchange between Jesus and the dad.

“Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute.  And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.”  And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.”  And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth.  And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood.  And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”  And Jesus said to him, “if you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.”  Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

This dad should be the poster person for today's church; we often take that attitude with our LORD; if you can do anything, do we understand that without faith it is impossible to please God.

Now after the boy has been healed Jesus entered the house with His disciples and they are confused asking why did the demons did not obey us?  They asked and this was the answer then and now; “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

"This is my beloved Son; listen to him.”

Mark 9:1-13

One can only imagine the question that enters into the minds of the twelve disciples, when Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”  Jesus said this six days before His transfiguration, and is believed Peters confession of Jesus as the Christ. 

When Jesus was transfigured Peter, James, and John were the only disciples Jesus took upon the mountain; they were the only ones that experienced the transfiguration.  This is Mark’s account of what took place on the mountain.  ^“And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them.  And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.”

I often believe the apostle Peter gets bad press from many of us about his quickness to speak.  Put yourself in the picture, what are you going to do, that’s a great question?  We do understand they were terrified, read the account and think about what you would have done in Peters place.   ^“And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.”  For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified.”

But God, how I love that statement, the Father had a word for these three; “And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.”  And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.  Jesus no longer is transfigured, and no one but the four of them is standing there, and as they are coming down the mountain, Jesus has some commands for the three disciples.  “And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. ¹⁰ So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean.”  Did you get that is the only time Jesus put a timeline of when the disciples could share what they had witnessed, after His death and when He has risen?  But they had so many questions about what this rising from the dead might mean?

^“ And they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?”  And he said to them, “Elijah does come first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt?  But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.”  It seems as if John the Baptist came in a like spirit as Elijah and his treatment was an example of what they would do to Jesus.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Gaining the whole world

Mark 8:34-38

In 2018 we have some of the most ignorant people when it comes to history and even important things like the Constitution and the freedoms we have in the Bill of Rights.  So to many if you said I am a follower of Jesus, they might say what team does he play for, or is he a new singer or movie star?  And yet they are brilliant when it comes to technology, where others in my age group and I are very ignorant. 

But when Jesus made this statement; “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.  For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?  For what can a man give in return for his soul?  For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

In his first sentence, Jesus is very clear to “come after me” meaning be a disciple or follower, he must deny himself, now that is not what people who are so fascinated with self-want to hear.  And take up a cross, surely Jesus does not mean the one my mother wears around her neck?  You are so right, but at the time Jesus made that statement the people listening understood the custom of the Romans when they had a crucifixion the victim was made to carry the cross beam to the site of their execution.

It would be rare to find someone who does not want to save his or her life.  Jesus is making it very clear that not only the physical but also the soul, the real you can only be saved by losing it for Jesus sake, and the gospel will save it.  Ponder on these words found in Psalm 49:7-9, “No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them— the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough— so that they should live on forever and not see decay.”

I sure hope you have given more than casual thought to these two questions Jesus is asking: For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?  For what can a man give in return for his soul?  Scripture makes it so clear that sinful men and all have sinned and need a redeemer and only Jesus Christ met God’s requirement, and today you need to give thought to these questions.

But to us who say we are followers of Christ, we must ask how am I doing in this adulterous and sinful generation?

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Our Plans - God's Plans

Mark 8:31-33

 ^“And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again.  And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.  But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

I’ve often shared that the method of bringing home the bacon to feed the family was in sales.  Now I make no apologies for making a living that way it was something I was good at, and it has benefits in my being able to listen and help people.  It also has some significant drawbacks in that if your good at sales you work hard to win, beat the competitors, any competitors. 

The downside is the competitor might be a neighbor, wife, or even your child, and that’s not healthy, but what if it is Jesus?  Yes, it might be you do not like the direction Jesus is taking your church, your child came home and said; dad, mom, I’m being lead to quit college and go work in a homeless shelter in the worst part of, you name the place.  And your answer is no, not can we pray together and allow the Lord to give us a sense of peace; your response is no.

As you read those three verses once more, what Jesus is talking about does not work for Peter, it is not the plans He has for Jesus, it makes no sense to Peter, and it will never fit the model of the world of success.  It is like the Baptist preacher of a mega church in the northeast that had publicly stated to believe what Jesus said when he reported; “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)  He calls Jesus’ words insanity, and the world is beating a path to his so-called church.

Take from the news now: “Bible teacher Ray Pritchard said Thursday on American Family Radio that Walrond is misleading his congregation.

"That pastor up in New York City ... is a misleader. He's a false teacher," Pritchard offered. "He is a wolf in sheep's clothing.

"John 14:6: I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no one comes to the Father but by me.” We're living in days where that's considered exclusionary. But the truth of the matter is, Jesus said those words."

This question remains; are you a Peter, or a follower of Jesus, an ambassador of Christ?

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Jesus is God

Mark 8:27-30

Here are four verses or one paragraph that might change the life of someone you know and care about.  It is a question Jesus asked of his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 

The following is their answer; “And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.”  I’m so thankful that Mark gave us Jesus’ reply, “But who do you say that I am?”  That is the question of the ages; first asked of the disciples, but it is a question each person who has ever lived on planet earth must answer?

Has that question confronted you, not what others have to say, but how have you answered that question?  C.S. Lewis tells us Jesus has not given any Wiggle room in his book Mere Christianity, (pages 55-56).  “I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic—on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg—or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon, or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to . . .. Now it seems to me obvious that He was neither a lunatic nor a fiend: and consequently, however strange or terrifying or unlikely it may seem, I have to accept the view that He was and is God.”

Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.”  And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him.   That was until Jesus death but from that day on we have been directed to share that news with everyone.  My prayer is that you, like Peter and C.S. Lewis and myself will come to know that Jesus is God.  But I’m fearful that many will agree that He is God and yet not seek a personal relationship with Him, it comes with a price, He takes your place, for He will not share His role as King of Kings and Lord of Lords with any man or angel.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Why Can I?

Mark 8:22-26

Have you ever ask why can others and I cannot, did you get a good answer?  As a young child, I was often told you could not go there, or do that, and my come back was why, you know Gary’s mother and dad let him do so and so?  If you had my mom or dad you knew what the reply was going to be; you do not have Gary’s mom or dad you’re not to do so.  Not the answer one is looking for, and I have found as an adult I often did the same thing with my daughter.

Today we will look at Luke’s account of Jesus healing a blind man in Bethsaida, now Bethsaida is the hometown of Philip, Andrew, and Peter.  Bethsaida is on the northeastern shore, or the Sea of Galilee and Jesus and the twelve disciples had just come on the beach when some friends brought a blind man to him and begged Him to touch him so he would be able to see.  Mark spent eight chapters on many accounts, but this is the first blind person healed he has told us about. 

This is the account; ^“And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him.  And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?”  And he looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.” Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.  And he sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.”

Jesus took him by the hand and led him out of the village, and one must wonder why?  Why not heal this man in front of the entire village, why outside, why not allow his faithful friends to come along, I do not know, and the Scriptures are quiet on why?  Something else happens and we are not told why the first healing did not do the trick.  But my most significant why is when Jesus sent him to his home and commanded the man who had been blind and can now see clearly to go home but, “Do not even enter the village.”

We are not told what the man did, but one must believe he did what Jesus told him to do, and that brings up my last why, then why do you and I not do the same?  From birth we have been under the control of sin, but when Jesus reached out His hand and by the faith He gave us we entered into His saving grace and was set free from sin’s control.  Yes, we were blind to sins control, but now we see clearly, then why do we not do as Jesus commanded us to do?

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice