Let the Children Come to Me

 

Mark 10: 13-16

 

Let the Children Come to Me

And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them.   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.   Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”   And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

I grew up in a time when a child was to be seen but not heard, and in our home when the card table was put in the living room and chairs were brought from the kitchen we children knew guest were coming and there was going to be some serious 42 playing taking place.  

I was the youngest and if I was not outside, saving the world from the bad guys, or shooting at the Indians and I always won, I wanted to be where the action was, and that was not with my older brother and sister who were doing wasteful things like read a book. 

I will never forget one night I was about five and in that our house was very small I was sitting on the floor near the game table, and being very quiet.  My dad in a very stern voice told me to get off the floor and go to my room.  That is the only time I can recall my dad being unfair to me in my life.  As a child, I wonder what I had done wrong, but back then you would never have asked.

When I read this account of the disciples they may have seen themselves as the gatekeeper to who got to see Jesus, are they believe that Jesus was too important to be blessing little children.  One thing they learn that day was Jesus is never too busy for anyone and especially a person that comes to him with the attitude of a child.  A child will take their broken toys to dad or mom asking them to fix the problem, and when we humble our self as a child and bring our broken life to Jesus He will restore it.

Do you have a good understanding of the word indignant; “feeling or showing anger or annoyance at what is perceived as unfair treatment.”  It is the only time in the Gospels where Jesus was indignant.

 

 

Our calling is the same as the disciples; go and tell what Jesus has done for you and how He wants to give life to you, in the full.

 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

 

 

 

 

Teaching About Divorce

 

Mark 10:1-12

 

Teaching About Divorce

“And he left there and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan, and crowds gathered to him again. And again, as was his custom, he taught them.

And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”   He answered them, “What did Moses command you?”   They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.”   And Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.   But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’  ‘Therefore, a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife,^[ and the two shall become one flesh.’ So, they are no longer two but one flesh.  What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

And in the house, the disciples asked him again about this matter.   And he said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her, and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

Two of the men God used to bring me to the understanding of my lack of a relationship with Jesus Christ, were Jim Seed, and Johnny Anderson.  Both of these men had wives that left them because they put Christ first in their lives.  Both men were men of integrity and servants to others, and both hated the stigma of having been divorced.

I understand that often people have no understanding of what love is and marry an image in that the man is handsome or the woman is good looking, one may be wealthy, or they may be clever, only to find out they are not what you thought you were getting.  Most of the time it is the woman that believes she can change the man, but people do not change because you want them to.

One of the biggest reasons for divorce in the Christian Church is one is a follower of Christ and the other is not.  But the main reason is what Jesus told the Pharisees; “Because of your hardness of heart, he wrote you this commandment. Jesus is referring to Moses and the question He asks about the Law.  I’ cannot explain how blessed I am to be married to a lady like Jan, she is the love of my life, and it all because of Jesus Christ.  It was years before I learned to love her, I was often harsh with her, yet I believe I was in the right.  But Jesus and God the Father have shown me what love is and today I would do anything for my bride of almost 55 years.  

I’m aware that the reason Jesus is hated by many in the USA and all who are His followers is that He has made clear what marriage is, and it is only between a man and a woman.   He also tells us that divorce is wrong, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her, and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

Now both of the men I talked about remarried, and they did not bring adultery into the marriage, for their wives divorce them.  One is dead, the other is very much alive and married to a godly lady.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

 

Temptations to Sin

 

 

Mark 9:42-50

 

Temptations to Sin

 “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.”

Let us begin with this insight from my Holman Study Bible. Page1701 regarding verses 43-48, The body parts and admonitions are figures of speech that warn disciples to guard their sight and actions against participation in evil, for recklessness here can lead to spiritual downfall.  That seems to make good sense, the Scripture tells us that some of the pagan gods required the cutting of the flesh.

When I was in my thirties I was very young in the faith, though I had been raised in the church, I only came to know Christ at the age of 27.  I wanted to do whatever the leadership of the church wanted, and they wanted Jan and me to work with the youth, there was not a youth pastor.  We needed to be in a class under a teacher of the Scripture, I needed to be under a mentor.  That did not happen in the Church, it happened in the workplace, by a man in the oil business named Jack Archer, who was also a new follower of Christ.  Jack taught me all that he understood, and that was I was loved by God.

The Scripture is very clear not to give a novice a role of leadership, in 1 Timothy 3:6, “He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.”  Often, the leader of a local church needs so much help they ignore what God has stated in His Word and take any person with a zeal to be used.  Outside of the church my mentor Jack was the regional director for Lay Witness Mission, Jan and I became part of that also because we saw God was doing great things, it was not long before Jack ask me to be a leader and I took a team to a church and led in the weekend's activity.  Then the pastor of my church told me I had received the most votes to be a deacon, and guess what I got so full of myself that I was an easy target for the evil one.  I can only say I am so thankful that God is a forgiving Father and does not give us what we deserve.

 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

 

Anyone Not Against Us Is for Us

 

Mark 9:38-50

 

Anyone Not Against Us Is for Us

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.

The disciples were like many in our world today, in the sixty’s there was a movement called the Jesus movement, a bunch of hippies became follower​s​ of Christ, but they were not buying into the traditional church, they eventually pioneered an independent Christian commune, and were adding people who wanted to follow Jesus each week.  How did the traditional church handle this movement of God?  Not all that well, many a pastor thought it was of the devil!   Why you ask, and it is my opinion they were different, that few took the time to examine, to have a dialog with them, and those that did were wanting them to change to their way of thinking.  

 

What did Jesus tell us; first, if they are following Jesus and doing mighty works in His name, they are not going to speak evil of our Lord?  

 

Second, it matters not if they are of the traditional church, if they are for Christ, then so are we, never call someone doing things differently wrong for not doing it the way you were taught.

 

Third, we are called to live the Christ-life in us, and in so doing serving others who belong to Christ.

 

From the Back Porch, 

 

Bob Rice

 

Jesus Again Foretells Death, Resurrection

 

Mark 9:30-37

 

Jesus Again Foretells Death, Resurrection

^“ 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.

Are you guilty of not asking when a statement is made, and you have little or no understanding of what is being said?  Could the reason be something as simple as we do not want the speaker or those around us to know we have little or no understanding of what is being said?  It is not the first time Jesus has brought this subject up, you recall Peter's encounter with Jesus the last time, and Jesus replies in Mark 8:33.  In Luke's gospel chapter 9:45 may shed some light on the subject, for Luke tells us the understanding was concealed from them at that time.

Who Is the Greatest?

And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?”   But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest.  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.”   And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them,  “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”

You nor I would ever voice such things not even to friends, but we did as children, and we enjoyed hearing someone we respect tell others we are at the top of their list.  I had a Vice President of my Electrical Markets Division, who when he saw me in the 3M Center in Austin would often say I was his favorite salesperson.  Often, others who I worked with would hear Henry and in private they would give me a hard time, saying you are special or accusing me of sucking up to the boss.  I would be telling you a lie if I did not say I enjoyed hearing I was special to him.

That is of no value compared to what God the Father has done for me and is saying to you and me.  The apostle Peter makes it clear to all that put their faith in Christ, this insight in first Peter 1:3-5, and  2 Peter 1:3-4, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter1:3-5)

 

“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.”  (2 Peter 1:3-4)  How can the empty praises of man come close to what God the Father and Son have done and are doing for you using the power of the Holy Spirit in your life?

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

 

 

 

The Transfiguration

 

 

Mark 9: 1-13

 

 And he 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.”

What is Jesus referring to?  Is it greater than John’s Revelation?  The simple answer is yes, Jesus allows these three chosen men to see Him from heaven's view.

The Transfiguration

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.  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.  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.

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.   So, they kept the matter to themselves, questioning 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 now 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.”

They did not understand what had taken place, till later, maybe you are like me in that for years you have read the account with little understanding of the enormous magnitude of the transfiguration of Christ on that mountain.  As it was taking place they were terrified and Peter at this time before the Holy Spirit entered into him, often had foot and mouth problems.  Taking nothing away from Moses or Elijah for they were special men used greatly by God, but they were created beings, and they were now seeing their Creator standing there in all His glory, and God the Father had to introduce Jesus to them.  “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.”   Just maybe God is allowing you to read this and hear His words, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.”   My hope is you will act on what Jesus is saying to you, for He loves you and wants to give life in the now and also eternal life, it is your choice.

 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection

  

Mark 8:31-37

 

Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection

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.”

And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “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?”

I have no doubt Peter is not the only one that has tried to change God’s mind on His will.  I believe we all have, and it’s because we are not desiring His will but ours.  Most of us have our grocery list of things we desire, the healing of a friend or family member, the job we have desired, or in my case it may be a router table for the woodshop or a drill press, and the big one is a planer.  Here is the kicker, you cannot heal that sick friend or family member, and I know you ask God to do so, but have you desired His will or your own?  In my case, I could buy those items, but as a manager of what God has entrusted me, I need to seek His approval.  He may desire to provide those items, or He may show me how to live and work without them.

How are you at denying yourself?  Put Jesus before your plans, most do not, my friend Bill Gilman would say often, the Christian life is an impossible life to live, for only one person has done so, and that is Jesus Christ.   He desires to live his life in you, if you ask Him to.

A question everyone must answer; For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?   It matters not if you gain wealth and fame but never bow your knee to the Lord and take His free gift of salvation, this short life is very short and in eternity you will have a lot of time to ponder why, and wish you had.   For what can a man give in return for his soul?  Not one cotton-picking thing!

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice