Grace’s Latest Messages
The End of Mark's Gospel and Biblical Integrity (Mark 16:9-20)
This week at Grace, we're finishing the Gospel of Mark after 57 weeks.
But Mark ends on an odd note - with a passage that is disputed about whether it was originally there or not. What we know as "Mark 16:9-20" seems to have been added sometime after the original book of Mark was written, with an unknown editor borrowing some verses from the other gospels to "improve" Mark's ending.
So, why listen to a sermon on something that isn't truly biblical? Because it gives us a chance to address some commonly misunderstood issues of the Bible: where it came from, how we got the Bible that is in our hands, and why we can have confidence in the Scriptures.
Look forward to seeing you Sunday at Grace!
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
[Some of the earliest manuscripts do not include 16:9–20.]
9 [[Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. 11 But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.
12 After these things he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. 13 And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.
14 Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. 15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.]]
- Mark 16:9-20
Why Jesus Came (Mark 10:42-45)
This week at Grace, we're celebrating Christmas!
All year we've been in the gospel of Mark, the only one of the four gospels that does not begin with a passage about Jesus' pre-incarnate existence, conception, or birth. But that doesn't mean that there's nothing in Mark about Christmas.
Listen to what Jesus says about why he came:
Mark 10:45 - "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
So, why did Jesus come? Why does Christmas matter? What's the point of this festive holiday season? It's right there in Mark: to give his life as a ransom for many.
I hope you'll join us this Christmas Eve as we talk about why Christmas matters so much.
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
42 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
- Mark 10:42-45
He Has Risen...Just As He Told You (Mark 16:1-8)
As Andy Williams sang, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” And it is, isn’t it? For many, myself included, the Christmas season is the best of all seasons. The lights. The sounds. The smells. It’s cold enough in California to have a fire, but not so cold that you need Long Johns (a.k.a. thermals). For these reasons, and more, it’s the most wonderful time of the year.
But Easter is pretty darn hard to beat, right? I mean, the birth of Jesus is miraculous and awe-inspiring, but the death and resurrection of Jesus is the high point on the Christian calendar. In John Irving’s A Prayer for Owen Meany, we read: “Anyone can be sentimental about the Nativity; any fool can feel like a Christian at Christmas. But Easter is the main event; if you don’t believe in the resurrection, you’re not a believer.”
Easter…Christmas…Easter…Christmas. So difficult to choose between the two. They both are needed. And both have so much to commend themselves as the “most wonderful time of the year.” What are we to do?
How about an Easter message during the Christmas season? Done. Come this Sunday (the 3 rd Sunday of Advent) to hear about Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.
Blessings,
Pastor Tim
When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. 6 And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” 8 And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
- Mark 16:1-8
A Centurion's View of the Death and Burial of the Jesus (Mark 15:33-47)
There is something about being in the room with someone when they die that sticks with you.
What would it have been like to see Jesus die in person? How would that experience have changed you?
Mark's gospel began with the affirmation that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God (Mark 1:1), and comes full circle with the confession of the centurion, "Truly this man was the son of God."
This week at Grace, we're going to hear the story of Jesus' death and burial from the perspective of the centurion who was there, who saw Jesus' death and three days later would be a witness (directly or not, we don't know) of Jesus' resurrection.
In John's account of the death of Jesus, right after describing the soldier piercing Jesus' side, John includes an aside, "He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe." (John 19:35) It seems that this anonymous centurion came to faith in Christ as a result of seeing his death for us.
May we come to a similar faith ourselves.
Pastor Bob
33 And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 35 And some of the bystanders hearing it said, “Behold, he is calling Elijah.” 36 And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.” 37 And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. 38 And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”
40 There were also women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. 41 When he was in Galilee, they followed him and ministered to him, and there were also many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem.
42 And when evening had come, since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he should have already died. And summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead. 45 And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the corpse to Joseph. 46 And Joseph bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud and laid him in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. And he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.
- Mark 15:33-47
How Deep the Father's Love (Mark 15:16-32)
Do you enjoy watching reality tv shows?
Perhaps one of the reasons why I find myself fixated on clips from reality tv is that every once and a while you see an instance where someone’s having a meltdown, or things just go horribly wrong… and I can’t help but feel tremendous encouragement thinking to myself… “at least I don’t have it as bad as this person!”
There’s a temptation to read through the final days of Jesus’ life in the book of Mark and think to ourselves… “Judas… what a horrible guy!” or “Look at these Pharisees and Jewish leaders who are so objectively unfair to Jesus… what a bunch of bozos!”
Maybe the temptation is to read through passages like Mark 14 and 15 and think to ourselves, “I would never do that to Jesus.”
This weekend we are going to take a deeper look into the suffering of Christ and my prayer is that we can humbly approach such a weighty passage and consider: In what ways are our sins connected to Christ and this historical event of the crucifixion?
Furthermore, my hope is that we can look to Jesus as the silent and sacrificial lamb who goes willingly to death so that you and I can experience a gift of love that is emphatically unmatched by any experience we’ve ever had!
Looking forward to starting off this final month of 2023 with you all!
Blessings!
Jason
16 And the soldiers led him away inside the palace (that is, the governor's headquarters), and they called together the whole battalion. 17 And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on him. 18 And they began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19 And they were striking his head with a reed and spitting on him and kneeling down in homage to him. 20 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him.
21 And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross. 22 And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull). 23 And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. 24 And they crucified him and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take. 25 And it was the third hour when they crucified him. 26 And the inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” 27 And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left. 29 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, 30 save yourself, and come down from the cross!” 31 So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. 32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also reviled him.
- Mark 15:16-32
A Death Sentence (Mark 15:1-15)
On the morning of September 11th, 2001, Security Officer Rick Rescorla was on the 44th floor of the South Tower of the World Trade Center. When the North Tower was struck, Rick sprang into action, calmly guiding over 2,500 people to safety.
Rick's building was suddenly hit, but his determination held firm. Unwavering, he continued assisting others in the evacuation. When a colleague urged him to leave like everyone else, Rick responded with heroic resolve: "As soon as I make sure everyone else is out." Rick gave his life that dark day, sacrificing himself for the well-being of many others.
This week at Grace, we'll reflect on Mark 15:1-15, a passage that recounts the break of an even darker day in human history. It's a day when another hero substituted his life for a man named Barabbas, along with many others.
I'm eager to be reminded of the Gospel together.
- Pastor Chris
And as soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. And they bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate. 2 And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” 3 And the chief priests accused him of many things. 4 And Pilate again asked him, “Have you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring against you.” 5 But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed.
6 Now at the feast he used to release for them one prisoner for whom they asked. 7 And among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas. 8 And the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do as he usually did for them. 9 And he answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” 10 For he perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead. 12 And Pilate again said to them, “Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” 13 And they cried out again, “Crucify him.” 14 And Pilate said to them, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him.” 15 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.
- Mark 15:1-15
Abusing Power (Mark 14:53-65)
"But that's not FAIR!"
From our childhoods, there's something in each of us that demands and expects justice. When we suspect that we might be the victims of injustice, something wells up in us to object. Sometimes that's confined to childish complaints about siblings receiving dessert when we didn't. More importantly, it's also a common and understandable reaction to being denied human rights by others.
This week at Grace, we're going to talk about how Jesus responded when he was a victim of injustice. If you'd like to read the passage before you come, it's in Mark 14:53-65. Jesus' response is only amazing, it sets the terms for Jesus' sacrifice on the cross and shows us what it means for us to follow him today.
Looking forward to seeing you this Sunday at Grace!
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
53 And they led Jesus to the high priest. And all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes came together. 54 And Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he was sitting with the guards and warming himself at the fire. 55 Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they found none. 56 For many bore false witness against him, but their testimony did not agree. 57 And some stood up and bore false witness against him, saying, 58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.’” 59 Yet even about this their testimony did not agree. 60 And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” 61 But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” 62 And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” 63 And the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further witnesses do we need? 64 You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?” And they all condemned him as deserving death. 65 And some began to spit on him and to cover his face and to strike him, saying to him, “Prophesy!” And the guards received him with blows.
- Mark 14:53-65
How Jesus Approached Suffering (Mark 14:32-52)
As we head into the cold/flu/COVID season, let me ask you something: what are you like when you get sick?
More than I'd like to admit when I get sick physically, it also involves me getting grumpy relationally. My wife can tell I'm sick not just from my physical symptoms (runny nose, hoarse voice, etc), but also from my social symptoms (complaining, whining, and general fussiness).
If this sort of minor physical discomfort impacts me so much relationally, what would I be like with God and people if I endured monumental suffering?
This week at Grace, we're continuing our march toward the cross in Mark 14 with Jesus' betrayal and arrest. Waiting for Judas' betrayal brings Jesus tremendous anguish, but instead of lashing out or turning inward, he moves toward God in prayer and his friends in community.
Let's talk this Sunday about what we can learn from Jesus' example and why we benefit from his suffering at all.
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
32 And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. 34 And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.” 35 And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36 And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” 37 And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? 38 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 39 And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. 40 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they did not know what to answer him. 41 And he came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”
43 And immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. 44 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man. Seize him and lead him away under guard.” 45 And when he came, he went up to him at once and said, “Rabbi!” And he kissed him. 46 And they laid hands on him and seized him. 47 But one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. 48 And Jesus said to them, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? 49 Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But let the Scriptures be fulfilled.” 50 And they all left him and fled.
51 And a young man followed him, with nothing but a linen cloth about his body. And they seized him, 52 but he left the linen cloth and ran away naked.
- Mark 14:32-52
When You Fail (Mark 14:26-31)
"I would never do THAT."
"I can't believe she crossed THAT line."
"He didn't think he'd get away with THAT, did he?"
Have you ever said something like that?
I imagine you have. I have. And in some ways, it's a good thing to say - we all need to have red lines we won't cross and moral standards to live by.
But the truth is that we're all more capable of crossing those red lines than we'd like to admit.
Last week, Pastor Tim took us through the portion of Mark 14 where Judas' betrayal of Jesus comes to light. This week, we look at the sequel, where the rest of the disciples hear about how they will abandon Jesus, too.
This passage is so important for us to reflect on because it shows that abandonment was not a problem just for the few "Judas" out there, but for all of us.
For Peter, this mirror to his own fickleness is too much to handle. "Never!" he declares. Yet anyone who knows the gospel story knows that Peter is protesting something that will be all too true, all too soon.
What about you?
Do you ever claim a moral high ground compared to others, assuming you would never sink to their level? How does this passage of Scripture challenge that attitude, correct it, and point us to our Savior?
Let's talk about it together on Sunday.
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
26 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 27 And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ 28 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” 29 Peter said to him, “Even though they all fall away, I will not.” 30 And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” 31 But he said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same.
- Mark 14:26-31
He Loved Them to the End (Mark 14:12-25)
Do you remember that mid-90s family drama called Party of Five?
It was about 5 siblings (ranging in age from toddler to 20-something) who lost their parents tragically and were on their own. Their party of 7 became a party of 5. It’s not a super compelling connection but in our story (Mark 14:12-25) we have a party of 13 which, as the story unfolds, will become a party of 12, then a party of 11, then a party of 1. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, read Mark chapters 14 and 15.
Though none go with him, still he will follow!
Let’s meet together this Sunday and, corporately, be in awe of the one who “loved them to the end” (John 13:1).
See you Sunday,
Tim
12 And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, “Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 13 And he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him, 14 and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15 And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us.” 16 And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.
17 And when it was evening, he came with the twelve. 18 And as they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.” 19 They began to be sorrowful and to say to him one after another, “Is it I?” 20 He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the dish with me. 21 For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”
22 And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” 23 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. 24 And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. 25 Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
- Mark 14:12-25
What It Means to Lose Everything (Mark 14:1-11)
When I was twelve years old, one of my best friends died from cancer. It was one of the defining moments of my childhood.
Eliott had leukemia for most of our sixth-grade year, cycling through the ups and downs that came with treatment. When he had the energy for visitors, I'd go over to his home to play video games.
At the time, I was too young and immature to fully grasp the gravity of his situation and too often came home wondering why he had the latest and greatest toys.
The answer, of course, was that he was battling a life-threatening disease, and those who are facing death often receive special care and comforts.
This week at Grace, we're going to talk about the only special treatment Jesus received leading up to his death and the fools who missed the beauty of the moment.
As we talk about this memorable passage from Mark 14, I hope that we all will see the goodness of honoring Jesus in the face of his death for us. And as we do that, we will take our eyes off ourselves and see the gift that he offers us today.
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to arrest him by stealth and kill him, 2 for they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar from the people.”
3 And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. 4 There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? 5 For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her. 6 But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. 8 She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. 9 And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”
10 Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. 11 And when they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. And he sought an opportunity to betray him.
- Mark 14:1-11
Living with the End in Mind (Mark 13:28-37)
This week at Grace we're wrapping up our series-within-a-series from Mark 13. In these four weeks, we've reflected on why Jesus uses prophecy (both of the destruction of the temple and of his return) to help the disciples (then and now) stand strong in their faith.
In this final week, we'll spend most of the time focused on how this might play out in your life, and wrestle with the questions, doubts, and temptations that come from waiting for Jesus.
Looking forward to seeing you at Grace this Sunday!
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
28 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 30 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
32 “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. 35 Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— 36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”
- Mark 13:28-37
The End of the Story (Mark 13:24-27)
What do you think would happen to you if you spent a lot of time and effort reflecting on the return of Jesus?
For some of us, the answer to that question might not be very flattering. We can think of people in our life who spend a lot of time on prophecy charts, prediction websites, and social media posts, but the result is not becoming more like Jesus at all. Instead, they're cold to the suffering of others, numb to the problems of the world, and judgmental of other Christians who don't share their views.
So, if you've been around American Christianity for the past few decades, the topic of Jesus' return might elicit some feelings in you, and some of you might not be so keen on talking about it.
But throughout the New Testament, Christians are encouraged to reflect on Jesus' return and encourage one another with it. So let's do that together this Sunday at Grace.
This week at Grace we're continuing through Mark 13. For the first two weeks in this series, we've been looking at Jesus' prophecy that the temple would be destroyed within one generation (which it was).
But in v. 24 Jesus' time horizon changes. He goes from speaking about the destruction of the temple to his (still future) return in power. As we look at this short passage in v. 24-27, we're going to reflect on what it means to live with faith in Christ now and forever.
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
“But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
- Mark 13:24–27
3 Audiences, 1 Message: Be Ready! (Mark 13:14-23)
You probably remember, at some point in your education, the mention of The 5 Ws. Or, perhaps, the 5Ws + 1 H. When seeking to better understand something whether a story or an event (or a biblical passage) it’s helpful to ask: Who? What? When? Where? Why? and How?
Using these questions, read Mark 13:14-23 (and what comes before and after in chapter 13, as needed) and see what sort of progress you can make before we do more of the same, together, on Sunday.
14 “But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter his house, to take anything out, 16 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 17 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 18 Pray that it may not happen in winter. 19 For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be. 20 And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days. 21 And then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. 22 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. 23 But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand.
Until then,
Pastor Tim
14 “But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter his house, to take anything out, 16 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 17 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 18 Pray that it may not happen in winter. 19 For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be. 20 And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days. 21 And then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. 22 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. 23 But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand.
- Mark 13:14-23
Watch Out (Mark 13:1-13)
This week at Grace, we're starting four weeks in Mark 13, one of the most debated and controversial chapters in the gospels. In it (and the parallel versions in Matthew 24 and Luke 21), Jesus warns the disciples about the coming destruction of the temple and their need to persevere in their faith even in difficult times.
So, what's so controversial about that?
While the chapter begins talking about the temple, by the end Jesus is describing his return in victory. The debate is over when he switches from talking about what would occur in our past (their future) to what has yet to come for all of us.
Confused yet?
I get that anything that sounds like eschatology raises concerns for some Christians. They remember (either fondly or not) a previous era of American Christianity when eschatology was a primary discussion point in sermons and Bible studies.
But I hope that as we look at Jesus' words together over these next few weeks we'll see his heart, his wisdom, and his goodness to all of us.
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” 2 And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”
3 And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?” 5 And Jesus began to say to them, “See that no one leads you astray. 6 Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. 7 And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. 8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains.
9 “But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. 10 And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. 11 And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 12 And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. 13 And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
- Mark 13:1-13
What We Need To Do (Mark 12:28-34)
We're going to the beach!
This week at Grace, we're having one worship service at 10 am at Eisenhower Park, the bluff overlooking the ocean in Seal Beach. It's a block from our church building, so you can just walk down 8th street and find us set up out there. We'll have a chair for you, so just bring yourself and your Bible, and you'll be ready to go.
The outdoor worship service will be a full Sunday liturgy, including singing, praying, and a sermon. We're continuing our Mark series this week with the "Greatest Commandment" (Mark 12:28-34), where Jesus defines our relationship with God's law. I'm grateful it lined up for us to do this during a baptism Sunday, because this passage beautifully describes the good life Jesus saves his followers into.
See you Sunday at the beach!
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
28 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. 33 And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.
- Mark 12:28-34
Do You See This Woman? (Mark 12:38-44)
Peacocking
noun
/ˈpiː.kɒk.ɪŋ/ behavior by men that shows they are very proud of their appearance, for example wearing clothes that make people notice them: Peacocking is something men do to highlight their strong points and stand out from their competition.
When you consider the focus on outward appearance and attention-grabbing in the above definition (The Cambridge Dictionary), it seems to fit our passage pretty well.
The Scribes were all about the show:
“Look at me”
“Laud me”
“Note my status”
Do you who’s not impressed? Jesus!
He directs his disciples’ attention away from the self-righteous and onto the truly righteous.
To hear more, join us this Sunday!
- Pastor Tim
38 And in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces 39 and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, 40 who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”
41 And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. 43 And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. 44 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”
- Mark 12:38-44
How Jesus Responded to Mockers (Mark 12:18-27)
Have you ever had someone mock your faith?
There are a number of ways mockery can happen, but one of the ones I find most condescending is the "know-it-all" who smugly says, "Haven't you ever thought about THIS problem?" (as if they're the first person to ever notice dinosaurs aren't in the Bible, or that the Old Testament is very different from the New Testament, or whatever).
This week at Grace, we're going to see how Jesus responded to mockers in his day. This passage in Mark 12:18-27 has everything: discussion of heaven, marriage, and understanding what the Bible says to us today.
Looking forward to opening it up with you this Sunday!
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
18 And Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection. And they asked him a question, saying, 19 “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife, but leaves no child, the man must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. 20 There were seven brothers; the first took a wife, and when he died left no offspring. 21 And the second took her, and died, leaving no offspring. And the third likewise. 22 And the seven left no offspring. Last of all the woman also died. 23 In the resurrection, when they rise again, whose wife will she be? For the seven had her as wife.”
24 Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God? 25 For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 26 And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? 27 He is not God of the dead, but of the living. You are quite wrong.”
- Mark 12:18-27
Debts to God and the Government (Mark 12:13-17)
What do you owe to the government? What is your patriotic duty? And does it change based on what country you live in, the quality of the government, or whether you are a Christian or not?
These questions are all behind our passage this week from Mark 12:13-17, when Jesus tells his listeners to "Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."
This week at Grace, we'll look at the cultural background behind Jesus' provocative words, the context in which he spoke them, and how to apply them to our lives today.
Hope to see you Sunday at Grace!
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
13 And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk. 14 And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone's opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” 15 But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar's.” 17 Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” And they marveled at him.
- Mark 12:13-17
The Parable of the Wicked Tenants (Mark 12:1-12)
We live in a generation that is obsessed with authenticity and self-actualization. Phrases like "Be yourself," "Live out loud," and "Live my truth," are ubiquitous in advertising, social media, and popular culture.
As a Christian, I often shrug my shoulders at such banal phrases. After all, there's nothing inherently wrong with "being myself" (depending on what the bumper sticker has in mind). But it is worth wondering what these phrases have in common, and what they are trying to avoid. Usually, what these phrases are deeply concerned about is the idea that we might be suppressing desires, dreams, or goals we have in favor of what others might expect of us.
What does the Bible say about that idea?
This week at Grace, we're going to talk about Mark 12:1-12, the parable of the wicked tenants. In this passage, Jesus confronts the timeless tendency of people to act as if they are in charge of the world instead of God. Rather than suppressing their desire for autonomy and profit, the characters in Jesus' parable attempt to suppress the reality of the landowner's justice.
I hope that as we talk about the choices we each make around where we put our passion, action, and priorities in life, we will benefit and learn from Jesus' words this week.
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
And he began to speak to them in parables. “A man planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a pit for the winepress and built a tower, and leased it to tenants and went into another country. 2 When the season came, he sent a servant to the tenants to get from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. 3 And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 4 Again he sent to them another servant, and they struck him on the head and treated him shamefully. 5 And he sent another, and him they killed. And so with many others: some they beat, and some they killed. 6 He had still one other, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 7 But those tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 8 And they took him and killed him and threw him out of the vineyard. 9 What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others. 10 Have you not read this Scripture:
“‘The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
11 this was the Lord's doing,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’?”
12 And they were seeking to arrest him but feared the people, for they perceived that he had told the parable against them. So they left him and went away.
- Mark 12:1-12