Fri 17th July - #83. Dot Cotton
Have you ever been in the position where you told somebody something and their face fell? Maybe you told the person some unexpected news and from that moment on something would never be the same again.
In our reading this morning a man who had great wealth couldn't follow Jesus because the price was too much...lets read about this encounter -
Mark 10:17-33
17 As Jesus started on His way, a man ran up to Him and fell on his knees before Him. ‘Good teacher,’ he asked, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’_
18 ‘Why do you call me good?’ Jesus answered. ‘No one is good— except God alone. 19 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, honour your father and mother.”’_
20 ‘Teacher,’ he declared, ‘all these I have kept since I was a boy.’
21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. ‘One thing you lack,’ he said. ‘Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’
22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad because he had great wealth.
In my 20s I watched the BBC soap opera ‘Eastenders’ and one of the main characters was an elderly lady called Dot Cotton. Dot worked in the launderette, smoked about 40 cigarettes a day, a gossip and she had a hardened criminal of a son. Dot was a lovable character, and she was also a Christian. To the various characters on the show she would often quote the Bible to them about their wrongs. One such quote was this “money is the root of all evil” and she always quoted from the authorized version with all the thee’s and thou’s. She brought God onto prime-time tv! However, Dot misquoted this verse- it is not money but “For the love of money is the root of all evil” (AV). In our reading this morning this was the big problem for the man. Money is good and it can do much good but it can also enslave people.
As one preacher said — ‘the man in the story no longer possesses his riches—they possess him’.
How about you? How would you respond to Jesus’ call “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
We all have to leave things behind when we follow Jesus but isn't it worth it when you know what the treasure is?
Much to consider.
Have a good weekend
Much love
Tim
Wed 15th July - #82. Children’s lives matter!
Part of a child’s development is seen as they start to think for themselves and ask questions, one such question is the ‘why question’. New parents had better get used to this and as the child grows the questions get harder to answer. In this morning’s reading we might like to ask the ‘why question’ about why the disciples rebuked the children and why Jesus was indignant?
Let's find out in Mark 10
13 People were bringing little children to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, He was indignant. He said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’ 16 And He took the children in His arms, placed His hands on them and blessed them.
The disciples rebuked the people for bringing children to Jesus because why would a great teacher/miracle worker/Messiah waste time with them? Jesus was indignant because He loves everyone, even those who are looked down upon for age, disability, sex, race or religion. Jesus knew that the children’s attitude to Him was something that all (including the disciples) could learn from. We all know that to survive and thrive, children need to trust others whether this is learning a new discipline or just journeying on in life.
As disciples of Jesus we too need to trust Jesus as we journey on.
So, what will this look like today?
Will you trust Jesus with the worries you have?
Will you trust your children and your grand children to him?
Will you trust him with the questions in life?
Will you trust Jesus with the future and
How about those prayers that haven’t been answered?
As the singer Lauren Daigle puts it -
When You don't move the mountains I'm needing You to move
When You don't part the waters I wish I could walk through
When You don't give the answers
As I cry out to You -
I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in You
Watch/listen to the song here
Much love Tim
Mon 13th July - #81. Divorce
How was your weekend? What were the struggles? Did you struggle in any relationship? This morning Jesus is asked a question about divorce from the Pharisees who are not looking for relationship counsel but are looking to trap him (v2).
Mark 10.
1 Jesus then left that place and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds of people came to Him, and as was His custom, He taught them.
2 Some Pharisees came and tested Him by asking, ‘Is it lawful for a man to divorce His wife?’
3 ‘What did Moses command you?’ He replied.
4 They said, ‘Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.’
5 ‘It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law,’ Jesus replied. 6 ‘But at the beginning of creation God “made them male and female”. 7 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, 8 and the two will become one flesh.” So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.’
10 When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. 11 He answered, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. 12 And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.’
What is the implication of Jesus’ words here on divorce?
One Christian writer says the following -
Mark includes this teaching on marriage and divorce in his section on taking up our cross. This challenges the view that the right partner will satisfy and complete us, every day in every way. Many divorces happen because we have too high a view of marriage—when it isn’t “working” and feeling right, we seek a divorce rather than taking up our cross and loving our spouse. *1
Divorce needs to be seen in a much bigger perspective than this passage (see 1 Corinthians 7 for instance) but certainly Jesus’ tough words go against our instinct and go against our modern progressive 21st century ways.
Taking up our cross will look different for all of us whether in marriage or unmarried.
When we see our sin and our Saviour’s way it won’t be easy but it will be the best way to grow in godliness and show the world a different way of living.
Much love
Tim
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*1 Explore Notes - Dave Griffith Jones