Congregational Bible Experience: Day #12
Bible Reading: Mark 4-6
Introduction: The crowds continue to swell around Jesus. Because of the healings and miracles? Certainly. Because of the free food? Possibly. Because of his teaching? Well, sort of… but only to a point. The true, faithful and fruitful disciple is the one who takes what Jesus says seriously because they take Jesus seriously. These chapters highlight that a real disciple lives a fruitful life in the context of opposition and persecution because God's Word is bedded down deeply into their lives. Those in the crowd, the 'hangers-on' around the periphery, don't give Jesus' word its place in their hearts and so are overcome when trouble comes or are so pre-occupied with worldly trinkets they cannot see the word's true value. Maybe persevering with this Bible Reading experience is an encouragement to see where your heart lies…?
Why do different people respond differently to Jesus?
The answer is partly answered in the opening section of Mark 4 with the so-called 'Parable of the Soils'. It could also equally be entitled the 'Parable of the Hearts'. The same seed, meaning the Word of God, is sown across different types of soil, that is, proclaimed among the crowd. The principle is: the condition or quality of the soil determines the quality of the crop produced. So the responsiveness of individuals to Jesus preaching and teaching reveals the spiritual condition of their 'hearts' - not the muscle that pumps blood around the body - but 'heart' as the controlling, motivating, directing centre of our lives.
We see again, as in yesterday's reading, Jesus' word is powerfully effective: His word calms the storm (note - the disciples are said more terrified by what Jesus to calm the storm than by the storm itself, 4:35-41); His word casts out demons (5:1-21); His Word cures the incurable (5:25-34); His Word raises the dead (5:35-43). His word creates something out of 'nothing' (6:30-44). So, why is it that some people respond differently? Some with fruitful repentance, joy and obedience (4:20), and many others with hard-hearted indifference (4:15), or with a shallow and passing interest (4:16-17), or by trying and failing to squeeze Jesus into their already pre-occupied, busy and distracted lives (4:18-19). One of the things this parable teaches is that our responsiveness to Jesus and His Word is determined by the bents of our hearts: are we eager to listen and ready to respond to Jesus? Do we want to listen to Him and know more? Are we willing to set aside everything else that demands our attention so that we may listen to Jesus with due care and attention. Hearts that are truly centred upon Jesus give His Word over-riding priority, because that is the only way to survive as His disciple in this world. "He who has ears to hear, let them hear" (4:9).
In chapter 6 Mark continues to encourage his readers to consider who Jesus is, especially by the miracles he does: he feeds the crowds in the "remote place" (v35), just like God had faithfully fed the Children of Israel in the wilderness for forty years; he walks over the water; he heals the sick; he drives out the demons; he calls people to repentance (6:5, 12-13, 55-56).
And still, the dark cloud of foreboding hangs over the action. John the Baptist, whom we met only briefly in Chapter 1 and then to read that he was imprisoned, is now beheaded (6:24-29). This is the sinister background in front of which the main story unfolds. We know how that story ends. Despite the miracles and the displays of glory the darkness will soon begin to overshadow everything…
Bible Reading: Mark 4-6
Introduction: The crowds continue to swell around Jesus. Because of the healings and miracles? Certainly. Because of the free food? Possibly. Because of his teaching? Well, sort of… but only to a point. The true, faithful and fruitful disciple is the one who takes what Jesus says seriously because they take Jesus seriously. These chapters highlight that a real disciple lives a fruitful life in the context of opposition and persecution because God's Word is bedded down deeply into their lives. Those in the crowd, the 'hangers-on' around the periphery, don't give Jesus' word its place in their hearts and so are overcome when trouble comes or are so pre-occupied with worldly trinkets they cannot see the word's true value. Maybe persevering with this Bible Reading experience is an encouragement to see where your heart lies…?
Why do different people respond differently to Jesus?
The answer is partly answered in the opening section of Mark 4 with the so-called 'Parable of the Soils'. It could also equally be entitled the 'Parable of the Hearts'. The same seed, meaning the Word of God, is sown across different types of soil, that is, proclaimed among the crowd. The principle is: the condition or quality of the soil determines the quality of the crop produced. So the responsiveness of individuals to Jesus preaching and teaching reveals the spiritual condition of their 'hearts' - not the muscle that pumps blood around the body - but 'heart' as the controlling, motivating, directing centre of our lives.
In chapter 6 Mark continues to encourage his readers to consider who Jesus is, especially by the miracles he does: he feeds the crowds in the "remote place" (v35), just like God had faithfully fed the Children of Israel in the wilderness for forty years; he walks over the water; he heals the sick; he drives out the demons; he calls people to repentance (6:5, 12-13, 55-56).
And still, the dark cloud of foreboding hangs over the action. John the Baptist, whom we met only briefly in Chapter 1 and then to read that he was imprisoned, is now beheaded (6:24-29). This is the sinister background in front of which the main story unfolds. We know how that story ends. Despite the miracles and the displays of glory the darkness will soon begin to overshadow everything…
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