Peter said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters – one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah’ (Mark 9:5).
Read Mark 9:2–13
Today, we read about the Transfiguration. I can’t help but wonder what it would have been like to be there and how it would have felt. We know the three disciples were frightened, but to see Jesus in all his glory like that – what an amazing mountaintop experience!
Can you think of a time when you’ve had a mountaintop experience?
It’s a natural human inclination to want mountaintop experiences. It’s also a natural inclination to want to hold on to them. These amazing experiences are so good that we want to stay in that place forever – or for as long as possible – and to savour it.
Peter, of course, was being Peter, so he came up with a solution for this. He wanted to build three shelters: one for Jesus, one for Moses and one for Elijah, right there on the mountaintop. Then he could visit at any time to recapture this unique experience.
We might smile or even outright laugh at Peter’s suggestion, but did you know that the Crusaders actually did build three chapels on Mount Tabor? Now, there is the Church of the Transfiguration that contains them. The Chapel of Elijah is located in the south tower; the north tower holds the Chapel of Moses.
We want to stay there on the mountaintop, but we can’t. Sooner or later, we must leave the mountain and go back down to the real world, and the glory quickly fades. Life happens, death happens, we battle our own demons, we find ourselves in a valley, and the mountaintop seems so far away.
The wonderful thing is that Jesus is also there with us in the valley. He’s not just on the mountaintop. Jesus comes into our grief, fear, doubt, confusion and circumstances. When we look to him and at him, the other stuff fades away. We can experience a bit of the mountaintop in the wonder and joy of his presence and love right where we are.
Dear Jesus, thank you for the mountaintop experiences in our lives. Thank you also for being with us in the valleys and everywhere in between. Because of you, we can experience the wonder and joy of your presence wherever we are. Amen.
Verena is a Church Worker Support Officer for the LCA Church Worker Support Department, where it is her privilege to support congregations, pastors, lay workers, employees and volunteers of LCA. In her spare time, she is involved in drama ministry, women’s ministry and prayer ministry. She has three children and eight grandchildren in three different states.
‘Lord,’ she replied, ‘even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs’ (Mark 7:28).
Read Mark 7:24–37
During the next few days, we will read through an average ministry week in the life of Jesus in Mark. We start with this story.
Jesus was travelling in Gentile territory when a Gentile woman approached him, threw herself at his feet and begged him to heal her daughter, who was possessed by a demon … Jesus ignored her.
Why would he do that? Jesus loves everyone, doesn’t he? Yet he tells her that he was only sent to the children of Israel. She was a Gentile, so he couldn’t help. It would be like throwing the children’s food to the dogs. Basically, he calls her a dog. That’s a bit strong, isn’t it?
‘Dogs’ sounds harsh, but the term he used was the Greek diminutive kynaria, which meant little dogs, household pets. Jesus also said that the children of Israel had to be fed ‘first’. He threw her a bit of hope that her turn might come if she waited.
So, what did the woman do? At this stage, I probably would’ve been so embarrassed and humiliated that I would’ve just wanted the ground to swallow me up. But she persisted. She argued back. She used Jesus’ rebuff to her advantage. ‘Even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.’
Don’t knock crumbs. They do mount up. My mother-in-law would carefully gather all the crumbs on the breadboard from cutting bread and put them in a container in the freezer to use later for cooking. I was amazed at how quickly the amount grew and all the different things she used them for.
Anyway, the story has a great ending because, impressed and pleased by this woman’s reply and faith, Jesus healed her daughter.
I am in awe of this woman and her persistence. Her faith was incredible. She had no doubt that Jesus had the power to heal, and she realised that even the crumbs of what Jesus could do would be enough.
That’s true for us today, too. But Jesus offers us, his beloved children, far more than crumbs. He comes into our crummy lives and gives us the Bread of Life. He gives us everything. The whole loaf, the entire bakery, and we don’t have to argue or wrestle with him for it.
Precious Jesus, Bread of Life, I thank you for everything you have done for me and everything you have given me. Help me never to take it for granted. I come to you now like that woman and bring you my requests. [Take the time to give Jesus the things on your heart today.] Thank you for hearing and answering my prayers. Amen.
Verena is a Church Worker Support Officer for the LCA Church Worker Support Department, where it is her privilege to support congregations, pastors, lay workers, employees, and volunteers of LCA. In her spare time, she is involved in drama ministry, women’s ministry and prayer ministry. She has three children and eight grandchildren in three different states.
Are you so dull?’ Jesus asked (Mark 7:18a).
Read Mark 7:1–23
I still feel a special affinity to the texts I wrote exegetical essays on while at seminary. Today’s from Mark, on what defiles a person, is one of those.
It left a number of lasting impressions on me that have been refined ever since. One is about the need to watch how we make rules about things that are neither commanded nor forbidden. Another was Christ’s care for parents. Another was the way Jesus so efficiently carved out the ceremonial food laws but left the moral code in place. And of more levity, Jesus’ own description of human anatomy in relation to food that is put in the mouth. Many of the translations sanitise this. The NIV is case in point when it translates food entering the mouth and going ‘out of the body’ rather than into the more earthy ‘latrine’ (my Greek dictionary) or being ‘flushed’ as The Message puts it. Yes – Jesus knew all about loos.
Related to the moral code, I learnt about the use of ‘vice’ and ‘virtue’ lists in the New Testament. They were a common device of the day to make a point. You see them throughout the New Testament letters – the gifts of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22 and 23 being a good example of a virtue list as well as a real description of the Spirit’s work in us (Galatians 5:19–21 is its vice list counterpart).
In today’s text, Jesus himself, in verses 21 and 22, lists 12 vices that come out of the heart and defile a person. The first six describe behaviours. The second six have more to do with attitudes. Clearly, the original sin in our hearts drives both behaviours and attitudes. My main impression from this text is that Jesus takes sin seriously. This is despite what I hear people suggest to me today, not least in the church. Sure – he doesn’t want us distracted by the impact of breaking rules that aren’t really rules. But he nevertheless wants us focused on what dishonours him and hurts others and ourselves.
The sexual revolution is a prominent example today. In this list, Jesus’ own lips nominate ‘sexual immorality … adultery … lewdness’ as ‘evils that come from inside and defile a person’. He died to forgive us for these, as he did the rest on this list. It seems we remain dull to think any amount of them in our lives – and the other vices he lists – continue to cause him no concern.
Holy Spirit, you take what is Christ’s and make it known to us. And so you’ve made it clear Jesus gave his life as a ransom for many, even me. Keep me taking this word seriously and living in his grace. For you daily and richly forgive all my sins and the sins of all believers. Amen.
Pastor Matt Bishop serves the St Paul Lutheran Church and co-located primary school at Blair Athol in Adelaide. He delights in his wife Mel, three young adult daughters and, soon, a son-in-law. He would like to spend more time fishing but loves being a pastor and sharing the gospel with everyone God puts in his path, not least the nomads, prodigals, exiles and sceptics of the Christian faith.
Jesus returned to Nazareth as a changed man with a vastly different vocation. His baptism in the Holy Spirit had ordained him in his earthly ministry (see Mark 1:9–11).
Nazareth hadn’t changed, though. Here was the carpenter. A brother in a big family. His siblings were likely adolescents and young adults, along with all the dramas accompanying that. Hence, Nazareth was content, even obligated, to take offence at him teaching them the ways of God. We are told Jesus ‘was amazed at their lack of faith’ (verse 6).
Yet Jesus was not content to leave it at that. It’s almost as if he asks the question, ‘Who then will trust me?’ For faith – trust – in him saves. Jesus has to keep giving faith a chance by getting his word to the people. And so he sends his disciples out in his authority to proclaim his kingdom. Yet it’s clear that he knows not everyone will believe, given his instruction to ‘shake off the dust of your feet as a testimony against them’ who do not welcome or listen to the disciples.
We can be like both the Nazarenes and the villagers who reject Jesus. Like the Nazarenes, we can treat him like he is still the kid we grew up with. He has little relevance to say to us. Although that’s because we’ve changed, not him. We’ve heard new things from others, had new experiences, conformed to the culture and are all ‘grown up’. Somehow, Jesus just isn’t relevant anymore. Or, like the villagers, we don’t welcome Jesus or listen to him (at least like we once did). You know, like when you once went to church pretty much every Sunday, participated in a home group, set aside your offering, or [insert discipleship thing(s) you no longer do here].
But it’s far from a lost cause. Jesus has to keep giving faith a chance by getting his word to the people. ‘Repent!’ is the chief message the disciples were to take out. Notice how they are the undeniable trusters in this account in the way they take him at his word and still go out, even though his hometown has rejected him?
Repent is still a keyword for us. Except, now, it can be understood in the full gospel revelation of his life-giving resurrection. Still going to take offence, not welcome him and not listen to him?
Lord Jesus, we aren’t as smart as we think we are. Please save us from taking offence at you. Or not welcoming you or listening to you. Forgive us when we have, and give us hearts to receive your faithful commission, just as the disciples did. In your name. Amen.
He went in and said to them, ‘Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.’ But they laughed at him (Mark 5:39,40a).
Read Mark 5:21–43
We have come to this account in Mark of the healing of Jairus’ daughter after two very public healings: the demon-possessed man and the woman healed in the crowd by simply touching Jesus’ garment.
Now, we have a very odd situation. Jesus is ‘late’ for the healing of Jairus’ daughter (we know God is never late, but sometimes we wonder, don’t we?!), and she has already died. Or has she? Jesus tells the mourners in their wailing that the girl is asleep. He knows she is no longer alive – and he also knows she is about to be raised to life. Jesus can call that sleeping if he wants – he is God!
Sure enough, Jesus clears the house and raises the girl from the dead. So why did he say she was asleep? Next, we also learn that Jesus gave strict orders not to tell about the miracle.
Who knows whether they kept this or not? Why would he do this? Perhaps it had to do with his own ministry plans. Maybe it was to also protect Jairus from controversy since he was a synagogue leader.
His ways are higher than our ways. (Read Isaiah 55:8,9.) Sometimes, the work in our lives is just for us. We may pray or minister privately to a person who may never tell of the work God has done in them. Other times, there is a public testimony and news to share far and wide. There is a time for both. The outcome is the same: The power of God is moving in our lives, and he has his hand on us.
Praise be to him for that!
Lord God, thank you that your resurrection power, which raised Jesus from the dead, is working in my life! I praise you that nothing can separate us from your love! In Jesus’ powerful name, I pray, Amen.
Sal is married to Pastor Matthew Huckel, and they live in Victoria with their six children. Music, theology, literature and languages are passions the family share and explore together. Sal loves writing, speaking, and walking to the beach at every opportunity.
A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, ‘Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?’ (Mark 4:37,38).
Read Mark 4:35–41
Sometimes I read this account and wonder, ‘What if?’ What if the disciples hadn’t woken Jesus up? How does the storm resolve, then? It is hard to imagine any outcome for this story except waking Jesus up. The disciples sound pretty unimpressed with Jesus’ choice to sleep – who can blame them? We know how the story ends; we have the benefit of hindsight, and we may find ourselves being a little too hard on the disciples, who could possibly have had more faith in their teacher at the time.
On the other hand, have you ever felt like Jesus is sleeping through the storm your boat is sailing in? We might ask our closest family, friends or pastor, ‘What is God doing? Why isn’t he doing anything?’ We might read this story and feel like we are in the stormy boat with Jesus, shaking him to wake him up.
Friend, we know that, of course, Jesus cared whether the disciples drowned or not. At that moment, their fear came out as an angry question. We know Jesus loved them all the same. If you are in a stormy sea right now, perhaps you feel Jesus is sleeping through it or, for whatever reason, is not calming the waters you know he can. Forgive yourself if you’ve asked him angry questions out of fear or expressed your frustration to others that way.
Jesus knows your fear. Your life is in his hands. You are safe with him. While we know Jesus was asleep in this boat, we also know from Psalm 121 that the Lord who watches over us neither slumbers nor sleeps (verses 3 and 4). There is some mystery here, but know this: The Lord is in the boat with you. We are never alone.
Lord, thank you for your presence in my storms. Please forgive me for the times I have asked whether you are even in the storm with me, never mind the boat. Help me remember that you are with me whatever I go through, and I pray that you will help me to encourage others with grace when they are struggling through their own stormy waters. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Sal is married to Pastor Matthew Huckel, and they live in Victoria with their six children. Music, theology, literature and languages are passions the family share and explore together. Sal loves writing, speaking, and walking to the beach at every opportunity.
Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. Other seed fell into good soil and brought forth grain (Mark 4:7,8a).
Read Mark 4:1–20
I recently heard about someone who was daunted to read the Bible and didn’t know where to start. Perhaps sometimes we feel unqualified to read and understand God’s word, which is, of course, freely available to us in Australia and New Zealand – on our shelves and online. Or perhaps we don’t feel daunted so much as preoccupied by many things. We may not even notice that we are being distracted away from God’s word. Some of these thoughts and distractions could be considered the weeds that grow around the plants, choking them.
If you’re a person who enjoys these devotions but doesn’t know where to start in the Bible for your own personal reading, let this parable encourage you. We can hear the words and teachings of Jesus right here. He tells a story and explains it! Sometimes, we are encouraged to consider which type of soil we are. I also like to think we are gardeners, flinging about seeds and letting God judge the soil and the types of plants that spring up. Where do you place yourself today?
Perhaps we are all, at times, the plants themselves that are springing up but are at the risk of being dwarfed or strangled by weeds. Let’s do some weeding today! If God’s word is the seed, what’s stopping it from bearing more fruit in your garden? Lord God, thank you for the privilege of your word, available to me, to enable me to grow and bear fruit in your kingdom. Help me identify the weeds that stop me from reaching the potential growth you want for me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Sal is married to Pastor Matthew Huckel, and they live in Victoria with their six children. Music, theology, literature and languages are passions the family share and explore together. Sal loves writing, speaking, and walking to the beach at every opportunity.
Anyone who does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother (Mark 3:35).
Read Mark 3:20–35
In today’s reading, Jesus is in trouble again. Firstly, he is in trouble with the religious authorities because he is casting out demons. Their logic seems to go something like this: We are important religious people, true representatives of God’s people, and we can’t cast out demons. So these demons won’t answer to God. They must only answer to Satan, and if they can be cast out by Jesus, then Jesus must be a representative of Satan. Their argument doesn’t make much sense, and Jesus quickly refutes it. Jesus is God’s true representative because he is healing those people that Satan is seeking to destroy. God is indeed much more powerful than any demon.
Secondly, Jesus is in trouble with his family. They seem to think he is doing too much, isn’t even taking time to properly eat, and is upsetting the religious authorities. They’d like him to dial it back a little, not rock the boat and take things a bit more slowly. It seems like they are ready to stage an intervention (for his own good, of course).
These gospel stories often act as a mirror to our own thoughts and motivations. As proclaimers of God’s kingdom, are we ready to rock the boat? Are we prepared to take on the demons of our time? Or do we believe those messages that the world tells us – you aren’t good enough, you need more stuff to make you happy, you can’t make a difference to injustice and hatred, look after number one because no one else will, don’t rock the boat? Are we too busy caring for ourselves to spend time in the kingdom of God?
The Holy Spirit wants to fill us with the wisdom and courage, to choose life in the kingdom of God. The world wants us to reject God’s strength and depend on our own to choose death, separated from the only one who can save us. Choose life!
Lord of Life, open my eyes to the lies of this world of death. Help me to choose you – to choose life. Amen.
Neil Bergmann is currently the chair of Lutheran Earth Care Australia and New Zealand. A retired computer engineer, he worships at Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Rochedale, Queensland. He enjoys reading, cooking and spending time with his family.
Read Mark 2:13–22
There are many aspects of Jesus’ earthly ministry we look to as models for how we can proclaim the kingdom of God. We preach the good news through word and action. We examine God’s word in our Sunday services, youth groups, schools, community service agencies and electronic media. We care for and support our local communities through many different outreach activities, and we support the world’s poorest and most vulnerable through our national and international development agencies. We pray for the sick and provide practical care for friends and families who need it. These are all excellent examples of what it means to choose to spend our time in the kingdom of God rather than in the kingdom of this world.
In today’s story, Jesus models another challenging aspect of the kingdom. He eats with sinners and tax collectors. From our modern Christian perspective, we would rightly believe that we are all sinners (and also all saints), and we can rejoice because Jesus chooses to be with us, even though we are sinners. I don’t think that is the point of this story.
By sinners, I think Jesus is calling us to be in solidarity with society’s outcasts, those that we normally wouldn’t think of inviting, those who make us uncomfortable. And Jesus doesn’t just want us to help them; he wants us to eat with them and spend time with them, get to know them, and make sure they know the kingdom of God is something real and that they are welcome there. Luckily, even though this is hard, we don’t do it alone. The Holy Spirit is there to guide and support us.
Jesus, friend to the outcasts, help us to be generous, welcoming and hospitable to those the world tells us are unworthy. Amen.
Neil Bergmann is currently the chair of Lutheran Earth Care Australia and New Zealand. A retired computer engineer, he worships at Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Rochedale, Queensland. He enjoys reading, cooking and spending time with his family.