Jesus, Rich in Compassion

As he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him,"...You know the commandments:‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’”

And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.”

And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. (Mark 10:17-22)

Neatly dressed, self-possessed, with an intelligent face and a purposeful stride--this is how I picture the man in this passage, who is referred to in the other gospels as the rich, young ruler. I wonder what was going through his mind as he wove his way through the crowds of Jesus' followers toward the Teacher himself. Did he glance discreetly at the disciples' rough robes and travel-worn sandals? Did he compare them with his own fine clothes and the glitter of the rings on his fingers? When he peered over his shoulder to make sure that his servants were still waiting with his camels, did he notice that none of these people had either servants or camels?

Whatever his impressions of Jesus' followers, the rich, young ruler managed to find Jesus and respectfully pose the question that would define him in Scripture. "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus starts talking to him about the law, and the rich young ruler shakes his head, unsatisfied with this answer. No, I've already tried that, he tells Jesus, wanting a different solution. So, Jesus offers this man a way out from under the law--sell everything you own and follow me, he says. The young man's face falls. This wasn't the answer he was looking for. Slowly, he turns and walks away.

The rich, young ruler stands out to me among the multitudes who came to see Jesus. Unlike many of his contemporaries, he understood that the law was not able to produce life in his soul. Sadly though, he still had the idea that righteousness could be obtained through the right system. So when he asks Jesus how he can have eternal life, I think he's not so much looking to be saved as he is searching for a better set of rules. When Jesus offers a new relationship governed by one rule--make Me your treasure--the man walks away disappointed.

Mark says it was Jesus' love for the rich, young ruler that moved him to offer such a challenging invitation. In his great compassion for us, Jesus will identify the thing that keeps us from following him and demand we give it up. Whatever it is, he will ask us to love him more than we love that.

Anger Management

"Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger. For the anger of man does not bring about the righteousness of God. Therefore, put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls."

Sin is frustrating. Frankly, it often makes me angry--angry with myself and angry with others. I can testify, though, that James' evaluation in the verses above is accurate: anger does not produce righteousness, not in me and not in others. Thankfully, God has given us some instructions in the verses above about how we can relate to one another in a way that shuts down anger and promotes righteousness, and how we can fight the inner battle of self-loathing and instead respond to the Spirit.

First, how can we respond to each other in a way that dispels anger and promotes righteousness? In typically practical terms, James says we can be eager to listen with understanding ("be quick to hear"), have a humble hesitancy to voice our own opinion ("be slow to speak"), and determine that we will not be easily provoked ("be slow to anger"). It's pretty simple advice, but in the heat of an argument, things can look complicated. My mind swirls with accusations and comebacks and "Oh no, you didn't!"s. I need simple.

What about when we are angry with ourselves? Sometimes I think my conscience has been replaced by the world's worst soccer coach. He berates me for all my mistakes, pointing each one out and telling me that I must be a fool, an idiot, an ingrate to keep messing this stuff up. But you know what? After one of those internal tirades, I never find myself resting in God's steadfast love or considering the ransom he paid for my sin. Do you know why? Because self-loathing is not repentance, and therefore, won't help us receive grace. Usually, this kind of anger is pride. I'm angry because I think I should have performed better than I did (the inner soccer coach takes over here), and I reproach myself out of pride.

So if I can't change my heart by reproaching myself, what am I supposed to do? Heaven knows I don't want to stay the way I am! James says first to "put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness;" simply, to stop sinning. Whatever it is, quit doing it. Then we are to "receive with meekness the implanted word." The Greek word translated as meekness is an interesting one. It means to be reined in, as in the way one would use the reins to direct a horse. It doesn't have anything to do with weakness, but with being controlled for a purpose. James says to receive from God as one being reined in, for the purpose of righteousness. And what are we to receive? "The implanted word, which is able to save your souls." I think this implanted word is the Holy Spirit, the ever-present counselor who plants God's words in our hearts to convict and encourage us. We can fire the angry soccer coach and rely on the Spirit to help us see our sin and turn from it.

The Road to Capernaum is Paved With Politics

I've had the opportunity to transport groups of teenagers to summer camp on long road trips. Something I enjoy about those hours on the highway is listening to their conversations. Sitting behind the wheel in my sunglasses, eyes on the road, I can listen intently during these unguarded moments and learn a great deal about the lives and hearts of my fellow travelers. I wonder what the conversation on the road trip to Capernaum was like. Because the Bible says "disciples" and not specifically "the twelve," this group of travelers probably included many of Jesus' followers, not just the twelve main dudes. They had just come from an intense teaching session in Galilee during which Jesus revealed that we was going to be killed (Mark 9:30-32).

I imagine this teaching was weighing heavily on their hearts, and kicking a rock out of the road with his sandal, maybe one of them finally said, "Look guys, I hate to even bring this up, but someone will have to pick up where Jesus leaves off. John is one of Jesus's closest friends. He could complete the mission." After a moment of stunned silence, perhaps someone replied, "No, no, that won't work. John's great, but he just doesn't have that spark. We need a leader who is bold and fearless. I think I could follow Peter if Jesus...you know...wasn't around anymore." Then another guy pipes up, "Peter's got a lot of grit, but he's just so argumentative..."

I wonder what the twelve disciples were thinking as their leadership potential was being debated. Did they chime in? Did James say, "I think John's great (really, you know I love you, John) but you guys are right--he doesn't have that thunder that Peter's got." What about those who were found lacking in leadership potential? I wonder if Andrew was a bit miffed that no one thought to throw his name out there as a potential candidate. Maybe Thomas thought, What makes any of these guys think they're cut out for leadership? Peter wouldn't last a day. Honestly, I'm the only one with sense enough to lead this group.

Jesus is so gentle in the way he reveals our sin. In Mark 9:33-37, we read that he waited until he was alone with his disciples at the house (not publicly rebuking them) and asked, "What were you discussing on the way?" He is well aware that they were not discussing, but were in fact arguing. And not just arguing, but arguing out of pride and ignorance. His question causes them to re-evaluate their conversation, giving the Holy Spirit room to work. The Spirit makes them aware of their true motives, and their guilty silence answers for them.

However, Jesus is not interested in guilt trips unless they are short detours on the way to renewed understanding and freedom from sin. He does not say, "Don't do this," without also adding, "Do this instead." So he gathers the twelve for a lesson in servat leadership. "If anyone would become first, he must become servant of all." In God's kingdom, we do not promote ourselves, we devote ourselves. I think that Jesus wants his followers to see themselves as caretakers rather than competitors. The greatest thing we disciples can do is immitate Jesus by forsaking self-promotion and devoting ourselves to others, especially to those who, like children, can offer us nothing back and may not even appreciate our sacrifice. In this way, we immitate Jesus, the Greatest of the Great, who did not consider equality with God something to be held onto, but who humbled himself in love and gave himself up for us (Ephesians 5:1-2, Phillipians 2:1-8).

So, Jesus....How Was Your Weekend?

I'm not sure what your Saturdays usually look like. Mine are pretty relaxed--sleep in, spend time with friends, maybe read a book or catch a movie. Recently, I read a passage in Luke that describes a Saturday in Jesus' ministry (4:30-41). He had just arrived in Capernaum and began his day at the synagogue, teaching with authority that astonished his listeners. At some point in the sermon, a demon-possessed man interrupted Jesus, announced Jesus' messiahship, and threw himself on the floor. Jesus didn't miss a beat and immediately silenced the spirit, commanding him to leave the man. And that was His morning.

Next, Jesus headed to Peter's house, where he was introduced to Peter's sick mother-in-law. Jesus rebuked her fever and she promptly began serving as hostess. By dusk, word had spread throughout the town that a visiting rabbi had shaken up the synagogue and the spirit world. As the sun set and the sabbath concluded, sick and possessed crowds fill the streets outside Peter's home, anxious to be touched by this man with a power that makes darkness shudder.

By the end of the day, Jesus had healed everyone who came to him. My study Bible points out that he could have performed a "group healing" and gone to bed early. Instead, he tends to each person's need. Jesus "laid his hands on every one of them and healed them" (Luke 4:40).

What a beautiful picture of Jesus' ministry this passage paints. Both then and now, the broken and weak line the way to the only One who can help us, hope and hurt written across each face. We don't know much about him yet, but we know he is powerful and kind. Along with David, we can testify "that you, O God, are strong and that you, O Lord, are loving" (Psalm 62:11-12) Who is like Jesus? He confronts evil and sickness without reservation and with total victory. He takes time to teach and talk to people, and isn't just concerned with displaying his power and authority. And this was one day in his ministry! I am so impressed with Jesus--on Saturday and every other day!

George Mueller on Personal Devotions

Below, I've copied and pasted a (long) selection from George Mueller's autobiography. He shares what God has taught him about the purpose and benefits of meditating on Scripture. In case you are not familiar with George Mueller, he was an English dude who cared for over 10,000 orphans in his lifetime, all without making a single financial appeal. He literally prayed in his funding, millions of dollars worth. He took such good care of the poor that, at one point, he was criticized for raising them above their "natural station." Basically, I love him. So, here you go:

"...I saw more clearly than ever that the first great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day was, to have my soul happy in the Lord. The first thing to be concerned about was not how much I might serve the Lord, how I might glorify the Lord; but how I might get my soul into a happy state, and how my inner man might be nourished.

For I might seek to set the truth before the unconverted, I might seek to benefit believers, I might seek to relieve the distressed, I might in other ways seek to behave myself as it becomes a child of God in this world; and yet, not being happy in the Lord, and not being nourished and strengthened in my inner man day by day, all this might not be attended to in a right spirit.

I began therefore to meditate on the New Testament from the beginning, early in the morning. The first thing I did, after having asked in a few words the Lord's blessing upon his precious word, was, to begin to meditate on the word of God, searching as it were into every verse, to get blessing out of it; not for the sake of the public ministry of the word, not for the sake of preaching on what I had meditated upon, but for the sake of obtaining food for my own soul.

The result I have found to be almost invariably this, that after a very few minutes my soul has been led to confession, or to thanksgiving, or to intercession, or to supplication; so that, though I did not, as it were, give myself to prayer but to meditation, it turned almost immediately more or less into prayer. When thus I have been for a while making confession, or intercession, or supplication, or have given thanks, I go on to the next words or verse, turning all, as I go on, into prayer for myself or others, as the word may lead to it, but still continually keeping before me that food for my own soul is the object of my meditation.

[Formerly,] ....I almost invariably began with prayer, except when I felt my soul to be more than usually barren, in which case I read the word of God for food, or for refreshment, or for a revival and renewal of my inner man, before I gave myself to prayer. But what was the result ? I often spent a quarter of an hour; or half an hour, or even an hour, on my knees, before being conscious to myself of having derived comfort, encouragement, humbling of soul, etc.; and often, after having suffered much from wandering of mind for the first ten minutes, or a quarter of an hour, or even half an hour; I only then began really to pray.

I scarcely ever suffer now in this way. For my heart being nourished by the truth, being brought into experimental fellowship with God, I speak to my Father and to my Friend (vile though I am, and unworthy of it) about the things that he has brought before me in his precious word.

As the outward man is not fit for work for any length of time except we take food, and as this is one of the first things we do in the morning, so it should be with the inner man. We should take food for that, as every one must allow. Now what is the food for the inner man? Not prayer, but the word of God; and here again, not the simple reading of the word of God, so that it only passes through our minds, just as water runs through a pipe, but considering what we read, pondering over it, and applying it to our hearts.

How different, when the soul is refreshed and made happy early in the morning, from what it is when, without spiritual preparation, the service, the trials, and the temptations of the day come upon one!"

A Discerning Hunger

In his novella, Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad describes the depravity of hunger:

"No fear can stand up to hunger, no patience can wear it out, disgust simply does not exist where hunger is; and as to superstition, beliefs, and what you may call principles, they are less than chaff in a breeze."

I have not experienced the kind of hunger Conrad describes, but this quote made me think about some of the similarities between physical and spiritual hunger. Physical hunger reminds me that my body needs things it cannot produce on its own, namely food. However, we experience hunger not only so that we eat food, but for the larger purpose of sustaining life. Likewise, spiritual hunger reminds me that I am not self-sustaining and that my desires are meant to lead me beyond mere satisfaction to life and righteousness. I could dig for my meals in a dumpster and walk away feeling full, but I probably wouldn't live very long if I made that my habit. Similarly, I could fill the desires of my soul with things that produce a sense of satisfaction, but ultimately lead to death.

Paul told the Corinthians, " 'Everything is permissible'—but not everything is beneficial...not everything is constructive" (1 Corinthians 10:23). Our English word "holy" is derived from the root, hal, meaning whole, and from which we also get the words hale and healthy. In order to be holy (whole, healthy), we have to feast on the food of God's word, revealed in the person of Jesus and imparted through the Holy Spirit. Plenty of things will satisfy, and they are not all bad, but we must ask God for a discerning hunger, a craving for his provision that will not be satisfied with any fullness obtained apart from righteousness.

In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus encourages us to pray confidently for these things :

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." Matthew 5:6

Let's ask God to develop in us a hearty appetite for the Bread of Life, a decided preference for the fare of Heaven, a daily indulgence in fresh mercies.