Monday, January 19, 2015

Readings for Sunday, January 28, 2015

Hello Everyone,

I receive a daily email, actually only Monday through Friday, called “Sound Bites”. Last Thursday this came to my email:

"Ever since the creation of the world God's eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the things God has made." (Romans 1:20)

People cannot see your faith. So they judge your faith by what they can see. People will trust their eyes long before they will ever trust your words. What do your visibles say about the invisible things you believe? -- Author Unknown

Reaching new people with the Gospel of Jesus is about what we do first and what we say next. In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus’ actions bring the people to awe and wonder, though for some it is a challenge to the status quo and their authority. When Jesus does something people follow him and listen to his word. We have seen this in the first two chapters of Mark and it continues in chapter 3.

Mark 3:1-35

At the beginning of the chapter Jesus is still in Capernaum, the base of his operations. After pronouncing that the Son of Man was the Lord of the Sabbath (2:28) Jesus goes to the local synagogue on sabbath. Everyone was watching him because a man with a withered hand was there. Jesus asks the religious authorities and the crowd, “Is it was lawful to do good or to harm on the sabbath; to give life or to kill?” Hearing no response he simply tells the man to stretch out his hand which he does. The Pharisees then began to plot against Jesus. Jesus’ fame grew so much that crowds followed him wherever he went and the sick constantly tried to touch him to be healed. From all of the people who followed him, Jesus chose twelve to be apostles whom he sent to other villages to preach the good news and cast out demons. As his fame (or infamy) grows his family in Nazareth becomes worried and the scribes and Pharisees begin to circulate rumors that Jesus’ power can only come from Satan. Jesus says to them, “How can Satan cast out Satan?”. When Jesus’ mother and brothers arrive in Capernaum to take him back to Nazareth, Jesus questions the “true” family ties. Who are the true brothers and sisters of Jesus? Are they not the people who works with God in furthering God’s Kingdom?

Questions to ponder:
1. What is the wrong Jesus comes to set right?
2. How can Satan cast out Satan?
3. How can Jesus seemingly reject his mother?

Lectionary Lessons:
Jonah 3:1-5, 10 – Just read the entire 48 verse story of Jonah. Why doesn’t Jonah like the Ninevites? Why does Jonah pout at the end?

Psalm 62:5-12 – Trust nothing in this world but only trust God who has the power and the steadfast love.

1 Corinthians 7:29-31 – I had to a double take to see if I had the right passage. The time is short for the present form of the world is passing away.

Mark 1:14-20 – Jesus calls Simon, Andrew, James, and John away from their work as fishermen.

Have a great week serving others and proclaiming the love of God.

Peace in Christ,
Pastor Gary Taylor

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