Questions for next time

At our next meeting, we will read the message in Mark 12:18-48. This part of the message is loaded with meaning for the mission of the Twelve and for our mission.

1. To disprove the resurrection of the body, the Sadducees try to trip up Jesus with a contrived example based on the Torah. Does Jesus answer by saying Moses and the Torah are wrong?
2. The wise scribe went toe-to-toe with Jesus about the heart of the Torah. Who won, Jesus or the wise scribe?
3. What else does Psalm 110 say about the Messiah?
4. Jesus and the Twelve observe a widow as she drops some coins into the treasury of the temple, for alms. How does her example jibe with the the message of the fig tree, the parable of the vineyard owner's son, and the overall message that the Twelve must eventually publish far and wide?

We will tackle the Temple activity of this part of Mark's gospel and consider our own actions through these and other questions on Thursday morning before sunrise.

Hic est hæres

There are several kinds of greetings to the Messiah, coming to Jerusalem, both actual greetings and greetings in a parable:

1. Bartimaeus, outside Jericho: Jesus, Son of David, have mercy upon me.
2. General crowds at the gates of Jerusalem: Hosanna!
3. Tenants in the parable of the vineyard: "Hic est hæres," Here is the heir, let's kill him.

It is a somber comparison, because we also know EXACTLY who this last one is, the only Son of the Father. Are we closer to good and faithful Bartimaeus or to the wicked tenants in the parable?

What are you looking for?

What is the center? Where is the center? As Nathanael the Apostle found out, the center is not a place or a thing.

"The Church. . . believes that the key, the centre and the purpose of the whole of man's history is to be found in its Lord and Master."

Questions for next time

We will study the Messiah's saying about authority and his parable about the vineyard. Here are some questions to think over.

1. What did Jesus do or say that lead the chief priests, scribes and elders to question the authority of Jesus?
2. Was there another incident in Mark's gospel where "the man" questions the authority of Jesus?
3. What does Isaiah 5:1-7 tell you about the heart of the Messiah?
4. Does the parable of the vineyard teach further along the same road as the fig tree?

We strive toward the Lord's heart, and seek the Lord's wisdom in Mark's gospel, through these and other questions on Thursday morning this week.

Rachel's Vineyard

There will be a Rachel's Vineyard workshop for women in about a month, Nov. 13-15. We plan to generate some more support for the healing program. Joe gives a run down on what they need. Good.

A lesson from the fig tree

Len works his way with us through the main lesson of the fig tree.

Faith, the Temple and a fig tree

We discussed the anomalous fig tree. Jesus cursed it, even though it was not in season for fruit. What does that signify for us as we study the lecture notes from Peter's School of Evangelism?

Grace to see

All through Mark's gospel, we see frequent healings by Jesus, and even his Twelve get an internship mission to heal and preach. Which is the best of all the healings?

I vote for the blind begger, Bartimaeus. "Son of David, have mercy on me," he cries out. "O Lord, I want to see."

Life, action, existence

O Lord of hosts, in you I live and move and have my being.

Change me, O heart of life, inspire every aspect of my being.

O Lord of hosts, in you I live and move and have my being.

Questions for next time

Some questions to think about in Mark 11.

1. Mark mentions the people who welcome Jesus to Jerusalem. Are these people of Jerusalem the first to mark him as Son of David?
2. Prophet Zechariah mentions the merchants in the house of the Lord. How does Jesus fulfill that prophecy?
3. The Lord gave Isaiah a word, "...my salvation is about to come, my justice, about to be revealed." (Isaiah:56:1). How else does that word to Isaiah relate to the happenings on these first two days of Jesus in Jerusalem?
4. Cephas points out the withered tree to Jesus. Why does Jesus use this as a moment to teach about faith?

There are a lot of questions to think over here in chapter 11 of Mark's gospel, and we will tackle them early on Thursday morning.

Salt

Here are some noteworthy comments from early Thursday morning last week, concerning the meaning of salt.

1. Len: salt thrown into a fire causes the flame to flare brightly.
2. Bob: it is the supreme test of faith, like the centurion at the Cross, who said, "This is the Son of God."
3. Joe: to keep peace and to have salt in oneself, one must keep honoring God, praying and living out the message.
4. German: Salt is your initial burning enthusiasm.

This last comment reminds me of an admonition of the Messiah, in Revelation,

Yet I hold this against you: you have lost the love you had at first. (Rev. 2:4)

Faith that makes its power felt

We look again at faith, Sept. 24, and how it makes its power felt.