(One Year Bible Blog post & readings)

Interesting little parenthetical in the Gospel reading:

let the reader understand

This stands as a reminder that while the four Gospels record historical events, they are stories unto themselves. Inspired by God, yes; but also written by particular men to a particular audience in a particular setting. We would do well to remember this.

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(One Year Bible Blog post & readings)

I guess this technically makes me current.

First, I’m struck by the contrast in offerings found between our Torah passage and our Gospel reading. Of the widow’s two mites Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others."

This other bit from our Gospel reading also caught my eye:

All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

In my head, I guess I’d always heard it as a threat of exclusion: Only those who stand firm will be saved. Today, I’m hearing a note of encouragement: Stand firm, because you will be saved. A matter of emphasis, I guess. And I’m inclined to think the latter is more consistent with both the tone of the passage and the tone of our Gracious God.

++ God will redeem my life from the grave; he will surely take me to himself. ++

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… and into Sunday…

Jesus continues his pursuit of the Cross. Finnaly, the Pharisses and Saducees are out and ready for a debate. And one by one Jesus shuts them down.

Now, lest we lump the whole lot together, let’s remember the teacher who asked Jesus what the greatest commandment was. He was not out to trap Jesus; he was not far from the Kingdom at all.

++ For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end. ++

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(One Year Bible Blog post & readings)

And onto Saturday…

Hope appropriate to begin Lent with Mark’s Passion stories. Jesus, heading back into Jerusalem, back to the Temple. Ready for the showdown. Ready to tear it down.

Knowing where the story is headed, puts these words from our Torah reading into sharp relief:

Moses and Aaron and his sons were to camp to the east of the
tabernacle, toward the sunrise, in front of the Tent of Meeting. They
were responsible for the care of the sanctuary on behalf of the
Israelites. Anyone else who approached the sanctuary was to be put to
death.

++ Thanks be to God for the New Covenant ++

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The weekends remain busy as ever. I had a chance to catch up Sunday night, but we hit the sack early. So, let’s try to sneak a few posts in throughout the day. First things first:

Four Books down; 62 to go!

Now, I’ve really come to appreciate this section of Mark. Something about the flow, the coming into and going out of Jerusalem. The sense of narrative grabs me. This, however, is something I just noticed today:

Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple. He looked around at
everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with
the Twelve.

It’s almost as if Jesus missed the party. He’s looking for trouble, for a confrontation and a showdown, for the crowds and the Pharisees. When he turns up late and sees that there aren’t many folks around, he decides to head home and try again tomorrow.

For some reason this is making me think about a recent episode of My Name Is Earl. In it, Earl is trying to fulfill a few simple requests to a buddy in the slammer: hometown newspaper, donuts from a local shop, and a visit from grandma. Easier said than done. Earl has to keep starting his day earlier and earlier in order to make it to the jail before visiting hours are over.

The connection to our Gospel reading? Maybe none. But maybe it’s like this: Jesus has a mission, something he needs to get accomplished. And, by golly, he’s gonna get it done. So it didn’t work out the first day; donkey was ornary; the Twelve needed one too many pee breaks on the way in. ("Peter, stop touching Andrew! If I have to stop this Procession, so help me…") No matter. Jesus just tried again the next day.

Some things just need to get done. I think the Cross falls in that category.

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(One Year Bible Blog post & readings)

My heart has been heavy today. Probably a little fatigue, a little winter blues, and a bit of Lenten anticipation. Nevertheless two sparks of hope break in. This, from our Gospel reading:

Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.

“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.

The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”

“Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

On the road to Jerusalem, Bartimaeus is healed. And in my barren front garden, deep purple tulips and radiant green daffodils have just now pierced the surface of the earth in their search for the sun.

“Cheer up!” calls the Rose of Sharon, the Lily of the Valleys. “On your feet! I am calling you.”

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Odd little story about the blasphemer inserted in the midst of the Levitical Code. Passages like these are tough; they make God appear capricious. (Others will say righteous and holy; still others will say, “semantics.”) I’m not sure what to do with it. It is Scripture, and thus inspired. But it’s hard to weave such a picture into the same tapestry as the images of mercy and grace. So, for now, I leave the images attached only by the barest threads, tacked to one another so I can more easily shift them around should I be given eyes to see down the road.

May God bless you this Lenten season.

++ We are brought down to the dust; our bodies cling to the ground. Rise up and help us; redeem us because of your unfailing love. ++

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Before I get into the readings, let me mention this: Lent starts tomorrow. I put together the following playlist for Kerri to use during her devotions:

Here I Am To Worship – Tim Hughes

Open The Eyes Of My Heart – Sonic Flood

Hungry – Kathryn Scott

Kyrie – Matt Maher

Meet With You – Tom Fisher

How Deep The Father’s Love For Us – Sarah Sadler

Kindness – Chris Tomlin

Hard To Get – Rich Mullins (I prefer the Demo version)

I Am The Bread Of Life – John Michael Talbot

Peace (A Communion Blessing) – Rich Mullins

Create In Me a Clean Heart – Keith Green

You Are My King – Passion

Give Us Clean Hands – Chris Tomlin

Sing (Your Love) – Hillsong

Peace – Robbie Seay Band

(iTMS iMix link)

Assembled with the help of my friend Tom Fisher, it centers on the mystery of the Cross and the Last Supper. There’s a mildly hopeful note at the end, but I’ve intentionally cut the story short: This is a Lenten resource; Easter Sunday is yet to come.

What do you think? What do you recommend for Lenten listening?

(BTW – If you’re interested in Tom’s music – and you should be! – pop by his website. He’s not in the iTMS, but I think he’s got an MP3 or two available for sampling, in addition to his CD. Alternatively, drop me a comment or an email, and I can hook you up as well.)

Moving onto the readings, it seems appropriate to read about the Israelite festivals on the eve of Lent.

++ In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever. ++

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No comments today; just checking in to say I’m with everyone.

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