the Journey

Preview, tonight, at The Village... Your sins are hidden in Christ...

Tonight at The Village, I have the opportunity to teach... each week I have the privilege to lead the men in opening the Scriptures and diving into the core curriculum. 

Right now, we're in the class called "The Gospel of Grace," a 10-week or so look at the depths of the basics (I know, confusing but intentional phrase there). Here's things you can review if you would like:

The notes for tonight (with the answers): Download 04 Your sins hidden- PDF

The notes, without the answers: Download 04 Your sins hidden- blanks- PDF

The slideshow, printed in pdf format: Download 04 Your sins hidden- slideshow- PDF

The slideshow- in Quicktime. Click on it to advance the slides: Download 04 Your sins hidden- slideshow

Enjoy!

By the way, you can catch the ongoing notes and audio on the dedicated page we have set up for this.

Mark 7:31-37, Jesus heals the deaf/mute

The next story Mark relays to us happens back in Galilee, the hub of Jesus ministry. He simply tells us that Jesus left the region of Tyre and Sidon (7:31) and traveled back. This means, then, that he only tells us one story from the entire episode in the foreign region- namely the story of great faith (read: intense dependence on grace and mercy) that we studied in the last lesson.

Now, to understand this passage, it’s helpful to know the following:

• Jews in the ancient world linked all suffering- particularly deformities and abnormalities- with sin. You see this line of reasoning occur in John 9:2 when the disciples ask Jesus, regarding the blind man, “Who sinned to cause this to happen... the man or his parents... that made him be born blind?”
• There was no suffering without serious sin. And, in fact, the more suffering that people saw, the more grievous the sin must have been. This was the argument Job’s friends made against him- he lost everything and even had a disease akin to leprosy. Therefore, he must have done something horrible! God was surely chastising him, they reasoned. Even his wife told him to curse God and be done with it- die!

So, when we come to a man that has no hearing and no ability to speak, we can see quickly that we are dealing with a “bigger” sin (in those people’s minds than the average person (“average” sinners may get the flu or something less...). 

We think this, too. And, often, we place it on other people (“They must have done something to get __________”). Or, we even place the condemnation on ourselves:

• I lost my job because God is angry with me.
• We can’t have children (or keep losing babies) because of some hidden sin.
• I can’t lose weight, because...
• Our finances are always in jeopardy because....

Of course, Jesus is going to debunk all of this. And, he’s going to do so with this short passage here. Furthermore, I will add this: Many times it is our feelings of condemnation that keep us from seeing breakthroughs in our lives. It’s almost as if the condemnation strangles us. But, when we see God’s love and Christ’s acceptance, often the physical issues subside. We’ll study and see if this makes sense...

Notice that this man’s friends brought him to God (Mark 7:32). No doubt he felt condemned or shunned and, in all likelihood, would not go to Jesus to seek healing (as the woman in the previous story did!). He may feel not only “unworthy” to seek Jesus’ help- but he may even feel even lower than this!

So, friends bring the man to Jesus and implore/ beg Jesus to touch him (v32).

As well, it is interesting to see that Jesus takes this man aside, so as not to make a public spectacle of him. I believe this is out of respect for the man (so as not to embarrass him), out of respect for the proper place of healing in the church (not front and center- but something that should be addressed), and out of respect for the Cross (more about this in a moment).

Make note of the “healing formula” that Jesus uses (it’s really somewhat of an anti-formula. I have made note of four things that happen here:

• First, Jesus puts his fingers in his ears, and spits and then touches the man’s tongue (Mark 7:33) This seems bizarre- Jesus actually begins touching the man’s ears and spitting and tapping his tongue in the process of healing him. I was wondering why He might be doing this- and, it seems, that the simple answer may be two-fold:
• • He is showing the man what he can expect. The man cannot hear Jesus saying, “I will heal you,” as He often says to other people. This is, perhaps, the best way for Jesus to communicate with him- touch the ears to show that He will open them, and spit (on the ground?) and touch the man’s tongue to draw attention to the fact that He is about to loosen his mouth to speak.
  • Notice, too, that this would build the man’s faith. He would see and experience what Jesus was about to do and He was communicating to him. 
• Second, Jesus looks to Heaven (v34), which is the true source of His power. 
• Third, Jesus sighs (v34). This would, I believe, be a deep form of prayer. And, really, Jesus will need it. This is such a big miracle, recall, that most people in his day would have questioned what major sin is causing this issue. So, in this miracle Jesus is fighting against physical illness, the man’s own self-condemnation (I believe), as well as the traditions and customs of the day. By the way, the Holy Spirit is, even now, praying for us with these sighs and groans- and often we can pray in this way, too (Romans 8:26).
• Fourth, Jesus commands the man’s ears to be opened and his tongue to be untwisted with one command- not even a prayer at this point (perhaps He has already prayed and now it is time to walk in authority!) (Mark 7:34). Notice, that Mark translates for us- telling us what is said. I believe he does this so that we will know- there is no magic formula and no “hocus-pocus” here!

Of course, everyone is shocked and amazed at what Jesus does. Just as Isaiah 29:14f. prophesies that people will be awe-struck by what the Messiah does, these onlookers are flabbergasted- “He even healed a deaf/mute!” (7:37). 

And, of course, this type of healing was a definitive sign that Jesus Himself used to declare that He was the chosen one of God and was walking among them. When John the Baptist asked if Jesus was the One, He did not answer with a simple, “Yes, I am.” Rather, He sent word to John, “Tell him what you have seen... the deaf hear, the crippled run... the blind see...” (see Luke 7:22).

So, why then does Jesus tell the man not to tell anyone (see Mark 7:36)? Isn’t this the kind of publicity that Jesus would want? Again, it has everything to do with why He took the man aside (recall, 7:33), I believe...

• It is because we would put the miracles of Jesus at the forefront, and consistently beg Him for a sign (as the Pharisees did), completely missing on everything else that He had come to do.
• It is because, too, the miracles can only be understood in light of the Cross. All creation is in chaos, in many respect, decaying. When Adam and Eve sinned, not only did humanity “fall,” but all of creation “fell.” This is what we read of in Romans 8:20f. On the Cross, Jesus forgave our sin and started back the process of redemption for all of creation- which is awaiting its future glory. Now, there is pain and sickness- in the future, there will not be. The Cross it the hinge point that makes this decisive swap from one era to another.
• It is because, finally, the Cross settles the “I’m accepted by God” issue. If you walk around in condemnation, you will feel sick and depressed and the symptoms of that condemnation will emerge as physical abnormalities in some sense. It is in seeing that you are accepted that you can be free to accept more of the grace of God. Quite simply, grace begets grace. And, until you have determined that God includes you, that Jesus came for you, you will not defeat the demons that have haunted you.

I wonder what Jesus told this man when He took him aside and spoke to him privately (v33), as the Scripture relays. And, I wonder what He might have said to re-direct some of the man’s self-negative thoughts. It is clear that this passage is telling us that God accepted him. In the call of Moses, God Himself says that He is the only one that can cause man to speak..l (Exodus 4:11). So, here it is... God accepted him.

But, the man is freed to speak and then told not to tell everyone about this healing (see Mark 7:36)! So, then, did He tell everyone not to tell, because they would not understand- and would not be able to receive healing- unless they saw the full measure of Christ’s love for them on the Cross?

It is interesting that Jesus does tell the demoniac from the same region that he can tell people what the Lord has done for him (Mark 5:19), but then tells this man not to say anything (7:36). Indeed, He even tells the blind man He heals in a few more verses not to even return to his village (8:26)! Perhaps it is because people will clearly see that the demoniac has been set free of a greater spiritual issue, thereby overcoming condemnation. But, this point may not be clear in the deaf/mute and in the blind man.

The prophet Isaiah spoke of a time in the future (speaking of Christ- and the era that He would usher in) (quoting Isaiah 35:5-6,8):

5. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,

and the ears of the deaf unstopped.

6. Then the lame shall leap like a dear,

and the tongue of the mute shall sing for joy.

8. And a highway shall be there,

And it shall be called the Way of Holiness,

the unclean shall not pass over it.

This is an incredible passage, for it points to the healing of those who have obvious deficiencies in their lives. Blind. Lame. Mute. Remember, the taboos against these things- and how people thought they must have been shunned (or disciplined!) by God.

Then, notice that Isaiah says that even these people (shocker!) will not miss the on-rap to the new highway, the Way of Holiness that God is creating. He will accept them.

My feeling is that when we nail down the “I’m accepted” issue first, the healing often follows.

___________________________________

Questions to consider:

Notice that this man’s friends brought him to God (Mark 7:32). No doubt he felt condemned or shunned and, in all likelihood, would not go to Jesus to seek healing (as the woman in the previous story did!). Question.... who do you need to bring to Jesus for healing?

Jesus healed this man after praying with a command. What changes do you need to command; what do you need to speak to in order for something tangible to take effect? Is it telling an addiction to leave? Is it commanding a healing in your spouse or even yourself? Is it in claiming a new attitude or perspective...?

Jesus shows this man what to expect my touching his ears and tongue. In other words, He builds his faith about the breaking-in of the Kingdom. What signposts is Jesus showing us? What “faith-builders” are all around us that denote a new way in which we should walk? Are there things regarding provision? Healing? Ministry? Etc.? What is Jesus saying to us?

Does the Holy Spirit condemn you? What does the Holy Spirit do?

Mark 7:24-30, Faith & healing... (the Canaanite woman's faith)

Here are the notes from this weekend's teaching on healing- the audio will follow shortly. FYI, if anyone wants the DVD that we played in the morning service, those are available for pick-up at the warehouse- simply come by the office anytime...

The passage for this week is Mark 7:24-30.

There are two additional texts which are helpful in studying this passage, namely Matthew’s parallel account of the same story (see Matthew 15:21f.) and Matthew’s story about the Roman Centurion’s “great faith” (see Matthew 8:5f.). In all of the Gospels, these two characters are the only two (in my recollection) that Jesus denotes as having “great faith.”

At any rate, this story starts off a bit oddly. Jesus has recently encountered the Pharisees in a round about traditions and rules and regulations and what makes people clean and unclean. He heads on towards the Syro-Phonecian area of the country (go northwest from Jersualem), for some unknown reason (to us), and is engaged by this woman. Oddly enough, these were some of the historical oppressors of Israel.

Notice that He apparently wants to rest- the Bible says that “He entered a house and did not want anyone to know” (Mark 7:24). Of course, as is the case with Jesus, “He could not be hidden” (v24b). The woman in need found him (v25).

We read a few things about her situation:

• She is a Gentile, meaning she is not of the Jewish race- not one of the “chosen people” (this is a point of which Jesus will remind her in a moment) (v26).
• Her daughter is demon-posssed (though we do not know how old the daughter is) (also in v26).

She is breaking all social norms here:

• The Mishnah (a Jewish commentary on the Law) contains a prayer that most rabbis would recite several times a day: “I thank Thee, O God, that I am not a slave, a Gentile, or a woman.” She hits 2 of 3. Indeed, Jewish men would not associate themselves with women in public (which makes Jesus’ ministry- and Paul’s- all the more stunning).
• The Syro-Phonecians in the ancient world were oppressors of the Jews. THis would not be unlike a rich white woman walking into a slave plantation and asking a black pastor- interrupting him while trying to rest- to pray for her daughter. There would obviously be some tension in the air about whether this would be acceptable or not.

Jesus’ response to her is shocking, to say the least. He says to her (see Mark 7:27), “Let the children be fed first...” This would make sense, for we know that He was first sent to the House of Israel. They are the “children” of God to whom He is referring (see also John 8:39).

He takes this statement farther, though, and notes that “it is not right to take the children’s bread and give it to the dogs” (7:27b). Again, an odd expression. Understand, “Dog” was an expression used of Gentiles in that culture. So, Jesus may be saying that just as a parent would not take food from the dinner table and toss it to their pets, so also will He not take the blessing (bread: note that He is the bread of life) intended for the Jews and toss it to the Gentiles.

Let me point out that this is what we do see- non-theologically, just practically- because I believe that many people will relate to it. Two big points:

• God seems silent. Jesus has tried to hide Himself (7:24), and He has directly told her that it wouldn’t be right to take what was intended for someone else and hand it to her (v27). Make what you want of it- interpret it as a riddle or look for the deeper meaning... but, however you slice it, she had to hear the word, “No,” on some level. In Matthew’s version, it even says, “He did not answer her with a word” (Matthew 15:23). This is all the more remarkable to me when you see that she actually fell at HIs feet asking for help (see Mark 7:25). She did not approach Him disrespectfully or as an equal!!
• The people of God don’t seem to understand her plight, either. They do not seem sympathetic. In fact, Matthew also tells us that the disciples kept telling Jesus, “Send her away” (Matthew 15:23).

I find that many people who need a great miracle as this woman did (her daughter had a demon!) often feel the same thing: God doesn’t seem to be answering (Jesus was quiet!), and Jesus’ people are trying to push us away!

We know the end of the story- that the daughter does get healed. So, with that, what do we learn from this incident? There are options...

• Is this a lesson about persistent prayer, such as we see in Luke 18:1f., such that we should be like this woman and just keep pressing on, asking Jesus, even when the initial answer seems to be “no”?
• Is this a lesson about something else altogether...?

I think it may be about something else. Notice her response to Jesus: “Yes, but even the dogs under the table eat of the crumbs that fall to the floor!” (Mark 7:28). In other words, she says, 

• I do not want what is intended for someone else. I am not jealous of the healing they received- and want that for me.
• I do acknowledge my position. I fall at my feet because I am not worthy to stand before you. And, no, I am not an “insider” on this faith thing.
• I do not need a major breakthrough- for you. In my mind the situation is huge, but for you... this is just a crumb of what you can do. And that is all I need. I am not worthy of it, but I just need a tiny thing of you....

The Bible records that Jesus actually heals the daughter because of this statement: “For this statement go your way,” He says, “the demon has left your daughter” (v29). Matthew says that Jesus actually adds, “Great is your faith” (Matthew 15:28). Again, she was one of the two in the Gospels that Jesus marks as having great faith.

Now, I have often read this passage focusing on the faith issue- because she acknowledges she just needs a small thing of God- and Jesus commends her faith. Other passages in the Bible point out this dichotomy, too:

• Mark 9:19, The disciples do not have faith enough to cast out a demon (even though they have done it successfully before and been given authority to do so) and Jesus asks where there faith is, and how long He will have to endure them.
• Mark 9:23, Jesus explains that all things are possible to him who  believes.
• Luke 17:5-6, Jesus relays that “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed [note: the grain of a seed, not even the entire seed], you could say of this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”
• Matthew 21:24, Jesus says that you could command a mountain into the sea with the same (small amount) of faith.

I actually looked at the other account of “great faith” in the Gospels, that of the Roman Centurion (Matthew 8:5-13), to see if I could find out more of what this “great faith” might be. The situation in that story is simple: a centurion approaches Jesus because his servant is paralyzed, “suffering greatly” (Matthew 8:6). Jesus tells him that He will go with him and heal the man, to which the centurion replies, “I am not worthy for you to come under my roof” (8:8- remember the rule about Gentiles and Jesus being a rabbi, and this man being a battle-laden man whose group, the Romans, is oppressing the Jews).  He adds, “You can simply say the word and it will be done” (v8). And, he clarifies, “I, too, am a man under authority- I say to one soldier to do this and he obeys... and to another, that... and he obeys...” (v9). 

Jesus the marvels at this man’s faith, too, and tells him to go his way, that his servant is healed (v10), noting that He has not found this great of faith in all of Israel!

Now, when I read this story in the past, I often took it as “this man recognizes authority and that’s why Jesus says he has great faith.” The man simply understood that because he had “Rome” behind him, he could tell a soldier to march down the battle line and he would- because he had the force of the state by virtue of his position. The same, the centurion saw, was true of Jesus: He had the force of God behind Him and could command things to happen, and they would...

But there are problems in trying to link these stories together that way and make a “clear cut” explanation as to what “great faith” is.

First, there are so many differences:

Syro-Phonecian Woman	Roman Centurion
Mark 7:24f, Matthew 15:21f	Matthew 8:5f
She is a woman	He is a man
She is a home-maker, with no authority.	He is in a respected position and has authority.
She is likely in a low cultural/ social position- note that she comes to Jesus not her husband, not a brother, etc.	He is in a respected position, socially, culturally...
The disciples shun her and wants Jesus to run her off (see Matthew 15:23, specifically).	No word on what the disciples did. Jesus hung out and talked to the man, though.
Jesus was trying to hide Himself (Mark 7:24) and did not answer her with one word (Matthew 15:23). God seems silent.	Jesus talks to the man, even expounding upon theological themes, as we will see in a moment.
Jesus hides (Mark 7:24), and then gives her the spill on not giving bread to the dogs.	Jesus offers to go to the man’s house and heal the servant (Matthew 8:7).
It is the woman’s daughter- and she is demon-possessed. This would seem to be a closer relationship and a more important (even eternally-weighted) issue (Mark 7:25).	It is the man’s servant, and he is paralyzed. This is a physical issue, it seems- and not of a relative (Matthew 8:6).
Jesus points out to her that she doesn’t belong at the table- she reminds Him that she could be one of those dogs (Mark 7:28) under the table. He tells her that He was “only” sent to the lost sheep of the House of Israel (see Matthew 15:24).	Jesus points out to him that in the future all sorts of Gentiles will dine with Abraham and Isaac, etc., and that many of the “children” of the Kingdom will be gnashing their teeth (see Matthew 15:11-12).

On the other hand, the similarities in the story are simple:

• Both feel unworthy to have Jesus come to them:
• • She falls at His feet and begs (Mark 7:25), and asks for a crumb (7:28), even acknowledging her position as clearly “not” being one of the chosen people.
  • He notes that he is unworthy for Jesus to come under his roof (Matthew 8:8).
• Both involve the healing of a “long distance” miracle. Jesus is not physically present with the person being healed- He simply offers the command the evidence comes into fruition (Mark 7:28: Matthew 8:13).
• Neither of them are Jewish- and do not come under the Law. This means that they do not disqualify themselves based on their failure to keep the Law, nor do they pride themselves in having obeyed it perfectly- they simply come to Jesus humbly- and boldly- asking for what they need, knowing that His mercy (and that is their only plea) is capable.

Note that the final point above is important. If we look at Christ based on the Law, then you and I will feel one of the following, as mentioned above:

• Pride- we deserve for God to bless us, we believe, because of our actions and behaviors, or
• Fear- we realize that we do not deserve for God to bless us precisely because of the same actions or behaviors.

We do not see either trap happening in these stories. They boldly approach, but do so with humility:

• “I am not worthy,” he says (Matthew 8:8), and
• “Just a crumb...” she mentions, falling at His feet and acknowledging her place “(Mark  7:28, Matthew 15:29).

And, both of these people are like us. They are Gentile, and they are going to see Jesus do something long-distance.

My thought is that the story is not about “faith” so much as it is about bold, but humble dependence  upon God- the type that says, “I am not worthy... I have done nothing to deserve your blessing... but you are my only hope.” 

Our reliance upon grace and mercy in this way is precisely, I believe, what God sees as faith- it is a trusting in Him, in that there is no other hope and no other option for us. In fact, one pastor has termed it this way: “What we see as grace, God sees as faith” (Joseph Prince).

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Questions to consider:

What is our faith really in? Is it faith in “faith” itself?

What does it mean that Jesus is the author and completer (read: finisher) of our faith, according to Hebrews 12:12)? Does this mean that our “faith” can be lacking, so long as we simply lean on God’s mercy? Can we trust Jesus to complete what we do not have, in the same way that the man exclaimed, “I believe, help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24)?

It will be easier to lean on mercy when you “settle” the love issue, that God loves you and his for you, that He is not inflicting you or your child or another loved one with an illness, sickness, or a demon because of something you have done. Consider the verses:

• Romans 8:28f.
• Colossians 1:12- and note that you are “qualified” to share in the riches of His kingdom. Often, we try to disqualify ourselves, when He declares that we are, indeed, qualified.

Where has God seemed silent in your life?

Where have the people of God missed it- and perhaps pushed you away...?

What about this teaching surprises you?

What is freeing to you about what you have learned?

What do you need to pray for, that you perhaps gave up on? What do you need to start praying for, that perhaps you were afraid to start praying about?

Guns-N-Roses and Grace

The following video comes from You Tube. I searched it after reading Philip Yancey's book, What's So Amazing About Grace. He references the events on this video in the end of it. He mentions that, on the 70th anniversary of Nelson Mandela's imprisonment, a concert was held at Wembley Stadium. The crowd had been pumped into a frenzy, after a day of Guns-N-Roses, pot-smoking, and all the alcohol they could consume. 

In the end, a lone opera singer walked to the stage to sing- with on instruments and no background. The crowd, hungry for more lewdness, almost boo-ed her off stage. But, by the second stanza, something began to change... a hush came over the crowd. Almost as if grace had a pulling and uniting effect.

I've been thinking of it as we've been studying grace, landing on it, for the past few weeks during our long, long trek through the Gospel of Mark. I'm excited to share what I've been learning, of how God is teaching me and re-programming me from some of what I had "learned" before.

May grace have it's all-consuming work in each of us... 

Fasting, Lesson 02: What & how long to fast

For the sake of letting everyone work ahead- and come prepared- we're placing the notes up ahead of time. Here's the second installment of the fasting notes. We'll rock with these on Sunday, January 4, when the 21-day fast begins. 

Note: these are preliminary notes- more to come between now and the weekend, as well as some updates on these.

Download Fasting 02- What to fast & how long

Fasting, Lesson 01

This could be incredibly dumb or highly useful- not sure which. We're actually posting the notes to the Sunday morning teaching before Sunday. True, people can decide if they want to come or not based on that (I still encourage you to come; things always change somewhat between the plan and the actual delivery- weekend before Christmas we actually ditched the entire sermon and opted for a different one during the welcome time... anyway). The  hope is that people will take what's here and go deeper, coming ready to learn... with questions to be answered...

For the next few weeks, we're breaking from the series on the Book of Mark. We're going to start the new year with a fast. We'll talk about what it is, why we do it... all of that... and we'll actually start the first weekend of the new year.

More later. Here are the notes: 

Download Fasting 01- Start ministry like Jesus