Mark 8

Posted by Rach | Posted on 13-12-2006

Category : Bible, Bible Study, Mark

Hey there people, well I hope this finds you well and not too busy with the lead up to Christmas. I’ve spent my day doing Christmas shopping and it was so busy. It’s so easy to get caught up in the commercialised Christmas and forget that its actually something so much bigger..the birth of our Saviour! This leads me nicely into Mark 8.

Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand – Mark 8: v1-13

Jesus performs another ‘feeding’ miracle, not dissimilar to feeding of the 5,000…or is it? When I began reading this I began to question why Mark decided to include this…surely its repetitive and unnecessary? As I studied it more closely I realised that I was wrong. This miracle shows Jesus demonstrating his compassion for the people again:

“I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat” Mark 8:v2

The disciples, despite having seen Jesus feed 5,000 hungry people, question how the needs of the people will be met:

“But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?” Mark 8:v4

Do you see a pattern? The disciples still haven’t understood in their hearts who Jesus is and again they’ve doubted that He’ll be able to provide what they need. Jesus never fails them and he never fails us. Reading this encouraged me greatly, because it highlights the disciples weaknesses (similar to mine) and Jesus’ power, love and amazing patience. So when we just don’t get it, be encouraged that Jesus gets us and will be there for us and provide what we need.

Mark 8:v14-21 The Yeast of the Pharisees and Herod

Here Jesus warns the disciples about the yeast of the Pharisees:

“Be careful, Jesus warned them. Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod” Mark 8:v15

Jesus here is warning them of having the Pharisees viewpoint on life, but the disciples still don’t get it (I’m feeling sorry for them now). Jesus doesn’t want them to get caught up in things of the world and miss the truth about life and spirituality. So here’s the link with Christmas shopping, the yeast of the Pharisees could be said to be influencing the world’s take on Christmas. We’ve lost all sense of its meaning and its easy to just follow the crowd. Jesus was warning the disciples and us, and its something that I often need reminding of.

Mark 8:v22-26 The Healing of a Blind Man

Jesus is asked to heal a blind man, who has been bought to him by his friends. Jesus puts his spittle on the man’s eyes which I thought was a bit odd. Why did he use spit? Surely it wasn’t about the spit? Actually the spit was used to aid the man’s understanding and to aid his faith.

Mark 8:v31-38 Jesus Predicts His Death

This is where Mark begins to change and we can see where Jesus’ journey is leading…to the cross. Jesus turns his focus from the crowd to the disciples and preparing them for what is going to happen to him and them:

“He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again” Mark 8:v31

This is the beginning of the cost.

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Lunch – Week 9

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Posted by Rob Borley | Posted on 27-11-2006

Category : Bible, Bible Study, Lunch

This week we end our nine week journey through the four Gospels. Personally, I have found this really really helpful. Reading them straight through and relatively quickly has given me a new understanding of the events. Reading the different accounts so closely together means that they have still been fresh in my mind enabling a fuller comparison and giving a better overview which I know will add my deeper study. This is something that I really want to do again.

So to round us off:

Monday: John 13-14
Tuesday: John 15-16
Wednesday: John 17-18
Thursday: John 19-20
Friday: John 21

As usual, let us know what you think. What has God revealed to you? Share with us your thoughts and discoveries.

Also, we’d love to know what you think of ‘Lunch’ in general. This is something that, as I said above, I have gotten a lot out of and so I would love to see us take it forward. But what do you think? Have you found it useful? How should we proceed? Your ideas and comments are very welcome.

Rich is still ahve PC problems but should be back in action this week and I am sure will have some input for all of us regulars Lunchers.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Have a great week.

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Zechariah 9 – The Oracle

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Posted by Jo Borley | Posted on 21-11-2006

Category : Bible, Bible Study, Church, Zechariah

I am immediately struck by the combination of fulfilled prophecy and that which is yet to come. I wonder how Zechariah received a word of prophecy like this. Is it all a straight prophetic word or does it come from a flowing combination of his feelings, God�s general heart for his people and some prophecy? How much of what is written is prophetic and how much of it is his emotions?

I love the way Zechariah�s words change. Zechariah starts with what feels like condemnation upon Israel�s enemies, in a very conventional way, verse 4

ââ?¬Å?But the Lord will take away her possessions and destroy her power on the sea, and she will be consumed by fire.ââ?¬Â

This is a typically Old Testament way of viewing Gods power and Lordship. He will come with destruction and physical power. Then all of a sudden in verse 9 we hear ââ?¬Å?gentle and riding on a donkeyââ?¬Â. What a very different image, one that would be seen as weak.

I think that we can understand something of people�s disappointment and expectation when Jesus did not defeat and conquer the Romans. Not quite the victory they had in mind. This is a prophecy of victory, but with hindsight we know that the victory of Jesus upon the cross is in no way a human perception of victory. Only this exceptional plan would be worthy of God�s hand.

Verses 9 to 12 amaze me; I love it that Zechariah had these words 500 years before Christ. This really shouldn�t amaze me, if God can create the heavens a few prophetic words is nothing to him. After all he is the Lord of time. I wonder how we respond to prophecy that doesn�t seem to come true in our life time. Were people really waiting upon Zechariahs prophecies with expectation before the birth of Christ? Do we have prophets from the last thousand years whose words we are expecting to be fulfilled? How do we deal with prophetic words from our congregations?

I wonder if prophetic words are mixed up because of our humanity getting in the way of Godââ?¬â?¢s communication with us or if God intends it that way. Part of me thinks it has to be Godââ?¬â?¢s plan as itââ?¬â?¢s in the Bible, but I wonder if thatââ?¬â?¢s a bit close minded. Is it possible that some of what Zechariah has to say is from him and not God? Verse 8 says ââ?¬Å?Never again will any oppressor overrun my peopleââ?¬Â, this has clearly not been fulfilled. The question is, will it ever be fulfilled or is it the passionate desire of a good intentioned prophet?

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