Mark 10:35-45, Hebrews 5:1-10 In the gospel of Mark, James and John ask Jesus if they could have the high status of sitting next to Christ in glory. In answer Christ asks the question of whether they can drink the cup – basically go through the same suffering Jesus will go through and be metaphorically baptized by fire like Christ will be. To this they reply yes. Jesus confirms that they will actually do so – little do they realize what this will mean. However, he can not appoint who will sit next to him, only God can. The other ten disciples when they hear of this arrogance of James and John become angry with them. Jesus turns this into a teaching moment turning the hierarchy of the world upside down. He says he who wants to be great must be a servant. In regard to James and John wanting first place in the seating Christ says who ever wishes to be first must be a slave of all. He hits them with a surprising sentence – something they didn’t expect. It is that he, the Son of Man, ca...

Job 9:1-4,14-16,32-35; Hebrews 4:14-16 Job’s complaint in chapter 9 is that there is no way he can reach God to take God to court to declare his innocence. He is not sure that if he summoned God that God would answer. In verse 29 Job says, “What’s the use of trying.” Then he states what our Hebrew scripture will later fulfill. “If only there were a mediator between us, someone who could bring us together…then I could speak to God without fear.” But Job bemoans he can’t do it in his own strength. Some translations use the word advocate for mediator – like a lawyer to help us in our defense. The Hebrew word can also be translated as umpire – an impartial judge who would make bargaining safe. Hebrews answers his plea, yet it comes years later after Christ has done his work on the cross for us bringing us justification to God. Jesus is said to be the great high priest. In the Old Testament the Israelites would offer sacrifices to a priest who would forgive their sins. This is no longer...

  Psalms 26, Job 1:6-22 These two scriptures have been put together quite interestingly. In Psalms 26, David is asking to be tested while in Job the accuser, some believe to be the devil, asks that the righteous Job be put to the test. David is known as a man after God’s heart as expressed in this Psalm, but he is also known as one of the greatest sinners. Did David with Bathsheba stand up to the test? Job is described as blameless and upright. So, what is the temptation sent to him? It’s losing everything and terrible sores on his body. Yet he passes the test. He does not curse God. I love his statement that I myself was able to claim after I lost my dream car in an accident, “The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” David in his Psalm gives reasons why he himself is blameless and upright. He talks about walking in integrity and faithfulness. Walking is a metaphor used to describe how one behaves in all aspects of life. He has unwavering ...

  Mark 9:38-41, 49-50; James 5:13-20   The disciples are concerned. Someone who is not one of them is casting out demons in Christ’s name. Jesus here doesn’t agree with their exclusivity telling them to welcome those who are not against us since they are for us. This makes me think of the different denominations who serve the risen Christ. We are not to be against them since they are outside our group. Their goal is the same to serve Christ. Whoever welcomes you or gives you a cup of water because you bear the name of Christ will not lose their reward. Then Christ uses the metaphor of salt. If it’s good it does good, but if it loses its saltiness it isn’t effective anymore. So, Christ tells them to have salt in yourselves – concentrate on your own spiritual life versus condemning those who are not in your group. Be at peace with one another. This is counter to those who argue and are dogmatic about their point of view versus being peaceable. James tells us how to keep th...