Home thoughts from abroad.wordpress.com

Mark 9:28, 29: Restoring the power 2: Prayer.

^“28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, ‘Why couldn’t we drive it out?’ ²⁹ He replied, ‘This kind can come out only by prayer.” NIV UK

In the church, we often find ourselves in the selfsame position as the disciples in this story. We are powerless in the face of evil. But we shouldn’t be. We don’t have to be.

In yesterday’s thought, I asked the question: ‘What makes for a powerFULL church? I said that Jesus places three ‘keys’ into the hands of His followers. The first one is faith.

The second key is prayer. The church that learns to kneel before God in prayer is on the way to experiencing His power. I don’t think there has been a powerful move of God that did not begin with the blended knee (metaphorically speaking). The commentator, Matthew Henry, famously said, ‘When God intends a great mercy for His people, first He sets them a praying.’ This has been the story of revival after revival. It might be just a few people who catch the vision; who feel the burden. But revival fires are lit in prayer, and are stoked by prayer.

Somebody said, ‘Little prayer, little power; some prayer, some power; much prayer, much power. I think most Christians (probably all) instinctively know this is true. But who will ‘pray the price’? We are experts at paying lip service to what we know about prayer. Is it any wonder that so many churches are so very weak, and find themselves impotent in the face of great human need?

The increase of faith is very much linked to prayer:

‘We all have some faith, but it is mixed with unbelief, with doubt. We must continually ask Jesus to increase our faith, so that our doubt and unbelief may be overcome. It is mainly because of unbelief that we receive so little from Christ and that our work for Christ is so weak and ineffective…Prayer is the means of receiving power. We must combine prayer with faith. Without faith, our prayers are ineffective; without prayer, our faith is ineffective. For effective praying, faith is necessary; and to obtain faith, prayer is necessary. The more we pray, the more will be our faith. The more we believe, the more effective our prayers will. In Matthew 9:29, Jesus says: ‘’According to your faith will it be done to you.’’ Praying in faith is like turning on the switch of an engine: if we do not turn it on, the engine will not run.’ Tom Hale: ‘The Applied New Testament Commentary’,p.248.

PRAYER: Lord God, please pour the Spirit of prayer upon your people. Teach us to pray.

Mark 9: 14-28 Restoring the power 1: Faith.

^“14 When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. ¹⁵ As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him. ¹⁶ ‘What are you arguing with them about?’ he asked. ¹⁷ A man in the crowd answered, ‘Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. ¹⁸ Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.’ ¹⁹ ‘You unbelieving generation,’ Jesus replied, ‘how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.’ ²⁰ So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. ²¹ Jesus asked the boy’s father, ‘How long has he been like this?’ ‘From childhood,’ he answered. ²² ‘It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.’ ²³ ‘“If you can”?’ said Jesus. ‘Everything is possible for one who believes.’ ²⁴ Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, ‘I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!’ ²⁵ When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. ‘You deaf and mute spirit,’ he said, ‘I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.’ ²⁶ The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, ‘He’s dead.’ ²⁷ But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.  ²⁸ After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, ‘Why couldn’t we drive it out?’” NIV UK

We don’t want to be the impotent church in the valley of need; powerless in the face of destructive demonic forces, do we? Does anyone reading this want to sign up for an insipid expression of their faith? I hope not. But how can things be as different as we know they can be? As different as they need to be?

In this passage Jesus places three ‘keys’ into the hands of His disciples.

What makes for a powerFULL church?  The first key is:

1. Faith: Jesus rebuked everyone present that day for their lack of faith – including the dad, I think. He used the words ‘’if you can’’ to Jesus (22). Jesus picked him up on them in (23), quoting his own words back to him with a question mark behind them. He could heal the boy. That was not in doubt. The question was, could he believe? (23, 24). In timeless, candid words, the dad admitted that he had some faith, mixed with unbelief, and that’s where most of us are. We stand in his shoes, and look at disturbing realities through his eyes. In Matthew’s version of this story, the first thing Jesus says in reply to His disciples’ question: ‘’Why couldn’t we drive it out?’’ (Matthew 17:19), is, ‘’Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you’’ (Matthew 17:20). That’s what happened when Jesus evicted the demon (25). It’s an example of perfect faith in operation.

‘Even though his faith were small, it would suffice; the tiniest seed can appropriate the chemical products of the soil, and transmute them into digestible products; the narrowest channel will suffice for the passage of the waters of the whole ocean, if you give time enough. Let us not worry about the greatness or smallness of our faith; the main point is as to whether it is directed towards the living Saviour…For every thought of thy little faith take ten thoughts of his faithfulness.’’ F.B.Meyer: ‘Great verses through the Bible’, p.382.

PRAYER: Lord, increase our faith.

Mark 9:14-16: The valley of need.

^“14 When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. ¹⁵ As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.  ¹⁶ ‘What are you arguing with them about?’ he asked.” NIV UK

As I read this story today, my heart prayed, ‘Don’t let us be a powerless church down in the valley of need.’ God has not placed us here to show off our impotence.  We are located in the valley of need. It’s a dark valley – afflicted by demons. It has people in it who are Satan’s victims; they are damaged by him. The situation is desperate. It calls for prayer, faith and fasting, as we will see. ‘’The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy…’ (John 10:10), and this is his patch.

There is a form of religion that doesn’t really care about people (14). It finds fault and picks fights. It is miserable and grumpy and mean-spirited. It loves an argument much more than loving fellow needy humans. The teachers of the law weren’t getting on with healing the boy; they were just criticising and talking. There is a form of churchianity that does just the same in the valley of need. It is useless, and I want no part in it.

But real Christianity shows people Jesus (15), and when he is seen things happen. Jesus divides of course. He disturbs some (20-22; see also 17, 18); deeply disturbs them, and destructive forces are unleashed at the sight of Jesus. This is demonstrated by the worldwide persecution of the church. It’s never gone away. The demons hate Jesus; they fear Him. They are disturbed by His presence. They loathe the sight of Him and they fight like mad. They hiss like snakes and bark like dogs. So you can see a fiercely negative response to Christ. But for many others, when they see Him, they run to Him (15). They are ‘’overwhelmed with wonder’’ (15).

May the beauty of Jesus be seen in His church. Jesus magnetises. Just let Him be seen.

‘There is a new surge of interest in the impact of an attractive Christian life these days, as a major instrument in evangelism…Sheer friendship is at the heart of it, friendship for people whether they come to faith or not. And we take into that friendship a vibrant, though unvocalised, friendship with Christ. In due course it is bound to show…We have got to be living close to him ourselves, and that simply has to show in the way we behave.’ Michael Green: ‘Evangelism through the local church,’p.405.

Mark 9:9-13: Ordinary days.

Christians do not live on the mountaintop. Although we may have mountaintop experiences, sooner or later we have to come back down. We return to ordinary days and mundane realities; to wet Monday mornings, to mysteries, to unanswered questions, to hostility. (Consider what happened to ‘’Elijah’’ – John the Baptist in other words: the forerunner of the Messiah. He was a good man and he got treated very badly. This is the kind of thing that awaits us in the valley). We have to come down from the mountain of glory to the valley of knotty problems, as we will see (14-29). But when we do come down, may we carry something from the mountaintop with us, and bring it to bear on the desperate needs in the valley below. If we have seen something of Jesus’ glory, we know just where we need to reflect it.

PRAYER: Help me, Lord Jesus, Light of the world, to shine for you in earth’s darkest valleys.

Mark 9: 2-8: If you know what’s good for you

^“2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. ³ His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. ⁴ And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. ⁵ Peter said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters – one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ ⁶ (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.) ⁷ Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: ‘This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!’ ⁸ Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus. NIV

‘’Rabbi, it is good for us to be here’’ (5).

For obvious reasons, this must go down as one of the greatest understatements of all times!  Only three living men (plus two already dead) got the opportunity to be on the mount of Transfiguration. Nevertheless, every time we are able to meet in fellowship with other believers, and with the Lord Himself, we can say in faith: ‘’…it is good for us to be here.’’ We may feel nothing, of course, but chances are we will catch a glimpse of Jesus’ glory, and hear the Father’s voice (7). We will become re-focussed on Jesus (8) and His cross. Luke’s account tells us that Moses and Elijah ‘’appeared in glorious splendour, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem’’ (Luke 9:31). They were literally talking about ‘’his exodus’’ – the deliverance He would enact by His death.

So, when we gather together, around Jesus, centred in His cross, we can truly say, it is ‘’good for us to be here.’’

 PRAYER: Thank you Lord for worship, prayer, fellowship and teaching, down at the feet of Jesus.

Mark 9:1-4: Go with Jesus

“9 And he said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power”. 2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. 4 And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.

The transfiguration of Jesus was the divine confirmation of Peter’s affirmation (8:29). It made an indelible impression on the apostle. Years later he was to write:

‘’We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honour and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, ‘’This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’’ We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain’’ (2 Peter 1;16-18).

Are you ready to go with Jesus wherever He wants to take you? (2). Why would we fear to travel anywhere He might lead us? You may find He takes you right into His glory cloud. But not all Christians have the same experiences of Jesus. All are saved; all are equally loved by God and find themselves the recipients of His grace. Yet in the sovereign purposes of God, some people see things others do not. God has His reasons. Ours is to trust Him. Not all the twelve got to experience the mount of transfiguration, just these three. Do you envy Paul’s ‘’visions and revelations from the Lord’’ (2 Corinthians 12:1)? Well, would you also like to share his sufferings (2 Corinthians 11:16-33)? Some believers are given unusually vivid and ecstatic encounters with Christ in His glory. God knows why He chooses to bestow these on some and not on others. Our task is to fix our eyes and ears on Jesus, and go with Him when He indicates it’s time to move.

I have to lead and speak at a Christian funeral tomorrow, and I’m heartened by what I read here (4). From this verse we see that believers who have left the earth do not die (1 Thessalonians 4:13,14). Also, as the disciples recognised Moses and Elijah, men they had never met, so we will know one another in heaven. This thought transfigured my heart with glory today, even as I considered it. What a hope we have with which to ‘’encourage each other’’ (1 Thessalonians 4:18).

In verse 1 of this chapter, Jesus may well have been referring to His transfiguration. Or it may be about His resurrection, ascension and outpouring of the Spirit. But it can’t be a reference to His second coming, because the people who heard Jesus’ words that day have long since died.

PRAYER: Lord, I want to go with you wherever you want to take me. May I see more and more of your glory.

Mark 8:34-38: The price tag.

^“34-37 Calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to saving yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? What could you ever trade your soul for?  ³⁸ “If any of you are embarrassed over me and the way I’m leading you when you get around your fickle and unfocused friends, know that you’ll be an even greater embarrassment to the Son of Man when he arrives in all the splendor of God, his Father, with an army of the holy angels.” The Message

There is a cost to following Jesus. Finger the price tag. Jesus did not give us any ‘small print’ in His ‘terms and conditions’.

‘All Christians are called to be disciples. Let us never suppose that there are two kinds of Christians; one kind that follows Jesus and suffers with Him, and a second kind that can lead an easy life. There is only one kind of true Christian; that is, a disciple.’ Tom Hale: ‘The applied New Testament Commentary’,p.245.                                                                    There is a call to:

• Denial (34a): self-denial. It must no longer be ‘me first’ but ‘Jesus first.’ At least a part of this self-denial is letting go of the kind of Messiah we imagine (32,33), for the One we actually have. Being a genuine Christian is difficult. This is why some people who appear to come to Christ, turn away after a while;
• Death (34b): ‘’and take up his cross…’’ This is the first time Mark mentions the ‘’cross.’’ Not only were criminals crucified; they also had to carry their own cross to the place of execution. For Jesus’ listeners this could only mean one thing. They had to be prepared to suffer and die for Him. Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who lost his life because of his opposition to Hitler and the Nazis, said, ‘When Jesus bids a man come and follow Him, He bids him come and die.’
• Direction (34b): ‘’and follow me.’’ The call is to follow Jesus all through life, and on into eternity;
• Decision (35-37): Choose Jesus over the world – over worldly advantages and blessings. However, Tom Hale helpfully (and correctly, in my view) balances this up by saying: ‘Usually…once we have given up worldly advantage for Christ, Christ blesses us in worldly things (see Matthew 6:33; Mark 10:29-31…) The abundant life that Jesus promised to his followers (John 10:10) begins here in this world.’ But, he goes on: ‘…let us not fool ourselves: We cannot seek after Christ and worldly blessings at the same time; we must choose (see Matthew 6:24…).’’ ‘The applied New Testament Commentary’,p.245;
• Declaration (35-37): We are to declare our allegiance to Jesus publicly. Let us not be ashamed of Jesus. He does not encourage secret discipleship.

 Mark 8:31-33: That sounds tempting.

^“30-32 Jesus warned them to keep it quiet, not to breathe a word of it to anyone. He then began explaining things to them: “It is necessary that the Son of Man proceed to an ordeal of suffering, be tried and found guilty by the elders, high priests, and religion scholars, be killed, and after three days rise up alive.” He said this simply and clearly so they couldn’t miss it.  ^32-33 But Peter grabbed him in protest. Turning and seeing his disciples wavering, wondering what to believe, Jesus confronted Peter. “Peter, get out of my way! Satan, get lost! You have no idea how God works.” The Message

We can so identify with Peter, can’t we? One minute flying, soaring; the next taking a dive. We can be so ‘up and down’ in our experience. Just when you think you’re getting somewhere, you trip over the step yet again.

It is remarkable to see how frequently and ‘’plainly’’ Jesus spoke about His death and resurrection. But the disciples just couldn’t get it. They had no thought category into which they could fit a suffering Messiah. No doubt the others were thinking similarly, but as so often, Peter acted as spokesperson for the entire group. In his words Jesus discerned Satan’s accent. This was the voice that had tried, unsuccessfully, to dissuade Him from the way of the cross in the wilderness. He would again face this temptation in the garden of Gethsemane. Here and now Jesus dealt ruthlessly with the devil. He would not turn aside from His God-given mission. There was a ‘’must’’ (2x in v.31) about the death and resurrection of Jesus. The will of God made it necessary. He would not be deflected.

Tom Hale points out that when you seek to do God’s will, there will be friends, family, colleagues, and so on, who will want to prevent you. They may well be acting out of concern for you, but people are often not on the same page as God (see Acts 21:10-14; Matthew 16:23; Colossians 3:2 and Isaiah 55:8,9).