Author: newlifenarrabri

Reflection on Mark 10:1-12

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Scripture

“This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united to one. Since they are no longer two but one let no one split apart what God has joined together”

Observation

Jesus leaves Capernaum and travels down to Judah and the area east of the Jordan.

Some Pharisees try to trap Jesus with a question about divorce. Jesus says that, although the law of Moses permits divorce, it is only as a concession to the hard hearts of men. From the beginning, God intended a man and woman to leave their parents and become one. They are no longer two separate individuals, but one flesh. Therefore no ne should separate what God has joined together.

Later, when he is alone with his disciples, Jesus says that anyone, man or woman, who divorces their spouse and then remarries commits adultery.

Application

This section of scripture really confronts many of our society’s ideas, about sexuality and marriage.

Marriage in the Bible is a man and woman coming together to be one flesh.

There is no room for two people of the same sex coming together and calling it marriage.

Marriage is meant to be a lifelong commitment. In God’s plans for his people, there is no idea of easy divorce. God joins a man and wife together. It is not up to us to separate them, nor is it up to the couple to end the relationship.

There are times when a husband or wife Is seriously abusive to their spouse. This is egregious and, I believe, nullifies the marriage covenant. Divorce is also allowed when one party commits adultery.

Marriage is more than a contractual agreement. Strong loving marriages create strong families and confident children who mature to be responsible adults. Strong marriages reduce welfare dependence and other draws on the government.

Christians must take a stand for marriage, no matter how unpopular that is.

Listen

Lord, what do you want to tell me about marriage?

Keith, I brought you halfway across the world to connect you with Margaret. Of course that is not the only reason I persuaded your parents to migrate from England to Australia, but it was part of it. Your marriage is one that I established. I joined you and Margaret together and I am committed to strengthening the bonds that hold you together.

Over the years, I have blinded you both to opportunities for adultery. When evil spirits attacked your relationships, it was in those times that I gave you greater love for one another.

Other marriages do not have my blessing in the same way. If people marry foolishly or in rebellion against me, I have not joined them together. They are on their own. Marriage gives some protection, but without my blessing it is much harder.

So honour your wife and love her and let our partnership be the three stranded cord that cannot be broken.

The Long Weekend

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What does Easter mean to you?


Is it all about the bunnies and the eggs? I love chocolate, but this year they seem to be even more expensive than filling the fuel tank.


One headline I saw said this: “Modern Aussie Easter made easy: Barramundi with charred pineapple and a stunning upside-down apple & quince cake” So it’s all about the food then.


For other people, the long weekend is a perfect time to get away, possibly camping. Four days off work and time to de-stress.
The hardware shops will all tell us now is the time to buy that camping gear and paint the house, definitely a mixed message there.


So what is Easter about?


It all goes back to around the year 33 AD in the city of Jerusalem. Jesus Christ had become a problem for the authorities. His ability to draw crowds with lively preaching and miracles of healing was upsetting the religious authorities. Worse still, there was the possibility that riots might erupt, political turmoil develop and the occupying Roman authorities clamp down on everybody.


The religious and civil leaders hatched a plan. They rigged a show trial, complete with false witnesses who claimed that Jesus was stirring up trouble, The Roman governor didn’t have any qualms about crucifying one more Jew.


So on the day we now celebrate as Good Friday, Jesus was nailed to a cross at about 9 o’clock in the morning, dying six hours later. He was buried in a tomb. The authorities thought that episode was over, and life could get back to normal.


However, on Sunday morning, the day we call Easter Sunday, it became clear that Jesus had risen from the dead. Over the next few weeks hundreds of his followers reported seeing Jesus alive, in a restored body.


Easter is a celebration of two things.


We remember that Jesus died for us on Good Friday. His death paid for the things that we did that are wrong.


We also celebrate that Jesus has won the victory over death. He died and returned to life and promises that everyone who trusts him will also live forever.


The most famous verse in the Bible says, “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.


That promise is for you if you will believe it.

Reflection on Mark 9:38-50

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Scripture

“Salt is good for seasoning But if it loses its flavour how do you make it salty again? You must have the qualities of salt among yourselves and live in peace with each other.”

Observation

John tells Jesus that they saw someone casting out demons in the name of Jesus, but he wasn’t in their group, so they told him to stop.

Jesus says they shouldn’t stop people doing things A person who uses Jesus’ name to work a miracle is not going to say bad things about Him.

He goes on to say that anybody who leads other another person to sin will be judged severely, and anyone whose hand or foot or eye causes them to sin, they should remove it. It is far better to go to heaven impaired than to go to hell with all of your body parts intact.

Application

We usually interpret Jesus’ statements about salt as referring to the way individual christians bring flavour and preservation into society. But here Jesus is saying that we need to have salt amongst ourselves.

Christianity is meant to be lived in a community. “Lone Ranger” christians, in my experience, tend to be less sanctified, less mature, and less effective in living for Christ. We encourage one another In our walk with Christ as we share and talk together.

Jesus is not looking for just any random collection of followers. He wants us to “have salt” amongst ourselves. This means we build a robust community that allows people to be all that God wants them to be. Sometimes there may be confrontation about sinful actions, or unhealthy attitudes, sometimes there will be encouragement to go deeper in the Lord or to start something new with the Lord.

A church without the salt of the Holy Spirit is just another club. We need the Spirit to mould us together in His peace.

Listen

Lord, what would you say to me about this passage?

Keith, you have done well in directing, encouraging, and moulding your community of faith. This always needs to be done in my grace and with my Spirit.

Leadership in the church generally should be gentle, except when confronting great wickedness.

Show the same grace when people sin repeatedly, as I show to you when you sin repeatedly.