Scripture

“Whoever wants to be a leader among you must first be your servant.”

Observation.

Jesus and his disciples are on their way to Jerusalem. The disciples are filled with awe, but the people following are filled with fear

Jesus tells the disciples that he is about to be handed over to the Romans, who will mock him flog him and kill him, but after three days, he will rise again.

James and John come to Jesus to ask if they can have the places of honour next to Jesus when he comes into his kingdom. He tells them they don’t know what they are asking. To receive the place of honour, they must first share in his suffering.

The other disciples are indignant about what James and John have asked. Jesus calls them together and tells them that leadership in the kingdom is about serving others and not about loading it over them.

Application

Over the last decade or so, it seems that people have become aware of a self-appointed class that seeks to elevate themselves above ordinary people, imposing rules and values that are foreign.

They like their positions of importance, their titles, and the influence they have. They scorn those who disagree with them as deplorables and low information voters.

This is not the style of leadership which Jesus anoints. Our leadership comes firstly through servanthood.

In the Paradoxical Kingdom of God, we rise by lowering ourselves, we are honoured through serving.

The people of honour in God’s kingdom, are those who listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit and busy themselves obeying him, The person who cleans the church building, or feeds the homeless or prays with the hurting, is at least as significant, if not more so, than the greatest celebrity preacher.

Listen

Lord, is there more you want to say to me about this passage?

Keith. it all comes down to attitudes .Proud people, entitled people, these people can never be useful in the Kingdom. Many of them cannot even be saved because they will not humble themselves to repent.

Many who are now considered great in the world and in the church have not learnt to serve, and so they cannot hold places of importance.

Scripture

“In fact it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God”

Observation

After Jesus finishes talking with the rich young man, he tells his disciples that it is hard for rich people to enter the kingdom of God.

Jesus goes on to say that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter God’s kingdom.

The disciples are amazed, and they ask, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus replies that humanly speaking this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible.

Peter says, “Lord, we have given up everything for you.”

Jesus replies that anyone who gives up family or possessions for God’s kingdom, will receive 100 times that, along with persecution. But they will also enter into eternal life.

Application

Jesus uses a ridiculous illustration to show that it is hard, impossible even, for rich people to enter God’s kingdom.

Some people try to soften this picture by saying that there was a narrow gate into the city of Jerusalem which was called The Needle, and camels, had to be unloaded to pass through them. There is no historical evidence that such a gate existed, and the story only goes back to the 12th century.

Jesus is really saying that it is impossible for rich people to enter God’s kingdom by their own resources alone. The point is that nobody can buy God’s favour, not even the wealthiest person you can think of.

Jesus goes on to say that this is impossible for people, but with God, all things are possible.

Jesus is the only way into God’s kingdom. Rich people and poor alike have the same opportunity to trust Jesus, turn away from their sins, and enter into eternal life.

Listen

Lord, what else do you want to say to me concerning wealth and the kingdom?

Keith, I delight in blessing people with an abundance of possessions. Nobody was ever intended to live in the grinding poverty that still exists in many places. This was never my plan.

But when people love their possessions so much that they become their gods, they can no longer rely on me. They begin to think their wealth is a sign of my special favour.

To enter my kingdom, people must learn to look to me alone for salvation. They don’t have to give away their things, but they do have to learn to lean on me and not on their stuff.

Scripture

Jesus said to them, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them for the kingdom of God belongs to those who are like little children.”

Observation

Some parents bring children to Jesus to have him bless them. The disciples scold them for bothering him. Jesus rebukes them and says they must let the children come for the kingdom of God belongs to those who are like little children. He then blesses the children.

A man comes running to Jesus and asks him what he must do to be saved. Jesus says to him, “You know the Commandments.” The man tools Jesus that he has obeyed the since he was young.

Jesus then tells the man he must sell all of his possessions and give the money to the poor. Then he will have treasures in heaven and can come and follow Jesus. The man goes away disappointed.

Application

Jesus loves children and he welcomes them into the kingdom. This is a central fact that we must always remember. In the midst of doing God’s stuff, we can get so involved in the importance of what we are doing for the Lord that we dismiss the people we consider unimportant or irrelevant to the task at hand.

I have seen the celebrity pastors so full of their importance in God’s kingdom they have no time for adults, let alone children. It is a trap for all of us. We must take time for the children, the elderly, those with disabilities

Spending time with the least important people, especially children pops our bubble of self-importance and gives us both joy and humility.

Listen

Lord, what do you want to say to me about children?

Keith, every adult was once a child, but many seem to forget about this, They want children to fit into their adult sized plans.

I want you to honour and respect all my people. Develop a culture in church where everybody is level, especially children.

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.

Scripture

He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to him and said, “Whoever wants to be the first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.”

Observation

Jesus and the disciples travel through Galilee, keeping a low profile so that Jesus can spend time with the disciples. Jesus tells him that he will be betrayed into the hands of his enemies. He will be killed, but three days later will rise from the dead.

When they arrive at Capernaum Jesus asks them what they’d been discussing on the road. He knew they’d been arguing about who was the greatest. Jesus tells them that those who seek to be first must be the servant of everyone else.

Jesus goes on to say that if anyone welcomes a little child, they welcome him and in welcoming him, they welcome the Father.

Application

It is human nature to put our own desires first. Many leaders in politics, churches, organisations etc, take on leadership roles to exercise power over others Often it is dressed up in other terms, such as being the best person for the job or the one qualified to run things.

Christians must always resist the temptation to push ourselves forward. Christ came to serve not to be served, so our attitude must always be that of a servant.

In the long run, every church needs the person who cleans the toilets ss much as they need the celebrity pastor How few people volunteer, for this first role.

As a pastor I’ve always believed my first aim is to serve. I try to do this with humility and honesty. This applies to every job, every position.

Live to serve those around you.

Listen

Lord, what would you say to me today about taking the last position?

Keith, people sometimes confuse this form of humility with self-negation, It is about seeking to serve the people around you, in any way that you can. It doesn’t mean trying to humiliate yourself.

There are people who see a situation and think, “Somebody should do something.” But others say, “How can I help?”

The way of Jesus is the way of serving.

Never try to say to raise yourself higher than I have placed you.

Wherever you are, whatever you are doing. let my love and my grace flow into the lives of the people around you.

Scripture

“What do you mean ‘if I can?’” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.”

Observation

Jesus and the three disciples come down from the Mount of Transfiguration to find a commotion happening between the remaining disciples and some teachers of the Law.

One of the men in the crowd comes to Jesus and explains that his son has a demon that prevents him from talking, and it tries to kill him by throwing him into the fire or water. The father had asked the disciples to cast the demon out but they could not.

Jesus has the boy brought to Him. The evil spirit throws the boy into a convulsion.

The father asks Jesus, “Help us if you can.” Jesus replies that all things are possible for anyone who believes.

Then Jesus addresses the spirit and tells it to come out. The spirit then throws the boy to the ground and leaves him.

Later, when the disciples are alone with Jesus, they ask him why they couldn’t remove the demon. Jesus Tells them that this kind can only be cast out with prayer.

Application

Jesus tells the father, “Anything is possible for the person who believes.”

They are various New Age and New Thought teachers who say that if you believe, the universe will change shape, so that whatever you want, will just come to you by the power of your thought.

This is not what Jesus is teaching!

Although he doesn’t explicitly say the words here, this is about trusting in Him and trusting in the Father. Faith must have an object or it is not faith. Who do you believe? Who do you trust?

Removing a demon that inflicted muteness was one thing, that many teachers In Jesus’ time believed that only the Messiah could do. As followers of Jesus the Christ, that is the Messiah, we have the authority to cast out all demons with a word, or sometimes a prayer.

Listen

Lord, why do some demons require prayer to remove them?

Keith, the truth is that you can only remove demons through my authority, and that means, listening carefully to my Spirit, and then doing and saying what I tell you. There is a trap that you can move from trusting my authority to believing in your own authority.

These spirits that have tormented a person with physical manifestations are harder to remove, especially when they have been in the person for many years. These are the spirits that need prayer – prayer for discernment, power and authority. Often, there is more than one spirit tormenting these people. Listen carefully Do not rush. Pray to expose all of the spirits.

Scripture

Jesus went on to say, “I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Kingdom of God arrive in great power.”

Observation

Jesus tells the crowd that they will see God’s kingdom arrive in great power.

The following week Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up to a high mountain. Jesus’ appearance is changed and his clothes become dazzling white. Moses, and Elijah appear and talk to Jesus.

Peter talks about building shelters to memorialise the event. Suddenly a cloud overshadows them and a voice says, “This is my dearly loved Son; listen to him.”

Then, just as suddenly, everything goes back to normal. They descend the mountain. Jesus tells them not to tell anyone about what has happened.

Application

When Jesus talked about the Kingdom of God coming in power, he was not talking about the end of the world or the Second Coming. This is about an event close in time, so that some of the people standing there would see it.

The two most common suggestions for the event are the resurrection of Jesus and the destruction of the temple in 70 A.D.

When Jesus rose from the dead, he demonstrated God’s victory over death, The pouring out of the Holy Spirit, a few weeks later, transformed the disciples so radically that, within decades, Christians were a powerful voice in the Roman Empire.

When Jerusalem, particularly the Temple, was destroyed in 70 A.D. it marked, the end of the Old Covenant. The sacrificial system and the law were finished, and the death of Jesus superseded the endless sacrifices.

We are blessed to live in this time when the kingdom of God is advancing forcefully across the Earth.

Scripture

then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn fro your selfish ways, take up your cross and follow me. If you try to hang onto your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, and for the sake of the good news, you will save it.”

Observation

At Bethsaida, the people beg Jesus to heal a blind, man. Jesus takes the man, leads him out of the village, and then spits on the man’s eyes to heal him. At first, the healing is incomplete, but then Jesus lays hands on him a second time and he can see normally

Jesus takes his disciples to a different region along the way he asks them, “Who do people say I am?” This leads to Peter’s confession, that Jesus is the Christ.

Jesus calls to the crowd and the disciples and says that anyone who wants to follow him, must turn from his wicked ways, take up his cross and follow him. To hang on to our life, we must give it up for the sake of Jesus and the good news. If we are ashamed of Christ, he will be ashamed of us on the day he returns.

Application.

I often feel that the church of the 21st century has softened the gospel and watered down the requirements of discipleship. Here Jesus gives us three steps for being a disciple.

1. We must turn from our selfish ways. Being a disciple means that we give up our old self-centred lifestyle and genuinely repent of our sins. This is not a matter of words, but of changed actions.

2. We must take up our cross. The man carrying a cross was a marked man. He was marked for execution and was already as good as dead. As Christians, we learn to put God’s way ahead of our own desires and ambitions and understand that God’s ways are better than our ways.

3. We must follow Jesus. He has a unique path for every person. For one person the path may lead to overseas missions For another it might lead to volunteering in an aged person’s home. We seek his path, not our own path.

We don’t die to ourselves for its own sake, but for his sake.

Listen

Lord, it seems odd to me that you were unable to completely heal the blind man immediately, What was this about?

Keith, you must remember that in my body of flesh, I was both human and divine. On this occasion, I missed a complicating factor. This man was blind bu both a physical cause, and by an evil spirit, When I first laid laid hands on him, the evil spirit left. But cataracts remained which meant that he could still only see partially

This actually happens quite often. Some illnesses, as you know, have multiple causes, and a quick prayer for healing is not enough. This is why Mark Virkler talks about healing as spiritual warfare.

Sometimes it is straightforward, but other times, there may be two or more steps required.