The story of Palm Sunday is one of my favorites. Christ’s triumphant entry is a story about how God is greater than our expectations. The people of Jerusalem expected one thing, but God had a better plan in store.
As Jesus rode through the city, the crowds chanted “Hosanna” which means “Save us.” Right then and there, the people of Jerusalem were expecting Jesus to gloriously lead a battle to rescue them from the Romans. Except, that is not at all what Jesus or God had planned. Not long after, some of these same people shouted, “Crucify him!” Sadly, they did not see what was right in front of their noses. That Jesus was saving them. Just not in the way they had wanted or thought. They limited God. They put the Messiah in their own little box of expectations.
We are no different.
So many times do we allow our expectations to limit God. I’ve done it. I’m guilty of telling God how He can fix a problem. Throughout my young adult life, I was constantly giving God suggestions on how to give me a boyfriend. It was ridiculous, I know. The God of the Universe did not need me to offer advice on how to write my love story and thank goodness He did write it! I will be happily married six months come Friday. The man God had chosen for me was certainly worth the wait – even if it all came about in a way I wouldn’t have expected or chosen.
I’ve also found myself limiting God. In college I suffered from hip alignment issues that caused intense nerve damage. Due to this, I wasn’t able to dance like I used to do (I was trained in classical ballet for ten years). During this time, I never really relied on God for healing. Sure, I prayed about it, but I didn’t ever actually believe anything would come of it. Somewhere during the early months of my diagnosis, I had just decided that God wasn’t going to heal me. It was not that I believed he couldn’t, but rather, I thought he had bigger issues to deal with than me. I was not dying of cancer nor was I paralyzed. There were people worse off than me that needed God’s healing. I knew that wasn’t the way God operated, that He is big enough to care about all His children, but, I had allowed my bitterness to blind me of the truth. After about three years of this, a woman from church took me aside to remind me that God can heal me. I started to put in the work, got back into doing my physical therapy. I began dancing again – even if it wasn’t to the same extent as before. The following summer, I took my first dance teaching job. Since then I have worked for three different dance studios, taught countless classes, and helped produce four Nutcracker performances. I nearly lost out on the chance to do any of this because I had put God into a box. I limited His power with my own expectations.
It is amazing what can happen when we open our eyes to the vast power God has. He is an incredibly creative problem solver. Instead of having Jesus vanquish the Romans on the day of his triumphant entry, God had him enter the city on a lowly donkey. Since it wasn’t what people were expecting, they were easily led into believing that Jesus was not the promised one after all. It wasn’t what they wanted at the time they wanted it, and so, they turned away.
This week I encourage you to open your eyes, to look for the ways God is working in your life – outside the box.
Questions:
Are you limiting God?
Is there an area of your life where you’ve allowed your expectations to prevent you from seeing God’s answers?
Prayer
Dear God,
Thank you for being bigger and greater than I can imagine. Thank you for sending your son, not just to save the people of Jerusalem, but all people, including me. Open my eyes and help me see your work in my life. I don’t want to be blinded by expectations that I miss something amazing. In Jesus’ name,
One of the things taught in most of Christianity is that Jesus came into Jerusalem only one time and it was a great celebration of his kingship and carried out by all who were so glad to see him. It is commonly called “Palm Sunday”. The people calling him the “Son of David” is the same as calling him “king” by the people there. They wanted him to come to the capital there and throw out the Romans and Greeks and then set up his kingdom on earth right then and there. This record in Mark 11 is about the first day before Passover that Jesus comes into the city. I took the reading from the Revised English Bible (REV) on the Spirit and Truth’s website.
Jesus’ entrance to Jerusalem on this day is one of rejoicing and great celebrations by the people. “Hosanna” is literally “God save us”. They are saying “God save us by the one who comes in the name of Yahweh”. Heady stuff and sure to make both the secular leaders of the Jews (mostly Sadducees) and the Romans soldiers and administrators very unhappy. The Jews didn’t want to upset the cozy formula they had worked out to go along and get along. Also to keep the money train going in the Temple and with the tourists coming there. They had the money-changing tables where whatever money the people had would be exchanged for the official money to be used in the Temple, with a large profit margin going to the changers. The other commerce area set up was to sell sacrificial animals and was also in the outer court. The outer court was called the court of the Gentiles where all nations could come into the Temple area. This is why Jesus says to them that the Temple was designed to be a blessing for all nations, but you have turned it into a den of thieves.
Jesus on this entrance to Jerusalem comes into the Temple and looks around and then leaves and goes back to where he is staying in Bethany (probably at the house of Mary, Martha and Lazurus).
Mark 11:1-26 THE MINISTRY OF JESUS IN JERUSALEM (REV) The Triumphal Entry
The next day he gets up early in morning and for the second time goes on the road going to Jerusalem. On the way he sees a fig tree and because he is hungry goes to the tree expecting to find figs. The record says that when he gets to the tree it has no figs, but Mark also says curiously that the time of figs is not yet. He then curses the tree, and it dries up from the roots, also not the way that trees normally die. This is a picture of how Israel has failed in God’s purpose at this time. See this explanation from the REV commentary attached here.
(REV Commentary ) “seeing a fig tree.” The fig tree was one of the trees in the Bible that symbolized Israel. This particular fig tree was a fitting parable of Israel. It was in full leaf and looked very promising, even ahead of the rest of the trees. It should have been a source of great blessing for those who looked for early sustenance coming out of the winter months. Instead, it was a liar, promising much but delivering little, deceiving weary travelers and giving them false hope. Jesus cursed it, foreshadowing the curse and destruction that would come upon Israel.
“it was not the season for figs.”The question this verse poses to the average reader is, “Why would Jesus curse the fig tree for not having figs if it was not the season for figs?” The answer to that question lies in understanding that, although there were a couple varieties of fig trees in Israel, the common variety produces two crops of figs per year. An early fig grows on the old branch stock that grew the preceding year. This early fig often begins to grow even before there are leaves on the fig tree, although sometimes these early figs and the leaves start to grow at the same time. These early figs usually start developing in March, but may be a little earlier or later depending on the climate, and the circumstances of any given tree (Israel has many different climates, usually somewhat depending on elevation). These early figs mature in June, and the leaves grow and mature along with them. A second crop of figs starts on the new tree growth that sprouts that year, and they generally ripen in August.
Since Mark is recording events around Passover, Jesus would have approached the fig tree in April. Although it was not yet the season for figs, Jesus noticed that this particular tree was in full leaf. If the leaves were fully formed, that meant he could expect the figs of this particular tree to be early too, or at least be far enough along to be somewhat satisfying to eat. This should not surprise us. It often happens in horticulture that a plant is a few weeks earlier than the “regular season.” However, when Jesus got to the tree, the situation was not just that the figs it had were not yet ripe, it did not have any figs at all!
Jesus then cursed this tree and it died overnight. Jesus would ordinarily never curse a tree of any kind for not having fruit or buds. Often, trees go through hardships that keep them from bearing fruit in a given year. Jesus said he did what he heard from his Father, God, and this is an example of that. God gave Jesus the revelation to curse the tree, so Jesus cursed it and it died overnight, which was a miracle. Thus, this tree became a twofold teaching example: it showed that Israel was going to be cursed (which it was for rejecting its Messiah), and it also taught the apostles that when God gave you revelation, no matter how unlikely it seemed, if you trust God and believe and act on what He says, the revelation will come to pass (this is the manifestation of trust, 1 Cor. 12:9). (REV Commentary on Mark 11)
The withering of the fig tree is a symbol of the judgement of Israel and its leadership. The fig tree and olive tree are used in scripture as symbols of the nation of Israel in several places.
What a lesson in believing and faith for us to learn. We need to have “faith” which is our believing in accord with the Word and Will of God. When we confess the Word, believe it and act on it God is able to help us accomplish His purposes in life. What are the important elements of miraculous deliverance and help? We see here God’s will for us to operate as His agents here in the world today. Don’t discount His help and direction that He willingly gives us when we ask by faint heart or disbelief in spiritual help. Have a great day today in Christ.
QUESTIONS:
What do you learn about Jesus in Mark 11?
What does your faith look like today? What have you seen that has increased your faith? What have you heard that has increased your faith?
Where would you like to have more faith?
Prayer:
Father, we look to you today to give us understanding and wisdom in Your Word and intentions. We thank you for being part of the “God Story” you have made each of us. Give us today the bread we need daily and help us in our times of need. Heal our minds, hearts, and bodies in accordance with Your will. We thank you for the sacrifice of Christ that gives us life today and in the future. We pray in the Name above all Names, Jesus Christ.
What is the simplest way to draw closer to God? To receive our children and teach them about their Lord. Whether it is our blood, our church, or our villages, the relationship our Heavenly Father has with us is best understood when we become the loving adult meeting the spiritual needs of kids. Invite them to talk about God. Remind them of His commands, His promise, and their purpose in Him. Pray in the car. Read devotion at the dinner table. Take them to church. Hold them in your arms while you worship. Admonish and acknowledge God in front of them in all your struggles and victories.
I think these thoughts are best shared today in seeing the through-line in our reading listed below. Additionally, I have shared the words of a song recently inspired by these scriptures, which has acted as a daily reminder to the role I serve in my family, my occupation, my village, and my church. I have also attached a link of a generated version of this song that you are welcome to listen to as you contemplate the fulfillments of the challenge in today’s reading.
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord Your God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”- Deuteronomy 6:4-9
“Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, ‘Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.’ He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, ‘Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.’” – Mark 9:35-37
“Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.” – Psalm 25:7
The Only One
God is not a man that he should lie
Every promise He has made, he will supply
If we wander through the desert
And our walk is filled with strife
We can look to the heavens
For the coming Bread of Life
Come sing with me, oh God we believe
You are the Only One
Here this old and young, He’s still not done
Til every battle’s won
Write it on your doors and walls, hold it in your heart
Teach it to your children from His way they won’t depart
His Word will show, the Father alone is the Only One
God is not a man to change His mind
From beginning to the end there’s Jesus Christ
Though like sheep we’ve gone astray
He’s still searching for us now
Turn your eyes to God, ev’ry idol disavow
Come sing with me, oh God we believe
You’re the Only One
Here this old and young, He’s still not done
Til every battle’s won
Write it on your doors and walls, hold it in your heart
Teach it to your children from His way they won’t depart
His Word will show, the Father alone is the Only One
What happens when we don’t live out Deuteronomy 6:4-9? Whether you are a parent or not, how can you improve the way that you live out this passage?
Give some examples of what it could look like to “welcome a child”. From Mark 9:35-37 and your own experiences, what are the benefits of welcoming a child? When was the last time you welcomed a child? In what additional way(s) can you practice welcoming a child this coming week?
How do you allow God to teach you, so that you in turn can share with others? How do you hold God’s words in your heart? What else can you do to be more teachable? What happens when we don’t let God teach us?
Prayer
Dear God, the One and Only god, that makes You worthy of our praise and of my love with all my heart, soul, and strength. Thank you for sharing Your precious words with us. I want to learn from You, God, more and more. Help me to be teachable. Open my ears and my mind to lessons from You. Help me hold Your words – not my own, and not the world’s – but Your words – in my heart, throughout my home, and spilling over into every conversation. Show me how you want me to welcome the children so they receive a bit of Your words and the love of You and Your Son through me.
Many people know I love to write. I hope that is apparent as you read through my devotions when I have the opportunity to share with Seek Grow Love. Additionally, I love science and history. Having taught both of these subjects, I love the story that each tells about creation and humanity. A fact that fewer know is that I’m pretty good at math and love Excel with extensive formulas—in fact, that was my job at one point: building elaborate spreadsheets to compute cubic feet, pricing, man hours, and profitability. Consequently, I know that a single piece of punctuation or an added numeral can set off a chain of poor computations that completely miss the mark.
“You must not add anything to what I command you or take anything away from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God.” — Deuteronomy 4:2
Moses reminds the people of Israel of this principle long before spreadsheets. Do not add anything to the commands of God. Do not take anything away from them. Keep them. Jesus gives us a similar warning in the Revelation to John—addition and subtraction have a direct impact on judgment (Revelation 22:18–19). Let me say this clearly: God’s Word is not a suggestion. To knowingly misinterpret it or treat it without the greatest care—molding it to fit our preferences, our culture, or our experience—is to lose sight of God.
More often than not, we fall into the temptation not to change the Word itself, but to reshape its practice. We ignore what is divisive or costly and choose to emphasize what is comfortable and easier to manage. In the age of preference, our faith is on the line. Instead of forming our lives around God’s discernible commands, we cling to standards set by ourselves or the world. These can become idols—hedged assurances of our ego, stature, time, wealth, or sacrifice.
Who is the one who ascends the hill of the Lord? Whether it is David as he brings the Ark of the Covenant to Zion or the disciples witnessing the transfiguration of Jesus, the question remains (Psalm 24:3–4; Mark 9:2–7). The call is not based on effort alone. You cannot add to or subtract from your efforts to receive lesser or fuller reward as an inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven. Because of this, purity is a whole, never a part. It is not achieved through addition or protected through subtraction, but through alignment with what God has already spoken.
Apart from the warning of Jesus—that judgment follows when we distort His Word—we will naturally drift. When we add, we place burdens, red tape, and elevation onto a grace that was freely given, though it still calls for obedience. When we subtract, we remove what is essential, lowering the standard and risking a faith that cannot hold. In trying to soften truth, avoid conflict, or live without conviction, we find ourselves living in tension—or worse, in the comfort of denial and ignorance.
The truth is this: God does not ask more than we can bear, but He also does not ask any less. The formula is not complicated, but the math is not easy. An errant doctrine is not the solution to humanity’s problem of sin. We may come to God through wandering, in our watching, or as a witness—but we are never called to customize the truth.
Reflection Questions
Consider these questions as you read today and place your obedience before the Lord:
Where have I added expectations for myself or others that God has never given?
Where have I subtracted or omitted truths that feel too difficult to hold?
Where is God inviting me to search His Word more deeply—and to truly listen?
Prayer
Dear God,
I praise you for being a righteous and holy God. There is none other. All your words are true and right. Thank you for the gift of the Bible where You reveal yourself and all truth, goodness, and the way to salvation. Help me see any errors I have committed in adding to or subtracting from Your perfect Word. May I stand alone on Your words which give life, never seeking to conform Your Word to my way, but always, always, always, changing and molding myself to reflect You and Your Son. May Your Spirit guide me in all things!
As an educator of a dozen years, I find that I have a handful of what I call “pocket TED talks” that I return to time and time again as a way of conveying convincing life lessons to students. These are well-practiced insights that I return to most upon hearing a common signal word or phrase. For example, one cue is the word “just,” which minimizes any role or behavior, demonstrating our belief in its importance. The second, and more relevant to today’s topic, is “what if…” I have heard this opening phrase almost every single day as a history teacher and a principal. “What if World War 3 started today?” “What if there was a real fire in the building?” While I might provide a framing or a forecast, I say you cannot predict the future, but you can look to the past as a tell of what is most likely to happen.
At the opening of Deuteronomy, we find Israel still moving, but now at the edge of the Promised Land. From both a literal and figurative mountaintop, Moses pauses to look backward. He recounts their journey; the victories, the failings, the wandering, and the waiting are all part of his retelling. It is the spiritual season recap for God’s people, who have the tendency to forget.
“The LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast wilderness. These forty years the LORD your God has been with you, and you have not lacked anything.” — Deuteronomy 2:7
“Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, God of Jacob.” — Psalm 24:3–6
Below is a list of some of these important reminders we find in today’s reading. Reflect on the history that is presented to us and consider your own. As we stand at the edge of the coming Kingdom of God, take a moment to survey from the mountaintop.
– God gave manna when there was no food in the desert. Jesus duplicates this in the feeding of thousands while the crowd waited for spiritual sustenance. Reflect on your own blessings of daily bread and how God has given you what you need to live today.
– God directs Israel’s path, guiding them as a cloud by day, fire by night, and through his direction to Moses. Jesus duplicates this when he asks each of us to bear our cross and follow him, showing us the way to live. Reflect on your own walk with God and the path He has you on, and the people he has brought alongside you for the journey.
– God remained faithful to the people of Israel even when they worshiped other gods and disobeyed direct instructions. Jesus remains faithful to his disciples even when they gripe about not having bread shortly after watching the very same miracle performed. Reflect on the faithfulness of God to you. Remember how God has shown up in the most difficult seasons.
– God was on the side of his people in battle, bringing them victory. The death of Jesus, as God’s design, is a battle that Jesus came to fight on our behalf once and for all. While it might be easy to reflect on your current battle, reflect instead on God’s gift of Jesus Christ as a sacrifice oflove, restoring us to Him.
If you are “just” waiting for an answer in the present, or you are reeling in “what ifs” about the future, pause to remember the Lord. The wandering has not been wasted. He has made a path with a purpose. No doubt, we are not out of the wilderness, but we are also at the edge of promise.
Reflection Questions
See bold faced reflection above
Prayer
Dear God Almighty – I praise You for Your faithfulness and mercy. Over and over again You provide for me and You show me which way to go. I thank You for being such a GOOD GOD to me, every day in my past, all day today, and every day in the future. Thank you for the incredible gift of Your Son and the Kingdom You are preparing for those who accept and follow Jesus. Everyday, it is getting closer. Everyday, help me move closer to You, too.
Mark 6:45-52 Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and head across the lake to Bethsaida, while he sent the people home. 46 After telling everyone good-bye, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. 47 Late that night, the disciples were in their boat in the middle of the lake, and Jesus was alone on land. 48 He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. He intended to go past them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the water, they cried out in terror, thinking he was a ghost. 50 They were all terrified when they saw him. But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage! I am here!” 51 Then he climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped. They were totally amazed, 52 for they still didn’t understand the significance of the miracle of the loaves. Their hearts were too hard to take it in.
Mark! What’s the deal with saying our hearts were too hard??? Why would God have you write that in your gospel??
The official line about the gospel of Mark is that Peter and other original apostles are the source of the material he writes from. They tell him what happened and then he writes it down. We need to ask ourselves so many times when reading these records about what was Jesus trying to teach his apostles and disciples? Then what is the lesson for us in the recalling of them?
The trip on the sea of Galilee that includes another walk on the water by Jesus comes after feeding 5000 men plus women and children (maybe 15-20K people). He uses such the small amount of food to start with. So many questions come to my feeble mind. How did Jesus ever break up that much bread or fish? How did God multiply the food to fill baskets full? Where did the baskets come from? Who ate the leftovers and for how long? So many questions on these records.
What was the apostle’s reactions to helping to break and hand out the food to that many people? Jesus says “you feed them” to the apostles. Which is exactly what they proceed to do. What should they and we learn from the experience besides astonishment at the event?
I believe that the lesson for us and those disciples there is that God is the source of all blessing and sufficiency. God alone is the giver of all that is good and fruitful, the only source of true food and health for all the people of the world. Our very food we eat is only because of the grace and mercy of God to give it to us. Jesus looks to God and then blesses this small amount of food, making it sufficient to do the humanly impossible. What great power of God is at work in Jesus’ life and is still available to us today.
Christians must bring their lives to God in an attitude of obedience and sacrifice. When we do this, we need to expect God to do far beyond what can be imagined. We should trust that God not only wants to meet our needs, but that He wants to give to us with overflowing spiritual blessings.
Are our hearts too hard to believe our God’s promises? “Hardened” here is to be “petrified” or maybe should mean “calloused”. Our habits of life that don’t believe the promises of God cause our hearts by repetition to become calloused to the truth. We develop a lifetime set of beliefs that doesn’t believe that God can do anything very miraculous. We start to believe miracles and all that Jesus stuff died out with the apostles and isn’t that important today.
We say we have faith but prove that we don’t by our actions and speech. “You feed them” is what Jesus tells us to do, but we say, “OK we will, but here’s our few loaves and fishes. Don’t blame me when it really doesn’t work out. I’ll do it but I don’t really believe that it will work with my resources.” When we pray for someone to be delivered or healed are we really standing in our confidence of God’s help or do we just go through the motions?
I know that one of my lazy habits is to excuse my prayers by telling God that I will pray for people, but because I really don’t know what to pray for, I will just put them up before God and then go on with my life. Ever been confronted with a specific situation that is right there in front of you with no apparent answers to it? How did you react? Our first habit needs to become the truth of God’s Word for us, not the calloused habit of our hearts to give Him our excuses.
So, I thought we were going to look at the walking on the water event. More questions come to mind. Why does Jesus send them off across the lake without him and just go pray by himself? What happens that changes their hearts so much from this experience of the waves and wind? Here they are again in a situation that faces them head on and close in. No amount of rowing or sail handling will get them out of it. Remember that they were experienced fisherman with a great deal of boat handling and weather experience. “Jesus don’t worry about us we have it handled, have some confidence we are the experts”. But once again we and they don’t really have it. For the apostles it is that if God can feed the five thousand then He does have the answers for every situation.
What is the lesson of the waves? Once again that God has our care in place, and we need to put our trust in His promises. Jesus says he will ever be with us to the end of the earth. This is his church and he is building it and taking care of it. We are not really in charge of what we think we are. We are confident every minute until the wind and waves are overwhelming. How many times God saves us from disaster and even death.
Ephesians 3:20(NLT) Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
Psalms 22:22-24(NLT) I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you among your assembled people. 23 Praise the LORD, all you who fear him! Honor him, all you descendants of Jacob! Show him reverence, all you descendants of Israel! 24 For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy. He has not turned his back on them, but has listened to their cries for help.
Questions:
See bold questions above
Prayer:
Father God, come to us with your promises and give us the heart that hears them and will believe You. Thank you for the records of Your Word to give us confidence to do Your will. Help us to see the Christ-in -us that will give us strength to act and speak. Thank you that Your will is still to feed and save people from destruction. Be with us this day as we hear you with our hearts. In Jesus’ name we pray.
I love Jesus. I don’t just mean that in the way I have dedicated my life to him etc etc, but also in the same way you might discuss your favorite characters on TV. I love the way Jesus acts. I love his role in God’s great plan. He’s compassionate, level-headed, and kind of snarky. He’s real, he tells it like it is. I like that in my story characters, in my friends, and in my Savior.
We get a real juxtaposition in our scripture, today. In Numbers 13 and 14 we see an angry God, fed up with his people’s unfaithfulness, ready to strike. Then we get this moment from Mark 2, where Jesus is eating with sinners and says “Healthy people don’t need a doctor – sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” (verse 17 NLT). It is this same God who rebuked the Israelites, punishing an unfaithful generation never to enter the promised land, that sent this Jesus in Mark 2.
I have always had a fascination with the continuity of the Bible. I like for things to make sense. I have humbly come to the realization there are simply some things about God we will never be able to comprehend or understand. Yet, I think Mark 2:18-28 helps clarify this juxtaposition between Jesus, the Law and the angry God we see in Numbers. They aren’t meant to contradict one another. Jesus says so himself in Matthew 5:17: “I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.” (NLT). Traditionally, the purpose of Mosaic law was to set apart God’s people from other nations, protection (we see this in many of the food and clean/unclean laws), and ultimately to show that sin needs a solution. Therefore, if the purpose of the law is to show there is a sin problem and Jesus is the accomplishment of said purpose, he must be the sin solution. This idea is supported in Mark 2 as Jesus essentially tells the Pharisees certain aspects of the law are no longer relevant as he has come to dwell amongst the people (v 18-20). In fact, now that he has come, there are new laws that should be put into practice. We can read a lot of these teachings from Christ’s sermon on the mount found in Matthew 5 – 7.
In Mark 2:22, Jesus says, “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the wine would burst the wineskins, and the wine and skins would both be lost. New wine calls for new wineskins.” (NLT). Basically, Jesus is saying the old ways of doing things aren’t going to work anymore. It doesn’t mean the old ways were bad, just as the old wineskins themselves once had value. However, they are no longer needed. The Mosaic law served its purpose during its time. Jesus is here now. His teachings call for new wineskins.
He drives this point home in the final verses of this chapter. When criticized about how his disciples were spending the Sabbath day he exclaims, “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people meet the requirements of the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!” (v. 27 & 28). I believe this is an example of a synecdoche, a figure of speech where the part of something is used to refer to the whole thing. In this case, the Sabbath is representative of the law. Substitute the word Sabbath with law and this becomes quite the powerful statement.
In Jesus we see how God can be “slow to anger, and filled with unfailing love, forgiving every kind of sin and rebellion. But does not excuse the guilty” (Numbers 14:18). Jesus is the answer. He is the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and law. It is beautiful and poetic. Best of all, it is real.
Reflection Questions
What do you love about Jesus? What do you love about God?
How would you describe the role Jesus plays in God’s great plan?
Are you more often the one who thinks they are righteous or the one who knows they are a sinner?
Do you believe Jesus is the answer? If so, how can you share the Jesus answer with others?
Prayer
Dear God, we praise You for being a God of perfect character and we thank You for Your Son Jesus. You created him with so much for us to love about him. Help us see You and Your Son clearly and Your plan of salvation that You have been working on through the ages. We know so much has been fulfilled already, and more is yet to come. Help us love You and follow Jesus well so we are ready to be his bride.
This morning, I would encourage you to read Psalm 16:1-4. When you are done reading those verses focus on this question. Do you think of the consequences of your choices? Psalm 16:4: “The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips.” What happens if we choose another god besides the true God? Another ultimate good, another Lord, another delight, another treasure? What happens is multiplied sorrows. “The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply.” David has already found his good; he’s already found his delight; he’s already found his treasure. He’s not on a search anymore. Are you? David’s quest is over. Is yours? It’s over. I have found him. I have found my Good. I have found my Lord. I have found my delight. I have found my treasure. It’s over. I’m not running anymore after anything else. There’s nothing but trouble there. “I have no good apart from you.” The Lord is my good. I’m not shopping around. My quest is over.
What happens when you make your choice to follow God but the temptation to return to old gods is there. “Here’s another god; here’s another good; here’s another delight; here’s another treasure.” David’s response is, “I won’t even drink it. I won’t even take their name on my lips.” “Their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out. I will not even take their names on my lips.” These alternative gods, these alternative delights, these alternative toys. I’m not going to touch them. I’m not even going to get close or talk about them. I have found the all-satisfying treasure. Why would I choose multiplied sorrows?
I think verse 4 is what David was asking to be preserved from in verse 1. When he said, “Preserve me, O God,” what’s he asking to be preserved from? And the answer is verse 4. “Preserve me, O God.” I take refuge in you. I’m running to you as my good. I’m running to you as my treasure. I’m running to you as my delight. I am running to you. Preserve me from being drawn away to these other gods. Preserve me from failing to be satisfied in you this morning.
“This is the battle of the believer’s life: to have God as our good, to have God as our delight.”
I wonder if you pray like that. I wonder if you fight like that. That is just about all I do. This is the battle of real and satisfying life: to have God as our good, to have God as our delight, to have God as our treasure. And the world is saying, “No, I’m better!” So what else is there to do but fight? Verse 4 is what he’s pleading. “Preserve me, O God.” Don’t let me be drawn away to these other gods.
Psalm 90:14 is on my lips just about every morning. “Satisfy me in the morning with your steadfast love!” Is that your steady prayer? “Your steadfast love is better than life” (Psalm 63:3). Oh, don’t let me be more satisfied with anything else than with you. That’s the battle. Verse 1 calls out to persevere; verse 4 states the danger. You make the call on which road you will live. Be blessed today.
Reflection Questions
What other goods, lords, treasures, delights have you found yourself running after? How is God better than each of these?
What multiplied sorrows result in following after any of these others?
What has God already preserved you from?
Today, what do you specifically ask God to preserve you from?
Prayer
Dear God Almighty, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” Help me to say it, believe it and live it every day. Thank you for preserving me from _______. Save me, Lord, from the sorrows and dangers of following after anything else the world dangles in front of my eyes and heart. Help me see clearly You, Your wisdom and truth and what You desire for my life. Make me strong in You against the temptation of _____________.
“Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 35 And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle” (Exodus 40:34)
As we wrap up our time in Exodus today, we end with an uplifting picture. After slavery in Egypt, rejection, persecution, wandering, many poor choices, and hard labor, the work was finished. The curtain for the gate was hung. People washed up. Burnt offerings and incense in place. “And the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle”. Since the tabernacle functioned as a mobile dwelling place of God, His presence filling it symbolized His presence with His people. Yesterday we read of God as our shield and righteous judge in Psalm 7. Earlier we read of Him hearing our cries. Today we read of Him pursuing a close relationship with His people as His presence enveloped the sacred place He designed.
In Exodus 40:38, the last verse of Exodus and all its adventures, I noticed the phrase the “cloud of the LORD” and did a bit of a word study to see where else that comes up in scripture, knowing it was a familiar one. One of those places is Isaiah 4:5 where we find a prophecy reminiscent of the cloud filling the tabernacle, and also perhaps with some foreshadowing of a future hope. Isaiah 4:5 says
“Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud of smoke by day and a glowing flame of fire by night. For over all the glory there will be a canopy.”
Mount Zion is a term that references Jerusalem, and Isaiah paints us a picture of Jerusalem canopied by a cloud of smoke. Today, Jerusalem is often polluted with clouds of smoke from war and weapons. But, Isaiah tells us there is more to come for Mount Zion made possible through the promised Messiah who will build a bridge to. . .a new Jerusalem. From the last chapter of Exodus to its connection to the end of the Bible itself, I can think of no better thought to fix my eyes and heart right now than,
“I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’[b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
(Revelation 21:2-5)
Reflection:
Consider God’s presence in your life today.
Pray for the coming kingdom and a day when God will wipe our tears.
Rest in His canopy of love and protection.
PRAYER:
Dear Heavenly Father, we praise You for Your perfect plan of salvation which mankind, including myself, is not worthy or deserving of, which we have proven over and over again. And yet, You continue to reveal Yourself and Your plan to us, giving purpose and peace in a troubled world, and hope and joy for the coming kingdom. Thank You for Your presence, direction and love. Help me to pursue You and Your presence and Your Kingdom with all that You have given me. In Your Son’s precious name I pray, Amen.
Matthew 14:13-16(NLT) As soon as Jesus heard the news, he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed on foot from many towns. 14 Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 15 That evening the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16 But Jesus said, “That isn’t necessary—you feed them.”
As we read in Matthew 14 today, we find the “feeding of the five thousand”, a famous story of Jesus doing a notable miracle. But what is the real lesson and reason for doing this miracle? The disciples are very logical and show common sense. “Send the people away to the local Kroger or Aldi and let them buy their own supper while the shops are still open”. For most people their bread would be the staple of their diet, and where most of their calories would come from. As we read the Word, we see the emphasis on bread as sustenance for us repeatedly.
Try to be one of the disciples in this situation. Five thousand with nothing to eat and Jesus just says Hey you feed them!! No prob Jesus we’ll get right on that, lets see. Hey Matthew what’s in the lunch pail you brought? Hello John how about those granola bars you have in your pockets? Hey, Peter and Andrew, how about those sandwiches your Mom made for lunch for us?
Sorry, Jesus, only 5 loaves and a couple of salt fish, not going to get it done, lets go with our plan.
Matthew 14:18-21(NLT) “Bring them here,” he said. 19 Then he told the people to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave the bread to the disciples, who distributed it to the people. 20 They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers. 21 About 5,000 men were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children!
Wow what a miracle and how about those leftovers they’ll be eating for days!! Actually, Jesus is using this as a teachable moment for all his disciples both then and now. It is not about the miracle but rather that we would trust God for our sufficiency and nourishment, not our own ability to take care of every situation we find ourselves in. If you examine your life, you will see the hand of God feeding you all through it. Only by His grace and mercy does the rain fall on the just and also the unjust.
What did it take to bring the bread to your table today?
Why are we always so hungry?
John 6:29-40(NLT) Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.” 30 They answered, “Show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What can you do? 31 After all, our ancestors ate manna while they journeyed through the wilderness! The Scriptures say, ‘Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 32 Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven. 33 The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 “Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.” 35 Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But you haven’t believed in me even though you have seen me. 37 However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them. 38 For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will. 39 And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day. 40 For it is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day.”
What is the bread of life we all desire to have?
How can we give it to others?
True believing in our Father and God and the Son He has sent is the only good work that we can do. Nothing else we can do has real value except to believe and act on that belief walking day by day with our Father and our brother Jesus Christ. Beware of the temptations and the sin of religion in this world and see that our help and sufficiency for our lives can only come from the God that loves us and has called us to Him.
Mark 8:14-21(NLT) But the disciples had forgotten to bring any food. They had only one loaf of bread with them in the boat. 15 As they were crossing the lake, Jesus warned them, “Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod.” 16 At this they began to argue with each other because they hadn’t brought any bread. 17 Jesus knew what they were saying, so he said, “Why are you arguing about having no bread? Don’t you know or understand even yet? Are your hearts too hard to take it in? 18 ‘You have eyes—can’t you see? You have ears—can’t you hear?’ Don’t you remember anything at all? 19 When I fed the 5,000 with five loaves of bread, how many baskets of leftovers did you pick up afterward?” “Twelve,” they said. 20 “And when I fed the 4,000 with seven loaves, how many large baskets of leftovers did you pick up?” “Seven,” they said. 21 “Don’t you understand yet?” he asked them.
You feed them!!
Reflection Questions:
See questions in bold above
Prayer:
Father God help us to look to you for our help in time of need, and for our very lives. Thank you for your sufficiency for every day’s challenges and opportunities as we believe your Word. Help us to become like our big brother Christ as people we see have needs that we can minister to. We thank you every day for calling us to this time and place of fellowship and love. In Jesus’ name we pray.
Seek Grow Love 