Focus:
kjv@Revelation:14:12 @ Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
(
FaithOfJesus thread begun by r
RandyP )
Today's Verse:
kjv@Mark:10:13-16
kjv@Mark:10:13 @ And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.
kjv@Mark:10:14 @ But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
kjv@Mark:10:15 @ Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
kjv@Mark:10:16 @ And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.
Today's notes:
Context:
- Before - one flesh
- After - beholding him loved him
Key Concepts:
slide:kjv@correction
What is God's righteousness observed doing?:
- Rebuking decisions and behaviors made by His disciples with much displeasure.
- Using the behaviors expected in the kingdom as model illustrations of the behaviors expected in them.
What does this tell us about God's righteousness?:
- It is not just a compassionate moment here with Jesus, it is part of a long discourse compiled by Mark on Jesus correcting the disciples with compassion, and in this case even indignation. Why would Jesus be so mad? The disciples are using their sense of authority and greatness to guide their decisions on what and whom Jesus will and will not be accepting into His daily routine. It is keeping them from seeing things as He would rather that they'd see them. It is a behavior that will have to be halted before He leaves them. And before it surfaces in other areas of decision as well.
- kjv@John:3:6 Jesus spoke to the child like issue in terms of needing to be born again; flesh being flesh, spirit being spirit (possible reference to everyone salted by fire?). Flesh decisions are being made by the disciples that are effecting the way others view the group and therefore their view of their Master. These men have not been born of the spirit yet and must be made to know the agreegeous violations it is likely to make without any discernment that it is in the wrong or that it is impeding the true spiritual work.
How is man reacting?:
- It has to be frustrating to these men because nothing that they seem to do is right; spirituality in fact it can not be. One would think that giving up all to follow would be enough to garner a respectable barrier of protection from humiliation. It is well and fine when the displeasure is on the Scribes and Pharisees, it is expected, but not in those whom will be receiving the mantle from Jesus when He leaves. So it might be thought!
- We must also ask what reason the disciples might be thinking of to unanimously conference to this exclusionary approach. It may be that many of the people approaching Jesus are seeking the blessing without wanting for the belief and commitment. It is obviously shallow, even demeaning if not sought from the righteousness seeking heart; might be exactly as they would seek from any other prophet/leader true or false. Jesus is having to work through this more or less in all of us. Luckily, we have not been excluded in like manner!
Notes:
It may seem like a fairly small and correctable thing the disciples have done. In the flesh however, every little item is an evidence, call it a symptom, of the non spiritual heart beneath it. Jesus could rebuke all of it at once whole or else He could jump on issues as they crop up with a pointer to the larger entirety so as to not completely discourage the frail faithful heart.
Other quotes have this being converted and receiving the kingdom which also suggests this flesh verses spirit discernment. The man that hasn't the spirit will not have the discernment, likely rather he will have the insistence of being authoritatively right. I mean who in the flesh would have thought that the little children would be such a big deal? Following such a discourse one would think okay so He likes the children, but it is the heart of the disciples and the position from which they are making decisions for Him that He is really getting at.
Key Messages:
What does this say about our present condition?
- Often what we know in the flesh makes so much sense to us that we just assume that in the spirit it would be much the same. How many of our core decisions and actions been made on these grounds. The flesh rather is all that we are literally familiar with. To step out in the spirit is to step as a child again into the unknown and unfamiliar.
- What does a truly sincere seeking heart look like? Can't there be selfish or shallow approaches observed into it all? If to limit pursuit to only the most sincere heart and heartfelt effort would any human pursuit yet remain? Perhaps the picture advised is much more simple: to pursue all of it as a child.
Further Resources:
Comment Board:Mark:10:13-16
index:FAITHOFJESUSDEVOTION - Devotional Index
strkjv@Mark:10:13-16 rwp@Mark:10:13-16 mhcc@Mark:10:13-16
FaithOfJesus2 - Devotion Index
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