Things that make you go hmm. (credit to Arsenio Hall for that phrase)

Ever find things in the Bible that just make you wonder?  Make you go hmm?  I ran across one today that I had never noticed before.

Have you ever noticed that when Jesus did miracles for believers, He often told them not to tell anyone.  Here is an example from today.

Mark 5:40-43(NKJV)

And they ridiculed Him. But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying. 

Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, “Talitha, cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” 

Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement. 

But He commanded them strictly that no one should know it, and said that something should be given her to eat.

So this is what I noticed today. 

Remember the story of Jesus going to Gadarenes?  The crazed guy who is inhabited by a legion of demons?  Remember how the demons immediately recognized Jesus as the Son of God? 

Well check this out.

Mark 5:18-20(NKJV)

And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. 

However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” 

And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.

So why did Jesus tell this guy to go tell everyone about the miraculous thing Jesus had done for him when Jesus told so many people in His own country not to say anything? 

Hmm?

And He said to them, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

Mark 4:9(NKJV)

And He said to them, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

One of the things that stands out to me about Jesus' ministry style is that He didn't go around trying to be "culturally relevant" and He didn't go around watering down the message to make it easier to understand so that more would become Christians.  As I read Mark 4 it seems to me that Jesus purposely made the message a bit hard to understand.

Mark 4:10-12(NKJV)

But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable. 

And He said to them, “To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables, 

so that      ‘Seeing they may see and not perceive,     And hearing they may hear and not understand;     Lest they should turn,     And their sins be forgiven them.’” 

Now we know from other Scripture that Jesus wants all to be saved.  So why would he purposely make it harder to understand? 

I think the reason is that if things are too easy people don't value them.  It's kind of like the seed that is planted but there is no root.  It doesn't last.  By making people work a little bit to understand I think makes the understanding more valuable and long lasting. 

Contingency Plans, or always be prepared as the Boy Scouts say.

I love the lesson Jesus teaches us here.  Always be prepared.  Have a contingency plan.  Check this out.

Mark 3:7-9(NKJV)

But Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea. And a great multitude from Galilee followed Him, and from Judea 

and Jerusalem and Idumea and beyond the Jordan; and those from Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they heard how many things He was doing, came to Him. 

So He told His disciples that a small boat should be kept ready for Him because of the multitude, lest they should crush Him. 

What strikes me about this is that Jesus really doesn't need a contingency plan does He?  We are told that God has angels constantly on duty to make sure that Jesus doesn't even stub a toe, so why worry about having a boat on standby?

Personally I think Jesus does some stuff just for our benefit.  To give us an answer to "what would Jesus do" in different circumstances.  I think that is the case here.  Jesus didn't really need to have a contingency plan here but He wanted to send the message that it is a good idea. 

Good lesson to keep in mind!

So here's the question. Can there be salvation without repentance?

What triggered the question was this passage. 

Mark 2:17(NKJV)

When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

So we have Jesus saying specifically that He called sinners to repentance.  On the other hand later in the New Testament we are told that to be saved we need to believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord.  That Jesus is the son of God, that Jesus died on the cross and then rose again on the third day.

Notice what is missing?  Nothing about repentance. 

So back to the initial question.  Can there be salvation without repentance?  My initial answer was no but after thinking it through along with guidance from the Holy Spirit, I believe the correct answer is yes.  Let me explain.

What changed my mind is when the Holy Spirit reminded me of the story where Jesus asks a rich guy a question like what does he think it means to follow Jesus, or something like that.  After the guy answers, Jesus responds "close enough".  That example tells me that Jesus isn't pedantic about the details.  As I have written before, Jesus stresses that it is a heart issue.  As long as the heart is right, even if you get a detail or two wrong, Jesus is still going to be accepting.

Interesting how simply listening to the Holy Spirit can bring clarity so quickly and easily.  Pretty cool!

LOL, sometimes we look too deep for meaning.

I think sometimes we may try to look too deep for meaning.  Not that we shouldn't continue to do so but we shouldn't be disappointed when something doesn't really pan out.  As Freud used to say, "sometimes a cigar is just a cigar".

As I was doing my reading today I was in the 1st chapter of Mark.  I came to the first words that Jesus uttered in Mark.  I had what I thought was a neat idea.  I thought "I wonder if anyone has ever compared the first words that Jesus uttered in each of the three Gospels?  I wonder if there might be a connected and deeper message there.

So here is what I found.

Matthew 3:13-15(NKJV)

Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 

And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?”

But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him.

Mark 1:14-15(NKJV)

Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 

and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

Luke 2:41-50(NKJV)

His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 

And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. 

When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; 

but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. 

So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. 

Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 

And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. 

So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.”

And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” 

But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.

Doesn't seem to be much of a connection there.  Oh well.  It seemed to be a neat idea at the time!  :)

Why did Judas kill himself and Paul didn't?

The above thought occurred to me when I read this Scripture today.  Why did Judas kill himself…and why didn't Paul?

Matthew 27:3-5(NKJV)

Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 

saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” And they said, “What is that to us? You see to it!”

Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself.

Now you might wonder what does Judas have to do with Paul?  Let me explain.

They both had personal encounters with Jesus.  Judas was there for Jesus' entire ministry.  Paul had his encounter with Jesus after the fact. 

Judas hanged himself because he had "sinned by betraying innocent blood.".  Guess what?  Paul had also sinned by persecuting innocent people.  Where Judas was guilty of betraying just one life, although admittedly the most important life, Paul was guilty of causing the death of many believers.

So why did Judas hang himself while Paul went on to bring the message of salvation to the Gentiles?  What was the difference?  In the end did Judas simply not believe the message of redemption and forgiveness through Jesus and Paul did?  Or was Judas simply so distraught that he wasn't thinking clearly?   

Not sure I know the answer but it is an interesting question isn't it? 

"For the poor you will always have…" Why do you think Jesus said that?

Matthew 26:11(NKJV)

For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always. 

I always chuckle when I see church groups state that their goal is to eliminate poverty.  Don't they believe Jesus?  Jesus said we will always have the poor.  Therefor the goal of eliminating poverty is impossible.  Either that or Jesus is wrong. 

But let's dig a little deeper.  Why do you think Jesus said we will always have "the poor"?  I think it has to do with human nature and the human condition.  You are always going to have a segment of the population that just doesn't have to ambition to succeed.  Look at how many people in our country today would rather game the welfare system and live off of public assistance than to actually go out and get a job. 

Also look at all of those who are mentally or physically incapable of living a productive life.  They simply don't have the ability. 

Now does Jesus expect us to treat those two groups that same?  I don't think so.  If you read Matthew 25 I think Jesus makes it pretty clear that those who don't try don't deserve additional assistance.

Matthew 25:24-30(NKJV)

“Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 

And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’

“But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 

So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 

So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.

‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 

And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

On the other hand, those who don't have the ability I believe deserve our help.  Does that differentiation make sense? 

Always be prepared…or suffer the consequences.

I've always loved this parable.  Be prepared.  And if you are not prepared, those who are prepared are not required to bail your dumb behind out!

Matthew 25:1-13(NKJV)

“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 

Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 

Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 

but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 

But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.

“And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ 

Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 

And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 

But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 

And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.

“Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 

But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’

“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

Notice that Jesus doesn't say the virgins who are prepared should share with the virgins who aren't.  Notice also that Jesus doesn't condemn those who don't share. 

Now there seems to be a bit of a dichotomy here doesn't there?  On the one hand we are to share with those in need.  But here the virgins were clearly in need of oil.  So why weren't the prepared virgins instructed to share with the unprepared? 

One thought that I have is that when Scripture says share with those in need it is talking about the bare essentials to sustain life.  What the Bible isn't talking about is sharing in paying the cable bill, the mortgage, the cell phone bill etc. 

Just a thought.

What is the sign that Jesus tells us to look for?

There are many who have tried and failed to predict when Jesus will return.  I find that kind of funny because Jesus Himself tells us of a sign to look for that can't be missed.

Jesus tells us "there will be wars and rumors of wars.  See that you are not troubled".  I believe He is telling us here that there will be many things that look like the beginning of the end, but aren't.  Jesus is saying don't sweat the small stuff. 

And then Jesus gives us the sign to look for.  Here is the one sign that Jesus says will be the key.

Matthew 24:15(NKJV)

“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’  spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), 

Doesn't get much simpler than that does it?

Justice, mercy, and faith: the weightier matters of the law.

What do you think Jesus meant by that?  Justice makes sense.  Mercy kind of makes sense.  Not sure how faith has anything to do with the law.  Seems a bit puzzling to me. 

Matthew 23:23(NKJV)

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.