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The Gospel of Mark Bible Studies
January 2006
February 2006
March 2006
April 2006
May 2006
June 2006
July 2006
August 2006
September 2006
October 2006
November 2006
December 2006
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Sunday 27, Time after Pentecost Mark 10:2-16 October 8, 2006 Intro: What an interesting Gospel text to preach on. Today The Gospel seems to have two parts: 1. This discussion between Jesus and the Pharisees about divorce (and marriage). 2. The story about children being brought to Jesus for a blessing. This is a great example for us adults who are always having to “earn” everything. Here we see that children, being brought to Jesus (that is, not even coming under their own power) are totally dependant upon on others. Children understand what grace is about because they can’t “do it on their own.” That’s why Jesus says, “it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.” God’s kingdom is not something we can earn. It is something we need that is freely given to us. I found myself thinking a lot about marriages this week. I was trying to remember why I cried at my brothers weddings? Perhaps it was because I knew him as a child. I used to play with him. Perhaps it was because I wondered how this unknown woman could ever know him and love him the way that I knew he could be love. Did she really understand what a treasure she was about to marry. Perhaps I cried because this was a sign that my brother was somehow leaving the realm of childhood and entering the much more complicated realm of adults and adult relationships. It was a time of hope. Unknown. Risk. Fear. What it amounted to is that I loved him…no matter what happened in the future I loved him and was never going to forget the way that I loved him that day… when he stood up there making a huge commitment, having faith, but not knowing…not knowing what the future would be like. It was love that made me cry…you’ve been there, I imagine. Remember that feeling, because I’ll get back to it. As for Divorce Jesus teaches us a couple things. 1. No one commanded divorce 2. Moses allowed it because of the people’s hard-heartedness. a. What does that mean? It mean’s that divorce was not the problem, it was the symptom of human sin: pride, envy, lust unfaithfulness and whatever causes broken relationships b. What else does it mean? Divorce is not what is intended. By going all the way back to the creation story in Genesis, Jesus points out that marriage is to be a blessing—a part of God’s creative design for human life and community. No one intends divorce. Neither party involved in it, nor does God intend for divorce to happen. No one has it in mind when they get married. It is not a part of God’s design. It is surrounded by pain. It is a sign of our human weakness and sin. Sin that we are all vulnerable to. If there is one thing to remember today, remember this, it is always more important and helpful to be honest about our brokenness and the pain caused by our own actions. To fail to take responsibility for our own sin is pride…it is hardness of heart. There is no opportunity for healing…”if we say we have no sin…” Every morning we begin our worship by quoting a special section from 1John 1:8-10. “If we say we have no sin (or that our sin is not really sin), we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us form all unrighteousness.” Now I asked you to remember the love that made you cry at a wedding. There is a reason these to stories are side by side in the gospel of Mark. It is to contrast the brokenness of human relationships, with the innocence of children. I want to give you this picture…picture this: As a little child, someone brings you to Jesus and sets you in his lap. Jesus is holding you in his arms…you, a creation of God…you, a baby…Before you ever knowingly broke your first commandment, God loved you. He took you in his loving embrace and said, “Child, with you I am well pleased…I love you…and no matter what happens…I will remember my love for you.” Praise be to God, for God is faithful! -------------------- Joshua W. Magyar, Pella Lutheran Church 418 W. Main Street Sidney, MT 59270
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