We’ve had some good discussion going so far, haven’t we?

This Sunday we’ll be looking at Mark 11:27, and reading all the way through to chapter 12:12.  Read it here.

Don’t you just love how Jesus is always in control of a situation?  Obviously, it’s the next day after Jesus interuped the worship at the temple…and as soon as He shows his mug around that place again, the “authorities” are all over Him.  They ask about what “authority” Jesus is using to do the things He’s done.  What do you think they mean by that?

Jesus pulls another “Jedi-Messiah” trick by turning the trap back on the trappers.  He actually changes the subject, sort of.  The common people of Jerusalem loved John the Baptist.  The elders and leaders were absolutely cornered by Jesus’ question in response.  If they denounced John as a fraud, the crowds would begin to resist them.  But if they said John was of God, the crowds will wonder why they treated John with such skepticism.  It was a no-win situation for them…a guaranteed double play ball.

That leads Jesus to tell the parable He tells in the begining of chapter 12.  Traditionally, it’s refered to as “the parable of the wicked tenants”…but it could be more accurately called “the story of the renters from hell”.

Read the parable over.  Who do the vinedressers who are renting the property represent?  Who would they represent as we try to understand this parable for our own lives?

Who does the Landowner represent?  What do we learn from about Him from His responses to the growing tensions?

What was the last straw in this stand-off?  What drove the Landowner to action?  What can we learn from this story about our own lives and the choices and responses we have?

Let’s discuss.

Well…we seemed to have pretty good participation last week with our approach to studying the Gospel of Mark.  No reason to quit doing this now!  It is odd to me that there is such a distinct difference between the first and second service we have at Eastgate.  While the first service seems very animated and willing to interact…second service is so much more reserved.  Why do you suppose that is?

Anyway…this Sunday we’ll be reading Mark 11:12-24.  Again, take some time to read it if you can, and in several different translations. 

In our story, Jesus has entered Jerusalem to a certain amount of fanfare, but left the city that evening and stayed in Bethany.  What we’ll read about are the next day’s events.

Jesus will do two curious things.  First, He passes a fig tree when He’s hungry, but is disappointed to find only foliage, and no fruit.  So He curses the fig tree.  Doesn’t that seem harsh?  The text tells us that its not fig season, yet Jesus curses it because it doesn’t have fruit on it.  Maybe the fake Christians with the signs have it wrong by one vowel…maybe it’s supposed to be “God Hates Figs”?

According to the Jewish Encyclopedia, Fig trees of that region have an early fruit and a later fruit.  The early fruit was considered a delicacy, and it must have been the leaves that were showing on the tree gave a false indication that the early fruit would be there.  If you read the article I linked to, you’ll notice an ominous portent was often associated with the destruciton of a fig tree in Jewish tradition.

When Jesus goes to the temple, his actions there start to shed some light on what this cursing of the fig tree was all about.  What do you think the cursing of the fig tree has in connection with the money changers in the temple?

When we consider the implications of the barren fig tree, we have to start looking to ourselves, and wonder: how important is outward appearance to me?   In this story, the leaves were on display for all to see, but what was being sought out was fruit.  Who was seeking it?  What words were used to describe why there was a search for fruit?  Do those details speak anything to us?

God’s values are on display in these verses.  What does NOT appear to be important to Him?  What DOES?

Anyway…that’s some stuff to chew on…what other observations can be made?

I grew up in a decidedly non-liturgical home.  We were evangelicals, and my father was ordained in the Methodist church, which is why I’m a bit confused as to why we were so far removed from liturgies…but, such is the case for me.

Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent for most Western Christian churches who observe liturgical calendars.

I have never observed Lent in my whole life.  I honestly didn’t even know for sure what it was until a few years ago.  Lent, in case YOU don’t know either, is a period of forty days prior to Easter, where the Christian, in imitation of Christ’s forty day wilderness temptation, observes a time of penitence, fasting, charity and prayer.

People practice the denial of self in a great variety of ways during lent.  Some abstain from certain types of food…I have one friend who gave up deserts for forty days (and consequently lost a lot of weight).  It was very meaningful for him.  I had another friend who quit watching TV for forty days.

Having grown up completely outside the reaches of liturgical observances, recently I’ve become quite fascinated with them.  A year ago, I began the practice of praying the “daily office”, from the Celtic Daily Prayers book.  It has had a profound effect on me.

Today, I’m confronted with Ash Wednesday…and I’m wondering about Lent.  Maybe I’ll take a foray into this liturgy as well.  Maybe God has something hiding in there for me…something I hadn’t noticed or known of during my upbringing and early Christian years.  If I don’t observe this year…I’m very inclined to plan for next year.  I think the joy of liturgies is that since they have no historical influence on me, I can see them as tools rather than standards, and can observe them without fear of messing up.

What would I abstain from for forty days?  Are YOU observing Lent?  What would you, or are you, abstaining from?

Last Sunday at Burning House, Patti Crute shared something the Lord laid on her heart.  I though it might be cool to post it here, just in case you missed it, or wanted to revisit it.

Burning House December 30, 2007

As we contemplate the New Year, I believe the Lord wants us to focus on watching & waiting, trusting & expecting. I read an article recently which reminded me of the importance of watching and waiting.

Leading up to Jesus’ arrival on this earth, many were looking for the Messiah. 

But who recognized Him???? 

There were shepherds watching their flock.  They may not have been expecting to see the Messiah that night and granted they were just doing their job, but being in an attitude of watching and waiting, suddenly a Heavenly Host appeared and told them a Savior had been borne….and they were among the first to greet and worship this new King!

Then there was Anna and Simeon in the temple, watching, waiting, and praying.  They recognized Jesus without being told by a Heavenly Host. Why???  Because they were watching and waiting, expectant! 

John 3: 14 & 15 (The Message)          

In the same way Moses lifted the serpent in the desert so people could have something to see and then believe,  it is necessary for the Son of Man to be lifted up & everyone who looks up to him, trusting and expectant, will gain a real life, eternal life. 

So for 2008, I believe the Lord wants us to be like Anna and Simeon – watching and waiting, trusting and expectant.  May we see him in unexpected places and may we especially be watching for his triumphal return.  He IS coming again.