马可福音

Meditative Reflection
Genuine Faith

“Yes Lord,” she replied, “but even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” (Mk. 7:28)

I am sure when we first read the story in Mark 7:24-30, we were surprised by the racially charged words of Jesus. We wonder how Jesus could put this woman down with words that should not come out of the mouth of any decent man, let alone from the mouth of the God of love.

As I explained in another article that Jesus was probably quoting those words commonly used by the Jews to put down Gentiles, reflecting their racial bias, not His. The Canaanite woman, too, must have heard this before. So, the fact that Jesus granted her request, healed her daughter, and praised her great faith (Matt. 15:28) only serves to challenge the racial bias of the time. But, it also demonstrates what genuine faith is.

I find that in our desire to convert others, especially those we love dearly, we are trying everything to make it easier for them to accept Christ. There are times we avoid talking about tithing, lest it becomes a stumbling block to their conversion. There are times we purposely avoid talking about the need to go the church lest the hearers find it too time consuming to become a Christian. Worse, there are those who would not mention that we cannot worship idols if we want to believe in Christ. And, there are times I am being asked to baptize someone who obviously has not clearly confessed their sins and accepted Jesus as their only Lord and Savior.

While our intention might be good, we fail to understand that faith in Christ is a gift from the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:8). Jesus is never afraid to put hurdles before those who seek to believe in Him. Yes, sometimes it resulted in the hearers turning away from Him (like the rich young ruler in Mk. 10), but in other cases, like this one of the Canaanite woman, it produced genuine faith. We should not try to make it hard for others to come to Christ, but we should understand that nothing can hinder a person to come to Christ, if his or her faith is genuine!

Meditative Reflection
Genuine Faith

Then Jesus Came

As we read from the Gospel of Mark of the many healings by Jesus, let’s reflect on the lyrics of this lovely hymn, "Then Jesus Came",  by the famous Canadian pastor, Oswald J. Smith. This song has impacted the lives of many people. You may want to read some of the testimonies on the web (or add yours to it):

Refrain:

When Jesus comes the tempter’s pow’r is broken;
When Jesus comes the tears are wiped away.
He takes the gloom and fills the life with glory,
For all is changed when Jesus comes to stay.

1
One sat alone beside the highway begging,
His eyes were blind, the light he could not see;
He clutched his rags and shivered in the shadows,
Then Jesus came and bade his darkness flee.

2
From home and friends the evil spirits drove him,
Among the tombs he dwelt in misery;
He cut himself as demon pow’rs possessed him,
Then Jesus came and set the captive free.

3
“Unclean! unclean!” the leper cried in torment,
The deaf, the dumb, in helplessness stood near;
The fever raged, disease had gripped its victim,
Then Jesus came and cast out every fear.

4
Their hearts were sad as in the tomb they laid him,
For death had come and taken him away;
Their night was dark and bitter tears were falling,
Then Jesus came and night was turned to day.

5
So men today have found the Savior able,
They could not conquer passion, lust and sin;
Their broken hearts had left them sad and lonely,
Then Jesus came and dwelt, Himself, within.

(Oswald J Smith, 1889-1986)

Meditative Reflection
Jesus-More than a Miracle Worker

“He said to them, ‘Do you still not understand?’” (Mk. 8:21)

The January/February 2013 issue of Christianity Today reports yet another story of how Jesus appeared, presumably in a dream, to a Muslim and asked him to follow Him. But this story is unique in that it was preceded by the multiplication of “macaroni”.

As this man was about to share a meal of macaroni with his wife, he had an unexpected visitor at the time of meal. Reluctantly he was forced by his custom to share what was not even enough food for themselves with the visitor, but to his amazement and that of his wife, they saw the macaroni multiply before their very eyes. It was that same night that he had another visitor, but this time it was Jesus who appeared to him at night and said, “I am Isa al Masih (Jesus, the Messiah). If you follow me, not only the macaroni but your life will be multiplied.”

Not unlike the disciples in Mark 8, this man, as he honestly confessed, only accepted Jesus simply as the “lord of macaroni” at the time, and it would take some time for him (when he had the opportunity to be discipled in the church) to understand who Jesus really is.

With two consecutive miracles of the multiplication of the loaves and fish, Jesus lamented that the disciples still did not understand (Mk. 8:21). Of course, they did accept that Jesus was a miracle-worker, a multiplier of bread, but that was the extent of their understanding. It would take them more time to eventually accept that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. (Mk. 8:29; Matt. 16:16)

I believe this explains why Jesus often prohibited those being healed to spread the news of their healing, because ultimately, His desire is that we believe in Him as the Son of the Living God, and not as a miracle-healer.

Today, we see a lot of people, many of whom are Christians, flock to healing services—some for physical, others for emotional healing. Of course, we cannot blame them for seeking healing, but ultimately, healing is not what Jesus desires that we seek, but that we would follow Him.

Meditative Reflection
A Sign from Heaven

“Why does this generation ask for a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to it.” (Mk. 8:12)

We know that Jesus continued to perform miracles even after He said the above words to the Pharisees. Therefore, it appears that the Pharisees were not seeking ordinary miracles like healing, but “a sign from heaven”.

Lightfoot, borrowing from a story from the Jewish Talmud, has this to say about the Pharisees:

“After the same manner they require a sign from heaven of our Savior; not content with those infinite miracles that he had done, the healing of diseases, the casting out of devils, the multiplying of loaves… They would also have somewhat from heaven, either after the example of Moses fetching manna from thence; or of Elias fetching down fire; or of Joshua staying the sun; or of Isaiah bringing it backward.”
(Lightfoot, CONT from the Talmud and Hebraica, Vol. 2, 421)

Jesus was not chastising the Pharisees only, but the entire generation of which they were only representatives.

I think we all have our own subconscious definition or ranking of miracles. But the Bible makes plain that the creation itself clearly demonstrates the eternal power and divine nature of our Creator God (Rom. 1:20). In other words, creation itself is a miracle—the work of God. If we fail to see God through His creation, no amount of miracles will suffice. And, since the Pharisees and the people failed to see Jesus as the Son of God through the many miracles He had already performed, then no amount of miracles — even those they ranked as from heaven — would suffice.

“Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” (Rom. 10:17)

It was not the miracles of Jesus that they have rejected; it was His word that they have rejected.

Meditative Reflection
The Personal Touch of Jesus

“He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village.” (Mk. 8:23)

I was greatly touched by this verse the other day when I was reflecting on why it took Jesus twice to open the eyes of this blind man.

Imagine: I was blind for a long time, and now the Son of God held my hand, and led me outside the village. I have no idea how long a walk that was — 10 minutes? 30 minutes? No matter how long it was, it had to be the most blessed minutes in one’s life!

But this is exactly what happens to us all the time, if we care to “beg” Him to lead us out of our blindness. He will lead us by His own hand, no matter how long the journey might be, until our eyes are open, to see what we failed to see—Who He is and His purpose for us!

And the blind man did not come to see clearly all at once, but gradually!

No, it was not a reflection of the inability of Jesus to heal instantly, but a reflection of how it needs to happen in our life. To be able to have our spiritual eyes open is always a process—a process that includes our expressing our desire to see, our walking together with the Lord for some time, and experiencing His loving touch time and again, until we can see “everything clearly”. Without this incident of the healing of this blind man, we might be impatient as we seek to see His will and doubt whether He would truly answer our prayers.

Meditative Reflection
The Way of the Cross

“If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in the Father’s glory with the holy angels.” (Mk. 8:38)

In the name of missions, there is a growing debate about whether we should require converts to Christianity to renounce their original religions, like Islam and Hinduism.

The debate is obviously prompted by the consequences of immediate persecution and likely death  that these new converts face in their countries.

This, of course, is not a new debate. Christians in the first few centuries were facing immense persecution at the hands of the Roman government. Many historians put the number of martyrs often in the hundreds of thousands during some of the most severe periods of persecution. We also know that there were those Christians who would bow at the statute of the emperor in order to have their lives spared. Many church fathers refused to admit them back into the church based on the above words spoken by the Lord.

I have to admit that I have never experienced persecution, let alone the kind faced by Christians in Islamic countries, or in India or Pakistan. However, these words of Jesus were spoken exactly with these situations in mind.

If Peter did not fear persecution, and especially the likely death of Jesus, why would he “rebuke” Jesus? (Mk. 8:32)

If the way of the cross could be avoided, why would Jesus turn and rebuke Peter, even as “Satan”? (Mk. 8:33)

And if following Christ would not invite persecution, even death, why would Jesus forewarn that “For whoever wants to save his life, will lose it…” (Mk. 8:35)?

The call to “deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” applies to “anyone”, meaning everyone (Mk. 8:34). I am afraid there is no exception!

Meditative Reflection
The Power of the Kingdom of God

“I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power.” (Mk. 9:1)

Bible Scholars have different opinions about what Jesus was referring to in the above verse. Some opine that it referred to the judgment that the Jews faced after the death and resurrection of Jesus, culminating in the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. But I tend to agree with those scholars who think that Jesus was referring to the event of His transfiguration that took place shortly after these words. Mark, Matthew and Luke, in retelling this event, purposely tie the two occasions by numbering the days after which the transfiguration happened.

The logical questions that follow are (1) how does the transfiguration demonstrate the power of the kingdom of God, and (2) what has this experience meant to the three disciples who have witnessed such a remarkable epiphany?

One scholar insightfully points out that this is actually a “re-transfiguration” of the Lord, because at His birth in the manger of Bethlehem, Jesus transfigured into human form. And now, what He did was simply revert to His former true form. And His true form as God Himself carries the glory that dazzles any human sight. The Apostle John would see His true form again on the Island of Patmos (Rev. 1) and he describes His true form with even greater details:

“(D)ressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. The hair on His head was white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In His right hand He held seven stars, and coming out of His mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.” (Rev. 1:13-16)

At the sight of this glorious appearance, John had no choice but to fall prostrate on the ground as if he were dead! Such is the power of the glory of the Risen Lord. All three disciples had a foretaste of this glorious power which they were told to keep to themselves for now (Mk. 9:9).

This transfiguration obviously left a lasting impression on the three disciples, and this is how Peter recounts his experience:

“(B)ut we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory, saying, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’ We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with Him on the sacred mountain.” (2 Pet. 1:16-18)

This lasting impression must have been most precious to Peter who like the other apostles faced severe persecution and the apparent victory of the power of evil; but Peter knew the final victory has already been won, and the glorious Lord will return soon to establish His Kingdom in power, unmatched by any power, human or any other thing.