Reflections on Mark 4:21-25

The lamp can be used as a metaphor for many different things. In the case of the people in Galilee and Judea, it was a metaphor for hope. The people had lost hope in freedom from the oppressive Roman rule. Yeshua said to them do not lose hope. It is also followed by the parable that says that life is not always fair, but in the Kingdom of Heaven, the world to come, life is fair. Do not lose hope in the ways of the LORD. We cannot understand His ways, but we must have hope in them.

Thoughts on Mark 4:21-25

A feature of early Christianity is that the movement was not meant to be for a particular people. The message Yeshua brought was meant for all people to hear. The construction of the Bible and even Yeshua’s parables at first glance appear to be restricted to the people who knew how to read it. The parable of the lamp seems to remove that restriction. History tells us that the church leaders held onto the faith’s mysteries keeping the secrets to themselves; in some cases, that is still happening. If the church controls the secrets, it believes it controls people. Today people are seeing through this veil and are reacting to it. The search for the true meaning of Yeshua’s words is a large movement and will never end. It is essential for the church to return to Yeshua’s ways and release all the secrets in the Vatican basements for the world to see.

Reflections on Mark 4:10-20

The explanation offered for the parable is to create a tight control of people by the church. One does not want to fall into Satan’s hand. The church says that we need it to prevent that from happening. The church will happily show the ways to salvation through discipleship to Yeshua. However, what is the road to discipleship? What does one have to do to get into Heaven? The Gospels are not clear; however, the church is. It says that one has to do good deeds. But who determines what the good deeds are? The Hebrew Scriptures, especially the Torah, tell us what good deeds, called mitzvot, will help one get into Heaven. The church must not become an obstacle to discipleship. The numerous denominations in the church tend to send the message that it is an obstacle. If a disciple does not agree with one denomination, one can always go to another denomination. Today Christianity has multiple independent churches. Certainly, a disciple of Yeshua can find a church that fits one’s needs. The bottom line is discipleship to Yeshua, not a church.

Thoughts on Mark 4:10-20

What are the obstacles to discipleship today? One block for me was the notion that the church only cared about getting my money. This idea is still widespread. An example from my past is attending a free Advent dinner at the church, after which the church was decorated for the season. After the dinner, the pastor announced that there would be a free-will offering for dinner. Wait, I thought this was a free dinner. President Ronald Regan said that there was no free lunch, and I should have realized that. When the basket came before me, I had to put something in it. Since there were five of us, I put a $20 bill in. I felt that all eyes were watching me. The next time a free dinner came up at the church I knew that it was not free. False advertising from the church did not help me to discover the power of Yeshua’s words. The reputation of the church is a big obstacle, and it is far-reaching than just money.

Reflections on Mark 4:1-9

Any institution has a bureaucracy that does not like change. The institution’s leaders like the way things are running because it makes life easier and because they like it. In the church today, people do not like change. People who enter the church and try to change it become like seeds on rocky soil. The congregational leaders will get that new person and their new ideas tossed out of the church before they can spread their insurrection to the old ways. This attitude toward change is what is causing so many mainline churches to close their doors. Change is something that is all around us. Today it is running at a faster pace than ever before. Maybe it is time to allow the seeds of ideas to hit the fertile ground. This action means the church needs to let new ideas and methods to flourish rather than swatting them away.

Thoughts on Mark 4:1-9

The seeds that fell on good ground and grew tells us that Yeshua wanted us to understand that patience is the key to a revolution. It does not matter if the change is a religious reform or cultural reform. For Judea’s local government, culture and religion were linked together. Yeshua knew that He was not going to influence Rome directly. Do not forget that the influence of Yeshua’s movement eventually did touch and change Rome. Consider the seeds as an influence. When would the influence of reform work? It takes time because the changes must be gradual as not to upset the cultural or religious machine. People, in general, are not fans of change. Forcing change on people does not work. Rather subtle change works. That requires patience, which is something that most of us do not have.

Reflections on Mark 3:31-35

Reflections

Yeshua gave up his most treasured thing. It was not a material possession but rather His relationship with His family. He treasured his parents, siblings, and extended family members. His mission from the LORD forced Him to make a decision. Follow the LORD or remain a part of his family. He chose the LORD. Are you ready and willing to make a sacrifice of that magnitude for the LORD?

Yeshua gave up his most treasured thing. It was not a material possession but rather His relationship with His family. He treasured his parents, siblings, and extended family members. His mission from the LORD forced Him to make a decision. Follow the LORD or remain a part of his family. He chose the LORD. Are you ready and willing to make a sacrifice of that magnitude for the LORD?

Thoughts on Mark 3:31-35

The old saying that “blood is thicker than water” was being upended in this narrative. In this case, one can say that water is thicker than blood. Water is referring to the initiation rite of baptism. At that ceremony, the person being baptized with water becomes a member of the Christian family. The idea is to leave the old self behind to become a new person and a member of a new family. Yeshua was able to leave His family behind Him. Eventually, the family joined Him. Yeshua was ready to give up the most valuable thing He possessed so that He could follow the LORD.