Go back and look at Mark 5:21-43. It is one of my favorite passages, and very revealing ones for those that want to be like Jesus (his disciples). Read through it slowly and thoughtfully. What strikes you about the passage?
Be sensitive to how Jesus operates. Although the dead girl is an integral part of the scene, focus more on Jesus' interaction with the sick woman. You will have to visualize the whole scene. Imagine what it must have been like to be there. I think Grant preached on this last year or the year before, though he did not emphasize a key point.
Yes. Isn't that amazing? If it were me, I would definitely have been focused on the dead woman and what I was about to do, thus being focused on the future. My mind would have been preoccupied with it. The crowds would have also been a distraction for me. I would probably not had noticed the "power" flow from me (Sounds pretty new age!), nor would I have stopped in the middle of something so important (raising the daugher of an important person from the dead!). In short, I would have missed ministering to the needs of the bleeding woman.
Interesting that he cared enough for an insignificant person like the bleeding woman, just like he did for the important daughter.
How can we learn to be like him? How can we develop an attitude of where each person is important and worthy of our love? How can we learn to not be distracted to the point where we miss the opportunity to show love to someone in desparate need? How can we learn to be aware of what is going on in the present moment, not being distracted with unproductive thoughts of the past or future (e.g., shame, worry), so that we notice the need and respond?
Keep reading in Mark and the other gospels and try and get an idea of the things Jesus did that helped him "be" the way he was.
Have others through history and even now, learned to do this? You can explore this by reading about others or talking to those that have mastered some of it.
Be careful not to make out what you read in the bible as being exceptional events. Sure, the miracles are definitely exceptional, but the disciples did learn to be like Jesus. Jesus did not command us to do things that were impossible to do.
Do not get overwhelmed. Obeying Jesus is simple. He said that his burden is light, lighter than the pharisees.
You can learn to focus more on eternity and the present, as well as to obey all that he commanded. As you do, your life will become more full and complete with each step you take and it will get easier as you go.
We can talk about the hows later, right now, just keep reading through Mark and note how Jesus lived his life. Let the gospels teach you, do not just rely on your previous knowledge that you have been taught. There is more there.
3 comments:
Be sensitive to how Jesus operates. Although the dead girl is an integral part of the scene, focus more on Jesus' interaction with the sick woman. You will have to visualize the whole scene. Imagine what it must have been like to be there. I think Grant preached on this last year or the year before, though he did not emphasize a key point.
This passage is big as far as "being" goes.
Yes. Isn't that amazing? If it were me, I would definitely have been focused on the dead woman and what I was about to do, thus being focused on the future. My mind would have been preoccupied with it. The crowds would have also been a distraction for me. I would probably not had noticed the "power" flow from me (Sounds pretty new age!), nor would I have stopped in the middle of something so important (raising the daugher of an important person from the dead!). In short, I would have missed ministering to the needs of the bleeding woman.
Interesting that he cared enough for an insignificant person like the bleeding woman, just like he did for the important daughter.
How can we learn to be like him? How can we develop an attitude of where each person is important and worthy of our love? How can we learn to not be distracted to the point where we miss the opportunity to show love to someone in desparate need? How can we learn to be aware of what is going on in the present moment, not being distracted with unproductive thoughts of the past or future (e.g., shame, worry), so that we notice the need and respond?
Keep reading in Mark and the other gospels and try and get an idea of the things Jesus did that helped him "be" the way he was.
Have others through history and even now, learned to do this? You can explore this by reading about others or talking to those that have mastered some of it.
Be careful not to make out what you read in the bible as being exceptional events. Sure, the miracles are definitely exceptional, but the disciples did learn to be like Jesus. Jesus did not command us to do things that were impossible to do.
Do not get overwhelmed. Obeying Jesus is simple. He said that his burden is light, lighter than the pharisees.
You can learn to focus more on eternity and the present, as well as to obey all that he commanded. As you do, your life will become more full and complete with each step you take and it will get easier as you go.
We can talk about the hows later, right now, just keep reading through Mark and note how Jesus lived his life. Let the gospels teach you, do not just rely on your previous knowledge that you have been taught. There is more there.
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