by Roseanna White | Mar 14, 2016 | Uncategorized
There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”
I’m always amazed (and not in a good way) when I hear about churches today who preach that anything you suffer is because of sin in your life. Have they just not read these passages? Bad things happen–but not only to people with terrible sins.
The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree
6 He also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 Then
he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have
come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does
it use up the ground?’ 8 But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. 9 And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that[a] you can cut it down.’”
He is so patient with us! But the ultimate outcome is always the same: we must bear fruit or be cut down.
A Spirit of Infirmity
10 Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11 And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. 12 But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.” 13 And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.
14 But
the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had
healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, “There are six days on
which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not
on the Sabbath day.”
15 The Lord then answered him and said, “Hypocrite![b] Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? 16 So
ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has
bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the
Sabbath?” 17 And
when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and
all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by
Him.
Just makes an “Amen!” want to come out, doesn’t it?
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
18 Then He said, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? 19 It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large[c] tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.”
The Parable of the Leaven
20 And again He said, “To what shall I liken the kingdom of God? 21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures[d] of meal till it was all leavened.”
The Narrow Way
22 And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?”
And He said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When
once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you
begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open
for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where
you are from,’ 26 then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ 27 But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’ 28 There
will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac
and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves
thrust out. 29 They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God. 30 And indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last.”
31 On that very day[e] some Pharisees came, saying to Him, “Get out and depart from here, for Herod wants to kill You.”
32 And He said to them, “Go, tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.’ 33 Nevertheless I must journey today, tomorrow, and the day following; for it cannot be that a prophet should perish outside of Jerusalem.
Jesus Laments over Jerusalem
34 “O
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those
who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children
together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing! 35 See! Your house is left to you desolate; and assuredly,[f] I say to you, you shall not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”[g]
I’m kind of amazed that we have Pharisees warning Jesus here–evidence that not all were whitewashed tombs; some respected. Some believed.
by Roseanna White | Feb 26, 2016 | Uncategorized
Immediately,
in the morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders
and scribes and the whole council; and they bound Jesus, led Him away, and delivered Him to Pilate. 2 Then Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
He answered and said to him, “It is as you say.”
3 And the chief priests accused Him of many things, but He answered nothing. 4 Then Pilate asked Him again, saying, “Do You answer nothing? See how many things they testify against You!”[a] 5 But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled.
6 Now at the feast he was accustomed to releasing one prisoner to them, whomever they requested. 7 And there was one named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion. 8 Then the multitude, crying aloud,[b] began to ask him to do just as he had always done for them. 9 But Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” 10 For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.
11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should rather release Barabbas to them. 12 Pilate answered and said to them again, “What then do you want me to do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?”
13 So they cried out again, “Crucify Him!”
14 Then Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has He done?”
But they cried out all the more, “Crucify Him!”
15 So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified.
I’m still completely surprised that Pilate released, of all people, someone who had led a rebellion. A murderer. This is the sort of enemy that Rome most hated–the kind that stirred up strife against the empire.
16 Then the soldiers led Him away into the hall called Praetorium, and they called together the whole garrison. 17 And they clothed Him with purple; and they twisted a crown of thorns, put it on His head, 18 and began to salute Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19 Then they struck Him on the head with a reed and spat on Him; and bowing the knee, they worshiped Him. 20 And when they had mocked Him, they took the purple off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him.
21 Then
they compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander
and Rufus, as he was coming out of the country and passing by, to bear
His cross. 22 And they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull. 23 Then they gave Him wine mingled with myrrh to drink, but He did not take it. 24 And when they crucified Him, they divided His garments, casting lots for them to determine what every man should take.
25 Now it was the third hour, and they crucified Him. 26 And the inscription of His accusation was written above:
THE KING OF THE JEWS.
27 With Him they also crucified two robbers, one on His right and the other on His left. 28 So the Scripture was fulfilled[c] which says, “And He was numbered with the transgressors.”[d]
29 And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, 30 save Yourself, and come down from the cross!”
31 Likewise the chief priests also, mocking among themselves with the scribes, said, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. 32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe.”[e]
Even those who were crucified with Him reviled Him.
A very minor note–it’s really interesting to me that Simon the Cyrenian is noted by who his sons are–usually men were known by who their fathers were, not who they had fathered. It makes me wonder who Alexander and Rufus were. Someone the church of Rome, for whom this gospel was written, may have known??
Just did a quick search–and it looks like it may be just that! The letter to the Romans says, “Greet Rufus and his mother.” Same one? Seems like it would be. Which others have surely put together before, LOL, but I’ve never read anything on it, so you know. Discovery!
33 Now when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”[f]
35 Some of those who stood by, when they heard that, said, “Look, He is calling for Elijah!” 36 Then someone ran and filled a sponge full of sour wine, put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink, saying, “Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to take Him down.”
37 And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last.
38 Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 So when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last,[g] he said, “Truly this Man was the Son of God!”
40 There
were also women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene,
Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joses, and Salome, 41 who also followed Him and ministered to Him when He was in Galilee, and many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.
I wonder about the man who offered him something to drink here. Did he believe? Would he? I see a kernel of faith in that–“Leave Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to take him down.” It doesn’t sound mocking, being in response to the mockers. It sounds . . . hopeful.
42 Now when evening had come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, 43 Joseph
of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for
the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and
asked for the body of Jesus. 44 Pilate marveled that He was already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him if He had been dead for some time. 45 So when he found out from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph. 46 Then
he bought fine linen, took Him down, and wrapped Him in the linen. And
he laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock, and rolled a
stone against the door of the tomb. 47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses observed where He was laid.
Question for chapter 15 – which part of the resurrection story most makes you wonder, react, or otherwise dwell on this time through?
by Roseanna White | Feb 22, 2016 | Remember When Wednesdays, Uncategorized
Now when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples; 2 and He said to them, “Go
into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you
will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it. 3 And if anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it,’ and immediately he will send it here.”
4 So they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door outside on the street, and they loosed it. 5 But some of those who stood there said to them, “What are you doing, loosing the colt?”
6 And they spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded. So they let them go. 7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it. 8 And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:
“Hosanna!
‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’
10 Blessed is the kingdom of our father David
That comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest!”
11 And
Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple. So when He had looked
around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to
Bethany with the twelve.
Well time has obviously passed pretty quickly. 😉 The first ten chapter don’t really read like 3 years have gone by–at least, not to us modern folks who can travel thousands of miles in a day or two. But here we are at the triumphal entry.
What strikes me here is the simple reaction of the people with the colt. The Lord has need of it is all they need to hear, and they make no more complaint. May we all be so in tune with him and what he asks of us!
12 Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. 13 And
seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He
would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but
leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 In response Jesus said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.”
And His disciples heard it.
I admit that this little section always struck me as a bit odd. Why was Jesus expecting something unreasonable from a mere tree? But I think he did this just to show his disciples one more time the power the Spirit can give, as we’ll see below.
15 So
they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to
drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the
tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. 16 And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple. 17 Then He taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ”
18 And
the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might
destroy Him; for they feared Him, because all the people were astonished
at His teaching. 19 When evening had come, He went out of the city.
The money-changers were ripping people off. They were charging huge fees, their goal being profit, not glorifying God. And the sellers of doves were doing likewise–it was supposed to be that you could bring your own sacrifice, so long as it was without blemish. But the inspectors had gotten to the point where they declared everything blemished unless it had been bought at the temple. It had gotten to the point of a movie theater–“No outside food or drink allowed.”
Of course this offended Jesus, and he needed to make a stand–he needed to make visible demonstration saying, “This is not the way it should be. This is displeasing to God. You have taken something that is supposed to be about repentance and turned it into a money-maker. You’ve cheapened the most sacred of things.”
20 Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 21 And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.”
22 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. 23 For
assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and
be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes
that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
And here we see the miracle. Jesus could have said, “Bear fruit,” and the tree would have produced figs. But fruit can grow naturally in a few days. Instead, he cursed this tree so that he disciples would see that the impossible had happened. Trees do not wither from the roots up and die within a few days. The fact that this one did got the attention of Peter as a random fig would not have done.
So then this lesson could be taught. If we have faith . . . if we have the Holy Spirit . . . if we’re walking hand in hand with Him . . . we don’t have to pray, “Lord, do you think maybe you could wither this tree? Could you move this mountain please, God?”
If we’re walking as we should with Him, we’re supposed to know when something is inside His will or outside it. And knowing that, we can operate in the power of the Spirit. Not asking God to do something for us, but commanding the thing to be done.
This section reminds me of Moses, actually. When they get to the Red Sea and he cries out to God, God answers with a touch of impatience. Why do you cry to me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. (Ex 14:15, 16). He’s telling Moses here, “I’ve already given you the authority. Use it.”
This is the same lesson Jesus teaches his disciples here. “Command authority, and the world will respond. Ask in prayer, believing, and it will be given.”
25 “And
whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone,
forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your
trespasses. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”
This little section puts a ton of weight on forgiveness, doesn’t it? If we don’t forgive others, God won’t forgive us. Is that something we consider as we hold onto our grudges? That it’s our own soul we’re endangering?
27 Then
they came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple, the
chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to Him. 28 And they said to Him, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority to do these things?”
29 But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one question; then answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things: 30 The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me.”
31 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 32 But if we say, ‘From men’”—they feared the people, for all counted John to have been a prophet indeed. 33 So they answered and said to Jesus, “We do not know.”
And Jesus answered and said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
So my question for Mark 11 ~ Why do we think Jesus chose the demonstrations he did in his final week? The withering of the fig tree, the overturning of the tables–these are some of the last actions we see him take. What makes them the perfect final teachings?
by Roseanna White | Feb 4, 2016 | Thoughtful Thursdays, Uncategorized
Last weekend my husband, dad, and I went to visit a local church and speak about the missions trip they had taken in October, and of the service organization we’ve begun. After speaking of the trip for so long, the mike got handed to me to cover the org–though I’d said I was just there for moral support, LOL.
As I stood up there in front a group of strangers who are my family in Christ, as I tried to convey why this was important, a truth settled in my mind.
We’re not all called to foreign missions.
We’re not all called to domestic missions.
We’re not all called to adopt.
We’re not all called to minister to refugees.
We’re not all called to any one thing.
But we’re all called.
We’re not all asked to sacrifice our riches.
We’re not all asked to sacrifice our houses.
We’re not all asked to sacrifice our days.
We’re not all asked to sacrifice our hold on our children.
We’re not all asked to sacrifice our dreams.
But we’re all asked to sacrifice.
And if we don’t think we’ve heard a call or been asked to sacrifice…then it’s not because God hasn’t spoken. It’s because we’re not listening. And if we’re not listening, how long before He asks someone else to do, in our place, what He’d intended for us?
My husband put it like this on Saturday, and it’s so good an analogy that it’s stuck in my mind. Let’s look at our relationship with God like a romantic one. We’re told, over and over, that we need to learn to listen to God’s voice.
So maybe we sit around on the phone with him. We pray, we read the Bible. We concentrate on that voice.
Then one day, God says, “Hey, wanna catch a movie?”
We say, “Well…not tonight. I’ve got all this other stuff going on.”
So the next week, God says, “How about dinner?”
And we say, “Well…I’m kinda busy.”
If this plays out time and again, how long is it before you can’t honestly call yourself “dating” anymore? If you have the opportunity to DO and choose not to, is that an active relationship?
God doesn’t call us to an inactive faith. The Great Commission doesn’t say, “Stay ye at home and pray.” Jesus doesn’t answer the rich young ruler’s question about what he needs to do to be saved with, “Give a nice offering every week and pray you use your wealth wisely.”
He calls us all to GO.
He asks us all to GIVE.
Where to go? What to give?
That’s where we’re all different. But I say this: the example of the rich young ruler is a good one. Because He doesn’t ask for the easy way. He doesn’t ask for a sacrifice that costs him little. He asks for complete dedication. He asks for the removal of the thing that the man valued most.
What do you value most?
Family?
Security?
Ritual?
Comfort?
What if He asks you to sacrifice that? What do you do? Do you give it all up? Let your family members go? Give up the steady job and good insurance? Leave the comfortable confines of the denomination you know best? Give up your home?
Or do you just stop picking up the phone when God calls?
Because here’s the thing. He always calls. And if we don’t hear that phone ringing…maybe it’s because we ignored it too long.
American Christians are very good at talking. We value hearing His voice. And honestly, we’re good at throwing money at things…so long as it’s not enough that we’ll notice it missing when we’re at Walmart or browsing Amazon.
But when it comes to sacrificing…when it comes to going…when it comes to doing…
Are we really Christ-like? Or are we content with a mask of Christianity that costs us nothing?
by Roseanna White | Jan 15, 2016 | Uncategorized
With the last season of Downton Abbey now underway, three Bethany House authors have teamed up to bring you the Downton Lovers’ Book Giveaway! Three books for 3 winners. Just enter with the Rafflecopter below for a chance at these fun British historicals!
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by Roseanna White | Dec 21, 2015 | Uncategorized
Merry Christmas, from my house to yours!
I hope everyone has a beautiful Christmas, filled with love, laughter, and most of all Jesus. See you back here next week!
Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary.