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Hating or Loving Jesus’ Plan

Links for today’s readings:

Feb 27 Read:  Proverbs 18 Listen: (2:23) Read: Mark 8 Listen: (4:29)
Feb 28 Read:  Proverbs 19 Listen: (3:09) Read: Mark 9 Listen: (6:16)
Mar 1 Read:  Proverbs 20 Listen: (3:19) Read: Mark 10 Listen: (6:42)

Scripture Focus: Mark 8.29-33

29 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” 30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.

31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

Reflection: Hating or Loving Jesus’ Plan

By John Tillman

Jesus tells his disciples his plan. They hate it.

Biblical writers never glamorize the “heroes.” They show them up close, with all their flaws. Peter is one example. Mark (most scholars agree) was close to Peter and used him as the primary eyewitness for his gospel. Despite Mark’s gospel being from Peter’s perspective, it doesn’t conceal Peter’s failures.

This story shows one of Peter’s best moments right next to one of his worst.

Mark is building his story to a climax. Jesus’ miracles and signs proved his authority and power. His disciples believed in him. Peter declared Jesus was the promised Messiah. Then Jesus revealed his plans plainly. I’m going to suffer. I’m going to die. I’ll rise from the dead.

In Matthew’s account, when Peter calls Jesus the Messiah, Jesus praises Peter so expansively that some corners of Christianity think the church is literally built on Peter, instead of Jesus, and that Peter personally holds the literal keys of Heaven, greeting us, like a hotel porter, at its gates. Mark skips that glowing (and confusing) praise, jumping straight to Peter’s low point.

Peter thought he had to talk sense into Jesus. But “sense” wasn’t what Peter was listening to. Satan whispered in Peter’s ear and Peter passed the message along like a game of infernal telephone. Jesus recognized the message’s source. He calls Peter “Satan,” saying that he is only thinking of human concerns.

We wish God would tell us his plans plainly. One reason he might not do that is because we might not understand those plans and would reject them. We are not immune to Satan’s whispered doubts. We, like Peter, are likely to pull Jesus aside and repeat these doubts to him. Surely not, Lord. I can’t really do that. Send someone else. I’m not worthy to do that. I’m afraid. I’m too sinful. I’m not strong enough. My faith is too weak.

Jesus knows well what Satan’s temptations sound like. (Matthew 4.1-11; Luke 4.1-13) Hear Jesus say, “Get behind me, Satan” as he rebukes doubts, fears, and lies. Hear also from Jesus, “Release your human concerns. Set your mind on God’s concerns.”

What is Jesus’ plan for his disciples in plain language? “Deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Do you hate it? Or do you love it? The way of the cross is the only way that leads to life.

Divine Hours Prayer: A Reading

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me. Anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it. “ — Matthew 16.24-25


– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

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Untwisting Scripture

Links for today’s readings:

Feb 26  Read: Proverbs 17 Listen: (2:58) Read: Mark 7 Listen: (4:28)

Scripture Focus: Mark 7.8-19

8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.” 9 And he continued, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’  and, ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’  11 But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is Corban (that is, devoted to God)—12 then you no longer let them do anything for their father or mother. 13 Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.” 14 Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. 15 Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.”

17 After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable. 18 “Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? 19 For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.)

Reflection: Untwisting Scripture

By John Tillman

Some Christians spend a lot of time finger-pointing.

Accusations of “twisting scripture to accommodate culture” are common. Some are accused of accommodating today’s culture and others of accommodating past cultures.

Jesus often had similar arguments with religious leaders. In Mark 7, the leaders accused the disciples of violating purity laws by not ceremonially washing before eating. Jesus quoted Isaiah, calling their traditions “human rules.” (Isaiah 29.13)

Then Jesus accused them of twisting scripture. They used commands about “Corban,” or dedicating things to God (Leviticus 27.16-24), to dodge responsibilities to family from other commands. (Exodus 20.12; Deuteronomy 5.16) They used Leviticus to negate Exodus and Deuteronomy.

Finally, Jesus returned to the issue of purity, shockingly declaring that eating cannot defile a person but speaking can, because words come from the heart. The narrator (probably Peter speaking through Mark) tells us this means all foods are “clean.” (A claim that would remain controversial through much of the New Testament. Acts 11.1-18)

Did Jesus do a “whataboutism?” Did he lecture leaders for nullifying God’s commands while nullifying purity laws? Did Jesus say some commands in scripture are “human rules?”

“No” to all of those. Jesus didn’t switch topics to “what about” the religious leaders. He exposed the actual topic underneath their objection that had implications far beyond ceremonial washing. Jesus diagnosed their dysfunctional theology and prescribed a cure.

When Jesus said “human rules” and “your traditions,” he wasn’t downgrading some scripture and elevating others. He condemned their human interpretations of how to live according to those laws. (Matthew 5.21-48) When Jesus declared all food clean it was because he was making all people clean in himself. (Acts 10.15; John 15.3)

God’s commands are perfect. Human theological interpretations and practices can be filled with errors. We shouldn’t confuse the two. But if the religious leaders (the elite theologians of their day) were so badly mistaken, what hope do we have?

We definitely need less finger-pointing and more humility. If you interpret scripture so that it never contradicts your culture, your friends, or your political party, something is wrong. Scripture critiques every culture and all traditions, past, present, and future. Only slippery slopes have no friction.

Like Jesus, drill down to the real issues, not the culture war surface-level skirmishes. Untwist scripture from trends and traditions. When in doubt, make sure what comes out of you (actions and words) is loving and pure.

Do not let today’s trends or yesterday’s traditions negate the gospel of Jesus.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Greeting

My heart is firmly fixed, O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and make melody. — Psalm 57.7


– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Current cultural sexual ethics are old, but in every age, God carved out for himself people to be different—to return to Eden, little by little.

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Honeycombs

Links for today’s readings:

Feb 25  Read: Proverbs 16 Listen: (3:15) Read: Mark 6 Listen: (7:23)

Scripture Focus: Proverbs 16:24

Gracious words are a honeycomb,
    sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

Reflection: Honeycombs

By Erin Newton

“You can catch more bees with honey.”

Just the other night I was walking my dogs when another dog-owner started yelling for me to “Move on!” Apparently, I was walking too close for this person’s liking, and they were already angry. I wish my response had been gracious words. I think I muttered an exasperated, “I’m trying!”

I love the metaphor used in Proverbs 16: Gracious words are a honeycomb. Graciousness, in the Bible, is often paired with words about compassion and mercy. In this text, the Hebrew word means “kind.” Kind words are a honeycomb.

My sister has an apiary—she keeps bees. From her experience (and a fascination with all things in nature), I have learned about the intricate part of bee life. First, honeycombs do not occur spontaneously. They are carefully made. In fact, it requires the whole hive of worker bees to make honeycomb. Second, honeycombs are made from ingredients inside bees that are then deposited (and chewed and re-deposited) by other bees. Lastly, honeycombs hold not only honey but pollen and the brood of future bees. In short, honeycombs are more than a dessert tray.

Words can be honeycomb. How should we think about this metaphor?

Gracious words are not simply something to sweeten things. We have heard about “toxic positivity” where people attempt to ward off bad feelings or ignore bad situations by infusing positive statements. Think about someone who has lost a family member. It might be simple to say, “They’re in a better place now!” It might be true but it’s not always soul-sweetening or bone-healing (as our proverb says). Gracious (kind) words should be nourishing. They are not just words for a moment but words that can give life.

Gracious words are the result of what is inside us. Like the wax created from the parts of the bees themselves, gracious words are not just phrases we memorize. Bees search for pollen and convert that to create honeycomb. We too must be looking for life-giving words from Scripture. The Gospels remind us, “For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of” (Matt 12.34; Luke 6.45).

Producing gracious words requires practice and work. Like building a honeycomb, we cannot expect to speak kindly when we have only ever practiced rudeness, sarcasm, insults, objectification, othering, or any sort of speech that tears down.

Kind words are carefully crafted. Kind words heal souls.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer

Love the Lord, all you who worship him; the Lord protects the faithful, but repays to the full those who act haughtily. — Psalm 31.23


– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

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Inner Light of the Heart

Links for today’s readings:

Feb 24  Read: Proverbs 15 Listen: (3:36) Read: Mark 5 Listen: (5:21)

Scripture Focus: Proverbs 15.13-17 

13 A happy heart makes the face cheerful, 

but heartache crushes the spirit. 

14 The discerning heart seeks knowledge, 

but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly. 

15 All the days of the oppressed are wretched, 

but the cheerful heart has a continual feast. 

16 Better a little with the fear of the Lord 

than great wealth with turmoil. 

17 Better a small serving of vegetables with love 

than a fattened calf with hatred.

Reflection: Inner Light of the Heart

By John Tillman

The theme of this section is the heart (or inner being) and its effects on the rest of our lives. Proverbs’ pithy, punchy format can seem like it simply states the obvious: “A happy heart makes the face cheerful.” However, obvious truths sometimes have deeper implications.

Doctors know that stress, anxiety, and depression, often thought of as intangible feelings, cause tangible harm to our bodies. Proverbs often agrees and speaks about how the spiritual affects the physical.

Emotional suffering can affect us physically and physical suffering can affect emotional well-being. Trauma responses in which victims of physical abuse relive the sensations and emotions of traumatic events are common.

“Feelings” physically affect us. Physical suffering emotionally affects us. We sometimes can’t just “get over” or “pray away” our feelings because of this mental-physical feedback loop.

Our bodies matter. Our spirit also matters. We are integrated beings—not solely spirit and not solely flesh. The resurrection body of Jesus, the firstborn from among the dead (1 Corinthians 15.20), shows us that we will not be disembodied spirits. We will not slough off flesh for a spiritual plane but be transfigured (1 Corinthians 15.50-55) into a more glorious state as heaven comes down to earth. 

Until that day, there is a bright side to physical/spiritual connection. Christians have something greater within us to rely on than our own spirit (1 John 4.4). Christ promised “rivers of living water” within us and that he would “pour out his Holy Spirit” on all flesh. The Holy Spirit is the down payment and guarantee that Christ’s promises of resurrection and eternality are true (2 Corinthians 1.21-22).

Centering our hearts on Christ can change our visages, our vision, and our vitality. The Holy Spirit is an inner light for surviving the darkness and helping others lost within it.

The world’s current reality is not the end. Many biblical authors expressed dark emotions and experienced physical suffering as the culture around them degraded them and the structures of justice and righteousness were toppled by greed and grotesque pursuits. However, they also testify that there is refreshment for our souls and hearts in scripture.

The state of our hearts affects the rest of our lives. The one who feeds on the Lord, feasts even if his body starves. The one who fears the Lord can stand against fearful things.

Through the Holy Spirit, our brightened souls can put a gleam of glory on our faces no matter what darkness surrounds us.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence

Show your goodness, O Lord, to those who are good and to those who are true of heart. — Psalm 125.4

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

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A Culture of Mockers

Links for today’s readings:

Feb 23  Read: Proverbs 14 Listen: (3:45) Read: Mark 4 Listen: (5:01)

Scripture Focus: Proverbs 14.6-9

6 The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, 

but knowledge comes easily to the discerning. 

7 Stay away from a fool, 

for you will not find knowledge on their lips. 

8 The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, 

but the folly of fools is deception. 

9 Fools mock at making amends for sin, 

but goodwill is found among the upright.

Reflection: A Culture of Mockers

By John Tillman

The writers of Proverbs would have loved first generation Twitter.

In 2006 Twitter used SMS texts which had a 160 character limit. Twitter reserved twenty characters for usernames, leaving 140 for messages. (The previous sentence is 139 characters.)

The technological limit sparked a cultural moment for brevity. On blogs, news sites, and rival social media platforms, people posted thousands of words per day. “Tweets” were a tight 140 characters and were with you everywhere you could get a text, not just on a computer. Necessity made brevity the soul of the platform and a differentiating feature in the early days of social media.

That appreciation of brevity was brief. The old limits have stretched to 280 characters. The current site, X, sees longer posts as a value-add. They charge users a monthly fee for the privilege of being a “verified” premium user who can post up to 25,000 characters. (Our devotionals are 400 words and average 2200-2500 characters.)

But length does not automatically equal value when it comes to wisdom. Each phrase in Proverbs packs a punch. Proverbs is one of the most quotable (or “tweetable”) books of the Bible. The punchy phrases and well balanced opposites are intended to be memorable and meaningful.

The writers of Proverbs would find plenty of the people they called “mockers” on modern social media. I’m sure you have found them too.

“Mockers” in the Bible refuse instruction, scoff at knowledge, and hate correction. (Psalm 1.1; Proverbs 15.12) They reject wisdom and enjoy insolence and provoking anger. (Proverbs 21.24) If you call them ignorant, expecting to humble them, they’ll be proud. Mockers are those for whom cruelty is funny. They call empathy weakness. They call love being a sucker.

Our culture is rife with mockers, and social media algorithms love them. Mockers get highlighted and pushed to new viewers. Mockers are given power and influence. Mockers are praised, hired, applauded, and even elected. In our culture, it is easy to become a mocker. Proverbs helps us see a better way.

Instead of mocking, be discerning. Knowledge comes effortlessly to the discerning. Mockers search but never find wisdom.

Instead of rash falsehoods, be prudent. The prudent think ahead, taking care with words and actions. Mockers rush to tell lies, even foolish ones.

Instead of prideful unrepentance that scoffs at confession or recompense, admit wrongdoing and self-correct by making right what was wrong.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence

Let those who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; let those who love your salvation say forever, “Great is the Lord!” — Psalm 70.4

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

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