MARK - My Words (11)

 

Jesus travelled with his friends to a rural spot by the lake of Galilee.  He was keen just to have time with them.  He tried to explain about the momentous events that were just around the corner.  “The Creator’s chosen one will be handed over to his enemies, executed, by then, and after three days, be restored to life.  Jesus’ friends could not make head nor tail of this!

They arrived in Capernaum and settled in a house.  Jesus asked his friends what they had been arguing about on the way there.  They did not want to say, because they had been arguing which of them was the greatest.  The Jesus looked them in the eye and said, “whoever wants to be the greatest must first be a servant of all.”  He asked a child who was there to join them.  “Anyone who welcomes this child is also welcoming me, and the one who sent me.”

John questioned Jesus.  “We saw someone asking for healing and he used your name.  We told him to stop what he was doing as he had no right.” 

“No” said Jesus“, If the intention is true and honest, then the act is right.”  Anyone who offers you just a cup of water will be rewarded because they are doing what is right. 

“But if anyone by their actions causes a little one to suffer or go astray, then is would be better for them to tie a millstone round their neck and jump into the sea. 

If your hand causes you to harm another, get rid of it! Cut it off!  If your foot causes you to stumble, be done with it! Throw it away!  If your eye causes you to enter into evil, gouge it out.  It is better to come to your creator without these things than to never come because you are far away.”

“Everyone is tested and their true nature will be revealed.  If salt, or sugar loses its flavour, get rid of it, it’s of no value.  We need sweetness and preservatives around us all the time, so that we live together in peace.”

For most people, understanding what Jesus was explaining would be befuddling.  I sympathies with his friends.  It's all too extraordinary.  from time to time people do say fantastical things and we say "no, surely not." 

Jesus message is counter-cultural, which makes it extremely difficult to believe.  We largely live in the mainstream and don't even notice how this seeps into our daily existence.  

Jesus says that we come as 'children', not warlords.  Our power is love, simplicity and acceptance, not war, dominance and discrimination.  Jesus says goodness is the judge of whether it's from the Creator.  I like the use of violent metaphor to emphasis the significance of love.  

Whatever you are given, whether it be 'salt' or 'sugar', go and share it around.  It's needed out there.