Cross My Heart Ministry

Our journey through the Gospel of Mark brings us to the pinnacle of our faith, the reason we have hope, and the very essence of the gospel message.   The Cross of Christ.

Today’s post is devoted to the word intersection.

As we study Mark 15:21-47 and the crucifixion, death, and burial of Jesus — God has given me three key words that convey three key truths:

•  Intersection
• Substitution
• Completion

The Cross of Christ represents all three.

Intersection

Of course, the Cross is a literal intersection – we see two beams, one horizontal and one vertical, fastened together.  The place where they meet is the point of intersection.  Spiritually speaking, the Cross is where truth and faith intersect – where an awareness of our sin intersects with His provision of grace and faith is born.  Our journey through life on our own climaxes with our new journey of faith in Him.

At the cross we see the intersection of God’s character – His Justice & His Love.  Without the cross, God would have violated his own nature.  His justice demanded payment for the sin of the world.  To be true to His own character, justice must be served. God’s character is also one of great love.  His love brings the desire that none should perish, but all have eternal life.  He makes that possible through the gift of His son.

At the Cross we see the tension:  God’s love constrained by His justice…and His justice constrained by His love.  They come to a point of intersection at the Cross and in the Person of Jesus Christ.

What does the Cross mean to you?  Is it the intersection in your life?  The point where your flesh and your spirit collide?  The place where the realization that you are a great sinner intersects with the realization that Christ is a great Savior…and Faith is born?

The child of God must return to the Cross for perspective and re-alignment in her journey.

We begin our journey of faith at the cross…and we continue on by returning to the cross.

What in your life needs brought to the foot of the cross?  Where do you need re-aligned…or need your mind renewed…where do you need to re-commit….re-dedicate…be reminded of who you are in Christ?

When the world and circumstances and challenges of life bring confusion and seem to flip us inside out and upside down, only the Cross gives us the perspective, the purpose, and the PEACE we so desperately need.

The woman of God meets Jesus at the cross, the place of intersection.

The audio teaching lecture for this message can be found here:  http://fbcsiloam.podbean.com/e/ladies-bible-study-mark-lesson-29-laura-macfarlan-%E2%80%94-5-1-14/

{Photo attribution:  http://fineartamerica.com/featured/wooden-cross-jerry-bunger.html}

The chief priests accused him of many things.
 So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer?
See how many things they are accusing you of.” 
But Jesus still made no reply,
and Pilate was amazed.
Mark 15:3-5

 Luke 23:2 provides a list of these “many things” hurled at Jesus by the chief priests:

• Subversion – acts that would be overthrowing the nation of Rome
• Opposition to taxes
• Claiming to be king.

(Interesting that blasphemy is not on that list.  Because Rome – and, therefore, Pilate–would not care about blasphemy.   They have to trump up charges that will matter to Rome.)

These are serious allegations, crimes worthy of execution.  If accused of a crime carrying the death penalty, a guilty man would probably open his mouth and attempt to defend himself or dispute the accusations.  And surely an innocent man would protest and plead his case before the one authority who has the means to control his destiny.

Pilate was intrigued … surprised … and even amazed that Jesus refused to answer.  It’s unlikely that an accused criminal standing before him had ever made no reply.

Jesus is doing the unexpected…and it is amazing.

How might God ask you and me to do the opposite of what is expected?

To keep our mouth closed when facing harsh or unjust criticism.
To leave a generous tip…even when service was less than stellar.
To bless those who hurt us.
To pray for those who wound us.
To forgive those who harmed us.
To love those who have withheld love from us.
To honor those who have not honored us.

And when we do those things…when we walk in the opposite spirit…we are like Christ – and we, too, are AMAZING!

Who is God asking you to amaze this week?

Let’s ask Him to provide an opportunity to do the unexpected…to respond in a situation that is totally out of character…to respond in the Spirit and not in the flesh.  We can be amazing when we are controlled by the Spirit of God.

Pilate was amazed by Jesus.  Let’s go out there and amaze someone for Jesus this week!

“Immediately the rooster crowed the second time.
Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him:
“Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.”
And he broke down and wept.”
Mark 14:27

Jesus had to get the “Peter” out of Peter in order to have him ready for the Kingdom work prepared for Him.  Everything that wasn’t the Peter God saw in Him had to be chipped away — the pride, the brash confidence in Himself, the smugness.

When that cock crowed, cocky Peter became contrite Peter.  Humbled Peter.  In that instant the dots were connected and Peter saw himself and his sinful state before Jesus.

His response should be our response to our sin:  mourning.  The text says he broke down and wept. The parallel passage in Luke says he wept bitterly.  I believe those were tears of remorse, shame, repentance, and humility.

In Matthew 5:4 Jesus says: Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

 Our journey of faith begins with the acknowledgment of our sin, mourning our sin. As we see ourselves as sinners, we also see our need of a Savior. The only comfort for that type of mourning is Jesus Christ — only HE can comfort and heal us from our sin.

Peter mourned his sin that day.

Jesus used that rooster and the timing of it’s crowing to bring conviction to Peter’s heart.

If God will use even a rooster, won’t he use anything or anyone as his instrument to chip away the behaviors, actions, attitudes, mindsets, or words in our lives that don’t need to be there?

Peter didn’t go after the rooster with his sword. He went out and wept.

Who is that cocky person that brings conviction to your life? Maybe you and I have gone round and round in the ring this week — boxing with a cocky teenager. Maybe we’ve allowed a 2-year-old to get the best of us – – or an 82-year-old – – or a tax form – – or an overdue bill.  What – or who – is God using to humble you?

II Corinthians 10:4-5 says we are to … we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

 What thoughts need taken captive in your life and mine?  What attitudes, motives, behaviors, words are in our lives that need purged so we can filled?  What sin do you and I need to mourn, to confess, and allow God to chip away?

Peter mourned his sin.  He wept bitterly over his sin.  We, too, must take sin seriously and then celebrate our Savior who is continuously working in our lives.

He loves us as we are, but also loves us too much to leave us that way.

{Here’s the link to last week’s teaching on Mark:  http://fbcsiloam.podbean.com/2014/04/19/ladies-bible-study-mark-lesson-27-laura-macfarlan-%E2%80%94-4-17-14/ }

Photo attribution: http://www.shadesvalley.org

“…She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.”
Mark 14:3

Mary of Bethany came to Smon’s house that day with a specific, deliberate purpose. She brought an alabaster jar of perfume to anoint Jesus.  Mark tells us it was not only expensive…but adds the word VERY.  We will learn in verse 5 that its cost represented about a year’s worth of wages.

This was a huge sacrifice.  It was an offering of love and worship.

Mary held nothing back.  She broke the jar and used it all.

She didn’t come in with a teaspoon….she didn’t pour out a drop or two…She was all in!

How about you and me?  Have you ever jumped all in?

Do you and I give to God out of our abundance…our excess…our surplus?  Do we wait to see if there is anything left over before we give to God? Are you hoarding the best and giving God the dregs?

Mary broke the jar!  She gave it all!  And the fragrance of that perfume would have filled that place.

I John 3:1 says:
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!
And that is what we are!

It’s a fun word to say.  It’s even more fun to experience.  In a world where we’re taught to conserve, recycle, and be thrifty, lavish feels extravagant.  God’s love for us without limit, extravagant.  It has been lavished.  We can lavish back.  That’s what Mary did.

Absolutely, comprehensively, ultimately, thoroughly, perfectly, exhaustively, extensively.

She holds nothing back.

Are you ready to break the jar….break the bank…break a few less-than-important appointments?

Where are you holding out on God? Where is He calling you to be “all in?” To worship HIM completely?

Maybe it is the time needed in the Word.  Are we giving ten minutes and congratulating ourselves for doing anything at all? What would it look like to “break the jar” on your schedule….let go of our agenda…and lavish His Word into your heart and mind.

Whether time, treasure, or talent, let’s ask God what jar in our lives needs broken?

I want to be “all in” – how about you?

Note:  The teaching lecture on Mark 14:1-11 can be found here: http://fbcsiloam.podbean.com/2014/04/04/ladies-bible-study-mark-lesson-25-laura-macfarlan-%E2%80%94-4-3-14/

The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
There is no commandment greater than these.”
Mark 12:31

 The greatest commandment is to love God and the second greatest is to love our neighbor. The order here is extremely important.  Only by loving God FIRST are we able to truly love our neighbor.

This is true even when (perhaps especially when) our “neighbor” is our beloved mate.

Consider these wise words from C.S. Lewis:

When I have learnt to love God better than my earthly dearest, I shall love my earthly dearest better than I do now. Insofar as I learn to love my earthly dearest at the expense of God and instead of God, I shall be moving towards the state in which I shall not love my earthly dearest at all. When first things are put first, second things are not suppressed but increased.
—C. S. Lewis (in a 1952 letter)

 We must love God first and foremost – our love for Him makes it possible for us to love not only our dearest…but our dear children…dear parents… and every dear (and not-so-dear) neighbor!

We must love God first and best.

Before leaving this verse behind, let’s look at the little phrase Jesus tucks in as a qualifier on how we are to love our neighbor.  He says “as yourself.”  Does that give a little squeeze to your conscience?  Jesus knows us – perhaps better than we know ourselves.  We are indeed selfish in our nature.  Are you thinking, “I’ve moved beyond that all-about-me attitude.  That girl was left behind in high school.”

Here’s a way to gauge your “me-ness”:  when you look at photos taken at your last family vacation, the girls night out, your class reunion, daughter’s birthday party, son’s graduation, or any photo that includes you and other people….who do you look at first?  What makes it a “good” photo– worthy of your Facebook profile?  We look at ourselves Am I right?  Even if hubby’s eyes are closed….if it’s a good hair day for moi, it’s getting tagged for all to see!

No matter how much we would like to deny it, we are basically selfish creatures.

If you want to be challenged and inspired on the subject of loving God and loving others, I encourage you to read I John…consider these verses from I John 4:10-11 –

This is love:
not that we loved God,
but that he loved us
and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Dear friends, since God so loved us,
we also ought to love one another.

An awareness of God’s love for us both compels — and propels — us to love one another.  God loved us FIRST!  We aren’t the initiators.  We are the responders! And when we love Him, we are able to love others — as ourselves.

Who is the neighbor God is asking you to love this week?  Would you ask God for the desire to love…the strength to love…and the wisdom for how to love well?  Would you ask Him to fill you – consume you – with His love– so that it will overflow in love for your neighbor?

How about a love challenge for April?  Each day for the next 30 days, choose one neighbor to specifically and deliberately love.  Choose a word of kindness or an act of kindness to fulfill the second greatest commandment.  Go ahead & love someone! Share some ideas with the rest of us on how we, too, can fulfill the second greatest commandment.

  ***

Here’s the link to the teaching lecture for Mark 12:28-31

http://fbcsiloam.podbean.com/2014/03/13/ladies-bible-study-mark-lesson-23-laura-macfarlan-%E2%80%94-3-13-14/

Love the Lord your God
with all your heart
and with all your soul
and with all your mind
and with all your strength.
Mark 12:30

 When Jesus was asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” He gave the response found above.  It’s good to think and pray and ponder about loving God with heart…soul…mind….and strength.  We memorize it.  We say it.  We agree with it.  But do we do it?  And – how exactly can we do it?

I’ll leave you on your own with heart, soul, and mind – today I want to focus on strength.

If I asked you about loving God with all your strength, I’m guessing many of you would respond, “Honey, that would not be much!”  If someone asks, “Got strength?” you might respond, “None left!”

Maybe you can identify with Psalm 38:10:

“My heart pounds, my strength fails me; even the light has gone from my eyes.”

If that describes you, then perhaps it’s time to claim the promise of Psalm 29:11:

The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses His people with peace.

Isn’t it interesting to note the connection between strength and peace in this verse.  The challenges and issues of this world that zap us of our strength are also the very things that rob us of our peace.

When we have no strength, we can call on Him to give us his.  And when we are given His strength, it comes with the added blessing of His peace!

And when His strength becomes our strength, we can proclaim:

I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

Even our strength to love Him is a gift from Him! What a joy to love our great God – the source of all joy, love, and every good thing we are blessed to enjoy!

Photo Attribution: http://www.cafepress.com/mf/28749919/got-strength_tshirt?productId=664281942

“Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’ ”
Mark 11:2-3

As follows of Jesus, we are Christian soldiers “in the Lord’s ARMeeee!” (as we sang in Sunday School as little children.)

A good solider obeys the command of his general without question.  Can you place yourself in the boots (eerrrr….sandals….) of the two disciples who received the instructions laid out above in Mark 11:2-3?

How difficult do you think this was for them?  Did they hesitate…question…feel a little uneasy about taking a donkey that wasn’t theirs?

The bottom line:  verse four begins, ”They went…”  They found the colt and it all happened just like Jesus said.  He even provided the script, they read their lines, and it all unfolded beautifully.  Just like He said.

It seems so easy when we read it.  But, of course, we get to see the end of the story.  Obedience often brings blessing and reward on the back end, but it’s the front end that requires faith: The accepting of the assignment and the disregarding of the fear and trepidation, setting aside all the what-ifs that come to the forefront of our minds, as we consider the price of obedience.

How is Jesus asking you to obey Him today?  It might not be some THING He wants you to bring to Him…but some ONE.  (And maybe that someone could be described as a……donkey….)  All the more reason, it will require a step of FAITH to walk in obedience.

Faith is required when our own resources are depleted – when our own ability to alter the situation fails.  When we have no more options on our own…when we are not only at the end of our rope–we are hanging by a string….we let go, we let HIM, and we plunge forward in what seems like reckless obedience and ….wait for the miracle!

Where do you need to be a good solider and say, “Yes, Sir!” to General Jesus – trusting that HE has a plan and victory is assured?

Will you kick and buck and resist like a stubborn donkey….dig your heels in and refuse to obey….or will you submit by faith to Jesus and go where (or to whom) He sends?

Obedience in God’s economy requires faith.

The woman of God submits to God in faith.

You can listen to this week’s teaching lecture covering Mark 11:1-26 here:  http://fbcsiloam.podbean.com/2014/03/01/ladies-bible-study-mark-lesson-21-laura-macfarlan-%E2%80%94-2-27-14/

Photo attribution:  http://blog.eastmanhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/US-Navy-salute.jpg

“Rabbi, I want to see.”
Mark 10:51

From the moment Bartimaeus heard Jesus he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” When he was rebuked and told to be quiet, he shouted all the louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Jesus rewarded his tenacity and his persistence. He allowed him to come.  When Jesus asked Bartimaeus, “What you want me to do for you?” Bartimaeus did not hesitate.  His answer was direct, immediate, and straightforward.  He knew what He wanted and he knew Jesus could provide.

He responded, “I want to see.”

We may look at that and think, “Well, of course, he wants to see. Of course, that is his greatest need. Of course, that’s what he would say to Jesus –the man is blind!  What else would he ask for?”

The marvelous truth for us to see here is not that Bartimaeus asked to see – – but who he asked. The faith of Bartimaeus is on display. There’s a whole crowd of people there. The disciples are there. But his request is made to Jesus alone. His words are simple. His request, though obvious, requires a miracle. In asking Jesus for sight he is declaring his faith that Jesus is able. He knows that Jesus has the power to make him see.

Do you need to say not –Lord I want to see—but:

• Lord I want to love.
• Lord I want to forgive.
• Lord I want to serve.

Or maybe it is Lord I want to see – –

• I want to see his perspective.
• Lord I want to see how she feels.
• Lord I want to understand– I want to have a heart of compassion and grace.

Like the blind beggar, each statement is an acknowledgment of what I am lacking AND a declaration of faith that HE can provide.  And each may well require as much of a miracle as making a blind mind see.

What do you need to step out in faith and ask Jesus for today?