Tag Archives: Mark

Jesus is the Suffering Servant

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on July 12, 2015
Tags: , Mark   

Faith not Fear — Rev. David J. Schreffler

July 12, 2015
Sunday

When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it.” And he solemnly swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.” She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” She replied, “The head of John the baptizer.” Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb. Mark 6:22-29

“What was Herod’s fear all about? He could not have been happy with John’s judgment against his adultery. There is no evidence that Herod repented. Yet we are told that Herod knew John to be righteous and a holy man, and Herod liked to listen to him. Was he like we are sometimes, sensing a hard truth about our lives, uneasy but not ready to accept it? Why risk offending God by harming John; he could be a true prophet after all. Was that it? Or was it also fear, as the ancient historian, Josephus, claimed, that the power of John’s message might stir a rebellion.” Rev. James M. Childs, Ph.D. Mark 6:14-29: The Downfall of Giving Into Fear

I think everyone has some kind of fear — ranging from the irrational to the ridiculous to the very real. I do not like heights — it is not a true fear as much as an “uncomfortableness”. Others are plain afraid of heights. What are you afraid of? Some people will say they are not afraid of anything, but ask them to stand in front of a crowd and speak, 99% of the population will cringe if not fall away.

What was Herod afraid of? Was he afraid of John, afraid of looking weak in front of his guests, or afraid of his wife? Fear is a true human emotion. People can become so afraid in a situation that they will do things that seem out of character or even against their true nature, because they have gone into shock from the terror of the situation. You can see this in people who survive plane crashes or terrible car accidents — they can be found pacing in the middle of the road or looking for something unnecessary — all because the body and the mind have shut down from the trauma or fear.

Herod gave into his fear — and John the Baptist became a Martyr. The downfall to giving into fear is acting out or making a decision that is out of our character. Faith can help us all fight fear. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are greater than our fears — we just need to do like Jesus and pray to the Father to sustain us through the times where we are most afraid, trust Jesus to redeem us always, and know that the Holy Spirit can and will guide us through and out of any situation.

Pastor Dave

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on July 5, 2015
Tags: Mark   

I’m Coming Home — Rev. David J. Schreffler

July 5, 2015
Sunday

“And they took offense at him. Then Jesus said to them, “Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house.” And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. And he was amazed at their unbelief.” Mark 6:3-6

“Mark’s account intrigues me as a student of human motivation. His hometown folks are, I would suspect, willing to give him the benefit of the doubt as long as he doesn’t say anything unexpected or challenging. They would not be inclined to doubt the source of his teachings if he had not made them feel uncomfortable. Their response to whatever it was he said reflects a combination of belief and incredulity. They seem to believe that what he said was of divine origin (“What is this wisdom that has been given to him?”), yet they are unable to believe that such a great gift would be given to someone they know and whose family they know.”

Following a Hometown Boy: Reflections on Mark 6:1-6 By Alyce M. McKenzie, July 02, 2012

When I graduated from Seminary in 2005, I was invited to my home congregation in Millersburg, PA to preach at the congregation’s year-long celebration for a significant anniversary. I was honored to be invited — and I looked forward to the opportunity — but I also dreaded it as well. You see, I was not always a “model” member of the congregation. Yes, I went through the entire “Luther League” program — I sang occasionally with the choir — I played my trumpet often for special music — and you could find my entire family sitting in our familiar pew most Sundays. But, I also had a reputation for being “hard to handle” — unable to sit for extended periods of time.

The day of my preaching came, and the service went off without a hitch. At the coffee hour following the service, several members of the congregation came to regale me of stories of my “storied” past in the congregation — and my other antics in scouts, school, etc. I left feeling as if I had suffered from a “sneak attack”. The people were well meaning, they just could not let go of my past — they remembered me as the rotten lad from the mid 70’s — and could not see me as the Pastor that I had become.

Thus, I believe, is the story of Jesus……he wasn’t a rotten lad, as far as we know — he just was remembered for who he used to be — and that was the problem.

Pastor Dave