Tag Archives: Mark

Jesus is the Suffering Servant

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on September 15, 2015
Tags: , Mark   

“He Ain’t No Loser” — Rev. David J. Schreffler

 

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September 15, 2015

“So the crowd came and began to ask Pilate to do for them according to his custom. Then he answered them, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” For he realized that it was out of jealousy that the chief priests had handed him over. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas for them instead. Pilate spoke to them again, “Then what do you wish me to do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” They shouted back, “Crucify him!” Pilate asked them, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him!” So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.” Mark 15:8-15

“It was the queerest election in the history of the world; no torchlight procession for the victor, no one hoisted him on shoulders, no mob followed the victor with cheers. But everyone followed the defeated candidate. To have the mob with him he had to follow the mob that followed Christ…When the scourging was done, Barabbas followed the defeated candidate up the hill of Calvary — it was still the only way Barabbas could have a following.” Characters of the Passion Fulton J. Sheen (1895-1979) “For All The Saints” volume II (p. 831)

I usually cringe when it comes time for the election of a president. Once the political season begins, we are presented with debates, advertisements, political rallies, “Robo” calls, and many other nuisances all in the name of trying to get us to follow one candidate or another. And once people choose someone to support, many of those folks follow them from rally to rally as if their lives depend upon being in their presence.

This is what makes the selection of Barabbas over Jesus by the Jews so remarkable. We do not hear how people left the scene to follow Barabbas to have a party and to celebrate his sudden good fortune. Instead, the people follow the loser, or should I say the “supposed” loser. No one is following Barabbas. His win is a hollow win. He has his life, but he has little else. The people follow the loser. But, they must have known, at least some of them must have known, that Jesus was no loser.

So, you followers of Jesus, are you following a loser, or a winner?

Pastor Dave

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on September 13, 2015
Tags: Mark   

No Secrets Here — Rev. David J. Schreffler

 

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September 13, 2015
Sunday

“Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.” And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.”
Mark 8:27-30

“It’s not what his disciples expect. They, too, are children of the world. And although they weren’t bombarded with 5000 advertising images each day as we are, yet they still imagined that the secret to life was strength and power rather than vulnerability and love. And so they interpreted Jesus’ miraculous acts as demonstrations of power rather than manifestations of love. And when Jesus describes the greatest act of love – giving his life for them and the world – they can only object.

But Jesus will not be deterred. He will continue on the path of sacrificial love – and continue to love his disciples even when they misunderstand him or choose not to follow that path – until the very end. And at the end, God takes what looks like weakness and demonstrates strength and transforms what looks like disgrace and reveals God’s surprising, even unsettling, but ultimately life-giving glory.” David Lose The Theory of Everything (Feb 23, 2015) In The Meantime

Don’t we find it odd that Jesus tells his disciples to “not..tell anyone about him”? Jesus is moving forward with his plans to enter Jerusalem, and this will put into motion the events of his own death by crucifixion, and yet the revelation by His disciples that He is the Messiah is something he wants to keep quiet. There are times that people want to make him king, and there are times they want to kill him — and both are good reasons for Him to avoid publicity. Is this why he says “tell no one”?

I believe the main reason Jesus wants to keep his true identity a secret is so that He can accomplish His main purpose — to see to the end the reason He came to this earth — and anything that may become a roadblock must be avoided. If the people believe he is the Messiah, they may riot to prevent his death. If the people find enough support that he is blaspheming the name of G*d by claiming he indeed is G*d, they may toss him off a cliff or stone him to death.

In the end, Jesus is not deterred by the people, or by the religious authorities. Oh, they think they have stopped him by crucifying him. But we know better……therefore, we can’t continue to keep this good news a secret. We need to let the world know.

Pastor Dave