In John 2, Jesus cleanses the Temple. The center of Jewish life, faith, history, and hope was intended to be a place of worship and prayer. When Jesus arrived for the passover, it was a busy market.
As Jesus clears the moneychangers and salespeople out of the Temple, he shows us about real faith and the real temple.
Muck.
We want to avoid it. Peter wanted to avoid it. Just when the disciples realized exactly who Jesus was, he started to talk to them about the road of pain, suffering, rejection, and death. They were about to head to Jersusalem, where Jesus would accomplish salvation for God's people. But the road was not an easy one.
Transformation. That's what it's all about for us - being changed into the likeness of Jesus.
Today, we celebrate a baptism and testimonies of growth, and watch the transformation of God in our lives. We also looked at the Transfiguration of Jesus, at the pivot of his life from teaching into suffering. This event accomplished many things, but one of them was the transformation of Peter, James, and John.
When Jesus leaves the synagogue in Capernaum, word is spreading. He begins healing people, and crowds gather. The whole village, it seems, wants to see him, to be healed, to have unclean spirits cast out.
So why does He leave?
Mark 1:29-39
Life with Christ - Authority
Odd things can happen in public worship. At one of Jesus' early synagogue teachings, a demon possessed man stood up and began making a disruption! Yet, the focus of the text is not on the exorcism, but on the authority of Jesus. Jesus has authority over the mind and the body.
Mark 1:21-28
Information, Implication, Application.
This three step process is how we understand and live with new information. Jesus arrives on the scene in Mark 1:14-20 making some big claims. "The time is fulfilled and the Kingdom is at hand." This statement, if true, requires all people to repent, and for us each to consider what that looks like in our lives.
Mark 1:7-11
All four gospels begin with Jesus' baptism. The people of Israel were going out to repent. Jesus went out for another reason - to show us our need to identify with the Kingdom and declare a change. Ultimately, baptism is about God's work in us, not our work for Him.
Confirmations
As Mary and Joseph told their story, we wonder how many of the family members and people of Nazareth believed them. Suddenly, a group of shepherds arrive, telling the same story! God not only acted, He confirmed his actions to inspire belief.
What makes a good gift?
King David wanted to build a house for God, which God had never asked for.
Instead, God promises to build the house of David with an eternal king.
Grinches to the Center
When things are difficult, especially when we're "supposed" to be celebrating, we can feel like outsiders. We have truble engaging in joy, and can dampen any mood. God has something to say about this.
Isaiah 65 is hope for the hurting. God's plan was always to bring the outsiders to the center. He loves us, sees how we hurt, and makes a plan for our healing.