Mark 15:6-15
6 Now at the feast he used to release for them any one prisoner whom they requested. 7 The man named Barabbas had been imprisoned with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the insurrection. 8 The crowd went up and began asking him to do as he had been accustomed to do for them. 9 Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” 10 For he was aware that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to ask him to release Barabbas for them instead.12 Answering again, Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?” 13 They shouted back, “Crucify Him!” 14 But Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify Him!” 15 Wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.
Message: Pilate Capitulates To The Crowd
Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.
What the Lord is Saying:
Preface - It is Friday morning and the chief priests have consulted and concluded Jesus is guilty of blasphemy, but now they take him to Roman authority, Pilate, to recommend his execution. Blasphemy carries no weight with Pilate so they mention that He proclaims himself to be King of the Jews. Pilate addresses Jesus and he admits it and then others accuse him but he remains silent to these many other accusations.
In verse 10, the text remarks that Pilate was aware that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy. This was the concern that the Jewish leaders had with Jesus. They felt like he would rival their authority. This is interesting because in life sometimes conflicts are over authority and not necessarily what is best for the people. From Peter's perspective, the Jewish leaders had envy for Jesus because they saw the audiences that he commanded and they saw how people flocked to him, walking many miles to see Him. They didn't have that type of popularity or notoriety.
As Pilate now is going to bring these criminals before the people it is known that at this time of year, during the Passover feast he used to release for them any one prisoner whom they requested. To this day the president prior to leaving office will pardon criminals or set them free. And this appears to be the custom at this time of the year. Pilate wondered if Jesus was the one that would be released. Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” This is now the name of Jesus, King of the Jews, and not messiah, healer, provider, but rather the name that the Jewish leaders took the greatest offense.
The man named Barabbas had been imprisoned with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the insurrection. Barabbas is the one brought forth to be released. He was a rebel who had been imprisoned for staging a revolt against the Roman government which was often the case among people. The Jewish government ended up being there only for spiritual matters while the Roman government had the weight of criminal items. Thus, it had more weight and there were those that didn't like this, like Barabbas, who had in the past sparked a revolt against the Roman authority. And the idea of Pilate releasing someone is repeated - The crowd went up and began asking him to do as he had been accustomed to do for them. The custom had been for someone to be released at the Passover.
But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to ask him to release Barabbas for them instead. The chief priests wanted to make it clear that the one to be released was Barabbas and not Jesus. So it was clear that Barabbas would be released so Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?” Pilate seems to be experiencing some inward struggle as he then asks the people what would be the fate of the one they call King of the Jews. Jesus is not simply called the King but is known to be the king by the people is Pilate's assertion. Though Pilate is willing to let Jesus go, the people respond with They shouted back, “Crucify Him!” This was prompted by the chief priests and then now echoed by the crowd. Yet even after hearing this pronouncement by the people, Pilate wonders again - “Why, what evil has He done?” but the response is still the same But they shouted all the more, “Crucify Him!” This is a mob scene. I recall a movie called the Oxbow Incident that I always thought showed the picture of this. In that story is the idea that they people are convinced of the guilty of 3 men and stage a lynching of those men for the murder of one of their own, and yet in the end they discover that even after the lynching the guilty party is still at large and they go back to a salon in sorrow for what they have done.
It seems the crucifixion of Jesus takes on a similar tone and one we have to be mindful of and careful of, even today. There is a tendency in us to go along with the crowd and ignore the facts but to have in us this desire to see another man's demise because it is somewhat easy and at the time we want Justice.
Pilate does what the people ask him to do. Wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified. The chief priests have gotten what they wanted, Jesus to be crucified.
Summary - It is Friday and the fate of not only Jesus but also a rebel is up for grabs. The chief priests want to see Jesus' demise. Pilate is going to pardon someone, but the attention of the pardon is turned towards Barabbas who has been an insurrectionist or rebel of the Roman authority. The people recommend his removal. But do not want Jesus to be pardoned. Jesus, the chiefs priests felt, was a rebel to their own authority. Despite a couple of attempts by Pilate to set Jesus free, he turns Jesus over to the people to have Him crucified.
Promise: Every time we trust in earthly princes we come to be apart of the crowd that crucified Jesus. Our allegiance is not to be with the crowd and the pressure we may feel to be a part of that crowd, but to focused on the Truth, the Truth of God.
Prayer: Lord, forgive me for going along with the crowd often instead of doing what is right. I am never promised a rose garden, but in fact there will be hard toil as I labor for You and desire to achieve maturity as a believer in Christ. Help me God to beat to the correct drum. O Lord, my Lord, how majestic is Your name in all of the earth. I am to praise Your name and do the right thing, no matter the cost.
Showing posts with label Envy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Envy. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 28, 2018
Monday, April 9, 2018
Mark 7:20-23 - Evil in Heart
Mark 7:20-23
20 And He was saying, “That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, 22 deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. 23 All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.”
Message: Evil in Heart
Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.
What the Lord is Saying:
Preface: Jesus speaks to all the people, going beyond just the scribes, and declares clearly that when speaking of being clean, the key is what comes out of a person, not what is taken in. What is unneeded to the human body are thrown off and eliminated through waste. If the people want to know what defiles, it is what comes out of a person that matters most. Jesus is declaring this radical message over and over - the heart. We need to focus on the heart.
Jesus is emphasizing that what comes into a man - be it drink or food, even eating with unclean hands is not what defiles a person, but rather that which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. There is a clear contrast here that he is emphasizing.The Pharisees and scribes questioned why the disciples were not maintaining the tradition of hand washing that was thought to render people clean. Ultimately, Christ explains that cleanliness is an interior matter. It is the state of one's heart that determines cleanliness for the heart is the origin of all uncleanness. Before any sinful deed can be committed, it is conceived in the heart. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts...All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.
God and man see people differently. This, to me, further emphasizes the radical nature in which Jesus came. I Samuel 16:7 says, But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” This verse reminds me of the way God has always been and therefore God sees in a way that man does not see. Naturally, we look at the outward and our prisons are set up because people have committed outward violations. The civil law is set up like this. But, God and Jesus go beyond the outward to the inner. This must be a difficult thing for society to comprehend for everywhere we are trained in the idea of the outward, but everyone God trains us on what is on the inside that matters most.
Here sins are listed to clearly show their inner origins: fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. The first six in this list are acts that are seen outside of the flesh while the second six are attitudes behind the acts.
First on the list is fornications. It is interesting for there is such a great power of sexual sin and sexual temptation that has been present in every culture of man. It was a problem 2,000 years ago and it is a problem today. The internet in the last 25 years has seen the proliferation of this sin. This is a sin that seeks to become more and more private.
Second is thefts. To be a thief is obviously abhorrent in society. But, for me, the acts of being a thief are changing. We most definitely grade this sin, in that taking a dollar versus $100 is seen a way different. With the advent of movies in the home came forth the issue of piracy. Even the internet and youtube made piracy of music more prevalent to the point that they had to figure out a way to make money on listening to music and now it has become the norm to listen in this manner.
Third is murders. For me, personally, Roe v Wade in 1973 was the biggest change that occurred over the issue of murder for society accepted that murder of the fetus was warranted based upon a woman's choice. In the nineties, doctor assisted suicide started to appear as we looked at the other end of the spectrum, the elderly. Again, sin began to be disguised as warranted behavior. Society still today does not view either of these as murder.
Fourth is adulteries. Adultery is not a new thing. It is a sexual sin practice that has been present for thousands of years. As a person that loves to watch old movies, adultery in the movies has always been present. There was a notion that if one was wealthy then they more easily could afford a mistress. The woman as an object of the man's desires crept more and more into people's thoughts and was then culminated with pornography being viewed as entertainment.
Fifth is coveting. Coveting is a internal desire seen outwardly. Consumerism has made coveting a normal practice. The desire to have what your neighbor possesses is viewed as competition and moves us to be a strong business person.
Sixth is wickedness. This is all kinds of wicked behavior. Thus, anything not covered previously is covered here.
This is what we see and now Jesus focuses on what is on the inside. Deceit means lying, not telling the truth, deceptiveness, false witness. Lying can be pretending to be something we are not. Lying shows up in church all the time as people want to pretend to others that they are religious in order to get acceptance from society.
Sensuality shows up in our behavior and speech. It is a dirty mind. Once again, society has made having a dirty mind being completely acceptable. Its amazing to think of the TV sitcoms and their attitudes and behaviors that made having a dirty mind comedic.
Envy is to look with hate or to look with anger.
Slander is to have abusive speech such as blasphemy. I went and saw a movie yesterday, one I should have avoided for the slander or abusive language that occurred in the movie, all under the disguise of laughter and entertainment was incredible and the most haunting thing was to witness children in the movie laughing at themes most likely they did not understand at all, but only laughed because their parents also laughed beside them.
Pride is the feeling of being superior to others. And then foolishness, to be unthinking or senseless.
The issue that I'm seeing more and more is the normalizing of these sins in society. We don't think of these in a serious light because we have such a thirst for entertainment that we excuse these behaviors because they have made us laugh or enjoy life.
Summary - Jesus, in a way, concludes the utter defilement of the heart by naming a list of these sins and repeats the idea that evil comes from within. While we stare at the outward, it is what is on the inside that matters most.
Promise: Sin and holiness are fundamentally issues of the heart. Although holiness can be faked before men, God is never fooled.
Prayer: Lord, I want to walk in holiness. I thank you for forgiving me of my sins and I'm embarrassed of how prevalent these sins continue to be in my life. I should know better. Thank you for the reminder and continue to clean me up, not only so that my witness is better but so that I can have peace with myself in life.
20 And He was saying, “That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, 22 deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. 23 All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.”
Message: Evil in Heart
Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.
What the Lord is Saying:
Preface: Jesus speaks to all the people, going beyond just the scribes, and declares clearly that when speaking of being clean, the key is what comes out of a person, not what is taken in. What is unneeded to the human body are thrown off and eliminated through waste. If the people want to know what defiles, it is what comes out of a person that matters most. Jesus is declaring this radical message over and over - the heart. We need to focus on the heart.
Jesus is emphasizing that what comes into a man - be it drink or food, even eating with unclean hands is not what defiles a person, but rather that which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. There is a clear contrast here that he is emphasizing.The Pharisees and scribes questioned why the disciples were not maintaining the tradition of hand washing that was thought to render people clean. Ultimately, Christ explains that cleanliness is an interior matter. It is the state of one's heart that determines cleanliness for the heart is the origin of all uncleanness. Before any sinful deed can be committed, it is conceived in the heart. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts...All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.
God and man see people differently. This, to me, further emphasizes the radical nature in which Jesus came. I Samuel 16:7 says, But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” This verse reminds me of the way God has always been and therefore God sees in a way that man does not see. Naturally, we look at the outward and our prisons are set up because people have committed outward violations. The civil law is set up like this. But, God and Jesus go beyond the outward to the inner. This must be a difficult thing for society to comprehend for everywhere we are trained in the idea of the outward, but everyone God trains us on what is on the inside that matters most.
Here sins are listed to clearly show their inner origins: fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. The first six in this list are acts that are seen outside of the flesh while the second six are attitudes behind the acts.
First on the list is fornications. It is interesting for there is such a great power of sexual sin and sexual temptation that has been present in every culture of man. It was a problem 2,000 years ago and it is a problem today. The internet in the last 25 years has seen the proliferation of this sin. This is a sin that seeks to become more and more private.
Second is thefts. To be a thief is obviously abhorrent in society. But, for me, the acts of being a thief are changing. We most definitely grade this sin, in that taking a dollar versus $100 is seen a way different. With the advent of movies in the home came forth the issue of piracy. Even the internet and youtube made piracy of music more prevalent to the point that they had to figure out a way to make money on listening to music and now it has become the norm to listen in this manner.
Third is murders. For me, personally, Roe v Wade in 1973 was the biggest change that occurred over the issue of murder for society accepted that murder of the fetus was warranted based upon a woman's choice. In the nineties, doctor assisted suicide started to appear as we looked at the other end of the spectrum, the elderly. Again, sin began to be disguised as warranted behavior. Society still today does not view either of these as murder.
Fourth is adulteries. Adultery is not a new thing. It is a sexual sin practice that has been present for thousands of years. As a person that loves to watch old movies, adultery in the movies has always been present. There was a notion that if one was wealthy then they more easily could afford a mistress. The woman as an object of the man's desires crept more and more into people's thoughts and was then culminated with pornography being viewed as entertainment.
Fifth is coveting. Coveting is a internal desire seen outwardly. Consumerism has made coveting a normal practice. The desire to have what your neighbor possesses is viewed as competition and moves us to be a strong business person.
Sixth is wickedness. This is all kinds of wicked behavior. Thus, anything not covered previously is covered here.
This is what we see and now Jesus focuses on what is on the inside. Deceit means lying, not telling the truth, deceptiveness, false witness. Lying can be pretending to be something we are not. Lying shows up in church all the time as people want to pretend to others that they are religious in order to get acceptance from society.
Sensuality shows up in our behavior and speech. It is a dirty mind. Once again, society has made having a dirty mind being completely acceptable. Its amazing to think of the TV sitcoms and their attitudes and behaviors that made having a dirty mind comedic.
Envy is to look with hate or to look with anger.
Slander is to have abusive speech such as blasphemy. I went and saw a movie yesterday, one I should have avoided for the slander or abusive language that occurred in the movie, all under the disguise of laughter and entertainment was incredible and the most haunting thing was to witness children in the movie laughing at themes most likely they did not understand at all, but only laughed because their parents also laughed beside them.
Pride is the feeling of being superior to others. And then foolishness, to be unthinking or senseless.
The issue that I'm seeing more and more is the normalizing of these sins in society. We don't think of these in a serious light because we have such a thirst for entertainment that we excuse these behaviors because they have made us laugh or enjoy life.
Summary - Jesus, in a way, concludes the utter defilement of the heart by naming a list of these sins and repeats the idea that evil comes from within. While we stare at the outward, it is what is on the inside that matters most.
Promise: Sin and holiness are fundamentally issues of the heart. Although holiness can be faked before men, God is never fooled.
Prayer: Lord, I want to walk in holiness. I thank you for forgiving me of my sins and I'm embarrassed of how prevalent these sins continue to be in my life. I should know better. Thank you for the reminder and continue to clean me up, not only so that my witness is better but so that I can have peace with myself in life.
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