Gospels-Acts
Mark 12:28-13:2
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- Written by: Chris Appleby
What are Your Priorities? audio (5MB)
Mark 12:28-13:2
It’s appropriate at an Annual General meeting to spend some time reflecting on where we’re going as a Church. What are our priorities? What do we think is the most important thing we can be doing? In fact it would be good if we asked those questions not just about us as a Church but of us as individuals. Where are you going with your life? What are you aiming for? What are your priorities? There are a few students in the congregation who have finished final exams and are thinking about what the next stage of their life will be. What are your priorities? How are you going to make those important decisions about your life? And what about those who are already well into their life. What is it that shapes your life decisions? How do you decide where to spend your time and money? If you have children, how will you help them make decisions? What will you get them to spend time doing? What things will you encourage them to pursue and what things will you discourage them from?
Mark 16:1-8
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- Written by: Chris Appleby
Jesus is Risen audio (3MB)
You can imagine how the disciples must have felt. First of all, all their hopes had been dashed as Jesus was arre Save sted and then put to death. They may not have understood everything that Jesus told them but they had a pretty good idea that he’d been talking about building his kingdom. His kingdom, right? That means he must be a king. Well, the Romans had a bad record of getting rid of would-be kings and it seemed Jesus was just another example.
So what were they going to do now? Go back to their old lives with their tails between their legs? Try to pick up where they’d left off three years before? They must have been totally depressed mustn’t they? Maybe they even felt let down. All the things Jesus had promised had come to nothing.
They were certainly scared. John tells us they were hiding behind locked doors for fear of the Jewish leaders: afraid, no doubt, that they’d be next to be arrested, since they were Jesus’ closest followers. It would have been a sombre time wherever they were that passover Sabbath.
Well they may have been heartbroken and scared stiff, but at least the women knew what they had to do. Mark tells us that as soon as the Sabbath was over, that is, as soon as the sun had set on the Saturday night, they went out and bought spices. (late night shopping was around even then.) They hadn’t had time to buy spices on the Friday. They’d only just had time to follow the soldiers to see where Jesus was laid before the Sabbath began.
But off they go now and buy spices but it’s already dark so they have to wait until the morning to use them. You can imagine what a long night it would have been. Finally dawn breaks in the distance and they go out very early to the tomb.
You can tell how distraught they’ve been because it isn’t until they’re nearly there that they remember there’s a very large stone lying across the entrance. In fact there are also Roman guards put there to keep people out. So how are they going to move the stone - what a shame the men hadn’t come with them?
But when they arrive they’re amazed - this very large stone has been rolled away. Again you can imagine their confusion. Imagine the questions that’d be going through their heads. What’s going on? Is Jesus still there? Who moved the stone? And where are the guards?
Mark 2:1-12
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- Written by: Chris Appleby
Jesus Forgives a Paralysed Man audio (5MB)
Have you noticed how mobile phones are now an essential accessory for so many people? It seems like no matter where you are you’re likely to find yourself standing next to someone who’s having a conversation on their phone. And if you’re like me you probably find yourself listening in, wondering what they’re talking about. Mind you, that just leaves you frustrated because the next thing you know they’ve moved away and you don’t know how the conversation finishes up.
Well if you find it frustrating only hearing a snippet of a conversation, you’ll understand why here at St Thomas’ we choose to follow whole books in our sermon series rather than following a lectionary. I guess a lectionary is useful because you don’t have to think about what to read each week - someone else has thought it out for you, but often all you get are snippets with bits left out here and there.
Well, today we’re starting out on a new series following the Gospel of Mark. We actually looked at the first chapter of Mark in January so today we’re going to start with Mark ch2. But before we begin let me encourage you, if you haven’t done it lately, to read all the way through Mark in a single sitting. It’ll only take you about an hour. Or if that’s too hard try reading it a few chapters at a time. I did this while I was away and it’s interesting how you pick up some connections as you move from chapter to chapter that you might miss if you just read a small section as we often do on a Sunday.
Mark 2:13-3:6
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- Written by: Chris Appleby
New Wine, New Wineskins audio (5MB)
Most people dislike change. Some people think it’s a necessary evil; but evil nevertheless. But there are times when change is absolutely necessary; when the old ways won’t work; when the old ways will actually hinder the thing that’s coming.
One such moment in time was at the coming of Jesus. The Old Testament from start to finish points to his coming, but with his coming the days of the Old Testament are finished. The way God had taught his people to live as they waited for Jesus was about to be made redundant. The means by which they gained righteousness was about to be overtaken, replaced by a righteousness by faith alone. And the very identity of God’s people was about to be changed.
And we see all of this in great clarity as we read through the end of Chapter 2 and the start of ch3 of Mark.
A Nation of God-Fearers?
The old order established very strict boundaries of righteousness. These were largely built upon the 10 commandments but the rules had been widened to cover a host of situations that weren’t mentioned, in fact probably not even thought of, in Exodus 20. Similarly the old order was built around a belief that the Jews were God’s chosen people and everyone else was excluded. That exclusion meant that faithful Jews would have nothing to do with Gentiles: no business dealings and certainly no social dealings.
Mark 3:20-35
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- Written by: Chris Appleby
Jesus, Mad, Monster, or Master? audio (5MB)
How much is too much? I’m not thinking about chocolate here. That’s an easy one. No, I’m thinking about ministry effort. When do you say enough is enough? Is it OK to say “I’ve done my 40 hours this week; now I’m going to stop and have a rest”? Or should you work flat out all the time for the Lord? Alternatively, when you see someone in ministry seemingly working their fingers to the bone, should you tell them to stop and have a break?
I’ve known people who from my perspective seemed to be workaholics, never stopping, always looking for another opportunity to minister, to help someone out. And I’ve thought they should look after themselves more. It’s a fine line isn’t it, between being a workaholic, and working flat out at serving God?
But of course it’s much easier to make a judgement like that from the sideline isn’t it? If you’re not the one actually engaged in that ministry it’s hard to know what’s the right thing to do.
Well, in today’s passage we see two different sets of onlookers watching Jesus and judging him. They both think he’s not quite right, though their conclusions as to the cause are quite different.
