EmmDev 2025-09-17 [Moments with Mark] Beautiful Trusting Faith

Beautiful Trusting Faith

Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and His disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called to the blind man, "Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you." Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. "What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked him. The blind man said, "Rabbi, I want to see." "Go," said Jesus, "your faith has healed you." Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road. (Mark10:46-52)

The healing of blindness was considered something only the Messiah could do.

Bartimaeus had lived in a world of darkness, but his ears and his heart made up for what his eyes could not see. He'd been sitting by the roadside, he'd heard the stories of Jesus of Nazareth and he had come to his own conclusions.

What do I mean? Well, Nazareth was considered a backwater, a dead-end and a place of no real reputation. When Philip invites Nathanael to meet Jesus of Nazareth, Nathanael says: "Nazareth? Can anything good come from there?" But Bartimaeus has come to a different conclusion. He believed that Jesus was the "Son of David."

"Son of David" is a Messianic title and a strong one at that - it indicates the hope of a political Messiah who would conquer enemies and restore Israel to the majesty it had in the time of David. And Bartimaeus calls out to Him. He's relentless, even when the crowd try to silence him, he shouts all the more!

The raw desperation and determined hope in his voice cuts through to Jesus and He stops. Remember He's been striding ahead of the disciples, focused on Jerusalem, but now He stops and calls Bartimaeus.

Bartimaeus throws his cloak aside and leaps to his feet.

This is a significant action. In those times a good cloak was a mainstay of daily life, you could shelter under it from sun and rain and at night it kept you warm. You needed to look after your cloak. Blind people don't throw things aside because they need to be able to find them later, but Bartimaeus has beautiful, trusting faith. Deep in his soul he seems to know that something is about to change. He makes no excuses, he holds nothing back, he just rushes to Jesus. And when Jesus asks him what he wants Him to do, there is no beating around the bush and no buttering up. He tells it straight and true: "Rabbi, I want to see."

Rabbi is an interesting word too. It means "teacher/mentor" and Bartimaeus seems to mean it in a personal sense rather than a generic one. He means "my Rabbi" and, after he received his sight, he followed Jesus down the road.

Bartimaeus heard the stories of Jesus, he'd had time to think about it. He believed that Jesus was the Messiah and he knew he needed Him. He "shouts all the more" and "throws his cloak aside" because "he wants to see." Jesus sees this simple beautiful trusting faith, which I believe was stirred by the Holy Spirit, and He heals him.

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EmmDev 2025-09-16 [Moments with Mark] The most significant Mission Statement

Hi Everyone

I hope this finds you well. Two quick updates:

1. Apologies for the Gaps in EmmDevs I've been dealing with a health issue causing significant fatigue and mental fog, which has impacted the consistency of EmmDevs. I'm truly sorry for this. The good news is that we've identified the issue, and I'm on a four-week treatment plan that should resolve it. Please keep me in your prayers for a full recovery.
   
   
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Blessings and Love, Theo

The most significant Mission Statement

When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:41-45)

Back in Mark 9 the disciples had been arguing about who was the greatest and Jesus addressed it with them. Now it crops up again in the form of James and John's desire to get preferred seats at Jesus' glory.

I don't know how the other disciples heard of it but I don't believe Jesus revealed it. I suspect James and John just went back to the other disciples so astonished by what Jesus had said to them that they just spilled the beans. Another possibility is that their mother, Salome, had been involved too (this is how Matthew portrays it) and she probably left in a huff after being rebuffed by Jesus and the other disciples would have wanted to know why.

The disciples are angry, but for the wrong reasons. They're mad because James and John tried to outmaneuver them. What they should be angry about is that they'd got it wrong.

So Jesus intervenes by explaining some differences...
The world has a certain way of doing things.
The world works with power, authority, position, and status.

God's Kingdom has a different way.
God's Children influence the world through service and humility.

Then Jesus shares His personal mission statement...

Now, over the last 30-40 years Mission Statements have been both trendy and helpful in helping individuals and organisations figure out priorities and the direction they should take. Unfortunately, many mission statements become posters on a wall rather than a lived-out reality."

Jesus' Mission Statement was: "the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many."

I guess we could say that Jesus lived out and died out His mission statement.

May this
1) fill us with gratitude.
2) inspire us to live and love lives of service!

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EmmDev 2025-09-10 [Moments with Mark] Still ambitious

Still ambitious

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him. "Teacher," they said, "we want You to do for us whatever we ask." "What do you want me to do for you?" He asked. They replied, "Let one of us sit at Your right and the other at Your left in Your glory." "You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said. "Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?" "We can," they answered. Jesus said to them, "You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, but to sit at My right or left is not for Me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared." (Mark10:35-40)

In the light of Jesus' declaration of His destiny, the approach of James and John comes across as crass, self-serving, and insensitive.

I find myself incredulous every time I read this section: "Jesus has just predicted His impending and violent death and the disciples are jockeying for positions of power?" It just doesn't make sense!

There are a couple of things to take away from this:

1. The disciples aren't perfect. Leaders aren't perfect. The allure of power is great and I think the Evil One is very busy in moments like these, distracting us from the main mission with petty plays for power. Before we point too many fingers at James and John, let's be very honest about how often we become more interested in who is doing something than what needs to be done. The mission is often sabotaged by power politics.

2. Jesus makes a sobering point. Those who align themselves with Him will end up drinking from His cup. This isn't only the cup of blessing, it can also be the cup of wrath and the Old Testament prophets often talk about drinking the cup of suffering and judgement "to the dregs." Then He talks about His baptism (in this context He means His total immersion) into the journey of the cross.

3. The Kingdom of God isn't a meritocracy. The places at Jesus' right and left won't be given to those who have campaigned the most or suffered the most. They will be given to those God chooses.

4. Ironically, in spite of their crass insensitivity and ambition, James and John do believe that Jesus will emerge victorious. Jesus had just told them that He was going to be executed. Normally, this would lead to one's followers abandoning the cause, but James and John believe that this will not be the end. And so, although their jockeying for position is ugly to watch, it does portray their faith that Jesus would overcome.

Tomorrow we'll look at how the other disciples reacted. For now, let's recognise the allure of ambition and power and recognise that the road of the disciple isn't always easy and we should try to remain humble.

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EmmDev 2025-09-09 [Moments with Mark] Focus and Clarity

Focus and Clarity

They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again He took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to Him. "We are going up to Jerusalem," he said, "and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn Him to death and will hand Him over to the Gentiles, who will mock Him and spit on Him, flog Him and kill Him. Three days later He will rise." (Mark10:32-34)

Reading this passage always moves me profoundly.
They're heading towards Jerusalem and Jesus is walking ahead of them. He isn't ambling along, teaching the disciples and crowds. He's focused and determined. He's leading the way - walking into His destiny. The disciples are filled with wonder and the other followers are fearful. They know that the tensions with the "religious mafia" are high and that there is a good chance that Jerusalem is a trap.

Jesus isn't filled with false optimism - He isn't deluded. He knows what's coming. He spells it out clearly and yet He is route-marching to Jerusalem. He's terse and clear. The time for beating about the bush is over. The disciples must be warned - and even though they don't fully grasp it, Jesus is preparing them. They will still scatter and hide, but in time it will all become clear that it was God's plan.

I prefer to use capital pronouns whenever I refer to God. It makes the writing slightly less readable, but denotes respect...

Today it was hard to put capital letters on Jesus' pronouns when the phrases were "condemn Him", "hand Him over", "mock Him", "spit on Him", "flog Him" and "kill Him." He was the glorious Son of God and we would do these terrible things to Him.

And He led the way and walked into His destiny...

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EmmDev 2025-08-29 [Moments with Mark] Rewards and Boasting

Rewards and Boasting

Peter said to him, "We have left everything to follow you!" "I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields -- and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first." (Mark10:28-31)

I think everyone felt a bit deflated when the young man walked away. Such promise, and yet such "stuckness". Maybe Peter wanted to comfort Jesus: "Don't worry about him, Lord. We have left everything to follow You!"

Jesus' response, as it often was, was enigmatic. In short, He promises rewards for those who make sacrifices, but also warns that persecution and trials will be part of the journey. He speaks about both this present world and the world to come.

Those who follow Jesus will walk a challenging road. There will be things to let go of, and sometimes people will let go of us because of our faith. But there are blessings too. We will find a spiritual family, and sometimes even material provision, but there will still be trouble.

This world is not our final destination. It is still broken. Believers have the joy of knowing God as Father, experiencing forgiveness and grace, and belonging to the faith community. But trouble does not disappear. This is our earthly life ("this present age") and it is not the end of the story. Our final destination ("the age to come") is eternal life with the Author of Life. There, brokenness will be healed and evil defeated.

In the meantime, we are called to put Him first, even when it means sacrifice. Blessings will come - sometimes in surprising ways - but trouble will come too, and we should not let it derail us.

Jesus ends with a gentle warning. "Be careful about boasting, Peter. Eternity will reveal all things, and those who thought they had done the most may discover that others gave even more. Sometimes the first will end up last, and the last first."

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EmmDev 2025-08-28 [Moments with Mark] Rich, Young, Influential - Loved

Rich, Young, Influential - Loved

As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to Him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good -- except God alone. You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.' " "Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy." Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," He said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!" The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." (Mark10:17-27)

This is an account that is both beautiful and sad. It is beautiful because it tells of the hunger of a young man who had everything the world could give him, but still longed for something more. It is sad because when he found the answer, he could not accept it.

I can't help but wonder if the rich young ruler was Joseph of Arimathea, who eventually went to Pilate to request the body of Jesus and buried His body in his own tomb... that would make this account less sad and even more beautiful...

Let's pick up the highlights:

• From the other gospel accounts we know he was young and influential. We can also see that he is devout and earnest. But this was obviously not satisfying him, because he runs to Jesus and falls to his knees.
• He's rich and influential, and Jesus is just an itinerant carpenter-preacher, and yet he runs, kneels and calls Jesus "good teacher". It's clear that the man has seen or sensed that there is something about Jesus. Jesus picks up on this and confirms his suspicion - "no-one is good, except God alone..."
• Jesus then lists some of the commandments from the "second tablet" (commandments 6-10). These are the commandments that have to do with loving people. This is the "usual" expectation that people have of religion: "Just be a good person..."
• The young man isn't boasting, he's sincere when he says "I've been doing this."
  This is why Jesus looks at him and loves him. (It's a sentence that takes my breath away every time I read it.)
• But the man has been doing it all himself, and so Jesus asks him to do the one thing he can't do. "Sell your stuff..." And the key issue isn't that the poor need it, but that his stuff was getting in the way of the first tablet commandments "No other gods and no idols" or "Love the Lord your God with ALL your heart, soul, mind and strength."
• And the man walks away. If I were in Jesus' shoes I would have been tempted to say "Ok, let's start with half..." But Jesus is resolute. The man is possessed by his possessions and he needs to be free.
  This is why Jesus consistently warned about how impossible it was to serve God and money (Mammon).
• Then He talks about how hard it is for the rich to shake their "possession obsession." People have tried to soften Jesus' image about the camel and the eye of the needle, saying that the "eye of the needle" was a narrow gate that needed you to unpack your camel before going through it. But I think Jesus meant a literal camel and a literal eye of the needle. It's impossible to get free of "possession obsession" unless God changes our hearts.

While it is pure speculation on my part, this is why I like to think that the rich young ruler was Joseph of Arimithea and that God's Spirit eventually softened his heart to stand up before Herod and give his tomb to Jesus.
All things are possible with God.

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EmmDev 2025-08-27 [Moments with Mark] Being Infant-like

Being Infant-like

People were bringing little children to Jesus to have Him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, He was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." And He took the children in His arms, put His hands on them and blessed them. (Mark10:13-16)

Most preachers approach this passage by talking about the innocent faith of children, often pointing to the image of a child who jumps trustingly into daddy's arms.

But I want to suggest another way of looking at it...
The age of the "little children" is the critical issue. Matthew and Mark use the word "paidia", a diminutive form of "child," while Luke uses "brephē", which means infant or baby. On top of this, people were "bringing" these children to Jesus, which suggests babes in arms rather than independent children running around. When Jesus then takes them in His arms, the picture is not of playful youngsters but of helpless infants- a bit like the way ministers hold babies when baptising them.

At first this might seem counter-intuitive. Is Jesus really asking us to become helpless infants, rather than trusting, optimistic kids as in the illustration I opened with?

The truth is, we'd prefer the latter. We like the idea that we contribute something - even if it is just childlike faith. But what Jesus is actually saying is much more radical. He is teaching us that we come to God helpless. We cannot save ourselves. We need Christ to rescue us. We are saved by grace, not by works, so that no one can boast.

Tomorrow we will look at the rich young ruler and see that the same truth applies: we cannot save ourselves.

So the beautiful good news in this passage is that Jesus invites us to come to Him even when we are helpless and have nothing to offer. This is the principle of His Kingdom: those who feel as weak and dependent as babes in arms are welcomed and embraced by Him.

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EmmDev 2025-08-26 [Moments with Mark] The Marriage Ideal

The Marriage Ideal

Jesus then left that place and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds of people came to Him, and as was His custom, He taught them. Some Pharisees came and tested Him by asking, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" "What did Moses command you?" He replied. They said, "Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away." "It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law," Jesus replied. "But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female.' 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. He answered, "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery." (Mark10:1-12)

Jesus left Galilee and went into Judea, crossing into the region beyond the Jordan. This area was under the reign of Herod Antipas, the one who had John the Baptist thrown in prison because John denounced him for marrying Herodias, his brother's wife.

So the Pharisees came to Jesus with a trick question, hoping that His answer might get Him into the same trouble as John the Baptist.

Matthew, who wrote for a Jewish audience, clarifies their question: "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?" There was a disagreement between two of the Rabbinic schools at the time about how to understand Moses' instructions in Deuteronomy 24. The one group (under Rabbi Shammai) said that divorce was only allowable for marital unfaithfulness. The other group (under Rabbi Hillel) said that if a wife became "displeasing" to the husband (even by burning supper) he could divorce her.

Jesus acknowledges the brokenness of society, but holds to a very high standard. He goes to our created purpose and reminds us that the commitment is meant to be lifelong and that God's ideal for us was lifelong marriage between a man and a woman.

This is a very tough issue. As a pastor, I am committed and trained to do all I can to preserve marriage, but there have been cases where I have had to recommend divorce in the case of abuse, unrepentant adultery or when children are being adversely affected.

These exceptions don't change the principle and ideal.
Marriage is a high calling and we should set the bar high.
In Matthew, Jesus clarifies that the only valid reason for divorce is unfaithfulness.

But He acknowledges that it is hardness of heart that leads to people rushing into marriage, not working hard at their marriages, being unfaithful in their marriages, or being dysfunctional in their marriages.

Divorce happens, but it is not the ideal.
And when people are divorced, they need to take their part in the failure of their marriage seriously. We know that it is not always fifty-fifty, but even if one's part in a marriage failure is 3%, one should take ownership of this brokenness. Jesus warns against lightly remarrying after divorce. Scripture suggests this is permissible only in very limited circumstances. The statistics bear this out: the failure of second marriages is much higher than first marriages and the failure of third marriages is higher still.

So where does this leave us?
Divorce is not the unforgivable sin. There is grace for all.
In a culture that divorced easily, Jesus held up the ideal.
We should do our very very best to preserve marriages and ensure that people go into marriage thoughtfully, seriously and in dependence on God.
When a marriage fails we should grieve and ask for grace and restoration.

Jesus' teaching here sets the standard high.
Marriage is a worthwhile ideal.
We should not cheapen it by making divorce easy.
But we should also not use the ideal to "flog" others or ourselves when a marriage fails.
I believe heaven weeps, and we should too...

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EmmDev 2025-08-15 [Moments with Mark] Salt

Salt

Everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other. (Mark9:49-50)

The chapter ends with three statements Jesus made about salt. He may not have said them all at once, and He probably repeated them on different occasions. Mark seems to place them here as a fitting conclusion to this challenging section on discipleship, which began when the disciples argued about greatness.

It's helpful to consider the symbolism of salt in Biblical times:
- Salt was a preservative and purifier.
- Salt was a flavour enhancer.
- Salt was included in many of the Old Testament sacrifices.

Let's consider the three sayings:

1. "Everyone will be salted with fire."
   OT meat and grain sacrifices had to be sprinkled with salt before being burnt on the altar.
   But in the New Covenant we offer ourselves as "Living Sacrifices" and instead of being sprinkled with salt, we are sprinkled with fire. Fire is a symbol of trial and purification or refining. Those who follow Jesus as disciples will go through hardship and purification as we offer ourselves to Him. As Peter says our faith is like gold refined by fire.
2. "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again?"
   Notice that Jesus doesn't say "How can it be made salty again," He says "How can you (2nd person plural) make it salty again." Christians are purifiers, preservers and flavouring agents in society. We are meant to be thermostats... not thermometers. We don't go with the flow, we change the flow. We are meant to be portrayals of the abundant life that Jesus promises in John 10:10. But we can lose our saltiness and Jesus' question indicates that it can be almost impossible to make us "salty" again. So it's better not to lose it in the first place.
3. "Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with each other."
   Christians sometimes say: "We're under grace and not law..."
   And this becomes a license to let sin in the back door.
   Having salt in ourselves means that we keep our communities pure, but that we do so graciously.
   Paul flips the order around in Colossians 4:6 but is saying the same thing: "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."

So, this concludes this chapter which has contained a challenging call to leadership through discipleship.

• Sometimes disciple leaders will be salted with refining fire so that we can be good living sacrifices.
• We need to ensure that in the light of the world's corruption and lacklustre values, we are bringing flavour and purity, recognising that when we lose that ground, it is hard to regain.
• We need to balance grace and purity in our communities

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EmmDev 2025-08-14 [Moments with Mark] The Principles of Disciple Greatness.

The Principles of Disciple Greatness.

And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where "their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched." (Mark9:42-48)

After John's interruption about other people using Jesus' Name, Jesus returns to the theme of the Kingdom of God being a place where children (who had no status in society) could be welcomed.

He goes on to talk about how serious heaven considers it when a "little one" is led astray by someone claiming to be a disciple. The word He uses for "millstone" isn't the word used for the small household millstone that was turned by hand but the huge communal millstone turned by a water wheel or a pair of oxen.

This leads Him to talking about taking radical measures to deal with sin in our lives. While He uses hyperbole, it powerfully conveys the urgency of the principle.

There was a missionary in Africa who wrote "The Jungle Doctor Stories", which was a series of children's stories illustrating Biblical principles. One of them is about a tribesman who adopts a baby leopard in spite of the chief's warning that "Little leopards become big leopards and big leopards kill." Though they fed the leopard porridge and treated it like a pet, its hunting instincts awakened - and it killed.

In summary, the section we've been considering over the last few days started out with the disciples arguing about who was the greatest and Jesus' response. This is ultimately about Leadership as a Disciple.
Here are the key lessons about greatness as a Disciple Leader. (A leader who is a Disciple, not a leader of Disciples)

1. Disciple Leaders have a Servant Heart.
2. Disciple Leaders consider and welcome "the least" and the "little children" - the people society disregards.
3. Disciple Leaders are not threatened by others but are delighted when Kingdom Work is done.
4. Disciple Leaders don't cause others to stumble.
5. Disciple Leaders deal radically with baby sins before they become big sins

Remember that Jesus didn't just preach this message: He lived it.
He is the ultimate Servant Leader who welcomed, protected, and dealt with sin at the cross

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