EmmDev 2025-06-24 [Moments with Mark] Down to Brass Tacks

Down to Brass Tacks

Then He called the crowd to Him along with His disciples and said: "If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me and for the Gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels." And He said to them, "I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power." (Mark8:34-9:1)

The saying "Getting down to brass tacks" most likely comes from the upholstery trade, where upholsterers finish their work by securing fabric with strong, durable brass tacks that won't rust and maintain their strength.

Jesus "gets down to brass tacks" after Peter's "awake and asleep" moment where he sees Jesus clearly for one moment and the next, he's trying to tell the Messiah how to run His ministry. And so Jesus calls the crowd and the disciples to follow Him.

The Greek phrase for "would come after Me" is interesting: There are three words:
-thelei - which means "choose, make a decision, or will (as in act of will)
-opisō - which means "after", "in pursuit", or "behind"
-akoloutheō - which means "follow" (in proximity) or "follow" (as disciple).

So Jesus is calling us to a serious choice.
We choose to make the conscious choice to follow behind Him as a disciple..."

Here's what this serious call comes down to:

• I must deny ourself - my agenda comes second.
• I must take up my cross - people knew that if you carried a cross you were going to die.
• I must follow Him - go where He would go, love what He would love, speak like He would speak
• I can't hang on to my life, I must lose it and hold it loosely.
  (But if I do make Christ and Gospel my priority I will find real and full life.)
• I have to realise that worldly gain is to lose my soul
  and that my soul has great value - it is far more valuable than the tinsel of this world.
• I can't be ashamed of Him, even though many others are.
  I don't want Him to be be ashamed of me.
• The Kingdom of God isn't only about heaven - "pie in the sky one day when you die"
  It's a reality that is at work in our here and now.

Peter, when He tried to impose his agenda on Jesus, showed that he hadn't grasped these concepts.

So these are the "brass-tacks" - they are just like the sharp, hard and durable nails pin down the upholstery project, only these are the sharp, hard and durable principles that make up discipleship:
Deny yourself, take up your cross, follow Him in word and action, give up the unimportant stuff, don't be ashamed of Him and recognise that we're not just trying to escape this world - we're bringing His Kingdom.
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EmmDevs will be taking a break until 22 July because of our General Assembly and the Gov School holidays.

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EmmDev 2025-06-20 [Moments with Mark] Awake and Asleep at the Same Time.

Awake and Asleep at the Same Time.

Jesus and His disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way He asked them, "Who do people say I am?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." "But what about you?" He asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ. " Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about Him. He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that He must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. But when Jesus turned and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter. "Get behind me, Satan!" he said. "You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." (Mark8:27-33)

This pivotal passage comes pretty much in the middle of Mark as Jesus is moving toward Jerusalem. Jesus asks a key identity question, and He is not looking for opinion but ownership. He moves from "Who do people say I am?" to "Who do you say I am?" The disciples need to commit.

We are not properly sensitised to the meaning of "Christ." We tend to use it as if it is kind of like a "surname" for Jesus. Christ, or "Christos" in Greek, means "Messiah", "Anointed One",simply "The One." It is a massive title and one could be stoned for using it inappropriately. All of Israel's longing and hope was fixed on the appearance of the Messiah whom they believed was God's representative who would defeat evil and restore hope. While it seems that Peter just casually drops this in conversation, it is a breathtaking moment. Matthew gives us more detail with Jesus exclaiming that Peter did not just recognise this by himself, but that the Father Himself had revealed it. Mark, in his typical punchy journalist style, is content to let Peter do the mic drop - "You are the Christ"

I have a good colleague friend and mentor, Malan Nel, who always talks about Jesus the Christ.
This is helpful - it reminds me that He's not just a carpenter with the name Jesus (which was a very common variant of Joshua which means "God saves") but that He has a title - a very big one.

Sadly, as awake as Peter is to who Jesus is, he falls spiritually asleep in the very next paragraph. Death and sacrifice weren't concepts that fitted with the Jewish expectation of a victorious Messiah and so when Jesus talks about these realities, Peter, backed by the disciples, scolds Jesus for being so negative.

Interestingly, as Jesus rebuked Peter, He was also looking at the disciples.
It is a stinging rebuke.
By trying to make Jesus conform to their triumphalistic expectations, Peter and the disciples were actually doing the work of Satan.

We cannot separate the Messiah from the price He will pay for all of us.

Christians are often criticised for speaking of the blood of Christ and the sacrifice on the cross.

It's not comfortable, but it is vital.

So, in a nutshell, we have four key theological take-home points:
1. The importance of personally owning the identity of Jesus.
2. The true meaning and weight of calling Jesus "Christ."
3. The discomfort we have with the idea of a suffering Messiah.
4. The relevance of sacrifice and cross-centered theology in discipleship.

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EmmDev 2025-06-18 [Moments with Mark] Sometimes it's a process...

Sometimes it's a process...

They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When He had spit on the man's eyes and put His hands on him, Jesus asked, "Do you see anything?" He looked up and said, "I see people; they look like trees walking around." Once more Jesus put His hands on the man's eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. Jesus sent him home, saying, "Don't go into the village." (Mark8:22-26)

Mark mentions two healings that take place using saliva - the deaf man in the Decapolis and now the blind man of Bethsaida. As I mentioned with the healing of the deaf man, saliva was a means of healing used by loving parents and traditional healers. For a parent it spoke of spontaneous intimacy and in traditional healing it was an accepted and understood ritual.

In both cases Jesus takes them to one side. This is a very considerate gesture as receiving hearing and sight could be very overwhelming in the face of the crowd. Furthermore, the intimate nature of the healing deserves privacy.

The healing of deafness and blindness were powerful signs of Jesus' identity and power and this sets the scene for the coming conversation Jesus will have with His disciples regarding His identity. Scholars also note that this miracle marks the next phase of Jesus' ministry. Up until now He has been ministering in Galilee but now He will start moving towards Jerusalem. This section continues until the end of chapter 10 where Jesus heals "blind Bartimaeus." This repeated healing of the blind is very striking when we consider that Jesus talked about spiritual blindness a lot in the last two chapters...

There is one more unusual feature and that is that this healing happened in stages. There is no other healing account like this. The deaf-mute man instantly heard and spoke. The lame man walked immediately, even though his muscles must have been severely atrophied. But the blind man is healed in phases.

It's important to note that Jesus is not caught by surprise - it isn't a case of "Oops, that didn't work, let Me try again." Instead, Jesus deliberately heals the man progressively.

Once again, we see Jesus' compassion. It is likely He knew the man would struggle to cope with the sudden transition from complete blindness to full sight, so He heals him in steps - allowing him to adjust and not be overwhelmed.

So too, when we move from spiritual blindness to spiritual sightedness, many of us take the journey in phases. In fact, even in yesterday's account of the disciples' lack of faith, we see evidence of a gradual awakening - "a conversion in phases." And this is how many of us have come to faith...

Here are three comforting thoughts to consider:
1. Jesus deals with each of us personally and intimately.
2. Jesus brings light into darkness and opens blind eyes (physically and spiritually).
3. Jesus doesn't overwhelm us - His journey with us is step by step.

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EmmDev 2025-06-17 [Moments with Mark] None so blind... #2

None so blind... #2

The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. "Be careful," Jesus warned them. "Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod." They discussed this with one another and said, "It is because we have no bread." Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: "Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don't you remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?" "Twelve," they replied. "And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?" They answered, "Seven." He said to them, "Do you still not understand?" (Mark8:14-21)

The disciples had forgotten to bring bread.
Jesus was thinking about the Pharisees and their cynical doubt which spread like wildfire... or like yeast... (Yeast is the fastest multiplying organism that we know of.)

But the disciples make it about themselves.
They think He's scolding them about forgetting bread.
They're missing the point entirely!
Jesus is talking about spiritual yeast.

And part of that is because they haven't yet processed what they have seen.
They've experienced Jesus feeding the 5000 and 4000.
They've seen the baskets full of leftovers.
If Jesus can simply multiply bread, then why should He be upset about the fact that they only have one loaf of bread?

Sadly, we are often guilty of a spiritual blindness.
We've read John 3:16 hundreds of times.
We've heard the gospel many many times.
We know about the thief on the cross and Simon Peter who both were forgiven.
We've heard so many sermons about God's grace.
We've heard so many testimonies about how He can change a life.

But then when we're asked about eternity we answer something like: "Well I hope I've done enough for St Peter to open the gate."

We keep making it about ourselves.
We talk about grace and live by law.
We can find ourselves going through the motions.
We hear the truths.

But we haven't processed them...

Maybe it's time we take a long hard look at:
- all that we know about Jesus
- all that Jesus has done for us
- and all we have experienced of His love and power.

Are there areas in our lives where we still live as though grace isn't enough?
May we take our eyes off ourselves and look more at Him.

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EmmDev 2025-06-13 [Moments with Mark] None so blind...

None so blind...

The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test Him, they asked Him for a sign from heaven. He sighed deeply and said, "Why does this generation ask for a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to it." Then He left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side. The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. "Be careful," Jesus warned them. "Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod." (Mark8:11-15)

Mark shows us how the opposition to Jesus mounted steadily...

Here in chapter 8 the Pharisees travel all the way from Jerusalem to the region of the Decapolis, east and southeast of the Sea of Galilee. It was a predominantly Gentile area and the Pharisees would consider it "unclean."

They travelled a long way, into an area that was not comfortable for them and risked damaging their religious credibility."

Their intention was not friendly either - they were adversarial and their goal was to "test" Him. The Greek word is peirazō is often translated as trial, hardship, test, or even entrapment They demand a "sign from heaven" from Him. Even the feeding of the 4,000 was not enough to satisfy them - they wanted something dramatic - something like a voice or fire from heaven.

Jesus sighs deeply and does not give in to their manipulations.
Whatever He did would not have satisfied them.
Because...
... there are none so blind
... as those who will not see.

Jesus leaves them behind, but their negativity stays with Him.
When the disciples are short of bread it makes Jesus think of yeast.
Just a little yeast spreads through the dough and influences it, the cynicism, negativity and self-righteousness of the Pharisees can spread into other hearts too.

We should be careful too...
The blindness of those who will not see can poison us as well...

Where am I missing the signs of God's work because of pride or cynicism?

When we see people going out of their way to harass, question or test those who are doing good work, then let us beware: their brand of cynical superiority and self-righteousness is both dangerous and infectious.

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EmmDev 2025-06-12 [Moments with Mark] Another Feeding

Another Feeding

During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, "I have compassion for these people; they have already been with Me three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance." His disciples answered, "But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?" "How many loaves do you have?" Jesus asked. "Seven," they replied. He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When He had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, He broke them and gave them to His disciples to set before the people, and they did so. They had a few small fish as well; He gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. About four thousand men were present. (Mark8:1-9)

This is the second time Jesus feeds a large number of people with very little food. Let's pick up the similarities and differences...

We'll start with the SIMILARITIES:

• A large crowd has gathered again. Even among the Gentiles, people are attracted to Jesus. They travelled far and long in the hot sun to listen to Him.
• Jesus has compassion on them again. In the first feeding, He sees the crowd as shepherdless sheep, and even now He is deeply moved with compassion. (The Greek word for compassion implies deep feeling.)
• The disciples are stretched as Jesus shares the problem. It seems that, in both feeding events Jesus very deliberately pushes the disciples to think about the problem and not just shrug their shoulders.
• Jesus instructs the crowd to sit down in an orderly fashion, and He gives thanks. This is very important in that it encourages dignity, respect and gratitude.
• The miracle happens. Many people are fed with very little food.

Now we look at the DIFFERENCES:

• There are few small fish but seven loaves instead of five. This is not a significant material difference, but it does emphasise that these are two separate events and not just a repetition.
• Jesus is on the other side of the Sea of Galilee - among the ten cities ("Decapolis"). The last time He was here, he cast the legion of demons out of the Gerasene Grave Guy (GGG) (See EmmDevs of 6-9 May) and people asked Him to leave. Mark tells us that the GGG went all through the Decapolis telling about what God had done. So now, when Jesus returns, the Gentile crowds are hungry for His compassion and love. And although it's a different context and different circumstances, Jesus treats them with the same love and the same grace.

There's much to consider...

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EmmDev 2025-06-11 [Moments with Mark] He does everything well

He does everything well

Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis. There some people brought to Him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Him to place His hand on the man. After He took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put His fingers into the man's ears. Then He spit and touched the man's tongue. He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, "Ephphatha!" (which means, "Be opened!"). At this, the man's ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly. Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more He did so, the more they kept talking about it. People were overwhelmed with amazement. "He has done everything well," they said. "He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak." (Mark7:31-36)

There are a few important things to see here:

Jesus went through Tyre and Sidon. In the OT Tyre and Sidon represented the heartland of Gentile idolatry and foreign influence. Jezebel the foreign wife who corrupted Ahab was from Sidon. Isaiah, Ezekiel, Amos and Joel all predict the destruction of Tyre and Sidon because of their evil. Jesus goes even to these places to proclaim the Good News.

Ironically, Jesus finds more faith in Tyre and Sidon than He does in Israel. Note His words in Mt.11:21 "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago..." Sadly, we sometimes find more real faith in the world than in the church.

It's amazing how quickly people create formulas. They crowd brought the man to Jesus for Him to "place His hand" upon the deaf and mute man. We quickly develop fixed ideas about how God works and what He does and doesn't do. I once heard a very dogmatic person say "My Jesus would never do X,Y or Z..." to which I answered "And there's your problem - He's not your Jesus."

Jesus heals the man personally and uniquely. He takes Him away and uses very intimate measures. He touches the ears and tongue. He spits, He sighs, He speaks a breathy word ("Ephphatha" just sounds like breath doesn't it? The man couldn't hear it but he probably felt it.) We don't like the spit idea, but spit was often used in healing rituals. Modern science tells us that saliva has some disinfecting qualities and parents have licked their fingers to wipe smears off kiddies faces for centuries. Imagine being deaf and mute and being given the gift of privacy and being attended to so intimately.

The healing is profound. Not only does the man here, but speech arrives/returns. Vocal chords and lips that could hardly talk are now able to articulate and speak plainly. A brain that hasn't heard at all or formed words well can now do all of that. It's a hugely significant healing.

The crowd are deeply impacted. He does everything well. He cares for the whole person. In His teaching, healing and handling of people, Jesus does everything well.

Which of these thoughts stood out to you?
Take a moment to thank God for what you saw/learned today.

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EmmDev 2025-06-10 [Moments with Mark] Tongue-In-Cheek Subversiveness.

Tongue-In-Cheek Subversiveness.

Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet He could not keep his presence secret. In fact, as soon as she heard about Him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an evil spirit came and fell at His feet. The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter. "First let the children eat all they want," He told her, "for it is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs." "Yes, Lord," she replied, "but even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." Then He told her, "For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter." She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone. (Mark7:24-30)

This passage addresses the pride and prejudice prevalent in Jesus' time:
Jews considered themselves "the chosen people of God". Samaritans and Jews hated each other, the Romans persecuted everyone and surrounding nations cheered when Jerusalem was destroyed.

Some people interpret this passage as a moment where Jesus' mind was changed. They suggest that Jesus was a product of the racism and classism of the time, and that the woman's persistence and clever answer changed His mind.

But there are problems with this interpretation:

• Did Jesus truly view her as less important?
  However, this contradicts His other actions:
  - He healed Centurion's servant and a Samaritan leper
  - He opened heaven to the thief on the cross who technically speaking was cursed by God.
• Did Jesus actually classify her as a dog?
  - But He told the story of the Good Samaritan
  - and happily let Andrew introduce Him to Greek seekers. (Joh12:21)
  - This is also not consistent with the mandate given to the Jews to be a light to the nations
• Was His heart really that cold in the face of a child's need when we see Him going all the way to Jairus' house to raise a child from the dead and made pronouncements like "let the little children come to me?"

So what's happening here?

It's likely that the Jews had a similar saying, akin to our own "Charity starts at home."
It's possible that the Jews said: "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to the dogs."
But Jesus' answer to her is enigmatic and mischievous because He uses a diminutive form for the word "dog". The word can be translated as "housedogs", "lapdogs" or "doggies."

By using the dimuntive term, Jesus might very well be emphasizing that even dogs, often seen as inferior or unclean, are brought into homes and become "doggies" and "lapdogs" valued and cared for by their masters. This could be a subtle way of highlighting the inherent worth and dignity of all creatures, including the Gentiles. In this way, Jesus' statement breaks down the hierarchical, class and race barriers people create.

And the woman seems to get it... because her answer is clever and subversive, giving Jesus a way to help her "legitimately".

There is a distinct playfulness about this encounter that subverts the classism and racism of the day.

Jesus gives her much more than crumbs and He commends her subversive faith because she sees God more clearly than Judaism does.

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EmmDev 2025-06-06 [Moments with Mark] From the Inside Out

From the Inside Out

Again Jesus called the crowd to Him and said, "Listen to Me, everyone, and understand this. Nothing outside a man can make him 'unclean' by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him 'unclean.' " After He had left the crowd and entered the house, His disciples asked Him about this parable. "Are you so dull?" He asked. "Don't you see that nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him 'unclean'? For it doesn't go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body." (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods "clean.") He went on: "What comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean.' For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.' " (Mark7:14-23)

The Pharisees were obsessed with externals - ritual hand-washing, kosher diets, visible donations in the temple.

And let's be honest, rituals may be tedious, but they're measurable and safe.
Washed hands?
Check!
Avoided pork?
Check!
Donated to the temple (even though my parents suffer)?
Check!

These externals can be managed and appearances can be maintained.

But Jesus turns it all on its head - It's about the fruit.
- What fruit does the tree bear?
- What kind of water comes from the well?
- What comes out of you when you are squeezed?

This is what is significant.
It's a truth so obvious that the disciples miss it.
They think it's more complicated.
They think there has to be a recipe to follow or a rulebook to adhere to.

Mark recognises the huge significance - Jesus has hereby declared all foods "clean."

It's not about the stomach but about the HEART.
(And remember - in Hebrew culture the heart is not the seat of emotion but the control room or wellspring of life)

There's nothing wrong with healthy eating and exercise.
But let's realise that true and meaningful change comes from the INSIDE working OUT.

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EmmDev 2025-06-05 [Moments with Mark] A Religious Cover-Up

A Religious Cover-Up

And He said to them: "You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.' But you say that if a man says to his father or mother: 'Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is Corban' (that is, a gift devoted to God), then you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother. Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that." (Mark7:9-13)

When Samuel rebuked Saul for sparing an enemy that he should have destroyed, he said "To obey is better than sacrifice..."

A thousand years later, the religious leaders were still getting this wrong. Corban was a practice they instituted that allowed children to disregard the Fifth Commandment and the long-standing cultural traditions of caring for their parents by simply claiming that their financial and material care was an offering devoted to God. The problem was that there was no accountability for this vow. No one would ensure that the money, goods or time were actually used for God's glory.

It was a neat way to look good and use God as a cover-up.
"I'd really love to do more for my parents, but I'm giving so much to the church now..."

There are two issues here: Priorities and not using God as a cover-up.
When it comes to priorities I learned a long time ago that our priorities need to be:

1. God (not church but our personal relationship with Him)
2. Our family (nuclear first and then extended and sometimes extended need to move down the queue)
   This doesn't mean that we play fast and loose with our jobs because without our jobs we can't provide for our families.
   But wherever I can I put family before job.
3. Our jobs
4. Our church
5. Our friends, hobbies etc.

Adriaan Plass, a well-known Christian author and humourist, tells the story of a man who is appointed as an elder in his church. He makes himself available to help his district. He offers lifts, lends out his car and does handyman work for people in need. As people begin to take advantage of his generosity (and his egocentric need to please people) he neglects his own family by not being there for his son's soccer games and his wife is washing clothes in the bath because he hasn't fixed the washing machine. When they gently complain, he accuses them of being unspiritual and not supporting the work of the church.

One day he gets home to find a note on the table from his wife indicating that there is a church family in great need waiting at a table in the local takeaway café. He drops everything to rush across and he finds his wife and son at the table and the scales fall from his eyes and he realises that he'd fallen into a trap of wrong priorities.

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EmmDev 2025-06-04 [Moments with Mark] Contaminated

Contaminated

The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus and saw some of His disciples eating food with hands that were "unclean," that is, unwashed. (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles. ) So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, "Why don't your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with 'unclean' hands?" He replied, "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: " 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.' You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men." (Mark7:1-8)

It's important to consider the wider context. Jesus has been amongst the crowds where He has been touching people and healing them. They've been on the road and often eaten on the road.

Enter the "Phastidious Pharisees" and their hand-washing...
Mark is clear - they aren't worried about actual dirt on their hands.
In the original Greek, Mark doesn't use the word "ceremonial" but talks about "washing with the fist." This was an elaborate prescribed methodology of washing demanded by the Scribes. It was all about the ritual and not so much about actual cleaning. You could use water and wash your hands, but if you did not do it in the prescribed way you would still be "unclean."

What it reveals is the fact that the Pharisees believed that they could be ritually contaminated by the "common" people. The word he uses for "unclean" is "koine" which means common or everyday Greek. We know this word from the phrase "Koine Greek" which describes the dialect of Greek used by the common people of Jesus' time.

This kind of "holier than thou" spirituality seeks to "demonise" or "commonise" every day people and make the faithful seem exclusive and superior. It's a tradition that is passed down from people rather than an ordinance from God.

The Church is meant to be a place of grace. Sadly we often make up all sorts of norms and practices that keep others out. These norms and practices become the core instead of the periphery of our gathering and keep some people far from His love.

We've all read the beautiful story of the young barefoot hippie student who comes to church, and, when none of the suited-and-tied congregation members let him join them in "their" pew, he sits down on the floor in the aisle. Then one of the oldest and most dignified members shuffles down the aisle, and, instead of scolding the young man, he labouriously lowers himself to the ground to welcome the young man and keep him company during the service.

He got it - the Pharisees just didn't.

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EmmDev 2025-06-03 [Moments with Mark] Wherever He went

Wherever He went

When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard He was. And wherever He went - into villages, towns or countryside - they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged Him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched Him were healed. (Mark6:53-55)

This section is Mark's ongoing portrayal of Jesus as the self-emptying Son of Man who came to serve and not to be served.

Wherever Jesus went, He was recognised.
Wherever Jesus went, people brought their needs.
Wherever Jesus went, healing happened.

Jesus' presence caused ripples in the physical, emotional and spiritual atmosphere. It was a taste of the Kingdom of God and the world to come. The crowds mobbed Him, and He was swamped with the need and brokenness of the world He came to save. Marketplaces became hospitals, and the hem of His garment became a powerful extension of His grace and love.

It was a beautiful picture of the love of God. The healings happened even though the crowds were fickle - even though another crowd would later shout, "Crucify Him."

It's that edge of His cloak that grabs my attention...
On the one hand, it feels so mercenary and open to abuse - people could just come and touch it for healing - like Jesus was just like some sort of healing battery and you didn't even have to interact with Him.
On the other hand, it feels so generous and so incredibly powerful - people didn't have to wait for Him to say an incantation or go through the motions. They also didn't need to tell their story or state their case. They could simply come near and experience beautiful healing love.

As the church, we should be the hem of Jesus' garment - a place of incredible healing and love.
Yes, people will be mercenary and even abusive, but the generosity of love will speak even louder.

---

EmmDev 2025-05-29 [Treasure Cupboard] ADD

ADD

After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." (Acts1:9-11)

In South Africa, Ascension Day used to be a public holiday. Since it always fell on a Thursday, it created a long weekend---schools would close, and we would use it for Youth Camps. These are good memories...

So when we talk about Ascension Day in our new context, the first thing people say is: "What a pity it isn't a public holiday any more..." But, if pushed, I wonder how many of us would know why the Ascension of Jesus is important to us.

I wonder if we suffer from A.D.D...
(Ascension Deficit Disorder)...

The Ascension is vitally important in God's Salvation Plan. Here are seven key truths about the Ascension:

1. Jesus has completed His Priestly Ministry: He sits at God's right hand.
   His sacrifice was sufficient. Our sins are completely forgiven. There is nothing more that needs to be done.
2. He has taken our humanity into heaven - Paul tells us that Jesus is the "firstfruit" of the resurrection. We won't be disembodied spirits floating on clouds. We'll have bodies, but we won't be limited by time and space. And, most importantly, Jesus does not discard His humanity - He is "not a high priest who is unfamiliar with our struggles" (Heb.4:15)
3. Jesus sends the Holy Spirit - The Risen and Ascended Lord Jesus, having cleansed and forgiven us, sends His Spirit into our hearts so that we can experience Christ's presence from within and His power can work in and through us.
4. He entrusts His work (making disciples) to us - Our lives have meaning and purpose. We are God's co-workers and He includes us in His work of reaching the world.
5. Jesus intercedes in prayer for us - Jesus, having experienced our humanity, prays for us. He knows hunger, tiredness, betrayal, pain, heartache and loss. What incredible prayers these must be.
6. He prepares a place for us - It's an incredible thought that Jesus, like a gracious host, prepares a place for us. We see this beautifully illustrated when Stephen is stoned. The Ascended Jesus who is seated at the Father's right hand is seen by Stephen - and He is standing to welcome His servant home.
7. He will return and will judge the living and the dead - CS Lewis wrote that our longing for justice is proof that heaven exists. We don't always find justice on earth. But Jesus, the righteous Judge, will balance the books and right the wrongs. Either people will accept His forgiveness and His death will pay their debt, or they will have to pay it themselves, but whichever way it goes - Justice will prevail

These great ascension truths should give us reason to rejoice and give thanks.
So maybe instead of having Ascension Deficit Disorder we should ADD:
Add thanks that He completed the work of our forgiveness
Add hope that He understands our humanity and we have resurrection hope
Add gratitude that His Spirit is in us
Add conviction to share in the work of sharing His love with the world
Add comfort that we are prayed for by Someone who knows our humanity
Add confidence that our place in eternity is secure
Add peace because this broken world will come to an end and a new world is coming

Can I get a Hallelujah?

---

EmmDev 2025-05-28 [Moments with Mark] Water Walker and Doubting Disciples

Water Walker and Doubting Disciples

He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night He went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, but when they saw Him walking on the lake, they thought He was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw Him and were terrified. Immediately He spoke to them and said, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." Then He climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened. (Mark6:48-52)

My favourite part about Jesus walking on the water is how Jesus invites Peter to join Him out on the water. Mark doesn't include that part of the story, probably because he was a protégé of Peter and didn't want his mentor to look bad.

But leaving out the "Peter interlude" also gives this account a more sombre tone especially as one looks at Mark's concluding comment about their hardened hearts.

To unpack this, we need to consider what the disciples have already seen. They've seen miracles of healing and exorcism. Faith moved a few friends to lower a paralysed man through the roof and Jesus healed Him. They've heard demons address Jesus as the Son of God. A raging storm was tamed with a word and a demonic wild graveyard resident was restored to full humanity. Most recently an impossibly huge crowd was fed by sharing an impossibly small lunch.

Now, after all they have experienced, they see Jesus walking on the water. What's sad is that they automatically assume the worst - "It's a ghost!" And when He climbs into the boat, the wind dies down and they are completely amazed.

Now the Greek here is telling: Mark uses the root word "existēmi" which means to be "amazed", "blown away" or "gobsmacked" and he strengthens this already strong word with two modifiers - "lian" ("greatly") and "ekperissōs" ("beyond abundant"). By doing this Mark is creating the impression that this event completely blew them out of the water (pardon the pun) and blindsided them.

Sadly, this gobsmacked amazement is not positive in the sense of "wonder" or "awe", it reflects an unwillingness to assimilate the clues they've had so far. Their response should have been "Oh look He's doing something amazing again, but I guess that's what we can expect when He is who He is - truly the Son of God." But instead they are just unable to allow Jesus to be more than just a man. They just can't grasp the idea that He is God with us.

Today, sadly, we are sometimes too astonished when God does something miraculous. When we pray to the Creator of Heaven and Earth who gave His Son and raised Him from the dead, why should we be utterly gobsmacked when He answers? I'm not saying that we shouldn't be grateful and filled with wonder and awe. But sometimes our amazement reflects expectations that were far too small.

The disciples hearts were hardened, they struggled to raise their expectations.
Let's make sure we don't do the same...

One of my favourite analogies is about children's rhyme where the pussy cat goes to London to see the Queen. What did he do there? He frightened a mouse from under her chair. Talk about low expectations! He could have sat on her lap and drank a bowl of cream. But all he did was frighten a mouse. When we come to worship the God of the Universe what are our expectations? He invites us to expect big things!

---

EmmDev 2025-05-27 [Moments with Mark] Praying with His eyes open

Praying with His eyes open

Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to Bethsaida, while He dismissed the crowd. After leaving them, He went up on a mountainside to pray. When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and He was alone on land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. (Mark6:45-48)

There are some very powerful thoughts in this short passage.

The first is that Jesus dismisses the crowd all by Himself. One can imagine the pressure: "Just one more parable, please Lord?" or "Please just pray for my second cousin's sore toe?" or "Why do bad things happen to good people?" There was always going to be more and more need, but Jesus dismisses the crowd and they go, not because they've all been healed or because every need has been met, but because they've seen enough of God's coming Kingdom that their souls are comforted and they have hope.

The second striking thought is that Jesus, once again, spends time in prayer. Although Mark's gospel is short, punchy and action-packed, Jesus' devotional life is clearly depicted and highlighted. Here, after a very full day, Jesus debriefs and recharges in the solitude of His relationship with His Heavenly Father. Mark later indicates that Jesus prayed until the fourth watch (that's 4AM!) of the night. It is an intimate picture signifying that Jesus depended on His connection to the Father and the Spirit. We too should learn to depend on intimacy with our Heavenly Father.

The last beautiful thought is that the disciples were never far from Jesus' mind... When we were kids we got into trouble when we peeped while praying, but Jesus prayed with His eyes open - vigilantly watching over His disciples and tracking their progress from the mountain where He prayed. He could see they were struggling. He could see the wind against them. He was praying with His eyes open and fixed on the disciples. (Tomorrow we will see that He goes to them.)

He still prays like that for us.

---

EmmDev 2025-05-23 [Moments with Mark] More than Food

More than Food

By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to Him. "This is a remote place," they said, "and it's already very late. Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat." But He answered, "You give them something to eat." They said to him, "That would take eight months of a man's wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?" "How many loaves do you have?" He asked. "Go and see." When they found out, they said, "Five--and two fish." Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand. (Mark6:35-44)

The feeding of the 5000 is recorded in all four Gospels, and each offers a unique perspective:
- Matthew frames the account in the context of Jesus just having been told of John the Baptist's death.
- Luke highlights that Jesus welcomed the crowd and ministered to them.
- John tells us about Andrew bringing the boy with the loaves and fish -- and goes on to record Jesus' Bread of Life discourse.

Here are a few observations from Mark's account:

1. The disciples' concern for the crowd.
   Some suggest they were worried the crowd might become hangry (hungry + angry).
   But I think they were simply doing the best they could - they hadn't yet grasped the full magnitude of Jesus' power.
2. Jesus' response is challenging: "You give them something to eat."
   There are at least three ways to understand this:
   - Jesus may have felt they were passing the buck - and passed it right back.
   - He might have wanted to increase their sense of ownership.
   - His question - and their answer - quantifies the size of the problem and the miracle to come.
3. Sitting down in groups of hundreds and fifties helps explain how they could estimate the size of the crowd.
4. Jesus gave thanks for the meal.
   Because of this, I always make a point of giving thanks for food.
5. Twelve baskets were collected.
   Perhaps one for each disciple, or a symbolic reference to the twelve tribes of Israel.
   Some say the baskets were lunchbox-sized and could be carried around.
   One of my mentors, Calvin Cook, suggests that the women wove the baskets from grass while they waited.
   Whatever the explanation - the symbolism is powerful: God's provision is abundant.

And in the background, we should remember Psalm 23.
Jesus saw the crowd as sheep without a Shepherd - and He shepherded them in both word and action.

---

EmmDev 2025-05-22 [Moments with Mark] Interrupted

Interrupted

So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So He began teaching them many things. (Mark6:32-34)

I once heard someone describe the ministry as "a series of interruptions punctuated by attempts to have a Quiet Time."

I'm not sure I would describe it quite like that, but Brenda and I talk about the "phone call that changes everything." We have our plans for the day, and then the phone call comes and the day takes a new direction.

Some of the most profound ministry comes out of times like that.

Luke talks about Jesus who came "to seek and save the lost" - and Mark will later quote Jesus saying: "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 has portrayed Jesus as working hard: relentlessly healing, teaching and proclaiming the Kingdom of God. We've already seen Him being interrupted by His disciples while He was having His devotions, and now the crowds intrude on their rest time.

I'm sure some of the disciples responded wearily, impatiently and negatively as they approached the shore only to see the crowd waiting. But Jesus' first instinct is compassion and grace. And, seeing them as sheep without a Shepherd, He Shepherds them.

Now a cynical reading of this text might conclude: "See, there are always interruptions - so why bother trying to retreat, recover, rest and recuperate?"
But that is not the point of this passage.
The big point of this passage is to recognise that interruptions come.
- and sometimes they come, even during important times of rest.
That does not make rest unimportant
- and we should still try to "come apart and rest a while"

But the key thing is to learn that the way to deal with interruptions is to have COMPASSION.

---

EmmDev 2025-05-21 [Moments with Mark] Process Time

Process Time

The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to Him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, He said to them, "Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. (Mark6:30-32)

The disciples' outreach had been effective. Lives had been changed, the Kingdom had been proclaimed and darkness driven back. One would expect high-fives, celebration and high energy.

But now the crowds were coming even more than before - so much so that they didn't even have a chance to eat.

They were victims of their own success.

And so Jesus does something very important.
"Come with ME, by YOURSELVES to a QUIET PLACE and get some REST."

It's a profoundly important principle to put into place.
When there has been output - even if has been successful and a blessing - rest is needed.

But look at the components...
- Be with HIM - this isn't just sleep, collapse, recharge - It's being with Him
- Bring YOURSELF - There needs to be reflection and we need to be present
- Be in a QUIET PLACE - be careful of filling the space with fluff and noise
- And REST - it should be easy not intense

Sometimes after a full weekend of ministry I tell Brenda that I'm tired and need to rest, but sometimes I have filled that space with watching Sci Fi movies or surfing You Tube music videos. Fun, yes - but candy floss when my soul needs something more substantial.

This Monday Brenda and I took a slow drive out to the Magaliesberg region. We listened to music, drank in the sights, chatted when there was something to say and just enjoyed being together. We reflected on what had gone well and on what felt daunting. We didn't do hectic Bible Study or have an intense time of prayer, but we were deeply aware of His presence and His love even in the midst of much done and much to do.

When last did you have a time like this?

---

EmmDev 2025-05-20 [Moments with Mark] A sad interlude

A sad interlude

They went out and preached that people should repent. They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them. King Herod heard about this, for Jesus' name had become well known. Some were saying, "John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in Him." Others said, "He is Elijah." And still others claimed, "He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago." But when Herod heard this, he said, "John, the man I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!" (Mark6:12-16)

When Jesus sent out His disciples two by two, He multiplied His influence significantly.
Across the land people were hearing the news of the coming Kingdom of God and seeing its power in miracles, healings and exorcisms.

News of this reached Herod and provoked an interesting guilt response.
A little background...

• John the Baptist (JohnB) publicly condemned Herod for taking his brother's wife, Herodias.
• Herod had him arrested.
• Herodias held a grudge against John.
• Herod was fascinated but intimidated by John and would occasionally listen to him preach.
• One night at a party, Herodias' daughter danced for Herod and his guests. Intoxicated by alcohol and her performance, Herod foolishly granted her a wish.
• On her mother's advice, she asked for JohnB's head on a platter. Because of his guests and the rash promise he had made, Herod felt compelled to comply.

It's a horrible interlude and a tough reminder that the coming of the Kingdom will be met with resistance.

What's striking is that Herod has a conscience about it.
Sadly, in three years' time when Jesus appears before Herod, it seems that his heart has hardened.

It's a sobering picture:
God is merciful and is at work even in environments of power, corruption and immorality. (Even today)
But humans can harden their hearts...

---

EmmDev 2025-05-16 [Moments with Mark] From watching to doing

From watching to doing

Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. Calling the Twelve to him, he sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits. These were his instructions: "Take nothing for the journey except a staff--no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra tunic. Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them." They went out and preached that people should repent. They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them. (Mark6:6-13)

The disciples have been watching Jesus.
Now He asks them to go and do...

There are a couple of key points.
Firstly, He gives them authority over evil spirits. It's His authority, not their own and we should never face evil by ourselves or in our own strength or name.

In the second place, they are to go out in faith, taking no provisions, but simply trusting God to provide for them as they go and trusting that God opens hearts along the way.

In the third place, they must stay where God opens a door for them and not become celebrities. (In those days people competed to have popular preachers/teachers to stay with them.) The first person who took a risk on being hospitable should be the person they stayed with.

Finally, they should not stay where hearts were hard, but simply move on.

The disciples went as Jesus sent them, and the gospel was preached and lives were changed...

When it comes to applying this passage to our lives, I have to admit that it is hard to understand how to do that and it is a little intimidating. Our time and context don't make it simple to go out without supplies and preach in towns and villages and it is not like the gospel isn't known. But we can't just dismiss this passage, saying "That was then and this is now..."

If we apply the principles, then remembering that we go in His authority is important. Learning to go in faith and trust that God will provide is also important and we may need to learn more about venturing out in faith. These days we need to look for hospitable hearts and not hospitable homes and recognise that some people are the doorways to certain communities and reaching them will help us reach others. Finally, when people aren't ready for the message, we should not "hammer away" at them, but rather leave that work to the Holy Spirit.

---

EmmDev 2025-05-15 [Moments with Mark] Parochial

Parochial

Jesus left there and went to His hometown, accompanied by His disciples. When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were amazed. "Where did this man get these things?" they asked. "What's this wisdom that has been given Him, that He even does miracles! Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't His sisters here with us?" And they took offense at Him. Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor." He could not do any miracles there, except lay His hands on a few sick people and heal them. And He was amazed at their lack of faith. (Mark6:1-6)

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word "parochial" has the following primary meanings:

1. "Relating to a Church parish and its local area."
2. Having a limited or narrow outlook or scope.

In the case of today's reading, people had a parochial view of Jesus. They had a narrow-minded or provincial perspective on Him. They'd seen Him grow up and they knew His family and so they measured Him by their experiences and standards.

Their Jesus-picture was domesticated and past-tense.
Their view of Him was parochial.

Ironically, those of us who have been in the church a while run the same risks. We tend to keep Jesus in the dusty streets of Israel and the stories of the Bible. We forget what John said at the end of his gospel: "Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written." (John 21:25)

Jesus is able to work in our lives too.
Let us not only talk about what Jesus DID,
but about what He is DOING!

Which means we can't limit Him.
We can't put Him in a box.
We can't be parochial.

---

EmmDev 2025-05-14 [Moments with Mark] Reaching Faith

Reaching Faith

So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around Him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind Him in the crowd and touched His cloak, because she thought, "If I just touch His clothes, I will be healed." Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from Him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?" "You see the people crowding against you," his disciples answered, "and yet you can ask, 'Who touched me?' " But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at His feet and, trembling with fear, told Him the whole truth. He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering." (Mark5:24-34)

This is the interlude in the account of the healing of Jairus' daughter. Jesus is hurrying because it is a child. The crowd is pressing in, because Jairus was prominent and they hoped to witness a miracle.

The woman has suffered. She's tried all the remedies, potions, rituals, diets and practices. Her malady made her ritually unclean and anyone she touched would be considered unclean too. One would expect her to be cynical and bitter. And yet she has faith.

We don't know if she had only heard of Jesus or if she'd gone to see/hear Him before, but something about Jesus convinced her. Something about His message, His character and His demeanour convinced her that He could be trusted. She was so convinced that she took a major risk by going into the midst of the crowd and touching Jesus' robe.

And it was a major big risk. She was ritually contaminating everyone she jostled with in the crowd and if any who knew of her condition saw her or if any evidence of her condition were to be noticed, people would have been very angry.

Furthermore, she decided to seek anonymous healing by simply touching His garment. This was probably for multiple reasons: (1)Not bothering Jesus, (2)consideration for the plight of the child, (3)not wanting to reveal how she had ritually contaminated the people she had brushed against and (4)she was used to not being touched.

Her faith was rewarded and she was instantly healed physically. But Jesus had more than her physical healing in mind - He wanted to heal her spiritually, emotionally and socially. By getting her to come forward and tell her story, she is able to express her pain and isolation and Jesus is able to call her "daughter" and commend her for her faith. This would give her closure, assurance and respect from the crowd.

Her reaching faith was met by a Saviour who could do more than she could ever think or imagine!

---

EmmDev 2025-05-13 [Moments with Mark] Jairus

Jairus

When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around Him while He was by the lake. Then one of the synagogue rulers, named Jairus, came there. Seeing Jesus, he fell at His feet and pleaded earnestly with Him, "My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live." So Jesus went with him. ...[INTERLUDE}.... While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. "Your daughter is dead," they said. "Why bother the teacher any more?" Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, "Don't be afraid; just believe." He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. When they came to the home of the synagogue ruler, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. He went in and said to them, "Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep." But they laughed at Him. After He put them all out, He took the child's father and mother and the disciples who were with Him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum!" (which means, "Little girl, I say to you, get up!"). Immediately the girl stood up and walked around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat. (Mark5:21-43)

The story of Jairus doesn't read the same if we don't include the interlude where how Jesus pauses His helter-skelter rescue mission to help the woman who had the long-term bleeding. Can you imagine how Jairus was hopping from one foot to the other, chewing his nails, dying inside while it happened?

Let's think about Jairus...
It must be said that most of the religious leaders where opposed to Jesus. Jairus must have been different or desperate to come to Jesus. I suspect it was a bit of both. His desperation is seen in how he fell at Jesus' feet and pleaded with Him. His differentness is seen in how he trusts Jesus even after the interruption and the news of his daughter's passing.

I'm fascinated at the moment where all the professional mourners and musicians laugh at Jesus. Mark simply says "After He put them all out..."
Don Fransisco puts it like this:
"With authority I've never heard from the lips of any man,
He spoke and every sound rolled out with the thunder of command,
And in the sudden silence they all hurried for the door
Wondering what the reason was they'd ever come there for."

Then look at the tenderness of the resurrection. He takes her hand and says "Little girl, get up"
And then, when she awakes, He tells them to keep this private and with the tenderness that we would associate with doting granny, He reminds them to give her something to eat."

Imagine the roller coaster Jairus must have been through.
Imagine his pictures of Jesus.
There's hope, then frustration as He stops, a glimmer of hope when he sees Jesus' compassion for the woman, blind trust when he hears of his daughter's passing and Jesus tells him to believe. Then horror when the mourners laugh and goosebumps when Jesus dismisses them and then awe and wonder when He raises his daughter from the dead.

What a story he would have to tell!
------------------------
You can listen to and watch Don Francisco's dramatic retelling of this story here: https://youtu.be/F8F4UyuzEO4

---

EmmDev 2025-05-09 [Moments with Mark] Calming a human storm #4

Calming a human storm #4

As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with Him. Jesus did not let him, but said, "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed. (Mark5:18-20)

The conclusion of this story is that Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee to the "other side" and ultimately reached one man, the GGG (Gerasene Grave Guy). The rest of the people asked Him to leave.

I don't blame the GGG for wanting to leave with Jesus. After all, his own people had chained him and treated him badly and they would probably blame him about the pigs. But Jesus sends him to tell his story - and he goes to the ten towns on the south and east of Galilee (called the Decapolis (Deca=10 and Polis=towns))

The interesting thing is that the next time Jesus returns to this area, there is a complete turnaround: People are receptive and He needs to feed 4000 people who are there listening to his teaching. (See Mark 7 & 8.) It is widely accepted among scholars that the change in response to Jesus in the Decapolis is due to the missionary activity of this man.

There are four key lessons to learn from this amazing encounter:

1. While this account is somewhat unsettling, it does remind us that evil is real and should not be trifled with.
2. It also demonstrates the authority and power of Jesus and shows us that He has power over the forces of darkness and that even the darkness knows who He is and knows His power and authority... and trembles...
3. It shows the compassion of Jesus who comes "to the other side" for just one man
4. It shows how the gospel can spread when one man tells his story.

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EmmDev 2025-05-08 [Moments with Mark] Calming a human storm #3

Calming a human storm #3

Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man--and told about the pigs as well. Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region. (Mark5:14-17)

There will always be rubber-neckers...
A confrontation between good and evil - a herd of pigs plunging into the lake - a well known trouble-maker allegedly healed and so the people come from all over when they hear about what happened and, without being macabre, they're taking the pig carcasses for food. Agricultural cultures are pragmatic.
The point is that there would have been a lot of people.

And there's the man they had given up on - the man who they had chained up like a wild animal. He's sitting with Jesus - dressed and in his right mind.

They beg Jesus to leave.
- They're scared of Him.
- They don't want Him disturbing their lives any more.
- And maybe they felt a bit guilty.

Sometimes we push Jesus from our lives too...

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EmmDev 2025-05-07 [Moments with Mark] Calming a human storm #2

Calming a human storm #2

When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of Him. He shouted at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won't torture me!" For Jesus had said to him, "Come out of this man, you evil spirit!" Then Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" "My name is Legion," he replied, "for we are many." And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area. A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. The demons begged Jesus, "Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them." He gave them permission, and the evil spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. (Mark5:6-13)

There is a raw and primal feel to this encounter. Not many of us have encountered people who are demon-possessed and who have reached such a desperate state. The man runs to Jesus - the human being is desperate. He shouts at the top of his voice - the demonic forces inside him are terrified of Jesus. There is a storm roiling inside this poor desperate man.

Jesus wants to set the man free. The demonic forces are many. A Roman legion consisted of 6000 soldiers. Yet these forces are terrified of Jesus. He is able to demand their name and they are begging for mercy.
This is a clear picture of the power of the Messiah even on "the other side of the lake."
One should not miss the title they give Him: "Jesus, Son of the Most High God."
This title is given to Jesus, by Mark, by God Himself at Jesus' baptism, by the Roman Centurion and, as we see here, even by His enemies.

Many people are bothered by the fact that Jesus allows the demons into the pigs, when the pigs then rush into the lake. They feel bad about the pigs and about the impact of this loss on the farmers. Some argue that the Jews considered pigs unclean, but this is a Gentile area. I think there are three main reasons Jesus allows this. Firstly, it demonstrates the destructive power and intent of evil. It was a warning about playing on Satan's playground. Secondly, it is a demonstration of the man's deliverance and the defeat of the evil powers. In the third place, I think it is a judgement on the people in the region who chained and restrained the man and were very possibly unnecessarily cruel to him.

While this account is somewhat unsettling, it does remind us that evil is real and should not be trifled with. It also demonstrates the authority and power of Jesus and shows us that He has power over the forces of darkness and that even the darkness knows who He is and knows His power and authority... and trembles...

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EmmDev 2025-05-06 [Moments with Mark] Calming a human storm #1

Calming a human storm #1

They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. (Mark5:1-5)

Gerasenes was "the other side" of the lake and, in many ways, the other side of the tracks. It was mainly Gentiles who lived there (hence all the pigs that we'll meet later) and the Jews looked down on them.

It is significant that Jesus went there. It speaks of His commitment to all of humankind. Everyone needs to hear.

The Gerasene Grave Guy (the GGG) was in trouble:
- He was possessed by an evil spirit - He was a slave of Satan
- He lived among the graves: Although physically alive, he was spiritually dead.
- He couldn't be bound: He was out of control
- He couldn't be controlled: And it seems he could not control himself
- He was in pain and inflicted pain to himself: Self-defeating and self-destructive behaviour.

Maybe he saw the storm over the lake being stilled. Maybe he experienced the relief in the air that one feels when a storm has finally broken. Maybe he sensed the presence of the Storm-Stiller as He climbed out of the boat, but, whatever the reason, this poor man comes running to Jesus.

Although his condition is extreme, it is indicative of the fate of humanity.
- We are under the power of Satan - "prince of this world" (See John 12:31) and the "ruler of the kingdom of the air" (Eph.2:2)
- We are spiritually dead even though physically alive
- We are out of control - just watch the news and look at how we stick to our diets and resolutions
- We are in pain and a lot of it is self-inflicted.

The Good News is that the Storm-Stiller comes to the "other side" - He comes to you and me.

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EmmDev 2025-04-17 [Moments with Mark] The key question in Mark

The key question in Mark

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!" (Mark4:39-41)

Mark starts his gospel identifying Jesus as the Son of Man.
Throughout his account, Mark drops bigger and bigger hints that this is not the whole story.

Matthew (who was a land-lubber tax collector and was on the boat) describes the storm as a "seismos" in his gospel. It's unusual imagery and most probably means a storm of earthquake proportions.

Jesus calms it with a scolding "Quiet! Be still!"
In Zulu He would have said: "Tula wena!"

It leaves the disciples gobsmacked, awestruck and terrified.
They've just seen Jesus sleeping peacefully in a storm that scared even the seasoned fishermen among them.
Then, when He wakes up, He simply rebukes this terrifying beast as if it were a naughty child and it instantly calms down, and then He turns it into a teaching session about faith!
I can just imagine Peter with sopping wet hair and beard and a drip of water on the end of his nose saying "What?!?!?! Who is this guy?"

And that, dear Brothers and Sisters, is the right question...

Right now, our world is facing seismic shifts.
The brokenness of humanity is on full display in a storm of unrest, war, politics and economics.

And at Easter Jesus walks into another storm.
Tonight His disciples will be the ones asleep - while Jesus calms the storm within Himself.
"Not my will - but Your will be done."

Tomorrow, the sky will darken and a "seismos" will shake the ground
and a victorious cry will ring out "It... is... finished!"
And a discombobulated Roman Centurion will finally answer the question the storm-sodden disciples asked:
"Surely this was the Son of God!"
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I want to wish you a blessed and profound Easter and pray that you'll be drawn nearer to Jesus in this time.

EmmDevs will take a break for the next two weeks...

GodBless and Love,
Theo

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EmmDev 2025-04-16 [Moments with Mark] Storm

Storm

That day when evening came, He said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." Leaving the crowd behind, they took Him along, just as He was, in the boat. There were also other boats with Him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to Him, "Teacher, don't You care if we drown?" He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to His disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him!" (Mark4:35-41)

The pictures above and below are Rembrandt's "Jesus calms the storm."
It's a magnificent depiction of the drama of the moment and a study in Rembrandt's use of colour and light. But it's Rembrandt's ability to convey emotion and character that grabs me...

Working from the front of the boat to the back, let's look at that characters we find in any storm.
In the front is the man with a plan - he's going to do whatever he can to rescue the situation. He is optimistic and his example inspires others to help. But sometimes the storm is just too big.

Then there's the three around the mast. They're following the other guy's lead, but there's a desperation about them - They're not far from giving up. I think the guy clinging to the rope looking out at the waves is the lookout - warning when they should brace.

Then there's the guy just staring into the hold. He seems to have given up - His back is to Jesus. The man in shadows at the back seems lost in fear. He seems to have disconnected completely. There's a poor guy getting sick over the edge - sometimes trouble just makes us sick to the stomach. There's the guy kneeling in prayer before Jesus and although this looks pious, Rembrandt has him in shadow - maybe this is more fear than faith. There are two angry disciples "Don't you care if we drown?" And then there's the guy at the tiller. He's strangely calm. His hands are big and firm on the tiller, his head cocked in expectation - it's as though he has one eye on the storm and one eye on Jesus.

Look at the man who's holding his head and looking back to land (or directly at the viewer) - he's the 13th "disciple" in the boat and many believe it's Rembrandt depicting himself and inviting us to put ourselves in the picture.

The first bottom line: We all react to differently to a crisis. But Jesus is in the boat with us, whether we recognise it or not.

The second bottom line is Jesus. There's a light emanating from Him. His face shows both surprise and compassion as He looks directly at the men remonstrating with Him. He was asleep, but woke when they needed Him and then He calmed the storm with a word.

We are at Wednesday in Holy Week. There is no activity recorded in any of the gospels for Holy Week Wednesday. Jesus rested. He rested because on Thursday He would become the Passover Lamb and on Friday He would lay down His life in the storm of our sin and brokenness and then He'd wake again on Sunday morning to show us that the storm is over.

 

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EmmDev 2025-04-15 [Moments with Mark] Mustard Seeds and Parables

Mustard Seeds and Parables

Again he said, "What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade." With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything. (Mark4:30-34)

This chapter is all about the Kingdom of God and Jesus has been describing it with parables about seeds.

Mark notes that Jesus used parables for the crowds but explained everything to the disciples. This reveals an important principle: People can only receive what they are ready for. Jesus uses parables, because they are interesting vehicles that can carry unexpectedly large loads... if the listener pauses long enough for the unloading to begin.

The points He makes about seeds (the gospel) are significant.
The seed is powerful. The seed grows all by itself, but it can be hampered by the "soil".
Now, in the final parable, Jesus shows us that the seed can be tiny, but yield big results.
This is important because we tend to look down on small beginnings.

The parables are also little seeds, but they can pack a big punch.
As we review this chapter, here are some thoughts.

1. We need to trust the seed enough to sow generously.
2. We need to be good soil.
3. Sometimes we take our role too seriously, we don't convert people, the Spirit is the one who makes the seed grow "all by itself."
4. We should never look down on small beginnings.

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EmmDev 2025-04-11 [Moments with Mark] All by itself

All by itself

He also said, "This is what the Kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain - first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come." (Mark4:26-29)

There is a whole philosophy or theology of Church Growth based on this parable (It is called "Natural Church Development" by Christiaan Schwarz) The bottom line of this approach is that if we remove the obstacles to growth, God will cause the church to grow in quality and quantity.

There is a lot about this model that is attractive. In the parable Jesus makes the point that God has programmed the seed to grow - you just put it in the ground, add water, and the natural God-given programming takes over. Growth is not foreign to the seed - it just does it.

But when there are obstacles in the way (like the hard path, rocky soil and weeds in the first parable) then growth in God's Kingdom seems stunted and hard work. If the obstacles are removed and space is given , growth should occur naturally. This is an exciting concept! If we stop trying to engineer growth and just get out of the way, a healthy church or ministry or individual will just grow! God has given us the instinctive know-how to just get on with growing!

The Jerusalem church grew explosively. These folk had no clue about running churches. The disciples knew Jesus and talked about Him, but they had no church-growth books or manuals and yet their era saw unparalleled church growth.

Don't get me wrong - I'm not saying that reading up on church growth and evangelism methods is wrong. It's also not wrong to have witnessing courses and fellowship group training. The real point is this: if growth seems like a real struggle and feels unnatural, then there is a good chance that we have lost touch with the core-values of loving God and one another and that there are all sorts of obstacles in the way of the reproductive DNA that God has given His church.

How are we doing?
Are there obstacles and unnatural thought-patterns in place that hamper the God-given instincts toward spiritual growth in our lives? What will it take to get these out of the way?

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