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Welcome to EmmDevs. This is a blog run by Theo Groeneveld, a Presbyterian Minister, serving at Emmanuel Presbyterian in Pretoria, South Africa.

Back in Jan 2002 Theo felt the need to put daily devotions into the inboxes of congregants for the week (weak) days. He did this Tue-Fri during government school terms, taking a break on Mondays and school hols. Years later these devotions are still running and people find them helpful.

They're called "EmmDevs" for "Emmanuel Devotions" and are meant to be a reminder that Jesus is "God-with-us" (Emmanuel) even on our weak days. 

When the broader denomination, the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa, chose October to be the "Month of Mission", the Mission and Discipleship committee started publishing devotions for that month and so EmmDev readers get to hear a variety of other voices during that month. 

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About Theo

Theo is married to Brenda and their son Caleb was born in 2000. He loves God, his family and being pastor. He enjoys cycling, camping, road-tripping, working with his hands, and programming and tech.

EmmDev 2025-09-26 [Moments with Mark] Origins...

Origins...

They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to Him. "By what authority are you doing these things?" they asked. "And who gave you authority to do this?" Jesus replied, "I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. John's baptism -- was it from heaven, or from men? Tell Me!" They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will ask, 'Then why didn't you believe him?' But if we say, 'From men'..." (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.) So they answered Jesus, "We don't know." Jesus said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things." (Mark11:27-33)

Back at the temple, the Pharisees are angry and offended.
"How dare He cause a ruckus?
How dare He preach to them about prayer?
How dare He expose them?"

"By what authority are you doing this?"
It's a trick question and a pride question.
- Who do You think You are to oppose us? Do You know who we are?
- If Jesus claimed to act by God's authority, they could accuse Him of blasphemy or madness.

Jesus neatly exposes them by reflecting the question back at them.
"John's baptism - was it from God or human origin?"
Now bear in mind John claimed to be the forerunner of the Messiah and that Jesus was the Messiah.
- If they say "from God" then they would be compelled to honour his Messiah
- If they said "from humans" the crowd would be upset because John had baptised thousands.
So they stubbornly sit on the fence.

But this question implies a deeper question...
And it is THE ALL IMPORTANT QUESTION.
Who do you believe Jesus is?
- Is He from God - the Son of God?
- Or is He just some guru - maybe even a self-deluded one?

What authority does He have in our lives?
Figuring out who He is is crucial to this...
Or do we sit on the fence...?

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EmmDev 2025-09-25 [Moments with Mark] Choice and Prayer

Choice and Prayer

When evening came, they went out of the city. In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. 21 Peter remembered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!" "Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." (Mark11:19-25)

Faith requires a response. It requires a choice. It requires action.
There are consequences when we fail to respond, to choose, and to act.
This is one of the things that makes Christianity unpopular.

Bear in mind that it's Holy Week. It began with the Triumphal Entry, will end with the Crucifixion, and something new will begin with the Resurrection. On Holy Week Monday Jesus cursed the fig tree and cleansed the temple. Now it's Tuesday morning and Jesus and the disciples are walking to the temple from Bethany as they did on Monday.
But this time, they reach the fig tree, it is completely withered.

Peter is amazed.
Why? He'd seen plenty of miracles. Even storms stilled and Lazarus raised.
Maybe he's amazed because this time the miracle is a warning. The fig tree withered in about 33AD. In 70AD the temple, which had banned the Christians and persecuted them, was destroyed...

But now Jesus turns the conversation to faith and prayer. The idea of prayer is appropriate here because Jesus had wanted the temple to be a "house of prayer" and it was not.
It's important to recognise that all the second person pronouns are in plural...
"Truly I tell youse, if anyone says to this mountain... Therefore I tell you, whatever youse ask for in prayer..."
So He isn't just answering Peter, but the disciples and us...

And so He teaches His disciples about prayer because the church became the place of prayer.
Think about the Book of Acts.
Every time the church gathered for prayer something happened:

• In Acts 4:31 the disciples prayed together and the place they prayed was shaken.
• In Acts 12:5 the church was praying for Peter in Prison and an angel set him free.
• In Acts 10 Cornelius and Peter were praying in separate places and they received the same calling - and the Gospel went to Gentiles.
• In Acts 13:2 the church was praying and Paul & Barnabas were set apart for the first missionary journey.
• In Acts 16:25-26 - Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns in prison when a great earthquake shook the prison.

And so Jesus emphasises the importance of prayer.
But He's also talking about faith.
He uses a dramatic image - A mountain will throw itself into the sea.
But He's talking about trusting in God, believing in God.
And the examples I mentioned earlier are incredible instances of the amazing things that happen when God's people pray.

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EmmDev 2025-09-23 [Moments with Mark] The Fury of His Love

The Fury of His Love

Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, He went out to Bethany with the Twelve. The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to find out if it had any fruit. When He reached it, He found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then He said to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And His disciples heard Him say it. On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as He taught them, He said, "Is it not written: " My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations ? But you have made it a den of robbers. " The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill Him, for they feared Him, because the whole crowd was amazed at His teaching. (Mark11:11-18)

There are four moments in our Scripture reading today:

Moment 1: Jesus, having been truly recognised by the crowds as He entered Jerusalem, arrives at the temple ... and it is a great disappointment... But it is late and so He leaves. I imagine He spent a difficult night pondering what He had seen. I would not be surprised if He was brought to tears again just as He had been when coming into Jerusalem.

Moment 2: The next morning, Jesus having "slept on it", heads for the temple, but spots a leafy fig tree. Although it was not the season for figs, it was spring. The tree should have been full of little "pre-fig-buds" (which were edible) and would be the promise of the harvest of figs to come. This tree, although very leafy, had no evidence of figs to come. Its leafiness was an empty promise, not unlike the temple: bustling with activity but devoid of fruit. Jesus curses the tree giving us some idea of what He feels about the temple.

Moment 3: Jesus, having considered what He had seen overnight and telegraphing His thoughts at the fig tree, arrives at the temple and shows His Holy Displeasure. This is not a "temper-tantrum" but a deliberate demonstration of righteousness and authority. There are two key issues at stake here: His primary concern is that there is now no place for Gentiles to pray, because the traders and money-changers had occupied their space. The secondary concern is the corruptness of the "temple trade". So Jesus preaches a sermon with actions. The question I have is: "Where were the temple bouncers?" With all the trading going on, there must have been significant security measures. I can only believe that Jesus' holiness and authority shone so brightly in this moment that no-one could confront the "holy fire" that blazed in Him.

Moment 4: The next day they found the tree withered to its roots. This is confirmation of Jesus' authority and also a picture of the future destruction of the temple in 70AD. What should have been a "light to the nations" and a place that the "nations would stream to" had become an exclusive club that blocked out the nations and generated a tainted income for a select manipulative religious mafia. There is a deep and profound sense of justice that pervades this parable-in-action.

These four moments reveal a great deal about Jesus:

• He isn't "losing His temper" - His actions are deliberate and considered.
• He is profoundly concerned about justice and about those who are excluded.
• His authority is significant.

There is a line in an Andrew Peterson song about the crucifixion that is appropriate here: "Was it the fury of His anger or the fury of His love?" I think these four moments beautifully display the "fury of His love."

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EmmDev 2025-09-19 [Moments with Mark] Desperate Hope

Desperate Hope

When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, He sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, "Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!" "Hosanna in the highest!" (Mark11:7-10)

I've been thinking about the crowd's amazing response to Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem and the word "Hosanna!"

If one looks at how "Hosanna" is used in many hymns and worship songs, one is left with the impression that it is a word that one sings out in praise and adoration - like "Hallelujah!" or "Glory!"

But this word is used in a very different way in the Old Testament...

• It's a cry for help and deliverance of cities under attack from an enemy. (Joshua 10:6)
• It's the cry of a widow to the king when she's lost one son and is about to lose another. (2Sam 14:4)
• It's the cry of a widow to the king when a siege of Jerusalem forces them into cannibalism (2Ki 6:26)

Then we have a number of Psalms (here's just a few of them...):

• "Hosanna us, LORD! There is not a good person left;
  honest people can no longer be found." (Psa 12:1)
• "Hosanna your people and bless your inheritance;
  be their shepherd and carry them forever." (Psa 28:9)
• "Turn to me and have mercy on me;
  grant your strength to your servant
  and Hosanna the son of your maidservant." (Psa 86:16)
• "Hosanna us by your might; answer our prayer,
  so that the people you love may be rescued." (Psa 60:5)

The other clue we must notice is the crowd's identification of Jesus as the "Son of David." This reveals a Messianic expectation. The crowd is longing for God's deliverance and rescue through the Messiah. They hoped that Jesus was the Saviour-Messiah. In the case of the very first Palm Sunday, the crowds thought of a political Saviour-Messiah who would conquer the Romans and free Israel. But He came to do so much more! We know He conquered sin, death, and Satan. And so He can help us.

Yes, Hosanna is a cry from a heart in desperate need, but it has also become an expression of praise because we know that God can save and that He did and does save...

In these turbulent times where politicians and opinion-mongers cause chaos and heartache, we long for political resolutions - but it starts with us. We (you and me) need rescuing and then we can begin to transform society.

Hosanna! And Glory Hallelujah!

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EmmDev 2025-09-18 [Moments with Mark] What's the Deal with the Donkey?

What's the Deal with the Donkey?

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of His disciples, saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, 'Why are you doing this?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.' " They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, some people standing there asked, "What are you doing, untying that colt?" They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, He sat on it. (Mark11:1-7)

While his gospel is known for its brevity and conciseness, and so his detailed account invites us to ask: "So what's the deal with the donkey?"

I think there are three key lessons:

1. The donkey symbolised peace. We have a fairly low view of donkeys but the Ancient Near East saw them more positively. The foal of the donkey was the mode of transport for the elderly or children. It would be the mount chosen by a prophet or a wise hermit. It was also the chosen mount of a victorious king. He would ride it into the city he had conquered. The message was clear: "The fight is over - I am victorious!" Riding a donkey was not the declaration of war. It was a statement of the certainty of peace. By riding in on a donkey on that Sunday, Jesus was showing what the outcome of Good Friday would be: Peace with God.

2. The donkey hadn't been ridden. It was like he'd been set apart for his first job, which was to carry the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Priestly items are often consecrated (set apart) and so the donkey reminds us that Jesus is our Great High Priest who offered the perfect sacrifice for our sins... He rides this unridden donkey into Jerusalem and into our lives. He is God with us!

3. Some scholars suggest that the interchange with the donkey was a prearranged meeting with codewords and passwords like we see in spy movies. Others (and I agree with them) suggest that God softened the hearts of the donkey's owners in the heat of the moment. Either way, the donkey's owners became participants in Jesus' mission. The donkey reminds me that we also need to be ready to allow God to use our talents, possessions, and time

Three great lessons from a donkey:
- Jesus came entered Jerusalem confidently promising peace
- Jesus is our High Priest coming into our lives to save us
- We can participate in God's work with our "donkeys".

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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.
   
   
2. Improving Email Delivery Getting emails delivered reliably has become challenging and costly. To address this, I'm taking technical steps to improve delivery (for those interested, I'm registering emmdevs.org with a provider that supports bulk email forwarding via Sender.net). A key part of this is building a strong reputation for the new emmdevs.org domain. This starts with a small group of subscribers who regularly open and occasionally respond to emails. If you're willing to help by being an active subscriber during this "warming-up" phase, please let me know. (If you're reading this on the website or WhatsApp, you can ignore this request.)

Thank you so much for reading EmmDevs and for your continued support.

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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