Sometimes I wonder if I have created boundaries in my life that keep me from interacting with hurting people. There is no doubt that there are thousands, even millions, of people that are hurting in our country from substance abuse, physical and emotional abuse, poverty, loneliness, and brokenness. Do I make decisions that place me out of the reach of these people? Do I insulate myself through my choices of where I shop, eat, live, study, play, and relax? If so, how do I make decisions that will cause my life to intersect with theirs? How do I make choices that will make my life reflect the life of Jesus, who frequently came into contact with both wealthy Pharisees and poor beggars? And when I do come into contact with those that are hurting, will I have the faith to display the love of Christ to those who need it so desperately, or will I continue to live in my insulated world? I am ashamed of myself, but hopefully that will change in the future through God’s grace and direction.
Mark 10:35-45
Read this text several times over the next few days. It is one of the three major passages in the later half of Mark concerning discipleship (8:31-38; 9:33-37; 10:35-45). Mark begins his gospel by letting the reader know the true identity of Jesus (1:1), but the disciples seem to be clueless about Jesus’ identity, as well as his teachings (4:13, 41; 6:50-52; 7:17-19; 8:14-21). Then, they appear to understand who Jesus is when Peter makes his confession, “You are the Messiah” (8:29), but in reality they merely want Jesus to be the kind of Messiah that they want; the disciples want to be the ones calling the shots (8:32; 10:35).
Mark uses the second half of the gospel to flesh out what it means for Jesus to be the Messiah: he will be handed over to the Jews, then he will be killed, but on the third day he will rise again (8:31; 9:9-10; 10:32-34). And at the same time, Jesus teaches the twelve what it means to be his disciple: you must deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Jesus (8:34). And as we follow the Savior, we learn that we must love as he loved (Eph. 5:1-2) and serve as he served (10:42-45), even if that means that we sometimes have to sacrifice our own well-being for the good of the other (1 Cor. 10:24, slightly out of context, but still applicable, I think…).
Mark 10:35-45 is a beautiful passage that I need to reflect on more as a disciple of Jesus. It is the passage that I preached at the Westgate Church of Christ this past Sunday, but unfortunately it is not a passage that I often live out in my own life. That we may all follow in our Savior’s footsteps nearer everyday, that is my prayer.
World Vision
I love this organization! World Vision (www.worldvision.org) is a Christian-based humanitarian organization that seeks to help some of the most needy people in the world by developing communities and providing relief during times of disaster. Through their community development programs, they seek to build sustainable communities all over the world that have adequate food, water, health care, education, and income. It is through these humanitarian programs that World Vision displays the love of Christ to the world; through their acts of love and service, they open up doors to share the good news of Jesus with people who are dying, both spiritually and physically. They are an organization that seeks to meet the entire needs of communities. Please think about supporting this wonderful organization. Check out their website; look at the faces of children who desperately need clean water and sufficient food to survive; think about how blessed you are, and choose to share. Begin by sponsoring a child. Then, after you fall in love with that child, support another. And when you do, I would love to read an e-mail about it (markwclancy@gmail.com). And then pass the word along.
Mexico
Oh baby, I am bound for Mexico. Lee and I are heading down to visit some of our southern neighbors on Friday, and we will return on Monday. The purpose of the trip is to encourage and teach a small congregation in Monclova, Mexico. In addition, it will be an excellent opportunity for me to improve my terrible Spanish. Please pray for the trip and for my growth in the Spanish language.
