Ever Feel You Don't Get it Right?by Dale Harcombe | More from this Blogger 17 Jun 2009 02:21 PM Sorry everyone, the days got away from me which is why my post for this blog didn't go up yesterday. But in God's timing even that worked out, because I want to share something that came up last night at bible study. Our home group has been studying Mark's gospel. One of the things that struck me is the attitudes of the disciples. They are such an encouragement to those of us who struggle in our Christian life, which I assume is not just me but most of us. Even though they had Jesus right there with them and they walked and talked with him all the time, they still managed to get it so wrong at times. Take John for example. When we first met John and James they are obviously not without their faults. Jesus referred to them as sons of Thunder, which implies a quick temper given to displays of anger, Mark 3:17. We see evidence of that. They wanted to stop a man who did not belong to their group from teaching about Jesus, Mark 9:38. James and John along with the other disciples wanted to keep the children away from Jesus, Mark 10:13. The disciples heard and saw the teaching of Jesus; they saw his actions yet so often did not equate that with their own lives. Sound familiar? How often do we read God's words but we don't equate it with us and our lives. We don't let it change our behavior. That was the disciples including James and John. They were so concerned with the pecking order. They wanted to know which one of the disciples was the greatest, Mark 9:34. Did they think because Peter, James and John were the three chosen to witness the transfiguration of Jesus Mark 9:2-8 and the raising of the daughter of Jairus Mark 5:37-42 that they were more special and therefore greater than the other disciples? James and John were the ones who came to Jesus asking that when we was to sit in glory that they be the ones ot sit on his right and left hand, Mark 10:37. It is so obvious from the teaching of Jesus after this, about being a servant, that they did not yet understand the way it works in God's kingdom. The life as a follower of Jesus is one of service. That's what Jesus did, Mark 10:42-45. Jesus gave up all he had and gave his life in service even to death on a cross that we might be saved, Philippians 2:5-9. It might have taken a while but eventually we see James and John got it right. Finally they understood. In 1 John 3:16 John the son of Zebedee shows us he finally understood as he says. 'We know love by this that He (Jesus) laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.' Yes, it might have taken a while but they got there in the end. James gave his life for the gospel Acts 12:2 and John suffered exiled to Patmos because of his faith. It was this same disciple who gave us the beautiful account of Jesus in John's gospel, the importance of love in the letters of John, and the hope for the future in Revelation. No, James and John weren't perfect. They had their share of faults. They were slow to understand. Bus Jesus didn't give up on them. He won't give up in us either. Even if we make mistakes and don't get it right initially because that's not his way. Bible verses from the New American Standard Version Related blogs When You're Having Trouble Coping Learn more about Dale Harcombe  Dale has a passion for books and writing. She writes in various forms, from articles to poetry to fiction for children and adults. Relevantchristian tags User Comments No comments on this article yet. Be the first to comment! Community Tags disciples get it wrong, Encouragement, faults, Jesus doesn't give up, John Discuss this article
|
Christian categories |
