Tuesday, April 8, 2014

April 9: Exodus 40; Psalm 30; Mark 3

Exodus 40.  Though still on the move and not at home, the Glory of the LORD is with the Israelites.  I love that the LORD was with the Israelites "at each stage of their journey."  (40:38).  And I hope to stay aware of that truth in my own life, as well.

Psalm 30 "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning."  Yes. Yes. Yes.
The sense of God hiding/showing his face is a common theme.  One is a disaster; the other is the fulfillment of one's greatest longing.

Mark 3  The testing of Jesus' motives and beliefs by members of the religious establishment continues. Notice how, like a strong tennis player, Jesus as portrayed by Mark simply returns serve after serve.

in 3:14, the Twelve are called "Apostles."
Finally in the most pointed form, the religious authorities accuse Jesus of being in league with "Beelzebul" (3:20ff).   (Worth looking up on Wikipedia.)  What happens when you or I have our motives impugned?

And the family of Jesus doesn't really seem to appreciate him either in 3:31ff.  Mark really has painted a very stark picture of the challenges before Jesus in this Gospel.

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