Word for Today, Mon, 9 Apr 2001: Confrontation
Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>
This is a helpful message for a couple of reasons.
1. It provides a reminder to us of the events surrounding the
final days of Jesus Christ's earthly ministry.
2. It teaches us helpful ways to deal with confrontation.
Jesus' ministry was always full of events that are helpful to us.
Many of the things He did were kind hearted, and as we think
about Christ, often, our first impression of Jesus is of a tender
person.
But make no mistake about it, Jesus, though He is tender hearted,
is in no way a wimp. He is the all powerful God, who lived with
us for a short time as a man.
Jesus taught us about confrontation very clearly. When He saw
injustice, He was not at all reluctant to talk about it and do
something about it. In fact, it was His stand against injustice
that really brought His conflicts with the religious leaders to a
critical point. The leaders, wanting to get Jesus out of the
way, for fear that He would expose their ungodly and unfair ways,
sought to kill Jesus.
Notice that Jesus was not interested in personal gain when He
confronted. He was interested in being fair to all people, but
especially to the poor and oppressed. He never put an undue
burden on those who were unable to bear it, but He sharply
challenged those who were in authority, whose burden oppressed
the poor, the widows, the sick, and the lame.
What does this mean to us today? I think it means that we are
called to be a caring group of people, willing to stand up for
the rights of those who are oppressed, but especially for those
who can't seem to do it for themselves.
As we "enter into Jerusalem" this week - thinking about the final
days of Jesus Christ's life and ministry, I urge you to read the
Gospel accounts of the final days. All four Gospels: Matthew,
Mark, Luke, and John, contain various accounts of what went on in
the final days of Jesus' ministry. Gordon MacDonald claims that
the "Holy Week" accounts of Jesus' final days account for about
30% of the writing in the four Gospel books in the Bible, so he
claims that it must be pretty important. I agree with that.
What follows is a message from the Daily Guideposts, followed by
the scripture found in Mark 11.
Brother Brian
http://www.dailyguideposts.com/lmdaily.asp?date=4/9/01
A LifeMinders Partner
April 9, 2001 Daily Devotional
And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and
began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and
overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them
that sold doves; Mark 11:15
After Jesus entered Jerusalem on Sunday and the people went wild
with anticipation, it might have seemed natural for Him to have
encouraged them with words of assurance. Instead, He went the
next day to the place most sacred to them and began driving out
the people who bought and sold there. His action frightened the
religious authorities. It was a symbol of the much larger
conflict between Jesus and the establishment about the essential
character of God. These were differences Jesus thought were worth
upsetting people aboutand they led to the Cross.
When Barbara and I were first married, it took me a while to get
used to the healthy but animated discussions her parents would
have. They would debate almost anything, from the political
topics of the day to where we would eat lunch when we drove
through Perry, Georgia, on the way to Atlanta. I had grown up in
a family where conflict and confrontation were avoided at all
costs. When we children sensed that our parents felt differently
about something, things got real quiet and we said nothing.
Unfortunately, the churches I grew up in reinforced the idea that
if something upsets people, it must not be Christian.
But when the church was dealing with issues such as the
giftedness and worth of women or the openness of the church to
all races, I decided that I had to take a stand, however it upset
some people. And when I overheard people insisting that anything
so upsetting couldnt be Christian, I remembered our Lords
actions on that Monday of Holy Week and the response He got.
Confrontation is still difficult for me, but if I am to love as
my Lord did and live with integrity, I should expect some
conflict in my life and be prepared to face it calmly and
courageously.
Lord, give me discernment as I look at lifes issues and courage
to follow Your example.
By Kenneth Chafin
Copyright 2000 Guideposts
The following is the account of Jesus entering into Jerusalem, as
recorded in Mark 11. There is a lot more than just the entry.
This passage packs several important concepts. I encourage you
to read it. This text comes courtesy of The Bible Gateway. ---
Brother Brian
Mark 11
1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany
at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples,
2 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.
3 If anyone asks you, `Why are you doing this?' tell him, `The
Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.'"
4 They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a
doorway. As they untied it,
5 some people standing there asked, "What are you doing, untying
that colt?"
6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let
them go.
7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over
it, he sat on it.
8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others
spread branches they had cut in the fields.
9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, "Hosanna!
[1] " "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" [2]
10 "Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!" "Hosanna
in the highest!"
11 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.
12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry.
13 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.
14 Then he said to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you
again." And his disciples heard him say it.
15 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,
16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the
temple courts.
17 And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: "`My house
will be called a house of prayer for all nations' [3] ? But you
have made it `a den of robbers.' [4] "
18 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.
19 When evening came, they [5] went out of the city.
20 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!"
22 "Have [6] faith in God," Jesus answered.
23 "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.
24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe
that you have received it, and it will be yours.
25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against
anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive
you your sins. [7] "
27 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.
28 "By what authority are you doing these things?" they asked.
"And who gave you authority to do this?"
29 Jesus replied, "I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I
will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
30 John's baptism--was it from heaven, or from men? Tell me!"
31 They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, `From
heaven,' he will ask, `Then why didn't you believe him?'
32 But if we say, `From men'...." (They feared the people, for
everyone held that John really was a prophet.)
33 So they answered Jesus, "We don't know." Jesus said, "Neither
will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."
[9] A Hebrew expression meaning "Save!" which became an
exclamation of praise; also in verse 10
[9] Psalm 118:25,26
[17] Isaiah 56:7 [17] Jer. 7:11
[19] Some early manuscripts he
[22] Some early manuscripts If you have
[25] Some manuscripts sins.
[26] But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is
in heaven forgive your sins.
The Bible Gateway
Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society..
All rights reserved. Comments? Questions? Tell us what you
think. Gospel Communications Network Online Christian Resources.
A Ministry of Gospel Communications, Inc.
=====
--
Brian Masinick, "The Mas", mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: http://www.geocities.com/masinick/
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