Faithlessness and Jesus

Mark 9 is a reboot, a re-beginning of Jesus ministry. You can cut Mark's Gospel in half, either side of Peter's great confession in 8:24. A week after that great moment Jesus takes Peter, James and John up a mountain and is transfigured before them.

Peter makes himself sound a bit slow. he often does in Mark's Gospel. if we agree that mark got his information from Peter, we have to conclude that Peter wasn't one to retweet his own achievements. He offers to make tents for the three men he sees. Jesus, Moses and Elijah. On that mountain, His clothes shining white, Jesus is endorsed by the law and the prophets. In Luke 24 Jesus tells us that the law and the prophets talk about Him, well, here are the law and the prophets talking to Jesus.

But not just the law and the prophets. The men here a voice from heaven as well. 'This is my beloved Son, listen to Him.' Just like at the beginning of Jesus' ministry in Mark, Jesus is endorsed by His Father. The second half of Mark starts like the first, Jesus is re-comissioned by the Father, and sets off for the final part of His earthly ministry.

Having been with Elijah and Moses, Jesus then faces what they faced. What happened when Moses left his meeting with God on a mountain? He was met with the faithlessness of his people, including, worst of all, Aaron. He found them dancing around the Golden Calf, worshiping it as the 'God who brought them out of Egypt.' Faithlessness. Why was Elijah on a mountain talking to God? Faithlessness. He told God that he alone was left, that everyone else has bowed the knee to Baal. He was wrong of course, but that was his perception.

What did Jesus meet as he came down the mountain? Faithlessness. The remaining disciples were arguing with some scribes because they could not cast a demon out of a boy. Jesus could and did. But why, the disciples ask, couldn't they? Presumably when Jesus sent them out two by two they hadn't met any such problems? What was the problem?

Their problem was that even though the Kingdom comes to earth in glory, the Kingdom grows in our hearts slowly. Jesus tells them that they must pray and fast. I can't believe they weren't already doing that, but Jesus simply encourages them to do it more. Pray more, fast more, grow more. You'll get there.

How can we be sure we'll get there? Well, remember who told them to pray and fast? Who tells us to pray and fast? Who helps us grow as Christians. Jesus! Jesus who was endorsed by the law, the prophets and the Father! Jesus who stood transfigured before Peter, James and John. Jesus who took on death, and left it defeated in the grave. Jesus who rules the Kingdom for His people, Jesus who returns.

So if you wish you were growing more quickly as a Christian, you're in good company. And you've got all the help you need. Jesus encourages us to pray, to fast, to ask for help. And as we pray, He'll answer. The great and glorious Son of God will help us grow.

Apart from the Law

Sometimes when you're reading the Bible, an old truth, a known truth, will jump up from the page and hit you in the eye. I guess it's another reason why we need to read every morning. Today just that happened, Romans 3:21 was a bolt of lightening.

but now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the law and the prophets bear witness to it.

So much gold here, but a few things stood out. Paul has been painting the human condition in dark terms. Sinful, lawbreakers, approvers of sin, guilty and without excuse. Just one verse earlier Paul tells us that knowing the law will save no one, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. Romans 3:21 finds us in dire straights. Proverbs 25:25 tells us like cold water to a thirsty soul is good news from a far country. And this is the best of news, from the furthest of countries, the Gospel is the most refreshing if waters to our sin parched souls. 

Why is it such good news that the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law? What sort of manifestation was the law? Ultimately Paul argues, a condemning one. Not because of any fault of the law. The law, like it's Giver is good and right and true and holy. But the law stands against us. We can not keep the law. We break it from the moment we're born to the moment we die. The law creates a chasm between us and God. God has graciously revealed Himself to us, but in a way that provokes sin within us. 

Which is why Paul starts with 'but now,' but now there is a manifestation of God's righteousness apart from the law. A manifestation that saves rather than condemns. What is this manifestation? How is this righteousness counted to us? Faith in Christ. Christ keeps the law, 'earns' it's righteousness and then gives it to us. The righteousness of God was manifested fully on the cross, as the wrath of the Father crushed the Son, the only Israelite upon whose heart the law had truly been written. Now, by faith, we are connected to Christ and the righteousness of God is ours.

This is not a new thing, Paul assures the Romans Jews, you can read about it in Moses, but it is a uniting thing. The righteousness of God humbles us, kills our pride, and unites us as a church. 

Good news from a far country on a Thursday morning. The righteousness of God through faith in Christ for all who believes. Let this Gospel water flood the plains burnt by sin, and bring you to Jesus!