Jesus tells his disciples he’s going to die and rise — for the third time.✝️

Why don’t the disciples really get it? 🤔Can their brains just not fathom what he’s saying? Has God not opened their eyes just yet?

They don’t yet fully grasp 🙈what it means to be the Messiah — that he has to die.

Do we really get it? 🧠💭 We might understand that it happened objectively, but, subjectively, we sometimes forget the cross and what it truly means.

But the comfort is that even when we doubt, it’s still true. 🤲

❓ Are the disciples saved at this point? Yes — because Christ called them.

📖 Compare and contrast the three passion predictions in Mark:
1️⃣ First, in the land of the Gentiles, he focuses on the Jewish authorities and what they’re going to do.
2️⃣ Second, in Judea, he focuses on the Gentile authorities and what they’re going to do.
3️⃣ Third, on the way to Jerusalem, it’s the most detailed of the predictions.

📜 Mark 10:35-45
This section contrasts the theology of the cross ⚔️ and the theology of glory.🏆

James and John 👥are asking for a theology of glory right after Jesus talks about the cross.

In a theology of glory, you’re close to God if something really amazing is happening.🌟 But Jesus was glorified in his death on the cross.

If you expect to find God only in things people would call glorious, you risk calling good evil and evil good. ❌

But can they drink the cup 🍷and handle the baptism Jesus is about to endure? Jesus hints that they will be martyred, but he doesn’t say it in words they can understand because they can’t bear to hear.

📜 Mark 10:46-52
The blind man calls out to Jesus for mercy.🙏

Blind Bartimaeus 👀 looks to Jesus to be the Messiah and show him mercy as a poor, blind beggar.

❓ Why does Jesus make the blind man tell him what he wants?

Jesus has a way of prompting us to speak 🗣️ about things we’d rather not discuss.

We’re asked to pray for specific things, but sometimes all we have is, “Lord, have mercy.” 🤲

Contributor Rev. Harrison Goodman is the Higher Things Content Executive.

Contributor Eli Lietzau is the pastor at Wheat Ridge Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wheat Ridge, CO.

#higherthings #lcms #lutheran #jesus

A rich young man asks Jesus what he needs to do to inherit eternal life. ✨

⛔The problem: he is attempting to justify himself by asking, “what must I do?” 🤔

But before Jesus answers his question, he calls the man out for calling him good. 🛑

Jesus wants to stop him from just throwing around the word “good” without acknowledging what it means. Good means perfect, holy, and divine — and only God can be called good. 🌟🙌

Jesus answers his question by giving him the second table of the law. 📜 (The commandments about how we treat others.)

But when the man says he’s kept those, Jesus then shows him that he failed to keep the first table of the law. 📜💔 (The commandments about how we treat God.

Jesus “loved him” ❤️ — Jesus isn’t trying to win an argument. He wants him to be saved. 🙏

Jesus shows him who his god really is when he tells him to sell everything he has. 💰➡️❌

We’re quick to think that we don’t have gods, but we do. We’re unwilling and unable to live without our god.🙎The question is — do we have the right one? ❓🔍

Then Jesus said: “Come, follow me.” 👣 (This is a gospel invitation.)

But then he walked away sorrowful. 😔💔

Then Jesus drops some truth bombs for his disciples: 💣💥

In verse 25 he says, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 🐫➡️🪡

Incredulous, the disciples ask: “Then who can be saved?” 😲

The disciples viewed the rich as blessed by God, so it was shocking for them to hear that it was hard for them to be saved. 💸💭❗

Jesus: “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” 🙌✨ (v. 27)

Peter then acknowledges that they (the disciples) left everything to follow him. 👣

Jesus comforts them with “the mutual consolation of the brethren” by saying that they will receive more than they could ever imagine. 💞💫

When you feel alone because of your beliefs, the brethren are there to console you and point you to the cross. ✝️🕊️

We may lose a lot when we follow Christ, but we also gain so much, including a Father in heaven. 👑☁️❤️

Contributor Rev. Harrison Goodman is the Higher Things Content Executive.

Contributor Eli Lietzau is the pastor at Wheat Ridge Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wheat Ridge, CO.

#higherthings #lcms #lutheran #jesus #mark10

The Uncultured Saints tackle two controversial sections of Mark 10:1-16. 📖
1️⃣ First, Jesus battles with the Pharisees (of course 😒), and then, he admonishes his disciples (sigh 😤).
The Pharisees put Jesus to the test about divorce by asking, “Is it lawful?” 🤔
We like to ask questions such as, “Is it a sin if I do this or if I do that?” 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♂️
BUT, that is the wrong question. ❌
Whenever we ask the wrong question, it's almost always a law question that needs a gospel answer. ✨
If you ask a law question, you're going to get a law answer. 📜
If you ask a gospel question, you're going to get a gospel answer. 🙏
We’re asking: How can I NOT get in trouble for this? 😬 Rather than: Where can I find some comfort and mercy for this?” 💞
In marriage, the two are one flesh, which means even if divorce is justified, it’s going to hurt if you rip it in half. 💔
Divorce teaches us that sin breaks stuff.⚡
In trying to downplay our sin, we try to appeal to the loopholes that won’t make it a sin. 🔄
We aren’t actually letting the law be as damning as the law really is. ⚖️
Divorce is especially egregious, and it arguably hurts like nothing else. 😢
The question is not whether you can be divorced, a Christian and forgiven on the other side of it — you are going to need mercy, forgiveness, and the gospel. 💫✝️
The question is: Is it a good thing or a bad thing? 🤷 This is the point Jesus is trying to make.
2️⃣ Next, the disciples try to discourage children from bothering Jesus. 🚸 This makes Jesus angry. 😡
Children are meant to receive Jesus 👧👦
Jesus thinks little kids are a good thing. So let's not despise them. 🌟
Yes, they can be a burden and a sacrifice, but that’s what love is — sacrificing yourself for someone else. ❤️
However, it’s important to not become legalistic about it — you’re not a better Christian if you have more kids. 🚫👶
In both situations, we learn that marriage and children are a good gift from God. 🎁 Let's do our best to protect them. 🤗

Contributor Rev. Harrison Goodman is the Higher Things Content Executive.

Contributor Eli Lietzau is the pastor at Wheat Ridge Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wheat Ridge, CO.

#higherthings #lcms #lutheran #divorce #children #jesus