Jesus' disciples are arguing among themselves about which is the greatest. They are engaged in a contest about who is most likely to succeed--as the world counts success. Each wants the prestige pie sliced to suit his advantage. This attitude enjoys perennial popularity.
Why didn’t Jesus’ disciples pay attention when he told them of his impending passion and death? Mark says they were afraid to ask, but there’s more to it than that. It’s right there in the text: They were too wrapped up in their own sense of importance.
All our scripture passages today have to do with work—what work is good and what work we should be doing. But these passages also point to a fact that we Americans might need to learn more than anyone else: Frantic work does not equal good work.
The church welcomes children, not only when sacraments are celebrated, but by recognizing their worth in numerous ways in the life of congregation by nurturing them, helping them to fulfill their ministries, and welcoming the gifts they bring which enrich us all.
Jesus spells out to his disciples what awaits him in the future. He'll be betrayed into human hands, and put to death. Three days later, he will rise again. What Jesus says has the same effect on all the disciples -- in one ear and out the other.
Jesus' disciples had a problem. The Holy Spirit had worked through them to expel many demons, but they had grown complacent and had begun to rely on themselves. The object of their faith had switched from God back to themselves. So Jesus called them a faithless generation.
What was the deal in today's Gospel? Why were the disciples not able to drive out the demon? What went wrong? Why was Jesus frustrated with them?
REV. JAMES T. BATCHELOR REV. JAMES T. BATCHELOR has been the pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Hoopeston, Illinois since his ordination in July of 2005. He received his pastoral training at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He is a second career pastor who was an electrical engineer before he entered [...]
For the early church, the transfiguration served as a restatement that Jesus was the son of God, and that he had the authority to speak and act in God's name. The story echoed back to Moses on Mt. Sinai.
For the Christian, maturity is about more than "driving cars and being on my own." It's about living faithfully among God's people. For the Christian, the opposite of maturity is not immaturity, but isolation.