Mark the Movie - a box office flop?

Just heading back from Kings CU... was speaking on Mark 15:40-16:8... here are some of my thoughts:

It's been a rollercoaster of emotion in the passages leading up to this... as Mark reaches the high point, the climax in his Gospel... and yet at the same time we see Jesus go through betrayal, his friends run away... he's arrested, handed over to a council acting as judge, jury and executioner... his people shout "crucify"... he beaten, spat on, nailed to a cross, takes God's judgement... dies!

As we reach the climax of what Mark has been persuading us of since verse 1 of chapter 1 - that Jesus is the Christ... yet at the same time, we reach the lowest point for Jesus, humanly speaking... as we see him give his life for a proud, arrogant, fickle, betraying bunch of followers...

And so we reach the end of Mark's Gospel... verse 8:

And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had
seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

and the screen fades to black... and the credits start to roll...

what a flop ending... or so we might think...

Mark uses two character types... Joseph who pledges absolute total allegiance to Jesus, no matter the cost to his reputation, social standing, career... alongside the women, who run away scared... not saying a word.

Mark is leaving us the question - which are we going to be like? Jesus has done enough - he's proved himself to be who he says he is... and we're left with the question - am I gonna be bold and confident like Joseph - no matter the cost; or am I gonna flee scared, keeping quiet like the women.

The good news is of course that we're all like the women much more than we are like Joseph... after all, Jesus came for the sick, not the healthy; he's told us we all have a heart defect that means we don't life for Jesus perfectly - that's why he had to come and offer his life as a ransom for many...

And so, the angel in the tomb says "go tell his disciples, and Peter"... and Peter... Peter who after just a little questioning from a servant girl says that he doesn't even know Jesus...

And so, right at the end of Mark we get the great reminder of who the Gospel is for.... weak failures... weak failures like Peter, like the women... weak failures like you and me! What a box office smash!

Gotta love the good news... the gospel... of Jesus the Christ!

Love your bride

Was just reading this... and thought this was a great reminder as we think about what is most important in our lives of ministry

God first. Family second. Church Third - Love your bride more than you
love Jesus' bride. You take care of yours and he will take care of
his.

Going the Distance

Just about to start Going the Distance by Peter Brain. Quote to kick off chapter 1:

"my life was given to me to spend for God. I have no intention of hoarding it or wasting it, but I intend to spend this one life wisely."
James A Berkeley

New Word Alive

Looking forward to the week ahead at New Word Alive in Wales - at an impossible to pronounce and spell town - staying with the in-laws!

It'll be my first such conference, so I'm looking forward to experiencing the atmosphere along with hearing some great teaching and music, and getting alongside some students along the way.

Hoping to be able to keep connected while I'm there, either by Twitter or on this blog - we'll see how it all goes!

Apparently there's a starbucks there but no Cafe Nero - tough times ahead ;-)

Excerpt from Bradford's examination

Lord chancellor: "Well, to leave this matter: how sayest thou now? Wilt thou return again and do as we have and thou shalt receive the queen's mercy and pardon?"

Bradford: "My lord, I desire your mercy with God's mercy; but your mercy with God's wrath, God keep me from: although I thank God, my conscience doth not accuse that I did speak anything why I should need to receive the queen's mercy or pardon. For all that I ever did or spake was both agreeable to God's laws and the laws of the realm at that time, and did make much to quietness. I have not deceived the people, nor taught any other doctrine than, by God's grace, I am not ready to confirm with my life."

an examination of John Bradford - martyred in Smithfield... Of his last moments he was described as "constantly abiding in the same truth of God which before he had confessed, earnestly exhorting the people to repent and to return to Christ, and sweetly comforting the godly young man who was burnt with him" (a 19year old called John Leaf).

Band of Brothers

Just finished Band of Brothers (first time watching it through having missed the TV series). To even contemplate what these men went through will give but a shadow of the reality... to see grown men still brought to tears as the look back to 50 years in the past, it is a humbling and thankful emotion that wells!

From this day to the ending of the world,But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother...

To them!!!

In all your ways, acknowledge Him

Just reading some helpful articles on Biblical Productivity... here's a helpful quote that was used, by Charles Bridges on Proverbs 3:5-7

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own
understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight
your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from
evil. (Proverbs 3:5-7 ESV)

On this, Charles writes:

Let our confidence be uniform. In all thy ways acknowledge him (Proverbs
3:6). Take one step at a time, every step under divine warrant and direction.
Ever plan for yourself in simple dependence on God. It is nothing less than
self-idolatry to conceive that we can carry on even the ordinary matters of the
day without his counsel.

He loves to be consulted. Therefore take all thy difficulties to be
resolved by him. Be in the habit of going to him in the first place—before
self-will, self-pleasing, self-wisdom, human friends, convenience, expediency.
Before any of these have been consulted go to God at once. Consider no
circumstances too clear to need his direction.

In all thy ways, small as well as great; in all thy concerns, personal or
relative, temporal or eternal, let him be supreme.
A commentary on Proverbs, Banner of Truth, 1846/1968 pp. 24-25