Thought for July 11, 2024

•  1533: Henry VIII excommunicated
• 1798: US Marine Corps formally established
• 1804: Hamilton-Burr duel
• 1900: Charlotte Cooper is first female Olympic champion [Tennis]
• 1905: Niagara Movement organized for civil rights
• 1934: FDR is first President to travel through the Panama Canal
• 1955: Congress authorizes currency to say "In God We Trust"
• 1960: "To Kill a Mockingbird" published
• 1967: "The Newly Wed Game" premiers
• 1981: Neva Rockefeller is first woman ordered to pay husband alimony
• Born: Robert the Bruce, John Quincy Adams, E.B. White, Giorgio Armani, Yul Bryner, Leon Spinks, Caroline Wozniacki
• Died: George Gershwin, Lawrence Olivier, Lady Bird Johnson, Michael DeBakey [artificial heart], 

Thought:

In the translation I use [New American Standard], Mark 1:9-45 uses the word "immediately" at least 9 times. Sounds like Mark was in a hurry to tell this story. But recall his source--Peter. Peter was a man of action. He was quick to speak, quick to grab a sword and use it, quick to get out of the boat--certainly ready, fire, aim was Peter's motto. 

Notice 1:9-13. In these short verses, Mark covers the baptism and temptation of Jesus. The other writers devote much more time to describe these events. Interesting that most scholars say this was probably the first gospel written. Yet, Mark gives little details of these early events. He completely omits the birth of Jesus, His genealogy, His presentation in the Temple, flight into Egypt, Jerusalem at age 12. Maybe that is why he begins his gospel saying this is the beginning of the gospel of Jesus--Jesus ministry was the beginning of His proclaiming the gospel. 

So what does Mark find important to tell us--

• Jesus was baptized. He did not need to repent. Maybe He was affirming the ministry of John. Maybe He was setting the example for us to follow--repent and believe. I don't want to step on anyone's toes here--some people resist being baptized, especially those who are saved later in life or who have professed Christ for years but never been immersed. Jesus was 30 and had lived a perfect life. If he sought to be baptized, I have no excuse.
• Jesus was blessed by the Father and the Spirit. This is one of many places in the Bible where Father, Son and Holy Spirit are mentioned together. God speaks a blessing to His son. This blessing is what I seek every day--Larry, you are a beloved, adopted son and I am pleased with the son you are. I have told many of you that my father rarely called me Larry--almost always he called me son. It took years, the birth of a son, and maturity to realize what a blessing it was that he wanted to call me son. As Paul writes, once we were enemies and aliens, in Christ we are sons and daughters of the King--what a blessing. This verse should encourage us to bless our children, tell them we are proud to call them child. As Jesus began a ministry that He knew would end at calvary, what a blessing to have the Father say, "I am pleased."
• Blessing by the Father does not mean we face no temptations. Jesus had just begun and the first thing that happens is an encounter with satan and temptation. Lord, thank you for reminding me that after those spiritual highs, satan comes to tempt and distort and lie. Don't let me get so focused on my high that I lose sight of the enemy. Don't allow my celebration of a victory in one aspect of my life, cause me to fail to see the danger in another. 
• Angels are ministering. I love this picture---Jesus fought the battle with satan. He is physically tired. And the Father sends ministering angels. Has that happened to you or have you been one of those angels. Long illness, financial problems, family conflict wears us down--we are fighting the good fight, but we are tired and weary. Jesus sends a word from the Book, He sends a message in a sermon or song, He sends a friend with a word of encouragement and maybe some homemade bread. The church is not made of angels, but the Lord certainly uses the church to minister during the battle. 

Blessings

Larry