Posts Tagged ‘confession’

Day 198: Ezra 8:24-10:44 — You are the man!

Saturday, July 17th, 2010

It’s common to hear that idea in slang form, with one buddy congratulating another, “You da man!” Appearing in Scripture, with the prophet Nathan speaking to King David though, it’s less than congratulatory:

David burned with anger against the [rich] man and said to Nathan, “As surely as the LORD lives, the man who [stole the poor man's one little ewe lamb] deserves to die! He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.” Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man!” 2 Samuel 12:0

The declaration is recorded in today’s reading, with the collective “you” addressing the men of the southern kingdom:

Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have been unfaithful; you have married foreign women, adding to Israel’s guilt…” Ezra 10:10

It’s seldom a pleasant thing to be confronted with the truth about my sin — especially if I’m not quite ready to repent yet. In David’s case, he responded immediately and with humility. The men of Judah, although they were initially quite perturbed at being called together and having to stand in the rain, likewise responded positively. There’s just something about a public confrontation that provokes a decision — fight or flight; repent or remain in sin. Perhaps that’s why Jesus tells us as a last resort to take matters of church discipline before the entire congregation (Matthew 18:15-20).

Although not pleasant for either party, direct confrontation is sometimes the only way to wake up an erring brother. My prayer is that the direct confrontation of God’s Word piercing my heart will be confrontation enough for me to see my sin. Hurray for honest, soft-hearted sinners like David and the men of Judah & Benjamin who weren’t afraid to bow before Holy God and admit, “I have sinned.”

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Day 82: Mark 15:22-41 – “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010

Roman CenturionOur Bible story for today is about the confession of a Roman centurion. I want to make the following points:

  1. Jesus chooses the way of suffering for His life. In an early church that was facing persecution this would be encouragement for them to understand that God may not save them from a life of suffering just as He did not save His own Son. However, just as His Son was glorified in the resurrection, so would Jesus’ followers.
  2. In Mark, there is confusion over who Jesus is. As an inside reader, we see Jesus’ power to command the wind, sea, and all creation. The evil spirit world recognizes Jesus and His power (e.g., Mark 1:24, Mark 3:20-27, Mark 5:9-13). To this point in Mark no mere human has recognized Jesus as the “Son of God.” Mark has carefully painted a picture of misunderstanding by the disciples, family, and the crowds. The evil spirits get it but not man.
  3. I was a centurion at one time. It was a different time and a different branch of the service; it was even a different country but I have stood guard. Let me just tell you professional soldiers take seriously their jobs. Their lives and the lives of their comrades are at stake. There were some political maneuverings going on surrounding this man Jesus and I don’t think the Romans would let some “non-hacker” (our term for a lazy Marine) guard Jesus. This is not some yahoo who is guarding Jesus on the cross. This was the best of the best. The Roman Army was no laughing stock of an outfit. So, the confession of a Roman Centurion being on guard should cause us to take stock.

Here are three basic points to share on our text. Jesus choose to suffer and die on a cross. The term “Son of God” is not used by man until Mark 15:39. And third, here is hardened soldier in the Roman Army charged to guard Jesus. The Roman soldier is at his post. He looks up at the cross and he sees something. In this most gruesome, awful, grotesque means of torture, no doubt one of hundreds he had seen, he looks up at the cross and makes the first human confession, “truly this man was the son of God!” (Mark 15:39). For the early historians there is much written about the cruelty of the Roman crucifixion, yet, of all the accounts of the crucified, there is only one empty tomb. What did the Roman soldier see as he gazed on the cross? Could it be that it is at the cross, at the place of Golgotha, at the place of severe suffering, one can come to understand who Jesus really is?

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Day 67: Numbers 14:13-15:31; Mark 8:27-9:13 — Be careful what you wish for.

Monday, March 8th, 2010

Israel decided to listen to the naysayers, not to the Yahweh. “Who says we should be able to win? We cannot take this by ourselves.” How true. So God fulfilled their worst nightmare, fulfilled their own, self imposed, self condemning limitations. “You will wander forty years. Those who had no confidence in me shall not reach the blessing at all.”

Yet two men saw the reality, that this land was a gift, go out and receive the blessing. And so God fulfilled their confident vision and loyalty to Yahweh. Joshua led them, took the land. Caleb, because he had a different spirit and followed fully was promised, and received the blessing.

Purposefully the Creator told Israel His name was Yahweh, for some Hebrew speakers a verb that essentially means, “He will cause it to come about.” Now they learn, some painfully, some blessed, in experiencing the power of their faith on the one hand and others their distrust on the other: God made their dreams, and nightmares, come true.

Jesus turns the tables. “Who do you think that I am.” Peter says much more than he can fathom, but he will learn later. “You are the Christ.” On the heels of his great answer and statement of confidence, Peter hears, perhaps, some deflating news: It’s gonna cost you, everything. But then, as if to bolster their confidence to empower them for the next step, they witness that wonderful transfiguring, that divine meeting of Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. They hear that tremendous voice of the Father, “This is My Beloved Son, listen to Him.” The Creator begins to fulfill their clearing view and confident expectations. This would not play out the way they thought it would in the beginning, but later it would be better than they could have imagined.

When you encounter God each day, what do you expect? Our confidence in Him and the resurrected Lord Jesus will bring blessing and power for living, and promise of life to come. To expect anything else, as a result of lack of faith, well, that may be fulfilled,too. Be careful of what you ask for.

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Posted in faith, God, Mark, Obedience, Trust | Comments Off