Exodus 23:1-24:18
I think there are at least 5 things in this passage that you could write fascinating books about. A tiny bit on each one (I’m sure we’ll come back to them in subsequent passages); 1) the sabbath year or sabbatical which is not about recharging your own batteries but is an act of compassion to the poor. How about taking 1 year off in 7 to do something compassionate? 2) the 3 festivals a year where everyone got together to give of their first-fruits to the Lord. I think New Wine etc have a flavour of this although, again, it is interesting that these are focussed on us receiving from God as much, if not more, than us giving to God. 3) the business about Israel kicking the current inhabitants of the promised land. ah. this is a little more tricky and definitely can’t be covered here. 4) Moses sprinkling blood on people - how sick is that?? Imagine if they started doing that at church? It’s interesting that both covenants, new and old, are based on the cleansing power of blood. 5) The amount of waiting involved in Moses receiving the tablets from God. He stayed in the cloud for 6 days before God spoke. The longest ministry time I’ve ever managed was about 65 minutes and half of that was eating a doughnut. All in all this is a truly incredible section that, if we let it, could completely revolutionise the degree to which we see God meeting us in our world.
Mark 3:31-4:29
Like trying to fit a stomach in a corset, I just can’t seem to cram all the bits of Mark into a tightly-defined package. These different segments all seem to point in slightly different directions; all talking, to some extent, about responses to the gospel but all taking slightly different things away from it. The overall message, if there is one, is that what people do with Jesus is what really defines their destiny. If people are open to him, generous towards his words and accepting of his direction then not only will they be as deliciously fruitful as ripe grain but they will also find themselves welcomed into his royal family. They will given a permanent status in his household and they can expect a continual level of intimacy with him. Jesus is continually creating new ties and expand his camp. The only question is whether we are going to be part of that.
Psalm 22:22-31
I once heard a talk that linked the end of this psalm - “he has done it!” to Jesus’ cry on the cross “it is finished!”. Genius. By the preacher, but even more so by God for sorting out the whole thing.
