Rodgers' Reflections- part 2

Mark 5-6 CSB

Again chapter 6 of Mark is filled with so many amazing things. In the middle of the chapter is the story of the feeding of the 5000. We often focus on that story in isolation but it happens in a context. The chapter starts out with Jesus’ rejection in His hometown. The bible actually uses the word “amazed” when it says that Jesus was amazed at their unbelief. Then there is the sending out of the 12 and their success at preaching, driving out demons and healing people. Then the story of the murder of John the Baptist, who was the “cousin” of Jesus. Matthew 14:13 tells us that after Jesus heard about his murder he withdrew to a lonely place to pray. Mark says this coincided with the return of the apostles from their ministry trip. Think of this; the context of this story is Jesus dealing with grief, rejection, and weariness from constant ministry.

Yet, as He tries to get away from the crowds, the crowds follow; not because they loved Him but because they wanted something from Him whether it be healing, food or whatever. However, instead of becoming angry, the bible says “He had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Then he began to teach them many things.” In Matthew’s account, it says that “he began to heal their sick.” He never stopped preaching, teaching and healing. Despite His personal needs and His personal struggles, Jesus always looked past Himself to see the needs of others. I think this is extremely instructive for us in this current challenge. We need to take precautions with this virus and we need to obey the law and be careful. However, we do not need to get so wrapped up in self-protection that we forget the needs of those who are suffering around us. Typically, when we focus too much inward, we neglect what is happening all around us.

Consider His disciples. When confronted with His command to feed the 5000+ people, they looked at Him incredulously and gave the standard Baptist excuses for why they couldn’t help: 1) It is a bad place, 2) It is a bad time, 3) We don’t have enough money (resources). I, unfortunately, hear these same excuses used time and time again in our churches (which is why I love to call them Baptist excuses… and why I am convinced those first disciples were Baptist 😊). How many times have we failed to do what Jesus told us to do and blamed it on the place?... “these people or this location is the problem.” How many times have we failed to do what Jesus told us to do and blamed it on the time?... “well this lockdown is a bad time, or things aren’t conducive to ministry right now.” Yet, we often weren’t doing it before things got bad and we probably won’t start once it gets better. How many times have we failed to do what Jesus told us to do and blamed it on money?... “we just don’t have the resources right now, maybe when things get better.” These three excuses have always been there, but the disciples looked at the creator of the Universe and said “this place is too desolate,” and they looked at the author of eternity and said, “it is already late,” and they looked at the owner of everything and said, “we don’t have enough denarii.”

Like most of us these days, the disciples looked at themselves and their circumstances and saw all the reasons why they couldn’t minister to others. Instead, they should have been looking at the source of all things who was standing in their midst and leaned into Him to use them to minister to others. After everything was said and done, Jesus met the needs of everyone with the little that they had available and there was even a great surplus left over. What is God asking you to do in these days, and what are the excuses you are making for not doing it? Isn’t He bigger than every one of those excuses?

Blessings in Christ,

Kevin W. Rodgers

Rodgers' Reflections-part 1

Mark 5-6 CSB

Mark 5 and 6 are probably my two favorite chapters in all of Mark, and there is just so much to talk about. I’ve been wondering how I would boil it down to a single devotion and realized I just can’t. 😊 With your permission, I will do two today (part 1 and part 2). Perhaps this will make up for another day I miss.

Mark 5 has three amazing stories all packed together into one chapter: The deliverance of the Gerasene demonic, The healing of the woman with an issue of blood, and the rising from the dead of Jairus’ daughter. In a single chapter, Mark recounts Jesus’ power over Satan, over Sickness and over Death. It is a powerful vignette that helps us see who Jesus really is and what He is all about. I love Mark’s account of the Gerasene demoniac, because he gives so many details. He talks about how this man lived in the tombs (likely subsisting on the flesh of rotting corpses), how he had superhuman strength and could not be bound with chains, how he was always crying out in the wilderness and cutting himself with stones, and how everyone in the entire region feared him.

Yet, the one thing this man feared (or better said the thousands of demons inside him feared) was the Son of God, Jesus Christ. I have dealt with demon possession many times here in Africa and while every situation is different, there are always some commonalities. We cast them out by the power of Jesus and not by our power, shouting, wisdom or anything else. Also, demons are very evil and very clever. If you read the passage carefully you see that they were resisting Jesus and trying to debate with Him; even trying to bargain with Him. I have seen this many times where demons try to change the subject, trick you or make it all about something else and not about submitting to the authority of Jesus. In the end, they were no match for Jesus and he cast them into the pigs. Even when they thought they had won, as the pigs rush down the steep bank you see the demons actually lost.

But what I think is more shocking in this chapter than the power of Jesus and the wiles of the enemy, is the depravity and hypocrisy of people. So many characters are mentioned in this one chapter that it makes your head spin. There are the people who witnessed the deliverance of the demoniac. Rather than rejoice that the demoniac they feared was now changed, or worship the Messiah, they begged Jesus to go away because they were scared of His power and angry with Him for destroying their pigs. There are the crowds that pressed around Jesus, not because they loved Him but because they wanted something from Him. Yet, they were willing to stand in the way of a poor unclean woman who needed to get to the Savior. Some tried to convince Jairus to despair and leave Jesus alone because his daughter had already died… and there were the mourners at his house who were crying one minute (because they were paid to) and then laughing the next when Jesus suggested she would live again.

We see Jesus ministering in a world that was religious and yet confused, broken and resistant to truth. It reminds me a lot of what I see every day when I go outside my gate. I wonder how Jesus wasn’t constantly frustrated and annoyed with the sinfulness, the selfishness, the faithlessness and the hypocrisy of everyone He met (even His disciples). It is enough to drive a well-meaning missionary to despair. But, then, those are not the only characters in the chapter. Consider the former demoniac whose first reaction was to follow Jesus and Jesus (shockingly) said “No,” and sent him to be the first missionary to Decapolis and the ten cities heard the gospel from his lips. Consider the woman who had faith enough to break every social and religious barrier to get close enough to Him to touch the hem of his garment and be healed. Consider Jairus who after hearing the word that his daughter had died, looked Jesus in the eye and heard him say, “Don’t be afraid, only believe.” And he did, and he received his daughter back from the dead that day. Ministry in this world is tough, ministry at this time in history (especially with COVID-19) is exhausting, but Jesus is on the throne. Even though there are many people out there who don’t get it and who won’t respond, there are still those out there who understand their need and who will respond. He is always at work around us. Instead of despairing, let's lift our eyes and see where He is moving amid the chaos.

Blessings in Christ,

Kevin W. Rodgers

Rodgers' Reflections

Here is Kevin's most recent devotional that he sends out. If you would be interested in receiving these, you can send me an email at rodgerstribe@gmail.com and I can add you to his list.

1 Cor. 9-10 CSB

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. Give no offense to Jews or Greeks or the church of God, just as I also try to please everyone in everything, not seeking my own benefit, but the benefit of many, so that they may be saved. Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ.” 10:31-33

These verses are ones that we typically brush over when we are reading the bible, but in these days I think it is important that we meditate on them. Paul boils these final words of the chapter down to three basic admonitions: “Do everything for the glory of God,” “Don’t seek your own benefit, but the benefit of many so that they may be saved,” and “Imitate Christ.” Those are three very worthy, and very heavy, commands. They are three things that it would be good for us to remember in these dark days of COVID-19 panic and worry, but they are also three things that we should be practicing whether the world is crumbling around us or not.

Ask yourself, “What am I doing for God’s glory, for other’s benefit and to imitate Christ during my social distancing?” I think that many people are tempted to treat this as a vacation time where we binge watch Netflix and gorge ourselves on all the unhealthy snack food in the house. Wasting your time and gorging yourself on things that rot your mind and your teeth doesn’t’ glorify God, it doesn’t help anyone and I don’t think it really imitates Jesus. You need to get out, get fresh air and most of all get creative. Find ways to help people and find ways to glorify God in these unique days. We are thinking more about our relationships with others than ever because we don’t want to get too close. Instead, be thinking about how you can get close enough to practice social distancing but still engage in relationships. Don’t let fear force you to go to irrational measures because you fear the virus. “Perfect love casts out all fear.”

Ask yourself, “What am I doing for God’s glory, for other’s benefit and to imitate Christ in my conversations, phone calls, and social media posts?” Are you making light of everything and basically treating this like it is someone else’s problem? Or are you sitting alone in fear and worrying about the imminent arrival of the Corona Virus into your life or family? I have been struck by the fact that the return of Christ is imminent (could come at any moment) and it gets closer every day that passes, yet we live in this state of oblivion like it will never come. However, these days we are looking for the virus in every handshake, in every interaction and we are hypersensitive to just the possibility of it. What if we lived our lives that aware of the Lord’s coming and that hypersensitive to take every thought captive, to guard every word and to live every moment as if His return was in the next 5 minutes?

Finally ask yourself, “What am I doing for God’s glory, other’s benefit and to imitate Christ in the Kingdom of God?” These are unique days, but they were foreseen by God before the beginning of time. He has never been taken by surprise and He always has a plan and a will for your life. How are you making the most of this pandemic for His Kingdom? People are more sensitive to spiritual things now, and more connected around the globe than at just about any other time in history. The whole world is talking about one thing. This is not by mistake. This is a unique opportunity that God has given us and we need to be asking God how we can leverage all of this for His glory to build His Kingdom. As the whole world is talking about the virus, we should be engaging the whole world with the hope of the gospel. Now more than ever they need truth, fearlessness and clear wisdom from God’s people… they don’t need us to be just like them.