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The Apostle Peter is a favorite Bible character for many of us, especially those of us likely to put our foot in our mouth or otherwise have a spectacular failure. This week, we read about Peter’s rise, his fall, and the lesson we all should take from the way Jesus engages him. None of us are totally triumphant in this world; we’re all stumbling toward Jesus. And that should endear Peter to us all the more.

Message from Rev. Paul Hahn on February 16, 2025

How many times does something have to be explained to you before you understand? How many times do you need to see something with your own eyes before you believe it to be true? In Mark 8, we have another miraculous feeding, and Jesus uses the occasion to teach the disciples about the danger of the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod. The disciples don’t understand; they think Jesus is complaining about the lack of bread! But it’s not about the bread. Join us this Sunday to find out what it is and why the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod is still a danger to us today.

In Mark 7, Jesus and his disciples are confronted with an investigative team of Pharisees and scribes who have come up from Jerusalem. They ask Jesus why he and his disciples don’t keep the tradition of the elders. In reply, Jesus condemns them for following commandments of men even at the expense of keeping the law of God. This week, we “punch right” and put our own practices and cherished traditions under review: have we substituted our own good ideas for Scripture? Are we satisfied with keeping man-made laws that make us look good, even if it allows us to disobey explicit commands of God? Although it’s more comfortable to point out the sins of others; Jesus forces us to confront the dangerous deception of our own religious sins.

Three surprising things happen in succession over the course of 24 hours at the end of Mark 6. First, Jesus takes his disciples into the wilderness and performs a great miracle feeding 5,000. Then, he walks on water. Finally, he heals the sick in a region known for its prosperity and abundance. What ties these three stories together? This week, we look at the surprising places God shows up in our lives and the ways he uses both lack and abundance to help us see the need for his grace.