Mark 4:21-34 (NIV)

So we recently got a cat… it’s a cute cat, especially when he’s wanting his wet cat food. Every morning as you walk into the kitchen he weaves in and out of your legs until you open the fridge and give him the goods.

Now sometimes if you’re walking around the house he will start following you, and during the times when you are headed to the fridge he gets really excited and starts his weaving. And if you do open the fridge he sits in the way of the door so that you literally have to pick him up to close the door. We have to help him understand that what we’re getting out of the fridge isn’t really what he’s after. He’s so disappointed.

Jesus is doing a similar thing for his disciples…. Stay with me now… They are following him—literally crowds are swarming around Jesus, weaving in and out of these moments with him. And in today’s passage he is trying to help his disciples see that the Kingdom Jesus is going to bring isn’t quite what they are looking for. It’ll come differently, it will look different… It’s far more costly… but it’s also infinitely more valuable.

So as you listen today, try to imagine Jesus trying to help his disciples, help us, see that the God’s Kingdom is going to surprise us, and by the measure we remain attentive to Jesus, so will be the measure of our understanding.

----------REFLECT----------

1. What image of the Kingdom stands out to you?

2. What do you find most surprising or curious about that image?

3. Take a moment to ask Jesus to help you hear his voice today and to see His Kingdom as it comes in these ways.

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