NCC Daily

Today we will explore Mark 12:13-27.

Today we have Jesus continuing his conversation with the chief priests and scribes after they challenged Jesus and his authority. 

Have we ever found ourselves standing as a victor over a situation and we knew it was solely by the power and authority of Jesus in our life? Healed by His grace, opportunities because of His favor, peace that transcends understanding, provision because of His goodness and mercy that surely follows us all the days of our lives!

Today’s reading is from Mark 11:12-26. This text follows Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, also known as Palm Sunday.

Jesus allowed himself to need his Heavenly Father in his everyday living. Today, as we say “Hosanna!” to our Lord and Savior, let’s again remind ourselves that we call out, “Lord, Save Us!” because we, in our own depravity, so desperately need him.

Bartimaeus’ faith is an example to all of us, as is his clearsightedness regarding what he wanted. He recognized what was hindering him from being the person God wanted him to be and created him to be. And he sought God’s power to set him free.

The Kingdom of God is about serving one another in love. Jesus gave up His sinless life to die so that we could live. Not only that but that same life Jesus died saving, He wants us to give that up in His name so we can save it. And, what does that even mean? Take up your cross daily and follow Him to wherever that may lead.

Jesus came to us as a little child—one clothed in humility. He could have shown up as a king, a military leader, or at least skipped the whole childhood thing, but he chose to come to us in the most vulnerable, most human way - an infant dependent on his parents for safety and provision. Maybe there’s something to His coming as a child to make a way for us, and our becoming like little children in order to take His hand and follow him to His Father’s house.

Just when I think I’ve got myself figured out, one of my two son’s requires of me a new level of patience or wisdom, and the challenge presents a fresh opportunity for growth and awareness. One of those lessons, something I'm still working on actually, is to embrace God’s kingdom with childlike simplicity. For those of us who were forced to grow up too fast, having a childlike faith might feel risky, too vulnerable, and unsafe. But Jesus says, “The kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” 

The Pharisees came looking to trap Jesus. Have you ever come at Jesus with a "prove it" posture? I know if you’ve ever gone through anything hard you might have.  Often we get caught up in justifying our approach, our posture, our attitude toward others, and in doing so, justify our posture toward God. This is what the Pharisees were doing, but we can learn from them and from Jesus.