Mark and Daniel

Mark 5:1-8:21
Jesus heals a man of demons. I wonder what the demons are we have. Not little creatures but anything which prevents us from being close to God and from being the whole person God would have us be. To what do we surrender our lives rather than giving our lives to God?
When the women with the hemorrhages touched Jesus' cloak not only is she physically healed but Mark states that Jesus was "aware that power have gone forth from him." I remember this phrase when I think of ministers and care givers. Caring for others, ministering to others does require power. Jesus recognized this and often went off to pray by himself to be renewed. Those of us with jobs that require us to give of body, mind, and spirit for others, need to go off by ourselves to pray and be renewed. We can not give what we do not have.

In Nazareth, even Jesus is rejected. We who fear rejection will never be all that God wants us to be if we give into the fear of rejection. How interesting that in Mark, Jesus sends out the twelve right after he has been rejected. Maybe there is a lesson for us to learn, that rejection is part of sharing the good news.

Feeding the five thousand is truly a story of faith and doubt. Send them away to get food is the disciples first thought, but Jesus says you feed them. But we don't have enough money is their second thought and Jesus says what do you have. Jesus takes what they have, blesses it and then gives it to the disciples to share with the people. It was sufficient with leftovers. I wonder how many of us react the same way, I don't have enough money to share, I don't have enough......... to share, but when willing to share God provides enough for the recipient and us. If only we believe and respond, God provides all things.

Jesus scolds the Pharisees about making decisions of faith based on what is convenient or good for them. How often do we in this modern age do the same? We have opportunities that we choose over God and the church. We don't seek justice if it doesn't directly hurt us. Have Christians become the Pharisees of this age?

We also read the feeding of the four thousand. How interesting first the disciples' faith is tested with fellow Jews and now with non-Jews. The stories are similar with excuses, blessing, and then the disciples having to distribute, to share with others. Jesus often teaches be example as well as words. Not surprising the disciples often need more than one try to understand.
Do we believe God is able or do we need more experiences or teachings to accept all that God can do?


Daniel
The second half of Daniel is a collection of apocalyptic visions. Apocalyptic ism is a belief in two ages, the present and the time to come. In the future time God will intervene in history and overcome all evil. Then God will reign in the perfect, eternal time. The books of Daniel and Revelation are literary styles with apocalyptic visions. Because this style includes visions and a specific theological lens, it is open for interpretation. I recommend using a Bible with commentary, but remember the commentary is an interpretation, God can speak to each of us through this living word. As an example my commentary says that the traditional interpretation of Daniel 7:13-14 was a reference to the Messiah, but now scholars think it is referring either to the Jews or an angel. When I read those words I can see a vision for the people at the time and I can see a vision of Christ. What do you see?

In chapter 9 Daniel prays for and about the people. Confession and supplication. "We do not present our supplication before you on the ground of our righteousness, but on the ground of your great mercies. O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, listen and act and do not delay!" 9: 18b-19
These are words we should all confess. We do not pray because of who we are, but because of who God is.
Daniel concludes with a belief in the resurrection.