Tag: Jesus

Is Jesus Calling You To Be A Hometown Missionary? – Mark 5:1-20

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Reflection from my reading in Mark 5:1-20 in the One Year Bible New Testament.

A famous story about Jesus healing the man oppressed by many demons is a powerful display of Christ’s power. Jesus makes the demons leave the man and sends them into the pigs. This angered the townspeople and they asked Jesus to leave. Here’s where the part of the story that I want to focus on picks up…

Send Me, I’ll Go

“As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him.” Mark 5:18

Now, generally this is what we look for in a follower, right? We look for someone who has been radically changed and eager to go anywhere. But Jesus had a different plan for him.

Go Home And Share

“And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” Mark 5:19

Jesus knew that this man would have a greater kingdom impact if he stayed around his hometown and told his family all Jesus had done for him.

Sometimes those willing to go overseas are called to be missionaries to their hometowns. Some people who may want to be leaders in the church will be called to lead their own families.

Marvelous Results

“And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.” Mark 5:20

He obeyed Jesus and God used him in his hometown area called the Decapolis (which means the 10 cities). We don’t know if he traveled between the cities or how many he visited, but we do know that his ministry was fruitful.

Sometimes the most effective thing you can do is go to your hometown and share the good news of what Jesus has done in your life. The people who knew you before and after your life change will be amazed at what God has done!

Is Jesus calling you to stay as a missionary to your hometown?

 If so that’s the most effective thing you can do.

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Go Hard Like Jesus – Mark 3:20-35

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Reflection from my reading in Mark 3:20-35 in the One Year Bible New Testament.

 Go Hard or Go Home

Jesus went hard.  He worked so hard that sometimes he and his disciples didn’t have time to eat.  Check out this little-talked about verse.

“Then he went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat.” Mark 3:20

When was the last time you were so busy advancing God’s kingdom that you didn’t have time to eat? Next time you are tempted to feel sorry for yourself, think about how hard Jesus worked.

Crazy Work Ethic

 He worked so hard his family thought he was crazy.
“And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.” Mark 3:21
His family attempted to guard his time and help him live a balanced life. Jesus’ goal was never to live a balanced life. Sometimes to fulfill God’s will for our lives, we have to push hard.
Now, I am not saying that Jesus was a workaholic. See my article “Set Healthy Boundaries Like Jesus“.  He knew when to rest and he knew when to retreat with his disciples. Jesus seemed to live by the motto…
Work hard, rest hard. 

I encourage you to use the short life God has given you to serve him with all you have! Go hard!

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How Jesus Apprenticed Apostles – Mark 3:1-19

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Reflection from my reading in Mark 3:1-19 in the One Year Bible New Testament.

Jesus selected 12 men who would carry on his work. He was very deliberate with whom he chose to spend his life, train, and pass the baton of leadership to.

Jesus Chose Who He Wanted

“And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him.” Mark 3:13

Jesus called those he desired to invest in. Jesus’ training with the apostles was a specialized training that he didn’t give to every disciple who followed him. Jesus did things with the apostles and gave them inside information that no one else got.

It is strategic and wise to spend the most time training the people who have the most potential as leaders (especially apostolic leaders). Mark gave us a description of what Jesus did with them.

“And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons.” Mark 3:14–15

 Jesus Limited The Number

Jesus knew that he couldn’t invest well in the few if he was trying to invest in everyone. Jesus knew that more time with less people would lead to greater growth in their leadership.

Jesus Was “With Them”

Jesus spent as much time as possible with them walking on the road, eating, going to events, preaching, healing, and pretty much everything! As Jesus spent time with them, they picked up the valuable life lessons, spiritual principles, and learned his teaching. They were also given training experiences that no one else did.

Jesus “Sent Them Out To Preach”

Jesus’ purpose was not just to make them nice people but to make them preachers. Jesus specifically called people who would have the potential to be leaders and preachers. Jesus trained them to preach by letting them watch him and then sending them out to do it.

Jesus Gave Them Spiritual Authority

Jesus gave them power to cast out demons. Jesus transferred not only his principles but his spiritual authority was also transferred to the disciples.

Throughout the gospels we see example after example of Jesus training his apostles. I challenge you to read the gospels with a lens for how Jesus trained his future leaders and you will see so many of the stories in a different way.

For more great vision and practical ways to apprentice apostles check out my father John Worcester’s website. He is a veteran church planter who has apprenticed many church planters and has written and spoke on the subject.

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Set Healthy Boundaries Like Jesus – Mark 1:23-45

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Reflection from my reading in Mark 1:23-45 in the One Year Bible New Testament.

Jesus was one of the most busy people on the planet, yet he still set boundaries. Jesus’ example shows us that the more busy you become, the more intentional you have to be with your time.

Jesus Made Prayer A Priority

“That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons… And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.” Mark 1:32, 35

Notice that it was at sunset when Jesus started a session of healing people and many were brought to him. Instead of sleeping in after a hard day of work, he got up early before it was still dark and prayed.

Jesus didn’t let the fact that he was tired keep him from praying. Jesus knew that the more tired he was, the more he needed connection with the Father.

I am guilty of slacking in my prayer life with I have a busy schedule, but that is precisely the time when I need to pray the most.

Jesus Kept His Priorities 

“And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” Mark 1:36–38

I picture Simon running up breathing heavy saying “everyone is looking for you, look at all these people that love you and want you.”

Jesus was not controlled by the desires of others but was committed to his purpose. 

Jesus was able to say no to the crowds so that he could say yes to his missions.  Jesus said no for a bigger yes. 

Jesus knew that becoming a local hero was not his mission. There were many other towns that needed his message and healing.

What Jesus’ Boundaries Allowed Him To Do

By traveling around, he was able to impact far more people and set an example to his apostles and us on how to saturate a community.

I believe that Jesus’ goal was not just to impact one community but to reach as many people as possible with his message and love. My campus ministry has adopted this multi-site model and it does help us impact more people.

My father John Worcester has great material on the strategic nature of traveling from place to place preaching and other “Plant Like Jesus” strategies.  You can access some of his materials on his website.

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Did Jesus Really Claim To Be God? – Matthew 26:51-75

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Reflection from my reading in Matthew 26:51-75 in the One Year Bible New Testament.

Jesus On Trial

One of the clear moments when Jesus had an opportunity to claim his divinity was when he was on trial with the high priest and elders. They had a lot of witnesses come up and lie about him, but Jesus would remain silent, in part to fulfill the prophesy about him,

“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.” Isaiah 53:7

Jesus knew this prophesy and intentionally kept his mouth shut until it was time for him to talk.

Are You The Son of God?

Then finally the high priest said,

“I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Matthew 26:63

The high priest was not asking this in order that he may believe in Christ; he was trying to accuse him. But at this point, Jesus finally replied with one of the most clear claims to his Godhood in all the gospels.

The Son of Man

“Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Matthew 26:64

First, Jesus didn’t argue with the fact that he was the Son of God. Instead he said, “You have said it.”

Then, he referred to himself as the “Son of Man.” Actually, this was his most popular name for himself as he used it 81 times in the gospels (some of these are repeated stories).

Perhaps the reason it was his favorite name for himself is because the term Son of Man simultaneously emphasizes his humanity and his role as fulfiller of prophesy. In Jesus’ statement he was quoting from two old testament prophesies, one from the book of Daniel and one from Psalms.

“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.” Daniel 7:13

“The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” Psalm 110:1

By linking these two Messianic prophesies, it was clear that Jesus was claiming to be the Son of God. Ironically, the high priest’s response shows us how clear Jesus statement was that he claimed divinity. With what the high priest meant to condemn Jesus, it actually helps us know Jesus claimed to be God!

“Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy.” Matthew 26:65

If Jesus’ statement was clear enough to convict him of blasphemy, then it is clear enough for us to know for sure that he claimed to be God.

Liar, Lunatic, Lord 

Jesus’ claim to be God matters exceedingly because you can’t just say he was merely a good moral teacher or a good example for us to follow. C.S. Lewis puts it better than I ever could, so I will end with his quote.

“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronising nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to. … Now it seems to me obvious that He was neither a lunatic nor a fiend: and consequently, however strange or terrifying or unlikely it may seem, I have to accept the view that He was and is God.“

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Worship Jesus Celebrates – Matthew 26:1-25

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Reflection from my reading in Matthew 26:1-25  in the One Year Bible New Testament. 

One woman was commended by Jesus for worshiping him radically. Here’s the story. Jesus was eating and a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar full of expensive perfume. She poured it over his head, to the shock of the audience.

The disciples were bothered by this because it seemed like a waste of perfectly good perfume. They could have sold it and given the money to the poor! Jesus responded.

A Beautiful Thing

“Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me.” Matthew 26:10

Jesus called it a beautiful thing. Sacrificial worship is a beautiful thing. When we come to God, we should not be afraid of giving too much. We should pour out our hearts and be generous with our money, knowing that we can never out-give God.

Celebrate Jesus’ Presence

“For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial.” Matthew 26:11–12

Jesus demonstrated over and over his care for the less fortunate. That is not the point of this verse. The point is that the woman was right in doing this because she did it out of a heart of worship.

She was right in celebrating his presence, and in a way she also prepared his body for burial!

Worship Like This

“Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.” Matthew 26:13

Jesus is right; that story has been told over and over because it was included in the New Testament! This brave woman shows us that true worship can be radical, sacrificial and does not have to fit the social norms.

Her story is an example for all Christians to worship Christ with everything that we are.

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Something More Epic Than the Olympics – Matthew 24:1-28

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Reflection from my reading in Matthew 24:1-28 in the One Year Bible New Testament.

The Gospel To All Nations

In his warning about the end times, Jesus gives many signs that the end is near and then he predicts something will happen before he returns!

“And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:14

Jesus said that before the end will come, the gospel must be preached to all nations. After saying this, Jesus gave us the command to “make disciples of all nations” Matt 28:18-2o. Jesus won’t return until his followers obey him and preach to all nations!

Unreached People Groups

It is important to know that the original greek word for nations is Ethnos, which means people group, not just political country.

According to the Joshua Project website there are  7,286 unreached people groups! 

We have a lot of work to do to get the gospel to these unreached people groups, that’s why I want to encourage you to play your part in reaching the nations for Jesus!

Play Your Part

God does not call every Christian to literally go to the other side of the world, but I believe that we all can be a part of God’s global purpose.

  • Go – I encourage you, if you can, to go on a short term trip somewhere less reached than your current home. It will open your eyes to the spiritual needs of the world and it will help you see if full-time overseas missions work is for you.
  • Pray – Ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers to the harvest field. Pray specifically for countries and unreached people groups to have missionaries come and that people would respond to the gospel. Use a website or book like Operation World to fuel your prayers.
  • Give – You can give money to your church if they are actively involved in missions. Also, you can sponsor a missionary who is raising support or you can give to a missions organization.
  • Welcome – In America especially we have an opportunity to welcome international students from all over the world. These are not only people who want to learn about American culture but are also often the brightest future leaders of their countries. I believe reaching international students is one of the keys to reaching the world for Jesus!
  • Mobilize – Cast vision for what others can do to go, pray, give, welcome, and mobilize. When you mobilize someone and give them a heart for the nations you are multiplying your impact.

It’s time to stop just talking about missions and start playing your part!

The gospel must be preached to all nations and we are the ones to do it!

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How to Answer Controversial Questions – Matthew 22:1-22

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Reflection from my reading in Matthew 22:1-22 in the One Year Bible New Testament.

It’s A Trap

The religious leaders were desperately trying to find a way to trap Jesus in his words. If you ever watch an interview of a pastor on TV then you know it inevitably becomes “stump the pastor” as the host throws out the toughest questions they can ask. In the same way, the religious leaders started with some flattery then asked him their tough question.

“And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” Matthew 22:16–17

To Pay or Not To Pay… That is the Question 

The issue of taxes was one of the most controversial issues for the Jews, because they were being forced to pay taxes to a government that was oppressing them. Caesar was a pagan King who did not worship God and promoted many evil practices. In the minds of the Jews, to pay taxes was to contribute to that. It is interesting to note that the religious leaders and the Herodians (supporters of Herod) were teaming up on this question, because the followers of Herod likely supported taxes and the Jews largely did not want to pay taxes. Jesus saw through their trickery.

“But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. 20 And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” 21 They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 22 When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away.” Matthew 22:18–22

Jesus saw through their trickery and answered shrewdly.

  • With a clear “Yes we should pay,” the jews would have been angry and perhaps he would have had a riot on his hands.
  • With a straight up “No,” his enemies could have reported to the Roman government that he was spreading anti-governement propaganda.

A Wise Answer

Jesus answered the question so wisely and that people were amazed! When he said, “render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s”, he was confirming that the Jews should pay the fair taxes that they owe to the government. But by saying “and to God the things that are God’s”, he is saying that God is the priority. That we should give our whole lives, our money and our hearts to God. This frustrated his enemies because they could not pin him down and make him say something that would get him in trouble. I will conclude with the principle that we can take away from how Jesus responded this controversial question.

His answer was clear enough to answer the heart of the issue, and vague enough not to be polarizing. 

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What Made Jesus Angry? – Matthew 21:1-22

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Reflection from my reading in Matthew 21:1-22 in the One Year Bible New Testament.

Like A $5 Soda

Have you ever been in an amusement park and really craved a soda only to see that the price was $5? The owners know they can jack up the price because you came all that way to the park and you have no other option.

Most likely, this is what the money changers and pigeon sellers were doing in the “court of the Gentiles.” They were  taking advantage of the non-Jewish people who had traveled far to just get to the temple. What probably started as a convenient idea turned into a huge distraction and opportunity for corruption.

Probably, the money changers would give the traveler a terrible exchange rate for their foreign money and then the bird salesmen charged an arm and a leg for the sacrificial pigeons. If that wasn’t bad enough, the pigeons were the sacrifice that the poor were permitted to bring if they could not afford a lamb! (See Leviticus 1:14) In other words, they were preying on the poor!

The very place designed to welcome the outsider was taking advantage of them.

Jesus Threw Down… (Tables)

“And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons.” Matthew 21:12

Jesus got mad because these people were making it hard for people to worship and pray. Jesus then explained the reason for his anger.

He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.” Matthew 21:13

Prayer was the purpose of this part of the temple, not profit. Jesus was angry because instead of being a place of connection with God, this area had become a place of corruption.

From this story we learn…

Righteous anger is not a sin.

Jesus loved the outsiders enough to risk upsetting the religious of the day.

God’s temple was meant for connection with Him.

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The Key To Greatness – Matthew 20:17-34

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Reflection from my reading in Matthew 20:17-34 in the One Year Bible New Testament.

Come on Mom!

I love the funny details of the Bible. Like a soccer mom asking the coach for more playing time for her son, the mother of James and John asked Jesus to let her precious babies to sit at the right and left hand side of Jesus in heaven. Here’s Jesus’ response:

“Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” Matthew 20:22

If James and John really knew what suffering they were signing up for, they may not have been so confident. Then Jesus responded,

“He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” Matthew 20:23

Jesus basically told them that he couldn’t reserve them a place, but God the Father decides that.

Pride Divides

The result of their effort to exalt themselves caused division among the disciples.

“And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers.” Matthew 20:24

Pride divides even the closest of friends. Being in a home of brothers we loved to compete, but when the competition became a source of pride it led to jealous feelings and division. Jesus said leading through pride is the way the world works.

“But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.” Matthew 20:25

The way that the world defines greatness is by how many/much you rule over. Position and authority is the world’s key to greatness. Prideful leaders will “lord over” others in order to get what they want. This type of leadership is not the kind Jesus modeled for us.

You’ve Got Served

“It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:26–28

There are several insights from this powerful statement.

1. We should be different from the world.

Christians are to lead by serving and to differentiate themselves from the way the people of the world promote themselves.

2. Leaders must be servants.

If you want to lead, you must be willing to serve. Even Spiderman knows “with great power comes great responsibility.”

Our motivation for leadership should not be to promote ourselves but to serve others.

3. Jesus is our ultimate example

 Jesus, the Lord of the universe came to serve, not to be served. His motivation was others-centered. His entire life was one of service through healing the sick, feeding the hungry and preaching to the helpless. Greater than these things, Christ’s death paid the penalty (or ransom) for our sins, and that is the ultimate service!

True service is costly; Jesus’ death proves that! 

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