Lent Week 4—Thursday
Psalm 73 Exodus 1:6-22 1 Corinthians 12:12-26 Mark 8:27-9-1
I find Psalm 73 to be a beautifully, poetic illustration of our struggle to live into God’s promise to us; that He will be good to us, like He was to the Israelites, if we live with a pure heart. Easier said, than done! This psalm speaks to how the haughty and proud seem to prosper and grow in their power and stature, and how we often find ourselves to be envious and resentful of their station in life. But we are encouraged in the psalm to be contrite and acknowledge our ignorance in setting our focus on such things as this, that are not of God, but are of this world. We are encouraged to turn to God, humbly placing all of our faith and trust in Him, because the things of this life are fleeting and when we are feeling otherwise, it is good for us to be near God and to make Him the center of our focus. As Jesus says to Peter in Mark’s gospel 8:33…, “Get behind me Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things, but on human things.” This Lenten season, I pray that we will keep steadfast in our faith; fear not, and trust in the Lord, knowing that He will deliver us from our suffering and from the ways of evil and death, into eternal life. AMEN
Scott Deupree
Psalm 73 Exodus 1:6-22 1 Corinthians 12:12-26 Mark 8:27-9-1
“Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way
he asked them, ‘Who do people say I am?’ “(Mark 8:27)
If you were to ask others who do people say you are, the first response would probably be your name. Our parents chose a name for us just as Mary and Joseph chose the name Jesus as angel Gabriel instructed. “Behold, you will conceive in your womb. And bring forth a son, And will call his name ‘Jesus” (Luke 1:31)
We are also known by our relationships. The elders in Nazareth said, “Isn’t thi Joseph’s son?” (Luke: 22) We may be known for those with whom we associate. Jesus reached out to people of all walks of life…the tax collector, the leper, and the sinner. His primary relationship was with God the Father. Often we are defined by our vocation. People know us by what we do. Jesus was an enigma to the people of his day. They were not sure of his vocation. As Mark said “They were astonished at his teaching for he taught them as having authority, and not as the scribes.” (Mark 1:22) The people didn’t know what to think of him. Who do people say that I am? The people of Jesus’ day couldn’t say for sure. Some thought he was John the Baptist, who’d come back from the dead. Others thought he was the prophet Elijah, who’d returned from on high. Some regarded him as a great teacher and others a miracle worker? Who do people say that I am? The question we should be asking is who do you say that I am. What is important is not that we get the right answer but that we come to our own profession of faith. We not only define our relationship to Jesus, but his relationship to us. When we know Jesus Christ as the Lord of our life, others come to know us not simply by name, family, or vocation but as a child of God and a witness to the power of his love and grace.
Who do you say I am? “You are the Messiah.” (Mark 8:28)
Referenced Commentary, Dr. Philip W. McLarty
Theresa Meldrum
The Carpenter's Nail 