Just thoughts that for myself I need to see outside my head...

As a group we have now read through Mark 12. Still asking the question 'What does my life mean in light of the text?' We've been reading from the Message translation which I am becoming very fond of. And while I am sure many will have theological debates over different translations whether one is better than the other I think that more importantly the translation allows me to see and hear with freshness. Having memorized many verses in my youth I think the verse can sometimes just be another verse, but with new freshness I am able to put beside an already conceived notion and allow the spirit to bring new revelation or perhaps to even bring truth which got clouded over by my own understanding instead of a supernatural one.

Overlying theme Jesus oozes with an abundance of compassion and grace. Even though Jesus has to spell out the truth over and over to his disciples he does not give up on them. I mean there he was traveling the road going village to village having everyone crowd against him and he is I’m sure tired yet he preached to thousands of people and didn’t want to send them home on an empty stomach. Even though the disciples are seeing and learning first hand who Jesus is and what he is all about they don’t get him and they don’t understand this kingdom and the sacrifice that he is about to make for their behalf.

And there are many underlying stories-men and women with faith, men and women without faith. Those who think they have all the answers but perhaps have dead ears and eyes. All I can hear Jesus say, Are you that stupid do you not see and ear what I have been telling you and showing? Do you not get why I have brought you into the inner circle? Why can’t you trust me? Did I not just feed thousands and thousands of people over and over again and you are arguing over that one piece of bread you are arguing about things you shouldn’t be arguing over, things you shouldn’t be worrying about? And I hear him say Margaret why are you worrying? Margaret why are you running with your own understanding? Margaret why are you focused on things that aren’t important? Don’t you know that I am God? Don’t you already know that I am a God who heals and God who is faithful a God who provides? Don’t you know Margaret that my love and grace are all together sufficient?