November 27, 2006

  • Journal thoughts of my meditations the last few days...

    Mark 1:40-45  Keyword:  compassion
         Compassion is different from pity.  Pity is feeling sorry for someone at a distance; compassion means emotional involvement that moves you to action.
         Jesus touched the man with leprosy because He was filled with compassion.  He touched him to bring healing.  That was probably the first time that man had been touched in years.  For as long as he had leprosy, he had to live in isolation and loneliness, banished from society, love and affection.  He was ostracized and totally alone because of his disease.  Jesus didn't have to touch this man to heal him, but He knew that his disease had eaten away more than his skin.  Jesus' touch brought this man back to life, and this "life" was beyond simply inhaling and exhaling every second.  This is what compassion is and does.

    Mark 2:1-12  Keyword:  authority
         Jesus has authority on earth to forgive sins (2:10) - to heal a paralytic man (2:11-12), to teach with authority (1:22), to cause evil spirits (1:27) and even the wind and waves (4:41) to obey Him.  He can even read minds and hearts.  I love this verse, "Immediately, Jesus knew in His spirit that this is what they were thinking in their hearts."  (2:8)
         Jesus has authority, and I need to worship and esteem Him so.

         Unrelated... Also, how inspiring that it wasn't necessarily the paralytic's "faith" that healed him, but it was as a result of the faith of his four friends who took apart the roof to lower him down.  Our prayers of intercession in faith on behalf of others could be enough to heal them.  (Yes!!  Praise the Lord for this reality!!)

    Mark 2:13-17  Keyword:  saw
         "As he walked along, he saw Levi..."  (2:14)  While most of the Jews at that time regularly passed by tax collectors, discounting them as nothing but traitors to their people; Jesus actually saw Matthew and called Matthew to be on His team, a part of His group, in His family.  "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."  (2:17)  Jesus doesn't discriminate, stereotype, overlook or dismiss anyone.  He looks and He sees people.  Am I someone who looks and really sees people - beyond what they do, how they behave and dress, their race, gender or class?  Do I see the way Jesus sees?

    Jesus spent time among society's outcasts.  He loved the 'unlovely' and spent time with them to such an extent that it brought about criticism, confusion and complaints from others who did not understand.  He raised eyebrows from His shocking and radical love toward all.  In what ways do I love as radically as Jesus?  How can I love the outcasts?  Lord, can you help me see hearts the way you do?

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