Mark 9:30-32 - They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know, for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.” But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.
Mark 9:33-37 – And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”
Mark 10: 42-45 – And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But 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 slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
John 13:12-17 – When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”
John 15:12-15 – “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.”
Above scriptures are from the NIV Bible
I have read and have heard these scriptures being preached upon many times. Only until now have I realized Jesus was teaching and talking to his disciples during this discourse.
Many times, we have innocently expected Jesus was talking to us. Although the message can be very much applied to our lives.
At the time of writing this blog, we as a nation Canada, are coincidentally entering into two important events that will shape and determine the direction of our nation.
The two events are the federal election, April 28th and Easter, April 20th. Easter is the commemoration of Jesus’s death and resurrection.
I do believe we as Christian believers should participate in all aspects of our community as time permits, within our principled confines and being true servants.
Unfortunately, many times in many aspects of our community life we allow our principled confines to be compromised and diluted. Politics, community groups and yes even churches involve the art of compromise. Be prepared when entering into these realms After a prolonged period of compromising one may not be able to determine your original principles.
There is a progression revealed in the above scriptures. First of all, learn how to be a servant, serving and loving others. Then doing what Jesus reveals from the Father and in turn being referred to as friends.
For individuals endeavouring to run for office learn how to be a servant, not just by talk but by actual actions. If you are a believer let it be known by your actions. We have heard it many times, “talk is cheap”.
Sadly, our main federal political parties have morphed into identities that do not adhere to the sanctity of human life. Our fellow humans have become in essence, commodities. Party leaders have removed the right of their MPs to vote freely accordingly to their principles. Forcing dissenters be back benchers or independents if they do not toe the line.
We need leaders to allow and promote free voting within their parties. Hopefully that would solve the problem of a party splintering into factions.
Canadian believers in politics please don’t continue to splinter but be an example within existing parties.
Yes, just like the above sequence of scripture. Mark 9:30-32 states Jesus was going to be delivered into the hands of men, and he was going to be killed. We in turn will be in a similar situation and will be persecuted in various manners. We are called to be servants and then his friend.
We have a lot more to be concerned about this election. Not just tariffs, social problems, etc. but the possibility of loosing many of our freedoms that many take for granted. A catch phrase used by an infamous entity may sum it up “you will own nothing and be happy”.
Please pray for each and every candidate that is running that the Lord will have His way and will bless them accordingly.
There is a promise revealed in Mark 9:30-32; “after three days he will rise”. When we are in the Lord, we will share in the resurrection power.
Happy voting and have a Blessed Easter
Mark 9:33-37 – And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”
Mark 10: 42-45 – And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But 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 slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
John 13:12-17 – When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”
John 15:12-15 – “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.”
Above scriptures are from the NIV Bible
I have read and have heard these scriptures being preached upon many times. Only until now have I realized Jesus was teaching and talking to his disciples during this discourse.
Many times, we have innocently expected Jesus was talking to us. Although the message can be very much applied to our lives.
At the time of writing this blog, we as a nation Canada, are coincidentally entering into two important events that will shape and determine the direction of our nation.
The two events are the federal election, April 28th and Easter, April 20th. Easter is the commemoration of Jesus’s death and resurrection.
I do believe we as Christian believers should participate in all aspects of our community as time permits, within our principled confines and being true servants.
Unfortunately, many times in many aspects of our community life we allow our principled confines to be compromised and diluted. Politics, community groups and yes even churches involve the art of compromise. Be prepared when entering into these realms After a prolonged period of compromising one may not be able to determine your original principles.
There is a progression revealed in the above scriptures. First of all, learn how to be a servant, serving and loving others. Then doing what Jesus reveals from the Father and in turn being referred to as friends.
For individuals endeavouring to run for office learn how to be a servant, not just by talk but by actual actions. If you are a believer let it be known by your actions. We have heard it many times, “talk is cheap”.
Sadly, our main federal political parties have morphed into identities that do not adhere to the sanctity of human life. Our fellow humans have become in essence, commodities. Party leaders have removed the right of their MPs to vote freely accordingly to their principles. Forcing dissenters be back benchers or independents if they do not toe the line.
We need leaders to allow and promote free voting within their parties. Hopefully that would solve the problem of a party splintering into factions.
Canadian believers in politics please don’t continue to splinter but be an example within existing parties.
Yes, just like the above sequence of scripture. Mark 9:30-32 states Jesus was going to be delivered into the hands of men, and he was going to be killed. We in turn will be in a similar situation and will be persecuted in various manners. We are called to be servants and then his friend.
We have a lot more to be concerned about this election. Not just tariffs, social problems, etc. but the possibility of loosing many of our freedoms that many take for granted. A catch phrase used by an infamous entity may sum it up “you will own nothing and be happy”.
Please pray for each and every candidate that is running that the Lord will have His way and will bless them accordingly.
There is a promise revealed in Mark 9:30-32; “after three days he will rise”. When we are in the Lord, we will share in the resurrection power.
Happy voting and have a Blessed Easter
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