WATCHWORD:
27 Jesus and his disciples left Galilee and went up to the villages near Caesarea Philippi. As they were walking along, he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”
28 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other prophets.”
29 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?
Peter replied, “You are the Messiah.”
30 But Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him. Mark 8:27-30
Meditation:
At Jesus Feet: Part 1
Let me describe to you in a word picture. You are in Jerusalem, at the house of Mary. She’s expecting Jesus and his friends to arrive soon, and she is preparing a simple meal. She’s looking forward to this time together, it is always a good evening, filled with stories and humor.
And here they are, Jesus and many of his disciples and followers, they smile as they file in and make themselves at home in the gathering room. They have been here many times, using Mary’s house life a fellowship hall, a church.
These times together follow a comfortable routine, because everyone likes the easy way Jesus has of relating to all those present and they like what he has to say and they listen. It will be later when we understand fully those conversations; friendly, full of humor and lessons in life are from not a man but God himself. But who do you say I am? You are the Messiah.
For now, the conversation goes on and Mary’s son, John Mark, comes and joins in. He is just a lad of possibly 16 or so and takes a seat on the floor at Jesus’s feet. He listens to what Jesus has to say, and the comments and questions by these friends of Jesus. His mother has spoken many times about much of what is being said, and so as he listens, he believes that this is the truth. It will be sometime later, years later, after a not very successful, and abbreviated, mission trip with Paul, that the full impact of his time at Jesus feet will hit him, when he becomes the writer of the earliest gospel. But for now, he’s just a kid, learning.
What about you? How did that process begin that brought you to where you are now in your belief? What event, or person touched you so deeply that you were changed. That you were transformed from maybe a good person into a blessed person? Perhaps it took adversity, a crisis, or as a friend once told me, it took a heart attack and in a ride in an ambulance to open his eyes to the presence of Jesus in his life.
The transformation that each one of us has gone through, is unique to us. Have you ever read a passage in scripture, familiar, maybe one that you had memorized as a child, but as you read it now, for the first time you are struck by the deeper meaning and it affects you in ways you never expected? The meaning of the Word was always there but the eyes of your heart were not open until now. And Jesus says you must be born again.
For John Mark, sitting there at Jesus’ feet, following along Jesus teachings and what his mother had reinforced, to the Mark that fills pages of the Holy Bible, there was a transformation. A re-birth. May it be so with you. Amen.
Bulletin Board:
From Beth — Call me strange, but I actually really like the passage (Ecclesiastes 2:17-25) in yesterday’s reading. It’s so honest and beautiful in its way.
Closing Prayer:
Dear God, We thank you for waking us up today. You have given us another sunrise to enjoy. Thank you for the wonderful sounds of nature and the cool breeze brushing through the trees making the birds sing beautiful melodies. We praise You, Creator Father, for allowing us to live another beautiful and peaceful day in Your Kingdom. Amen.
