On last Lord’s day, Pastor Fisher opened a topic challenging us to examine our personal value of worshipping God, the Father of our LORD Jesus Christ. This week as we continue with our study through the gospel of Mark with a similar topic dealing further with understanding the link between love, indifference, and hate. As we take a look at the people who surrounded Messiah at this crucial time approaching the Passover, let us ask the question where do we stand concerning our orientation toward Jesus Christ? Let us find out from the Scriptures what those who were with Christ were experiencing on this topic! So, open your bible take a few notes and listen today as we return to our ongoing study through the gospel of Mark as our teacher Pastor Fisher shares in a teaching which he calls “Love Indifference and Hate”.
Old Testament Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 15:1 – 11 (KJV)
Deu 15:1 At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release.
Deu 15:2 And this is the manner of the release: Every creditor that lendeth ought unto his neighbour shall release it; he shall not exact it of his neighbour, or of his brother; because it is called the LORD’S release.
Deu 15:3 Of a foreigner thou mayest exact it again: but that which is thine with thy brother thine hand shall release;
Deu 15:4 Save when there shall be no poor among you; for the LORD shall greatly bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it:
Deu 15:5 Only if thou carefully hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all these commandments which I command thee this day.
Deu 15:6 For the LORD thy God blesseth thee, as he promised thee: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow; and thou shalt reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over thee.
Deu 15:7 If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:
Deu 15:8 But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth.
Deu 15:9 Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the LORD against thee, and it be sin unto thee.
Deu 15:10 Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto.
Deu 15:11 For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.
New Testament Scripture Reading: Mark 14:6 – 12 (KJV)
Mark 14:6 And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. Mark 14:7 For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. Mark 14:8 She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. Mark 14:9 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her. Mark 14:10 And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them. Mark 14:11 And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him. Mark 14:12 And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover?
Transforming Power Statements:
#1) It is a hard but obvious fact that each person stands at one of two extremes with respect to their relationship to Jesus; either you love Him or you hate Him; while the fact is that He said no man can serve two masters; he who is not with Me is against Me; I am the way, the truth, and the life; etc. thereby drawing as it were a line between the lovers and the haters.
#2) There is an enormous difference between the unlimited love shown by the woman with the alabaster box versus the hatred shown by Judas and the religious leaders, and even between the indifference of his disciples who were arguing about personal greatness rather than seizing the moment to just simply love , appreciate and enjoy Jesus, God in the flesh, as He was THERE WITH THEM!! Preparing to go to the cross to offer to God the ultimate sacrifice FOR THEM!
#3) Jesus knew and taught that there would always be the poor as long as there is the existence of sin, and as long as there exists indifference and hate. Only love can overpower indifference and hate; and at the cross, and the empty tomb, the victory for all who love Jesus was secured.
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