Not since 1932 has the United States dominated the Winter Olympics like it has this year. To our Canadian readers (my cousin Kerri, for one), I’m not trying to gloat. But it’s been almost 80 years since we’ve performed like this.
And for the first time in at least 20 years, I’ve actually set apart time to watch the Olympics with my family. What an enjoyable experience.
Growing up, our family watched both the Summer and Winter Olympics every four years. Franz Klammer and Scott Hamilton were Olympic medalists whom I admired. But something happened in my teens. I grew familiar with watching them. Over time, I grew bored and stopped watching them altogether. Until this year.
In today’s reading, we’ll look at what happens when we become familiar with something (actually someone) more important than the Winter Olympics. Please join me!
TODAY’S READING
Leviticus 13:1-59
Mark 6:1-29
Psalm 39:1-13
Proverbs 10:10
INSIGHTS AND EXPLANATIONS
Leviticus 13. The leprosy this chapter—and the rest of Scripture—refers to isn’t the kind where a “face-off in the corner” means literally a face off in the corner. It’s more accurately rendered “lesion” or “scaly skin.”
The New Bible Commentary further explains, “The unfortunate person pronounced unclean by the priest because of a serious skin disease was required to do several things which were tantamount to mourning rites, involving torn clothes, unkempt hair and a covered lower face. In a sense he or she was virtually counted ‘dead’, since the disease had allowed death to invade a still living body, and was condemned to a life of separation from both the community and the place of worship.”
The plight of lepers in Bible times make Jesus’ acceptance of them that much more pronounced.
Mark 6: 6. The New Bible Commentary offers an interesting insight: “Usually, Mark says that people were amazed at Jesus; here, he says that Jesus was amazed at them.” It’s also interesting that Jesus didn’t work miracles to build faith; he worked miracles in response to faith.
Mark 6:6-13. Isn’t it interesting that his disciples followed in Jesus’ footsteps? Jesus, the former carpenter, wasn’t flashy. In the same way, he sent out his disciples as peasants who relied on God to provide for their needs through the generosity of the people they helped. Their mission wasn’t to make money, their mission was to help people.
If you’ve found A Daily Bible Conversation helpful, share it with your friends! Forward your daily email or send them a link to the website: http://www.bibleconversation.com.
THE WORD MADE FRESH
Throughout his ministry, Jesus encountered criticism from the people closest to him. Earlier in Mark, we read that his family thought he was crazy. In Mark 6:1-6 we learn that the people in his hometown doubted him. Familiarity truly breeds contempt.
Mark offers a sad commentary on the people’s familiarity with Jesus: “they took offense at him.” The Greek word, skandalízō, means to stumble. What made them stumble? Jesus was so…human. They grew up with Jesus. They knew his father Joseph before he died. They watched Jesus hone his skills as a carpenter. How could Jesus, a carpenter, become the Messiah? How could the Messiah be just like them? But he was and he is!
I grew up with Jesus, too. All too easily I become familiar with him. I read nice stories about Jesus in my Bible and they fail to move me. I receive communion every week at church and fail to appreciate the sacrifice Jesus made on my behalf to forgive my sin.
Fortunately, Mark offers a clue to breaking out of our familiarity with Jesus in verse 5: “He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them.” The people who Jesus healed were the ones who were sick. They humbled themselves enough to ask him to intervene.
We so easily become enamored with ourselves that we fail to believe we’re sick and broken. When we fail to acknowledge our brokenness, we fail to see our need for Jesus.
I’m not advocating that we brow-beat ourselves, but an honest acknowledgement of our brokenness places us in the position for Jesus to heal us. By acknowledgement, I don’t mean a general “I’m messed up.” What are the specifics of your brokeness?
Acknowledging them may help you break out of your familiarity with Jesus.
CONVERSATION STARTERS
- What spoke to you in today’s reading?
- What causes people to become familiar with Jesus? What causes you to be familiar with Jesus? How can you tell when you’ve become “familiar”?
- What brokenness can you acknowledge to Jesus?
If you’re reading this blog on FaceBook and you’d like to join the conversation, click here.
Michael co-pastors The Neighborhood Church in Littleton, Colorado.
The Neighborhood Café 