We have all seen the images coming out of Afghanistan over the last weeks. Certainly they are images that touch our hearts and move us Christians to pray for God’s help and healing in that chaotic part of the world. But for the moment, I want you to “freeze” on one image you have seen. I want you to freeze your mind’s eye on the image of the U.S soldier dressed for combat. Can you picture it?
I don’t suppose the culture around us would have very good things to say about Joshua or about the words which he speaks in the text before us today. The cultural elites would probably brandish a few different labels to mark Joshua as someone out of step with their values.
Before us this morning is one of those things we find in the Bible called a “beatitude.” A beatitude is a statement of what is blessed. Perhaps the most well-known beatitudes in the Bible are those Jesus speaks in the Sermon on the Mount. Blessed are the poor in spirit…Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted…Blessed are the meek (Matthew 5), and so on. But those are by no means the only beatitudes found in Scripture.
If you have ever gone on a day hike in the mountains, then you know how important it is to pack some trail mix in your backpack. If you’ve ever run a marathon, then you know how essential it is to take some energy gels or energy gummies along with you on the race. And if you’ve ever worked a full morning out in the fields, then you know how necessary a good dinner is before heading out again for an afternoon of work.
Our culture is obsessed with the whole concept of the “makeover.” People love the home makeover shows. You know the ones. There’s Fixer Upper with Chip and Joanna, and there’s Design on a Dime, and Extreme Home Makeover: Home Edition, and Love It or List It, and on and on and on. For whatever reason people love to tune in to watch houses be transformed.
For today’s worship, guest Pastor Nathan Schulte joined our services. He has served in the mission field in Latin America. Pr. Schulte preached at both services and also gave a presentation between services about his work in Latin America.
t was nothing like this. The twelve apostles of Jesus were not able to sit down, and take a load off, and enjoy the outdoor serenity around them. They weren’t able to bask in the sunlight, they weren’t able to enjoy the songs of the birds. They weren’t able to grab a hot dog and a bag of chips and dig into a picnic lunch. As Mark tells us in today’s text, those apostles couldn’t even find time to eat, there was so much commotion around them.
See if you can relate to this: imagine a culture in which the people are for the most part living the good life. Politically things are stable; they are not a nation at war. Economically things are really quite nice. Many people are making a very comfortable living. The standard of living is high.
Two times in the recorded ministry of Jesus we are told that our Savior is amazed. Usually in the Gospels when the word “amazed” is used, it does not refer to Jesus but to the people around him. People are amazed at the preaching of Jesus, or people are amazed at the miracles he performs. Yet, there are two occasions recorded in which the Son of God is amazed.
Every fiber of his being must have been screaming, “This can’t be happening! She’s only 12! Twelve year olds are supposed to be healthy and full of life! But now life is slipping away from my little girl!” But there was hope. Jesus of Nazareth was in town, not far away at all! He had heard about Jesus. This is the one who touches blind eyes and they see, touches deaf ears and they hear, touches leprous skin and it is healthy and whole, touches bent and crippled limbs and they are strong and good. He could go to Jesus now. If Jesus would just touch his little girl she would be healed and would live. But he must go fast. Not a second to wait!
