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We’re in Mark 5 this week. About half way through the chapter a massive crowd has (again) gathered around Jesus. They have heard the things he has been doing and saying and so they come - either out of curiousity or need - they come. It is in the midst of all this noise and commotion that a man by the name of Jarius falls at Jesus’ feet. His daughter is dying and he needs Jesus to come to his home to heal her. Jesus agrees and immediately they leave. While they are on their way some people from Jarius’ home arrive with the worst news. His daughter is dead. No need to bother the teacher now, they say. It’s too late.

But Jesus turns to Jarius and says: “Don’t listen to them; just trust me.”

If I had been Jarius I’m not sure if I would have been able to do that. Out of all the voices in my head, I’m not sure I could have believed the one voice that sounded different from all the rest. Would you have been able to?

I mean, the people who delivered the news were likely Jarius’ friends or family. Why would they lie to him about this? Exactly - they wouldn’t. She was dead. This was no joking matter. And then when they reach his home, all those who are gathered are wailing and weeping. Why? Because she is dead. There was nothing to argue about - nothing to do. It was over.

“Don’t listen to them; just trust me.”

Today, I invite you to ask these questions with me: who am I listening to?

Whose voice has my ear?

Do I believe Jesus’ words to me, even if they sound different from all the rest?

Back in middle school I remember learning the basic elements of any good story: relatedable characters who get caught up in escalating conflict, which finally reaches its climax and is followed by a resolution. Sorry to bring you back to the awkward middle school years, but is this ringing a bell? (Can you believe our parents paid to have our school pictures taken then?) Anyway…these elements, when put together well, create drama - drama that moves us. Drama that changes us.

Notice what is going on in the beginning of the book of Mark (we’re in chapter three this week). Right away we’re introduced to the most riveting and relatable person - Jesus - who calls the most ordinary people to follow him. Immediately after this, the conflict begins. People - all sorts of people - begin to challenge Jesus: John the Baptist’s disciples, the Pharisees, even Jesus’ family.

Now, when you think about it Mark didn’t have to tell us about these little skirmishes. He could have focused soley on the miracles - or on the conversations Jesus had with his disciples. But Mark makes sure we’re aware - from the beginning - that Jesus is being challenged. Why does Mark do this? There are lots of reasons, I suppose. But one, I think, is that Mark is trying to tell us a story. He’s not just writing a list of rules or teachings. He’s not even writing history for history’s sake. He’s writing a story - a story about real people, who walked on real dirt, who faced real challenges and struggles - and he wants us to feel this. To be moved. Ultimately, to be changed.

So my encouragement to you as we read through Mark together is to enter fully into the story. Don’t read it from a distance, but feel what is going on. Smell the smells. Hear the voices. Take on the emotions. If we do this, the Scriptures will come alive and change us.

Anticipating that change -

Chris

After some time off from blog-writing, Andy and I are back and we’re looking forward to our journey through Mark (see the reading schedule to join us).

But more than letting you know that we’ll be writing again, we wanted to strongly encourage you to JOIN the conversation. Sure….Andy and I like to read what we write - who doesn’t? (please note the sarcasm) - but we would take great delight in having you…yes, you….join us. To do so, simple click on the comment link below any post and start typing.

Oh sure, I know what you’re thinking: “I can’t write online. I don’t have anything good to say.” But as my dad told me when I crashed the lawnmower into a creek and blamed it on my brother, “Son, that’s hogwash.”

So…take the leap. Click and type. It doesn’t have to be long or fancy or impressive (just read our previous blog posts for the proof). But adding your voice benefits us all. We hope you join us!

OK… so, I wasn’t going to write about this here but… well… I just can’t help seeing this from a justice perspective…

If you haven’t heard about RiverTown demanding the immediate removal of the bus stop from their property, please take a moment and read this article.

As a daily bus rider this is just very offensive and frankly pretty depressing. This seems like classism to me. Zimmerman pretty much comes out and says he doesn’t consider anyone who might ride the bus a ‘mall customer’ and he would rather they not be allowed to somehow upset the hummer-driving, suburbia-dwelling rich folk that are considered ‘mall customers’… Dang it, I was trying not to get worked up on the blog, but… * sigh * well anyways, if you feel like this is an issue of justice and would like to lend your voice, head on over here for some links to RiverTown management as well as the mall owners.

Remember, “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” -MLK

Sometimes the first step in fighting injustice is becoming informed. With that in mind, we wanted to get you the website addresses we’ve referenced thoughout the justice series. Some will provide info - others a unique perspective - others a way to get involved.

AIDS websites

one.org (a where millions are adding their voice to stop injustice)

data.org (raising awareness on the issues of debt, AIDS, and trade in Africa)

POVERTY websites

oxfamamerica.org (creating practical ways to fight hunger and poverty)

kiva.org (make a small amount of money go a long way)

haitichildren.org (view the slideshow to learn more about Haiti (left column), get a newsletter, or donate)

evangelicalsfordarfur.org (add your voice to the campaign, send a letter to the president, and learn more about the injustice taht must be stopped).

PALESTINE websites

marlinsallyvis.typepad.com (Marlin and Sally Vis’ blog. They live and write about their experience in East Jerusalem)

cmep.org (Churches for Middle East Peace)

OTHERS to consider

idealbite.com (sign up for daily, practical tips on how you can make a difference)

So, we wrapped up the justice series on Sunday, but I’ve still got a few things bouncing around in my mind (surprise, surprise) and I thought I’d write them down.

After talking about injustice for five weeks, I am absolutely - unquestionably - convinced that things like poverty and AIDS and genocide should be eradicated. But…you know what? If I’m being honest, there is still a part of me that does not believe that it can be eradicated. I mean…we’ve all seen the pictures and heard the statistics. Can we really make a dent? Injustice is just a part of life, right?

Take hunger. Every day, 800 million people go to bed hungry and 24,000 people die from not having enough food (that’s one every 3.6 seconds). This is tragic, but it’s just the way it is, right?

It is tragic, but it isn’t the way it has to be. It would take roughly 13 billion dollars a year to end hunger for the earth’s poorest citizens. A large sum of money, to be sure, but every year 18 billion dollars is spent on pet food in the U.S. and Europe. This year, Americans spent 4.96 billion on Halloween. Halloween!!! Now, I’m not saying that we should all get rid of our pets - but I am saying that a lack of money doesn’t seem to be the problem.

Or check this out. A drug called cortimoxazole - used to treat AIDS - costs just 3 cents per day per person. Is providing this amount of money beyond our reach?

So…I guess there’s a part of me that doubts that I…or we…can do anything. But that’s beginning to change. God is doing something to my heart and mind to help me believe that not only should injustice be overturned, but it can be. Change can happen. It is possible.

Isaiah 58:2-3 (God is speaking) They ask me to take action on their behalf, pretending they want to be near me. ‘We have fasted before you!’ they say. ‘Why aren’t you impressed? We have been very hard on ourselves, and you don’t even notice it!’

The peoples’ compaint has a familar ring to it - at least it does to me. I’ve often asked God: “Why don’t you answer me?” “Why don’t you speak?” “Don’t you see that I’m doing all of the right things?”

I’ve been wondering these last few weeks if the reason why I often (not always - but often) don’t hear from God is because I am living the way Israel lived. Notice God’s promise in verse nine:

Then when you call, the Lord will answer. ‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply.

The “then” of this verse (also used in verses 8, 10, and 12) is key, I think. If I’m reading the text right (and maybe I’m not…but if I am) then it seems that God’s response to us is directly tied to our pursuit of justice, or lack thereof. God tells us that when we remove the chains that bind people, then our salvation will come like the dawn. When we feed the hungry, then the Lord will guide us continually. And the list goes on.

The promises of Isaiah 58 are breathtakingly amazing. But I will only begin to live into these promises when my heart beats for justice. One does not happen without the other. So this is what I am praying for. I am asking for a heart that beats differently - a heart that is able to see injustice and stand up against it.

If it seems to fit where you are I’d encourage you to spend some time today - it could be just a few minutes - talking to God about these promises, asking for a heart that beats as Jesus’ heart did. God wants nothing less than to give this to you.

Up next is Isaiah 58:6-12 (if you haven’t read verses 1-5 check out yesterday’s post). I’ve got some thoughts on these verses that I want to share with you - but I’m going to wait until tomorrow. Today, I want to encourage you to simply spend your time reading these six verses until something begins to “stick” or stand out. As you do this, let me offer two simple things that have helped me tremendously: (1) read the passage slowly - there’s no rush - let every word sink in - and (2) read it repeatedly - read these six verses as many times as needed (it usually takes me three or four times minimum) until your mind and heart quiet down enough to hear from God.

Enough said. I’ll ’see’ you tomorrow.

6 “No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. 7 Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help.

8 “Then your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind. 9 Then when you call, the Lord will answer. ‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply.

“Remove the heavy yoke of oppression. Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors! 10 Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon. 11 The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring. 12 Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities. Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls and a restorer of homes.

As we near the end of this series on justice I want to invite you to immerse yourself in some of the passages that have spurred us on the last few weeks.

Today, it’s Isaiah 58. I want to read just the first five verses (we’ll save the rest for tomorrow). At the beginning of this chapter, God commands the prophet to turn up the volume because the people of Israel need to be woken up. Even though their religious activity was alive and well they had managed to spark God’s anger. Why? Let’s let the text speak for itself:

1 “Shout with the voice of a trumpet blast. Shout aloud! Don’t be timid. Tell my people Israel of their sins! 2 Yet they act so pious! They come to the Temple every day and seem delighted to learn all about me. They act like a righteous nation that would never abandon the laws of its God. They ask me to take action on their behalf, pretending they want to be near me. 3 ‘We have fasted before you!’ they say. ‘Why aren’t you impressed? We have been very hard on ourselves, and you don’t even notice it!’ “I will tell you why!” I respond. “It’s because you are fasting to please yourselves. Even while you fast, you keep oppressing your workers. 4 What good is fasting when you keep on fighting and quarreling? This kind of fasting will never get you anywhere with me. 5 You humble yourselves by going through the motions of penance, bowing your heads like reeds bending in the wind. You dress in burlap and cover yourselves with ashes. Is this what you call fasting? Do you really think this will please the Lord?

What’s so amazing to me is how clueless the people of Israel seem to be. “Us?” they ask. “Can’t be. We’re religious. We’re doing what God wants.” But then there is that haunting question at the end of verse five: “Do you really think this will please the Lord?”

I wonder: how often have I been clueless? How often have I spent my time pursuing religion — thinking that it would please God? How often have I made sure I could check off some Christian “to-do” list believing that it was what mattered most? How often have I gotten it all wrong - thinking that I had it all right?

“Do you really think this will please the Lord?” I’m going to carry this hard question around with me today and let it be my companion; because I don’t want to fool myself anymore. I want to see things as they really are. How about you?