Bible in One Year

In 2023, the Ginghamsburg Church community is following the Bible in One Year reading plan. Anyone can download the Bible in One Year app and join the discussion in the comments below, or by joining and posting to the ginghamsburg facebook group. The following post is a reflection written by Ginghamsburg Church community member Deb Jung.

As I reflected on the scripture readings for this week, my thoughts kept returning to the end of Matthew and the beginning of Mark. What an enormous contrast! Matthew takes us through the painful account of the trial and crucifixion of our Lord and then Mark starts out with the ministry of Jesus as he calls his disciples and ministers to the demon possessed, the paralyzed man, the man with the withered hand and others. Mark 3:7-8 tells us that throngs and multitudes of people were showing up to hear the teaching of this rabbi and to seek healing.

BUT…even this early in his ministry Mark 3:6 reveals that the Pharisees were already plotting to kill him! The crowds of people were enthralled with this Jesus and followed him from place to place during his years of ministry in Galilee. BUT…in a few short years the crowd in Jerusalem, after adoring and singing Hosanna to him as he rode on a donkey, turned on him when they realized he was not going to overthrow the Roman rulers. Instead, they shouted, “Crucify him!”, moving from being followers to being those who convicted him to death.

Not to this extreme, but are we sometimes fickle in our relationship to Jesus? Sometimes close and sometimes not so close? After his arrest, the disciples fled and three times Peter denied him. We may ebb and flow in our relationship with our Lord, but Hebrews 13:8 says “Jesus Christ (Messiah), is [always] the same, yesterday, today, [yes] and forever (to the ages).” (The Amplified Bible) He consistently loves and forgives us.
Lord, forgive me when I am inconsistent in my walk with you. Holy Spirit, speak to me and help me to “flow” toward you instead of “ebbing” away. Amen.