40 WAYS IN 40 DAYS LENT 2015

# 3 Find New Direction: Where am I going? (Repentance/Conversion) Mark 1:4-5,14-15 

Mark 1:4 & 14

Reflection

Repentance.  Conversion.  If I was teaching a science class I would be calling these the ‘technical vocabulary’, the big words that belong to this topic that we might not fully understand yet but we can’t talk about the topic without them.  Mark begins his gospel with John, a wild man preaching a gospel of repentance for the forgiveness of sins – then John goes to prison and Jesus appears in the narrative, with that same call, “Repent!”

I wonder if with the luxury of a couple of thousand years of hearing these words repeated if perhaps they have lost their power for those of us living in an academic world?  Do we really repent, or do we simply tell God about our sins?  There’s a huge difference between the former and the latter I would suggest.  I vividly remember the night of my most powerful repentance experience, many years after I first believed in Jesus and asked him to forgive me of my sins.  At this point in my life I had done something I never thought I would do and as a result I was pretty damaged.  It was the middle of the night, it was hot, I was naked and alone and sobs wracked my body.  Then as I cried and I shook and the kingdom of God came near.  In my anguish I felt the spirit of God come alongside me and answer my deepest, darkest question, the one that I couldn’t voice, “Can you forgive me?”.  Now you might think me crazy but I heard the words as clear as if you were speaking to me, the words of the prophet Joel, “Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart” – and in the dark, through the breathless sobs I poured out my heart, the litany of my sins, and after each one again came the reassurance, “Even now”.  Again and again, “Even now”.  That was not the night I became a Christian, but it was the night I repented, believed and was converted.  Now of course not every experience can, or should, be like that – but if our repentance has become more of an academic exercise then perhaps we need to go back to the wild man in the desert, hear the words anew and be shocked at the power of the idea.

– BP, Newmarket Baptist

40 WAYS IN 40 DAYS LENT 2015

#2 Understand Location Mark 1:5 & 9

Falls Festival Promo Video.

Mark 1:5,9

Mark’s story of Jesus comes to us from the wilderness and narrates journeys of people traveling from Jerusalem and Judea to the backwater regions of Galilee.   Although he dressed wild and was apparently pretty loud I’m not sure that John the Baptist was an alt. rock act. (He did die after a dance party got wild!).  For me this gospel image captures throngs of people fleeing the city at summer time for the music festival experience.

Hair Metal John the Baptist Rocks Out…. by Alexandre Cabanel

It is often said that where we stand determines what we see.  The corollary of this is if we take Mark’s  ‘way’ / journey motif seriously, our starting location must also be important to understand in which direction we each will need to travel on the journey toward Jesus.

This gives us an understanding that the direction that some people will need to take will be different for different people.

Beyond physical geography, elements of gender, race and class are also important markers for location.  We will see in Mark’s story that of the diverse disciples and participants in Jesus healing ministry, some are called to follow Jesus closely to new places while others are ordered away from Jesus to remain, live and serve in their own places.

In terms of geographic location, Mark’s story mostly seems to avoid the big emerging Roman towns and architecture that modern archeology reveals dominated the 1st century landscape. Major centres like Sephoris  just a few miles from Nazareth go unmentioned as if to say don’t be distracted by the big ‘happening’ places.

The story asks us to trust that it is often from the byways,  from the unlikely, ordinary people and places that we we least expect; The ‘Nazareth’s’ of our lives if you will,  where Jesus will find us and from which that the good news will continue to emerge.

Question:
In what geographical, social, cultural, gender location do you find yourself standing?  Given this place, what direction will the first step of following Jesus take for you?

– MC, Newmarket Baptist

40 WAYS IN 40 DAYS LENT 2015

#1 Prepare the Way: Discipleship is a Road Movie Mark 1:1-3

Mark 1:1-3

The first command of the gospel is about road building!

It’s an image that is powerful.  As we have seen in our  local political context of inner city car vs. public transport debates  (i.e. East West Link roads compensation arguments and this weeks establishment of a Metro Rail Authority) ‘Preparing a Way’ is the stuff that wins and loses elections.  In the ancient mind it is also powerful; a thoroughly urban imagery of occupying empires who built straight roads!

In contrast Mark’s story plays the urban imagery alongside the imagery of the wilderness; a place of waiting & preparation. In the ancient world, (as today) many groups seeking freedom from the empires started there. (e.g. Acts 5).  The wilderness was a  symbol loaded with hope.

At this summer time of the year many of us make time to get out of our urban dynamic and experience something of the wilderness. It offers renewal and perspective.

Mark’s ‘Prepare the Way’ invitation gives a nod to the great tradition of Hebrew prophetic spirituality (Isaiah 40)  This is comforting, inspiring language… ‘rising up on wings of eagles’ type promises for an oppressed and downcast people.

However it is also a reference to Malachai 3:1.  It’s a passage full of Messianic expectation which suggests God is coming to judge a corrupt political and economic system. It’s an early hint of Mark’s Jesus own anti-Temple agenda that will emerge strongly through the rest of his story.

‘ The way’ is a key metaphor of Mark’s story and was the defining name for the early movements of Jesus followers.

It’s also a reference to the imagery of Exodus 23:20 .  A promise made on the eve of an ‘Occupy’ insurgency of liberated slaves seeking to live an alternative Sabbath lifestyle amidst the Egyptian economy of its day. It suggests this story will be all about alternative ways of seeing, being and living.

The ‘journey motif’ for spiritual and personal transformation is often overused but it remains enduring.  This top ten list of road movies is just one of many example’s of our ongoing fascination .

Questions…

Recall a recent ‘wilderness’ experience or a cry/voice from outside your comfort zone.  How was it renewing or challenging for you

Imagine a new roads /’way’ opening up in your life or community.  What comfort/liberation/ judgement would such a way bring?

– MC, Newmarket Baptist