Here we are cruising through Mark chapter 9, headed back down the mountain...(did you catch how Messiah Jesus---recently "glorified" in the trans-figura experience---now comes down to engage humanity in its 'mess' in Mark 9:14-15?) Incarnation indeed...and then we happen upon verse 29. Wow. Jesus says: "These kind (the demonic kind he just dealt with)...can only come out by prayer. Some of the earliest manuscripts have it as..."these kind can only come out through prayer and fasting." That phrase is interesting to me because...thak about it...a prayer can happen in a instance, but...'fasting'...well, that can't be manufactured or microwaved instantly. Fasting speaks of a process bound in time and duration. Now, I'm not suggesting that those manuscripts have it right, but they do raise an interesting question. Which is...when Jesus frees the little boy from the demons...WHERE is "the prayer"? In fact, notice when Jesus does nearly any or all of his miracles...Where is the prayer?
Doesn't Jesus put a priority on prayer? He told the disciples in this passage that "by (through) prayer" was the ONLY way these forces of the Evil One could be dealt with effectively.
So..again...I ask: Where is the prayer? Where is the powerful, perfectly-worded, put-the-demons-on-the-run prayer?
Is Mark forgetting about the dynamic, hands-raised-toward-Heaven, thunder and lightening producing "super prayer" pronounced over the boy that sent the demons scurrying away?
Why don't the Gospel writers record those important words?
Wouldn't it be oh-so-helpful to have "that prayer" to recite when we need it most? Sort of like a theological light saber we could swing about in the midst of our spiritual warfare?
Well...I'm thinking that Mark and the other Gospel writers don't record the "magic" prayer that Jesus used in miraculous moments like the one in Mark 9:14-30...because there WASN'T one!
In his classic book, "The Divine Conspiracy" author, Dallas Willard, makes the statement:
"It is not enough to ask in a moment of need or temptation: 'What would Jesus do?' We must first consider the kind of life
that Jesus lived."
His point is...we cannot consistently DO what Jesus DID unless we live the (hidden) life that Jesus LIVED.
So...what if...THE PRAYER that Jesus is referring to has already happened...long before this encounter. More to the point, what if THAT prayer is the type of prayer that has already BEEN HAPPENING between Jesus and the Father for quite some time? Consider Mark 1:35 for instance. What if...the kind of prayer that "works" best with demons is the Mark 1:35 kind?
What if prayer is less about the emergency/magic bullet kind we frequently suppose it is, and more about this incredible dialogue (talking AND listening) we are having day by day with our Heavenly Father? What if Jesus easily casts out some demons which the disciples find impossible to handle---precisely because Jesus understands what it means to be alone with the Father and live "a life filled with prayer"? Hmm. I wonder.
I wonder if that is why the disciples soon come to Jesus and say: "Lord, teach us to pray." What if what they are really asking is: "Lord, would you teach us to pray LIKE YOU PRAY...(because your kind of prayer seems like what prayer is supposed to be like)?"
In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus invites to put on his "yoke". He descibes it as "light and easy" and as "perfectly fitting".
What has your experience with prayer been like?
Does the passage in Matthew seem likely? Possible? Why?
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Up and Down...the Mountain
This week's passage in Mark is...well..."amazing." Mark 9:2-13 is a timely response to the (possible?) doubt raised by all of Jesus' cross-talk at the end of chapter eight. Peter, James, and John get front row seats for an incredible encounter between Jesus, Yahweh, and a couple of their Hebrew heroes---Moses and Elijah. Sounds straight-forward enough, right?
I'm trusting you guys have some questions or comments...
"And he said to them, “I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power.” Mark 9:1
After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. Mark 9:2
His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. Mark 9:3
And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Mark 9:4
Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters — one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” Mark 9:5
(He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.) Mark 9:6
Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” Mark 9:7
Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus. Mark 9:8
As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. Mark 9:9
They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant. Mark 9:10
And they asked him, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?” Mark 9:11
Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected? Mark 9:12
But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him.”
Mark 9:1-13
I'm trusting you guys have some questions or comments...
"And he said to them, “I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power.” Mark 9:1
After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. Mark 9:2
His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. Mark 9:3
And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Mark 9:4
Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters — one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” Mark 9:5
(He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.) Mark 9:6
Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” Mark 9:7
Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus. Mark 9:8
As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. Mark 9:9
They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant. Mark 9:10
And they asked him, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?” Mark 9:11
Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected? Mark 9:12
But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him.”
Mark 9:1-13
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