365 Reflections

Paul writes about an offender in 2 Corinthians that the church must now restore. Obviously, there has been repentance and remorse of his sin, and Paul is clear, they must welcome him back to the fellowship. Many people believe this is the man from 1 Corinthians 5 in the incestuous relationship with his stepmother, but we cannot be sure. We CAN be sure it was someone who wronged Paul personally, turning many people against him and his Apostolic ministry. He was dealt with by the Corinthians with proper discipline and he now seeks restoration within the body. What does Paul say? 2 Corinthians 2:8 (ESV) So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him. How would we do in Paul's place? When someone turns people against us, are we ready to beg others to forgive and love them? Or are we a bit skeptical of their remorse? Are we slightly turned off by them? Do they now wear a "scarlet letter" in our minds? We may not be nasty to them but we may simply regard them as pre...

Mark 4:35 (ESV)  On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side (of the sea).” Mark 5:1 (ESV) They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. Mark 5:21 (ESV) And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. There is something I learned recently.  The Sea of Galilee makes its first appearance in the New Testament.  Before Jesus, there is not one singe mention of this body of water.  Yet in the Synoptic Gospels, its mention is constant and central to the geographical movement of Christ with His disciples. Why? In the 1st Century, Israelites avoided traveling by sea.  You didn't do it unless you absolutely had to.  Israel was a nomadic land-loving people.  They were defined by the "Promised Land" of ages past.  They still felt a sense of belonging to the land.  Yes, four disciples w...