SCRIPTURE: Mark 15:38-41
The law of attraction – or ‘like attracts like’ – helps us understand why so many women were drawn to Jesus.
They were accustomed to being used, abused, treated as second-class, or less.
They also had the mother’s heart, which is an image of God’s heart, sensitive to suffering and need.
Jesus was not feminine in these qualities, but God-like.
He preached weakness (or meekness), sympathy, caring… He practiced it, and He urged it upon His followers.
It was Jesus’ weakness that drew the women (not romantically but sympathetically), and that repulsed many men.
Not all, this Roman soldier – a man accustomed to use of force and masculine strength – saw Jesus’ divine strength.
Perhaps living by force helped him see it’s limitations, it’s brutal devastation on the world and the soul.
There is something in human nature – whether male or female – that reacts and responds to the strength of meekness.
I believe it is our original nature showing through, our God-likeness that is moved by it.
If our hearts are open, we will be attracted to it.
But sadly many hearts resist it, are repulsed by it, and do whatever they can to crucify it.
Am I drawn to the strength of meekness, kindness, am I inclined to join Jesus in it… or to avoid it?
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, the attraction of power is strong, but deceiving. Help me to experience the strength of being gentle, humble, kind, sympathetic, servant-hearted, of allowing Your heart to draw me to Yours!
Jesus follower
trying to find His way
A good lesson for the day, Karen. Just being with God, whether we understand things or learn lessons – or not – is it’s own reward. Makes me think of how many times Jesus’ followers were not sure what He was saying to them either. But they were with Jesus!
Not sure what to make of this passage. I am not sure what God is saying to me here. But I am here reading it … Maybe that’s my lesson for today… Taking the time to be open to God is important even when the passage doesn’t seem to speak to me in an obvious way. Lord, I am thankful that you are here with me in the secret … In the quiet place.
Observation/Application
Christ revealed. The curtain was torn. He is no longer hidden. We has free access.
The soldier had seen many deaths on the cross and yet . . . none like this. The events of the day do have a significant effect upon our lives especially when we see them through ‘God’s eyes.’ There was something special and significant about this death and the Spirit moved him.
And the women . . .
Watching at a distance . . .
He had spoken to them in days past and hit upon their hearts and their station in life and given them hope and they had cared for Him for they believed in Him and . . .
now their emotions ran high for their teacher was upon the cross. Their rabbi.
At times our emotions drive our actions as did the time when we became guardians of two ‘boat children.’ Our intellectual thoughts and implications came later.
God speaks to His people in many ways to call His servants, His champions to action to be His instruments.
Prayer
Thank You for Your Word this morning that once again I am called to be driven to service. Lead me and guide me like You did to the soldier and the women. Open my eyes Lord this day.
Let all things now living a song of thanksgiving
To God the creator triumphantly raise.
Who fashioned and made us, protected and stayed us,
Who still guides us on to the end of our days.
God’s banners are o’er us, His light goes before us,
A pillar of fire shining forth in the night.
Till shadows have vanished and darkness is banished
As forward we travel from light into light.
His law he enforces, the stars in their courses
And sun in its orbit obediently shine;
The hills and the mountains, the rivers and fountains,
The deeps of the ocean proclaim him divine.
We too should be voicing our love and rejoicing;
With glad adoration a Song let us raise
Till all things now living unite in thanksgiving:
“To God in the highest, Hosanna and praise!”