Author: NBibens

They Did Not Understand This Saying

In Mark 9:32, the disciples didn’t understand Jesus’ statement about His impending death and resurrection in Jerusalem. Today, many don’t understand the Lord’s teachings or those of His apostles, and Biblical statements are often taken out of context and misunderstood. In this sermon, Elder James Smith considers some critical yet frequently misunderstood passages so that instead of misusing them, we can understand them and rightly apply them in our lives!

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Empty-Handed

What do we offer to the Lord? Some people make the point that there is nothing we can offer God. There is no worth we bring to the relationship. There’s nothing we can give that God lacks. There is some truth to this idea. But we should be wary. Some take this idea to the extreme that there’s nothing we should or can do aside from believing in God and being thankful He saved us. But listen to Deuteronomy 16:16: “Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord your God at the place that he will choose: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Booths. They shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed.”

We are entirely indebted to God and His gracious love. But God has always expected His faithful people to serve Him diligently. If you were to meet the Lord today, would you appear before him empty-handed?

And God Knew

The final chapters of Genesis explain how Jacob’s family became welcome guests in Egypt. But Exodus opens to a very different scene. A Pharaoh who didn’t know his history concerning Joseph and the Israelites rose to power. As is the tendency of carnally minded rulers, he began worrying about power. He worried the Israelite population would pose a military threat, so he oppressed them. Instead of welcome neighbors, they became slaves, forced into hard labor by cruel taskmasters. As the years dragged on, the Israelites began to call out to God, and God heard their cry. Exodus 2:25 says, “God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.”

What a beautiful reminder. In our darkest hours, God sees us. When seemingly unbearable burdens crush us, God knows our plight. And while He may work in ways we don’t always see or understand, we can trust that when we cry out to God in faith, He hears, He sees, He knows, He cares, and He acts for the good of His children.

Bear Witness to the Wrong

During Jesus’ trial, the High Priest questioned Him about His disciples and His teaching. Jesus answered with the truth—He had spoken openly in the synagogues and in the Temple. His ministry hadn’t been secretive. They knew exactly what He had done and taught. When Jesus answered this way, one of the officers hit Jesus. To this violent outburst, Jesus responded, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?”[1]

People often resort to attacks instead of honest deliberation when there is a disagreement. Maybe it’s not physical attacks like the officer who struck Jesus, but people often lash out with verbal or emotional attacks. If someone behaves or speaks incorrectly, do as Jesus said—bear witness to the wrong. But if there is no wrong to be corrected, don’t resort to personal attacks because of arrogance and a desire to defeat another who doesn’t even need to be your opponent.

[1] Cf. John 18:19-23

You Are a Lawbreaker

Do you ever feel like other people’s failings are worse than your own? It’s an easy trap to fall into. Most of us are quite capable of explaining away our shortcomings while seeing looming devastation in the shortcomings of others. We tend to see others’ failures as “big” while ours are “small.” But at the end of the day, a failure is a failure, and sin is sin. James 2:10-11 says, “For whoever keeps the entire law, and yet stumbles at one point, is guilty of breaking it all. For he who said, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ also said, ‘Do not murder.’ So if you do not commit adultery, but you murder, you are a lawbreaker.”[1]

We may think someone else’s sin is worse than ours. But our sin is bad enough. Our sin, “small” as we think it is, separates us from God and makes us unholy sinners. And that means we need God’s mercy just as much as anyone else. 

[1] CSB

The Problem with “Why?”

Sometimes, we face terrible hardship or even tragedy. During dark and painful times, it’s tempting to question God. Why does He allow suffering? Why doesn’t He fix things? Why doesn’t He act sooner? Again and again, we might find ourselves asking, “why?” But there are two major reasons we should not question God.

First, we are incapable of truly understanding God’s wisdom and purposes. He is all-knowing, and we are not. His thoughts and ways are higher than ours, and we simply cannot fathom all of God’s potential reasons.[1] God has revealed what we need to know, and that is enough for us to trust in Him. 

Second, we are unworthy of asking God “why?” and unworthy of knowing all His ways and reasons. God is perfect; we are not. God is holy; we have sinned. And yet, despite this, God loves us enough to work for us and offer us redemption. Our place is to thankfully trust and obey Him and His plan.

[1] Isaiah 55:9

Why Does He Speak Like That?

A paralyzed man’s friends once brought him to Jesus, and when they couldn’t reach the Lord because of the crowd, they went to the house’s roof, opened a hole, and lowered their friend to Jesus. When the Lord saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Some people nearby heard this, and Mark says they asked, “Why does this man speak like that?”[1] They thought Jesus blasphemed because only God can forgive sins. And they would have been right if Jesus was just a man. But Jesus is not just a man—He is the Son of God, the eternal Word incarnate. Thus, He does have power to forgive sins. 

But the question is a good one: “why does Jesus speak the way he does?” Because He is the Lord. His words are not just healing—they are also authoritative. And because He is the Lord, we must listen to and obey His words.

[1] Cf. Mark 2:1-12