“Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.”
NUMBERS 16-17
1The Lord said to Moses, 2“Speak to the Israelites and get twelve staffs from them, one from the leader of each of their ancestral tribes. Write the name of each man on his staff. 3On the staff of Levi write Aaron’s name, for there must be one staff for the head of each ancestral tribe. 4Place them in the tent of meeting in front of the ark of the covenant law, where I meet with you. 5The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout, and I will rid myself of this constant grumbling against you by the Israelites.”6So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and their leaders gave him twelve staffs, one for the leader of each of their ancestral tribes, and Aaron’s staff was among them. 7Moses placed the staffs before the Lord in the tent of the covenant law.8The next day Moses entered the tent and saw that Aaron’s staff, which represented the tribe of Levi, had not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds.(17:1-8)
1The Lord said to Moses, 2“Speak to the Israelites and get twelve staffs from them, one from the leader of each of their ancestral tribes. Write the name of each man on his staff. 3On the staff of Levi write Aaron’s name, for there must be one staff for the head of each ancestral tribe. 4Place them in the tent of meeting in front of the ark of the covenant law, where I meet with you. 5The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout, and I will rid myself of this constant grumbling against you by the Israelites.”
6So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and their leaders gave him twelve staffs, one for the leader of each of their ancestral tribes, and Aaron’s staff was among them. 7Moses placed the staffs before the Lord in the tent of the covenant law.
8The next day Moses entered the tent and saw that Aaron’s staff, which represented the tribe of Levi, had not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds.(17:1-8)
MARK 6:33-56
53When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. 54As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. 55They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.
JOURNAL
The story of the rebellion by Korah is an interesting one. The Israelites seem to constantly be grumbling about all that they don't have. Their focus is constantly on the negative rather than the positive. They want things now and are disgruntled when they don't get them. Unfortunately that is a narrative that is often in my own heart.
In these few verses in Mark Jesus feeds the 5,000 and then walks on water...and the what a scene at Genneseret! I can only imagine the joy, the dancing, the absolute rejoicing. Jesus has become a rockstar. The people had be so overcome with excitement that the messiah had come to the masses...he wasn't in the synagogue vying for political position. He wasn't an untouchable or unapproachable religious prude. He was one of them and feeding them, rescuing then and loving them.
To really take in this scene and to know that it ends with him on a cross is heartbreaking. How could it turn so quickly and how could that really be God's plan?? It's because God is not us...he is far greater, far wiser than I can comprehend. I ultimately know that his death becomes the key to my own hope and salvation....yet it's still so comforting to read these verses and see his heart. To know that he isn't too tired, or agitated or busy to tend to those on the fringes. It gives me hope and assurance that his love is not conditional.
The story of the rebellion by Korah is an interesting one. The Israelites seem to constantly be grumbling about all that they don't have. Their focus is constantly on the negative rather than the positive. They want things now and are disgruntled when they don't get them. Unfortunately that is a narrative that is often in my own heart.
In these few verses in Mark Jesus feeds the 5,000 and then walks on water...and the what a scene at Genneseret! I can only imagine the joy, the dancing, the absolute rejoicing. Jesus has become a rockstar. The people had be so overcome with excitement that the messiah had come to the masses...he wasn't in the synagogue vying for political position. He wasn't an untouchable or unapproachable religious prude. He was one of them and feeding them, rescuing then and loving them.
To really take in this scene and to know that it ends with him on a cross is heartbreaking. How could it turn so quickly and how could that really be God's plan?? It's because God is not us...he is far greater, far wiser than I can comprehend. I ultimately know that his death becomes the key to my own hope and salvation....yet it's still so comforting to read these verses and see his heart. To know that he isn't too tired, or agitated or busy to tend to those on the fringes. It gives me hope and assurance that his love is not conditional.
JOHN 13:34-35
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