Day Sixty-Seven: Mark 4-6

As we read the gospel of Mark we definitely get the sense that many people were drawn to Jesus’ power, to his miracles.  In other words, they were more interested in what Jesus could do for them than they were with Jesus himself.   

If you know anything about the world history then you know that the people in the gospels were not the only ones who came to Jesus more interested in things other than in Jesus.  Throughout church history, people have identified themselves with Christ as a way of getting power, and in so doing perverted and abused Christ’s own example of how to use power.  

Today, we might not be as likely to come to Jesus looking for a miracle, but we still come to Jesus looking for the benefits that he gives us.  There’s a sociologist at UNC named Christian Smith.  He’s one of the leading sociologists of religion in the United States.  He did a massive study on the religious life of teenagers and the phrase he came up with to describe it was “Moralistic Therapeutic Deism.”  

Moralistic means is that most teenagers see religion as being all about being good, being moral.  

Therapeutic means that they see religion as something that makes you feel good about yourself.  

Deism means that they have a belief in God, but this God really doesn’t show up that much in their life.  

Today, just as in ancient times, there are a lot of people interested in Jesus.  They are interested in Jesus because Jesus is a good example to follow.  They are interested in Jesus because Jesus makes them feel good about themselves.  They are interested in Jesus because Jesus will help them get into the college they want to get into.  

But when we think this way, we have forgotten who Jesus is.  The kind of person who commands the wind and the waves, from whom demons flee over cliffs, is not the kind of person that you ask into your life to be your personal assistant. 

This is the kind of person before whom you bow, and say, “Command me, Lord.  I exist for you.”