The Uncultured Saints - How To Ask Jesus the Wrong Question: A Masterclass

How To Ask Jesus the Wrong Question: A Masterclass

10/17/24 • 35 min

The Uncultured Saints tackle two controversial sections of Mark 10:1-16. 📖
1️⃣ First, Jesus battles with the Pharisees (of course 😒), and then, he admonishes his disciples (sigh 😤).
The Pharisees put Jesus to the test about divorce by asking, “Is it lawful?” 🤔
We like to ask questions such as, “Is it a sin if I do this or if I do that?” 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♂️
BUT, that is the wrong question. ❌
Whenever we ask the wrong question, it's almost always a law question that needs a gospel answer. ✨
If you ask a law question, you're going to get a law answer. 📜
If you ask a gospel question, you're going to get a gospel answer. 🙏
We’re asking: How can I NOT get in trouble for this? 😬 Rather than: Where can I find some comfort and mercy for this?” 💞
In marriage, the two are one flesh, which means even if divorce is justified, it’s going to hurt if you rip it in half. 💔
Divorce teaches us that sin breaks stuff.⚡
In trying to downplay our sin, we try to appeal to the loopholes that won’t make it a sin. 🔄
We aren’t actually letting the law be as damning as the law really is. ⚖️
Divorce is especially egregious, and it arguably hurts like nothing else. 😢
The question is not whether you can be divorced, a Christian and forgiven on the other side of it — you are going to need mercy, forgiveness, and the gospel. 💫✝️
The question is: Is it a good thing or a bad thing? 🤷 This is the point Jesus is trying to make.
2️⃣ Next, the disciples try to discourage children from bothering Jesus. 🚸 This makes Jesus angry. 😡
Children are meant to receive Jesus 👧👦
Jesus thinks little kids are a good thing. So let's not despise them. 🌟
Yes, they can be a burden and a sacrifice, but that’s what love is — sacrificing yourself for someone else. ❤️
However, it’s important to not become legalistic about it — you’re not a better Christian if you have more kids. 🚫👶
In both situations, we learn that marriage and children are a good gift from God. 🎁 Let's do our best to protect them. 🤗

Contributor Rev. Harrison Goodman is the Higher Things Content Executive.

Contributor Eli Lietzau is the pastor at Wheat Ridge Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wheat Ridge, CO.

#higherthings #lcms #lutheran #divorce #children #jesus

Contributor Rev. Harrison Goodman is the Higher Things Content Executive.

Contributor Eli Lietzau is the pastor at Wheat Ridge Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wheat Ridge, CO.

#higherthings #lcms #lutheran #divorce #children #jesus

Previous Episode

God Works Through the Least of These

1️⃣ Jesus predicts his dying and rising. ⚰️🌅

Did you know that Jesus told his disciples that he would die and rise? 😮

One of those predictions happens right here.👇

The disciples don't get it. 🤔

They've seen Jesus raise people from the dead, but they've never seen someone raise themself. 🧟‍♂️

Why is Jesus so secretive about their journey through Galilee? 🤫

The Uncultured Saints have some ideas . . . 💡

Jesus is moving away from the individual miracles ✨ to the world changing miracle of the cross to solve our biggest problem and sickness — our sin. ✝️🌍

2️⃣ The disciples then get into a funny argument about which of them is the greatest. 🏆

Jesus puts in front of them a person who is the most helpless, can accomplish the least, and is the most needy — a child. 👶

And he says: "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me." 🤗

This was at a time when children were seen as a tax on resources, they died young, and they were seen and not heard. 😔

If we want to receive the kingdom of God, we must receive it as little children — as completely utterly helpless individuals who can't lift a finger to save ourselves. 🙏

3️⃣ John wants to stop others from casting out demons. 😈🚫

Jesus tells John to simmer down. Why? 🤔

They aren't doing it in their own name, but in the name of Jesus. ✨

This brings up questions about the church . . . ⛪

If anyone can do the work of Christ, then why do we need pastors? 🧑‍🍳

Questions to ask:

✔️Is the person preaching the true word of God? 📖

✔️ Is he administering the sacraments according to God's institution? 🍷🍞

4️⃣ Jesus says to cut off your hand if it causes you to sin. ✋🔪

Is Jesus being literal here? 🤨

This is about excommunication.🚪

If there is somebody in the church who is dragging the rest of the church to hell through unbelief, it would be better that the person be cut off. ⚔️

Contributor Eli Lietzau is the pastor at Wheat Ridge Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wheat Ridge, CO.

Contributor Rev. Harrison Goodman is the Higher Things Content Executive.

#higherthings #lcms #lutheran #biblestudy

Next Episode

Wealth and Salvation

A rich young man asks Jesus what he needs to do to inherit eternal life. ✨

⛔The problem: he is attempting to justify himself by asking, “what must I do?” 🤔

But before Jesus answers his question, he calls the man out for calling him good. 🛑

Jesus wants to stop him from just throwing around the word “good” without acknowledging what it means. Good means perfect, holy, and divine — and only God can be called good. 🌟🙌

Jesus answers his question by giving him the second table of the law. 📜 (The commandments about how we treat others.)

But when the man says he’s kept those, Jesus then shows him that he failed to keep the first table of the law. 📜💔 (The commandments about how we treat God.

Jesus “loved him” ❤️ — Jesus isn’t trying to win an argument. He wants him to be saved. 🙏

Jesus shows him who his god really is when he tells him to sell everything he has. 💰➡️❌

We’re quick to think that we don’t have gods, but we do. We’re unwilling and unable to live without our god.🙎The question is — do we have the right one? ❓🔍

Then Jesus said: “Come, follow me.” 👣 (This is a gospel invitation.)

But then he walked away sorrowful. 😔💔

Then Jesus drops some truth bombs for his disciples: 💣💥

In verse 25 he says, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 🐫➡️🪡

Incredulous, the disciples ask: “Then who can be saved?” 😲

The disciples viewed the rich as blessed by God, so it was shocking for them to hear that it was hard for them to be saved. 💸💭❗

Jesus: “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” 🙌✨ (v. 27)

Peter then acknowledges that they (the disciples) left everything to follow him. 👣

Jesus comforts them with “the mutual consolation of the brethren” by saying that they will receive more than they could ever imagine. 💞💫

When you feel alone because of your beliefs, the brethren are there to console you and point you to the cross. ✝️🕊️

We may lose a lot when we follow Christ, but we also gain so much, including a Father in heaven. 👑☁️❤️

Contributor Rev. Harrison Goodman is the Higher Things Content Executive.

Contributor Eli Lietzau is the pastor at Wheat Ridge Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wheat Ridge, CO.

#higherthings #lcms #lutheran #jesus #mark10

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