I’m not too sure I entirely understand what Selwyn is trying to say – but I do agree that one of the easiest traps for anyone to fall into, is to become too focused on ourselves. The western media constantly emphasises the desire to put ourselves first – ‘you should have this product – because you deserve it’.  If our desires becomes our master, it’s because we have put ourselves at the centre of our life’s purpose; and in doing so have side-lined our God.

What did you get out of today’s study?

Selwyn looks at Mark 7:1-13, where Jesus is critical of Jewish traditions which go against the spirit of God’s law. He gives a good summary in today’s study: “Jesus is seen here as censuring those Jewish theologians who argue that people who had vowed to give God a sum of money, which they later discovered could be used to help meet a pressing parental need, were not then free to use that money in order to assist their parents. Jesus quite clearly disagrees with this and states categorically that not to give the money to their parents would be a violation of the commandment to honour one’s father and mother.”

Likewise, in the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), we are told about a priest (verse 31) ‘who happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the injured man, he passed by on the other side of the road.’ The priest would have become unclean (according to Jewish religious tradition) if his hands had become ‘soiled’ from the blood of the injured man, he would have had to go through a process of becoming ‘clean’ again, and during that time would not be able to undertake his priestly duties. He may have thought that service to God was more important than helping someone in need.

Clearly, the hard saying of Jesus (Luke 14:26); “If anyone comes to me and does not hate (love less) his father and mother … even his own life – he cannot be my disciple.” This saying does not justify those religious traditions which claim to put God first, to the detriment of the two great commandments; to love God and to love your neighbour in the same way as God loves you. On the contrary, putting God first in your heart, mind and soul; enables you to discern how to correctly love God, and your parents, family, friends and neighbour. It enables us to discern when traditions can be followed from those times when doing so, would be contrary to God’s commandments. To do God’s will, involves the surrender of our own religious traditions, to allow our hearts to be directed by His Holy Spirit. Then, this saying wont appear to be hard at all, just a natural thing to do – but you need God’s Spirit to see it this way! Do you agree? 

The next hard saying of Jesus which Selwyn examines is: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate (love less) his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters – yes, even his own life – he cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26)

The main message, which Selwyn spells out is “our Lord is concerned that His followers allow nothing to come between Him and them – particularly family ties. … everything must take second place – even love for one’s family.”

I could imagine the shock such a statement would have created in Jesus’ time. Bonds between family, relations and community were very strong – the strength of the extended family was the backbone of village life in ancient Israel. Jesus is clearly saying that our relationship with God must come first; when we do have God at the centre, then everything else will fall into its correct place, including our relationships with our family, relations and friends.

Another aspect of these words, I think, is that Jesus is saying – that those who come to Him – must put everything , including their own life and family under His authority. Here is Jesus putting Himself into the position only God can hold – Jesus, being very aware of the ten commandments, is saying – ‘those who come to me, must treat me as the one and only God, and everything else must take second place because if you don’t, you cannot be one of God’s children’.  Do you agree?

Sometimes, I read Selwyn’s devotions and they are good but not always breathtaking; often solid teaching but not always outstanding; today, is a gem of a day – his words really sparkle.

He says: “Our Lord is saying in effect, ‘ … I am not content to be seen merely as a moral example or a great teacher. I want you to be so taken up with Me, so absorbed by Me, so indwelt by Me, so captivated by Me, that you are willing to live and die for Me. I want your life to be intertwined with Mine. I want you to be drenched by My love, saturated by My energy, to live in such a close relationship with Me that nothing shall be able ever to pull us apart. You are all in all to Me, and I want to be all in all to you.’ ”

This is a statement of love - of a great God who loves you – who has has given His life for you – and asks for your love, so you too, can share His eternal life – He has given His body and blood for you to take and so obtain eternal life. He has provided food from heaven, take it and eat – sustain your spiritual life – for the best, is yet to come!

Selwyn says: “… The powerful metaphors He uses of eating His flesh and drinking His blood are designed to convey the idea that a share in the life of God – eternal life – is granted to those who come to Jesus by faith, enter into union with Him, and draw their life from Him. … To feed on Christ in one’s heart by faith with thanksgiving is to eat His flesh, drink His blood, and so have eternal life.”

Your views?

I like Selwyn’s conclusion: “Isn’t it sad that people are ready to receive any kind of miracle from the hands of Jesus except the miracle of eternal life? Over the years I have known hundred of people for whom the Lord has worked the most tremendous miracles, but when faced with the matter of surrendering their lives to Him, they draw back in fear. People want the miracles of the Lord, but not the Lord of miracles (the Lord of Life)”

Most people will accept a free lunch – but most will reject an eternity of love if it means letting go of their independent selfish nature – and that’s strange when you think about it – do you agree?

Selwyn continues to look at his first, ’hard’ saying of Jesus: “Unless you can eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.” (John 6:53)

As Selwyn says, the people following Jesus where doing so because of the benefits that flowed to them; those who were sick were healed, at lunch-time the crowd was feed with fish and bread. They did not have to do much as individuals, but as part of a crowd they could freely follow Jesus around Galilee and receive free gifts.

Then Jesus points out that that those who ate the ‘manna’, the food provided by God in the desert (in the time of Moses) still died.  Jesus then tells them that He can provide food that when eaten will result in eternal life – this food is Him, eat what He is offering, and live forever. 

I like the words of Jesus recorded in John 4:10-13; “Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a  drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.’ ‘Sir,’ the woman said, ‘you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?’

Jesus answered. ‘Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed the water I give them will become in them springs of water welling up to eternal life.’”

Jesus provides us with spiritual food that sustains our spiritual life. What are your views?