“When they came back to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them. Immediately, when the entire crowd saw Him, they were amazed and began running up to greet Him” (Mark 9:14-15).
Crowds love the idea of Jesus, but we are called into love itself. Is it self-interest that drives us or the call to learn how to truly and eternally love? Many often begins with where the self is and what the self thinks it needs. We are called to deny ourselves and move out of our selves in order to live as we were created to live. God is amazing. Look at creation. We must be moved beyond our selves so that God may teach us how to love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Lord, guide me ever deeper in this call of faith which You have given me. Yes, I have wants and needs, but You have come so that I may have life and have it abundantly. Teach me what it means to live in an outward way. Teach me the patterns I have that take me into myself. Lead me so that I may become what You are making of me. Guide me along right paths for Your Name’s sake.
Come Holy Spirit and lead me through my inward self to understand where I am seeking for myself versus seeking for what You know needs to happen within me. Guide me in the way of righteousness and whether I am in a crowd or all alone, help me to be true and consistent with all that I do. You know all that is needed. Help me to overcome all resistance so that I become like Jesus. Amen.
Thank you for this reflection. I appreciate the call to look beyond ourselves, yet as Lutherans we must be careful to distinguish Law and Gospel. The call to deny ourselves is real, but it is Law. It exposes how deeply curved inward we truly are. If that is all we hear, it can lead not to freedom, but to spiritual exhaustion.
The good news is that our life with God does not begin with our ability to move outward, but with Christ moving toward us. In Mark 9, the crowd runs because Jesus has come. The power is His. Our salvation rests not on how well we deny ourselves, but on His completed work on the cross.
We are already justified by grace alone through faith alone. From that secure standing, love for neighbor flows, not as a project of self-improvement, but as fruit produced by the Holy Spirit in our daily vocations.
The Christian life is not constant inward scrutiny, nor heroic self-denial. It is living as baptized children of God, forgiven and freed, trusting that the Spirit is at work even when we feel weak. The Gospel relieves what the Law reveals.
In Christ.
Paul