The Joshua Victor Theory

    Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen. Today in Mark 10, a rich young man asks Jesus how he can enter eternal life. He focuses on what must I do and Jesus answers with obedience to the 10 Commandments. The rich young man confidently examines his life, and finds obedience everywhere he looks, and asks, “ what more?” Jesus then gives the most decisive call to obedience. Dietrich Bonhoeffer called it “ single-minded obedience.” That is, no questioning, no if’s, and’s, or but’s, nothing standing in your way—just give up everything, obey this one command: “ Come, follow me.” For all the details and nuances here, the bottom line was that the rich young man, thought he was an obedient follower of God’s commands, but proved he did not have single-minded obedience. He could not obey the simple command: “ Come, follow me.” His wealth. He couldn’t obey Jesus’ command to part with his wealth, give it to the poor, an...

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen. [Welcome to all of our Grade School children and families this morning! It’s a blessing to have your voices joining us in praise to Jesus our Lord! ] Today is the last Sunday before the church starts its season of Lent, beginning this Ash Wednesday. If you’re not familiar with it, Lent is the more somber season of reflection on the cross of Jesus, and why He had to go to the cross to suffer for our sins. It’s a time to renew the call to confess our sins to Him, humble ourselves, and to seek His forgiveness, but also a time to marvel at the greatest story of God’s love for us. In the Gospel reading, Jesus’ disciples are amazed and confused that He would have to suffer shamefully and die, in order to accomplish God’s plan. He told them this beforehand, but they couldn’t really grasp it till later. The season of Lent is also our preparation for Easter, when the mood changes from more subdued and reflective to ...