Self-Serving or Self Sacrificing

This week I have an exegetical paper due for a class at Westminster Seminary called Gospels ans Acts  . I have the priviledge of exegeting a text from Mark 10:35-45. I am learning more about this process as I take courses on biblical intrepretation, desiring to be a competent scholar in an effort to preach the Word of God. I pray for the help and counsel of the Holy Spirit to guide me in this endeavor. I realize, now more than ever, how challenging a task this is to complete: time spent in prayer asking for wisdom; reading the text carefully; and putting in the time to simply write.

One theme that is evident in the text is the way the disciples seek to have a place of honor before the Lord. Do they really know what they are asking? What drives them to this end? It is clear they desire a place of honor as they follow Christ, but their sinful reaction is to serve rather than to be served. We see this with Peter when Christ says that he must wash his feet, not the other way around. I am excited yet challenged by the project, and pray that I learn to trust in what C hrist has done. He alone took the wrath of God I deserve to give me new life in Him.  He who knew no sin became sin that I might have the righteousness  of God.

 

 

Reading Notes

This semester I have an assignment for Gospels and Acts, a course that surveys the Four Gospels and the book of Acts. Over the summer I worked on the Greek primer that helped reinforce basic aspects of the Greek language, however, I haven’t read as much that past year. And as a result, it has been harder to focus on the assignment. I am encouraged because I believe so firmly in the need to understand the biblical languages of Greek and Hebrew. It’s not an easy task for sure, but God has showed how important it is to be consistent in study. Regular, short intervals are better than longer study sessions with less frequency.

The semester is drawing near and I am excited in many ways, especially to study the Word at Westminster and to learn more about what it means to exegete the Word of God.