Things that make you go hmmm.......

So this morning I was working on my Bible study guide for the book of Mark. And I was reading Mark 11:17-18 and had some thoughts on why the chief priests and scribes reacted the way they did. For those not familiar with the verses - Then He taught, saying to them "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it a 'den of thieves.'" And the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy Him, because all the people were astonished at His teaching.

I read that and while answering my study guide questions thought "what if they sought to destroy Him because they believed, even in some small capacity, and knew that there was no way to save themselves because they were too comfortable in their ways?" Now go with me on this - they believed but had no faith in their belief. They knew their wrong doings against Jesus and the manipulations they had wrought over man with the 'man-made laws of God'. To ask for forgiveness and to follow Him was certain death. But to plot His death saved their way of life, or so they thought and believed. So even if they believed in the slightest they feared for their life more than they could have faith that He would save them from their sins.

If there is anyone who is reading my blog I welcome comments on this. I didn't write it to argue the point. It was just a thought that popped into my head while reading earlier and thought I'd ponder it a bit longer.

Well that explains it......

So yesterday was Palm Sunday and having gone before to Palm Sunday services Ive never had it explained to me. Or at least not as well as Pastor Bob Shirock did from Oak Pointe Church, where we have been attending lately. Simply put the sermon was on 'what the heck are the palm fronds for that you get on Palm Sunday?' Being relatively new to the Bible I have a hard time remembering things unless I reread them or write them down a few times. But I don't remember reading that the people came out to greet Jesus like he was a visiting King. Or that the palm fronds were to line the streets so that his feet or those of the donkey/colt would not touch the ground. In essence their version of the red carpet for royalty.

I thought that was pretty awesome. As well as the other things that I learned yesterday. That and the music ROCKED yesterday. As in I felt like I was at a concert for the first part of service and not at church. We are of the more contemporary persuasion at OPC. I loved it and sang along as loudly and as in tune as my voice would allow. :) If you are interested in hearing the message that Pastor Bob gave yesterday it will be on their website soon or on iTunes. The website is www.oakpointe.org or look for Oak Pointe Church's podcast on iTunes.