They Will Become One Flesh (Mark 10:1-12)

 

They Will Become One Flesh (Mark 10:1-12)

Marriage is the greatest blessing and joy for humanity. Every tribe and people maintain the tradition of marriage. The smallest unit that forms society is the family. The path to forming a family is marriage. Marriage is a joy and a blessing, and at the same time, a challenge and a process. It can be a space of love, peace, serenity, and joy, while at the same time, the danger of becoming a place of pain, sorrow, conflict, and strife lies in wait.

In Mark 10:1-12, Jesus taught the essence of marriage to the Jews who asked about divorce. Marriage was ordained by God, and it is for a man to leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they become one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate; to do so is to commit adultery. The secret of union with God is hidden within marriage.

Teaching the Gospel of the Kingdom

1 Jesus then left that place and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds of people came to him, and as was his custom, he taught them. 2 Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" (Mark 10:1-2).

Jesus taught the people the gospel of the kingdom. This is because what people need most is the gospel of the kingdom of God. This visible world is not our hope. According to the second law of thermodynamics, all things decay and disappear. It is clear that what is defiled and perishing is not our hope (1 Peter 1:4).

So, wherever he went, Jesus taught people the gospel of the kingdom of heaven through various parables and signs and wonders of healing the sick. Like the parable of the sower, the word of God falls and is planted in the soil of people's hearts. The seed of the word grows and bears fruit, producing a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times (Matthew 13:8). By hearing, understanding, responding to, and obeying the word of God, it continues to grow.

However, the seed that fell along the path, on rocky ground, or among thorns cannot grow and does not bear fruit (Matthew 13:4-7). Failing to bear fruit means being cast away. A hardened heart, a heart that cannot take root, and a heart stained with anxiety, worry, and care prevent one from bearing fruit. If you hear the word but do not understand and obey it, even what you have will be taken away, and there is no growth.

Is It Lawful To Divorce One's Wife?

Some Pharisees asked this to test Jesus. They had no intention of learning. In their eyes, Jesus looked like an outlaw who ignored the Law of Moses. As so-called religious authorities, they monitored and controlled people.

However, they were hypocrites who claimed to keep the Law while cleverly ignoring it. They created the Corban tradition and disobeyed God's commandment to honor one's father and mother (Mark 7:11). Through monitoring and control, they burdened the people with loads they could hardly carry, yet they themselves would not lift a finger to help (Matthew 23:4).

They were desperate to remove Jesus of Nazareth, who was a thorn in their side, by any means possible. This time, they brought up the issue of divorce to test him. This issue is a difficult and painful topic. It is a reality that countless families are broken and destroyed. There are only losers in divorce. It causes deep wounds to each other, and above all, to the children.

"Is it lawful to divorce one's wife?" This was largely a male-centered thought. It was a male-dominated society at the time. A nuance of regarding women as consumables is hidden within it. One can see that they were gripped by a wrong, twisted, and self-centered thought that they could abandon their wives whenever a reason arose.

Based on Deuteronomy 24:1, the Jews of that time allowed a man to divorce his wife if he found something indecent about her, including not only adultery but also if the wife’s cooking did not please him or if she could not bear children.

Your Hearts Were Hard

3 "What did Moses command you?" he replied. 4 They said, "Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away." 5 "It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law," Jesus replied (Mark 10:3-5).

If Jesus opposed divorce, it would be in direct opposition to the Law of Moses (Deut. 24:1). Moses permitted divorce but commanded that a certificate of divorce be written to send the woman away. The certificate of divorce served to protect women in a male-dominated society. Socially, the certificate of divorce granted the woman the qualification to remarry. Unlike today, a woman without a husband had many restrictions on her social and economic activities (Isaiah 4:1).

However, Jesus said that Moses allowed the certificate of divorce for a more fundamental reason. Here, it was because of the husband’s hard heart. A hard heart disobeys and rebels against the word of God. It is the work of the devil. Such a person dislikes keeping God in his heart, considers God’s interference as an annoyance, and rejects and refuses Him.

God hardened the heart of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt (Exodus 7:3, 9:12). The king stubbornly refused Moses' demand to let the Israelites go. As a result, God poured out His wrath from heaven, and ten plagues came upon the land of Egypt. Pharaoh was proud and did not listen to Moses, but ignored and despised him.

God’s hardening of his heart means that He allowed him to arrogantly ignore and despise the words of Moses. However, there are always consequences for this (Romans 1:18). The ten plagues, including the tenth plague on the firstborn, are exactly that (Exodus 7:14–12:51). The consequences of disobeying God’s word are unavoidable (Romans 1:18).

God, through Moses, commanded that a certificate of divorce be written and the wife be sent away because He knew their stubborn hearts were not willing to obey God’s word (1 Samuel 8:8). However, they must bear the consequences of the pain and wounds experienced through divorce.

Generally, everyone wants a home that is harmonious and happy. They want a relationship of mutual understanding, service, and love. However, the reality is that the pressures and challenges are not easy. From managing the household to raising children, differences of opinion and conflicts are exposed in various areas. The reality is that not a few families eventually end in ruin. The existence of divorce is evidence that there is a problem in the home.

The Pharisees tested Jesus with an attitude that forced Him to approve of divorce. This well reflects their stubborn hearts, which believed that divorce was natural. They did not understand at all God’s intention in having Moses command that a certificate of divorce be written and the wife be sent away, and they sought only their own benefit.

God Made Them Male And Female

6 "But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female.' 7 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, 8 and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate." 10 When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. 11 He answered, "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. 12 And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery" (Mark 10:6–12).

Furthermore, Jesus returned to the time of creation and taught the meaning of the essence of marriage. From the beginning, God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them (Genesis 1:27). A secret of union is hidden in marriage. Union is when two different individuals join together to become one. God the Father is always in the Son, Jesus Christ, and the Son is in the Father; it is a relationship of perfect union. Likewise, in Christ, we have united with God through His blood.

"that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me" (John 17:21).

God created Adam first and said it is not good for him to live alone, so He would create a helper for him (Genesis 2:18). And He commanded Adam to name the wild animals and the birds of the air that He had formed from the ground (2:19). This task was vast and took a considerable amount of time. Why did God command him to do this? It was to teach Adam the fact that among all the wild animals and birds, there was no helper suitable for him.

And God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, took one of his ribs, created a woman, and brought her to Adam. While God was creating the woman, Adam was in a deep sleep and did not perceive what was happening. This shows that God knew beforehand that Adam needed a helper and filled that need.

God brought the woman to Adam, and he said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man" (Genesis 2:23). Adam saw the woman whom God had created and knew she was a part of him. It was something new that he had not discovered at all while naming the animals and birds. Only then did Adam find the partner he truly wanted.

The Two Shall Become One Flesh

God presided over the marriage of Adam and the woman and made them one flesh. He said that a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh (Genesis 2:24). Because they are one flesh, they cannot be separated. In response to the question about divorce, Jesus said, "So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate" (Matthew 19:6).

Then, how do we become one flesh? Once married, you have become one flesh, and it is a long process of realizing this fact throughout one's life. Men and women are different in many ways. In physical and mental aspects, men and women are different, but their spirits are the same. This spirit refers to the Spirit of God (רוּחַ - Ruach). Because they are beings in whom the Spirit of God dwells, there is no difference between man and woman.

In particular, the love, joy, and satisfaction enjoyed in a marriage relationship are unique and cannot be found anywhere else. God blessed us to enjoy sexual ecstasy and satisfaction within the marriage relationship. Through sexual union, men and women attain the pleasure of orgasm. This ecstasy cannot be obtained anywhere else; it is possible only within the marriage relationship. This secret that God has hidden within the marriage relationship is a foreshadowing of the perfect fullness we will enjoy in His kingdom in the future.

The marriage relationship is a process of pain and challenges. After the dream-like period of the honeymoon passes, weaknesses and shortcomings that were not visible before begin to stand out, and dissatisfaction and conflict arise. As the saying goes, "Every tide has its ebb," a marriage relationship cannot always be good. Difficulties and challenges constantly rush in from all sides.

There is no way that the omniscient and omnipotent God the Father would not know this fact. God joined different men and women together and hid the secret of becoming one flesh. That secret is to love one another. To love one another, the power and authority of God and His Son Jesus Christ are necessary.

God commanded wives to submit to their husbands as to the Lord, and husbands to love their wives just as Christ loved the church (Ephesians 5:22–23, 25–33). Therefore, submitting to God, empowered by the sacrificial love of Christ who did not spare His own life for us, is the way to become one.

Therefore, what God has joined together, man cannot separate. The only ground for divorce is adultery. Because adultery destroys the contractual relationship of marriage, one can divorce (Matthew 19:9). Apart from this, divorcing for any other reason is committing adultery.

Amen!

June 14, 2026

Buffalo Livingstone Church ©2026, David Lee Ministries ©2026 – All Rights Reserved.

Scripture quotes are from the NIV.

 

If The Salt Loses Its Saltiness, How Can It Be Made Salty Again? (Mark 9:38-50)

 

If The Salt Loses Its Saltiness, How Can It Be Made Salty Again? (Mark 9:38-50)

What is the mark of a Christian? It is salt that gives off a salty taste. It is like a pungent mustard seed. It walks to a different beat than this world. Loving and forgiving is the mark of a Christian. However, the outward appearance of attending worship on Sunday, giving offerings, and evangelizing is not the mark of a Christian.

In Mark 9:38-50, Jesus taught to live in harmony and accept one another. He also warns of the seriousness of sin that causes a brother or sister to stumble. As shepherds of the people, failing to be an example of salt and light, and pursuing one's own benefit in the name of religion, is to have lost the taste of salt. Jesus commanded that if your hand, eye, or foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. Sin produces death. Never take it lightly; you must hate and oppose it.

Those who are for us (Mark 18:6-9; Luke 9:49-50; 17:1-2)

38 "Teacher," said John, "we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us." 39 "Do not stop him," Jesus said. "For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us." (Mark 9:38-40)

John saw someone who was not with the disciples driving out demons in Jesus' name, and he forbade him. He believed that driving out demons was a work that only the twelve disciples should do. At that time, there were many in the land of Judea who listened to Jesus' words, saw His power to heal, and believed. However, Jesus said that those who perform miracles in the Lord's name are for the Lord. It means do not forbid them.

This world bears structural problems of division and conflict due to political, economic, and social reasons. Opinions differ according to region, class, race, political party, and background. Human history is stained with blood because of this. Countless wars and conflicts have occurred, and they are still ongoing. The so-called law of the jungle, where the strong prey on the weak, prevails.

Since World War II, the world has been investing astronomical costs for peace and coexistence centered on the UN. However, lasting peace is a long way off and is merely a wish. The peace that this world maintains is temporary and no one knows when it will collapse. Even among families, there are not a few cases of fighting and dividing.

The religious world is no exception. Even within Protestantism, it is divided into countless denominations, and it is still ongoing. Paul and Barnabas had a disagreement over the issue of Mark and eventually headed to different regions (Acts 15:39). The Corinthian church was divided into the Paul faction, the Apollos faction, the Cephas faction, and even the Christ faction (1 Corinthians 1:12).

However, there is an undeniable commonality in Christ. All people were created in God’s image and in His likeness (Genesis 1:27). There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all (Ephesians 4:4-6).

Each person has received one Spirit in Christ. However, this does not mean that everyone becomes the same person in Christ. Although knowledge, understanding, and expression are still diverse and different, they are members forming one body of Christ. God made people different and diverse. Even if they are twins, their appearance is similar, but their personalities, thoughts, and expressions are different.

God gave grace to each person according to the measure of Christ’s gift (Ephesians 4:7). So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up (Ephesians 4:11-12).

Therefore, although the depth and breadth of knowledge to understand each other in Christ are different, and the shapes and expressions are different, they form the body of Christ with one heart and one mind. One heart and one mind come from love, hope, and faith in God (Ephesians 4:13). Therefore, believers in Christ are not in a relationship of competition and strife with one another, but are brothers and sisters who love, accept, and forgive one another.

Even If You Give A Cup Of Water

"Anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will truly not lose their reward. If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea" (Mark 9:41-42).

Giving a cup of water refers to an act of kindness. Showing kindness is evidence of welcoming, respecting, and loving the other person. When we accept, love, and forgive one another, there is a corresponding reward in heaven. The reward of heaven and the reward of this world are different. This world rejects the love and forgiveness of Christ’s cross and calls it foolish (1 Corinthians 1:23).

The love of Christ is bearing the shame, insult, and punishment on behalf of sinners and becoming a sacrificial offering. However, God did not let Christ’s death be in vain. Looking at the blood of His Son, He opens the gates of heaven and gives eternal life as a gift to everyone who believes (John 3:16). Through the merit of the precious blood shed by the Lord Jesus Christ, any sinner can receive the grace of redemption.

Now, because we have received the redeeming love of Christ, it is the duty of the saints to love others with the love of the cross. Loving one another with the love of Christ is God’s new commandment (John 13:34). If we listen to and obey the words of God’s commandments, God pours out heavenly rewards.

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him" (Hebrews 11:6).

The reward that God gives is different from what is obtained in this world. The reward of heaven is invisible and does not necessarily involve recognition or praise. On the contrary, it is accompanied by shame, insults, and pain. This was true for the prophets of the Old Testament, the apostles, and countless saints, and above all, the Lord Jesus Christ was treated as if He were a criminal and received death.

However, God’s reward is eternal, unchanging, and is a power and authority that governs life. The Lord’s reward is rest and peace enjoyed amidst pain and pressure. God’s reward comes into our inner being. His love, joy, and peace come in, and we are not buried in pain and sorrow, and we gain freedom from complaints and resentment. This is because we sit and reign with the Lord at the right hand of God’s throne (Ephesians 2:6).

If You Cause One Of These Little Ones To Stumble

However, Jesus taught that causing one of these little ones to stumble carries an unimaginable price. Here, a large millstone refers to a millstone pulled by an animal such as a donkey. The "little ones" refers to anyone who is caused to stumble. Specifically, it refers to cases where they are caused to stumble by so-called religious leaders. Such cases are still happening frequently today. This includes sexual abuse, exploitation, and making unjust financial gains.

Valuing the traditions of the elders, like Corban, more than the Word of God, and condemning little ones who do not follow them, is also hypocrisy that causes others to stumble. Jesus warned His disciples about the yeast of the Pharisees and Herod (Mark 8:15). The early church consisted of not only Jews but also Gentile believers. Some Jewish false teachers caused a disturbance by forcing Gentile believers to be circumcised (Acts 15:1; Galatians 2:4, 6:12). This is also causing them to stumble.

Leviticus sets regulations concerning various foods and regulations concerning feasts such as circumcision, Passover, and Pentecost. The Law and regulations of God are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ (Colossians 2:17). Through regulations on food and feasts, God revealed and taught His good will and plan. In the regulations, an unclean animal is not evil in itself; it is to teach that its characteristics are unclean in the sight of God.

Everything God made was good in His sight. Jesus taught that what goes into the mouth does not make a person unclean, but what comes out of the heart makes a person unclean (Mark 7:15). Therefore, Jesus declared all foods clean (Mark 7:19).

"Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day" (Colossians 2:16).

Why is causing someone to stumble serious? It is because it is causing the little ones, whom God purchased with the blood of Christ, to stumble (Romans 8:11). In Romans 14, Paul deals with the issue of eating food sacrificed to idols. Since idols are nothing, even food sacrificed to them is not unclean (Romans 8:4). Those who have knowledge can eat the sacrifice without any hesitation, but those who do not have knowledge are hindered, and their conscience, being weak, becomes defiled (Romans 8:7).

Those with knowledge are free regarding food. However, they must be careful not to let that freedom cause those with weak faith to fall (Romans 8:9). In this way, sinning against a brother and injuring their weak conscience is sinning against Christ (Romans 8:12).

"So if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall" (Romans 8:13).

If Your Hand Causes You To Stumble, Cut It Off

"If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where ‘the worms that eat them do not die, and the fire is not quenched.’ Everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other" (Mark 9:43-49).

One sins with the hand, foot, and eye. If one sins, the corresponding result surely follows. Therefore, Jesus taught that if one sins, proactive action must be taken. Sin is serious. The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Therefore, one should never treat sin lightly or overlook it. One must oppose and hate it.

Jesus spoke about heaven, and at the same time, repeatedly mentioned hell (Matthew 5:2, 5:29, 5:30, 10:28, 18:9, 23:15, 23:33). Hell is a state where the way to go before God is completely blocked, so one can never get out (Luke 16:26). Therefore, the time before Jesus returns is called the year of the Lord’s favor (Isaiah 61:2). However, when the day of the Lord arrives, all flesh must stand before the Judge of all things and receive the judgment of righteousness. This day is called the day of vengeance of our God (Isaiah 61:2).

Jesus called His disciples the salt and light of this world (Matthew 5:13-16). Salt performs the role of making things salty and preventing decay. Salt losing its saltiness means that as a Christian, one is not following the way of the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is failing to obey God’s commandment to love one another.

The instruction to have salt among yourselves and be at peace with each other means do not compete over who is the greatest, and do not forbid others from driving out demons in the name of the Lord. Instead, you must love, forgive, and serve one another. Also, you must send kindness and encouragement to those who work in the name of the Lord.

Amen!

June 7, 2026

Buffalo Livingstone Church ©2026, David Lee Ministries ©2026 – All Rights Reserved.

Scripture quotes are from the NIV.

 

You Must Be One Who Serves All People (Mark 9:30-37)

 

You Must Be One Who Serves All People (Mark 9:30-37)

Who is the greatest? The greatest in this world and the greatest in the kingdom of heaven are different. The greatest in the kingdom of heaven has no self, relies wholly on God, and reigns with the Lord. They are not a slave to discontent and complaining, but enjoy gratitude, peace, and rest.

In Mark 9:30-37, Jesus taught who the greatest person is. The disciples had a strong desire to become great, but they did not yet know how to become the greatest. Jesus personally demonstrated the secret of becoming the greatest in the kingdom of heaven through His death on the cross and His resurrection. That secret is that He bore the sins of the whole world and obeyed God the Father even unto death. At this time, God raised the Son to life again, seated Him at the highest throne in heaven, and made Him King of kings and Lord of lords.

He Speaks Of His Death And Resurrection For The Second Time (Matthew 17:22-23; Luke 9:43b-45)

30 They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, 31 because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” 32 But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it (Mark 9:30-32).

Jesus did not want anyone to know. This was to teach the disciples first. The disciples did not yet know the suffering Christ. They expected Jesus to be an earthly Messiah who would build a liberated kingdom of Israel.

However, Jesus came to this earth as the suffering Christ. He came to be the Passover Lamb who would lead those under the power of sin and death to eternal life by liberating them from that darkness and those chains (John 1:29). Jesus gave His own body a sacrificial offering to atone for the sins of humanity, enabling those who believe in Him to gain eternal life. The suffering Christ is the true Messiah prophesied by the Law and the Prophets.

Therefore, Jesus repeatedly taught the disciples about the suffering He would receive and His resurrection. This was the second time. Jesus spoke specifically that He would be condemned by the Jewish religious leaders and be delivered into the hands of the Gentiles to be killed. However, He also said that He would rise again three days after His death. The time was not long left.

However, the disciples did not understand what Jesus said and were afraid to ask. When Jesus first spoke of His death and resurrection, Peter and the disciples argued that such a thing would never happen (Mark 8:31-32). But this time, not only did they not understand, they were even afraid to ask what it meant. This is proof that they were having difficulty accepting Jesus’ death.

We are no exception. Why do we experience difficulty? No one wants self-denial—that is, to die. Observe yourself to see how you react when you are criticized without cause. Christ had no reason to suffer, but He endured the suffering of shedding His blood and dying to redeem this world. It is not an easy path to understand this truth through life and obey it.

Self-denial is dying with Christ. This is laying down one’s self-assertion and demands completely. Death is laying down all discontent and desires as well. That is truly a difficult thing. Self-denial is truly difficult because it means that the self disappears. For the self to disappear is for one’s existence to completely collapse.

However, this is not the end. It is the starting line of new life. It is the first step of living by the power of the resurrection. It is the beginning of the ability and authority to truly govern life, to love one’s enemies, and to forgive. It is the only way to rest and be at peace while suffering randomly, amidst the pressures and challenges of reality.

Who Is The Greatest (Matthew 18:1-5; Luke 9:46-48)

33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest (Mark 9:33-34).

However, the disciples did not yet know the gospel truth of the cross and resurrection. Instead, they argued over who was the greatest in the kingdom Jesus would establish. Their keenest interest was who would become the prime minister and who would be the second-in-command in Jesus’ kingdom. There was no better hope than the dream that a permanent free kingdom would be established, liberated from Roman oppression.

Everyone wants to be great. They seek recognition, praise, and glory. Of course, this does not mean so-called success like wealth or power that can be obtained in this world. The presence or absence of wealth or power does not determine who is great. The great person is big-hearted, generous, composed, and above all, fears God.

The Desire To Be Great Originally Came From God

God created man in His own image and likeness. This means that man was created as a temple for God’s Holy Spirit to dwell in (1 Corinthians 3:16). From the beginning, God made man a holy being of glory and honor in whom His Spirit dwells. From the beginning, He blessed man to be united with Him and to rule over all things together with Him (Genesis 1:26-28).

What is the promise God gave to Abraham? It is that He would make him into a great nation and make his name great (Genesis 12:1-2). However, Israel is not a great nation on earth, but merely a small minority (Deuteronomy 7:7-8). And Abraham only fathered a few sons, including Isaac. The promise God gave to Abraham is not fulfilled in this world (Hebrews 11:39). It means He made him the father of faith. Therefore, through Abraham, He reveals the way for anyone to be justified by faith (Genesis 15:6). He shows the path of faith that restores man to the original purpose and intent for which He created him.

God created man to be a little lower than the angels for a time, but in Christ, man rules over all things with Him (Hebrews 2:7-8). To accomplish this, Jesus accepted the sacrifice of death on the cross (Hebrews 2:9). Therefore, whoever is in Christ Jesus shall not perish but have eternal life.

God chose Israel to be His own possession, to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (Exodus 19:5-6). A king rules, and a priest performs the role of going before God to offer sacrifices. He called and blessed them to rule together before God.

Truly Great People Rule Their Lives

Therefore, a great person rules their life in the Lord. They are free from fear and anxiety and enjoy peace. Being free from the shackles of feelings of loss and complaining, they offer thanksgiving and praise. Liberated from being slaves to hatred and desire for revenge, they love and forgive. Not bound by worldly things such as material wealth or success, they look toward the hope of heaven.

What truly troubles people? Physical, economic, political, and social environments seem to be the factors. But that is not so. It is an unquenchable thirst and desire. No matter how much one possesses or achieves, the human heart cannot be filled. It is different from animals that lie down and sleep when full. From the beginning, man was created as a being that cannot be filled by material things alone.

The one who can fill a person is God the Father, who pours out the water of eternal life from heaven within Christ Jesus. God wants and blesses us to come to the Lord, drink the living water, and have eternal life, regardless of where we are, when it is, or what our circumstances are. God did not spare His own Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the true bread of man, and gave Him up for us.

"But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life" (John 4:14). "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world" (John 6:51).

We obtain true life by eating and drinking the Word of God, that is, the Lord Jesus Christ. By faith in the merit of the torn flesh and shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are forgiven of all sin and unrighteousness. And we boldly come before the throne of grace in heaven to drink the living water—drink, and drink again. By faith, we eat our true food daily and sit with the Lord Jesus Christ at the right hand of the heavenly throne, ruling over all things.

53 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me” (John 6:53-57).

The One Who Serves All Is First

35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” 36 He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me” (Mark 9:35-37).

Jesus taught the secret of truly becoming first. In fact, the Lord Jesus Christ set the example Himself. Though Jesus was originally in the very nature of God, He laid aside His equality, took the form of a man, and came to this earth. Although Jesus could still have judged this world as God, He instead took the sins of this world upon Himself and died on the cross (Philippians 2:6-8).

God raised the Lord Jesus Christ, who took the form of a servant and was obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross and burial, with the power of resurrection on the third day. And He exalted Him to the highest throne in heaven, making every knee in heaven, on earth, and under the earth bow to His authority, government, and power (Philippians 2:9-11).

Therefore, the way to be first is to be the last of all and the servant of all. Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). What disturbs the human heart is the thirst to be served, recognized, and praised. Following the example of Jesus, if you deny yourself and follow the way of the Lord’s cross, you will gain peace and rest through the power of resurrection.

Jesus said that welcoming one little child is welcoming Him, and welcoming Him is welcoming God who is in heaven. A little child is weak and is in absolute need of protection. The Law commanded us not to forget or neglect to care for the orphan and the widow (Exodus 22:22-23; Deuteronomy 14:28-29). We are all like little children before God. That is why God feeds, cares for, and protects us.

The kind word of forgiveness, the love, and the forgiveness we show to someone today is a living sacrifice offered to the Lord Jesus Christ and God.

The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40).

Amen!

May 31, 2026

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Scripture quotes are from the NIV.