# Today’s lecturer is the collaborating paster Mizuguchi

1. Unique chance of the salvation
Today’s lecturing portion is about the healing story of that man by Jesus. We will reflect on what is authentic faith by reading the passage. Jesus and his disciples set out from Galilee, crossed the Jordan River.;- Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus.(Mark 10:46)
Mark sets there opening of the scene ;- Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"(Mark 10:46-47) (³¤­…)

1. The last time prediction

Mark reported that Jesus predicted the Passion three times and today’s lecturing part is about the third one. We will see how it was announced by Jesus and reflect on the message of the Gospel of the portion.
After the ministry in Galilee Jesus set out to Jerusalem where Jesus’ opponents, Jewish religious authorities, were tightening oppressive policy against him. For that reason harsh future there was inevitable but Jesus was ready to accept it as God’ will. So much so;- He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.(Mark 8:31) (³¤­…)

1. Jesus and the rich man

Last Sunday we began reading the chapter 10 of the Gospel according to Mark. The first theme of the chapter was about marriage and divorced, or relationship between man and woman.
We learned from the Bible that the act of marriage, including sexual relation, is given to humans by God primary as blessing. However it sometimes pushed humans to sin and became a curse.
Today’s lecturing portion concerning Jesus teachings on wealth might give a similar conclusion. It means humans risk twisting God’s blessings and making them elements of sinful conducts. (³¤­…)

1.Jesus’ teaching on marriage and divorce

Mark reported in the chapter 10 what Jesus taught about marriage and divorce. Jesus’ words in the passage ” what God has joined together, let man not separate” had become and was the standard of family system in Christian society for more than 2000 years. Especially Roman Catholic church considers it as to be an order given by God and categorically bans divorce in any cases. In contrast to that stance Protestant denominations which appeared in 16th century interpreted the phrase in spiritual sense and understood Jesus’ teaching this way : definition of marriage is tight relationship between man and woman, based on matrimonial love. Consequently if the love disappeared it is no more authentic marriage and, in that case, divorce could be justified. (³¤­…)