Sermons

37 - Fig Tree Object Lesson (Mark 11:12-22)

kijabi4@yahoo.com (David Wolfe) — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 20:34:19 GMT

Fig Tree Object Lesson

(Mark 11:12-22)

I. INTRODUCTION

You are listening to a message by Dr. David Wolfe at Bensenville Bible Church, a culturally mixed community on the outskirts of Chicago.

Our study today comes from Mark’s Gospel, chap 11, vs 12-22. The focus is on a fig-tree that Jesus uses as an object lesson as to the spiritual make up of Israel.

As Mark tells the story, Jesus approaches a fig tree with the intent of having a snack, (v12), but there are no figs. Seeing that there are no figs, Jesus does the oddest thing, He curses the tree to never bear again.

Now a casual reading makes it appear that Jesus cursed the tree simply because He was hungry and He couldn’t have a fig. To add to the confusion, Mark tells us that it wasn’t even the season for figs. Seems a bit extreme, don’t you think, for Jesus to curse the fig tree because there simply was no figs?!

Yet tucked in this story is an object lesson about God’s thoughts on empty spirituality that we need to process and apply to our own lives.

To help us extract the lesson, we have to ask a couple of question, questions such as ‘Why did Jesus curse the fig tree in the first place?’ And why did He make a big deal that it never again produce fruit? I think inquiring minds would like some insight.

Let’s take a moment and ask God to guide us as we wrestle with Jesus’ Fig Tree Object Lesson. Heavenly Father, we pray for your help as we study this thought provoking lesson. Keep us from error, open our eyes that we might learn, with the disciples, lessons from the fig tree that will help us stand faithfully in the midst our own nations decay. And we ask this in your Son’s name. Amen.

II. THE STORY

Open our Bibles to Mark 11:12-22 and follow along as I read the story of the cursed fig tree.

¹² The next day, when they left Bethany, Jesus became hungry. ¹³ In the distance he saw a fig tree with leaves. He went to see if he could find any figs on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves because it wasn’t the season for figs. ¹⁴ Then he said to the tree, “No one will ever eat fruit from you again!” His disciples heard this. ¹⁵ When they came to Jerusalem, Jesus went into the temple courtyard and began to throw out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the moneychangers’ tables and the chairs of those who sold pigeons. ¹⁶ He would not let anyone carry anything across the temple courtyard. ¹⁷ Then he taught them by saying, “Scripture says, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations,’ but you have turned it into a gathering place for thieves.” ¹⁸ When the chief priests and scribes heard him, they looked for a way to kill him. They were afraid of him because he amazed all the crowds with his teaching. ¹⁹ Every evening Jesus and his disciples would leave the city. ²⁰ While Jesus and his disciples were walking early in the morning, they saw that the fig tree had dried up. ²¹ Peter remembered ⌊what Jesus had said⌋, so he said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has dried up.” ²² Jesus said to them, “Have faith in God!

III. THE CONTEXT

I don’t know about you, but this whole ‘fig tree thing’ is a mind twister. In fact, it seems to dominate everything from v11 to chap 13. If we are to make any sense out of this incident, we must absolutely grasp the context. The drama begins in v11, with Jesus scoops out temple activities. This is followed by an in-depth temple cleansing, and ending with the foretelling of the destruction of the temple in chap 13.

The staggering truth of the fig tree is that it is about destruction, and stands in sharp contrast to the healings and transformative acts that have taken place previously. Jesus’ driving out the chaos in v15 graphically portrays God’s rejection of the culture surrounding the temple and looking forward to the coming destruction. [i] The incident is designed to picture the absence of true spirituality as set forth by God throughout the Old Testament. The point is, the fig tree became a visual object lesson as to the dangers of a lifeless spirituality.

In Jesus day the temple had become a nationalistic symbol that drew a distinction between Israel and the nations. While at the same time it was never meant to be treated as a national shrine. Further, another twist to the drama is that in the Bible God uses the fig-tree and the grape vine routinely as metaphors for spirituality. For example, Hosea 9:10 ^(GW) ⌊The Lord said,⌋ “When I found Israel, it was like finding grapes in the desert. When I saw your ancestors, it was like seeing the first figs of the harvest.

IV. THE SYMBOLISM OF THE FIGTREE

Let’s take a moment wrestle with this withered up fig tree and its lesson on spirituality.

I am told that in Israel, because of climate, etc., that it’s possible to harvest figs two or three times each year. Each harvest crop cycle goes through the same process. The tree first produces its fruit and then leaves form. So if you see a fig tree with its leaves, one can assume its figs have already grown. [ii]

As Jesus and disciples meandered along the path, there’s a beautiful fig tree all filled out, giving the impression fruitfulness. So in application, the worship in the temple gave the impression of rich spirituality, when in actuality it was ceremonial empty. As Isaiah the prophet said in Isaiah 29:13 ^(NASB95) These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. They worship Me in vain; they teach as ‘God’ doctrines the precepts of men.

So when Jesus came to the Temple that day, what did He see? Based on v15, Alistair Begg points out that it was a place of total chaos, where the glory of God was to be obviously evident, and the prospect of living water and fruit brought satisfaction. But upon close examination, it was absolutely useless in terms of what it had to offer. [iii ] When Jesus cursed the fig-tree for its lack of figs, v14, Mark puts out for us that the disciples were listening. That’s is, they heard every word.

Jumping down to vs19ff, ¹ ⁹ When evening came, they would go out of the city. ²⁰ As they were passing by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots up. ²¹ Being reminded, Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look, the fig tree which You cursed has withered.” Don’t miss this: the barren fig tree is not reformed or cleansed, it is cursed. It’s barrenness represented the barrenness of Israel’s spirituality. As Jesus clearly says in John 15, when there is no fruit, destruction follows. To quote Ray Stedman, The cursing of the fig tree represented God’s cursing of the heart of this nation, because it had nothing but leaves. It appeared to have life, but in reality did not. It appeared to offer hope to men and women of the nations of earth. From all over the earth people were coming to the temple at Jerusalem, hoping to find an answer to the emptiness and the burden of their heart, but finding no help there at all. So Jesus cursed the spiritual center of the nation. [iv]

In this story I believe there are two take away lessons that we need to pay close attention.

A. Be Careful of False Spiritual Appearances.

The first take-away-lesson of the fig tree is this—be careful of false spiritual appearances. Jesus cursed the fig tree because it had the appearance of seasonal fruitfulness. It was full. It was beautiful. Much like the worship in the temple. Full. Rich. Lots of pomp and circumstance.

Jesus entered the temple, the center of Israel’s religious life, looking for prayerfulness, fruitfulness (v17), and what does He find? Empty Charades. Worship had become a shame.

Alistair Begg writes: The barren fig tree, emblematic of a ceremonial, religious legalism that created the notion of satisfying the hungry heart—but when the people got up to it, there was nothing there to satisfy. And for some of us, that is all that we’ve known in our own worship settings: lots of ceremony and what might be called religious jargon. [v] Kent Hughs warns us that Just because we look good, because our leaves are large and shiny, does not mean that we are bearing fruit pleasing to God. This is a valuable image for us. [vi]

Listen carefully: As the story unfolds, Mark adds a twist to the drama by telling us that it wasn’t the season for figs. Diane Shirlaw, in her blog writes: from the distance the tree appeared to be more advanced than the others, and made it seem at a distance to offer something substantial, but in actuality offered nothing but leaves. [vii] This tree was a vivid depiction of hypocritical spirituality. It had the appearance of substance, but in actuality was fruitless.

Jesus had some sharp words for those who faked spirituality in Matthew 23:27–28 ^(GW) ² ⁷ “How horrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You are like whitewashed graves that look beautiful on the outside but inside are full of dead people’s bones and every kind of impurity. ²⁸ So on the outside you look as though you have God’s approval, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

In Jesus’ day tombs were often white-washed to make them look attractive to the passer-byer—but inside dead people’s bones and every kind of impurity.

Donald Hagner, in his commentary writes: The fundamental flaw of the Pharisees, their hypocrisy, was in their concerted attempt to appear to be what they unfortunately were not. While they wanted to appear righteous, in fact they were unrighteous. [viii] . I lived for a number of years on a dairy farm. Every so often we would come and white-wash the walls. White-wash is mixture of lime and water to whiten the walls. [ix] It is designed to conceal flaws, imperfections, blemishes and manure splashes from the cows. When done, the walls look pearly white, sparkly clean, and beautiful. It gives the impression of nice clean barn walls. But on close inspection the flaws and manure spits from the cows can be seen. The White-wash does nothing more than to cover. A casual glance gave the appearance of cleanliness. But upon close inspection not so much.

Mark makes it a point that it was not the season for figs, but the tree gave the appearance that it was the season. The point for us is that we need to be careful we don’t give those around us an appearance of fruitfulness, when in actuality we are no different than the culture in which we live. Underneath the fancy cloths and beautiful smiles is a barren life. Such portrayals are not acceptable to God.

B. There Is A Way To Live

That brings me to a second take away lesson—To live spirituality true takes real faith in God. Vs21–22 ²¹ Being reminded, Peter said to Him, “Rabbi, look, the fig tree which You cursed has withered.” ²² And Jesus answered saying to them, “Have faith in God. What a polar opposite conversation—withered dead tree vs faith in God. It only makes sense when we keep the events in context. I love how Ray Stedman lays it out: Jesus was not telling Peter and us the secret of how to curse fig trees; Instead He is telling Peter and us the secret of how to live so as not to be cursed. [x]

We don’t want to miss what Jesus was telling the disciples. The nation of Israel was cursed because they had lost faith in God. In their worship they were too busy mimicking the meaningless rituals of the nation’s around them and caught up in performance, which produced a religious glaze, if you well, that glossed over their inward emptiness. And so, like the tree Jesus cursed, they were withered from the roots up. The point Jesus is making is, to keep from being spiritually withered, we need an active faith in God. I believe the point Mark wanted us to get a hold of is that, despite the withered up fig tree (a picture of Israel’s own spiritual decay), we are called to center our faith in God, not ceremonial pomp and circumstances that often occur in our churches.

V. TRUTHS THAT SHAPE OUR LIVES

This incident should cause us to examine our own spiritual behavior. In closing I want to leave us with two challenges for the week.

A. Heart Of Worship

Years ago Matt Redman wrote a song entitled The Heart of Worship. ^[xi] The song flowed out of a ministry moment. As Matt Redman tells it:

In the late 1990s, the preaching pastor at his church in Watford, England sensed that their worship gatherings were going flat spiritually, that the congregation was going through the motions, and worship wasn’t flowing from the heart like true Christian worship must. “There was a dynamic missing,” says Redman , “so the pastor did a pretty brave thing. He decided to get rid of the sound system and band for a season, and we gathered together with just our voices. His point was that we’d lost our way in worship, and the way to get back to the heart would be to strip everything away.” [xii]

The point is, when we worship . . .

We’re to bring to God more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what God requires
For God searches much deeper within
Through the way things appear
Looking deep within our hearts

“The heart of worship is not music and song, but heads and hearts in joyful awe of the real Jesus.”

So I must ask, to what degree is your spirituality, my spirituality, our spirituality together built on performance and music rather than heart felt worship?

B. The Centrality Of Faith

That brings us to v22 where Peter is astounded by the withered up fig tree. Jesus’ answered Peter . . . if you want to live, really live, you have to have faith in God!! Reading Jesus’ response caused me to reflect for a moment on Hebrews 11:6 ^(NASB95) And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. Faith is rooted in our 100% belief that God exists. If we don’t have total trust in His existence, we don’t have faith. It is impossible to please God without having faith that He exists and will reward those who seek Him. As Bruce Barton reminds us in his commentary, real faith begins in the heart. To have a strong, vibrant, living faith requires a personal relationship with the risen Christ. Jesus is Lord; we are his disciples. We are being called to move beyond the veneer and trappings of Christianity to genuine faith in Christ. Faith puts fruit on our trees; it fills life’s shell with love forever. [xiii]

To have faith is to know God. John 17:3 ^(NASB95) “ This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

Real genuine faith is rooted in a real genuine knowledge of God that is rooted in absolute trust. As we are told in Galatians 3:6 ^(NASB95) A braham BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. And that my friends is absolutely true.

Would you join me now in prayer? Heavenly Father, thank you that Your Word demands the best of us—that at its very core, when we stand back from it, it presents a wonderful picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. When we stand up close to the scriptures and examine the details, we find much to be challenged by it. That it makes demands upon our thinking. May we not be like the fig tree, robust and full on the outside, but empty and barren on the inside.

As we come to the Lord’s Table may our lives be enriched, and we sense the wonder of Your forgiveness given to us in Christ Jesus.

Transition To Communion

I would like today’s communion to be a response to our hearing God’s Word today. This is really meant to be a special thing for us as a culturally mixed body of believers. Communion is meant to be a communal experience, not a private alone.

This is probably going to be a little awkward for us, but here are our instructions: We’ll pass out the bread and the cup the normal way.

Pastor Ricardo will read 1 Corinthians 11:23–24 ^(NASB95) and then lead in prayer. Then we’ll open the packet with bread, then please turn to the person next to you and say to them

The body of Christ, broken for you . . . then the person next to you will repeat . . . the body of Christ broken for you . . . then we eat the bread together

We’ll do the same with the cup. I will read 1 Corinthians 11:25-26 and lead in prayer. Then we’ll remove the seal and you’ll turn to the person next to you and say to them This is the blood of Christ, poured out for you . . . then the person next to you will repeat . . . This is the blood of Christ, poured out for you . . . then we’ll drink the cup together.

As we come to the table of our Lord we’ll now pass the ‘elements’.

Pastor Ricardo Scripture & Prayer: 1 Corinthians 11:23–24 ²³ For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; ²⁴ and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

The body of Christ, broken for you

Pastor Dave Scripture & Prayer: 1 Corinthians 11:25-26 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. (ESV)

The blood of Christ, poured out for you

[i] David E. Garland, Mark , The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996), 436.

[ii] Diane Shirlaw-Ferreira, Lessons From the Cursed FigTree –Why Did Jesus Curse The Fig Tree and the Fascinating Answer! (Mark 11:11-14, 20-25) https://www.worthbeyondrubies.com/why-did-jesus-curse-the-fig-tree/

[iii] Alistair Begg, Lessons From The Fig-Tree (Mark 11:11-25, Pt1), https://www.truthforlife.org/resources/sermon/lessons-fig-tree-part-one/

[iv] Ray Stedman, The King Is Coming (Mark 11:1-25), https://www.raystedman.org/new-testament/mark/the-king-is-coming

[v] Alistair Begg, Lessons From The Fig-Tree (Mark 11:11-25, Pt1), https://www.truthforlife.org/resources/sermon/lessons-fig-tree-part-one/

[vi] R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior , vol. 2, Preaching the Word (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1989), 86–87.

[vii] Diane Shirlaw-Ferreira, Lessons From the Cursed FigTree –Why Did Jesus Curse The Fig Tree and the Fascinating Answer! (Mark 11:11-14, 20-25) https://www.worthbeyondrubies.com/why-did-jesus-curse-the-fig-tree/

[viii] Donald A. Hagner, Matthew 14–28 , vol. 33B, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1995), 671.

[ix] https://duckduckgo.com/?q=white+washed&atb=v241-1&ia=definition . A mixture of lime and water, often with whiting, size, or glue added, that is used to whiten walls, fences, or other structures. Concealment or palliation of flaws or failures. Whitewash, or calcimine, kalsomine, calsomine, or lime paint is a type of paint made from slaked lime or chalk calcium carbonate, sometimes known as "whiting". Various other additives are sometimes used.

[x] Ray Stedman, The King Is Coming (Mark 11:1-25), https://www.raystedman.org/new-testament/mark/the-king-is-coming

[xi] Matt Redman, The Heart Of Worship, https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/michaelwsmith/theheartofworship.html

[xii] David Mathis, Back To The Heart Of Worship, https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/back-to-the-heart-of-worship

[xiii] Bruce B. Barton, Mark , Life Application Bible Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1994), 319.

36 - The King Visits His Father's House (Mark 11:1-11)

kijabi4@yahoo.com (David Wolfe) — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 20:21:44 GMT

36- The King Visits His Father's House (Mark 11:1-11)

I. INTRODUCTION

Hello. This is Dr. David Wolfe, one of the pastors at Bensenville Bible Church, a culturally mixed community located on the outskirts of Chicago.

Our study today comes from Mark’s Gospel, chap 11:1-11. This chapter begins with what is referred to as Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, leading up to the greatest Passover event ever to occur in the history of Israel. [i] As presented in the four Gospels, we find that the last week of Jesus’ life is really the entire focus, culminating with His resurrection. As pointed out by Frank Harrington, Those who wrote of Jesus were saying that the most important part of the disclosure of who He was, and who He is, is really encapitulated in the last week of His life. [ii]

The words that describe Jesus last week are a filled with tremendous emotions—emotions like hosanna, confrontation, betrayal, denial, trial, scourging, crucifixion, tomb, and Jesus’ heart rendering cry, “It is Finished!” Followed by the most electrifying words of all time—“He is not here! He is risen!"

Jesus last week opens with shouts of praise, and a visit to the Temple. I have entitled our study, The King Visits His Father’s House.

Let’s take a moment and ask God to guide us as we take a closer look at the opening of The Passion Week of Christ. Heavenly Father, we pray for your help as we study this passage together. We pray that you will save us from error, lead us into the truth, and then help us to live in the light of that which you call for us to trust and obey. And we ask this in your Son’s name. Amen.

II. BEGINNING OF PASSION WEEK

Mark 11:12–14 (GW) 12The next day, when they left Bethany, Jesus became hungry. 13In the distance he saw a fig tree with leaves. He went to see if he could find any figs on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves because it wasn’t the season for figs. 14Then he said to the tree, “No one will ever eat fruit from you again!” His disciples heard this.

A. The Story

Mark 11:1–11 (NASB95) 1As they approached Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples, 2and said to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one yet has ever sat; untie it and bring it here. 3“If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ you say, ‘The Lord has need of it’; and immediately he will send it back here.”

4They went away and found a colt tied at the door, outside in the street; and they untied it. 5Some of the bystanders were saying to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6They spoke to them just as Jesus had told them, and they gave them permission. 7They brought the colt to Jesus and put their coats on it; and He sat on it. 8And many spread their coats in the road, and others spread leafy branches which they had cut from the fields. 9Those who went in front and those who followed were shouting: “Hosanna! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; 10Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David; Hosanna in the highest!” 11Jesus entered Jerusalem and came into the temple; and after looking around at everything, He left for Bethany with the twelve, since it was already late.

Assuming that you have your Bibles open to Mark’s Gospel chap 11, vs1-11, we will be looking at these eleven verses from four perspectives:

The Timing of Events
Jesus’ Actions
The Crowds Reactions
And then some reflection as to how this is meant to shape our lives.

B. Timeline

The events recorded by Mark are also given to us in Matthew 21:1-11, Luke 19:29-38, and John 12:12-15. Though Mark’s storyline is our primary focus, the other three gospels give us additional insights to the drama of the day. Because it is Passover time, whether Jesus was there or not, the crowds in Jerusalem would have been huge. But on this occasion, because of His presence, many believe the population of Jerusalem may have been pushing 2.6 million people. [iii] From a close reading of Daniel 9:24-27, the year and the day of this moment was marked on the calendar 483 years previously. [iv] The date is believed to be Nisan 6, 32AD [v] , which would be the month of April for us, and would put Jesus’ age somewhere around 40 yrs of age, assuming He was born around 6BC. [vi] In addition, Matthew tells us in chap 21:4, that this ‘all’ took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Zechariah (9:9). The point is, the events that unfolded were preplanned, and not happen-stance.

C. Jesus’ Actions

A brief scan of Mark’s account tells us that Jesus was very much in control of the goings on of the day. He made no spur of the moment decisions.

1. Instructions

V1-2, 1Jesus stops near the Mount of Olives, and sends two of His disciples into Bethany 2and said to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find a donkey tied there, on which no one yet has ever sat; untie it and bring it here. 3“If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ you say, ‘The Lord has need of it’; and immediately he will send it back here.”

I find the instructions fascinating. They are so explicit. Jesus tells them to go to Bethany, there they’ll find a donkey tethered that’s never been ridden; and when asked as to why they were taking the donkey, they were to give a passphrase, the Lord is in need of it, and then tell presumably the owner the donkey will be returned. And guess what, it happened just as Jesus said. Luke tells us that indeed the disciples were challenged when untying the donkey (19:33). And when they give the passphrase, and the owner said, that is just fine. [vii]

2. Don’t miss the details.

Don’t miss the details. They are so very explicit--donkey, location, and a ‘passphrase’--the Lord needs it (v3). How detailed can one get!!!? And get this, how did the owner know the passphrase? That is all very fascinating. V7, the two disciples go to town and find the donkey, bring it back to Jesus, saddle him up with their coats, and then Jesus sat on it. Now don’t forget, this donkey has never been ridden. Jesus is very clear about that little detail. Having been on a farm, unbridle animals do not welcome things like this. They will dump you. Ray Stedman is spot on when he observes that here is an animal that no one had ever sat on--but Jesus sat on him, and he was quiet, responsive, and obedient, and carried Him through the streets of the city without being bothered by the noise and crowding. [viii]

But there is more in the detail that we should note. In the Old Testament King David, King Solomon, and King Jehu all rode donkeys. And Zechariah 9 prophesied that the coming Messiah Davidic King would enter Jerusalem riding on a donkey. [ix] . By doing this, Jesus was announcing that He is none other than the foretold Messiah King. So John 12: 15 (NASB95) 1 5“FEAR NOT, DAUGHTER OF ZION; BEHOLD, YOUR KING IS COMING, SEATED ON A DONKEY’S COLT.” This is a partial quote of Zechariah 9:9 (NASB95) Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey. But, with all the fanfare, the disciples missed it. John 12:16 (NASB95) These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him.

D. Crowd Response

Jesus, now on the donkey, heads down the Mount Of Olives, surrounded by a huge and growing crowd. V8, many in the crowd spread their coats in the road, and others spread leafy branches which they had cut from the fields. It was a pomp and circumstance parade. Matthew tells us it was loud and boisterous as people were praising God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen. The parade is massive. Vs9-10, they were shouting, dancing, and singing Psalm 118—Hosanna!! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David.

The emotional excitement must have been overwhelming. Indeed, Matthew tells us that Jesus’ entrance to Jerusalem placed the city in turmoil (21:10). The Gk word he uses refers to a violent shaking. Its descriptive of what happens when an earthquake strikes. [x] The point is, as Michael Marsh observes, Matthew is likening Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem to a seismic event. It’s an event in which lives and the world are shaken to the core. Like the destruction of an earthquake, something was being destroyed in Jerusalem that day, and something new was being birth. The turmoil of the week was designed to change who we are and the life we live. [xi] In the midst of the turmoil, the religious leaders were asking the crowd, Who is this? (Matt 21:10). Another way of asking ‘who is the Grand Marshall’ leading the parade?

V11, the crowds answered back, Its the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth. I suspect that there were more answers to the question than recorded. Michael Marsh gives us some hints as to some additional answers:

This is the one God sent because “God so loved the world.”
He’s the one who said, “Come to me, all you that are weary and carrying burdens, and I will give you rest.”
He’s the one who said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.”
He’s the one who said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”
He’s the one who said, “I am the good shepherd.”
He’s the one “who calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.”
He’s the one who said, “I am the light of the world.”
He’s the one who said, “I am the resurrection and the life.”
He’s the one who said “I have come that you may have life, and have it abundantly.”
He’s the one who is “making all things new.”
He’s the one who embodies God’s promise, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” [xii]

The parade culminates with Jesus stepping into the temple proper; V11 Jesus looks around at everything, then leaves for Bethany with the twelve, since it was already late.

Remember Luke 2:19? When Jesus was 12 Joseph and Mary came to Jerusalem for Passover. After leaving, and several days out, they realized Jesus was not part of the crowd. They go back and find Him in the temple in deep discussion with the religious authorities. They interrupt, asking, “Jesus, we’ve been looking everywhere for you. What are you doing here?” And he said, “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” So here Jesus is again in His Father’s House. Here He enters, looks around at everything, and then leaves. A somewhat anticlimactic ending a grand entrance, yet it tells us what He really came to the temple to do. He is in His Father’s house.

Make a note of this: this is an official visit of the King of the Kingdom of God. It’s not a passing visit like a tourist might do. It’s an inspection tour, if you please. He was looking and analyzing carefully the very heart of the nation. He went into the temple, where the very heartbeat of the nations was supposed to be throbbing for God. He scopes it all out. If we skip down to v15, we are told what he saw--

He saw commercialism, moneychangers, exploitation, corruption, and injustice.
He saw dirt, filth, and squalor, pride, hypocrisy, and haughtiness.
He saw religious ceremonies being carried on without any meaning whatsoever.

He did not say a word. He just looked around at everything, and then left. [xiii] . Jesus’ coming to Jerusalem wasn’t about the grand parade, or donkey ride, or the palms, or even the jubilation of the crowd. It’s about what He saw, and it was about scoping out the broken heartbeat of the nation. Luke captures the brokenness of Jesus’ heart as he approach Jerusalem 41He saw the city and He wept over it, 42saying, “If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes. 43“For the days will come upon you when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, and surround you and hem you in on every side, 44and they will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.” [Luke 19:41–44 (NASB95)]

III. TRUTHS THAT SHAPE OUR LIVES

Well, I hope you are still hanging in there with me. It’s hard for us, 2000 plus years removed, to really understand the importance of what was happening that day. We need to remember that the people caught up in the grand parade were not thinking about sin and personal salvation. John 6:14-15 tell us they had a king inauguration mindset. Alistair Begg writes: Their minds were on political revolution. They were thinking of overturning and abolishing Roman authorities and atrocities. Jesus was their biggest political hope. They hated the Romans. They were done living in subjugation. They wanted a political champion. [xiv] And they believe they’d finally found one.

This is the moment we need to make some personal application and reflection, asking ourselves as to how this event should shape our lives. I think there are at least two points of reflection for us.

A. First, Jesus Enters The Temple

The first one comes in v11, where we are told that Jesus entered Jerusalem and came into the temple; and after looking around at everything He left . . .

Remember. The temple was initially designed to be the heartbeat of the nation, the place where they came to meet God and offer worship.

This was a personal an intimate moment for Jesus. According to the Old Testament writings,

The temple was a place of prayer and praise (Isaiah 56:)
It was a place for the consecration of persons and things (Isaiah 6, 2 Chronicles 5:1)
It was a place for remembering the law of God (1 Kings 8:9)
It was a place for the gathering of people from all nations to pray and worship God (Mark 11:17)
It was a place for God’s revelation to unfold and be taught (1 Chronicles 5:13; 7:2) [xv]

When Jesus entered that day, it must have been a day of great sorrow. I wonder what was going on in His mind as He scoped out the inward workings of the place designed for the people to worship and pray. There He stood in His Father’s house, instead of a house of prayer, He saw a materialistic disaster zone.

As I reflect on Jesus’ survey of His Father’s house, I am reminded of 1 Corinthians 6:19 (NASB95) do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? [xvi] Paul is point out to the Corinthians and to us that our bodies serve as temples of the Holy Spirit, a special place where the presence of God resides.

That leads me to ask: What is the current state of your temple? When Jesus scans our body temple, what does He see?
What sins run rampant, things done and left undone, that chain you to the past?
What are your regrets?
Is your heart fearful?
What scares you?
Are you so overwhelmed by life that it feels like you are drowning and you just want to escape?
Is there self-hatred or condemnation?
Do you see broken relationships?
Is your heart filled with loss, sorrow, grief?
What parts of you are dying?
Where is your life overcome by darkness?
Who are the loved ones that have died and you miss?
What is the disease of your heart?
What things in your heart are smothering the presence of God. [xvii]

Take a look around at everything in your heart. That’s what Jesus did. What does He see that needs to be put in the dumpster?

B. Second, How Centralized Is Truth In Your Life?

Another thought that comes to my mind is the mentality of the crowd. They had become so mired in the political, emotional, and social abuse under the Roman domination that they missed the truth of the Gospel of the Kingdom that Jesus proclaimed. You see, they didn’t understand the core message of the Gospel of the Kingdom because they were selective in their reading and studying. They totally missed the proclamation of redemption from sin, and focused entirely on a political and social redemption. To put it out there, they had the cart before the horse. All that to say, unless we permeate our lives with right thinking, studying, and praying Scripture, we will also live in a world of confusion and miss the message of the Gospel of the Kingdom.

As Alistair Begg reminds us, The story of the Bible is the story of man’s placing himself where God deserves to be, in rebellion and sin, and of God now coming and placing himself where man deserves to be—in the place of punishment for sin. So that from the very beginning of the Bible all the way to the end, the focus is on the way in which God will bring sinners into the perfection of his heaven. [xviii]

My point for us to ponder is, is that unless we keep the Gospel of the Kingdom that Jesus proclaimed at the center of our lives, we will, like the people of the parade, create a Jesus of our own making. Like the people in the grand parade, we will strive to turn Him into a political and social savior. As soon as Jesus is woven into our political and social mindset, we leave behind the Gospel of the Kingdom. Listen carefully, the kingdom of God comes first in the person of Christ, in His words and in His works; the kingdom of God is revealed in the preaching of the gospel; and in that preaching the kingdom of God becomes open and universal. But Christ’s kingship is not a warlike office. He rides a donkey, “gentle and lowly in heart.” [xix] As Jesus said in Matthew 11:28–30 (NASB95) 28“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. 30“For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Are you weary and heavy-laden? Jesus will give you the rest you need. And that my friends is absolutely true.

Would you join me now in prayer? Heavenly Father, thank you for the challenge given to us today which is designed to shape us, stir us, move us and cause us to think clearly with Your written word. Forgive us when we strive to squeeze Jesus into our own agendas that make us comfortable. Lord, I ask that you help us not be naïve, but help us to be gracious, to be kind, to be forceful, to be true, breaking down barriers so that we can reach more people in our communities and beyond with the good news of the Gospel of the Kingdom. Amen

Well, there you have it, the opening day of the week leading to Jesus crucifixion. As Matthew tells it, it was a seismic day, a shaking of Jerusalem, a shaking of the religious paradigm of the day. The grand parade that day was about Jesus coming to the inner sanctuary of the life of the nation of Israel, and by application to our own heart beat for God. What He saw was that the center of worship had gone astray and was buried by materialism.

So, how is your heartbeat for God? Like the nation of Israel, do you need an earthquake encounter with God? Know Jesus is looking at your center; do you need to do some serious house cleaning?

If you would like to contribute to this ministry, go to our website: Bensenvillebiblechurch.com, click on the Donation Drop down and pick your donation preference. May the grace of the Lord Jesus, the love of God, the fellowship of God the Holy Spirit, help us in this endeavor. For Christ’s sake we ask it. Amen.

[i] http://die2live.worthyofpraise.org/the-final-passover-week/ - Good Thursday (or Wednesday) & the Final Passover Week . Cf., Chuck Missler, https://www.khouse.org/articles/2008/769/ ; April 6, 32 A.D. - end of the first 69 Weeks of Daniel & day Messiah is manifest king. “Sir Robert Anderson by a careful analysis of the prophecy of Daniel 9:24-27 calculated that Jesus, to the very day, fulfilled Daniel’s prophecy concerning the appearance of the Messiah. Dr. Alva McClain has written, ‘April 6, 32 A.D., therefore, is fixed definitely as the end of the era of the first 69 Weeks; and according to Daniel’s prophecy, it should mark the very day of Messiah’s manifestation as the Prince of Israel.’ Without attempting to enter into the clear but intricate chronological calculations set forth by Anderson in his book, The Coming Prince (Pages 95-105), I shall simply state his conclusion that April 6, 32 A.D., was the tenth of Nisan, that momentous day on which our Lord, in fulfilment of Messianic prophecy, rode up to Jerusalem on the ‘foal of an ass’ and offered Himself as the Prince and King of Israel.” Alva J. McClain, Daniel’s Prophecy of the Seventy Weeks (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1969), p. 20. https://www.puritanboard.com/threads/april-6-32-a-d-end-of-the-first-69-weeks-of-daniel-day-messiah-is-manifest-king.86469/ ; https://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/monthly.html?year=32&month=4&country=34 ; http://historicchristianity .blogspot.com/2006/05/chronology-of-easter-week-32-ad.html. I should also point out that the calculation of ancient dates is by no means a straightforward affair. Sources are usually unclear as to their frame of reference, Julian or Gregorian, and the Hebrew calendar is confusing even to those familiar with it. Online calendar calculators will yeild contradictory results, because different assumptions have been programmed in.

http://www.abdicate.net/cal.aspx ; http://www.csgnetwork.com/juliancountdaysfromtocalc.html . Thus the following is not confirmed by such tools:"A most compelling Biblical Prophecy is found in Daniel, chapter 9, verse 25. Written 500 years before the birth of Jesus Christ (the oldest preserved copy dating 200 years before the birth of Christ), it foretells the very day Christ would enter Jerusalem. The prophecy states: 69 weeks of years (69 x 7 = 483 years) would pass from the decree to rebuild Jerusalem, until the coming of the Messiah. This is according to the Babylonian 360-day calendar, since Daniel was written in Babylon during the Jewish captivity after the fall of Jerusalem. Thus, 483 years x 360 days = 173,880 days. According to records found by Sir Henry Creswicke Rawlinson in the Shushan (Susa) Palace, and confirmed in Nehemiah 2:1, this decree was made on March 14th, 445 BC, by Artaxerxes Longimanus. Exactly 173,880 days later, on April 6th, 32 AD, Jesus Christ rode into Jerusalem upon a colt (fulfilling the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9). The world celebrates this day as Palm Sunday." http://www.allabouttruth.org/Biblical-Prophecy.htm

[ii] Frank Harrington, A Day of Applause (Luke 19:28-43), https://www.preachingtoday.com/sermons/sermons/2005/august/ 175.html

[iii] John MacArthur, The False Coronation of the True King (Mark 11:1-11), https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/41-56/the-false-coronation-of-the-true-king . It is estimated that as many as two million people would be in Jerusalem at a Passover even in ancient days. And one of the ways we get at that is ten years after this, 40 A.D., there’s a record in Jewish history that two hundred and sixty-thousand lambs were slain at that Passover – over a quarter of a million. Usually there was one lamb per ten people. That would put it at 2.6 million people possibly. It was a massive crowd. The crowd around Him must have been in the hundreds of thousands. This was the time and this was the place to allow this to agitate His enemies so that He would die in God’s perfect timing.

[iv] Ibid., In Daniel 9 we’re given a really important prophecy, Daniel 9:24 to 27, that it’ll be four hundred and eighty three years, sixty-nine weeks of years – sixty-nine times seven, four hundred and eighty three – four hundred and eighty-three years from the decree of Artaxerxes to rebuild Jerusalem, which was in 445 B.C., four hundred and eighty-three years to the arrival of Messiah. If you do the calendar work on that, four hundred and eighty-three years from the decree of Artaxerxes lands you on this day when Jesus came into the city. God’s timing is perfect, down to the clearest detail. It was a faithful arrival, faithful to the divine purpose, prophecy, and timetable.

[v] Ray Stedman, The King Is Coming (Mark 11), https://www.raystedman.org/new-testament/mark/the-king-is-coming . Sir Robert Anderson, with his precise mind and his training in logic, analyzed the book of Daniel and determined the exact date when that decree of Artaxerxes was issued: March 28, 445 B. C. Counting from that date, and making the necessary corrections for calendar errors, he determined that on April 6, A. D. 32, Jesus rode into Jerusalem -- exactly four hundred eighty-three years later.

[vi] Cf., Believing that Jesus was born in 6BC. https://www.livescience.com/42976-when-was-jesus-born.html But nobody really knows exactly when Jesus was born. Some scholars think that he was born between 6 B.C. and 4 B.C., based partly on the biblical story of Herod the Great. Not long before Herod's demise, which is believed to have occurred in 4 B.C., the ruler of Judea supposedly ordered the death of all male infants who were under the age of two and lived in the vicinity of Bethlehem, in an attempt to kill Jesus.

[vii] Alistar Begg, Coming Kingdom (Mark 11) https://www.truthforlife.org/resources/sermon/coming-kingdom/ a small thing to us, until we begin to read our Bibles and discover that in the Old Testament, when a donkey, when a beast of burden, was pressed into royal or kingly service, they did not routinely go to the pool of local donkeys who were involved in moving things around in secular business pursuits, but rather they went expressly to the fields where there had been unbroken beasts, where they were unridden creatures. And Jesus here is very clear in pointing out that when they take hold of this donkey, it will be just that. Incidentally, if you’re making notes and you wonder where I find this material, then you will find that in Numbers chapter 19, [2] you’ll find it in Deuteronomy chapter 21, [3] you’ll find it in 1 Samuel chapter 6. [4]

[viii] Ray Stedman, The King Is Coming (Mark 11) https://www.raystedman.org/new-testament/mark/the-king-is-coming

[ix] 2 Samuel 16:2; 1 Kings 1:38-40, 2 Kings 9:12-13, Zechariah 9:9-17

[x] Donald A. Hagner, Matthew 14–28 , vol. 33B, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1995), 596.ἐσείσθη πᾶσα ἡ πόλις. the verb σείειν, “shake,” is used figuratively again only in 28:4; cf. the whole of Jerusalem being “troubled” at the report of the birth of the messianic king in 2:3).

[xi] Michael Marsh, Life-giving Turmoil – A Sermon for the Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday, Matthew 21:1-11 https://interruptingthesilence.com/2014/04/13/life-giving-turmoil-a-sermon-for-the-sunday-of-the-passion-palm-sunday-matthew-211-11/

[xii] Michael Marsh, This Is The One – A Palm Sunday Sermon On Matthew 21:1-11, https://interruptingthesilence.com/ 2020/04/05/ this-is-the-one-a-palm-sunday-sermon-on-matthew-211-11/

[xiii] Michael Marsh, Looking Around and Leaving Nothing Behind – A Palm Sunday Sermon on Mark 11:1-11, https://interruptingthesilence.com/2015/03/30/looking-around-and-leaving-nothing-behind-a-palm-sunday-sermon-on-mark-111-11/

[xiv] Alistar Begg, Coming Kingdom (Mark 11) https://www.truthforlife.org/resources/sermon/coming-kingdom/

[xv] The Purpose Of The Temple, https://biblehub.com/sermons/auth/rowland/the_purposes_of_the_temple.htm

[xvi] John 2:21 (NASB95) 21But He was speaking of the temple of His body. 1 Corinthians 3:16–17 ^{(NASB95) 16} Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? ¹⁷ If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.

[xvii] Michael Marsh, Looking Around and Leaving Nothing Behind – A Palm Sunday Sermon on Mark 11:1-11, https://interruptingthesilence.com/2015/03/30/looking-around-and-leaving-nothing-behind-a-palm-sunday-sermon-on-mark-111-11/

[xviii] Alistar Begg, Coming Kingdom (Mark 11) https://www.truthforlife.org/resources/sermon/coming-kingdom/

[xix] Ibid., Matthew 11:29 (NASB95) “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.

35 - Faith Lessons From A Blind Beggar (Mark 10:46-52)

kijabi4@yahoo.com (David Wolfe) — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 19:55:26 GMT

This is a subtitle for your new post

Faith Lessons From A Blind Beggar

(Mark 10:46-52)

I. INTRODUCTION

Hello. This is Dr. David Wolfe, one of the pastors at Bensenville Bible Church on the outskirts of Chicago. We are a culturally mixed community.

Our study today comes from Mark’s Gospel, chap 10, vs46-52. In these verses Jesus meets up with a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, who stood in stark contrast to the Pharisees and the disciples when it comes to seeing Jesus for Who He is; Unlike the crowd following Jesus, Bartimaeus, who could not see, sees clearly Jesus’ identity. Mathew and Luke also are intrigued by Bartimaeus encounter with Jesus, but Mark gives us a clearer view of the intensity of faith that brings radical change. Ray Stedman is spot on when he says, Here was a man who was very conscious of his blindness in contrast to the disciples who were not. [i] While the disciples were caught up in the priority of self over others, Bartimaeus was conscious of his wretched condition as a blind beggar. Mark wants us to see that the essential aspect to the Gospel of the Kingdom is persistent faith as demonstrated by Bartimaeus. I have entitled our study, Faith Lessons From A Blind Beggar.

Let’s take a moment and ask God to help us grasp the faith of Bartimaeus. Heavenly Father, open our eyes so that we may see the wonder and majesty of Jesus Christ, your everlasting Son. And help us to overcome obstacles that are holding us back from entering into all that You have for us. Amen

II. BARTIMAEUS’ STORY

A. The Story

Follow along as I read for us the story of blind Bartimaeus’ encounter with Jesus, vs 46–52-- 46Then they came to Jericho. And as He was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road. 47When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48Many were sternly telling him to be quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him here.” So they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take courage, stand up! He is calling for you.” 50Throwing aside his cloak, he jumped up and came to Jesus. 51And answering him, Jesus said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” And the blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, I want to regain my sight!” 52And Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him on the road.

B. Lesson Context

A passing glance at the story might suggest that Mark is randomly pulling from a collection of stories, that this is just one of the many stories that he randomly picked. But that is not the case. Peter tells us in his second letter, 2:21 that no prophecy every came by the impulse of man, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. The Spirit of God was actively at work, guiding Mark’s pen. There’s an arrangement to the flow of stories in Mark’s gospel that are designed to help us understand, grasp, and articulate the Gospel of the Kingdom that Jesus’ preached. I love John Piper’s wording here. In a word, Scripture is not like putty that we can mold according to our desires. It is the work of the Holy Spirit and carries a solid, firm, divine intention. [ii]

The point is, the Holy Spirit via Mark purposely places this story here to exactly illustrate for the disciples and us a specific lesson on faith.

The lesson here pushes us back to at least chap 8:17, following the feeding of the 4000 as pointed out by Alistair Begg, [iii] where Jesus highlights the blindness of His disciple with His question, Do you not yet see or understand? Do you have ‘such’ hard hearts? V18, Are you seeing, and yet not seeing; hearing, and yet not hearing ? They could see and hear, and yet they failed to grasp the total otherness of Jesus. Then, skipping down to v22, we meet the blind man at Bethsaida. Instead of instant healing, it is a two-step healing. First, the man sees people like trees walking, then Jesus touches him again, and he sees clearly. It was following this miracle that Jesus asks the disciples, “Who do you say I am?” And Peter blurts out, You are the Christ!!

Such a confession sounds huge to us, but in reality Peter and disciples had only taken a ‘baby step’ in grasping Jesus’ identity. In events that followed Jesus continued to peel away their spiritual cataracts—telling them they need faith as a child to enter the Kingdom of God, followed by an upside-down greatness picture about being a slave to all—encapsulated in v45 by Jesus describing His servant actions, not to be served, but to serve, and give His life as a ransom for many.

C. What’s In A Name?

Now comes V46, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road. A couple of observations are worth noting.

First, notice that Mark mentions a large crowd walking with Jesus. Jesus is perhaps two weeks out before Passover. Jericho is about 100 miles from Jerusalem. Depending on walking speed, perhaps a 10-day hike. Excitement is building.
Second, based on what we gather time-wise from the other gospels, this event may have followed the Zacchaeus’ banquet in Luke 19. Remember, Zacchaeus was a short little man who climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus. Here we have a blind beggar wanting to see Jesus.
Third, Mark is very specific as to giving us the blind man’s name. Matthew tells us that there were two blind beggars sitting on the road that day. But Mark was especially intrigued by one of them, so much so that he gives us his name--Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus.

Why did this blind beggar capture Mark’s attention? Possibly because, when we look up the Greek meaning of "Timothyaeus," we discover the word means, "honor". [iv] Apparently Bartimaeus was the son of a socially important man of the region, someone who was well known. And he had a son who was blind. And because of his blindness he was now destitute and socially marginalized. [v] In addition, this may have been Bartimaeus’ begging corner.

D. Bartimaeus Meets Jesus

With a 10-day hike ahead of them, there’s no time to lollygag. Despite the pressure of Passover . . . Mark turns our attention to this irritating blind destitute of a man yelling at the top of his lungs, V47, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!! My guess is, that Jesus was doing what He always did when hiking . . . teaching, answering questions, interacting with the crowd. As they all walk the road out of Jericho, they pass two blind beggars, hunkered down by the roadside, blankets laid out to catch the coin tosses. Upon hearing that it was Jesus passing by, Bartimaeus, began yelling over and over. . . Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! !

V48, Many were sternly telling ‘Bartimaeus’ to hush. Apparently the yelling made it difficult for the crowd to hear Jesus. Unlike Zacchaeus who used a tree to see Jesus, Bartimaeus and friend are seeking to make their presence know by yelling.

V49, Jesus stops and tells the crowd to bring this noisy blind man to Him. The point is, no one is too marginalized when it comes to Jesus, even as He faces the stress of the cross. The crowd is aggravated, and perhaps the disciples. But not Jesus. He stops and takes command of the situation. Luke tells us He commanded them to be brought to Him (Luke 18:40). It’s another teaching moment for the disciples and us--the marginalized are not marginalized when it comes to Jesus and the Gospel of the Kingdom. Also Bartimaeus becomes an object lesson on the power of persistent faith. The fickle crowd suddenly changes from rejection to acceptance—So they called the blind man, saying to him, “ Take courage, stand up! Jesus is calling for you.”

Can we imagine what was running thru Bartimaeus’ mind when he heard the words, Jesus is calling for you? All the years of waiting, all the years of not knowing what it feels like to see live colors, all the years of living in darkness . . . Bartimaeus’ mind swirling, is the moment He will see?

Mark observes Bartimaeus excitement, V50, He jumps to his feet, throws off his cloak. This is an important observation. The cloak was essential. Not only for keeping him warm on cool days, but also for collecting alms. It’s likely that the cloak was spread out at his feet to catch coins as they were tossed haphazardly his way. Without his cloak he would have great difficulty collecting alms. But when Jesus called, he tossed the cloak. Remember when Jesus called Matthew sitting at his tax table? [vi] He just got up and walked away. There’s an incredible lesson here—when Jesus calls, we let go of the things that hinder us from getting into the Kingdom of God. A new sense of security opens up for us.

V51 , Someone takes Bartimaeus’ arm, or perhaps his walking stick, and leads him through the crowd. Silence reigns. Then a question from Jesus, What do you want Me to do for you? Don ‘t miss the question. Jesus has the habit of pulling back the curtain of our longings with questions.

In John 1:38, John the Baptist tells Andrew and Peter to follow Jesus. As they followed, Jesus, turned and asked, "What are you looking for?"
In John 5:6 Jesus comes to the pool of Bethesda filled with the sick, aged, disabled and socially ostracized. Jesus picks out a man who had been lame for 38 years and asks, Do you want to be healed?
In Mark 10:36 James and John corner Jesus. Jesus asks them, What do you want Me to do for you?

Now here He asks blind Bartimaeus, " What do you want me to do for you?" [vii] What a strange question to ask a blind man. But Jesus never asked a foolish question in His life. His question is intended to produce a dynamic exercise of faith. So how we answer Jesus’ question determines His response.

There are people who, for whatever reason, are content with their weaknesses, their helplessness. In some cases it’s a means of fleeing life responsibilities. In other moments weaknesses and helplessness are channels for attention that could not begotten otherwise. So the question to Bartimaeus, "What do you want me to do for you?"

While the disciples saw Jesus as the means to glory, thrones, prestige, position, Bartimaeus sees Jesus as the Son of David who brings mercy, healing and sight. If you identify with this man, the Lord is saying to you, " What do you want me to do for you?"

V51, Notice Bartimaeus’ response, Rabboni, I want my sight . And immediately Jesus said, V52, " It is done. Your faith has made you well." And Bartimaeus saw clearly for the first time in his life.

III. TRUTHS THAT SHAPE OUR LIVES

The events we have just reviewed tell us something profound about God’s nature and shed light on the type of faith and prayer that is pleasing to God.

So why do you think Mark put this story of Bartimaeus, "the blind son of honor", in this particular place?

Let me highlight three possibilities.

A. First, Jesus uses Bartimaeus’ blindness as a metaphor of spiritual blindness

Bartimaeus was a visual object lesson of the spiritual blindness of the crowd and the spiritual blindness of the disciples. He becomes an object lesson of a persistent faith that brakes spiritual blindness.

In the book, What the Story of Blind Bartimaeus Teaches Us About Fear, Surrender and Walking the Path to Joy. Author Roc O’Connor notes that “blindness serves here as a metaphor for the all-too-human unwillingness to recognize the barriers that keep us from recognizing God, ourselves, and others.” [viii] Bartimaeus acknowledges his obstacle of blindness, earnestly wants release from it. In the book Roc O’Connor takes a closer look at the way blindness is used in Mark and notices that “blindness,” (tupholos), relates mostly to idolatry, oppression and willfulness. Whereas the word for “seeing” (anablepo), is generally associated with “following Jesus’ way; So v52, following his request for sight, Bartimaeus immediately receives his sight. Luke tells us that he immediately began to follow Jesus, glorifying God (Luke 18:43). Persistent faith gave him what it took to throw off his cloak and walk in the light of Jesus. His blindness and begging come to an end. In that moment he surrendered his life and possessions to follow Jesus. The stigma of blindness and the poverty it brought was gone. That’s the Gospel of the Kingdom.

B. Second, Persistent faith plows through barriers

Bartimaeus and his blind friend faced at least two major barriers in reaching Jesus—their own blindness and the negativity of the crowd. Together they form a powerless situation. Because of blindness they could not see Jesus. Because of the negativity of the crowd they couldn’t reach Jesus. Despite blindness and the pressures from the crowd, they used what they had to reach Jesus--their ears and voices.

V47 , When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus was passing by, he began to cry out with loud intensity. And V48 the people sternly tried to shut him up. The crowd gave sharp disapproval. Don’t miss this . . . these were people who were following Jesus. The people that one would expect to help, sought to shut him up. They intentionally tried to shut Bartimaeus up. After all he was blind and a social outcast. As Aminata Coote points out for us, In a society where physical ailments were believed to have been a punishment for sin, blind Bartimaeus was on nobody’s Christmas list. Yet Jesus, Immanuel, stopped and waited for the blind man to make his way to Him. [ix] Bartimaeus refused the pressure of the crowd. He wanted nothing less than to be touched by Jesus.

In Hebrews 12:1–2 ^(NASB95) ¹ . . . let us lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Here we are encouraged to lay aside every obstacle or anything that will block us from God. In Bartimaeus’ case he chose to pursue God despite blindness and despite the negativity of the crowd. He banked everything on God and Him only. Like Bartimaeus we should be so desperate for Jesus that we chase after Him despite what others may say to us, despite the encumbrances such as blindness. We should want to be with God so much that we don’t allow our circumstances to block or hinder our reaching out..

C. Third, Bartimaeus’ faith is anchored on the mercy of Jesus

As Jesus walked by, Bartimaeus heard who it was and called out to Him: V47 “ Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” By calling Jesus the “Son of David,” Bartimaeus was affirming his belief that Jesus was the Messiah. The people told Bartimaeus to be quiet, but he kept calling out, more loudly, more persistently. It shows that he believed that Jesus was not like the other religious leaders, who believed that an individual’s poverty or blindness or bad circumstances were a result of God’s judgment. Bartimaeus appealed to Jesus’ character as one who cares for the poor and the brokenhearted [x]

Jesus responded to his cries commanding him to be brought to Him. Blind, destitute, and a social outcast, he jumped up and came to Jesus. Jesus asked him, “v51 What do you want me to do for you?”

Think about this for a moment. Bartimaeus was a beggar by trade. That’s how he survived day after day. Survival would have been a big deal. So he could have asked for money, food, or perhaps shelter. But he wanted something more sustainable. V51, “I want to see.” He had one desire, and he ran to Jesus with that desire. He did not preface his petition with a list of good works he had done or with any false humility; he simply expressed to Jesus his desire, and in faith, trusting that Jesus was both willing and able to fulfill it—he said to Jesus, I want to see.

Hear Jesus words to him, v52, “Go . . . your faith has healed you, ” and Blind Bartimaeus instantly recovered his sight and followed Jesus

By saying, “ Your faith has made you well, ” Jesus centralizes the necessity of persistent faith. Bartimaeus had the kind of faith that pleases God—a wholehearted trust in the Jesus. In Hebrews 11:6 ^(NASB95) we are told ⁶ without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him . Bartimaeus illustrates for us that God indeed “r ewards those who earnestly seek him”. Bartimaeus understood this truth. He earnestly sought the Lord, and his actions reflected the kind of faith that is pleasing to God.

We need the faith of Bartimaeus—faith that drives a wedge through impossibilities, a faith that is intense and persistent despite the barriers of blindness and crowd negativity.

Perhaps you are like Bartimaeus, wanting to see, really see. Perhaps you are struggling with the guilt of sin because you have never seen what a relief, what a glory it is, to have God forgive your sins. Psalm 32:2, 5 ^(NASB95) ² How blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit! ⁵ I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I did not hide; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD”; And You forgave the guilt of my sin.

When God forgives sin, your spiritual cataracts are removed and you can glorify God like Bartimaeus. And that my friends is absolutely true.

Would you join me now in prayer? Heavenly Father, perhaps there is someone here today, someone listening today that is like Bartimaeus, crying out for you to free him or her from darkness. If that is true, may they pray with me . . . forgive my sin, wash my guilt away, and give me life. I believe that Jesus died for my sins, and I believe that almighty God raised Him from the dead. Today I confess my sins, and in repentance profess my faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus, my Savior. You said in the bible that if we confess our sins, you will be faithful and just to cleanse me of my sins and draw me into Your everlasting family. I love you Lord and thank you for eternal life with you forever. Amen

Well, there you have it, the story and lessons we can learn from the life of blind, destitute, socially marginalized Bartimaeus. He was blind, but now he sees. The gift of life and sight he received from Jesus became instruments for causing people to glorify and praise God (Luke 18:43).

If you have prayed this prayer in honest faith, you will want to write down your initials with the prayer along with today’s date as a reminder that you have come to Christ in faith, trusting him as your Lord and Savior. Like Jesus, we must be willing to listen, to stop, and to respond to the cries of those around us. And like Bartimaeus, we need to have persistent faith that pleases God.

BTW, we are open for live worship gatherings mask or no mask if you have been fully vaccinated. If you are hesitant about being with a crowd, you can still join us on Facebook and YouTube. If you would like to contribute to this ministry, go to our website: Bensenvillebiblechurch.com, click on the Donation Drop down and pick your donation preference. Looking forward to meeting up with you again at next week’s posting. May God bless you this coming week.

[i] Ray Stedman, The Ruler Who Serves The Ambitious Heart (Mark 10:32-52), https://www.raystedman.org/new-testament/mark/the-ambitious-heart

[ii] John Piper, Men Moved by the Holy Spirit Spoke From God, (2 Peter 2:20-21), https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/men-moved-by-the-holy-spirit-spoke-from-god

[iii] Alistair Begg, I Want To See (Mark 10:46-52), https://www.truthforlife.org/resources/sermon/i-want-see/

[iv] Ray Stedman, The Ruler Who Serves The Ambitious Heart (Mark 10:32-52), https://www.raystedman.org/new-testament/mark/the-ambitious-heart . https://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Timaeus.html . The name Timaeus occurs only once in the Bible, and that in the curiously redundant statement that Timaeus was the father of Bartimaeus, whose name means exactly that: Son Of Timaeus ( MARK 10:46 ). The Greek name Timaeus comes from the word τιμη (time), meaning value: Excerpted from: Abarim Publications' Biblical Dictionary – τιμη - The noun τιμη (time) describes something that is dear, valuable or honorable. It stems from the verb τιω (tio), to honor, revere, prize highly or simply: to value or price. Both this verb and its noun speak of an intimate knowledge of the thing assessed, and an intimate knowledge of the item's usefulness relative to the economy at large.

[v] https://becomingchristians.com/2018/07/15/the-inspiring-lessons-from-the-healing-of-blind-bartimaeus-mark-1046-52/ . According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 253 million people live with vision impairment: 36 million are blind and 217 million have moderate to severe vision impairment. Think about it for a second, that’s more than twice the population of our country, the Philippines.

[vi] Matthew 9:9–13 (NASB95) 9As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man called Matthew, sitting in the tax collector’s booth; and He said to him, “Follow Me!” And he got up and followed Him. 10Then it happened that as Jesus was reclining at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were dining with Jesus and His disciples. 11When the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, “Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?” 12But when Jesus heard this, He said, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. 13“But go and learn what this means: ‘I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

[vii] Matt.20:32; Mk.10:51; Lk.18:41)

[viii] Roc O'Connor I Want to See: What the Story of Blind Bartimaeus Teaches Us about Fear, Surrender and Walking the Path to Joy, Twenty-Third Publications, October 30th, 2017

[ix] Aminata Coote, 4 Powerful Lessons from Blind Bartimaeus, https://hebrews12endurance.com/blind-bartimaeus-broken-but-not-silent/

[x] Psalm 34:6 (NASB95) ⁶ This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him And saved him out of all his troubles. V18, ¹⁸ The LORD is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit.

34 - Living In Servitude (Mark 10:32-45)

kijabi4@yahoo.com (David Wolfe) — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 19:41:00 GMT

34 - Living In Servitude (Mark 10:32-45)

I. INTRODUCTION

Hello. This is Dr. David Wolfe, one of the pastors at Bensenville Bible Church, a two language multi-culture church on the outskirts of Chicago. Being a culturally mixed community is our DNA and RNA. Thank you for joining us.

Our study today comes from Mark’s Gospel, chap 10, vs32-45. In these 13 verses Jesus cuts to the core of the egotism of the disciples, as well as our own egotism. The rivalry among them was fierce. They are still wrestling with their status and rank among themselves. Jesus cuts to the chase, and spells out for them, if you guys really want greatness, then you first need to learn what it means to serve, or in Jesus’ words—V44, whoever wishes to be first among you shall be a slave of all. Don’t let your mind gloss over these powerful words. If you have ever wanted to know how the gospel will shape you, the answer is tucked into these 13 verses. One of the impacts of the Gospel is to reshape us into servants like Jesus.

To be an effective server, we must first learn how to serve like Jesus. As John Piper so clearly puts it, in my serving, am I feeding my ego or am I feeding the faith of others? [i] Let’s take a moment and ask God to help us understand what it means to be a servant of all.

Heavenly Father, may the Spirit open our eyes to see with increasing clarity how much our egotistic ideology hinders our ability to serve others, and hold us back from giving ourselves to the way of the cross. Amen.

II. THE WAY OF THE CROSS

A. The Shaping Of The Cross

Our focus today is on the cross and how it is designed to shape our lives. This is the third time that Mark tells us that Jesus brought up His coming death and resurrection. [ii] In looking over these verses I find it impossible for us to grasp Jesus’ concept of servantness unless we consciously factor in the reality of what it means to die. That is what Peter refers to in his first letter, chap 2:21, you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps . [iii] .

The point is, Jesus’ going to the cross shows us the way to exaltation. That’s what we are told in Philippians 2:3–9 ^(NASB95) ³ Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; ⁴ do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. ⁵ Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷ but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. ⁸ Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. ⁹ For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, I take that to mean, that as followers of Jesus, if we want to impact the people around us, we must learn what it means to die.

So Jesus said in John 12:24 ^(NASB95) of Himself, “ Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. In the verse that follows, v25, He then applies His action to us, “He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. As stated in Black’s New Testament Commentary, “To hate one’s life does not mean to despise one’s life as having no value. It is to have a higher, more encompassing allegiance than that to one’s own survival.” [iv] When we align our lives/behavior to Jesus’ calling for us, our egotistic mindset fades and we are reshaped into servants of the Most High God by entrusting our lives to the revelation of God in Jesus, and become His servants.

B. The Centrality Of The Cross

Let’s now pick up Mark’s story in v32. Jesus and His disciple team were on the road going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking on ahead of them; and they were amazed, and those who followed were fearful. We need to understand that at this point Jesus was now perhaps four months out from His crucifixion or less. For the past three years He wove His life into His disciples. They had seen Him heal the impossible, raise people from the dead, and even done similar miracles themselves in His name. They knew from observation and experience about the power and the reality of who Jesus was, and yet, when He talked about the brutality of His death and life to follow, they seemed to be oblivious to it all.

Mark points out the deliberateness of Jesus’ focus—on the road to Jerusalem, Jesus was walking on ahead of them. [v] Luke, who loves detail, gives us some insight here. For he says Jesus was determined to go to Jerusalem (Luke 8:51). There is a necessity about this hike. As said in Isaiah 50:7, I have set My face like a flint. Jesus was doing the will of the Father; this is the entire focus of His life. So His pace quickened, His stride more deliberate. The joy set before Him was about to become a reality [Heb 12:2]. [vi] The point is, Jesus knows that, in going to Jerusalem, He is going into the jaws of suffering and ultimately death. He is choosing to participate intentionally in His own death. Those who followed were amazed and fearful. I don’t think the word fearful has our concept of fear. In context, the fear is the sense of awe. There was something about Jesus life that conjured up a sense of amazement and awe. On their hike to Jerusalem, Jesus separates the disciples from the crowd to drive home the Father’s plan—He began telling them what was going to happen to Him (v32-34), and yet they seem unable to wrap their minds around what Jesus was telling them (Luke 18:34).

C. The Disciples Mindset

While Jesus was seeking to prepare them for the pivotal moment in history, the disciples were still arguing over their prominence. In the middle of Jesus explaining His impending death, James and John, v35, seemingly miss the point. They are more focused on sitting arrangements in the Kingdom—V37, “Grant that we may sit, one on Your right and one on Your left, in Your glory.” This is absolutely incredible. Jesus is telling them He is slated to shortly die, and they are jockeying for position. As Alister Begg points out, this isn’t loyalty. This is just raw ambition. [vii] Tucked into their mindset was worldly ambition—the seat of power. As David Garland observes What they really expect is a kingdom for themselves, where they can impose their own will on others. They hope to replace the self-serving oppressive power structure of the Romans with their own self-serving oppressive power structure. ^[viii]

V38, Jesus responds to their ill-timed egotistic request with much grace—“You (guys really) do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?”

In Matthew’s account, bubbling with self-confidence, and believing they’ve got what it takes to endure the hardiness of life, They answered, “We are able.” For James and John, their leaving behind their careers to follow Jesus was a means to a selfish end—power over others in general, perhaps power over Rome specifically. They were looking for the glory that came with position and power. At that moment the furthest thing from their minds was that true discipleship, true servanthood can only be learned through suffering, which even Jesus, God’s Son, was not exempted from (Heb 5:8)

D. Jesus Defines Servanthood

Upon hearing James and John’s request, V41, the disciple team exploded with outrage . . . They are angry with James and John, not just because of the request itself, but that the two brothers beat them to the punch. Immediately jealous swept over them like a giant tsunami wave, hearts gripped by pride and foolishness created turmoil of the first kind (Mark 7:20-23). The outburst opens the way for Jesus to step into their lives as a potter at a table of clay, and He begins the process of reshaping them into true servants of the Kingdom of God.

Vs42–45 ⁴² Calling them to Himself, Jesus said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. ⁴³ “But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; ⁴⁴ and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. ⁴⁵ “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Timothy Geddert, in Watchwords , points out for us that Jesus is not relegating the disciples to the tail-end, but telling them how they can become great. [ix]

Notice how Jesus brings it home for the disciples. V43, in this power grab moment Jesus tells them, it is not to be this away among you. He forcefully tells them that they are not thinking like Kingdom citizens, but as outsiders. Those who are outside of the Kingdom of Heaven want seats of power and absolute rule. The Disciples were using the customs of this world as their model, which according to Ephesians 2:2, is overseen by Satan. To be a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven is to have a self-giving mentality, just as the Son of Man, V45, did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. Notice carefully Jesus’ statement. He came to serve, and in serving gives His life a ransom for many. In the Old Testament, the word ransom (lytron) speaks of cost. Since Jesus is the lead on this idea of ransom, and since He ties serving to the idea of ransom, the message for us is that being a servant is very costly, even to the point of death.

Here’s the paradox for us: The way to a privileged position in the Kingdom of Heaven is not by grabbing for power but by relinquishing one’s life through suffering and death. [x] As pointed out by Walter Wessel in his commentary, the entire phrase “to give his life a ransom for many” places emphasize on the substitutionary element in Jesus’ death. He takes the death of the many. In giving His life for many, He is setting all who follow Him free from slavery of sin, and eternal death as decreed by God. What should have happened to ‘the many’ happened to Jesus instead. [xi] Because He spent His life for the salvation of the many, so we are called, as Followers of Jesus, to spend our life to set many free from the slavery of sin and the eternal death reality that all people everywhere will have who have not accepted Jesus’ substitutionary death.

III. TRUTHS THAT SHAPE OUR LIVES

This is a good place to put the brakes on and let what we have just wrestled with settle into our minds. This passage is a stand out passage as to the Gospel of the Kingdom. In these verses Jesus gives His perspective as to His death and resurrection and how it plays out in the lives of His disciples and us 2000 yrs removed. Jesus expects all disciples throughout the ages to be as intentional as He was and is. This was really radical for the disciples, and I must say the service that Jesus is talking about is really radical in our day also.

As we consider Jesus’ path to greatness, just exactly how might this play out in our everyday lives?

A. First, Jesus lays out for us that we are not pattern our choices and normality after the course, rules, or systems of the world.

We see this in Vs42-43, ⁴² Calling them to Himself, Jesus said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. ⁴³ “But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; Jesus tells His disciples: “You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them.” This is what you see in the world. This is what the world looks like to your eyes. It is how people have ordered themselves without GOD. When our people wanted a king, it was to have that world.

The disciples were judging leadership in terms of the world system—a position of power over others in such a way that you can control and dominate by force to accomplish what you want. Where compliance is mandatory. What Jesus lays out here is radical. Our ‘world system’ governed by Satan himself (Eph. 2:2) is all about personal gain. Jesus’ idea of servant goes right against our culture and twisted nature. I like the way Alister Begg lays it out for us:

It addresses a culture that is preoccupied with self-esteem, self-aggrandizement, status, and valuations that are made on the basis of things that are transient and eventually worthless. And we live in the middle of that, professing to be the followers of Jesus. And Jesus says, “This is the kind of thing that marks the culture. Not so with you.” [xii] . Either we are going to live our lives within the confines of our culture, which is overseen by Satan, or we’re going to put to practice Jesus’ instructions to His disciples.

But Jesus says “ But it is not so among you” --It is not so among you. You aren’t like this. You can see the Great Economy. You know the Great Economy because you know me. You can see the Great Economy isn’t only the great reconciling of the world in the future, it is in the world in which you live now.

Jesus is saying that in the kingdom over which He reigns greatness is obtained by pursuing a course of action which is the exact opposite of that which is followed in the secular world. In the Kingdom of God greatness consists in self-giving, in the outpouring of the self in service to others, for the glory of God. [xiii]

Jesus literally destroys the structure that enables rulers to control subordinates. There is no me-first mentality, using powering down on others is normal. The Gospel of the Kingdom is about serving people vs ruling over people. Peter would later wright to the scattered followers of Jesus throughout Asia—1 Peter 5:1–4 ^{(NASB95) 1} I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, ² shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; ³ nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. ⁴ And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

As followers of Jesus we do not make choices and decisions based on world values. The disciples wanted to be great in God’s kingdom, but they thought of it in terms of worldly standards—honor, power, and security. Jesus turns their ideas upside down. The Gospel of the Kingdom is about sacrifice, service, and suffering.

B. Second, the path to greatness is measured by how we serve.

That brings us to our second principle. V45, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Jesus did not come to exercise His power over man to make man serve Him. Instead He came to serve man and pay the ransom price to redeem man.

Jesus did not die on the cross so that we could live in happy circumstances, He died so that our bondage to sin could be broken, that we could be reconciled to God and escape His condemnation, and that we could now have an eternal relationship with Him. If that is the example set by our master, then what should be the mark of our lives.

This is huge for us. Notice carefully what He said: He came to serve, and His serving resulted in His dying. Jesus tells us disciples that the way to greatness is exemplified by Him giving His own life. John Piper lays it out for us plainly: Jesus is giving his death as an example of the kind of suffering and service that the disciples are called to. [xiv] I think in general that we get the ‘service’ idea, but I don’t think we get the suffering aspect and the death aspect. We gladly serve as long as there is no hardship. What Jesus is saying to us is this: If you want to follow me and seek the glory of the kingdom, be prepared to suffer. That is the way I go, and those who follow me go the same way. I don't take the hard road while you take the easy road. The road that leads to life is hard and few there be that find it (Matthew 7:14). We take the same road. "He who would come after me must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me" (Mark 8:34). [xv]

As a follower of Jesus, we are not just called to serve in an average way. Jesus said, this is how I want you to serve—serve the way I serve—

intentionally
flat out
take ownership

And when we serve intentionally, flat out, taking ownership like Jesus, there will be suffering. In absolute contrast to self-interest and self-protection, Jesus tells His followers that the path to greatness comes by living as servants and slaves. If we want to be great in the eyes of God, we must descend into greatness like Jesus did, becoming a humble servant. Although the world wants us to become something by possessing wealth & power, God's idea of greatness is just the opposite. He measures greatness by our service to others. Matthew 20:26–28 ^(NASB95) ²⁶ “It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, ²⁷ and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; ²⁸ just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

C. Third, to be a servant is to sacrifice daily

To live sacrificially is rooted in the Gospel Jesus preached and practiced. Serving is time consuming. Opportunities seem to come at the most inconvenient of times. When opportunity knocks, we are usually halfway out the door, we’re to busy, to strapped, too tired. It’s hard to sacrifice our time. Jesus calls for us to follow Him. Even though He was God, He "made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant" ( Phil. 2:7 ). He gave up everything, literally emptying Himself of His own desires in order to serve! It was with this example in mind that we are told in Philippians 2 " Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others" ( Phil. 2:3-4 , RSV).

Serving involves sacrificing time. Begin to consider the other person's needs more important than your own. Be willing to give up what you had planned to do with your time. Sacrifice is a major key to effective serving.

D. Fourth, When We Serve Others, God Is Honored

1 Corinthians 1:26–31 ^(NASB95) ²⁶ For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; ²⁷ but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, ²⁸ and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, ²⁹ so that no man may boast before God. 30But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, ³¹ so that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD .” [xvi]

The point here is that a sacrificial heart is glad that God gets the credit for choosing us and calling us according to His purposes, not because our distinctiveness. He does this, v29 so that no one might boast in the presence of God, but v31, that the one who applauds, does so in the Lord. Joy in sacrificial serving is rooted in that God acts in a way to take the burden of performance off of our shoulders and use it to point to Himself. In other words, true sacrificial attitudes are rooted in the gospel of the Kingdom. True sacrificial attitudes is gospel. As John Piper points out for us, It is not just copying Jesus in his willingness to die for others; it is being enabled by Jesus because he died for us. ^[xvii] And that my friends is absolutely true.

Would you join me now in prayer? Heavenly Father, like the disciples of old, we struggle daily with personal grandeur, of being first, being in control, and calling the shots. It’s hard to step into the muck of life, laying aside our self-preservation to help others. It’s hard to step into the muck of life when we know there will be little to no recognition. It’s hard dying to self, to sacrifice time, money, space, tools, and even at times credibility. Amen

Well, Jesus’ life and teaching surely turns the world’s understanding of greatness and great works on its head. The greatest work ever done was accomplished by one who gave his life for others. Self-giving service is the only greatness recognized by God, and only those who give of themselves for others will be the big winners with God. They are willing “to let life go hang for the sake of another.” Jesus invites followers to join him in becoming great and doing great things, not the way the world judges “great,” but the way God judges it. [xviii]

BTW, we are open for live worship gatherings. If you are hesitant about being with a crowd, you can still join us on Facebook and YouTube.

If you would like to contribute to this ministry, go to our website: Bensenvillebiblechurch.com, click on the Donation Drop down and pick your donation preference. Looking forward to meeting up with you again at next week’s posting. May God bless you this coming week.

[i] John Piper, Greatness, Humility, Servanthood (Mark 10:32-45), https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/greatness-humility-servanthood

[ii] Jesus’ other two predictions are found in Mark 8:31 (NASB95) 31And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. And again in Mark 9:31 (NASB95) 31For He was teaching His disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him; and when He has been killed, He will rise three days later.” Walter W. Wessel, “Mark,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 8 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1984), 718. In addition to these three, there is a brief reference to Jesus’ death in the sequel to the Transfiguration narrative (cf. 9:9–12). Here the prediction is more detailed and precise than the others This prediction contains six details. Jesus is to be (1) betrayed (v. 33); (2) sentenced to death; (3) handed over to the Gentiles; (4) mocked, spit on, and flogged (v. 34); (5) executed; and (6) resurrected.

[iii] Then there is Hebrews 12:3 ^(NASB95) For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

[iv] Andrew T. Lincoln, Black’s New Testament Commentary The Gospel According to John (Hendrickson Publishers, 2005), p350

[v] Craig A. Evans, Mark 8:27–16:20 , vol. 34B, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 2001), 107. the first time that Jerusalem is specifically mentioned as Jesus’ destination.

[vi] His mission was narrowing to that pinpoint moment . . . His last Passover, the brutality of the cross, and the finality of all—sitting again at the right hand of the throne of God (Heb. 12:2)

[vii] Alister Begg, Not So With You (Mark 10:32-45), https://www.truthforlife.org/resources/sermon/not-so-you/

[viii] David E. Garland, Mark , The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996), 411.

[ix] Timothy Geddert, Watchwords (Bloomsbury Academic Collections: Biblical Studies), p.153

[x] Walter W. Wessel, “Mark,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 8 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1984), 720.

[xi] Ibid., p. 721.

[xii] Alistair Begg, Not So With You (Mark 10:42-44) https://www.truthforlife.org/resources/series/gospel-according-mark-volume-5/

[xiii] William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of the Gospel According to Mark , vol. 10, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 414.

[xiv] John Piper, The Son Of Man Came To Serve (Mark 10:45), https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/the-son-of-man-came-to-serve

[xv] Ibid.

[xvi] Third, Jesus said, Serve The Way I Serve-- As Jesus came not to be served, but to serve, and give His life a ransom for many, so we are called, as followers of Jesus not to be served, but to serve and give our lives as a ransom for many.

When we become followers of Jesus, He demands something. He demands our life. All of it. Luke 14:33 ^(NASB95) “So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions. Jesus demands that we take on a life-style that sacrifices everything for the sake of serving others. This is hard. This is radical.

But we’re called to serve the way Jesus serves us, ransoming us from my sin and my death. Remember Jesus’ promise in John 15:5 ^(NASB95) “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. We cannot serve the kind of service He is calling us to apart from Him.

[xvii] John Piper, Greatness, Humility, Servanthood (Mark 10:32-45), https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/greatness-humility-servanthood

[xviii] David E. Garland, Mark , The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996), 416–417. Cf., Compass, Sum 1997, p. 26 As a final challenge, Francis Schaeffer understood what our Savior calls us to do. And he also understood the challenge, the conflict, that too often confronts us. He wrote: “Jesus says we are to take the lowest [spot], but we like to take the higher. And we have a lovely rationalization for doing so because every time we take a bigger place we say that we can have greater influence for Jesus. But this is not the Lord’s way. To the extent that we want power among men, to that extent we are in the flesh and the Holy Spirit has no place in us. To the extent that I demand leadership and want leadership, to that extent I am not ready to lead.” https://wng.org/articles/in-tragedy-hope-and-witness-1617340389 . In June 1999 American flight 1420 crashed on landing in Little Rock, Arkansas. Among the 145 passengers were 25 students returning from a musical tour in central Europe. Flight 1420 landed in a rainstorm late at night, went off the end of the runway, crashed into a light tower, then broke into flames. Most of the passengers were able to scramble to safety as smoke and flames filled the plane. Only 9 people died that day. One was a student named James Harrison, 21 year-old saxophonist, student, and part-time music minister. According to witnesses, Mr. Harrison stayed behind to help others, including a burn victim, get out first. He was overcome by smoke and perished. Allison Hunt, his singing partner for two years said, “He gave up his life so that others might live.”

33 - The Man and His Riches Watches Eternal Life Slip Through His Fingers Like Dry Sand (Mark 10:17-31)

kijabi4@yahoo.com (David Wolfe) — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 19:25:01 GMT

33 - The Man and His Riches Watches Eternal Life Slip through His Fingers Like Dry Sand. (Mark 10:17-31

I. INTRODUCTION

Hello. This is Dr. David Wolfe, one of the pastors at Bensenville Bible Church, a two language multi-culture church on the outskirts of Chicago. English and Spanish are part of our DNA makeup. Thank you for joining us.

Our study today comes from Mark’s Gospel, chap 10, vs17-31. This event is also captured in Matthew’s Gospel, chap 19:16-30 and in Luke’s Gospel, 18:18-30. In our previous lesson, Mark 10:13-16, Jesus taught His disciples that in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, one can only enter with a clear mindset of helpless dependence. Now in Vs17-31 we are introduced to a man who is described as a high achiever, wealthy, successful, prestigious, youthful, and morally upright. [i] In other words, this person would have a hard time grasping the idea of helpless dependence.

But despite all this, he felt something was missing. The missing ingredient? Eternal life. It burned deep into his physic, and so he comes to Jesus asking, What must I do to have eternal life?

I’ve entitled our study— The Man and His Riches Watches Eternal Life Slip Through His Fingers Like Dry Sand. Let’s take a moment and ask God to help us understand what we must do to have eternal life. Heavenly Father, we are about to consider a passage of Scripture that contains the story of a man who was desperate to have eternal life. I ask that Your Holy Spirit open our eyes so that we will not miss the wonder of the pursuit of this eternal life that You so graciously offer to us. By Your Spirit, open our eyes to behold the wonder of it all. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

II. THE RICH MAN’S ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS

A. The Young Ruler’s Question

We pick up the story in v17—As Jesus left the place where He was blessing little children and infants, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, asking the question of the day—Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? Mark tells us that Jesus now moves away from the crowds and the blessing of children. In the crowd was this wealthy, prestigious, morally upright young man who finds himself wrestling with Jesus’ words in v15, Unless you accept God’s kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you’ll never get in.” . . . it would appear that this man has been in the crowd since v1. He has heard the divorce questions by the Pharisees, he’s watched and listened to the blessing of the children, and possibly heard Jesus’ sharp rebuke of the disciples.

But it would seem that Jesus’ words-- Unless you accept God’s kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you’ll never get in .”—struck him deeply.

As Jesus ‘packs’ up to move on, his heart becomes aflame to have what he realized he did not have—Kingdom of God residency. As Jesus pulled away from the crowd, a sense of urgency swept over him. Suddenly, disregarding his reputation and dignity, he breaks into a run. Reaching Jesus, he drops to his knees, blocking the path. Silence reigns as he catches his breath. People are staring, surprised, and caught off guard. Then came his words, pointed and straightforward: Good Teacher, You spoke of the Kingdom of God. What must I do to inherit eternal life?

John MacArthur notes that despite all of this man’s religious achievements, there was a nagging fear in his mind that the Kingdom of God was still missing. There was an unsatisfied guilt; an unfulfilled longing; a painful doubt about his relationship to God. And so he comes to Jesus to ask for eternal life. [ii]

Kent Hughes reminds us that the context indicates that he expected Jesus to prescribe some great deed he could do which would settle things with God once and for all. ^[iii] And so the question, What must I do to inherit eternal life?

We should note here that eternal life appears some 50 times in the Bible. Unlike our general take on eternal life, an everlasting reality, eternal life has more to do with the quality of life vs longevity. The point is, when we talk about eternal life it is more than unending existence. Think about this for a moment. In the Wm Hendriksen commentary, he observes that the idea of ‘life’ means active interaction to one’s environment.” Therefore eternal life must mean active interaction to that which is eternal, namely the Kingdom of God. Just as physical life is the ability to live and move and respond to and in the physical world, eternal life is the ability to live and move and respond to and in the heavenly world. [iv] This would be in keeping with Jesus words in John 17:3 ^(NASB95) “ This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

The point is this: Eternal life is first a quality of existence in which we are given the God-endowed ability to be alive to God and the things of God when we come to Jesus in faith for forgiveness of sins. [v] When we confess our sins, and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are made alive to God and His righteousness (Romans 6:1-13). In summary, eternal life is much more than hope of life after death. It is having the life of God’s own son dwelling within us, and thereby possessing the very life of God. [vi]

B. Jesus’ Question

V18, following the young man’s question, Jesus had a question of His own-- Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. The Young Ruler, I suspect, was caught off guard with Jesus’ question. From his perspective, by addressing Jesus as ‘good’, it was a nice way of saying ‘you’re ok’. By saying ‘Good Teacher’ , He was simply applauding Jesus as being just that--a good teacher.

So Jesus’ question was designed to correct the Young Ruler’s viewpoint of goodness and to whom He was speaking. Jesus was telling him that his understanding of good was inadequate. There is more to being good than meets the eye. There is a superficial goodness, which many of us strive to exhibit, and then there is absolute goodness, which we fall short. Absolute goodness is rooted in God Himself. And so we’re told in Romans 3:23 ^(NASB95) w e’ve all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God , So Jesus question goes something like this, "What’s the point of you calling Me good? If you really understood what good means, you would understand that only God is good. In light of that, if are calling me good, you must understand that you're calling me God."

C. The Exposure of Flaws

Vs19, Jesus now presses in on this man’s idea of goodness, and in so doing exposes his flaws. Not only does he need to come to a knowledge of who Jesus is, but he needs to get a clear view of who he is. So Jesus said to him, Have you obeyed the commandments — Do not kill, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not defraud, honor your father and mother. Jesus is saying, if you want eternal life, you have to be absolutely good. That’s the standard for eternal life. So let’s see just how good you are when it comes to God’s standard. The point being, before we can grasp the wonder of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, we must have a clear understanding of what absolute goodness is, and how do we stack up to the standard.

That’s the point of Romans 3:10-23, we don’t. There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seek for God . . . there is none who does good . . . their tongues keep deceiving . . . mouths are full of cursing and bitterness . . . there is no fear of God before their eyes . . . for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God,

V20, The Young Noble responded, Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up . This dear man was convinced in his own mind that his life was indeed a clean slate. John MacArthur helps to clarify this man’s response. This man’s view of the law was completely superficial, external, and man-oriented. We need to be clear here, because we tend to have the same perspective. Because he had not committed physical adultery or murder, because he was not a liar or a thief, and because he did not blaspheme the Lord’s name or worship idols, he looked on himself as being virtually perfect in God’s eyes. [vii] That pretty much describes our own views doesn’t it. By asking, what am I still lacking, he never suspected that his inner life was defiled (Mark 7:18-23). He simply could not wrap his mind around the fact that his lust was a form of adultery, that his hate was a form of murder, or that his swearing was a form of taking the Lord’s name in vain (Matthew 5:22, 28-34-35). [viii]

One of Satan’s greatest accomplishments via sin is spiritual and moral blindness. 2 Corinthians 4:4 ^(NASB95) the god of this world (Satan) has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

V21, Jesus seeks to move this man from outward manifestation of goodness to the real issue in his life—the flaws of his heart. As Alistair Begg so aptly states it, what Jesus is doing here is asking this man to face the idol living in his heart. [ix] The idol that stood in the way of his request for eternal life—self-sufficiency. This man’s world suddenly hit a brick wall. In Matthew’s gospel we’re given a catch phrase, The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept (here’s the catch phrase), what am I still lacking?” Matt 19:20 ^(NASB95) Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

V22 ^{(The Message)} , The Young Noble’s face clouded over. This was the last thing he expected to hear, and he walked off with a heavy heart. For he was holding on tightly to a lot of things, and was not about to let them go. We’re told in Exodus 20:3 ^(NASB95) “ You shall have no other gods before Me. His materialism was in fact his god because his material possessions and physical comfort were more important than his spiritual values. [x] . Jesus knew that under his piety was the grip of his accomplishments—his material holdings, his prestige and prominence that came with it. He was not ready to love God with all of His heart, mind, soul, and strength. He was not ready to become helplessly dependent on Jesus. He loved himself. His love for his self-achievements, status, accomplishments, property overpowered his loved for God and his desire for eternal life. Kent Hughes writes, when it comes to following Jesus, He always demands that those who come to him put away their gods, whether they be possessions, position, power, persons, or a passion! ^[xi]

V22, so the young man walked off with a heavy heart. I think in some way he clearly understood Jesus’ words given to us in Matthew 6:24 ^(NASB95) “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. His holdings blocked him from the experience of total dependence on God. To have eternal life meant a relinquishment of his achievements and come with helpless dependence. Ray Stedman captures the moment with these powerful words: This young man, who had everything that money and power and youth could give him, nevertheless had wanted something far more important. He saw it, caught a glimpse of it, wanted it -- eternal life, not just living forever, but a quality of life he knew he lacked, an emptiness within his spirit he could not fill. He knew this could fill it, and he wanted it. But he was sorrowful, because he also knew, at the words of Jesus, that he had to give up the other in order to have this; he could not have both. This is why he went away sorrowful -- because he had great possessions. [xii]

This is a very sad moment, and so much like all of us. He couldn’t let go of his life. To become helplessly dependent was more than he could do in order to receive eternal life. Jesus answered his question. You can have eternal life if you let go of your life, and give it to me.

III. TRUTHS THAT SHAPE OUR LIVES

Without going all the way back through Mark’s Gospel, let me remind us that Mark is keen on our understand the Gospel of the Kingdom that Jesus preached -- “The time [is fulfilled]. … The kingdom of God is near, Repent and believe the good news!”. The gospel of the Kingdom is good news, but entering the Kingdom of God is not an easy thing. In chap 9 Jesus said, “If you had a bad eye that was causing you to sin, you’d be better to pluck your eye out so that you could enter the kingdom of God with one eye than go to hell with two eyes. ” [Mark 9:47] Listen, that’s not like, “Hey, take it or leave it!” Entering the Kingdom of God is serious business.” Then in v15 of our present chap, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Alister Begg points out for us that this man represents the individual, be they male or female, who is of the opinion that the path to life with God is the path of doing good in some form. [xiii]

Now in Vs23-31 Jesus turns to His disciples and makes 3 remarkable applications based on what they have just seen and heard. Jesus’ application unfolds around their struggle to grasp the depth of what just had happened and in the process gives us clarity as to what we must do to inherit eternal life.

A. The first application comes in vs23-25—Affluence is dangerous when it comes to eternal life.

I think it is a safe to say that most of us secretly are a tad envious of wealthy people. We all wish we had money and were financially secure. But if we really understood what Jesus was saying, I doubt seriously we would feel that way. Instead, we would feel sorry for the affluent. Jesus states the great danger for affluent people like this—How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the Kingdom of God. He then drives home the difficulty in v25, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.Jesus is saying, entrance to the Kingdom of Heaven is tough going for those who are affluent, those who think they are secure in their accomplishments. [xiv] When it comes to eternal life, affluence brings with it three handicaps:

a false sense of security. 1 Timothy 6:17 ^(NASB95) Paul tells Timothy, Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.
huge distractions. 1 Timothy 6:10 ^(NASB95) For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. [xv]
drive for self-fulfillment, self-gratification. According to the IRS charitable giving as a percentage of income tends to decrease as income increases.

Pretty much follows the Lord’s story about the wealthy man ignoring the needy beggar in Luke 16:19-31. V24 the disciples were shocked and amazed at Jesus’ words, which seemed counterintuitive to them. After all, much like today, wealth and affluence must mean God’s supreme blessing. Jesus says No. If you want eternal life, you must lean on Him, Him alone, and nothing else.

B. v26, If this is so, who can be saved?

That brings us to v26. They were shocked by Jesus’ words. They smacked their assumptions that affluence and status open heaven’s gates. Suddenly they are faced with the fact that entering the kingdom of God was and is hopeless for those who usually get whatever they want in this life. So they ask the question, “Who then can be saved? ” [xvi ]. Jesus answers their question in v27, saying, sinners, by their own power, will, and efforts, cannot save themselves. That takes us back to v15 ^{(The Message)} Unless you accept God’s kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you’ll never get in.”

Jesus is saying that salvation is a God work, not a human work. The Young Ruler came thinking he had the ability and resources to attain eternal life. The lesson for the disciples is that reverence for Jesus and surface obedient to God’s commands does not bring about eternal life. That was huge for the disciples. And it is huge for us today.

Jesus goes to the heart of the issue. For the rich or poor, the materialist or the idealist, there is but one hope. Drop your personal governance … that position … that passion … that person … and come to Jesus. [xvii] To enter the Kingdom of God one must submit all of self to God in every aspect of life.

The gospel of the Kingdom says, if you want eternal life you have to trust Jesus absolutely. Its total surrender. John 1:12–13 ^(NASB95) ¹² But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, ¹³ who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. Ephesians 2:8–9 ^(NASB95) ⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; ⁹ not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. Sorry, the life of God is unattainable by self-improvement.

C. What about those who have left everything to follow Jesus?

That brings us to v28, Jesus’ third application. Again, the application grows out of Peter asking, What about those who have left everything to follow Jesus?

Peter is quick to pick up on the implications of Jesus’ words. He quickly reminds Jesus that they have indeed done exactly that . . . surrendered . . . left behind everything to follow Jesus. Jesus answers Peter’s question in vs29-31 ²⁹ “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, ³⁰ but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life. ³¹ “But many who are first will be last, and the last, first.” Jesus is telling Peter and all followers throughout time, that the sacrifice of letting it all go is not for naught.

The rich who reject Christ will be spiritually poor forever. On the other hand, those who forsake all to follow Him will receive eternal riches. James 2:5 ^(NASB95) L isten, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? Those who store up their treasure in heaven understand the truth expressed by the missionary and martyr Jim Elliot: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose”. [xviii]

Are you going to go away sad like the Rich Sophisticated Young Ruler? That’s the question of the hour. You don’t need to; he didn’t need to. You can trust Jesus right where you are—a personal cry to the living God, under the oversight of the Spirit of God, in submission to the sovereign kingly rule of Jesus, the Son of the living God. You can let it all go, become helplessly dependent, and receive eternal life right now. And that my friends is absolutely true.

Let’s close in prayer …Heavenly Father, there are no more momentous questions that we could ask ourselves than, ‘What must I do to inherit eternal life?’ Grant that by Your Holy Spirit we understand and answer rightly that question. And at the very bottom of our answer we simply say, ‘Jesus. I beg You to forgive me. I believe You. I trust You Jesus because You were perfect for me and You paid the penalty for me so nothing in my hands I bring, simply to Your cross I cling.’ Lord, by Your grace make that our answer in Jesus' name. Amen.

Well, as you go this week, the central issue in this story Is God or Affluence ruling my life choices? Are material possessions to be served or are they to serve? The lesson warns us that our materialistic age of affluence can easily blind and deceive us into thinking they offer security and abundant life.

BTW, we are going to open up for live worship gatherings this Sunday, May 2 ^nd . If you are hesitant about being with a crowd, you can still join us on Facebook and YouTube.

[i] Cf., John MacArthur, Mark 9–16 , MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2015), 77. What made that surprising, even shocking, is the identity of the man. Matthew notes that he was young (Matt. 19:16), Luke that he was a ruler (probably of a synagogue [Luke 18:18]), and all three report that he was extremely wealthy (Matt. 19:22; Mark 10:22; Luke 18:23).

[ii] Ibid.

[iii] R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior , vol. 2, Preaching the Word (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1989), 61.

[iv] William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of the Gospel According to Mark , vol. 10, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 390.

[v] John F. MacArthur Jr., Matthew , vol. 3, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1985), 187.

[vi] John MacArthur, Mark 9–16 , MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2015), 77.

[vii] John F. MacArthur Jr., Matthew , vol. 3, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1985), 191.

[viii] James 2:10 (NASB95) 10For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.

[ix] Alistair Begg, One Think You Lack (Mark 10:17-22), https://www.truthforlife.org/resources/sermon/one-thing-you-lack/

[x] Materialism [məˈtirēəˌlizəm] NOUN a tendency to consider material possessions and physical comfort as more important than spiritual values. synonyms: greed · greediness · covetousness · cupidity · possessiveness · grasping · [more]

[xi] R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior , vol. 2, Preaching the Word (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1989), 63.

[xii] Ray Stedman, The Plight Of The Over Privileged (Mark 10:17-31), https://www.raystedman.org/new-testament/mark/the-plight-of-the-overprivileged

[xiii] Alistair Begg, One Think You Lack (Mark 10:17-22), https://www.truthforlife.org/resources/sermon/one-thing-you-lack/

[xiv] See Paul’s testimony in Philippians 3

[xv] Cf., 1 John 2:15–16 (NASB95) 15Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. Luke 12:16–21 (NASB95) 16And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive. 17“And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ 18“Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19‘And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.” ’ 20“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’ 21“So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

[xvi] David E. Garland, Mark , The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996), 399.

[xvii] R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior , vol. 2, Preaching the Word (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1989), 66.

[xviii] Elisabeth Elliot, Shadow of the Almighty [New York: Harper & Row, 1979], 247

32 - The Kingdom Of Heaven Is For Those Who Are Child-Like (Mark 10:13-16)

kijabi4@yahoo.com (David Wolfe) — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 19:07:14 GMT

This is a subtitle for your new post

The Kingdom Of Heaven Is For Those Who Are Child-like

(Mark 10:13-16)

I. INTRODUCTION

Hello. This is Dr. David Wolfe, one of the pastors at Bensenville Bible Church. Thank you for joining us.

Our study today comes from Mark’s Gospel, chap 10, vs13-16. This event is also recorded in Matthew 19:13-15 and in Luke 18:15-17. Mark tells us in V13 that the local people were bringing children to Jesus . . . In Luke’s gospel we are told that it wasn’t just children, it also included infants. The point is, as Kent Hughes observes, the Gospel narrative is telling us that Jesus places children as young as babies on par with adults, and lifts up their faith as something to be sought after. [i] In summary, Jesus was pointing out for us that for the Kingdom of Heaven to become our reality, we must have the mindset of a child. In that context I have entitled our study—The Kingdom Of Heaven Is For Those Who Are Child-like

Let’s take a moment and ask God to help us move beyond our cultural views of little children and infants. “Heavenly Father, thank you for this time you’ve given us to open your Word. I pray that we will be responsive to Your Word for us today. And that like little children we will obey the truth given, and not quibble with it or delay our response to it. Thank you for the clarity, encouragement and hope Your Word brings. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

II. CONTEXT

As we delve into vs13-16 there are a couple of highlights worth mentioning. Though our focus is on Mark’s account, we will also keep in mind Matthew and Luke’s record.

A. Two Stories—Children & Rich Young Ruler—Meant To be Studied Together

First, as we delve into these four verses, we need to keep in mind that Mark intends Jesus’ encounter with the children to stand in stark contrast to the story of the Rich Young Ruler that follows in vs17-31. These two events serve as bookends to v16 where we’re told that Jesus took the children into His arms and began blessing them. We will not grasp the fullness of either story without the other. Jesus is placing the faith of children in stark contrast to the money, riches and the pursuit of wealth highlighted by the Rich Young Ruler’s lifestyle.

B. The Value Of Children In God’s Eyes

Second, in these four verses Jesus places great value on children. Ray Stedman sees Jesus’ blessing of the children as the Children’s Magna Carta, the Bill of Rights for Children if you please, that would be for children everywhere in the world. Jesus is highlighting little children as an object lesson of great spiritual significance. [ii]

C. Hope In A Child’s Death

A third observation that is worth noting is that in these verses we are given some insight as to what happens to infants that die--a huge issue for those who have given birth, only to lose their child, whether in the womb or out of the womb. [iii]

D. Overall Context

And lastly, as we take a closer look at these verses, it is helpful to remember two basic lines of thought that flow through Mark’s Gospel.

First, Mark’s Gospel is following Jesus through the eyes of Peter. The events recorded capture the most significant life changing Peter moments with Jesus. Jesus’ interaction with the children had a huge impact on Peter’s physic, as well as the other 11 disciples. He was being shown that young children and infants were more than irritants. They had huge value as person’s, whether in the womb or out of the womb. Jesus is giving a huge lesson on Kingdom of God citizenship.
Second, we must also keep foremost in our minds that what Mark describes here is a continued unfolding of the message of the Gospel of the Kingdom that Jesus preached. When it comes to Kingdom issues, children have a profound worth.

III. THE BLESSING

As we unpack these verses, we need to ask ourselves: what lesson did Jesus want for His disciples to learn that would shape their lives and our lives as Kingdom messengers?

The story opens in v13 with Mark telling us that the people were bringing children to Jesus so that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked them. In Luke’s account it wasn’t just children, but infants were also being brought to Jesus. [iv] We can imagine a long line of people, not necessarily in an orderly fashion, bringing their children to Jesus. With each one, or perhaps two or three at a time, Jesus would take them into His arms, stroking their heads, lift His eyes to heaven as was His habit, and bless them. The line must have been massive. V13 tells us that the disciples were irritated by what was happening and ‘began’ rebuking the fathers and mothers, ie., turning them away. In their own way, it would appear that they were trying to protect Jesus. It was as if they had the idea that there were better things for Jesus to do other than cuddle children. For them, blessing children was an insult to Jesus’ dignity. [v]

John MacArthur points out for us that the religious worldview of the disciples was that children had no place in their system of religious thought, no place before God until they became gown-ups where they could do things needed to gain God’s favor. [vi]

And by-the-way, this was not the first time that the disciples sought to interfere with the message of the Gospel of the Kingdom by sending people away. They did this with hungry crowds in Matthew 14:15ff, and with the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15:21. However, V14, Jesus would have none of their seeming ‘acts of mercy.’ In fact, Mark tells us that Jesus, upon seeing what the disciples were doing, became indignant. That’s another way of saying that Jesus became very angry with His disciples when He realized what they were doing.

This would be a good place to highlight the Gk word indignant . It’s a word filled with great negative emotion. Jesus was really angry with His disciples.

The point for us, as Kent Hughs points out, is that the things which grieve us or tick us off, or irritate us reveal much about the kind of people we are. And what Jesus said and did here tells us volumes about Him. [vii] For Jesus, this was only one of many righteous outrage moments. To say the least, Jesus was angry hot, and made it plain to His disciples that He disapproved of their actions. Basically He blurted out, "Don't do that; stop it! Let the children come unto me; for to such as these belongs the kingdom of God." Remember back in chap 9:34, in the midst of Jesus’ explaining His coming death on the cross, the disciples were actually carrying on a private discussion as to which of them was the greatest. This whole greater-than-you-attitude now pops out again with their handling the crowds wanting Jesus to bless the little ones. In Luke’s account Jesus over-rules the disciple’s interference by calling the parents back, and to keep bringing their children to Him.

As He was want to do, Jesus turns the negative moment into a powerful teaching moment. And in rebuking the disciples, Jesus rebuked their self-righteous-better-than-thou attitudes. The point for us to consider is, in the Gospel narrative, there is a place for anger. According to Ephesians 4:26 we are told, to be angry and sinned not. What Paul is telling us here is that there is a place for the emotional anger. The problem for us is, what do we do with our anger. Jesus uses His anger to bring transformation, not destruction of lives and property.

Back to v14, what was the issue at hand that the people, the disciples, and us need to know? The key is caught up in the phrase, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Don’t miss what Jesus said—the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these little ones. His point, Infants and little children have a place in the Kingdom of God. That’s part of the message of the Gospel of the Kingdom. Infants, in the womb or out of the womb have supreme value in the eyes of God. Ray Stedman points out that this was a highly significant moment—that is, children have a huge part in God’s program. Ray Stedman writes, You cannot read this without seeing how attractive Jesus must have been to children. They loved Him immediately, and wanted to come to him. And He indicates here clearly that it is easy to come to Jesus when you are a child. He is the one they needed above anyone else. More than anything else, like the children we also need Jesus above anything and anyone else. This is what Jesus is saying. The one thing adults ought to concern themselves about, with respect to children, is to get out of the way and let them come to Jesus, and not to put roadblocks in their path, obstacles arising out of our own selfishness, but to let children come. [viii]

V15, Jesus drives His point home— “Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.” Jesus says there is a child quality that we need to have a focus on. However, He doesn’t elaborate what receiving the kingdom of God like a child might be. He leaves that up for us to figure out. We need to note that when Jesus speaks about receiving the kingdom of God like a child, I do not believe He is referring to innocence as the quality for entering into the Kingdom of God. Children are not born in innocence and they are not without sin, even in their early years when they are so cute. Make a note of this, innocence is not the qualifying factor for entering God’s kingdom. If it were, none of us would qualify. There are no innocence people, whether adults or infants. In fact, Romans 3 tells us that there are none that are good, not even one (Romans 3:10-18). Children are born in sin (Psalm 51:5). They need Jesus as their Savior as much as any adult does.

IV. TRUTHS THAT SHAPE OUR LIVES

So let’s pause here and put our thinking caps on. By Jesus’ burst of anger, we clearly see that Jesus loves and cares for children. And second, in the teaching moment, Jesus affirms and marks infants, whether in the womb or out of the womb, as persons and spiritually adept. In saying, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these, Jesus affirms their full spiritual temperament.

I came across a great story by Steven Cole about an encounter that Luis Palau had with a child. He was in Bolivia for one of his crusades. As the story goes . . . Luis Palau started his day with a breakfast where he shared Jesus with a number of top government officials, and looking forward to a luncheon with the Bolivian President. At mid-morning, he was in the middle of a press conference in his hotel room when there was a knock on the door. A team member walked in with a small Bolivian girl, about eleven, who had seen Palau on TV and was anxious to talk to him. As Palau tells it, he felt a bit irritated with the team member for bringing this girl into his room in the middle of a press conference. But he greeted the girl, picked up a book, signed it, and gave it to her saying “Lord bless you, sweetheart.” He then began to usher her to the door. She took two steps, looked back, and said confidently, “Mr. Palau, I came because I really wanted to receive Jesus into my heart.” What a powerful moment for Mr. Palau. He was caught totally off guard. He immediately dismissed the newsmen, sat down, and led that little girl to Jesus. [ix]

Vs 14-15 are stand out verses for us when it comes to Kingdom of God thinking— ¹⁴ . . . do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. ¹⁵ “Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.” Here are a number of take-a-ways for us:

A. First, in these verses Jesus helps us work through the death of an infant, whether in the womb or out of the womb.

Infants are a great illustration of those who enter the kingdom . . . they can do absolutely nothing to earn it. Remember, Jesus came preaching the good news about the Kingdom of God (Mark 1:14-15). The Kingdom of God is the sphere in which God rules over those who belong to Him. It’s the spiritual domain in which souls exist under His special care. Jesus did not say that Infants, little children, will possess the kingdom of God if they are baptized. He simply says the Kingdom of God belongs to them. John MacArthur helps us here. What we’re saying here is that babies, when they are babies, before they reach a point in time when before God they become accountable for believing or not believing, are under special divine care. They have a place of care in His kingdom. He doesn’t say elect babies are in the kingdom, as some would espouse, and non-elect babies are not. He doesn’t say that. He doesn’t say elect babies being in the kingdom will go to heaven; non-elect babies not being in the kingdom will go to hell. He doesn’t say that. He simply says categorically babies are in the kingdom, the kingdom belongs to them. [x]

The point is, until children can consciously follow the intents of their heart which is morally corrupt and evil [xi] (Mark 7) they belong to the Kingdom of God because of God’s grace. Until they come of age, they are not responsible for their spiritual choices between sin and righteousness because they are utterly helpless to make any kind of choice. When an infant, a little child dies, they receive salvation at the point of death only because of God’s sovereign grace.

B. Second, in these verses Jesus hammers home the condition of one’s heart/mindset for entering into the Kingdom of God.

No one will get into the Kingdom of God unless he or she receives God’s salvation like a child—absolutely no one! This is huge for us. How are we to understand and apply this? Jesus is not talking about innocence. And I don’t think He is talking about such things as trust, receptivity, simplicity, or wonder, . . . as amazing as these qualities might be in a little child. [xii] When Jesus highlights receiving the kingdom of God like a child, He has in mind helpless dependence-- regardless of race, culture, or background, every child is helplessly dependent. In the words of Kent Hughes, Every single child in the world is absolutely, completely, totally, objectively, subjectively, existentially helpless! And so it is with every child who is born into the Kingdom of God. Children of the Kingdom ones for whom everything must be done enter it helpless,. [xiii]

That is the point of the Gospel of the Kingdom. Without the news of Jesus’ life, death, burial, and resurrection, there is no hope. We come to God not on our terms, but with nothing to offer as an infant. In the words of the song Rock of Ages by Augustus Toplady

Nothing in my hand I bring,

Simply to Thy cross I cling;

Naked, come to Thee for dress:

Helpless, look to Thee for grace. [xiv]

The question we must all answer, Have you, have I come to Jesus like this?

Jesus also makes a note in Matthew 18:3-4 that Helpless dependence nurtures an attitude of humility. ³ “Truly I say to you, unless you are transformed and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ “Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Robert Stein sums this up like this: "Jesus did not say that God’s kingdom belongs “to these” but “to such as these.” Luke 18:17 ^(NASB95) “ Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.” Jesus was appealing to a quality possessed by little children that is essential for entering God’s kingdom. That quality is to come to Him with an attitude of helpless dependence, like an infant or small child who lacks anything to boast of and therefore can make no claim on God (cf. Lk 18:9–14 ; Matt 18:4 ), [xv]

C. Further, as a side note, in the formative years of infants, little children, come with a ‘follow thru attitude’.

In addition, by nature children respond to what they are taught. In general they put it into prompt and immediate action. They do not delay, wait, or even say, Hold on, I have to think this over, like us adults have a habit of doing. If you tell the child something, or they see something being done, they will do it without delay. This principle is huge in light of the story that follows with The Rich Young Ruler. Hudson Taylor, the pioneer missionary to China, scrawled this note as he neared the end of his life: “I am so weak that I cannot work; I cannot read my Bible; I cannot even pray. I can only lie still in God’s arms like a child . . . helpless dependence. [xvi] . I found a poem that says it well

Make me, O Lord, to be a child again,
So tender, frail, and small,

in self possessing nothing,

and in You possessing all.

O Savior, make me small once more,

that downward I may grow,

and in this heart of mine

restore the faith of long ago.

With thee may I be crucified-No longer I that lives-

O Savior, crush my sinful pride by grace which pardon gives.

Make me, O Lord, a child again,

Obedient to Your call,

In self possessing nothing,

and in You possessing all. [xvii]

And that my friends is absolutely true.

Let’s close in prayer …Heavenly Father, We pray that we will be responsive to this word. That like little children we come as helpless dependence on the life and work of Jesus, who took our just judgement, exchanging His righteousness for our unrighteousness. May those who hear this message bow in hopeless dependence on you, accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Amen.

Well, as you go this week, keep ever in mind that infants, little children are of supreme importance to God. The greatest ministry we can have is to lovingly evangelize our children. That should be our life’s priority because when children reach the ability to choose sin or righteousness, they become stewards of their lives. Because their hearts are corrupt, they will gravitate to do evil. Without Jesus they are lost.

That’s all for today. Don’t forget, In the midst of the swirling difficulties, God is walking with you. Remember we offer Live-worship on Sundays on Facebook and YouTube. And BTW, we are going to open up for worship gatherings beginning Sunday, May 2 ^nd . If you are hesitant about being with a crowd, I invite you to continue worshiping with us from the comfort and security of your home with FaceBook and YouTube. If you would like to contribute to this ministry, go to our website: Bensenvillebiblechurch.com, click on the Donation Drop down and pick your donation preference. Looking forward to meeting up with you again at next week’s posting. May God bless you this coming week.

[i] R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior , vol. 2, Preaching the Word (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1989), 56.

[ii] Ray Stedman, The Plight Of The Over Privileged (Mark 10:13-31), https://www.raystedman.org/new-testament/mark/the-plight-of-the-overprivileged

[iii] Cf., John MacAthur, Why Jesus Blessed The Little Children (Mark 10:13-16), https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/41-50/why-jesus-blessed-the-little-children

[iv] (plural of paidíon were “infants” (plural of bréphos, Luke 18:15).

[v] https://www.preceptaustin.org/mark-10-commentary#10:16 , Swete says, “discouraged the attempt as idle or, more probably, as derogatory to the Master’s dignity.” (Mark Commentary)

[vi] John MacAthur, Why Jesus Blessed The Little Children (Mark 10:13-16), https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/41-50/why-jesus-blessed-the-little-children

[vii] R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior , vol. 2, Preaching the Word (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1989), 56.

[viii] Ray Stedman, The Plight Of The Over Privileged (Mark 10:13-31), https://www.raystedman.org/new-testament/mark/the-plight-of-the-overprivileged

[ix] Steven Cole, https://www.preceptaustin.org/mark-10-commentary#10:16

[x] John MacAthur, Why Jesus Blessed The Little Children (Mark 10:13-16), https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/41-50/why-jesus-blessed-the-little-children

[xi] “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked and who can know it?” These are little sinners. Balled up in that little, precious, infant bundle is the full corruption of fallen humanity in its totality. The Bible is absolutely clear that all children are sinners from conception, Psalm 51, the principle of iniquity is embedded in their persons. Mark 7, “It’s not what comes to a person from the outside that defiles him, it’s what comes up from the inside that defiles.” The defilement is inherent, it’s on the inside. It’s embedded. Iniquity is embedded in the fabric of their lives.The idea that children are sort of born as morally neutral is not true - is not true. They are morally corrupt and irresistibly bent toward sin. They are not neutral. They are corrupt. It just takes a while for them to reach the place where they can make the choices that evidence that corruption. There has been a view through church history that children are morally innocent and morally pure until they choose to sin. That’s Pelagianism, still around in the form of semi-Pelagianism or Arminianism, and it says we don’t have to sin; when we do sin, that’s when we fall.By the way, that view was denounced as heresy after the death of Pelagius. We are not born innocent, we are born guilty of Adam’s sin, and we are born corrupt, having inherited Adam’s nature. Proverbs 22:15 , “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child” or Genesis 8:21 , “The imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth,” and youth in the Hebrew is the word for childhood and encompasses infancy, from the very get-go. Isaiah 48:8 , “I know that you would deal very treacherously and were called a transgressor from the womb.” So all are conceived and born infected with sin, corrupt motives, attitudes, desires, ambitions, and objectives.

[xii] R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior , vol. 2, Preaching the Word (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1989), 59.

[xiii] Ibid.

[xiv] Augustus Toplady, Rock of Ages, https://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Rock_of_Ages/

[xv] Robert Stein, https://www.preceptaustin.org/mark-10-commentary#10:16

[xvi] Joanie Yoder, Hug Of The Heart, Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. — Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved ). https://www.preceptaustin.org/mark-10-commentary#10:16

[xvii] Keith Davis, https://theseed.info/sermon.php?id=243

31 - The Divorce Dilemma -Pt 2 (Mark 10:9-12)

kijabi4@yahoo.com (David Wolfe) — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 18:51:30 GMT

31 - The Divorce Dilemma (Pt 2) - (Mark 10:9-12)

I. INTRODUCTION

Hello. This is Dr. David Wolfe, one of the pastors at Bensenville Bible Church. Thank you for joining us.

Our study today comes from Mark’s Gospel, chap 10, vs1-12, with our primary focus on vs 10-12. This is a continuation of our previous study. In these verses Jesus was challenged by some Pharisees as to the legitimacy of divorcing one’s wife (v2). There’s every possibility that the Pharisees where doing a squeeze move on Jesus. The issue of divorce was hot. There was Herod’s divorcing his Nabatean wife Artas, there was the everyday Greco-Roman divorce culture, the writings of Moses on divorce, and then the acceptedness of the Jewish religious leader culture of divorcing their wives on the slightest whims--things like a spoiled dinner, walking to the market with hair down, speaking to a man on the way, or being disrespectful to husband parents, including divorcing wives if they found a woman younger and more beautiful. Make a note of this: As Jesus answers the Pharisees question, He describes marriage as transcending the cultural tendencies of commitment and love as conditional.

Let’s take a moment and ask God to help us move beyond our cultural views of marriage conditional commitments. “Heavenly Father, thank you for this time you’ve given us to open your Word. Help us to get a grip on Your design for our marriage relationships. Thank you for the clarity, encouragement and hope Your Word brings. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

II. REVIEW

As we review briefly Jesus’ teaching on divorce, we need to remember that Mark 10 is not the final word on divorce. Here Jesus lays out the fundamental principle that marriage was/is designed to be a permanent relationship. There are other passages that give us further insights as to God’s nuances for marriage. [i] In the ta-to-ta that took place that day with Jesus, three questions were asked, two by the Pharisees, and one by the disciples:

A. The first question came in Mark 10:2 ^(NASB95) was it lawful for a man to divorce a wife?

In Matthews parallel account we are given the full thrust of the question: Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason? (Matthew 19:3, emphasis mine). It seems, like today, couples were getting married with the joint understanding, that if differences should arise, they could walk away with no ‘skin off their noses.’ In answering the question as to any reason for divorce, Jesus answered straight up, No, there is no reason. Why? because divorce contradicts what God set in place.

B. Matthew tells us that there was a second question, chap 19:7, Why then did Moses command to give her a certificate of divorce and send her away?

That brings us to the Pharisees second question which is highlighted in Matthew 19:8 Here the Pharisees stated, If, as you Jesus assert, that God ordained marriage as indissoluble, how comes it that Moses commanded us to practice divorce, even giving guidelines? The Pharisees were eager to place Jesus as being in contradiction to the law of Moses, hoping to ensnare Him and destroy His popularity. In Matthew 5:17, during the early stages of His ministry, Jesus makes it clear as to His ministry, “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. The point Jesus is driving home is that He came to move us to a radical understanding of the law, and a radical obedience to the law that is not based on law but on Himself, therefore reflecting the power of the gospel which beings the fullness of what God wills for us. [ii ]. So then, why was divorce permitted? As noted, Jesus explains that the reason divorce was permitted, not commanded by Moses as being asserted by the Pharisees, was because the hardness of heart (Mark 10:5 ; Matthew 19:8)

These words are actually an amazing analysis. John Piper gives us some insightful clarity as to the hardness of heart that I find very helpful. By Jesus saying that divorce was permitted because of the hardness of people’s hearts, implies that there are laws in the Old Testament that are not expressions of God’s will for all time, but expressions of how best to manage sin in a particular people at a particular time. Divorce is never commanded and never instituted in the Old Testament. But it was permitted and regulated. Like polygamy was permitted and regulated, and certain kinds of slavery were permitted and regulated. And Jesus says here that the permission for divorce was not a reflection of God’s ideal for his people; it was a reflection, however, of the hardness of the human heart. So Jesus said, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses wrote you this commandment.” [iii] . David Garland points out that Jesus’ line of reasoning is that the Mosaic legislation of divorce had its roots in men’s hardness of heart—which is a willful defiance against God. [iv]

So when it comes to divorce, there is a heart problem that Jesus refers to as a hard heart. The Bible warns us constantly to be careful of a harden heart.

There is a story in the Old Testament that visualizes for us character traits of a heart that is hard. In Exodus 8 Moses went to Pharaoh and told him that God said, "Let my people go." But when Pharaoh heard the message, he "hardened his heart," (Exodus 8:15, 8:32, 9:34, 10:1). From Pharaoh’s response we get a pretty good picture of what a harden heart looks like.

When people’s hearts are hard . . . Disobedience to God reigns (Ex. 7:13, 22)
There is no insight as to the ‘the finger of God’ (Ex 8:19), or what we might refer to as the work of God in our midst
Hard hearts impede are ability to hear God (Ex 8:28)
There’s an expectation that God’s Word will fail (Ex 9:7)
Pain does not break through the heart’s crustiness (Ex 9:8-12)
The cause of life’s chaos is not understood (Ex 10:7)
Harden hearts blind us to sinful behavior (Ex 10:28)
In the gospels we are told several times that the hearts of the disciples were hard.
In Mark 6 the disciples were completely frightened and amazed when they saw Jesus walking on the water in the middle of the night and climbing into their boat. They were even more amazed when they saw the wind and the waves becoming calm at Jesus’ rebuke to the wind and waves. Why were so stunned? We’re told that it was because their hearts were hard.
In Mark 8, following the feeding of the 4000 they missed what had happened right there before their eyes.

The point for us is,

Because their hearts were hardened they could not recognize the divine nature of Christ; they could not comprehend the Supernatural Power of God that dwelt in Him.
§their hardened hearts blinded them to the wonder of Jesus’ displayed power
their harden harts made them insensitive to the needs of the people around them [v]
Harden hearts blinded them to discerning spiritual things (Mark 6:52). [vi]

This hardness of heart stands in sharp contrast to the Mark 1:14–15 ^(GW) ¹⁴ . . . Jesus went to Galilee and told people the Good News of God. ¹⁵ He said, “The time has come, and the kingdom of God is near. Change the way you think and act, and believe the Good News.” This is the point of the Gospel. John Piper highlights this beautifully for us when he writes: In essence, Jesus says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You are permitted to divorce.’ But I say to you, ‘I have come to conquer the hardness of your heart. I have come to die for your sins. I have come to count you as righteous. I have come to show you the drama that marriage was meant to represent in my sacrificial, covenant-keeping love for my sinful bride. I have come to give you the power to stay married, or to stay single, so that either way you keep your promises and show what my covenant is like, and how sacred is the covenant bond of marriage.” [vii]

Make a note of this. For Jesus marriage among Jesus Followers is designed to be lived out in such a way that the truth of the gospel is lived out as an object lesson. So we’re told in Ephesians 5:22-33 that it is a daily demonstration that Christ died for those who love Him, and that He never breaks His covenant with his bride.

III. THE DISCIPLES QUESTION

That brings us to the vs10-12. The Pharisees leave, Jesus and disciples withdraw to a house. Vs10, In the house the disciples began questioning Jesus about what He has just been telling the Pharisees. To help us understand vs11-12 we need to skip over to Matthews account for a moment. Matthew 19:9-12 tells us that the disciples were dumbfounded as to what Jesus said about marriage—V10, they blurt out to Jesus, If the relationship of the man with his wife is like this, it is better not to marry.

The point captured by Matthew is, in the midst of the marriage debate, they had come to realize the marriage relationship was serious business. It was not meant to be a passing whim, or crumble when the pressure was on. Jesus gives the disciples a slight break, by telling them, V11, Indeed, not all men can accept this statement, but only those to whom it has been given. What Jesus is telling them is, Understanding is given only to those who are followers of Jesus. The wonder of the Gospel is that Jesus gives the power to stay in relationship.

Back to Mark’s account: Jesus now drills down on divorce. ¹¹ And He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her; ¹² and if she herself divorces her husband and marries another man, she is committing adultery.” These words are both astonishing and cutting. The divorce certificate referred to by the Pharisees carried with it the right to remarry so that no one could be accused of adultery after divorce.

Jesus rejects this provision and insists that the marriage bond must never meant to be broken no matter how punctilious one is in following the legal process. [viii] . He is telling His disciples, and us 2000 years removed, “Don’t divorce your spouse and marry someone else. If you do, you will commit adultery.” Why does Jesus say the act of divorce and marrying another becomes an adulterous act? It is an adulterous act because it betrays the truth about what marriage is meant to display.

Ephesians 5:22–33 ^(NASB95) makes this quiet clear ²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, ²⁶ so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, ²⁷ that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. ²⁸ So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; ²⁹ for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, ³⁰ because we are members of His body. ³¹ FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.

Here’s the point: Jesus never, never, never devoices his bride, the church. He never forsakes her. He never abandons her. He never abuses her. He always loves her. He always takes her back when she wanders. He always is patient with her. He always cares for her and provides for her and protects her and, wonder of wonders, delights in her. So don’t miss this point: whether you are married once, married five times, married never — if you repent and trust Christ — receive him as the treasure who bore your punishment and became your righteousness — you are in the bride. And that is how he relates to you. “Everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name ( Acts 10:43 ). [ix] . The gospel of Christ crucified for our sins is the foundation of our lives. Marriage exists to display it. And when marriage breaks down, the gospel is there to forgive and heal and sustain until He comes, or until He calls.

IV. TRUTHS THAT SHAPE OUR LIVES

So let’s pause here. This is really radical stuff in a day when trading spouses is so common. We are living in an age when roughly 45% of first marriages end in divorce. Age 30 is said to be the average age when couples begin divorce proceedings. [x] Such stats make us realize that something is wrong, that somehow we do not know what we ought to know about marriage. These frightening statistic force us to take a closer look at our spouse choices. So what principles about marriage would Jesus have us bring to our marriage relationships? Let me mention three:

A. First, there is a direct relationship between the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Marriage

The gospel of Christ crucified for our sins is the foundation of our lives. According to Ephesians 5 marriage exists to display the power and wonder of the Gospel. And when marriage breaks down, the gospel is there to forgive and heal and sustain until He comes, or until He calls us home. I don’t believe Jesus is putting anyone of us on a guilt trip—whether contemplating divorce, being divorced, or remarrying. He is, however making it clear that God expects longevity in the marriage relationship. He is making it clear that we need to understand that divorce is a sin issue. The biggest blight of divorce is that it is a hard slap against the Gospel and Christ’s love for the church. But by His grace there is healing, of God’s beginning again of weaving together two lives into one.

B. Second, to break a marriage union destroys the ongoing work of God in the marriage relationship

In v9 of Mark 10, we have the phrase, what God has joined together . . . is not just a marriage ceremony pronouncement. It refers to the whole of the days of the marriage relationship. Whether it be 4 hrs or 75 yrs, God has been, and is at work blending two differing people – sometimes rubbing us raw, sometimes in pain, and sometimes in trouble – weaving two separate lives together into one life. That is why He takes us through the trials and conflicts of life. In the marriage relationship God uses one against the other to break down resistance, and reveal the hard places in our hearts, and soften us, and making us into the people he intended us to be, and give a picture of how the Gospel unfolds for all the world to see. As Ray Stedman likes to say it, every couple, when they move into their first apartment or their first home, ought to put up a sign: "Caution: God at work!" Because that is what is going on. God is building a oneness. He is, if you like, creating an ecstasy. This is what marriage is all about -- the creation of an delight. It takes a long time, and it involves many steps, but he is producing something of beauty. [xi]

C. Third, to be in a marriage relationship there must be a working commitment anchor.

There are times that relationships are strained to capacity. That’s where commitment is so valuable. Commitment is like a secure anchor. A wife named Megan says, “During a conflict, one of the best things about commitment is knowing that neither you nor your spouse is leaving.” Having confidence that the marriage itself is secure—even when certain aspects of it are in turmoil—can give you a solid foundation from which to resolve your problems.

Three areas that help strengthen one’s marriage commitment anchor are:

we must come into marriage believing that marriage is a permanent union—Matthew 19:6 ^(NASB95) What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”
We must come into our marriage relationship with a clear understanding of the role of our family upbringing influences. Family conflicts place a tremendous pressure for or against starting a marriage relationship—Galatians 6:4–5 ^(NASB95) know that ⁴ each of us must examine our own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. ⁵ For each one will bear his own load.
We must come into our marriage relationship with a solid grip on our thought patterns and word choices—Proverbs 12:18 ^(NASB95) There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, But the tongue of the wise brings healing. Proverbs 11:17 ^(NASB95) The merciful man does himself good, But the cruel man does himself harm.

And that my friends is absolutely true.

Let’s close in prayer …Heavenly Father, Thank you, Lord Jesus, for these plain and clear words from your lips which help us understand what we are involved in when we choose a wife or husband, what your purpose is in it, and what will produce blessing and glory in our lives. Help us now, Lord, to walk in these ways. We have all sinned; we have all done wrongful and hurtful things to one another -- in our marriages as well as outside them. Lord, we thank you for your cleansing, for your forgiveness, for your willingness to put it all back together, to heal us and draw us together, and to make each husband and wife to be what we ought to be -- before you and before the watching world. In your name we ask it, Amen.

Well, as you go this week, strive to live out the Gospel in your marriage relationship. In the book The Marriage Builder, Larry Crabb identifies three building blocks that are essential to constructing a solid secure marriage: the grace of God, true marriage commitment, and acceptance of your mate. So make your spouse your first priority, steal time for each other, keep forgiveness fresh, and be a student of your spouse.

Don’t forget, In the midst of the swirling difficulties, God is walking with you. Remember we offer Live-worship on Sundays, both on Facebook and YouTube. I invite you during these covid days to join us from the comfort and security of your home. If you would like to contribute to this ministry, go to our website: Bensenvillebiblechurch.com, click on the Donation Drop down and pick your donation preference. Looking forward to meeting up with you again at next week’s posting. May God bless you this coming week.

[i] Matthew 5:32; 19:1-12; Mark 10:1-12; Luke 16:18; 1 Corinthians 7:10-16, 39; Romans 7:1-3; Ephesians 5:22-33

[ii ] Ibid.

[iii] John Piper, What God Has Joined Together, Let Not Man Separate (Mark 10:1-12) Pt 1, https://www.desiringgod.org/ messages/what-god-has-joined-together-let-not-man-separate-part-1

[iv] David E. Garland, Mark , The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996), 379.

[v] Sacha Alexandre Mendes, Chraracteristics of a Harden Heart, https://www.biblicalcounselingcoalition.org/ 2019/03/29/ characteristics-of-a-hardened-heart/

[vi] Sacha Alexandre Mendes, Chraracteristics of a Harden Heart, https://www.biblicalcounselingcoalition.org/ 2019/03/29/ characteristics-of-a-hardened-heart/

[vii] John Piper, What God Has Joined Together, Let Not Man Separate (Mark 10:1-12) Pt 1, https://www.desiringgod.org/ messages/what-god-has-joined-together-let-not-man-separate-part-1

[viii] David E. Garland, Mark , The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996), 381. See further, Craig S. Keener, “And Marries Another”: Divorce and Remarriage in the Teaching of the New Testament (Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson, 1991); Andrew Cornes, Divorce and Remarriage: Biblical Principles and Pastoral Practices (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1993). “Behold thou art permitted to any man” (m. Git. 9:3)—

[ix] John Piper, What God Has Joined Together, Let Not Man Separate (Mark 10:1-12) Pt 1, https://www.desiringgod.org/ messages/what-god-has-joined-together-let-not-man-separate-part-1

[x] https://canterburylawgroup.com/divorce-statistics-rates/

[xi] Ray Stednabm What About Divorce, (Mark 10:9-12) https://www.raystedman.org/new-testament/mark/what-about-divorce

30 - The Divorce Dilemma (Mark 10:1-9)

kijabi4@yahoo.com (David Wolfe) — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 18:36:47 GMT

30 - The Divorce Dilemma (Pt1) (Mark 10:1-9)

I. INTRODUCTION

Hello. This is Dr. David Wolfe, one of the pastors at Bensenville Bible Church. Thank you for joining us.

Our study today comes from Mark’s Gospel, chap 10, vs1-9. I’ve entitled our study The Divorce Dilemma . In these verses Jesus was challenged by some Pharisees as to the legitimacy of divorcing one’s wife (v2). A hot topic then, and a hot topic today.

Let’s take a moment and ask God to open our minds to God’s perspective on marriage. “Heavenly Father, thank you for this time you’ve given us to open your Word. Help us to get a grip on Your design for our marriage relationships. Thank you for the clarity, encouragement and hope Your Word brings. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

II. BRIDGING THE CONTEXT

The verses we are considering are part of our Lord’s teaching on divorce. As we dig into this passage we need to keep in mind that this is not everything God has to say about divorce, nor is it everything that Jesus had to say on divorce. What Jesus lays out in these 9 verses is God’s design for marriage—a man and a woman in a permanent life-long relationship. If we want longevity in our marriages, we don’t start with emotional chilly-bumps, or beauty pageants. Longevity starts with a clear understanding of God’s intent for marriage—which is a permeant relationship until death.

In an article entitled 5 Key Secrets to Marriage Longevity That You Probably Didn’t Know, Daniel Dashnaw writes, Here’s something to think about: according to research, if you have a close and loving bond with your partner, you’re going to live longer and enjoy better health than other people your age who never married, or are separated, divorced, or widowed. [i]

Larry Crabb observes in his book The Marriage Builder, that we have become so conditioned to measuring the rightness of what we do by the quality of emotion it generates that a new version of relativistic ethics has developed that might be called the Morality of Fulfillment. “Fulfillment” has taken on a greater urgency and value than “obedience.” ^[ii]

Kent Hughes observes that the primrose path of “self-fulfillment” is strewn with the bones of innocent victims, many of whom are the offspring of professing Christians. [iii]

III. THE CONTEXT

In striving to follow Mark paragraph by paragraph, we’ll start with v1. V1 ^(GW) Jesus left Capernaum and hiked to the territory of Judea along the other side of the Jordan River. Crowds gathered around him again, and he taught them as he usually did. Jesus and His Team now leave Capernaum, cross over the Jordan River to an area known as Perea. His ultimate destination will be Jerusalem and His death on the cross. [iv] As per usual, a crowd gathers, peppered by Pharisees. They began to press Jesus, V2, as to the lawfulness for a man to divorce his wife. This was not meant to be a simple dialogue looking for common ground. V2 tells us that this was a set-up, a test question.

In context, divorce was a hot political topic of the day. Presumably in part, because of Herod’s divorcing Aretas, which ultimately lead to a war with the Nabateans. [v] In addition divorce was a common practice throughout the Roman Empire. David Garland notes that in the Greco-Roman world in which Mark wrote his Gospel, acquiring a divorce was easy and informal. Either spouse could divorce simply by leaving home with that intention; no justification was needed. [vi] Not much different today. Today a do-it-yourself on-line divorce is possible in 30 minutes without the help of lawyers if you and your spouse agree as to details for $139 [vii ]. There’s every possibility that the Pharisees where also trying to up-the-ante in political tensions between Jesus, the religious leaders of the day, and Herod. After all it was common knowledge that Herod, like his father at Jesus’ birth, wanted to kill Jesus (Luke 13:31-32)

Today divorce may not be as political as was in Jesus’ day, but it has become our norm. From the canterburylawgroup.com there are nearly 2,400 divorces every single day in these United States, meaning an average of almost 17,000 (16,800) divorces each week, upwards of 875,000 divorces per year. The stats tell us that eight years is the average length of a first marriage that ends with a divorce. ^[viii] Dr. Jan Anderson writes in her blog, While I was going through my messy divorce I was stunned to run across a book called “The Good Divorce.” Hello? Who does that? Divorce is a tough way to deal with broken relationships. It’s not easy emotionally and the stakes are high financially and legally. In fact, divorce is the second most stressful life event on the Holmes and Rahe Stress Scale. ^[ix]

Here’s the deal, as Jesus Followers, our view of divorce must not be based on societal whims and emotional upheavals, but on solid biblical truth. The truth is, God made it clear as to His position on divorce in Malachi 2:16 ^(NASB95) “ I hate divorce,” says the LORD, the God of Israel, . . . “So take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously.”

IV. THE DIVORCE DELIMMA

As we wrestle with the Pharisee-Jesus dialog in Mark’s gospel, it is helpful to keep in mind the parallel account in Matthew 19:1-12. Matthew is virtually the same as Mark’s account, except in a slightly different order.

A. Pharisee Test Question

As we get into our text, both Matthew and Mark point out that . . . Some Pharisees came to Jesus to test Him. That’s another way to say that they came with the intent of entrapment. Mark tells us that they were questioning Him whether it was lawful for a man to divorce a wife . In Matthew’s account, the question was far more sweeping. He records the question as-- “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all?” [Matthew 19:3 ^(NASB95) ]

Understand, for the Pharisees, when it came to studying the Law as laid out in the Old Testament, they approached it much in the same way that we tend to study the law. Not what does the law require, but how much wiggle room do we have? Or to put it another way, what can I get away with and not get punished? As David Garland notes, The Pharisees were more interested in their rights, not their responsibilities, and the pursuit of legal exoneration for a behavior no matter how it might affect another person. Here one can see some of the snobbery in that they ask only about the husband’s right to divorce, and pay no attention to the needs of the wife. [x]

The Pharisee Test question is drawn from Deuteronomy 24:1 ^(NASB95) “When a man takes a wife and marries her, and it happens that she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some indecency in her, he can write her a certificate of divorce and put it in her hand and send her out from his house, The issue for the day was the meaning of the word indecency. From the Jewish Liberal camp, indecency could be applied to a peripheral of things—things like a spoiled dinner, walking to the market with hair down, speaking to a man on the way, or being disrespectful to husband parents. On the flip side it also included sexual misconduct or some sort of shameful exposure. [xi ]. According to Rabbi Akiba, it could also include the husband seeing another woman who was more beautiful then his wife. Such beauty opened the door for the husband to divorce his wife. [xii]

B. Jesus’ Question

Jesus responds to their question by asking His own question: ³ “What did Moses command you?” In answering the Pharisees, Jesus uses Israel’s history as the backdrop for establishing God’s attitude about divorce—so He asks: what did Moses say? ⁴ They said, “Moses permitted a man TO WRITE A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE AND SEND her AWAY.”

C. Jesus’ Response to the Pharisee Question

In Matthew’s account Jesus was blunt in His answer: Have you not read . . . In other words, don’t you guys read the Scriptures? ⁴ “Haven’t you read that the Creator made them male and female in the beginning ⁵ and that he said, ‘That’s why a man will leave his father and mother and will remain united with his wife, and the two will be one’? ⁶ So they are no longer two but one. Therefore, don’t let anyone separate what God has joined together.” [Matthew 19:4–6 ^(GW) ]

Taking a closer look at Jesus’ answer, we see that He gives three responses to their question:

1. First, V6, He takes them back to Genesis 1:27, the beginning of creation, back to Adam and Eve, back to where it all started with one man and one woman. There were no spare people running around. There were no other single women standing as back-up. The man Adam, and the woman Eve were deliberately placed for each other.

2. Second, V7, He points out that the creation of Adam and Eve were designed as a model of intimacy—a loving close personal relationship with one another, united together as one. For this reason, V6, God made them male and female, a man shall leave his father and mother, and the two shall become one flesh. What God designed was not an arm’s length relationship, not a look-and-see, or even a trial run . . . I love the way John MacArthur lays it out. Marriage is two people unbreakably connected together, glued together, and pursuing hard after each other to be united in mind and will and spirit and body and emotion. [xiii]

3. Third, Vs8-9, The relationship of Adam and Eve was designed by God to be permanent— they were no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God joined together, let no separate them . The point being made is that marriage of a man and woman is a God thing. It’s not two men, not two women, but a man and a woman.

When it comes to marriage of a man and a woman, there’s a finality of choice—leaving of father and mother, clinging to one another with the intent of creating an independent strong union--a Gorilla Glued like union to one another. Anything less is a departure from God’s directive. In summary . . .

it was God who created the first man and woman.
It was God who designed the union.
It was God who said, “It’s not good for a man to be alone. I’ll make a help for him.”
It was God who brought Eve to Adam.
It was God who designed marriage to be an honorable state.
It was God who issued the command, “Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth.”

The marriage of a man and a woman is a God thing. The marriage of a man and a woman is meant to be a three-way covenant union between a man, a woman, and God. [xiv] Because God designed marriage, He is involved in the marriage relationship. God is not part of any marriage relationship other than a man and a woman.

D. Marriage Covenant

Now when sin came into the world, Genesis 3, God’s marriage directive did not change. God’s standard before sin came into the world was still God’s standard after sin. We know this because of what Malachi 2:14-16a ^{(The Living Bible)} tells us. The people of Israel were asking a big question: “‘ Why has God abandoned us?’ Malachi the prophet responds: I’ll tell you why; it is because the Lord has seen your treachery in divorcing your wives who have been faithful to you through the years, the companions you promised to care for and keep. You were united to your wife by the Lord. In God’s wise plan, when you married, the two of you became one person in his sight. And what does he want? Godly children from your union. Therefore guard your passions! Keep faith with the wife of your youth. For the Lord, the God of Israel, says He hates divorce.… ”

Listen, the marriage covenant is so sacred for God that any violation of the marriage covenant ends with death. Leviticus 20:10 ^(NASB95) ‘ If there is a man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, one who commits adultery with his friend’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. From God’s viewpoint, to violate the sacredness of the marriage covenant is a very big deal. It is such a big deal that God calls for the execution of people who violate the marriage covenant.

E. Pharisees’ Question

In Matthew’s account the Pharisees come back at Jesus with another question: Matthew 19:7 ^(NASB95) “ Why then did Moses command to GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE AND SEND her AWAY?” Their question takes us back to Deuteronomy 24. To put it another way, they are telling Jesus, “Since Moses made provision for divorce in Deuteronomy 24:1. How, then, can you say it is not part of the ideal?” Jesus answers, V8, It’s “Because of your hardness of heart Moses permitted you to divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been this way. [Matthew 19:8 ^(NASB95) ].

Notice carefully Jesus’ response: Because of your hardness of heart Moses permitted divorce . Moses didn’t command it as the Pharisees were wanting it to said. Kent Hughes points out for us that what Moses did command was the granting of a divorce certificate for the woman’s protection. Without a certificate she would be subject to exploitation and even retaliation. The certificate also prevented the man from marrying her again. Thus she could not be treated like chattel. Marriage was not something one could walk in and out of as one would please (emphasis added). [xv]

Now notice these powerful words in Jesus’ answer: The reason God allowed divorce was because of hardness of heart. The roots of divorce are rooted in the corruption of the heart. Jesus was challenging the Pharisees hermeneutical assumptions. Just because divorce was permitted did not mean that it was according the will of God. Malachi 2:16 makes that clear, God hates divorce. The point that Jesus was making that there is direct relationship between divorce and the hardness of heart. Hardness of heart boils down to an outright defiance against God’s word. Divorce did not, does not reflect God’s will.

For a man to separate that which God has yoked or joined together means arrogantly to defy God’s instruction! ^[xvi]

V. TRUTHS THAT SHAPE OUR LIVES

So let’s pause here. This is really heavy stuff, whether one is married, single or divorced. What I find interesting is that the prophet Isaiah, because divorce was so prolific in his day, uses it as descriptive of the broken relationship between Israel and God. And I think it would be applicable to our own broken relationship between us and God. As Malachi the prophet spelled out for Israel, the reason why God has forsaken you is because the Lord has seen your treachery in divorcing your wives who have been faithful to you through the years,

As I reflect over Jesus’ teaching on divorce in vs1-9, there are a couple of observations worth noting.

A. First, Jesus Is Presenting God’s Will For Marriage

As David Garland points out in his commentary on Mark, Jesus is not addressing those contemplating divorce, or seeking marriage counsel, or those who might be wrestling with a broken relationship, or for that matter, seeking encouragement. Jesus is addressing His challengers, who want to impose their own will on the marriage relationship , and in so doing presenting God’s will for marriage which was not in-keeping with the original plan . [xvii]

B. Second, Divorce Is Not Lawful

Second, remember the initial question that the Pharisees asked: Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife (v2)? Jesus answer to the question was blunt, No, it is not lawful. In Jesus’ initial response to the Pharisees, He does not say divorce is permissible if such and such conditions occur. We need to be clear, Jesus is simply laying out God’s original design for marriage, which is not a debatable subject. Marriage was/is designed by God as a lifelong covenant relationship, not a temporary romantic flirtation that a husband or wife can undo because the relationship becomes hard or inconvenient.

Jesus’ teaching in these verses is about the permanent relationship in marriage. What the Pharisees and us need to understand is, our spouses are not a piece of property to be traded off, but bone of one’s bone and flesh of one’s flesh (Genesis 2:23), and the image bearer of God Himself (Genesis 1:27).

C. Third, Jesus’ Instruction Is About Gospel Living

Third, we need to recognize that Jesus’ teaching on divorce is actually part of the message of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God (Mark 1:14-15). What Jesus is proclaiming is, that God’s reign is breaking through sin’s barriers, sin’s tragedies, sins destructions and bringing life transformation. By His Gospel, Jesus is setting the standard of living. God’s will is designed to invade all areas of life, including what is culturally accepted and legally allowed. Jesus acknowledges that divorce happens, but He attributes it to a hardening of the heart—which in its basic form is disbelieving God’s word. ^[xviii] Remember, the disciples were struggling with prominence both individually and corporately, which by the way, was a mark of their own hard heartedness. For 3 years Jesus had been chipping away at their hardness, with the intent of planting ideas of sacrifice and serving others. Their perception of prominence interfered with Jesus’ instruction of sacrifice and service. When it comes to marriage, sacrifice and service becomes prominent (Ephesians 5:22-33). Jumping forward to Mark 12:31, if they are to incorporate the teachings of Jesus into their lives, loving your neighbor as one’s self, surely the neighbor includes our wives. To love oneself rules out the possibility of divorce. And that my friends is absolutely true.

Let’s close in prayer …Heavenly Father, may our marriages radiate your presence in us, so that the world might see Your finger print in our lives. Help husbands and wives fulfill their roles with patience and love. I pray that our marriage relationships will reflect Your great love. I pray for the husbands and wives listening, that they radiate the wonder of the power of the Spirit in blending their lives together as one. May the husbands and wives listening intentionally invest in one another, growing together in life and holiness. Amen

Well, as you go this week, despite the escalating divorce statistics in our country, God’s calling has not changed. He has not called us to be happy, but to follow Him with all the integrity and devotion we can muster by the Holy Spirit. In 1 Samuel 15:22 we are told straight up that the desire of God is obedience more so than worship. The point for us is, God’s truth must be what directs every decision we make. [xix]

And don’t forget, In the midst of the swirling difficulties, God’s is walking with you. Remember we offer Live-worship on Sundays, both on Facebook and YouTube. I invite you during these covid days to join us from the comfort and security of your home. If you would like to contribute to this ministry, go to our website: Bensenvillebiblechurch.com, click on the Donation Drop down and pick your donation preference. Looking forward to meeting up with you again at next week’s posting. May God bless you this coming week.

[i] Daniel Dashnaw, What Happy Couples Know, https://www.couplestherapyinc.com/ 5-key-secrets-to-marriage-longevity-that-you-probably-didnt-know/. 90% of 48-year-old married men will live to reach age 65. However, only 65% of divorced 48-year-old men will reach 65. Another gender difference is when the measurable beneficial impact begins. For husbands, marriage protects their longevity immediately. However, wives take a longer time to accrue benefits, but they also tend to increase over time.I’m guessing here, but perhaps one of the reasons why men experience an immediate benefit is that in the early days of marriage, the influence that a new wife has on her husband’s behavior is at an all-time high. Research tells us many recently married men between the ages of 20 to 45 tend to curb their reckless behavior and partying, and “settle down.”There is a benefit to a healthy marriage at the other end of the age spectrum as well. Research tells us that elderly couples in happy marriages also have better overall health than other people their age who have never married, are separated or divorced. However, once again, there is a measurable gender difference.

[ii] Lawrence J. Crabb Jr., The Marriage Builder (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1982), p. 10. ^[ii]

[iii] R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior , vol. 2, Preaching the Word (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1989), 44.

[iv] John MacArthur, Mark 9–16 , MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2015), 53.

[v] Cf., Craig A. Evans, Mark 8:27–16:20 , vol. 34B, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 2001), 82. As suggested above, the question of divorce had become a politically hot topic. Not only did Herodias desert and (presumably) divorce her husband (probably through the Roman courts), but Herod Antipas divorced his wife, the daughter of Aretas the king of the Nabateans, in order to marry Herodias. (Josephus tells us that when the daughter of Aretas caught wind of Herod’s plan, she fled to her father.) This marital affair created a political crisis, which finally resulted in war between Galilee and the Nabatea. Had it not been for Roman intervention, Antipas likely would have lost his kingdom. In such a dangerous situation as this, it is understandable why the Galilean tetrach could not tolerate John’s criticism and his popularity with the masses. Ultimately John’s criticism of Herod Antipas’s divorce and remarriage cost the baptizer his life.

[vi] David E. Garland, Mark , The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996), 382.

[vii] https://www.divorcewriter.com/online-divorce-leader.aspx , https://www.mydivorcepapers.com/ppc-video-ceo.php.

[viii] https://canterburylawgroup.com/divorce-statistics-rates/

[ix] Jan Anderson, The Divorce Dilemma: How Do I Know Whether To Stay Or Go? https://www.drjananderson.com/the-divorce-dilemma-how-do-i-know-whether-to-stay-or-go/

[x] David E. Garland, Mark , The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996), 379.

[xi] James B. Hurley, Man and Woman in Biblical Perspective (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1981), pp. 99–102.

[xii] William L. Lane, The Gospel According to Mark, (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1975), p. 363, lists the Jewish sources for such teaching, for example: M. Gittin IX.10; T.B. Gittin 90a; T.J. Sotah I.1.16b; Num. R. IX.30.

[xiii] John MacArthur, The Truth About Divorce (Pt 1), Mark 10, https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/41-48/the-truth-about-divorce-part-1

[xiv] Ibid.

[xv] R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior , vol. 2, Preaching the Word (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1989), 48.

[xvi] William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of the Gospel According to Mark , vol. 10, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 379.

[xvii] David E. Garland, Mark , The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996), 383.

[xviii] Ibid. Cf., Kristi Woods, 7 Powerful Warning Signs of a Hardened Heart, https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/warning-signs-of-a-hardened-heart.html

[xix] 1 Samuel 15:22 (NASB95)22Samuel said, “Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.

Vaccines, masks, and physical distancing seem to be having its effect on COVID, making it possible for us to once again gather as a church family. Mark your calendars and let’s plan on a family worship time at 280 S. York Rd.

We’ll be using both the Sanctuary and the Gym as overflow so that we can physical distance. Because of special issues, we’ll plan on 35 or so in Sanctuary (first come first seating), with over and above meeting in the gym. As aggravating as it is, masks will be required.

If you are uneasy about gathering, no worries. We invite you to join us for the live-worship postings at our usual time.

29 - Four Radical Life Choices (Mark 9:42-50)

kijabi4@yahoo.com (David Wolfe) — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 16:51:30 GMT

This is a subtitle for your new post

Four Radical Life Choices

(Mark 9:42-50)

I. INTRODUCTION

Hello. This is Dr. David Wolfe, one of the pastors at Bensenville Bible Church. Thank you for joining us. We’re looking forward to the day when we can gather again without covid restrictions. And it appears that time is not too far in the distance. When that time comes, I invite you to join us as my guest at 280 S. York Rd., in Bensenville.

Our study today comes from Mark’s Gospel, chap 9, vs42-50. I’ve entitled our study Four Radical Life Choices

As we read these verses, Jesus and Disciple Team are still in Capernaum at Peter and Andrew’s home. A lot of adventure has taken place here—For example, 1:30-31, the healing of Peter’s mother, 2:1-12 their roof being torn wide open for the healing of the paralytic, just to mention a few.

Jesus now focuses in on four radical life choices that reflect Kingdom of God living.

Let’s take a moment and ask God to open our minds to Kingdom of God life choices.

“Heavenly Father, thank you for this time you’ve given us to open your Word. Help us to get a grasp of our calling to be radical about our choices. Thank you for the clarity, encouragement and hope Your Word brings. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

II. BRIDGING THE CONTEXT

Well, lets open our Bibles to Mark 9:42-50. In these verses Jesus gives His disciples, and us, four life choices that characterize citizens of the Kingdom of God.

In the opening chapter of Mark, we are told that Jesus came proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom of God; repent and believe in the gospel (1:14-15). What I want us to get a grip on is, what we are looking at today is part of the message of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God.

As we read the verses at hand, you’ll notice that in some of your Bibles, vs44, 46 are either missing, or bracketed, or footnoted. That is because in key manuscripts these two verses do not occur. However, v48 does quote the missing verses (vs44, 46). I think we can assume that in history past some scribe saw the importance of v48, and decided to doubled down, to make sure we don’t miss what’s being said. [i] Anyway, follow along as I read for us the verses God would have for us to focus on.

⁴² “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe [in Me] to stumble, it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea.

⁴³ “If your hand causes you to lose your faith, cut it off! It is better for you to enter life disabled than to have two hands and go to hell, to the fire that cannot be put out. ⁴⁵ If your foot causes you to lose your faith, cut it off! It is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. ⁴⁷ If your eye causes you to lose your faith, tear 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. ⁴⁸ In hell worms that eat the body never die, and the fire is never put out.

⁴⁹ For everyone will be salted with fire. ⁵⁰ Salt is good. But if salt loses its taste, how will you restore its flavor? Have salt within you, and live in peace with one another.” Mark 9:42–50 ^(GW)

Talk about a mental tsunami!!! Jesus is laying out some really mind boggling stuff. Stuff like hanging millstones around necks, drowning people in the sea, cutting off hands and feet and plucking out eyes, about Hell in terms of fire that will not be quenched and worms that do not die, and then being salted with fire.

In short, Jesus is telling His disciples that the gospel of the Kingdom is a call for serious radical behavior. Mark this down, to be a Jesus Follower is a call to deviate from what we have come to accept as normal. The Gospel of the Kingdom is a call to a fervent life style.

III. FOUR LIFE CHOICES

In these verses Jesus lays out four life choices—Don’t be a stumbling block to other Jesus Followers, Strive for purity with fervency, live faithfully, and live sacrificially. Let’s take a closer look at each of these life choices.

A. Don’t Be A Stumbling Block

The first one comes in V42, Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to stumble, it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea. The first life choice for living in the Kingdom of God is choose not to be a stumbling block to other Jesus Followers. [ii]

Remember, the disciples are struggling with prideful hearts, of greatness, of being top-dog over others. When we come to v42, Jesus is still holding a little child mentioned in vs36-37. He now drills down, telling His Followers to be careful how they minister.

Jesus tells us that the consequences of leading another Jesus Follower astray is not healthy. It would be better for such a person to have a heavy millstone hung around their neck, and cast into the sea.

Kent Hughes captivates what’s being said as particularly horrifying—being cast into the sea with no escape, struggling, and then hanging motionless in the darkness, hidden from life and the world. Jesus used the most graphic terms to make the point that it would be better to be drowned than to cause humble believers (“little ones”) who served him to fall into sin! [iii]

The warning is harsh. God has a problem with how we treat one another. Psalm 105:15 ^(NASB95) “Do not touch My anointed ones.”

Hebrews 10:31 ^(NASB95) It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. [iv] Listen so carefully, as citizens of the Kingdom of God, God holds anyone who implores another believer into sin accountable. It’s bad news to anyone who participates in spiritual seduction—from the Joseph Smiths, Jim Joneses, David Bergs, and Shirley MacLaines to modern day smooth talkers. There is a double woe to all who stand in pulpits and redefine scripture with empty words.

Jumping back to Mark 9:37 ^(NASB95) “Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me.” The point being, how we treat another believer is how we relate to Jesus, and how we relate to Jesus is how we relate to God [v] .

Mark this down. The warning applies to any believer, who because of their elitist attitudes, entices another to sinful thinking, to sinful behavior, it would be better that such a person be buried in the deepest sea with no possibility of return. As citizens of the Kingdom of God, we are called to ‘walk uprightly’ in our relationships with other Jesus Followers.

B. Second, Strive For Personal Purity

Our second choice comes in Vs43–48 ^{(NASB95) 43} “If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire, ⁴⁵ “If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame, than, having your two feet, to be cast into hell, ⁴⁷ “If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell, ⁴⁸ where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.

Here our choice for living in the Kingdom of God is to be aggressive as to our personal purity. Jesus’ words are radical, harsh, severe—seeming to actual suggest the removal of a hand, or a foot, or even an eye.

We need to point out here that Jesus is not talking about a literal mutilation of body parts as some have interpreted it, but a calling for a radical lifestyle of purity. In striving for personal purity, we need to be on our guard less we entice others into sin by our hands (that would be what we do), by our feet (that would be where we go), and by our eyes (that would be what we look at).

Jesus’ point is, we must aggressively be on-guard as to sin. He is talking about a mutilation of the sins that swirl around in all of our hearts. Sins that our culture gravitates to. What sort of sins does Jesus have in mind to guard against?

Mark 7:14, 20-23 ^(NASB95) evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, ²² deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. ²³ “All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.”

James 1:14–15 ^(NASB95) Sinful behavior is the product of lust conceiving in the heart and bringing forth sin actions. As Jesus Followers, these sins place all of us in a state constant war within ourselves (Galatians 5:17 ^(NASB95)

We are not to be lackadaisical when it comes to sin. Paul captures this in Romans 8:13 ^(NASB95) by the Spirit ‘we are called’ to put to death the deeds of the body, ‘if you do’ you will live. In context, the point being, we are to, as John Owen states it in his book entitled Of The Mortification of Sin in Believers, to be about killing sin or it will be killing you! [vi]

In the words of John Piper, “Killing sin is not optional. This is a mortal combat: Sin dies or we die. We are to refuse to settle in with sin.” [vii] Colossians 3:5 ^(NASB95) Consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.

These gory metaphors of cutting off one’s hand, foot, or eye tell us that halfway measures of dealing with sin just will not do it. We must be decisive and complete—as serious and final as a hand or foot or eye cast upon the floor. [viii]

The fight against sin depends entirely on how valuable the Kingdom of God is to us. We are faced with a choice, it’s either sacrifice the pleasures of the heart or suffer the consequences of being cast into hell, v48, where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED. The reference to hell in vs43, 45, 47 points to the disastrous consequence of not dealing with sin.

In keeping with the metaphor of severe traumatic sacrifices, ‘their worm does not die’ points to an eternal existence of remorse, regrets, over the grace rejected. And the fire is not quenched points to a state of eternal excruciating torment.

David Guzik highlights for us that the message of Jesus was clear: knowing how terrible hell is, it is worth any sacrifice to avoid. Therefore, we cannot think of the kingdom of God just in the context of reward; we must also think in terms of ongoing sacrifice and victory. [ix]

Therefore . . . 2 Corinthians 7:1 ^(NASB95) let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. The point being for us, we need to be living actively in a cleansing mode, ridding ourselves of impurities, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. The choice for us is either holiness in the eternal Kingdom of God or an eternal dwelling in hell

C. Third, Live Faithfully

The third life choice comes in Vs49 ⁴⁹ “For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt and fire were very much part of the Temple sacrifices. [x]

1. Salt is a preservative, suggesting endurance.

When God makes use of this metaphor, He is urging us to be faithful despite how circumstances appear on the surface because His Word is absolutely sure. So our third life choice is we choose to go for the long haul.

According to Leviticus 2 salt was added to sacrifices as a symbol of God’s covenant. V13, ‘Every grain offering of yours, moreover, you shall season with salt, so that the salt of the covenant of your God shall not be lacking from your grain offering; with all your offerings you shall offer salt.

The salt of the covenant of God reminds us that God is a covenant keeping God. A reminder of His enduring faithfulness.

In application our lives are to be lived out in the midst of the crucible of life enmeshed in the promises of God over the long haul. For in those promise we find our durability and endurance. Romans 15:4 ^(NASB95) For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

2. Fire is symbolic of hardship, trials, testing, persecution.

The picture is that Jesus Followers are going to find their commitments tested by fire. 1 Peter 1:6–7 ^{(NASB95) 6} In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, ⁷ so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

In an article entitled Walking Together in God’s Promises by Monte Hammer, The refiner of gold heated the gold until it melted and dross rose to the top. The refiner scraped off the dross and continued to heat the gold until more dross rose to the top, and he scraped it off again. When the refiner saw his face reflected in the gold, he turned down the heat, for the gold had been refined – purified. [xi]

How we endure those trials demonstrates the value to which we hold to the Kingdom of God (Matthew 13). As we see God at work through trials, He is using them for our good (James 1:2-4). Our faith grows stronger, giving us the ability to go the distance.

Salt brings savoring in the midst of those trials, preserving us in the midst of the warfare. Brent Kercheville points out for us that that salt is our unwavering allegiance to Jesus and the gospel in the midst of fiery trials. It is in the trials that we put off the old self and put on the new self (Ephesians 4:22-24). [xii]

D. Fourth, Live Sacrificially

The fourth life choice comes in v50, ⁵⁰ “Salt is good; but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.” Here the choice for living in the Kingdom of God living a sacrificial life, which has a preserving impact on our decaying culture.

Because salt symbolizes durability, endurance, preservative, and is meant to remind us that God is a covenant keeping God, so we are called to actively season our lives with preserving power of His faithfulness and maintain a flaming passion for the Kingdom of God in our lives. [xiii]

In application, our lives are to be lived out enmeshed into the promises of God. For in those promise we find our durability and endurance. Romans 15:4 ^(NASB95) For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Kent Hughes points out for us that the promises of God ought to quicken the conscience, elevate conversation, restrain ethical corruption, promote honesty, and raise the moral atmosphere of society. [xiv]

Me thinks that one of our problems, as Jesus Followers, is that we are losing our saltiness. Because we are not killing the swirl of sins within us, sin is diluting our faith commitment, causing us to lose our distinctness in our culture, weakening our preservative qualities.

In context, the disciples have been busy discussing whose the greatest. Jesus is telling them, Stop fighting amongst yourselves. Stop striving to elevate over each other. Stop this ongoing g competition between each other. Stop inciting each other to prideful temptation. [xv] It was all of those attitudes that were diluting their saltiness.

In Matthew 5:13 ^(NASB95) Jesus told them that they/we are the salt of the earth . . . the point is, as Jesus Followers, we are the only hope that our culture has for spiritual influence. There is no other spiritual salt preservative for our culture.

As we wrap up these four life choices, notice the last part of v50. Jesus closes it off with these words: Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with one another.

I take that if we are to be at peace with one another, each of us must be salty. If the disciples had the “salt” in themselves, then they would not be arguing about who would be the greatest in kingdom of God (9:34). Jesus is telling them that they must not allow the salt within them to be made useless by their wrangling over position and concerns of this world. [xvi]

To have salt in ourselves means that we have within us those qualities that promote truth, kindness, peace, joy, etc., within the body of Christ, putting us at peace with one another.

IV. TRUTHS THAT SHAPE OUR LIVES

Let’s pause here and reflect on these four radical life choices that Jesus says are central to the gospel of the Kingdom.

1. First, Don’t be a stumbling block, ie., inciting other Jesus’ Followers to sin in their actions and relationships.

2. Second, Be radical about killing the sins of the heart--enhanced by our hands(what we do), by our feet (where we go), and by our eyes (what we see). That may mean we have to change our music tastes, magazine choices, theater attendance, and the use of the internet library, to mention a few.

3. Third, we commit to the long haul of walking with God. Steven Cole points out for us that many obey God as long as it gets them what they want out of life, but if they have to go through extended trials, forget it. When we peel it all away, it’s really self, not God, we are serving. But righteous people walk with God, which means obedience over the long haul, in spite of opposition or trials. [xvii]

4. Fourth, embrace the sacrificial life. To live the life of sacrifice is to live a life of worship. Michael Vanlaningham explains, “Rather than be shaped to look like the world, the Christian’s mind is to be renewed in order to appreciate the importance and benefits of God’s will as revealed in His Word". A living sacrifice means believing who God says we are and what He has promised for us. This is where our confidence comes from, and our lives will radiate God’s presence and mercy when we embrace our confidence in Him. ^[xviii]

And in so doing, we will be the salt of the Kingdom of God in a thirsty world, giving us opportunities to offer thirst quenching spiritual water to the thirsty. Jesus said, If anyone thirsts, let him come to me, and drink. And that my friends is absolutely true.

Let’s close in prayer …

Our great and glorious God, help us to remember when we go through dark and troubling times that we are seeing only a part of the entire picture. Help us always to seek your glory. Let us remember when we see the outcasts in our society—the weak, the homeless, the suffering—that we may be seeing Your face. Grant us Your power to do great things or small things for You, realizing that in Your kingdom, there are no small things. Amen. [xix]

Well, as you go this week, Jesus taught that Kingdom citizenship requires that we not lose the flavor or our Creator. Colossians 4:6 ^(NASB95) Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person. Like salt on food, when we season our words properly people are encouraged.

If we are chasing our own plans, goals, and ambitions, or that of the worlds, we lose our saltiness. The Jesus Follower who does not live out the values of the kingdom of God is unsalted salt, that is, salt that has lost its purpose.”

And so I must ask, how salty or unsalty are you?

Remember we offer Live-worship on Sundays, both on Facebook and YouTube. At this time I invite you to join us from the comfort and security of your home.

If you would like to contribute to this ministry, go to our website: Bensenvillebiblechurch.com, click on the Donation Drop down and pick your donation preference.

And don’t forget, In the midst of the swirling difficulties,

God’s is walking with you.

Looking forward to meeting up with you again at next week’s posting. May God bless you this coming week.

[i] John MacArthur, Radical Discipleship (Mark 9:42-50), https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/41-47/radical-discipleship

[ii] Eckhard J. Schnabel, Mark, TNTC, p226. The verb ‘cause to stumble’ (skandalizo; cf., 4:17; 6:3) describes here a person who causes followers of Jesus to stumble; the metaphor of ‘tripping’ indicates the ‘downfall’ or failure of their commitment to Jesus, as in 14:27, 29 where the verb is used to describe the failure of the disciples when Jesus was arrested.

[iii] R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior , vol. 2, Preaching the Word (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1989), 36–37.

^[iv] Psa 37:12 A Psalm of David. Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. 2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

[v] John 13:20 (NASB95) “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.” 1 Corinthians 6:17 (NASB95) But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 1 Peter 5:2–3 ^(NASB95) 2shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; 3nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.

[vi] John Owen, Of The Mortification of Sin in Believers, Grand Rapids, MI: Christian Classics Ethereal Library, https://ccel.org/ccel/o/owen/mort/cache/mort.pdf ., p6.

[vii] John Piper, Thirteen Practical Steps to Kill Sin, https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/thirteen-practical-steps-to-kill-sin

[viii] R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior , vol. 2, Preaching the Word (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1989), 40.

[ix] David Guzik, Mark 9 – The Transfiguration, https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/mark-9/

[x] Leviticus 2:13 (NASB95) ‘Every grain offering of yours, moreover, you shall season with salt, so that the salt of the covenant of your God shall not be lacking from your grain offering; with all your offerings you shall offer salt. Ezekiel 43:24 (NASB95) ‘You shall present them before the LORD, and the priests shall throw salt on them, and they shall offer them up as a burnt offering to the LORD. Exodus 30:35 (NASB95) “With it you shall make incense, a perfume, the work of a perfumer, salted, pure, and holy.

[xi] Monte Hammer, Waling Together in God’s Promises, https://possesshispromises.com/2020/08/02/perseverance-in-the-fire/

[xii] Brent Kercheville, Mark 9:42-50, Hell Is Not Worth It, https://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/new-testament/mark/hell-is-not-worth-it.html

[xiii] Kenneth Wuest, Wuest’s Word Studies, Mark (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Publishing Co, 1950), p193

[xiv] R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior , vol. 2, Preaching the Word (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1989), 42.

[xv] Cf., John MacArthur, Radical Discipleship (Mark 9:42-50), https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/41-47/radical-discipleship

[xvi] Bruce B. Barton, Mark , Life Application Bible Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1994), 274–275.

[xvii] Steve Cole, Lesson 11: The Men Who Had Connections With God (Ezekiel 14:12-20), https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-11-men-who-had-connections-god-ezekiel-1412-20

[xviii] Michael Vanlaningham, Moody Bible Commentary, Moody Publishers Chicago, 2014.

[xix] Rodney L. Cooper, Mark , vol. 2, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000), 156.

28 - The Radical Life (Mark 9:30-41)

kijabi4@yahoo.com (David Wolfe) — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 16:32:53 GMT

28 - The Radical Life (Mark 9:30-41)

I. INTRODUCTION

Our study today comes from Mark’s Gospel, chap 9, vs30-41. I’ve entitled our study The Radical Life Vs30-31 set the context: ³ ⁰ From there they went out and began to go through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know about it. ³¹ For He was teaching His disciples . . . Jesus and His Disciple Team leave Caesarea Philippi for Capernaum, v33. He is in stealth mode when it comes to the crowds. He wants the undivided attention of His disciples.

Let’s take a moment and ask God to open our minds to the central truths that Jesus wanted His disciples and us to engage with. “Heavenly Father, thank you for this time you’ve given us to open your Word. Help us to get a grasp the central truth of Jesus ministry. Thank you for the clarity, encouragement and hope Your Word brings. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

II. THE BACKSTORY

Leadership is a high stakes game. A lot is riding on it, and there are not many things that kill a leader’s effectiveness more easily than pride.

If we are honest, wrestling with our prideful tendencies is a daily struggle. I came across a blog that highlighted at least 5 prideful attitudes that constantly nag at all of us:

A sense of entitlement—You’ve worked harder than anyone else, you deserve it.
A constant push for the high place—the idea of being served vs serving
A sense of having arrived—that is nobody can teach you anything more
A reluctance to share the spotlight—having the stage exclusively to yourself.
A critical spirit—rather than admit personal shortcomings, there’s a strong spirit of finger pointing. [i]

In our study today Jesus focuses on the pridefulness of His disciple team. Like the disciples, we have little awareness of the depth of the infection pride. Unlike most diseases which cannot be visually seen, pride is a hidden infection that is not easily detected by the one infected, but it is clearly visible to others. Andrew Murray is quoted as saying, Pride, or the loss of humility, is the root of every sin and evil. [ii ]In Ezekiel 28:17we are told that it was pride that brought Satan into rebellion against God. Proverbs 11:2 ^(NASB95) When pride comes, then comes dishonor, But with the humble is wisdom. The first part of the proverb reminds us that dishonor will eventually come upon the proud. In Proverbs 6:16ff we are told that there are six things which God hates, yea, seven which are an abomination to Him. The first of the six is haughty eyes. Haughty eyes is a reference to a proud strut.

Pride is held up as one of the evil forces that we all wrestle with in 1 John 2:16 ^(NASB95) For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. Harold Martin in his Bible Helps, points out for us that pride takes many different forms. For example:

There’s Pride of intellect—that is, an arrogance that assumes one knows more than others. We might excel in one area, but all of us are just plain stupid in other areas of knowledge.
There’s Pride of power—the passion to achieve, to dominate, and to give orders.
There’s Pride of nation—the veneration of one’s national homeland,
There’s Pride Of Ethnicity/Race—which leads to bigotry toward others.
There’s Spiritual pride—glory in spiritual attainments.
There’s Pride of face—an unreasonable self-esteem connected with the way one appears on the outside. [iii]

The truth is, God is actively opposed to the proud and seeks to dishonor the proud. James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

III. THREE INTENSE CONVERSATIONS

In vs30-41 Mark gives us insight as to some of the deep conversations Jesus had with the Team on the hike towards Capernaum. This would be roughly a 60 mile hike, perhaps longer since Jesus was seeking to avoid crowd gathering areas. [iv] He was in stealth mode because He did not want anyone to know about ‘His whereabouts’. ³ ¹ For He was teaching His disciples. For these men to become front center after Jesus’ death and resurrection, it was necessary for Him to peel off layers of pride like one peels an onion. To do this, Mark highlights at least three specific conversations.

A. Conversation #1 (V31)

The first conversation that Mark highlights for us comes in v31, He was teaching His disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him; and when He has been killed, He will rise three days later.” Luke 9:44 tells us that the disciples needed this lesson badly. He was exhorting them “Let these words sink into your ears; for the Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men.” They needed clarity, but as we will see, they were not paying close attention.

This is the second time Jesus drills down on His coming death and resurrection. It is slightly different, compared to the first one given in chap 8:31. There Jesus began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things . . . But here in 9:31 Jesus ups the hinny, specifically laying out that the Son of Man ‘was’ to be delivered into the hands of men . . . The word deliver (paradidōmi) is powerful. It comes from the GK word meaning “to hand over”. [v]

From our general grasp of history, there were a slew of people involved in handing Jesus over to be crucified-- the religious elders, chief priests, scribes, and people in general (cf. 8:31; Matt. 27:1–2; Acts 3:13), Judas (Matt. 26:24), and Pilate (Matt. 27:26). [vi]

They were all players in the process, but ultimately Jesus was delivered over ‘to be crucified’ by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God (Acts 2:23 ^(NASB95) ). Isaiah 53:10 ^(NASB95) t he LORD was pleased To crush Him . . . So we are told in Romans 8:32 ^(NASB95) God did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all . . . V32, But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him.

This is a huge moment, a mind crushing moment. They just couldn’t grasp the theology of a dying Messiah. To think that the One to whom they had pledged their lives was going to die was beyond comprehension. In Luke 9:45 we’re given an interesting insight. There we are told that They did not understand this statement, ‘because’ it was concealed from them so that they would not perceive it . . . John MacArthur points out that in all probability, Jesus Himself kept them from grasping so that they were not literally overcome by the coming reality. In other words, This was going to be way more than they could ever handle at the time. [vii] However, we are told in John 12:16 ^(NASB95) These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him.

B. Conversation #2 (Vs33-37)

The second conversation begins in v33. They arrive in Capernaum, Peter and Andrew’s home town. Once settled in, and perhaps sitting around a table for a meal, Jesus asks them, What were they discussing? While Jesus was focused on His impending death and resurrection, the disciples were carrying on a private conversation among themselves totally different from what Jesus wanted them to think about. I think they were caught truly off-guard with Jesus’ prying question. V34 They kept silent, for on the way they had discussed with one another which of them was the greatest. My guess it was probably spear headed by Peter, James, and John, having been on The Mountain with Jesus. I think it was a painful silence. Back in Mark 8:31 when Jesus opened up about what was to come, His sufferings and rejection, and ultimate death/resurrection, He followed it with a mind boggling paradox: whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it (v35).

Now here in v35 of chap 9, He gives them another hugh paradox. V35 ^(GW) “ Whoever wants to be the most important person must take the last place and be a servant to everyone else.” In a world that is constantly immersed in issues of position and prestige, that is one radical calling. Kent Hughes writes, The natural human instinct is to dominate. Thus, if any of us will live Jesus’ words out, not seeking preeminence, but seeking to serve all, he or she will be a cultural radical! Your life will be a gift to many, while it will equally be a threat to many others. Such a lifestyle is not easy. ^[viii] In Vs36-37 ^(GW) to reinforce the truth He brought a child into their midst, ³⁶ and putting his arms around the child and said to the disciples, ³⁷ “Whoever welcomes a child like this in my name welcomes me. Whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.” The child is no teenager. We’re talking about a little fellow, maybe 3 or 4 years old. Such a child is generally very pliable, obedient, trusting, simple, innocent, pure, unself-conscious.

David Garland points out that the point of comparison is the insignificance of the child on the honor scale. The child has no power, no status, and few rights. A child is dependent, vulnerable, entirely subject to the authority of the father; so Jesus chooses such a one to represent those who follow Him. [ix] Then adds another twist to the mix. V37, When his followers serve those without any status, they receive Jesus and the One who sent him. The greatest thing they can do is serve those who are forgotten and regarded as insignificant—those who have no influence, no titles, no priority, and no importance except to God. [x]

C. Conversation #3 (v38-50)

That brings us to third conversation that Jesus had with His Disciple Team which is a spinoff of a question posed by John. V38, He asks Jesus, “ Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.” It’s a continuation of their argument in v34 as to which of them was the greatest. They are still hung up on their own self-importance. They wanted to be so great that no one could really serve the Messiah except themselves.

Make a note here. In the previous section, vs14-24, the disciples failed to take command of a demon, but they don’t seem to have a problem in seeking to interfere with someone else’s demon casting successes. They had a real issue here. This guy was not part of their team, so how can he cast out demons in Jesus’ name? For them, as Jesus’ disciples, they felt they had exclusive rights to His name.

IV. BRIDGING THE CONTEXT

Let’s stop here and try to get some clarity as what is at stake. We need to be clear, Mark shows how prideful the disciples initially were, and how Jesus peeled back the layers of pride that was deeply rooted in the lives of the disciples and our lives. Make a note of this: pride is never a private attitude. It is conceived in the heart, but it shows up outside. It is critical. It is judgmental. It is comparative. It belittles. It demeans. It pushes others down for the sake of self-elevation. It is a unity killer. [xi]

In these verses Jesus is diagnosing prideful hearts. Just as the disciples needed to peel away their prideful tendencies, so we need to peel away our prideful tendencies like one peels onion layers. In this section there are 5 pride onion skin layers that Jesus wants us to release.

1. Radical Cross Carrying people

Peeling back prideful layers begins by a commitment to ‘Radical Cross Carrying’. If the disciples are going to break pride’s dominance, if we are going to break pride’s dominance, it starts with us dying to our self-seeking nature. That’s what Jesus is telling the disciples—if we’re going to follow Jesus, we must deny ourselves, and take up our cross . . . in other words do what Jesus did. To weaken our roots of pride begins with a radical cross carrying life.

2. Forfeiting Honor

Second, to break prides grip, we must peel back the layer of honor. V35 , “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” Pride drives us to battle for position, status, and prominence. As we read through the gospels, this was a constant battle with the disciple team. They were constantly striving to be the front runners among themselves. In Luke 9:47, a companion passage, Jesus, knowing what they were thinking in their heart, took a child and stood him by His side. They all wanted top seating. The only way to be honored is to forfeit it. The point Jesus is making is this—to break the grip of pride is to forfeit honor. James 4:6 ^(NASB95) “GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.”

3. Rejecting Dominance

Third, breaking pride’s grip means pealing off the layer of self-seeking dominance. Vs36-37, ³⁶ Taking a child, He set him before them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them, ³⁷ “Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me.” As pointed out, this is a small child. One that you carry. Such a child has no greatness. He is weak, unassuming, vulnerable, totally dependent. Jesus is not talking about becoming an actual child. That was Nicodemus’ problem in John 3. Jesus is talking about a mindset. In Matthew 18, a companion passage, v4, Jesus lays it out like this, “ Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

4. We Break The Grip of Pride By Rejecting Exclusivity.

Fourth, breaking pride’s grip means peeling away attitudes of exclusivity. Vs38-40, ³⁸ John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.” ³⁹ But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me. ⁴⁰ “For he who is not against us is for us. John asks a great question; Jesus gives a stunning answer. The disciples saw someone casting out demons in Jesus’ name . . . and they deliberately tried to stop him . . . Why? . . . because he was not part of the disciple group. Pride loves exclusivity. The point is, there is great diversity in the Kingdom of God. Revelation 7:9 ^(NASB95) I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands;

Listen, there is not only a massive distinctive peoples from every ethnicity on the face of the earth, there is a massive people with differing gifts (1 Corinthians 12:4–6 ^(NASB95) ⁴ Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. ⁵ And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. ⁶ There are a variety of effects . . .) Paul sums it up like this in Philippians 1:15ff, it doesn’t matter how its being done, as long as it is being done . . . Christ being preached.

5. We Break The Grip Of Pride By Encouraging One Another With Acts Of Compassion

Fifth, we break pride’s grip by doing acts of ‘trivial’ compassion. V41, “ For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward. Notice the contrast that Jesus brings into play . . . from great acts of casting out demons to a cup of water to drink. In his commentary on Mark, Bruce Barton reminds us that not only did the man who exorcised demons serve Christ’s kingdom in his stand against Satan, but even someone who offered a cup of water to a person who bears the name of Christ was also serving the kingdom. ^[xii]

Mark this down. How we treat others who bear the name of Christ is of great value to God . . . to the person who treats a fellow Jesus Follower with honor . . . Jesus said this: truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward. The point is, there are no trivial acts of kindness. For Jesus, a ‘trivial’ cup of water to a fellow follower of Jesus is giving an offering to God.

V. TRUTHS THAT SHAPE OUR LIVES

As I reflect on our study today, I am reminded of what Paul wrote to the church at Philippi in Philippians 2:2–8 ^(NASB95) Therefore, if there be any encouragement in Christ, be of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. ³ Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; ⁴ do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. ⁵ Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷ but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. ⁸ Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

How far did Jesus’ humility take Him? . . . to the point of death, even the death on the cross in order that we might live eternally with Him

And that my friends captures a Radical Life.

Let’s close in prayer …Heavenly Father, it is our desire to do nothing out of selfish motives or ungodly incentives, but rather out of humility of heart. By Your Spirit may we value others above ourselves. Help us to value the needs and concerns of others more than our own. Guard our hearts, I ask, and keep us humble in heart and low at the cross - in Jesus name I pray, AMEN.

Well, as you go this week, Proverbs 22:4 captures for us the truth of our study today: The reward of humility and the fear of the LORD Are riches, honor and life.

If you find this message helpful and would like to contribute to this ministry, go to our website: Bensenvillebiblechurch.com, click on the Donation Drop down and pick your donation preference. Remember we offer Live-worship on Sundays, both on Facebook and YouTube. Join us from the comfort and security of your home. And don’t forget, In the midst of the swirling difficulties, God’s is walking with you. Looking forward to meeting up with you again at next week’s posting. May God bless you this coming week.

[i] Carey Nieuwhof, 5 Habits That Reveal You’re A Prideful Leader (And 5 Keys To Humility), https://careynieuwhof.com/5-habits-that-reveal-youre-a-prideful-leader-5-keys-to-humility/

[ii] Seventy Disciples Return With Joy, https://www.neverthirsty.org/bible-studies/life-of-christ-ministry-judea/seventy-disciples-return-with-joy/#:~:text=The%20disciple%E2%80%99s%20root%20problem%20starts%20to%20be%20revealed , is%20infected%20but%20it%20is%20visible%20to%20others.

[iii] Harold Martin, Seven Things God Hates, (Proverbs 6:16-19) https://biblehelpsinc.org/publication/seven-things-god-hates/

[iv] https://www.distancesfrom.com/how-far-is-caesarea-Philippi-israel-from-Capernaum/HowFarHistory/10090860.aspx

[v] Robert L. Thomas, New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries : Updated Edition (Anaheim: Foundation Publications, Inc., 1998). παραδίδωμι paradidōmi; from 3844 and 1325; to hand over, to give or deliver over, to betray:—betray(17), betrayed(10), betraying(9), betrays(3), commended(1), committed(3), deliver(6), delivered(21), delivered over(1), delivering(3), entrusted(3), entrusting(1), gave(4), gave … over(3), given … over(1), hand(6), handed(9), handed … over(1), handed down(4), handed over(4), hands(1), permits(1), put(1), putting(1), risked(1), surrender(1), taken into custody(2), turn … over(1).

[vi] Cf., the elders, chief priests, scribes, and people (cf. 8:31; Matt. 27:1–2; Acts 3:13), Judas (Matt. 26:24), and Pilate (Matt. 27:26)

[vii] John MacArthur, The Virtue of Being Last (gty.org) www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/41-46/the-virtue-of-being-last

[viii] R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior , vol. 2, Preaching the Word (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1989), 31.

[ix] David E. Garland, Mark , The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996), 367.

[x] David E. Garland, Mark , The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996), 367–368.

[xi] John MacArthur, The Virtue of Being Last (gty.org) www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/41-46/the-virtue-of-being-last

[xii] Bruce B. Barton, Mark , Life Application Bible Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1994), 268–269.

27 - All Things Are Possible To Those Who Believe (Mark 9:14-27)

kijabi4@yahoo.com (David Wolfe) — Sat, 12 Jun 2021 17:28:41 GMT

This is a subtitle for your new post

Faith In Light Of Impossibilities

(Mark 9:14-29)

I. INTRODUCTION

Hello. This is Dr. David Wolfe, one of the pastors at Bensenville Bible Church. Thank you for joining us. We are looking forward to the day when we can gather again without covid restrictions. And it appears that time is not too far in the distance. When that time comes, I invite you to join us as my guest at 280 S. York Rd., in Bensenville.

It’s time to settle in your favorite chair with your favorite warm beverage, pencil and paper, and Bibles open to Mark 9, vs 14-29. I’ve entitled our study today Faith In Light Of Impossibilities . This is another one of those fascinating moments with Jesus, where we are shown the tragedy of the Kingdom of Darkness abuse, and the faith that breaks its bondage. It’s a real power struggle moment. In the midst of overwhelming impossibilities, Jesus makes a powerful statement, v23, All things are possible to him who believes.

Let’s take a moment and ask God to give us belief in the midst of our impossibilities. “Heavenly Father, thank you for this time you’ve given us to open your Word. Drive out our unbelief that we may step into life’s impossibilities. Thank you for the clarity, encouragement and hope Your Word brings. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

II. THE BACKSTORY

Failure is never fun, and defeat is seldom something we take delight in. In fact, in all my years, I have yet to shout joyfully over my failures. More often than not my failures are painful, embarrassing and humiliating. Wrestling with our failures can cause us to look at life through the lens of bitterness or the wrestling can become the basis of powerful strength. That was David’s testimony in Psalm 119:71 ^(GW) It was good that I had to suffer in order to learn your laws. [i]

I believe that the old hymn entitled, “Just When I Need Him Most” captures the brunt of Jesus’ application of the story that we are looking at. The 1 ^st verses goes like this:

Just when I need Him, Jesus is near,
Just when I falter, just when I fear;
Ready to help me, ready to cheer,
Just when I need Him most ^[ii]

The disciples have a ways to go before they learn this great truth. And my guess is, we also have a ways to go. In 2 Corinthians 5:7 ^(NASB95) we are told to walk by faith, not by sight —Faith goes beyond mental assent; it is an active confidence in what God has said and will do. So Hebrews 11:6 ^(NASB95) without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He ‘actually’ is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him., As Charles Stanley reminds us, faith requires us to stay focused. If we should take our eyes off Jesus and start looking at circumstances, our confidence in Him begins to wobble. A good example is Peter’s experience of walking on the Sea of Galilee. He started out in confidence, but as soon as he looked away from Jesus and saw the wind and waves, his circumstances pulled his eyes away from Jesus. Suddenly he thought, People can’t walk on water!—and his faith faltered. We’re just like Peter, more often than not, our circumstances pull our eyes away from Jesus. [iii]

We need to let this saturate our psychic: faith is not only needed for our initial step of redemption; it is also meant to be the dominant character trait of life as a Jesus Follower. Our faith is not living life in a state of blindness. Our faith is placed on solid evidence. The evidence is the sure Word of Christ. And so we are called in Colossians 3:16 ^(NASB95) to let the word of Christ richly dwell within us, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in our hearts to God.,

The thought here is that we are to let the spoken word of Christ have a central place in us. That would be that the Word of Christ actually indwells our hearts and minds—permeating every aspect of our being as we live and teach spiritual things, and admonish and train one another with all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in our hearts to God. That brings us to Mark 9:14-23. Tucked in these verses is a powerful lesson as to how faith moves mountain size problems.

III. THE DISTRAUGHT FATHER

Mark’s account is also captured in Matthew 17:14-20 and Luke 9:37-43. Though Mark is much more detailed, Matthew and Luke greatly enrich the power of the story. While Jesus, Peter, James, and John were having a mountain-top-experience, the other nine disciples, in summary, were being overwhelmed by their inabilities, a powerful demon, a very distraught father, and Scribes bashing their faith.

V14, they meet up with the other nine disciples who were surrounded by a large crowd, and in a heated argument with the Scribes.
In the midst of the emotional chaos, V16, Jesus asks, What are you discussing? Without knowing the details that follow, I think we could assume the disciples and scribes were in some kind of argument over deep theological issues. But when Jesus asked what the issues were, both the disciples and scribes remained discreetly quiet.
V17, So someone in the crowd blurts out the issue. If we pull in Matthew and Luke’s account, it turns out to be a father. Matthew tells us that he fell to his knees in front of Jesus and pleads, and Luke tells us that he begged Jesus to look at his son, for he was his only child (Luke 9:38).

According to v17, his son was demon possessed. V18, the father tells Jesus that ¹ ⁸ Whenever the demon seizes his son, it throws him to the ground, the boy foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes exhausted. In v22, the demon often tried to throw him into the fire or into sizeable standing water to kill him. In addition, we’re told that the demon had taken away the boys speech and hearing (vs 17, 25) . This was not some kind of genetic disorder, or childhood disease. Dominated by a demonic force, the demon consumed this boy, often slamming him to the ground. When the demon took control, bad things happened. The boy was scarred and bruised.

For the uninformed, demons can have great power over our bodies. We’re told in Hebrews 2 that Satan even has the power of death. Kent Hughes reminds us that this is a perfect example of Satan’s motivation, that is to destroy humanity because humanity bears the very image of God. Mark this down, Satan is at war with the image of God, the Imago Dei. In his twisted thinking, anything he can do to destroy men and women is a triumph over God. The attacks upon this boy serve to show how radical and real the struggle is between the Kingdom of Darkness and the Kingdom of Light. [iv] It is a real life and death struggle. To add to the father’s despair, Vs17-18, he tells Jesus that he had asked his disciples to force the spirit out, but they didn’t have the power to do it.” (Mark 9:17–18 ^(GW) )

And there’s the first issue—a desperate father at wits-end-- caught in a real life struggle with the demonic world, disheartened because those that should have helped, could not help, then there were the Scribes who were most likely deriding the powerlessness of the disciples. Imagine the chaos--frustrated disciples, ridiculing Scribes, a very distraught father, an uncontrolled demon, and a suffering child. That is a mountain size impossibility. This is really crazy. Why couldn’t the disciples take control? Why the failure? What’s going on here?

V19, Jesus, very exasperated, captures the moment with these powerful words, “You unbelieving generation! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? In three words Jesus nails the problem--“Y ou unbelieving generation! And that’s the second issue—unbelief. Jesus’ rebuke was harsh and cutting. He is not talking to the crowd here. His words are directed to His disciples. What’s at stake is a very distraught family situation, and the tragedy of unbelief.

We need to remember that in Mark 3:15 ^(NASB95) Jesus had given His disciples authority to cast out the demons. But something had transpired that had weakened their demon dominance. Not only was the boy’s demon overly stubborn, but it appears that the disciple’s successes had personally impacted them negatively. [v] Jesus points out for us that the reason they couldn’t take control of the demon was because of their unbelief. They were faithless. In context, their successes cut away the power of their faith.

Throughout the gospels Jesus was constantly pointing out that their faith was lacking. [vi] They were constantly struggling as to Jesus’ power and their personal trust.

We see this lack of faith with the Israelites who walked thru the Red Sea, and ended up wandering 40 years in the wilderness until they had all died.
We see this lack of faith in Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth, where we are told He could not do many miracles because of their unbelief (Mark 6:1-6)
We see this lack of faith with Peter, who walked on water only to start sinking when unbelief set in (Matt 14:28-31).

Removed some 2000 years from this moment, we dare not dodge Jesus’ diagnosis. We have a much greater vision of God’s working, and yet are so powerless. If we are willing to assume Jesus diagnosis and make it ours, we do will to pay close attention to the Gospel record.

V19, Jesus tells the father, Bring your son to me. The demon reacts. V ²⁰ They brought the boy to Jesus. And as soon as the spirit saw Jesus, it threw the boy into convulsions. He fell on the ground, rolled around, and foamed at the mouth. (Mark 9:20 ^(GW) ). Huge drama immediately unfolds. The spirit takes control of the boy, throws him into a raging mess. Terrible trauma, with an attempt to mock Jesus. I believe the demon is seeking to embarrass Jesus by either manning and/or killing this boy. Its a picture of demonic raging hatrer against Jesus. He knew he was facing his creator, the King of all things, the Judge of the living and the dead.

Watching the demon hammer this little boy, Jesus turns to the father and asks, How long as this been happening? The father answers, From childhood.

In v22 the father unloads on Jesus the trauma that’s been in his family for years. He tells Jesus how the demon tried numerous times to throw his son into fires and standing water. Understand, there were open fires everywhere for cooking and heating. There were rivers, lakes, and wells for drawing water.

I am sure there were times the father couldn’t react fast enough. This demon was doing what it could to mane, kill, torment . . . the family was a mess, the boy was bruised, scarred, and perhaps disfigured. The point is, the father had spent his whole life on edge monitoring his son. He was exhausted. Imagine the strain that he and the family was under.

V22, the Father pleads with Jesus, if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us. His plea was a crack for faith to slip through. John MacArthur points out for us that the word ‘help’ is interesting. It means to run to the aid of someone who needs or cries for help. So basically the father is saying, If you can, would you please run to my aid and help me? [vii ]There’s faith in this request; faith is why he sought Jesus out in the first place. His eyes are now fixed on Jesus solely. But there’s also unbelief; part of him doesn’t expect Jesus to be any more successful than others had been. [viii]

Notice Jesus response in v23, If You can ?!!! That’s not a question to the father. Remember the father’s words, if you can do anything . . . Jesus picks up the words if you can !?? They are words of surprise. It’s as if Jesus was saying, What do you mean by if ‘I’ can?!!! You must be kidding me?!!! Then He says to the father, All things are possible to him who believes. This is the father’s impossibility, and yet Jesus tells him that in the midst of the impossible, there is a possible. With his son withering on the ground, the father hears Jesus say, “It’s not a question of whether I can take charge of your impossibility, but will you believe Me. For everything is possible for him who believes”. [ix]

You talk about emotional moment; this is one of them. If the man doesn’t believe, his son is going to remain as he is. The demon is driving the father bananas with exasperation. V24, The father gives a desperate cry for help, I do believe; help my unbelief!!! It’s like, I believe you can, but so much water has gone over the bridge, I have a hugh amount of doubt. Help me, he says. There’s that word help again. In effect the father is saying to Jesus, smash thru my unbelief, dispel my doubts. What a powerful moment. What a powerful moment. A faith which declares itself publicly, and at the same time recognizes its weaknesses and pleads for help, is a mark of real faith. [x]

V25, Jesus saw the crowd growing. This demon was turning this moment into a circus. Jesus has had enough. He commands the demon, You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again. Now isn’t that interesting? It’s interesting because in Matthew 12:43-45 Jesus says demons can leave and then return. And when they return, they come with more demon friends. Not this time!!

V26, The evil spirit screamed, shook the child violently, and came out. The boy looked as if he were dead, and everyone said, “He’s dead!” (Mark 9:26 ^(GW) )

I tell you what, that would send chills down anybody’s spine. The demon makes one lasting legacy attempt, the death of the boy. From shrikes to silence. From convulsions to absolute stillness. From withering to exhaustion. V27, Undeterred, Jesus reaches for the boys hand and pulls him to his feet; the boy stood on his own. His Imago Dei was restored. Satan defeated. What a beautiful moment.

IV. TRUTHS THAT SHAPE OUR LIVES

Let’s pause here and do a little reflection.

I don’t know about you that are listening, but this is such a powerfully charged emotional story. We need to stop and rest our emotions, and let our adrenaline settle. After all, that is what Jesus did with the disciples. V28, Jesus takes His disciple team and slips away into a house to be alone . . . to let the events of the day settle. The drama is over, but the story is not. I am sure the disciples were emotionally exhausted, but they all had one burning question: V29, Why could we not drive ‘the demon’ out? Don’t miss the importance of the question. They had been casting out demons successfully. But here was a particularly stubborn demon. They failed.

As we delve into Jesus’ answer, He gives us two crucial faith principles that move mountain size obstacles. First one comes in v29, and second comes in Matthew 17:20

v29. Jesus said to them, This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer.

What an interesting answer. In light of what Jesus said here, and in Matthew 17:20, I think the disciples had gotten all caught up in their own success. Their successes became the bulwark of self-deception. They had become over-confident. In their over-confidence they took their eyes off of Jesus, their prayers slip into oblivion. They lost sight of their utter dependence on God. Listen carefully: Kent Hughes drives this point home when he writes, They forgot that there had to be radical dependence if God’s power was to flow through their lives. So Jesus instructs them that the faith which brings power is a faith that prays. The demon would have long been history if the disciples had given themselves to believing prayer! [xi]

Write this power principle down given to us by John MacArthur: The test of our spiritual walk hinges on our prayer life. We must be people of profound prayer if we believe in the Jesus of this chapter. And if we do, that will mean power. [xii]

2. Moving Mountain Obstacles

For the rest of the answer we needs to jump over to Matthew 17:20. Here we are given the second powerful principle of moving mountain obstacles. The reason they couldn’t command the demon was because of the littleness of their faith. That is, their dependence was centered on their performance, their abilities and not on God.

Mark this down, their reliance on Jesus slipped, and in so doing they could not employ the power that Jesus had given to them. [xiii] Here’s the problem the disciples and us face 24/7. The majority of us, if not all of us, don’t have a problem believing God when we have something in our hand, when we have some control over our surroundings, our affairs, our dreams. As John MacArthur summarizes for us, as soon as our circumstances become uncertain or threatening, our trust in Jesus’ care withers. The disciple’s faith was like the faith of most of us Jesus Followers. When we are healthy and have the necessities of life, our trust in God is great and strong, but when we are in need, our trust in God is small and gives way to doubt. [xi v] On the other hand,

Great faith trusts God when there is nothing in the cupboard to eat and no money to buy food.
Great faith trusts in God when health is gone, work is gone, reputation is gone, or family is gone.
Great faith trusts God while the windstorm is still howling and persecution continues. ^[xv]

To strengthen the disciples trust and our trust, to strengthen the disciples sense of dependence and our dependence, God often holds back to expose our weaknesses, to drive us to Him. Jesus then caps it with, for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. So Jesus instructs them that the faith which brings power is a faith that trusts God to do His work. His point to the disciples was, nothing will be impossible when we Jesus Followers get our prayers on and persistently trust Him. A shallow commitment cannot be called faith.

And that my friends is absolutely true

Let’s close in prayer … Heavenly Father, like the father in our story testified, we believe; help our unbelief. May we not be like the people in Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth, who were so consumed in unbelief that Jesus could do very few miracles. While the world seeks to consume our affections, dull our sensitivity, and blind our eyes, unleash Your Holy Spirit in us. Don’t let us waste our lives. Don’t let us be smothered or impressed by our meager abilities. Don’t let our unbelief rob us of seeing Your mighty hand. Amen.

Well, as you go this week, keep in mind Psalm 121. The Psalmist asked in v1, “From where does my help come? In V2 the Psalmist answers his own question, "My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth!” Looking back over 2020 and 2021 startup, it’s been like a storm on the high seas. A true downer. But in the hindsight we can see the fingerprints of God at work, faithfully, dependably, sovereignly, and good. Listen carefully, we are real people with real challenges putting our complete trust in the Maker of heaven and earth. Let’s make this our resounding answer until the whole world hears!”

Don’t forget, In the midst of the swirling difficulties, God’s is walking with you. Looking forward to meeting up with you again at next week’s posting. May God bless you this coming week.

[i] Psalm 119:67 (NASB95) 67Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word. Psalm 119:75 (NASB95) I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are righteous, And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.; Jeremiah 31:18–19 (NASB95) 18“I have surely heard Ephraim grieving, ‘You have chastised me, and I was chastised, Like an untrained calf; Bring me back that I may be restored, For You are the LORD my God. 19‘For after I turned back, I repented; And after I was instructed, I smote on my thigh; I was ashamed and also humiliated Because I bore the reproach of my youth.’; Hebrews 12:5–11 (NASB95) 5and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, “MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD, NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM; 6FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES.” 7It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? 10For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. 11All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

[ii] William Poole, Just When I Need Him Most, https://hymnary.org/text/just_when_i_need_him_jesus_is_near_just

[iii] Charles Stanley, Walk by Faith, Not by Sight, https://www.intouch.org/read/magazine/daily-devotions/walk-by-faith-not-by-sight

[iv] R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior , vol. 2, Preaching the Word (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1989), 22.

[v] Ibid., 23. One commentator observes, They had been successful earlier, but now after a week of his absence, they were powerless.

[vi] Matthew 6:30 ^(NASB95) “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!, Matthew 8:26 ^(NASB95) He said to them, “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm. Matthew 14:31 ^(NASB95) Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” Matthew 16:8 ^(NASB95) “You men of little faith, why do you discuss among yourselves that you have no bread?, Luke 12:28, “O you of little faith, O you of little faith.”

[vii] John MacArthur, All Things Possible (Mark 9:14-29), https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/41-45/all-things-possible

[viii] John Piper, All Who Believe Battle Unbelief (Mark 9:24), https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/all-who-believe-battle-unbelief

[ix] R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior , vol. 2, Preaching the Word (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1989), 25.

[x] Ibid. 26.

[xi] Ibid., 27.

[xii] Ibid., 27

[xiii] John F. MacArthur Jr., Matthew , vol. 3, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1985), 79.

[xiv] Ibid.

[xv] Ibid.

26 - What Happened to Elijah? (Mark 9:9-13)

kijabi4@yahoo.com (David Wolfe) — Sat, 12 Jun 2021 17:01:23 GMT

What Happened To Elijah?

(Mark 9:9-13)

I. INTRODUCTION

Hello there! You are listening to Dr. David Wolfe, one of the pastors at Bensenville Bible Church. If this is your first visit, we welcome you to our on-line remote church family. Thank you for joining us. Even though we cannot see each other, our worship of God is not hindered. Its time to get a cup of coffee or a cup of tea, a pencil and pad, and open your Bibles to Mark 9. Our studying today comes from vs9-13.

The focus of this section revolves around the disciples struggle to grasp the meaning of Jesus’ resurrection, the coming Kingdom of God, and eschatology.

Peter, James, and John were totally baffled as to how the present fit with the sequence of future events. As if the very idea of the Messiah being tormented, put to death, and then rising again were not sufficiently exasperating, their minds were also burdened by the promised Kingdom. ^[i] Their understand of prophecy was conflicting with who they had come to view Jesus to be, the timing of the Kingdom of God, and the coming tribulation.

Let’s take a moment and ask God to give us understanding. “Heavenly Father, thank you for this time you’ve given us to open your Word. Open our eyes and minds so that we get a solid grip on what it means to be a Jesus Follower. Thank you for the clarity, encouragement and hope Your Word brings. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

II. THE BACKSTORY

With Bibles open to Mark 9:9-13, pen and pad in hand, and a cup of coffee, let’s follow the events as laid out for us by Mark. Remember that the larger context really begins with the events on Mt Herman, where the disciples actually see the Lord in His kingly glory, and meet up with Moses and Elijah in real time.

Before jumping into verses 9-13, keep in mind that Jesus has been talking about life-and-death issues with His disciples—His coming rejected, crucifixion, and resurrection. He then takes them to the top of Mt Herman. What happened next sent them into a mind whirling tailspin of sensory overload as they are astonished by Jesus’ visual transformation. I believe Jesus’ transformation takes place after the sun has set, darkness reigned. In that setting they saw the manifestation of the coming Kingdom of God. The transformation was stunning, the glory of Jesus was brilliantly bright.

Matthew tells us that His face shone like the sun (Matt 17:2) and Mark tells us that His garments became radiant and exceedingly white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them (Mark 9:3). And then Moses and Elijah appeared, talking with Jesus. They were also in a glorified state. Among other things, Jesus was showing Peter, James, and John that there was real life after death. Moses and Elijah were long gone, and yet here they were in real time. Jesus wanted them to see that life doesn’t end at the grave. Real conscious existence continues.

As to existence following death . . . we either experience in real time the glorious presence of God as Moses and Elijah were doing (So 2 Cor. 5:8 ^(NASB95) t o be absent from the body ‘is’ to be at home with the Lord. [ii] , or to a place of conscious torment (Lk 16:19-31), which is later followed by what the Bible calls the Great White Throne Judgment , which in turn is followed by an eternal existence in the lake of fire and brimstone that we know as Hell (Rev. 20:11-15). [iii] The point is, there is more to life than what we have at the moment. There is another chapter that hangs on our understanding of sin and the cross of Jesus. Romans 6:23 the wages of sin is death, that is the consequences of sin is death.

At the cross Jesus took the judgement that sins penalty required, that is death, so that Followers of Jesus might become the righteousness of God (2 Cor 5:21). When we acknowledge our sins, that is our open rebellion against God’s standards, Jesus’ death becomes our substitutionary death. It becomes ours when we confess our sins. In that moment God is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 Jn 1:9). We are then transferred from the Kingdom of Darkness, that would be Satan’s domain, into the Kingdom of God (Col. 1:14). So when the Follower of Jesus dies, they do not go into a place of conscious torment, but into the very presence of God Himself.

Now back to Moses and Elijah on Mt Herman. They were very much alive. The message was clear to the three disciples. At death existence does not cease. Real time life continues. So, the all-time life-question that needs to be answered by each of us is: what is my destination in the next life-chapter? Have I repented and confessed my sins, and am now following Jesus? How one answers that question determines what happens at death.

III. WHAT HAPPENED TO ELIJAH?

With all that said, lets jump into the verses before us. Vs9-10, ⁹ As they were coming down from the mountain, He gave them orders not to relate to anyone what they had seen, until the Son of Man rose from the dead. ¹⁰ They seized upon that statement, discussing with one another what rising from the dead meant.

A. Two Important Highlights

There are three important features highlighted here.

1. First, Jesus’ Instructions to not share their mountain experience

V9, Jesus gives Peter, James, and John strict instructions not to tell anyone what they had seen, until the Son of Man (that would be Jesus) rose from the dead. This must have been tough going for the three disciples. Think about what they had seen and heard. Now they are told to keep their mouths shut?!! But apparently they did. Luke 9:36 ^(NASB95) tells us that they kept silent, and reported to no one in those days any of the things which they had seen.

The point Jesus is hammering home is this, they can’t talk about what they don’t understand. Bruce Barton in his commentary points out for us that in their walking with Jesus, they hadn’t grasped that only through His dying could He show His power over death and His authority to be King of all. And thus they could not be powerful witnesses of the gospel of the kingdom until they had grasped this truth. [i v]. Mark this down: without the cross, without the resurrection, there is no good news, there is no Kingdom, there is no salvation. Like the disciples, this is a crucial truth for us as Jesus Followers to grasp.

2. Second, Notice there was a time limit set for silence

This is the only time Jesus puts a temporary time limit on sharing what they had seen. Following the resurrection, they would be expected to declare all that they had seen and heard. Until then, they had to sit on what happened that day on Mt Herman.

3. Third, We See The Disciples Wrestling With The Meaning Of Jesus’ Words About His Resurrection

V10, The disciples seized upon Jesus’ statement—v9,His resurrection, and began discussing with one another what rising from the dead meant. They didn’t have a problem with resurrection itself. Previously to this they had seen Jesus raise people from the dead on at least four occasions, [v] and according to Matthew 10:8 ^(NASB95) they themselves had raised the dead. What concerned them was Jesus telling them about His being resurrected. This was a stumper. They were trying desperately to understand how Jesus death and resurrection fit into His being the Messiah and their idea of the establishment of the Kingdom of God. This held true right up to Jesus death. John 20:9 ^(NASB95) as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. The idea of the Messiah dying was beyond their comprehension.

B. The Disciples Ask: What About Elijah?

That brings us to vs11-13. Here they are struggling eschatologically with the flow of future events. So they ask the question, V11, Why is it that the scribes say that Elijah must come first?

The question grows most likely out of Malachi’s prophecy. Malachi not only talks about a forerunner heralding the establishment of the coming Kingdom of God, he even names the forerunner. Malachi 4:5–6 ^(NASB95) 5“Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD . [vi ] They now move beyond the idea of the resurrection to another huge theological problem. They had learned their studies well. And they were pretty sure that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. They also believed He would be ushering in the Kingdom of God sooner than later. But the problem was, the prophets of old spoke of the coming of Elijah to the establishment of the Kingdom.

The point is, as John MacArthur points out for us, The disciples were now asking how could Jesus possibly be the Messiah if Elijah had not yet come? [vii]

What they had been taught about Elijah was interfering in their minds with what Jesus was teaching. They couldn’t figure out how Elijah fit into Jesus’ teaching of Kingdom issues and His death and resurrection. They were very disturbed by it all. For them, Jesus was talking a whole different scenario than the scribes had taught about a military conquest.

C. Jesus answer is very instructive.

V12, Jesus makes an astounding declaration. They are correct, "Elijah does come first to restore all things; just as Malachi 4:5-6 said he will do. In other words, the prophecies were true. Malachi is absolutely accurate. The prophecies of a coming great and terrible day known as the Day of the Lord are absolutely true. Elijah indeed will come. It will be a time of great judgment, salvation, and the establishment of the Kingdom of God. So the scribes were correct in their interpretation of Elijah’s coming. But they misunderstood the timing. To help them, Jesus flips their question and asks. . . how is it written of the Son of man [referring to himself, not Elijah; referring to prophecies in places like Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53], that He, that is Jesus the Messiah, should suffer many things and be treated with contempt?"

Bruce Barton, in his commentary, helps us here when he writes: The fact that Elijah would come and restore all things did not change the plan of salvation that required the suffering and rejection of the Son of Man. But before the coming of Elijah, there was the coming of the Messiah who would suffer much and be rejected just as written in Scripture (for example, Psalm 22:14, 16–17; Isaiah 53:1–12). [vii i]. The point Jesus is making is, in their eschatological understanding, they were missing a piece of the puzzle. He moves their focus off of Elijah to Himself and the upcoming event of His death. His point is, before Elijah can come, before the glories of the Kingdom, the cross, the death of the Messiah, must come first.

V13 Jesus throws them a curve. “But I say to you that Elijah has indeed come, and they did to him whatever they wished, just as it is written of him.” In Matthew’s parallel account, Matthew tells us that Jesus tied John the Baptist in a secondary way to Elijah. John the Baptist’s birth announcement in Luke 1:17, tells us that he would come in the spirit and power of Elijah so as to prepare the way for the Lord. Ray Stedman points out for us that Jesus was indicating that in some way that John the Baptist was a fulfillment of that prediction about Elijah, but he was not Elijah; but he did come in the spirit and power of Elijah. He was not the reincarnation of Elijah, but was engaged in the same type of ministry Elijah had. ^[ix] And we are told Matthew 17:13 that the disciples understood Jesus explanation. John the Baptist’s ministry was a preview of what is yet to come. Further, Jesus drills down that this all had been predicted--suffering, rejection, and death were woven into God’s plan. That is, this is the way it’s going to be.

Just as Elijah was rejected and persecuted by King Ahab and Queen Jezebel (1 Kings 19), so John the Baptist would rejected and persecuted by Herod and Herodias, ultimately leading to his death (6:14–29). The point made is: John and Elijah’s fate are in keeping with the overall picture of suffering and death in which Jesus shares. ^[x] After suffering and death comes His resurrection, followed at some point in the future with Elijah coming to herald the establishment of His kingdom

IV. TRUTHS THAT SHAPE OUR LIVES

Let’s pause here and reflect over what we have just looked at. What lessons might we embed into our thinking and lives? I have four of take-a-ways for us to reflect on:

A. First, the centrality of Christ

Remember the events we have just looked at follow immediately a sensory overload—Jesus standing in all His glory, the appearance of Moses and Elijah, followed by the very voice of God. The implications of all this is weighty. When the bright cloud, symbolical of the presence of God himself, caught away Moses, the great lawgiver, and Elijah the great prophet, leaving only Jesus , . . . then God spoke. "This is my beloved Son; hear ye him!" It was God's way of saying, "There is only one authority now, and that is Christ!" Hebrews 1:2 ^(NASB95) in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.

Mark this down, Jesus is the final word from God about life and godliness. He is preeminent. He is the final and last revelation of God to us in whom all God’s promises are fulfilled. [xi]

B. Second, Clarity Of Gospel Is Absolutely Essential

Coming down from the mountain, Jesus tells them to tell no one until after the resurrection. Why? Because they did not have a full understanding of the gospel of the Kingdom. The Gospel of the Kingdom was not about a powerful militaristic kingdom that they thought Jesus was about to give them. When asked to define His kingdom, Jesus explained it this way: “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed. . . . The kingdom of God is in the midst of you ” ( Luke 17:20–21 ). Romans 14:17 says that the kingdom of God is a matter “ of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

The Gospel of the Kingdom is the good-news about a citizenship that is not of this world. And it is about being reconciled to God. Those who accept the message of the Gospel of the Kingdom by repentance and confession of sin become part of God’s eternal kingdom (Jn 1:12), and those who refuse have no part in the Kingdom of God at all (1 Cor 6:9-10; Gal 5:19-21).

C. Third, The Fundamentals Of The Gospel of the Kingdom Are Central To Our Faith

Paul lays out for us the fundamentals of the Gospel of the Kingdom in 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. We can summarize the essence of the gospel around five questions:

Who is Jesus? He is the promised Messiah who will save His people from their sins.
What has Jesus done? He died on the cross and rose from the dead. This is the basis of our salvation — what Christ did to save us.
Why has Jesus done this? His death on the cross is the basis of forgiveness of our sins. Psalm 32:1 ^(NASB95) How blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered!
How can we know that it is true? Because it fulfills the Old Testament Scriptures, and many eyewitnesses have testified to Jesus’ resurrection

D. Fourth, We Can Experience the Gospel of the Kingdom.

The gospel of the kingdom is the “good news” that God will establish a literal, visible and physical kingdom on earth. Jesus Christ is the King ( Luke 1:30-3 3. Thou literally in the future, we can begin experiencing the presence and power of Jesus today. The gospel of the Kingdom is about aligning our lives with Jesus as Savior and Lord, and in so doing experiencing a transformed life. For us to experience the Gospel of the Kingdom and have a transformed life, there are four essential truths:

First, we must know that God has a great love for each of us—1 John 4:9 ^(NASB95) By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.
Second, we must recognized that there is a great divide between us and God because of what the Bible calls sin. Sin is rebellion against God’s standard. He calls for perfection. Missing God’s standard results in physical and spiritual death. Ezekiel 18:20 ^(NASB95) “The person who sins will die. Romans 6:23 ^(NASB95) For the wages of sin is death
Third, we must know that God has provided a way. Romans 5:8 ^(NASB95) God ‘has’ demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. As the Savior and Lord, Jesus died in our place, paying the penalty for our sins. But He did not just die. He rose from the dead and is alive today, reigning as the Lord of all. John 14:6 ^(NASB95) Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
Fourth, despite death for all, God offers a free gift of eternal life based on Jesus’ death on the cross. Romans 3:25 ^(NASB95) God displayed Jesus on the cross publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; Jesus’ death meets the legal obligations brought about by our breaking God’s commands. His death, as a substitutionary death, is given to us as a gift of eternal life. Ephesians 2:8–9 ^{(NASB95) 8} For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; ⁹ not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. To experience the gospel of the Kingdom, we must accept God’s gift. John 20:31 ^(NASB95) these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

And that my friends is absolutely true

Let’s close in prayer …Heavenly Father, capture our minds, our hearts, our ears, our eyes, our hands, our feet. This playground we find ourselves in seeks to blind us to God’s great gift. The world around us is grabbing at us, consuming our affection, dulling our sensitivity, and blinding our eyes. Save us from wasting our lives, we ask. May we begin each day with the Psalmist prayer, satisfy me in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glade all our days (Psalm 90:14). Don’t let us drift. Amen.

Well, as you go this week, I must ask, Have you been forgiven of your sins? If you sense God speaking to you, you can have them forgiven right where you are by faith through prayer. In your own words, honestly admit to God that you have sinned and fallen short. Ask Jesus to take control of your life, forgive your sins and begin changing you into the person He wants you to be. As an expression of your faith, thank God that Jesus died in your place, paying the penalty for your sin, and now lives to be your Savior and Lord. Thank Him for answering your prayer.

And to all the Jesus’ Followers, May the risen Lord Jesus Himself arouse your sincere mind to new depths of worship and allegiance and joy.

If you find this message helpful and would like to contribute to this ministry, go to our website: Bensenvillebiblechurch.com, click on the Donation Drop down and pick your donation preference.

Remember we offer Live-worship on Sundays, both on Facebook and YouTube. Join us from the comfort and security of your home. Don’t forget, In the midst of the swirling difficulties, God’s is walking with you. Looking forward to meeting up with you again at next week’s posting. May God bless you this coming week.

[i] William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of the Gospel According to Mark , vol. 10, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 342.

[ii] Luke 23:43 (NASB95) And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.” Philippians 1:23 (NASB95) But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better;

^[iii] Most of the time when eternal punishment or heaven are discussed in the scriptures the final judgment is in view, but these passages do not seem to indicate that. Even now, when people die they either go to be with the Lord or they go to a place of conscious torment.

[iv] Cf., Bruce B. Barton, Mark , Life Application Bible Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1994), 251.

[v] Matthew 11:5 (NASB95) 5the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM.; cf. Matthew 9:24–25 (NASB95)24He said, “Leave; for the girl has not died, but is asleep.” And they began laughing at Him. 25But when the crowd had been sent out, He entered and took her by the hand, and the girl got up.; Luke 7:14–15 (NASB95) 14And He came up and touched the coffin; and the bearers came to a halt. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise!” 15The dead man sat up and began to speak. And Jesus gave him back to his mother.; John 11:43–44 (NASB95) 43When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.” 44The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” ^[v]

[vi] 6“He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse.”

[vii] John MacArthur,

[viii] Bruce B. Barton, Mark , Life Application Bible Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1994), 252–253.

[ix] Ray Stedman, The Glory That Follows, (Mark 9) https://www.raystedman.org/new-testament/mark/the-glory-that-follows

[x] Craig A. Evans, Mark 8:27–16:20 , vol. 34B, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 2001), 44.

[xi] John F. MacArthur Jr., Hebrews , MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1983), 10.

25 - Jesus Reveals His Glory (Mark 9:1-8)

kijabi4@yahoo.com (David Wolfe) — Sat, 12 Jun 2021 16:36:16 GMT

This is a subtitle for your new post

Jesus Reveals His Glory

(Mark 9:1-8)

I. INTRODUCTION

Hello there! I’m Dr. David Wolfe, one of the pastors at Bensenville Bible Church. If this is your first visit, we welcome you to our on-line remote church family. Based on statistics, our remote family, though centralized in Illinois, spreads across our nation, coast to coast, and around the world to such places as Honduras, Jan Jose, Australia, the Netherlands and Nigeria. Our building is way too small for our growing remote church family. Thank you for joining us. Even though we cannot see each other, our worship of God is not hindered.

Let’s take a moment and ask God to open our hearts to the truths of what it means to be a Jesus Follower. “Heavenly Father, thank you for this time you’ve given us to open your Word. Open our eyes and mind so that we get a solid grip on what it means to be a Jesus Follower. Thank you for the clarity, encouragement and hope Your Word brings. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

II. THE BACKSTORY: GOSPEL CALLING

Our studying today comes from Mark’s Gospel, chap 9, vs1-8. Why not get a cup of coffee, a pencil and pad, and open your Bibles to Mark 9.

What unfolds is also recorded in Matthew 17:1-8 and Luke 9:28-36. In the verses we’re looking at, Jesus gives three of His disciples a preview of His glory which come in vs2-8. But we’ll start with v1 which helps set the context to the preview. In v1 Jesus tells His disciples, “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”

V1 is actually a continuation of Jesus’ words in chap 8, v38, where Jesus talks about the Son of Man coming in the glory of the Father. In hind-sight, the chap break is really out of place. In v1 Jesus makes a stunning statement. That is there were some people in the crowd who would not taste death until they had seen the Kingdom of God. The idea of the Kingdom of God is first mentioned by Jesus in chap 1:15 where He said, the time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel . Here Jesus ties the Gospel, meaning ‘good news’, to the idea of the Kingdom of God.

So what did Jesus mean when He said that it was ‘good news’ that the Kingdom of God was at hand? Going back to chap 1, v1 Mark tells us that he is writing about the beginning of the ‘good news’ of Jesus Christ. Then v15 Jesus tells His disciples that The Kingdom of God was at hand . . . so now we see a relationship between the ‘good news’, Jesus, and the Kingdom of God.

So what is the good news about Jesus and the Kingdom of God? The good news Jesus is speaking about is that the King of the Kingdom of God was in fact standing in their midst. With Kingdom of God upper most in everybody’s mind. Jesus makes this stunning statement: there are some standing who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God. The point Jesus is making is, there were some in the crowd who were going to get an eye-full. They were about to see the King of the Kingdom of God in all His glory. That is the context of the verses that follow.

III. THE KING REVEALS HIMSELF IN ALL HIS GLORY

A few days after Jesus’ stunning statement, Luke tells us that Jesus takes Peter, James, and John, and climbs a high mountain. [i] The mountain in question is considered to be Mt Hermon. Mt. Hermon’s elevation is roughly 9,232 ft above sea level. So we’re talking a considerable hike, pretty much taking the better part of the day.

Let’s explore together the wonder and majesty that Mark unfolds for us that occurs on the mountain.

A. First, Jesus’ Transformation

Matthew’s account pretty much follows Mark’s account. But Luke gives us some details that are noteworthy. He tells us that one of Jesus’ purposes for climbing the mountain was to spend time in prayer with His disciples (Luke 9:28). The point is, other than these four men, no one else was present.

Now my imagination tells me this was not 30 minute or 60-minute prayer time. I think we’re talking a couple of hours, long after sun set. However long it took, it was more than Peter, James, and John could handle. Luke tells us that it wasn’t long before they drifted off to asleep (Luke 9:32). The long climb, the thin atmosphere, and the quiet made sleep irresistible for them! While they slept Jesus’ appearance radically changed. Matthew 17:2 ^(NASB95) His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light.

Hebrews 1 says, “He is the brightness of the Father’s glory.” That is, He is God manifest. 2 ^nd Corinthians 4:6 talks about the glory of God shining in the face of Jesus, the Messiah. The point is, Jesus is the Lord of glory. It must have been a stunning spectacular moment. In a moment of time the veil of Jesus’ humanity was lifted. His true essence was allowed to shine through. The glory which was always in the depths of His being rose to the surface for that one time in his earthly life. ^[ii] And so John tells us in John 1:14 ^(NASB95) And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. Peter would later write in 2 Peter 1:16 ^(NASB95) ¹⁶ For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.

Let’s pause here for a moment.

Think back with me to chap 8. Peter has just brilliantly answered Jesus’ question as to who the disciples understood Him to be—You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God!!! Following that confession, Jesus immediately began to unfold the pillars of the good news—rejection, death, resurrection. Then He tells them in chap 8:34-38, that while He was physically going the way of cross, He expected them to take up the way of the cross spiritually (Mark 8:34-38). One commentator writes: It was easy for them to lose confidence in Jesus after such negative statements about suffering and death. But now, in the moments that follow, Jesus displays His glory as the King of the Kingdom of God. In that display the disciples were brought to greater clarity as to the majesty of Jesus. If He was to suffer, be rejected and killed, He was still in control. In doing so, Jesus dramatically showed them that there was glory waiting for cross bearers. The goal wasn’t the cross. The cross was the path to the goal. The goal was the glory of God. [iii ] And so it is for us. The goal of self-denial, cross-bearing, and following Jesus is the path to the goal set before us. That is the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

The disciples saw His glory. And it transformed them. And so we are told in 2 Corinthians 3:18 ^(NASB95) when we behold the glory of the Lord, ‘we’ are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

B. Second, Elijah & Moses

While the disciples are sitting spellbound, Elijah and Moses appeared, talking with Jesus (v4).

How did they know this was Elijah and Moses? After all, they are far removed from them. No pictures, no fancy movies to help them identify them. My guess is, Jesus introduced them. Anyway, why Elijah and Moses and not one of the other great prophets like Daniel, Isaiah, or Jeremiah? I think they appeared because of the uniqueness of their ministries to the plan of God.

Both Moses and Elijah had conversed with God on mountain tops—Moses at Mt Sinai (Exodus 31:18), and Elijah at Mt Horeb (1 Kings 19:9ff). Both had seen God’s glory.
Also, Moses stood as the great architect of the Law, while Elijah was considered its greatest guardian.

Mark tells us that they were deep in conversation, but not the topic of conversation. Luke tells us that the conversation centered on Jesus’ departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem (Luke 9:31). That is, the center of conversation was Jesus’ death, ie., the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 5:17-20). In Luke 24, following the resurrection, there were two disciples on the road to Emmaus bewildered by Jesus’ crucifixion. Jesus joins them. In the course of the conversation that followed, we are told in Luke 24:26–27 ^(NASB95) that Jesus told them that there was no mistake. Suffering and the cross had been the plan all along. ² ⁷ Beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures, because they repeatedly prophesy and testify about His birth, death, burial, and resurrection (cf. Deut. 18:15–22; Ps. 22; Isa. 53).

So here on Mt Hermon, Jesus was in deep conversation with Moses and Elijah, talking about His impending death. John MacArthur points out for us that’s what this transfiguration moment was intended to communicate to the disciples, that He has to die. It was the fulfillment of ages past, and it doesn’t negate the glory. [iv] The point is, Jesus was driving home for the disciples that this was not some mishap, or screw-up. It was the plan. And it had its roots in the Law of Moses. Kent Hughes gives us clarity when he writes: Jesus was the fulfillment of everything toward which the Law pointed. He fulfilled what the sacrificial system was teaching. He fulfilled every Messianic prophecy—everything toward which their religion and history had been moving. [v]

C. Third, The Disciples Are caught In a whirlwind of bewilderment

Nothing is said about the length of time, but at some point Luke tells us that Moses and Elijah were leaving. Peter, James, and John were in a state of exhilarating wonder . . . flabbergasted by it all. It was sensory overload. Peter finally finds his voice and blurts out to Jesus, V5, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” V6 tells us that the outburst was totally out of place. For whatever reason he felt he had to say something, so he just throws it out there simply because he did not know what to say; because they became terrified. But the astonishment doesn’t end. V7, Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, ‘This is My beloved Son, listen to Him’

In the Old Testament, when God manifested Himself, He came in what we know as the Shekinah Glory Cloud, guiding Israel across the desert by day and the pillar of fire by night (Exodus 13:21).

This Mt Herman cloud was the cloud which covered the nearly finished Tent of the Meeting and so filled it with God’s glory that Moses could not enter it (Exodus 40:35), and filled Solomon’s Temple on dedication day so that the priests could not enter the Temple (1 Kings 8:10, 11; 2 Chronicles 7:1).
It was the same glory which Ezekiel saw rise from between the cherubim and move to the threshold of the Temple because of Israel’s apostasy (Ezekiel 8:4; 9:3), and then slowly, moved over the east gate of the Temple where it hovered (Ezekiel 10:4, 18, 19), finally rising to be seen no more from the Mount of Olives (11:22–25). [vi]

Mark this down, nearly 600 years had passed since the Shekinah Glory cloud had last been seen. Mt. Hermon, in a moment of time, became encased by that cloud. There in the midst of the glory of God stood Peter, James, John, Moses, and Elijah with Jesus. It was a terrifying moment. They are all engulfed by what we might summarize as the very presence of God Himself. My guess is, it was a time of great silence. Then God the Father spoke, V7, a voice came out of the cloud, This is My beloved Son, listen to Him. Years later Peter would write: ¹⁷ For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased”— ¹⁸ and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. ¹⁹ So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. (2 Peter 1:16–19 ^(NASB95) )

Though the Father seems to have spoken to the three disciples, I think the words were mainly for Peter. In a very nice way, the God and Father of the Lord Jesus said to Peter, “Shut your mouth. Pay close attention to My Beloved Son.” Hebrews 1:2 ^(NASB95) we read that in these last days God the Father has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.

In that moment God said to the three disciples:

Listen to Him. Why? Because Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me and for the gospel will save it. (Mark 8:35)
Listen to Him. Why? Because He has the words of eternal life (John 6:68)
Listen to Him. Why? Because if you are thirsty, come to him and drink. Whoever believes in Him, as the Scriptures have said, streams of living water will flow from within him (John 7:37)
Listen to Him. Why? Because if you are weary and heavy laden, come to Him and He will give you rest . . . for His yoke is easy and His burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30).
Listen to Him. Why? Because the way of the cross is life.

Matthew tells us in 17:6–8 ^(NASB95) ⁶ When the disciples heard this, they fell face down to the ground and were terrified. The point for us, It is terrifying to stand in the presence of the living God. Down through the ages, men and women were terrified when they found themselves standing in His presence.

But then there is Jesus. ⁷ Jesus came to them and touched them and said, “Get up, and do not be afraid.” ⁸ And lifting up their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus Himself alone.

The preview of the Kingdom of God was suddenly gone. The only one left is Jesus, alone, on His way to the cross . . . and the disciples following.

John 2:22 ^(NASB95) So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken.

IV. TRUTHS THAT SHAPE OUR LIVES

Let’s pause here and reflect on the wonder and majesty described for us and how it should impact our lives. I have two take-a-ways for us to reflect on from these verses.

A. First, there is Glory in Submission

As I reflect over these events, the first thought that comes to mind is, as rich and powerful as the transfiguration was to the disciples, it was designed to not just captivate our imagination, but to teach us an important truth. Remember, it follows on the heels of Jesus’ teaching about denying self, taking up our cross, and follow Him. I think the lesson here for us is the relationship between submission and glory. Jesus’ transfiguration was God’s way of teaching Peter and the other disciples that He was and is glorified when we deny-self, take up our cross and follow Him. The Jesus’ Follower life philosophy is “Yield yourself to God!” in contrast to that of the world which is “Save yourself!” As Jesus stood on the mountain in glory, He proved to the three disciples that surrender always leads to glory.

We are told in Philippians 2:6-10 that Jesus, who was in very nature God, humbled Himself and submitted in complete obedience to the Father, even to the point of death on the cross. As a result, God the Father exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name. Jesus set the perfect example of ultimate obedience for us to follow.

It hurts to go against what you are naturally drawn to – to deny the thoughts that we naturally tend to think. Just like a physical cross causes suffering for the body, this metaphorical cross that we are called to take up also causes suffering – for our flesh, that part of us that is drawn to sin, and which is denied its demands. Denying-self, taking up your cross daily, and following Jesus is the path to transformation. As we are cleansed from the sin in our nature, the fruits of the Spirit come in its place. Rather than being quick to judge and critical, or grumpy and downcast, we can radiate love and kindness and gentleness. ( Galatians 5:22-2 3) We join Paul when he told the Philippians, “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.” ( Philippians 3 :10) Transformation is a tough road to walk, but it becomes possible when we lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has laid hold of me.

B. The Ear

My second take-a-way comes from the words of the Father to the disciples, This is My beloved Son, listen to Him (v7). My take away swirls around the sounds I listen to. The entertainment world is a death trap. That leads me to ask, how is your media diet? How is my media diet? Is it enriching my time with Christ, or eroding my time with Christ?

I am struck by the question raised by Tony Reinke in his article entitled Who Has My Attention ? He writes: As we listen to the sounds, and process the sights, we don’t merely ingest them; we are constantly responding to them. Sounds and visual images awaken the motives inside of our hearts. They tug the strings of our actions. They want our celebration, our awe, our affection, our time, and our outrage. They invoke our consensus, our approval, our buy-in, our resharing power, and of course our wallets. [vi i] So the writer of Hebrews challenges us when he says 2:1 ^(NASB95) Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.

We can drift because of what we are hearing with our ears. Drifting is a seafarer term. It speaks of the importance of holding course, to be intentional, to be on purpose, to avoid being pulled off course, drifting, being tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming (Ephesians 4:14).

July 18, 2018, The MV Priscilla cargo vessel drifted off course and ran aground on rocks while the watchman viewed music videos on his mobile phone. After the ship was rescued, it was put in dry dock in South Wales, where a full inspection revealed extensive structural damage throughout the forward section of the hull. [viii] Drifting bring about rock bashing because the watchman was not paying attention. To what are your ears and my ears attuned?

We must, this is not a suggestion . . . it’s a demand . . . we must pay much closer attention to the Word of Christ. Mind drifting happens through attentional negligence, when we are no longer focused on the Word of Christ. This is a core challenge in a world mad about sound, spectacular, image. To quote Tony Reinke: When our ears, our attention, neglect Christ, we drift away from him. That’s the point of Hebrews 2:1–3 . To drift is the easiest thing in the world. And this drift is felt most clearly when we find ourselves constantly seeking after a new thrill in our media, meanwhile losing interest in the person of Christ, watching our interest in the Bible decline as we coldly mouth the words to Christ-centered hymns, and yawn through Christ-centered sermons, and spiritually snooze through the Lord’s Table. [ix]

Our Heavenly Father said to Peter, James, and John, This is my beloved Son, Listen to Him! John Webster, in Confronted by Grace , writes: Listening here means a lot more than casually tuning in for a moment or two before we switch off again. It means real listening, intense listening, listening which hurts. It means attentive straining after what is said, giving ourselves wholly to the task of attention to Jesus. Why? Because he is God’s Word, he is what God says to us. [x]

And that my friends is absolutely true

Let’s close in prayer …Heavenly Father, capture our minds, our hearts, our ears, our eyes, our hands, our feet. This playground we find ourselves in is grabbing at us, consuming our affection, dulling our sensitivity. Save us from wasting our lives. May we begin each day with the Psalmist prayer, satisfy me in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glade all our days (Psalm 90:14). Don’t let us drift. Amen.

Well, as you go this week, as a Jesus’ Follower, remember. . . Radio, TV, NexFlex, Theaters etc., are all vying for our attention and affections. God also wants our attention and affections. As Jesus’ Followers the competition is fierce. We dare not let the greatness of Jesus get lost in the sounds, the spectacular, the latest buzz. As Paul wrote to the Jesus Followers at Colossi, If you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:1-4)

Don’t forget, In the midst of the swirling difficulties, God’s is walking with you. Looking forward to meeting up with you again at next week’s posting. May God bless you this coming week.

[i] https://www.preceptaustin.org/mark-9-commentary#9:1 . Six days later - This is one of the few times Mark gives a specific time -- he want to make sure the see the word "later" and link it with the prediction is verse 1 lest we begin to suggest all manner of interpretations which is what the commentaries in fact do! The ignore the golden rule of interpretation that CONTEXT IS KING ! And without having to conjecture, it is obvious that this time refers to 6 days after the promise in Mk 9:1 . Luke 9:28 + says "some (or about) eight days after" which is not a contradiction because this includes the day Jesus made the prediction and the day of the fulfillment in the transfiguration. Six days is simply the days between the prediction and the consummation.

[ii] R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior , vol. 2, Preaching the Word (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1989), 15.

[iii] David Guzik, https://www.preceptaustin.org/mark-9-commentary#9:1

[iv] John MacArthur, The Unveiled Son, Mark 9:2-8) https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/41-43/the-unveiled-son

[v] R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior , vol. 2, Preaching the Word (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1989), 16.

[vi] R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior , vol. 2, Preaching the Word (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1989), 16–17.

[vii] Tony Reinke, Who Will Have Your Attention? https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/who-will-have-your-attention

[viii] Grounded ship drifted off course while officer viewed music videos, report finds, https://www.itv.com/news/2019-10-03/grounded-ship-drifted-off-course-while-officer-viewed-music-videos-report-finds

[ix] Tony Reinke, Who Will Have Your Attention? https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/who-will-have-your-attention

[x] John Webster, Confronted by Grace: Meditations of a Theologian , 96.

24 - The Application of the Gospel of Jesus

kijabi4@yahoo.com (David Wolfe) — Sat, 12 Jun 2021 16:19:12 GMT

This is a subtitle for your new post

The Application

Of The Gospel Of Jesus

(Mark 8:34-38)

I. INTRODUCTION

One of the Illinois headlines that we are keeping an eye on is the COVID positivity numbers. They have been dropping rapidly. Which is good news. Hopefully the positivity rate will continue to drop despite the Superbowl gatherings.

Thank you for joining us in our study of Mark’s Gospel. Today our studying takes us to chap 8:34-38. In these verses the Gospel of Jesus Christ is applied in a most direct way. Here the disciples are brought to a ‘no-turning-back-moment.’ And by implication, if we are to be Jesus Followers, we are also brought to a no-turning-back-moment if we’re serious as to our allegiances to Jesus.

Let’s take a moment and ask God to open our hearts to the truths of what it means to be a Jesus Follower as given to us in these verses. “Heavenly Father, thank you for this time you’ve given us to open your Word. Open our eyes and mind so that we get a solid grip on what it means to be a Jesus Follower. Thank you for the clarity, encouragement and hope Your Word brings. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

II. THE BACKSTORY: GOSPEL CALLING

Let’s open our Bibles to chap 8, vs34-38 of Mark’s Gospel. I have chosen to call our study, The Application Of The Gospel of Jesus Christ. In Mark 1:1 we are told that Mark’s Gospel focuses on The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Those words set the tone of everything that follows. The stories that are captured are not meant to be bed-time stories, but to flesh out in a meaningful way our understanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Every chapter, every verse, every event, every interaction in Mark’s Gospel is meant to give us clarity as to Jesus’ Gospel.

As Leslie White reminds us, all the miraculous acts of Jesus were designed to reflect that God was alive and active. That the compassion of Jesus was and is real. That God’s love was and is real. And they signaled that God in Jesus was bent on restoring the people of that day, as well as giving us hope of restoration in our 21st century. Jesus’ ability to heal and perform wondrous things was stunning, but were not performed for shock factor, but to transform our minds, and to give us understanding of the available power of God to change our lives. [i]

Beginning with v27, the story line of Mark’s Gospel takes a radical shift. Jesus now moves to the core issues of His Gospel—His forthcoming death and resurrection. He then cuts-to-the-chase, telling His disciples what He expects of those who should decide to follow Him: V35, “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s (or literally, on account of me and the gospel) will save it. [ii]

Let’s pause and let those words grip our psychic. They take us back to chap 1:1. If you remember, the word ‘gospel’ carries the idea of ‘good news’. The good news is that the kingdom of God is at hand, (Mark 1:15). Now, in light of the ‘good news’ of the Kingdom of God, v35: Jesus lays it out for us--if we want the Kingdom of God we must be willing to loose … our … life. Craig Evans, in the Word Biblical Commentary, writes: To lose one’s life underscores the point that salvation is bound to the ‘good news’. There is no salvation apart from it, and one’s response to it cannot consist of half measures. To quote Jesus in John 12:25: “He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life”. One either embraces Jesus and the gospel and live accordingly, or suffer horrible consequences. [iii]

Here’s the truth imbedded in those words: . . . the experience of having Jesus and the gospel is so beautiful, so wonderful, so rich, so valuable, and so powerful that we are willing to lose everything that the world has to offer, including our lives, so that we can have Jesus forever. To quote Jesus, The Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. (Matthew 13:45). Until we are ready to sell all- that-we-have ‘to have Jesus, this calling is unworkable. That’s why Paul wrote in Philippians 3:8 ^{(The Message)} Yea, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant—dog dung. I’ve dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ. To quote John Piper: The point of v35 is that Jesus and the gospel are a greater treasure than all the world, and such a person who experiences Jesus that way is His disciple. [iv]

III. WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A DISCIPLE

Let’s back up and take a closer look at the way Jesus applied how His coming death and resurrection and life was meant to shape those who choose to follow Him. In vs 34-38 Jesus outlines for us the criteria for becoming a Jesus Follower. Follow along as I read the verses for us

³⁴ And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. ³⁵ “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. ³⁶ “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? ³⁷ “For what will a man give in exchange for his soul? ³⁸ “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

In v34 there are three parts to the choosing to being a true Jesus Follower.

A. Deny

First there is the choice of denial. V34, If anyone wishes to come after me, ‘such a person’ must first deny himself/herself . . . So the first step of being a true genuine Jesus’ Follower is summed-up by the word ‘deny’. The word ‘deny’ is a very interest. It is the anti-thesis of our selfish culture described in 2 Timothy 3:1-2, . . . lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy ," In thinking about denial, the first thought that comes to most of our minds is the idea of self-denial.

Self-denial is defined as the refusing to do or have things that you would like, either because you cannot afford them, or because you believe it is morally good for you not to have or do them. The season of Lent comes to mind, generally perceived as a season of fasting, abstaining, and reflection in preparation for Easter. But there is another kind of denial. And it is this other kind of denial that that I believe Jesus had in mind. That would be denying-self . Make a note, this is not the same as self-denial. To deny-self means to flat out state that you are not connected in anyway with whatever. That is exactly what Peter did in Mark 14:68-71. He flat out denied his Jesus connection.

So when Jesus talks about denying-self, He is not talking about giving up luxurious things, habits, or necessities. He is talking about letting go of our personal rights of self-government. Ray Stedman articulates it this way—to deny-self is to cut off ownership of self. The point being, we do not have the final right to decide what we do, or where we go, even how we speak. [v] To deny-self strikes at the very core of our being. To quote Ray Stedman, as human beings, to value, to covet, and to protect is above anything else the right to make ultimate decisions for ourselves. We refuse to be under anything or anybody, but reserve the right to make the final decisions of our lives. This is what Jesus is talking about. He is not talking about giving up this or that, but about giving up our very selves. [v i] To deny-self is to disassociate, to repudiate our right to ourselves, to run our own lives. It means I disassociate from my own self-interest. It doesn't mean to abandon worldly comforts like a monk or to strictly control one's actions via spiritual disciplines. It means to refuse rights and privileges that get in the way of God's kingdom.

Warren Wiersbe has some wise words on the meaning of deny self. To deny-self is to give one’s self, not in bits-and-pieces, but to wholly give one’s self over to Jesus, and thereby share in His shame and death. [vi i ] Paul drives this point home to the Corinthian Church in 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 ^(NASB95) ¹⁹ . . . you are not your own. ²⁰ For you have been bought with a price: To deny-self is to deny self-ownership. That is the first mark of a true genuine Jesus Follower—a denial of self.

B. Take Up ‘Your’ Cross

The second part to choosing to be a Jesus-Follower is to take up your cross. That is a humdinger of a statement. It’s a tough one to wrap our heads around. For us, taking up our cross ideology ranges from a wearing a necklace to trails and hardships—like one’s mother-in-law or father-in-law tensions, or a ding-a-ling neighbor, or even a handicap. That’s not what Jesus had in mind. He had many trials, difficulties, and frustrating moments. The cross was something different. For Jesus it captured His death, His shame and His humiliation. A time of violation, where He was demeaned and despoiled and desecrated. The time when His life would be taken.

To take up your cross means dying to the hidden things of the heart such as ²¹ evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, ²² deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within and defile us all. (Mark 7:20–23 ^(NASB95) ). It means putting to death the inner turmoil when someone forgets your name, when the cashier won’t cash your check, when criticized unjustly, or are rankled when you lose your turn, or cussing when someone cuts you off in traffic. Jesus said, if we are going to be Jesus-Followers, we are not to be offended by these things, we are not to get upset about them; denying self and taking up the cross stand in antitheses to the imbedded longings of the heart. When it comes to the world, we are called to a radical lifestyle. To quote David Platt, “Radical obedience to Christ is not easy... It's not comfort, not health, not wealth, and not prosperity in this world. Radical obedience to Christ risks losing all these things. But in the end, such risk finds its reward in Christ. And he is more than enough for us.” [viii]

C. Follow Me

That brings us to the third part of the choice to being a Jesus Follower—It comes in Jesus’ words Follow Me .

What does it mean to follow Jesus? It means choosing to behave, to speak, to think, and to relate as Jesus did. To quote Jesus, to follow Him is--

To Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, strength. And love your neighbor as yourself. (Mark 12:29-31)
To “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)
To Love your enemy (Matthew 5:44)
To Pray for those who hurt you (Matthew 5:44)
To Forgive those who offend you (Matthew 6:14-15)
To Be kind to the ungrateful and the selfish (Luke 6:35)
To Bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2)
To Freely give (Matthew 10:8)

These things are not momentary decisions, but meant as a lifestyle, to be repeated over and over, whenever we fall into circumstances which make such attitude responses necessary. To live this way shatters our perceptions of who we are. To live this way forces the world around us to take notice . . . and sometimes ask a question . . . Who are you?

IV. JESUS’ THE DRILL DOWN

In the verses that follow, vs35-38, Jesus drills down as to the forces that keep us from denying-self, taking up our cross, and following Him. He lays it out in 3 mind challenging statements.

A. V35, Losers are keepers—

First, Jesus zeros in on the pressure built around loosing. V35, “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.. What Jesus is saying is, if you seek to live out the denial of self, carrying your cross, and follow Him in real time, you will lose control of your life, but you will save it.

A person who strives after satisfying desires such as successes, status and goals apart from God will ultimately “lose” their life. The ultimate loss comes in the Lord’s condemnation in Matthew 7:21-22, depart from me, I never knew you, you workers of lawlessness. By contrast, those who willingly “lose” their lives for the sake of Christ and of the gospel (that is, God’s kingdom) will actually “save” their lives. To lose one’s life for Christ’s sake refers to a person refusing to renounce Christ, even if the punishment were death. To lose one’s life for the gospel’s sake implies that the person is on trial for living out in a tangible fashion the life of Jesus, the calling of the gospel, of standing firm in faith, of living and proclaiming the good news. [ix ] So the question: are you willing to lose your life?

B. V36-37, Financial Gain Is Powerless—

Second, Jesus points out that fame and prosperity have no place in attaining security in the Kingdom of God. “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and lose his soul?

The problem, among other things, is that this world and all it contains is passing away (1 John 2:17). At some point in the near future we are told in 2 Peter 3:10-12 that this world is to be consumed by fire. In other words to exchange one’s soul for world achievements is a bad investment. It’s like the British millionaire who determined to build a state-of-the-art 32,000 sq ft French Chateau for over 70 million dollars in France. This Chateau comes with 18 bedrooms, two helipads, a saltwater swimming pool, a medieval cloister, a bell tower, a greenhouse, plus 17 acres of gardens, vineyards, olive groves and lily ponds. What more can a man need? Well, according to the law - proper building permits! The courts have ordered its demolition. [x] Because he didn’t follow protocol, he is slated to lose it all. To gain the whole world but reject Jesus is to lose it all. But to give up everything this world offers for the sake of following Jesus is to gain eternal riches (cf. Matt. 6:19–21). [xi]

C. V38, Conformity to the World is deadly—

Third, Jesus finalizes it all with a warning against conforming to world standards, morality and customs. V38 “ For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

Jesus closes His thoughts on the choice of following Him with two astonishing statements, both wrapped around the word ashamed. In the Bible ‘ashamed’ means more than our idea of embarrassment. To be ashamed ( epaischunomai ) means to despise, reject, or refuse to accept. [xii] So to be ashamed of Jesus is to despise, reject, refuse to accept His word. To be ashamed of Jesus is to ignore and continue to adhere to the rebellion of the world around us.

1. First, whoever is ashamed.

So Jesus starts His concluding remarks with whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation , Jesus has more in mind than simply outward profession. After all, He rebuked the Pharisees and scribes for their hypocrisy, quoting from Isaiah’s in Mark 7:6 : “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.”

In other words, religious people can profess to love God yet deny Him by the way they live ( Titus 1:16 ). To be ashamed of Jesus is to speak and live in a way that is inconsistent with His revealed truth. To be ashamed of Him is functionally to deny Him as Lord.

Why would a person deny Jesus?

Jesus makes it clear that denying Him is an issue of self-preservation. People are embarrassed to accept Him, not because He lacks noble character, not because He failed to demonstrate divine power and proof of who He was, but because to be unashamed of Him requires being ashamed of self. The error here is believing that you can save your own life by embracing the course of this world which is dominated by the power of the evil one And since the world hates Jesus and His gospel, they hate all who would pledge allegiance to Him. To deny Jesus is to win favor in the world’s. Jesus warns against such behavior. V38, He declares that whoever seeks the favor of this “adulterous and sinful” world will receive nothing but shame in the life to come. A little joy now for an eternity of sorrow. A few moments of praise from man in exchange for God’s curses forever. [xiii ] If we are ashamed of Christ, that’s a commentary as to how distorted, and depraved, and sinful our minds are. 1 Corinthians 1 says, The cross is a stumbling block and an offense to those that are perishing.

Jesus is offensive to those who want to hold on to their sin, whatever it might be. On the other hand, a genuine Jesus Follower is ashamed over their own wicked thoughts, words, actions, and over self-righteous pride and hypocrisy. To quote Jesus, blessed are those that mourn . . . Geniuses of faith is rooted in a constant sense of brokenness over one’s sinfulness. There’s a sense of shame. And the longer the Jesus-Follower lives and the more mature he becomes in the Lord, the harder it is for him to be frivolous. He sees more of God’s love and mercy, but he also sees more of his own sin and the world’s sinfulness. To grow in grace is also to grow in awareness of sin. ^[xiv]

So the question: to what degree are you and I ashamed of our own sinfulness? If there is no shame there is no eternal hope.

2. Second, the Son of Man will be ashamed

. . . Jesus concludes that when He returns He will be ashamed of all who are rooted in the course of this world when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

In an age where everyone wants to be “liked” and accepted and becoming so careful not to offend anyone . . . that when it comes to God’s word they meticulously choose the right non-offensive passages making sure whoever hears (or reads) about their Christian beliefs feel loved and welcomed. Because we cannot bear to be ridiculed, mocked, and hated we become ashamed of certain things Christ spoke of and certain characteristics of God, and leaving them out of our conversations. Jesus says, because there is no shame of sin and self-willfulness, when He returns He will be ashamed of all who are not ashamed of sin, and the corruption that lies within—that is refusing to see ourselves the way we really really are.

V. TRUTHS THAT SHAPE OUR LIVES

Let’s pause here and reflect on Jesus’ pointed words. To be a genuine Jesus-Follower involves three parts: an outright denial of self, an intentionality of death to our hearts pride and self-will (ie., carry your cross), and to follow Jesus. The refusal to deny-self, to cross carry, and to follow Jesus go hand-in-hand with being ashamed of Jesus and His words.

So when Jesus said deny self, He means to renounce self—to cease to make self the object of one’s life and actions. This involves a fundamental reorientation of the principle of life. God, not self, must be at the center of life. ^[xv]
When Jesus said carry your cross, He means as He died, so we are to die to our willful selves. Death to our willfulness is a call to absolute surrender to Jesus. It is brutal, painful, humiliating . . . but in death comes security and confidence.
When Jesus said follow Me, He meant He becomes our everything. To follow Jesus means striving to be like Him. To truly follow Jesus means to make Him sovereign in life. Every decision and dream is to be filtered through His Word with the goal of glorifying Him in everything ( 1 Corinthians 10:31 ).

And that my friends is absolutely true …

Let’s close in prayer … Father, we ask that You open our eyes as You opened the eyes of the disciples, not only to see our Lord Jesus as King among men, ruler of the events of history, director of all the affairs of life, calmer of the storms and healer of the hurts of life; but also help us understand that in Jesus there is real life. Open our eyes that we might see Him as He is. We pray that you will continue to do this, in His name, Amen.

Well, as you go this week, in the words of John Piper . . . The point Jesus is driving home is that the deepest hindrance to following Him is not the love of money. It goes deeper. Money is only a material means to our craved emotion. What we really want to avoid is being humiliated, being disrespected, being shamed. And what we really want is to be honored and praised and made much of. [xvi ]. And so I close with this question: As a Follower of Jesus, to what degree are you and I denying self, carrying our cross, and following Him? To that degree we are Jesus Followers.

If you find this message helpful and would like to contribute to this ministry, go to our website: Bensenvillebiblechurch.com, click on the Donation Drop down and pick your donation preference.

Well, don’t forget, In the midst of the swirling difficulties, God’s is walking with you. And remember we offer Live-worship Sunday on Facebook and YouTube. Looking forward to meeting up with you again at next week’s posting.

May God bless you this coming week.

[i] Cf., Lesli White, What We Can Learn From the Miracles Of Jesus, https://www.beliefnet.com/ faiths/christianity/ articles/what-we-can-learn-from-the-miracles-of-jesus.aspx

[ii] Isaiah 40:1–9 (NASB95) 1“Comfort, O comfort My people,” says your God. 2“Speak kindly to Jerusalem; And call out to her, that her warfare has ended, That her iniquity has been removed, That she has received of the LORD’S hand Double for all her sins.” 3A voice is calling, “Clear the way for the LORD in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God. 4“Let every valley be lifted up, And every mountain and hill be made low; And let the rough ground become a plain, And the rugged terrain a broad valley; 5Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed, And all flesh will see it together; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” 6A voice says, “Call out.” Then he answered, “What shall I call out?” All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. 7The grass withers, the flower fades, When the breath of the LORD blows upon it; Surely the people are grass. 8The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever. 9Get yourself up on a high mountain, O Zion, bearer of good news, Lift up your voice mightily, O Jerusalem, bearer of good news; Lift it up, do not fear. Say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!”, Isaiah 52:7 (NASB95) 7How lovely on the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who announces peace And brings good news of happiness, Who announces salvation, And says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”, ; Isaiah 61:1–2 (NASB95)1The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners; 2To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn,

[iii] Craig A. Evans, Mark 8:27–16:20 , vol. 34B, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 2001), 26.

[iv] John Piper, The Gospel Stitches of Sovereignty (What Holds Our Gospel Together), https://www.desiringgod.org/ messages/the-golden-stitches-of-sovereignty

[v] Ray Stedman, The Way of the Cross, https://www.raystedman.org/new-testament/mark/the-way-of-the-cross

[vi] Ibid. Ray Stedman writes: Some years ago I read an article entitled, The Art of Being A Big Shot,written by a friend of mine, a very prominent Christian businessman, named Howard Butt. Among many other good things he said, were these words which I quote because they are so illustrative of what our Lord means here: It is my pride that makes me independent of God. It's appealing to me to feel that I am the master of my fate, that I run my own life, call my own shots, go it alone. But, that feeling is my basic dishonesty. I can't go it alone. I have to get help from other people, and I can't ultimately rely on myself. I'm dependent on God for my very next breath. It is dishonest of me to pretend that I'm anything but a man -- small, weak, and limited. So, living independent of God is self-delusion. It is not just a matter of pride being an unfortunate little trait, and humility being an attractive little virtue; it's my inner psychological integrity that's at stake. When I am conceited, I am lying to myself about what I am. I am pretending to be God, and not man. My pride is the idolatrous worship of myself. And that is the national religion of Hell!

[vii] Warren Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary (pdf), (Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook, 2007), p.112. Paul described this in Romans 12:1–2 and Philippians 3:7–10, as well as in Galatians 2:20

[viii] David Platt, Radical: Taking You’re your Faith from the American Dream. https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/ 846687.David_Platt

[ix] Bruce B. Barton, Mark , Life Application Bible Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1994), 240.

[x] British Millionaire Forced to Tear Down His Illegal French Chateau Worth $70 Million. https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/british-millionaire-forced-to-tear-down-his-illegal-french-chateau-worth-70-million-3405956.html

[xi] John MacArthur, Mark 1–8 , MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2015), 431.

[xii] Ibid., 432. Cf., John Piper, Deny Yourself For More Delight, https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/deny-yourself-for-more-delight

[xiii] Nate Pickowicz, Unashamed of the Truth, https://tabletalkmagazine.com/article/2020/11/unashamed-of-the-truth/

[xiv] John F. MacArthur Jr., Matthew , vol. 1, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1985), 159.

[xv] Walter W. Wessel, “Mark,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 8 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1984), 697.

[xvi] John Piper, Deny Yourself For More Delight, https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/deny-yourself-for-more-delight

23 - The Struggle To Understand Who Jesus Is (Mark 8:27-33)

kijabi4@yahoo.com (David Wolfe) — Fri, 11 Jun 2021 19:44:56 GMT

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The Struggle To Understand Who Jesus Is

(Mark 8:27-33)

I. INTRODUCTION

Hello there! I’m Dr. David Wolfe, one of the pastors at Bensenville Bible Church. If this is your first visit, we want you to know that we are a church where pretty much everybody knows your name. We also want you to know that we hold to the Bible as being true. The COVID pandemic has indeed disrupted our worship gatherings, but not dampened our faith. In the midst of disparities, our faith continues to grow strong.

Our study today is in Mark’s Gospel, chap 8:27-33. It is important that we understand Mark’s central message. He places it before us in the opening v1, chap 1: The beginning of the gospel of Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God” . We don’t want to ignore the words beginning and Gospel . That word ‘ beginning ’ points to a time at which something starts, referencing the idea of newness. [i] The word Gospel comes from the Gk word evangelos . In classical Gk an evangelos was one who brought a message of triumphant, whether it be victory in war, a great political accomplishment, or stunning personal achievement, to a given community. [ii] So when we use the word Gospel, we’re talking about ‘good news’.

Mark wants us to understand that something new has come, and its ‘good news.’ In a day of depressing headlines and uncertainty all around us I think all of us would like to hear a little good news. As Anne Murray’s song goes,

Just once,

how I'd like to see the headline say

Not much to print today

can't find nothing bad to say. [iii]

As Followers of Jesus, when we use the word “Gospel”, we are referring to the “good news”. The good news is about how we can have peace with God, power for living, and avoidance of a really bad eternal consequence. The good news is that when Jesus died, He took our penalty for sin so that we might have peace with God through faith in Christ alone. What better news could there be than captured in the hymn by Fanny Crosby : “The vilest offender who truly believes, that moment from Jesus a pardon receives?” [iv] . In the verses before us, Mark focuses in on two questions which swirl around Who is Jesus.

Let’s take a moment to ask God to give insight and understanding as to the person of Jesus. “Heavenly Father, thank you for this time you’ve given us to open your Word. Open our eyes and mind so that we might see Jesus clearly. Thank you for the clarity, encouragement and hope Your Word brings. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

II. BACTSTORY: THE ULTIMATE QUESTION

Let’s open our Bibles to Mark’s Gospel, chap 8, vs27-33. I have chosen to call our study, The Struggle To Understand Who Jesus Is. It’s the ultimate trauma, not only for the disciples of Jesus, but also for us in the 21 ^st century. The event we are looking at is so significant that it is also captured by Matthew (16:13-19) and by Luke (9:18-20).

The ultimate traumatic question before the disciples and us is the question, Who is Jesus?

Some answer it as Martin Scorsese did in the movie The Last Temptation of Christ, Jesus was just a man.
Others answer the question as the Scottish comedian Billy Connolly, “I can’t believe in Christianity, but I think Jesus was a wonderful man. He was a great religious teacher” like Buddha or Gandhi, etc.
Then there are those who answer somewhat similar to Bono of U2--the secular response to the Christian story always goes like this: he was a great prophet, obviously a very interesting guy. But actually Christ doesn’t allow you that. He doesn’t let you off that hook. Jesus says ‘I am God incarnate’. So what you are left with is either Jesus was who he said he was, or a complete nutcase. I’m not joking here – the idea that the entire course of civilization for over half the globe could have its fate changed and turned upside down by a nutcase, for me that’s farfetched.” [v]

C.S. Lewis points out for us that we all must make our choice as to Jesus. Either He was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon; or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to. [vi]

Who is Jesus? That is the question we all must answer. If we answer wrongly, there will be no peace with God and we will experience the horror of His anger, which cumulates in the pits of Hell alongside Satan and his demonic angels.

III. THE STRUGGLE TO BELIEVE

Let’s take a closer look at vs27-33. In these verses the disciples are caught in a traumatic emotional roller coaster. Peter seems to take the brunt of the drama, but all the disciples were in for the ride. In v29 Peter declares boldly to Jesus’, You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God (Matt 16:19), but in v33 he is soundly rebuked by Jesus, Get behind Me, Satan, you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s . One moment Peter is on the mountain top, the next moment he is in the pits.

We pick up the story in v27, J esus went out, along with His disciples, to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way He questioned His disciples, saying to them, “Who do people say that I am?” Jesus is now moving out of Jewish territory, heading north. We can safely assume that He is taking His disciples ultimately to what we know as the Mt of Transfiguration in chap 9

A. Two Questions

Somewhere around Caesarea Philippi Jesus sat down with His disciples and asked them two questions:

1. First, Who do people say that I am?

The disciples responded in v28.

Some people think you are John the Baptist. Now remember, Herod had John the Baptist killed, and the gossip of the day was that Jesus was John the Baptist reincarnated.
The disciples continued: Some people think you are Elijah; and still others think you are a resurrected prophet of the Old Testament, or at least on the level of the Old Testament prophets.

What is surprising is, that in capturing the community scuttlebutt, nothing was mentioned about Jesus possibly being the Messiah, especially since the demons recognized Him and openly proclaimed it (1:24; 3:11, 5:7). [vii]

2. Second Question, Who do you say that I am?

V29, Jesus changed the question and ask His disciples directly, But who do you say that I am?

My imagination tells me that they didn’t answer as quickly as they probably did with the first question. There was a dead moment, then Peter blurts out, You are the Christ, ie., You are the Messiah! It was a great response. And in Matthews account Jesus gives Peter tremendous affirmation for his answer:

¹⁷ “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. ¹⁸ “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. ¹⁹ “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” (Matt 16:17–19 ^(NASB95) )

3. Two things are noteworthy here.

a. First, notice Peter did not say, You are Jesus Christ , as if Jesus had a first and middle name such as I do ., or even as a first and last name.

This is important for us to understand. As Kent Hughs points out for us, “Jesus” is God’s Son’s name, while “Christ” is His title. “Christ” is the Gk rendering of the Old Testament title “Messiah”, meaning “Anointed One.” So Peter identifies Jesus as the foretold Messiah, the coming Anointed One. ^[viii]

b. Second, notice that Peter did not come up with this on his own.

Jesus tells him straight up, flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven (Matt 16:17). Peter and the disciples could not take any credit for this great theological insight. As clearly stated in the other gospels, they believed only because the Father had drawn them (John 6:44), that Jesus had revealed Himself to them (Matt. 11:27), and that Holy Spirit had opened their eyes to the truth (1 Cor. 2:10–14; 2 Cor. 3:15–18). ^[ix] In other words, unless God initiated the insight, there was no insight.

2. In vs30-31 Jesus responds to Peter’s confession.

a. First, v30, Jesus warned them, that would be the 12 disciples, to tell no one about Him. He didn’t say to them, ‘well guys, keep a lid on it’. The Gk word warned (epitimao) is very strong. It carries the idea of strong admonishment, even to the point of threatening them. [ x] As will be seen shortly, the reason behind the admonition is that Peter and disciple team didn’t grasp what had just been proclaimed.

They did not have a clear picture of the work of the Messiah. They were still caught up with a military Messiah. So it would have been premature for them to start broadcasting ‘good news’ when they did not fully understand what they were talking about. Besides that, the foundation of the ‘good news’ had not yet happened.

b. And second, V31, Jesus, following Peter’s confession, begins fleshing out for them the basis of His gospel — He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

Make a note of this, “ He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer”. Up until now Jesus had never talked to them about suffering. It is not until Peter’s confession that He is the Christ, ie., Messiah, that Jesus begins to tell them about His upcoming suffering, rejection, and death. He is not trying to get them to understand that He is the Messiah; He is trying to get them to understand what kind of Messiah He is.

Edmond Hiebert points out for us that all their lives the disciples had thought of Messiah in terms of irresistible conquest. Now they are being presented with an idea that staggered them mentally, emotionally, and most of all spiritually. ^[xi] . They were now being told clearly the foundational pillars of the Gospel, the impending reality of Isaiah 53. This was all new to them, throwing them a Messiah curveball. It’s a huge moment.

In V32a, Mark tells us that Jesus was stating the matter plainly . That is, Jesus hid nothing from them. He tells them straight out, v31, t he Son of Man must suffer, be rejected, and die . Don’t miss how staggering those words were to them, and even to us. Jesus smashed all of their Messiah concepts. Before He triumphs, He must suffer to the point of death. Don’t gloss over those words. They are filled with intentionality. To take back what is His, Jesus must be subjected to suffering and must be killed, (now get this) . . . He must suffer and be killed

because it was the Father’s will (John 3:16; Rom. 8:32),
because of His own promise (Ps. 40:7),
because it was prophesied (Isa. 53), and
because the law demanded it—for the wages of sin is death (Rom 3:23, Gen. 2:17; Rom. 5:12–21; 2 Cor. 5:21). [xii]

But notice the last phrase of v31, after three days rise again . The idea of suffering and death created such trauma, the disciples missed the final pillar of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, His resurrection. This is a huge moment. The shock of Jesus telling them straight out that He would die shattered their Messianic hopes. The pillar of Messianic thought of the day was pulled right out from under them.

B. Peter’s Rebuke

That brings us to vs32-33, ³² . . . So Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. Appalled by Jesus’ comments, Peter confronts Jesus to the point of rebuking Him. The language here is rough. You can feel the tension. As Kent Hughs states it, it’s not as if Peter pulled Jesus aside, put his arm around Him and whispered in His ear, “I believe you are the Messiah, but you’ve got your information all wrong! You’ve got to stop this or you’ll lose all your credibility.” ^[xiii]

The word rebuke is harsh and commanding. It’s the same word used when Jesus rebuked the demons (1:25; 9:25). Peter is totally overwhelmed by Jesus’ words of suffering, rejecting, and death. So he thinks he needs to do some serious theological correcting. ³³ But Jesus, turning around and seeing His disciples (meaning they were all thinking pretty much the same stuff as Peter), Jesus rebuked Peter back with these powerful words, “Get behind Me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.” ‘Like a cat on a mouse’ Jesus turns on Peter. His rebuke was pointed. There was steel in His voice. His eyes like fire. The words cut into Peter’s soul— Get behind Me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.

In Matthew’s account Jesus’ closing words were powerfully pointed, You are a stumbling block to Me (Matt 16:23). In a moment of emotional bungling, Peter grabbed for authority that was not his to have. Jesus comes back with an authority of steel, Get behind Me Satan!!! John MacArthur notes, If Peter had been shocked by Jesus’ earlier words about Himself regarding His coming suffering, rejection, and death, he must have been utterly shaken by what Jesus said to him. ^[xiv] You know what is scary, to quote Jesus, in that moment Peter had become the very voice of Satan. [xv]

IV. TRUTHS THAT SHAPE OUR LIVES

Let’s pause here and reflect on what Mark captured for us. What he captures in these verses is meant to help us clarify our understanding of Jesus’ identity, and His purpose in coming. You might be thinking to yourself that although this was an interesting story and somewhat fascinating, what in the world does this have to do with you and me? The reality is, it has everything to do with you and me. Let me give us 3 thoughts to chew on.

A. First, it is paramount that we have a clear understanding of what Mark calls in chap 1, v1, the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

That’s the point of v30, after confessing Jesus as the Messiah, He tells them to tell no one. We live in a time and a culture in which we are surrounded with people just like the disciples in Mark 8 . . . fascinated by Jesus as a great moral teacher, and captivated by the things said of Him. Yet, they do not know Him, nor do they see Him clearly. Like the disciples and the crowds in the Gospels, many of us today have created our own picture of Jesus. As a result, we fail to see that we cannot inherit the promises of Jesus without trusting in His full work of suffering, death on the cross, and His resurrection.

That’s the backdrop to what Paul says in Philippians 3:8–11 ^(NASB95) He wanted to see Jesus clearly, ⁸ I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, ⁹ and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, ¹⁰ that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; ¹¹ in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Instead of trusting in Jesus as our Messiah, we trust in thousands of personal experiences. Instead of trusting wholly and completely in the atoning, finished work of Jesus on the cross, we see Him from afar, acknowledging the great things He has done, yet never personally trusting in His death as the all sufficient means by which we must be saved. The disciples saw Jesus, but they did not see Him clearly; so we see Jesus, but we do not see Him clearly either. [xvi]

There is no doubt that Peter’s rebuke was presumptuous. It certainly revealed that Peter had the wrong idea of what Jesus’ Messiahship was/is, and equally showed that he had wrong ideas of his own importance and understanding. He had overstepped the line between disciple and compatriot. He had to be shown that while he was beginning to have a glimmer of understanding (‘you are the Messiah’) it was not much more than that. As the Blind Man who lived in Bethsaida, he still ‘saw men as trees walking’ ( Mark 8:24 ).

If we are ever to grasp the gospel of Jesus Christ, we have to start at the beginning, grasping the truth of every chapter and verse in order to answer life’s ultimate question: Who do we say Jesus is? Without grappling with the beginning there is no meaningful answer.

B. Second, it is possible to think we have great insight on truth, only to be a voice of Satan.

Vs32-33 Peter became rather suddenly the unwitting voice of demonic thought. Rodney Cooper points out for us that while Peter was not “possessed” by Satan, he was used as an instrument of Satan, even though he seemly had Jesus’ best interests in mind. [xvii]

Listen carefully. Peter’s words were dangerous in the extreme. They went against the whole purposes of God, and had to be shown for what they were. Jesus had to be stern with him. God’s ways are not man’s ways and Peter, and the disciples, and us must not presume to know the mind of God until we fully absorbed the words of Jesus. His words were the truth and the disciple team (including us) must never forget it. What Jesus was saying in a most uncompromising fashion was that Peter had become a voice of Satan through a combination of self-conceit and worldly wisdom. He must ‘get behind Him’.

The words carry an important lesson for us. How easily we can become a sucker of Satan. Great privilege is dangerous.

Nothing is more important for us who seek to know God than to refuse to allow ourselves to be influenced by our own excessive ideas as to the ways of God. We must beware, lest after we have preached to others we ourselves become disapproved ( 1 Corinthians 9:27 ). There is only one safeguard against this. And that is to immerse ourselves thoroughly into the whole counsel of God’s Word.

C. Third, If we do not see Jesus clearly, we do not see Jesus at all

The failure of the disciples is that they did not see Jesus clearly. As a result, they struggled with what it meant to trust and follow Jesus. Could it be that some of you listening, like the disciples, have created your own picture of Jesus, that although nice, does not really pursue after God. If your Jesus is an Aladdin’s Genie whom you use to make you feel good, then your heart is in bondage to self and sin, not subject to Jesus as Lord. You actually are following the Jesus Satan tried to establish, not the Jesus sent by the Father. The Jesus sent by the Father was delivered up on account of our sins and was raised so that we could be right with God ( Rom. 4:25 ). Jesus said, I have come that you might have life. How sad it would be to embrace a wrong picture of Jesus in life, and die and spend eternity separated from Him!

I beg you, on Jesus’ behalf, trust His death on the cross alone as the payment for your sins and submit to Him as the Lord of your life. Trust His death and embrace His life. Make sure that you not only see Jesus, but that you see him clearly. And that my friends is absolutely true …

Let’s close in prayer …

Father, we ask that You open our eyes as You opened the eyes of Peter, not only to see our Lord Jesus as King among men, ruler of the events of history, director of all the affairs of life, calmer of the storms and healer of the hurts of life; but also that You will help us begin to understand that He Himself is in the hurts, in the disappointments, in the disasters, that He is leading us on, setting us free from our shackles--"self-sufficiency" and "self-reliance", desire to be exalted, to be made much of -- that Jesus wants to set us free. Open our eyes that we might see Him as He is. We pray that you will continue to do this, in His name, Amen.

Well, as you go this week, remember . . . Followers of Jesus without the cross have no hope, but a shabby, slimy substitute. The Follower of Jesus is consumed in wanting to see Jesus clearly. So I close with this question: “Do you see Jesus clearly?”

And Don’t forget … In the midst of the swirling difficulties, God’s is in the swirl with you. Looking forward to meeting up with you again at next week’s posting.

[i] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beginning

[ii] Cf. J. Hampton Keathley, What is the Gospel? https://bible.org/article/what-gospel

[iii] Cf., Anne Murry, A Little Good News

[iv] Fanny Crosby, To God Be The Glory

[v] Who Is Jesus? (From Alpha Course)? https://cslewisthoughts.wordpress.com/2017/04/ 24/ who-is-jesus-from-alpha-course-script/

[vi] C.S. Lewis, https://www.azquotes.com/quote/477153

[vii] Walter W. Wessel, “Mark,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 8 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1984), 693.

[viii] R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior , vol. 1, Preaching the Word (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1989), 200.

[ix] John MacArthur, Mark 1–8 , MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2015), 416–417.

[x] https://www.preceptaustin.org/mark-8-commentary#8:30

[xi] Ibid. 1 Corinthians 2:10 tells us that this insight came through the Holy Spirit who had opened their eyes to this great truth.

[xii] William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of the Gospel According to Mark , vol. 10, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 327.

[xiii] R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior , vol. 1, Preaching the Word (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1989), 201.

[xiv] John MacArthur, Mark 1–8 , MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2015), 420.

[xv] Luke 4:13 (NASB95) 13When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time.

[xvi] J. Josh Smith, Seeing Jesus clearly: A Sermon From Mark 8:22-23, Southwestern Journal of Theology, Vol 53, Spring 2011, https://preachingsource.com/journal/seeing-jesus-clearly-a-sermon-from-mark-8-22-33/

[xvii] Rodney L. Cooper, Mark , vol. 2, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000), 136.

22 - Lesson From The Bethsaida Blind Man (Mark 8:22-26)

kijabi4@yahoo.com (David Wolfe) — Sat, 22 May 2021 19:36:52 GMT

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Lesson From Bethsaida

(Mark 8:22-26)

I. INTRODUCTION

Hello there! I’m Dr. David Wolfe, one of the pastors at Bensenville Bible Church. If this is your first visit, we want you to know that our faith is based on the Bible as the Word of God. We also want you to know that we are a church where pretty much everybody knows your name.

The COVID pandemic may have interfered with our worship gatherings, but it has not dampened our faith. In spite of the restrictions, our faith continues to carry us.

Before our Christmas celebrations we were working our way through the Gospel of Mark. Today we are going to return to our study. To help us get back on track, we need to back-peddle for a moment. We begin by remembering that the focus of Mark’s Gospel is the gospel of Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God” (1:1). As one writer states it, Mark’s Gospel is a simple, concise, unadorned, yet vivid account of Jesus’ ministry, emphasizing more of what Jesus did than what he said. He moves quickly from one Jesus story to another, highlighted by the adverb “immediately”. ^[i]

That said, as we journey through Mark’s Gospel, we need to keep foremost in our minds that that what Mark was writing about is about the good news given to us by God through Jesus Christ that our sins can be forgiven by personally confessing them to God and aligning our lives with Jesus’ calling.

Jesus came to give himself as a sacrifice for all peoples so that we could escape our corruption and reconnect with God. As we are told in Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.

In capturing the gospel story, Mike Willis lays it out for us when he says, “Every word, sentence, event, story and conversation reported by Mark leads ultimately to the conclusion,” that the baby born to Mary is Jesus Christ, the Messiah sent by God to break sin’s bondage. ^[ii]

Let’s take a moment to ask God to give us insight as to the lessons He wants us to learn in the drama spearheaded by the blind man who lived in Bethsaida. “Heavenly Father, thank you for this time you’ve given us to open your Word. We really believe that Your written word is Your voice speaking to us, giving us hope in the midst of blindness brought about by sin. Thank you for the clarity, encouragement and hope Your Word brings. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

II. Mark 8

The last time we were in Mark’s Gospel we had just looked at the story of the feeding of the 4000 in Mark 8:1-21. The event before us today comes in vs22-26, the healing of the blind man in Bethsaida. The stories in Mark are deliberately placed. In this story, the healing of the blind man bridges between v21, where Jesus was very frustrated with the ‘brain deadness of His disciples’ as to His identity, to Peter’s grandiose proclamation in v29, You are the Messiah!

The story that unfolds is huge for a number of reasons.

First it is the halfway point of Mark’s Gospel.
Second, following the encounter with the blind man, Jesus turns His attention inclusively to His disciples vs the crowds.
Third, the healing of blindness speaks directly to Jesus as the Messiah sent by God.
Fourth, it appears to have opened the spiritual eyes of the disciples in the reorganization that Jesus was indeed the promised Messiah.

Open your Bibles to Mark’s Gospel, chap 8, vs 22-26, and follow along as I read these verses for us.

And they *came to Bethsaida. And they *brought a blind man to Jesus and *implored Him to touch him. So 23 Taking the blind man by the hand, He brought him out of the village; and after spitting on his eyes and laying His hands on him, He asked him, “Do you see anything?”

24 And the blind man looked up and said, “I see men, for I see them like trees, walking around.”

25 Then again Jesus laid His hands on his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and began to see everything clearly.

26 And Jesus then sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.”

Make a note of this: the healing of the blind man at Bethsaida is radically different from the other miracles Jesus performs, in that it explicitly takes place in two stages. After Jesus’ first touches the man, he could only see partially. It is only after the second touch that the man was able to “see everything clearly.”

III. BACK STORY

A. Stigma of Blindness

This story of the Bethsaida Blind Man causes me to recall a childhood moment as a missionary kid in Kenya. I was playing in the front yard of our house, when I noticed a boy around 8 yrs. leading an older man with just a blanket draped over his shoulder, both holding on to a stick. The older man was blind, and the little boy was leading him to the hospital. Word was out that the eye doctor had come to town. I watched in wonder as this little boy guided this blind man over the rough terrain into the hospital waiting room. According to the OPTOMETRY Journal, Africa has 19 per cent of the world’s blindness. ^[iii] As in most cultures, blindness intensifies poverty and increases insecurities and social isolation. In Jesus day, to be blind was considered to be a curse from God. That’s why Jesus’ disciples asked Him in John’s gospel, chap 9, while looking at a blind man, Who sinned? This man or his parents? (John 9:1-2).

The question was real. To be blind had stark theological issues. To be blind was right up there with those that had leprosy—untouchable and cursed.

B. Jesus Uses Blindness As A Mark Of His Identity

What is stunning is this miracle is that Jesus uses blindness to epitomize His identity. To pick up this thought we need to go back to Mark 1:14.

Here we are told that King Herod had John the Baptist put into prison. According to Matthew’s account, during his imprisonment he began to question if Jesus’ really was the Messiah. You can read about it in Matthew 11:1-6. Anyway, John the Baptist sends his disciples to ask Jesus directly--Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?” As they say on the radio: Great Question.

So Jesus answered, “Go ‘back’ and report to John what you hear and see: What were the disciples hearing and seeing that Jesus told them to report back to John the Baptist? The answer comes in Vs5, Matthew 11, don’t miss these pointed words: the blind receive sight. Mark this down, Jesus said to John’s disciples and to His own, that one of the great marks of His identity was rooted in the fact that the blind got their sight back in real time.

Make a note of this. The sequence of stories in Mark’s Gospel are deliberate, not by chance or because of writer’s block. The healing of the Bethsaida blind man becomes the foundation of Peter’s bold declaration in v29 You are the Christ, The Messiah. The point is, this was not just another miracle. As John MacArthur points out for us, this miracle had a massive impact, showing that not only that Jesus was the Great Healer, but more so that He was the Messiah promised in the Old Testament. [iv]

IV. CLOSER LOOK AT THE MIRACLE

Let’s take a closer look at the miracle.

1. V22 tells us that when Jesus came to Bethsaida, (and by the way, this is the home town of Peter, Andrew, and Philip) the town folk brought a blind man to Jesus, begging Him to touch him.

For some reason, I don’t think the town folk brought him to Jesus for healing out of concern, since he would have been more of an outcast than part of the community. It would be more likely that they brought him for healing because they wanted to witness firsthand Jesus’ miraculous power.

2. V23, Jesus follows through on their request. But instead of doing something miraculous in their midst, He takes the blind man by the hand and leads him out of the village and away from the crowd. He did something like this in the previous chapter with the healing of the deaf mute man (7:31-37).

The first stage is very shocking—once apart from the town folk, Jesus spits on the blind man’s eyes and then touches him. This all seems quit disgusting to say the least. Now follow me, Jesus never does anything randomly. He is always very intentional. So the question arises, why did He spit on the man’s eyes? Quite frankly nobody really knows. Suggestions range from the belief in that day that spit had some kind of healing power to symbolizing to the blind man that healing was coming. [v]

But I am wonder if there is another angle. In Numbers 12:14 (Deut 25:9) spitting on someone was a grave insult. [vi] Though unclear as to why Jesus spit on the man’s eyes, two things are apparent.

First, I think there was something unusually about this man’s blindness that was disgusting to Jesus.
And second, Jesus was using the blindness as a teaching moment for His disciples.

After spitting on the blind man’s eyes, Jesus then lays His hands on him, and follows up with a question: “Do you see anything?” 24 The blind man looked around and said, “I see men, for I see them like trees, walking around.”

Apparently the man was not blind from birth. He had at one time the ability to see clearly. He knew what a tree looked like. Apparently he had lost his eyesight either to disease or some action on his part. After Jesus initially touched him, he could see, but everything was just too fuzzy so that he could not distinguish objects.

3. V25, Then Jesus laid His hands again on his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and began to see everything clearly.

The fog or scales over his eyes suddenly lifted. In that moment he gained 20/20 vision. He saw everything with sharp clarity.

Backing up for a moment. Jesus’ spit had no healing power. Assuming it was an expression of great disgust . . . By touching the man with His hands, the disgust and social hopelessness was removed.

4. 26 And He sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.” [vii]

This is not the first time that Jesus has clamped down on a recipient of one of His miracles. I’ve pointed out previously when Jesus exhorted recipients of healing, it was because He didn’t want to draw crowds just for the thrills of miracles. His sight would be known soon enough.

V. TRUTHS THAT SHAPE OUR LIVES

Let’s pause here and reflect for a moment on the story. Through the healing of the blind man of Bethsaida comes a powerful learning transformation for the disciples.

Let me highlight at least two lessons from this miracle, and perhaps you will find them spiritually transforming also.

A. Jesus’ Compassion

First, I want to call our attention to the Compassion of Jesus. I find it interesting how Jesus handles the blind man when brought to Him by the community. He knows their scorn for the blind. Yet he sees past their disdain and touches him and leading him away from the crowd’s peering eyes into His inner circle with His disciples. I take that to mean that Jesus didn’t want the blind man to be some kind of a healing show. The man was already an outcast, and didn’t need more community pressure.

As we read through the Gospel we are often called to make note of Jesus’ compassion for the suffering and hurting. In the miracle of the Bethsaida Blind Man Mark points out for us that Jesus took the Man by the hand, touched his face and eyes. Of special interest is the term “touched.” The Gk word here is the word that we get our English word sympathy. According to the Theological Dictionary of the New Testament the word “does not signify a sympathetic understanding that is ready to condone, but a relationship that derives from full acquaintance of the seriousness of the situation” ^[viii]

In Hebrews 4:15 we are told that we do not have a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but one who has been tempted like as we are, yet without sin, What we need to understand is, that as Jesus Followers who struggle with physical and emotional suffering, and the urgings of temptation, we can be confident that there is someone who understands and is very sympathetic. (cf. Rom. 7:14ff; 1 Cor. 9:27). His compassion and sympathy were clearly seen in His interaction with those among whom he moved during his sojourn on earth. Because His heart is immersed in compassion He steps into our struggles, He feels our hurts, He hears our cries. As the hymn writer asks:

Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for mirth or song,
As the burdens press, And the cares distress,
And the way grows weary and long?

O yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary,
The long night dreary, I know my Savior cares [ix]

The point is:

When we are afflicted with disease and pain, He cares.
When we are grieving the loss of dear ones, He cares.
When we are confused and in a maze of misdirection, desperately needing leadership, He has compassion for us.
When we are mistreated, He feels for us.
When we dredge ourselves into the mire of sin, He grieves over that disaster.
When, in the hardness of heart, we even hatefully oppose him, He continues to feel for us.
And does He care about us in this pandemic? Yes, He really cares

This is one of those promises that we stand on—Jesus cares. The story of the blind man reminds us that God cares even for the socially broken. If that is you, Be comforted by it.

B. It’s Possible To See And Still Be Spiritual Blind

Second, I want to call our attention to the truth that we can see, and yet be spiritually blind. To quote Jesus in John 9:39, I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, Jesus came to give sight to the spiritually blind. In light of the tension between Jesus’ teaching and the disciples’ lack of understanding, Mark points out a blind man that Jesus uses to symbolize the disciples’ spiritual tension and transformation.

Kelly Iverson points for us that Mark’s use of the blind man functions as a metaphor for the disciples’ lack of understanding. This relationship is made clear by Jesus’ own words in vs 17-18, and 21: “ do you still not perceive or understand?…Do you have eyes, and fail to see? ” [x] One writer reminds us that the disciples struggled with Jesus true identity. They witnessed his marvelous acts, and yet did not trust him to provide for their needs in the moment. Furthermore, in the blind man’s story key words such as perceive, understand, eyes, and see provide strong links to Jesus’ next act of giving sight to the blind man.

This takes us back to the distressing question posed to the disciples: Do you not understand who I am? And then without allowing the disciples to respond, Jesus proceeds to demonstrate who He is by performing the miracle of giving sight. ^[xi] The confusion of the disciples about the mission and identity of Jesus, indicates, that like the blind man, their vision was still partial—as the blind man couldn’t distinguish people from trees, they couldn’t decipher between Jesus the Teacher, Jesus the Miracle worker, and Jesus the Savior even though they had been called to be with Him ( Mark 3:14 ) and invested with the mysteries of the kingdom ( Mark 4:11-12 ).

Like the Bethsaida Blind Man, the disciples were in need of a second touch. As David Garland points out, Their failure to grasp everything reflects the condition of those guided by human wisdom before the resurrection, who have not received God’s Spirit to reveal God’s ways. [xii] As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

The beauty of the story of the Bethsaida Blind Man comes when we see our own blindness in the disciples’ blindness. If we ask, “How could the disciples be so dense?” we need immediately to ask the same question of ourselves. The disciples saw dimly in a glass coated with the dust of traditional ways of viewing things and warped by the curvature of their own dreams and ambitions. The glass we look through is no different. We are no less in need of healing before we can see what God is doing, and it may not take on the first try. [xiii]

The events in this story give us hope that although we only perceive Jesus now dimly as in a mirror, we shall one day see him face to face, declaring with the blind man that we can see “everything clearly,” including the grace and glory of Christ.

And that my friends is absolutely true …

Let’s close in prayer …Lord, we fall so short of you and your mission. The world we live in is so very needy and hurting. Burden us to sow your word earnestly that we may see a harvest. Take away our sin. Take away our scholarly unbelief and doubt. Take away our fears of what people would think of us. And anoint us with power afresh to sow your eternal Word. And like your disciples of old, serve you to the ends of the earth until you come. In your holy name, we pray. Amen.

As you go this week, remember . . . as Followers of Jesus we believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, that He is sufficient for all our needs. Believing He meets all our needs, we strive to live out in a tangible way that belief. Calvin Schoonhoven offers the following illustration to help process how tangible our believes need to be with the following true story.A certain tight rope walker publicized that he was going to walk across Niagara Falls. A large crowd gathered. He dusted his hands and feet with powdered chalk, grasped with both hands the pole he used for balance, and proceeded confidently across the rope. He not only went across but also made a return trip. The crowd stood amazed and responded with cheers. The man proclaimed he would do it again without his pole. Again he successfully went over and back. As he stepped off the rope, he turned to the crowd and asked how many thought he could make a third trip, this time with a wheelbarrow. Some responded with confidence while others with skepticism. He set off on his task and completed it with the greatest of ease. He then inquired of the crowd as to whether they believed he could do the same thing with the wheelbarrow full of cement. This time the crowd responded with great confidence. Again, he performed his feat with unbelievable ease.

Having completed these four trips successfully, he asked the spectators if they believed that he could wheel a human being across the dangerous expanse. The response was unanimous. He could do it. Upon their reply he turned to a gentleman and said, “All right, my friend, let’s go.” [xiv]

How willing are you and I to live tangible our faith? Reading Matthew 16:24-25 from the Amplified Bible: Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [that is set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross [by expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [that is believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me].

Let’s ask Jesus to give sight to our eyes that we may see clearly.

And Don’t forget …God’s got you no matter your difficulties. Because of technical issues and the forecasted snow storm, we will not be having ‘live worship’ this Sunday. Looking forward to meeting up with you again … at next week’s posting.

[i] https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/intro-to-mark/

[ii] L.A. Stuaffer, Truth Commentaries, Edited by Mike Willis, p.#1

[iii] Kovin Naidoo, Poverty and blindness in Africa https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1444-0938.2007.00197.x

[iv] John MacArthur, Jesus’ Power Over Blindness, https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/41-39/jesus-power-over-blindness

[v] John MacArthur, Mark 1–8 , MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2015), 408.The Lord did not need any props to accomplish His miracles, but it symbolized His healing power for a blind man who could feel the spittle on his eyes. Cf., https://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-spit.html . One possible reason for Jesus’ use of His saliva has to do with the beliefs of His contemporary culture. Several Roman writers and Jewish rabbis considered saliva to be a valid treatment for blindness. Since the people of that day had a high view of saliva’s healing properties, Jesus used spit to communicate His intention to heal. Those being healed would have naturally interpreted Jesus’ spitting as a sign that they would soon be cured. The greater need of each of those healed was the need for increased faith. Jesus recognized this spiritual need and offered a physical action as a means of raising their expectations and focusing their faith on Himself. Thus, in Mark 8 , the man’s spiritual sight was strengthened even as physical sight was imparted to him.

[vi] https://biblehub.com/commentaries/numbers/12-14.htm . Spitting in the presence of any one, much more spitting in the face of any one, is regarded in the East as an indication of the utmost degree of abhorrence and indignation.

[vii] Jesus at times wanted His work not proclaimed. The leper He cleansed in Mark 1:44 was charged, “See that you say nothing to anyone”. The many of the demon possessed “he strictly ordered not to make him known” (3:12). Jairus and those with him, which Jesus raised his daughter from the dead was “charged to tell no one (7:36). Here the blind man of Bethsaida was told to go home, and not tell anyone. Peter, James, and John at the Transfiguration were told “to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of man should have risen from the dead” (9.9).

[viii] Bromiley, G. W. 1985. Theological Dictionary of the New Testament — Abridged. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans. Pp 802-803

[ix] Bill Gaither Does Jesus Carehttps://www.bing.com/search?q=does%20jesus%20care%20lyrics& pc=cosp&ptag= G6C1N1D122320AA794BFC089&form=CONBDF&conlogo=CT3210127

[x] Kelly R. Iverson m, The Healing of a Blind Man (Mark 8:22-26), https://www.bibleodyssey.org/en/passages/main- articles/healing-of-a-blind-man-mark-822-26

[xi] Jason Piland Mark 8:22–26: Jesus the Parable-Worker or The Healing of the Blind Man at Bethsaida as a Parable of the Disciples’ Faith https://rts.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Gospels-Paper-Mark-8.22-26-as-Parable_Piland.pdf

[xii] David E. Garland, Mark , The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996), 316.

[xiii] Ibid.

[xiv] Calvin R. Schoonhoven, “The ‘Analogy of Faith’ and the Intent of Hebrews,” in Scripture, Tradition, and Interpretation, ed. W. Ward Gasque and William Sanford LaSor (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1978), 110, n. 14. ^[xiv]

21- Exposing Spiritual Blindness (Mark 8:1-21)

kijabi4@yahoo.com (David Wolfe) — Mon, 17 May 2021 16:40:56 GMT

This is a subtitle for your new post

Exposing Spiritual Blindness

(Marl 8:1-21)

I. INTRODUCTION

Hello there! I’m Dr. David Wolfe at Bensenville Bible Church. We are a church where pretty much everybody knows your name. In light of covid restrictions, we are not holding in-person services. We are remotely meeting, encouraging, and laughing together.

Take your Bibles and open them to Mark’s Gospel, chap. 8, vs1-21. We are walking with Jesus through the Gospel of Mark, as told to him by Peter.

We are looking at a disciple learning moment burried in Jesus’ feeding of 4000 men, plus women and children. Mark tells us in v21 that the disciples were having a difficult time grasping the Gospel of the Kingdom as taught by Jesus. He tells us in v21 that Jesus became so frustrated with them, that He blurts out, Guys, why don’t you understand?!!!! The problem the disciples were having was a case of spiritual blindness. They simply could not see the presence of God in what Jesus did in vs1-9.

I’ve entitled our study, Jesus Exposes Spiritual Blindness. Another way to be spiritual blind is to be spiritually undiscerning. So here’s the question for us, are you spiritually undiscerning? Or, I might ask myself, am I spiritually undiscerning?

II. OVERVIEW

Now to our study, Jesus is in a region known as Decapolis, located on the east side of the Sea of Galilee which was dominated by non-Jewish people. The drama before us in vs1-21 unfolds like a three act play.

In the first Act, vs1-9, Jesus feeds 4000 men, plus women and children, in what we might call a ‘food desert’. With the additional woman and children pointed out by Matthew, we’re probably pushing 10,000 people
The second Act comes in vs 10-12, where Jesus confronts the spiritual blind Pharisees, and ultimately leaves them in their blindness.
The third Act comes in vs13-21, where Jesus confronts the spiritual blindness of His disciples.

With your Bibles open to Mark 8, follow along as I read for us vs 1-21. I’m reading from The Message.

¹ At about this same time he again found himself with a hungry crowd on his hands. He called his disciples together and said, ² “This crowd is breaking my heart. They have stuck with me for three days, and now they have nothing to eat. ³ If I send them home hungry, they’ll faint along the way—some of them have come a long distance.”

⁴ His disciples responded, “What do you expect us to do about it? Buy food out here in the desert?”

⁵ Jesus responded, “How much bread do you have?” “Seven loaves,” they said.

⁶ So Jesus told the crowd to sit down on the ground. After giving thanks, he took the seven bread loaves, broke them into pieces, and gave them to his disciples so they could hand them out to the crowd. ⁷ They also had a few fish. He pronounced a blessing over the fish and told his disciples to hand them out as well. ⁸ The crowd ate its fill ‘and was satisfied’. Seven baskets of leftovers were collected. ⁹ There were well over four thousand at the meal. Then he sent them home.

¹⁰ After sending them away, Jesus went straight to the boat with his disciples and set out for Dalmanutha. ¹¹ When they arrived, the Pharisees came out and started in on him, badgering him to prove himself, pushing him up against the wall.

¹² Provoked, he said, “Why does this generation clamor for miraculous guarantees? If I have anything to say about it, you’ll not get so much as a hint of a guarantee.” ¹³ He then left them, got back in the boat, and headed for the other side.

¹⁴ But the disciples forgot to pack a lunch. Except for a single loaf of bread, there wasn’t a crumb in the boat. ¹⁵ Jesus warned, “Be very careful. Keep a sharp eye out for the contaminating yeast of Pharisees and the followers of Herod.”

¹⁶ Meanwhile, the disciples were finding fault with each other because they had forgotten to bring bread. ¹⁷ Jesus overheard and said, “Why are you fussing because you forgot bread? Don’t you see the point of all this? Don’t you get it at all? ¹⁹ Remember the five loaves I broke for the five thousand? How many baskets of leftovers did you pick up?” They said, “Twelve.” ²⁰ “And the seven loaves for the four thousand—how many bags full of leftovers did you get?” “Seven.” ²¹ He said, “Do you still not get it?”

Let’s take a moment to ask God to give us insight as to the lessons He wants us to learn in the drama spearheaded by the feeding of the masses. “Heavenly Father, thank you for this time you’ve given us to open your Word. We really believe that Your written word is Your voice speaking to us. Thank you for the clarity, encouragement and hope Your Word brings. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

III. FEEDING OF THE 4000 (vs 1-9)

The first Act of this 3-Act drama comes in vs1-9. With the opening verses of chap 8, we find ourselves in what seems to be a repetition of the feeding of the 5000 in chap 6. In both of these accounts the disciples are stumped with a mega problem--sizeable crowds with only enough food for one person. They find themselves totally overwhelmed and powerless to meet the pressing needs of hungry people.

It is so easy for us to miss the teaching moment. The sequence of stories here are not without purpose. The disciples are in a similar position as the deaf-mute man. Though not physically impaired, they are spiritual impaired—they are seeing but not understanding. There is a huge lesson here for the disciples, as well as for us. Let’s focus on the story. Mark and Matthew tell us that the crowd numbered 4000 men, and Matthew inserts that there were also women and children (Matt 15:38). So we’re talking upwards to 10,000 people would be my guess. Jesus tells us in v2 that they have been hanging out with Him for 3 days. Because of the length of time, we’re told that Jesus felt compassion for the people for reasons of hunger, weariness, and the lack of food resources. [i]

V4, the disciples acknowledge the food problem. But Jesus seems to ignore the obstacle they pointed out, and asks them what food was actually available. They respond in v5, seven loaves (probably small buns), and V7, a few small fish. Jesus takes the seven loaves and small fish and proceeds to feed the crowd much like He fed the 5000 earlier. V8, this huge crowd ate and were satisfied. Think about this, this hungry crowd was totally satisfied with the broken pieces of bread and fish. [ii]

Now for the 10 ^th plus time, the disciples find themselves again faced with the dramatic display of messianic power of Jesus—4000 hungry people satisfied by 7 small loaves and a few fish. The point for them and us, is that all these events clearly revealed Jesus’ power, and the miraculous multiplication of food shouted out His omnipotence. ^[iii] But they didn’t get it. I love the way Kent Hughes captures this moment: The people came to Jesus famished. They were so hungry that Jesus feared they might collapse on the way home. But the desolation of the place did not hinder His power to feed 4000 people! Listen, Whatever the Lord has given us, there is still far more for Him to give us. We are meant to be hungry, and to eat and eat and eat. Jesus is saying, “Listen up, “I am sufficient for the whole world and all its needs. Learn it well.” [iv]

IV. THE PHARISEE DRAMA (vs 10-12)

That brings us to the second Act of this 3-Act drama, vs10-12. After feeding the 4000, v10, Jesus and disciples leave for the west side of the sea of Galilee to the town of Dalmanutha. [v] When they arrived, V11, The Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, to test Him. Now understand, they had already seen great signs. But in seeing them, they accused Jesus of being in cahoots with Satan (3:22). Here they are asking Jesus for a grandiose sign in the skies. They wanted something absolutely spectacular, despite the healings and raising the dead.

The word for test is the same word for tempt used in Luke 4:1 when Satan tempted Jesus. At the end of Satan’s endeavor, v11 tells us that Satan left Him until ‘another’ opportune time. In John 8:44 Jesus tells His antagonists that they are the children of Satan. And in 2 Timothy 2:26 we’re told that Satan uses his people to do his will. This is one of those opportune times, using the antagonism of the Pharisees to accomplish his will. [v i] Mark 8:12, Jesus became extremely angry. Sighing deeply in His spirit, He said, “Why does this generation seek for a sign? Truly I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” [vii] Jesus sighing deeply was a mark of dismay at being tempted by these self-righteous hypocrites. The English translation misses the harshness of Jesus’ rebuke to the Pharisees. He was really angry with them. He was actually telling them forcefully that He would personally prevent them from getting a sign from heaven at all costs. [viii]

Similar to the rejection at Nazareth, Jesus turns abruptly and leaves. There’s a terrible lesson here to jot down. This is ultimately what Jesus does to those who continually refuse Him. There comes a time when He gives no more signs, no more help . [ix] So Matthew 7:21-23, Depart from Me, I never knew you, you who practice lawlessness. 1 John 3:4 ^(NASB95) tells us that sin is lawlessness. Continuing in sin without godly repentance places us on the ‘no hope list’ with Jesus

V. CONFRONTING THE DISCIPLES UNBELIEF (vs 13-21)

That brings us to the third Act of this 3-Act drama, vs13-2 Jesus leaves the Pharisees stewing and gets back into the boat, v13, and heads to Bethsaida. V14 the disciples became hungry, but they had forgotten to pick up bread at the local bread store, and began to blame one another for forgetfulness. Remember, there were 13 grown men in this boat, counting Jesus. Mark points out for us in V14, in the heat of the debate they had missed the fact they did indeed have at least one loaf.

Mark is making a subtle point here—that one loaf of bread represented Jesus, and because He was and is the omnipotent baker, He could jolly well multiply that one loaf into more than enough food for all of them . . . but the disciples were too busy blaming one another. They were too caught up in the mundane to see the One who could provide and meet their need. Mark this down: Their worries about their next meal blinded them to Who was seated in their midst.

V15, Jesus broke into their heated debate, Guys, listen up. I want to warn you about the leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod. In the Old Testament ‘leaven’ symbolized corruption and infectious power of evil. David Garland points out for us that in Jesus’ day leaven was produced by keeping back a piece of the previous week’s dough, storing it in suitable conditions, and adding juices to promote the process of fermentation. But this homemade rising agent was fraught with health hazards because it could easily become tainted; if tainted, it would spread poison into a new batch of dough. That is the idea Jesus used to refer to the Pharisees and Herod’s obnoxious behavior. [x]

In His interruption, Jesus was warning the disciples not to fall victim to the insidious attitude and unbelief of the Pharisees, and of Herod. Being so absorbed in their own little world about their next meal was the beginning of tainted leaven, and was about to spoil them spiritually. The point is, our concerns for survival in this COVID pandemic can easily distract us and become like poisonness leaven.

Just as the disciples lost sight of God’s presence and became bitterly obsessed with the apparent lack of resources, so we can lose sight of God’s presence and became bitterly obsessed with the apparent lack of resources. The poison that ensues kills our joy, our confidence, and our peace in Jesus.
Just as the disciples’ anxiety blinded them to seeing the presence of God in their midst, so our anxieties can blind us to the presence of God in our midst.

From Alistair Begg, Hostility and hypocrisy is not the approach that says, “I’m so eager to find out what this is about and what it really means,” but it is the approach that says, “I don’t really want to find out what is true, and I don’t care, and frankly, I don’t want to know.” And so Jesus warns the disciples and us, “You better be careful that you don’t end up taking on board some of this poisonness leaven, because even a small amount of it produces unbelief and can have a significant negative spiritual impact on us.” [xi]

V16, in spite of Jesus’ stepping into the heated food debate, the disciples kept on arguing over the lack of bread. V17, So Jesus steps in again, only this time He hammers them with a series of questions like a chef hammering steak or chicken breast to tenderize it.

¹⁷ “Why do you discuss the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet see or understand? Do you have a hardened heart?

^18“ HAVING EYES, DO YOU NOT SEE? AND HAVING EARS, DO YOU NOT HEAR?

And do you not remember, ¹⁹ when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces you picked up?” They said to Him, “Twelve.”

²⁰ “When I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of broken pieces did you pick up?” And they said to Him, “Seven.”

Jesus then wraps it up with a final gut wrenching question, v21, “Guys, Do you not yet understand?” Don’t miss this: In the heat of that moment the disciples were not appropriating what they had seen and heard. Jesus was telling them that though they had ears to hear, and a tongue to speak, when it came to spiritual things, they were no different than the Pharisees and Herod, or the deaf-mute man. They were so stuck on the moment, they were missing valuable spiritual lessons.

VI. TRUTHS THAT SHAPE OUR LIVES

Let’s pause here and reflect for a moment on the story. In what ways can this drama shape us in today’s world?

A. Let’s consider a lessons from Act I. The Feeding of the 4000 (vs1-9)

The opening segment of feeding the 4000 men, plus women and children (most likely pushing the numbers upwards to 10,000), begins with Jesus saying, v2, I feel compassion for the people . . .

Do you ever feel as though God is so busy with important concerns that He couldn’t possibly be aware of your needs? Bruce Barton reminds us that just as Jesus was concerned about these people’s need for food, He is also concerned about our daily needs. In Matthew 6:31-32 Jesus said, “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ … Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things”

Jesus knows that you are struggling, whether it be physically, emotionally, and/or spiritually. He also knows that you may be at the point of collapse. He knows about COVID and the frustrations of lock-downs. The strains can bring to mind that God doesn’t care two-bits about what we are going through. Mark this down: He knows. He cares. And like He was in the boat with the disciples, He is in life with us also. There is nothing too large for him to handle and no need too small to escape His interest. [xii] He is here. Call on Him.

B. Act II: The Pharisee Problem (vs10-12) gives us our second lesson

In vs11-12 the Pharisees buttonholed Jesus, seeking to test Him. [xiii] They wanted some kind of radical display in the skies that would demonstrate Jesus’ identity as God. Yet, they were surrounded by a sea of deity demonstrations—the blind seeing, the lame walking, the deaf hearing, the mute speaking, storms calmed, multitudes feed miraculously. But they still refused to accept the miraculous as proof of Jesus’ deity. Because they refused, do not miss this, v13, Jesus walks away. Mark this down: spiritual blindness is absolutely dangerous. Ephesians 4:17-18 describes it as being excluded from the life of God.

Many people, like these Jewish leaders, say they want to see a miracle so that they can believe despite a sea of miracles. Do you doubt Jesus because you haven’t seen a miracle? Do you expect God to prove himself to you personally before you believe? Jesus said, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29 nkjv). We have all the miracles recorded in the Old and New Testaments, two thousand years of church history, and the witness of thousands (Hebrews 11). But despite the evidence, belief is difficult for the proud of heart. The proud heart is a hard heart. A hard heart is a blind heart. [xi v] In John 8:24 ^(NASB95) Jesus said, “unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” That is the way of a harden heart. Don’t let your heart be hardening.

C. That brings us to a lesson from Act III: where Jesus Confronts The Spiritual Blindness of His Disciples (vs13-21)

The disciples are again in the boat, this time headed for Bethsaida. Away from the drama of the crowds and the Pharisees, they create their own drama. With time to spare, they became preoccupied with the mundane. Their hunger and forgetfulness blinded them to the food source sitting in the boat with them. To break them out of their blindness Jesus hammers on them with a series of questions meant to peel back their spiritual cataracts.

When Jesus questioned his disciples about the recent miracles, He was dealing with unbelief and hardness of heart, not giving a quiz on numbers of basket full leftovers. Follow me. The disciples had become so mired in their own little world they could not see God’s reign in their very own midst. Their concern about the lack of bread was totally amiss. Jesus was telling them, use your heads. Think, think, think. Remember what you have seen.

William Hendriksen points out that their failure to take to heart the lessons which Jesus had taught them earlier by word and deed was inexcusable. [xv] They should have understood that Jesus would meet their needs—whether for bread or for spiritual insight. He wanted the disciples to think about what they had seen, especially in the two feeding miracles. Jesus is saying to the disciples and to us, “I am the Son of God, and nothing is too hard for Me.” ^[xvi]

I don’t want to be trite or trivial, but me things that our present pandemic struggles are causing many of us to lose hope that God can provide, that He is absolutely in control, and living with us. This pandemic is not out of range of His abilities.

And that my friends is absolutely true …

Let’s close in prayer … Lord, we fall so short of you and your mission. The world we live in is so very needy and hurting. Burden us to sow your word earnestly that we may see a harvest. Take away our sin. Take away our scholarly unbelief and doubt. Take away our fears of what people would think of us. And anoint us with power afresh to sow your eternal Word. And like your disciples of old, serve you to the ends of the earth until you come. In your holy name, we pray. Amen.

As you go this week, remember . . . Jesus is more than enough. There is no obstacle that we are facing that is too big for our God. That is why we should not be anxious about life as to what we will eat, drink, or wear. Look at the birds of the air, and the squirrels on the ground. They never sow nor reap, yet they feast all winter long because our heavenly Father feeds them. Are we not more valuable then the birds and squirrels? (Mathew 6:25-27).

If you find this message helpful … and would like to contribute to this ministry, … go to our website: Bensenvillebiblechurch.com … click on the Donation drop down … and pick your donation preference. And Don’t forget … God’s got you no matter your difficulties. Looking forward to meeting up with you again … at next week’s posting.

[i] John MacArthur, Our Compassionate Provider (Mark 8:1-9), https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/41-36/our-compassionate-provider V2 , Jesus speaking says, “I feel compassion” - I feel compassion; that is a very interesting statement because that is the only place in the four gospels where Jesus ever says that. “I feel compassion” – first person singular. There are many references to His compassion – third person. It is said by the writer Mark, in Mark 1:41 , that He felt compassion. Again in chapter 6, when He saw the hungry multitude, He felt compassion. In Matthew 9:36 , Matthew 14:14 and 15:32 , 20:34 , it says, “Jesus felt compassion,” “Jesus had compassion.” Luke 7:13 , He felt compassion on the widow of Nain. But this is the only place it’s in the first person. In all those other places, it is a human observation that He felt compassion only because it’s manifested that He did compassionate things. You could determine that He felt compassion because He acted compassionately. So, it’s an assumption that He had compassion by behavior. Hebrews 2:17 (NASB95) 17Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

[ii] In John’s Gospel account of the feeding of the 5000, Jesus purposefully taught, I am the bread of life. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If a man eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world (John 6:48-51)

[iii] Cf., R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior , vol. 1, Preaching the Word (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1989), 187.

[iv] R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior , vol. 1, Preaching the Word (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1989), 188.

[v] https://www.huffpost.com/entry/dalmanutha-biblical-town-gospel-of-mark-sea-of-galilee_n_3940919 . Dalmanutha is only mentioned in Mark’s Gospel, but the corresponding passage in Matthew 15:39 says , “And he sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala,” which has been identified with some certainty as the modern-day town of Migdal, located slightly inland near Israel’s Ginosar Valley. Magdala is perhaps most well-known for its association with Mary Magdalene, or Mary of Magdala, who may have been born in the town.

[vi] John 8:44 (NASB95) 44“You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 2 Timothy 2:26 (NASB95) 26and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.

[vii] In Matthew’s account His anger is accentuated, Matthew 16:1–4 (NASB95) 1The Pharisees and Sadducees came up, and testing Jesus, they asked Him to show them a sign from heaven. 2But He replied to them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ 3“And in the morning, ‘There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times? 4“An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and a sign will not be given it, except he sign of Jonah.” And He left them and went away.

[viii] David E. Garland, Mark , The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996), 308. The English translation of the second part of Jesus’ response misses his sharp denial. The text reads literally, “If a sign will be given to this generation.” This comment is part of an oath formula, though it omits the threat of evil on oneself that normally accompanies such a comment: “May God strike me down,” or, “May I be accursed of God,” if a sign is to be given to this generation. This oath fragment does more than say that no sign will be given this generation; it conveys with some vehemence that he will prevent it from happening at all costs.

[ix] R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior , vol. 1, Preaching the Word (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1989), 189. Matthew 7:21–23 (NASB95) 21“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22“Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23“And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’

[x] David E. Garland, Mark , The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996), 310.

[xi] Alistair Begg, Do You Still Not Understand? (Mark 8:1-21), https://www.truthforlife.org/resources/sermon/do-you-still-not-understand/

[xii] Bruce B. Barton, Mark , Life Application Bible Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1994), 217.

[xiii] See Matthew 16:1-4

[xiv] Bruce B. Barton, Mark , Life Application Bible Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1994), 224.

[xv] William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of the Gospel According to Mark , vol. 10, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 319–320.

[xvi] Bruce B. Barton, Mark , Life Application Bible Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1994), 228–229.

20 - Jesus Heals The Mute (Mark 7:31-37)

kijabi4@yahoo.com (David Wolfe) — Sat, 08 May 2021 18:55:08 GMT

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19 - The Power Of Mega Faith (Mark 7:24-37)

kijabi4@yahoo.com (David Wolfe) — Sat, 08 May 2021 18:34:14 GMT

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The Power Of Mega Faith

(Mark 7:24-37)

I. INTRODUCTION

Hello. This is Dr. David Wolfe, coming to you from Bensenville Bible Church at 280 S. York Rd., Bensenville, a church where pretty much everybody knows your name.

The word that God has for us today comes from Mark’s Gospel, chap 7, vs24-37. There is also a companion passage in Matthew’s Gospel, 15:21-30. We want to keep foremost in our minds that what we are looking at is the message of the Gospel of the Kingdom. We do not want to lose sight of that truth.

Jesus was now in His final year of ministry. He takes His disciples to Tyre, Gentile Territory. In doing so He demonstrated that God’s kingdom knows no ethnic, racial, national or gender barriers.

In the story, He meets up with a Gentile woman, in total desperation, seeking Him out because her daughter was being cruelly tortured by a demon.

The story wraps up with Jesus saying to her, woman, your faith is great ; it shall be done for you as you wish (Matt 15:28). Think about that for a moment!!! Despite her overwhelming anguish, Jesus said to her, You have great faith . That is an unbelievable combination—anguish and great faith.

There are thousands of people who are said to have walked with God in the Bible, but only a few are commended for their faith. Here is a woman swamped by despairing circumstances, and in the midst of it all, Jesus said to her, you have great faith. O that it could be said of us, that in the midst of our anguish that we have great faith. I’ve entitled our study today The Power Of Mega Faith.

Because of COVID’S seemingly rebound, Zoom, FaceBook, YouTube, and Instagram are our chosen means of gathering together. Let’s take a break and join our worship team in lifting our voices in giving glory to our God and Savior who brings the light of salvation to the nations (Isaiah 42)

With your Bibles open to Mark 7:24-30, along with the study-guide sent out, and perhaps a cup of coffee . . . or tea . . . or warm-milk . . . let’s take an in-depth look at the word that God has for us today.

II. OVERVIEW

In this section Jesus leaves Capernaum and hikes off to Tyre, roughly 35-40 mile hike. ^[i] No speeding cars, buses, or trains. It’s all done by walking, walking, and more walking. Makes me tired just thinking about it. Tyre was a major seaport located in modern day Lebanon. The city was a major center of economics and the worship of the fertility goddess Astarte, and a major center of Baal worship propagated by Jezebel (1 Kings 18). In Tyre Jesus was met by a Syrophoencian woman who would have been considered ‘unclean’ by the religious establishment. But Jesus was on mission to intentionally fulfill God’s plan “to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10).

Jesus did not passively wait for sinners to come to Him, but intentionally went after them, crossing ethnic, racial, and gender barriers. In Luke 15:1–7 Jesus weaves a story about a man who loses one of his sheep, and leaves the herd to find the sheep that was lost. He concludes the story with these words, "there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance" ( Luke 15:7 ). Thru out the Gospel stories Jesus taught His disciples, and us in the 20th century, that no man or woman is too sinful or too far-gone to be saved. An example of this is this Syrophoencian woman consumed in desperation to rid her daughter from the grip of a cruel demon. [ii ] The faith of this woman stands in stark contrast to the unbelief of the Pharisees and Scribes, and even outshines the faith of the 12 disciples.

Let’s take a moment to ask God to give us insight as to the faith struggles that we all have. “Heavenly Father, thank you for this time you’ve given us to open your Word. We ask that you give us discernment as to the faith needed to live for you. Thank you for the clarity, encouragement and hope Your Word brings. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

III. THE SYOPHOENICIAN WOMAN’S CRY FOR HELP

With your Bibles open, follow along as I read the story given to us in Mark 7:24–30 ^(NASB95) the word that God has for us today.

²⁴ Jesus got up and went away from there (that is Capernaum) to the region of Tyre. And when He had entered a house, He wanted no one to know of it; yet He could not escape notice. ²⁵ But after hearing of Him, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately came and fell at His feet. ²⁶ Now the woman was a Gentile, of the Syrophoenician race. And she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter. ²⁷ And He was saying to her, “Let the children be satisfied first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” ²⁸ But she answered and said to Him, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs under the table feed on the children’s crumbs.” ²⁹ And He said to her, “Because of this answer go; the demon has gone out of your daughter.” ³⁰ And going back to her home, she found the child lying on the bed, the demon having left.

A. Tyre

V24, Jesus leaves Capernaum and heads for the region of Tyre. Of course our curious minds want to know, why did Jesus hike off to Tyre? I’m glad that you asked . . .

Jesus loves parables and real life object lessons. So He brings His disciples to the city of Tyre to give them an object lesson about ethnicity, and I might say, faith in a way they had not seen. Kent Hughes reminds us that Jesus had just come off of a huge clash with the religious establishment over the whole issue of ritual defilement, arguing that externals do not defile a person, but what is within makes a person unclean. [iii]

From Ray Stedman, Jesus was illustrating in terms of people groups what he had just said in the previous verses about food. There … all foods are clean; here all peoples are clean in the sense of being acceptable to God. As there are no defiling foods; so there are no defiling people groups. To illustrate, Jesus brings the disciples to a Gentile city to challenge their Jewish scruples on ethnicity. [iv]

Here Jesus forms the roots for the Great Commission in Matthew 28, Go into all the world . . . for the Gospel of the Kingdom is the power of God to all people everywhere who would believe (Rom 1:16). When Jesus arrives in Tyre He seeks out a place to stay unnoticed. But there was no privacy. V25, soon after arrival a local woman heard of His where-abouts, and came to seek Him out. Don’t miss this: The drama here is rich. Mark and Matthew highlight the incredible racial, cultural, gender, and demonic boundaries that stood as a divide between her, Jesus, and the disciples.

B. What do we know about this woman?

We are not told the woman’s name, but a careful look at both Mark and Matthew’s account, we are given some insight as to this woman.

§ V25 she has a little daughter with an unclean spirit. Matthew 15:22, we’re told that the demon was especially cruel to her little girl, and by simple association, cruel to her.

§ v26 this woman was a Gentile/Greek, of the Syrophoenician race.

§ Matthew 15:22 describes her as a Canaanite, which places her as a clear outsider of Israel. [v]

§ Mark and Matthew also tells us that she was very distraught. In Mark’s account, v26, she was like a dripping faucet. She wouldn’t be silenced. It was so disturbing, Matthew 15:23 the disciples implored Jesus, saying, “Send her away, because she keeps shouting at us.”

The reason she was relentless was because Jesus seemed to ignore her (Matt. 15:23)

Her life and home must have been a whirlwind of satanic mayhem. Because Tyre was a center of idol worship, most likely she had spent numerous hours trying to appease the idol gods to no avail. [vi]

C. What Was Her Request of Jesus?

She hears Jesus is in town, and rushes madly through the streets to the house. Upon arriving, she began to cry out very loudly, (Matt 15:22) Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed.

It is striking how she addressed Jesus. Notice she addresses Him as Lord, Son of David. She was articulating clearly her understanding of Jesus’ identity—the promised Messiah. Her words stands in total contrast to the Pharisees and Scribes in the previous section. Don’t miss this, This is a Gentile announcing to all, This is the Messiah.

D. How did Jesus’ Respond

In the midst of her pleas, Matthew tells us that Jesus did not answer her a word (15:23). His silence must have aggravated her all the more, resulting in her shouting all the louder at Jesus.

Ray Pritchard writes: Nothing terrifies us more than the silence of heaven. It happens to all of us from time to time. We wait and pray and seek the Lord, and yet the heavens seemingly are tightly closed. When that happens, we must not let our feelings rule our hearts. Even though Jesus did not speak immediately to this Canaanite woman, He heard everything she said. [vii]

She had a burden, and intended to drive it home into the heart of Jesus.

John MacArthur points out for us that in Jesus’ silence, He was illustrating a vital spiritual point—both for her and for His disciples—putting on display the robustness character of her faith. ^[viii]

Back to Mark 7, we pick up the interaction between her and Jesus. V27, Jesus finally responds to her pleas. He said to her, “Let the children be satisfied first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”

Talk about a tough conversation! Jesus appears so callous.

First, He is silent (appearing to ignore her), which most likely drove her and the disciples a tad nutty. But she refuses to let Jesus’ silence turn her away. She’s like a dripping faucet. She won’t quit until she gets an answer.

Second, when Jesus finally breaks the silence, He seems rude and uncaring--“Let the children be satisfied first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”

You don’t want to miss this truth: Jesus was probing her heart. He does this by contrasting her cry for help and His mission. His mission was the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matt 15:24). He’s telling her straight up that His first priority was the children— in Matthew children referred to the Jews, but in Mark’s context it seems to implied the 12 disciples.

When He said to her it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs, the Gk word for dog here is not referring to a monstrous dog, such as a German Shepherd, but to a puppy, a small dog like our 20 ^th century ‘lap dogs’ entangle themselves around chair and table legs.

In context, Jesus implies that this woman was interrupting His purpose in being in Tyre. He had come to spend time to teach his disciples, and not do miracles for a woman who was not even a Jew. He was not insulting her; but instead saying that she should wait for God’s appointed time when the Gentiles would receive the good news of the gospel of the Kingdom. [ix]

Matthew tells us that in the midst of the dialogue, 15:25, in exasperation, she falls to her knees before Jesus, and pleads, Lord ‘just’ help me.

V28, She is one determined lady. She refuses to allow Jesus to dissuade her. She comes back at Him, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs under the table feed on the children’s crumbs.”

This woman is absolutely amazing. We would be offended, but she is not. She graciously accepts what Jesus said, and then comes right back at Him, “Yes, I am a little dog, so I get some of the children of Israel’s crumbs.” I love Martin Luther’s words, “She catches Jesus with His own words. [x]

This is so powerful. Essentially she was saying, “even though I am undeserving, can I please have a scrap? I know that you are the son of God, and through you all things are possible.

This is absolutely fascinating. Here we have a Gentile woman who clearly understood Jesus’ words. She was not offended. But in them she found hope.

I think of Mary, Jesus’ mother, back in the early days as a 14 yr old teen ager. She sang a song of celebration in Luke 1:46-55 ^(NASB95) in celebration of her being chosen by God for His purposes. In that song she sang these powerful words, V53, “God HAS FILLED THE HUNGRY WITH GOOD THINGS; And sent away the rich empty-handed.

This syrophonician woman was one very hungry woman. Write these words down, The Lord celebrates a hungry desperate faith, a violent faith if you please—a faith that doesn’t let go, it persists against all odds. [xi]

E. What Was Jesus’ Answer?

V29, And He said to her, “Because of your answer go; the demon has gone out of your daughter.” [xii]

Matthew’s account ends with a much more powerful punchline: V28 “O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed at once.

When Jesus said, “Great is your faith,” He used a Greek word that carries the idea of “mega.” He was saying, “Woman, you have Mega-faith.” This is the only time Jesus ever said this to describe someone’s faith. Mark this down

He said it to a Gentile, not a Jew.

He said it to a woman, not a man.

He said it to an outsider, not an insider.

He said it to a pagan who believed, not a priest.

IV. TRUTHS THAT SHAPE OUR LIVES

Let’s pause here and highlight a few things that we can learn from this story. The focus of this story is all about this woman’s faith described by Jesus as Mega Faith.

There is no doubt about it, this Gentile Syrophoenician Canaanite woman was one persistent woman. Persistence has its place, but in this story that is not what caught Jesus’ attention. In addition, it wasn’t her persistence that broke the demonic grip on her daughter.

In light of this Gentile Syrophoenician Canaanite woman, how does your faith and how does my faith stack up?

Let’s take a moment and zero in on what I calling FIVE Mega-Faith truth FIGHTERS.

A. First, spiritual combat calls for mega-faith in Jesus

We can think of a lot of circumstances that call for mega-faith. But in context, this woman was in a real spiritual battle. Somehow a demon had gotten a grip on her daughter. The point is, when we are in a spiritual battle, mega faith is absolutely necessary.

Think about this. We’re told in Ephesian 6:12 ^(ESV) Our battles are not with people, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

This woman was really stressed out because there was a ‘real live’ demon in her house. Somehow, we’re not told how, this demon had taken over her little daughter, and thereby taken over her house. Matthew tells us it was cruel demon.

This woman was in a continual terrifying spiritual battle, taking her beyond her natural abilities. Somehow over the past two years of Jesus’ ministry, she came to believe that if anyone could fix her problem, it would be Jesus. This distressed mother exemplifies for us that when it comes to spiritual warfare with the demonic world, we need Mega-faith in Jesus, Son of God, if we are to experience real-time deliverance from the enemies terrorizing grip.

B. Second, Mega-Faith is the foundation stone of prayer perseverance that overcomes discouragement

Mega-faith produces prayer perseverance. She didn’t give up, even though initially Jesus seemingly turns a deaf ear to her. She continually persisted, pleading again and again for Jesus to heal her daughter.

Her pleas illustrate for us what Jesus had said in Matthew 7:7-8, “Keep on Asking, and it will be given to you; keep on seeking, and you will find; keep on knocking, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”

The Syro-Phoenician woman is faithfully asking, seeking, knocking, pulling at God’s heartstrings through the right course of action.

Our prayers are often to short in length and duration. The Syro-Phoenician woman hung in there despite Jesus’ silence, the disciples trying to drive her away, and Jesus’ seeming callousness towards her.

C. Third, Mega-Faith freely surrenders circumstances to God.

Rodney Fry captures this aptly when he writes: Mega-faith throws itself at the feet of Jesus. This was an act of submission, carrying the idea of abandonment to the purpose, plan, and power of God. She didn’t come with her own plan and ask Jesus to bless it. She said, “Lord, I give my burden to You.” It’s frightening to give up control, but when we yield control to Christ, freedom comes! [xiii]

It is so easy to get upset and shake our fists at God when things aren’t going right. We should instead, ask Him for help and to change our circumstances. Let Him take the wheel and trust what He is going to do. As demonstrated by this Syrophoenician Canaanite woman. Mega-Faith knows that no matter the situation in our lives or someone else’s, God can resolve the issues at hand.

D. Fourth, Mega Faith is characterized by humility

This Syrophoenician woman was extremely humble as we watch her interact with Jesus. In 2 Kings 5 we read about Naaman, a Leper and the commander of the Syrian army. He was told to meet up with Elisha for healing.

Elisha told him to go to the Jordan River and dip seven times and he would be healed. However, Naaman had a problem dipping in a muddy river. What he wanted was a majestic healing, not dipping in the dirty Jordan river. In fact, if it wasn’t for his servant, he wouldn’t have done it. Naaman’s attitude stands in stark contrast to this Canaanite woman in Mark 7. This woman was ready to do anything and accepted everything with humility.

E. Fifth, Mega Faith is centralized on the Word of Christ.

This Gentile Syrophoenician Canaanite woman took Jesus at His word. She believed in the reality of God, and because of that belief sought Him out intentionally, and in doing so pleased God. Just as Hebrews 11:6 ^(NASB95) states it, Without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to Him must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

And that my friends is absolutely true

Let’s close in prayer

Lord, we fall so short of you and your mission. The world we live in is so very needy and hurting. Burden us to sow your word earnestly that we may see a harvest. Take away our sin. Take away our scholarly unbelief and doubt. Take away our fears of what people would think of us. And anoint us with power afresh to sow your eternal Word. And like your disciples of old, serve you to the ends of the earth until you come. In your holy name, we pray. Amen.

As you go this week, keep upper most in your mind the story of the Gentile Syrophoenician Canaanite woman’s mega faith:

§ a faith that held no pompous merit,

§ a faith that surrendered her anxiety,

§ a faith that was characterized by humility, and

§ a faith that was centralized on the truth of the word of Christ.

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Well, keep COVID germs front center in your thinking; Illinois has past positivity rate of 11; so wear your mask; wash your hands; keep measurable distances, build your immunity with vitamins, and eat your vegetables,

And Don’t forget . . . God’s got you no matter

Looking forward to meeting up with you again at next week’s posting.

[i] https://www.bible-history.com/map_jesus/MAPJESUSNew_Testament_Cities_Distances.htm . https://www.bing.com/search?q=distance%20between%20tyre%20and%20sidon&pc=cosp&ptag=G6C15N1D050619AA794BFC089&form=CONBDF&conlogo=CT3210127

[ii] Cf., There is an interesting parallel between Jesus' ministry to a Phoenician woman and Elijah's ministry to a Phoenician woman in 1 Kgs. 17. In both God's love, concern, and help are available to the hated Gentiles. This may have been another veiled evidence of His Messiahship.

[iii] R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior , vol. 1, Preaching the Word (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1989), 171.

[iv] Ray Stedman, When Rite Is Wrong (Mark 7:24-30), https://www.raystedman.org/new-testament/mark/when-rite-is-wrong

[v] Donald A. Hagner, Matthew 14–28 , vol. 33B, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1995), 441. The term “Canaanite” has inevitable OT associations with the pagan inhabitants of Palestine displaced by the Jews and thus contrasts the woman all the more with the people of God

[vi] Psalm 115:4–8 (NASB95) 4Their idols are silver and gold, The work of man’s hands. 5They have mouths, but they cannot speak; They have eyes, but they cannot see; 6They have ears, but they cannot hear; They have noses, but they cannot smell; 7They have hands, but they cannot feel; They have feet, but they cannot walk; They cannot make a sound with their throat. 8Those who make them will become like them, Everyone who trusts in them.

[vii] Ray Pritchard, Mega Faith, https://www.keepbelieving.com/sermon/mega-faith/

[viii] John MacArthur, Mark 1–8 , MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2015), 367.

[ix] Bruce B. Barton, Mark , Life Application Bible Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1994), 209.

[x] R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior , vol. 1, Preaching the Word (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1989), 174.

[xi] Ibid.

[xii] The parable in Luke 18: 1-8 excellently complements this woman’s nature. This parable is about a persistent widow who keeps asking for justice to a judge who neither feared God nor respected man but her persistent nature forced the judge to take action. Not only that, the judge also says that “..will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?”. Hence the persistent nature of the widow brought a big change

[xiii] Rodney Fry, Developing Mega-Faith, (Mark 7:27-29) https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/developing-mega-faith-rodney-fry-sermon-on-faith-18490 2

18 - The Dirty Heart Problem (Mark 7:14-23)

kijabi4@yahoo.com (David Wolfe) — Sat, 24 Apr 2021 20:34:33 GMT

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The Dirty Heart Problem

(Mark 7:14-23)

I. INTRODUCTION

Hello, this is Dr. David Wolfe, coming to you from Bensenville Bible Church located at 280 S. York Rd., Bensenville, A church where pretty much everybody knows your name.

The word that God has for us today is found in Mark’s Gospel, chap 7, vs14-23. There is also a companion passage in Matthew’s Gospel, 15:10-20. William Barclay calls this “well-nigh the most revolutionary passage in the New Testament. [ i] Following Jesus’ telling the Pharisees that they were honoring God with their lips, yet their heart was far away, v6, He also points out in v8 that they had become experts at exchanging the commandment of God for their dead pan traditions. Now, beginning in v14, He turns His attention to the crowd that had gathered, and goes into depth as to the real issue at hand--that of unclean hearts. They were-who-they-were because their hearts were unclean. I’ve entitled our study The Dirty Heart Problem.

Because of the rise of COVID Zoom, FaceBook, YouTube, and Instagram are our chosen means of gathering together. With your Bibles open to Mark 7:14-23, along with the study-guide sent out, and perhaps a cup of coffee . . . or tea . . . or warm-milk . . . let’s take an in-depth look at the word that God has for us today.

II. OVERVIEW

A. Offence and Struggling to Understand

What Jesus taught in these verses was tough going. Just how tough were Jesus’ words? In Matthew’s account the disciples pointed out to Jesus, that He had royally offended the Pharisees (Matt 15:12). However, it wasn’t just the Pharisees that were having a hard time with Jesus’ teaching. Mark tells us that the disciples were having a hard time also. V17, when the disciples were alone with Jesus, they questioned Him. Matthew tells us that the questioning actually began with Peter saying basically to Jesus, Explain yourself to us (Matt 15:15).

B. The Root Of It All

V14 continues what Jesus started in vs6-7. In this section He will uncover the underlying root of hypocrisy and why hearts were far from God. The point Jesus is making, is that external behaviors such as ceremonial cleansings created legalistic formalities to the point of charging God for not following their man-made traditional rules.

In answering Peter and disciples question, v18, Jesus seems to be taken by surprise: ¹ ⁸ “Are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him, ¹⁹ because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?” In the verses that follow, Jesus uses this encounter to unfold important truths about the sinfulness of the human heart.

Let’s take a moment to ask God to give us insight as to the heart problem that we all have. “Heavenly Father, thank you for this time you’ve given us to open your Word. We ask that you give us discernment as to the depravity of our hearts. Thank you for the clarity, encouragement and hope Your Word brings. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

III. MARK 7

A. The Question Of Goodness

1. Are People Really Inherently God, Nonviolent?

In an article entitled Breaking News Alert: People Are Inherently Good, Nonviolent , David Allen writes: When we hear about bad things happening, especially when lives of many are lost or damaged at the hands of a few, we need to remind ourselves that people are generally good. We are hard-wired for goodness. The vast majority of people, when faced with simple, clear ethical choices, choose good over bad and even good over neutral. [ii] This idea of ‘basically good’ seems to be entrenched in our minds despite the evidence. Psychologist and anthropologist argue that evil is not inherent in us. David Camp would have us believe that we all start from a place of moral purity. [iii] But somewhere along the growth process we become victims of our parents, peers, communities, circumstances. Mr Allen further writes: The more governments and individuals do to reduce the conditions that cause the darkness in which violence breeds (wars, poverty, systemic racism, xenophobia, homophobia, religious intolerance, bullying), the fewer acts of horror on the news we will have to process. [iv]

2. The Jesus Question

That begs the question, what do we mean by good?

When trying to define good, we immediately run into problems. In Mark 10:18 a young man addressed Jesus as “Good Teacher”. Jesus responded, Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone . The point that Jesus is making is that when it comes to goodness, God is the standard. Since God is the standard of goodness, Isaiah tells us that all our good acts are like a filthy rag before God . [Isaiah 64:6 ^(NASB95) ]. The Hebrew term ‘filthy rags’ is offensive. It literally means “the bodily fluids from a woman’s menstrual cycle.” The point is, our ‘good acts’ are considered by God as being offensive to Him as a soiled feminine hygiene product. [v] Thus, Romans 3:12 ^(NASB95) there is no one that does good, not even one.

So whatever you and I might think in terms of goodness, those acts of goodness fall far short of the standard set by God. So Romans 3:23 ^(NASB95) ‘we’ continually fall short of the glory of God. God’s glory is the standard of goodness.

John MacArthur sums it up for us when he says, External factors may provide people with unique opportunities to manifest their sinfulness, but the corruption already exists on the inside. All human beings are sinful, perpetrators of crimes against man and God. They are wicked not because of outside influences but because they are full of pride and lust, and “when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin” (James 1:15). [vi] The Bible makes it very clear that at birth we have a nature that is totally corrupt and twisted. [vii]

David wrote following his sin with Bathsheba in Psalm 51:5 ^(NASB95) Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me . [viii ] As Jeremiah clearly states it, “ The heart is more deceitful than all else, and is desperately sick; Who can understand it? [Jer 17:9 ^(NASB95) ] Chris Mueller aptly states it, while our world is banking on the goodness of man, all of us are dying eternally from our internal defilement. All of us have an internal sin-corrupted and sin-saturated heart, and no amount of external change will fix it. [ix]

B. A Closer Look

That brings us to Mark 7:14-23. After rebuking the Jewish leadership for their legalistic rituals and hypocrisy, Jesus now turns to the crowd and blatantly contradicts the religious teachings of the day.

1. V14, He called the crowd to come close and implores them to listen carefully, not because what He is about to say is complicated or difficult to understand, but because this truth will be hard to accept. It is no longer the Pharisees and Scribes front center in the debate. Jesus is about to unfold a universal truth, a truth that applies to all people everywhere and throughout time. [x]

2. V15a , There is nothing outside the man which can defile him if it goes into him. Notice the word defile. Jesus’ uses it five times in this section. It means dirty, unclean, impure, corrupt. The religious teaching of the day boiled down to improperly hand washing defiled the food, and therefore defiled the one eating. One became evil from the outside in. Not much different from today’s thinking. We’re all pretty good. Our problem is our environment. We need to control the environment, because it is the environment that is corrupting us.

The Jews understood what defilement meant. But only saw defilement as outside of a person. It was their position that they could have dirty hands, but a clean heart. They could have dirty feet, but still be good and godly on the inside. That’s why they had all these ritual washings. They were continually washing their hands, while ignoring their heart. The point Jesus was making was that food does not make one dirty before God. The stuff outside of you does not and cannot defile or condemn a person before God.

3. V15b, But the things which proceed out of the man are what defile the man.’” Notice the conjunction But . It is designed to create a contrast with the previous. In total contrast to the outside, it is the condition of the inside that defiles a person spiritually and morally. And here’s the problem we all wrestle with, our internal selves. Jesus’ point, moral contamination is not evidenced by what goes into a person’s mouth, but what comes out of it. Matthew 12:34 ^(NASB95) the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.

Chris Mueller points out for us that The Lord is making a really clear point–the things that corrupt you are not imported, but exported. Things that come out of you, v15, are what defile the man. [xi ] Much like today, the religious leaders had turned sinful corruption into an external issue. Salvation spun off of looking good on the outside, when in actuality the uglies ruled inside a person. [xii]

4.Vs17–18 ¹⁷ When he had left the crowd and entered the house, His disciples questioned Him about the parable. ¹⁸ And He said to them, “Are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him, ¹⁹ because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?”

Jesus responds somewhat surprised that the disciples didn’t get it—V18a, “Are you really, that thick-headed?” It was a mild rebuke after all the instruction they’d received. He then goes over it again, vs18b-19, Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him, ¹⁹ because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?”

Don’t miss this truth—food cannot and will not defile you. Eat the crab legs, have a steak and bake potato. Food goes to the stomach, passes thru the intestines, exits. It does not affect your spiritual relationship with God. It does not change your moral nature. Now mark this down . . . the reason it doesn’t impact your spiritual relationship with God, v19, is because it does not go into the heart—defilement comes from the heart. The heart is already in defilement. A defiled heart estranges us from God.

Christ Muellers writes, Many of us blame on problems on our environment—it’s the liberals, the guns, the lack of education, the entertainment industry, sports idolatry. All of that is to blame. Let’s fix society. Let’s reinstall prayer in schools and plaster the Ten Commandments around where everybody can see them. The point Jesus is making, is that our problem is within us. ^[xiii]

In the Bible the heart (or we might say our mind) is man’s most real self–and it is from there that come our ugly attitudes, ugly talk, ugly thoughts and ugly behavior. Nobody makes us do ugly but ourselves. Jesus describes the pollution in our heart, our mind in vs21-22, as the place of evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, ²² deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness– We don’t need to travel long distances to find the source of these uglies. We don’t need to conduct an exhaustive search. All we have to do is look into the depth of ourselves. From Charles Spurgeon come these words: “The source from which these rivers of pollution proceed is the natural heart of man. Sin is not a splash of mud upon man’s exterior, it is a filth generated within himself.” [xiv]

The complexity of evil is our problem, not our environment. In these two verses Jesus lists 13 evil character traits. It is not meant to be an exhaustive list of evil raging in each heart. [xv] But it’s a call for us to look deeply inside ourselves. For it is out of the depths of our being that come . . .

Evil thoughts: One commentator writes--“Every outward act of sin is preceded by an inward act of choice; therefore Jesus begins with the evil thoughts from which the evil action comes.” It denotes that these things have evil reasoning and perception behind them to justify them, [xvi]
Fornications. a general term for illicit sexual activity, whether mental or physical.
Thefts. illegitimate taking of anything that is not yours.
Murders. Unlawful deliberate killing of a human being
Adulteries. betrayal of the marriage covenant, whether mental or physical.
Deeds of coveting. an unsatisfied, illicit demand for more of something and the deeds one does to satisfy it.
Wickedness. everything God considers malicious and evil expressed in word, attitude, thought, or action.
Deceit. Entrapping others through lies
Sensuality. a demand/desire for unrestrained pleasure, including sexual or erotic pleasure.
Envy. refers to eyes full of jealousy and contempt over other’s blessings and accomplishments.
Slander. abusive, irreverent, false words spoken to or against God or man that damage and defile one’s reputation.
Pride. a haughty or superior attitude.
Foolishness. a moral senselessness that lacks ethical perception and neglects religious duty. [xvii]

Why do we find ourselves struggling with these uglies? We struggle with these uglies because they are imbedded in each of our hearts waiting for the opportune time to gush forth. We are who we are not because of our parents, peers, communities, circumstances . . . but because of the killer wasps that reside in each of us. They were there when we were born. With each maturing day, they grow and swarm, looking for the day they can bit and devour.

Kent Hughs points out that this was/is radical stuff if you think that humankind is intrinsically good. [xviii]

William Lane makes this point so well. He points out what Jesus teaching “attacked the delusion of His day and our day that sinful men cannot attain to true purity before God through the scrupulous observance of ceremony rituals, and pointing out that they are powerless to cleanse the heart that is defiled. Shaping up and flying right is not the avenue for entrance into the kingdom of Jesus. Jesus does not call us to whitewash the outside of our lives to look Christian. Going to church and trying to be a good person is not the Jesus way.

Jesus hammers home the horroredness, V23, All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man . Jesus point, anger is a heart problem. Lust is a heart problem. Malice is a heart problem. Greed is a heart problem. Deceit is a heart problem. Pride is a heart problem. The point Jesus is say, ‘we’ve met the enemy, and it is us’! [xix]

IV. TRUTHS THAT SHAPE OUR LIVES

In responding to the Pharisees criticism of His disciples in v5, Jesus referenced Isaiah 29:13, where He aptly draws a contrast between lips/mouth and the heart. Beginning with v14 Jesus builds on this contrast to the issue about defilement and how a person is polluted. Jesus’ straight up point is that impurity, pollution, uncleanliness is a matter of the heart, and not the mouth.

As I bring this to a close, let me give a couple of pointers for us to carry with us these next days.

A. First, Jesus’ comments propel us to keep our evils front center.

Satan is the arch enemy of God, but he does not cause all wrong doing. That job belongs to our human hearts. Matt Skinner points out that placing blame on Satan lurking in the shadows risks diverting attention from our own propensity to rebel and destroy. We must always remember that horrored evil dwells within ourselves and those we love and trust. [xx]

As I read Jesus’ words in vs 21-22 I am reminded of the time I had contracted to paint a barn in the middle of nowhere. It was a good day for paying bills. I was at the top of the extension ladder, sprayer in hand. I was totally consumed with the job. Suddenly there were wasps flying at me from all directions. To defend myself I shot them down with the sprayer. They went into retreat, except one lone wasp soldier. My defenses down, he swooped in for the sting. He got me, giving me a fat lip.

I thought about Jesus’ bundle of uglies. They are like that swarm of wasps, except they are inside me. They are swarming 24/7, impacting my attitudes, words, thoughts, and behavior. The moment I take my eyes off of them, they swoop in for the sting, and sting they do. We must always remember that horrored evil dwells within ourselves lurking for the sting.

B. Second, It is our sinful hearts that defiles God

V23, Jesus ends with these powerful words, “All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.” Evil is in a constant swirl within us, oozing out and defiling us. Jesus is telling us straight up that we have a major heart problem. All the uglies come directly from deep within ourselves. If we want a clean conscience, we desperately need inner cleansing. As Christ Muller so aptly states it, No religion, prayers, Bible reading, walking aisles, making decisions, talking Jesus, coming to church, speaking Christianese will clean your heart of the ugliness of sin–only Christ can wash us and make us white as snow. [xxi]

C. Third, For our hearts to be cleansed we need God to cleanse us.

After committing murder and adultery, David prayed to God in Psalm 51:7 , “Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” John MacArthur reminds us that No physical act of ceremonial cleansing or external ritual can purify a depraved heart, out of which flows all wicked actions and evil attitudes. Sinners need to be given a new nature, a new heart. Only the Spirit of God can create that (cf. Jer. 31:33; John 3:3–8). So Ezekiel 36:25-27: [xxii] “T hen I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.”

For a heart to be cleansed requires inner transformation. Paul describes this transformation in his letter to Titus 3:5–7 ^(NASB95) ⁵ God saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷ so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

For the heart to be cleansed of its uglies we must follow the principle given to us in 1 John 1:9 ^(NASB95) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. When we confess our sins we become a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17)

D. Fourth, John 3:36 ^(NASB95) “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

Now hear this key truth, If we stay with the Pharisees and turn away or ignore the word of Jesus we will face eternal judgment. Romans 2:5 ^(NASB95) because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, Proverbs 28:26 ^(NASB95 ⁾ He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But he who walks wisely will be delivered.

You just heard God’s Word today, not some pastoral pep talk. This is God’s Word just as Jesus taught it. God’s Word teaches us that we are internally rotten, that our heart is the source of sin, that we are really bad and vile, that we are not forced to be bad by your environment. Things and people do not corrupt us from the outside, but sin is like vomit coming from the inside. As Paul told the Philippian jailer in Acts 16:31, Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be cleansed and saved from the grip of your sin. In that moment you will receive peace with God (Romans 5:1). And that my friends is true

Let’s close in prayer: Lord, we fall so short of you and your mission. The world we live in is so very needy and hurting. Burden us to sow your word earnestly that we may see a harvest. Take away our sin. Take away our scholarly unbelief and doubt. Take away our fears of what people would think of us. And anoint us with power afresh to sow your eternal Word. And like your disciples of old, serve you to the ends of the earth until you come. In your holy name, we pray. Amen.

As you go this week, keep upper most in your mind: . . . Only as we are gloriously regenerated by the free and sovereign grace of God can we have the hearts God means for us to have: fully devoted to Him and His ways, seeking His righteousness in all things, and exchanging expressions of unbelief for those of faith that say He is enough and His ways are best.

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Well, keep COVID germs front center in your thinking; wear your mask; wash your hands; keep measurable distances, build your immunity with vitamins, and vegetables, And Don’t forget . . . God’s got you no matter. Until next time

[i] R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior , vol. 1, Preaching the Word (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1989), 166.

[ii] David Allen, Breaking News Alert: People Are Inherently Good, Nonviolent, https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/11/health/nonviolence-good-wisdom-project/index.html

[iii] Ibid.

[iv] Ibid. In 2007 Philip Zimbardo, social psychologist, wrote a book titled The Lucifer Effect, subtitle Understanding How Good People Turn Evil. He concludes that this pervasive far-reaching problem in our society is environmental. That is, what corrupts us is outside of us. We are all exposed to hostile and I guess you could call them acidic situations we find ourselves in, and our proclivity for evil, our ranging far from human goodness into extreme evil is the result of overexposure to things that are outside of us.

[v] https://www.gotquestions.org/filthy-rags.html

[vi] John MacArthur, Mark 1–8 , MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2015), 350.

[vii] Psalm 51:5 ^(NASB95) Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. Romans 5:12 ^(NASB95) Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned—Romans 5:19 ^(NASB95) For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.

[viii] Romans 5:12 ^(NASB95) Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned—

[ix] Chris Mueller, Polluted From Within (Mark 7:14-23), https://media.faith-bible.net/scripture/mark/polluted-from-within

[x] Men/antropos occurs some 11 times in vs7-23.

[xi] Chris Mueller, Polluted From Within (Mark 7:14-23), https://media.faith-bible.net/scripture/mark/polluted-from-within

[xii] 1 Samuel 16:7 (NASB95) 7But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” Deuteronomy 10:12–16 (NASB95) 12“Now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require from you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13and to keep the LORD’S commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good? 14“Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the highest heavens, the earth and all that is in it. 15“Yet on your fathers did the LORD set His affection to love them, and He chose their descendants after them, even you above all peoples, as it is this day. 16“So circumcise your heart, and stiffen your neck no longer.

[xiii] Chris Mueller, Polluted From Within (Mark 7:14-23), https://media.faith-bible.net/scripture/mark/polluted-from-within

[xiv] David Guzik, Mark 7, Declaring Food and People Clean, https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/mark-7/

[xv] Galatians 5:19-21 lists at least 15 more.

[xvi] David Alves, The Heart of the Problem (Mark 7:14-23), http://www.gracechurchministry.org/archives/5643

[xvii] Ibid.

[xviii] R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior , vol. 1, Preaching the Word (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1989), 168.

[xix] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_have_met_the_enemy. We have met the enemy and they are ours, part of a message from American naval officer Oliver Hazard Perry in 1813 after defeating and capturing Royal Navy ships in the Battle of Lake Erie We have met the enemy and he is us, Pogo creator Walt Kelly 's 20th century parody of Perry's quote

[xx] Matt Skinner, Commentary on Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23, https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=1381

[xxi] Chris Mueller, Polluted From Within (Mark 7:14-23), https://media.faith-bible.net/scripture/mark/polluted-from-within . Isaiah 1:18 (NASB95) 18“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.

[xxii] John MacArthur, Mark 1–8 , MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2015), 358.

17 - The Vainness of Worship (Mark 7:1-13)

kijabi4@yahoo.com (David Wolfe) — Sat, 24 Apr 2021 14:46:13 GMT

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16 - Jesus And Life's Storms (Mark 6:45-52)

kijabi4@yahoo.com (David Wolfe) — Sat, 17 Apr 2021 19:09:14 GMT

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I. INTRODUCTION

Hello. This is Dr. David Wolfe, coming to you from Bensenville Bible Church. If you are new to our postings, we offer a warm welcome to you. Thank you for joining us. If you are looking for a multi-ethnic church, I invite you to visit Bensenville Bible Church located on the southwest corner of O’Hare International Airport. We’re located at 280 S. York Rd., Bensenville. Our Church is at the size where pretty much everybody knows your name. If you like to be known by your name, join us for our gatherings on Sundays. Because of COVID-19, weather permitting, we are meeting outdoors at 10:30 Sunday mornings unless raining.

We are in Mark’s Gospel, chap 6:45-52. I’ve entitled our study today Jesus and Life’s Storms. In these verses the disciples find themselves in another one of Jesus’ terrifying teaching lessons. In a difficult theological twist for us, Jesus knowingly sends the disciples into a night storm on the Sea of Galilee.

These verses are best known for two distinct events. First, Jesus walking on water. And second, it is in this storm that Peter gets out of the boat and walks on water to meet Jesus.

II. QUICK REVIEW

A. The Gospel of God’s Son

We are in Mark’s Gospel, chap 6, beginning at v45. As a reminder, Mark opens his Gospel with these powerful words: This is the beginning of the Gospel of God’s Son. Everything that unfolds thereafter is design to prove that Jesus is God in a human body. Every word, every miracle, every interaction captured by Mark is designed to show us Jesus in all His majesty and glory. Mark didn’t capture everything Jesus did, said, or taught, but what he did capture fits with what John wrote in John 20:30–31 ^(NASB95) ³⁰ Many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; ³¹ but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

B. Disciples Were Slow Leaners

The events in vs45-52 flow out of the preceding event—the feeding of 5000 men (v44), plus women and children (Matt 14:21). The tie in comes in V52 they had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, ‘for’ their heart was hardened. Lessons on the mountain top are rarely learned well. But lessons life’s storms give us insight as to the person of Jesus Christ.

C. Cap-Stone Of Jesus Ministry

The miracle of feeding the 5000 was seemingly the cap-stone of Jesus’ miracles. At this point Jesus is roughly 2 years into His journey to the cross. The Feeding of the 5000 pushes Jesus to ‘rock-star status’. John 6:14–15 ^(NASB95) ¹⁴ when the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” ¹⁵ So Jesus, perceiving that they were intending to come and take Him by force to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone.

The masses were convinced that with Jesus’ amazing abilities, Israel would rise again as a political power. With Jesus at the front, they were ready to rebel against the Herod dynasty and ultimately the Rome Empire. But, as John MacArthur points out, Jesus had no political agenda. He had no economic agenda. He had no social agenda. He had no moral agenda. He only had a spiritual agenda. He was coming in order to offer salvation from sin’s grip and God’s wrath. He would be a king, but He would be a spiritual King over the hearts of those who put their faith in Him. One day He will be the King of the world, He will reign for a thousand years on earth, as Revelation 20 tells us. He will reign over the whole earth. But this time, His Kingdom is not a earthly kingdom, it is a spiritual Kingdom. [i]

All that the people had in mind was the ‘here-and-now,’ much like today’s world. They flocked to Jesus because of His displayed power over demons, disease, and death. They were looking for a ‘nanny state’ of existence where they would be coddled. When the people realized that Jesus would not buy into their agenda, many of those who claimed outwardly to be His disciples withdrew and would not walk with Him anymore (Jn 6:66). Dejected and disappointed, they walked away from the power of God for salvation to everyone who would believe. (Romans 1:16 ^(NASB95) )

As we delve into the story that unfolds before us, it is helpful to note that this event is also recorded in Matthew 14:22–32; John 6:15–21 [ii]

Let’s take a moment to ask God to give us insight as to what we need to learn about the role of darkness in our lives. “Heavenly Father, thank you for this time you’ve given us to open your Word. We ask that you help us discern the truths embedded in the drama that unfolds in the verses before us. Thank you for the clarity, encouragement and hope Your Word brings. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

III. JESUS SENDS THE DISCIPLES INTO THE STORM

A. V45, Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side to Bethsaida, while He Himself was sending the crowd away.

1. Immediately

V45, Mark loves the word ‘immediately’. It appears some 35 plus times in the Gospel. It has the idea of something or someone being well placed. [iii] Jesus is on a mission, and everything is happening according to plan. Jesus and events are brought together purposefully.

2. Jesus made His disciples

V45, Immediately after cleaning up after feeding the 5000, Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him . . . The phrase Jesus made His disciples get into the boat implies reluctance on the part of the disciples. Why might they be reluctant?

It could be they were reluctant of leaving Jesus behind. After all they knew Jesus was tired, and he was telling them to head for Bethsaida, which means for Him to catch up, He was going to have to do some serious hiking.
But perhaps better, they were reluctant of heading out across the Sea of Galilee at night. As seasoned fishermen, weather conditions may not have been right for sailing. Maybe they sensed a storm in the air.
Whatever the reason, Jesus made His disciples get into the boat. The statement is filled with purpose here that we cannot miss. Jesus sent them into the storm because it is in the storm our weaknesses are most evident, and His strengths and purposes are most clearly seen. It is in the storms of life faith is given substance.
James 1:2–4 ^{(NASB95) 2} Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, ³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance .
Romans 5:3–4 ^(NASB95) ³ we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; ⁴ and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;

B. V46, After bidding the disciples farewell, Jesus left for the mountain to pray.

Follow me for a moment. Jesus dismisses the crowd, sends the disciples into a storm at night, and climbs a mountain to be alone with His Father in Heaven, specifically to pray. In Jesus’ ministry the Gospels point to Jesus in prayer at least 25 times. [iv] What is interesting is that Mark highlights three crisis moment prayer times. [v] These are not meal blessings as in v41.

Mark 1:35, following a hectic Sabbath in Capernaum, He slips away to pray
Mark 6:46, following the feeding of the 5000 and before sending the disciples into a stormy night, He slips away to pray
Mark 14:32-36, at Gethsemane, hours before His crucifixion, He slips away to pray.

Each of this prayer moments grow out of crisis moments in His life. The first two could have come because of a temptation to prominence. He was rapidly becoming a ‘rock-star’. The last one would come as He faced death itself. Jesus understood the power of the flesh, and surely He was experiencing what the flesh wanted to do. And so He climb the mountain to pray, to align His activity with that of His Father. Jesus knows our struggles, for He Himself felt the war within. So He told His disciples Matthew 26:41 ^(NASB95) to do what He did: “Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

C. Vs47–48, ⁴⁷ When it was evening, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and He was alone on the land. ⁴⁸ Seeing them straining at the oars, for the wind was against them . . .

John makes a point that it was dark when the disciples pushed off (Jn 6:17). Both Matthew and John’s Gospel point out that they were out about 3 – 4 miles from shore straining at the oars, fighting strong wind currents, and rough waters. You don’t want to miss v48. The disciples are in drier straights—rough waters and nasty wind currents, and way off course. They’ve been here for at least 7-8 hours while Jesus was on the mountain praying . . . v48 He sees them straining at the oars, fighting the wind, and tossed about by the waves. The point is, the disciples were not out of Jesus sight. He had His eye on them the whole time. While they were being tossed about, He was praying for them as they struggle with the storm-tossed sea. Mark this down.

Hebrews 7:25 ^(NASB95) Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. He always sees and intercedes for us.
Romans 8:34 ^(NASB95) who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.

Just as Jesus was praying for the disciples during their darkest hour on a storm tossed sea, so He intercedes and prays for us on the storm-tossed seas of life. Kent Hughes writes: Followers of Christ in the storms are special objects of his omniscient, compassionate care. This ought to bring great comfort to those of us who are experiencing difficulty because of our striving to be in-step with Jesus. [vi]

D. V48, at about the fourth watch of the night (that would be roughly 3am) Jesus came to them, walking on the sea; and He intended to pass by them. [vii]

This is such a powerful moment—Jesus came to them, walking on the sea. Listen to Job 9:8, He alone stretches out the heavens . . . and don’t miss these powerful words . . . And tramples down the waves of the sea; Jesus sent them out into a storm at night, but He never took His eyes off of them. He knew precisely where they were because He always knows the location of His own. Jesus came unruffled, at a supernatural pace, arriving precisely at the right moment of their need. [viii]

I love how Kent Hughes states it. Jesus came in the darkest part of the night when they had exhausted their energies and were in deepest despair. This is how he often comes to us, that we might learn the futility of our own strength and depend upon him. The very waves that distressed them became a path for his feet—so transcending was his power. His feet upon the waves bespoke his familiarity with their plight. He not only sees, but enters the human struggle. [ix]

Notice v48, Jesus intended to pass by. Initially that phrase makes Jesus look somewhat callous to the desperation of the disciples. But I think it is better understood as, Jesus’ desired to come alongside vs. pass them by.

E. Vs49-52 ⁴⁹ But when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out; ⁵⁰ for they all saw Him and were terrified. But immediately He spoke with them and said to them, “Take courage; it is I, do not be afraid.” ⁵¹ Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped; and they were utterly astonished, ⁵² for they had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, but their heart was hardened.

Exhausted, dripping wet, cold, frustrated . . . Jesus comes walking on the water towards them. They had never seen anything like this on the lake. Fearful terror swept over them. They screamed in absolute horror. These guys were in the midst of the worst panic attack ever.

I imagine for a couple of minutes the disciples just sat there . . . Then came Jesus words over the roar of the wind, Take courage; it is I, do not be afraid!!

That’s where we pick up the story in Matthew 14:28, where Peter blurts out, Lord if it is you, command me to come to you on the water. Peter was overwhelmed by it all. It’s a test question. In shock he blurts out, If you are not a ghost, bid me come, so that I can experience the reality of Your presence in the midst of a bad situation. Show me You are real in this horrible moment. Don’t miss this: Peter’s request was based on his faith in Jesus.

Jesus bids him, Come. Peter, seemingly oblivious to the storm, with eyes fixed on Jesus, climbs out of the boat and walks towards Jesus. Just how far Peter walked on water we don’t know. Was it 3 step? I would like to think he managed to take at least 4-5 steps . . . V30, But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and began to sink . . . I am not convinced he dropped like a rock. The text says, he began to sink. Suddenly the waves weren’t so solid anymore. He feels the wind tearing at his cloths, the water wrapping around his legs, his walk turns to a shuffle, deeper and deeper he went, No rocky basin for his feet. Drowning surely was next . . . With no footing, he panics Save me Lord !!!!!

Peter’s sinking was because he had shifted his vision, his concentration changed: he became distracted by the fierce wind and the size of the waves. Jesus was no longer his center. His circumstances became his center. They overwhelmed him to the point that he lost faith in the power of Jesus, and fear swept over him. [x ] In his cry of despair, V31 Jesus immediately stretches out His hand and took hold of him, setting Peter’s feet on ‘solid’ water. With His arm around him, He says to Peter, Y ou of little faith, why did you doubt? Peter’s experience was like the Psalmist who said, “When I said my foot slips, your mercy, O Lord, held me up.” (Psa 94:18) Beautiful, isn’t it? When I said my foot slips, your mercy held me up.

F. V51, When He got into the boat with them, the wind stopped; and they were utterly astonished

In Matthew 14:32-33 we’re told that when Jesus and Peter got into the boat the wind stopped, and those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying You are certainly God’s Son . Notice, the wind stops, the disciples worship, and then John adds, immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going (John 6:21)

Job 9:10 ^(NASB95) He does great things, unfathomable, And wondrous works without number. Job 26:14 , “The thunder of His power, who can comprehend?”

In the back drop of Life’s Storms, Jesus words in John 10 take root for us ²⁷ “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; ²⁸ and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. ²⁹ “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. ³⁰ “I and the Father are one.” (John 10:27-30),

IV. TRUTHS THAT SHAPE OUR LIVES

Talk about drama!!! At the darkest hour, exhausted energies, deepest despair, Jesus came. This is how he often comes to us, giving us time to learn the futility of our own strength, bringing us to the point we cast ourselves into His arms. The very waves that distressed the disciples became an object lesson. Jesus prays, Jesus sees, and Jesus enters into our storm-struggle lives.

As I reflect over this dramatic story, I have five take away lessons for us.

A. First, Don’t Be Upset, Jesus Often Sends Us Into Storms

One of the hardest lessons in life is learning to embrace the storms and realize that it is through our trials that we grow the most. Mark tells us that Jesus made the disciples get in the boat—it was night, there was a wind in the air. Jesus directed them to go to a place where they would seemingly encounter a life threatening situation. Jim Duggan writes: We have the erroneous idea that if we encounter a storm, we must have done something wrong and deserve it. While we do experience storms as a result of our disobedience, there are storms that come at the direction of God. Some storms we sin into; some storms He sends us into. [xi]

Without water nothing grows, without storms there is no growing faith. James 1:2–4 ^(NASB95) 2Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. Learn to embrace your life-storms, because it is in the storms that your faith moves from little faith to larger faith. Mark tells us that the disciples missed the lesson of the feeding the masses because their hearts were hard. So Jesus sends them into a storm to wash away their hardness.

When embracing life’s storm, keep a sharp eye out for Jesus. The disciples saw Jesus coming to them on the stormy-water. Granted, they did not initially recognize Him, but it was in that moment they came to see Him for who He was/is. It was the storm that brought them to their knees in worship.

James 1:5 ^(NASB95) When you are in one of life’s storms, if you lack wisdom—the reason for the storm, or take-away lessons from the storm, ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to you. It is in the storms of life that our faith takes on substance.

B. Second, Don’t Let Life’s Storms Frighten You

Life storms are harsh. Their sounds and fury wear heavy on us, often giving us panic attacks. But it is in the storm that we hear more clearly Jesus’ words “Don’t be afraid” “Don’t be afraid” stretches from Genesis to Revelation. These are Jesus’ words to us when we are in life’s storms: “Be brave, don’t fear, I’m here. I’m here.”

Psalm 5, v11, “Let all who take refuge in you be glad, let them ever sing for joy, for you shelter them.” Psalm 9, “The Lord also will be a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.” Psalm 18, “I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock in whom I take refuge. My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold, I call on the name of the Lord who is worthy to be praised and I am saved, I am rescued.”

The lesson of Jesus on the stormy waters is, if you belong to Him, you need not be afraid, no matter how terrifying the circumstances if you are in the place of obedience. I love this song by Erin Has.

The disciples were tossed on a cold raging sea.
But Jesus was sleeping so peacefully.
They cried master, Oh don't you care that we die?

He spoke these soft words, peace be still.

It was the storm that had to die.

So don't be afraid when the darkness is closing
The master is here His voice calms every storm.
When the world says it's over.

The master says no, I've just begun In your darkest of times whether rain or in sunshine, don't be afraid.

I know how it feels to be tossed by the storm

I know how it feels to be battered and torn

I know how it feels to be carried on through,

Calmed by the strength of the one who has been faithful and true.

So don't be afraid when the darkness is closing
The master is here his voice calms every storm.
When the world says it's over.

The master says no, I've just begun

in your darkest of times whether rain or in sunshine

don't be afraid. ^[xii]

C. Third, To Walk On Water With Jesus We Have To Get Out Of The Boat.

Peter sees Jesus standing on the waves in the storm. He calls out for Jesus to bid him come to Him, and Jesus said ‘Come’!

Remember there’s a storm, and most likely the disciples are knee deep in the water in the boat. Peter steps out of the boat and actually walks toward Jesus. He experiences Jesus’ enablement to do what he could never do on his own—to walk on the water. He did not experience the supernatural power of God that allowed him to walk on water until he trusted as evidenced by his actions. He got out of the boat. And he didn’t do it just because it would be exciting. His reason was was because that’s where Jesus was. Jesus was out of the boat, on the water, unfazed by the storm. Like then Jesus is looking for people who will get out of their boats.

When we walk on water with Jesus in the midst of Life’s storms we hear His words of comfort: Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10)

D. Fourth, Eyes Transfixed On Life’s Storms Cloud Our Faith

Everything was going well for Peter, until he took his eyes of Jesus, and focused on the storm—the wind and the waves. Behind him the boats are thrashing about like corks. Jesus came to them in the midst of the storm. According to v32, the wind hadn’t died down until Jesus and Peter get in the boat.

Matthew tells us that “ when Peter saw the wind, he was afraid.” (v. 30). But the wind was there all along. The storm had been raging for hours. It’s not as if it let up when Jesus began walking on the water. When Peter had faith, he walked on water despite the storm. When he had fear, he sank in the water. The same is true for us. Fear will sink us when we’re in one of life’s storms.

Circumstances can be frightening. When your boss calls you in and tells you the company has to downsize and they are letting you go; when the doctor calls you with the test results that are not good; when you open that letter from an attorney that says you are being sued; it can scare you. It can overwhelm you. And it can cause you to take your eyes off Jesus. It’s not easy to keep your eyes on Jesus in the middle of the night, when the raging storm of fear threatens to overwhelm you. Where fear reigns, faith is driven away. When we take our eyes off of Jesus, we will sink like Peter when he took his eyes off Jesus.

E. Fifth, It’s In The Storms That The Power Of Jesus Is Revealed

V51, The Jesus got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped; and they were utterly astonished.

Ray Pritchard reminds us that not only does Jesus control the storm, and not only does He send the storm, He reveals himself in the midst of the storm. Very often our strongest vision of Jesus comes when the storms of life threaten to capsize our tiny boat of faith. What happened to Peter can happen to any of us. For a brief moment, he forgets about Jesus and remembers who he is and where he is. He is Peter, a Galilean fisherman who belongs back in the boat. In that instant he looks down at his feet and sees nothing but water underneath. His mind comes to a quick conclusion: “I’m not supposed to be walking on water. This is impossible.” When he lost his concentration on Jesus, he began to sink. [xiii]

If you were to ask Peter years later, he would tell you, When you want to walk on water in the midst of life’s storms, don’t take your eyes off of Jesus.

When Jesus said to Peter, O you of little faith, why did you doubt? Peter’s problem wasn’t that he was attempting the impossible, but trusting too little.

Jesus was not saying, “Peter, you should have stayed in the boat.” Jesus did not rebuke Peter for getting out of the boat. To the contrary, Jesus is really saying, “Peter, if you had just kept your eyes on me, you could have walked across the Atlantic Ocean." [xi v] And that my friends is true

As you go this week, keep upper most in your mind: . . . Peter’s little faith was more than the other disciples had sitting in their boats being thrashed about by waves and wind. It was in the storm that Peter felt the powerful grip of Jesus’ hand. So . . .

Put your hand in the hand of the man

who stilled the water
Put your hand in the hand of the man who calmed the sea
Take a look at yourself,

and you can look at others differently
Put your hand in the hand of the man from Galilee [xv]

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Well, COVID germs are abounding; Fight back by wearing your mask; wash your hands; Keep measurable distance between you and everyone, and build your immunity with vitamins and lots of vegetables, And Don’t forget . . . God’s got you no matter . . . Until next time

[i] John MacArthur, Jesus Walks On Water (Mark 6:45-56), https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/41-31/jesus-walks-on-water

[ii] Matthew 14:22–32 (NASB95)

22Immediately He made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He sent the crowds away.

23After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone.

24But the boat was already a long distance from the land, battered by the waves; for the wind was contrary.

25And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea.

26When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear.

27But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”

28Peter said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”

29And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus.

30But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”

31Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

32When they got into the boat, the wind stopped.

John 6:15–21 (NASB95)

15So Jesus, perceiving that they were intending to come and take Him by force to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone.

16Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea,

17and after getting into a boat, they started to cross the sea to Capernaum. It had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.

18The sea began to be stirred up because a strong wind was blowing.

19Then, when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat; and they were frightened.

20But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.”

21So they were willing to receive Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.

[iii] Marmatha, Why Is Immediately Used So Much in the Gospel of Mark? https://livingroomtheology.com/immediately-used-much-gospel-mark/

[iv] Cf., Steve Shirley, How Many Times Did Jesus Pray in The Bible? https://jesusalive.cc/times-jesus-prayed/

[v] Walter W. Wessel, “Mark,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 8 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1984), 675.

[vi] R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior , vol. 1, Preaching the Word (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1989), 158.

[vii] [Job 9:8–11 ^(NASB95) ] ⁸ Who alone stretches out the heavens And tramples down the waves of the sea; ⁹ Who makes the Bear, Orion and the Pleiades, And the chambers of the south; ¹⁰ Who does great things, unfathomable, And wondrous works without number. ¹¹ “Were He to pass by me, I would not see Him; Were He to move past me, I would not perceive Him.

[viii] John MacArthur, Jesus Walks On Water (Mark 6:45-56), https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/41-31/jesus-walks-on-water

[ix] R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior , vol. 1, Preaching the Word (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1989), 159.

[x] Donald A. Hagner, Matthew 14–28 , vol. 33B, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1995), 424.

[xi] Jim Duggan, Where is Jesus in Your Storm, https://christianindex.org/where-is-jesus-in-your-storm/

[xii] https://namethathymn.com/hymn-lyrics/viewtopic.php?t=8349

[xiii] Ray Pritchard, The Dubious Disciples: Christ Speaks to the Problem of Limited Faith, https://www.keepbelieving.com/sermon/2001-02-11-The-Dubious-Disciples-Christ-Speaks-to-the-Problem-of-Limited-Faith/

[xiv] Ibid. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9nzgEVOwpWam2hwRaDwUHA

[xv] https://genius.com/Donny-hathaway-put-your-hand-in-the-hand-lyric s

15 - Jesus Can Satisfy Our Hunger (Mark 6:33-44)

kijabi4@yahoo.com (David Wolfe) — Sat, 17 Apr 2021 18:44:00 GMT

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14 - The Power Of Sin's Grip (Mark 6:14-29)

kijabi4@yahoo.com (David Wolfe) — Sat, 17 Apr 2021 01:24:22 GMT

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The Power Of Sin’s Grip

(Mark 6:14-29)

I. INTRODUCTION

Hello. This is Dr. David Wolfe, coming to you from Bensenville Bible Church, a multi-national bi-lingual community of believers on the south-west corner of O’Hare. If you feel more comfortable with Spanish, tune into Pastor Ricardo Palmerin’s messages on FaceBook & YouTube. Because of COVID-19, while the weather is pleasant, we are having outdoor worship gatherings at 10:30am on Sundays. If you are in the local area, we invite you to join our gatherings. Our address is 280 S. York Rd., Bensenville. Love to see you at 10:30.

Our study today is taken from Mark’s Gospel, chap 6:14-29. In these verses we are given an object lesson as to sin’s grip. I’m entitling the message: The Power of Sin’s Grip . You’ll want to take notes, so get your pen and the study guide sent out with the email.

II. THE HERODS OF THE NEW TESAMENT

We’re in Mark 6:14-29. This section of Mark is quite unique; Jesus is not the focus. The focus is on John the Baptist and a man by the name of King Herod

In the previous verses, 7-13, Jesus sends the disciples out on their first mission trip without Him. They were commissioned to preach a message of repentance, cast out demons, and heal the sick. Then, in vs30-32, the disciples reunite with Jesus for a time of debriefing and ‘rest-and-relaxation’. While the disciples were crisscrossing the countryside, Mark turns our attention to the political leader and climate of the day—King Herod Antipas.

As a side note, less we get confused, there are five Herod’s in the New Testament—

There is Herod the Great—the one who slaughter the male babies in Matthew 2
Herod Philip, Mark 6
There is Herod Agrippa I (Acts 12), and Herod Agrippa II (Acts 25-26). [i]

The verses before us are about the second Herod, Herod Antipas, the son of Herod the Great. Mark addresses him as King, but he was actually ‘just’ a governor of Galilee. Herod Antipas followed in his father’s footsteps as a vile and evil man. Bishop Alexander describes him as a mean trickster, a feeble liar, and a weak insecure murder. [ii] Jesus refers to him as ‘that fox’ in Luke 13:32 because of his cunning and malice. The lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life (1 Jn 2:16) was burned deep into his DNA. It blinded his conscience when it came to his adulterous behavior and the killing of John the Baptist, a righteous and holy man (v20).

While Herod the Great is known for his utter brutality; Herod Antipas is best known for his imprisonment and killing John the Baptist, the greatest prophet whoever lived (Matt 11:11). Let’s take a moment to ask God to give us insight as to what we need to learn about the role of darkness in our lives.

“Heavenly Father, thank you for this time you’ve given us to open your Word. We ask that you help us discern the truths embedded in the drama that unfolds in the verses before us. Thank you for the clarity, encouragement and hope Your Word brings. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

III. THE DEATH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST [iii] .

The events that unfold in these verses, vs14-29, come as a 3-Act drama play. It’s intense and force full.

A. Act I, the arrest of John the Baptist, chap 1:14

John the Baptist came on the scene preaching powerfully against sin. His messages were hard hitting. Whether it was the poor-down-and-outers, the religious ruling class, or the political rulers, ie., Herod’s family, they all felt the sting of his messages.

Early in John’s ministry he announced the coming of the Son of God. In John’s Gospel, 3:30, the Baptist spoke clearly that Jesus must increase, but I must decrease. That statement became a stark reality in Mark 1:14 when Herod puts the Baptist in prison. John’s ministry was huge, but when it came time for Jesus to step into the spotlight, God used Herod to remove John out of the spotlight by placing him in prison so that his ministry decreased and the person of Jesus and His ministry would increase.

When we come to Mark 6, roughly a year has passed. John the Baptist has been sitting in prison some 365 days. So now the question, Why did Herod arrest John? Here’s where things get really twisted. Mark 6:14 begins with King Herod. . . let’s stop there.

Follow me: Historically this is Herod Antipas. His father was Herod the Great who ruled at the time of Jesus’ birth, known for his 10 wives and cold brutality. Not only did he slaughter babies at Bethlehem in an attempt to kill Jesus because he had been told Jesus was the King of the Jews” (Matt 2:2), but also killed a number of his own sons because he feared they would usurp his kingliness. One of his murdered sons had a daughter named Herodias (6:17) who lived in Rome and was married to Herod Philip, who was also a son Herod the Great. Herod Philip and Herodias had a daughter named Salome (6:22). As one can see, the Herod family was filled with incestuous and adulterous relationships.

On a visit to Rome, King Herod seduced and married Herodias, divorced his wife, Phasaelis, who was the daughter of the King of Nabatean Arabia by the name of Aretas. Divorcing his wife put him in huge trouble with Aretas, causing a huge war. [iv] Anyway, Herod took Herodias and Salome away from his half bother Herod Philip and moved back to Palestine. It was common knowledge as to Herod’s seduction and taking his half-brother’s wife. Vs17-18, John the Baptist wasn’t one to let such behavior go unnoticed. He was saying to Herod, It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.

The way the text reads, this was not just a onetime admonishment or a private conversation. Everywhere John went, he let it be known openingly that what Herod had done was absolutely wrong. Herod became irritated with John. To shut him up, he had him arrested. Thou John irritated him, but he often brought him to the palace for personal interaction. But there is more. Not only had John gotten into Herod’s head, he had also gotten into Herodias head. According to V19, she had a grudge against John the Baptist and wanted to put him to death.

Talk about drama. But she couldn’t persuade Herod to kill John because Herod was afraid of John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man. Because of Herodias’ hatred for John, Herod felt it necessary to protect him. Herodias had not taken John’s condemnation of her marriage lightly. In fact, she was infuriated by him and wanted to kill him (v. 19). [v] Herod was in such a dilemma . . . an angry wife on one side and an innocent man on the other.

B. Act II. Herod’s Birthday Party

That brings us to Act II, v21. Herod’s had a birthday. So he threw his own birthday party by putting on a banquet for his lords and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. The point here is, this was a raunchy all male party. While spirits were high, his teenage step daughter, Salome, comes to the party and puts on a very erotic dance. She may have been sent in by Herodias. Herod and partiers were so excited by her suggestive erotic dance that he says to her before everyone, Ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you. And he swore to her an oath, Whatever you ask of me, I will give it to you; up to half of my kingdom (v21-22). His perverted l ust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and the pride of life blinded him to the devilishness of his wife’s dark desires and his own darkness. This was a biggy. Actually he had nothing to give. Everything he had was held by Rome. He had already been in trouble with Rome. Anyway, Salome runs to her mother Herodias and asks, what shall I ask for?

Right on the top of the list of Herodias' priorities-- “The head of John the Baptist.”

Immediately, v25, she returns to Herod, and in front of all the partiers says, I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter. And although the king was very sorry, yet because of his oaths and of his dinner guests, he was unwilling to refuse her. A word to all of us as we read this account comes from Ecclesiastes 5:2, “ Never be rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be quick to utter a word before God.” (nrsv).

V27, Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded him to bring back the head of John the Baptist on a platter . . . and gave it to Salome, and Salome gave it to her mother. It was not sufficient merely to take John’s life; she literally wanted to have his head given to her. [vi] In a way Herodias is much like Jezebel in 1 Kings 21:15, who took the innocent life of Naboth.

Herod murdered the last and greatest of all the prophets. V29, When John’s disciples heard what had happened, they came and took away his body and laid it in a tomb. In Matthew’s account, chap 14:12, they found Jesus and reported what had happened. Robert Guelich sums it up like this, Evil appears to have won the day. “They did to him whatever they pleased” and will do the same to the Son of man when the time comes, (9:12–13). [vii]

John the Baptist is now dead, but the countryside is ablaze. I believe it was close to John’s death that Jesus sends his disciple team throughout the countryside preaching the message of repentance. The celebrations of Herod’s court stand in stark contrast to the disciples and Jesus’ call for repentance from sin.

C. Act III, Herod’s guilt.

That brings us to Act III, taking us back to Vs14, when King Herod heard of it , What had Herod heard? Demons cast out, people healed, dead people raised. And as a result people were saying John the Baptist has risen from the dead, and that is why these miraculous powers are at work in Jesus. It was a crazy time. it all burned deep into Herod’s psychic. His brain drove him crazy. when Herod heard of ‘what was happening’, he kept saying, J ohn the Baptist, whom I beheaded, has risen!!” The killing of the Baptist came to haunt him day and night. How does one account for that kind of activity?

The only way the people could explain it, “John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and that is why these miraculous powers are at work in Him.” In the play Macbeth by Shakespeare Lady Macbeth found herself in a quandary. She and her husband had conspired to kill the King of Scotland. Her guilt over the murder gradually drove her to insanity. In trying to rid herself of the guilt she screams, Out damn’d spot! Out, I say!!! . . . who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him? She now finds innocent blood dyed into her conscience. How tough it is to wash, scrub, or soak out nasty bloodstains. ^[viii]

The thoughts in Herod’s head are much like Lady MacBeth. They are spinning 90 miles an hour. He knew John was dead. The stories were crazy. In Luke’s account Herod said, “ I had John’s head cut off. Who is this person I’m hearing so much about?” So Herod wanted to see Jesus. (Luke 9:9 ^(GW) ).

Ray Stedman writes: Herod was frightened out of his wits. When he heard all these reports, he suddenly realized that the fire he thought he had put out by putting to death John the Baptist had suddenly broken out in a dozen new places. And that scared him. [ix ] Why? Because what if John the Baptist had indeed risen? Among other things, he was a Sadducee and they did not believe in the resurrection. He needed proof. He knew he had beheaded John, but the stories spun turmoil and fear in his head. This had to be his worst nightmare, and he was on the move. So Luke tells us that some Pharisees felt it necessary to warn Jesus, Go away, for Herod wants to kill you (Luke 13:31).

IV. TRUTHS THAT SHAPE OUR LIVES

Herodias was a bitter woman who hated John because of his exposure of her evil, so she strove to destroy him. But Herod somehow was attracted to John, heard him often, and sought to protect him from her.

As I look back over this grisly story of one woman’s hate of righteousness, and one man’s blindness because of lust, I wonder what lessons might be here for us. Let me share with you some thoughts that I think ooze out of this passage.

A. The first, John the Baptist words in John 3:30 ^(NASB95) “He must increase, but I must decrease.

I am not sure John fully understood what he was saying. And I am sure that we do not fully grasp what we are saying when we utter those powerful words— Jesus must increase, but I must decrease. They literally mean that all our own will, desires, ambitions, hopes, etc., must dissolve so that Jesus can take over. It means that all selfishness must be abandoned and selfless living must be the founding principle of our lives. To “decrease” before God means we walk humbly before our God. Humility is a way of giving up everything not of God and allowing only God to shine through.

For John it ultimately led to his imprisonment, ending in his death. Jesus’ words in Matthew 16:24 come to mind: Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

Many people interpret “cross” as some burden they must carry in their lives: a strained relationship, a thankless job, a physical illness. With self-pitying pride, they say, “That’s my cross I have to carry.” Such an interpretation is not what Jesus meant when He said, “ Take up your cross and follow Me. ” When Jesus carried His cross up Golgotha to be crucified, no one was thinking of the cross as symbolic of a burden to carry. To a person in the first-century, the cross meant one thing and one thing only: death by the most painful and humiliating means human beings could develop. “ Take up your cross and follow Me” means being willing to die in order to follow Jesus. This is called “dying to self.” It’s a call to absolute surrender.

After each time Jesus commanded cross bearing, He said, “ For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?” ( Luke 9:24-2 5). In order for Jesus to increase, I must decrease. How desirous are you for this to happen? For Jesus to increase, it means I must intentionally and deliberately give up hopes, dreams, possessions, and even my very life if need be for the cause of Christ. [x]

Don’t miss this truth, God used Herod to decrease John so that Jesus might increase . . . ultimately leading to his imprisonment, culminating in his brutal death. How about us? Are we ready to walk that path, the path of Jesus increasing and we decreasing?

B. Second, how’s your commitment to truth?

I came across an article by Josh Buice that I found very challenging. [xi] He pointed out that it is a sobering thought that the bearers of truth can be treated with contempt and rejection. Jesus makes it clear in Luke 11:49, "I will send to them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and some they will persecute"

While Herod Antipas valued his own selfish desires, earthly glory, and the oaths of men, John the Baptist would not be cowed by the power and majesty of the king. Rather than hide the truth or attempt to water it down, the Baptist forcefully rebuked this adulterous King. He was relentless even to his own death. As followers of Jesus, with all the attempts lately to define marriage, family, justice, etc., we need to remember the Baptist’s willingness to stand up for truth.

For the Baptist it meant standing up to Herod’s incestuous and adulterous relationship with his brother’s wife. The Baptist was willing to be faithful to the truth. His popularity didn’t matter so much. Standing on the truth can often mean standing exposed and alone. As proclaimers of truth, we must have confidence in Bible truths. Those who oppose the Bible can’t harm it with their criticisms, doubts, and questions.

We might not face death for acknowledging and speaking the Truth like the Baptist, but we cannot let the consequences of doing so discourage us. The world is set against us, as it has always been. We cannot allow ourselves to become weak and fall prey to its temptations. We must always remember that the message of truth is scandaless in a world going mad. Jesus said in John 16:33 ^(NASB95) “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

C. Third, there are risks in proclaiming truth.

Calling out Herod Antipas was not politically correct for John the Baptist. He understood the risk, and still boldly proclaimed truth. As followers of Jesus we must be willing to take risks in order to proclaim the truth of the gospel. In fact, spreading the gospel in private or public in today’s world is risky business. It could cost our jobs, political advancements, friends, family, and perhaps our very life. The Baptist was warned to keep quiet, but he continued to thunder the truth about God and Herod’s adulterous relationship

We need faithful and loving men and women who are willing to walk in the footsteps of the Baptist and call out the Supreme Court, Congress, Governors and others who are openly pushing this sinful sexual revolution that we are all being caught in. In Ephesians 4:15, Paul exhorts us to speak truth in love to all who will listen. Truth spoken in love is not watered down truth. Love is bold, love is strong. A risk-taking follower of Christ is not a reckless follower. The Baptist wasn’t reckless. He was a bold proclaimer of truth despite potential lose. The reason people were drawn to him was because of his calculated and intentional proclamation of truth. Proverbs 28:23 ^(NASB95) He who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor Than he who flatters with the tongue. That was true of the Baptist. Jesus said, “ Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist ” (Matthew 11:11).

D. Fourth, truth is to be proclaimed unashamedly

Romans 1:16 ^(NASB95) For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.,

In the aftermath of the terror attacks on September 11th, 2001, there was a religious service held at the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. Many people of various faiths gathered to mourn the death of thousands of Americans. The Rev. Nathan Baxter prayed during the service, and as he finished his prayer, he said, “Respecting persons of all faiths and traditions, I humbly submit this prayer in the name of Jesus, the Christ, Amen.” John the Baptist would not have cared about respecting other religions had he prayed on that day. In fact, don’t forget that it was the duty of another religion that brought on the attacks of September 11th, 2001.

In our culture, we too often work overtime so as not to offend. I’m not suggesting that as followers of Christ we should be offensive as to our character, or speech. However, as Christ-followers we must realize that the message of the cross is a scandal to the world and one that we cannot “dress up” or avoid. To mention the name of Jesus is offensive in our day, and to claim to be a follower of Jesus is to open one’s self up for ridicule and attack. John the Baptist would stand firm and remain unashamed of Jesus Christ in the midst of his perverse Jesus hating culture.

Herod and Herodias hated the truth because it exposed them for who they were, and chipped at their conscience. It is no different today. Fallen man seeks to push truth about God as far from him as possible. Like Herod and Herodias, they are willing to go to any extent to suppress the truth, even to the point of imprisonment and death. Paul Washer writes, Truth of the Gospel is scandalist today because it does the one thing a non-Christ follower wants to avoid—it awakens him from his self-imposed slumber to the reality of his fallenness and rebellion, and calls for rejection of self and submit to God through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. [xii]

E. Fifth, Sin is deadly

The Baptist called for people to face up to their sins. But Herodias and Herod were smothered by their l ust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and pride of life.

James 1:14–15 ^(NASB95) when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. We are told in Ephesians 2:1–3 ^(NASB95) T hat we are dead in our trespasses and sins, according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air . . . and just as Herodias and Herod, 3living in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind . . . Sin kills by deceit, superficial logic, and by making promises it cannot keep. Sin uses the lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and pride of life to blind us from the truth.

John Piper points out that sins’ deception boils down to two basic lies: On the one hand, sin might say when it meets the commandments of God: "You can't keep these commandments, and you wouldn't want to if you could. And so there is no hope for you if there is a holy God, and you may as well put all that out of your head and get as much pleasure in this life as you can." Or, on the other hand, sin might say when it meets the commandments: "You can keep these. So muster all your willpower and show yourself as good as the next guy to get ready for the judgment." [xiii] Whichever case, sin kills. Where is our hope? The gospel of Jesus Christ, the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes (Romans 1:16).

In calling out to Jesus for forgiveness of sins come these powerful words: Thou your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow, because God will forgive you for Christ’s sake, if you will receive him as your most treasured gift and trust in His grace and mercy. (Isaiah 1:18; Ephesians 2:2-10) And that my friends is Real.

Remember, as Christ-followers we are surrounded with Herodias’ and Herods’ who need to hear the truth and see it in action. Jesus said in John 14:6 ^(NASB95) “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. Its time that we show them the way, the truth and the life.

Well, COVID germs are around us; Hide behind your mask; wash your hands; Keep a measurable distance between you and your friends and non-friends, and build your immunity with vitamins and veggies, Don’t forget . . . God’s got you no matter. Until next time

[i] https://www.compellingtruth.org/Herods.html#:~:text=Who%20are%20all%20the%20Herods%20in%20the%20Bible%3F, and%20probably%20the%20most%20well-known%20of%20the%20Herods. Herod divided his rule into fourths, and approved by the Roman senate, granted a part to each of his sons. One son, Herod Antipas, is referred in Matthew 14:1 and Luke 3:1 as Herod the tetrarch. He ruled the area of Galilee, had John the Baptist beheaded ( Matthew 14:1–11 ) and was part of Jesus' pre-crucifixion trials ( Luke 23:6–16 ).Later, James, a son of Zebedee and the brother of John, became the first apostle martyred. It was Herod the Great's grandson, Herod Agrippa, who was responsible ( Acts 12 ). Herod Agrippa persecuted the church. Two of his daughters, Bernice and Drusilla, are mentioned in Acts 24 and 25 .Herod Agrippa's son, Herod Agrippa II is also part of the biblical story. This king listened to Paul while Paul was imprisoned ( Acts 26 ) and declared that Paul had done nothing wrong ( Acts 26:31–32 ) and could be freed except that Paul had appealed to Caesar and must be sent to Rome.Agrippa II is the last Herod to rule, as the family had fallen out of favor with Rome.

[ii] Bishop Win Alexander, Herod Antipas: Religious Curiosity (Luke 23:8-12)

[iii] https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/41-29/the-murder-of-the-greatest-prophet https://biblehub.com/sermons/ auth/alexander/herod_antipas_religious_curiosity.htm

[iv] Ibid., Herod was already married, and he was married to a very prominent girl whose father was the king of Nabatean Arabia, another area to the east. His name was Aretas. And the kings made these alliances, these marriages. You’re well aware of that even from any form of ancient history. So Herod was married to the daughter of the king of Nabatean Arabia, a man named Aretas.

Herod had a brother, one of the many sons born of the ten wives of Herod the Great. This was a brother also named Philip but a different Philip than the one who had been given a portion of Israel to rule over. This Herod Philip lived in Rome. He stayed in Rome as a private citizen. He was disinherited. We don’t know all of the story behind the story, but anyway, he had been disinherited by the Herod family, so he stayed in Rome as a private citizen and lived without the benefits of whatever the royal line would have brought to him.

He had a wife and her name was Herodias. She was the daughter of another son of Herod the Great. He was a son of Herod the Great, she was a daughter of one of his half-brothers. So she married her uncle, her father’s half-brother. Philip, then, is in an incestuous relationship with her. Philip is one generation from the loins of Herod the Great;= she is two generations from the loins of Herod the great. Her brother, by the way, was Herod Agrippa, the one who was eaten by worms. The whole family is caught up in incest.

So Herod goes to Rome, Herod Antipas, and he’s going to visit his brother. He visits his brother and he is attracted, or she seduces him, and so they plan to divorce their spouses. She will divorce his brother, Philip. Herod will divorce his wife, the daughter of the King Aretas, and they will get together. This doesn’t sit well with Aretas, it happens. They did it. Aretas gets mad, amasses an army, and comes and wins a great victory over Herod, who also has an army, and Herod is only saved when the Roman army comes to his rescue. So blood is shed, lots of blood is shed over this marriage.

When Caligula came to the throne in Rome as the Caesar, the Philip who had been tetrarch over Trachonitis and Ituraea had died, and Caligula gave it to another Herod, Herod Agrippa, whom we mentioned. Herodias was angry about this. She thought it should have been added to the territory of her husband, Herod. So she forced Herod to go to Rome and to seek the title, to have a bigger kingdom so she could be a bigger queen. He didn’t want to do it, but he had long since lost the battle to her. So he set sail for Rome.

Agrippa beat him to Caligula, and when Agrippa got to Caligula, in order to seal the deal for him to get the kingdom, he bad-mouthed Herod. And by the time Herod arrived, starting to make his case, Caligula had been convinced that he was a treacherous and dangerous man to Caligula’s power, and so both he and Herodias were exiled and died in exile. It was a bad day when Herod met Herodias - a bad day. William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of the Gospel According to Mark , vol. 10, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 242. Aretas bitterly resented what Herod had done to his daughter. He therefore waged war against him and “in the ensuing battle the entire army of Herod was destroyed” (Josephus, Antiquities XVIII.114, 116, 119, for points a and b).

[v] Walter W. Wessel, “Mark,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 8 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1984), 670.

[vi] Robert A. Guelich, Mark 1–8:26 , vol. 34A, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1989), 333.

[vii] Ibid.

[viii] https://www.enotes.com/shakespeare-quotes/damned-spot

[ix] Ray Stedman, Who Is This? (Mark 6), https://www.raystedman.org/new-testament/mark/who-is-this

[x] https://www.gotquestions.org/take-up-your-cross.html

If you wonder if you are ready to take up your cross, consider these questions:
• Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means losing some of your closest friends?
• Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means alienation from your family?
• Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means the loss of your reputation?
• Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means losing your job?
• Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means losing your life?

[xi] Josh Buice, Life Lessons from John the Baptist, https://www.deliveredbygrace.com/life-lessons-from-john-the-baptist/#:~:text=%20Life%20Lessons%20from%20John%20the%20Baptist%20,thing%20to%20do%20in%20John%20the...%20More%20

[xii] Paul David Washer, Scandalous Gospel, https://heartcrymissionary.com/ theological-forum/scandalous-gospel/

[xiii] John Piper, The Deadly Team of Sin and Law, (Romans 7:7-13) https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/the-deadly-team-of-sin-and-law

13- On Mission With Jesus (Mark 6:7-13)

kijabi4@yahoo.com (David Wolfe) — Wed, 07 Apr 2021 18:56:43 GMT

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12 - The Power Of Unbelief (Mark 6:1-6)

kijabi4@yahoo.com (David Wolfe) — Wed, 07 Apr 2021 18:36:39 GMT

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The Flipside Of Faith--Unbelief

(Mark 6:1-6)

I. INTRODUCTION

Hello everybody! Welcome to our study of the Gospel of Mark. We want to be students of God’s Word (2 Tim 2:15), sending our spiritual and emotional roots deep into God’s Word so that we do not dry up under life’s stresses (Psa 1), and so that we bear fruit to help others in their journey of faith (Gal 5:22-23).This is Dr. David Wolfe, one of the Pastors at Bensenville Bible Church, a multi-national bi-lingual community of believers on the south-west corner of O’Hare. If you feel more comfortable with Spanish, tune into Pastor Ricardo Palmerin’s messages on FaceBook & YouTube.

We are now having outdoor walk-in worship gatherings on Sundays at 10:30am. If you are interested in a bilingual time of worship, then you’ll want to check us out. Our address is 280 S. York Rd., Bensenville.

Our sermon today is taken from Mark’s Gospel, chap 6:1-6. Let’s open our Bibles to Mark 6, along with the study guide for this week’s study. In these verses Mark captures a stunning moment--Jesus’ utter amazement of the unbelief of people in His home town village of Nazareth [i] Because of Jesus’ amazement, I have entitled my message today: The Flip Side of Faith—Unbelief.

II. THE POWER OF WORSHIP

Thanks for joining us in singing praises to our God. Whether in person or remote, worship can be powerful. I love the way Tommy Walker states it: The Bible says in Psalm 22:3 that God actually lives and dwells in our praises. This is the mystery and the miracle of the breakthrough power and presence of God when we worship! When we worship, we affirm the truth of God’s Word as it is rooted deep into our hearts. [ii] In 2 Chronicles 20 ^(NIV) we read that Jerusalem was under attack. King Jehoshaphat encouraged the people with these words— Give thanks to the Lord, for His loving Kindness is everlasting. V22, “As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated” What a strange battle plan–but the result was that the Lord won the battle for them! The point is, there is something inherent in the act of singing praises to our God that enable us to encounter the power of God like nothing else.

III. MARK 6 CONTEXT

Well, we are in the Gospel of Mark chap. 6. The opening verses stand in stark contrast to the events captured in chapter 5. Following the healing of the woman who hemorrhaged for 12 yrs and the raising of Jairus’ daughter from the dead in Capernaum, Jesus and His Disciple Team hike off to Nazareth, His home town. We would think Jesus would have a strong fan base in Nazareth, particularly when word reached them about the calming of the storm, liberating the demoniac man, healing the woman who suffered blood loss for 12 years, and, perhaps the biggie, raising Jairus’ daughter from the dead. Not to mention the hundreds of others He had healed, as well as people set free from demonic control without any hooky-poky. But not true. People of Nazareth were not big fans of Jesus. They were hard hearted. Coming off of chap 4-5, the adrenaline of Jesus’ Disciple Team was running high, then came Nazareth. Coming to Nazareth was like hitting a brick wall. The whole event was a downer.

So why would Jesus come to Nazareth?

In context, Nazareth was a hard-knock-ministry-moment. In the book Straight to the Heart of Mark, Phil Moore points out that Jesus wanted the disciples to see the biggest hindrance to the Gospel of the Kingdom message, v6, Unbelief. To help His disciples grapple with the harshness of Gospel reception, Jesus took them to a place where He knew it would be the most difficult place for Him to proclaim the message of the Kingdom. [iii]

Don’t miss this observation: The opening verses of Mark 6 stand in stark contrast to chapters 4-5. In chap 4-5 Jesus was on a roll—calming a horrific storm, liberating a man from demonic control, healing a woman 12 yrs sick, and to top it all off, raising Jairus’ daughter from the dead. Then comes Nazareth. What’s up with that?

Let’s take a moment for prayer, asking God to give us insight into Mark 6. “Heavenly Father, thank you for this time you’ve given us to open your Word and glean everlasting truths for the days we have been given. We ask that you help us discern the truths embedded in the drama that unfolds in the opening verses of Mark 6. Thank you for the clarity, encouragement and hope Your Word brings. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

IV. THE POWER OF UNBELIEF

You should have your Bibles open to Mark 6. Follow along as I read the verses for us: ¹ Jesus left that place (that would be Jairus’ house in Capernaum) and went to his hometown (that would be Nazareth, roughly a 20-mile hike, about a 4 day journey). His disciples followed him. ² When the day of worship came, Jesus began to teach in the synagogue. He amazed many who heard him. They asked, “Where did this man get these ideas? Who gave him this kind of wisdom and the ability to do such great miracles? ³ Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” So they took offense at him. ⁴ But Jesus told them, “The only place a prophet isn’t honored is in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his own house.” ⁵ He couldn’t work any miracles there except to lay his hands on a few sick people and cure them. ⁶ Their unbelief amazed him. Then Jesus went around to the villages and taught.

A. Nazareth

It is obvious that Jesus doesn’t have a very strong fan base in Nazareth, the town He grew up in as a child. They apparently thought He was a cool kid once.

Luke 2:52 ^(NASB95) summarizes Jesus childhood like this: He kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
Then in Luke 4:22, on His first visit to Nazareth as a grown man we’re told that that His popularity was running high—people were speaking well of Him, and wondered at the gracious words. [iv]

But apparently His favor with men was now not so much. Mark 3:6 The Pharisees were conspiring with the Herodians against Him, as to how they might destroy Him. Attitudes had obviously changed. It appears also that Mary’s favor in the village was being questioned. When the villagers questioned Jesus identity in v3, Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary, that was more of a statement than a question. Sons were always identified by their fathers, not their mothers, even when the father was dead. [v] You can feel the attitude undercurrent. They couldn’t wrap their heads around Jesus’ ‘rabbiness’. It was as if they were saying, “where did this guy get his smarts? Isn’t He the illegitimate son of Mary?”

The point is, they were accusing Mary as being adulterous, and by implication, Jesus being an illegitimate child. In a heated debate with the Pharisees in John 8:41, they let their feelings really hang out, accusing Jesus directly of being an illegitimate son, and thus again accusing Mary of being an adulterous.

B. Unbelief

Anyway, we find Jesus in Nazareth. Nazareth wasn’t much of a village (Jn 1:46). It is thought that in Jesus day, the population was roughly 500 people. [vi]

This would be Jesus’ second visit, and most likely His last. As He spoke in the synagogue, Mark tells us that the people were astonished by His teaching (v2); that astonishment turns into taking offense (v3), which then becomes a barrier, v6, which takes the form of unbelief. Because of their unbelief, Jesus could do no miracles except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. Robert A. Guelich points out that their lack of faith highlights their failure to recognize that God was at work in Jesus. [vii] This is a graphic picture of John 1:11 ^(NASB95) where we are told that Jesus came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.

1. Let’s think about this for a moment.

In the Bible ‘faith’ is powerful. Matthew 17:20 ^(NASB95) if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. But we don’t talk much about the flipside of faith however. The flipside of faith is unbelief, and unbelief is deadly. Take for example:

Genesis 6-7, with what we refer to as Noah’s flood. It was unbelief that brought the destruction of all life on earth except Noah and his family.
Numbers 13, It was unbelief that caused the Israelites to end up wondering for 40 years in the desert, bringing about the death of over a million and half people
Exodus 32:1-6, At the foot of Mt Sinai with the Golden Calve Aaron’s unbelief led to three thousand people being killed.
Numbers 20:12 Moses’ unbelief shut the door to his personal entrance into the Promised Land.
Matthew 27:3-10 Judas’ unbelief led to suicide.
And of course there are the Pharisees throughout the Gospels who refused to believe. Jesus told them straight out in John 8:24 ^(NASB95) unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”

John MacArthur writes :It was unbelief that brought a curse on all of humanity. It was unbelief that broke up the fountains of the deep, and brought down the rain from heaven, drowning the entire human race. And it is unbelief in the Son of God that catapults people into eternal hell. It is our unbelief that activates divine wrath of God. [viii] So Jesus brings His disciples to Nazareth to give them an object lesson on the power of unbelief. Tony Evans, In The Power of Unbelief , writes:

Unbelief is so powerful; it will stop God's work in your life.
Unbelief is so powerful; it will keep God at a distance.
Unbelief is so powerful that you can spend the rest of your life stuck where you are and never see the supernatural. [ix]

What we need to understand is that our faith determines our ability to see the supernatural. Unbelief blinds us to the supernatural. In 2 Corinthians 4:4 ^(NASB95) We are told that the god of this world (that would be Satan) has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. [x]

2. Six Unbelief Character Traits ^[xi]

So here in Mark 6 Jesus gives His disciples and us a powerful object lesson about unbelief. Tucked in these verses are 6 powerful unbelief characteristics:

a. First, Unbelief hides the obvious.

V2, When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue; and the many listeners were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things, and what is this wisdom given to Him, and such miracles as these performed by His hands? The villagers were more concerned about Jesus pedigree then what He taught. The rumors of dissent starting in Mark 3:6, along with familiarity bread contempt. For the disciples, there was an enormous contrast between the displays of unbelievable power and the blatant rejection by the people of Nazareth. Familiarity is not all that it is cut out to be. It breeds an infectious contempt. Paul remind Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:12, that all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted . Not everybody will see faith as you and I do. We’ll be hit, hurt, slandered, passed over, ignored, and mocked at the water coolers.

Familiarity breaks moorings, and sets us adrift.
Passionate first love drifts to second or third love
Zeal for God’s service turns into moments of convinance
Hunger for God’s Word is replaced by business, things, recreation, accumulations
Extended prayer time narrows down to just food blessings
Church offerings become leftover change

The danger for us is that our familiarity with Jesus and His Word can easily turn into complacency, indifference, and perhaps contemptuousness. Faith can turn oh so quickly into unbelief.

b. Second, Unbelief highlights the immaterial (v2-3)

Vs2–3, ² many listeners were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things, and what is this wisdom given to Him, and such miracles as these performed by His hands? ³ “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?” And they took offense at Him. The word ‘astonish’ in the Gk has the idea of “being blown away”. So the village people were being blowing away by His teaching. This wasn’t just a ‘wow’ moment. The people were basically stunned by what He had to say.

Mark doesn’t tell us what Jesus taught that day. Luke tells us that on Jesus first visit to Nazareth (Lk 4:17-21) that he read from Isaiah 61 that described the coming Messiah. In the middle of the reading, He closes the scroll and calmly announces, Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing, ie., I’m the prophesied Messiah

Take note, they knew Jesus—as the local town carpenter, they knew his mother Mary, His 4 brothers, and a couple of sisters. Listen, they couldn’t get past his humanity. They became agitated. What Jesus was saying and what they knew about Him didn’t compute.

Chris Mueller captures the village mindset with these words--They knew He’d not studied under any rabbi of influence. He lacked the proper credentials–He didn’t have a seminary degree, or a university doctorate. Therefore He wasn’t qualified for this ministry. [xii]

Don’t miss this—as they rehearse their negativity, it exposed their unbelief.

c. Third, Unbelief goes on the attack (vs2-3).

The messenger becomes the enemy. That brings us to the third unbelief truth, they go on the attack, vs2-3. Their astonishment didn’t turn to faith, but rather they turned and attacked Jesus outright with a series of rapid questions

V2, Where did Jesus get these things , ie., Whatever Jesus was teaching, they seemed to be asking, How did He get ‘whatever He said’ out of ‘whatever He was reading’? They are having a very hard time separating Jesus, the boy, from Jesus the teacher. Basically they are challenging Jesus authority.
V2, Where did He get His wisdom and the power for miracles ? They were stumped. They knew the local school He had attend. And there was no profound local Rabbai. Things are not adding up. Jesus words and miracles were meant to show them that God was at work in Him, John 14:10 ^(NASB95) The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. But they couldn’t get passed His boyhood days.
V3, Isn’t this the ‘local’ carpenter? They are stuck. To them Jesus was the local handy-man. The question here is, why should we listen to a common manual labor handy-man?
V3, Isn’t this the son of Mary? Maybe Jesus’ father Joseph had died at this point. In His first visit, Luke says the village people spoke of Jesus as Joseph’s son which would be normal. Perhaps Joseph has died. The people remember the rumors of Mary’s pregnancy. To them Mary was an adulterous, and Jesus was illegitimate. The people used the rumors as an excuse to reject Him as Messiah.
V3, Isn’t Jesus just a local dud? Look around, there is James, Joseph, Judas, Simon, and sisters. Jesus’ family still resided in Nazareth. And we know that Jesus’ brothers and sisters had a hard time believing Jesus (Jn 7:3-5). To the village people He was just an ordinary guy. His ordinariness became their excuse to reject Him. Interestingly, both James and Jude would later author letters to the dispersed Jesus-Followers.

d. Fourth, Unbelief spurns Christ as Savior (v3).

That brings us to the 4 ^th characteristic of unbelief is that they spurn Jesus—on v3, They took offense at Him. Offense is a strong Greek word. It is used to describe someone you trip over, to cause you to stumble, to no longer believe, to reject faith, to cause to fall, to anger, to shock, to cause to sin. In taking offense with Jesus, the village people nailed their own coffin. Robert A. Guelich writes, their taking offense meant a total rejection of the truth of His “wisdom” and “mighty works,” that they heard and saw. They refused to accept him based on His words and work in lieu of who they remember Him to be. [xiii] Their evaluation of Christ killed them spiritually.

e. Fifth, Unbelief shuts down the supernatural.

That brings us to the 5 ^th characteristic of unbelief. Unbelief shuts down God’s work, God’s blessing. V5, Jesus could do no miracle there except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. The point being made for us, because of the vastness of the unbelief in Nazareth, Jesus was not inclined to exercise His power.

Unbelief froze the work of God’s power by in large, and yet in v5 we see a glimmer of faith: He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.”

f. Sixth, Unbelief stirs God’s heart (v6)

The last character trait of unbelief comes in v6, Jesus wondered at their unbelief. Unbelief stirs the heart of God. The Gk word ‘wonder’ is a powerful word. It carries the idea of ‘awestruck’. Jesus was literally stunned by the people’s unbelief. The unbelief of the people in His village really surprised Jesus. Usually it was the crowds that were astonished with Jesus, [xiv] but this time it was Jesus who was astonished. Interestingly, we are told one other time of Jesus being astonished, and that was with the Centurion’s faith in Luke 7:9 ^(NASB95) Jesus marveled at the Centurion’s faith, and turned and said to the crowd that was following Him, “I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith.” But in Mark what astonishes Jesus is the unbelief despite His powerful works and words. They all denied the overwhelming evidence that Christ is God. They thought they knew Jesus, but missed seeing God in the flesh. They chose not to believe.

V. TRUTHS THAT SHAPE OUR LIVES

Jesus came to Nazareth for the purpose of proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, and give His Disciple Team a peak at the power of unbelief. John MacArthur writes, “It is tragic that small issues can be used as great excuses for not believing. The people of Nazareth were like people throughout the history who can find every foolish reason to justify their rejection of the Gospel. They don’t like the attitude of the one who witnesses to them; they think most church people are hypocrites; they think the preacher is too loud or too soft, too stuffy or too overbearing; and the services are too formal or too informal. They are offended at the slightest things Christians do, and construe the insignificant as being all important. They put up one smokescreen after another to excuse their unwillingness to believe the clear and demanding claims and promises of Christ.” [xv]

Chris Mueller observes that what’s sickening with this event is the churning sea, the demonic army, hemorrhaging disease and death of Jairus’ daughter all yielded to Christ’s authority, but here in Nazareth the human heart was stiff-necked in unbelief. The disciples, the demonic, the hemorrhaging woman, and Jairus saw Jesus as being greater than their needs. The demonic villagers and Nazareth were content with things as they were. One writer says it this way: “Throughout eternity, the lost soul will be testifying to this truth: ‘God is holy; I was a sinner; I rejected His salvation, I turned my back upon His Gospel, I despised His Son, I hated God Himself, I lived in my sins, I loved my sins, I died in my sins, and now I am lost to all eternity! And God is righteous in my condemnation! All unbelief is a matter of the will. Unbelief is a choice you make.’” ^[xvi]

Folks, this is serious stuff. Just how serious? Jesus lays out for us in John 3:18 -20: ¹⁸ “He who believes in ‘me’ Jesus is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. ¹⁹ This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds ‘are’ evil. ²⁰ For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.”

Those of you who are watching this posting, I beg of you, if you have not done so, make this day to be the day that you trust Jesus. Believe in Him as the diseased woman did . . . like Jairus did. Surrender your heart to Him. Ask Him to open your eyes that you might see the truth of God that He transforms you and forgives you.

Romans 9:31 to 33 says it like this, “But Israel… did not pursue it by faith, but as though it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone, just as it is written, ‘Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, and he who believes in Him will not be disappointed.” And That’s Real

Let’s close in prayer, Lord, we fall so short of you and your mission. The world we live in is so very needy and hurting. Burden us to sow your word earnestly that we may see a harvest. Take away our sin. Take away our scholarly unbelief and doubt. Take away our fears of what people would think of us. And anoint us with power afresh to sow your eternal Word. And like your disciples of old, serve you to the ends of the earth until you come. In your holy name, we pray. Amen.

Well, Germs are sneaky; Hide behind your mask; wash your hands; build your immunity with vitamins and veggies, Keep a measurable distance between your friends and non-friends Remember, don’t brag about unbelief. It’s deadly. Don’t forget . . . God’s got this . . . Until next time

[i] Matt 13:54–58

[ii] Tommy Walker, Understanding the Breakthrough Power of Worship, https://billygraham.org/story/understanding-the-breakthrough-power-of-worship/

[iii] Moore, Phil. Straight to the Heart of Mark . Lion Hudson. Kindle Edition.

[iv] He taught as one having authority (Matt 7:28-29), He was knowledgeable (John 7:15-16), He spoke powerfully (Luke 4:32); and He was no match when it came to public speaking (John 7:46).

[v] Vincent Taylor, The Gospel According to St. Mark (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1981), p. 300. ^[v]

[vi] John MacArthur, Amazing Unbelief, https://www.gracechurch.org/sermons/9485/all

[vii] Robert A. Guelich, Mark 1–8:26 , vol. 34A, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1989), 313.

[viii] Cf., John MacArthur, Amazing Unbelief, https://www.gracechurch.org/sermons/9485/all ; Christ Mueller, The Tragedy of Unbelief (Mark 6:1-6) https://media.faith-bible.net/scripture/mark/the-tragedy-of-unbelief

[ix] Tony Evans, The Power Of Unbelief, https://sermons.love/tony-evans/3088-tony-evans-the-power-of-unbelief.html#:~:text=Unbelief%20is%20so%20powerful%2C%20it%20will%20stop%20God%27s,and%20never%20cross%20over%20to%20see%20the%20supernatural.

[x] Ephesians 2:1–3 (NASB95)1And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

[xi] John MacArthur, Amazing Unbelief, https://www.gracechurch.org/sermons/9485/all

[xii] Christ Mueller, The Tragedy of Unbelief (Mark 6:1-6) https://media.faith-bible.net/scripture/mark/the-tragedy-of-unbelief

[xiii] Robert A. Guelich, Mark 1–8:26 , vol. 34A, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1989), 310.

[xiv] Cf., Mark 6:2, 51; 7:37; 10:26; 11:18; 16:8

[xv] Christ Mueller, The Tragedy of Unbelief (Mark 6:1-6) https://media.faith-bible.net/scripture/mark/the-tragedy-of-unbelief

[xvi] Ibid.

11 - Jesus The God Of Impossibilities

kijabi4@yahoo.com (David Wolfe) — Wed, 07 Apr 2021 16:23:12 GMT

This is a subtitle for your new post

Jesus, The God Of Impossibilities

(Mark 5:21-41)

I. INTRODUCTION

You are listening to Dr. David Wolfe, one of the Pastors at Bensenville Bible Church, a multi-national bi-lingual community of believers on the south-west corner of O’Hare. If you would like a bilingual ethnic diverse worship, then you’ll want to check us out. We are having an outdoor walk-in worship gathering this Sunday, Sept 13, at 10:30am. We’ll have some singing, testimonies, and a Word from God. Our address is 280 S. York Rd., Bensenville.

Our sermon series is taken from the Gospel of Mark. So let’s take our Bibles and open to Mark 5. We’ll be looking at vs 21-43. You will also need a pen, and the study guide attached to the email sent out for taking notes. In these verses two stories are woven together into one story—the raising of Jairus’ daughter from the dead and the healing of the woman who hemorrhage for 12 years. The fact that these stories are captured by Matthew and Luke, indicate their profound significance for us. [i]

Our focus today is Jesus’ power over a severe illness and death. I have entitled our study— Jesus, The God of Impossibilities . We’re talking about a woman who hemorrhaged for 12 long years, with no hope of a cure; and a little girl that died. Jesus literally changes the reality of both.

II. THREE POWERFUL TRUTHS

As noted, Mark captures two powerful stories in vs21-43 that are shocking to say the least. As we delve into the stories we need to keep foremost in our minds three powerful truths.

A. First, When Jesus bursts on the scene He came announcing boldly that the time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand. (chap 1:15)

According to Galatians 4:4 ^(NASB95) when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son. Date wise, we’re talking somewhere around 28AD, plus or minus a year or two. As Jesus burst on the scene, there was a longing in the hearts of the people for the Messiah, the Savior promised throughout the Old Testament. In John’s Gospel, chap 4, the Samaritan woman said to Jesus, “ I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us. ” [Jn 4:25 ^(NASB95) ]. At the coming of Jesus God was giving ‘us’ His final revelation [Heb 1:1-2], John MacArthur captures the forcefulness of these verses in this way: God, who used to speak in many different ways through many different people, has finally spoken in one way, through one Person, His Son Jesus Christ. [ii]

B. Second, as we read thru the stories in Mark, we need to keep in mind

John 20:30–31 ^(NASB95) ³⁰ Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; ³¹ but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

In John 4 we have the story of Jesus meeting up with the Samaritan Woman at the well near Sychar. Following her encounter with Jesus, she ran back to the village with a mind blowing testimony. The Village people then came to meet Jesus at the well. Listen to their testimony: V42, they were saying to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world.”

C. Third, we need to keep in mind

1 John 3:8 ^(NASB95) the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. Don’t gloss over what is being said. There is a direct relationship between practicing sin and the works of the devil. When people do sinful stuff, it is the work of the devil. John Piper weaves this together for us -- The work of the devil is to tempt people to sin. When they sin, his work is accomplished. [iii]

Mark this down: When we gather at Christmas, we are gathering to celebrate the birth of the destroyer of the works of Satan. Jesus came to destroy, that is, put an end to the works of Satan. What are the works of the devil, ie., Satan? To quote John Piper, The work of Satan is to tempt us to reject the authority of God and become like God ourselves. Satan works to nurture and cultivate the pride that puts its own desires above the law of God. [iv] That is the essence of sin, and it is this that the Son of God came to destroy in each of us.

David P. Nystrom highlights the works of the devil by reminding us that his works take on different hues at different times. Sometimes Satan saunters in boldly and personally, at other times more slyly and through structures of power and authority. At still other times, such as in a cutting word unerringly directed, the fringe of his evil is felt. [v]

Robert Wagner divides the works of the devil into 5 areas: Societal Evil, Physical Evil, Natural Evil, Individual Evil, and Spiritual Evil. [v i] In turning to vs 21-43 of Mark 5, we see visually the destructiveness of the devil’s work—

There’s this daughter of wealthy parents being snuffed out. [vii]
Then there’s the beaten down woman, v26, who had spent all she had, and instead of getting better she grew worse. The point is, by the nature of her hemorrhaging, her health was in a bucket, she was financially broke. She was also isolated from her family, society, and temple worship all because of her hemorrhaging.

Both of these individuals become object lessons to us of Jesus destroying the works of the devil. Let’s take a moment to ask God to give us insight as to what we need to learn about Jesus. “Heavenly Father, thank you for this time you’ve given us to open your Word. We ask that you help us discern the truths embedded in the drama that unfolds in the opening verses of Mark 5. Thank you for the clarity, encouragement and hope Your Word brings. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

III. TWO POWERFUL STORIES

We’re starting at v21. Jesus returns to the Capernaum side of the Sea of Galilee. A huge crowd was waiting for Him. Because of the size of the crowd we’re told that Jesus stayed by the shoreline. As the events of the day unfold, two desperate people seek Jesus out. One is wealthy, and well placed in society. The other is poor and ostercized from the community. Yet both are desperate.

A. Jairus Request

The days events begin with Jairus, V22, a synagogue official. He is desperate. The only reason he comes to Jesus is because of his desperation. He pushes his way thru the crowd, drops to his kneels at Jesus feet, begging Him, v23, to come and lay His hands on his daughter who is at the point of death.

In the book Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior , Kent Hughes points out that Jairus was like so many of us in our coming to Jesus. He did not come to Jesus out of love. His coming was not what he could do for Jesus. It was his desperation, and a glimmer of hope based on what he had heard. His despair was the prelude to his experience of grace. [viii] And so it is with us also. Our despairing can become our prelude to experience the grace of God.

V24, Jesus responds to Jairus’ plea, and follows him. And so does the crowd. The crowd presses in on him, crowding him, making the trek slower than molasses-in-January. Jairus is on a mission. Upper most in his mind is his sick daughter on the verge of death. But the crowds were in the way. He was anxious. The crowd was oblivious to the cry in his heart.

B. An Unwanted Interruption

At this point Mark interrupts the Jairus Story. V25, in the crowd is a woman who had hemorrhaged for twelve years. She now becomes the focus. Jairus must have been irritated by the crowds, but now there is this woman. She is also desperate. Vs 26-34 Mark tells us four things about this woman:

V26, Her condition— Ray Stedman writes: She was suffering from what doctors would call a vaginal hemorrhage, a continual flow of blood which not only gave her great distress and pain, but also rendered her ceremonially unclean so that she was ostracized from society. [ix]
V27, desperate and ashamed—She came up in the crowd behind Jesus. Because of her hemorrhaging, according to the law of Moses, anyone whom she touched would also become un clean (Lev 15:19-30). Pushing silently thru the crowd, seeking to escape notice, and not to incur embarrassment.
V28, a glimmer of hope—she forces herself thru the crowd thinking, V28, If I could just touch Jesus’ garments, I will get well. Her faith drove her through her fears.
V29, experienced genuine healing—She manages to reach thru the pressing crowd, her fingers touch Jesus’ robe. V29 Immediately the flow of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.

Kent Hughes captures this moment: Without a word Jesus’ power completely healed her in the anonymity of the jostling throng. The same power which he used to make the sea instantly lie flat and to restore the raving demoniac healed her long-standing illness. ^[x] Talk about inner drama, sudden healing, freedom at last, that sense of wholeness.

In the midst of the slow trek . . . Jairus pushing the crowd back . . . urging Jesus on . . . Jesus stops . . . something extra-ordinary had happened . . . power had gone out of Him. You can hear his voice, Who touched My garments?

The healing of this woman was not a willful choice on Jesus’ part. Something happened, that’s all Jesus knew. Listen to John 14:10 ^(NASB95) The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works .,

I love the way Ray Stedman zeroes in on this: She touched him, and the touch of faith drew from him the power to heal. But he did not even know it until it happened--it was God the Father who dwelt in him who healed this woman. An all-seeing God watched this woman push her way through the crowd, saw the faith in her heart. And don’t miss this insight: in the midst of that crowd pressing in on Jesus, touching him in a dozen different ways, God the Father saw this woman reach out and touch Jesus’ garment, instantly His power flowed through the life of Jesus and healed her. [xi] There were multiple touches that day, V31. But only one touch was driven by faith.

For 30 minutes the procession stops. Jesus eyes sweeping over the crowd. V33 the woman fearing and trembling, aware of what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. ³⁴ And Jesus confirms her faith, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your affliction.” Notice Jesus’ response to her: He called her Daughter. One writer writes: In this woman who had suffered so much and who had violated the law of Moses, Jesus called her daughter. He called her daughter because she had done the will of God by reaching out in faith (Mark 3:35) [xii]

C. Jairus’ Faith Experience

As Jesus words fade, we are jerked back to Jairus’ story. V35 While He was still speaking, they came from the house of the synagogue official, saying, “Your daughter has died; why trouble the Teacher anymore?”,

Don’t miss what happened. The parade started with Jairus pleading with Jesus to come and heal his 12 yr old daughter. His coming couldn’t happen fast enough. But the crowds held Jesus back, and then there is this added drama. Jairus’ emotions must have been tearing him up inside. Impatient, frustrated, aggravated, and maybe a tad angry. Then come these heart sickening words from a messenger, Your daughter has died. Despair comes to fruition. Death is now a reality. The glimmer of hope died. Life was gone. Jairus was empty. Mark wants us to see the coldness of death, as it smashes flickering hope.

The daughter’s death throws a new twist into the story. The little girl is no longer sick, she is dead. But Jesus is undeterred. He challenges Jairus’ faith—

V36, Don’t be afraid, trust Me!! Perhaps better, Keep on believing. Suddenly the drama shifts for Jairus. The story is no longer trusting Jesus about healing some disease, it’s now about raising the dead. Jesus tells Jairus, you need resurrection faith!!!! As one writer states it: It is one thing to pray for your child’s healing from a life-threatening disease. It is quite another to stand over her cold body and pray for immediate resurrection. In the midst of the coldness of death hear Jesus’ words, “Don’t be afraid; just keep on believing.” [xiii]

Vs37-40, As Jesus, along with Peter, James, John, and Jairus, approach the house, mourners were already there. The noise was deafening. The house was surrounded by a sense of hopelessness at the finality of death’s cold grip. Jesus seeks to comfort the family. The mourners laugh at Him cynically, v40. He ushers them out of the house. Then with Jairus, his wife, and the three disciples, they come to the bedside of this precious 12 yr old girl.

V41, Jesus places the little girl’s hand in His big hand. It’s a sweet moment. To the little girl He says in Aramaic, Talitha cumi. Mark translates it for us: Little girl, I say to you, get up! Make a note of this: etymologically Talitha can also mean lamb. In essence, Jesus says to the little girl as He restores her life: “My little lamb it’s time to get up.” It’s a picture compassion and gentleness. Isaiah captures this tenderness in Isaiah 40:11 ^(NASB95) Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, In His arm He will gather the lambs And carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes.

V42 Immediately the girl got up and began to walk, for she was twelve years old. And immediately they were completely astounded. Jesus responded to the sorrow and pain. Two stories of two people who approached Jesus in faith, and receiving far more than they had in mind. This is what Jesus intends for us to learn from this account -- that He is able to meet the suffering of the heart, whatever its cause, when the world's resources are brought to an end.

IV. TRUTHS THAT SHAPE OUR LIVES

As we seek to ponder the depth of these two encounters with Jesus, what does this all mean—the healing of the woman with a who had been sick for 12 yrs, and the raising of Jairus 12 yr old daughter?

Mark this down: explaining life can never be limited to what is visible. Ray Stedman reminds us that life’s resources come to an end. Life’s ability to help us disappears. In the end we are left impoverished and despairing if all we have to depend on are natural resources, and natural power. But God is rich in grace, rich in power, rich in inward strength and sympathy, and His word to us is, "Stop be unbelieving, but believe and have faith that I am at work, and I will enrich your life beyond your wildest dreams." [xiv]

As I look back over these stories, what can we take with us that will enrich our lives? Let me give three truths for the days to come.

A. First, Jesus Is Not Only Savior, But Lord Of All

Chap. 4-5 of Mark comprise a series of stories that are meant to convey one idea—Jesus is not only Savior, but He governs all things.

He is Lord of creation as shown in the stilling of the storm.
He is Lord over Satan and his demons as shown by the exorcism of the Gerasene demoniac.
He is Lord over sickness as shown in the hemorrhaging woman
and He is Lord over death, as revealed in the raising of the dead daughter of Jairus.

As we reflect back on the stories given in chap 4-5, storms, demoniacs, hopeless illness, and death, we are brought face to face with the despairing facets of life. The disciples were convinced they were about to drown, the Demonic could not rid himself of the demons, the villagers couldn’t subdue the demonic, the hemorrhaging woman had no one to heal her, and disease ultimately took the life of Jairus daughter. Talk about drama, despair, and hopelessness. Jesus comes. He calms the storm, subdues demons, heals the sick, and raises the dead. [xv] Robert Deffinbaugh points out that Not only do these two chapters demonstrate the power of our Lord Jesus, they also reveal His identity. What we see in these stories is not just that Jesus is a God of infinite power, but that He is a God of infinite compassion and tenderness. He is deeply touched by human needs. He is sensitive to our sufferings and trials in life(Matt 11:28-29). [xvi]

B. Second, Desperate times call for strong faith

Desperate times of brokenness, desperate times of unwellness call for extreme sorts of responses. When things are very broken, extreme actions are called for. In the story of the hemorrhaging woman desperate circumstances drove her to push her way through her fear, isolation and pain.

Psalm 33:18 ^(NASB95) Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, On those who hope for His lovingkindness. In this woman’s heart flickered a small flame of hope—If I could just touch the garments of Jesus, I will get will.

As with this woman, hope in Jesus will not let us down because He is willing and able to help those who trust Him through any situation. Isaiah 41:13 ^ESV “ For I the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”” Desperate times may come. We are in desperate times now. What we do with desperate times is up to us. Will we be like this woman and trust God to carry us? When everything seems to be falling down around us, when nothing seems to make sense; those are times we need to lean into God.

Hebrews 11:6 ^(NASB95) And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. Psalm 50:15, From the heart of God, call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me . [xvii]

C. Third, the answer to fear is faith [xviii]

Our passage is like a sandwich. Two stories in one. And you can’t break it apart. We need both stories. Together, they teach one central lesson—that is this: the most crucial element of our life is God fearing faith. In the two stories God fearing faith overcame huge hurdles when the unnamed woman and Jairus put their complete trust in God. As Martin Luther said, “Faith is a living, bold trust in God’s grace, so certain of God’s favor that it would risk death a thousand times trusting in it.”

Genuine God fearing faith is not a leap in the dark. It’s not hoping something is there on the other side to catch you. It is a complete trust in the trustworthy God who is there and who is not silent. In the two stories we see how faith took Jairus from a life of despair and fear to peace. We see how faith took the unnamed woman from a life of despair, fear, and suffering to wholeness. Despite their differing journeys, they both met Jesus.

Life’s journey for all of us covers a spectrum ranging from unfaith to faith. On the one end, unfaith says, “You know, Jesus was a good guy. Great teacher. Did some cool stuff. I like him. But God? The Bible? Nah. Not taking that leap. I’ll follow his teachings, but I won’t call him Lord.” On the other end of the spectrum faith come from the lips of Peter in John 6:68-69, “ Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God”. Where are you on that spectrum?

God wants us to depend on Him and not rely on ourselves. God is actually more glorified in our weakness, because by His strength He is able to display His might. He stands ever ready, able, and willing to help us when we really need it but we must first acknowledge our need for His help.

“When everything seems to be falling in around us,

when the walls seem to be closing in on us,

when nothing in our world seems to hold any hope,

when everything looks completely hopeless,

remember the most crucial element of our life is God fearing faith.

That’s Real. Let’s close in prayer, Lord, we fall so short of you and your mission. The world we live in is so very needy and hurting. Burden us to sow your word earnestly that we may see a harvest. Take away our sin. Take away our scholarly unbelief and doubt. Take away our fears of what people would think of us. And anoint us with power afresh to sow your eternal Word. And like your disciples of old, serve you to the ends of the earth until you come. In your holy name, we pray. Amen.

Well, Germs are on the hunt; Hide behind your mask; leave no traces by washing your hands; protect your immunity by taking your vitamins. Keep a measurable distance, and build your immunity by eating your veggies. Remember, like the storm, the demonic, the hemorrhaging woman, and Jairus daughter, God’s Got This. Until next time

[i] Matthew 9:18-26; Luke 8:41-56

[ii] John F. MacArthur Jr., Hebrews , MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1983), 6.

[iii] John Piper, The Son of God Appeared to Destroy the Works of the Devil. (1 John 3:1-10), https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/the-son-of-god-appeared-to-destroy-the-works-of-the-devil

[iv] Ibid.

[v] David P. Nystrom, James , The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1997), 247.

[vi] http://www.robertawinterinstitute.org/destroy-the-works-of-the-devil/

[vii] Hebrews 2:14 ^(NASB95) since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,

[viii] R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior , vol. 1, Preaching the Word (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1989), 127.

[ix] Ray Stedman, The Weakness of the World, (Mark 5:21-6:6), https://www.raystedman.org/new-testament/mark/the-weakness-of-the-world . Cf., Norval Geldenhuys, Commentary on the Gospel of Luke (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1951), p261 “According to the Jewish ideas of that time the woman was an utter out cast on account of her disease—she was not allowed to take part in any religious proceedings, could not come into the temple, could not touch other persons and had to be separated from her husband. Her disease came within the scope of the regulations of Leviticus xv. So she was not only impoverished through having had to give all her possessions to physicians in the hope that they might heal her—she was a despised and solitary woman. If her cure had taken place without the Saviour making it known publicly, she would have had the utmost difficulty in removing from the inhabitants of the town the prejudice and scorn that she had met with for years. For this reason, the Saviour, who knew her in all her need and sorrows, and understood her circumstances ‘makes her appear before the whole multitude to testify publicly that she has been healed.’”

[x] R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior , vol. 1, Preaching the Word (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1989), 128.

[xi] Ray Stedman, The Weakness of the World, (Mark 5:21-6:6), https://www.raystedman.org/new-testament/mark/the-weakness-of-the-world

[xii] Ronald J. Kernaghan, The IVP New Testament Commentary Series, (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2007), p110

[xiii] Ibid.

[xiv] Ray Stedman, The Weakness of the World, (Mark 5:21-6:6), https://www.raystedman.org/new-testament/mark/the-weakness-of-the-world

[xv] Luke 4:16–21 (NASB95) 16And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. 17And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written, 18“THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED,

19TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD.” 20And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

[xvi] Robert Deffinbaugh, Where There’s Death There’s Hope (Mark 5:21-43), https://bible.org/seriespage/10-where-there-s-death-there-s-hope-mark-521-43#P1057_300314

[xvii] Psalm 91:14-16 “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” Psalm 145:18-20 “The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. The LORD watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.”

[xviii] https://www.thingsofthesort.com/sermons-2/2019/4/29/mark-521-43-jesus-lessons-on-fait h

10 - Jesus Is Greater Than Demons

kijabi4@yahoo.com (David Wolfe) — Wed, 07 Apr 2021 01:34:54 GMT

This is a subtitle for your new post

Jesus Is Greater Than Demons

(Marl 5:1-20)

I. INTRODUCTION

Hello everybody! You are listening to Dr. David Wolfe, one of the Pastors at Bensenville Bible Church. Bensenville Bible Church is a multi-national bi-lingual community of believers on the south-west corner of O’Hare.

If you would like a bilingual ethnic diverse worship, then you’ll want to check us out. We are having an outdoor walk-in worship gathering on Sunday, Sept 13, at 10:30am. We’ll have some singing, testimonies, and a Word from God.

Our sermon series is taken from the Gospel of Mark. Let’s take our Bibles and open them to Mark 5, we’ll be looking at vs 1-20. You will also need a pen, and the study guide attached to the email sent out for taking notes.

The events recorded here in Mark 5 are also captured by Matthew and Luke. The fact that the three writers record the story means that there is something in this story that is really important for us to grasp.

I’ve entitled our lesson today, Jesus Is Greater Than The Demons. Remember, Jesus and crew had just been in a terrifying storm, demonstrating that Jesus is greater than the storms in life. They now step on to the shores of Gerasene and are met by a naked madman possessed by demons, running towards them screaming, “What business do you have messing with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? (Luke 8:27-28). [i] Talk about drama?!!!

Let’s take a break and lift our voices with our praise team in singing praises to our God.

INSERT PRAISE TEAM

I. THE STORY SUMMARIZED

Thank you for sticking with me. We’re in Mark 5:1-20. It’s the story about Jesus’ encountering a demon by the name of Legion. Let me summarize the story as told to Mark by Peter.

When Jesus and his disciples come to the mostly-Gentile region of the Gerasenes, they are met by a man whose life has been destroyed by demonic infestation. The demons in the man recognize Jesus, and together they bow before Him. Together they make a confession as to Jesus’ identity--the Son of the Most High God. Jesus asks for their name. The ‘head’ demon responds, My name is Legion, for we are many. Jesus casts out the demons and sends them into a nearby herd of 2,000 pigs. The pigs promptly rush off a cliff into the Sea of Galilee and drown. When the townspeople learn what has happened, they ask Jesus to leave. However, the formerly demonized man wanted to go with Him. Jesus instructs him to go back home and tell his family and friends what He has done for him. He does just that, and word spreads throughout the region, and everyone who hears what happened is amazed.

Let’s take a moment to ask God to give us insight as to what we need to learn about Jesus.

“Heavenly Father, thank you for this time you’ve given us to open your Word and study Jesus, Your last work and testiment to us about life issues. We ask that you help us discern the truths embedded in the drama that unfolds in the opening verses of Mark 5. Thank you for the clarity, encouragement and hope Your Word brings. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

II. SPIRIT-WORLD

Jesus and His disciples arrived on the shores of Gerasene. They were immediately confronted by a demonized naked man, a man literally dominated and controlled by the demonic world.

A. SUPERA-NATURAL WORLD

With Jesus announcement in 1:15, the Kingdom of God is at hand, we are forced to face what we call the supernatural world, a world that is far greater and vast than the world that we feel and touch. I believe in actuality the only thing that separates us from the supra-natural world is the veil of our flesh.

This supernatural world is a spirit-world filed with intense activity. There’s a swirl of unseen warlike action going on between God and His angelic world vs. Satan and His angelic hoards, with our visible world caught betwixt. We’re given a taste of the conflict in Daniel 7-11.

Paul gives us some insight as to the spirit world in Ephesians 6:12 where he draws a connection between our physical world and the spirit world. He writes: our ‘life’ struggles are not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. [ii] The point is, we are caught in the ongoing conflict

Observe also that Ephesians 6:12 tells us that the evil spirits are well organized and extremely evil. In fact, there are some spirit beings who were so evil that God intentionally locked them up. Jude 6 ^(NASB95) tells us about angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, ‘and God’ has kept ‘them’ in eternal

bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day.

Another interesting angelic tidbit . . . we don’t know exactly how many angels, good and bad, there are. But Daniel 7:10 ^(NASB95) we’re told, Thousands upon thousands attend God, And myriads upon myriads stand before Him . . . Psalm 68:17 ^(NASB95) The chariots of God are myriads, thousands upon thousands . . . Revelation 5:11 ^(NASB95) John writes: I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, [iii]

The point is, there are jillions of spirit beings. And get this: when Satan rebelled he took one third of them with him (Revelation 12:4). So of the total angels, Satan takes one third, leaving two thirds with God. And they are all very active. The bad spirits seek to interfere in our lives, while the good spirits render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation (Hebrews 1:14) [iv]

Mark this down: from the beginning all spirit beings, including Satan, served our God. They were all good. But Satan, the chief demon, became prideful. God removed him from his position. 1/3 ^rd of the spirit beings chose to follow Satan. You can read about it in Isaiah 14:12-16, Ezekiel 28:13-19, and Revelation 12:7-9

The Demonic

Let’s delve into the drama unfolded in Mark 5. Jesus and disciples land on the shores of Gerasenes following a storm adventure they’ll never forget, only to be confronted with a demonic adventure they will never forget.

1. Demons in General

As we enter the story, I need to point out that for many of us, our cultural background tends to gloss over the idea of demonic activity. This is a bizarre story for most of us. But if we lived in Asia, Africa, Haiti, Jamacia, etc., it would be very very real. This man is not mentally off balance. He is possessed and driven by a force outside of himself. This story is about Jesus and His rule over the demonic world.

2. As to the Demonic in Mark’s story,

As to this man, we need to be clear, he did not have a mental illness, he was not mentally handicapped, he was not mentally challenged. As Ray Pritchard points out, this story is not about Jesus curing mental illness; it’s a story about Jesus’ interacting and defeating demons. [v] There was real drama unfolding here. Three forces clashed that day—the demonic world, the visible world, and the Kingdom of God.

Make a note of this: We do not know how this man came to be infested with demons. The Bible does not tell us. However, it is believed that demonic possession can come as the result of certain kinds of sinful activity, though the Bible never presents demon possession as the result of a particular sin or set of sins. [vi]

vs 2-5 describe this man was wild. Kent Hughes summarizes his life for us

The local townspeople had attempted to restrain him, but with terrifying herculean strength he had broken the fetters which bound him. He was uncontrollable and dangerous. Inside, he was totally wretched. At intervals during the night and day he would let out a otherworldly howl, then gash himself with jagged rocks in an obvious attempt to drive out the evil spirits. This poor, naked man was a mass of bleeding lacerations, scabs, infections, and scar tissue, living in a delirium of pain and masochistic pleasure. He was running wild, naked, unkempt, and ill, and as a result all were against him. People fled from him. This cemetery was not the place to be, particularly at night. ^[vii]

We need to be clear that the agenda of the demonic world is to distort, degenerate, and degrade to depths that we can’t even imagine. Their intent is to twist and destroy specifically the image of God in us.

V6, as Jesus and disciples were securely beaching the boat, the Demonic, seeing them from a distance, comes charging at them as a naked screaming maniac. That’s enough to make you want to get back in the boat and shove off. Anyway, he charges them screaming at the top of his lungs, V7, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God, do not torment me!”

III. THE FOUR REQUESTS

In this story there are three powerful forces—multiple evil spirits, a man tormented by the evil spirits, and a frightened village. As the story unfolds there are four requests made of Jesus.

1. Demon request #1: Don’t torture me/us

The first request comes from the demon, v7, I implore You by God, do not torment me!” The demon calls in God as a witness. Get this he swears an oath in the name of God. He is attempting to control Jesus!!!

Notice: the demon

§ knows Jesus name—on a first-name basis no less.

§ knows Jesus identity—Son of the Most High God

§ knows what Jesus can do—he asks Jesus deliberately not to torment him

Demons are not atheists, or skeptics, or agnostic. In the presence of Jesus, they tremble. Why did the demon ask that Jesus not torture him? Revelation 12:12 ^(NASB95) They know their time is limited. Matthew 25:41 ^(NASB95) They know that there is coming an eternal fire prepared for them

Jesus asks for the demon’s name, v9. The demon hesitates, and finally answers: My name is Legion; for we are many. This man was dominated by more than one demon. Demon Legion seems to be the name of ‘top’ demon in this man.

Kent Hughes writes: In the Roman military, a legion consisted of 6,000 foot soldiers, as well as 120 horsemen and technical personnel, efficiently organized, with relentless strength. The point is, here is a host of supra powerful evil spirits leering at Jesus through this man’s wild eyes. [viii]

2. Demon request #2: Send us to the pigs

Jesus commands the demon and his buds to come out of the man. The demon then makes a second request, v12, Send us into the pigs. Note: this is a very large herd of pigs, about 2000 of them.

Don’t miss this: The demons had to ask permission of Jesus as to what happens next. Ray Pritchard admonishes us:

Don’t ever make the mistake of thinking that demons are greater than Jesus or that Satan is more powerful than God. And don’t fall into the trap of treating Satan as if he were a kind of “Junior God” with almost-but-not-quite divine powers. That is not true. Satan is a created being who can do nothing without God’s permission. And in this story, we see that Jesus has absolute power over what the demons do and where they can go. [ix]

Why did the demons ask to be sent into the pigs? Don’t really know, but possibly:

1. They thought the Abyss was a real possibility,

2. They wanted a bodily home for their evil activity,

3. They thought it would be a good last Hurrah of local destruction,

4. Or possibly they believed destroying the pigs would stir up trouble for Jesus. Remember that demons are bent on trouble and destruction.

These pigs probably did not belong to a Jewish farmer.

To a Torah Jew there is probably no animal as disgusting as the pig. One writer states it this way: The pig is the ultimate symbol of abhorrence. When you say that someone “acted like a chazir [pig],” it suggests that he or she did something unusually horrid. [x] To put it bluntly, for a Torah Jew, pigs represents the bad side of life.

So Jesus, in granting the demons request, points to the abominableness of the demonic behavior. By sending them to the pigs, Jesus was showing that this man was worth far more than the pigs. He carried value.

Village Request: Leave us alone

That brings us to the third request in this story. V17, The Village people were so frightened over the entire episode, they implored Jesus to leave. I like the way Kent Hughes captures this moment:

The dramatic destruction of the pigs, coupled with what happened to the man, formed a stupendous display of Christ’s power. Vs 14-15: “Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons.” [xi]

You would think they would be grateful. Jesus had just cleaned up the cemetery. No more wild man. No more naked man. No more man howling in the night.

When the villagers show up Mark tells us in v15 that the man was sitting down, clothed and in his right mind. Luke 8:35 says the village people saw the man sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed, instead of naked. He now exhibits self-control, sound mind. What a testimony to the power of Jesus.

But the power to rid this man of demons was more than the people could handle. C.S. Lewis is quoted as saying that Jesus is not safe. Indeed, in this moment, He disturbed the village status quo. V17, so they implore Jesus to leave their region.

They must have considered Jesus more dangerous than the demonic man. David Garland highlights for us that the village people did not recognize the help that Jesus offers, and did not invite him to stay or bring their sick and demonized to him (8:16; 9:32). Instead, they turn their backs on deliverance and salvation. [xii]

I like how Ray Pritchard sums this all up: In today’s world many of us are like the villagers of Gerasene:

We like the gentle Jesus but not the powerful Jesus. We like a marble Jesus we can touch for good luck, but recoil from a Jesus who demands our total allegiance. As long as Jesus doesn’t threaten our business, our lifestyle, our habits, and our personal morality, we’re just fine. We want a Jesus who builds our self-esteem and makes us happy, but we want nothing to do with the Jesus from heaven who calls us to take up our cross and follow him.” ^[xiii]

4. The Cleaned Up Demon Possessed Man Request: Let me accompany You

That brings us to the fourth request, V18, As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed was imploring Him that he might accompany Him.

He begged Jesus, “let me go with you!!” You know what is weird? Follow me: Jesus granted the request of the demons. He granted the request of the village people. He refuses the request of the man once held prisoner by the demons.

Instead, Jesus told him, Vs19-20, “Go home to your people and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you.” ²⁰ And the man went away and began to proclaim in ‘the 10 village area’ what great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed.

Don’t miss what Jesus told the demon freed man to do: “Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” (5:19). The man is not simply to tell people about the miracle that happened to him but what that miracle signifies: The Lord has done a great work in me. [xiv]

IV. TRUTHS THAT SHAPE OUR LIVES

Jesus made this short visit to demonstrate to the disciples that His Kingdom message is powerful everywhere and for everyone. [xv]

The center of the story is not the demons, but the man possessed by the demons. Yet the demons do seem to grab our attention. C.S. Lewis, in his Screwtape Letters, advises that it is dangerous for us to display either too much or too little interest in Satan and his hordes. [xvi] We need to be very clear that God is sovereign over all things.

Following C.S. Lewis’ recommendation, yet feeling the necessity, let me try to capture basic Demonology 101.

A. Lesson #1: Demons are very real

It is my take that most people in our western culture brush off demonic dominance. Though the movie industry and books suggest there is a foreboding paranormal malicious evilness swirling in dark places. In seeking to capture the paranormal evil, the stories seem to end with some kind of scientific wizardry that solves the problem, implying that us humans have the smartness to expel evil mysteries.

On the other hand, Mark 5 gives us a different picture as to evil. Evil comes from powerful demonic forces that can imbed themselves into our very bodies and use us to their own agenda. So Genesis 6:5, we’re told that the demoniacs became so embedded in people that the heart of men/women were continually evil.

B. Lesson #2: There can be multiple demons embedded in a person’s life

In our story the Gerasene Man had multiple demons tormenting his life simultaneously. Mark tells us in 16:9 that before Jesus came into Mary Magadelene’s life she had seven demons tormenting her. In Matthew 12:43–45 ^(NASB95) Jesus gives us some insight as to demonology

⁴³ “Now when the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find it. ⁴⁴ “Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came’; and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order. ⁴⁵ “Then it goes and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation.”

In this teaching Jesus gives us a little insight. He doesn’t tell us why the demon left. Whatever the case, he left. He travels about seeking a resting place, some place of greater satisfaction. Possibly a place where he could exercise more wanton evil. Notice, when he could not find another embodiment, he returns to “my house,” indicating a strong sense of ownership, possessiveness.

And what does this demon do upon seeing ‘his house’ cleaned and put in order? He goes and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first.

The point is, demons love to be in community. The greater their presence, the greater the torment. And that was the case of our man in Mark 5.

Lesson #3: Demon Tactics

This is probably a good place to point out some of Demon tactics. Some of their tactics include

1. Opposition to the Kingdom of God (Luke 11:14-23)

2. Deceitfully ensnaring and manipulating people for their own cause (2 Timothy 2:26) Satan, the ultimate Deceiver, gets a lot of power over people via half-truths.

3. They fight against marriage (1 Timothy 4:3) [xvii]

4. They can embed themselves in people (Luke 8:26-39). This is a prime move

5. They are capable of using our fear of death to their advantage (Hebrews 2:14-15)

6. They can disguise themselves as angels of light. Not all demon possessed people are in a gross state of existence like the man in Mark 5. 2 Corinthians 11:14–15 ^(NASB95) tells us that the dark characterizations often made of Satan are not always true. He often disguises himself as an angel of light. ¹⁵ Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds. Demonized men and women can appear conventional, and even be spiritual leaders in our Churches.

7. Demons love our out-of-controlled anger. Ephesians 4:26-27, anger gives Satan opportunity, a foothold in our lives.

Demons love anger because it brings about “quarreling, jealousy, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder” (2 Corinthians 12:20), and “enmity, strife . . . tantrums, rivalries, dissensions, [and] divisions” Galatians 5:20. Proverbs 26:20–21 ^(NASB95) Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife. [xviii]

Because of this, we’re told in Colossians 3:8 to be on guard against “wrath [and] meanness”. Finally, we mustn’t forget Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:22, “everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment”.

So Proverbs 22:24–25 ^{(NASB95) 24} Do not associate with a man given to anger; Or go with a hot-tempered man, ²⁵ Or you will learn his ways And find a snare for yourself. James reminds us in 1:20 that “The anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God” because the anger of man is more concerned with man than with God.

8. An unforgiving heart also provides a demonic foothold in our lives. 2 Corinthians 2:10–11 ^{(NASB95) 10} But one whom you forgive anything, I forgive also; for indeed what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did it for your sakes in the presence of Christ, ¹¹ so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.

Bottomline, out-of-controlled-emotions can give Satan a controlling factor into our lives. Proverbs 16:32 ^(NASB95) comes to my mind, he who rules his spirit is better than he who takes a city. So we need to Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life. [Proverbs 4:23 ^(NASB95) ] [xix]

Lesson #4: As powerful as demons are, they are still in subjection to Jesus.

Demons are terrorists to Kingdom citizens. As Kingdom Citizens we are called to resist the demonic presence and pressures that we all face day in and day out (James 4:7).

‘Resist’ is a military metaphor, meaning ‘stand against’, as in combat. Kent Hughes captures battling demons with these words:

Ephesians 6:12: “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against supera-natural well-organized evil demons. Life’s struggle is supernatural, supra-flesh and blood. The primary element ‘in resisting the demonic’ begins with a clear understanding of the enemy and his tactics.. [xx]

This battle is futile if fought with conventional weapons. James tells us that fighting our supernatural enemy begins in part with our submitting to God, that is ‘to come near to God. In that submission Satan and his demons will flee from us.

Colossians 1:16 : Christ is above all created orders of angels, When the Kingdom of God takes over, God destroys evil through love. [xxi]

David Nystrum points out that when James says, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you,” means aligning ourselves with solid biblical teaching. Satan can be resisted because he is weaker than God. [xxii]

LESSON 5: When you have been touched by Jesus, you have the story of life to tell.

Mark 5:18-20 ¹⁸ As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. ¹⁹ Jesus did not let him, but said, "Go home to your own people and tell them how much the LORD has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." ²⁰ So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.

Jesus sent this man home to his own people, to tell people what had happened to him. And what a story he had to tell -- how he had lived in anguish and torment, how he had been against all of humanity, a menace to anyone who came by, angry and hostile and rebellious; and Jesus had freed him, given him peace and joy! No wonder the people marveled at what they heard.

It’s time to choose. Will you step into Jesus’ story?

§ The people of the Decapolis were afraid and preferred to close the door on Jesus’ rather than repent of their sin and follow him.

§ The man who had been set free from the hordes of demons in his life chose to step into the Jesus story no matter the cost. He grasps the Jesus story, the message of the Kingdom of God, and sets out to spread the news.

§ The disciples had to choose also.

If your life is a mess, if you feel the presence and pressure of demons in your life. Ask Jesus to take away the torment, to change you from the inside out. Lay your burdens, your cares, your worries, and your fears at the feet of Jesus, the Son of the Living God. If you come to Christ, he will not turn you away. Will you step into the Jesus story?

That’s Real

Let’s close in prayer

Well, Germs are spreading; Wear your mask; Wash your hands; Take your vitamins. Stay your distance, and eat your veggies.

Remember, We are overcomers because God’s Got This.

Until next time

[i] Mark 5:1–17: Matt 8:28–34; Luke 8:26–37 ^[i]

[ii] Colossians 1:16 (NASB95) 16For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.

[iii] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myriad . A myriad (from Ancient Greek μυριάς, myrias) is technically the number ten thousand; in that sense, the term is used almost exclusively in translations from Greek, Latin, Korean, or Chinese, or when talking about ancient Greek numbers. More generally, a myriad may be an indefinitely large number of things.

[iv] Psalm 103:20–21 ^(NASB95) 20Bless the LORD, you His angels, Mighty in strength, who perform His word, Obeying the voice of His word! 21Bless the LORD, all you His hosts, You who serve Him, doing His will.

[v] Ray Pritchard, The Man from the Tombs: Christ Speaks to the Problem of Spiritual Bondage. http://www. keepbelieving.com/sermon/the-man-from-the-tombs-christ-speaks-to-the-problem-of-spiritual-bondage/

[vi] Ray Pritchard, The Man from the Tombs: Christ Speaks to the Problem of Spiritual Bondage. http://www. keepbelieving.com/sermon/the-man-from-the-tombs-christ-speaks-to-the-problem-of-spiritual-bondage/

[vii] R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior , vol. 1, Preaching the Word (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1989), 119.

[viii] Ibid., p 120.

[ix] Ray Pritchard, The Man from the Tombs: Christ Speaks to the Problem of Spiritual Bondage. http://www. keepbelieving.com/sermon/the-man-from-the-tombs-christ-speaks-to-the-problem-of-spiritual-bondage/

[x] Mendy Kaminker, Pigs & Judaism: Deep revulsion, but a promising future, https://www.chabad.org/library/ article_cdo/aid/2376474/jewish/Pigs-Judaism.htm The Syrian-Greek emperor Antiochus IV, as part of his campaign to outlaw Judaism, sent his soldiers to the Land of Israel with orders to force the Jews to offer pigs as sacrifices to the Hellenistic gods and consume the meat. A Jew 90 years old, named Elazar, defied the order and endured a savage beating—even when he was offered the chance to just pretend to eat it while really he would be given kosher meat. Eventually the Greek soldiers met their match in the town of Modiin, where Matityahu the Hasmonean began the revolt that eventually saw the country freed from Hellenistic rule.

[xi] R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior , vol. 1, Preaching the Word (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1989), 121.

[xii] David E. Garland, Mark , The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996), 206.

[xiii] Ray Pritchard, The Man from the Tombs: Christ Speaks to the Problem of Spiritual Bondage. http://www. keepbelieving.com/sermon/the-man-from-the-tombs-christ-speaks-to-the-problem-of-spiritual-bondage/

[xiv] David E. Garland, Mark , The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996), 207.

[xv] Moore, Phil. Straight to the Heart of Mark . Lion Hudson. Kindle Edition.

[xvi] David P. Nystrom, James , The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1997), 246–247.

[xvii] See Amy Seiffert, Marriages Under Fire, https://www.efca.org/blog/making-disciples/marriages-under-fire?utm_source=EFCA+Emails&utm_campaign=bc0592c615-Update_6_13_2018_COPY_01&utm_ medium=email&utm_term=0_4d4c3985d7-bc0592c615-229608837

[xviii] Cf., Proverbs 29:22 ^(NASB95) An angry man stirs up strife, And a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression.

[xix] https://www.biblestudy.org/bible-study-by-topic/proverbs/anger.html

[xx] R. Kent Hughes, James: Faith That Works , Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1991), 185.

[xxi] David E. Garland, Mark , The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996), 214.

[xxii] David P. Nystrom, James , The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1997), 245.The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.

09 - Wrestling With The Mysteries of God

kijabi4@yahoo.com (David Wolfe) — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 01:05:24 GMT

This is a subtitle for your new post

Wrestling With The Mysteries Of God

(Mark 4:26-41)

I. INTRODUCTION

If you would like a bilingual ethnic diverse worship, then you’ll want to check out Bensenville Bible Church. Bensenville Bible Church is a multi-national bi-lingual community of believers on the south-west corner of O’Hare. . We plan to have an outdoor walk-in worship gathering on Sunday, Sept 16, at 10:30am We’ll have some singing, testimonies, and a Word from God.

Our sermon series is taken from the Gospel of Mark. Our focus is chap 4, vs 26-41. If you haven’t done so, open your Bibles to Mark 4. You will also need a pen, and the study guide attached to the email sent out for taking notes. I’ve entitled our lesson today, Wrestling With Life’s Storms. I say that because of what Jesus said in v40, In the midst of a huge storm on the Sea of Galilee, His disciples accused Him of not being interested in their safety. Jesus calms the storm, and then says to them these powerful words: Why are you afraid? How is it that you have no faith?

That got me to thinking, we’re all in a life storm right now. Like the disciples on the Sea of Galilee, the dark clouds of despair, cancel culture and injustices are swirling around us with madness. I feel the grip of fear, and I hear Jesus say, Why are you afraid? How is that you have no faith?

We’re in Mark’s Gospel, chap 4, vs26-41. Tucked in these verses are three different mysteries:

Vs26-29 the mystery of seed germination.
Vs30-34 the mystery of the ‘mustard seed’
Vs 35-41 the mystery of the storm.

II. THE MYSTERY OF SEED GERMINATION (VS26-29)

Let’s start by taking a closer look at the mystery of seed germination in vs 26-29. Jesus is still fleshing out the story of the Farmer sowing seed in vs1-20. Follow along as I read for us the words of Jesus. ²⁶ Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil; ²⁷ and he goes to bed at night and gets up by day, and the seed sprouts and grows—how, he himself does not know. ²⁸ “The soil produces crops by itself; first the blade, then the head, then the mature grain in the head. ²⁹ “But when the crop permits, ‘the farmer’ immediately puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

In Jesus story the farmer goes to the field and sows the seed. When finished he comes home, V27 goes to bed at night and gets up by day, and the seed sprouts and grows—how, he himself does not know . In these verses Jesus ties the farmer sowing seed in his field with the Kingdom of God motif began in 1:15. In Luke’s Gospel we learned that the seed is the Word of God (8:11) which is scattered in the field. The field being the communities in which we live.

Notice the last phrase, he himself does not know, the seed just grows . The phrase may be meant more as a question rather than a statement. It would be something like, Do you know how the seed germinates and grows to maturity?

Jesus continues, V28, ‘but’ here’s what you do know-- The soil produces crops by itself; first ‘comes’ the blade, then the head, then the mature grain in the head . The point Jesus was making to the disciples was that once the seed was planted, the farmer’s activity stops until harvest, v29. Jesus is telling the disciples . . . that once the seed is planted, the rest is a mystery until harvest. He is pointing out to them that the germination of the Word of God in a person’s heart is a total mystery. It just happens. It takes root without personal self-effort (Ephesians 2:8-9), and has no reliance on human strength and wisdom (1 Corinthians 2:5).

Jesus’ point to His disciples--actively sow the seed, which is the Word of God. It doesn’t matter the soil type. Just sow the seed. Sow liberally. Sow intentionally. Don’t be skimpy. Don’t dilly-dally. Sow the Word of God . . . than wait, watch . . . when the seed is ripe, go for the harvest. Phil Moore writes: The Parable of the Sower delivers us from the naïve optimism that leads to discouragement when many people reject our Gospel message. Instead of complaining about unfruitful soil, the unfruitfulness should spur us on to sow all the more generously, knowing that the more we sow the more we will reap. [i]

I read that John Wesley taught his followers: “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.” [ii] Sowing the Word of God is to be our up-most responsibility.

III. THE MYSTERY OF THE MUSTARD SEED (VS30-34)

That brings us to vs30-34, the mystery of the mustard seed. In these verses Jesus likens the Kingdom of God to a mustard seed. [iii] The mustard seed is a tiny tiny seed, but I am told that in Palestine it often grows to a height of twelve to fifteen feet. [iv] So Jesus is saying that the Kingdom of God is like a tiny mustard seed. It starts out tiny. David Garland observes that as tiny as this seed is, one could dismiss the microscopic seed size as something inconsequential, but it has a power within itself to evolve into something that one cannot ignore and that eventually attracts the birds of heaven. [v]

To get a grip on the comparison of the Kingdom of God to the mustard seed, keep in mind what Jesus is saying. This is not the same as ‘faith the size of a mustard seed’ in Luke 17:5-6. [v i] Jesus is not talking faith issues here. He is talking Kingdom of God issues. V30, Jesus said, “ How shall we picture the kingdom of God, or by what parable/story shall we present it? We could render Jesus words like this--how could we describe the Kingdom God?

Jesus is forcing us to look at the Kingdom of God as a mystery. In essence that is what He told Nicodemus in John 3:8 ^(NASB95) “ The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but ‘you’ do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

So Jesus asks, How shall we picture the Kingdom of God? He then answers His own question in vs31-32, ³¹ “It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the soil, though it is smaller than all the seeds that are upon the soil, ³² yet when it is sown, it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and forms large branches; so that THE BIRDS OF THE AIR can NEST UNDER ITS SHADE.”

In context, I believe that the tiny mustard seed is a picture of Jesus’ birth.

He came as a tiny baby placed in a manager.
He grew up on the insignificant backside of the Roman Empire.
His home town, Nazareth, was the least of cities (John 1:46).
When He added the 12, they were not from a pomp-and-circumstance backgrounds. They were rough and tumble men trying to eke out a living.
At Pentecost there were only 120 people gathered in prayer (Acts 1:15). The Kingdom of God started as a microscopic seed.

Jesus point to the disciples was, The kingdom of God, like the mustard seed, will grow from a tiny beginning to a great tree, and would ultimately provide shelter, protection, and benefit to the entire world despite bad soil and Satan’s oppositions. [vii] And all they were being asked to do was sow the seed, the Word of God.

IV. FEAR IN THE MIDST OF THE STORM (VS35-41)

Trusting in the Word of God is not easy. There are times when ‘fears of tsunami proportions grip our souls, causing us to forget the power of Jesus’ Word in our lives. That brings us to V35ff. It is now evening of a very long day. ³ ⁵ On that day, when evening came, He said to them, “Let us go over to the other side.” ³⁶ Leaving the crowd, they took Him along with them in the boat, just as He was; and other boats were with Him. [ viii]

Keep this in mind, there are 12 disciples, and more than one boat. Follow along as I read what happens. To help catch the drama, I am going to read from The Message.

³⁷ A huge storm came up. Waves poured into the boat, threatening to sink it. ³⁸ And Jesus was in the stern, head on a pillow, sleeping! They roused him, saying, “Teacher, is it nothing to you that we’re going down?” ³⁹ Awake now, he told the wind to pipe down and said to the sea, “Quiet! Settle down!” The wind ran out of breath; the sea became smooth as glass. ⁴⁰ Jesus reprimanded the disciples: “Why are you such cowards? Don’t you have any faith at all?” ⁴¹ They were in absolute awe, staggered. “Who is this, anyway?” they asked. “Wind and sea at his beck and call!”

T o say the least, this day had really taxed Jesus—there were the accusations of Satanic connections, His family were convinced that He was out of his-ever-loving-mind, and crowds pressing in on Him. Evening came, Jesus was done, and so He said to His disciples, Let’s go to the other side of Galilee.

Vincent Taylor, in his book The Gospel According to Mark points out for us that the Gk tense in v35, “let’s go over to the other side,” implies a sense of urgency on Jesus part. ^[ix] He is tired, I mean really tired. Just how tired? ³⁷ A huge storm came up. Waves poured into the boat, threatening to sink it. ³⁸ And Jesus was in the stern, head on a pillow, sleeping!

Don’t miss what’s happening. Crossing the lake, suddenly they find themselves in a huge storm. And remember, not all the disciples are sea-worthy fisher men. Take Matthew, his background is collecting taxes. Just how bad was the storm? Matthew writes (8:24). Behold, there arose a great storm. Literally Matthew words were a great shaking storm. The Gk word he used (seismos) is our word ‘earthquake’. Remember, Mark is writing through the eyes of Peter. So Peter saw high waves driven by high winds. On the other hand, Matthew saw a shaking of the earth. [x]

The point is, this is a huge storm. Waves were ponding, water was pouring into the boat, and the boat was on the verge of sinking. It clearly appeared as a life-threatening moment. A don’t miss this, V38, in the midst of the storm Jesus’ head was on a pillow, sleeping!!!!! He must have really really really tired.

You know what’s amazing? Jesus, soaking wet, being thrown around by the waves, was asleep!!!! While at the same time the disciples are struggling to stay afloat. I believe they were not only afraid of death by drowning, they were also frustrated with sleeping Jesus. Hear their fear and frustration—Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?

They’re boats were swamped. Jesus was sleeping;
Death by drowning was near. Jesus was sleeping
The storm was raging. Jesus was sleeping
Their boats was sinking. Jesus was sleeping.

Think about this. In the middle of a raging storm Jesus was sleeping. That means both eyes closed. He was not pretending. He was soaking wet. From the disciple’s perspective, death by drowning was a real. Yet Jesus was sleeping soundly. In all honesty, when I’m in one of life’s storms, I’m right there with the disciples. Where is God when I need Him? Does God really care? Listen to me. The mystery of the storm is that it was absolutely necessary if they were ever to grasp the power of the seed, the Word of God.

Please don’t miss this—the storm didn’t catch Jesus by surprise. He knew it was coming. He knew how bad it would be. When He said, let’s go to the other side, He knowingly took them into the storm. Why? Because He knows how to handle storms. He wanted to grow the disciple’s faith in His Word.

Hear me out—As with the disciples, storms an essential part of our own spiritual development. James 1:2-3, the testing of our faith produces endurance;

Romans 5:3-5, tribulation produces perseverance. [xi] In essence that is why Kent Hughes writes, Storms are part of the process of spiritual growth. [xii] Without difficulties, trials, stresses, and even failures, we would never grow to be what we should become. Perhaps you are in such a storm in your life right now. James 1:5, in context, God says when you are in the storms of life, ask Him for wisdom to help you make the most of it. Embrace the storms.

They awaken Jesus, V39, He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, Hush, be still. And the wind died down and the sea became as smooth as glass. An eerie silence followed. Not a wave in sight. Not even the sound of waves lapping against the boat.

You know, it is very possible that this storm was demonically driven. You see, Jesus was on His way to visit the Gerasene Demoniac , a man possessed by a Legion of demons, 5:9. A legion is composed of 6,000 soldiers. Imagine the rage swirling in this man. Multiple demons had taken over his life. He was their playground. They most certainly knew Jesus was coming. And with unbelievable force they set out to stop Jesus. They saw Him sleeping . . . and thought they had caught Him, off guard . . . asleep in the boat.

The disciples finally shake Jesus out of a deep sleep. Mark captures what happens next.

First, Jesus rebukes the disciples: V40, Why are you afraid? How is it that you have no faith? Their fear exposed their lack of faith. Jesus questions suggest that their fear of the storm’s impact on their lives, death by drowning, came because of their failure to believe that He was the Son of God. They had missed the point of the miracles—healing of the sick, healing withered hands and those who could not walk, casting out demons—a clear mark of God’s sovereign rule
Second, the disciples are literally stunned. V41, They became even more afraid and said to one another, Who is this guy, that even the wind and the sea obey Him? Answer: It’s the same Guy who kicked demons out and healed leapers and paraplegics. It’s the same Guy who was teaching and calling them to be part of kingdom of God. It’s the same Guy who called outcasts into His inner circle--tax collectors, cheaters, zealots, and fisherman.

Talk about drama?!!! I’m still asking with the disciples in v41, Who is this guy? Even the wind and the sea obey Him!!

V. TRUTHS THAT SHAPE OUR LIVES

These three mysteries—the mystery of seed germination, the mystery of the mustard seed, and mystery of the storm—help to hold us steady in those times we feel that the Spirit has gone on holiday. These mysteries convey the truth that God’s kingdom works powerfully, and independently of our skill or power. We need to look at our world the way Jesus looks it—a place to sow God´s Word everywhere, looking to the time of harvest. [xiii]

Let’s pause and ask, what lessons can we take away from these verses and apply to our lives

A. First, There Is The Mystery of Seed Germination

In vs 26-29 we have the mystery of the germination of the Word of God. The process is a mystery to us. The context is important. Jesus is continuing the story of the farmer sowing his field. The seed is the Word of God, and it is to be scattered liberally, wherever. Once planted, germination is hidden. Its impossible for us to fathom how the Word of God germinates in the soil of the soul. We only can measure the result when that first plant blade peaks into the light.

Jesus’ point was/is, when the seed is planted, though hidden, is growing with a harvest that God intends. The beginning, ie., planting, predetermines the harvest.

Its hard to wait. When I start my gardens in the spring, once I have planted the vegetable seeds, I am out there every morning and evening staring at the soil, hoping that in some way my vision will spur the seed into action. I constantly remind myself the small print on the seed packet—germination period is between 7 to 14 days!!! I want it now.

In the letter to the church at Philippi, Paul sought to reassure the believers that his recent imprisonment was not a setback to the gospel as they were believing. Hidden from them, the Gospel had germinated, and there was a wonderful harvest: The whole palace guard had heard about the gospel, and his Christian brothers were preaching the gospel even more boldly (Phil. 1:12–14). David Garland reminds us that from our finite perspective, we tend to be ignorant of God’s grand schemes even when we are living in the midst of them. [xiv]

When we cannot see what transpires under the ground as the seed germinates, we often become discouraged. The point of the story is-- the germination of God´s Word in the soul soil does not depend on us. Jesus is telling his disciples everywhere and throughout time, “Do your work for God, plant the seed of the Word of God, then take time to rest. While you are resting, God does His mysterious work with His seed.” [xv]

Jesus is calling us to join His story, and proclaim The time is here, the Kingdom of God is at hand, f or there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. ” (Acts 4:12; Mark 1.15).

B. Second, there is the mystery of the ‘mustard seed’ Vs30-34

In vs30-32, Jesus asks, How shall we picture the Kingdom of Go d. Answer: It is like a mustard seed. The 15ft mustard plant starts off as a tiny seed. Not much to look at. But when it matures it is mighty in appearance. The point Jesus is making to the disciples and us, is that we can be confident that the Kingdom of God, though small in beginning, will have great results. There will be nowhere that doesn't feel its forceful message.

David Curtis reminds us that the work of Christ's kingdom continues to have small beginnings in so many places. Luther's Ninety-Five Theses shook an empire. Whitefield and Wesley's preaching the necessity of the new birth awakened both sides of the Atlantic. Wilberforce's application of kingdom principles shattered the slave trade in the British Empire. Carey's humble work revolutionized the education and morals of the vast Indian nation. Small beginnings are no problem when the work belongs to the King. ^[xvi]

Jesus is calling us to enter His story, and be assured it will not falter despite pandemics, cancel culture, injustices, and Satan’s opposition. The Kingdom of God will be triumphant.

C. THIRD, The Mystery Of The Storm, VS.35-41

That brings us to vs35-41, the mystery of the storm. It was not small storm. Death by drowning was most certain. It was as if Jesus had put them in the most hopeless of circumstances so that He could show His absolute divine power to them. Hear me: God does this often, yet still we struggle to believe in Him. In the mystery of the storm Jesus was not simply showing them His power; He was revealing the mystery of Himself as God, the Creator of the universe. Through Him the world was created, and through His word it is governed (Colossians 1:16-17).From the pen of Phil Moore comes these powerful words: Jesus brought them into this storm in order to give them an opportunity to see and remember. [xvii]

In the midst of life’s storms it is easy to panic, it is easy to think God is asleep. We are in storms because God loves to bring His children to the point at which we have nowhere else to go but to Him for help. Yet far too often we wait until we run out of solutions to our crises, then we call upon God. And more often than not it is too late. It’s easy to forget God’s presence when we’re in one of life’s storms. Our human endeavors for handling life’s storms more often than not find us shipwrecked on some coral reef or lonely island. Why is this?

From St. Augustine come these powerful words: We find ourselves shipwrecked because Jesus is sleeping inside us. What do I mean, Augustine asks? Then he answers his own question for us: I mean you have forgotten His presence. Rouse him, then; remember Him, let Him keep watch within you, pay heed to Him... When temptation arises: it is the surging of the sea. This is the moment to awaken Christ . . . and hear Him say, Hush, be still . . . and take comfort in the disciples testimony . . . for even the winds and the sea obey Him! [xviii]

Isaiah 55:11 ^(NASB95) God says, My word which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. Phil Moore grasps this with these words: That’s the kind of seed we sow when we proclaim the words of Jesus to the world. [xix] When we rest assured in His word we can sing with Reuben Morgan in his song Still :

When the oceans rise and thunders roar,

I will soar with You above the storm.

Father, You are King over the flood.

I will be still and know You are God. [xx]

And That’s Real

Well, Germs are everywhere and growing; the Coronavirus is our part of our new norm. Wear your mask; Wash your hands; Take your vitamins. Stay your distance, and eat your veggies. Remember, We are overcomers because God’s Got This.

Until next time

[i] Moore, Phil. Straight to the Heart of Mark . Lion Hudson. Kindle Edition.

[ii] Ibid.

[iii] Cf., Luke 13:18–19 (NASB95)18So He was saying, “What is the kingdom of God like, and to what shall I compare it? 19“It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and threw into his own garden; and it grew and became a tree, and THE BIRDS OF THE AIR NESTED IN ITS BRANCHES.” Matthew 13:31–32 (NASB95)31He presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field; 32and this is smaller than all other seeds, but when it is full grown, it is larger than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that THE BIRDS OF THE AIR come and NEST IN ITS BRANCHES.”

[iv] John F. MacArthur Jr., Matthew , vol. 2, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1985), 369.

[v] David E. Garland, Mark , The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996), 180.

[vi] Luke 17:5–6 (NASB95) 5The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea’; and it would obey you.

[vii] John F. MacArthur Jr., Matthew , vol. 2, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1985), 371.

[viii] Robert A. Guelich, Mark 1–8:26 , vol. 34A, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1989), 264. “When it was evening” serves a temporal purpose of concluding “that day” of Jesus’ teaching in 4:1–34

[ix] Vincent Taylor, The Gospel According to Mark (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1981), p. 273,

[x] Donald A. Hagner, Matthew 1–13 , vol. 33A, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1993), 221. While earthquakes are in fact the cause of enormous “tidal waves,” the introduction of an earthquake here stands in some tension with the later reference, borrowed from Mark, to “the wind,” usually associated with storms rather than earthquakes. Evidence exists in Greek literature, however, that earthquakes were at times associated with winds and heavy seas (cf. BAGD, 746). The result, regardless of the technical cause, was such a rough sea that the boat was literally “covered by the waves.”

[xi] James 1:2–3 (NASB95) 2Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance., Romans 5:3–5 (NASB95) 3And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

[xii] R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior , vol. 1, Preaching the Word (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1989), 113.

[xiii] David E. Garland, Mark , The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996), 184.

[xiv] Ibid., 185.

[xv] Colin Smith, How Do You Measure Success, Sermon Series, 8-27-20

[xvi] David Curitis, The Parable of the Mustard Seed, Mark 4:30-34, https://www.bereanbiblechurch.org/transcripts/mark/4_30-34.htm

[xvii] Moore, Phil. Straight to the Heart of Mark . Lion Hudson. Kindle Edition.

[xviii] D. Lance Waldie, The Man Who Commands Wind and Sea, https://www.harvestbiblechurch.net/content.cfm?page_ content=blogs_include.cfm&friendly_name=the-man-who-commands-wind-and-sea

[xix] Moore, Phil. Straight to the Heart of Mark . Lion Hudson. Kindle Edition.

[xx] Reuben Morgan’s song “Still”, Hillsong Album Hope (2003)

08 - The Importance Of Listening

kijabi4@yahoo.com (David Wolfe) — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 00:36:32 GMT

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The The Importance Of Listening

(Mark 4:1-20)

I. INTRODUCTION

If you like to be involved in a bilingual ethnic diverse worship, then you’ll want to check out Bensenville Bible Church. Bensenville Bible Church is a multi-national bi-lingual community of believers on the south-west corner of O’Hare. At the moment we are not meeting in person because of the contagiousness of COVID, but the day is coming that we’ll be back singing God’s praises together.

Our sermon series is taken from Mark’s Gospel. In preparation, open your Bibles to Mark’s Gospel, chap 4. You will also want a pen, and the study guide attached to the email sent out. I’ve entitled our lesson today, The Importance of Listening . I say that because of what Jesus said in v3, ² And He was teaching them many things in by stories, and was saying to them in His teaching, ³ “Listen to this! Or perhaps in our vernacular, “pay attention to this!” A quick overview of the 4 Gospels finds Jesus calling the people to regularly pay close attention to His stories. He does this at least 27 times. It would almost seem that the people in His day had an attention deficit disorder. That got me to thinking, do I have an attention deficit problem?

II. SETTING

Today we are in chap 4 of Mark’s Gospel, and we’ll be looking at vs1-20. It is commonly referred to as “The Story Of The Sower”. The Story of The Sower is the longest and most detailed of Jesus stories (parable) in Mark’s gospel, and appears also in the Gospel of Matthew and Luke. Because the story appears in the three Gospels, it has to be an extremely important story. The story is designed to teach us how to step into Jesus’ story, and how to grow as believers in Jesus. [i]

Beginning in v1 of Mark 4, Jesus leaves Capernaum and hikes down to the Sea of Galilee. As usual the crowds followed. Mark says that this was a ‘very large crowd’ , perhaps calling attention that the size of crowds around Jesus was growing. The crowd was so large, and perhaps pressing in on Him, that he asked his disciples to get Him a boat and put out a slight distance from shore.

One Commentator writes: The picture we have is of a vast heterogeneous assembly sitting in a great arc on the rising shore, all facing Jesus, who was seated aboard the boat in rabbinical teaching posture, giving forth the stories of the Kingdom as the sea gently lapped the shore. ^[ii] We must remember that everything Jesus said flows out of God’s Kingdom perspective—Chap 1:15, Jesus said The time has come. The Kingdom of God is near.

Because of the Kingdom issues, Jesus wanted everybody present—the crowd and His disciples—to listen very closely. What makes this story significant is the way Jesus frames it: He starts off in v3, Listen up!! Ends it in V9, “ He who has ears to hear, let him heart!! ” Then again in V11, If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear. The verbs ‘ listen ’ and ‘ hear ’ are in what is called the imperative mood, meaning this is not a simple invitation, it is a command—Listen Up!!!. Set in that context makes the story of high importance. [ii i] The point Jesus is making is,” it is really important that you understand what I am saying;” because how you listen, we listen, effects life now, and life to come.

Let’s take a moment and ask our God to open our minds and hearts to grasp the truths laid out in these 20 verses: “Heavenly Father, thank you for this time you’ve given us to open your Word and discover truths about the Kingdom of Heaven. We ask that you help us discern the truth embedded in the story here in Mark chap 4. Thank you Heavenly Father for the clarity, encouragement and hope that your Word brings. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

III. THE STORY

The Sower Story is a story of a Farmer. In that day, and in some parts of our world even today, the Farmer swung a bag full of seed over his shoulder, and then walked his field rhythmically reaching into his bag and throwing the seed. No hand cranked spreaders.

Here’s Jesus story: Vs3-9 ³ “ A farmer planted seed. ⁴ As he scattered the seed, some of it fell on the road and birds ate it. ⁵ Some fell in the gravel; it sprouted quickly but didn’t put down roots, ⁶ so when the sun came up it withered just as quickly. ⁷ Some fell in the weeds; as it came up, it was strangled among the weeds and nothing came of it. ⁸ Some fell on good earth and came up with a flourish, producing a harvest exceeding his wildest dreams. ⁹ “Are you listening to this? Really listening?” ^{(The Message)} A very short story, but what did it mean for them? And what does it mean for us? I mean, inquiring minds really want to know, and so did the inquiring minds of the 12 disciples.

A. Vs10-12, Transitional Conversation

V10, there is a change in audience. When they were off by themselves, those who were close to him, along with the Twelve, asked about the story. It is no longer the massive crowd, but a smaller group who are highly interested in the story and its application.
Vs10-12 form a private transitional conversation leading up to the explanation coming in v13. To put it bluntly, these verses are rather difficult to understand.
V11 He was saying to them, “ To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God , ie., because the disciples have responded in faith, and perhaps those gathered with, they have been given insight into the Kingdom of God. They are part of that group in 3:35, who are doing the will of God.
V11 . . . but those who are outside get everything in parables (or stories), 12so that WHILE SEEING, THEY MAY SEE AND NOT PERCEIVE, AND WHILE HEARING, THEY MAY HEAR AND NOT UNDERSTAND, OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT RETURN AND BE FORGIVEN.” [iv]

Jesus is quoting Isaiah 6:9-13. In context, Isaiah’s passage is about God’s judgment. Despite God’s faithfulness and nurturing, the people of Judah cultivated a social system rife of exploitation and violence. They refused to listen to God. The point was, God’s judgment was then that of confirming their sin by imprisoning them in a pattern of their choice, that of living in disobedience. [v] Since they would not listen, God steels their hearts so they could no longer make sense out of what they were hearing. To be clear, the judgment that the hearers around Jesus follows the same pattern, seeing but not perceiving and listening but not understanding . They heard the word, but refused to act. The Kingdom of God was at hand , 1:15, and the people who heard the good news had to decide what they were going to do about it. Jesus inexplicably was saying, to the group at hand, that the condition of one’s heart determines receptivity of the truth. [vi] That’s the point of Hebrews 10:26 ^(NASB95) For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,

John MacArthur writes, this verse is possibly the clearest and most concise scriptural definition of truth renouncement—receiving knowledge of the truth, that is, the gospel, but willfully remaining in sin. Such a person has seen and heard the truth—he knows it well—but he willfully rejects it. [vi i] Jesus’ point is clear . . . those who receive the truth and act upon it will receive more truth. And those who reject the truth, will not only lose what little they may have, they will never know forgiveness of sin. Hearing God’s Word and disregarding it brings a hardness of heart to the point it is impossible to respond,

B. Explanation of The Farmer Sowing His Field

Jesus, alone with those who were serious listeners, explains the story, beginning in v14 to v20, to the smaller group that had pulled away from the crowd.

The seed the Farmer is Sowing is the Word of God spoken by Jesus. In Luke’s Gospel, 8:11, same story, we’re told straight up that “the Seed is the Word of God.” 1 Peter 1:23 ^(NASB95) because it is t he Word of God it lives and abides forever . It is eternal. Isaiah 40:8 ^(NASB95) The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever. [viii]
In v26 the Farmer is likened to The Kingdom of God. As he casts his seed, so the Kingdom of God casts seed upon the soil.

Note, as we get into the story, we’re not talking 4 different fields. This is one field with differing soil composites. The differing soils represents the receptiveness of people to the message of the Kingdom of God.

As the story unfolds, we see that there are six differing reactions to the Word of God. [ix]

1. First reaction to the Word of God comes in vs15 Some people are like the seed that falls on the hardened soil of the path. No sooner do they hear the Word than Satan snatches away what has been planted in them. ^{(The Message)}

Fields in that day often carried a patch work of paths made by people, deer, mice, rabbits, etc., taking shortcuts to water or wherever. These paths represent the hardness of people’s hearts. Hearts so hard that the seed couldn’t penetrate. Kent Hughes points out for us that hardness of heart can come from presuppositions, distortions, and prejudices which steel them to truth. They may be hostile, but often these people are simply uninterested. God’s story, God’s truth has no relevancy for them. ^[x] Life issues have basically crowded out God. These people are not alert to the truth. They are careless. [xi] Satan is poised like birds and mice. He sweeps in and takes away the word ‘of truth’ that was sown. His technics are various.

Lies about truth, Jn 8:44
Blinds eyes to God’s message, 2 Cor 4:4
Disguises himself, 2 Cor 11:13-15
Twists Truth, 1 Tim 4:1
Sets out Signs & Wonders, 2 Thess 2:9
Provides False Deliverers, Matt 24:24
Appeals to our weaknesses, 2 Cor 11:3
Plucks out the word, Mk 4:15
Barricades ministry opportunities, 1 Thess 2:17
Stands in the heavenly courts accusing us, Rev 12:10

The point is, these people are just too busy for anything but themselves. They don’t have time to meditate on God’s Word, Psalm 1; they don’t have time to “ teach God’s word to their sons/daughters, or talk of God’s Word when sitting in the comfort of home, or talk about God’s truth when walking on life’s path, or reading it before lights are turned out at night, or having a devotional time in the morning. [Deuteronomy 6:7 ^(NASB95). ]. They are just too busy, not time to listen to God’s messengers.

2. Second reaction to God’s Word comes in vs16-17, ¹⁶ “And some are like the seed that lands in the gravel. When they first hear the Word, they respond with great enthusiasm. ¹⁷ But there is such shallow soil of character that when the emotions wear off and some difficulty arrives, there is nothing to show for it. ^{(The Message)}

The soil has no depth. These are people who brushed up against the truth, but it never ever penetrated the heart, mind, and will. Phil Moore, in his book The Heart of Mark , points out that these people do not dig deep foundations for their walk with Jesus by studying Scripture, by talking to God in prayer or by devoting themselves to being an active member of a Christian community. Their grasp of Jesus and of His story is far too shallow to support them when difficulties come. [xii]

When affliction comes, when life’s road gets bumpy, they let it go. They become bitter as to church, faith, and Bible. Helmut Thielicke writes in his book : The Waiting Father It is the half-Christians who always flop in the face of the catastrophe, because their dry intellectuality and their superficial emotionalism ‘can’ not stand the test. A person who lets Jesus only halfway into his heart is far poorer than a one hundred per cent non-follower of Jesus. He does not get the peace that passes all understanding and he also loses the world’s peace, because of his naiveté it has been taken from him. So even that which they think they have is taken away from them.. [xiii ] True faith is a call for the whole person—heart, soul, mind, strength (Mark 12:30). It is the whole person that weathers the storms of life. Romans 5:3–4 ^(NASB95) ³ we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; ⁴ and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;

3. Third reaction to God’s Word comes in vs18- 19 ¹⁸ “The seed cast in the weeds represents the ones who hear the kingdom news ¹⁹ but are overwhelmed with worries about all the things they have to do and all the things they want to get. The stress strangles what they heard, and nothing comes of it. ^{(The Message)}

This is soil that is thorny and weedy. Initially the soil surface looks clean and inviting. But under the surface not so good.

In my garden I have to watch out for Dandelions. Clipping tops off does not do. It’s a struggle to rid dandelions from the garden. They are tough and hardy. Below the surface they can have a tap root ½ inch thick, and rich depths of 18 inches. When garden seeds are planted, and dandelions and crab grass not fully removed, they sprout along with the seeds. While seeds love moisture, dandelions and crab grass love hot dry weather and crowd out the vegetable seeds. Jesus says these uninvited guest –dandelions and crab grass, etc--are likened to the “worries, deceitfulness of riches, and desire for things.” They spring into action and choke out the word. In Matthew 6:24 ^(NASB95) J esus said “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

Notice vs18-19. Jesus lays out three great faith neutralizers: Worries of the world, deceitfulness of riches, and desire for things . They snuff out our time and energy. They consume our thoughts, productivity, trust in God. James captures this when he writes in chap 4, ¹ Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves. ² You lust for what you don’t have and are willing to kill to get it. You want what isn’t yours and will risk violence to get your hands on it. You wouldn’t think of just asking God for it, would you? ³ And why not? Because you know you’d be asking for what you have no right to. You’re spoiled children, each wanting your own way. ⁴ You’re cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way. [James 4:1–4 ^{(The Message)} ]

Ben Grisez describes the weeds as the consequences of pride, greed, unforgiveness, bitterness, and all manner of sin - growing unabated. [xiv] The good will not overcome the evil if the evil is not systematically, thoroughly eradicated. John warns us in 1 John 2:15 not to let the love of the world or the things in the world smoother our faith. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him . Worries and riches stand in opposition to the things of God. Satan, the god of this world, has his own value system which contrary to God’s (Ephesians 2:2; 2 Corinthians 4:4 ). Satan’s system promotes: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life (1 John 2:16). This is clearly portrayed in the new Netflix movie--Cuties.The world is what we leave when we come to Christ. Isaiah 55:7 tells us that coming to God involves a forsaking of our own ways and thoughts. Worries, riches and desires can destroy our faith

3. The final reaction to God’s Word comes in v20 But the seed planted in the good earth represents those who hear the Word, embrace it, and produce a harvest beyond their wildest dreams.” ^{(The Message)“}

In Matthew’s account of the story, 13:2-9, some seed fell on the good soil and yielded a crop, some hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty. This represents receptive hearts. These hearts reproduce in multiple ways—some 100fold, some 60fold, and some 30fold. Jesus said in Matthew 7:20, by their fruits you shall know. While we can never know fully the hearts of the people around us, we can make wise assessments by observing the life fruits of others, as well as our own.

All of us stumble from time to time, and we may go through seasons of bearing little to no fruit ( 1 John 1:8 ). But 1 John 3:4–10 makes it clear that those who know God will not continue a lifestyle of bearing bad or no fruit. We have been transformed, and the fruit of our lives is evidence of transformation. Apple trees don’t produce bananas, and strawberry plants don’t produce figs. So it is in the spiritual realm. We can identify those hearts that have been redeemed by the fruit seen in their lives.

The truth of the Kingdom of God doesn’t roll away like water-on-a-ducks-back. It sinks deep into the soil of the heart. Galatians 5:22–23 ^(NASB95) describes the fruit--t he fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control . . . This is the effect of the seed, the word of God sown into good soil, hearts that are soft and willing to listen to Jesus. We bow to the lordship of Jesus. We receive everything we need from Him. And, we become like Him.

IV. TRUTHS THAT SHAPE OUR LIVES

The parable of the sower is one of the most convicting stories Jesus used to convey the truth about the kingdom of God. It is filled with practical applications. As I review the verses we have just considered, what lessons can we take away from the story?

A. First, Jesus has framed His Mission as one who goes out to sow the Word of God to a mixed reception.

This passage forces us to reflect on our goals and methods in proclaiming the kingdom of God. [xv] Jesus is on a mission to “ seek and save the lost (Like 19:10). He flings the seed of God’s Word to wherever it might land . . .

Mark 2:17, I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners ‘wherever they may be’—tax-collectors, prostitutes, pimps, cheaters, etc. Sin-Sick-Sinners are those who know that they are in a broken relationship with God (1 John 3:4), they are slaves to sin (John 8:34), under the judgment of God (Jude 1:14-15)

David Garland points out that Jesus casts the seeds with abandonment and does not decide in advance whether the soil has potential or not, whether it is a waste of time or not. The message is not test-marketed first to see what the response is likely to be and then to adjusted to ensure the best reception of the product. There is no concern to hit target groups only, to visit only certain kinds of people who are like us. There is no fear of sowing outside the boundaries. [xvi]

some seed falls on hard ground, deaf ears, no response
some seed falls on rocky ground, a response comes, but when the heat comes, difficult times, persecution, pandemics, they leave because there is no depth in their relationship with God, they wilt and rot away
some seed falls near weeds and thorns. Jesus likens them to the cares of the world, deceitfulness of riches, and desires for stuff . . . that choke out spiritual life
some fall on good ground and produce in abundance.

Jesus sows the Word of God on good and bad soil. No exemptions. Despite Satanic attacks, scorching heat, skimpy soil, and abundance of thorny weeds . . . there is a harvest. The Word of God will not fail (Isa 55:10-11). We can be assured there will be a harvest.

Fruit bearing is an essential character trait of the Kingdom of God’s sowing. Jesus stresses that the harvest depends on the degree that one listens to the Word of God. For some listeners the message is dead on arrival, no matter what Jesus says or does. There are those that shrivel up when the heat comes, and they fall away. There are some that are so weed ridden that the seed is suffocated. But then there are those that listen, they absorb it so that Satan can’t snatch it, weeds don’t suffocate, difficulties don’t overcome it.

Listen, Jesus wants us to absorb His mission, sow the seed, sow it liberally, sow it. The point of sowing the seed is to force hearers to a crisis that requires a response—either stumbling or becoming transformed.

B. Second, Jesus’ story comes with a warning About the Seriousness of listening

In looking back over Jesus’ Kingdom of God story, we noted Jesus’ call to pay close attention. Why? The answer comes in Vs21–25, ²¹ He was saying to them, “A lamp is not brought to be put under a basket, is it, or under a bed? Is it not brought to be put on the lampstand? ²² “For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything been secret, but that it would come to light. ²³ “If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” ²⁴ And He was saying to them, “Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides. ²⁵ “For whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.”

Tucked in these verses comes a warning: “ take heed then how you hear…” Commentator Hendriksen puts it this way: In matters spiritual, standing still is impossible. A person either gains or loses; he either advances or declines … Every blessing is a guarantee of further blessings to come (John 1:16). … On the other hand, whoever does not have, from him shall be taken away even that semblance of knowledge, that superficial acquaintance with matters spiritual, which he once had or thought he had. … The person who refuses to make proper use of what he hears, loses the memory of it. (Matt. 25:24-30).

C. Third, the story is about the soil of our hearts

If we fail to put down deep roots into Jesus’ story, then our faith will wither under pressure. This is crucial because without Him we cannot bear fruit ( John 15:4 ). In the story the seed that fell on good soil came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown. In Luke’s account, chap 8, v15, the seed in the good soil are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.

In context of Jesus’ story, How does one know whether or not they are in a relationship with Christ? I like the way Yohan Perera summaries it for us:

You are less angry or irritated when things don’t go your way, ( James 1:20 )
You are more likely to pray first before calling on anyone else, ( Philippians 4:6 )
You are less anxious and worried over troubles, ( Psalm 46:10 )
You are more concerned about your own motives and integrity, ( 2 Corinthians 13:5 )
You are less doubtful about God’s control over your life, ( Isaiah 25:1 )
You are more engaged in God’s word, ( Psalm 119:11 )
You are less connected to the things of this world, ( 1 John 2:15 )
And in Galatians 5:19 the works of the flesh are reduce and the fruit of the Spirit becomes more evident. [xvii]

This is a good moment for me to ask: which of these four types of soil most resembles your heart. Are you still acting like spectators of someone else’s story? Are you offering only a superficial or a half-hearted willingness to step into Jesus’ story? Or are you willing to give up everything to follow him?

That’s Real

Let’s close in prayer: Lord, we fall so short of you and your mission. The world we live in is so very needy and hurting. Burden us to sow your word earnestly that we may see a harvest. Take away our sin. Take away our scholarly unbelief and doubt. Take away our fears of what people would think of us. And anoint us with power afresh that we might serve you. And like your disciples of old, serve you to the ends of the earth until you come. In your holy name, we pray. Amen.

Covid is spreading like wild-fire. Germs everywhere; Wear your mask; Wash your hands; Take your vitamins. Stay your distance. Remember, We will overcome because God’s Got This.

Until next time

[ i] Moore, Phil. Straight to the Heart of Mark . Lion Hudson. Kindle Edition.

[ii] R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior , vol. 1, Preaching the Word (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1989), 102–103. 2. D. Edmond Hiebert, Mark (Chicago: Moody, 1974), p. 98, remarks that the “cove between Capernaum and the mouth of the Jordan, where the beach rises rather rapidly from the water which is quite deep within a few yards from shore, may have provided the needed natural amphitheater with acoustics adequate for the occasion.”

[iii] Ronald Kernaghan, The IVP New Testament Commentary Series: Mark (Downers Grove: IL: InterVarsity Press, 2007), p86.

[iv] Matthew 13:12–13 ^(NASB95) Jesus said, ¹² “For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. ¹³ “Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.

[v] Ronald Kernaghan, The IVP New Testament Commentary Series: Mark (Downers Grove: IL: InterVarsity Press, 2007), p90-91

[vi] Ibid., 104.

[vii] John F. MacArthur Jr., Hebrews , MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1983), 272.

[viii] Cf., Psalm 89:2 (NASB95) 2For I have said, “Lovingkindness will be built up forever; In the heavens You will establish Your faithfulness.” James 1:17 (NASB95) 17Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. Psalm 119:89 (NASB95)89Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven.

[ix] Hurtado, Larry, New International Biblical Commentary, (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1983), p72. There are not four kinds of soils, as it might appear at first, but only two. There is unproductive soil, three examples given, and productive soil with three examples given (4:8). The figures thirty, sixty, one hundred, refer to three examples of productive soil.

[x] R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior , vol. 1, Preaching the Word (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1989), 106.

[xi] 1 Peter 5:8 (NASB95) 8Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

[xii] Moore, Phil. Straight to the Heart of Mark . Lion Hudson. Kindle Edition.

[xiii] Helmut Thielicke, The Waiting Father (New York: Harper and Row, 1975), p. 57.

[xiv] Ben Grisez, Sowing Among Thorns, https://marchforth2oz.blogspot.com/2012/07/sowing-among-thorns.html

[xv] David E. Garland, Mark , The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996), 166.

[xvi] Ibid., 168.

[xvii] Yohan Perera, Sermon Notes: The Parable of the Sower, https://www.virtualpreacher.org/sermon-notes/parable-sower-text /body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.

07 - Clarifying Jesus' Identity

kijabi4@yahoo.com (David Wolfe) — Sun, 21 Mar 2021 01:18:57 GMT

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06 - Growing Conflict With Jesus (Mark 3:1-19)

kijabi4@yahoo.com (David Wolfe) — Fri, 12 Mar 2021 22:05:02 GMT

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Growing Conflict With Jesus

(Mark 3:1-19)

I. INTRODUCTION

You are reading a posting by Dr. David Wolfe, one of the Pastors at Bensenville Bible Church. Bensenville Bible Church is a multi-national bi-lingual community of believers on the south-west corner of O’Hare. Our study today is taken from the Gospel of Mark. So lets open your Bibles to Mark’s Gospel, chap 3. You will also want your pen, and the study guide attached to the email that was sent.

The opening verses of chap 3 heighten the Sabbath conflict with Jesus that was started when the disciples “picked heads of grain” at the end of chap 2.

At the start of chap 3 Jesus comes to a synagogue where a man with a withered hand has come, and Jesus heals him on the Sabbath
In vs7-12 demons voice acknowledgement as to Jesus identity.
In vs13-19 we are introduced to the 12 men Jesus picked to be His disciples.

As we journey through Mark’s Gospel we need to keep foremost in our minds that the authority that Jesus exercised is rooted in the words, The time has come. The Kingdom of God is near (chap 1:15). Everything that Jesus said and did flows out of God’s Kingdom presence.

II. GROWING NEGATIVITY

As we get into chap 3, Mark wants us to take note of the rising negative temperature against Jesus.

A. First, there are the Authority issues

If you remember, the negativity towards Jesus started in chap 1:22, with the people being amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes . Jesus’ teaching, both in content and style, drove a wedge between the leadership and the people.

B. Second, Jesus is accused of Blaspheming

In chap 2 the negative temperature was raised when Jesus forgave the sins of the paralyzed man (2:7).

C. Third, Jesus is accused of Scandalest behavior

In vs14ff, the negative temperature continued to climb while attending Levi’s party celebrating the guilt rolled off his shoulders when Jesus called him to follow. The leaders were upset with the kind of people that he readily hob-knobbed with

D. Fourth, The leaders had a problem with his seemingly careless Breaking The Sabbath Rules

First he did not admonish his disciples for picking the heads of grain on the Sabbath (2:23), and now healing a man’s weathered hand on the Sabbath.

Mark 3:1–2 ^(NASB95) ¹ Jesus entered again into a synagogue; and a man was there whose hand was withered. ² The Pharisees ‘fixed’ their eyes on Jesus to see if He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. The short of it, Jesus restores the withered hand.

In Mark’s Gospel this became the turning point for the Pharisees growing negative attitude against Jesus, ultimately leading to His crucifixion. V6 The Pharisees went out and immediately began conspiring with the Herodians against Him, as to how they might destroy Him.

Let’s pause here for a moment of prayer: “Heavenly Father, thank you for this time you’ve given us to open your Word and discover who Jesus was and is. We ask that you help us discern the truth embedded in the stories. Thank you Heavenly Father for the clarity, encouragement and hope your Word brings. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

III. SABBATH CONFLICTS (2:23-28; 3:1-12)

Let’s take a closer look at the Gospel story in chap 3.

This is Jesus third clash with the Pharisees, the second on a Sabbath day. Jesus comes into the Synagogue and there is a man with a shriveled hand. This man appears to have been a regular attender. Everybody knows him. In the audience are Pharisees, v2 watching Jesus to see if He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. It would appear that tensions are high. Jesus was treading on coals of Pharisee fire.

Henry Gustafson points out that the Pharisees, over time, had come up with what they defined as ‘acts of labor that were prohibited on the Sabbath for a Godly Jew.’ There were actually 39 actions that were prohibited. One of those acts of labor was healing. [i] Mark observes that these Pharisees were more concerned with the minutiae of the law rather than the well-being of the people. [ii]

V3, Jesus deliberately calls the man with the withered hand to come and stand beside him. Using this man as an object lesson of mercy . . . Jesus turns to the Pharisees and asks, Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to kill? There’s the burning issue of the day. As Lord of the Sabbath, (2:28) Jesus was about to redefine not only their Sabbath behavior definitions, but also the purpose of the 4 ^th commandment— Remember the Sabbath, to keep it holy.

On the previous Sabbath Jesus made it clear that initially the Sabbath was made specifically for man, and he criticized the Pharisees for holding the Sabbath laws and traditions so rigidly that they were overwhelming the people. Phil Moore points out for us that the supra-righteous were not interested in entering into God’s rest at all. They wanted to earn their own way to God by clinging to their own understanding. Rather than accept Jesus’ teaching about the 4 ^th Commandment, they leave the Synagogue determining to break the 6 ^th Commandment by plotting how to murder Jesus. [iii]

Remember, Jesus’ disciples are watching and listening. In that moment Jesus was challenging His disciples, the Pharisees and the crowd, to Re-examine their scale of values.

Follow me now. I mentioned last time that David Garland pointed out for us that just because we know who Jesus is, our failure to follow and obey Jesus’ instructions makes us as liable, if not more at fault than the critics in the stories of Mark. [iv] . At this point it would seem that the disciples were beginning to realize that if they were going to follow Jesus they had to re-examine their scale of values . To step into Jesus’ story, they were being called to do some serious spiritual surgery. The questions for us: what values do we have that govern our behaviors, our choices, and our work ethic, and do they hinder us from stepping into the Jesus story? If so, are we prepared for the surgery necessary to enter the Jesus story?

Think about this. From Hebrews 4:12 ^(NASB95) come these powerful words: For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. The point is, God’s word is able to redeem our values, and help us to enter Jesus story.

Back to our story, V5, After looking around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored.

Let’s pause a moment here . . . by application Jesus is saying that there is a relationship between our values and the condition of our hearts. Hardness of heart dictates insensitive values. In application to us who are reading this passage, Jesus is warning us . . . beware lest you allow your religious values, ideas, and forms to get in the way of living God’s calling. V6, Mark points out that the healing the withered hand becomes a profound turning point in Jesus ministry. Immediately the Pharisees went out and began conspiring with the Herodian’s against Jesus, as to how they might destroy Him.

The tensions were now at a boiling point. The critics score card was growing:

blaspheming for forgiving the cripple’s sin,
scandalized for hanging with the low-life at the sinner Lev’s party,
disregard of fasting ceremonial laws, and
breaking Sabbath rules which was totally unforgiveable.

Maddened with hatred, the pious supra-spiritual Pharisees formed an unholy alliance with the impious, worldly Herodian’s for the purpose of plotting Jesus’ execution. [v]

IV. DEMONIC BLASTING (3:7-12)

As we follow Mark’s gospel story, we see the pressure raising against Jesus from three angles: harassment of the religious establishment, His popularity with the people in general, and the demonic world that we cannot see, but ever present.

V7 Jesus takes a break from the mounting pressure, and withdraws to the sea of Galilee with His disciples. But the crowds wouldn’t have it. V8, a great number of people who heard of all that He was doing, kept coming to Him . This is no small crowd of people. There were literally tens of thousands of people. They came from all over the countryside. Many have hiked for days to get a glimpse of Jesus, even to touch his robe. Some hiked over a hundred miles, perhaps more. [vi]

Don’t forget that Jesus primary mission was to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom which carried with it a call to repentance and belief in Him (1:14-15). Physical healing and casting out demons was secondary. Though for the crowds, that was primary. The crowds were in totally disarray. V10, pushing, shuffling, and pressing around Jesus . . . just to touch Him. To say the least, it must have been madding.

But mixed in this crowd was another horrific pressure point, v11, the demonic world. Kent Hughes writes: The unclean spirits were drawn by a strange fascination to see Jesus, even though they knew he was their conqueror, the hated Son of God. Somehow “Terror and malice drove them to His presence.” These “evil spirits”—malicious, obscene, sinister—had wrought bodily injury, psychological trauma, and immense spiritual harm to their victims. [vii]

The demons shouted above the crowd, “We know who you are!! You are the Son of God!!!”

You can be sure that the demonic spirits had no intent of advancing the Kingdom of God, and Jesus as the messenger. The people pretty much knew many of those who were demon possessed, and would have naturally associate Jesus with the demonic and with the devil himself. The demoniacs intent was to mislead the people by association. Their clamor had both a negative and positive effect. As to the negative effect, they were seeking to expose His identity in an attempt to assert their own power and frustration, [viii] as well as confuse the Pharisees by seeking to pull Jesus alongside themselves. The Scribes seemingly picked up on this, v22, accusing Him of being possessed by Beelzebul, the ruler of demons

As to the positive effect, the demons were giving testimony as to Jesus' true identity to the disciples. By the demons own testimony and being hushed by Jesus was and is a compelling indicator of the nearness of the Kingdom of God announced in 1:14-15. Phil Moore points out for us that the demons grasped Jesus’ identity far more clearly than the Pharisees or even His disciples. As soon as the demonized people saw Jesus, they fell down at His feet in utter surrender, crying out, “You are the Son of God!” [ix]

V. 12 MEN MAKE A COMMITMENT (3:13-19)

V13 Jesus pulls away from the crowds, and summons the 12 men that He Himself wanted. In the midst of the heck-tic-ness of life, Jesus found time to get alone. Actually, He does this quit often. He deliberately chose alone times to maintain His sanity. As Vance Havner said, “If we do not follow Christ’s example to ‘come apart,’ we may, indeed, just come apart! [x]

In the parallel passage in Luke’s Gospel, 6:12, we’re told that Jesus slipped away, and spent the night praying to God, His Father. Following His night alone with God, He summons 12 disciples to come and be with Him.

That brings us to vs14-15. Notice Mark’s powerful words, He appointed the 12. Jesus had many disciples, both men and women. In Luke 10 Jesus appointed 72 of His followers, and sent them two by two to every town and place where he was about to go (Luke 10:1). But here we’re told that He chose 12 specific men to be His disciples.

A. Jesus Chose 12 Men

Picking these 12 men was no accident. The very fact that Jesus chose exactly twelve men indicates that He was duplicating the twelve tribes of Israel. Now notice the plan that Jesus had for these 12 men:

First, To be with Him—that is, it was Jesus intent that these 12 men live with Him, travel with Him, converse with Him, and learn from Him for the next 3 ½ yrs. In John 15:16, Jesus reminds them that they did not choose Him, but that He chose them and appointed them to go and bear fruit.
Second, He prepared them for mission, ie., to purposefully herald the Gospel of the Kingdom, in preparation for them to continue the message long after he ascended.
Third, V15, and to have authority to cast out the demons. Jesus invested in them His authority. Mathew’s Gospel points out for us that this authority was so real that, “ He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me” (Matt. 10:40).

B. Names of The Disciples

Mark just lists their names, but Matthew pairs the disciples into 4 groups of three. [xi]

There is Simon, James and John, Andrew (two sets of brothers) These three seem to be the inner circle and carried a special relationship with Jesus. The closeness is indicated in that Jesus renames them. Simon becomes Peter, brothers James and John, are named “Sons of Thunder. Jesus deals more intimately with these three than he did with the other disciples.
Then there is Philip, Bartholomew (who is most likely Nathanael; John 1:45-49) , Matthew, Thomas
Followed by, James, the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him

We don’t know much about the initial careers of the 12. But we do know that Peter and Andrew, James, and John, were fisherman by trade; Matthew was a greedy tax collector; Simon the Zealot most likely belonged to a rebel group known as the Zealots, who boldly stood up against the tyranny of Rome. Then there is Judas Iscariot continually branded as a thief and betrayer. [xii]

One commentator points out that the greatness of Jesus is that he took such men as these, and welded them into an amazingly influential community that would prove to be not only a worthy link with Israel’s past but also a solid foundation for the church’s future. [xiii] . With these men in mind, Jesus prayed in John 17 “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You gave me out of the world; they were yours, and You gave them to me, and they have kept Your word.… Holy Father, keep them in Your name which You gave me in order that they may be one, even as we are one.… I do not make request that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Consecrate them in the truth; Your word is truth. Just as You sent me into the world, so have I am also sending them into the world. And for Your sake I sanctify myself, in order that they also may be truly sanctified (John 17:6–19, in part).”

VI. TRUTHS THAT SHAPE OUR LIVES

As I review the verses we have just considered, what lessons can we take away from Jesus and the disciples?

A. First, what about the Sabbath?

At the end of Mark 2, and opening verses of Mark 3, we see the Sabbath having a huge impact on the lives of the people. They were taught continually to Remember the Sabbath, to keep it holy.

I found John Calvin helpful in sorting out the role of the Sabbath for us today. He wrote: There were three reasons for the 4th commandment:

First, Lord wished to give to the people of Israel an image of spiritual rest, whereby believers must cease from their own works in order to let the Lord work in them. In Colossians 2:16-17, Paul explicitly refers to the Sabbath as a shadow of Christ, which is no longer binding since the substance (Christ) has come.
Secondly, it was God’s desire that believers assemble in order to hear his Law and worship Him.
Thirdly, it was God’s desire that his people have a day of rest from their labor. ^[xiv]
The admonition in the New Testament is that we follow the Old Testament Sabbath pattern by designating one day of the week to gather in worship and rest. The early Church picked the first day of the week, Sunday, as the day to gather in worship, commemorating Jesus’ resurrection, and to rest from the weariness of the work-week. [xv]

The problem that we have is that our culture has predisposed us against rest, and I might add worshiping God, by teaching us that achievement is the same thing as success. We have to full steam ahead. No time to rest. No time to worship. No time to commemorate Jesus’ resurrection.

B. Second, what about demons

Here in the first chapters of Mark we find Jesus constantly being challenged by demons. Demons are the angels that followed Satan when he was cast out of heaven. In Revelation 12:4 we are told that Satan took one-third of the angels. Considering that Revelation 5:11 tells us that the angelic host numbers 10,000 X 10,000, Satan took a sizeable group of angels with him. These fallen angels are what we refer to as demons.

The Bible tells us that they are responsible for

. . . people unable to speak (Matthew 9:32-33), make people blind (Matthew 12:22), bring skin disease, control wind, empower enemy forces, and even control lightening (Job 2:1-17).
They have the ability to cause abnormal behavior. Luke 9:37-42 tells about a young boy constantly throwing himself into convulsions. In Mark 5:4-5 they gave a man super human power to break chains and shackles.
They propagate their own false doctrine -- such as forbidding people to marry, and abstaining from certain foods (1 Timothy 4:1). Revelation 2:14, they are able to get people to commit acts of immorality.

Dr. Elmer Towns points out for us that one of the chief difficulties for living for God today is not the social pressures or inconvenience; there is a spiritual battle swirling constantly around us, and knowingly and unknowingly we are engaged with demonic forces. Paul wrote, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Eph. 6:12). The phrase “the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil” refers to demonic activities and organization. Basically demons are committed to doing evil of every kind.

To stand strong on the onslaught of the demonic world, Paul exhorts us to “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” (Eph. 6:11). Without spiritual help from God, the Christian is unable to win the battle against demons. [xvi] . The point is, we need to know our ultimate enemy. It’s not our neighbor, our husband, our employer. This is not a game for Satan and his hordes. They are playing for keeps, gathering a crowd to suffer eternally with them.

C. What can we glean from Jesus’ life in this chapter?

If we are wanting to mimic Jesus’ life and ministry style, I find two principles that He lived out for us.

1. First, when the pressure was on, he sought out alone times.

We see Him slipping away quietly to be alone. He did this in Mark 1:35, He slipped away from the house to a secluded place. In Luke 5:16, we’re told he would often slip away to the wilderness. In Luke 6:12, before appointing His disciples, He went off to the mountain to be alone.

If we are going to mimic Jesus life, we need a place to be alone. A place away from the noise to rest his weary bones.

2. When Jesus slipped away, it wasn’t just to rest his weary bones. It was to spend time ‘in secret’ with His God.

When Jesus slipped away to a secluded place, to the wilderness, to the mountain to be alone . . . it was to pray. In Matthew 6: 6 ^(NASB95) Jesus told his disciples, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

To get away from the noise requires movement. Requires intentionality. To leave people and noise requires finding a private quiet place, where no one hears, so that you can focus on God. Jesus said ‘Do This’. Jesus did this regularly, He lived this out for us. He wants us to secure this kind of prayer place. So that we can stay connected with our God as Jesus stayed connected. We need time for what is important: God. John Piper sums it up well: For the sake of your own soul. For the sake of your family. For the sake of this church. For the sake of your vocation. For the sake of the nations. Be intentional about this—your prayer time. Secure this kind of prayer life because its through prayer God will give you what you need — mainly more of himself. [xvii]

And That’s real.

Let’s close in prayer: Lord, we fall so short of you and your ministry of power. And the world we live in is so very needy and hurting. Burden us to seek you earnestly until that power you have comes upon us, that we might minister freely for you. Take away our sin. Take away our scholarly unbelief and doubt. Take away our fears of what people would think of us. And anoint us with power afresh that we might serve you. And like your holy apostles, serve you to the ends of the earth until you come. In your holy name, we pray. Amen.

The Coronavirus is spreading like wild-fire. Germs are everywhere; Wear your mask; Wash your hands; Take your vitamins.

Remember, God’s Got This Moment. Until next time

[ i] Henry Gustafson, Studies in Mark, (Chicago, IL: Covenant Press, 1958), p. 27

[ii] Ibid

[iii] Moore, Phil. Straight to the Heart of Mark . Lion Hudson. Kindle Edition.

[iv] David E. Garland, Mark , The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996), 43.

[v] R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior , vol. 1, Preaching the Word (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1989), 81.

[vi] R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior , vol. 1, Preaching the Word (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1989), 82. Cf., Mark 3:7–8 (NASB95) 7Jesus withdrew to the sea with His disciples; and a great multitude from Galilee followed; and also from Judea, 8and from Jerusalem, and from Idumea, and beyond the Jordan, and the vicinity of Tyre and Sidon, a great number of people heard of all that He was doing and came to Him.

[vii] R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior , vol. 1, Preaching the Word (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1989), 83.

[viii] Ronald J. Kernaghan, The IVP New Testament Commentary Series: Mark (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2007), p76.

[ix] Moore, Phil. Straight to the Heart of Mark . Lion Hudson. Kindle Edition.

[x] R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior , vol. 1, Preaching the Word (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1989), 85.

[xi] Matthew 10:2–4 ^(NASB95) 2Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; and James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Him. Cf., also Luke 6:14–16 (NASB95) Acts 1:13

[xii] Cf., William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of the Gospel According to Mark , vol. 10, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 128. Ralph Wilson, Selection of the Twelve Apostles (Luke 6:12-19), http://www.jesuswalk.com/lessons/6_12-19.htm Brief biography of the 12 disciples.

[xiii] Ibid.

[xiv] John MacArthur, Are the Sabbath Laws Binding On Christians Today? https://www.gracegems.org/31/Sabbath.htm

[xv] John MacArthur, Is The Sabbath Binding on Christians Today? http://www.gospeloutreach.net/sabbath.html

[xvi] Dr. Elmer Towns, Demons in the Bible – Different types and how they attack, https://www.biblesprout.com/articles/hell/demons/

[xvii] John Piper, Praying In The Closet and in the Spirit, https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/praying-in-the-closet-and-in-the-spiri t

04 - Jesus' Authority To Forgive Sin (Mark 2:1-12)

kijabi4@yahoo.com (David Wolfe) — Fri, 12 Mar 2021 21:41:58 GMT

This is a subtitle for your new post

Jesus’ Authority To Forgiven Sin

(Mark 2:1-12)

I. INTRODUCTION

You are reading a posting by Pastor David Wolfe at Bensenville Bible Church. Bensenville Bible Church is a multi-national bi-lingual community of believers on the West side of Chicago, near O’Hare.

Today we are in Mark 2. It’s a story about a packed house, a roof torn wide open, and a paralyzed man folding up his stretcher and walking home.

Take your Bibles and open to the 2 ^nd book of the New Testament. That would be Mark’s Gospel. We are in chap 2. You also will want to lay out the study guide sent with the email that many of you receive. Follow along as I read from The Message, a paraphrase by Eugene Peterson

¹ After a few days, Jesus returned to Capernaum, and word got around that he was back home. ² A crowd gathered, jamming the entrance so no one could get in or out. He was teaching the Word. ³ They brought a paraplegic to him, carried by four men. ⁴ When they weren’t able to get in because of the crowd, they removed part of the roof and lowered the paraplegic on his stretcher. ⁵ Impressed by their bold belief, Jesus said to the paraplegic, “Son, I forgive your sins.” ⁶ Some religion scholars sitting there started thinking among themselves, ⁷ “He can’t talk that way! That’s blasphemy! God and only God can forgive sins.” ⁸ Jesus knew right away what they were thinking, and said, “Why are you so skeptical? ⁹ Which is simpler: to say to the paraplegic, ‘I forgive your sins,’ or say, ‘Get up, take your stretcher, and start walking’? ¹⁰ Well, just so it’s clear that I’m the Son of Man and authorized to do either, or both …” (he looked now at the paraplegic), ¹¹ “Get up. Pick up your stretcher and go home.” ¹² And the man did it—got up, grabbed his stretcher, and walked out, with everyone there watching him. They rubbed their eyes in disbelief—and then praised God, saying, “We’ve never seen anything like this!”

Let’s pause here for a moment of prayer:

“Heavenly Father, thank you for this time you’ve given us to open your Word and discover who Jesus is. We ask that you help us discern the truth embedded in the story of this disabled man and his friends. Thank you Heavenly Father for the clarity, encouragement and hope your Word brings. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.”

II. KINGDOM OF GOD

Before we actually pick up the story in Mark 2, we need to go back to Mark 1:14–15 ^(NASB95) where we read that ¹⁴ . . . Jesus came into Galilee preaching the gospel of God, ¹⁵ and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

A. Kingdom Of God

For example, Psalms 103:19 : “The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.” Here the basic meaning of the kingdom is to rule. God sits as king on His throne of the universe, and his kingly rule governs all things. [i ] R.C. Spourl adds: When we speak of the kingdom of God, we do not mean to imply that there are places over which the Lord does not currently reign, for our Creator sovereignly rules over all (Ps. 9:7–8). [ii]

However, since the fall of Adam, God’s realm has been in open rebellion against His Kingly rule (Gen. 3). Men and women do not willingly or happily embrace, submit to, and rejoice in God’s reign, and because of that they forfeit what it means to be in relationship with God. [ii i] When we pray along the lines of the Lord’s Prayer in Luke 11, Your Kingdom come, we are praying for the rule and reign of the Kingdom of God in our lives. [iv] .

B. Accepting God’s Rule

To be in relationship with God is to experience real love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Gal. 5:22-23).

C. Rejecting God’s Rule

But the Bible tells us that there was an open rebellion that brought about a ‘new norm’— immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strive, jealousy, anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying drunkenness, carousing, and things like these (Gal 5:19-21).

D. Entering God’s Kingdom

It is difficult to enter God’s kingdom, not because God requires impossible standards for us, but because we do not want to repent and change. We love the darkness more than the Light ( John 3:19 ). Many would rather cling to their old sinful identities spelled out in Galatians 5:19-21 than allow Jesus to create them anew ( 2 Cor 5:17 ).

Those who receive the message of the gospel of the kingdom become citizens of heaven and are freed from bondage to this world ( Galatians 4:3–9 ). [v]

As we are told in Colossians 1:13 ^(NASB95) By Jesus’ death, burrial, resurrection God rescues us from the domain of darkness, and transfers us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, if we accept the the good news of the Kingdom of God message.

III. THE KING HAS COME

Mark’s Gospel, as well as Matthew, Luke, and John, is about inviting people everywhere to enter into God’s Kingdom. As Mark follows Jesus, he wants us to see Jesus as the messenger of God and the long promised King. In Mark’s Gospel Jesus’ identity as King is demonstrated by His authority over multiple areas of life.

Mark 1:17-18 Jesus calls Peter/Andrew, James/John “Follow Me”. Leaving their career, they follow because Jesus has authority over lives & careers. The same occurs in chap 2:14, with Levi, the son of Alphaeus, sitting in ‘his’’ tax booth. Jesus said to him, ‘Follow Me!’ And Matthew straightway got up and followed Him.
In Mark 1:24-26 Jesus is confronted by the demonic world. Jesus rebukes the demon and commands him, “Come out”, the demon obeys. Jesus has authority over the demonic world.
In Mark 1:31-34 Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law and a slew of others. He does so without meds. Jesus has authority over physical aliments.
In Mark 1:40-43, Jesus makes an unclean leper clean. Jesus has authority to transform uncleanliness to cleanliness.

The crowds were astonished. V22, for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. V27, again the crowds were astonished, saying, He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him. The point, here is One who has authority that surpasses all other authorities. Jesus has unbelieveable authority--commanding allegiances, healing the sick, and able to command the demonic world with just a word without a bunch of ‘hoo-du-vodo’. That’s amazing.

IV.AUTHORITY TO FORGIVE SIN

But Jesus’ authority doesn’t stop with callings to follow, healings of sick, cleansing of lepers, and subduing demons. Mark 2:10 tell us that Jesus has the authority to forgiven sin. Now that is remarkable!! [v i] This story also appears in Matthew and Luke’s Gospel. [vii] Let’s take a closer look at the story.

A. Setting

We’re in Mark 2, V1. Jesus has been out and about for several days, traveling the countryside because of the Leper, 1:45, didn’t follow instructions. Things have finally cooled down after several days, and Jesus now returns to Capernaum. Word gets out rather quickly that Jesus is back ‘home’. Home is most likely Peter and Andrew’s house, 1:29. The crowds come to the point that V2, there was no longer room, not even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them. It was basically a mob, pushing and shoving, packing Peter’s house like a can of sardines. This is no small crowd. These people were mesmerized by Jesus.

Why the crowding? In Luke’s Gospel account we’re told that the power of the Lord was present for Jesus to perform healing (Luke 5:17). That’s why the people were packed in shoulder to shoulder, wall to wall. Jammed packed as it was, Jesus taught them. After all, he had come to set the captives of sin free.

E. The Stretcher Moment

After describing the setting, Mark’s camera swings around, capturing 4 men caring a man on a stretcher, pushing and shoving, and perhaps yelling ‘Make way, coming thru,’ trying to bring their paralyzed friend to Jesus, and to set him down in front of Him. (Luke 5:18), but they were unable to push through the crowd. This tells us something about the crowd. I think we would assume if we saw a group of men carrying a stretcher with a person on it, we would let them pass so that we could watch Jesus do ‘His thing.” But the crowd refused to budge. Unyielding, indifferent, without compassion. John MacArthur describes the crowd as very self-seeking, self-serving, self-indulgent, refusing to make way, creating a major obstacle. [viii] .

But these are pretty determined guys. So they go up on the roof. They calculate Jesus position and begin to tear into the roof. In the middle of Jesus’ teaching, dried mud, thatch, small branches, clay tiles start falling on the heads below. This is no small hole. It ended up being big enough to drop a man strapped to a stretcher through. This was no 5 minute job. I’m sure it took a couple of hours. Luke tells us that the stretcher came right smack dab in the middle of the room, right in front of Jesus (Lk 5:19). By now I am sure that Jesus had lost the attention of the crowd. They were all transfixed by the mess, and certainly agitated by guys digging a hole in the roof, and dirt falling their heads and cloths.

What drove these men to overcome the crowd barrier? V5, we’re told it was the faith of the stretcher barriers. Let me tell you, this was some kind of faith.

What is captivating is what transpires. V5, Jesus, seeing their faith . . . turns His focus on the paraclete . . . saying, Son, your sins are forgiven. That is really an interesting response. Jesus’ attention moves from the guys sweating it out, digging a hole in the roof. Jesus speaks directly to the paralytic, Son, your sins are forgiven.

There seems to be two different kinds of faith in this passage. There is the faith of the stretcher barriers that Jesus can physically heal. Then there is the faith of the paraclete who may be swamped by guilt. It would appear that he was a paraclete because of sinful living. He was looking for forgiveness of soul

Don’t miss this: Jesus doesn’t forgive sins unless the sinner repents and believes. The faith of this paralytic did not hinge on Jesus’ healing power. This man knew he needed more than physical healing. He needed to have his soul healed. He was guilty. John MacArthur captures the moment when he writes:

the man knew himself to be wretched on the inside as much as wretched on the outside, and He wanted not just a healing, but he wanted forgiveness, and he believed that this was the One who could bring him forgiveness from God. ^[ix]

F. Hostility

Instead of celebrating forgiveness, there was hostility in the room. V6, But some of the scribes sitting there were reasoning in their hearts— Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?!

Don’t miss this: these guys didn’t miss the impact of those 5 powerful words: Son, your sins are forgiven . They understood exactly what was being said. In 5 words Jesus revealed His true identity—forgiving sin put Him on par with God. John MacArthur sums up powerfully the point of the whole story.

Either Jesus is a blasphemer or He is God. That’s it, there’s no middle ground. Don’t every get the idea that Jesus was just a ‘good-ole-boy, a nice, well-meaning teacher. No. He is either the One who can forgive sin or He is not. If He can, He is God; if He cannot, He is a blasphemer and He is saying He can do something that He cannot do and is a fraud and a deceiver. There’s no middle ground. [x]

What a shock that must have been. He read their minds. He was aware of their thoughts, their inner murmurings. Blasphemers don’t know what people are thinking, only God does. Ezekiel 11:5, “I know the things that come into your mind, every one of them.” [xi]

Jesus then drives His identity home. Mark 2:9–11 ^(NASB95) ⁹ “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven’; or to say, ‘Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk’? ¹⁰ “But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, ¹¹ “I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet and go home.”

To put it bluntly, Jesus says, “I’ll show you my absolute authority to forgive sin” . . . In that moment, with five words, he completely and totally restores the paraclete . . . Like the leper made clean, so the paraclete’s extremities were restored so that he could walk without helpers, without walkers, without scooters, without crutches. The point being, Jesus not only has the authority to forgive sin, He also has the authority to overrule the effects of sin.

Mark is fleshing out for us the absolute authority of Jesus.

His authority over the consequences of sin, disease, and authority over sin itself in terms of its power in the life of an individual spiritually.
He has power over sin’s temporal effects and eternal effects, physical effects and spiritual effects.
He has authority over demons, disease, and death itself.
All of that to say, the one who has authority over the forces of evil also has authority over the evil itself. The two are inseparable. [xii]

G. Astonishment

V12 ^(NASB95) And paraclyte got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.” In Matthew’s Gospel, 9:8 ^(NASB95) , Matthew observes when the crowds saw this, they were awestruck, and glorified God --now don’t miss these next words-- who had given such authority to men.

This is a ‘don’t miss’ moment . . . awestruck . . . they missed the message . . . to them Jesus was only a man. How could they glorify God and still see Jesus simply as a man?

The demoniacs knew Jesus’ identity—Mark 1:24 ^(NASB95) saying, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” But t he crowds didn’t know because, as we’re told in 2 Corinthians 4:4 ^(NASB95) the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. Rick Renner states it best: It isn’t that they were naive — they were blind. Satan had gouged out their spiritual eyes, blocked their spiritual view, and affected their minds [xiii] making them dead in their sins, unable to see the light (Eph 2:1-3). [xiv]

V. SHAPING OUR UNDERSTANDING

As I ponder the events captured in this story, three thoughts swirl around in my head.

A. First, there is the phrase, “When Jesus saw their faith . . .”

1. Point one: “When Jesus saw their faith . . .” is linked to an observable measurable action. When the text says Jesus saw their faith, it means just that, and He could work because they really believed He could heal their paraclete friend. [1]

Later, in Mark 6:5, When Jesus came to his home town (probably Nazareth) the people were too busy arguing about his manness so that He could not perform any miracles, except lay His hands on a few of the sick. The reason is captured in V6, their unbelief. One commentator writes, because of their unbelief, lack of faith, Jesus refused to force Himself upon those who did not want Him. ^[xv]

2. Point 2: “When Jesus saw their faith . . .” There is something about persistant, determined, bold faith that captures my attention.

Mark this down: biblically, faith is always linked to action. James put it this way, “Faith without works is dead.” Faith acts. Faith overcomes. Faith pursues. Faith strives to its object. [xvi] We have this illustrated for us in Hebrews 11.

By faith Abel offered a pleasing sacrifice to the Lord (v. 4);
By faith Noah prepared the ark in a time when rain was unknown (v. 7);
By faith Abraham left his home and obeyed God’s command to go he knew not where, then willingly offered up his promised son (vv. 8-10, 17);
By faith Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt (vv. 23-29);
By faith Rahab received the spies of Israel and saved her life (v. 31).
Many more heroes of the faith “conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; shutting the mouths of lions, quenching the fury of the flames, and escaping the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies” (vv. 33-34).

Clearly, when true faith is present, it is demonstrated by bold determine action. How’s your faith?

3. Point 3: “When Jesus saw their faith . . .” There is something about the faith of others that opens the way for my faith

Sometimes God acts in a person’s life because of someone else’s faith. So 1 Thessalonians 3:2–3 ^(NASB95) ² and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith, ³ so that no one would be disturbed by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we have been destined for this.

Through the display of faith of others—I am able to move forward in my faith. The faith of the stretcher barriers made it possible for the faith of the paraclete to experience both forgiveness and healing.

B. Second, in the midst of the story blares hostility

The scribes silently sat murmuring in their hearts against Jesus. Never were people so favored as the people of Capernaum, and never did people appear to become so hard. Let us beware of walking in their steps. J. C. Ryle tells us that we ought often to prayer: “From hardness of heart, good Lord, deliver us.” [xvii]

C. Third, there is the authority of Jesus

The miracle is designed to teach us something about the person of Christ. In His forgiveness of sins, He claimed that He is God and authenticates it by the miracle of healing. Now since Mark’s gospel is about the good news of the Gospel of the Kingdom, we must ask, “What’s the good news?”

The answer is rooted in v10. So that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins. What does that mean? It means that in Jesus Christ, God is at work. In Jesus’ words, God speaks. In Jesus’ work, God works. In Jesus’ love and compassion for sinful men, God’s love is seen. No one can forgive sin except God. Jesus has that authority, because He is God’s beloved Son. John 3:16 ^(NASB95) “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

In summary, Jesus did all these miracles in order to show that He was God, so that He could say “He came to forgive sinners”. Not only to forgive sinners, but to provide the sacrifice on which that forgiveness is based. And by the way, He’s still doing it. He still says to spiritual paralytics, “Son, your sins be forgiven.” He’ll say it to you if you’ll repent and believe in Him. [xviii]

Let’s close in prayer: Heavenly Father, Sovereign Lord reach down and forgive that sinner, that penitent, believing sinner, and give him the greatest gift that the Christian gospel has to offer, rescue from your eternal wrath in hell. Provide forgiveness. May no one in the sound of my voice perish with unforgiven sin. May all know the full, complete forgiveness that you offer those who put their trust in Christ. Amen.

In Brown County, Indiana, there is a T-shirt store. On one of the T-shirts are these words: God won’t let me in His Kingdom unless I get vaccinated by Jesus’ blood.

That’s real.

Remember, God’s Got This.

Until next time,

[1] this is the first mention of faith in Mark’s Gospel.

[i] John Piper, What is The Kingdom Of God, https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/what-is-the-kingdom-of-god

[ii] Psalm 9:7–8 (NASB95) 7But the LORD abides forever; He has established His throne for judgment, 8And He will judge the world in righteousness; He will execute judgment for the peoples with equity.

[iii] R.C.Sproul, Gospel Of The Kingdom, https://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/gospel-kingdom/

[iv] See What Is The Kingdom of God? Understanding Its Meaning, https://www.christianity.com/god/what-is-the-kingdom-of-god-understanding-it-s-meaning.html

[v] https://www.gotquestions.org/gospel-of-the-kingdom.html

[vi] Cf., https://sermonwriter.com/biblical-commentary/mark-21-12/ ; https://bible.org/seriespage/6-jesus-heals-paralyzed-man-matthew-91-8-mark-21-12 ; John MacArthur, Jesus Authority To Forgive Sin (Mark 2:1-12), https://www.gty.org/library/ sermons-library/41-8/jesus-authority-to-forgive-sin

[vii] See also Matt 9:2–8; Luke 5:18–26

[viii] John MacArthur, Jesus Authority To Forgive Sin (Mark 2:1-12), https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/41-8/jesus-authority-to-forgive-sin

[ix] Ibid

[x] Ibid.

[xi] 1 Samuel 16:7, “The Lord looks on the heart.”

[xii] John MacArthur, Jesus Authority To Forgive Sin (Mark 2:1-12), https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/41-8/jesus-authority-to-forgive-sin

[xiii] Rick Renner, Blind to the Truth, https://renner.org/devotionals/blind-to-the-truth

[xiv] https://www.christianitytoday.com/biblestudies/bible-answers/theology/dead-to-sin.html John Calvin summarized the situation this way in his commentary on Ephesians 2:1 : "He [Paul] does not mean simply that they were in danger of death; but he declares that it was a real and present death under which they labored. As spiritual death is nothing else than the alienation of the soul from God, we are all born as dead men, and we live as dead men, until we are made partakers of the life of Christ."

[xv] Wayne Jackson, Why Couldn’t Jesus Perform Miracles in His Hometown? https://www.christiancourier.com/ articles/983-why-couldnt-jesus-perform-miracles-in-his-hometown

[xvi] John MacArthur, Jesus Authority To Forgive Sin (Mark 2:1-12), https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/41-8/jesus-authority-to-forgive-sin

[xvii] Bruce B. Barton, Mark , Life Application Bible Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1994), 46.

[xviii] John MacArthur, Jesus Authority To Forgive Sin (Mark 2:1-12), https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/41-8/jesus-authority-to-forgive-si n

05-Critics Of The Gospel of Jesus Christ (Mark 2:16-28)

kijabi4@yahoo.com (David Wolfe) — Fri, 12 Mar 2021 21:20:48 GMT

Critics of the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Mark 2:16-18

I. INTRODUCTION

You are reading a posting by Pastor Dr. David Wolfe at Bensenville Bible Church. Bensenville Bible Church is a multi-national bi-lingual community of believers on the south-west corner of O’Hare.

Today we continue our study in the Gospel of Mark. We’ll are looking at Mark 2, vs16-28. There are three short stories tucked in these verses revolving around three questions.

The first question comes in v16, “Why is Jesus eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners?
The second question comes in V18 “Why do the followers of John and the Pharisees fast, but Jesus’ followers don’t?” [Mark 2:18 ^{(The Message)} ]
The third question comes in v24, Why are Jesus’ disciples breaking Sabbath rules?

Mark’s Gospel is all about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, chap 1:1. The Greek word translated Gospel means ‘good news’. So what’s the good news? The ‘good news’ is that God has sent His Son into the world not to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. [John 3:17 ^(NASB95) ].The purpose of the events recorded in Mark’s Gospel is to let the reader know who Jesus is and to stress that He comes on a mission from God (Hebrews 1:1-3). Don’t miss this: David Garland highlights for us that just because we who read the Gospel know who Jesus is, our failure to follow and obey makes us more culpable than the critics in the stories of Mark. [i]

II. JESUS AUTHORITY

In the opening chapters of Mark’s Gospel, Mark highlights for us that Jesus, as the one sent by God, has complete authority over our lives.

In chap 1:17-18, He has authority over our lives and careers
Vs24-26, He has authority over the demonic world
Vs40-43, He has authority over physical aliments
Vs40-43, He has authority to turn uncleanliness to cleanness
Mark 2:1-12, He has the authority to forgive sin and its effects

In 2 Peter 1:16 ^(NASB95) Peter gives a powerful testimony as to the impact of what he and his fellow disciples saw and heard. He writes, we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.

III. THE CRITICS

A. Setting—Matthew’s Party

Let’s now zero on the questions Jesus’ critics were asking. When Jesus healed paralyzed man in 2:6-9, a number of Scribes were in the crowd. Beginning with the paralyzed man, they seemed to have made it their responsibility in life to challenge Jesus at every turn. In v14, chap 2, Jesus was passing by a tax booth. Being a tax collector was a very lucrative business. Sitting at the booth was Levi, the son of Alphaeus, and Jesus said to him, ‘Follow Me ’. [ii] And I suspect to everyone’s amazement, he left immediately to follow Jesus. Now that is one radical career change.

Now as to this tax-collector Levi, Jesus later changed his name to Matthew, was so excited, that he threw a tax collector-sinner party, and he invites Jesus and disciples Peter/Andrew, and James/John to join. This is huge. There is every reason to believe that initially Levi, the tax collector, was well known to Peter/Andrew and James/John and had perhaps taxed them many times. Thus my guess initially is he was not high on their friend list.

Sitting among the tax collectors and sinners, are the scribes of the Pharisees taking notes as they did with the healing of the paralyzed man. In general, the Pharisees dominated the Synagogues and were the Doctorial teachers of their day in regards to the Law of Moses. [ii i] In context these Scribal Pharisees where horrified that Jesus, who claimed to be a teacher of the Law, blatantly disregarded their time-honored customs of not mixing with the disenfranchised—in this case tax-collectors and sinners.

The sad truth is, there are Christ-followers today who very much follow along the lines of the Scribal Pharisees. I came across this story from Kent Hughes

In 19 ^th century England, there was a poor woman who attended a women’s church meeting. She had been living with a man of another race by which she had had a baby, and she brought the child with her. She liked the meeting and came kept coming back. But then the vicar came to her and said, “I must ask you not to come to this meeting again.” Seeing her questioning look, he continued, “The other women say that they will stop coming if you continue to come.” Looking at him in distressing, she asked, “Sir, I know that I’m a sinner, but isn’t there anywhere a sinner can go?” That is precisely what Jesus is up against. ^[iv]

Less you think 19 ^th century thinking has faded out of sight, we are facing today the same pressure of deadening conformity that demands that everybody speak and think the same. [v] This type of conformity is growing in its intensity. Like the Pharisees of old, in our desire to be holy, we circle our wild-west-wagons, excluding hurting people, while at the same time burying ourselves in entertainment that focuses on questionable behavior and relationships.

It’s time that we step out of our private circles. In light of the pandemic there are plenty of people that could use a phone touch, a bread basket, a card, and some kind of shout out. Jesus said in John 17:15 ^(NASB95) My prayer is that You, heavenly Father, do not take them out of the world, but protect them from the evil one . Let’s strive to avoid Pharisaic tendencies and connect with our neighbors with a good news of freedom from guilt.

B. 3 Critical Questions

The Scribal Pharisees must have stood out in this crowd of disenfranchised. They really didn’t belong, but they had an agenda that superseded their supra-righteousness. From v16 it would appear that they are sitting next to the disciples.

1. First, V16, Why does Jesus eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?

Stunned by Jesus’ disregard of protocol as a teacher of the Mosaic Law, the Scribal Pharisee’s grab the attention of the disciples and asks: Why does Jesus eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?

They must have been in a slight state of shock as to what happens next. V17, Jesus overhears them, and basically says, “ Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? I’m here inviting the sin-sick, not the spiritually-fit.” Jesus point is, He has a higher agenda. He is mixing with sin-sick people. While the Scribal Pharisees hob-nobbed with the self-righteous, Jesus was moving among sinners who were desperate for a word of hope. Because of their self-righteous pride the Scribal Pharisees could not step into the Jesus story.

The lesson for us here is, don’t let your spiritual pride keep you from sharing the gospel with your neighbor down the block, across the hallway, in the parking lot. Jesus hammers this point home. V17, I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners. In effect Jesus is saying, “To people who think they are righteous, I have nothing to say. But to those who know they have need, I have come.” [vi]

2. Second, V18, Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but Jesus’ disciples do not fast?

That brings us to the 2nd critical question thrown at Jesus. Though it cannot be totally substantiated, this question may still be in the context of Levi’s party.

Apparently by Jesus’ time, the Pharisees had decreed that godly people should fast twice a week (Mondays and Thursdays). Thy had fabricated the false assumption that true religion was a solemn, joyless affair, an assumption which some people hold even today. [vii]

The question posed to Jesus was: V18, Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast? Jesus responded beautifully in vs19–22, ¹⁹ “While the bridegroom is with them, the attendants of the bridegroom cannot fast, can they? So long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. ²⁰ “But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day. ²¹ “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; otherwise the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear results. ²² “No one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost and the skins as well; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins.”

Recently I read that there once was a law on the books in London that stated that all cabbies were required by law to carry a bale of hay, a throwback to the days of Queen Victoria when over 8,000 horse-drawn cabs crisscrossed the city. There was also a law which required cabbies to check a dog for signs of rabies before giving it a lift in his cab, and another law which required him to ask his passengers if they were afflicted by either smallpox or the plague. [viii]

We laugh at laws such as these that creep forward and have lost their bases for existing. That’s what Jesus was saying here. The Messiah Redeemer is here. The old is the old. Something new is here.

I love the way Kent Hughes explains it: When Christ fills the wineskins of our lives, the swelling life within stretches us to new limits. The inner pressure expels unneeded things and fills every aspect of life. Those who have not yet had Christ take up residence in their life can scarcely imagine how fully they will be filled; how every aspect of their humanity from their intellect to their emotions will be changed. So dynamic is the new life that the old wineskins of previous religious structures must give way. Practically speaking, our old selves (our previous experiences, our present level of growth, our intellectual formation, our cherished customs, our prejudices, the familiar, the comfortable) apart from Christ tend to be old wineskins. We have to allow Christ to modify all these areas or we will burst. [ix] . Stepping into God’s grace story means stepping out of our manufactured story of striving.

3. Third, V24, Why are Jesus’ disciples doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?

The third question comes in vs23-24, ²³ And it happened that He was passing through the grain fields on the Sabbath, and as His disciples walked along, they began picking the heads of grain. ²⁴ The Pharisees ‘took note’ and said to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”

On the surface this question is crazy. The day in question is our Saturday, their Sabbath. Jesus and disciples are following a path that takes them thru a field of grain. The disciples decided they would like a snack. So they reach over and pull the grain heads off, rubbing the husks between their hands, leaving them seeds to snack on. The Pharisee’s, following along, are horrified. They speak directly to Jesus, saying, “Look, Your disciples are breaking the 4 ^th commandment which states "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy " [x]

I found the commentary, Theology of Work , very helpful in sorting out Jesus response. ^[xi] The clash that takes place between Jesus and the Pharisees is not over whether to observe the Sabbath, but over how to observe it. For the Pharisees, the Sabbath was defined in negative terms. To them, the casual action of the disciples picking ears of grain constituted work. For them on the Sabbath day it was custom not to do any work of any kind, no matter how incidental it might be. [xii] . That’s not so farfetched from me. I remember my horror as a missionary kid on state side 65 yrs plus back watching a man mow his yard on Sunday as my family walked to church. My parents for years would not read a newspaper on Sunday. Other than absolute necessities, such as feeding animals, washing dishes, etc., we did basically zero stuff when it came to Sunday. Quit boring to say the least.

Jesus doesn’t miss a beat. He reminds them of a moment in history, vs25-26 when David, running away from Saul, he and his men starving, entered the house of God and eat the consecrated bread meant specifically for the priests. Jesus than follows that up in vs27-28 that the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.

Jesus’ point is, that the holiness of the house of God does not preclude its participation in acts of compassion and justice. The sacred spaces of earth are not refuges of holiness against the world, but places of God’s presence for the world, for his sustenance and restoration of the world. [xiii] . In Matthew’s account of this moment, 12:7, he records Jesus saying, “I desire mercy and not sacrifice,” taken from Hosea 6:6 . Because Jesus created the Sabbath for man, as the Lord of the Sabbath, He can tell us with authority how to keep it. The Sabbath isn’t about burdening people; it’s about setting them free.

Jesus point is, the purpose of the Sabbath is to give us specific time to refocus on God in a different way than the work week allows.

Don’t miss this: the Sabbath is designed to give us space for the worship of God, and to manifest social compassion, care, and love. It would seem that Jesus’ is pointing out that He wants one day where compassion and mercy are at the top of things we do.

IV. TRANSFORMING OUR THINKING

Now that we know the story, how should the events captured by Mark impact our thinking, and thereby our lives?

A. First, let’s consider the tax-collector sinner party

What do we learn from Jesus at the party? I believe there are at least two principles for us to consider:

First --Jesus and His followers are not to isolate themselves/ourselves from a needy world, but at the same time not mimic world behavior and ideology. The disciples were on a mission with Jesus, reaching those overpowered by sin. The Christian’s life is not to be one of isolation, but of being on mission for the Gospel of the Kingdom.

2. Second, notice Jesus mingled with sinners. He dined with them and they with him.

It’s a struggle for us today to mix with people not like us. If we were honest, as we age in Christ, our friend list dramatically changes. We attend Bible studies, church gatherings, and prayer meetings where attendees are 100% Christian, or at least nominal Christians. We play tennis with Christians, eat out with Christians, gravitate towards Christian dentist, doctors, and lawyers. Initially that is not our intent, but practically that is what happens.

Jesus mission was to seek those who are sick with sin. We put up a church building and attend regularly, thinking somehow that people will just see Christian activity going on and visit on their own initiative. To some degree, that does happen. But if we are not actively seeking out sinful guilty people in order to give them the message of salvation, we cannot be surprised when they do not show up at our doors. The pandemic has created an atmosphere of fear of dying. Jesus wants us to bridge into the lives of our families, friends, neighbors, co-workers with a message of hope that stands in total contrast with death. We can do this by phone calls, messaging cards, and shout-outs.

B. Second, What About the Sabbath in our lives

For centuries Christians have debated the issue of the Sabbath. The Hebrew word for Sabbath literally means “to cease, to stop, or take a rest’. Jesus taught that the Sabbath day was made for our benefit ( Mark 2:27 ).

It seems to me that no matter how we followers of Jesus work out the specifics, the teaching of Jesus about the purpose of the Sabbath speaks to us today.

In a world filled with busyness, where electronic communication invades every moment, where people are running ragged and neglecting their most important relationships, we need the gift of rest.

Rest from regular work.
Time to enjoy God’s creation.
Building relationships by feasting with family and friends.
Taking time for building into the lives of others.
Taking time for Worship, for prayer.

A day separated from our work week is designed to renew, rebuild, refresh our spiritual, physical, emotional, and relational psychic, replenishing the drain of brought about by stress and work pressures. . .

The point is, Jesus said specifically, The Sabbath (a day of rest) was made for us. We need a specific day for rest so that we might enjoy our God and the goodness of his creation without distractions. That is, we need to set aside time regularly to stop our normal activity, close our eyes and bask in the wonder of God. That will refresh and rejuvenate our creative juices for another brutal workweek workout

C. Third, The Law and God’s Mercy

According to the Pharisees’ understanding of God’s commandments, God’s mercy extended only to those who kept the Mosaic Law, particularly their version. But what is mercy? It is being pardoned and not getting the judgment or punishment we deserve. Forgiveness of sins is mercy.

Jesus offered mercy to every tax collector and sinner. Levi said yes to the offer.

David Mathis writes: God’s mercy not only shows us who he is, but also tells us something essential about ourselves. That we have been shown mercy means not only that we didn’t deserve his favor, but that we deserved his righteous hammer against the anvil of justice. Our cry for mercy admits to our ill-deserving, not just undeserving. [xiv]

Our God is the mercy-having God who invites us to look not only at his awesome authority and sovereign strength, but to set our eyes on He mercy, and like Levi, feel the guilt of sin washed away. Today, I beg of you to accept the mercies of God if you have not.

Let’s close in prayer: Heavenly Father, Sovereign Lord reach down and forgive that believing sinner, and give him the greatest gift that the Christian gospel has to offer, rescue him/her from your eternal wrath in hell. Provide forgiveness. May no one in the sound of my voice perish with unforgiven sin. May all know the full, complete forgiveness that you offer those who put their trust in Christ. Amen.

As we close, we must come as needy sinners saying, “The first link between my soul and Christ is not my goodness, but my badness; not my merit, but my misery; not my standing, but my falling; not my riches, but my need.” [xv]

That’s real.

Remember, God’s Got This Moment.

Until next time

[i] David E. Garland, Mark , The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996), 43.

[ii] Luke 5:28 (NASB95)28And he left everything behind, and got up and began to follow Him.

[iii] Moore, Phil. Straight to the Heart of Mark . Lion Hudson. Kindle Edition. They were the greatest teachers of the law, preaching obedience to the Law of Moses, which they codified into 248 commands, 365 prohibitions and 1,521 amendments.

[iv] R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior , vol. 1, Preaching the Word (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1989), 71.

[v] Joe Rogan’s Texas move rejects Hollywood’s ‘stultifying conformity,’ ex-California lawmaker says. Forxnews.com/media/joe-rogan-texas-move-chuck-devore-california.

[vi] R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior , vol. 1, Preaching the Word (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1989), 72.

[vii] Ibid 76–77.

[viii] Moore, Phil. Straight to the Heart of Mark . Lion Hudson. Kindle Edition.

[ix] R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior , vol. 1, Preaching the Word (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1989), 79.

[x] Matthew 12:1–2 (NASB95) 1At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples became hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat. 2But when the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples do what is not lawful to do on a Sabbath.”

[xi] https://www.theologyofwork.org/new-testament/mark#the-lord-of-the-sabbath-mark-223-36

[xii] The Sabbath is referred to as holy in Exodus 31:14-15 , picking up on the command in the Decalogue to “keep it holy” ( Exodus 20:8 ), recognizing that God himself has “consecrated” it ( Exodus 20:11 ). This notion of holiness links the Sabbath to the temple, which is characteristically understood as “holy” (see, for example, Psalm 5:7 or Psalm 11:4 ) and, of course, has at its heart the “Holy of Holies.”

[xiii] https://www.theologyofwork.org/new-testament/mark#the-lord-of-the-sabbath-mark-223-36

[xiv] David Mathis, Have Mercy on Me: Four Glimpses Into The Heart of God, https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/have-mercy-on-me

[xv] R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior , vol. 1, Preaching the Word (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1989), 72–75.

03 - Jesus' Authority To Forgive Sin (Mark 2:1-12)

kijabi4@yahoo.com (David Wolfe) — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 03:10:25 GMT

This is a subtitle for your new post

Jesus’ Authority To Forgiven Sin

(Mark 2:1-12)

I. INTRODUCTION

You are listening to a posting by Pastor David Wolfe at Bensenville Bible Church. Bensenville Bible Church is a multi-national bi-lingual community of believers on the West side of Chicago, near O’Hare. You can pick upon on the messag David Wolfe e in YouTube.

Today we are in Mark 2. It’s a story about a packed house, a roof torn wide open, and a paralyzed man folding up his stretcher and walking home.

Take your Bibles and open to the 2 ^nd book of the New Testament. That would be Mark’s Gospel. We are in chap 2.

Follow along as I read from The Message, a paraphrase by Eugene Peterson:

Let’s pause here for a moment of prayer: “Heavenly Father, thank you for this time you’ve given us to open your Word and discover who Jesus is. We ask that you help us discern the truth embedded in the story of this disabled man and his friends. Thank you Heavenly Father for the clarity, encouragement and hope your Word brings. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.”

II. KINGDOM OF GOD

A. Kingdom Of God

The Kingdom of God is a big theme for Jesus, and later the disciples. It appears some 160 times throughout the New Testament. To help us grasp the storyline in Mark, it is necessary that we have a clear grasp of the message of the Kingdom of God. The word kingdom in the Bible is about God’s reign vs. realm. John Piper points out that the kingdom creates a realm, the kingdom creates a people, but the kingdom of God is not synonymous with the idea of realm or people. For example, Psalms 103:19 : “The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.” Here the basic meaning of the kingdom is to rule. God sits as king on His throne of the universe, and his kingly rule governs all things . [i]

R.C. Spourl adds: When we speak of the kingdom of God, we do not mean to imply that there are places over which the Lord does not currently reign, for our Creator sovereignly rules over all (Ps. 9:7–8). [ii ] However, since the fall of Adam, God’s realm has been in open rebellion against His Kingly rule (Gen. 3). Men and women do not willingly or happily embrace, submit to, and rejoice in God’s reign, and because of that they forfeit what it means to be in relationship with God. [iii] When we pray along the lines of the Lord’s Prayer in Luke 11, Your Kingdom come, we are praying for the rule and reign of the Kingdom of God in our lives. [iv]

B. Accepting God’s Rule

To be in relationship with God is to experience real love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Gal. 5:22-23).

C. Rejecting God’s Rule

D. Entering God’s Kingdom

The message of the Kingdom of God is the good news that there is freedom from our slavery to sin if we repent and turn to God ( Rom 6:1 8–19). There is a horrorifying death for those who refuse to repent (Rev 20:10-15). But it is difficult to enter God’s kingdom, not because God requires impossible standards for us, but because we do not want to repent and change. We love the darkness more than the Light ( John 3:19 ). Many would rather cling to their old sinful identities spelled out in Galatians 5:19-21 than allow Jesus to create them anew ( 2 Cor 5:17 ).

Those who receive the message of the gospel of the kingdom become citizens of heaven and are freed from bondage to this world ( Galatians 4:3–9 ). [v]

As we are told in Colossians 1:13 ^(NASB95) By Jesus’ death, burrial, resurrection God rescues us from the domain of darkness, and transfers us to the kingdom of His beloved Son , if we accept the the good news of the Kingdom of God message.

III. THE KING HAS COME

Mark 1:17-18 Jesus calls Peter/Andrew, James/John “Follow Me”. Leaving their career, they follow because Jesus has authority over lives & careers. The same occurs in chap 2:14, with Levi, the son of Alphaeus, sitting in ‘his’’ tax booth. Jesus said to him, ‘Follow Me!’ And Matthew straightway got up and followed Him.
In Mark 1:24-26 Jesus is confronted by the demonic world. Jesus rebukes the demon and commands him, “Come out”, the demon obeys. Jesus has authority over the demonic world.
In Mark 1:31-34 Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law and a slew of others. He does so without meds. Jesus has authority over physical aliments.
In Mark 1:40-43, Jesus makes an unclean leper clean. Jesus has authority to transform uncleanliness to cleanliness.

IV. AUTHORITY TO FORGIVE SIN

But Jesus’ authority doesn’t stop with callings to follow, healings of sick, cleansing of lepers, and subduing demons. Mark 2:10 tell us that Jesus has the authority to forgiven sin. Now that is remarkable!! [vi] . This story also appears in Matthew and Luke’s Gospel. [vii] Let’s take a closer look at the story.

A. Setting

Why the crowding? In Luke’s Gospel account we’re told that the power of the Lord was present for Jesus to perform healing (Luke 5:17).

That’s why the people were packed in shoulder to shoulder, wall to wall. Jammed packed as it was, Jesus taught them. After all, he had come to set the captives of sin free.

B. The Stret cher Moment

After describing the setting, Mark’s camera swings around, capturing 4 men carrying a man on a stretcher, pushing and shoving, and perhaps yelling ‘Make way, coming thru,’ trying to bring their paralyzed friend to Jesus, and to set him down in front of Him. (Luke 5:18), but they were unable to push through the crowd. This tells us something about the crowd. I think we would assume if we saw a group of men carrying a stretcher with a person on it, we would let them pass so that we could watch Jesus do ‘His thing.” But the crowd refused to budge. Unyielding, indifferent, without compassion. John MacArthur describes the crowd as very self-seeking, self-serving, self-indulgent, refusing to make way, creating a major obstacle. [viii]

But these are pretty determined guys. So they go up on the roof. They calculate Jesus position and begin to tear into the roof. In the middle of Jesus’ teaching, dried mud, thatch, small branches, clay tiles start falling on the heads below. Now this is no small hole. It ended up being big enough to drop a man strapped to a stretcher through. This was no 5 minute job. I’m sure it took a couple of hours. Luke tells us that the stretcher came right smack dab in the middle of the room, right in front of Jesus (Lk 5:19).

By now I am sure that Jesus had lost the attention of the crowd. They were all transfixed by the mess, and certainly agitated by guys digging a hole in the roof, and dirt falling their heads and cloths.

What drove these men to overcome the crowd barrier? V5, we’re told it was the faith of the stretcher barriers. Let me tell you, this was some kind of faith.

C. Hostility

Instead of celebrating forgiveness, there was hostility in the room. V6, But some of the scribes sitting there were reasoning in their hearts—Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?!

Don’t miss this: these guys didn’t miss the impact of those 5 powerful words: S on, your sins are forgiven . They understood exactly what was being said. In 5 words Jesus revealed His true identity—forgiving sin put Him on par with God.

John MacArthur sums up powerfully the point of the whole story. Either Jesus is a blasphemer or He is God. That’s it, there’s no middle ground. Don’t every get the idea that Jesus was just a ‘good-ole-boy, a nice, well-meaning teacher. No. He is either the One who can forgive sin or He is not. If He can, He is God; if He cannot, He is a blasphemer and He is saying He can do something that He cannot do and is a fraud and a deceiver. There’s no middle ground. [x]

But there is more. Don’t miss this, not only did He forgive the sin of the paraclete, Jesus also read their minds. V8, Immediately Jesus was aware in His spirit that they were reasoning this way within themselves. What a shock that must have been. He read their minds. He was aware of their thoughts, their inner murmurings. Blasphemers don’t know what people are thinking, only God does. Ezekiel 11:5, “I know the things that come into your mind, every one of them. ” [xi]

His authority over the consequences of sin, disease, and authority over sin itself in terms of its power in the life of an individual spiritually.
He has power over sin’s temporal effects and eternal effects, physical effects and spiritual effects.
He has authority over demons, disease, and death itself.
All of that to say, the one who has authority over the forces of evil also has authority over the evil itself. The two are inseparable. [xii]

D. Astonishment

V12 ^(NASB95) And paraclete got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.” In Matthew’s Gospel, 9:8 ^(NASB95) , Matthew observes when the crowds saw this, they were awestruck, and glorified God --now don’t miss these next words-- who had given such authority to men.

This is a ‘don’t miss’ moment . . . awestruck . . . they missed the message . . . to them Jesus was only a man. How could they glorify God and still see Jesus simply as a man?

The demons knew Jesus’ identity—Mark 1:24 ^(NASB95) saying, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” But th e crowds didn’t know because, as we’re told in 2 Corinthians 4:4 ^(NASB95) the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Rick Renner states it best: It isn’t that they were naive — they were blind. Satan had gouged out their spiritual eyes, blocked their spiritual view, and affected their minds [xiii] making them dead in their sins, unable to see the light (Eph 2:1-3). [xiv]

V. SHAPING OUR UNDERSTANDING

As I ponder the events captured in this story, three thoughts swirl around in my head.

A. First, there is the phrase, “When Jesus saw their faith . . .”

1. Point one: “When Jesus saw their faith . . .” is linked to an observable measureable action. When the text says Jesus saw their faith, it means just that, and He could work because they really believed He could heal their paraclyte friend. [1]

Later, in Mark 6:5, When Jesus came to his home town (probably Nazareth) the people were too busy arguing about his manness so that He could not perform any miracles, except lay His hands on a few of the sick. The reason is captured in V6, their unbelief . One commentator writes, because of their unbelief, lack of faith, Jesus refused to force Himself upon those who did not want Him. ^[xv]

2. Point 2: “When Jesus saw their faith . . .” There is something about persistant, determined, bold faith that captures my attention.

By faith Abel offered a pleasing sacrifice to the Lord (v. 4);
By faith Noah prepared the ark in a time when rain was unknown (v. 7);
By faith Abraham left his home and obeyed God’s command to go he knew not where, then willingly offered up his promised son (vv. 8-10, 17);
By faith Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt (vv. 23-29);
By faith Rahab received the spies of Israel and saved her life (v. 31).
Many more heroes of the faith “conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; shutting the mouths of lions, quenching the fury of the flames, and escaping the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies” (vv. 33-34).

Clearly, when true faith is present, it is demonstrated by bold determine action. How’s your faith?

3. Point 3: “When Jesus saw their faith . . .” There is something about the faith of others that opens the way for my faith

Sometimes God acts in a person’s life because of someone else’s faith. For example, 1 Thessalonians 3:2–3 ^(NASB95) ² and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith, ³ so that no one would be disturbed by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we have been destined for this.

Through the display of faith of others—I am able to move forward in my faith. The faith of the stretcher barriers made it possible for the faith of the paraclyte to experience both forgiveness and healing.

B. Second, in the midst of the story blares hostility

C. Third, there is the authority of Jesus

The answer is rooted in v10. So that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins.

What does that mean? It means that in Jesus Christ, God is at work. In Jesus’ words, God speaks. In Jesus’ work, God works. In Jesus’ love and compassion for sinful men, God’s love is seen. No one can forgive sin except God. Jesus has that authority, because He is God’s beloved Son.

John 3:16 ^(NASB95) “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

In Brown County, Indiana, there is a T-shirt store. On one of the T-shirts are these words: God won’t let me in His Kingdom unless I get vaccinated by Jesus’ blood. And that’s real.

Remember, God’s Got This. Until next time,

[1] this is the first mention of faith in Mark’s Gospel.

[i] John Piper, What is The Kingdom Of God, https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/what-is-the-kingdom-of-god

[iii] R.C.Sproul, Gospel Of The Kingdom, https://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/gospel-kingdom/

[iv] See What Is The Kingdom of God? Understanding Its Meaning, https://www.christianity.com/god/what-is-the-kingdom-of-god-understanding-it-s-meaning.html

[v] https://www.gotquestions.org/gospel-of-the-kingdom.html

[vii] See also Matt 9:2–8; Luke 5:18–26

[viii] John MacArthur, Jesus Authority To Forgive Sin (Mark 2:1-12), https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/41-8/jesus-authority-to-forgive-sin

[ix] Ibid

[x] Ibid.

[xi] 1 Samuel 16:7, “The Lord looks on the heart.”

[xii] John MacArthur, Jesus Authority To Forgive Sin (Mark 2:1-12), https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/41-8/jesus-authority-to-forgive-sin

[xiii] Rick Renner, Blind to the Truth, https://renner.org/devotionals/blind-to-the-truth

[xv] Wayne Jackson, Why Couldn’t Jesus Perform Miracles in His Hometown? https://www.christiancourier.com/ articles/983-why-couldnt-jesus-perform-miracles-in-his-hometown

[xvi] John MacArthur, Jesus Authority To Forgive Sin (Mark 2:1-12), https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/41-8/jesus-authority-to-forgive-sin

[xvii] Bruce B. Barton, Mark , Life Application Bible Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1994), 46.

[xviii] John MacArthur, Jesus Authority To Forgive Sin (Mark 2:1-12), https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/41-8/jesus-authority-to-forgive-si n

02-Jesus Meets A Leper Cast Away (Mark 1:39-45)

kijabi4@yahoo.com (David Wolfe) — Sat, 06 Mar 2021 19:06:30 GMT

(Mark 1:39-45)

I. INTRODUCTION

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior to all the Saints who are part of the Bensenville Bible Church internet family. For those of you who might be joining us for the first time, we are a multi-national bi-lingual community of believers on the West side of Chicago, near O’Hare. We offer postings each week in English and Spanish.

Today we resume our study of the gospel of Mark that we had started before COVID-19 interrupted our lives.

Mark’s Gospel is the shortest of the 4 Gospels in the New Testament. It is like an emotional rollercoaster, capturing the highs and lows of the disciples as they followed Jesus around Judea. It is fast paced, filled with gripping drama. Take your Bibles and open them to Mark’s Gospel, chap 1, vs39-45.

II. BRIEF REVIEW

In chapter 1 of Mark’s Gospel there are 6 gripping dramas.

The drama starts with a wild man dressed in camel skins, eating locust and honey, living in the barren wilderness, named John the Baptist, preaching powerful messages of repentance.
Then comes Jesus, baptized by John the Baptist, followed by a voice from heaven saying: You are My Beloved Son, in You I am will pleased. Jesus is then driven into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit
V14ff we find Jesus walking the shores of Galilee, calling Peter, Andrew, James, and John to leave the fishing industry and become His disciples
V21ff Jesus clashes with the demonic world.
V28 Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law

That brings us to vs. 39-45 ^{(The Message)} . I’m reading from The Message translation. ³⁹ ’Jesus’ went to their meeting places all through Galilee, preaching and throwing out the demons. ⁴⁰ A leper came to him, begging on his knees, “If you want to, you can cleanse me.” ⁴¹ Deeply moved, Jesus put out his hand, touched him, and said, “I want to. Be clean.” ⁴² Then and there the leprosy was gone, his skin smooth and healthy. ⁴³ Jesus dismissed him with strict orders: ⁴⁴ “Say nothing to anyone. Take the offering for cleansing that Moses prescribed and present yourself to the priest. This will validate your healing to the people.” ⁴⁵ But as soon as the man was out of earshot, he told everyone he met what had happened, spreading the news all over town. ‘Because of this’, Jesus kept to out-of-the-way places, no longer able to move freely in and out of the city. But people found him ‘anyway’, and came from all over.

Let’s pause here for a moment of prayer:

“Heavenly Father, thank you for this time you’ve given us to open your Word and discover who Jesus is. Thank you that you don’t leave us in the dark about who He is. Lord, we need wisdom as we read your Word. You promise us in James 1:5 that we only have to ask for wisdom to receive it. And so we ask, give us Your wisdom now as we approach Your word. Help us discern the truth of this text. Help us to not rely on our own understanding. Thank you Heavenly Father for the clarity, encouragement and hope your Word brings. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.”

III. A MAN WITH LEPEROSY

A. The drama in these verses surrounds a man with leprosy.

Leprosy is a horrored disease. It is a chronic infectious disease that affects the skin, the peripheral nerves (nerves outside the brain and spinal cord), and the mucos membranes of the nose, throat, and eyes. It damages nerves, resulting in an inability to feel pain, which in turn can lead to the loss of fingers, toes, etc.

In the book, Pain: The Gift Nobody Wants, Dr. Paul Brand, a missionary doctor, tells about his first encounter with the horroredness of leprosy. Tanya was a seventeen or eighteen month old child, and this is the story told to Dr Brand by Tanya’s mother: Usually I kept Tanya by my side, but that day I left her alone in her playpen while answering the phone. Tanya stayed quiet, and so I decided to begin dinner. For a change Tanya was playing happily by herself. I could hear her laughing and cooing. I smiled to myself, wondering what new mischief she had gotten into. “A few minutes later I went into Tanya’s room and found her sitting on the floor of the playpen, finger painting red swirls on the white plastic sheet. I didn’t grasp the situation at first, but when I got closer I screamed. It was horrible. The tip of Tanya’s finger was mangled and bleeding, and it was her own blood she was using to make those designs on the sheets. “I yelled, “Tanya, what happened!’ She grinned at me, and that’s when I saw the streaks of blood on her teeth. She had bitten off the tip of her finger and was playing in the blood.” Imagine . . . there was no pain. ^[i]

In addition to the shame of disfiguration, people with leprosy were quarantined for for life. [ii] Imagined having to live out your days socially and physically isolated, a prisoner to loneliness. Dr Brand writes: The loneliest people of all are the ones for whom leprosy has also destroyed their sight. Like many others in the world, they are blind, but unlike most of the blind they can't use their hands to bring them the sensations that their eyes are denied because they can't feel either. They are really alone. [iii]

In an article entitled The History of Loneliness, Jill Lepore writes, Loneliness lies behind a host of problems—anxiety, violence, trauma, crime, suicide, depression, political apathy, and even political polarization. [iv]

As leprosy advances, the leper hardly looks human. No fingers. No toes. Skin rubbed off of face and arms. No one wants to draw near, no one wants to touch. Isolation is the norm. They cannot feel another person. [v] This man of leprosy must have been a horrored sight. Kent Hughes writes: We can hardly imagine the humiliation and isolation of this leper’s life. He was ostracized from society because it was thought at that time that leprosy was highly contagious (which it is not). When people drew near, he had to cry, “Unclean! Unclean!”.

Think about how you would feel shouting this while entering a grocery store or a mall—the pervasive sense of worthlessness and despair. [vi] Josephus, the famous Jewish historian, writes that lepers were treated “as if they were, in effect, dead men.” ^[vii]

News of Jesus’ abilities to rid people of disease and demonic domination was spreading(vs29-34). The news of healing put a spark of hope in a life where there was no hope. Disenfranchised because of the leprosy, in desperation, our leper plows through the crowd surrounding Jesus with his eyes fixed on Him. Luke, the physician, describes him as “covered with leprosy” (Luke 5:12). The disease had run its course. The crowd must have scattered like balls on a pool table hit by a master pool player. But that spark of hope was enough to push him to encounter Jesus. V40, exhausted, he fell in a mass of rotting flesh at the feet of Jesus.

B. The Bible describes Leprosy as being Synonymous with Sin

Let’s stop here for a moment. This is really a hugh moment in the opening weeks of Jesus’ ministry. In the Bible leprosy and sin are synonymous.

Sin, like leprosy, slowly eats away at the inner soul of a person. At first, behaviors and attitudes that seem innocent, numb us to God, filling us with guilt, and disfiguring our inner selves, bringing about a sense of lostness.

The less we know that there is anything wrong with us, the more full-blown the darkness within. On national news it was reported of a young man who died because of COVID-19. . Apparently there are people holding COVID-19 parties, daring to defy the disease. In this gathering there was someone with the virus. This young man didn’t know how sick he was until the emergency room. He didn’t know his full blown condition until he was admitted to the ER, it was then too late. He died. His last words were, I wish I had known.

In the book entitled David Martyn Lloyd-Jones , Iain Murray tells us that Dr. Lloyd-Jones, pastor of London’s Westminster Chapel, insisted that there must be a spiritual sense of sin if change is to come. Until you realize that you are a sinner, you cannot possibly feel the need of Christ; you may have felt the need of help and advice and comfort, but until you awake to the fact that your nature itself is evil, until you realize that your trouble is that you yourself are wrong, and that your whole nature is wrong, until you realize that, you will never have felt the need of a Saviour. Christ cannot help or advise or comfort you until He has first of all saved you, until He has changed your nature.

Oh, my friends, have you yet felt this? God have mercy upon you if you haven’t. You may have been inside the church all your life and actively engaged in its work, but still I say (and I am merely repeating what is said repeatedly in the Bible) that unless you have at some time or other felt that your very nature itself is sinful, that you are, in the words of St. Paul, ‘dead in sin’ then you have never known Jesus Christ as a Saviour, and if you do not know Him as a Saviour you do not know Him at all. [viii]

C. The Expression Of Hope

Let's now return to the story in Mark. Note that the leper comes to Jesus. V40, falling on his knees before Jesus, begs him to heal him--‘If You are willing, You can make me clean. ’. This leper knew he was a leper, that he could never ever enter the temple to worship, he could never ever be in a crowd. But he believed that somehow, if he could only get to Jesus, his leperosy would be taken away. His actions tell us that he knows four important facts:

He knows he is unworthy. Indeed, he has had this truth drummed into him day after day, hour after hour, for many years. Even looking at himself in the reflection of a pool of water, he sees how despicable he looks.
He knows he can't heal himself or make himself clean. He probably has never even heard of a leper becoming cured. For years he has lived with no hope at all.
But he knows that Jesus can! Note his statement of faith: "You can make me clean!" How he comes to this knowledge, we don't know. But he believes with all his heart that Jesus is the one person in all the world who can cleanse him.
Finally, he knows that Jesus has the right to refuse. "If you are willing . . ." He makes no demands. He has no basis for a request, other than Jesus' mercy.

D. Jesus Response

Notice Jesus response. V41, Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, ‘I am willing; be cleansed’. The people grow silent as they watch Jesus break with protocol, and stretch out His hand and touched him. There is nothing like the personal touch. Listen to Paul Brand again: "More than any other person in the world the person with leprosy needs to be treated by somebody who will reach out his hand . . . and touch him. . . . I have seen men break down into tears at that time because they have found someone who would touch them. [ix]

Often all the person suffering from the effects of sin is looking for, is for someone to deal tenderly and lovingly toward them. Sin is a cruel and dangerous, leaving deep scars. But where Christ’s true followers are, where His true disciples live, work, and worship, should all be places of healing, where the members reach out with love, mercy and kindness, helping all that are suffering under the burden of sin. [x]

The simple touch offered with love and sympathy can do so much to heal the sin sick soul. Kent Hughes writes: Since this man was full of leprosy, we can reasonably assume that he had not been touched by a soft, healthy hand in years. If he had a wife, he had not known her touch, much less her embrace for many long years. If he had children there had been no kiss, no touch, not even once—and now they were adults. Whatever his family status, he must have longed for a touch. [xi]

Once I read that there was a man who went to the barber daily, whether he needed a hair cut or not, just so that he could feel the touch of another person.

E. Results of Jesus Touch

V42, “And as soon as Jesus had spoken, Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed.” Note that there are two results: Jesus heals the disease and He cleanses the leper. These are two, separate results, not two ways of saying the same thing.

Don’t miss the moment. “Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.” The healing was sudden and complete. His feet—toeless, ulcerated stubs—were suddenly whole, bursting his shrunken sandals. The knobs on his hands grew fingers before his very eyes. Back came his hair, eyebrows, eyelashes. Under his hair were ears and before him a nose! His skin was smooth and soft. Can you hear a thundering roar from the multitude? Can you hear the man crying not, “Unclean! Unclean!,” but, “I’m clean! I’m clean!” [xii]

That is what Jesus Christ can do for you, for anyone in an instant, in a split second of belief. As he transformed the leper, because of the Cross, if you’ll ask, he’ll release you from the horror of sin.

F. Jesus Instructions

Vs43–44 ^(NASB95) ⁴³ And Jesus sternly warned the man and immediately sent him away, ⁴⁴ and He said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing as Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

Ray Stedman helps us pull this together. He points out for us that there was more to the miracle of cleansing this leprosy man than meets the eye. Jesus zeros in, V44, when He says to the leper, go show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing as Moses commanded . . . don’t miss this line . . . as a testimony to them. This indicates that there was ‘another’ purpose to this miracle . . . a witness to the priests.

This was a hugh moment. The last time something like this happened was roughly 900 years in the past with Elijah and Naaman in 2 Kings 5.

Isaiah had predicted that when Messiah came, he would do certain physical miracles. The eyes of the blind would be opened, the lame would leap like the deer, the tongue of the dumb would sing, and lepers would be cleansed and healed. Now here is one of the signs of the Messiah, which our Lord intended the priests should see, as a testimony to them of His identity, a testimony as to who he was. Here was One who had power to cleanse the leper. [xiii]

IV. SHAPING OUR UNDERSTANDING

Let’s stop here and reflect for a moment. What does this mean for us today?

A. First, The power of the Kingdom of God

In vs14–15 we read . . . Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, ¹⁵ and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

In vs21-27 we are invited to face the issue of the Kingdom of God and the power of darkness. He commands and the unclean spirits obey.
In vs 29- 34 we are invited to face the issues of the Kingdom of God and sickness.
In vs 35-38 we are invited to face the issue of the Kingdom of God and prayer.

Now in vs39-45 we are invited to face the issue of the Kingdom of God and the matter of uncleanliness. It is not about cleansing and power in general, but about the power to make "me" clean. Think about this: Mark is giving us clear insight in regards to the ‘good news’ of the Kingdom of God—the question upper most in our minds is, does the Kingdom of God have the power to effect dramatic change in my life and yours?

The leper's question recognizes that if there is to be healing, it will be dependent on a God who "wills" it be so. In Jesus’ response to the leper, I will, is the power of the good news to change lives, and that in Jesus the power of God is clearly revealed, ie., demonstrated. James Boyce sums up Mark 1: hugh boundaries are crossed; issues of power are addressed; unclean becomes clean; the sick become whole. And Jesus gets into trouble for this! [xiv]

Putting into perspective for us, The leper's story makes it clear that God's will in Jesus to touch, to cleanse, and to make whole is not just imaginary or wish.

Instead, it is the promise that has the power to bring transformation to brokenness, and suffering brought about by the god of this world, Satan himself.

B. Second, The Hopelessness of Healing

The tragedy with the leper is that the law of Moses gave no cure. The leper knows that there is no hope for him. With the presciptions of the law there was nothing he could do to make himself acceptable to God or man. His only hope was that desperate plea, If you are willing . . . But then he hears that Jesus can command the demonic world, and that Jesus can heal the sick. Could Jesus make an unclean clean? That question burned deep into his pyshic. Remember, this is an extreme case of leprosy. He pushes thru the shame and heckling and asks Jesus to make him clean.

What Mark is wanting us to get a grip on is what Paul said in Romans 8:3, what the law . . . could not do, (God) sent his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin” has done. Such is the surpassing greatness of salvation for all men who call out to God for salvation. In Matthew 5:3-4, Jesus said ‘How’ blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Are you caught in sins leprosy imprisonment? As this man acknowledge his leprosy entrapment, can you acknowledge your sinfulness? Like the leper coming to Jesus to be set free from its contamination, you can be set free from sin’s contamination by coming to Jesus.

Let’s close in prayer:

Heavenly Father, Sovereign Lord, Your hope arises for us with each dawn, pushing back the rubble of our lives. Each new day reminds us of your grace, you paint hope across our skies. Into the deafening cry of hopelessness you whisper love. Love that catches us, holds us. There is no end, just new beginnings. No finish, just new starts. Into your resurrection we follow you to bathe in hope. You are alive! Not only in the world but in us. And so we carry your hope within our souls. Help us to lift our eyes, and feel resurrection hope and power arise in our lives. Amen

What Jesus did for the leper He can do for you today. He took your place on the cross, paying the full penalty for all your sins. Friend, nothing is too gross, ugly, dirty or shameful for the Savior to cleanse! Nothing is beyond the scope of Jesus’ compassion. The leper had a transforming moment with the Master. This could be yours right now if you would turn to Jesus to be saved!

In Brown County, Indiana, there is a T-shirt store. On one of the T-shirts are these words: Lifetime vaccination is Jesus Blood, 100% guaranteed.

Like the leper in Mark 1, fix your eyes on Jesus . . . and let his royal power and his priestly forgiveness and his ancient wisdom and his fiery hope fill you with confidence afresh for this week

That’s real. Until next time, remember God’s Got This.

[i] Dr. Paul Brand with Philip Yancy, The Gift Nobody Wants, (Grand Rapds, MI: Zondervan, 1993), p4.

[ii] Leviticus 13-14

[iii] http://expository.org/mark1c.htm

[iv] Jill Lepore, The History of Loneliness, https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/04/06/the-history-of-loneliness

[v] http://expository.org/mark1c.htm

[vi] R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior , vol. 1, Preaching the Word (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1989), 55.

[vii] Ibid.

[viii] Iain H. Murray, David Martyn Lloyd-Jones, The First Forty Years, 1899–1939 (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1982), p. 207.

[ix] http://expository.org/mark1c.htm

[x] Lester Leprosy and Sin, https://pastorlesterbentley.com/2017/09/21/leprosy-and-sin/

[xi] R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior , vol. 1, Preaching the Word (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1989), 58.

[xii] Ibid., 59.

[xiii] Cf., Ray Stedman, The Healer of Hurts, https://www.raystedman.org/new-testament/mark/the-healer-of-hurts

[xiv] James Boyce, Commentary on Mark 1:40-45, https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=24 0

01 - Jesus At The Starting Block (Mark 1:14-38)

kijabi4@yahoo.com (David Wolfe) — Fri, 05 Mar 2021 22:34:07 GMT

Jesus At The Starting Block

Chapter 2

Jesus At The Starting Block

(Mark 1:14-38)

I. INTRODUCTION

We are working our way through Mark’s 16 chapter Gospel. Today we are in chapter 1, starting at v14.

A couple years back there was a TV show that capture my attention entitled “24” starring Jack Bauer. Though limited to one hour (including commercials), the events encapsulated a 24 hr period of time, fast, intense, and exhausting.

Mark 1:14-38 gives us a time in Jesus life that is similar--fast pace, intense, and an exhausting.

II. IMMEDIATELY

Before we pick up on the life of Jesus in these 24 verses, we need to slip back into vs 1-13. As you read thru the gospel there is a word that Mark uses at least 41 times. The word is ‘immediate’. It is central to what he has to say about Jesus living as a Servant of the Most High God.

It pops up in

Vs10, immediately coming up out of the water,
V12, immediately the Spirit compelled Him to go out into the wilderness,
v18, immediately they left their nets,
v20 immediately he called them,
V21, immediately on the Sabbath, and so on. [1]

But what is interesting is that the first time it occurs is in v3. In speaking of John the Baptist, “As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, the voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight [euthus].”‘” (Mark 1:2-3) . . . that’s our word ‘immediate’ translated ‘straight’. [2]

This is what is interesting. Embedded in the Gk word is not only a sense of time, but there is a moral meaning. There is a phrase that we often use in describing someone who is honest, or straightforward. Describing such a person, we would say “he/she is a straight shooter”. A straight shooter is a person of integrity, a person who can be trusted. [3]

Why is this important for us?

When Mark uses the word immediate, there is the idea that whatever was happening Jesus did well.
He never acted out of character.
He never elevated Himself above others.
He always did things in accord with His calling.
He was well placed in the contextual moments.

Beyond the time factor, Jesus’ was upright in His actions, He was true to His calling. Mark wants us to see what Peter saw first and foremost in Jesus which brought real transformation.

I believe this is in part the backdrop to Peter’s words in 1 Peter 5:5, Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Where did he get that? He saw it mirrored in the life of Jesus.

Paul picks this idea up in Philippians 2:3–11 ^(NASB95) ³ Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; ⁴ do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. ⁵ Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷ but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. ⁸ Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. ⁹ For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, ¹⁰ so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Back to Mark, what would my life as a Christ-follower be like if the word euthus was stamped on my eyes and my heart?

Would it make a difference in what I looked at as entertainment?
Would it impact how I use my spare time in light of eternity?
If the Spirit were to make "immediately" my true mindset in light of the brevity of this life vs the length of my eternal life, would I spend more time reading, memorizing and meditating on the Word which will last throughout eternity?

In part that is what Moses prayer in Psalm 90 is all about— Teach us to number our days, so that we may present to You a heart of wisdom . [4] We need to live as if we truly believe Jesus' words "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away." ( Mt 24:35 )

Adoniram Judson, old time missionary to Burma wrote in his journal: A life once spent is irrevocable. It will remain to be contemplated through eternity… If it has been a useless life, it can never be improved. Such will stand forever and ever. The same may be said of each day. When it is once past, it is gone forever. All the marks which we put upon it, it will exhibit forever… How shall we then wish to see each day marked? [5]

III. WALKING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS

Let’s dive into the verse before us that God wants us to process. In these verses God is giving us insight as to what it means to walk in the footsteps of Jesus

A. Following With A Purpose

To walk in the footsteps of Jesus means that we must follow. Starting with v14, Mark is telling us, that if we are going to live the life of Jesus, the first thing we need to do is follow in his footsteps. And the first thing we notice is that Jesus is purpose driven.

Between vs 13-14 about a year has past. John the Baptist has been hitting at sin hard. No one was immune to His fiery preaching, including Herod. Herod was fed up, actually probably more so Herodias (his brother’s wife whom he stole), with John the Baptist publicly rebuking them for their evil actions. [6] Herod puts John the Baptist in prison to shut him up . . . Jesus now steps front center, preaching the Gospel of God.

V16, As He Jesus was going along by the Sea of Galilee . . . He is not just idly strolling along the beach. He is on a mission. Hine sight on our part tells us that He only has 3 years to accomplish His mission.

His focus is to make every moment count. Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:16 ^(NASB95) making the most of your time, because the days are evil. Peter captures this idea in 1 Peter 2:21 ^(NASB95) For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps.

Jesus redemption of time picks up in v16 by calling first Peter and Andrew who were in the middle of fishing, V19 James and John who were mending their fishing nets. His first words to them was “Follow Me”. They were busy men. Jesus brakes into their world, “Hey guys, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” And immediately they left what they were doing.

Years back a number of us decided it would be fun to a couple of days skiing up by Iron Mountain, Michigan. Our youngest daughter was with us. She knew nothing about skiing, and was getting just a tad frustrated with us telling her what to do, to the point she was done. As a final moment of encouragement one of our friends reserved a ski instructor for a couple of hours--A big man with a Bear Hat. He took our daughter under his ski wing. The only words that stick in my mind from the instructor to our daughter that I remember was, “Follow the Bear.” And they disappeared. For couple of hours she followed the Bear. At the end of the class we watched her fly down the steepest of hills without fear. In those two short hours the instructor redeemed the time for her . . . she came out of the class full of confidence, and no fear.

To follow Jesus is to actively redeem the time, that is, don’t let it go to waste. Don’t live this day unfocused, unhappy, negative or defeated. Make the most of every day. God has entrusted you with His life.

According to Mark 3:14-15, the reason Jesus chose these guys wasn’t so he could start an “All Boys Club”… but so they could watch his life, and then go out and duplicate what they saw Him do and say! For 3 years they “Watched what He did and said…!”embedding His words and actions to the point that they were transformed into God’s messengers. In (Acts 4:13), the Bible says that the people saw the boldness and the courage of Peter and John and took note that they had been with Jesus.

That’s what it means to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Following the Leader has serious eternal ramifications. Enabled by the Holy Spirit we should strive daily to emulate Him. [7]

B. Submission

To follow Jesus is to live life in submission to Him

V21, with the disciples in toe, they travel to Synagogue in Capernaum and began to teach. Mark 1:22 ^(GW) ²² The people were amazed at his teachings. Unlike their scribes, he taught them with authority. Jesus was authentic. The dullness of the Scribes suddenly came alive

V23, In the midst of His teaching there was a man in the synagogue with an unclean spirit. Where faith was to be most alive, there was a demon possessed man. A demon from the other world, was able to enter this man’s body, take up residence, and control him. Mark this down . . . Mark, in describing the man who was demon possessed, he used the same grammar Paul used to describe the Christian’s being “in Christ” in 1 Corinthians 1:30.

Now comes resistance. Mark 1:24 ^(GW) “ What do you want with us, Jesus from Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”

While the Synagogue people were astounded, the demonic world shuddered. The unclean spirit in this man was reacting to the teaching of Jesus. He couldn’t stand it! The insight Jesus was sharing that morning was so piercing, so revealing…that the demon was lit. “tortured with truth!’ Demons dread the truth because they know their final fate is the Lake of fire which was prepared for "the devil and his angels" (Matthew 25:41). I take it this demon man has been a regular in the synagogue. People didn’t seem to be bothered by his presence. He didn’t seem to be bothered by the Scribes teaching. Everything was cool . . . until Jesus showed up.

Not only were the people amazed, but the demon was aroused out of his resting place. The presence and teaching of Jesus aroused the intensity of this man’s true condition. He flew into a rage. A dramatic power encounter took place that day in the synagogue. To live like Jesus is to be captivated by truth. Like the synagogue moment, the evil one had seen truth die under the label of tradition.

In an article entitled Whatever Happened To Truth, it seems to be more important these days that we are tolerant of divergent opinions than that we judge those opinions as true or false based on their merits. The reason tolerance has more intellectual cachet than judgment is largely because we have lost confidence in our capacity to ascertain truth. [8]

Truth came to the Synagogue that day because Jesus was the absolute embodiment of all that is true. John MacArthur writes: How each person responds to the truth God has revealed is an issue of eternal significance. To reject and rebel against the truth of God results in darkness, folly, sin, judgment, and the never-ending wrath of God. To accept and submit to the truth of God is to see clearly, to know with certainty, and to find life everlasting. [9]

C. Prayer

To follow Jesus is to have times of intense prayer moments. Mark 1:29–35 ^(GW) ²⁹ After they left the synagogue, they went directly to the house of Simon and Andrew. James and John went with them. ³⁰ Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever. The first thing they did was to tell Jesus about her. ³¹ Jesus went to her, took her hand, and helped her get up. The fever went away, and she prepared a meal for them. ³² In the evening, when the sun had set, people brought to him everyone who was sick and those possessed by demons. ³³ The whole city had gathered at his door. ³⁴ He cured many who were sick with various diseases and forced many demons out of people. However, he would not allow the demons to speak. After all, they knew who he was. ³⁵ In the morning, long before sunrise, Jesus went to a place where he could be alone to pray.

Finding time to pray is not easy, but like Jesus prayer is the vital link between us and God. We need the mind of Christ to serve him. We cannot rely merely on spontaneous prayer, but must set aside time for prolonged and deeper communication with God. Like Jesus, we must break away from others to talk with God, even if we have to get up very early in the morning to do it! ^[10]

It's easy to be so caught up with ministry that we neglect times of solitude, individual worship, and prayer. From the Life Application Study Bible come 5 principles that give us some vital prayer principles.

seek the Lord before your busy schedule takes over your thoughts;
withdraw from noise and demands so you can focus on God;
take Jesus' attitude of regular communion with the Father;
reflect on the priorities Jesus had for his life;
determine to pray on a more regular basis, not just in times of crisis. If prayer was important for Jesus, then it must be important for his followers. Pray—even if you have to get up very early in the morning to do it! ^[11]

D. Stay On Task

To follow Jesus is to stay on task. Jesus had a clear sense of his life’s mission. Mark 1:36–38 ^(NASB95) 36Simon and his companions searched for Him; 37they found Him, and said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.” 38He said to them, “Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may preach there also; for that is what I came for.”

Francis Chan has a burr in his saddle, a longing to take the gospel message to places where it is not known. During his final chapel service at Azusa Pacific University in California, Chan stated that he is over the American style of doing church. “I feel like I’ve been fishing in the same pond my whole life and now there’s like thousands of other fishermen at the same pond, and our lines are getting tangled and everyone’s fighting over stupid things,” he said. “One guy tries some new lure and we go, ‘Oh, he caught a fish, let’s all try his method’. And it just feels like, what are we all doing here?” About two months ago, I was walking through a slum in Southeast Asia. I went from hut to hut with a translator, sharing the gospel with people who had never heard about Jesus. The more I shared the gospel, the more alive I felt. It’s a completely different experience sharing with those who have never heard versus sharing with those who have already chosen to reject Jesus over and over. The more I shared my testimony coupled with the gospel message with these unreached people, the more I thought about how I wanted to do this with the remainder of my life. When I considered the need and opportunity, I knew I wanted to be based in Asia. [12]

There’s something about fishing a different ponds that brings an adrenaline rush. Maybe it is time some of us change fishing ponds.

IV.WRAP-UP

No matter where Jesus went during His ministry in the region of the Sea of Galilee, He caused a stir. But most important, He led people to action. Those who observed Him firsthand were moved to do something.

Notice how the people responded:

Obedience. The fishermen followed Jesus ( Mk. 1:18 ).
Amazement. The people marveled at His power over demons ( Mk 1:27 ).
Service. Peter’s mother-in-law served the Lord ( Mk 1:31 ).
Proclamation. Those who saw Jesus in action told others what He had done ( Mk 1:45 ).

We have heard about Jesus so often that we sometimes fail to sense the excitement that the Galilean folks showed. They were genuinely touched by Jesus’ presence, so much so that no matter where He went, there was a crowd.

Jesus has done some remarkable things in our lives. He has transformed us from death to life. He has given us the Holy Spirit. He is at God’s right hand praying for us. He is getting our eternal home ready.

We can respond to Jesus by taking a cue from the people He visited in person.

Obey Him.
Be amazed by Him.
Serve Him.
Proclaim His name.
Remember, there are still other people who need to be impressed with Jesus [13]

Do you want to live like Jesus lived? If you’re truly His disciple, you do! How do you do that?

1. Follow in His footsteps.

2. Submit to His Leadership

3. Carve out time for Prayer/Solitude

4. Stay on Task

[1] Immediately ( 2117 ) see preceding discussion on euthus ) used 11x in chapter 1 - Mk. 1:10 ; Mk. 1:12 ; Mk. 1:18 ; Mk. 1:20 ; Mk. 1:21 ; Mk. 1:23 ; Mk. 1:28 ; Mk. 1:29 ; Mk. 1:30 ; Mk. 1:42 ; Mk. 1:43 (One other use in Mk 1:3 means "straight").

[2] Immediately ( 2117 )( euthus ) when used as an adjective literally means straight or a straight line and figuratively to what is proper or right. The uses below will give you a good sense of these literal and figurative meanings of euthus.Euthus is used in Mark's Gospel as adverb to mean immediately, right away, at once.

[3] Cf., Mamatha, Why Is Immediately Used So Much In The Gospel Of Mark? https://livingroomtheology.com/immediately-used-much-gospel-mark/

[4] Psalm 90:12–17 (NASB95) 12So teach us to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of wisdom. 13Do return, O LORD; how long will it be? And be sorry for Your servants. 14O satisfy us in the morning with Your lovingkindness, That we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. 15Make us glad according to the days You have afflicted us, And the years we have seen evil. 16Let Your work appear to Your servants And Your majesty to their children. 17Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; And confirm for us the work of our hands; Yes, confirm the work of our hands. Psalm 39:4–5 (NASB95)4“LORD, make me to know my end And what is the extent of my days; Let me know how transient I am. 5“Behold, You have made my days as handbreadths, And my lifetime as nothing in Your sight; Surely every man at his best is a mere breath. Selah.

[5] Francis Wayland, A Memoir of the Life and Labors of the Rev. Adoniram Judson, DD. p33-34. https://archive.org/ stream/memoiroflifelabo11wayl#page/32/mode/2up/search/irrevocable ; https://www.preceptaustin.org/mark-1-commentary#1:1

[6] Luke 3:19–20 (NASB95) 19But when Herod the tetrarch was reprimanded by him because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and because of all the wicked things which Herod had done, 20Herod also added this to them all: he locked John up in prison. Matthew's account ( Matt. 14:1-12 ) and Mark's ( Mark 6:17-29 ) give us considerably more detail, explaining that Herod's wife Herodias wanted John put to death, but could not do so on her own ( Mark 6:19 ). Herod personally desired to execute him as well ( Matt. 14:5 ), but ultimately protected him. He was afraid to harm John, knowing that John was a righteous man ( Mark 14:20 ) and also fearing what the crowd would do because they regarded John as a prophet ( Matt. 14:5 ).

Beyond the petty, personal offense of Herod and his wife at the rebuke of their sins, Herod's fear of the crowd may also have been a part what motivated him to arrest John in the first place. The ancient Jewish historian Josephus also records the arrest of John the Baptist. 1 Josephus explains that Herod was gravely concerned at the growing crowds gathering to hear John. They seemed willing to do anything John said. He feared that John could start a sudden rebellion with a mere command to the crowd. Josephus claims that this fear was why he had John arrested.

If we trust Josephus' account, it would seem that the same fear of the crowds that prevented Herod from immediately executing John are also a part of why he arrested John in the first place. A free John may lead a rebellion, but a murdered John might incite one. Herod was in a bind. This paranoia may also be what made John's willingness to rebuke his sin openly such a big deal. Beyond personal offense, Herod may have feared John's rebukes were the early signs of sedition or at least would lead there eventually since he had no intention of repenting of the things for which John rebuked him.

At any rate, Herod's fear and curiosity drove him to visit John regularly in prison to hear him ( Mark 6:20 ).

[7] Galatians 5:16 (NASB95) 16But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.

[8] Carter Phipps, What Ever Happened To Truth? https://www.huffpost.com/entry/whatever-happened-to-trut_b_191925

[9] John MacArthur, What Is Truth, https://www.oneplace.com/ministries/grace-to-you/read/articles/what-is-truth-11521.html

^[10] Bruce B. Barton, Mark , Life Application Bible Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1994), 38.

^[11] Ibid., p 39.

[12] Bianca Smith, Fishing In The Same Pond My While life’: Francis Chan Is Moving To Asia, https://soulpurposemag.com/fishing-in-the-same-pond-my-whole-life-francis-chan-is-moving-to-asia/ ; Jessica Mouser, Francis Chan: My Family and I Are Going To Be Missionaries in Asia, https://churchleaders.com/news/365513-francis-chan-missionaries-asia.html

[13] Dave Branon, They Were All Amazed (Mark 1:27), Our Daily Bread. https://www.preceptaustin.org/mark-1-commentary#immediately https://www.preceptaustin.org/mark-1-commentary#1:1

Resurrection Power

kijabi4@yahoo.com (David Wolfe) — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 22:29:58 GMT

04 - Resurrection Power

Resurrection Power

(1 Peter 1:2-7)

I. INTRODUCTION

Hello everybody. Thank you so much for joining me at the Bible Study Round Table. For those who don’t know, I am Pastor Dave, one of the pastors at Bensenville Bible Church. I am so glad that you logged in today on this Easter Sunday. No cancelations despite the pandemic of COVID-19.

Today is the greatest event ever to occur on the face of this earth. It’s a celebration like no other, touching fresh truth for our weary souls.

Years ago I was working on a hog farm. Hogs have a habit of regularly checking to see if the electric fence is working. It was a wet day, mud was heavy.

As I walked the perimeter, the hogs followed me . . . as I made the final corner I slipped in the heavy mud stew, landing close to the wire. . . bam . . . electric arched and struck my shoulder . . . knocking me back . . . to say the least it was a jolt. The farmer, least 100 yards or more from me, later told me he heard the ‘bam’. Like that electric jolt that I’ll never forget, the truth of the resurrection is meant to give us a spiritual jolt that we will never forget. It’s meant to bring life into our souls like no other event.

Let’s pause in a moment of prayer.

Lord, we’re asking you to save us from this pandemic, but most of all on this Easter Day, jolt us from our apathy and neglectfulness. Jolt us to grip the urgency of the day. We are asking for peace and victory confidence in the midst of our fears. We pray for those who we know and don’t know who are being touched by COVID-19. Heal them we ask, and give them your peace that is greater than our comprehension. Thank you, Lord, for all that Easter represents and all that we can learn from it. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Our study this morning comes from Peter’s first letter written to Christ-Followers living as strangers throughout Asia Minor. Assuming you have your Bibles with you, lets open them up to 1 Peter 1:1-7. Our focus will primarily be vs3-5. Peter addresses his readers as strangers because they had been, v2, chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with His blood.

As they were chosen, so we who are Followers of Christ have also been chosen by the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with His blood.

That brings us to v3. Peter writes:

3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

In the original writing, meaning how Peter actually wrote out these verses, vs1-10 is actually one long sentence. But what I want us to focus on is vs3-4, where Peter gives us five great truths that are meant to solidify our faith in trying times.

These truths are:

1. God is rich in MERCY

2. God causes us to be BORN AGAIN

3. God gives us LIVING HOPE

4. God gives us an IHERITANCE

5. God provides PROTECTION

Let’s take a closer look at each of these great truths.

II. GOD’S GREAT MERCY

To begin, Peter highlights God’s great mercy. You might want to circle ‘mercy’ in your Bibles. Everything that follows flows out of the mercy of God. God’s great mercy was/is what motivates God in granting to us eternal life. Ephesians 2:4–5 ^(NASB95) But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

God’s mercy and God’s grace are not the same thing. Mercy focuses in on our miserable pitiful condition because of sin. The message of salvation is prompted by God’s mercy toward us who are dead in sin, slaves to sin, with a corrupted mind set, governed by the god of this world, Satan (Eph. 2:1-3). God’s mercy is intentional, providing a remedy to our enslavement to Satan and sin.

God’s grace, on the other hand, deals with the guilt of sin, and changes our position. Colossians 1:13–14 ^(NASB95) 13For He, God, rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Then Peter gives us four great truths that flow out of God’s great mercy.

1. God causes us to be BORN AGAIN

2. God gives us LIVING HOPE

3. God gives us an IMPERISHABLE INHERITANCE

4. God provides PROTECTION through faith

III. RESERRUCTION OF CHRIST FROM THE DEAD

But notice that in-between these four great truths comes the phrase ‘through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead’ at the end of v3. The phrase isn’t a tack on . . . it is central to the application

of being born from above
of having living hope
of our receiving an imperishable inheritance
and of the protection given to us by God through faith

For Peter, the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead was meant to be a spiritual electric jolt, bringing life to deadness. In that moment, for Peter and disciples, things came together in an unbelievable fashion. They found their voices. Don’t miss this, the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead was a moment like no other.

A. Jesus’ Resurrection not a Legacy

Follow me . . . when Peter talks about the resurrection he is not thinking of a legacy. John Stott fleshes this out for us when he writes:

We can say that about anybody who has died. When President Makarios of Cyprus died, his followers spray-painted the buildings in Cyprus with the words, MAKARIOS LIVES ! He hadn't risen from the dead, but his influence, his legacy was still living.

Or take DL Moody who once said in 1899, "Someday you'll read in the papers that Moody is dead. Don't you believe a word of it. At that moment I shall be more alive than I am today." But Moody was not talking about having been resurrected. He simply meant he would survive death. So the Resurrection is not just the survival of Jesus. ^[1]

B. Jesus Resurrection from the dead not Resuscitation

Further, when Peter is talking about the resurrection he was not thinking of resuscitation, ie., meaning that, having died, he came back to life again, like Lazarus in John 11. Lazarus was raised from the dead, only to die again.

C. S. Lewis writes: it was very hard on Lazarus, because he had to do his dying all over again. But Jesus didn't. We are talking not about his survival, nor about his resuscitation, but about his resurrection. God performed a dramatic act by which he arrested the process of decay, decomposition, and corruption; rescued Jesus out of the realm of death; and transformed his body into a new vehicle for his personality, so that he had a new power and was now immortal, never to die again. That is something new that never had happened before and has never yet happened since. ^[2]

C. Jesus Resurrection was meant to be a Spiritual Jolt

This was not like Lazarus resurrection in John 11. Lazarus came out wrapped in grave attire. Jesus’ wrappings were still in the tomb, but Jesus was gone. Peter and John were stunned by the emptiness of tomb and grave cloths. ^[3] The point of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead is God validation of Christ’s life and death, assuring us of forgiveness and eternal life with Him without end.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead makes possible for us:

1. Real transformation, ie., being Born Again

2. Our having Living Hope vs. dead lifeless hope

3. Our receiving an Imperishable inheritance

4. Our protection for the salvation that is ready to be reveal in the last time.

This all happens because when we are born again, we are joined to Christ. Romans 6:5 ^(NASB95) we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, and united with him in the likeness of His resurrection,

Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15 that if the resurrection had not occurred, preaching would be in vain, faith would be in vain, and worthless , and don’t miss this one— we would still be in our sins.

IV. FOUR RESURRECTION TRUTHS

What Peter does in these verses is to outline for us four truths for the Follower of Christ that are true because of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.

Let’s now take a closer look at these four great resurrection truths

A. First, God’s mercy causes us to be born again

To be born again is to be spiritually transformed. A Spiritual transformed person is moved from character traits such as

loveless, cheap sex;
a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage;
frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness;
trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness;
cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants;
a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved;
divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits;
vicious habits of depersonalizing everyone into a rival;
uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; and ugly imitations of community. [4]

But what happens when God transforms us? He brings gifts into our lives, things like

affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity.
a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart,
and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people.
we find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life,
able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. [5]

Just to name a few traits of God’s transformation. The new birth is a gift of God, (Rom. 6:23). When we admit our failures to attain absolute righteousness, and accept Christ’s death as substitution for our death, and believe in our hearts that Christ is not dead, but very much alive, God transforms us.

Romans 10:9 ^(NASB95) 9that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him, Jesus, from the dead, you will be saved;
Ephesians 2:8–9 ^(NASB95) 8For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
John 1:12–13 ^(NASB95) 12as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

I love the words of John Stott, Becoming a Christian is nothing less than a resurrection from spiritual death and the beginning of an entirely new life in the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. [ 6] So Paul tells us in 2 Cor 5:17 ^(NASB95) Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

God can change the most wretched because He brought Christ back from the dead.

B. Second, we are given Living Hope

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has CAUSED us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

What does that mean for us Followers of Christ?

The hope Peter speaks of is not the wishful thinking, like “I hope it doesn’t rain,” or “I hope I pass the test.”

The Gk word for ‘hope’ in this passage means ‘confident expectation’ that there is more to life than the sweat and toil that is ours now. In the midst of difficult issues, in the midst of the present pandemic, there is an optimism that we are securely attached to the God who deals in future realities. ^[7]

Our hope is living, because our Redeemer is holding all things together (Col 1)
Our hope is living because our Redeemer is sitting at the ‘right hand’ of God the Father in real time. (Luke 22:69)
Our hope is living, because we have been rescued from darkness, transferred to God’s domain (Col 1)
Our hope is living, because our Redeemer makes intercession for us in real time (Rom 8:34)
Our hope is living because we have been redeemed, and received forgiveness of sin in real time. (1 John 1:9)

Living Hope is not just living, it is lively. Unlike the empty, dead hope of this world, this “living hope” is energizing, alive, and active in the soul of the believer. “We live with great expectation”. Our living hope originates from a living, resurrected Savior, Jesus Christ.

C. Third, We are given an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and will not fade away, reserved in heaven

Follow me: according to His great mercy, God has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,

For many people the end of life is the grave yard with a nice marker. That’s it. Apparently Woody Allen believes that. He is quoted as saying, The fundamental thing behind all motivation and all activity is the constant struggle against annihilation and against death. Death is absolutely stupefying in its terror, and it renders anyone's accomplishment meaningless"? ^[8]

There is nothing to live for. But on the other hand, as Followers of Christ, our hope is alive because we have an inheritance that is coming that will never be touched by death, stained by evil, or faded with time; it is death-proof, sin-proof, and age-proof.

This inheritance is also fail-proof because God guards and preserves it in heaven for us. It is wholly secure. Absolutely nothing can undermine the certainty of our future inheritance.

Mark this down . . . our inheritance

Will never wear out or get old. Nothing can destroy it.
Will not spoil or go bad. *Sin cannot affect it.
Will not lose its beauty. Rust and age will never dampen it’s beauty. Nor is it like a light that goes out. ^[9]

D. Fourth, To those who have be born again, possess living hope, and a grand inheritance , V5, they are also protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time

Notice what Peter is saying

There is a finality to our salvation . . . its ready, but not here yet
There is danger along the way. Vs6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, In spite of the pressures and stresses in life, hope remains strong. In V7 Peter tells us that the pressures and stresses are meant to strengthen our resolve so that the proof of your faith, . . . may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
We are securely guarded by God’s power through faith. The word “Protected” is a military term (see 2Co 11:32 ) that implies that those who are born again are under enemy attack. Satan wants to keep us from us gaining our inheritance. [10]
We are protected by the power of God power through our faith. Faith is utter dependence on God to carry us through

V. WRAP-UP

As I wrap things up, lets go back to where we started, v3: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Peter’s response to God’s causing his people to be transformed by the new birth, raising Jesus from the dead, giving us a living hope, and providing us an imperishable inheritance in heaven is to bless God. “Blessed be God!” Peter says. And if that is his response, it should be our response.

One-day Peter and John were on their way to the temple to pray, Acts tells us it was 3pm in the afternoon. There was a man at the entrance who had been lame from birth. Everyday friends brought him to the entrance, wrapped a blanket around him to keep him warm. Every day he called out to passersby’s, ‘Can you help me? Just a little change please. Can you help me?’

As Peter and John walked by, he held up his cup, and cried out, ‘Can you help me?

4 Peter, with John at his side, looked him straight in the eye and said, “Look here.” The Lame Man looked up, expecting to get something from them.

6 Peter said, “I don’t have a nickel to my name, but what I do have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!” 7He grabbed him by the right hand and pulled him up. In an instant his feet and ankles became firm. 8He jumped to his feet and walked. The man went into the Temple with them, walking back and forth, dancing and praising God .

To the ensuing crowd that gathered, Peter told them, " Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by Him does this man stand before you whole".

A lame man has no power to make himself walk. But God had the power to make a lame man walk, demonstrated in that He raised Jesus Christ from the dead. The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is God’s mighty jolt. God’s displayed power at the tomb that day jolted the disciples, giving them a voice they never knew they had.

Peter said in our text that God gives to all who become Christians the hope of eternal life as an inheritance, and he distinctly tells us that God gave us that hope through the resurrection of Christ. That is God's electric jolt, His most powerful weapon.

The Bible tells us that there are actually two deaths. One is the grave yard, that all of us will experience. But there is another death that follows the first death. The only way that we can avoid the second death is By confessing with our mouths that Jesus is Lord, and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus Christ from the dead, you will be saved (Rom 10:9)

So Jesus told Mary and Martha in John 11, I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die . . . will never know the second death.

I close by asking . . . are willing to experience to the very full the power of God for the heavenly inheritance?

Romans 10:9–10 (NASB95)

9that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

If you want to be transformed, have a living hope, receive an indescribable inheritance, and to be protected by the power of God. . . pray with me . . . Lord Jesus, today I confess you as my Lord, and accept your death as a substitutional payment for my disobedience, and I believe in my heart that God raised him from the dead, Amen

If you prayed that prayer, this is what Jesus promises to do in 1 John 1:9, If we confess our sins, God will be faithful and just to forgive us of our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness . . . Psalm 103:12 tells us that He removes our sins from His eyesight as far as the east is from the west.

Thank you for joining me today around Bible study round table. And remember, until next time

God’s Got This Moment

. . .

[1] The Up-To-The-Minute Relevance of the Resurrection, (John 20:24-29) https://www.preachingtoday.com/ sermons/sermons/2010/july/theuptotheminuterelevanceoftheresurrection.html

[2] Ibid.

[3] John 20:3–9 (NASB95) 3So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb. 4The two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first; 5and stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings lying there; but he did not go in. 6And so Simon Peter also came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he saw the linen wrappings lying there, 7and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself. 8So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb then also entered, and he saw and believed. 9For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.

[4] Galatians 5:19–21 ^{(The Message)}

[5] Galatians 5:22–23 ^{(The Message)}

[6] John Stott, The Up-To-the-Minute Relevance of the Resurrection (John 20:24-29), https://www.preachingtoday.com/sermons/sermons/2010/july/theuptotheminuterelevanceoftheresurrection.html

^[7] J. Ramsey Michaels, 1 Peter , vol. 49, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1988), 19. The main point is not that the hope is a living one because Jesus has been raised, but that God has made believers his children by raising Jesus from the dead

[8] John Stott, The Up-To-the-Minute Relevance of the Resurrection (John 20:24-29), https://www.preachingtoday.com/sermons/sermons/2010/july/theuptotheminuterelevanceoftheresurrection.html

[9] https://www.easyenglish.bible/bible-commentary/1peter-lbw.htm

[10] https://www.preceptaustin.org/1_peter_15

03- Fearful Yet Confident

Wed, 03 Mar 2021 21:19:14 GMT

Fearful Yet Confident

(Psalm 27)

I. INTRODUCTION

Hello everybody. Thank you so much for joining me at the round table. I am so glad that you logged in.

This is a unique time and somewhat awkward for all of us. In a manner of speaking, it has become a new norm.

Today we’re going to be looking at two passages of Scripture—2 Peter 1:3-5, and Psalm 27. Most of our time will be in Psalm 27. I have entitled our study Living In Fear, Yet Confident. You may want to get out paper and pen, and take notes. If you’re interested, I believe there is an AP for Taking Sermon Notes

As a nation, we are struggling with chaos and fear. I don’t think I am the only one that remembers 10 yrs back, the chaos and fear of Y2K . It was doom and gloom. Everything that was necessary for life was forecasted to halt at midnight when 1999 changed to 2000.

Planes would fall from the sky;
Cars would not start.
The supply-line would crash

The reason: it was unknown if computers would make the leap from 1999 to 2000. In looking back, it was a scary time. And like today, toilet paper was a hot item.

Today, roughly a decade later, fear again is sweeping across our nation. But this fear is considerably a different kind of fear.

If you have been following the news . . . life is getting pretty dicey.

Retired doctors and nurses are being called back to work
New York is overwhelmed.
More and more States are requesting us all to stay home, as well as monitoring in real time out-of-state traffic at state lines
The death toll from COVID-19 is rising at an alarming rate
President Trump and our Governor have extended the national ‘stay-in-place’ to the end of April.
For those counting on the stimulus check, it could will be 3 weeks out before we see them
But perhaps most frightening of all is the number of people that catch COVID-19 and died within days.

II. TUCKER CARLSON

We are indeed living in frightful days. Life as we have known it has dramatically changed. COVID-19 has every possibility of shortening our life-span, no matter how healthy we may be or not.

TV screens daily capture fear in real time. Not only do Doctors and nurses live in fear for their own lives, but also now for their families.

And there is a new reality that might be called ‘face-time-death’. People dying on ‘face-time’ with relatives gathered around their phones.

As I wrestle with the fears swirling around in my head over the pandemic, I came across an article by Tucker Carlson that captured my attention. Understand, Carlson is not a theologian. He writes: "I actually think part of the problem and the root of the public’s fear — and my fear, too, I’m not judging anyone — is an unwillingness to acknowledge that, on ‘the big things’, we are not in control. And that’s basically a theological precept that we’re not comfortable with because we don’t ever talk about anything that’s not rooted in materialism."

Secular materialism has proven to be a successful philosophy for a society that values economic prosperity above all else.

"But, what ‘secular materialism’ doesn’t do, is, it doesn’t do a very good job of explaining death. That’s really where it falls down.

And so, our response has been to basically ignore death . . . But in a time like this, death is at the forefront. You can’t ignore it. We’re all brooding about it."

The prevailing secular materialism has set up many people in this country as being spiritually ill-equipped to grapple with the impact of COVID-19 and the possibility of premature death. [1]

Think about it, COVID-19 is forcing us all to face the ultimate acknowledgement--we have no control, and life is very very short.

As I struggle with what is happening, words from 2 Peter 1:2–3 ^(ESV) come to mind. Peter writes: ² May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. ³ His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,

Don’t miss what Peter is saying. Everything we need for living life and godliness comes to us in our knowledge of God and Jesus Christ.

Follow me: living life in a godly fashion grows out of a solid grasp of God and Jesus. Peter is telling us that sound doctrine is essential to living life.

Then Peter says, because of these two resources— the divine power of Christ, and His precious and magnificent promises , Vs2 & 4. He tells us in V5, to grow our faith, and then lays out a serious of virtues for growing faith: Virtues such as goodness, knowledge, self-control, endurance . . .

It’s the word endurance that comes to bear on where we are now. The word has the idea of ‘sweating out the hard stuff’. It’s the idea of hanging in there when the world around us is falling apart.

Difficulties come in various forms, illness’, desertion of friends, financial stresses, COVID-19 to mention a few. These and others can freak out the best of us. So don’t miss what Peter is saying: hanging tough during these times calls for a solid grasp Jesus’ divine power, and the precious promises . It is these truths that carry us during tough days, as well as growing our faith.

III. PSALM 27

COVID-19 is pretty much making us all ask questions about life, about living. People are truly wondering if they will survive the pandemic. In light of the fears that are gripping us all, I am reminded of what was written in Romans 15:4 ^(NASB95) For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

This verse tells us that our anchor of hope in fearful times is rooted in stories and events of the past, a remembrance of how God worked during difficult times. So I began to search out the Scriptures, to see how they might give us encouragement during fearful times. Psalm 27 caught my attention.

The back drop to the Psalm is that King Saul has been tracking David for months like a common criminal, chasing him as a lion chases a gazelle. David is on the run for his life, not knowing where to hide or who he could really trust. He is a lonely man in the wilderness. He loneliness is highlighted in V10 even my father and mother have forsaken me. Fear, dread, evildoers were all upper most in his mind. Fear is like the Whac-a-Mole game, it just keeps bouncing back. In spite of it all, he writes, V3, My heart will not fear; though war arise against me, in spite of this I am confident

That brings me to ask:

How did David handle his fears in light of real time possibility of death?
Is there any truths we can mine from David’s experience that will help us in handling our own fears?

Let’s explore this Psalm together and see what principles we might glean that will help steady us.

A. David sought the Lord in his time of fear by affirming his faith in God (Vs1-3, 5 ^(ESV) ) [2]

First, in the first couple of verse David affirms his allegiance in the Lord alone, in spite of his fears

¹ The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life;

of whom shall I be afraid?

² When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh,

my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall.

³ Though an army encamp against me,

my heart shall not fear;

though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.

In the midst of overwhelming odds, V3, He stands confident. Why?

The Lord is my light, that is the one who automatically dispels darkness (here representing the psalmist’s enemies);
The Lord is my salvation emphasizing God’s ability to give victory, regardless of the military odds against success.
The Lord is my refuge/defense , emphasizing safety in the midst of great danger. ^[3] V5 For he, The Lord, will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock.

Romans 8:31–39 ^(ESV) comes to mind at this point. Paul asks four powerful questions, with answers:

If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

³³ Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.

³⁴ Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? Covid-19

³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Now that is a sure anchor when my fears sweep over me, over us.

B. In his time of fear use your fear to drive you closer to God (v4-6)

Second, David is on the run. King Saul at times sent out a host of armed men to hunt him down. In the midst of it all, David doesn’t pray, “Get Me Out Of Here!” But instead he prayed, “Lord, draw me closer to You!”

⁴ One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.

David wasn’t just praying for an escape route from King Saul, but for a deeper experience of God. In the midst of his fear, he wanted a deeper relationship with his God. So he prays, One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: His fear gave him a deeper longing for God. David’s supreme, sole, and only desire in life, the focus of his entire being . . . that he may dwell in the house of the Lord, behold the beauty of the Lord, and to meditate on his presence

David didn’t just want to be with his God on Sunday. He didn’t come to the house of the Lord out of a sense of duty. He wanted to dwell, live, be near His God every day. For David, being near to God was his security in the midst of fear.

Notice how he sees God answering his prayer for safety: For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; in the secret place of His tent He will hide me. He will lift me up on a rock.

Perhaps not many of us will ever be as caught up with the Lord as David was. But the point still stands, we will overcome our fears to the extent that we focus on the Lord Himself and be captivated with His glorious beauty. Let’s make this our one thing to seek in the turbulence of fear: To dwell in the Lord’s presence and to behold His beauty all the days of our life.

C. In Fear stay focused (vs7-10)

That brings us to vs7-10. David cries out to God, giving us insight as to his fear: Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice, and be gracious to me and answer me. God’s answers David’s prayer by telling him to, V8, Seek My Face. Another way of saying, stay focused. David responds, V8, Y our face, O Lord, I shall seek .

Fear was boring into his psychic, vs9-10. There’s a sense of desperation.

Do not hide Your face from me
Do not turn your servant away in anger
Do not abandon me nor forsake me. He is desperate, alone: for even his father and mother have forsaken him.
V12 Do not deliver me over to the desire of my adversaries

In this moment he realizes that he is totally dependent on God. He was really afraid, He needed to know if God was in control.

In this pandemic we also need to know that God is in control. Deuteronomy 31:6 ^(NASB95) comes to mind: Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.”

When we profess Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are sealed by the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:11 ^(NASB95) The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you” To have God with us, always, means we can be strong and courageous, because the source of our strength lives in us. We just have to remember He’s always there. In a world that encourages us to believe in ourselves and to achieve all we deserve, it’s paramount to understand Whose we are, and that God’s got my circumstances.

D. Don’t let fear undermine Your Faith (vs13-14)

Lastly, David closes his Psalm with these powerful words in vs13, ¹ ³ I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

Real empowerment is rooted in right thinking about God. That’s what Peter is telling us in his 2 ^nd letter. Knowing the divine power of Christ, and His precious and magnificent promises holds us in the mist of the storms of fear. What you and I believe drives how we respond. Belief creates vision, creates strength of will, creates resilience, and ignites and activates confidence. [4]

That brings us to where David speaks to his soul: ¹⁴ Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD. Waiting on God is hard work, but it is the only way we’ll every experience God’s strength. Its an admission of personal powerlessness. It’s not resignation or despair, but a step of trust and commitment. It means acknowledging my need to rely on God alone.

WRAP-UP

Let me close our time with two observations

1. First, we’ll have confidence in the Lord in our daily struggles and fears when we know who He is and what He has done for us. David’s prayer to the Lord was “Teach me Your ways, O Lord.” David is asking for divine instruction as to how to handled his fear. He is asking God to show him how to respond to the false witnesses, and breathe of violence that surrounded him. And so we need to be asking God how he would have us respond to the pandemic fear. The way to know the ways of God are revealed in His book, the Bible.

As the pandemic surges our communities need to see people of confidence, standing strong, serving in love. Maybe it’s a phone call, a post card, a secret delivery. I found a woman looking for people willing to join her team in making masks. If I understood her right, she’ll send the stuff, you dust off your sewing machine.

2. Second, combating fear is rooted in a heart for worship, to be dwell in the presence of God. David’s desire was to behold the beauty of the Lord in His Tabernacle.

Most of us will not find ourselves in harm’s way in a military conflict such as David experienced. But there are other pressures that really freak us out, like COVID-19. Our fear should drive us to seek out our God, to meditate on His divine power and precious promises. Hear the words of Paul in Romans 14:7–8 (NASB95) 7For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; 8for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.

As Paul wrote to the church at Philippi, My deep desire and hope is that I shall never fail in my duty, but that at all times, and especially right now, I shall be full of courage, so that with my whole being I shall bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die . [5]

Steven Cole, pastor of Flagstaff Christian Fellowship recounts the following story:

Years ago a number of people in the jungles of Central Africa responded to the gospel. Since they had no church building where they could gather for prayer, they cleared a central spot in the jungle for that purpose. Soon individual trails from many different directions converged as believers walked through the grass to that place of meeting with God. Whenever a Christian seemed to be losing his first love, the others would admonish him by saying, “Brother, the grass is growing on your path.” [6]

What about your path?

Are you seeking the Lord and His face each day?

That is God’s way to overcome all your fears. Once again, let me remind all of us . . . God’s Got This!! Thanks for joining me at our Round Table Bible Study

[1] Tucker Carlson, ‘You don’t have control’: Tucker Carlson says coronarvirus pandemic has exposed theological weakness of US. https://dnyuz.com/2020/03/28/you-dont-have-control-tucker-carlson-says-coronavirus-pandemic-has-exposed-theological-weakness-of-us/ Both the people of the U.S. and their leaders often lack the context to discuss such topics, Carlson said, adding, "And so let me just suggest, as a non-theologian, a not especially faithful Christian, that the thing to remember is you don’t have control. You weren’t responsible for your birth. You likely won’t be able to choose the moment of your death. This is what it is to be human. I don’t have an answer as to why it’s that way, but it is, always has been, always will be. And the sooner you internalize that, the clearer you’re thinking can become."

[2] See Steven Cole, Psalm 27: Overcoming Fear. https://bible.org/seriespage/psalm-27-overcoming-fear . Gordon Franz, Psalm 27: Worship in the Midst of Warfare, https://www.lifeandland.org/2010/01/psalm-27-worship-in-the-midst-of-warfare/

^[3] Peter C. Craigie, Psalms 1–50 , vol. 19, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1983), 231–232.

[4] https://www.focus3.com/blog/the-power-of-belief

[5] Philippians 1:20, Good News Translation

[6] Steven Cole, Psalm 27: Overcoming Fear, https://bible.org/seriespage/psalm-27-overcoming-fea r

01- Fears And Anxieties

Sat, 14 Nov 2020 22:17:08 GMT

Chapter 1

Fear And Anxiety

Dealing With Our Fears And Anxieties

(Philippians 3:20-4:9)

The COVID-19 looks like it is going to stick around for more than a couple of days. It is impacting pretty much every part of our lives . . . Social distancing is the new norm at the moment. It is right at the top of the news outlets and social media.

Because of COVID-19, we are now wrestling with the twin sisters of fear and anxiety. Fear and anxiety are creating shortages from bread and milk to toilet paper, loss of income and jobs, instability abounds.

As I was thinking about all that’s happening—chaos in governmental leadership, bewilderment of shortages due to hoarding, loss of income anxiety, and homes in disarray because of school closures

. . . God directed my attention to a letter written by the apostle Paul to the church at Philippi.

I found it to be a interesting read, particularly the end of the letter. The letter was written while Paul was under house arrest in Rome.

Let’s bow in prayer to our God.

Gracious God and everlasting Father, We come to today acknowledge that we are a needy people. We thank You for the gift of Your word that holy men of old wrote as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. Now come, O Lord, we ask. Illumine these words and help us to understand them, apply them to our lives. Help us to be doers of Your word, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

Listen as I read the word that God has given to us in Philippians 3:20-4:9 ^(NASB95)

^3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; ²¹ who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.

^4:1 Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!

⁵ Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.

⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. ⁹ The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

May God bless His word to us, and open our hearts and minds to grasp how it applies to us today.

Because we are all feeling the squeeze of fear and anxiety due to COVID-19, my attention was drawn to Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing

However, as I began to poke around, I realized that there was more being said about anxiety than we normally take into account. As I probed I found that there is a broader context which really is meant to shape our thoughts about our COVID-19 anxieties.

I notice that chap 4 begins with the word ‘ therefore ’. That in itself caught my attention.

Follow me. Therefore is a transition word telling me that what follows really flows out of something that was said previously. So what did Paul say previously that he is now going to build off of in chap 4? To answer that question, we need to go back to vs 20-21 in chap 3. ²⁰ For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; ²¹ who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.

In these verses Paul gives us two truths:

¨ First , as Christ-followers we have a citizenship that is greater than this world’s citizenship. As Christ-followers we are citizens of heaven where Jesus resides at the moment.

There’s an old gospel song that we use to sing:

This world is not my home.

I’m just a-passing through.

My treasures are laid up

somewhere beyond the blue.

When the pressure is on, it is easy to forget that this world is not our home. I think Paul is wanting us to understand that the way we deal with our anxieties is in some-way rooted in having a clear understanding of our citizenship.

Ephesians 2:5-6 puts it this way: God has “ made us alive together with Christ … raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” To be in the heavenlies is to be seated with Christ

Second , even thou we live on earth, subject to its ills, ie., COVID-19, Paul tells us that when Christ returns to call us home, our bodies will be transformed into a glorious body like His.

Salvation is not just our souls, but also the preservation and restoration of our bodies—freeing us from all things like COVID-19, and the fear and anxiety comes along with it.

Now back to the Therefore chap 4:1.

Paul wants us to look back at vs20-21, get that truth rooted in our minds—our citizenship and then transformation to come . . . with that truth in our minds, notice what he says next— Therefore . . . in this way stand firm in the Lord.

Let’s follow Paul’s argument:

In light of the fact that Christians are citizens of heaven,
In light of the fact that we eagerly expect the Lord Jesus Christ to come as Savior,
In light of the fact that our hope is in him for a complete transformation of their bodies,
“therefore” in this way stand firm in the Lord

What does Paul mean when he says in this way stand firm in the Lord?

First, Paul is painting for us a picture of a soldier who takes his stand at his post regardless of the pressures that surround him/her.

Why? Because the soldier has a firm foundation. For the Christ-follower it is the assurance of the present reality of citizenship, and the promise of coming transformation of our bodies.

I believe Paul’s point is:

Irrespective of pressure, don’t abandon your post, continue to live out your faith, don’t deviate from the path laid out for us by the Gospel. Philippians 1:27 ^(NASB95) ²⁷ Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; But there is more. Notice he says in this way. In the verses that follow Paul is laying out what a firm stance in the Lord looks like, particularly in the face of fear and anxiety.

Paul gives us five character traits of a firm stance in the Lord

1. First one comes in Vs2-3. Paul pleads with Euodia and Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. One of the marks of the Christ-follower is that they don’t let differences interfere in relationships. They stand united, arms locked, back to back, swords drawn, for the enemy comes from many directions.

2. The second one comes in V4, Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice. Live a life of joy in all circumstances. James 1:2–3 ^(NASB95) ² Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, ³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. Whatever you want to think, COVID-19 is a faith tester designed to bring us to a level of maturity that wasn’t there before.

3. The third one comes V5, l et your gentleness be known to everyone. A firm stance in the Lord is characterized by a caring heart. Be rich in mercy. For the Lord is near, ie., present and aware of our conduct, attitudes, etc.

4. The fourth one comes V6-7, Don’t be anxious about anything., but with a thankful heart, make our requests know to God . Paul is not making light of troubles. He himself is sitting in house-arrest. A firm stance in the Lord comes with a thankful heart that acknowledges that God has got this.

What is the alternative worry?

Paul’s answer is prayer, laying the troubles before God like Hezekiah of old in 2 Kings 19:15. Hezekiah, surrounded by the armies of Syria with no escape . . . Look at how he prays, pretty much following Paul’s directive . . . His request starts with praise, . . . O Lord, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth.

Hezekiah came before the Lord in honor, humility and reverence, with a thankful heart, and an attitude of confidence. A thankful heart gives God the glory in everything, making room for him, casting our c are on him, letting him care for us. In response, the God of Peace, which surpasses all understanding, will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus. God’s peace, like a garrison of soldiers, will keep gu ard over our thoughts and feelings so that they will be as safe against the assaults of worry and fear as any fortress

5. The fifth stance characteristic comes V8, and last of all . . .

Here Paul is telling us to intentionally focus your mind on things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and commendable . What we put into our minds determines what comes out in our words and actions. Paul tells us to program our minds with thoughts that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, commendable, virtuous, and praiseworthy. What that means for us, I believe, is to be careful of how much time we spend with social media and the news programs, particularly as they relate to COVID-19

In the midst of it all, we should follow the guidance given to us in Psalm 1. Meditate on God’s Word.

Meditating on God’s word makes us like trees planted by streams of water, always fresh, yielding fruit as needed, and surviving such pressures brought about by worry and anxiety. Ask God to help you focus your mind on what is good and pure. It takes practice, but it can be done.

Application

We are told in Ephesians 2 that right now we are seated in the heavenly places with Christ Jesus. As God placed Jesus at his right hand in heaven, so He has placed His people with Him in heavenly places; i.e.

places where the privileges of heaven are dispensed,
where the air of heaven is breathed,
where the fellowship and the enjoyment of heaven are known,
where an elevation of spirit is experienced.

God’s Got this . . . not to minimize what is happening, but God’s Got This. In the midst the fears around us, choose to believe that the same God who raised Jesus from the dead still has surprises in store for us. Just as Jesus said to his disciples and us in John 16:33, In the world you will have tribulation, you will have difficulties, you will have trials. But take courage; I have overcome the world.

In a blog entitled “God’s Got This” Kyla writes

When the test results come in and it’s not good,

the King still has one more move.
When the job falls through again and again,

the King still has one more move

When God doesn’t give you the answer

you were asking for,

the King still has one more move.
When it feels like everyone has abandoned you

and you are all alone,

the King still has one more move.
When the pain is overwhelming,

and you want to give up completely,

the King still has one more move.

We can choose to be fearless with COVID-19 because there isn’t anything life can throw at us that God hasn’t already thought through. We let go of fear and anxiety by reminding ourselves who is actually in control.

So . . .

Let’s not Be crazy as to how we handle COVID-19 like the beach goes in Florida

Let’s be wise by using social distancing

Let’s be careful what we touch, disinfect everything

Let’s be courageous on how we talk,

People are afraid, they need an anchor. Share why you are not afraid, tell them about the confidence you have in Jesus.

God’s Got This.

02-Standing Firm With Anxiety

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 16:31:58 GMT

Standing Firm With Anxiety

Don’t Be Afraid

(Mark 4:35-41)

I. INTRODUCTION

Hello everybody. Thank you so much for joining me in my office at my round table.

We are living fearful days. The idea of dying is more of a reality to everyone. On top of that there is the lose jobs, and the crippling of our economy. Without a doubt we need wisdom and steady guidance from the leaders of our nation, communities, and churches.

II. CORONAVIRUS

I’ve been thinking about the coronavirus. Things were fairly stable 3 or 4 months back. Then came coronavirus COVID-19. When we heard its rumblings it was a Chinese problem, not ours. Now it is ours.

The name coronavirus is really a family of viruses—virus such as common colds, seasonal flu, MERS (which has its roots in Arabia), and SARS (another virus out of China). The World Health Organization has given this particular coronavirus the acronym COVID-19, an abbreviation for ‘coronavirus disease 2019’, though its actual name is SARS-CoV-2, but that name is seldom used in the media. We know that this coronavirus has its roots in the open market of Wuhan, China; and we know that it is highly contagious, and physical distancing and clean hands are an absolute necessity.

III. FEAR

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, fear has become, in a manner of speaking, its twin sister. Fear, like the virus, is contagious. The twin sisters are draining, exhaustive, and crippling, creating a tsunami panic wave.

I’ve had a few tsunami panic moments . . . like the time I was hunting with friends in Kenya. I was walking the rim of Mt Suswa, a dormant volcano in the Rift Valley, Kenya, Africa. As I rounded a giant bolder, I came face to face with one of the largest pythons I had ever seen with no glass barriers. He was sunbathing on a rock jutting out into the crater. Startled, it reared up, maybe arm’s length from me. We were eye to eye. In a panic I froze . . . I couldn’t move. The python was as surprised to see me as I was of him. I can still see that python, eye to eye, staring at me, his tongue darting at me. Then he slipped over the edge, and I ran . . . and ran . . . and ran. It took me a good hour or more to recover.

COVID-19 is like that python at Mt Suswa. Life was good, food on the table, toilet paper on the shelf. Then suddenly a tsunami panic wave driven by disease and fear instantly changed our lives. Fear, anxiety, panic swept over our nation and communities, totally freaking everybody out. As anxiety, fear, and panic swirl, I am reminded of a story given to us in Mark 4:35–41 ^(NASB95) As the story unfolds, it is evening . . . the sun is setting . . .

V35 Jesus tells his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.”

36Leaving the crowd, they took Him along with them in the boat, just as He was; and other boats were with Him.

37And there arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up.

38Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”

39And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm.

40And He said to them, “Why are you afraid? How is it that you have no faith?”

41They became very much afraid and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”.

They are on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. The Sea of Galilee lies roughly 680 feet below sea level. Roughly 15 miles long, and at the widest 8 miles, at its deepest around 200 ft. The lake is nestled in a valley, surrounded by a mountainous terrain that can reach 2000 ft. where the air is cool. The mountainous terrain provides hefty wind channels. And it’s not unusual for the cool air of these mountains to clash with the warm air of the lake suddenly and unexpectedly. When Jesus said, “Let’s go to the other side”, it’s evening. Their destination is a cemetery in Gerasenes, about 5 miles, where a man with multiple demons lived.

Some scholars believe that when Jesus said, Let’s go to the other side’, winds had already begun to pick up. Jesus gets into the boat and settled for the ride. Mark tells us that He was sitting in the stern of the boat, settled comfortably on a cushion. As the story unfolds, somewhere out in the middle, a fierce gale of wind arose, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up.

This was no small storm. Waves were crashing on to the boats. Mark tells us basically that the boats were swamped. This storm was probably the worst these men had ever seen. This is a big storm. Boats filling with water, capsizing was a real possibility. Then there was Jesus, V38, asleep on the cushion . . .

Think about it, the disciples are in a state of fear and panic . . . and Jesus is sleeping, apparently oblivious to their stress. For them, death by drowning was not just a possibility, but reality. [1]

In a state of panic, they finally awaken Jesus. V38, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”

I get the impression, mixed in their fear and panic, is a whole lot of anger. Their attitude might be expressed this way: How can you, Jesus, be sleeping in the middle of a fierce storm?

In the midst of the fear and panic, they were torn by the fact Jesus seemingly didn’t care about them.

The man who overpowered demons, and healed the sick, wasn’t manning the pumps. They weren’t just afraid of drowning; they were frustrated with Jesus. They are fighting to stay alive, and Jesus was sleeping.

Have you ever felt like that?

Listen, this story is not meant to be bedtime stories for children.

Who of us has not felt this way at times? We’re followers of Christ, and our world is crashing.

We are in trouble . . . COVID-19 is much like the storm on the Sea of Galilee. Our life boats are being swamped. Instability abounds—jobs, bills, hopes, dreams headed to the bottom of the sea.

Like the disciples in the storm, we are greatly troubled, distraught, and panicky. Where is our God now?

We’re in the middle of a storm, or as it has been said, ‘we’re at war with an invisible enemy.’ We don’t know who is carrying the virus, and death is more than an acknowledged possibility.

Like the disciples, we are afraid. We’re not just stressed out, we’re freaked out!!! Like the disciples, I find myself crying out, Master, don’t you care that we’re perishing?!!!

Back to our story, Jesus awakens from slumber.

39 And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind ceased and it became perfectly calm.

You talk about tranquility. Waves that were 10/12 ft. . . gone, and the Sea becomes a sheet of glass. This really freaked the disciples out. Listen to this: they were freaked out by the terrifying storm, but vs 41 tells us They became very much afraid and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”.

Follow me. In this story there appears a hidden enemy. When Jesus said, Hush, be still, Jesus knew the cause. I believe he spoke to the demonic forces behind the raging storm. I don’t think COVID-19 is just a freaky moment of a virus out of Wuhan, China.

Ray Stedman writes:

We must never forget that we live in a fallen world, and that, as the Scriptures tell us, the whole world (physically and spiritually) is in the grip of the devil and his agents. Behind the disasters we read of, and sometimes experience -- earthquakes. famines, floods, droughts, tornadoes, hurricanes -- is oftentimes the malicious attack of Satan upon humanity.

Some scholars believe that, because of the demonic man in the Gerasenes cemetery, the storm was demon driven in an attempt to keep Jesus from reaching the cemetery. In the book of Job we are told that Satan does manipulate nature to his purposes.

Jesus understood this, so he rebuked not the wind, but the one who aroused it. He lived in the constant realization that "we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, wicked spirits in high places" (Eph 6:12), who are able to affect humanity at various levels of life.

It was these Jesus rebuked. And interestingly, the words he used here are exactly the same words he used when he rebuked the demon in the synagogue at Capernaum, in Mark 1:25. [2] So ‘I’ believe Jesus is addressing the unseen, invisible world here. [3]

The result was a great calm. Then he chided the disciples: Mark 4:40 ^(NASB95) “Why are you afraid? How is it that you have no faith?”

I find Jesus asking the strangest of questions. Just a moment earlier these rugged men were screaming and yelling, and being tossed about, and their boat was swamped with water. Why shouldn’t they be afraid? What a question. In the midst of the storm fear and panic ran ramped.

Then Jesus nails the reason behind there fear: How is it that you have no faith?

I take it what Jesus was saying was, faith is the answer to fear and panic. Faith is the answer to our fears, regardless the issues on our plates.

Fear is the opposite of faith. If we only trust in the things that we can see in this world, we will be fearful. On a regular basis, we dealing with terrorism - domestic and international, economic downturns, natural disasters, health scares, unemployment. We are consumed by what the future will look like for our children. There is always something to worry about! However, the Bible provides excellent comfort on why we need not live in fear.

So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic . . .. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you. Deut 31:6[NLT]

What I find interesting in this story is—

The God of creation was God in the boat.
The God who said, lets cross over, was the same one in the middle of the storm with the disciples.
And like the disciples, we forget that the God who called us, walks with us . . . not just in the good times, but also in the scary frightening times.

IV . GROWING FAITH

Since faith is meant to be the answer to our fears, is it possible to grow our faith to the point that it crowds out our fears?

I’ve been thinking about that lately. I’ve been thinking about that because at the moment my life boat is being tossed about by COVID-19. I need some stability. I need to shore up my faith for the storm.

As I wrap our time together, let me share with you 4 faith growing principles.

A. First, the source of my faith

Romans 10:17 tells me that “faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the Word of Christ.”

Isn’t that interesting. There is a direct relationship between the surety of my faith and hearing the Word of Christ. Romans tells us that the Bible is the source for growing strong faith.

Listen to this: Romans 15:4 ^(NASB95) For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

How’s your time in God’s Word? Are you purposely spending time processing and assimilating God’s Word? Since we are physically distancing our selves, and primarily ‘sheltering-in-place’, this might be a good time to start, with few distractions.

B. Second, the place of difficulties

Second, James 1:2-5 ^(NASB95) keeps bouncing around in my head. 2Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Don’t miss this one: Personally, I think COVID-19 is a faith tester. And don’t’ miss this little jewel that James gives us: the testing of our faith produces endurance.

I love what Kent Hugh’s writes: We must never think we cannot understand anything of what God is doing, that the flow of life is totally inscrutable. James tells us that testing develops endurance (that is ‘spiritual strength’), and that as we tough it out we develop a dynamic maturity described as, “not lacking anything” (v. 4b) ^[4] .

Therefore, consider tests with an attitude of pure joy. Why? Because your faith is moving to another level of maturity.

C. Third, developing a perspective

Third, James give us insight in dealing with fearful trials, storms. V5But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

When we encounter testing, most of us cry out ‘Why me?’ But James tells in v5, “If any of you lacks wisdom, ask God” What is this wisdom which we are to ask for?

We’re asking God to reveal to us how He wants us to live in the midst of turbulence, in the midst of the storm, in the midst of the test. James says that when we ask for insightful wisdom, God in his manifold grace generously gives it to us without ridicule.

Let’s ask God for wisdom as to how we as Christ-followers should live. For starters, perhaps Matthew 5:16 ^(NASB95) might give us some insight 16“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

D. Fourth, In This Way Standing Firm In The Lord

The last principle for living during tests is to have a steadfast focus of mind. I find Psalm 56:2-4 very helpful. The Psalm is written by David. Life was not going well for him.

Listen to his testimony. Psalm 56:1–4 (NASB95)

1Be gracious to me, O God, for man has trampled upon me; Fighting all day long he oppresses me. 2My foes have trampled upon me all day long, For they are many who fight proudly against me.

David’s life hangs on a thread. He was really afraid. His enemies had him right where they wanted him. In the midst of that frightful moment, David puts his faith into gear. He writes: 3When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You. 4In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me?

David brought his fear into the presence of God, and grasped the hand of God, trusting in the promises of God.

I must of have been 8 or 9. We were on our way to Kenya by ship. I don’t remember the ocean, but I remember the storm. Our cabin was water level. Our ship was no match for the storm. We were all in our cabins hanging on for dear life. I was sea sick . . . dry heaving. My Dad decided I needed some fresh air. So he helped me out of bed, and together we walked the narrow passage way, as we were being tossed about, falling, sliding . . . My Dad took me to the stern of the ship where there was an observation deck surrounded by glass.

What I remember of that moment was giant seeing waves as big as mountains, and valleys so deep that it look like the waves were going to smash us to the sea floor. I remember the ship climbing a wave mountain, tittering on the crest . . . the propellers spinning out of control, the ship vibrating like a massage bed . . . and then down the next wave . . . it was terrifying . . . but there was my Dad, one hand on the handrail, and one hand on me . . .

There was something about his hand on my hand, there was something about his stance that seemed rock solid, in the midst of the storm everything was ok.

As I think about that moment, I think about a song by Roger Bennet, which he wrote while he was fighting cancer. He captures the disciples’ storm:

The disciples were tossed on a cold raging sea
But Jesus was sleeping so peacefully
They cried Master O don't You care that we die
He spoke three soft words peace be still
It was the storm that had to die

Chorus

So don't be afraid
When the darkness is closing
The Master is near
His voice calms ev'ry storm
When the world says it's over
The Master says no I've just begun
In your darkest of times
Whether rain or in sunshine
Don't be afraid

God’s Got This

Thanks for joining me at the round table.

[1] Matthew 8:23–27 (NASB95) 23When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. 24And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered with the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep. 25And they came to Him and woke Him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing!” 26He said to them, “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm. 27The men were amazed, and said, “What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”

Luke 8:22–25 (NASB95)22Now on one of those days Jesus and His disciples got into a boat, and He said to them, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they launched out. 23But as they were sailing along He fell asleep; and a fierce gale of wind descended on the lake, and they began to be swamped and to be in danger. 24They came to Jesus and woke Him up, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And He got up and rebuked the wind and the surging waves, and they stopped, and it became calm. 25And He said to them, “Where is your faith?” They were fearful and amazed, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?”

[2] Mark 1:25 (NASB95) 25And Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!”

[3] Ray Stedman, Why Are You Afraid? (Mark 4:35-41), https://www.raystedman.org/new-testament/mark/why-are-you-afraid

^[4] R. Kent Hughes, James: Faith That Works , Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1991), 26.

Sermons

37 - Fig Tree Object Lesson (Mark 11:12-22)

I. INTRODUCTION

II. THE STORY

III. THE CONTEXT

IV. THE SYMBOLISM OF THE FIGTREE

A. Be Careful of False Spiritual Appearances.

B. There Is A Way To Live

V. TRUTHS THAT SHAPE OUR LIVES

A. Heart Of Worship

B. The Centrality Of Faith

Transition To Communion

36 - The King Visits His Father's House (Mark 11:1-11)

36- The King Visits His Father's House (Mark 11:1-11)

I. INTRODUCTION

II. BEGINNING OF PASSION WEEK

A. The Story

B. Timeline

C. Jesus’ Actions

1. Instructions

2. Don’t miss the details.

D. Crowd Response

III. TRUTHS THAT SHAPE OUR LIVES

A. First, Jesus Enters The Temple

B. Second, How Centralized Is Truth In Your Life?

35 - Faith Lessons From A Blind Beggar (Mark 10:46-52)

This is a subtitle for your new post

I. INTRODUCTION

II. BARTIMAEUS’ STORY

A. The Story

B. Lesson Context

C. What’s In A Name?

D. Bartimaeus Meets Jesus

III. TRUTHS THAT SHAPE OUR LIVES

A. First, Jesus uses Bartimaeus’ blindness as a metaphor of spiritual blindness

B. Second, Persistent faith plows through barriers

C. Third, Bartimaeus’ faith is anchored on the mercy of Jesus

34 - Living In Servitude (Mark 10:32-45)

34 - Living In Servitude (Mark 10:32-45)

I. INTRODUCTION

II. THE WAY OF THE CROSS

A. The Shaping Of The Cross

B. The Centrality Of The Cross

C. The Disciples Mindset

D. Jesus Defines Servanthood

III. TRUTHS THAT SHAPE OUR LIVES

A. First, Jesus lays out for us that we are not pattern our choices and normality after the course, rules, or systems of the world.

B. Second, the path to greatness is measured by how we serve.

C. Third, to be a servant is to sacrifice daily

D. Fourth, When We Serve Others, God Is Honored

33 - The Man and His Riches Watches Eternal Life Slip Through His Fingers Like Dry Sand (Mark 10:17-31)

33 - The Man and His Riches Watches Eternal Life Slip through His Fingers Like Dry Sand. (Mark 10:17-31

I. INTRODUCTION

II. THE RICH MAN’S ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS

A. The Young Ruler’s Question

B. Jesus’ Question

C. The Exposure of Flaws

III. TRUTHS THAT SHAPE OUR LIVES

A. The first application comes in vs23-25—Affluence is dangerous when it comes to eternal life.

B. v26, If this is so, who can be saved?

C. What about those who have left everything to follow Jesus?

32 - The Kingdom Of Heaven Is For Those Who Are Child-Like (Mark 10:13-16)

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I. INTRODUCTION

II. CONTEXT

A. Two Stories—Children & Rich Young Ruler—Meant To be Studied Together

B. The Value Of Children In God’s Eyes

C. Hope In A Child’s Death

D. Overall Context

III. THE BLESSING

IV. TRUTHS THAT SHAPE OUR LIVES

A. First, in these verses Jesus helps us work through the death of an infant, whether in the womb or out of the womb.

B. Second, in these verses Jesus hammers home the condition of one’s heart/mindset for entering into the Kingdom of God.

C. Further, as a side note, in the formative years of infants, little children, come with a ‘follow thru attitude’.

31 - The Divorce Dilemma -Pt 2 (Mark 10:9-12)

31 - The Divorce Dilemma (Pt 2) - (Mark 10:9-12)

I. INTRODUCTION

II. REVIEW

A. The first question came in Mark 10:2 (NASB95) was it lawful for a man to divorce a wife?

B. Matthew tells us that there was a second question, chap 19:7, Why then did Moses command to give her a certificate of divorce and send her away?

A. The first question came in Mark 10:2 ^(NASB95) was it lawful for a man to divorce a wife?