MARK: POWERFUL SERVANT

Transcription

1 1 MARK: POWERFUL SERVANT Today we are beginning the second half of our 16 th year of Quest. That means this is our 32 nd series and this is something like our 249 th lecture. 16 years I have been attempting to turn you into a group of guys that I m not embarrassed by when I have to stand in front of Jesus and say, Yep, they re mine. Now if you have missed the previous 248 sessions, I m going to give you 16 years of Quest in 60 seconds. Here we go. 1. God s will is for you to be holy, not happy. 2. True freedom is not the ability to do what you want but to do what you should. 3. What makes boys into men is making the sacrifices necessary to fulfill our responsibilities. 4. We re all a mess. 5. We can all get better. 6. You need brothers to win at life. 7. You were made for a great purpose. In fact, the Christian message to men is not that you want too much, but that you want too little. 8. Your only hope in this world or the next is Jesus. 9. Women are wonderful but weird. 10. Sex is good; porn is bad. 11. On your last day your family will be more important to you than your work. 12. Joy comes from giving all we can not from getting all we want. In one way or another, the message has been you ve got one life to live, so quit screwing around and live it God s way. That and women are really weird.

2 2 16 years that s what I ve told you and I have shown you hundreds of video clips. It s hard to pick a favorite, but I ve landed on this one from Clip: Canal Never Underestimate the Power of a Great Story Believe it or not, that actually illustrated a point I made in one of our lectures. This series doesn t incline itself to video clips as much as some others, so I think I might show you one favorite from the past each week. But, new guys, there you have it. You have now caught up with 16 years of Quest. And I tell you all this because, instead of trying to figure out one more way to tell you the very same things we are going to do something very different this semester. We re going to look at the Bible, actually the New Testament. We are going to look at the main message of each New Testament author with one exception the book of Hebrews. That s because no one knows for sure who wrote Hebrews -- and because if we leave out Hebrews, we have eight weeks of Quest and eight New Testament authors. It works out perfectly. Anyway that s what we re doing. When we re done, you won t be a Bible expert. But you ll know more Christian theology than most people in the church. Big overview real quick.

3 3 There are 27 books in the New Testament. 4 are Gospels they tell us about the life and ministry of Jesus. 1 is a historical narrative of the early church. 21 are letters if you want to sound smart, refer to them as epistles. 1 the last book of the Bible is an apocalypse. In Greek the root for apocalypse means to uncover or to reveal. Not surprisingly the apocalypse in the New Testament is named what? Revelation. Eight authors. Seven were Jews. One was a Gentile a doctor by the name of Luke who wrote two books: the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts. Peter the apostle also wrote two. John the apostle wrote five. Paul penned 13. The others Matthew, Mark, James and Jude all wrote 1. Jesus died roughly AD 33. The books of the New Testament were written somewhere between the late 40 s and the early 90 s. The first four books of the New Testament are Gospels and they all tell us about the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. To mix it up a bit, we re going to look at a Gospel weeks 1,3,5 and 7. And we ll look at other authors, Paul, Peter, James and Jude weeks 2, 4, 6, and 8. We are going to begin with the Gospel of Mark.

4 4 The word Gospel has a technical meaning. It describes a particular type of literature. The Greek word we translate as Gospel literally means good news and the Romans used the word before Christians did to describe some magnificent event that would bring blessing to the world and that would change the course of human history. So when Mark begins his book this way, it means something. Mark 1.1: The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Mark is saying, I am publishing news about an event that has forever changed the world and that will bring joy to all who receive it. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are Gospels not biographies. That means they don t try to cover the entire life of Jesus. Look what John says at the end of his Gospel. John : Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John says, this isn t an exhaustive biography of the life of Jesus. It s not meant to be. This is a Gospel, it s a story of Good News about what God has done in Christ so that you might believe in him and have life.

5 5 So what we have in the first four books of the New Testament are four intentional authors who are deliberately choosing what materials to present to their readers. And they choose what stories and what teachings to include, because they want their readers to see something in particular as to who Jesus is and what he has done for us. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are describing the same life, the same act of salvation, the same Jesus but with a different emphasis. They want to highlight some particular aspect as to who he was and what he accomplished. And part of the fun of studying the four Gospels is looking at these wonderfully rich and diverse portraits that together give us a fuller picture of who Jesus is. And that brings us to the Gospel of Mark. Why begin with Mark? Matthew is the first Gospel in the New Testament, right? Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Why not start with Matthew? Because almost all the scholars agree: Mark was the first of the four Gospels to be written, and most probably in the late 50 s or in the 60 s AD. Who was Mark? He doesn t identify himself in his Gospel, but early church history tells us that he was the John Mark who travelled for a time with the apostle Paul and then with Barnabas, and tradition suggests spent extensive amounts of time with the Apostle Peter who refers to Mark as his son in the faith.

6 6 So, not an eyewitness himself, but his Gospel possesses the authority that comes from an eyewitness to the ministry of Christ. In fact, it s possible, if not likely that Mark s primary source was Peter, one of the three apostles who was closest to Jesus. Who was Mark writing to? Who was his original audience? This is important. Good communicators don t go around with one message that they expect everyone to relate to. They consider their audience and present their message in a way that will speak deeply and relevantly to those he is addressing. So, who was Mark writing to? There are many reasons from church history and from the characteristics of this Gospel to believe that he was writing to the church in Rome. Possibly in Rome himself at the time, Mark was very likely writing to Roman believers who would need to know how to present this Jewish Messiah to other Romans in a way that they would understand that Jesus had come not just for a particular ethnic people in Palestine, but for all the peoples on earth, including those who lived in the capital of the world s greatest empire. Now here s the challenge Mark faced. He is writing for a Roman audience. They lived in an empire that revered power and dominance. Its citizens respected men who were courageous and commanding. And they despised weakness. But the Savior Mark wants them to turn to, trust in, and ultimately worship never commanded an army, never ruled a people, and never established an earthly kingdom.

7 7 In fact, this supposed Savior and Lord had been crucified, a form of execution that was considered so shameful and degrading that Romans citizens, unless found guilty of high treason, were spared that form of punishment, regardless of their crime. Crucifixion was the height of humiliation and the epitome of weakness. And Jesus was crucified. And by whom? The Romans. Here s the dilemma. Jesus was put to death by the Roman Empire but Mark wants the Romans to believe that he, not Cesar, is Lord. Jesus died in weakness and humility, yet Mark wants the Romans to believe that Jesus was the Mighty One of God. He lived the life of a servant, but Mark wants the Romans to believe that he is worthy of worship. That s a pretty tall order. What is Mark s core message about Jesus to the very ones who crucified him in weakness and shame so they can see him for who he truly is? Mark s solution is presenting Jesus to this Roman audience is beautifully well done. And he does this by dividing his Gospel into two distinct sections. In the first, he presents Jesus as a man of authority and action. Matthew, for example, emphasizes the teachings of Jesus. Mark emphasizes the miracles of Jesus.

8 8 In fact, in Mark you find less of Jesus teachings than in any of the other Gospels. What you do find is action. And you find it immediately. Mark s Gospel has the shortest introduction. There is no genealogy. No birth story. No shepherds or angels or wise men. The first line in Mark s Gospel screams out: This is the beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God. And then rapidly Mark tells us about John the Baptist announcing that the Lord is coming, about Jesus being baptized and then tempted, and then, the stage quickly set, it s: Lights, camera, action. And the action comes at a rapid pace. In Mark s Gospel 47 times we find the Greek word euthus. It can be translated: at once, immediately, right away. Matthew uses that word five times. Luke uses it only once. In Mark s Gospel we find it 47 times. There is a sense of urgency in this portrait of Jesus that we don t find in the others. In Mark the action is fast and furious, always moving forward, as if we are speeding towards some dramatic climax that Mark can t wait to get us to. And the action that s portrayed is powerful and decisive. The likes of which have never been seen.

9 9 Once Jesus begins his public ministry in Mark 1.14, within the next 35 verses, less than an entire chapter, Jesus Calls his first disciples and he does so with a command: Come, follow me. And they do. These hard-living commercial fishermen, hear the command of Jesus and they leave their livelihoods, and their homes and their way of life they leave everything and they follow the one who has called them.. Next he casts out a demonic spirit, who as he makes his exit cries out dramatically, Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are. You are the holy one of God. Still in these same 35 verses, Jesus heals many of various diseases, drives out several more demons, heals a man with leprosy, makes whole a man who is paralyzed, and even claims to have the authority to do what only God can do forgive another man s sins. With a few deft strokes, in a less than a single page, Mark presents Jesus as a powerful champion that men will sacrifice their lives for, who has come to make war upon the forces of disease and death and with the devil himself. And who in every instance is victorious.

10 10 And though Mark does not provide the content of his teaching at this point, he does report in this same short passage that Jesus taught in the synagogue, and the response was Mark 1.22: The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. In less than the two minutes it would take to read these 35 verses, Mark presents Jesus as a man of incredible power and authority both in word and deed. Continue to read the first half of Mark s Gospel and you find in Jesus one who can still a storm with a single word, walk on water, raise the dead and feed the a multitude of 5000 with two fish and five loaves of bread. Maybe he has never commanded an army or ruled a nation, but there is within this man Jesus an authority and a power that no conquering general has ever possessed and no Roman emperor has ever dreamed. In fact, Mark says: it is the authority and the power of God himself that is in this man Jesus. I say Jesus and you re likely to think of this or this or this or this well, hopefully not that. Hipster ad. You re likely to start humming, He speaks and the sound of his voice is so sweet the birds hush their singing. And the melody that he gave to me within my heart is ringing.

11 11 Mark says, He speaks and storms are stilled. He speaks and demons flee. He speaks and the paralyzed walk. He speaks and dead men rise to life. Gentle Jesus, meek and mild? Well, you can kiss my copy of Mark. Dorothy Sayers was right on point when she wrote: We have very efficiently pared the claws of the Lion of Judah, certified Him meek and mild and recommended him as a fitting household pet for pale curates and pious old ladies. Mark makes it clear to the Romans who valued strength and authority that in Jesus there was a power that the world had never seen. Look how he reports his death. Mark : With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, "Surely this man was the Son of God!" With a loud cry Jesus breathed his last. His last act was not the ordinary dying gasp of one being crucified no strength left, exhausted and defeated. This was a strong, defiant voice, unconquered, and powerful to the very end. This is Braveheart crying Freedom.

12 12 And a Roman centurion, a representative of the empire, battle-hardened, familiar with death, having seen hundreds of men crucified before what he saw in the last, supposedly weakest moment of Jesus life, what he saw was so overwhelming unimaginable, that his only response was to confess Jesus as the Son of God. Is Jesus powerful enough to speak to the Romans who valued authority and action? Yes, Mark says. There was never one with such power and there never will be again. And 2000 years later, Mark s Gospel proclaims that Jesus is powerful enough for us. Christianity is no tame religion. Christ is no house pet, timid, meek and mild. And that s incredibly good news. Because the people I know get hurt by life and they get hurt deeply by others, and they need a power that s greater than the power of bitterness and anger and self-pity. They need a power that can make them whole. The people I know become enslaved to alcohol and drugs. They become imprisoned to fear and greed and pride. And they need a power that can set them free. The people I know their marriages get broken and their children get lost from all that s good.

13 13 Their hopes get crucified and their spirits get crushed, and they need a power to invade their lives that never gives up, never gives in, and never gives out. The people I know need a powerful Savior, a mighty champion a man of authority and action to come into their lives and still their storms and exorcise their demons and raise their dead spirits back to life. And in his Gospel, Mark says that is exactly who we have in Jesus Christ. In the first half of his Gospel, Chapter 1 Chapter 8.26 we see Jesus portrayed as a man of action and authority. He is being credentialed, if you will, to the Romans this is a man you can respect and admire, in fact, he is God whom you can worship. But Mark s portrayal of Jesus reaches a turning point when we come to chapter Mark : Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, "Who do people say I am?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ." He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. Mission accomplished. His deeds, his words, his power have convinced his disciples: Jesus is the Christ, the anointed one of God.

14 14 But no sooner do they comprehend who he is than they are shocked when with his next breath he says he must be put to death. Here begins the second half of Mark s Gospel. And it portrays Jesus as a suffering servant. Three times in this last half of his Gospel, Mark has Jesus predicting his death. And three times at some length he teaches his followers that the way of discipleship will require suffering and sacrifice from them, as well. But here s what Mark makes clear. The coming death of Jesus was not the result of weakness or impotence. It wasn t because his plan failed; it was the plan. Jesus says about himself. Mark 10.45: For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. From this point forward in Mark s Gospel, the emphasis is on Jesus suffering and death. And with every passing moment, the cross looms ever larger. In fact, Mark devotes more of his Gospel to the last week of Jesus life than any of the other Gospels. 37% of his text is given over to that one week. This last week, the cross and his death, this was the plan, this was his purpose. This final act of sacrifice, this giving his life, this embrace of the cross, an act of weakness and shame?

15 15 Just the opposite. It would be the most powerful act the world had ever seen, and through it, Jesus would ransom all who had become enslaved to sin and death. The Kingdom of God that Jesus taught about is sometimes referred to as The Upside Down Kingdom because he so often taught that the world had things upside down. And nowhere do we see this more plainly than in what Jesus taught about true power and servanthood. Mark :... Those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. True power Jesus says is not the ability to force others to serve you. True power is the ability to overcome your ego and serve others. True power, Jesus tells us in the second half of Mark, is the man who is able to crucify his pride, give up his comforts, die to himself and use his strength to serve others. The portrait of Jesus that we find in Mark is a man of strength and power. But it s not the strength to bully or brutalize. It s not the strength to intimidate or subjugate. It s not the strength to get one s way or make others bend to your will. It s the strength to give up position and place; it s the strength to humble your ego and sacrifice your plans so you can serve others.

16 16 True strength is the power to stand alone for what is right and good and true. Even if it means standing on a cross, nails in your hands and spikes in your feet. That s the model of Jesus we see in Mark: Powerful Servant. I tried to think of someone who embodied this way of life to share with you guys. It took me only a minute to think of the central character to the movie Hacksaw Ridge Desmond Doss. For religious reasons Doss was a conscientious objector during World War II. But he wanted to serve his country. In fact, he fought to serve his country. He volunteered as a medic. When he was told he couldn t be a soldier if he didn t carry a gun, and when the other trainees made his life miserable by attacking his courage, his character and his faith and making his life hell, he refused to accept the discharged offered to him. If you know the story, you know that during the battle of Okinawa, some of the bloodiest combat of the war, when every able-bodied US Soldier retreated from Hacksaw Ridge he remained. Singlehandedly, while the Japanese scoured the battlefield to kill any wounded GIs, he found and lowered 75 soldiers down a high embankment, praying, Lord, let me get one more. Later on Okinawa, Doss was wounded 4 times. With 17 pieces of shrapnel in his body, as he was being carried away from the battle on a stretcher, he saw another soldier, wounded worse than himself, and insisted the man take his place and be carried in.

17 17 He was the first conscientious objector to receive the Medal of Honor. There have been only two others. First, a scene from the movie, then one of the men who hazed Doss later in life, and finally Doss himself 84 at the time. Clip: Hacksaw Ridge Great strength strength of character and conviction great strength used to serve and save others, willing to give his life as a ransom for many, or for just one more, Lord. That was the life of Jesus. And that s the model of life that Jesus calls us to follow. And it s the core message of Mark s Gospel. Mark 8.34: Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. One word of application. Why did Jesus come into the world and deny himself? According to his words in Mark s Gospel it was to give his life as a ransom for many. He came to find the lost, heal the broken, free the captives, and save the souls of men and women who were in danger of eternity without God. Jesus sacrificed himself because he had a worthy cause to fight for. And he calls us to deny ourselves and sacrifice ourselves, not because we re unworthy of joy, but because he knows that true joy comes from having something greater than yourself that you can give your life to.

18 18 Sometimes we fail at life because our spirits are tired and we give out. But more often we fail because our lives feel pointless and over time we give in and we give up. What destroys a person s soul is not leaving blood, sweat and tears on the battlefield. It s not having a battle worth fighting for. Here s the mistake so many of us make. We try to fulfill our need for a worthy cause by living our little stories as large as possible. Make all the money we can. Climb the ladder as high as we can. Educate ourselves as much as they can. Play as hard as we can. Nothing necessarily wrong with any of that. But if we re not careful, it s still our little story that we re living. We write the script, we determine our goals, we stay in charge, and we make sacrifices but it s so we can write our little stories large. Listen: Your little story, no matter how large you live it, will never be big enough to fulfill the longing God put in you to live for something more than yourself. There is a big story. It s the story Jesus gave his life to: rescuing the lost, freeing the captives, and bringing those who are separated from God back safe to the Father who loves them.

19 19 There is a worthy cause. It was worthy enough that Jesus was willing to give his strength and his life to it. And finally even to die for it. And it s worthy enough for you and me. You have been given great strength. That s part of what it means to be made in the image of God. Every one of you here has more power within you than you ve ever used or ever known. It s been given to you by God and it s been given to you so you can give your life for the least and the last and the lost and the looked over. You were made to be a powerful servant. You were not made to be passive or weak. You were not made to live for self. You were made to be like Jesus active, powerful and purposeful who used his strength to not for himself but for others. The Core Message of Mark. In Jesus Christ we see the power of God and the heart of a servant. And it is Jesus that we are called to follow.

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