The Gospel According To Mark (Part 13)

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The Gospel According to Mark

(Part 13)

Good morning and welcome to Jesus Church

Our series is now officially a teenager… part 13

• And yes by the time we are done the series will be a senior citizen
  • So important to really take our time on the Gospels
  • There are some people who devote their lives to Jesus
  • Never really take time to understand and read about his ministry
• We believe this is important enough to set aside months on Gospel
  • To really learn the culture and people Jesus was with
  • To understand the key message of Jesus – The Kingdom of God
  • To see the intentionality of everything Jesus did
• Because we brush over so much never knowing why it was written
  • And in that miss out on life giving truth and empowerment
  • Its almost like hearing the lyrics of a song without the music
  • Or eating food without being able to taste

The last 2 weeks – We’ve seen this dichotomy b/w Jesus and Pharisees

• Comes in 2 stories where Jesus violates what is believed to be laws
  • First: He is seen eating with sinners
    • The dinner table was a sign of acceptance
    • Jesus wants people to feel welcome at His fathers table
    • Pharisees wanted all they saw as a sinner to feel rejected
  • Second: His disciples are seen picking grain on the Sabbath
    • Jesus explains that the Sabbath is a gift from God to receive
    • Not a burden from God to bare

Today lets open up to Mark 3 – Start in verse 7

Mk 3:7

Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed.

• Now it talks about Galilee isn’t a city… it’s a region
  • Mark is saying people from everywhere are coming to see him
  • Says people from Jerusalem… Tyre… even around the Jordan
  • Perspective: Jerusalem was 115 miles away and not easy walk

Mk 3:9-19

Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him. For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him. Whenever the impure spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” But he gave them strict orders not to tell others about him.

Jesus went up on the mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them Jesus gave the names “sons of thunder”), Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Mathew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Interesting passage after a ton of dialogue last week

This week is almost completely narrative

• In fact the only line that is spoken is by Demons
  • We are hearing about momentum building
  • We’re given a long list of names
• But it almost feels like this could be Mark just filling in the space
  • I’ll add some details about the crowds
  • I’ll mention the demons declaring Jesus as God
  • And I need to check listing the disciples of my “to do” list
• But right away: Again Mark uses this comparison of crowds/disciples
  • Because everything Mark does is asking you a question
  • Pharisees… Crowd… Wealthy… Powerful… Disciples
  • Who do you identify when it comes to relationship with Jesus

Mark doesn’t use filler… scholars actually rave of genius of Marks writing

• Even looking at the length of these 2 sections Mark writes
  • Both sections are almost the exact same length
  • You have 1 paragraph on the crowds / 1 paragraph on disciples
  • You have to large open area / small secluded area
• So what’s the connection Mark wants us to make in these stories
  • And what does would mean for the first century Jew
  • And what does it mean for you and me today

[PRAY]

Story

Growing up 1^st Bible was called – NIV Children’s Bible (PIC)

• So inside there are a ton of pictures that illustrate the stories
  • This one always made me sad for the foxes
  • But there was a picture of Jesus with the crowds of people
  • Its super peaceful… sitting around relaxed… Jesus has a lamb (PIC)
• When I think this story that’s what I think of… but not like that at all
  • Think of a charismatic leaders who comes into town
  • And there isn’t security around him… no stage to separate him
  • Its basically a free-for-all and mad chaos

Mk 3:9-10

Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him. For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him.

So this isn’t a happy picture… Jesus already has an escape route planned

• Very easily this could get out of control – People get trampled
  • Gk – Crowding means pressing or crushing
  • Gk – Pushing forward is the idea of a mob
• And this crowd are very specific… this isn’t a seminar for intellectuals
  • In fact there is no mention of Jesus teaching at all here
  • This is a crowd of people who are dying or know someone dying
  • And with this being a highly primitive medical world
    • To live past 30 was impressive in this time
    • This crowd is a bunch of desperate people fight for their lives
• Aren’t even really hear b/c of Jesus… they’re hear b/c of sickness
  • This isn’t a Taylor Swift concert… Isn’t Jesus Timberlake
  • They are here because they want something

But look at this detail Mark gives us in the next verse

Mk 3:11

Whenever the impure spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” But he gave them strict orders not to tell others about him.

• Why significant… one Jesus didn’t want demons stealing the moment
  • And like we said before it was a move to gain power
  • To identify the name and rank of your spiritual advisory
  • To gain an advantage over them
• But specifically what Mark wants us to know
  • These crowds have come from all over the region
  • But they don’t even know who Jesus is: demons do…
  • But none of these people in the large crowd know who Jesus is
    • Come for 100’s of miles away… but for themselves – Not God

Did you know you can be around Jesus all the time… not know who he is

• There are so many people who live in the crowd… swarming Jesus
  • They go to church / sing the songs / seek healing / seek wisdom
  • Yet they never acknowledge who Jesus is in their lives
  • Never grasp the concept that Jesus is the God of the universe
    • And the demons know Jesus more than they do
• Then we get a shift – Mark gives an opposite story
  • From Jesus crowded with the mobs about to trample him
  • To Jesus in this peaceful park with a handful of people

So this is the contrast to the crowd – The disciple

Mk 3:13

Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed 12 that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.

Now this is so important because there is a shift that happens here

• That will really launch the ministry of Jesus to the world
  • As he builds this nucleus to a community around himself
  • Jesus calls 12 disciples… which was hugely important
• In our world that gets overlooked… for example
  • How many know exact number of congressmen in the US
  • How many know how many counties we have in Arizona
• We don’t pay much attention to these kind of numbers in America
  • A 1^st century Jew would have known exactly why Jesus picked 12
  • B/C God made 12 tribes of Israel – Why – Represent him to world
  • And in Jesus time 10 of the tribes had been lost through exile

Prophets spoke of a time God would restore the 12 tribes

Ez 11:10, 12

In that day the root of Jesse (Not talking about a plant… Messiah) who shall stand as a signal for the peoples – of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious. He will raise a signal for the nations and will assemble the banished of Israel and gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.

• So the 12 tribes will be restored… but people will look to the Messiah
  • This is why it’s the 12 disciples of Jesus
  • Instead of the 12 Tribes of Isreal
• Everyone reading would understand Jesus is fulfilling this prophecy
  • They might not like the way he did it
  • But he is using this number as a signal that God has come
  • And this isn’t just a great healing mission or spiritual renewal
    • He is signaling an establishment of God’s kingdom
• And these are the disciples that Jesus picks

Mk 3:16-19

These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them Jesus gave the names “sons of thunder”), Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Mathew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

We have talked a lot on what it means to be a disciple

Three things the text shows us about being a disciple of Jesus

Mk 3:13

Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted and they came to him.

1: Every disciple of Jesus is called by Jesus

It says Jesus called them… he invited them… he chose them

• And that is true for every follower of Jesus
  • God chose you long before you chose Him
  • And there isn’t an interview process… no submit your resume
    • Jesus just picks them

Jn 15:16

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit – fruit that will last – and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.

Part of my calling is helping you to learn how to understand the Bible

• How to read and come to healthy and accurate conclusions
  • An unhealthy reading of these passages will say…
  • Oh this supports predestination and Jesus choses so we don’t
• But remember context… Jesus invites everyone to the dinner table
  • John says Jesu came to save the entire world
  • Jesus conquered sin and death… not just your sin and death
  • So of course Jesus called you – because he calls all of us
    • And then we chose to accept or reject that relationship
    • “Jesus called them… and they came to him”

Mk 3:13

…and called to him those HE WANTED and they came to him.

You have to understand you aren’t a consolation price for God

• God isn’t up in heaven making an exception for you
  • He knows exactly who you are and has chosen you
  • You didn’t barely get in and you aren’t last on his list
• And even the idea of a Rabbi picking disciples means so much
  • People would hope and work and follow a Rabbi – They pursued
  • A Rabbi never sought disciples… But Jesus shows us something
• B/C every religion in the world – God would never pursue humans
  • But Jesus came after you
  • Like we say He came down the mountain
  • Where every other god forces you to come up the mountain

2: You are given a new purpose

Mk 3:14

He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.

• Which means our purpose always revolves around two things
  • Be with Him
  • Be sent out by Him

Our 1^st purpose is to be with Jesus

• The main job of a disciple – How they became like their Rabbi
  • It was being with their Rabbi 24/7… travel/walk/eat/sleep…
  • And this means: Your #1 priority is to just be with Jesus
  • Discipleship is always a relationship before it’s a job
• Jesus is calling me and you to life with him
  • Not just a couple house in a building on the weekend
  • But being with him from the moment you wake up til you sleep
• Your calling before you serve or volunteer is to be with Jesus
  • And its so easy to lose sight of that… to get caught up in the stuff
    • We want to focus on the doing and not the being
    • But from the very beginning… always been relationship
    • Think of the Greatest Commandment – LOVE GOD
  • Now out of that there should be a natural longing to serve
    • God’s presence should energize you to advance his church
    • But it comes out of a place of presence that we find purpose

Our 2^nd purpose is to be sent out by Jesus

• Means its not just to be with Jesus… be sent out to join in his mission
  • Every disciple of Jesus isn’t just called – They are also sent
  • And it says we are to do to things: Preach & to have authority
• Preach is not what I’m doing on a stage once a week
  • Biblical understanding is every one of us is a preacher
  • Gk – Preach… publicly announce or tell someone the good news
  • Every disciples job is to tell someone about what Jesus did for you
    • At the playground… coffee shop… cubical…
    • Just offer yourself as a friend – when it comes up speak truth
• And to have authority… what authority… Jesus authority
  • You are given the authority to have power over demonic forces
    • And if you think that doesn’t exist – Sorry but WAKE UP
    • There is darkness all around us trying to suppress the truth
  • Every time Jesus preached or showed the power of God
    • What did demons do… distract from what Jesus was doing
    • To stop the message and advancement of the Gospel
    • And it’s the exact same thing today with a different face
  • Wherever there is darkness – You have authority over it
    • Whether that’s a lie someone has bought into
    • Or a destruction happening in someone’s life
    • We need to be bold in the gift of authority God’s given us
  • And the being sent part flows right out of being with Jesus part
    • You can’t have one without the other
    • Because that’s where the authority comes from

Our 3^rd purpose is to be changed by Jesus

• Because the 12 guys that we read about at this point in the story
  • Are not what we think of when we think “The 12 Disciples”
  • These guys were a mess… lets look at a few of the details
    • 1: Peter – Peter through most gospel is example of moron
      • Mass money issues
      • Curses… talks too much
      • And when he gets mad chops of peoples ears
    • 2: James/John – Sons of Thunder… not cool like Thor
      • No they have violet tempers
      • At one point as Jesus to burn a city to the ground
      • Like pyro kids on 4^th of July
    • 3:Andrew/Phillip/Bartholomew/Matthew
      • Matthew the sell out working for the Roman Gov’t
      • Everyone in town would have hated him
    • 4: Thomas – When picking your top 12 to change the world
      • Would you pick a guy whos claim to fame is doubting
    • 5: James – Another place calls James (the lesser)
    • 6: Simon – the Zealot
      • This was a Jewish sect of freedom fighters
      • Goal to kill as many Romans soldiers/officals as possible
      • So if message is “Love one another”… this isn’t your guy
    • 7: Judas – The one who betrayed Jesus

You see the scripture show a group that didn’t start as a dream team

• They were a pathetic joke… Jesus what are you thinking
  • But what Jesus knew is it didn’t matter what they were like
  • Because He can transform any life into a world changer
    • And you might not see yourself as a world changer
    • But neither didn’t Matthew… James… Thomas
    • And you don’t have to change the world – Just your world
• Because this is what Jesus does – He changes lives… one at a time

1 Cor. 1:26-31

Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential, not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God – that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

When you say YES to Jesus… it will change your life – So live in that truth

• Some of you have either never believed it… or need a reminder
  • You have been changed – You have been given authority
  • So live like it

[PRAY]