The Gospel According to Mark (Part 14)

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The Gospel According to Mark

(Part 14)

Good morning and welcome to Jesus Church

Continuing our series on the Ministry and Life of Jesus

• Last week we looked through Mark showing us the crowd/disciples
  • The crowds followed Jesus not even knowing who he was
  • Why Mark notes that Jesus told the demons “Don’t tell anyone”
  • To let us know the crowds were there for themselves… not Jesus
• Marks point is that you can be around Jesus…
  • Yet never even know who Jesus truly is and can be in your life
  • In fact there are those who were even healed by Jesus
  • And still didn’t know that he was their savior

Today as we finish up chapter 3… maybe most skipped verses in the Bible

• This is not what and preacher would use as for topical sermons
  • Jesus accused of being demon possessed – Idea of binding Satan
    • What does that even mean
    • In my mind its throwing supernatural chains around Satan
  • Unforgiveable sin
    • Which has terrified Christians for centuries
    • Wondering if we said/did something that will send us to hell
    • Is there really something the cross isn’t good enough for
  • Last Jesus seems to disown his family
    • So what is that all about and why would Jesus do that
    • Doesn’t the Bible say to honor our mother and father
• This is why going through all of Mark is such a good idea
  • Because there are so many questions about these stories
  • But very few answers
  • But I believe “All scripture is God breathed…”
    • And God wants to show himself through this passage today

Mk. 3:20-35

Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.” And the teachers of the law who came down from Jeruslaem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.” So Jesus called them over to him and began to speak to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong mans house.

Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of the eternal sin.” He said this because they were saying, “He has an impure spirit.”

Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.” Who are my mother and my brothers? He asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

Before we dive in notice the title of the Gospels…

Many of us would think it says “The Gospel of Matthew/Mark/Luke/John”

• Its important to make a distinction between “of” and “according to”
  • Because what we need to realize is there is ONE GOSPEL
  • But told according to the accounts of 4 unique perspectives
• Again most believe Mark is the foundation for Matthew/Luke
  • But each has their own unique account of the stories
  • Written to different audiences so different things are emphasized
  • “Kingdom of God” vs “Kingdom of Heaven”
• But think of it as a diamond with multiple facets
  • There is one reality… but all these angles to reflect its beauty
  • Mark we know is the story for those with short attention spans
  • Matthew and Luke parallel with more explanation to the story

So this story corresponds with Matthew chapter 12 – Little more context

• And in both accounts the highlight is the response of people to Jesus
  • The response of the religious leaders… the crowds… disciples
• In fact Matthew further explains: Teachers ask for a sign from Jesus
  • Jesus calls them a wicked and perverse generation
  • Because he’s already given multiple signs prophesied in the OT
• Every single time… they discredit and deny the power of Jesus
  • Everything from healings condemned because its on the Sabbath
  • To now freedom from the demonic attributed to demonic powers

Matt. 12:38-45 (Extended version of story in Matthew goes on to this…)

Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.” (Remember they acknowledge he is casting out demons… actually just did in this story) He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here.

The queen of the south will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom and now something greater than Solomon is here.

When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, “I will return to the house I left. When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.

This feels like a different side to Jesus than we’ve seen

Because Jesus was just inviting everyone to sit at his table

• We see a compassionate Jesus… touching those who are untouchable
  • Jesus is engaging the outsider…
  • The people are excited…
  • This is an easy to follow Jesus – Because it resonates with us
• But what we read now… intense… maybe even a little mean
  • And for many of us – We like the beginning stories
  • But now we words like
    • Unforgivable…
    • Wicked generation…
    • Day of Judgment

So what’s Jesus doing … is he nice until you reject him and then he’s mean

• We know he didn’t get to eat – Is he just in a grumpy mood
  • Because it sounds like he’s saying
    • “Off to hell with all of you”
    • “You’re gonna pay for your actions”
    • “Forget my mom and family”
      • Definitely not a good mothers day sermon
• But its easy to move quickly… and we need to move slow
  • We can’t pull Jesus out of the first century and into 21^st century
  • Because these are the first warnings of Judgement from Jesus
  • And this isn’t something we can misunderstand

[PRAY]

Story

I don’t know if you’ve read the story or seen the movie – Le Miserable

• They main character is a man named Jean Valjean
  • Thrown in jail for stealing bread because he was starving
  • Story follows as he’s released from prison after a long sentence
• He can’t find a job… living on the streets and once again starving
  • Finally comes across this priest (bishop) who takes him in
  • Lets him stay the night and feeds him a really nice meal
• Well as he is eating – He notices the silverware (actual silver)
  • And in the middle of the night he steals all the silver and leaves
  • Well he’s a terrible thief and gets caught as soon as he leaves

So now its time for Jean Valjean to go back to jail – Pay for his crime

• And the police take him to the priests house to confirm he stole
  • And they get there and when the priest sees what happened
  • Instead of saying “How dare you steal when I let you in”
  • He smiles and says “You forgot the silver candlesticks”
• This saves Jean Valjeans future… would think he’d be leaping for joy
  • But he’s not… because it ignites this inner turmoil of his soul
  • Because he hates the world for the injustices done to him
  • But now a great grace has been given to him

He knew that his stubbornness would be forever settled if he resisted this act of kindness, but if he yielded to it he would be obliged to renounce the hatred that had filled his soul for so many years. He knew that this was the moment to conquer or be conquered and that a final struggle had begun between his own hatred and the graciousness of the bishop.

Reason Valjean struggles: Knows if he experiences this unjust forgiveness

• If he doesn’t accept this kindness… hatred would become who he is
  • For it would harden his heart… he would become the darkness
  • But deep down he knows that’s not who he is
• And while he does accept this kindness… it will forever change him
  • He would no longer hold on to that hard shell of bitterness
  • And that freedom/vulnerability scares him more than anything
• Do you see the tension…
  • If he rejects then he will be forever condemned to the darkness
  • If he accepts then he will be indebted to this act of grace

Forces Valjean to make a decision on what type of person he will become

• What Jesus does in this story – His offer is very much like the bishops
  • He is offering the kingdom to his people
    • And while some accept that offer
    • We are now seeing many begin to reject that offer
  • Now in Le Mis… the bishop gets to watch a life changed by grace
    • But imagine if Valjean decided to stay hardened
    • He rejected the freedom of grace and became worse
    • Then the monologue of sorrow would be of the Bishop
      • Watching the rejection condemn him to his darkness
• And we can see Jesus putting this decision before these people
  • And the emotion we see isn’t Jesus being grump/vindictive/angry
  • This is his compassion/love/grief for what’s to come

Jesus has a few groups after him here: Teachers/Family

Mk. 3:21

When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”

• What is “this”… well the only thing it could refer to is not eating
  • And TAKE CHARGE means to make someone do something
  • What? Well what do all moms want their kids to do?
  • EAT!!! This is his family worried about Jesus
• But the Pharisees have much different intensions in their heart
  • Last week: Demons want to distract from Gods power/plan
  • This week: Jealous people want to deny Gods power/plan

Mk 3:22

And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.”

• These are 2 serious allegations… (possessed/working with Satan)
  • And they use the word Beelzebul… comes from Ba’al and Zabaul
    • Ba’al – Master or Lord
    • Zabaul – Of the house
• Jesus responds to exactly what they charge him with – 2 parables

Mk 3:23-26

“How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided the house can’t stand. And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come.

1: Jesus says divided house can’t stand – Directed towards this name

• Because a kingdom can be destroyed from within
  • So Satan isn’t rallying his troops against themselves
  • That wouldn’t make any sense… Satan is foolish/not stupid
• There is another power/authority all together behind this
  • What power is that? Lets look at the 2^nd parable

In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong mans house.

2: A kingdom can also be destroyed from the outside

• An army can come that is stronger and take over
  • And again uses this idea of “Master of the house”
  • So Jesus likens Satan to the strong man
  • But Jesus says that he is the stronger man

Is 49:24-28 (referencing Is. 49)

Can the prey be taken from the mighty man (devil), or the captives of a tyrant be rescued? Surely thus says the Lord, even the captives of the mighty man will be taken away, and the prey of the tyrant will be rescued; For I will contend with the one who contends with you, and I will save your sons. I will feed your oppressors with their own flesh, And they will become drunk with their own blood as with sweet wine. And all flesh will know that I, the Lord, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.

• Jesus saying: I’m not here to negotiate with Satan or hold him at bay
  • I’m here to crush him… bind him… and to take back what he stole
  • And then I’ll set the captives free – save them from sin
  • And one day I will throw him in the pit
• But before rescuing… Satan must be tied up or bound
  • Maybe you’ve been in a situation: enemy is attacking you/family
    • What do we say… Satan I bind you in the name of Jesus
    • Fine because you’re asking for intervention/protection
  • But here’s the deal – Jesus already bound Satan through the cross
    • We when you pray… really just declaring a truth
    • Because Jesus fulfilled the Is 49 prophecy 2000 years ago

Jn 12:31

Now judgement is upon this world; now the ruler of this world shall be cast out.

• Meaning Satan is a defeated enemy… but not powerless yet
  • So can Satan still mess with us… it happens
  • But we come from position of power not weakness
• Because like God promises us in Genesis
  • Satan will bruise his heal (Cross was messy)
  • But Jesus will crush his head

Then Jesus gives this really serious warning

Mk 3:28-30

Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin. He said this because they were saying, “He has an impure spirit”.

So if you’ve ever freaked out over committing this sin… lets talk

• Jesus is doing these miracles… showing evidence of kingdom of God
  • The Pharisees are denying that power and evidence
  • So they are denying who… JESUS and God’s Kingdom

Lk 11:20

But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

• Context of scripture tells us that Jesus defeated sin & death
  • But this is saying you won’t be forgiven
  • It says that you are guilty of an eternal sin (everlasting sin)
• 1 Cor 12 tells us “no one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Spirit”
  • So if we reject Jesus as Lord… we are rejecting the Spirit of God
  • And this is exactly what the Pharisees are doing
  • Jesus tells us that you CANNOT be forgiven if you reject Jesus/Gift

It is very clear that there is one way to heaven

• Jesus already defeated the Devil… bound him up… took care of sin
  • But its up to you to accept the gift he’s given
  • But don’t be fooled – No other way to escape eternal destruction
  • And to enter the family of God

And Jesus concludes by emphasizing this once again

Theologians call this on of many Markan Sandwhiches

• Where there are 3 stories… first/last stories lead you to the middle
  • This third story is Jesus mom and family coming to see him
  • Jesus seemingly shrugs them off… but really he’s making a point

Mk 3:35

Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

• 1 Tim 2:4 – Its Gods will that all would be saved and know the truth

Jesus saying there’s a family I’m bringing together… deeper than genetics

• And you are either in my family… or not
  • Same way you are either in my kingdom… or not
  • And this life is your time to choose
• The enemy is taken care of… the invitation is given
  • But what will you choose to do with it
  • Because your choice will have eternal concsquences

[PRAY]