The Gospel According to Mark (Part 24)

Give Online: Tithes & Offerings

The Gospel According to Mark

(Part 24)

Good morning and welcome to Jesus Church

We are in the middle of a series studying the life/ministry of Jesus

• Last week Pastor Rick did an amazing job going through end of Ch. 6
  • Talked about having faith by keeping your eyes on Jesus
  • Talked about power of touching Jesus… for yourself/loved ones
  • Mentioned a detail Mark gives us “Jesus was gonna pass them by”
• Now earlier in the week we had talked about how odd that sounds
  • But what we know about Mark… details are like hidden treasure
  • And so I went home and started looking through that phrase
  • Didn’t realize it was a very deep rabbit hole
• So this morning I want to take you down that journey with me
  • Because the scriptures show us so much… never know it all
  • And I think in understanding the phrase
  • Mark tells us something very important about why Jesus did this

[Pray]

First: Lets turn to Ex. 33

Ex 33:18 – Moses is out in the desert with God and says…

Now show me your glory (Show me what you are like) And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to PASS IN FRONT OF YOU, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence…

• If you remember in our series on Ex. 33
  • Names we much different in OT times than they are now
  • A name wasn’t just a label you call someone by
  • It was your core identity… what makes you – YOU
• God says I will reveal to you who I am as I pass you by

Ex 33:21

Then the Lord said, “This is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. When my glory PASSES BY, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have PASSED BY. Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back, but my face much not be seen.

Now what is God saying here… This is anthro-phamorphic language

• Where God relates to us so we can understand him
  • Remember this is before Jesus… no concept of God in flesh/bone
  • He talks about his hand… face… and his back
• And this word BACK is interesting to translate
  • It can also be translated: The place where I just was
  • Meaning the closest you Moses can get to me is my back
  • You can only reach the place where I just was
• And that’s exactly what happens

Ex 34:5-6

Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. And he PASSED IN FRONT of Moses, proclaiming “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness…

Now you may/may not know that this is a very famous – significant text

• It is the most quoted scripture by the authors in the entire Bible
  • The keep using this as their anchor/reflection point
  • Because this part of EXODUS – Ground zero for theology of God
  • Its Gods self disclosure statement… saying this is what I’m like
• Here’s what I want you to see from this
  • God passed by… not once… not twice but THREE different times
  • Notice how God revealed himself: HE PASSED BY
  • When we read God passed by… we read God revealed himself

Second: Turn to Job 9 – Basically an ancient play

Job 9:1-4 (Dialogue b/w Job and God)

Then Job replied: Indeed I know that this is true. But how can mere mortals prove their innocence before God? Though they wished to dispute with him, they could not answer him on out of a thousand. His wisdom is profound, his power is vast. Who has resisted him and come out unscathed?

• Now next is how Job talks about God… How Job has understood God

Job 9:5-8

He moves mountains without them knowing it. He overturns them in his anger, he shakes the earth from its place and makes its pillars tremble. He speaks to the sun and it does not shine (maybe we should all take a trip there) he seals off the light of the stars. He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea.

• Last line: Treads on waves of the sea – Translated: Walks on water
  • And this imagery of God walking on water is all through the OT

Ps. 77:16-19

The waters saw you, God, the waters saw you and writhed, the very depths were convulsed. The clouds poured down water, the heavens resounded with thunder, your arrows flashed back and forth. Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind, your lightning lit up the world, the earth trembled and quaked. Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen.

• Over and over in the scriptures… one way we know God is God
  • Is that He walks on water

Now with all that… Lets turn to Mark 6

Won’t read full story because we cover it last week – but the beginning

• Again remember they have just fed the 5000 (15000)
  • The people weren’t their for a fish feast… but a revolution
  • John said the people were going to make him king by force

Mk 6:45-46

Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.

• This word MADE – Think of the word FORCED
  • He isn’t making a suggestion… he wants time away
  • Even Jesus needed time to recharge and be with the Father

Mk 6:47

Later that night (should have been a short trip… Bethsada isn’t far away) the boat was in the middle of the lake and he was alone on land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars because the wind was against them.

• This word STRAINING is super intense word in the Greek: Baza-neeso
  • Can be translated: Torture
  • Same word when Jesus casts out Demon “Don’t Baza-neeso me”

Shortly before dawn (so they’ve been fighting the sea all night – after ministering all day) he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them.

• So we should be thinking Job… Exodus – This phrase “Pass by”
  • It’s the exact same phrase used 3x in Exodus 33
  • Where God passed by Moses

But when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” (Phrase “It is I” is a loaded phrase we will get to in a few) Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amaze, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.

• Now interesting that Mark notes the loaves… not the fish
  • Because the loaves represented life – and Jesus supplies that life
  • But the disciples don’t understand that

• Seems harsh b/c back to Exodus who are disciples being compared to
  • Pharoah… he’s the one who’s heart was hardened
  • Only other place Mark uses it is about Pharisees who hate Jesus
  • Now Jesus own disciples are the Pharoah/Pharisees of the story

Tag: Again this a story of God/Those who follow him/Surrounding world

Because this is a story about God

Or more specifically the Godness of Jesus

• And remember Mark is a writer – And he writes in layers
  • And the way Mark presents Jesus as God…
  • Is by the account of what Jesus does and only God can do
• For example: Why Ch.2 Pharisees are angry
  • Its because Jesus said “I can forgive you sins”
  • But only God can do that
• Another example: In ch.4 Jesus says to the waves: Quiet be still
  • And the elements obey his command
  • But only God can do that
• And right here Jesus is walking on what… WATER
  • But only God can do that

And on top that Mark uses that phrase “God was gonna pass by them”

• Which to a 1^st century Jew would have been easy to connect the dots
  • 21^st century American… not so much
  • Until last week – I thought Jesus must have heard some drama
  • Just didn’t want to deal with Peter’s big mouth again
• But no that’s not whats going on at all…
  • What Mark does (like so much else) is write this in light of Exodus
  • Where God passes by Moses… reveals the essence of who he is
  • Mark is saying that is exactly what is happening in this story
• Jesus is revealing God to the disciples – How – By revealing himself
  • Because the two are tied together

Now remember – We know that the accounts of Jesus doing miracles

• Most of the time… Jesus does them by the power of the Holy Spirit
  • And while many might think it was to prove Jesus is God
  • And yes… he is 100% God… its not the right line of thinking
• Think it through – Elijah did miracles – maybe even more impressive
  • What says “I am God” more… healing sick or fire from heaven
  • Elisha/Peter/James/Paul – All do miracles – Don’t say they’re God
• We say they prove the Spirit of God is at work inside of them
  • Jesus did miracles to show us what it looks like to be Spirit filled
  • Which breaks my heart when people says Gifts aren’t for today
  • It just misses the entire point of Jesus’ ministry

But every once in a while… like this story Jesus does something unique

• Not that Jesus is showing off – But this is more than gifts of the Spirit
  • There isn’t a gift of water walking
  • This is his way of saying I am God
• So Jesus is “walking on water”… Mark says he is “Passing them by”
  • And on top of all that Jesus says…
  • TAKE COURAGE IT IS I – Which is a loaded phrase
• In the Greek its EGO – AMEE (means its me)
  • But it’s the exact same phrase used in Ex 33 – Greek translation
    • And then all through the OT
    • And then in a ton of Jewish writings written around the time
  • Remember when Moses asks what God’s name is
    • He says “I AM THAT I AM”
    • Or in the Greek… EGO – AMEE
  • Its Jesus straight up saying “I’m the embodiment of creator God”

But the disciples don’t get it… they don’t even recognize Jesus

• In fact they think Jesus is a Ghost
  • They just don’t recognize Jesus
  • I think its because Jesus was different than God they expected
• And that happens all the time… many of us don’t recognize God
  • Because he doesn’t fit the stereo type
    • One mistake we make… We already know what God is like
    • Then we believe/doubt based on if he fits into box we make
  • The NT writers don’t have that approach
    • They start with assumption we don’t know what God is like
    • There are glimpses and stories (Ex 33 – God is…)
    • But its God’s back – It’s the place where God was
• But in Jesus we see God in a way like never before
  • Its like God starts to come into focus
    • And now we see God’s face… His voice… His personality
    • Jesus is God speaking in a language that we can understand
  • One of the most powerful thing about Jesus
    • He (just like disciples) constantly challenges my God box
    • And I pray he constantly challenges yours as well

B/C what we do… we download all these parameters of God into our box

• All these expectations on what God must be/not be
  • We all have a vision of God and what he is like
  • Problem: To some degree – We are all wrong – Some more or less
  • Majority hopefully is right… but everyone has parts we are off
• Where I’ve imported my culture/bias/misunderstanding/insecurities
  • And here’s how you know… Jesus starts to look too much like you
  • When Jesus just agrees with you on everything
  • You are no longer following Jesus… you’re following yourself
• What I love about Jesus – constantly challenging assumptions on God
  • Please here me… this is why being in the Bible is so important
    • Because Jesus isn’t just that warm fuzzy feeling
    • Jesus isn’t just the fact you got that job… or that date
  • Jesus was a real flesh/bone person who walked and lived
    • He had a personality… he had humor… he got tired
    • He was arrested & raised from the dead by God himself
    • BECAUSE Jesus is a real person
  • AND WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT HE IS LIKE!!!
    • It’s why we focus everyone (name) on Jesus
    • Its why we are in Mark for the next 5 years
    • Its why we do history… so you know Jesus was a real person

Otherwise Jesus becomes just a junk drawer of spirituality

• And Jesus can never be a drawer… because he is the door
  • A drawer is where you put stuff you don’t know what to do with
  • Or for stuff you don’t need right now
• A door on the other hand is what brings you to your future

Jn 10:77-9

I am the door of the sheep.

All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. (Pasture is where the shepherd was)

This morning… God is wanting to Pass you buy

I want to take a moment to like Moses sit in the cleft of the rock

• And allow God to speak to us who he is
  • Maybe you’ve been asking – And he heard you
  • And now… in this moment… is the answer you’ve been waiting for
• Music is going to play… we will sing… but not yet
  • And the only words you are going to hear are from God
  • And God speaks through words… impressions… images
• Someone here has asked… (speak prophetically)