WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.160 I'm glad to see you here this morning, worshiping with us as we continue in a series together on studying the identity really 00:00:07.160 --> 00:00:10.320 of Jesus through the book of Mark. 00:00:10.880 --> 00:00:18.300 This series for us, we're just taking the time in the first couple of weeks dive deep into the prologue of the explanation for 00:00:18.300 --> 00:00:19.880 the gospel of Mark. 00:00:20.420 --> 00:00:27.600 And then we're going to show why that prologue is so impactful in the understanding of what Mark represents to us and 00:00:27.600 --> 00:00:29.240 how it should transform our lives. 00:00:29.780 --> 00:00:35.170 In the beginning of this, we talk about the relationship this text has to the first century. 00:00:35.360 --> 00:00:39.860 And the way they would have received it so that we can make the application to our lives and why it matters. 00:00:40.280 --> 00:00:43.120 So we're going to talk about the information in this text for the purpose of transformation. 00:00:44.180 --> 00:00:49.800 And in that transformation answered the question why any of what we read today should matter. 00:00:51.300 --> 00:00:53.520 If you followed along for the first couple of weeks. 00:00:53.600 --> 00:00:56.900 I am glad you have an understanding of the basis of this text. 00:00:56.980 --> 00:01:03.980 If you haven't followed along and you want to be a part of this series, I'm going to tell you if you listen to any messages related to the book of Mark, the first two that we shared 00:01:03.980 --> 00:01:11.060 together sets the framework for understanding the context of Mark in the right state of mind and exactly 00:01:11.060 --> 00:01:16.730 what Jesus is expressing through his ministry on earth and what he desires to accomplish. 00:01:17.160 --> 00:01:19.980 And we saw this together in the very first verse. 00:01:20.620 --> 00:01:25.080 If you brought a Bible this morning, I want to invite you to open to that, to the passage in Mark. 00:01:25.180 --> 00:01:26.910 It's the second book in the New Testament. 00:01:27.160 --> 00:01:30.750 As we go through this explanation together on what's happening in this passage. 00:01:31.040 --> 00:01:37.820 The first few weeks, we were really slow into the first 15 verses of Mark just to gather the explanation of this passage. 00:01:38.060 --> 00:01:45.200 And we're going to slam down the gas a little bit and move a little faster today because I want us to look at the broad picture of what's being expressed in 00:01:45.200 --> 00:01:45.720 Mark now. 00:01:46.140 --> 00:01:52.240 As he went through the first 15 verses, he in a very pointed way explains the identity of Jesus, why he's come. 00:01:52.240 --> 00:01:58.560 And then he sorta hits the pedal to the metal and proving now what he's proclaimed in these first few verses. 00:01:58.960 --> 00:02:06.120 And he shares stories for us in this opening chapter into chapter two, these short stories of 00:02:06.120 --> 00:02:09.930 the interaction of what Jesus is doing in these moments. 00:02:10.139 --> 00:02:12.820 Because of the proclamation he makes in the first 15 verses. 00:02:14.140 --> 00:02:21.340 And if you've been here for the first couple of weeks when we read verse one, it should add such imagery to your mind that you really gathered the idea of what Mark 00:02:21.340 --> 00:02:23.330 is saying in this passage of scripture. 00:02:23.440 --> 00:02:26.640 The beginning of the gospel, the proclamation of a King in victory. 00:02:26.660 --> 00:02:29.020 That's what the gospel is of Jesus Christ. 00:02:29.100 --> 00:02:32.850 That name isn't just the name, it's a title Jesus, talking about salvation. 00:02:33.080 --> 00:02:35.540 Christ, talking about the anointed one, the King. 00:02:35.580 --> 00:02:39.360 So this is the proclamation, the victory of the saving King, the Son of God. 00:02:39.740 --> 00:02:42.510 And this phrase, "Son of God" was a borrowed term from Rome. 00:02:42.960 --> 00:02:45.340 They would refer to Caesar as the son of God. 00:02:45.440 --> 00:02:49.870 To refer to someone else as the son of God would have been considered treason in Roman society. 00:02:50.180 --> 00:02:53.840 And yet what Mark is doing in this passage is something that could have gotten his head cut off. 00:02:54.200 --> 00:02:56.740 But he's declaring the identity of who Jesus is. 00:02:57.140 --> 00:02:59.560 And also in all of this points to the deity of Christ. 00:03:00.220 --> 00:03:04.800 But what you're seeing is a message that is counterintuitive to the Roman society. 00:03:05.060 --> 00:03:10.460 And the proclamation, the representation of what Jesus represents in this world for us. 00:03:10.580 --> 00:03:15.360 Not just for the time that he walked the earth, but for all time, for all people. 00:03:15.360 --> 00:03:20.200 Jesus is this victorious saving King, the Son of God. 00:03:20.360 --> 00:03:24.370 Throughout the story of the first 15 verses, you see it demonstrated in the life of John the Baptist. 00:03:24.500 --> 00:03:25.890 We don't have time to go back through that again. 00:03:26.340 --> 00:03:32.360 And at the baptism of Jesus himself, as the Father gives the proclamation of who Christ is. 00:03:32.360 --> 00:03:39.460 And to do that both John the Baptist, in his statement in verse two and the Father, when Jesus is baptized 00:03:39.460 --> 00:03:46.500 in verse 11, both of them speak Old Testament passages in those moments so that the Jewish mind could grab ahold 00:03:46.500 --> 00:03:48.120 of the identity of who this person is. 00:03:48.140 --> 00:03:50.600 These passages weren't just pulled out of the dark. 00:03:50.620 --> 00:03:53.740 They were passages that meant something to Jewish tradition. 00:03:53.940 --> 00:03:57.440 To point to the identity of who Jesus is, so that we did not miss it. 00:03:58.460 --> 00:04:05.380 And when you see all of these verses, when you get down to verse 15 I would say this is a verse for us a highlight verse that we're going to sit on today. 00:04:05.440 --> 00:04:10.190 And a verse that we're going to explain through the stories that are shared throughout this passage. 00:04:10.760 --> 00:04:18.480 But in verse 15, if you've got one of the red letter Bibles, the Bibles that identify when Jesus is speaking, this is the first time Jesus audibly 00:04:18.480 --> 00:04:21.399 says anything in the gospel of Mark. 00:04:23.000 --> 00:04:27.220 And he says, "The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand. 00:04:27.420 --> 00:04:34.480 Repent and believe in the gospel." So the message of this King is the kingdom. 00:04:36.480 --> 00:04:41.560 And what exactly that means for us as people: repent and believe, He says. 00:04:42.160 --> 00:04:49.340 Which means turn from all the other kingdoms in life that you've trusted in and pursue this King and His kingdom. 00:04:50.460 --> 00:04:57.600 The idea of repentance is a changing, an inward change of the heart and the loyalty of what you have made idol of your life to 00:04:57.600 --> 00:04:59.080 look towards Jesus in worship. 00:05:00.720 --> 00:05:04.580 Put your belief or your trust in what this represents. 00:05:04.580 --> 00:05:11.580 And so what Mark does in the proclamation of Jesus as he gives us introduction, these first 15 verses, is then to go through story after 00:05:11.580 --> 00:05:15.420 story to quickly just explain how this kingdom makes itself known. 00:05:15.420 --> 00:05:22.540 And one of the things we pointed out at the end of last week, which I'm going to use as a springboard into this week, is the comment of what happened in 00:05:22.540 --> 00:05:24.920 Mary's life as Jesus was born. 00:05:25.980 --> 00:05:26.580 Jesus was born. 00:05:26.580 --> 00:05:29.740 They followed Jewish tradition, taking him to the temple in order to make sacrifice. 00:05:29.820 --> 00:05:33.890 While they are there, someone prophesies over Jesus, his name is Simeon. 00:05:34.220 --> 00:05:38.570 And he gives this outlandish statement to Mary at a time at the birth of Jesus when they should be celebrating. 00:05:39.140 --> 00:05:45.640 And he gives this sort of negative tone towards all of it and he says, "And a sword will pierce even your own soul," talking to Mary. 00:05:48.400 --> 00:05:49.330 And we asked the question why? 00:05:49.560 --> 00:05:50.320 Why would he do that? 00:05:54.480 --> 00:06:01.000 And I think the answer is because in our lives, when we face challenges in our world, the question that we want to ask is, God, where are you? 00:06:03.280 --> 00:06:03.740 God, do you care? 00:06:06.760 --> 00:06:14.120 Knowing that Jesus' life would result in the cross, Mary has a reminder from 00:06:14.120 --> 00:06:15.160 the Lord in her life. 00:06:16.820 --> 00:06:20.860 That even in the depth of that heartache and the pain in that moment, God's there. 00:06:23.880 --> 00:06:27.140 In fact, God is bigger than our pain. 00:06:29.780 --> 00:06:36.400 One of the exciting passages of the Bible to read when it talks about God's kingdom, I think is Romans 8. 00:06:37.660 --> 00:06:39.240 Especially if you read chapter seven. 00:06:40.900 --> 00:06:43.420 In chapter seven Paul says, "Oh wretched man that I am. 00:06:43.460 --> 00:06:50.500 Who will save me from this body of sin and death?" Paul talks about though he desires in spirit to live for 00:06:50.500 --> 00:06:53.120 the Lord, in the flesh he does not live it out. 00:06:53.780 --> 00:06:55.320 And so he wrestles with the old man. 00:06:56.840 --> 00:06:59.180 And then when you get to the end of the seven, don't ever stop at seven. 00:06:59.360 --> 00:07:00.140 Please read eight. 00:07:01.260 --> 00:07:08.910 But eight just gives such a beautiful picture of God's kingdom being bigger than our pain and being present in our pain. 00:07:08.920 --> 00:07:16.110 And it says in Romans 8:31, "What then shall we say to these things? 00:07:17.000 --> 00:07:18.660 If God is for us, who is against us. 00:07:19.980 --> 00:07:23.920 But in all of these things, we overwhelmingly conquer through him who loved us. 00:07:24.700 --> 00:07:32.220 For I'm convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other 00:07:32.220 --> 00:07:39.380 created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord." And that's the way Paul is saying whatever you think of 00:07:39.380 --> 00:07:45.180 in life that may be a hindrance to you in pursuing Jesus and his kingdom, God's kingdom is bigger than that. 00:07:46.400 --> 00:07:49.020 Nothing separates you. 00:07:51.400 --> 00:07:58.620 And so you see in the midst of Mary's pain and the acknowledgement of Romans that 00:07:58.620 --> 00:07:59.780 there is still adversity. 00:08:02.120 --> 00:08:02.900 God's kingdom is greater. 00:08:05.520 --> 00:08:08.400 He works all things together for good, it tells us in Romans. 00:08:09.820 --> 00:08:15.810 That no pain, no suffering, none of it will be lost in Jesus. 00:08:16.200 --> 00:08:18.000 That he reconciles all those things. 00:08:18.000 --> 00:08:20.440 And the demonstration to us ultimately is in the cross. 00:08:21.900 --> 00:08:29.240 That in the most horrendous form of torture that has existed, in the depth of the worst death 00:08:29.240 --> 00:08:35.780 that has ever been experienced, and to see Jesus on the cross in agony and separation from the Father. 00:08:37.039 --> 00:08:42.940 That in the midst of that, there is still victory because Jesus overcame the grave. 00:08:44.400 --> 00:08:48.160 And he takes the worst of moments in life and he triumphs over all of it. 00:08:48.160 --> 00:08:49.240 His kingdom is greater. 00:08:50.060 --> 00:08:53.880 In the midst of our pain and our struggles, his kingdom is greater. 00:08:55.940 --> 00:09:02.420 Kind of begs the question, then why doesn't Jesus bring the kingdom now if it's so good? 00:09:04.740 --> 00:09:10.070 At the end of Revelation 21, no more pain, no more suffering, no more tears. 00:09:11.600 --> 00:09:15.310 Why not bring that kingdom now in its fullness? 00:09:16.920 --> 00:09:21.920 I think the kingdom is present because of what Jesus has declared. 00:09:23.540 --> 00:09:28.840 But the fullness of that kingdom in eradicating all sin and suffering, why not bring the kingdom now? 00:09:32.500 --> 00:09:37.500 In the book of Luke, I'm going to get to Mark in just a second, but in the book of Luke, it records Jesus teaching in a synagogue. 00:09:39.020 --> 00:09:45.600 It was common to have rabbis from different locations when they would visit a synagogue to allow them to offer a teaching within the synagogue in that day. 00:09:47.020 --> 00:09:50.820 And Jesus goes in and he offers a teaching and they hand him the scrolls. 00:09:52.560 --> 00:09:54.140 He opens up and it's on the book of Isaiah. 00:09:56.180 --> 00:10:01.860 And then he says this in verse 17, "The book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him and he opened the book and found the place where it was written. 00:10:02.180 --> 00:10:06.460 The spirit of the Lord is upon me because he anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor. 00:10:07.420 --> 00:10:14.660 He sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind to set free those who are oppressed and the eyes of all the synagogue were 00:10:14.660 --> 00:10:16.760 fixed on him." And then listen to this. 00:10:17.620 --> 00:10:24.760 "He began to say to them, 'Today, the scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.'" Could you imagine 00:10:24.760 --> 00:10:25.390 the audacity? 00:10:29.360 --> 00:10:32.260 The audacity of someone to even utter words like that? 00:10:32.280 --> 00:10:37.420 That he is the one that represents those things found in that passage of Isaiah that he's quoting from? 00:10:37.460 --> 00:10:39.460 And by the way, it's Isaiah 61. 00:10:40.900 --> 00:10:46.740 But here's what's interesting, when Jesus quotes Isaiah 61 he quotes verses one and then he quotes the beginning of verse two. 00:10:47.720 --> 00:10:50.460 And then he stops in the middle of those verses. 00:10:52.540 --> 00:10:59.380 And what is to follow after this verses important because it's recognizing something else about what God is going to fulfill. 00:11:00.860 --> 00:11:08.460 But yet what Jesus is representing in these passages is that what he came to fulfill is found in Isaiah 61:1-2a, not 00:11:08.460 --> 00:11:09.500 the second half of verse two. 00:11:10.860 --> 00:11:12.780 Because the second half of verse two is coming later. 00:11:12.920 --> 00:11:20.400 And this is what it says, "And the day of vengeance of our God." We've 00:11:20.440 --> 00:11:24.060 talked about this, but the last book that's written in the Old Testament, is the book of Malakai. 00:11:24.960 --> 00:11:27.580 It was the last historical book written for the people of Israel. 00:11:28.300 --> 00:11:31.900 And the last two chapters of the book of Malakai talks about a forerunner who is to come. 00:11:32.800 --> 00:11:34.920 And that forerunner who was the common would be John the Baptist. 00:11:36.060 --> 00:11:41.020 And in chapter three it told us about John the Baptist coming to pave the way for the King and his kingdom. 00:11:41.200 --> 00:11:42.280 Make straight paths. 00:11:43.520 --> 00:11:48.270 But it also tells us in chapter four something else about this one who is to come, or what he is to come before. 00:11:49.500 --> 00:11:52.950 And it says, "Behold, I'm going to send to you Elijah," which was John the Baptist. 00:11:54.060 --> 00:12:01.200 "The prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord." And so what it's saying about us in the kingdom of God 00:12:01.200 --> 00:12:05.470 is that God, God does not love sin. 00:12:08.920 --> 00:12:09.780 And God is good. 00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:13.670 And in order to be good, God is just. 00:12:15.860 --> 00:12:20.380 Because no one in their right mind would ever look at someone who was in-just ever called them good. 00:12:21.760 --> 00:12:28.800 Within our culture, if a judge does not judge justly, doesn't uphold the laws, if he doesn't bring justice, those who've 00:12:28.800 --> 00:12:32.480 had wrongs brought against them, no one would ever look at that judge and say, you are good. 00:12:35.560 --> 00:12:36.660 With Jesus, the same is true. 00:12:39.040 --> 00:12:42.580 And what he's beginning to recognize and asking the question, why doesn't he bring the kingdom now? 00:12:44.240 --> 00:12:45.070 Well, the answer is simple. 00:12:47.000 --> 00:12:51.230 Because the God that we know is just, and he is good. 00:12:51.340 --> 00:12:54.240 And if he were to bring the kingdom now he would bring his justice with it. 00:12:57.280 --> 00:13:01.040 We also see about this God, is that he's gracious. 00:13:04.000 --> 00:13:10.860 In fact, the apostle Paul in the book of Acts 20:24, refer to the gospel as the gospel of grace. 00:13:13.700 --> 00:13:19.760 What Jesus represents to us at this time with his kingdom is a place of reconciliation to the King of which we do not belong. 00:13:21.940 --> 00:13:25.000 Because we're law breakers, kingdom violators. 00:13:26.320 --> 00:13:27.460 Opposed to God. 00:13:28.000 --> 00:13:29.180 In need of reconciliation. 00:13:31.560 --> 00:13:35.980 And so God tells us in Romans 2, his kindness leads us to repentance. 00:13:38.040 --> 00:13:43.920 That God, in 1 Peter 3, that he's long suffering to us, not willing that any should perish, but all come to repentance. 00:13:44.300 --> 00:13:49.400 And so the delay of his kingdom is a place for us to find us sitting upon his grace. 00:13:49.480 --> 00:13:52.980 The gospel of grace, the pronouncement of victory and the reconciliation to the King. 00:13:54.940 --> 00:14:02.340 The delay of his kingdom is for the benefit of us and finding ourselves connected to 00:14:02.340 --> 00:14:02.580 him. 00:14:04.920 --> 00:14:08.460 You think of the declaration that Jesus made in this passage in Luke. 00:14:09.820 --> 00:14:12.000 And what he said in the first 15 verses in Mark. 00:14:13.560 --> 00:14:17.570 There's not very many ways to label Jesus according to what I've seen together. 00:14:17.960 --> 00:14:20.910 Some people in this world call him a moral teacher. 00:14:21.420 --> 00:14:22.140 He's just a good teacher. 00:14:23.720 --> 00:14:29.080 But when you read the gospels, Jesus never gives us any room to ever put that label upon him. 00:14:30.740 --> 00:14:32.200 You've got three options. 00:14:32.200 --> 00:14:36.010 If you've read "More Than a Carpenter" or anything written by Lee Stroble as it relates to Jesus. 00:14:36.320 --> 00:14:38.980 Or even CS Lewis. 00:14:39.720 --> 00:14:45.400 All skeptics, all three of those guys, skeptics that came to study about Jesus and learn about Jesus. 00:14:45.420 --> 00:14:48.360 And they say this, there are only three options when it comes to Jesus. 00:14:49.740 --> 00:14:56.780 He's either nuts, he's a liar, or 00:14:56.780 --> 00:14:57.200 he's Lord. 00:14:59.600 --> 00:15:00.960 There's no other way around it. 00:15:03.160 --> 00:15:10.360 The first 15 verses of Mark provides such an incredible punch of his identity. 00:15:12.120 --> 00:15:19.260 That it only gives you one of those places to choose as it relates to who He is and presenting Him as King in a kingdom. 00:15:21.900 --> 00:15:25.090 You look at these passages and He has said to us, He's Lord of the kingdom. 00:15:25.160 --> 00:15:27.020 And at the same time he is the suffering servant. 00:15:27.400 --> 00:15:28.700 He is the saving King. 00:15:28.700 --> 00:15:31.690 And he tells us to make paths straight for his kingdom. 00:15:33.340 --> 00:15:39.450 Even during Jesus's time, when Jesus went around and he pronounced this in the book of Mark 3, this is what people said about him. 00:15:39.540 --> 00:15:47.080 When his own people in his own hometown heard of this, they went out to take custody of him for they were saying he has lost his senses. 00:15:48.300 --> 00:15:49.740 The man is out of his mind. 00:15:50.940 --> 00:15:54.660 In fact, in verse 31 even tells us his family tries to go grab him. 00:15:55.240 --> 00:15:57.020 Like Jesus, your mom and your brothers are here. 00:15:58.040 --> 00:15:59.480 I'll tell you who my mom and brothers are. 00:15:59.540 --> 00:16:00.120 That's what Jesus says. 00:16:02.300 --> 00:16:04.630 He is either Lord or he is nuts. 00:16:06.440 --> 00:16:13.840 And what Mark does within this opening chapter is just a way of peppering for us the various stories that one 00:16:13.840 --> 00:16:18.680 give us an invitation to the kingdom and to give us the demonstration of this kingdom. 00:16:20.660 --> 00:16:23.740 I'm going to just show us some highlight verses of this passage. 00:16:23.740 --> 00:16:28.500 I just want to look at just each story, just a couple of verses, and each story up into to chapter two. 00:16:29.800 --> 00:16:33.820 But in verse 16, everyone that has a kingdom has to have people within the kingdom, right? 00:16:35.620 --> 00:16:42.620 And it tells us in verse 16 right after verse 15 where Jesus pronounced the kingdom and its arrival, the first words he speaks, he 00:16:42.620 --> 00:16:49.700 then says, as he's going along by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew (Simon being Peter), the brother of Simon, casting a 00:16:49.700 --> 00:16:56.920 net in the sea for there were fishermen, and Jesus said to them, follow me and I will make you become fishers 00:16:56.920 --> 00:16:57.520 of men. 00:16:59.120 --> 00:17:05.060 One of the thing I love about Jesus when you read his interaction with people is how he met them where they were. 00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:10.720 When he's talking to fishermen, he uses fishing illustrations. 00:17:12.319 --> 00:17:16.619 When he's talking to farmers, he uses farming illustrations. 00:17:18.119 --> 00:17:25.200 He meets people culturally where they are and the things that they are used to and calls them to 00:17:25.200 --> 00:17:26.940 something greater in Him. 00:17:29.200 --> 00:17:36.620 And when you think about the fisherman, somebody has estimated that probably out of the 12 disciples, Jesus had seven of them, most 00:17:36.620 --> 00:17:38.880 likely worked the trade as fishermen. 00:17:40.660 --> 00:17:44.840 Jesus doesn't pursue the high and mighty of society. 00:17:46.620 --> 00:17:49.180 He pursues the regular blue collar worker. 00:17:50.680 --> 00:17:57.720 And you think of what it would take to demonstrate this kingdom and live out this kingdom in the struggles that this crowd would have to go 00:17:57.720 --> 00:18:02.080 against in following after Jesus because the mainstream society would reject him. 00:18:03.760 --> 00:18:05.000 The difficulty they would face. 00:18:05.020 --> 00:18:12.300 It makes so much sense that Jesus would choose fishermen, used to difficulty in life and the struggle of 00:18:12.300 --> 00:18:13.560 working day in and day out. 00:18:13.620 --> 00:18:20.900 They would be perfect for pursuing lost souls and having courage and the ability to work together and patience and energy and stamina and 00:18:20.900 --> 00:18:26.140 faith and the tenacity to pursue after the Lord, even when it got difficult. 00:18:28.640 --> 00:18:32.500 Fishermen were the type of people that could not afford to be quitters or complainer's. 00:18:35.540 --> 00:18:41.040 But if they pursued him to do it with all of their heart. 00:18:42.800 --> 00:18:45.460 And so Jesus is giving both in this kingdom. 00:18:45.480 --> 00:18:51.020 The invitation and the demonstration of everything He's represented. 00:18:51.020 --> 00:18:57.780 And then it tells us going further in the story, that Jesus then goes into a synagogue and he continues to call people. 00:18:57.780 --> 00:19:02.480 But at the same time, while he's calling people, he demonstrates the power of this kingdom. 00:19:02.500 --> 00:19:03.620 And it says in verse 23. 00:19:05.080 --> 00:19:09.640 But then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit and he cried out. 00:19:11.820 --> 00:19:15.980 Jesus, in verse 25, rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet and come out of him talking," about the demon in him. 00:19:17.480 --> 00:19:23.540 Verse 27, they were all amazed and he commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him. 00:19:25.880 --> 00:19:28.260 It's about what authority are you representing this kingdom. 00:19:28.300 --> 00:19:34.170 And Jesus is demonstrating that he pushes back the darkness, that he has power even over the spiritual realm. 00:19:36.180 --> 00:19:39.680 I don't want to freak us out this morning, but you think about this. 00:19:41.400 --> 00:19:44.210 Actually I do want to freak us out a bit. 00:19:44.440 --> 00:19:49.780 Verse 23, I wonder how many times this guy had been worshiping in this synagogue. 00:19:53.140 --> 00:19:53.880 Regular attender? 00:19:57.220 --> 00:20:03.170 It wasn't until he was presented with the truth that the spirit within him fought against it. 00:20:05.660 --> 00:20:11.540 Just a regular guy indifferent, participating in worship. 00:20:12.220 --> 00:20:17.900 I don't want to make you skeptical about the person sitting beside you, but you think about it. 00:20:17.960 --> 00:20:22.740 This guy was probably just a regular part of the synagogue life just being there. 00:20:22.760 --> 00:20:27.180 And it wasn't until Jesus walks into the room that they realize, Oh man, this guy is possessed. 00:20:29.980 --> 00:20:36.980 And Jesus demonstrating his kingdom, commands even the 00:20:36.980 --> 00:20:38.200 spirits. 00:20:38.260 --> 00:20:43.580 And it tells us in the story that he tells the spirit within this individual to be quiet. 00:20:46.960 --> 00:20:53.700 When Jesus does his ministry in the opening chapters, you're going to see that Jesus often remarks with people, "Don't share this. 00:20:53.920 --> 00:20:58.450 Don't go around and proclaim this." He tells the demons a few times not to do this. 00:20:59.760 --> 00:21:01.100 Why? 00:21:03.720 --> 00:21:05.030 Why did Jesus want to remain hidden? 00:21:07.660 --> 00:21:11.520 I know he didn't need Satan and his army to declare who he was, for sure. 00:21:13.560 --> 00:21:20.020 But I think the reason that Jesus wanted people to remain silent when he performed some of these works, or he made that request to them. 00:21:20.040 --> 00:21:26.060 One, the Jews had a misconception of what it came to Jesus and what he would represent in this world. 00:21:26.060 --> 00:21:32.760 I told you this last week, but they attributed the name Jesus Christ, Christ being the Messiah, to Jesus. 00:21:32.800 --> 00:21:35.620 But Jesus never assumed the title of Messiah on himself. 00:21:37.280 --> 00:21:41.480 He allowed the people to pronounce that he was the Messiah, but he never assumed that title. 00:21:42.600 --> 00:21:48.440 And the reason is because when people associated the word Messiah to an individual, they also assume the kingdom of God. 00:21:48.440 --> 00:21:51.640 And with the kingdom of God, they assume with that political revolution. 00:21:53.860 --> 00:21:56.460 And Jesus told them His kingdom was not of this world. 00:21:57.660 --> 00:22:03.540 And so when you have this misconception of the Messiah coming, it prepared the people to ready themselves for battle. 00:22:05.060 --> 00:22:07.760 This political revolution was about to take place. 00:22:07.780 --> 00:22:10.880 One that would overthrow Rome and allow the Jewish people to rule and the reign. 00:22:13.140 --> 00:22:20.140 The second is this, I think that Jesus wanted to stifle the misconception of him, is because the crowds began to follow him. 00:22:20.160 --> 00:22:26.840 You see this as the story unfolds, that more and more gather around Jesus, and in verse 45 it specifically talks about this. 00:22:26.840 --> 00:22:29.000 But more and more people gather around Jesus. 00:22:29.720 --> 00:22:33.540 And it continues to refer to them as crowds, but never disciples. 00:22:36.080 --> 00:22:38.800 They saw the healing work of Jesus as the end. 00:22:40.300 --> 00:22:43.300 But Jesus only did the healing work as a means to the end. 00:22:45.320 --> 00:22:49.500 Jesus's ultimate purpose in his healing was simply to validate the message. 00:22:49.500 --> 00:22:50.750 It wasn't about the healing itself. 00:22:52.040 --> 00:22:56.620 It was a validation of the message that he represented of the kingdom and the reconciliation to the King. 00:22:58.500 --> 00:23:03.120 And so Jesus didn't want loads of people just pursuing him just because it was a circus show. 00:23:05.340 --> 00:23:06.100 Because he was Lord. 00:23:08.920 --> 00:23:15.220 And I think last, the Romans would think that Jesus was there to lead an insurrection. 00:23:16.880 --> 00:23:22.810 When they'd hear the pronouncement from the Jews who tried to continue to follow messiahs, people that would try to claim this title. 00:23:24.280 --> 00:23:25.440 And Rome will have to come in and stifle. 00:23:27.400 --> 00:23:31.940 That Jesus was just another Jew trying to lead another insurrection against the Roman people. 00:23:33.540 --> 00:23:38.910 And so Jesus wanted time to walk among His people and to teach His people, but not to just create a crowd. 00:23:38.980 --> 00:23:41.360 But to create followers after Him and His kingdom. 00:23:45.000 --> 00:23:50.650 Then it tells us in verse 34 it tells us he healed Peter's mother. 00:23:51.460 --> 00:23:57.910 He healed many who were ill with various diseases and he continued to cast out many demons. 00:23:59.760 --> 00:24:05.370 And he was not permitting the demons to speak, because they knew who he was. 00:24:07.500 --> 00:24:14.520 Jesus is showing within this passage that it's not just over the spiritual world that he has power, but he 00:24:14.520 --> 00:24:16.600 has power over the physical world. 00:24:19.260 --> 00:24:20.330 The healing of sickness. 00:24:23.080 --> 00:24:29.960 And then in verse 35 and the demonstration of his kingdom. 00:24:29.960 --> 00:24:32.980 It tells us that Jesus also lived in relationship to the Father. 00:24:35.480 --> 00:24:43.420 His kingdom is not just representing this power of the spiritual world and the physical world, but 00:24:43.420 --> 00:24:44.400 He communes in relationship. 00:24:47.360 --> 00:24:50.440 And this is what he's calling us to in relationship. 00:24:53.260 --> 00:24:55.220 To repent, be reconciled to God. 00:24:57.880 --> 00:25:02.940 The reason the kingdom in its fullness is not here is the long suffering patience of God. 00:25:05.240 --> 00:25:11.860 And Jesus is then demonstrating this relationship, verse 35, while hordes of people follow him. 00:25:13.080 --> 00:25:16.260 He finds the time to enjoy the relationship that he has with the Father. 00:25:16.410 --> 00:25:23.340 In the early morning while it was still dark, Jesus got up and left the house and went away to a secluded place and was praying there. 00:25:26.540 --> 00:25:31.740 The disciples think they're going to continue all of the people that have now gathered because of what Jesus is doing. 00:25:31.760 --> 00:25:36.900 They're seeing this healing ministry is so attractional and it's what they're there for. 00:25:36.920 --> 00:25:44.840 And Jesus says this in verse 38, he said to them, "Let us go somewhere else today to other towns nearby, so 00:25:44.840 --> 00:25:46.040 I might preach there also. 00:25:47.700 --> 00:25:48.600 For that's what I came for". 00:25:52.100 --> 00:25:54.600 It's a demonstration of the kingdom isn't the end of itself. 00:25:56.940 --> 00:25:59.000 But simply the calling to something greater. 00:26:02.200 --> 00:26:03.080 I'm going there. 00:26:04.660 --> 00:26:06.380 It gives us just a few more stories. 00:26:06.480 --> 00:26:14.180 I want to highlight this one and one other, but it says this, "And the leper came to Jesus beseeching 00:26:14.180 --> 00:26:21.180 him and falling on his knees before him and saying, 'If you are willing, you 00:26:21.180 --> 00:26:28.960 can make me clean.'" This is the story that kind of gets you, at 00:26:28.980 --> 00:26:33.940 least that comment of, "willing." As it relates to Jesus in his kingdom. 00:26:38.540 --> 00:26:40.980 The leper is not doubting that Jesus is able. 00:26:45.320 --> 00:26:46.380 The statement is, are you willing. 00:26:49.240 --> 00:26:56.390 If you study society during the time of the leper, what his life would have consisted of, it would have been isolated. 00:26:59.720 --> 00:27:00.690 He would've been a lonely individual. 00:27:03.140 --> 00:27:10.260 Anytime he walked around the crowd, even in this moment when he's walking around the crowd, the expectation and the law the time as he walked and moved through the crowd, he 00:27:10.260 --> 00:27:12.500 would have to consistently yell, "Unclean. 00:27:12.560 --> 00:27:15.260 I'm unclean," so the crowds around him could move away. 00:27:18.240 --> 00:27:18.830 He was distant. 00:27:20.960 --> 00:27:21.460 Lonely. 00:27:24.520 --> 00:27:26.760 Used to people being indifferent to him at best. 00:27:28.620 --> 00:27:35.880 And looking at Jesus and probably placing upon Jesus, emulating upon Jesus, the expectation 00:27:35.880 --> 00:27:38.260 of the same treatment that he's always received from everyone else. 00:27:41.020 --> 00:27:43.660 It's not if you're able to take care of me. 00:27:44.960 --> 00:27:45.980 But if you're willing. 00:27:49.080 --> 00:27:50.580 This question is a question of love. 00:27:53.340 --> 00:27:54.400 Lord, how low would you go? 00:27:56.880 --> 00:27:59.220 How much are you willing to serve as a suffering King? 00:28:01.400 --> 00:28:02.800 Is it at the depth of where I am? 00:28:05.180 --> 00:28:06.020 Can you meet me here? 00:28:09.060 --> 00:28:11.240 As King, does your love go that deep? 00:28:13.440 --> 00:28:14.200 You ever been there? 00:28:17.580 --> 00:28:18.310 To the end of your rope. 00:28:21.820 --> 00:28:26.840 I was reading an author the other day talking about the gospels and interacting with Jesus. 00:28:26.880 --> 00:28:34.360 And he just said this, after reading all the gospels this is one thing I know about Jesus is that he's never wanted to ever turn 00:28:34.360 --> 00:28:42.380 away from the prayer of, "Lord help." If there's ever one prayer Christ 00:28:42.380 --> 00:28:50.240 always answers, "Lord help." So 00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:55.320 you see the magnitude of the kingdom, both in the physical and the spiritual realm. 00:28:57.620 --> 00:29:00.660 But in this act, you also see the demonstration of the kingdom. 00:29:01.780 --> 00:29:08.360 At the level that it's willing to go to serve all people that recognize their need in him. 00:29:10.380 --> 00:29:11.720 God, are you willing? 00:29:13.720 --> 00:29:15.560 And as if to say not by word, but by action. 00:29:17.040 --> 00:29:18.180 That's what I'm here for. 00:29:20.380 --> 00:29:23.220 And in verse 45, but the leper went out and began to proclaim. 00:29:23.480 --> 00:29:28.120 Jesus asked him not to proclaim for the reasons we talked about already, but he went out to proclaim anyway. 00:29:28.600 --> 00:29:29.600 He proclaimed it freely. 00:29:29.600 --> 00:29:35.020 And to spread the news already to such an extent that Jesus could no longer publicly enter a city. 00:29:35.060 --> 00:29:37.670 But stayed out in unpopulated areas. 00:29:37.720 --> 00:29:39.820 And they were coming to him from everywhere. 00:29:45.620 --> 00:29:46.260 And then you have this story. 00:29:49.060 --> 00:29:53.950 So the first chapter, you see these peppering of stories, these short stories, just to illustrate. 00:29:54.500 --> 00:29:59.560 Verse 15 the proclamation of the kingdom by demonstration and by invitation. 00:30:00.820 --> 00:30:06.200 And then from this point on, the stories somewhat tend to get a little bit longer in Jesus interacts with people. 00:30:06.200 --> 00:30:09.630 Sometimes they are short, but other times they spell it just a little bit longer. 00:30:09.680 --> 00:30:14.960 And this is one of those stories, because there is a shift here in what takes place. 00:30:16.080 --> 00:30:18.440 Because now Jesus is going throughout and he's demonstrated this. 00:30:18.780 --> 00:30:24.680 And I would say if you compared this to other gospels where we're at, and the story of Mark is somewhere in John 4. 00:30:24.740 --> 00:30:31.050 So this is not necessarily following things immediately as they happen, but this is kind of spreading out over time in Jesus's ministry. 00:30:32.020 --> 00:30:37.000 And in Mark 2, it becomes the place where the religious leaders take a stand over Jesus. 00:30:38.780 --> 00:30:41.960 And part of the reason they take a stand is because of what Jesus does here. 00:30:42.300 --> 00:30:49.480 And what he's doing here is blasphemous in their eyes, but it's a demonstration of the greater purpose for what Christ came 00:30:49.480 --> 00:30:49.760 for. 00:30:53.440 --> 00:30:54.810 The healing isn't the end in itself. 00:30:57.940 --> 00:30:59.640 But the demonstration to the greater calling. 00:31:02.240 --> 00:31:09.280 And when you read in chapter two, what you see is this paralytic man being carried by 00:31:09.280 --> 00:31:14.820 four of his friends and Jesus in a home teaching and it's so crowded that they can't get this man near Jesus. 00:31:15.160 --> 00:31:16.180 So they get him on the roof. 00:31:16.240 --> 00:31:22.720 I have no idea how that happens, but they get him up on this roof and they dig a hole in the roof and they lower him down to Jesus. 00:31:26.900 --> 00:31:34.540 Jesus heals, and the religious leaders are angered by 00:31:34.540 --> 00:31:35.040 what about Jesus does. 00:31:38.240 --> 00:31:43.720 But Jesus says this, Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic son. 00:31:45.160 --> 00:31:52.300 Before He heals him, He makes this statement, "Son, your sins are forgiven." Some of the scribes 00:31:53.240 --> 00:31:54.920 were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts. 00:31:55.820 --> 00:31:58.220 Why does this man speak this way (talking about Jesus)? 00:31:58.880 --> 00:31:59.470 He is blaspheming. 00:32:00.100 --> 00:32:03.200 Who can forgive sins but God alone? 00:32:04.320 --> 00:32:11.420 And then it tells us in verse 8. 00:32:11.580 --> 00:32:16.200 And Jesus says to this group, "Why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts? 00:32:16.400 --> 00:32:19.340 Which is easier to say to the paralytic, your sins are forgiven? 00:32:20.060 --> 00:32:22.680 Or to say get up and pick up your pallet and walk? 00:32:23.660 --> 00:32:30.860 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins, He said to the paralytic, I say to you, get up, pick 00:32:30.860 --> 00:32:37.380 up your pallet and go home." So Jesus is saying, just so you know, I had the ability to forgive sins. 00:32:39.220 --> 00:32:44.080 I'm going to demonstrate it to you by giving this man also the ability to get up and take his pallet and go home. 00:32:44.400 --> 00:32:52.420 When I was in college, I had a professor who was training for the Olympics to be a pole vaulter, happened to get in a wreck and 00:32:52.420 --> 00:32:54.580 he flipped over in a Jeep and he's paralyzed. 00:32:56.600 --> 00:33:02.820 But he's still managed to pursue the Lord in his life and became a college professor. 00:33:04.560 --> 00:33:06.740 And he taught us through the gospels in school. 00:33:08.000 --> 00:33:09.200 And he'd always stop here at this part. 00:33:13.080 --> 00:33:14.960 He wanted us to point to the greater point of the kingdom. 00:33:16.420 --> 00:33:22.300 And he'd always tell us this, when he first got injured, he would go to different things around the world where there would be people that claim to be faith healers. 00:33:22.460 --> 00:33:29.460 And for the first part of his Christian life, he came to be a believer when he was injured, he said he would try and get to the front of these places where these people came to heal him and they 00:33:29.460 --> 00:33:31.520 would, quickly usher him away. 00:33:33.440 --> 00:33:40.640 And he said, one of the things that he found interesting, while he would drive around is that at the same time, there was also a young girl 00:33:40.640 --> 00:33:41.920 that was doing the same thing. 00:33:44.220 --> 00:33:46.220 And they were found themselves going around together. 00:33:46.220 --> 00:33:48.000 And it was this little girl, just two years old. 00:33:50.220 --> 00:33:53.520 And she was burned all over her body from a fire. 00:33:53.840 --> 00:33:57.210 And her parents wanted her to experience healing. 00:33:57.540 --> 00:33:59.360 She had suffered some physical ailments from this. 00:34:00.600 --> 00:34:04.260 And he said he would always try to get to the front of these places and they would never let him up front. 00:34:04.620 --> 00:34:06.440 They would always usher them away and the same thing with this girl. 00:34:06.440 --> 00:34:10.179 And finally one day he said, forget this, I'm not doing this anymore. 00:34:10.380 --> 00:34:18.659 And he said, one of the things that helped him reason through this is that he looked at this young lady, this little girl every time trying to get to the front, and 00:34:18.659 --> 00:34:20.380 he just dawned on him, you know what? 00:34:21.800 --> 00:34:23.440 There's nothing wrong with her. 00:34:25.699 --> 00:34:32.639 The only thing wrong in this moment are the people that continue to try to shove this girl up to this room where these people claim that they can heal. 00:34:34.719 --> 00:34:36.020 Jesus loves her where she is. 00:34:39.860 --> 00:34:41.560 Jesus loves me where I am. 00:34:48.100 --> 00:34:48.880 His kingdom is greater. 00:34:52.679 --> 00:34:54.679 His kingdom goes beyond our pain. 00:34:57.420 --> 00:34:59.480 It meets us where we are. 00:35:02.340 --> 00:35:09.880 In this moment Jesus demonstrated that through physical healing of this individual, but what Jesus is trying to point to is something greater. 00:35:12.940 --> 00:35:13.900 There's something greater. 00:35:13.900 --> 00:35:17.600 And the Pharisees are expressing it, or the scribes are expressing in their comment. 00:35:19.580 --> 00:35:23.290 When they acknowledged that, Jesus, how in the world can you forgive sins? 00:35:24.080 --> 00:35:25.520 And this is the way it works in our lives. 00:35:27.180 --> 00:35:33.980 When someone wrongs you, I can attempt to forgive them all day long. 00:35:34.740 --> 00:35:37.100 But that's never going to reconcile that relationship. 00:35:39.020 --> 00:35:43.740 The one who has to forgive to reconcile the relationship is the one who's been wronged against. 00:35:46.000 --> 00:35:52.580 And when it comes to God, the Bible tells us that we're contrary to that kingdom. 00:35:53.940 --> 00:35:55.340 We've offended the King. 00:35:56.620 --> 00:36:03.640 And so by Jesus offering the forgiveness to God and reconciliation, what he's also demonstrating is his deity. 00:36:04.980 --> 00:36:13.200 Because the only one that can ever forgive you for coming against God and sinning against God, is 00:36:13.200 --> 00:36:13.600 God. 00:36:17.440 --> 00:36:24.760 And what Jesus is declaring in this statement, in the culmination of these stories 00:36:24.760 --> 00:36:30.540 as they are demonstrating, is that the greater message in all of this isn't the act of healing itself. 00:36:33.120 --> 00:36:38.340 But the reconciliation we receive, to our King. 00:36:42.400 --> 00:36:44.520 You see what Jesus is doing in the story. 00:36:47.040 --> 00:36:49.100 Jesus is making a proclamation of the kingdom. 00:36:49.100 --> 00:36:51.820 He's a liar, he's lunatic or he's Lord. 00:36:53.340 --> 00:36:57.050 And he's given the invitation to us to participate. 00:36:59.460 --> 00:37:02.780 It's not about being a spectator, but a participator. 00:37:03.200 --> 00:37:06.020 He meets people where they are and he invites them in. 00:37:06.040 --> 00:37:13.200 He meets the crippled and sick and hurting and broken to the point of the leper asking the question, "God, how deep does your kingdom go?" 00:37:15.000 --> 00:37:18.800 He goes to the disciples and he calls them and he lives life with them. 00:37:22.240 --> 00:37:24.660 Jesus and His kingdom calls us to his people. 00:37:28.040 --> 00:37:30.530 Jesus is after people. 00:37:32.280 --> 00:37:37.380 If there's anything we want to be known about at ABC, it's our love for people. 00:37:39.640 --> 00:37:42.340 As demonstrated by the example of Jesus. 00:37:44.400 --> 00:37:46.400 It doesn't call us to carry out programs. 00:37:46.700 --> 00:37:48.400 Jesus didn't create programs. 00:37:50.660 --> 00:37:57.920 Rather, there's nothing against programs, but the whole purpose of anything that we ever do as a church, the driving force behind all of that is the heart 00:37:57.920 --> 00:37:58.820 of the individual. 00:38:03.200 --> 00:38:05.080 What we want to be known about as a church. 00:38:06.840 --> 00:38:10.060 It's the way we meet people where they are as Jesus has demonstrated. 00:38:10.220 --> 00:38:14.460 And love them as Jesus loves them and calls them as Jesus would call them to him. 00:38:17.260 --> 00:38:21.590 Because God calls us be a part of His kingdom. 00:38:23.660 --> 00:38:25.110 To live out this kingdom on mission. 00:38:26.580 --> 00:38:28.740 This kingdom that's always moving forward in Jesus. 00:38:28.740 --> 00:38:32.020 This kingdom that's piercing the darkness, always reaching people. 00:38:34.520 --> 00:38:35.200 Always on mission. 00:38:38.120 --> 00:38:41.260 Seeing it demonstrated in Christ who was full of compassion and care. 00:38:43.000 --> 00:38:50.240 God showing His care to all of those that He interacts with, calling us as people representing His kingdom to care for those. 00:38:50.240 --> 00:38:51.780 To say, what about your neighbor? 00:38:51.780 --> 00:38:52.520 What about your friend? 00:38:52.600 --> 00:38:53.390 What about your spouse? 00:38:53.580 --> 00:38:54.940 What about the people next to you? 00:38:55.100 --> 00:38:58.120 That the pursuit of his kingdom is the reconciliation to the King. 00:39:01.600 --> 00:39:09.030 To recognize that all of the things we face are more than conquerors, 00:39:10.860 --> 00:39:11.580 as Roman says. 00:39:14.060 --> 00:39:17.560 It's why in hardship we do not give up. 00:39:19.800 --> 00:39:21.590 This kingdom is bigger than our problems. 00:39:22.080 --> 00:39:23.650 It's bigger than our pain. 00:39:23.660 --> 00:39:30.700 And when you look at the demonstration of this kingdom in the first couple of chapters, there are such close parallels to where we are as 00:39:30.700 --> 00:39:31.160 people. 00:39:33.960 --> 00:39:37.880 Jesus in a place where people are religiously indifferent to him. 00:39:39.500 --> 00:39:44.280 And he's just working with just a small group of people that follow him and are reaching to him. 00:39:47.120 --> 00:39:50.920 Sharing this kingdom so that it would become contagious in the lives of those around. 00:39:53.720 --> 00:39:54.660 Now think about where you are. 00:39:57.920 --> 00:39:59.390 How God can use you in this world. 00:40:02.340 --> 00:40:08.820 The effect that God can have on you and through you when he uses you. 00:40:11.580 --> 00:40:15.520 That we as a people may be small. 00:40:17.700 --> 00:40:19.220 We're people that just love him. 00:40:20.620 --> 00:40:21.520 Want to know him. 00:40:23.040 --> 00:40:23.880 Spend time with him. 00:40:25.820 --> 00:40:31.020 And just share the glory of who he is with those around us. 00:40:33.640 --> 00:40:37.340 I hope you see this morning just the extent of that kingdom as it's demonstrated. 00:40:39.820 --> 00:40:43.600 Spiritually conquered, which is why Jesus gives us life in the hereafter. 00:40:45.540 --> 00:40:47.700 Physically conquered in Him. 00:40:47.940 --> 00:40:50.020 Ultimately all things being restored under Christ. 00:40:51.880 --> 00:40:55.160 To the depth that it goes and being able to love all people. 00:40:55.160 --> 00:41:00.980 And the reason behind all of it, it's because of the forgiveness that He can offer them. 00:41:03.020 --> 00:41:06.690 No one can forgive you the sins you brought against God, unless it be God alone. 00:41:08.360 --> 00:41:15.480 And Jesus in His kingdom in all things, what he brings to us is the reconciliation toward Him that we could 00:41:15.480 --> 00:41:17.320 live life in His kingdom forever. 00:41:19.780 --> 00:41:23.140 Both the demonstration and the invitation. 00:41:24.920 --> 00:41:25.900 Jesus leaves no room. 00:41:27.380 --> 00:41:30.150 He's either crazy or he's Lord. 00:41:31.460 --> 00:41:33.330 But that invitation rests on all of our lives. 00:41:34.780 --> 00:41:35.500 What are you going to do with it?