Sermon Tone Analysis

*“A Price to Pay”*

*Mark 10.32-52*

Last week, we saw the great difficulty of entering the Kingdom of God.

Jesus and the disciples encountered a man who thought he needed to add “finishing touches” to his eternal life.

When confronted with the Law of God, the man did not come to grips with his sin and went away sorrowful.

Jesus seized the opportunity to explain to his followers what is required to be a true disciple.

In this case it involved a relinquishing of worldly wealth for the sake of Jesus and the gospel.

He spoke of sacrifice and persecution that are involved in following after him.

At the beginning of chapter 10, Jesus and the disciples have begun their journey south to Jerusalem where he will complete his mission.

I find it interesting that people misunderstand and misrepresent the mission of Jesus.

Often times what is emphasized is the miraculous healings, demon exorcisms, or the ethical teachings or social justice of Jesus’ ministry.

These are important to understand.

Jesus did perform miracles and expel demons in order to authenticate himself as the Son of God.

And Jesus did act as an advocate for the oppressed and the outcast.

But make no mistake, Jesus came with a cross always in view.

And we will see this included in our text this morning.

Jesus seems more resolute now than ever as our text indicates.

Let’s read as we get underway.

*READ.*

*            *If you’re reading from the ESV, you notice that the first section heading is “Jesus Foretells His Death a Third Time.”

And this implies that there was a “first” and “second” telling.

You remember in Mark 8.31 that Mark records, “31 And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again.”

After this, Peter rebukes Jesus and receives a harsh rebuking himself from Jesus.

And in Mark 9.31-32, “31 for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him.

And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.”

32 But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.”

As a result, our first point this morning is *“Mission Incomprehensible.”

*As we will see once again that, for the disciples, the message does not register.

Verse 32 tells us that they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem.

And if you are familiar with the layout of the land, you already know we are going south.

And you may wonder why they go “up” to Jerusalem.

I think this is best understood as an elevation issue.

Jerusalem is situated on a plateau above the roadway.

And so this description is used frequently regarding a journey to this city.

And yet this is the first time that Jerusalem is mentioned as the destination.

And Jesus is resolute.

The beginning of the gospel is characterized by Jesus’ silencing people about his identity and mission because there was more work to do in training his disciples and such.

But this is the case no longer.

Jesus has been teaching his disciples more intensely since his first announcement of his death.

In fact, I believe the language that Mark uses here communicates this sense of urgency and resolution.

He indicates that Jesus was walking ahead of them.

Jesus does not normally do this.

He is usually walking side by side, talking, instructing the disciples.

Here he seems to press on with a quick pace.

And I think that this is why Mark indicates that the disciples were amazed and the others were afraid.

This was something different and the people were getting a little concerned.

The text doesn’t suggest this.

But perhaps the disciples questioned him on this increased pace.

Jesus pulls the disciples aside and he reminds them of what was to happen to him.

“Listen up.

See.

Behold.

We are going up to Jerusalem and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes.”

Jesus, the Son of Man, */will be delivered/*.

Do you know what those three words indicate to me?

This is all part of God’s divine and sovereign plan.

You see, this is what scholars refer to as a “divine passive.”

This is a passive verb with an implied subject.

And God is the subject.

Jesus has said that he has come to do the will of his Father.

God, the Father, has sent Jesus to us as a baby so that he would one day die on a tree to pay the debt for sins.

The “divine passive” indicates that all is going according to plan.

And there is certainty in the words of Jesus.

He goes on.

Jesus will be handed over to the Jewish leaders who will in turn hand him over to the Gentiles – the Roman authorities.

And they will mock the Son of God and they will spit on Jesus, flog him and kill Jesus the king.

Oh, and did I mention?

He will rise from the dead!

For Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life!

And then James and John say, “Oh.

I get it!

So you are going to suffer and die.

And if we are to emulate you, we can expect the same.”

NO!

They begin to ask Jesus if they can have places of prominence when Jesus establishes his kingdom!

They still think that he is going to Jerusalem as Messiah in order to take the throne.

If this wasn’t written down in the Scriptures, I wouldn’t believe it!

But truly.

This shouldn’t be all that surprising.

Tell me if you haven’t had an experience like this.

As clearly as you can, you articulate the same message.

Some of you may even go back to Creation.

God created the world perfectly.

In fact, he made man and woman and they too were perfect and sinless.

But it didn’t last long.

They rebelled against God and sin came into the world.

But this didn’t surprise God because he had a plan in place.

He would insert a temporary provision for sins by sacrificing spotless animals for forgiveness.

Then the people would understand when another spotless Lamb, the Perfect One would come and pay the price for all sins on the cross.

This way God can remain perfectly holy and just and yet save sinners by having his own Son pay the price for his people.

And if people would just trust in this provision by repenting of their sin and believe in Jesus Christ, they can be reconciled to a holy God and enjoy a relationship with him for all eternity.

Salvation is by grace alone and through faith alone because Jesus has already accomplished the work for us.

Your friend or family member may nod as if they agree and then continue to try to earn their salvation.

Or they may just think that this is just the craziest notion.

And who would believe such a ridiculous story?

And then you recall the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:18 “18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

The second point is *“Supremacy, Suffering, and Service.”

*James and John, following the disturbing words of Jesus’ fate, came up to Jesus and ask this ludicrous question.

I mean, how does this happen?

“Jesus, yeah.