Sermon Tone Analysis

~ \\ Bothwell & Clachan

Sept 17, 2006

Mark 8:27- 9:1

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Message Series (A) - JESUS’ CURIOUS QUESTIONS FOR CONFUSED FOLLOWERS: Message No.1.

- “Who Are They Saying I Am?" (The Turning Point of Jesus' Ministry) Mark 8:27- 9:1

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Soon it will be time for many of you to return to “Aquire the Fire.”

Some of you will be attending for the first time.

Before you arrive in Hamilton for that rally at the end of October, I intend to touch on some of the events and teaching in Jesus life where he speaks specifically to the costs of being a Jesus follower.

As you can see from the Bible reading, Today is one of those days.

However, I realize that all of you will not be making that journey.

Especially those of you have diminished hearing from years of working on farm machinery and lawn tractors.

You might not benefit because you will not be able to hear the loud, blasting Christian rock bands as they play.

Just kidding.

With all of their cutting edge speakers and stage effects, ATF often seems like it is pushing the boundaries to get out the message.

Perhaps you noticed that I too pushed a boundary today.

Yes, I know it was tiny.

Did you catch it.

No? Well, I had Randy keep reading into the first verse of Chapter nine.

Thats right, we did not stop at the end of Chapter eight.

Pretty daring eh?

How un-Canadian is that?

Speaking of daring, did you catch Canadian Astronaut Maclean out in Space, walking and using the Canadarm?

Now that is daring.

I heard him interviewed and he is still pumped about anything to do with space.You could call him a real “space disciple?”

On the other hand, from the higest highs to the lowest lows.

Montreal school shooting.

Our world needs Jesus!

A radical “give me all youve got, Jesus”

! 1.

You (You’re) Are The One - Mark 8:27-29

!! (a).

Who are they saying I am?

“Who ARE they saying I am?”

He repeatedly quizzed his followers.

“Will the real Jesus, please stand up?”

Finally, “Hey, it is you!

You’re the one they are all ‘looking” for.”

“You, You’re the one!”

“Yes!”

But why is this the turning point?

All along it was as if Jesus had kept hinting that he had a big, big surprise for the disciples.

“Oh no, ‘can’t tell you yet.”

But from now on each of the gospels show that Jesus now exclusively zeros in on the disciples and teaches them about his end and how it will effect them.

He could do that, because as the Life Application Bible notes, These followers have now moved from curiosity to commitment, from admiration to adoration.

!! (b).

Bono Proclaims the Divinity of Jesus - Mark 8:29

Bono, lead singer of the rock group U2, was asked if the claim of Jesus' divinity is farfetched.

No, it's not farfetched to me.

Look, the secular response to the Christ story always goes like this: he was a great prophet, obviously a very interesting guy, had a lot to say along the lines of other great prophets, be they Elijah, Muhammad, Buddha, or Confucius.

But actually Christ doesn't allow you that.

He doesn't let you off that hook.

Christ says: No.

I'm not saying I'm a teacher.

Don't call me teacher.

I'm not saying I'm a prophet.

I'm saying: "I'm the Messiah."

I'm saying: "I am God incarnate."

And people say: No, no, please, just be a prophet.

A prophet, we can take….

But don't mention the "M" word!

Because, you know, we're gonna have to crucify you.

And he goes: No, no.

I know you're expecting me to come back with an army, and set you free from these creeps, but actually I am the Messiah….

So what you're left with is: either Christ was who he said he was—the Messiah—or a complete nutcase.

I mean, we're talking nutcase on the level of Charles Manson….

This man was strapping himself to a bomb, and had "King of the Jews" on his head, and, as they were putting him up on the Cross, was going: Okay, martyrdom, here we go.

Bring on the pain!

The idea that the entire course of civilization for over half of the globe could have its fate changed and turned upside-down by a nutcase, for me, that's farfetched.

Michka Assayas, Bono: In Conversation with Michka Assayas (Riverhead Books, 2005)

! 2 Yes, But Don’t Tell! - Mark 8 :30

!! Keep it Quiet

We can still hear the disciples whooping it up.

“Whoopie!

A Messiah, King-Deliver Kind of Guy.

The Romans are out.

We are in.

Yes!”

“Well, no, and don’t you dare tell!” Expositors says Jesus threatened them, spoke in a menacing tone.

He didn’t want a premature political revolution against Rome.

He wanted time to give them more teaching.

“Don’t tell ANYONE!”

!! Oh, And By the Way, I’m Going To Die - Mark 8:31

“Yes, I’m the special one people have been waiting for.

And I’m going to go to Jerusalem.

And then of courser they’ll kill me.

Yup, I’m gonna get “the cross.”

And I’m going to die, but its OK, because then I’ll come back to life!”

Pardon?

“What’s that?

Oh Yes, I’ll be dead about three days, give or take.

And I’m afraid that all of the political and religious elite will turn against me.

Oh Yes, I’m sure It’ll be the cross for me.”

! 3. Peter & Jesus Go Toe to Toe - Mark 8 :32-33

Over and over Jesus kept saying it as he tries to ram home the news.

(And I think its fair to say that the disciples were stunned).

Go to Jerusalem?

Die?

What about us?

Doesn’t he know that followers usually end up like their teachers.

Are we going to die to?

Finally Peter can’t take it any more.