Mark 2024 Belief and Unbelief
The Gospel of Mark • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Transcript
Call to Worship
Call to Worship
33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” 35 “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” 36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
Re-Introduction to the book
Re-Introduction to the book
Author
Author
All four Gospels are thought to be anonymous, and together they provide the church an authorized, collective witness to Jesus’ person and work. Although the apostles were the primary witnesses, there is nothing inconsistent about their using fellow workers such as John Mark to put their collective and individual witness into writing. The Jerusalem church gathered for prayer in the home of John Mark’s mother (Acts 12:12). He assisted his cousin Barnabas, as well as Saul (Paul), in ministry (Acts 12:25; 13:5) but abandoned them in Pamphylia (Acts 13:13). Mark’s reasons for this abandonment are not specified, but Paul judged them unacceptable (Acts 15:37–39), although the apostle later expressed appreciation for Mark (Col. 4:10; 2 Tim. 4:11; Philem. 24).
Mark’s authorship is established by certain external considerations. In addition to the title attached to this document in ancient manuscripts and canonical lists, early church fathers such as Papias, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, and Clement of Alexandria all affirmed in the second century that Mark wrote the second gospel. Papias refers to Mark as Peter’s “interpreter” or “translator.” Mark’s presence with Peter in Rome is implied in the greetings conveyed in 1 Pet. 5:13 from “Mark, my son” and from “she who is in Babylon” (probably the church in Rome, capital of the empire that oppressed the apostolic church, as Babylon did Judah). Another reason to accept the authenticity of Markan authorship is that in the second and third centuries of the church, books falsely claiming apostolic authorship usually claimed well-known apostles as their authors rather than a secondary, and not altogether exemplary, figure such as John Mark.
Within the text itself, a veiled indication of Mark’s connection with this gospel may be seen in an otherwise apparently irrelevant notice of a “young man” who fled, unclothed, when Jesus was arrested. Some interpreters have suggested that this embarrassing incident is Mark’s way of referring to his own presence on that occasion (14:51 note), while others see it as a reference to an anonymous eyewitness to the events in Gethsemane. Possible evidence that Mark recorded Peter’s recollection of Jesus’ words and actions is the simplified chronological order of events in Mark, which mirrors Peter’s rehearsal of those events in the book of Acts (Acts 3:13, 14; 10:36–43).
Sproul, R. C., ed. 2015. The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition). Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust.
Date, time
Date, time
If Mark was used by Matthew and Luke, it is the earliest of the Gospels and cannot be dated later than about A.D. 70. If Luke and Acts were finished around A.D. 62, when the narrative of Acts ends, Mark would be even earlier if he was the first evangelist to write. Likewise, Matthew was likely written before A.D. 70 (Introduction to Matthew: Date and Occasion); hence, if Matthew used Mark as a source, then that serves as another argument for Mark writing his gospel before the fall of Jerusalem. Beyond these considerations, an argument can be made that all the books of the New Testament were written within the lifetime of the apostolic generation.
Sproul, R. C., ed. 2015. The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition). Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust.
Audience
Audience
Mark seems to have targeted Roman believers, particularly Gentiles.
MacArthur, John, Jr., ed. 1997. The MacArthur Study Bible. Electronic ed. Nashville, TN: Word Pub.
Purpose for writing
Purpose for writing
Mark presents Jesus as the suffering Servant of the Lord (10:45). His focus is on the deeds of Jesus more than His teaching, particularly emphasizing service and sacrifice. Mark omits the lengthy discourses found in the other gospels, often relating only brief excerpts to give the gist of Jesus’ teaching. Mark also omits any account of Jesus’ ancestry and birth, beginning where Jesus’ public ministry began, with His baptism by John in the wilderness.
Mark demonstrated the humanity of Christ more clearly than any of the other evangelists, emphasizing Christ’s human emotions (1:41; 3:5; 6:34; 8:12; 9:36;),
MacArthur, John, Jr., ed. 1997. The MacArthur Study Bible. Electronic ed. Nashville, TN: Word Pub.
What is a Gospel letter?
What is a Gospel letter?
This is a biographical document that tells the good news of what Jesus has done for us. They demonstrate Jesus's life, his character, his mission, he love of mankind. The gospel teach us Jesus's divinity, they reveal to us the triune nature of God.
Each gospel is doing a different thing, so you will notice that some event in Jesus's life are not included in every gospel. You'll notice that the sermon on the mount isn't in every gospel you'll notice in mark that the birth narrative isn't here. That is because every gospel is doing something different.
Just as a quick note: differences in the gospels do not mean contradictions. When two or three people are giving an account of an event or a person they are going to give different perspectives. This happens throughout history and it happens today. You'll hear several different views on George Washington for example based on different people who knew him and how they knew him. Benedict Arnold, the soldier under Washington's leadership, John Adams, and the other founding fathers are all going to have a different views and opinion of George Washington. There may be some overlap there may be similar stories or events that one man experienced that another man did not but that does not make a contradiction. What it does is paint a full picture the same is true for Christ. John, Matthew, Mark, and Luke are all telling the true story about Jesus from different perspectives. That's not a contradiction.
It's noted how much the Gospels of Matthew and Luke overlap with Mark, but that is because of using Mark as a source to write their gospel accounts among others.
Today’s Message
Today’s Message
So today I’m going to jump back into the text we left off, but before we get into the greater context here, which is about demons I’m going to focus in on this section at the bottom and we are going to break down this part first. Next week I’ll do with you a long discourse on Spiritual Evil. It’s fitting that God would have us look at these two topics at the beginning of the year. 2024 maybe a year i which our faith is greatly tested. I’m not a prophet but I do believe in the sovereignty of God and so I trust him undoubtedly.
So this micro-series should last two weeks in this section maybe 3.
Text
Text
23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”
Unbelief
Unbelief
The nature of unbelief is something that as a Christian we forget, because as a mother may remember the pain of the birth she quickly forgets it as she holds her new baby, the same is true for believers. We forget the nature of unbelief, sure we can recall it, but it is eclipsed by the greatness of our new birth.
Unbelief if you could describe it as a smell would be the smell of rot and decay. The problem with the unbeliever is that they have gone nose-blind so accustomed to the smell.
The Bible says this about unbelief
17 And Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me.”
25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?”
12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.
8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
Look at the company unbelief keeps. IT is a place of sin and death. It is not a state to be in.
Unbelief in the World
Unbelief in the World
Unbelief in the church
Unbelief in the church
This is the most insidious form of unbelief. This is a sin of the Pharisee. The faith that is dead, but looks alive.
It shows up in a few forms here is 3
1. Hypocrisy
1. Hypocrisy
It is a faith of Creed and not command. Jer. 3:4-5
4 Have you not just now called to me, ‘My father, you are the friend of my youth— 5 will he be angry forever, will he be indignant to the end?’ Behold, you have spoken, but you have done all the evil that you could.”
This is the person who calls on the name of Jesus, knows the Bible, and lives a different life. The true church fraud. This is the Christian we hear about on TV, the legitimate gripe of the world. The man who is saint on Sunday and a murderer on Monday. The Woman who is as sweet as sweet tea in and Temptest on Tuesday. We’ve all meet them, maybe you’ve got one in your family.
You unbelief is killing you.
2. Joyless
2. Joyless
A faith that is joyless.
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; 8 the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; 9 the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. 11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
You hear that text and you know that isn’t you. His word isn’t sweet to you, you don’t really fear him. There is no gold to be found here.
You don’t know what your spiritual gifts are because you are dead! You have been dead for sometime.
I interviewed a person about faith outside the church as a project for seminary. The man said that he after a while found everything pointless and tiring, so he didn’t believe in anything to deeply. That story rings true to you.
A Corpse feels no joy, feels no warmth, values nothing.
3. Unexaminable
3. Unexaminable
You would rather be praised then have your faith taken to task. You can’t call as the father did “Help my unbelief!”
That thought is threatening even! It’s like a policeman asking to see what’s in your glove box, your spouse looking into your phone, God lookng for Adam in the garden.
Don’t look at me to closely. This is unbelief
2 Prove me, O Lord, and try me; test my heart and my mind.
This is a threat to you. God don’t look at my belief. My heart is not a place to see into
Belief
Belief
The Source
The Source
The ultimate Source of belief is Christ alone. We’ve been singing with our children in family worship this week.
Nothing but the Blood of Jesus
verse 3 says this:
Nothing can for sin atone:
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Naught of good that I have done:
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
The truth here is nothing you do can cleanse you. The father brought his son for deliverance, but Jesus had to come first. First so that the world may hear of him, Jesus had to come to the crowd.
It is God’s actions that prompt us. We have seen that we are in a state of unbelief nothing in us would make us want to walk away from that. We are not inherently good, we are bent towards our own ends. We all wish to be in control.
Jesus is the source of faith.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God.
The source become a person, a knowable person, the divine agent of creation became a man.
He opened the door to real personal faith in the same way he held open his arms for us on the cross that we may receive him.
Let’s look at the nature of faith.
The Nature
The Nature
Trust’s God without need for security or Belief does not fear famine.
Trust’s God without need for security or Belief does not fear famine.
Try staying at a hotel room, renting a house you will always have to give a security deposit. It’s like a financial hostage to make you behave. Your God word is not enough.
17 Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, 18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
The Christian knows the truth of our Salvation. We believe our Lord’s word which says
26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
We know that our God will take care of us, our security is not built on wealth, but on the shed blood of our God.
Puritan Thomas Watson said this
“ An unbeliever must have something to feed his senses, or he gives up the Ghost. When he is at his wealth’s end, he is at his wits’ end.”
Don’t believe that? Look at the difference between the believer and an unbeliever when the next hurricane roles through. Sure is a time of hardship and fear, bu the believer will say “Not my will but thine be done” and the unbeliever will panic as the storm may consume all he has.
True faith needs no deposit, it’s not built on men’s strength, but on the “everlasting arms.”
If this has fallen of of you in this last year! Trust him again dear believer.
Faith is Patient
Faith is Patient
1 Corinthians 13:4 (ESV)
4 Love is patient
16 Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; Whoever believes will not act hastily.
We are all taught that delayed gratification is better then instant gratification. Part of the joy of Christmas is the build up of advent.
The journey is often as important as the destination. The birth of Christ just makes sense when you take into the account of everything God had done upto that point.
We in our stories know that would the current issue hit a younger less mature you to you have responded different.
We are given a gift here btw, the church helps us handle trials. A senior saint can walk with you through hurts that he has experince before you.
Faith see the story of Christ’s church and knows God isn’t done.
Faith is wonder working!
Faith is wonder working!
It was faith that caused this man to bring his son long plagued with demons to bring him to Jesus.
4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
imagine this poor boy was constantly trapped in Satan’s hands and the father knowing Good could delver brought his son to the king the vanquishes evil.
A true believers faith will overcome the world, because Jesus has overcome the world.
Our faith is wonder working because we have a wonder working God We sing about it the wonder working power of the lamb!
As we enter this year, especially an election year, in light of the last presidential election year, grip onto this God that delivers children from the powers of hell!
Maybe you know personally what it’s like to be delivered from the powers of hell, maybe your the father in the story who has seen you loved ones delivered from the powers of hell.
What a beautiful sight to be the man who brings his child, wife, his friend to the Lord for deliverance from Sin, Satan, and death.
Our Lord Says
23 And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.”
Oh that beautiful statement, what a promise.
Look at the outcome of this wonder working God.
25 And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”
The power of God cannot be undone. Hi wonders “Never enter him again.” When you’re delivered you can never again enter into Satan’s slavery again, the world has no debt over you, the struggle with the sin’s of your past are defeated!
If you tell me this morning you struggle with this truth. The wonder working Christ has freed you, grab this promise by faith!
Tell those that would say otherwise that you are his.
Calling for Help
Calling for Help
“Help my unbelief” (v24)
“Help my unbelief” (v24)
What a cry to make. Imagine Your son, your pized child and calling on to Jesus, and what does he do, he hears and answers.
No other God has ears to hear your crys
No other God is able to do as Christ.
And Jesus delivered.
So pray church, pray like no else.
God will provide a way for you
God will provide a way for you
You see no way out of a situation remember Abraham:
8 Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together.
And what happened?
12 He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son.
The Ram for you is Christ.
So men climb up the mountain like Abraham demonstrate this faith. Go firmly knowing that God has already produced the Ram in the thicket for you on Calvary all those years ago.
Gospel/Repentance
Gospel/Repentance
Benediction
Benediction
Romans 15:13 (ESV): 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.