The Gospel At Work (2)
Notes
Transcript
We have a trust issue.
We have a trust issue.
I hear it in how we talk with one another. I hear it in the complaints of others. Every year the most ethical and trustworthy professions come out. The information is not very encouraging.
We have an authority issue.
We have an authority issue.
Corollary to our trust issue is then who has authority and ability to tell me what I need to hear, want to hear and do not want to hear.
Our world is secular=personal and individual authority.
Our world is secular=personal and individual authority.
In light of the above two it is no surprise we have turned inward and the authority of life is the individual. This is at the heart of relative truth, my version, and to some extent an outgrowth of independence. We find secularism on the right and left.
This was to some extent unknown in the ancient world.
Jesus is different.
Jesus is different.
This is the good news of Mark. Jesus is unlike anyone else.
Jesus is God.
Jesus is God.
The first remarking of this is by the demons and the supernatural forces.
Jesus is human.
Jesus is human.
We see this as he goes off on his own to pray and seek wisdom, discernment, reassurance from God the Father.
The Gospel undoes the effects of sin.
The Gospel undoes the effects of sin.
The healing, exorcism and chaos of nature is brought under the reign and authority of Christ because of who he is. Demons want to proclaim who he is to try and get the upper hand but Jesus is the one in control Their time is coming to an end. Their authority is being taken from them.
Jesus does what only God could do.
Jesus does what only God could do.
The healing of the leper was not just about free the man from a sickness. He was being restored to a community. For some Jews the healing of leprosy was the equivalent of bringing someone back from the dead.
The response: awe, service, proclamation, seeking, or something else?
The response: awe, service, proclamation, seeking, or something else?
We have in our passage today a series of responses to Jesus authority. What is yours?
Jesus, not ourselves, must have final authority.
Jesus, not ourselves, must have final authority.
We have an authority issue in Christianity and churches. Who and what has authority over you?