Getting It?

INTRO - Most Christians admit they are afraid to share the gospel. Often the fear is of people, being rejected, or not knowing how to answer difficult questions. I have my way of dealing with these objections such as: better fear God than man, worse than rejection is failure to try, & saying, “I don’t know, but I’m willing to help you find an answer,” is an okay answer; it’s called being humble.

Yet, better than my quips is God’s love for overcoming fear:

Hebrews 4:12 ESV

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

It it’s God’s Word that takes away fear

1 John 4:18 ESV

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

TRANS - Today we’ll settle back and listen in to the teaching of our Lord Jesus through his Word from the Gospel of Mark. In terms of percentage, Mark highlights the theme of fear more than any other Gospel. Before we read the passage, let’s take a moment to talk to God through prayer.

PRAY

What does it Say?

Mark 10:32–34 ESV

And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.”

PRAY

What does it mean?

Getting Going

Why does Mark describe Jesus and His disciples walking “up” to Jerusalem?

This gospel mentions Jesus on the road quite frequently.

However, this is the first time it mentions Jesus heading specifically to Jerusalem.

“Going up,” they literally walked up 3,300 feet over the 20 mile walk from Jericho.

Yet, this was a common term referencing Jerusalem as the “Holy City” and keep in mind they were heading there for important business.

However, while many scholars might interpret “going up” that way, there is no reason to assume that here at this time.

Later, after Jesus’ resurrection, this technical term, such as going up to Galilee to meet with the disciples, this term does take on the idea of a holy pilgrimage, hence “going up” as a walk up toward holy ground, or with the purpose of kingdom work ahead.

POINT - Getting the “work of God” accomplished often requires we exert extra energy; just enough is not enough.

Yet, when you follow Jesus, you are inspired to “go the extra mile.”

Getting Got

Why were some who followed Jesus “fearful” as they approached Jerusalem?

Firstly, there is some difficulty discerning who were with Jesus.

We see the 12 and what appears to be another group.

Many commentaries and learned scholars disagree as to the figures represented in this passage.

Now, if Mark wanted us to understand the 12 as those who followed, then he might had stated that more clearly.

Also, we have other biblical references to the type of “amazement” expressed among the 12; at this point, their amazement should not shock us.

Hence, it serves to reason and through sound conservative critical examination of the text in it’s best contextual/historical setting that we see two groups following Jesus; the 12 and the others.

As noted, the 12 were following in amazement.

Therefore, we understand the other group, those following, as the ones identified as those who were “afraid.”

Why were they afraid?

There fear comes from their understanding; Jesus is heading to his death.

Death, hostility; the followers know Jesus’ walk is one destined to encounter evil.

ILL - One of my biggest fears is that people I know will never accept Jesus, miss the blessing in this life, and be tortured in eternity.

Another fear is for the Christian who never shares Jesus or speaks about knowing Him as Savior. I’m afraid they are still lost.

The people with Jesus feared for Him.

They understood what He was saying and knew enough to believe it was coming to pass.

They “got” what Jesus was saying and it gripped them with fear.

Okay, so being afraid for someone, we might tone down to concerned for, is not a bad thing; it simply shows we care.

Now, if caring is okay, should’t we care for others?

How should we handle knowing people who don’t confess Jesus as Savior?

Should we be afraid for them? Should we care?

What should that look like in our lives?

You see, what the people feared for Jesus is, in part, what He delivers us from.

Death no longer has hold on the believer, but offers the most extreme torment for the lost.

Getting Gone

How does this third prediction of Jesus’ suffering in Mark compare to the previous two?

Of the three predictions of Jesus’ torture and death, this one is the most detailed.

Chapter 8 didn’t mention His deliverance to the chief priests and scribes.

Chapter 9 failed to note His death sentence.

Neither 8 nor 9 mentioned His deliverance to the Romans nor the mocking, being spit upon, or the scourging.

Here, 10 mentions all this and along with 8 & 9, His being killed and His resurrection.

Here, the new part is the distinction between the Jews and the Gentiles.

The Jews condemn Him while the sentencing comes from the Gentiles.

As we think about this, we can conclude the sort of contempt the Jews held for Jesus.

The last people we should expect the Messiah of Isreal to be handed over to were the Gentiles.

POINT - God’s people failed to run with Jesus’ message. Instead, they condemned Him and gave him to the Gentiles.

Today, Jesus has gone to heaven, but will return.

Your challenge is to be like the Jews, hand Him off to someone else, or take up your cross and be a witness with the Spirit of God.

Getting God

Why does Jesus include His resurrection along with the predictions of His suffering and death?

In Mark we see a building up on the final outcome, the coming glorious resurrection.

Somewhere near Caesarea Philippi, following Peter’s confession, “You are the Christ,” Jesus made the first prediction to the passion and resurrection.

Later, following the transfiguration and healing the boy with epilepsy, while in Galilee, Jesus stressed his coming death and resurrection.

Here, this 3rd time, Jesus speaks of the time in much greater detail.

Make no doubt, Jesus:

who knew where to look for a fish with money in the mouth.

who knew the lady he never met was not married

who knew where to find a colt tied and the reaction of it’s owner

who knew the two disciples would encounter a many carrying water as they entered Jerusalem

who knew the way Jerusalem would fall

who knew the path of the spreading of the gospel

Why then would he not know the story His own death?

ILL - I knew I was getting married to Jennifer. Months in advance we made plans, drew up a registry, and sent out cards for our reception. Yet, the closer we came, the more I could tell you of the upcoming events because they were ever closer on my mind.

As a youth, I was part of the Disney’s “Candlelight Celebration.” I’d been part of it more than once. Yet, the closer we came to the even, the more I talked about the details.

Certainly the time of Jesus’ prayer and vivid distress were growing ever more within that side of Him that is human.

As God, he knew that to come.

As man, he had to deal with all the emotion, stress, and burden knowing an event, while revealing glory, was going to place upon Him the greatest imaginable torment ever suffered by anyone.

So, why does Jesus mention the resurrection?

That’s the best part.

That’s keeping Him going.

That’s the “bigger picture” outcome that makes all the pain, suffering, and torment take it’s proper place in God’s eternal plan.

Was Jesus afraid?

I’d say he probably was afraid of the pain, torment, and suffering.

This was to be a new experience for Him.

That does not mean He sinned, doubted God, or that this was not His choice.

But, to know, in detail, and not chicken out, that takes something bigger than us sometimes.

For Jesus, He trusted his Heavenly Father.

And, like Jesus, we, too, can go to God when we sense fear.

The difference between one who fears and one who faces fear, is the later admits his/her fear and gains strength. The other remains scared, anxious, frightened, and often feels alone.

God wants me to do?

Preaching Theme: Fear

Some who followed Jesus to Jerusalem were fearful, knowing that suffering awaited Him there.

Jesus repeated that their journey would be difficult, but He also reminded them that He would rise again in triumph.

Our fears can prevent us from following God into difficult situations if we forget that He is the one leading the way.

Let us boldly follow Jesus through life’s trials, trusting that He will cause all things to work together for our good ().

ILL - My parents spent 20 plus years doing prison ministry. I’d shared this story with you once before, but believe it serves us well to recall how faith conquers fear. My mother had the bad habit of picking up hitchhikers. One day she picked up a fellow who sat in the seat behind my mother as she drove and my mother, a faithful servant of the Lord, was witnessing to the fellow. Now, the rest of the story. While in prison doing prison ministry, the inmates called my parents, “Mom and Dad,” one of the inmates recognized my parents and shared his story. You see, he was the fellow in the car that day with whom my mother shared Christ. He my folks how he intended to take my mother’s life and I suppose her car and money. Also, he shared that when he tried to bring up the knife he intended to use, something was holding him back. Now, without batting an eye, my mother will tell you that was the Holy Spirit. Now, my dad will tell you that’s when he forbid her to pick up any more hitchhikers.

Jesus consistently spoke of His resurrection in conjunction with His crucifixion. He understood that suffering precedes glory. Peter likewise taught that if we suffer for Christ we will share His exaltation one day (). Let us embrace our suffering and persecution for Jesus, remembering that our ultimate triumph will follow.

Preaching Theme: Fear

Consider interviewing a member whose ministry takes them into prisons or closed countries, where fear in ministry is a daily threat.

Worship Service Idea: Consider holding a baptism service, in which the believers are buried with Christ through baptism into death and raised with Christ to walk in newness of life ().

The Theme of Fear in the Gospels

Study, Apply, Share: Mark Study

Study

• Why does Mark describe Jesus and His disciples walking “up” to Jerusalem?

Mark 10:32 The New American Commentary: Mark

• Why were some who followed Jesus “fearful” as they approached Jerusalem?

Mark 10:32 Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: Mark

• How does this third prediction of Jesus’ suffering in Mark compare to the previous two?

Mark 10:33–34 New International Commentary on the New Testament: Mark

• Why does Jesus include His resurrection along with the predictions of His suffering and death?

Mark 10:33 Baker New Testament Commentary: Mark

Apply

Preaching Theme: Fear

Some who followed Jesus to Jerusalem were fearful, knowing that suffering awaited Him there. Jesus repeated that their journey would be difficult, but He also reminded them that He would rise again in triumph. Our fears can prevent us from following God into difficult situations if we forget that He is the one leading the way. Let us boldly follow Jesus through life’s trials, trusting that He will cause all things to work together for our good (Rom 8:28).

Preaching Theme: Resurrection of Jesus

Jesus consistently spoke of His resurrection in conjunction with His crucifixion. He understood that suffering precedes glory. Peter likewise taught that if we suffer for Christ we will share His exaltation one day (1 Pet 4:12–13). Let us embrace our suffering and persecution for Jesus, remembering that our ultimate triumph will follow.

Preaching Theme: Fear

Worship Service Idea: Consider interviewing a member whose ministry takes them into prisons or closed countries, where fear in ministry is a daily threat.

Preaching Theme: Resurrection of Jesus

Worship Service Idea: Consider holding a baptism service, in which the believers are buried with Christ through baptism into death and raised with Christ to walk in newness of life (Rom 6:4).

The Theme of Fear in the Gospels

In terms of percentage, Mark highlights the theme of fear more than any other Gospel.

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