Mark (8)

Introduction: Why this study through book of Mark? We need constantly reminded of the true Jesus. Because we are constantly tempted to adopt and follow our own version of Jesus. Because the outcome or destiny of our faith in the Jesus we claim to follow is revealed and determined by the Scripture, not our whimsical notions of who we would like a Savior to be. So we had best be clear on who He is and what He has called his followers to be.

Transition: Read Mark 3:7-19 This text is a transitional summery of Jesus’ ministry. He is moving from a regional influence to a national impact. The whole 12 tribes of Israel and even those Gentile populated regions of Tyre and Sidon are flocking out to see Jesus. It is as if the news has spread from Logan county to the entire Midwest and everyone is flocking to Indian lake to capture a glimpse of the one who is blowing up Facebook!

Key Point

Jesus is the Son of God fulfilling His kingdom.

Transition: See this truth unfold in two phases. One is while Jesus withdrawals to the sea, and the other is when He goes up on the mountain.

First, we’ll investigate Jesus’ time down by the sea.

Down by the sea

How does this passage make the key point?

Jesus’ ministry is extending to the nations. (ie. the kingdom plan of God to bring people for every tribe and tongue into relationship with Himself. God has always been a God of the nations. )

Jesus orders the timing of His ministry. (ie. His time to be crushed will come when all is accomplished.) Is. 53:5

Application:

Isaiah 53:5 ESV

But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

c. Everyone must answer to Jesus. (ie. Notice the comparison between the crowd response and that of the demons. Both are falling.. the crowd upon Jesus and the demons before Him. However, neither are demonstrating repentant faith. The crowds are simply seeking to have needs met, and the demons are antagonistically attempting to usurp Jesus’ authority. Perhaps even attempting to kill Him before His time.

i. An important application question for us today is how am I responding to Jesus? What answer am I giving to the Son of God? Like the crowd, have we simply been following Him around in order to have our problems fixed? or like the demons do I believe all the right statements about Jesus but have never really surrendered to Him in repentant faith?

ii. No doubt, it is gracious of God to make us aware of our need, and even to see Jesus as the one to meet every need, however, Jesus is not only the Savior of our problems, He is the redeemer of our soul. He is Lord of heaven and earth and only responding to Him as one who might get me out of trouble simply reveals an unrepentant heart.

iii. On the other hand, Jesus doesn't just call us to a confession of the intellect. There isn’t one person or demon who will experience the eternal judgment of hell that doesn't intellectually agree with Christ. However, Jesus calls us to a confession of the heart. Where we respond to His grace and agree with God that He is the forgiver of our sin against Him and the king of our life forever. True repentance and faith in Christ doesn't just affirm all the true things about Jesus but rather experiences a heart change that ultimately changes the direction of our lives.

Transition: We see Jesus as the Son of God fulfilling the redemptive plans of the kingdom down by the sea, but also notice how the same point is revealed as He calls his apostles up on the mountain.

Up on the mountain

Transition: Review the scope of what Jesus is doing. Emphasize God’s revealing of Himself on mountains, and Jesus’ all nigher in prayer as seen in Lk. 6:12

How does Jesus time on the mountain reveal this key point?

He calls and appoints His 12 apostles. In doing so we get a glimpse into their role in the fulfilling of the kingdom.

Be with Him, Preaching, and authority over demons.

Transition: As important as it is in noticing the nuances of this calling to apostleship we must step back and see the factor that these men are going to have in the establishment of the kingdom.

2. One of the ways we notice this is by the number of men that Jesus calls. Why 12? Explain connection to Abrahamic covenant and 12 tribes of Israel along with the ultimate consummation of the kingdom in the new heaven and new earth. See Revelation 21:9-14

Revelation 21:9–14 ESV

Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed— on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

3. Point: When Jesus appoint the 12 apostles He is making a step in fulfilling the kingdom plan of redemption. We know from reading the rest of the New Testament that these men were used by God to establish His church. We are even here today as those who Jesus prayed for in John 17:20 “who will believe in Him through the word of these apostles.” The calling of the gospel that has been announced to us is in direct connection to Jesus’ calling of these men to preach that gospel.

a. Further more, according to Matthew 16:13-20 the authority that Jesus gave these apostle has been given to the church as these apostles were faithful to their transitional role in establishing the body of Christ.

Transition: And here we find a major point of application for us today. Just as the apostles had a major role in fulfilling the kingdom and establishing the church. So the church (those called out one’s) have a major role in fulfilling the kingdom and preparing for Christ’s final consummation of full redemption.

a. We might think I don't have much to offer, I’m a doubter, denier, hot head, or too much baggage in my past. Look at Thomas, Peter, James, John, Simon the zealot, or Levi.

b. We might think we are indispensable. No one can do my part. If I don't do it nobody will. I'm so important they could never get along with out me. The church will fail without me. Look at Judas.

Closing: The key here in not to just see whom Jesus called, but rather to Whom he called them. The same is for us today. Whatever you were before Christ is of no significance compared to what He has made you to be in Christ. Whatever we were, weather high or low, will all be redeemed by the One who received the crushing weight of our sin. Yes, we may retain the little corks of our unique personality , but in Christ He utterly changes the substance of our soul. He gives us new life, new motives, new desires, new thoughts, new convictions, new dreams, new emotions, and new behaviors. In Christ not only are we given a role in the fulfilling of His kingdom purposes now, but we are also given a position in His future kingdom forever.

Jesus is the Son of God fulfilling His kingdom. How will I respond to Him today?

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