Let It Go!

June 18, 2017

Monkeys are notorious for not wanting to let go of food. A man put some food in a hole and then waited for the monkey to come. The monkey put his hand into the hole and grabbed the food. But in holding the food his hand was too big to pull out of the hole. The man came and got the monkey because the monkey wouldn’t let go. The monkey lost his life because he couldn’t let go.

In the passage for today we see a similar situation except that the stakes are much higher. In Mk.10:17-31 we see how a person can forfeit eternal life by holding onto the wealth of this world. This morning I want to point out that the power of wealth can keep us from finding life in Jesus.

I. WEALTH CAN BE A SNARE FOR UNBELIEVERS. Mk.10:17-22

When I sat down to think about this passage I was immediately struck by the fact that this man ran up to Jesus and knelt down as Jesus was getting ready to leave for Jerusalem. There was a sense of urgency in his heart. He recognized that there was something different about Jesus. He rightly believed that Jesus had answers to the most important questions of life and he didn’t want to miss his opportunity. “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Every one of us has questions like this, questions that deal with meaning and purpose in life, questions that deal with the quality of life we experience, questions concerning eternity. These are existential questions for which we long for answers. These are religious questions because they have to do with the spiritual dimension of our lives.

And it is important to see that religion in and of itself does not adequately answer these questions. This man was very religious but obviously his religion didn’t satisfy the deepest questions of his heart, especially the question of life.

He calls Jesus, “good teacher.” And Jesus immediately picks up on that. This man was concerned about goodness, and we should all be concerned about goodness. Goodness is very important for life. Jesus asked, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.” I don’t think Jesus is just trying to point to his deity as much as he is trying to help this man think more deeply about what it means to be good.

He reminds the man about the commandments found in the Old Testament. “Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud or cheat, Honor your father and mother.” The man responded by saying that, in fact, he had kept all these commands from his youth.

Part of the problem for this man is that when he considered his own goodness he was comparing himself to the goodness of others. As far as he could tell, compared to others he was good in that he kept these commands. Jesus wanted to help the man understand that one’s goodness must be seen in relationship to God who alone is good. The man was not thinking deeply enough. He was not self-aware enough about his life in relationship to the goodness of God.

Now we are all like this man. In the world people regularly compare themselves against others. “I’ve got my problems but I’m not like so and so.” Our tendency is to give ourselves the benefit of the doubt. As long as we see ourselves as good as, or better than the general run of society, we feel we are okay. But if we are okay, why do we have the gnawing questions about life and eternity? Well, it’s because personal goodness is not the only issue involved.

You notice that Jesus did not challenge the man’s self-assessment. Jesus didn’t say, “Are you kidding! No one keeps these laws. You are a sinner!” What it does say is that Jesus looked deeply at this man and loved him. He fixed his eyes lovingly on the man and gave the answer that was needed. “You lack one thing; go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

Did Jesus give the man the gospel? He surely did. He gave the gospel in a way that was personally relevant to this man. The gospel message is not, “Go, sell all that you have and give to the poor.” Jesus was not giving this man one more thing to do in order to have eternal life. Jesus was putting his finger on the thing that kept this man from following him. Like most people in that day, this man would have considered himself highly blessed by God because of his wealth. Wealth was a sign of God’s blessing. Jesus wanted to help this dear man see that his wealth had such a grip on him that it kept him from eternal life in Jesus. For this man, finding treasure in heaven did not seem as real or valuable as treasure on earth. Following Jesus did not seem to have the same payoff as the wealth in his pocket. It wasn’t the keeping of the law that kept this man from having eternal life. It was his wealth that had such grip on his life that he could not see his way clear to follow Jesus. And so the man went away sorrowful because he had great wealth. He did not see that Jesus is a treasure of far greater value than his money.

Anything that keeps one from following Jesus is a snare and money and possessions are particularly powerful. But it’s not just money. You may be one of the most religious people living a moral, upright life. Jesus is fine with that, but his gospel call is to lay everything aside and follow him. Your moral, upright life can be just as much of a snare if it promotes pride of life in your heart. The thing that Jesus gave this man to do was designed to help him become vulnerable, needy, and receptive like a child. In Mk.10:15-16 Jesus says, “Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.’ And he took [the children] in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.” Jesus did not take the man in his arms like the children, but he took the man into his heart by holding him with his eyes. Unfortunately the man’s heart was held more tightly by the things of this world and he went away sorrowful. He just couldn’t let go of his money.

In the world everyone’s heart is gripped by something or someone, some snare that keeps them from following Jesus. You and I may not know what that particular snare might be for someone else, but we can love a person with the love of Jesus that has been poured out into our hearts. We can love a person until the Lord shows us what to say. What would Jesus put his finger on in your life? What is keeping you from turning to and following Jesus for eternal life? He loves you and deeply desires for you to find life in him.

II. WEALTH CAN BE A SNARE FOR BELIEVERS. Mk.10:23-31

In v.23 Jesus turns his attention to his disciples. He tells them that it is very difficult for those who have wealth to enter into the kingdom of God. Before we go on, notice that in v.17 the man refers to eternal life. In v.23 Jesus speaks of entering the kingdom of God. In v.26 the disciples ask, “Who then can be saved.” Salvation, entering the kingdom of God, and eternal life all refer to the same thing which comes through faithful discipleship to Jesus.

The disciples are amazed at what Jesus says. They are amazed because they also believed that wealth was a sign of God’s blessing. Surely the wealthy will be saved for God has blessed them abundantly. But Jesus says, “No.” And he uses a humorous proverb to drive home his point. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. I don’t get the sense that the disciples appreciated the joke. They are astonished and they ask, “Then who can be saved?”

Jesus’ response is important. “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” Jesus is pointing out that when it comes to entering into the kingdom of God, self-effort is ineffective. Entering the kingdom of God is not a human achievement. It is a God-made, God-given gift. Salvation is only possible through the work of God in his Son, Jesus Christ, through the ministry of the Holy Spirit upon a person’s life. Salvation is a gift of God’s grace. There is nothing you can contribute to your salvation. Salvation is receiving new life in the kingdom of God which implies a new way of living. We live as followers of Jesus. And just as we must become childlike to receive Christ, so we must be childlike to follow Christ.

As Peter listened to Jesus it dawned on him that what the rich man could not do, he and the others did. They left everything to follow Jesus. So Peter says, “Lord, we did what that man could not do. We left everything to follow you. We have taken up the life of discipleship. Does our sacrifice count for anything?”

Jesus goes on to talk about what it means to follow him. And, indeed, following Jesus means we give our life over to him. In v.29 we learn that living a life of discipleship to Jesus means we put Jesus above every other allegiance. We put Jesus above the security of family, home ownership, and vocation, seen here in the word, “lands” or farms as it can translated. Everything in our life takes second place to Jesus and living out his life in us. In fact, in v.30 we see that we put Jesus even before our own life because Jesus points out that as we seek to follow him we may experience persecution.

But notice what else Jesus says in v.29-30. Whoever leaves all these things for the sake of following Jesus, will receive a hundredfold in this life and in the life to come. And Jesus refers to homes, family and lands. What is Jesus talking about?

I believe that he is saying that when we let go of all the things that secure our lives in this world in order to follow Jesus, we are more than compensated through the community of Jesus, namely the Church. You remember in Mk.3 the crowd told Jesus that his mother and brothers were seeking him. Jesus asked, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” We read, “And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother." In other words, as Jesus points out in v.31, those who seek to find their life in the things and people of this world will end up last. Those who find their life in following Christ, with all the sacrifices that entails, will end up first. There is great blessing and reward in following Jesus Christ. That blessing begins now in the church and blossoms out into life in the new heaven and earth.

I see a double challenge in the passage. First, there may be some here who have never come to Jesus to find eternal life. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Eternal life is found in him. What is holding you back from turning to Christ? You are currently finding your life in something? What is it? What you value more than Jesus is what you think will give you life. The rich man found his life in his wealth and rejected Jesus. What about you?

And then for those who are followers of Jesus I wonder if your discipleship to Christ is compromised because you are gripped by the things of this world. What loyalties in this world keep you from putting Christ first in your life? What about your loyalty to your money? What about your loyalty to family? What about your loyalty to your career? James Edwards writes, “Jesus will have no divided allegiances; he will have all of us or he will not have us at all, so jealous is his love.” What keeps you from following Christ wholeheartedly? Whatever it might be is a snare to finding your life in Christ. Let it go! Amen.

Marriage and Divorce

May 21, 2017

So far in 2017 there have been some notable divorces. After 4 years of marriage, Scarlett Johannson and Romain Dauriac, Janet Jackson and Widdam Al Mana were divorced. After 5 years, Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, Drew Barrymore and Will Kopelman were divorced. After 7 years, Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom, David Schwimmer and Zoe Buckman were divorced. After 12 years, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were divorced, and we could add many more.

Divorce is as common as apple pie in our society. And it brings great heartache into the lives of the couples involved and their children. If you have been divorced or are contemplating divorce, my goal this morning is not to dump guilt on you. That would not be helpful. In Mk.10 Jesus discusses divorce by talking about marriage. Marriage is a matter of discipleship and followers of Jesus Christ pursue marital fidelity.

I. UNDERSTAND THE WORLD’S VIEW OF MARRIAGE. Mk.10:1-5

Jesus was teaching and at some point the Pharisees tried to trap him with a question about divorce. It seems as if they were trying to pit Jesus against the Mosiac law. “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”

The background for this question comes from Dt.24:1-4. “When a man takes a wife and marries her, if then she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some indecency in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of his house, and she departs out of his house, and if she goes and becomes another man's wife, and the latter man hates her and writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of his house, or if the latter man dies, who took her to be his wife, then her former husband, who sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after she has been defiled, for that is an abomination before the LORD.” Based on these verses people thought that divorce and remarriage was always a viable option because Moses permitted divorce.

In Jesus’ day there were two ways of looking at these verses. The School of Shammai said that the only ground for divorce is adultery. That is what the word, “indecency” refers to in Deuteronomy. The School of Hillel focused on the phrase, “finds no favor in his eyes.” Hillel said that the word “indecency” refers to anything that might cause the husband to no longer find favor in his wife. In this view if your wife burned your dinner or if you found someone you liked better, that could be grounds for divorce.

The Pharisees were asking Jesus to weigh in on the appropriate grounds for divorce. You notice what Jesus says in v.5. “Because of your hardness of heart Moses wrote you this command.”

The command given by Moses in Deuteronomy was not intended as an encouragement to divorce. Moses wasn’t saying a husband ought to divorce his wife. Rather it was a means of protection for the wife. In that day women were property. A girl was the property of her father. When she married, the father transferred his property to his new son in law. If the wife’s husband died she became the property of her son. In Deuteronomy Moses said that a husband had to write out a certificate of divorce. He couldn’t just put his wife out. He had to give the reason. The certificate allowed the wife some dignity because it would show that she was not divorced because of adultery. She could remarry. The point I want to make is that the Jewish people and teachers took what Moses wrote and turned it into license, making marriage a contract that could easily become null and void. And this is the way of the world.

Jesus puts his finger on the real matter. Divorce occurs because of hardness of heart. It may be hardness of heart in one or both spouses. By hardness of heart I mean that one or both are unwilling to have a tender heart and a willingness to work together to build a healthy and strong marriage. Hardness of heart takes place when things have to be my way. Hardness of heart takes place when I must be in control. Hardness of heart takes place when my focus is on getting my needs and desires met. Hardness of heart takes place when I am unwilling to do whatever it takes to strengthen my marriage. Hardness of heart is seen when I am unwilling to listen and understand my spouse. Hardness of heart is found in always assigning blame. Hardness of heart is seen in an unwillingness to bless and serve one’s spouse.

Before I go further let me say that I rarely counsel divorce. But if you are in an abusive marriage, whether it be verbal, physical or sexual abuse, I would encourage you to, at least, separate for safety’s sake. And if you are abusive you need to get help. No matter the cause of your being an abuser, you need help, especially if you profess to be a follower of Jesus.

If you are engaged to someone who is abusive, or who has an addiction of some kind, or if you suspect that there is a problem, I would encourage you to, at the very least, postpone your wedding. Much work needs to be done.

And then I must say that there are times when the marriage relationship is so broken perhaps because of adultery or ongoing abuse or neglect, that divorce is unavoidable. But when that happens you can be sure there has been much hardness of heart.

We are all broken and flawed people. Marriage is not easy. It requires a daily commitment to love, great humility, and dying to self. If your spouse is not a believer it can be especially difficult because you do not share Christ. This is why committed followers of Jesus should marry committed followers of Jesus, and even then it can be tough going.

Every so often someone will ask for marital counseling. When I ask about their spouse, they will say, “O he or she will not go to counseling.” Really? What is that all about? That is hardness of heart driven by fear, anger, pride, or all three. Why would a Christian husband or wife not seek help? That said, it is better to seek help alone than not at all.

The way of the world is the way of self and selfishness. “If my spouse does not meet my needs then he or she is not the one for me. I’m getting out.” This is the way of hardness of heart. Isn’t it interesting that the Jewish people, God’s chosen people, found a way to turn this scripture passage into a license for divorce and remarriage? Instead of focusing on what it takes to have a strong marriage they were trying to find permissible escape clauses. Even the people of God can think like the world when it comes to marriage and divorce. How do you look at your marriage? When things are tough do you think about getting out? Is that your first thought? What is the condition of your heart? Is it hard or tender?

II. EMBRACE GOD’S DESIGN FOR MARRIAGE. Mk.10:6-12

It is interesting that Jesus didn’t focus on Moses’ command in Dt.24. Deuteronomy 24 is not a teaching about marriage. Instead He turned their attention to God’s work of creation. “Let’s go back to the beginning.” When we go back to the beginning we are immediately presented with some foundational principles or values for life.

We see for example, that God created man as male and female. Maleness and femaleness are both equal expressions of humanity. The oppressive patriarchy that we see in the world of the Old Testament and even in our own world is not found in creation. Marriage was never intended by God to enslave a wife to her husband or to give a husband the upper hand of control over his wife. Marriage is designed for the benefit of husband, wife, family, and society. It has nothing to do with control and power.

We also see that marriage involves faithful allegiance between husband and wife. Now think about it. In the Ten Commandments it says, “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.” But in marriage, faithful allegiance usurps one’s primary allegiance to their parents and places that allegiance onto one’s spouse. This doesn’t mean that husbands and wives have no regard for their parents or do not help their parents, but their parents are not to have place of priority over or interference in their marriage. When we marry we no longer look to our parents. We hold fast to our spouse.

Notice something else. In v.8 Jesus continues to quote from Genesis when he says, “And the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two but one flesh.” You might say marriage brings about a new creation. In becoming one flesh, God is establishing something brand new. I do not think this refers only to sexual intimacy, but it surely includes sexual intimacy. Two believers who are married to each other have the greatest potential for becoming one because they are both indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God. They are both seeking the righteousness, peace, and joy of the kingdom of God. Sexual intimacy is just as much a matter of discipleship to Jesus as anything else. It requires surrender to Christ as Lord and surrender to each other. It is difficult to be sure because men and women are different creatures, not to mention all our idiosyncrasies. But God specializes in reconciliation.

Think about it. In the church God is making one new man by bringing people from every tongue and tribe together in Christ. In marriage God is making a new relationship and when husband and wife are both in Christ it is similar to the church.

In v.9 Jesus continues, “What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate." This statement does not come from Genesis but from Jesus. This statement clarifies God’s intention for marriage. Marriage is to be a lasting union until death. We don’t go into marriage thinking that if it doesn’t work out, I can always get a divorce. That is the way of the world. Christians go into marriage with Christ as Lord. He is Lord of the church. He is Lord of our lives. And he is Lord of our marriage. We are Christians. Again, this suggests that we will seek to marry a Christian. Marriage is another venue for discipleship to Christ.

In v.10-12, it’s as if the disciples want to make sure they are hearing Jesus correctly and so Jesus clarifies what he is saying. In essence Jesus is saying there are no grounds for divorce. In Matthew’s gospel Jesus seems to allow that adultery is grounds for divorce, and I believe it is. But adultery does not require divorce. I think Jesus is focusing on God’s intension for marriage. God intends that marriage lasts until death. If adultery has taken place Christian husbands and wives will seek to repent and reconcile and cultivate renewed trust.

One more observation. In v.11 Jesus says that if a man divorces his wife and marries another he commits adultery against his wife. In the Jewish culture an adulterous man would commit adultery not against his wife but against the woman’s husband. Women didn’t count for much. Jesus elevates women in this verse to the same status as men.

Now I imagine that there were any number of people in the crowd that day who could have said, “Yeah, but Jesus you don’t know my situation.” Jesus wasn’t trying to deal with everyone’s specific situation. He was defining important values that frame marriage. There are many situations that are very difficult. Not everyone who professes to follow Christ, is following Christ. Growing up in our family of origin can bring great dysfunction to our lives. Many times we do not want to see or know the truth about ourselves and that complicates things. When two unbelievers are married and one turns to Christ that can bring difficulty to a marriage. But as followers of Jesus, let us commit ourselves to embrace God’s design for marriage. In God’s design, husbands and wives cling to and serve each other at sometimes great personal cost. We are committed to love our spouse. Joy in marriage accompanies committed love.

Now if you’ve been divorced I’m sure that has brought its share of difficulty and sadness. God is a forgiving God. If you are married you may feel that you got a bum deal. Your marriage isn’t what you signed up for. You feel alone, starved for affection & love. You & your spouse continually hurt each other/ It seems that no matter how hard you try, nothing changes. How difficult/ I’m sure there has been a great deal of struggle, frustration, weariness, and sadness. As a follower of JC I know your desire is to live for JC & not for yourself. I want to encourage you to do your best to serve, bless, and forgive your spouse in the name of Jesus without expecting anything in return, even if that means giving a cup of water in Jesus’ name. Instead of casting blame, seek to deal with your own stubbornness, selfishness, and unwillingness. Cry out to God for your marriage. Ask God for his help, strength, and comfort. We all make many mistakes. We all get defensive. We all know how to hurt each other. Fix your eyes on Jesus and seek his righteousness, peace, and joy. Amen

Faithful Living

May 14, 2017

Are you familiar with the expression, “To play the field?” When a man or woman is not ready to settle down, they are sometimes said to be playing the field. In other words, they are not ready to get seriously involved in just one romantic relationship. They are going to date a number of people. But once you get seriously involved with one person, you no longer play the field. And once you get married you commit yourself to being faithful to your spouse until death separates you. Being married to that person consumes your life.

Discipleship to Jesus is just as consuming as marriage. Marriage is for better or worse. Discipleship to Jesus is only for better. Knowing Christ and living life in the kingdom of God is the most valuable commitment in life that a person can ever enter into. Today we are looking at Mk.9:42-50. From these verses I want to say that followers of Jesus seek to be faithful to Jesus in every avenue of life.

I. WE PROMOTE FAITHFULNESS IN OUR FELLOW BELIEVERS. Mk.9:42

Last week we looked at v.38-41. We learned about a man who was casting out demons in the name of Jesus, but because he was not part of their group, the 12 disciples tried to stop the man from having ministry. Jesus said they should not have done that because any ministry in the name of Jesus, no matter how small, is important. In v.42 Jesus says that it would be better to have a millstone hung around your neck and be cast into the sea than to cause one of these little ones who believe in me to sin or stumble.

Who is Jesus talking about? Well it seems that he is talking about anyone who believes in him. In the immediate context it would seem to refer to someone like this man who was following Christ but who was not associated with the 12 disciples. We are talking about common, ordinary people who follow Jesus.

Because of the stark language that Jesus uses in this verse I see that Jesus highly values everyone who follows him. And he expects his followers to highly value everyone who follows him. The eternal life of righteousness, peace, and joy in the kingdom of God that Jesus came to give is the very kind of life that we as his followers want to promote in the lives of every follower of Jesus.

Our salvation is not just about ourselves. As followers of Jesus we bear fruit as we encourage faithfulness to Jesus in the lives of others. I’m using Rm.14:17 to define how we can promote faithfulness to Christ in the lives of other believers. Paul writes, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” How can you and I promote these virtues in other believers? In this verse Jesus makes it clear that one of the worst things we can do is to cause another believer to sin or worse yet, to turn away from Christ. In the context it seems that Jesus is saying that John and the other disciples were putting a stumbling block of disapproval and rejection in front of the man in v.38.

Now I’m sure that none of us would ever want to cause another follower of Jesus to sin or stumble in any way. But while that may be our intention, it is possible for this to happen, and it may have happened to you. A fellow believer may have caused you to sin or vice versa.

Let me share a number of ways this can happen. In 1Corinthians Paul answers a number of questions that the believers in Corinth had asked him. In 1Cor.8 he writes about whether or not Christians can eat meat that has been offered to idols. The pagan temples would take the meat offered to idols and sell it in the meat market. Is it okay for believers to eat that meat? Paul makes the point that since idols have no real existence and since meat is meat, eating meat offered to idols doesn’t make much difference. But then he says in v.7, “However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.” And so Paul concludes that if by eating meat offered to an idol I cause another brother or sister to stumble, (go against their conscience), I am sinning against my brother or sister. Paul says much the same thing in Rm.14 in regard to anything that might cause a brother or sister to sin. In Rm.14:14 Paul writes, “I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean.” So we must be sensitive to our brothers and sisters in Christ. We don’t want to be a stumbling block to them.

In Gal.5 Paul again tells us to not use our freedom in Christ as an opportunity for the flesh. He writes, “But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.” In the church it is not uncommon for believers to have disagreements with each other that can cause one another to stumble into sin. It might be a minor doctrinal issue or a disagreement about the direction of the church. It might be a disagreement about music or worship, or the color of the carpet. And before we know it we are promoting disharmony and sin in the lives of others. Most of us have been around churches long enough to know that it doesn’t take much to cause ourselves and other believers to stumble.

That said, it does seem to me that in this verse Jesus is talking about something more serious than just committing a sin. The word for sin that is used here can refer to sin or to falling away. In other words it can refer to giving up the faith. In the parable of the 4 soils the seed that falls on rocky ground refers to those receive the word with joy but fall away when persecution comes. Before Jesus is crucified he says to his disciples in Mk.14:27, “You will all fall away, for it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.”

I’m sure that none of us would ever intentionally seek to cause someone to lose their faith in Christ. But we all know that there are people who have attended our churches who because of unfortunate experiences in the church, they have turned away from Christ. In some churches there is a strong legalistic environment that is oppressive and unloving. In some churches, keeping up appearances is more important than credible Christ like living. I’m not saying that when people lose their faith in Christ it is always the fault of other Christians, but sometimes we share the blame.

All of us here this morning who embrace Christ as Savior, Lord and King are fellow travelers on the journey of following Christ. May we seek to promote righteousness, peace, and joy in the lives of one another, doing our best to build each other up in the Lord.

II. WE PURSUE FAITHFULNESS IN OUR OWN LIVES. Mk.9:43-48

Here Jesus is exaggerating to impress upon his followers just how valuable entering into his life really is. Receiving eternal living in the kingdom of God through faith in Jesus is so monumental that nothing must be permitted that will jeopardize that life. And Jesus makes it clear that this kingdom-of-God-life is experienced and lived out in our bodies. It is not just our souls that are saved; our bodies express the new creation life we receive in Jesus Christ.

The world does not know this life because the world is living old creation life that is passing away. The world is separated from God, the giver of life. In many ways, you might say that our bodies are ground zero when it comes to living the life of Christ in us. It all happens in our present bodies until we receive new bodies in the new creation. And so what we do with our bodies is important.

James Edwards writes, “…nothing, not even things we value supremely like eyes, hands, and feet, should stand in the way of eternal life.” What we do, what we look at, where we go all has bearing upon our life with Christ. In short, the way we use our bodies either promotes or hinders our life with Christ. The idea of cutting off one’s hand or foot or plucking out one’s eye, means that we must be ruthless in our pursuit of Christ. We are ruthless in dealing with sin, not because Jesus is watching us with his eagle eyes waiting for us to step out of line. No. We are ruthless in dealing with sin because our present life with Christ in the kingdom of God is so valuable. And again, it is a life of righteousness, peace and joy being lived out through the Holy Spirit in a world of sin and death.

My concern is that for many today, their experience of Christianity is primarily an experience shaped and defined by their church experience, and not so much by Christ. Their Christianity is defined by their past experience in the church and not by their present relationship with Jesus. Have you entered into life with the living Jesus Christ? This is a critical question.

We all know what it is to wrestle with sin. Some sins are more difficult to resist than others. Some sins are more deeply enbedded in our bodies and at times we feel helpless in sin’s grip. If you are a Christian you are probably well aware of these particular sins because the Holy Spirit continues to speak to you about them. Because we are followers of Jesus we do not give up the struggle of resisting sin and temptation. Jesus is not asking anyone to pluck out his or her eye, but he is saying that we must carefully monitor what we look at and read if that is the area in which we struggle the most. Jesus is not just saying that we need to have good intentions; he is calling us beyond good intentions to behavioral transformation. The Holy Spirit will help us as we take steps to change our sinful habits.

But what of these statements about unquenchable fire and being thrown into hell. Is Jesus suggesting that a believer can lose his or her salvation? First realize that Jesus is not talking about a doctrine of eternal security here. He’s talking about what it means to be his disciple. If a person who claims to be a disciple of Jesus continually practices sin there something amiss. When followers of Jesus sin, which we often do, we seek to confess and forsake it. If we can sin without confession, that is an indication that something isn’t right in our life with Christ. This person calls his or her salvation into question. It is not wise to assure a person of their eternal security in Christ if they are practicing sin. As followers of Christ we pursue faithfulness in our own lives no matter how often we fall into sin. In Rm.13:14, Paul says, “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.”

III. WE PERSUE FAITHFULNESS IN THE TRIALS OF LIFE. Mk.9:49-50

These verses are not so easy to understand. There are a number of interpretations. The interpretation that makes sense to me connects the ideas of fire and salt with the temple sacrifices.

In Leviticus 1 we learn that burnt offerings were to be wholly consumed with fire. The smoke was a pleasing incense to the Lord. Along with this, in Lev.2:13 we read, ‘You shall season all your grain offerings with salt. You shall not let the salt of the covenant with your God be missing from your grain offering; with all your offerings you shall offer salt.”

In his commentary on Mark, James Edwards writes, “In the present context fire and salt appear to be symbols of the trials and costs of discipleship. Discipleship to Jesus lays a total claim on one’s life; in the language of sacrifice, it must be totally consuming or it is worthless.”

When we face trials in our lives, if we are in any way rejected or persecuted for being a disciple Jesus, we must understand that God uses these trials and troubles to purify us that we might walk faithfully with the Lord. Trials and tribulations are an opportunity for us to become living sacrifices unto the Lord. Our lives are being offered just like those sacrifices were offered. We are walking as Jesus walked. He also experienced trials and tribulations on this earth.

Now everyone experiences trials and tribulations, but as believers we seek to navigate our way through the trials in such a way that we remain faithful to Christ. Disciples of Jesus are consumed with Jesus and following him.

 Now brothers and sisters, many of us have known each other for years. We regularly see each other here at the church. I’m thankful for this. But I also realize that our church attendance is not necessarily a barometer of our commitment to Jesus Christ. As you know we have two men’s groups that meet once a month. When we meet as men we talk a little more seriously about our life in Christ. We get a better idea of where we are with Christ. We can see from Jesus’ words in Mark that being his follower is serious business. How serious a follower of Christ are you? Is your life characterized by righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit? The old hymn asks, “Is your all on the altar of sacrifice laid?” Are you pursuing a life of faithfulness to Jesus? Amen

Embracing Christ As Lord

May 7, 2017

When a new administration comes to power we all have a choice. We can embrace the new administration or not. In some ways our choice makes little difference. Whether or not we embrace the new administration, new policies will be implemented and we will all be effected.

When Jesus came into the world, he came to bring a new administration. Through his death and resurrection, Jesus Christ has become Savior, Lord, and King. All authority in heaven and earth has been given to him. The question is will we embrace Christ as our Savior, Lord and King. Will we enter into his eternal life? I am going back to the gospel of Mark because there are passages that discuss what it means for Christ to be Lord in specific areas of our lives. This morning’s passage is not so easy, but it is very interesting. From this passage I want to say that all who embrace Christ as Lord are received by Christ the Lord.

I. WE HUMBLY RECEIVE ALL WHO SERVE IN JESUS’ NAME. Mk.9:38-40

Mark 9 begins with the transfiguration of Jesus in which Peter, James and John see his glory revealed and are told to listen to Jesus. When they come down the mountain they find the other disciples arguing with the scribes. A man in the crowd tells Jesus that he brought his son who had an evil spirit to the disciples that they might cast it out, but they could not. I wonder if in the back of his mind Jesus was thinking, “Man I can’t let these guys alone for a minute.” The thought came to me that maybe the reason Jesus was always taking Peter, James and John with him is because they were loose cannons. He had to keep his eye on them. After healing the boy, Jesus, for the second time, tells his disciples about his approaching death and resurrection. And again, they are clueless to understand.

In v.33 we find them in a house in Capernaum. Jesus asks his disciples what they were discussing on the way. They grew silent because they had been arguing about who of them was greatest. Jesus says, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” Then Jesus takes a child in his arms and says, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.” In that day children were not highly valued as they are today. Jesus was teaching that he came to serve those who are small and insignificant, those who are on the outs, so to speak. He humbly embraces those others would not embrace. And those who follow Jesus will do the same.

Let’s think about this. The 12 disciples were chosen by Jesus. And in their minds, if you were not part of their group then you were on the outs in regard to Jesus. We know that there were people who followed Jesus and were associated with the disciples. There were a number of women who actually supported Jesus and the disciples, and then there were people like Nathaniel, mentioned in Jn.1. These folks were on the approved list. They belonged to Jesus’ people.

But in these verses we learn about a man who was casting out demons in the name of Jesus. John and the others were concerned because they didn’t know this guy. He was not part of their group. He didn’t share in their fellowship and had not heard the personal teachings that Jesus gave them. They were suspicious. And so John and the others took it upon themselves to put a stop to what this man was doing. Even though he was casting out demons in the name of Jesus, because he was not part of their fellowship he could not possibly be right.

This action on the part of John and the others is consistent with their own lack of understanding regarding Jesus. Numerous times Jesus says they are hard of heart and slow to believe. They regularly argued about who of them was the greatest. They embraced worldly values when it came to power and success. They hindered children from coming to Jesus because they figured Jesus was too important to spend time with children. James and John were ready to call down fire on a Samaritan village. And they tried to get a leg up on the other disciples by asking for the seats of glory beside Jesus in the kingdom. There was at least one occasion when Peter rebuked the Lord as if he knew better than the Lord. And here in Mk.9:14-29, the disciples were themselves unable to cast a demon out of a young boy. And yet they were quite confident in their assessment that since this guy was not part of their group they needed to stop him from casting demons out of others.

When they told Jesus about this, instead of getting a commendation from Jesus, Jesus told them that they should not have stopped the man because, in fact, the man was doing a mighty work in Jesus’ name. He wasn’t working against Jesus. He was doing the works of Jesus in Jesus’ name or authority. The disciples had not considered that possibility.

I am reminded of when Paul was in Ephesus in Acts 19. Some itinerant Jewish exorcists saw how Paul cast out demons in the name of Jesus and they decided to give it a try. In Acts 19:13-16, we read, “Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims." Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. But the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?" And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.” The name of Jesus is not magic. Those men had no relationship with Jesus.

But the man in Mk.9 was actually having success serving in Jesus’ name. Instead of shutting this man down, the disciples ought to have at least humbly considered what this man was doing. They could have tried to learn more about the man instead of belittling him.

This passage speaks to a common problem. How do we regard Christians who are not part of our tradition? “Years ago, there were two churches in a certain community, a Methodist church and a Baptist Church. The Baptists were temporarily without a pastor when suddenly a church deacon died. The family asked the Methodist pastor if he would conduct the funeral service. This was the Methodist pastor’s first year in the ministry, and he felt he needed approval from the bishop. So he sent a telegram asking, “May I have approval to bury a Baptist deacon? The bishop quickly replied with a telegram that read, “Bury all the Baptists you can!”

I realize the situation in Jesus’ day is quite different from our situation today. Today we have three main branches of Christendom: the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church and the Protestant church. And each of these groups are divided into many sub groups. Each group has their own peculiar doctrines, traditions, and ways of understanding Scripture. Each group thinks it has the truth and the others have gotten it wrong. I wonder how Jesus would navigate his way through all of these Christian groups.

As I look at this passage, I am struck by an important thought. The most important thing is whether or not those who call themselves Christians embrace Christ as Lord. Do they fully believe and act on the truth that Jesus is God in the flesh and the only Savior, Lord, and King?

Someone says, “Well the Orthodox and Catholics believe in salvation by works. The Catholics have a faulty understanding of justification and sanctification. The Orthodox, Catholics, and Lutherans basically believe in baptismal regeneration. And we could go on. What about icons? What about the virgin Mary, transubstantiation and Purgatory?” I’m not saying that these things are unimportant. In my understanding it seems that the Orthodox and Catholics in particular bring a great deal of confusion in regard to what it means to know Jesus. I have spoken with people raised in the Catholic church who never understood the gospel of Jesus. And in the mainline Protestant churches there is outright denial of the scripture, the deity and exclusivity of Christ.

At the same time I also realize that there are those from our own tradition who have prayed a prayer for salvation, but who do not at all embrace Christ as their Lord. They do not acknowledge the Lord in their daily living.

The man in this passage may not have understood as much as the 12 disciples did, but he seemed to embrace Jesus Christ as Lord. He was trusting in Jesus and serving in the name of Jesus. We must be careful that we don’t write people off because they are not from our particular church tradition. At the very least we must humbly acknowledge anyone who wholeheartedly embraces Christ as Lord and serves others in the name of Jesus. I would much rather let Jesus sort it all out then write someone off because they are not in my group.

Now I am concerned for many who call themselves Christians today. I want to do whatever I can to help people understand who Jesus is and what it means to embrace him as Savior, Lord, and King. That is what the gospel is all about. If a person embraces Christ as Savior, Lord and King and seeks to live as his disciple are we willing to allow that they belong to Jesus, even if they are not part of our group?

II. WE GIVE HUMBLE THANKS FOR EACH ACT OF SERVICE IN JESUS’ NAME. Mk.9:41

Humble service is the path of Jesus. He makes this clear in so many ways. In Mk.10:45 Jesus says, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." In Mk.9:36-37 Jesus shows that he embraces and serves those who are dead last in the eyes of society, the children. And so, just as disciples of Jesus humbly receive all who embrace Jesus Christ as Lord, so disciples of Jesus give thanks for each and every act of service in Jesus’ name.

As I think about this passage I am struck by the fact that this man did not think he had to get approval from Jesus’ disciples. He was serving Jesus. Jesus is Lord. I am also struck by the fact that in stopping the man from casting out demons in Jesus’ name, they are belittling and dismissing his service as if it has little value. It’s as if they are saying, “You can’t cast out demons in Jesus’ name because you don’t know Jesus like we do since you are not part of us.” They were disqualifying him and his service.

Maybe you are one who has felt that your acts of service in the name of Jesus go unnoticed and have little significance. Well, that is not true. The Lord is fully cognizant of every act of service that we do for others. So we seek to serve the Lord for his honor and glory and not for the approval of others. That is not so easy for many of us. We often like the approval of others.

What might be dismissed by some is not overlooked by God. Jesus makes it clear that the smallest act of kind service is acknowledged by God. We are laying up treasure in heaven and will not lose our reward. When we serve others in the name of Jesus or because we acknowledge Jesus as our Lord, we are serving the Lord himself.

For all who are followers of Jesus, it is important that we not belittle or dismiss anyone’s service for Christ. A cup or water given in the name of Jesus is as valued as casting out demons. All of us are called to humble service in the way of Jesus.

This morning we are coming the Lord’s Table. Who is this table for? It is for all who in their heart of hearts are trusting in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins and life in the eternal kingdom of God. By faith you have owned Jesus as your Savior, Lord and King. By participating in the Table we are renewing our dependence upon Jesus for life. We are physically expressing our trust in Jesus as we eat the bread and drink the cup. We are saying that Christ is my life. And we are joyfully eating and drinking in the fellowship of all those who have yielded themselves to Christ as Lord. Amen

Receive the King

April 9, 2017

Palm Sunday is the beginning of Holy Week for Christians around the world. Reenactments of Jesus riding a donkey into Jerusalem take place in many countries, including Israel. People wave palm branches and then use those palm fronds to make palm crosses. Some of the palms are burned to provide ashes for Ash Wednesday of the next year.

But what is Palm Sunday all about? Why the parade, the donkey and the palms? I imagine that for the people who experienced that first Palm Sunday, everything seemed normal. It wasn’t as if people were saying, “What is going on here?” It all just seemed to happen spontaneously. Of course there is more to Palm Sunday than meets the eye, and it has to do with Jesus as King. And so today I want to ask, Is Jesus your King?

I. WE SEE THE PRESENTATION OF THE KING. Mk11:1-6

In Mk.10:46-52 we saw how Jesus healed blind Bartimaeus in Jericho in front of a large crowd. There was a crowd because by this time Jesus had become well-known for his miracles and teachings. But there was also a crowd because every year at this time many Jewish people were making a pilgrimage to Jerusalem in order to observe the Feast of Passover. You remember that Passover commemorated the time when God brought Israel out of slavery in Egypt.

Jesus’ disciples had recently come to understand Jesus to be the long awaited Messiah. Some of the people in the crowd also had that same belief. But most of the people didn’t know exactly what to think of Jesus.

If you have read through Mark’s gospel you know that often when Jesus healed someone he told that person to keep it quiet. When he cast demons out of people and those demons would cry out that Jesus is the Holy One of God, Jesus silenced the demons. Jesus tried to keep his identity secret. Why would he do that? One reason is that the Romans would have been very concerned if they thought that Jesus was planning some kind of political coup. In fact, in Jn.19:12, the Jewish religious leaders said to Pilate, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar." It is thought that Jesus did not want to stir up any unnecessary trouble in order to not jeopardize the work of God. It’s not that Jesus didn’t want people to know who he is. There were times when he privately affirmed the truth of his identity to others. But in public he kept a low profile.

However, in v.1-6 we find a number of indications that Jesus was making a careful statement about himself for those with eyes to see. For example, in v.1 Mark tells us that Jesus is on the Mount of Olives. The Mount of Olives is on the east side of Jerusalem, running north to south and it has religious significance for the Jews. In 2Sam.15:32 we learn that before the time of King David, the Mount of Olives was already a place where God was worshiped. In 586 B.C. when Babylon conquered Jerusalem, Ezekiel tells us in Ez.11:22 that the glory of the God of Israel went up from Jerusalem and stood on the mountain that is on the east side of the city.” God’s presence was departing from the temple. Zech.14:4 speaks of a day to come when the Lord will stand on the Mount of Olives in Judgment. This mountain was associated with the coming of the Messiah. And now Jesus the Messiah is standing on the Mount of Olives, preparing to enter Jerusalem.

And then there is the business of getting the colt. Jesus tells two of his disciples to go into the next village and they would find a colt tied up. They were to bring it to Jesus. But this wasn’t just any colt. This was a colt upon which no one had ever sat. Jesus gave instructions about what to say if anyone questioned them about taking the colt. “All you have to say is, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.” When the disciples went to get the colt it happened as Jesus said it would, showing Jesus’ divine knowledge and authority. But there is more.

In Zech.9:9 we read a prophecy about the Messiah. It says, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Matthew and John quote this verse in their gospels. Mark does not. Mark is more understated. I have read that it was a king’s prerogative to conscript an animal to ride upon. James Edwards also points out that according to the Mishnah, no other person was to ride a king’s horse.

My sense is that as Jesus was preparing to enter into Jerusalem he was taking steps to make a statement about the nature of his kingship and kingdom. Jesus, the king, was coming in humility, not in pomp and circumstance. He was coming in gentleness, not in a grand display of power. Jesus had no interest in setting up a political kingdom in this world. He wasn’t playing by the rules of this world. Jesus came to serve and to give his life as a ransom. And those of us who are followers of Jesus must understand this. We follow our humble King. We do not live by the ways of the world. We live by the way of Jesus. We take our cue from Jesus.

II. WE SEE THE RECEPTION OF THE KING. Mk.11:7-10

On the surface it would appear that Jesus received a very spontaneous and warm reception from the people. But what did their cheering mean? I have read that in the time of Jesus there was a heightened expectation that the Messiah would come to bring deliverance and reestablish the throne of David. People were hopeful that God was going to soon intervene in their situation.

In v.7-8 we see that they threw their cloaks on the colt and Jesus sat on the colt. Some spread their cloaks on the road while others spread leafy branches on the road. This was like a ceremonial welcome of a king. In 2Kgs.9:13 we see that when Jehu was anointed king of Israel it says, “Then in haste every man of them took his garment and put it under him on the bare steps, and they blew the trumpet and proclaimed, ‘Jehu is king.’” This is what they were doing for Jesus.

The people were shouting, “Hosanna!,” which means, “Save I pray.” In fact they were quoting from Ps.118:25-26, which says, “Save us, we pray, O LORD! O LORD, we pray, give us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! We bless you from the house of the LORD.” In Mark’s gospel it is not as clear that the people are proclaiming that Jesus is the anointed king, but it does have that ring to it. They also shout, “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David.” Now Jesus didn’t teach about the coming kingdom of David. Jesus preached about the kingdom of God. This just goes to show that people were confused about Jesus. They were excited and it seems that some were clearly expecting that Jesus was the one who would reestablish David’s throne in Jerusalem.

Now it is important to understand that one can receive Jesus in a very positive way and yet miss the person of Jesus. There was a great deal of enthusiasm in this crowd regarding Jesus. You would think all these people were joyful followers of Jesus. But we will see that like the seed that was sown on the rocky soil, most of these people had received the word with joy, but the gospel had not taken root in their hearts. These people misunderstood what Jesus was about. They were not thinking about a messiah who would give his life as a ransom. They were thinking about a messiah who would drive Rome out and set up the throne of David once again.

Over the years Jesus has often received a warm welcome. But many who think highly of Jesus do so because they have shaped Jesus into someone who meets their expectations. For example, many commend Jesus for his sermon on the mount, and his message of love. People like it that Jesus said, "Judge not, that you be not judged,” and they quote that verse. If Jesus were to pay a visit, I have no doubt that many would welcome him. But a joyful welcome does not necessarily demonstrate heartfelt faith in Jesus. If we pick and choose what we like about Jesus we will do so to our own demise. If we don’t receive Jesus in the totality of who he is (God in the flesh), we don’t receive Jesus at all.

Please ask yourself about what you think of Jesus. Do you know what you think about Jesus? Who is Jesus to you? What role does Jesus have in your life? Is he someone you grew up hearing about in Sunday School and church? Or is he your Lord and King? Having warm feelings about Jesus does not mean he is your Lord and King.

III. WE SEE THE INTENTION OF THE KING. Mk.11:11

This verse is interesting because Mark is the only one who has it. In Matthew and Luke, Jesus enters the temple and immediately begins to drive out the money changers and merchants. The temple had its own currency and if you were going to make a contribution you needed to exchange your currency for the temple currency. The merchants sold preapproved animals for those who needed a sacrifice. It was convenient to be able to purchase a sacrifice right there at the temple. And John tells us that the merchants sold oxen, sheep, and pigeons. This selling took place in the court of the Gentiles.

But what about v.11. Why does Mark have Jesus coming to the temple late in the day, having a look around and then leaving? What’s the point? Well, first observe that Jesus does not go to the center of government. He goes to the center of worship. And notice that the crowd has disappeared. I don’t want to read more into this than is warranted, but the thought comes to me that Jesus’ interest was not the crowds’ interest. Jesus had a different intention. They wanted a change in government. Jesus had another more significant change in mind and the crowds began to lose interest.

The phrase, “looked around,” is interesting. This word is found six times in Mark and once in Luke. Five of the six occurrences in Mark have to do with Jesus. All five occurrences convey a very intense looking on the part of Jesus.

For example, in Mk.3:5, Jesus was going to heal a man with a withered hand in a synagogue on the Sabbath. He asked the Pharisees whether it was lawful to do good or harm on the Sabbath and they refused to answer. It says, “And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was restored.” Then in Mk.5:32-33, after the woman touched Jesus’ cloak to be healed of her bleeding, we read, “And he looked around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth.” The other occurrences are Mk.3:34 & 10:23.

What was Jesus intensely looking at? Well, we get a clue from v.12-25. In v.12-14 we learn that on the next day Jesus curses a barren fig tree and then look at v.15-19 (read). My sense is that on what we call Palm Sunday, Jesus came to the temple to see what was going on at his Father’s house, and what he saw disturbed him. Because of the lucrative and perhaps dishonest business that was going on, Gentiles who might want to worship God, were hindered and distracted.

But there is another thought. What is greater, the temple or Jesus? If you answered, “Jesus,” you are right. In Mt.12:6 Jesus claims that he is greater than the temple. In fact Jesus is the new temple. It is in and through Jesus that the presence of God is with us. Jesus did away with the temple. In the next chapters of Mark, Jesus shows that the temple is no longer the focus of reconciliation with God and worship. In fact, when Jesus dies on the cross, the curtain baring entrance into the Holy of Holies in the temple is ripped in two. Jesus is the new and living way to God.

Jesus is the new temple. We come to Jesus in order to be reconciled with God through the forgiveness of our sins. Some people have the idea that going to church gives them a little extra credit when it comes to God. “If you want to be blessed get yourself in church.” But, no. If you want God, you need to come to Jesus. Every chapter of Mark’s gospel draws our attention to Jesus. He alone is the Savior, Lord and King.

After President Trump was elected, we heard many protesters shouting out, “Not my president.” We understand what they are saying, but it doesn’t change anything and their lives are probably not going to change in any significant way. Life goes on.

It is different in the case of Jesus Christ. Jesus is not king for four years. He is King forever. He alone can give a person eternal living in the good, eternal kingdom of God. Those who turn to Jesus and embrace him as Savior, Lord and king receive the same kind of life he himself has. Now of course, you can say, “Not my King.” It’s your choice. However the implications are staggering. To reject Jesus is to turn one’s back on God and eternal life. It is to reject the love of God that is offered through his Son, Jesus Christ. Is Jesus your King today?

On the Road With Jesus

April 2, 2017

With the advent of smart phones and tablets many things have changed. This week I heard that an app on your smart phone may replace the ATM card as a means of security when you need to get cash. You access the ATM through your smart phone. It’s amazing.

But the down side of smart phones and tablets is that our eyes tend to be riveted to our phones and tablets. Instead of focusing attention on the people talking with us, we are looking at our phones. It’s hard to pull away. You see this everywhere.

This morning we are in Mk.10:32-52. In these verses we are, again pointed to Jesus, the Christ. Just as people can spend hours looking at their smart phone or tablet, I would like to suggest that we really need to shift the focus of our attention. From this passage let me say that disciples of Jesus have their eyes riveted on Jesus.

I. JESUS LEADS THE WAY FOR ALL WHO FOLLOW HIM. Mk.10:32-34

We have been following Jesus in his ministry in northern Israel. But in 10:17 we learn that Jesus sets out on “his journey.” Mark does not detail every twist and turn of that journey, however in 10:32 we learn for the first time that Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem. The reason they were going up is because Jerusalem is built on a mountain.

In Mark’s gospel, there are three passages in which Jesus clearly tells his disciples what is going to happen to him. The first passage is found in 8:31. The second is found in 9:31, and the third is found in the passage we are looking at. In all three passages Jesus speaks of his death and resurrection. On each occasion when Jesus says these things it appears that his disciples have other agendas in mind. In Mk.8 Peter takes the Lord aside and rebukes him. Peter knows better. In Mk.9 the disciples begin arguing about who among them is the greatest. Here in Mk.10 James and John come to Jesus with a selfish request that we will look at in a moment.

Again, in Mk.9 we learn that the disciples were afraid of what Jesus said. Here in Mk.10:32 we see that they were amazed and afraid as they saw Jesus heading to Jerusalem. In light of what Jesus had been telling them it did not seem prudent to go to Jerusalem. In these verses Jesus gives more details about what will happen in Jerusalem. The Jewish leaders will condemn him and the Gentiles will kill him. He will be mocked, spit on, flogged, killed, and then rise from the dead.

Two other observations: Note that Jesus is walking ahead of them on the road. Jesus the Messiah, God’s anointed king, is leading the way to certain death. And notice what he says in v.33. “We are going up to Jerusalem.” And I can just hear the disciples saying, “Wait, did he say, ‘We are going?’” They were afraid.

These verses indicate just what kind of King Jesus is and what he expects of those who would be his disciples. He is out in front, leading. It is true that there was a growing sense of dread in Jesus, himself. In Lk.12:50 Jesus says, “I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished!” He is referring to the cross. Despite the knowledge of his approaching suffering and death, Jesus leads the way.

Of course, this presents a decision for all who profess to be followers of Jesus. Will we go with him? In taking up our cross we are not alone. We are not without direction. The Lord Jesus goes before us. He is leading many sons to glory, as the writer of Hebrews says.

Reginal Heber, English bishop of Calcutta who died at 42 years old in 1826, is known for writing the hymn, “Holy, Holy, Holy.” In another hymn that he wrote, the first stanza says, “The Son of God goes forth to war, a kingly crown to gain; his blood red banner streams afar: who follows in his train? Who best can drink his cup of woe, triumphant over pain, who patient bears his cross below, he follows in his train.”

Following Jesus is serious business, not because Jesus is a hard task master who seeks to make our lives difficult. Jesus invites all to take up his yoke which is easy. He says that his burden is light. The difficulties come from living the Christ life in this world that is under the thumb of the evil one. Why would anyone sign up for this kind of life, dying to self and the world? We will see in a few moments. The question is, are you on board? Are you following Jesus on the road? Are your eyes riveted on Jesus our King?

II. JESUS MODELS THE LIFE FOR ALL WHO FOLLOW HIM. Mk.10:35-45

Don’t you just love their statement in v.35? “We want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” Who would say such a thing to Jesus? All of us. Jesus asks them, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” After hearing Jesus say these very sobering things, James and John come to Jesus with a request like this? Where did that request come from? Well, it came from a self-centered view of discipleship. Despite what Jesus said, they were thinking that he was going to overthrow Roman occupation and set up a new kingdom of Israel. They did not understand his words. My sense is that in their minds they imagined a battle with Rome and certain victory. James and John realized that there was an opportunity that needed to be seized upon. If Jesus was going to be Israel’s next king, surely he would need advisors on his right and left. James and John were ready to assume those important positions.

Their concept of discipleship was rooted in worldly ideas. Let me point out that this is not unlike the prosperity preachers of our day. They preach that if you are a follower of Jesus you will prosper in terms of wealth, possessions, and health, along with heaven when you die. You are a child of the king and the king wants to give you only the best. Open your ears! This is not the gospel Jesus preached.

But isn’t it encouraging for us to see that even though their understanding of discipleship was self-centered, Jesus still brought them along? All of us have self-centered ideas of discipleship in one way or another. Jesus continues to lead, teach and use us. In v.38 Jesus says, “You guys don’t have a clue. Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” “Yes,” they say. Jesus informs them that those positions are not his to grant.

Of course the other disciples are indignant that James and John would try to lock in these seats of honor for themselves. Their indignation reveals their own self-centered discipleship to Jesus. So Jesus calls them all together for a lesson about living life in the kingdom of God.

In these verses Jesus identifies the general way that leadership is expressed in the world. It is about dominance, authority, power, and position. We see it played out in the gang wars of our cities, in the party politics of Chicago, Springfield, and Washington. We see it portrayed on the television and movies. We see it in the world of sports. We see it in business. And we even see it in our churches and our seminaries as they compete for numbers. We are not talking about the desire to be the best you can be. We are talking about the desire to be better than others and to be promoted over others. We are not talking about receiving a promotion. We are talking about maneuvering for an edge over others in order to get that promotion. We are not talking about having authority. We are talking about using authority to secure our lives at the expense of others. Whenever that kind of thinking and desiring motivates us, we are not in the way of Jesus.

And Jesus makes that very clear. “It shall not be so among you.” A more accurate translation says, “It is not this way among you.” In other words, “This is not the way we role in the kingdom of God.” The way of the kingdom of God is the way of service. “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant.” The word is deacon. It means to wait on tables. In the kingdom of God the great people are those who are at the beck and call of others, waiting to serve. And just to be clear Jesus adds that if you want to be first, in the kingdom of God you must be last. You must be a slave of all. This is why when graduation takes place at Taylor University in Indiana, every graduate receives a towel along with their diploma. Followers of Christ carry the towel of service.

But this is not just a principle for Jesus’ disciples. This is the way of Jesus himself. He came into the world to serve and to give his life as a ransom, a payment for all who will have him as Savior, Lord, and King. What does Jesus ransom us from? He ransoms us from the power of sin. He ransoms us from our slavery to sin. He ransoms us from the guilt of our sin, in order that we may be liberated to eternal living in Christ. He was despised and rejected. He humbled himself, taking the form of a slave, dying a slave’s death on the cross.

If you have entered into the life of Jesus, it means you embrace the way of Jesus’ life. We cannot separate the life he is giving us from the life he is living in us. In Gal.2:20 Paul writes, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” His life becomes our life. Jesus is not asking his disciples to try a little harder next time. He is challenging his disciples to attend to him. We must rivet our eyes, our hearts on him. How did Jesus live? He gave his life and did not seek his own advantage.

III. JESUS WELCOMES ALL WHO FOLLOW HIM. Mk.10:46-52

Jesus and his disciples were on the road, passing through Jericho, making their way to Jerusalem. Blind Bartimaeus was sitting by the roadside. There was a great crowd gathered around. When Bartimaeus learned that it was Jesus who was passing by, he began to cry out in an urgent appeal for help. As is often the case, the crowd tried to discourage Bartimaeus from making such an effort to meet Jesus. “Be quiet.” But Bartimaeus only cried out louder. Why? Well, clearly he had heard what Jesus can do for desperate people.

Bartimaeus identified Jesus as the son of David. If you attend prayer meeting on Wednesdays, you know that we have often mentioned one of the most important passages in the Old Testament. It is 2Sam.7. In 2Samuel 7, God makes a covenant with David that one of his descendants would reign forever on Israel’s throne. Bartimaeus associated Jesus with the promise of 2Sam.7:11-14. In other words Bartimaeus considered Jesus to be the coming Messiah.

Jesus called to Bartimaeus and Bartimaeus came to Jesus. He didn’t say, “Jesus I want you to do for me whatever I ask of you.” Instead, Jesus asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” James Edwards writes, “Desperation is the doorway to faith. Bartimaeus wanted to see. “Let me recover my sight.” Jesus responded by saying, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” Literally, “Your faith has saved you.” Did Bartimaeus go on his way? No. He recovered his sight and followed Jesus on the way, on Jesus’ way.

Why would anyone want to follow Jesus knowing that there is a cross to bear in this world? Only because that person has come to see that Jesus is the only means by which one can be liberated from sin and death, and enter into a brand new life to live, the life of Jesus himself.

In v.32 Jesus and his disciples are on the road to Jerusalem. The disciples shrink back in fear. They are struggling in their faith. They do not see. Bartimaeus gave himself fully into the hands of Jesus. He entrusted his whole life to Jesus. He had no desire to go his own way. He desired to go with Jesus. His eyes were riveted on his Savior. There is no one else to go to for life other than Jesus. And Jesus welcomed him.

So how does this engage our lives practically? Well, we are talking about a foundational principle of discipleship. Followers of Jesus are consumed with Jesus. Disciples rivet their eyes on Jesus. We attend to the person of Jesus by reading about him in the gospels, by opening our hearts and minds to Jesus in conversational prayer through the Holy Spirit, by taking steps to obey his commands, and by regularly coming to His Table to meet with Him. If you are not a follower of Christ you are like our friend Bartimaeus. He was blind. But Jesus is here today, and if you want to see, if you desire to have his new eternal life, he will welcome you. Cry out to him and ask him to forgive and cleanse you of your sin and to give you his life. He will do it. Samuel Crossman, a minister in the Church of England who died in 1683 wrote the hymn, My Song is Love Unknown. The first two stanzas go like this: 1) “My song is love unknown, my Savior's love to me, love to the loveless shown that they might lovely be. O who am I that for my sake my Lord should take frail flesh and die? 2) He came from his blest throne salvation to bestow, but men made strange, and none the longed-for Christ would know. But O my friend, my friend indeed, who at my need, his life did spend.” Jesus gave his life for us. He welcomes all who will bow before him in faith. Amen

The Transfigi....What?

March 26, 2017

Why is it that in every story we read or watch on T.V. there is adversity? Well, it’s because adversity is what makes the story compelling and ultimately fulfilling. It’s compelling and fulfilling because adversity is the reality of the lives that we live. Whether you are born on the other side of the tracks or born with a silver spoon in your mouth, all of us experience adversity in life. Stories showing how people face adversity encourage us.

Today we are in Mk.9:2-13. It is not the easiest passage to understand and yet it is a significant moment in the life of Jesus. Plus, it has significance for all followers of Jesus. We are looking at the transfiguration of Jesus. Some are saying, “The what?” Well just follow along. Jesus’ transfiguration is a source of encouragement for all who follow him.

I. BEHOLD OUR SAVIOR’S GLORY! Mk.9:2-8

Six days after Peter identified Jesus as the Messiah and Jesus challenged his disciples to take up their cross to follow him, Jesus took Peter, James, and John up a high mountain, which many believe to be Mt. Hermon. On the mountain Jesus was transfigured before them. In other words, his appearance was changed to the point that even his clothes became radiant, intensely white. And Elijah with Moses appeared. They were talking with Jesus. This amazing story is known as the Transfiguration. What is this all about?

One of the interesting aspects of this story is that it has a number of allusions to Mt. Horeb, otherwise known as Mt. Sinai, referred to in the Old Testament. Listen to Ex.24:15-18. “Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. The glory of the LORD dwelt on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. Now the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. Moses entered the cloud and went up on the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.” Moses was on Mt. Sinai and the cloud of God’s glorious presence covered the mountain.

It is also interesting to see that Elijah had an encounter with God on Mt. Sinai. In 1Kgs.19 Elijah was fleeing for his life and in v.8-11 it says, “And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God. There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" He said, "I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away." And he said, "Go out and stand on the mount before the LORD."

What is the significance of Elijah and Moses appearing and talking with Jesus? Various suggestions have been offered. The suggestion that I find most compelling is that Moses and Elijah were not only two of the most significant prophets of the Old Testament, but as we have seen, both of them had encounters with God on Mt. Sinai. And to my knowledge they are the only Old Testament prophets that encountered God on Mt. Sinai. What is more, Moses and Elijah appear together in one Old Testament passage, Mal.4:4-6, a passage which figures into the coming of Jesus Christ. In Mal.4:4-6 the Lord says, “Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel. ‘Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.’"

In Malachi. we learn that Elijah is a forerunner of the Messiah. In Dt.18:15 Moses says, “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers--it is to him you shall listen.” In Mk.9:7 God, speaking in the cloud, says to Peter, James and John, “Listen to him,” referring to Jesus. Moses and Elijah are connected to Jesus.

The transfiguration brings encouragement because it powerfully affirms that Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s Old Testament promise to send a Messiah. Jesus is the prophet envisioned by Moses. Jesus is the one for whom Elijah, in the person of John the Baptist, prepares the way. In the unfolding of history of Israel, God is faithful. We can trust him.

We don’t know what Elijah, Moses and Jesus were talking about. I don’t think they were giving Jesus advice. The focus was not on Elijah and Moses. When the cloud disappeared so did Moses and Elijah. Only Jesus remained. Jesus is the faithfulness of God in the flesh. Trust him. Listen to him.

According to v.5, Peter, James and John were terrified. Maybe to alleviate his fear, Peter blurted, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah." In other words, because this is such an astounding moment, it should be prolonged and preserved. Elijah, Moses, and Jesus all present together on the earth! “No. Peter you do not understand. Moses, Elijah and Jesus are not on the same level. They are not even close.”

We see that a cloud overshadowed them. The cloud of God’s presence was on Mt. Sinai with Moses. The cloud of God’s presence accompanied the people of Israel to Promised Land. The cloud that overshadowed on the mount of Transfiguration was also infused with the presence of God. And a voice came out of the cloud. “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” And with that Moses and Elijah were gone.

Clearly the focus is meant to be on Jesus. The ministries of Moses and Elijah are finished. The presence of God with men is found in the person of Jesus. John.1:14 says, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt (tabernacled, tented) among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” Peter, James, and John saw the glory of God fully present in the person of Jesus, for Jesus is God. This is another encouragement. If you know Jesus, you know God. The presence of God dwells in you since Jesus dwells in his people.

Why listen to Jesus? Why take up one’s cross? It is because Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel and the world. It is because Jesus brings the presence of God to our very lives. In Jesus, God is with us in all his glory and he will care for us as we take up our cross. Jesus is the faithful presence of God with us.

II. EMBRACE OUR SAVIOR’S STORY. Mk.9:9-13

Being up on the mountain was an incredible experience for Peter, James, and John. But at some point you have to come down from the mountain to everyday living. And with that in mind, Jesus tells them to keep what they saw and heard to themselves until after he has risen from the dead. Of course they did not grasp what Jesus meant by “risen from the dead,” but in the transfiguration one can see an anticipation of the glory of Jesus’ coming resurrection. They saw Jesus in his glorified state and this was meant to encourage them as they took up their cross to follow Jesus.

They had just seen Elijah and while they came down the mountain they had questions. One of their questions centered on Elijah. “Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” Jesus confirms what the scribes say and we know from the gospels that the ministry of John the Baptist fulfills what was prophesied concerning Elijah.

But there is more to this question than meets the eye. After all, if Elijah comes before the day of the Lord to restore all things, why on earth would the Messiah have to die? If all things are restored, people are repenting and being reconciled, why can’t the Messiah just come and reign? They are not able to wrap their minds around the idea that Jesus, the Messiah should die.

So Jesus counters with a question. In v.12 Jesus says, “Yes, Elijah does come first to restore all things. But wait, how can it be written that the Son of Man should suffer many things and be treated with contempt?” It’s like Jesus is saying, “Yes there is the prophecy about Elijah but there are also prophecies about the suffering Messiah.” In fact, many believe that in v.12 Jesus is alluding to Is.53:3, which says, “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” Jesus is applying this verse from Isaiah to himself.

And then in v.13 Jesus points out that Elijah has come, referring to John the Baptist. And Elijah also suffered. When we think about John the Baptist we know that he was beheaded for preaching the need for repentance.

What is the point of all this? I believe that in this passage God wants us to understand that the way to enter into his glory is the way of the cross. They saw the glory of God in the person of Jesus. That is who Jesus is. But Jesus also wanted them to understand that those who follow him, those who embrace his story, will encounter rejection and suffering just as he did. The suffering of Jesus does not diminish his glory. The suffering of Jesus on the cross opens the pathway to glory through his resurrection. As we embrace or enter into our Savior’s story, we also take up the way of the cross in our own lives. It is the only way to life in God’s kingdom. It is the only way to righteousness, joy and peace.

How does one embrace our Savior’s story? Well, seeing that he is God in the flesh, seeing that he is the way to eternal living through the forgiveness of our sins, we bow before him. We repent of our self-directed living. We put our faith in him alone, embracing him as our Savior, Lord and king, and we follow him for all of life.

Sometimes it can sound as if Christianity is a kind of bait and switch game. Think about it. The first seven chapters of Mark show Jesus as a miracle worker who does amazing things for people and teaches about entering into the kingdom of God. Jesus lived the kind of life that most would aspire to. And it was slowly dawning on some of Jesus’ followers that he was Israel’s Messiah, who would overthrow Roman occupation and make Israel great again. Why not follow Jesus? But then we come to Mk.8 and Jesus starts talking about how he is going to suffer, be rejected, be killed, and rise again. And he challenges his followers to deny themselves and take up their cross to follow him. It seems that Jesus is changing his tune. Instead of following him into the joy of the kingdom, now he tells us to follow him into suffering.

How many times have we heard someone share the gospel and make it sound like pie in the sky? If you turn to Christ everything will be great. All your problems will be gone, only to discover that the Christian life is far more challenging than was told to us. It sounds like a bait and switch. But it’s not a bait and switch. Jesus does indeed promise eternal living. He does indeed promise the forgiveness of sins. He does promise joy and peace. But this world is opposed to Jesus, and so those who embrace Jesus will also experience opposition from the world. Jesus’ transfiguration is a source of encouragement for all who follow him. We are encouraged because Jesus is God in the flesh who is faithful, present, and eternally alive. And he is living in us. Amen

Your Relationship With Jesus

March 19, 2017

It was 1990 and I was driving home from the church one afternoon. I was listening to Prime Time America on WMBI and I heard someone being interviewed by the host, Jim Warren. The person being interviewed was so compelling I asked, “Who is this?” I learned that it was Dallas Willard and I immediately bought his book, The Spirit of the Disciplines. Every so often we find someone so compelling that we make it our business to find out who it is. That is how it was and is with Jesus. His life is so compelling that people want to know who he is.

As I have been preaching these messages from Mark’s gospel, I have grown to appreciate this book a great deal. Today we are in Mk.8. Mark 8 is pretty much the center, the turning point of the book. And as you might imagine the center of this book has all to do with Jesus. You see, Our understanding of Jesus shapes our relationship with Jesus.

I. WHO DO YOU SAY THAT JESUS IS? Mk.8:27-30

In the first 7 chapters of Mark, we find a number of questions concerning the identity of Jesus. For example, people wonder where he got his teachings from. They wonder why he ate with tax collectors and sinners. They wonder how could he forgive sins. When Jesus calmed the storm in Mk.4, the disciples were overwhelmed and said, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" After Mk.8 we don’t find those kinds of questions, especially from the disciples. Mk.8 represents a watershed moment in the disciples understanding.

In v.27 we see that Jesus leaves Bethsaida with his disciples and they go 25 miles north to Caesarea Philippi which was located on the south western slope of Mt. Hermon. I read that 25 miles was a day’s walk. This is interesting because Caesarea Philippi was not a Jewish area. Mostly Gentiles lived there. What is more, there was a shrine to the god Pan at Caesarea Philippi. In Greek mythology, Pan was the god of the wild, shepherds, and flocks. Pan was half man, half goat. In other words this was a center of paganism. As they were walking Jesus asked, “Who do people say that I am?

What an interesting question. The disciples replied that some thought Jesus was John the Baptist raised from the dead. Others thought Jesus was Elijah. After all, in the Old Testament Elijah was taken to heaven without dying. And it is prophesied in the Old Testament that Elijah would return before the day of the Lord. Still others thought that Jesus was one of the prophets of old. In Dt.18:15 Moses said that, “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers--it is to him you shall listen.” Maybe Jesus was that prophet. In many ways these answers are a compliment to Jesus because John the Baptist, Elijah, and the prophets were held in high regard.

But then Jesus turns the question to his disciples. “But who do you say that I am?” I wonder what the disciples will say. After all, in v.17-21 Jesus had recently rebuked them because of their hardness of heart and misunderstanding. Peter speaks for the others when he says in v.29, “You are the Christ.” “You are the Messiah.” Christ (Christos) is the Greek word for the Hebrew word “messiah.” It means “to anoint.” The Christ is the anointed one, God’s anointed king. By the time of Jesus there was no kingdom of Israel. The kingdom of Israel had come to an end when Babylon defeated Judah in 586 B.C. However there were prophecies. For example in Jer.23:5 we read, “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.” In the days of Jesus there was a longing, a hope that such a king would come. Peter’s answer shows that they believed Jesus was that king. By the way, up until this point the recognition of Jesus as the Messiah, the Christ, had not been acknowledged by any human in Mark’s Gospel. At his Baptism, God affirms that Jesus is his beloved Son. And the demons seemed to recognize that Jesus is the Holy One of God. But here in Mk.8 we find the first human acknowledgment that Jesus is Israel’s anointed King.

Anyone who is exposed to the person of Jesus will have to answer this question, “Who do you say that I am.” The reason we must answer the question is because Jesus made powerful claims for himself and he did things that no other person can do. It really doesn’t make any difference what others think about Jesus. The question is what you think about Jesus. When Jesus asked, “Who do people say that I am,” the answers given were complementary, but they were completely inadequate. Those answers actually diminished who Jesus is. Jesus is not just a prophet. He is not Elijah. He is not John the Baptist. He is God in the flesh who has come as Israel’s Savior-King and the world’s Savior-Lord.

So, who do you think Jesus is? Let me ask you some questions: Do you believe that every miracle ascribed to Jesus in the New Testament is true? Do you believe that everything Jesus said is true? Do you believe that Jesus is God in the flesh who lived, died on the cross, bodily rose from the dead, and ascended to the Father? Do you believe that all authority in heaven and earth belongs to Jesus? Do you believe that Jesus is the only way to God? Do you believe these things to be true or not? If you are not sure about your answers, it will have significant bearing on your relationship with Jesus. Who do you say that Jesus is?

II. HAVE YOU TAKEN YOUR CROSS TO FOLLOW JESUS? Mk.8:31-38

Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Christ was a profound step in the disciples’ understanding about Jesus. But they still had much to learn. Think about this. So far in Mark’s gospel the disciples had seen the amazing things Jesus did. They heard the amazing teachings Jesus gave. They even went out in Jesus’ name and it says in Mk.6:13, “And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.” And yet, they struggled in their faith and understanding of Jesus. Jesus says their hearts are hard. By the way, this should be an encouragement to all of us because all of us struggle in our understanding and our faith in Jesus and yet, God desires to use us in ministry. And he does use us despite our lack of faith and understanding.

Jesus wastes no time in helping his disciples come to a clearer understanding about what it means for him to be the Christ, the Messiah. But the understanding that Jesus gives does not fit their expectations. A suffering Messiah who would be killed was not on their radar. And how could it even be possible that Israel’s religious leaders would reject the Messiah? It doesn’t make sense. In fact, it sounded like non-sense and Peter could not bear what Jesus was saying and knowing better than Jesus, he took Jesus aside to rebuke him. Jesus had begun to teach, Peter began to rebuke.

Jesus would have none of it. In front of the other disciples, Jesus rebuked Peter using strong words. “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” Wow! Just a bit earlier, Peter was acknowledging Jesus as the Christ. Now Jesus is calling Peter, “Satan?” Satan means, “adversary.” Peter didn’t realize that he was standing in the way of Jesus and the purposes of God. Peter was looking at things from an earthly perspective and didn’t even know it. He couldn’t know it because he did not understand the way of Jesus. Do you understand the way of Jesus?

What is the way of Jesus in this world? If you are going to follow in the way of Jesus how do you envision it? Peter had a vision of how the way of Jesus should be in the world. Peter was talking the way of the sword, the way of power, victory, success, and a restored kingdom of Israel. Jesus was talking suffering, rejection, death, and resurrection.

Notice in v.34 that Jesus calls the crowd to him. In other words, Jesus is talking to all of us. “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” I do not have time to discuss the absolute shame and disgrace implied by the cross. It was a form of Roman capital punishment reserved for only the worst criminals. If Mark was writing Peter’s recollections while in Rome, it would have been around the time when Nero crucified many Christians, making Jesus’ words about taking up one’s cross very relevant. But the question for us is, would you come after Jesus? Would you be a follower of Jesus? And if so, what is the designated way of Jesus in the world? It is the way of the cross. It is the way of righteous living in an unrighteous world. It is the way of trust in God in a world that trusts in self. It is the way of non-violence and surrender. It is the way of turning the other cheek and going the extra mile. It is the way of suffering and death. It is not the way of political or social advantage. It is not the way of white privilege or black power. It is not the way of democracy or socialism, democrats or republicans. It is the way of love for Christ and his church in a hostile world. It is the way of the cross.

In v.35-38 Jesus gives four reasons why it is to our advantage to take up our cross to follow him. The first reason in v.35 is that taking up one’s cross in discipleship is the only way to save one’s life. Jesus is not teaching that we are saved by our works. He is teaching that the only way to receive his life is to abandon one’s life to Christ and the cause of the gospel. And abandoning one’s life to Christ and the gospel means that we are not consumed with securing our physical lives in this world. We are consumed with Christ and the gospel. Following Christ is the way to life.

The next two reasons in v.36-37 have to do with discerning the value of one’s soul. To pursue life in this world, accumulating wealth, possessions, success, status, and pleasure is to misunderstand the value of one’s soul. If you give your soul to pursuing life in this world, you will lose it. And then what will you give to get your soul back? You have nothing to give that could ever equal the eternal value of your soul. God and his Son, Jesus never undervalue your soul. Jesus died and rose for the sake of your soul, your life. Listen to 1Jn.2:15-17. “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life, is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”

A fourth reason for taking up one’s cross in discipleship is that it is the only way to experience the glory of God and hear his, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” To not take up one’s cross is to be ashamed of Jesus and his words in the world and if we are ashamed of Jesus he will be ashamed of us when he comes. The life that Jesus lives is the same life that Jesus gives to all who follow in his way. The compelling life of Jesus that we see in Mark is the same life that he will give to you, if you want him. And the only way to have him, is to become his faithful follower through repentance and faith in him.

So let me ask, would you be willing to die for Christ? I would like to think that I would be willing to die for Christ. But that question is difficult to answer. The real question is am I currently dying for Christ? In other words, do I take up my cross daily to follow Jesus? Do I seek to die to myself daily and follow Christ when I’m with others and when I am alone, when I am at home, at work, at church, and in the affiliations I choose to be a part of? Taking up one’s cross is to embrace a daily, ongoing death to self in order to follow Jesus. Amen.