Mark Pt. 10: Big Picture Parables

Pt. 10: Big Picture Parables

4:21-34 [NASB 1995]

Four Parables about Big Picture Principles

2 about God’s Word, 2 about The Kingdom of God

As disciples of Jesus Christ we do well to grasp and live by these principles

As context we keep in mind what Christ said about the 1st parable He told

Then Jesus said to them, “If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables? ~  Mark 4:13

That was regarding the way God’s Word works in different people’s lives

These parables continue to teach us about who God is and How He operates…

God wants to transform us by the renewing of our minds

In order for us to walk closely with Him we need to understand Him

If you are a disciple of Christ, ask God’s Spirt in you for insight into His meaning

21 And He was saying to them, “A lamp is not brought to be put under a basket, is it, or under a bed? Is it not brought to be put on the lampstand? 22 For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything been secret, but that it would come to light. 23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”

  • This parable come right after the previous on the nature of God’s Word
  • This is a continuation of teaching about ‘God’s Word’
  • The purpose of light: make things more visible; light enables us to see better
  • God’s Word, [His revealed will & ways] gives us the ability to see more clearly
  • God’s Word combined the The Holy Spirit’s Illumination reveals all truth
  • If God enables you to understand this then ACT ON IT!

24 And He was saying to them, “Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides. 25 For whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.”

  • The difference between the idea of hearing and the idea of listening
  • Again this parable has an understood context that it is about God’s Word
  • The more you live based on God’s Word the more it will be revealed to you
  • There is no middle ground here, seek and get more or don’t and get ZERO!

26 And He was saying, “The kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil; 27 and he goes to bed at night and gets up by day, and the seed sprouts and grows—how, he himself does not know. 28 The soil produces crops by itself; first the blade, then the head, then the mature grain in the head. 29 But when the crop permits, he immediately puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

  • God’s Kingdom operates on principals that can’t be explained by our senses
  • We have learn a lot about our natural world, yet we don’t know everything
  • The farmer doesn’t understand it all but he trusts it
  • But when we do know from experience it is time to act, we should not hesitate
  • He knows his role in the process and he plays that role

30 And He said, “How shall we picture the kingdom of God, or by what parable shall we present it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the soil, though it is smaller than all the seeds that are upon the soil, 32 yet when it is sown, it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and forms large branches; so that the birds of the air can nest under its shade.”

  • ‘How might I describe the Kingdom of God?’
  • The mustard seed appears to be part of something small, based on our senses
  • Yet in ways we can’t comprehend it becomes part of something massive
  • It grows to become support for other things; an unlikely foundation 

33 With many such parables He was speaking ‘The Word’ to them, so far as they were able to hear it; 34 and He did not speak to them without a parable; but He was explaining everything privately to His own disciples.

  • The Word, God’s Word is communicated by Christ through examples / parables
  • The crowd understood them to varying degrees…[w/ Holy Spirit Illumination]
  • To the Disciples: Personal Jesus Illumination! [this is what it means to ‘walk’]
  • Christ reveals things to His disciples that not everyone gets to understand 
  • This right here, right now is that sort of debrief, as we gather, HE is among us!

SUMMARY:

Parable #1: A lamp is ‘God’s Word’ being revealed / illuminated to people, explaining reality about God or to show what the truth is about something. 

God’s influence in our lives is light: There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.  ~  John 1:9

Parable #2: What you listen to is a reflection of what you value. The way you value God’s Word is proportional to how much understanding of it will be given to you. Abundance will be multiplied and lack of will become total.

“For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.”  ~  Matthew 25:29

Parable #3: A foundational principle of God’s Kingdom is that HE makes all the growth happen that is necessary to enter into the Kingdom and harvests [saves] those who become ready. WE get to participate in the harvest: “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”  ~  Matthew 9:37&38

Parable #4: The mustard seed represents the otherworldly nature of the Kingdom of God. What can seem insignificant to our senses can be used by God to become so important it supports other things.  ~  And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”  ~  Matthew 19:26

Jesus’ words to the general population are unexplained parables, to many they are without meaning. God allows Christ’s disciples to understand the spiritual significance of His parables. “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”   ~  Matthew 11:15

APPLICATION:

What specific parts of YOUR LIFE could use some of God’s light shined on them?

What actions can YOU take to honor God’s Word and treat it as more valuable than you currently do?

What are some ways YOU can make yourself more available to join God in His work going on around you?

What resources can YOU use to evaluate what is valuable based on God’s point of view?

What are some ways YOU can be actively grateful for the spiritual understanding God has given you?

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Mark Pt. 9: Responding To The Word of God

MARK 4:1-20 ‘THE 4 SOILS’

There is nothing more important you will do in this life than respond to God’s Word. What does Jesus mean when He uses the term ‘God’s Word’? God’s Word embodies who He is. It is the revelation of His character, His will for mankind and the ways in which He calls us to relate to Him.

God’s Word is given to us though Scripture, by The Holy Spirit in various ways and Christ was the living Word. The Biblical Gospel of Jesus Christ is God’s Word. God’s Word has a purpose in our lives; through recognition, surrender and obedience to IT we are reconciled and united with Our Creator. Biblical Salvation!

The gravity of this passage is immense! Jesus states it’s importance clearly…Christ is basically going to say; If you can’t understand how the Word of God works in this world with different people you will not understand anything else about God.

What happens with my response to God’s Word determines my eternity.What I do with God’s Word on a daily basis is a measure of my stewardship of that Word.

Mark 4:1-20

1 Once again Jesus began teaching by the lakeshore. A very large crowd soon gathered around him, so He got into a boat. Then he sat in the boat while all the people remained on the shore.

  • The Sea of Galilee, NW shore
  • They had prepared for this day [mark 3:9]
  • Instead of clamoring to touch Him, they chilled, and became teachable

2 He taught them by telling many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: 3 “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed. 4 As he scattered it across his field…

  • The way HE taught was with real life situations, relatable examples…
  • You don’t need to be a farmer to understand, just need to have seem ‘ground’
  • He begins with ‘Listen’! He is declaring this to everyone
  • The farmer starts with intention: desire is to plant what he has so it bears fruit
  • He has seeds from the previous crop

some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it.

  • 1st Soil, not even soil…
  • Part of the field he was planting in had a path [exposed ground]
  • Birds eating it is finality…

5 Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. 6 But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died.

  • 2nd Soil, there is dirt there but rock below [field clearing = rock removal]
  • It started strong, but over time and in normal conditions…
  • No roots = No Future…for plants and people

7 Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain.

  • 3rd Soil. Plant can grow in this soil…problem is…
  • Other plants were using that soil, and they were there first!
  • They were more established and dominated the resources
  • There were little seedlings that did not reproduce
  • All mature things reproduce

8 Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”

  • 4th Soil, fertile soil: Receptive / Prepared / Positioned
  • They not only sprouted they grew to the point of reproducing [giving off seed]
  • They continue to reproduce maturity that reproduces…multiplication of maturity

9 Then he said, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”

  • Those who The Holy Spirit gives the gift of ‘Illumination’ do well to pay attention
  • Do you have ears to hear?

10 Later, when Jesus was alone with the twelve disciples and with the others who were gathered around, they asked Him what the parables meant.

  • Debrief time: The twelve & others…what others? [audience]
  • They all wanted to know… They were teachable

11 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders, 12 so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled: ‘When they see what I do, they will learn nothing. When they hear what I say, they will not understand. Otherwise, they will turn to me and be forgiven.’” [Isiah 6:9b-10]

  • Permitted to Understand = Spiritual Illumination [Matthew 16:15-17 [‘not flesh..]
  • Secret = Mysteries [mysteries ARE Knowable by nature]
  • God’s Word says some people will not get it!
  • When God himself speaks [Jesus on Earth] it will go over people’s head
  • The opposite of not understanding is turning to God, [repenting] being forgiven

13 Then Jesus said to them, “If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables?

  • The way of the Word of God is rudimentary
  • The basic method of a parable is to apply the principle of the example
  • Only parables so far were about garment patching & wineskins [2:21-22]
  • This really is the ‘Intro To Parables’ portion of Christ’s school of God’s Word
  • Recognize pattern of ‘spiritual application’ Jesus shares, use it as an example

14 The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others. 15 The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away.

  • The farmer has something [God’s Word / Gospel] and HE wants to reproduce it
  • Soil #1 is given the Word of God, they ‘HEAR’ it
  • But it is taken before they ‘LISTEN’
  • Seed on a footpath is exposed to the birds / people live exposed to satan / evil
  • It is too easy for the birds to find and devour…

16 The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. 17 But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word.

  • Soil # 2 ‘Rocky Soil’
  • The conditions were nothing extraordinary: [problems & persecution normal]
  • Is God’s Word too hard when life happens?

18 The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, 19 but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced.

  • Soil # 3 among the thorns…[thorny crown]
  • Things that were there before the Word, established things, suck up all the life
  • Worry about material needs, wealth, and status take priority over God’s Word
  • God’s Word can’t get healthy enough to produce fruit in this person…
  • Whatever is not healthy enough to reproduce, dies!

20 And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!

  • Soil # 4 ‘The Good Soil’ What makes it good? Rather WHO makes it good…
  • The seed / Word of God falls, they hear it AND accept it
  • God’s Word Planted in ‘fertile / good’ soil produces more of the same
  • IT REPRODUCES!
  • Not addition, Multiplication!

SUMMARY:

Jesus Christ teaches there are four distinct ways the Word of God works in people’s lives. Christ says this parable is foundational in understanding His message.

The ‘Farmer’ spreading seed is God reveling His ‘Word’ [His Will & Ways]

The ‘Field’ [Our World] has four distinct ‘Soils’ [Geographic Areas] representing different people receiving God’s Word.

Soil 1: A path that has no chance of growing seed. Exposed to the enemy, the seed / Word of God dies. This person lives without acknowledging or obeying God’s Word.

Soil 2: Soil that has rocks beneath. Unable to establish roots, the plants cannot endure ‘normal life’. The seed / God’s Word, is emotionally received but has no future. This person is open to God’s Word for a season, not eternity.

Soil 3: Soil that grows stuff. Choked out by ‘needful things’, this seed does not get the resources needed to thrive, it does not mature and reproduce. This person cannot prioritize God’s Word over material and emotional lusts.

Soil 4: Soil made to grow ONE particular thing. The seed / God’s Word is able to mature and reproduce, multiplying what was planted. This person is the ‘Good Soil’. One who is fully surrendered to God’s Word & Will. This is what Biblical salvation looks like.

APPLICATION:

Since Jesus says this parable is so important, let us make it the topic of conversation for the next week.

What principals in God’s Word have you at times been a footpath or rocky soil to? How might you change that?

Get with someone you trust and evaluate each other on how much the cares of this world impact your discipleship to Christ, then hold each other accountable to change.

How can you be a bigger part of multiplying the Gospel? Initiate change today.

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Mark Pt. 8: The True Family Of Christ

Supernatural Reality & Spiritual Family

Jesus tied up Satan and plundered his house. What He took was my soul, perhaps your soul. Jesus has the Spiritual Authority to constrict the Enemy & a Spiritual Family love for His followers. Christ exercises His Spiritual dominion over the kingdom of satan throughout the Gospel of Mark.

Today, all over the world, Christ is plundering the strong man’s house and claiming souls as HIS. But ‘The Strong Man’ is not without weapons to try to guard His house…The world and it’s citizens will claim all sorts of wrongs things about the one true God. It’s goal is to depict God falsely…to undermine His authority, grace & goodness.

Ignorance of God is forgivable…but if Christ has revealed Himself to you and yet you deny who He is, specifically His Supernatural / Spirit nature…Let’s see what our Lord says in our text today…

It is that supernatural nature, specifically The Holy Spirit, through who we become part of the family of ‘The One True God’ when we believe The Biblical Gospel of Jesus Christ. Surrender of one’s life to Christ, and recognition of His Lordship makes people a part of a supernatural family. [Bond of The Spirit]

In our passage today it’s Homecoming for Jesus…

Mark 3:20-35

20 And He came home, and the crowd gathered again, to such an extent that they could not even eat a meal. 21 When His own people heard of this, they went out to take custody of Him; for they were saying, “He has lost His senses.”

  • At this point Jesus travels to Nazareth and it is a BIG deal [celebrity]
  • His extended family, think He has lost His marbles… [Messiah Complex???]

22 The scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons.”

  • Once again the Law of Moses worshiping religious leaders are watching Him
  • They claim Jesus is possessed by Satan, who is then commanding his minions
  • They can see no way that this is God…has to be something else…

23 And He called them to Himself and began speaking to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.”

  • For the rest of the passage the Scribes are who Jesus will address
  • So Jesus said ‘come here all you scribes and listen to me’…
  • He points out their argument makes no sense
  • When He refers to Kingdoms & Houses, this represent absolute loyalty
  • Satan minions always work for Him

26 “If Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but he is finished! 27 But no one can enter the strong man’s house and plunder his property unless he first binds the strong man, and then he will plunder his house.”

  • If it comes to the point where Satan is taking out his own guys, it’s over
  • What is really happening in the supernatural realms is WAR!
  • In a war you have to take the leader out of commission to take his stuff

28 “Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— 30 because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”

  • Jesus uses the phrase: ‘truly I say to you’, prior to dropping serious truth
  • Blaspheme: to speak evil of, to disrespect, mock and show contempt for
  • The Scribes were claiming the supernatural power was of evil origin
  • They would not know holiness if it smacked them in the face!

31 Then His mother and His brothers arrived, and standing outside they sent word to Him and called Him. 32 A crowd was sitting around Him, and they said to Him, “Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are outside looking for You.”

  • The extended family went and got Jesus’ immediate family
  • The ‘they’ is the Scribes who are trying to discredit Jesus
  • Instead of hearing what Jesus is saying they move on to the next tactic

33 Answering them, He said, “Who are My mother and My brothers?” 34 Looking about at those who were sitting around Him, He said, “Behold My mother and My brothers! 35 For whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and mother.”

  • He answers ‘them’ which is the Scribes…with a question
  • The family relationship flows from putting your faith in Christ
  • It is a Spirit Bond; that comes from doing God’s will [surrendering to Christ]
  • When we are rightly related to God we can be rightly related to each other
  • What is real family about? What makes family?

BIG IDEAS:

Walking with God will be mistaken by most as a loss of common sense.

Nonsensical spiritual things will be attributed to Christ. [Non-Biblical things]

There are only two Kingdoms, they have nothing in common & are at war constantly.

Christ engages in supernatural spiritual battle to ‘plunder’ your soul out of darkness.

Denial of the Holy Spiritual Essence of God places one into eternal un-forgiveness.

God’s family is based on the spiritual connection of shared faith in the Biblical Christ.

TRUTH INTO ACTION:

Use Ephesians 6:14-17 to detect and reject false claims about Christ & His Body.

Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. [NLT]

Using 1 John 1:5-6 as a guide, what do you see that is shared between God’s Kingdom and the Kingdom of darkness?

This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. [NLT]

How does Colossians 1:13-14 combine with this passage to define Biblical Salvation?

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. [NKJV]

Based on this passage and Christ’s words in Matthew 12:30-31, what constitutes ‘The Unforgivable Sin’?

“He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters. Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.”

Based on Christ’s words & Ephesians 2:19-22, what defines the connection that makes people part of God’s family?

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, in Whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In Him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. [ESV]

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Mark Pt. 7: Spiritual Balance & The Call To Lead

Biblical Discipleship Prepares Kingdom Leaders

We have two somewhat connected stories in today’s passage. We will learn some things that pertain to all who would be a ‘Disciples’ of Christ. We will learn somethings about being called to leadership of Christ’s body.

As followers of Christ we need both the healing & teaching of Jesus. As followers of Christ we all will be called to lead in some way, shape or form. Balanced discipleship prepares us to play the role God has for us, whatever that is. God’s Word guides us and points us.

Last week, during a visit to a synagogue, Jesus healed & taught…He healed someone, [no demonic component] & taught on the heart of the sabbath. He declared: “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” As Christ confronts the legalism of the Pharisees, they begin to plot with the followers of King Herrod to get rid of Him…

Mark 3:7-19

7 Jesus withdrew to the sea with His disciples; and a great multitude from Galilee followed; and also from Judea, 8 and from Jerusalem, and from Idumea, and beyond the Jordan, and the vicinity of Tyre and Sidon, a great number of people heard of all that He was doing and came to Him.

  • Back to Capernaum: Home base
  • Masses flocked to Him because He had been traveling, visiting synagogues
  • They heard of what Christ had done, [healing] not so much the message
  • Serious distances coved by seekers…

9 And He told His disciples that a boat should stand ready for Him because of the crowd, so that they would not crowd Him; 10 for He had healed many, with the result that all those who had afflictions pressed around Him in order to touch Him.

  • He knew many were realizing a need for connection to God
  • This is perhaps before He preaches from the boat..
  • There were people who believed they would be healed if they touched him
  • Christ wanted to teach as well as heal [long term spiritual healing vs quick fix]

11 Whenever the unclean spirits saw Him, they would fall down before Him and shout, “You are the Son of God!” 12 And He earnestly warned them not to tell who He was.

  • The implication is that not every affliction was the result of unclean spirits
  • When demons were the cause, they were compelled to bow & confess
  • Christ did not want the demons to communicate in any way to seekers
  • Demons obeyed Jesus’ command not to tell better than some people

…Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: “See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. ~ Mark 1:43-45

13 And He went up on the mountain and summoned those whom He Himself wanted, and they came to Him. 14 And He appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach, 15 and to have authority to cast out the demons.

  • The idea of the mountain was similar to Moses going up on Mt. Sinai
  • God called those He had a specific purpose to fulfill…He still does!
  • When Jesus gives one of His followers a call to leadership they they come
  • They would be with Him [Disciples] AND He would send them [Apostles]
  • God gives people He calls to be His leaders some of HIS Spiritual Authority.

16 And He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom He gave the name Peter), 17 and James, the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James (to them He gave the name Boanerges, which means, “Sons of Thunder”)

  • ‘Appointed’ them to a place of leadership and Mission
  • ‘The Big Three’ [Peter, James & John]
  • They were called to be leadership for the leadership
  • ‘Son’s of Thunder’ was tongue in cheek AND serious at the same time

18 and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot; 19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him.

  • The other 9…Each had a special role
  • Andrew was Peter’s support
  • Philip was a disciple of John The Baptist [Sound Meta-Narrative]
  • Bartholomew [AKA Nathaniel] was un-jaded and without guile
  • Matthew / Levi was to one day write one of the ‘Spirit Breathed’ Gospels
  • Thomas: We all have doubts God wants to address
  • James the lesser: took the Gospel to Persia [Not Levi / Matthew’s brother]
  • Thaddaeus [also called Judas / Jude] He questioned God the way we all should
  • Simon The Zealot: brought radical religious cachet; following Christ is radical
  • And Judas Iscariot…
    • Always mentioned with Iscariot to distinguish him from Thaddaeus
    • Judas is reminiscent of another character in Scripture… Saul

Our church wide 1st Samuel Study… Some heavy theology… often overlooked

Clear parallels between Saul & Judas: Both were selected by God for a specific role but it was not to obey and believe in God as God. Both appear to be part of God’s redeemed but end up proving they are not…

These two and others in Scripture do not ‘lose’ their place as belonging to God, they never did belong to God. Important theology regarding what the Bible teaches about salvation…We are all about what Scripture has to say about salvation / eternity

Biblical Gospel: ‘Once saved, always saved’

SUMMARY:

Jesus wants to connect us to God through healing and teaching; healing for now and teaching for on-going connection.

Jesus reveals Himself through His teaching and His healing, not through demonic proclamation.

God calls exactly who He wants to lead what He wants led. There are numerous roles in leadership of the Body of Christ, the scriptural model is a team of ‘role players’.

People can appear to be serving as leaders of God’s people when they have not fully surrendered their life to The God of The Bible. Such people, like Judas Iscariot and Saul, will ultimately betray the Lord.

APPLICATION:

Is your Christ discipleship a balance of Spiritual Healing and Scriptural Teaching? Do you see the need in your life for both? What adjustments could bring more balance?

What is your process for making certain there is no demonic influence in your relationship with Jesus Christ? Do you recognize the need to closely & biblically scrutinize influences?

Are you available to be called into some form of leadership in Christ Body? Are you willing to play whatever role Christ gives you as well as you can?

What criteria do you use to evaluate leadership of Christ’s Body? How much do you value consistent, time proven surrender to Christ’s Lordship, versus talent and style?

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Mark Pt. 6: The Heart of The Sabbath

WHAT OUR LORD HAS TO SAY ABOUTH THE SABBATH

Today we have two separate instances of Jesus talking about the sabbath. We do well to understand what Christ tells us about the sabbath.

What is the heart of the Sabbath?

On my pastoral Renewal Pilgrimage to The Holy Land in 2009 I learned a lot about the biblical principals we, as Christ followers, should apply to our ‘remembrance’ of the Sabbath. Let’s start with the commandment itself:

Remember The Sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and made it holy. ~ Exodus 20:8-11

  • The 4th commandment, 1st one after the big 3 directly about God
  • 7th day of the week, Hebrew week started on Sunday.
  • The word ‘Work’ has always been understood as essential activity to survive
  • As an example to mankind He completed His work [Creation] and THEN rested
  • That pattern; completed work, and then rest, is blessed and holy
  • When the work is done, the rest is now blessed…it ‘Re-Creates’ us

Our goal is to emulate the principals God has revealed to us about the Sabbath. But we also have to emulate God by having grace for those who differ in practice…

“Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath” (Colossians 2:16)

Not as crucial as salvation by grace, but important in our relationship with Christ

We seek the heart God in the gift of the Sabbath, not the sabbath rules. Jesus takes us directly to the ‘Heart of The Sabbath’ because it is God’s heart 4 U!

Chapter 2:23-28 [The Sabbath Is To Bless People]

23 And it happened that He was passing through the grain fields on the Sabbath, and His disciples began to make their way along while picking the heads of grain. 24 The Pharisees were saying to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”

  • Travel not for commerce but for pleasure, ‘Old School Road Trip’
  • Wheat or barley [raw grain]
  • They wanted Christ to enforce THEIR nitpicking legalism!
  • They were defining work incorrectly, what the disciples are doing is not work
  • It is not ‘work’ to work on your golf game or a new recipe or your yard…

25 And He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions became hungry; 26 how he entered the house of God in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the consecrated bread, which is not lawful for anyone to eat except the priests, and he also gave it to those who were with him?”

  • Jesus uses Scripture to answer [they consider themselves scripture experts]
  • He used the example of eating the bread to talk about rule worship in general
  • Because it’s recorded in Scripture as positive we must assume God is ok with it

27 Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

  • The curse made work wearisome…God gave us a day of rest and ‘re-creation’
  • The commands about the sabbath are meant to create relationship

Chapter 3:1-6 [The Sabbath Is For Doing Good]

1 He entered again into a synagogue; and a man was there whose hand was withered. 2 They were watching Him to see if He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. 3 He said to the man with the withered hand, “Get up and come forward!”

  • Another Sabbath, another synagogue
  • Jesus understood the set up, that the legalist were looking to cause trouble
  • He makes sure everyone sees what is is about to do

4 And He said to them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to kill?” But they kept silent. 5 After looking around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored.

  • He uses the term ‘lawful’ because that is what they are so intent on
  • He goes right to the heart of the matter: ‘what is the sabbath for?’
  • God is both angered & saddened when His creation misses His love for them
  • Jesus wants everyone to know he can restore all that is not as it should be

6 The Pharisees went out and immediately began conspiring with the Herodians against Him, as to how they might destroy Him.

  • The Pharisees were legalistic scribes [law worshipers]
  • The Herodians were secular supporters of the Roman backed king [illegitimate]
  • That these two group would conspire together is significant [typically opposed]
  • Christ threatened both groups hold on power
  • There holding power was more important that their disagreements

So we see the beginning of what would result in Christ being captured & put to death. God was right there in their midst and they totally missed it…

SUMMARY:

The Pharisees practiced a religion of worshiping rules. Taking God’s law and making the rules more important than God. We must always be on guard against legalism.

The Heart of the Sabbath is the peace of having our basic needs met while resting from the things we do the other six days to survive.

The Heart of The Sabbath is doing God’s work / ministry; that was what Jesus did on Sabbaths. [Teaching & Healing]

Worshiping rules and not caring for others hardens our hearts and moves us away from God. We anger and grieve God if we focus on rules and not relationships.

APPLICATION:

How does a Biblical Sabbath flow from achievement / completion of work?

Have you considered regularly practicing a Biblical Sabbath? What would that look like?

[2 Biblical Sabbath Essentials: rest from your normal ‘work’ & ministering to others]

Why is it important to hear and apply what Jesus has to say about the Sabbath?

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Mark Pt. 5: New Wine

The Biblical Gospel cannot be contained by old religious forms!

We got accepted to the pool / recreation club a couple of days ago… It is hard living as an outsider. The desire of each human is to be part of something / community, family

Last Week: Mark 2:10-12

…but so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic,“I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet and go home.” And he got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”

The big deal: The Son of Man was there to forgive sin!!! & heal…The forgiveness is the theological need we have, but how about the social need? We can be part of God’s Kingdom and feel like we are on the outside. Often we are made to think we are not good enough…but what Our Lord says is a very different message.

Mark 2:13-22

13 And He went out again by the seashore; and all the people were coming to Him, and He was teaching them.14 As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting in the tax booth, and He said to him, “Follow Me!” And he got up and followed Him.

  • Now at the seashore, his fishers of men have reeled in a crowd
  • He ‘Saw’ Levi
  • It took two words from ‘The Master’ for Levi to walk away from the life of luxury
  • What do we know about Levi??? Tax collector / [complete outsider]
  • Matthew 9:9-17

15 And it happened that He was reclining at the table in his house, and many tax collectors and sinners were dining with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many of them, and they were following Him.

  • Jesus @ Matthew’s house [very well off as a tax collector]
  • Matthew was an outcast of society, a pariah, ‘cuz he worked for the Romans
  • There were all the others on the margins of jewish forgiveness…
  • They had been told there was no forgiveness for them

16 When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that He was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they said to His disciples, “Why is He eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners?”

  • To eat & drink with someone was a show of unity & agreement [fellowship]
  • The legalism of the Jewish System: a judgmental spirit regarding social status
  • The religious powers pegged certain people as unworthy of God’s forgiveness

17 And hearing this, Jesus said to them,“It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

  • Everyone has the same illness: SIN
  • False Religion makes us feel a part, creating an ‘in-club’ of ‘The Righteous”
  • They may view themselves as righteous, they are not
  • God is saying: ‘I am here to heal those who realize they are sick’

18 John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting; and they came and said to Him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?” 19 And Jesus said to them, “While the bridegroom is with them, the attendants of the bridegroom cannot fast, can they? So long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. 20 But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day.”

  • The question is: why don’t you and your followers do things by our rules?
  • The Bridegroom is a title that has so much richness for us who belong to Christ
  • The time had come for a new way of doing things
  • This is the Gospel: The Good New is a new thing, not the way God was seen

21 “No one sews a patch of un-shrunk cloth on an old garment; otherwise the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear results.22No one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost and the skins as well; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins.”

  • With somethings you can’t mix old and new
  • The newness of what Christ has brought cannot be contained in the old system
  • The New Covenant / The Gospel of Jesus Christ can’t be added to the old deal
  • An entirely different understanding of a relationship with God that HE reveals

SUMMARY:

The ‘Kingdom Call’ is for the outsiders in this world, no particular social status required.

The recognition of the need for forgiveness [A sin problem you can’t fix] is the only thing you need to follow Jesus Christ.

Religious activity [fasting] is to be done based on the reality of who God is and to commune with Him, not to demonstrate your spiritual superiority.

Our relationship with God ‘In Christ’ is based in Judaism, but it is a whole new setup, not and add on tho the old system.

APPLICATION:

Have you heard the call to follow Christ?

How can you help outsiders become a part of God’s family?

How aware are you of your sin and the need you have for forgiveness?

Have you as a follower of Christ participated in ‘Biblical Fasting’? How might you make it a part of your relationship with God?

Are there old ideas about religion that you need to replace with Biblical ones?

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Mark Pt. 4: The Forgiveness Of Sin

Mark 2:1-12

1 When He had come back to Capernaum several days afterward, it was heard that He was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room, not even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them.

3 And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four men. 4 Being unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying. 5 And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

6 But some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 Immediately Jesus, aware in His spirit that they were reasoning that way within themselves, said to them, “Why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven’; or to say, ‘Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk’?

10 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, 11 “I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet and go home.” 12 And he got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”

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Mark Pt. 3: What Jesus Wants

Christ wants everyone to know Him

How much time do we spend figuring out what Jesus wants? We see him mostly as a teacher, a exorcist and a healer…and He is really in demand. But what does He want to show us trough His actions and words?

We are looking at the 1st days of His public ministry. He begins a pattern of prolific public ministry followed by Him going off alone for prayer and then initiating new things. He demonstrates how He wants to be highly accessible and highly personal. He shows them and us how He wants to be intimate and touch us with His influence. He is going to show His compassion and mercy on a big scale and it little ways. He is going to show us what He wants to do for us and with us

Mark 1:29-45 (NASB 1995)

29 And immediately after they came out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever; and immediately they spoke to Jesus about her. 31 And He came to her and raised her up, taking her by the hand, and the fever left her, and she waited on them.

  • Same day as the exorcism in the synagogue (lunch after church)
  • Simon’s mother [what about Andrew’s mom?]
  • Jesus finds out, Jesus comes to her [His presence] and ‘All Better’

32 When evening came, after the sun had set, they began bringing to Him all who were ill and those who were demon-possessed. 33 And the whole city had gathered at the door. 34 And He healed many who were ill with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He was not permitting the demons to speak, because they knew who He was.

  • STILL THE SAME DAY!!!
  • At the end of the sabbath they carted and carried those who were immobile
  • The whole city is at Simon & Andrew’s door…’The Man’ is in demand
  • Healing for diseases and demon possession [not the same thing]
  • He didn’t let the demon talk

35 In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there. 36 Simon and his companions searched for Him; 37 they found Him, and said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.”

  • After a day of teaching and confronting demons…then an evening of healing
  • PRAYER = Connection
  • The person no one knew a week ago is now indispensable…To Everyone!
  • Jesus would from then on seek out times of ‘retreat’

38 He said to them, “Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may preach there also; for that is what I came for.” 39 And He went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out the demons.

  • Jesus says: ‘I need to spread myself around’… expand The Everyone
  • He didn’t just come for the Galileans: Gospel is for Everyone
  • He went around to where they had jewish gathering places [synagogues]
  • The idea is He replicated the day we had just seen in Capernaum

40 And a leper came to Jesus, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” 41 Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” 42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.

  • Leper seems to be in a separate category…He had been casting out demons
  • Leprosy seems to symbolize the degradation of mankind due to sin
  • It is not a question, it is a statement: ‘if You’re willing, You can cure me’
  • We see Jesus’ compassion and His ‘Ministry of Touch’
  • He wants the leper to know how willing He is to respond to faith
  • BAM! Cleansing / restoration

43 And He sternly warned him and immediately sent him away, 44 and He said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

  • Charged him vehemently, warned him to tell no one except the Priest
  • Jesus always honored the law of Moses and compelled people to observe it
  • The message was for the religious establishment, it would be one of many
  • Testimony established by Jesus as something we give regarding HIS influence

45 But he went out and began to proclaim it freely and to spread the news around, to such an extent that Jesus could no longer publicly enter a city, but stayed out in unpopulated areas; and they were coming to Him from everywhere.

  • The leper did not do as Jesus asked him to…basically the opposite!
  • Jesus could not operate as He did just days before, everything had changed
  • The Everyone had grown
  • What He wants for you and me He wants for everyone!

SUMMARY

Jesus wants to be part of our families and way of living, bringing healing to our homes.

Jesus wants everyone to come to Him, seeking physical and spiritual healing.

Jesus wants to be part of every community, willingly redeeming a sin infected world through the intimacy of personal relationship.

His people are to testify to the reality of how HE can change everything in this world.

APPLICATION:

Have you opened up your entire life to Jesus? What parts of your life do you need to fully give Him access to?

Have you sought Jesus for physical and spiritual healing? What stands in the way?

How can you be a Testimony in your workplace and social life to Jesus’ willingness to redeem things sin has degraded?

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Mark Pt. 2: Demonstration of Kingdom Authority

Are you under Christ’s authority?

Happy Mother’s Day! We honor our Mothers…not just because they deserve it.

Christ’s authority is best displayed in Mothers… Authority that flows from love.

Last week we started Mark and if you want some background listen to the podcast. Jesus of Nazareth is on the move…Mark is telling the most compelling of all stories. What we are going to see today is Jesus demonstrating His Authority as God Himself. Jesus The Messiah is beginning the process were He reveals Himself as God.

He does this by showing glimpses of His Sovereign power, His authority in all areas. How do you feel about authority? Do you need authority to be legit? What has to happen In order for it to be legit? Are you good with all authority? Are you good with no authority? Today we get a taste of God’s authority and how we do well to honor that authority.

Mark 1:14-28 (NASB 1995)

14 Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

  • John is arrested while Jesus is being tempted for 40 days, goes to Galilee
  • Gospel Of God used 5 times in NT [Mark once, Paul 3 times, Peter once]
  • The Kingdom is going to be accessible because he is going to the cross
  • It all starts with repentance and belief [trust in God]

16 As He was going along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.

  • One of my favorite places in the Holy Land: [Church of the Primacy of Peter]
  • Christ connects with these men using their profession as a metaphor
  • fish are there, but you have to go get them…same as souls 4 the kingdom

19 Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets. 20 Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went away to follow Him.

  • With Simon and Andrew in tow He walks amongst the fishermen…
  • The leave their current responsibilities and take on new ones
  • They give up a sure and safe life to begin one with nothing guaranteed

21 They went into Capernaum; and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and began to teach. 22 They were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

  • Fishing grounds were just southwest of Capernaum
  • At the beginning of the day when the gathering happened; max people
  • Exposition of Hebrew scripture [explaining the story, context, theology]
  • He does it in the way an author talks about a book he has written [familiar]
  • Current religious leaders had strayed from relationship with God [unfamiliar]

23 Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, 24 saying, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”

  • Wherever Jesus is moving, demonic forces will disrupt
  • Demon know exactly who Jesus is, and yet they have rebelled against him
  • Demon tries to get Jesus labeled before it is time [He had a ‘P.R. Timetable’]

25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” 26 Throwing him into convulsions, the unclean spirit cried out with a loud voice and came out of him.

  • Rebuke = Reprimand / Admonished / Warned
  • Christ commands and the demon obeys [obviously against it’s will]

27 They were all amazed, so that they debated among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” 28 Immediately the news about Him spread everywhere into all the surrounding district of Galilee.

  • The reaction is amazement!
  • The spiritual need is recognized [sheep without a shepherd]
  • We will see different reactions of people to Christ’s demonstration of authority
  • Lots of curiosity…We will see that some move beyond curiosity to faith

SUMMARY:

John The Baptist is removed from the scene to clear the way for Jesus of Nazareth.

[John 3:30] He begins proclaiming the Good News of redemption from God through repentance and trust in Him.

The Christ calls His first disciples from among humble fishermen, demonstrating that citizenship in the Kingdom is not about your place in this life. He calls them [and us] to become ‘Anglers of Souls’.

In the town where His first disciples live, Christ immediately demonstrates how He is different from the religious teachers of the day; in their gathering He teaches God’s Word from a place of authority that flows from authorship.

When faced with demonic disruption, Jesus demonstrates His supernatural authority as God. He commands the demon to obey Him and frees a possessed man.

Jesus’ demonstration of authority regarding God’s Word and the power over evil / unclean spirits causes a reaction of amazement that spreads throughout the area.

APPLICATION:

Do you consider repentance and trusting In Christ foundational in a relationship with God? If so, what are you doing to grow in those two areas?

What is the connection in your life between how much you trust Jesus Christ’s authority and how much priority you put on spreading the Gospel?

Have you see the demonstration of Christ’s authority in your life? How has it changed you? How can you let it change you more?

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