Thinking Biblically

Helping renew your mind with God's Word

Author: Matthew Wilson (Page 4 of 14)

Matthew Wilson is a pastor at FBC Harrisburg, AR. He is married to Bethany and has five children.

Jesus is the Great I Am – Mark 6:45-56

August 8, 2023 /

Sermon Video

Do you ever feel like you’re rowing against the wind? You’re doing your best and trying to live for Christ but you still don’t feel like you’re making any progress. Perhaps because of your lack of progress you are fearful and hurting.

If that’s you this morning, then this message is for you. Jesus’ disciples were literally rowing against the wind and he walked on water to teach them who he is and give them hope.

Sermon text: Mark 6:45-56

When we are fearful, we should have faith in Jesus (45-52)

45

45 Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.

Jesus dismissed the crowd (15,000 – 20,000) and tells his disciples to “go before him to the other side.”

Last week I mentioned that there were many messianic undertones in the feeding of the multitude. John 6:14-15 tells us that the crowds wanted to make Jesus king. Jesus did not come to establish a political kingdom, for his kingdom was not of this world. He came to die as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). Thus, to guard against the messianic fervor of the crowd and the disciples, he dismissed the crowd and “made his disciples get into the boat and go before him” (45).

I imagine that the twelve were like children who are having a good time and do not want to get in the car to go home. Jesus insisted that they get into the boat and you can picture him giving the boat a shove to get them going.

Jesus forced his disciples to go out onto the sea. I want you to keep this in mind as we move through the text this morning.

46-47

46 And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. 47 And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land.

Jesus went up on the mountain to pray and spend time with the Father.

While it was easy for Jesus to draw a crowd, he never neglected to spend time with his Father. In Mark 1, after healing Peter’s mother-in-law and many others, Jesus went out to a desolate place to pray.

Here, we see that Jesus was laser-focused on his mission. He knew that he had come to seek and to save the lost and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Rather than accepting the crowd’s nomination as a political king, Jesus spent time with his Father.

In the Gospels, we see that Jesus spent time:

  • In the world with the crowds
  • In the synagogue with religious folks
  • Life on life with the 12 disciples, helping them grow in spiritual maturity
  • Peter, James, John – his even closer personal friends
  • The Father

We also should have relationships with:

  • The world, as we seek to share the gospel with them
  • The church, as we worship God and encourage one another
  • A small group within the church
  • Close friends within the church, people who you can talk with, call at any time, and pray with
  • God the Father

So, Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and into the water. Jesus has a purpose for that. Remember when Jesus was asleep in the boat and the disciples were caught in a great storm. They woke Jesus up and he spoke to the sea and said, “Peace! Be Still!” (Mark 4:39). During that event, the disciples had Jesus in the boat with them. However, this time, Jesus was on the mountain, likely praying for them. Jesus was teaching his disciples to live by faith.

So, what happens? Look at v. 48.

48

48 And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them,

Jesus sees the disciples are struggling because they were rowing into the wind. John tells us that they had only gone about three or four miles (John 6:19).

The text says that “about the fourth watch of the night (3:00-6:00 am), he came to them, walking on the sea.”

The text reflects the Roman method of dividing the night into four watches. Roman watches were from 6:00 to 9:00, from 9:00 to midnight, from midnight to 3:00, and from 3:00 to 6:00. Therefore, Jesus appeared to the disciples sometime between 3:00 and 6:00 a.m. They apparently had been battling the elements all night.

The scene illustrates the situation of God’s people today: We are in the midst of this stormy world, rowing against the wind, tired and weary, and ready to sink, but he is in glory interceding for us.

We are in the midst of this stormy world, rowing against the wind, tired and weary, and ready to sink, but he is in glory interceding for us.

Friends, here’s the hope that we have in Christ: when the hour seems the darkest, he will come to us!

The end of v. 48 says that “he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them.”

When Mark says that Jesus meant to “pass by them,” he is evoking some of the appearances of God to people in the OT.

Ex 33:18-23

18 Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” 19 And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. 20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.” 21 And the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, 22 and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen.”

The Lord passed by Elijah on the mountain in 1 Kings 19:11.

1 Kings 19:11

11 And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by…

Job spoke of God as the Creator in Job 9. Look quickly at two verses.

Job 9:8

8 [God] alone stretched out the heavens

    and trampled the waves of the sea;

Job 9:11

11 Behold, [God] passes by me, and I see him not;

    he moves on, but I do not perceive him.

When the disciples had exhausted their own energies and were in their deepest despair, Jesus showed up. Isn’t this how he often comes to us? He does this so that we will see that in our weakness, we are strong, for we are to look to him.

The very waves that were causing distress for the disciples were the path for Jesus’ feet.

The very waves that were causing distress for the disciples were the path for Jesus’ feet – what a metaphor for the Christian life. In our weakness and distress, God uses those moments to make us more like Christ by increasing our dependence on him and bringing peace and comfort.

There will always be circumstances in life that are beyond your control. But there is always one thing you can do when the waves get rough is to look to Jesus.

In vv. 49-51 we see the reaction of the disciples.

49-51

49 but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, 50 for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” 51 And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded,

When the disciples saw Jesus, they thought he was a ghost. The text says that they cried out and they were terrified! Why did the disciples not recognize Jesus? Because they were not expecting to see him!

The disciples were still trying to row in their own power.

The disciples had lost sight of Jesus, but he had not lost sight of them.

As the Son of God, Jesus has power over nature. We have already seen this when Jesus stilled the storm. Now, while standing on the waves, Jesus said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”

One commentator said that the literal translation of the Greek is this: “Take courage. I AM. Do not fear!”[1]Robin Sydserff, Teaching Mark, 213.

Remember our Scripture reading from Exodus 3.

Ex 3:13-14

13 Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” 14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”

God told Moses to gather the elders of Israel and tell them that the Great I AM is sending you. In our text, we see Jesus with his disciples proclaiming that the Great I AM is here with you!

Jesus did what God alone could do when he walked on the water and he used God’s name to identify himself. This miracle is evidence that God himself visited earth in the flesh. Can you imagine how the disciples felt? Their spines tingled, their knees buckled, and they were in awe of Jesus, the Son of God in human flesh!

No wonder, the text tells us, that the disciples were utterly astounded!

52

52 for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

In v. 52, Mark ties this episode to the previous one of the feeding of the great crowd.

The disciples had seen Jesus feed the multitudes, but they had not taken the next step and applied the truth about Jesus to their own lives. They recognized that Jesus could do amazing things, but they had not realized what that meant for them – that he personally cared for them.

Jesus could feed 20,000 people. He had previously calmed the sea. Could he not protect them in this situation too? We say, “Yes God, I know You can, and that you have done _____________, but my situation is different.

Are you fearful about the economy, next year’s election, or something else beyond your control? Quit watching the news. Get off social media. Instead, read your Bible and spend time in the presence of Christ, for the presence of Christ is the antidote for fear.

After Jesus walked on the water, they understood that he was God in the flesh. In Matthew’s account of this story, he wrote that the disciples worshiped Jesus, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God” (Matt 14:33).

When we are hurting, we can find healing in Jesus (53-56)

53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored to the shore. 54 And when they got out of the boat, the people immediately recognized him 55 and ran about the whole region and began to bring the sick people on their beds to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.

Blown off course, the disciples land at Gennesaret on the northwest side of the Sea of Galilee.

When Jesus and the disciples arrived, immediately people recognized Jesus and began to bring sick people to him. Wherever he went, people continued to bring the sick to him. They must have heard of Jesus’ healing of the paralytic, for they were bringing people who were laying on their beds. They must have heard about the woman with the flow of blood, for they knew that if they just touched Jesus’ garments they would be made well.

Jesus can be sought by those in need. Are you in need this morning? Seek Jesus!

Jesus is a compassionate shepherd cares for his sheep. They hurt. He heals. What a wonderful Savior he is!

Conclusion / Gospel

In times of fear, have faith in Jesus. Then you will have hope.

In times of pain, you can find hope and healing in Jesus.

Just as Jesus walked through the stormy waters to rescue his disciples, he walked through the dark night that led to the cross in order to rescue us from our sin. If we will repent, or turn from our sin and place our faith in Christ and his death, burial, and resurrection, then we will never have to fear again.

Through the wonderful touch of Jesus, we can one day be healed forever of the effects of sin and made well forever.

Jesus said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”

Are you afraid or hurting today?

Run to Christ and trust in Him, the great I AM who calms our fears and heals our hurts.

References

References
↑1 Robin Sydserff, Teaching Mark, 213.

Jesus Satisfies the Needy – Mark 6:30-44

August 1, 2023 /

Sermon Video

In the last two weeks, we’ve seen that disciples advance the kingdom of God and that advancing the kingdom of God comes at a cost. John the Baptist was beheaded because he refused to compromise God’s Word.

Last week, we saw that Herod’s birthday banquet led to death. In today’s text, Mark makes a stark contrast; he presents Jesus presiding over a feast in the wilderness.

In contrast to Herod, who had the innocent killed to preserve his position of power, Mark presents Jesus as the true leader of God’s kingdom and the one who truly provides for his people.

Sermon text: Mark 6:30-44

Jesus’ feeding of the five thousand is the only miracle besides the resurrection that is recorded in all four of the Gospels.

Jesus has great compassion for people (30-34)

30 The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32 And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. 33 Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.

Jesus cares for those who are weary from ministry (30-32)

30

The disciples (“apostles”) returned to Jesus and reported to him about how their ministry went. Here we see Jesus’ pattern for discipling his followers:

  • Teach them.
  • Send them out.
  • Have them return.
  • Report and evaluate.

31

Jesus’’ response: “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.”

The disciples were so busy they were finding it difficult to even have a meal – “for many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.”

It’s interesting that Jesus tells his disciples to go to a desolate place, for one recurring theme in Scripture is that God provides rest for his people in the wilderness.

32

The disciples got into a boat and went to a desolate place. They had been ministering to people (Mark 6:7-13) and now needed to rest. We need to learn from this example.

In my experience, I’ve noticed that when it comes to serving and ministering to people, most people alternate between two extremes: doing something all the time or never doing anything at all. Neither are biblical. Jesus shows us that we are to sacrificially love and serve one another, but there are times when we need to be refreshed and renewed.

One of my mentors always used to say, “A man that’s always available isn’t worth much when he is.” In other words, wherever you are, be there. Be present and attentive to those whom you are ministering. Don’t take non-emergency calls during family dinner. Don’t be on your email during family vacation. When you’re having lunch with someone, give them your full attention.

I want to encourage some of you that are always helping and serving to take a day, weekend, or week and spend time with God and be refreshed and renewed. The disciples and even Jesus himself had to rest.

There is nothing spiritual about being a workaholic. At the same time, we should be prepared for ministry if the opportunity presents itself.

Jesus cares for the crowd (33-34)

33

Unfortunately for the weary disciples, the crowd recognized them and ran to where the disciples were going. When Jesus and the disciples arrive, many people are waiting for them.

Notice how Jesus responds in v. 34: “He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.”

Mark describes the people as those who “were like a sheep without a shepherd.”

The phrase “sheep without a shepherd” is an Old Testament picture of Israel without spiritual leadership (Num 27:16-17; Eze 34). In Jesus’ day, the people of God were impoverished by the powerless and lifeless religion of the Pharisees and Sadducees.[1]Robin Sydserff, Teaching Mark, 207.  And so, Jesus taught them.

Today, there are people who don’t believe in God. There are many people who think that they will make it to heaven by their good works. Many people that Jesus spoke to on this day probably thought that if they just kept the law well enough and adhered to the extra rules of the Pharisees that they would be okay. The majority of people today have no idea how they can have true peace with God. They are like sheep without a shepherd.

And so, Jesus, seeing their helpless condition, began to teach them. We’re not told the contents of Jesus’ message, but Mark has told us what Jesus taught (see Mark 1:15). When we have true compassion for people, we will not just look to meet temporal needs, but we will share the message that will satisfy their eternal need of peace with God through Jesus Christ.

Jesus supernaturally provides for the needs of people (35-44)

35 And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. 36 Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” 37 But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” 38 And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” 39 Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. 41 And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. 42 And they all ate and were satisfied. 43 And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. 44 And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.

35-36

The disciples are tired and the daylight is fading. They tell Jesus to send the people away. Verse 35 is the third time the text mentions that the setting is a “desolate place” (vv. 31, 32, 35).”

37

Jesus shocks the disciples by telling them to feed the crowds: “You give them something to eat.” We learn from v. 44 that the crowd consisted of 5000 men, which probably means there were between 15,000-20,000 people. The disciples insist that they cannot afford enough food for this big crowd. The amount of money (200 denarii) would be worth around $30,000-35,000 USD in 2023.

Jesus is teaching his disciples something here. He wants them to listen to what he says and to trust him for the outcome.[2]Hans F. Bayer, “Mark” in Matthew–Luke, ed. Iain M. Duguid, James M. Hamilton Jr., and Jay Sklar, vol. VIII, ESV Expository Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2021), 556.

This is where churches go astray – when they don’t trust the sufficiency of God’s Word. God has told us what to do – love God, love people, and obey the Great Commission. Many churches get distracted and will do whatever it takes to attract carnal people to their services. But God calls us to trust his sufficient Word and to trust him for the results. We are to trust and obey, for that is the way to be happy in Jesus and to please him.

38

Jesus asks the disciples a pointed question: “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.”

John 6:9 tells us that the five pieces of bread and the fish were a boy’s lunch. Out of all these people, the disciples were only able to find one person who had something to eat.

The disciples realized that they were way beyond their resources. If Jesus doesn’t intervene, then feeding this crowd is not going to happen. The good news is that God loves to demonstrate his power in our lives! When we have problems that seem insurmountable, we are to look to God. Warren Wiersbe said, “Jesus looked at the situation, not as a problem, but as an opportunity to trust the Father and glorify His name.”

What if we saw every insurmountable situation not as a time to complain, not as a pity party, but as an opportunity to trust the Father and to see him work in our lives?

39-40

Jesus has the people sit down in groups of fifties and hundreds in order to make the distribution easier.

41-44

Jesus looked up to heaven, said a blessing, and “broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all” (v. 41).

Notice that Jesus uses the boy’s lunch to feed the multitude and that he uses the disciples to distribute the food. Jesus could have rained down manna from heaven as in the Old Testament, but he delights in using us to do his work. We are his earthly ambassadors.

2 Corinthians 5:20

“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.”

Jesus used his disciples. He gave the fish and the bread to them, and they are the ones that distributed it. The blessing to the people came through the disciples. Jesus is not walking on earth anymore, but he still uses the church, the body of his disciples to be a blessing to those who are without a shepherd.

We see that Jesus has the disciples take part in this compassion ministry and that Jesus can use a very small gift and multiply it for his glory.

Sometimes we think that our small acts of giving or serving don’t do much but Jesus can multiply our efforts. Be faithful and trust God with the results!

What can you give to Jesus that he can multiply?

What can you give to Jesus that he can multiply?

42

Verse 42 says that they all ate and were satisfied. In fact, there were 12 baskets of leftovers (v. 43)!

You see, God is able to supernaturally provide for our needs and we need to look to him as our provider.

Matthew 6:31-34

31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Jesus has great compassion for people. Jesu can supernaturally provide for the needs of people. And finally, Jesus is the Messiah.

Jesus hints at his Messiahship by providing a feast for the people (39-44)

If you only read Mark’s account of this passage, you may not see all the hints about Jesus’ messiahship. I would encourage you to read John 6.

Throughout Mark, Mark presents Jesus as a second Moses who brings salvation to his people.

Here are some messianic hints we’ve encountered so far.

In Mark 1 Jesus was baptized in the Jordan, the same river where the Israelites entered Canaan. After being baptized, Jesus went into the wilderness for 40 days and 40 nights. Where Israel failed, Jesus, the true Israel, triumphed.

In Mark 3 Jesus called 12 disciples onto a mountain, just as Moses received God’s law on Mount Sinai and then called the 12 tribes of Israel to obey God’s Law

In Mark 6 and John 6 consider see the following:

  • Mark alludes to Num 27:16-17 where Moses prays for someone to replace him after his death so the Israelites wouldn’t be left without a shepherd.
  • Jesus has the disciples to have people sit in groups of 50 and 100 just as Moses appointed men to be judges over groups of people of Israel (Exo 18:25).
  • When Jesus gave the bread to the disciples, it foreshadowed the institution of the Lord’s Supper, where Jesus gave bread to His disciples. The Lord’s Supper was established within the context of the Passover.
  • Many in the crowd were likely on their way to celebrate the Passover (John 6:4). With the Israelites, God miraculously supplied bread from heaven. In our text, Jesus, God in the flesh and the Bread of Life, miraculously supplied bread to those heading to the Passover.
  • The Jews expected the Messiah to repeat Moses’ OT manna miracle by feeding them at a great future banquet (John 6:30-35, Isa 25:6-8).
  • After the event, the Jews attempted to make Jesus into a Messiah according to their military-political pattern (John 6:14-15).

John 6:14-15

14 When the people saw the sign [the feeding of the 5000] that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!” 15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

All of these things point to a new exodus. Just as God had delivered his people from slavery in Egypt, Jesus has come to deliver his people from their sins (Matt 1:21).

CONCLUSION / GOSPEL

This morning, we have seen that Jesus has great compassion for people.

We have seen that he can provide for the needs of people.

We have also seen that he is the Messiah, the Son of God, who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29).

The crowds were like sheep without a shepherd and they were also hungry with nothing to eat.

We are in the same situation spiritually. We are sinners with no righteousness to bring before a holy God (Rom 3:10-11).

Just as Jesus satisfied the people’s hunger with bread, Jesus perfectly satisfied God’s wrath for our sin by dying on the cross in our place. In v. 42, they ate and were all satisfied. On the cross, Jesus said, “It is finished” (John 19:30). Hebrews says Jesus is the once and for all sacrifice.

One day there will be a heavenly feast, the marriage supper of the Lamb. Attendance at that banquet is by invitation only. The only people that will be invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb are those who have put their trust in Christ. He has not left us as sheep without a shepherd but he himself is our good shepherd.

References

References
↑1 Robin Sydserff, Teaching Mark, 207.
↑2 Hans F. Bayer, “Mark” in Matthew–Luke, ed. Iain M. Duguid, James M. Hamilton Jr., and Jay Sklar, vol. VIII, ESV Expository Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2021), 556.

Advancing the Kingdom Comes at a Cost – Mark 6:14-29

July 24, 2023 /

Sermon Video

Last week, we read about Jesus sending out his disciples in order to advance the kingdom of God. The main idea from last week’s text was that:

Even in the face of rejection or death, disciples of Jesus are to advance God’s kingdom through word and deed.

One of the things we talked about last week was facing rejection for the sake of Christ. Today, we will see that being a faithful disciple of Christ leads to persecution and sometimes even to death.

In our text today, we learn the circumstances that led to the death of John the Baptist.

Who was John the Baptist?

If you remember from Mark 1, John the Baptist was the forerunner to Jesus. He prepared the way for Jesus and told people to repent, for the king was coming. John was the forerunner of Jesus’ message and ministry and he is also the forerunner of his death.[1]Daniel Akin, Christ-Centered Exposition: Mark, 129.

Jesus started his ministry after John was arrested (Mark 1:14). For some period of time during Jesus’ early ministry, John was in prison.

This morning, we see why John was in prison and what happened to him because of his faithfulness to Christ. If we want to hear the wonderful words of Jesus, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” then we need to learn from this text this morning.

Sermon text: Mark 6:14-29

As disciples of Christ, we must live righteously while calling sinners to repentance (14-20)

14 King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” 15 But others said, “He is Elijah.” And others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” 16 But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.” 17 For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her. 18 For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19 And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, 20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.

In vv. 14-16, we see that Jesus’ popularity continued to spread.

Jesus and his disciples have caused quite a stir in the region because of his radical message and his signs and wonders.

The fame of Jesus had spread to the house of the local ruler. Mark calls him “King Herod” (14), but Herod was really a tetrarch, which is a governor of a territory. He was one of the sons of Herod the Great. Herod the Great, under Roman rule, ruled part of Palestine. Herod Antipas, the Herod mentioned here in Mark 6, ruled over the region of Galilee.

It’s probable that Jesus’ message troubled “King Herod” (6:14). What was Jesus message? Look at Mark 1:15. As Jesus and his disciples were proclaiming the kingdom of God, they were saying that God is king, which implied neither Herod nor Caesar was king.

The word on the street was that Jesus was some sort of prophet.

  • Some thought he was John the Baptist and had been raised from the dead (14)
  • Others thought that Jesus was Elijah (15)
  • Still others said he was like one of the prophets of old (15)
  • But notice what Herod said in response to the stories about Jesus: “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised” (16).

Herod was sure that John the Baptist had come back from the dead to condemn him. Herod’s conscience haunted him, for he had John the Baptist beheaded.

In vv. 17-18, Mark recounts the relationship between Herod and John the Baptist.

17-18

Herod had put John in prison because John was outspoken about Herod and Herodias’ adulterous and incestuous affair.

Notice that Herod had married Herodias, but Mark calls her “his brother Philip’s wife.” If you think you have a dysfunctional family, wait till you hear about the Herod Family.

Herodias was Herod’s niece, who was already married to his half-brother. So, Herodias was married to one of her uncles (Philip) and then left him for her uncle Herod. According to Josephus, who was an early church historian, Herod fell in love with Herodias and proposed to her. Herodias saw the marriage as an opportunity to climb the social ladder and agreed to marry Herod as long as he divorced his current wife. So, Herod divorced his wife, which eventually set off a border war a few years later. Herod had married his niece who used to be married to his half-brother.

So, Herod sinned by divorcing his wife, committing adultery, and being in an incestuous relationship with his niece (Exod 20:14; Lev 18:6, 20:21). Herod is nowhere close to a moral man. He’s a man that loves power, sex, riches, and fame and he will do whatever it takes to have those things.

And thus, v. 18 tells us that John the Baptist repeatedly told Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” The verb is in the imperfect tense, which means that this was not a one time event.

19-20

As John confronted the couple about their sin, Herodias wanted to get rid of him. People don’t like to be reminded of their sin. There are people that will leave a church that preaches the Bible because they don’t want to be told about their sin. They would rather have their ears tickled (2 Tim 4:3). These people love darkness more than light. Herodias wanted to remain in a position of power just as much as Herod. She valued status and power more than obeying God’s law. And thus, she held a grudge against John for his witness against her sin.

But notice that Herod had John put in prison. This was in a sense a compromise – it silenced John’s proclamation to the people, but protected John from Herodias. Herod was a weak man. He respected John enough to keep him alive, but he refused to turn from his sin.

Verse 20 is interesting to me. Herod respected John and he listened to John.

I think v. 20 reveals what we should learn from vv. 14-20:

As disciples of Christ, we must live righteously while calling sinners to repentance (14-20)

Even though John the Baptist was speaking against Herod and his sin, Herod “heard him gladly” and “feared” him, knowing that he was “holy” and “righteous.” The text also says that Herod “kept him safe.”

The message of the gospel is offensive to many. People don’t want to be told that they are sinners and that they are in danger of God’s wrath if they do not repent and trust in Christ. That is not a popular message.

Our message is hard for people to hear but it helps us if we live righteous and holy lives as we share the message.

One of the biggest barriers to the gospel for many people is their perception that many Christians are hypocrites. They claim to be Christians, but they live in unrepentant sin.

We must tell people the truth. We can never capitulate on the truth. We must warn sinners about the wrath to come. We must call them to repentance. John never wavered on the truth. John repeatedly called Herod and Herodias to repentance (v. 18). John was willing to speak up against sin – in this case, sexual sin more specifically.

Like John, even when we are the minority, we must speak against sexual sin. We must speak against homosexuality. We must speak against transgenderism. We must speak against body mutilation and puberty blockers. We must speak against pornography. We must speak against adultery. We must speak against fornication. We must speak against abortion. We must speak against sexual abuse.

But we must never do so in a condescending way or from a position of pride. We must remember that we were all at one time dead in our sins. We are simply beggars telling other beggars where to find bread. We cannot give people eternal life, but in grace and truth, point people to Jesus, the Bread of Life, who can give eternal life!

John 1:14

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Jesus was full of grace and truth and we as his followers should graciously speak the truth.

As disciples of Christ, we will be hated by the world for speaking against sin (21-29)

21 But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22 For when Herodias’s daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” 23 And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” 24 And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” 25 And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” 26 And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. 27 And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison 28 and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

In vv. 21-29, Mark recounts the circumstances surrounding the death of John the Baptist.

21-23

As we’ve seen, Herod had imprisoned John to shut him up and to keep him safe from Herodias. Mark tells us that “an opportunity came” on Herod’s birthday.

Herod was having a big birthday celebration with “his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee” (v. 21). These parties were often vulgar and obscene. You might think of a bad bachelor’s party or Mardi Gras. Notice what happens. Verse 22 says that Herodias’ daughter came in and danced and pleased Herod and his guests.

In Graeco-Roman culture, dancing at banquets was reserved for hired female entertainers to provide artistic and erotic dances for the male dinner guests. The dancing was certainly not seen as an appropriate activity for honorable women, especially the host’s own daughter. Here, we see Herodias prostituting her own daughter in order to get what she wants. She is hardened in her sin.

Remember, Herodias’ daughter is Herod’s great niece. This man is a pervert and a sexual predator. In his drunkenness, he offers to give her whatever she wants, up to half the kingdom. This was a figure of speech, as “his kingdom” belonged to Rome. The point is, he wanted to give her a gift for the dance that she just gave.

24-29

Notice in v. 24 that Herodias’ daughter “went out.” At the banquet, men and women would have dined separately. Thus, the daughter went out from among the men and went to her mother and asked what she should ask of Herod. Her mother says, “The head of John the Baptist.” The girl goes to Herod and asks for John’s head on a platter. Verse 26 tells us that Herod was “exceedingly sorry,” but he did not want to break his word, especially in front of his guests.

So, Herod gives in to peer pressure and orders that John be beheaded. Though Herod respected John’s integrity, in the end Herod had John killed because of pressure from his peers and family.

What we do under pressure reveals our faith.

What we do under pressure reveals our faith.

We see this in Mark 4:16-17 in the parable of the soils.

Mark 4:16-17

16 And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. 17 And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away.

We see this sort of thing all the time in our world. Politicians that sell their souls to stay in office. Pastors compromise or even abandon their theological views for money and fame.

How many people have heard the gospel and begin to think about eternal things, only to give up on their budding faith because of what their friends or family think of them? We see people that claim to be Christians, yet now support homosexuality and transgenderism because their family or friends are practicing homosexuals or transgenders.

Pastor Tom Ascol says it like this: “If your commitment to the authority of Scripture is limited by cultural sensitivities then it’s not really Scripture’s authority to which you are committed.”

For instance, there are people who believed homosexuality was a sin for decades but then the law changed and so did their stance. Or their child or grandchild came out as gay and they changed their minds. That person is not committed to Scripture as their foundation but their feelings and cultural sensitivities.

We cannot bow to the culture. We must stand firm on the Word of God.

We cannot bow to the culture. We must stand firm on the Word of God.

You see, John the Baptist may have lost his head, but Herod and Herodias lost their souls.

This passage shows us that those who are faithful to Christ are not promised earthly comforts, no matter what Joel Osteen, Kenneth Copeland, or Joyce Meyer says.

What is the bigger eternal risk? Is losing your relationship with your child or grandchild or them losing their soul because everyone ignored their sin and pretended it was okay? God calls us to lovingly confront people in their sin for the good of their eternal souls.

Conclusion

In closing, I want us to see how easy it is to reject Christ.

It all starts with sin. Herod divorced his first wife and married Herodias. By doing so, he committed adultery and incest. Despite John’s repeated warnings, Herod never repented and sought forgiveness from God.

Second, we see Herod’s pride. He is a proud, arrogant man. His oath in v. 23 reveals his pride. He is willing to give a great gift to his stepdaughter (and great niece) for a sensual dance.

Third, we see Herod lives for the approval of others. Once he realizes he is wrong (v. 26), he is unwilling to admit he was wrong. Rather, because he wanted to please his guests, he doubled down on his sin.

Fourth, we see the influence of his family and friends. Rather than leading his home, he was influenced by his wife and her daughter to put John to death. We must not allow family and friends to influence us to sin against God.

Finally, we see that Herod’s indecisiveness led to a hardened heart. Herod liked John (v. 20), but he never repented. He put off seeking forgiveness and eventually he suffered for his sins, and he will for eternity. Do not put off seeking God’s forgiveness, lest you find your heart hardened.

In summary, don’t live in sin. Do not sin to please others. Do not go to hell because of your sin. Repent and trust in Jesus.

With those warnings in mind, I want to pose a few questions and I will be done.

Are you willing to leave the love of the world behind and obey Christ even if it leads to death?

Will you love Jesus more than your own life?

Are you willing to speak against sin and call people to repentance like John the Baptist, and will you do this in a spirit of love and humility as you live a righteous and holy life?

Whose approval do you value more? Do you live for the approval of men or the approval of God? We cannot compromise God’s Word to accommodate sin. By doing so, we are condemning sinners to hell by not warning them of their sin against a righteous and holy God!

If you are living in sexual sin, will you forsake your sin this morning and for the sake of Christ and his Word?

Or, will you like Herod and Herodias, turn your back on those who are telling you the truth?

The Apostle John wrote, “The world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:17). John the Baptist knew that was true and he was willing to die for the cause of Christ rather than compromise.

Matthew 10:28

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

John 16:33

 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

By living for Christ even in the face of death, like John the Baptist we will hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

References

References
↑1 Daniel Akin, Christ-Centered Exposition: Mark, 129.

Disciples Advance the Kingdom – Mark 6:7-13

July 17, 2023 /

Sermon Video

We know that as disciples of Jesus we are to seek to advance the kingdom of God (Matt 6:9-10, 33). But how do we do that? So far in Mark, Jesus’ disciples have not had a lot of hands-on action. In today’s text, we see Jesus releasing his disciples for a time of ministry.

Last week, we saw Jesus rejected at Nazareth. The people of Nazareth took offense at Jesus, for they perceived him to be insignificant for God’s kingdom work. In today’s text, we see that Jesus’ disciples should expect rejection as well.

BIG IDEA: Even in the face of rejection or death, disciples of Jesus advance God’s kingdom through word and deed.

Sermon text: Mark 6:7-13

1. Disciples advance the kingdom under the authority of Jesus (v. 7)

7 And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.

Jesus “gave them authority over the unclean spirits.” I’m going to talk about unclean spirits at the end, but for now I want to say that we go under the authority of Jesus (Matt 28:18). We are ambassadors for Jesus.

2 Cor 5:20

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

Jesus was training these men for ministry and thus multiplying himself. In the same way that Jesus knew his earthly ministry would have an end, all our ministries will an end.

Knowing this, pastors should be raising up pastors (2 Tim 2:2). Mature men and women should be teaching the next generation how to live for Christ (Titus 2:1-10).

There are really four steps in discipling someone. For instance, consider Bible study.

  • You study your Bible; your disciple observes and asks questions.
  • You study your Bible; your disciple does as well.
  • Your disciple studies his Bible; you study as well.
  • Your disciple studies his Bible, you observe and give feedback.

2. Disciples advance the kingdom as a team (v. 7)

He sent out the twelve “two by two.”

Ministering as a pair was safer and wiser than going alone and it provided much needed fellowship.

Eccl 4:9-10

9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!

The law required two witnesses to verify a matter.

Deut 19:15

“A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.

We need others in the church! God saves people to gather them.

3. Disciples advance the kingdom by committing to the mission (vv. 8-9)

8 He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— 9 but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics.

The disciples were to be totally committed to their mission, not tied down with worldly concerns. We’re told in the text what Jesus permitted them to bring and what he forbade them to bring.

They were to take a staff. A staff was used for protection against robbers and wild animals and for maintaining balance while walking on rough terrain.

They were not to bring a bag. They were not to ask for money. In New Testament times, some Gentile philosophers would live on the streets and beg for money. The approach of the disciples is in stark contrast to the prosperity preachers of our day who beg you to send them money and to send it often.

Jesus wanted the disciples to see that God would provide for them (Phil 4:19). There would be those who were receptive to the message who would give them a place to stay (v. 10).

The disciples were to only bring one tunic. In the ancient world, travelers would often sleep outside and the purpose of the second tunic was to protect them from the weather. Jesus was telling his apostles that the need not worry, for they would be sleeping indoors in receptive homes.[1]R.C. Sproul, Mark, 115.

This seems to be a direct application of Jesus’ teaching in Matt 6:25-34. The disciples were not to worry about what they would eat, drink, or wear, but to seek his kingdom first as they trust God to meet their needs (Matt 6:33).

In summary, the disciples were to travel as light as possible. The minimal provisions were meant to bring about maximum faith.[2]R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior, 135.

Interestingly, the four items Jesus told the 12 to take (belt, sandals, staff, tunic) are identical to what God told the Hebrews to take on their flight to Egypt (Exo 12:11).

Like the disciples, we are to travel lightly in this world. The more stuff we own, the more time we spend managing it. The more time we spend on our stuff the less time we have to advance the kingdom of God.

4. Disciples advance the kingdom despite rejection (10-11)

10 And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. 11 And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.”

If you have ever sought to share the message of Jesus, you know that the gospel will be received by some and rejected by others. This is exactly what we see in vv. 10-11.

As they ministered from place to place, they would encounter both hospitality and hostility.

As we minister for Jesus, we will encounter both hospitality and hostility.

In v. 10, Jesus tells the disciples to accept the hospitality that was offered and to stay there until they departed from the area. By doing this, the disciples would not dishonor the home by accepting more comfortable provisions.

What does Jesus mean when he tells the disciples to shake the dust off their feet as a testimony against those who reject the disciples (v. 11)?

In biblical times, proper hospitality included offering water for guests to wash their feet. Thus, the fact that the disciples have dust on their feet shows that they were rejected.

Additionally, sometimes pious Jews would shake the dust from their feet after passing through Gentile cities to show their separation from Gentile influences and practices. Basically, they were leaving the dirt behind as they entered a more holy place.

Jesus was telling his disciples that if they were faithful, there was no blood on their hands. Those who rejected the message made a choice to reject Jesus and the conscience of the disciple is clear. The removal of dust from the feet was an act that was meant to make those who rejected the message to reconsider their decision.

This command of Jesus should remind us as disciples to not be overly discouraged by rejection. We know that we will be rejected by the world (John 15:18).

John 15:18

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.

Our job is not to convert people, but to be faithful to Jesus and what he has called us to do, which is to share the gospel with the lost and to baptize and disciple the saved.

When Jesus told the disciples to shake the dust off their feet, he was making it clear that the listeners were responsible for how they responded to the gospel.

Those that reject us, and our message of the gospel have really rejected Jesus.

5. Disciples advance the kingdom by preaching repentance (12)

12 So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent.

When Jesus called the disciples, he told them that they would become fishers of men (Mark 1:17). In v. 12, Jesus told them to “proclaim that people should repent.”

That is what we are called to do as well. We are to proclaim the gospel, the message of the kingdom. We are to call people to repent of their sin—to repent from living their lives for self and apart from God’s authority. We call them to repent of trusting in their own righteousness and to embrace the righteousness of Christ. We call them to trust in the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

If you’re here this morning and you have not trusted in Christ, then repent of your sinful way of living and embrace the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Our message is not simply “come to church” or “live your best life now.” Our message is the gospel of Jesus Christ!

6. Disciples advance the kingdom by meeting physical needs (13)

13 And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.

In other words, we care about the whole person. We don’t just want to see someone saved. We want them to be made whole.

We want them to know Jesus and then we disciple them to follow Jesus. We have to disciple them in all of life so that they can be useful to Jesus. It is hard to advance the kingdom of God when you are worried about paying your bills. So, we may need to help people get their material, physical, and relational lives in order that they may spiritually advance the kingdom of God.

We see in v. 13 that the disciples “cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.”

Oil (usually olive oil) was often used in biblical times as a medicine (cf. Luke 10:34), but here the anointing probably serves as a symbol of the presence, grace, and power of God. Anointing the sick is elsewhere prescribed only in Jam 5:14.

Do we as modern-day disciples of Jesus have power to cast out demons and heal the sick? There is a lot of debate on this topic. There are people on both sides of the debate but the main question that is tossed around is this: are miraculous spiritual gifts (tongues, healing, prophecy) still active today?

I for one, as your pastor have never cast out a demon or healed anyone. Nor do I know anyone personally that has claimed to have performed exorcisms or healings.

Of course, charismatics (those in Pentecostals and Assembly of God churches) would argue yes. Most Baptists would say that the miraculous gifts of tongues, prophecy, and healing have ceased. I would put myself in this camp. I still believe that God can and does perform miracles, but I do not believe that anyone has the gift of tongues, prophecy, or healing and can summon them on command.

I don’t have time to exhaust the argument today, but the short version is that the primary purpose of signs and wonders was to give credibility to Jesus and his apostles (John 3:2). As you read Scripture, you’ll see that miracles are clustered at key points redemptive history (the Exodus, Jesus’ ministry, Pentecost). Now that the church has God’s authoritative words in the Scriptures (2 Tim 3:16-17), signs and wonders are no longer needed to build up the church.

Thus, there is no longer a need for apostles and prophets today since we have the apostles’ teaching written in God’s Word. Therefore, since there are no modern-day apostles or prophets, there are no people alive today who have God-given authority to perform miraculous gifts on command.[3]For more, see Spiritual Gifts: What They Are and Why They Matter by Thomas R. Schreiner.

I would argue that miracles are possible, but not normative. Remember, the primary reason that Jesus came was to preach the gospel (Mark 1:15, 38).

We want to see lives changed for eternity. We should be serving nonbelievers and sharing the gospel with them. Like these disciples, if we are ministering in the name of Jesus then we will see God at work.

If we as a church rarely see anyone come to faith to Christ, perhaps it is that we are not sowing broadly the seed of the gospel.

Friends, let’s follow Jesus’ instructions for advancing the kingdom of God!

  • Go in the authority of Jesus.
  • Minister with others.
  • Commit to the mission and trust him to provide for your needs.
  • Expect rejection but keep going.
  • Preach the gospel and call people to faith in Christ!
  • Care for the whole person.

Friends, the church is not a place to sit and learn about Jesus but a people who serve Jesus. As a church, we must raise up disciples who will advance the kingdom for the glory of King Jesus.

When a church loses this focus, and men quit leading, the church is on its way to death. I saw it in my last church and I am seeing it at my current church.

My church (and many others) have plenty of pew sitters and every once in a whilers. But what we really need is disciples who will advance the kingdom of God.

Who is going to help me to win this town for Christ? Who will lead their families?

Who are you this morning?

Are you like Jesus and pray and seek for God’s kingdom to come here on earth?

Are you a disciple who is advancing the kingdom or a religious person checking a religious box?

There is no one emptier than a Christian who is living for him or herself instead of Christ.

References

References
↑1 R.C. Sproul, Mark, 115.
↑2 R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior, 135.
↑3 For more, see Spiritual Gifts: What They Are and Why They Matter by Thomas R. Schreiner.

Offended by Jesus – Mark 6:1-6

July 10, 2023 /

Sermon Video

Familiarity breeds contempt, so the saying goes. Familiarity with something can make us proud and unteachable. Many a man has embarrassed himself by ignoring or disregarding assembly instructions because “he knew what he was doing.” Maybe you’ve been to a class reunion and just couldn’t get over the success of one of your classmates because you knew what he was like growing up. Your experience with him in the past is a stumbling block to seeing his present success because you can’t separate who he is now from who he once was.

In our text today, we see a similar situation when Jesus visits his hometown of Nazareth.

As I said in my introduction to Mark, in the first half of the book, Mark wants to show us who Jesus is. In the second half, he shows us what Jesus came to do.

In our last three messages, we have seen Jesus’ authority:

  • over nature, when he calmed the storm (Mark 4:35-41)
  • over the demonic, when he helped the demon-possessed man (Mark 5:1-20)
  • over disease, when he healed the woman who had a flow of blood (Mark 5:25-34)
  • over death, when he raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead (Mark 5:21-24, 35-43)

Back in Mark 3, Jesus’ family had sought to bring Jesus back to his hometown. Jesus’ family had heard the rumors about Jesus, and they were worried for his welfare as well as the family name. Today, we see Jesus’ return to his hometown of Nazareth.

Sermon text: Mark 6:1-6

1

He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him.

Jesus went to his hometown (Nazareth) and his disciples went with him. Nazareth was a very small town, with an estimated population of 150-200 people. You may remember this interaction between Phillip and Nathanael from John 1.

John 1:45-46

45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

The implication in Nathanael’s question is that Nazareth is insignificant. It’s a small town full of insignificant nobodies. No one of status lives in Nazareth, especially the promised Messiah.

So, Jesus is from the small town of Nazareth. Today, someone might say that Jesus is from Podunk, USA.

2-3

2 And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? 3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.

As usual, when Jesus arrived, he began to teach in the synagogue. As he taught, the people were astonished by him.

They were astonished by his teaching.

They were amazed by his wisdom.

They were impressed by his mighty works.

Then they began to wonder about Jesus. They ask five questions in v. 2.

Five Questions:

  1. Where did this man get these things?
  2. What is the wisdom given to him?
  3. How are such mighty works done by his hands?
  4. Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon?
  5. Are not his sisters here with us?

These questions are meant to disparage and discredit Jesus. The people wondered how these things are possible in light of Jesus’ ordinary pedigree.

These people knew Jesus when he was growing up. Jesus was not a trained rabbi. Instead, he was a carpenter that worked with his father, Joseph.

They know his family. They know his mother and his brothers and sisters.

The question on their minds was this one: How in the world can Jesus be anyone significant in God’s work?

The people cannot reconcile Jesus’ wisdom and mighty works with who they think he must be. In their minds he is a carpenter from Nazareth and perhaps even an illegitimate child. They referred to him as the son of Mary. The common practice would be to say, Jesus, son of Joseph. By referring to Jesus as the son of Mary, they are probably taking a cheap shot at him and Mary and the circumstances of Jesus’ birth (Matt 1:18-19).

And so, v. 3 says, “they took offense at him.” Despite the evidence before them, the people rejected Jesus. The word that is used in v. 3 is where we get the English word scandal. These people were scandalized by Jesus. They were embarrassed by the thought of learning from a common carpenter. Their knowledge of Jesus’ ordinary past was too much for them to overcome.

In v. 4, we see Jesus’ response.

4

 4 And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.”

Jesus is saying that if someone else had come to Nazareth and spoke the way he did, knew the things he knew, and did the things he did, he would have been held in high honor.

However, since they knew him, his upbringing, and family, they took offense at him and did not hold him in honor.

The people marveled at Jesus’ words and his works, but they refused to accept the claims that he made (Luke 4:16-21). Their hearts were hardened.

Remember, even Jesus’ own family thought he was crazy (Mark 3:20-21, 31-35).

What was the problem with the people of Nazareth? Why did they not trust Him as others had?

They thought that they really knew him. These people had known Jesus for almost 30 years and they thought they knew everything about him.

For those of us who have grown up in church, this is an ever-present danger. Many people have grown up in church but have never really studied the Scripture for themselves. They know what they have been taught but they have never compared it with Scripture.

Many people think they are right with God because they walked an aisle, prayed a prayer, and were baptized. But friends, the result of salvation is not just to get saved and go on with life. The result of salvation is that we worship God with our whole lives. We are to offer our whole selves to God as a living sacrifice and to have our minds renewed according to God’s Word (Rom 12:1-2). Jesus doesn’t save us to sit in a pew. He saves us in order that we might worship him by taking up our crosses and following him with our lives as week seek to share the gospel with a lost and dying world (Luke 9:23-24).

In the same way that a vaccine inoculates the body from a virus, familiarity with Jesus can inoculate us from our need of salvation. The people of Nazareth thought they knew Jesus, so they took offense at him. They were scandalized at the thought of needing to trust in Jesus for salvation.

In the same way, many professing Christians in the Bible Belt believe they are saved because they know who Jesus is. The problem is that it’s not enough to know who Jesus is – after all, the demons know who Jesus is and tremble (Jam 2:19). It is not enough to know about Jesus. You must know him not just in your head but in your heart.

John 17:3

And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

Eternal life is not walking an aisle, praying a prayer, being baptized, having your name on the church roll, being a moral person, or voting the right way.

Eternal life is knowing God and his Son, Jesus Christ, and being indwelt by his Spirit.

If you are not growing in love for God, His Word, and His people, then you do not know him.

Questions:

Have you been in church for so long that Jesus’ words no longer convict or challenge you?

Have you become so familiar with Jesus and the words of Scripture that they no longer pierce your heart?

Do you read your Bible?

Do you truly listen to sermons? Do you have a teachable spirit?

When you read the Bible or hear a sermon, are you cut by the Bible’s words or do always think of someone else who needs them?

Well, we see in vv. 5-6 that Jesus’ ministry in Nazareth was short-lived.

5-6

5 And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching.

The text says that “he could do no mighty work there.” The text is not saying that Jesus was suddenly unable to perform miracles. Rather, Jesus would not perform miracles in the face of blatant unbelief.

Jesus knew that his mighty works would be of no value because the people did not accept his message or believe that he was from God. Jesus did not perform miracles to grow his popularity, but to give evidence of his divinity so that people would receive his message (Mark 1:14-15, 38). In other words, his miracles grave credibility to his message.

Jesus wanted people to put their faith and trust in him. Remember from last week what Jesus told the woman with a flow of blood – “Daughter, your faith has made you well” (Mark 5:34).

I want to give you a cold hard, fact this morning: unbelief robs the church of its power.

Unbelief robs the church of its power.

We can have events and programs until the calendar is full, but without a believing expectancy in Christ and his power, nothing will come of it.

If we want the church house to be full, then the prayer meetings better be full.

If we want the preaching to be powerful, we better be praying for the preacher.

If we want to see lost people saved, then we better be praying for them by name and sharing the gospel with them.

A prayerless church is a faithless church, and a faithless church does not please God.

A prayerless church is a faithless church, and a faithless church does not please God.

Hebrews 11:6

“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”

Do you believe that Jesus can save your wayward child?

Do you believe that Jesus can save your neighbor that hates God?

Do you believe that our church can grow in maturity and in number?

At Nazareth, many rejected Jesus. Jesus marveled at their unbelief. I wonder what Jesus would say about our church.

Do we love Jesus?

Do we live like he rose from the grave?

Do we have faith in his mighty words and his mighty works?

Or are you embarrassed by Jesus? Are you a “secret service Christian,” not wanting anyone to know that you believe in Jesus? Is Jesus a source of embarrassment for you? If so, you need to repent this morning.

You see, Jesus rejects the proud but manifests his power among those who trust him in faith.

BIG IDEA: Jesus rejects the proud but manifests his power among those who trust him in faith.

We cannot come to Jesus on our own terms. We must come to Jesus on his terms.

Jesus Has Authority over Disease and Death – Mark 5:21-43

July 3, 2023 /

Sermon Video

Have you ever been desperate? Have you ever been really desperate? Have you ever been life and death desperate? My wife and I recently watched The Titanic. When it was known that the Titanic would sink, all aboard desperately sought to get into lifeboats. They knew that help was hours away and that those in the water would freeze to death before help arrived.

In our text today, we read about two people that from two different walks of life who were as desperate as those who were on the Titanic.

In many ways, they were very different. One was a man; one was a woman. The man was well off; the woman was very poor. The man was a ruler of the synagogue; the woman could not even enter the synagogue because she was unclean.

However, they had something in common. They were both desperate. And in their desperation, they both turned to Jesus.

Last week in Mark 5 we saw that Jesus has authority over the demonic. Today in Mark 5:21-43, we see that Jesus has authority over disease and death. Turn with me to Mark 5.

Sermon text: Mark 5:21-43

There are three scenes in the text. First, we see Jairus pleading with Jesus to save his daughter. Second, we see the woman with a a flow of blood healed by Jesus. Third, we see Jesus healing Jairus’ daughter at Jairus’ house. Mark uses “sandwiches” in his writing from time to time. Mark introduces a story, inserts a another story, and then return to the original story. Scholars call these “Markan sandwiches.”

Scene 1: Jairus pleads with Jesus to heal his daughter (21-24)

21 And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. 22 Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet 23 and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” 24 And he went with him.

Jairus was “one of the rulers of the synagogue” (v. 22). As a ruler of the synagogue, Jairus helped prepare the service for each Sabbath day.

Jarius had probably heard Jesus teach in his synagogue (Mark 1:21-22). He may have witnessed Jesus’ healing ability. And so, in his desperation, he fell at Jesus’ feet (v. 22).

Consider how desperate Jairus must be. He is a ruler of the synagogue. He has a good job. Remember who hates Jesus so far – the Pharisees (Mark 3:6). The rulers of the synagogue likely reported to the Pharisees. Jairus’ decision to fall at Jesus’ feet is an act of great desperation that could cost him his livelihood.

Verse 23 explains why he was so desperate. He implored Jesus earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.”

Do you feel the sense of desperation?

I cannot imagine anything in life that would cause more anguish than having a child at the point of death. The text says that Jairus “fell” at the feet of Jesus and begged him to come and heal his daughter.

24

Jesus hears the plea of this desperate father, and v. 24 says that he went with him. As Jesus makes his way to Jairus’ house, the text says that a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. As we know so far from our study of Mark, Jesus attracted crowds wherever he went.

As they make their way to Jairus’ house, Jesus is interrupted by a desperate woman.

Scene 2: Jesus heals a woman with a chronic discharge of blood (25-34)

In the crowd of people who gathered around Jesus, we are told of one particular woman. In verses 25-26, we learn about this woman.

25-26

25 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, 26 and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse.

The woman had a discharge of blood for 12 years. She had suffered much, despite having many different physicians. In modern terms, she had been to the family doctor, urgent care, the emergency room, and multiple specialists.

She had spent all her money seeking relief, but she only grew worse.

Perhaps you can identify with that. Maybe you have a chronic health condition and you’ve spent a lot of money seeking relief for your pain but you only seem to get worse.

Last week we read about a demon-possessed man that had a terrible existence. He was living amongst dead bodies and was a man of filth, loneliness, and terror. He was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. There was no man that was able to subdue that man and no chain that could hold him.

This woman, while not demon-possessed, is in a similar state of despair. She is desperately poor, unclean because of her bloody discharge, and considered an outcast by society. She would have not been able to enter the synagogue or the temple, for she was unclean.

In her condition, sexual intercourse was forbidden. The Pharisaic tradition commonly encouraged divorce if a couple of childbearing age could not produce offspring. Thus, her condition probably had either prevented her marriage or ended it.[1]Craig S. Keener and John H. Walton, eds., NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2016), 1698.

Lev 15:25-27

25 “If a woman has a discharge of blood for many days, not at the time of her menstrual impurity, or if she has a discharge beyond the time of her impurity, all the days of the discharge she shall continue in uncleanness. As in the days of her impurity, she shall be unclean. 26 Every bed on which she lies, all the days of her discharge, shall be to her as the bed of her impurity. And everything on which she sits shall be unclean, as in the uncleanness of her menstrual impurity. 27 And whoever touches these things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening.

Num 5:1-4

5 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Command the people of Israel that they put out of the camp everyone who is leprous or has a discharge and everyone who is unclean through contact with the dead. 3 You shall put out both male and female, putting them outside the camp, that they may not defile their camp, in the midst of which I dwell.” 4 And the people of Israel did so, and put them outside the camp; as the Lord said to Moses, so the people of Israel did.

This lady has not been able to go to they synagogue or the temple for 12 years! She is considered the lowest of the low in society.

We see a stark contrast between the status of this woman and that of Jairus. While she is poor, unclean, and an outcast, Jairus is a “ruler” of the synagogue. It is quite possible that Jairus had kept this woman from entering the synagogue. I can just imagine Jairus seeing the woman and thinking, “Oh no, not this woman again.” But Jesus doesn’t respond that way.

While there is a contrast between Jairus and this poor woman, they also have something in common. Both people need a miracle from Jesus. They both need Jesus’ healing touch.

I love that about Jesus. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost – poor, rich, Jew, Gentile, black, white, male, female. Jesus came for every person.

Jesus is not partial to the rich and the famous. Are we like Jesus? Are we as Christians willing to love like Jesus? Are we willing to love the people that society has given up on and spit upon? Are we willing to be interrupted in order to help someone that is hurting?

27-28

27 She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. 28 For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.”

Verse 27 says that the woman had heard about Jesus. She pushes through the crowd and touched his garment, for she said in v. 28, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.”

This woman exhibits great faith! She has heard the stories. Perhaps she had heard about how Jesus cleansed the leper or the paralytic or the man with the withered hand. She believed that Jesus had the power to heal and she was willing to do whatever it took to get to Him.

What happens? Look at vv. 29-32.

29-32

29 And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” 31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” 32 And he looked around to see who had done it.

Verse 29 tells us that as soon as the woman touched Jesus, she was healed! The text says that immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.

Twelve years of suffering. Twelve years of doctor’s visits. Twelve years of paying medical bills. And in an instant, she is well because of her faith in Jesus.

In the same way, it doesn’t matter what your past 12 years or 20 years, or 50 years have been like. You may think you’re beyond fixing, but the truth is we are all broken and need Jesus. You can be made new because of Christ.

Notice how Jesus responds: he asks, “Who touched my garments?” His disciples respond sarcastically. They wonder, “Jesus, you have a huge crowd around you and you’re wondering who touched you?”

Here we see the love and compassion of Jesus. Jesus is surrounded by the crowd but he sees and cares about the individual person.

From this encounter with the woman, we see that Jesus cares about our suffering (24, 30-34, 41-43). Jesus wanted to give this woman assurance of her healing. He wanted to address her as a person.

33-34

33 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. 34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

The woman, hearing Jesus’ question, came and fell down before him in fear and trembling. She explained to him her situation and told Him that she was the one who had touched Him.

She fell down before Jesus. Have you noticed the pattern in Mark 5? The demon-possessed man fell down before Jesus (Mark 5:6). Jairus fell down before Jesus (Mark 5:22). And now, we see this woman fall down before Jesus.

I want us to see that both Jairus and this woman approached Jesus with humble faith. They were both in agony, and they both desperately needed Jesus. In this passage, we see that

In times of suffering, we should approach Jesus with humble faith (22-23, 27-28, 33-34).

In times of suffering, we should approach Jesus with humble faith.

There are televangelists and word of faith people that tell you, “If you just have enough faith and you send me a check in the mail then everything will work out for you.” That is not how you come to Jesus! Jesus is Lord of all! You don’t get to manipulate Jesus. It doesn’t matter how rich you are or your status in life. The way that you should approach Jesus is to fall in your face in humility and beg him for help.

When we are in anguish and desperate for help, like these two people, we should approach Jesus with humble faith. We cry out to Him, knowing He has the power to deliver us.

Jesus tells the woman, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” Jesus tells her that she is not unclean anymore. She can go back to her family and can worship in the synagogue and the temple.

Scene 3: Jesus raises Jairus’ daughter from the dead (35-43)

35 While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” 36 But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” 37 And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. 38 They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 40 And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. 41 Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” 42 And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. 43 And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

35

Jesus is not even done speaking to the woman and someone comes from Jairus’ house and tells him that his daughter is dead.

36

But notice how Jesus responds. Jesus says, “Do not fear, only believe.”

What a statement! What if we lived like this?

“Do not fear, only believe!”

There is an inverse relationship between fear and faith. The more faith you have, the less fear you will have. The more fear you have, the less faith you will have.

What are you dealing with today that is causing you desperation?

Is it your health? Finances? A lost family member? Infertility? Marriage trouble? The health of a loved one?

Jesus says, “Do not fear, only believe.”

This is the challenge before Jairus and everyone who meets Jesus. Will we look at the desperation of our circumstances or believe in the God who makes all things possible?[2]James R. Edwards, The Gospel according to Mark, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: Eerdmans; Apollos, 2002), 166.

37-40

Jesus, along with Peter, James, and John, go to Jairus’ house. The text says that it was quite a scene, with people weeping and wailing loudly. In New Testament times, professional mourners would gather to grieve with the family and the community. As Jesus entered the house, he asked the mourners and those present, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.”

Verse 40 says that they laughed at him. Jesus then goes into to see the girl. Verse 41 says that he took her by the hand and said, “Little girl, arise.” And immediately, v. 42 says, she got up and began walking. Those present were “overcome with amazement.”

Can you imagine the joy and the relief of the parents? Can you imagine the reaction of Peter, James, and John?

In our passage, we see that in times of desperation, we must turn to Jesus, who has authority over disease and death.

Big Idea: In your desperation, turn to Jesus, who has authority over disease and death.

When Jesus raises this little girl from the dead, he is pointing forward to the time when God will raise all who are in Christ from the dead.

But it’s important to note that just a few decades later, both this lady and Jairus’ daughter died a physical death. Even when Jesus miraculously healed the sick and raised the dead, those people still died. What is most needed for all of us is not physical healing, but spiritual healing.

What is most needed for all of us is not physical healing, but spiritual healing.

The demon-possessed man, the lady with the flow of blood, and Jairus daughter all transferred their uncleanness to Jesus, and Jesus cleansed each one of them.

Isaiah 53:5-6

But he was pierced for our transgressions;

    he was crushed for our iniquities;

upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,

    and with his wounds we are healed.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray;

    we have turned—every one—to his own way;

and the Lord has laid on him

    the iniquity of us all.

The only way that Jesus could save us from our sin was that he himself was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. By his wounds we are healed. By Jesus words, he healed physically, but by his death, he made a sacrifice so that we could have a healing that lasts forever.

By Jesus words, he healed physically, but by his death, he made a sacrifice so that we could have a healing that lasts forever.

That’s the hope we have in Jesus. Even if we do not experience physical healing, we have the hope that Jesus is the resurrection and the life and that if we are in Christ we will live with God forever in the new heavens and the new earth.

If you are not a Christian, then you need Jesus more than Jairus’ daughter and this woman with a flow of blood.

You need to be cleansed of your sin and that only happens through repentance of sin and faith in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

Conclusion

To summarize today’s text:

There are times of desperation in life that only Jesus can fix.

We should approach Jesus with a humble faith.

We should approach Jesus in humble faith for two reasons: (1) he cares about our suffering and (2) he has the authority to alleviate our suffering.

Physical healing is not ultimate. Our greatest need is not physical but spiritual healing. To have a healthy body without a new heart is a temporary solution.

Those healed of physical conditions will still go to hell without Jesus. Those who have repented and believed in the atoning work of Christ will live forever in a new body.

In your desperation, turn to Jesus.

References

References
↑1 Craig S. Keener and John H. Walton, eds., NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2016), 1698
↑2 James R. Edwards, The Gospel according to Mark, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: Eerdmans; Apollos, 2002), 166.

Jesus Delivers the Demonized – Mark 5:1-20

June 26, 2023 /

Sermon Video

In our text last week, we saw Jesus calm the wind and the sea (Mark 4:39). After Jesus calmed the storm, the disciples were fearful, and asked, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:41). In Mark 5, we find the answer to the disciples’ question. In Mark 5, we read about Jesus’ power over demons, disease, and death.

Sermon Text: Mark 5:1-20

Jesus Conquers the Demonic (1-13)

They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. 2 And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. 3 He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, 4 for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. 6 And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. 7 And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” 8 For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” 9 And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” 10 And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. 11 Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, 12 and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” 13 So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea.

1

Jesus and the disciples arrive at the country of the Gerasenes. This area was a village in the area of the Decapolis, a region of 10 cities southeast of the Sea of Galilee. Although some Jews lived in the Decapolis, the population and overall worldview of the region was predominantly Gentile.[1]ESV Archaeology Study Bible, 1441.

2

As soon as Jesus steps out of the boat, Mark writes, “immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit.” To have an unclean spirit means that this person was was demon-possessed.

Jesus and the disciples probably arrived at night (Mark 4:35). It was believed that evil spirits exercised their greatest power at night. Thus, Mark is setting the stage for ancient readers to feel the suspense of the ensuing conflict.

In vv. 3-5, Mark gives us a picture of the man’s condition.

The demon-possessed man:

  • lived among the tombs. The people of the town, in fear, had driven him out of the town. They feared his amazing strength. The text says that chains and shackles could not hold him.
  • The man had descended into a life of filth, loneliness, and terror. Jews would have considered him unclean for the mere act of touching a dead body, much less living among the dead.
  • Verse 5 says, “he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones.”

It’s very possible that the pig herdsmen were supplying the Roman army with pork. If this is true, then Jesus meets a man with an unclean spirit living among unclean tombs surrounded by people employed in an unclean occupation, in an unclean Gentile territory.[2]James R. Edwards, The Gospel according to Mark, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: Eerdmans; Apollos, 2002), 155.

1 Pet 5:8

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

Satan and his demons had devoured this man. He was living like an animal amongst the dead and cutting himself with rocks. This man was running around naked and was unkempt and dirty. His skin had cuts, bruises, lacerations, scabs, and infections. Satan’s demons completely controlled this man. It is hard to imagine a more miserable existence.

One could argue that this man had it worse than Job. Jesus said this in John 10:10 – “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.”

That’s what Satan wants to do. He wants to steal, kill, and destroy. Satan doesn’t want human beings to love one another. He doesn’t want them to have the abundant life that Jesus gives. He wants to steal, kill, and destroy.

The people in the surrounding area of Gerasenes feared this demon-possessed man with great strength.

Look at vv. 3-4 again:

“This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart and broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him.”

No one was strong enough to subdue him. No one except Jesus. Look at verses 6-8.

The man ran and fell down before Jesus. Isn’t that amazing? Remember, the text just said that there was no one strong enough to subdue him. Yet, as soon as Jesus gets out of the boat, this demon-possessed man comes to him and falls before him.

As the man falls before Jesus, the demon immediately takes control of his voice. The demons that possessed this man knew who Jesus was. Look at v. 7 – “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.”

Look back at Mark 4:41. The question that the disciples asked is now answered by the demons here in Mark 5:7. Jesus is the Son of the Most High God. The demons recognize Jesus’s absolute authority and that is why they force the man to bow down before Him.

I quoted the first part of John 10:10 earlier. Now I want to read the whole verse – “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

The demons have sought to destroy this man but Jesus comes to give life. Verse 8 says that Jesus commanded the demons to come out of the man.

As Jesus is commanding the demons to come out of the man, he asked the demon in v. 9, “What is your name?” The demon responds, “My name is Legion, for we are many.”

A legion is a contingency of 6,000 Roman soldiers. This man was not possessed by just one demon, but by many demons working together as an evil force. In v. 10, the demon begs Jesus to not send them out of the country.

What happens next has always been a bit of a puzzle for me. Look at vv. 11-13.

The demons ask for Jesus to send them into the herd of pigs instead of sending them away into the abyss. The presence of a herd of pigs this size underscores the fact that this was a Gentile region, for the Jews considered pigs to be unclean according to Lev 11. Jesus gives them permission to enter the pigs and the herd, which numbered about 2000, rushed down the bank and into the sea and drowned.

When Jesus sent the demons into the pigs, this was a visible manifestation of the reality of the exorcism. The people were able to see clearly that Jesus had exorcised the demons from the man and sent them into the pigs. By doing this, Jesus gave the crowd a graphic, visible, and powerful lesson on the level of evil from which the man had been delivered.

This story reminds us of the uniqueness of human beings. Only humans are created in God’s image and can have a relationship with God. Here, Jesus values the life of one man over the whole herd of pigs.

When the demons entered the pigs, the demons drove them to destruction. This is what demons do—they seek total destruction of their host.

Here are some things we can learn about demons from this passage. These are taken from a Christianity Today article entitled “Exorcism 101” by Clinton Arnold:

  1. Demons are real and dangerous. A demon (or many demons) can inhabit and take possession of a person.
  2. Demons can make themselves known by speaking through people and even taking control of their bodies.
  3. Demons are fallen angels and powerful spiritual beings. They can exhibit enormous strength through a person under their control.
  4. Demons can inflict serious personal injury to the one possessed and to others, with the ultimate goal of that person’s death.
  5. Demons can move or be transferred from one host to another.
  6. Demons can resist leaving their host. They may even beg, out of self-interest, for their own well-being.
  7. Demons recognize and are subject to appropriate spiritual authority.
  8. If demonic spirits attempted to resist the incarnate Christ, we can be sure they will also attempt to resist us.
  9. Jesus, unlike the exorcists of His day that used elaborate rituals and incantations, simply gave the command, and the demons were forced to obey.

The man thing that we see in vv. 1-13 is that Jesus has the power to conquer the demonic. As Jesus said in Matthew 28:18, all authority in heaven and earth has been given to Him. In Revelation 20, we see Jesus’ ultimate victory over Satan and the demons as they are cast into the Lake of Fire forever.

If Jesus can exorcise a multitude of demons from this man and give him new life, then what can he do with you? This man had been inhabited by demons and was cut off from society. He had no hope and no future. That is, until he met Jesus. Maybe that’s you today. I don’t know what’s going on in your life, whether it’s drugs, alcohol, pornography, or something else, but Jesus has the power to overcome it. The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but Jesus came that we can have abundant life in Him.

You see, without Jesus, we would all be in the Lake of Fire forever with Satan and his demons because of our sin against God. We have all fallen short of His glory and broken His righteous commands. Because of this, we need an advocate with the Father, and that is exactly who Jesus is. Jesus came and lived a perfect life of obedience and He died for our sins in our place on the cross. We can have peace with God by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. That is the gospel, and it is good news indeed. Let’s see how the crowds viewed Jesus after this miracle.

In vv. 1-13, Jesus conquered the demonic. In vv. 14-17, Jesus confronts the cautious (14-17).

Jesus Confronts the Cautious (14-17)

14 The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. 15 And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. 16 And those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs. 17 And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region.

In vv. 14-17, we see the crowd’s response to Jesus.

The herdsmen go into the city and the country and share about what happened.

People come out to see Jesus and they see the demon-possessed man sitting clothed and in his right mind. Their response to this was fear. Verse 15 says, “they were afraid.”

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus is never a neutral figure. Jesus is no ordinary man. When Jesus shows up, things change. This scares some people. Sadly, the people of the region are afraid of Jesus and His power, and they begged Jesus to leave (v. 17). It seems that for them, they were more upset about the destruction of property (the pigs) than they were happy about the healing of the man.

Jesus’s power made them uncomfortable. Did you know that there are lot of church folk that are uncomfortable with Jesus’s power?

  • Some people get uncomfortable when we sing songs of praise.
  • Some people get uncomfortable when people raise their hands.
  • Some people get uncomfortable when the worst sinners come to church.
  • Some people get uncomfortable when people come to church that don’t look like them and talk like them.

Brothers and sisters let’s not tell Jesus to leave simply because we are uncomfortable or feel threatened. Who knows what miracles and works these people missed out on because they begged Jesus to leave their region?

Some of you are worried about following Jesus too closely. You can come to a church service every now and then and squirm through an hour of preaching but you refuse to give Jesus your heart. You know that Jesus demands that you follow him with your whole life. After all, if he can change and transform a demoniac what might he do with you? [3]Danny Akin, Christ-Centered Exposition: Mark, 108-9.

In vv. 14-17, we see the crowd’s response to Jesus. In vv. 18-20, we see the man’s response to Jesus

Jesus Commissions the Delivered (18-20)

18 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. 19 And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.

The formerly demon-possessed man asks Jesus to follow Him. Verse 18 says that he “begged” Jesus that he might be with him.

In contrast to many people who don’t care about regularly attending corporate worship, this man begs Jesus that he might be with him.

You see, a man who has been truly converted will not want to be separated from the presence of Christ.[4]R.C. Sproul, Mark, 95.

Instead, in v. 19, Jesus told him to, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”

We’re not told any more than this, but with a little imagination, you can picture this scenario:

As the man gets closer to home, excitement grows within him. Maybe he had a family. How long had it been since he kissed his wife and held his children? Could they have been praying for him this whole time? As he gets close to his home, he sees his kids playing outside. They see him, run inside, and yell, “Mommy, Mommy! It’s Daddy! He’s home!” Tears stream down their faces as they embrace one another.

As the man wipes tears from his eyes, he tells his family that he men a man named Jesus, Son of the Most High God. The man continues, “Let me tell you what this man has done for me.”[5]Adapted from Danny Akin, Christ-Centered Exposition: Mark, 110.

This is the power of Jesus.

See, when Jesus changes your life, that fact is not meant to be a secret. We should tell those around us about the difference that Jesus has made in our lives. Don’t just invite people to church. Tell them how Jesus has changed your life – your marriage, your family, your situation, and your church. And if you don’t have a testimony of how Jesus has changed your whole life, then you don’t know Jesus.

Political policies may enact some change but I’ll tell you what changes the world. The gospel of Jesus Christ is what changes us. The Holy Spirit’s work in our lives changes us. As we are changed, we share the hope of the gospel with others and they are changed.

The man followed Jesus’s instructions and began to proclaim how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled (v. 20). When Jesus does a work in your life, people should marvel. You are not the man or woman you used to be. If you are in Christ, you are a new creation (2 Cor 5:17).

Have you been made new by Christ?

Have you been born again?

Has your life been turned upside down by the risen Christ?

References

References
↑1 ESV Archaeology Study Bible, 1441.
↑2 James R. Edwards, The Gospel according to Mark, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: Eerdmans; Apollos, 2002), 155.
↑3 Danny Akin, Christ-Centered Exposition: Mark, 108-9.
↑4 R.C. Sproul, Mark, 95.
↑5 Adapted from Danny Akin, Christ-Centered Exposition: Mark, 110.
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