HOW DESPERATE?

The Pharisees in Capernaum are so jealous of Jesus’ authority they have been plotting how to kill Him, while the Jews in Nazareth feel offended by their local carpenter.  

What now?...(Mark 7)                                                       

Here come more Pharisees all the way from Jerusalem to fault Jesus but all they can come up with is the washing of hands!                                                            

Jesus throws their accusations right back in their faces...   

“This people honour me with their lips but their heart is far from me”.                                       

Yup, clean hands but defiled hearts.

He’s not finished with them yet and hammers it home...              

“You really reject the commandment of God that you may keep your own tradition!”

Over what??  “Honour thy father and mother”

This is not just Moses’ Law – it is the Word of God!                                                                                           
Who is this warning for? Anyone with ears – that’s everyone!

Jesus has had enough and heads off to Tyre and Sidon for a breather.                                                  

Here comes a woman to fault Jesus? No!                  

This most unlikely Gentile is so desperate for her daughter she falls at this Jew’s feet. Yes, she is just like a puppy dog begging at a Jew’s table for crumbs from the children.

Next to be blessed is a deaf man in Decapolis who has this Jew’s spit.... applied to his tongue!

This Jesus does all things well, so how desperate are you for healing from Him?

JUST WHO IS THIS GUY??

We arrive at the climax of Jesus’ ministry to Israel in chapter 6, so let’s see how Mark presents this wonderful Man of action, even skipping meals...                                  

• Jesus heads back to hometown Nazareth, to teach in their synagogue - again! (Last time they tried to kill Him but He has His disciples with Him this time)
• He takes a well-earned holiday? No, He teaches in surrounding villages, while ‘the twelve’ do the same - even with the power to cast out demons! We’re playing for keeps here folks...judgment day awaits those who reject even those Jesus sends!
• John the Baptist has met a gruesome end, thanks to Herod outwitted by his women
• Jesus and His disciples seek retreat from the crowds, only to be swamped by hungry thousands
• Jesus walks on water to calm a storm for His disciples, on the way to yet another healing visit

Notice what the disciples miss... Scraps from 5 fishburgers fill 12 baskets after the feeding of 5000 men, plus women and kids: 12 is the special number for Israel.

Does anyone - anyone at all - recognise the Son of God for who He is?

• the locals in Nazareth are astonished but offended (Gk:skandalizo – tripped up!) 
• king Herod is afraid, thinking Jesus is John risen again
• the people desperately seek His healing hands
• the disciples tell Jesus what to do and are amazed but hard-hearted

So Jesus gets angry? No, He marvels at unbelief but is also moved with compassion...

“Be of good cheer...it is I, be not afraid”

Would you have recognised Jesus as Son of God?

DESPERATE FAITH

What a day that was in Mark 4!...Jesus teaching crowds from a boat, then giving private instruction before embarking on a wild trip across the lake.                                                  Guess what!...the day isn’t over yet...

Good riddance to evil spirits!

As soon as they arrive, Jesus is met by a madman running to meet the boat and getting release from those evil spirits. Jesus then sails straight back to heal a woman of her incurable bleeding disorder and raise a 12 year old girl from the dead – all in a day’s work! (Mark 5)

Telling this Man ALL the truth!

Yes, this Man is wearing Himself out graciously serving men, women and children, even the daughter of the most unlikely person – a ruler of the Jewish synagogue.  Notice the ‘utter uncleanness’, from a Jewish viewpoint, of these people Jesus heals – they are all in a desperate, hopeless position – but faith is rewarded.

• The man was possessed by evil spirits and living in tombs of the dead 
• The woman was totally unclean under Mosaic Law
• The 12 year old girl was dead – utterly unclean

Notice the reactions Jesus receives...                    

The Gadarenes would rather He leave their coasts - these are the descendants of people who didn’t want to cross the River Jordan to inherit the Promised Land.  Back in His own country, Jesus is laughed to scorn.

Nevertheless the good news of Jesus is spread thru 10 towns by the man now sensible, the woman publicly declares all the truth, and the girl is an undeniable silent witness to the Jewish synagogue. 

What about you?                                                                                                 
“Go home to your friends and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you and how He has had compassion on you

FOLLOW the MYSTERY

What a strange day we find in Mark 4...                        

Jesus goes back again to the sea-shore to sit down and tell the crowds stories from a boat - without explaining what they mean - then finishes with: “He that has ears to hear, let him hear!”  (Don’t we all? Yup, this is for anybody)                

In private He explains only ‘the seed sower’, with 2 bonus parables, and another: “He that has ears to hear...”  for everybody present.                                    

Then He decides to cross the sea, goes to sleep only to be woken by his panicked friends, so He calms the storm just with: “Peace, be still!”                                

What a day!

Here’s the key...                                                      

We notice from careful reading that it was... ‘they that were about Him with the twelve asked of Him the parable’ v10 These people made it their business to go get answers instead of sitting on the beach!                                

If you or I hear the Word, it’s then time for ACTION – of course!                                                                   

What was the answer they got?...                                   

The ‘mystery’ of the Kingdom of God – the only time the Lord is recorded using this word musterion – ‘that which is revealed only to those initiated’ - the same word apostle Paul will use to describe the Church and the Rapture of the Church!

What seems to be happening here?                         

Jesus has abandoned the Jews in their synagogue for now, has appealed to the crowds, shared great truths privately to anybody interested and finally calmed a great storm for the disciples and others.

“Why are you fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”

Is the Lord hinting at a transition?... using the apostles and others in future to put the lamp where it can be seen, letting the earth bring forth fruit and letting what began as small as a mustard seed grow into a mighty tree.                      

Soon enough there will be a mighty storm but He will be with the faithful remnant and bring them thru to great calm.

What fruit are you producing? Is that light shining bright from you?

THE PRESSURE MOUNTS

We find Jesus back in the Capernaum synagogue on the Sabbath day (Mark 3) where He heals a man’s withered hand – again just with His voice!  

“Stretch out your hand!”               

Watch how people react to Jesus...

• Straightaway the Pharisees plot with Herodians to kill Him – Herod being a blood-thirst king
• Crowds arrive to see and hear Him
• His friends say He is out of His mind
• Jewish scribes: “He has Beelzebub”  (‘Lord of flies’: what an insult!)
• Family arrive to distract Him

Notice though that it is only unclean spirits that recognise who He really is – the Son of God.                                                                                                                          

Now watch Him move away...                             

Having left the Jews in their synagogue for the last time He heads to the sea shore to serve the mixed crowds, and then distances Himself even further into a small ship. 

Next He calls His followers up a mountain to appoint 12, but even one of them will end up betraying Him: 
Judas Iscariote.                                 

Whoever can Jesus trust?

“Whosoever shall do the will of God”

HOME with GOD

So what is the Servant’s mission?...to heal everybody?      

Is it to uphold the might of the Roman Empire?                 

No, it’s to preach the gospel of the Kingdom of God. (1:15&38)

Meanwhile back in Capernaum...                                                                                                  
You can read Mark 2 for yourself, but notice there are 3 houses mentioned:                                  

• Jesus’ own home, maybe lodging with Simon and Andrew
• A tax collector’s home - Jesus accepts the hospitality of Matthew
• The House of God where David once ate showbread 

Also notice how this Servant has been identified so far: the Messiah, the Son of God, the Holy One of God, and now....the Son of Man with power on Earth, and even Lord of the Sabbath.  No Roman Caesar could ace that!

So what’s happening here?...                    

Four guys lift a paralysed man onto a roof, dig thru and then lower him... into whose home?                                              

Here Mark resorts to using the word ‘laleo’:  Jesus is home, simply TALKING to His visitors.                             

They glorify God without realizing they are actually in God’s house!                                                                                    

In search of more space, He then leads them down to the sea-side and teaches them there.                                                 

The Lord of Sabbath has work to do, making time for people: forgiving, healing, talking with, teaching, eating and drinking....yes, the Sabbath is made for Man.

 “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance”

This is something totally new – no need to stay paralysed by sin...

Wow!!

The HANDS-ON MESSIAH

We open Mark’s gospel where the Roman Empire is watching out for this long-promised Jewish Messiah to appear - in fact, God has promised to come Himself!   

Let’s watch closely too...

A rough hobo called John claims he’s a messenger but not even worthy to do a slave’s job of undoing the sandals of the Messiah who is coming... but when He finally arrives, has to dunk Him in the river!                                                                                                             

Don’t miss the fast pace of events – Mark will use ‘euthos’ some 36 times for immediate results, beginning with... heaven cannot resist suddenly splitting open (schizo) to endorse this Man publicly:

                                                                                                

“Thou art my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased"                                                              

...then the Spirit drives Him into the wilderness to be tested by Satan for 40 days!

Instead of heading to Jerusalem to be crowned King, this Messiah is acting like the Servant with urgent work to do - He goes preaching in despised Galilee!

His authority is undeniable though - it cannot be hidden. Unlike typical disciples who choose which rabbi they will follow, fishermen walk from their businesses to obey Jesus’ call, Jews in the synagogue are amazed at His teaching, demons are forced to recognize Him as ‘the Holy One of God’...

Okay He takes the hand of Simon’s mother-in-law to heal her fever, but just how hands-on will this Servant be?  Would He dare touch a leper?                               

Moved with compassion, Jesus freely handles (haptomai) this leper and healing is immediate from Messiah... 

‘as soon as He had spoken’                           

Of course!