søndag 8. juli 2012

Mark 1:9-45 Making your life count

Mark 1:9-45 Making your life count / Life with meaning

All of us need something to give our life meaning and purpose:  something to believe in, someone to follow. We all want our lives to count, to echo into eternity. What if there was someone who could tell us exactly how to do that? What if someone could ensure that our lives matter, that every moment we live here can count for something - wouldn’t you want to meet that person?

Well, that’s the type of person Mark described in the opening sentence of his gospel (his proclamation of BIG good news): “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Here, Mark says, is the Christ, the Promised Rescuer of the World, who the Jews had been waiting for for over 4000 years! Here is the Son of God, the title of the King of Israel, and God the Son, the divine second person of the Trinity. Quite an impressive collection of titles. Jesus Christ, the Son of God – someone who can make your life count.

But I could say I’m the President of the United States, even though I’m not. How do we know that Jesus is who is claims to be? Words are easy, actions are harder! The rest of chapter one (and most of chapter 2), therefore, is Jesus’ CV, proving he is who he says he is.

Jesus is the King of God’s Kingdom, the Universe, because:
1.    He has power to represent us as our champion (v9-13)
2.    He has power to teach the truth (v21-22)
3.    He has power over evil spirits (v22-27)
4.    He has power over sickness (v29-31)

And next week we’ll look at the last three, and probably most important points (into chapter 2):
5.    He has power over the Law of God
6.    He has power to forgive sins (something only God can do)
7.    He has power to restore the sinner

1.     Jesus has the power to represent us as our champion
This one may sound strange, until we take a little lesson in history and politics. One of the roles of the prime minister is to represent the country on the world stage. He speaks on behalf of the whole country. This was even more apparent in the times of kings, and the King really was the country. As he decided, so the country went. If he declared war, then the country was at war. He, the King, represented the country to the world.

And this is what we find in verses v9-13. In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.

Baptism is a declaration of turning away from sin – dying to your old life (under the water), and turning toward God – raised to new life as you come out of the water.

So why would Jesus, who, if he is the Son of God, the Messiah, and therefore the perfect Rescuer, need to be baptised? Why does someone who has no sin need to acknowledge sin? Because, as 2 Corinthians 5:21 outs it “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
It is the swap that happens at the cross in action already. In fulfilment of the Davidic covenant in 2 Sam 7, Jesus, the King of God’s People, fully identifies with his people by taking on the posture of a sinner and acknowledging our sin on our behalf before almighty God. This is a rescue mission. The King who saves. The King who takes on the sins of the world, goes resolutely to the cross, and dies a sinners death, cursed on a tree, in order to rescue his enemies – you and me. Only Jesus can be our champion.

There’s a strange little story in the book of Revelation, chapter 5 the Apostle John sees a vision: a scroll of salvation, of rule over world history, which cannot be opened – and he weeps for none is worthy to open the scroll. Without that scroll, humanity is doomed.
But then he hears a voice say “weep no more” for Jesus is worthy to open the scroll.

No-one is worthy to open the scroll, no-one but Jesus. Only Jesus is qualified to be our champion. Only he is fully human, but also fully God. Only he is without sin and can become sin for us. Only he can take our place at the judgement seat and save us.

Jesus has the power to be our champion.

What do you place your trust in? Your own inherent goodness? You’re a nice person? You religious acts of duty? Or God won’t mind? Or “God is love”? Or any other excuse which means you can keep doing whatever you want, what you decide is right and can justify yourself? There is a judgement coming – and you can either face it yourself, hoping that you’ve somehow been perfect, or let Jesus be your qualified champion, and let him fight, and win, the impossible battle you cannot. Only Jesus can save you – you cannot save yourself.

2.    Jesus has power to teach the truth (v21-22)

And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.  

Jesus’ mission (as he says in verse 38) is to preach and teach. But his teaching was different, astonishing – he taught with authority. The word “authority” there is, according to the New Bible Dictionary, exousia, meaning rightful, actual and unimpeded power to act, or to possess, control, use or dispose of, something or somebody.

Have you ever been to Heaven? Have you seen the cosmos in all its glory? Have you stood at the brink of time and space and commanded it all, ruled it by the word of your mouth? No. Well, Jesus has. He knows what makes this world work because he made it. He knows what makes you work, because he made you. His words are authoritative truth. All other teachings are clouded by sin, warped by our self-interest and limited understanding.

But not Jesus. His teaching is “astonishing”. His teaching is authoritative, powerful, true.

So, do you believe him? Do you obey him? Do you truly believe that his words in the Bible are truth - not just lip service but practically, in your life. Christian, are you obeying God, or just pretending to? Are you listening to him, or listening to someone else. As Jesus says, repeatedly, in John chapters 14-16 “If you love me, you will obey my commands).

And if you’re not a Christian, what do you do in meeting this authoritative, powerful king?

Jesus himself gives us the answer in verse 15: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.

Jesus, and Jesus alone, has power to teach the truth.

3.    Jesus has power over evil spirits (v22-27)

And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.”

Do you fear that which goes bump in the night? Do you fear curses, black spots, the evil eye, witchdoctors, Satanists, witches, mooti, potions, ghosts, monsters? What is it that you fear?

And well you should fear! For there are demonic forces at work which want to destroy and tear us down. Powerful evil forces are arrayed against us in battle. That is reality.

In the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes there is a character called Mo. He is the biggest boy in Calvin’s class at school, and is a bully. He pushes Calvin off the swing, takes his lunch money, shoves him in the dirt, etc. Calvin is powerless against Mo – he’s so much bigger and stronger. Help! Calvin needs someone bigger than Mo to protect him against Mo.

And that’s what we have here. Only Jesus is big enough to protect us from Satan and his forces. Only Jesus can command the evil spirits at a word – and they obey immediately. Satan is our enemy, not God’s!
Jesus has power over evil spirits.

How do we respond? Well, we can take our chances with the forces of evil, or we can shelter in Christ.

The time is fulfilled, the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe the gospel!

4.    Jesus has power over sickness (v29-31)

Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

Instantly healed! She was up and about, making tea, offering them cakes, whatever the first century equivalent was!

Is there any limit to this man’s power? Even sickness is no obstacle for him. Without a word Simon Peter’s mother-in-law (which means Peter had a wife, Catholics, and therefore the whole celibacy thing is wrong) is healed.

Who is this man, who commands people to follow him, who teaches with authority, who rules over evil spirits and sickness, who acts as our representative? Who is this man? Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God.

Last week we read Mark 1:1“The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

So what’s the gospel about? Is it about family? No. Doing good? Being Polite? Nice? Which country you come from? No. Being sincere in your religious beliefs? No!

It’s the gospel of Jesus, which means it’s both about Jesus (not us), and based on Jesus – his work secures our salvation.  It is about a relationship with the living God, revealed in the Bible. If you are a Christian without the Biblical Jesus, then you are not a Christian. 

The gospel of Mark opens with good news! But also a warning. The Lord will appear suddenly in his Temple (Malachi) – the Lord will arrive amongst his people (Isaiah). Prepare the way of the Lord! The King, the King is coming! Be ready! 

The time is fulfilled, the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe the gospel.

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