Mark 9:1-29 The path to greatness is dependence.

Mark 9:1-29

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How do you become a great Christian?

How do you live a godly life full of power and victory?

Well, it is by being humble and dependent. Why? Because I am not the Messiah. You are not the son of God. And however hard we try we can never be even the tiniest bit as glorious, powerful or wonderful as the Lord Jesus!

Mark’s gospel opens with these words: 1:1 This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God. Jesus is the Messiah (Hebrew) or Christ (Greek) which means the Promised Rescuer. He is the one promised in the Old Testament, the first part of the Bible, the one who will rescue us all from sin and death. Christ is not his surname but his job description. Jesus, saviour of the world!

And chapters 1-8 have been proving this remarkable truth. He has power to teach, power to heal, power over sickness, demons, even death! He even has power over creation – wind obeys him, the sea obeys him, he can even make food from nothing, feeding a crowd of 5000 and then 4000. And in 8:29 Jesus asks his disciples: “But who do you say I am?” Peter replied, “You are the Messiah.”

He is Messiah, God’s the Promised Rescuer. And immediately Jesus starts teaching them how is he going to save us, and what it means to follow him. He must die. And we must die.

That’s what we saw last week. To save us Jesus needs to die. He will die in our place on the cross, a sacrificial lamb, taking our sins upon himself so that he can give us his righteousness. It’s new life for old. Our sinful rebellious life can be swapped for a new one! But that means giving up our old one, dying to self, and accepting the new one, living for Christ.

Is it worth it?
And how do we live it?

Those are the two questions tonight’s passage answers.

1. Following Jesus means listening to Jesus, the glorious, transcendent, eternal son of God!

2. Following Jesus means stop pretending to be independent, and instead trust Him in all things. I believe. Help me in my unbelief.

1. Following Jesus means listening to Jesus

We’re called to bank everything on Jesus. Being crucified does not involve holding something back for yourself! Losing your life is pretty final. These are the words Jesus uses. You cannot be a Sunday Christian. Jesus is Lord of all, or not Lord at all. There is nothing in all Creation over which Jesus does not say “this is mine!” – there is nothing in your life over which Jesus does not say “this is mine. This belongs to me”.

So, it’s a big risk. Are the promised rewards of eternal life, real life now, the best life now, the only way to live – are these backed up by anything?

If you pull out a kr100 note it’s backed by bank of Norway. If I’d pulled out a Zimbabwean dollar bill, you’d feel a little less secure. Or the bank of Greece or Spain! Can Jesus back up his promises? Is he right about his view of the Messiah?

Jesus went on to say, “I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Kingdom of God arrive in great power!” 2 Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed, 3 and his clothes became dazzling white, far whiter than any earthly bleach could ever make them… 7 Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to him.”

Follow me and be killed and I will give you life. It’s quite a challenge. This was really difficult for the disciples. They thought the Messiah would be some all-conquering hero, Rambo on a horse riding in to Jerusalem to free the Jews and throw the Romans out, power blasting from his hands. But instead Jesus is talking all about dying and suffering and being a sacrifice. Huh? Surely you’re wrong Jesus. Peter even says so! Mk 8:31–32 Then Jesus began to tell them that the Son of Man must suffer many terrible things and be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but three days later he would rise from the dead. 32 As he talked about this openly with his disciples, Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things.

So this was a real brain twister for the disciples. And Jesus knew this. So he says some of you will SEE the Kingdom of God. And six days later, there is Peter, James and John, Jesus’ “inner circle” and they see the Glorified King. Jesus as he is.

Jesus is revealed in all his glory on the mountaintop. With him stands Moses, the Law-giver, and Elijah, the greatest of the prophets: “the Law and the Prophets” being a way to describe the Old Testament. Them appearing with Jesus is saying “We testify to Jesus”. The Old Testament, the Holy Scriptures, say that “Jesus is right”. And to make it very clear, the Father says v7 This is my dearly loved son: listen to Him.

Jesus is God, LISTEN TO HIM. What he says about the Messiah is right. What he says about his death and resurrection is true. His words bring life, since he is the One who speaks life into existence. Listen to him.

Those words were for Peter, James and John, and those words are for us. We must listen to Jesus. His words are truth. True truth. No matter what we think we know about Jesus, we must put aside and really listen. Peter couldn’t hear what Jesus was saying because his own views about the Messiah were in the way. He couldn’t understand. He was blind. He had to keep listening.

And we must too. Keep reading. Keep reading what God actually says in his word, not what we think it says!
Because how often do we just “read” something without reading it. Our brain is extremely efficient – it likes to create heuristics: shortcuts for familiar tasks. The first time you drive to a new job, you notice everything along the way. You focus on the road. You notice the view. You see the flowers and trees and shops and people and everything. 3 weeks later you register none of that. You arrive home and you don’t remember the drive. Your brain has shifted into “repeat mode” (heuristics). The danger is when we do that to the Bible. It takes effort to read the Bible because our brain is lazy and just sees what it thinks is already there – it takes the short-cut! That’s why God repeatedly urges us to work hard, stay awake, beat our body into submission, make every effort. To hear his voice takes active effort on our part! The Holy Spirit doesn’t swan down and deposit wisdom in our minds! That’s why the apostles in the early church devoted themselves to teaching and preaching (and prayer!).

This is my dearly loved son – listen to him!

Strong words.

But why should we listen to him? Because he is what the whole Bible is pointing to, what the whole Old Testament, the Law and the prophets, Moses and Elijah, is building up to.

Because in him is revealed God himself. Elijah and Moses are the only two people to whom God revealed himself. On the mountain of God, they asked to see him, and God passes before them. He showed Moses his glory, and then gave him his word – and he said to Elijah… well, nothing. He didn’t speak in a still small voice. That’s a poor translation. It’s a deafening silence. He’d already spoken through Moses, and Elijah needed to listen. But now! Here are Peter, James and John on the mountainside seeing the glory of Jesus revealed, and they are to LISTEN TO HIM. This is something new, fulfilling Moses. Jesus is Almighty God, revealed in his glory before them. Here then is the Name of God, his very nature, standing before them in human form.

Following Jesus means listening to Jesus, the glorious, transcendent, eternal son of God!

2. Following Jesus means stop pretending to be independent, and instead trust Him in all things.

Mk 9:24 “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”

We’ve got quite a cast of characters here in this story:
The disciples, the demon-possessed boy, the father, Jesus, the crowd, and the teachers of the religious Law. When Jesus comes down the mountain there is a massive argument going on. The religious leaders are arguing with the disciples, and the reason is soon apparent – they were not able to cast out the demon (v18). We don’t know what the religious people were saying, but they were probably calling out the disciples as fakes, fraudsters. And, in this case, they were right.

Listen to Jesus in v19 Jesus said to them, “You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”

What was the disciples’ problem? They were trying to do this miracle by themselves. They thought that by virtue of their position as Jesus’ disciples that they had power. It was idolatry: they replaced Jesus with themselves as their authority and power. Just as in Exodus when Moses comes down the mountain and sees the people of Israel engaged in idolatry – worshipping a golden calf, now Jesus comes down the mountain and sees his disciples, his people, worshipping their own power and position.

If that seems to you a bit of a stretch, or a bit harsh on the disciples, have a look at the context of this story. 8:14 Don’t be like the Pharisees. 9:34 the disciples argue about who is greatest. V38 John silenced someone because they weren’t following them! 10:35 James and John want to have the top positions. 10:13-17 the contrast of the rich young ruler depending on his own efforts for salvation, and the children dependant on others.

They could not cast out the demon because they did not pray. They did not declare their dependence on Jesus. They did not ask him to do what they could not. They did not wait for Jesus. They probably did not even use Jesus’ name. They probably hadn’t really understood who Jesus was. Maybe they thought that he was just a man like them, blessed by God, and as they were in the inner group, soon they would have the same power. They were like the rich young ruler, like the Pharisees, great in their own eyes – instead of like children, asking Dad for help.

So while the disciples are engaged in an idolatrous power-play, being rightly rebuked by the religious leaders, and generally making a mess of things because of their big heads, their arrogance. The father of the boy, however, prays. Where? Have a look at v24. Jesus has just called him out on his lack of belief “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” 24 The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” That is prayer! “I believe; help my unbelief!” I can’t do it. I need help.

Prayer is a declaration of dependence. God I can’t do this. God I need you.

And that is why prayer is so vitally important. Not to give God information, like God’s sitting up in Heaven waiting for the daily news bulletin from Daniel, with no idea what’s going on! This is the Creator and sustainer of the Universe we’re talking about, the one who rules by absolute decree, where a hair on your head does not fall without him knowing, where he knows the words that you are going to speak even before you speak them. Prayer is not for God’s sake, to impress him or whatever. No, prayer is for our sake.

Every time we pray we declare to ourselves, to the spirit world, to the watching universe, to those around us, that we are dependent on God. We cry “I believe; help my unbelief!” Jesus, we need you.

In the Batman movie “The Dark Knight” we find a couple of people dressing up like Batman to take on criminals. Of course, these guys aren’t Batman. They don’t have the training, they don’t have the gadgets, they don’t have the skills. And so, when they go up against the baddies, they lose. They’re not Batman. They might have a similar costume, they might be pretending they’re Batman – but they are not. They need the real Batman to come and rescue them!
The disciples here are dressing up like Jesus, pretending they’re Jesus. But they’re not. They need the real Jesus to come and rescue them.

If the disciples had prayed, declared their dependence on Jesus, they would have been able to cast the demon out. They would have been great! But they were arrogant, tried to do it in their own strength, and so were caught out.

Application: If we want to be great in the Kingdom of God, do great things for God, we need to start by humbling ourselves in prayer before the only one who truly is great: Almighty God.

Impossible application: We don’t need God to be great in his kingdom. I can live a good Christian life without God.

Possible application: Find times for regular prayer. Set aside time each day to read the bible and pray. Pray after dinner with your children. Pray with you wife. Have times of extended prayer (I’ve found walking in the forest helps me to concentrate. Notodden is great for this – so much beautiful nature!).
Plan to pray – make it part of your schedule, otherwise you won’t.

1. Following Jesus means listening to Jesus, the glorious, transcendent, eternal son of God!

2. Following Jesus means stop pretending to be independent, and instead trust Him in all things. I believe. Help me in my unbelief.

Following Jesus means in humility dying to myself, to my own greatness. It means living every day dependant on him. What next Lord. My Dad starts each day with “The answer is “Yes” Lord. Now what’s the question”. There’s a man dependent on God. And I know first-hand goring up in their home that he is a man who is great in the Kingdom, a man who really does follow Jesus.

So let’s do the same. Let’s read our Bibles, making sure we carefully listen to Jesus. And let us say “Yes! Lord” to whatever he calls us to obey.

Isaiah 65-66 Two groups – which do you belong to?

Isaiah 65-66 Click here for mp3

The whole world, the whole of humanity, is divided into one of two groups. Either with God – or against him. The group against God will, in the end, get what they want – God as enemy, God the warrior, God the destroyer. The group with God will get what they want: God himself. Love and happiness and joy for all eternity. This world renewed, without sin or grief or tears. But God with his people in great joy – forever!

1. Only with God is there life, hope, and a future.

(so how do we join that group?)

2. Humility is the path to God’s group – the people with a future

3. God’s people put their trust in God’s mercy through Christ

1. Only with God is there life, hope, and a future.

Is 65 The LORD says, “I was ready to respond, but no one asked for help. I was ready to be found, but no one was looking for me. I said, ‘Here I am, here I am!’ to a nation that did not call on my name.

I was ready to be sought – ready to forgive. God is not hiding. But we don’t seek him! We don’t want God.

2 All day long I opened my arms to a rebellious people. But they follow their own evil paths and their own crooked schemes. 3 All day long they insult me to my face by worshiping idols in their sacred gardens. They burn incense on pagan altars.

God spreads out his hands to a rebellious people. This was Israel in 700 BC, but it could describe us. It is our rebellion that keeps us away from God. Our choice. We don’t want God. We don’t seek God. Instead we make up our own “God” and say we worship that. I like to think of God like…!
We provoke him with our idolatry, ignoring his word, living life our way, not His. Our idolatry is making a new Jesus that’s more acceptable to our society. Our idolatry is materialism. Living for sofas and new telephones – even sacrificing our children and family. All that matters is money and things. Our idolatry is leisure. The good life. Our idolatry is our own goodness! We think we are such good people! Norwegians, the best people in the world, better than everyone else. 5 Yet they say to each other, ‘Don’t come too close or you will defile me! I am holier than you!’ There is something ugly about self-righteousness. Norway is a great country. Norwegians are lovely people. But that arrogance that often spills over in to racism is ugly. These people are a stench in my nostrils, an acrid smell that never goes away.

The same temptation is there for us Christians. The Spirit is at work in us - we stop lying, stop sleeping around, stop cheating. And we think, wow, I’m such a great person. I’m better than them. That’s why God chose me. Ugly, isn’t it? Look at 66:2 “I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at my word.”

If we are humble, he blesses. If we are arrogant? 6 “Look, my decree is written out in front of me: I will not stand silent; I will repay them in full! Yes, I will repay them.

These words are for us, and they are for Israel. It is a natural law. Stand against God – suffer. Live God’s way – blessing. We are made to love God, made to serve him. He is the fuel which drives our life. Oh, we may not like it, but that’s the way it is. We are made to be dependent on God.

We like to believe we are independent, strong, like God. Determining our own life. But we are weak, and fragile, dependent on each other and dependent on God. I was reminded of this at Kaleb’s football game last week, as one of his teammates, Arvit, a strong, tough boy, collided with another. The other boy jumped up and carried on playing – but Arvit stayed down. That was weird. Why? Because he’d broken his cheekbone. A little touch in just the wrong place. How fragile we are! To declare ourselves independent from God is foolishness.

But God will not destroy us completely, but 9 I will preserve a remnant of the people of Israel and of Judah to possess my land. Those I choose will inherit it, and my servants will live there.

Two groups. Two outcomes. We’ve seen it again and again. A tale of two cities – Zion of heaven or Jerusalem of earth. A life lived for God or a life lived against him. 13 Therefore, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: “My servants will eat, but you will starve. My servants will drink, but you will be thirsty. My servants will rejoice, but you will be sad and ashamed. 14 My servants will sing for joy, but you will cry in sorrow and despair. 15 Your name will be a curse word among my people, for the Sovereign LORD will destroy you and will call his true servants by another name.

Could it be more plain? One group has a future. The other does not. With God there is life, hope! In him our future is secure. Because one day all this will be gone, replaced with a new heavens and a new earth. If we are in Christ, this is our future: 17 “Look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth, and no one will even think about the old ones anymore.
A new heavenly city – Zion , a new Jerusalem. . 18 Be glad; rejoice forever in my creation! And look! I will create Jerusalem as a place of happiness. Her people will be a source of joy. 19 I will rejoice over Jerusalem and delight in my people. And the sound of weeping and crying will be heard in it no more.

This is what’s coming. How do we know it’s secure?

He said the Babylonians are coming. They came. He said they would fall. They did. He said King Cyrus would send his people home. He did. He said that He would come to rescue his people. He did. Jesus came. And he said his servant would come to rescue his people through his death. And never did we imagine that the Servant would be God himself. The great King, humble. As Jesus cries out on the corss. It is finished. The price is paid. The way is open.

25 The wolf and the lamb will feed together. The lion will eat hay like a cow. But the snakes will eat dust. In those days no one will be hurt or destroyed on my holy mountain. I, the LORD, have spoken!”

The new creation, God’s holy mountain covering the whole earth is coming as surely as the sun rises and the sun sets. His word is secure. That, at least we must’ve understood by now!

So if this new creation is coming, how do we become part of it? How do we get into the group with a future. How do we become one of the “holy” – because God’s holy mountain is only for the holy?

2. Humility is the path to God’s group – the people with a future

Humility is a word that is often misunderstood. Humility is not thinking less of yourself – oh I’m worthless, I’m stupid. That’s not humility, that’s self-abuse, and needs to be stopped. Because you are made in the image of God. You, if in Christ, are a child of God, beloved, created to uniquely with your gifts and talents to praise God. Tell yourself these things instead of listening to yourself tear you down.

No, humility is not thinking less of yourself – it is thinking of yourself, less. I am not the most important person. Your mind is filled with Jesus, with the good of others, before yourself. That’s humility. Not what can I get out of this, but the answer is Yes Lord, now tell me what to do. No matter the cost.

Humility is the only way to come to God.

Because we can’t bribe God. We can’t give him something he needs. No, not even “love”. God does not need our love. God did not make man because he was lonely. If you were taught that at Sunday school I’m sorry but your teachers were idiots for teaching you lies. God is three in one, perfect love flowing between the Father, Son, and Spirit. Can we add anything to perfection?
Can we give God anything? No! 66:1 Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Could you build me a temple as good as that? Could you build me such a resting place?

It is a joke to try to impress God. Don’t do it. That’s why our tagline is “come as you are”. You cannot come to God any other way. We might appreciate it if you brush your teeth and wash your face – but God says come as you are, filthy, run down, whatever you’ve done, wherever you are – come. Can we build a temple? Can we win God over? Can we impress God? Can we give him anything he doesn’t already have. No.
(He’d be the worst one to by a birthday present for! He really is the one who has everything!)
2 My hands have made both heaven and earth; they and everything in them are mine. I, the LORD, have spoken!

Everything is his. SO what can we do? Simply come, acknowledging Lord, I am yours. In my hands nothing I bring. V2 continues: “I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at my word.”

That’s the only way. Humble. Like a child – Dad, Dad, Dad, Dad, can you help me. Can you tie my shoes. Can you get a glass. Cut my spaghetti. Drive me to my friends. I can’t do it.
That’s how we’re supposed to live with God. In utter dependence.

And you know, living like that brings great freedom! In my own life I keep having to remind myself: he is the head of my home. He is responsible for my kids – their sin and their godliness (goodness), their growth and their health, and whether they are saved or not. It’s his responsibility. Mine is to obey him. Listen to him. The rest is up to him. It’s the same with this church. How often do I pray “Lord, your church has a problem – please sort it out”! And he does. Look at us! Growing. New people being saved. New life! We love each other. Weird! Praise God!

So let us tremble at his Word. Know his power. Listen to Him. Obey him. Because if we come to him arrogant. If we come telling God what to do. If we come full of our own goodness, showing God how religious we are.... 3 But those who choose their own ways— delighting in their detestable sins— will not have their offerings accepted.

False religion doesn’t work. In fact it makes things worse. If you’re coming to church thinking that yes, God will be impressed – he won’t! V3 When such people sacrifice a bull, it is no more acceptable than a human sacrifice. When they sacrifice a lamb, it’s as though they had sacrificed a dog! When they bring an offering of grain, they might as well offer the blood of a pig. When they burn frankincense, it’s as if they had blessed an idol.

And so 4 I will send them great trouble— all the things they feared. For when I called, they did not answer. When I spoke, they did not listen. They deliberately sinned before my very eyes and chose to do what they know I despise.”

It’s not easy to follow God, but worth it. 5 Hear this message from the LORD, all you who tremble at his words: “Your own people hate you and throw you out for being loyal to my name. ‘Let the LORD be honoured!’ they scoff. ‘Be joyful in him!’

But what will happen to them?

But they will be put to shame. 6 What is all the commotion in the city? What is that terrible noise from the Temple? It is the voice of the LORD taking vengeance against his enemies.

Religion offers no hope. Being good offers no hope. Being humble before the Lord – that is our hope.

3. God’s people put their trust in God’s mercy through Christ

Isaiah has been predicting a great day – a day when the Lord will bless and rescue his people. It’s a day that was partially fulfilled when the pagan king, Cyrus, is lead by God to release his people back to Israel. And it is fully fulfilled when the true King, Jesus, unites Jew and Gentile into one new humanity on the Cross, as the church is born.

7 “Before the birth pains even begin, Jerusalem gives birth to a son. 8 Who has ever seen anything as strange as this? Who ever heard of such a thing? Has a nation ever been born in a single day? Has a country ever come forth in a mere moment? But by the time Jerusalem’s birth pains begin, her children will be born.

In one day, on the day of Pentecost, 3000 were added to their number. The church had explosive growth. Within about 30 years, there were Christians across the known world. The Emperor of Rome had heard of Christianity – and considered it a threat! A nation born in a single day! We are one people, one people spread across the whole world. A great global family. Wherever you are in the world, we have brothers and sisters in Christ. Today, this morning, across the whole world, in every country, people are meeting to praise our Lord Jesus, and to listen to his word. It is a great miracle.

18 “I can see what they are doing, and I know what they are thinking. So I will gather all nations and peoples together, and they will see my glory. 19 I will perform a sign among them. (The Cross) And I will send those who survive to be messengers to the nations—to Tarshish, to the Libyans and Lydians (who are famous as archers), to Tubal and Greece, and to all the lands beyond the sea that have not heard of my fame or seen my glory. There they will declare my glory to the nations. 20 They will bring the remnant of your people back from every nation. They will bring them to my holy mountain in Jerusalem as an offering to the LORD. They will ride on horses, in chariots and wagons, and on mules and camels,” says the LORD. 21 “And I will appoint some of them to be my priests and Levites. I, the LORD, have spoken!

Every nation gathered in the church. And in the new creation, the new Jerusalem, we will all be together, side by side, equal in Christ Jesus. A great crowd singing praises to our God. 23 “All humanity will come to worship me from week to week and from month to month

All humanity – all meaning “without exception” – there is no-one excluded. Not all meaning everyone. There is no universalism in the Bible. Universalism: the idea that everyone will be saved in the end, that no-one is judged. V24 kills that!

24 And as they go out, they will see the dead bodies of those who have rebelled against me. For the worms that devour them will never die, and the fire that burns them will never go out. All who pass by will view them with utter horror.”

It’s a weird ending don’t you think? Not how I would end it. But Isaiah wants us to feel the impact. There are only two groups. For those in Christ, things will go very, very well. For those who refuse to accept him, things will go very, very badly. They will get what they ask for – no God. But since God is the source of life, what they are asking for is death. Death and destruction.

So, dear brothers, choose life!

Now, how do we apply this? Well, during the confession and communion, now. Ask yourself some questions to find out which group you are part of. Ask: Do I LISTEN to the LORD? Do I delight in Him. Seek Him. Love Him? Would I give up everything to be with Him?
What’s holding you back? Whatever it is, get rid of it, because it is rubbish compared to knowing God. It is worth it.

We have a glorious future! A secure hope! So let’s live for Christ now. Frode told me he did something last week he’d never done – witnessing on the Jesus bus. Living for Christ.
Maybe for some of us it’s stopping stealing. Stop watching porn. Work! Spend time with the kids. Report corruption. Be a voice of reason. Love our wives.

Whatever the Lord calls, let us do it. The answer is Yes, Lord – now tell me what’s the question.