Most of the news I heard last week had to do with the rising cost of living. Each passing day, the price for a gallon of gas goes up. So too with milk, bread, fruits and vegetables, and other staples. Everything is getting more costly and rightly, people are very concerned. But do you know what the most costly thing is in your life? The thing that taxes your mind, your health, your savings, your relationships, your peace of mind, more than the rising price of gasoline or milk? Unresolved sin. That’s the most costly thing in your life.
The Bible teaches us that unresolved sin:
• Harms your body (Proverbs 14:30 – “A tranquil heart is life to the body, but passion (sin gone wild) is rottenness to the bones.”)
• Invites God to oppose your plans and efforts (James 4:6 - “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”)
• Leads to spiritual blindness and spiritual ignorance (I John 2:11 – “But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.”)
Ultimately, unresolved sin can cost you everything. Everything you enjoy, everything you value, everything you cherish, even everything you take for granted. So, it stands to reason that disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ must invest our lives in the One who came to resolve the problem of sin.
Let’s listen to the One with the solution:
(Read Mark 9:38-50)
Back away from this passage for a moment and think about the context. Jesus has come down from the Mount of Transfiguration (the turning point in the Gospel of Mark) and from there, He will make His way straight to the Cross. Along the way, we encounter much evidence that although the disciples were following Jesus, they were missing the point of the journey. No sooner had He come down the mountain, Jesus overhears the disciples arguing about who was going to be the greatest when the Kingdom comes in. Sinful pride is erupting everywhere, and once Jesus has them gathered together in a house at Capernaum, He begins to confront their pride and teach them that greatness in the Kingdom won’t be measured by worldly standards. He reaches down, lifts up a child (one who had no rights and very little status in ancient Middle-Eastern society) and shows them that a disciple’s greatness will be measured by how you show love to the weak and the lowly. That’s what the child represented – the weak, the vulnerable, the lowly.
“Fellows, you want to know what the true measure of success is for My disciples? It’s not in lifting up yourselves, but in lifting up the lowly. It’s not in being first, but in being last. It’s not in being served, but serving. If you are going to follow Me, you have think like Me, love like Me, live like Me, and value others as I value them. Pride is thinking more of yourself than you should. Humility is thinking less of yourself and more of those who need you. And if you are thinking less of yourself and more of those who need you, you’re thinking more like Me.”
“Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me.” (Mark 9:37)
John is sitting there listening and the Word of God is penetrating to the depth of his soul, and suddenly John feels convicted that in his sinful pride, he had driven people away from Christ. John says, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to hinder him because he was not following us.” Jesus said, “Do not hinder him, for there is no one who shall perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me. For he who is not against us is for us.” (Mark 9:38-40) Here’s the point: Great disciples keep their focus where the focus needs to be:
• Humbly focused upon faithfully following the Master, Jesus.
• Lovingly and tenderly focused upon the people Jesus sends us to reach.
• Honestly and clearly focused upon the true enemy, sin.
And, let’s think together about what that looks like. What does it mean to honestly and clearly focus upon the true enemy of sin?
Well, a humble disciple will recognize that the problem is not something outside of me…the problem is not someone else’s sin. My problem is my own sin. Remember, pride makes you blind to the reality…to the seriousness… to the effect of your own sin. Humility has it’s eyes wide open, honestly owning up to the reality of sin within us. Great disciples will stay alert to the danger of sin within their lives, so that they may not stumble.
And, Great Disciples stay alert to the danger of ever causing another person to stumble in sin. Listen to how serious Jesus is about this: “And whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to stumble, it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea.” (Mark 9:42)
That’s a mighty stern warning! It would be better to be drowned in the depths of the sea, than to fall into the hands of a righteous and holy Father when you have caused one of His beloved children to stumble in sin. How do we cause someone else to stumble in sin?
• By direct temptation
• By setting an example of sin
• By failing to point them toward Christ
• By failing to model a healthy way for a Disciple to battle his own sin
Which leads to the next point Jesus makes: Be careful not to cause yourself to stumble in sin.
“And if your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame, than having your two feet, to be cast into hell, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. And if your eye causes you to stumble, cast it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes, to be cast into hell, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.” (Mark 9:43-48)
In order to properly understand and apply these verses, we have to carefully read them. And, I would suggest that you must take these verses figuratively and literally. (Now that may sound like I’m speaking out of both sides of my mouth! I’m not. In order to faithfully interpret and apply these verses, at one and the same time, you must read them figuratively and literally.)
Figuratively? Yes. Jesus is speaking in a Middle-Eastern way to make His point. He’s not calling for self-mutilation, because that wouldn’t accomplish anything. Think about it: Literally removing a hand, a foot, or an eye would not remove the sin. Nor, would it remove the temptation to sin. What Jesus is calling for, through ancient Middle-Eastern hyperbole, is the kind of drastic action that is willing to do battle with one’s sin. You have to see sin for what it is – an offense to a holy and righteous God, and terribly destructive to you and everyone in your life that you love. You have to recognize the depth of our sin. And then, you have to do what Jesus said, “Cut it off.”
So let’s apply this to an all too common scenario – a man who regularly looks at pornography. What does this look like for the man who has fallen prey to this sin? Confess the sin. Ask a Christian brother to hold you accountable. Install a filter on your computer and allow your wife or friend to view the record of your internet surfing. Or, the drastic action may be to get rid of your computer. “Cut it off.” You will be better off without it. Someone might say, ‘Well that’s a little much. You’re making a mountain out of a mole-hill.’ Not if sin is as destructive as the Bible says it is. If left to thrive, this sin will bring your destruction and great pain to those you love. Cut it off. There is a sinful hunger deep down inside – don’t feed it. There is a sinful fire smoldering in the depths of your soul – don’t bring gasoline and dynamite near the flame. Cut it off.
Read these particular verses figuratively and literally. Literally? Not the part about plucking out an eye or chopping off a hand, but these words: “It is better for you to enter life crippled than having your two hands, to go into hell.” Friends, that is literally true! Any drastic action that you would need to take in order to battle your sin would be better than suffering an eternity in hell. Wouldn’t it be better to endure the embarrassment and the humiliation of confessing your sin and being held accountable? Wouldn’t it be better to throw out the computer and the T.V., and cut the DSL cable? Wouldn’t it be better to rip down the satellite dish and cancel your subscription to the magazines? Wouldn’t it be better to pour the booze out in the dirt and flush the dope down the toilet? And yes, it would be better, literally speaking, to lose a hand or an eye, than to burn in hell.
Whatever the besetting sin in your life might be, you must recognize that the cost of unresolved sin is always a higher price than you can afford to pay! If you chose to ignore your sin, you will pay an earthly and eternal price.
The earthly price? Unresolved sin leads a man to sacrifice not only his health and his peace of mind, but his marriage, deeper relationships with his children, his effectiveness, his reputation, and his potential to be useful in the Kingdom of God.
The eternal price? Jesus has made that painfully clear, hasn’t he? “To burn in hell.” We’re all going to experience eternal life. Some will experience an eternity so horrible that human words can’t do it justice. But let me try. Your first ten seconds in hell will be so excruciatingly painful and terrifying that it will make 100 earthly years of constant intense pain – the kind of pain that gets worse by the moment, for which there is no relief – your first ten seconds in hell will be infinitely worse in comparison, and after that first ten seconds, you will know that it has only just begun, because Hell is eternal.
Hell is a place for sinners who didn’t take their sin seriously, and looked not to Jesus as their Savior from sin. And the good news of the Gospel is that if this describes any one of you, there is still time. There may not be much time. God only knows, and you don’t know what a day may bring. But the fact that you hear these words means there is still time…there is still hope…there is still a chance to fall down at the foot of the Cross and plead for mercy. And if you will, you will discover a love greater than anything you’ve ever imagined. You will discover a fountain of grace and mercy which never runs dry…there is enough mercy, grace and love in Jesus to cover your sin. If you fall down at the foot of the Cross, you’re going to look up and see that Jesus has taken all your sin…all your sin…all you sin…and paid the full price for you.
Ultimately, Jesus is the One who deals with unresolved sin. He is the One who removes it eternally. And, He is the One who will help a sinner become a Great Disciple who continually takes the battle to sin. You can be a Great Disciple who fights knowing that the One who fights for you is Jesus, the Christus Victor – the Christ Victorious!
Great Disciples don’t fight with human weapons or by human power. You fight in the power of the Spirit of the Risen Lord:
“But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you. So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh to live according to the flesh – for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” (Romans 8:11-14)
You see, what Jesus is after is not a hand, a foot, or an eye, but a heart. He wants to go deeper than an eye, a hand, or a foot. He wants to take your sinful heart of stone and transplant it with new heart. It is a new heart that, by His grace, is no longer enslaved to sin. You may be the person here today who has been living in a prison of sin. Don’t you want to be set free? Don’t you want the new heart He died to give you? Will you let Him give you a new heart today?
“Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh…” (Romans 3:14)
Take time to be holy, be calm in thy soul,
Each thought and each motive beneath His control.
Thus led by His Spirit to fountains of love,
Thou soon shalt be fitted for service above.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Mark 9:30-37
A few days ago, I attended a Special Olympics fundraiser where the lady at the front desk, took my money and put fake jewelry around my neck – red beads with a little plastic crawdad hanging from it – appropriate for a Crawdad Boil. I thanked her profusely, and I wore my fake jewelry until I got home that night. The next morning, I was drinking a cup of coffee and the fake jewelry was laying there on the counter. I picked it up and looked at it more closely; shiny and red, plastic masquerading as rubies, and probably cost more to make that its even worth. And then it dawned on me that the fake jewelry in my hand was like so much of the stuff we pursue in life….much of what we devote ourselves to…much of the stuff we gather around us to define who we are is fake jewelry…worthlessness masquerading as success; plastic pretending to be the source of all happiness and joy. But something profound happens when you step into the pages of the Gospel and follow Jesus all the way to the foot of the cross. There at the cross, Jesus makes us take off everything fake in order to give us the Pearl of Great Price. Do you know what that Pearl of Great Price is? It is Himself. That’s the gift that brings meaning and purpose to life. He is the gift of infinite value, that shines brighter than the sun, that lasts forever, and can never be taken away. Do you want that? I invite you to journey toward the foot of the Cross with me this morning.
(Read Mark 9:30-37)
Pride, and everything that goes with it, is fake jewelry. Obviously, some, if not all, of the disciples were wearing it that day. And it is one of the key issues we have to grapple with as we seek to learn from this passage in the 9th Chapter of Mark.
What is pride? The Bible has much to say about pride. Here’s a small sampling: Proverbs 11:2 “When pride comes, then comes dishonor. But with the humble is wisdom.”
Proverbs 18:12 “Before destruction, the heart of man is haughty, but humility goes before honor.”
Luke 18:14 “Everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, but he who humbles himself shall be exalted.”
James 4:6 “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
Well, where do we find pride in Mark nine?
First, we see it as the Twelve walk with Jesus. As they walk, Jesus was teaching them about the purpose of His ministry. “The Son of Man is to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him; and when He has been killed, He will rise three days later.” (Mark 9:31) And then Mark reveals something very important about the heart of these disciples. Mark says, “But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask.” (Mark 9:32) Did you catch that? The fear to ask? Do you know what is behind that fear to ask? Pride. I’m going to put the sermon on pause for a moment so that all the wives can elbow your husband in the ribs, because I know exactly what you are thinking: ‘He’s just like that!...That’s why he will drive around lost; stomping on the breaks, jamming the gas pedal, refusing to admit that he’s lost…he’s afraid to ask for directions…Pride, Pride, Pride!’ Because it was pride in the disciples’ hearts that made them afraid to ask for clarity when they were lost…when they didn’t understand what Jesus was talking about. Their pride made them afraid to admit that they were lost…pride made them afraid to admit that they didn’t understand.
Beneath the surface of the disciples’ fear was pride.
The second place we see pride is when it erupts in a very ugly way, as the disciples talk amongst themselves, thinking they are out of earshot of Jesus. Mark says, “they had discussed with one another which of them was the greatest.” (Mark 9:34) Luke’s version of the same story uses a stronger word for their conversation. Luke calls it an “argument.” Jesus is making His way to the Cross, to give His life as the atonement for our sin, and along the way the disciples are arguing about which of them will be superior to others when the Kingdom comes in.
Before you say, “I’d never do something like that,” think of where they have been. Earlier in Mark 9, Jesus takes Peter, James and John up to the mountain, leaving the rest down below. In a men’s Bible Study last week on this passage, one of the men said, “I bet Peter, James and John felt like rockstars!” I bet they did too! I mean, to singled out by Jesus…to be given that special time with Him…to experience what the other disciples would miss out on. And can you just imagine what they must have thought as they were coming down the mountain? ‘Man! Can you believe it? Jesus just singled us out to be with him on the mountain and to see the glory of God and to see Moses and Elijah! How cool is that! He must think very highly of us. There are twelve disciples, but He only invited us three. We’re special. Those other guys? Light weights!’
And so, Peter, James and John come down from the Mount of Transfiguration and share their experience with the other disciples as they walk along the road. Instead of giving glory to God for the experience, they become prideful. Peter, James and John show everybody their fake jewelry. And the nine? They’re jealous. Of course jealousy is just pride wearing different garments. The nine were just as proud. (And so too are all the sweet wives with sharp elbows!)
C. S. Lewis said that the easiest way to find out how much pride you have is to ask yourself, “How much do I dislike it when other people snub me, or refuse to take any notice of me, or shove their oar in, or patronize me, or show off?” Here’s a classic line from C.S. Lewis: “It is because I wanted to be the big noise at the party that I am so annoyed at someone else being the big noise.” (From Mere Christianity) The more pride you have, the more you dislike it in others.
So, all the disciples are wearing fake jewelry. Three of them wear pride puffed up in self-perceived superiority. Nine of them wear a more subtle form of pride – the feeling that they deserve better than this. And it all erupts in an argument over which of them is going to be the greatest in the Kingdom of God.
All the while, Jesus is marching to the Cross to pay the price for that sin.
Once they made it Capernaum and gathered together in the house, Jesus asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” Mark says, “But they kept silent, for on the way they had discussed with one another which of them was the greatest.”
You know, it is amazing to me how much things change when we are consciously connecting to Jesus…when we are consciously walking with Him, talking with Him, asking Him questions, consciously listening to Him, consciously sitting at His feet, listening to His word. Look at the difference in the disciples:
• Out on the road, Jesus is teaching them, but sin has them so disconnected from Him that it’s in one ear and out the other. Pride makes them distant from Jesus. Pride has them where they won’t ask Him when they fail to understand. And that just makes them sin all the more.
• Out on the road, when they think they’re out of earshot of Jesus, they end up making fools of themselves arguing over who is superior to whom.
But isn’t it amazing how things change when we are consciously in the presence of the Lord?
He has them all together now. He has their attention, and Jesus asks, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they kept silent…” And do you understand why they’re silent in the presence of Jesus? Because in the presence of Jesus, their fake jewelry has been exposed as a fraud, a worthless masquerade. Everything changes…the way you think about life…the way you understand yourself…the way you define what is of utmost importance…your goals…your dreams…your desires…the way you look at those around you and the way you value them. How you define greatness…how you define success in life…Everything changes when you are consciously connecting to Jesus. The fake jewelry and other trash you cherish falls to the ground at the foot of the Cross.
“What were you boys talking about on the road?” They kept silent because their pride was being exposed and judged by a Man who never once measured greatness or success by worldly standards. Jesus never once manifested sinful foolish pride. Jesus never once showed even a hint of jealousy, or arrogance, or conceit. They never once witnessed Jesus say or do anything motivated by selfishness or pride. And in the light of His holiness, the reality of their deep seeded sin left them without a plea. “They kept silent.” C.H. Spurgeon said “I believe that every Christian man has the choice between being humble or being humbled.”
And isn’t it amazing, too, how lovingly Jesus teaches them humility? Look at how Jesus taught them:
Mark says that “He called the twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all. And taking a child, He set him before them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them, “Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me.” (Mark 9:35-37)
Did you see what He did to teach them? He didn’t exalt Himself. He deserves to be exalted but the Humble Savior never exalts Himself. “Although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself…(Philippians 2:6-8) He didn’t exalt Himself.
How did He teach them humility? He didn’t lift up one of the disciples. He didn’t say, “Okay, Peter, you will be number one in the Kingdom of God. James and John, you two are tied for second place. Andrew, you are clearly third.” No, he didn’t exalt one disciple above others.
How did He teach them humility? He lifted up a child. And you need to know how radical and counter-cultural this was. Pride is always looking down on people. And that’s pretty much the way a child was viewed in the ancient Middle- Eastern world. Nothing is more precious to us than a child. But in the culture 2000 years ago, children were not put up on a pedestal. Children had very little status or position in society. If a child was under that age of twelve, they were not allowed to sit and listen to a Rabbi. Young children were thought to be a waste of an important man’s time.
I imagine that child with a runny nose. He’s been outside playing in the dirt. He’s coughing all over everybody and getting on the nerves of the disciples. “Who let this kid in here?” To the world, the child is a nuisance. But in the eyes of God, the child, runny nose and all, is of infinite value. So much so, that the Father in heaven has sent His only begotten Son, to die for that runny nose kid. And Jesus, whose heart and soul is one with the Father….Jesus lifts up the lowly.
Just like He had done before…He touched the lepers and the unclean…He befriended sinners and outcasts…He loved people whom the world had long since declared were unworthy of love and attention…unworthy of our effort.
And in doing so, He’s saying to His disciples: “Fellows, you want to know what greatness is? What is the true measure of success? It’s not in lifting up yourself, but lifting up the lowly. It’s not in being first, but being last. It’s not in being served, but serving. If you are going to follow Me, you have think like Me, love like Me, live like Me, and value others as I value them. But you’re wearing too much fake jewelry. Pride is thinking more of yourself than you should. Humility is thinking less of yourself and more of those who need you. And if you are thinking less of yourself and more of those who need you, you’re thinking more like Me.”
And He wants disciples like you and me to learn that same lesson today, and He truly wants to say to you:
“Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You…when did we come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it unto Me.’” (Matthew 25:34-40)
Again, isn’t it amazing how everything changes in the presence of Jesus?
Greatness. Success. The way we view ourselves. The way we value others.
“If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all.” (Mark 9:35)
He didn’t exalt Himself. He didn’t lift up a disciple. He lifted up one of the least of these My brethren. There is no place for pride, for fake jewelry, in the life of a true disciple of Jesus. All of that trash has to be left in the dirt at the foot of the Cross.
For:
When I survey the wondrous Cross,
On which the Prince of Glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.
(Read Mark 9:30-37)
Pride, and everything that goes with it, is fake jewelry. Obviously, some, if not all, of the disciples were wearing it that day. And it is one of the key issues we have to grapple with as we seek to learn from this passage in the 9th Chapter of Mark.
What is pride? The Bible has much to say about pride. Here’s a small sampling: Proverbs 11:2 “When pride comes, then comes dishonor. But with the humble is wisdom.”
Proverbs 18:12 “Before destruction, the heart of man is haughty, but humility goes before honor.”
Luke 18:14 “Everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, but he who humbles himself shall be exalted.”
James 4:6 “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
Well, where do we find pride in Mark nine?
First, we see it as the Twelve walk with Jesus. As they walk, Jesus was teaching them about the purpose of His ministry. “The Son of Man is to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him; and when He has been killed, He will rise three days later.” (Mark 9:31) And then Mark reveals something very important about the heart of these disciples. Mark says, “But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask.” (Mark 9:32) Did you catch that? The fear to ask? Do you know what is behind that fear to ask? Pride. I’m going to put the sermon on pause for a moment so that all the wives can elbow your husband in the ribs, because I know exactly what you are thinking: ‘He’s just like that!...That’s why he will drive around lost; stomping on the breaks, jamming the gas pedal, refusing to admit that he’s lost…he’s afraid to ask for directions…Pride, Pride, Pride!’ Because it was pride in the disciples’ hearts that made them afraid to ask for clarity when they were lost…when they didn’t understand what Jesus was talking about. Their pride made them afraid to admit that they were lost…pride made them afraid to admit that they didn’t understand.
Beneath the surface of the disciples’ fear was pride.
The second place we see pride is when it erupts in a very ugly way, as the disciples talk amongst themselves, thinking they are out of earshot of Jesus. Mark says, “they had discussed with one another which of them was the greatest.” (Mark 9:34) Luke’s version of the same story uses a stronger word for their conversation. Luke calls it an “argument.” Jesus is making His way to the Cross, to give His life as the atonement for our sin, and along the way the disciples are arguing about which of them will be superior to others when the Kingdom comes in.
Before you say, “I’d never do something like that,” think of where they have been. Earlier in Mark 9, Jesus takes Peter, James and John up to the mountain, leaving the rest down below. In a men’s Bible Study last week on this passage, one of the men said, “I bet Peter, James and John felt like rockstars!” I bet they did too! I mean, to singled out by Jesus…to be given that special time with Him…to experience what the other disciples would miss out on. And can you just imagine what they must have thought as they were coming down the mountain? ‘Man! Can you believe it? Jesus just singled us out to be with him on the mountain and to see the glory of God and to see Moses and Elijah! How cool is that! He must think very highly of us. There are twelve disciples, but He only invited us three. We’re special. Those other guys? Light weights!’
And so, Peter, James and John come down from the Mount of Transfiguration and share their experience with the other disciples as they walk along the road. Instead of giving glory to God for the experience, they become prideful. Peter, James and John show everybody their fake jewelry. And the nine? They’re jealous. Of course jealousy is just pride wearing different garments. The nine were just as proud. (And so too are all the sweet wives with sharp elbows!)
C. S. Lewis said that the easiest way to find out how much pride you have is to ask yourself, “How much do I dislike it when other people snub me, or refuse to take any notice of me, or shove their oar in, or patronize me, or show off?” Here’s a classic line from C.S. Lewis: “It is because I wanted to be the big noise at the party that I am so annoyed at someone else being the big noise.” (From Mere Christianity) The more pride you have, the more you dislike it in others.
So, all the disciples are wearing fake jewelry. Three of them wear pride puffed up in self-perceived superiority. Nine of them wear a more subtle form of pride – the feeling that they deserve better than this. And it all erupts in an argument over which of them is going to be the greatest in the Kingdom of God.
All the while, Jesus is marching to the Cross to pay the price for that sin.
Once they made it Capernaum and gathered together in the house, Jesus asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” Mark says, “But they kept silent, for on the way they had discussed with one another which of them was the greatest.”
You know, it is amazing to me how much things change when we are consciously connecting to Jesus…when we are consciously walking with Him, talking with Him, asking Him questions, consciously listening to Him, consciously sitting at His feet, listening to His word. Look at the difference in the disciples:
• Out on the road, Jesus is teaching them, but sin has them so disconnected from Him that it’s in one ear and out the other. Pride makes them distant from Jesus. Pride has them where they won’t ask Him when they fail to understand. And that just makes them sin all the more.
• Out on the road, when they think they’re out of earshot of Jesus, they end up making fools of themselves arguing over who is superior to whom.
But isn’t it amazing how things change when we are consciously in the presence of the Lord?
He has them all together now. He has their attention, and Jesus asks, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they kept silent…” And do you understand why they’re silent in the presence of Jesus? Because in the presence of Jesus, their fake jewelry has been exposed as a fraud, a worthless masquerade. Everything changes…the way you think about life…the way you understand yourself…the way you define what is of utmost importance…your goals…your dreams…your desires…the way you look at those around you and the way you value them. How you define greatness…how you define success in life…Everything changes when you are consciously connecting to Jesus. The fake jewelry and other trash you cherish falls to the ground at the foot of the Cross.
“What were you boys talking about on the road?” They kept silent because their pride was being exposed and judged by a Man who never once measured greatness or success by worldly standards. Jesus never once manifested sinful foolish pride. Jesus never once showed even a hint of jealousy, or arrogance, or conceit. They never once witnessed Jesus say or do anything motivated by selfishness or pride. And in the light of His holiness, the reality of their deep seeded sin left them without a plea. “They kept silent.” C.H. Spurgeon said “I believe that every Christian man has the choice between being humble or being humbled.”
And isn’t it amazing, too, how lovingly Jesus teaches them humility? Look at how Jesus taught them:
Mark says that “He called the twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all. And taking a child, He set him before them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them, “Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me.” (Mark 9:35-37)
Did you see what He did to teach them? He didn’t exalt Himself. He deserves to be exalted but the Humble Savior never exalts Himself. “Although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself…(Philippians 2:6-8) He didn’t exalt Himself.
How did He teach them humility? He didn’t lift up one of the disciples. He didn’t say, “Okay, Peter, you will be number one in the Kingdom of God. James and John, you two are tied for second place. Andrew, you are clearly third.” No, he didn’t exalt one disciple above others.
How did He teach them humility? He lifted up a child. And you need to know how radical and counter-cultural this was. Pride is always looking down on people. And that’s pretty much the way a child was viewed in the ancient Middle- Eastern world. Nothing is more precious to us than a child. But in the culture 2000 years ago, children were not put up on a pedestal. Children had very little status or position in society. If a child was under that age of twelve, they were not allowed to sit and listen to a Rabbi. Young children were thought to be a waste of an important man’s time.
I imagine that child with a runny nose. He’s been outside playing in the dirt. He’s coughing all over everybody and getting on the nerves of the disciples. “Who let this kid in here?” To the world, the child is a nuisance. But in the eyes of God, the child, runny nose and all, is of infinite value. So much so, that the Father in heaven has sent His only begotten Son, to die for that runny nose kid. And Jesus, whose heart and soul is one with the Father….Jesus lifts up the lowly.
Just like He had done before…He touched the lepers and the unclean…He befriended sinners and outcasts…He loved people whom the world had long since declared were unworthy of love and attention…unworthy of our effort.
And in doing so, He’s saying to His disciples: “Fellows, you want to know what greatness is? What is the true measure of success? It’s not in lifting up yourself, but lifting up the lowly. It’s not in being first, but being last. It’s not in being served, but serving. If you are going to follow Me, you have think like Me, love like Me, live like Me, and value others as I value them. But you’re wearing too much fake jewelry. Pride is thinking more of yourself than you should. Humility is thinking less of yourself and more of those who need you. And if you are thinking less of yourself and more of those who need you, you’re thinking more like Me.”
And He wants disciples like you and me to learn that same lesson today, and He truly wants to say to you:
“Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You…when did we come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it unto Me.’” (Matthew 25:34-40)
Again, isn’t it amazing how everything changes in the presence of Jesus?
Greatness. Success. The way we view ourselves. The way we value others.
“If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all.” (Mark 9:35)
He didn’t exalt Himself. He didn’t lift up a disciple. He lifted up one of the least of these My brethren. There is no place for pride, for fake jewelry, in the life of a true disciple of Jesus. All of that trash has to be left in the dirt at the foot of the Cross.
For:
When I survey the wondrous Cross,
On which the Prince of Glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Mark 9:14-28
Proverbs 27, verse 1 says: “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.” So true! And, you know it to be true in your life. There have been days when you nursed that first cup of coffee, wondering what the day would bring. By the end of the day, you would look back amazed…you could have never imagined the mountaintop of joy that God let you climb. And of course, you also know days that you plodded through the valley of the shadow of death, and by the end of the day, you climb into bed hoping you never have to face a day like that again. “You do not know what a day may bring forth.”
One day Moses camped with the Children of Israel at the base of Mount Sinai. There was fire and smoke, and the whole mountain shook violently. Moses climbed that mountain and the Lord was there. Moses was literally surrounded by the glory, the holiness, the majesty of the Lord…an indescribable spiritual high. Many times, Moses would ascend the mountain to be with the Lord, and the glory of God had such an effect upon him that Moses would literally radiate light. Exodus says the people could see it, and “Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because of his speaking with Him.” (Exodus 34:29) Well that first day on Mount Sinai, Moses actually met the Lord. God spoke audibly to Moses and He gave him the Ten Commandments to give to the people, written with God’s own finger on stone tablets. Moses could have never imagined what a day would bring! The time came for Moses to come down from the majestic mountaintop experience. And, do you remember what he found? Exodus 32 tells us that while Moses was with the Lord on the mountaintop, down below, the people had made for themselves a false god, and Moses found them dancing around a golden calf. Moses literally went from the majesty of the spiritual mountaintop, to the dark valley of sinfulness and shame.
Peter, James and John, were good Jewish boys who grew up memorizing the Scriptures. I wonder, at the end of the day Mark tells us about in the 9th Chapter, did they think about that story from the Book of Exodus? Did they make the connections? With Jesus, they had just come down from the majestic mountaintop of holiness. Peter, James and John had experienced the glory of God, radiating from Jesus as He was transfigured before them. They had experienced the company of great saints, Moses and Elijah who came down from heaven to be with Jesus. They had heard the audible voice of the Father, “This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!” (Mark 9:7) Could there be a greater spiritual high for Peter, James and John?
Yet, just like Moses, down from the mountain they find the polar opposite:
• The darkness and cruelty of evil inhabiting the life of a young man and trying with all its might to destroy him.
• The chaos of an angry crowd of religious leaders that are hostile to the Gospel, arguing with disciples who are so often ignorant of the Gospel
• The voice of a father desperate to find healing for his beloved son.
That’s a picture of life, isn’t it? One moment standing on a mountaintop of joy…the next moment, walking through the valley of the shadow of death. But the story in Mark 9 leaves us with several important points which we need to take to heart not only to understand life, but to live more abundantly.
First, life can’t always be a mountaintop of spiritual joy. Think about the nine disciples that stayed down below. We’re not told the reason why Jesus only took Peter, James and John to the mountain. It could be that the others weren’t ready for the mountaintop. But it could also be the case that the Lord was trusting the nine to carry on the work of ministry in the valley. That’s where we are most useful to the Lord…not on the mountaintop, but in the valleys of despair and need. That’s where the people are to be found. Somebody has to minister down below and pray, “Yea, though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, Thou art with me.”
You’re a disciple, and I pray that when you come here to worship on Sunday mornings, that you will truly feel the presence of the Lord in this place, and that worship will be a spiritual high for you. It is absolutely essential for true followers of Jesus to climb the spiritual mountain on Sunday mornings. It is also absolutely essential that you not stay in this place. God commands you to worship Him in holiness and truth, and He also commands you to GO! Go out into the world and carry the love of Jesus wherever you go. And, if Monday morning has you walking through the dark valley, so be it! Shine the light of Jesus into that valley! Because, that’s where you will be most useful to the Lord. You won’t be walking through that valley by accident, but because the Lord has sent you there to shine His light for His own glory.
Second, when we are down below in the valley attempting to do the work of Christ, we must do it prayerfully. What happens to disciples when they neglect prayer? Look at the story: Jesus, Peter, James and John come down from the mountain and they find a bitter argument raging between the nine disciples and the Scribes and Pharisees. It’s chaos! When disciples fail to pray about their work, they invite chaos. And what are they arguing about? At the center of the crowd, there is a young man who has been suffering terribly from early in his childhood. Evil had taken over his life. It would throw him into convulsions and toss his body in the fire to burn him or into the water to drown him. The boy was totally helpless, and his father had brought him to the disciples hoping that they could heal him. But the father says to Jesus, “Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him mute; and whenever it seizes him, it dashes him to the ground and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth, and stiffens out, and I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it.” (Mark 9:17-18) Later, after Jesus heals the boy, the disciples ask Him, “Why could we not cast it out?” And He said to them, “This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer.” (Mark 9:28-29) And I believe with all my heart that Jesus wasn’t commenting on the strength or the type of the evil, but on the weakness of prayerless disciples.
When disciples fail to pray about their work, they’re completely impotent. Prayerless disciples take matters into their own hands. They depend upon their own resources. They trust in their own power. They follow their own will and purpose. Prayerless disciples never accomplish anything great for the Kingdom of God, and therefore, never know the great joy of having been used by God for His glory.
Do you know what prayer is? Is prayer the pastime of super-Christians who speak in the language of saints and angels? No. This is prayer:
• It’s a sinful man, recognizing his sinfulness, and bowing in shame before a Holy God, asking forgiveness, and he says, “Lord, be merciful to me, the sinner.”
• It’s a person who feels so lonely, coming to the Lord and saying, “Lord, I have no one to turn to but You.”
• It’s a disciple who has grown weary of trying to do things by his own power, turning over all control to God, saying, “Lord, I can’t do this on my own. Please help me.”
• It’s a father who has tried everything but Jesus, finally bowing before Him, confessing his weakness, his confusion, his utter helplessness, saying “Lord, I believe, help Thou my unbelief.”
And what prayerful disciples find in the valley of the shadow of death, is Jesus. His presence. His mercy. His power. And His love, which lifts us up and enables us to pray,
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me;
Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.
Thou dost prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
Thou hast anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
In the valley, this desperate Daddy turns to disciples, only to discover that prayerless disciples were incapable of helping. But Jesus had come down the mountain. He had entered the valley of the shadow of death, to meet the father of this boy. The Daddy says, “But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “If you can! All things are possible to him who believes.” And immediately the boy’s father cried out and began saying, “I do believe; help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:22-23)
That’s such an honest, humble prayer. “I do believe; help Thou my unbelief.” Notice where the prayer is offered. Not on the spiritual mountaintop of life, but deep in the valley. Here is a Daddy who has spent most important years of his life in the valley. His son has been suffering even more. Jesus asks, “How long has this been happening to him?” And the father said, “From childhood.” (Mark 9:21) You wonder if this Daddy has ever seen a mountaintop. But lo and behold the Lord who shook the mountain when Moses stood upon it…the God whose presence on the mountain causes the thunder to peal and the lightening to shatter the rocks…the One who brings a whole universe into existence with the sound of his voice…God in human flesh stands face to face with a hurting Dad in the valley of life, and all the Dad can think to pray is, “I believe; help my unbelief.” Faith was weak. It was feeble. It was mixed with confusion and doubt. It was small. But it was real faith.
And Jesus responded to that Daddy’s small but real faith, and He healed the boy.
And the most beautiful scene in the whole story is given in verse 27: “But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him; and he got up.” He raised him up from claws of Satan to freedom in Christ. And in doing so, Jesus also raised up the Daddy from the valley of the shadow of death, to the mountain top of praise! And that’s a lesson that you and I can take with us today as we leave this place of worship:
That Jesus isn’t high up on the mountain, He’s come down to the valley to walk with us, and if you will come to Jesus with real faith, honest faith, the kind of faith that prays, “I believe, Lord, help Thou my unbelief,” then you will find a mountain top in the valley. That doesn’t make sense to people who don’t know Jesus, but it’s true! That even in the valley of the shadow of death, when you walk hand in hand with Jesus, you are treading on the mountain top of joy…because there, eternally springing forth, is mercy for the sinner, comfort for the sufferer, hope for the hopeless, power for the powerless, and real faith for the times it seems that faith is failing.
One day Moses camped with the Children of Israel at the base of Mount Sinai. There was fire and smoke, and the whole mountain shook violently. Moses climbed that mountain and the Lord was there. Moses was literally surrounded by the glory, the holiness, the majesty of the Lord…an indescribable spiritual high. Many times, Moses would ascend the mountain to be with the Lord, and the glory of God had such an effect upon him that Moses would literally radiate light. Exodus says the people could see it, and “Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because of his speaking with Him.” (Exodus 34:29) Well that first day on Mount Sinai, Moses actually met the Lord. God spoke audibly to Moses and He gave him the Ten Commandments to give to the people, written with God’s own finger on stone tablets. Moses could have never imagined what a day would bring! The time came for Moses to come down from the majestic mountaintop experience. And, do you remember what he found? Exodus 32 tells us that while Moses was with the Lord on the mountaintop, down below, the people had made for themselves a false god, and Moses found them dancing around a golden calf. Moses literally went from the majesty of the spiritual mountaintop, to the dark valley of sinfulness and shame.
Peter, James and John, were good Jewish boys who grew up memorizing the Scriptures. I wonder, at the end of the day Mark tells us about in the 9th Chapter, did they think about that story from the Book of Exodus? Did they make the connections? With Jesus, they had just come down from the majestic mountaintop of holiness. Peter, James and John had experienced the glory of God, radiating from Jesus as He was transfigured before them. They had experienced the company of great saints, Moses and Elijah who came down from heaven to be with Jesus. They had heard the audible voice of the Father, “This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!” (Mark 9:7) Could there be a greater spiritual high for Peter, James and John?
Yet, just like Moses, down from the mountain they find the polar opposite:
• The darkness and cruelty of evil inhabiting the life of a young man and trying with all its might to destroy him.
• The chaos of an angry crowd of religious leaders that are hostile to the Gospel, arguing with disciples who are so often ignorant of the Gospel
• The voice of a father desperate to find healing for his beloved son.
That’s a picture of life, isn’t it? One moment standing on a mountaintop of joy…the next moment, walking through the valley of the shadow of death. But the story in Mark 9 leaves us with several important points which we need to take to heart not only to understand life, but to live more abundantly.
First, life can’t always be a mountaintop of spiritual joy. Think about the nine disciples that stayed down below. We’re not told the reason why Jesus only took Peter, James and John to the mountain. It could be that the others weren’t ready for the mountaintop. But it could also be the case that the Lord was trusting the nine to carry on the work of ministry in the valley. That’s where we are most useful to the Lord…not on the mountaintop, but in the valleys of despair and need. That’s where the people are to be found. Somebody has to minister down below and pray, “Yea, though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, Thou art with me.”
You’re a disciple, and I pray that when you come here to worship on Sunday mornings, that you will truly feel the presence of the Lord in this place, and that worship will be a spiritual high for you. It is absolutely essential for true followers of Jesus to climb the spiritual mountain on Sunday mornings. It is also absolutely essential that you not stay in this place. God commands you to worship Him in holiness and truth, and He also commands you to GO! Go out into the world and carry the love of Jesus wherever you go. And, if Monday morning has you walking through the dark valley, so be it! Shine the light of Jesus into that valley! Because, that’s where you will be most useful to the Lord. You won’t be walking through that valley by accident, but because the Lord has sent you there to shine His light for His own glory.
Second, when we are down below in the valley attempting to do the work of Christ, we must do it prayerfully. What happens to disciples when they neglect prayer? Look at the story: Jesus, Peter, James and John come down from the mountain and they find a bitter argument raging between the nine disciples and the Scribes and Pharisees. It’s chaos! When disciples fail to pray about their work, they invite chaos. And what are they arguing about? At the center of the crowd, there is a young man who has been suffering terribly from early in his childhood. Evil had taken over his life. It would throw him into convulsions and toss his body in the fire to burn him or into the water to drown him. The boy was totally helpless, and his father had brought him to the disciples hoping that they could heal him. But the father says to Jesus, “Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him mute; and whenever it seizes him, it dashes him to the ground and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth, and stiffens out, and I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it.” (Mark 9:17-18) Later, after Jesus heals the boy, the disciples ask Him, “Why could we not cast it out?” And He said to them, “This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer.” (Mark 9:28-29) And I believe with all my heart that Jesus wasn’t commenting on the strength or the type of the evil, but on the weakness of prayerless disciples.
When disciples fail to pray about their work, they’re completely impotent. Prayerless disciples take matters into their own hands. They depend upon their own resources. They trust in their own power. They follow their own will and purpose. Prayerless disciples never accomplish anything great for the Kingdom of God, and therefore, never know the great joy of having been used by God for His glory.
Do you know what prayer is? Is prayer the pastime of super-Christians who speak in the language of saints and angels? No. This is prayer:
• It’s a sinful man, recognizing his sinfulness, and bowing in shame before a Holy God, asking forgiveness, and he says, “Lord, be merciful to me, the sinner.”
• It’s a person who feels so lonely, coming to the Lord and saying, “Lord, I have no one to turn to but You.”
• It’s a disciple who has grown weary of trying to do things by his own power, turning over all control to God, saying, “Lord, I can’t do this on my own. Please help me.”
• It’s a father who has tried everything but Jesus, finally bowing before Him, confessing his weakness, his confusion, his utter helplessness, saying “Lord, I believe, help Thou my unbelief.”
And what prayerful disciples find in the valley of the shadow of death, is Jesus. His presence. His mercy. His power. And His love, which lifts us up and enables us to pray,
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me;
Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.
Thou dost prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
Thou hast anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
In the valley, this desperate Daddy turns to disciples, only to discover that prayerless disciples were incapable of helping. But Jesus had come down the mountain. He had entered the valley of the shadow of death, to meet the father of this boy. The Daddy says, “But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “If you can! All things are possible to him who believes.” And immediately the boy’s father cried out and began saying, “I do believe; help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:22-23)
That’s such an honest, humble prayer. “I do believe; help Thou my unbelief.” Notice where the prayer is offered. Not on the spiritual mountaintop of life, but deep in the valley. Here is a Daddy who has spent most important years of his life in the valley. His son has been suffering even more. Jesus asks, “How long has this been happening to him?” And the father said, “From childhood.” (Mark 9:21) You wonder if this Daddy has ever seen a mountaintop. But lo and behold the Lord who shook the mountain when Moses stood upon it…the God whose presence on the mountain causes the thunder to peal and the lightening to shatter the rocks…the One who brings a whole universe into existence with the sound of his voice…God in human flesh stands face to face with a hurting Dad in the valley of life, and all the Dad can think to pray is, “I believe; help my unbelief.” Faith was weak. It was feeble. It was mixed with confusion and doubt. It was small. But it was real faith.
And Jesus responded to that Daddy’s small but real faith, and He healed the boy.
And the most beautiful scene in the whole story is given in verse 27: “But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him; and he got up.” He raised him up from claws of Satan to freedom in Christ. And in doing so, Jesus also raised up the Daddy from the valley of the shadow of death, to the mountain top of praise! And that’s a lesson that you and I can take with us today as we leave this place of worship:
That Jesus isn’t high up on the mountain, He’s come down to the valley to walk with us, and if you will come to Jesus with real faith, honest faith, the kind of faith that prays, “I believe, Lord, help Thou my unbelief,” then you will find a mountain top in the valley. That doesn’t make sense to people who don’t know Jesus, but it’s true! That even in the valley of the shadow of death, when you walk hand in hand with Jesus, you are treading on the mountain top of joy…because there, eternally springing forth, is mercy for the sinner, comfort for the sufferer, hope for the hopeless, power for the powerless, and real faith for the times it seems that faith is failing.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Mark 9:1-13
Have you ever stood upon the Continental Divide? I’ve hunted on the divide many times and it is a majestically beautiful place. It’s also a very decisive place…decisive in the sense that from the divide, you must travel one place or another. A droplet of water falls from a rain cloud over the divide and depending upon where the raindrop lands, it will either end up in the Pacific Ocean or in the Gulf of Mexico. It’s either one place or the other, depending upon where you come down.
Today, as we journey with Jesus and the disciples through the Gospel of Mark, we have literally reached the spiritual continental divide. Last Sunday, we heard Jesus say, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.” (Mark 8:34) And, once Jesus comes down from the mountain, He’s marching straight to the Cross.
But let’s backup a moment and consider the journey thus far.
As Mark tells the story, the journey of Jesus begins when He is a mere 30 years old. Jesus is baptized by John and when He arises from the murky water of the Jordan, He hears the voice of God, “This is my Son, my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” And from that point, the Son began a journey. He traveled north to the Sea of Galilee and took the company of fishermen. He traveled into the busy market places and made friends of tax-collectors and merchants. He traveled into every arena of human life. There Jesus found ordinary human beings who responded to His invitation, “Follow me.”
He assembles the twelve and they join him in this journey, although none of them knew where it would lead. They follow, this incredible teacher who enables them to grow in faith, to mature spiritually, who instills in them a new sense of confidence and power so that they too can do the work of God among the people. They discover along the way, that Jesus is no ordinary human being. A man who is more than a man, with power beyond the realm of humanity. He first shows His power at a great wedding feast. The party comes to a screeching halt when the wine runs out. To this day, the miracle defies explanation, but they were there and they witnessed it and they drank deeply of it. Jesus transformed water into wine!
They continue to follow and they witness more miracles, but now the miracles are more deeply touching human lives - not simply demonstrations of power, but lives are changed. The blind, by the simple touch of Jesus, begin to see! The paralyzed stand up and walk. Men who were stone deaf, begin to hear. The dead are raised! And it begins to dawn on the disciples that Jesus is the Son of God Almighty. Jesus asks, “But who do YOU say that I am?” And Peter answered, “Thou art the Christ!” With that glorious revelation of the true nature of Jesus, He then explains the nature of His ministry…the purpose for which the Christ came: “And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected…and be killed, and after three days rise again.” (Mark 8:31) He came to take our place on the Cross, and that Cross is only a few months away. So, you can understand why Jesus took Peter, James and John up the mountain. Luke says “And it came to pass...He took Peter, John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.” (Luke 9:28)
Now, there are two important messages that come to us from this need of Jesus to pray on the mountain:
First, there is the simple need to pray. We tend to focus on His miraculous power and we forget, sometimes, about His humanity. The Gospel writers are clear. Jesus was like one of us, only without sin. He was a man, and that means His heart beat and His blood pulsed and the nerves exploded in His brain. He was in every way, a human being as God intended human beings to be. But it also means, if you’re willing to take it a step further, that Jesus experienced the realities of life that make us shudder at life. Jesus knew what it was like to be hungry. He knew what it was like to be poor. He knew what it was like to sleep in the cold of night, under the stars with nothing more than a smooth stone for a pillow. He had no material possessions to amount to much. And, Jesus knew what it was like to have loved ones and friends misunderstand Him, to misinterpret His words and purposefully misconstrue His life and His teaching. He knew what it was like to be rejected, despised and even hated. He knew those things because Jesus was a human being. God became flesh and dwelt among us, perfectly. And, (here’s the point) if Perfect Man felt the need to pray, and pray often, then certainly we share that same need.
Second, there is the particular reason for His need of prayer. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, He knew His own destiny. He tried to explain it so many times: “The Son of Man shall be delivered over to them and as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so shall the Son of Man be lifted up.” Another time Jesus put it so clearly: “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.” But the disciples couldn’t really understand these statements on that side of the Cross. You see, the journey of His life has reached a critical point, it’s like crossing the Continental Divide. No longer to travel in and out of Galilee, in and out of Jerusalem, but now, every step of the journey was leading to the Cross. And so, preparing for the fulfillment of His purpose to suffer and die upon the Cross, Jesus went up to the mountain top to pray. When you know that the journey of your life has reached the moment of facing your purpose, your destiny, you pray. You pray for courage. You pray for confidence. You pray for contentment.
And, when you pray like that, you will discover that God has not left you to face your destiny alone.
As Mark records the event, at some point in the night, the disciples awake to a vision of their Master. They see Jesus further up the hill, but He’s different now. He’s literally radiant with light. It’s not that Jesus is in the spot light. Jesus is the light. It’s not a light shining on Him, but the glory of God shining forth from Him. His robe is gleaming white as snow. His skin, His face, His hair radiating beams of warm light.
Not only is there Jesus, but also Moses and Elijah. Why Moses and Elijah? Well, first, for the sake of Moses and Elijah. Moses was the great deliverer who led the Children of Israel out of Egyptian captivity toward the Promised Land. And, you’ll remember from Exodus, that Moses died before crossing over into the Promised Land. But where is Moses now? Where is the Mount of Transfiguration? Right in the middle of the Promised Land. Because Christ is the THE Great Deliverer, and it is His Cross that is the gate way for us to enter the Promise Land that awaits us in Heaven. Why Elijah? Well, maybe it was for Elijah’s benefit too because the Old Testament tells us not of Elijah’s death, but that at the end of him ministry, he was lifted up into heaven. Maybe it was for Elijah’s benefit so show him that Christ is the One who transforms death from a tomb sealed with finality, to threshold that leads to eternity with the Father.
But obviously, Moses and Elijah were there for the sake of Jesus too. As Jesus prayed about His journey toward the Cross, the Father sent Moses and Elijah, no doubt to confirm the faithfulness of Jesus. Luke says that Moses and Elijah were speaking with Jesus about “His departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.” They are talking together about the Cross…about the meaning of Jesus’ suffering and death….about how His suffering and death would be the greatest deliverance….the great victory over the slavery of sin…the conquering of death and of the grave. You do understand, don’t you, that Jesus wasn’t forced to get on that Cross? When they arrested Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, it is not because they finally caught up with Jesus. It’s not because they overpowered Him. It’s not because He finally gave up. And you do know, don’t you that when Jesus was beaten and mocked and spit upon, no one forced Him to endure all of that? He willingly endured it. He knew all along He would endure it. He knew all along that He would be lifted up upon that Cross, and that He would take our sin upon Himself, suffering the full consequences of our sin, all in the great plan of Redemption.
From the day Adam and Eve fell in the Garden of Eden, everything has been leading to this moment, and Jesus is about to come down from the mountain and make His way to Jerusalem to undo the damage of the Fall - and He will do it willingly, obediently, faithful to the Father and faithful to the plan of Redemption.
Everything in the Old Testament has been leading to this crucial moment in time. And that’s another reason why Moses and Elijah are there. Moses represents the Law. God gave the Law through Moses. Elijah represents all the prophets. And, when Jesus spoke of the Old Testament, His term for it was “The Law and the Prophets.” He said, “Think not that I have come to destroy the Law and the Prophets: I have come not to destroy but to fulfill.” (Matthew 5:17) So, Moses and Elijah, representing the entire Old Testament, are sent by the Father to Jesus to confirm what Jesus is going to accomplish for us.
And, when Jesus comes down from the Mountain, Luke tells us in chapter 9 verse 51 that “He set His face resolutely toward Jerusalem.” Such a simple verse. But one of the most significant verses in the Gospel of Luke, because from that moment on Jesus is completely focused upon Jerusalem and the Cross that would be waiting for Him. Now, the great journey has crossed the divide. He set His face resolutely toward Jerusalem; willingly, obediently, faithfully, and with a love that will change the course of your life and mine, but a love that you and I can hardly imagine. For you, He set His face resolutely toward Jerusalem.
I believe that God has a plan and a purpose for your life too. And, I believe that this passage can give us strength as we cross our divide. How can we face up to God’s plan for our lives?
Jesus faces the future, not with fear, but courage. You and I can’t help but feel fear at times. We’re feeble humans. Our courage won’t be measured by the fear we never feel, but by the fear we overcome with the help of our victorious Savior. The Bible tells us that courage is a gift from God. Jesus manifest perfect courage, and so if you are in Christ, His courage is available to you. You can face the toughest times in life, not with fear, but with overcoming courage from Christ.
Jesus faces the future with confidence. Unlike Jesus, you and I can’t see into the future, knowing all the details in advance. But we can move forward with confidence.....confidence in the presence of God always.......confidence in the guiding hand of God over our lives......confidence in His grace to sustain us...........confidence in His mercy to lift us if we fall.........confidence in the gift of faith that sustains us in our journey of life.
Jesus faces the future with contentment. This kind of contentment is not like the world’s contentment - when you’ve accomplished all you want, and when you obtain everything your heart desires. Not that at all. Jesus was content in obedience to the will of God. He became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. The Old Testament prophet, Isaiah, described Jesus’ resolve. He wasn’t afraid to die. “Like a lamb that was led to slaughter, did not open His mouth.” He was not afraid to die. He was content even with death, because all of His life, even His death was experienced faithfully and obediently according to the will of God. Greater contentment can come to your life when you begin living with a sense of divine purpose.
You know, friends, Jesus went to the Cross with courage, confidence and contentment, and there He willingly died that you and I might have forgiveness of our sins. But you know, He also lived and died and rose again the third day so that we who are in Christ might live differently. I invite you to face life, and destiny, and even death like true followers of Christ…. with the same peace and assurance that was in Jesus. Because the Spirit of Christ dwells in you, you can face life and even death with the rock solid knowledge and conviction that you are wrapped in the Father’s loving embrace. That’s the way Jesus lived. Living that way too, you can set your face resolutely toward whatever life brings….toward living, loving and serving in a way that will bring God glory….you can live with courage, confidence, and contentment like unto the Lord!
Glory be to God. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Today, as we journey with Jesus and the disciples through the Gospel of Mark, we have literally reached the spiritual continental divide. Last Sunday, we heard Jesus say, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.” (Mark 8:34) And, once Jesus comes down from the mountain, He’s marching straight to the Cross.
But let’s backup a moment and consider the journey thus far.
As Mark tells the story, the journey of Jesus begins when He is a mere 30 years old. Jesus is baptized by John and when He arises from the murky water of the Jordan, He hears the voice of God, “This is my Son, my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” And from that point, the Son began a journey. He traveled north to the Sea of Galilee and took the company of fishermen. He traveled into the busy market places and made friends of tax-collectors and merchants. He traveled into every arena of human life. There Jesus found ordinary human beings who responded to His invitation, “Follow me.”
He assembles the twelve and they join him in this journey, although none of them knew where it would lead. They follow, this incredible teacher who enables them to grow in faith, to mature spiritually, who instills in them a new sense of confidence and power so that they too can do the work of God among the people. They discover along the way, that Jesus is no ordinary human being. A man who is more than a man, with power beyond the realm of humanity. He first shows His power at a great wedding feast. The party comes to a screeching halt when the wine runs out. To this day, the miracle defies explanation, but they were there and they witnessed it and they drank deeply of it. Jesus transformed water into wine!
They continue to follow and they witness more miracles, but now the miracles are more deeply touching human lives - not simply demonstrations of power, but lives are changed. The blind, by the simple touch of Jesus, begin to see! The paralyzed stand up and walk. Men who were stone deaf, begin to hear. The dead are raised! And it begins to dawn on the disciples that Jesus is the Son of God Almighty. Jesus asks, “But who do YOU say that I am?” And Peter answered, “Thou art the Christ!” With that glorious revelation of the true nature of Jesus, He then explains the nature of His ministry…the purpose for which the Christ came: “And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected…and be killed, and after three days rise again.” (Mark 8:31) He came to take our place on the Cross, and that Cross is only a few months away. So, you can understand why Jesus took Peter, James and John up the mountain. Luke says “And it came to pass...He took Peter, John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.” (Luke 9:28)
Now, there are two important messages that come to us from this need of Jesus to pray on the mountain:
First, there is the simple need to pray. We tend to focus on His miraculous power and we forget, sometimes, about His humanity. The Gospel writers are clear. Jesus was like one of us, only without sin. He was a man, and that means His heart beat and His blood pulsed and the nerves exploded in His brain. He was in every way, a human being as God intended human beings to be. But it also means, if you’re willing to take it a step further, that Jesus experienced the realities of life that make us shudder at life. Jesus knew what it was like to be hungry. He knew what it was like to be poor. He knew what it was like to sleep in the cold of night, under the stars with nothing more than a smooth stone for a pillow. He had no material possessions to amount to much. And, Jesus knew what it was like to have loved ones and friends misunderstand Him, to misinterpret His words and purposefully misconstrue His life and His teaching. He knew what it was like to be rejected, despised and even hated. He knew those things because Jesus was a human being. God became flesh and dwelt among us, perfectly. And, (here’s the point) if Perfect Man felt the need to pray, and pray often, then certainly we share that same need.
Second, there is the particular reason for His need of prayer. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, He knew His own destiny. He tried to explain it so many times: “The Son of Man shall be delivered over to them and as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so shall the Son of Man be lifted up.” Another time Jesus put it so clearly: “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.” But the disciples couldn’t really understand these statements on that side of the Cross. You see, the journey of His life has reached a critical point, it’s like crossing the Continental Divide. No longer to travel in and out of Galilee, in and out of Jerusalem, but now, every step of the journey was leading to the Cross. And so, preparing for the fulfillment of His purpose to suffer and die upon the Cross, Jesus went up to the mountain top to pray. When you know that the journey of your life has reached the moment of facing your purpose, your destiny, you pray. You pray for courage. You pray for confidence. You pray for contentment.
And, when you pray like that, you will discover that God has not left you to face your destiny alone.
As Mark records the event, at some point in the night, the disciples awake to a vision of their Master. They see Jesus further up the hill, but He’s different now. He’s literally radiant with light. It’s not that Jesus is in the spot light. Jesus is the light. It’s not a light shining on Him, but the glory of God shining forth from Him. His robe is gleaming white as snow. His skin, His face, His hair radiating beams of warm light.
Not only is there Jesus, but also Moses and Elijah. Why Moses and Elijah? Well, first, for the sake of Moses and Elijah. Moses was the great deliverer who led the Children of Israel out of Egyptian captivity toward the Promised Land. And, you’ll remember from Exodus, that Moses died before crossing over into the Promised Land. But where is Moses now? Where is the Mount of Transfiguration? Right in the middle of the Promised Land. Because Christ is the THE Great Deliverer, and it is His Cross that is the gate way for us to enter the Promise Land that awaits us in Heaven. Why Elijah? Well, maybe it was for Elijah’s benefit too because the Old Testament tells us not of Elijah’s death, but that at the end of him ministry, he was lifted up into heaven. Maybe it was for Elijah’s benefit so show him that Christ is the One who transforms death from a tomb sealed with finality, to threshold that leads to eternity with the Father.
But obviously, Moses and Elijah were there for the sake of Jesus too. As Jesus prayed about His journey toward the Cross, the Father sent Moses and Elijah, no doubt to confirm the faithfulness of Jesus. Luke says that Moses and Elijah were speaking with Jesus about “His departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.” They are talking together about the Cross…about the meaning of Jesus’ suffering and death….about how His suffering and death would be the greatest deliverance….the great victory over the slavery of sin…the conquering of death and of the grave. You do understand, don’t you, that Jesus wasn’t forced to get on that Cross? When they arrested Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, it is not because they finally caught up with Jesus. It’s not because they overpowered Him. It’s not because He finally gave up. And you do know, don’t you that when Jesus was beaten and mocked and spit upon, no one forced Him to endure all of that? He willingly endured it. He knew all along He would endure it. He knew all along that He would be lifted up upon that Cross, and that He would take our sin upon Himself, suffering the full consequences of our sin, all in the great plan of Redemption.
From the day Adam and Eve fell in the Garden of Eden, everything has been leading to this moment, and Jesus is about to come down from the mountain and make His way to Jerusalem to undo the damage of the Fall - and He will do it willingly, obediently, faithful to the Father and faithful to the plan of Redemption.
Everything in the Old Testament has been leading to this crucial moment in time. And that’s another reason why Moses and Elijah are there. Moses represents the Law. God gave the Law through Moses. Elijah represents all the prophets. And, when Jesus spoke of the Old Testament, His term for it was “The Law and the Prophets.” He said, “Think not that I have come to destroy the Law and the Prophets: I have come not to destroy but to fulfill.” (Matthew 5:17) So, Moses and Elijah, representing the entire Old Testament, are sent by the Father to Jesus to confirm what Jesus is going to accomplish for us.
And, when Jesus comes down from the Mountain, Luke tells us in chapter 9 verse 51 that “He set His face resolutely toward Jerusalem.” Such a simple verse. But one of the most significant verses in the Gospel of Luke, because from that moment on Jesus is completely focused upon Jerusalem and the Cross that would be waiting for Him. Now, the great journey has crossed the divide. He set His face resolutely toward Jerusalem; willingly, obediently, faithfully, and with a love that will change the course of your life and mine, but a love that you and I can hardly imagine. For you, He set His face resolutely toward Jerusalem.
I believe that God has a plan and a purpose for your life too. And, I believe that this passage can give us strength as we cross our divide. How can we face up to God’s plan for our lives?
Jesus faces the future, not with fear, but courage. You and I can’t help but feel fear at times. We’re feeble humans. Our courage won’t be measured by the fear we never feel, but by the fear we overcome with the help of our victorious Savior. The Bible tells us that courage is a gift from God. Jesus manifest perfect courage, and so if you are in Christ, His courage is available to you. You can face the toughest times in life, not with fear, but with overcoming courage from Christ.
Jesus faces the future with confidence. Unlike Jesus, you and I can’t see into the future, knowing all the details in advance. But we can move forward with confidence.....confidence in the presence of God always.......confidence in the guiding hand of God over our lives......confidence in His grace to sustain us...........confidence in His mercy to lift us if we fall.........confidence in the gift of faith that sustains us in our journey of life.
Jesus faces the future with contentment. This kind of contentment is not like the world’s contentment - when you’ve accomplished all you want, and when you obtain everything your heart desires. Not that at all. Jesus was content in obedience to the will of God. He became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. The Old Testament prophet, Isaiah, described Jesus’ resolve. He wasn’t afraid to die. “Like a lamb that was led to slaughter, did not open His mouth.” He was not afraid to die. He was content even with death, because all of His life, even His death was experienced faithfully and obediently according to the will of God. Greater contentment can come to your life when you begin living with a sense of divine purpose.
You know, friends, Jesus went to the Cross with courage, confidence and contentment, and there He willingly died that you and I might have forgiveness of our sins. But you know, He also lived and died and rose again the third day so that we who are in Christ might live differently. I invite you to face life, and destiny, and even death like true followers of Christ…. with the same peace and assurance that was in Jesus. Because the Spirit of Christ dwells in you, you can face life and even death with the rock solid knowledge and conviction that you are wrapped in the Father’s loving embrace. That’s the way Jesus lived. Living that way too, you can set your face resolutely toward whatever life brings….toward living, loving and serving in a way that will bring God glory….you can live with courage, confidence, and contentment like unto the Lord!
Glory be to God. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Mark 8:31-38
Every Tuesday morning at 6:30 a.m., I gather with a group of men from Grace Chapel to start the day together in the Word. For many years, our method has been to study the passage that will be preached upon in the coming week. Last Tuesday, one of the men asked about where this passage fits in the chronology. Good question. It’s literally just a matter of months before the Crucifixion. We’ve been journeying with Jesus and the disciples through Mark (a span of time covering about two and a half years), and now we’ve reached the point at which Jesus “sets His face resolutely toward Jerusalem.” And, He knows precisely what is awaiting Him there – the Cross.
He makes His purpose clear:
Mark says, “And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. And He was stating the matter plainly…” (Mark 8:31-32b) But once again, His disciples fail to understand.
Think back to last Sunday. We were with Jesus and the disciples at Caesarea Philippi, that magnificent place of worship in Northern Galilee…at the supposed birth place of Pan, the god of nature…and another option – a gleaming marble bust of Caesar, who claimed to be the Sovereign Lord…and other options – stone figures of many false gods enshrined for the people’s devotion. And, do you remember what happened there? Standing amid all those spiritual options, Jesus asked them, “Who do men say that I am?” And they told Him saying, “John the Baptist, and others say Elijah; but others, one of the prophets.”” (Mark 8:27-28) And then Jesus popped the big question: “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to Him, “Thou art the Christ.”” (Mark 8:29) For Simon Peter and the other disciples, there was a moment of profound spiritual awakening to the true identity of Jesus; “Thou art the Christ!” But when Jesus points them to the work of the Christ – the Cross - Peter slips back into spiritual blindness.
Peter could see Jesus as the Christ, but not the bearer of the Cross. Mark explains that “He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected… and be killed… And He was stating the matter plainly…” (Mark 8:31-32b) “And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him.” (Mark 8:32)
“Now, look here Jesus, you’ve got to stop talking like that…you don’t understand…the Christ doesn’t come to suffer, but to fight for the end of all suffering…the Christ doesn’t come to be rejected by the powers that be, but to reject any who stand in your way…the Christ doesn’t come to be killed, but to kill all who oppress Israel…and Jesus, you’ve got to stop talking this nonsense, because you’re going to frighten off these men who follow you. You’re our leader, and if you’re telling us that you must suffer and die, then we’re going to think we have to suffer and die too, and that’s just out of the question. So, please Jesus, get with the program.”
Do you see what was happening to Peter? You ought to, because so often we do the same thing. What was happening was this: At least at that point in his life, Peter’s understanding of Jesus was shaped not by the Word, not even by the Words of Jesus, but by the culture…by the times in which he lived. Peter was seeing Jesus through the conventional understanding of his day…a widely held expectation that the Messiah (the Christ) was going to be a war lord, a military leader who would come in great power, raise up an army of soldiers, defeat the enemies of Jerusalem, and restore the kingdom to power just like it was under their forefather, King David. Peter didn’t understand – Jesus didn’t come to exercise power as the culture defined it.
The world that you live in today measures power by how much might it takes to kill an enemy. But the power of Christ is a radically different and infinitely greater power. Peter didn’t understand that. Neither does the world. Yes, it takes power to kill an enemy. But, how much more power to forgive them? How much more strength does it take to love an unlovable person? How much more intestinal fortitude does it take to show mercy to people who don’t deserve it? It takes worldly power to beat a man into submission and then nail Him to a Cross. How much more power does it take to willing offer up your perfectly innocent, righteous and holy life as a substitute in the very place of people whose sin makes them an enemy of innocence, righteousness and holiness?
Not the nails, but His wondrous love for me,
kept my Lord on the cross of Calvary.
Oh, what power could hold Him there—
all my sin and shame to bear?
Not the nails, but His wondrous love for me.
But you see, Peter didn’t understand the power of Jesus. And likewise, Peter didn’t understand that you simply cannot have Jesus absent the Cross.
Jesus says, “Get behind Me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.” (Mark 8:33) You know, you may read that and think, ‘Well, isn’t that a bit harsh? Calling Peter “Satan?” No. Jesus loved this man more than he could ever know. He’s loving Peter even in that rebuke, and teaching him that what he was doing (trying to have Christ without the Cross), was no different than what Satan had been trying to do all along.
To Adam and Eve: “You can have the blessings without obedience.”
To Jesus in the Wilderness: “You can have the crown without the Cross.”
Satan wanted a Jesus without the Cross. Because, he was smart enough to know that without the Cross…if Jesus is just nice guy, a great teacher, an exemplar of morality and righteousness, a miracle worker…..if that’s all there is to Jesus…love, miracles, teaching, power, but no Cross, then there is no salvation. There in the Wilderness of Temptation, Matthew records Jesus saying to Satan essentially the same thing he says here to Peter: “Be gone, Satan! (Get behind Me!) For it is written, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.” (Matthew 4:10)
Jesus taught His disciples that “the Son of Man MUST suffer many things”…He “MUST” be rejected….. He “MUST” be killed….the Cross is a MUST! Because there is no Christ absent the Cross!
Likewise, there is no Christian life absent cross bearing discipleship. Jesus said, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” (Mark 8:34) In Luke’s record, it is even more arresting: “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.” (Luke 14:27) There is no Christ absent the Cross, and there is no Christian life absent cross bearing discipleship.
What does it mean, to take up our crosses and follow Him? What is cross bearing discipleship? Well, it’s tough. Cross bearing discipleship is hard. Maybe you will remember the scene in the movie, Tin Cup, the story of a driving-range golf professional in Texas, whose risky, no holds barred style of golf has kept him off the pro tour and living in squalor. The character is played by Kevin Costner and his romantic interest is a psychologist, Molly Griswald, a sophisticated sports therapist. There’s a great scene in the movie when Tin Cup is giving a golf lesson at the driving range, and this beautiful sports therapist is swinging, whiffing, no balance, no grace, no swing, and in no way hitting a golf ball. In frustration she screams, “This is without a doubt the most studpidest, silliest, most idiotic, grotesque, masqueading-as-a-game that has ever been invented.” Tin Cup smiles and says, “Yes ma’am. That’s why I love it.”
Jesus calls us to be cross bearing disciples. And it is without a doubt, the most challenging and the most demanding, the most difficult and costly way of life that anyone could ever imagine. But the cost to us is nothing compared to the blessing of following our Savior. That’s why we love it. C.S. Lewis said:
“The Christian way is different: harder...Christ says, “Give me All. I don’t want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work: I want You. I have not come to torment your natural self, but to kill it. No half-measures are any good. I don’t want to cut off a branch here and a branch there, I want to have the whole tree down. I don’t want to drill the tooth, or crown it, ....but to have it out. Hand over the whole natural self, all the desires which you think innocent as well as the ones you think wicked – the whole outfit. I will give you a new self instead. In fact, I will give you Myself: my own will shall become yours.” (Joyful Christian, p. 179)
What makes it so hard? Self-denial. That’s at the heart of cross bearing discipleship. “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” We’re not talking about denying things. We’re not talking about denying joy and happiness. We’re not talking about denying chocolate cake. But to deny self. It goes against everything in our nature…it goes against the grain…counterintuitive….that we must let the old self die. “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” How do we do that? How do we deny the self?
Go back to verse 33. Jesus said, “ for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.” What’s the difference between God’s agenda and man’s agenda? Man’s interest is to build up the self…to exalt the self…to glorify the self…to please and find comfort and ease for the self…for the self to be served. But God’s interest (as revealed to us in the person of Jesus Christ) is to serve…to count others as more important than yourself...to “Have this attitude in yourselves, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:5-8)
And if Christ was willing to climb upon that Cross in our place and in effect, say to us, “I’m going to take this heavy weight of sin, this impossible eternal burden, from you, and I’m going to give you in return the great blessing of my grace, mercy and love”…If Jesus was willing to undergo that kind radical self-denial for me and you, then we should be willing to take up our crosses…the cross of self-denial…and say to those around us, “I’m going pursue God’s interest, not man’s…I’m going to take a burden from you, and I’m going to give you in exchange a blessing.”
And this is where the rubber of real life meets the road:
I’m thinking right now of someone who is married to a man who is at times hostile to his wife’s faith in Christ. She has a cross to bear. The world says, “If you can’t see eye to eye, divorce him.” But she says, “No, I’m going to love him as Christ loves him.” It would be so much easier to walk away. But she has a cross to bear and a blessing to bestow. And if you look carefully, you can see in her cross bearing discipleship a picture of the Cross Jesus bore for her.
I’m thinking right now of someone who is caring for a family member with a long-term debilitating illness. Other family members aren’t much help. Some of them live far away. She’s left with a burden to bear. This is her cross. It would be so easy to blame her family members who aren’t helping. It would be so easy to say, “I just don’t have time for this,” and walk away. But she has a cross to bear and a blessing to bestow. And if you look carefully, you can see in her loving self-denial a picture of the love of the Crucified Risen Lord.
I’m thinking right now of someone who is battling an addiction. It’s a family curse. And it would be so easy to give up the battle and give in to the addiction. But he has a cross to bear, and so he fights a gut wrenching battle every day to continually crucify his temptation. Because the only way that he can truly love his family and honor the Lord, is to bear his cross. And if you look carefully, you can even see in this man’s battle against sin, a picture of the self-denying love of Christ as He crucifies our sin along with His own body.
I’m thinking of a young man who was born with a disease that has greatly impacted his life and caused him to live with much suffering. Anyone else would curse God, but the most important reality in this man’s life is the knowledge that Christ bore his sins upon the Cross. And so, he endures his suffering with an unconquerable joy. He has a cross to bear, but the way he bears it is such a blessing to those around him. And if you look closely, you can see Christ in his cross bearing discipleship.
You have a cross to bear too. “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” You can’t follow Jesus without a cross. But let me give you three simple encouragements that will help you carry your cross:
1. It helps to remember that the difficulty of cross bearing discipleship is temporary, and the blessings of following Jesus are eternal. John Piper says:
“Of course the pain (of cross bearing discipleship) is temporary. He does not call us to eternal suffering. That’s what he rescues us from…. “Whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.” (Mark 8:35) Suffering for Jesus is temporary. Pleasure in Jesus is eternal.” (What Jesus Demands of the World, p.71) Your life might be hard now, but remember the promise: “Your reward in heaven is great!” (Matthew 5:12)
2. It helps to remember that when we deny the self, take up our cross and begin to follow Him we are folded into the glorious promise of His presence and His strength. You are called to carry your cross, but He never leaves you to carry it alone. “Come unto Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30) And, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)
3. It helps to remember that any momentary affliction you may experience on account of your cross bearing discipleship only serves as a platform for you to give God glory, honor and praise. The old hymn says it best:
When I survey the wondrous cross, on which the Prince of glory died,
my richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride.
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, save in the death of Christ my God:
all the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to his blood.
See, from his head, his hands his feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down:
did e’er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown?
Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were a present far too small;
love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.
He makes His purpose clear:
Mark says, “And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. And He was stating the matter plainly…” (Mark 8:31-32b) But once again, His disciples fail to understand.
Think back to last Sunday. We were with Jesus and the disciples at Caesarea Philippi, that magnificent place of worship in Northern Galilee…at the supposed birth place of Pan, the god of nature…and another option – a gleaming marble bust of Caesar, who claimed to be the Sovereign Lord…and other options – stone figures of many false gods enshrined for the people’s devotion. And, do you remember what happened there? Standing amid all those spiritual options, Jesus asked them, “Who do men say that I am?” And they told Him saying, “John the Baptist, and others say Elijah; but others, one of the prophets.”” (Mark 8:27-28) And then Jesus popped the big question: “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to Him, “Thou art the Christ.”” (Mark 8:29) For Simon Peter and the other disciples, there was a moment of profound spiritual awakening to the true identity of Jesus; “Thou art the Christ!” But when Jesus points them to the work of the Christ – the Cross - Peter slips back into spiritual blindness.
Peter could see Jesus as the Christ, but not the bearer of the Cross. Mark explains that “He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected… and be killed… And He was stating the matter plainly…” (Mark 8:31-32b) “And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him.” (Mark 8:32)
“Now, look here Jesus, you’ve got to stop talking like that…you don’t understand…the Christ doesn’t come to suffer, but to fight for the end of all suffering…the Christ doesn’t come to be rejected by the powers that be, but to reject any who stand in your way…the Christ doesn’t come to be killed, but to kill all who oppress Israel…and Jesus, you’ve got to stop talking this nonsense, because you’re going to frighten off these men who follow you. You’re our leader, and if you’re telling us that you must suffer and die, then we’re going to think we have to suffer and die too, and that’s just out of the question. So, please Jesus, get with the program.”
Do you see what was happening to Peter? You ought to, because so often we do the same thing. What was happening was this: At least at that point in his life, Peter’s understanding of Jesus was shaped not by the Word, not even by the Words of Jesus, but by the culture…by the times in which he lived. Peter was seeing Jesus through the conventional understanding of his day…a widely held expectation that the Messiah (the Christ) was going to be a war lord, a military leader who would come in great power, raise up an army of soldiers, defeat the enemies of Jerusalem, and restore the kingdom to power just like it was under their forefather, King David. Peter didn’t understand – Jesus didn’t come to exercise power as the culture defined it.
The world that you live in today measures power by how much might it takes to kill an enemy. But the power of Christ is a radically different and infinitely greater power. Peter didn’t understand that. Neither does the world. Yes, it takes power to kill an enemy. But, how much more power to forgive them? How much more strength does it take to love an unlovable person? How much more intestinal fortitude does it take to show mercy to people who don’t deserve it? It takes worldly power to beat a man into submission and then nail Him to a Cross. How much more power does it take to willing offer up your perfectly innocent, righteous and holy life as a substitute in the very place of people whose sin makes them an enemy of innocence, righteousness and holiness?
Not the nails, but His wondrous love for me,
kept my Lord on the cross of Calvary.
Oh, what power could hold Him there—
all my sin and shame to bear?
Not the nails, but His wondrous love for me.
But you see, Peter didn’t understand the power of Jesus. And likewise, Peter didn’t understand that you simply cannot have Jesus absent the Cross.
Jesus says, “Get behind Me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.” (Mark 8:33) You know, you may read that and think, ‘Well, isn’t that a bit harsh? Calling Peter “Satan?” No. Jesus loved this man more than he could ever know. He’s loving Peter even in that rebuke, and teaching him that what he was doing (trying to have Christ without the Cross), was no different than what Satan had been trying to do all along.
To Adam and Eve: “You can have the blessings without obedience.”
To Jesus in the Wilderness: “You can have the crown without the Cross.”
Satan wanted a Jesus without the Cross. Because, he was smart enough to know that without the Cross…if Jesus is just nice guy, a great teacher, an exemplar of morality and righteousness, a miracle worker…..if that’s all there is to Jesus…love, miracles, teaching, power, but no Cross, then there is no salvation. There in the Wilderness of Temptation, Matthew records Jesus saying to Satan essentially the same thing he says here to Peter: “Be gone, Satan! (Get behind Me!) For it is written, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.” (Matthew 4:10)
Jesus taught His disciples that “the Son of Man MUST suffer many things”…He “MUST” be rejected….. He “MUST” be killed….the Cross is a MUST! Because there is no Christ absent the Cross!
Likewise, there is no Christian life absent cross bearing discipleship. Jesus said, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” (Mark 8:34) In Luke’s record, it is even more arresting: “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.” (Luke 14:27) There is no Christ absent the Cross, and there is no Christian life absent cross bearing discipleship.
What does it mean, to take up our crosses and follow Him? What is cross bearing discipleship? Well, it’s tough. Cross bearing discipleship is hard. Maybe you will remember the scene in the movie, Tin Cup, the story of a driving-range golf professional in Texas, whose risky, no holds barred style of golf has kept him off the pro tour and living in squalor. The character is played by Kevin Costner and his romantic interest is a psychologist, Molly Griswald, a sophisticated sports therapist. There’s a great scene in the movie when Tin Cup is giving a golf lesson at the driving range, and this beautiful sports therapist is swinging, whiffing, no balance, no grace, no swing, and in no way hitting a golf ball. In frustration she screams, “This is without a doubt the most studpidest, silliest, most idiotic, grotesque, masqueading-as-a-game that has ever been invented.” Tin Cup smiles and says, “Yes ma’am. That’s why I love it.”
Jesus calls us to be cross bearing disciples. And it is without a doubt, the most challenging and the most demanding, the most difficult and costly way of life that anyone could ever imagine. But the cost to us is nothing compared to the blessing of following our Savior. That’s why we love it. C.S. Lewis said:
“The Christian way is different: harder...Christ says, “Give me All. I don’t want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work: I want You. I have not come to torment your natural self, but to kill it. No half-measures are any good. I don’t want to cut off a branch here and a branch there, I want to have the whole tree down. I don’t want to drill the tooth, or crown it, ....but to have it out. Hand over the whole natural self, all the desires which you think innocent as well as the ones you think wicked – the whole outfit. I will give you a new self instead. In fact, I will give you Myself: my own will shall become yours.” (Joyful Christian, p. 179)
What makes it so hard? Self-denial. That’s at the heart of cross bearing discipleship. “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” We’re not talking about denying things. We’re not talking about denying joy and happiness. We’re not talking about denying chocolate cake. But to deny self. It goes against everything in our nature…it goes against the grain…counterintuitive….that we must let the old self die. “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” How do we do that? How do we deny the self?
Go back to verse 33. Jesus said, “ for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.” What’s the difference between God’s agenda and man’s agenda? Man’s interest is to build up the self…to exalt the self…to glorify the self…to please and find comfort and ease for the self…for the self to be served. But God’s interest (as revealed to us in the person of Jesus Christ) is to serve…to count others as more important than yourself...to “Have this attitude in yourselves, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:5-8)
And if Christ was willing to climb upon that Cross in our place and in effect, say to us, “I’m going to take this heavy weight of sin, this impossible eternal burden, from you, and I’m going to give you in return the great blessing of my grace, mercy and love”…If Jesus was willing to undergo that kind radical self-denial for me and you, then we should be willing to take up our crosses…the cross of self-denial…and say to those around us, “I’m going pursue God’s interest, not man’s…I’m going to take a burden from you, and I’m going to give you in exchange a blessing.”
And this is where the rubber of real life meets the road:
I’m thinking right now of someone who is married to a man who is at times hostile to his wife’s faith in Christ. She has a cross to bear. The world says, “If you can’t see eye to eye, divorce him.” But she says, “No, I’m going to love him as Christ loves him.” It would be so much easier to walk away. But she has a cross to bear and a blessing to bestow. And if you look carefully, you can see in her cross bearing discipleship a picture of the Cross Jesus bore for her.
I’m thinking right now of someone who is caring for a family member with a long-term debilitating illness. Other family members aren’t much help. Some of them live far away. She’s left with a burden to bear. This is her cross. It would be so easy to blame her family members who aren’t helping. It would be so easy to say, “I just don’t have time for this,” and walk away. But she has a cross to bear and a blessing to bestow. And if you look carefully, you can see in her loving self-denial a picture of the love of the Crucified Risen Lord.
I’m thinking right now of someone who is battling an addiction. It’s a family curse. And it would be so easy to give up the battle and give in to the addiction. But he has a cross to bear, and so he fights a gut wrenching battle every day to continually crucify his temptation. Because the only way that he can truly love his family and honor the Lord, is to bear his cross. And if you look carefully, you can even see in this man’s battle against sin, a picture of the self-denying love of Christ as He crucifies our sin along with His own body.
I’m thinking of a young man who was born with a disease that has greatly impacted his life and caused him to live with much suffering. Anyone else would curse God, but the most important reality in this man’s life is the knowledge that Christ bore his sins upon the Cross. And so, he endures his suffering with an unconquerable joy. He has a cross to bear, but the way he bears it is such a blessing to those around him. And if you look closely, you can see Christ in his cross bearing discipleship.
You have a cross to bear too. “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” You can’t follow Jesus without a cross. But let me give you three simple encouragements that will help you carry your cross:
1. It helps to remember that the difficulty of cross bearing discipleship is temporary, and the blessings of following Jesus are eternal. John Piper says:
“Of course the pain (of cross bearing discipleship) is temporary. He does not call us to eternal suffering. That’s what he rescues us from…. “Whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.” (Mark 8:35) Suffering for Jesus is temporary. Pleasure in Jesus is eternal.” (What Jesus Demands of the World, p.71) Your life might be hard now, but remember the promise: “Your reward in heaven is great!” (Matthew 5:12)
2. It helps to remember that when we deny the self, take up our cross and begin to follow Him we are folded into the glorious promise of His presence and His strength. You are called to carry your cross, but He never leaves you to carry it alone. “Come unto Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30) And, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)
3. It helps to remember that any momentary affliction you may experience on account of your cross bearing discipleship only serves as a platform for you to give God glory, honor and praise. The old hymn says it best:
When I survey the wondrous cross, on which the Prince of glory died,
my richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride.
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, save in the death of Christ my God:
all the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to his blood.
See, from his head, his hands his feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down:
did e’er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown?
Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were a present far too small;
love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Mark 8:27-30
There is a very important footnote to this story: Location.
Caesarea Philippi was a beautiful place of worship, in northern Galilee, 1700 feet above the Sea of Galilee, near what we would today call the Golan Heights.
It’s an important place for several reasons:
First, it was thought of by the ancients as the birth place of the Greek god, Pan - the god of nature.
Second, it was the center of 14 shrines used in the fertility religion of the pagans. Third, with the rise of Rome as the world power, it became a shrine for the worship of Caesar as a god.
Fourth, it was the source of the waters of the Jordan River.
You can still go there today. If you did, you would walk a narrow path through a nature preserve, the path surrounded by dense growth, meandering along the beginnings of the Jordan River; at this point just a little creek. The path opens up to what looks to be a stage, a theatrical stage carved into the side of a cliff. Above the floor of the stage is a cliff face. Alcoves or recessed shelves are chiseled into the rock above the stage, and within those recesses sat stone busts and statues of the gods; a plethora of spiritual options. The most prominent bust would have been that of the currently reigning Caesar, who believed himself to the most almighty of all the gods. To the left, at the base of the cliff, is the open mouth of a large cave - the very cave thought to be the birth place of Pan, the Greek god of nature.
Are you beginning to see the significance of the place? Jesus could have taken them anywhere. But it is there, surrounded by images of false gods, this cosmopolitan place of worship that Jesus asks the question, “Who do men say that I am?”
William Barclay says that “it is as if Jesus is demanding the answer in the face of all the other religions of the world, in the face of all other claims of divinity.”
I imagine there’s a moment of strategic silence. I see Jesus looking down into the mouth of the cave, the supposed birth place of the Greek god who claims to be the creator. And I see Jesus looking up toward that gleaming white marble to the bust of Caesar, who claimed to be the Sovereign Lord over all the earth. I see Jesus looking at the statues of all the pagan gods perched in their alcoves high upon the cliff face. I see Jesus gazing at all sorts of people, lost people whom He loved, ignorantly bowing down to their deities, offering sacrifices.
Then Jesus breaks the silence. “Who do men say that I am?” Sheepishly, someone says, “Well Jesus, some say your are John the Baptist... beheaded by Herod but resurrected.” Someone else says, “Well, I’ve heard a lot of people say that you were Elijah the prophet come back from the dead...” Then, everyone begins to chime in.... “I heard some people saying that you were...”
“Other people say...” And everyone begins to talk, because it’s easy to say what other people think and believe. And then Jesus interrupts them with the real question. “But who do YOU say that I am?”
They all look at one another in a moment of nervous anxiety. But, there’s no surprise about who spoke first. It was Simon Peter, the bold one. “Thou art the Christ.”
It’s a glorious moment for Simon Peter. Despite of all the distracting claims for Lordship surrounding Peter at Caesarea Philippi, he saw through it all. A glorious moment of clarity.
What I so admire about Peter in that moment, is that he didn’t do what so many people do every day. We live in a culture of unbelief. This is a world full of religious options, gods of our own making. And so many people today try to place Jesus along side all the false gods competing for our attention. But Peter didn’t try to reconcile Jesus with all these other religious claims. He didn’t try to explain how Jesus was like them. “Well, Jesus, you’re sort of like Buddah and sort of like Krishna, a little of this and a little of that...and all roads lead to the same place.” No! Peter didn’t water Jesus down by saying, “Well Jesus, of course this is just my opinion, just my interpretation, and of course there may be lots of other good people who may disagree with me, Jesus...” No! He didn’t whisper it, saying, “Well, Jesus I believe that you are the only Savior of the world, but I don’t want to offend any of these people as they worship their gods...” No!
Simon Peter simply spoke the truth. “You are the Messiah.” Matthew’s Gospel has Peter answering, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of Living God.” (Matthew 16:16) He said it without hesitation. Without fear of offending people who believed differently. He said it without equivocation. He spoke the truth about Jesus without shame or embarrassment.
Jesus said, “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when He comes in His glory.” (Luke 9:26)
Friends, our world looks just like that place, Caesarea Philippi...a world full of gods of our own making....a world of endless spiritual options, all of which are false and hopelessly misleading except for the way of Christ. This is the world in which we live. And remember, we are called to be in the world but not of the world;
called to be a light to the world;
called to bring truth to a world of falsehood;
called to love the world enough to speak truth boldly;
called to love Jesus enough to know Him more intimately and clearly
so that when we have the opportunity to answer the question, “Who is Jesus?” we will speak the truth boldly, clearly, and without shame.
I mentioned Matthew’s version of this story. Let’s go back to Matthew to see how Jesus responds: (Matthew 16:17) “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.”
I want you to see something very important about the nature of Peter’s confession.
Jesus is acknowledging that Peter didn’t dream this up... he didn’t construct this understanding by the power of his own mind. Peter didn’t figure it out all by himself. His insight about the true nature of Jesus was inspired by God Himself; not by flesh and blood or by human understanding, but straight from the Father.
You see, this passage reveals something crucial not only about the nature of Christ but also about the nature of belief, the very nature of faith. If you can stand with Peter in that moment and answer, “I too, believe, that Jesus Christ is Lord,” if you have faith, if you believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and savior, then you have something wonderful to be thankful for.....the Father in Heaven has given you this gift...by His grace He has given you faith.... “For it is by grace that you are saved through faith, not of yourselves,” (Ephesians 2:8) not by anything of your own doing or thinking.....flesh and blood did not reveal this to you but the Father who is in heaven.” That’s the nature of faith. It is a gift.
Imagine a child who has waited months for Christmas Day. He has seen the beautifully wrapped presents under the tree, some of which have his name on them. The anticipation has been driving him crazy with excitement. Then Christmas morning dawns. He wakes up before the crack of dawn, races down the stairs, beholds the beauty of the tree and all the wonderful presents underneath. And, imagine that he sits down beneath the tree, picks up a beautifully wrapped box, sets it in his lap, and says, “Wow, isn’t that beautiful! Look at the colors in the wrapping paper! Look at that beautiful ribbon! He looks at the present, holds it in his hands, but never opens it up. He never rips off the paper and the ribbon. He never opens up the box to see the gift on the inside. He never takes the gift out of the box. He never makes the gift a part of his life. He never experiences the joy of possessing the gift.
Faith is God’s gift to you, and it is given with the expectation that you will use it boldly.
And friends, this world of unbelief desperately needs for you to utilize that gift. Proclaim the faith! Live the faith! Give evidence of the faith within you!
What good would it do to know Christ, and not boldly proclaim Christ?
What good would it do to boldly proclaim Christ, but give no evidence of His Lordship over our lives?
Because, you see, the world not only desperately needs to hear the truth, they need to see the efficacy of the truth, the proof of the truth, at work in our lives. What good is it to proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord, when there isn’t much evidence to show forth that Jesus Christ is Lord over all of my life; Lord over my business life, Lord over my marriage and my parenting; Lord over my speech; Lord over my conduct and behaviors?
Martin Luther captures the vital connection between speaking the truth about Jesus and living the truth about Jesus:
“I believe that Jesus Christ is truly God, born of the Father in eternity and also truly man, born of the Virgin Mary. He is my Lord! He redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, bought and won me from all sins, death and the authority of the Devil. It did not cost Him gold or silver, but His holy, precious blood, His innocent body –– His death! Because of this, I am His very own. I will live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him righteously, innocently and blessedly forever, just as He is risen from death, lives and reigns forever. Yes, this is true.””
Luther was saying in effect, “Thou art the Christ, the Lord; and because you are my Lord, I will live under your Lordship.”
Jesus is asking you today, “Who do YOU say that I am?” He redeemed you at such a great cost unto Himself, that it demands a clear, bold, intelligent, faithful and loving answer. “Jesus, Thou art my Lord and Savior.”
And friend, the world so needs you to speak the truth, and to back up your testimony with the evidence of the Lordship of Jesus Christ over all of life – to receive the gift, but to also exercise it in word and deed. Why? Because there are no other options. There is only one way. “Thou art the Christ.” There is only one Lord – Jesus. There is only One who can save us from our sins – Jesus. And, He put it best:
“I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except by me.”
John 14:6
“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
Acts 4:12
“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven, on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord.”
Philippians 2:9-11
“Thou art the Christ!”
Caesarea Philippi was a beautiful place of worship, in northern Galilee, 1700 feet above the Sea of Galilee, near what we would today call the Golan Heights.
It’s an important place for several reasons:
First, it was thought of by the ancients as the birth place of the Greek god, Pan - the god of nature.
Second, it was the center of 14 shrines used in the fertility religion of the pagans. Third, with the rise of Rome as the world power, it became a shrine for the worship of Caesar as a god.
Fourth, it was the source of the waters of the Jordan River.
You can still go there today. If you did, you would walk a narrow path through a nature preserve, the path surrounded by dense growth, meandering along the beginnings of the Jordan River; at this point just a little creek. The path opens up to what looks to be a stage, a theatrical stage carved into the side of a cliff. Above the floor of the stage is a cliff face. Alcoves or recessed shelves are chiseled into the rock above the stage, and within those recesses sat stone busts and statues of the gods; a plethora of spiritual options. The most prominent bust would have been that of the currently reigning Caesar, who believed himself to the most almighty of all the gods. To the left, at the base of the cliff, is the open mouth of a large cave - the very cave thought to be the birth place of Pan, the Greek god of nature.
Are you beginning to see the significance of the place? Jesus could have taken them anywhere. But it is there, surrounded by images of false gods, this cosmopolitan place of worship that Jesus asks the question, “Who do men say that I am?”
William Barclay says that “it is as if Jesus is demanding the answer in the face of all the other religions of the world, in the face of all other claims of divinity.”
I imagine there’s a moment of strategic silence. I see Jesus looking down into the mouth of the cave, the supposed birth place of the Greek god who claims to be the creator. And I see Jesus looking up toward that gleaming white marble to the bust of Caesar, who claimed to be the Sovereign Lord over all the earth. I see Jesus looking at the statues of all the pagan gods perched in their alcoves high upon the cliff face. I see Jesus gazing at all sorts of people, lost people whom He loved, ignorantly bowing down to their deities, offering sacrifices.
Then Jesus breaks the silence. “Who do men say that I am?” Sheepishly, someone says, “Well Jesus, some say your are John the Baptist... beheaded by Herod but resurrected.” Someone else says, “Well, I’ve heard a lot of people say that you were Elijah the prophet come back from the dead...” Then, everyone begins to chime in.... “I heard some people saying that you were...”
“Other people say...” And everyone begins to talk, because it’s easy to say what other people think and believe. And then Jesus interrupts them with the real question. “But who do YOU say that I am?”
They all look at one another in a moment of nervous anxiety. But, there’s no surprise about who spoke first. It was Simon Peter, the bold one. “Thou art the Christ.”
It’s a glorious moment for Simon Peter. Despite of all the distracting claims for Lordship surrounding Peter at Caesarea Philippi, he saw through it all. A glorious moment of clarity.
What I so admire about Peter in that moment, is that he didn’t do what so many people do every day. We live in a culture of unbelief. This is a world full of religious options, gods of our own making. And so many people today try to place Jesus along side all the false gods competing for our attention. But Peter didn’t try to reconcile Jesus with all these other religious claims. He didn’t try to explain how Jesus was like them. “Well, Jesus, you’re sort of like Buddah and sort of like Krishna, a little of this and a little of that...and all roads lead to the same place.” No! Peter didn’t water Jesus down by saying, “Well Jesus, of course this is just my opinion, just my interpretation, and of course there may be lots of other good people who may disagree with me, Jesus...” No! He didn’t whisper it, saying, “Well, Jesus I believe that you are the only Savior of the world, but I don’t want to offend any of these people as they worship their gods...” No!
Simon Peter simply spoke the truth. “You are the Messiah.” Matthew’s Gospel has Peter answering, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of Living God.” (Matthew 16:16) He said it without hesitation. Without fear of offending people who believed differently. He said it without equivocation. He spoke the truth about Jesus without shame or embarrassment.
Jesus said, “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when He comes in His glory.” (Luke 9:26)
Friends, our world looks just like that place, Caesarea Philippi...a world full of gods of our own making....a world of endless spiritual options, all of which are false and hopelessly misleading except for the way of Christ. This is the world in which we live. And remember, we are called to be in the world but not of the world;
called to be a light to the world;
called to bring truth to a world of falsehood;
called to love the world enough to speak truth boldly;
called to love Jesus enough to know Him more intimately and clearly
so that when we have the opportunity to answer the question, “Who is Jesus?” we will speak the truth boldly, clearly, and without shame.
I mentioned Matthew’s version of this story. Let’s go back to Matthew to see how Jesus responds: (Matthew 16:17) “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.”
I want you to see something very important about the nature of Peter’s confession.
Jesus is acknowledging that Peter didn’t dream this up... he didn’t construct this understanding by the power of his own mind. Peter didn’t figure it out all by himself. His insight about the true nature of Jesus was inspired by God Himself; not by flesh and blood or by human understanding, but straight from the Father.
You see, this passage reveals something crucial not only about the nature of Christ but also about the nature of belief, the very nature of faith. If you can stand with Peter in that moment and answer, “I too, believe, that Jesus Christ is Lord,” if you have faith, if you believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and savior, then you have something wonderful to be thankful for.....the Father in Heaven has given you this gift...by His grace He has given you faith.... “For it is by grace that you are saved through faith, not of yourselves,” (Ephesians 2:8) not by anything of your own doing or thinking.....flesh and blood did not reveal this to you but the Father who is in heaven.” That’s the nature of faith. It is a gift.
Imagine a child who has waited months for Christmas Day. He has seen the beautifully wrapped presents under the tree, some of which have his name on them. The anticipation has been driving him crazy with excitement. Then Christmas morning dawns. He wakes up before the crack of dawn, races down the stairs, beholds the beauty of the tree and all the wonderful presents underneath. And, imagine that he sits down beneath the tree, picks up a beautifully wrapped box, sets it in his lap, and says, “Wow, isn’t that beautiful! Look at the colors in the wrapping paper! Look at that beautiful ribbon! He looks at the present, holds it in his hands, but never opens it up. He never rips off the paper and the ribbon. He never opens up the box to see the gift on the inside. He never takes the gift out of the box. He never makes the gift a part of his life. He never experiences the joy of possessing the gift.
Faith is God’s gift to you, and it is given with the expectation that you will use it boldly.
And friends, this world of unbelief desperately needs for you to utilize that gift. Proclaim the faith! Live the faith! Give evidence of the faith within you!
What good would it do to know Christ, and not boldly proclaim Christ?
What good would it do to boldly proclaim Christ, but give no evidence of His Lordship over our lives?
Because, you see, the world not only desperately needs to hear the truth, they need to see the efficacy of the truth, the proof of the truth, at work in our lives. What good is it to proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord, when there isn’t much evidence to show forth that Jesus Christ is Lord over all of my life; Lord over my business life, Lord over my marriage and my parenting; Lord over my speech; Lord over my conduct and behaviors?
Martin Luther captures the vital connection between speaking the truth about Jesus and living the truth about Jesus:
“I believe that Jesus Christ is truly God, born of the Father in eternity and also truly man, born of the Virgin Mary. He is my Lord! He redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, bought and won me from all sins, death and the authority of the Devil. It did not cost Him gold or silver, but His holy, precious blood, His innocent body –– His death! Because of this, I am His very own. I will live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him righteously, innocently and blessedly forever, just as He is risen from death, lives and reigns forever. Yes, this is true.””
Luther was saying in effect, “Thou art the Christ, the Lord; and because you are my Lord, I will live under your Lordship.”
Jesus is asking you today, “Who do YOU say that I am?” He redeemed you at such a great cost unto Himself, that it demands a clear, bold, intelligent, faithful and loving answer. “Jesus, Thou art my Lord and Savior.”
And friend, the world so needs you to speak the truth, and to back up your testimony with the evidence of the Lordship of Jesus Christ over all of life – to receive the gift, but to also exercise it in word and deed. Why? Because there are no other options. There is only one way. “Thou art the Christ.” There is only one Lord – Jesus. There is only One who can save us from our sins – Jesus. And, He put it best:
“I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except by me.”
John 14:6
“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
Acts 4:12
“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven, on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord.”
Philippians 2:9-11
“Thou art the Christ!”
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Mark 8:22-26
It’s hard for me to imagine a life of blindness, much less being blind for most of your life, only to suddenly be given the gift of sight. Max Lucado, writes about a friend of his who began to see for the first time as a grown man. “For fifty-one years Bob Edens was blind. He couldn’t see a thing. His world was a black hall of sounds and smells. He felt his way through five decades of darkness. And then, he could see. A skilled surgeon performed a complicated operation and, for the first time, Bob Edens had sight. He found it overwhelming. “I never would have dreamed that yellow is so...yellow,” he exclaimed. “I don’t have the words. I am amazed by yellow. But red is my favorite color. I just can’t believe red. I can see the shape of the moon — and I like nothing better than seeing a jet plane flying across the sky leaving a vapor trail. And of course, sunrises and sunsets. And at night I look at the stars in the sky and the flashing light. You could never know how wonderful everything is.”......something else he said is worth noting. “Grass was something I had to get used to...I always thought it was just fuzz. But to see each individual green stalk, and to see the hair on my arm growing like trees, and birds flying through the air...it’s like starting a whole new life.” (God Came Near, p.13&162)
As we journey with Jesus through the pages of the Gospel, we encounter many people just like Bob Edens, some of whom were born blind, but given sight miraculously by the loving power of Jesus. In our text this morning, we’ll see a man who literally can sing, “I once was blind, but now I see.”
(Read Mark 8:22-26)
Every miracle is unique. Jesus healed many people who suffered from blindness, but no two healings are the same. Why? Because Jesus didn’t perceive of people merely as a case to be solved…a patient number with a flip chart of symptoms and test results. He sees each of us as unique, special, intimately and personally known and loved. We saw the proof of this several weeks ago when we examined the healing of the deaf mute in Mark 7:31-37. It was a miracle tailor made out of extraordinary love for a specific man with a very special need.
Well, the healing of the blind man in Mark 8 is also tailor made just for him by the Lord of Love. And, it stands as one of the most unique miracles in the Gospel record; most unique and most misunderstood.
Let me offer you two very common interpretations of this story:
First, apparently the problem is with Jesus:
It is not uncommon to read into this story an apparent problem with Jesus. Why did Jesus have such difficulty healing this man? Maybe Jesus was tired and weary. Maybe He was in some way lacking the power to affect a sudden, dramatic change in the blind man’s condition. Maybe He’s kind of like Superman when he gets too close to Kryptonite. Now, I don’t want to belabor what I believe to be a ludicrous interpretation of Scripture. There is no hint of weakness in Jesus - ever. Even the picture of Jesus nailed to a Cross is a picture of the kind of strength that people like you and me can’t begin to imagine. Everything that happened to Him, every horrible and cruel thing that was done to Him, everything He suffered – Jesus willed it so. So, don’t be deceived: this miracle in stages is no indication of weakness on the part of Jesus.
Second, apparently the problem is with the blind man:
Perhaps the problem was not in Jesus…not in any lack of power on Jesus’ part. Perhaps it reflects something lacking in this man. Maybe a lack of faith? Could it be that Jesus tried to heal this man but the blind man wasn’t doing his part? And, if you want a miracle to happen in your life, you can count on God doing His part, but you are going to have contribute something! Nothing’s free! You have to contribute your faith. (Some preachers will say “You have to make a financial contribution out of faith.) You do your part, God will do His part, and you’ll receive your miracle. And almost without hesitation, the same people who would interpret the story this way (difficulty healing because of a lack of faith) apply the same thinking to salvation. God’s already done His part. Now, you have to do your part. You have to contribute something to your salvation. But you see, just as that blind man had nothing to contribute to his own healing (he was completely and utterly dependent upon Jesus to supply everything he would need in order to be healed), you and I have nothing to contribute to our own salvation. “For by grace you have been saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
“Not the labors of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s commands;
Could my zeal no respite flow,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.”
“Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to the cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.”
So put aside any thought of the weakness of Jesus. Likewise, lay aside any thought that Jesus was somehow limited by this man’s lack of faith. Well then, what do we make of this healing in stages?
Here’s a helpful thing to remember about studying the Bible: Context. Put it in context. And, what’s the context of this story within the Gospel of Mark? Well, look back, and you will see men who are spiritually blind. You’ll see Pharisees who are not willing to open their eyes to the truth of Jesus. And you’ll see disciples, men who follow Jesus, seriously lacking spiritual insight. They’re trying! But so often, they just don’t get it. Just last Sunday, we were with the disciples after the “Feeding of the Four Thousand” (the second mass feeding miracle they witnessed), and they get into the boat and….they forgot the bread! Jesus says, “Do you not yet see or understand? Do you have a hardened heart? Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember, when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces you picked up?” And they said to Him, “Twelve.” And when I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of broken pieces did you pick up?” And they said to Him, “Seven.” And He was saying to them, “Do you not yet understand?” (Mark 8:17-21)
So, behind this miracle is spiritual blindness on the part of the disciples, and the gradual light that is beginning to dawn on them. In front of this miracle (a passage that we will examine next Sunday) is a story of light breaking in…the Sonrise…the moment of epiphany for at least one disciple. “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to Him, “Thou art the Christ.” (Mark 8:29) And beyond crystal clear confession of Peter stands the broken body, the shed blood, the cross and the empty tomb.
Do you see it? The gradual healing of the blind man…the first touch… “Do you see anything?” “I see men, for I am seeing them like trees, walking about.” The second touch… “and he looked intently and was restored, and began to see everything clearly.” It’s as though Jesus is taking the disciples to a mirror and saying, “This is you…you see yet not clearly…I am the Light of the World, and the light of the Son is dawning...I will open your eyes and soon you will see.” And you will know, “Thou art the Christ!”
Do you know something of that experience? Perhaps to follow Jesus for a while, but then experience the gradual opening of your spiritual eyes…to the truth… to the beauty of Jesus…to His glory…and to the glorious gift He has given to you… to see Him like you’ve never seen Him before? You’ve read the Bible before, but now, it’s as though you are seeing Him for the first time. Do you know that experience? Do you want to come out of the darkness into the light?
Plato once told a story about a tribe of prisoners, who from birth, lived in a cave, their legs shackled…their necks shackled too so that they could only look in one direction. And all they could see were shadows that danced on the wall of the cave. The chains prevented them from seeing the real objects in the light of the fire. They had no idea that it was nothing more than puppets making shadow figures. Sadly, they just sat there in their cave for the entirety of their lives fascinated by the shadows dancing on the wall. All they knew were the shadows.
But one day, into this tribe of prisoners, is born an adventurous poet. As he grows, he questions life in the cave, and whether or not there is something more to life than this dark dank cave and the shadows dancing on the wall. One day, freed of his chains, he follows a different light coming through a crack in the cave wall. Digging his way higher and higher, following this brighter light, he finally opens up to a whole new world...with a bright sun, and blue skies, and clouds, and trees, and rivers, and mountains, and all manner of birds and animals. There he is, basking in the light, soaking up the beauty, not of shadows, but a bigger and better and more beautiful world that he never knew existed....a higher reality, a higher truth...and so he must go back to his people and tell them of his discovery. But they refuse to listen. They think he’s gone mad. And so, they kill him and bury his bones in deep in the dark cave. They chose darkness rather than light.
But friends, the Christian vision of life is based on a true story. Not of one who climbed up to see the light, but One who is the Light…One who brought the Light down with Him…One who came to set prisoners like us free!...One who came to bring sight to the blind. And just like Plato’s allegory, so many refused to listen to Him. They thought Jesus had gone mad. And so they killed Him. They chose the shadows of darkness rather than light.
Do you want to be set free from a prison of darkness? Do you want to see Jesus? Do you want Him to open your eyes so that you will see and understand, and begin to live the abundant life He promised?
Look past the cross, beyond the empty tomb, to the road that led to Emmaus. Remember the two disciples who walked home after the crucifixion? They walked that road to Emmaus blinded by shattered hopes and dreams. The Risen Lord began to walk with them, but they did not know it was Jesus. They talked about all they had experienced, about the cross, about their hopes that never materialized. And Jesus said, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” And then Jesus explained to these two blind disciples how everything in the Old Testament points directly to Jesus. It began to dawn on them…so very clear…that later they would say, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures?” (Luke 24:32) But it was not until they invited this Man whom they did not know to stay with them and break bread with them that their eyes were opened. Luke says, “And it came about that when He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized Him…”(Luke 24:30-31)
There is a table set for you. And so, friends, there is still hope for those may see, but not clearly.
The Man who set this table for you…the One whose forgiving love is symbolized in the bread and the cup, says to feeble disciples like you and me, “I am the light of the world, he who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
As we journey with Jesus through the pages of the Gospel, we encounter many people just like Bob Edens, some of whom were born blind, but given sight miraculously by the loving power of Jesus. In our text this morning, we’ll see a man who literally can sing, “I once was blind, but now I see.”
(Read Mark 8:22-26)
Every miracle is unique. Jesus healed many people who suffered from blindness, but no two healings are the same. Why? Because Jesus didn’t perceive of people merely as a case to be solved…a patient number with a flip chart of symptoms and test results. He sees each of us as unique, special, intimately and personally known and loved. We saw the proof of this several weeks ago when we examined the healing of the deaf mute in Mark 7:31-37. It was a miracle tailor made out of extraordinary love for a specific man with a very special need.
Well, the healing of the blind man in Mark 8 is also tailor made just for him by the Lord of Love. And, it stands as one of the most unique miracles in the Gospel record; most unique and most misunderstood.
Let me offer you two very common interpretations of this story:
First, apparently the problem is with Jesus:
It is not uncommon to read into this story an apparent problem with Jesus. Why did Jesus have such difficulty healing this man? Maybe Jesus was tired and weary. Maybe He was in some way lacking the power to affect a sudden, dramatic change in the blind man’s condition. Maybe He’s kind of like Superman when he gets too close to Kryptonite. Now, I don’t want to belabor what I believe to be a ludicrous interpretation of Scripture. There is no hint of weakness in Jesus - ever. Even the picture of Jesus nailed to a Cross is a picture of the kind of strength that people like you and me can’t begin to imagine. Everything that happened to Him, every horrible and cruel thing that was done to Him, everything He suffered – Jesus willed it so. So, don’t be deceived: this miracle in stages is no indication of weakness on the part of Jesus.
Second, apparently the problem is with the blind man:
Perhaps the problem was not in Jesus…not in any lack of power on Jesus’ part. Perhaps it reflects something lacking in this man. Maybe a lack of faith? Could it be that Jesus tried to heal this man but the blind man wasn’t doing his part? And, if you want a miracle to happen in your life, you can count on God doing His part, but you are going to have contribute something! Nothing’s free! You have to contribute your faith. (Some preachers will say “You have to make a financial contribution out of faith.) You do your part, God will do His part, and you’ll receive your miracle. And almost without hesitation, the same people who would interpret the story this way (difficulty healing because of a lack of faith) apply the same thinking to salvation. God’s already done His part. Now, you have to do your part. You have to contribute something to your salvation. But you see, just as that blind man had nothing to contribute to his own healing (he was completely and utterly dependent upon Jesus to supply everything he would need in order to be healed), you and I have nothing to contribute to our own salvation. “For by grace you have been saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
“Not the labors of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s commands;
Could my zeal no respite flow,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.”
“Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to the cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.”
So put aside any thought of the weakness of Jesus. Likewise, lay aside any thought that Jesus was somehow limited by this man’s lack of faith. Well then, what do we make of this healing in stages?
Here’s a helpful thing to remember about studying the Bible: Context. Put it in context. And, what’s the context of this story within the Gospel of Mark? Well, look back, and you will see men who are spiritually blind. You’ll see Pharisees who are not willing to open their eyes to the truth of Jesus. And you’ll see disciples, men who follow Jesus, seriously lacking spiritual insight. They’re trying! But so often, they just don’t get it. Just last Sunday, we were with the disciples after the “Feeding of the Four Thousand” (the second mass feeding miracle they witnessed), and they get into the boat and….they forgot the bread! Jesus says, “Do you not yet see or understand? Do you have a hardened heart? Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember, when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces you picked up?” And they said to Him, “Twelve.” And when I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of broken pieces did you pick up?” And they said to Him, “Seven.” And He was saying to them, “Do you not yet understand?” (Mark 8:17-21)
So, behind this miracle is spiritual blindness on the part of the disciples, and the gradual light that is beginning to dawn on them. In front of this miracle (a passage that we will examine next Sunday) is a story of light breaking in…the Sonrise…the moment of epiphany for at least one disciple. “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to Him, “Thou art the Christ.” (Mark 8:29) And beyond crystal clear confession of Peter stands the broken body, the shed blood, the cross and the empty tomb.
Do you see it? The gradual healing of the blind man…the first touch… “Do you see anything?” “I see men, for I am seeing them like trees, walking about.” The second touch… “and he looked intently and was restored, and began to see everything clearly.” It’s as though Jesus is taking the disciples to a mirror and saying, “This is you…you see yet not clearly…I am the Light of the World, and the light of the Son is dawning...I will open your eyes and soon you will see.” And you will know, “Thou art the Christ!”
Do you know something of that experience? Perhaps to follow Jesus for a while, but then experience the gradual opening of your spiritual eyes…to the truth… to the beauty of Jesus…to His glory…and to the glorious gift He has given to you… to see Him like you’ve never seen Him before? You’ve read the Bible before, but now, it’s as though you are seeing Him for the first time. Do you know that experience? Do you want to come out of the darkness into the light?
Plato once told a story about a tribe of prisoners, who from birth, lived in a cave, their legs shackled…their necks shackled too so that they could only look in one direction. And all they could see were shadows that danced on the wall of the cave. The chains prevented them from seeing the real objects in the light of the fire. They had no idea that it was nothing more than puppets making shadow figures. Sadly, they just sat there in their cave for the entirety of their lives fascinated by the shadows dancing on the wall. All they knew were the shadows.
But one day, into this tribe of prisoners, is born an adventurous poet. As he grows, he questions life in the cave, and whether or not there is something more to life than this dark dank cave and the shadows dancing on the wall. One day, freed of his chains, he follows a different light coming through a crack in the cave wall. Digging his way higher and higher, following this brighter light, he finally opens up to a whole new world...with a bright sun, and blue skies, and clouds, and trees, and rivers, and mountains, and all manner of birds and animals. There he is, basking in the light, soaking up the beauty, not of shadows, but a bigger and better and more beautiful world that he never knew existed....a higher reality, a higher truth...and so he must go back to his people and tell them of his discovery. But they refuse to listen. They think he’s gone mad. And so, they kill him and bury his bones in deep in the dark cave. They chose darkness rather than light.
But friends, the Christian vision of life is based on a true story. Not of one who climbed up to see the light, but One who is the Light…One who brought the Light down with Him…One who came to set prisoners like us free!...One who came to bring sight to the blind. And just like Plato’s allegory, so many refused to listen to Him. They thought Jesus had gone mad. And so they killed Him. They chose the shadows of darkness rather than light.
Do you want to be set free from a prison of darkness? Do you want to see Jesus? Do you want Him to open your eyes so that you will see and understand, and begin to live the abundant life He promised?
Look past the cross, beyond the empty tomb, to the road that led to Emmaus. Remember the two disciples who walked home after the crucifixion? They walked that road to Emmaus blinded by shattered hopes and dreams. The Risen Lord began to walk with them, but they did not know it was Jesus. They talked about all they had experienced, about the cross, about their hopes that never materialized. And Jesus said, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” And then Jesus explained to these two blind disciples how everything in the Old Testament points directly to Jesus. It began to dawn on them…so very clear…that later they would say, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures?” (Luke 24:32) But it was not until they invited this Man whom they did not know to stay with them and break bread with them that their eyes were opened. Luke says, “And it came about that when He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized Him…”(Luke 24:30-31)
There is a table set for you. And so, friends, there is still hope for those may see, but not clearly.
The Man who set this table for you…the One whose forgiving love is symbolized in the bread and the cup, says to feeble disciples like you and me, “I am the light of the world, he who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
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