NJ - Workings (2)

Mark 6:7–13 NKJV

7 And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits. 8 He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts—9 but to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics. 10 Also He said to them, “In whatever place you enter a house, stay there till you depart from that place. 11 And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!” 12 So they went out and preached that people should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.

CHRIST’S PRIMARY MISSION

OBSERVATION: ZACCHEUS (MEANING PURE OR CLEAN) WAS A WEALTHY JEWISH CHIEF TAX COLLECTOR FOR THE ROMANS. JESUS ENTERED JERICHO AND ZACCHEUS, OUT OF CURIOSITY, CLIMBED A TREE TO GAIN A BETTER VIEW OF JESUS AND HEAR WHAT HE HAD TO SAY.

INTERPRETATION: LUKE 19: 9-10 (NKJV) AND JESUS SAID TO HIM, TODAY SALVATION HAS COME TO THIS HOUSE, BECAUSE HE ALSO IS A SON OF ABRAHAM; FOR THE SON OF MAN HAS COME TO SEEK AND TO SAVE THAT WHICH WAS LOST. LUKE 19: 9 (AMPLIFIED BIBLE) AND JESUS SAID TO HIM, TODAY IS (MESSIANIC AND SPIRITUAL) SALVATION COME TO (ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF) THIS HOUSEHOLD, SINCE ZACCHEUS TOO IS A (REAL SPIRITUAL) SON OF ABRAHAM,

THOUGHTS TO PONDER:

ZACCHEUS’ CURIOSITY AROSE: HE JUST HAD TO HEAR THIS JESUS MAN AND QUICKLY DISCOVERED JESUS WAS NO ORDINARY MAN.

ZACCHEUS’ CURIOSITY VANISHED: LUKE 10:5 (NASB) ZACCHEUS, HURRY AND COME DOWN, FOR TODAY, I MUST STAY AT YOUR HOUSE. NOTICE THE URGENCY JESUS SPOKE. ZACCHEUS HAD NO CLUE THIS COMMAND WOULD BE A LIFE CHANGER. IT ALSO RINGS OUT AN OUTCRY FROM THE JEWISH COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF ZACCHEUS’ FRAUD.

THE JEWISH COMMUNITY DID NOT BELIEVE HE COULD BE A SON OF ABRAHAM BECAUSE HE WAS A TAX COLLECTOR FOR THE ROMANS. THIS WAS NOT A VALID REASON FOR HIM TO BE CUT OFF FROM SALVATION. CHRIST CAME TO SAVE THOSE WHO ARE LOST, INCLUDING ZACCHEUS. HE TRULY WAS A SON OF ABRAHAM, AND GENUINE BELIEVER. HE RESTORED ALL HE HAD STOLEN AND MORE!

APPLICATION: SALVATION CAME TO ZACCHEUS’ HOUSE. CHRIST’S PRIMARY MISSION WAS TO SAVE THE LOST!

Introduction – Missions Motives with Hudson Taylor

When Hudson Taylor was director of the China Inland Mission, he often interviewed candidates for the mission field. On one occasion, he met with a group of applicants to determine their motivations for service. "And why do you wish to go as a foreign missionary?" he asked one. "I want to go because Christ has commanded us to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature," was the reply. Another said, "I want to go because millions are perishing without Christ." Others gave different answers. Then Hudson Taylor said, "All of these motives, however good, will fail you in times of testings, trials, tribulations, and possible death. There is but one motive that will sustain you in trial and testing; namely, the love of Christ." Source Unknown.

We are in a mission field. Jesus modeled how we are to love others. That makes Him our teacher and…