Mark 9:33-50
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Last week we saw an example I need help with when the father told Jesus “I believe, help me in mine unbelief”
Then we finished with Jesus casting out the demon from the man’s son that the disciples had failed to do. This will be a part of marks noted Irony we will see this morning.
Before that we had seen Mark 8:31 “31 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.” This was the first of Jesus “Passion Predictions” where he was trying to teach the disciples what was to come in the near future and what the purpose of His death and resurrection was.
Moving into today, in Mark 9:30-50 we see the second of the “Passion Predictions” in Mark
Which Of The Disciples Is Greatest?
Which Of The Disciples Is Greatest?
30 And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it. 31 For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day. 32 But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.
Jesus is heading back to Jerusalem from the mount of transfiguration and is passing by or through the home base of his ministry to this point. This is the last time he will be in Galilee. His healing ministry is coming to a close and now He turns toward Jerusalem and the Cross.
He tries again to show them the purpose and plan but they couldn’t see it and were afraid to ask Him about it.
Son of Man “delivered” into the hands of men: delivered or handed over here is the same Greek word for “betrayed”. think of this in 2 ways
Judas will betray Jesus (how I thought of this passage for years) this is true but there’s something else here. If free will, could Judas have changed his mind?
Judas to betray Jesus was the plan of God the Father to deliver the Son to betrayal and death on the Cross for the redemption of His people.
Isaiah 53:6 “6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
Isaiah 53:12 “12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”
The point to remember is the sovereign plan of God doest not violate the responsibility of man. We are responsible for our choices. That both can be true without laying a bit of “sin” on God is a bigger idea than I can really wrap my head around but I’m not alone. Smarter than me have been wrestling with it since the 4th century and still haven’t got it all figured out.
Moving on we see why they kept quiet...
33 And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way? 34 But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest. 35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all. 36 And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them, 37 Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.
There’s a chance this is Peter’s house he had healed Peter’s mother-in-law and others and taught in back in Mark 1.
Jesus knows the answer but asked the disciples what they were arguing about on the way there.
Shame kept them from asking about Jesus telling of His death and Resurrection
if I assume the worst, they heard and got Jesus was going to die and they switched back to earthly thoughts and wondered who was going to take over this organization
assuming better they knew Jesus was going to reign over the new kingdom and were arguing over who would be 2nd and 3rd in charge
later in Mark 10 and the parallel in Matt 20 it's probably the latter, here the bible doesn’t give us context
either way they are ashamed and Jesus sits down in the traditional Jewish rabbinic posture to officially teach and calls all of them around to explain some things
Mark 9:35 “35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.”
If you want to lead, you have to put everyone ahead of you in the line.
To lead you must serve not just those with money, power or prestige. You have to serve even the least important. Jesus picks up and uses a child in the house (maybe Peter’s?) to illustrate (trigger warning) In the creation order, Children are similar to slaves in hierarchy.
Galatians 4:1–2 “1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; 2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.”
שָׁלִיחַ שֶׁל אָדָם כְּמוֹתוֹ
“shaliach shel adam k’moto” “a person’s agent is like the person himself” - serving the least is the same as serving Jesus and the Father
John 13:20 “20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.”
This idea of everybody in front of us is completely counter to the culture today in both service and taking responsibility
Warnings About Discipleship
Warnings About Discipleship
38 And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us. 39 But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. 40 For he that is not against us is on our part. 41 For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.
hubris: exaggerated pride or self-confidence
John shows a huge amount of hubris when he says “casting out devils in thy name, but not following US!
I got chastised early in my walk with this and go back to it continually
Jesus gets on him saying “don’t you worry about him over there. If he’s doing it in my name, that’s between he and I”
couldn’t do it in his name without Jesus being the one doing it
Mark 3:23–27 “23 And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26 And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end. 27 No man can enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.”
Mark 9:41 “41 For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.”
begins to introduce the true price to be a true disciple of Jesus
42 And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea. 43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: 48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
Not just kids, (Little believing ones), those new in the faith, weaker and less biblically sound Christians
better to die than mislead
better to take the drastic steps required to run away from sin than to mislead
49 For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. 50 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.
2 sayings here using salt and fire
Mark 9:49 “49 For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.”
As drastic as the steps to avoid misleading new disciples is the importance of discipleship to Christians in total
1 Peter 4:12–13 “12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”
Mark 9:50 “50 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.”
Dead Sea salt and gypsum
Conclusion
Conclusion
If you walk with Jesus completely, you will suffer
Matthew 5:10 “10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
John 15:18 “18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.”
But this refines us
Proverbs 17:3 “3 The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.”
Makes us more like Jesus
James 1:3–4 “3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”
We have hope
1 Peter 1:6–7 “6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”