Jesus Knew His Mission
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Prayer
I wanted to answer a question asked last week. Why did God change some of His angels to devils?
God actually didn’t change them, the angels chose themselves to rebel against God and fall away.
Like the fallen angels we too have rebelled against God.
Tonight is going to look different than the past few weeks. After we read and discuss this passage in Mark, I need to tell you something. That’s been on my mind, something I’ve been convicted about.
And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him searched for him,
I. Jesus rises early and prays in a desolate place. The disciples search for Him (1:35-36)
Last week, we read a little bit before this that Jesus was at the house of Simon and Andrew. He had healed Simon’s mother-in-law and began healing people in the town, and casting out demons.
The next morning, we pick up here. Jesus wakes up early and goes to a place to pray.
What is prayer?
Talking to God. Why would Jesus need to pray if He is God?
Jesus is also truly man. Truly God and truly man. Jesus, God the Son, has a relationship with God the Father.
For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.
“I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.
Jesus came to do the will of the Father.
Who’s plan is Jesus following?
The Father. So He spends time talking to His father. For those of us who know God, how much more should we talk to God?
The disciples are looking for Jesus.
and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.”
You might remember the whole town was on the footstep of Simon’s house. People wanted to know where He went.
And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.
Jesus knew the Father’s plan. It was time for Him to go to the next towns, to preach and share the good news there. So that is what they do, He leaves and shares the good news.
Jesus casts out demons. Does anyone remember the crowds reaction last week to seeing Jesus casting out demons. They acknowledge the authority in His teaching.
So He is preaching, and validating the preaching through the work of casting out demons.
The King is declaring His message and proving He is who He says He is.
The people in the town He left heard the good news, He knew others needed to hear it too.
There was probably people He didn’t heal, I asked this last week, I’ll ask it again, why didn’t Jesus heal everyone?
He came primarily to save us from the punishment we deserve.
Share news story about car crash in Belgrade. Please pray for this family.
Life is so fragile. We are not promised tomorrow.
Now, everything I am about to share with you has authority in God’s word. This is God’s authority.
You probably will not like what will be said, but know this is what God says.
We are not promised tomorrow.
yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.
We don’t know when we are going to die.
I want to share with you how I’ve been convicted.
Let’s say someone comes up to you and says, “I’ve got good news for you, someone paid off the
$25,000 trespassing fine that you owed.”
You would probably be confused and ask yourself, “when did I ever trespass on someone’s property?” You might even find the good news foolish.
Now what if you were told that, “You were caught climbing over a fence onto military and U.S. army property and you now have a $25,000 trespassing fine.” When you are told that someone paid that fine off for you, it would make sense and you probably would be relieved.
The same is true with the good news.
In the Old Testament we learn that God is Holy , set apart and completely perfect and clean. Completely right and just.
God gave us the Law, who here has ever heard of the 10 commandments.
1. Worship only God: “You shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3)
2. No idols: “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.” (Exodus 20:4)
3. No taking God’s name in vain: “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.” (Exodus 20:7)
4. Remember the Sabbath: “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” (Exodus 20:8)
5. Honor your parents: “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” (Exodus 20:12)
6. Do not murder: “You shall not murder.” (Exodus 20:13)
7. Do not commit adultery: “You shall not commit adultery.” (Exodus 20:17)
8. Do not steal: “You shall not steal.” (Exodus 20:15)
9. Do not give false testimony: “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:16)
10. Do not covet: You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:17)
The law was given to show us our brokenness and sin.
Who here has lied before?
Just raise your hand
What do you call someone who lies?
A liar
Who here has stolen something before, even if it’s just as small as a piece of candy, or a toy or something even bigger?
What do you call someone who steals?
A thief
Guess what, if you’ve broken just one of the commandments, you’ve broken them all.
For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.
And we’ve done more then just lie or steal, if you have ever hated someone, Jesus says that is the same as murder
But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.
This is why I’m convicted.
Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
If we are standing in a court of the Law before God, with our sins before Him, and we are judged by the 10 commandments, are we innocent or guilty?
We are guilty before God, the punishment for breaking the law is death, and where do people who are guilty go after they die, heaven or hell?
They go to hell.
Some might say, God is good so he will look over my sin, because I’ve done good things.
Imagine someone who is on trial for murder and they are before the judge and say, “Judge, you are a good judge, I’ve done good things tho, I’m really sorry, I’m better I promise!”
The judge will look at him and say I am a good judge and because I am good evil will be punished.
Because God is good, He hates evil, evil is to be punished.
So this is really bad news.
But, God in His love provided a way out.
Imagine the judge coming down from where he is sitting and takes the place of the convict, the judge says, “I will take your place and pay the fine.”
God sends Jesus, the perfect and spotless lamb. Who lived a perfect life, He did everything right, to die in your place on the cross, being buried, and rose again.
Whereas we were guilty of our sin Jesus takes that away by taking our sin and guilt away.
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
He took on our sins and brokenness and died in our place, so we could stand rightly before God.
So Jesus takes our place, He gives us the gift us salvation with his grace so we can live forever in heaven with God.
How can we receive this gift? He asks us to repent and believe.
Repentance is to turn away from sin, turning to God, to hate what God hates and love what God loves. Seeking forgiveness, seeks to live in obedience, seeks lasting change. Do you hate what God hates, and love what God loves?
And belief, faith in Jesus christ as our only way of salvation, that He alone has paid the price for all of us so we can be forgiven.
He promises to give us the holy spirit so we can live life in Holiness.
I want to share a passage with you, that is possibly the most concerning in the whole Bible
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
People who have been saved bear fruit and show it in practicing righteousness.
Where are you going?
Praying a prayer when you are younger or making a decision for Jesus doesn’t save you, repentance and belief in Jesus saves you. Do you believe? Have you turned away from your sin? Do you want forgiveness for wronging God? We continue to walk in repentance, we continue in faith in God, every single day! Not just one prayer at one point in our lives, but a continual life style.
If you are here right now, you are concerned about your salvation, please, do not wait to ask about it, do not wait to ask questions. After the Anchor is over tonight you can ask me or any of the other leaders questions, at anytime during this week you can reach out, we would be happy to chat. But know that God desires no one to perish, but for all to
2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”
He doesnt want anyone to go to hell, but that we should all repent and turn to him. Let’s close in prayer.
