The Gospel of Mark part 10

True Greatness

The Gospel of Mark part 10

Today we are continuing with our series on the Gospel of Mark ,

We are then taking a break until we get through Advent and the new year and we will finish the series.

Our prayer is for a greater revelation and deeper understanding as we walk together through the Gospel of Mark.

We are on chapter 9:30 -50

True Greatness

1 Comes from a Revelation from God

Mar 9:30 They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know,

Mar 9:31 for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.”

Mar 9:32 But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.

Jesus came to be betrayed, to suffer and die for our sins, it was necessary for him to die for us,

Heb 9:22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

This was so contrary to the disciples beliefs that they couldn’t hear, what he was saying, they were afraid to ask because it might included them.

John Piper wrote a book on 10 reasons Jesus came to die

1. To destroy hostility between races.

(Ephesians 2:14–16). God sent his Son into the world as the only means of saving sinners and reconciling races.

2. To give marriage its deepest meaning.

“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25).

3. To absorb the wrath of God.

4. So that we would escape the curse of the law.

5. To reconcile us to God.

6. To show God’s love for sinners.

(John 3:16). (Romans 5:8). Our debt is so great, only a divine sacrifice could pay it.

7. To show Jesus’s own love for us.

8. To take away our condemnation.

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

9. To bring us to God.

10. To give eternal life to all who believe on him.

Here is the proof they didn’t understand what he was saying

2 Understand what greatness is

Mar 9:33 And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?”

It could be Peter’s house

Mar 9:34 But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest.

Mar 9:35 And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”

This was a major paradigm shift for back then, and even greater to us now, what do you mean Jesus?

To be great in life, consider the following steps:

1. Identify your passions, interests, and values.

2. Establish your priorities.

3. Work on perfecting small things.

4. Cut down distractions.

5. Let determination drive you.

Focus on yourself and put yourself first

to be great do I need to prefer people more than myself?

give my place in line for them and then help them to load their groceries in their car, do I need to help others at the church? don’t people get pay to do that? And who is noticing me anyway ? No one will even thank me.

I’m talking about the other churches, here at Mokuaikaua we don’t have any of these problems.

Mar 9:36 And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them,

The word for child here was for a young child a toddler,

They are innocent, pure, trusting, loving

It was probably one of Peter’s children

Mar 9:37 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”

If you are a parent you love those who shows love and respect to your child

Thank you to all of you who love and see the value in children ministry, thanks for the foster parents and those who have adopted one or more children into your family, Our Heavenly feels welcomed by you.!

Anyone Not Against Us Is for Us

Mar 9:38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.”

Just because they don’t belong to your group don’t envy them or try to sop them

Mar 9:39 But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me.

Mar 9:40 For the one who is not against us is for us.

Mar 9:41 For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.

God is watching and He will reward you

3 Be careful how you treat the faith of younger believer

Mar 9:42 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.

I have heard sermons on this passage, about Jesus speaking this to pedophiles and child predators, we have about 500 thousand register sex offenders in the US our population is about 346 million + illegal immigrants

0.14 of the population

I don’t think Jesus is talking only to them, is to whoever is causing one of these little ones to sin, abuse, injustice, neglect, wrong teachings that move they away from God, this is for all of us.

Mar 9:43 And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.

Mar 9:45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell.

Mar 9:47 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell,

Mar 9:48 ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’

Just like these gross you out, sin thus the same for God

You can cut a hand and a foot or gauge an eye and neuter your self and still be the most selfish, lustful, immoral person in the world.

The eye represents what you see, the hand what you do, and the feet where you go.

We can not be free from sin by dealing with your flesh only, you need the Holy Spirit.

Rom 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Mar 9:49 For everyone will be salted with fire.

Mar 9:50 Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

In the Jewish mind salt was good for 2 things Salt was used as a preservative, before refrigeration that was how they preserved meat

And it was used for a sacrifices.

Be separate from the world but be in peace with one another, Speak out when something is not right but be tender and kind.

For many years I played volley ball with a group of non Christians some came to Jesus others not but just because of my presence among them they didn’t cuss, and apologize when they did, just out of respect.

True greatness

1 Comes from a Revelation from God

Jesus came to die for you and me

2 We need to Understand what greatness is

3 Be careful how you treat the faith of younger believer

Have you made Jesus the Lord of our life?

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Joh 3:16 To receive Jesus we need to accept Him as God’s son,

we need to repent from our sins and a life of selfishness,

ask Him to be your Lord and savior, not that we deserve it, but is a gift from God.

If this is your desire today, please repeat this prayer after me? Heavenly Father I’m sinner, I’m sorry for my sins, I’m willing to turn away from my sins. I receive Christ as my savior, I confess Him as Lord And from this moment on, I want to follow and serve Him, in the fellowship of His church, In Jesus name, Amen!

1Co 11:23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread;

1Co 11:24 and when He had given thanks, He broke itand said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me."

1Co 11:25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."

1Co 11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.

1Co 11:27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks thiscup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

Heb 9:14 dead works, acts, sins

E mau aku ka loko maika’i o ka Haku, Iesu Kristo; me ke aloha a ke Akua, a me ka launa pu ‘ana mai o ka Uhane Hemolele ia ‘olua, a me makou apau. Amene.