REFLECTING ON JESUS

THEME: WHO IS JESUS?

Topic: Reports about JESUS

Text: Mark 6:1-16

Introduction

In 2017: When I went to Bible School

I went to Bible School for two basic reasons which where in fact contradictory

I went to know more about God because

I could tell that God was calling me into the Ministry

But I was skeptical about religion in general and Christianity in Particular.

Of course I was saved, but had some doubts because being a Christian does not mean you we do not struggle with fear and doubt.

In spite of my skepticism about religion, I did not want Christianity to be wrong

During my theological training, I noticed how seriously intelligent people researched of Jesus.

They talked about Jesus in a way that I admired

So I began the Journey of studying this character we believe in as our Lord

Fast forward, my pursuit of Jesus became to intellectual that my heart was cold

Suddenly, my prayer life died a natural death because I became to rational in my pursuit of Jesus

After two years of struggling, the Lord restored me back to the heart of worship

Based on our experiences, we can seek Jesus with our minds without a heart and vice-vesa… but the scripture teaches us to seek God with our whole being

Observing the Text

Mark 6:1–16 (ESV)

He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief.

And he went about among the villages teaching.

And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.

King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” But others said, “He is Elijah.” And others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.”

Praying before going deeper!

Context

Mark 1:1 (ESV)

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Verse 9 - Jesus overcomes the devil in the wilderness

Verse 12 - Jesus is Baptized and Verse 14 - His ministry begins

Verse 16 - He calls the first Disciples

Chapter 2 - Jesus being confronted by religious leaders

Chapter 3

1. Jesus is said to be possessed by the prince of demons and

2. His own family thinks He is out of his mind

Mark 3:22 (ESV)

And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.”

Mark 3:20–21 (ESV)

Then he went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat. And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.”

Again His family Came to him peacefully this time Mark 3:31-34

Mark 3:31–34 (ESV)

And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.” And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers!

Chapter 4 Jesus Gives the parable of the Sower and tells the Disciples that if they could not understand this parable, then they could not understand any parable.

Chapter 5: Jesus continues teaching, Healing, and His fame grows to the level where the Herod hears about it as we see in chapter 6 where we are now.

In Summary in the previous chapters Mark is recording that

1. While Jesus is the Son of God

2. He was generally not liked by the religious leaders

3. His own family thought he was out of Hes mind And

4. Jesus has two families: His spiritual family and his biological family

5. Jesus spends more time with his spiritual family and his biological family thinks he is out of his mind

6. In our text, Jesus is rejected by his own town And

Yet Jesus is fame is growing

Verse 14

Mark 6:14 (ESV)

King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.”

Mark 6:14–16 (ESV)

King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” But others said, “He is Elijah.” And others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.”

Matthew 14:1–2 (ESV)

At that time Herod the tetrarch heard about the fame of Jesus, and he said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.”

Luke 9:7 (ESV)

Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead,

Why is Jesus’ fame growing?

Our text tells us

Mark 6:7–13 (ESV)

And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.

1. People are offended with who Jesus is and what he is doing

2. But Jesus does not stop in fact he multiplies himself through his disciples

3. Mark 6:6

Mark 6:6 (ESV)

And he marveled because of their unbelief.

And he went about among the villages teaching.

The Reports

1. Jesus is John the Baptist - Vs 14

2. Jesus is Elijah - Vs 15

3. Jesus is like prophets of old - Vs 15

Which Report did Herod believe and why?

1. He believed in a report that made sense in light of his personal experience. (Verse 17-29)

2. He was guilty of killing an innocent man who he knew was God’s servant.

May be he should have taken a step further making sure he knew Jesus accurately.

1. But Herod did not take a step to know Jesus personally

2. His definition Christ was based on the opinion of others who suspected Jesus to be John the Baptist.

Enough of Herod but how many of us remember a time we made a conscious decision to study more about Jesus:

Asking the tough questions that you are scared to voice out (especially in the presence of religious men or women who hate hard questions).

Parents, do we let our children ask the tough questions about Jesus freely, or we run away with, “Just believe” - “We do not know, therefore let’s believe”

There are a lot of things we do not know, but they all have an explanation whether that explanation satisfies us or not

Do you Confront your own fears and doubts on your knees crying to Jesus?

Do you intentionally meditate on the reality of the nature of Jesus.

How many of us have even considered why some people have unbiblical conclusions about Jesus?

Further how many of us have made a step to help doubters know Jesus better

How can we help others have an accurate understanding of Jesus if we ignore our own fears and doubts?

Back to the Content of Mark

1. Religious leaders said: He (Jesus) is possessed by the prince of Demons

2. His own family: He (Jesus) is out of his mind (Mad)

3. In our text today people are saying Jesus is:

a. John the Baptist raised from the dead

b. He is the prophet Elijah - Jews were expecting Elijah to come.

c. He is like those ancient prophets - the Jews were longing for a messenger like that of the OT prophets

In other words, Jesus you only remind us of dead people

How about today, who is Jesus?

1. Jews: there is no official view per say

But the Jews who are not Christians Reject the tremendous claim that Jesus is God.

2. Muslims: they believe that Jesus was a prophet

But they also reject his divine nature

3. Buddhists: Minor intersection with Christianity

They do not have a specific view but some of them admire the life of Jesus. (He was a good moral teacher)

4. Atheists: They do not believe in gods but many appreciate the teachings that do not offend them.

5. The African worldview

a. Is Jesus a myth that was brought into our continent through a white man’s religious gimmicks?

Application

1. We need the Grace of Christ to help us: therefore, we must cry before him

2. We must not depend on our abilities: And we must be careful with our own blind-spots.

3. Be careful also with the tendency to take Jesus Christ casually

4. How can we inflame our Hearts in Knowing Jesus, begin from where you are by recognizing that you need Christ all the way

5. Jesus is Prophet, Priest, and King: Which means He speaks for us, He stands on our behalf, and He leads us in paths of righteousness for his name sake. And though we walk through the valley of shadows and death, He says he will be with us to the end of the age