Mark 3:7-12

Introduction

Open your Bibles.

In many ways this mornings passage is a summary of Marks Gospel so far.

It reads like the opening of a new act.

Recap:

Jesus is the son of God

We pursue Jesus for worship

He has been welcoming the outcast

He has been challenging the traditional understanding of the purpose of the OT Law

Today:

Heres our goal for this morning…we are reminded that Jesus is the center of it all.

Last week the Lord worked through our hearts being challenged directly… my prayer for this week is that Jesus works as we get our eyes off of ourselves and back on him.

Transition: Stand and Read the word

Read/Pray

Mark 3:7–12 ESV

Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea, and a great crowd followed, from Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem and Idumea and from beyond the Jordan and from around Tyre and Sidon. When the great crowd heard all that he was doing, they came to him. And he told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, lest they crush him, for he had healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed around him to touch him. And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” And he strictly ordered them not to make him known.

Jesus Extends an Invitation to All

Mark 3:7–8 ESV

Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea, and a great crowd followed, from Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem and Idumea and from beyond the Jordan and from around Tyre and Sidon. When the great crowd heard all that he was doing, they came to him.

So far we have seen Jesus welcome the Outcast

The people on the fringes.

but most of these people have been a part of the Jewish faith.

Note the diversity:

Galilee: Predominantly Jewish

Judea: Predominately Jewish

Jerusalem: Predominantly Jewish

Idumea: southeast of Judea, would have been a mix of Jews and Gentiles.

Beyond the Jordan: from the area of the 10 predominantly Gentile cities known as the Decapolis. Finally, some people came from Tyre and Sidon, northwest of Galilee. These too would have been mostly Gentiles.

Take always:

The Gospel is expanding in real time.

Remember there is no printing press… This is in a world where news travels primarily by word of mouth.

Yet the Gospel is so contagious.

Transition:

This has been Gods plan since the beginning.

We are seeing it unfold right here in this text.

Are you familiar with the term covenant theology?

Covenant Theology:

Theology is simply: Talk about God

A covenant in the Bible is a divine agreement between God and His people, where He establishes promises and expectations.

It is a binding relationship, often sealed with a sign, sacrifice, or oath.

Biblical covenants can be conditional(requiring human obedience) or unconditional (fulfilled solely by God’s faithfulness).

Throughout Scripture, covenants reveal God’s unfolding plan of redemption, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

God has always been up to redeeming his relationship with mankind.

He ultimately does it through Jesus

How does Jesus fulfill the Covenant Promise?

Redemption (Adamic) → Jesus crushes sin and Satan. (Genesis 3)

Preservation (Noahic) → Jesus provides eternal salvation. (Gen 8)

Blessing (Abrahamic) → Jesus brings salvation to all nations. Gen 12, 15, 17)

Obedience (Mosaic) → Jesus fulfills the Law and brings grace. (Exodus 19-24)

Kingship (Davidic) → Jesus reigns as the eternal King. (2 Samual 7)

Summary:

The people of Israel they understood this covenant to be exclusively for them, and how God was going to restore them into a great nation

but rather now that Jesus has opened our eyes.

We see how much greater this work that God was doing really is!

The Light of the World is here.

The Gospel is beginning to spread to all people

2. This points us to a later passage that should encourage us to carry the Gospel to all people.

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Jesus Exercises Power

Mark 3:9–10 ESV

And he told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, lest they crush him, for he had healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed around him to touch him.

Repaint the scene

Our last story ends with the pharisees plotting to charge Jesus.

In this story we see that the Crowds are growing even larger.

The garage band is no longer playing living room sessions, or Pubs, or small venues, Jesus cannot go out without concern for being crushed by the crowds.

Here is the sad part:

Jesus power to heal is what they desire… there really is no sign yet that they even understand Who he is.

Jesus is displaying his power to confirm that he is the son of God

but yet his desire to heal isn’t transactional.

He is healing out of love and compassion.

He is not trying to buy their vote.

Yet he is all powerful.

So much so that he ask for a boat incase they crush him.

Have you ever been so mesmerized with something that you miss everything else going around.

I think wives call this selective hearing to their husbands.

Jesus is so powerful they are mesmerized.

Their Eyes are not open to who he is yet they are chasing him.

I dont want us to look at them with Judgement rather I want it to challenge ourselves?

We know who Jesus is…

how much greater should our pursuit of him be.

Has Jesus became something that we pursue with this same fervency… or with time have you lost excitement for your relationship with Jesus.

Jesus Exists as the Focus of Worship

Mark 3:11–12 ESV

And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” And he strictly ordered them not to make him known.

We see that Jesus once again has displayed his power over all things: the physical realm and the spiritual realm.

The demons declare.

Yet he keeps them silent

Why?:

First it is once again revealed who he is.

His mission is not complete.

Jesus is not here simply to make a proclamation…

he is heading towards taking care of death once and for all

Jesus mission is not simply a proclamation, or a healing service, it is to restore the covanent made between God and man.

Praise Jesus!

All eyes should be on him, not simply for what he is doing but rather who he is.

Jesus is the son of God.

We pursue him for him.

If you came here today wanting something of Jesus… I want to encourage you to simply worship him. regardless of you get what you think you need, your heart will be aligned with his.

Prayer Prompt:

Get our eyes on Jesus.

Jesus is Worthy

The Worship team is going to come up.

Self guided communion

extended Worship.