Challenges of Knowing Jesus

Mark 6,7

CHALLENGES OF KNOWING JESUS

Mark6& 7

Obstacle course

Obstacles in life

Rejection

Dating - fear of rejection

Two personality types - Introvert, Extrovert

Both react to rejection different ways

But where is rejection the most difficult to deal with?

In your home town!

The biggest challenge is to Face Rejection Mark 6:1-6

The old saying ‘’you can never go home again” is so true.

No matter how much you have changed, people always remember how

things were.

Same with Jesus. Even though he taught in the synagogue in Capernaum and

Cast out evil spirits there, he had healed many at Peter’s house, healed

leprosy and the paralytic, healed the demon possessed and raised a dead girl,

when he comes home, the people were amazed!

But at what?

They thought he lacked the credentials.

How do non-believers check your credentials?

They remember who he was and did not recognize who he is!

They remember his trade, a carpenter, and his family.

He isn’t any better than us because he is one of us!

Just who does he think he is?

Is it easy to talk to your family about Jesus?

Is it easy to talk to your friends about Jesus?

Is it easy to talk to your co-workers about Jesus?

Is it easy to talk to total strangers about Jesus?

Why?

No preconceived notions. No offense.

He offended them.

To many today the gospel of Jesus Christ is offensive.

Jesus tells us that it will be hard to defend the faith at home

Mark 6:4 “only in his hometown, among his relatives and to his own house is a

prophet without honor.”

If it wasn’t easy for Jesus, can we expect anything different?

So why didn’t he do spectacular miracles to win them over to his side?

Their unbelief.

Does this segment of Jesus’ life excuse us from trying to reach our friends

and family?

We do not know the impact that our words may have. We do not know the

moving of the Holy Spirit. What may start out as blatant rejection may result

in a total commitment. We do not know the effect.

Rejection and acceptance must both be put in perspective. We should not

take it personally. They are not rejecting the messenger but the message.

Yes it saddens our hearts but it should not weaken our resolve.

Another obstacle that Jesus’ disciples faced was FEAR. Mark 6:45-52

Jesus just finished feeding the 5,000 and sends the disciples on ahead across

the Sea of Galilee to Bethsaida.

WHY?

John 6:14-15

Any other possible reason?

To test their belief? Give them a chance to compare notes? Sometimes we

refer back to our comfort zone to reflect! How many times after a great

victory do we go back to our comfort zone and think that we are OK?

When we do that remember Mark 6:46

What do you think Jesus was praying about? Or who he was praying for?

What news did Jesus receive before he fed the 5,000? John the Baptist killed

This all relates if we examine it closely.

Imagine the disciples on the boat. What were they saying?

Herod beheaded John the Baptist! And Jesus didn’t stop him! Where is this

heading? I don’t know but did you see the faces on the people when he fed

them! How did he do it? No wonder they want to make him King! So why

doesn’t he do it? He has the backing of the people! Where do you think

Jesus went? I don’t know but these winds are picking us and the seas are

getting rough! I cannot figure this guy out. Don’t you think he would want to

be with us? We are his friends. Doesn’t he realize that?

So Jesus was on the mountain praying and he looks out and can see the boat

and the difficult time they were having, but he waits until the fourth watch

before doing anything. He watches them for 6 hours!

Why?

He noticed their struggles. He saw them try to do things themselves. They

were probably thinking, we are fishermen. We sail boats all the time. We

can do this. Do we not do the same? I know my job. It’s my trade. I don’t

need to ask Jesus for help!

Notice Mark 6:48 “he went out to them, walking on the lake.”

But did they say anything yet? NO!

Not until “He was about to pass by them” did they cry out to him.

Why were they terrified?

Immediately he spoke, “Take Courage! It is I! Don’t be afraid”

“I AM’’ is here!

What happened when he stepped into the boat?

The wind died down. More importantly, they were amazed. Earlier the man

full of faith was amazed at those lacking in faith and now the lacking in faith

were amazed at him full of faith!

Mark 6:52 “They had not understood about the loaves”

Do you understand about the loaves?

Let’s look at it again.

Mark 6:32-43