Servant: Matthew and Mark

Intro

Illust: Reading different letters addressing different cultures.

British Letter

Dear Sophie,

I know we’re supposed to be revising for our GCSEs, but I can’t focus in maths because you keep twirling your pen and it’s terribly distracting (in a good way).

If you say yes, maybe we could walk into town on Saturday, grab chips (the proper kind), and sit by the high street pretending we don’t care what anyone thinks. If it rains — which it obviously will — we can duck into that little café near the roundabout and share a cuppa.

Anyway. I shan’t ramble on. Just tick one:

☐ Yes, I rather fancy you too. ☐ No, let’s just pretend this never happened and blame it on the Year 10s.

Cheers, Oliver

Canadian Letter

Hey Emma,

I was going to wait until after hockey practice to say this, but I figured I’d just write it before I chicken out.

Maybe this Friday we could grab some poutine after school and walk by the rink before it freezes over again. If it snows (which, let’s be honest, it probably will), I’ll bring an extra pair of mitts.

Anyway — I don’t want to make this awkward, eh?

☐ Yeah, let’s give it a shot. ☐ Sorry, bud.

— Liam

The way things are communicated looks differently based on the culture they are present in and what.

What was the point of this letter?

What if you misunderstood the intent behind this and just laughed it off at the person?

What if you never checked the box?

What if you sat in class next to them and ignored the affections you could receive?

What if God has written you a letter of his affection?

What if you have sat in church for countless years? What if the whole time you had heard from that letter over and over again but you just didn’t care because you thought it had nothing to do with you and what if this whole time you had never checked the box?

What if you have never bothered with the question: am I going to heaven? Every Christian should be able to answer that.

What is dangerous about misunderstanding a letter?

Illust: last night I was supposed to make Gyoza’s and I accidently made them stick to the pan because I followed the instructions wrongly.

I have had something heavy on my heart lately. I think a lot of our students have missed the main thing.

The whole Bible has been building to this moment of the arrival of Christ. Imagine the Old Testament as a series of letters building up to this final one where the choice is laid on your lap. The cross-connections on your Bible Box cards have showed you how these all connected to Christ.

Context of the Gospels.

Matthew - Jews, Focuses on Jesus as the Davidic King that fulfilled the Old Testament

Mark - Romans, Focuses on Jesus as the Powerful God yet Humble Servant

Luke - Greeks, Focuses on Jesus as the Perfect Wise Man and the Better Adam

John - World, Focuses on Jesus as God incarnate and shepherd of his people

Tonight we are focusing on two of these: Matthew and Mark

The common theme behind them is this: the kingdom.

Based on your background, you are one of two types of kids:

Churched - British

Unchurched - Canadian

I was a churched kid, and I remember reading through Matthew slowly as an 18 year old and being broken down by it.

For some of you in this room, you have that absolute confidence. You know what would happen to you if you were to die tonight.

For others, you haven’t bothered to think about issue.

Both of these have a main mission: The Kingdom of Heaven

Matthew 4:17 ESV

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Mark 1:15 ESV

and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

Lies that will keep you from knowing whether you are going to heaven:

Matthew: For the churched (Jews)

Matthew Context: written to people who had grown up around Scripture and thought this was it.

“God just wants me to do my best.” (Matthew 5:43-48)

God won’t forgive you if you try your best he will only forgive you if you admit you’re the worst.

As long as you try your best you will be thinking that there is some part of you that is good that God will save you for when all’s he sees is wickedness.

Solution: Jesus’ life (Matthew 5:17-20)

Jesus’s came as your representative to live a perfect life. To know you are going to the kingdom of heaven, repent of your own unrighteousness and start trusting his righteousness.

“I can make my life go the way I want and still have God.” (Matthew 10:34-39)

Let me get the life I want, and then fit God into that plan.

The issue is that you have missed the point of life. It’s not about fitting God into what you want it’s about dying to it all.

Solution: Jesus’ Death (Matthew 16:24-28)

God had to pour his wrath on you and he poured it on Jesus. The only way to receive it is to die.

“God doesn’t care about my thoughts and heart.” (Matthew 10:16-20)

As long as I check my boxes and am squeaky clean on the outside, I am good.

Jesus calls this behavior being a white washed tomb (Matt 23:27),

Solution: Jesus’ resurrection. (Matthew 28:18-20)

Summary: You need to realize Christ is LORD and KING. He is the boss of your life. He is the main character, not you.

Proximity to Jesus, either in a family or as a disciple, does not guarantee faith.

Edwin Blum

Mark: For the unchurched (Romans)

Mark context: very little of the material is unique, but what is unique is the way he arranges and tells the story.

“God is too busy to notice me.” (Mark 2:1-5

Mark 1:16–20 ESV

Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.

Solution: Jesus’ life (Mark 10:42-45)

“I’ve made too many mistakes” (Mark 2:6-10)

Mark 15:39 ESV

And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

Solution: Jesus’ death (Mark 2:5-10)

“I need to get my life together before coming to God.” (Mark 2:11-12)

Mark 2:15–17 ESV

And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Illust: Xander waiting for something

Solution: Jesus resurrection

Summary: You need to realize that Jesus is powerful enough and cares about you even in spite of your unworthiness.

Conclusion

Conclusion: You can be confident in your future if you get your eyes and hands off your own life and put them on Jesus.

How often do you think of the kingdom of heaven?

If not, do you have too small a view of God or too distant a view of God?

Are you flippant or afraid?

Jesus’s kingship reminds you he is in control. Jesus’ service reminds you he’s close by and he cares.