Jesus: The Lord who counts the cost

Jesus: The Lord Who Counts the Cost

We've all had those moment haven’t we when eve said “ i didn’t sign up for this” or we've made the classic joke at work “I don’t remember this in the Job description” and we say it usually when we say something we dont really want to do or when the Job has got grim. I remember saying after spending 3 hours straight stood at the front gate, stopping some unwanted travellers moving on to our works car park. And i said that hilarious joke.. “don’t remember this being part of my job description”..

Well, what this passage shows us… is that Jesus has been clear right from the start what following Jesus will look like.. here is what to expect in the passage…. Expect it to be the best life… but also expect it to be a hard life…

Expect it on the one hand to be the biggest blessing that you couldn’t live without as you see people find for themselves the amazing grace of God… but also expect it to be the hardest part of your life as you will be rejected by the world and you will have to persevere if you want to live a faithful in Christ.

So thats what we are going to see so let me ask you then? What do you expect from Jesus? What are you expecting from him? You hear so often this nonsense idea that if you give your life to Jesus and if you give money to the church… You then will become healthy and wealthy and everything will go your way! And if anyone tells you that you can give them a mental drop kick to the chin and say to them that is wrong! That is false! and you can point them to our passage here today.

If you want to live with a life for Jesus with integrity for him… expect hardship!

See There are no small print details with Jesus he doesn’t hide the stuff we don't want to hear no he’s up front and honest.. no he just lays it all out and makes it as crystal clear.

So lets have a look we are going to see three things… Shocking unbelief-they will be offended. Sent to save- you will be rejected. and then a sad and glorious sentence-you will be cancelled. (So welcome to Beacon Church, And as you can tell we at not part of the seeker sensitive movement we would rather be honest. (Haha))ITS NOT ALL DOOM AND GLOOM.

1. Shocking Unbelief (they will be offended)

Jesus and the disciples return to his hometown v1, presumably Nazereth, and he started teaching in the synagogue and the response is not good. no joy, no repentance, no fearful faith, no wonder in worship— no they are in astonishment by his teaching in v2- and offensended at the end of verse 3.

Verse 2…

English Standard Version Chapter 6

he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were

All good questions… How can he do what he does? How does he preach the way he does.… right questions, wrong heart… look at verse 3 ...

English Standard Version Chapter 6

3 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.

right questions, wrong heart… they still remaind the “hard ground” still doubting the obvious still doubt his legitimacy as the God man Christ.

This is likely someone they know who Jesus is….They are like… “This is just Mary’s lad isn’t it? We know his little brothers and sisters, a carpenters family” who does he think he is claiming all sorts!!! … they think that Jesus needs to wind his neck back in! They couldn’t see what the disciples saw last week.. they could only see that this is 100% Man and they could not see that Jesus is 100% God…

This is old Israel—people steeped in Scripture, familiar with God’s promises. And yet, when God stands in front of them in flesh and blood, teaching with authority and clarity… they cannot see Him.. John would say “ he came to his own but his own knew him Not”

Their problem is not lack of evidence. They’ve heard His wisdom. They cannot deny His works but they do. The problem isn’t Jesus the problem i s their sinful, hard and faithless heart. so they belittle him… they just want the teeny weeny Jesus that’s no threat and does not intrude or challenge them and so they take offence at Him! Jesus is teaching his own people and God’s so called people and he is rejected HIm! V4

4 And SO Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.”

In other words Jesus is here like the prophets of old preaching to Gods people… and they do not want to hear or listen the voice of the Lord Jesus. 5.

5 And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And he marveled because of their unbelief.

Notice what’s happened…We’ve gone from people being amazed, stunned and shocked at the power of Jesus last week back in verse 42 of chapter 5… to Jesus being amazed, stunned and shocked at the unbelief of the people of Nazereth. He Marvels because of their unbelief. v6 after all he’s done! They know him and yet they reject him.

Now can i dare to ask, does he say that of you? does Jesus say that of you? You seen Jesus as it were, you know the difference Jesus makes you sense Gods speaking to you drawing you in, you’ve heard his call….? Let it not be said that Jesus would look at you and marvel at your unbelief because thats not going to end well

So Jesus himself.. the main man… the one who we saw has sovereign power to calm the creation, cast’s out demons, heal the sick and raise the dead! This Jesus who is bringing the kindgom, this Jesus who the whole Old Testament waiting for this is the messiah…The kind and pity filled Christ who wants to release the captives, save the broken……. This Jesus, is rejected because they are offended.

Now if people people take offence at Jesus…. Who you else do you think they will take office at? US!

Shocking unbelief- (they will be offended)

2. Sent to Save (you will be rejected) 7-12

Now for a second think back those who can, we’ve seen this pattern before hammer we in the book of mark haven’t we? Where the old Israel are being displaced by the new Israel and we see it again here we see He sends the Twelve.

He’s Rejected by the old Israel, He forms and sends the new one. the 12 apostles, who will go into the world and carry out the kingdom work of the Lord.

This is the opposite…they are willing to Live by faith...even though they are still gaining their understanding of who Jesus is and what this kingdom will look like they still step out in faith to take the message forward.

Jesus send them out two by two v7, with hardly any resources… only a staff, belt, sandles and one tunic, which was the same call for the Israelites in Exodus 12:11. When they were leaving Egypt. and they are to travel light and a trust the Lord would provide.

but here, Jesus speak more of what to do when rejected than when respected… v10

10 And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. 11 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.” (Mark 6:10–11, ESV)

Jesus says expect that there will be people that reject.

There is a role reversal here…. It was a custom that Jews would wipe their feet or dust off their feet before returning back into Isreal from gentile lands. Now here the tables are turned. So that where there is no repentance towards the gospel. There is no favour from God, the people of Isreal who reject Jesus are no different from the godless pagans leaving them on the outside of the kingdom….. expect rejection Jesus says

and yet look what happens v12-13 are sent to preach repentance, cast out demons, and heal the sick…there will be rejection, but also expect transformation. People will harden their hearts and people will also have their hearts changes There will be people’s who’s lives are hit with the Gospel who’s hearts are gladly shattered by it .

And I praise God that is the story of so many of you here.. the call went out and you are a living breathing testimony of the grace of God upon your life! the Gospel works, the truth works

But lets be honest how hard is it when you have to shake it dust as it were? We know how how amazing Jesus is , we know he saves, we know how he holds us and sustains us by his grace, we know how he loves us and to think that there are those who are lost, people we love who are lost and will be lost for eternity… thats hard to take… and that is why we really really need to be praying! Praying and praying and praying and praying.

And thats the nature of the Gospel.. I heard an old wise boy at Grace baptist say this… ”the same sun that softens the snow, hardens the clay” and thats true isn't it? We need to pray for hearts to be softened.

Here we see the Apostles here are sent to save but also expect rejection.

Then lastly.. that last thing we see

3. A Sad and Glorious Sentence (you will be cancelled)

Now if you look at v 30 it would make sense that Mark just whent straight there at this point but he doesn’t he includes this dodgy scene of John the Baptist’s death… it’s almost like its slotted in there….

So 14V word is getting around that getting around about Jesus and Herod is somewhat haunted by this… people are jumping to some mad conclusions… “john the baptist has been raised from the dead, others say that Jesus is Elijah, and others say that this is a prophet like one of the prophets of old.

But Herod heard it v16 se says “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised”…

With Herod we are introduced to a man that is the epitomy of depravity, this guy is rotten to the core and I think with him thinking Jesus is John the Baptist he knows he has blood on his hands and it’s eating him up!

In v17 Mark sends us back in time to the scandal of John the Baptists death and this sense is pure vile.… This is Epstein file’s and worse!

look at v17 For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her. (Mark 6:17, ESV)

You get that? he’s married his sister in law Herodias…she was married to Herods brother Philip but Herod thought ill have snot of that…. and John was calling him out…v18 that is not right, thats not lawful! You’ve stole your brother’s wife thats not good! Because of this, SHE then wants John dead. She can’t handle the righteous

but this couldn’t happen because look because v20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly. (Mark 6:20, ESV)

See Herod has his own complex going on he’s in the wrong he knows hes in the wrong yet he is spineless… but he fears John, he has a soft spot for him but to appease his wife..he puts him in prison.

Then it gets worse V21 But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. (Mark 6:21, ESV) now you can imagine what kind of party this is yeah? Men only with dancers, wine likely in abundance hmmm looking pretty grim set up and then what’s comes next is worse.. v22 22 For when Herodias’s daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests Vom! That’s his step daughter and Neiece, and then its almost like he gives these lust filled offers And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” 23 And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” The guys is a Sham, now its worth pointing out at this point the irony here, the irony of Mark here is that this Herod isn’t actually a king..this is Herod of Antipas (we know this from the other Gospels) he was only a tetrarch. Which actually means that he has got no right to offer half the kingdom because it’s not solely his to give away.

So here this wicked, man made king, that thinks to highly of himself, rekons to have more power than he actually has, gloats around with no integrity claiming to be something hes not, thinking that he’s bigger than he is! Claiming to be king whilst remaining spineless standing firm in grotesque sin all the while deep down knowing John and his gospel is right.

And then it gets worse.. Herod offers the girl anything….

v2424 And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” 25 And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” 26 And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. 27 And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison 28 and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb. (Mark 6:22–29, ESV)

What kind of sick party is this? Epstein files and worse! What a vile depraved sene. Right? But here’s the thing

What this teaches us, is that righteousness will be hated! Jesus called John the Baptist I the greatest man that ever lived… and this was his end. This was a righteous man who lived a simple life, and unlike Herod… he lived with integrity, lived with a spine, he stood true to the truth and told the truth, called people to repenatce called people to a new life…… and they hated him.. This brilliant man, he fell at the hands of a depraved coward who knew deep down the truth, but could be easily swayed by the crowd around him.

That sounds like someone else we know doesn’t It? Eventually the same thing would happen this is a little taste of what was to come with Jesus himself as he who is sinless and perfect and pure would fall at the hands of a spineless Pilate who could not find fault in him and he would be sentences to the cross and laid in a tomb.

And you know what, nothing has changed! Nothing has changed it’s all part and parcel of the Job description… You try living with Christian integrity in this day and age, you try standing on the truth of the bible, you try standing on the bible when it comes to gender; man or woman, try bringing up gender roles, You try and stand up for marriage being between one man and one woman, you try and say what Jesus says ‘repent for the kingdom of God is at hand” try as John does to question evil motives wicked life styles…. now they might not say… “off with your head” but they will look to chop you.

Other countries….

Well our last point is… It’s a sad and glorious sentence… so what do I mean by that? and here is where i want you to take courage! Well on first reading you might be tempted to think that it’s sad for John the Baptist and Glorious for Herods family…. But that not it! Could be more wrong.

Biblically speaking this all the sadness here is actually aimed at Herod and the party.. yeah they are having a party, yeah they are having a good time…. But they are lost in awaiting eternal justice from a holy God.

Where as faithful John dies a martyr so there fore he recieves a greater reward. so all that awaits him for his faith is glory, a special crown upon his head, a well done good and faithful servant! He may have lost his head but he didn’t loose his soul!.. the sadness here if for the lost souls having sick party… the glory Goes to faithful John.

Here’s the point… the world will take offence, reject and cancel you for your faith! But praise God you will never be cast away from the hand of God. You will never be rejected by him, you will never be cancelled by him! Even if you were abandoned by he whole world, you will never ever be abandoned by Him! … Paul picks up on this theme doesn’t he in Romans 8….

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;

we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:31–39, ESV)

Listen if you are a Christian here and you are experiencing hardship, people giving you a hard time? People going quiet on you because of you faith! Pray for them, speak to them. But know that this is part and parcel of the Job description…. But know that we are for you we are here for you….. but above that, see, look, trust and believe that you will always be a loved, welcomed, precious child of the living God and he will (listen) never reject or cancel you out even if you loose your head in this life.

!

Communion… Who are you? How is your spine? How’s your back doing?…..