Jesus and the Powers

Introduction

Arc of Discipleship

Who is this Jesus?

Mark 6:3 - Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon?

Mark 6:7 - The testimony of the two is designed to call people to repentance and bring them to a point of response: who is this Jesus? [Deut. 17:6]

Mark 6:14-16 (What is happening at the high levels of government in the region?)

Underscores the success of the ministry of the twelve

Reiterated somewhat (Mark 6:30)

Q. What does is look like to be a successful minister of God?

Healings?

Proclamations?

Anointing?

Casting out Demons?

Reception in the Early Church

While each of these things are certainly powerful markers of God’s movement, one reality which we cannot lose sight of is that of persecution.

Think of the glorious chapters of Hebrews 11-12 and how the author, knowing the reality of persecution for his hearers reminded them:

Noah lived by faith and built a boat in the desert when there was no rain or outward sign of “this is happening” (Hebrews 11:7)

Abraham was promised a land and lived as a sojourner in tents, and he did not consider this waiting to be a failure of the word of God because according to Hebrews 11:10 - he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.

Hebrews 11:13-16 reiterates these exact points. The faithful men and women of old were not operating on a worldly riches/poverty scale to decide whether or not their lives were “successful” before the Lord. Instead, they cast their vision far off.

As it came to persecution, Hebrews 11:35-40 emphasizes that though some did see tremendous miracles in their day, other faithful saints saw:

torture

imprisonment

mocking

flogging

chains

stoning

being sawn in two

killed with the sword

destitute

afflicted

mistreated

wandering without a home

Hebrews 12:2 - The culmination of the “hall of faith” chapter of Hebrews says that he endured the cross for the joy set before him.

Therefore, Hebrews 12:3-7

Be strengthened in yourself when you are sharing Jesus with someone and you get reviled.

Be strengthened when you come across the YouTube short or Tik Toc video which makes fun of Christians.

Be strengthened when the government starts checking license plates in the parking lots of the church to see if you’ve attended and threatens to charge you fines.

Remember that this has happened already in your lives

Understand that there are Christians worldwide who are systematically persecuted for their faith.

Nigeria

All of this is to answer the question: “What is the point of this story being placed here?”

I think that Mark is ministering to a very real, on the ground reality through his gospel here.

He is reminding us of the fact that the most devout Christians who behold the wonderous mysteries of God and enjoy the peace of right-standing with God have oftentimes been targets of the powers of darkness.

(*NOTE) - John was called to call people to repentance; he did that even to the powers at play.

Scriptures such as these are a few reasons why we can strongly reject the idea posed by some that say faith = wealth OR faith = prosperity (in a physical sense).

The testimony of Christianity worldwide tells the opposite tale.

Jesus himself testified that: “among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he.” (Matt. 11:11)

Other Visions in this Text

Reality of evil

Note: We would love it if John the Baptist’s death could somehow be “justified” but the reality is that this great man was killed because Herodias held a grudge against John for words that he spoke against her marriage to Herod.

If one thinks about the nature of Herodias’s daughter “dancing for Herod and his guests” the whole scene gets even slimier. No one in this scene is obeying the law of God which they have access to.

Here we see a very real picture of the possible cost of serving the Lord.

Q. Are you prepared in yourself to suffer for Jesus?

Reasons Why Your Answer Must be “Yes”

There is nothing that can be taken from you in this world that God cannot restore one hundred fold

There is nothing on earth that will ultimately fulfill the needs of your heart in the way that God will.

Our time on earth is short and fleeting; it is not in keeping with wisdom to trade short term pleasures for eternal reward

No suffering or sacrifice that you make or experience in the path of obeying Jesus is meaningless (2 Cor. 4:16-18) (Rom. 8:18) (1 Pet. 5:10)

It is an interesting observation that one could make: Herod’s issue and evil seemed to stem less from cruelty as much as weakness.

Too weak to repent

Too weak to address his wife

Too weak to say no to evil things

Too weak to change things even though he believed that John was a prophet