Mark Pt 15: Where Everybody Knows Your Name

I had a huge circle of acquaintances, in the place that I grew up, most people knew my name although I didn't always no there’s. The truth is although a lot of people knew my name, very few of them really knew me, you see while I could offer them something, I was popular, but when I moved out of my old life to a new life in Christ, when I left the criminal fraternity I had been involved with, when I had nothing to offer those around, the crowd that used to follow me we no where to be seen.

Now that doesn't make me sad, because Christ gave me better friends, real friends, friends that will be friends for eternity!!

But the point im making is that Popularity is fickle and fleeting and those that are for you one minute will be against you the next!!

Winston Churchill was once asked, "Doesn't it thrill you to know that every time you make a speech, the hall is packed to overflowing?"

"It's quite flattering," replied Sir Winston. "But whenever I feel that way, I always remember that if instead of making a political speech I was being hanged, the crowd would be twice as big."

and that surely is the nature of popularity isn’t it, in one minute out the next.

Now as we pick up again Marks Gospel, Jesus is at the height of his popularity, and as we will see everybody knows his Name, but did they really know him.

Let’s pickup in verses 7-9 and noticed how

1.The Crowds Desired Him

Jesus was a popular man, but this popularity also brought him enemies, and as we saw last the Pharisees had gone off to take council with the Herodians, as the religious and the political ruler became confederates plotting the destruction of Jesus.

Jesus then, moves masterfully away from the situation to the shores of the Sea of Galilee, although the clerics had the synagogues Jesus had the crowds.

A.The Areas They Came From

Mark 3:7–8 KJV 1900

7 But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judaea, 8 And from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and from beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came unto him.

The multitudes came from all parts of the country.

They came from the south, from Idumea, the area south of Judea and the Dead Sea.

They came from Judea and Jerusalem, from the capital itself.

They came from the north, from all over Galilee. They came from the east, from beyond the Jordan.

And they came from the west, along the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea.

They came from everywhere to see Jesus, such was the spread of the fame of this Miracle worker from Nazareth, who walk the shores of Galilee.

In fact the crowds were so large that Jesus, commands for a small ship to be procured and be present along the sea shore as he walked.

Mark 3:9 KJV 1900

9 And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude, lest they should throng him.

Such was the size of the crowd that they threaten to push him into the water.

Now you may say why not just part the waters, he was God after all? Well Jesus never performed a miracle for his own benefit He refused instantly the Devil’s suggestion that He turn stones into bread to feed Himself. He never performed a miracle just to impress people. Thus, He refused the Devil’s suggestion that He throw Himself down from the pinnacle of the temple just to be spectacular.

No need for any miracles a simple boat would do.

B.The Access They Craved For

Mark makes clear that it was the miracles that drew the multitudes. Wonderful, wonderful Jesus! All they had to do was touch Him, and their diseases fled! No wonder they crowded upon Him.

Mark 3:10 KJV 1900

10 For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues.

The people knew his name they had heard from far and wide about his miracles, and they wanted a piece of the action, so they came with problems, looking for a fix.

Surely this was good, to have some people that knew his name, surely this is a successful ministry, if the crowds are there then surely that marks a rip roaring success, doesn't it?

Well from earthly, humanistic thinking then the answer is yes. But remember God does not operate from earthly humanistic thinking he operates from the the heaven-lies, with divine thinking..

Isaiah 55:8–9 KJV 1900

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are my ways higher than your ways, And my thoughts than your thoughts.

The look looks on the heart and wants those that have a deeper relationship with him than just knowing his name.

Remember its worshippers God is looking for, and to worship him you must know him, not just know of him.

The crowds came, but they didn't come to worship, they did come to give anything to the Lord, they came to take, to use and abuse, they wanted, they didn't worship.

It was the miracles they wanted, not the Master.

Oh how many buildings are full this morning were the crowds gather under Jesus’s name looking for what they can get, professing his name but never truly possessing him, never born again, just turning up to take, rather than to worship.

As we walk through the book of Mark, and I see the things Jesus had to deal with, I am reminded that there is nothing new under the sun, and the Battles our master fought are the same ones we fight, may be fight them with his strength and and grace.

So the crowds desired him, secondly notice how

2.The Creatures Declared Him

Just as Jesus was making an name for himself among the human world, so was his presence causing tremors throughout the demonic world.

The demons hidden in plain view among the unsuspecting people could not hide from the eye of the Lord as he went around the land.

A. The Cry from the Demonic

Mark 3:11 KJV 1900

11 And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.

These evil beings did not try to touch Him. For them, His touch would have been like the tormenting touch of fire. They had no difficulty recognising Him, and down on their faces they went before Him, proclaiming His deity

You see the Devil and his hordes knew the name of Jesus, they knew exactly who he was, they knew the authority he had, they trembled at the name of Jesus.

Although they bowed before him, they did not worship him, they worshiped another Lucifer himself, and they may have bowed externally, but that was all it was, it was a show.

They knew the name of Jesus, but they never knew him.

How does Jesus respond, well look at

B. The Command from the Devine

Mark 3:12 KJV 1900

12 And he straitly charged them that they should not make him known.

The Lord silenced them.

He wanted and needed no testimony from the likes of them. He would not except truth from a false source

So Jesus orders them, such as his authority is, to be quiet concerning him.

Folks there is no place for the demonic world when we are dealing with Jesus.

Now there are places to day that want to mingle the two, and open things up to the demonic realm, with different forms of mysticism and the like.

You know going to mediums, spiritualist Churches and anything of that ilk is to reach out and touch the demonic realm. the bible warns us against that.

You may say, but ive been to these places and they have told me things nobody could possible know, or I have had a message from a loved one.

Folks, the Devil is supremely powerful, he has influence everywhere, he can easily perform these things, and the spirits you are dealing with are Familiar spirts as detailed in the Bible, masquerading as someone familiar to you, but the reality is they are fallen angels, the are Demons, the workers of the Devil, and you need to flee those places.

You the Word of God reveals those things for what they truly are, and when the Living word Jesus himself walked the earth he revealed the enemies workers wherever they were, there was no deceiving the King

Conclusion

So what is the application from our account this morning?

Simply that knowing the name of Jesus is not enough, you have to have a relationship with him.

And when you enter into a relationship with Christ, he is going to ask you to change somethings, he is going to ask you to live for him instead of yourself.

This is what stops so many people coming to Christ, oh if I become a Christian I will have to give things up that I don’t want to. Jesus himself lays it down for us

Luke 14:25–33 KJV 1900

25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, 26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

You might be saying well thats not going to sell many tickets, I not buying in to that to give up everything for Christ!!

But folks when you understand that this life is but a hairs breath when it comes to eternity, when you understand you brought nothing into this world and you will take nothing out, when you understand than you soul is immortal and it is destined for eternal punishment or peace depending on what you do with Jesus.

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. Jim Elliot

You see folks when we count the cost of following Jesus, no matter what way we cut it and count it, without any doubt he is surely worth it!!

Today just like all those years ago in Israel, the name of Jesus is known, but how many truly know him!!!

Matthew 7:21–23 KJV 1900

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

My prayer this morning is that we would all check our hearts and be sure that we have a personal relationship with Jesus.

That we might a place of worship where everybody not only knows His name, but where everybody knows him.