Why Jesus Came

Introduction

The most popular hamburger ever made: the Big Mac . It was introduced in 1967, and sold for $.45! By 1969, the Big Mac made up 19% of McDonald’s total sales. In the US, McDonalds sells 550 million annually. Jim Delligatti - inventor and franchise owner. Developed it to compete with another burger restaurant in town. Unfortunately, Big Mac didn’t make him rich. All McDonalds awarded him was a plaque.

A huge accomplishment - barely known - and hardly rewarded.

Have you ever accomplished something that you thought was significant, but received little recognition or reward? There’s something in us that longs to be rewarded for our achievements.

Jesus accomplished something no one else had never accomplished. He lived a perfect life. Jesus’ reward for that perfect life - death on a cross. But, this is why He came. Jesus came to redeem humanity.

In the very first chapter of Mark we see that Jesus came to give His life away. And, if you’re going to follow Jesus, you have to know that the best way to spend your life is to give your life away. This morning, as we consider why Jesus came, we’re going to consider to significant truths we learn from the life of Jesus.

Jesus came to demonstrate that people matter more than fame.

Jesus and his disciples go to Capernaum - a significant city where Jesus lived during his three year ministry.

At the synagogue on the Sabbath - teaching - a place of worship, teaching, and social gathering during the time of Jesus. Any adult male could teach in the synagogue. Often the scribes taught in the synagogue. Jesus’ teaching was different. He spoke with authority. Scribes the most intellectual people of the day. In teaching, they appealed to the authority of others. (Like I do. “The Bible says…” “So and so wrote...” or, “The prophets said...” In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said things like, “You have heard it said, but I say to you...” He taught with authority, and the people were amazed.

In the synagogue a demon possessed man. Jesus’ life a life of spiritual warfare. There is a real enemy (1 Peter 5:8-9) Note: the demon knows exactly who Jesus is. “The Holy One of God.” The demon fears Jesus. (James 2:19) Before you came to Christ, you might not have been demon possessed, but under the control of sin. You needed Jesus to rescue you just the same.

Jesus issues a command to the demon and it responds. There’s no struggle! Jesus’ voice is powerful enough to cause demons to flee! A reminder that Satan’s reign has ended. Jesus is the King who has come to claim what belongs to Him!

Everyone is amazed! Unbeknown to anyone, the God of all creation had just walked into their synagogue, taught them, and delivered a man!

Jesus’ fame spread everywhere (vs. 28). All of Galilee begins to learn of this unique man who teaches with authority and performs miracles. At this moment, Jesus has what every preacher wants: a passionate crowd that actually listens to Him. Jesus could have planted a church in Capernaum, and they could have run thousands. People were talking about how good His sermons were, and how God was blessing His ministry. (Posting on FB about how their lives had changed…) This is what a preacher wants! Instead of planting a church and gathering a huge crowd - Jesus does the unexpected.

But immediately… (vs. 29) He goes to Simon and Andrew’s home. Simon’s mother-in-law was ill with a fever. (Luke’s fevers… “Stop checking temp...”) Generally, fevers heal themselves with time. Bigger diseases: leprosy, blind, lame, etc. Jesus heals a woman who just needed a day in bed.

There’s no big crowd around. Just a few people witness. He takes her by the hand, lifts her up, and the fever leaves. She begins to follow Jesus.

Jesus could have fame - prestige - a massive following, but he chooses to retreat to a home and show compassion to a simple woman who had a fever. Why? Jesus came to demonstrate that people matter more than fame - He wasn’t after a massive following. In fact, by church growth standards, He didn’t do so well. (Luke 6:60) Jesus wasn’t after a huge crowd. He was after changing individual hearts by demonstrating His unconditional love; ultimately through His death on a cross.

Jesus, most famous man to ever live, demonstrated greatness through giving His life away.

We want recognition; to be known - Reality is that we are far more interested in being known than we are in giving our lives away so that people might know the fame of our God! I want to be known at work for my hard work, as being a great parent, as being the best student in the class. (Losing at Upward basketball… Shot to my ego!) Look at what I’ve accomplished! Like my Facebook posts! Feed me compliments! We scream, “Know me!” instead of screaming, “Know my God who saves!”

You live a life that matters not when you live to be known but when you live to make Christ known by giving your life away for the sake of the Gospel - by being a blessing.

Three questions:

What does the way you use your time say about your desire to be a blessing? (The most important thing you do tomorrow will not be completing your todo list (Productivity) but investing in the life of someone else.)

What does the way you use your words say about your desire to be a blessing? (Talking about all you’ve done, putting people down, or encouraging others? Sharing the Gospel?)

What does the way you use your resources say about your desire to be a blessing? (Spend on self, or spend for the Gospel?

Jesus came to demonstrate that the mission matters more than success.

After healing Simon Peter’s mother-in-law, a crowd lines up at the door of Simon’s home. Jesus heals, casts out demons, and tells the demons not to say anything. (Messianic Secret) Jesus didn’t want demons advertising for Him.

Jesus’ ministry is just beginning, and you can’t argue His success. What other rabbi or religious leader was having this kind of success! This is great!

When you have success, you want more. Instead of pushing forward for more success, Jesus pulls back. What Jesus craves more than success is intimacy with the Father - being aligned with His will.

Success can cause us to take our eyes off of God. “Look at what I’m accomplishing.” Typically, when life is going well or when we’re being successful, we think, “I don’t need God.” But, when life is challenging or not going according to plan we think, “Where is God?” In the most successful seasons of life it is easy to take our eyes off of God.

In success, Jesus doesn’t take His eyes off of the Father. If Jesus was the Son of God, why did He pray so much? Fellowship! How much more do we need fellowship with the Father! Jesus reminds us that the purpose of prayer is not to get things from God but to get God -intimacy with Him.

For first time in Mark’s Gospel - Peter opens his mouth. “Jesus, what are you doing? Everyone is looking for you!” Imagine the disciples excitement. They’ve just started following Jesus and already they are seeing a movement! The movement they’ve longed for!

Jesus’ answer is surprising. “Let’s go to the next town to preach, for that is why I came.” Reality, Jesus could have stayed in Capernaum, built His ministry, and had a successful and comfortable life. But, that’s not why He came. He came for a mission: to go to a cross and die for the sins of the world and to rise from the dead and completely defeat the enemy. For Jesus, the mission mattered much more than success.

We can become so driven to accomplish our personal goals that the mission of God is nowhere near as important as accomplishing our dreams. (Hudson and lasagna focused so much on what he doesn’t want that he misses what’s really good… Your problem is the opposite… You’re so focused on what you do want that you miss what gives real joy.) Intimate fellowship with God is so needed in your life to constantly remind you of what really matters and where real joy is found.

Fellowship with God grounds you in what matters. The more you are with God, the more you know His heart, and the more you long for God’s will.

Fellowship with God reveals His direction. In prayer, Jesus constantly reminded of His purpose. (Let’s go to the next town.)

Fellowship with God minimizes your ego. You’re reminded that God is God and you are not.

Jesus shows us our constant need for intimacy with God. The less we fellowship with God, the more self-centered we’re going to be, and the more self-centered we become, the more we are going to be a hindrance to the mission of God. The mission of God: to use us as His tools of redemption in a lost world.

Believer: what matters most to you? Your popularity or people? Your success or the mission? If focused on popularity and success, you will end up empty. You’ll never be popular enough. You’ll never be successful enough. This morning: Be reminded that Jesus is enough. Ps. 37:4: Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. He will give you what your heart longs for. Repent of seeking the wrong things. Repent of lack of fellowship with Him.

Think again about Peter’s statement; filled with truth: “Jesus, everyone is looking for you...” You might not realize, but you’re looking for Jesus this morning. Or, at least, you’re looking for someone or something to fulfill the desires of your heart. What your heart longs for, you’ll find in Jesus. Good News: This man is more than a healer. He is the Son of God who came to fulfill your greatest need: to have a restored, intimate relationship with your Creator. You have rebelled, and you deserve hell. But, Jesus came to rescue you from hell. He died in your place, taking your punishment, so you could be forgiven. He rose from the dead setting you free from sin and death. He’s who your heart has been looking for. Find Him today.