A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing?

I. Who is this guy

He is calling the 12 and giving power

It is stated “He is out of His mind.” V21

Brubaker is a 1980 American prison drama film directed by Stuart Rosenberg. It stars Robert Redford as newly arrived prison warden Henry Brubaker, who attempts to clean up a corrupt and violent penal system. The screenplay by W.D. Richter is a fictionalized version of the 1969 book, Accomplices to the Crime: The Arkansas Prison Scandal by Tom Murton and Joe Hyams, detailing Murton's uncovering of the 1967 prison scandal

For other uses, see Brubaker (disambiguation). Brubaker📷 Theatrical posterDirected byStuart RosenbergProduced byRon SilvermanScreenplay byW. D. RichterStory byW. D. RichterArthur RossBased onAccomplices to the Crime: The Arkansas Prison Scandal by Tom MurtonJoe Hyams Brubaker is a 1980 American prison drama film directed by Stuart Rosenberg. It stars Robert Redford as newly arrived prison warden Henry Brubaker, who attempts to clean up a corrupt and violent penal system. The screenplay by W.D. Richter is a fictionalized version of the 1969 book, Accomplices to the Crime: The Arkansas Prison Scandal by Tom Murton and Joe Hyams, detailing Murton's uncovering of the 1967 prison scandal

In 1969, a man arrives at Wakefield State Prison in Arkansas. As an inmate, he immediately witnesses rampant abuse and corruption, including open and endemic sexual assault, torture, worm-ridden diseased food, insurance fraud and a doctor charging inmates for care. During a dramatic standoff involving Walter, a deranged prisoner who was being held in solitary confinement, Brubaker reveals himself to be the new prison warden, to the amazement of both prisoners and officials alike. With ideals and vision, he attempts to reform the prison, with an eye towards prisoner rehabilitation and human rights. He recruits several long-time prisoners, including trustees Larry Lee Bullen and Richard "Dickie" Coombes, to assist him with the reform. Their combined efforts slowly improve the prison conditions, but his stance enrages several corrupt officials on the prison board who have profited from graft for decades. When Brubaker discovers multiple unmarked graves on prison property, he attempts to unravel the mystery, leading to political scandal. A trustee decides to make a run for it when he realizes that he might be held accountable for killing an inmate. The resulting gunfight, in which Bullen is killed, proves to be the clincher that the prison board needs (acting with the tacit approval of the governor) to fire Brubaker the reformer.

The film is based on the real-life experiences of warden Thomas Murton, co-author with Joe Hyams of the 1969 book, Accomplices to the Crime: The Arkansas Prison Scandal.[3][4] In 1967, he was hired by Governor Winthrop Rockefeller to reform Arkansas' Tucker State and Cummins State Prison Farms, but Murton was dismissed less than a year into the job because his work was creating too much bad publicity for the state's penal system — in particular, the discovery of numerous graves belonging to prisoners who had been killed in these prisons.[5] Much of the squalid conditions, violence and corruption depicted in the film was the subject of a 1970 federal court case, Holt v. Sarver, in which the federal court ruled that Arkansas' prison system violated inmates' constitutional rights, and ordered reform.

Brubaker, played by Robert Redford, stepped into a messy situation, and with courage and conviction, tried to turn the tides of politics and corruption.

Mark 3 is an interesting passage

In the middle, like a sandwich, is good stuff, between two negative stories about Jesus, Jesus calls His 12

On the left controversy, on the right controversy, in the middle-Lord

The religious of the day had severe issue with all He did and taught

They hated the mobs that followed

They hated that He broke their rules, rules instituted by God

They hated that when confronted, He had intellect

They hated that the people loved Him

So they tricked Him and Called HIm names

So they tried to trick Him and call Him out, scribe after scribe, pharisee after pharisee

Who is this guy?

Who is this prisoner posing as warden? Who is this guy, proclaiming a new thought, when our old thought works just fine, in our eyes.

Well some said Jesus was a fad, a false teacher, and that He would burn out

The scribes said He was Beelzebub himself tricking the people v22

His own people thought Him to be mad! Out of his mind! V21

(unbelievers?)

Who do you say that He is?

In we find a ton of people with a host of thoughts about this guy.

Home Depot…young girl with an iPad. I recognize her now. I know what to do. Avoid! Run, get out of that isle. Don’t make eye contact! Why? Because she wants me to take a survey. A survey i don’t mind, she really wants me to set up an appointment for an in home test of my water and she wants to give me the opportunity to buy a water softener!

If i do it, i get a 25.00 gift card to Home Depot

Lets run through the scenario: I say yes. She gives me a free water kit to test my water and drop back off at the store. There is no way my water is going to pass, so next will be the in home visit. There will be colorful, glossy brochures, a list of benefits to me, my wife, my children and their children, my savings, my cleaner dishes, fresher clothes, and long life!

Then comes the payment plan! Easy monthly payments for the rest of my life!

And the maintenance is simple. Just a little salt, purchased from them, added weekly, and some routine filter changes and viola!

And the best part, they wont take NO for an answer!

I wonder if people hear the same pitch when the church knocks on their door?

Glossy brochures, a list of benefits, eternal life, easy payment plans...

Does the community around us affirm Christ as Lord?

If no why not? What are we going to do about it?

If YES, are they invested? Why not? Christian thing to quirky? Afraid of the “pitch?”

In we find a ton of people with a host of thoughts about this guy.

Is your love for the Lord an embarrassment to your family? Do they shut you out?

In verses 6-10, Jesus healed so many and so many came to see. Great Multitudes

The Pharisees and Herodians were there

In 21 the multitudes were so great He couldn’t eat and get energized

In 22-23 the Scribes were there to challenge Him

The Holy Spirit was there…doing wondrous works

In 21 and 31 His family was there calling him home to “rest”

The “church” was there v34

I have a sense that people want to know Jesus, but like Nicodemus, they don’t want to be embarrassed or called out.

They want to learn and grow in time

They call on Him in search of divine guidance

They ask questions quietly but don’t want the stigma of being “one of them”

They fear their routine will channge

There scared to death they will have to give money

They don’t really want to give up their free time

They have all kinds of excuses

If you were hurting, really crushed; if you were truly perplexed and in need of answers, if you were drained, empty or broken, you would seek advice, help, healing.

Jesus doesn’t ignore all that. Jesus stepped into a world where this was the graft, religious piety, overrun people, hurting, broken people. Religion had left people empty, wanting, resisting.

Jesus was the rebellion. The new covenant. He is the warden.

The Hidden Facts

Kept it hidden. Its embarrassing. My parents, its their fault.

Jesus knew it. He watched Him closely, they watched Jesus closely

Here is where it gets tough verse 3. Step Forward!

Is it lawful for me (Jesus) to do good on the sabbath? Is it good for me (Jesus) to come into your life and change your routine?

Do you have the courage and conviction to move out, step forward, show your need?

They kept silent. Why are you silent about your need?

Jesus became angry with them. Angry. The only time this tense of this Greek word is used in the New Testament: non-malicious indignation, coupled with a deep sorrow at their obstinate insensitivity to God’s mercy---had they cried out Son of Joseph save us, or Jesus forgive my unbelief, of teach us, we don’t know the way, they would be saved.

But they beamed at Him with unsaid very loud statements of hate, contempt for disrupting their power

So just to show them the power of God Jesus did no work on the sabbath and they would have nothing to charge Him with when he looked on the man with the withered hand, embarrassed to be called out and called forward, not wanting to be made a fool of, or to be further insulted as he had been his whole life...

Jesus looks at them, looks at him, and with that tender compassion, that forgiveness that warms the soul, and with the Holy Spirit hovering he says to the man stretch out your hand!

And he was healed.

Would you stand for Jesus to do something for you? Would you just stand for Jesus because he is your all

Some thought Him a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Others see a redeemer, a healer, just what the people needed and didn’t know it. Some just want to call Him Lord!

I want Jesus to meet your need today

I want Jesus to meet your neighbors need today

I’m proclaiming life, freedom from the chains that bind, joy now, eternal life.

What are you in need of...

Illustration

Home Depot…young girl with an iPad. I recognize her now. I know what to do. Avoid! Run, get out of that isle. Don’t make eye contact! Why? Because she wants me to take a survey. A survey i don’t mind, she really wants me to set up an appointment for an in home test of my water and she wants to give me the opportunity to buy a water softener!

If i do it, i get a 25.00 gift card to Home Depot

Lets run through the scenario: I say yes. She gives me a free water kit to test my water and drop back off at the store. There is no way my water is going to pass, so next will be the in home visit. There will be colorful, glossy brochures, a list of benefits to me, my wife, my children and their children, my savings, my cleaner dishes, fresher clothes, and long life!

Then comes the payment plan! Easy monthly payments for the rest of my life!

And the maintenance is simple. Just a little salt, purchased from them, added weekly, and some routine filter changes and viola!

And the best part, they wont take NO for an answer!

I wonder if people hear the same pitch when the church knocks on their door?

Glossy brochures, a list of benefits, eternal life, easy payment plans...

Does the community around us affirm Christ as Lord?

If no why not? What are we going to do about it?

If YES, are they invested? Why not? Christian thing to quirky? Afraid of the “pitch?”