Today’s Message

Date:               February 18, 2006

Speaker:          Pastor Steven Thomas

Title:                The Right Time, The Right Way

Text:                Mark 1:29-34

29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her. 31 So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.

32 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. 33 The whole town gathered at the door, 34 and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.

Introduction:  One of the sub-themes encountered in the Gospels, and especially in the book of Mark, is Jesus’ determination to minimize the spread of his fame.  Nine times he commanded various groups to keep silent about him.  Twice we read that he withdrew from populated areas to avoid detection.  Today we will address a question that has interested many Bible interpreters:

Why did Jesus silence those who knew his true identity?

I.          Jesus would not allow his enemies to promote his ministry.

II.        Jesus would have no one but God determine the timing of his ministry.

III.       Jesus would not cater to the desires of men to accomplish his ministry.

Today’s take-home truth:  Jesus resisted the tide of popularity in order to accomplish his mission at the right time, in the right way.

Implications for ministry today:

1.         We must exercise great care in choosing our ministry partners.

2.         We must entrust the outcome of our ministry to the sovereign God.

3.         We must carefully avoid methods that appeal to the “felt needs” of the world.