Sermon Tone Analysis

Intro: We have been trekking through the book of Mark, in which he writes the memoirs of Peter.

We know the purpose of his book/Gospel is to proclaim Jesus is the Christ, the son of God.

He has been making a case for us, by first pointing to the fore runner that is to come, John the Baptist.

Mark also shares with the testimony of the Father and the Spirit pointing to Jesus.

Mark continues presenting his case by displaying for us that Jesus has power over sickness.

sin, demons, nature Jesus even has power over humanity.

Mark paints a picture of Jesus as a Rabbi who teaches with authority, unlike any other rabbi.

In , we find a summary statement, this is Mark’s 3rd summary statement, his first is in

Mark 1:

Mark 3:

Do you see it?

Mark is displaying for us what says, “he looked on them with compassion because they were like sheep without a shepherd”Mark has been painting the portrait of Jesus the son of God, but this picture would be incomplete if he didn’t highlight Jesus as the compassionate God.

What we find in Mark is the compassionate God on display.

Mark paints a picture of the compassionate God in the flesh.

At the same time there is this crowd, who has been following him.

What we have seen in Mark is Jesus and his band of 12 doing ministry around the sea of Galilee.

There are a few other faithful followers, but the picture Mark has been painting is Jesus relationship with the 12, pouring his life, teaching and mentoring them.

Mark has also been painting a picture of the crowd, a large group of people, following Jesus, not because he is the Christ the Son of God, they are following because he provides immediate and free healthcare & enough food to satisfy.

What we see in Mark today is,

The Compassionate God in the Flesh

The Crowd’s Selfishness & Indifference Towards the Compassionate God

I.

The Compassionate God In The Flesh

A. What is compassion?

Defined -Compassion literally means “to suffer together.”

Among emotion researchers, it is defined as the feeling that arises when you are confronted with another’s suffering and feel motivated to relieve that suffering.

Defined-sympathetic awareness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it

Compassion is not the same as empathy or altruism, though the concepts are related.

While empathy refers more generally to our ability to take the perspective of and feel the emotions of another person, compassion is when those feelings and thoughts include the desire to help.

Altruism, in turn, is the kind, selfless behavior often prompted by feelings of compassion, though one can feel compassion without acting on it, and altruism isn’t always motivated by compassion.

Biblical Words- merciful, favorable, i.e., pertaining to showing favor, and not punishment as is often deserved, implying a forgiving relationship

Compassion is God showing favor, grace mercy on a suffering people, in love God is willing to come along side the one suffering and provide relief from your suffering.

B. Where in scripture do we first see declared God is Compassionate?

Certainly we can look in and see that God had compassion on Adam and Eve, but he is not declared to be compassionate here.

What about in when Cain kills Abel?

What about in the flood, when God remembered Noah?

What about God choosing Abram?

Was he being compassionate?

Did you know it isn't until Exodus

Exo

Do you remember what is going on here?

God is entering into a covenant with the people of Israel.

Moses is on the mountain, getting the ten commandments and instructions from the Lord and he asks Lord show me your glory?

God tells Moses no one can see me, in the fullness of who I am, and live.

Then the Lord proceeds to tell him I am going to give you a glimpse of who I am.

What does the Lord choose to show him?

The Lord is a compassionate God.

We see God described this way through out the OT

Nehemiah 9

psa 8615

Psalms 78:78

C. What we find in the NT is Jesus is the embodiment of the Compassionate God

Deut 4

merciful, favorable, i.e., pertaining to showing favor, and not punishment as is often deserved, implying a forgiving relationship

The decision for the Father to send the Son, the decison of the Son to come into this world is based on compassion.

While he was on this earth we see time and time and again he is moved with compassion, for the crowd and for individuals.

We see Christ fulfilling the definition of the compassionate God

Merciful & Gracious

slow to anger

abounding in steadfast love

forgiving

We see it here in our passage again.

D. Jesus is still compassionate now

Hebrews

Hebrews 4:14-16

Hebrews 4:25

II.

The Crowd’s Selfishness & Indifference Towards a Compassionate God

When Jesus started his ministry,

You may think “Josh, i don’t see that here.”

I just see hurting people seeking to be healed.

You are right, we don’t explicitly see the selfishness & indifference of the crowd in this passage, but that is the blessing of the other Gospels they help us fill in what is going on.

When Jesus started his ministry we have this summary statement from John.

John 2:23-

When we turn the pages of John to , which is the parallel passage to , we get a clearer picture of the crowd.

A. The Crowd Wants The Miracles Not Jesus

They want the miracles!

They want to do the miracles

Swanson, J. (1997).

Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament) (electronic ed.).

Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

B. The Crowd Seeks A Sign

John 6:30

C. The Crowd Is Never Satisfied

John 6:41-

D. The Crowd Wants What Jesus Can Give Them, They Do Not Want Jesus

John 6:52-

E. The Crowd is Offended By Jesus and Does Not Want To be Associated With Him

John 6:60-

Conclusion: Where are you at today?

Are you part of the crowd?

A disciple?

Are we willing to allow the compassionate God to come along side us in our suffering?

Swanson, J. (1997).

Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament) (electronic ed.).

Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

It is an interesting question, we see God’s compassion in Cre