Sermon Tone Analysis

I. Why is the context before important?

The preceeding context helps us understand who we are.

Illus: Take a moment and look through the text with me… between the last prediction and his death and the current one 9:30, the disciples had argued about who was the greatest, gotten irritated because people were driving out demons without their authorization, the pharisees had try to trick Jesus on the question of divorce, the disciples tried to shew off “unimportant kids”, and a rich moral man left heartbroken from Jesus’ presence.

All of these events added to the understanding that Mark is leading your to.

Each of these shows men who are far too important in their own eyes trying to either one up or impress Jesus, and walking away humiliated.

In each of these instances, the men walked away broken as Jesus exposed their own sinfulness.

You cannot approach Jesus and not walk away broken and aware of your sinfulness.

There is a false idea that coming God is all about God cherishing both you and your mess.

My experience is that any genuine experience wiht God will expose your sinfulness and lead you repentance and faith.

Illus:

9 Don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God’s kingdom?

Do not be deceived: No sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, or males who have sex with males,, 10 no thieves, greedy people, drunkards, verbally abusive people, or swindlers will inherit God’s kingdom.

11 And some of you used to be like this.

But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

The preceeding context leads us to look for how God makes all things possible.

Illus: As the story of the rich young ruler ended, the people were perplexed at what it took to gain God’s kingdom.

It was like, if that guy couldn't receive God’s kingdom, how can I.

Moment after moment passed as people tried to find another way… and all of the passages lead to Jesus’ prediction of His death.

Each of these moments lead you to say, only God’s plan in Jesus will work.

How often do we try every way possible to live and find our own way.

God allows it for a purpose… to help you see how helpless you are, and how desperately you need Him.

II.

What does the main text teach?

Don’t miss the great contrast between the preceeding text and the main text.

Illus: Both the rich young ruler and Jesus serve as contrasting examples.

truthfully they serve as excellent examples today.

How many times do we buy into a false Christianity which looks very much like the Rich Young Ruler.

We are moral, kind, great intentioned, but devoid of any power or longing for God.

Our faith is all about our worldly gain, and do whatever we can to reject pain and sacrifice in our lives.

The life of Jesus is anything but the rich young rulers.

Where the rich young ruler ran from sacrifice.

Jesus walked obediently towards sacrifice.

Where the rich young ruler sought all this world had to offer in the name of God, Jesus sacrificed himself for this world in the name of God.

The path to God is the path to sacrifice.

It is following Jesus in sacrifice.

It is taking up our cross and following Him.

The main text points to God’s way over men’s way.

Illus: When Jesus predicted his death, the rest of the story had not been written.

He was speaking to people who did not understand that he would literally die.

For most, God’s work would be seen through force.

Jesus affirmed over and over that he had come to die.

Just imagine if our identity followed.

If we were the people of death who gladly sacrificed ourselves, our wants, desires, and rights for those who mocked us.

The picture of the cross is not one of Jesus dying in front of his adoring fans, but instead of him dying in front of a mocking crowd.

Our call in taking up our own crosses is not to sacrifice ourselves for adoring fans, but instead to give our lives to the very people who mock us.

III.

What does the context after reveal?

The following context leads us to ask how we would respond.

Illus: So we might be ok with Jesus dying, but the direct response to Jesus predicting his own death was the disciples asking how they would benefit.

It is like we say, “I am so thankful that Jesus died on the cross for my sins so that I don’t have to deal with any pain myself.”

Faith is not gaining the benifits of the cross without the cost.

To embrace Jesus you must embrace both the glory of the cross with the cost.

Jesus says take up your cross.

Is your faith real enough that you gladly give up your life for Him.