To the End

Scripture reading -

Me

What does the cross mean to me?

This time of year means different things to different people

For me growing up all it really meant was a time to have a meal together with family

I had no belief in the message of the cross

Me

When I learned of the real message of the cross and came to believe it it changed my life

Especially when I came to trust that He died on the cross for me

Feeding of the 5000

Going to the other side

Syro Phoenician women

Feeding of the 4000

We

What does the cross mean to us as a church

I cant imagine I am the only one with that story

I imagine many of you have had a similar experience

Did you know that the Disciples also had that same experience?

thy didn't believe in the cross

but when they finally understood it, it changed their lives

This morning we are going to l

And this begins earlier than you might expect

It is a message of how Jesus went to the end for y

What did the cross mean to Jesus?

The cross

God

Feeding the 5000

Mark 6:34–39 ESV

When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass.

Jesus prays and multiplies the food for all who were there

Mark 6:34–43 ESV

When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish.

Mark 6:34:43

12 basket remaining representing the 12 tribes

“The other side”

Mark 6:45–52 ESV

Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

“the other side”

Why did they think He was a ghost?

Why were they perplexed about the bread?

The Syrophoenician women

Mark 7:24–30 ESV

And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. And he said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” And he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.

The Disciples would of had nothing to do with being on the other side or even talking with this women

what was to come next the Disciples were not ready for:

Feeding the 4000

Mark 8:1–9 ESV

In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat, he called his disciples to him and said to them, “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away.” And his disciples answered him, “How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?” And he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven.” And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd. And they had a few small fish. And having blessed them, he said that these also should be set before them. And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. And there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away.

Jesus had to bring up food because the Disciples didn't care like before

There were 7 left over baskets

As time lead up to the cross Jesus needed to connect the dots for His disciples in what the bread truly represented

Jesus is the bread of life

Mark 14:22–25 ESV

And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

Mark 14:22-25

What Jesus did was enough for all

Paint the picture of the cross

Jesus went to the end for you

You

Appeals:

Commitment/recommitment to Jesus (Stand)

2. Baptism or re baptism (Come to the front)

3. Mission (Raise hand)

We