Sermon Tone Analysis

Praise Items

Traditional (1-4) Page 360.

Sing (1-5) Page 122

Sing Scripture 3 ( 1-8) Sing 3 Stanzas or Paragraphs.

Sing (1-11) Page 135.

Blessed Assurance

How Deep The Fathers Love

How Great Thou Art.

Introduction

Power and Authority - It is often said that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

The world is sometimes rightly nervous of those who weld and lust after power.

Equally the world is often uncomfortable, distrusting and suspicious of people in authority.

We know that power and authority can be welded to positive ends, but when absolute power is not under our control, when it is no longer held to account, it can quickly turn to tyranny, that is why we want to know the Character and personalities of those who have power.

Yet, make no mistake, Jesus is portrayed in Marks Gospel as one who has unrivalled power and authority in both the human and spiritual realms, in the things that he says and in the things that he and does.

It shouldnt surprise us that as his fame increased, those with a little bit of power of their own would seek to take him out.

But the key question for us to consider is this.

How does Jesus weild his power and authority, In other words?

Whats he like?

And more importantly for us and for those who encountered him.

How was it “good news”

Good News.

David E. Garland, Mark, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996), 81.

Big Idea

Good News Right from the Beginning of Marks Gospel, Jesus’s arrival on the world scene is heralded, proclaimed and described mark as “Good News” “As we study Jesus Character, displayed through his teaching and actions, How was his arrival still good news for those who encountered him, how is he good news for the world today and how is he good news you and I, And how ought you and I respond to him.

“As we study Jesus Character, displayed through his teaching and actions, How was his arrival still good news to us today, And how ought we respond.

Mark shows that Jesus does not simply announce the coming reign of God he actualizes it in the lives of individuals with his miracles.g

David E. Garland, Mark, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996), 81.

Contextual Background

Kingdom of God.

If we are to understand why Jesus is truly “good news” for you and for me, we must first understand what Mark means by the phrase, it is all caught up with the Idea of the promised arrival of something called the Kingdom of God in OT () ()

With A Kingdom comes a King.

God had promised his people (Ancient Israel later known as The Jews) That he would once and for all Judge human sinfulness and evil and fix this fallen broken world.

That he would do it through his appointed king who would rule on the throne of Israel forever.

This king would have all the blessing and power and Authority of God.

This king came to be known as Israel’s Messiah, And he would reign forever and ever in Righteousness and Justice.

God’’s servent would first have to suffer for the sins of his people.

Kingdom of God in OT () ()

Do you know what the name Jesus (Jeshua) means?

Saviour.

Yahweh Saves.

Someone is Coming!

And when he comes, there will be a new creation!

The King is coming.

Good news everyone!!

The king has come… and look at what he is doing!

(do this at end)

Exposition

Good news everyone!

The king has come...and boy look at the things he is doing, look at the authority and power he posseses, hes doing everything the OT said he would!

look at the way in which he teaches, his, healing, his exorcisms and he carries them out with such love and kindness and compassion.

Truly this is good news, a new creation, the dawn of a new era has begun!

Teaching

vs 21 Look at how he teaches.

He’s not like the Scribes!

Ma

vs 21 Look at how he teaches.

He’s not like the Scribes.

vs 21 Look at how he teaches.

He’s not like the Scribes.

University Illustration

The Scribes were the absolute top experts in matters of the Law, it was their Job to interpret the OT Bible and so often their desiccation on matters of interpretation was final.

But Jesus doesn't teach like one of them, they teach about God, but Jesus, when Jesus Speaks its as if he speaks for God.

There is a Gravitas an Authority.

He doesn't appeal to the works of other scribes more learned but speaks on his own authority.

He spoke with the finality of the voice of God.

Good news? -

To the people - it was like a breeze from heaven to hear someone speak like that.

The specific, positive certainty of Jesus was the very antithesis of the careful quotations of the scribes.

It was prophesied that when the messiah came he would be known as “Wonderful Counselor,”

To the world - There is a King who truly speaks for God.

(psalm 2)

He cited no authorities and quoted no experts.

He spoke with the finality of the voice of God.

To the people, it was like a breeze from heaven to hear someone speak like that.

The terrific, positive certainty of Jesus was the very antithesis of the careful quotations of the scribes.

To you and I. Today, there are so many voices, so many experts to tell us, how we should live, what what our values should be, how to make ourselves happy and fulfilled, peaceful contented, there are many Religions that try to tell us the path to God.

There are so many voices, so many books, so many opinions!

Wouldn’t you like to cut through the clutter to get to the truth of lives most important matters?

In Jesus, we dont have just another voice, he’s not just another opinion, he is the final voice, when he weighs in on something its the end of the matter, he speaks with the very authority and of God himself.

Exorcism

Exorcism

Bad News for evil Regimes and those who abuse power.

Exorcism

Look Look at how he does Exorcisms,

Look at how he does exorcism, no magical incantations here, no showiness, he give orders to unclean spirits and they obey Him!

Mark depict the gripping conflict between the kingdom of God and the dominion of Satan, between the one anointed with God’s Spirit and those held captive by unclean spirits.

It was prophesied in the OT () that when the messiah arrives on the scene to establish the Kingdom of God he would set the oppressed and the Captives Free.

This man is a captive, And Jesus is going to confront the spiritual forces and set him free because he cares for this man, he loves this man.

This man is a captive, And Jesus is going to set him free because he cares for this man.

Look at how he does exorcism, no magical incantations here, no showiness, he give orders to unclean spirits and they obey Him!

The word for “amaze” (Gk.

thambein) derives from the root “to strike,” meaning to astound or astonish.

V23-27 - The crowds are amazed.

The word for “amaze” (Gk.

thambein) derives from the root “to strike,” meaning to astound or astonish.

Look at how he does exorcism, no magical incantations here, no showiness, he is giving orders to the the spiritual realm, to unclean spirits and they obey Him!

V23-27 - Look at how he does exorcism, no magical incantations here, no showiness, he give orders to unclean spirits and they obey Him!

The word for “amaze” (Gk.

thambein) derives from the root “to strike,” meaning to astound or astonish.

James R. Edwards, The Gospel according to Mark, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: Eerdmans; Apollos, 2002), 58.