4 Follow Me

Introduction

Halls should be back from Tyler’s basic training graduation. What is the purpose or objectives of basic training???

New skills, new perspective (understanding and even culture), new team (unity), new role/mission.

Can you effectively accomplish the mission without basic training? What happens?

Recent Bible reading - David facing Goliath, King Saul tried to give David armor and sword...

Jesus also recruited soldiers, led them through basic training, and sent them on mission.

The church in America tries to recruit and immediately deploy without adequate basic training.

Today we will observe Jesus in the early part of His ministry and learn how He developed soldiers.

Message

Message –

v.1 beginning of gospel, fulfilment of prophecy regarding John and pointing to the Messiah.

9-11 Jesus baptized and Holy Spirit resting on Him, and Father affirming Him

12-13 Jesus temptation in wilderness, then comes back to begin ministry.

v.14 interesting that John’s work is finished and he is arrested.

Mark 1:15 CSB

15 “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

The message of Jesus. Time is fulfilled. Kingdom near, Repent, Believe in the good news.

The message of Jesus. Time is fulfilled. Kingdom near, Repent, Believe in the good news.

Turn from your sin and put your faith in the good news of the Kingdom (the King)

The King is recruiting -

Ministry

(brief highlights)

Mark 1:17 CSB

17 “Follow me,” Jesus told them, “and I will make you fish for people.”

Invitation – calling followers. Giving them new purpose. A compelling vision.

Invitation – calling followers. Giving them new purpose. A compelling vision.

21-28 = Activity and Authority. Jesus teaches in the synagogue everywhere He goes.

Proclaiming, signs, and equipping. Teaching with authority like no other. Casting out demons with authority

29-34 Relational – left the synagogue and went to home Simon and Andrew. healing people, driving out demons, we see crowds forming around Jesus

35-38 before daylight Jesus went out to pray (away from the crowds)

Mark 1:38 CSB

38 And he said to them, “Let’s go on to the neighboring villages so that I may preach there too. This is why I have come.”

Purpose stated = preach/proclaim the message

Purpose stated = preach/proclaim the message

Significant Principle – Go to teach, service and signs as He goes.

Mark 1:39 CSB

39 He went into all of Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

39-45 Tour of Galilee: Jesus main activities are preaching in the synagogues and casting out demons. Rescuing souls and reclaiming territory.

39-45 Tour of Galilee: Jesus main activities are preaching in the synagogues and casting out demons. Rescuing souls and reclaiming territory.

v.41 ministry of compassion, healing,

Side note on ritual clean and holy: (if time)heals the man with leprosy. Clean = ritually clean, holy. Jesus touched the man who was unclean and would have made Jesus unclean. The result, though, is that the power, authority, and holiness of Jesus cleansed the man’s leprosy and told him to go to the priest.

45 impact is that Jesus had to stay outside the towns because of the crowds of people

Chapter 2 –

After touring Galilee, Jesus returns to Capernaum. The crowds are growing.

1-12 returns to Capernaum along the coast. People crowd the house where Jesus is staying and He is preaching the word.

Mark 2:5 CSB

5 Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

The bigger news here is not the healing of the paralyzed guy, although the story is amazing. Two new things happen here.

The bigger news here is not the healing of the paralyzed guy, although the story is amazing. Two new things happen here.

First, Jesus forgives sins. Before Jesus heals the man He forgives the man’s sins. Up to this point Jesus is preaching the Kingdom is near, repent, believe the good news. Another authority sign.

Second, the scribes are present and begin to oppose Jesus. They take issue with Him forgiving sins. Only God can do that. Jesus then heals the man as a sign/demonstration of power and authority.

This caused the people to glorify God.

v.14 Jesus calls Levi – Follow Me.

Significance – only these 5 disciples are listed by name in Mark. Showing a sinner, tax collector.

Jesus is out along the sea again teaching the crowds. V.14 the same call Follow Me. Now the scribes are there again and complaining that this rabbi is eating with sinners, unclean people.

Mark 2:17 CSB

17 When Jesus heard this, he told them, “It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick. I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

v.17 Jesus makes the statement that He came for the sinners, not those who (think they) are righteous.

v.17 Jesus makes the statement that He came for the sinners, not those who (think they) are righteous.

Reminder – called to what? Repent, believe, follow,

18-22 Fasting. Why not fast? Be with Jesus and celebrate until He is gone. Lord of the fast.

23-28 Lord of the Sabbath. Sabbath made for man, not man for the Sabbath. Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.

Chapter 3 – 1-6 healing on the Sabbath. Opposition continues to grow. Pharisees decide to kill Jesus

7-12 the crowds continue to grow. Mark records people coming from all over – basically, NSEW.

At this stage – Jesus invited people to follow, He primarily taught in the synagogues and served needs as he went. The crowds grew around Him and the religious leaders opposed Him.

Jesus spent a lot of time teaching, now he’s preparing the team to deploy on mission.

Mission

(note to change in bulletin)

v.13 – On the mountain – Jesus summoned, called – this was the draft for His team.

the invitation to follow. Giving A new purpose. New mission. New team. New perspective.

Called them His apostles – ones sent on a special mission.

Mark 3:14–15 CSB

14 He appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, to be with him, to send them out to preach, 15 and to have authority to drive out demons.

v.14-15 – appointed for what purpose? Special mission beginning with – to be with Him.

v.14b-15 – appointed for what purpose? Special mission beginning with – to be with Him.

To be with Jesus – closer learning, training, equipping for a special mission

Send out = deploy

Preach and drive out demons – exactly what Jesus has been modeling for them

v.16-19 list of the 12.

Conclusion

In the first 3 chapters of Mark we see Jesus beginning His ministry, recruiting followers, proclaiming the message of repentance and the Kingdom in all the synagogues, serving needs by casting out demons and healing. Rescuing and restoring.

In all that He does, Jesus is equipping, modeling, teaching His recruits. Preparing them for mission.

Our role as a church and as followers of Jesus is to continue to recruit, train, and deploy.

The important thing is to follow, observe, learn, trust, grow, obey.

That doesn’t mean you can’t tell others about what Jesus did for you. Many of those who encountered Jesus went and told everyone about it, even though Jesus told them not to.

D-groups, discipleship training – our basic training for mission.

Big Idea: Jesus calls you to turn from sin, follow Him, and become like Him.

What About You?

Are you following Jesus on mission?

Are you in training to learn Jesus’ message and ministry?

Are you spending time with Jesus to become more like Him?