Q and A with Jesus (Part 3)

TEXT: (Todd Stiles)

SYNOPSIS: This third and final message of our mini-series within Mark takes aim at understanding our Lord's priorities. Gain insight into the importance of the heart in this message from regarding not only the Sabbath, but the Savior of the Sabbath!

THT: Our Lord's priority is, first and foremost, the heart, and legalism and loopholes only harden what he wants to heal.

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You've heard the phrase "3 strikes and you're out" right? As Mark chapter 2 concludes, the Pharisees feel that Jesus is on his third strike, but he's not the one who's going to be "out" when all is said and done…let me show you what I mean.

Turn to …let's look at the third and final question the religious leaders ask Jesus…each question builds in intensity, and was about his attention to ceremonial aspects of the Mosaic Law. This is what the Pharisees were in love with. And though Jesus was actually fulfilling it, they saw him as destroying it. He was a threat to their system of righteousness and worth. This third question, and then his stinging one to them, truly exposes them for what they really are

2:23-28 - Their final question

-READ TEXT

-Re: the Sabbath … don't underestimate their view - like explaining Thanksgiving to someone in KZ

-Why God judged Israel earlier…

-Yet, they had fenced in God's law with their own 39 additions (Cole)

-The were concerned, not with obedience to the law, but with adherence to their version of the law.

-As such, they were trying to trap him with a legal obstacle, and he wanted to free them with a life-giving opportunity. Such was the Sabbath!

-Make no mistake -- Jesus didn’t break the Mosaic ceremonial law. He kept it as God gave it, and in doing so fulfilled it and proved himself to be Lord over it. The lawgiver owns the law! Which is why he says v. 28…

-It's an issue of priorities -- lifegiving law (blessing) over legal ceremony (burden).

TRANS:

3:1-6 - His fatal question

-The tables now turn, and it's the deciding moment for both. Jesus reveals his law-giving, compassionate authority and divinity, and they reveal their hardened, selfish and proud humanity.

-He does not break any Sabbath laws.

-They can’t answer, however, indicating the real issue -- their hearts!

HERE THINGS JUST GET WORSE! Ever been in that spot?? You know, where what started out seemingly innocent got dangerous real fast?

ILL - raw sewage showed me things were just gonna get worse.

-What irony -- they appear to be concerned about keeping the law, yet they are breaking the obvious commandment by plotting his murder. Such hypocrisy!

-But that's legalism and self righteousness -- it looks good on the outside but is actually rotten on the inside. It is a system of self-deception that leads to self-destruction.

-They could have admitted Jesus was God and been healed like the man in the synagogue. But instead their hearts were continually hardened and Jesus let them have the dreaded end of their sins.

TRANS: it’s in his question that we see what Jesus was after, and his after, the entire time — the heart of man.

THT: Our Lord's priority is, first and foremost, the heart, and legalism and loopholes only harden what he wants to heal.

TRANS: This is our biggest issue -- our hearts! Remember -- hearts harden with every "no"!

And the question our heart is always asking is this — Where do I find my righteousness? My worth? YES to Jesus, NO to idols we make

-If you find yourself excusing your actions so you can appear perfect… (loopholes)

-If you find yourself creating extra laws and regulations so you look good… (legalism)

-If you find yourself resisting Jesus at every turn, holding on to your own extras instead of only him as your essential…

Jesus stands ready to heal and forgive the one who is honest and repentant…come to him with all your brokenness and witheredness…let him heal you!

CLOSING RESP - keep my heart soft -- hand is up and would like someone to pray for me