Bravehearted

Title: Bravehearted (having a brave heart)

Text:

Series: Book of Mark

Introduction:

*Key

Mark 6:50–52 KJV 1900

For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.

Jesus’ Command:

As we have continued in the study of the book of Mark, we now come to a portion of scripture where Christ, in the midst of an amazing display of power, has explicitly commanded his fearful disciples. He says to them, “Be of good cheer!” This literally means to “Be courageous!”

Jesus’ Reason for the Command:

Why does Jesus say this to them? The next phrase helps us to understand the “why”. “It is I”. The reason the disciples should be courageous is because it was Jesus. This is really the intention of this entire chapter. It is about getting the disciples to recognize who Jesus is.

Bravehearted by...

In like manner, this is instructive for all those who are followers of Jesus Christ. Being courageous is rooted in knowing who Jesus is and resting in His divinity. And it would be wise for us to recognize our tendency to often forget, overlook, or become desensitized to who Jesus is. This leads to moments in our lives where we are NOT courageous for Jesus Christ.

There are several ways in which Jesus manifests Who He is in the end of this chapter. Why should the disciples further believe Who Jesus is? How is this possible. Consider three accounts in the scripture.

Bravehearted by...

(1) Trusting Jesus as the Good Shepherd ()

Here in this portion of scripture, Mark picks up the Shepherd motif. What He hears to be in Jesus reminds him of a shepherd of people.

(a) He is the Shepherd compassionately providing for them in a desert place (v. 32-33, 35, )

The significance cannot be overlooked. The shepherds in the Old Testament were often the leaders of Israel, but the last time a similar setting like this existed, it was Moses who was leading them. Now a greater prophet than Moses stands before them in a desert place.

His provision is first teaching before it is physical. This is a good reminder, Jesus is the Shepherd and bishop of the soul. He delights in pastoring the hearts of His people through His Word.

His provision is first teaching before it is physical. This is a good reminder, the gospel

(b) He is the Shepherd of needy people (v. 34 - 36)

His compassion is noted, but the people are seen as sheep without a shepherd. This is an allusion to an Old Testament passage of concern (), but now it is not Joshua that is being set before the people. It is the greater Joshua who is Shepherding the people of God. Little did they realize this.

His provision is first teaching before it is physical. This is a good reminder, Jesus is the Shepherd and bishop of the soul. He delights in pastoring the hearts of His people through His Word.

(c) He is the Shepherd of needy disciples (v. 37)

The need is too great even for his disciples to meet the challenge. The very command of Christ is with intention that the disciples would have to trust in Jesus.

(d) He is the Shepherd who leads and miraculously feeds people in the desert (v. 38 - 41)

The intention of the 12 basket fulls of fragments cannot be overestimated. (). Jesus, the compassionate Shepherd, is going to great lengths so that His followers would be courageous in knowing WHO HE IS.

(e) He is the Shepherd who fully satisfies (v. 42 - 44)

Exodus 16:35 KJV 1900

And the children of Israel did eat manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; they did eat manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan.

Application:

So it is, brothers and sisters, that Jesus Christ is the compassionate, providing Shepherd. “All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way.”

1 Peter 2:25 KJV 1900

For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

You see, men and women are tremendously needy. Our need is eternal life; but we cannot provide this for ourselves. We are sinful people, and Jesus Christ has come as the Good Shepherd to give His life for the sheep. What has he provided? He has provided the “bread of life”. What is that? It is his body which was broken for you. Only those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ will have eternal life.

For the Christian, there is tremendous significance as we observe the Lord’s table, remembering our Good Shepherd.

RECAP: Being bravehearted as a follower of Christ is encouraged by trusting Jesus as the Good Shepherd.

(2) Trusting Jesus as the Great Sea Walker ()

ILLUSTRATION: This past week a photo was posted of sled dogs walking on thin ice. It appeared that they were walking on water.

(a) It is the Shepherd’s design that the disciples go on the sea (v. 45 - 46)

For what reason would Christ compel or press or force his disciples to do such a thing?

(b) The Shepherd comes as a Sea Walker to toiling disciples (v. 47 - 50)

Some time between 3:00 & 6:00 AM Jesus comes walking on the water and would have passed by the vainly rowing disciples. Jesus is NOT recognized, much less the fact that Jesus is powerful enough to make the disciples journey prosperous.

(c) The Sea Walker enters the boat, and the wind ceases.

This type of sovereign power over the seas is only attributed to Jehovah in the Old Testament.

Jeremiah 5:22 KJV 1900

Fear ye not me? saith the Lord: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?

Proverbs 8:29 KJV 1900

When he gave to the sea his decree, That the waters should not pass his commandment: When he appointed the foundations of the earth:

Mark 4:39 KJV 1900

And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

(d) The Sea Walker’s power reveals the hardened hearts of the disciples (v. 51-52)

As astonishing as this account is, it is tremendously astonishing that the disciples are in unbelief. They had not taken time to consider or understand that

if Jesus is the Shepherd who could create bread, then this Sea Walker certainly could make a journey across the sea to be prosperous.

if Jesus is the Shepherd who could sustain the lives of over 5,000 people in the desert, then maybe this Sea Walker could sustain the lives of 12 disciples in a boat.

if Jesus is the greater Moses and the greater Joshua, then maybe He indeed is the very Son of God manifested.

They were clearly distracted by their circumstances from taking into consideration what Jesus had previously done and what this means about Jesus.

Application:

This is tremendously instructive for us. We become hard-hearted people when we are not considering Who Jesus is, and how what He has done should point to who He is.

Effort, work, toil, success, prosperity…in themselves they are not evil; but when they serve to distract us from considering, relishing, admiring, savoring Who Jesus is — then they become those things that prevent us from being bravehearted.

How often do we sacrifice quiet meditation on Jesus for sake of another hour of work or another hour of pleasure?

RECAP: Being Bravehearted as a Christian is encouraged as we consider Jesus as the compassionate, providing Good Shepherd…and being Bravehearted is encouraged as we remember Him as the great Sea Walker...

(3) Trusting Jesus as the Great Physician ()

(a) The Great Sea Walker now manifests that He is the great Healer (v. 53 - 55)

(b) The Great Healer is an observant Jew who is consecrated to the LORD (v. 56) 4 tassels sown on the border -

Numbers 15:38–40 KJV 1900

Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue: And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the Lord, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring: That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God.

Numbers 15:38–39 KJV 1900

Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue: And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the Lord, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring:

In addition to being healed, the manner in which they were being healed is calling the attention of the disciples to something:

(i) Jesus is a Physician who is obedient to the commandments of God

(ii) Jesus is a Physician who does not prostitute himself after selfish lusts

(iii) Jesus is the Physician who is separated unto the LORD.

While the disciples hearts were hardened, they were following One whose heart was perfectly devoted to the LORD.

Application:

How instructive this is for us. Our courage in Jesus rests in the fact that He is the Perfect Healer. We don’t find rest in the perfection of our own devotion or even the righteousness of our own motivation. Jesus came to fulfill what we could not and to heal what we could not. He was perfectly devoted to His Father.

RECAP: Being Bravehearted as a Christian is encouraged as we consider Jesus as the compassionate, providing Good Shepherd…and being Bravehearted is encouraged as we remember Him as the great Sea Walker…and being bravehearted is encouraged as we recognize His perfection and healing power.

Concluding Applications:

(1) Jesus Christ is the only One Who fulfilled this role perfectly.

(2) Becoming a bravehearted Christian begins by receiving Jesus Christ as Lord & Savior.

Jesus has been gloriously compassionate to your soul.

Jesus has manifested unparalleled power in His Resurrection.

Jesus has called you to a healing of your dead condition. Be converted today!

(3) Do not be blind to the fact that the Christian’s security is in the True Provider & not in political experts

(4) Intentional, unhindered, undistracted, uninterrupted, uninhibited, unrepressed, unimpeded time should be given to growth in understanding of Jesus. (his compassion, his creator-ship, his miraculous power) - Meditation?

This is time where we are reminded that our compassion, our power, and our devotion is not enough; but the compassion, the power, and the devotion of Jesus is enough.

This is time where we are reminded that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

This is time where we are reminded that this Shepherd, gives to us a compassion for others; gives us a power for the journey; and strengthens our devotion to the Father.

This is a time where we are once again humbled and our hearts are softened to Jesus.

(5) Parents, your children need to see that YOU need this Jesus. (when you try to be these things, you will tend to put a persona of perfection in front of your kids - this leads to pride). Transparency is important. They don’t need perfect parents. They need parents who point them to the Shepherd, Sea Walker, Physician.

(6) Church, being bravehearted in our body begins with a commitment to the Person of Jesus Christ. This means that we are not as committed to everything else that may be traditions of men. (example:?)

(7) Sr. Saint, bravehearted for you means that you learn to take courage in your later years because of Who Jesus is in your life — over whether your healthcare is the best or your retirement is sufficient. When there is not enough, Jesus is enough. Don’t allow anxiousness to rule your emotions. Look unto Jesus! He is the Author and Finisher of our faith.

Are you a bravehearted follower of Christ or one whose heart is hardened towards Him?

Would you take time to understand Who He is again?

Feedback:

consideration of how this eliminates the prosperity gospel

consideration of the gospel fulfillment and end time fulfillment

Jesus is amazing! specifically, why? sovereignty, trustworthy...

Considering his work in our lives now, not just a historical consideration