Sermon Tone Analysis

Title: Bravehearted (having a brave heart)

Text:

Series: Book of Mark

Introduction:

*Key

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.

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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)

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.”

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.

(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 -

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.