The Book of Mark - Part 8

Announcements:

Town Hall - December 7th, 6:30pm

December 7th, 6:30pm, here at the church - with an online streaming option as well.

If you don’t feel comfortable coming in person, we will be able to stream it online. And we’ll set it up so, if you desire, you can contribute to the discussions in house, etc, via video chat.

Also, if you want to add anything to the agenda to be discussed in terms of the direction of the church, all you need to do is write out what you would like to add, put your name on it and sign it, and submit it either to a board member or myself. We’ll take whatever is submitted, and construct the AGM agenda out of that.

We need all of these submissions in by 10 days prior to the AGM - so that’s this coming Friday November 27th. That’s the last date to get new items on the agenda for the town hall meeting - after that date, we’ll finalize the agenda, and we can’t take any new suggestions or items.

Mental and Emotional Wellness Series

Good mental and emotional wellness has been on my mind lately. And I hear from multiple sources, that it’s starting to become an issue - even in our area.

In these times of uncertainty, it is common to feel unease and worry. If you are interested in learning about ways to cope with daily stress, reduce anxiety and improve daily functioning, please join this four session webinar wellness series.

We are joining up with North of Superior Counseling Programs to offer 4 Mental and Emotional Wellness online seminars through the month of January

Every Tuesday starting Jan 5th (5, 12, 19, 26) from 2-3pm.

If you want to join us live, please talk to me - speak to me directly, send me an email at [e-mail], or leave a message on the church voicemail at [phone]

We will be recording the sessions as well, and making them available after the fact.

Note - you will be able to submit questions during the seminar, but this will not be a video chat - you won’t be able to see other people online, and they won’t be able to see you - it will still be private.

this is completely free! So please sign up!

Jesus and His Authority

Jesus comes to Jerusalem as King - Mark 11:1-11

Jesus (and Mark) were highlighting two different things in this story. The first is, the fulfillment of prophecy: Zechariah 9:9 says,

Zech 9:9

Zechariah 9:9 NIV

Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

… but there was also an expression of Kingship as well from the people. The spreading of cloaks on the road, it’s a parallel to an account in Kings where the people recognized Jehu as the rightful king of Israel. So this is a large public declaration from the people that Jesus was coming, not just as a prophet, not just as a teacher - but as a king.

And you see this in the cry from the people:

Mark 11:9-10

Mark 11:9–10 NIV

Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

Jesus’ authority questioned - Mark 11:27-33

Now, after this triumphal entry, where many of the PEOPLE of Israel recognized the coming kingdom of Jesus, he was questioned in the temple courts by the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders. They had a simple question

Mark 11:28

Mark 11:28 NIV

“By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you authority to do this?”

Now, I’ve learned in life. Some people ask questions to learn answers. Some people ask questions just to pour more gasoline on a fire. I get the distinct sense the pharisees were the latter. And Jesus isn’t having any of it.

But his response is brilliant - it digs right at the BIG ISSUE the pharisees had with him, and that was, the recognition of HIS authority above and beyond their own. The Pharisees couldn’t answer him, because if they said ‘it was from heaven’, they’d show that they didn’t have spiritual authority. But if they said, from human origin, they’d lose physical authority - because the people really loved John. This desire for authority and position and recognition paralyzes them.

They asked him where He got his power from, and the answer is obviously from heaven. But Jesus, in his response, shows them where they actually get their OWN power from - and that is from lording authority over others.

Jesus (and mark) are showing us a big thing about authority, and how Jesus’ works entirely different from any human authority.

Jesus clears the temple courts (Mark 11:15-25 ) vs Cursing the Fig Tree (Mark 11:12-14, 22-25)

Mark 11:15-17

Mark 11:15–17 NIV

On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”

Now, Jesus here, he’s quoting from Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 7:9-11

Jeremiah 7:9–11 NIV

“ ‘Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known, and then come and stand before me in this house, which bears my Name, and say, “We are safe”—safe to do all these detestable things? Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching! declares the Lord.

The general understanding I always had about this verse was, the money changers and people selling things were overcharging. Jesus was upset at them robbing people. MAYBE even that they were crowding the gentile court out with wares designed just to profit jews.

But in quoting Jeremiah here, Jesus is showing that the israelites at the time had strayed FAR from the ideals that God had for them. So far that God calls them ‘detestable’.

And the jews in Jeremiah (and i’m sure, the jews in Jesus’ day), they placed their hope, their safety, their security in the physical building of the temple. They rejected the lord and following Him, but they found their worth and security in the beautiful, wordly things that were around them.

And actually, a few verses later Jeremiah talks about the judgment God has reserved for the temple because of all the detestable things the jews had been doing. And Jesus is also, I think, tipping his hat a little bit to what he talks about in Mark 13 - how the temple is going to be destroyed

So, just a review in this chapter.

Jesus entered Jerusalem like a king - but also by fulfilling a messianic prophecy

Jesus gets questioned on HIS authority, but instead points out the weakness behind the pharisees authority

Jesus steps into the temple and starts driving people out of it

This to me, sounds a little bit like God cleaning house

SECTION 2

Jesus and the Future

Parable of the Tenants - Mark 12:1-12

Mark 12:9-11

Mark 12:9–11 NIV

“What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others. Haven’t you read this passage of Scripture: “ ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?”

The signs of the end times - Mark 13:1-36

Mark 13:1–36 NIV

As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!” “Do you see all these great buildings?” replied Jesus. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?” Jesus said to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you. Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains. “You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit. “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. Everyone will hate you because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. “When you see ‘the abomination that causes desolation’ standing where it does not belong—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the housetop go down or enter the house to take anything out. Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! Pray that this will not take place in winter, because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now—and never to be equaled again. “If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them. At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time. “But in those days, following that distress, “ ‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’ “At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens. “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door. Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping.