06PM August 6 Mark 8 27_9 10a

August 6, 2006—Evening Worship

The Teachings, the Tests and the Transformation

The “Must Do’s” of the Christian Life

Mark 8:27-9:10a

Intro:  I'm sure you had or have favorite subjects in school & you’ve had your favorite teachers. Some of you aced English, but math perplexed you. Some of you whizzed through science but slept through history. But then came the day of the tests! I don’t know many people who are thrilled at the idea of being tested on any subject. I once heard someone say that a test does not accurately define a student’s ability to learn – but a test defines a teacher’s ability to teach! Every student would agree w/that statement – as I am sure every teacher would disagree.

          I remember 1 teacher I had in Jr. High. His name was Steve Baker. He was a lot younger than the other teachers I had & he made his subject matter interesting. I had Mr. Baker again in High School for history. His classes were interesting but his tests were hard!

          Jesus’ disciples walked w/Him for about 3 years. He taught them many things during that time & the disciples faced many of Jesus' tests. One common name His disciples had for Jesus is "Teacher." So let's look at how the disciples reacted & how we should react to the teachings, tests & the transformation; as we see the “must do’s” of the Christian life.

          In reality, we’re going to be dealing w/the 1st 9 chapters of Mark’s gospel. But we will begin by reading chapter 8:27-30.

Mark 8 27 Now Jesus & His disciples went out to the towns of Caesarea Philippi; & on the road He asked His disciples, saying to them, "Who do men say that I am?" 28 So they answered, "John the Baptist; but some say, Elijah; & others, one of the prophets." 29 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered & said to Him, "You are the Christ." 30 Then He strictly warned them that they should tell no one about Him.

- The 1st thing we must do is…

1. We Must Embrace Christ's Identity (8:27­30).

- It’s easy to answer the “Who do other people say I am” question. It’s much more difficult to answer the “Who do you say I am” question.

- In answering the 2nd question, we must know Christ personally to be able to answer.

- & so, we find this answer in…

    A. The Teaching (1:1--8:26).

- Mark's Gospel, from chapter 1 to 8:26, focuses on the person of Jesus.

- The events of Jesus' life up to this point clearly display His identity as the Messiah (see 1:7­8, 11; 6:1­6).

- The accounts of His public ministry include teaching, healing, casting out demons, &  many other miracles, & they also point to His identity (see 1:23­24; 2:5­12, 27­28; 3:11, 35).

- But then comes…

    B. The Test (8:27­30).

- Jesus asked the disciples who others thought He was.

- The popular opinion was the same as it often is today: just a good teacher or a prophet.

- Having taught & shown the disciples the truth, He asked: "But who do you say that I am?" (v. 29).

- Peter passed this test w/flying colors, "You are the Christ" (v. 29).

- Who do you think Jesus is?

- Is He just a prophet or a teacher, or is He the Messiah: the Savior, the Son of God, & the Lord of your life?

- The very 1st “must” in the Christian life is to embrace the identity of Jesus. IOW to know who He is.

- But the 2nd “must” in the Christian life is that…

2. We Must Accept Christ's Sacrificial Purpose (8:31­33). 31 & He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, & be rejected by the elders & chief priests & scribes, & be killed, & after 3 days rise again. 32 He spoke this word openly. Then Peter took Him aside & began to rebuke Him. 33 But when He had turned around & looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, "Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men."

- Again, Jesus begins w/…

    A. The Teaching (vv. 31­32a).

- Peter had aced his 1st test!

- Jesus then went on to His next lesson in v. 31: "& He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things . . . & be killed, & after 3 days rise again".

- This is what Jesus classified as “the things of God.”

- & then came…

   B. The Test (vv. 32b­33). 32b Then Peter took Him aside & began to rebuke Him. 33 But when He had turned around & looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, "Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men."

- Have you ever seen a contestant on "Family Feud" buzz in too early?

- They didn’t get the whole question & so they lack information, & their answer is always wrong.

- Peter buzzed in too early, rebuking Jesus for prophesying His own death.

- Jesus rebuked him in turn, for Peter was thinking like Satan, not like God, who had in mind salvation & His own glory!

- So we are to know who Jesus is & why Jesus came!

- & the 3rd “must” in the Christian life is that…

3. We Must Be Willing to Lay Down Our Lives as Christ's Disciples (8:34--9:1). 34 When He had called the people to Himself, w/His disciples also, He said to them, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, & take up his cross, & follow Me. 35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake & the gospel's will save it. 36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, & loses his own soul? 37 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of Me & My words in this adulterous & sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father w/the holy angels." 9 1 & He said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present w/power."

- Many people have a hard time understanding…

   A. The Teaching (8:34--9:1).

- This section of Scripture could be an entire sermon series, but we'll summarize the passage in a sentence.

- Jesus requires no less than the very life of His servants, devotion so strong that we would suffer death on a cross for following Him.

- Jesus’ teaching is also followed by…

   B. The Test (John 6:60­66).

- In John 6:22­66, Jesus gave a similar teaching to test the disciples.

- Using the graphic imagery of eating His flesh & drinking His blood, He illustrated His requirements of complete devotion to & dependence on Him.

- Their response is recorded in John 6:60-66: 60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, "This is a hard saying; who can understand it?" 61 When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, "Does this offend you? 62 What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, & they are life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, & who would betray Him. 65 & He said, "Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father." 66 From that time many of His disciples went back & walked with Him no more.

-Are you willing to follow w/complete devotion & dependence?

4. We Must Worship in Christ's Glory (9:2­10a). 2 Now after 6 days Jesus took Peter, James, & John, & led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; & He was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. 4 & Elijah appeared to them w/Moses, & they were talking w/Jesus. 5 Then Peter answered & said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; & let us make 3 tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, & one for Elijah"- 6 b/c he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid. 7 & a cloud came & overshadowed them; & a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!" 8 Suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus w/themselves. 9 Now as they came down from the mountain, He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept this word to themselves….

   A. The Transfiguration.

- W/all the teaching of His suffering & death, the disciples needed a glimpse of His ultimate purpose.

- Jesus "was transfigured" (v. 2) before the disciples, dazzling & bright, which perhaps was a glimpse of His heavenly form, & He was speaking face to face w/Moses & Elijah!

   B. The Teaching.

- Jesus told the disciples about His resurrection (8:31, 9:9) & spoke w/Moses & Elijah of His "decease" (Luke 9:31), which literally means “exit or departure.”

- This teaches us that the torturous death of Christ was not w/o its ultimate purpose: Jesus' resurrection & ascension & ultimate glory!

- The second lesson comes from God Himself in v. 7, "This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!"

   C. The Test.

- God told the disciples to listen to Christ.

- As they descended the mountain, Jesus taught again about His upcoming death & resurrection.

- How did they react? They were stuck, unable to answer.

- The rest of the gospel of Mark shifts focus from Jesus' public ministry to His teaching the disciples, repeatedly prophesying His suffering, death, & resurrection in preparation for their ultimate test: their response to His death & resurrection.

Conclusion:  The ultimate test for us is the same. 1st, we must answer that Jesus truly is the Messiah, the Son of God, the Savior of our souls, & the Lord of our lives. 2nd, we must not reject His purpose, that He suffered a cruel death for us by crucifixion. 3rd, we must be willing to follow Him to the cross, to lay down our own lives & follow Him.

Finally, we must recognize His glory, that He truly did rise again, ascend into the heavens, & currently sits at God's right hand until He comes again. These are lessons straight from Christ Himself; listen to Him! Only when we pass these tests can we "come down off the mountain" to teach others the same lessons that they too might pass life's most important tests.

Invitation:  So we close tonight w/the same question w/which we began.

- Who do you say Jesus is? That’s the most important question you will ever ask or answer.

- Who is Jesus to you? Is He just a good teacher or a great man? Is He just a prophetic voice?

- Who do you say that Jesus is?

- Is He really the Son of God? Is He really God come in the flesh?

- Who do you say that Jesus is?

- God created us for His glory. & so, every human should live to glorify God.

- Yet all of us have failed to glorify God as we should.

- & so, the Bible tells us that “the wages of sin is death.” That’s all we deserve.

- But the good news is that God sent His only Son, Jesus, to provide eternal life.

- The Bible says that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”

- & the Bible says that if you “believe in the Lord Jesus Christ…you will be saved.”

- So in order to receive God’s salvation you must:

-         Turn from your sin

-         Call upon Jesus to save you

-         Place your faith & hope in Jesus Christ alone

-         Rely upon the Holy Spirit to direct your life

I wonder tonight, would you be willing to do that? Do you sense God calling you to salvation? Are you ready to lay down your life as a sinner & to take it up again as a disciple of Jesus Christ? If so, would you pour out your heart to God in prayer & seek Him & His forgiveness?

& if you are a believer already, are you willing to lay down your life for your Lord? Would you follow Him anywhere?—Or just anywhere that it’s comfortable? If you are not willing to lay down your life, what’s so important in this world that you MUST hold on to it?

Jesus said in our text tonight, 36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, & loses his own soul? 37 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of Me & My words in this adulterous & sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father w/the holy angels."

          What’s so important about a temporary treasure that you can’t let go of it to receive eternal life & ultimate joy? Will you crown Jesus as Lord of your life & follow Him w/the devotion He deserves?

          Would you come? Will you receive Christ? Will you honor God? Will you dedicate yourself to Him w/o reserve?

Hymn 161 Crown Him with Many Crowns