SF755 - THE DANGER OF DEADEND LIVING - 3 THE HIGHWAY TO HOPE (Mark 12 1-12)
Mark 12:1-12
Introduction
Background
Last Week of Jesus’ life on earth – Tuesday
On Sunday, there was celebration.
On Monday, there was confrontation.
Ø Cursed the fig tree – Judged unfruitful religion
Ø Cleansed the Temple – Judged unfaithful religion
Tuesday will be a day of confirmation
Ø He will confirm why He came
Context
The question of authority (11:27-28)
The question of acceptance (11:29-30)
Jesus points out the problem
They are living life on a road to nowhere.
Ø They are on a dead-end street.
They have religion without a relationship!!!
Jesus outlines the problem in a parable.
1A. We See God’s Goodness Expressed
1B. By His provision for us (12:1)
His preparation for us–“planted a vineyard”
1 Corinthians 2:9 (NASB) 9“…Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him.”
James 1:17 (NASB) 17Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above…
His protection of us – “a wall around it”
Psalm 18:2 (NASB) 2The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer…
His plan for us – “the winepress”
Ø He had made plans and provisions for our success.
His providence around us – “a tower”
Psalm 61:3 (NASB) 3For You have been a refuge for me, A tower of strength against the enemy.
2B. By His patience with us (12:2-4)
He is patient in his requirements on us – “some…” (12:2)
Psalm 24:1 (NASB) 1The earth is the LORD’S, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it.
He is patient in his response to us. (12:3-4)
Ø He blesses us even when we reject Him
Ø He waits for us even when we ignore Him.
3B. By His persistence in coming (12:5)
God does not give up easily
2 Peter 3:9 (NASB) 9The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
God does not become offended easily
Psalm 103:8 (NASB) 8The LORD is compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.
2A. We See God’s Grace Extended
1B. Through the Son, God sent. (12:6)
Jesus is a unique man
John 3:16 (NKJV) 16For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
John 14:9 (NASB) 9…He who has seen Me has seen the Father…
Jesus has a unique ministry
Acts 4:12 (NASB) 12“And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”
John 14:6
2B. Through the price, Jesus paid (12:7-8)
Jesus was misunderstood
John 1:11 (NASB) 11He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.
Jesus was mistreated
Isaiah 53:3-5 (NASB) 3He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. 4Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. 5But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.
Jesus was murdered
Isaiah 53:9-10 (NASB) 9His grave was assigned with wicked men, Yet He was with a rich man in His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was there any deceit in His mouth. 10But the LORD was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand.
3A. We See God’s Justice Experienced
1B. We are condemned by our sin (12:9)
Isaiah 53:6 (NKJV) 6All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 64:6 (NKJV) 6But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away.
John 3:18 (NASB) 18“He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
2B. We will be crushed in our sin (12:10-11)
Proverbs 13:15 (NKJV) 15…the way of the unfaithful is hard.
Numbers 32:23 (NASB) 23“…be sure your sin will find you out.
Romans 6:23
Application
What will it be for you a dead-end life?
A life doomed for Hell.
Join us on the Highway of Hope by placing your faith in Jesus Christ.
You must…
Repent of your sins
Has God’s Spirit shown you your sin and brought true repentance into you life? Have you turned away from your sin and turned toward God.
Transfer trust to Christ alone.
Has God brought true faith into your life? Have you turned from reliance on your self, and transferred all your hope of heaven to Christ alone?
Recognize the resurrected Christ as your Savior.
Eternal life comes by receiving the person of Christ.
John 1:12 (NKJV) 12But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God…
True faith involves receiving Jesus Christ as you Savior. Do you receive Him as your Savior?
Acknowledge Christ as your Lord
True faith results in acknowledging Jesus Christ as Lord. Do you surrender complete control of your life to Him?
Romans 10:9
Publicly confess Christ and follow Him in believer’s baptism
Our Lord Jesus always calls for public commitment.
Matthew 10:32 (NKJV) 32“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.
Baptism is a means of public confession that identifies the believer with the three best known facts about our Lord Jesus Christ; His death, burial, and resurrection.
Are you willing to confess Him before others and follow Him in believer’s baptism?
THE DANGER OF DEADEND LIVING
The Highway to Hope – Part 3
Mark 12:1-12
1A. We See God’s ___________________ Expressed
1B. By His provision for us (12:1)
His preparation for us–“planted a vineyard”
1 Corinthians 2:9; James 1:17
His ________________ of us – “a wall around it”
Psalm 18:2
His _________________ for us – “the winepress”
His providence around us – “a tower”
Psalm 61:3
2B. By His __________________ with us (12:2-4)
He is patient in his requirements on us (12:2)
Psalm 24:1.
He is patient in his ____________ to us. (12:3-4)
3B. By His persistence in coming (12:5)
God does ______________ give up easily
2 Peter 3:9
God does not become __________________ easily
Psalm 103:8
2A. We See God’s Grace Extended
1B. Through the Son, God sent. (12:6)
Jesus is a ____________________________ man
John 3:16; John 14:9
Jesus has a unique ministry
Acts 4:12; John 14:6
2B. Through the __________, Jesus paid (12:7-8)
Jesus was ______________________________
John 1:11
Jesus was ______________________________
Isaiah 53:3-5
Jesus was murdered
Isaiah 53:9-10
3A. We See God’s ________________ Experienced
1B. We are condemned by our __________ (12:9)
Isaiah 53:6
Isaiah 64:6 .
John 3:18
2B. We will be ___________ in our sin (12:10-11)
Proverbs 13:15
Numbers 32:23
Romans 6:23