Lordship Changes Our Values
Notes
Transcript
Intro: How can we tell when someone is really following the God and when they are just being spiritual? There might be a lot of answers to that question, but I think most would agree that that person who is really following God has deeds (actions) that flow out of them almost without thinking about
if it makes them look good or not,
if it will make them feel good or not;
and if others will notice or not.
It is hard to constantly live Godly. Our flesh and our desires often get in the way.
One of the amazing things about studying the life of Jesus is that His flesh and His personal desires never got in the way of Him living exactly as God would have all of us live. He did this because, as we saw last week, He valued people and lived out life from God’s perspective. His example is inspiring! His example is helpful! And His example helps us understand how much we need to change.
Theme:
Theme:
When Jesus changes everything, He changes what we value!
Review:
Review:
Josh restarted our series with the important passages on faith as he looked at the accounts of the mount of transfiguration and the difficult case of a demon possessed child.
Last week I covered the rest of chapter 9 and started chapter 10. We looked at having an understanding of how God wants us to relate to other people in and around our life!
This gave us great lessons in the work Christ must finish - his death and resurrection that they did not understand and so He again teaches the same thing in 32-34.
We covered the disciples pushing to be the greatest in the coming Kingdom. This too is again covered in v 35-43 when two brothers get sinfully bold.
We also covered the Christian teaching that first shall be last (that we also see in this passage v31 & 44.)
1. The personal touch. v 13-16
1. The personal touch. v 13-16
A. The disciples make a poor choice even after everything Jesus taught them from last week.
A. The disciples make a poor choice even after everything Jesus taught them from last week.
Mark 10:13
Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them.
Whenever you are keeping people - even children from coming to God, you need a change in values!
They probably thought Jesus’s time was more important, or the kids were just being a pain. Jesus loves children! He cares about them. over 300 children in the USA saved from pedophiles since Aug.
The parents wanted their children touched - blessed - by Jesus as was the ancient Jewish custom.
Whatever the case, the disciples step in and stop it because their values had not yet been changed.
B. Jesus gets indignant.
B. Jesus gets indignant.
Mark 10.14
But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.
We do not often see Jesus showing strong emotions, but this is one place He displays what is considered a negative emotion and yet from a righteous and Godly perspective.
C. Jesus teaches
C. Jesus teaches
Mark 10.14-15
But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”
D. Jesus blesses
D. Jesus blesses
Mark 10.16
And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.
Unspoiled children are the ideal models for all who belong to Jesus: they are humble, receptive, dependent on others, and filled with potential.
2. The request for information without transformation.
2. The request for information without transformation.
A. Three of the Gospels give us this account of the Rich Young Ruler. He would have been well known.
B. He asks a great question. V17b
17 And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Notice all the personal pronouns pointing to Jesus. He wanted to know from the man who was living Godly - not from the disciples who kept getting spirituality in the way of godliness.
He asks about “eternal life.” Are each of us ready to give an answer if asked?
Great question!
C. Jesus begins with the response he expected, but turns the conversation to show the young man that he neither knew God nor cared enough about God to follow his Lord.
a. Living the OT rules never has saved anyone!
For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
b. This passage is often confused when people think that Jesus is teaching a works based salvation. This is NOT what is happening here. This man says he follows the commandments but…
i. His wealth is more important than God – breaking commandment #1
ii. He can’t seem to humble himself and admit to sin.
Mark 10.23-26
23 Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
26 And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?”
27 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”
23 Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
26 And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?”
27 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”
iii. He does not trust God for his future because his comfort is his idol. – breaking #2 and possibly #10
D. Jesus then teaches the crowd around him about knowing salvation from the OT without knowing the God of the OT.
27 Jesus was blunt: “No chance at all if you think you can pull it off by yourself. Every chance in the world if you let God do it.”
Stay within the context! This rich young man was seeking salvation. He tried to say he should get it eternal life because he knew his Bible. Jesus says salvation is from the God of the Bible and not from what you know or how you live.
3. The request for sight. 46-52
3. The request for sight. 46-52
A. Bartimaeus recognised the situation and what was required.
A. Bartimaeus recognised the situation and what was required.
46 Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Blindness has obvious hardships. Sadly, people have always marginalised others who are living with hardships. Christians, those who are like Christ, live different!
Action is usually required to change ones life.
B. He called out for mercy
B. He called out for mercy
47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
48 Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
The crowds
The crowd was against him at first.
When Jesus spoke up, the crowd turned and tried to support Bartimaeus.
The beggars.
Wanted mercy
Prayed for mercy
Acted on the opportunity to receive mercy.
C. He received what he had asked God for
C. He received what he had asked God for
50 And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus.
51 So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?”
The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.”
52 Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.
Often our prayer is simply asking God to change the situation.
English Standard Version Chapter 7
7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
This ask was vastly different from the ask if James and John in the previous paragraph. Mark 10.35
The New King James Version Chapter 4
3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.
D. He followed Jesus.
D. He followed Jesus.
Not like the rich young ruler.
52 Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.
When Jesus changed Bartimaeus’s life, he did not go on with life as usual. Instead Bartimaeus demonstrated Lordship.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
When Jesus changes everything, He changes what we value!
Jesus valued people – even children.
Jesus valued those who sought God more than those who sought to be spiritual.
Jesus valued those who valued and understood what His life was about.
Jesus valued those who sought mercy.
1. Are we as a group concerned with people coming to Jesus? Little people, bit people, people from our culture, people not from our culture……
2. While we would openly claim to be following Christ as our Lord and Saviour, are we inclined to be sorrowful about the cost we must pay to follow Him?
3. We expect the blind to all out to God for mercy, but do we understand how much we need mercy? And do we call out to Jesus for it?