A New Kind of Hero 02-28-2021

When pastor Jim Bakker fell into disgrace due to his many sins, it was a sad day for Christians but not having followed his ministry, I was little effected.

Then there was that nice guy, named Bill Cosby.

I liked it when he came out against ghetto talk. urging young men and women to learn and use English grammar.

We enjoyed watching The Cosby Show with wise Dr. Cliff Huxtable.

I got a copy of his Fatherhood book and put it in my reading stacks

And then his sins were found out

and I dumped Cosby’s book.

Then there is Ravi Zacharias

Christian leader

Christian apologist

A speaker and defender of Christianity for many years

He had a way of graciously speaking the truth of God that allowed him to speak, not only to groups that agreed with him, like on Christian College Campuses but also in hostile territory.

He spoke in Mormon Colleges.

He spoke in Muslim Communities.

And he wrote more than 30 books.

I have some of his books.

I have listened to many of his talks on the internet.

I’ve enjoyed hearing objections to Christianity, and the answers he and other Christian Apologist gave.

I was saddened to hear of his death in 2020.

I was horrified to hear that for some time, he too had a sexual sin problem.

I wonder, how long ago, did this hero of the faith,

go wrong.

How long, has he been living a double life?

What mental gymnastics did he have to go through to allow the sin to take root in his life?

His sin,

taints, everything he said or wrote!

Everything good that he has done,

now comes under doubt and suspicion.

Do any of you like me, have some of his books?

will you buy any more of them?

Do we keep the ones we already have, or ditch them all?

Another author once was challenged about a contradiction between his current beliefs and what he he wrote in his earlier books.

The man said, those books represented my thoughts at that time. Now I have different thoughts.

For me, there is a good chance I will keep the Ravi Zechariah books I already have.

I may even buy some more.

Others have already trashed every book they had by Ravi.

Fallen Hero’s embarrass us.

They dissolution us

At times, they have deceived us.

Today, we are going to look again at the book of Mark.

It’s about Jesus Christ who is the only hero, that will never fail us.

He might disappoint us, with callings and convictions to make life changes

but He will never lead us wrong or fail us.

Let’s read about Him in Mark 1 starting at verse 16.

Mark 1:16–45 NIV

16 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 18 At once they left their nets and followed him. 19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. 20 Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him. 21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. 23 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, 24 “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” 25 “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” 26 The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. 27 The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” 28 News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee. 29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. 31 So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them. 32 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. 33 The whole town gathered at the door, 34 and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was. 35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” 38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” 39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons. 40 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” 41 Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” 42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed. 43 Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: 44 “See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” 45 Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.

Jesus Authority

Sometimes people have authority because of their position:

king

President

Govenor

But other times there is authority that comes from the self confidence they carry with them.

I once say a kid, doing something they should do, and I don’t them not to do it. They simply ignored me.

A mom came along, so the same thing, said a few sharp words and

As Gospel writer Mark would say,

Immediately, the boy changed his behavior.

One of the first things people noticed about Jesus was He spoke with authority.

With Jesus authority, he called people into service

Mark 1:16–17 NIV

No discussion no negotiation just

“Come, follow me”

Mark 1:19–20 NIV

19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. 20 Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

Now we know that not everyone followed Jesus when he was called

The rich young ruler was called to give away his money and follow Jesus, and he did not.

With Jesus Authority, he taught lessons like no other teacher!

Mark 1:21–22 NIV

21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.

Now that was something to talk about

A teacher with authority

Mark 1:27 NIV

27 The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.”

My friend Dustin, taught and council people in the real University Finance. He told them things I taught him, but he spoke with more authority that people took his word for it, quicker than they took my word.

Jesus being the Son of God and as John says the Word of God, He could speak with great authority about what it means and how it applies to your life and mine.

With Jesus Authority, he commanded demons

And you know what he commanded them?

Get OUT!

as it says

Mark 1:23–26 NIV

23 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, 24 “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” 25 “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” 26 The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.

I read that what is verse 25 that begins “Be quiet” might more accurately be translated

“Be Gagged” or

“Be Muzzled”.

Jesus spoke with all kinds of Authority, an immense amount of authority!

With Jesus Authority, He healed people

After delivering the man from the unclean spirit

Mark 1:29–31 NIV

29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. 31 So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.

Wow,

Jesus just walks in, take the woman hand and helps her up.

That quick and she’s healed.

Now, I’ve been sick before,

maybe you have too and

even when I’m over the bug,

I’m often tired for a few days more

But when Jesus heals Simon’s mother-in-law

Boom, she is instantly so healed, she

gets up and starts serving them.

What a shock!

What kind of powerful healing is this?

This is like the guy Peter helps up in the temple who goes around the rest of the day jumping and leaping.

This is not barely heal,

This is POWERFULLY HEALED

Amen?

Amen!

Jesus didn’t just heal nice people.

He also healed people that were outcasts like a man with

leprosy, someone unclean with sores and wounds

that may have been in rags and smelled from festering wounds

Jesus reached out his hand and touched the Leper while he was still a leper

and healed the man.

Mark 1:40–42 NIV

40 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” 41 Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” 42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.

It’s interesting, most versions say that Jesus had compassion on the Man, but it says Jesus was indignant.

Other versions say compassionate.

If Jesus was compassionate, that makes sense, he touched the man

If Jesus was angry or indignant, then, there could be more to the story than Mark recorded such as Jesus was angry for how people treated the leprous man.

Jesus had the power to heal and the compassion to heal this man

and it wasn’t a prescription

take this ointment and rub it on the affected skin and see the results in 10 days,

this was an instant healing that all present could see.

and in our short passage healing comes up again

The night Jesus healed Peters mother in law, he also healed most of the town

Mark 1:32–34 NIV

32 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. 33 The whole town gathered at the door, 34 and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.

It must have been wonderful for Peter, to have his mother in law healed and have the whole town show up that night to be healed.

There are times when we like the status-quo.

We want things to remain the same

But God wants us out there sharing the good news with others

So Jesus went out to pray, while it was still dark.

He didn’t tell anyone, he just went out to pray.

Mark 1:36–37 NIV

36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”

Simon wanted to bring Jesus back to the house,

to have a repeat of yesterday but Jesus had

other plans.

Mark 1:38 NIV

38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”

Jesus didn’t come, just to bring us peace and comfort.

He also wanted us to join his project of sharing the good news with others.

illus

Pastor Jeff Maness was a pastor of a healthy church and his best friend was the asst. pastor.

But God called Jeff and his wife to move to another state and plant a new church.

Nothing was wrong with the old church, there was no temptation to leave a hostile situation

The temptation was to stay when God had clearly told them to go.

Jeff and his wife did move, did start a new church and God has blessed. He pastors an Evangelical church in the midwest and wrote a small book because we are called.

Just as Peter seemed to want to keep Jesus ministry in his home town, sometimes things are good and we don’t have the same vision for evangelism as Jesus does. We like our status-quo but if God is calling, we better go,

Or else he is not really our Lord and Savior.

Is He?

Responses to Jesus

When Jesus called Simon and Andrew, they followed Him

When Jesus called James and John, they followed too.

But not everybody does, some turn away in sorrow.

Jesus taught with great authority, like he was the Son of God or something.

Many recognized this but how many followed Jesus and joined His kingdom?

The demons hated and feared Jesus, yet they obeyed him,

in there rebellious ways they obeyed Him.

Peters mother in law was healed and immediately started serving the group of guests.

How wonderful it is when God heals.

What a wonderful response to healing is service to others.

Sometimes our response to Jesus is to form a comfortable group.

You and I, enjoy visiting together and don’t

think or care much about others needing the good news.

but Jesus have a bigger vision, a bigger concern then we have

because He

came to reach

the whole world

with his message of good news

The Challenges

Jesus calls come not just to 12 men in the bible. There can be

calls to service

calls to salvation

calls to give something up

calls to take on something.

What callings is God putting on your heart and life today?

How will you answer Him?

In your heart, is Jesus your great Teacher or just a nice guy?

Jesus taught this

John 14:6 NIV

6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Those are definitive words.

How have you responded to His I AM statements?

I am the bread of life

I am the light of the world

I am the door

I am the resurrection

I am the good shepherd

I am the way

I am the true vine

Do you believe God can really Heal?

Obviously He doesn’t always heal

and often healing comes thought natural process and

Dr. and medical people

but do you still believe

or have you ever believed God can heal?

Last question, do you have compassion enough to leave your comfort zone and tell others about Christ.