Chosen by God - a story of Insiders and outsiders!

Welcome

Mothers’ Day; As we gather, we remember Tony, Thys, Our Older Folk; Catechism; No singing; Morning Tea

Prayer of Approach

Thank you Father, for gathering us ...

Singers only sing - “How deep the Father’s love for us”

God’s Law

John 15:9–14 CSB

9 “As the Father has loved me, I have also loved you. Remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 “I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. 12 “This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you.

Let’s pray ...

Bible Reading

Mark 3:7–19 CSB

7 Jesus departed with his disciples to the sea, and a large crowd followed from Galilee, and a large crowd followed from Judea, 8 Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, and around Tyre and Sidon. The large crowd came to him because they heard about everything he was doing. 9 Then he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, so that the crowd wouldn’t crush him. 10 Since he had healed many, all who had diseases were pressing toward him to touch him. 11 Whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God!” 12 And he would strongly warn them not to make him known. 13 Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, to be with him, to send them out to preach, 15 and to have authority to drive out demons. 16 He appointed the Twelve: To Simon, he gave the name Peter; 17 and to James the son of Zebedee, and to his brother John, he gave the name “Boanerges” (that is, “Sons of Thunder”); 18 Andrew; Philip and Bartholomew; Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot, 19 and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

Introduction

Our journey continues ...

The last four Sundays, we have been, in our minds-eye, at Capernaum, where Jesus faced a growing hostility from the Pharisees, out to get Jesus and have Him destroyed … canceled, we might say.

They did not appreciate it that this Jesus was going about, doing miracles, proclaiming the forgiveness of sins, bringing hope to the inflicted and mixing with sinners and tax collectors and women.

The Pharisees did not appreciate the fact that Jesus was starting to look more and more like He may indeed be the Messiah, - just as John the Baptiser and the prophets foretold and proclaimed - and people were being baptised into a new way of living, a life of repentance and of love … starting to follow in Jesus’ footsteps.

Have we started, friends, following in Jesus steps?

Because that’s what it takes, you see, to be “in” with Jesus! We need to be true followers of Jesus!

And here is the remarkable news - the good news! - Not only does Jesus change our hearts and lives to be part of the IN group

It is He who chooses us, and writes our names in the Book of Life

And so, as we continue this journey that we are on together, in the book of Mark

Let’s continue to see how Jesus is choosing for Himself a people

Today, we arrive, then back at the the Sea of Galilee, ...

This is Jewish territory

inhabited predominantly by Jews. This is Jewish territory.

The Jews - the Chosen race, according to the Old Testament!

What follows in the next section of this gospel of Mark, is all about being chosen.

And therefore, the title of this sermon, “Chosen by God!”

But, who - and how does God choose for Himself a people?

And if the Jews are the chosen people, where does that leave non-Jews?

And, where does that leave you and me?

Mark puts that question very much in the forefront, when he continues to write his Gospel, as we have it in Mark 3: 7 -19.

In the first two verses, we see that the Jews of Galilee and Jerusalem, are joined by non-Jews from … let’s look at the verse:

Mark 3:7–8 CSB

7 Jesus departed with his disciples to the sea, and a large crowd followed from Galilee, and a large crowd followed from Judea, 8 Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, and around Tyre and Sidon. The large crowd came to him because they heard about everything he was doing.

The Jews - the Chosen race, according to the Old Testament.

But! Non Jews have started to join Jesus’ following, and the Pharisees are quite upset about that!

Non-Jews, you see, just like the Tax Collectors, and the Samaritans, are seen as Unclean!

TO CALL TO HIM ALL THOSE WHO WOULD BE “IN” THIS NEW KINGDOM;

and those who would by their own actions disqualify themselves to be counted worthy to enter this new Kingdom.

(May I ask, friends, are you and I … “in “Jesus … or “outside” … of a relationship with Jesus)?

Do we count ourselves among the sinners and tax collectors, longing for a pardon for the pain we cause ourselves and others by our selfishness; (and having received such a pardon, we celebrate a New Life - In Christ!) ? (The story of Zacheus, the Tax Collector)

or do we proclaim ourselves as those who by our conduct and philosophies make it clear we part of an “elite,” who have discovered the true path to happiness by our own endeavours, and will destroy, discredit, cancel anyone who dare suggest we might be called on to give a reckoning of our life choices?

According to Mark, what happens next, is all about showing, again, how history demonstrated who Jesus was;

and how it happened that He had come to lead those who would trust in Him, home, into the new Kingdom;

and how those who would deny Him, falsely accuse Him, charge Him with Blasphemy and Treason, and murder Him - into eternal condemnation and damnation ...

Mark starts this account as follows:

Mark 3:7 CSB

7 Jesus departed with his disciples to the sea, and a large crowd followed from Galilee, and a large crowd followed from Judea,

Word by word, verse by verse … the main characters of this scene steps into the spotlight:

Here is Jesus, perhaps still angry, perhaps still sad at the hardness of the Pharisees hearts …

and He ups, and departs ...

And here are His disciples, those who have been called by Jesus, and have dropped everything,

wonderfully drawn to this man Jesus,

and who have since had their commitment to Jesus vindicated as they see Him drive out Evil Spirits in their many manifestations, heal the sick, bring new meaning to what the meaning of God’s law is, namely, Love … This Jesus, surely, must be the Messiah?

And now, as if from nowhere, here is a “large crowd” ....

People who have come to see ...

Oh, if only people will still come to see

And there among the crowd - the unclean spirits (in and among the people)

Mark 3:11 CSB

11 Whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God!”

They see

The Messianic secret,

Mark 3:13 CSB

13 Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those he wanted, and they came to him.

Up the Mountain

Like the setting for the giving of the Law

The standard by which selection will take place!

“Summoned … THOSE HE WANTED”

Appointed 12, whom He also called Apostles!

… to to be with Him (learn THE WAY)

to send them out (to preach)

and to have authority

Delegated authority!

They are the chosen ones!

Amen

Prayer of Intercession

Sing: Love Divine

Benediction

Doxology