Give Me Jesus: Jesus As the Model of Ministry: Mark 7:31-37

I. Jesus’ Preparation vs. 31-33

A. Jesus returns to Decapolis, where He had been rejected before. Never write off a place, or what you did for someone. Ministry is never in vain. It takes time for results to come.

B. However Jesus laid out the ground work by casting out a legion of demons previously, and this man told everyone about Jesus.

Mark 5:19–20 NASB95

And He did not let him, but He said to him, “Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you.” And he went away and began to proclaim in Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed.

C. Many times God is laying the ground work for us, when we don’t even realize it. (Vance Pitman/Johnny Hunt/Hope Church beginnings ex)

“Watch to see where God is working and join Him in His work”- Henry Blackaby

II. Jesus’ Look vs. 34a

A. Jesus’ look to Heaven is revealing that this is done divinely. It is out of the overflow.

“Your primary call is not ministry, your primary call is to intimacy. Jesus his called you into a love relationship with Himself. And more important to Him, isn’t what He wants to do through you, is what He desires to do in you”- Vance Pitman

B. Our problem is we don’t spend time in prayer. We are too busy doing good things, that we don’t do what counts. And we wonder why we’re powerless.

C. We must look to Yahweh to accomplish anything worth remembering and repeating.

III. Jesus’ Sigh vs. 34b

A. Jesus’ sign showed compassion. Jesus truly cared.

B. He often showed His compassion, including with tears. Our problem is, we cry over the wrong things, and ignore everyone else’s problems. (First time your heart broke for somebody ex).

Jeremiah 9:1 NASB95

Oh that my head were waters And my eyes a fountain of tears, That I might weep day and night For the slain of the daughter of my people!

C. Jesus used the language that the deaf man would know. Let us use the language that people can understand the gospel in. This started an 8 month stint, of ministering primarily to Gentiles. Almost a third of Jesus’ entire ministry. Jesus truly cared for the outcast. (Translation ex)

D. We should have compassion about sin (ours and others) and about needs (ourselves and others).

Matthew 5:4 NASB95

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Matthew 5:7 NASB95

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

IV. Jesus’ Touch vs. 33-37

A. We forget how much we need the ministry of touch. A hand shake, a hug, a shoulder squeeze. For this deaf, mute, man he would have been awkward, and no one would have willingly hugged him, for a very long time.

B. Jesus showed His love that way, and we should too.

C. Jesus healed in a different way, to show that He works in different ways. Don’t put God in a box.

D. Everyone told, even though Jesus told them not to. This leads to a miracle. While similar, had far reaching implications.