Jesus

MARK 2-3:6

Introduction: If you were on a business trip and someone made it very clear to you that they wanted to have sex with you, what would you do?  Maybe more important:  What do you think Jesus would do?  The only way to really know the answer to that is to know the spirit of Jesus.  That is what Mark is trying to do for us.

I. What do you see about Jesus?

   A. He had a home that he went to   2:1

   B. He had a strong influence in his own community   2:1-2

   C. He healed people

     1. Paralyzed man     2:3-12

     2. Man with withered hand   3:1-5

   D. He had/has authority to forgive sins    2:5, 10

   E. He often spoke of himself as Son of Man    2:10, 28

     1. Human

     2. Messiah    Daniel 7:13-14

     3. Matthew - 28; Mark - 13; Luke - 25; John - 12

   E. His approach angered the self-righteous

     1. 2:6-7

     2. 2:16

     3. 2:18

     4. 2:24

     5. 3:2, 4b, 6

   F. He could perceive people’s thoughts and attitudes   2:8

   G. He illustrated his authority as well as taught about it   2:10-12

   H. He taught people at every opportunity    2:2, 8-11, 13, etc.

   I. He called people to follow him

   J. He associated with & called people who were ostracized by the self-righteous:    Tax collectors and sinners   2:15

   K. He spoke of salvation in terms of healing   2:17

   L. He “stood up” for his disciples when the Pharisees made accusations     2:24-25

   M. He recognized & taught that people are more important than laws &           rules   2:25-28

   N. He practiced what he taught     3:1-5  People are more important than Sabbath rules

   O. He healed and taught knowing some did not approve   3:1-6

   P. He grieved at people’s refusal to listen   3:5

   Q. He did not let his enemies stop him from doing what he came to do

II. Are there any applications from these Jesus qualities to us?

   A. Faith begins at home

   B. When we see people with needs that we can meet, we should help them.

   C. Self-righteousness is a problem in the church

     1. Convinced of one’s own righteousness especially in contrast with the actions and beliefs of others.  Narrow-mindedly moralistic.

     2. “If people were just honest and studied long and hard enough, they would come to the same conclusions as we do.”

     3. All of us may be self-righteous in some areas.

     4. Are we angry when someone changes a religious ritual?

   D. Are we using every opportunity to teach people about Jesus?

   E. Are we calling people to follow us as we follow Jesus?       I Corinthians 11:1

   F. What are we doing for the outcasts of our society?

     1. First we must identify them

     2. Then we must identify their needs, beginning with spiritual needs

     3. Then we must see if we have the means to meet those needs

     4. Then we do it

   G. Do we support, defend, uphold each other?

   H. Do we emphasize people or rules?

   I. How do we feel about people who believe and practice things different from us?