A Portrait of Christ
1) 2-15-09…AM…SBC 2)
“A Portrait of Christ”
Mark 3:1-21 (Matt 12 & Lk. 6)
Introduction: VOM?
1) Christ the Resistant v1-6
A- Here we have another conflict story with the focus being more on the conflict then the healing
1. Summarize the situation – Sabbath Observance and motivation of Pharisees
B- The Pharisees (religious elite) watched him closely to observe just what Jesus might do on the Sabbath
1. two suggestions for “watching” are given – (1) guard – Acts 9:24 (2) to watch maliciously
2. context - they are not guarding Jesus in order to protect him
3. the context reveals to us that their motivation is to gain information with which they can accuse Jesus with and ultimately see his demise
C- Jesus again addressed the observance of the Sabbath
1- They permitted healing on the Sabbath only if a life was in danger. This man’s problem was not life-threatening and could wait till the next day; so if Jesus healed him, they could accuse Him of being a Sabbath-violator, an offense punishable by death (cf. Ex. 31:14-17).[1]
D- Jesus heals the man with the withered hand to prove his point that it is right to good on the Sabbath
1- Clearly to leave such a man unhealed, when Jesus had the power to heal him, was to do evil.[2]
2- To do good on the Sabbath by healing the man was obviously the right course of action[3]
3- The Pharisees could not respond without condemning themselves because the intent in their heart was to not to do good on the Sabbath
Jesus raised the question of who was really honoring God and loving others—the point of the Sabbath rest—by what they were doing.[4] – the Sabbath had become more important than the needs of people
Ø Christ resisted man made religion – Worship must be on God’s terms as prescribed in the Bible
Ø Christ resisted the unkind, unloving, self-centered, malicious attitude of the Pharisees
Ø Jesus connected the Sabbath with the heart of God – benevolence, mercy, kindness, goodness
Ø What kind of resistant should we be? – one who resists the fear of man in order to fear God and love others
Ø Salvation:
· there are people today that are caught in all kids of religious systems trying gain God’s favor by doing exactly what the Pharisees did – laws upon law and rules upon rules (Mormon, JW, Roman Catholics)
· if you are tired of working in man’s religious system – come to Christ for rest and salvation
Transition: Not only is Christ seen as a resistant, but he is also portrayed as…
2) Christ the Caring v7-12
A- The crowds continued to flock to Jesus, probably mostly for healing.[5]
B- On this occasion there were so many that Jesus secured a boat in order to escape the throng of people
C- When some had such an enmity to him, that they drove him out of their country, others had such a value for him, that they followed him wherever he went; and the enmity of their leaders to Christ did not cool their respect to him.[6]
D- What induced them to follow him; it was the report they heard of the great things he did for all that applied themselves to him; some wished to see one that had done such great things, and others hoped he would do great things for them.[7]
Ø He never turned people away and thereby reaffirmed His mission as being to sinners who need a Savior
Ø Christ had a love for people because he saw their true need – not filled with diseases, but sinners
Ø Participating in local church ministry—the church Christ died to establish—is to minster to people/each other
Ø That ministry will require sacrifice, because ministry doesn’t just happen on Sundays and during commercials
Ø Ministering to people will require some weekends, personal time, lunch hours, relaxing evenings, even your most coveted sports game
Ø So how do you view people? Do you—as a living portrait of the Savior—care for people enough to get out of your comfort zone to minister to them? (not just the people in church)
Transition: The last portrait we see of Christ this morning is…
3) Christ the Tutor v13-21
A- He called this “team” together with the end result destined to be ministry
B- Jesus appointed them for a twofold education in Association and Missions
C- Their association and relationship with the Tutor would determine the spiritual education
D- This spiritual education then is what must drive their mission – “with him…send out to preach”
Ø In Christianity receivers must be givers – the disciples education resulted in giving to others
Ø An atheist once said, “How much do you have to hate someone to not [evangelize]?”…”How much do you have to hate someone to believe that everlasting life is possible and not tell them that?”
Ø Sharing the Gospel is a mandate—How much are you hating those around you?
E- most scholars reference to the family situation with two options:
1. He is crazy and in need of restraint - He will bring/is bringing shame the family’s reputation
2. For his own physical sake we must step in – no food, people everywhere, his strength
Conclusion:
1- What portrait of Christ is seen in this text? – resistant—caring and compassionate—discipling others
2- What is the shadow that we cast on this church and others in light of this portrait of Christ
3- What does it mean to be a Christian?
a- being a Christian means that you are free from the bondage of sin and self righteous hypocrisy
b- it means being called to discipleship – fighting sin, repenting, changing (it is not passive theology)
c- it means that you will seek out others to share the Gospel with
d- being a Christian means that we seek to match our behavior with our profession of faith
Is your Christianity more like a Picasso painting or an amusement park caricature?
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cf. confer, compare
[1]John F. Walvoord, Roy B. Zuck and Dallas Theological Seminary, The Bible Knowledge Commentary : An Exposition of the Scriptures (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1983-c1985), 2:115.
[2]D. A. Carson, New Bible Commentary : 21st Century Edition, Rev. Ed. of: The New Bible Commentary. 3rd Ed. / Edited by D. Guthrie, J.A. Motyer. 1970., 4th ed. (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, Ill., USA: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994), Mk 3:1.
[3]D. A. Carson, New Bible Commentary : 21st Century Edition, Rev. Ed. of: The New Bible Commentary. 3rd Ed. / Edited by D. Guthrie, J.A. Motyer. 1970., 4th ed. (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, Ill., USA: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994), Mk 3:1.
[4]Philip Wesley Comfort, Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, Vol 11, "With the Entire Text of the New Living Translation." (Carol Stream, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers, 2005-c2006), 425.
[5]D. A. Carson, New Bible Commentary : 21st Century Edition, Rev. Ed. of: The New Bible Commentary. 3rd Ed. / Edited by D. Guthrie, J.A. Motyer. 1970., 4th ed. (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, Ill., USA: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994), Mk 3:7.
[6]Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible : Complete and Unabridged in One Volume (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1996, c1991), Mk 3:1.
[7]Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible : Complete and Unabridged in One Volume (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1996, c1991), Mk 3:1.