Mark Sermon Week 28 - Come to Christ, the Living God

Intro/Welcome

Welcome

My name...

Welcome Online

Continuing in Gospel of Mark…a few weeks left.

Context

Final Week of Jesus Life

Turning Point

Peter’s Confession + Transfiguration

CP — journey to Jerusalem

Entered Jerusalem two weeks ago — Palm Sunday / Triumph Entry

Growing Opposition

Here he is Tuesday/Wed of that Week

The Religious Leaders — NOT HAPPY

Coming after Him and sending everyone

Herodians, Sadducees, Pharisees, Scribes

All the While

Jesus continues his course

and along the way he preaches the same message he has been.

Come to Me, I am the Christ, the Living God.

Jesus invites even his enemies to believe in Him.

yet — when they can’t beat him with their words

they will beat him with their hands.

They can’t see who it is that stands right before them.

Football practice and the water pipe

sometimes, often times, what we need is right before us we are just not thirsty enough

or we quench our thirst with lesser things.

You

Perhaps you are facing opposition today?

uncertainty? Anxiety?

There is not detail to small for God

There is not mountain too Big for him

Yet, the invitation remains for us

Will you and I…come to Christ the Living God.

Bible

We’ll be in Mark 12:13-40.

Go there in your Bibles

Let’s call upon the Living God to meet us here today.

Pray

Isaiah 61:1–4 (ESV)

1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,

because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor;

he has sent me

to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim liberty to the captives,

and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God;

to comfort all who mourn;

3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.

4 They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.

Context

Mark 12:12–13 (CSB)

12 They were looking for a way to arrest him but feared the crowd because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. So they left him and went away. 13 Then they sent some of the Pharisees and the Herodians to Jesus to trap him in his words.

Who is they?

The Chief Priests, the Scribes and the Elders (Mark 11:27)(

Mark 11:27 (CSB)

27 They came again to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came

They are coming after Jesus

Round 1 - The Herodians

Means: Politics, Power and Money

Mark 12:13 (CSB)

13 Then they sent some of the Pharisees and the Herodians to Jesus to trap him in his words.

Pharisees: Religious Leaders - Pious

Herodians: A loosely organized group that sought to advance the political and economic influence of the Herodian family

These are on opposite sides of the political spectrum

Heroidans — Are pro-Roman rule

Pharisees — Anti-roman rule

This is like sending Democrats and Republicans to Jesus.

There’s nothing like a common enemy/perceived threat to power that can bring two politically opposed faction together.

This is a true Bi-partisan endeavor.

What’s their angle?

Mark 12:14 (CSB)

14 When they came, they said to him, “Teacher, we know you are truthful and don’t care what anyone thinks, nor do you show partiality but teach the way of God truthfully. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”

The Trap

A rejection of paying taxes would seem to entail rebellion against Caesar (Herodians)

a willingness to pay taxes appears to compromise devotion to God (Pharisees)

Don’t we do this today?

Jesus is a Republican or a Democrat

Jesus would hold this view.

Mark 12:15 (CSB)

15 But knowing their hypocrisy (Mt 22:18 “perceiving their malicious intent” he said to them,

“Why are you testing me?

Hypocrisy = their acting, their ‘simulation’

Why are you testing me?

this is a heart level question — what is their intent?

This is what we should do more of in our political conversations

Image and Inscription

Mark 12:15–17 (CSB)

Bring me a denarius to look at.” 16 They brought a coin.

“Whose image and inscription is this?” he asked them. “Caesar’s,” they replied.

17 Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were utterly amazed at him.

image - εἰκὼν

εἰκὼν - used 32x in the entire OT

3 of those in the first 9 ch’s of Gen refer to ‘image of God’

Genesis 1:27 (CSB)

27 So God created man in his own image (εἰκὼν); he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female.

inscription= ἐπιγραφή = “epi - graphe”

Think autograph

only other place this is used is in Mark 15:26 (Luke 23:38)

Mark 15:26 (CSB)

26 The inscription of the charge written against him was: The King of the Jews.

In others words who has autographed this?

Who does it belong to?

Give to God what is God’s, give to Caesar what is Caesar’s

Give what is God to God’s and what is Worldly to this world.

Who do you belong to?

Jesus, the Image of God

What they fail to see is that Jesus is the perfect/exact image of God

Colossians 1:15 (CSB)

15 He is the image (εἰκὼν) of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

Hebrews 1:3 (ESV)

3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.

The things of this world have blinded them to God himself.

Just as Paul says in 2 Cor 4:4

2 Corinthians 4:4 (CSB)

4 In their case, the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

In fact, in Matt 23 — Jesus repeatedly refers to them as BLIND GUIDES

Basically he’s confronting this fact by his statement:

He asking, “do you belong to the World or do you belong to God?

Worldly

Mark 12:38–40 (CSB)

38 He also said in his teaching “Beware of the scribes,

who want to go around in long robes

and who want greetings in the marketplaces, 39 the best seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at banquets.

40 They devour widows’ houses and say long prayers just for show. These will receive harsher judgment.”

Matt 23 — 36 verses expounding upon these three.

This is a summary

To be worldly is to long for the things of this world

power, prestige, recognition, reputation

political maneuvering

You end up using others as a means to your end

B/c they are so focused on the World — they fail to see who stands before them.

Come to Him

How about you?

Do you belong to the things of this world? Or do you belong to God?

Are you living as if that is true?

What things have blinded you to the God who stands before you in Jesus?

What would change if you were actually living as though you belonged to God?

Jesus says you have been autographed by God and belong to Him.

so if that’s true:

Come to Him

Don’t run from Him.

Round 2 - The Sadducees

The Sadducees don’t miss a beat

seeing that the Pharisees and Herodians failed, they take their shot.

Mark 12:18–23 (CSB)

18 Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him and questioned him:

19 “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife behind but no child, that man should take the wife and raise up offspring for his brother.

20 There were seven brothers. The first married a woman, and dying, left no offspring. 21 The second also took her, and he died, leaving no offspring. And the third likewise. 22 None of the seven left offspring. Last of all, the woman died too.

23 In the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be, since the seven had married her?”

Sadducees = only believe in first 5 books of the Bible — the Torah — The Pentateuch

missed out on the Psalms, Proverbs, the Prophets

They are quoting Deut 25:5-10.

They are hoping to show the ridiculousness of resurrection

Jesus again answers brilliantly.

Jesus’ Answer

Mark 12:24 (CSB)

24 Jesus spoke to them, “Isn’t this the reason why you’re mistaken (erred):

you don’t know the Scriptures or the power of God?

WOW — 2 points

You don’t know / understand the Scriptures

you don’t even have all of them

You don’t know the power of God

Does that describe anyone in this room

are you lacking understanding of the Scriptures?

Are you lacking knowledge of the power of God?

To Marriage

Mark 12:25 (CSB)

25 For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like angels in heaven.

When (NOT IF) they rise — they will be like the angels.

On Resurrection

And concerning the resurrection

Mark 12:26-27 (CSB)

26 And as for the dead being raised—haven’t you read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the burning bush, how God said to him: I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob?

27 He is not the God of the dead but of the living. You are badly mistaken.”

He applies their scriptures — the book of Moses (the Penteteuch)

He’s quoting Exod 3:6

Exodus 3:6 (CSB)

6 Then he continued, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God.

Read = means to discern, to exact the meaning out of

Jesus’ conclusion

Do you know that God is a living God?

not a dead, or distant or disengaged God

He deeply cares for you

Enough to lay down his life for yours

to go to the cross in your place.

We serve a Living God

A God that is here now

Living and Active

Do you experience a Living God in your life?

What might change if you did?

Paul teaches that if we have believed that Christ is living in us!

Galatians 2:20 (CSB)

20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Jesus promises that he will come and make his home in us

John 14:23 (CSB)

23 Jesus answered, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

The Problem of ‘Holy Books’

The Sadducees had their Holy Book and it limited their view of God

They couldn’t image a resurrection

They held to their ‘sacred books’

Don’t we all do that?

What is your sacred book?

Where do you go in times of need?

The Muslims go to the Koran

The Buddhists go to Tipitaka

The Hindus go to The Vedas And The Upanishads

The New Agers — look inward to the divine self

What about you?

Reddit?

Google?

Do you know the HOLY BOOK?

God’s Word

The Power of God and the Word of God go together

could it be that you don’t know the power of God

b/c you are not well acquainted with the Word of God?

Physical Nourishment as a spiritual reality

This is the same as saying

you feel lethargic and depressed b/c you spend your time eating fast food

it leaves your body weak and ineffective

So to spiritually

if you want to experience the power of God in your life, feed on the Word of God.

Summary

Jesus invites us to come to Him, as he is the Living God

and he is found in the Word of God

Yet, its possible to know a lot about God without actually knowing him personally.

Round 3 - The Scribes

Mark 12:28–31 (CSB)

28 One of the scribes (a pharisee, expert in the Law (mt 22:34-35)) approached.

When he heard them debating and saw that Jesus answered them well, he asked him, “Which command is the most important of all?”

29 Jesus answered, “The most important is Listen, Israel! The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. 31 The second is, Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other command greater than these.”

This is the Shema, every jewish boy would have memorized this growing up.

Where’s the trap?

Mark 12:32–33 (CSB)

32 Then the scribe said to him, “You are right, teacher (not rabbi). You have correctly said that he is one, and there is no one else except him.

33 And to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, is far more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

He emphasizes that God is ONE and no one else except him

WHY?

B/c clearly Jesus had claimed to be God

Perhaps the scribe was hoping to incite Jesus to a response

basically he’s saying God is one and you are not God

This man is so close.

Look at what Jesus says next.

Mark 12:34 (CSB)

34 When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And no one dared to question him any longer.

literally he is standing next to God in the flesh

If only he could see that Jesus is the One True God come in the Flesh

The Incarnate God

The Living God

The Pharisee Barrier

What is the barrier?

It is possible to know a lot about God but not know him personally.

The pharisees would have memorized the OT

Yet they missed Jesus.

I think we see it in the text and it is a subtle thing that takes place

Mark 12:33 (CSB)

33 And to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding (συνέσεως), and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, is far more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

JESUS — Mark 12:30 (CSB)

30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul (ψυχῆς), with all your mind (διανοίας), and with all your strength.

It is confirmed by one word change he has in his response to Jesus

Jesus said love God with…heart, soul, mind, strength

Scribe answers love God with… heart, understanding, strength.

This is intentional on the Scribe

and intentionally recorded by Mark

The Scribes knew a lot about God but they did not Know God

The didn’t know him personally —

this was the the point of the Sacrificial System so that sin could be dealt with and people could be reconciled to God

that is in RIGHT RELATIONSHIP

This is where we can go wrong

we depend on our ‘understanding of the scripture” rather than the scripture itself

It’s why we need the Holy Spirit — the Spirit of Christ

to bring the Word of God to Life

The Messiah

You can know a lot about God without knowing Him personally.

these men were so close

Jesus is going to give them an opportunity

He goes to one of the most well known messianic texts of the OT

The most oft quoted psalm in the NT — Psalm 110.

He has all the RL’s standing their

Here is their chance for repentance

Round 4 - Jesus and the Scriptures

Mark 12:35–37 (CSB)

35 While Jesus was teaching in the temple, he asked, “How can the scribes say that the Messiah is the son of David?

36 David himself says by the Holy Spirit: The Lord declared to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.’ 37

David himself calls him ‘Lord.’ How, then, can he be his son?” And the large crowd was listening to him with delight.

Matthew 22:41–46 (CSB)

41 While the Pharisees were together, Jesus questioned them,

42 “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?”

They replied, “David’s.”

43 He asked them, “How is it then that David, inspired by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’:

44 The Lord declared to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet’?

45 “If David calls him ‘Lord,’ how, then, can he be his son?”

46 No one was able to answer him at all, and from that day no one dared to question him anymore.

Jesus, the Christ

What is he doing?

Simply pointing them to Himself

He is both the Son of David — by genealogy

And the Lord of David — as God in the Flesh

Romans 1:1–6 (CSB)

1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God—2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures—

3 concerning his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who was a descendant of David according to the flesh 4 and was appointed to be the powerful Son of God according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection of the dead.

5 Through him we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the Gentiles, 6 including you who are also called by Jesus Christ.

He is the Messiah

JESUS THE THE ANSWER TO THE TENSIONS IN LIFE

God’s mercy and Justice

God’s goodness and suffering in the world

God’s Power and the existence of Evil

Whatever tension you are living in right now…the question is How is Jesus the answer?

We rely on our own ability to understand

God tells us:

Proverbs 3:5–6 (CSB)

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight.

They pharisees could not see Jesus, the Christ, the Living God b/c of their own presuppositions and misconceptions of God’s Word

They relied on their understanding rather that the power of God

but here’s the real problem

it is a problem of the WILL

What is the problem?

John 5:39–40 (ESV)

39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.

We may search the scriptures

we may search other holy scriptures

we may search the wisdom of this age,

we may search ourselves

we may search experience

we may search...

But at the end of the day, the problem is their (OUR) refusal to come to Jesus.

Closing Invitation

And so this is the invitation for you today.

Where have you been searching for true/eternal life? to be alive?

political power or processes?

Money and wealth?

Political views

The Word of God devoid of the Spirit of God?

Other religious texts?

The answer is Jesus

to come to Jesus right now, right here

with whatever you are struggling with

We serve the LIVING GOD, not a dead God

A god that is here now with us

whom Paul says, lives inside of us

Jesus says will make his home in us

So we are going to come to Jesus right now as we close with song

I’m going to pray

I want you to pray, to ask God

and then to listen to him

Closing Prayer