May 1, 2022 - Proclaiming the Gospel of God (Mark 1:14-3:6)

Everybody good afternoon. Welcome to Trinity Church of Venetia. Having those of you who are new. My name is Ryan Rippy on the pastor of Trinity Church, and it's great to have you out here this afternoon with us. We are in the gospel of Mark and we're going to be heading through the gospel of Mark over the next few months. And it is really an amazing message. Story is the shortest gospel. So Matthew Mark, Luke, John Mark is the shortest one and Mark covers everything rather quickly as he doesn't he? Ends up. Shortening accounts from say the Matthew account. He uses the word immediately A Lot, the Greek word Youth, and he does this because he is sort of wants to get to the point that sort of. He does want to get to the point of the message. And so as we study the gospel of Mark, we're going to see that. What's going on is Jesus is not remark rather is arguing for Jesus being the son of God. But he's arguing in a way to really get to the point. And we're going to see that even in this morning in our passage and a little bit of background setting it up. Mark had in the last week. We saw on the first 13 versus had mentioned, the prophet. Isaiah had mentioned that there was going to be this one coming that I say I had foretold, who is going to be the savior. He was going to be the Messiah, the anointed one. The the hero that was going to come and restore everything that had happened in the fall stove. At the beginning, in Genesis 1 God, created the heavens and the Earth and everything was very good. And Adam and Eve in the garden, were to be really a kingdom of priests. If, if we were to go back to the Genesis account. We see that Adam was ruling over all of the creatures and name them. And they were to be free. Full and multiply and fill the Earth with a bunch of little King priest. So the garden was meant to expand over the whole Earth. But instead, what happens is that him since it's lunch, is the earth into what's known as the fall and sin and death into the world. And so from that point on Genesis chapter 3, God promises. He's going to send, send it was going to fix everything. He's going to restore everything that was lost in the fall of, he's going to make all things new. And so you read through the Book of Genesis and you see all the names of people in these. You see these genealogies and you wonder why in the world. Is it in our Bible was because the question was, every generation. Is this, the hero, is this? The Messiah, is it Abraham? Isaac? Is it? Jacob? Is it one of the 12 sons of Jacob in Genesis is dancer keeps being no, not yet. No, not yet. It is one of the descendants of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and he's going to be with one of the descendants of Judah in Genesis 49. And so from that point has been promising to restore everything that got broke in the fall. So He Sent His prophets to talk about this Messiah, this hero, this Christ who's coming to make all things new. And what we hear in Mark chapter 11? Instead now, all of that promise, all of those thousands of years of God saying, he's going to send a hero of Messiah. Now, it's happened to the kingdom of God, is now at hand. So we're going to cover two and a half chapters of Mark this morning. And for this afternoon. I will get used to that. There would be a 4 p.m. Maybe eventually. But we're going to start 1:14 and 15. And this is a bit of a transition in the gospel of Mark. He does his six times in the gospels. So if we were, if you were going to chop up the gospel of Mark, six times, he uses this transition statement, beginning with the word immediately. That's a 12. A spirit of immediately drove them into the Wilderness. But then an AR 40. Now, after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee. Proclaiming, the gospel of God is saying the time to build the kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe in the gospel. So Mark gives us his transition. That's a summary. The kingdom of God is at hand and everything that I just mentioned, is basically all of the promise to restore the kingdom of Chuck. If you think of the kingdom of God is God to rule over God's people on this Earth through a mediator, God's key. And we think of Adam and Eve, Adam being the first king in the garden, who was ruling, that garden over God's people and Donnie told them be fruitful and multiply and fill the Earth. If the fall had not happened, Adam would be the key and there would be all of his descendants would be part of this kingdom of God. Senator the world, the fall happened and the kingdom was not yet, And all of the Old Testament was promising. There's going to be a second out. If there's going to be another one coming. And all the sudden now in the gospel of Mark, as Jesus appears on the scene. Mark says, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel, the good news of God, saying the time is fulfilled. It's now time. The kingdom of God is at hand repent and believe the gospel song. Jesus comes. Proclaiming in and this word K. Russo is the characteristic activity of Jesus. Back later. His disciples are told to do this in chapter 3 and their to Proclaim to the nation's in Chapter 13 and 14 in. And this word is a great word. It's it's this word to be a heavy flamer of good news. Now Harold, if you think of those old medieval Harold's, that would go hear, ye hear ye this is the word of the key. They would unroll the scroll and he would read it, and they didn't have the privilege to change the words. Didn't have the right to say. I know The Keeney said there's and I'm supposed to read it, but I'm going to let you know what I think. Know what were they to do? They were to read the scroll and say what the words of the King Worm. What Jesus comes proclaiming, the gospel and the picture is he comes and unrolls the word of God. The scroll. Is it where he says listen to? This is the word of God. The good news that the Messiah has come the kingdom of God is at hand gets near. It's right here. It's drawn. Dear. God is actually filling his promises, all of the hope. All of the expectation is here until the responses to repent and believe the gospel. These twins commands that really are one command. It looks like to flip sides of a tent. We literally the word metis neue to repent means to turn and go a different direction to change our thinking to stop going this direction, and go the other direction. And so when we stopped going this way, we believe the good news concerning Jesus. We go the other way. It is the basis of saving. Faith is the basis of our discipleship. Of our following. Jesus is not merely intellectual, but it is a response of acceptance to respond to the commitment. When Jesus is giving these words. We see it in his disciples, to leave everything to follow him. It's his commitment and, and it reminds me of that old story of Niagara Falls in any place, the tightrope over Niagara Falls and there was this famous tightrope Walker named London and he would go back and forth. And, you know, if you was a stuntman of the day and he would, he would just walk back and forth across this tightrope, over the Niagara Falls and everybody was amazed and He would say to the audience. Now who wants me to push them in a wheelbarrow across the typos was one thing to believe that blond and go back and forth is 18 and doing a bunch of times. And if you said, would you believe I could put you in a wheelbarrow and push you across you might even say for sure. I believe you could do it, but then the state will you get the wheelbarrow? That's another level, isn't it? That's the language. She represented, believe the gospel. It's not merely that all. I believe. Jesus can save, I believe that he's the Messiah that, that he's, the son of God knows this level of commitment of all. I'm going to get in the wheelbarrow and I'm going to let him control my life, and he's going to steer the ship. This is acceptance and commitment to. This is the good news that were proclaiming. This is the good news is that we're to be preachers of the Gospel. Jesus is going to pass this torch to the disciples who passed it on to us. So they said, we heard in Revelation 5 Every Nation tribe. People in tongue will be gathered around the throne in the kingdom of God. We can't change the content of the message. We're heroes. We don't have the authority. So we Proclaim it now. This is just a transition. But now we're going to see if we're going to see Mark prove that Jesus is the Messiah, the hero. So, first in verses 16 to 20, we see his authority. We see his authority. Follow me and I will make you become Fishers of Men verse 16. Custom alongside the Sea of Galilee. He saw Simon. Andrew the brother, Simon casting a net into the sea for they were fishermen and Jesus said to them, follow me and I will make you become Fishers of Men immediately. They left their Nets and followed him and going on a little further. You thought, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother who were in the boat and even that sent immediately, he called them and they let their fathers Deputy in the boat with the higher service and followed.

Simon Andrew James and John and Jesus Takes the initiative and he calls them. They don't fill out applications. They're not in their resume. Jesus sees them and called them to follow him. And what's important about this is it shows his authority, not merely, as a teacher. He's a prophet. See, the rabbis of Jesus day. They would take applications. It was a process much like our schooling where you would apply to become part of the school. A teacher or whoever's, it's the Jewish teacher was Jesus that, don't you come and follow me. And I'm going to make you come. See this marks of Jesus and someone with authority, he calls them out and when he doesn't, it's rooted in his love for them. It's not arbitrary. He's not pulling names out of a hat. It was like me when I chose my wife, Jen and I, I saw her and I wanted her to marry me and I asked her to marry me. It was an arbitrary. I wasn't randomly walking down the street asking women to marry me. That would be a big creepy, or at least awkward, no affection for her. I had love for her. It was intentional. See what crime shows his disciples. He chose them because he put his affection upon then we see it wasn't because there was something attractive and a good and damn it was his good pleasure. In fact, he chose them according to 1st Corinthians 1.

Fisherman. Oil, refinery workers. Play choosing foolish things to shame the 1900s.

Christian God chooses you for a purpose to be a follower and a disciple of Jesus Christ. In in the context. He chose them to become Fishers of Men. And we know from the Great Commission, the end of cheeses are His work is Ministry that we're on the same mission to become Fishers of Men. I think about the reality that I'm here today, because 40 years ago, a woman named Luella, Ross at Valley Bible Church was a faithful fisher of men at that. It's summer. And here at Trinity Church of Venetia, we want to fish. There's a word for men and women and I'm in Benicia. We want to be missionaries in our ZIP code. This is what we desire to do is be Proclaimers of the good news that Jesus is coming. He's the hero he's the Messiah. He's the one that actually can save and deliver you, and make your life with you and give you meaning and purpose and hope and forgive your sins and keep your relationship with trying to God. This is really good news. It changes everything. And this is his authority on display here in verses 16 to 20, but then we see his ministry, and there's a little bit more give in here. And this is a typical day in the life of Jesus. Let's look at verse 21, they might end up hurting him immediately on the Sabbath. Synagogue. Sabbath is Saturday and they were astonished at his teaching. Free condom is one who has Authority and not described in immediately. There was a man with an unclean spirit.

Jesus of Nazareth. Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are. The Holy One of God. Jesus rebuked the silent come out of him. The unclean Spirit can both sing him and crying out with a loud voice. Came out of him.

The big question among themselves saying, what is this?

And it was his Fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee. And immediately, Simon's mother-in-law was still with fever and immediately. They told her about it and took her by the hand, and lifted her up in the fever left her and she began to serve them and that evening is sundown.

Oppressed by demons in the whole city was gathered together the door and he killed many who are sick with various diseases and cashed out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak because they knew Rising very early in the morning while it was still dark. He departed went out to a desolate place where you braid in the side of those who were with him, search for him, and they found him, and everyone's looking for you. Set the den lights go on to the next town that I mean preach there. Also, for that is why I came out. He went through all Galilee preaching in their synagogues and casting. Demons. And that you will you can make me clean and move with pennies. He stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, I will be clean and immediately sternly charged in the sent him away. Once said to him, see that you say nothing to anyone would go show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing, with Moses commanded to talk freely about it and spread the news to the Jesus could no longer opening at your account, but was out in desolate places and Seafort's. From every quarter. So this is his ministry in it. And then I want to stop it up by these people to say. I know who you are. The Holy One Of God will be seeing all these accounts is, Jesus is proving that he's. The Messiah is choosing these for a reason. It's not arbitrary. He wants to give us a typical day in the life of Jesus and show. He's publicly teaching birth to a dority. He did repeat the traditions of others. He was teaching with his own authority.

There was a public exorcism verse 24. I know who you are. The Holy One of God and end. This is amazing that the demons are declaring who Jesus is the Holy One. From God Messiah and he's contrasting. Jesus his holy character with with Dad of the world, the demon inhabit, which was unclean.

Interesting with these encounters with demons. If you don't see a need any language of like ghostbusting. It's not like incantations rituals and props. He simply just speaks. Stephen serving staff, Authority was a 27 amazing. It wasn't an everyday occurrence is not an everyday occurrence. When you see demon possession, it's not an everyday occurrence with demons. Get cast out. Texas many today, who would even believe it exists.

Casting out of the Demons. However, reinforces the authority of Jesus's, teachings of Satan being driven back in the Enemy Lines. As it were, are falling back in advance of Jesus. The kingdom of God is at hand is coming, and it's advancing. We also see is a private healing. At Simon's mother. If we don't see all the cries and shouts in the synagogue, but the Gentle Touch of Jesus. Healing Simon, Peter's mother-in-law. And the result is so immediately begins to serve them with hospitality and refreshment. And then your son down there. I first 34 marks the end of the Sabbath, so people would come to him after the Sabbath to be healed in here and teach, because they didn't want to do work on the Sabbath. Now, his popularity skyrocketed. We're going to see you as we go through. Mark is its superficial. They loved him at first because he healed their diseases, and he was asking them to repent, and believe the gospel and come and follow him and take up their cross and died of themselves and becoming disciples then it was too much. Lego Sonic versus 35 to 39 in other towns. And there's four verbs than rising and departed and going and trained show his determination to Fellowship in prayer time with God. The Father. It was the power of his ministry, ironic that his disciples. They track him down in there. They're wanting him to do more of this, amazing Miracles, and healings, and casting out demons. But he says to them know, I have some other work to do first 38 and it's not all of that bill, that will accompany it. I've come to preach there. Also, to proclaims, that same word. It was at the beginning to decide. If I should continue this healing an exorcism Ministry Jesus, correct. His work is Proclaim.

And now this leper that was healed and versus 40 to 45. He comes kneeling and flooring and you get the idea that he's begging and pleading. He says if you will, you can make me clean verse 40 and there's no doubt in the lepers mind about the ability of Jesus. And the teacher said something about saving Faith. Doesn't it is not the amount of our face. but the object or it's not that you have a great face, but it's who are you placing your faith in in in this context is Jesus? If you will, if you will it, if you desire Jesus you can make with pity, he's moved emotionally and she's as touches him and this is an incredible Act of Mercy because if someone was to touch a leper, they become unclean and can't go worship at the temple and have to to do a ceremonies to make them self clean, but instead of immediately, what happened to Bruce 2042 is that the leopard becomes clean is Houston. Symptoms of the disease, just vanish. I bet the special effects Department, you know, when a digital would have a field day with this? Can you tell Sam to say nothing at first? This is a little bit odd, and I'm not going to spend a ton of time here with why Jesus told the leper to say nothing, but I also don't want to just passed by it cuz that might be a question in your mind, but maybe it wasn't. So he said, say nothing or he's going to tell the evil spirit to be quiet. He did that first 25. He wouldn't let the demons speak in verse 34. He didn't let the leper speak 3:12 and evil. Spirits cannot say who he was chapter 7. Delta death in youth, was chapter eight. You were proclaiming. The good news about yourself. Well, he knows that if he if the people get this idea that the Messiah to come that he's coming, merely to heal their diseases and heal their sicknesses. They already thought that the Messiah was going to be a conqueror who was going to kick off the heater love roll, who had conquered Israel? That he was going to be this great General. Who was going to lead him into military victories. I conquer their lands again and kick out all of the enemies. Jesus knew that wasn't Mikey. Didn't come to be a conquering, General came to be as suffering servant.

So Mark emphasizes the crowd gave excessive attention to Jesus and the Miracles cause them to miss the true purpose of Jesus. So he wanted to Shield himself from the crowds long enough to teach his disciples who he really was at the Messiah and what the Messiah had come to do. He's going to mention that chapter 9.

It's great. He would have been an instant influencer, right? It would have been Tik Tok all day long. Look at this leprosy healed. Look at this woman. He'll look at this demon cast out. But there was opposition to in the chapters 2 & in chapter 3. In the reason we want to cover so much of this here is because the five different scenes in a row show the opposition and put them together for a reason. He wants to show that the religious leaders of chew of the Jewish people were opposing Jesus and that they were wrong because they were believing that he was the Messiah. They were believing, he was a heretic that he was a false teacher that he was claiming to be God in there for blaspheming. But Mark is showing the opposite. Jesus is the son of God and how to destroy him. After Sunday's, it was reported that he was at home and many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door and he was preaching the word to them and they can Freezing of a paralytic carried by four men and they could not get near him because of the crowd. They remove the roof above him, when they made an opening, they let down the bed on, which the paralytic when she saw their faces to the paralytic. Son. Your sins are forgiven. Now some of the scribes were sitting there questioning in their cars. Why does this man speak like that?

Immediately Jesus perceiving in his spirit. The day that's question within themselves and said to. Then, why do you question these things in your heart, which is easier to say to the paralytic. Your sins are forgiven or to say rise. Take up your bed and walk is that you mean no Authority on Earth to forgive sins. He said to the paralytic, I say to you rised, pick up your bed and go home. And you wrote was it immediately picked up his bed and went out before them. Also. The dear old mason glorify God saying we never saw anything like this. He went out again beside the sea and all the problem coming to him, and he was teaching them. And if you pass by salt, Levi's, sitting at the definition of reclined a table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining. The Jesus and his disciples were, there were being followed in and describes the Pharisees when they saw, he was eating with Sinners and tax. Collectors said this disciple, tax collectors and sinners. I can not call the righteous, but Sinners John's disciples in the people came and said to him. Why do John's disciples in the Disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not pass. Jesus said to them to the bank as fast was bridegroom, is with them. As long as they have to drive through with it. They cannot fax the day will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them and then, they will fast in that day. No one stole the patch Bunch run clock on an old garment, the patch tears away from it. The new from the old in the worst. He did put new wine into Old wineskins. If he does the wind blow in the wind has destroyed so the skin and so are the skins but new ones for fresh ones getting one Sabbath you was going through the grain fields and if they made their way his disciples began to rain and the Pharisees were only doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath. You said that you would you never met with David dad when he was in need of any but the priests to eat and also gave it to those who were with him. And he said that the Sabbath was made for man. Not man for the Sabbath. So the son of man is Lord even again in the synagogue, in a man was there with the withered hand and they watch Jesus to see whether he would heal them on the Sabbath so that they might accusing. He said the man with the withered hand come here and he said to him, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to harm to save life or to kill that? They were silent and you looked around at them with the hardness of heart and said to the man stretch out your hand and he's stretched it out in his hand, and the Pharisees went out in immediately held council with our audience against him, how to destroy. That's a lot. We just covered there. A lot of stories. But they all fit together, because all of them show that Jesus is the Messiah. That he's the son of God. He's the savior of the world and the religious leaders of the day. You should have seen it and known it. I seen all the signs. They missed it. Instead, they want to kill him. So, they're mad at his ability to forgive sins, verses 112 chapter 2. So he doesn't wear in the house and it's packed out and his main concern again was to preach the word refers to. This is like an ER the ambulances and stretcher cases are rolling up to G. Resealing all of them. And it's so crowded that these four friends have a paralyzed ring and they can't get in the door. So they could open the ceiling and they dropped their friend down right in the middle. Jesus is moved with pity. And the first thing he says to him in verse 5, his son, your sins are forgiven. This riled up, the religious leaders describes.

Now they asked a question better than they do. Because what's the answer? Yes, that's true. The only one who can forgive sins is God alone. So who is this? In their presence? God, the son of man, that claims to do what only God can do threatens the unique status of God, in their minds. It's blasphemy in their mind. But Jesus says let me demonstrate something easier to tell someone their sins are forgiven or to say rice stand up. Take your bed and go home. But easier to say your sins are forgiven cuz nobody can prove that. So he says to prove that I have forgiven his sins. Aren't you? Go ahead and get up and get your bed and go home. And he does. He said the first in this is to demonstrate that the son of man has Authority on Earth to forgive sins. He he makes a point here. It's meant to be noticed. Jesus has the authority to forgive sins. This is who he is.

Just incredible. Well, this leads to another encounter and this is Jesus, picking up his next disciple. He chooses Levi's attacks collector in their society are loved by as much as the IRS tonight. Nobody liked asked me was worse because they were considered the traitors of their Jewish culture. These were people who were taking taxes and giving it to Rome and taking a cut off the top. And so Jesus chooses. I mean one thing to choose fishermen, which you're just a blue-collar folks of the world but to choose tax collector as your disciple, Jesus. What are you thinking? And then Lie by Matthew is his Greek name. He lets him throw party and invite all his friends.

They were probably part of the union and drinking and enjoying a party because Levi, he's accepted by Jesus as a follower and he wants to celebrate.

And Scribe, she went to see it. They couldn't believe it.

They thought why in the world does he eat with tax collectors and sinners? That this wasn't a real question. This was an accusation, but Jesus what a picture of being on Mission. These were all of Matthew's old friends and he said, yeah, but I'm all together. Let's talk about who I am. And why I came Jesus said, in fact, this is who I came for 4:17. Look at it there. I came not to call the righteous but Sinners, that's really good news for you. And I Because Jesus came to call us to save us to deliver us, those who are broken, and Sinners. And in need of a savior. Go to were sick, see the sick, Need A Doctor. Jesus, healed them, the simple need, mercy and forgiveness in Jesus. Granted it. There's no suggestion here that. Jesus went to them because they were the only ones receiving, you know, like a doctor. He went to the sick because they were sick. He went to the Sinners, because they needed forgiveness from God.

Well, chip following that party theme verses 18 to 22. Jesus's disciples didn't bother to fast. No fasting in their culture was a sign of repentance of Sorrow. YouTube. John the Baptist. His disciples fast did the Pharisees fasted but Jesus disciples evidently, they didn't fast. And it was another accusation. Jesus response. A 19 says when the bridegroom wedding, what are you doing, wedding? Hopefully, the catering is good, right? Play the biggest concern was for a wedding as we want the food to be good. We may not ride. Biggest concern, is the biggest concern that the mother of the bride behind up there on the list, is the food better. Be good. No, remember, we don't have it here in the mark account. The Jesus first miracle was at a wedding. He turned water into wine, so that they could celebrate in Jesus, as a 19th. As long as the Messiah. There's no fasting. Their species are celebrating. Mini gives the skin that when the bridegroom's taken away a hint at his future death, right now. We haven't got to the rest of the Gospel of Mark. Let me get this illustration that misses out on us today because we live in a society where everything's disposable are microwave breaks. We buy a new one or at our genes where I could buy a new pair. But he says, if you have a wineskin, it's holding your wine. You don't put an unshrunk cloth on that wineskin because the the gas is in the wine will cause it to stretch. And then The Unsung unshrunk part will stretch more than the part that's already stretched. And you're going to burst the seams going to spill all your wine. It's a bad pass. The closest thing we have to it is every summer when we go to Bass Lake, we bring out the inflatable devices. We bought the previous summer, and then I think I spend an average of an hour or two trying to pack the Inflatables, because they're all busted, cuz they were in storage and we put them away bad. So then I'm having to go down to the local Mart there at Bass Lake, and spend ten bucks for patches, when it was a $5 in slightly. That's problem. And you never works, right? And then we just tell the kids. You know what, it'll get through today. I'll try to find it tomorrow maybe. Tomorrow, or maybe you had inflatable mattresses, but them out. The patches never work, right? That's Jesus picture. And what he's talking about to these religious leaders is I'd come the New Covenant is come. The promises that God made in the Old Testament are now coming fulfilled. We're not going to stay under that old Covenant that old system that Moses gave you on Mount Sinai with the Ten Commandments. It's something new. So he was rebuking the religious leaders. Recruiting them saying this is everything. The Old Testament was when you tore we're not going to patch up. That old sister. We're going to replace it. And we see this in the New Testament. So the animal sacrifices of lands that were in the old system that every year they had to kill an animal and spread his blood. So that sins could be forgiven. Now in the New Covenant once, for all Jesus died in our place, for our sins is blood on the CrossFit, not over and over the priesthood in the Old Testament. They had to keep getting new priest. What priest they died, you know, your lawyer needs a lawyer, they, they were guilty to And so Jesus comes as a perfect priest, who once were all intercedes for us and he'll never be replaced. The temple itself in the old Covenant. It was temporary. It it had a holy of holies in the system of clean and unclean. And the only way to draw near to God was too through all of these regulations and now Jesus comes in, he is the temple veil is torn, so that now we have access to. Anytime we want. This is what Jesus is talking about. We don't have time to go into all the details, but he's rebuking these religious leaders. They should have known better. All of their scriptures pointing to him being the Messiah. And he's proven it like everything that he's doing. Well, then they follow the disciples in there, like, okay, they're walking by a field. Are they going to pluck? Some grains off of that field? We're going to catch up. Because what happens if you pluck those greens off, you must be working on the Sabbath, which is against the law.

Jesus, rebukes it again. Verse 27. He says listen to Sabbath.

And it's turned into burden. Thunderman, on the other hand is Lord of the Sabbath. He's the boss. And if the Sabbath is for us, in the son of man is Lord of us that he's lord of the Sabbath as well. Give me chapter 3 verses 1 to 6. Jesus go so far as to heal on the Sabbath work. They thought they were going to accuse him and that word accused in person. One cargo rental in. The Greek is the legal term. They wanted the mount charges against him that would hold up in a court of law so that they could get him. That's over six S2. They were trying to figure out a way to destroy him. Now he asked him a simple question. Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath or to do harm? What's the spirit of the law? Is this on the Sabbath? What's the spirit? Is it to do good or evil? And if they don't have an answer, they know that if they answer properly, they would say, well, it's lawful to do good spirit of the laws to do good, but then they would be excusing. Jesus, missing the whole point of God's law, given to Moses to love God, and love your neighbor. Loving your neighbor in YouTube.

Jesus. Love this man with the withered hand and what happens if he becomes angry, this is the first time we see Jesus angry in the gospel of Mark read at the hardness of their hearts. See, this isn't the Derrick Thomas and His commentary says this is the darling Little Lamb with the women's quilting circle. Now, this is the lion of the tribe of Judah. This is the Incarnation of Mount Sinai. This is the Lord of Sodom and Gomorrah is destruction. Who's in the synagogue and restores it. And then immediately hold counselor 6 with the herodians against and how to destroy him. So what's going on in these three chapters? These two and a half chapters is Mark is demonstrating. The kingdom of God is at hand and Jesus, whose come is the Messiah. He's fulfilling all the Old Testament promises. He's healing people, he's forgiven their sins. He's lord of the Sabbath. He's the son of man. He's the savior of the world. This is a good news tonight.

See the kingdom of God is Drawing Near and what did Jesus do? He chose? The foolish things of the world to Proclaim it? These fishermen this tax collector. He chooses us to Brooklyn. Where's the recipients of this? Good news. Those of us who believe this gospel have four. Those of us who repented and turned to Jesus, has committed Our Lives to him. We're the ones who now are the messengers of The greatest news in the world, this glad news that Jesus is coming, not for the righteous with the sick and the broken and hurting.

And we have the triplets in the duty to be missionaries right here in our ZIP code. And there's another lesson here. Of course. There's another warning, make me not fall into the Trap of Pride and self-righteousness license, Pharisees and religious leaders.

We want Trinity Church of Venetia this new church, to feed a place that's welcoming to people who are broken and hurting and ruin their lives and the choices they make. we want people to feel the love of Christ that has changed our lives, that it can change theirs and make them new every forward again to and so we don't want to fall into this trap of Pride and self-righteousness. I'll close with this passage out of Philippians 2 from Paul reminds us. The importance of this doesn't help. Whippings 2, verse 3, do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit but in humility count others, more significant than yourselves. But each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.

Though, he was in the form of God, did not count quality with God. A thing to be grasped. This is just incredible to Jesus deep feed turtles, Son of God. Who was with the father from all eternity. Humbled himself added to himself a human nature forever. He became the man Christ Jesus and lived on this Earth. He emptied himself by taking the form of a servant, being born into the likeness of the mystery. To be sure. How did God emptying himself? Because you still gone. How could God empty itself of anything? Will? He says, he emptied himself by taking the form of a servant. It's an empty by adding not removing. And the best example I've ever heard of this is, if you, or I were to go out and test drive, a sports car sports car, you like. How do you know what it is? At this point in my life? I did see a Maserati on the road yesterday and I thought it was pretty sweet. But so you and you don't take anything away from the sports car. You simply add a mile. Are the best Drive route to drive through the mud, and it had some Maserati. You have emptied the Maserati in a way by Adam. You haven't removed anything from it, but you've added to it. This is what the Eternal Son of God did. Was he added a human nature to himself forever so that he's fully God and fully man.

Being found in human form. He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Why did he do it? To die for our sins on that cross. So that we could have his righteousness. So that we could be forgiven so that we could be brought into the presence of God. But he didn't say that he rose from the grave. Paul goes on to say therefore God is highly exalted him and bestowed on him. The name is above every name. So the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on Earth. The Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God, the Father reasoning seated at the right hand of the father ruling and raining at the greatest Authority and us who believes are a part of his kingdom and it's going to go all over the world and we heard in Revelation 5 Every Nation tribe. People in town are going to be

This is Glory. Seems this is good news. This is what we celebrate this. What we think about. This is why we take the Lord's table as we want to remember who Jesus is.

He's the king and he still decided. He's the hero who's going to make all things to do, and he's coming back again and between now and then, we have this responsibility to share the school.