The Meaning of the Kingdom
Series: THE SERVANT KING
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 17th February 2018
00:00:00 --> 00:00:10 Good morning everyone, great to see you this morning and let me just say thank you for
00:00:10 --> 00:00:15 those who are currently in the process of doing translation work for me and throughout
00:00:15 --> 00:00:19 this service but also the enormous amount of work that happens in the background for
00:00:19 --> 00:00:22 translation work so that we are prepared Sunday by Sunday.
00:00:23 --> 00:00:29 I'm reticent to say it but it was astounding to sing that Mandarin song.
00:00:30 --> 00:00:36 It in fact brought tears to my eyes for something that was a great song, theologically really
00:00:36 --> 00:00:44 strong and expressing a real heart worship of God and yet it didn't originate from an
00:00:44 --> 00:00:45 Anglo person.
00:00:45 --> 00:00:51 I think that is fantastic for us as a church, for those of us who are kind of used to dominating
00:00:51 --> 00:00:57 from the Anglo culture side of things to hear from brothers and sisters from other parts
00:00:57 --> 00:00:59 of the world who are different from us.
00:00:59 --> 00:01:04 It was referred to as a day that changed the world forever.
00:01:05 --> 00:01:13 Tuesday 11th September 2001, there was a series of four coordinated suicide attacks by Al-Qaeda
00:01:13 --> 00:01:15 upon the United States.
00:01:15 --> 00:01:25 We know the outcome of it, 3 victims, 19 hijackers died on the attacks and it is infamously
00:01:25 --> 00:01:31 remembered today as the worst terrorist atrocity in human history.
00:01:32 --> 00:01:40 The overwhelming majority of the casualties were civilians including nationals from 70 different
00:01:40 --> 00:01:40 countries.
00:01:41 --> 00:01:49 And most of us can remember where we were in that moment when we heard that awful news
00:01:49 --> 00:01:50 when it reached us for the first time.
00:01:50 --> 00:01:51 I remember the moment vividly.
00:01:51 --> 00:02:00 I was rousing from sleep and my alarm clock had gone off and it was the news and all I caught
00:02:00 --> 00:02:05 in my half awake was the Twin Towers have collapsed.
00:02:06 --> 00:02:07 And I remember thinking, that's not right.
00:02:08 --> 00:02:09 I must have misheard that.
00:02:10 --> 00:02:10 That's not possible.
00:02:12 --> 00:02:13 And it was.
00:02:14 --> 00:02:18 Many things changed in the world on that day.
00:02:18 --> 00:02:29 One thing that particularly changed was it saw the rise in the West of the new atheism movement.
00:02:30 --> 00:02:32 A rejection of God.
00:02:34 --> 00:02:41 And many things changed on the day that Jesus arrived over 2 years ago.
00:02:41 --> 00:02:46 It's the very first sentence of Mark as we looked at last week.
00:02:47 --> 00:02:51 That the God who started history broke into history and everything changed.
00:02:53 --> 00:02:57 Mark begins with the beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.
00:02:59 --> 00:03:03 His style communicates, as I said last week, a sense of crisis.
00:03:03 --> 00:03:06 The status quo has now been ruptured.
00:03:06 --> 00:03:17 Mark wants us to see that this Jesus, as he did then, does now still calls for decisive action in our lives.
00:03:18 --> 00:03:23 And that decisive action is in the very first words that he speaks.
00:03:24 --> 00:03:25 Jesus speaks in Mark's gospel.
00:03:25 --> 00:03:28 Repent and believe the good news.
00:03:28 --> 00:03:32 That's what he calls from us.
00:03:34 --> 00:03:39 And the good news is another way of saying gospel, which literally means news that brings joy.
00:03:40 --> 00:03:45 And at the time of Mark, that word was used.
00:03:46 --> 00:03:53 It meant history-making, life-altering, shaping news.
00:03:54 --> 00:03:56 And that's what Christianity is.
00:03:56 --> 00:04:00 It's life-altering news.
00:04:00 --> 00:04:02 History-altering news.
00:04:03 --> 00:04:10 And the history-altering news of Christianity is that Jesus has come to bring us back to our maker, our creator, our God.
00:04:12 --> 00:04:17 He calls us to stop living lives as if we are the king of our lives.
00:04:17 --> 00:04:20 And to come to him and to have our lives orbit around him.
00:04:20 --> 00:04:28 Now, what we notice in the text today is that as soon as Jesus speaks about the kingdom of God,
00:04:29 --> 00:04:32 he calls and he calls people to repent and believe.
00:04:32 --> 00:04:36 He immediately starts choosing people to follow him.
00:04:37 --> 00:04:42 Initially, there's this core group of 12 and a bunch of other followers.
00:04:42 --> 00:04:47 And Mark records the first of these encounters from verse 16.
00:04:47 --> 00:04:49 So come with me in the text.
00:04:49 --> 00:04:55 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake.
00:04:56 --> 00:04:56 For they were fishermen.
00:04:57 --> 00:04:59 Come, follow me, Jesus said.
00:04:59 --> 00:05:02 And I will send you out to fish for people.
00:05:02 --> 00:05:31 Now, what Jesus is doing here is somewhat unique in Jewish tradition.
00:05:32 --> 00:05:38 In Jewish tradition, pupils used to choose their rabbis, not rabbis, their pupils.
00:05:40 --> 00:05:46 And Mark is showing us that Jesus has a very different type of authority than your regular rabbi.
00:05:47 --> 00:05:52 You can't have a relationship with Jesus unless he calls you to himself.
00:05:53 --> 00:05:58 And there are two encounters here that are slightly different encounters.
00:05:58 --> 00:06:05 When he calls Simon and Andrew to follow him in verse 17,
00:06:06 --> 00:06:09 they leave their fishing nets and they follow him.
00:06:10 --> 00:06:14 That is, they leave their vocation and they follow him.
00:06:15 --> 00:06:17 Their livelihood and they follow him.
00:06:18 --> 00:06:23 When he calls James and John, they leave their father behind in the boat.
00:06:23 --> 00:06:25 That's the emphasis in that verse.
00:06:25 --> 00:06:27 They leave their father behind in the boat.
00:06:29 --> 00:06:32 These men, all of them who were called by Jesus in this moment,
00:06:32 --> 00:06:38 they did fish again and they did relate to their parents again.
00:06:39 --> 00:06:41 You can see that in the rest of Mark.
00:06:41 --> 00:06:49 But what Jesus is saying here in this first calling of these disciples is drastic.
00:06:51 --> 00:06:56 People with a heritage in traditional culture,
00:06:57 --> 00:06:59 like generally from Eastern societies,
00:06:59 --> 00:07:02 they get their identity from their family.
00:07:02 --> 00:07:04 And so when Jesus says,
00:07:04 --> 00:07:07 I want priority over your family,
00:07:07 --> 00:07:08 leave your father behind,
00:07:08 --> 00:07:11 he's saying something pretty drastic in that moment
00:07:11 --> 00:07:13 for those in those traditions.
00:07:14 --> 00:07:15 On the other hand,
00:07:15 --> 00:07:17 in an individualistic culture like the West,
00:07:18 --> 00:07:22 saying goodbye to your parents is not as big a deal.
00:07:23 --> 00:07:25 But for Jesus to say,
00:07:25 --> 00:07:28 I want priority over your career,
00:07:29 --> 00:07:29 your vocation,
00:07:31 --> 00:07:31 that's drastic.
00:07:32 --> 00:07:36 And Jesus is saying here that knowing him,
00:07:36 --> 00:07:37 loving him,
00:07:37 --> 00:07:37 resembling him,
00:07:37 --> 00:07:38 serving him,
00:07:38 --> 00:07:43 must become the supreme passion of your life.
00:07:43 --> 00:07:45 Everything else comes second.
00:07:46 --> 00:07:46 Everything else comes second.
00:07:49 --> 00:07:52 Now one of the things that changed in the Western world
00:07:52 --> 00:07:54 as a result of September 11,
00:07:55 --> 00:07:57 and apart from the rise of new atheism,
00:07:58 --> 00:08:00 was the fear of fanaticism,
00:08:00 --> 00:08:05 especially any kind of religious fanaticism.
00:08:05 --> 00:08:11 There was a fear of Islamic fanaticism
00:08:11 --> 00:08:12 prior to September 11,
00:08:12 --> 00:08:17 but it expanded to even Christian fanaticism
00:08:17 --> 00:08:19 in a growing secular culture.
00:08:19 --> 00:08:23 And there's good reason for that fear.
00:08:23 --> 00:08:29 Considerable violence is being carried out in this world
00:08:29 --> 00:08:32 by highly religious people.
00:08:32 --> 00:08:38 And even when you set aside that kind of religious fanaticism,
00:08:39 --> 00:08:42 we aren't short of examples
00:08:42 --> 00:08:45 of people who are very religious,
00:08:45 --> 00:08:47 and yet at the same time,
00:08:47 --> 00:08:48 they are condemning,
00:08:48 --> 00:08:50 they are self-righteous,
00:08:50 --> 00:08:51 and they are abusive.
00:08:52 --> 00:08:56 All the sort of things that we seek to work hard against
00:08:56 --> 00:08:57 here at St. Paul's.
00:08:59 --> 00:09:00 And so most people,
00:09:02 --> 00:09:04 particularly in the Western world,
00:09:04 --> 00:09:08 would see religion as a spectrum of belief.
00:09:08 --> 00:09:12 On one end,
00:09:13 --> 00:09:16 are people who say they are religious,
00:09:17 --> 00:09:18 but they don't really believe
00:09:18 --> 00:09:21 or live out the fundamentals
00:09:21 --> 00:09:22 of whatever it is,
00:09:22 --> 00:09:23 the religion that they say they believe.
00:09:24 --> 00:09:27 On the other end of the spectrum,
00:09:27 --> 00:09:28 are the fanatics.
00:09:29 --> 00:09:31 These are the people who are
00:09:31 --> 00:09:33 too religious.
00:09:33 --> 00:09:37 The people who kind of over-believe everything
00:09:37 --> 00:09:39 and over-live their faith.
00:09:40 --> 00:09:42 So you've got hypocrites at one end,
00:09:43 --> 00:09:45 and you've got fanatics at the other end.
00:09:47 --> 00:09:50 And many people think that the solution
00:09:50 --> 00:09:52 to the hypocrites and the fanatics
00:09:52 --> 00:09:54 is to meet in the middle.
00:09:56 --> 00:09:57 Moderation in all things.
00:09:59 --> 00:10:00 Moderation in everything.
00:10:01 --> 00:10:03 We can sit comfortably with moderation.
00:10:04 --> 00:10:04 Sort of.
00:10:07 --> 00:10:07 And clearly,
00:10:08 --> 00:10:09 Jesus hasn't heard about that option.
00:10:11 --> 00:10:12 In Luke 14,
00:10:12 --> 00:10:14 he says to a large crowd gathered,
00:10:14 --> 00:10:16 in verses 26 and 27, Luke 14,
00:10:17 --> 00:10:18 if anyone comes to me
00:10:18 --> 00:10:20 and does not hate his father and mother,
00:10:20 --> 00:10:21 wife and children,
00:10:22 --> 00:10:23 brothers and sisters,
00:10:23 --> 00:10:24 yes, even his own life,
00:10:25 --> 00:10:27 such a person cannot be my disciple.
00:10:28 --> 00:10:30 And whoever does not carry their cross
00:10:30 --> 00:10:31 and follow me
00:10:31 --> 00:10:34 cannot be my disciple.
00:10:35 --> 00:10:36 Now that
00:10:36 --> 00:10:38 doesn't sound moderate
00:10:38 --> 00:10:40 at all.
00:10:42 --> 00:10:43 Jesus says,
00:10:44 --> 00:10:45 if anyone
00:10:45 --> 00:10:46 comes to me,
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 he doesn't say,
00:10:47 --> 00:10:48 all right,
00:10:49 --> 00:10:50 all right,
00:10:50 --> 00:10:50 look,
00:10:51 --> 00:10:51 consensus here,
00:10:51 --> 00:10:52 some of you can be moderate.
00:10:53 --> 00:10:54 Some of you can be moderate
00:10:54 --> 00:10:55 as my disciples,
00:10:55 --> 00:10:57 but I really do need
00:10:57 --> 00:10:59 a few good men
00:10:59 --> 00:11:00 and a few good women
00:11:00 --> 00:11:01 who are prepared to go all the way
00:11:01 --> 00:11:03 with this discipleship thing.
00:11:03 --> 00:11:04 I need the
00:11:04 --> 00:11:05 rah-rah of the Marines
00:11:05 --> 00:11:06 or so.
00:11:06 --> 00:11:07 I need a few of those.
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 The rest of you can be moderate.
00:11:09 --> 00:11:12 He says,
00:11:12 --> 00:11:12 anyone,
00:11:13 --> 00:11:14 anyone,
00:11:14 --> 00:11:15 no double standards here,
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 no double standards at all.
00:11:17 --> 00:11:18 If anyone wants to have anything
00:11:18 --> 00:11:19 to do with Jesus,
00:11:19 --> 00:11:20 you have to hate your father
00:11:20 --> 00:11:21 and your mother,
00:11:21 --> 00:11:22 your wife and your child,
00:11:22 --> 00:11:23 your brother and sister,
00:11:23 --> 00:11:24 even your own life.
00:11:24 --> 00:11:24 He says,
00:11:24 --> 00:11:26 otherwise you cannot be my disciple.
00:11:29 --> 00:11:30 That's what it means
00:11:30 --> 00:11:31 to follow Jesus.
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 Now,
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 that does seem a little bit
00:11:35 --> 00:11:36 contradictory to Jesus
00:11:36 --> 00:11:37 because
00:11:37 --> 00:11:41 a little bit later on,
00:11:41 --> 00:11:41 he says,
00:11:42 --> 00:11:43 you can't even hate your enemy.
00:11:44 --> 00:11:45 So what's he doing here?
00:11:45 --> 00:11:47 Telling you you hate your family,
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 but don't hate your enemy.
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 What's his problem with family?
00:11:54 --> 00:11:56 Until you realize that Jesus
00:11:56 --> 00:11:57 isn't actually calling us
00:11:57 --> 00:11:59 to hate actively,
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 but he's actually calling us
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 to hate comparatively.
00:12:04 --> 00:12:05 He's calling his disciples
00:12:05 --> 00:12:07 to follow him so fully,
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 so intensely,
00:12:09 --> 00:12:10 so comprehensively,
00:12:10 --> 00:12:11 so enduringly,
00:12:11 --> 00:12:13 that every other
00:12:13 --> 00:12:14 entachment in life
00:12:14 --> 00:12:16 looks like hate
00:12:16 --> 00:12:17 in comparison.
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 You see,
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 when we say to Jesus,
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 I'll obey you, Jesus,
00:12:26 --> 00:12:28 if and when my career thrives,
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 or I'll obey you, Jesus,
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 if and when my health
00:12:31 --> 00:12:31 is sorted out,
00:12:32 --> 00:12:32 or if and when,
00:12:33 --> 00:12:33 you know,
00:12:33 --> 00:12:35 I raise the kids,
00:12:35 --> 00:12:37 or I've paid off the house,
00:12:38 --> 00:12:39 then the thing
00:12:39 --> 00:12:41 that's on the other side
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 of that if and when,
00:12:45 --> 00:12:46 that's your real master.
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 That's your real God.
00:12:49 --> 00:12:50 That's your real Lord.
00:12:50 --> 00:12:52 It is your functional king.
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 It is the goal of your life.
00:12:55 --> 00:12:57 Anything that puts Jesus
00:12:57 --> 00:12:57 to one side,
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 and when I achieve this,
00:12:59 --> 00:12:59 Jesus,
00:12:59 --> 00:13:00 then I'll do that,
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 then I'll follow you.
00:13:01 --> 00:13:02 That is your real master.
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 That is your real Lord.
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 And Jesus says,
00:13:08 --> 00:13:10 I will not be a means
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 to an end.
00:13:12 --> 00:13:14 I will not be used.
00:13:14 --> 00:13:17 When he calls us to follow him,
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 he alone must be the goal.
00:13:20 --> 00:13:24 Now that sounds like fanaticism.
00:13:25 --> 00:13:27 And it is,
00:13:27 --> 00:13:29 if you don't understand
00:13:29 --> 00:13:31 the difference between religion
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 and the Christian gospel.
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 Religion,
00:13:35 --> 00:13:37 as I said last week,
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 is advice
00:13:38 --> 00:13:41 on how you must live life
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 to earn your way to God.
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 And the job
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 of the adherent
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 to religion
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 is to follow the advice
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 to the best
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 of their ability.
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 And if you do,
00:13:53 --> 00:13:54 you do follow it
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 faithfully
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 and completely,
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 you'll believe
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 that you will have
00:13:59 --> 00:13:59 a connection
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 with that God.
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 You'll feel a connection
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 with that God
00:14:02 --> 00:14:04 because of how you lived
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 and how you believed.
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 And this inevitably
00:14:07 --> 00:14:09 leads to a feeling
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 of superiority
00:14:10 --> 00:14:12 over
00:14:12 --> 00:14:14 other people
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 who have
00:14:15 --> 00:14:17 different living standards
00:14:17 --> 00:14:19 and different belief.
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 And once you have
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 that position of pride,
00:14:23 --> 00:14:25 it is a slippery slope.
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 When we feel
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 superior to people,
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 we tend to
00:14:29 --> 00:14:31 distance ourselves
00:14:31 --> 00:14:31 from people
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 and when we distance
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 ourselves from people,
00:14:33 --> 00:14:35 we start to exclude them,
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 we start to hate them
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 and we start to
00:14:37 --> 00:14:39 ultimately oppress them.
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 And there are
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 some Christians
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 and there are
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 some Christian groups
00:14:47 --> 00:14:49 who are just like that.
00:14:50 --> 00:14:52 But it's not
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 because they've
00:14:53 --> 00:14:53 gone too far
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 with Jesus.
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 It's not because
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 they're too committed
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 to Jesus.
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 It's because they haven't
00:15:02 --> 00:15:02 gone far enough
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 with Jesus.
00:15:03 --> 00:15:05 It's because they haven't
00:15:05 --> 00:15:05 gone all the way
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 with Jesus.
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 They aren't
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 as fanatically
00:15:12 --> 00:15:12 humble
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 and sensitive
00:15:13 --> 00:15:16 or as fanatically
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 understanding
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 and generous
00:15:18 --> 00:15:20 as Jesus is.
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 They are treating
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 Christianity
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 as if it was
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 advice
00:15:25 --> 00:15:27 instead of news.
00:15:28 --> 00:15:28 You see,
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 the good news,
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 the Christian gospel
00:15:30 --> 00:15:32 is not advice.
00:15:33 --> 00:15:33 It is good news
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 that you don't
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 need to earn
00:15:35 --> 00:15:37 your way to God
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 because Jesus
00:15:38 --> 00:15:38 has done it
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 for you.
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 It's a gift
00:15:41 --> 00:15:41 that we receive
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 because of the sheer,
00:15:43 --> 00:15:43 may I say,
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 astounding grace
00:15:45 --> 00:15:45 of God.
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 That's what it is.
00:15:47 --> 00:15:49 It's the astounding
00:15:49 --> 00:15:49 grace of God
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 as we just sang.
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 And when we grab
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 hold of that gift
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 and continue
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 to do so,
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 then the call
00:15:56 --> 00:15:56 of Jesus
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 in our lives,
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 it won't lead
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 to fanaticism,
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 it won't lead
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 to moderation
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 and it won't lead
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 to hypocrisy.
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 The gospel
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 leads us
00:16:08 --> 00:16:10 to passionately
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 make Jesus
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 our goal
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 and our priority.
00:16:13 --> 00:16:15 It leads us
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 to the point
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 of humility
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 and service
00:16:18 --> 00:16:18 of him
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 and humility
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 and service
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 towards every other person.
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 Our lives
00:16:22 --> 00:16:24 revolve around Jesus.
00:16:25 --> 00:16:25 Jesus doesn't
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 revolve around
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 our life.
00:16:28 --> 00:16:32 The gospel
00:16:32 --> 00:16:32 impact
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 on our lives
00:16:33 --> 00:16:33 means that
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 when we meet
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 somebody
00:16:35 --> 00:16:35 with a different
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 set of priorities,
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 a different faith,
00:16:38 --> 00:16:40 we won't assume
00:16:40 --> 00:16:40 that they are
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 inferior
00:16:41 --> 00:16:41 and deserving
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 of our
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 persecution,
00:16:43 --> 00:16:43 oppression
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 and condemnation.
00:16:46 --> 00:16:46 Instead of
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 oppressing them,
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 we serve them.
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 That's the difference
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 the good news
00:16:52 --> 00:16:52 makes.
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 Christianity
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 is about being
00:16:57 --> 00:16:57 called to follow
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 the king.
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 It's not about
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 choosing to follow
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 advice.
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 It's not about
00:17:07 --> 00:17:07 someone with
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 the power
00:17:08 --> 00:17:08 and authority
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 to tell you
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 what needs
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 to be done.
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 It's about
00:17:14 --> 00:17:14 someone with
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 the power
00:17:15 --> 00:17:15 and authority
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 doing what
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 needs to be done
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 and then
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 offering it
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 to us
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 as good
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 news.
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 And Jesus
00:17:26 --> 00:17:26 has that
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 authority.
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 As we saw
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 last week
00:17:30 --> 00:17:30 at Jesus'
00:17:30 --> 00:17:30 baptism,
00:17:31 --> 00:17:31 there was a
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 display of
00:17:32 --> 00:17:34 supernatural signs
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 which announced
00:17:35 --> 00:17:35 his divine
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 authority.
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 And Jesus
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 calls on the
00:17:39 --> 00:17:39 lives of
00:17:39 --> 00:17:39 Simon,
00:17:40 --> 00:17:40 Andrew,
00:17:40 --> 00:17:40 James and
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 John.
00:17:42 --> 00:17:42 When he calls
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 their life,
00:17:43 --> 00:17:43 he has authority
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 to call
00:17:44 --> 00:17:44 them.
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 They
00:17:47 --> 00:17:47 followed him
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 without delay.
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 We see
00:17:53 --> 00:17:53 that Jesus
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 has authority
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 over all
00:17:55 --> 00:17:55 of life.
00:17:56 --> 00:17:56 Mark uses
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 the word
00:17:57 --> 00:17:57 authority
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 for the first
00:17:58 --> 00:17:58 time in
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 verses 22
00:17:59 --> 00:17:59 to 23.
00:18:00 --> 00:18:00 They went
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 to Capernaum
00:18:01 --> 00:18:01 and when
00:18:01 --> 00:18:01 the Sabbath
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 came,
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 Jesus went
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 into the
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 synagogue
00:18:04 --> 00:18:04 and began
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 to teach.
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 The people
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 were amazed
00:18:07 --> 00:18:07 at his
00:18:07 --> 00:18:07 teaching
00:18:07 --> 00:18:07 because he
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 taught them
00:18:08 --> 00:18:08 as one
00:18:08 --> 00:18:08 who had
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 authority,
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 not as
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 the teachers
00:18:11 --> 00:18:11 of the law.
00:18:11 --> 00:18:13 Now the
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 word authority
00:18:14 --> 00:18:16 means out
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 of the
00:18:17 --> 00:18:17 original
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 stuff.
00:18:19 --> 00:18:19 The word
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 stuff is
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 my, you
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 know,
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 version in
00:18:23 --> 00:18:23 there.
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 Out of the
00:18:24 --> 00:18:24 original
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 stuff.
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 It has
00:18:27 --> 00:18:27 the same
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 origin as
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 the word
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 author,
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 the author
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 of life,
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 the maker
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 of life,
00:18:34 --> 00:18:34 the one
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 who made
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 all stuff.
00:18:38 --> 00:18:38 And Mark
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 means that
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 Jesus taught
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 about life
00:18:41 --> 00:18:41 with original
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 authority.
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 Jesus didn't
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 simply clarify
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 something that
00:18:45 --> 00:18:45 someone else
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 had already
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 said or
00:18:47 --> 00:18:47 knew about.
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 He didn't
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 simply interpret
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 the Bible
00:18:51 --> 00:18:51 in a way
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 that the
00:18:52 --> 00:18:52 Jewish
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 authorities
00:18:53 --> 00:18:53 hadn't
00:18:53 --> 00:18:53 interpreted
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 the Bible.
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 It's like
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 he was the
00:18:59 --> 00:18:59 original
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 source.
00:19:01 --> 00:19:01 It's like
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 they sensed
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 with Jesus
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 that he
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 was explaining
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 the story
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 of their
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 lives as
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 if he
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 was the
00:19:09 --> 00:19:09 one who
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 wrote the
00:19:10 --> 00:19:10 story.
00:19:11 --> 00:19:13 And
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 they
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 were
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 amazed
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 by it.
00:19:19 --> 00:19:19 Because he
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 is the
00:19:20 --> 00:19:20 author of
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 life.
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 He's the
00:19:22 --> 00:19:22 king of
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 life.
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 You read
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 on and we
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 see that
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 Jesus'
00:19:26 --> 00:19:26 authority
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 extends
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 even further.
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 Verse 23
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 to 27.
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 It just
00:19:32 --> 00:19:32 takes his
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 authority to
00:19:33 --> 00:19:33 the next
00:19:33 --> 00:19:33 level.
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 We have
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 the voice
00:19:35 --> 00:19:35 of the
00:19:35 --> 00:19:35 Father
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 confirming the
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 identity of
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 Jesus at
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 his
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 baptism.
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 He is
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 his much
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 loved
00:19:43 --> 00:19:43 son.
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 And now
00:19:45 --> 00:19:45 we have a
00:19:45 --> 00:19:45 different
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 voice.
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 And
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 anybody who
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 hates Jesus
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 in verse
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 26
00:19:49 --> 00:19:51 likewise
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 confirms the
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 identity of
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 Jesus.
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 What do you
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 want with us
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 Jesus of
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 Nazareth?
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 Have you
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 come to
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 destroy us?
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 I know who
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 you are,
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 the Holy
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 One of
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 God.
00:20:02 --> 00:20:04 evil
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 spirits who
00:20:05 --> 00:20:05 love
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 darkness
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 recoil from
00:20:07 --> 00:20:07 light.
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 And it's
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 very possible
00:20:10 --> 00:20:10 to recognize
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 Jesus for
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 who he is
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 and yet
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 hate him
00:20:14 --> 00:20:14 even the
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 more,
00:20:16 --> 00:20:16 which is
00:20:16 --> 00:20:16 what we
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 see here.
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 This man
00:20:20 --> 00:20:20 wanted nothing
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 to do with
00:20:21 --> 00:20:21 Jesus.
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 The demon
00:20:22 --> 00:20:24 shriek was
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 full of
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 malevolent
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 aggression.
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 His opening
00:20:28 --> 00:20:28 burst,
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 what do you
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 want with us
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 Jesus of
00:20:31 --> 00:20:31 Nazareth?
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 was a
00:20:33 --> 00:20:33 common Old
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 Testament
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 formula which
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 is roughly
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 equivalent to
00:20:37 --> 00:20:39 you have no
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 business with
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 us yet.
00:20:43 --> 00:20:45 Evil spirits
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 wanted to
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 say to
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 Jesus,
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 go away,
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 the time
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 has not
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 yet come,
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 go away.
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 And the
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 next phrase
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 which is
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 stated as a
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 question,
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 have you
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 come to
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 destroy us,
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 is actually,
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 in actual
00:20:57 --> 00:20:57 fact,
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 a defiant
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 assertion.
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 You have
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 come to
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 destroy us.
00:21:02 --> 00:21:05 You see,
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 this demon
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 realized the
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 menace of
00:21:08 --> 00:21:10 Christ and
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 cried out
00:21:10 --> 00:21:12 with an
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 instinctive
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 expression of
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 dread.
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 He wanted
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 Jesus to
00:21:18 --> 00:21:18 disappear for
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 he knew that
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 Jesus would
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 in fact
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 destroy him.
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 But note
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 what he does
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 in verse 24,
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 it's his final
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 cry out.
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 This is
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 dramatic.
00:21:28 --> 00:21:30 I know
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 who you
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 are,
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 the Holy
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 One of
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 God.
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 Now on
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 one level,
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 that appears
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 to be a
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 submissive
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 acknowledgement
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 of who
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 Jesus is,
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 but it's
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 in fact
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 a frantic
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 attempt to
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 bring the
00:21:47 --> 00:21:47 Lord Jesus
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 under his
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 power.
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 power.
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 We know
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 that because
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 the idea
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 was widespread
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 at the
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 time that
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 the exact
00:21:55 --> 00:21:58 knowledge of
00:21:58 --> 00:21:58 the other's
00:21:58 --> 00:22:00 name brought
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 mastery and
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 control over
00:22:02 --> 00:22:02 them.
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 And that is
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 what this evil
00:22:06 --> 00:22:06 spirit is
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 attempting to
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 do.
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 It's an
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 ill-informed
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 attempt to
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 control Jesus
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 just as
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 Satan had
00:22:13 --> 00:22:13 attempted to
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 do in the
00:22:14 --> 00:22:14 wilderness just
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 before this.
00:22:15 --> 00:22:17 And Jesus,
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 rather than
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 submits to
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 the evil
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 spirit,
00:22:21 --> 00:22:21 demands that
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 the man be
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 quiet,
00:22:23 --> 00:22:23 literally be
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 muzzled,
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 and the
00:22:25 --> 00:22:25 unclean
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 spirit come
00:22:26 --> 00:22:26 out of
00:22:26 --> 00:22:26 him.
00:22:29 --> 00:22:29 The evil
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 spirit was
00:22:30 --> 00:22:30 powerful enough
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 to control
00:22:31 --> 00:22:31 this man,
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 but not
00:22:32 --> 00:22:32 Jesus.
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 And he
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 did just
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 what Jesus
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 told him to
00:22:35 --> 00:22:35 do in
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 that instant.
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 Jesus spoke
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 and this
00:22:38 --> 00:22:38 evil spirit
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 obeyed.
00:22:40 --> 00:22:40 See,
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 Jesus is
00:22:41 --> 00:22:41 king over
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 the spiritual
00:22:42 --> 00:22:42 realm.
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 He has an
00:22:43 --> 00:22:43 unmatched
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 authority.
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 People were
00:22:46 --> 00:22:46 starting to
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 notice it.
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 Wherever Jesus
00:22:49 --> 00:22:49 went,
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 people were
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 amazed at
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 his teaching
00:22:51 --> 00:22:51 and his
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 actions.
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 Even the
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 evil spirits
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 obey him.
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 Wherever he
00:22:59 --> 00:22:59 went,
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 crowds were
00:23:00 --> 00:23:00 forming.
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 Fuss was
00:23:02 --> 00:23:02 being made
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 about Jesus.
00:23:05 --> 00:23:05 And so
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 why did
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 Jesus tell
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 this evil
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 spirit,
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 be quiet?
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 And down
00:23:12 --> 00:23:12 in verse
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 34,
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 it says,
00:23:14 --> 00:23:14 he also
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 drove out
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 many demons,
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 but he
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 would not
00:23:18 --> 00:23:18 let the
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 demons
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 speak because
00:23:20 --> 00:23:20 they knew
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 who he
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 was.
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 Why do
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 that?
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 Why tell
00:23:28 --> 00:23:28 them to be
00:23:28 --> 00:23:28 quiet?
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 Is it just
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 an effort
00:23:32 --> 00:23:32 to,
00:23:33 --> 00:23:33 you know,
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 divine
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 crowd control?
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 Why doesn't
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 he take
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 advantage of
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 his incredible
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 popularity?
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 Why not
00:23:42 --> 00:23:44 generate more
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 appeal to
00:23:45 --> 00:23:45 who he is
00:23:45 --> 00:23:45 and his
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 message?
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 That's what
00:23:47 --> 00:23:47 I would
00:23:47 --> 00:23:47 have done.
00:23:49 --> 00:23:49 You know,
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 challenge me
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 evil spirit,
00:23:51 --> 00:23:51 get out,
00:23:52 --> 00:23:52 evil spirit
00:23:52 --> 00:23:52 goes,
00:23:53 --> 00:23:53 you know,
00:23:53 --> 00:23:53 who's your
00:23:53 --> 00:23:53 daddy?
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 I'd be
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 high-fiving and
00:23:56 --> 00:23:56 chest-pumping
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 with the
00:23:57 --> 00:23:57 disciples.
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 Till
00:23:59 --> 00:23:59 everyone
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 thieves in
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 town.
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 That's what
00:24:02 --> 00:24:02 I'd do.
00:24:05 --> 00:24:05 Not
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 Jesus.
00:24:06 --> 00:24:08 And the
00:24:08 --> 00:24:10 key is
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 in verse
00:24:11 --> 00:24:11 26.
00:24:14 --> 00:24:14 The
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 impure
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 spirit
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 shook the
00:24:17 --> 00:24:17 man
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 violently
00:24:18 --> 00:24:20 and came
00:24:20 --> 00:24:20 out of
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 him with
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 a shriek.
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 There's
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 one other
00:24:27 --> 00:24:27 place in
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 Mark's
00:24:28 --> 00:24:28 gospel
00:24:28 --> 00:24:30 where that
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 sentence is
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 almost exactly
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 reproduced.
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 it's in
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 Mark 15
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 verse 37
00:24:36 --> 00:24:38 and it
00:24:38 --> 00:24:38 describes the
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 death of
00:24:39 --> 00:24:39 Jesus
00:24:39 --> 00:24:41 with a
00:24:41 --> 00:24:41 loud cry.
00:24:42 --> 00:24:42 Jesus
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 breathed
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 his last.
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 Literally,
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 his spirit
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 was
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 expelled.
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 What
00:24:55 --> 00:24:55 Jesus knew
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 was that
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 the only
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 way that
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 he would
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 ever silence
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 the demons
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 was to
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 allow himself
00:25:02 --> 00:25:02 to be
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 silenced.
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 The way
00:25:06 --> 00:25:06 to
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 wield
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 his
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 true
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 authority
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 was not
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 to parade
00:25:12 --> 00:25:12 it around
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 and brandish
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 it
00:25:14 --> 00:25:16 but simply
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 to give
00:25:17 --> 00:25:17 it up.
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 To give
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 it up.
00:25:21 --> 00:25:21 No
00:25:21 --> 00:25:23 convulsing,
00:25:23 --> 00:25:23 no
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 struggling,
00:25:25 --> 00:25:25 no
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 thrashing
00:25:26 --> 00:25:28 but simply
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 to give
00:25:29 --> 00:25:29 it up.
00:25:30 --> 00:25:30 To steal
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 the spirits
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 he would
00:25:32 --> 00:25:32 have to
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 give up
00:25:33 --> 00:25:33 his
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 own.
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 His
00:25:36 --> 00:25:36 wasn't
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 involuntarily
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 driven out,
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 it was
00:25:39 --> 00:25:39 voluntarily
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 given up
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 and everything
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 in this
00:25:42 --> 00:25:42 passage that
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 we see
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 is but
00:25:44 --> 00:25:46 a skirmish
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 to prepare
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 for the
00:25:48 --> 00:25:48 last and
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 great battle
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 that Jesus
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 was to win,
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 to utterly
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 destroy the
00:25:53 --> 00:25:53 power of
00:25:53 --> 00:25:55 sin and
00:25:55 --> 00:25:55 death by
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 taking the
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 death and
00:25:57 --> 00:25:57 the sin
00:25:57 --> 00:25:59 that is
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 ours and
00:26:00 --> 00:26:00 upon
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 himself.
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 Jesus
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 himself does
00:26:06 --> 00:26:06 everything that
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 he calls
00:26:07 --> 00:26:07 us to do
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 and so
00:26:08 --> 00:26:08 when he
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 calls
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 James and
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 John to
00:26:11 --> 00:26:11 leave their
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 father in
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 the boat,
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 he's already
00:26:15 --> 00:26:15 left his
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 father's side
00:26:16 --> 00:26:18 and his
00:26:18 --> 00:26:18 father will
00:26:18 --> 00:26:18 turn his
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 back on
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 him later.
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 Charles
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 Wesley captured
00:26:24 --> 00:26:24 that thought
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 well in
00:26:25 --> 00:26:25 the him
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 and can
00:26:26 --> 00:26:26 it be,
00:26:27 --> 00:26:27 he left
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 his father's
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 throne above
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 so free,
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 so infinite
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 his grace.
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 Later in
00:26:37 --> 00:26:37 this gospel
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 he's going
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 to be ripped
00:26:39 --> 00:26:39 from his
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 father's
00:26:40 --> 00:26:40 presence on
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 the cross.
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 You see,
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 his kingship
00:26:47 --> 00:26:49 is a
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 kingship over
00:26:50 --> 00:26:50 sickness,
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 sin,
00:26:51 --> 00:26:51 death,
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 oppression.
00:26:53 --> 00:26:53 His
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 kingship is
00:26:54 --> 00:26:54 not a
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 fanatic.
00:26:56 --> 00:26:56 He doesn't
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 wield his
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 authority as
00:26:58 --> 00:26:58 a fanatic
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 who seeks
00:26:59 --> 00:26:59 to condemn
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 and oppress.
00:27:01 --> 00:27:01 He doesn't
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 wield his
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 authority in
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 a totalitarian
00:27:04 --> 00:27:04 way.
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 Jesus Christ's
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 kingship is
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 not designed
00:27:08 --> 00:27:08 to crush.
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 It is the
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 ultimate
00:27:12 --> 00:27:14 authority and
00:27:14 --> 00:27:14 it's not
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 designed to
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 crush or
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 oppress.
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 His
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 authority is
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 wielded to
00:27:21 --> 00:27:21 serve and
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 to restore.
00:27:22 --> 00:27:24 take a
00:27:24 --> 00:27:24 look at
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 verses 30
00:27:25 --> 00:27:25 and 31
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 with me.
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 Simon's
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 mother-in-law
00:27:30 --> 00:27:30 was in
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 bed with a
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 fever and
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 they immediately
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 told Jesus
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 about her.
00:27:36 --> 00:27:36 And so he
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 went to her,
00:27:37 --> 00:27:37 took her
00:27:37 --> 00:27:38 hand,
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 he helped
00:27:39 --> 00:27:40 her up and
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 the fever
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 left her and
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 she began to
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 wait on them.
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 She was sick
00:27:47 --> 00:27:47 with a fever
00:27:47 --> 00:27:51 and Jesus
00:27:51 --> 00:27:51 came to her
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 still and
00:27:52 --> 00:27:53 touched her
00:27:53 --> 00:27:55 still and
00:27:55 --> 00:27:55 then it
00:27:55 --> 00:27:56 says he
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 helped her
00:27:57 --> 00:27:57 up.
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 He
00:27:59 --> 00:27:59 literally
00:27:59 --> 00:28:01 raised her
00:28:01 --> 00:28:02 and
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 everywhere in
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 Mark's
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 gospel when
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 someone is
00:28:06 --> 00:28:06 healed,
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 the exact
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 same word
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 is used
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 everywhere,
00:28:11 --> 00:28:11 right through
00:28:11 --> 00:28:11 it,
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 every
00:28:12 --> 00:28:12 encounter,
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 raised.
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 And it's
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 the exact
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 same word
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 which is
00:28:18 --> 00:28:18 used to
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 describe the
00:28:19 --> 00:28:19 resurrection
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 of Jesus.
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 In other
00:28:23 --> 00:28:23 words,
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 when Jesus
00:28:24 --> 00:28:25 demonstrates his
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 authority,
00:28:26 --> 00:28:26 healing the
00:28:26 --> 00:28:27 sick,
00:28:28 --> 00:28:28 freeing the
00:28:28 --> 00:28:29 captives,
00:28:29 --> 00:28:30 casting out
00:28:30 --> 00:28:30 demons,
00:28:31 --> 00:28:31 it
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 resurrects,
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 it restores,
00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 it brings
00:28:36 --> 00:28:36 to life.
00:28:38 --> 00:28:38 His
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 authority
00:28:39 --> 00:28:39 isn't
00:28:39 --> 00:28:39 oppressive,
00:28:40 --> 00:28:41 it doesn't
00:28:41 --> 00:28:41 subjugate,
00:28:42 --> 00:28:42 it doesn't
00:28:42 --> 00:28:43 crush,
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 it literally
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 breathes
00:28:45 --> 00:28:48 new life,
00:28:49 --> 00:28:49 a new
00:28:49 --> 00:28:50 spirit
00:28:50 --> 00:28:51 into.
00:28:54 --> 00:28:54 His is
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 expelled and
00:28:55 --> 00:28:56 he breathes
00:28:56 --> 00:28:57 new life
00:28:57 --> 00:28:58 into,
00:28:58 --> 00:28:59 to heal,
00:28:59 --> 00:28:59 to restore,
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 to set
00:29:00 --> 00:29:00 free.
00:29:01 --> 00:29:01 And when
00:29:01 --> 00:29:02 we understand
00:29:02 --> 00:29:03 the good
00:29:03 --> 00:29:03 news and
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 submit to
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 the authority,
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 that's what
00:29:06 --> 00:29:06 it does.
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 His authority
00:29:07 --> 00:29:07 sets you
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 free.
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 It raises
00:29:09 --> 00:29:09 you.
00:29:09 --> 00:29:13 sets you
00:29:13 --> 00:29:13 free to
00:29:13 --> 00:29:15 serve as
00:29:15 --> 00:29:15 we have
00:29:15 --> 00:29:16 been served
00:29:16 --> 00:29:16 by God.
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 Fanatical
00:29:20 --> 00:29:21 serving of
00:29:21 --> 00:29:22 God and
00:29:22 --> 00:29:23 of others.
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 Notice
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 what Simon's
00:29:28 --> 00:29:28 mother-in-law
00:29:28 --> 00:29:29 does.
00:29:30 --> 00:29:30 The fever
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 left her
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 and she
00:29:32 --> 00:29:33 began to
00:29:33 --> 00:29:33 wait on
00:29:33 --> 00:29:33 them.
00:29:36 --> 00:29:37 Now,
00:29:37 --> 00:29:37 the skeptical
00:29:37 --> 00:29:38 amongst us
00:29:38 --> 00:29:38 might say,
00:29:38 --> 00:29:38 well,
00:29:38 --> 00:29:39 Jesus did
00:29:39 --> 00:29:39 that because
00:29:39 --> 00:29:39 he was
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 hungry and
00:29:40 --> 00:29:40 he needed
00:29:40 --> 00:29:40 someone to
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 cook the
00:29:41 --> 00:29:41 meal.
00:29:43 --> 00:29:43 Okay.
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 She began
00:29:46 --> 00:29:46 to serve
00:29:46 --> 00:29:46 them.
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 She wasn't
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 healed.
00:29:50 --> 00:29:50 Notice what
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 doesn't say
00:29:51 --> 00:29:51 that.
00:29:51 --> 00:29:51 She wasn't
00:29:51 --> 00:29:52 healed,
00:29:52 --> 00:29:52 she wasn't
00:29:52 --> 00:29:53 raised and
00:29:53 --> 00:29:53 then went
00:29:53 --> 00:29:53 about her
00:29:53 --> 00:29:54 own business.
00:29:55 --> 00:29:55 She got
00:29:55 --> 00:29:56 up and
00:29:56 --> 00:29:56 she served.
00:29:57 --> 00:29:58 She gave
00:29:58 --> 00:29:58 herself to
00:29:58 --> 00:29:58 others.
00:30:01 --> 00:30:02 She didn't
00:30:02 --> 00:30:05 get raised
00:30:05 --> 00:30:05 and then
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 go,
00:30:07 --> 00:30:07 ah,
00:30:07 --> 00:30:08 all those
00:30:08 --> 00:30:08 things that
00:30:08 --> 00:30:08 I wanted
00:30:08 --> 00:30:09 to do
00:30:09 --> 00:30:09 while I
00:30:09 --> 00:30:10 was sick
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 and potentially
00:30:11 --> 00:30:12 dying.
00:30:12 --> 00:30:12 I didn't
00:30:12 --> 00:30:12 my bucket
00:30:12 --> 00:30:13 list,
00:30:13 --> 00:30:13 I better
00:30:13 --> 00:30:13 get on
00:30:13 --> 00:30:13 and do
00:30:13 --> 00:30:14 it.
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 She gave
00:30:16 --> 00:30:17 herself to
00:30:17 --> 00:30:17 others.
00:30:17 --> 00:30:17 See,
00:30:17 --> 00:30:17 when we
00:30:17 --> 00:30:18 grasp the
00:30:18 --> 00:30:19 good news
00:30:19 --> 00:30:20 and we
00:30:20 --> 00:30:20 submit to
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 the authority
00:30:21 --> 00:30:21 of Jesus
00:30:21 --> 00:30:23 and have
00:30:23 --> 00:30:23 our lives
00:30:23 --> 00:30:24 orbit around
00:30:24 --> 00:30:25 Jesus,
00:30:26 --> 00:30:27 it sets
00:30:27 --> 00:30:28 us free
00:30:28 --> 00:30:30 from all
00:30:30 --> 00:30:31 other selfish
00:30:31 --> 00:30:32 authorities that
00:30:32 --> 00:30:32 crush us
00:30:32 --> 00:30:34 and enslave
00:30:34 --> 00:30:34 us.
00:30:34 --> 00:30:36 you see,
00:30:36 --> 00:30:36 Jesus'
00:30:36 --> 00:30:37 authority
00:30:37 --> 00:30:37 gives us
00:30:37 --> 00:30:37 a new
00:30:37 --> 00:30:38 set of
00:30:38 --> 00:30:38 priorities,
00:30:39 --> 00:30:40 a new
00:30:40 --> 00:30:41 life of
00:30:41 --> 00:30:41 service,
00:30:42 --> 00:30:42 a life of
00:30:42 --> 00:30:43 hospitality,
00:30:43 --> 00:30:44 a life of
00:30:44 --> 00:30:44 generosity,
00:30:45 --> 00:30:45 a life of
00:30:45 --> 00:30:46 community
00:30:46 --> 00:30:46 building,
00:30:47 --> 00:30:48 a life of
00:30:48 --> 00:30:49 meeting the
00:30:49 --> 00:30:49 needs of
00:30:49 --> 00:30:50 others,
00:30:50 --> 00:30:52 a life of
00:30:52 --> 00:30:52 fanatical
00:30:52 --> 00:30:54 humility and
00:30:54 --> 00:30:55 grace.
00:30:57 --> 00:30:58 That's what
00:30:58 --> 00:30:58 it does.
00:30:58 --> 00:31:01 and every
00:31:01 --> 00:31:03 act of
00:31:03 --> 00:31:05 uttered,
00:31:06 --> 00:31:06 done in
00:31:06 --> 00:31:07 the name
00:31:07 --> 00:31:07 of
00:31:07 --> 00:31:07 Christianity
00:31:07 --> 00:31:09 that is
00:31:09 --> 00:31:10 opposite to
00:31:10 --> 00:31:10 that
00:31:10 --> 00:31:13 is not
00:31:13 --> 00:31:14 Christianity,
00:31:14 --> 00:31:16 has nothing
00:31:16 --> 00:31:17 to do with
00:31:17 --> 00:31:17 Jesus and
00:31:17 --> 00:31:18 it's not
00:31:18 --> 00:31:18 done in
00:31:18 --> 00:31:19 the name
00:31:19 --> 00:31:19 of Jesus
00:31:19 --> 00:31:20 at all.
00:31:23 --> 00:31:25 A life of
00:31:25 --> 00:31:25 fanatical
00:31:25 --> 00:31:26 humility and
00:31:26 --> 00:31:26 grace,
00:31:27 --> 00:31:28 everything that
00:31:28 --> 00:31:28 God created
00:31:28 --> 00:31:29 and intended
00:31:29 --> 00:31:30 for us to
00:31:30 --> 00:31:30 be and do,
00:31:31 --> 00:31:31 not because
00:31:31 --> 00:31:32 we've got
00:31:32 --> 00:31:32 something to
00:31:32 --> 00:31:33 pay back or
00:31:33 --> 00:31:34 because the
00:31:34 --> 00:31:35 authority is
00:31:35 --> 00:31:35 enslaving,
00:31:36 --> 00:31:37 we do it
00:31:37 --> 00:31:38 simply because
00:31:38 --> 00:31:40 like Simon's
00:31:40 --> 00:31:41 mother-in-law,
00:31:41 --> 00:31:43 we have been
00:31:43 --> 00:31:44 raised and
00:31:44 --> 00:31:45 we now
00:31:45 --> 00:31:46 can.
00:31:48 --> 00:31:49 We now
00:31:49 --> 00:31:49 can.