Sermon Series: The Gospel of Mark-

Getting to Know Jesus 

Take A Good Look at Yourself for 2002 

Mark 3:7-19

PSBC January 6, 2002 AM

In a nutshell: Mark gives us a warning to start the new year with…Despite all you know, despite all you understand about the church, about Jesus, or about Christianity, you can still stumble and fall into sin.

I. Introduction

A. Where we're going

It's amazing what happens when you take time and let God speak to you. That's what I did during my vacation time between Christmas and New Years. I spent several hours with my computerized Bible, studying, and writing down what I sensed God saying to me regarding direction for my preaching this year. And one of the things I heard Him say quite clearly was that as a church, we needed to get acquainted with Jesus, again.

When I say that, I'm not saying that as a church we don't know Jesus. But I am saying that we need to know Him better-better in regards to what He values, what He thinks is most important, and how He expects us to live our personal lives as His followers. And what I sensed Him leading me to do was to keep going where we started during Advent-Keep studying the gospel of Mark and re-discover these important things, by studying His life. So, that's why this Sunday, we're going to continue where we left off just before Christmas, in Mark chapter three.

B. Bench Story

When I was a student at Wheaton College, we had a tradition called, "The Bench".

"The Bench" was a rectangular piece of concrete that was at one time the top of a park bench. It weighed about 250lbs. Possession of "the Bench" was a matter of pride between each year's junior and senior classes. If the senior class had possession of "the Bench", and if the Junior class did not capture it during the school year, possession of "the Bench" was then given to the sophomore class at the end of the senior's reign.

The rules governing this tradition were pretty simple: -"the Bench" had to remain within a 50 mile radius of the campus at all times. -it had to be shown at least twice a school year. -for an official showing of "the Bench" to take place, at least half of the class who did not have possession of "the Bench" had to be present in one location. -and to capture the bench away from the class that had it, simply meant that you took it away from the class who had it.

As you might imagine, this friendly rivalry led to some pretty ingenious showings. One year it was flown over the football stadium during Parent's Weekend in a helicopter. Another year, a fake fire drill was perpetuated in several of the men's dorms at 5:00AM. And while we were all outside, the bench, in the back of a pickup truck raced by.

But the most disastrous showing I remember was when a large number of senior men were in one of the gymnasiums taking their Graduate Record Exams. The junior men chained all the doors shut from the outside, then sounded a siren and slowly drove the bench around the gym. The senior men inside stampeded to the doors, and not knowing they were chained shut, actually crushed some of their classmates against the doors, breaking through the glass of the doors and causing some pretty serious injuries.

It goes to show that even with good and fun intentions, a crowd out of control is something to be concerned about. And that's the situation we have in the passage from Mark that we'll be looking at this morning. If you have your Bibles, please turn to Mark 3, and we'll start at verse 7…

II. Crowds Follow Jesus

A. The Size and Scope

Mark 3:7 7 Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed.

1. The Disciples

The first thing to notice from this incident is who was with Jesus. At this point in Mark's gospel, when the term "disciples" is used, Mark is not talking about just the 12 men that we normally think of as being Jesus' disciples. At this time, many of the people who were in the crowd were considered disciples.

This is best illustrated when we look at what happened immediately after Jesus ascended into heaven in the book of Acts…

Acts 1:15 15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty)

Now, the word in this verse that's translated "believers" is the same word that is translated "disciples" in Mark 3:7. And we see in Acts that this group of disciples, or believers, numbered about 120. This term "disciple" actually means "a learner". Literally this was someone who followed another person's teaching. So, we can safely say that there was a good sized group of people who thought enough of Jesus and what He was teaching to go from place to place and listen and learn from Him.

2. The Scope of the Crowd

But in addition to the disciples, we are told in verse 7 that a large crowd also was following Him.

Mark 3:8 8 When they heard all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon.

By mentioning these regions Mark is telling us that Jesus was really becoming popular. -Judea was a broad term that meant all the territory of Palestine to the south of Samaria. -Idumea was the region south of Judea, and was also called Edom. -The region to the west of Judea and across the Jordan river included the provinces of Perea and Decapolis. -And Tyre and Sidon were cities located on the north west coast along the Mediterranean Sea, in Syria.

We can safely assume that Jesus was becoming well known as a teacher and healer all across this region of the world. So, you can begin to imagine that the crowds coming from all around this region steadily got bigger and bigger, until they reached HUGE proportions. To get an idea of how big they were, look at the next two verses…

B. Fear for His Life

1. Escape Plan

Mark 3:9-10 9 Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him. 10 For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him.

The word, "crowding" in verse nine is the Greek word THLIPSO. Literally it means "to press together-or compress". Friends, this tells us that Jesus isn't worried about the size of the crowd, He's worried about the crowd losing control and crushing Him in their efforts to be healed or to touch Him.

So, He plans an escape. He tells some of His disciples to get a small boat ready, just off the shore so he can jump into it if this crowd starts to stampede, like I saw at Wheaton when "the Bench" was shown outside the gym on that day I told you about.

But then look at what Satan tries to do in order to compound the danger factor in Jesus' life…

2. Evil Spirits

Mark 3:11-12 11 Whenever the evil spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, "You are the Son of God." 12 But he gave them strict orders not to tell who he was.

Do you see what's happening? People who were possessed, or under the control of Satan started pressing to the front of the crowd, agitating the crowd, and crying out for everyone to hear, "You are the Son of God!" And Jesus rebukes them in the strongest language that can be used in the Greek language of the New Testament.

Illustration: It is similar to one of us seeing one of our young children running towards El Cielo with several cars coming fast around the corner of Escoba. Seeing imminent danger, we'd cry out, "Stop, don't go near the street!"

You see, friends, with such a great crowd that an escape plan was needed, Satan was trying to start a riot by having this crowd of people react to the wild shouts of the demon possessed. His intention was to cause a stampede that would kill or injure Jesus, and foil God's plans for salvation to take place through Him.

Notice that Jesus didn't take time to cast out the demons. He knew Satan's plans and stopped those plans immediately by shutting the mouths of those demons possessed people.

III. Disciples Appointed

A. Issue of Judas

Transition: After this mob scene quieted down, Jesus took the time to get away from the crowds. And in doing so, He gave a special invitation to just some of this group of disciples.

Mark 3:13 13 Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him.

And from this select group, Jesus selects an even more select group…

Mark 3:14-15 14 He appointed twelve-designating them apostles-that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach 15 and to have authority to drive out demons.

Actually, in the earliest manuscripts, the phrase, "designating them apostles" doesn't appear. Many Bible scholars think this was added later by a well meaning scribe to reflect who these guys would be known as, later, after Jesus returned to heaven. But regardless, out of the select group of followers, Jesus chose 12 guys who would receive special treatment from Him in their training to perform ministry duties in His name.

Then Mark gives us the list of this special company of 12…

Mark 3:16-19 16 These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); 17 James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder); 18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot 19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Now, our first inclination, when we come to a list like this, is to treat it merely as a list. But its far more than that. You see friends, it is a stern warning to every one of us. -Despite being someone who was a committed follower of Jesus, -Despite being someone who was chosen over many others, -Despite being one of only twelve who would be in the inner circle of students at the foot of the Son of God… …One of these twelve wouldn't make it. One of these twelve would forsake all the teaching of God's Messiah-the greatest teacher and preacher to ever walk the earth-and go his own way in order to gain wealth for himself. "Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him."

Friends, Mark is warning us this morning, at the beginning of the new year 2002, not to fall into the trap Judas fell into-the trap of self-centeredness, of greed, and hypocrisy.

Don't kid yourself-you and I could be just like Judas. Not one of us is better than he was. -You and I have the same tendencies he did. -You and I can lose sight of God's purpose for having us on this earth, -You and I can become tools of Satan to cause dissension and bitterness and thwart the gospel, just like he did…. …because we're all human-everyone of us-that means… -we are weak in our own abilities to stand up to temptation, -weak in our own abilities to stay focused on our mission, -weak to keep our selfishness from clouding our feelings and decisions. That's what the human sin nature is all about. It's a big problem for everyone of us. So, how do we overcome it, and not be like Judas?

B. Wesley's concerns

John Wesley offers a solution. Although I don't agree with everything Wesley and his followers in Methodism taught, he still gave more thought to the methodical, genuine nature of following Christ, than just about anyone who has ever lived.

The Bible teaches that there is a powerful force within each one of us that regularly needs to be subdued and defeated. I've already alluded to it. It is called our sin nature. It was inherited from our father, Adam. And it is something every person on the face of the earth has. And this sin nature is something that regularly needs to be placed under the authority of Christ through prayerful and honest SELF-EXAMINATION, otherwise it will thwart the cause of Christ and cause the church to become ineffective in reaching people with the gospel of Jesus.

In a sermon that Wesley preached more than 300 years ago, he gave the most up-to-date advice anyone could ever give to help Christians examine their lives and make sure they are not becoming like Judas. They are great points to begin the year 2002 with.

In fact, I'm going to be so bold as to say that if we would all do these 10 things consistently, and were willing to be held accountable for doing these 10 things, that such a difference would occur in our church that in a year's time our church would double in size, and we'd be building on that three acres adjacent to us before December. Because people would see something in us that rises above the ordinary. They would see people totally committed to following Jesus Christ.

Do you want to know what they are? Let me paraphrase John Wesley's 10 thoughts. Here we go…

1. Notice every sin in your life

There is no such thing as a "small sin". We must obey everyone of God's commands with all our might. If you start to sense the beginning of sin in your life, or if you begin to have feelings like you are going to sin, confess those things to God. Call it what it is-disobedience toward God, and wrong! If you know of situations where you will be tempted, stay away from them. Be so afraid of sin that you will not put yourself in it's path-even to be tempted.

2. Realize that God sees everything

I put Wesley's own words for this point on the front our WIG's this morning…

"You cannot hide even the most secret thing from God. You cannot deceive Him; for He is infinite wisdom. You cannot fly from Him; for He is everywhere. You cannot bribe Him; for He is righteousness itself! Speak as if God hears every word you say-because He does. And walk as though God is walking always by your side-because He does."

3. Be serious and frequent in the examination of your heart and life

Think through your day, and ask, "Did I honor God in everything I did today?" And before you start each day, make a covenant that in everything that is before you that day, you will seek to honor Him.

4. Let everything you do be an exercise in preparation for heaven.

Wesley must have been a sports fan, because he uses the illustration of a wrestler who prepares for a match by exercising his individual muscles when he talks about this point. He says all the exercise a wrestler does is designed to help his entire body to perform at its best. And Wesley says, so should every action we do on this earth. Everything we do here should be preparing us to enjoy the Kingdom of God in heaven. If you're doing something on earth that you know won't be done in heaven-stop it! Prepare for heaven while you're alive on earth.

5. Do not willfully sin, thinking that Christ has to forgive you.

Wesley says, "this is a most horrible abuse of Christ." In fact, He makes a very bold statement. He says, "For this very reason there was no sacrifice under the law for any willful sin." Friends, understand this… The Bible says…

Galatians 6:7 7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.

And if you think that you can sin, because you can get away with it, or because God has to forgive you, then you're mocking God. Such action belittles the price He paid when He granted forgiveness to you through His Son, Jesus.

6. Be humble.

Think of it this way, "What have you got to be proud of?" We are all sinful people dwelling in the midst of sinful people. Sin is sin. One sin is not any worse in God's sight than another. That means every person you make eye contact with-including yourself in the mirror-needs salvation from his or her sin. So what excuse do we have to be proud. Be humble.

7. Mind your own business, and let God mind His.

In other words, don't spend time questioning God. After all, He's God and you're not. If you could figure Him out, you'd be on the same plain as Him. And if that's the case then you should become a Mormon, because they teach that every one is going to become a god someday. The Bible tells us that God has been in the God business for a lot longer than you or I ever could. God doesn't need your counsel, your approval, or your permission. You mind your duty as revealed in the Word of God, and as you learn it from studying that Word. And let God take care of the rest. By the way, when we live that way, it's called faith!

8. Whatever advice you give to someone else, make sure you are obeying it as well.

Wesley says, "If we would follow all the advice we have for others, we would be much better Christians." This is basically saying, don't be a hypocrite. Vincent shared this verse with us last week-it bears repeating…

Luke 6:42 42 How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

9. Don't do anything which you cannot pray to God about. And everything you do, pray about it to God.

Prayer should be our most common, everyday occurrence. I agree with Wesley, that we should talk to God conversationally throughout our daily lives. If you're not, then I would question your relationship with him. After all, communication is the key to any relationship-including yours with God.

10. Finally, think, speak, and do what you believe Christ would do in your place.

By imitating Christ we become an example to the world of His love, His power and His care. By imitating Him, we honor Him and bring glory to God.

IV. Conclusion

So Mark gives us a warning to start the new year with…Despite all you know, despite all you understand about the church, about Jesus, or about Christianity, you can still stumble and fall into sin. Even the most spiritual of us can fall into that trap because we all have a sin nature.

Last week Chaplain Vincent gave us three things to do for the new year: 1. I will change 2. I will be different 3. I will be significant for Jesus Christ

What I've given you this morning is the place to start. Out of this list of 10, where are you the weakest? That's the place to start, NOW. As we come to the communion table, the Bible tells us that we're to do it in a "worthy manner". We become worthy when we recognize our sin, confess to God, and receive His forgiveness and strength to move beyond that. To prepare ourselves for this Supper, would you select the one thing from Wesley's list-the one where you're failing the most. And give that matter over to God this morning. Let's start clean in 2002. In the list of all the people who are part of the Kingdom of God, I don't want my name, nor do I think you want your name listed with the postscript, "the one who betrayed Him."

Amen.