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Sermon Notes

Mark: The Right Now Gospel

Part 16

“Jesus is God”

Mark 10:23-27 “Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

26 And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?”

27 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”

Jesus is responding to the wealthy young man that has just walked away sorrowful. He notes how hard it is for someone to walk away from material wealth in order to follow Jesus. The disciples are shocked. “Who then can be saved?” Jesus responds with a wonderful truth: “With God all things are possible!”

In other words, a rich person can be touched by God’s grace whereas in and of themselves they cannot do it.

__________________

28 Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.”

29 So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, 30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.”

This cannot be taken literally, that Jesus is promising a hundred times as many “mothers, sisters,” etc. It means that the loss shall be a hundred times “compensated” or made up. In following Christ, we have a hundred times the “value” of all we forsake. The spiritual relationship into which following Jesus would introduce his followers largely compensates for the loss of earthly connections and possessions.

They shall have brothers and sisters in the faith–hundreds who will show him the affection of father and mother, hundreds who will love him as well as wife and children. Believers will receive blessings “a hundred times as much” in relationships, community, and spiritual fulfillment in this life, and eternal life in the age to come.

Jesus then closes out with the words:

31 “But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

Since this whole discussion was ignited by the rich young man departing from Jesus with sorrow due to his attachment to his riches, one interpretation of these final words might be that–those who are first in the things of this world, who are rich, have the best of everything, and live luxuriously as compared to most others, will in the end be last in that, choosing riches over Christ, they are the losers. And the Christ followers that appear to be last in this life and in the world’s eyes, will be brought to the front of the line in the end!

_________________

Jesus a Third Time Predicts His Death and Resurrection

32 “Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid.”

The disciples were amazed at Jesus’s courage, knowing what would soon befall him. The rulers at Jerusalem had issued out a proclamation against our Lord, immediately after the resurrection of Lazarus, and probably promised a reward to any that would apprehend him.

John 11:57 says, “But the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who found out where Jesus was should report it so that they might arrest him.”

In spite of this, our Lord soldiered on to complete the mission for which he had come to earth–to die for the sins of mankind and secure our redemption. Even so, he further braces the disciples for what was ahead by describing in detail his coming sufferings:

“Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him: 33 ‘Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; 34 and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.’”

I wonder how many of us would have kept on moving forward in anticipation of such suffering?

________________

What happens next shows that the disciples still did not fully grasp the gravity of the moment, because they chose at the worst of times to vie for position in the coming kingdom!

35 “Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.”

Now, Matthew’s gospel in 20:20 tells us they actually did this by sending their mother, I suppose feeling she would have a little more sway with the Lord.

36 And He said to them (including their mother), “What do you want Me to do for you?”

37 They said to Him, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.”

38 But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”

39 They said to Him, “We are able.”

So Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; 40 but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared.”

_______________

Now, the cup Jesus speaks of here is the cup of suffering and martyrdom. We know that of these two brothers, James did indeed drink the cup to the full by being killed for the cause of Christ. He was the first of the apostles to by martyred at King Herod’s command. John is the only one of the 12 to die a natural death at around 90 yoa.

Now, his statement, “to sit on my right hand and on my left is not mine to give,” has often been misunderstood. Early in the 4th century, a man named Arius of Alexandria began teaching that Jesus was created by God and was therefore not deity. Arius rejected the traditional teaching of the Trinity. And for the record, what is that traditional teaching?

The Trinity is the foundational Christian belief that God is one Being who exists in three Persons.

The Trinity is not like a pie sliced into three different pieces. The pie would then not be whole, but divided. Each member of the Godhead is fully whole and 100% God!

To settle the issue, the First Council of Nicaea was convened by the Emperor Constantine in 325 AD in the city of Nicaea (modern-day İznik, Turkey). It was the first ecumenical council of the Christian Church and was called specifically to address the controversy of Arianism.

At the council, 318 bishops gathered to debate the nature of Christ. Under the guidance of Alexander of Alexandria and Athanasius, the council rejected Arius’s teachings and declared them heretical. To affirm the full divinity of Christ, the council formulated the famous Nicene Creed.

We believe in one God,

the Father almighty,

maker of heaven and earth,

of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ,

the only Son of God,

begotten from the Father before all ages,

God from God,

Light from Light,

true God from true God,

begotten, not made;

of the same essence as the Father.

Through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation

he came down from heaven;

he became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary,

and was made human.

He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate;

he suffered and was buried.

The third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures.

He ascended to heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again with glory

to judge the living and the dead.

His kingdom will never end.

And we believe in the Holy Spirit,

the Lord, the giver of life.

He proceeds from the Father and the Son,

and with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified.

________________

Following the Council, Arius and his unyielding supporters were deposed and exiled, though the influence of Arianism persists to this day. In fact, the Jehovah’s Witnesses, some Mormon teachings, and the Unitarian church all teach that Jesus was not deity.

So back to our text, the Arians and other critics used Jesus’s words to try to prove that he did not have the authority to do what James and John had asked for. But they misinterpreted the text.

Jesus was simply saying, “I cannot give the positions you asked for on a principle of favoritism; it belongs exclusively to those for whom it is prepared.”

In other words, I don’t operate on the principle of favoritism, nor are spiritual positions given in response to ambition. They are given only on the principle of grace and divine choice!

_______________

This little ploy for position immediately caused discord among the disciples.

41 “And when the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John. 42 But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 44 And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Jesus here informs them that the way up is down in the Kingdom of God. And if even I came, not to be served but to serve, so should you serve one another!

_______________

Jesus Heals Blind Bartimaeus

46 Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

48 Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

49 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called.

Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.”

50 And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus.

51 So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?”

The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.”

52 Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.”

Bartimaeus shows us that, though great attempts are made to keep us from Jesus, we should persevere and push through in prayer till the answer comes!

Mark: The Right Now Gospel
Part 15
“Jesus is God”
Mark 10:23-27 “Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
26 And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?”
27 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”
Jesus is responding to the wealthy young man that has just walked away sorrowful. He notes how hard it is for someone to walk away from material wealth in order to follow Jesus. The disciples are shocked. “Who then can be saved?” Jesus responds with a wonderful truth: “With God all things are possible!”
In other words, a rich person can be touched by God’s grace whereas in and of themselves they cannot do it.
__________________
28 Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.”
29 So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, 30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.”
This cannot be taken literally, that Jesus is promising a hundred times as many “mothers, sisters,” etc. It means that the loss shall be a hundred times “compensated” or made up. In following Christ, we have a hundred times the “value” of all we forsake. The spiritual relationship into which following Jesus would introduce his followers largely compensates for the loss of earthly connections and possessions.
They shall have brothers and sisters in the faith–hundreds who will show him the affection of father and mother, hundreds who will love him as well as wife and children. Believers will receive blessings “a hundred times as much” in relationships, community, and spiritual fulfillment in this life, and eternal life in the age to come.
Jesus then closes out with the words:
31 “But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
Since this whole discussion was ignited by the rich young man departing from Jesus with sorrow due to his attachment to his riches, one interpretation of these final words might be that–those who are first in the things of this world, who are rich, have the best of everything, and live luxuriously as compared to most others, will in the end be last in that, choosing riches over Christ, they are the losers. And the Christ followers that appear to be last in this life and in the world’s eyes, will be brought to the front of the line in the end!
_________________
Jesus a Third Time Predicts His Death and Resurrection
32 “Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid.”
The disciples were amazed at Jesus’s courage, knowing what would soon befall him. The rulers at Jerusalem had issued out a proclamation against our Lord, immediately after the resurrection of Lazarus, and probably promised a reward to any that would apprehend him.
John 11:57 says, “But the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who found out where Jesus was should report it so that they might arrest him.”
In spite of this, our Lord soldiered on to complete the mission for which he had come to earth–to die for the sins of mankind and secure our redemption. Even so, he further braces the disciples for what was ahead by describing in detail his coming sufferings:
“Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him: 33 ‘Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; 34 and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.’”
I wonder how many of us would have kept on moving forward in anticipation of such suffering?
________________
What happens next shows that the disciples still did not fully grasp the gravity of the moment, because they chose at the worst of times to vie for position in the coming kingdom!
35 “Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.”
Now, Matthew’s gospel in 20:20 tells us they actually did this by sending their mother, I suppose feeling she would have a little more sway with the Lord.
36 And He said to them (including their mother), “What do you want Me to do for you?”
37 They said to Him, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.”
38 But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”
39 They said to Him, “We are able.”
So Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; 40 but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared.”
_______________
Now, the cup Jesus speaks of here is the cup of suffering and martyrdom. We know that of these two brothers, James did indeed drink the cup to the full by being killed for the cause of Christ. He was the first of the apostles to by martyred at King Herod’s command. John is the only one of the 12 to die a natural death at around 90 yoa.
Now, his statement, “to sit on my right hand and on my left is not mine to give,” has often been misunderstood. Early in the 4th century, a man named Arius of Alexandria began teaching that Jesus was created by God and was therefore not deity. Arius rejected the traditional teaching of the Trinity. And for the record, what is that traditional teaching?
The Trinity is the foundational Christian belief that God is one Being who exists in three Persons.
The Trinity is not like a pie sliced into three different pieces. The pie would then not be whole, but divided. Each member of the Godhead is fully whole and 100% God!
To settle the issue, the First Council of Nicaea was convened by the Emperor Constantine in 325 AD in the city of Nicaea (modern-day İznik, Turkey). It was the first ecumenical council of the Christian Church and was called specifically to address the controversy of Arianism.
At the council, 318 bishops gathered to debate the nature of Christ. Under the guidance of Alexander of Alexandria and Athanasius, the council rejected Arius’s teachings and declared them heretical. To affirm the full divinity of Christ, the council formulated the famous Nicene Creed.
We believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
begotten from the Father before all ages,
God from God,
Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made;
of the same essence as the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven;
he became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary,
and was made human.
He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered and was buried.
The third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures.
He ascended to heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again with glory
to judge the living and the dead.
His kingdom will never end.
And we believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life.
He proceeds from the Father and the Son,
and with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified.
________________
Following the Council, Arius and his unyielding supporters were deposed and exiled, though the influence of Arianism persists to this day. In fact, the Jehovah’s Witnesses, some Mormon teachings, and the Unitarian church all teach that Jesus was not deity.
So back to our text, the Arians and other critics used Jesus’s words to try to prove that he did not have the authority to do what James and John had asked for. But they misinterpreted the text.
Jesus was simply saying, “I cannot give the positions you asked for on a principle of favoritism; it belongs exclusively to those for whom it is prepared.”
In other words, I don’t operate on the principle of favoritism, nor are spiritual positions given in response to ambition. They are given only on the principle of grace and divine choice!
_______________
This little ploy for position immediately caused discord among the disciples.
41 “And when the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John. 42 But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 44 And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Jesus here informs them that the way up is down in the Kingdom of God. And if even I came, not to be served but to serve, so should you serve one another!
_______________
Jesus Heals Blind Bartimaeus
46 Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
48 Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
49 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called.
Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.”
50 And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus.
51 So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?”
The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.”
52 Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.”
Bartimaeus shows us that, though great attempts are made to keep us from Jesus, we should persevere and push through in prayer till the answer comes!