GOOD NEWS PRESENTED BY MARK
Study of the Gospel According to Mark
As you read Mark, be aware that you are reading the very first written account of the ministry of Jesus – a fact well documented by credible Bible scholars. Quite naturally, we want to know who Mark was, and we find that he is mentioned frequently in the New Testament.
What we know about him is that he was the son of a very well-to-do woman in Jerusalem; her name was Mary, and her home became the center of early church get-togethers. So, you can imagine that Mark was there when Jesus’ closest followers came to his mother’s house for a “church council” meeting. Peter the chief elder referred to Mark affectionately as “my son.”
Mark was also the nephew of Barnabas who talked Paul into letting the youngster go with them on one of their missionary journeys - which, you may recall, resulted in Mark’s falling out of favor with Paul by leaving and going back home. However, it’s interesting to note that, years later, when Paul was in prison, facing execution, he asked Timothy to bring Mark with him, “for he is a most useful servant to me.”
I suppose Paul saw in this young man a Christian who had the ability to write; and, apparently having redeemed himself, he could now be counted on to carry out Paul’s wishes. This explanation is plausible because Mark had served as Peter’s scribe and, as such, had written much of what Peter related to him about his eye witness account of the ministry of Jesus.
MARK SERMON VII – MARK 9:30-42 . . .
CHRISTIANITY’S BEST KEPT SECRET
The best kept secret of Christianity was revealed by Jesus twenty centuries ago but, since then, has all too often been ignored by many of His followers. The secret must be how the real meaning of Christianity plays out in everyday life.
As Savior, Christ set us free from the penalty of sin; as Lord, He set us free to serve others in His Name – meaning that we do so with no thought of gaining position or power in the kingdom of God. As He freely gave of Himself in service to us, we give of ourselves in service to others.
The apostles were slow to catch on. The same can be said of many Christians since then. Who among us has not known of someone in the ranks of Christianity who struggled with selfish ambition – a burning desire to be the one “in charge”? All too often achieving a position of personal power is more important than submission to a higher power.
If you don’t believe that certain folks consider themselves to be greater than others, just ask them! Anyone besides me remember Cassius Clay, the world boxing champion? He loved to boast, “I am the greatest”. And, in the world of boxing, he was! But, in the realm of Christianity, such is not the case among followers of Jesus. No one is “the greatest.”
Jesus’ disciples had a hard time coming to grips with the notion that His role was to be that of a suffering servant; so naturally they had difficulty accepting the fact that they were being prepared to follow in His steps --- Mark 9:30-35 . . .
Jesus left no doubt in anyone’s mind that when it comes to the kingdom of God “who’s the greatest” is not a question to be considered.
Christianity is not about attaining greatness or a position of power! You and I are just as important in God’s sight as any other Christian. The ground at the “foot of the Cross” is level. Christians have equal opportunity to “run the race” that has been set before us.
There are no “favored few” in “the kingdom not of this world”! There are no “Teacher’s pets”! Each of us is called upon to BE God’s (possessive) and to DO God’s Will - AND with this concept there can be no argument.
In American history, President John Kennedy made perhaps the greatest inaugural statement of any president in my lifetime: “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” That simple yet profound challenge resonated with people in all walks of life.
In Christian history, however, the concept of servitude has not always resonated with some Christians who chose, or choose, to make their OWN imprints in the “sands of time” rather than walk “in His steps”!
Don’t you believe that economic problems could be solved if people lived for what they could do for others and not for what they could get from others? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the spirit of Good Samaritan-ism rather than all the other “isms” prevailed in our society?
Haven’t we seen this principle at work in the response of good-hearted folks to the victims of the catastrophe in Haiti?
Divisions and disputes within churches would, for the most part, never occur if the greatest desire of office-holders was to serve the needs of the parishioners rather than seek positions of power.
Most marriage problems could be solved if the partners in the relationship lived up to their marriage vow to love each other by serving one another rather than each seeking to control the other?
Jesus actually was in favor of ambition - for the right reason! He used an effective illustration to make that pertinent point --- Mark 9:36-37 . . .
It is clear that our Lord wants His followers to understand that, just as a child has no influence, and nothing to give in return for service rendered to the child, there are “little ones” whose needs can be met by followers of Christ - with nothing to be gained personally except a blessing for having ministered in the name of Jesus!
In the kingdom of God, there are no promotions to a higher position (there are no positions) . . . no fishing or hunting expeditions in exchange for favors (there are no favors) . . . no gifts of free cruises or expensive dinners (there are no “kick-backs” for doing God’s Will).
There is a “well done” from the One who gave his life in the service of his fellowman; and, in so doing, expected nothing of personal gain in return. As the Body of Christ, we are to minister in His Name and, by doing so, bring honor and glory to God!
Many who minister in His Name we have never heard of; but Jesus said “that’s okay” --- Mark 9:38-40 . . .
What Jesus illustrated here exposes a contentious problem which some Christians have a hard time dealing with - the false notion that, because someone who “ministers in Jesus’ Name” is not “one of us” or part of “our denomination”, or is someone we have never heard of, well, his or her ministry is of no value to the kingdom of God. Utter nonsense!
It doesn’t matter whether I am theologically classified as a fundamentalist, conservative, moderate, liberal or “all the above” (which is what I am), my ministry of meeting needs can be just as effective – even though I may not think the way others think, or say it the way they say it, or see it as they see it.
As long as one’s ministry is true to His Word and meets the needs of people in accordance with His Will, God is pleased, Christ is honored, and the one who ministers is rewarded.
Anticipation of “reward” has always played a part in the scheme of things; it’s only natural; this tendency probably accounts for the reason Jesus’ inner circle argued about who would be “the greatest” in the kingdom they expected Jesus to establish on earth – an argument that prompted our Lord to reveal the best kept secret: the essence of Christianity is to serve rather than be served.
Yet, Jesus knew that no discussion of greatness would be complete without touching on whether Christian service does in fact reward the one who serves in His Name - Mark 9:41-42 . . .
By referring to one of the simplest acts of kindness anyone could render to another, Jesus clearly taught that no matter how small the ministry, he or she who helps someone in the spirit of love will indeed be rewarded.
Jesus gives no specifics, but most of us at our age have learned throughout life that kindness and acts of goodness reward us in ways that no amount of money or power could ever compensate for.
We have learned that, by being a blessing, we receive a blessing – even if it amounts to nothing more than the satisfaction of having helped someone; and that’s okay! Our Lord meant it to be that way.
On the other hand, never forget that to fail to respond takes its toll - if not in some tangible way, certainly in a way that taxes our emotions or disturbs our peace of mind.
So, just a small gesture of good will – a cup of water given as an act of kindness - frees us from unpleasant after effects associated with doing nothing – like regret, feelings of guilt, sleepless nights. The most effective antidote to restlessness is doing, as best we can, what we believe Jesus would do given the same situation and set of circumstances.
Name any situation in which there is an obvious dire need, and ask yourself the question: Based on my understanding of who Jesus was and why He came, what do I think He would do in this particular case?
If you believe Jesus would do nothing, do nothing - but do not expect to receive a blessing. If you rightly believe He would do something to help, do whatever you can as best you can, for to help someone in need is the essence of Christianity – and we must keep it a secret no longer! Amen.
