Mark 9:38-50
“Just Let Jesus”
Many of you are familiar with the blockbuster movie Rocky, in which a very muscular, physically fit, local Philadelphia guy, Rocky Balboa, fights the world’s heavy weight boxing champion Apollo Creed.
In the first smash hit, Rocky fights Apollo for 15 rounds, but Apollo maintains his title.
The movie was so popular, the sequel Rocky II was put into motion in Hollywood and fans anxiously awaited the night of the big fight.
Can you just hear the announcer’s voice?
In this corner we have the World’s Heavy Weight Champion, Apollo Creed, weighing in at 212lbs.
And in this corner, the local favorite from Philadelphia, Rocky Balboa, weighing in at 211lbs.
It’s going to be a great fight tonight folks.
Apollo wants to prove that the first fight wasn’t a fluke.
Apollo wants a knockout in the first round.
He’s looking mighty intimidating.
Now, while that scene is fresh in your mind, let’s transition to our gospel message.
Here in this corner we have the sin of the world, wrought with anger, hatred, abuse, selfishness, greed, murder, lust, and turning away from God.
Satan is ready to do some damage here is this world.
He’s trying to defeat the love God has for His people and he’s determined to win.
He’s put all kinds of lies in peoples’ mind and he’s turning men against women, rich against poor, black against white, young against old.
In the other corner, we have Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of the Great Almighty God.
Sent into this world to take away the sin of the world.
To fight for courage, justice, and truth.
To establish peace and good will on earth.
To defeat death and destruction, famine, and greed, selfishness, and self centeredness.
Who will be the victor of the fight?
Jesus appeals to the crowd.
He invites us, “Pick up our cross and follow me.”
John said to Him, “We saw a man casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he was not following us.”
Jesus responds, “Do not forbid him; for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon after to speak evil of me.
“Whoever is not against us is for us.”
The crowd goes wild.
Satan and Jesus are ready for battle.
Satan’s team is armed with weapons of mass destruction.
Jesus’ team is armed with the Holy Bible and the love of God.
Who in this congregation is going to fight on Jesus’ side?
Who is going to carry the cross and stand up against the evils of this world?
It is time for Satan and evil to be destroyed.
It’s not going to be pretty.
It might get a little bloody.
Are you willing to take the risk?
Are you willing to risk inviting someone to church with the possibility that they might say no and turn your invitation down?
Are you willing to love your enemy no matter how many punches he or she throws you?
Teenagers, are you willing to join hands at school, gathering around the flag pole before school starts to pray?
Are you willing to invite the new kid on the block to lunch or a soccer game?
Are you willing to share your financial resources with the poor, desperate, and needy?
The world is going to try and cause our children to sin.
I don’t have to remind you how much drugs, sex, and violence is being offered to our youth.
It’s on the radio, in the grocery stores, on T.V., on the internet.
Our youth are being bombarded by messages that wealth and beauty will bring them true happiness.
Dare to tell them the truth.
Dare to share the message of the gospel and turn someone’s life around.
Satan is not staying in his corner when the bell sounds.
Satan is not playing by the rules.
Satan wants followers at any cost.
The more hatred and evil there is in the world, the more Satan wants it to continue.
There will be no rest until peace prevails.
Jesus shares His message…
“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung round his neck and he were thrown into the sea.”
“And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.
And if your foot causes you to sin, cut if off; it is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell.
And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.
For every one will be salted with fire.
Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you season it?
Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.
I can picture Rocky Balboa as he sits by his wife day and night, who is lying in a coma from complications in child birth.
Nothing else matters to Rocky at that time.
Only the love he has for his wife.
The world title means nothing compared to the love he has for his family.
He’s there by her side, when she awakes, and she gives him the courage and support he needs to fight.
He takes time to stop by the church and asks the priest for a blessing.
He runs down the streets of Philadelphia as people in the city begin to join him, running behind him, until a huge crowd forms.
He runs up the steps of the Art Museum, he’s ready for battle.
He is in shape, and we are too.
We are armed with time set aside to worship God.
We are equipped with songs on our lips.
We are prepared with prayer in our hearts.
We have taken time to study the scriptures in Sunday School.
Most have affirmed their baptism.
Next week, we will partake in the Holy Sacrament of Communion as it is shared around the world.
We will participate with Protestants, and Catholics, Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists, Episcopalians, Disciples of Christ, Lutherans, AME’s., pentecostals, Assemblies of God, Church Of The Foursquare Gospel, members of the Church Of The Brethren, COGIC, Church Of God In Christ, Independent Fundamentals, Non-Denominationals, as well as our brothers and sisters in the United Church Of Christ.
We are all one as we profess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
We are all one as we receive the body & blood of Christ.
Our doctrine may be different.
Our interpretation may not be exactly the same.
But our love for Jesus Christ is what unites us.
Last Sunday, when we worshipeed together at 4:00 P.M., people of different faith backgrounds joined together in this sanctuary, we experienced a glimpse of the kingdom of God, when all believers will gather together in the name of Jesus Christ and celebrate His Lordship.
We must recognize that we are not individual Christians standing alone in our corner.
We are a mighty force to be reckoned with.
We cannot poop out in the 14th round.
We need to fight to the finish.
We need to go all the way.
We cannot let our gusto for the Lord be swallowed up by Satan’s desires to defeat us.
We will be the champions.
We will be the final victors.
Jesus Christ has already defeated death on the cross.
All we need to do is to follow Him.
Follow Him to the 15th round and join His hand on the winning team.
May His glory and light shine amongst us as we live our lives according to His will.
God bless each and every one of you as you stand up for what is right in a world that can be dark and full of shadows.
In a world that can try and tear you down instead of build you up.
Have the courage to go all the way to the final round.
With Jesus Christ as Lord, we will overcome anything Satan throws our way.
Live out the Words of the Hymn we just sang
(I Want Jesus To Walk/Go With Me).
Just let Jesus go with you.
Just let Jesus comfort you.
Just let Jesus stay with you.
Amen.
