SE120504
GOSPEL TRUTH
1. Mark
WHAT’S “GOSPEL”
We’ve all heard this phrase:
It’s the GOSPEL truth, man!
Which means we think something is absolutely true, there’s total veracity… but that’s not what it meant to the people who coined the term. The Greek word we get it from is actually a compound word: UANGELION…
- UOOS = GOOD
- ANGELION = MESSAGE
So it literally means good message, or good news. But the word GOSPEL was used in the ancient world ALSO to announce the coming of a new epoch, a history making, world changing event. It was said that the coronation of Caesar Augustus was gospel… a new epoch that had arrived, a world changing event…
So it’s appropriate that when the first writer who set about to get Jesus story down on paper wanted to coin a term for it… he used the word Gospel. Mark is the first of the four Gospels chronologically … and he opens with this line:
Mark 1:1 The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
This is the start of the new epoch, a new era, a new age, the inauguration of a new period of good news and this gospel, this in-breaking of God is somehow centered in and revealed by a man called Jesus Christ.
TRUSTING MARK
That’s Mark’s story… but who was Mark and why should we listen to him? Well, Mark’s gospel is actually anonymous… but 4 early sources from the 2nd century tell us that the name of the author was Mark, a popular worker in the early church and a close companion and confidante of Peter – Jesus leading apprentice.
So Mark writes from sometime in the 60’s, probably just after Peter was killed during Nero’s persecution in Rome. This probably has something to do with the reason for writing.
- oral tradition
- Peter dying
- Need official account for posterity.
Now, some of you are wondering about the 30 year gap of oral tradition between Jesus life and anything in writing. How can we trust Mark with that huge gap there? Well, it’s not like this gap was a total vacuum of information.
- First, don’t minimize the ability of the ancient mind in a pre-printing press, pre-internet, pre-library age to commit large quantities of information to memory. We moderns don’t have to exercise those memory muscles but ancient folks had to and did. (Koran, Roots)
- Second, there might have been proto gospels written BEFORE Mark, which Mark used as sources. It’s been suggested that there were source documents that circulated just Jesus’ stories, another just his sayings… Next week we’ll see that Luke tells us MANY of these sorts of documents were flying around… that’s how earth shattering a life Jesus lived… this simple carpenter had lips and pens buzzing from the moment he hit the public arena.
- Third, we are talking about ONLY 30 years here.
Every Biblical Gospel was written within 3 to 6 decades of Jesus – that’s not so long that many, many eye witnesses wouldn’t be around to affirm or deny. Think about this in our modern context: imagine I wrote today that a very public and controversial figure from the 60’s, like MLK claimed to be the Son of God, did miracles and rose from the dead.
Do you think that 20 centuries from now that my books, my writings about MLK would survive? No, they wouldn’t even make it to the printers office… because no one would buy it, because it would be attacked by people who had a vested interest in the truth being known… if such eye witnesses of Dr King were still around, the truth would come out, wouldn’t it?
Wow… let that soak in. In your New Testament, you have the record, 4 of them, of a life like no other that has ever lived on planet earth… a record that dates to within 3 decades of the man himself, a record that was never successfully refuted, and never stamped out, a record from still living witnesses of the events described…
not the record of distant historians, the record of STILL LIVING WITNESSES OF THE AMAZING THINGS DESCRIBED.
MARK’S PACE
One of the earliest of these was Mark… In Mark’s gospel, we skip all preliminaries – we meet Jesus as a full grown man, ready to start his public ministry. His is the shortest gospel. Mark wastes no time in getting down to business – after a single sentence introduction, he doesn’t get off on any tangent from beginning to end…
We go breathlessly from episode to episode which Mark connects with the word, “IMMEDIATELY” – a word he used 41 times! It’s like it’s so good, he’s in a hurry to get it all out. He knows an event has taken place that shatters history… that radically changes the way we look at the world and the way we look at each other and the way we look at God…
Mark’s 16 chapters break in half neatly – in each half Mark is driving home two points
- WHO JESUS IS, and
- HOW PEOPLE RESPOND TO WHO JESUS IS
CHP 1-8: JESUS SON OF GOD
For example, in the first eight chapters Mark is conveying that Jesus Christ is more than just a mere man or human teacher or even a prophet. He is in some way affiliated with God, such that he shares his nature and his prerogatives and power and privileges.
It’s kind of ironic that Jesus divinity is so prevalent in Mark. Why? Because it’s assumed by some skeptics that the idea of Jesus being the Son of God was a late development that Christians invented and read back into Jesus story… the assumption is the closer you get to Christ, the less divinity you should see. Ironically, Mark the oldest gospel, opens with him calling Jesus the SON OF God in the very first verse.
Also in the first chapter you have a mentally tortured man, his condition caused in whole or in part by evil spirit beings… and he calls Jesus the Holy One of God. Jesus doesn’t reject the title, but he does heal the man.
And then the most radical indication of WHO Jesus is comes in Chapter two. Let me retell the story for you:
Jesus is going from town to town and his reputation as a healer proceeds him as he comes to the town of Capernaum in Northern Israel. You can still visit this town today. He comes to a home, but a crowd gathers inside, eventually spilling outside so that no one can get in or out of the place. It’s jammed.
Think of this scene of people packed like sardines, in the 90-110 degree middle eastern heat! They crammed in just to hear the man. They were spell bound by his teaching. He was totally different than the religion teachers they had come to know.
- First of all, he was interesting. He always told his lessons in stories.
- But also, he had authority. His teaching was totally straight forward, simple but profound… and here’s the word: totally confident. He could talk about the Bible like he invented the book. Like an author reading his own novel, going back and telling you what he was thinking when he wrote a certain passage, giving you more detail, more insight into the guts of it…
That’s what it was like listening to Jesus teach. Mark says,
The people were AMAZED at his teaching. They looked at each other astonished, and said, “look at this, teaching with the authority to back it up, he talks about God and he shows us God’s power… wow!”
So it was that kind of a scene again in that jam packed house, every eye trained on him, every ear attuned. So much so that I doubt they noticed that during the talk, there was a racket being made on the roof. If they had been listening, they would have noticed footsteps and voices up there… and then, more noise, some banging, and then finally crumbling bits of mortar and dried mud began to fall on people.
Startled, they looked up, as a couple of thatched ceiling tiles lifted from their place, letting the hot sun in. Then it was blocked out intermittently by shadows of young men. Almost as soon as the hole was opened, it seemed to be closed again, as an elongated tile seemed to be put back into the opening.
But this long ceiling tile just kept descending… it was on ropes! When it came low enough people could see it was no ceiling tile at all, it was a cot, and this make shift stretcher contained a person. A paraplegic lay there, let down by four friends who couldn’t get into the house because of the crowd.
But they were determined. They had heard of this Jesus. Surely they had heard the story of his meeting with John the Prophet and Baptist… they had heard of his power, they had heard maybe this was the Christ, the one the Jews were waiting for. So without thought for what the crowd would think, or the cost of the damage to the building, these young guys boldly got their friend in front of Jesus any way they could.
Jesus was impressed. They were hungry for God! He could see it. They were desperate and needy and looking for a miracle and they had come to him believing he, Jesus could help. Jesus loved it when people were hungry for God! When they tossed out all hope of controlling their way to get what they really wanted, and just came with humble trust.
So a smile breaks across his face and you just know he’s going to heal the guy right? No. Not yet. Here’s what he says:
Son, I forgive your sins.
Now, besides being a bit disappointing maybe to the paraplegic, that one sentence might just be one of the most shocking things that has ever been uttered by human lips.
You see, we all understand how I can forgive sins against myself. You hurt me, and I forgive you, you steal my money, I absorb that offense and it’s released, forgiven. But what should we think of the man, who has not been hurt or stolen from, but tells you that you are forgiven for hurting or stealing from another person?
I mean by what right would he do that? This is so outrageous that if Jesus didn’t say it with a straight face, we’d all think he was joking. But he wasn’t. He told this man that his sins were forgiven, and he didn’t go around to consult with all the people that this guy had sinned against – to get their permission first.
Mark says, there came a man, an amazing man who behaved as if He was the party that was mainly offended in all offences… as if he was the keeper of the moral law who is hurt whenever that law is broken in any sin. So it only makes sense for Jesus to say this under two circumstances…
- he was a raving megalomaniac OR
- he was and is the God whose laws are broken and whose love is wounded in every sin…
- the only one who has the right unilaterally to say to anyone – anyone in this room even… son, daughter, your debt is really with me… and based in your faith in me, your sold-out surrender and humility, I FORGIVE YOU!
I mean, the claim to forgive the man’s sins, friends, don’t miss it, it only makes sense if the man was somehow, God himself. The religion scholars – they didn’t miss it… and they mumbled the implication in their hearts…
- only God can forgive sins!
BINGO! Jesus knew right away what they were thinking and said,
Why are you so skeptical? Which is simpler to say to this paraplegic? I forgive your sins, or say, “get up, take your stretcher and start walking?” Well just so it’s clear that I am authorized to do either or both” – and then he looked at the man on the cot and say loudly with authority – “get up, pick up your stretcher and go home.”
And the man did it – got up and walked out in joy, with everyone watching… all jaws on the ground. Mark says all they could think to do was shake their heads, praise God and say:
We’ve never seen anything like this!
Friend have you ever considered this fully? Have you looked at this man Mark tells us about and dealt squarely with what he’s saying to you? You can’t say, “oh Jesus was a good man, Jesus did wonderful things, Jesus may have even healed people with some mystical powers…”
Ok, but by his own words he’s telling you what that was about:
I have power on earth to forgive sins. I am the God you’re looking for… I have what you need.
With other words and deeds the first 8 chapters of Mark detail more of WHO Jesus is. The Christ. The Holy One of God. Now, in this section what about people’s response to WHO Jesus IS? Jesus started with a very simple call:
the time has come, God’s kingdom is here in me… change your life and believe my message.
What’s interesting is that most people didn’t accept the call.
- One time he’s teaching a crowd and his own family members want to carry him away because he’s an embarrassment to them.
- His hometown of Nazareth rejects him
- The religion teachers who studied the law, who knew more than anyone that Christ was coming, they rejected him
Only his disciples, the 12 apprentices he hand-selected seem to be able to accept his SHOCKING claims. They even seem to like the idea of his enormity, and power. They think they’ve hitched their wagon to a winner.
CHP 8-16 – JESUS SUFFERING SERVANT
AH, but then, we turn a corner. We’re about 2 years into Jesus’ ministry. And in chapter 8:31:
Jesus said, “it is necessary that the Son of Man proceed to an ordeal of suffering, be tried and found guilty, be killed, and after three days rise up alive.”
One chapter later he says it again:
Mark 9:31 "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed…"
One chapter later, he says it again:
Mark 10:33 "We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be condemned to death. Men will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him.”
Now, the only remaining friends he has, start having a crisis of confidence. Peter is one of the first. He pulls Jesus aside Marks says, and rebukes him. Gets in his face, and says, no, you don’t suffer, you don’t die! Why did he say that? Because his image of Messiah was God’s super hero and heroes don’t die, they live and they always win.
You see, it’s in the second half of Mark that Jesus weaves into their image of WHO HE IS, another important strand. With Peter still red faced and angry, Jesus looked around to everyone in the room and said:
Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the drivers seat, I am. So you’ll have to be like me. No servant is greater than his master, right? So if you want to be like me, you won’t run from suffering, or servanthood or self sacrifice… you’ll take up a cross daily and follow me, for the Son of Man did not come to BE served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
But they did not understand what he meant and they were afraid to ask him about it. What does this mean take up your cross? At that point how can they know what he means? Mark shows that being a full disciple of Jesus is mysterious to them until after he has fulfilled his mission.
And what is that mission? He said it:
Mark 10:45: To serve and to give his life as a ransom.
There’s a way that Jesus death opens for the forgiveness of sins. He forgave that paraplegic on the assurance that he would in fact, offer his own sinless life in exchange for his sins, and yours and mine. The Bible says this sacrifice is a bit of a mystery. No one knows how exactly it works, but that word “ransom” which Jesus used is a clue:
- A ransom is when you give a payment to get something back that’s precious.
- A ransom is the act of retrieving something that’s been made captive
- A ransom is only achieved at great cost, it requires a substitute.
And friends that great ransom happened when Jesus Christ offered on the cross his sinless God-life for our godless lives, that are so often filled with anger, rebellion, petulance, selfishness, abuse, hurt, retribution and pride and unforgiveness… You’re thinking now, are you saying we’re godless, Rick? Well, yes I am. I’ve gotten to know some of you… and here’s the thing, you’ve gotten to know ME. We’re all godless… but now, ransom is a gift you can grasp the same way that paraplegic did:
You just come to Jesus Christ, the God Man, the Ransom Giver with nothing but faith… you don’t come with your good works, your politics, you don’t come still trusting in yourself or your control, or your goodness, or your horoscopes or your other gods (sex, money, power)… you leave that all behind, and empty handed, you just lay there lame and say, forgive me and bid me rise!
Then the living Christ, who is alive still and in this room, will touch your soul, and grant you peace and wash you clean. Maybe today would be the day, you become desperate enough to do that. Maybe you’re not desperate enough yet. Maybe his claims are too wild for you to accept yet. The longer you hang around him (gospels) – I believe you’ll be convinced.
Now to those of you who have received him… you heard the call go out: The kingdom of God has come, accept the good news of forgiveness and change your ways… you said yes… Maybe a short time ago or long… now let me ask you this… you accepted Jesus as your forgiver, have you accepted him as your leader?
Yes? Then in what way are you following his lead, and becoming a servant? Are you running from sacrifice, and suffering and servanthood? Are you ready to take up your cross daily? And serve instead of looking to BE served. Serve…
- your parents
- your kids
- your spouse
- your boss
- your co-workers
- your community
Friends… this is where a lot of people turned away from Jesus. They wanted a super hero who is lauded and praised – who performs miracles… they didn’t want a Teacher who suffers – because students when they are fully taught will be LIKE their teacher.
Yet, to bless the world, friends he HAD to suffer – do you get that?! To do God’s will he had to reach down and humble himself and serve us. To BE the ransom payment he had to put himself out there…
WILL YOU? Will you find your cross of servanthood and willingly pick it up this week? I trust that you will.
