Recognizing The Master Series

• If you watch KRBC News in the evening, you will see the lady anchor is Megan Dobbs.

• Megan was a in Jr. High, she was in the youth group where Laura and I were youth counselors and sponsors. We went to First Baptist Church of Forney.

• We took her and a big group of youth to camps, retreats, DiscipleNow weekends, SNAC nights and many other events.

• One of the things I used to do at camps was get a group of youth to go with me to meet other church groups.

• I would invite them to come on an adventure they would never forget.

• We would walk up to people and camp and I would say, “Hey, I know you!”

• They would almost always say, “You do?”

• I would say, “I think so. I can figure it out if I can ask you a question or two. May I?”

• They would sense that this was some kind of mentalist game and almost always say, “Sure.”

• I would ask, “Are you a believer and follower of Jesus Christ?”

• A few times they would say, “Not yet.”

• I would say, “Can I show you how to be?” It was always great for me and the kids to see someone accept Christ right in the streets sidewalks of camp.

• Most of the time, they would say, “Yes, I am.”

• I would follow up with, “I knew I knew you. Let me describe you.

• “You are holy and blameless because you are under the blood of Jesus.

• “You are a prophet/prophetess, a priest/priestess and royalty.

• “You are more than a conqueror.

• “I recognized you because you bear the image of your heavenly Father and your big Brother Jesus Christ.

• “I would recognize Him anywhere.”

• That always produced some interesting conversations.

• I can’t positively remember if Megan ever accepted the invitation to go with us to meet new family members, but I certainly think she could have.

• Do you recognize the Master?

• Do you see His image in your brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ?

• In Mark 11:27-33, some very religious people did not recognize the Master.

• But in the story, we can see how we can recognize Him and His hand around us.

Mar 11:27-28 And they came again to Jerusalem. And as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to him, 28 and they said to him, "By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them?"

• It is easy to understand, the day after Jesus had cleansed the temple, that He got there early while they were setting up and was correcting everything being set up improperly.

• He had already cleared what was dishonoring to His Father and true worship.

• You will remember that he even stopped foot traffic the day before.

Mar 11:29-30 Jesus said to them, "I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 30 Was the baptism of John from heaven or from man? Answer me."

• John was the first preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

• The forerunner of the Messiah.

• It was him who testified to the world who Jesus was.

• Let’s flash back to John’s baptism ministry:

• Joh 1:26-36 John answered them, "I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie." 28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing. 29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.' 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel." 32 And John bore witness: "I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God." 35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!"