Success Is Not What Some Folks Think It Is Series

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 VIII – MARK 10:32-45 . . .

SUCCESS IS NOT WHAT SOME FOLKS THINK IT IS

Have you ever had the feeling that you were not “getting through” to someone you were trying to explain something to? You simply had a hard time getting an idea through somebody’s “thick skull” – which is just another way of saying that someone is “hard-headed”. Or, perhaps you became frustrated with yourself and exclaimed, “I just can’t seem to get it through my ‘thick skull’.”

As Jesus headed down the “home stretch” of His redemptive mission, He got somewhat exasperated with His inner circle of followers due to their denial, or refusal, to accept the notion that He was headed to a Cross rather than a Coronation.

In vivid, pointed language, our Lord laid out exactly what was going to happen to Him; but He ended with a triumphant declaration - one that the apostles may not have heard with their “inner ear” - Mark 10:32-34 . . .

Why were these guys so “astonished” . . . “amazed” . . . “afraid”? Wouldn’t you say that, by now, they had become very much aware of the dangers that lay ahead of them as they approached Jerusalem? Or, perhaps some of the sayings coming from the lips of Jesus - the one they had left everything to follow - sounded a bit strange; for example, “Many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

How could this be? Isn’t it a law of life that people who get to the top stay there? Not necessarily. Many a person stands tall in the sight of men, or in their own sight, but eventually fall. Why? Pride gets the best of them! And, you know what? Sinful pride always trips up anyone who boasts of being “superior” to, or more “spiritual” than, everyone else. Peter, are you listening? Mr. or Mrs. “whoever”, are you listening? Pride goes before a fall!

Notice the observation by Mark that Jesus “walked ahead of” them. At this point in His ministry - with danger looming on the horizon - Jesus was out front by Himself! Yet He kept going steadfastly toward His destiny.

Let us suppose Jesus was thinking that if He had to go it alone, so be it! After all, God the Father was there to comfort Him!

Never underestimate the courage required of any commander who would “lead the charge” into battle against any foe! Folks: our Lord is our great commander who has promised to go before us wherever we go - especially as we go through the valleys, or dwell in the shadows, of life.

As did the psalmist, cannot all children of God say and really mean it, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I have no reason to fear the evil one, for Thou art with me?” Christ Jesus takes charge when we need Him most! Yet, the Twelve found this fact hard to grasp . . .

Consider this: You have committed your life to Christ and have said, in effect, “Wherever He leads, I’ll go.” But after a while, He comes to you and starts talking about being: “handed over” . . . “condemned to death” . . . “made fun of” . . . “spat upon” . . . “scourged” . . . “killed”! Would you begin to have “second thoughts” about continuing to follow this man?