Where the Rubber Meets the Road (7 of 12)
Series: Mark
Patrick Edwards
Mark 9:2-10:31
Introduction
"Don't you understand yet?"
I love how Larry zoomed in on this central question that Jesus poses to the disciples again and again. They've seen signs and they've seen wonders, but they don't get the who of Jesus; thus, they don't get the what of his mission. Even just recognizing that he is the Messiah, the promised king and savior of Israel, isn't enough. Makes me think of the words of James, "Even the demons believe-and they shudder," (James 2:19). Understanding is more than knowing something. Understanding Jesus means, "If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me and the gospel will save it," (Mark 8:34-35).1
We ok? Guys, the rubber is meeting the road. This is the point in the action movie where the leader says, 'Hey if anyone wants out right now, I understand. There's the door; no hard feelings.' You see, as we turn this morning to the second half of Mark, and the second half of this series, we're turning toward the end, the final days, weeks, months of Jesus' mission. These chapters, Jesus' words and lessons, are for his disciples specifically. Not for the crowds or for the religious teachers; just for his disciples.
You see, from here on until the end of the book, we're now on Jesus' march to Jerusalem and to his crucifixion. The ante is getting upped; his time with them is getting shorter, and so Jesus will now start preparing his disciples for his impending death and for their ministry that will follow his resurrection and ascension.
In other words, thus far, things have been relatively easy for the disciples. But now they will begin to discern the cost of discipleship, what it means and what it looks like to follow Jesus daily by faith in the midst of this lost and rebellious world. In this pa ...
Series: Mark
Patrick Edwards
Mark 9:2-10:31
Introduction
"Don't you understand yet?"
I love how Larry zoomed in on this central question that Jesus poses to the disciples again and again. They've seen signs and they've seen wonders, but they don't get the who of Jesus; thus, they don't get the what of his mission. Even just recognizing that he is the Messiah, the promised king and savior of Israel, isn't enough. Makes me think of the words of James, "Even the demons believe-and they shudder," (James 2:19). Understanding is more than knowing something. Understanding Jesus means, "If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me and the gospel will save it," (Mark 8:34-35).1
We ok? Guys, the rubber is meeting the road. This is the point in the action movie where the leader says, 'Hey if anyone wants out right now, I understand. There's the door; no hard feelings.' You see, as we turn this morning to the second half of Mark, and the second half of this series, we're turning toward the end, the final days, weeks, months of Jesus' mission. These chapters, Jesus' words and lessons, are for his disciples specifically. Not for the crowds or for the religious teachers; just for his disciples.
You see, from here on until the end of the book, we're now on Jesus' march to Jerusalem and to his crucifixion. The ante is getting upped; his time with them is getting shorter, and so Jesus will now start preparing his disciples for his impending death and for their ministry that will follow his resurrection and ascension.
In other words, thus far, things have been relatively easy for the disciples. But now they will begin to discern the cost of discipleship, what it means and what it looks like to follow Jesus daily by faith in the midst of this lost and rebellious world. In this pa ...
There are 27181 characters in the full content. This excerpt only shows a 2000 character sample of the full content.
Price: $5.99 or 1 credit
