Kaboom! The Politics of Trump and The Ministry of Jesus

 

October 27, 2024                            NOTES NOT EDITED
Ka-Boom:  The Politics of Trump and the Preaching of Jesus
Lk 7:24-50

SIS: Whether in politics or religion, the key to progress is blowing up the status quo.

Donald Trump is a lot like Jesus. That’s a shocker. It shocks even me when I say it. But, there is at least one similarity that justifies that statement. BOTH BLOW UP THE STATUS QUO. Beyond that similarity, Trump who openly and boldly declares to be a follower of Jesus has a lot of growing to do.

When Trump was first inaugurated president after the 2016 Election, he ignited a political bomb that is still blowing up the political speech 8 years later.

When Jesus came to earth, he exploded the religious status quo that is still blowing up today. Jesus exploded the establishment religion of his day, referred to as the Pharisees, and continues to challenge and demolish “man-centered, works-based, establishment religion” today. Write that down: man-centered, works-based, establishment religion.” Jesus blows it apart. The “Christ-centered, grace-based, revolutionary” movement Jesus founded is like an atomic bomb that blows up status quo.

With Trump, the corrupt Washington establishment is running like cockroaches when one turns on the kitchen light at night in an infested apartment. Similarly, the unrighteous Pharisees ran for cover under the dirty shroud of Pilate when Jesus exposed them.

Here we are, six years after an well-known celebrity but a political novice exploded all expectations and became president of the U.S. This was a huge explosion in 2016 and the reverberations continue strong to this day. That’s the nature of a movement that “explodes the status quo.” Nothing will ever be the same again. As with Trump’s politics, so it was with Jesus’s ministry. Both TOTALLY EXPLODED THE STATUS QUO.

Jesus was nothing if He was not a revolutionary. God is called the Lord of Hosts, which means the Lord of the Armies of Heaven. Jesus dropped a holy bomb on humanity and the explosion exposed the many cracks and weaknesses of religion--which is the human efforts to obtain what only God in His grace can bestow. That explosion started a war that continues to this day—and will until Jesus, the Lord of the Hosts, returns.

Our passage is long today, but this simple truth of Jesus challenging, disrupting, and explosively demolishing the status quo ties this section together. Indeed, this theme ties the entire Bible together being woven into the fabric of truth from Genesis to Revelation.

I expect there will have to be at least someone who disagrees with my premise. I'm led to disagree with it myself if I were truly honest. It seems at best insane and at worst blasphemous to suggest that Trump and Jesus in their respective political and spiritual campaigns have anything in common.

Let’s read just a portion of the text showing how Jesus collides with the religious establishment resulting in a great explosion.
READ LUKE 7:24-33. Jesus Explodes Four Foundations of the Pharisees False Religion (Each One Closely Related to the Others)

1.  Jesus Exploded the
     WRONG ATTITUDE of the Pharisees (24-35, esp 30)

The Pharisees represent lost people with a particularly bad attitude of thinking they could please God without surrendering to Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior.

{30} But the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God's purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.) 

The Pharisees rejected John’s baptism for two reasons: one, he preached the need for repentance. They believed their deeds made them righteous; two, John pointed to Jesus as the “Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:29). Again, the Pharisees trusted in their religion of good deeds to take away sin, not Jesus. 

The disciples of John the Baptistjust came from a meeting with John.  At that meeting they reported to their beloved leader all that Jesus had been doing. Apparently, John and Jesus had not spoken to one another for quite some time, since the beginning of Jesus’ ministry when he was baptized by John.  All the excitement over the miracles and powerful teaching of Jesus had raised questions about the identity of Jesus, even in John’s mind.  Jesus pointed out that John was a man of strong conviction and willing to make a strong stand for righteousness and preached devotion to Jesus. (Eventually John would be martyred for his strong stand).  Jesus reminded them about John’s strong convictions about the Coming Messiah, Jesus.  Look at verses 24-28:

After John's messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: "What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? {25} If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces. {26} But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. {27} This is the one about whom it is written: "'I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.' {28} I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he." 

John was the greatest prophet to have lived and he preached Jesus was the Only Savior. Remember, as I just said, it was John the Baptist who firstidentified for the crowds of people that Jesus was the Messiah, “the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world.” (Jn. 1:29). John’s preaching pointed out Jesus’ identity and the miraculous deeds of Jesus confirmed it.  For the most part, the common people accepted who Jesus was—but not the Pharisees.

The Pharisees had bad attitudes.  First, they refused to repent no matter what Jesus said or what miracles he performed. They rejected Jesus in the face of undeniable evidence. (Compare Psa. 14; Rom. 1:18-20). Look at the Pharisees attitude again in vv29-30 

29 (All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus' words, acknowledged that God's way was right, because they had been baptized by John.  {30} But the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God's purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.) 

{31}"To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? {32} They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other: "'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not cry.' {33} For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.' {34} The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners."' 

Jesus embraced sinners. The Pharisees considered themselves righteous and “better” than others. That’s a BAD ATTITUDE. Sadly, a lot of Christians look down on the “down and out” and have an attitude of contempt for those struggling with sin. 

John lived a brutally holy life alone for the most part in the desert living off grasshoppers and wearing a camel-skin coat. His righteousness was impeccable and noted as such by Jesus. Yet, the Pharisees considered John’s behavior as “having a demon” (33). Jesus spent all his time with drinkers, gluttons, and tax collectors, and the Pharisees despised him as “A drunkard and friend of low lifes” (34). Nobody could live up to the Pharisees standards—the religious status quo.  You just can’t reach some people no matter what you do!

People get stuck in status quo. They get chained to false ideas based upon their experiences, not the evidence. This can happen to anyone. Football players. T.V. producers. Or even morticians. Three women got together for lunch on Saturday. The wife of a prominent football player said, “You know, I hate it when my husband refers to leftovers as “replays.” The wife of a T.V. producer chimed in and said, “Yea. My husband calls them, “reruns.”  The third lady’s husband was the local funeral director and embalmer. She sighed, “Well, at least you don’t have a husband calling your leftovers, “remains.”

We can fall into a pitiful pattern of seeing everything from our own narrow perspective and develop a bad attitude of viewing our religious status quo as more important than the Savior’s mission. 

Jesus exposed the WRONG ATTITUDE of the Pharisees. 

2.  Second, Jesus Exploded the
     WRONG FOCUS of the Pharisees (37-48)

Since the Pharisees didn’t think they needed Jesus to save them, they focused on their religious program, not helping struggling “people.”

Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. {37} When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, {38} and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. {39} When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is--that she is a sinner." 

The Pharisees focused on their religious programs not lost people. 

Everyone knew this young lady – She was a “working gal” and I don’t mean selling Avon!  It was perfectly acceptable that this woman come into the party. 

According to the prevailing custom of the day, the poor were allowed to visit the banquets of the rich to receive the left-overs.  But, this lady had something else in mind. She bowed at his feet anointing His feet with expensive perfume, and washing the dust with her tears of repentance. This humble act was something Simon, the Pharisee, had no intention of doing (vv 44-46) 

Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. {45} You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. {46} You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. {47} Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven--for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little." {48} Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are FORGIVEN." 

The world is full of religious people who focus on the sins people commit but have no love for the souls of those sinners. Pharisees, status quo Christians, focus on programs, not people. 

Christianity is about “people,” not programs. There are people in every church that will fight at the drop of the hat if you change part of the religious rituals of the church, but these same people won’t lift a finger to reach out to lost people.

Jesus raised a ruckus with the religious because He showed more concern for lost people than He did the Pharisees empty traditions. 

Literally thousands of churches have drifted into oblivion because they did not want “their” church filled up with undesirable people. Let, me give you a little hint about God: there are no undesirable people except perhaps people like the Pharisees.

Jesus exposed the wrong focus of the Pharisees– they worshipped worship rather than work to find God’s lost sheep. 

3.  Jesus Exploded
     WRONG PRACTICE of the Pharisees (46).

The Pharisees worshipped their religion and so focused on their behavior, but Jesus pointed out their practices without a love for people made them hypocrites.

{46) You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet . 

The Pharisees did all the right things for all the wrong reasons. The Sinful Woman was the “wrong kind of person” who did all the right things. That’s the ugly irony of religion—it values programs but ignores real people. The Pharisees proudly said, “Look at all we DO.” Jesus said, “Look at what you DID NOT DO.” Practicing all the religion in the world is no substitute for a devoted love for Jesus.

The Pharisees meditated on Scripture. The Pharisees worshipped regularly and passionately. The Pharisees gave regular offerings. The Pharisees spread the message of their beliefs religiously. The Pharisees were “so religious” in their practices Jesus actually mentioned it, Himself. He said in Matthew 23:15 (NIV84):

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, . . . You travel over land and sea to win a single convert. Then in 23:23 Jesus remarks on the Pharisees meticulous approach to “tithing” (giving a tenth):

23 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.”

Jesus did not condemn the religious practices of the Pharisees  themselves. He said clearly, “you should make converts; you should pay your tithes.” Jesus recognized the intensity of their devotion. What made the practices “wrong” were not the acts themselves but the reason the Pharisees practices them. Jesus was exploding the “wrong practice” of SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS that did “right things for the wrong reason.” Their godliness began and ended with themselves—that is, what they did for God and completely rejected, dismissed, and devalued God, Himself, Jesus Christ.

Religion says, “Look at me what I am doing.” True faith says, “Look at Jesus what He has done.” The Pharisees saw their self-righteousness and did nothing for Jesus. The Sinful Woman saw her Savior and anointed His head and kissed his feet.

This is why the self-righteous Pharisees had zero tolerance for the “reckless, extravagant devotion” of this common sinner-a woman no less. Do you see the irony that the Self-righteous Pharisees valued their practices more than they valued the souls of sinful people? Let me ask you again, “Do you see the irony that the self-righteous Pharisees valued their practices more than they valued the souls of sinful people?” 

Jesus explodes the “wrong practices of empty religion” that puts a high value on practices and programs and NO VALUE on people. The religiously blind Pharisees saw a dirty sinner wasting valuable perfume. Jesus saw a “needy sinner” eternally grateful for the gift of forgiveness.

In the practice of the Pharisees, just touching the woman would make them ceremonially unclean.  Sinners had no value to the Pharisees.  In fact, to the Pharisees this woman would probably have been viewed as a liability, rather than an asset.  What could this poor prostitute do for the church?

I read an interesting story about a dentist that died.  When the family went through his belongings they discovered a key to a safe-deposit box.  Going to the bank they thought they would find a few pieces of jewelry, or perhaps some important papers.  WHAT THEY FOUND WERE–OLD ROTTEN TEETH!  For years the dentist had been buying the old rotten teeth of his patients.  They were all rotten, but they were all filled with gold or silver.  They looked nasty.  But, one of the sons of the dentist made a few contacts and found someone who would break away the old rotten tooth material and refine the gold and silver so a value could be placed on the material.  The son was surprised to learn that the old rotten teeth, nasty and disgusting to look at, netted a check from the refiner for $4000. Jesus sees the gold in each of us, while the world may only see “rotten teeth.”

Jesus created quite a commotion by “exploding the wrong practices of the religious Pharisees.” He’s still rattling the cages of the religious elite even to this day.

4.  Jesus raised a ruckus with the religious by exploding their WRONG EXPECTATIONS (47-50)

The Pharisees, representing many religious or spiritual persons today EXPECTED their religious activity would save them without a love and devotion to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Here Jesus really ruffled their feathers—and ruffles feathers today. People who expect to get to heaven without show the lavish, sacrificial love of Jesus demonstrated by the Sinful Woman should expect to be eternally disappointed in hell. 

{47}Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven--for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."  {48} Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." 

Jesus is using figurative speech here in the form of exaggeration. Nobody can literally be “forgiven little.” This is a figurative way of saying “those who are self-righteous and feel no need for a Savior.” The Pharisees had no love for Jesus because, since they were saved by their own works, Jesus did nothing for them in their minds.

Not long ago, a group were out boating.  The boat sprung a leak near the stern (back).  Most of the passengers were in the back bailing out water frantically.  Toward the front of the boat was a self-righteous couple who thought they were above such a menial task as bailing water.  As the boat started to sink, the wife turned to her husband and said, “I’m certainly glad the leak is not in our end of the boat.”

These people are like the Pharisees and so many today thinking, “I’m not that bad so I don’t need to accept Jesus to save me. I’m even a fairly regular church-goer.” The Bible says otherwise,

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). And, “The wages of sin is death (hell)” (Rom. 6:23).

Friend, if your religion is like that of the Pharisees–you are going to get wet when you die (actually hot).  The trouble is, most people who are like the Pharisees are like that couple on the boat–they don’t even realize how much danger they are in. They just ‘EXPECT’ they will be saved because . . . well, because God saves everybody on this boat of life, and I’m not that bad anyway. 

The Pharisees felt they would be saved because, they weren’t “sinners like the woman.” Jesus exploded the wrong expectations of the Pharisees: they were wrong to think that by being religious they would go to heaven. Jesus ends this section by pointing out the only way to heaven: 

{50}Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." Faith: trust in, rely on, cling to Jesus as Lord.

Are you willing to “fall down at the feet of Jesus and wash His feet with tears of repentance” and the perfume of humble service–that’s the only way. The Pharisees expected to get to heaven by their own works and good deeds. Jesus said, the woman alone was forgiven because she recognized Who Jesus was and relied on His deeds—namely living a sinless life and dying on OUR cross.

What is the basis for any expectations you have for eternal life? Are you trusting in being good? You can’t be good enough? Are you trusting in being religious? Religion only makes you a self-righteous Pharisee as lost as a teepee in a tornado.

Jesus completely exploded the status quo of false religion of good works in His time on earth and continues to explode wrong attitudes, wrong focuses, wrong practices, and wrong expectations of people trying to gain Heaven any other way than through faith and extravagant devotion to Him as the “Only Way, the Only Truth, and the Only life.” This is the gospel of Jesus Christ. The only gospel that saves.

Any time the gospel is preached in power, somebody won’t like it as evidenced by the Pharisees reaction to Jesus. 

This is where I see a great similarity between the Politics of Trump and the Ministry of Jesus. Both are exploding the status quo and those vested and invested in the status quo are reacting violently. In politics, the Swamp of Status Quo reacted violently with 39 Federal Indictments and two Failed Assassinations. In regard to the Ministry of Jesus, the status quo reacted by crucifying Him on a cross.

The echoes of Jesus exploding the false ideas of His day can be heard clearly today, if you open your hearts and listen. I believe strongly that the Politics of Trump may be at least a part of that echo reminding us that there is only One King and One Savior, Jesus Christ.

 

 

The Story of Jesus According to Mark, Pt 20: "Well Done!"

 

October 20, 2024            NOTES NOT EDITED
The Story of Jesus According to Mark, Pt 20:  “Well Done!”
Mark 7:31-37

SIS – We do things well when we do things God’s Way.

One of the first things my Company Commander in Bootcamp told us was: there are three ways to do things:  the right way, the wrong way, and the Navy way! I’d always thought that the “right way and the wrong way” were the only two options. Boy . . . did I have an awakening in bootcamp!

I think we could modify my Company Commander’s instruction to cover how most people basically live their lives. There’s God’s Way. There’s the Devil’s Way. And, there’s “our” way that we think is somehow different from the Devil’s Way. We somehow convince ourselves that “Our” way is somehow “acceptable” to God even when we know it is the “Wrong Way.”

I think about farming. There’s a right way to farm and a wrong way. A successful Wall Street Stockbroker wanted to simplify his life. He sold his expensive New York condo, bought some acreage in the country and decided to be a farmer. He wanted to be a chicken farmer. He’d never even seen a farm in his life and the only chicken he knew anything about was in the frozen food section of the grocery store. But, he wanted to have a simpler life and was going to give it his best. He bought a hundred chickens and was on his way. Months went by and he had no chickens—none. After a few more months he grew concerned and decided to call the local Government Agricultural Extension Department. When a man answered the phone the new farmer said, “Sir, I am new at chicken farming and I could use some help.” The Government Ag Worker replied, “Sure, what’s your question?” The New Farmer responded, “Well, it has been all most three months now and I don’t have a single chicken. Do you think it was because I planted them to close together or too deep?”

Well, I guess there’s a right way to grow chickens and a wrong way.

As I think about my Company Commander, and I think of this farmer’s story I realize that there are, in fact, only two ways to live our lives: The Right Way, or God’s Way; or the Wrong Way which is the Devil’s Way. One way leads to blessing; the other leads to chaos and a curse on life.  Today, we are going to look at doing things “God’s Way.” We do things well when we do things God’s Way.

America, by nearly every measure, is in decline. American families are in chaos and on the verge of collapsing. Churches, once the focal point of community in that the steeple of the town church was the primary landmark of the community, are in decline.

If we pay attention to recent statistics we will see very clearly that “doing life God’s Way” is no longer central to being an American, as it had been in our past. Doing things God’s Way is not even central to how Christians live their lives. Over 8 out of 10 people profess to be Christians but only 4 out of 10 believe the Bible!  Only half of them attend church; less than 2 of them attend Sunday School; and only two of the eight who profess to be a Christian ever volunteer to serve in the church.

Clearly, these statistics should alarm us as the Church.  I’m not sure they surprise us.  I think we all intuitively sense that the world is, as they said in my day, “Going to hell in a handbasket” and the Church seems to be greasing the slide! 

America’s political, social, and economic problems are not the cause of the decline in Christian devotion, but quite the opposite.  Whatever we are doing as a church, it simply is not working. Our church  shoes are coming untied and we are tripping all over them.

Our way of doing church is not working—in fact, our way of doing Church has never worked and cannot work.  The only way that works is God’s Way.  As the people in our text this morning view the Life of Jesus Christ they exclaim with enthusiastic amazement:  “He has done everything well!” Jesus did everything well because He did everything God’s way.  The Jesus said,

Jn. 4:34: “My food is to do the will of Him who sent me.” And in Jn. 8:29, Jesus said, “I always do what please Him [the Father].”

And, when the Lord was faced with the most difficult trial of His earthly life—a trial of unimaginable pain—the Lord said,  “Lk 22 ⁴² “Father, if You are willing, take this cup  away from Me—nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.”

Jesus did “everything well” because He always did things God’s way.  Likewise, we His followers, can “do all things well if we do things God’s Way.”

So, alas! All is not lost.  There is a way for us as believers to experience a new power from God in and through our faith community!  Discover God’s Way and follow it.

Let’s read about Doing Things Well By Doing Things God’s Way.

MARK 7:31-37

1.  FIRST, God’s Way is a DIFFERENT way (31)

Our text begins with the description of a very peculiar route Jesus took to get to his destination. His destination was the area called the Decapolis (Ten Cities) on the south-eastern shore of the sea of Galilee. To reach this southern destination Jesus went “north.” And through rough, often hostile Gentile territory.

31 leaving the region of Tyre,  He went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee,  through  the region of the Decapolis.

This is like going to So. LA by first travelling north to Ventura, across through Filmore, over to Santa Clarita, and back down to S. LA.  It would have been about an eight month journey for the Lord and the disciples.  To say that this was a “different” route to take for the Lord would be an understatement.

What are we to garner from this peculiar, unexpected, and for some, perhaps even ill-advised route of the Lord?

Well, we know that in chapter 8 Peter will make the quintessential confession of faith in Jesus by answering the Lord’s question, “who do you say I am?”  Peter would declare with confidence and boldness—a confidence and boldness that would help him later overcome a terrible failure in his life—Peter declared, “You are the Messiah—the One Sent From God!”

So, at least part of the Lord’s design for this weeks-long or even months-long journey was to draw His disciples close to Him and pour His life into them.   It takes time to grow “disciples.”  A fungus, such as a mushroom, can grow up overnight; but, it takes many years for a mighty oak to reach its majestic size.  Time.  That is often the missing element in disciple-making.

Another lesson we garner from this circuitous route of the Lord is to demonstrate what we read throughout the Scriptures:  the Way of God is a DIFFERENT way.  Isaiah declared, (55:8)

My thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not My ways.”

God’s ways are what we might refer to as “counter-intuitive.”  Counter-intuitive means, “contrary to what seems right according to common sense or a ‘gut’ feeling.”  The most obvious answer of a truth that is “counter-intuitive” would be that “the earth is a sphere.”  That is true, but it is counter-intuitive.  The common experience for a human being (given our small size relative to the earth) is that the earth is indeed, flat.  But, of course, further study shows that the world is not flat, but “counter-intuitively,” it is a sphere.

God’s Ways appear so different to us because we don’t see the “Big Picture” as God sees it. He sees a thousand tomorrows as if they are one today. His perspective is “infinite.” Ours is “finite.”

A few years ago a woman was asked to give a motivational speech on “broadening one’s perspective in life.” She took the stage and immediately tacked up a huge white sheet of paper. She then took a black marker and made a “dot” in the center of the paper. She asked a man in the front row, “What do you see.” The man replied, “a black dot.” She asked the person next to him and she replied, “a black dot.” She then went row by row asking random people what they saw. They all replied with the same, obvious, answer, “a black dot.” She then asked for a show of hands of those in the audience who saw a “black dot.” Every hand in the auditorium went up. The woman giving the speech on broadening one’s perspective said, “All of you saw the black dot. None of you saw the huge white sheet of paper. With that, I will end my speech.”

The ways of God are DIFFERENT from the ways of man. We must seek the Lord’s guidance through His Word in all things in order to broaden our perspective and see things the way God sees them. Only when we first “SEE THINGS” God’s Way can we then “DO THINGS” His Way. God’s Way is different from our way. They are very often counter-intuitive. Often we must “go north to get south.”

We can become quite frustrated if we do not accept the fact that God’s Way is DIFFERENT from our way.  God operates on a different time schedule (His own); and according to a different purpose (His own).  That’s why sometimes God says, “no” to what we ask of Him in prayer.  Or, that is why God takes much longer to answer our prayer than we would expect or hope.

God operates according to His Way, not ours; and, His way is a much DIFFERENT way.  We must spend many hours in prayer and constant meditation on God’s Word if we are going to even begin to understand His Way.

2.  God’s Way is an EFFECTIVE way (32-36)                                                           

Thinking about Jesus’s route to get “south by going north” we can say it wasn’t the FASTEST route, nor the EASIEST route, the SAFEST route, or even the USUAL route. . . but it was the most EFFECTIVE route.

Of all the healing stories thus far in Mark, the Lord’s actions regarding the deaf man with a severe speech problem is by far the most unusual.  The man’s condition is not all that unusual, but the Lord’s method of healing is unusual.  Unusual—but EFFECTIVE.  Let’s read it again:

³² They brought to Him a deaf  man who also had a speech difficulty,  and begged Jesus to lay His hand on  him. ³³ So He took him away from the crowd privately. After putting His fingers in the man’s ears and spitting, He touched his tongue. ³⁴ Then, looking up to heaven, He sighed deeply and said to him, “Ephphatha!”  (that is, “Be opened!”). ³⁵ Immediately his ears were opened, his speech difficulty was removed,  and he began to speak clearly.  ³⁶ Then He ordered them to tell no one, but the more He would order them, the more they would proclaim  it.

Keep in mind the guiding truth of this passage:  “Jesus has done everything well.”  We might say in this age of business coaches and success gurus, “Jesus was highly effective.”  He got the job done and he did it well.

Too often in life we look for the FASTEST way, or the EASIEST way, or the SAFEST way, or the USUAL way, but the most EFFECTIVE way is always, “God’s Way!” Don’t question it—just do it.

If you don’t realize that his purpose is always to be “Effective,” then the actions of the Lord may call upon us to perform will indeed seem quite strange; perhaps even a bit gross.  But, everything the Lord does was to assure the “effectiveness” of His ministry.

When the “church growth experts” of the 70’s and 80’s looked for models on how to build “big” churches, they looked to the business world, not the Bible.  The classic example would be Robert Schuller and the Crystal Cathedral. This “Business Model” brought us the “megachurch movement.” Church became two miles wide and inch deep.

I do not want to wholly discount practicing sound principles of marketing and business, for the Word of God has much to say about these things.  We do err greatly, however, when we look first, or even exclusively to the world, instead of the Word.  Whatever “methods” we may choose, they must conform to the message we have in God’s word.  Function must always proceed form.  The message must always have precedence over the method.

So, why all this seemingly bizarre activity of putting fingers in a man’s ears, spitting on one’s finger and touching the man’s tongue?

Well, the point is, the finger-jabbing and spitting is not the point!  Effectiveness in ministry—that’s the point. The point is: EFFECTIVENESS.

Consider the man was deaf.  Jesus could not tell him what He was going to do for the man, so Jesus showed him.  Jesus spoke with the man in a language the man could understand and respond to – the language of “touch.” 

Doing things well means doing things God’s Way.  Doing things well means “doing things effectively.” We need to stop regularly and reflect upon our lives. Is what we are doing being “effective,” that is bringing the desired RESULTS of godliness for us personally and extending godliness to our community. Are we GETTING RESULTS?

So much of the modern church’s ways of doing things are INEFFECTIVE.  The declining “State of the Church” as I outlined in the statistics above, should cause us to reflectively and resolutely reevaluate every activity in our church to see if it is effective in meeting the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of our community. Every once in a while we need to “overhaul” the processes and practices of our ministry and align, or realign them with God’s Ways.

Just consider something as simple as our name. First Baptist Church. What’s the “First” mean? Where’s the second and third. First in regard to what? First in the rapture? What? Then think of the word, “Baptist.” First of all, what does “Baptist” imply? Does that mean we exclude anyone who had a different religious background? Is “Baptist” a positive term in our community or a negative one? When did the “Baptist Church” start? What started it? When? Even most Baptists don’t even know. My point is that we need to constantly evaluate everything we do to make sure that it is:  One, Biblical; and TWO, effective.

By effective I mean:  Is the Kingdom coming on earth as it is in heaven as a result of the way we are doing things?  Are the blind receiving their sight?  Are the lame walking?  Are the deaf hearing? Are the lost being found? Are we being EFFECTIVE?

Notice carefully the instruction Jesus gives to the people (and instruction He has given several times before).  Verse 36 says:

³⁶ Then He ordered them to tell no one. 

Why not tell everyone?  Certainly if any man today did anything like what Jesus did or taught in the manner Jesus taught, that person would have his own television program—or even broadcast network.  Such exploits would be nothing short of “sensational.”

That’s the point.  Jesus did not come to be “sensational,” but to be “effective.”  He did not come to gain popularity, but to prepare a way for us to be saved.  Ministry is never about being “sensational,” but about being “effective.”  It’s never about being the “biggest,” but about being “effective.”  Ministry is not about making a name for oneself, but about making a difference in one’s world.

They exclaimed about Jesus, “He has done everything well.”  A major issue in doing things well is to do them EFFECTIVELY.

God’s way leads to a job “well done.”  God’s way is a DIFFERENT way.  God’s way is an EFFECTIVE way.

3.  God’s Way is the ONLY way (37)

There are 66 books in the Bible.  There are 1189 chapters.  There are 31,103 verses (+/- 137).  But, there is one theme.  That theme can be summed up in one name:  JESUS.

Jesus is His name, and Christ, or Messiah is His title.  It’s all about “who” Jesus is and “what” He came to do.  The story of Jesus takes many turns, crosses many rivers, climbs many mountains; but there is only one theme:  Jesus and His cross.

This text is not about a deaf man that was healed.  This story, like the entire story of the Bible is about a “Dead Man Who Brought Life.” Jesus died so we might live.  The crowd exclaimed when they watched all those who Jesus was healing, including this deaf man, “He has done all things well.”  And, indeed He did.

 

But, the one thing above all things that Jesus did well was to “die and then raise from the dead so that, “whoever would believe in Him need not perish but could have eternal life.”  Think about it. If all Jesus ever did for this man was give him hearing until he died, the man would have remained eternally lost forever. What good is it to be able to hear if nobody ever shared the message of the gospel so you could be saved? Healings and miracles can become like the “BLACK DOT” on the WHITE paper. Too many people miss the “big picture” in the healings of Jesus—THEY POINTED TO WHO HE WAS—THE MESSIAH. THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD.

Jesus did all things well because He did all things God’s Way.  God’s way is a DIFFERENT way, an EFFECTIVE way, but more than anything else God’s way is the ONLY way one can be saved.

This text is about Jesus—“who He is and what He did on the Cross.”  This text is not about Jesus, the Healer, but Jesus the Messiah—the One From God Who Would Be a Sacrifice For All.

The healing is the “black dot.” The message of the Messiah is the “white paper.”

Look closely at how the crowd associates Jesus with the healing of deafness and the healing of speech:

³⁷ They were extremely astonished and said, “He has done everything well! He even makes deaf people hear, and people unable to speak, talk!”

 Now, listen to how Yahweh describes Himself in Exodus 4:11 when Moses protests that Pharoah would not listen to him because he did not speak well:

¹¹ Yahweh said to him,[ei. Moses] “Who made the human mouth? Who makes him mute or deaf, seeing or blind? Is it not I, Yahweh? 

And, listen to Isaiah describe the coming Messiah (35:5):

⁵ Then the eyes of the blind will be opened,

and the ears of the deaf unstopped.

Mark closes this section of Scripture with a summary statement pointing to the identity (and authority) of Jesus Christ.  We know this is a “summary” declaration of the identity of Jesus by the words, “extremely astonished.”  In several places Mark talks of the crowd being “astonished or amazed,” but here adds a very descriptive adjective “hyper abundantly astonished.”

Mark wants to affirm the identity of Jesus as the Promised One of God.  Mark wants to move from the healing power of Jesus to the Saving power of Jesus.

Jesus did all things well because he followed the way of God. That Way is All About Jesus. Jesus IS “The Way.”  (Jn. 14:6). Jesus, is in fact, the only way in which any person will ever finish well in this life.

It is not the “good deeds” of our lives that will save us, but the Deed Done By Jesus.”  He is the Messiah—the God-Man—the ONLY way anybody can please God and “do all things well.”

One day, everyone of us will stand before God and will be judged according to the “way” in which we lived our lives.  Did we “do all things well?”  Did we live in a way that was DIFFERENT from the world?  Did we minister in a way that was EFFECTIVE in the world.  And, did we follow in the ONLY way that would lead to eternal life after this world?

Jesus did all things well because He did things God’s way.  If we follow Jesus, one day we will stand before Him and we will hear Him say,

“Well done my good and faithful servant. Enter into your eternal reward.” 

Always remember when raising chickens: don’t plant them to close together or too deep!

 

 

The Story of Jesus According to Mark, Pt19: Go For the Gold!

 

October 13, 2024          NOTES NOT EDITED
The Story of Jesus According to Mark, Pt 16:  “Go For the Gold”
Mark 7:24-30

SIS – Don’t settle for crumbs when God wants to give you a crown, but always do your very best and seek to achieve the very most you can out of life with the gifts and talents God has given you.

We just “suffered through” 2024 Summer Olympics held in Paris, officially known as the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad. I say “suffered through” because the opening ceremonies were an abysmal, immoral display of “wokeness,” complete with a Drag Queen show and gay mockery of the Lord’s Supper. This fiasco led to millions tuning out of these international games. I was one who never watched an event.

Prior to this Parisian Disaster, the Olympic Games have been known as the pinnacle of all sporting events. And, the highest prize in these greatest games has been (excluding the Olive Leaf Crown of Rome) the Gold Medal. Thousands of athletes in hundreds of sports from hundreds of nations send they very best in hopes of bringing home a gold medal, or multiple gold medals. No athlete, worthy of that title, goes to the Olympic Games with the goal of getting a participation trophy—also know as a Silver or Bronze Medal.

All my life I have heard people, mostly parents, say regarding children and youth sports:  “It doesn’t matter whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game.” That philosophy usually exists only in the minds of parents—mostly parents with a child participating that . . . well, just ain’t that good. This phrase sounds so right—but I think it is so wrong. 

I used to take a vote before every season during our little league team’s “orientation.” In the crowd listening while I outlined our goals for the coming season were parents and grandparents of the children.  I would say to the team:  “This year, our primary focus is on having fun. Now, let me ask you, ‘do you have more fun when you win or win you lose?”

I never had any child answer they had more fun when they lost.

My point is not to suggest that a Gold Medal makes a person anymore special to God. My point is:  we should always do our very best and seek to achieve the very most we can with the gifts and talents God has given us.  We should never accept crumbs when God wants to give us crowns. 

The Apostle Paul, toward the end of his life, repeated this teaching of seeking to get everything out of life that life has to offer.  He said to Timothy,

2Tim. 4: ⁶ The time for my departure is close. ⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ There is reserved for me in the future the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day.

My point is this: play hard, play fair, and play to win. Playing to win in life means we never settle for crumbs when God wants to give us a crown. And make no mistake about: God has a crown waiting for every faithful follower.

This morning, we are going to see Jesus teach a young Mom this very important lesson about life:  “Go For the Gold!”  Never settle for crumbs when the Lord wants to give you a crown.”

One of the saddest parts of my ministry comes from seeing people who could do so much more, have so much more blessing, and bless so many more people, but they stop too soon and sell out too cheap—they settle for crumbs when they could have crowns.

Let’s read about this teaching together:  MARK 7:24-30.

Three statements about this text will help us understand better what it means to “Go for the Gold” in life, from a Biblical perspective.

1.  As many miracles happen when we DON’T get what we want,
     as when we DO (24, 28)

Look carefully at verse 24: 

²⁴ He got up and departed from there to the region of Tyre  and Sidon.  ^c He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it, but He could not escape notice.

Mark is vague about the exact location of the point of departure, but makes it clear where Jesus was heading.  The last mention of where Jesus was ministering was around the Sea of Galilee in what is northern Israel.  Tyre and Sidon are Gentile cities (now modern Lebanon) about 25-30 miles northeast of Galilee.  This would have been a significant journey into a land where Jesus should have been relatively unknown—being a heavily Gentile region. These are two powerful cities Israel never completely conquered when entering the Promised Land. They are still fighting there, even as we speak.

Jesus “wanted” to rest. The text makes that very clear. But, Jesus did NOT get what he wanted look at verse 25: 

²⁵ Instead, immediately after hearing about Him, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit  came and fell at His feet.  ²⁶ Now the woman was Greek,  a Syrophoenician by birth, and she kept asking Him to drive the demon  out of her daughter.

Make note of the fact that even the Lord Jesus Christ while He walked this earth as a man, did not get everything He wanted.

Observe now in verse 29 what the Greek woman wanted.  I’ll read verses 26-28 to provide the context for verse 29:

²⁶ Now the woman was Greek,  a Syrophoenician by birth, and she kept asking Him to drive the demon  out of her daughter. ²⁷ He said to her, “Allow the children to be satisfied first, because it isn’t right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” ²⁸ But she replied to Him, “Lord,  even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”

This is a play on words highlighting the antagonism between Jews, who were known as God’s chosen people, and Gentiles who were considered by the Jews to be “dogs,” a very derogatory term because dogs were scavengers and therefore unclean. The Greek Mother was very much aware of her lack of standing being both a gentile, AND a woman. And, to add insult to injury, Matthew points out that she was a Canaanite, who were considered more wicked than the typical gentile.  But, she sought the help of Jesus anyway.

Now, the words of Jesus sound pretty harsh and discriminatory if you read it in most English texts. But, Jesus was not at all harsh.  He did not use the typical Jewish derogatory term for a gentile which meant, “a dog.” A wild adult dog was called, “kūnōn.” Jesus used a diminutive term (version of word meaning little) for dog which means, “puppy.” That word is, “kunarion.” So, Jesus was very kind and gentle, and the woman obviously picked up on it because she boldly continues the verbal exchange. Jesus was inviting conversation.

The term “children” refers to the Jews, and is a preferential position in the household compared to the “house pets.” Israel, the Jews, are God’s ONLY favored nation—in the past, in the present, and into the future until the very day that all of God’s children, Jew and Gentile make a final entrance into the Kingdom of God in heaven.  THAT IS A SERMON IN ITSELF. 

For this message, I want to focus on what the women was willing to accept.  Look at verse 28:

²⁸ But she replied to Him, “Lord, 
even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”

She had no hope or expectation of gaining favored status with the God of Israel. She knew her place in life. She was just desperate. Desperation had reduced her to a beggar and she was willing to have just a “few crumbs” like the “house pets” eating from the floor.

Take notice.  Just as Jesus did not get what He wanted, the Greek, outcast, Cannanite woman did not get what she wanted. At least not at first. Initially, she didn’t get the healing for her daughter that she sought, but notice what she did get: Look at v28:

 (NIV84) 28 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “but even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” Compare this to  Romans 11:13–17

(NIV84) ¹³ I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I make much of my ministry ¹⁴ in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. ¹⁵ For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? ¹⁶ If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches. ¹⁷ If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root,

Through Israel, the Jewish Messiah, Gentiles become part of God’s family. She wanted crumbs—just a healing. She received the “Crown of Salvation.”  She received so much more when she didn’t get the miracle she initially sought!  She approached the Lord Jesus Christ with great humility willing to accept whatever He was willing to give—which she hoped would at least be a crumb—and she received a “MIRACLE.”

Jesus did not get what He wanted—which was some much needed rest; and the woman did not get what she wanted—just a few crumbs of physical healing. Instead, she received an “eternal miracle.” We’ll see later, God even added a blessing to that!

Never settle for crumbs when God wants to give you a crown.

Another statement we can make to help us come to a life-changing understanding of what it means to “Go for the Gold” in life is this:

2.  truth is more powerful than tradition (26-28)

As I just mentioned, Jewish tradition declared that gentiles were as unclean as dogs.  Last week, we learned that the religious leaders of the Jews, the Scribes and Pharisees, had distorted the Word of God, or the Law of God, by adding hundreds of man-made traditions, such as meticulous, ceremonial hand-washing.

Jesus declared to the Pharisees, as we read last week: (verse 7:9)

You completely invalidate God’s command
in order to maintain  your tradition!

In this story, Jesus expands upon the idea that “tradition completely invalidates the grace of God” by intentionally engaging in a conversation with a gentile, Cannanite woman.  The strict tradition of the Jews—and remember Jesus was a Jew—would absolutely forbid Jesus to have anything to do with this woman.

In this present story, expanding upon the confrontation Jesus had with the Pharisees when He demolished their traditions by declaring that nothing “external” is unclean, Jesus demonstrates the power of truth has over tradition.

The woman knew full well that the tradition of the Jews meant she was “unclean” and had no hope of receiving anything from a Jewish man—much less the Lord, or Messiah. 

But, here’s the important twist in this story: she didn’t go to the Pharisees, or any other “religious” leader, she went to the Lord, Himself.  Verses 25 and 26 say,

a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit  came and fell at His feet. 

Not the religious leaders! Never seek in religion what you can only find through Jesus Christ.

Two elements in these verses tell us much about this woman.  One, she was a humble woman.  One, The Word says, she fell at Jesus’ feet. She was a humble woman. Two, she was a persistent woman.  The Word says, “she kept asking Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.”

The word for “kept asking” is in the imperfect tense, which all my Latin students understand, means it is a “continuous” action.  She didn’t just make a request—she kept begging for Jesus to do something.

Why would she “beg” Jesus to drive out this demon and not seek some religious leader steeped in false traditions.  The key is in the first part of verse 25:  “after hearing about Him [ei. Jesus].”

The fame of Jesus as a healer and as one having authority over demons had spread to northern territory of Tyre and Sidon.  All kinds of religions, and religious traditions, were practiced in Palestine.  Yet, what religious traditions could not accomplish, the Lord of Truth, Jesus Christ could.

Truth is more powerful than tradition.  This was the theme of our text last week, and it is continued in our text this week.  I’m hoping you are beginning to see that “religion traditions have nothing to offer you but religious crumbs!”

Another statement that comes to mind when I think of the Lord’s teaching about never accepting crumbs when God wants to give you a crown is:

3.  Words are powerful (29-30)

(CSB) ²⁹ Then he told her, “Because of this reply [logos, word of faith], you may go. The demon has left your daughter.”

Words can harm or help, hold back or move forward, bring cursing or blessing.  Words are powerful.  A popular aphorism appeared in Benjamin Franklin’s Poor Richard’s Almanac. It said, “the pen is mightier than the sword.” This saying has appeared many places since it was first coined in 1839 by an English playwright.

♦ This motto appears in the school room illustration on page 168 of the 1st edition of M. Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer; 
♦ Woodrow Wilson's 1916 U.S. presidential re-election campaign;
♦ In the 1989 film Batman, the insane criminal known as The Joker uses the phrase in a darkly literal sense, after wielding a fountain pen like a dart to wound a rival crime lord;

♦ A recurring GEICO commercial uses the phrase as a question, "Is the pen mightier than the sword?" It shows a ninja wielding and brandishing a sword with elite skills; an amateur defeats him by signing (with a pen) a package for a taser, with which he then shoots the sword-wielder.

♦ In the 1989 film "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.”

 

The phrase is much older than even the English playwright in 1869. Assyrian sage Ahiqar, who reputedly lived during the early seventh century BC, coined the first known version of this phrase. One copy of the Teachings of Ahiqar, dating to about 500 BC, states that "The word is mightier than the sword."

 

For thousands of years, at least, man has recognized the power of the word, written and spoken.  If man’s word is so powerful, consider the power of the someone speaking the Word, or truth of God.

 

This is exactly what brought about the miracle for the Cannanite woman.  Look in verses 29-30:

 ²⁹ Then He told her, “Because of this reply, you may go. The demon has gone out of your daughter.” ³⁰ When she went back to her home, she found her child lying on the bed, and the demon was gone.

The original Greek word translated “reply” is the word, logon.  Literally Jesus, “Because of your WORD,” it was done.  What “word” is Jesus referring to?”  Look again at verse 26:

“she kept asking HIM.” 

The whole exchange between the woman and Jesus focuses on her relentless pursuit of gaining what she needed from Jesus Christ—her word, or words, were a testimony of absolute faith in Jesus Christ, believing that He alone could meet her need.  AND HE DID!

The most powerful words we will ever speak are words confessing “surrender to and absolute trust in Jesus Christ.” It is interesting that the word Jesus uses here to describe the woman’s faith in Him, is the same word John the Apostle used to describe Jesus.  John 1:1 says,

In the beginning  was the Word [logon] and the Word [logon] was with God, and the Word [logon] was God. 

When we confess with our words that Jesus Christ is Who He says He is—the Word Who is God—then our words have miracle-working power. 

So much of what comes out of the mouths of Christians are not words demonstrating our absolute faith in Jesus Christ. We speak words of defeat, and we are defeated. We speak words of despair, and we are hopeless. We speak ugly words and we are ugly.  We speak judgmental words and we are judged.  The Bible says that in that Final Day when we stand before God  (Matthew 12):

³⁶ I tell you that on the day of judgment  people will have to account  for every careless word they speak.  ³⁷ For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

This woman, could have accepted a few religious crumbs and never received the miracle of a crown.  This woman, because of the ruthless tradition of the Jews, could have accepted that tradition and fell into despair over her child. Instead, she spoke words of faith! She reminds me of what the John said in the Book of Revelation:

“they overcame by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of their testimony.” (Rev. 12:11)

Words are powerful – words of faith are eternally powerful.

This event in the life of the Lord teaches us to “never accept crumbs when God wants to give us crowns—always Go for the Gold!” 

CLOSE: Too often in life, we get a negative attitude and settle for far less than what God wants for us, and wants to do through us. Too often, a negative attitude causes us to “settle for crumbs when God wants to give us crowns.” I recall reading this week about a young paratrooper who recently joined the Army. All his life he became accustomed to things going wrong. He just expected it. He never expected anything good to happen to him in life. He was about to take his first jump. All the new paratroopers were given clear instructions. First, jump when you are told to jump. Second, count to ten and pull the ripcord. Third, in the unlikely even the main chute doesn’t open, pull the reserve chute. Fourth, when you get down a truck will be waiting to take you back to the base. The plane reached the jump site. One by one the troopers jumped as told. This young recruit was the last to jump. He counted to ten and pulled the rip cord. Nothing happened. He pulled the reserve chute. It, too failed to open. Being accustomed to things going wrong in life he said to himself, “Great! I’ll bet the truck won’t be there either!”

The Gentile Mother could have given into the circumstances of life and settled for a few crumbs of healing for her daughter. That would have been enough for her—before she met Jesus! Jesus elevated the woman’s attitude and raised her expectations. She received more than she could have ever imagined. Instead of crumbs, she received a CROWN!

That is truly an amazing and inspiring story that illustrates what Jesus was trying to show the Cannanite woman.

Never settle for crumbs when God wants to give you a crown.
Always—Go for the Gold!