Eternal City Church Sunday Sermons

Jesus is resolute in the mission given him by his Father; he is journeying to Jerusalem to give his life as a ransom for many. Along the way, he encounters another marker of blindness and selfish ambition in his disciples: they are still looking for earthly greatness. Jesus gives the disciples and by extension all his followers a paradigm shift for those in authority: they are to use their authority to serve and not to be served.

Marriage is created, instituted, and blessed by God himself. He gets to define its boundaries and what constitutes it being dissolved. Within these 31 verses of Mark Jesus' answers a question about marriage followed by two very opposite examples of those who enter and how to enter the Kingdom of God.

Jesus is once again instructing his disciples on what his future plan and ambition is, namely to die a substitutionary death and be resurrected alive from the dead. The disciples clearly miss this, evidenced by their arguing amongst themselves over who is the greatest of the disciples. Jesus, wanting to instruct them, brings in a child as an example of dependent-humility and helplessness. He then warns of the massive danger of tempting little ones and brings a gripping illustration of the "better" alternative.

What is the Kingdom of God? What does Jesus’ transfiguration and the healing of a possessed boy tell us about the Kingdom of God? Mark 9:1-29 will answer these questions and much more.

Jesus makes wild and hard demands on those who want to follow after him. Jesus does not pull punches when speaking about the cost of following after him. He demands our all. This level of positive response to Jesus could only be supernatural. Praise God this fact is illustrated in the healing of a blind man just prior to these claims, we need the supernatural touch of God's enabling Spirit if we are to follow after him, have you experienced this supernatural touch?

Three types of reactions to Jesus are found here in these 21 verses of Mark chapter 8. You will find yourself in one of these three responses to Jesus' claims, person, and work. Will you find yourself in either the crowd, siding with the Pharisees, or with the disciples? Thankfully there is hope for anyone and everyone to come to Jesus in faith with trust, turning from sin and self to embrace the mercy of Christ the messiah.

Jesus encounters a gentile (non-Jewish) woman in these series of verses (an ethnic other). Her story is one of need and so she comes to Jesus with her need. Jesus confronts her with a parable that on the surface seems very offensive and rude at best, racist at worse. As we shall see Jesus is the Holy creator who not only cannot sin but tempts no one to sin (James 1:13-15). Jesus is astounded at this woman's faith and commends her. Jesus then gives sight to a blind man, again proving his authority and Kingship over all evil, sickness, and impaiments.

Jesus in aways seeking to go deeper than outer appearances and displays of religious activities or good works. Jesus is always pushing us to ask why or what is the inward motive for doing these "good things." In Mark 7:1-23 Jesus responds to his questioners who are seeking to find a reason to condemn him and his disciples for not living up to the religious standards of the day. He points out that man-made standards will often come in conflict with God's actual standards and can inadvertently lead us astray.

Jesus displays his power and authority once again providing sustenance for a large crowd of 15 to 20,000 people, pointing to his being the true "bread of life." Jesus shows himself as the "good shepherd" by caring for (teaching and feeding) the sheep of God's flock. He then displays his authority over a raging storm, over disease, and sickness. Will you give yourself over to and submit yourself to this glorious one!

On the surface of events, it may look to us as if God is not in control or at worse he is unable to accomplish his purposes. Appearances can be very deceiving, especially when we only look at the short term immediate circumstances. Regardless of seeming setbacks, disappointments, unbelief, and injustice, Jesus continues to pursue his mission of calling men and women back to God through repentance and faith while healing and dispelling evil spirits from broken people in desperate need. We certainly can find ourselves on both sides of these events described in Mark 6:1-29.