How do we live as the people of God in a world that doesn’t honor Him? This is a question that has been asked by every generation of God’s people throughout history. As citizens of the kingdom of God who also live as citizens of this world there is often a tension as the priorities and agendas of the world push against the priorities and the agenda of God. As Christians living in the United States we have been fortunate. In large part it has been relatively easy to live both as faithful citizens of God’s kingdom and as faithful citizens of our community and country. But, of course we know that our culture is changing. What’s culturally acceptable and unacceptable is changing. Increasingly, our calling is more difficult. In Mark 12:13-17 Jesus is confronted by religious and political leaders who are seeking to get rid of Him. As He answers their questions we get an important teaching on how we should relate to the world around us.

With just a few days remaining before He would give His life on the cross, Jesus is in the Temple surrounded by Jewish leaders. These are men who are opposed to Jesus and who want to see Him silenced. They confront Jesus and try to trap Him with their questions, but He turns the tables on them. In Mark 11:27-33 Jesus puts those who oppose Him on their heels, and then He speaks prophetically. In 12:1-12 Jesus offers a parable that speaks both of the past and of the future. The parable recounts the history of the nation of Israel and then prophesies of the judgment that is coming against them. While the main point of this parable is to announce judgment and foretell the work of Christ, it’s also a great reminder of the character of God. As Jesus recounts the ways God has dealt with Israel in the past and the way He will act in the future we get a clear view of God’s patience, love, justice and grace.

As we’ve worked through the Gospel of Mark there is a theme that has shown up over and over. From the very beginning of the ministry of Jesus there have been two groups of people: Those who recognize Jesus as One with authority and who submit to Him and those who reject His authority and seek to silence Him. Of course the question of the authority of Jesus is a question that each of us must consider. Is Jesus who He claimed to be and should we submit to Him? In Mark 11:27-33 Jesus is confronted by a group of men who have rejected Him and His authority and who come in an attempt to discredit Him. While on the surface their questions may seem genuine, their motives aren’t pure. Of course Jesus knows their hearts and in the end He proves His own authority and exposes their inconsistencies and lack of sincerity. As we consider this interaction between Jesus and the Jewish leaders we shouldn’t miss the opportunity to consider our own hearts toward the authority of Jesus. How willingly and how fully do we submit to Him? Are there ways in which we try and ignore His authority or attempt to rationalize why we shouldn’t have to submit to Him? If we truly believe that Jesus is who He says He is then there shouldn’t be any part of our lives that we withhold

As followers of Jesus, and as a church we share common goals. We desire to live lives that are pleasing to God. We desire to have marriages and families that reflect Christ. As a church we want to see God work in and through us. We long to see people saved and to see the church strengthened. And yet there is a question we must consider: Who, or what are we trusting in for these things? The truth is that while we desire good things, we may be guilty of misplaced trust. While we confess that only God can do these things in and through us, we are often guilty of relying on our own power and ability. Or perhaps, we recognize our need for help, and yet we doubt whether or not God is able to bring about the changes that are needed in our situations. And our doubt is shown in our slowness to go to Him in prayer. Or perhaps we go to Him, all the while unconvinced that He will respond. In Mark 11:22-25 Jesus teaches His disciples what is necessary in order to experience the power of God. The call of Jesus is simple: Have faith in God. Believe that He can do the impossible and go to Him in faith.

On a Sunday Jesus arrived in Jerusalem to a warm welcome. It’s fair to assume His disciples went to bed that night excited by the events of the day. But Monday would be different. On Monday Jesus enters Jerusalem, and returns to the Temple with words and actions of warning. The reality is that many people, even some Christians, struggle to understand the account of Jesus entering the Temple and driving people out. Did He let His temper get the best of Him? How do we reconcile the compassionate teacher who welcomed children in Mark 10 with the table flipping and curse-pronouncing figure of Mark 11? The reality is that there is no tension between the two and we should be thankful for what is revealed in each. This account is a reminder of God’s hatred of hypocrisy and also of the blessed hope that we aren’t saved based on our outward appearance of religion. Jesus came to open the door for all people, Jew and Gentile, to be saved through Him and Him alone.

On the Sunday before the Friday when Jesus would be crucified He entered Jerusalem on a donkey with crowds gathered to welcome Him. On that day there are shadows and glimpses of who Jesus truly is and many seem to see Him as worthy of honor. But while they may have recognized Jesus as a reason for hope, or perhaps even as the Promised One of God, we can say with certainty that they underestimated His greatness. These are a people who have been waiting and watching for generations for the King who God had promised

The celebration of Easter is often a peak for us as followers of Jesus. We come together to remember and celebrate the sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf and to confess our trust in His finished work. But now, a week later, the reality is that many of us have been reminded of the temptations and difficulties of everyday life, and if we aren’t careful we can all to quickly forget the power, love and mercy of Christ that is available to us. This morning as we return to the Gospel of Mark we come to a reminder of the heart of Christ toward all those who come to Him in humble faith. In Mark 10:46-52 we see the power of Jesus and also His compassion toward those who are poor and hurting. This is our hope: that we have a God who cares about the difficulties of our lives and who responds to all those who come to Him in faith.

Easter Sunday 2021 - The Hope of the Resurrection

In Hebrews 12:1 the writer of Hebrews describes the Christian life as a race. We are in a race and in order to run well we must lay aside anything and everything that could weigh us down. It’s a call to consider the things that could distract us or pull us off course in the race toward holiness. After the command of verse 1 we have this encouragement: We are to set our sights, to fix our eyes on the One who has gone before us and the One who makes our faith possible, our Lord Jesus Christ. The two parts of Hebrews 12:1-2 mirror well the themes of Mark 8-10. In these chapters Jesus is regularly reminding His disciples of the cost of discipleship; it’s a call to sacrifice and suffering. And yet in these chapters Jesus also takes three opportunities to announce or prophesy of His own suffering and death (Mark 8:31; 9:30-32; 10:32-34). As we come to this third ‘prediction passage’ we have the reminder that Jesus has not called us to anything He has not already done Himself. He came and gave Himself for us, even to the point of death. Now the call is for us to follow His example: to give ourselves to Him, no matter the cost.