Song: When I Survey the Wondrous Cross Notes: Question 1: Don’t you care that we are dying? They assume that since they lost control of the world then the world was out of control. That is a bad assumption.  Question 2: Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith? Central Theme: of…

Song: When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

Notes:

Question 1: Don’t you care that we are dying?

They assume that since they lost control of the world then the world was out of control. That is a bad assumption. 

Question 2: Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?

Central Theme: of the 2nd main movement of Mark (4:35-8.26) the establishment of faith; 

3 Key groups:

1. The disciples: the movement toward faith; 2. The opponents: they are the negative picture of faith:they see and yet they don’t  perceive; they hear and yet don’t understand; (they question his actions; accuse him of blasphemy; align him with Beelzebub; Question his authority) 3. The suppliants: (13 characters) represent great variety–all under the shadow of death; they show all of the ways the world cannot help deal with the shadow of death; 

Faith means turning to Jesus in the midst of real needs in the world under the shadow:

Question 3: Who is this? 

They are more afraid than when they were in the storm:

In his gospel Mark is showing Jesus’ victory over death and how Jesus dealt with death’s many invasions into human life. Because of Jesus’ resurrection, all the disciples believed that death was defeated, but the central question is why does its shadow still remain?  To help us, Mark gives us 13 “case studies” in how…

In his gospel Mark is showing Jesus’ victory over death and how Jesus dealt with death’s many invasions into human life. Because of Jesus’ resurrection, all the disciples believed that death was defeated, but the central question is why does its shadow still remain? 

To help us, Mark gives us 13 “case studies” in how Jesus defeated the effects of sin and death. From chapters 1 to 10 there are 13 minor characters, who generally are not named, but each is suffering from some manifestation of living under the shadow of death. And in each case their circumstances are changed as a result of their encounter with Jesus. In each case Jesus brings life where there once was a type of death.

Mark wants to bring his readers into these stories. He wants you to feel like a first-hand observer. He brings you into the same perspective that the first disciples had. He wants you to identify with the people suffering in the case studies. 

Jesus’ Kingdom comes in word and in deed. In Mark 4 and 5 you see both. There are 4 “word” parables and then 4 “deeds.”

And in the 4 deeds Jesus is defeating and aspect of life under the shadow death.

He defeats  

Natural DisastersDemonic attacksDiseaseDeath

In this first story story we learn 3 truths about Jesus:

He sends…He sleeps…He stops… 

Psalms 24:7 Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Song: O Come to the Altar  Notes:  This verse is both a declaration and an invitation.  It is a declaration that the Lord of Hosts is the victorious King of Glory.  And…

Psalms 24:7

Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.

Song: O Come to the Altar 

Notes: This verse is both a declaration and an invitation. It is a declaration that the Lord of Hosts is the victorious King of Glory. And it is an invitation to open up your hearts so he may come in…and where ever the king is…that place becomes royal. 

He has founded the earth upon the waters…and that is good news. It means he can bring stability out of chaos, order out of disorder. He is the solid rock on which we stand.

He has founded the earth upon the waters…and that is good news.

It means he can bring stability out of chaos, order out of disorder. He is the solid rock on which we stand.

Psalms 27:7-9 Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me! You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, LORD, do I seek.” Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help. Cast me…

Psalms 27:7-9

Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me!

You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, LORD, do I seek.”

Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation!”

Song: The Silence of God 

Notes: What makes our faith falter? it is often the apparent silence of God. But the good news of this Psalm is that experience is normal. And his silence is not his absence. 

The Silence of God by Andrew Peterson It’s enough to drive a man crazy; it’ll break a man’s faithIt’s enough to make him wonder if he’s ever been saneWhen he’s bleating for comfort from Thy staff and Thy rodAnd the heaven’s only answer is the silence of GodIt’ll shake a man’s timbers when he loses his heartWhen he has to remember what broke him apartThis yoke may be easy, but this burden is notWhen the crying fields are frozen by the silence of GodAnd if a man has got to listen to the voices of the mobWho are reeling in the throes of all the happiness they’ve gotWhen they tell you all their troubles have been nailed up to that crossThen what about the times when even followers get lost?‘Cause we all get lost sometimesThere’s a statue of Jesus on a monastery knollIn the hills of Kentucky, all quiet and coldAnd He’s kneeling in the garden, as silent as a StoneAll His friends are sleeping and He’s weeping all aloneAnd the man of all sorrows, he never forgotWhat sorrow is carried by the hearts that he boughtSo when the questions dissolve into the silence of GodThe aching may remain, but the breaking does notThe aching may remain, but the breaking does notIn the holy, lonesome echo of the silence of God