Some of the most challenging words Jesus spoke

Easter is a Trilogy: Jesus died, rose and ascended...

“These people honour [God] with their lips, but their hearts are far from [him]!” So says Jesus, quoting Isaiah, of the religious leaders who gather around him in Mark 7. It’s a stinging rebuke, levelled against the guys who, from the outside, probably looked like they had it all together, like they really knew God and cared about honouring him. We probably look around and can think of certain people that we think have it all together when it comes to God - we might even think of ourselves that way! But this week, we’re looking at Jesus’ challenge to look beyond the externals, to look at our hearts, and we’re looking at the great news that, despite what we find there, he has come to make us clean.

When Jesus looked to the crowds following him, he saw that as harassed and helpless like

sheep without a shepherd. The Shepherd/Sheep word picture has long been used to

describe the relation between God and his people, and the people and their leaders.

There is comfort knowing God is our shepherd, as we walk therough the valley of

the shadow of death in this present life.. Psalm 23 and Psalm 100 among many

others reference this. By Ezekiel the leaders of God’s people have failed, he uses

an extended Shepherd/sheep picture to rebuke the dodgy leaders, and affirm the

good shepherd coming in the line of David.

Mark 4:35-41

"Who is this?" Is a good question to ask when discussing the identity of Jesus. How would you answer it? If we took a straw poll of the happy shoppers of the Wahroonga Village, we would get a variety of answers.

This week's Mark passage shows us

Jesus is the Lord of creation, with a word he calms a storm; Jesus is a liberator of broken souls; Jesus is the raiser of the dead. We see his authority in three scenes, we are invited to give our hearts to him. We also see a range of responses

to Jesus from fear and scorn to praise and thanksgiving. This weekend, how will you respond to Jesus, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords?

This Sunday, as part of our vision weekend we will be exploring Acts 2.42-27 and considering three things a gospel-shaped church loves.

Mark 4:1-20

I wonder if you’ve ever tried explaining who Jesus is and why he’s great to someone… and have been met with indifference, or worse? It’s news that you think is really great but it just doesn’t seem to register as good or significant at all! You could find yourself wondering whether you’ve got the message right, or whether it’s YOU who is missing something…

Jesus’ early disciples may have felt a similar way. In the first chapters of Mark, Jesus has burst on the scene saying that the thing the people have been waiting for - kingdom of God - is near. He’s started healing people, driving out demons, saying he’s forgiving sins, teaching in a new and compelling way… exciting signs… if not quite what people had expected. Some have been intrigued, others have started following him, and still others are already plotting how to kill him!

This Sunday, Jesus starts to teach about what’s going on… and explain what this kingdom is actually like.

Mark 2:18-3:35

I love weddings, the celebration and excitement, the joy and the feasting. The Bible uses the image of the wedding in deeper ways to describe the relationship between God and his people. It’s striking then when Jesus uses that image of himself and describes himself as the “Bridegroom” in Mark 2:19-20.

As readers of Mark we are brought into the picture to see He is willing to cleanse, forgive, and welcome us!

The Who, What, Why and How of Church