Jesus Overcomes Resistance in His People

“Jesus Overcomes Resistance in His People”

Mark 6:1-56

1.Jesus Overcomes Unbelief (vv.1-13)

Unbelief – unbelief is a choice not to follow the light you have received.
*Familiarity leads to unbelief. Unbelief leads to a shallow relationship with God and you do not experience God.
*Only 2 places Jesus was astonished (amazed, Marveled)
*Unbelief is the most prevalent besetting sin in OT (Hebrews 3)- people who had seen the miracles
*You can grow up with all the info and not believe…unbelief is a choice not to follow the light you have received. (Judas)

2.Jesus Overcomes Our Sin (vv.14-29)

*Habitual Sin – when we surrender to sin and do not even fight it much less kill it.
*Herod’s palace was like the world – entertainment and worldly passing pleasure – chasing things.
See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. Hebrews 3:12

3. Jesus Overcomes Hidden Resentment (vv.30-56)

*The disciples have seen the miracles but now are walking with Jesus in ministry. They are having to deal with people problems and expectations.
*We are always battling against unbelief and sin

a. John (the greatest among men) Jesus allowed to be killed.
b. Jesus fed the people that could probably have gotten home ok.
c. The disciples did not understand the miracles’ primary purpose was not just to meet human need but to reveal Gods glory.

How Does Jesus Do this? (Overcome Resistance)
1.Jesus is patient with us (he works with you, when you understand this, it should soften your heart)
2.Jesus will come to you (v.45) Jesus saw them struggling with the oars
3.Jesus defends his own (he prays for us. Advocates for us) In ch.7 the disciple are accused by the Pharisees and Jesus defends them.

Takeaway: We all battle unbelief and sin at times…we all get confused and disappointed and our hearts become hard, cold, or just distant (hurt). He will not leave you alone if you reach out.

 


Jesus Delivers His People from Fear

“Jesus Delivers His People from Fear”

Mark 4:35- 5:1-43

Kingdom -The Blessed Life under the Rule of God.

  • Heaven is where God’s rule is received.
  • Hell is where God’s rule is rejected.
  • Earth is a mixture of both.

There are Two Kinds of Fear:

1. Fear that Jesus Brings

2.Fear that Jesus Relieves

No More Storms (4:35-41)

  • Until we are in heaven this is the world we face.
  • Sin and suffering enter together.
  • We can go through these things alone or Christ in our boat.

No More Demons (5:1-20)

  • The people see this and were afraid and wanted Jesus to leave.
  • They were more afraid of the authority of Jesus than the demon possessed man.
  • They experienced the people Jesus brings but not the one Jesus relieves.

No More Sickness (5:25-34)

  • “the woman with fear.” V.33
  • “Your faith (in me) has healed you.” V.34

No More Death (5:35-43)

  • “Don’t be afraid. Only Believe” v.36
  • Don’t lose hope…you have come this far to come get me, keep going.
  • When hope dies, fear moves in.


Jesus Calls for Obedience

“Jesus Calls for Obedience”

Mark 3:7-35

In these verses there are three responses to Jesus…All three were not good.

  1. The Response of the Demons (Mark 3:7-12)
  • The demons in hell obeyed because they had to but were not willing.
  • You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.” James 2:19
  • Is it not strange that there is much confusion about Jesus around the world but there is NO confusion in hell who Jesus is. “You are the Son of God.” V.11
  • The demons are just “confessing rebels.”
  1. The Response of the Teachers of the Law (3:22)
  • When you do not want to believe, we will come up with anything to justify ourselves.

And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul! By the prince of demons, he is driving out demons.” Mark 3:22

  • The teachers of the Law are “educated rebels.”

28 “Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin” Mark 3:29

Point: The Spirit is the last witness to Jesus, nothing else will save you from your sin.

  1. The Response of the Jesus’ Family (3:20-35)
  • The family want Jesus to obey them…they wanted to “manage” Jesus.
  • Most people give Jesus a list of things we want him to do for us. There is no power or joy in any of these responses.

The right response is what Mary told the servants when Jesus performed his first miracle.

“Whatever he tells you to do, do it.” John 2:5
 

“To be filled with Christ is to be filled with humble obedience.”

Watchman Nee “Spiritual Authority”

“And because Christ hadhumbled Himselfbefore God, God was ever before Him.” Andrew Murray

 



^