Sunday Sermons at the Una Church of Christ: Mark: God's Servant

August 10, 2014

Mark: God’s Servant

Will They Believe

Mark 6

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Introduction

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Belief is important.

I read of one minister…

He asked one man, "What do you believe?" "Well, I believe the same as the church."

"And what does the church believe?" "Well, they believe the same as me."

Seeing he was getting nowhere, the minister said, "And what is it that you both believe?"

"Well, I suppose the same thing."

One of the central themes in the text we are going to study today is that of unbelief.

This is unbelief even by those that came into contact with Jesus.
All of these people had reason to believe in Jesus but for some reason they failed to do so...even His disciples.

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As we consider this chapter this morning we need to remember that God takes unbelief seriously and so should we!

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Text

12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. Hebrews 3:12-14

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The heart of every problem is a problem in the heart.

When a person has an erring heart and a disbelieving heart, the result will also be a hard heart.

This is a heart that is insensitive to the Word and work of God.

Every believer is tempted to give up his confession of Christ and go back into the world system’s life of compromise and bondage.

This is especially true during times of persecution and suffering.

It is important that we take heed and recognize the spiritual dangers that exist.

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It is also important that we encourage each other to be faithful and BELIEVE in the Lord

Lesson

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Unbelief of His Acquaintances (vs. 1-6)

Jesus returned to His hometown of Nazareth...where He had been rejected before (see Luke 4).

Was this an opportunity for grace?

Allowing them another opportunity to hear the Word.
This time however, they didn’t throw Him out of the city...they just didn’t take Him seriously!

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He was permitted to speak again.

Keep in mind these would have been people that knew Him.
These people didn’t have the spiritual perception that they needed.

And Jesus reminded:

“A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” vs. 4

Two things astonished the people: WORDS & WORKS

Despite their astonishment Jesus had to leave there because of their unbelief Jesus could not do greater ministry there.

What was their problem?

He was one of them for 30 years of His life...yet they wouldn’t accept Him.

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He was a “commoner,” and the people saw no reason to commit themselves to Him!

The people of Nazareth were “offended at him,” which literally means “they stumbled over him.”
The Greek word gives us our English word scandalize.

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Unbelief of His Enemies (vs. 7-29)

Jesus, rejected by His hometown, begins to send out His disciples with His authority.

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When the Lord originally called the twelve apostles, His purpose was to teach and train them so that they might assist Him and eventually be able to take His place
Before sending them out, He reaffirmed their authority to heal and to cast out demons

As they ministered from place to place, they would encounter both hospitality and hostility, both friends and enemies.

Jesus wanted them to be adequately supplied, but not to the point of ceasing to live by faith.
They were there to be profitable servants, not pampered guests.

The word translated “send” in Mark 6:7 is apostello in the Greek and gives us our English word apostle.

They were not “on their own”; they represented Him in all that they did and said.
The men went out and did what Jesus told them to do.

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Word even reached the unbelieving King Herod.

The word and work of Jesus reached back to his palace.

Is this John the Baptist whom I beheaded?
Other said, it is Elijah...they didn’t know because they didn’t believe.

This provides Mark an opportunity to tell the ‘backstory’ concerning the death of John the Baptist.

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Unbelief of His Disciples (vs. 30-56)

The next scene that we find is Jesus who has taken the disciples to a secluded place to rest.

Even God’s Servant-Son needed time to rest, fellowship with His friends, and find renewal from the Father.
Not only did they have the fatigue of the work, but the political environment was changing.

Jesus and His disciples had to be careful!

The overzealous crowds would not leave Him alone.

They followed Him to the area near Bethsaida, hoping to see Him perform some miraculous cures.

In spite of the interruption to His plans, the Lord welcomed them, taught them the Word, and healed those who were afflicted.
We’ve all faced interruptions, but Jesus showed grace and patience every time!

Mark records two miracles that Jesus performed:

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Feeding the 5,000 - Jesus had sent the disciples out to the crowd, this time the crowd came to them.

The reaction of the disciples were to send them away!
To them, the crowds were a problem, perhaps even a nuisance, but to Jesus, they were as sheep without a shepherd.

The disciples had two suggestions for solving the problem:

Either send the people away to find their own food.
Raise enough money to buy a bit of bread for everybody.

The Disciples saw the problem but not the potential!
For Jesus this was not a problem, but an opportunity to believe in the Father and glorify Him!

Andrew shows up with some fish and bread...not enough!

Jesus had the people sit down.
Jesus took the little lunch, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to the disciples to distribute to the hungry people.

The miracle took place in His hands, not in theirs.
Whatever we give to Him, He can bless and multiply….not us

Sadly, they wanted the gift but not the Giver...the enjoyment of physical blessings but not the enrichment of spiritual blessings.

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Calms the storm - This isn’t 100% accurate.

There were a number of miracles that happened this night (according to all gospels):

Jesus walking on the water
Peter walking on the water (see Matt. 14:28–32).
Jesus stilling the storm.

Jesus asked the disciples to leave…why?

There was a danger of making Jesus a king because of the miracles.

Their ideas of the kingdom were still too national and political.

Also, He wanted to teach them a lesson on BELIEVING.

This would help prepare them for the work that lay ahead of them after He was gone.

Each new experience of testing demands of us more faith and courage.

He was teaching them, and us, to live by faith!

Once again the waves frightened them.
As He is walking out to them it seems that He is going to pass by...they think He’s a ghost!

But Jesus says to them, “Take courage; it is I, do not be afraid” vs. 50
When He got in the boat the storm ended!
Scripture says that they didn’t understand things because their “hearts were hardened.” - vs. 52

The scene illustrates the situation of God’s people today:

We are in the midst of this stormy world, toiling and seemingly ready to sink, but He is in glory interceding for us.
When the hour seems the darkest, He will come to us—and we will reach shore!

PRAYER

Conclusion

As you study these two miracles, you see that Jesus Christ brings provision and protection.

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“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.… I will fear no evil” (Ps. 23:1, 4).

If we trust Him, we will always have sufficiency and security, no matter what the situation might be.

The important thing is that we BELIEVE Him.
Mark closed this section on a positive note as he described the people who brought their sick for Jesus to heal. These people had faith and their faith was rewarded.