February 24, 2006

“HE WAS TEACHING HIS DISCIPLES”

Mark 9:14-50

Have you ever had a spiritual mountain-top experience? Maybe it was at a retreat or a Bible camp or a Christian conference where you sensed the presence and love of God and made a renewed commitment to his will for your life. Or maybe it was a ministry opportunity where you especially sensed the empowering of God for effective ministry. Or maybe it was a very private devotional or worship time with the Lord when you experienced the very real love of God flooding your heart, and you just wanted it to last forever. I trust you have had not just one such experience, but many during your walk with the Lord. And I hope that you will have many more in the years ahead.

But if you have had such experiences with God on the mountain-top, you will know that there comes a time when you have to come down from the mountain and go back to work on Monday morning and face all the routine challenges of your everyday life. Because, as precious as our times on the mountain are, the majority of our Christian life and service is lived out in the valleys of the routine and seemingly mundane.

Last week we were with Jesus in what was truly both a literal and a spiritual mountain-top experience, in which he was transfigured into his Father’s glory which he had known in heaven and where he enjoyed precious fellowship with Moses and Elijah. Last week we focused on the meaning and purpose of this event from the perspective of the disciples. But I also believe that the events took place for Jesus’ own benefit. As he prepared to go to Jerusalem and face the rejection, suffering and death that awaited him there, the reassurance of his conversation with these two Old Testament saints, as well as the verbal statement of love and approval in the heavenly voice must have been immensely comforting. Because remember, while Jesus never ceased being divine, he was also human and experienced the entire range of human emotions during his earthly life. So those hours on the mountain must have been a real high point for him emotionally. But now, Jesus had to come down from the mountain.

Let’s look at I. WHAT JESUS FACED IN THE VALLEY. As we listened to the Scripture being read a few moments ago, I would point out four things that Jesus faced in the valley. A. He faced entrenched opposition from unbelievers. We see this in Mark 9:14: When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crown around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. These teachers of the law had hounded Jesus’ ministry for two and a half years. Their stubborn unbelief, their incredibly picky legal questions, their sneers and open hostility toward him and his teaching – it was all there on display as he approached the gathered crowd and saw and heard the interaction between them and the disciples.

Next, B. He faced dire human need. Here was a man whose son was possessed by an evil spirit. It is referred to as a deaf and dumb spirit, so the young man could neither hear nor speak. On top of that, the evil spirit triggered epileptic-type seizures, which threatened to destroy the young man by causing him to fall into the fire and into water where he could be burned or drown. It was a tormented family and they had been able to find no help. What is more, it was a trauma they had lived with since the child was small.

Then, C. He faced strong spiritual forces. The source of the trauma was an evil spirit. What is more, we are told that it is no ordinary demonic presence. Jesus himself makes reference in verse 29, to this kind of demon. It was an especially strong kind of demon or spiritual power.

Finally, we see that D. Jesus faced the disappointment of ineffective followers. Jesus had given his disciples the authority to cast out demons. We know they had done so effectively when he sent them out two by two. We also know that they had tried to cast out this demon and they were ineffective.

I suspect that on a human level, what Jesus faced as he came down from the mountain may well have felt like a dash of cold water in the face after a particularly wonderful dream. I think if it had been me, I might have turned to Peter and said, “Let’s go back up on the mountain and you can build me one of those shelters you talked about.” But that isn’t what Jesus did. Let’s look at II. HOW JESUS RESPONDED.

First, we see that A. He rebuked the unbelievers and left them in their unbelief. Jesus spoke some harsh words that day. We see them in verse 19: O unbelieving generation, how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? There is some question as to whom Jesus was addressing those words. Many commentators believe he was speaking to his disciples and rebuking them for their inability to cast out the demon. I cannot agree with that. One reason is the use of the word “generation”. This particular word can carry several different meanings, but to use it to refer to a small group of 9 men isn’t one of them. Rather, I think he is referring to the whole quarreling crowd he found at the foot of the mountain, and the way they represented, not only the generation of Jews who rejected him in the first century, but also all those born of Jewish descent down through history, who had consistently rejected God’s messengers.

I can’t prove a connection, but my mind did a little free association. Jesus had just spent time on the mountain with Moses, and my mind went back to Moses appearing before God on Mt. Sinai in Exodus. When he came down from the mountain, what did he find? He found the nation dancing and singing and worshipping before the idols they had built while he was away! Then I thought about Elijah, the other man Jesus met on the mountain. He also had his mountain-top experience on Mt. Carmel when he prayed and God sent the fire from heaven. The assembled nation cried out “Yahweh is God! Yahweh is God!” But when Elijah came down from the mountain, he was confronted with a message from the queen of Israel: “You will be dead by night fall.” And he ran for his life. Now Jesus, the Messiah, descends from his own mountain-top experience and finds a restless, unbelieving crowd quarreling with his disciples at the foot of the mountain. It is against this quarreling crowd, so reminiscent of other unbelieving multitudes down through Jewish history that his anger breaks out. O unbelieving generation, how long shall I put up with you! What is more, he left them in their unbelief. The one human condition that even Jesus himself will not cure is that of stubborn, willful unbelief like that of the scribes.

Second, we see that B. He met the human need. He did that, because he found in the boy’s father at least a mustard seed of faith. (Read Mark 9: 21-24) That is an honest prayer. It was enough. So Jesus reached out to meet his need and heal his son.

Third, we see that C. He overcame the spiritual forces that opposed him. (Read v. 25-26) In the power hierarchies of the invisible, spiritual world, Jesus’ word is law. There is no spiritual being or force that can resist his command. He has all authority.

Finally, I want us to see what Jesus did about his ineffective disciples. I want us to see that, because all too often, I find myself in their company. What I find here is immensely reassuring. D. He gently and patiently taught his followers. I see this in the way he responded to them in verse 28, when they came to him privately and asked him, “Why couldn’t we drive the demon out?” His attitude and response to his disciples is spelled out even more clearly in verse 30-31: They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, because he was teaching his disciples.

Jesus was well aware of his disciples’ shortcomings, their confusion, their wrong priorities, their wrong thinking. But he never gave up on them. Instead, he devoted the majority of his remaining months of earthly ministry to teaching them and equipping them for what lay ahead. I am glad that he doesn’t give up on me either, but keeps on patiently teaching me and training me. With that in mind, what I want to do with the remainder of this sermon is to survey the rest of Mark 9, because it is rich with instruction for us as Jesus’ followers. As Jesus’ taught his disciples, we are privileged to listen in and learn as well.

III. WHAT JESUS TAUGHT HIS DISCIPLES. As we work our way through the chapter, I have sought to summarize each paragraph in a single principle or truth.

The first is his response to their inability to cast out this particular demon. The lesson he taught was A. The source of spiritual power rests in dependent faith expressed through consistent prayer. (Read v.28-29) As we’ve already pointed out, Jesus acknowledged that this was a particularly difficult case, a particularly powerful demon. But that didn’t mean that the disciples were without resources. This kind can come out only by prayer (and some manuscripts add fasting). What I find rather interesting in the account, however, was that there is no mention of Jesus praying aloud or even bowing his head to pray. There certainly wasn’t any time to fast! So clearly Jesus was not referring to magic incantations or formulaic prayers, or even to urgent prayers in the heat of the crisis. I think it is a reference to consistent, faithful prayerfulness. It was the kind of prayer Jesus engaged in when he got up early or even stayed up all night to pray before a big decision or a time of crisis. There is nothing wrong with urgent prayers in times of crisis. Pray them by all means. But, oh how much more effective we would be if these crisis prayers are added on top of a sold foundation of regular faithfulness in prayer. We know from other accounts that the disciples were often found to be sleeping when they should have been praying. That is one reason they so often failed in the moment of crisis or need.

The second thing that Jesus was teaching his disciples was that B. The death and resurrection of the Christ was central to God’s kingdom plan. It is here in this context of teaching the disciples that Jesus gives them the second prediction of his death. (Read v. 30-31) According to verse 32, they still didn’t get it. But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it. But this was so important that he kept telling them. He was preparing them to understand the importance of these events in the fulfilling of God’s purpose.

Now let’s look at the next paragraph. (Read v. 33-34) How ironic! Jesus is leading his disciples up toward Jerusalem, clearly teaching them as he did so that he is going there to die. They go up to Jerusalem with visions of kingdom glory dancing in their heads, spending the idle moments of the journey plotting their places in the cabinet of the new kingdom. So Jesus gives them a lesson. (Read v. 35-37)

Jesus often used children as object lessons or examples to teach important spiritual principles. The truth that Jesus is teaching here is this: C. Greatness in Christ’s kingdom is achieved by serving others, especially those of lesser rank. This is the clear meaning of verse 35. In contrast to the disciples debating their relative greatness and positions of authority in the kingdom, Jesus turns it all upside down. “If you want to be first, you have to put yourself last and become the servant of all.” There is a different set of values operating in my kingdom.

Then he sets the example by taking a small child. It is important to realize that in the first century value system, children were not ranked very highly. Rank and value and respect were achieved with age. Children were loved, but not highly ranked. So Jesus takes this child and stands him in the midst of them and then he takes the child in his arms and hugs him. His example speaks volumes. “I am the greatest in the kingdom because I am the Messiah, the king. Yet I have time to pick up this child and hug him and receive him. Likewise, if you want to be great in my kingdom, you need to welcome little children like this, receive them, serve them. Become a servant to the small, the insignificant, and the least important. When you receive and serve a child in my name you are welcoming and receiving me. And when you welcome and receive me, you are welcoming and receiving the Father who sent me.”

This kind of puts a different viewpoint on recruiting volunteers of children’s ministry, doesn’t it? If we really understood the value system of the kingdom of God, we’d be waiting in line for opportunities to serve in children’s ministry! It’s not a matter of doing your duty and giving the kids something to do so that their parents can enjoy the church service. It’s an opportunity to achieve greatness in the kingdom of God by serving members of his kingdom who have lower rank or prestige. The same principle holds true in any ranking system we might find in society. As Christians, we should be found serving among those whom society values least, whoever they may be.

At this point, John hears Jesus refer to receiving a child “in my name” and it brings to mind a nagging memory. So he brings it up. (Read 38)  I am not sure if John was expecting to be complimented by Jesus, or whether he had a nagging sense that he had done something wrong. It is a troubling issue, isn’t it? Apparently this individual was successfully driving out demons using Jesus’ name, but he didn’t belong to “us.” I’m not sure if the “us” refers specifically to the twelve, or to the larger group around Jesus. In any case, I find Jesus’ response to be very instructive. (Read v.39-41) How can we summarize Jesus’ teaching in this paragraph? D. Christ’s followers should exercise charitable tolerance in assessing ambiguous ministry relationships in a constantly shifting kingdom and ministry context.

As I said, there is a great deal that we don’t know about the individual John mentions. Was he a true disciple? Was he an imitator? Apparently he was successful, so we have to believe that God was with him. But John was troubled, because “he was not one of us.” Jesus advocates an attitude of charitable tolerance. There is an important lesson here for all of us. We all have a tendency to think that the boundaries of Christ’s work or Christ’s blessing or Christ’s empowerment lie at the boundary of our particular denomination or group or church, or even or own personal comfort zone. Anything beyond that cannot truly be of God. And over the years of church history, Christians have spent considerable time and energy defining just exactly where the boundaries lie. Who is “us” and who is “them.” But things are not always that clear and that cut and dried. There is often a considerable amount of ambiguity. And the fact is that no one knows where the boundaries of Christ’s kingdom and of his working lie except Christ himself. Here in this passage he teaches us to exercise charitable tolerance in assessing these ambiguous ministry relationships. Judging them is Christ’s job, not ours.

Now we come to the final paragraph of the chapter. (Read  verses 42-50) I think I’ll call on Pastor Joe to come and explain that paragraph to us! Seriously, this is a very confusing passage; one that I do not pretend to understand in any great detail, so I am not going to flounder my way through it. I think there is one very clear, overall message that comes out of the whole however, and that is what I want to pass on to you. E. Because the stakes are high, Christ’s followers must be prepared to exercise radical measures in the battle against sin.

Jesus is using hyperbole in his teaching method here. Clearly, he does not intend us to literally cut off a hand or a foot. For one thing, that would not solve the problem, because sin does not reside in our external body parts. It has its roots deep in our sinful hearts. But he is saying that if cutting off a hand would get rid of sin, it would be worth doing! Sin is a serious matter, and its consequences are deadly! We must be prepared to take drastic action as we battle toward holiness.

Well, these are deep and profound lessons. I don’t pretend that we have exhausted them. But it is a place to start. If you, like me, fall into that character of an often ineffective follower of Christ, maybe the reason lies in one of these principles which Jesus taught his disciples as he led them toward Jerusalem. Let us ponder them and let them shape our thinking, our words, our actions and our reactions.