New Testament Studies: Mark (2): Chapter 1 v14 to v45 -- David Pawson

Summary

The video script captures a profound sermon exploring the early ministry of Jesus Christ, focusing on the key moments from the Gospel of Mark, chapter 1. It outlines Jesus’ transformative journey through Galilee, his teachings, miracles, and the gathering of his first disciples, emphasizing the spiritual, mental, and physical aspects of his ministry. The sermon delves into the significance of Jesus’ actions, his choice of Galilee as the starting point for his ministry, and the deep implications of his words and deeds. It highlights the balance Jesus maintained between attending to human needs and maintaining spiritual priorities, ultimately demonstrating the enduring impact and relevance of his ministry.

Takeaways

• 📖 Jesus begins his ministry in Galilee after John's imprisonment, emphasizing the fulfillment of time and the closeness of God's kingdom.
• 🌍 Choosing Galilee as the starting point of his ministry is strategic due to its geographical position at the crossroads of continents, facilitating the rapid spread of his message.
• 👥 Jesus's ministry involves calling ordinary, uneducated men as disciples, highlighting that God often chooses the humble and ordinary for His purposes.
• 🗣 The core of Jesus's message is repentance and belief in the gospel, addressing the spiritual needs as primary over physical and mental needs.
• 🔗 Jesus teaches with authority, not relying on quotations or authorities other than himself, which astonishes his listeners in the synagogue.
• 🚫 In his ministry, Jesus encounters and silences demons who recognize him, preventing them from revealing his identity prematurely.
• 🙏 The balance in Jesus's ministry is notable; he addresses physical, mental, and spiritual needs, maintaining a balance between teaching, preaching, and healing.
• 🛤 Jesus faced challenges in managing the overwhelming physical needs of people versus the need to preach, often choosing to prioritize preaching to spread his message.
• 🚑 The story of Jesus healing a leper illustrates the struggle between meeting immediate physical needs and the broader goal of preaching for spiritual healing.
• 🔄 The ministry of Jesus is marked by the ongoing tension between addressing the immediate needs of the people and fulfilling his spiritual mission, emphasizing the necessity of maintaining balance in ministry.

Q & A

What is the significance of Jesus beginning his ministry in Galilee according to the transcript?

Jesus chose to start his ministry in Galilee because it was not only where he lived, making it significant that he was preaching in a place familiar to him, but also because Galilee was a central crossroads of the ancient world, connecting three continents. This location ensured that news of his ministry could spread quickly and widely.

What does the term 'Kingdom of God' mean in the context of Jesus' preaching?

In Jesus' teachings, 'Kingdom of God' refers to the domain where God's power and authority are recognized and obeyed. It's not a physical location but rather a spiritual realm where individuals allow God's power to influence and control their lives. It signifies a life under God's rule, contrasting with the worldly domain influenced by evil.

Why did Jesus emphasize preaching over other forms of ministry such as healing?

Jesus prioritized preaching because he believed it addressed the deepest need of humanity: the need for forgiveness and spiritual renewal. While physical healing was part of his ministry, Jesus viewed the proclamation of God's kingdom and the call to repentance as foundational for true, lasting change in individuals' lives.

What was Jesus' approach to teaching in the synagogues?

Jesus' approach to teaching was unique because he taught with personal authority and did not rely on quoting other scholars or authorities. His teachings directly addressed what was right or wrong, and he demonstrated his authority through actions, such as casting out demons, which confirmed his teachings and astonished his listeners.

How did Jesus handle the challenge of managing his ministry's focus between spiritual and physical needs?

Jesus faced challenges in balancing the physical and spiritual needs of the people. He was aware that focusing solely on healing could overshadow his preaching mission. Thus, he often withdrew to pray for guidance, emphasizing the need to prioritize preaching the kingdom of God even when faced with overwhelming physical needs.

What is the significance of Jesus' instruction to the leper he healed?

Jesus instructed the leper not to tell anyone about the healing to prevent a misdirected focus on his miracles rather than his message. He wanted to avoid becoming known merely as a miracle worker, which could hinder his ability to freely preach and teach in towns due to overwhelming crowds seeking physical healing.

Why did Jesus choose ordinary fishermen as his first disciples?

Jesus chose ordinary fishermen to demonstrate that God's work does not depend on social status, education, or wealth. Their ordinary backgrounds highlighted God's power and grace, showing that anyone could be called to serve and lead in God’s kingdom regardless of their previous life or profession.

What does the call to 'repent and believe in the gospel' entail according to Jesus' teachings?

The call to 'repent and believe in the gospel' involves a profound change of mind and heart, turning away from sin and embracing the good news of God's kingdom. It requires recognizing one's sins, seeking forgiveness, and believing in God's power to transform lives, prioritizing spiritual renewal over material concerns.

How does the sermon explain the role of demons in acknowledging Jesus' identity?

The sermon suggests that demons recognized Jesus as the Holy One of God and tried to reveal his identity prematurely. Jesus commanded them to be silent because such revelations needed to come from God through the Holy Spirit, not from unclean spirits, to ensure the message was received with the right understanding.

What was John the Baptist's role in relation to Jesus' ministry?

John the Baptist's role was to prepare the way for Jesus' ministry. He emphasized repentance and baptized people as a sign of their desire to change. His ministry was not in competition with Jesus'; instead, it set the stage for Jesus to begin his own ministry after John was imprisoned.

Outlines

00:00

📖 Introduction to Jesus' Ministry and Miracles

The narrative begins with Jesus' ministry in Galilee following John's arrest, emphasizing his divine authority and ability to perform miracles, as seen through his interactions with his disciples and miraculous healings. The passage from Mark's gospel outlines Jesus' teachings in the synagogue, casting out demons, and healing Simon's mother-in-law and many others, illustrating his spiritual authority and compassion.

05:02

🌍 Jesus' Strategic Ministry Launch in Galilee

Jesus strategically begins his public ministry in Galilee, a region pivotal due to its geographical and cultural crossroads, enhancing the spread of his teachings. He emphasizes his role not as a rival to John the Baptist, but as a continuation of God’s work, showcasing humility and dedication to God’s timing and plan. This passage highlights the start of his transformative work in a familiar yet globally connected setting.

10:03

📢 Jesus’ Teaching, Preaching, and Healing Ministry

Jesus' multifaceted ministry addressed physical, mental, and spiritual needs. He prioritized preaching to address humanity's deepest need for forgiveness, launched his ministry with powerful sermons, and underscored the importance of God's timing. His preaching was authoritative and revolutionary, offering a new interpretation of God's kingdom that directly impacted lives, demonstrated through his power over evil and sickness.

15:06

👑 Defining the Kingdom of God

Jesus clarifies the concept of God's kingdom, explaining it as the reach of God’s power rather than a physical location. He emphasizes that his kingdom is not of this world but is manifested wherever God's influence changes lives. This explanation showcases the spiritual nature of his mission and the direct impact of divine power on human affairs, both physically and spiritually.

20:08

🧠 Jesus' Authority in Teaching and Healing

Jesus' teachings in the synagogue were distinct because he spoke with personal authority, not relying on other scholars. This approach astonished his listeners and demonstrated his unique position as both knowledgeable and powerful. His ability to command even demons during a service further established his divine authority, showing his control over both spiritual and physical realms.

25:10

🌟 Balancing Ministry with Miraculous Healing

Jesus' ministry was not just about preaching; it equally focused on tangible acts of healing. He addressed the immediate physical ailments of the people he encountered, such as healing a man with leprosy, while maintaining his mission to spiritually enlighten and save humanity. His ministry balanced addressing both immediate physical needs and deeper spiritual ailments, illustrating his holistic approach to salvation.

30:10

👥 Choosing Ordinary Men as Disciples

Jesus chose simple, uneducated fishermen as his disciples to demonstrate that God’s call can elevate the ordinary for extraordinary purposes. He emphasized the transformative power of following him, promising to make them 'fishers of men.' This choice highlights the inclusivity of Jesus' call and his focus on spiritual empowerment over worldly status.

35:10

🙏 Prayer and Partnership in Ministry

Jesus maintained a balance between his divine and human relationships. His commitment to prayer was as crucial as his engagement with people. This balance facilitated his role as a mediator between God and man, ensuring he remained aligned with divine will while effectively ministering to human needs. His life exemplifies the perfect integration of action and prayer.

40:11

🔇 Handling Challenges and Opposition

Jesus encountered significant challenges, including managing public perception and the strategic release of information about his identity and mission. He commanded silence from those who might prematurely reveal his role as the Messiah, ensuring his teachings and healings could continue without hindrance from overwhelming crowds or political pressures.

45:11

🔄 The Continuity and Balance of Jesus' Ministry

The script closes with a prayer reflecting on the sustained relevance and balance of Jesus' ministry, which addresses physical, spiritual, and mental needs. The prayer seeks divine guidance to emulate Jesus' balanced approach to ministry, touching on the importance of knowing when to engage with the world and when to seek solitude for prayer and reflection.

Keywords

💡Gospel

In the script, 'gospel' refers to the teachings and life of Jesus Christ, specifically the good news of salvation and God's kingdom. It highlights Jesus' role in fulfilling divine promises, as he preaches in Galilee after John the Baptist's imprisonment. The term encapsulates the core of Jesus' messages about redemption and spiritual liberation, aimed at bringing people closer to God.

💡Kingdom of God

The 'Kingdom of God' is a central theme in Jesus' teachings, described as a spiritual realm where God's will is fulfilled. In the script, Jesus announces its imminence, urging repentance and faith. The Kingdom contrasts earthly kingdoms, emphasizing spiritual governance and divine influence over human affairs, indicating a space of moral and spiritual renewal accessible through acceptance of Jesus' teachings.

💡Repent

Repentance is crucial in the script, emphasized by Jesus as necessary for entering the Kingdom of God. It involves a profound change of heart and turning away from sin towards God. The script highlights this as a foundational response to the gospel, enabling individuals to align with God's will and receive spiritual renewal and forgiveness.

💡Ministry

Jesus' 'ministry' refers to his period of public teaching, healing, and spiritual leadership. The script discusses the start of his ministry in Galilee, focusing on addressing spiritual, physical, and mental needs of the people. This holistic approach underscores the script's portrayal of Jesus as a compassionate savior engaged in transformative work.

💡Authority

Authority in the script refers to Jesus' unique power and right to teach and command with divine backing. Unlike scribes who cite historical figures, Jesus teaches with personal authority, evidencing his divine nature. His commands over nature, spirits, and disease during his ministry highlight this authority, profoundly impacting his followers and critics alike.

💡Synagogue

The synagogue serves as a critical setting in Jesus' ministry, depicted in the script as a place of teaching and confrontation with spiritual evil. It's where Jesus astonishes locals with his authoritative teachings and exorcises demons, illustrating his role as a spiritual leader and challenger of existing religious norms.

💡Healing

Healing is a significant aspect of Jesus' ministry, reflecting his compassion and divine power. The script describes him curing diseases and expelling demons, activities that confirm his messianic identity and divine mission. These acts not only relieve physical suffering but also restore individuals to community life, symbolizing spiritual restoration.

💡Disciples

Disciples in the script are followers of Jesus who are called to share in his ministry. The selection of ordinary, uneducated fishermen highlights Jesus' inclusive approach and his empowerment of the humble. Discipleship involves profound personal transformation and active participation in spreading Jesus' teachings.

💡Preaching

Preaching is depicted as a primary method through which Jesus communicates his divine messages.

Highlights

Jesus begins his ministry in Galilee after John the Baptist is arrested, emphasizing the fulfillment of time and the proximity of God's kingdom.

Jesus calls Simon and Andrew, fishermen, to follow him and become 'fishers of men,' marking a pivotal moment in their lives and the beginning of Jesus' public ministry.

The teaching of Jesus astonishes because of his authority, different from scribes who taught citing authorities; Jesus spoke on his own authority.

A man with an unclean spirit challenges Jesus during a synagogue service, revealing Jesus' power to command spiritual beings and heal the possessed.

Jesus heals Simon's mother-in-law simply by taking her hand, demonstrating his power over illness.

The overwhelming response to Jesus' miracles in Capernaum, where the whole city gathers at the door, illustrating the profound impact of his healing ministry.

Jesus seeks solitude to pray, showing the importance of balance between public ministry and private devotion.

Jesus emphasizes the priority of preaching the gospel over just performing miracles, illustrating his focus on addressing spiritual rather than only physical needs.

Jesus addresses his ministry starting in Galilee, a strategic location central to trade routes, enhancing the spread of his message.

Jesus preaches the gospel of freedom, aiming to liberate people from the bondage of sin and spiritual oppression.

The concept of the Kingdom of God is clarified as not a physical territory, but where God's sovereign power is acknowledged and obeyed.

Jesus' ministry includes healing, teaching, and preaching, addressing the whole person: physical, mental, and spiritual needs.

Jesus' directive to preach the gospel reflects his understanding that spiritual liberation is paramount, even more than physical healing.

The early church's growth is attributed to the prioritization of preaching and teaching as foundational to expanding Jesus' ministry.

The leper's healing showcases Jesus' compassion and power over incurable diseases, while also highlighting challenges in maintaining the focus on preaching due to the crowds.

Transcripts

shall we turn to our reading for this

evening Saint Mark's gospel chapter 1

beginning to read at verse 14.

Saint Mark's gospel chapter 1 verse 14.

if anybody would like a Bible there are

Bibles at the back you just need to

raise your hand and one will be brought

to you

now after John was arrested Jesus came

into Galilee preaching the gospel of God

and saying that time is fulfilled and

the kingdom of God is at hand repent and

believe in the gospel

and passing along by the Sea of Galilee

he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of

Simon casting a net into the sea for

they were fishermen and Jesus said to

them follow me and I will make you

become Fishers of Men

and immediately they left their Nets and

followed him

and going on a little further he saw

James the son of Zebedee and John his

brother who were in their boat mending

the Nets and immediately he called them

and they left their father Zebedee in

the boat with the hired servants and

followed him

and they went into Capernaum and

immediately on the Sabbath he entered

the synagogue and taught

they were astonished at his teaching for

he taught them as one who had Authority

and not as the scribes

and immediately there was in their

synagogue a man with an unclean spirit

and he cried out what of you to do with

us Jesus of Nazareth have you come to

destroy us I know who you are the Holy

One of God

but Jesus rebuked him saying be silent

and come out of him

and the unclean Spirit convulsing him

and crying with a loud voice came out of

him

and they were all amazed so that they

questioned among themselves saying what

is this

a new teaching

with authority He commands even the

unclean spirits and they obey him

and at once his Fame spread everywhere

throughout all the surrounding region of

Galilee

and immediately he left the synagogue

and entered the house of Simon and

Andrew with James and Joan now Simon's

mother-in-law lays sick with a fever and

immediately they told him of her and he

came and took her by the hand and lifted

her up and the fever left her and she

served them

that evening at sundown they brought to

him all who was sick or possessed with

demons

and the whole city was gathered together

about the door and he healed many who

were sick with various diseases and cast

out many demons

and he would not permit the demons to

speak because they knew him

and in the morning a great while before

day he rose and went out to a lonely

place and there he prayed

and Simon and those who were with him

followed him and they found him and said

to him everyone is searching for you and

he said to them let us go on to the next

towns that I may preach there also for

that is why I came out

and he went throughout all Galilee

preaching in their synagogues and

casting out demons

and Aleppo came to him beseeching him

and kneeling said to him if you will you

can make me clean

and immediately the moved with Petty he

stretched out his hand and touched him

and said to him I will be clean

and immediately the leprosy left him and

he was made clean

and he sternly charged him and sent him

away at once and said to him see that

you say nothing to anyone

but go show yourself to the priest and

offer for your cleansing what Moses

commanded for a proof to the people

but he went out and began to talk freely

about it and to spread the news

so that Jesus could no longer openly

enter a town but was out in the country

and people came to him from every

quarter

so reads the passage we're going to

study in a short while

one of the most amazing things about the

life of Jesus which is nowhere mentioned

in the bible or anywhere else

is the fact that he spent 18 years in a

village Carpenter's workshop and only

three doing what God had called him to

do

18 years stuck in that little place

making doors and chairs and window

frames and tables and then just three

healing people and traveling around

doing a public work

it should encourage a lot of other

people who feel that their life is

circumscribed and that they're Limited

in their opportunities Jesus had 18

years in a village working with a hammer

and chisel and saw but the 18 years are

over by the time Mark's gospel begins

and our Lord is now

come right out into the center of the

stage and he is now going to begin his

public work and it is in the public

three years that we find the deepest

meaning of what he came to do

now he began his ministry when John was

put in prison

John and Jesus were not rivals

some people tried to set them off one

against another and they came to John

the Baptist one day and they said you

know Jesus is getting a bigger

congregation than you are

the devil loves to set Christians

against each other and people of God

against each other like this

but John's reply was that doesn't matter

I came to get ready for him and if I get

smaller and he gets bigger that's as it

should be

if I become less and he becomes greater

that's right and proper what a big man

it takes to say that

and so John the Baptist Jesus cousin

came to get ready for his cousin and

Jesus did not set up as it were as a

rival preacher until John's Ministry was

closed John was thrown into prison he

had done all that he could now to get

ready so now Jesus must start and so he

came

it's interesting too to notice not only

the time when Jesus began but the place

he began in Galilee

now I can see a lot of interesting

things in that but I'll give you only

two one was it was where he lived

it's comparatively easy to go and preach

somewhere else but in front of people

who've known you

I remember the first time I had to

preach in front of all my family and

relatives I'd much rather I'd have gone

and preached to a million in America

rather than preach in front of those few

humanists speaking

and Jesus preached in Galilee that's

where he'd been a carpenter that's when

everybody knew him as the man down the

street if you wanted a table mending

and that's where he began

but the other interesting thing is this

Judea is on the road to nowhere

Galilee is on the road to everywhere

and I've no doubt that he chose to start

his ministry there because it was at the

center of the world

I want you to imagine a map here's the

Mediterranean Sea down here is the

Indian Ocean here is Africa down here

here is Asia over here and here is

Europe up here now there is a road that

goes from Europe

down through to Arabia and ultimately

the east

that comes from Asia up here

comes through Mesopotamia through

Damascus and it comes down through the

middle

to Egypt and to Africa

so that those three continents were

linked by a gigantic Crossroads and the

junction was about three miles from

Nazareth in Galilee

it was at a place called megiddo such a

crucial Crossroads is it that Winston

Churchill during the last war had a

special survey made of their Crossroads

because he thought the Italians and the

Germans would track the British army at

that crossroads and Churchill said

that's the key area

and it always has been the crossroads of

the world

and here is Nazareth just above the

crossroads and Galilee is the area

around them so it was called Galilee of

the Nations Galilee of the Gentiles

everybody came through Galilee one way

or the other

and one of the towns right on that main

road from Africa to Asia was a fishing

town called Capernaum

and it was right on this main road which

was called the Via Maris or the way of

the sea

and Jesus was choosing to begin his

ministry at the very point where news of

it could go to every part of the world

and perhaps that is why he began in

Galilee but that's where he began

now there are three features of his

wonderful Ministry that come out in the

verses I've read to you and the first is

the amazing pattern of his ministry what

did he actually do

and the answer is very simple he met the

needs of men and those needs were

threefold they had physical needs they

had mental needs and they had spiritual

needs

and the amazing Ministry of Our Lord was

to the whole of men

it was a Ministry to the whole man for

the whole world and you find this

amazing balance he preached

to meet their spiritual needs

then there was teaching to meet their

mental needs and then there was healing

to meet their physical and so he he

didn't mind what the need was he met it

and he had Grace to meet every need and

the power to meet every need

take first the preaching

our Lord believed in preaching

he felt this was the fundamental

priority of his ministry and this is

what he began he didn't begin with

healing he began with preaching

and the church in the days when it

spread so rapidly in the first 300 years

always had this priority they began with

preaching

there was healing there was teaching but

they began with preaching

they didn't Begin by opening a school or

a hospital they began with preaching

the other things followed but they began

with preaching and this is the emphasis

of our Lord's Ministry because this is

the way in which God meets the deepest

needs of men by preaching they have

mental needs they have physical needs

but the deepest need of every man and

woman on earth is the need of

forgiveness

which is even more important than food

for the body and freedom for the Mind

forgiveness for the soul is the deepest

need and so Jesus came to begin

preaching

and so he went straight for the big

thing

why did he begin preaching because of

this because the world is in the grip of

Satan

the world is in the grip of evil

and he came to set men free from that

group

the world was full of vice and crime the

world was full of disease and death

the world was full of pain and suffering

but all these things were caused by one

thing and one only and that was the grip

of evil and therefore Jesus said I'm

going to tackle that

and he came preaching about this and he

came saying certain things I want to

single out seven key words first key

word he came preaching the gospel and

that means the good news of freedom to

those who've been bound by an enemy

he came to preach the gospel of God

what he was saying is this God has come

to set you free God is doing something

for you at last

now when you read the Old Testament you

find this for Century after Century the

people had been waiting and longing for

God to do something about it

they recognize that the world was not

good that it was full of things that

were evil and enemies of men and they

prayed and prayed and prayed oh God when

will you do something about it God when

will you come and set us free from all

these things

and Jesus said I've come to tell you

that God is doing something about them

now after all these centuries the good

news is that God is going to set you

free

keyword number three the time

the time is fulfilled in other words the

things you've been waiting for are now

the timetable of God is here

the things that people have longed for

for centuries are now coming true the

time is ripe I haven't time to stay on

this but when you study the social and

political history of that time you

realize that Jesus was born at The

crucial time

if you'd been a hundred years earlier or

a hundred years later it would have been

the wrong time

everything was just right

for God to do something about the plight

of men

keyword number four the word Kingdom

now that's a word that is most

misleading

especially to us who live in the United

Kingdom we think of a political or a

geographical area but I learned what the

word Kingdom means by living in Arabia

for three years

and I found this that on the map of

Arabia which is very much just an oblong

about that shape sticking out into the

Indian Ocean you'll find that the

boundaries on the map of Arabia are

straight dotted lines

and when you go and look for them all

you can see sand dunes and I travel many

hundreds of miles by Land Rover over

nothing but desert and rock and sand you

couldn't tell when one Kingdom began

when one ended

it all looked the same

but there were kingdoms there they

called them shakedoms

and a shaked them was this it was the

area or not even the area

if you were under the power of a

particular Shake

then you were in his kingdom if he could

reach you and force you to do something

you were counted as in his kingdom you

couldn't put that on a map you could

only put a dotted line

but where the Sheikh's power reached out

into the desert and could control your

life you belonged to his kingdom that's

what the word means in the Bible it

doesn't mean a political or a

geographical area Jesus said my kingdom

is not of this word what does it mean it

means this wherever God's power reaches

out and controls that's the kingdom of

God Jesus said if I by the spirit of God

cast out demons then the kingdom of God

has come upon you in other words

wherever a life is being touched by the

power of God there is the kingdom

in other words would you like to live in

the kingdom of God you don't need to

move house you don't need to move jobs

you don't need to get a boat or a plane

you can live in the kingdom of God at

this very moment

if you allow God's power to take hold of

your life and control it

now this is tremendous because God has

power over disease God has power over

death God has power over fear God has

power over all the things that are to

which we are a prey and therefore if I

allow the power of God to enter my life

then I'm in the Kingdom

I shall see these things under his

control and he will control these things

within my own life because I'm within

the power the reach of his power

you see this world is not the kingdom of

God

According To Jesus it's the kingdom of

Satan that's why your newspapers are

full of lust

and cruelty and bloodshed and suspicion

and hatred that's why because this world

is not the kingdom of God but wherever a

man comes under the power of God and the

evil things are put out 's Life by God's

power that man has entered the kingdom

that man is living within the reign of

God God is reigning over his life

and the good news that Jesus preached

was this the kingdom of God is breaking

into this world now

it's very near now you can enter it now

you can live under God's power now you

can have God's power Conquering the

enemies in your life now now that's good

news that's tremendous news

it's a gospel and so he came preaching

the gospel of the kingdom of God which

was at hand

next key word

repent

in other words how can we hope

to be in the kingdom of God and ask God

to deal with our enemies if we don't

want him to deal with our sins

how can we ask God to get disease out of

my life if I'm unwilling for him to get

jealousy out of my life

how can I expect God to give me the

victory over death if I do not want the

victory over bad temper

in other words you can't have God in

bits and pieces you can't have God help

you with this enemy if you want to hang

on to that enemy all the enemies of God

must be dealt with at the same time

and all the enemies of men must be dealt

with at the same time

and while I may feel that my sickness or

illness is an enemy that God should help

me to conquer and should banish from my

life I must also realize that gossip

and worry are just as much enemies of

God as illness and disease

how then do I get ready for the power of

God to break into my life and give me

the victory the answer is I repent

and in this Jesus was saying just what

John said before him in other words when

God comes he comes to put everything

right not just what you want to put

right but everything

so the need is to repent which is to

change your mind and to hate the things

you've done that were wrong

let me underline this most of us are

sorry

when we've done wrong if the wrong

catches up with us and we suffer for it

the real test of whether you repent is

this do you feel sorry about the things

you did that were wrong that nobody

knows about and that have not cost you

anything

if you do you are repenting

in other words it's not to be as a man

said

when he was asked by a magistrate are

you sorry about this thing in the man

said yes and the magistrates said what

are you sorry about he said I'm sorry I

was caught

now he was being absolutely honest and

he had plenty of remorse and he

expressed it in the court

but he wasn't repenting Cain never

repented of the murder of Abel he was

terribly sorry he did it

because it cost him so much but he was

never sorry about the thing he did and

repentance is to say Lord I've asked you

to get me out of this trouble I've asked

you to banish this enemy but I'm just

sorry about all the other things now

and I'm asking you to put it all right

and then believe the good news now

believing is the opposite of seeing

don't you believe those who say seeing

is believing I would say that seeing is

not believing

because once you've seen there's no more

need to believe

what Jesus is saying is this the kingdom

of God is an invisible Kingdom the power

of God is invisible you must believe

that it's breaking through you must

believe that it's at hand that God can

give you the power to conquer this

repent and believe now this was all his

preaching to the soul let me move on now

to the second thing his teaching to the

mind

one of man's greatest needs is to get

the truth up here to know the difference

between true and false right and wrong

he needs teaching

and the synagogue was the place of

teaching in the ancient world there was

one synagogue to every 10 families and

it would probably be the only education

you got

and within the synagogue there were

scribes and their job was to teach you

what was right and wrong

what was true and false

but they did it in a peculiar way they

didn't do it by saying this is right and

that is wrong they did it by saying one

of our ancient Scholars said this is

right and that is wrong

or this is what some great Rabbi has

said they were always quoting somebody

else

maybe you've had preachers like this who

are always quoting Great Men

and flinging out quotations by the yard

well that's how the scribes did it

they always quoted the authorities the

scholars the experts but when Jesus got

up one day in the synagogue to teach

we're told that the congregation was

absolutely astonished because he didn't

quote anybody else

he just told them what was right and

what was wrong on his own authority

and it says he taught them as one having

Authority now that can mean one of two

things we say of some people well he's

an authority in his subject and they

mean by that don't argue with him he

knows

he's got the expertise he's got the

knowledge he's an authority on his

subject which means you can't argue with

what he says

but it can also mean something much

deeper and it's this

when Jesus taught he not only taught us

having the authority of one who knew who

didn't need to look up the books who

didn't need to quote others he spoke and

things happened

now this is a unique Authority

one is the authority of saying well look

go to son so he's the expert and you go

to so-and-so and you say now look we've

got a problem what do we do and the

expert sits behind his desk and he says

now this is what is right to do now

that's one kind of authority the other

kind is if that man behind the desk

presses a button on the desk and a man

comes in and the man behind the desk

says they've got this problem get it

sorted out

and it is now that's another kind of

authority it's the authority of power

as well as the authority of knowledge

and Jesus had both he had the authority

of knowledge you couldn't argue with

Jesus he knew

but he had the authority of power

and they knew this because in the middle

of the synagogue service and you can

imagine this happening I hope it doesn't

often happen in the service it's pretty

disturbing when it does

in the middle of a service in the middle

of his sermon somebody challenged him

but it was a man who was possessed by a

demon

and he got up and he yelled in the

middle of the sermon I know who you are

what are you trying to do with us

destroy us you're the Holy One Of God

can you imagine somebody shouting that

in the middle of the service and Jesus

stopped

and then he started again and he just

said be quiet come out of him

the man fell down in the faint

and then came round and was perfectly

normal

now you see that's Authority

it's not just saying from a Pulpit this

is it

being able to say do this

and it's done

they were amazed they'd never had any

teaching like this but this was his

teaching the third area of his ministry

was healing for the body when people are

sick all of us go through life and face

sickness I haven't yet met anyone who

didn't

I did go to see recently a man of 94 in

hospital

and he said I don't know he said I must

have done something wrong he said I've

never been in hospital for I don't know

what I've done to deserve this at 94 and

it had nothing wrong with him till then

there he was and he was really searching

his own so and said what have I done to

deserve this

but most of us face disease and sickness

much earlier

now Jesus meant sickness sometimes it

was acute a fever sometimes it was

chronic sometimes it was utterly

incurable leprosy but you find that

whether it was a fever or a leprosy case

Jesus

was able to deal with it

usually he did something physical he

lifted someone up or he touched them

but there was no situation Beyond his

control and you can imagine

can you what would happen if a man

arrived in Guildford

who could cure every disease known

supposing you heard that somebody was

down there at the bus station

and he was curing every known disease

not a failure yet

shall I tell you this the bus station

would never have seen such cues

for people say health is everything it

is not

the Bible doesn't say it is

but to those who think health is

everything they would do anything within

their power to get near a man like this

and this is what happened

so the first thing I want to say is this

the pattern of our Lord's Ministry is

wonderfully balanced

physical mental and spiritual all the

needs of men come within his reach and

therefore our ministry

following his must be balanced and must

seek to meet all the needs of men not

just some but all

in his name

now the second thing about his ministry

and I must move on the partners in his

ministry

I remember hearing about a fine

Christian man who did a tremendous lot

of good he was a Sunday school

superintendent he was an evangelist

he did a tremendous lot of good but

somebody said this about him to me and

wild horses wouldn't drag his name from

indeed I've forgotten it I don't know

his name

but somebody said this to me about him

you know he can only work on a committee

of one

I know what was meant

he can only work on a committee of one

he does so much good but always by

himself

now you could never say this about Jesus

he was a unique individual but never an

individualist

Not only would he not do it by himself

he could not do it by himself he said

this again and again there were Partners

in his ministry it was shared Ministry

it wasn't a one-man band it never was

there were human partners and divine

partners and we look at both look at the

human

to extend his ministry he called other

people to share it

and this would mean extending it in

space while he was still on Earth and

extending it in time after he left us

and so he called men to be his disciples

and apostles I don't know if you realize

the excitement of this but when I read

the story of how he walked along the

shores of Galilee and called four

fishermen do you realize that that was

the beginning of the church

do you realize that that was the

beginning of a human society that would

last two thousand years

and more

do you realize that every church

building and every group of people

calling themselves a church through the

whole wide world began on the morning

Jesus walked along that Shore

and said to four fishermen

follow me

so simpler beginning

so

utterly Sublime

that the church should start in that way

not for the committee

not for the great Assembly not with a

procession not with a lot of hullabaloo

not with a lot of different Investments

not with a lot of

paraphernalia just four fishermen

and Jesus walking on the seashore but

that's how the church began

and maybe it would be more effective

today if it had managed to retain that

simplicity

he called men now they had met him

before they had been with John the

Baptist down the Jordan River they'd met

him before

and so it wasn't the first time that

they'd met him but I want you to notice

just two things first of all what they

were or rather what they weren't

and secondly what Jesus said to them

first of all what they were while they

were young so they weren't very

experienced or mature most of them

probably were in their teen years or

early twenties

they were uneducated men they had no

degrees they had not had any education

such as all of us have had in this

country

they were poor

they were Ordinary People they worked

with their hands

from the world's point of view there

were nobodies

and God chooses nobodies

he doesn't choose people for what they

are but for what they are not this is

the story of the Bible

it's been the story for two thousand

years he takes a cobbler in Northampton

sure and turns him into a William Carey

he takes a parliament from London and

makes it let Isaiah would offer God

chooses nobodies

thank God he does

if God had said now I need a church of

rich people and clever people and good

people then there'd be no hope for most

of us if any others

but he didn't stop that way

he started with a group of ordinary

working men

young uneducated poor

and he said follow me

in other words everything they would be

would be because of him

they would therefore give glory to God

and not to themselves

they were nothing

of course this fisherman they would be

tough they would be brave they would be

patient

but they were just fishermen

they were certainly not religious people

now you remember in 1948 when the Dead

Sea Scrolls were discovered

have been down to the caves where they

were discovered and seen the ruins of

the qumran community a company of

monastic Jews called the essenes and

they were there in the time of our Lord

or just before

and there were monasteries of holy

Jewish people who had given their whole

life to prayer and fasting and studying

the scriptures and who lived in

monasteries all over Judea at the time

of Jesus we didn't know this until the

Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in 48.

the interesting thing is Jesus didn't go

to the monasteries for his disciples

he didn't go to the religious people

from

a man said to me only this week I will

you're religious and I'm not

but look I wasn't religious when God

called me I was milking cows

Amos said I was no priest I was no

Prophet Amos said I was a Vine dresser I

was looking after a Market Garden and

God touched me

and you know it's been like this ever

since

if you've read our report of evangelism

on the other side you'll know that one

of the things we've said and spelled out

again and again is this the tragedy is

that though the church started with a

group of men like this it's the one

group that you can't find in the church

today

in any great numbers

this is the tragedy of it because God

needs men like that

so he chose them for what they were not

not so much for what they were ordinary

practical down to earth

uneducated men and Jesus said now you

follow me and I will make you which

brings me to what he said notice he made

a demand and an offer simultaneously

he never makes a demand without making

an offer or an offer without making a

demand the two go together and the

demand was follow me unconditional

he didn't lay down any terms he didn't

say no is there a shop steward of the

fisherman's Union that I'll have to

negotiate with what wages will you

require how many hours will you work for

me he said follow me

and only the Son of God has the right to

tell a man to do that

additionally it was going to be slavery

and yet perfect freedom and Jesus made

the demand follow me no conditions no

terms follow me they did

they left immediately and it meant

giving up a good job

it meant in some cases leaving their

relatives Simon had to leave a wife

presumably

Zebedee the father was left by Jameson

John it meant ultimately leaving their

life because only one of those four died

of old age in bed the other three were

all martyred

and yet immediately they followed him

when Jesus says follow me you can't make

conditions or terms you can't say well

Lord I will follow you if or I will

follow you but there are cases in the

gospels of people who tried to do this

and Jesus said no bads

no bads follow me

but the offer was very wonderful follow

me your ordinary people but follow me

and I will make you I will make you

you're pretty good at handling those

Nets

you're pretty good at handling things

but I'm going to help you to handle

people

and maybe one of the greatest things

that Jesus can say to a man or woman

today is you may be very clever with

things

but I'm going to make you wise with

people

I'm going to help you to help others and

that's a very great thing

you noticed that he didn't call them to

an easy life he didn't say follow me and

I will make you happy

follow me and I will make you contented

follow me and I will make you peaceful

follow me and I will make you prosperous

he didn't say any of these things

just follow me and I will make you work

follow me and you don't get out of

fishing your fishing will be more

demanding follow me and I will make you

able to do things

and he doesn't call us to a life of ease

he doesn't promise US these things not

till we get to heaven but what he said

was this follow me and you can do a job

that you're not doing now

and so from cobbling shoes

William Carey went to mend lives in

India

and from cleaning a home in the middle

of London Gladys ale would went to

cleaning lives in China

follow me and I'll help you to deal with

people

it's skillful in handling people and

bringing them to God and helping them

that was the offer now those were the

human partners of his ministry let us

turn to the Divine partner

it's very easy to get so involved with

people that you lose touch with your

Divine partner he never did

prayer was more important to him than

sleep and so he would get up very early

in the morning and he'd get alone with

God because God was his other partner he

had human partners he had a Divine

partner he was down to earth and the men

he chose and he was up to heaven in the

God he loved and it is this unique

combination of keeping in touch with God

and in touch with men that makes Jesus

so effective as a link between men and

God

Jesus was not a Mystic shut away he was

right in the middle of human society and

yet in the middle of human society he

would get up before day and he would go

and pray alone with God this is the

secret of ministry

to get right in among ordinary folk and

love them as he loved them and to get

right away from them and love God as he

loved God and it is this combination of

getting into society and out of it again

that marks the life of Jesus God was his

partner

once again I'm impressed with the

balance of our Lord's Ministry as far as

the pattern goes He balanced their

physical mental and spiritual needs as

far as the partners went he balanced the

Divine and the human the Earthly and the

Heavenly what a balance there is in his

life and I am more impressed the older I

get

with the fact that most of us find it

difficult to balance

it's so much easier to get unbalanced in

Ministry

to go for one of the men's needs instead

of all of them

spend too much time helping people at

the expense of prayer or too much time

alone of the expense of people but Jesus

kept everything in balance

this comes out in the third thing that I

want to say his problem

now Jesus had problems

I find it a comfort to know this that in

his ministry he had big problems

and the interesting thing is that every

time it is mentioned that Jesus prayed

you will find it just because he had a

big problem on his hands and he didn't

know what to do about it

that's the time to pray

well now let's look at the problem what

crisis is there here the clue lies in

the fact that three times in this short

passage he told people to shut up

that's a literal translation of what he

said our polite Bibles translated by

silent but Jesus said shut up

three times

now why should he say that

each time he told them to stop talking

about himself

when surely he wanted the world to know

didn't Jesus want us to talk about him

isn't it true that Jesus wants us to

talk about him everywhere we can yes he

does then why did he tell him to be

quiet

there are two problems here there one

really but there are two

one is a supernatural problem the other

is a natural problem one was concerned

with demons and the other with the

diseased

and both of them he told to shut up now

let's see why

first of all take the demon possessed

now I've had an awful lot of rubbish

talked about about these demon-possessed

people in the gospels as if they were

mentally ill

as if they were schizophrenic or

something and that this was their way of

describing mental illness may I say

because I believe it firmly not just on

the Bible Authority but on the basis of

experience demon possession and mental

illness are two quite different things

and must never be confused

demon possession is a spiritual problem

and it comes to those who've dabbled in

spiritism astrology and other things

and who've laid themselves open to it

mental illness is quite a different

thing and requires different treatment

and one of the symptoms that

distinguishes between the two there are

about 10 major symptoms that enable you

to distinguish but one of them is this

a possessed person is clairvoyant

and knows things that could not possibly

otherwise be known whereas a mentally

ill person is not Clairvoyant at all

[Music]

against a clairvoyant in in the

synagogue and this man said I know

something about you nobody told him but

the demons knew of course these Spirits

knew they knew who Jesus was and Jesus

said shut up

and come out of that man

now why

well the Holy One Of God was the

promised King of the Jews

and it would have been devastating and

dangerous if this had come out at this

stage

his friends would have wanted to crown

him straight away

and wanted him to be a political King

and his enemies would have wanted to

kill him straight away

and it would not have been right for

this to come out furthermore

it is not right for such things to come

from demons such things have to be told

us by the Holy Ghost

not any other kind

and even if demons say the right thing

don't listen to them your knowledge

should not come that way they are trying

to get hold of you

and so Jesus said shut up

and come out of him and he commanded

silence and all through the three years

he had this problem that the demons knew

who he was and he didn't want people to

know

not before the right time

but the other problem was concerned with

the disease and this was the danger of

men's physical needs dominating their

spiritual

as I've said if a man came to Guilford

who could cure every disease he would

have a full-time job and he would have

no time to do anything else at all

and Jesus in capanium had only been

there a day and a half before the main

street was packed end to end with sick

people

and our Lord could have spent the rest

of his life doing nothing but healing

people

and this was his problem

and so before the sun rose he climbed up

the hills behind Capernaum and he prayed

God what should I do there are all those

sick people the road's going to be full

of them tomorrow what do I do and you

know what God told him

God said you must preach

go somewhere else

you must leave those sick people

you must go and preach somewhere else

the disciples found him up on the hills

and they said everybody's looking for

you he said now we're going to other

towns to preach

and this is the constant battle that

Christians have had ever since and the

church is having to a greater degree

than ever today in a day when we are

aware of the physical needs of men to a

greater extent than ever before and the

food needed here and there the meds

needed here and there the doctors and

nurses and hospitals needed we could be

completely overwhelmed with the physical

needs of men

people saying health is the most

important thing in life

and we forget that there is one thing

that is more important it's holiness

and Jesus facing this crisis realized

that he had to decide now that preaching

was going to come first

and healing must follow

and so they left Capernaum and they left

a Street full of sick people

and Jesus went on to preach the tragedy

was that he met a leper I say it was a

tragedy it's the most tragic story in

this chapter right in the middle of the

Country Lane they met a leper why was he

not in the town because he was not

allowed in the town he had to live

outside the town he was in the country

and he heard what was going in the town

and he thought now how can I reach this

man and lo and behold there he was

coming along the road and no wonder the

leper ran up this manner was condemned

to a living death

said in amazing Faith Jesus if you will

you could clean me

of this disease you'd notice he didn't

say if you can he said if you will what

faith

an incurable disease

and Jesus had compassion on him and

touched him and said all right then

you're clean and he was

but now comes the tragedy

this man's need was pretty obvious his

faith is obvious and the next thing that

is obvious is his disobedience

Jesus said now look I've healed you I

ask you to do only one thing don't tell

anybody I've done it because I'm trying

to preach

go to Jerusalem let them inspect you get

your medical certificate get back into

society but don't tell anyone how you

got healed

and the man went rushing down the road

and everybody he met he said there's a

chap up that road he's healed me of

leprosy

and it says that Jesus couldn't even get

into the towns

and he had to keep right away from towns

where only the fit could reach him

so that he might preach you see the

problem

and you see again the wonderful balance

in his ministry

and while he had deep compassion for

people in physical pain and suffering he

had a deeper compassion for people in

sin

people who were facing us suffering in

the next world that those living in this

world never dreamed of

so he went on preaching

here then is the ministry of Jesus

perfectly balanced between physical

mental and spiritual needs perfectly

balanced Between Heaven and Earth

perfectly balanced

and yet terribly busy

do you realize that all I've told you

occupies three days out of those three

years

and that's just the beginning of a

Ministry that is still continuing to

this day next Sunday evening will

continue the story and see how

opposition began to arise let us pray

foreign

we thank you Lord Jesus Christ for your

amazing Ministry let us continue to this

day

for the busyness of it and yet the

balance

and we pray that our lives may be

balanced too

and that we may know when to be alone

and when to be with others

when to meet their physical needs when

to preach to them

when to speak to them about the truth

and we ask that the life of Jesus may be

our life

that his power May flow through us

for we ask it in his name amen

and May the grace of our Lord Jesus

Christ and the love of God our Father

And The Fellowship of the Holy Spirit be

with us now and forevermore

amen