New Testament Studies: Mark (11): Chapter 10 -- David Pawson

Summary

The video script is an in-depth exploration of Mark's Gospel, chapter 10, which contains five significant events in Jesus' ministry. The narrative delves into Jesus' teachings on divorce, emphasizing the sanctity of marriage as God's union and the hardness of heart that leads to divorce. It highlights Jesus' interaction with children, stressing their importance and the necessity for adults to adopt a childlike faith to enter the Kingdom of God. The story of the rich young man underscores the challenge of wealth as a barrier to discipleship and the need for complete commitment to Jesus. The script also addresses the power dynamics within leadership, advocating for a servant mindset rather than seeking dominance. Lastly, the healing of Bartimaeus, the blind beggar, illustrates the importance of faith and the transformative power of Jesus' mercy. The summary serves as an invitation to reflect on Jesus' teachings, the cost of discipleship, and the transformative journey of faith.

Takeaways

• 📜 The Gospel of Mark Chapter 10 discusses five significant events that illustrate Jesus' teachings on various moral and spiritual matters.
• 💔 On the topic of divorce, Jesus emphasizes the sanctity of marriage, stating that what God has joined together should not be split apart by humans, and remarriage after divorce is considered adultery.
• 🙌 Jesus demonstrates the importance of children, rebuking the disciples for hindering them and stating that the kingdom of God belongs to those who receive it with a childlike heart.
• 💰 A rich young man's story illustrates the difficulty of the wealthy entering the kingdom of God, highlighting the need for selflessness and the sacrifice of material possessions for spiritual gain.
• 👑 James and John's request for positions of honor in Jesus' glory is met with a lesson on servanthood, where true greatness lies in serving others, not seeking power over them.
• 🕊 The concept of sacrifice is further explored as Jesus predicts his suffering and death, teaching that his death will serve as a ransom for many, emphasizing the ultimate act of service.
• 🔄 Jesus' teachings often challenge and change people's preconceived ideas, encouraging them to rethink their beliefs and values, especially on issues like divorce, wealth, and the nature of the kingdom of God.
• 🕰 The narrative underscores the urgency and inevitability of Jesus' journey to Jerusalem, where he accepts the suffering that awaits him, demonstrating his commitment to his mission.
• 🤔 The disciples' lack of understanding about Jesus' impending fate reflects the broader human struggle to comprehend the depth of sacrifice and the nature of true spiritual leadership.
• 🧐 Jesus' interaction with Bartimaeus, the blind beggar, showcases the power of faith and the transformative potential of spiritual healing, as Bartimaeus is not only healed but also becomes a follower of Jesus.
• ✝️ The script calls for personal reflection and a willingness to follow Jesus, even if it requires letting go of worldly attachments, as exemplified by the rich young man's inability to part with his wealth.

Q & A

In the context of the script, what was the Pharisees' intention when they asked Jesus about the lawfulness of divorce?

The Pharisees were trying to test Jesus and potentially trap him into saying something that would either contradict himself or make him unpopular with certain groups. They wanted to see if he would go against the prevailing views on divorce, which were a topic of debate at the time.

How did Jesus respond to the Pharisees' question about divorce?

Jesus responded by referring back to the teachings of Moses and the original intent of God in the creation of man and woman. He emphasized that marriage is a union that God has joined together and that it should not be broken by humans.

What does the story of the rich young man illustrate about the challenges faced by wealthy individuals in seeking eternal life?

The story illustrates that it is difficult for those with great wealth to enter the kingdom of God because they often place their trust and identity in their riches rather than in God. The rich young man was unwilling to give up his possessions to follow Jesus, indicating that material wealth can be a significant obstacle to spiritual growth and commitment.

Why did Jesus express indignation when his disciples tried to prevent children from coming to him?

Jesus was indignant because he believed that children are important and should not be hindered from coming to him. He emphasized that the kingdom of God belongs to those who receive it with the humility and openness of a child.

What does the phrase 'the cup that I drink' signify in the context of the conversation between Jesus and James and John?

The phrase 'the cup that I drink' is a metaphor for the suffering and trials that Jesus would face, including his crucifixion. Jesus was asking James and John if they were prepared to share in his suffering and the trials of his mission.

What was the significance of the blind man in Jericho calling Jesus the 'Son of David'?

The title 'Son of David' signifies Jesus as the promised Messiah, a royal descendant of King David. The blind man's use of this title showed his recognition of Jesus' true identity and his faith in Jesus' ability to heal him.

How did Jesus teach people through the events described in the script?

Jesus taught people by using the situations that arose to impart lessons and challenge their preconceived notions. He addressed topics such as divorce, the value of children, the challenges of wealth, and the nature of true service and greatness, all while engaging with the crowds and individuals he encountered.

What is the importance of the concept of 'servanthood' in the teachings of Jesus as depicted in the script?

The concept of 'servanthood' is central to Jesus' teachings. He emphasized that greatness is achieved not by exerting power over others but by serving them. This is exemplified in his own life, where he came not to be served but to serve, even to the point of giving his life as a ransom for many.

Why did Jesus say that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God?

This statement is a hyperbolic metaphor used by Jesus to illustrate the difficulty that those with great wealth face in entering the kingdom of God. It suggests that material wealth can be a significant distraction from spiritual pursuits and that the rich must let go of their attachment to material things to follow the spiritual path.

How did the reactions of James and John to Jesus' teachings about greatness and service differ from the other disciples?

James and John initially sought positions of honor and power, asking Jesus to grant them places of prominence in his glory. However, after Jesus' teachings, they, like the other disciples, would have to learn the importance of humility and service, which contrasts with the worldly values of power and status.

What does the script suggest about the nature of true faith as demonstrated by the blind man in Jericho?

The script suggests that true faith involves recognizing one's need and seeking help from Jesus, persisting despite obstacles, and being willing to follow Jesus without hesitation. The blind man's faith led to his healing and immediate decision to follow Jesus, illustrating a complete trust and commitment.

Outlines

00:00

📖 Teachings on Divorce and the Kingdom of God

This paragraph discusses Jesus' teachings from Mark's Gospel, chapter 10, where he addresses various topics including divorce, the importance of children, and the path to eternal life. Jesus challenges the Pharisees' understanding of divorce law, emphasizing the sanctity of marriage as created by God. He also reprimands the disciples for hindering children from coming to him, stating that the kingdom of God belongs to those who receive it with a childlike heart. Additionally, Jesus instructs a wealthy man on how to attain eternal life, highlighting the difficulty of the wealthy entering the kingdom of God due to their attachment to riches.

05:03

🤔 The Request of James and John

In this section, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, approach Jesus with a request to sit at his right and left in his glory. Jesus responds by questioning their readiness to share in his suffering and informs them that such positions are not his to grant but are prepared for those deemed worthy. This leads to a broader teaching about the inversion of worldly power structures within the kingdom of God, where greatness is achieved through service and humility.

10:04

🧘‍♂️ The Nature of True Service and Humility

The paragraph highlights Jesus' teaching on the nature of leadership and service within his followers. He contrasts the way rulers in the world exercise authority with the way his followers should behave, emphasizing that true greatness comes from being a servant to others. Jesus himself is presented as the ultimate example of this principle, having come to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.

15:06

🕊️ The Transformation of Understanding

This section focuses on how Jesus consistently challenges and transforms people's preconceived ideas throughout the narrative. It discusses the Pharisees' attempts to trap Jesus with tricky questions about divorce, a topic of debate at the time. Jesus responds by referring to the law of Moses and the original divine intent for marriage, ultimately teaching that divorce is a concession to human hardness of heart.

20:06

💔 The Significance of Marriage and Family

The paragraph delves into the significance of marriage as a sacred union established by God. It explains that marriage involves the formation of a new family unit, breaking away from the original family. Jesus emphasizes that what God has joined together should not be split, and he equates divorce and remarriage to adultery. The paragraph also touches on the disciples' concerns about the strictness of Jesus' teaching on divorce.

25:07

💰 The Challenge of Wealth and Commitment

This section narrates the story of a wealthy young man who approaches Jesus for guidance on inheriting eternal life. Despite his adherence to the commandments, Jesus challenges him to sell his possessions and give to the poor, which the man is unable to do. The narrative reflects on the difficulty of the wealthy entering the kingdom of God and the importance of prioritizing spiritual wealth over material wealth.

30:07

👶 The Value of Children in the Kingdom of God

The paragraph discusses the importance of children in the eyes of God and Jesus' teachings. It contrasts the disciples' dismissal of children as unimportant with Jesus' embrace of them, asserting that the kingdom of God belongs to those with childlike faith. The narrative emphasizes the need for humility, open-mindedness, and a willingness to receive from God as characteristics of those who will enter the kingdom.

35:08

🤝 The Cost of Following Jesus

This section illustrates the encounter between Jesus and a young man who is eager to inherit eternal life. Jesus identifies the man's need to follow him, but the man is unwilling to part with his wealth. The narrative highlights the difficulty of forsaking worldly possessions for spiritual gain and the sadness of missing out on following Jesus due to attachment to material wealth.

40:09

🔄 The Repercussions of Sacrifice and Reward

The paragraph addresses the rewards and challenges of following Jesus. It reassures Peter that giving up worldly possessions for the sake of Christ brings a hundredfold return in relationships and eternal life, despite the accompanying persecutions. Jesus also warns that those who start well may not necessarily finish well, emphasizing the importance of ongoing commitment and sacrifice.

45:11

✝️ The Path to Redemption and Service

This section details Jesus' journey towards Jerusalem and his foreknowledge of the suffering and death that await him. It contrasts the disciples' expectations of a triumphant arrival with the reality of Jesus' sacrificial purpose. The narrative underscores Jesus' teachings on servanthood, the meaning of his death as a ransom for humanity, and the call to follow him even at the cost of personal sacrifice.

👁️ The Sight of Spiritual Truth

The final paragraph recounts the story of a blind man in Jericho who, despite his physical blindness, recognizes Jesus as the Son of David and calls out to him for mercy. Jesus heals the man, who then follows him, illustrating the spiritual insight that comes from acknowledging one's need and seeking Jesus. The narrative encourages the reader to recognize Jesus' presence and to follow him with faith, even when the journey may be difficult.

🙏 A Call to Surrender and Follow

In the concluding paragraph, the speaker invites the audience to pray for the grace to recognize and respond to Jesus' call. The prayer emphasizes the importance of surrendering to Jesus, facing the truth of his teachings, and being willing to serve others. It also asks for the strength to follow Jesus, even if it leads to a cross, and to deepen the understanding of his sacrifice during the Easter season.

Keywords

💡Divorce

Divorce refers to the legal dissolution of a marriage. In the video, Jesus discusses the topic in response to Pharisees' question about the lawfulness of divorce. He refers to the original intent of marriage as outlined in the creation story and emphasizes the sanctity of the marital bond, indicating that what God has joined together should not be split asunder.

💡Children

Children symbolize innocence and openness to the kingdom of God in the video. Jesus rebukes his disciples for hindering children from coming to him, asserting that the kingdom of God belongs to those who receive it with a childlike heart. This highlights the importance of humility and a teachable spirit in spiritual growth.

💡Eternal Life

Eternal life is the concept of living forever with God, which is a central theme in the video. A rich young man asks Jesus how to inherit eternal life. Jesus redirects the question to the importance of following God's commandments and ultimately, to forsake all to follow Him, emphasizing that material wealth can be an obstacle to achieving this spiritual goal.

💡Riches

Riches, in the context of the video, symbolize material wealth and the challenges it poses to spiritual commitment. Jesus illustrates through parables that it is difficult for the rich to enter the kingdom of God due to their attachment to worldly possessions. This concept is tied to the broader message of prioritizing spiritual wealth over material wealth.

💡Service

Service is the act of helping others, often in a selfless manner. Jesus teaches that greatness is achieved not by lording over others but by serving them. This is exemplified by Jesus himself, who came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many, underscoring the Christian ideal of self-sacrifice and altruism.

💡Sacrifice

Sacrifice is the act of giving up something valuable for the sake of something else, often with little or no expectation of gain. Jesus' impending journey to Jerusalem and the cross is a profound act of sacrifice. He willingly accepts suffering and death to provide a path to salvation for humanity, embodying the ultimate form of selfless service.

💡Discipleship

Discipleship involves following the teachings and example of a spiritual leader, in this case, Jesus. The video discusses the commitment required to be a disciple, such as leaving behind one's possessions and family, and the rewards of eternal life and a vast spiritual family. It emphasizes the cost and the joy of following Jesus.

💡Authority and Servanthood

The video contrasts the worldly concept of authority, where people exercise power over others, with the Christian ideal of servanthood, where leaders serve their followers. Jesus challenges his disciples to understand that true greatness lies in serving others, not in wielding power over them.

💡Redemption

Redemption is the act of delivering or saving someone from sin or evil. Jesus' death on the cross is described as a ransom, signifying his role in redeeming humanity from the consequences of sin. This act of redemption is central to the Christian belief in salvation through Jesus Christ.

💡Faith

Faith is the trust and confidence in God or Jesus, particularly in the context of believing in things not seen. The video highlights the story of Bartimaeus, the blind man, whose faith in Jesus leads to his healing. This demonstrates the power of faith in securing divine intervention and blessings.

💡Humility

Humility is the quality of being modest and not proud. Jesus exemplifies humility by washing the disciples' feet and by his willingness to suffer for humanity. The video teaches that humility is a virtue and a necessary disposition for following Jesus and receiving his teachings.

Highlights

Jesus taught people spontaneously, using everyday situations to impart lessons.

The Pharisees attempted to trap Jesus with a question about divorce, a hotly debated topic at the time.

Jesus responded to the question about divorce by referring back to the law of Moses and the intent of God from the beginning of creation.

Jesus emphasized the sanctity of marriage, stating that what God has joined together, let no man put asunder.

Jesus taught that remarriage after divorce is a form of adultery, unless the divorce is due to marital unfaithfulness.

Children are highly valued in the kingdom of God, and one must receive the kingdom like a child to enter it.

Jesus rebuked the disciples for hindering children from coming to him, highlighting the importance of children in his teachings.

A rich young man approached Jesus seeking guidance on inheriting eternal life, showcasing the struggle between wealth and spiritual commitment.

Jesus instructed the rich young man to sell his possessions and give to the poor, revealing the difficulty of wealth in the pursuit of spiritual life.

Jesus' teaching emphasized that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.

Peter and the disciples left everything to follow Jesus, who assured them that they would receive a hundredfold in return, despite persecutions.

Jesus foretold his suffering, death, and resurrection, indicating his full awareness and acceptance of his fate.

James and John requested privileged positions in Jesus' glory, but Jesus taught them about the true nature of greatness through service.

Jesus' crucifixion was presented as a ransom for many, emphasizing his selfless act of service for humanity.

A blind beggar named Bartimaeus received his sight and followed Jesus, illustrating the transformative power of faith.

Jesus' interactions with individuals consistently challenged societal norms and expectations, turning conventional wisdom upside down.

The sermon concludes with a call to surrender to Jesus, emphasizing the transformative journey of following him, even to a cross.

Transcripts

Mark's gospel chapter 10 we're taking

the whole chapter it's quite a long one

I'm afraid there are five events here

there's no real pattern connecting them

so I haven't given you an outline

tonight about their five wonderful

stories

and he left there and went to the region

of Judea and Beyond the Jordan and

crowds gathered to him again

and again as his custom was he taught

them

and Pharisees came up and in order to

test him asked is it lawful for a man to

divorce his wife

he answered them what did Moses command

you

they said Moses allowed a man to write a

certificate of divorce and to put her

away

but Jesus said to them for your Hardness

of Heart he wrote you this commandment

but from the beginning of creation God

made them male and female

for this reason a man shall leave his

father and mother and be joined to his

wife and the two shall become one so

they are no longer two but one

what therefore God has joined together

let not men put asunder

and in the house the disciples asked him

again about this matter

and he said to them whoever divorces his

wife and marries another commits

adultery against her

and if she divorces her husband and

marries another she commits adultery

and they were bringing children to him

that he might touch them and the

disciples rebuked them but when Jesus

saw it he was indignant and said to them

let the children come to me do not

hinder them

for to such belongs the kingdom of God

truly I say to you whoever does not

receive the kingdom of God like a child

shall not enter it

and he took them in his arms and blessed

them laying his hands upon them

and as he was setting out on his journey

a man ran up and knelt before him and

asked him good teacher what must I do to

inherit eternal life and Jesus said to

him

why'd you call me God

no one is good but God Alone

you know the Commandments do not kill do

not commit adultery do not steal do not

bear false witness do not defraud honor

your father and mother and he said to

him teacher all these I have observed

from my youth and Jesus looking upon Him

loved him and said to him you lack one

thing

go sell what you have and give to the

poor and you will have treasure in

heaven and come follow me

at that saying his countenance fell and

he went away sorrowful for he had great

possessionals and Jesus looked around

and said to his disciples how hard it

will be

for those who have riches to enter the

kingdom of God and the disciples were

amazed at his words but Jesus said to

them again children

how hard it is to enter the kingdom of

God it is easier for a camel to go

through the eye of a needle than for a

rich man to enter the kingdom of God

and they were exceedingly astonished and

said to him then who can be saved

and Jesus looked at them and said with

men it is impossible but not with God

for all things are possible with God

and Peter began to say Lo we have left

everything and followed you and Jesus

said truly I say to you

there is no one who has left house or

brothers or sisters or mother or father

or children or lens for my sake and for

the gospel who will not receive a

hundredfold now in this time

houses and brothers and sisters and

mothers and children and lands

with persecutions

and in the age to come

eternal life but many that are first

will be last and the last first

and they were on the road going up to

Jerusalem and Jesus was walking ahead of

them and they were amazed and those who

followed were afraid

and taking the twelve again he began to

tell them what was to happen to him

saying behold we're going up to

Jerusalem and the son of man will be

delivered to the chief priests and the

scribes and they will condemn him to

death and deliver him to the Gentiles

and they will mock him and spit upon him

and Scourge him and kill him

and after three days he will rise

and James and John the sons of Zebedee

came forward to him and said to him

teacher we want you to do for us

whatever we ask of you and he said what

you want me to do for you

and they said to him grant us to sit one

at your right hand and one at your left

in your glory

but Jesus said to them you do not know

what you are asking are you able to

drink the cup that I drink or to be

baptized with the baptism with which I

am Baptized

and they said to him we are able

and Jesus said to them the cup that I

drink you will drink and with the

baptism

with which I am baptized you will be

baptized but to sit at my right hand or

at my left is not mine to Grant

but it is for those for whom it has been

prepared

and when the ten had it they began to be

indignant at James and John and Jesus

called him to him and said to them you

know that those who are supposed to rule

over the Gentiles Lord it over them and

their great men exercise authority over

them but it shall not be so among you

but whoever would be great among you

must be your servant and whoever would

be first among you must be slave of all

for the son of man also came not to be

served but to serve

and to give his life as a ransom for

many

they came to Jericho and as he was

leaving Jericho with his disciples and a

great multitude

Bartimaeus a blind beggar the son of

Timaeus was sitting by the roadside and

when he heard that it was Jesus of

Nazareth he began to cry out and say

Jesus Son of David have mercy on me

and many rebuked him telling him to be

silent but he cried out all the more son

of David have mercy on me and Jesus

stopped and said call him

and they called the blind man saying to

him take heart rise he is calling you

and throwing off his mantle he sprang up

and came to Jesus

and Jesus said to him what do you want

me to do for you

and the blind man said to him Master let

me receive my sight

and Jesus said to him go your way

your faith has made you well

and immediately he received his sight

and followed him on the way

I want you to imagine at the moment a

very deep valley the lowest point on the

Earth's surface a great big crack that

extends right from the Jordan Valley

right down it fills up with sea and

becomes the Red Sea right down through

Kenya right to Uganda and part of that

deep crack the lowest part of it is the

Jordan Valley here is the Sea of Galilee

here is the Dead Sea and here is the

River Jordan that comes from nowhere and

goes to nowhere

and Christ is walking down to you the

right hand side of this River

it's a strip of land called paria in the

British occupation trans Jordan today

it's the kingdom of Jordan with Israel

on this side and between the Sea of

Galilee and the Dead Sea five things

happen and chapter 10 covers this part

of the journey but as he comes lower and

lower down that Valley so the storm

clouds seem to gather and the picture

looks pretty grim

well now there's no relation between

these events but I'm struck again and

again by how much Jesus taught people

quite spontaneously as a situation arose

he just seems to have been able to use

everything that happened to teach them

something

and wherever he went down this Valley

the crowds came and when they came he

taught them

he was a great open-air preacher with

Jesus they didn't come to be preached to

but that's what they got when they came

to him and he would tell them something

new

the only thing in common between these

five events is this in every one of them

people's ideas were changed

sometimes people say to me after a

service sometimes even with a tone of

resentment well you made us think

tonight as if that's the last thing you

came to church to do and it's the last

thing I should make you do nevertheless

you find again and again at a much much

deeper and more wonderful level that

Jesus was always making people think

and he was always turning their ideas

upside down and making them think again

about something that they had already

made their minds up about wrongly

one of the first question that came up

was the question of divorce let's see

how it came up

there were enemies of Jesus who were

always trying to trap him with questions

it's very interesting whenever you have

a question session you can soon sought

out those who are asking a question

because they genuinely don't know the

answer and want to and those who are

asking questions to try and trap you and

make you contradict yourself or make you

unpopular with certain groups if you go

to Hyde Park Corner you'll hear this

you'll find there are some regular

hecklers there who so Amusement in life

is to tie the speakers in knots they're

not there asking questions because they

want to know they just want to embarrass

and if possible confuse the speaker and

the Pharisees were professional hecklers

to Jesus

of course a lot was at stake if he was

right they were wrong if his religion

was the truth their religion was false

and so they tried to trap him and one of

the debated issues of the day was this

matter of divorce because in those days

divorce was becoming more and more

common as it is today

and indeed in the Roman Empire and in

the Greek countries and even in the

Jewish country people were divorcing

their wives for burning the breakfast

and provided they wrote out a proper

certificate at the time they could get

away with it

and it's quite astonishing to read

something about the social life of the

Roman and Greek Empire now among the

Jews there were two groups of people

one of them was headed up by a rabbi

called Hillel and the other was headed

up by a rabbi called shamai and Hillel

was the broad party and they said you

could divorce for this that and the

other if your wife had a voice that was

too loud you could divorce her for that

and on the other hand shamai said no

there are only a limited number of

things for which you can divorce your

wife and so there was a big debate going

on among the Jews as to how many causes

there were whether you could divorce

your wife for very little or for just

for a very big thing

so they came to Jesus and they thought

whatever he replies he's going to get

into trouble with at least half of them

and it was one of these trick questions

like have you stopped beating your wife

there seems to be no answer if you say

yes or no you're you're in trouble it

was like should we pay tax to Caesar and

they came to him and said what do you

think about divorce

and they asked him straight out

now he didn't quote the scribes and the

rabbis and the clever Scholars he went

straight back to the Bible and he said

now what did Moses commend

let's start with the law of God

that's the first place to start there

are as many opinions about this as

everything else as there are people

start with the law of Moses he said and

so they said well

Moses did permit us

to write out a proper bill of divorce

the husband gave the wife a certificate

and sent her packing

now the first thing to note is this

law of Moses was a permission it was not

a command

there was no Thou shalt divorce thy wife

about it

it was not a command it was a permission

and furthermore it was a very limited

permission

and it was for nothing that happened

after marriage

it was solely in the case if you read

the book of Deuteronomy you'll find it

where a man married a wife and found out

something about her afterwards that he

did not know

which made the marriage less

than that which he expected it to be

and in that case Moses allowed it

furthermore Jesus said that was not only

just a permission and not a command it

was a concession to Human Nature

he did that because of the hardness of

your heart

now I think we have got to realize that

when you are forming laws for society

you will have to make concessions to

Human Nature

I think the laws of England have to make

some provision for divorce at the moment

they have to make some concession there

is no way of controlling Society if you

don't recognize the hardness of men's

hearts and Moses was being given laws

for society but Jesus said I'm going to

take you to another part of the law of

Moses not this bit something else let's

go right back to the very beginning who

made sex and why

and when you go right back to the

beginning you get right back to God

himself and God made sex that means that

sex is not a dirty thing in itself

not if God made it it's we who make it

dirty God made it and God said that's

good

God made male and female

secondly said Jesus what is involved in

a marriage is this you are breaking one

family in order to form another

and there is always a Breaking the

father is a making

this is one of the points of getting

engaged sometimes young people say to me

what's the point of getting engaged it's

just between the two of us the point is

that in the engagement you are telling

others that you are going to get married

and you're recognizing that marriage is

not just a private Arrangement it's

something public

one family is being broken up

and one is being made that is why the

bride's father in The Wedding service

says when the minister says who gives

this woman to this man the men standing

by the bride says I do and that's the

breaking of that family he's literally

giving away part of his family it will

never be the same Circle again and while

it can lead to a more wonderful

relationship that circle is broken and a

man leaves his parents and with his wife

forms a new unit

something has happened that is quite

decisive says Jesus in God's sight

thirdly

God has joined them together

now he doesn't say if you get married in

church God has joined you together he

says two who become one God has joined

them together

and what God puts together no man should

put asunder and every time there's a

wedding service this is said most

clearly there's only one thing can break

such a unit in God's sight and that is

death

now this is the standard that Jesus Took

in other words he said I'm not going to

give an opinion on divorce I'm going to

take you back to the beginning who made

sex why and how was it meant to be used

and that's where you start if you start

from the divorce side rather than the

marriage side you'll get a distorted

view

you start with what was intended

now the disciples were a bit worried

about all this they thought he was

taking much too strict alone and so when

they got into the house the disciples

asked him again and Matthew tells us

they asked him because they thought that

nobody would ever get married if he was

so strict about divorce

now this throws some light on the

apostles married life I think

but it's amazing that they thought that

marriage would be impossible under such

circumstances

and they brought it up

and it was then that Jesus said quite

simply

that once you allow remarriage

you are then breaking one of the Ten

Commandments

it's as simple as that

now it seems to me almost incredible

that the BBC should invite indeed

contract John Lennon

the day after or the week after he

marries Yoko having discarded one to

play the part of Jesus Christ in a three

hundred thousand pound cereal

on the television it just seems to me

absolutely incredible

how can a man has lived as John Lennon

has played the part of Jesus Christ

either we take this seriously or we

don't

and Jesus had the highest possible

standard it upset the disciples even

never mind the Pharisees

but you notice this that Jesus loved

people so much that he could not reduce

the standard

and in a world in which women were being

treated like baggage and being passed on

from one to another what Jesus was

fighting for was

the Dignity of Womanhood

and Until you realize that that is why

he fought this and that is why he raised

the standard you will misunderstand him

he was lifting Womanhood until

women could be in God's sight equal with

men of equal honor and status this was a

thing they didn't have in the Greek

World they didn't have it in the Roman

world and they didn't even have it in

the Jewish World of his day

he was being fairer to the women and you

notice that the Pharisees were only

concerned with the man's privilege to

divorce

so he's lifting Womanhood to where

Womanhood was meant to be it's a

remarkable statement and this is our

Lord's standard having said that may I

add straight away

to be divorced or to have committed

adultery is not the unforgivable sin we

must never treat it as if it were

it's not

it can be forgiven

and as soon as we come to Christ he does

forgive it is not the unforgivable sin

and it's not the worst sin in the book

and the woman taken in adultery in the

story of how Jesus dealt with her should

be enough to tell anybody that

you notice he didn't say it wasn't wrong

but he said neither do I condemn thee go

and sin no more he called it sin

but he said it's not the unforgivable

sin don't do it again off you go dear

that was his approach

and it was straightforward and it was

clear

now we come to the second

once again you see Jesus changing ideas

the common idea was woman is low divorce

is easy change Partners as soon as

you're sick of one and he lifted

Womanhood up so that they had to revise

their ideas and see a woman as someone

to love till death us do part

the next group of people that were

brought to his attention were children

and the disciples said children are not

important

and once again he reversed their ideas

you know the story only too well may I

remind you that it was not the mothers

who brought the children but the fathers

the adjective is masculine it's a

reflection of our day and age that every

hymn written about this event in the

19th and 20th centuries talks about

mothers of Salem bringing their children

to Jesus

I want to lay stress on this in God's

sight the father of the house is

responsible for the religion of his

children

and in 99 of their homes outside the

church I find that father takes not the

slightest interest

that it's left to the mother to do

anything religious for the children

this is a complete reversal of God's

plan every father will be held

responsible by God

for his children in their religious life

and the fathers were bringing children

to Jesus and the disciples said oh no

we're having an important theological

discussion we're discussing divorce it's

not for children it's an adult mattress

Christianity we're really much too

serious for them keep them out

and you can see why they said it at this

point they were having a very adult

discussion

and Jesus heard it and he said let them

in

children are very important you've got

your ideas all wrong your idea is these

children can't have anything of this

until they're like us adults I say you

adults can't have anything of what I say

until you like these children it's a

reversal of ideas

we live in a sophisticated adult world

but Jesus still says in all your

sophistication unless you become like

little children

they're the important ones to such

belongs the church the kingdom of God

I remember a prayer meeting a way up in

the Shetland Islands Dory pottingy

weighed 18 and 19 Stones if he weighed a

pound great big fisherman

and he was the captain of the local

fishing boat

and dordy pottinger great tough bloke he

could have just laid you flat with one

finger I think great big tough fisherman

and I remember him getting up in a

prayer meeting

and calling God

dad

never forget it

this great big tough man you wouldn't

like to meet on a dark night unless you

knew him

and here he was just looking up to

heaven and saying dad just pouring out

his heart like a little child it was

lovely

see our ideas are so sophisticated we've

all got to be terribly grown up and

terribly intellectual and terribly this

that and the other and Jesus said your

ideas are all wrong you'll have to

become like little children what is it

about little children that he said was

so important I don't think he was

meaning that they're innocent because my

three are not and I don't think theirs

were

what did he mean I think there are three

things in a child that you'll find in

every little child

that you need before you can ever get

into the kingdom of God here they are

you first of all need an open mind

if you noticed how a child is ready to

believe anything

they've got a wide open mind the older

we grow the more we close our minds the

more we want to argue and the more we

say I don't believe it but a little

child if you tell them something they

accept it

an open mind willing to receive the

truth second thing about a child an open

hand

they're willing to receive and the

further we go in life the less we're

willing to hold out our hand to someone

else

until we get to the point where we're

old age pensioners and we could get

assistance and we could get help but

we're too proud to have it and we call

it charity a child is not like that a

child doesn't say I won't have that

chocolate that's charity

child doesn't talk like that a child is

willing to open their hands and take it

and Jesus said when you become as a

little child if you're willing to say to

God I'll have that from you

I can't save myself but I'll take it

from you

and the sad thing about a little child

is an open heart

if you try to love a child properly the

child will respond to you in love

if you try to love an adult they may

well say I wonder what he's after now

you see we get suspicious we are let

down by people we stop trusting them we

become cynical and resentful and we

think that everybody's trying to do us

down a little child doesn't think like

that

I'm afraid a child is spoiled

by experience of life and the Heart

closes up

and Jesus said you've got it all wrong

you disciples you think Christianity is

for sophisticated adults and you're

pushing those kids out let them in for

to such belongs the kingdom of God and

you you fond of these grown-up

discussions about divorce and all the

rest but until you can become like these

little children and it says literally he

took them in the crook of his arm

can you see him his arm around these

children saying this is the kind of

people I like this is the kind of people

I want in the Kingdom

third event

a young man comes running up

I would call it the story of the poor

rich men

and he came running up a lovely young

man Jesus loved him

and he loved him for these things here's

the first this young man wanted life

and he wanted real life and he wanted

eternal life he knew what he was after

he was just existing and he wanted to

live so he came running to Jesus

secondly he admitted that he hadn't got

life and that's tremendous when you meet

a young man who's prepared to admit that

he hasn't got it

even though he was very rich and very

powerful a Rich Young Ruler he hadn't

got life

thirdly he recognized that if you're

going to get life someone has got to

give it to you and he used the word

inherit that's how he got his money

somebody had left it to him and he said

to Jesus how can I get this gift how

could I inherit real life

fourthly he was prepared to do anything

to get it and he said

what must I do

fifthly he believed the answer Lay With

Jesus

tremendous when somebody realizes if you

want real life and you haven't got it

and you're prepared to do anything to

get it the man you need to go to is

Jesus

and he said good master

now our Lord's comments are very

interesting Jesus said why'd you use

that word good

you should only use it of one person in

the whole universe and that's God now is

this Jesus saying I'm not good no it's

nothing of the sort it's Jesus saying do

you think I'm God

why'd you call me good since that's a

word you only use about God why have you

seen that I'm God do you realize that

because I'm God I can give you life

I don't know if he saw the point of our

Lord's question but Jesus then went on

to say and how good do you think you are

what about the Commandments

do not do this do not do that do not to

the other and this dear boy said to

Jesus I've tried all that that's what

he's saying he's not claiming to be

perfect when he says I've observed all

that from my youth he said I've tried

all that I've tried being good I've

tried keeping the Commandments I've

tried keeping my nose clean I've tried

to live decent it doesn't bring life

and Jesus loved him for his honesty and

his sincerity he as a young man he's

tried being good it doesn't lead him

anywhere

he's tried to find life he hasn't found

it he's prepared to do anything to get

it and he said tell me what I need to do

and Jesus said there's only one thing

you need

only one thing

now what was that one thing

every commentary I've read says that the

one thing this young man lacked was

poverty

and that's not what Jesus said

because Jesus said one thing you lack

not one thing you've got that's causing

the trouble what was the one thing this

young man didn't have

it wasn't anything to do with his money

what was the one thing Jesus says the

one thing you lack that you need if

you're going to live

me

me

follow me

but the trouble is there's something

that is going to get in the way

now do you see he's not saying the one

thing you lack is poverty get rid of

your money he's saying this the one

thing that you need me Christ that

brings life but there's something going

to get in the way

let me say utterly sincerely to young

people and older people today you cannot

have Christ and everything else

I don't care who comes to Christ there

will be one thing in that person's life

that Jesus says get rid of it and then

you can have me

go and deal with that and then follow me

it may be something you possess it may

be some person with whom you have a

relationship but Jesus says you can't

have that in me

cut it right out it may not be money as

it was in this man's case but he's

saying follow me that will bring you

life but forsake that or you won't be

able to follow me

and the one thing that elect was Jesus

it wasn't his money

or poverty that he lacked because rich

people have found Christ some of them it

was Jesus that he lacked

and at that point the young man turned

around and went

nobody is quite so unhappy who's come

near as near to Jesus as that and turned

away because they were not prepared to

pay the price

the young man's face dropped and he

looked so unhappy he'd have brought that

money to Jesus if Jesus had let him but

Jesus said get rid of it cut it out it

was a hard thing do you realize that

Jesus loved him so much that he wouldn't

reduce the standard

Jesus who said to the disciples I'll

make you Fishers of Men lost a fish this

day

the fish got off the hook and went away

and it was a big one

but Jesus would rather that young man

went away than followed him under false

pretenses

Christ lost that young man

he couldn't have both

in fact he didn't want

eternal life more than anything else and

when the choice came he let it go

and when he went away Jesus sighed and

said you know it's terribly hard to be

rich

terribly hard

and the disciples were absolutely

astonished they thought everything came

easier for the rich and I've met many

people today who think precisely the

same thing that if you can get money

everything comes easily if you can be

rich and have a big bank balance

everything comes easily and because

things come easily to you on earth when

you've got money you can think that

things come easily to you in heaven when

you've got money but Jesus was saying to

that young man all your money is

invested on Earth

give to the poor and get it invested in

heaven

there's nothing in heaven to your

account we must get this sorted out

and the disciples said then if the rich

man can't get into heaven who can isn't

that an amazing revelation of their

Outlook

to think that you can sign a check and

get salvation

Jesus said it's quite impossible notice

this he says little children can walk in

rich men you might as well try to push a

camel through that

now we've got all sorts of literal

explanations of that Jesus was being

Jolly funny at that point he has a

lovely sense of humor and if you read

the teaching of Jesus to the Arabs

they'll roll in the Isles

but where so jolly literal that you'll

find preachers telling you about little

Gates called the needle's eye and you

can squeeze a camel through without the

baggage on its back and all the rest of

it Jesus was talking about a needle's

eye

and if you've ever seen a camel you'll

know that if you ever mention a camel

you're being funny

camel is a horse designed by a committee

and if you look at a camera and its

superficial expression you'll realize

that it's a very funny animal and the

idea of a man picking a fly out of his

coffee and then swallowing a camel hump

and all is very funny and here he says

you might as well try to shove a camel

through a needle's eye

let's try and get a rich man converted

in fact he said it's quite impossible

but he said God can do it

God could get a camel through a needle's

eye

God can get a rich man through the gate

of repentance into the kingdom It's

amazing And once he's through oh what a

power he can be for good

so it's not impossible and dear old

Peter Daryl Peter says well we left

everything and followed you

what a good boy am I you know dear old

Peter little Jack Horner

it was a typical human reaction

well these rich men count but I can

these big boys they can't get in but we

did we dropped everything we came

and Jesus said two things to Peter Peter

first you didn't lose by it no one loses

by it whatever you drop your repaid a

hundredfold

do you mean that yes he does

you know when I think for example I mean

myself personally when I think

of the few friends I would have if I

weren't a Christian

locked up in my own

set locked up with people of my own

interests

you know I found that through Christ I

have thousands of friends

thousands of homes I could go to and be

at home of all kinds all descriptions

how rich you become when you drop

everything to become Christ

and Jesus said if you give up

relationships here I'll give you a

hundred more relationships even in this

life

you leave behind a family I'll give you

a great big family a hundred times the

size nobody who gives anything up for

Jesus ever loses by it Peter you talk as

if you made a big sacrifice just

remember that you gained a whole lot by

it in this world far more people related

to you than you ever had before and in

the next World eternal life but such was

the honesty of Jesus he said Peter

you've got all this with persecutions

our Lord was never dishonest and he said

Peter you've had so much back I admit

there's been persecution you'll have

trouble but oh the compensation and the

second thing he said was this Peter

remember this you can lose what you've

gained

Peter you may have been the first to

drop everything but the first can become

last

it isn't how you set out in the race

it's how you continue

it's not what you gave up when you first

became a Christian it's whether you're

prepared to go on in the sacrifice

and Peter the first can become last and

maybe the last person to join can become

first I have noticed in church life that

sometimes this person has been a member

for 20 years they had a great beginning

and then somehow it never went on

and here's a person who's just two years

old spiritually and they seem to be

streaking past

the less can become first and the first

can become less Peter remember to go on

I know you left everything but watch it

and now the fourth thing

a most dramatic picture here Jesus with

face Like Flint

striding out ahead down the road down to

Jerusalem and they know what danger is

there and the disciples following behind

I remember as a boy going to a circus

and watching a man putting his head in a

lion's mouth

well I suppose it's a living but here he

was and he was putting his head in that

mouth and my feelings and my face at

that moment were exactly the same as the

disciples here

they could see it coming

and they were amazed and Jesus turned

around and said look I have two things

to tell you

first I know what's going to happen to

me

they're going to spit on me they're

going to whip me they're going to kill

me I know come on we must go and they

were even more afraid he knew it all

this tells me that the cross was no

accident it didn't catch him unawares he

knew what was going to happen he walked

straight into it he planned it he did it

the cross was no accident it was utterly

deliberate he said they're gonna do all

that to me come on to Jerusalem

then he said something else but he said

it's all right

three days later

I'll be back

do you know they never took that in

when it all happened they still didn't

believe it

but it did happen

they had this tremendous sense that

things were building up to a climax

something was going to happen soon they

were coming to the capital city and

James and John instead of thinking of

the Cross thought of a crown and thought

you know he'll soon be on the throne

he'll soon be the king we can sense

things are building up to a tremendous

Climax and they came and they said could

you make that Throne a three-seater

they had seen Jesus glory on the Mount

of transfiguration and Moses and Elijah

on his right and the left and they

thought my it must be marvelous to be in

glory and have have Jesus in the middle

in yourself right and left and they said

do you think we might have this James

and John had a very ambitious mother and

she wanted this for them as well

and Jesus said on my right and my left

you know what you're asking can you

drink drink the cup

that I'm going to drink can you be

baptized can you be plunged into what

I'm going to be plunged into can you

they didn't know but they said yes we

can

alrighty said you will

and you know they both suffered very

dearly for the Christian faith in later

years they did drink that cup

they were plunged into the suffering in

which he was plunged

but he said even if you're able to he

said I can't tell you who will be on my

right and left isn't it ironic on his

right and his left

when he won the world's Redemption were

two criminals

not James and John

James was running for his life and John

was busy looking after our Lord's mother

James and John went on his right and

left a couple of Thieves were

come here he said to the twelve I want

to tell you something

you know that everybody else likes to

Lord it over people and to tell them

what to do among you you tell yourself

what to do

if you want to be great make yourself

the servant not other people everybody

else if they want to be great they make

everybody else their servant you be

great by making yourself the servant and

even I came not to be served but to

serve other people

and then he told us for the first time

or told them the meaning of his cross he

said it's going to be a ransom when I

die I'm going to be serving people more

than I've ever served them before I'm

going to be setting them free that's

what Ransom is

now we come to the last little incident

in my favorite Jericho the oldest city

in the world and the most immoral

Jericho the city of Rahab the Harlot and

Rahab was one of the dis one of the

people in Jesus family tree

and I'm sure that as he came to Jericho

he remembered that a prostitute in the

streets of that town

was one of his ancestors it's an amazing

moment

he came to Jericho and there was a big

crowd around him

and there was a blind man who had do you

notice the word head it's a lovely

little touch

he had a commotion down the street

and he said who is it

and they said it's Jesus of Nazareth and

the blind man said this is my only

chance I've heard about him this is my

one chance and he started yelling at the

top of his voice son of David have mercy

on me and once again they had the wrong

idea as to who was important

they said a blind beggar Jesus isn't

interested in blind beggars

little did they know Jesus Jesus said

fetch him here

and then came the great moment

and the blind man was told that his

faith in going on asking and yelling

until he got through

was going to make him well

now there are two things about this man

that I think

are just wonderful

here's the first

the end of the story is that the blind

man rose up and followed Jesus

the rich man Jesus said follow me and he

had too much money and he couldn't

follow the beggar had nothing to lose so

he jumped up and followed him

the Richer you come to God the harder it

is to follow

the poorer you come the easier

and when you have nothing to lose

you can just get up like that and come

that's why Jesus said in his lifetime

that publicans harlots and sinners got

into the Kingdom of Heaven before

respectable religious people

it is still true that when a man is at

the bottom and has nothing to lose he

finds it easier to follow Jesus

than those of us who have so much

that's the first wonderful thing about

him it's much easier for a beggar

much easier because he's got nothing to

lose the other wonderful thing is what

he said he called Jesus Son of David

there was only one man who had called

Jesus that before and that was another

blind man these were two Blind Men Who

Could See and they saw the truth about

Jesus just a few days later the whole

crowd was going to shout Hosanna

son of David they were all going to

shout it but it took two Blind Men to

see it first

you cannot see Jesus passing through

this Chapel tonight you can't

physically you can't you might as well

be blind because you can't see him

but you've heard that he's passing

through

and when he does pass through and you

realize that he's present that's the

moment to seize

because as Billy Graham has said and

I've heard him say it you may never feel

just like that again

you may never just have that opportunity

again this blind man didn't see Jesus

but he heard he was near and he started

calling on him and saying I need

something from you

and he heard Jesus say what you want

and in this Chapel tonight even though

you can't see Jesus physically

I'm telling you that Jesus of Nazareth

passes by

and you can call on him and say

son of David have mercy on me

and you'll hear him say what do you want

me to do for you

then you can rise up and follow him

but it's easier to do that if you come

as a spiritual beggar

it's one of the hardest things in the

world not to come with your hands full

of all your good deeds

all your spiritual possessions

and say Lord I've done this I've done

that I've not done anybody any harm and

I haven't done this and I haven't done

that Lord will you accept me it's much

better to come with empty hands and say

Lord I'm a beggar have mercy on me

and then he does

what we ask him let us pray

oh God our heavenly father you're always

turning our ideas upside down

we have picked up so many wrong thoughts

about ourselves about other people

perhaps even about Jesus

we pray that you will help us to call

upon him

as he passes by

we pray that you'll help us to face the

truth

to face up to his standards whatever it

may mean

to realize that eternal life is a pearl

of great price for which it is worth

getting rid of all others

help us to be ready

to do whatever he tells us

help us to serve one another

help us to follow him even if it leads

to a cross

and Grant that as we come nearer and

nearer to Easter

that we may understand more fully

what it cost him

to make his way to Jerusalem and to face

the spitting and the scourging and the

killing

help us to enter more deeply into Easter

itself

help us to follow all the way

and Lord we pray especially that if

there is anyone in this service

who has not started to follow Jesus that

right now in this silent moment

they may surrender to him

and accept him as their Savior and Lord

we ask it for his name's sake

amen