How Will We Come To Jesus? Series

How will we come to Jesus?

Mark 10:1-31

- Jesus is demonstrated in this book as a “servant”

- Today we continue to see something very unique to Mark’s Gospel

-- The glory of God is revealed; as is the Christian’s glory in Him

-- In our service to God is where we SEE His glory revealed

- Jesus’ teachings, while difficult for some to deal with, are always timely

-- God always allows us to hear from Him at just the right time

- Today we will see three different topics taught all with real-world application

- Read Mark 10:1-12

∆ Point 1 – Divorce and Moses’ Teachings (1-12)

- Let’s deal with the obvious first:

-- Divorce is the ending of a marriage between a man and a woman

-- It is not something celebrated, but allowed by God under specific circumstances

-- Matthew 19:9, “I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery.”

- Divorce, though not God's desire, is also not the unforgivable sin

-- I stand before you as a divorced man confessing that God is STILL God!

-- IMP: Regardless of the circumstances, all divorced persons who have repented, should be forgiven and allowed to remarry.

- This is the Bible’s teaching and where we need to see our application today

- What we have is the Pharisees coming to test and trap Jesus (v2)

-- Their question is loaded and meant to cause embarrassment or perhaps confusion

-- Jesus however, answers directly back with Scripture

-- “What did Moses say when he commanded you on this topic?

- Why? Why this way? Because they are so bent on following the Law

-- They are so determined to move others to only see their view

-- So, Jesus offers them a straight forward answer (v5)

- This is done for one reason: To reveal to them the truth of God’s Word

-- The sole purpose is to reveal to them He would not go against Moses

- God allows for divorce because you would not repent of your sin

-- The sin is that of unrepentance; refuse to turn to God when forgiveness needed

-- So Jesus reminds them of the need for men and women to be together (v7-9)

- Men and women were purposely created by God to be joined together

-- They literally become one flesh, created in God’s image, to reveal His glory

- It was never God’s intent to allow divorce, but to show the unity we should have

-- The same is made in Ephesians 5: We are to sacrifice FOR one another

-- APP: It does not mean if you’ve been divorced, you are suddenly unforgiveable!

-- IMP: God’s intent is that we would be one willing to give ourselves to Him

- In v10, what the Disciples needed was two-fold:

-- 1) They needed more instruction on this topic, and,

-- 2) They felt that perhaps Jesus was in fact teaching against Moses here

- Jesus’ answer to them was radical in its presentation, and in its meaning

-- He is not jumping on the “if you do this you sin and deserve death” bandwagon

-- What He is actually doing is bucking society’s view of marriage totally

- How? Women were not thought much of in this time and day of society

-- Yet, look at v12 … women are allowed to divorce men? Not so in this time!

-- Remember this? Genesis 2:18, “The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”

-- APP: Jesus just raised the status of women in this time to equal; partnership

- TRANS: So, let’s talk about the representation of children in the Gospel

- Read Mark 10:13-16

∆ Point 2 – The Little Children (13-16)

- As Jesus continued on His journey, people were bringing kids to be blessed

-- This was often a custom in Jerusalem and the disciples were trying to stop it

-- They’re response to the crowd was almost one on annoyance; intolerance

- And in turn, Jesus answered them in exactly the same manner

- The Bible uses the word “aganekteo”; or a deep, strong feeling of anger

-- God’s revelation here is one of mercy and peace; contrary to Jesus’ response

-- However, most people know God at this time as one of anger and vengeance

- What happens here (v14) is the disciples totally MISSED the ministry

-- They have completely forgotten why they are sent on this journey

-- They’ve decided for themselves (again) who should come to Jesus

-- APP: The warning here is that we do not do the same to exclude others

- Jesus’ response then, in righteous anger, is 100% on the mark