EMBRACING AND EXTENDING THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS
Mark 3:7-19
In this text we discover what exactly the Good News of Jesus entails. We will be challenged to embrace fully the good news and to commit to extending the good news to others.
A. Jesus returns to the lake to reaffirm his mission
Read Mark 3: 7
“Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake...”
Chapter 3 began with him healing a man in the synagogue on the Sabbath, resulting in the religious officials deciding to plot a way to kill him. So now he withdraws.
We’ve seen this before. Chapter 2 begins with the account of the healing of a paralyzed man amidst some conflict.
C.f. 2:13 Then Jesus goes out to the lake.
This is a pattern important to Mark, and it relates to the idea of Jesus going into the wilderness. In chapter 1, Jesus began his ministry by going into the wilderness, where he was tempted by Satan. There he demonstrated, affirmed his Sonship, his obedience, and his purpose or mission. Now at crucial times we see Jesus returning to the wilderness. “The Lake” is a parallel to the wilderness.
That’s how we should view what is happening here in ch. 3
We will see Jesus reaffirm his sonship and his mission. But first, let’s see who followed him to the lake. Let’s finish reading Mark 3:7, 8.
B. Crowds follow him, not fully understanding his mission
A large crowd from Galilee (where he has been) follows him. Also, a large crowd from the entire region comes to see him, having heard about all he has done. The places mentioned here encompass the entire surrounding area. Jesus’ astonishing authority and actions have awakened great interest in him from a wide area. Jesus will respond to this interest by going to each of these regions, as Mark records (except Idumea).
The crowds think he is a miracle worker – they have heard about the healings and casting out of demonic spirits. They are interested in what he can do for them on that level, and also are up for a show. They’ve jumped on his bandwagon.
Illus: We jump on bandwagons too: diet, exercise, financial gurus, and in some circles miracle workers.
As we read vv. 9-10, notice how worked up this crowd was. Jesus had to have a “get away” boat to avoid being “crushed.” “so he wouldn’t be trampled” – The Message
They were interested only in his miracles. They did not fully understand Jesus or his mission. They didn’t know what he was all about. Mark emphasizes this about the ‘crowd.’ This will be evident in the way Jesus responds…
C. Jesus’ mission was to proclaim good news and overthrow the power of evil in people’s lives
What was Jesus’ real mission? It involves two parts:
Jesus announced the first part in Mark 1:14-15.
First is proclaiming the good news that the kingdom of God is near. That is, in the person of Jesus Christ, God is drawing people to himself, making it possible for us to have a personal relationship with God.
Appl: You can know God personally, you can connect with Him, you don’t have to figure it out yourself, or do certain things to be accepted by him.
Jesus demonstrated the second part of his mission when he cast demons out of people.
Jesus came to confront Satan and strip him of his power. He serves notice that God has shown up, and evil no longer has free reign in people’s lives. This is exactly what we see him doing in as we read 3:11-12. This is a typical encounter – an evil spirit recognizes Jesus, call him by name, under the ancient belief that specific use of ones name meant mastery over him. But Jesus silences them, for they have no power over him. And he removes them and their influence from the afflicted person’s life.
Ironically, the people don’t recognize who Jesus is, but the demons do...
This is also seen in his healings– he is lord of life.
Jesus came to overthrow the power of evil in our world and in our lives.
Not just that he can heal or cast out (that’s all the crowd saw), but that he is lord, reclaiming his territory.
Appl: Jesus comes to free you from the bondage, the forces, the evil that work in your life.
I. LET’S EMBRACE THE GOOD NEWS, THAT WE CAN HAVE A PESONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, AND THAT HE CAN OVERTHROW THE POWER OF EVIL IN OUR LIVES
Jesus calls us to embrace his kingdom, his good news, to go beyond “what can he do for me.” Let’s go beyond the crowd…
Jesus comes to you proclaiming that the kingdom of God is near, and tearing down the forces of evil working on your life.
Trans.: What happens once we’ve embraced the good news? What do we do? Now we will see what happens to our focus, to our purpose in life after we embrace the good news. Notice who Jesus gets involved with his purpose as I read vv. 13-19.
A. Jesus calls his followers to enjoy his presence
First, Jesus goes off to a mountain, to be alone.
This is his response to the crowd. He doesn’t want ‘fame,’ or for people to get the wrong idea about his mission.
Now Mark takes us to a very significant event – the calling of the 12 apostles, or disciples, or as Mark says, “the 12.” Why 12? Representative of the 12 tribes of Israel. This is the beginning of the new form, community of the people of God. He specifically calls these 12 to follow him. Look what it specifically says: “To be with him.” NLT – to be his regular companions.”
Jesus calls his followers to be with him – to be in his presence, to enjoy his presence. What a privilege, what a gift, what a joy!
First of all, its about a relationship. There can be no “following” without enjoying his presence.
Illus How I followed Bill Beckham before and after spending time with him.
Being a follower of Jesus means being in his presence
For them it meant literally walking around with him.
For us, it means something a little different.
Appl: We enter through worship – not just singing songs about Jesus, but entering his presence, at his invitation. That’s why we spend time with him daily in prayer. Not just reading about him, but entering his presence.
Jesus calls his followers to enjoy his presence.
But Jesus hasn’t merely called his followers to enjoy his presence – there’s more. Don’t stop there. There is a purpose to being in his presence. Enjoying his presence empowers us for something.
B. Jesus calls his followers to extend his ministry
In addition to being with him, Jesus called his followers to do something. Did you notice it? It says he called them to
Preach and to have authority to drive out demons.
Sound familiar? It should!
Jesus called these people to be with him, so that after being in his presence they could go out and preach. Preach what? The good news! And to cast out demons. He has called them to carry out his ministry. We will seem them do that in chapter 6, and also after the resurrection.
Their mission would be Jesus’ mission.
Jesus calls his followers to extend his ministry, to proclaim the good news and free people from the influence of evil. Jesus intended his ministry to be extended.
And Jesus intended his followers to do the extending.
This is the essential calling on all of our lives.
Jesus commissioned his followers to make more followers
Cf. Matthew. 28:18-20
We call this “The Great Commission.”
II. LET’S EXTEND THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS CHRIST
Once we enjoy his presence it qualifies us to extend his ministry. Jesus calls his followers to enjoy and extend his good news!
Transition: So Jesus calls his followers to extend his ministry, to proclaim the good news and help free people from evil influence. If only we could find some people who needed good news and who needed spiritual freedom! Where can we find such people?
A. God places us in the midst of people who desperately need good news and freedom from evil.
God has places us all smack dab in the midst of wonderful group who desperately need what Jesus has to offer, who desperately need good news:
The place to start: at home.
What about those you work with?
How about neighbors?
God places us in the midst of people who need freedom from spiritual oppression, evil influence:
These are the needs Jesus sends his followers to meet! God wants to extend his ministry through you to these people.
B. Extending Jesus’ good news will require stretching
Well, the need is there. But it’s not easy.
We have to leave our comfort zones: actually build relationships with people.
We have to become better at sharing the good news.
“Becoming a Contagious Christian” March 1st.
Becoming a church that wants to grow, new people
It will take effort to change some of our expectations. We will have to reach out to and accept people who may be different from us. See, some people don’t come to church because they are afraid:
They don’t have the right thing to wear
They don’t know the right church words
Their kids might misbehave
They will be treated differently
III. LET’S EMBRACE AND EXTEND GOD’S GOOD NEWS TO THE PEOPLE HE HAS SURROUNDED US WITH.
Will you? God wants you to embrace and extend his ministry of proclaiming the good news of God, and helping free people from the bondage of evil. And he’s put us in a great place to do it. Will you follow
