1 jesus asserts his authority mark 2:1-3:12 message 3 in our 10-part series on the gospel of mark....

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Jesus Asserts His Jesus Asserts His AuthorityAuthority

Mark 2:1-3:12Mark 2:1-3:12

Message 3 in our 10-part series Message 3 in our 10-part series on on The Gospel of Mark.The Gospel of Mark.

Sunday, May 8, 2011Sunday, May 8, 2011

Speaker: Doug VirgintSpeaker: Doug Virgint

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Jesus asserts his Jesus asserts his authorityauthority

IntroductionIntroduction

Jesus’ authority over:Jesus’ authority over:

1.1. forgiveness of sin forgiveness of sin (2: 1–12)(2: 1–12)

2.2. type of sinners Jesus forgives type of sinners Jesus forgives (2: 13–22)(2: 13–22)

3.3. laws and ceremonieslaws and ceremonies (2: 23–3:6)(2: 23–3:6)

4.4. sickness and demonic forces sickness and demonic forces (3: 7–12)(3: 7–12)

Conclusion Conclusion

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What is the most important What is the most important

contribution Christianity can make to contribution Christianity can make to

human kind ?human kind ?

Emergency disaster aid ?Emergency disaster aid ?

Education ?Education ?

Social transformation ?Social transformation ?

The forgiveness of our sins !!The forgiveness of our sins !!

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Authority to forgive sinAuthority to forgive sin

Jesus is at home in CapernaumJesus is at home in Capernaum Preaching the Word - his greatest priorityPreaching the Word - his greatest priority

Note that Jesus understands man’s hearts :Note that Jesus understands man’s hearts : He sees the faith of the paralyticHe sees the faith of the paralytic He sees the questioning of the scribesHe sees the questioning of the scribes

He meets the paralytic’s greatest needHe meets the paralytic’s greatest need

Forgiveness is invisible Forgiveness is invisible

Healing proves his authority to forgiveHealing proves his authority to forgive

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Authority to forgive sinAuthority to forgive sin

The scribes ask a legitimate question :The scribes ask a legitimate question :

““Who can forgive sins but God alone?”Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

They are right!!!!They are right!!!!

When Jesus asserts his authority to When Jesus asserts his authority to

forgive sin, he is claiming he is God !forgive sin, he is claiming he is God !

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Type of sinners Jesus Type of sinners Jesus forgivesforgives

Difficult for us to understand how Difficult for us to understand how much tax collectors were hated by much tax collectors were hated by the Jewsthe Jews

Auctions held for the right to collect Auctions held for the right to collect taxes in a Roman provincetaxes in a Roman province

The highest bidder sold rights for The highest bidder sold rights for cities / smaller areas to “publicans”cities / smaller areas to “publicans”

The publicans collected as much as The publicans collected as much as possible - recoup investment + profit possible - recoup investment + profit

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Levi was running a toll booth an the Levi was running a toll booth an the main road between interior and the main road between interior and the seasea

So much per person, per donkey’s So much per person, per donkey’s leg, per weight of merchandiseleg, per weight of merchandise

Terrible abuseTerrible abuse

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The Jewish people hated themThe Jewish people hated them

Publicans had sold their souls to the Publicans had sold their souls to the enemy – the hated Roman occupationenemy – the hated Roman occupation

If a publican touched your house, If a publican touched your house, your whole family was uncleanyour whole family was unclean

The Talmud taught meticulous The Talmud taught meticulous honesty, but said it was OK to lie to a honesty, but said it was OK to lie to a publicanpublican

And Jesus calls Levi as a disciple !!And Jesus calls Levi as a disciple !!

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No godly Rabbi would associate with No godly Rabbi would associate with this type of personthis type of person

The verb tenses used – “follow me”, The verb tenses used – “follow me”, “rose”, “followed” indicate “rose”, “followed” indicate immediate actionimmediate action

And worse still, Jesus eats with Levi And worse still, Jesus eats with Levi and his publican friends!and his publican friends!

Eating = acceptance to Jewish mindEating = acceptance to Jewish mind

““eat with tax collectors /sinners”eat with tax collectors /sinners”

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Jesus’ answerJesus’ answer - an analogy: analogy:

A doctor helps sick people, not the wellA doctor helps sick people, not the well Jesus has come to call sinners – not the Jesus has come to call sinners – not the righteousrighteous

The clear message to the religious leaders The clear message to the religious leaders ::

Your self-righteousness makes it Your self-righteousness makes it impossible for you to receive impossible for you to receive

forgivenessforgiveness

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Over laws and ceremoniesOver laws and ceremonies

The religious leaders were constantly The religious leaders were constantly

trying to assert their authority over trying to assert their authority over

JesusJesus

They wanted him to obey their lawsThey wanted him to obey their laws

And here they want him to fastAnd here they want him to fast

They fasted two days a week – Monday They fasted two days a week – Monday

and Thursdayand Thursday

This is their tradition – no such O.T. lawThis is their tradition – no such O.T. law

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Our Lord gives three analogies Our Lord gives three analogies

to destroy their criticism:to destroy their criticism:

No fasting at a wedding feastNo fasting at a wedding feast

New cloth on an old garmentNew cloth on an old garment

New wine in old wine-skinsNew wine in old wine-skins

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Jesus’ point with these 3 Jesus’ point with these 3

analogies:analogies:

You can’t mix my Gospel with your old You can’t mix my Gospel with your old

traditionstraditions

If you want to follow me, there is no If you want to follow me, there is no

room for religious traditionroom for religious tradition

You must abandon your self-righteous You must abandon your self-righteous

traditions if you want to receive traditions if you want to receive

forgiveness for your sinsforgiveness for your sins

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Over laws and ceremoniesOver laws and ceremoniesJesus then deliberately twice attacks Jesus then deliberately twice attacks their main religious tradition:their main religious tradition:

The SabbathThe Sabbath Sabbath trip - no more than 999 stepsSabbath trip - no more than 999 steps

Must not lift more than weight of a dry figMust not lift more than weight of a dry fig

Throw object in the air – catch same handThrow object in the air – catch same hand

24 chapters on the Sabbath in Talmud24 chapters on the Sabbath in Talmud

One Rabbi spent 3 years on 1 chapterOne Rabbi spent 3 years on 1 chapter

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Over laws and ceremoniesOver laws and ceremoniesThe disciples pluck some grain in a The disciples pluck some grain in a

fieldfield Jesus refers them to David :Jesus refers them to David :

If David in his need could violate a divine If David in his need could violate a divine ordinance …ordinance …… … our Lord’s disciples in their need could our Lord’s disciples in their need could violate human traditionsviolate human traditions

No ceremony persists before human No ceremony persists before human needsneeds

Mercy triumphs over ceremony and ritualMercy triumphs over ceremony and ritual

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Over laws and ceremoniesOver laws and ceremoniesOur Lord heals the withered handOur Lord heals the withered hand

Some principles :Some principles :

Human needs are more important Human needs are more important than ceremonial lawsthan ceremonial laws

Compassion is more important than Compassion is more important than ceremonial lawsceremonial laws

The Sabbath was made for man, not The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbathman for the Sabbath

Christ is Lord of the SabbathChrist is Lord of the Sabbath

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Over laws and ceremoniesOver laws and ceremoniesRemark here :Remark here :

The heart hardness of these religious The heart hardness of these religious peoplepeople

They loved their religion more than They loved their religion more than the truth – more than God himselfthe truth – more than God himself

The Lord was angry with their attitudeThe Lord was angry with their attitude

His heart was deeply grievedHis heart was deeply grieved

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Over laws and ceremoniesOver laws and ceremoniesThe clear demonstration of their The clear demonstration of their hate and hardness :hate and hardness :

They seek to make a coalition with the They seek to make a coalition with the hated Herodians to destroy Jesushated Herodians to destroy Jesus

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Over sickness - demonic Over sickness - demonic forcesforces

The two great human problems The two great human problems

of that age:of that age:

Physical sicknessPhysical sickness

Spiritual bondageSpiritual bondage

Our Lord demonstrates his authority Our Lord demonstrates his authority

over both these problemsover both these problems

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Over sickness - demonic Over sickness - demonic forcesforces

Isn’t it sad :Isn’t it sad :

The religious leaders did not The religious leaders did not

recognize Jesus for who he isrecognize Jesus for who he is

The very demons from hell did The very demons from hell did

recognize him!recognize him!

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ConclusionConclusion

Are we in, our church, allowing our great Are we in, our church, allowing our great traditions to interfere with meeting traditions to interfere with meeting human needs and demonstrating mercy?human needs and demonstrating mercy?

Have you recognized who Jesus is?Have you recognized who Jesus is?

Are you allowing your self-righteousness Are you allowing your self-righteousness to prevent you from receiving to prevent you from receiving forgiveness of your sins.forgiveness of your sins.

Are you allowing your religious traditions Are you allowing your religious traditions to prevent you form turning to Christ?to prevent you form turning to Christ?

1 jesus asserts his authority mark 2:1-3:12 message 3 in our 10-part series on the gospel of mark....

Documents

sin jesus

type of sinners jesus

capernaum jesus

jesus eats

righteous jesus

jesus calls levi

jesus answer analogy

authority mark