Mark (Program #28) – The Preparation of the Slave-Savior for His Redemptive Service (1) & (2)

At the end of a nearly three years long journey with His disciples the Lord Jesus at the end of His gospel ministry makes a triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  Just six days before the time of His sacrificial death on the cross the Lord Jesus surprises His disciples confounds His opposers and thoroughly captivated the hearts of the people of the great city of Jerusalem.

During these final days, Jesus was finished performing the miracles, the great teachings, the casting out of demons even the healing and the cleansing of lepers. For now He is totally focus on the preparation necessary for His death, His burial, His resurrection and ultimately His ascension.  Mark chapter 11 gives us a marvelous account of these six days of preparation.

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Mark (Program #27) – The Move of the Slave-Savior’s Gospel Service (16) & (17)

The second half of Mark chapter 10 brings us to the city of Jericho. The Lord Jesus has arrived at this place very near Jerusalem, near the end of the long journey He had taken with His disciples. Jesus knew that the time of His appointed death on the cross to be the real Lamb of God was only days away and He would not be kept from that hour.

Twice before on this journey on the way to Jerusalem the Lord had spoken to His disciples of approaching rejection and death in Jerusalem. But the disciples never seem to hear the words. And so here the Lord mentions it again for the third time. But still the disciples had neither ears to hear nor eyes to see as these verses in Mark 10 so clearly illustrate. Beginning at verse 32-37:

“Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus led the way before them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that were about to happen to Him:  Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and to the scribes. And they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles, And they will mock Him and spit at Him and scourge Him, and they will kill Him. And after three days He will rise. And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying to Him, Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask You.  And He said to them, What do you want Me to do for you?  And they said to Him, Grant to us to sit, one on Your right and one on Your left, in Your glory.“

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Mark (Program #26) – The Move of the Slave-Savior’s Gospel Service (15)

Mark chapter 10 present us with 3 cases all related to whether or not believers will enter into the kingdom of the heavens.  The best known of this cases concern a rich young man who approach the Lord Jesus wanting to what he must do in order to have eternal life. The Lord’s word shocked the young man as well as the Lord’s disciples. For He instructed him to go and sell all that he had and give it to the poor. Well, the young man turned and walked away knowing that he was not able to meet such a demand. And then this famous exchange took place between the Lord Jesus and His followers.

Mark 10:23-27: “And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, How difficult it will be for those who have riches to enter into the kingdom of God!  And the disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus again answered and said to them, Children, how difficult it is for those who trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!  It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.  But they were astonished beyond measure and said among themselves, Then who can be saved?  Looking upon them, Jesus said, With men it is impossible, but not with God, for all things are possible with God.“

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Mark (Program #25) – The Move of the Slave-Savior’s Gospel Service (14)

Most of us remembered from our childhood the story of the rich man who came to Jesus asking what he must to do in order to have eternal life. The Lord’s answer instructing the man to go and sell all that he possessed and to give the proceed to the poor was more than the young man could bear. So he turned away and in despair of his inability to do what seems to be required.

The Lord’s disciples also expressed their dismay over His words to this young ruler to which the Lord answered, “It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”

This passage from Mark chapter 10 though famous as a Bible story is also one that has perplexed many students of the Bible for there is no place in the scripture where we were given of such a requirement in order to be saved. Our salvation is by faith and not according to our works, such as selling all and giving all to the poor. And how should we understand such a story?

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Mark (Program #24) – The Move of the Slave-Savior’s Gospel Service (12)

The Lord Jesus said in Mark chapter 9 verses 42 through 45, “And whoever stumbles one of these little ones who believe into Me, it is better for him if a great millstone is placed around his neck and he is thrown into the sea.  And if your hand stumbles you, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life maimed than to have two hands and go away into Gehenna, into unquenchable fire.  And if your foot stumbles you, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into Gehenna.”  For a life study touching the believers reward and punishment in the next age.

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Mark (Program #23) – The Move of the Slave-Savior’s Gospel Service (11)

In Mark chapter 8 the Lord Jesus taught His disciples that they need to deny themselves, just as He also teaches us that so that Christ could be their replacement and become everything to them as He wants to be everything to us.

Although the disciples saw this revelation they did not practice it or live according to it. To see the revelation is one thing but to live it is another.

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Mark (Program #22) – The Move of the Slave-Savior’s Gospel Service (10)

Mark chapter 8 verses 27 through 29 tell us, “And Jesus and His disciples went out into the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way He questioned His disciples, saying to them, Who do men say that I am?  And they told Him, saying, John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but others, one of the prophets.  And He questioned them, But you, who do you say that I am?  Peter answered and said to Him, You are the Christ!”

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Mark (Program #21) – The Move of the Slave-Savior’s Gospel Service (9)

In Mark chapter 8 verse 34, the Lord Jesus says, “if anyone wants to follow after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.”  If we would come after the Lord by gaining Him, experiencing Him, enjoying Him and partaking of Him then we need to deny ourselves. Take up our cross and follow Him. But what does it mean for us to take up our cross? This is the subject of our life study today.

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Mark (Program #20) – The Move of the Slave-Savior’s Gospel Service (8)

In Matthew, Luke and John the order or sequence of the stories does not necessary follow the actual time sequence in which they took place.  The gospel of Mark is unique among the four in this way. Not only so, but the sequence of the healing and the miracles in Mark’s gospel are progressive. That means in each case signifies a step in our spiritual development and maturity and we are brought onward and always
higher.

Chapter 8 beginning at verse 27 and chapter 9 may be considered the high peak of the disciples’ experience in their contact with the Lord Jesus.  After been healed by the Lord in a general way that is when there were saved, they then experience His detailed and specific dealing until their heart had been dealt with. And then their spiritual ears were opened and their tongues were filled with His word and eventually even their eyes were healed of their blindness so that they can receive the high vision portrayed in this rich portion of God’s word.

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Mark (Program #19) – The Move of the Slave-Savior’s Gospel Service (7)

The record in Mark is unique among the four gospels in that the events followed their actual chronological order.  With that in mind is insightful to realize that there is a marvelous progression in the cases mentioned in Mark. Spiritually speaking each case takes us as it did to the disciples a step at a time, higher and higher until a peak is reached in chapters8 and 9. In these chapters the disciples were finally be able to receive a full vision of the Lord Jesus of His divinity and His humanity. But before reaching such a place, they had to first pass through all the steps signify by these crucial cases.  Chapters 7 and 8 show us 5 of these important steps.

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