Mark (Program #32) – The Preparation of the Slave-Savior for His Redemptive Service (6)

In the last few days of the Lord Jesus’ life on this earth, He was preparing His disciples for this great moment. His preparation to them was as Peter said in 2 Pet 1:19 “And we have the prophetic word made more firm, to which you do well to give heed as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.“

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Mark (Program #29) – The Preparation of the Slave-Savior for His Redemptive Service (3)

During the period of His gospel service, the Lord Jesus was traveling from Galilee first north toward Caesarea Philippi and Mount Hermon.  Then returning south all the way to Jerusalem. With Him on this long journey which took roughly three years were a small number of faithful disciples particularly Peter, James and John were with the Lord step by step.  And thorough out this period they witness first hand all the items, including the miracles, the teachings, the healing and His dealing with the religious opposers.

As those who desire to know Him and to know His word richly today, we need to realize that this long journey and all these events were not random. From the beginning the Lord’s intention was to arrive at Jerusalem, the religious, cultural and governmental capital.  For it must be in Jerusalem during the specific month and even on the appointed day that He would be offered up as the Lamb of God to accomplish His all redeeming and all-inclusive death.  But we also need to realize that all the preceding event were part of the Lord’s preparation and in addition for the real preparation of His disciples not just to be witnesses but to be those who would pass through His death and enter into the reality of His resurrection.

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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 #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 #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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Mark (Program #17) – The Move of the Slave-Savior’s Gospel Service (5)

During His earthly ministry the Lord Jesus was continuing harassed by professional opposers. These religious zealots who did not know God in reality but had only the outward trappings of religion and tradition had no way to counter the great and mighty deeds that the Lord accomplished or the rich and nourishing words that He spoke to so many seeking ones. So they were left to try and find any weakness or failure in Him that they may latched onto to discredit Him in His ministry.

Mark chapter 7 gave us such an account and a very interesting one. The opposers were convinced that they had finally discovered something that they might use against Him. Well, what was this grievest deed you might ask?   The Lord Jesus allowed His disciples to break the tradition of the elders and eat their food with unwashed hands.

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Mark (Program #16) – The Move of the Slave-Savior’s Gospel Service (4)

Mark chapter 7 verses 5 through 7 tells us “And the Pharisees and the scribes questioned Him, Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with common hands?  And He said to them, Well has Isaiah prophesied concerning you hypocrites, as it is written, “This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart stays far away from Me; But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as teachings the commandments of men.”“

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