WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.520 If you do have a Bible with you, turn back please to Mark's Gospel, chapter 6, and to 00:00:05.520 --> 00:00:11.759 the verses we read entitled, Jesus Walks in Water, Then Jesus Healed the Sick in Ganesh 00:00:11.759 --> 00:00:16.760 at verse 45 of chapter 6 of Mark's Gospel. 00:00:16.760 --> 00:00:24.400 I wonder how many of us this morning woke up thinking that coming to church, opening 00:00:24.399 --> 00:00:32.759 the Bible, praying, praising God, the Word preached would change us. 00:00:32.759 --> 00:00:39.719 I wonder how much of it many of us thought that learning about Jesus, that we come not 00:00:39.719 --> 00:00:44.959 just to church, but when we open Scripture, when we live our lives, that we look for this 00:00:44.959 --> 00:00:51.280 living Savior, Jesus Christ, to transform us into changes so that we come into a building 00:00:51.280 --> 00:00:55.679 one way, maybe for a worship service, we look to go out slightly different, because we've 00:00:55.679 --> 00:01:00.439 met through His Word and through the Spirit among us, the living God. 00:01:00.439 --> 00:01:02.960 And we know that that's the purpose of Mark's Gospel. 00:01:02.960 --> 00:01:06.079 We know he's there to present Jesus to us. 00:01:06.079 --> 00:01:10.520 We've seen that so much in the last few weeks, that he's there giving us a picture of Jesus 00:01:10.520 --> 00:01:13.680 and what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. 00:01:13.680 --> 00:01:18.960 And it does seem that he's in a hurry to do that, because he's giving us a quick flash 00:01:18.959 --> 00:01:25.519 run through of Jesus' life rumbling towards the cross, which is so important in our understanding 00:01:25.519 --> 00:01:28.199 and obviously in Mark's understanding as well. 00:01:28.199 --> 00:01:33.919 And he moves from one situation quickly to another so that we come to a situation like 00:01:33.919 --> 00:01:34.919 this. 00:01:34.919 --> 00:01:37.879 And the first word is immediately, immediately Jesus moved on. 00:01:37.879 --> 00:01:39.079 There's something happening. 00:01:39.079 --> 00:01:45.039 There's always, He's always on the move, and Mark is keen to get that across. 00:01:45.039 --> 00:01:48.719 And it's foundational truth for all of us. 00:01:48.719 --> 00:01:54.799 Now this is, it's not simply Jesus walking in the water, there's the little section after 00:01:54.799 --> 00:01:56.280 that about healing the sick. 00:01:56.280 --> 00:02:01.680 But the miracle of Jesus walking on the water is in many ways, it's probably the most famous 00:02:01.680 --> 00:02:05.159 and most well-known miracle of Jesus. 00:02:05.159 --> 00:02:12.039 Probably also the one that's most caricatured as being entirely unbelievable and a bit ludicrous 00:02:12.039 --> 00:02:17.759 and maybe at best a symbol of something that Jesus was doing. 00:02:17.759 --> 00:02:23.159 Of course, we recognize and see that what we have here is recorded as cold fact. 00:02:23.159 --> 00:02:28.599 It's not recorded in any other way by Mark and it's within the historical context that 00:02:28.599 --> 00:02:32.399 we have these words. 00:02:32.399 --> 00:02:37.680 But I think as a result, it's one that's very, it's highly misunderstood by, sometimes by 00:02:37.680 --> 00:02:45.079 us and those who would seek to caricature it as being a bit ridiculous. 00:02:45.080 --> 00:02:48.960 It's really important theologically and practically for us. 00:02:48.960 --> 00:02:53.080 So I want to do for just for a little while this morning, slightly different. 00:02:53.080 --> 00:02:58.760 I want us to join with the disciples for a few moments and think about them and what's 00:02:58.760 --> 00:03:00.360 happening with them. 00:03:00.360 --> 00:03:07.520 If you remember, they have had a really long day in verse 30, we're reminded of what they've 00:03:07.520 --> 00:03:15.320 been experiencing, the apostles returned to Jesus, told them all they had done and Jesus 00:03:15.320 --> 00:03:20.400 said, come away and rest for a while, you're tired, you've been busy, everything has been 00:03:20.400 --> 00:03:21.400 hectic. 00:03:21.400 --> 00:03:25.320 And then of course, instead of getting away to rest, thousands of people come to hear 00:03:25.320 --> 00:03:27.879 about Jesus and we get the miracle of the five thousand. 00:03:27.879 --> 00:03:31.640 So it's been a long day for them, they're tired, but they're probably buzzing as well 00:03:31.640 --> 00:03:33.320 a little bit about what's happened. 00:03:33.320 --> 00:03:34.320 What a feed! 00:03:34.320 --> 00:03:35.320 That was amazing! 00:03:35.319 --> 00:03:38.120 Five thousand men, probably about ten thousand people. 00:03:38.120 --> 00:03:39.120 Did you see that? 00:03:39.120 --> 00:03:41.840 We only lost in fishes and Jesus fed everyone. 00:03:41.840 --> 00:03:45.239 That's going to be great being with Jesus like this. 00:03:45.239 --> 00:03:49.400 We'll get all our food with and he said, don't take any food with you, don't take any money. 00:03:49.400 --> 00:03:50.400 No wonder! 00:03:50.400 --> 00:03:53.079 If that's the kind of miracle that's going to, what am I, maybe next time he's going 00:03:53.079 --> 00:03:57.639 to give us some cake and some pudding, something really exciting as well. 00:03:57.639 --> 00:04:00.039 And he's so popular, do you see the crowds? 00:04:00.039 --> 00:04:02.439 Do you see the people that were coming? 00:04:02.439 --> 00:04:03.439 It's amazing. 00:04:03.439 --> 00:04:08.800 It's going to be caught up in that tremendous popularity, the surprises he'll give us. 00:04:08.800 --> 00:04:12.120 So let's, sorry, this is cracking again. 00:04:12.120 --> 00:04:13.599 Let's get ready for bed now. 00:04:13.599 --> 00:04:14.960 It's the evening. 00:04:14.960 --> 00:04:15.960 Let's lie down. 00:04:15.960 --> 00:04:21.560 And then Jesus comes up to them and says, no, wait a minute, wait a minute guys. 00:04:21.560 --> 00:04:24.040 I want you to go ahead of me. 00:04:24.040 --> 00:04:31.399 Go ahead of me, get into the boat and go to Bethsaida. 00:04:31.399 --> 00:04:33.399 Head out and leave. 00:04:33.399 --> 00:04:34.399 Jesus, we're tired. 00:04:34.399 --> 00:04:35.399 It's been a long day. 00:04:35.399 --> 00:04:38.399 Jesus said, I'll catch you up, I'm not coming. 00:04:38.399 --> 00:04:39.399 Can we not sleep first? 00:04:39.399 --> 00:04:40.399 Can we not get a bit of rest? 00:04:40.399 --> 00:04:53.919 Jesus, the wind direction is not even that great for sailing, but anyway, they do it. 00:04:53.919 --> 00:04:56.919 But for a few hours, it's a complete nightmare. 00:04:56.919 --> 00:05:01.079 They're absolutely exhausted. 00:05:01.079 --> 00:05:02.519 You can think what they're going through. 00:05:02.519 --> 00:05:05.359 Why on earth is Jesus thinking about? 00:05:05.359 --> 00:05:09.719 Why on earth did he make us come overnight in this late night in this darkness in the 00:05:09.719 --> 00:05:10.719 boat? 00:05:10.719 --> 00:05:11.719 Why isn't he here? 00:05:11.719 --> 00:05:15.599 I mean, at least the last time that we were in a boat, he was here, even though he was 00:05:15.599 --> 00:05:18.319 sleeping and yet he calmed the storm and it was remarkable. 00:05:18.319 --> 00:05:22.519 Does he think we can calm the waves now? 00:05:22.519 --> 00:05:24.199 That's beyond a joke. 00:05:24.199 --> 00:05:26.199 It's impossible for us to be here. 00:05:26.199 --> 00:05:27.199 It's 3 a.m. 00:05:27.199 --> 00:05:29.199 We're blown completely off course. 00:05:29.199 --> 00:05:33.560 I don't understand what Jesus is doing and I hate the sea. 00:05:33.560 --> 00:05:35.759 I hate this. 00:05:35.759 --> 00:05:38.719 So they have this kind of struggle. 00:05:38.719 --> 00:05:40.319 The waves are battering against them. 00:05:40.319 --> 00:05:41.319 They've got aching limbs. 00:05:41.319 --> 00:05:42.319 It's dark. 00:05:42.319 --> 00:05:43.319 They're in the unknown. 00:05:43.319 --> 00:05:48.480 And Jesus comes walking towards the boat on the water. 00:05:48.480 --> 00:05:51.480 What in the world is going on? 00:05:51.480 --> 00:05:52.480 They're terrified. 00:05:52.480 --> 00:05:54.480 Are they going to die? 00:05:54.480 --> 00:05:58.159 Is this a sea demon that's come up to frame them? 00:05:58.160 --> 00:06:00.160 And then Jesus speaks to them. 00:06:00.160 --> 00:06:02.560 He says, it is I. 00:06:02.560 --> 00:06:04.880 Do not be afraid. 00:06:04.880 --> 00:06:07.439 And all fear is gone from them. 00:06:07.439 --> 00:06:17.160 And in verse 51, we have these words that were told that they were utterly astounded. 00:06:17.160 --> 00:06:20.000 Double superlatives are being used there. 00:06:20.000 --> 00:06:23.440 They were exceedingly, abundantly amazed. 00:06:23.439 --> 00:06:30.319 God almost doesn't have the words to express and explain what they experienced. 00:06:30.319 --> 00:06:33.279 This time Jesus didn't even command the waves. 00:06:33.279 --> 00:06:38.279 He just simply walked back into the boat, climbed into the boat and the waves and the 00:06:38.279 --> 00:06:41.480 wind calmed down. 00:06:41.480 --> 00:06:42.480 And then they land, of course. 00:06:42.480 --> 00:06:44.079 They've been blown off course. 00:06:44.079 --> 00:06:46.319 They land in a different place. 00:06:46.319 --> 00:06:49.839 But amazingly, the crowds are gathering again. 00:06:49.839 --> 00:06:54.399 There's no mobile phones, but the words seem to have got round very quickly, nonetheless 00:06:54.399 --> 00:06:56.399 that Jesus was there again. 00:06:56.399 --> 00:07:03.479 And this phenomenon who comes and this healer, and he comes to them, and they come with all 00:07:03.479 --> 00:07:07.439 their sick, and they come with all their needs. 00:07:07.439 --> 00:07:10.159 And he heals them. 00:07:10.159 --> 00:07:12.479 He lets them touch his cloak. 00:07:12.479 --> 00:07:14.919 It's quite incredible. 00:07:14.919 --> 00:07:18.000 And maybe sometimes we say, if only we could see these mackles. 00:07:18.000 --> 00:07:22.160 If only we could see this power. 00:07:22.160 --> 00:07:30.560 And yet, as Mark goes on in the following verses and chapters to describe the disciples, he 00:07:30.560 --> 00:07:35.759 reminds us that even then they didn't get who Jesus was and what he was really trying 00:07:35.759 --> 00:07:38.920 to say to them. 00:07:38.920 --> 00:07:43.319 And they were lost for genuine understanding. 00:07:43.319 --> 00:07:49.959 In verse 17 of chapter 8, Jesus said, I think I've read this before, your hearts are hardened. 00:07:49.959 --> 00:07:50.959 Don't you understand? 00:07:50.959 --> 00:07:51.959 Have you not seen? 00:07:51.959 --> 00:07:53.759 Have your ears not heard? 00:07:53.759 --> 00:07:58.719 Don't you remember when I broke the five loaves and how many basketfuls were taken up? 00:07:58.719 --> 00:08:01.959 And then also the feeding of the 4,000. 00:08:01.959 --> 00:08:05.079 And he said, do you not yet understand? 00:08:05.079 --> 00:08:07.199 They simply didn't understand. 00:08:07.199 --> 00:08:10.839 And we know that, don't we, from the on going, I'm dipping forward a little bit just for 00:08:10.839 --> 00:08:11.839 a moment. 00:08:11.839 --> 00:08:15.639 But they battled and struggled with unbelieving hearts. 00:08:15.639 --> 00:08:19.039 They misunderstood Jesus and his mission. 00:08:19.039 --> 00:08:23.959 When the time came at the cross, at the crucifixion, at the trial, he all ran away. 00:08:23.959 --> 00:08:25.439 Peter denied him. 00:08:25.439 --> 00:08:27.000 Judas betrayed him. 00:08:27.000 --> 00:08:28.959 And what about the crowds? 00:08:28.959 --> 00:08:34.399 The crowds here that see so much, that come up with so much apparent faith to Jesus for 00:08:34.399 --> 00:08:36.919 him to do this amazing healing work. 00:08:36.919 --> 00:08:41.480 They flocked to him on both sides of the Sea of Galilee. 00:08:41.480 --> 00:08:43.120 Is it superstitious reverence? 00:08:43.120 --> 00:08:48.399 Do they see him as some kind of magic man, wonder worker? 00:08:48.399 --> 00:08:55.320 They all come to Jerusalem a few years later, a few months and years later, for the triumphal 00:08:55.320 --> 00:08:56.840 entry when he comes in. 00:08:56.840 --> 00:09:01.159 And they claim him as their great king. 00:09:01.159 --> 00:09:02.159 Worship him. 00:09:02.159 --> 00:09:05.279 Christ may be of their own imagination. 00:09:05.279 --> 00:09:12.120 Because days later in their disappointment, they cry, Crucify Jesus Christ. 00:09:12.120 --> 00:09:14.120 Crucify Him. 00:09:14.120 --> 00:09:21.240 So neither the disciples nor the crowds understand fully who Jesus is. 00:09:21.240 --> 00:09:25.360 So who is this Christ that we're talking about today that we worship? 00:09:25.360 --> 00:09:31.360 Because Mark wants us to know Him, to understand Him, to worship Him and allow Him to change 00:09:31.360 --> 00:09:36.919 our lives, allow Him to change and transform our hearts. 00:09:36.919 --> 00:09:41.639 So if you remember last week with the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000, it wasn't just 00:09:41.639 --> 00:09:44.080 a miracle that gave them full bellies. 00:09:44.080 --> 00:09:51.320 He wanted them to understand that he was the great God who was the bread of life. 00:09:51.320 --> 00:09:55.000 It wasn't just about physical food. 00:09:55.000 --> 00:10:00.000 And he wanted them to understand his authority and that if he would feed them physically, 00:10:00.000 --> 00:10:03.080 how much more would he nourish them with the bread of life? 00:10:03.080 --> 00:10:07.320 Man does not live by bread alone, but by the Word of God. 00:10:07.320 --> 00:10:09.440 Everything the Word of God says. 00:10:09.440 --> 00:10:15.799 And here it's not just about the calming of the wind, the releasing of the disciples 00:10:15.799 --> 00:10:20.320 from fear or even the healing of all who came to him to be touched by him. 00:10:20.320 --> 00:10:26.679 It's something beyond the miracles themselves into the character of God himself and the 00:10:26.679 --> 00:10:29.320 character of Jesus as it's revealed here. 00:10:29.320 --> 00:10:34.400 And to do that, it's helpful to know a little bit about the Old Testament context into which 00:10:34.400 --> 00:10:39.000 this is written because it gives us a glimpse of what Jesus is doing here and what Mark 00:10:39.000 --> 00:10:41.000 is doing here also. 00:10:41.000 --> 00:10:45.520 Because that cultural and that Old Testament background is always important because for 00:10:45.520 --> 00:10:51.280 the Jew, the sea always represented chaos. 00:10:51.280 --> 00:10:56.560 It represented something that was unruly, that couldn't be calmed, couldn't be tamed. 00:10:56.560 --> 00:10:58.040 And they had a genuine fear of it. 00:10:58.039 --> 00:11:05.480 Not many of them were great fishermen or great sea worthy people. 00:11:05.480 --> 00:11:12.000 And Jesus, as before, is revealing his authority over creation and over the sea and in his 00:11:12.000 --> 00:11:15.419 Lordship and revealing his authority and his power. 00:11:15.419 --> 00:11:20.759 By walking on the water and by calming the wind, he's revealing who he is. 00:11:20.759 --> 00:11:27.079 So you've got this revelation here, if only they would see it, if only we would see it, 00:11:27.080 --> 00:11:34.920 of an Old Testament, the Old Testament God. 00:11:34.920 --> 00:11:35.920 That's what we have here. 00:11:35.920 --> 00:11:43.680 It's a revelation of Jesus as the great Old Testament God. 00:11:43.680 --> 00:11:49.840 We sang a little bit about God having power over the waves in Psalm 107. 00:11:49.840 --> 00:11:55.440 And Psalm 65, 68 says, Who formed the mountains by your power having armed yourself with strength, 00:11:55.440 --> 00:11:59.960 You stilled the roaring of the seas, the roaring of the waves, the tumult of the nations, the 00:11:59.960 --> 00:12:02.920 whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders. 00:12:02.920 --> 00:12:07.440 So you've got these Psalms and you've got Job in Job chapter 9 speaking about God's 00:12:07.440 --> 00:12:09.600 mastery over the waves. 00:12:09.600 --> 00:12:15.440 He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea. 00:12:15.440 --> 00:12:19.800 He's the maker of the bear and the irai and pleides and the constellations of the south. 00:12:19.799 --> 00:12:25.519 So you've got this great Old Testament picture that spoke about the kind of God that God 00:12:25.519 --> 00:12:26.519 was. 00:12:26.519 --> 00:12:30.639 He was a God who was sovereign over the chaos and the unruly nature of the waves and he 00:12:30.639 --> 00:12:33.039 walked on them. 00:12:33.039 --> 00:12:36.439 He stretched out the heavens and he walks on the waves of the sea. 00:12:36.439 --> 00:12:41.240 And Mark is saying, Look beyond the miracle here and look beyond what's being said and 00:12:41.240 --> 00:12:43.120 who is being revealed. 00:12:43.120 --> 00:12:51.080 This is the Creator God in the flesh, very God and very man, yet one Christ. 00:12:51.080 --> 00:12:55.560 That is what is being, we're being reminded of here. 00:12:55.560 --> 00:13:03.080 And it's really important for us to always remember that, who Jesus is and what he means 00:13:03.080 --> 00:13:04.080 to us. 00:13:04.080 --> 00:13:08.159 There's a fantastic chapter in the Westminster Confession of Faith which speaks about this 00:13:08.159 --> 00:13:09.519 paragraph 2 of chapter 8. 00:13:09.519 --> 00:13:11.159 The son of God, I'm going to read it. 00:13:11.159 --> 00:13:13.439 One of God, it's in a slightly up to date version. 00:13:13.439 --> 00:13:18.360 The second person of the Trinity is truly the eternal God, one substance, an equal with 00:13:18.360 --> 00:13:19.360 the Father. 00:13:19.360 --> 00:13:23.919 On the fullness of time he took on himself, the nature of man with all the essential qualities 00:13:23.919 --> 00:13:27.799 and ordinary frailties of man, except that he was sinless. 00:13:27.799 --> 00:13:31.519 Jesus was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and the womb of the Virgin Mary out 00:13:31.519 --> 00:13:33.000 of her substance. 00:13:33.000 --> 00:13:39.120 These two complete, perfect and distinct natures, the Godhead and the manhood, were inseparably 00:13:39.120 --> 00:13:44.879 joined together in the one person of Jesus without being altered, disunited or jumbled. 00:13:44.879 --> 00:13:50.320 The person Jesus is truly God and truly man, yet one Christ, the only mediator between 00:13:50.320 --> 00:13:51.799 God and man. 00:13:51.799 --> 00:13:59.240 Fantastic verse chapter paragraph that speaks of who Jesus is and what Mark is trying to 00:13:59.240 --> 00:14:00.879 get across. 00:14:00.879 --> 00:14:05.200 And it's backed up further by what he says in verse 50. 00:14:05.200 --> 00:14:08.879 When he comes to them, he's going to pass them by and then he speaks to them because 00:14:08.879 --> 00:14:15.519 they're terrified and he says, take heart, it is I, do not be afraid. 00:14:15.519 --> 00:14:21.960 Literally he's saying take heart, I am, do not be afraid. 00:14:21.960 --> 00:14:28.600 He's taking on, as he does elsewhere, that great Old Testament designation of God, the 00:14:28.600 --> 00:14:34.480 Savior, God, the Redeemer, the name of God that was revealed to Moses when Moses says, 00:14:34.480 --> 00:14:38.759 who will I say sent me to Egypt? 00:14:38.759 --> 00:14:42.800 And God says, tell him I am, I sent you. 00:14:42.800 --> 00:14:49.360 The great I am, this great Lordship Yahweh, Jehovah God that's revealed in the Old Testament. 00:14:49.360 --> 00:14:58.840 He's claiming that as he uses that title when he speaks, revealing his power over creation 00:14:58.840 --> 00:15:03.120 and channeled later into the healing signs also. 00:15:03.120 --> 00:15:08.080 And there's maybe one further evidence here that Mark is linking and relating what's happening 00:15:08.080 --> 00:15:12.679 here to a revelation of an Old Testament God. 00:15:12.679 --> 00:15:15.679 And it's in the phrase that we have in verse 48. 00:15:15.679 --> 00:15:20.480 He said in the fourth watch of the night, he came to them walking on the seat he meant 00:15:20.480 --> 00:15:21.960 to pass by them. 00:15:21.960 --> 00:15:28.159 I don't know if you can remember an Old Testament reference to that. 00:15:28.159 --> 00:15:30.279 Someone God passing by. 00:15:30.279 --> 00:15:37.559 There's two very clear references and it's the same word that Mark uses here as is used 00:15:37.559 --> 00:15:44.159 in the Old Testament when God reveals himself first to Moses and then to Elijah in Exodus 00:15:44.159 --> 00:15:45.159 33. 00:15:45.159 --> 00:15:49.679 Moses, show me your glory and the Lord passes him by. 00:15:49.679 --> 00:15:55.279 And then in Kings 19, Elijah in the cave, you know, and God doesn't come in the earthquake 00:15:55.279 --> 00:16:01.799 and in the powerful evidence, he comes in the still, in the quiet one and he passes 00:16:01.799 --> 00:16:06.519 by and that's still small voice. 00:16:06.519 --> 00:16:12.079 And so what we're being told here is that Jesus was passing by in the same way in revelation. 00:16:12.079 --> 00:16:17.240 He was revealing who he was to give them assurance. 00:16:17.240 --> 00:16:20.639 That's interesting, isn't it, that Moses and Elijah, the same two Old Testament, great 00:16:20.639 --> 00:16:24.439 Old Testament prophets and leaders among their people. 00:16:24.440 --> 00:16:29.240 They stand with Jesus later on in the Mount of Transfiguration discussing his exodus, his 00:16:29.240 --> 00:16:31.520 departure. 00:16:31.520 --> 00:16:39.920 This great, incredible, greater than Moses, greater than the King David, greater infinitely 00:16:39.920 --> 00:16:44.400 because he is the living God, monumental truth. 00:16:44.400 --> 00:16:50.720 So we have this revelation in this miracle of walking in the water. 00:16:50.720 --> 00:16:54.720 Mark is reminding us of who Jesus is, tremendously important. 00:16:54.720 --> 00:17:00.160 But there's also, with that Old Testament context, there's a New Testament reality that 00:17:00.160 --> 00:17:06.680 we read about from the Westminster Confession that this God becomes one of us. 00:17:06.680 --> 00:17:16.720 This God becomes one of us, yet without sin, but dependent on fellowship with the Father 00:17:16.720 --> 00:17:19.160 and on the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:17:19.160 --> 00:17:21.600 What does he do after the feeding of the 5,000? 00:17:21.600 --> 00:17:26.560 He dismisses the disciples and he goes to pray. 00:17:26.560 --> 00:17:30.400 He goes to pray to his Father, went up a mountain to pray. 00:17:30.400 --> 00:17:36.160 How often do we see that spoken of in the Gospels about who Jesus is and what he does? 00:17:36.160 --> 00:17:37.759 How often he prays? 00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:45.680 Prayer as the one who is fully man, yet without sin, is critical to him, critical for his ministry, 00:17:45.680 --> 00:17:54.360 for his miracles, for that spiritual perspective, for that he needed trinitarian family time. 00:17:54.360 --> 00:17:55.360 That's what he needed. 00:17:55.360 --> 00:17:58.600 He needed that reassurance, that voice that had come from the Father. 00:17:58.600 --> 00:18:03.279 This is my beloved son, who I'm well pleased. 00:18:03.279 --> 00:18:07.960 And it was his priority, even in the busyness of ministry life. 00:18:07.960 --> 00:18:13.560 And there was no one really, it was in more demand than it was busier than Jesus, yet 00:18:13.559 --> 00:18:18.319 he left the disciples to go and prepare the way because he had to speak to his Father 00:18:18.319 --> 00:18:23.399 and he had to spend that time with him all the way to the cross, all the way to being 00:18:23.399 --> 00:18:26.359 the atoning sacrifice for our sin. 00:18:26.359 --> 00:18:30.519 He prays the same prayer, Lord, not my will, but yours be done. 00:18:30.519 --> 00:18:36.079 Even on the cross in the sense of forsaking it, he's saying, my God, my God, why have 00:18:36.079 --> 00:18:37.399 you forsaken me? 00:18:37.399 --> 00:18:40.919 He clings on in hope and trust. 00:18:40.920 --> 00:18:49.240 So we have the great Old Testament context of who is being revealed here as Jesus. 00:18:49.240 --> 00:18:54.759 Jesus is God the Son and the New Testament reality that he's God the Son in fleshed who 00:18:54.759 --> 00:19:00.240 depends on a relationship with his Father and the Spirit of God. 00:19:00.240 --> 00:19:02.920 So briefly, what is the Holy Spirit teaching us? 00:19:02.920 --> 00:19:08.720 What do we take from a passage like this for our own lives to be transformed and to be changed? 00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:15.920 Well, it reminds us as we come, that Jesus is God and that Jesus has become one of us 00:19:15.920 --> 00:19:17.880 in order to redeem us. 00:19:17.880 --> 00:19:20.960 There's no small thing. 00:19:20.960 --> 00:19:23.559 You're not insignificant. 00:19:23.559 --> 00:19:26.440 Jesus is certainly not insignificant. 00:19:26.440 --> 00:19:32.000 Our need is so great that it took God the Son to be born of the Virgin and to come and 00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:38.680 to be one of us in order to redeem us. 00:19:38.680 --> 00:19:42.759 It's not insignificant truth. 00:19:42.759 --> 00:19:47.160 It's not truth we can take and change and mold and adapt. 00:19:47.160 --> 00:19:49.960 The disciples needed to learn it and they were slow to learn. 00:19:49.960 --> 00:19:51.680 So do we. 00:19:51.680 --> 00:19:56.400 To quote Tim Keller, probably his most famous quotation and one of his most helpful, the 00:19:56.400 --> 00:20:01.680 Gospel says, you're more sinful and flawed than you ever dared believe, but more accepted 00:20:01.680 --> 00:20:04.160 and loved than you ever dared hope. 00:20:04.160 --> 00:20:06.600 That's the Gospel message. 00:20:06.600 --> 00:20:08.440 That's the truth of the Gospel. 00:20:08.440 --> 00:20:13.320 Like God the Son went to hell and back on our behalf because that's where all of this 00:20:13.320 --> 00:20:14.820 Gospel is heading. 00:20:14.820 --> 00:20:19.880 It's heading to the cross and to the three hours on the cross and to his death and engravement 00:20:19.880 --> 00:20:29.320 and his resurrection and ascension for humanity to defeat death, setting us free from the 00:20:29.320 --> 00:20:35.279 fears and the anxiety and the guilt and the failure that cripples us in our lives. 00:20:35.279 --> 00:20:36.440 Do not be afraid. 00:20:36.440 --> 00:20:37.440 I am. 00:20:37.440 --> 00:20:40.680 He keeps saying. 00:20:40.680 --> 00:20:49.519 And we, if we're honest with ourselves, very like the disciples, we too have hard hearts. 00:20:49.519 --> 00:20:54.320 We remember what is being spoken of here again and again about discipleship. 00:20:54.320 --> 00:21:00.320 And I hope none of us for a moment point the finger at the disciples and say, what a wretched 00:21:00.320 --> 00:21:01.320 bunch. 00:21:01.320 --> 00:21:02.320 And I slept. 00:21:02.320 --> 00:21:03.320 I was there. 00:21:03.320 --> 00:21:04.320 I would have believed it. 00:21:04.319 --> 00:21:11.879 I would never have disowned or betrayed Jesus, not at chance. 00:21:11.879 --> 00:21:16.879 Just as we see in Adam and Eve, do we not see ourselves in the disciples who are much 00:21:16.879 --> 00:21:19.439 more unbelieving than we think we are? 00:21:19.439 --> 00:21:22.039 We struggle away on our own. 00:21:22.039 --> 00:21:24.200 We think we're good enough that we've got it. 00:21:24.200 --> 00:21:25.200 We've grasped things. 00:21:25.200 --> 00:21:27.919 I don't need to come to church and be changed and transformed. 00:21:27.919 --> 00:21:30.319 I think I've got a hold of it all. 00:21:30.319 --> 00:21:35.439 We struggle on our own and we moan about how tough it is doing God's will. 00:21:35.439 --> 00:21:40.799 We wonder why He makes demands of us and why we're rowing away in life and where is Jesus? 00:21:40.799 --> 00:21:46.079 He's somewhere spiritual, useless to us, far away from our needs. 00:21:46.079 --> 00:21:50.559 What on earth is God doing in our lives? 00:21:50.559 --> 00:21:55.679 Expecting our lives as Christians to be full of miracles that make it so easy, peasy, for 00:21:55.679 --> 00:21:58.720 us lots of cake and enjoyable things. 00:21:58.720 --> 00:22:03.200 We see healing sometimes as something that's skin-deep and temporary. 00:22:03.200 --> 00:22:05.839 Just make me better, Jesus. 00:22:05.839 --> 00:22:07.480 He's our genie in a bottle. 00:22:07.480 --> 00:22:12.160 We rub the bottle and out comes the genie and gives us what we want. 00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:18.720 We simply find ourselves overwhelmed then with fear because of our circumstances or 00:22:18.720 --> 00:22:24.480 sometimes because of the spiritual realities, because we've forgotten sometimes that He's 00:22:24.480 --> 00:22:29.039 wanting spiritual heart surgery on us. 00:22:29.039 --> 00:22:30.799 That's what He's looking for. 00:22:30.799 --> 00:22:36.120 That's what He speaks to the disciples, seeing these great miracles, being healed by Him, 00:22:36.120 --> 00:22:38.519 listening to His voice saying, don't be afraid. 00:22:38.519 --> 00:22:43.279 And He says in chapter 8, are you still so heart-hearted that you don't believe? 00:22:43.279 --> 00:22:49.039 Do you still think it's all about surface realities and about miracles and flashing fireworks 00:22:49.039 --> 00:22:50.319 and bright lights? 00:22:50.319 --> 00:22:57.159 Do you not see that the gospel is about how I want to take and own your heart and transform 00:22:57.159 --> 00:23:00.720 your heart and renew your heart and redeem your heart? 00:23:00.720 --> 00:23:01.720 Because we are heart-hearted. 00:23:01.720 --> 00:23:06.119 But isn't it great that it doesn't stop there? 00:23:06.119 --> 00:23:09.679 Isn't it great that Jesus gets us? 00:23:09.679 --> 00:23:14.279 Isn't it great that Jesus says here to them, even though they're terrified, even though 00:23:14.279 --> 00:23:18.439 they don't take assurance from the fact that He's passing them by in the water there? 00:23:18.439 --> 00:23:19.919 They don't understand Him. 00:23:19.920 --> 00:23:22.880 He says, take heart. 00:23:22.880 --> 00:23:24.880 I am. 00:23:24.880 --> 00:23:25.880 Don't be afraid. 00:23:25.880 --> 00:23:27.880 Isn't it great? 00:23:27.880 --> 00:23:36.039 Isn't it so good that Jesus understands us far better than we appreciate and realise 00:23:36.039 --> 00:23:37.279 ourselves? 00:23:37.279 --> 00:23:38.880 He takes our struggles. 00:23:38.880 --> 00:23:39.880 He sees them. 00:23:39.880 --> 00:23:41.680 He doesn't condemn them. 00:23:41.680 --> 00:23:43.920 He doesn't criticise them here. 00:23:43.920 --> 00:23:46.080 He doesn't take them on a theology course. 00:23:46.080 --> 00:23:49.039 He says, but don't be afraid. 00:23:49.039 --> 00:23:51.159 Do not have courage. 00:23:51.159 --> 00:23:54.599 He sees our struggles and He comes to us. 00:23:54.599 --> 00:23:58.960 You know, we're told earlier on that He sees their struggles from the land. 00:23:58.960 --> 00:24:01.799 He saw that they were making headway painfully. 00:24:01.799 --> 00:24:03.599 He goes to them. 00:24:03.599 --> 00:24:05.319 That's the Redeemer. 00:24:05.319 --> 00:24:06.319 That's the message. 00:24:06.319 --> 00:24:08.680 That's the Messiah that we have. 00:24:08.680 --> 00:24:10.279 He is the one who gets us. 00:24:10.279 --> 00:24:17.920 He's patient, unbelievably patient, who loves us, who's always there for us. 00:24:17.920 --> 00:24:26.400 And as we will go to Him, will bring us the words of assurance and comfort and strength 00:24:26.400 --> 00:24:27.400 to be transformed. 00:24:27.400 --> 00:24:33.880 Because, remember, this is not the end of the story of the disciples. 00:24:33.880 --> 00:24:37.960 Great things happen as they see and know and understand more. 00:24:37.960 --> 00:24:46.000 And we can look back with our great privilege perspective, much more than they had. 00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:50.160 And we can see God at work and open our own lives. 00:24:50.160 --> 00:24:53.640 And lastly, I'm sure there's many, many more things. 00:24:53.640 --> 00:25:00.160 This spirit may be teaching us or you, but the last thing I have is that His presence, 00:25:00.160 --> 00:25:06.079 Christ's presence, God's presence in our lives is everything. 00:25:06.079 --> 00:25:14.000 That's why Jesus kept going back to prayer, not only because of His great need as one 00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:18.519 dependent on the Spirit and in fellowship with the Father. 00:25:18.519 --> 00:25:20.480 But He did it also as an example. 00:25:20.480 --> 00:25:26.559 If you ever feel that you've gone beyond that example and have risen above some kind of spiritual 00:25:26.559 --> 00:25:31.680 plane where you don't need to fall on your knees and cry out to the living God and pray, 00:25:31.680 --> 00:25:36.440 then you've gone some different direction because His presence with us is everything. 00:25:36.440 --> 00:25:40.680 And that presence is found and known and experienced primarily in prayer. 00:25:40.680 --> 00:25:41.680 It's grasping. 00:25:41.680 --> 00:25:42.680 That's what we mean when we... 00:25:42.680 --> 00:25:45.039 What's the Bible mean when it says pray without ceasing? 00:25:45.039 --> 00:25:47.519 You mean we're always going to bow down our knees? 00:25:47.519 --> 00:25:49.000 No, of course it doesn't. 00:25:49.000 --> 00:25:54.840 It recognizes the presence of God, the spirit of God in our lives and the reality of union 00:25:54.840 --> 00:26:00.759 with Christ, which is one of the great doctrines of the Bible, that in Christ we are through 00:26:00.759 --> 00:26:03.960 faith, we are united to Christ. 00:26:03.960 --> 00:26:06.600 And prayer is the great expression of that. 00:26:06.600 --> 00:26:09.840 It's the great conversation that comes from our union with Christ. 00:26:09.840 --> 00:26:12.640 It's the company that we want. 00:26:12.640 --> 00:26:15.759 It's the dependence that we feel we need. 00:26:15.759 --> 00:26:24.080 Jesus Christ, the sinless one, is our great example of fellowship, divine fellowship, 00:26:24.080 --> 00:26:29.680 wanting the company of God simply for who He is, not just to be our genie in a bottle, 00:26:29.680 --> 00:26:33.280 not just to answer us in our need where we will be in great need of Him. 00:26:33.280 --> 00:26:36.720 That is right, of course, but simply because He's beautiful. 00:26:36.720 --> 00:26:39.840 God is beautiful. 00:26:39.839 --> 00:26:48.240 He's our God, and we are to want His company and His presence in our lives. 00:26:48.240 --> 00:26:49.559 He comes to us. 00:26:49.559 --> 00:26:51.359 He comes to us. 00:26:51.359 --> 00:26:54.119 Are we going to Him? 00:26:54.119 --> 00:26:55.439 Is that our priority? 00:26:55.439 --> 00:26:57.119 Is that our lifestyle? 00:26:57.119 --> 00:27:00.399 Is that the way that we think and live that we go to Him? 00:27:00.399 --> 00:27:06.839 That when we see that at the end of a busy day, and there's another busy day coming, 00:27:06.839 --> 00:27:13.519 will our priority be I need that strength and that energy from the living God? 00:27:13.519 --> 00:27:17.639 The title of this sermon was Recognising Jesus or Not. 00:27:17.639 --> 00:27:24.199 Do we recognise Him for who He is as the living God? 00:27:24.199 --> 00:27:29.559 Life, just as it was for the disciples and for Jesus, is really too busy, isn't it? 00:27:29.559 --> 00:27:32.359 And it might be too busy even doing the Lord's work. 00:27:32.359 --> 00:27:34.639 Yeah, amazing. 00:27:34.639 --> 00:27:36.519 Maybe the demands of obedience. 00:27:36.519 --> 00:27:39.720 Whatever it might be, life is so terribly busy. 00:27:39.720 --> 00:27:43.680 And so we have no time. 00:27:43.680 --> 00:27:47.599 Time for everything else, but we just, we can't make time for prayer. 00:27:47.599 --> 00:27:50.160 I'm sure Jesus understands. 00:27:50.160 --> 00:27:51.480 I'm sure it's fine. 00:27:51.480 --> 00:27:54.160 We'll just get by, He's done His work for us. 00:27:54.160 --> 00:27:56.799 I'm sure it's okay that we have no time. 00:27:56.799 --> 00:27:58.960 No time for prayer alone. 00:27:58.960 --> 00:28:02.039 And certainly no time for prayer at city. 00:28:02.039 --> 00:28:11.079 No time for pleading before God as a people about our resources, about our spiritual needs, 00:28:11.079 --> 00:28:14.119 about our lostness, our emptiness sometimes. 00:28:14.119 --> 00:28:20.200 No time for maybe that early morning, Zoom call on a Friday morning. 00:28:20.200 --> 00:28:23.960 So easy to make busyness, doesn't it? 00:28:23.960 --> 00:28:24.960 Our identity. 00:28:24.960 --> 00:28:29.240 When someone asks us how we are or what we're doing, what's the first thing we say? 00:28:29.240 --> 00:28:30.599 And I'm very guilty of this. 00:28:30.599 --> 00:28:33.319 I'm not preaching at anyone, by the way. 00:28:33.319 --> 00:28:35.319 Oh, I'm so busy. 00:28:35.319 --> 00:28:36.319 That good. 00:28:36.319 --> 00:28:37.319 Pat me in the back. 00:28:37.319 --> 00:28:38.319 I'm so busy. 00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:39.759 I'm so busy doing the Lord's work. 00:28:39.759 --> 00:28:42.359 I'm so busy serving you all. 00:28:42.359 --> 00:28:45.279 So easy to make our identity in that, isn't it? 00:28:45.279 --> 00:28:47.839 So easy to say that that's what God will be happy with. 00:28:47.839 --> 00:28:49.399 Because that's the way we think. 00:28:49.399 --> 00:28:53.799 We think we earn things before God and the busier we are, the more pleased God will be 00:28:53.799 --> 00:28:55.519 surely with us. 00:28:55.519 --> 00:29:01.319 Isn't that what so often we think, and yet to rest in grace is to say, I need Him more 00:29:01.319 --> 00:29:02.960 than anything. 00:29:02.960 --> 00:29:05.200 I need His company more than anything. 00:29:05.200 --> 00:29:10.680 We need His company more than anything. 00:29:10.680 --> 00:29:19.000 So hard to row against the busyness of life without resting in the living God for strength 00:29:19.000 --> 00:29:20.400 and grace. 00:29:20.400 --> 00:29:24.240 And to hear His gentle voice saying, it's me. 00:29:24.240 --> 00:29:25.240 Don't be afraid. 00:29:25.240 --> 00:29:32.359 It may be that we follow Jesus' example and hear His words of comfort and look to Him, 00:29:32.359 --> 00:29:36.720 not simply as obviously as an example, but as a redeemer. 00:29:36.720 --> 00:29:38.200 Let's take this Mark's Gospel. 00:29:38.200 --> 00:29:43.160 Maybe every week we're looking at it, maybe go home and read it right to crucifixion and 00:29:43.160 --> 00:29:52.880 to the burial and to the ascension, resurrection, ascension to remind ourselves of who Jesus 00:29:52.880 --> 00:30:00.760 is and His great love for us and His great arms being opened in salvation and redemptive 00:30:00.760 --> 00:30:01.760 power. 00:30:01.760 --> 00:30:02.760 Amen. 00:30:02.760 --> 00:30:03.760 Let's pray. 00:30:03.760 --> 00:30:09.760 Father God, help us we pray to come under your truth and under your words and to be moved, 00:30:09.760 --> 00:30:18.600 to be transformed, to be changed, to be amazed, to grasp the double superlatives that Mark 00:30:18.599 --> 00:30:25.839 uses of the disciples' response to Jesus, even though it seemed to fizzle away so quickly. 00:30:25.839 --> 00:30:31.559 And how often for us does it fizzle away quickly the mountaintop experience where we feel close 00:30:31.559 --> 00:30:40.159 to God and we feel His grace and His favour and how quickly we then descend into self-reliance 00:30:40.159 --> 00:30:44.119 and prayerlessness and struggle all over again. 00:30:44.119 --> 00:30:50.919 I'm so grateful today that you're patient and gracious and long-suffering and kind and 00:30:50.919 --> 00:30:55.439 you understand us and you pour out, you fill us again and again and again when we seem 00:30:55.439 --> 00:31:00.839 to leak and be empty of your spirit and of your grace and goodness. 00:31:00.839 --> 00:31:08.199 Have mercy on us we pray and bless us and transform us in your amazing living power. 00:31:08.200 --> 00:31:14.200 Amen.