I've been involved in ministry now for about 25 years.
And one of the things, the overwhelming hurts that happens in ministry
that I don't think, even after 25 years, you don't get over and it hurts every time,
is people who make decisions, who are putting Jesus clearly to one side in their life.
And you see people making decisions for something against Jesus.
Or people who are confronted with real difficulty in their life
and who walk away from Jesus as a result of that real difficulty
because of the assumption that God's not in control or that he's not good in that moment.
Either way, it's someone who once confessed a relationship with Jesus
who would move away from him because of decision or because of difficulty in some way.
As a pastor who wants to see people flourishing in a relationship with Jesus
and putting Jesus at the center of life, that is a pain that just endures.
And it has happened so much over 25 years.
One thing that it's taught me is that presumption is always dangerous for anyone who follows Jesus.
I, as many have done so as they've sat in churches and been Christian for years,
have seen many fall away over that time
because they've ultimately not understood what it is to follow Jesus,
not actually understood what it means to actually be a Christian.
That's partly because in the Western world especially,
there's this dangerous assumption that to follow Jesus or to be Christian
means that you have to work hard at being really good.
And it means that you believe that God exists to serve me
by helping me feel good and feel happy and feel secure and at peace in life.
That's God's goal for me.
That's his job for me.
And also believing that even though God made the world
and he controls everything in the world,
he's only active and involved in the world
whenever I need him to resolve a problem for me.
And the rest of the time, his job is to stay out of my way,
except for a Sunday, for an hour or so on Sunday,
and it may be a Bible study group and stuff like that,
but predominantly stay out of my way except when I need him to help.
Now, the technical term for those three things is moralistic therapeutic deism.
That's the technical term for it,
and it's actually an heresy that has dominated in the Western world.
That view of Christianity is ultimately a rejection of Jesus
and a rejection of the Christian faith.
It's a total misunderstanding of who Jesus is and what Jesus came to do.
And so to be clear on what it means to be a follower of Jesus,
we must be clear on who he is,
what he came to do,
and what he requires of me.
You need to be clear on those things.
And we've seen it in 13 weeks now,
or 12 weeks now in Mark's gospel,
we've seen it again and again and again.
The answer to those questions.
And so I'm going to kind of wrap it up
as we bring a closure to this series
and bring clarity on that once again.
So if you've got your Bibles open,
Mark 14,
we're going to begin in chapter 13.
And chapter 13,
verses 32 to 37,
set the scene for 14,
chapter 14.
And what you notice there
is the repetitiveness
of statements like,
be on your guard,
be alert,
keep watch,
don't sleep.
Be ready,
be alert,
because what Jesus is saying here
to his disciples
is it's going to be tough.
Now,
these are the disciples
who have been with Jesus
and they were saying,
we're with you,
Jesus.
And they're with you,
especially Jesus,
when all this powerful stuff
has happened in Mark 1 to 9,
where he's healed dead people
and he's driven out demons
and he's raised the dead
and done miraculous things,
powerful things
and people have gone,
wow,
this is amazing stuff.
And the disciples
have kind of followed Jesus
like,
Jesus is with us,
we're with him kind of thing,
we're just kind of
almost as powerful as he is.
And now he's saying to them,
kind of switching tone
a little bit now
and saying,
keep watch,
be on your guard,
don't be afraid.
Now,
when everyone says,
don't be afraid,
you go,
what do you mean?
We're afraid of what?
You know,
and this is,
don't be afraid
when you're persecuted
and put on trial
for my sake.
It's like,
well,
this is a tone,
change,
shift the gear for Jesus
and then straight away,
what you see
as you come into chapter 14
is that the chief priests
and the teacher of the law
are waiting to do
exactly to that,
to Jesus that.
They're wanting to kill Jesus.
So have a look,
verse one there.
Now,
the Passover
and the Feast of Unleavened Bread,
which are the two major,
or the major collected feasts
for the highlight,
if you like,
of the Jewish religion.
This is the pinnacle for them.
This is their Christmas,
Easter kind of thing.
And they were two days away
and the chief priests
and the teachers of the law
were looking for some sly way
to arrest Jesus
and kill him,
but not during the feast,
they said,
or the people may write.
That's their major concern
is that people may write
during the feast.
Not the fact that
they're going to murder someone,
they're just concerned
that people might write.
Now,
we already know
in Mark 4,
throughout Mark,
that Jesus is on the death list
of the power brokers.
And this became
their particular passion
in Mark 11
when Jesus pronounced
judgment on the temple
and the religious establishment.
And so the time has now come
for them to put their plan
into action,
but because of the feast,
because they've got
this major religious ceremony
they've got to be partaking in,
they've got two days
in order to do their dirty work.
It's kind of like,
come on guys,
quick, quick,
hurry up the plan,
two days to murder Jesus
so that we can get to communion.
Kind of seems like
a bit of a disconnect here
a little bit.
And while they're plotting this,
Jesus and his mates
are in Bethany
for a pleasant evening
or so it would appear.
And as they're reclining
at the table,
they witness a remarkable event.
It says,
a woman came with an alabaster jar
of very expensive perfume,
made a pure nard.
She broke the jar
and she poured the perfume
on his head.
If you flipped over
to John chapter 12,
verse 3,
you will notice
that this woman
is Mary,
the sister of Lazarus.
Mary
unexpectedly
approached her
reclining lord
carrying a priceless jar
of imported perfume,
possibly a family heirloom.
She breaks the neck
of the flask.
She pours a generous portion
on Jesus' head
which is anointing him
as both king
and for burial
and then poured the rest
on his feet
as an act
of cleansing his feet,
acknowledging that
she is his servant.
John 12 tells us
that she then
humbly wiped
his feet clean
with her hair.
She evidently
had enough.
this moment
here
was
an intensely
fervent
expression
of devotion
to Christ.
And in fact,
as strong
as an act
of devotion
as you will find
anywhere
in the Bible.
this woman
takes her
greatest
earthly
treasure
and
with it
she reveals
that in fact
Jesus
is her greatest
treasure.
We can assume
that she gave
no thought
at all
to what others
thought of her actions.
But in verse 4
we find out
some of those
present
were saying
indignantly
to one another
why this
waste of
perfume.
It could have
been sold
for more
than a year's
wages
and the money
given to the
poor
and they
rebuked her
harshly.
Again,
if you go over
to John 12
it helps us
to see
that the first
person to
respond
to this
moment
is Judas
the man
who knew
the price
of everything
but the value
of nothing.
he instantly
calculates
in this
moment
wastage
a year's
wage
possibly
something in
the order
of $35,000
to $40,000
in today's
terms.
What a waste
they rebuked
this woman
harshly
and the
original language
means
that they
snorted
their disgust
like angry
horses.
they saw
something
very different
than fervent
devotion.
Jesus
comes to
her defense
in verse 6
leave her
alone
why are you
bothering her
she has
done a
beautiful
thing to
me.
Jesus
was fully
aware of
her motive
of love
it was
simply done
and to
for Jesus
with no
thought at
all given
to whether
it was
practical
or even
seen as
being
sensible
and in
fact
Jesus
defends
Mary's
action
because
it placed
him
before
everything
else.
In fact
verse 7
have a look
at that
the poor
you will
always have
with you
and you
can help
them
anytime
you want
but you
will not
always
have
me.
Now
Jesus
is not
saying
in any
sense
you're
not to
help
the poor
in fact
that's
far
from
it.
What
he is
commending
this woman
for here
at this
moment
is that
she
put him
first
totally
first
she gave
everything
she surrendered
everything
to Jesus
and her
act of
worship
is insightful
verse 8
says
she did
what
she
could
her
giving
her
everything
is going
to be
different
from the
person
beside her
on either
side
of what
it looks
like for
them to
give
their
everything
she did
what
she
could
and
Jesus
throughout
Mark's
gospel
has
repeatedly
talked
about
his
death
but it
would seem
the disciples
have passed
it off
Mary on
the other
hand
yielded
to that
teaching
accepted
that
teaching
about
what was
about
to happen
to Jesus
and therefore
she did
what she
could
in devotion
to Christ
and in fact
verse 9
tells us
that Jesus
sets her
up as
the model
of devotion
what it
actually
means to
be a
follower
of Jesus
he says
I tell you
the truth
wherever
the gospel
is preached
throughout
the world
wherever
the good
news
is
proclaimed
what
she
has
done
will
also
be
told
in
memory
of
her
see what
Jesus
is saying
there
throughout
the world
the gospel
will be
proclaimed
the good
news
of Christ
and
this
woman
will
be
the
prime
example
of
what
it
means
to
respond
to
that
gospel
what
it
means
to
be
my
disciple
to
put
Jesus
fundamentally
first
now
the stark
opposite of
Mary's
devotion
in this
text
we start
getting a
picture of
this in
verse 10
it says
then
Judas Iscariot
one of the
twelve
went to
the cheap
priests
to
betray
Jesus
to
them
and
they
were
delighted
to
hear
this
and
promised
to
give
him
money
and
so
he
watched
for
an
opportunity
to
hand
him
over
you see
all this
talk about
Jesus
dying
and glory
coming
through
serving
is not
the sort
of kingdom
that
Judas
is looking
for
he goes
to the
chief
priest
makes
a deal
to
betray
Jesus
now
it is
very
important
for us
to see
here
in this
text
that
Jesus
is not
a victim
of
circumstance
his
death
is not
a
victim
of
circumstances
Jesus
in this
text
is in
total
control
his
mission
is on
target
it is
being
fulfilled
he
controls
the
environment
of the
Passover
Bill
as you
look into
verses
12
to 16
onwards
especially
note
verse 16
where it
says
the disciples
left
went into
the city
and found
things
just
as
Jesus
had told
them
as I
said
last
week
Jesus
is
leading
his
disciples
to
Jerusalem
his
plan
is
to
die
it's
not
an
accident
of
history
it
is
his
agenda
and
this
meal
that
is
happening
here
with
his
disciples
was
possibly
the
most
important
meal
eaten
in the
history
of the
world
because
it
historically
identified
Jesus
as
the
Passover
Lamb
who
would
deliver
God's
people
this
meal
would
graphically
explain
the
centrality
of
Jesus
to
salvation
this
is
historically
the meal
and the
night
that the
devout
Jew
were filled
with hope
that God's
intervention
for their
salvation
and Jesus
was not a
victim of
bad
circumstances
he was
directing
everything
to reveal
that in
fact
salvation
is in
him
he is
the
Passover
lamb
in fact
the words
of the
last supper
take
it
this is
my
body
this is
my
blood
of the
covenant
which is
poured
out for
many
make
no
sense
at
all
if
Jesus
is
not
the
master
of
his
own
death
his
mission
is
clear
glory
it
is
glory
by way
of the
humiliation
of the
cross
and it's
what
Mary
understood
and it's
what the
rest of
the
disciples
still
are coming
to terms
with
they still
haven't
grappled
with
that
he
breaks
the
bread
gives
a
peace
and says
in
verse
22
this is
going
to be
this is
what's
going to
happen
to
my
body
and he
passes
around
the
wine
and he
says
this is
what's
going to
happen
to my
blood
it's
going to
be poured
the
Lord's
Supper
which we're
going to
participate
in
tonight
is so
familiar
to us
that we
do it
without
being
moved
often
at all
but try
being
sitting
there
in that
table
for the
first
time
this is
the
Jesus
this is
an
eerie
event
this is
frightening
even
to hear
the one
who you
have
pledged
yourself
to
as
your
king
talking
about
his
body
being
broken
and his
blood
being
shed
this is
not
what they
thought
was going
to happen
at all
so they
finish the
meal and
they head
out into
the darkness
to the
Mount of
Olives
Judas
sees this
as the
opportunity
to slip
away
to betray
Jesus
it is
quite literally
the darkness
it's not
just that the
sun has
gone down
but that
spiritual
darkness
has now
descended
on to
Judas
and he's
awaiting
Jesus
now waiting
for darkness
to have
its moment
notice the
conversation
on the way
to the
Mount of
Olives
again
we're
thinking
about
this
issue
of what
it
means
to be
a
disciple
of the
Lord
Jesus
Mary
devotion
and then
you've
got
the
rest
Judas
the
betrayer
and now
you've
got the
rest
of the
disciples
conversation
is this
Judas
is not
the only
one
who's
going
to
run
away
they
all
will
and
Peter
rejects
that
claim
and says
no
not me
Jesus
you know
me
I am
tough
I'm
not
afraid
I
will
die
for
you
I
will
never
disown
you
I
will
die
for
you
and
all
the
others
say
yeah
we're
the
same
we're
not
going
to
deny
you
and
then
they
arrive
at
Gethsemane
and
Jesus
takes
Peter
James
and
John
a little
bit
further
on
to
pray
and
it
says
in
verse
34
that
Jesus
is
deeply
distressed
and
troubled
now
we
must
never
minimise
what
Jesus
went
through
in
this
moment
he
knows
what
is
about
to
happen
Jesus
is
in
deep
distress
this
is
greater
distress
than
any
of
us
could
ever
imagine
you
see
he
saw
with
clarity
the
full
horror
of
what
lay
ahead
Peter
and
James
and
John
are
standing
a bit
back
and
they
could
see
the
prostate
Jesus
they
could
see
his
body
convulsing
they
could
see
his
tears
and
the
sweat
falling
to the
ground
like
blood
that was
dripping
out of
his
forehead
so
physically
anxious
was he
in that
moment
that
blood
was
coming
out
as
tears
of
sweat
the
terror
he
felt
was
not
just
simply
that
he's
body
is
going
to
go
through
excruciating
pain
being
nailed
to
a
cross
but
because
he
saw
the
cup
he
saw
the
cup
of
human
sin
he
saw
the
brutality
of
a
thousand
holocausts
all
the
prostituting
all
the
idolatry
of
human
civilizations
the
blasphemy
the
profanity
it
was a
cup
of
God's
judgment
that
was
filled
to
the
brim
of
jealousy
of
racism
of
hatred
of
discord
bitterness
of
unkindness
of
gossip
of
disobedience
of
greed
of
anger
and
he
knew
that
it
was
his
job
to
drink
it
all
of
God's
judgment
for
the
history
of
the
world
is
going
to
be
focused
on
him
he
doesn't
want
to
do
that
he
falls
to the
ground
and he
prays
he
pleads
father
if it's
possible
take
this
hour
from
me
so
that
I
do
not
have
to
suffer
in
this
way
the
time
has
come
for
him
to
face
the
cup
of
God's
anger
God's
white
hot
anger
for
your
sin
for
my
sin
it's
where
he
takes
the
punishment
that
Israel
should
be
taking
for
all
of
its
centuries
of
rebellion
where
he
soaks
up
the
punishment
for
the
sins
of
the
world
for
your
sin
and
mine
and
he
pleads
this
is
there's
any
other
way
but
there
is
no
other
way
this
hour
and
this
moment
cannot
pass
from
him
and
so
in
the
greatest
display
of
obedience
that
will
ever
be
known
Jesus
took
the
full
cup
of
human
sin
and
God's
wrath
and
he
looked
shudderingly
into
its
depth
and a
stealing
act
of
the
wheel
and in
a
total
dependence
on the
sovereignty
and the
goodness
of his
father
he
drank
it
that's
why
his
body
is
convulsing
in
Gethsemane
because
he knew
this
moment
is
hours
away
and
so
he
says
to
his
disciples
the
same
thing
that
he
says
back
in
chapter
13
dark
times
are
here
be
ready
keep
watch
do
not
slumber
and
verse
37
then
he
returned
to
the
disciples
and
found
them
sleeping
three
times
in
fact
to
verse
41
are
you
still
sleeping
on
the
night
where
you
could
imagine
it
would
be
good
for
these
disciples
to
comfort
and
support
him
he
is
all
alone
it
is
hardly
the
picture
of
worship
and
devotion
we
see
at
the
beginning
of
the
chapter
with
Mary
and
then
the
moment
arrives
verse
41
enough
he
says
the
hour
has
come
look
the
son
of
man
is
betrayed
in
the
hands
of
sinners
rise
let
us
go
here
comes
my
betrayer
and
just
as
he
was
speaking
Judas
one
of
the
twelve
appeared
and
with
him
was
a
crowd
armed
with
swords
and
clubs
sent
from
the
chief
priest
the
teachers
of
the
law
and
the
elders
now
the
betrayer
had
arranged
a
signal
with
them
the
one
I
kiss
is
the
man
arrest
him
and
lead
him
away
under
guard
and
going
at
once
to
Jesus
Judas
said
Rabbi
and
kissed
him
the
kiss
of
death
the
betrayer
has
come
with
a
mob
armed
with
swords
and
clubs
it
is
quite
clear
that
Judas
had
not
learned
a
single
thing
about
the
nature
of
the
kingdom
Jesus
was
leading
but
he
wasn't
the
only
one
have
a
look
at
verse
47
then
one
of
those
standing
near
which
we
know
to
be
Peter
drew
his
sword
and
struck
the
servant
of
the
high
priest
cutting
off
his
ear
moments
ago
these
are
the
guys
who
have
been
sleeping
just
moments
ago
they
were
asleep
and
now
here
they
are
with
Jesus
standing
beside
him
with
their
swords
drawn
ready
to
fight
off
this
crowd
and
protect
Jesus
and
do
what
Peter
said
we
will
do
I
will
die
for
you
Jesus
you
see
the
disciples
had
not
scattered
they
didn't
abandon
Jesus
because
they
were
afraid
they
were
there
with
their
swords
ready
to
die
ready
to
do
battle
for
Jesus
they
hadn't
abandoned
him
if
Jesus
said
they
would
they
were
ready
to
die
until
Jesus
says
this
in
verse
48
am
I
leading
a
rebellion
he
said
that
you
have
come
out
with
swords
and
clubs
to
capture
me
every
day
I
was
with
you
teaching
in
the
temple
courts
and
you
did
not
arrest
me
but
the
scriptures
must
be
fulfilled
that
that's
the
game
changer
for
the
disciples
it
seems
that
in
this
moment
they
have
finally
understood
who
Jesus
is
and
what
he
came
to
do
and
what
it
means
to
follow
him
what
Jesus
says
to
Peter
and
what
he
says
to
us
is
my
kingdom
is
not
of
this
world
it's
completely
different
than
what
you
think
it
is
I'm
going
to
change
things
by
putting
others
ahead
of
myself
I'm
going
to
serve
and
sacrifice
for
others
I'm
going
to
reap
I'm
not
going
to
repay
evil
for
evil
I'm
going
to
overcome
evil
with
good
I
will
give
up
my
power
not
grasp
of
power
I'm
going
to
give
up
my
power
and
I'm
going
to
saying
have
I
come
to
lead
a
rebellion
with
a
sword
verse
50
happens
then
everyone
deserted
him
and
fled
they
didn't
desert
Jesus
because
they
were
afraid
to
die
they
deserted
Jesus
because
of
ideological
disillusionment
they
deserted
Jesus
because
of
ideological
disillusionment
the
kingdom
that
Jesus
was
leading
was
not
the
kingdom
they
thought
he
was
leading
they
were
with
Jesus
providing
that
the
kingdom
that
they
were
committing
themselves
to
involved
a
march
into
Jerusalem
it
involved
capturing
the
throne
and
the
palace
and
the
temple
and
that
they
had
glory
and
honour
at
Jesus
right
hand
men
even
if
it
meant
that
we
gave
our
lives
for
that
goal
but
when
your
king
surrenders
himself
to
death
and
calls
you
to
do
the
same
thing
well
that's
not
what
they
were
signing
up
for
they
were
with
Jesus
for
over
three
years
but
they
were
not
really
with
Jesus
I
think
this
has
got
something
very
significant
to say
to
our
consumeristic
culture
and the
way it
bears
on
church
a
consumeristic
culture
says
first and
foremost
what's
in it
for
me
what's
in it
for
me
that is
at the
core of
that
culture
is
I'm
here to
consume
for my
glory
for me
centeredness
my
agenda
it's
me getting
something
it is
possible
in fact
to come
to church
to sing
songs
of praise
to pray
to nod
your head
when the
sermon's
preached
and yet
make
decisions
in life
that are
all about
pursuing
my
agenda
it's
about
making
much
of
me
as
opposed
to
making
much
of
Jesus
and I
think
that
often
for
Christians
it's
a
subtlety
rather than
being
blatantly
obvious
we are
so often
happy to
pursue
God's
glory
so long
in the
process
he makes
much
of
my
glory
makes
much
of
me
and the
subtlety
is that
we can
be so
involved
in church
activities
that it
looks like
we're
doing it
for the
glory
of
Christ
but
secretly
harboring
a hope
that some
of his
glory
radiates
on us
in such
a way
that other
people can
see it
and
the way
you can
tell the
difference
is when
you shift
the spotlight
off you
and how
you respond
it's a
struggle for
church leads
it's a
struggle for
me
what are
my motives
in wanting
God to
be glorified
through the
mission and
vision of
this church
the reality
is if we
even achieve
half of what
we hope to
achieve here
as a church
at St.
Paul's
people will
make much
of St.
Paul's
and that
is the
consumeristic
culture we
live in
we don't
automatically
give thanks
and praise
to God
we look
to the
leaders
who have
made this
happen
or the
people who
made this
happen
and praise
them and
elevate them
instead
what we
must always
remember is
that Jesus
says put
away your
sword and
take up your
cross and
follow me
my guess is
that if we
search our
hearts we'll
discover that
it's so much
easier to
take up our
cross and
follow Jesus
and be a
servant when
other people
are watching
and applauding
so much
easier
if the
way to
be glorious
really is
to make
Jesus look
glorious by
being a
servant of
others do
you really
want to be
glorious in
that way
do you feel
more loved
by God
when he
makes much
of you
or because
at great
cost to
himself
he frees
you to
enjoy making
much of
him forever
now the
good news
here is
that Jesus
knew that
his suffering
in death
wasn't going
to be the
end of the
story and
he knew
that these
disciples he
knew that
they weren't
going to take
the heat
he knew that
they were going
to abandon
him he said
that on the
way to
Gethsemane
you guys are
all going to
abandon me
the great
news is with
Jesus there
is he's so
gracious that
there is always
plenty of room
to put things
right even
for Peter the
great deserter
the one who
was defiant
if you look
back at verses
27 and 28
you'll see it
it was subtle
initially as we
went through it
but he says
here you will
all fall away
for it is written
I will strike the
shepherd and the
sheep will be
scattered but
after I have
risen verse 28
after I have
risen I will
go ahead of you
into Galilee
this is the
Jesus who is
leading as I
said last week
his disciples to
the cross to
Jerusalem and
what he's saying
is beyond the
cross I'm going
to continue to
lead you that
is you're going
to abandon me
of the cross
but I'm going
to gather you
back up
see the
resurrection
changes
everything
after the
resurrection
there is a
new start
it changed
everything
changed the
perspective of
the disciples
in such a
way in
fact it is
the it is
the major
evidence for
the resurrection
of Jesus
is how else
do you explain
these deserting
pitiful
disciples who
become men
within six
weeks become
men who are
willing to give
their lives for
Christ how
do you how
do you justify
that change
these
disastrous
disciples become
courageous bold
disciples for
Jesus their
failures are
forgiven and
that is
significant
significant good
news for
failures like
you and me
weak disciples
like you and
me and so
friends we've
come to 13
the end of 13
weeks of looking
at Jesus through
Mark's eyes
and Mark is
pretty clear
Jesus demands
an extreme
response from
every single
one of us
Jesus forces
our hand here
at every turn
in this story
this man who
throws open the
gates of the
kingdom to
everyone
then warns the
most devout
insiders that
their place in
the kingdom is in
very real
jeopardy
without
fruitfulness
this is the
Jesus who is
constantly closing
down our
escape clauses
and options
this man is the
one who is
weakened by the
touch of a
woman in a
crowd while on
the way to
bring a
little dead
girl back to
life
this is the
man who you
dare not take
your eyes
off
the depths
of his
personal
restraint
and the
heights of
his power
are truly
incomprehensible
to us
he is both
the rest and
the storm
he is the
victim and
the wielder of
the sword
and we must
reject him
or accept
him on the
basis of both
of those
things
either you
kill him
or crown
him
it is
simply not
good enough
to just
like him on
his facebook
page
that just
simply means
you have not
seen him for
who he is
the teachers
of the law
at the beginning
of this
passage
who were
plotting to
kill Jesus
at the beginning
of today's
in this
passage here
were in
my opinion
dead wrong
about Jesus
they were
dead wrong
about Jesus
but their
reaction to
Jesus makes
absolute
perfect sense
you either
bow to this
man or you
kill him
there's no
middle ground
with Jesus
no middle
ground
you cannot
just simply
say
what an
interesting
guy
you cannot
just keep
Jesus at
the
periphery
of your
life
holding him
there
inviting me
in
pushing him
out
inviting me
you either
have to
kill him
at the
periphery
of your
life
or you
have to
crown him
at the
center
of your
life
so give
yourself
to him
that's the
thrust
of these
13 weeks
of mark
center
your entire
life
on him
this is the
message for
the devout
Christian who
has followed
Jesus for
years
continue
to give him
everything
continue
to invite him
into every
nook and
cranny of
your life
this is the
message of
those who are
holding Jesus
on the
periphery of
their life
and think
that Jesus
job is to
answer them
and provide
for them
whenever they
want him
to come
and fix
things and
mostly stay
away so I
can get on
my life
Jesus says
I do not
play that
game
this is the
message for
the unbeliever
Jesus calls
you right at
the beginning
of Mark's
gospel and he
calls you right
at the end of
Mark's gospel
repent and
believe the
good news
center your
life on the
servant king
and I want
to say as we
finish up
Mark do
it today
all of us
in one way
or another
do it today
take steps
today to
surrender
all of your
life or
another part
of your life
to Jesus
Christ
the servant
king of
kings
he is sovereign
and he is
good
and he
every
man
and
he is