Missions Paul

Cut off your body parts, really?

Mark 9: 43-49

“If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where “‘the worms that eat them do not die, and the fire is not quenched.” Everyone will be salted with fire. “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”

So we haven’t done this yet have we? We haven’t cut our hands and feet off, we haven’t plucked our eyes out and thus saved ourselves from an eternal fiery hell.

If we were to start where would we stop? We would have no body parts left for sure!

But perhaps our understanding of these verses have caused us to try harder, to stop this, to stop that, become better, work harder, do more, go without and if we do all this then we will enter the kingdom of God.

We have certainly done that and we are up for trying even harder today.

But what if we have understood it wrongly?!

Let us remind ourselves of the scene:

Jesus has again revealed that he will suffer, die and rise again.

The disciples not understanding have spoken about who was the greatest among them.

Jesus warns them in their leadership position not to make the little ones stumble because if they did their own lives will be seriously affected, they would be the ones to stumble.

So what is the hand, the foot and the eye?

Is it certain sins that we have tried to rid ourselves from?

Or is it self-righteousness towards others? Is it the desire to become greater than others? Is it a lack of serving others? Is it policing the church making sure that those with ministries are doing it the right way and telling them off if they are not (v38)? Are these the sins that need cutting off? Are the sins against others what is being focused on rather than the sins against our own bodies?

The salt reference fits well here. The salt will purify and will be among themselves referring to the many salt covenants that were made as peace and business treaties at the time. “Be at peace with each other.” (Numbers 8:19 is just one of several OT references to salt covenants)

Jesus is countering the rising arguments of who is the greatest, of their pride and self-righteousness and of who knows best by ending with a reminder of the salt covenants between one another and to be at peace.

The gospel is a gospel of peace not of pride over acts of righteousness and achievement. This is perhaps the interpretation of this passage. It is at least the truth.

But if you don’t agree, go ahead and keep cutting off your body parts!

Really strong warnings on the power of leadership

Mark 9: 41-42

“Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward. ⁴² “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea.”

Jesus is speaking to the 12 disciples, the leaders of the church.

The little ones are those who give a cup of water. Those believers who may not be as significant as the 12 disciples or similar large ministry in the church.

The little ones are those who come under the influence and care of people with greater seniority. They are children in Matthew’s gospel.

The little ones are new believers of Christ.

To cause to stumble is to entice them away from following Jesus through temptation.

To cause them to stumble is to put needless pressure on them to perform to such a degree that it becomes inevitable that they will fall away.

To cause them to stumble is to discourage them from following their plan and purpose in God.

Why would any leader do this? Desire.

Why would any leader do this? Control.

Why would any leader do this? Self-righteousness.

The millstone is a form of execution that is a slow and painful death reserved for those leaders who make the little ones stumble.

The millstone means you are being removed from the scene of life.

The millstone means you will never make a come-back.

 

Ownership in Church

Mark 9: 39-41

³⁹ “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, ⁴⁰ for whoever is not against us is for us. ⁴¹ Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.”

The importance of getting people involved must not be overlooked.

The disciples tried to stop the deliverance ministry because they were not part of the team. Jesus said let them be.

So here are 3 important thoughts regarding people and ownership:

1. The people not engaged in the work are more likely to criticise and harm the work.
2. The people who equate their success to the leader are unlikely to then harm the leader.
3. The people who even do the smallest things but do it for the good of the whole are part of the team.

3 responses to the masters teaching

Mark 9: 30 – 38

³⁰ They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, ³¹ because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.”³² But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it. ³³ They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” ³⁴ But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. ³⁵ Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” ³⁶ He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, ³⁷ “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.” ³⁸ “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”

 

 

3 responses to the masters teaching:

Jesus is leaving, He tells them he will suffer, he will die but that the future will be great, He will rise to a new day and a new era for mankind. This is the post-transfiguration talk. He has done a similar talk before but now after his experience on the mountain it is even clearer. Peter, James and John witnessed the transfiguration, they saw His glory, the eternal Son. Jesus speaks again, He teaches one more time. The responses come from a fixed position. It is these fixed positions that we can all fall into and we need to be unlocked from. They still exist today. Let us see them ….

1. “We don’t understand you.” How can this be? It just seemed they were blinded and deaf to what he was teaching them. In short they were lacking wisdom. The earliest time I can recall praying for wisdom was as a 13 year old newspaper delivery boy and there has not been many days in my life when I have not prayed a simple prayer, “God give me wisdom.” We need this so much in every aspect and every new chapter of our life.
2. “We want to be number 1.” v34. How can this be? Jesus has said he was going to suffer and they want to talk about who is the greatest. Perhaps Jesus mentioned one of them would betray him and they all argued at who it would be. Whatever actually happened the whole team were battling over their positions. Even Peter, James and John who had been chosen to go up the mountain of transfiguration were not content to be in the close circle of Jesus, they too wanted to be number 1. They were full of ambition. Still today even leaders want to be a higher leader, members want to be pastors, Pastors want to be apostles, apostles want to be bishops, bishops want to be archbishops and archbishops want to be Popes. That’s in the church but it is everywhere. Naked, raw ambition, climb the ladder, get to the top, it is better up there. Ambition is a killer of the church.
3. “We are the only true representatives of you.” v38. How can this be? When the disciples led by John saw people being set free from demons, lives being transformed, they complained that it was being done outside of the team’s authority. They were the only ones who had been ordained by Jesus, who had the true commission, who had the best qualifications. These other people were not doing it correctly, they were not one of them. They were filled with arrogant righteousness. Social media is full of this every moment of the day. We are the best, the only, the true, look at us, look at me, listen to how authentic, original, the best, you have tried the rest now try the best. We need to be delivered from such attitudes.

3 responses that actually still exist today!

IT CAN HAPPEN!

Mark 9: 19 – 29

¹⁹ “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” ²⁰ So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. ²¹ Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. ²² “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”

²³ “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”

²⁴ Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” ²⁵ When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” ²⁶ The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” ²⁷ But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up. ²⁸ After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” ²⁹ He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”

What have I learnt in Mark’s gospel so far?

You may be in a dry and barren place but it is still possible to be led by the Spirit, Mark 1:12-13

You may receive one obstacle after another with the pursuit of your miracle, but it is still possible to receive it, Mark 2:3-4

You may feel you are the unlikeliest person God will use, but it is still possible for Him to greatly use you, Mark 2:14

You may be about to go under in the biggest storm of your life, but it is still possible you will survive, Mark 4: 37

You may have given and done everything but your situation is unchanged in fact it is worsening, but it is still possible, Mark 5:26

You may know you are called by God but you feel totally unequipped, but it is still possible you have all that you need, Mark 6:37

You may have a physical diagnosis of disability on your life, but it is still possible you can be very able, Mark 7:32

You may be part healed, but it is still possible you will receive total healing, Mark 8:24

You may have failed to be successful in the ministry, but it is still possible you can be, Mark 9:18

So today don’t give up, or let go because with Jesus it can happen!

Here comes Jesus!

Mark 9: 14 – 18

¹⁴ When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. ¹⁵ As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him. ¹⁶ “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked. ¹⁷ A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. ¹⁸ Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.”

 

There are so many different people in this encounter.

Peter, James and John are coming down the mountain with Jesus. Coming down the mountain is as important as going up. Do life. Be real. It isn’t just about mountain top wow experiences, it is about getting down on the dusty floor with children who are suffering. Is this where you are today?

The other disciples are surrounded by a large crowd of onlookers watching the teachers of the law arguing with them. Something has gone wrong. “They could not”. For the first time we have it recorded that the disciples had failed to carry out the works of Christ. Do you feel disqualified because you have failed?

The teachers of the law seized on an opportunity to attack the failed disciples. The religious certainly do this. There are many voices that will attack you given half the chance. The know-it-alls. Those who theorise rather than practice. Those who hold the rule book and say what can and cannot be done. These people will always be near. Are you with them today?

The large crowd were watching. Bemused and amused at the fighting going on with the religious and the church-to-be. Those supposedly in the family of God can provide great entertainment with their in-fighting. It seems every week the media promote the church as being deceived, liars, perverts, not relevant, prejudiced etc etc. All the time the world looks on without involving itself. Are you in the middle of this today?

A father in the crowd calls out similar to how a Father called out in the cloud moments before. “This is my son.” However his son is not the same. He is broken. Every father wants his son to be fixed. He could fix his toys but he cannot fix him. Is there someone you cannot fix today?

The son, only a boy, cannot understand what is wrong with him. He seems out of control at times. He doesn’t mean to do what he does but something takes hold and makes him embarrassed. The other children make fun of him. He is ashamed. Are you struggling today?

So which person are you?

Here is the good news.

Jesus is here.

 

Back to earth

Mark 9: 8 “Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus. ⁹ As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. ¹⁰ They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant. ¹¹ And they asked him, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?” ¹² Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected? ¹³ But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him.”

 

Suddenly … the scene changes again.

The voice is no longer speaking. The cloud has gone. Elijah and Moses have gone. The transfiguration of Jesus has gone.

The divine is replaced with the human.

Peter had wanted to stay there forever on the mountain. But they learn that mountains are to come down from as much as to go up.

They come down to instructions from Jesus.

They return trying to understand once again what Jesus is meaning.

They have their questions trying to reconcile what they have always been taught by man with what Jesus is revealing. They use the scriptures of Malachi where it states Elijah will come first then the Messiah. They now know Jesus is the Messiah but why hasn’t Elijah come first. (In Matthew’s account we see that Jesus revealed how John the Baptist was the Elijah of their generation).

They return to what they knew. They would soon team up with the others again.

But something has changed and it is them. They had been in the cloud. The cloud changes everything.

Your life may be described as having many questions, confusion, trying to understand the shape of it, how it is meant to be, what God is doing, this may be with you for your entire life. But remember, even though it is hard to describe, even if you are not meant to tell anyone, remember what you have experienced with God. Remember what happened on that mountain. You were in the cloud. It changed you. You came out of that different.

 

 

 

Clouds

Mark 9:7 “Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

Look how similar this is to what happened previously with Moses in Exodus 24:15-16 “When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, ¹⁶ and the glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the Lord called to Moses from within the cloud.”

The disciples didn’t understand or realise the similarity at the time. They just knew what was happening to them.

A cloud appeared. Nothing unusual about that when you are up a high mountain. However, it wasn’t there and then it is. Here is change. It is predictable (it is just how life is, it is a mountain top) but when it happens it can still be noteworthy. With a cloud the sky looks different. You usually can see a cloud coming towards you but this one appeared. So though it is not strange to experience a cloud on a mountain it can seem strange for it to suddenly appear. Change can be anything but gradual or planned and even strategic for the good of everyone. It can just appear and it sometimes serves a higher purpose than the benefit of anyone around. Have you been experiencing change? It could be the cloud.

And covered them. Clouds are made up of water or ice in the air. So inside the cloud the temperature drops. When a cloud descends so does visibility which can reduce to even near zero. One of your senses can be struggling, your sight, it can become dormant because you are covered and so is the mountain top and the valley below. In fact even the people who you are with may look like they are no longer with you. Your vision has gone and solitude has set in. Have you failed? Should you give up? No, it is the cloud. You are in the cloud.

And a voice came from the cloud. The disciples were for the first time in a position to truly listen to what Jesus had been telling them and what they had been witnessing on the mountain. Sometimes God has to take something away from us or affect our lives in order to get us into a place where He wants us. So many followers are today wondering where God wants them and what He wants them to do. But they do not realise that the difficulties they have been facing is the cloud and that the best place God wants to send them is the place of hearing Him. And what is the agenda? What is the voice saying? It will always be about these 3 things:

The revelation of Jesus: This is my Son.

The recognition of His love: Whom I love.

You being a disciple of Him: Listen to Him!

If you don’t know what to say then don’t say anything.

Mark 9:5 “Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters-one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)”

If you don’t know what to say then don’t say anything.

Before they went up the mountain Peter was having a turbulent experience with Jesus. One moment he is receiving revelation from heaven of his identity and the next minute he is receiving a rebuke for being a stumbling block!
He is either looking like a disciple who understands or one who has missed the whole point.
Sometimes it’s best to keep quiet.
But Peter just has to speak.
Let’s just recap:
Before the mountain he has had revelation of who the Christ is and then he has heard from Jesus regarding his death and resurrection.
On the mountain he sees the glory of God in the transfiguration of Jesus.
He hears Jesus, Moses and Elijah talking about the departure of Jesus from this earth, of his death, resurrection and ascension.

You would have thought he would have got it! But like the others he hadn’t.

Having been rebuked for objecting he now fails by suggesting they delay Jesus’ departure by remaining on the mountain.
He really hasn’t understood anything.

Today you may not know what God is doing with you my advice is to say nothing if you don’t know.

This year has been a year of change for me and I haven’t fully understood at times what God was doing. But people needed to know the reason for change even though I didn’t know, so I told them what I thought they wanted to hear, a different version depending who was asking! It led to all kinds of rumours! I should have said nothing because there were times early on that I had nothing to say.

What have I learnt? Many things! But of importance is this: understanding is a process. If you speak out, try and make some decisive action when you do not understand then you are likely to get it completely wrong. There are seasons for inactivity and silence which need to be adhered to, waiting on God to move or to reveal more before we do. There is a time to be silent and a time to speak (Ecc 3:7). We often get those 2 things mixed up.

Peter should have shut up and watched and listened. He was learning just like us.

Why did Elijah and Moses join Jesus on the mountain?

Mark 9:4 “And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.”

We know from Luke’s account (chapter 9) that they were talking about Jesus’ departure (literally his exodus from the earth, an interesting point for Moses!). Were they talking about this for the benefit of Jesus? Was this some kind of Gethsemane moment when Jesus needed some friends of heaven to encourage him? I don’t think so, this was transfigured, divine Jesus, the glory of God was all over him. He would soon be in need but not here on this mountaintop.

Was this meeting for the benefit of Elijah and Moses? Well, maybe. For both of them were Israel’s heroes who not only were believed to have never died but they had never seen the glory of God though they had requested it. Moses was hid in the rocks as God passed by and Elijah heard a gentle whisper of God when He came to him. But here they are standing in front of transfigured Jesus, whose clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them! Here is now their moment, they get to see on earth the glory of God, the eternal Son.

Was this meeting for the benefit of the disciples and essentially for us? I would say YES!

Here with Jesus is Moses, the Law-giver and Elijah the representation of the Prophets. Soon they will all hear the voice announcing who Jesus is as He steps forward and the Law and the Prophets reach their fulfilment in Him, they become complete in Jesus.

What does this mean?

As followers of Jesus, into our surrendered life, our cross, we need to keep focused on Him.

As we do this we fulfil Gods directives for our life (the Law) and also His destiny for us (the Prophets). So as we worship Jesus today, once again laying our lives down before Him, surrendering our lives, let us acknowledge His Word and His Spirit that continue to point us to Him who gave His everything for us.

With eyes on Jesus let the Bible continue to be the lamp to our feet and the Holy Spirit be the empowerment that we need within.