WWJ-33
001001AM
Mark the Failure Ā Ā Part 33 (001001 AM ) Return to previous Page | Print Listen: (To download Right-click here and choose “Save As”) Purchase this single sermon on CD This morning as we open our Bibles there is a name linked to the book we are studying.Ā WeĀ areĀ inĀ theĀ GospelĀ byĀ ____Ā Ā – RIGHT,Ā Mark!Ā Ā For as long as believers live on Earth we will call these 16 chapters that capture Christ through the eyes of Peter, and under the flawless breath of God’s Spirit. But always it will be remembered that they were from the pen of Mark. So as the words of the Gospel by Mark lay before us, we are faced this morning with a sobering reminderĀ ofĀ ourĀ GraciousĀ God.Ā LookĀ whoĀ GodĀ used!Ā To study the Gospel by MARK, we need to start at Acts 12:24-25. Let’s stand to read God’sĀ Word!Ā Wow, the 1st Missionary Journey. Can you see the glow in Mark”s eyes? Led to Christ by no less than the Apostle Peter. Discipled by his uncle Barnabus – who is now taking him along. Going on the historic trip with Paul ā the greatest man in the entire Roman Empire, evenĀ rulersĀ trembledĀ beforeĀ him.Ā Ā Now Acts 13:13 he quits. Just a slight mention of cutting out, heading home. Then it happens, his choice splits the greatest evangelistic team in history Acts 15:36- 40.Ā Branded by all who may have known him, Mark the Quitter, the Fearful, and the Failure.Ā Twenty years have passed. As Mark sat to capture the words of Peter, inspired by God’ Spirit the start of over 600 miles of catacombs under the city of Rome had been startedĀ byĀ ChristiansĀ facingĀ persecution.Ā The world that Mark served the Lord in was a terrible time in history. One of the most memorable pages of the History of Christ’s Church are the 0 years from AD 60 and 70. For half those years the hatred and evils of Nero had led to the random acts of fierce persecution upon Christians. Across the city of Rome believers were killed from the arenas to the prisons. For his evening dinner guests Nero would have the followers of Jesus dipped in tar and burned alive in sticks as torches in Nero’s gardens. For the delight of the masses in the games, Christians were wrapped in animalĀ skinsĀ andĀ chasedĀ toĀ deathĀ byĀ wildĀ beasts.Ā Ā Have you pondered how hard it must have been to be a Christian in those ten years? Yet in that dangerous time to even be a believer, Mark boldly wrote to the Romans of Jesus, the Servant Savior. And he did so seated next to Pater who had become the “Most Wanted” man of the day. Mark demonstrated the holy boldness ChristĀ canĀ bringĀ intoĀ theĀ livesĀ ofĀ HisĀ children.Ā Ten generations of Christians, starting with Mark’s generation, built and inhabited the Catacombs over a period of 300 years. In the early centuries of the church, the catacombs served as meeting and burial places for perhaps as many as four million Christians. A common inscription found on walls there is “The Word of God is not bound.ā This hope shared by all believers was captured in the famous hymn āA Mighty Fortress Is Our God,ā as Martin Luther declared, āThe body they may kill; Godās truth abideth still.ā Branded by all who may have known him, Mark the Quitter, the Fearful, and the Failure. This same Mark writes a biography of encouragement to those living through the Roman persecutions and beyond. He weaves together Peter’s eyewitness accounts, and the Holy Spirit’s revelations into a fabric that portrays Jesus as the One who has suffered and triumphed for us. So Privacy Policy Ā |Ā Contact UsĀ Ā |Ā Ā We BelieveĀ Ā |Ā Ā About UsĀ Ā |Ā Ā Support DTBM SEARCH: go HOMEĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā BROADCASTĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā PODCASTSĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā VIDEOSĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā SERMONSĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā SERMON SERIESĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā PDF LIBRARYĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā SHOPĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā HOLY LAND TRIPSĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā John’sĀ Schedule Subscribe to Living Hope daily devotionals Check out our daily Living Hope devotional message in both print and audio link. Start your day or add to your day a moment in God’s Word! The archived devotional messages are here. ā¢ Current Broadcast ā¢ Previous Broadcasts ā¢ Podcasts ā¢ Featured Series ā¢ All Series ā¢ This Week’s Sermon ā¢ All Sermons Sermons in this series (click to see details): Part:Ā 71Ā Unceasing Thanksgiving Part:Ā 45Ā Do You Have A Personal Relationship With Jesus? Part:Ā 40Ā A Man Called Peter Part:Ā 39Ā What Can God do with Failures? Part:Ā 35Ā The Master’s Men: Drawn Part:Ā 34Ā The Master’s Men: LOYAL Part:Ā 33Ā Mark the Failure Part:Ā 32Ā Resting Our Weary Minds Part:Ā 31Ā Resting In God – Sabbath Pictures Part:Ā 30Ā Resting In God – Sabbath Plans Part:Ā 29Ā Resting In GodSabbath Thieves Part:Ā 28Ā Resting In GodSabbath Blessings Part:Ā 27Ā Resting In GodSabbath? Part:Ā 26Ā How to Slow Life Down Part:Ā 25Ā Jesus Defines the Sabbath Part:Ā 24Ā How To Start a Hunger for God Now! Part:Ā 23Ā How to Hunger For God Part:Ā 22Ā What is Hungering For God? Part:Ā 21Ā Why Hunger for God? Part:Ā 20Ā Matthew: Following Jesus Part:Ā 19Ā Communion Declares Christ’s Finished Work Part:Ā 18Ā Who Are You Bringing To Jesus? Part:Ā 17Ā Have You Been Touched By Jesus? Part:Ā 16Ā The Message of Jesus-Part B Part:Ā 16Ā The Message of Jesus-Part B Part:Ā 15Ā The Message of Jesus- Part A Part:Ā 14Ā The Solitary Place: Alone with God Part:Ā 13Ā Capernaum: Living in the Town of Jesus Part:Ā 12Ā Are You Fishing For Eternal Souls? Part:Ā 11Ā The Three Crosses Part:Ā 10Ā Palm Sunday: God’s Appointed Day Part:Ā 9Ā The Message of Jesus Part:Ā 8Ā The Temptation of Christ: Resisting Satan’s Attacks Part:Ā 7Ā The Baptism Of Jesus Part:Ā 6Ā Baptism: John’s and Christ’s Part:Ā 5Ā John the Baptist: He Must Increase Part:Ā 4Ā Who Was Mark? Part:Ā 3Ā Mining For Gold in the Gospels Part:Ā 2Ā Mining For Gold in the Gospels Part:Ā 1Ā Walking With Jesus Mark the Failure Ā Ā Part 33 (001001 AM ) Return to previous Page | Print Listen: (To download Right-click here and choose “Save As”) Purchase this single sermon on CD This morning as we open our Bibles there is a name linked to the book we are studying.Ā WeĀ areĀ inĀ theĀ GospelĀ byĀ ____Ā Ā – RIGHT,Ā Mark!Ā Ā For as long as believers live on Earth we will call these 16 chapters that capture Christ through the eyes of Peter, and under the flawless breath of God’s Spirit. But always it will be remembered that they were from the pen of Mark. So as the words of the Gospel by Mark lay before us, we are faced this morning with a sobering reminderĀ ofĀ ourĀ GraciousĀ God.Ā LookĀ whoĀ GodĀ used!Ā To study the Gospel by MARK, we need to start at Acts 12:24-25. Let’s stand to read God’sĀ Word!Ā Wow, the 1st Missionary Journey. Can you see the glow in Mark”s eyes? Led to Christ by no less than the Apostle Peter. Discipled by his uncle Barnabus – who is now taking him along. Going on the historic trip with Paul ā the greatest man in the entire Roman Empire, evenĀ rulersĀ trembledĀ beforeĀ him.Ā Ā Now Acts 13:13 he quits. Just a slight mention of cutting out, heading home. Then it happens, his choice splits the greatest evangelistic team in history Acts 15:36- 40.Ā Branded by all who may have known him, Mark the Quitter, the Fearful, and the Failure.Ā Twenty years have passed. As Mark sat to capture the words of Peter, inspired by God’ Spirit the start of over 600 miles of catacombs under the city of Rome had been startedĀ byĀ ChristiansĀ facingĀ persecution.Ā The world that Mark served the Lord in was a terrible time in history. One of the most memorable pages of the History of Christ’s Church are the 0 years from AD 60 and 70. For half those years the hatred and evils of Nero had led to the random acts of fierce persecution upon Christians. Across the city of Rome believers were killed from the arenas to the prisons. For his evening dinner guests Nero would have the followers of Jesus dipped in tar and burned alive in sticks as torches in Nero’s gardens. For the delight of the masses in the games, Christians were wrapped in animalĀ skinsĀ andĀ chasedĀ toĀ deathĀ byĀ wildĀ beasts.Ā Ā Have you pondered how hard it must have been to be a Christian in those ten years? Yet in that dangerous time to even be a believer, Mark boldly wrote to the Romans of Jesus, the Servant Savior. And he did so seated next to Pater who had become the “Most Wanted” man of the day. Mark demonstrated the holy boldness ChristĀ canĀ bringĀ intoĀ theĀ livesĀ ofĀ HisĀ children.Ā Ten generations of Christians, starting with Mark’s generation, built and inhabited the Catacombs over a period of 300 years. In the early centuries of the church, the catacombs served as meeting and burial places for perhaps as many as four million Christians. A common inscription found on walls there is “The Word of God is not bound.ā This hope shared by all believers was captured in the famous hymn āA Mighty Fortress Is Our God,ā as Martin Luther declared, āThe body they may kill; Godās truth abideth still.ā Branded by all who may have known him, Mark the Quitter, the Fearful, and the Failure. This same Mark writes a biography of encouragement to those living through the Roman persecutions and beyond. He weaves together Peter’s eyewitness accounts, and the Holy Spirit’s revelations into a fabric that portrays Jesus as the One who has suffered and triumphed for us. So we who are His can suffer and triumph through Him.Ā Is Mark unique? No! Apart[1] from the brief ministry of His own Son, the history of Godās work on earth is the history of His using the unqualified. Even the twelve disciples who became apostles were no exception. From the human standpoint they had few characteristics or abilities that qualified them for leadership and service. Yet God used those men, just as He did Noah, Abraham, and the others, in marvelous ways to do His work. God picks normal people and pours His grace on them. Satan wants our sins and failures to convince us to give up. But one look at the people of the Bible should defeat that temptation. The work of God is performed by weak individuals like us, surrendered to the God whose power is perfected in manās weakness (2 Cor. 12:9). God has always had only weak and sinful humans to work with.Ā ListenĀ toĀ theĀ teamĀ GodĀ hasĀ usedĀ toĀ winĀ theĀ championships:Ā l As soon as God delivered Noah and his family through the Flood, Noah became drunk andĀ actedĀ indecently.Ā Ā l God uses a doubting and sometimes disobedient dad named Abraham to be the father of the faithful, he doubted God, lied about his wife, and committed adultery with her maid.Ā Ā l IsaacĀ toldĀ aĀ similarĀ lieĀ aboutĀ hisĀ wifeĀ whenĀ heĀ thoughtĀ hisĀ lifeĀ wasĀ inĀ danger.Ā Ā l Jacob took advantage of his brother Esauās weakness and extorted the birthright from him,Ā soĀ heĀ wasĀ aĀ cheatĀ andĀ liarĀ andĀ yetĀ becomesĀ theĀ fatherĀ ofĀ God’sĀ peopleĀ Israel.Ā l Moses was a murderer, and in pride he struck the rock instead of speaking to it as God had instructed, dragged his feet in obedience yet led and taught the people knowingĀ GodĀ faceĀ toĀ face.Ā l His brother, Aaron, the first high priest, led Israel in erecting and worshiping the goldenĀ calfĀ atĀ theĀ veryĀ timeĀ MosesĀ wasĀ onĀ MountĀ SinaiĀ receivingĀ theĀ lawĀ fromĀ God.Ā Ā l Joshua was fooled into disobeyed the Lord by making a treaty with the Gibeonites insteadĀ ofĀ destroyingĀ them.Ā l Gideon had trouble trusting God at first, had little confidence in himself and even less in GodāsĀ planĀ andĀ power.Ā Ā l SamsonĀ wasĀ repeatedlyĀ beguiledĀ byĀ DelilahĀ becauseĀ ofĀ hisĀ greatĀ lustĀ forĀ her.Ā Ā l David was a ladies man, committed adultery and murder, was an almost total failure asĀ aĀ father,Ā andĀ wasĀ notĀ allowedĀ toĀ buildĀ theĀ TempleĀ becauseĀ heĀ wasĀ aĀ manĀ ofĀ blood.Ā Ā l Elijah stood fearlessly before 450 false prophets but cowered before one woman, Jezebel. From the exhilaration of Mt. Carmelās victory he plunged so soon into deep depression. Elijah should encourage us all. James 5:17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land forĀ threeĀ yearsĀ andĀ sixĀ months.Ā NKJV.Ā Ā Why?Ā BecauseĀ GodĀ saysĀ heĀ hadĀ aĀ natureĀ likeĀ ours. āSubject to like passionsā homiopathesĀ lit.Ā OfĀ theĀ sameĀ experience!Ā Ā Ā l EzekielĀ wasĀ brash,Ā crusty,Ā andĀ quickĀ toĀ speakĀ hisĀ mind.Ā Ā l Jonah defied Godās call to preach to the Ninevites and resented His grace when they wereĀ convertedĀ throughĀ hisĀ preaching.Ā All this to say the key is not the person God uses, it is the Lord! We are all unqualified to do what needs to be done so the key is a willing and responsive heart. That is all God is looking for! What happens when we let Him use us? Great things!Ā Mark’s Gospel is encouraging.Ā Ā Ā First we see that God wants to use ordinary people. The Gospel by Mark is the book of God’s Word written as the Holy Spirit inspired John Mark. According to Colossians 4:10, he was Barnabasā young cousin. He evidently came from a well-to-do family in Jerusalem and had been privy to the great goings-onĀ inĀ theĀ HolyĀ City.Ā Ā Secondly, we see God wants to use those we might call failures. Virtually everyone agrees that the author was John Mark, a young man who had a shaky beginning in the ministry when he abandoned Paul on the apostleās first missionary trip and decided to return home (Acts 13:13). So, before Mark wrote this Gospel he was a drop out from ministry. Paul was so unhappy with Mark that he refused to take him on the second journey, thus beginning a bitter quarrel between Paul and Barnabas which ended with Paul and Silas going one way and Barnabas and Mark another (Acts 15:36ā41). Although intimate details are lacking, Paul and John Mark later reconciledĀ whenĀ PaulĀ wasĀ inĀ prisonĀ inĀ Rome.Ā Ā Next, we see how greatly God wants to use young people in ministry. When the Apostle Peter was writing 1 Peter in Rome, he affectionately called Mark his son (1 Peter 5:13). It was Markās close relationship with Peter, which motivated and enabled him to write an intimate portrait of Christ. How Mark had changed from that 1 st missionary trip with Paul. Back then he was probably enamored with the romance of the venture. In his mind he saw himself accompanying Barnabas and Paul as they conquered the world. He probably expected to see the miracle of the Antioch church duplicated elsewhere. There was also the appeal of a cruise to far off places, sights and experiences. But once on the missionary journey, reality quickly set in. They all became tired, even exhausted. The accommodations were not always the best, and soon the romance was gone. Mark began to wonder why he had come on this trip. And soon bails out. All of that is recorded in Acts 15:37-40. So again God shows He is the God of the 2nd chance, and 3rdĀ andĀ onĀ andĀ on.Ā HisĀ mercyĀ enduresĀ forever.Ā One final thought about Mark. Remember the Book of Acts tells us he was a quitter, a drop out. He was not useful at one time in ministry. But have you thought about how gracious our God is? Every time we read this book we are experiencing the result of God’s transforming grace. History records the path of Mark. Mark the failed follower of Christ, becomes Mark the forgiven follower, becomes Mark the devoted disciple, becomes the man who writes what may be called the premier biography of Jesus Christ, and finally becomes Mark the honored martyr. Ā Mark’sĀ BookĀ shouldĀ remindĀ usĀ ofĀ Mark’sĀ GodĀ whoĀ canĀ encourageĀ allĀ ofĀ usĀ toĀ keepĀ going.Ā ListenĀ toĀ theĀ poetĀ whoĀ said:Ā They on the heights are not the souls Who never erred or went astray, Or reached those high rewarding goals Along a smooth, flower-bordered way. Nay, they who stand where first comes dawn Are those who stumbled but went on. Mark’s gospel is exciting. Why? Because it is the apostle Peter recounting the greatestĀ storyĀ everĀ told.Ā Ā IfĀ youĀ willĀ letĀ him,Ā MarkĀ willĀ letĀ youĀ see,Ā feelĀ andĀ experience what it was like to walk around Israel watching God in a body, right here on earth. This gospel is Peter’s dramatic, vivid, full of color action packed video that takes us onĀ anĀ eyeĀ witnessĀ journeyĀ withĀ noneĀ otherĀ thanĀ theĀ LordĀ ofĀ Glory,Ā JesusĀ Christ.Ā Ā In a gospel written from Peterās words to the fast paced Roman Empire, Jesus is constantly in action! Mark, perhaps the first gospel account written, opens with: The beginningĀ ofĀ theĀ gospelĀ aboutĀ JesusĀ Christ,Ā theĀ SonĀ ofĀ God.”Ā Ā GodĀ HimselfĀ ratifiesĀ the declaration in 1:11:Ā “YouĀ areĀ myĀ Son,Ā whomĀ IĀ loveĶ¾Ā withĀ youĀ IĀ amĀ wellĀ pleased.”Ā Mark joins the other three Evangelists who record Christ’s ministry to the four groups of people then and now in the world. 1.Ā Ā TheĀ Jews,Ā whoĀ lovedĀ theĀ ScripturesĀ andĀ theĀ propheciesĀ ofĀ God,Ā wouldĀ onlyĀ listenĀ to one of their own. So Matthew speaks to the deeply religious Jews and the deeply religious of our day. 2.Ā Ā Mark spoke to the Romans. These were the leaders and leadership and action impressed them. They knew nothing of Scriptures but everything of power. So to this group comes the action packed Gospel of the powerful ministry of Christ. Mark uses the word āandā 1,375 times to tie together the endless actions of Christ. Like our modern successful businessman and woman, they want a God who can powerfully meet their deepest needs. 3.Ā Ā Luke was a Greek speaking to the Greeks. The Greeks loved culture, beauty and ideas. Happiness could be found in the pursuit of truth. Luke fills his book with insights, interviews, songs and details that fascinate the inquiring mind. So today the truth seekers find Jesus in Luke! 4.Ā Ā John wrote to everyone, because everyone needs to meet God and only Jesus can reveal Him. In this book we meet an absolutely powerful God in human flesh who controls and rules the Universe He created. So the best known verse is the best of all offer that God loves all and offers all — HisĀ SonĀ asĀ theirĀ onlyĀ hope!Ā Mark uses a simple three-part outline: 1.Ā Ā TheĀ BirthĀ andĀ PreparationĀ ofĀ Servant Jesus 1:1 – 13; 2.Ā Ā ServantĀ JesusĀ SpeaksĀ and Serves 1:14 – 13:37; 3.Ā Ā ServantĀ JesusĀ SuffersĀ andĀ TriumphsĀ inĀ Passion Week 14:1 – 16:20.Ā Ā Ā But every time we open to the Gospel by Mark we remember that in one way or another, all of us too have stumbled. And for each of us, John Markās triumph by God’sĀ graceĀ isĀ anĀ incredibleĀ sourceĀ ofĀ encouragement.Ā If we were to sum up the entire Gospel by Mark in a verse it would be “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.ā (Mark 10:45)Ā [1]Ā Ā AdaptedĀ fromĀ MacArthur,Ā JohnĀ F.,Ā The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Matthew 10, (Chicago: Moody Press) 1983 Send this page to a friend Home | About Us | We Believe | Contact Us | Tulsa Bible Church | Grace To You Ā©Ā 2007 – Discover the Book Ministries. All Rights Reserved. Site hosting by FamilyNet | Site development by Brent Riggs Comments, suggestions, concerns about this page? Contact the Web Manager http://www.discoverthebook.org/sermons_read.asp?id=1090 Page 2 / 3 Privacy Policy Ā |Ā Contact UsĀ Ā |Ā Ā We BelieveĀ Ā |Ā Ā About UsĀ Ā |Ā Ā Support DTBM SEARCH: go HOMEĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā BROADCASTĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā PODCASTSĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā VIDEOSĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā SERMONSĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā SERMON SERIESĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā PDF LIBRARYĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā SHOPĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā HOLY LAND TRIPSĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā John’sĀ Schedule Subscribe to Living Hope daily devotionals Check out our daily Living Hope devotional message in both print and audio link. Start your day or add to your day a moment in God’s Word! The archived devotional messages are here. ā¢ Current Broadcast ā¢ Previous Broadcasts ā¢ Podcasts ā¢ Featured Series ā¢ All Series ā¢ This Week’s Sermon ā¢ All Sermons Sermons in this series (click to see details): Part:Ā 71Ā Unceasing Thanksgiving Part:Ā 45Ā Do You Have A Personal Relationship With Jesus? Part:Ā 40Ā A Man Called Peter Part:Ā 39Ā What Can God do with Failures? Part:Ā 35Ā The Master’s Men: Drawn Part:Ā 34Ā The Master’s Men: LOYAL Part:Ā 33Ā Mark the Failure Part:Ā 32Ā Resting Our Weary Minds Part:Ā 31Ā Resting In God – Sabbath Pictures Part:Ā 30Ā Resting In God – Sabbath Plans Part:Ā 29Ā Resting In GodSabbath Thieves Part:Ā 28Ā Resting In GodSabbath Blessings Part:Ā 27Ā Resting In GodSabbath? Part:Ā 26Ā How to Slow Life Down Part:Ā 25Ā Jesus Defines the Sabbath Part:Ā 24Ā How To Start a Hunger for God Now! Part:Ā 23Ā How to Hunger For God Part:Ā 22Ā What is Hungering For God? Part:Ā 21Ā Why Hunger for God? Part:Ā 20Ā Matthew: Following Jesus Part:Ā 19Ā Communion Declares Christ’s Finished Work Part:Ā 18Ā Who Are You Bringing To Jesus? Part:Ā 17Ā Have You Been Touched By Jesus? Part:Ā 16Ā The Message of Jesus-Part B Part:Ā 16Ā The Message of Jesus-Part B Part:Ā 15Ā The Message of Jesus- Part A Part:Ā 14Ā The Solitary Place: Alone with God Part:Ā 13Ā Capernaum: Living in the Town of Jesus Part:Ā 12Ā Are You Fishing For Eternal Souls? Part:Ā 11Ā The Three Crosses Part:Ā 10Ā Palm Sunday: God’s Appointed Day Part:Ā 9Ā The Message of Jesus Part:Ā 8Ā The Temptation of Christ: Resisting Satan’s Attacks Part:Ā 7Ā The Baptism Of Jesus Part:Ā 6Ā Baptism: John’s and Christ’s Part:Ā 5Ā John the Baptist: He Must Increase Part:Ā 4Ā Who Was Mark? Part:Ā 3Ā Mining For Gold in the Gospels Part:Ā 2Ā Mining For Gold in the Gospels Part:Ā 1Ā Walking With Jesus Mark the Failure Ā Ā Part 33 (001001 AM ) Return to previous Page | Print Listen: (To download Right-click here and choose “Save As”) Purchase this single sermon on CD This morning as we open our Bibles there is a name linked to the book we are studying.Ā WeĀ areĀ inĀ theĀ GospelĀ byĀ ____Ā Ā – RIGHT,Ā Mark!Ā Ā For as long as believers live on Earth we will call these 16 chapters that capture Christ through the eyes of Peter, and under the flawless breath of God’s Spirit. But always it will be remembered that they were from the pen of Mark. So as the words of the Gospel by Mark lay before us, we are faced this morning with a sobering reminderĀ ofĀ ourĀ GraciousĀ God.Ā LookĀ whoĀ GodĀ used!Ā To study the Gospel by MARK, we need to start at Acts 12:24-25. Let’s stand to read God’sĀ Word!Ā Wow, the 1st Missionary Journey. Can you see the glow in Mark”s eyes? Led to Christ by no less than the Apostle Peter. Discipled by his uncle Barnabus – who is now taking him along. Going on the historic trip with Paul ā the greatest man in the entire Roman Empire, evenĀ rulersĀ trembledĀ beforeĀ him.Ā Ā Now Acts 13:13 he quits. Just a slight mention of cutting out, heading home. Then it happens, his choice splits the greatest evangelistic team in history Acts 15:36- 40.Ā Branded by all who may have known him, Mark the Quitter, the Fearful, and the Failure.Ā Twenty years have passed. As Mark sat to capture the words of Peter, inspired by God’ Spirit the start of over 600 miles of catacombs under the city of Rome had been startedĀ byĀ ChristiansĀ facingĀ persecution.Ā The world that Mark served the Lord in was a terrible time in history. One of the most memorable pages of the History of Christ’s Church are the 0 years from AD 60 and 70. For half those years the hatred and evils of Nero had led to the random acts of fierce persecution upon Christians. Across the city of Rome believers were killed from the arenas to the prisons. For his evening dinner guests Nero would have the followers of Jesus dipped in tar and burned alive in sticks as torches in Nero’s gardens. For the delight of the masses in the games, Christians were wrapped in animalĀ skinsĀ andĀ chasedĀ toĀ deathĀ byĀ wildĀ beasts.Ā Ā Have you pondered how hard it must have been to be a Christian in those ten years? Yet in that dangerous time to even be a believer, Mark boldly wrote to the Romans of Jesus, the Servant Savior. And he did so seated next to Pater who had become the “Most Wanted” man of the day. Mark demonstrated the holy boldness ChristĀ canĀ bringĀ intoĀ theĀ livesĀ ofĀ HisĀ children.Ā Ten generations of Christians, starting with Mark’s generation, built and inhabited the Catacombs over a period of 300 years. In the early centuries of the church, the catacombs served as meeting and burial places for perhaps as many as four million Christians. A common inscription found on walls there is “The Word of God is not bound.ā This hope shared by all believers was captured in the famous hymn āA Mighty Fortress Is Our God,ā as Martin Luther declared, āThe body they may kill; Godās truth abideth still.ā Branded by all who may have known him, Mark the Quitter, the Fearful, and the Failure. This same Mark writes a biography of encouragement to those living through the Roman persecutions and beyond. He weaves together Peter’s eyewitness accounts, and the Holy Spirit’s revelations into a fabric that portrays Jesus as the One who has suffered and triumphed for us. So we who are His can suffer and triumph through Him.Ā Is Mark unique? No! Apart[1] from the brief ministry of His own Son, the history of Godās work on earth is the history of His using the unqualified. Even the twelve disciples who became apostles were no exception. From the human standpoint they had few characteristics or abilities that qualified them for leadership and service. Yet God used those men, just as He did Noah, Abraham, and the others, in marvelous ways to do His work. God picks normal people and pours His grace on them. Satan wants our sins and failures to convince us to give up. But one look at the people of the Bible should defeat that temptation. The work of God is performed by weak individuals like us, surrendered to the God whose power is perfected in manās weakness (2 Cor. 12:9). God has always had only weak and sinful humans to work with.Ā ListenĀ toĀ theĀ teamĀ GodĀ hasĀ usedĀ toĀ winĀ theĀ championships:Ā l As soon as God delivered Noah and his family through the Flood, Noah became drunk andĀ actedĀ indecently.Ā Ā l God uses a doubting and sometimes disobedient dad named Abraham to be the father of the faithful, he doubted God, lied about his wife, and committed adultery with her maid.Ā Ā l IsaacĀ toldĀ aĀ similarĀ lieĀ aboutĀ hisĀ wifeĀ whenĀ heĀ thoughtĀ hisĀ lifeĀ wasĀ inĀ danger.Ā Ā l Jacob took advantage of his brother Esauās weakness and extorted the birthright from him,Ā soĀ heĀ wasĀ aĀ cheatĀ andĀ liarĀ andĀ yetĀ becomesĀ theĀ fatherĀ ofĀ God’sĀ peopleĀ Israel.Ā l Moses was a murderer, and in pride he struck the rock instead of speaking to it as God had instructed, dragged his feet in obedience yet led and taught the people knowingĀ GodĀ faceĀ toĀ face.Ā l His brother, Aaron, the first high priest, led Israel in erecting and worshiping the goldenĀ calfĀ atĀ theĀ veryĀ timeĀ MosesĀ wasĀ onĀ MountĀ SinaiĀ receivingĀ theĀ lawĀ fromĀ God.Ā Ā l Joshua was fooled into disobeyed the Lord by making a treaty with the Gibeonites insteadĀ ofĀ destroyingĀ them.Ā l Gideon had trouble trusting God at first, had little confidence in himself and even less in GodāsĀ planĀ andĀ power.Ā Ā l SamsonĀ wasĀ repeatedlyĀ beguiledĀ byĀ DelilahĀ becauseĀ ofĀ hisĀ greatĀ lustĀ forĀ her.Ā Ā l David was a ladies man, committed adultery and murder, was an almost total failure asĀ aĀ father,Ā andĀ wasĀ notĀ allowedĀ toĀ buildĀ theĀ TempleĀ becauseĀ heĀ wasĀ aĀ manĀ ofĀ blood.Ā Ā l Elijah stood fearlessly before 450 false prophets but cowered before one woman, Jezebel. From the exhilaration of Mt. Carmelās victory he plunged so soon into deep depression. Elijah should encourage us all. James 5:17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land forĀ threeĀ yearsĀ andĀ sixĀ months.Ā NKJV.Ā Ā Why?Ā BecauseĀ GodĀ saysĀ heĀ hadĀ aĀ natureĀ likeĀ ours. āSubject to like passionsā homiopathesĀ lit.Ā OfĀ theĀ sameĀ experience!Ā Ā Ā l EzekielĀ wasĀ brash,Ā crusty,Ā andĀ quickĀ toĀ speakĀ hisĀ mind.Ā Ā l Jonah defied Godās call to preach to the Ninevites and resented His grace when they wereĀ convertedĀ throughĀ hisĀ preaching.Ā All this to say the key is not the person God uses, it is the Lord! We are all unqualified to do what needs to be done so the key is a willing and responsive heart. That is all God is looking for! What happens when we let Him use us? Great things!Ā Mark’s Gospel is encouraging.Ā Ā Ā First we see that God wants to use ordinary people. The Gospel by Mark is the book of God’s Word written as the Holy Spirit inspired John Mark. According to Colossians 4:10, he was Barnabasā young cousin. He evidently came from a well-to-do family in Jerusalem and had been privy to the great goings-onĀ inĀ theĀ HolyĀ City.Ā Ā Secondly, we see God wants to use those we might call failures. Virtually everyone agrees that the author was John Mark, a young man who had a shaky beginning in the ministry when he abandoned Paul on the apostleās first missionary trip and decided to return home (Acts 13:13). So, before Mark wrote this Gospel he was a drop out from ministry. Paul was so unhappy with Mark that he refused to take him on the second journey, thus beginning a bitter quarrel between Paul and Barnabas which ended with Paul and Silas going one way and Barnabas and Mark another (Acts 15:36ā41). Although intimate details are lacking, Paul and John Mark later reconciledĀ whenĀ PaulĀ wasĀ inĀ prisonĀ inĀ Rome.Ā Ā Next, we see how greatly God wants to use young people in ministry. When the Apostle Peter was writing 1 Peter in Rome, he affectionately called Mark his son (1 Peter 5:13). It was Markās close relationship with Peter, which motivated and enabled him to write an intimate portrait of Christ. How Mark had changed from that 1 st missionary trip with Paul. Back then he was probably enamored with the romance of the venture. In his mind he saw himself accompanying Barnabas and Paul as they conquered the world. He probably expected to see the miracle of the Antioch church duplicated elsewhere. There was also the appeal of a cruise to far off places, sights and experiences. But once on the missionary journey, reality quickly set in. They all became tired, even exhausted. The accommodations were not always the best, and soon the romance was gone. Mark began to wonder why he had come on this trip. And soon bails out. All of that is recorded in Acts 15:37-40. So again God shows He is the God of the 2nd chance, and 3rdĀ andĀ onĀ andĀ on.Ā HisĀ mercyĀ enduresĀ forever.Ā One final thought about Mark. Remember the Book of Acts tells us he was a quitter, a drop out. He was not useful at one time in ministry. But have you thought about how gracious our God is? Every time we read this book we are experiencing the result of God’s transforming grace. History records the path of Mark. Mark the failed follower of Christ, becomes Mark the forgiven follower, becomes Mark the devoted disciple, becomes the man who writes what may be called the premier biography of Jesus Christ, and finally becomes Mark the honored martyr. Ā Mark’sĀ BookĀ shouldĀ remindĀ usĀ ofĀ Mark’sĀ GodĀ whoĀ canĀ encourageĀ allĀ ofĀ usĀ toĀ keepĀ going.Ā ListenĀ toĀ theĀ poetĀ whoĀ said:Ā They on the heights are not the souls Who never erred or went astray, Or reached those high rewarding goals Along a smooth, flower-bordered way. Nay, they who stand where first comes dawn Are those who stumbled but went on. Mark’s gospel is exciting. Why? Because it is the apostle Peter recounting the greatestĀ storyĀ everĀ told.Ā Ā IfĀ youĀ willĀ letĀ him,Ā MarkĀ willĀ letĀ youĀ see,Ā feelĀ andĀ experience what it was like to walk around Israel watching God in a body, right here on earth. This gospel is Peter’s dramatic, vivid, full of color action packed video that takes us onĀ anĀ eyeĀ witnessĀ journeyĀ withĀ noneĀ otherĀ thanĀ theĀ LordĀ ofĀ Glory,Ā JesusĀ Christ.Ā Ā In a gospel written from Peterās words to the fast paced Roman Empire, Jesus is constantly in action! Mark, perhaps the first gospel account written, opens with: The beginningĀ ofĀ theĀ gospelĀ aboutĀ JesusĀ Christ,Ā theĀ SonĀ ofĀ God.”Ā Ā GodĀ HimselfĀ ratifiesĀ the declaration in 1:11:Ā “YouĀ areĀ myĀ Son,Ā whomĀ IĀ loveĶ¾Ā withĀ youĀ IĀ amĀ wellĀ pleased.”Ā Mark joins the other three Evangelists who record Christ’s ministry to the four groups of people then and now in the world. 1.Ā Ā TheĀ Jews,Ā whoĀ lovedĀ theĀ ScripturesĀ andĀ theĀ propheciesĀ ofĀ God,Ā wouldĀ onlyĀ listenĀ to one of their own. So Matthew speaks to the deeply religious Jews and the deeply religious of our day. 2.Ā Ā Mark spoke to the Romans. These were the leaders and leadership and action impressed them. They knew nothing of Scriptures but everything of power. So to this group comes the action packed Gospel of the powerful ministry of Christ. Mark uses the word āandā 1,375 times to tie together the endless actions of Christ. Like our modern successful businessman and woman, they want a God who can powerfully meet their deepest needs. 3.Ā Ā Luke was a Greek speaking to the Greeks. The Greeks loved culture, beauty and ideas. Happiness could be found in the pursuit of truth. Luke fills his book with insights, interviews, songs and details that fascinate the inquiring mind. So today the truth seekers find Jesus in Luke! 4.Ā Ā John wrote to everyone, because everyone needs to meet God and only Jesus can reveal Him. In this book we meet an absolutely powerful God in human flesh who controls and rules the Universe He created. So the best known verse is the best of all offer that God loves all and offers all — HisĀ SonĀ asĀ theirĀ onlyĀ hope!Ā Mark uses a simple three-part outline: 1.Ā Ā TheĀ BirthĀ andĀ PreparationĀ ofĀ Servant Jesus 1:1 – 13; 2.Ā Ā ServantĀ JesusĀ SpeaksĀ and Serves 1:14 – 13:37; 3.Ā Ā ServantĀ JesusĀ SuffersĀ andĀ TriumphsĀ inĀ Passion Week 14:1 – 16:20.Ā Ā Ā But every time we open to the Gospel by Mark we remember that in one way or another, all of us too have stumbled. And for each of us, John Markās triumph by God’sĀ graceĀ isĀ anĀ incredibleĀ sourceĀ ofĀ encouragement.Ā If we were to sum up the entire Gospel by Mark in a verse it would be “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.ā (Mark 10:45)Ā [1]Ā Ā AdaptedĀ fromĀ MacArthur,Ā JohnĀ F.,Ā The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Matthew 10, (Chicago: Moody Press) 1983