The Servant's Mission
Book of Mark Chapter 2
As we go through these lesson's this quarter, we are going to see our Lord Jesus Christ as a Faithful Servant.
As the Lord Jesus is our example in so many things, He is also our example of how to be a servant of God.
He loves us as His dear children, but He expects us to serve Him, not as slaves but out of love and obedience.
We always seem to forget our disobedience is our greatest sin. Just ask Adam.
Before the Lord Jesus ascended back to Heaven, He gave us a job to do.
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
This is the same job our Lord was doing before He went back to Heaven!
What is a servant?
A servant is a person who attends to another person for the purpose of performing menial tasks, at least that is the meaning used by the secular world.
The liberal side of America would tell us that all servants are slaves when a servant is a volunteer to do some work.
A child of God, who is also His servant, is someone who "volunteers" to get involved in the work of our Lord Jesus Christ.
It is the Gospels that teach us how our Lord came here to serve His Father in Heaven, and give us the example we are to follow.
1Pe 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
The Lord Jesus Christ is our Savior, but He is also our loving Master!
Eph 6:5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
Eph 6:6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
Eph 6:7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
We can be servants to the Lord Jesus because we know we are more than servants, we are in the family of God, His brothers, and sisters in Christ.
Somewhat like families, who follow in the footsteps of a parent who has done well, we are to follow in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus Christ.
**So, it is a family thing! We do the work that our family does that our Father in Heaven has decided, and His Son Jesus has shown us how to do it right!
Our Father in Heaven is in the saving business and we are to follow Him and be in His saving business.
The first part of chapter two teaches us the healing powers of our Lord, as He heals a man who was paralyzed.
This miracle is so great, not just because this paralyzed man walked under his own power, but we see that word immediately, which means old muscles that had not been used and joints that had not had to do any work, all immediately began to work in this body that had been paralyzed.
As this chapter continues our Lord Jesus takes a walk on the shoreline of the Sea of Galilee, but not just a leisurely stroll because Jesus had a purpose behind everything that He did.
*****Mar 2:13 And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them.
By this time, the crowds that followed Jesus were too large to be contained in one home.
By this time, some of the synagogues were closing their doors to the Lord, because He spoke with authority and His message was a message of truth.
This same thing happens in America today, the government and the media decide what is right even when they are wrong and close the doors to the real truth. This is corruption at its highest!
Mar 2:6 But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,
Mar 2:7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?
The people knew better and they flocked to Jesus to hear more about this coming kingdom He spoke of.
When these people had questions, our Lord Jesus could answer them because He knows all.
As a Servant to His Heavenly Father, the Lord Jesus took every opportunity to teach the truth of the Scriptures.
And then, the Lord was also in the process of choosing the twelve disciples who would later become the twelve Apostles at least eleven of them would. One was a traitor!
*****Mar 2:14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.
As the Lord Jesus walked and taught, He passed by a tax collector.
We can see that the Romans had a tax on just about everything like we have today.
Matthew was set up to tax the fishermen for their catch of that day.
Today there is a tax on rainwater in many places, and a tax coming on the gas that comes our farm animals, among other taxes to pay for our free spending government.
Food is already to high.
In fact climate change is more about taxes than it is the truth!
Yes, the climate is changing, it has been changing since the Lord created it.
Yes, to live as humans we do produce some things that could harm our environment if they were in large enough quantities but they are not.
Yes we could do a much better job taking care of our world. We could start by picking up the trash.
We could start by holding companies that pollute our environment accountable.
In fact it will be humans who will destroy our world. We are that foolish. Some governments are bound and determined to destroy our world.
No, it is not humans who are causing the climate change that we are see today.
It is natural elements that drive climate change just as they always have.
At least Rome was building roads to every nation that could be used to spread the Gospel.
We cannot get our own governments to fix the existing roads with the money dedicated for that purpose.
Our government is already plotting some sort of tax on electric vehicles to make up for road taxes on gasoline and diesel fuel that will be lost.
There was this man named Levi who was a tax collector who we know as Matthew.
The Israelites considered all tax collectors as traitors and sinners. They were bitterly hated.
They were looked upon as people who had sold their souls out to Rome.
Most of them were cheats and extortioners who lined their own pockets while collecting taxes for Rome and Rome did not care as long as they got what Rome demanded.
Most of them became wealthy off the backs of the people of their own nations.
We can believe that Matthew was this type of tax collector.
We can also believe that the Lord Jesus was always looking for an opportunity to save a lost soul!
Levi was an outcast and hated by those around him, but the Lord loved him as He did everyone else.
After loving on him for a moment, Jesus simply says, "Follow Me" and Matthew left the taxing table and followed the Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew lived a life of being hated by those around him no matter where he went.
Matthew was surely craving forgiveness!
Jesus tells us all:
Mat 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Mat 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Mat 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
This is the same Matthew who wrote the Gospel that bears his name.
Most people called him Levi, even Mark and Luke, but Jesus called him Matthew and so, this is the name he chose for himself.
The name Matthew means "gift of Jehovah". From then on, Matthew stressed God's great mercy upon him.
Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
The Lord invited Himself to dinner at Matthew's house, and many more tax collectors were there and we see that the Israelites referred to them as "publicans".
*****Mar 2:15 And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.
There were many such men as Levi who were considered outcasts to society, but many of them were like Levi they wanted forgiveness for what they had done.
This dinner became a huge feast.
Luk 5:29 And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them.
Matthew had discovered a peace and a comfort that he had never known, and he reached out to his friends who were like him, so they could learn of the peace that comes from forgiveness.
This world will not show forgiveness unless
It is a life-changing experience when we have a meeting with the Lord Jesus Christ!
Jesus gladly accepted the opportunity to meet with these sinners and Jesus took His own disciples with Him, even though they were wary of being associated with publicans.
Anyone who is willing to confess their sins has a willing ear to listen to them, when that ear belongs to Jesus Christ.
Act 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
Act 17:29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
Act 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
Act 17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
What this modern generation does not understand, especially those who are transgender or gay, is that the Lord Jesus Christ cannot help anyone who is unwilling to confess their sins and repent!
The Church is open to all comers no matter their sin but all those who know the Lord as their Savior have repented and been Born Again.
What did Jesus teach?
Joh_3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
The self-righteous, the self-sufficient, the self-dependent, feel like they have no need to confess their sins and repent of them.
Our Lord Jesus did not ever act above or act better than anyone and this is a great lesson for us all.
Our Lord Jesus also did never compromise His message of repentance!
The Church cannot compromise today or more people will go to Hell because they think they have no need to repent!
The Church must open the doors to all who would enter, no matter their walk in this life, but to be forgiven we must all yield to the Lord's message of confession and repentance.
Our faith must be in the Lord Jesus Christ and the work that He has done for our salvation, and then, we can confess our sins and begin that work of repentance with the help of the Holy Spirit.
Those unwilling to repent will find that they are not saved and in the end the Lord will say "I Never Knew You".
Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Only after confessing the knowledge of the work the Messiah has done for our salvation and repenting of our sinful life, can we become that new person, being "Born Again" into a new life!
Those who are self-righteous will never understand these things!
*****Mar 2:16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?
Mar 2:17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
If we have noticed the things that are happening in America, we must understand that the sins that America winks at are much worse than those that are already condemned.
Self-delusion, that we have no sin, is the sin that cannot be forgiven because it rejects the reason the Lord came in the first place!
Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
There is no one in this world today who is not a sinner!
We can also know that we are to reach out to all sinners outside the Church, but we are not to run with them and partake in their sinful ways.
It is the sinner who can become a disciple and follow the Lord Jesus, and not the other way around.
You see, a religionist who is respectful of the ways of society, will become a judge to those who are trying to reach that society with the Gospel.
Christianity is not a religion; Christianity is medicine for the sin sick soul!
Religion is philosophy, Christianity is the truth of God!
The Lord Jesus expects us to change, but He also knows we need the help of the Holy Spirit to make that change!
It is the sick person (sinner) who knows he needs a doctor (Savior) because he knows he is sick (a sinner).
Those who do not know they are sick (a sinner) will not go to the doctor. (the Savior)
All those who have made themselves self-righteous will never repent!
Rom 10:2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
Rom 10:3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
This is where the American society is failing today!
This is where the compromising Church is failing today!
Those who live in their own righteousness will not answer the call of Jesus Christ!
It is Jesus Christ who is the "Great Physician"!
Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Act 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Those religionists just will not give up and they can ask some really foolish questions.
*****Mar 2:18 And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?
What is fasting all about?
Fasting is the laying aside of food for a period of time when we are seeking to know the Lord in a deeper experience.
Fasting is to be done with the object of seeking to know the Lord in a deeper experience!
There are three types of fasting:
1) Normal fasting involves the total abstinence of food but not water. The Lord Jesus fasted forty days.
Luk 4:1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
Luk 4:2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.
2) There is the absolute fast for about three days.
Act 9:9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
3) There is the partial fast where there is just a restriction of diet.
Dan 10:3 I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.
There are some physical benefits to this type of fast. It would be similar to dieting.
Daniel chose bread, meat, and grape juice to do without.
Remember all these fasts were done to get closer to the Lord!
When the early Church wanted to know the mind of God, there was a time of fasting and prayer and most all the church took part in this fast.
Very little fasting is done today!
What was the answer from the Lord Jesus?
*****Mar 2:19 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.
Mar 2:20 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.
How could the disciples fast to get them closer to the Lord, when He was with them every day at this time?
The religious Jews fasted twice a week but for what purpose, we do not know because they were not getting closer to God.
They fasted simply because of religion. It was just another ritual for most of them! It was just another tradition with no real meaning! It was just something else they could brag about.
The disciples of John the Baptist also fasted twice a week just as the religious Jews because they did not have a clear meaning of the salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ even though the Messiah was amongst them and John had pointed them to this fact.
They did not have the Holy Spirit until they understood the work of the Messiah.
What was the purpose of their fasting, it was just a ritual!
They should have been fasting for the release of John the Baptist, but it was time for John to cease and for the Messiah to step forward and John had also pointed this out to them.
They should have understood the purposes of the Messiah. They had little faith.
If fasting is not used to seek a closer relationship with the Lord, it has no purpose other than dieting to lose weight or for health.
Yes, we can fast for an answer to a prayer but if we do not have a close relationship with the Lord, how can we expect an answer to that prayer?
These religionists were just mocking the Lord Jesus asking, how could the true Messiah not teach faithfulness to religion.
Religion will not get you to Heaven! Only the Messiah can get us to Heaven!
If God had wanted John the Baptist out of prison, then he would be out of prison.
The time of John the Baptist had ended so, there would be no confusion about the true Messiah.
John was a powerful preacher whose message had been fulfilled.
Jesus simply stated there is a right way and a wrong way to fast.
In fact, Jesus again, as our example states, we must not judge others for keeping religious rituals.
Censuring and condemning others is uncalled for!
We must understand that all those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ are condemned already.
We need to show them the only way to be redeemed and pardoned.
We will not be judged according to whether we keep or not keep religious rituals!
Only the Lord Jesus Christ can judge these things!
Rom 14:3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
Rom 14:4 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
Rom 14:5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
Rom 14:6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.
Rom 14:7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
Jesus Himself said there were two reasons to fast.
1) Sometimes, we just do not feel the presence of the Lord, then, it is a suitable time to fast.
2) Sometimes, we feel we need that special empowering of the Lord to meet a special need, then, it is a suitable time to fast.
This fast must be sincere and we must lay out the rules of our fast with the Lord and the reason for our fast, and this fast must include sincere prayer.
We must understand that we are going to suffer in this world and it is going to get worse before we go home to be with the Lord!
We must also understand that the Lord is not trying to patch up our old way of life, but we will be "Born Again" into a new life, our old life passed away!
The Lord Jesus is not out to reform an old religious life, but He will regenerate us through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Tit 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Tit 3:6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
Tit 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
*****Mar 2:21 No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse.
Mar 2:22 And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles.
God says, if you want to alter the habits of some other person, we must begin by changing their principles.
If we are to plant the Gospel Seed into a rotten heart of some sinner and there must be some sign of progress.
To be a Christian is to be a new kingdom. That old life cannot be patched.
This is the downfall of many places of worship today. They are trying to patch up an old life and God says we must be Born Again into something entirely new.
There will be a New Heaven!
There will be a New Jerusalem!
The persons in both these places will be a New Person, the Born Again children of God.
2Co_5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Rev_21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
A patched up sinner will be worse than he was!
The word bottles in this Scripture means wine skins.
A new bottle made of an animal skin would be elastic enough to expand as the gases of fermentation built of pressure.
Old skins that had already been used would be hardened and they could not take the pressure of the fermenting process and that old bottle would burst.
Jesus said that He was bringing a new life built upon expansion and a new excitement for eternal life. A life never ending!
Our old sin nature cannot be repaired!
Just like corruption, it must be removed!
We must understand that all those old forms of religion in this world will one day perish and the only thing left will be Christianity.
The true foundation of life is the Lord Jesus Christ, and our "Born Again" new life will be clothed in the "Righteousness" of our Lord!
2Co 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
We cannot be fixed in our own ways; we must be elastic and expandable in the life that Jesus offers to us!
Joh 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Joh 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
Amen
