Mark 1:15-39
SNAPSHOTS
Life of Christ #15
(Show Power Point presentation of snapshots from D. V. B. S. If you are preaching this message and want to use the same theme, simply pick out and show snapshots of an event in your church.)
We have just viewed some snapshots of Daily Vacation Bible School. Most of the time, when we think of snapshots, we think of pictures taken with a camera. This morning we want to show you some snapshots of the Lord Jesus that are written in words instead of taken with a camera. These are short biographical stories that show us much about the Lord Jesus and His ministry. We will see:
JESUS, THE RECRUITER – Vss. 16-20
JESUS, THE AUTHORITY – Vss. 21-28
JESUS, THE HEALER – Vss. 29-34
JESUS, THE SERVANT – Vss. 35-39
We are continuing our chronological study of the Life of Christ. We have seen Jesus’ ministry in Jerusalem cleansing the temple and ministering to Nicodemus. We have seen Jesus minister to “The Woman at the Well”. We have seen Jesus minister in his home town, Nazareth, and receive much opposition. Now, we are watching Jesus at the beginning of his ministry in the region called Galilee, named after the lake by the same name.
Verses 14-15 describe Jesus’ ministry which took place after John the Baptist was placed in prison. Jesus is the King and He was present. Therefore, the Kingdom of God was at hand. It was available to those who would repent and believe.
The Kingdom of God is available today to all those who will repent, have a change of mind, and turn to Jesus Christ in faith.
This faith is in Jesus as God the Son as the one who died for our sins and rose again.
Now we come to the first of our “snapshots”.
JESUS, THE RECRUITER – Vss. 16-20
Read Verses 16-20.
Jesus was looking for men to train.
He was looking for those who would be trained by Him and then train others. This has always been the pattern. Men and women are recruited and trained to follow Jesus, and then they are to recruit and train others.
2 Timothy 2:2 - And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
The first 4 of the 12 Apostles were simple men. They were fisherman. One might wonder what qualities they would have that would make them good disciples.
Warren Wiersbe said, “Surely the good qualities of successful fishermen would make for success in the difficult ministry of winning lost souls: courage, the ability to work together, patience, energy, stamina, faith, and tenacity. Professional fishermen simply could not afford to be quitters or complainers.” Warren Wiersbe, The Exposition Commentary Volume 1 (New Testament), (Wheaton Illinois, Victor Books, 1989), p. 112
You may think that you have not much to offer Jesus as a disciple. Your abilities may seem limited to you, but the same Lord Jesus who called simple fishermen like the first apostles is calling simple people like you and I to discipleship today.
This was not the first encounter that these men had with the Lord Jesus. Andrew and probably John had been disciples of John the Baptist.
John the Baptist identified Jesus as the “lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world”. They responded by following Jesus and spent time with Him. It was Andrew who went running to find Brother Peter and tell him the good news that they had found the Messiah. It was Andrew who brought Peter to Jesus, and it was probably John who brought his brother James.
And now, as much as a year later, Jesus calls these men.
The first thing Jesus said to them was “Come after me.”
They had already believed on Jesus.
They were to be followers of Jesus.
If you have placed your faith and trust in Jesus Christ as your Savior, you are to be a follower as well!
A true believer has been changed by the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 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.
Because the Lord Jesus Christ has done so much for us, we should feel compelled to follow Him.
2 Corinthians 5:14-15 - For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: [15] And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
Following Jesus, that is, being his disciple, is not easy.
It takes commitment.
It takes discipline.
Luke 9:23-24 - And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
[24] For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
Luke 14:26-27 - If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. [27] And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Following Jesus as a disciple takes time.
· Time in the Word of God
· Time in being trained in church, Sunday School, and perhaps Bible Study
· Time in prayer
· Time in learning and growing in fellowship with other believers
· Time in service
· Time in sharing your faith
Jesus told these early recruits Come ye after me, and I will make you…
· Who made Peter a great disciple, boldly preaching to thousands of people? Jesus did.
· Who made Andrew a great disciple, always wanting to bring people to Jesus, and if tradition is true, taking the Gospel as far as India? Jesus did.
· Who made James strong enough to endure as the first Apostle to be martyred for his faith? Jesus did.
· Who made John the “Apostle of love” and gave him strength to live to an old age, and to write the Book of Revelation while he was a prisoner? Jesus did!
· Who made an ignorant shoe salesman by the Name of Dwight L. Moody a great evangelist? Jesus did.
· Who make Amy Carmichael a compassionate missionary in India and a gifted writer? Jesus did.
· Who made Fanny Crosby the author of great hymns such as “Blessed Assurance”, “Tell Me the Story of Jesus”, “He hideth my Soul”, “Saved by Grace”, “All the Way my Savior leads me”, and “Rescue the perishing”? Jesus did.
· Who has made thousands of people pastors, Sunday School Teachers, elders, deacons, and Christian School teachers? Jesus did.
And Jesus will make you whatever He wants you to be, if you will let him do it.
Zechariah 4:6 says in part, …Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.
And Jesus can make you a fisher of men as He did the first apostles. Fishers of men are needed today because there are so many without Christ. There are so many dying and going to hell. Sense the urgency of these Scripture verses:
Jeremiah 8:20 - The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.
2 Corinthians 4:3 - But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
Revelation 20:15 - And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Notice the response of the disciples. They left what they were doing to follow Jesus.
Jesus is the recruiter. Are you willing to let Him recruit you?
JESUS, THE RECRUITER – Vss. 16-20
JESUS, THE AUTHORITY – Vss. 21-28
Vss. 21-22 – Jesus went into the synagogue in Capernaum and taught on the Sabbath day.
The rabbis of Jesus’ day were always quoting other rabbis, and the way they taught was down right boring. They didn’t teach with authority.
Jesus was different.
Jesus taught with authority.
Why did Jesus teach with authority?
Jesus taught with authority because He was God.
Jesus taught with authority because He knew he was right.
Jesus taught with authority because people needed to hear the voice of authority in their lives.
When we follow the Lord Jesus as His disciples, we can also speak with authority. We get our authority from the power of His Holy Spirit and the power of His Word.
Just as the Old Testament Prophets used to bellow, “THUS SAITH THE LORD!” we need more Christians today to do the same thing with the authority that the Lord Jesus has given us.
Vs. 23-26 – A demon possessed-man was present in the synagogue. Jesus cast the demon out. Notice that the demon knew who Jesus was and was afraid of Him. That’s because Jesus has authority
Also notice that the demon had no choice. He had to obey the Lord Jesus.
Vs. 27 – The people were amazed at the authority that Jesus displayed. Even the demons, evil spirits had to obey Him.
Has it ever occurred to you that Jesus has authority?
He doesn’t just have authority to tell you where you should go and what you should do.
But He has authority to give you victory over any bad habit that has you in bondage in your life.
John 8:31-32 - Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; [32] And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 8:36 - If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Jesus has the authority to set you free, but He wants you and I to recognize that authority, and to surrender our own authority or rights to Him!
Romans 6:10-14 - For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. [11] Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. [12] Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. [13] Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. [14] For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Yield yourself to the authority of the Lord Jesus in your life. Ask Him to take authority over the habitual sin in your life.
Ask Him to take authority over your habitual worry.
Ask Him to take authority over your impure thoughts.
Ask Him to take authority over the idols that are in your life.
Ask Him to take authority over your lack of forgiveness and bitterness.
Ask Him to take authority over your eating habits and the way you treat others.
Jesus has authority over demons.
He has authority over the universe.
Yield any authority you think you have to Him, and let Him take authority over the habitual sin in your life.
JESUS, THE RECRUITER – Vss. 16-20
Have you let Him recruit you?
JESUS, THE AUTHORITY – Vss. 21-28
Are you letting Him have authority in your life?
JESUS, THE HEALER – Vss. 29-34
Vss. 29-31 – Jesus went to Simon Peter’s house for dinner.
Peter’s mother in-law had a fever. She was in no mood for company! Jesus healed her.
Now if you’ve been sick with fever for a few days, how do you feel when the fever leaves you? You feel wore out. It takes a few more days to get your strength back.
Peter’s mother in-law was completely healed. She felt so well that she got up and served the meal! Such is Jesus’ healing power.
Vss. 32-34 – The Jewish Sabbath begins on Friday night and ends after the sun goes down on Saturday. People were freer to move around after the sun went down on this Sabbath and they gathered at Peter’s door. They came to Jesus for healing!
Does Jesus heal today?
Yes, He heals the sick according to His perfect will.
James 5:16 - Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
The most important healing Jesus does today is the healing of the soul.
Ephesians 2:1-5 - And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; [2] Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: [3] Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. [4] But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, [5] Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
And those who are saved and have been healed for salvation still need his healing touch.
· We need the healing of his forgiveness.
1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
· We need the healing of His comfort.
John 14:27 - Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
· We need the healing of His guidance.
James 1:5 - If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
· We need the healing of His strength.
Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Christian, where do you hurt?
Isn’t it about time that you let Him heal you of the sorrows that are in your life?
JESUS, THE RECRUITER – Vss. 16-20
Have you let Him recruit you?
JESUS, THE AUTHORITY – Vss. 21-28
Are you letting Him have authority in your life?
JESUS, THE HEALER – Vss. 29-34
Are you letting Him heal you?
JESUS, THE SERVANT – Vss. 35-39
Vs. 35 – Jesus had a phenomenally busy day.
But the next morning he was up early to pray.
Jesus was up early to pray because He was God’s servant.
As God’s servant, he needed fellowship with His Heavenly Father.
As God’s servant, he needed instruction from God. He got that as He prayed.
Vss. 36-37 - When Simon Peter and the others came to find Jesus because all the people were looking for Him, Jesus announced that it was time to move on.
Vs. 38 - Jesus knew why He had come. Jesus knew what He needed to do. Jesus had just spent time with God in prayer.
There is a lesson here. Jesus was God’s servant, so He prayed.
The more we are called upon to serve God, the more we need to pray.
Jesus said, “Without me you can do nothing.”
A lot of times we get frustrated when we try to serve God.
It is often because we have failed to pray.
There is a prophecy about Jesus’ prayer life found in
Isaiah 50:4 - The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.
If Jesus, God’s servant needed to hear from God every morning, how much more do you and I need to?
JESUS, THE RECRUITER – Vss. 16-20
Have you let Him recruit you?
JESUS, THE AUTHORITY – Vss. 21-28
Are you letting Him have authority in your life?
JESUS, THE HEALER – Vss. 29-34
Are you letting Him heal you?
JESUS, THE SERVANT – Vss. 35-29
Are you letting Him be your role model for prayer?