THE REST STOP MARK 10:32-34 Pastor Stephen Muncherian April 9, 2006
Please turn
with me to Mark 10:32.
In the time just before Palm Sunday Jesus was out in
Judea - out beyond the Jordan River.As was pretty typical, there were large crowds
of people that had gone out to see Him.Jesus is teaching.Some
of that teaching is pretty familiar.Like when they were bringing children to Jesus
and the disciples were telling them to go away.Remember this.“Permit the children to come to
Me… whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a
child will not enter it at all.” (Mark 10:13-16)
There was the rich young ruler - that we talked about
last Sunday.Filthy rich
- kept all the commandments - but couldn’t give up his
wealth to follow Jesus.Then
Jesus’ rebuke of the disciples who were so arrogant -
so impressed - with their own sacrifices in following
Jesus.Jesus just cutting
to the heart of the matter.“You
haven’t even begun to sacrifice.Many who are first will be last, and the last
first.So get in line.”(Mark 10:28-31)
All of that has been going on out beyond the Jordan
River.Coming to Mark
10:32 - Jesus begins the journey that will take Him to
Jerusalem and His entrance on Palm Sunday.
Mark 10:32:They were
on the road going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was
walking on ahead of them; and they were amazed, and
those who followed were fearful.And again He took the twelve aside and began to
tell them what was going to happen to Him, saying,
“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of
Man will be delivered to the chief priests and the
scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and will
hand Him over to the Gentiles.They
will mock Him and spit on Him, and scourge Him and
kill Him, and three days later He will rise again.”
I’d like to
share three observations and then we’ll talk about
application.
First Observation:Jesus Is On A Mission.Say
that with me, “Jesus is on a mission.”
Thomas Henry Huxley was a devoted disciple of Darwin.Famous biologist - teacher -
author - defender of the theory of evolution -
self-avowed humanist - traveling lecturer.
Having finished another series of public assaults
against several truths we hold sacred, Huxley was in a
hurry to catch his train to the next city.He took one of Dublin’s
famous horse-drawn taxis and settled back with his
eyes closed to rest himself for a few minutes.He assumed the driver had
been told by the hotel doorman, so all he’d said as he
got in was, “Hurry, I’m almost late.Drive fast!”The
horses lurched forward and galloped across Dublin.Before long Huxley glanced
out the window and frowned as he realized they were
going west, away from the sun, not toward it.
Leaning forward, the scholar said, “Do you
know where you’re going?”Without looking back, the
driver yelled, “No, your honor!But I am driving very fast.” (1)
There’s a town in Minnesota with a volunteer fire
department that has the slogan, “We’ll
know where we’re going when we get there.” (2)
Jesus is going from point A to point B - Jordan River
to Jerusalem.Shortest
distance being a straight line.He’s
moving
fast - with determination - with purpose.He knows where He’s going.You ever try follow somebody
like this?As they’re
weaving through traffic or a crowd.Just try and keep up.
Mark says that Jesus was out ahead of the pack.Those who were following -
possibly this large crowd - most certainly the
disciples - they were amazed and they were fearful.
As Jesus has been teaching things have been heating
up.The exchanges with
the Pharisees have not gone well.Going to Jerusalem will probably mean trouble.Lately Jesus has been saying
weird things about being killed.There’s a feeling of foreboding.
They’re amazed.Jesus is
actually in a hurry to get to Jerusalem.Why wouldn’t He want to avoid that place?They’re fearful.Why is He in such a hurry to
get there?All kinds of
bad things can happen there.Things
we’d like to avoid.
But Jesus is on a mission.He’s
focused on where He’s going.Keep
up.
Second Observation:Jesus’ Explanation To The
Disciples.Say that with me, “Jesus’
explanation to the disciples.”
There’s a point where Jesus stops.Turns to the disciples.Waits
for
them to catch up.Gives
them this explanation of what He’s doing and why.
His
explanation is succinct - to the point.There’s nothing in the explanation about riding
into town on a donkey - crowds singing Hosanna.Nothing about cleaning out
the Temple - or teaching in the Temple.Nothing about celebrating the Passover.This is a rest stop not a
camp ground.We need to
keep moving.
“All the things that the prophets wrote is about to
come true.I’m going to
be betrayed to the chief priests and scribes.They’re going to condemn Me.I’m going to get the death
sentence.Then they’re
going to hand me over to the Gentiles - the Romans.I’m going to be mocked and
insulted and spit on.They’re
going to scourge Me.Then
they’re going to crucify Me to death.Good news is that on the third day - just like
I’ve told you before - I will rise again.Got it?Good.Let’s get
going.”
Third Observation:The Reaction Of The Disciples.Say
that with me, “The reaction of the disciples.”
Going on in Mark chapter 10 and looking at Matthew’s
record of this rest stop tells - what happens next is
that Momma shows up.The
mother of James and John comes dragging her two sons
with her..She makes this
request of Jesus and her sons also make this request
of Jesus.They ask Him, “In Your
Kingdom - once You get past all this - whatever it is
that you were talking about - when you finally get
Your Kingdom - grant that one son can sit on the right
hand side of your throne and the other son can sit on
your left.”
Jesus in a very nice way basically tells them that
they have no clue what they’re talking about and that
even if they did they’re not the one’s who get to sit
there anyway.When the
other 10 disciples hear this they’re totally disgusted
with James and John.Angry
- indignant.Jesus has to
call them back over and tell them, “Its not
who rules that’s important.Its
who serves.Guys.Check your attitudes.”
The contrast here is huge.Jesus
talking about the fulfillment of prophecy - the death
and resurrection of the Messiah.The defining moment in human history.And the disciples are
squabbling over who gets to be first.
Luke’s record of this rest stop says this - Luke
18:34:“The
disciples understood none of these things, and the
meaning of this statement - Jesus’ explanation - was
hidden from them - it got buried by their own self-focus - and they
did not comprehend the things that were said.”
Jesus is on a mission.He
explains that mission to His disciples.And they don’t get it because they’re focused
on themselves.
There are two thoughts of application that I’d like to
share.Thinking about
what took place at this rest stop on the way to
Jerusalem.Thinking about
Palm Sunday - and the week ahead leading up to the
crucifixion and resurrection - two thoughts of
application that can be helpful for us to be thinking
about.
First:The Sovereignty of God.Say
that with me, “The Sovereignty of God.”
A man opened a new business and his best friend sent
him a floral arrangement.The
friend dropped in a few days later to visit his buddy
and was pained to see that the flowers had a sign that
read, “Rest In Peace.”He
called the florist to complain.The
florist said, “It could be worse.Somewhere in this city is an arrangement in a
cemetery that reads, ‘Congratulations On Your New
Location.’” (3)I know.Old Joke.Bad
Joke.
In Jesus’ explanation to His disciples there are at
least 20 different predictions.Where.Who.How.When.Its
an amazing prophetic statement - fulfilled in every
detail - accurate - with no mistakes.Everything happened exactly the way Jesus said
it would happen.
Jesus is heading to Jerusalem with purpose.He’s got a mission to
fulfill.He’s been born
to die.Dying to live.This isn’t a surprise.Something thrown together at
the last minute because things are going badly.There’s
purpose - planning.
Its important for us to be reminded that the events of
Palm Sunday - and what follows - the events of the
following week - Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection -
were all ordained before creation.What Jesus is predicting is really a
description of future ordained history - the unfolding
of history according to the will of the sovereign God.
When I was living in Portland there was a Roman
Catholic monastery behind my house that was famous for
its 14 stations of the cross.Have
you seen these?At this
monastery - which had incredibly beautiful gardens -
there was this path that when a person walked down it
they would pass by 14 different spots - stations -
each with a statue depicting a scene from the passion
- events following Palm Sunday.The
first was the scene where Jesus was condemned.Second was when He had the
cross laid on Him.Third
was when He fell the first time.And so on through the crucifixion.The fourteenth was when
Jesus was laid in the tomb.
The whole point of these stations - as I understand it
- was to help people to think about the events that
were taking place - to focus us on Jesus.It takes time to walk and
pause and think and pray.That’s
important for us - that we don’t miss the opportunity
of this coming week.
In your sermon notes there’s a list of the events of
Jesus’ last week along with the days when the events
took place and the passages where we can read about
them. (see end of sermon for list)The reason that list is there is to encourage
us - as we go through this week - to stop and think
about those events - to think about Jesus.Remembering Jesus’ prophecy
- to help us see Palm Sunday and beyond - as a
sequence of events sovereignly ordained - used by God
to accomplish our salvation.
The suggestion is for us to take the time to look at
those events - think about what was going on and why.To praise the sovereign God
for what He’s done.To
thank Jesus for all that He did for us during that
week.And in prayer to
ask God to show you the significance of those events
for our own lives.
The second thought of application is Trust.Say
that with me, “Trust.”
Several years ago I was with a group of tourists
visiting Bangkok,
Thailand.Bangkok is a
very different place.Any of you ever
been there?One of my overall
impressions of Bangkok was a city - very dirty - very crowded - full of hopeless people.Our hotel was like an island.A modern high-rise in the
middle of confusion, congestion, and poverty.
One night - about dusk - I left the hotel to look
around and find a few bargains.I saw something that has stuck in my mind.On the sidewalk - a few feet away from our
hotel entrance - on the sidewalk up against the hotel wall - sat a boy - probably about 9 or 10
years old.A boy who was begging.This boy was crippled - his
bones broken and pushing out at very odd angles.In other words, his bones
had been brokenand no attempt had
been made to set them right.
Parents
deliberately break the bones of their children so that
their kids can earn more while begging.The more they’re crippled - the more they’re pitied - especially by the tourists - the more pitythe more money people will give
to them.
A while back I was in downtown San Francisco.That’s not unusual.What was unusual was that
this time I just
stood there -
down on Market Street - with my back up against a
building - and
just watched
the world go by.San Francisco is a very
different place.That’s an understatement.
Years ago we always had to dress-up if we were going
into “the city”.Downtown
was a special place - opulent - surreal -the opera , theaters - the
financial district - business men in suits.It’s not like that today.Just standing there, watching
everything that was happening, was to vividly see how
empty, how hopeless, how impoverished our society is
today.
Merced - in many ways - is no different.I would
suspect that each of us - wherever
we live - if we open our eyes - we will see tremendous needs all around us.
When Jesus began His public ministry - He came to
Nazareth - to the synagogue there.Remember this scene?The
book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him.Jesus opens the book and
reads:“The
Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He anointed Me
to preach the Gospel to the poor.He has sent Me to proclaim release to the
captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set
free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the
favorable year of the Lord.” (Luke 4:18,19)
The scribes of the Pharisees saw Jesus eating with
sinners and tax collectors, and they asked Jesus’
disciples, “Why is He eating and drinking
with those people?They’re
tax collectors and sinners!” Jesus
heard them and said, “Its not those who are
healthy who need a physician, but those who are - what? sick;I didn’t come to call the
righteous, but sinners.” (Mark
2:17)“I came
for the poor people - for the captives - the blind -
the oppressed.”
In the sovereignty of God’s plan Jesus is purposefully
moving to Jerusalem - to Palm Sunday - to the events
which lead to the cross - to resurrection - for the
hopeless - the desperate - those who are bound and
looking for release.Who’s
marriages are breaking.Who’s
families are coming apart.Who’ve
hit bottom and see no way up.Those
struggling with deep issues of the heart - wounds -
grief.For those the
spiritually empty.
Jesus says, “I came that they might have - what? life.And have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)Not just eternal forever and ever.But right here.Right now.With God.
As the disciples are running - trying to keep up with
Jesus - as Jesus is heading to Jerusalem - they’re
amazed at His boldness.Fearful
of the consequences.When
Jesus stops and explains - yet again - God’s sovereign
purpose - they don’t get it - why?Because they’re focused on themselves.
What a tragedy - knowing the sovereignty of God - how
that week worked out just as Jesus said it would -
what a missed opportunity if we would focus on
ourselves - all that binds us - brings fear to our
lives - and miss all that Jesus offers to us as He
enters Jerusalem.
The entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem is a very
familiar scene for us - almost routine. On what we call Palm Sunday,
close to 3 million pilgrims from all over the Jewish
Diaspora are gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the
Passover Festival - commemorating God’s salvation of
His people from Pharaoh - from bondage in Egypt.As Jesus enters, they cry
out, “Hosanna to the Son of David.Blessed is He who comes in the name of the
Lord.Hosanna in the
highest!” (Matthew
21:9)
There were political leaders who saw Jesus and the
crowd and feared unrest.Religious
leaders who saw Jesus and feared their positions -
retreating within their understanding of how God
worked.Crowds demanding
God’s justice.Children
caught up in the celebration.Young
- old - ignorant - astute - humble - moral - spiritual
- religious - arrogant - from their own understanding
and perspective shouting out “Hosanna!”Yet, without a clue to what
God was doing because while many had religion or a
religious culture - their focus was themselves.
Then there were those who - as Jesus entered the city -
there were those who were with God.They’re on the same page with God.They understood that God was
at work.People who
feared God - esteemed God.Perhaps as students of
history and prophecy - they had followed Jesus -
listened to His teaching and believed that He is the
Messiah.For them “Hosanna!Save us!” had a very deep and personal
meaning.They knew that
Jesus had come to save sinners - to save them from
their sins and lead them into a new kind of
relationship with God.
Jesus - the Wonderful Counselor - Mighty God - Eternal
Father - Prince of Peace - Lord and Savior - Messiah -
Christ - the Anointed One who is the answer to the
deepest of all our needs - He enters and the question
is asked of each of us - will you trust Him?Whatever your need -
emotional - psychological - physical - spiritual.To celebrate Palm Sunday -
is to trust that He has come for you.
_______________________________
1.
Charles R. Swindoll, Growing Strong in the Seasons
of Life
2. Charles R. Swindoll, Swindoll’s Ultimate Book of Illustrations
& Quotes
3. Charles R. Swindoll, Swindoll’s
Ultimate
Book of Illustrations & Quotes