I talked with someone at the gym this week about working out. I told him I just swam a mile and was exhausted because I was shooting for a time to beat and fortunately I barely did. He shared with me that he likes to jog and he found that when he was running to beat a time he would finish totally spent. He found that if he would just jog for the shear pleasure of it, he would get much less tired and usually get a good time. This is the focus of our "jog" through Mark. Is your Christian life burdensome, tiresome, exhausting? Maybe what you need to do is refocus on your love for Christ and let the walk take care of itself. What is so lovely about Jesus? What is so awesome about Christ? Lets look through Mark 2 as Jesus takes on the Pharisees i.e. religion.
MARK 2
1. Read Mark 2:1-12. What were the 2 criticisms against Jesus by the Pharisees in this passage?
1. _____________________________
2. _____________________________
Read 1 John 5:10-13. John is writing against false teachers/religions in this book. If you were struggling to answer the above (or having difficulty seeing where I was going with this which is more likely) see if this passage in 1 John helps.
2. Read Mark 2:13-17. What problem do the Pharisees have with Jesus in this passage?
What does Jesus say that the criteria is for coming into His presence?
What attitude can religion lead to?
3. Read Mark 2:18-22. What problem do the Pharisees have with Jesus now?
Read Matt. 6:16-18. What had the Pharisees already violated?
Contrast the facial expressions listed in the Matthew passage with the facial expressions of the wedding illustration attendees.
What does that tell you about another difference between religion (man's efforts to reach God) and a relationship with Jesus (Christianity)? See also Matt. 11:28-30.
4. Read Mark 2:23- 3:6. In Mark 2 we see Jesus coming to abolish religion. He is not trying to abolish the Law though. Read Matt 5:17-20. What was Jesus going to do with the law?
According to verse 20, what is the fatal flaw with religion?
Read this blog on the Sabbath. http://www.thoughtsfromtherightbrain.blogspot.com/2013/11/what-is-christian-to-do-with-4th.html
List some ways that Jesus fulfilled the Sabbath.
Summary
All religions have this in common - there is us and there is god and we are separated from it, us, him. Now who that god is and what separates us from it is completely different. All religions deal with what mankind must do to come in contact with that deity even if that deity is within us. Christianity is different in that instead of us trying to reach God, God came down and reached us. He sent His son Jesus to live a perfect life without sin and die the death we should have died ("the wages of sin is death" - Rom. 6:23) and all we have to do is by faith, without works (Eph.2:8,9) receive (John 1:12) this free gift. (John 3:16)
The problem that religions have with this was seen in the first 12 verses. Religions don't believe Jesus is God for one thing. They believe he was a prophet, a good teacher, a god like us, Michael the Archangel in pre-existent state, Lucifer's brother, etc. And secondly, they don't believe He can bring us to God. We must do the 3 fold way of works, knowledge, and devotion. We must follow the 8 fold path of enlightenment. We must follow the 5 or 6 Pillars of faith. We must get baptized, go on missions, etc.
Not only did the Pharisees deny that Jesus was God and could bridge the gap between man and God, but they believed only the good people get in not tax collectors and sinners. Jesus said that the first criteria for getting to Heaven is that we are bad. This eradicates judgmentalism, elitism, racism, nationalism, which taken to extremes led to religious wars which we see around us today. No wonder people hate religion. Jesus hated it too!
The religious life is a life of burdensome work. The Pharisees were starving, grimacing, wearing uncomfortable outfits while Jesus' disciples were living a life of joy, celebration, hope, excitement because they weren't working to find God - they already found Him. Are we living in light of the fact that God is already pleased with us if by faith we have received Him. Are we celebrating the fact that He is in Heaven preparing a place for us and the worst thing that could happen to us on Earth is we could die and go to be with the King of Kings forever? We work because we are accepted not to be accepted which is a huge difference!
Watch the following video
The word for this week is RESCUER . Jesus, like George Bailey, saw us drowning in our sins. We were struggling in religion to save ourselves but like Matthew says, even the scribes and Pharisees who were professional law keepers couldn't save themselves - what hope did we have? Jesus "dove in" to this planet and saved us. He didn't throw in a manual on how to swim - He swam for us. But unlike George - He died saving us! Does that not make you love Him???
Lord, thank You for saving me from a hopeless, wasted life of trying to reach You. Thank You for reaching down to me and saving me at the cost of Your son Jesus. Unbelievable!!!
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