Sunday, August 9

Does Being More Like Jesus = Success?


Mark 1:22, 27-28, 45--

22 "And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.


27 And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 28 And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.


45 " . . . people were coming to him from every quarter."
The crowds were astonished, amazed, and traveled from all over to see him. What made Jesus famous then, would make anyone popular today. And what made Jesus' offensive then, would also make us offensive today. That's the short of it.

1. Jesus spoke with an unusual authority. Now, on this side of the Gospel, we know why, for we believe in his divinity. But they did not know that then, or they were only beginning to understand it. They could only go by what they saw and heard, with all religious bias mounted against him. Still, the common people recognized the obvious, this man spoke with authority, the kind that invites you, yea, demands that we listen. Why? Well, NOT because "it works," which is the message so many today feel they must proclaim if they are to win souls to Christ. Listen to D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones from his little book, Authority:

What many are tending to do today is this. They say, 'Take up Christianity. It will pay you. I am a witness to it.' So a short address is given, and people are then called upon to testify. Why are people expected to want to accept Christianity? Because it works. It does this or that. It promises you happiness. It gives you peace and joy. I suggest that this a false evangelism. Our one business is to preach the Lord Jesus Christ, the final Authority. We are told to declare Him, and that men and women are to come face to face with Him. The cults can give you 'results'. Christian Science can tell you that if you do this and that you will sleep well at night, and you will lose your aches and pains. All the cults can do that sort of thing. We are not to do that [emphasis mine]. We are to declare Him, and to bring people face to face with Him. That was His own method.

2. Jesus spoke graciously. And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth (Luke 4:22a). So, add to his authority that Jesus spoke in a winsome manner. This is good, right? Well, yes, . . . sort of. For within a few verses we read that his own hometown crowd, offended by what he said, try to throw him off a cliff! So, gracious behavior still resulted in a near-death experience! People will not necessarily respond well to a graciously delivered message if they don't like WHAT you teach. But there is no reason to be obnoxious either. The "Good News" of the Gospel should be promulgated as such, not as an attack against the unbelieving mindset. Grace. We all need it. Every true believers has received it. Let us freely offer it as well.

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