1. Looking at Mark’s Gospel (2)
Four vital questions
Looking at Mark’s Gospel (2)

2. This is the good news (1:1)
Jesus: the man
Christ: the God-sent hero
The “Son of God”: by divine appointment
Looking at Mark's Gospel

3. The question: Who is Jesus?
In chapter 1, his identity is declared by his deeds….. What does he DO?
He is the one who calls (v14-20)
He is the one who drives out evil (v21-28)
He is the one who heals (v29-34)
… who even brings the living dead back to life (v40-45)
He is the who who prays (v35-39)
He is the one who proclaims (v38-45)
Looking at Mark's Gospel

4. Chapter 2: Four vital questions about Jesus
“Who can forgive sin but God alone?” (v7)
“Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” (v16)
“How is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?” (v18)
“Why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” (v24)
Looking at Mark's Gospel

5. Four insights into who Jesus is
Again, his identity is declared by his deeds
He forgives sin (and claims the authority to do so)
He fellowships with outsiders (and claims that he is called to do so)
He encourages feasting (because the presence of the Bridegroom evokes celebration)
He is flexible about the Sabbath restrictions (because the Sabbath is intended to bless and not to restrict)
Looking at Mark's Gospel

6. Jesus shows us the heart of God
A heart of forgiveness (v10)
A heart that takes joy in restoration… that rejoices when the outsider comes home…. that celebrates life (v15)
A life that bursts the bounds of human expectations … a new cloth (v21)… new wine (v22)… a new understanding of Sabbath (v27)
Looking at Mark's Gospel

7. Make no mistake: this is not good news for everybody!
Look at Mk 3: 6: “The Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.”
Look at Mk 2:12 “They praised God saying ‘We have never seen anything like this.’ ”
Plotting or praising…. It’s your choice!
Looking at Mark's Gospel

8. Looking at Mark's Gospel
What does God say to us?
Here is the premise:
“All Scripture is inspired”
We are the “Body of Christ”
So God calls us to live that way… according to the Spirit of Christ
Looking at Mark's Gospel

9. 1.We are called to offer forgiveness and healing
We are carriers
We bring people to Jesus because we have faith that he can do something!
But more…. We offer forgiveness and healing because we bear Jesus’ name and share his commission .
Looking at Mark's Gospel

10. 2. We are summoned to a party
Because the Bridegroom is here!
Because the world lacks colour, joy and celebration and we have good news
Because the good news changes peoples’ lives and we bear witness to that joy in heaven and on earth
Looking at Mark's Gospel

11. Looking at Mark's Gospel
3. We are the new wine!
It breaks the old wineskins!
It cannot be contained!
It seeks new expression in every newgeneration…
Looking at Mark's Gospel

12. 4. In Christ, the law has become the promise!
In the Old Testament the Law was the blueprint of how you should try to live
In the New Testament the Law becomes the promise of how you shall live
So in Christ, the Sabbath becomes a way of life…
Looking at Mark's Gospel

13. Looking at Mark's Gospel
A bit happy-go-lucky?
A frivolous interpretation? Perhaps so, but Mark has more to say… but to read it thus is to read it wrong.
Soon will come the demand on the disciples to “Take up your cross and follow…” Soon the Bridegroom will be taken from them.
And always remember the LORDSHIP of CHRIST who calls you as disciples… to follow His plans and not yours.
Looking at Mark's Gospel