Messages from Pastor Raddatz

June 06, 2021 Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Other Texts for today: Psalm 130, Genesis 3:8-15, 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1

Mark 3:20-35, WHO IS JESUS: Lunatic or Lord?

Dear People of God’s Family,

WHO IS JESUS?  This month we examine some of the misconceptions about the historical figure of Jesus, according to the Gospel of Mark.

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus finishes choosing his disciples, his followers.  He heals many people. Now, he returns to his hometown.   The people of his village are so excited he returns that the house where they are eating is filled to overflowing.  Verse 21 reads, “And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, HE IS OUT OF HIS MIND” (ESV). 

Jesus, a Lunatic?

His family makes it to the house, and they cannot get near him.  They were concerned about him.  They want to protect him.  Jesus is told that his mother and brothers are outside looking for him.  Jesus asks, “Who are my mother and Brothers? (v. 33) Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” (v. 34) 

Some people think it is Lunacy to send your only son to die for people who may never care.  God’s way is confusing, but it is best.  Jesus is not disturbed by the crowd of outsiders.  He reminds them that he is the one who is more powerful than Satan. He is stronger than our greatest enemy.   In fact, he has bound Satan, vv. 25-27.  When did Jesus conquer Satan? When the promised Messiah was given, at His birth, on the cross, at the resurrection?  BOTH - It was right when Genesis 3:15 was spoken, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” (ESV) ON THE CROSS JESUS PAID THE PRICE OF OUR SINS AND BROUGHT US PEACE WITH GOD.  In the cross and resurrection he rendered the prince of lies powerless.

If a household of people are divided among themselves, they will destroy themselves. By the way, President Lincoln based his famous "House Divided" speech during the Civil War in the United States, in part, on verse 25.

Sometimes the opinions of others who are outside our family can be deflected or rejected, but it is more difficult to reject the opinions of family.   The opinions of those closest to others can hurt the most.

Should we let the opinions of others define us

John 7:24 ESV, Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.” 

HAVE YOU EVER HEARD THIS?  This is something that was going around a while ago. It had to do with a hiring company that questioned Jesus’ choices for his disciples.

They gave their personality review of some of the disciples.  

+ four fishermen (Simon Peter, James, John, and Andrew) were uneducated roughnecks, 

+ the Zealot, (Simon) a nationalistic terrorist

+ the professional, (Matthew or Levi the Tax Collector), a traitorous war profiteer

+ He appointed as the group’s treasurer (Judas Iscariot), a thief

+I'm sure the other five were equally unqualified by the religious standards of the day. 

       I would guess that this group was drawn together to show that the Lord is greater than our differences, that there is hope even for the worse of us! And perhaps to reinforce the concept that God ordains who He chooses, and man's opinions on the subject are irrelevant, at best.

     When it becomes easy for us to judge others by our opinion we must remember this passage from the Bible:

Matthew 7:3, Why do you look at the speck of sawdust that is in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? (NIV)

     Now, if you have a Christian friend or family member who criticizes you, you are blessed.  There is one proverb that says, “Better are the wounds of a friend, than the kisses of an enemy” -Proverbs 27:6.  A Godly man or woman in our life who calls us out is a great blessing!

JESUS IS LORD

      Wikipedia reference - "Jesus is Lord" (Greek: κ?ριος ?ησο?ς, kyrios) is the shortest credal affirmation found in the New Testament, one of several slightly more elaborate variations. It serves as a statement of faith for the majority of Christians who regard Jesus as both fully man and God.

      To be our Lord means that he is: OUR SUPERIOR.  In antiquity, in general use, the term "lord" meant was "ruler". Kings everywhere were styled "Lord" and often considered divine beings, so the word acquired a religious significance. -Richardson

      Jesus is Lord means that we listen to him, we submit to him, and we follow him fully trusting him.

      Jesus chose these frail men to be his servants and he chooses you.

Jesus chose you!! He gives you his Spirit (Ps 139) and he promises to never leave you or forsake you (Matt. 28)

      He graciously invited the scribes, who said awful things about Him, to point out their illogical thinking, to remind them of what He had done, to preach the Gospel (verse 28) and to warn them of their great danger OF the SIN AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT=rejecting Jesus (verse 29).

     He is warning them not to reject Jesus and his forgiveness, which is defined as the “sin against the Holy Spirit”.  

     Jesus took away Satan’s power.  Jesus says in v. 35, that “those who do God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”  The will of God is to believe in Jesus as your savior.  

• Engage people whose opinion are different than yours
• Invite them to your circle, (Galatians 5:14 ESV - For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”)
• Let God’s opinion of you define you

     God has chosen you to be his follower. He made you part of his family! Some people ask, “How could Jesus have chosen Judas, to be his follower? Judas ended up betraying Jesus.”  The real question is not how could Jesus have chosen me?  He did.  He has made you his child.  Rejoice in this, believe in him and follow his will. Jesus did this and went to the cross, rose from the dead and blesses us with new life. He has judged us to be sin filled, but has removed our sins and now we are cleansed in his eyes. Amen. 

SDG John F. Raddatz, Mount Olive, Houston