Sermons
They Still Don't Understand
Sun, May 06, 2018
Teacher: Tom Blackford Series: Sunday Sermons - 2018 Scripture: Mark 9:30-37
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They Still Don’t Understand!
Mark 9:30-37
INTRO:
I invite you to open your Bibles to the ninth chapter of Mark’s gospel and I’ll start reading at verse 30. This will be our text for Today’s thoughts. Mark chapter nine beginning at verse 30. Mark 9:30-37[NKJV] – “30. Then they departed from there and passed through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know it. 31. For He taught His disciples and said to them, "The Son of Man is being delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And after He is killed, He will rise the third day.''
32. But they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him. 33. Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, "What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?'' 34. But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest.
35. And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.'' 36. Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, 37. "Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.''”
A teacher desires to communicate in such a way that those whom he is teaching or with whom he is communicating can comprehend and understand the message or the lesson. A teacher is usually delighted when he comes to the place at which he realizes that the students have both comprehended and apprehended the lesson to themselves.
On the other hand, a teacher is disappointed when he realizes that those people whom he is teaching really never got the lesson. They heard the words, but those words were not comprehended in terms of the lesson being taught. There was no internalizing of it.
I know Mark can especially understand when this happens and Dale can see it when he teaches.
A good teacher does not simply shrug his shoulders and dismiss the students for their lack of understanding. A good teacher decides that I’m going to come at this one more time. I’m going to see if I can get this message to these people in such a way that they can understand it. He looks, perhaps for another method, perhaps another illustration, another example. The text that I read to you today from Mark’s gospel, the ninth chapter, presents to us a visual picture of just such a teacher who has tried and tried to get a message across to the students he is teaching, and they still have not gotten it. They’ve not comprehended the message. This is a lesson on learning and teaching.
Having said that I have no doubt that Jesus fully knew they would not understand this concept right away and He goes on not only for their benefit but for ours, for all those who are to come. We do not grasp the whole the first time we study it, and we can not for not only is there much for us to understand but we, like they, have influences of the world to overcome in our understanding. The text tells us that Jesus is talking about His death and resurrection. Jesus teaching was to write on the hearts of His chosen people, however dimly, what He had come to say. It would be the coming of the Holy Spirit that would guide them to fuller understanding.
I. JESUS “TAUGHT” OF HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION
A. We discover that the setting for the text is a trip, a journey that is being made from Caesarea Philippi to Capernaum.
1. Jesus is now leaving the safety and security of Caesarea Philippi for the emotional situation that exists in Capernaum as these people are so focused on the concept of the Messiah. This passage marks a mile-stone. Jesus had now left the North Country where He was safe and was taking the first step towards Jerusalem and to the Cross which awaited him there.
2. Mark tells us that on this particular journey He wanted to go privately with His disciples. He didn’t want big crowds.
3. There are times when a big crowd just isn’t convenient for the needs of the situation. This is one of those times. Jesus needed to be alone with the disciples.
B. On this journey Jesus taught His disciples
1. It was so necessary that the apostles hear His words concerning the kingdom and the nature of the kingdom and things pertaining to the kingdom. They would then have His words to recall as they learned more fully.
2. We know that the Holy Spirit was going to bring all these things to their remembrance, but they first needed to hear these things from Jesus having taught them personally and privately. John 14:26 – Jesus said; “"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”
3. I know that they were going to remember these things, but they needed to be taught. There’s something else here. It seems to me that there are times when sermons and public instructions are needed, they are necessary, but they do not always accomplish the total purpose. There are those times when we need clarification. We need a little bit more one on one conversation, don’t we?
4. We need to be able to ask questions. That’s one of the great disadvantages of the kind of public preaching to which we are accustomed. I stand here and I speak to you. If there’s anything you do not understand we are not in the habit of raising our hand. In a class setting however, at least one can raise their hand and ask a question which is why Bible class is so important to us. In a private setting just Jesus and the disciples, the 12, could get that kind of clarification, or if there is a need to go deeper with a particular subject.
C. He taught them of his death and resurrection and this is not the first time He has spoken on this topic which is why we know they were not comprehending the message.
1. He has previously spoken of His death - Mark 8:31 where scripture says; “And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.” How much clearer could it be than that?
2. They just didn’t get it. We remember Peter rebuked him for saying that. Then in Mark 9:11,12 - “ And they asked Him, saying, "Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?'' Then He answered and told them, "Elijah does come first, and restores all things. And how is it written concerning the Son of Man, that He must suffer many things and be treated with contempt?” He’s trying to get through to them.
3. I’m not going to be with you forever. I’m not going to be the king on earth. There is going to come a time (and He’s hastening toward that time) in Jerusalem when He’s going to be rejected by chief priests and the scribes. He’s going to be killed, but he ADDS and I will be raised again on the third day. He’s said this before, and they still haven’t got it.
4. He refers to Himself here in chapter nine, at verse 31, as He did earlier, as the Son of Man. Here’s a description of Himself that he often used—the Son of Man. This is an expression that is used frequently in the book of Ezekiel, but Jesus uses it of Himself.
5. For example, in Matthew 16:13 we read – “When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?''”
6. What I’m suggesting is that by His using this expression Jesus makes it very clear that it is not someone else of whom He is speaking. It is Himself He is speaking about: I’m going to be delivered, I’m going to be killed, but I’ll rise again the third day. The Son of Man, and He adds here in chapter nine, will be delivered. I wonder if that might be an oblique reference to Jesus’ betrayal by Judas.
7. We learn in Matthew’s gospel that Judas made a bargain with the enemies of Jesus to betray Him for 30 pieces of silver. Matthew 26:14-16 – “14. Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15. and said, "What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?'' And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver.” “... if I deliver him...” - for the price of a slave as we see in Exodus 21:32.
D. Jesus talking about His death, His resurrection, says that the Son of Man,... I,... am going to be delivered. I will be betrayed (At this point He is not telling the disciples that.), but I will be raised again the third day. They didn’t get it. In the passage we read today as our text, verse 32 says, “But they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him.” We experience this ourselves sometimes, don’t we? Perhaps in Bible class we don’t ask for clarification because we are “afraid to ask”.
1. We ask ourselves, how could they not have understood? How could they have missed His meaning? How could He have made it any plainer to them that He, the Son of Man, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, that He is going to be rejected and killed, but raised the third day? How could He make it any plainer?
2. We wonder, was this just beyond their own thinking and ideas?
3. Was this so far beyond the comprehension of this little band? Were they so steeped in the great Messianic expectations which looked forward to the coming of the promise of the prophesied king that they couldn’t imagine such a thing as that He would be rejected and killed? We’ve been looking for Him for years. Whatever it was, they refused to ask Him. They didn’t ask for clarification. It would have been so easy. Can you make this any plainer?
4. “It’s just the 13 of us sitting around perhaps having a meal together. It’s such a quiet time and such a quiet place, you’ve told us this two or three times and it’s on my mind and I just have to understand.” I would like to believe that it is what I would have done, but I might have been just like these apostles who were reared with a mind set and a preconception of the Messiah, and the kingdom, I might have been in the same situation. I probably wouldn’t have asked either.
i. Just like when I was learning in Bible class myself, I was afraid to ask. Afraid perhaps, to show my misunderstandings or ignorance.
ii. I find this odd in myself because many years before in college I learned to ask whatever I needed and ignore the chuckles of the rest of the class. That point was reinforced when I had a 4.0 and they did not.
iii. Why in Bible class did I hesitate? I don’t know the answer but I do know it is very possible for one to not ask the questions they need to.
5. As we go on with the narrative we discover that the apostles are still thinking of the kingdom according to their own understanding of it. (They finally “remembered” - Luke 24:3-8 “3. Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4. And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. 5. Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6. "He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, 7. "saying, 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.' '' 8. And they remembered His words.”)
II. THEY KEPT THINKING OF THE KINGDOM IN THEIR OWN VIEW OF IT
A. As they were going along they were disputing among themselves and Jesus knew that they were disputing among themselves about a particular subject.
1. I can almost see them as they’re walking along speaking to one another in hushed tones, perhaps Jesus is out in front walking along and they’re dragging along talking to each other, their heads are together and they’re motioning, changing walking partners.
2. It is easy to understand how Jesus would have comprehended that something was on their minds so He asks them about it.
B. When He asked them about it, Mark says they “held their peace”
1. I wonder why they didn’t respond. Is it because they were afraid that they might be rebuked as Peter was rebuked? Remember Mark 8:33 when Peter told Jesus: This is not going to happen to You. – “He rebuked Peter, saying, "Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.''” Could that have been the issue?
2. I think that’s probably not the problem, because when you look at the subject they were disputing, you might come to the conclusion that they were too embarrassed to answer His question.
3. You see, they were disputing among themselves about who should be the greatest. I’d have been embarrassed too.
4. Jesus knew that was the subject of their discussion, but when I see that in scripture I begin to realize after all this time, after all the teaching they’ve heard, after all the lessons they’ve had, all the miracles they’ve seen, still they are seeing the kingdom very much in terms of the human, the earthly, the worldly. We want to know who’s going to be number one in the kingdom.
5. Who’s going to be the prime minister? We’ll let you be the president or the chairman, but we want to know who’s going to be the prime minister. Who’s going to be the greatest?
C. At this point Jesus teaches one of the great lessons of the kingdom again - 9:35 – “And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.''”
1. He knew what they were talking about so He calls them to Him in order for all of them can hear the same thing at the same time, and He blows away their conceptions of the kingdom.
2. You’ve been talking about who’s going to be greatest. I’ll tell you, that the person who is the servant of everyone will be the greatest. He explains to them that first is not a position of priority.
3. First is not a rank. First is not an office. First is not ruler-ship. First is servant hood. That was a lesson that I strongly suspect was difficult for them to see. Folks, it’s even a hard lesson in the Lord’s church today.
4. You know everyone is not going to be an elder. Everyone is not going to be a deacon. Everyone is not going to be a preacher or a song leader. Everyone is not going to be a Bible class teacher, but we look at those roles.
5. You know I’ve been in places where if people were not called on to serve at the Lord’s Table on a regular schedule, they left that assembly to go somewhere else. “I was not permitted to serve” they say.
6. You know we have men up here on Sunday morning. I hope and pray that those men did not think: This is the only service I can give to the Lord. If that’s what they think they’re missing the point of servant hood. Yes, they were serving us the Lord’s Supper, or leading prayer, or leading singing and that’s service, but is that the only way we serve the Lord? If I can not do one of these things, am I a failure in serving the Lord? Come to think of it, is my speaking the only way I can serve?
7. Servant hood. We look at these people in certain ways and think, “I’ve got to get to do that.” “If I don’t get to do that I’m going to have my feelings hurt.” “I’m not serving.” “I’m not prominent.” I ask you; who cares who is prominent? Jesus said “who’s first is last.” First is not prominent. It’s a hard lesson to learn. We’ve not learned that very well in the Lord’s church. My head spins when someone drags out of the world the question; “What can the women do in your church?” I know that comes out of today’s society and I understand it—but it so misses the point. Congregations, our congregation, would be nothing without the faithful service of the Christian women here.
D. He goes on to talk about the little child in verses 9:36,37 – “36. Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, 37. "Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.''”
1. How does that connect to what He said in verse 35? I think it connects very beautifully. Remember we’re talking about serving.
2. Now He’s going to talk about the kind of serving. I want you to look at it very carefully. Verses 36 and 37: He took a child, and set him in the midst of them. See where it says and when He had taken him in his arms. That action tells us that child is a small child. There have been children like some in our family whom I rejoice to reach down and pick up and hold for just a few minutes. Some of them are such cuddlers. They are small and easy to pick up. I notice as they grow it’s difficult to pick them up. Not because I don’t want to, but because I can’t do it.
3. He took the little child in His arms. This little child is completely helpless. Here’s a little child who has no influence. Here’s a little child that’s just a little child to be loved and to be cuddled and to be cared for. There are many children in our life that we love dearly, but they cannot advance our career. They cannot do a thing for us.
4. Jesus says when you serve someone like that, who can give you no advantage, who can not provide you with a step up the ladder, who probably could not serve you in any way, could not give you anything, when you serve someone like that (notice what He said) you have received Me. He goes on to say you’ve not just received Me, you’ve received Him who sent Me. You’ve received God.
E. In the 25th chapter of Matthew’s gospel, there is this scene of judgment well known to many of us. In Matthew 25:40 - here is greatness in the kingdom of God.
1. I want to begin reading here for just a minute if I may at verse 34 because I want to show you what real greatness in the kingdom of God is.
2. Beginning at verse 34: “34. "Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35. 'for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36. 'I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.'”.
3. We could stop there and say: Oh, what noble people, but the rest of this is so critical to understand what real servant hood is, to being able to put it together with Mark 9:36 and 37.
4. I’ll continue with Matthew 25:37 – “37. "Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38. 'When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39. 'Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'”
5. I’ll stop just a minute before I read the next part. Here are these people who are being commended for being righteous. Right? Sure. Maybe their scratching their heads, we don’t remember. When was it that we did these things for you Lord? You see, these people are just doing good things, serving those who perhaps could not serve them. “"And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'”
6. That person who cannot do you any good, that person who cannot help you go up the ladder, that person who is just like a little child, has no influence for good to you, who is helpless himself. Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
7. That’s the great lesson in Mark 9:36 and 37. At verse 37 He goes on to say: “Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.”
CONCLUSION:
We ask the question: Do they now understand? There’s no indication in the text that they do. Later they came to remember. In Luke 24:7 and 8 After the Lord’s resurrection they’re told about this. The Bible says: 8. And they remembered his words,
Do they understand at this point in time? Not likely. They’re still confused about the nature of the kingdom.
You know, that there are many, perhaps most times that a teacher really is unaware when a light finally comes on in the mind of the student. As Mark can tell you there are those times when a teacher leaves his classroom believing that he has done no good at all, but he cannot see into the future. He cannot see the great good that he has done in the life of that student as the student ages and becomes an adult.
I’ve mentioned to you several times before and I’ll do it again because of my nostalgic nature there are a number of people who have been teachers of mine over the years, particularly high school teachers and I never told those teachers how much good they were doing. I never told those teachers what they meant to me at least not in high school. I was so happy to graduate and get out of there, get on with life; I just didn’t tell those teachers what they meant to me. I wish now that I had.
I wish I had said something like; You may not have realized it when you were teaching me and I was sitting in your classroom, my English classroom and my history classroom, my math classroom, I was sitting there bored like the rest of the kids, you may have thought I wasn’t getting anything, but what you taught me has stood me in good stead in my adult life. You see, a teacher doesn’t know that always. They might think; I just didn’t do any good today.
You know what a good teacher does? Just what Jesus did. A good teacher just keeps on teaching, believing that if you plant enough seed there’s going to be a crop.
We are about to be in led the invitation song which was announced a while ago. As we sing the song we are inviting those in the assembly that desire to respond, perhaps to respond to be baptized, to be united into the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Perhaps responding as Christians who need the prayers of brothers and sisters as they deal with difficulties in their lives, perhaps as they deal with sin in their lives.
We want you to know always that if there is any way we can render service to you, we want you to come as we stand together and as we sing.
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Reference sermon, Cecil A. Hutson, 09 December 2007
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