Last week we started a course called Christianity Explained. An Australian study in the early 80’s recognised there had been a decline of understanding about Jesus, the Bible and the Gospel in Australia. Most people last week guessed that church attendance peaked in New Zealand in the 1950s and declined since then.
In fact church attendance was at its highest in the 1890’s as this graph shows when it was sitting around 30% compared to between 5% and 10% today. Mhairi and I arrived from the UK with our families to Papatoetoe in the 70’s and remember when the township was thriving before Manukau shopping centre was built in 1977.
My family arrived in November of 1974 and Mhairi’s family in 1975. I remember with rose tinted glasses admittedly, that all of Papatoetoe’s churches were pretty full on a Sunday back then and so we would have been sitting close to the national average of around 20%.
Where does Papatoetoe sit today?
For a number of reasons since then, the demographic has shifted and church attendance in Papatoetoe is well below the average now at an estimated 2.8%. The reality is that New Zealand is not a Christian country, it is secular. We are now living in a mission field.
So the situation in Papatoetoe now is that we have to go back to the beginning, till the ground as in the winter, removing any rocks, prepare the soil, plant the seed in early Spring, add some fertiliser, water the soil when it doesn’t rain, tend to the weeds and wait for the harvest to finally come on Summer and then bring in the crop!
Christianity Explained is designed for the person who knows nothing about Jesus or his Gospel. Could you or I explain to the nearly 98% non-Christians in Papatoetoe the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a way that helped them believe that Jesus is the Son of God and gave them reason to change what they do on a Sunday morning? In the parable of the lost sheep, the Shepherd left the 99 to go looking for the 1 lost sheep. In Papatoetoe today, the one needs to go out search for the 99.
Let’s move to today’s study from the Gospel of Mark.
Mark 1:1
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
What a great opening line for a book. It’s right up there with;
Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
And
John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Immediately it grabs you and makes you want to know more. What is the Gospel of Jesus Christ? How do we know Jesus is the Son of God. Is Jesus the answer to what we are looking for?
That is what this series on Christianity Explained is all about. It presents the Gospel with the 3 solid foundations that must be in place for someone to be a true Christian. Like a stool which must have 3 legs to stand. The first leg on the stool is that someone must believe that Jesus is the Son of God and therefore has authority over all creation including our lives. When Jesus came into the World, it was under oppression a lot like now. Israel was under oppressive Roman rule. People were struggling in their daily lives. There was sickness and there was spiritual oppression. Religion was hurting not helping people. People were looking for an answer, for a Messiah to save them from their troubles. But saving the people meant addressing the main root of their problems, sin.
Mark 1:2-8
As it is written in the Prophets: “Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.” “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.’ ” John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, “There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
How did John prepare the way for Jesus? John preached a message of repentance. This is where we are at today. If we want people to see Jesus, have Peace and the Holy Spirit in their lives, they have to repent. This means they have to turn from the direction they are going, which is the way of Death and turn to Jesus, the way to Life. This is not going to be easy for us because it is such a counter cultural message. The World does not want to change, it loves to hear the false message that all people are basically good. We on the other hand need to rock the boat but we like to be comfortable. John was not comfortable in the wilderness, the barren place.
Mark 2:9-13
It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him.
Getting baptised marks us out, even Jesus got baptised. We make a declaration that we have turned from sin and turned to the Lord. We belong to God, we are beloved of God. We have to know that every Christian is at war with the Devil. The Devil will throw everything at us. When someone comes to Christ, the path is not an easy one. There are many people suffering in Papatoetoe today. The Gospel that Jesus is the Son of God is good news. He has victory over the Devil. They can have victory too.
Mark 1:14-20
Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
Many people don’t realise that Jesus preached a message of repentance. It didn’t matter who they voted for, the area they lived in, their religion, everyone needed to repent. Everyone thinks they are right, it’s offensive to be told you are wrong. This is why the World hated him and will hate us too. The Kingdom of God is at hand but people will miss out if they don’t repent. Again, this means they have to turn from the direction they are going, which is the way of Death and turn to Jesus, the way to Life. This means agreeing with God about our sin.
And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him. When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him.
Jesus is Lord. He has authority to call us from our jobs to follow him and to make us fishers of men. Simon Peter and Andrew, James and John were called to follow him in pairs and they did. Two is better than one! The call of Jesus comes with a sense of urgency. You have to make an instant decision. Leave it until Monday and you’ll be back in the daily grind, soon swept up in worldly troubles. Jesus’s message is, today is the day of salvation, not tomorrow.
Mark 1: 21-28
Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee.
Jesus has authority above all other principalities and powers. The man with the unclean spirit was an enemy in the synagogue. We have been living in an age where the Church has not been very discerning. When that happens, it is easy for an unclean spirit to come in. Ecumenism, coexistence, new age teaching, prosperity doctrine, yoga classes, universalism, Gnosticism you name it, false doctrine has crept into the Church. It was prophesied there would be doctrines of devils in the last days. The unclean spirit was very comfortable in the synagogue until Jesus walked in, then it manifested and cried out in fear. Religion is an easy disguise for a wolf but the Shepherd is not fooled like the sheep. Jesus has all authority over unclean spirits which have to leave at his command. That’s why we pray and preach in the name of Jesus.
Mark 1: 29-34
Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them. At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him.
Jesus has authority over sickness as well as the Devil, he is the Son of God. The fact that Jesus has authority over sickness and the Devil is part of the Gospel, it is really good news for many people in Papatoetoe. Please note that sickness and the Devil are not the same thing. Simon’s mother in law was sick, she did not have a demon. Others had demons, they were not sick. The Church can fall into the trap of thinking everyone’s illness is caused by the Devil. Nevertheless, the message that Jesus the Son of God has authority over sickness and the Devil is very good news to all and when people are being healed, it doesn’t take long for Jesus to bring in the crowds.
Mark 1:35-39
Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him. When they found Him, they said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.” But He said to them, “Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth.” And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons.
Though huge numbers of people were being healed, Jesus took time out to be alone and pray. Being a Christian, especially those in Ministry, means you need to take time out. You cannot continue 24/7, you need to set aside time to be alone with God and to pray. Unfortunately we live in an age of constant distractions from our mobile phones. Setting aside time to be alone with God, means leaving the phone behind. That’s going to annoy a few people but God will be pleased. This is a message for myself.
We can also rest for too long. Resting is recharging. But once charged, it’s back to work! Jesus purpose was to preach repentance and the Good News about the Kingdom of God to all the towns in Israel. You probably already realise that God’s work is never ending but at least we can keep chipping away.
Mark 1:40-45
Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once, and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction.
Jesus has authority to make us clean. Some things make us feel feel dirty. We don’t have leprosy in New Zealand but we do know people who feel unclean because of sexual abuse that has happened to them. Jesus has compassion for victims of sexual abuse and anger towards the perpetrators. Jesus said;
Luke 17:2
It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
Jesus will address this evil when he returns, but the good news is he has the authority to heal now.
Mark 2:1-7
And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Jesus has authority to forgive sins. Only God can forgive sins. You hear some people today, especially Muslims, saying that Jesus never claimed to be God. The fact that he forgave sins is a proof that he did claim to be God and notice something else. Jesus can hear what they are thinking, it says the scribes were sitting there, reasoning in their hearts that Jesus was speaking blasphemously.
Mark 2:8-12
But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘ Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”
He has authority over nature, he commanded the wind and the waves to be quiet, he commanded sickness and demons to leave, the dead to be raised, sins forgiven, declared himself Lord of the Sabbath and the Son of Man (Mark 2:28).
He preached with authority, his words could not be refuted.
He commanded people to leave their jobs and follow him.
Who are we exactly to challenge his authority over our lives ?
In all this time, we still come back to the things that Jesus said, realising that the truth he spoke is true for all time. In fact he said
Matthew 24:35
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
How true that remains !
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