Bible Bible Conference 2009Conference 2009

Facing Every Comfort Facing Every Comfort ZoneZone

Mark 8:27-33Mark 8:27-33

This MorningThis Morning

What is the Center of What is the Center of Reality?Reality?The Presence of JesusThe Presence of Jesus

When He is Present Everything When He is Present Everything is Seen in A Different Lightis Seen in A Different Light

What is the What is the Purpose of the Purpose of the

Cross?Cross?Finding the Meaning of True Finding the Meaning of True Personhood in the Passion of Personhood in the Passion of

JesusJesus

Divisions in the Life of Divisions in the Life of JesusJesus

“Passion Narratives with long “Passion Narratives with long introductions”introductions”

a) a) Infancy and Childhood (none here)Infancy and Childhood (none here) b) Early Galilean Ministry (Mk 1-4)b) Early Galilean Ministry (Mk 1-4) c) Later Galilean Ministry (Mk 5-8)c) Later Galilean Ministry (Mk 5-8)

Pivot at Mark 8/Matt 16/Lk 9Pivot at Mark 8/Matt 16/Lk 9 d) Withdrawal and Special Training (8-d) Withdrawal and Special Training (8-

10)10) e) Ministry in Perea and Judea (e) Ministry in Perea and Judea (none none

here)here) f) Passion Week (Mk 11-16)f) Passion Week (Mk 11-16)

Caesarea Philippi as PivotCaesarea Philippi as Pivot

1:14-8:30 1:14-8:30 CauseCause

““and He began to teach” 8:31-and He began to teach” 8:31-16:20 16:20 EffectEffect

Person > PassionPerson > Passion

(cf. Mt 4:17; 16:21-23; Lk 9:20-22)(cf. Mt 4:17; 16:21-23; Lk 9:20-22)

Background MaterialsBackground Materials

i) Galilee of the Gentilesi) Galilee of the Gentiles

ii) The Disciples in Contextii) The Disciples in Context (1) Segregationists(1) Segregationists (2) Haters of Rome(2) Haters of Rome (3) Some Wealthy(3) Some Wealthy (4) Apocalyptic Jews(4) Apocalyptic Jews (5) Slow Learners(5) Slow Learners

The “Way of Sorrows” The “Way of Sorrows” Begins Begins

i) Caesarea Philippii) Caesarea Philippi

ii) Two-Part Exam: Multiple Choice and ii) Two-Part Exam: Multiple Choice and ApplicationApplication

(1) Pass – Who am I to them?(1) Pass – Who am I to them?

Who am I to you?Who am I to you?

And he began to teach them…And he began to teach them…

(2) Fail – Why did I come? What’s my (2) Fail – Why did I come? What’s my purpose?purpose?

Satan in ScriptureSatan in Scripture

Heb. “Heb. “satansatan” = opponent, adversary, ” = opponent, adversary, enemyenemy

or accuseror accuser Applied to humans and even to God Applied to humans and even to God

(Num 22:22)(Num 22:22) Only in Job and I Chron 21 and Zech 3 Only in Job and I Chron 21 and Zech 3

does Satan appear as a proper noundoes Satan appear as a proper noun No “cosmic adversary” until 2No “cosmic adversary” until 2ndnd century century

BCBC

Dealing with a “satanic” Dealing with a “satanic” mindmind

Mind (Phroneo)Mind (Phroneo) – – occurs in some crucial passagesoccurs in some crucial passages

PerspectivePerspective MindsetMindset Direction mind takesDirection mind takes To take someone’s sideTo take someone’s side To think in a certain wayTo think in a certain way Setting one’s interest in a Setting one’s interest in a

consuming directionconsuming direction Orientation, Way of thinkingOrientation, Way of thinking, ,

What the Disciples Lack: What the Disciples Lack:

(1) Spiritual Understanding Mk.9:17-(1) Spiritual Understanding Mk.9:17-1919 8:34 Messiahship of Jesus8:34 Messiahship of Jesus 9:2-6 Mt. of Transfiguration 9:2-6 Mt. of Transfiguration 9:10 Meaning of Resurrection 9:10 Meaning of Resurrection 9:11-13 Son of Man 9:11-13 Son of Man

Comfort Zone #1 Life from My Comfort Zone #1 Life from My Perspective Perspective

What the Disciples Lack: What the Disciples Lack:

(1) Spiritual Understanding (1) Spiritual Understanding (2) Spiritual Power Mk. 9:14-19 (2) Spiritual Power Mk. 9:14-19

3:15 3:15 Appointed with authority Appointed with authority 6:13,30 Experience and Express Authority6:13,30 Experience and Express Authority 8:17-29 How long shall I put up with you?8:17-29 How long shall I put up with you?

Zone #2 “Life” Without Divine VitalityZone #2 “Life” Without Divine Vitality

What the Disciples Lack: What the Disciples Lack: cont.cont.

(1) Spiritual Understanding(1) Spiritual Understanding (2) Spiritual Power(2) Spiritual Power (3) Love for Each Other (3) Love for Each Other

Mk 8:31-32 Mk 8:31-32 Cross > Satan!Cross > Satan! 9:31-349:31-34 Cross > Greatest!Cross > Greatest! 10:33-3710:33-37 Cross > Right or Left!Cross > Right or Left!

Zone #3 Love that I define by my own Zone #3 Love that I define by my own desiresdesires

What the Disciples Lack: What the Disciples Lack: cont. cont.

(1) Spiritual Understanding(1) Spiritual Understanding (2) Spiritual Power(2) Spiritual Power (3) Love for Each Other(3) Love for Each Other (4) Love for Any One Else (4) Love for Any One Else

Mk.10:48Mk.10:48 Rejecting the Infirm Rejecting the Infirm Lk 9:51-55Lk 9:51-55 Rejecting the ConfusedRejecting the Confused Mk 10:13, Mt 19:13 Rejecting the ChildrenMk 10:13, Mt 19:13 Rejecting the Children

Zone #4 Love defined by ‘isms’Zone #4 Love defined by ‘isms’

What the Disciples Lack:What the Disciples Lack:continued continued

(5) Love for Jesus Mk.14:31(5) Love for Jesus Mk.14:31 Mk. 14:27-31Mk. 14:27-31 50 50

How Many Crosses Ought There Have How Many Crosses Ought There Have Been?Been?

Zone #5 Commitment based upon my Zone #5 Commitment based upon my securitysecurity

Two major Emphases 8:31-Two major Emphases 8:31-16:2016:20

Both are tied to the purpose of the Both are tied to the purpose of the Cross Cross

Jesus’ Person, Passion and Jesus’ Person, Passion and ResurrectionResurrection

Implications of these on disciplesImplications of these on disciples

Confronting Everyone of Our Confronting Everyone of Our Comfort ZonesComfort Zones

What Kind of Person does What Kind of Person does the Passion and Pentecost the Passion and Pentecost

produce?produce? (1) New Spiritual Insight(1) New Spiritual Insight

"Don't you understand""Don't you understand" Acts 2:14ff. cf. to Mt.16:17 Acts 2:14ff. cf. to Mt.16:17

(2) (2) New Spiritual PowerNew Spiritual Power "In the name of Jesus Christ""In the name of Jesus Christ"

Acts 1:8 Acts 1:8 You shall receive powerYou shall receive power Acts 2:43 Acts 2:43 Wonders and signsWonders and signs Acts 3:6,11Acts 3:6,11 In the Name of Jesus In the Name of Jesus

ChristChrist Acts 5:12-17Acts 5:12-17 Many signs and wondersMany signs and wonders

Purpose of the Cross: Purpose of the Cross: continuedcontinued

(3) New Other-Orientation "It seemed (3) New Other-Orientation "It seemed good to the Holy Spirit..."good to the Holy Spirit..." Acts 1:14Acts 1:14 These were all of one mindThese were all of one mind Acts 2:44-46Acts 2:44-46 All together, had all in All together, had all in

commoncommon Acts 4:32-35Acts 4:32-35 Not a needy person Not a needy person

among themamong them Acts 6:1-7Acts 6:1-7 Choice of seven to serveChoice of seven to serve Acts 1-12, 13-28Acts 1-12, 13-28 Peter – Paul Paul – Peter – Paul Paul –

PeterPeter

Purpose of the Cross: Purpose of the Cross: continuedcontinued

(4) Boundary-Crossing Love "Of one (4) Boundary-Crossing Love "Of one accord"accord" Acts 8:4-8, 8:25-38Acts 8:4-8, 8:25-38 Ethiopian EunuchEthiopian Eunuch Acts 10:1-48Acts 10:1-48 Cornelius and his houseCornelius and his house Acts 15:1-21 Acts 15:1-21 For all the GentilesFor all the Gentiles

(5)Undying Commitment "They had been (5)Undying Commitment "They had been with Jesus"with Jesus" Acts 4:13-20 Uneducated, Untrained, Acts 4:13-20 Uneducated, Untrained,

Undaunted Undaunted Acts 3:13-20 the NameActs 3:13-20 the Name

His Passion, His Mind, His His Passion, His Mind, His CrossCross

Cross not a consequence but the goalCross not a consequence but the goal Everything else is “ordered” by that endEverything else is “ordered” by that end This reality tells us something of God’s This reality tells us something of God’s

eternal nature – eternal nature – Self-emptying is an expression of that LifeSelf-emptying is an expression of that Life Here is the only expression of God in the Here is the only expression of God in the

flesh we will ever have – He appeared in flesh we will ever have – He appeared in our humannessour humanness

Suffered out of His freedom in loveSuffered out of His freedom in love

Has the Cross of Christ Met Has the Cross of Christ Met Its Full Purpose in Your Its Full Purpose in Your

Life?Life?The very ‘best’ are not one whit The very ‘best’ are not one whit

better than the very ‘worst’ better than the very ‘worst’ without the character of Jesus without the character of Jesus transforming their lives –transforming their lives –

And that can only happen And that can only happen when the Spirit of Jesus forms when the Spirit of Jesus forms our perspective, our loveour perspective, our love