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CHALLENGE: Open Your Heart to God Stuff
Mark 3:7-12 – Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed. 8 When they heard about all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon. 9 Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him. 10 For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him. 11 Whenever the impure spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” 12 But he gave them strict orders not to tell others about him.
Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake. Multitudes follow him and flock to him. Even demons cry out, “You’re the Son of God”. What are we supposed to take away from this? We know people wanted healing and LARGE crowds were following him. From everywhere!
But still, so what? What sheds light on this story is the contrast to the controlling religious leadership of the day. The normal people love Jesus and the religious leaders hate Jesus.
How in the world do you get two such completely divergent responses to the very same person?! Both sides saw the miracles. Both sides heard the teaching. Both sides interact with Jesus. One group loves him and the other group hates him. He’s the same person.
Don’t we witness this same thing today. For instance, many people liked Charlie Kirk but some hated him. Same guy, same message, yet a polar opposite response. Some will applaud Trump for getting the hostages free. Others will hate him. That’s politics and highlights a continuous division of ideas that has always been here with humanity.
I’m sure same has happened with you. People respond differently.
When I was on a maintenance crew after college, I don’t think those bosses could do anything right, according to the guys. People steadily complained about the higher ups and I came to realize that this was just how it was. It wasn’t a critique of the boss as much as a societal issue. Complaints were the norm.
Why? Let’s start with the Pharisees. They had a script that they followed and since Jesus didn’t fit that script, they hated him for it. Their script was comprised of a bunch of man-made rules and debatable interpretations as to how one should or should not observe the Sabbath. About washing hands. About eating with sinners. About taxes and on and on. They were stuck on the script regardless of evidence contrary.
The Pharisee script was that sinners are evil and unredeemable. You show them a reclaimed sinner and there was no rejoicing, only condemnation. Sadly, their script lacked love and provided no hope.
When we bring our script into situations, we may not be very open to anything that doesn’t support the narrative we’re clinging to. And humanity has a special ability to dig in when all facts are contrary to what one already believes.
We have protests in America that look just like every other protest. Change the flag, change the banners, change the theme, it’s the same protest over and over. Some people just hate this country. The narrative corporations, capitalism, health insurance companies, law and order, the wealthy, land lords, religion, rules, church are all bad. Bad. That’s the script. And even when contrary evidence is before you – you’re clinging!
Can this make a person radical? Radical enough to be violent? Or to embrace violence? It already is. You see life only through your script spewed in your echo chamber, and it can get radical and conspiracy theory-ish and paranoid of anything contrary. It gets crazy.
I recently heard the story of a young Palestinian girl who had been severely burned as a child. They took her to Israel for years and Israel helped her. The hospital saved her life. She had clearance to go between the Gaza Strip and Israel freely. The Palestinians strapped bombs to her and gave her three targets. She chose the hospital that saved her life. The bomb didn’t detonate, she was arrested. Treated well. Sent back to Gaza. When interviewed she still saw her mission to be killing Jews. Her only regret was that the bomb didn’t go off.
Now talk about the radicalization of a script. Despite love shown. Despite saving you. Despite care. Despite good treatment. The script say they are still evil despite all evidence to the contrary.
No wonder Jesus said of the religious leaders that they had stubborn hearts. NO DOUBT. And that stubborn heart could afflict us all. Do I think the religious leaders wanting to kill a miracle worker Jesus for healing a man on their Sabbath is radical? Yes. No wonder Jesus was grieved. Your script can function as a blinder to the truth. What’s your script when it comes to Jesus?
Today I want to look at spiritual things. The reality of Christ apart from any script or narrative that we may or may not have about church or Protestants and Catholics. Apart from an automatic suspicion of anything church related.
If we’re holding to a script about the world, may it come from the Bible. Let’s consider our hearts. The difference between the religious leaders and common folk was heart.
Let’s aim for this kind of heart
- A HEART OPEN TO HEARING THE TRUTH
- The Truth in Jesus’ Words
One of the things that happens in this story is that Jesus asks for a boat. And the boat is so that he can teach the people. He wants to heal but he also wants to teach. There were things from God that they needed to hear.
There is truth out there. Jesus spoke of it before Pontius Pilate. John 18:37 – “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” 38 “What is truth?” retorted Pilate.
John 14:6 – Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Anything that Jesus says is truth. At least be open to hearing it. Church talks about the Bible and therein we find facts for living.
I’m not open to every bad idea out there. If the idea doesn’t line up with God’s truth, then I don’t need to pay it any heed. But at least be open to the fact that there is truth. That there is absolute truth. Are we open? Our job is to teach the truth.
Every Wednesday night we have Adventure Club. We are teaching the children doctrine. This year it’s biblical truth about angels, and the church, and end times. They’re learning, as should we. Our small groups teach the Word. Our junior church and youth group.
The truth is in the Bible. Let’s not twist it or negotiate with it. It’s something I receive from God.
My encouragement – meditate on God’s word. Read it. Think about it. Learn it.
- The Truth in Testimony
So much of what goes on in this passage is powered by the fact that Jesus did powerful things and people heard about it. This is the power of testimony. There were large crowds who “heard” about what Jesus was doing. They “heard” about it. And what did they hear about? What he was DOING!
This is powerful. What is God doing? Miracles! What has God done in you and through you. Give praise! Talk about it. What prayers has he answered? What great things has he brought into your life? That’s testimony! They say that the only Bible some people will read is you.
And people are going to hear about the concrete things the church is doing. And when they hear about what the church is doing and that’s fact and part of the testimony of God’s truth impacting us.
Doing things would include the Vine, OCC, roof project, meals, home repairs, events, food4kidz. This is all great stuff. There are many individual acts as well.
I would like to suggest a “useful” Christianity. Taking the time. Caring about people. Making meals. Being a parent to the parentless. Setting a great example. Do something! Sometimes you’ll care about people more around you than their own families do. Why so? Because they matter to you.
Do we have a heart open to the truth of God’s word and testimony.
- A HEART THAT BELIEVES
They come to Jesus. They hear about it and then they come to him. Doesn’t that movement to Jesus, indicate some type of faith? The crowds that heard about Jesus, came to Jesus, because they believed in Jesus.
Now if I go to a certain place to do business, or if I call on someone, or go to a certain doctor, it’s because I have faith in them. Faith is really important. It’s trust. It’s reliance. It’s confidence. Simple faith would be John 3:16
Illustration: A basic of belief is doing what you say. If you say you’ll be there, you should be there. And people take you at your word. Who do you take at their word? You know that there word is GOLDEN! 100%
I’d like to suggest it’s not weather forecasts! God says things and we believe!
John 1:12 – Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—
He tells us to pray in faith. That he will provide. That he will forgive. That he will save. Faith is taking him at his word. A man asked me one time, “Do you really believe it just because the Bible says it”. I said, “Yes”. I’ve never found anything more profound and some of the most profound thoughts I’ve read have been based on the Bible. Like CS Lewis.
And faith is evidenced by action. That is taught in James 2. Faith without works is dead. Where is there evidence? You may have started attending church. Praying. Reading your Bible. This is super important. What steps demonstrate your faith? The crowds pressed to Jesus just trying to touch him. They believed!
One thing that we should point out about faith is that it’s not a blind leap in the dark. We don’t believe for no reason. They heard about all that Jesus had been doing. Some had seen him heal people already. Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead and that is a strong foundation for our faith.
Do you believe Jesus can forgive you and give you a better life?
- A HEART OF SURRENDER
It’s interesting that the demons are falling before him. They fall down. Now these creatures are diametrically opposed to God and His will. These are creatures who are hurting the people that God loves. They make people unable to speak, unable to function. They torment you with awful thoughts. So much so that the one tortured soul was cutting himself with rocks and running around naked.
So, when one of these dark creatures is touting Jesus, that’s worth noting.
that’s what Jesus says. Follow me. But how can I if I don’t surrender my will?
- Fall Down
They fall down. What does this kind of surrender take? As soon as they saw Jesus, they knew who He was. They bowed down – surrendered. But the idea of surrender seems to be so cowardly. Surrender – throw up the white flag. Throw in the towel. Quit. That sounds awful! I’ll earn everything and surrender NOTHING!
However, there is a battle of wills and let’s acknowledge it. Isaiah 53:6 – We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
The Lord is our shepherd and he has a better path but we need to follow Him. To come to that point of surrender.
I would have to say that “falling down”, is an acknowledgement that says, “You win”. It’s subservience and submission to a power far greater. And perhaps it’s not a “want” to but rather a “must”. Bowing down symbolizes humility and a willingness to do whatever you’re told. You realize that you’re at their mercy and your life is in their hands. And that’s not a bad recognition when it comes to God. God, I’ll do whatever it is you want me to do.
You think of Jonah and God said, go to Nineveh and he did not surrender his will. He went to Tarshish instead. A storm and being swallowed by a whale did the trick! He was surrendered then. He just fought it. It’s best not to fight God when He’s tugging. Don’t harden your heart; surrender.
Jesus said in the Garden of Gethsemane ahead of dying a brutal death on the cross. Let my path be different but not my will but thine be done.
The Philippian jailor fell down after Paul saved his life and asked, “What must I do to be saved”. With the idea of – whatever you tell me, I’m going to do! For us, a heart surrendered is a heart that has put God at the center of things. It’s a willingness to do what God wants us to do.
If you really follow Jesus, there are going to be certain things that you surrender. It could be time. A night in the week surrendered in service. Time given up to help someone who is struggling. There is definitely the surrender of time even if it’s time for praying or Bible reading.
When it comes to our lives and our possessions. God – I have what I have because of you. I’m surrendered. When it comes time for obeying God. What I do with my body. Where I go. It’s all part of surrender.
Paul compared our spiritual journey and life choices to a race. You have to make your body run and if there are any runners, you know how it is. You have to force the issue at times and surrender to that. Even tired and when it’s hard. It’s discipline.
It takes surrender to live successfully and I want to be surrendered to what God wants to do with my life. And ultimately this is the end game for all humanity. Everyone will bow at the feet of Jesus so you might as well do it now. Why wait?
Have you ever come to that place of sweet surrender. Where you stop fighting God and just say, “Take the wheel”.
Perhaps there comes that time when we stop fighting God. Stop fighting all the good he wants for your life and marriage. I’ll go His way and I’ll guarantee it’s better.
Paul fought against Jesus Christ and Christianity. God brought him to his knees and his life took a dramatic turn for the better. Sometimes I think we surrender like Hamas does. We surrender but we really start shooting again before the ink is dried on the treaty. Surrender is just saying you’ll do it God’s will.
- Cried Out and Acknowledge
They are screaming out. So, here’s the confession. YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD. Son of God is a profound term. The religious leaders got angry at Jesus for saying that because He was making himself equal with God. John 5: 18 For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
So there’s something super special about this. We’re not just acknowledging him a loving teacher. He’s a Savior. You are the Son of God. Divine. Like no other.
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Have you ever made this profession? That realization that He is the answer! Your profession is simply your statement of faith.
He tells them. Warns them sternly not to do it. I reckon that he was concerned about who was promoting him. He wanted his works to do the talking, not lying spirits. Not those who might tarnish the reputation of Jesus.
But how about this. A demon gets what the religious leadership doesn’t get. The religious leadership does not see who Jesus is. The disciples understood it and the demons understood it.
How’s your heart? Is it open? Does it have faith? Surrender? Where do you need to give in to Christ.