Lake Avenue Church: Why Is It Taking So Long To Get Better? – Week 1

 

Mark’s gospel opens with the clear and resounding title “The beginning of the good news about Jesus, the Messiah and the Son of God.” In Mark 1:2 –8:21, the main point of God’s Word is to reveal who Jesus is. In those chapters, Jesus consistently and repeatedly does all of the things that only God could do. He forgives sins, controls the winds and waves through his commands, heals the sick, casts out demons, and even raises the dead. Everyone who saw his acts and heard his teaching should have known that Jesus was the long-expected and prophesied Messiah and Son of God.

In Mark 8:22 , the focus of the Gospel of Mark changes from describing who Jesus is to calling people to follow him. Christians have long called Mark 8:22 –10:52 “Jesus’ Call to Discipleship.” The section begins and ends with stories about Jesus’ healing blind men. These miracles really happened. At the same time, they point to the fact that, on our own, we are spiritually blind to God and need to have Jesus open our eyes to his reality.

How do we respond to a man who is the Son of God? Jesus says, “Follow me” (8:34). Then, throughout the rest of this passage, Jesus goes on a journey from the northern part of Israel to Jerusalem where he will die. Three times, Jesus tells us that he has come to die—and that we should follow him. This raises the natural question “What will happen to us when we follow a man who says he has come to die as a ransom for us?” (10:42–45) The brief answer is that he changes our lives. What does he change?

Everything:
o Our perception of reality
o Our basis for decision making
o Our marriages and families
o Our use of possessions
o Our values
o Our past, present, and future

This weekend we begin a series of messages that will carry us through the Lenten Season and culminiate at Easter. We will learn about Jesus the life-changer. I pray that he will change our lives—to His glory.

To His Glory,

Dr. Greg Waybright
Senior Pastor