Running to the cross - Mark 9

Notes listening to talk on Mar 1st looking at Mark 9

v1-13
It is great to be part of crowd,  but so important to have close companions,  running mates.
The three closest friends get to see behind the veil, and get a glimpse of what is not ordinary.
Good prayer: help me Lord to see what is really going on here. Each experience has many layers and sometimes layers that are hidden are revealed.
Jesus is not same or just next one on from Moses and Elijah...he is the end, the final prophet.
Easy to laugh at Peter but so easy to speak out when we need to just watch and pray...wait.
This is my Son, listen to him. Do we hear his voice?

14-29
Midway point in the gospel of Mark. All of a sudden it is a bit harder especially if we are not FROG (fully reliant on God)
It is so often true that it gets more difficult to follow God as we progress in our faith.
Are we praying for greater trust and courage as the road gets tough and rough.
what people see in us ls how people see Jesus. Lord, I do believe help me overcome my unbelief. What Jesus did was a foreshadow of his own resurrection.
If we are ministering in our own strength then are are missing out on God's power?

v 30-50
So hard to understand why the disciples didn't get it, but so often Jesus spoke in riddles so they often looked for deeper meaning - it has to be something else as the messiah can't suffer.
Reminder for the disciples that they didn't own the gospel. Jesus is the one who seeks and saves the lost, it is his mission. He has sheep we know nothing about.
You welcome a child and you welcome me. They so often argued about who is the greatest. Jesus turns the world's values upside down and it is the least who is the greatest.
Love the Lord like a child!
what experiences are just around the corner? Unrestrained joy. Don't let the layers grow around your heart and just become a spectator. No, taste and see the Lord is good. childlike, open to the wonder and awe that surrounds us every day.

Mark 6 tell us more about Jesus than it does about his followers? Discuss

Study on Mark 6 this morning: what does this passage tell us about Jesus?

• M6: his teaching is amazing.... Many people wanted to listen.
• M6: he can be AMAZED at our lack of faith!!!
• M6: he sends people out, and he was totally interested in every person- what they had Said and done?
• M6: Do we believe that Jesus is totally interested in what we are doing?
• M6 Sometimes it can be tiring living- God wants us to rest! (Come to me and I will give you rest/ be still) however be wary of too much rest.
• M6: value rest but serve people. Jesus had compassion on the people... He calls the crowd sheep without a shepherd.
• M6: without a shepherd the crowd was in danger- Jesus is the shepherd.
• M6: JESUS WANTS US TO BE MORE THAN SATISFIED!
• M6: Jesus always values time in prayer. -he could have gone with the crowd but he stepped away to be with God. Is the crowd always right?
• M6: in a crowd emotions and thoughts can be powerful but we need to go back to the father and say it is you father that I want to hear.
• M6: Jesus sees our needs and he wants to help. He has the authority to help.
• M6: what Jesus does is amazing!

M6: what does this passage tells about followers of Jesus???

• M6: Many dismissed Jesus- be careful of envy and jealousy. Value others gifts! Allow others to shine with how God has blessed them.
• M6: let's not be people who stand in the way of God working in other people's lives.
• M6: When we go out trusting God; amazing things can happen... And bad stuff too.
• M6: it is easy to make stupid and hasty promises (Herod)
• M6: we don't want to be people who make stupid promises- it is better to make no promise at all. Make promises you know you can keep.
• M6: you need to have the right attitude about resources.
• M6: The resources we have we can use for people in need not just for those were responsible for.
• M6: miracles can happen that we don't know about... Imagine being man 2397 in the 5000 crowd. How do you know when a miracle is happening?
• M6: it is ok to fear God and to cry out to him.
• M6: we can be amazed by God. Don't have a hard heart... Put everything you have into Jesus.
• M6: ITS ALL ABOUT JESUS! Recognise him in every situation.

M6: Jesus totally values and cares about every one. He invites every person to follow him and to experience his love for us.
M6: Jesus invites everyone of us to be his disciple.