Sermon August 30
Mark 3:20-35
What does following Jesus cost you? It might cost you a missed meal. It might cost you much more but the cost is worth the loss because of the outcome. Sacrifice for the Kingdom of God produces Kingdom fruit. This passage tells us that Jesus’ own family had grown tired of His miracles, teaching and the crowds. Why? Shouldn’t they have been amazed? THE DESIRE TO BE NORMAL AND FIT A MOLD IS POWERFUL. The religious elites were also tired of Jesus painting outside the established lines. Their conclusion was… JESUS WAS DEMON POSSESSED. In verse 23 the text says, “So Jesus called them over to him and began to speak to them in parables” His first parable was about a man who breaks into a strong man’s house and is even stronger still so he is able to steal from him. It is a parable that describes what Jesus is doing to Satan. Satan is the strong man. He has what belongs to Jesus and Jesus is the even stronger man who will take back what belongs to Him. JESUS ISN’T COLLABORATING WITH SATAN AS HE WAS ACCUSED. JESUS IS INVADING SATAN’S TERRITORY AND TAKING BACK WHAT SATAN STOLE. “The Kingdom of God is revealed when the Father’s Will is accomplished through the Son and Witnessed by the Holy Spirit – and our RESPONSE determines whether we receive or resist that invitation.”
Discussion Questions
1. How has Satan stolen from Jesus? What does that look like?
2. How has Satan stolen from you? Why can’t you take back what Satan stole?
3. What does it look like for Jesus to take back what is rightfully His? How does the Kingdom of God become a reality even while the kingdom of Satan is still on offer? What does that look like in your life?
