Kata Markon

[HStaiti AT aol.com]

Fred,

Per your request on the passage, here is a sermon from a series I wrote and preached through the book of Mark It was for a congregational setting.

 

AUTHOR: Rev. Harold J. Staiti

TITLE: Why People are Influenced by Christ

TEXT: Mark 15.33-37

³³At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o'clock. ³⁴Then, at that time Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" …³⁷Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed his last.

 

INTRODUCTION

Attention getter: 

An owner of a restaurant (a chef by trade) began to receive resistance from his waiters and waitresses about how they were doing business. They complained that, as a chef, he failed to appreciate what it meant to be a person who waited on tables and could not understand them. The owner made the decision to become a waiter in his restaurant. At the end of a week, they stopped complaining. They respected that he was one of them, and that he understood them. They were willing to be influenced by him. 

 

In the same way, people will be open to Christ’s influence when they realize…

 

Proposition

Jesus fully identified with our struggles as sinners in God’s world. 

 

Preview of main points

Because Jesus became one of us, he understands the agony of having to live righteously in a sinful world. Because of Christ, we know God understands our struggles.

I believe we will be more open to Christ’s influence when we realize two things that happened to him on the cross.

·       Jesus identified with the sinner’s darkness – v.33

·       Jesus identified with the sinner’s separation – v.34

 

Transition

Look with me to our first point…

 

I. Jesus identified with the sinner’s darkness – v.33

³³At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o'clock.

 

Explanation

Human sin brings darkness

·       It darkens our minds (Romans 1.21)

·       It darkens even our good deeds (Ro 13.12-14; Eph 5.1-11)

·       It leads to eternal darkness (Matthew 8.12; 22.13)

 

Jesus, the light of the world, died in darkness to deliver people from darkness (Col 1.12-14; John 8.12)

 

Illustration

Two children watched a lighthouse being built. They did not know its purpose, so they asked the workers many questions.

Q: “What is that?” A: “This is a light for us to shine when the fog comes in.”

Q: “What is that?” A; “This is a bell for us to ring when the fog comes in.”

Q: “What is that?” A: “This is a horn for us to sound when the fog comes in.”

 

Then one day, it was all set up with the lights and the bell and the horn. But on opening day, a terrible fog came in.  The children watched as the fog slowly came in on off the horizon. They saw the great light turn on. Then they heard the bells. Then they heard the great horn. As the fog rolled over them, one boy sighed in disgust. "It doesn’t work!” he said. “The lights are shining, the bell rang, the horn blew, but the fog came in anyway. "  Adapted from a story by Vance Havner, “On This Rock I Stand.” 

 

Application

How can you be sure to not misunderstand Jesus like those kids misunderstood the lighthouse?

·       Be aware of the reality of sin and the darkness it presents

·       Understand the function of the light of salvation and the horn of salvation

·       Realize that without responding to Christ, you will be lost in eternal darkness.

 

We have never had more fog, and there has never been a greater need to received the light of the gospel than now. 

 

Transition

People identify with Christ because they know how he identified with us. Jesus also…

 

II. Jesus identified with the sinner’s separation – v.34

³⁴"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

 

Explanation

The uncertainty of these words may confuse us. Jesus was always certain about everything during his life, his deeds, his works. But now, in the greatest event, we read these words of uncertainty. Why? Every lost sinner lives in a world of uncertainty.

·       Why am I here?

·       Where is God in my suffering?

 

Jesus knows the agony you feel from your sin. He feels it with you.

·       He took your place of separation

·       “He was forsaken that you might never be forsaken.” (Hebrews 13.5)

 

Illustration

It is said that Dr. Mortimer Adler suddenly left a discussion group at a tea quite disgusted, slamming the door after him.  One person trying to relieve the tension, remarked, "Well, he's gone."  To this the hostess replied, "No, he isn't.  That's a closet!" -- Myron S. Augsburger, When Reason Fails.  

 

Application

Many of us confine ourselves the same way when we rush from God’s presence. Here are some steps to take when you feel alone and isolated:

·       Realize how God created us for a relationship with himself and others. We are created for fellowship

·       Reflect on how sin breaks relationships and isolates from God and others

·       Remember that Christ died to reunite you to God, and brings you into fellowship with others.

 

Christ did everything he needed to do so you would never again feel separation from God. You are not forsaken! Christ has died so you might experience the reality of his words to the disciples, “I will be with you always.”

 

Transition

Jesus identified with sinners like you and me in order to save us!

 

CONCLUSION

Review

Why do people identify with Jesus? Because they know he cares, and that he understands them. When you read the gospels you know God understands the darkness and isolation we experience in this life. 

 

Close

But we must understand what it means when the Bible tells us..

³⁷Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed his last.

·       It is a cry that should comfort you

   o      Your debt for sin is now paid

§       Jesus completed all the requirements of the law (Colossians 2.14-17)

§       Jesus completed all the required sacrifices (Hebrews 10.11-18)

§       Jesus completed all the suffering required to pay for your sins (1 John 1.7)

·       It is a cry that will complete comfort you

   o       “It is completed/finished” (“Teleslestai”) A word for tax receipts “paid in full”

   o      Christ paid your debt. How does it feel to have a bill paid? Doesn’t it bring peace? Thanksgiving? 

 

The condemnation for humanity’s sin was offered in Christ (Romans 8.3), but only those who have received Christ’s forgiveness are not condemned for sin (Ro 8.1).

Righteousness from God is through Christ, to all who believe (Romans 3.22)

 

A call to action.

Rest in his finished work on the cross

 

 

 

 

In a message dated 1/18/2008 9:43:19 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, fguyette AT erskine.edu writes:

I have been asked to work up a review of sermons preached on Mark 15:37-39,
"Then Jesus gave a loud cry... and the curtain of the Temple was torn in
two.."

1. I would be interested in hearing about "good" sermons that have been
preached on this passage, from the first century to today.

2. But more fundamentally, do GMARK scholars have anything to say about
what the "torn veil" means, or what a sermon based on this passage SHOULD
look like?

Thank You,
Fred Guyette
Erskine College and Seminary
Due West, SC







Re: [GMark] stimulating participation






> To my disappointment Kata Markon has been utterly silent for some time
> now.  Ironically, Markan scholars has just asked a dozen or so of his
> students to subscribe to the List so that they could see first hand how
> Markan scholars work!
>
> So I'm wondering what we might do to provide them with what they are
> looking for.
>
> Surely someone among you has something in matters Markan that you are
> working on that you could share with the rest of the list.  Surely
> someone has some good ideas about how to stimulate List participation.
>
> I'd be grateful for your replies.
>
> Yours,
>
> Jeffrey
> _______________________________________________
> GMark mailing list
> GMark AT lists.ibiblio.org
> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/gmark

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---
Harry Staiti
http://360.yahoo.com/ebernorby

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