100:00:00,020 –> 00:00:11,740A Christ-centered church will be a church that is marked by joy. It will not200:00:11,760 –> 00:00:16,719be a place where human rules are imposed on people but rather where burdens are300:00:16,719 –> 00:00:24,799lifted and when you see that you will have a new interest in following Jesus.400:00:24,799 –> 00:00:29,480Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick and Colin it500:00:29,480 –> 00:00:33,820sounds like today it’s going to be a message of hope because I think we600:00:33,820 –> 00:00:37,380sometimes think of church as a place where we’re burdened by all sorts of700:00:37,380 –> 00:00:41,480rules and regulations but it doesn’t sound much like what you’re talking800:00:41,480 –> 00:00:45,040about today. No, and it’s certainly not what Jesus was saying. The thing that900:00:45,040 –> 00:00:49,439fascinates me is why does so much religion impose so many rules? Why is1000:00:49,439 –> 00:00:55,439that? There’s gotta be a reason. I’m convinced that the fallen human heart is1100:00:55,520 –> 00:01:00,200legalistic to the core. There’s something about us that wants to prove we can do1200:01:00,200 –> 00:01:04,320it and that’s why religion multiplies itself all over the world and it’s1300:01:04,320 –> 00:01:08,720always about demands and it’s like that because although we say we hate it1400:01:08,720 –> 00:01:12,480there’s an instinct within us that says I’m gonna prove that I can do it to God1500:01:12,480 –> 00:01:17,919and we’re reluctant to let that go. One of the the bridges to cross in coming to1600:01:17,919 –> 00:01:22,639Jesus Christ is are you ready to let him save you? Have you come to that place1700:01:22,800 –> 00:01:27,300where you’ve given up trying to save yourself? Well, at that point here’s Jesus1800:01:27,300 –> 00:01:31,519Christ and he comes and he lifts burdens and he brings joy and that’s the most1900:01:31,519 –> 00:01:35,639marvelous thing about Christian fellowship. When you see real Christian2000:01:35,639 –> 00:01:39,919who have found new life in Jesus Christ there’s a joy and there’s a freedom it’s2100:01:39,919 –> 00:01:45,639marvelous. Let’s see that today as we’re in Mark chapter 2 and we continue the2200:01:45,639 –> 00:01:50,540message Jesus stirs up conflict. Here’s Colin. Now we’re going to see this2300:01:50,559 –> 00:01:56,800morning that Jesus made three choices that clearly brought him into conflict2400:01:56,800 –> 00:02:02,400with the religious leaders of his day. We’re going to look at these choices and2500:02:02,400 –> 00:02:06,300when we understand them we’re going to find ourselves faced with a big2600:02:06,300 –> 00:02:15,660decision. Because if we make the same choices as Jesus we will have the same2700:02:16,179 –> 00:02:24,460result as Jesus. If we make the choices he made we will find ourselves in the2800:02:24,460 –> 00:02:31,199same conflict he found himself in, indeed that he intentionally placed himself in.2900:02:31,199 –> 00:02:36,699And the question for us is going to be at the end of this morning, are we going3000:02:36,699 –> 00:02:42,419to follow Jesus or are we going to follow the Pharisees? There’s a very3100:02:42,460 –> 00:02:50,740real choice here and we’re going to be called to take one side or the other.3200:02:50,740 –> 00:02:53,660Now let’s look at these three choices then that run through this passage of3300:02:53,660 –> 00:02:59,320scripture. The first choice is that Jesus offers friendship to sinners and3400:02:59,320 –> 00:03:05,479you find this in verses 13 to 17, Jesus offers friendship to sinners, that’s what3500:03:05,479 –> 00:03:11,119he chose to do and it initiated conflict. Verse 13, once again Jesus went out3600:03:11,139 –> 00:03:17,020beside the lake, a large crowd came to him and he began to teach them. Familiar3700:03:17,020 –> 00:03:22,860pattern. As he walked along, he saw Levi’s son of Alpheus sitting at the tax3800:03:22,860 –> 00:03:32,020collectors booth, follow me Jesus told him. And Levi got up and followed him. Now3900:03:32,020 –> 00:03:36,059this is a familiar pattern we’ve seen this before with Simon and Andrew and4000:03:36,059 –> 00:03:42,360James and John. The thing that is distinct here is that Levi was a tax4100:03:42,360 –> 00:03:53,940collector. Now, to put in a Bible phrase, folks who took these jobs were4200:03:53,940 –> 00:04:04,460commonly regarded as the scum of the earth. That’s what Levi was and Jesus4300:04:04,460 –> 00:04:10,380called him to be a disciple. It’s awesome. Here’s the second choice that he made4400:04:10,380 –> 00:04:20,380that brought this conflict to be. Jesus confronts false religion and there are4500:04:20,380 –> 00:04:24,019two marks of false religion that come out very clearly in the second chapter4600:04:24,019 –> 00:04:31,100of Mark. First, is false religion always lacks joy. False religion is marked by a4700:04:31,459 –> 00:04:36,859of joy, and false religion secondly, imposes heavy burdens. It always does,4800:04:36,859 –> 00:04:42,799heavy, heavy burdens. Notice first, this theme of bringing joy. Verse 18. Some4900:04:42,799 –> 00:04:48,500people came and asked Jesus, how is it that John’s disciples and the disciples5000:04:48,500 –> 00:04:59,440of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not? Now, this issue of fasting is5100:04:59,480 –> 00:05:07,220very interesting. The Old Testament had just one day in the year when God5200:05:07,220 –> 00:05:12,959called upon his people to fast, that was the Day of Atonement. Fasts were called5300:05:12,959 –> 00:05:17,480in Old Testament times by the leaders of the people, especially in times of5400:05:17,480 –> 00:05:23,600national crisis. But what the Pharisees had done was, they had taken fasting and5500:05:23,600 –> 00:05:29,160they had made it a regular part of their routine, twice a week on Mondays and on5600:05:29,559 –> 00:05:34,519Thursdays. Now, this was a big deal for the Pharisees so the question is now why5700:05:34,519 –> 00:05:40,500are the disciples of Jesus not fasting? I mean if he was a real, serious,5800:05:40,500 –> 00:05:45,320spiritual teacher surely he’d be leading them into this. And Jesus answers in5900:05:45,320 –> 00:05:55,000verse 19, how can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them.6000:05:55,760 –> 00:06:04,540Now that is a wonderful picture. I mean can you imagine fasting at a wedding?6100:06:04,540 –> 00:06:10,820Think about it. The whole point of a wedding is that it is a joyful6200:06:10,820 –> 00:06:19,239celebration and that is the point that Jesus is making. Jesus brings his friends6300:06:19,239 –> 00:06:27,459into joy. That is the very heart of the Gospel. And he’s not objecting to the6400:06:27,459 –> 00:06:31,480Pharisees fasting. Fast if you want to. Fast when you want to.6500:06:31,480 –> 00:06:37,920But don’t imagine that the heart of the Gospel is about imposing a lot of laws6600:06:37,920 –> 00:06:41,679and disciplines and burdens upon people’s lives.6700:06:41,679 –> 00:06:45,920Don’t imagine that it’s something that brings us into restriction because Jesus6800:06:46,000 –> 00:06:54,359is saying, my coming brings my followers into joy. If you have tasted joyless6900:06:54,359 –> 00:06:59,359religion you’ve touched the world of the Pharisees, you have not yet7000:06:59,359 –> 00:07:06,260experienced Jesus. Jesus brings his friends into joy. And Jesus also7100:07:06,260 –> 00:07:11,440confronts false religion by lifting many burdens. Look at the next story about the7200:07:11,440 –> 00:07:17,279disciples going through a cornfield on the Sabbath and the Pharisees pick up on7300:07:17,279 –> 00:07:24,279this. Now why, verse 24, are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath? They7400:07:24,279 –> 00:07:28,679picked a few years of corn and as far as the Pharisees were concerned this was7500:07:28,679 –> 00:07:37,799harvesting and that was work. Well the fourth commandment God calls us7600:07:38,420 –> 00:07:45,619to set aside one day in seventh for rest, to stop working and to enjoy all that7700:07:45,619 –> 00:07:54,959is done. And that is a gift, that is a blessing from God. But you see what the7800:07:54,959 –> 00:08:01,660Pharisees did? It’s what formal religion always does. It turns God’s gifts and7900:08:02,420 –> 00:08:10,440blessings into burdens. It takes the sheer goodness of God and refabrics it8000:08:10,440 –> 00:08:15,279into a dullness of life and a burdensome existence.8100:08:15,279 –> 00:08:25,779That is what religious systems do. And Jesus confronts it. Do you know I have to8200:08:25,899 –> 00:08:32,059tell you. I meet many people who have had a bad experience of religion that has8300:08:32,059 –> 00:08:40,460really alienated them from God. It was all about rules and about traditions8400:08:40,460 –> 00:08:46,419that seemed to have no point. You felt over time that it looked8500:08:46,419 –> 00:08:51,640increasingly like a means of control exercised by people who seem to have8600:08:51,780 –> 00:08:55,239very little joy in their own lives.8700:08:57,840 –> 00:09:02,919If that’s been your experience, you’ve probably come to the fringes of this8800:09:02,919 –> 00:09:11,159congregation very cautiously because you don’t want to get tied up in that again.8900:09:11,159 –> 00:09:18,960Can you see from the Bible today that that kind of pettiness, that kind of9000:09:18,960 –> 00:09:25,780control, that kind of drabness, that kind of system is the very thing that Jesus9100:09:25,780 –> 00:09:35,820is against. He comes to break the power of dead religion. He leads his disciples9200:09:35,820 –> 00:09:43,640into joy. He lifts heavy burdens. He breaks through silly rules and stuffy9300:09:43,679 –> 00:09:53,239traditions. And so a Christ centered church will be a church that is marked9400:09:53,239 –> 00:09:59,320by joy. It will not be a place where human rules are imposed on people, but9500:09:59,320 –> 00:10:05,719rather where burdens are lifted. And when you see that, you will have a new9600:10:05,719 –> 00:10:13,340interest in following Jesus. Aren’t you glad he came to confront the dead9700:10:13,340 –> 00:10:19,940stuffiness of formal religion? Amen. Thank God for that because around the9800:10:19,940 –> 00:10:32,119world, it is a burden to millions and millions of people. Now, seriously today,9900:10:32,179 –> 00:10:37,340to the person who has had a bad experience of religion, will you try and10000:10:37,340 –> 00:10:45,640take this in as from the Lord and from the Bible? If you have suffered,10100:10:45,640 –> 00:10:55,719endured a world of religion that lacks joy and imposes burdens,10200:10:55,780 –> 00:11:05,820grasp today that that is what Jesus is against. He comes to free you from this,10300:11:05,820 –> 00:11:14,880not to impose this. And I hope that if that is your background and if you’re10400:11:14,880 –> 00:11:20,280carrying baggage from that, that God, in his wonderful mercy, will free you from10500:11:20,380 –> 00:11:25,299that today. That he’ll break the power that that has over you, so that now you10600:11:25,299 –> 00:11:32,340will be able to move forward, in the joy of knowing him. And of experiencing the10700:11:32,340 –> 00:11:38,679one who lifts burdens, rather than laying them upon us. What a great prayer10800:11:38,679 –> 00:11:44,260that we would know the joy of knowing Jesus. And when we come back, we’ll hear a10900:11:44,260 –> 00:11:47,659third choice that led Jesus into conflict. So I hope you’ll be able to11000:11:48,580 –> 00:11:52,940stay with us for that. Don’t forget, if you have a miss one of our programs, you11100:11:52,940 –> 00:11:56,679can always catch up or go back and listen again online. Come to our website11200:11:56,679 –> 00:12:02,760at openthebible.org.uk, or find us as a podcast. And you can do that, by11300:12:02,760 –> 00:12:08,239searching for Open The Bible UK and subscribe to receive regular updates.11400:12:08,239 –> 00:12:13,719Open the Bible is kept on the radio and on the internet by the generosity of our11500:12:14,039 –> 00:12:18,020listeners and we really want to thank you for doing that. If you’re thinking of11600:12:18,020 –> 00:12:22,340beginning to support Open the Bible in this way, this month we’ve got a new11700:12:22,340 –> 00:12:26,679offer for you. If you’re able to set up a new direct debit to the work of Open11800:12:26,679 –> 00:12:30,780the Bible, in the amount of £5 per month or more, or a single gift of11900:12:30,780 –> 00:12:35,440£50, then we’d love to thank you by sending you five copies of Pastor12000:12:35,440 –> 00:12:40,419Colin’s new book, What Jesus Says to Sceptics. That’s 1 copy for you to12100:12:40,419 –> 00:12:45,219read, and 4 to give away to your friends and family. Full terms and12200:12:45,219 –> 00:12:49,500conditions, and to give online, come to our website openthebible.org.uk12300:12:49,500 –> 00:12:54,700Back to The Message now, where in Mark Chapter 2 is Colin.12400:12:54,700 –> 00:13:01,159Here’s the last thing this morning. The third choice that Jesus made,12500:13:01,159 –> 00:13:07,619Jesus refused to be distracted from his mission, I love this, and we’re moving12600:13:07,820 –> 00:13:13,700into the beginning of chapter three here. Jesus will not be distracted from his12700:13:13,700 –> 00:13:18,500mission. Now remember where we are at the end of chapter two, the tension between12800:13:18,500 –> 00:13:24,500Jesus and the Pharisees now has escalated, their antagonism towards Jesus12900:13:24,500 –> 00:13:31,059is clearly at a high level and so at the beginning of chapter 3 we read that13000:13:31,140 –> 00:13:38,900another time Jesus went into the synagogue and a man with a shriveled hand was there.13100:13:40,580 –> 00:13:47,539Now some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus. Notice how early this comes,13200:13:47,539 –> 00:13:53,619they’re looking for a reason to accuse him. So they watched him closely13300:13:54,500 –> 00:14:00,859to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. Now maybe you’ve known this kind of experience13400:14:01,500 –> 00:14:07,820when people who are antagonistic towards you are watching you, because they want to catch you13500:14:08,960 –> 00:14:15,059in some way. And can you imagine the tension then?13600:14:15,460 –> 00:14:21,619Jesus is in the synagogue, he knows that there are folks there who are hostile to him,13700:14:22,340 –> 00:14:29,299they’re watching him closely, and they’re looking for a way to accuse him.13800:14:30,280 –> 00:14:35,679And they already think that they have him on this Sabbath issue, and now they see what13900:14:35,679 –> 00:14:40,739might be a great opportunity, because there’s a man with a shriveled hand in the synagogue,14000:14:40,739 –> 00:14:47,580a man with a particular need. And Jesus knows that if he heals the man in the service on14100:14:47,580 –> 00:14:53,979the Sabbath, they will say, ah, he’s working, you see he’s breaking the Sabbath law. So14200:14:53,979 –> 00:14:56,140what will Jesus do?14300:14:56,140 –> 00:15:04,520Now, it’s worth remembering that Jesus had options here. I mean he could have at the14400:15:04,520 –> 00:15:12,520end of the service gone away quietly and healed the man, couldn’t he? He could have said14500:15:12,640 –> 00:15:19,159for all people who are healed, there are many who will not be healed, and I am not here14600:15:19,159 –> 00:15:24,359to meet every healing need, we learned that already and he could have passed by the man’s14700:15:24,359 –> 00:15:28,840need. Jesus had options.14800:15:28,840 –> 00:15:37,159But I want you to see the sheer drama of this moment if you felt the tension in this situation.14900:15:37,799 –> 00:15:46,280Jesus says in verse 3, they’re all watching him and Jesus says to the man with the shriveled15000:15:46,280 –> 00:15:58,280hand, stand up in front of everybody, love that, Jesus is taking them on, he’s going15100:15:58,280 –> 00:16:03,679for it, he’s saying I know you’re out there and you’re trying to fault me and accuse15200:16:03,679 –> 00:16:08,119me and I’m not going to be distracted in anyway from the mission I have come to fulfil15300:16:08,119 –> 00:16:16,440in the world, stand up, he says to the man, as public as could be.15400:16:16,440 –> 00:16:23,400Then Jesus says what is lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or15500:16:23,400 –> 00:16:27,460to kill, and of course they remain silent.15600:16:28,400 –> 00:16:36,479By the way notice Jesus’ mission right in when this verse, to do good and to save life,15700:16:36,479 –> 00:16:45,500that’s a great mission statement by the way, isn’t it, to do good and to save life,15800:16:45,500 –> 00:16:52,119that’s why I’ve come into the world Jesus is saying, to do good and to save life.15900:16:52,119 –> 00:16:56,640And, he’s taking the Pharisees on and he’s saying I’m not going to be stopped from16000:16:56,739 –> 00:17:03,700either of these things just because of you, thank God for that.16100:17:03,700 –> 00:17:09,140And so, he looked around, verse five, he looked at them in anger, that’s the Pharisees in16200:17:09,140 –> 00:17:12,979anger and deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts.16300:17:12,979 –> 00:17:20,160Can you feel this pathos from Jesus that those who bear the name of God in the world should16400:17:20,160 –> 00:17:24,979be so far from his heart?16500:17:24,979 –> 00:17:32,439And with deep distress towards the Pharisees, Jesus says to the man with the shriveled hands,16600:17:32,439 –> 00:17:38,020stretch out your hand, and as Jesus says it the man finds power to do what he had never16700:17:38,020 –> 00:17:39,719been able to do before.16800:17:39,719 –> 00:17:45,859He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored.16900:17:45,900 –> 00:17:54,339Well, it doesn’t take much imagination to work out what happened after the service,17000:17:54,339 –> 00:17:55,500right?17100:17:55,500 –> 00:18:04,680Look at verse 6, the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they17200:18:04,680 –> 00:18:09,060might kill Jesus.17300:18:09,060 –> 00:18:14,280An unholy alliance, if ever there was one.17400:18:14,280 –> 00:18:24,239The Pharisees, the religious establishment, the Herodians, the political establishment.17500:18:24,239 –> 00:18:42,119Church and state, in representative form, conspiring to do away with Jesus Christ.17600:18:42,199 –> 00:18:46,040Powerful!17700:18:46,040 –> 00:18:54,819Three choices that Jesus made, that drew him into escalating conflict.17800:18:54,819 –> 00:18:59,900He didn’t make them by mistake, he made them deliberately, and they advanced the purpose17900:18:59,900 –> 00:19:03,599for which he came into the world.18000:19:03,599 –> 00:19:08,119He offers friendship to sinners.18100:19:08,119 –> 00:19:14,540He confronts false religion by bringing joy and lifting burdens.18200:19:14,540 –> 00:19:19,500And he will not be distracted from his mission.18300:19:19,500 –> 00:19:26,219And when I look at this the more awesome it is, don’t you just thank God for the courage18400:19:26,219 –> 00:19:31,979of the Lord Jesus Christ.18500:19:32,140 –> 00:19:37,180And so we come to our question in the last moment.18600:19:37,180 –> 00:19:38,859Which side are we on?18700:19:38,859 –> 00:19:41,699Now that really is the question, isn’t it.18800:19:41,699 –> 00:19:48,780Which side are we on when it comes to these critical choices that are right up front in18900:19:48,780 –> 00:19:52,060the story of the gospel.19000:19:52,060 –> 00:19:57,439And the real choices for us that will actually be made in the secret places of our hearts19100:19:57,439 –> 00:20:01,780and in the quiet conversations that we have with one another over cups of coffee about19200:20:02,099 –> 00:20:05,160this and that.19300:20:05,160 –> 00:20:10,760I put it to you as three questions.19400:20:10,760 –> 00:20:20,839Will we follow the Pharisees in ministry to a narrow group of people like ourselves?19500:20:20,839 –> 00:20:29,979Or will we follow Jesus and open our hearts to many in great need.19600:20:30,020 –> 00:20:34,739That’s a real choice.19700:20:34,739 –> 00:20:40,979And our choice will be indicative of whether we are more with Jesus or more like the Pharisees.19800:20:40,979 –> 00:20:53,979Second, will we be the kind of church that follows the Pharisees in promoting a religion19900:20:53,979 –> 00:20:58,380of discipline and duty?20000:20:58,380 –> 00:21:07,959Or will we follow Jesus in proclaiming a gospel that brings joy and lifts burdens?20100:21:07,959 –> 00:21:18,380Third question – will we follow the Pharisees in resisting the work of God?20200:21:18,439 –> 00:21:25,500Or will we follow Jesus in refusing to be distracted from the work that God has given20300:21:25,500 –> 00:21:27,560us to do?20400:21:27,560 –> 00:21:32,520They’re real choices.20500:21:32,520 –> 00:21:37,500Let us follow Jesus.20600:21:37,579 –> 00:21:40,400What a challenge for us today, Colin.20700:21:40,400 –> 00:21:42,560Let us follow Jesus.20800:21:42,599 –> 00:21:47,859I think that there are an awful lot of people who have never experienced anything in life20900:21:47,859 –> 00:21:52,540except a religion, of a duty and of discipline.21000:21:52,540 –> 00:21:57,020And that when folks who’ve come from that kind of background discover the joy that there21100:21:57,040 –> 00:22:04,260is in Jesus Christ and the way in which he lifts burdens rather than adds burdens, that21200:22:04,260 –> 00:22:06,199is absolutely transforming.21300:22:06,199 –> 00:22:10,060And of course, that’s what happens when a person discovers the Gospel.21400:22:10,060 –> 00:22:12,819We don’t need someone coming adding more burdens to us.21500:22:12,819 –> 00:22:17,979We need a Saviour who lifts burdens – a Saviour who says, my yoke is easy and my burden21600:22:17,979 –> 00:22:18,979is light.21700:22:18,979 –> 00:22:24,260Yes and one of the things that has transformed that in my life is to stop using some kind21800:22:24,260 –> 00:22:31,180of Christian checklist and focusing instead on Jesus, who he is, what he’s done for me21900:22:31,180 –> 00:22:36,400and then I want to live my life in a way which pleases him and brings him glory.22000:22:36,400 –> 00:22:39,699It’s not what I have to do, it’s what I want to do.22100:22:39,839 –> 00:22:45,560I think the way Paul puts it, he says, the letter kills and the Spirit gives life.22200:22:45,560 –> 00:22:50,400Living by a bunch of rules just drains the life out of you, but the Holy Spirit brings22300:22:50,400 –> 00:22:53,420life into you and that’s what happens through the Gospel.22400:22:53,420 –> 00:22:57,000Thanks Colin, and we certainly appreciate that.22500:22:57,000 –> 00:23:00,660Our message today has been Jesus stirs up conflict.22600:23:00,660 –> 00:23:05,400It’s part of our series, The Gospel according to Jesus and if you’ve missed any of the series22700:23:06,280 –> 00:23:10,439If you want to go back and listen again, you can do that by coming on line to our website22800:23:10,439 –> 00:23:12,839OpenTheBible.org.uk22900:23:12,839 –> 00:23:16,819There, you’ll find all the previous broadcast messages.23000:23:16,819 –> 00:23:20,280Don’t forget you can also find us as a Podcast, if that’s a better way for you to keep up23100:23:20,280 –> 00:23:25,000with Colin’s teaching and those are available on all the major Podcast sites by searching23200:23:25,000 –> 00:23:30,939for OpenTheBible.UK and subscribe to receive regular updates.23300:25:01,219 –> 00:25:06,260And give on-line at OpenTheBible.org.uk23400:25:06,260 –> 00:25:10,180For Open The Bible and Pastor Colin Smith I’m David Pick and I hope you will be able23500:25:10,180 –> 00:25:12,219to join us again next time.23600:25:18,339 –> 00:25:24,160Many people have some kind of connection with Jesus but something essential is still missing.23700:25:24,160 –> 00:25:26,819Find out what it is next time on Open The Bible.