Mission Impossible #2: Confrontations (2015-0920)
Call
to Worship, Psalm 2
to Worship, Psalm 2
Children, Joshua 5.13-15
Message,
Mark 5.1-20
Mark 5.1-20
Binding
two related themes
two related themes
Impossible things that we must face in
family life, professional life
family life, professional life
Impossible call of Jesus to follow &
serve
serve
Last
week: Departures
week: Departures
Confrontation
in Mark’s gospel
in Mark’s gospel
With religious authorities
With political power (Rome)
Jesus’
message: The time … the kingdom … the good news
message: The time … the kingdom … the good news
Ancient kingdoms don’t coexist with one
another
another
Like immortals in the Highlander series or presidential candidates:
“There can be only one”
Psalm
2:2 The kings of the earth set
themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and his
anointed
2:2 The kings of the earth set
themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and his
anointed
Mark
3:26-27 And if Satan has risen up
against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come. But no
one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his property without first tying
up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered.
3:26-27 And if Satan has risen up
against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come. But no
one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his property without first tying
up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered.
Joshua and the commander of the Lord’s
army, Joshua 5.13-15
army, Joshua 5.13-15
The
man possessed … Symbolic interpretation
man possessed … Symbolic interpretation
Symbols of uncleanness – tombs, pigs,
unclean spirit
unclean spirit
Symbols of chaos – sea, stampede
Symbols of Roman power – “Legion”, boar’s
head
head
Sociological
interpretation of possession
interpretation of possession
Absorbing the conflict, confrontation,
stress of larger community
stress of larger community
Oppressed societies, abusive families
Jesus
Not looking for trouble
Confronting the trouble that finds him
Your
mission … should you choose to accept it
mission … should you choose to accept it
Confrontation
– external, in relationships:
– external, in relationships:
Telling someone that their work is just
not good enough
not good enough
Sitting down with someone who has broken
their vows
their vows
Being falsely accused
Disappointing someone, by choice (Jesus
sends the man home)
sends the man home)
Making amends with those you have wronged
(12 steps, additional reason man
returned home?)
returned home?)
Confrontation
– external, in systems:
– external, in systems:
“Resist
evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever form they present themselves”
evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever form they present themselves”
Homelessness
– Ruth’s Place, Habitat
– Ruth’s Place, Habitat
Poverty,
racism
racism
Confrontation
– internal:
– internal:
The most painful honesty is honesty with
ourselves
ourselves
Bringing discipline to bear against our
addiction, desire, expectation
addiction, desire, expectation
Greeting card: “Backbone beats wishbone
every time”
every time”
However, the most important internal transformations
are NOT by our own effort but by the presence of Jesus who confronts evil, even
internal to me, and gives not judgment but grace to overcome.
are NOT by our own effort but by the presence of Jesus who confronts evil, even
internal to me, and gives not judgment but grace to overcome.
The man and Jesus:
“I am Legion” – the courage to name your sin and struggle
“Do not torture me” – Jesus does NOT torture him! Jesus gives him grace.