John Mark: His Mistakes and God's Mercy | Pastor Daniel Batarseh (Gospel of Mark Series)

Well, it is always exciting to be with you all on on the Lord's day, but I am particularly excited about today for many reasons. And the main one is because as a church, we are embarking on a new journey together through a book that we have never explored before. And the excitement of this fresh study is not just in the fact that we will be expounding on a new text, but also because you and I will be going through, touring through a genre, biblical genre that we have never we've never really explored. For some of you who may not know, over the past few years, on on Sunday mornings in particular, we have taken the time to look at many of Paul's epistles. But for the first time today, for the next several months, we will turn our attention to dissecting and discovering and declaring glorious truths from the gospel according to Mark.

The gospel according to Mark. And this gospel is so riveting for many reasons, as we will see. But as we turn there, you and I will comb through it by the grace of God, chapter by chapter, verse by verse, with no time and in mind. We're just going to trust the Holy Spirit as we go week by week. And it is really my prayer that as we come to this book, we will all be eager to seek the Lord for his help to master this scripture that deals directly with the the person, the ministry, the life, and the death of the Lord Jesus Christ.

And I believe the best way to crack the seal of the scroll of scripture is by actually not touching any verse in the first chapter, but to try to understand by the word of God who the author is. Who is Mark? Why is his name the name that appears in the copy of Mark's gospel in our Bibles? Well, many church fathers, many scholars, but those who lived on even close to the disciples that we love and study about, unanimously agree that Mark was the one who penned this text. There is little to no debate about it.

Tradition says it, and there are men who have lived even before a 100 AD that really, really believed that Mark was the man behind the message. And tradition also tells us that Mark, when he wrote this, from the human standpoint, had an audience in mind. And the audience that he had in mind were actually Roman Christians. Those who were Gentiles. And there are things within the text itself that validate that conclusion, or at least give strong support to that suggestion.

When you see how Mark omits certain truths that you would find perhaps in a book like Matthew, who is writing to Jews primarily. And when you see how Mark even tries to explain certain things, though briefly, to those who are non Jewish readers, you can see that he's not really writing to those who might have an understanding of the Old Testament. In fact, in Mark, there is very few Old Testament references. And so you see these clues that Mark is actually speaking to Gentiles, and people believe that he was actually speaking to Christians who were found in Rome. And some of you who are here on Good Friday remember perhaps just one of the verses that might indicate that truth.

And if you don't remember, well, go to Mark and go with me to Mark chapter 15 verse 21. And notice what Mark says, and they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross. Some of you are remembering what I'm referring to. If you don't, if you weren't there on Good Friday, it's interesting to know that Mark includes a certain detail about Simon of Cyrene. And it is this, that he was the father of Alexander and Rufus.

Now to us that that doesn't really help necessarily, unless we meditate upon it. But what's so amazing is that the name Rufus reappears in what book of all books? The epistle to the Romans. When Paul himself addresses different believers, he says here in Romans sixteen thirteen, greet Rufus. Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord also his mother who has been a mother to me as well.

And so think about it, when when he's writing in his gospel account, and he's saying, Simon of Sarmine, the father of Alexander and Rufus, the immediate readers are are believing. We know who who Rufus is. Oh, Rufus. Your dad was Simon who carried the cross, who who helped carry the cross of our Lord and savior? And so there are great clues and insights that indicate this is in fact who he is speaking to.

But we should be further encouraged about Mark and this book because the scriptures even give us particular insights about him as a person, about Mark himself. I'm so glad that we don't have to speculate or look to history or church fathers to try to figure out who this man was. The Holy Spirit selectively brought us certain information and data about him. That if we take the time to just gather the different places where Mark is mentioned, you and I will be incredibly edified to see how knowing about even just the man Mark will help us know what kind of God we serve and other practical truths that will help us in our walk together as believers. And the way we're gonna do that today as we even begin, Mark, is by dividing our thoughts into three points.

The first one is understanding what God reveals to us about Mark. What does God reveal to us about Mark? There are rich things in there. And then secondly, what God wants us to learn in choosing Mark. And when I mean choosing Mark, I mean choosing Mark to be an author of a portion of the Holy Scriptures.

And lastly, though briefly, what God wants us to learn about him through Mark. So again, what we're going to learn about Mark, what we're going to learn about God choosing Mark, and what we're going to learn about God through Mark. And as we come to the first thought, let's go to the first place where John Mark is mentioned. And the first place where John Mark is mentioned is in the riveting, exciting, thrilling book of Acts. And so turn your bibles to Acts chapter 12 and verse 12.

Mark's name is brought up during the telling of Peter's miraculous escape from prison. And this this chapter primarily wants to teach us the power of prayer. Yes, God's providence and his sovereignty, but this whole story is hinged around how a bunch of Christians crammed into someone's house and they were pleading with the Lord on behalf of Peter. And how God answered that prayer in such an amazing way. And as you come to this point, you realize that Mark's name is brought up in relation to where the prayer meeting was held.

We see here in verse 12, when he realized this, Peter, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John, whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. John Mark is brought up in this place for more reasons than trying to help us differentiate between the different Marys that we find in the Bible. That is helpful. Because if it was just Mary, we think which Mary.

So we know that it's the Mary, the the one who who is the mother of this John whose other name is Mark. That will that helps. But there's far more things in here to realize for our own benefit. The main thing to draw from this portion of scripture is to learn the kind of home that John Mark grew up in. Think about it for a moment.

There's a detail here that suggests that Mary, that Mary, this this woman who was the mother of John Mark, was a wealthy woman. And the reason why is not just because she had enough space to host all these Christians, but that she even had, as we read in verse 13, a servant girl named Rhoda. And so to have a home even with a gate, and to have servants perhaps, indicates something about this woman that she was independently strong and financially secure. The fact that her husband is not brought up may suggest that she was a widow, but she was one who could take care of herself, and not just take care of herself, but even host others in a special way. And I when I read that I thought to myself, this woman knew great privilege.

She knew great security. And this family, including John Mark, though they have experienced such things, God was their priority. The Lord and his work was their priority of this household. Would it be a stretch to say that John Mark grew up with a mother who had a zeal and a great love for this God? Not at all.

Riches, success, security, a grand home did not change or corrupt this faithful woman. In fact, she utilized her resources for the sake of the advancement of God's kingdom, because what dominated her heart is what should dominate the hearts of every believer, rich or not rich. And that is to make much of Christ and to invest whatever God calls you to invest for the sake of the glory of Christ. Money was not her master. It was a means.

It was a tool. It was an instrument. It was a way in which she could contribute to the work of the gospel. And think about it. I mean, how did Peter escaping prison instinctively know to go to this house?

Why that house of all houses? And I believe the reason why he knew to go to the house of Mary was because Mary did not just have a one time prayer meeting, but the church met at Mary's house regularly. The church met at this woman's house. And so Peter knew where to go to find the Christians and to tell them that God had rescued him in a miraculous way. And it was very common in the early church for people to open their homes for other Christians to come and sing and pray and hear the teachings and the doctrines of the apostles.

You see it throughout the epistles, Aquila and Priscilla at the end of first Corinthians. Paul says that they greet you and also the church that meets in their house. And so, I believe Mary was among those who who had a regular meeting in her home. Who had people come, where there was a place they can seek the Lord together and worship and fellowship. But it's worth noting another detail about this household, especially about this woman and her faith that gives us the impression that she made an impression on others, including her son, John Mark.

What was the background behind this prayer meeting? What was going on behind the scenes? What was the what was the environment like? What was the context like? All you gotta do is go to verse one of chapter 12 and see what was happening.

About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belong to the church. That is not a convenient time to have a prayer meeting. When you have a politician who has power and authority sniffing out the saints, and all these soldiers on high alert for Christians. And yet at the same time, when when a leader was just killed and martyred and another one was arrested, where where you feel your faith is shaken and where you feel like those that were called to to bear the message of this truth are now in danger of losing their lives. You have one woman named Mary saying, we need to have a prayer meeting in my house.

Fearless, strong, serious, like a serious disciple. She wasn't messing around. So filled with faith that she would rather die, put her life at risk, be put on notice, so that she could pray with others and see God fulfill his promise of prayer, even if Herod was looking out. And guess who was a witness to all of that? John Mark.

John Mark. He saw this. And because she was a woman who served the saints, her home was exposed to some of the greatest servants of God that history has known. And in such a way that John Mark would develop some precious relationships with some of the most amazing leaders of the church of Jesus Christ. Think about it.

This is what he was exposed to. His home was a church. Think about the songs. Think about the meetings. Think about the miracles like we just read.

So I have a question for fathers and mothers today. What kind of environment is your home? Is there an atmosphere of worship there? Does the peace of Christ abide there because Jesus Christ is indeed Lord and sitting on the throne of that house? Is it a safe haven?

Not just physically, but spiritually or is or is sin and evil and worldliness tolerated and entertained? And you don't even need a devil to knock on the door, they just have to come through a certain channel on that screen. Do your children see like how John Mark saw how when there were problems, mommy and daddy pray? They get the kids together and they say, we really need God to hear us. Let's pray and ask Jesus to help us.

Or do they say sheer panic? Do they see a distrust in the god that they apparently claim to serve because we go to church Sunday after Sunday? Can I talk to the future mother and fathers? A lot of young people here are getting married, engaged, planning to have children soon. May I ask you something in light of this text?

What kind of values are you establishing for your future children to register when they consider what you do with your resources, what you do with your time, what kind of relationships you have? Will they come to the conclusion when they arrive at an age where they can think and they can put things together that daddy loves money more than he loves God. That mommy is more interested in fashion than her faith. These things are for our instructions. And I love how we are introduced to John Mark in his home, and with the mother that he had, and how she was a faithful woman when there was great persecution and even when she had great prosperity in her name.

The next thing we hear about John Mark is in the neighboring chapter. And when we go to Acts 13, we realize that the Holy Spirit brought Paul and Barnabas together as a missionary team. But we also learn in that very same chapter that that missionary team had an assistant, had somebody tag along with them. And would you know it in Acts thirteen five, when they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews and they had John to assist them. They had John to assist them.

Now we know that John and Mark are interchangeably used for the same person. We just read it. It's also emphasized again in Acts twelve twenty five. But what we see here, though chapter 12 is the first time we're introduced to him. It is in this chapter that we are told the first detail about what he does.

And what he did was assist. The man was not an apostle. He was not a leader in the church. He was not a prophet. He was not a teacher.

He was one who helped alleviate any burdens from those who were dedicated to proclaiming the word of God. He assisted. He came along their side. He did menial tasks perhaps. He just helped make their journey a lot easier.

And we might wonder, well how did this even come about? How was John Mark able to even join this amazing team? And I believe the answer is because of his relations with Barnabas. Colossians four tells us that Barnabas and Mark were cousins. Talk about the legacy of that family.

Even Barnabas was Mark's cousin. What were their family meetings like? Barnabas and Mark were cousins. And so you can almost imagine how Barnabas, knowing his cousin, very likely younger than him, would suggest him to Paul because he perhaps recognized the giftings and the potential of this young man and said he would really help us if he just assisted us. And Paul took him at his word.

He trusted him. And this man comes along, this young man John comes along with them. But something very embarrassing happens as you know. Something you can say almost tragic happens. Because what happens here doesn't just happen with John Mark.

It It affects even the relationship between Paul and Barnabas. In verse 13, now Paul and his companions set sail for Paphos and came to Perga and Pamphylia. And John left them. He left them and returned to Jerusalem. He abandoned ship.

He walked out. I mean, he just started. He just joined them. And something something crept into his heart to convince him that it's better for me to go back to Jerusalem. Why Jerusalem?

That's where home was. That's where Mary's home was. And we are not told why. I believe that's by divine design. We are not told why.

But it makes you think, was it because of what he just seen? The great resistance earlier in the chapter when Paul and Barnabas are preaching and a demon possessed man comes and tries to bring about a curse and distractions. Here's this young man seeing this happen and realizing we just started. We just started and we have a whole journey ahead of us. So you wonder if if the desire to be in that warm bed of his back in Jerusalem, To know what it was like to have servants.

To be there where there was ready mom cooked meals. The familiarity of his hometown, who knows what it was. Mingle with the fear of what's going to happen. The unpredictability of ministry and the dangers. I'm out of here.

I didn't sign up for this. So he walks out. And no matter what the reason was, it was enough for a righteous man like Paul to be greatly disappointed, to be very frustrated with him. Frustrated enough that after some time passes and they plan a second missionary journey, Barnabas suggests John Mark again and Paul says, no way. Absolutely not.

And they go at it, and they go at it, and they go at it to the point where Barnabas and Paul split. And two missionary teams are created, yes, by God's grace, but that came with great pain I'm sure. But what's so amazing is when you think about John Mark's relationship with Paul, again you, many of you know this. Many years pass by in Paul's final letter. He bids his spiritual son Timothy to come to his side before he dies.

Make haste, but he doesn't just say make haste. He says make sure you bring with you Mark. Because he is very useful to me in the ministry. I can't help but imagine or wonder at least, how is it that from acts 15 to second Timothy, Paul went from not even wanting John Mark to be his assistant, to wanting him to assist him at his his death bed. Having him fulfill some kind of ministry that he has in mind before he knows that he is going to enter into glory.

What happened? Because many years have passed by between those times. And the only logical conclusion with understanding how Paul functions is that Mark clearly matured over time. That he developed character, courage. He got some guts in him again.

Enough to prove to Paul, you're the real deal. Enough to prove to Paul, I want you to work with me again. But here's a thought to consider. Could it be that the catalyst, could it be that the very thing that sparked the development of this young man's faith and his concrete devotion to the ministry was in connection to some who were willing to invest in him and disciple him even after his disappointing desertion. Because you know, as I know, that much of that credit goes to a man like Barnabas who fought for John Mark, who is willing to give him a second chance, who is even willing to split from Paul so that he can have John Mark get another shot at serving the Lord.

And yes, there is no question that much of that grace and much of that patience came from his cousin Barnabas. But I also believe that there was somebody else who played a vital role in John Mark's life. Maybe it's someone that you and I never thought would actually play a role in John Mark's life. But there is two little words in a certain letter that show us the great possibility of a great man who helped somebody who failed God at one point. Would you like to know who it is?

In first Peter chapter five. In verse 13, at the end of the letter, notice what Peter says as he concludes his thoughts. She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings and so does Mark, my son. So does Mark, my son. Not his physical son, obviously, his child in the faith.

And some would even say that Peter very likely was the very instrument that led John Mark to Christ with the gospel to begin with. That we do not know for sure, but one thing for certain is this, that these two spend much time together. Peter is not being loose with his words here. When you and I understand the dynamic between Timothy and Paul, Paul often referred to him as my son, my son. Meaning what?

There's relationship there. There's investment there. There's discipleship there. You're my spiritual son. I'm concerned about your development.

I'm your spiritual father. You come to me for aid and grace and help and instruction. I mean think about it. There there must have been some connection. People met including Peter in Mary's home, John Mark's home.

So it makes me think that Peter spent a lot of time in that living room, conversing with John Mark. John Mark sitting at his feet hearing the different stories of the miracles and the conversions. Hearing the different teachings of an eyewitness account of Jesus' life and ministry. What's also amazing here is that even when he writes this in first Peter five, you get the impression that even Mark is with him physically. I'm sending not just my greetings, but Mark.

Mark is greeting you as well, my son, Mark. And the relationship that these two shared has introduced the notion early on in church history that Mark received his source of all that he has written in the Gospel of Mark through the eyewitness account of Peter himself. That he would sit with this man of God and Peter would explain or he would travel with him when he would go and preach in different places And he would hear over and over again Peter's angle on the story of Jesus Christ. And he took notes, and he took notes, and he took notes. And could it be that with Barnabas' encouragement, and could it be that with that was also the investment of his spiritual father Peter who taught him, who challenged him, who corrected him even after he deserted the work of Jesus Christ?

Very very very likely. And I can't help believe that if that is the case, then Peter had no problem doing so because he himself knew what it was like to receive a second chance. He knew what it was like to desert the cause of Christ. I took it further. He denied the man.

He denied his god. And whatever sourness Peter felt from that shame, at the same time he was overwhelmed by the compassion of the resurrected Lord who opened his arms and said, let me restore you Peter. I want to use you again. I want to use you again. And here's the news of John Mark.

He left Paul and Barnabas. He created frustration. Look at the ripple effect of that of that choice. And who is ready to embrace him? Peter.

Peter. In fact, there is a detail in the gospel of Mark when it comes to the account of Jesus' resurrection that is not found in Matthew, that is not found in Luke, and when you see it, perhaps your heart will soar a little bit and perhaps the case that Peter was in fact the source of Mark's account is very, very true. It's in the last chapter of Mark, in chapter 16 verse seven. Look how Mark depicts a detail. Let's begin in verse five.

And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side dressed in a white robe and they were alarmed. And he said to them, do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified. He has risen. He is not here.

See the place where they laid him. But go tell his disciples and who? And Peter. Tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him just as he told you.

What's the detail? What's the detail that that Matthew doesn't include, that Luke doesn't include? And Peter. The angel instructs them, when you go back to the disciples, go back and inform them that I want a personal meeting with them. But he could have just said, go and get the disciples and tell them.

But he doesn't. Because this messenger receives specific orders from Christ, and what Christ wanted to make sure that when these came back to the disciples, that Peter would be specifically called out. Make sure that Peter hears his name. Why is that? Because if I was Peter, and I was told the Lord wants to meet with the disciples, I don't feel like a disciple after I denied him.

I'm not worthy to be known as a disciple. I'm not in that category. I'm not in that group. And the Lord knows Peter's heart. He knows what's in his mind.

He knows the doubts. He knows the shame and the regret, and so he makes sure that the message is loud and clear. Call out Peter. He needs to be there. Because I wanna see him, I wanna meet him and I wanna restore him.

Make sure Peter hears his name. And can you imagine Peter explaining that to Mark? It clearly made an impression on him because when he tells of it, he he remembers that name, his name being called. And here is a man who needs a second chance. And we must meditate on this further.

Listen very closely. This might set some of you free. What kind of Christians tend to give others another chance? What are the ones who are much more willing to do so? I'll tell you who.

Those who have truly tasted the healing, forgiveness, and compassion of the Lord. That's who. If you ever feel like you cannot let go of your anger and bitterness towards someone who has disappointed you or greedily hurt you, even your ministry. I can I can give you something according to the Word of God based on this truth that can help you let go of that grip, or at least loosen it a little bit? Have you ever in those times when you're rehearsing what they said, I can't believe it.

What they did, how they after all I've given them and all the in the midst of all of that, all those crashing thoughts, take the time to think about all the chances that the Lord has given you. I really, unless you're perfect, I would love to meet you. I'll be standing there. All the times that the Lord has still used you. All the times that the Lord has still blessed you.

All the times when where your thoughts have wandered, and the inconsistency of your own efforts. And you've evangelized and you post and you preach and look at your life in private, yet God hasn't stricken you down. I've said it before, I'll say it again. We are so willing to eat up all the mercy that God wants to give us and we don't want to give a sip of it to anybody else. Think about it.

I assure you if you truly meditate, if you if you have a personal relationship with the Lord, and you know what it's like to come broken before him, and you know what it's like to grieve him even even the moment you've said something or done something that you shouldn't have done and you feel that piercing conviction and you come to the Lord. Can gather all of that up and bring it before the offense of another and say, how can I not? When he has done so. Peter, strong Peter, Peter, confident Peter, I won't deny you. They can all deny you.

I ain't denying you Lord. I'll be killed with you. That same overconfident, proud, self righteous Peter was broken by his own failure. But he was also restored by the compassion of Jesus Christ. And so when he saw when he saw John Mark come through those doors with with low shoulders and embarrassment, Peter didn't go up to say, yeah, I know.

I didn't do it though. Shame on you. You denied the work of Christ. You're just like the others in the garden who walked away. I I stood right there, nothing of the sort.

It's okay, John Mark. It's okay. God is merciful. He's patient. You know, he called out my name after he rose from the grave.

He restored me personally. It's amazing to know how meditating our own failures can make us much more forgiving toward others. I know a lot of counseling says, don't think about your past failures, don't think about how you disappoint. No. Actually do it sometimes.

Don't do it to crush you, but do it to encourage you to be as merciful as He has been to you. Meditate on your own failures, especially in light of you being challenged of how to forgive somebody else and you'll realize you'll realize something about the grace of God that is undeserved. And Peter knew how to patiently work with Mark as one who deserted Christ at one point in his own life. The fragments of Mark's life, if they teach us anything, let him teach us to reject the cynical attitude that we might have towards other believers that says, he or she can never change. That's not love.

Love believes all things. Love believes all things, hopes for all things. And we thank God, don't we, week after week, day after day, hour by hour, that God doesn't think that way about us? That's what we learn about Mark. But what does God want us to learn in choosing Mark?

Well, if you and I have been stunned by the grace shown through Barnabas and Peter, then be prepared to be amazed further. And that's what we discover in what God wants us to learn in choosing Mark. I mean, the man wasn't an apostle like Paul. He he wasn't an order like Apollos. He wasn't a revivalist like Philip.

He was a helper. He carried luggage for the preachers. He fetched lunch when they were preparing or praying or preaching. That was John Mark. That's the ministry that we are given concerning him.

And the thought is even more profound when you think about not just God choosing such such a unlikely candidate to be an author in the scriptures, but think about the the the theme, at least one of the main themes in this book, in Mark's gospel. And it is this, the depiction of the perfect faithful suffering servant of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit used Mark to paint the picture of fulfilled prophecy from Isaiah that Jesus Christ is the servant Messiah of Jehovah. And that is why in Mark you see no genealogy given in the beginning of the book. Because a servant is not worthy of his ancestry line being recorded.

That is why you don't hear of those who come from a far land to bring gifts to this child because a servant is not worthy or deserving of such honor. That is why there are fewer parables and teachings in Mark in comparison to Matthew and Luke. Because what Mark is depicting here is one who is working miracles and serving people, because a true slave works and performs deeds. And there are so many indications that make this theme so clear It really vividly illustrates the one who humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. What's fascinating though is how a book like Mark gloriously portrays the diligence, the humility, the suffering of Jesus Christ as a servant was written by someone who was not steadfast, and not exemplary at one point in his service to God.

Why? Why is that true? Because the perfect minister of God in the person of Jesus Christ is also perfectly merciful. You feel unqualified? Good.

That's the only people that Jesus really uses. He delights in choosing the most unlikely and undeserving to his service. And the one that he selected that would write about the perfect service in the person of Jesus Christ was imperfect in his service to Jesus Christ. That's the grace of God. That's his love.

He invites failures to come in and be a part of the drama of the advancement of God's kingdom in the world. Imagine that. The honor of being a writer in God's word was given to a man who could not endure the first few steps of ministry. What an encouragement to those who feel often that they are unqualified. Welcome to the club.

Oh, there's much more to say about Mark being chosen by God, but let us come to the thought about what we learn about God through Mark. So far, we discussed what we learn about Mark and what we can learn about God choosing Mark, but we briefly come to the conclusion of what God wants us to learn about himself through this man. And besides the message behind many of the miracles that we will learn in the next few weeks, besides the the clear authority that Mark wants to depict about the person of Jesus Christ, despite the teachings, despite some of the things that he has to say, despite the trueness of his deity and about his humanity, despite the perspective on his sufferings and his final days on earth, you and I will also learn something about the wonderful pattern for practical Christian service. Oh, yeah. We're gonna hear we're gonna we're gonna hear things about the deity of Christ and we're going to see the depth of his knowledge and the glories of his authority.

But you and I are also going to see not just Jesus Christ, the son of the living God serving with such grace and humility and patience. You and I are also going to understand the quality of his service. The quality of his service as he came to serve the Father and do all that he was told to do. And this book will be very helpful for those who have a desire to serve God. If not, it will be very very frustrating to you.

But for those who have a heart to say, I want to serve him. Well, Mark gives us the perfect servant. I wanna please him. Mark gives you the one who perfectly pleased him. And there are so many elements that are before us as a model for ministry.

I mean, some some of you noticed just by first glance at Mark that we are even told by the the the word immediately in that book about the promptness of Jesus' service. The fact that we go from immediately, it's it's like you're almost trying to catch your breath. Immediately, immediately, immediately, immediately. It's like, oh. Why?

Because that is by design even in itself. We we want to see how even in that Jesus is portraying his promptness in serving the father. No delay. No hesitation. Wanting to, longing to, yearning to.

Immediately, immediately, immediately. How so uncommon among us. We hesitate and we delay and we have all these excuses and one week we're really into it and the next week we're not. One week we're so encouraged and next week, I don't know if I'm into this anymore. Not Jesus.

Not the perfect servant. And there's so many gems in Mark where you see the qualities of his service that encourage you to say, oh I want to be like you Lord. In my brief life, I want to serve like you Lord. Look what you did here. May I show you one to wet your appetite a little bit?

Let's go to Mark chapter 10. In verse 20, what's happening here? Well, there's a rich young man who runs up to him and kneels before him and asks him, good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? And Matthew writes about it. Luke writes about it.

Mark writes about it. And then in verse 20, after Jesus gives them a challenge about how he was really doing with the law of God. Verse 20 we read, and he said to him, teacher all these things I've kept from my youth. And Jesus looking at him loved him and said to him, you lack one thing, go sell all that you have and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven and come follow me. Compare it to Matthew.

Compare it to Luke. Many similarities. Mark includes a detail that Matthew and Luke do not have. And it is this, verse 21, and Jesus looking at him loved him. Loved him.

Matthew doesn't say that. Luke doesn't say that. Mark says that. Do you know why Mark says that? I'll tell you why.

I believe he says it. Because Jesus as the perfect servant truly loved those that he ministered to. He had real compassion. This wasn't him saying, okay father, here, I love you. I I deal with a bunch of these humans now, these despicable sons and daughters of Adam.

Okay. What do you want? Oh, you wanna know how to get to heaven? Well, here we go. Jesus looking at him.

You know what that tells me? When he looked at him, there was love in his eyes. Looking at him loved him. Can I ask you something? Do you love the people you serve?

Or do you love the work? Big difference. Does the preacher love the people he's preaching to it? Does he love the sound of his own voice? Does he love the taps on the back?

You're so insightful preacher. Wow, I never saw that in Mark. Jesus looking at him loved him. And you see the compassion of the Lord, yes, in all the gospels, but even in Mark, because Mark has another detail about Jesus' service. You know what it is?

His hands. You'll see it in Mark, how often he touches, how often he lifts, how often he the hand is brought up. He's intimate. He's warm. He's in there.

He he's giving of himself when he serves. And he's not just compassion to those who were crippled with disease or filled with demons. That wasn't the only suffering that moved him through sympathy. No. Jesus was even moved with those who were suffering in their soul.

He looked at this man who was clearly struggling because there's an earnestness in him. I want to know the truth. I want to know how I can inherit eternal life, but there is this tug because he was wealthy. And right before Jesus he sees this tension and Jesus looks at him because there is a sincerity about him and he loved him as he taught him. I wanna be like Jesus.

I wanna love those I I serve. I wanna look at them and I want them to be able to see Christ in my eyes. There's nothing worse than a minister when you I really wanna hold myself back here, who takes this as a job. Go be a businessman. Loved him and said to him, you like one thing.

Even in his most challenging words, it was laced with love. Even in his uncompromising message, it was filled, it was gushing with genuine compassion. And these are just some of the things that you will see here. His heart was moved and he loved this man who was wrestling with his soul. I'm excited to go through Mark.

I hope you are. Because if we are faithful in dissecting this word, not just for insights, but for our own sanctification, the one thing will be true of you and I coming out of this series. We will become better servants of the Lord. Yeah. Yes.

We're gonna we're gonna unpack how parables work and compare them and be taught things, but again, let's start off right. Let's start off right and say oh Lord, as we come to the fulfillment of the prophets of the suffering servant, I'm not in this for knowledge, though knowledge is important, but Lord I need you to do something in my heart. So that as I seek to serve you as a blood bot child of God, people will see Christ in me. Let's pray. Yes, Lord, we come before you today thanking you for how rich your word really is.

And Lord, we just ask that in this moment, you would give us the right heart as we approach the word. Protect us from being like the Pharisees who had so much knowledge but missed Christ. Lord, help us behold him in the next few weeks and months, to cherish him, to understand him, so that we would love him and imitate him by your power, by your grace. And Lord we are just moved already by how Mark depicts you. How the Holy Spirit through that man has shown us the great love in Jesus.

And Lord we wanna worship you. The king who came to serve, to serve us, to serve us to the point of suffering for us. Lord, we are moved and we just wanna give you praise. In Jesus' name, amen.