Decisions, decisions...

"Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important." --C. S. Lewis

If you ever read the Gospel of Mark there are three things you should make a note of; the Actions, the Attitude and the Outcome of the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. The author of the book is John Mark who was the companion of Peter the disciple of Christ. He wrote this to a Roman audience and the Romans were in many ways like the modern American. We value action, we want to know what someone has done to earn our respect, or what they have achieved that merits our attention and admiration. Mark presents the work and ministry of Jesus Christ and wants you to see the actions of the Son of God and clearly consider “what is my attitude about Jesus”, and make a decision or decide what is the outcome in my life with the knowledge of who this man is, and what should I do about it?

The passage in Mark 8:27-38 comes after Jesus has performed miracle after miracle. In Mark chapter 1 we see Jesus heal a leper, and Peter’s mother-in-law and cast out a demon. In chapter two he heals a paralyzed man, in chapter three he heals a man with a withered hand, in chapter four he calms the storm on the sea, in chapter five he raises a girl from the dead, heals a woman who is hemorrhaging, and casts a number of demons into a herd of swine. In chapter six he walks on water and feeds over 5,000 people with meager resources. Chapter after chapter Jesus shows his compassion and care for the world.

Yet with all of these miracles and confirmation that this was the promised Messiah written about in the Old Testament the people still reject Him. In chapter six he is rejected in his home town of Nazareth, his cousin John the Baptist is murdered and the religious leaders of the day try to trap him into speaking out against King Herod so they might have Him suffer a similar fate as John.

The Jewish people and the religious leaders did not want to accept Jesus as the Messiah for probably the same reason we would reject him today. We expect our leaders to be strong or to be rich and well-to-do. We want a leader who is bold or will lead us to victory against our oppressors and those that would seek to do us harm. We want a leader who will drop his gloves and fight for us and what is true and right. Mark is writing to a Roman audience, and Rome is the most dominate force in the world at this time. Their armies have conquered most of the known world and they are the most feared and respected people in that era.

But what the people of Mark’s time failed to see and what WE fail to see is that Jesus Christ met all of these requirements for leadership. He did all of these things for you and me, and was a far more effective leader than any one in human history.

Was Jesus strong? He was strong enough to not allow the people of His time to coronate Him the King and take advantage of them by putting them under His thumb.

Was Jesus rich and well to do? In Philippians 2:5-9 we see that Jesus was equal with God and gave up all of the glory and riches of heaven for our benefit. “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name”

Is Jesus bold, does He lead us to victory against our oppressors or those who seek to do us harm? Jesus boldly went to the Cross to pay the penalty for the sins of the world. (see John 3:16 & 17) “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
He leads us to victory over death and sin and He is even now sitting at God’s right hand making intercession or pleading on our behalf (Romans 8:34 & Hebrews 7:25)

“Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”

“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”

Did Jesus fight for us and do what was true and right? In Romans 5:6-11 it states; “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.”

Jesus could have told His Father; why should I die for the ungodly, the wicked and sinful of this world? He was a true leader in that He being a good man died for those that were no good.

So what is your view of Christ? You have only three options; Jesus was either a liar, a lunatic or Lord. You can believe that Jesus was a liar and that He was not the Son of God. That He pulled off the most amazing con the world has ever seen. But ask yourself this; if He was a liar how did this “lie” benefit Him? Did He gain wealth, power, respect from family, friends, government or religious establishment? What did He get out of His time on this earth? What He received from this world was ridicule, punishment and death. All 12 of His disciples were murdered, hunted and beaten for the rest of their lives. If you were one of 12 people that were part of a lie and you had the choice to renounce the lie to save yourself wouldn’t you let people in on the secret?

Maybe you think Jesus was just a lunatic. The problem with that view is that the message of Jesus was consistent, true, pure and morally upright. There is nothing in His life or in the biblical record that shows any inconsistency or contradiction in any of His words, teachings or actions. Someone who is mentally unbalanced does not always care for those around them, always go out of their way to show compassion and love for others and at when they are at the last moment of their life they are not asking those around them to take care of their loved ones as we see when Jesus was still concerned about keeping the 5th commandment to honor his parents.

So if Jesus Christ was not a liar or a lunatic we are left with one final option and that He is Lord. In the passage we read in Mark 8:34-38 we see the cost of following Christ. But we need to remember that anything He asks us for is small and insignificant in comparison to what He gave up for us. It says in John 20:30 & 31:

“And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”

What will you do with this Jesus? You see His Actions so now the question is this; what is your attitude and what will be the outcome? If you do not know Him as your personal Savior please don't brush this off. This is a very critical decision and the most important decision you will ever make in your life. In Revelation 3:20 Jesus says; “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”

Maybe you are already a Christian but you are struggling with consistent living and giving everything in your life over to Christ. I am going to let you in on a secret; you are not alone. I struggle every day and so does any other Christian who is truly honest. It says in Philippians 1:6; “He which hath begun a good work in you will be faithful to complete it.” God keeps His promises and He will not let you down. Jesus is more than a carpenter and wants to start His perfect work in you.

Pick up a copy of Josh McDowell’s book “More Than a Carpenter”