Fresh Fire

1
Fresh Fire

• The Personal Passion Which Pleases Jesus Mk
  141-9

2
Divisions in the Life of JesusPassion
Narratives with long introductions

• a) Infancy and Childhood (none here)
• b) Early Galilean Ministry (Mk 1-4)
• c) Later Galilean Ministry (Mk 5-8)
• Pivot at Mark 8/Matt 16/Lk 9
• d) Withdrawal and Special Training (8-10)
• e) Ministry in Perea and Judea (none here)
• f) Passion Week (Mk 11-16)

3
What is the central meaning of the Cross?

• Themes thus far
• Bread Person and Passion
• Water Absolute Trust in Him
• Wind A Mind like His
• Fire A Passion which Pleases Him

4
Marks differences

• Shorter but does that mean less theology?
• Matt. has ministry starting at 412
• Lk starts at 414
• Jn starts with deity, John, disciples - Cana (2)
• Style Terse, brusque, brief, rude, blunt,
• Pace Vitality, vividness, vigor, drive,
  breathless to tell the Story of Jesus

5
Bethany in the Life of Jesus

• i) Home of Lazarus, Mary, Martha
• Raises Lazarus from the dead
• ii) Passover Motel
• iii) Last Week Housing
• Iv) Triumphal Entry begins from there

6
Why did Jesus stay here?

• Felt comfortable in a situation that was
• Relatively wealthy
• Open and honest discussion
• Willing to share joys and sorrows with Him
• Asked Him tough but crucial questions
• Knew they were committed to Him
• They served without hooks
• At Home with them and they with He

7
Women and Jesus

• i) Supporters (Lk. 83)
• ii) Improprieties for a 1st Century Rabbi
• (1) Samaritan Woman
• (2) Syro-Phonecian Woman
• (3) Woman with Issue of Blood
• (4) Anointing in Lk 7
• (5) Passion Week
• Widow with Mite
• Anointing of Mary/This woman
• Tomb/Appearance

8

• The Gender Contrast in Mark (7------14)
• Mark 7 Foreign Woman with Faith
• Mark 12 Only one who truly gave Woman and mite
• Mark 14 This woman
• Contrast of Chapters 14 and 15
• Men are verbally committed but not truly
• A Simon (not Peter) carries the cross
• Only named women are at the cross (except John)
  and tomb

9
Comparison of Anointings A Rehearsal of the
Facts
Mark 143-9 Matt 266-13 John
12 1. Passover 1. Passover
1. Passover in in
in 2 days 2 days 6 days
2. After Entry 2. After Entry
2. Before Entry 3. Plot to Kill
3. Plot to Kill 3. Arrest 4.
Simons 4. Simons 4.
Martha/Lazarus 5. Reclining 5.
Reclining 6. Woman 6. Woman
6. Mary 7. Alabaster 7. Alabaster
7. Pint 8. Expensive 8.
Expensive 8. Expensive 9. Nard
9. Nard
10
Reclining at table
11
Comparison (cont.)

• Mark 143-9 Matt 266-13 John 12
• Head Head Feet
• Wiped
• House Filled
• Some Disciples Judas
• Let Her Alone " " " " " "
• Beautiful Thing " "
• Poor Poor Poor

12
More Comparisons

• Mark 143-9 Matt 266-13 John 12
• Anointed my Prepare Me Keep body it
  for for the day of my
• Beforehand
• for the burial Burial Burial
• Wherever...

13
Unique Elements in Mark's Account I. This
Passion is not about me

• (1) "reproached her snorted at her
• The typical value system
• 3 very costly
• 3 pure nard
• 4 why wasted?
• 5 300 denarii
• 5 money given to the poor
• 7 you will always have the poor

14
A different value system

• Is it a law written into the nature of reality
  that one who loves God is viewed by the world as
  one who wastes
• their lives, goods, plans, etc?

15
William Law (1686-1761) A Serious Call to a
Devout and Holy Life, c. VII 1728

• Persons that are well affected to religion, that
  receive instructions of piety with pleasure and
  satisfaction, often wonder how it comes to pass
  that they make no greater progress in that
  religion which they so much admire.
• Now the reason of it is this it is because
  religion lives only in their head, but something
  else has possession of their heart and therefore
  they continue from year to year mere admirers and
  praisers of piety, without ever coming up to the
  reality and perfection of its precepts.

16
Fear of Those who have Passionately Served

• If your love does not produce a servant spirit in
  you.it does not bear the stamp of Jesus and
  needs perfecting. L. Brengle
• I am afraid that they shall only exist as a dead
  sect, having the form of religion without the
  power. J. Wesley

17
Living in a Passionate Reality

• Duty! Waste
• Practical Personal
• Useful Wasteful
• Bottom Line Blessing
• Function Feet/Face
• Doing Being
• Routine Relationship
• Productivity Passion
• Work Worship
• Success Sacrifice
• Relation over, feeds into, issues in Function

18
II. This Passion Involves All of Me

• The Bottle"
• 1st Cent. Usages
• Perfume
• Embalming
• Jars in Tombs
• Defense is strong/unusual - "let her alone
• "why trouble her?"
• Motive "a beautiful (good) thing on me"
• Manner "She has done what she could"
• Meaning Anointed my body

19
The typical response to conviction

• Most of us feel we are committed
• Holy Spirit speaks, moves in our lives
• He points out an inconsistency
• Choosing good thing over His best
• He makes it clear again and again
• We rationalize
• Turns to inner rebellion
• Bargaining begins
• Cycle of self-deception turns into depression

20
III. This Passion is to Identify Me with the
Person and Passion of Jesus

• Unique Occurrence only one time
• Mark specifically draws attention to it

21
What was it that truly pleased Jesus?

• She smashed it to smithereens!
• Symbol of something else?

22
Dealing the jar of self-will

• Did the jar represent
• A security placing hope in a person
• A life-focusing desire
• Something she was manipulating
• Place in her heart that was discomforted in
  the presence of Jesus
• Something that was difficult to hand over?

23
A comparison of two daysThe Goal of the Cross
24
Why do we fear surrender?

• Our calculations always suspect His goodness
• Our security is often based on our negotiation
• Our future is only as secure as our gifts are
  securely in hand
• Here surrender is lost in Him focus shifts
• All of Life becomes and remains a passionate
  sacrifice of personal love

25
Closing Thoughts

• What is the absolute central motivation of your
  life?
• Why do you serve Jesus?
• Is there a symbol in your life that could
  represent your unique relationship with Jesus?