Jesus Goes Global

going to be reading and Kirsty, so if you'd like to come up and maybe just give the reference

and page numbers, that'll be helpful. Thanks very much.

It's page 1010 in the Church Bible, Mark chapter 7 from verse 24.

Mark 7 · chapter mention

Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone

to know it, yet he could not keep his presence secret. In fact, as soon as she heard about him,

a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an evil spirit came and fell at his feet.

The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her

daughter. First, let the children eat all they want, he told her, for it is not right to take

the children's bread and toss it to their dogs. Yes, Lord, she replied, but even the dogs under

the table eat the children's crumbs. Then he said to her, for such a reply you may go,

the demon has left your daughter. She went home and found her child lying on the bed and the demon gone.

Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and

into the region of the Decapolis. There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could

hardly talk, and they begged him to place his hand on the man. After he took him aside, away from the

crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man's ears. Then he spat and touched the man's tongue. He looked up

to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, Ifatahata, which means, be opened. At this, the man's ears were

opened, his tongue was loosened, and he began to speak plainly. Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone,

but the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. People were overwhelmed with amazement.

He has done everything well, they said. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.

Continuing on in chapter 8. During those days, another large crowd gathered. Since they had

nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, I have compassion for these people.

They have already been with me three days and have had nothing to eat. If I send them home hungry,

they will collapse on the way because some of them have come a long distance. His disciples answered,

But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them? How many loaves do you have?

Jesus asked. Seven, they replied. He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the

seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people,

and they did so. They had a few small fish as well. He gave thanks for them also and told the disciples

to distribute them. The people ate and were satisfied. Afterwards, the disciples picked up

seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. About 4,000 men were present, and having sent

them away, he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha. The Pharisees

came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. He sighed deeply and said,

Why does this generation ask for a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to it.

Then he left them, got back into the boat, and crossed to the other side.

As I'm getting sorted here, there's notes and pens if anybody would like to avail of that.

You can just ask for it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thanks very much.

Okay, well, let's pray.

Our Father God, we ask that you would answer the prayer that we sung a moment ago, that you would come.

Holy Spirit, come.

Breathe life into these words so that we hear your voice speaking to us.

So that the words that we hear from your word change us, transform us, and help us to understand who you are, the kingdom that you have come to build.

That we would leave as a people who are on board with your mission, with hearts that are aligned to your priorities.

Please do a work amongst us, we pray in Jesus. Amen.

Well, we reach a turning point in Mark's gospel where Jesus is moving towards a different people and into a different place.

Up to this point in Mark's gospel, Jesus has been primarily located around the Lake Galilee with primarily Jewish people.

And as he was preaching that they should repent and believe the good news.

And also proving through his miracles that he is God's king who has come to renew this disordered world and restore broken lives.

But now, look at verse 24, it tells us Jesus left that place and he went to the vicinity of Tyre.

This is a decisive and a deliberate move by Jesus.

Jesus leaves and goes to a different people.

He goes to the Gentiles and he goes to a different place to Tyre.

Jesus is on a mission to expand and to see his kingdom grow.

So, verse 31.

Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and he went down through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis.

It seems a straightforward journey that Jesus goes out, he does his work and he comes back again to Lake Galilee.

But the way that Jesus went, and if we had a big map here you'd be able to see it, it would be like us going to Limerick via Dublin.

He makes this massive big detour, this big huge horseshoe all the way out.

And it's telling us that Jesus is decisively and deliberately moving out to new people and he's going to new places because his kingdom is to go to all people.

His mission is that his kingdom would expand and that people would know about him.

So the question that we want to ask in all of this as we look through these three stories is to ask how does his kingdom expand?

How will we see it grow in places like Carigaline?

Well, firstly, it's an open kingdom.

The grace of Jesus is open to all.

Jesus may be going to a different place and to a different people, but the offer of Jesus remains the same.

Look at verse 24.

He entered a house and he did not want anyone to know it because he's always wanting to show who he is.

He doesn't want other people trying to figure it out.

He wants to tell them who he is.

But he couldn't keep his presence secret.

In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an evil spirit came and fell at his feet.

Now, this is normal ministry for Jesus, isn't it?

We've come across this before time and time again in Mark's Gospel.

It happened all the time.

But this time it's meant to shock us.

The last person who fell at Jesus' feet was Jairus.

He was a well-respected man within his community, president of his local church, a man with clout and influence, and he took his religion seriously.

But here, look at verse 26.

We have a woman who was a Greek.

That is, she's a Gentile.

She's unclean.

Born in Syrian Phoenicia, they were enemies of Jews.

But more importantly, they were pagans.

She didn't go to church.

She didn't have a Bible.

They weren't into religion.

All her credentials that we have before us basically disqualify her from coming to God.

But this woman is not going to be disqualified.

She is both determined and courageous.

Look at the rest of verse 26.

She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.

This is like an illegal immigrant in Ireland, bursting into the offices of Enderkenny, demanding that he give them a job right now.

But they have no rights.

They disqualify at so many levels.

And it's the same with this woman.

She's got no rights.

But she does understand the generosity of God's grace.

Jesus' answer is somewhat confusing and it almost seems quite harsh.

Verse 27.

Jesus said,

Now Jews were considered God's children.

They were the insiders.

God's special people.

And they had rights to God.

Gentiles, on the other hand, were seen as dogs.

Outsiders.

Unclean.

You didn't have anything to do with those people.

They had no rights.

So Jesus is saying,

You can't take what rightfully belongs to the children.

You can't take what belongs to the Jews

and give it to the dogs.

The Gentiles.

The Messiah.

God's King who's come to renew and to restore this broken world and disordered life.

Well, he was sent to the Jews, not to the Gentiles.

So who are you coming to me asking me to do something?

Seems quite harsh, doesn't it?

But she is determined to receive God's grace.

Her answer is spectacular.

Verse 28.

Yes, Lord, she replied.

But even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.

Look, Jesus.

You know what it's like when kids have their dinner.

There's a mess all over the floor.

And the dogs come in and they clear up the leftovers.

They also get to eat, don't they?

Literally, the dogs eat as much as they like.

In other words, she's grasped the fact

that she knows the grace of Jesus

is so deep

that there is an overflow.

His generosity

spills over to people

like her.

Verse 29.

So then he told her,

for such a reply,

you may go.

The demon has left

your daughter.

In other words,

she has received his grace.

And she went home

and found her child

lying on the bed

and the demon gone.

This woman here

shows us

how God's grace

is open to all.

He has

no favourites.

He makes

no distinction

between people.

Whoever you are,

wherever you come from,

whatever you've done,

whatever you've done

this week,

the

reservoir of God's grace

is so deep,

it's so wide,

it's so long

that everybody

is welcome

to come and drink

and be filled

and be satisfied

from his grace.

But why

did Jesus speak

in parables

to this woman?

Why did he not say,

as he had done

so many times before

to other people,

why didn't he just say,

go, your daughter is healed?

And that was the end

of it.

It seems that Jesus

is deliberately

making it difficult

for this woman

to receive grace.

Why is he doing this?

Well, the grace of Jesus

is open to everybody.

However, we must

really want it.

We must be both

courageous

and determined

in our request

and our desire

for God's grace.

Like this woman,

we too have no rights

to God's grace.

We don't deserve

God's grace.

However,

God's grace,

because of his character,

it is so deep

that there is this

overflow.

His generosity

spills over to people

like us

on a daily basis.

And so,

the invitation here

is to come

demanding

that he pour his grace

on us without measure.

We can come to him

insisting

that he fills us

and he satisfies us

with his grace.

Not because of who we are,

but because of who he is,

his generosity,

his kindness.

So,

the kingdom of God

is going to expand,

it's going to grow

when we come

like this woman

and receive

the grace

that Jesus

has to offer.

The second,

the kingdom

will expand

because

it's going to be revealed.

The touch

of Jesus

is needed

by all.

Jesus may be going

to different people

and to different places,

but the work

of Jesus

remains the same.

Look at verse 32.

There some people

brought to him

a man

who was deaf

and could hardly talk,

and they begged Jesus

to place his hand

on the man

just to touch him,

to heal him.

Now,

the place

where this is happening

and the kind

of person

that's described here

is full of significance.

We've got to understand

and to know

our Old Testament

to grasp

what is going on here.

So,

keep your finger there

in Mark

and jump back

to Isaiah

Isaiah 35 · chapter mention

chapter 35.

Isaiah

Isaiah 35 · chapter mention

chapter 35.

35.

The first 34 chapters,

this is just generally,

but generally,

the first 34 chapters

are all about

God's judgment

on rebellious people

and on the nations.

And included

is,

in chapter 23,

is this lengthy judgment

on Tyre

and Sidon,

the place where Jesus

was doing his work,

his ministry.

And then we get

to Isaiah

Isaiah 35 · chapter mention

chapter 35

and we get

a glimpse

of the work

that God has promised

to do in the future.

And this is what we read,

Isaiah 35,

Isaiah 35:1

verse 1.

He says,

the desert

and the parched land

will be glad.

The wilderness

will rejoice

and blossom.

Like the crocus,

it will burst

into bloom.

It will rejoice

greatly

and shout

for joy.

This is a

wonderful picture

of God's

promised

restoration

and renewal.

Instead of judgment,

he said,

there's a time coming

when salvation

is going to come

to all people.

And the sign

that that time

has come,

look at verse 5.

How do we know

that salvation

has come?

He tells us,

verse 5,

then the eyes

of the blind

will be opened,

the ears

of the deaf

unstopped,

the lame

will leap

like a deer

and the mute

tongue

shout for joy.

In Mark,

and let's go

back there,

we find Jesus

walking through

the region

of Tyre

and Sidon

and what's he doing

as he's walking

around this area

once it had been

told a place

of judgment?

He's now healing

a deaf

and a mute

man.

The significance

is crystal clear.

Jesus is doing

the work

that God had

promised all

those years ago.

Jesus is God's

king who's

invaded,

who's intervened

into the world

and he's come

to restore

the disordered

world and to

renew broken

lives,

to bring salvation,

to bring grace,

to bring mercy

and he's right

there on their

patch.

No wonder

the people

went celebrating

verse 37.

People were

overwhelmed

with amazement.

He has done

everything well,

they said.

He even makes

the deaf hear

and the mute

speak.

Jesus has

reached into

these people

and he's

touched their

lives and

he's revealed

the kingdom

to them.

They understand

who Jesus

is.

But why

did Jesus

heal in

this way?

I mean,

it's very

strange,

isn't it?

We don't read

about this

all the time.

Coming along,

sticking his

fingers in

somebody's ears

and then

spitting on

his fingers

and touching

somebody's tongue.

It's all

rather gross,

isn't it?

why does

he heal

in this

way?

Well,

we've got to

remember where

the disciples

are at.

Ironically,

the disciples

still don't

get who

Jesus is.

The woman

who we've

met,

she knows

who Jesus

is.

She knows

that he's

overflowing

with grace.

That the

people here

who he's

just healed,

well,

they've

grasped

who he is.

He's God's

promised king.

The disciples,

however,

they've seen

Jesus do

lots of

miracles.

They've heard

him teach

all over

the place,

but they

still don't

get who

he is.

They still

don't understand.

In fact,

at the beginning

of chapter 7,

Jesus said to

them,

why are you

so dull?

Why are you

so thick?

What have I

got to do

for you to

understand?

So it

seems that

this healing

here pictures

what needs

to happen

to us

all.

If people

are to

understand

who Jesus

is,

then the

kingdom has

to be

revealed to

them.

It has

to be

opened up

to them.

They must

experience

the touch

of Jesus

in their

lives.

So let's

look at this

healing in

verse 33.

After he

took him

aside,

away from

the crowd,

this is

something very

personal and

intimate,

Jesus put

his fingers

fingers into

the man's

ears.

Then he

spat,

and the

translation there

is on his

fingers,

and then

touched the

man's tongue.

You see,

he can't hear

Jesus,

he can't

respond to

Jesus and

talk to him,

so Jesus

communicates by

touch.

Verse 34,

he looked up

to heaven

and with a

deep sigh

said to

him,

Ephasa,

which means

be opened.

At this,

the man's

ears were

opened,

his tongue

was opened

or loosened,

and he

began to

speak

plainly.

Now,

reading this,

I couldn't

help but

make comparisons.

Rebecca,

our daughter,

as you know,

is deaf.

She can't

speak very

well.

She's just

like this

man in

this story.

And like

the man's

friends who

bring him

to Jesus,

well,

we've brought

Rebecca to

Jesus,

and we

asked that

he would

heal her,

that he

would touch

her.

but over

time,

we've

learned to

ask for

a different

kind of

healing for

our daughter.

Of course,

it would be

great if

Rebecca could

physically hear,

but God

has chosen

not to do

that,

and that's

okay,

we've worked

through all

of that,

and we're

content.

In fact,

we're probably

glad that he

hasn't,

and you can

ask us about

that afterwards.

But of

far greater

importance is

that Rebecca

can hear

spiritually.

So we

now come to

God and

we ask that

he would

reveal the

kingdom to

her.

Jesus,

will you

put your

fingers in

Rebecca's

ears and

say,

be opened,

so that

she can

understand

who you

are and

trust you

and love

you?

Jesus,

will you

put your

finger on

Rebecca's

tongue and

say,

be opened,

so that

she can

begin to

sign to

others who

are deaf

the abundance

of your

grace so

that they

can be

welcomed

in too?

Now,

I know

that's very

personal for

us,

but I

think it

illustrates the

prayer

prayer of

every single

one of us

here.

Isn't that

what we

ask for

our own

children?

Isn't this

what we

want for

our own

family and

for our

own friends

who have

not come

to experience

the depth

and the

wonder of

God's

grace,

that he

would put

his fingers

in their

ears and

say,

be opened,

so that

the kingdom

is revealed

to them,

so that

they can

experience

his grace?

The

kingdom of

God will

expand and

it will

grow when

we experience

the touch

of Jesus

in our

lives.

God

will

do that

in people's

lives,

around our

community.

Well, it's

an open

kingdom,

it's a

revealed

kingdom,

but it's

also a

future

kingdom,

the feast

of Jesus

celebrated

by all.

Jesus may

be going

to different

places and

to different

people,

but the

promise of

Jesus remains

the same.

Look at

verse 1

of chapter

8, he

says,

during those

days,

another large

crowd gathered,

this time it

was 4,000

people,

that's just

the men,

maybe there

are women

and children

there.

Since they

had nothing

to eat,

Jesus called

his disciples

to him and

said,

I have

compassion

for these

people.

I want

to meet

them in

their need.

They have

already been

with me for

three days

and have

had nothing

to eat,

and if I

send them

home hungry,

they're going

to collapse

on the way

because some

of them have

come a long

distance.

Now what

follows in

this story,

and we know

it all so

well,

is quite

remarkable.

It's nothing

short of a

feast.

Look at

verse 5,

how many

loaves do

you have?

Jesus asked

seven.

He told

the crowd

to sit

down on

the ground

and when

he had

taken the

seven loaves

and given

thanks,

he broke

them and

gave them

to his

disciples to

set before

the people

and they

did so.

And they

had a few

small fish

as well and

he gave

thanks for

them also

and he

told the

disciples to

distribute

them.

And the

people ate

and they

were satisfied.

And afterwards

the disciples

picked up

seven

basketfuls

of broken

pieces that

were left

over.

Now we

live in an

age of

plenty,

don't we?

It's normal

for us to

have three

good meals

a day.

In fact,

we've got so

much food in

our cupboards

and our

fridges,

we throw

it away.

These people

that are with

Jesus are

used to one

basic meal

and even that

was rationed.

In fact,

we're told

here they

haven't eaten

in three

days.

So they're

pretty hungry

guys.

So you

could imagine

what this

would have

been like.

Bread and

fish,

as much as

you wanted.

All you

could eat,

seconds and

thirds and

as much as

you liked.

To the point

of where it

says they

were completely

satisfied.

They even

went home

with a doggy

bag.

There was

so much

left over.

And to

top it

all off,

this feast

was free,

provided

completely

by Jesus.

So what's

going on?

Is Jesus

trying to get

on to

MasterChef

or something?

Well,

I don't

think so.

Again,

we've got

to understand

our Old

Testament.

So jump

back to

Isaiah

Isaiah 25 · chapter mention

chapter 25.

Again,

this is

one of

these

little

pictures

amongst

all the

kind of

the judgment

that's going

on that

God is

pronouncing.

And we

get this

wonderful

picture of

the new

creation of

heaven itself,

something that

God is going

to do.

And look

how he

describes it.

Isaiah

Isaiah 25:6

chapter 25

verse 6.

On this

mountain,

the Lord

Almighty

will prepare

a feast

of rich

food for

all peoples,

a banquet

of aged

wine,

the best

of meats

and the

finest

of wines.

And here

we are

in Mark's

Gospel.

Jesus has

just prepared

a feast

for all

these people,

4,000 of

them.

And okay,

it's bread

and fish,

it's a little

bit different

to fine

wines and

roast beef,

but my

word,

this is still

a feast

for these

people,

isn't it?

It's almost

like an

appetizer,

the first

course for

what's to

come.

It's a

foretaste

of this

much greater

promise,

the promise

of heaven

itself,

the new

creation,

where God's

people will

live forever

and ever

and ever

and be

eternally

satisfied

satisfied.

But why

does Jesus

repeat this

same miracle?

Only

recently in

Mark's

Gospel,

we read

of the

miracle of

feeding the

5,000.

Okay,

there was a

bit of

difference,

there were

five loaves

and two

fish there,

but it's

pretty much

the same,

isn't it?

Why does

he repeat

the same

miracle again?

well,

the one

big difference

between these

two miracles

is his

audience.

Earlier,

the people

were all

Jewish.

This time,

he's in a

different place

with different

people.

They're all

Gentiles,

they're all

outsiders,

they're all

unclean,

they're all

pagans,

they're people

who don't

go to church

and they

don't read

their Bible.

In other

words,

he's saying

to them,

I am

providing

a feast.

The feast

of heaven

which is

promised for

you is

open to

all people.

I don't

care who

you are

or where

you come

from,

it's open

to you

all.

In fact,

it's the

kind of

feast that

we all

long for.

Again,

look at

Isaiah

Isaiah 25:7

chapter 25

verse 7.

He says

it's a feast

for all

peoples.

On this

mountain

he will

destroy the

shroud

that

enfolds

all

people.

This

blanket

if you

like

that

covers

people

with

darkness.

The

sheet

that

covers

all

nations.

He will

swallow

up

death

forever.

The

sovereign

Lord

will

wipe

away

the

tears

from

all

their

faces.

He

will

remove

the

disgrace

of

his

people

from

all

the

earth.

The

Lord

has

spoken.

This

promised

feast

will

include

people

of all

nations

regardless

of race

or religion.

And he's

making it

crystal clear

that it's

for people

like you

and me

who mess

up and

who fail

all the

time.

And it's

going to be a

feast that's

going to be

celebrated with

life.

Because he

says here

death is

going to be

swallowed up

forever.

forever.

And living

in a

broken

world

where

death

sometimes

invades

not just

to old

people

but as

we were

reminded

today

sometimes

to little

people.

But the

promise

in the

midst

of all

the

brokenness

that we

are

surrounded

with

day in

day out.

Here is

a feast

where he

will swallow

up death

forever

and the

sovereign

Lord

will wipe

away the

tears

from all

their faces.

A feast

filled with

joy and

happiness

because there

is no more

pain

and no more

heartaches.

And this

is the

Jesus who

has come

into this

world

who has

invaded

into our

lives

to offer

this future

feast

promised

to all

his people.

The

kingdom of

God will

expand

when we

anticipate

and look

forward

to the

feast

that Jesus

has to

offer.

This is

three stories

combined

combined

together

showing us

that Jesus

is continually

moving out

to different

people and

different places.

We're never

meant to be

stuck in the

one place

and with the

same people.

We've got a

kingdom to

build.

A kingdom

where the

grace of

God will

flow.

The kingdom

that is going

to be revealed

as Jesus

touches people

alive.

The kingdom

will grow

as this

feast is

being celebrated

right now

by people

like you

and me.

We need

to pray

that God

will build

his kingdom

through us

and be

pleased to

see many

people

welcomed

in.

Let's pray

together.

Our Father

God, we

thank you

that in

your generosity

and in

your goodness

you have

reached out

to people

like us.

Different

people

represented

here

from

different

places.

But yet

you have

made it

your business

to reach

out to

us.

To welcome

us into

your kingdom.

To be

satisfied

with your

grace.

To be

filled

with it.

Thank you

that you

have revealed

the kingdom

to us.

That you've

opened up

our ears

to understand.

And please

would you

open up

our mouths

and our

lives

so that

we will

speak the

kingdom

to other

people.

And we

thank you

that we

have a

future

to look

forward to.

A great

feast.

We long

for that

day.

And please

keep us

faithful

and please

help us

to be about

your work

and the

building of

your kingdom

until that

day comes.

In Jesus'

name.

Amen.

Amen.

We're going

to sing

something that

reflects really

what we've

been looking

at.

Your glorious

cause, oh

God, engages

our hearts.

It's all

about the

kingdom

growing, the

kingdom

expanding, and

God using

people like

us who

have

experienced

it in

our own

lives, that

we would

go and be

about his

work.

Let's stand

together as

we sing.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Your glorious Father God

Engages our hearts

May Jesus Christ be known

Wherever we are

We ask not for ourselves

For your renown

The cross was made

So we pray

So we are not

Let your kingdom come

Let your will be done

That every heart might know your name

Let your song be heard

Everywhere I heard

But your song be

On this gift of life

And the kingdom come

The kingdom come

Give us your strength

Give us your strength

Oh God

The will you do

Perform your wondrous deeds

And also our will be

Lord Jesus

Lord Jesus

Lord Jesus

Lord Jesus

Lord Jesus

Lord Jesus

Lord Jesus

Lord Jesus