Good News

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=50 BGCOLOR="#333366" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Good News</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=165 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="132" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id140.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="From the Manger to the Cross"><U><B><IMG SRC="007151d0.gif" border=0 width="21" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="21"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="20"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="35" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="20" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="13"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="27"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div> Previous/Next Sermon</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="www.stanbaker.org"><U><B>Home</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Biblical and Theological Studies"><U><B>Biblical and Theological Studies</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Church Ministry"><U><B>Ministry Studies</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sermon Notes"><U>Sermon Notes</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Personal"><U><B>Personal</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> </td> <td valign="top" height=430 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Mark 15.42-16.20, “What Do You Do With Good News?” Berean Bible Church, Dec 31, 2000am</B></div> <bR> <div> <I>     </I>There are certain events that need to be shared with others, such as a recent engagement or marriage, a new home, a new baby in the family, healing from some physical ailment, the resolution to a crisis situation (financially, etc.), or success at work. It is very natural for us to share these events!</div> <div>      But recall the “Messianic Secret,” such as in Mark 1.40-45 (vs. 44). The man who was healed of leprosy was asked by Jesus to not tell anyone about it! (This happens also in Mark 5.43, 7.36, 8.26, 8.30). How could Jesus expect him to not say anything to anyone?</div> <div>      With that thought in mind, move forward in your Bible to the crucifixion (Mark 15.42ff.). Jesus was now dead, hanging on the cross.</div> <bR> <div> <B>I. Death is usually final, 15.42-16.3</B>. We don’t expect the dead to arise in a couple days. We can understand the gloom, mourning and sadness of the followers of Jesus, especially the women, Mary, Mary, and Salome. The women went to the tomb to honor Jesus by helping his dead body to smell a little better. They were convinced of the permanence of death.</div> <bR> <div> <B>II. The resurrection was a complete surprise, 16.4-8.</B></div> <div>      Our celebrations start out on Easter morning with great joy and happiness. But for these women, they began the day with sadness. When they discovered the angel, and the fact that the body of Jesus was not there, that he was alive, they were shocked and amazed. In their shock and fear, the women initially told no one anything. (vs. 8).<I> </I>This is where Mark ends his writing (someone<I> </I>else wrote verses 9-20) – he leaves the reader hanging. Do you remember the “Messianic Secret” that shows up several times in Mark (see above)? People were asked <U>not</U> to tell, and they went and told anyway. Here, the women were asked <U>to</U> go and tell, and they kept silent. Mark wants us to ask ourselves . . .</div> <bR> <div> <B>III. . . . What do we do with this message of joy?</B></div> <div>      We must tell it! Mark 16.7, 10, 13, 15, 20. Eventually the women went and shared the message, and we must do the same. There are several styles of sharing the good news (see <I>Becoming a Contagious Christian</I>, ch. 9, p. 119): Peter’s <U>confrontational</U> approach, Paul’s <U>intellectual</U> approach, the blind man’s <U>testimonial</U> approach, Matthew’s <U>interpersonal</U> approach, the Samaritan woman’s <U>invitational</U> approach, Dorcas’s <U>service</U> approach. You do not have to adopt the same approach as someone else. Find an approach that fits you and share the message!</div> <div>      No matter what approach you use, be clear. Know the essence of the gospel, that Jesus, God in the flesh, came to this earth to die, to give his life in the place of sinners who deserved to die instead (all of us), and he rose again, validating the work he did on the cross.</div> <div>      The greatest sign of the truth of your words is the reality of Christ in your life is (vss. 17-18). If Christ has not made a difference in your life, people will probably not respond positively to the message of the gospel when you share it (that does not mean you have to be perfect!).</div> <bR> <div>      In the movie “Men in Black,” Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith are government agents dealing with aliens from outer space who have come to earth, and who could be anywhere, in a variety of forms. In the scene where Jones shows Smith around the agency offices, Will Smith sees a map of the universe, and he asks about it. Jones tells Smith that the earth is hanging in the balance, that people are in great danger, and it is their job <I>to keep people from knowing about it</I> so they can go on with their “peaceful” lives. The eternal destiny of people really is “hanging in the balance,” because of their sin, and their deliverance depends on how they respond to Jesus Christ. It is our job <I>to let people know, to get the word out</I>! Let’s quit covering it up and start sharing it freely.</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>