Read Mark 9 v1. Jesus began his ministry in Mark chapter 1 with the message that the kingdom of God is near. But now in chapter 9 Jesus tells his followers that some of them will ‘not taste death’ in other words, will still be alive to see the kingdom of God come in power.

When was Jesus talking about when he spoke of the kingdom of God coming in power? The experts come up with various possibilities. Some suggest the transfiguration was what Jesus was speaking of. Others think in terms of the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost. Others suggest that it must be Jesus’ second coming that he is referring to. Jesus had spoken in chapter 8 about coming in glory with his angels.

To be honest it is difficult to know when Jesus is referring to. But we do know that God’s kingdom does come with power in that we see in the gospel and the life of the church instances of God’s power overthrowing and defeating the things that oppose it. We have seen earlier in Mark’s gospel through the ministry of Jesus that the evil spiritual power of demon possession has been overcome as Jesus and his disciples cast out evil spirits.

Then there is the problem of human sin. Jesus had summed up his contemporaries in Mark chapter 8 as an adulterous and sinful generation. In chapter 9 he refers to his disciples as an unbelieving generation. Our day and age has many similarities. Our generation is still a sinful and adulterous one.

Unfaithfulness in marriage is still common, although the bible often uses the term adulterous to describe unfaithfulness to God, and worship of false Gods. Our generation worships many false Gods. A false God can be anything that a person puts before God. People put all sorts of things before God; their car, their house, their football team, their addictive habits.

The way that the power of the kingdom overcomes human sin is through faith. And as Jesus comes down the mountain he is confronted once again with disciples who do not have much faith. How it grieves and frustrates Jesus. ‘O unbelieving generation, how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you?

Jesus had given his disciples authority to cast out evil spirits, but a lad who is possessed is brought to them and they are powerless to help. The power of God’s kingdom is absent. But Jesus is present. The father of the boy is unsure, he is hopeful but he lacks faith. But as he reaches out to Jesus, in Jesus the power of God’s kingdom reaches out and the boy is healed.

Afterwards there is the post-mortem. The disciples ask Jesus why they couldn’t cast the demon out of the boy. Jesus has already rebuked their unbelief; part of the reason no doubt was their lack of faith. But Jesus has more to say. ‘This kind only come out by prayer.’ The spiritual power of God’s kingdom must come from God, it comes through prayer.

Perhaps the best way to understand that is to say that the when the disciples had tried to cast the evil spirit out of the boy they were running on batteries. It was a job that could only be done by plugging in to the mains. We plug into; we connect to the power of the kingdom of God by faith and prayer.

Do we see the power of the kingdom of God at work in our church? Or do people come to us a bit like the father in the story and find no help as he found from the disciples? The problems for which we need the power of the kingdom are not usually demon possession; but hurts, human sin, fears, ignorance, grief. God wants the power of his kingdom to be at work in his church.

God wants the power of his kingdom to be at work in his church. If there is faith; if there is prayer; if the Spirit of Christ is present, then the power of God’s kingdom will be at work. But now we moves on to the later section of the chapter where we encounter something else that brings the power of Gods kingdom to our world, and that is the teaching of Jesus. As we listen to, and understand the truth that Jesus came to teach, the truth can set us free. As societies and communities embrace and accept the teachings of Jesus, so we see the reality of the power of the kingdom at work.

So then; four lessons from Jesus. The first lesson is in verses 30 – 32. The way that Jesus calls us to follow is the way of the cross and resurrection. The disciples had discovered that Jesus was the Messiah. But now Jesus tells them that he is going to be betrayed and crucified and then raised to life. Not only that, but we know from other teaching of Jesus that that is also the way he calls all his followers to. ‘If anyone would follow me, let him deny himself and take up his cross.’

Now the disciples heard what Jesus said, but they just did not get it. They did not understand. If anyone here this morning does not understand about the way of the cross and resurrection, just me telling you may still leave you the same way as Jesus teaching left the disciples. And like them you will probably be afraid to ask.

But maybe if like the disciples, you stick with Jesus; if you watch the events of Easter, of the injustice Jesus suffered, his pain, death and resurrection; then perhaps like the disciples you will come to understand and believe and the power of God’s kingdom will break into your life. And for all of us whose faith gets weak and who have been running on batteries that always get low in the end, as we contemplate the saviour who went to the cross; our faith will be renewed and the power of God’s kingdom will break afresh into our lives. The way of Jesus is the way of the cross and resurrection.

The second lesson can be found in verses 33-37 and it is about ambition. The way the world usually operates is on the principle of competition. The principle is survival of the fittest. People are driven by ambition and so were Jesus disciples. They all wanted to be at the top they had been going at each other hammer and tongs about who was the greatest. But when Jesus asked them about what they were talking about they were uncomfortable. They had been with Jesus long enough to know that it was not the right way.

But Jesus does not need to be told. He knows, and he calls the 12 together. He explains that God’s kingdom works in a different way to the world. In God’s kingdom the leader is chosen not in the same way that a Roman emperor is chose or even a leader of the Liberal Democrat party.

The one who is greatest in God’s kingdom is not the cleverest or most able, nor the one with the most votes; but the one who is willing to do the most menial tasks; the one who is willing to be the humble servant of all. The lesson? You must be willing to be last. It was an important lesson. Jesus used a visual aid; he took a child and stood him in front of them. Then he took the child in his arms and told them ‘If you welcome and accept an insignificant child, you welcome and accept me.’

The world doesn’t function like that. We like to get the attention of the rich and famous and influential. We are not interested in common people. Jesus says in God’s kingdom it’s the other way round. The great person is the one who is willing to be the humble servant of all.

The third lesson comes in verses 38-41. It tells us something about the nature of power in God’s kingdom. One thing that spoils our world is people’s desire for power over others. Bullies exert power. Terrorists misuse power to kill and maim. Even in the church sometimes people like to have power over others. John and his fellow disciples were like that. They thought that their position as those closest to Jesus gave them power over others, so when they come across someone casting out an evil spirit in Jesus name, in no uncertain terms they tell him to stop.

But Jesus says ‘no you have got it wrong’. God’s kingdom is not a hierarchy like the Roman army. It is a kingdom of freedom. Jesus had talked about God’s kingdom as being like a man sowing seeds. The teachings of Jesus are like seeds. When they are sown in people’s hearts people are free to respond. People respond by following Jesus, they come into personal relation ship with him. The church leaders function is not to control or oppress, but to help and to teach. So lesson three is beware of wanting power over others; that is not the way of God’s kingdom. The things that are rewarded in God’s kingdom are simple acts of kindness like giving a drink of water to someone who needs it in the name of Jesus.

Then fourthly and finally in verses 42 -50; beware of leading others astray. Here Jesus tells his followers and he reminds us that sin is a very serious thing. In the world there will always be a tension between law and grace. What I mean is that often there will be those who are so obsessed with rules and regulations that they adopt harsh, cold attitudes in the way that the Pharisees did in Jesus’ day.

Jesus actually accused them of leading people astray. But there is the other extreme, the extreme that says that not even God’s laws matter; everyone can do exactly as they like. We are reminded that Jesus certainly didn’t teach that. God gave his laws, not to spoil our fun, but because they show us how to life to the full, God’s laws reflect his character, when we live by them, we reflect his love in all our relationships and attitudes.

God will hold those responsible who sin and lead others astray as well, because of the grief and heartbreak they will bring on all who will be affected. In a way we are back at the subject of repentance. People never found repentance easy when Jesus preached it, people don’t find it easy to change, they love things the way they are and do not want to let them go of the sinful things in their lives, whether it is lifestyles that are ruining our environment or theft or dishonesty or whatever.

But Jesus says drastic action is need he doesn’t literally want us to cut off hands or feet, but he does call us to radical repentance, to turn away from the sins that will take us to hell, and instead, let the power of God’s kingdom break into our lives, that we might be salt and light; for him, and for the world.
 

Amen.

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