Digging Deep: The Beginning (Mark 1:1)

Psalm 1 describes the blessed person as one who has dug deep into God's Word, making it the source of his daily meditation. In pursuit of this kind of blessed life, we briefly review the sermon from the previous Sunday. May you be like a tree planted by streams of water, bearing fruit in its season (Psalm 1:3). This week we look back at Pastor Kim's sermon on Mark 1:1.

Jesus had a very different mission than his disciples expected: to die on a cross. Following him did not mean victory over Rome and getting positions of prominence in his earthly government. Following him would In fact be the opposite. In Mark 8:34 he says, “And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.'" Remember, the cross was not a glamorous idea. Jesus hadn’t even died on a cross yet, so their only association with the cross was a horrible, painful death. The real response to the Christ is requires complete, wholehearted devotion.

Sometimes when we get to know people better, we are less willing to trust them. But this is never the case with Jesus. You will never find some character flaw. You will never find a lack of love or wisdom. You will never find an absence of power. You will never find something in Jesus that should ever lead you to trust him less. In our sinfulness we may bristle against his sovereignty and rule, but again that is simply because we do not know the greatness of our Lord well enough.

Some of you look around at some of the people here and wonder how they love Jesus so much How are they so committed to him? How do they seem so sold out? How are they willing to share their faith so boldly? Have you ever thought that it might be as simple as the fact that they have a better knowledge of the Lord they are called to trust in? Should it really be surprising that when someone knows deeply the God of the universe in whom perfection rests, whose fullness of love is unfathomable to our finite mans, who holds the workings of the universe in his hands, that they trust and follow him?

1. Why is it difficult to trust in Jesus? Is it possible that you don't know him as well as you should, so he does not appear to be as trustworthy as he actually is?
2. What steps must you take to grow in your understanding and knowledge of Christ?
3. You know there are areas in your life where following Jesus is difficult. What are they? Commit yourself to following him with wholehearted and humble devotion.