“Real Life” – is about navigating through the adventure. It’s a balance between dealing with the reality of this world and the reality of heaven. The balance between “faith” (what I cannot see) and “physical” (what I can see).
How do people survive plane crashes? What about being ejected out of a plane going faster than the speed of sound – where the force on a body is around 9000lbs? How about a sinking ship?
How do people survive a divorce – drug addiction – or the dark hole of depression? How are people able to balance a loving God with the horrible happenings in life?
Over the next five weeks we’re going to take a look at these scenarios and the key factors of how people navigated through life and survived – not only survived but thrived. We are also going to examine the final weeks of Jesus life and how he reveals some tools to navigate life. What did Jesus demonstrate as he faced his crucifixion and in the end how his life provides us with the greatest “tool” to navigate through life.
A key tool in navigating through life is whether or not you “know your surroundings” and “remember where you are”. In addition, it is helpful to play out the scenarios of “what could happen” and have a good handle on what you would do in a moment of crisis.
MARK 10
Jesus had just entered the region of Judea – the final weeks before his crucifixion. He still had large crowds following him throughout the region and as was his custom he began teaching them.
Much of what Jesus taught in his final weeks were what we might call “situational awareness” – “what would you do if/when (“this”) were to happen or present itself?” How are we to respond?
It’s almost like he is saying… “Alright, listen up – somewhere in the adventure of life you’re going to face this – and this is what I want you to remember.”
Chapter 10 (of Mark) contains 5 scenarios or “situations” (5 to Survive) that present themselves to every person on the face of the earth;
- Loyalty
- Status
- Priorities
- The desire for greatness
- Inconvenience
1. Loyalty – the scenario of divorce. (10:2-12)
What would you do if your spouse came to you and said that they had been unfaithful? Even if you’re single… have you thought through that scenario? It happens every day. What would you do?
One reason people die when they should have survived in a disaster is what has been termed the “incredulity response” (people simply don’t believe what is happening to them) – they freeze and think, “This really isn’t happening to me”. Those are the people that die needlessly; sometimes just feet away from the doorway that would have led them out of their predicament.
They have never considered the possibility of what they would do in the event of a disaster and because of that – they die.
Divorce causes death; emotional – at times physical – and often spiritual… but it doesn’t need to be that way.
While we can create a worst case scenario about marriage Jesus is not teaching about divorce because he expects it to happen… honestly he “hates” it according to the prophet Malachi. What Jesus is teaching about is the hardness of peoples hearts and their unwillingness to be loyal.
Jesus lays out the scenario in no uncertain terms; “Whoever divorces their spouse and marries another commits adultery.”
- “Why so harsh Jesus? I mean, really… if you had to live with them and their behavior… you’d divorce them too.”
• The truth is… Jesus does live with them; everything about them including things you’ll never know and he does not “divorce” them.
A reason why people “freeze” and die is negative panic. There is no stored experience in the brain and since the brain can’t find a match it gets stuck in a loop of trying and failing to come up with a response.
In this situation – where is your reference when it comes to loyalty – to faithfulness? Jesus will NEVER leave you, He is always faithful, despite “you” he remains steady and true. So on the issue of loyalty – think through the scenario of your relationship with God.
2. Status - dealing with status (10:13-16)
Jesus places before the crowd the 2nd scenario that they would deal with in life. The issue of status. How will you handle not being “first” – how do you respond when someone else takes your place. Can you deal with being “wrong”? Can you celebrate others victories or do you die in the sea of bitterness and envy?
- Children had no status in society during the time of Jesus… it was not until their Father proclaimed them as a son that they were recognized as citizens.
The disciples rebuked (reprimanded harshly) the parents of the children but Jesus aware of his surroundings provides another “tool” to navigate through life.
Let the children come – in other words, “Deal with it! You’re not first all the time in this world… as a matter of fact – there will be people that find favor that you don’t even regard… can you handle it? It’s not about being “first” it’s about being “faithful”!”
In times of disaster your status in the world means little. President or pauper – danger levels the playing field.
3. Priorities – determining what is really important (10:17-31)
Whether or not you survive is often a matter of your priorities: what is really important – what should be first on the list of things to do; one thing – forget your luggage, leave your computer, forgo saving your family album/cat.
To survive it is necessary to do the next right thing – It’s always one next “right” thing.” To stop death – STAY CALM, set priorities and do the next right thing.
• In moments of disaster you will be overloaded with data (people screaming, “this way”, other yelling for help, find “one voice” to listen to – generally following someone that has “what you want” is a good place to start.
NOTE: Is their advice opinion? Is their advice biblical?
- Jesus encounters a man who “bum-rushed” him as he was leaving the town. His question, “Tell me what I must do to inherit eternal life.” – in other words, “What’s really important, what should be first on my list of priorities?”
- Jesus’ response; obey the commandments. To which the man replies… “done”. REALLY? Yeah that’s what Jesus thought as well… REALLY?
- But not to embarrass the young man Jesus adds an additional term.
- Jesus tells the young man, “Make following and obeying me more important than anything else – make “me” your first priority.”
Placing Jesus at the top of your priority list simplifies life; there is no grey. Life becomes a matter of light and dark (no dusk). Now I realize that this will draw a few groans, “You know… man where is the grace?” Listen, I have received grace… but it has not been from people – what I have received from people is love and forgiveness. The bible does not tell me to extend grace to people – I am told to “love and forgive”.
- The moment I believe that I can decide who I “extend unmerited favor and kindness to those who do not deserve it I have become god (with a little “g”)
- Where do I get off on deciding if “someone deserves” kindness?
- No, I’m called to love and forgive…
- In truth, God extends “grace” one time… at the moment of salvation – the rest of the time…favor is usually a result of my obedience.
Making Jesus first – loving and forgiving… short and sweet. Everything else is a distraction that leads me away from navigating through life.
- Grace is about extending “unmerited favor” that in a carnal sense appears of the side of “good”.
- Love is about truth, patience, kindness… and the rest – at times “love” in the carnal sense appears on the side of “not good”.
• No, life is not about receiving grace – life is about receiving love. Even when it doesn’t feel like love.
4. Desire for greatness – how far are you willing to go? (10:35-45)
Another scenario we read about is that of James and John and their desire for greatness.
- James and John pull Jesus aside and say to him, (Like my 10 year old when he wants something that he knows he will not receive).
• “Hey Jesus, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you…” That’s like saying, “Dad, don’t say no… alright… say yes… even though I’m pretty sure you’re going to say no.
Jesus knows that there is a desire in all of us for greatness after all he placed it there – the trouble is that it’s been forced into a system that it was never intended to be placed – the world’s system.
- Greatness now is; a large house, possessions, a title, popularity and power.
- Greatness in the kingdom is; service, obedience, modesty and honor.
In an emergency there is a fundamental question everyone must answer; “How far are you willing to go to save your life?” Are you willing to crawl over dead bodies or people who have frozen in place (due to fear) to save your life?
In the kingdom the question is the same; “How far are you willing to go to save your life?” Are you willing to confess that sin no-one knows about? Are you prepared to give up “your time” to help someone else, when given the opportunity – are you willing to do the things that do not receive the spotlight?
In a moment of crisis there will be moments when things don’t go as planned – Jesus closes the 10th chapter with a final tool that helps us “navigate through life” –
Dealing with inconvenience and un-planned situations.
5. Inconvenience – what will you do when your plan runs into a “distraction” (10:46-52)
Bartimaeus had nothing to loose; he had no status in society, because of that greatness was a far-fetched idea he could not afford to spend time worrying about. He had a single priority; get close to Jesus… get close to Jesus.
Because he couldn’t walk through the crowd he decided to throw his ego to the wind and began to yell out, “Jesus, Jesus – hear me – listen to me – help me.” I don’t care what others will think… I’m in the dark over here and you are the only one who can help.
In navigating through life, a tool that should be within reach is “flow”.
The tool of flow is powerful – it transforms “inconvenience” into “opportunity”.
Jesus was headed out of Jericho into the region of Jerusalem – more specifically Bethphage. He had purposed to go to the Mount of Olives and initiate the sequence of events that would result in his death. I don’t know about you… but I would imagine he had a lot on his mind.
Yet in the midst of his eminent death before him he was able to “flow” and seize the opportunity to demonstrate his priority – the power to transform lives.
Have you been inconvenienced this week? How have you responded? I’m convinced that when my plans run into an unexpected occurrence… that is when I am positioned for opportunity.
You see… confusion is part of being “inconvenienced” – confusion is from Satan. When we meet confusion with the kingdom principal of possibility – we declare our loyalty, our status, our priority and our view of greatness.
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