Jesus the Provoker Mark 1:14-15

  “The Jesus the Provoker”

Mark 1:14-15

Introduction

In order to understand the life and ministry of Jesus we must know the context in which he lived in. It was a time when powerful political and religious forces abused the people of Israel, especially the poor and defenseless. Jesus came to free them from their oppression by announcing the presence of the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. His Kingdom was for all humanity, not just a few chosen ones. 

His Kingdom was a direct challenge to the Roman Empire and the Temple authorities because the Kingdom of God would vanquish their kingdoms. 

Jesus’ message was liberating, but its practice was risky. 

 “Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the good news of God and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” Mark 1:14-15 

His Kingdom offered eternal and earthly salvation to all who received it. You could suffer and be killed for following it.

“I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10

“If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. Matthew 16:24-25

Jesus’ message was such a threat to the powerful that eventually he was executed on a Roman cross. He gave his life to vanquish the powers and save humanity. Death was not the victor. He chose to die and live again for all humanity.

I remember in Sunday school , the teacher would hold a poster we with the image of a white European man carrying a rescued lamb. That image gave impression that Jesus was sweet, mild, and impotent. He only came to save us from our personal sins. 

More than likely, Jesus' image was that of a thirty year old man with brown skin, black hair, dark eyes, and an Arabic nose. True, Jesus' demeanor was that of a loving compassionate man, but was stearn, even angry with those who would take advantage of the marginalized. He was courageous, provoking his adversaries, knowing that his presence and actions would take him to the Cross. 

Jesus had a plan action to provoke the powerful, while defending the  poor the marginalized, the ignored, and the invisible. His provoking was intentional because every act and every word prompted a political response from the powers. 

Jesus Had Four Adversaries

The Political Authorities 

The Roman Empire 

The Roman Empire was the most powerful and ruthless political system in the ancient world.  There was no democracy, no civil rights, and no courts. Dissent was crushed. 90% of the population was the labor force and did all the work by enriching the wealthy 10%. Many were slaves for life. Others were indentured servants and tenant farmers. 90% paid exorbitant taxes while the 10%  paid none. To get ahead, officials bought titles and paid bribes for status and power. 

The Herodians

The Herodians were a Jewish political faction who supported the Herodian dynasty, favoring collaboration with Rome for political stability and power. They opposed Jesus, viewing him as a threat to their interests, and twice conspired with the Pharisees to kill him. They followed the legacy of Herod the Great who tried to kill Jesus in Bethlehem but instead slaughtered the innocents. Herod Agrippa, his son, beheaded John the Baptist, and handed Jesus over to Pilate to be executed.

The religious authorities

Pharisees

The Pharisees were an influential Jewish religious sect during the time of Jesus known for their strict adherence to the Torah, (the first five books of the Hebrew scriptures) and its many moral and pious restrictions. They separated themselves from other Jews for spiritual purity. The Pharisees expected the people to fulfill 704 laws. When they failed, they were sinners, never to be accepted by God. To win God’s favor, they had to atone for their           sins at the Temple by purchasing sacrificial animals at high prices, in order to get right with God. The Pharisees ran the animal markets and managed the funds, which the often stole from.

Jesus said: "They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others, but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. Matthew 23:4 

Instead, Jesus reduced the 614 laws of Pharisees into two laws.

‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40

And to answer those who accused him for abolishing the laws,

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill."

"One Sabbath he was going through the grain fields, and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. 24 The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”…Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for humankind and not humankind for the Sabbath, so the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.” Mark 3:23-27 

Jesus’ claim that he was Lord of the Sabbath made it clear that he was to overthrow the powers and usher in his Kingdom.. 

Sadducees

The Sadducees were an aristocratic priestly sect who controlled the Temple in Jerusalem. They also skimmed the money collected from the purchases of sacrificial animals. They were politically influential with the Romans.

The political and religious authorities maintained their status quo for power. 

Jesus’ very existence was a threat to the powerful.

It was they who made Jesus into a political figure, because this was the only way that they understood his teachings, miracles, and healings. 

Mary, proclaimed that her son would turn the world up ide down for justice and righteousness.

“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,… He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty..  Luke 1:46-53

Jesus was born, grew up, and lived under the oppression of the Roman empire and corrupt kings. His life was always in danger if he challenged them.

For example, Josepth and Mary were forced to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem to pay exorbitant taxes by the order Caesar Augustus.

King Herod the Great feared this child would steal his throne. When Herod didn’t find Jesus, he slaughtered the innocents. 

The Holy family, fled for their lives and became a political,  undocumented and impoverished refugees, living with uncertainty.

King Herod Antipas beheaded John the Baptist and sent Jesus to the Roman governor to be condemned and crucified. 

Jesus was on a Dangerous Mission

The Kingdom of God’s aim was to offer the people to turn around (Gk metanoia) and believe the Good News. God's Reign was more powerful than the kingdoms of this world. That is why  Jesus was such a threat to them.

To the religious authorities

“Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. They were watching him to see whether he would cure him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. 3 And he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come forward.” 4 Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save life or to kill?” 6 The Pharisees went out and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.” Mark 3:1-4,6

Jesus is tested for his loyalty to the empire

Some Pharisees and Herodians tried to trick him to commit treason against the empire.

"Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? 15 Should we pay them, or should we not?” But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why are you putting me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me see it.” And they brought one. Then he said to them, “Whose head is this and whose title?” They answered, “Caesar’s.” 17 Jesus said to them, “Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were utterly amazed at him. Mark 12:14-17

Jesus did say that all the coins of the empire, including this one belonged to Ceasar.  What he didn't say openly was that God owned all empires, including Ceasar's. Those present who knew the psalms remembered Psalm 24:1, "The earth is the LORD’s and all that is in it,

On the way to Jerusalem he said to his disciples 

“that the Son of Man must under go great suffering and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes and be killed and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things."Mark 8:31-33

But the disciples didn’t get it until Jesus was resurrected. Peter implored  him not to go. Angrily, Jesus rebukes Peter for blocking him like Satan, to complete his mission on earth. l

His death sentence

Then they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling and those who were buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves... “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers. “and when the chief priests and the scribes…kept looking for a way to kill him, for they were afraid of him because the whole crowd was spellbound by his teaching. Mark 11:15-18

Jesus is captured, tried, and sentenced to death

So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them, and after flogging Jesus he handed him over to be crucified. Mark 15:15

He Arose

The greatest motivation for the early Christians to risk their lives and follow Jesus and face death was because of Christ’s resurrection. His resurrection is available for all. Christian discipleship has its price. “If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and  take up their cross and follow me" Mark 8:34

Two young men knew what was at stake when they decided to follow Jesus. They were Sermon  on the Mount Christians, who lived by it. They paid the ultimate price for challenging the powers.                  

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German theologian and pastor lost his life for conspiring to kill Hitler. He said, “When Christ calls a man, He bids him to die.”

Martin Luther King preached on that night before he was slain: 

“Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will." 

There are many ways that we can die as martyrs (witnesses) with Jesus while not paying the ultimate price. We can die to personal sin. We can speak truth to power. We can do the works of justice with those in the margins of society. 

Provoke the kingdoms of this world! Stir up the pot! Muddy the waters! Make good trouble! (John Lewis) Get angry! Speak truth to power! Be risky!, Walk the walk!, Stand up, don’t sit down! March! Take risks! Live the Sermon on the Mount, not just give it lip service to it! 

Join Jesus and transform  the world!