Which King? Which Kingdom?

Mark 6:14-44

Pastor Jeff

Nov 11, 2012

What are your dreams?

• Jesus had a "dream". He called it the Kingdom of God.
• It was the dream He brought and lived for.
• We are designed to give our lives to our dreams, whether we recognize that or not, whether we follow Jesus or not.
• The dream behind all good hopes and dreams is the Kingdom dream of Jesus.

Mark 6:14-44
2 Banquets, 2 Dreams, 2 Kingdoms

• Herod and his banquet birthday party
• Jesus and His banquet - feeding the 5000
• Jesus has compassion on them.
• Sees that they are like sheep without a shepherd

who shall go out before them and come in before them, who shall lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the Lord may not be as sheep that have no shepherd." (Numbers 27:17 ESV)

So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts. (Ezekiel 34:5 ESV)

I will rescue my flock; they shall no longer be a prey. And I will judge between sheep and sheep. And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I am the Lord; I have spoken. (Ezekiel 34:22-24 ESV)

Compare and contrast the 2 banquets

• King: earthly vs heavenly
• Where: Galilee
• Place: palace vs wilderness
• Food: lavish vs simple
• Entertainment: indulgent, immoral dancing vs sermon
• Character: indulgence vs compassion
• Atmosphere: party vs miracle
• What: death vs life
• All leave: horrified, shock vs satisfied
• Kingdom: "my kingdom"; the kingdoms of the world vs God's Kingdom

Mark's big questions

• What is the Kingdom of God (KOG) like?
• Who is Jesus? The promised King and Son of God
• What He did? Died and rose again.
• What He is bringing? The KOG
• Will you follow Him?
• What does a follower of Jesus look like?

Which King? Which Kingdom?

• It is a choice every day. It is not a one time event. It is a journey.
• It involves death (but results in life)

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. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? (Mark 8:34-37 ESV)

• It is worth it! The kingdom banquet.

Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. (Mark 6:39 ESV)

"Green grass" invokes Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of The Lord
forever. (Psalm 23:1-6 ESV)