This past Sunday I taught on the Mark 7:24-30 passage. We have been going through the Gospel of Mark on Sunday mornings. I have found it to be an action packed view of Jesus’ mission, his life, and ministry. The “Big Idea” of the message is simple: Jesus’ followers do what Jesus did. So in this story what would that include?
Jesus intentionally went into the “strangest places.” In this case Tyre, ground zero for the history of the Baal worship, home area of Jezebel, an area representing spiritual darkness. Seems like the kind of place that any self respecting religious person would try to avoid. Exactly! Religious people, those interested in maintaining the “organized” religion, do avoid such places. After all, those “strange place” also have some “strange faces”…some of those folks don’t look exactly like us.
Yet, Jesus intentionally went to this strange place, served a woman with a “different kind of face” and did indeed offer God’s unusual grace…He cast the demon out of her. Now, back to the “Big Idea.” Followers of Jesus do what Jesus did…they go to strange places, serve different faces, and offer God’s unusual graces.
That is one of the many things I love about the James Island Baptist family. You can find our members in some of the strangest places: South Africa, Asia, Southeast Asia, New Orleans, down town women’s shelters, low performing schools, Albania, Romania, Ukraine, Alcohol and Drug Rehab Centers, working with inner city relief agencies…some of the strangest places filled with spiritual darkness and despair. And right there in the middle of the strangest places, you can find our church members serving the strangest faces and offering God’s unusual life changing graces.
To what “strange place” of spiritual darkness and despair will you intentionally go to make Jesus known? Don’t be afraid. There is no hole so deep that God’s love is not deeper still. Don’t be afraid of failing. Be afraid of not trying. Even if you light a little match in a place of darkness, the Light can make a difference. Having trouble finding a place to go? Let us know, we can give you some options or put you with groups already serving.
See you Sunday, good Lord willing!
Pastor Tom
