Mark Notes (3)

 Do We Recognize Him?

As I’ve pondered the contrast between Jesus the Son of God (Mark 1:1) and ancient rulers who claimed to be the son of God, who claimed divinity, I’ve thought of my dear friend Bill DeWorken. Many people who were looking for Jesus to act like the Son of God, as they understood the term, missed Him. Many who were looking for the Messiah, missed the Messiah. 

My friend Bill was a speaker on the program of a meeting of business executives and managers. Bill’s topic was relationships with customers, coworkers, and clients. While the program listed the speakers and their topics, it did not provide photos. 

Bill arrived at the venue well in advance of his session and attempted to mix with the crowd of attendees, he was unsuccessful. Why? 

Instead of dressing up as an executive (which he was) or like most speakers, he dressed down. Because Bill’s attire didn’t fit in with the crowd, people avoided him. When the session began and the program facilitator announced Bill, Bill paused for a moment before walking to the front of the room. The man who people had been avoiding was about to speak to them concerning how to treat people, and that included learning to not judge by appearance. 

How many people missed Jesus because He did things that Caesar the son of God would not do? How many missed Jesus because He did not match their expectations of the Messiah? 

I recall sharing Jesus with a young man in Nashville years ago. When I invited him to church he said he couldn’t go because he didn’t have church clothes. While I was new to Nashville and hadn’t yet attended a church, I knew of one not far from where we were staying and I had had wonderful experiences with churches associated with that particular denomination. 

“Look, let’s go to this church and I won’t wear my Sunday clothes, I’ll dress like you. These people are great and they will welcome us.” As they say, it seemed like a good idea.

As I recall, not one person spoke to us. Now it is really no big deal that these folks missed me, but that they missed an opportunity to share Christ’s love with someone interested in Jesus…someone who was open to God’s grace. Well, what does one say? It was an upper-class congregation, and we were hardly upper-class visitors. I’m surprised they didn’t give us money and tell us to go away. 

The Son of God of Mark’s Gospel does not fit the image of the son of God that many people had in the ancient world. The Messiah of the Gospel does not fit the image of the Messiah that many people had. My friend Bill did not fit the image that his audience had of a speaker – they ignored him, he was invisible to them. 

How often do I miss Jesus in my life because He doesn’t look the way I think He should look? Because He doesn’t appear to me dressed appropriately?

What about you?

Matthew 25:31–46.