Sunday Message: Lost in Translation

Everybody Greg Laurie here. You're listening to the Grigori podcast and my objective is to deliver hopefully compelling practical insights and faith culture and current events. From a biblical perspective to find out more about our ministry.

Just go to our website harvest.org so thanks for joining me for this podcast in this message I want to talk to you from again, the Gospel of Mark were in the series there in the time of my messages lost in translation to grab your Bible entered the Mark chapter 8 again the title is lost in translation heard about older couple. They were selling were celebrating 50 years of marriage together. Now the problem was the wife is getting a little hard of hearing and the husband announced in front of family and friends to his wife, my dear wife after 50 years I have found you tried and true again. She couldn't hear very well. She said what he said my dear wife after 50 years I have found you tried and true and then she shot back will after 50 years. I'm tired of you to little communication breakdown. There you know there's a lot of American companies that have tried to offer their products overseas, but sometimes there is a language barrier that has to be overcome. It's called something getting lost in translation. As an example, the Parker pen company was expanding their ballpoint line to Mexico and other slogan was, it won't leak in your pocket and embarrass you for the problem was they didn't fully understand how would come out in Spanish and instead it was translated this a on billboards. This pen will not leak in your pocket and impregnate you little different than what the intended in Italy, a campaign for Schweppes tonic water translated into Schweppes toilet water� They know a lot of people wanted to drink toilet water jolly green giant remember them all.

Hello hello in their slogan the jolly green giant. They try do market in the Arabic market and instantly came out to intimidating green ogre. Have you tried some of those beams from the intimidating green ogre in Taiwan. The translation of the Pepsi slogan come alive with the Pepsi generation instead came out to say Pepsi will bring your ancestors back from the dead on the printing of what ancestors does work.

Maybe that's a promising thing. Maybe not so Claro tried to market its mystic curling iron in Germany and instead of insane mystic. It said manure stick. Not a lot of German ladies were all that excited about using a manure stick in China Kentucky fried chicken took their slogan figure looking good and instead they came out in Chinese as each your fingers off because a whole new meaning to chicken fingers does in it and finally Scandinavian vacuum cleaner manufacturer Electrolux use the following in an American ad campaign. So they came over to America and use this phrase nothing sucks like an Electrolux yacht, something is lost in translation will guess what Jesus seem to have this issue with his own disciples.

They did not understand why he had come to this earth in the first place were on the verge of celebrating Christmas and will talk a lot about that baby born in the manger. The beauty of the incarnation bullets in the incarnation was for the purpose of the atonement, the birth of Jesus was so there would be the death of Jesus, and ultimately the resurrection of Jesus. Jesus came to this earth to die for the sins of the world, but his disciples did not get that because it was lost in translation there. Hope in their belief was he was going to establish an earthly kingdom then and there. There hope and believe was he was going to drive the Romans out who were occupying the land.

In fact, you remember after he fed the 5000 that was his most popular miracle. To date, the people wanted to make Jesus King by force and what is all about. That means that they wanted to make him the King so he would drive out Rome. They didn't understand that that is not why get primarily, the look one day Christ will come back and establish his kingdom. One day he will rule as King of Kings and Lord of lords before Christ would wear a crown you would first have to bear across now as we come to our text here in Mark chapter 8, his ministry in Galilee is coming to a close. This is a transitional moment in his ministry and for the first time he's gonna speak very clearly and in great detail about why he has come, and he also asks a powerful question that we still need to answer today let's look at our text Mark chapter 8 starting in verse 27. Jesus and his disciples of Galilee and wanted to the villages near Caesarea Philippi as they were walking along, he asked them who to people say that I am well, they replied, some say you're John the Baptist, subzero Elijah, and some say you're one of the other prophets. Then Jesus asks them but who do you say that I have. Peter applies you are the Messiah, and Jesus warned them to not tell anyone about this is the most important question of all.

Jesus asked this question, who do men say that I am and this is a question we almost ultimately answer, to tell you the answer now. Ultimately, everyone will say Jesus Christ is the Lord. Every Christian will say it every known Christian will say it.

Every atheist will say it. Every agnostic will say it. Every person will ultimately say Jesus is Lord you think you know Greg you're wrong about that not everybody believes why didn't say they would necessarily say it during their lives under one day when they stand before God Almighty. They will acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord. Philippians 210 says that the name of Jesus Christ every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord to the glory of God the father and hers a big thing we don't want to miss. Where did Jesus ask this question. This question who do men say that I am where did he ask yes to that a place called Caesarea Philippi. Now we could breeze by that and missed its significance altogether. Caesarea Philippi was named after the Greek God can use one thing to think how Jesus is Lord, with our Christian friend follow Jesus as Lord will read church and singing praise to him, but will you say Jesus is Lord. When you're gathered together with family from out of town will you say Jesus is Lord.

When you're at work when you say Jesus is Lord when you're out and about in life see it's one thing the McQuiston with fellow believers. It's another thing to make a stand in our culture.

Jesus said this person is ashamed of me and my message I the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when I return my glory and of the glory of my father with the holy angels don't be ashamed of Christ speak up for him. So Jesus asked them who do men say that I am basically the Lord saying hey guys, what's the word on the street. What are people actually saying about me right now there's a question did Jesus know what the word of the street was that he know what people thought about him what they said about them. Absolutely Becky would call people out for their thoughts while he was engaging up. Why do you think this in your heart he would see that someone so he was aware, but with the reason he asked his question of his disciples is he's giving them a test and why does it teacher give a test answer to see if the class is learning the material they'd seen Jesus perform his miracles. They'd seen Jesus walk on the water they'd seen Jesus heal leprosy and drive out demons from people and even raise the dead. Did they really understand who he was, yet apparently not, because he replied will. Some say you're John the Baptist others say were Elijah.

Still others say you're one of the prophets.

I was not the right answer, but Simon Peter known for his outspoken this God. It Peter says in verse 30 you are the Messiah, and Matthew's version of this story. He has Peter saying you are the Christ, the son of the living God. And that's it. Peter understood you're not Elijah you're not John the Baptist you're not even a mere prophet. You are the very son of God see Jesus was not a mere man. He was not just one of the prophets. He was God coming to us in human flesh. God had a face.

It was God with skin on walking among us as the Lord entered our world, the birth of Jesus Christ was the most momentous event it is ever occurred in the history of the planet. It was the eternal God, confining themselves to a single cell had been born of a woman in order to be the Savior of the world. God literally became a fetus and then in this earthshaking event. Simon Peter got it you he says to Jesus you are the Christ, the son of the living God, and in Matthew's version of the story. Matthew 16 Jesus says blessed are you a Simon bar Jonah flesh and blood has not revealed this to you but my father who is in heaven. And I say to you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church. Can you imagine how Peter felt singled out by Jesus. Saint Peter guess what you did you come up with that on your own. My father gave that thought to you. That's were the inspiration for those words came man Peter was just thinking this is so awesome I'd been singled out and complemented by Jesus.

But now the Lord continues on in the drops could best be described as a bombshell look at Mark chapter 8 verse 31 then Jesus began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things to be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law that he must be killed and three days later rise again, notice the detail in those words. He lay that out guys peers is going to be training is going to be the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law that I will be killed, and I will rise again in three days. He spoke plainly about the selling of this Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, and when Jesus turned and looked at the disciples, he rebuked Peter saying get behind me Satan, for you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns. There by the way, this is the first time Jesus ever talk specifically clearly and I might even add graphically about the fact that he was going to die. I don't even think they heard the kill be raised on the third day part they just heard he was going to die. I don't think I'm overstating that when this was really shocking to them. He was effectively saying I Jesus who you've given up everything to follow. I'm going to be murdered in cold blood. I need to be taken from you there thinking how could that be part of any planned you're the Messiah you're supposed to establish your kingdom here and now. How was this going to be part of something good for you to be taken and murdered and in fact we've given up everything to follow you, Jesus, and we made these great sacrifices, and so Peter taught since he's the guy who got an inspired thought from the father that he would sort of set Jesus straight and we read in verse 22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, and by the way, in the original language that implies it was done over and over again.

I'm internal. Imagine this. Peter says Jesus coming for second buddy lists, man what you don't I rebuke you Jesus. You cannot do this, he's rebuking God Almighty mean this isn't saying. And Jesus listens to them.

And then Jesus turns and rebukes Peter know it's a body that I can't believe Peter did that accused me.

Have you ever given God advice before in the Bible as a questions Romans 1134 who is known the mind of the Lord who is been his counselor will I would say the answer to the question is I have you happen will say little or no Lord about this all figured out, I met this girl, this is the one I'm supposed to marry, so you need to reveal this to her and the Lord is my business plan and you need to blessed and here's a way I'm going to do my ministry and is what you do. I need to do next. I'm not asking God for wisdom.

I'm not praying about the direction I'm making my plan and asking God to bless it and the question is who's in charge here and who is leading to Jesus was in charge, Peter says no bad plan IV toilet. I rejected Jesus says, I rebuke you Peter, the devil gave you that thought to deter me from this course listen. It was always God's plan for Christ to die already mentioned that we read in Revelation 13. Eight.

Jesus was slain from the foundation of the world. What is that mean that means before there was a planet called Earth before there was a garden called Eden.

Before there was a couple known as Adam and Eve who ate of the forbidden fruit God new man would blow it, the sin about them and leave did not come as a surprise or shock to the Lord. He knew what happened.

It was just the Lord knowing the future, and so he set out more already have a plan and it's on a backup plan. It is the main plan. My son is going to come to this earth and be born in a manger live a perfect life. It is going to die on the cross for the sin of the world because of the sin that will be committed there in the garden of Eden, and the result is sin spread through the human race, and this reminds us that the double was trying to stop Jesus from reaching his objective again. What was that objective. It was to die on the cross. Remember that Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River by John the Baptist, the father spoke from heaven. That said, this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. The Holy Spirit came upon them in the form of a dove. We read immediately. Jesus was driven into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

And among those temptations. The devil said to Jesus hears all the kingdoms of the world. They all belong to me and I can give them to you if you will simply worship me. Jesus replied, it is written, you shall worship the Lord God and him only shall you serve.

What was that all about the devil is saying allow me loosely paraphrase Jesus.

We both know why you're here. We both know you're going to go die on the cross for the sin of the world and I want to make you an offer now, to give you what you come for I know you've come to purchase back that which was lost in the garden a beat. I'll give it to you on a silver platter. If you give me the momentary pleasure of worshiping me, and Jesus rejected Jesus knew he had to go to the cross and this is a reminder that the devil often hits us as Christians. In the beginning and at the end of our lives in the middle tube at you remember when you are a brand-new believer. Some of the first attacks that came your way were the devil challenging what it happened you had the little thought in your mind.

I my really a Christian.

The Christ really forgive me.

He he challenges us to doubt our salvation now fast-forward were coming to the end of our journey as a follower of Jesus.

The devil want to trip us up because if he can, he can discredit all the good we did for all of those years. That's why Paul said I want to finish this race with joy.

So it's a good thing to know that God will be with us and give us the strength we need to finish the race. We need to run. So Jesus is say look, I'm going to die on the cross and there's no getting around this. Now Jesus, shall we say shifts gears. Now he personalizes that an ineffective say look, guys, I'm not the only one who's going to bear across. You're going to bear across to affect you need to bear across and though these words were given some 2000 years ago. They ring true for us today. These words that were about to read are not just for first century Christians. They are also for 21st century Christians with go back to Mark chapter 8 verse 34. Many call the crowd to him along with his disciples and said what you want to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

For receipts to save his life will lose it. Nora loses her life for me and the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world.

And yes four and yet forfeit their soul are what can anyone give in exchange for their soul.

If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when it comes in his father's glory. There you can insert your name here if Greg will take up the cross and follow me. If Josh will take up the cross and follow me.

If Mary will take up the cross and follow me.

This isn't just for the 12 disciples of Jesus.

This is for you. I say but I don't even know what that means to take up the cross and follow him. Well first he says deny yourself the word deny means to say no to yourself means to put God's will, above your will. What is this closet were all called to bear.

Well, first let me tell you what it isn't, because I think we have a lot of misconceptions about the cross today. You know, we adorn our churches with massive crosses.

We got in the lawsuits about work crosses can be displayed week we tout a cross on our arm. We we make it a fashion a sensory but in the first century know this. The cross was a repulsive symbol, by the way, the cross was not the symbol of the church in the beginning no later it came to be a symbol of the church, but back then, if you if you would across that was a despicable symbol because the cross was an incredibly horrible way to die. It was not invented by the Romans, which always say it was perfected by them and the Romans crucified, thousands of people in line.

Roman streets with them as a warning to not rebel against Rome. Crucifixion was saved for the worst of criminals. So if you were in town, getting food for dinner, and you saw a man walking by you surrounded by Roman soldiers bearing the cross you knew this man was gonna die a horrible painful torturous death to even use the picture of a cross was repugnant and repulsive know it's okay. It was a bad thing. So what is it mean that I think we use this phrase bearing the cross in ways that are not really biblical friend since her mother might say, well my cross to bear. It's my children and then the children of the mother sake lard cross to bear, is our mother or someone else might see. Will my affliction are this difficulty I have is my cross to bear. You identify whatever issue you have or difficulty you have is your cross to bear.

That's not what it means to bear the cross. Listen to this to bear the cross means one thing it means, deny yourself and put God first, let me illustrate.

I've been a Christian now for 50 years and I've seen a lot of things I've seen gifted preachers shoot up like rockets and then come crashing down.

I've seen people that have their lives changed by Jesus walk away from their faith. I've seen very talented people that I thought would do great things for the kingdom sort of flameout so as time is past. I'm not so much impressed by charisma is much as I am impressed by character and longevity printed sign more impressed with someone who just lives of people Christian life. I am impressed by a husband who keeps his vows to his wife to a lifetime. I am impressed by a wife who stands by her husband through thick and thin.

I am impressed by a Christian who stays with it every day, sunny days and stormy nights. I am impressed by a believer who weathers the storms of life and continues to give glory to God because that's what following Jesus is all about is one person to find it being a Christian is long obedience in the same direction long obedience in the same direction. But listen to this bearing the cross isn't as awful as you might think.

Look at verse 25 Jesus says whoever will save his life shall lose it. But whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find.

Here is what the Lord is effectively saying that you'll get your priorities in order.

If you deny yourself and take up the cross, you will find fulfillment in life. Listen, there's nothing wrong with wanting to be happy and God is really telling you how to be happy but it's not by chasing happiness as one person said the pursuit of happiness is one of the least happy things a person can do so you don't find happiness by pursuing it you find it by putting God first in your life and following him.

This is contrary to our narcissistic culture of today are Sophie culture where people literally die trying to get the ultimate Sophie hanging off the side of a cliff or doing something dangerous. We want to look good. We want to put out this appearance that we have it all together were so obsessed with ourselves. The Bible even says by the way, one of the signs of the last days would be people would love only themselves. Second Timothy three is that not an accurate statement of today, people loving only themselves. Here's what you need to know selfish people are unhappy people.

No studies that confirm this research is shown. This is true. Now you can get a momentary burst of what we might call a temporary happiness by doing something selfish.

Another which is catering to yourself, you will they talk about with people shop that there's a certain euphoria that they can get a buying something they call a retail therapy right, you get sort of a rush so I got this thing.

But then you know you get it only wear once and are not as excited by that thing. And so, experts say that basically selfish people are unhappy and selfish people are happy. One expert said selfish acts bring you happiness, but only in the short term but selfish happiness fades quickly and then drive you to more selfish behavior on the other hand, selfless acts bring happiness. You know this from experience when you've done something for someone else. You put the needs of another person before your own.

And after you did that thing you experienced this happiness. And that's really what Jesus is saying look instead of loving yourself and being obsessed with yourself, deny yourself and if you will lose your life you will find your life, what is it mean to deny yourself to give some examples to deny yourself means you're not embarrassed about your head and pray over a meal even around nonbelievers to down. I yourself means you speak up for your faith even when it's unpopular to deny yourself means you take up the cross and resist the allure and temptation of this world to live for herself and instead you choose to serve others to deny yourself in marriage is to put the needs of your mate above your own to deny yourself is to control your impulses as a single person to deny yourself means you get up every day and you will open up the word of God. I could just go on and on to say well I don't know that something got miserable like to listen to me this is a happy life. This is the joyful life because you have your priorities in order and this is why Paul wrote in Galatians 220 I am crucified with Christ. Nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ lives in me, leave a positive outcome that comes when you take up the cross and put Christ first verse 35 Jesus says if you will seek to save your life, you lose it, but if you lose your life for my sink in the Gospels you will find. Listen as I said earlier, there's nothing wrong with wanting to be happy.

God wants you to be happy he's even described in Scripture as the happy God, but go about it in the right way and don't chase after your desires, put his will above your own, and as you lose your life you will find your life by following Jesus Christ and one day you'll look back on your life and realize it was all worth it.

Think of people who've wasted their lives in the pursuit of what the pursuit of success in the pursuit of so many experiences in the pursuit of whatever it is they think is important to listen to this one day your life will be summed up in the paragraph on a program that will be handed out at your funeral service and no one will really care about how much money you made. No one will really care about your awesome car collection, no one will really care about how many sexual experiences you had no one will really care about how famous you were but the want to talk about is all you were a selfless person you are a caring person. You were a loving person always seen so many who wasted their lives. I'd been to funerals and as her describing the person I'm thinking that they know the same person I knew that's not the person I knew, but how wonderful it is when a child of God passes into eternity. We can talk about how they follow Jesus and put him first in and what they did for other people and it brings glory to God. That is why I exist.

In closing Dr. this question of Jesus to his disciples who do men say that I have now let me ask you this. Who is Jesus to you. Is he the son of God is he the Savior of the world. If so, then follow him pick up your cross and follow him and put God first in your life you know it's interesting how many times Jesus uses the word must in the verses we read. He said he must be killed. Then he said we must take up the cross and follow him, but none of this makes sense until we come into our relationship with him. So let me share with you one more must Jesus said to Nicodemus, the religious ruler.

One night you must be born again. Let me ask you, in closing, are you born again. Some people say we know, I'm a I'm a Christian. I'm just on one of those born-again's newsflash, you can be a Christian without being born again. Again Jesus said you must be born again. What is it mean it means to be born from above means you have a spiritual birth. Listen to this.

If you're born ones you'll die twice, but if you're born twice will die once. What is I mean if you're born one shall die twice so you're born physically and then you'll ultimately die physically and spiritually. But if you're born twice that is born physically and born-again spiritually you'll only die once.

Yes, your body will die, but your soul, your spirit will live on. You must be born again, you need Jesus to come and live inside if you listen. Jesus came to this earth as we pointed out to be born in the manger to die on the cross for your sins for my sins because were all separated from him, and we've all broken his commandments.

Time and time again and then he rose from the dead, and he will give you complete forgiveness. Can you imagine that sure I'm talking to somebody right now that is so ashamed of certain things that they've done and they wonder, could God ever forgive a person like me and the answer is a resounding yes. Not only can he forgive you he will forgive you right here right now you say what you mean by that I mean by coming to the Lord in prayer. You could ask for his forgiveness and he will wipe away every sin you've ever committed will forgive it and forget it.

Jesus said in John 316. By the way, in that same conversation with Nicodemus after he said you must be born again. He said for God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son. And whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. You hear that you can have everlasting life, and you can know that you go to heaven one day.

How do you do that by asking Jesus to come in to your life. So in a moment were going to pray. I'm going to extend an invitation to you to ask Jesus into your heart if you will, into your life to be your Savior and your Lord and girlfriend. You must be born again. Who do you say Jesus is you think is the Lord and call out to him right now if you want your sins forgiven. If you want to know you'll go to heaven when you die if you want Christ to come in your life if you want all of your past forgiven, it can happen right now. As we pray you need Jesus in your life. Pray this prayer with me right now. Just pray these words Lord Jesus, I know that I'm a sinner but I know you're the Savior who died on the cross for my sent rose again from the dead, I'd churn from my sin. Now, and I choose to follow you from this moment forward as my Savior and Lord, thank you for hearing this prayer and answering it in Jesus name I pray, amen. Everybody Greg Laurie here. Thanks for listening to our podcast and the learn more about harvest ministries. Please subscribe and consider supporting this show. Just go to harvest.org. By the way, if you want to find out how to come into a personal relationship with God. Go to know God.org that's key NOW GLD.org