Second Quarter 2005 Adult Sabbath School Lessons:
Jesus Through the Eyes of Mark

Insights to Lesson 5
By Galilee
April 23-29

(Produced by the Editorial Board of the 1888 Message Study Committee)

"Confrontation in Galilee"

This week’s lesson highlights the thought that even Jesus faced the unpleasant realities of “confrontation,” “rejection,” and “persecution.” If we are truly His disciples we should not expect to avoid the same treatment. It is no secret that human nature desires only pleasant relationships, peaceful encounters, happy experiences, and continual acceptance and approval. But Jesus said to His disciples: “Remember the word that I said unto you. The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also” (John 15:20). Paul, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit recorded, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12). Notice the certainty of the Apostles declaration, “shall suffer … .” He does not say “may” or “could” suffer. The result of living in fellowship with Christ is clear and certain.

At times we are tempted to indulge in legalistic thinking. We entertain the notion that suffering, whether it takes the form of painful misunderstandings, prejudice, opposition, rejection, or persecution, is the result of personal failures and mistakes. To be sure we can cause problems through our own weaknesses and mistakes, but when things do not turn out as expected or desired, it is not a sure sign of personal failure.

The Jews were given the story of Job to prevent them from making this mistake in their evaluation of the end of Christ’s mission. Long before the cross Jesus realized they had not learned the lesson that the story of Job teaches, and He sought to correct their thinking. “There were present at that season some that told Him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:1-5). The Jews assumed that since these terrible events had happened to these people they were great sinners, and since these events had not happened to them they were righteous. Jesus sought to correct their misconceptions. He also seeks to clarify ours.

Our natural inclination is to reason in the same pattern as the Jews. “If things are going well we must be doing right. If things are not going well it must be our fault.” It seems we are all natural-born legalists. And to make matters worse the world is “wired” to reinforce this mind set. We earn our grades in school. We earn our place on an athletic team. We audition to win a seat in a choir or an orchestra. We earn our salaries in the work place. We “merit” an increase in pay. The modus operandi of the world tells us we get what we “deserve,” and hard work is what defines what we “deserve.” Thus whenever things fail to go as desired, we tend to conclude we must have done something wrong. We need to change our course of action. It is up to us to make things better. The difficulties must somehow be our fault.

The bible presents an entirely different paradigm. Suffering in this life is not always the result of wrong-doing. It is not an enemy to be avoided by any means necessary. It can be one of God’s greatest blessings. “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for His sake” (Phil. 1:29). “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings” (1 Peter 4:12-13). “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience” (James 1:2-3).

Trouble and heartache and sorrow and pain can be a sign that we are on the right course. Opposition, rejection, misunderstanding, and persecution may be a sign that you have taken a proper course of action. When we face difficulties that have been sent by Satan, he would then have us conclude we must surely be on the wrong course or we have made a serious mistake. He would have us retract the truth we have spoken. Reconsider our mission focus, or admit miscalculations. Knowing that he is a deceiver and a liar we must never judge the truthfulness or correctness of a position by the apparent immediate results produced. Truth must be judged on the basis of a clear “thus saith the Lord.” No other standard will endure the test of time.

This week the teacher’s quarterly reminds us that “the greatest want of the world is the want of men—men who will not be bought or sold, men who in their inmost souls are true and honest, men who do not fear to call sin by its right name, men whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole, men who will stand for the right though the heavens fall” (Ellen G. White, Education, p. 57). These are the kind of men and woman the Lord will use in the last days. They will not be ruled by opinion polls or engage in popularity contests. Truth and truth alone will be precious to them. They will present it in the love of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. Some will receive it and some will reject it with all the fury of demons from hell and yet God’s people will be unmoved.

They will follow in the footsteps of the reformers who have gone before them, Jesus Christ being the Chief Reformer. And they will understand that following Christ means “denying self” and “taking up the cross.” Self wants comfort, peace, popularity, acceptance, and even applause. All this must be denied. Until this lesson is learned we cannot carry the “most precious [1888] message” to the world. It met with stern opposition over one hundred years ago, and its revival will in some respects endure the same fate. The difference is that in the end the opposition will finally come from without rather than from within. Nevertheless, opposition is opposition and those who have not understood the cross will not be able to endure.

If we are followers of Christ, we must remember that we follow in the footsteps of the One who was “despised and rejected of men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” He calls us to first take up our cross and then we are to follow Him. Taking up the cross involves the acceptance of eminent suffering. By God’s grace let us learn to endure these realities in the spirit of Christ.

—Kelvin (Mark) Duncan

Read the study notes for Lesson 6