"The Jesus Code"

Scripture: Mark 4:26-34
Preacher: Rev. Ross Purdy
Date: June 18, 2006

The Kingdom of God.   Sometimes we think of Heaven and Earth as residing in different locations.   But the Scriptures don't allude to Heaven up there and Earth down here as geographical locations more so than they do to the reality of God's presence.

The Kingdom of God is the place where God and God's will reign in fullness.

It is now here on earth in many ways, increasing in its power and expansion.   It is coming in its fullness on earth.   We pray every day for it, "Our Father who art in heaven...Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done. On earth as it is in heaven."   It is our prayer that asks for all things to be transformed into a place where goodness affects everything; where God reigns in all people's hearts and minds.   The Kingdom of God is the focus of reality. All that exists now will collide with the Kingdom of God.   It is the future, not only of the world, but of all creation, all the cosmos.   All things are moving on a course to be swallowed up by the Kingdom.

But what is the Kingdom of God like?   Is it a mystery?   In a way, yes.   It exists outside the eyes of our physical bodies.   It exists outside our tangible senses.   Once in a while we interact with it in a very real way; when a sick person gets miraculously healed the Kingdom of God has shown its power.   When an accident is avoided with no explanation, the Kingdom of God has broken into daily life.   When we come across another person who was just on our mind and they have a word to say to us that only God could know, the Kingdom of God has proven itself.

The Kingdom of God is here...and if we ask for spiritual eyes we will see it.   And, if we ask for its reality to permeate us it will, becoming more real than anything else we experience.   This was the meaning of Jesus' teachings.   The Kingdom of God is here.   Open your eyes!   If you have ears to hear, listen!  

The Kingdom of God is what Jesus came to reveal.   I call this the Jesus Code.

It is different than the Da Vinci Code, the Bible Code or any other code that we consider in the world today.   These codes take hidden things and reveal them to a select few...then they keep everyone else in the darkness.   They speak of conspiracies. The world loves conspiracies.   The world loves to find hidden knowledge that only a few can figure out.   Jesus, on the other hand, reveals to everyone the hidden knowledge of the Kingdom.   The world tries to lock up the mysteries.   Jesus seeks to reveal all mysteries. The Jesus Code is about Jesus who takes all truth and exposes it to everyone.  

That's why Jesus told parables.   The word "parable", in fact, means "to walk alongside".   He was tremendously interested in people cracking the codes of mystery.   The Kingdom of God was on its way and it was, and is, of utmost importance to understand and experience life to its fullest.   The goal of Jesus' ministry was revelation.   He took the hidden things and made them plain.   He was the story-teller who illuminated the world.  

So, in a way, you could say that Jesus came to crack the code; to expose the mysteries and make all things known.   In fact, I would dare to say that the more we learn about Jesus, the more we commit to following Jesus, the more we experience Jesus, the more revelation we can have.   Do you want to crack the code of mysteries?   Do you need revelation for your life?   Does life seem confusing?   Do you thirst for truth?   If so, then pray with me to receive the deep things of God.    

A story is told of Socrates.   A student came to him one day and asked the great teacher to reveal the truths to him.   The great philosopher asked him to follow and took him down to the sea.   Entering the water he encouraged the student to follow.   As soon as the water reached their shoulders, Socrates grabbed the young man by his neck and shoved him under the water.   Uncertain of what the great teacher was doing, the young man allowed him to do so.   But within a short time he realized that the teacher wasn't going to let him up.   He struggled.   He fought his way to try to make it to the surface.   The air was all he cared for at that moment.   He tried to force his way up to violently force oxygen into his lungs but could not.   The harder he struggled, the firmer grip the great philosopher had upon him.   Then, just when the student was about to give up the great teacher released him.   The young boy burst through the water and breathed a big gasp of air deeply into his lungs.

Socrates, the great philosopher said, "Young man, when you desire the truth just as much as you desired the air you wanted to breathe, then you are ready to become my student and learn the mysteries of life."

Oh that we Christians would desire Jesus the same way we desire every breath.

Then we will understand the mysteries to a greater extent than we do now.   Listen..if you have ears to hear, then follow with me as these parables describe three important ways Jesus cracks the code of the Kingdom of God.

The first combination in cracking the code of mysteries is this: the Kingdom of God is coming (I already said this).   But no one will know how it comes.   It is coming to take all things over.   Jesus said that the Kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed.   The seed sprouts and grows, through he doesn't know how.   All by itself the soil produces grain - first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head.  

What we need to understand is that the Kingdom of God can't be stopped.   History proves this fact over and over again.   Every earthly kingdom that has tried to snuff out the Kingdom has been overturned.  

Rome was defeated by the Kingdom of God.   When all the emperors of Rome sought to destroy the Kingdom of God, they found that their attempts had the same effect as trying to blow out a campfire.   The firebrands spread and started fires on their own.   When Rome tried to wipe out the Christian message, the Jesus code, the revelation, spread throughout the world.   Tertullian, one of the father's of the Church, said, "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church."

Take any country that has tried to purge the Kingdom of God from its land; The Soviet Union, China, even many Muslim countries.   The citizens of heaven face persecution, but in the end, the Kingdom spreads.   You can't stop the Kingdom of God.   It is here.   It is approaching and I urge you with a passion to make certain that you belong to it.

Do you belong to this Kingdom of God?   Have you obtained citizenship?   It is free but it is not easy.   It doesn't cost any money.   It's already been paid in full.   But it requires you to give up all things in allegiance to God.   If you're in the Kingdom you belong to God.   Many people will refuse it because it demands too much.   Sometimes Christian preaching has tried to make it too easy to gain citizenship by speaking of an easy road, "Come to Jesus and your life will be rosy. Come to Jesus and you'll have all the money and things you want."   No!   Come to Jesus period.   You will experience joy like never before.   But you will also experience hardships like never before.   That's why Jesus said to pick up your cross and follow.   He didn't say "pick up your hammock and move it over here."   The Kingdom is coming - get ready.

I don't need to give you reasons for coming into the Kingdom.   I'm here to proclaim what is, not to sell you what could be.   All I want to say is this: Give your life to it.   You won't regret it.

But make no mistake...the Kingdom of God is coming and it will require a response from you.   I urge you to choose the heavenly city.   Then I urge you to become an ambassador of it.   The mystery of the Kingdom is that it is taking over all things and if you let it take over your life you'll be transformed.

The second combination in cracking the code of mysteries is this : the Kingdom of God is coming in power.  

Jesus used the image of a mustard seed.   In His day the mustard seed was regarded as the smallest of seeds.   But this small seed, by force, becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade.  

The seed has already been planted.   The Kingdom, as I said, is coming.   But what is needed are planters of the mustard seed in others.   Plant seeds of faith in others.   If you hold the seed of faith, no matter that it's small like a mustard seed, you hold the power.   If you're concerned about all the bad seeds you've planted then it's time to plant the good ones.   Here's the mystery:   Life isn't always balanced.   I firmly believe, though it is a mystery, that when we plant the seeds of the Kingdom, those seeds far outweigh all the bad seeds we've ever planted.   Cast the good seed far and wide.   Tell the world that what you have come to plant are the seeds of the Kingdom of God.   No hidden agendas.   Be straight-forward about it because the Jesus code is not a mystery that seeks to hide.   The Jesus code is a revelation that seeks to make all things known.

And that brings us to the third and final way to crack the code of mysteries : Be clear!   The Kingdom is a place where a "yes" is a "yes" and a "no" is a "no".   Anything more than one a "yes" or a "no" is evil.   Jesus told us this in His great sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:37).   Today, there is a tide of confusion.   I believe this signals a frustration with the constant exposure to wishy-washy people.   Whatever happened to the days when someone said they would do something and they did it?   Whatever happened to the days when someone's word was as good as done?   Those days are still to be here...and the Christian is called to remain faithful to those type of days no matter how society changes.

The citizens of the Kingdom of God are people of integrity.   No one asks them to swear on something because their word is as good as a contract.   Do people know that about you?   When something comes out of their mouth, you can be certain the Kingdom is being made known.   The citizens of the Kingdom are clear.   They are purposeful.   They don't stray from the path of integrity for convenience because they know that if someone is to be able to catch the vision of what we see they need to see it through us.   How can people see Jesus if we keep clouding the window into our souls where He lives?   Let everyone look upon you and see the Kingdom of God with Jesus at the center.

I know the world is drowning in pessimism and confusion.   But remember that the seeds of the Kingdom, when planted, are more powerful than the seeds of the world.   Speak clearly.   State your position.   Let your "yes" be "yes" and mean it!   Let your "no" be "no" and mean it!

One day, Jesus said, all things will be revealed.   On that day what is done in secret will be shouted from the rooftops.   Let your light so shine before this world that they will see your works and glorify your Father in heaven.

At the end of Jesus' life He was brought to trial.   Standing there in a mockery of justice, Jesus was accused of saying things He never said. He was accused of confusing the crowds with His codes and hidden agendas...that's the suspicion the world has about every great leader.   Jesus was accused of a conspiracy (and conspiracies are intriguing).   The leaders didn't understand Him....perhaps because they had never seen someone rise to power with honesty and clarity.   They assumed He was like every other political leader who rose to power with deception and trickery.   Perhaps their hearts only understood the world in this way.   But Jesus was the revealer of all mysteries.  

"What are these mysteries that you're teaching, Jesus?   How are you deceiving the crowds?"   Jesus said, "I have spoke openly to the world.   I always taught in synagogues or at the Temple where all the (people) come together.   I said nothing in secret. Why question me?   Ask those who heard me.   Surely they know what I said" (John 18:20).   Then they struck Jesus in the face with a fist.

If you speak clearly and honestly you will get struck in the face.   It is a truth of this earthly kingdom in which we live.   But we're not called to shy away from revealing the mysteries of the Kingdom.   Come what may we're called to bear witness to the truth that is coming and is here now.   People are watching and they need an image of the Kingdom.   Be that image!   Jesus called us to witness to it.   The word for "witness" in the Greek is the word "martyr".   It takes courage.

Be encouraged!   The definition for encouragement is to be filled with courage.   That's what Jesus came to do.   He was first encouraged by His Father in Heaven.   That's why He can now fill you with courage.   He knew the image of a Father.   All things in His life were about His relationship with His Father.   From that, He came to be the image of a Father.  

At one of the most critical times before His death, Jesus' friends needed some encouragement so they asked to know the Father.   We know that they must have been distraught because Jesus begins to speak to them by saying, "Don't be discouraged.   Don't be troubled.   Trust in God.   Trust also in me.   If you know me you know the Father." (see John 14)

One of the disciples, Philip, said, "Jesus, can you show us the Father.   We really need to know this One of whom you talk.   We need a father of our own."   They knew that Jesus' single goal in life was to imitate His Father in heaven.   They knew that all things were revealed by the Father.   They knew that the power that could be had in life came only from the Father.   They needed a Fatherly image.   But they didn't need an image of the earthly fathers they all had.   They needed to know that the Kingdom of God was leading them right into the Father's arms (an appropriate message for today, Father's Day).

Jesus turned to Philip and the Father spoke through Jesus saying, "Have I been with you so long and you don't recognize me?   Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father...I am in the Father and the Father is in me."   That is the pure revelation of God, the fullness and whole understanding of the Jesus Code.

In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God...the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.   We have seen HIM!!!   No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side - the Word who became Jesus - He has made the Father known.

Do you need to know the Father?   He is the very center of the Kingdom.   He is the very reason for our existence.             Our souls are troubled until we find our rest in Him.

Can I describe what a father does?   Maybe this will help you hunger for the Father's love:

A father plays with his children (when was the last time you allowed your heavenly Father to play with you?   Is your image of God too religious that you can't see a God who wants to throw you high into the air and catch you when you fall giggling into His arms?   Jesus played with His disciples.   Jesus played with the children who came to Him.   But they had to come.   Have you come?

A Father constantly shows up in good times and bad.   Do you know that your heavenly Father will never cut out on you when the going gets tough?   I know you might feel abandoned at times...but it's a deception.   God will never leave you.

A Father won't laugh at you because of your dreams .   Did you know that your heavenly Father always encourages you to live your dreams...and when you feel kind of foolish for dreaming too much, your heavenly Father says, "Dream more!   I am enjoying this! You can do more than this."

A Father is strong and protects His children.   Do you need a Father who can be strong for you; a Father's presence which makes all the enemies frightened on your behalf?

But most importantly, and the focus of the message this morning is this: A Father gives an example of how to live.   Children watch their fathers....that's why the absence of fathers in our society is a terrible trend.   Close to ½ of fathers are not in the homes with their children in our society.   In the inner-city, only 1 out of 5 fathers is in the home anymore.   We need a fatherly image.   That's why God came down to earth and became a man, a physical, tangible man.   He called Himself "Jesus".   He came to reveal your heavenly Father.   Come to Him so you can live!

Maybe some of you, this morning, didn't have a great fatherly image.   Maybe your father was abusive.   Maybe he didn't give you direction or even show you love.   I know a Father in heaven who wants to take you in his care and show you what a Father is supposed to be.  

Jesus is that father.   The most important thing in His life - read every account - was imitating His Father in heaven.   If you know Jesus, you know the image of a Father.   If you need the image of a Father in your life, you need to become His child.   If you've become His child, you can be renewed with a better understanding of His love.

If you came this morning and feel like a failure as a father, then come to the Father and receive God's forgiveness.   He is willing to take your mistakes, your failures like dirty clothes and exchange them for His pure, spotless robe.   Do you need a fresh start?

I want to invite you to take a moment to let the Heavenly Father, who is in the very center of the Kingdom, take you in His arms and give you all the things you never received.   He wants to give you more things than you deserve.   He wants to be your strength, your revealer, your encourager as you allow the Kingdom to take over your life.   Will you pray with me?

Almighty Father; you who loves us beyond our understanding, be our Father.   Heal the earthly images we have of failure.   Expand the earthly images that were good of what a father could be.   Help us to take hold of your Son, the revealer of all mysteries, so that we can understand and be encouraged to receive the Kingdom which is now and is coming.

Amen.