I remember being very glad in seminary that my major was Theology and not Organic Chemistry. It was a real blessing to be able to study not just what is most ultimate in my life but what is most ultimate, period: the subject of the One True God. Creator of mankind, who has revealed Himself to mankind, and has reconciled mankind to Himself through the Gospel.

While there were certainly difficult classes and difficult concepts that I was taught in seminary I was glad to be studying and learning a subject that I greatly enjoyed (does that mean that you can’t enjoy Organic Chemistry? No…but if you do you might be sick )I used to daydream sometimes in some of those more difficult classes and say to myself, “Imagine the blank stare that would be on my face if this was Organic Chemistry and not Philosophy of Religion.” I could envision an Organic Chemistry professor getting in my face shouting, “Do you still not understand Mr. Page? Do you still not understand?” as the camera fades out through the spinning transition effect…”Do you still not understand?”

“Mr. Page…”

I’m snapped out of my daydream…”Mr. Page?”

“Um, because the bible says so…” (The default answer of every day dreaming seminarian! See how much easier Theology is than Organic Chemistry!)

This past Sunday we began a short mini-series as we continue our walk through the Gospel of Mark on this topic of “Do you still not understand?” The intention of this series is to instruct us how to have a real relationship with Jesus. It’s my hope and prayer that through this series and upon it’s conclusion we will be moved closer to Jesus, known Him more fully, and have a desire to realize and deepen our daily relationship with Him.

Our quick mini-series will answer three questions and at the end make us to know how to have a real, more full, deeper relationship with Jesus:

Do you still not understand who I am? It is I!

Do you still not understand the problem? It is your heart, on the inside!

Do you still not understand the solution? I must suffer, be rejected, die, and be raised again!

This past week we looked at the answer to the disciples question all the way back in Mark 4.41 of “Who is this?” and saw how Jesus is being revealed as Messiah; one greater than Moses, one greater than Elijah. He is the incarnate God-Man. If you missed Sunday’s sermon I would encourage you to listen to it online but the audio didn’t come out so instead I’ll encourage you to talk to a friend or give me a call as I think we uncovered some things in Mark 6 that are greatly encouraging to us and are helping us embrace the Gospel and savor the savior.

This upcoming Sunday we’ll be in Mark 7 exploring how it’s not what’s outside that makes us unclean, it’s our heart (memorize Jeremiah 17.9-10 for this week). Too we’ll see this week how the Gospel is not just the beginning of the solution but is, daily, the only hope for us as we explain how sanctification, or the process of being made holy for God’s purpose. Plus, a sermon title with bad grammar you won’t want to miss!

Our series will climax in Mark 8 where Jesus, explicitly for the first time, instructs His followers that the solution of the problem of our defiled hearts only happens through His suffering, rejection, death, and resurrection.

Now, I know that I’m no wordsmith but aren’t you glad I went to seminary too? Otherwise you would have just spent five minutes reading me talk about Organic Chemistry instead of our Great God!

Key words for Mark chapter 4. What do you think we’ll be talking about this week?