GO OUt in boldness
By. Andre South
Do Not Be Ashamed of Christ and His Words
Introduction
At a security checkpoint on the border of Communist Czechoslovakia in 1957, ten years into the Cold War, Andrew van der Bijl sat in his newly acquired Volkswagen Beetle. The trunk and back seat of the Beetle were loaded with Bibles, something strictly forbidden in Communist countries where religious freedom was heavily suppressed. As he slowly approached the border, Andrew faced the tense and dangerous task of passing through the security checkpoint without having his contraband discovered. Getting caught smuggling would guarantee him a stay in a Soviet prison or worse.
Right before reaching the actual border, he prayed:
"Lord, in my luggage I have Scripture that I want to take to Your children across this border. When You were on earth, You made blind eyes see. Now, I pray, make seeing eyes blind. Do not let the guards see those things You do not want them to see.
When he arrived at the checkpoint, the border guards meticulously searched the cars in front of him. They took an exceptionally long time inspecting each vehicle, emptying the contents of the suitcases, and checking for any illegal material. Andrew knew that if they conducted the same thorough search of his car, the Bibles would certainly be discovered, and he would be arrested.
When it was his turn, something unexpected happened. The guard glanced at his passport and then waved him through without even opening a single bag. It was as if the Bibles, which were in plain view, were invisible to the guards. He slowly drove through the checkpoint and into Czechoslovakia, eventually delivering the Bibles to the persecuted church, who were in desperate need of God’s word.
This incident was a powerful affirmation of Andrew’s faith, marking the beginning of a lifetime of similar daring adventures smuggling Bibles into countries where they were banned. Andrew’s work continued for decades, helping to distribute millions of Bibles across the Iron Curtain and into closed countries. He later became known simply as Brother Andrew. His courage and unwavering faith inspired countless others to support the persecuted church and take bold steps in their own lives of faith. Brother Andrew clearly understood the importance of God’s word and that it was worth risking his neck for. Evidenced by the way he lived his life, Brother Andrew was not ashamed of Christ or His words.
In today’s sermon, I am going to share with you a stern warning, followed by three statements that Jesus made that we can stand boldly on.
Pray:
Our text for this morning is from the Gospel of Mark. After the miraculous feeding of the 4000, Jesus explained to His disciples that He must die and rise again. Upon hearing this, Peter attempts to rebuke Jesus, revealing Peter’s disbelief and misunderstanding of the purpose of Jesus’ ministry. This is how Jesus responds, beginning in Mark 8 verse 34:
Mark 8:34-38 (NASB95):
"And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, 'If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? For what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.'"
A study conducted in 2022 by Lifeway Research found that just 38 percent of self-identified Christians have shared the gospel with a non-Christian in the last six months. The same study also identified that 65 percent agree sharing with a nonbeliever how they can become a Christian is the most loving thing they can do for them. How ironic. On one hand, 65 percent say sharing the gospel is the most loving thing you can do. Yet, on the other hand, only 38 percent actually do it. Why do you think that is? Could it be that we are ashamed of Christ or His words?
Body
But what exactly did Jesus say that we might be tempted to be ashamed of? I’m going to share with you three statements that Jesus made which are rejected by the world. Let’s dive in.
1. Jesus Says That He Is God
You may have heard a common objection to Christianity that Jesus never claims to be God. He never says the words “I am God” so He must have never claimed Himself to be God or meant to be worshiped as God…right? This contrived objection, as common as it is, is simply untrue. Throughout His ministry, Jesus repeatedly proves Himself to be the God of the Jews found in the Old Testament. Through attesting miracles, He displays supernatural knowledge, supernatural control over matter, dominion over the weather, and even over death itself by raising Himself and others from the dead.
It may not be recorded that He said the exact words “I am God” but that doesn’t mean He didn’t say it in other words. Jesus chose to come to Earth at a specific place and time, that would be Israel 2000 years ago. Jesus spoke in terms that the culture of the time could understand
In John 8, the Jews who were listening to Jesus were trying to claim righteousness before God by birthright, naming Abraham as their patriarchal father. Jesus rebukes them and explains that if they were really the children of Abraham, then they would believe His words. And that Abraham rejoiced to see His day and, in fact, was glad when He saw it. After which, Jesus said to them:
John 8:58 (NASB95):
"Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am."
“I am” being the most holy and sacred name of God, in Hebrew it’s Yahweh. The Jews understood this and picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple.
On another occasion, later in the book of John, it’s recorded that Jesus says that “He and the Father are one.” Immediately, they picked up stones to stone Him to death. Before they began stoning Him, Jesus asked them “After I showed you all these miracles from the Father, why are you trying to kill me?” To which they replied, “It’s not for your good works that we stone you but for blasphemy because you make yourself out to be God!” There was no confusion about what Jesus was saying. They clearly understood Him to be making the claim that He is God.
2. Jesus Says That He Is the Only Way to Heaven
In today’s pluralistic society, it has become taboo to believe in absolutes. Even though logic recognizes truth to be self-evident, like gravity, we still hypocritically reject the idea of a universal truth that applies to all people everywhere. This is a major reason that Christianity is rejected today. Jesus, however, does not mix words when He says in John 14:6:
"I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me."
Let’s focus on the second half of that statement: No one comes to the Father but through Jesus. No one? Think about that statement. Do you really believe that there is only one God? That He is the God of the Bible? That Jesus is truly His begotten Son?
Right before making this exclusive claim, effectively discrediting all other religions and belief systems, Jesus was having a tender moment with His disciples. While at the table during Christ’s last supper, they just witnessed one of their own outed as a traitor. They learned that the chief among them would deny Jesus three times and that Jesus Himself would be leaving them for good. Fear was undoubtedly creeping in. Everything that they had been working towards was suddenly unraveling.
To comfort them, Jesus tells them that He is preparing a place for them, that He’ll be back to get them, and that He is the only way now and forever. When fears arise in your life, when culture all around makes it increasingly difficult to stand on THE truth, when you’re tempted to doubt God, take comfort, like the disciples did, in the fact that eternal life is found in Christ alone. Jesus rose from the dead, He is alive! He’s not in pictures or in statues like a dead idol. He is, right now, at the right hand of the Father as your sole mediator, ready to make you perfect before God. Amen.
3. Jesus Calls Us to Repentance
Over and over again Jesus commands everyone everywhere to repent. Pharisee, layman, rich, poor, it didn’t matter, repentance was central to His message. In Luke 13, after being told the news that Pilate had massacred innocents while they were making sacrifices to God and of the fall of the Tower of Siloam where 18 Galileans were killed, Jesus asks them:
Luke 13:2-3 (NASB95):
"Do you suppose that these Galileans were [greater] sinners than all [other] Galileans because they suffered this [fate?] I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."
John Piper explains it this way: “in other words, don’t think calamities mean that some people are sinners in need of repentance and others aren’t. All need repentance.” The people reporting this to Jesus probably didn’t expect that response. Here they were telling Him of disaster, perhaps thinking that He would be angry and begin a campaign of vengeance against Rome, but instead, He brings the focus to eternal
life, reiterating that this life is temporary and no one is free from sin. Repentance is required for everyone because, without it, all would perish. There’s a common misconception that repentance means feeling guilty for what you’ve done. That’s not quite accurate. Repentance means to turn from your sin and pursue God. To put away your former self and be renewed in your mind. To separate yourself from the world and to draw near to God. There is no forgiveness without repentance, which is why it is so important for all people to heed Jesus’ call to repent.
Conclusion
In closing, I want to revisit the text we began with in Mark 8. After explaining to Peter that He must die and be raised again, Jesus goes on to say:
Mark 8:38 (NASB95):
"For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."
Do not be ashamed of Christ or His words. Proclaim that Jesus is God, that He is the only way to Heaven, and that repentance is required of everyone.
Brother Andrew was not ashamed of Christ or His words. He risked his life to bring God’s word to people who were being persecuted for their faith in Christ. And by God’s divine protection, he was able to bring those Bibles into Communist countries, even though it seemed impossible. He has since gone to be with the Lord and has met Jesus face-to-face, and Jesus was not ashamed of him. He was welcomed with open arms into the Kingdom of God.
When the world comes against you, and culture pressures you to stay silent, be bold and proclaim the truth. Because one day we will all stand before God and be held to account for how we have lived our lives. Do not be found ashamed of Christ or His words. Instead, live boldly and unashamedly for Him.
