Read Mark 2:1-28

The group, For King and Country, performs a song, “Burn the Ships”.  The song’s inspiration came from a historical event.   During the Spanish conquest of Mexico in 1519, a Spanish commander, Hernan Cortes, landed his ships on enemy shores.  To ensure that the men were committed to their mission and that they didn’t have the option of running away, he proclaimed, “Burn the ships!”

Luke Smallbone is a member of the band, “For King and Country”.  His wife, Courtney, battled an addiction to prescription medication.  She had to “burn the ships” of addiction, and remain committed to a new life without the medication. 

Jesus is calling us to “burn the ships”, leave our past behind and move forward into a new life with Him. He wants us to “burn the ships”:

1. Of old ways of living (vs 1-12)

Four friends brought a paralyzed man through the roof to be healed by Jesus, which Jesus did.  This miracle gave Jesus an opportunity to teach an important lesson about sin and forgiveness.  Jesus immediately went to the heart of the matter – sin.  Jesus assured the man that his sins were forgiven. 

Then Jesus told the man to pick up his mat and walk.  He was to leave the life he knew behind.  Jesus met the man’s greatest need, bringing the greatest gift – new life.

What needs to change in your daily life so that you can “walk” with Him and for Him?

2. Of old ways of Working vs 13-22

Jesus now meets Levi, a Jewish tax collector, working for the Roman government.  Levi was considered the lowest of the low.  But Jesus saw him – his heart – and called him to follow.  Levi left his livelihood behind and moved forward with Jesus.  Levi had to leave behind the way the world would define success.  Levi had to “burn the ships” of worldly success.  He had to completely change the direction of his life’s work.  He now would be working for the kingdom.

If He asked you to change directions in your life, would you?  Could you? 

3. Of old ways of thinking (vs 23-28)

The law of the Sabbath was a Jewish institution.  God gave Israel the Sabbath as a special sign between God and Israel.  However, the Sabbath law had become a crushing burden.  Jesus challenged this law, allowing His disciples to pick grain and eat it on the Sabbath.  The Pharisees would rather protect their tradition – their way of thinking – than showing compassion.  Jesus came and the Mosaic law was quickly becoming the old covenant – completed and fulfilled.  Hebrews 8:13 tells us that the New Covenant is here!

What attitudes are keeping you from completely following Him with your whole heart?

“What is keeping you from being a fully committed follower of Christ?

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, 

old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

2 Corinthians 5:17

Janene Nagel

Burn The (Your) Ships

for KING & COUNTRY – burn the ships (Official Music Video) – Bing video