The invitation to follow Jesus may not seem like much of a big deal for us who have been in church for a while. We hear about the calling of the disciples to follow Jesus, the invitation of each of us to become followers of Jesus and we accept it as part of what we believe. But there is so much more that is involved in this idea of calling. This morning we are going to look at the calling of some of the disciples to follow Jesus. In this I believe we can find great encouragement and challenge in our own lives as we too are called to follow Him. We begin in reading from the gospel of Mark 1:16-20 and 2:13-14. Pray
Let set the context here for a moment so we understand what is happening. Mark gives us in very brief statements, events that actually have a lot more depth to them. Jesus has been baptized by John the Baptizer and then taken into the desert to be tempted. Here Jesus defeats Satan’s attempts to discourage, dissuade, derail or destroy Jesus before he begins the ministry of bringing and being the good news and going to the cross (1:9-13).
This tempting in the desert lasted 40 days. And then we read rather an abrupt statement in verse 14 that John was put in prison. Mark later explains in a little more detail about this in chapter 6. But somewhere soon after the desert experience, John the Baptizer is arrested and kept in prison for several months, maybe a year. In a very real sense, John the Baptizer is moved out of the picture so that the one he came to announce would indeed shine. John the Baptizer was to announce the coming and he did –Jesus Came. John the Baptizer even encouraged his followers, one we know by name –Andrew, to follow Jesus rather than himself. (John 1:29-42) I point this out because there seems to be an awareness of who Jesus is before these people are called to follow.
And this brings up a couple of things that are a challenge to us today –do we know enough about Jesus to talk about him to others –do we know this one whom is the good news, the son of God? And second are we talking about him –presenting the truth of Jesus, giving people an understanding of Jesus, an awareness of him so that they can indeed also come to be a follower when asked? When I was in high school our youth group went to these rallies in different cities. One year we were in Portland Oregon and one of the challenges of the rally was evangelism. We were to go out an invite people to follow Jesus. So, heart beating nerves working overtime, I went out and asked one guy at random on the street if he would like to become a Christian. Sure, he said and I thought, wow this is easy. So we went and sat over on the side of the street and the first thing he asked me was, So, what is a Christian? Someone who believes in Jesus!
“Who’s that? Some new guru dude from India?” This guy had no clue, there was no groundwork done. Today, in a culture that is less and less knowledgeable about Jesus, we need to be more and more aware of Him ourselves and showing him more so that people can indeed respond when the Spirit says, Come. John the Beloved in his gospel says Andrew and one other disciple (whom I think was John the beloved) at least began to listen and become aware of Jesus. And through Andrew, Peter became aware. And so when we come to Mark 1 we read Jesus is walking on the shore and he sees some men who he knows and would know him.
Jesus begins his ministry in the area of Galilee, or northern Israel. And it is here that he begins of gather around him a group of men and women whom He will teach, train, even send out, with the message of Good News –the gospel that a holy righteous Creator God has given a way for a rebellious and sinful people to come into a restored and reconciled relationship by faith and repentance in Christ Jesus.
Jesus has already begun to preach in the area. I think that some of these men –especially the 5 we will look at today, had listened to some of his teaching. And, I think they may have already come to that point of repenting and believing because of John the Baptizer’s message and possibly because of Jesus message of Good News. And so one day Jesus walks up to Peter and Andrew as they are fishing, “Come, follow me.”
At once they left their nets and followed him. They have heard, they have seen and now they respond. And their action is decisive and complete. They are called and they are called to a purpose –to be fishers of men. They are to learn and to take up the task of continuing to bring the message of the gospel to the world. Jesus begins and ends his ministry on earth with this challenge, with this command, with this expectation of his followers –to bring preach the good news to all creation (Mark 16:5).
As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to know him and to grow in him but there is a purpose too, to show him. Followers of Jesus are called to a purpose –to be fishers of men, to show the world the light of Christ in us, to proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes, to make disciples, to be ambassadors, to be ministers of reconciliation, to glorify God in all we say and do so that others will glorify God on the day he returns, be witnesses and salt, to bring this message of good news. Over and over again the scriptures tell us –Jesus tells us that we are to believe (know) to repent (grow) and to tell (show).
So often, we as a Christian church, as a people, are content to come to know about Jesus and even to grow in him but we stay on the beach or in the boat.
Jesus walks up beside us and says, come, follow me. To follow Him is to become like Him. (Romans 8:28-29) This word, follow, is a powerful word. It means to get up and leave everything, no looking back. So when the two heard what Jesus was asking they knew exactly what it entailed. Follow means living, learning and doing as Jesus did.
And then, a little farther down the beach, Jesus sees two others, James and John the sons of Zebedee. Without delay Jesus called to them. We don’t know if he used the same words, but we can assume so because their reaction is just as immediate. These four men were the first and became the core group of Jesus’ followers –especially Peter, James and John.
We skip ahead into chapter two of Mark to see the fifth member of the team who is called by Jesus. This man is very different from the fishermen. He does live in the same area but he is not well liked or respected. He sits, likely at the roadside bear Capernaum where a lot of traffic and merchandise coming from the north and east into and through Israel would be. He was a tax collector. Hated, seen as a cheat a traitor, this man would be an unlikely candidate for a follower –a disciple.
Like the fishermen, Levi would have know about Jesus, probably even seen or heard him as Jesus began to teach the message of good news. It may have stirred something in this man’s heart to hear that there was hope –hope for someone like him, to be able to be a part of God’s kingdom. Jesus gives the same almost command he gives Peter and Andrew, “follow me.”
And we need to note something here about Levi. The other four men, as fishermen did have something to go back too. We read that James and John left the family business. All four would later return to do some fishing later after Jesus was raised from the dead. But Levi he gave up everything. Literally when he got up and walked away he could not go back.
Levi is someone we know very little about. He was a tax collector, he lived in or near Galillee, he became a follower of Jesus and that’s about it. Other than these few verses and the parallel in Luke, there is no more mention of this man in the Bible. Many think he might also be known as Matthew, but even there, there is nothing more in Scripture except he was present after the resurrection and in the upper room in Acts 1 and also wrote the first gospel we have in the NT.
Yet, this man who we just catch a glimpse of has much to show us. Not only did he respond immediately to Jesus’ call, but he gave up everything –there was no turning back for him. And then we read he became the focal point for one of the key purposes of Jesus verse 17. And here we see a powerful example of someone taking Jesus and showing Him to others. Levi not only became a follower of Jesus, but took Jesus into his world. Levi shows that indeed we are to be ambassadors, ministers of reconciliation, bringers of Good news to those who, like himself, need to hear and meet Jesus. He brought awareness (or more awareness) of Who Jesus was to those who did not yet know Him.
It is here with Levi, Jesus and his disciples, meets with sinners and other tax collectors. I want to look at this word sinners for a moment. The word is in quotation marks in the NIV for a reason. It is not a word which is used not just for people who are immoral or irreligious, but also used to refer to those unable to keep the law, especially the oral law, as the scribes and Pharisees thought they should. Because of their job or having to scrape by on a subsistence level, there were many who were not able to keep the whole of the. For example, it may be used of a shepherd who had to care for his sheep on the Sabbath.
It was often used of those who were seen as the undesirable, those of ill repute, the tax collectors, prostitutes and thieves. A better word for us today might be outcasts. Society looked on them as sinners and they knew they were sinners in societies eyes, especially in the eyes of the scribes and Pharisees –the religious leaders.
And here we see Jesus not only calling one of them to follow him, but then he associates with them, eats with them. Eating and fellowship in that culture and time were intimate expressions of friendship. If not in words, then powerfully in deeds, Jesus said, I am their friend! And, he announces, it is people like this, who know they need help, who know they need good news, that I have come to bring the good news too.
And there are a few things that we can find applicable for us today. First; we do not have to do something or be something first before we can become worthy recipients of God’s love. Often we think we need to clean up our act before we can follow Jesus. And sometimes that is the fault of the church. We give the impression that you need to look or talk or act a certain way, that you have to have everything together before you can be a part of the church. Jesus here shows us in a very powerful and graceful way that none of us need to strive to be something or someone else and then apply to be a follower. Jesus calls us –were we are and who we are. He extends his grace and friendship to us where we are.
Second; That although we are called to follow, we are also called to bring –to bring the good news to those who need to hear. To bring awareness of Who Jesus really is according to the scriptures; to tell the wondrous story of Christ who died for us; to be a witness of Who He is and what He has done for us; to know Christ (believe) to grow in Christ (repent) and to show Christ (be his witness) to the world.
Monday, May 28, 2012
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
High and lifted up
Fom the sermon preached May 6, 2012
High and lifted up. Jesus is high and lifted up. One of the great themes of the New Testament and the declaration of the church is that Christ is high and lifted up. One of the things that I think the church –and I mean the church in general, has lost or at least set aside, is that Christ I high and lifted up –he is exalted, he is holy, he is the king of kings and lord of lords.
If you are a regular attendee at LBC you may go, huh? We lift Jesus, we exalt him. And you would be right. We do, but as I look at many churches, particularly those that are amoung the post-modern and emergent movement, I see Jesus reduced to a moral, feel good guide to how we are to live. And I do not want to dismiss that Jesus is that –he does teach and guide and help us.
But Jesus was in time past –God. (John 1:1) Jesus was God come in flesh John 1:14. He is high and lifted up and exalted in the heavenly realms today and forever. (Ephesians 1).
When we lose sight of the glory and the splendor and the wonder of His majesty, His exalted place, it affects our worship, our prayers, our mission, our obedience.
And we lose the power and the impact of what he has done for us. The scriptures –both old and new testament, proclaim the deity, the god-ness, of Christ Jesus. This past week I thought and prayed long on what to share this morning. What kept coming to my heart was share about the wonder and majesty of Jesus. In part it came from the message last week and the song we sang –open the eyes of my heart, Lord. One verse says, “to see him high and lifted up, shining in the light of his glory”
The writer of that song took the image right out of Ephesians 1. Let me read from verses 20-23. Peter, who witnessed the glory of Christ revealed on the mount of transfiguration, Peter who fell at the feet of the risen Lord, Peter who saw Jesus lifted up into the heaven with the promise of return, Peter wrote “He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through Him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.” (I Peter 1:20-21)
John, the beloved disciple, who also saw Jesus glorified, raised and lifted writes, of the great vision he had of heaven, Revelation 5:11-14.
He is worthy, he is exalted, he is high and lifted up. He is the lamb that was slain, the righteous one of God. He was the perfect sacrifice, the perfect payment for our sin. He was and is the one who angels sing out to –worthy is the lamb who was slain to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength, honor and glory and praise!”
It is because Jesus is worthy, it is because he is high and exalted, it is because he is the lamb that we sing “To him who sits on the throne, the lamb, be praise and honor and glory and power forever and forever, AMEN!”
This praise come from the lips of men –the ones who are saved. And I notice there is no mention of how it is to be sung, only that it is to be sung! It could be in Gregorian chant or operatic symphony, in 4 part harmony or caribean cadence. Perhaps in one, perhaps in all, no matter the way it is the focus –Jesus, high and lifted up, Jesus exalted and glorified.
Perhaps it will be in one voice –unison, or perhaps a cacophony of sound risen in joy and reverberation from every language known –the focus is Christ.
To see Jesus high and lifted up affects our worship –we come to worship Him, to honor him, to lift him and declare His name. To see him high and lifted up affects how we see communion –not just as a remembrance but as a declaration, as worship. Imagine, this creator of the universe, this god come in flesh, this one to whom the angels sing, this one who has all of creation beneath his feat, this son of God, the most high God, who loves us so much, who cares for us so much, this awesome wonder, who became our friend and went to the cross –took our sin, our separation, our death. This wonder of wonders who said, this is my body –which knew no sin, is broken for you. This wonder of wonders who said, this is my blood –which washes away your sin, if given for you. Worthy is the lamb who was slain to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength, honor and glory and praise!
To see him high and lifted up affects not only our worship but our lives. To see Jesus high and lifted up affects our actions –whatever you say or do, do it for His glory! To see Jesus high and lifted up affects our world view because suddenly the things of earth will grow strangely dim –in the light of His glory and grace.
Oh, that the eyes of our heart will be opened to Jesus –high and lifted up. Oh that the eyes of our heart will be opened to the lamb who is on the throne. Oh that the eyes of our heart will be opened.
The writer of Ephesians indicates that worship, the lifting of His name, the honor and glory of Christ is even why we are saved (1:6, 1:13-14, 2:7-10) Our proper response to our salvation is to worship our Lord, to praise his name, to lift him up, to glorify him. We have the benefit of being saved from hell, but we have the purpose of bringing glory to Him! (Eph 3:20-21)
But even more, do we pray for the eyes of the hearts of his church to be opened. That the eyes of the hearts of his people will once again capture the wonder and the majesty and the glory of Christ. That his church will see –will see! And know! And praise! The one in whim we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins in accordance to the riches of God’s grace that he lavished (I love that word) on us.
In the past while I have read several books and articles about the decline of worship in the churches of the western world. And one of the primary reason I see stated over and over is because we have a depreciation of God and a sinful apathy towards the glory and majesty of Christ. Worship is honor and adoration directed towards God! When we fail to lift up our Lord, we fail to worship. Open the eyes of our hearts lord –that we may see Christ who has been raised form the dead and is seated at the right hand of the father in the heavenly realms.
Halleluia, what a savior! Halelluia –what a savior.
High and lifted up. Jesus is high and lifted up. One of the great themes of the New Testament and the declaration of the church is that Christ is high and lifted up. One of the things that I think the church –and I mean the church in general, has lost or at least set aside, is that Christ I high and lifted up –he is exalted, he is holy, he is the king of kings and lord of lords.
If you are a regular attendee at LBC you may go, huh? We lift Jesus, we exalt him. And you would be right. We do, but as I look at many churches, particularly those that are amoung the post-modern and emergent movement, I see Jesus reduced to a moral, feel good guide to how we are to live. And I do not want to dismiss that Jesus is that –he does teach and guide and help us.
But Jesus was in time past –God. (John 1:1) Jesus was God come in flesh John 1:14. He is high and lifted up and exalted in the heavenly realms today and forever. (Ephesians 1).
When we lose sight of the glory and the splendor and the wonder of His majesty, His exalted place, it affects our worship, our prayers, our mission, our obedience.
And we lose the power and the impact of what he has done for us. The scriptures –both old and new testament, proclaim the deity, the god-ness, of Christ Jesus. This past week I thought and prayed long on what to share this morning. What kept coming to my heart was share about the wonder and majesty of Jesus. In part it came from the message last week and the song we sang –open the eyes of my heart, Lord. One verse says, “to see him high and lifted up, shining in the light of his glory”
The writer of that song took the image right out of Ephesians 1. Let me read from verses 20-23. Peter, who witnessed the glory of Christ revealed on the mount of transfiguration, Peter who fell at the feet of the risen Lord, Peter who saw Jesus lifted up into the heaven with the promise of return, Peter wrote “He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through Him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.” (I Peter 1:20-21)
John, the beloved disciple, who also saw Jesus glorified, raised and lifted writes, of the great vision he had of heaven, Revelation 5:11-14.
He is worthy, he is exalted, he is high and lifted up. He is the lamb that was slain, the righteous one of God. He was the perfect sacrifice, the perfect payment for our sin. He was and is the one who angels sing out to –worthy is the lamb who was slain to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength, honor and glory and praise!”
It is because Jesus is worthy, it is because he is high and exalted, it is because he is the lamb that we sing “To him who sits on the throne, the lamb, be praise and honor and glory and power forever and forever, AMEN!”
This praise come from the lips of men –the ones who are saved. And I notice there is no mention of how it is to be sung, only that it is to be sung! It could be in Gregorian chant or operatic symphony, in 4 part harmony or caribean cadence. Perhaps in one, perhaps in all, no matter the way it is the focus –Jesus, high and lifted up, Jesus exalted and glorified.
Perhaps it will be in one voice –unison, or perhaps a cacophony of sound risen in joy and reverberation from every language known –the focus is Christ.
To see Jesus high and lifted up affects our worship –we come to worship Him, to honor him, to lift him and declare His name. To see him high and lifted up affects how we see communion –not just as a remembrance but as a declaration, as worship. Imagine, this creator of the universe, this god come in flesh, this one to whom the angels sing, this one who has all of creation beneath his feat, this son of God, the most high God, who loves us so much, who cares for us so much, this awesome wonder, who became our friend and went to the cross –took our sin, our separation, our death. This wonder of wonders who said, this is my body –which knew no sin, is broken for you. This wonder of wonders who said, this is my blood –which washes away your sin, if given for you. Worthy is the lamb who was slain to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength, honor and glory and praise!
To see him high and lifted up affects not only our worship but our lives. To see Jesus high and lifted up affects our actions –whatever you say or do, do it for His glory! To see Jesus high and lifted up affects our world view because suddenly the things of earth will grow strangely dim –in the light of His glory and grace.
Oh, that the eyes of our heart will be opened to Jesus –high and lifted up. Oh that the eyes of our heart will be opened to the lamb who is on the throne. Oh that the eyes of our heart will be opened.
The writer of Ephesians indicates that worship, the lifting of His name, the honor and glory of Christ is even why we are saved (1:6, 1:13-14, 2:7-10) Our proper response to our salvation is to worship our Lord, to praise his name, to lift him up, to glorify him. We have the benefit of being saved from hell, but we have the purpose of bringing glory to Him! (Eph 3:20-21)
But even more, do we pray for the eyes of the hearts of his church to be opened. That the eyes of the hearts of his people will once again capture the wonder and the majesty and the glory of Christ. That his church will see –will see! And know! And praise! The one in whim we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins in accordance to the riches of God’s grace that he lavished (I love that word) on us.
In the past while I have read several books and articles about the decline of worship in the churches of the western world. And one of the primary reason I see stated over and over is because we have a depreciation of God and a sinful apathy towards the glory and majesty of Christ. Worship is honor and adoration directed towards God! When we fail to lift up our Lord, we fail to worship. Open the eyes of our hearts lord –that we may see Christ who has been raised form the dead and is seated at the right hand of the father in the heavenly realms.
Halleluia, what a savior! Halelluia –what a savior.
Introduction to the Good News of Jesus Christ
From the sermon preached May 13, 2012
Over this past year we have looked at being a church that loves and being a church that is filled and empowered by the Spirit. These are key areas for us to grow as a church and to expand the kingdom of God in our community. But as I have been speaking on these areas it has been a growing conviction in my heart that we need to step back and take a closer look at the one for whom we do so much and owe so much –Jesus Christ.
It is so easy to get caught up in the what and the why and the how that we lose sight of the who. Jesus Christ is central to our faith, our purpose our eternity. And I am finding that more and more we as a church –the church in general, but even LBC, are less familiar with the person and work of Jesus Christ than in years past. We may be familiar with some of the grand things about Jesus –the birth and death and resurrection things, but the miracles, the teachings, the actions of Jesus as he touched lives, as he walked this earth –the accounts of his life are more and more lost.
I was talking with a man a few months ago, a man whom I know has been in church for many years, and I referred to an event about Jesus and he looked at me blankly. I said, you know the time Jesus reached out and took Peter’s hand when Peter began to sink into the sea? Again blank. I then began to watch and subtly check out a growing theory –we do not know Jesus and the thing is that we don’t know that we don’t know.
Several years ago a friend of mine developed a little course called “Who is Jesus.” His premise for starting the series was, “People don’t know what they don’t know.” I have done this a few times at LBC and have seen how people really don’t know what they don’t know. And we –I, take it for granted that people do know.
We are living in a culture that is less and less familiar with the accounts of the Bible, the events of Moses, Joshua, Joseph, David, Samson and so many others. But even more, we are less and less familiar with the accounts of Jesus. Part of this is a growing secularization of our culture, part is that we (as a church in general) have moved to a more how to approach to our faith, and part is due to the decrease of the amount of time we actually spend in teaching, reading and learning about our faith –about Jesus.
And let us admit it, as we get older, we tend to forget. Oh, we may have a nostalgic recollection that Jesus walked on water, or climbed up mount Vesuvius or fed the 5000 (did you catch that?) Jesus never climbed up Vesuvius –he climbed Mt Ararat! NO! We may have a recollection but could we find the account in scripture, could we recall the event to our children our grandchildren? One of the things that I believe we need to have done is to be reminded of the things we know and taught the things we do not know. That is the ministry of the Holy Spirit (John 14:26) but also of the elders, the teachers and the pastors and parents (II Peter 1:12-15)
This injunction to teach goes back to the ancient text of Deuteronomy. Listen to the familiar words of 6:4-5. But now hear the words of 6-12. “Be careful that you do not forget the Lord!” the continual telling of the story, the account is so important. And note, this is given to the parents!
When my kids were growing up, and even today, they would almost roll their eyes when I would start to tell a story or experience from my past. “You already told us that one dad.” I have heard it before. Chris, our oldest, when we got back from Cameroon, had heard us talk so often about some of the things that he could tell the stories verbatim –even up to today. Telling and telling and retelling, hearing and hearing and re-hearing, reading and reading and re-reading the accounts plants them in our hearts and minds and souls.
Knowing Jesus, knowing Him more and more, affects our theology of Christ, our doctrine of Christ, our apologetic of Christ, our witness for Christ, our growing in Christ our teaching of Christ, our passing on to the next generation and the next generation about Jesus. The telling and retelling of the stories, the accounts, the events and the lives Jesus touched. These build into us a greater and deeper faith from which we can share and impart.
Do we have an eagerness to know Him more, to say –tell me more about Jesus. Tell me again about Jesus. Oh, I love that time when Jesus touched the blind man and gave him sight. Oh remember that time when Jesus knelt and wrote in the dust –I wonder what he wrote (do we know the time that happened?).
Do we long for and pray for the eyes of our heart to be opened that we may see Jesus –more and more. Do we long for and pray for the eyes of our children’s hearts to be opened that they may see Jesus and to know Him more and more? Do we long for and pray for the church of Jesus to know Jesus and love Jesus and hear again and again and again the wonderful words of life in Jesus?
It is easy to get caught up in the “what” and the why and the how but do we, dare we, ground ourselves in the who?
And what better way to discover more about Jesus than to learn from those who knew him –walked and talked and touched him. So over the next while –however long it takes, I am going to be speaking from the gospel of Mark.
Why Mark? It is the first (chronologically) and one of the easiest and quickest (he often says “immediately”) and gives a lot of detail for the non-jewish (us) reader.
He wasn’t one of the disciples. But I believe he was there to see at least some of the events that happened. And it is well understood that this writer wrote under the direction of Peter. As early as 120 AD the early church understood Mark to be the interpreter, or secretary, of Peter. It is also thought that this Mark was the one who in this gospel is written, “A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When the seized him, he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.” (Mark 14:51-52) We do not know who this young man was, but most church leaders and writers of the first 400 years of the church (and into today) believe it was Mark.
Imagine the fear and the faith of this young man –first seeing the Jesus arrested, then seeing the disciples flee, then he himself –following, and then seized! The on the surface is a little comical –he fled naked, but stop and think for a moment of the deep faith, the commitment, the desire to be close to Jesus –even as he is arrested and all others flee! The question may well be asked, why would Mark be there, that night? From the earliest authors in church history it is believed that it was at his mother’s home where the last supper was held. Imagine the power and impact that this alone would have on this young man’s life! Although not a participant, he may well have helped prepare the food, helped do some of the serving, listened in on some of the teaching of Jesus that night. We do not know the age of Mark at this point, but it is thought he was in his teenage years.
I want to stop here for a moment. This is mother’s day. Note the impact that Mary opening her home to Jesus had on this young man. The impressions we can make are powerful when we are open to be used by God –even in practicing hospitality.
But the account of this young man and his faith do not stop here. We read later in Acts 12:12 that when Peter is miraculously freed from prison. (read Acts 5-7, 12). This was the place where the church regularly met, it was here they prayed, and it was here Peter went. Again note, this home environment in which Mark was exposed to the teachings and ministry of Peter at an early age. We also know that Mark was a cousin to Barnabas who went with Paul on Paul’s first missionary journey and then alter went with Barnabas on other trips. He later was highly regarded and commended by Paul as His companion when Paul was imprisoned in Rome (II Tim. 4:11).
And later he was with Peter, according to church history. And so the richness of experience, the hearing of the stories over and over from Peter himself, the experiences of his encounters with the disciples with Paul, the mission’s trips with Barnabas all add to the texture of this young man’s life. For over 20 years he has been hearing and sharing the account of Jesus. And now, listening to the teachings of Peter about Jesus, he writes down the events so that we can know, so that we can see, so that we can learn about this most incredible person –Jesus Christ, the son of God!
And Mark begins, not with the birth of Jesus, like Matthew and Luke, but with the ministry of Jesus. He starts, “the beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ the Son of God.” These opening words are full of power and hope, love and grace.
He simply and powerfully starts, “beginning.” And it reminds us of the opening of Genesis 1:1, “beginning.” Just as God, in the beginning steps into our history and begins to work, so Jesus steps into creation and begins to work. We begin at the beginning with about whom this is about –Jesus. This is not a book about Peter, or Barnabas, or Paul or some other of the well known disciples these influences in Marks’ life –this is about Jesus Himself, coming into his creation. John writes similarly, “In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God, he was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made, without him nothing was made that has been made.” And Paul expands on this in the letter to the church of Colosse, READ 1:15-17. What a picture, what a depth, just in one word as comes into His creation to continue the redemptive work God planned for in the beginning.
And this beginning is good news! It is the gospel, the “euangelion” about Jesus Christ. This gospel is an important subject for Mark. The word appears seven times (used 4 in Matthew and none in the other two gospels except as a genitive verb). This good news, this gospel, is offered as hope to the neglected and the oppressed, the lost and the weary, the struggling and the expectant. This is good news! Good news about Jesus, by Jesus and in Jesus Christ. This good news is that God has provided salvation through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Again, we look to Paul as he continues to write in Colossi ans 1, (verses 19-23).
This is the good news, the beginning of the good news about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Oh, there is so much wrapped up in these names –Jesus, Hebrew “Joshua” Yeshua, meaning god is salvation. Matthew picks this up as we saw in the opening call to worship “you are to give him the name Jesus because he will save his people from the sins.” Christ, which means anointed, or in Hebrew, “messiah.” He is uniquely commissioned, solitarily given the task, the one who would restore God’s people.
And he is God’s son. He and he alone has the unique relationship with the Father. Although Mark mentions this title only a few times, it was John who amplified this close connection between Jesus and the Father. John 3:16 is one great example of Jesus talking about his connection to the father and then in his great prayer in John 17 we read, “Father the time has com. Glorify your Son that you son may glorify you.” And even more, this statement, “the Son of God” pronounces the deity of Jesus Christ –He is God.
I know that most of you do not know biblical Greek. But I want to read this opening verse to you in the greek and then transliterate it. “’arxn, tou euangelliou Insou Xristou uiou theou.” It reads, beginning, the gospel Jesus Christ son of God. It punches in bold declaration what this letter is about and who it is about. He is the gospel. It is the good news of Jesus, about Jesus, by Jesus, the son of God.
Come, let us seek to know Him better that we too may proclaim the good news.
Over this past year we have looked at being a church that loves and being a church that is filled and empowered by the Spirit. These are key areas for us to grow as a church and to expand the kingdom of God in our community. But as I have been speaking on these areas it has been a growing conviction in my heart that we need to step back and take a closer look at the one for whom we do so much and owe so much –Jesus Christ.
It is so easy to get caught up in the what and the why and the how that we lose sight of the who. Jesus Christ is central to our faith, our purpose our eternity. And I am finding that more and more we as a church –the church in general, but even LBC, are less familiar with the person and work of Jesus Christ than in years past. We may be familiar with some of the grand things about Jesus –the birth and death and resurrection things, but the miracles, the teachings, the actions of Jesus as he touched lives, as he walked this earth –the accounts of his life are more and more lost.
I was talking with a man a few months ago, a man whom I know has been in church for many years, and I referred to an event about Jesus and he looked at me blankly. I said, you know the time Jesus reached out and took Peter’s hand when Peter began to sink into the sea? Again blank. I then began to watch and subtly check out a growing theory –we do not know Jesus and the thing is that we don’t know that we don’t know.
Several years ago a friend of mine developed a little course called “Who is Jesus.” His premise for starting the series was, “People don’t know what they don’t know.” I have done this a few times at LBC and have seen how people really don’t know what they don’t know. And we –I, take it for granted that people do know.
We are living in a culture that is less and less familiar with the accounts of the Bible, the events of Moses, Joshua, Joseph, David, Samson and so many others. But even more, we are less and less familiar with the accounts of Jesus. Part of this is a growing secularization of our culture, part is that we (as a church in general) have moved to a more how to approach to our faith, and part is due to the decrease of the amount of time we actually spend in teaching, reading and learning about our faith –about Jesus.
And let us admit it, as we get older, we tend to forget. Oh, we may have a nostalgic recollection that Jesus walked on water, or climbed up mount Vesuvius or fed the 5000 (did you catch that?) Jesus never climbed up Vesuvius –he climbed Mt Ararat! NO! We may have a recollection but could we find the account in scripture, could we recall the event to our children our grandchildren? One of the things that I believe we need to have done is to be reminded of the things we know and taught the things we do not know. That is the ministry of the Holy Spirit (John 14:26) but also of the elders, the teachers and the pastors and parents (II Peter 1:12-15)
This injunction to teach goes back to the ancient text of Deuteronomy. Listen to the familiar words of 6:4-5. But now hear the words of 6-12. “Be careful that you do not forget the Lord!” the continual telling of the story, the account is so important. And note, this is given to the parents!
When my kids were growing up, and even today, they would almost roll their eyes when I would start to tell a story or experience from my past. “You already told us that one dad.” I have heard it before. Chris, our oldest, when we got back from Cameroon, had heard us talk so often about some of the things that he could tell the stories verbatim –even up to today. Telling and telling and retelling, hearing and hearing and re-hearing, reading and reading and re-reading the accounts plants them in our hearts and minds and souls.
Knowing Jesus, knowing Him more and more, affects our theology of Christ, our doctrine of Christ, our apologetic of Christ, our witness for Christ, our growing in Christ our teaching of Christ, our passing on to the next generation and the next generation about Jesus. The telling and retelling of the stories, the accounts, the events and the lives Jesus touched. These build into us a greater and deeper faith from which we can share and impart.
Do we have an eagerness to know Him more, to say –tell me more about Jesus. Tell me again about Jesus. Oh, I love that time when Jesus touched the blind man and gave him sight. Oh remember that time when Jesus knelt and wrote in the dust –I wonder what he wrote (do we know the time that happened?).
Do we long for and pray for the eyes of our heart to be opened that we may see Jesus –more and more. Do we long for and pray for the eyes of our children’s hearts to be opened that they may see Jesus and to know Him more and more? Do we long for and pray for the church of Jesus to know Jesus and love Jesus and hear again and again and again the wonderful words of life in Jesus?
It is easy to get caught up in the “what” and the why and the how but do we, dare we, ground ourselves in the who?
And what better way to discover more about Jesus than to learn from those who knew him –walked and talked and touched him. So over the next while –however long it takes, I am going to be speaking from the gospel of Mark.
Why Mark? It is the first (chronologically) and one of the easiest and quickest (he often says “immediately”) and gives a lot of detail for the non-jewish (us) reader.
He wasn’t one of the disciples. But I believe he was there to see at least some of the events that happened. And it is well understood that this writer wrote under the direction of Peter. As early as 120 AD the early church understood Mark to be the interpreter, or secretary, of Peter. It is also thought that this Mark was the one who in this gospel is written, “A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When the seized him, he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.” (Mark 14:51-52) We do not know who this young man was, but most church leaders and writers of the first 400 years of the church (and into today) believe it was Mark.
Imagine the fear and the faith of this young man –first seeing the Jesus arrested, then seeing the disciples flee, then he himself –following, and then seized! The on the surface is a little comical –he fled naked, but stop and think for a moment of the deep faith, the commitment, the desire to be close to Jesus –even as he is arrested and all others flee! The question may well be asked, why would Mark be there, that night? From the earliest authors in church history it is believed that it was at his mother’s home where the last supper was held. Imagine the power and impact that this alone would have on this young man’s life! Although not a participant, he may well have helped prepare the food, helped do some of the serving, listened in on some of the teaching of Jesus that night. We do not know the age of Mark at this point, but it is thought he was in his teenage years.
I want to stop here for a moment. This is mother’s day. Note the impact that Mary opening her home to Jesus had on this young man. The impressions we can make are powerful when we are open to be used by God –even in practicing hospitality.
But the account of this young man and his faith do not stop here. We read later in Acts 12:12 that when Peter is miraculously freed from prison. (read Acts 5-7, 12). This was the place where the church regularly met, it was here they prayed, and it was here Peter went. Again note, this home environment in which Mark was exposed to the teachings and ministry of Peter at an early age. We also know that Mark was a cousin to Barnabas who went with Paul on Paul’s first missionary journey and then alter went with Barnabas on other trips. He later was highly regarded and commended by Paul as His companion when Paul was imprisoned in Rome (II Tim. 4:11).
And later he was with Peter, according to church history. And so the richness of experience, the hearing of the stories over and over from Peter himself, the experiences of his encounters with the disciples with Paul, the mission’s trips with Barnabas all add to the texture of this young man’s life. For over 20 years he has been hearing and sharing the account of Jesus. And now, listening to the teachings of Peter about Jesus, he writes down the events so that we can know, so that we can see, so that we can learn about this most incredible person –Jesus Christ, the son of God!
And Mark begins, not with the birth of Jesus, like Matthew and Luke, but with the ministry of Jesus. He starts, “the beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ the Son of God.” These opening words are full of power and hope, love and grace.
He simply and powerfully starts, “beginning.” And it reminds us of the opening of Genesis 1:1, “beginning.” Just as God, in the beginning steps into our history and begins to work, so Jesus steps into creation and begins to work. We begin at the beginning with about whom this is about –Jesus. This is not a book about Peter, or Barnabas, or Paul or some other of the well known disciples these influences in Marks’ life –this is about Jesus Himself, coming into his creation. John writes similarly, “In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God, he was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made, without him nothing was made that has been made.” And Paul expands on this in the letter to the church of Colosse, READ 1:15-17. What a picture, what a depth, just in one word as comes into His creation to continue the redemptive work God planned for in the beginning.
And this beginning is good news! It is the gospel, the “euangelion” about Jesus Christ. This gospel is an important subject for Mark. The word appears seven times (used 4 in Matthew and none in the other two gospels except as a genitive verb). This good news, this gospel, is offered as hope to the neglected and the oppressed, the lost and the weary, the struggling and the expectant. This is good news! Good news about Jesus, by Jesus and in Jesus Christ. This good news is that God has provided salvation through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Again, we look to Paul as he continues to write in Colossi ans 1, (verses 19-23).
This is the good news, the beginning of the good news about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Oh, there is so much wrapped up in these names –Jesus, Hebrew “Joshua” Yeshua, meaning god is salvation. Matthew picks this up as we saw in the opening call to worship “you are to give him the name Jesus because he will save his people from the sins.” Christ, which means anointed, or in Hebrew, “messiah.” He is uniquely commissioned, solitarily given the task, the one who would restore God’s people.
And he is God’s son. He and he alone has the unique relationship with the Father. Although Mark mentions this title only a few times, it was John who amplified this close connection between Jesus and the Father. John 3:16 is one great example of Jesus talking about his connection to the father and then in his great prayer in John 17 we read, “Father the time has com. Glorify your Son that you son may glorify you.” And even more, this statement, “the Son of God” pronounces the deity of Jesus Christ –He is God.
I know that most of you do not know biblical Greek. But I want to read this opening verse to you in the greek and then transliterate it. “’arxn, tou euangelliou Insou Xristou uiou theou.” It reads, beginning, the gospel Jesus Christ son of God. It punches in bold declaration what this letter is about and who it is about. He is the gospel. It is the good news of Jesus, about Jesus, by Jesus, the son of God.
Come, let us seek to know Him better that we too may proclaim the good news.
Jesus Christ fulfills scripture -Mark 1:2-12
From the sermon preached May 20, 2012
As we look at the life of Jesus Christ, we could literally spend a lifetime exploring all that scripture has to say about him. Charles Spurgeon, called the price of preachers, once wrote, “Nobody ever outgrows scripture. The book widens and deepens with our years.” Not only do we have the 4 gospels, the 4 messages of good news, but also the OT prophecies, the testimonies of other biblical writers such as Paul and John. And it was John the apostle that said, “If we were to have written down everything that Jesus said and did, even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” (John 21:25) This incredible tapestry of Jesus life –contained largely within a three year period, has impacted people, governments and societies far beyond what we can imagine.
In the gospel of Mark, we have the shortest, but not the least of the gospels. And in it, the writer, Mark, brings us often just a brief glimpse into some of the events and teaching of Jesus. And yet it is a powerfully woven account of Jesus ministry. 16 short chapters, almost a third of which is given over to just the last week and days of Jesus life.
Mark writes with a sense of excitement and purpose. It is almost as if he cannot wait to tell us of the next event, the next teaching of Jesus. The words seem to pour out in rapid succession, like a young child who is so excited to tell you about the adventure he just had.
And there is no wasted space here in this (or any) gospel. Each thing Mark tells us is important. As he records the passion and messages of Peter, you can almost sense the voice of Peter rising in an excited narrative of the things He experienced with Jesus. Like someone who has just come back from a trip of a lifetime trying to tell you everything they saw and did over a three year period in short hour! That is about how long you could take reading Mark at a steady pace.
And in so many ways it is an honest, raw testimony of one who walked, slept and ate with Jesus. Peter, who literally cried in panic on a stormy sea while Jesus slept on a cushion, who took bread broken from 5 loaves and helped feed thousands, who saw the glorified Son of God talk with Moses and Elijah, who argued about being the greatest of the disciples and was rebuked in front of the others for trying to talk Jesus out of moving towards the cross. And then the great shame of denying Jesus in the dark hours before dawn before Jesus went to the cross. And then the horror of the event of the trial and crucifixion. Until finally, in somewhat brief fashion, the most wonderful and amazing event caps off this quick paced narrative –the resurrection.
Everything Mark records is important. And if we were to take the time to look at each event, each teaching, each healing and miracle –just in this short book, we would barely have time in this life to fully understand or grasp the depth and richness of who Jesus is. So I won’t try to do this in this look at Jesus’ life and ministry. But come, let us catch a glimpse of this amazing life lived, given and open for us –the life and good news about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
That is how Mark begins his writing -with a short, powerful, pointed and clear statement, “The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”
In a world and time when so much seems chaotic, it is important for us to see that God is in control. The world of the early church and the place of Israel was not a bucolic ideal world of peace and prosperity, but rather a brutal and often tense time of rebellion, protest and political maneuvering. Much like today with the uncertainty of politics, economy and war in our world. Into this chaos, in this world of suppression, oppression and fear, God gives light through prophecy, hope through the words of inspired men from years past. Here, Mark gives us the prophecy of Isaiah from Isaiah 40. (note it says from Isaiah but includes Malachi –often the part of the OT which consists of the prophets was called the prophecies of Isaiah because it is the first and largest of the prophetic books).
Over and over, Mark, as do the other writers, brings to the reader’s attention that the coming of Jesus, the ministry of Jesus, the teachings of Jesus, the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, the hope and good news of Jesus Christ is embedded into the fabric of scripture –the Old Testament, prophesied hundreds of years before. And there are literally hundreds of prophecies throughout the OT which tell not only of the coming of Jesus, but his ministry, purpose and yes, his death and resurrection. This coming of Jesus was and is part of God’s plan, fulfillment of God’s bringing back to him a people who were and are in rebellion to Him.
And this is the good news! That a holy and righteous Creator would and did provide a way for a sinful and rebellious people to come into a relationship with Him. It was in his plan, in his providence for us, to provide a way of salvation, of restoration, of forgiveness and reconciliation with himself. How? Through Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Mankind, in faith and repentance can, through Christ, become God’s people by –as Jesus would proclaim very shortly in Mark 1:15, repenting and believing the good news, the gospel. In fact, that is the gospel –the good news –that God the righteous Creator has provided a way of salvation for a sinful and rebellious man through Jesus Christ, His Son. And by believing in Him and repenting of our sin, we can enter a dynamic loving relationship with the eternal God.
And here in Mark we see God’s plan unfold as the prophecy comes true and a man named John the Baptizer comes preaching, baptizing and preparing the way of the Lord. In a few short sentences Mark gives us the message and ministry of John the Baptizer. Mark would have written maybe 25-30 years after the events so there would have been people still alive who could attest to seeing and hearing John. Peter would write, later, in a short letter about being a witness to these things (II Peter 1:12-21). John the Baptizer’s message was simple, “get ready for One who is greater than me is coming. Confess –agree with God you are not right with him, and receive his forgiveness; repent –turn back to God and draw closer to him; and, be baptized to show your sincerity.”
John the Baptizer came to prepare the way, according to scripture. And then Jesus comes, according to scripture and in rapid succession of just 4 verses, Mark tells us of Jesus’ baptism, the pronouncement of the Father, the ascent of the Spirit, the trial in the desert, the temptation offered by Satan and the triumph of Christ in these things. Luke and Matthew expand on these events which take place over about 6 weeks. It is not that Mark thinks these events are not important –they are super important, and behind them are so much theology and depth that I am sure as people heard the words and read the words, they discussed long about what it meant.
For example, the baptism of Jesus which marks the beginning of His ministry. Why was Jesus baptized? It is not that he had sin to repent or forgiveness to find –he was perfect and without sin. But this baptism identifies him with us as a people and marks the beginning of his ministry that says I am turned fully and completely towards the father –this is my mission, my goal, my purpose. I am completely devoted to do the will of my Father.
The voice of God the Father coming down and pronouncing his pleasure and love for his son. For me it echoes back to Genesis 1 when God created Adam and blessed him and pronounced his creation very good. And then we read of Jesus being taken, literally thrown (ekballei) into the wilderness. And there is almost a reverse image of Adam here.
Adam was in the ideal place –Eden. It was in this garden, this beautiful place we often wish we could be in, it was here He was tempted and rebelled against God. And after the fall, he is cast out into the dust and the thorns and the barrenness of the world. Jesus is cast out into the desert and it is here he is tempted by Satan, not in the comfort and joy of Eden, but in the harsh realities of the fall. And over the next 40 days Jesus is tempted not just once, not twice, or even three times (we are told of three specific temptations) but the wording here indicates it was continual. In Hebrews we read that Jesus was tempted like us in every way yet was without sin (4:15), and that he “had been made like his brothers in every way…because he himself suffered when he was tempted, and he is able to help those who are being tempted.” (2:17-18)
And through his victory against Satan in the desert, the “heal” of Jesus began to crush the head of the serpent as predicted way back in Genesis 3:15. And then the angels attended him and Mark adds this interesting short phrase, he was with the wild animals.
To me it is a picture of creation beginning to be restored to what God intended. Man once again in harmony with creation. It was here, that Jesus in obedience and faithfulness began to restore what had been lost. And it is through Christ Jesus that man can move from the desert back to the garden. Let me share with you a glimpse of what is yet to come for us, what is yet to be for those who believe in Christ, confess and repent –turning toward God through Christ. Revelation 22:1-5. Jesus Christ has come to reverse the fall, to vanquish death, to give life, to find the lost, to restore the rebellious –to lead us from the desert.
Paul talks of this dynamic between Adam and Jesus in Romans 5. Paul writes that sin entered the world through one man –Adam. And how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by grace of the one man Jesus Christ flow out to the many! (*read 5:17) And then in I Corinthians 15:22 Paul writes, “For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all [who belong to him] will be made alive (add verse 23)”
This is good news! This is great news! In these few short verses in Mark we can see the depth of God’s working, the richness of Christ’s coming, the fulfilling of scripture and the stirring of hope.
And this is not only good news for the people of that time –it is good news for us today. We are just as rebellious and separate from God because of sin as were people 50, 100, 1000, 2000 years ago. Jesus Christ, the Son of God has come and begun the process of restoration and reconciliation for man with God. II Corinthians 5:17-19a.
And for those who have been reconciled, who through faith and repentance have become the children of God, we now have been called and commissioned and empowered to continue this message of reconciliation, this good news (19b—20a).
Mark begins his account of Jesus’ life with a rapid pronouncement –this is the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the son of God. Followed by a brief glimpse of the fulfilling of prophecy and the coming of John the Baptizer, then the powerful image of Christ being baptized and the father’s declaration of his love. And finally the beginning of the restoration of man to God in the fall as Jesus in word and deed
This is the beginning –just the beginning, of the good news about Jesus Christ, the son of God!
Praise be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!
As we look at the life of Jesus Christ, we could literally spend a lifetime exploring all that scripture has to say about him. Charles Spurgeon, called the price of preachers, once wrote, “Nobody ever outgrows scripture. The book widens and deepens with our years.” Not only do we have the 4 gospels, the 4 messages of good news, but also the OT prophecies, the testimonies of other biblical writers such as Paul and John. And it was John the apostle that said, “If we were to have written down everything that Jesus said and did, even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” (John 21:25) This incredible tapestry of Jesus life –contained largely within a three year period, has impacted people, governments and societies far beyond what we can imagine.
In the gospel of Mark, we have the shortest, but not the least of the gospels. And in it, the writer, Mark, brings us often just a brief glimpse into some of the events and teaching of Jesus. And yet it is a powerfully woven account of Jesus ministry. 16 short chapters, almost a third of which is given over to just the last week and days of Jesus life.
Mark writes with a sense of excitement and purpose. It is almost as if he cannot wait to tell us of the next event, the next teaching of Jesus. The words seem to pour out in rapid succession, like a young child who is so excited to tell you about the adventure he just had.
And there is no wasted space here in this (or any) gospel. Each thing Mark tells us is important. As he records the passion and messages of Peter, you can almost sense the voice of Peter rising in an excited narrative of the things He experienced with Jesus. Like someone who has just come back from a trip of a lifetime trying to tell you everything they saw and did over a three year period in short hour! That is about how long you could take reading Mark at a steady pace.
And in so many ways it is an honest, raw testimony of one who walked, slept and ate with Jesus. Peter, who literally cried in panic on a stormy sea while Jesus slept on a cushion, who took bread broken from 5 loaves and helped feed thousands, who saw the glorified Son of God talk with Moses and Elijah, who argued about being the greatest of the disciples and was rebuked in front of the others for trying to talk Jesus out of moving towards the cross. And then the great shame of denying Jesus in the dark hours before dawn before Jesus went to the cross. And then the horror of the event of the trial and crucifixion. Until finally, in somewhat brief fashion, the most wonderful and amazing event caps off this quick paced narrative –the resurrection.
Everything Mark records is important. And if we were to take the time to look at each event, each teaching, each healing and miracle –just in this short book, we would barely have time in this life to fully understand or grasp the depth and richness of who Jesus is. So I won’t try to do this in this look at Jesus’ life and ministry. But come, let us catch a glimpse of this amazing life lived, given and open for us –the life and good news about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
That is how Mark begins his writing -with a short, powerful, pointed and clear statement, “The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”
In a world and time when so much seems chaotic, it is important for us to see that God is in control. The world of the early church and the place of Israel was not a bucolic ideal world of peace and prosperity, but rather a brutal and often tense time of rebellion, protest and political maneuvering. Much like today with the uncertainty of politics, economy and war in our world. Into this chaos, in this world of suppression, oppression and fear, God gives light through prophecy, hope through the words of inspired men from years past. Here, Mark gives us the prophecy of Isaiah from Isaiah 40. (note it says from Isaiah but includes Malachi –often the part of the OT which consists of the prophets was called the prophecies of Isaiah because it is the first and largest of the prophetic books).
Over and over, Mark, as do the other writers, brings to the reader’s attention that the coming of Jesus, the ministry of Jesus, the teachings of Jesus, the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, the hope and good news of Jesus Christ is embedded into the fabric of scripture –the Old Testament, prophesied hundreds of years before. And there are literally hundreds of prophecies throughout the OT which tell not only of the coming of Jesus, but his ministry, purpose and yes, his death and resurrection. This coming of Jesus was and is part of God’s plan, fulfillment of God’s bringing back to him a people who were and are in rebellion to Him.
And this is the good news! That a holy and righteous Creator would and did provide a way for a sinful and rebellious people to come into a relationship with Him. It was in his plan, in his providence for us, to provide a way of salvation, of restoration, of forgiveness and reconciliation with himself. How? Through Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Mankind, in faith and repentance can, through Christ, become God’s people by –as Jesus would proclaim very shortly in Mark 1:15, repenting and believing the good news, the gospel. In fact, that is the gospel –the good news –that God the righteous Creator has provided a way of salvation for a sinful and rebellious man through Jesus Christ, His Son. And by believing in Him and repenting of our sin, we can enter a dynamic loving relationship with the eternal God.
And here in Mark we see God’s plan unfold as the prophecy comes true and a man named John the Baptizer comes preaching, baptizing and preparing the way of the Lord. In a few short sentences Mark gives us the message and ministry of John the Baptizer. Mark would have written maybe 25-30 years after the events so there would have been people still alive who could attest to seeing and hearing John. Peter would write, later, in a short letter about being a witness to these things (II Peter 1:12-21). John the Baptizer’s message was simple, “get ready for One who is greater than me is coming. Confess –agree with God you are not right with him, and receive his forgiveness; repent –turn back to God and draw closer to him; and, be baptized to show your sincerity.”
John the Baptizer came to prepare the way, according to scripture. And then Jesus comes, according to scripture and in rapid succession of just 4 verses, Mark tells us of Jesus’ baptism, the pronouncement of the Father, the ascent of the Spirit, the trial in the desert, the temptation offered by Satan and the triumph of Christ in these things. Luke and Matthew expand on these events which take place over about 6 weeks. It is not that Mark thinks these events are not important –they are super important, and behind them are so much theology and depth that I am sure as people heard the words and read the words, they discussed long about what it meant.
For example, the baptism of Jesus which marks the beginning of His ministry. Why was Jesus baptized? It is not that he had sin to repent or forgiveness to find –he was perfect and without sin. But this baptism identifies him with us as a people and marks the beginning of his ministry that says I am turned fully and completely towards the father –this is my mission, my goal, my purpose. I am completely devoted to do the will of my Father.
The voice of God the Father coming down and pronouncing his pleasure and love for his son. For me it echoes back to Genesis 1 when God created Adam and blessed him and pronounced his creation very good. And then we read of Jesus being taken, literally thrown (ekballei) into the wilderness. And there is almost a reverse image of Adam here.
Adam was in the ideal place –Eden. It was in this garden, this beautiful place we often wish we could be in, it was here He was tempted and rebelled against God. And after the fall, he is cast out into the dust and the thorns and the barrenness of the world. Jesus is cast out into the desert and it is here he is tempted by Satan, not in the comfort and joy of Eden, but in the harsh realities of the fall. And over the next 40 days Jesus is tempted not just once, not twice, or even three times (we are told of three specific temptations) but the wording here indicates it was continual. In Hebrews we read that Jesus was tempted like us in every way yet was without sin (4:15), and that he “had been made like his brothers in every way…because he himself suffered when he was tempted, and he is able to help those who are being tempted.” (2:17-18)
And through his victory against Satan in the desert, the “heal” of Jesus began to crush the head of the serpent as predicted way back in Genesis 3:15. And then the angels attended him and Mark adds this interesting short phrase, he was with the wild animals.
To me it is a picture of creation beginning to be restored to what God intended. Man once again in harmony with creation. It was here, that Jesus in obedience and faithfulness began to restore what had been lost. And it is through Christ Jesus that man can move from the desert back to the garden. Let me share with you a glimpse of what is yet to come for us, what is yet to be for those who believe in Christ, confess and repent –turning toward God through Christ. Revelation 22:1-5. Jesus Christ has come to reverse the fall, to vanquish death, to give life, to find the lost, to restore the rebellious –to lead us from the desert.
Paul talks of this dynamic between Adam and Jesus in Romans 5. Paul writes that sin entered the world through one man –Adam. And how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by grace of the one man Jesus Christ flow out to the many! (*read 5:17) And then in I Corinthians 15:22 Paul writes, “For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all [who belong to him] will be made alive (add verse 23)”
This is good news! This is great news! In these few short verses in Mark we can see the depth of God’s working, the richness of Christ’s coming, the fulfilling of scripture and the stirring of hope.
And this is not only good news for the people of that time –it is good news for us today. We are just as rebellious and separate from God because of sin as were people 50, 100, 1000, 2000 years ago. Jesus Christ, the Son of God has come and begun the process of restoration and reconciliation for man with God. II Corinthians 5:17-19a.
And for those who have been reconciled, who through faith and repentance have become the children of God, we now have been called and commissioned and empowered to continue this message of reconciliation, this good news (19b—20a).
Mark begins his account of Jesus’ life with a rapid pronouncement –this is the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the son of God. Followed by a brief glimpse of the fulfilling of prophecy and the coming of John the Baptizer, then the powerful image of Christ being baptized and the father’s declaration of his love. And finally the beginning of the restoration of man to God in the fall as Jesus in word and deed
This is the beginning –just the beginning, of the good news about Jesus Christ, the son of God!
Praise be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!
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