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!
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