Like any good storyteller Mark begins to unravel the story of the gospel by starting way back at the very beginning. As readers we’re drawn into two prophecies 300 years apart and some (500 years) before the time of our story. In our minds eye we can picture the prophets confidently proclaiming the coming of a messenger who will prepare the way of the Messiah. Then we are almost crushed by a deafening silence as we wait hundreds of years for this messenger to come. Perhaps we grow weary of waiting or even despair his coming.
Then just as quickly we are rushed onto the banks of the Jordan into the presence of an unkempt man dressed in camel’s hair thronged by people from all walks of life, form the city of Jerusalem and the country side of Judea. This man, John the Baptist, preaches a message of repentance. This message cuts to the heart of many hearers who are touched and made aware of their sins. Choosing to repent and be baptized. Though all the country comes to see him, this prophet of God shuns the accepted comforts of life choosing to eat locust and wild honey. He remains dedicated to the message that one who is mightier than himself is coming soon. Then the story starts to quicken.
Jesus of Nazareth appears on this seen at the Jordan River. Upon being baptized the heavens descend upon Jesus. God speaks. Immediately Jesus is driven into the wilderness to be tempted. John the Baptist is arrested. Jesus enters Galilee and proclaims the ancient prophecies fulfilled. The kingdom of God is at hand. Hearers must now not only repent but ‘believe in the gospel’. The story has now finally begun.
The pace of our story quickens yet again as Jesus calls out Simon, Andrew, James and John to immediately follow him. They respond. The sick are healed and the demon-possessed are set free. Demons convulse and cry out in accusation. Entire cities gather at his door seeking healing from the one who speaks with authority unlike the scribes. Jesus commands a healed leper to tell no one of his healing. Yet still the crowds grow forcing Jesus outside the city into the deserted places. From above we see the people continue to come from all directions.
And it’s only Chapter 1.
- v. 1-3 – “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ”
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Jesus Christ did not barge into history like an uninvited guest at a party. The beginning of the gospel of Christ was started and prepared by many who came before him. Mark specifically refers to two prophecies (Isa. 40:3, Mal. 3.1) which foretold of the coming of a messenger in the wilderness who would prepare the way for Christ.
Christ did not enter the world without first preparing a way for His entry. What might this tell us about the character of God?
- v. 4-8 – “A baptism of repentance”
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John’s gospel was a gospel of repentance. Repentance requires: 1.) that you recognize your sin and 2.) that you turn away from your sin. John’s gospel prepares the way of Jesus by making us aware of our sin and giving us a desire to turn from our sinful ways. We all fall short (Rom 3.23). Before we can allow Christ to restore us we must realize and come to terms with out shortcomings.
One look at the demeanor and dress code of John the Baptist and it should be clear that the repentance he talked about was not a safe and comfortable religious ritual or intellectual assent to the depravity man. No, John’s repentance had consequences. Just look at the way he dressed! For John repentance did not mean business as usual but with a new outlook on life. True Repentance will always bring about change in our lives. If you are not ready for change then you are not ready for repentance.
As we begin our study in Mark is there anything in your life that you need to repent of? (Look at the sins of the flesh form Gal. 5:19-21 as a reminder of areas in our lives where sin often manifests itself. Perhaps there is sin in our attitudes or pride at work or toward our friends and family)
What’s keeping you from repenting of these items now and turning towards Christ?
John’s gospel of baptism and repentance are not in themselves complete, for there is still a greater gospel that comes after this (v.8). So great that John does not even consider himself worthy to untie it’s sandals. The greater baptism which John refers to is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. John’s baptism was for repentance of past sins but provided nothing, beyond our own human will power, to enable us to continue on without sin. The Holy Spirit is God’s gift to us and the enabling power that allows us to actually live out our repentance in Christ.
- For more on John the Baptist, see also: Mat 3.1-12, Mark 3.2-20, John 1.15
- 1.9-11: The Baptism of Jesus
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Jesus’ baptism was his first public appearance up to this time he had live in relative obscurity.
Why must Christ be baptized? If Christ was perfect then why did He need to repent? Christ was perfect and did not need to repent. Rather Christ was baptized out of obedience to his heavenly father. The act of baptism was a humbling of Christ down to the level of man. Being perfect Jesus made himself like an imperfect man and submitted to baptism. This was an act of consecration for our sake and not for His (John. 17:19)
- 1.12-13: The Temptation of Jesus
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Immediately the spirit drove Jesus into the desert. No sooner had His ministry started than Jesus is put to the test and tempted. If it happened to Jesus we should not be surprised if we face temptation immediately upon our embarking on a ministry.
The details of this temptation are expounded upon more in Mat 4.1-11 and Luke 4.1-13. We can learn much from these more detailed fuller accounts of Jesus’ temptation in the desert but the main lesson is that even though Jesus was hungry and tired (like we often are) he held fast to the Word of God to ward off Satan and resist the temptation. Likewise we must have God’s word hidden and ready in our hearts so that we may make quick use of it when our temptations come.
Extraordinary manifestations of his favour are wont to be followed by extraordinary temptations” -John Wesley
Satan is often at his most effective when we are tired and alone. How is your resistance level to temptation affected when you are tired and/or alone? What can you do increase your dependence on God during these times of temptation?
- 1.14-20: The Calling of Simon, James and John
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On the surface this calling was not a rational one. “Fisher of men” what the heck does that mean? The phrase has become a Christian cliché and most of us are familiar with it but to Simon and Andrew the phrase might have sounded at least a little weird.
But about the calling there was no question as Simon and Andrew, and later James and John, leave what and follow after Christ. These first disciples had to immediately leave there families and follow Jesus. They couldn’t consult with their wife’s and families, “Hey, honey do you think we should do this whole Jesus thing? Dad, I’m thinking of following Jesus what do you think, is it a good idea?”
Likewise the call we receive from Jesus is one of action and discipleship. We will see in later events in Mark that Jesus’ call is unique for every individual. Some people Jesus asks to leave all they have and to follow Him. While to others Jesus commands them to go back to their families. It’s not the specific actions of the call that are important but the obedience to the direction God calls us. We can not pretend to serve God and not be obedient to His call.
It’s may seem easy to see obedience to the call of Christ in a full time pastor or missionary but what does complete obedience to the call of Christ look like in the life of an average Joe working a secular job? How does an obedient life look financially or relationally? How does such a life compare to a life lived after the ‘American Dream’ of comfort and prosperity?
- 1.21-28: Casting out of the Unclean Spirit
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The unclean spirit is immediately fearful of Jesus’ power and aware of just how against evil Jesus is. There is often a desire to say that “Jesus is love” and leave our theology and beliefs about Jesus at a nice approachable level of fluffy love. This is partly correct. Nobody will ever love you as much as Jesus, not even your mom. But there is another side of God and this is that He is just and one day will bring judgment. The evil spirits were aware of God’s coming judgment and were correctly in fear of Jesus.
Like C.S. Lewis wrote in ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’ God is “not tame but he’s good” These demon knew the power of God and we’re wise not to sell Him short
- 1.29-38: Healing of Simon’s Mother in Law and many others
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This healing brought out “the whole city”. After living in relative obscurity for most of his life Jesus was more than busy. Even with all this work and demand upon his time Jesus still found energy to get up early and pray.
How’s your prayer life? Do you regularly find times to get alone with God and pray even when the other demands upon you time are great? This simple act of service to God will be honored (Jon. 12:26, 1 Sam. 2:30)
Even though “Everyone” was still looking for Jesus he had the discipline to stick to his plan and move one. Many of us would view this as leaving before the job is done; there were still people who wanted to be healed! But Jesus knew why he had come. He understood his plan and purpose and moved on.
If faced with a similar situation how many of us would have stayed where we were and been to busy to move on? Do you have a plane to know when you are in danger of reaming so busy that you may be missing an opportunity?
- 1.38-45: Healing of a Leper
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“If You are willing, You can make me clean”… The leper asks the right question and understands that Jesus is given the power to heal and that it was the compassion of Jesus that brought about the gift of healing not the demands and entreaties of the leper.
“show yourself to the priest”…The Mosaic Law required any Leper who is healed should show himself to the priest (Lev. 14:2-7) Here we see an evidence of the great respect and knowledge that Jesus had for the Law. But why command the man to be quiet?
- To fulfill the law: Jesus did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it (Mat. 5:17). Jesus not only commanded legal adherence but had the leper followed through on his obligations before the law even the priests who performed the cleansing ritual would have had no grounds for disbelief in Jesus. Even though the ritual must have seemed absurd to the leper Jesus desire it for good.
- To call the healed man to an even deeper faith: Jesus not only healed the leprosy but called the healed man to be obedient to the law. This act of obedience was the real test of his faith. He’d given Jesus his leprosy but would he give Jesus his life.
- See also: Mt. 8:2, Luke 5:12
The leper turned to Jesus in his time of illness but he didn’t follow through and obey Jesus’ command to go show himself to the priest. He experienced an extraordinary healing but wouldn’t follow through in the ordinary cleansing rituals. What does Jesus’ command to the leper say to us about how we should react to his miraculous acts in our lives?
The book of Mark starts fast and continues on quickly for the next 15 chapters. The lessons we learn through the rest of this study will be many but the theme will be the same “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel” Mar. 1.15. The story we began has already reached its climax and the silence of the prophets has been broken. The messenger has come and the way to God through the wilderness of our souls has been made know through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Lord may we believe more and more in your gospel with every day that passes. May your word come alive in our hearts and embolden our spirits. May our hearts be held sway but no one but you. Reveal to us yourself as we meditate on the works of your gospel. Come alive to use that we may hear your call clearly and send us your spirit that we have the strength to be obedient to your voice. -- Amen