Who is Jesus? Everyone has an opinion, and everyone wants Jesus in their corner. Many agree that Jesus was a moral teacher. Some would call him a philosopher. Social justice activists claim that Jesus would support their causes. Politicians claim Jesus would support their policies. Recently, Gavin Newsom, governor of California, said that providing abortions is a way to love your neighbor and quoted from Mark 12:31.
But who is Jesus, really? Today, we begin a new sermon series through the Gospel of Mark. If you would, go ahead and turn there. As Christians, we should get our picture of Jesus from the culture. We should not learn of Jesus from liberal churches and pastors who don’t really believe the Bible. Instead, we should go straight to the original sources.
That’s what the Gospels are. The Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) are historically accurate records of the life of Jesus Christ. More specifically, the Gospels are carefully constructed narratives that proclaim the gospel message of Jesus.[1]Robin Sydserff, Teaching Mark: From Text to Message, 91. Collectively, the Gospels give us his lineage, his birth narrative, his ministry, and his teachings. They tell us about his death on the cross for sin and his resurrection and that one day he will return in glory to judge the nations.
There is no more important question that you will ever answer than, “Who is Jesus?” Thus, we will spend a little over 50 Sundays answering that very question by walking through the Gospel of Mark.
I’ve provided an overview of Mark in your bulletin. I’m not going to read that to you, but I do want to hit some highlights.
Overview of Book
The Gospel of Mark was written by John Mark. Mark served with Paul and was also a close companion of Peter. In fact, Peter provides the source material for Mark. In Mark, the details of the stories are vivid and there are often more details provided than the other gospel accounts. This is because Peter was the leader of the disciples, and he provided an eyewitness account.
The Gospel of Mark was probably written in Rome and for Gentile Christians in Rome. It seems Mark was writing to Gentiles because he took time to explain Jewish customs in addition to translating Aramaic expressions and using Latin terms and measurements.
Mark does not provide a purpose statement for his gospel like Luke or John but there are at least four purposes for his writing.
- To demonstrate to non-Christians that Jesus is the Son of God because of his authority over nature, demons, death, and sickness.
- To provide an apologetic that in spite of his crucifixion, which was a death reserved for criminals and slaves, that Romans should follow Jesus even though many Jews had rejected him.
- To show that Jesus, not Caesar, is the true Son of God, Savior, and Lord.
- To teach Christians about the nature of discipleship.
There are a lot of opinions about what it means to be a Christian. Mark writes for us the words of Jesus so that we can know what it means to follow Jesus as his disciple.
The structure of Mark can be broken down several ways but I want to give you two. One way is to look at the geography of Jesus’s ministry. Another way is to basically cut the book in two halves with the first teaching us about who Jesus is and the second teaching us why Jesus came.
I’m ecstatic to begin Mark today and I hope and pray it will be a blessing to our church. I pray it will help us to know Jesus, to love Jesus, and to follow Jesus in all of life for the rest of life.
Sermon Text: Mark 1:1-8
The Gospel is the Fulfillment of Old Testament Scriptures (1-3)
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,
“Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way,
3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight,’”
1
At the time of Mark’s writing, Jesus had been crucified, dead, buried, resurrected, and ascended probably about 25 years.
Mark’s very first words: “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”
The rest of the Gospel sets out the facts. Jesus is the Messiah (Christ) and he is the Son of God. The word gospel means “good news.” Thus, Mark has set out to explain the good news about who Jesus is, what he came to do, and what it means to follow Him.
First, who is Jesus?
“Jesus” is the Greek name for the Hebrew Joshua: “Yahweh (God) is salvation.”
“Christ” is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew Messiah: “the anointed one” or “the anointed king.”
Initially a title, “Christ” became part of the name of our Lord. But not only is Jesus the Messiah.[2]Daniel Akin, Christ-Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Mark, 5. Jesus is the very Son of God. He is the eternal Son of God who took on human flesh to save his people from their sins.
Second, what did Jesus do?
Jesus did a number of things during his ministry, but of course the main reason that he came according to Mark was not to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).
Third, what does it mean to follow Jesus?
During Jesus’ ministry, he called people to follow Him. Throughout Mark, we get a picture of what it means to follow Christ as his disciples.
In today’s times, Mark’s message would be something like this: I want you to know and trust that Jesus is indeed the Messiah and the Son of God and to follow Him.
In today’s times, Mark’s message would be something like this: I want you to know and trust that Jesus is indeed the Messiah and the Son of God and to follow Him.
This is really the aim of this sermon series. During our time in the Gospel of Mark I want you to get to know Jesus more fully so that you will trust and follow him more passionately. If you’re reading this and you’re not a Christian, I want to encourage you to examine the message of the Gospel of Mark and to trust in Jesus Christ and His life, death, and resurrection as the atoning sacrifice for your sins.
2-3
By referencing the Old Testament, Mark is making it clear that Jesus’ coming is a fulfillment of Old Testament promise and a continuation of God’s saving activity. In simple terms, the Old Testament Scriptures point to Jesus (John 5:39).
Mark’s quote in vv. 2-3 combines material from Exodus 23:20, Malachi 3:1, and Isaiah 40:3. Why does Mark only mention Isaiah? In New Testament times, it was customary to refer to the more famous source, which here is Isaiah.
Exodus 23:20 is God’s promise to send his messenger before the Israelites on their exodus through the desert to the Promised Land.
Malachi 3:1 warned that God would send a messenger to prepare the way for the Lord who comes in judgment. The Lord Jesus would judge his people to refine and purify them.
In contrast, Isaiah 40 is a message of hope and comfort. Isaiah 40:3 spoke of a messenger preparing the way for God who was coming to restore his people by bringing them back from Babylon to the Promised Land.
Putting these texts together, John the Baptist is the “messenger”, “the voice calling out in the wilderness” who prepares the way for the Lord who is coming to bring judgment and salvation.[3]Sydserff, Teaching Mark, 122.
Thus, the blended citation to these Old Testament Scriptures is meant to draw attention to the messenger, the Lord, and the wilderness.[4]William L. Lane, The Gospel of Mark, The New International Commentary on the New Testament, 46.
Remember, there is a 400-year gap between Malachi (the end of the Old Testament) and the early events of the New Testament. The Old Testament anticipated a Messiah and the Israelites were looking for him. Here, these verses signal a new exodus and deliverance, which is exactly what’s needed when you’re suffering like the Roman Christians were.
John the Baptist serves a messenger/forerunner of Jesus (4-8)
4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
Why does the Gospel of Mark begin with the story of John the Baptist rather than Jesus’ birth? Here are three reasons:
- Mark portrays Jesus as a servant.
- Mark is writing to a Gentile audience. Genealogies were more important for Jews than Romans.
- Mark is writing to a Roman audience. In Roman culture during biblical times, Roman officials were always preceded by a herald. Thus, Roman Christians would have perceived that Jesus was important because he had a messenger who prepared the way.
4-5
John was baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
John was not teaching salvation through baptism, but rather that his baptism was preparation for the forgiveness of sins that Christ would accomplish through his death and resurrection.[5]Akin, Exalting Jesus in Mark, 8.
We cannot miss the radicalness of these Jewish people being baptized. While the Jews did practice ceremonial washings, they were not immersed. The only time that immersion was practiced was when a non-Jew converted to Judaism. Therefore, to tell Jewish people that they had to be baptized and to repent like non-Jews would have been offensive. Craig Keener writes, “Most Jewish people thought that if they were born into a Jewish family and did not reject God’s law, they would be saved; John told them instead that they had to come to God the same way that non-Jews did. The point of John’s baptism is that everyone has to come to God on the same terms.”[6]Craig Keener, The IVP Bible Backgrounds Commentary: New Testament, Mark 1:4-5.
The Jews were now being asked to do something they had never done before in their history! The idea of Jews being baptized was unheard of and was a radical departure from Jewish custom! To call all Israel to baptism implies that in some way all Israel is defiled. This was why John was called “The Baptizer.” There had never been anyone like him.
John was baptizing in the Jordan River, the very river where Israel entered the promised land after spending 40 years in the wilderness. All of this was meant to symbolize that a new exodus had arrived. Just as Israel had been delivered from slavery to the Egyptians, Jesus would set his people free from the bondage of slavery to sin.
6-8
I would venture to say that if I had been dressed like John the Baptist I would not have been called by my church to be their pastor! Note the following characteristics about John.
- John’s residence: in the wilderness
- John’s wardrobe: clothing made of camel’s hair and a leather belt
- John’s diet: locusts with honey for dessert
John lived in the wilderness and dressed like Elijah (2 Kings 1:8), a prophet who called his people to repentance. John’s lifestyle contrasted starkly with the religious leaders of the day who lived in luxury and loved positions of authority.
John’s message (7-8)
John’s baptism was preparation for the forgiveness Christ would accomplish by his death and resurrection. It was a washing signifying that the baptized were ready for the coming kingdom of God.
John: “After me comes someone who is much greater than I. I am not even worthy to take his shoes off.” Removing one’s shoes was something done by servants and slaves. It was behavior seen to be beneath a free Jew. And yet, John said he was not worthy to even remove Jesus’ shoes.
John: I have baptized you with water, but he will Baptist you with the Holy Spirit. I don’t have the power to do this, but he does!
John was saying the water he baptized with will clean the outside. It would prepare them for the baptism to come but when Jesus baptized them with the Spirit, he would clean the inside.
You see, when you receive the Holy Spirit, He permeates every part of you.
We need more Christians like John the Baptist. He was not concerned with fame, money, position or looking good. There are a lot of Christians (and pastors) that are more concerned with having a clean appearance than having a clean heart. Churches are should not seek to grow bigger and bigger to pat ourselves on the back.
There are a lot of Christians (and pastors) that are more concerned with having a clean appearance than having a clean heart.
Rather, our focus should be like John – we should humble ourselves and point people to Jesus as we recognize that only he can save us from our sins through His death and resurrection. In turn, our lives will be changed as we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit.
John had one message (John 3:30) – I am not worthy. Jesus is worthy. Follow him.
John was not a man that was afraid of death but told his audience they were a brood of vipers and called them to bear fruit in keeping with repentance (Matt 3:8). He was beheaded because he challenged King Herod and called him out for his sexual sin with his brother’s wife (Mark 6:14-29).
God, give us more Christians and pastors like John the Baptist
Conclusion
Mark’s message: “Behold, the son of God!”
- Jesus was anticipated by the OT
- John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus
We’re told in Matthew’s gospel that the religious leaders argued with John the Baptist. They did this because they were more concerned with appearances than having their hearts cleansed by Jesus.
What about you? Are you more like the religious leaders who cared more about looking spiritual than being spiritually cleansed? I pray that we would like John the Baptist who truly wanted to decrease so that Christ might increase.
Maybe you’re reading this and you have been baptized with water but you’ve never had your heart penetrated and permeated by the Holy Spirit. If so, repent and trust in Jesus.
May we be like John the Baptist. If so, you will know you were completely unworthy of God’s goodness, but because of Jesus you have had your life changed and now you want to point others towards him.
Mark’s words should pierce us this morning. They remind us that Jesus came and obeyed God perfectly because we couldn’t. We should repent of our sins, trust Him in all of life, be baptized, and then point others to Him. This is our mission as a church and our mandate as followers of Jesus!
References
| ↑1 | Robin Sydserff, Teaching Mark: From Text to Message, 91. |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | Daniel Akin, Christ-Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Mark, 5. |
| ↑3 | Sydserff, Teaching Mark, 122. |
| ↑4 | William L. Lane, The Gospel of Mark, The New International Commentary on the New Testament, 46. |
| ↑5 | Akin, Exalting Jesus in Mark, 8. |
| ↑6 | Craig Keener, The IVP Bible Backgrounds Commentary: New Testament, Mark 1:4-5. |
