MEASURES OF THE MESSIAH FROM MARK:
The Word about Jesus (Mark 1:1-15)
The Word about Jesus (Mark 1:1-15)
Dr. Paul Manuel—2014
Sometimes it takes a while before we have all the information we need to render a proper judgment.
Over the next four sessions, we will examine portions of Mark's gospel that confront everyone who would confess Jesus as the messiah.
In the first unit, the opening three verses, Mark alludes to...
I. The Promise of Deliverance (Mark 1:1-3)
The first quote seems to be the first part of...
Several times in the second half of Mark, the disciples experience consternation over Jesus' prediction of his death and the resultant failure, as they saw it, to establish the kingdom.5 This concern about the success of God's kingdom, no doubt, reached the believers to whom Mark was writing and even affects us today.6 Just as the disciples saw Jesus' death as the failure of God's plan, so others later view Jesus' delay in returning as the failure of God's plan. Peter addressed this doubt in his second epistle, because false teachers were scoffing at the belief that Jesus would return.
As we read about a slice of history in scripture— here, the beginning of Jesus' ministry—we must keep in mind that it is part of the much larger scope of history in scripture. In this case, Mark wants his readers to know that just as neither Babylonian domination nor Persian domination could impede the progress of God's program, that program is still in effect and continues to advance through the work of Jesus. This should provide confidence for the readers of this gospel, who live after the resurrection, and who probably wonder about the delay of the kingdom. It should also provide confidence for us as we encounter scoffers who say there will be no coming in power for the messiah.
With all that is happening in the world today, especially given the persistent and pernicious work of terrorists, do you really believe the kingdom of God is advancing, or do you think He has lost interest and has moved on to something else? Your answer marks a difference in how you look at the future and how you live in the present. What Mark recounts about Jesus' advent is a reminder that the plan is still on track and that you should be as well. So, when others scoff at what you believe or suggest that you adopt a freer lifestyle, not so confined by outdated rules, stay the course, because your deliverance is ultimately God's response to your perseverance.
In the second unit, vv. 4-8, Mark anticipates...
II. The Demands of Discipleship (Mark 1:4-8)
When John says that he is not fit to untie the thongs of Jesus' sandals, he is stressing Jesus' importance and expressing his own humility, because that is the task of a slave.13 Jesus is not John's successor, because John is less than Jesus.14 In fact, John does not even consider himself to be worthy to be Jesus' slave.15
Several times in the second half of the book, Jesus explains what true discipleship entails.
For many Christians, discipleship means indoctrinating a new believer in the faith, and I have several books in my library that treat discipleship as a program of study. While it certainly may begin that way and should probably continue that way, discipleship is more than reading your Bible, learning to pray, and going to church. It is servanthood. If the church practiced true discipleship, it would become a serving body, one with far less dissension. So, how would you describe your discipleship? How would others describe it? Do you embrace opportunities to serve others, or do you avoid them? If you are a disciple of Jesus, then you will look for and seize the opportunities God gives you to serve.
In the third unit, Mark illustrates...
III. The Power of Devotion (Mark 1:9-13)
In anther example of brevity, Mark abbreviates Jesus' temptation or testing experience, from 11 verses in Matthew and 13 verses in Luke to two verses here. Mark just says that the Spirit sends Jesus to an uninviting place for an unappealing purpose with a very unscrupulous person. This bare account, though, raises a disturbing question: Why would God do such a thing to His beloved son?22
The word translated "spirit" occurs primarily two ways in Mark.23 The first way is in this opening section, referring to the Holy Spirit. The second way is later in the chapter, referring to an evil spirit. These two ways illustrate the struggle that takes place between the kingdom of light and the dominion of darkness. What is clear in this first encounter, especially in the longer versions by Matthew and Luke, but in every subsequent encounter with the forces of evil as well, it is clear that Satan is no match for those who are devoted to God. As James writes,
Mark realizes that spiritual power, the kind that takes a stand against the forces of evil, is an essential commodity for the child of God.24 While it is good to know that the Holy Spirit empowers Jesus, enabling him to overcome the devil, John said in v. 8 that Jesus baptizes others with the Holy Spirit, making that same power available to them. Do you need such empowering? ...Of course you do.
In the fourth unit, Mark anticipates...
IV. The Difficulty of Decision (Mark 1:14-15)
The difficulty for many people in Mark's day, and the difficulty people face today, is not accepting that Jesus lived or even that he died but believing that he rose from the dead and will return to establish God's kingdom. The reason that is a problem is because dead men make no demands. Unless you went to see Altoona's famous Madam Ruby Lee, Psychic Adviser, you have probably not heard a peep from your great uncle Beuford since he passed away. Someone whom God has raised from the dead, however, demands attention and, in the case of the messiah, allegiance. Does Jesus have your attention? ... Does he have your allegiance?
In these opening verses, Mark gives The Word about Jesus, including...
A drunken cowboy lay sprawled across three entire seats in the posh Amarillo Theater. When the usher came by and noticed this, he whispered to the cowboy, "Sorry, sir, but you're only allowed one seat." The cowboy groaned but didn't budge. The usher became more impatient: "Sir, if you don't get up from there I'm going to have to call the manager." Once again, the cowboy just groaned. The usher marched briskly back up the aisle and, in a moment, he returned with the manager. Together the two of them tried repeatedly to move the cowboy, but with no success. Finally, they summoned the police. The Texas Ranger surveyed the situation briefly then asked, "All right buddy, what's your name?" "Sam," the cowboy moaned. "Where you from, Sam?" asked the Ranger. With pain in his voice Sam replied, " The balcony..."It is easy to jump to conclusions about why a situation is the way it is. So it is best if we are able to gather enough information to see the big picture before we render a judgment. This is what Mark attempts to provide for his readers in the introduction to his gospel, enough of an overview so they can understand and respond to what they will read in the rest of the book.
Over the next four sessions, we will examine portions of Mark's gospel that confront everyone who would confess Jesus as the messiah.
- Today, The Word about Jesus in the introduction to the book;
- Next, The Wonder over Jesus in an important passage from the first part of the book (the calming of the sea);
- Then, The Walk with Jesus in an important passage from the second part of the book (Jesus' warning about coming tensions); and
- Finally, The Witness for Jesus in the conclusion of the book.
- He leaves out the birth of John the Baptist and ignores the genealogies and infancy stories, material that fills two chapters for both Matthew and Luke.
- He condenses the baptism of Jesus and the temptation narrative so that his account is one-third the size of Matthew's and one-fifth the size of Luke's.
In the first unit, the opening three verses, Mark alludes to...
I. The Promise of Deliverance (Mark 1:1-3)
Mark 1:1 The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 It is written in Isaiah the prophet: "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way"—3 "a voice of one calling in the desert,1 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'"If your Bible has cross-references, you will notice that these two Old Testament quotations do not both come from Isaiah.2 The initial one is probably from Malachi,3 but as Isaiah is the first and largest of the prophetic scrolls, his name is prominent.4 So, what do they say that relates to the gospel?
The first quote seems to be the first part of...
Mal 3:1 "See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come," says the LORD Almighty.The second quote is...
Isa 40:3 A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God."Both passages speak about a prophet who will announce the advent of the Lord to deliver his people from foreign rule. In Isaiah's day, the dominating empire was Babylon. In Malachi's day, the dominating empire was Persia. In Mark's day, the dominating empire is Rome. The gospel writer's point may be that it does not matter who has dominion over God's people—Babylon, Persia, even Rome—because God is able to deliver them, and at this time He has sent John to announce that deliverance.
Several times in the second half of Mark, the disciples experience consternation over Jesus' prediction of his death and the resultant failure, as they saw it, to establish the kingdom.5 This concern about the success of God's kingdom, no doubt, reached the believers to whom Mark was writing and even affects us today.6 Just as the disciples saw Jesus' death as the failure of God's plan, so others later view Jesus' delay in returning as the failure of God's plan. Peter addressed this doubt in his second epistle, because false teachers were scoffing at the belief that Jesus would return.
2 Pet 3:3 ...in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation."Whenever believers have looked for the return, scoffers have denied the return. Mark's introduction anticipates the anxiety and allays it by hinting at the continuity of Jesus' work with the program of God in history.
As we read about a slice of history in scripture— here, the beginning of Jesus' ministry—we must keep in mind that it is part of the much larger scope of history in scripture. In this case, Mark wants his readers to know that just as neither Babylonian domination nor Persian domination could impede the progress of God's program, that program is still in effect and continues to advance through the work of Jesus. This should provide confidence for the readers of this gospel, who live after the resurrection, and who probably wonder about the delay of the kingdom. It should also provide confidence for us as we encounter scoffers who say there will be no coming in power for the messiah.
With all that is happening in the world today, especially given the persistent and pernicious work of terrorists, do you really believe the kingdom of God is advancing, or do you think He has lost interest and has moved on to something else? Your answer marks a difference in how you look at the future and how you live in the present. What Mark recounts about Jesus' advent is a reminder that the plan is still on track and that you should be as well. So, when others scoff at what you believe or suggest that you adopt a freer lifestyle, not so confined by outdated rules, stay the course, because your deliverance is ultimately God's response to your perseverance.
In the second unit, vv. 4-8, Mark anticipates...
II. The Demands of Discipleship (Mark 1:4-8)
Mark 1:4It is interesting that Mark, who is so concise in reporting John the Baptist's ministry, is careful to mention his wardrobe and diet. The gospel writer may want his readers to see a connection to the prophetic tradition of Elijah.11 One Old Testament passage describes Elijah's distinctive clothing.And so7John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism8 of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6 John wore clothing made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And this was his message: "After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.9 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."10
2 Kgs 1:8a ...He was a man with a garment of hair and with a leather belt around his waist.Another potential similarity between these figures is their illustration of prophetic succession. Just as Elijah passed his prophetic responsibility to Elisha, so John seems to pass his prophetic responsibility to Jesus.12 Elijah's disciples went to Elisha, and John's disciples went to Jesus. Elsewhere, John refers to this succession, saying,...
John 3:30 He must become greater; I must become less.A significant difference, though, is that Elisha began as Elijah's servant, whereas Jesus did not serve John. On the contrary, John might have served Jesus had he not regarded himself as "unworthy," and that is probably the crux of this section.
When John says that he is not fit to untie the thongs of Jesus' sandals, he is stressing Jesus' importance and expressing his own humility, because that is the task of a slave.13 Jesus is not John's successor, because John is less than Jesus.14 In fact, John does not even consider himself to be worthy to be Jesus' slave.15
Several times in the second half of the book, Jesus explains what true discipleship entails.
- After Peter's attempted rebuke, Jesus says, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me" (Mark 8:34b).
- After hearing his followers argue about which of them was the greatest, Jesus responded, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all" (Mark 9:35b).
- When two of them requested preferential treatment in the future, Jesus replied, "whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all" (Mark 10:43b-44).
For many Christians, discipleship means indoctrinating a new believer in the faith, and I have several books in my library that treat discipleship as a program of study. While it certainly may begin that way and should probably continue that way, discipleship is more than reading your Bible, learning to pray, and going to church. It is servanthood. If the church practiced true discipleship, it would become a serving body, one with far less dissension. So, how would you describe your discipleship? How would others describe it? Do you embrace opportunities to serve others, or do you avoid them? If you are a disciple of Jesus, then you will look for and seize the opportunities God gives you to serve.
In the third unit, Mark illustrates...
III. The Power of Devotion (Mark 1:9-13)
Mark 1:9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.16 10 As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son,17 whom I love; with you I am well pleased."18 12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert, 13 and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals,19 and angels attended him.This is certainly an unusual pairing of events. A common belief at this time was that the Holy Spirit had ceased to empower individuals after the last of the Old Testament prophets (Urbach 1979 1:577). While the Spirit may not have been as active as in other times, he was never absent.20 Still, this manifestation at Jesus' baptism is striking, especially accompanied by the heavenly voice, and appearance as a dove.21 After descending upon Jesus, the Spirit gives direction to Jesus.
In anther example of brevity, Mark abbreviates Jesus' temptation or testing experience, from 11 verses in Matthew and 13 verses in Luke to two verses here. Mark just says that the Spirit sends Jesus to an uninviting place for an unappealing purpose with a very unscrupulous person. This bare account, though, raises a disturbing question: Why would God do such a thing to His beloved son?22
The word translated "spirit" occurs primarily two ways in Mark.23 The first way is in this opening section, referring to the Holy Spirit. The second way is later in the chapter, referring to an evil spirit. These two ways illustrate the struggle that takes place between the kingdom of light and the dominion of darkness. What is clear in this first encounter, especially in the longer versions by Matthew and Luke, but in every subsequent encounter with the forces of evil as well, it is clear that Satan is no match for those who are devoted to God. As James writes,
James 4:7 Submit yourselves...to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.Notice what James says, not that the devil will stand and fight but that he will flee.
Mark realizes that spiritual power, the kind that takes a stand against the forces of evil, is an essential commodity for the child of God.24 While it is good to know that the Holy Spirit empowers Jesus, enabling him to overcome the devil, John said in v. 8 that Jesus baptizes others with the Holy Spirit, making that same power available to them. Do you need such empowering? ...Of course you do.
- Have you ever lacked boldness to speak a word of testimony in a much-needed situation?
- Have you ever lacked the moral fortitude to take a firm stand on a clear moral issue?
- Have you ever yielded to temptation?
In the fourth unit, Mark anticipates...
IV. The Difficulty of Decision (Mark 1:14-15)
Mark 1:14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"Mark concludes this introduction to his book by illustrating the problem of unbelief. Not everyone who hears the gospel accepts the gospel. Some may be indifferent and simply ignore it. Others may be belligerent and actively oppose it. Still, the message of God is consistent. The good news He proclaimed through the prophets in vv. 2-3 is the same good news He proclaimed through the savior in vv. 14-15, and it is the same good news He proclaims today: "The time has come" to make a decision, because "the kingdom of God is near," as near as the presence of the messiah and as near as the proclamation of his message. It only remains for the person who hears to repent and believe the glad tidings.
The difficulty for many people in Mark's day, and the difficulty people face today, is not accepting that Jesus lived or even that he died but believing that he rose from the dead and will return to establish God's kingdom. The reason that is a problem is because dead men make no demands. Unless you went to see Altoona's famous Madam Ruby Lee, Psychic Adviser, you have probably not heard a peep from your great uncle Beuford since he passed away. Someone whom God has raised from the dead, however, demands attention and, in the case of the messiah, allegiance. Does Jesus have your attention? ... Does he have your allegiance?
In these opening verses, Mark gives The Word about Jesus, including...
- The Promise of Deliverance
- The Demands of Discipleship
- The Power of Devotion
- The Difficulty of Decision
For the Bibliography and Endnotes, see the pdf here.
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Jim Skaggs