Good News of Advent Peace

Recap of Last Week

Last week we began in Mark 13, with Christ’s second advent, His tribulation and second coming. We talked about the true Hope that comes through the final consummation of the Church when all things will be made new. We asked the question whether we are living our lives actively watching for His return, or are we living our lives passively focused on ourselves and what is going on in our own lives.

Today we are going to shift to the beginning of Mark with the beginning of Christ’s ministry as John the Baptist establishes a path of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

We must remember that John is a part of Jesus earthly family as His cousin. They both grew up together, so, even thought John comes out of the wilderness crying out to prepare the way of the Lord, he is declaring one of his own relatives as the Messiah of the world, the God man in flesh.

Mark Begins by establishing that God is making a new start.

At the end of Malachi 4:5-6 he declares that will come before the great and awesome day of the Lord’s coming, and he will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and children to their fathers. Part of the ‘curse’ that sin brought was not only the broken relationship with God but, also broken relationships among his creation. Now Jesus Christ the Son of God has come to restore the peace or consolation of Israel, but, not only Israel but all of creation.

The Gospel of Matthew is written to Jews telling them that Jesus is the Messiah King who fulfills the Old Testament prophecy where as Mark is written to Romans telling them that Jesus is the suffering Servant who actively ministers on our behalf and gives His life as a ransom for many.

Mark 1:1–8 (ESV)

1 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,’ ”

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.”

I. THE BEGINNING

a. The Beginning ...

‘The beginnings’: as in Genesis 1:1, God is about to begin a new creative work. Mark now identifies who this work is going to be done through which is Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

You will remember that at the very beginning of John’s gospel he starts with the pre-incarnate Christ by declaring that “In the beginning was the word.”

b. Of The Gospel ...

What makes this News so Good?

It means the in-breaking of God’s kingly rule, the advent of his salvation, vengeance, and vindication.

The Gospels, (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) are historical theological accounts of Jesus life. What they record really did happened.

In the NT the Good News is that God has provided salvation for all men through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. At the very beginning of Marks book he wants to establish a new literary genre - “gospel.”

It is most often referred to in the form of a verb in Hebrew (to announce good news). The focus is on God’s chosen people, but the implications range even wider, especially when, as at the coming of Jesus, they are under foreign rule. God’s in-breaking has world significance.

1. We can trust God to Keep His Promises

There has never been a promise that God has not followed through on in the course of History

Have you ever made a promise that you have not kept?

Implications of Mark’s Opening

The word Gospel comes from the old English word “godspel” (good news) and translated correctly into the greed is the word euangelion.

Note: Notice that Mark does not begin with the baby in a manger in Bethlehem. He starts with the gospel of Jesus Christ. What is significant about this revelation?

i) The Good News is Historical: In the fullness of time and History God sent His good news in Jesus Christ. You cannot erase historical evidence. Even though our current culture has attempted to do so. There is not a scholar or scientist worth his salt today that would refute that there was a man named Jesus of Nazareth who lived and died on a cross at the hands of Pontius Pilot over 2,000 years ago. This is all a part of History.

ii) The Good News is Earthly: It is about God being committed to lay aside for a time his kingly glory to come and insert himself in the messiness of human affairs, being found alongside us. It is in the middle of human history that God has made himself real, and continues to do so.

iii) The Good news is Basic: It appears that Mark did not believe that Jesus could be ‘proved’ to be of divine origin - it had to be perceived by faith. He does not rely on long genealogies of Jesus he builds up steadily to awesome claims about jesus. He simply states them on a take it or leave it basis. The secret that is laid out only seems to be that as you are willing to respond to Jesus do you perceive by faith the truth about him.

iv) The Good News is challenging: Mark is not writing to inform us but to also challenge our faith. In the gospel message life and death hang in the balance. “The time has come, the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”

Mark does not only testify to this urgent challenge to believe: he exemplifies it with his life.

Note: Notice that Mark begins his gospel by identifying the consolation of our Hope the promised Messiah!

This Messiah is “Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” “Jesus” is the Greek name for the Hebrew Joshua: “Yahweh is salvation.”

“Christ” is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew for Messiah: “the anointed one.”

He not only identifies the coming one as Jesus Christ but as the “only Son of God”

Of all of the titles, the title “Son of God” in particular appears at significant points in the Gospel and sometimes in the mouths of some interesting personalities!

Perhaps the most striking is that the disciples never recognize Jesus as the Son of God in the Gospel of Mark.

The demons get it right. Even a Roman centurion understands it. Yet, not until after the resurrection did the disciples get it. If Jesus’ disciples failed to see it, there is hope for those who seem the furthest away from seeing it today.

We must remember and take into consideration that most who met him during his lifetime did not recognized jesus for who he really was.

STANDING ON THE PROMISES OF GOD

2 Corinthians 1:20 ESV

20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.

No matter how many promises that God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ.

*We trust God’s promises based on what we know to be true.

Years ago when the Journey was young in it’s inception we went through several challenging tragedy after another, that led to the Church instituting several measures of Church discipline.

Now, if you have ever been a part of a Church where something of this magnitude has taken place it is as if you had several funerals of beloved family members happening back to back. I remember coming in that Sunday feeling the pressure to preach a sermon that would help the healing and encourage the congregation.

After I finished my sermon that Sunday, I think it was one of the worst sermons I have ever preached. In fact I could not get through the Lords Supper fast enough to duck out of the Church. Before I made it to the first row of the Church I had people come to shake my hand and share with me how God has used that lame duck sermon to speak to their lives.

I went home that day and told Diana that I am never again going to trust in the presence of God based on what I feel, but o what He promises. He promises to be there. He promises to attend to the preaching of the word by His anointed ones.

*We trust God’s promises based on reliable witnesses.

a. It is written … (1:2a.)

The following expression prepares us or a quotation. Mark now emphasizes that however new and awesome the gospel events may happen to be, they have been carefully prepared for beforehand by God and the Old Testament. These are reliable witnesses to the patient preparation of God.

b. … in Isaiah the prophet (1:2b).

The following quotation is actually follows three different text:

Malachi 3:1 ESV

1 “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.

Exodus 23:20 ESV

20 “Behold, I send an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared.

Isaiah 40:3 ESV

3 A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Mark wants us to know that John the Baptist, who he is being introduced through the following verses, is part of God’s preparation for the emergence of Jesus as the anointed one. John was just another piece in God’s overall plan this is why he starts with the declaration of the main purpose and reason that he is writing his gospel.

“the voice of one crying out in the wilderness”

Wilderness. Land that is basically wild, non-arable, and sparsely inhabited or unfit for permanent settlement. It may be desert, mountains, forest, or marsh.

In the Near East the wilderness is characteristically dry, desolate, and mostly rock and sand.

The Israelites were sent out into the wilderness for 40 years for not trusting in God’s faithfulness and trustworthiness. They were then led through the wilderness by the hand of God to the Promised Land.

The nation of Israel was also in a spiritually dry place after waiting so long for the Messiah and with the corrupt spiritual leadership.

Jesus went into the desert/wilderness to be tempted by Satan.

Jesus often withdrew to a desolate or wilderness place.

“Prepare the Way of the Lord”

What do you think of when you hear the word to prepare?

We prepare for lots of things in our lives. We prepare for graduation, we prepare for a new job, we prepare for having children, we prepare for retirement. But, there is none more significant than preparing for the incarnation of Christ, God in flesh dwelling among us.

Last week we looked at Mark 13 speaking of being watchful in preparation for Christ’s second advent and return.

Prepare takes on several significant meanings in scripture.

To Prepare: usually referring to getting ready for an action to take place whether it be through education, food preparation, preparing for war, preparing for burial, to prepare and be ready for action by strengthening ones loins, to prepare for effort, or prepare for trouble that is to come.

Note: Here John is to prepare “the way” of “the Lord.” How does one possible prepare for such a monumental task?

John’s task is to make a road for God, and his method is by preaching; the content of his preaching is a stern uncompromising call to all to prepare themselves for the divine coming by turning from their evil ways and turning back to God.

PREPARING TO MEET GOD

What preparation do you make each week to meet God before you show up at The Journey Church. I think possibly the greater reason people leave churches every Sunday and sense as though nothing spectacular has taken place in their lives is that they have not prepared the way during the week to meet God.

THE NEED FOR PATIENCE IN OUR PREPARATION

We tend to rush right past the first part of this text knowing what is coming, the arrival of Jesus Christ at the waters edge of the Jordan river.

However, we must not miss the significance of the long period of waiting for the coming of the Messiah. There is a vital spiritual quality of patience in the waiting. The Bible in general does not make that mistake. In fact Matthew begins his gospel by giving all of the genealogies that led up to Christ’s coming. It would seem that Matthew wanted people to grasp the amount of waiting that took place before the Messiah appeared. Notice what Peter says about the prophets and messengers that came before the promise.

1 Peter 1:12 ESV

12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

All of the blessings of the gospel have come to Peter’s readers. Consider the thought that for the prophets who obediently spoke about the coming of Christ but never truly saw the fulfillment of what they prophesied!

Patience in Christians is a part of our response to the Sovereign God

Only He knows the time and place and circumstances for things to happen in our lives. It is in our daily going before the throne of God that we learn what it truly looks like to wait upon the Lord. Often because we know some of the context we imagine we know all of it.

How often the time of the fulfillment must have seemed right to the prophets! But God knew better.

Galatians 4:4–5 ESV

4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

We are now reminded that there is a time and place for everything under heaven. This means that when God has planned it, things happen when they are supposed to and nothing ever catches God by surprise.

Zacharia and Elizabeth’s unexpected Blessing

Zacharia was a priest of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife who was barren (meaning she could not have children) from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

Luke records that they were both righteous and walked blameless before the Lord. Now it was the custom to cast lots for the great privilege to go into the temple and burn incense on the alter before the Lord. For many priests this was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Many priest lived a lifetime and never had the lot fall on them for this great honor.

Now people were gathered outside praying, and while he was burning incense and angel of the Lord appeared to Zacharia. Luke records that Zacharia was scared out of his sandals at the sight. The angel told Zacharia not to be afraid for his prayers had been answered. He was told that his wife Elizabeth would bear a son and he would call his name John.

He will be great before the Lord. He must not drink wine or strong drink, he will be filled with the Holy Spirit as Zachariah was filled with the spirit, and he will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready the way for the Lord a people prepared.

Look at Zachariah’s response, “How will I know that his is going to happen?” “For I am an old man, and my wife is also old.”

Gabriel basically told Zachariah in not so many words, “You will shut your mouth.”

Note: Consider the excuses we make for not trusting God. When do we act like Zachariah wanting all of the answers instead of trusting God and his messengers. Many times we know and accept the what of scripture as far as what we have heard but where we struggle is how it will all take place.

2. We can Trust God to send His Preachers

J. I. Packer says that “the proper aim of preaching is to mediate meetings with God.” These meetings are the work of the Holy Spirit, and he uses the proclamation of Christ to bring them about. God meets with people as Christ is faithfully proclaimed through his Word.

Proclaiming Christ is the distinguishing mark of true Christian preaching.

It sets our preaching apart from what might be heard in a Synagogue, or a Mosque, and it distinguishes preaching from lectures that might be heard in a seminary. Such settings may accurately explain portions of Scripture, giving hearers knowledge of its contents, but preaching is an event in which God meets with people – revealing his glory, calling us to himself, and forming faith in His Son.

Proclaiming Christ is more that finding a way to mention Jesus in a sermon. Christian preaching does not merely reference Christ; it offers him. It presses all that Christ is, all that he has done, and all that he will do into the minds, hearts, will, and conscience of our hearers.

Consider how shocking this sight must have been to the hearers of John’s message. John appeared baptizing int he wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Mark does not give any biographical background of where John came from or even the miracle of his own birth but jumps right into John’s appearance on the scene. God has planned it and is bringing it all to pass: men and woman are taken by surprise.

NOTE: The geographical location has significance. It was a boundary between East and West, which the Romans would watch with particular care and interest. It also had historical importance.

Lot chose the plain of Jordan when given the opportunity. Jacob crossed the Jordan on his way to meet Esau (Gen. 33). Joshua led the people of Israel across the Jordan into the promised land. The ministry of the prophets Elijah and Elisha had focused on the Jordan. In preaching and baptizing at this particular location, John was calling up many sacred memories.

The desert had specific spiritual meaning. The people had wandered there for forty years, sustained by God’s goodness.

There was also some idea that the Messiah would appear in the desert. What better place for John to appear preaching and baptizing than in the place where current political tension took place, past sacred memories of the promise and its fulfillment and now cherished hopes for the future are being met.

Look what Jesus had to say about John the Baptist

Matthew 11:7–12 ESV

7 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is he of whom it is written, “ ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’ 11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.

Look how John handled his job as God’s messenger.

*We need to be Faithful to the Message

The baptism was preparation for the forgiveness that Christ would accomplish by His death and resurrection.

John’s message was that “the time is now to get right with God!” Popular with some and unpopular with others, John was faithful to God! He truly lived by the motto, “All that matters in life is that I Please God.”

When do we shy away from the call to repentance? We need pastors who are not afraid to call people to repentance. The Bible as a whole is one great big call to repentance.

“Of Repentance”

It was a repentance baptism that John was preaching, i.e., the baptism indicated that repentance had already occured or was being accomplished by it.

Metanoia (“repentance”) means etymologically “a change of mind”; In the NT it has a deeper sense indicating a deliberate turning.” The end result (eis, “for”) is the forgiveness of sins, God’s direct response to true repentance is forgiven.

What metanoia means. sometimes we are given a misleading impression by translating it: "Turn away from your sins." That might make it look like a traditional call for moral reformation.

That is not the point. There is nothing about sins in the text (Mark 1:14-18).

The point is: "The reign of God has drawn near, but you can't see it because you are looking the wrong way. You are expecting the wrong thing.

What you think is 'God' isn't God at all. You have to be, as Paul says, transformed by the renewing of your mind. You have to go through a mental revolution; otherwise the reign of God will be totally hidden from you."

REPENTANCE: is the act whereby one turns from his or her sin, idolatry, and creaturely rebellion and turns to God in faith.

Christians Belong to "The League of the Guilty"

So of all things, Christianity isn't supposed to be about gathering up the good people (shiny! happy! squeaky clean!) and excluding the bad people (frightening! alien! repulsive!) for the very simple reason that there aren't any good people … This goes flat contrary to the predominant image of [Christianity] existing in prissy, fastidious little enclaves, far from life's messier zones and inclined to get all "judgmental" about them. Of course there are Christians like that … The religion certainly can slip into being a club or a cozy affinity group or a wall against the world. But it isn't supposed to be. What it's supposed to be is a league of the guilty

Note: We live in a church culture today who has sugar coated the message and have failed to boldly proclaim a message of repentance. I shudder to think how many messages on any given Sunday fail to call people to repentance. We are more concerned about tickling peoples ears as Paul said.

Every Christian loves the gospel. By definition, you cannot have a Christian who is not shaped by and saved by the gospel. However, if we were to preach the gospel the way Jesus, the prophets, and the apostles did it would sound much different than what we many times here preached. Theirs was not a message of unconditional affirmation.

They had little interest in helping people to find the hidden and beautiful self deep inside. They did not give the good news that Jesus likes you just the way you are.

To much “gospel” preaching sounds like a slightly spiritualized version of that old Christian Aguilera song:

“You are beautiful no matter what they say. Words cant bring you down. You are beautiful in every single way. Yes, words cant bring you down. So don’t bring me down today.”

I know that people feel beat down today and struggle with shame and self-loathing. It is good new to hear that God loves us in Christ and that we are precious in hi sight.

However, the gospel is more than positive self-talk, and the gospel of Jesus and the apostles was more than warm fuzzy feelings we get, “do not let anybody tell you special bear hug.”

THE WORD THAT IS MISSING FROM OUR MODERN GOSPEL PRESENTATION IS THE WORD REPENT!

Why is this word man times missing from our gospel. Because it flies in the face of the idea that you are ok just as you are, it reminds you that you are a sinner and need to turn from your sin and turn to a Holy God.

In the NT the call to “repent” begins in the preaching of John but continues to make its appeal through the appeal of the apostles in the post-resurrection period.

Remember after Peters convicting sermon where he pointed out that it was the sins of his Jewish audience who place Jesus on the cross and in essence murdered him and the people were cut to the heart asking what they must do. Peter replied, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that you sins may be forgiven.

The unpopular fact remains that the ungrateful and unrepentant will not be saved ...

1 Cor. 6:10 “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21 “Now the works of the flesh are evident: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

If we want to give people a message that saves, instead of one that only soothes, we must preach more like Jesus and less like our pop stars.

Look what at Mark 1:15

Mark 1:15 ESV

15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

Note: This shows that repentance is so closely related to the doctrine of faith and following.

How Did the People Respond: People came from everywhere just to hear him, even Jerusalem! Rich and poor. Rural and urban. Young and Old. They responded to John’s preaching be repenting (turning from sin), confessing (acknowledging sin), and being baptized (an outward sign o humility giving evidence of the inward change of their hearts).

The Call was for people to prepare their hearts for the coming of the Messiah.

How did you prepare your heart this week to come and meet Jesus in this place?

*We need to be Humble Messengers.

Like John we need to Be Humble (Mark 1:6-8)

Everyone was so enamored with John and the way he went about presenting his message. It was definitely a counter cultural message of the day. We are called to bring a counter cultural message today. There is no message more countercultural than to humble ourselves, admit that we are sinners and in need of His forgiveness.

However, now John proclaims that there is one coming who is greater and more worthy than he is, one whose strap on his sandal he is not even worthy to untie.

He goes on to proclaim that he has touched their body with water but he will touch their soul with the Holy Spirit.

Do You know who you are in God’s Infinite Plan?

John clearly knew who he was in God’s overall infinite plan and who Jesus was in the plan. John would not live to 35. He would be imprisoned and beheaded. The world, no doubt, scoffed at this crazy man. Heaven, however, would smile.

Listen to what J.C. Ryle, beloved Bishop of Durham who lived from 1816 to 1900 also was an author and theologian had this to say about the implications of John’s life.

Exalting Jesus in Mark (Like John We Need to Be Humble (Mark 1:6–8))

The principal work of every faithful minister of the gospel, is to set the Lord Jesus fully before His people, and to show them His fullness and His power to save.

The next great work He has to do, is to set before them the work of the Holy Spirit, and the need of being born again, and inwardly baptized by His grace.

These two mighty truths appear to have been frequently on the lips of John the Baptist. It would be well for the church and the world, if there were more ministers like him

CONCLUSION

Early Christians used one symbol to mark the tombs of believers or to designate secret meeting places because of Roman persecution.

It was sometimes signed in sand to distinguish a friend from an enemy. Further, it captured beautifully the evangelistic intent of Jesus’ ministry and the essence of who Jesus was.

It also summarizes well the theme of Mark’s Gospel. I do not speak of the cross, but of the fish! The Greek word is ICHTHUS (ΙΧΘΥΣ).

Jesus fed the 5,000 with 2 fishes and 5 loaves and called his disciples fishers of men. There was also a parallel drawn between fish and converts with water baptism practiced by immersion in the early church.

2nd Century theologian Tertullian put it this way: “we, little fishes, after the image of our Ichthus, Jesus Christ, are born in water.”

It is a perfect acrostic that is translated

Iesous (Iota) which means Jesus

Christos (Chi) which means Christ

Theou (Theta) which means God

Huios (Yidos/Upsilon) which means Son

Soter (Sigma) which means Savior

“Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Savior!” Here is the essence of Mark’s Gospel.

This is the essence of the good news about Jesus.

What keeps you from fully trusting in the Promises of God today?

Hymn penned by Russel Kelso (while teaching at Pennsylvania military academy 1886)

Standing on the promises of Christ my King, Through eternal ages let His praises ring, Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing, Standing on the promises of God.

God is working right now in the hearts and lives of the believers to prepare us to hear and receive the promises that God has already planned for our lives that comes in the person of Jesus Christ, God’s son, our Savior!

What keeps you from fully trusting in the message of Repentance today?

When is the last time you really heard the call to repent and listened. Instead of thinking, this is not for me, I’m good!