The Good News of Mark: A Portrait of Jesus

Welcome

Good morning everyone,

It’s so wonderful to finally be here with you all. It felt like we would never get here, but now we’re here! And my family and I are so excited to come be part of your church family, and we can’t wait to see how God is going to use this family to exalt Christ in the area and transform people’s lives!

First, I just want you all to know that we’ve really felt your love:

Unloading the U-Haul

Stocking our fridge with food

Washing our van

Filling our van up with gas

Picking us up from the airport

Getting the Shiner house ready for us

Your love has made a difference in the move for my family and I thank you for that: it means a lot!

I've only met a handful of you so far, so I don’t know if anyone here is a visitor this morning or not, but, if you are, welcome! We’re both new here! So make sure you come up after service and say hi: newbies stick together :D

I also want to invite everyone to our "Go Deeper” Bible class Sunday mornings at 10 AM:

We’ll cover the same text that I preach through during worship

But we’ll look at textual difficulties, theological applications, apologetics, & historical settings

We’ll also have discussion time where you can share your insights, raise questions you might have, and discuss the things the Lord lays on your heart as you are reading the text throughout the week.

My purpose for the morning class is to really challenge and equip everyone to go deeper in our understanding of God’s word so that we can make a difference in this world for the Kingdom of God.

Assignment

Some of y’alls eyes just got big: “oh know, he’s assigning homework!”

Don’t worry, this isn’t homework. Every week I’m going to assign the text we’ll journey through next week. My reason for this is to help us immerse ourselves into Jesus’ story. Throughout the week you can read, meditate on, and pray through the text and really put yourselves into Jesus’ story.

I want us to really seek the Lord for what he wants to do in our midst when we assemble.

Remember, first and foremost we are the people of God - a Kingdom of the Redeemed - and we serve the living God Almighty! Expect him to move!

So to prepare yourselves this week, please read, meditate on, and pray through Mark 1:1-8.

A Portrait of Jesus

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As I was working through Mark’s gospel, I was struck by the powerful story he tells about how God himself becomes the savior of the world: he tells this story with a breathless, eager sense, having things happen "at once", with one dramatic incident following another, leaving us with a sense that something big is coming!

So today’s lesson is going to frame the portrait of Jesus that Mark paints for us in his gospel. And the purpose of beginning this series with Jesus’ portrait like this is equal parts to whet our appetites for Mark’s good news, and to make sure we're all looking at the same picture.

We need to whet our appetites because when this good news really takes hold of us, it will inspire us to search for the One this news is all about like a hidden treasure! And I want this news to captivate our dreams, to inspire our hopes, and to provoke a hunger for the Son of Man that changes the way we see and live life.

And we need to all be looking at the same picture of Jesus because no other thought is more important than what one thinks about God; what we believe about him determines how we live our life, how we worship, and the identity of our church. We need the powerful revelation of God that Jesus gives us, which has been in so many cases lost to the more malleable version of Jesus that we can make into whatever we want. I think more than anything else, our generation needs to see his power and feel the weight of his authority again. We need to look into the eyes that are ablaze with eternity so that by his vision we can know how to live as Kingdom-bringers in this world!

So, we’re going to paint Mark’s portrait of Jesus. And I want us to meet - some perhaps for the first time, others to meet afresh again - the One who has the power to cast out our demons (so to speak) and to calm our storms. I want us to meet the One who has the authority to forgive our sins and the will to transform our lives by the indomitable power of the resurrection! And I want us all to be hungry to meet him afresh!

Mark’s Portrait of Jesus

I want you to imagine a mother sitting down to an easel and beginning to paint:

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Tears cloud her vision as she begins to pour out her sorrow and love onto the canvas in front of her. One of her beloved daughters has moved abroad to an unsafe country. And she knows she will not see her or her granddaughter again for a long time. She won’t get to scoop them up into her arms for Christmas. She won’t get to hear their laughter at the Thanksgiving table. She pours all this longing into a simple pastel portrait. She knows it’s not a great likeness, but, sitting there, each stroke became almost like having a conversation with her likeness that filled her heart with the warmth of her love. After finishing her portrait, the mother sits back. Though the sorrow and longing is not gone, her heart is settled and able to wait for her daughter’s long return home. The sum of her little portrait is far greater than its individual strokes.

Mary’s mother shared this story with me about how she felt when we went to China. And this is the picture she painted from a photo I sent her of Naomi when she was 3 or 4. You can see her heart’s longing to hold Naomi in this picture.

In very similar fashion, Mark paints his portrait of Jesus with stark, vivid foreground colors, often leaving the background, like this pastel, "blurry" or "out of focus", choosing instead to emphasize the broad, defining strokes of Jesus' life. Mark doesn't "paint the rocks on the road", as it were, but rather “paints Jesus' feet walking on the road". Mark doesn't seem to care at all about any details except what are absolutely necessary to see Jesus. And we get the sense that Mark is painting someone who was not only important to him, but also to the whole world. He’s painting someone he wants to see; he’s painting someone he wants us to see. And sitting here with this portrait of Jesus, one’s heart really is settled by his likeness.

Mark’s portrait of Jesus begins with the rugged “voice of one crying out in the wilderness”:

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Mark 1:2–3 CSB

2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way. 3 A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way for the Lord; make his paths straight!

The prophet John is a rugged character. He stands out in this portrait as one who commands the respect and admiration of the crowds. He’s holds the attention and fear of Herod. And he’s portrayed as the one whose testimony about Jesus, and popularity with the crowds frustrated the religious leader’s opposition to Jesus.

But most importantly, John is painted as a herald announcing the coming of an important figure. His bold character highlights another. And, whose coming is he announcing? The coming of another messenger? Or maybe the arrival of some wise man? Or a mighty rebel general, perhaps? No.

Mark begins his portrait of Jesus with John’s wilderness character because he frames the most important perspective in Mark’s gospel about Jesus: “the voice crying out in the wilderness” announces the coming of the LORD himself. Israel’s Messiah is Yahweh himself, “prepare the way of the LORD!” And this is what Mark most wants us to understand about the Messiah.

All of this is crucial because it gives us Mark’s primary storyline: he’s telling us how God himself becomes the savior of the world: he’s telling the story of Kingdom, Cross, and God.

And this is as Isaiah the prophet wrote:

Isaiah 49:26 (CSB)

26 ...Then all humanity will know that I, the Lord, am your Savior, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.”

So this storyline about the Messiah’s identity is the center of Mark’s gospel:

Mark 8:27–29 CSB

27 Jesus went out with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the road he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 28 They answered him, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, one of the prophets.” 29 “But you,” he asked them, “who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.”

Mark really wants his readers to read themselves into Jesus’ story: he wants us to answer the question “who do you say that I am?” But, even more than this, he wants us to ask “what's it mean that Jesus is ‘the Messiah’?”

Shortly after asking this question, Jesus is transfigured in glory before their very eyes:

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Mark 9:2–3 CSB

2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain by themselves to be alone. He was transfigured in front of them, 3 and his clothes became dazzling—extremely white as no launderer on earth could whiten them.

Jesus stood before Peter, James, and John, revealed to them in his radiant glory. Peter, who only days earlier got Jesus so right, now endearingly, if not awkwardly, blurts out some nonsense about building something for Jesus. He doesn’t quite know what to do with this little glimpse of Jesus’ true glory. And I think we can be a lot like this too. We don’t quite know what to do with Jesus’ glory.

Mark’s story about what it means that Jesus is the Messiah isn’t really answered until the end:

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Mark 16:19–20 CSB

19 So the Lord Jesus, after speaking to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word by the accompanying signs.]

You see?

The Messiah is about more than simply saving people from worldly oppressors and/or the sorrows of a fallen world. God could have done these things in any number of ways. Instead, the Messiah reestablishes the connection that was lost between God’s throne and humanity.

We see this throughout Scripture:

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Hebrews 1:3 CSB

3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

Romans 8:34 CSB

34 Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.

1 Peter 3:22 CSB

22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him.

How does the Messiah do this? He reestablishes the connection between God’s throne and humanity by forgiving our sins, interceding on our behalf, and exercising his powerful authority to establish God’s justice on earth (i.e. Matthew 6:10, “your will be done on earth as in heaven”).

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So we see that each gospel writer tells one side of Jesus’ story: Matthew tells the story of how the Messiah establishes God’s Kingdom as promised to the fathers: Kingdom, Cross, and Israel. Luke tells the story of how Jesus launches a renewed people: Kingdom, Cross, and Church. And John tells the story of how God’s Kingdom confronts the kingdoms of this world (i.e. Caesar): Kingdom, Cross, and Caesar’s World.

Together these writers share the good news that the Messiah has fulfilled God’s promises to establish his Kingdom; God has himself come to save the world, establish a renewed people, and confront the powers of darkness that holds his image-bearers captive through sin to death.

Looking at Mark’s portrait of Jesus, then, we see Jesus the Messiah moving decisively with undisputed power and authority to save the world from the powers of darkness. This is Yahweh himself come to save the world. He drives out demons, forgives sins, takes power over creation, and exercises authority over God’s covenants.

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All of this is very important to see from the outset because these bold strokes, which paint Jesus’ portrait as God coming to save the world, blend throughout Mark’s gospel with other vivid colors to paint the broad, defining strokes of Jesus’ life:

Don’t read: summarize as you go > > >

Jesus casts the powers of darkness out of people:

Mark 1:27 CSB

27 They were all amazed, and so they began to ask each other, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.”

So the disciples and crowds are amazed when Jesus takes authority over demons. No one has ever done anything like this before. And yet, Jesus possess power to drive out the powers of darkness.

What kind of man is this?

And this one who has such power is merciful and forgives sins with healing power:

Mark 2:5–7 CSB

5 Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6 But some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts: 7 “Why does he speak like this? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

What’s really striking in Jesus’ healing miracles is that what actually stands out in all these miracles are not the healings themselves, which would’ve themselves been sufficient to strike us with awe, but his authority to forgive sin: Jesus does what God alone can do! And he does this with power.

Who does Jesus think he is?

Another question.

Then the storm:

Mark 4:41 CSB

41 And they were terrified and asked one another, “Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey him!”

Galilean fishermen lived their lives on the sea, but yet they feared the power of the sea. No one controlled the sea; the best fishermen simply navigated the sea. But here comes Jesus, who takes power over the realm God entrusted to humanity’s stewardship!

What kind of man has authority to command even the seas?

Another question.

Then Jesus teaches with wisdom the other religious leaders didn’t posses:

Mark 6:2 CSB

2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. “Where did this man get these things?” they said. “What is this wisdom that has been given to him, and how are these miracles performed by his hands?

He taught with striking wisdom and authority, and performed miracles even on the Sabbath. What’s important here is that the Sabbath was recognized as one of God’s “Creation ordinances and covenants” because it was established by God himself at creation and then prescribed by Moses in the law as a covenant for Israel: Jesus takes authority over the Sabbath to teach with unheard of wisdom.

Where does he get such wisdom and authority?

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Power. Authority. Wisdom. All important colors that Mark uses to paint Jesus’ portrait throughout his gospel.

A Portrait of the Messiah

As we immerse ourselves into Jesus’ story, we’re going to see and feel the powerful reactions he evoked as he did things no one had ever done, or ever could do before. We’re going to grapple with the same questions that they asked and allow those same questions to strike and impact our life today. We’re going to feel the weight of the eyes that both burned with eternity and shed tears of sorrow in agony before the cross.

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Summary Points

I’m sorry I don’t have a slide for this, but here are my summary points:

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1. Mark tells how God himself becomes the savior of the world: Kingdom, Cross, and God

2. And, just like Peter, I think we also don’t quite know what to do with Jesus’ glory

3. Power. Authority. Wisdom. Jesus has come to save the world from the powers of darkness

Summary Application

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Mark 16:20 CSB

20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word by the accompanying signs.]

I want us to begin praying and asking ourselves, “what would it look like for the Jesus of Mark’s gospel to work with us today?”

Conclusion

I hope this whets your appetite for the story Mark tells about how God himself has come to save the world. I hope your attention has been fixed on the picture Mark is painting of Jesus: he is the entirely unexpected and remarkable gift of Yahweh’s love, bursting into the world with the dramatic announcement of his prophetic herald, who announces that the LORD himself and his Kingdom have come!

Mark tells this story with a breathless, eager sense, having things happen "at once", leaving us with a sense that something big is coming. And part of the exciting news is that you and I are part of that “big thing” that has come!

Listen to the Lord:

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Luke 17:20–21 NKJV

20 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; 21 nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”

What big thing is Jesus doing in our midst?

I look forward to sharing this this story with you as we look to see what Jesus does through us all! If you are feeling God’s conviction upon your life and you need someone to talk to or pray with you; or if you want to respond to the gospel today by being clothed with Christ in baptism so that you can receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, I invite you to come forward as we stand to worship God!