Preparing for a King and a Kingdom

Mark 1:1 Introduction 1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

· Author - The tradition that Peter was a key source for Mark’s Gospel—indeed, that the Second Gospel was in many respects “Peter’s memoirs”—found, as far as we know, unanimous agreement in the early church. Thus, from a variety of traditions from the end of the first century onward we see a complementary testimony that the author of the Second Gospel is Mark, the interpreter of Peter, who composed the Gospel in Rome.[1]

· Beginning – the whole gospel record, not just Mark chapter. 1. Begins with the arrival of Jesus. Continues after ascension and Pentecost. Continues up until his return.

· Gospel – Good News, story of salvation in Jesus. It comes down to who is Jesus and what will you do with him. Mark – this is Jesus: his actions and his character. If you believe and follow him, he will change your life. Next 8 months. – The Gospel of Mark.

Mark 1:1-13 Preparing for a King and a Kingdom.

1. John the Baptist’s Preparation

2. Jesus’ Preparation

3. Our Response

Mark 1:2-8 John’s Preparation

· V. 2-3 Preparing the way for the Lord (Yahweh). The king has come!

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.

Isaiah 40:3–5 (ESV)3A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. 5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

· V. 4-5 His message – repent (personal and national). Last of Old Testament prophets.

Matthew 3:7–10 (ESV)7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

· V. 6-8 His Baptism – symbolized a cleansing of sin. Preparation for Holy Spirit.

o Set you on fire.

o Or, utterly consume you.

· Dilemma – John’s baptism did not cleanse anyone of their sin. Best case scenario a person felt convicted of their sin, knew they ought to be different, and wanted to change (repent). But the truth is that the dirty hearts they took into the water were still dirty when they came out of the water. The water did not wash the dirt from their hearts. John’s baptism was preparatory in the way a doctor’s diagnosis is preparatory for a patient to desire a cure for the disease that will kill them.

Mark 1:9-13 Jesus Preparation

· His Baptism – identifying with humanity, in their sin. John is confused. Matthew 3:14–15 (ESV)14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.

· His Temptation – doing what no one before him (Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David,) could do: Stand firm and obey.

Hebrews 2:18 (ESV)18For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Hebrews 4:15–16 (ESV)15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Mark 1:14-15 Our Response – Repent and Believe

· Some of you don’t really know who Jesus is. You need to come and see…. Investigate.

· Some of you know who Jesus is. You need to repent and believe.

o Repent – cease from living as if you are King.

o Believe – trust Jesus as King.

· Be baptized – come to the class.

· Get Involved – Check out Membership. Thrive, Bible Studies, etc.

[1]Edwards, J. R. (2002). The Gospel according to Mark (p. 5). Eerdmans; Apollos.