1_7_2024 - Mark 1:1-8 - "Clear the Road"

(Opening Prayer)

(Sermon Introduction)

Today we begin the gospel of Mark. We are planning to spend almost 2 years in the gospel of Mark. We are going to have mini-series to help break up our time in Mark and help us focus on the journey on both a macro and micro level. We want to understand what it truly means to “Build the Kingdom One Disciple at a Time.”

Today we begin our “Follow” series in the gospel of Mark.

(The Gospel of Mark Context)

Matthew, Mark, and Luke, make up what is referred to as the Synoptic Gospels.

The word Synoptic means “together they see.”

The Synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke are referred to in this manner because of their likeness, and similar content.

They record many of the same teachings, stories, and accounts from different perspectives.

Some have said that because of this these writings are unreliable.

Quite the opposite is true.

A difference of perspective is not a negative but rather a positive.

If each gospel recorded everything the exact same way we would question its accuracy and integrity in the same way that an investigator would question stories that record verbatim what happened at a crime scene.

The gospel of John is not considered a Synoptic Gospel primarily because it was written years later and recorded things that the other writers did not include.

The gospel of Mark is understood to have been written between 54-60 A. D. prior to the writing of Matthew, Luke, and John.

Scholars believe that Matthew and Luke used Mark as a guide as they wrote their gospels.

This is called the Priority of Mark.

The gospel of Mark was written by John Mark who was not one of the twelve disciples of Jesus.

However, it is believed that the Apostle Peter is the source for the material for the gospel of Mark as Peter discipled John Mark.

(Sermon Title)

Today we have entitled the sermon “Clear the Road.”

We are in Mark 1:1-8.

Mark 1:1–8 (NLT)

1 This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God. It began

2 just as the prophet Isaiah had written: “Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way.

3 He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him!’ ”

4 This messenger was John the Baptist. He was in the wilderness and preached that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven.

5 All of Judea, including all the people of Jerusalem, went out to see and hear John. And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.

6 His clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild honey.

7 John announced: “Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals.

8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!”

(Synoptic Perspective)

The gospel of Matthew is very similar to what Mark records, but Luke records more detail and gives us greater context to what Mark meant when he quotes, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him’ ” (Mk. 1:3).

Luke 3:1–5 (NLT)

1 It was now the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius, the Roman emperor. Pontius Pilate was governor over Judea; Herod Antipas was ruler over Galilee; his brother Philip was ruler over Iturea and Traconitis; Lysanias was ruler over Abilene.

2 Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests. At this time a message from God came to John son of Zechariah, who was living in the wilderness.

3 Then John went from place to place on both sides of the Jordan River, preaching that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven.

4 Isaiah had spoken of John when he said, “He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him!

5 The valleys will be filled, and the mountains and hills made level. The curves will be straightened, and the rough places made smooth.

(Clearing the Road Context - Isaiah 40)

All three Synoptic Gospel writers quote the same Scripture reference from Isaiah 40; however, Luke quotes more of the passage than both, Matthew and Mark.

The amazing thing about the Isaiah 40 prophecy is that up to this time roads were pitiful and barely existent.

(Clearing the Road Context - Roman Empire)

The Roman Empire was famous for the roads that they built, paving the way for modern day road repair and road creation.

In fact, one of the most crucial elements of what is referred to as “the fullness of time” in the context of Scripture is what historians call, Pax Romana or “Roman Peace.”

Pax Romana was seen in a few ways:

Infrastructure of society which included government, protection, aqueducts, gathering places, banking, and roads.

Freedom to move around the known world.

The increase of a main language (Greek).

The ability to travel.

It was well known throughout the Roman Empire that if a city of the Roman Empire was to host the Emperor a road had to be established first.

Even the verses in the book of Romans in the Bible that we use to describe the way to being saved is called, “The Romans Road.”

(Clearing the Road Context - Gospel Writers)

In light of their understanding of the Roman way, the synoptic gospel writers use this imagery as they introduce their audience to John the Baptist and ultimately to the ministry of Jesus Christ.

(Clearing the Road Context - John the Baptist)

John the Baptist as we call him today was the cousin of Jesus.

John the Baptist did not write any Scripture.

He is different than the Apostle John who was a disciple of Jesus and wrote 5 books of the Bible.

John the Baptist’s father was Zechariah, a Levite, who ministered with the priests before the Lord.

You can read about him and the birth of John in Luke 1.

John’s purpose was to make way for the ministry of Jesus.

John was a herald of the good news, the gospel, as we call it.

John knew that he was not the special one and modeled what it looked like to “clear the road” for Jesus.

(Clearing the Road Context - Disciples Who Want To Follow)

The gospel writers understood no doubt in hindsight that anyone who wants to follow Jesus Christ will need to be prepared to “Clear the Road” for Him in their own lives.

(Sermon/Series Tension - Do You Want to Follow Jesus?)

There is a tension that is created when we hear the quote from Isaiah and view the ministry of John the Baptist: “If you want to follow Jesus, you will need to be ready to clear the road.”

What does it mean to spiritually “clear the road?”

(Clearing the Road Clarity - Do You Have To Change First?)

Are the gospel writers advocating that we must change before we can follow Jesus or before we come to Him? No! Absolutely not!

Jesus welcomed tax collectors and sinners.

Luke 5:31–32 (NLT)

31 Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.

32 I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.”

Luke 19:10 (NLT)

10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”

The gospel writers are preparing readers to be prepared for what lies ahead on the journey of following Jesus Christ.

Following Jesus will not be easy.

Those of us who desire to follow Jesus should know that we will be asked to lay ourselves aside for what He wants.

We will need to be prepared to take one step after another in the direction He will lead us.

The synoptic gospels introduce us to Jesus by challenging us to be prepared in two major ways:

1. Be Prepared to Be Changed

Mark 1:1–5 (NLT)

1 This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God. It began

2 just as the prophet Isaiah had written: “Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way.

3 He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him!’ ”

4 This messenger was John the Baptist. He was in the wilderness and preached that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven.

5 All of Judea, including all the people of Jerusalem, went out to see and hear John. And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.

(What Are Some Changes That Can Be Expected?)

Worldview

We who follow Jesus will find the lens by which we view the world changing more and more as we draw closer and understand His teachings more and more.

Beliefs

What we hold to be true will be challenged and the truth will begin to take root in deeper and deeper ways.

Character

How we act towards ourselves, and others will realign to reflect the One that we are following.

Soul

The depths of our lives will be touched and transformed more and more by the power of the One that we follow.

2. Be Prepared to Be Amazed

Isaiah 40:5 (NLT)

5 Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. The Lord has spoken!”

(Instrumental Music)

(What Are Some Things That We Can Expect To Experience?)

Conviction

Jesus will reveal the sin and ugliness in us and will address it.

Sorrow

We can expect to feel the weight of the sin and ugliness in our lives as we spend time with Jesus.

Mercy

Jesus will show us the mercy of His Father instead of His wrath.

Forgiveness

Jesus will extend the forgiveness of God to each of us because of what He did on the cross.

Grace

Jesus will give eternal life to each of us who follow Him into His Father’s Kingdom.

Love

Jesus will reveal the unconditional love of the Father to each of us who follow Him.

Peace

Jesus will give His peace to each of us who walk with Him that we can face whatever comes our way with His complete assurance that we will not be destroyed.

Glory

Jesus promises us that if we follow Him that we will see the glory of God!

(Closing Tension)

Mark and the other gospel writers want those who follow Jesus to know that we must be prepared to “Clear the Road!”

Following Jesus will change our lives.

Following Jesus will amaze us.

It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it!

(Sermon Recap)

Clear the Road

Be Prepared to Change

Be Prepared to Be Amazed

(Response Card)

(Closing Challenge)

(Response)

(Invite Altar Team)

(Closing Blessing)

Numbers 6:24–26 (ESV)

24 The Lord bless you and keep you.

25 The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you.

26 The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.