A New Beginning

Intro: The announcement of the birth of Caesar Augustus at the era of this time was called a “gospel,” for it was a world-changing event. Similarly, when we find out whether as mothers or fathers that we are going to have a child, or as extended family like grandparents, uncles, aunts, and others, it certainly is going to change the dynamics of our world. Maybe not a whole entire world event (but maybe they will!). The announcement prepares us for what’s to come. As great as our own children coming into the world is, and as great as an event that major players in the world scene over history and the declaration that they were to be born, Mark is concerned from the beginning of this book to declare the most important message in history, the most important news to ever exist, the declaration of the saving gospel of God.

READ MARK 1:1-8

CTS: A life-changing new beginning is found in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Background (v.1)

The first verse acts as a title to the book. We call this book the Gospel of Mark. Though Mark’s name is not found in this text, early manuscripts, textual evidence, and early church evidence attributes it to Mark. Who is Mark? Most scholars identify him as the companion of Peter, as attributed to him in 1 Peter 5:12-13

1 Peter 5:12–13 ESV

12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it. 13 She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, my son.

There is also some evidence that this also the same Mark that Paul had issue with in Acts, but was restored to being useful to him in ministry, as we highlighted at the end of 2 Timothy. Mark’s major source for this gospel was Peter, whom he was a companion or, apostolic worker of Peter. This is why we accept Mark as inspired Scripture, because though not written by an apostle, it was written by one closely associated with one or multiple.

The audience for Mark’s gospel is Gentile Christians, most likely in Rome, who were enduring some persecution at the time. What Mark’s intention here is not necessarily to put in chronological order the life of Jesus (though it does so loosely), but rather, his intention is exactly what verse 1 states. He wants to give Gentile Christians a defense of who Jesus is and a call to respond to him. It would also be a handbook for those that were Christians in how to present Jesus. The book does not delve much into the background details of Jesus, but instead gets straight to his ministry and his teachings, which demand a response. Mark is not making an apologetic to Jews and tracing his lineage, but rather, shows us who Jesus is and how people respond to him. For Mark, the gospel is a person to be believed. That person is Jesus.

And with that, Mark begins with a beginning. Not necessarily pointing us to a point in time, but rather, from the authority of who God is. As God spoke creation into existence, God in his authority points us to a new creation, a new beginning, yet it didn’t begin when Jesus showed up. Rather, this new creation gospel has been promised, prepared, and proclaimed: that gospel is Jesus Himself. Jesus (God saves), the Christ (the anointed Messiah), the Son of God (God himself, sent by the Father to save us).

I. Gospel Promised (2-3)

As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

The gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, does not just show up and undo the Old Testament or say that all that came before is obsolete and unnecessary. Mark deftly, under the inspiration of the Spirit, shows us that the prophets before declared God’s promise. He quotes Isaiah, but actually, it is a melding of three different texts from the OT. This doesn’t mean that Mark was mistaken, but rather, he is attributing the OT prophets under the heading of Isaiah, because of him being seen as the larger of the prophets of the OT. An example might be like this: Some people call tissues for your nose by the major brand name of Kleenex. Though there are other brands out there like Puffs, but I don’t think I’ve ever heard of someone call tissues by saying “can you get me a Puffs?” Now, when you ask for a Kleenex, you aren’t declaring it has to be a Kleenex, but that you need a tissue. Mark is in essence using Isaiah as that “Kleenex” moniker for all the prophets. \

The three texts quoted by Mark here are Exodus 23:20 (the exodus from Egypt), Malachi 3:1 (the exodus from exile), and Isaiah 40:3 (the exodus of salvation).

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.

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 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 is reinterpreting these texts and attributing them to the gospel of Jesus Christ, which the era of this gospel work is being fulfilled now. But this gives something to put our faith in. This shows us that God was, is, and is doing his work of redemption. His gospel promises go back thousands of years, and he has never failed to keep that promise. What the OT declared and prophesied is now fulfilled in Jesus. This also shows us that again, the purpose of the Bible is not to focus on men or the morality of its men and women, giving us nice stories to listen to in Sunday School, to make us better people and better citizens of society. Rather, the Bible is meant to point us to the fact that mankind is in desperate need of saving. Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joesph, Moses, Aaron, Joshua, Deborah, Gideon, Samson, Saul, David, Solomon, all did some amazing things, but they were not the focus. They were sinners in God’s redemptive plan, receiving mercy and grace from God, moving the plot forward and pointing us to Jesus, who is the fulfillment of God’s very promise to save man from their sins.

Application: You can trust that the God who created the world is the same God who is the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses, and is also the same God of the prophets who prepared the way of the Lord. The gospel didn’t begin with the appearance of the incarnation of Jesus. Rather, it began long ago and has been fulfilled in full by Jesus. So, trust your entire Bible, and look at it with the lense that every part of it is pointing us to Jesus. Read your Bible with Jesus’ lenses. That’s how God wants you to read it. Pray for that as you read, that God would illuminate your heart to understand His Word as He wants you to. Learn to read it from those that preach God’s Word to you. Seek discipleship. Let the Word dwell in your richly and soak your life in it. We put a reading plan in the bulletin every week for you to read in preparation of the coming Sunday. Those texts are selected, from both OT and NT, to show you how the Bible connects as whole, how the themes of the text being preached are found in other parts of the Bible.

II. Gospel Prepared (4-6)

John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 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. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey.

A. John’s spiritual work prepared souls for salvation

The person of John the Baptist is given in greater detail in other gospels, but here, as Mark usually will do, gets right to the point. He introduces John, the one who fulfills the quoted Scriptures. He is the messenger directly before Jesus, the voice that is out in the wilderness baptizing people, preparing people through the preaching of God’s word. He proclaimed repentance, as many of the prophets of old did. John is the final preparatory prophet before the final prophet like Moses comes, God himself.

Also, John also is doing this ministry with purpose out in the wilderness, outside of Jerusalem alongside the Jordan River. This gives notes and solidifying of much of the experience of Israel out in the wilderness, where God did his greatest work of refining and saving his people. John is out in the wilderness, preaching repentance, to those still lost in the wilderness of sin.

The message of John was radical because of what he was calling people to. Jews of the day would certainly understand ceremonial washings in accordance to the Law, but this is different. The Gentiles who desired to follow God were called proselytes, and they actually were baptized in order to be a part of the Jewish religion. Yet, John calls Jews and Gentiles alike, all people, to repentance. What is repentance? The simplest definition is to turn away from one direction and go another way. In full, repentance is turning from sin but also surrendering the life to God, and walking his way.

Application: We have a two-fold reminder that the message of the gospel addresses the sin that separates us and destroys us. John’s message prepared for people to see the hope of the Good News. But the Good News must have bad news in order for it to be good. Out in the wilderness, John called all people to repentance, even the self-righteous. Jew and Gentile alike. We must do the same, calling all people to repentance. We must be real about sin and its results. The church must prepare the way in their message for Jesus to work and bring his salvation.

B. John’s physical appearance prepared like a prophet

Another aspect of John’s ministry was his physical appearance. As you read it, it seems a bit radical. And it was. It flew in the face of the righteous appearance of the Pharisees or clothes and garments that showed off wealth and status. His appearance and his diet showed his humility and trust in God alone for His identity and his status as one of His prophets.

Also, this look pointed back to Elijah (2 Kings 1:8), and no doubt it was with purpose.

2 Kings 1:8 ESV

8 They answered him, “He wore a garment of hair, with a belt of leather about his waist.” And he said, “It is Elijah the Tishbite.”

Other prophecies point Elijah returning and preparing the way for the Lord, the Messiah. John fulfills the appearance, but also the bold work of Elijah, unafraid of the consequences of his bold preaching of repentance.

Application: John fulfills his role as God’s prophet, the one who prepares the way for Jesus. The church is called to the same task, living radically in the Spirit, exhibiting a kingdom mindset in contrast to a worldly kingdom. We prepare the way with our lives, living with humility, addressing the soul and showing how the physical realm is affected by the Gospel. We live in humility, yet with boldness. Live graciously, yet without compromise.

III. Gospel Preached (7-8)

Mark then reveals the message the John preached. The emphasis and focus of the preaching of John is exactly that of one who prepares the way for someone else. John is rolling out the red carpet with his ministry, making sure all lights, cameras, and focus is on the one who is coming after him.

A. Emphasize His might

John’s message first emphasized that the one coming after him was mightier than himself and any before him. Why? We’ve established already with this text that Jesus is the Son of God. This means that the might of Jesus surpasses all others because He is God. The all powerful God is coming! There is none like Him in ability and strength.

B. Emphasize His position

John also emphasizes that he is merely a messenger, a servant of this coming one. He is not worthy to untie his sandals. This was the work of a servant, and yet John sees himself lower than that. The feet of this Savior who comes are too precious and high up to even be touched. John goes to great lengths to show how great He is, and that no position or glory belongs to him.

C. Emphasize His work

Finally, John contrasts his work with Jesus’ work. Though important in God’s plan, he wants to emphasize that this baptism he does is only in preparation for the baptism that is to come. Jesus will come and address and change the heart, regenerating it, and giving new birth to those that believe and trust in Him. This the work of the Spirit who draws, convicts people to repentance. The Spirit regenerates believers. The Spirit then indwells believers, empowers them, comforts them, leads them, reminds them, and seals them until the day of full redemption. The baptism of John is merely water. The baptism of Jesus is transformation of the heart. This is the gospel, that is received by faith.

Application: As John preached, do we notice whom the focus is on? This is the greatest reminder for us as the church. Just as John ministered, he knew that all that he was doing was only in preparation for the one who was coming. The same remains today. Though he has come in first advent, we await in second advent. He is coming again. And we prepare that way by obeying His commands to live in the Spirit, proclaim the gospel to the nations, and make disciples. And in all of that, its not about building our platforms, our own names, but rather, exalting Christ. The church is not the one whom receives the glory. No pastor, deacon, musician, teacher, or anyone else is the focus. We must guard our hearts from the temptation to build ourselves up and to try to build up the name of Cross Church. We want to point to Christ in everything, for He is everything. He is God. He is mightier than any other. He is above all and all of us. And His work is a new beginning, a transformation of sinners, delivering them from their sins, and giving them a new life. This is the gospel. And the gospel is Jesus himself. We want to point all people to Christ, the only Savior of their souls!