Mark 1:1-8

Mark 1:1–8 KJV (WS)

1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; 2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 5 And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey; 7 And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. 8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

Introduction

In no gospel is the humanity of Jesus more transparent.

Mark’s mother is named Mary.

She was a prominent figure in the Jerusalem church.

Her home became an important gathering place for the Jerusalem ministry.

Mark was converted by Peter.

He is known for serving with Paul and Barnabas on the first missionary journey.

Early church fathers identify him as Peter’s translator.

Mark translated Peter’s Aramaic into Greek.

Jerome said, “Blessed Peter had Mark whose gospel was composed, Peter narrating and he writing it.”

Mark witnessed some of these events.

Mark and Peter are together in Rome when this is written.

It is written for the Romans.

Mark focuses extensively on the ACTIVITY of Jesus.

The word straightway (immediately) is used 41x!

Mark wants to immediately establish the legitimacy of who Jesus is.

In the first 13 verses, Mark gives a report on 3 witnesses that attest to His divinity.

Vs 1: Original title of the Book.

This title applies to the entirety of the book.

Mark undertakes the task of detailing the entire earthly ministry of Jesus.

And yet, this complete work is, from the first, identified as only the beginning.

The gospel work of Jesus is still ongoing.

Of course, we are a part that continuing work.

Both as recipients as well as messengers.

Our role is further understood by the way Mark begins to record the Gospel of Jesus.

Mark considers that John’s mission is the beginning of the gospel.

It is one of the great mysteries and blessings of God.

The fact that He would include us in His great redemptive plan.

The Romans used the word “gospel” before Jesus came along.

They used it to refer to good news regarding the emperor.

The gospel is neither a discussion nor a debate, it is an announcement.

What was John’s role then, in the announcement of the gospel?

Vss 2-3: Reminder of prophecy.

Mark combined Malachi 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3 in this verse.

Malachi 3:1 “1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.”

Isaiah 40:3 “3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”

A herald was always sent before the king.

To announce his arrival.

To make preparations for his arrival.

With this prophetical reminder, the curtain is abruptly pulled back to reveal John the Baptist.

Vss 4-8: Ministry of John.

His approach to ministry.

John’s ministry philosophy is not complicated.

John preaches and baptizes.

Preaching, in the Biblical sense, means to announce clearly and distinctly exactly what God has ordered.

Might of John’s preaching was renowned, but not compared to Jesus’ preaching.

It was not strange for John to Baptize, he was a levite.

The hearer sins and repents.

Repent means to change one’s mind, turn around.

Hamartia = missing the mark.

Missing the mark brings guilt.

God remits their sins.

Was it possible for someone to be forgiven of their sins before the cross?

Yes.

How?

Faith and repentance, same as today.

The results of his ministry.

Scholars estimate that John baptized between 200k and 500k people.

Peter, who witnessed the ministry of John tells Mark that all of Judea and Jerusalem went out to hear John preach.

The people were all in agreement that John was a prophet of God.

Some even asked if he was the Christ.

His appearance.

John wore the clothes of a prophet.

He dressed rough.

Camel’s hair is coarse.

A leather belt held it together.

His diet was rough too.

Locusts and honey.

No one could accuse John of getting rich off of his fame.

Locust eating

Wings and legs removed.

Bodies dried or roasted.

Eaten or ground up and baked.

Seasoned with salt, they could last a long time.

His message.

John the Baptist makes us uncomfortable because he has all the opportunities to be #1.

And yet, John is always careful to magnify Jesus and not himself.

As much as the people thought of John, he consistently pointed them to the one that would come after him.

To contrast the importance gap that existed between himself and the one that was coming, John used a powerful illustration.

I want you to try and picture the scene.

A crowd of people from all walks of life have gathered.

A prophet stands before them preaching with power and conviction.

People begin to respond with repentance desiring to be baptized.

The poor kick off their shoes if they happened to be wearing any.

The rich hold their foot out so that there servants can unlatch them.

John has seen this play out thousands of times.

It leads him to make a statement.

The gap between me and the one that is coming is so wide, I am not worthy to even undo the latchet on his shoes.

This was slave work.

The man that had captured the attention of a nation rightfully states that he is unworthy to do the work of a slave for the Messiah.

John also contrasted the superiority of the Messiah’s baptism with his own.

John baptized with water.

Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit.

The key here is that water baptism effects nothing; it is symbolic.

Holy Ghost baptism, though, gives power to the recipient.

John could submerge the respondent in water, Jesus would submerge the respondent into the Holy Spirit.

The humility of John’s ministry further drives home the incredible fact that God hose to use John to start the story of Jesus.

He was a man that gave all the glory to God regardless of his accomplishments.

Maybe that is not only the reason God used John, but also the key for God using us today.

Application

Mark is only the beginning of the gospel of Jesus.

Jesus’ gospel ministry continues today.

His activity was not relegated to Bible times only.

Jesus is still active today.

Just like in the days of His earthly ministry, Jesus is looking to use humans to participate in his work.

What kind of men do we need to be for God to use us?

Humble like John.

We are not worthy to unlatch his shoes much less take part in his plans.

And yet, if we give him the glory, He will use our lives to point people to Him, just like John did.

Are you desirous to be used by God?

Are you giving him the glory for what he has done in your life?