Mark Part 2

Recap

Last week we got into Mark

The timing- 65 ad First book written

The purpose- Most of Rome was burned- Nero needed to blame someone- Christians tortured

Style of writing- fast paced, right into Jesus’ ministry, action movie

Possibly due to the audience that Mark was writing to.

We start with JTB preaching repentance and baptism for ALL

Jesus baptism- the Father, Son, Holy Spirit

Immediately Jesus is sent into temptation- We find comfort in His trials. He is not some distant King. He became flesh, He dealt with trials just as we do. Just nas those early Christians did.

Now we see the beginning of His ministry.........

Immediately

Immediately, Immediately, Immediately

We talked last week that the word immediately is used over 40 times in Mark.

In these next few verses we are going to see this word over and over.

Mark 1:14–28 NIV

After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him. When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him. They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.

Earlier I said we see the beginning of His ministry. I guess I should have said Mark picks up His ministry.

Galilee? What is this place?

Galilee was a land that was a full 3 day journey from Jerusalem. If you put it into today’s context the people of Jerusalem would look at Galileans the way the rich upper east side New Yorkers view the blue collar bumpkins in West Virginia.

Galilee held no great importance politically. When Jesus came, Antipas Herod’s son was the leader of Galilee and Perea. He, however, had little use for leading his people and chose instead to be known for his elaborate, crazy, lengthy parties.

Needless to say Galilee was desperately waiting on a Savior.

So Jesus comes and is spreading the Gospel. The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!

Let’s look at the first half of His preaching - The kingdom of God has come near.

This actually carries a double meaning. The first should seem obvious to us now as we know the full story, but to those living it, it would be a major shift.

When Jesus speaks these words He is literally referring to Himself. God became flesh and came to earth. The kingdom of God is literally near them!

The second meaning of His words would come later when the Holy Spirit would come to earth and dwell with man as we see in Acts. Thus beginning the new church.

The second half of His words are the absolute basis for our beliefs today. Two words representing a single action. Repent and believe is to decide to turn away from our old sinful ways and put our trust and belief in the one who saves us from our sins.

“Fishers of Men”

Mark 1:16–17 NIV

As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”

Now the translation I use for studying writes that Jesus said two words to these men. “Follow me.”

I have loved these scriptures for a very long time because it takes away so much of the pomp a circumstance we have created with our “doctrines.”

Jesus says follow me.....Two words. Now He does follow it up with “I will make you fishers of men.” So ok 9 words.

But still He speaks 9 words and what is their response?

Mark 1:18 NIV

At once they left their nets and followed him.

Again in NASB or KJV we see that word IMMEDIATELY!

Let’s define immediately.

With no time between. With no other events between.

So with that meaning we know that Peter and Andrew didn’t go home and discuss it. They didn’t look at their business and see about selling it or putting someone else in charge.

They didn’t sit down with Jesus and discuss His plans or salary or what His intentions were.

Immediately they left it all behind to follow Him.

How many of us struggle to obey Jesus even after years or an entire life of following Him. How often do we argue with God even after seeing all He has done for us?

There is debate as to the timeline of Peter and Andrew knowing Jesus. By just reading Mark one could assume that this was their first interaction.

However, in John’s gospel we learn that Andrew, a follower of JTB, introduced his brother Simon(Peter) to Jesus. So we can assume there was already a familiarity with Jesus when he met them again on the shore.

However, it still took a major leap of faith to leave EVERYTHING behind to follow Him. They were leaving their families, friends, their livelihood everything based on a relationship that was possibly a few days old…if that.

And it doesn’t stop there......

James and John

Mark 1:19–20 NIV

When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

Now we see Jesus moving with haste. He sees James and John and without taking any time, he calls them into His ministry.

What was their response?

Now we don’t see the word “immediately” here but from the description we can assume they did not delay.

“They left their father and hired hand in the boat and followed Him.”

God’s Calling On Our Lives

How many of us respond to Jesus saying “Follow Me” with immediacy?

How many of us has Christ laid something on our hearts and we respond with “not now” “why me” “what for” I need more detail”

I was a youth pastor for a few years and what I took away from that is such a fear that our youth are just sitting on the sidelines.

How many youth have a calling on their lives and are telling themselves or worse yet being told to wait. They need to grow up.

We say we should live our lives as Jesus did, but when someone uses that as a justification for their actions we judge them and say “what you think you’re Jesus?”

How shameful.

We want God to show us the journey and the end before we will commit.

And to an extent I understand.

How many of you would take a job without knowing what the job is, how much you’ll be paid, or where you will even work?

But we MUST separate ourselves from the world when it comes to making decisions in the spirit.

Do you trust your Savior?

If so then when he calls we must respond IMMEDIATELY!

The Journey Begins

Mark 1:21–22 NIV

They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.

Here in King James we see immediately yet again. No time is being wasted. As soon as Jesus gathers the four, He goes straight into Capernaum and starts ministering to the people.

Mark 1:22 NIV

The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.

For a long time these words kind of just came and went without much thought. But when I looked deep I came to realize they describe the power and authority of Jesus.

He taught them as one who had authority. Not as someone who is just passing along information from years gone by or quoting other “rabbis”

He taught as the one who wrote the scriptures and bore the authority of them.

His Authority Is Recognized

Mark 1:23–26 NIV

Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.

The crowds in the synagogue recognized that Jesus was a new kind of teacher. There was something different about Him. However, it was a demon who would recognize His ultimate position and authority as the Son of God or God in flesh.

What do you want with us? Translated from the Greek would be the same as saying mind your own business. The demon knows it is defeated before Christ even speaks.

Christ displays His authority when He gives two commands. Six words spoken.

The first two “Be quiet!” Jesus commands the demon to muzzle itself. What is lacking after this is the proof of His power. After those words are spoken we hear nothing else from the demon.

Lastly, He speaks four words. “Come out of Him!”

And at these words the demon, albeit under protest by causing the man to convulse, left.

There was no negotiating. There was no asking. There was no repeating. Jesus spoke and the unclean spirit had to listen and obey.

I think sometimes we forget that the same authority has been given to us through Christ.

Who Is This Man?

Mark 1:27–28 NIV

The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.

Jesus wastes no time shaking up the religious world. Just in the style of Mark’s writing, Jesus hits the ground running.

Jesus not only brought a new teaching, one of authority, He showed His power with the unclean spirit.

It has been described that Jesus teaching put the crowd in a state of awe, His dominion over evil with the unclean spirit put the fear of God in them.

Closing

In just 29 verses Mark has shown us the fulfillment of prophecy, the arrival of JTB, the baptism of Jesus, His leading to be tempted, His gathering of 4 disciples, His radical new way of teaching, and His ultimate authority of the spiritual world through his command over the unclean spirit.

Jesus wasted no time getting to the work He was sent to earth for.

Jesus did not wait to start His work, His disciples did not wait to respond to His calling.

Will you?

There is a calling on all of our lives. What are you waiting for?

Are you waiting for more information?

Are you waiting for a better time?

Are you waiting for Him to stop asking?

If I can encourage you in any way today it is this...... It’s time to move.

You are not too young. You are not too old. You are not under prepared.

You are right where God wants you to be. You are right where He knew you’d be when He called you.

It’s time to respond........immediately.

Let’s pray.