Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God

Theme: God breaks the silence of centuries to announce salvation through His Son. Key Verse: Mark 1:1 – “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”

Introduction

This morning I want to introduce the Gospel of Mark. Let’s answer a few questions before we get into the Gospel of Mark.

How does the Gospel of Mark differ from the other gospels ? What is Mark’s purpose in writing about Jesus vs. the other gospels?

Matthew – Written to show Jesus as the promised Messiah and King who fulfills Old Testament prophecy, emphasizing His authority and kingdom.

Mark – Written to present Jesus as the suffering Servant and Son of God, focusing on His actions and power rather than long teachings.

Luke – Written to portray Jesus as the perfect Son of Man, highlighting His compassion, humanity, and concern for all people, especially the outcast.

John – Written to reveal Jesus as the divine Son of God, so that readers might believe in Him and receive eternal life (John 20:31).

In short: Matthew stresses fulfillment, Mark action, Luke compassion, and John belief.

Matthew begins his Gospel by sharing the genealogy of Jesus. He feels the need to prove that Jesus is a Son of Abraham and a Son of David. Jews-birthed as God’s people

Luke begins by talking about the events which lead up to the birth of the Lord Jesus.

John’s Gospel starts out in eternity past reminding us that Jesus is God in the flesh.

Mark does not start out by talking about the Lord’s heritage or His birth. Mark’s desire is to present Jesus as a servant and a servant does not need a genealogy. Mark focuses on the fact that Jesus is a God/man of action. He focuses on the things that Jesus does or accomplishes in our lives. Fast moving-fast paced.

Mark, specifically John Mark wrote the gospel.

And... the question comes, who was John Mark? You may remember that John Mark traveled on the first missionary Journey with Paul and Barnabas that you can read about in Acts 13. Later Paul and John Mark had a rift because Mark skipped out on the first missionary journey at Pamphylia. (Acts 13:13).

When it was time for the second missionary journey Paul would not travel with John Mark. Paul traveled with Silas and Barnabas and John Mark traveled together. There are several references that reflect that Paul and John Mark later reconciled their differences.

Dearly beloved, even among Christians we will have conflict. May we be challenged this morning as we reflect on that reality in the life of Paul and John Mark that we be motivated to settle our differences.

So that we can attest as Paul did about Mark:

2 Timothy 4:11 “11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.”

Is there someone here this morning that you might strengthen your ministry and the other parties ministry if you were proactive in reconciling your differences?

John Mark was a cousin to Barnabas (Col. 4:10). John was his Hebrew name which means the Lord is gracious. Mark is his Roman Latin name and it means The Roman God of War. Oh dear brothers and sisters it reminds be that John Mark was called to be in the Lord’s Army and to battle for the Savior in the pagan world in which he lived and you and I live winning souls for Jesus. Amen.

John Mark was a contemporary of Paul but did you know He was a contemporary of Peter? Early church historians record that John Mark served as Peter’s interpreter and wrote his Gospel based on Peter’s oral accounts. In other words, Mark’s gospel is really a written account by John Mark of the oral accounts and remembrances of Peter’s words. Early Church historians Papias 120 AD, Clement of Alexandria 190 AD, Origen 230 AD all attest that Mark is a reflection of Peter’s oral thoughts.

Mark’s mother was Mary and we read of that in Acts 12:12 “12 So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying.” Peter had prayer meetings in John Mark’s mother’s home.

1 Peter 5:13 “13 She who is in Babylon, elect together with you, greets you; and so does Mark my son.”

Mark’s gospel starts as a gospel narrative on steroids.

Both to the believer in Rome that were persecuted, they learned of Jesus the Suffering Servant but in the same breath for a pagan people who thought there was no greater power than Rome, Jesus has the power to save us from our sins. Amen.

Do you need to experience the Lord’s power afresh today?

Why four gospels? Why do we need four gospels?

Ill. Why do we need surround sound on our TV?

Top Gun-the Fighter Jets flying over.

Turn in your bibles this morning to Mark 1:1-8.

Mark 1:1-8

Mark 1:1–8 NKJV

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 Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.” 3 “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.’ ” 4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 5 Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And he preached, saying, “There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. 8 I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Prayer

Message

I. The Proclamation of the Good News (v. 1)

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

A. Its Message –

We read of several beginnings in the Word of God.

Genesis 1:1 “1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

John 1:1–2 “1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God.”

Hebrews 1:10 “10 And: “You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands.”

Those are important theological truths but today if you want to experience the power of God in a fresh way, the beginning that Mark speaks of us Good News for us today.

For you see we were all at one time alienated from God.

Colossians 1:21 “21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled”

The beginning for us, the Good News that breathes life into us and life eternal for the believer.

Good News:

A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible 2098. εὐαγγέλιον

2098. εὐαγγέλιον ĕuaggĕliŏn, yoo-ang-ghel´-ee-on; from the same as 2097; a good message, i.e. the gospel:—gospel.

Good News: Mark opens not with a genealogy or a manger, but with a message — gospel, “good news.” In a world filled with bad news, Mark wastes no time reminding us that God’s plan begins with joy, not despair. The Good News is embedded in the Messenger & His messiahship.

Many of you have experienced great change. Moved here. New location. Changed churches. Health issues cause change. Life mates are gone. Oh dearly beloved, God never changes.

B. Its Messenger & Messiahship

Jesus Christ: The name “Jesus” points to His humanity in the Hebrew Joshua (“Yahweh saves”).

Common Jewish name. He can sympathize with us.

Hebrews 4:15 “15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

“Christ” or Christos in the Greek which means Messiah or Annointed One. The Title refers to His divine mission (“the Anointed One”).

It is the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Jesus is his God given name which means in the Hebrew Joshua or Jehovah saves. He does not receive His mail “Mr. Christ.”.

Christ is a title.

A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible 5547. Χριστός

5547. Χριστός

How does Scripture support that Jesus is the Christ?

The Prophet Isaiah said these words:

Matthew 1:22–23 “22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.””

Isaiah 7:14 “14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”

In the Bible, the phrase “Son of” is mentioned 1614 times. During biblical times the people did not have last names. All through the Bible you have people’s name given and to distinguish who they are you tie them to their father’s name.

1st Occurrence

Genesis 11:31 “31 And Terah took his son Abram and his grandson Lot, the son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son Abram’s wife, and they went out with them from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan; and they came to Haran and dwelt there.”

Genesis 29:5 “5 Then he said to them, “Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?” And they said, “We know him.””

Acts 13:22 “22 And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’”

We are talking this morning about Jesus, the Son of God.

Son of God refers to His nature.

He isn’t the Son of God because of anything He has done (miraculous birth, His incarnation, or because of the resurrection), but because of who He is. Jesus always has been as reflected in:

John 1:1 “1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

Hebrews 13:8 “8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

God

Theos-deity, supreme Divinity, He is exceeding.

Jesus is God incarnate. Yes, He is the suffering servant that came to give His life a ransom for many. But He is God.

In biblical times a Father’s legacy was continued in his son.

A son would inherit the property of his father-and the first born received the double portion. A son was perceived as the continuation of the father’s rule and position in the house. So, Jesus title, “Son of God” reveals that he is separate from the Father, but he lived to do the will of God and shares in His very nature.

Luke 1:34–35 “34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” 35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.”

John 10:30 “30 I and My Father are one.””

As we address this Gospel this morning from the vantage point of the audience Mark was attempting to reach and He shares that same message with us today to reach us.

It is vitally important those things Jesus says to us, It is important of who He is, but it is important what Jesus did and is doing to in our lives to make us whole. He is God and Jesus is His Son. Amen.

Jesus, He alone is the way of salvation.

C. Its Meaning

God has acted: The phrase “the beginning” echoes Genesis 1:1, signaling that this is a new creation — God’s redemptive work starting afresh in His Son.

Illustration: When breaking news hits, everyone listens. Do you remember where you were on 9-1-1? I was in Warner Robbins Georgia heading to the mall to call on some accounts and as I ate breakfast at my hotel, checked out almost everyone I encountered was stifled by the news. I quickly saw I was wasting my time and I needed to head home.

400 years of spiritual latency, spiritual silence and hunger was mounting and the gospel of Mark breaks out and gets right to the point.

Mark opens with spiritual “breaking news” — God Himself has stepped into history. The Messiah was the promised One that would come from the Line of David. He is here. Application: The gospel always begins where Christ is proclaimed. Has it begun in you?

II. The Presentation of the Forerunner (vv. 2-6)

Mark 1:2–6 “2 As it is written in the Prophets: “Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.” 3 “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.’ ” 4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 5 Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.”

“Behold, I send My messenger before Your face…”

A. His Mission –

The OT prophets foretold of the day one would come as Elijah to foretell the coming of the Messiah, the King. His role was to prepare the way of the Lord as foretold in:

Isaiah 40:3 “3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God.”

Malachi 3:1 “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, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,” Says the Lord of hosts.”

The Angel came to Zechariah and said:

Luke 1:16–17 “16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.””

Prepare the Way: John the Baptist fulfills Isaiah 40:3 and Malachi 3:1. He bridges 400 years of silence, proclaiming that the Lord is coming.

In Biblical times, a messenger would preceded the arrival of the king or an important dignitary., The messenger fulfilled a role:

1) Go ahead and prepare the roads were of proper repair, no boulders in the way, no ditches or washouts. 2) They would arrange for food and lodging and a proper welcoming of the dignitary, and 3) Announce the arrival of the important person. They heralded, “the King is coming.”

John 1:29 “29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

B. His Manner

Notice John’s manner. There is a lesson for us.

Humble and Holy: Clothed in camel’s hair, eating locusts and wild honey, John represents for us simplicity and a separation from worldly corruption.

John the Baptist was as John was.

Simplicity-Jesus wants to use you as you are with no pretense. The Lord wants you to be you. As you are-now clean in His sight, but I’m referring to being comfortable with who you are in Christ Jesus. We would say even of that day that John the Baptist marched to a different drum. The majority of people around him would of thought John the Baptist was strange. If people call you strange or different, you are just right for the Lord.

Amos 7:13–16 “13 But never again prophesy at Bethel, For it is the king’s sanctuary, And it is the royal residence.” 14 Then Amos answered, and said to Amaziah: “I was no prophet, Nor was I a son of a prophet, But I was a sheepbreeder And a tender of sycamore fruit. 15 Then the Lord took me as I followed the flock, And the Lord said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to My people Israel.’ 16 Now therefore, hear the word of the Lord: You say, ‘Do not prophesy against Israel, And do not spout against the house of Isaac.’”

Amos was not of the priestly line, yet God called him all the same and the Lord calls you. Oh may we live lives simple, and yet separated from the world.

C. His Message –

Repentance: John’s baptism symbolized cleansing and readiness for the Messiah’s arrival.

Illustration: John was like the trumpet blast before a king’s arrival. His job wasn’t to draw attention to himself but to get everyone ready. Application: Before Christ reigns in our hearts, repentance must clear the road.

Oh dearly beloved, if you want to encounter the power of the Lord in your life you must experience His pardon.

III. The Pronouncement of the Coming One (vv. 7-8)

Mark 1:7–8 “7 And he preached, saying, “There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. 8 I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.””

When John spoke those words, you could almost sense the excitement in his voice. He’s saying, “Y’all think this is something? Just wait till He shows up!” Shazam.

John was a fiery preacher, but he knew his place. He was the herald, not the hero — the one with the megaphone, not the Messiah. When Jesus came into Jerusalem for the triumphal entry we know that people laid down their cloaks and waved palm branches.

Oh would we live life as John the Baptist that we verbally laid down our cloaks and waved His palm branches of goodness and grace with each passing day.

A. His Supremacy — “Mightier than I”

John had crowds coming from every direction. People listened. Soldiers, tax collectors, religious leaders — they all came. But when folks started asking, “John, are you the One?” he said, “No way. Someone greater than me is coming.”

That’s humility. In a world where everyone’s trying to make a name for themselves, John kept saying, “It’s not about me, its about Him.”

Let me ask you. Are there areas of your life that you and I need to realize that it’s not about us, its about Him being glorified?

Are you so set in your ways that you struggle today with people’s dress, or the types of music they listen to? And it places a wedge in your being able to relate to people? Maybe you struggle with church and the types of music or struggling to get out of your comfort zone? Oh dearly beloved, its not about us, its about Him, the Lord.

In those days, the job of untying sandals was reserved for the lowest servant. John says, “I’m not even worthy to do that for Him.” John wasn’t exhibiting false humility, He realized that God, pure holiness was in His presence.

I want to remind us that when we come here, to God’s house, we are coming into His holiness. Please ask yourself these questions:

Is what I am saying acceptable to a King? Would the thoughts and the words I convey would they be pleasant in the presence of the King? Guess what, King Jesus is here. Let’s be holy because what does the Scripture say, God is holy.

1 Peter 1:15–16 “15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.””

Illustration: I once heard someone compare John to the stadium lights at a ballgame. When the lights come on, everybody notices — until the players take the field. Once the game starts, no one’s looking at the lights anymore. But without those lights, you couldn’t see the players at all. John’s job was to light up the field so Jesus could take center stage.

Application: The measure of true ministry isn’t how many people notice you — it’s how many people see Jesus because of you. John reminds us that it’s okay to step out of the spotlight if it means Christ shines brighter.

B. His Sanctifying Work — “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit”

John’s baptism was powerful, but it was temporary. It was about repentance — turning from sin.

John’s baptism was temporal. It was the same kind of action as the Jews when they made sacrifices and sin offerings. Jesus’ baptism is about renewal — being made brand new.

When John baptized people in the Jordan, the water could wash dirt off their skin, but it couldn’t cleanse their soul. Only Jesus could do that. John could point people to the water; Jesus would pour out the Spirit.

Illustration: Think of it this way — John’s baptism was like washing the outside of a cup; Jesus’ baptism cleanses the inside so it can hold living water.

That’s what the Holy Spirit does — He doesn’t just patch up the old life; He creates a new one. When you’re filled with the Spirit, your desires start to change. Your heart softens. You find yourself wanting what God wants.

That’s why John was content to decrease. He knew his work was to prepare hearts, but only Jesus could transform them.

Application: Maybe that’s where some of us get stuck — we’ve turned from sin, but we haven’t truly turned it over to Jesus. Religion can scrub the outside, but only a relationship with Christ can clean the inside.

C. His Saving Power — “The Son of God Revealed”

John’s whole ministry was wrapped around one mission: get people ready to meet Jesus. He was the forerunner — the one running ahead, clearing the path, shouting, “The King is coming!”

And when Jesus arrived on the scene, John didn’t hesitate. He didn’t say, “Now, let’s talk about my ministry.” He said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)

That’s what every Christian should long to do — point others to the Lamb.

Illustration: You’ve probably seen a lighthouse standing alone on a rocky coast. It’s not there to be admired — it’s there to guide. It shines to warn of danger and to help ships find safe harbor. That’s exactly what John did. His life wasn’t meant to impress — it was meant to illuminate.

Application: God still calls His people to be lighthouses in a dark world — steady, faithful, pointing the way home. And the message is the same: “Jesus saves.”

Transition to Closing Challenge

So when John says, “After me comes One mightier than I,” he’s not just announcing the next preacher in line — he’s ushering in the King of kings.

Mark begins his Gospel with movement and momentum — “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” And that beginning isn’t just a page in history — it’s an invitation to every heart.

When we prepare the way through repentance and humility, when we turn from self and trust in Jesus, the good news becomes our story — not just John’s.

Closing Challenge:

Mark begins his Gospel with action, authority, and anticipation. The “beginning of the gospel” is not merely historical — it’s personal. The good news starts when we prepare our hearts, repent of our sin, and receive Jesus as Lord.

Let’s pray.