The Beginning of Good News
Mark 2026 • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
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. 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;
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. I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
Introduction
Introduction
Many times we don’t know the end of the story at its beginning. In our passage this morning, Mark gives us a glimpse of what is to come in his book. The sin of the world has been removed by the coming Messiah.
As we begin studying the Gospel of Mark this morning, we should mention several helpful facts about it:
Date: The Gospel of Mark was likely written first, as far as the Gospel accounts are concerned. This would put it mid-First Century in the 50s or 60s. Together with Matthew and Luke, Mark is called a Synoptic Gospel. This name identifies the synthesis or sameness of the stories of Jesus that are found in these three books. Later, John records different stories than these three.
Author: The traditional writer of this Gospel is John Mark, who traveled with Paul. His mother owned a house where the early church met. He is also identified with recording the specific account of Peter about the ministry of Jesus by Papias, a church father.
Purpose: The primary purpose of Mark seems to have been to give the necessary account of the ministry of Jesus leading to the Crucifixion and Resurrection. We will see the theme of the book in verses 14-15 of chapter 1 next week. This theme would require of the reader an answer to one fundamental question: who is Jesus?
In these first several verses, Mark starts his Gospel with a glimpse of its end. The Bible itself follows this same outline. In the Garden of Eden, man was created perfect but fell into sin. At the end of Revelation, man has been redeemed from sin and lives forever in sinless perfection. So it is with the Gospel of Mark.
Mark introduces us to the “beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” The gospel or “good news” is about Jesus whose titles are Messiah and Son of God. The Promise of the Old Testament is now being fulfilled in Jesus who will remove sin. As we study the passage this morning, the book of Mark is leading to the final payment and victory over sin in chapters 15 and 16.
The start of the Gospel message is the preaching of a need for a Saviour and the arrival of the remedy for sin. We will see in these first eight verses that God has done something amazing in the nation of Israel. All the world will be changed because of this good news.
Declaration
Declaration
All of mankind are sinners. The message of John was that there was a need for a coming Messiah who requires repentance. Today, the only remedy for our sin is found always in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Three events outline the beginning of the good news.
1. Prophets Foretold the Remedy
1. Prophets Foretold the Remedy
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
The first event of the beginning of the good news is the foretelling of the prophets. The prophets foretold the remedy. This was part of their tasks in proclaiming the word of God to people. People are sinful and there must be some help for their sin.
But we are all as an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; And we all do fade as a leaf; And our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Prophets were a specific office or position in Israel. The prophets would communicate messages from God. These were usually verbal but could sometimes be written. Most of these messages were written down later under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus is found in the word of the prophets. All of Scripture speaks of Jesus Christ, whether looking forward or backward. There is a clear Christocentric message in much of the Old Testament prophecy because of the coming, end-times reign of God and the need of salvation.
Man is sinful. We have chosen to disobey God and what His Word commands us to do. We lie and steal and hate. We get angry and speak unkindly. We lose our patience. We think immoral thoughts. Our hearts are deceitful in their bend toward evil. One of the prophets, Jeremiah, gives us the need for good news.
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
This is the background to these first three verses. Mark is going to use three prophecies to give us the fulfillment of the ministry of John the Baptist and the imminent coming of the Sacrifice for sin. The Gospel or “good news” begins with what the prophets have to tells us about the remedy for sin.
“Behold, I send my messenger before thy face” - Mark uses Exodus to show that there would be one who would go before those who have come out of Egypt. In the context of the original, this messenger has gone to drive out the enemies in the Canaan. The reason that God has sent this messenger is the habitual rebellion of Israel. They wanted to go their own way instead of following the covenant established by God.
Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.
“which shall prepare the way before thee.” - Mark uses Malachi to reveal the heart of the people to live in obedience on the outside but in disobedience on the inside. The book of Malachi is a rebuke of the rejection and apathy of the people to truly following God. There is coming a communication by God through a messenger that will convict their hearts of sin.
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.
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” - Mark uses a final prophecy by Isaiah to connect this messenger with the coming of God Himself. Isaiah is pointing to the return from Exile in Babylon. Mark tells us that the presence of God with man is only fulfilled in the work of the Messiah, Jesus.
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.
Together, these three passages point to one of the themes of Scripture, the new Exodus through Jesus. We all have sin in our hearts and lives. Our sin has separated us from God. We cannot do anything of on our own to bridge the gulf that is between us. We are trapped in bondage to our sin and we must have a Deliverer that is sent by God.
Jesus has made the only way to get rid of that sin and restore fellowship with God. Leaving the sin of Egypt must happen through listening and responding to the Word of God. Isaiah 40 summarizes the coming nature of the kingdom in God to earth. The prophecies that Mark uses point to the coming remedy that today will remove sin spiritually and someday soon will remove sin physically.
When we were unable to do anything because of our sin, God took action to reach out to us for salvation. This is the action of verse 2. Israel’s sin, and greater still all of our sin as humans, has the consequence of eternal separation from God. The beginning of the good news was foretold by the prophets as a remedy for sin. Have you applied the remedy to your sin today? The remedy would be pointed to by a man named John.
2. John Called for Repentance
2. John Called for Repentance
John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 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. 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;
Mark gives us a second event in the beginning of the gospel in verses 4-6. John called for repentance. This was the ministry that God had foretold in the prophets and assigned for John before birth. The prophets called for Israel to come back both physically and spiritually. Each time, Israel only came back to God temporarily before returning to idols.
Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, And with their lips do honour me, But have removed their heart far from me, And their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
The ministry of John had two parts. On the outside, John baptized those who came to him. Unlike the baptism of other leaders during this time, his ministry needed an inside response. There must be preaching for repentance. Repentance and forgiveness are the result of realizing we have sinned and turning from our sin to God. Solomon prayed to God for mercy for those of Israel who would repent.
Yet if they shall bethink themselves in the land whither they were carried captives, and repent, and make supplication unto thee in the land of them that carried them captives, saying, We have sinned, and have done perversely, we have committed wickedness; And so return unto thee with all their heart, and with all their soul, in the land of their enemies, which led them away captive, and pray unto thee toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, the city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name:
Repentance is a change of mind from sin to God. The believer and the unbeliever alike are prone to sin and choose to turn away from God. True repentance is visible in the outward sign of baptism and the continuing obedience of a life of faith. Verse 5 tells us that those who came to John were baptized “confessing their sins.” The people came to make clear that they had done evil and disobeyed God and His law. They could not live on their own in their own way. Baptism was a commitment to be ready for the coming Messiah.
Throughout the areas around, many people came as we see in verse 5. God was working to prepare for the arrival of the Christ who had been foretold. John, who did no miracles but only obeyed the commands of God to preach, was preparing the way for the arrival of God Himself.
Here in Mark we see that John uses baptism to give a visual sign of a inward choice to repent and prepare for the coming spiritual Exodus foretold by the prophets. The later teaching in the New Testament follows this pattern. Baptism does not save the person. It did not save these Jews that came to John in this passage. Instead, the baptism was showing that they needed to be washed from their sins by another and they were changing their ways to prepare to seek God. The sin that required a messenger in the Old Testament also requires a remedy here in the New Testament. John is preparing the people for the coming Messiah who will die for mankind.
Surely he hath borne our griefs, And carried our sorrows: Yet we did esteem him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: The chastisement of our peace was upon him; And with his stripes we are healed.
There was forgiveness in the preaching of John. In verse 4, there was a remedy for sin. The guilt of sin is removed by the sacrifice of Jesus. During the Last Supper, Jesus gave instructions for another ordinance of the church. Together with baptism, the Lord’s Supper illustrates the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus. Jesus’ death was to bestow to us this forgiveness. As He blessed the cup, Jesus connected His blood and forgiveness.
And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
John called for repentance. This is the fulfillment of the prophecies of the Old Testament. When they told of a remedy, they were looking toward John the Baptists ministry and beyond it the One that he pointed to. John was nothing without the Saviour that he prepared the way for. Have you applied the remedy today?
3. Jesus Offers Redemption
3. Jesus Offers Redemption
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. I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
The final event of the beginning of the gospel is the finished work of Jesus. Jesus offers redemption. John’s messages culminated in the one announcement that Mark records here in verses 7-8. There would be One coming soon that was greater than John and would bring in the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
We will see next week the arrival and preaching of Jesus. However, we know that it was only by what Jesus did that there could be a removal of sin. The preaching of John was always pointing to this coming Messiah who would change the eternal destiny of mankind. Paul later would connect the ministry of John with this final salvation in Jesus alone.
And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
John pointed to the sacrifice, the Lamb who would die for the world. He was effective in carrying out his specific task given by God. Jesus alone is the way of salvation.
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
We see in Mark that John preaches with a distinct focus on the Son of God. He is not as much concerned with God the Father but with the coming Saviour of the world. This is different from the other Gospel writers. Jesus is moving ever closer to the cross where He will carry out the plan of God for the removal of man’s sin forever. Isaiah, whose prophecy of the coming messenger was fulfilled in John the Baptist, also foretold the arrival of Jesus, who was God Himself. He is the good news!
O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; Lift it up, be not afraid; Say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!
The Gospel of Mark is a leading us up the mountain to the Crucifixion of Jesus as the Saviour of all mankind. The prophets point to John who will prepare the way. John points not to himself but to Jesus who is the Lamb who was slain. The remedy for sin is the satisfactory payment of Jesus on the cross. Receiving salvation includes the Holy Spirit living inside of the believer. John calls this the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Have you applied the remedy to your sin today?
Conclusion
Conclusion
All of mankind are sinners. The message of John was that there was a need for a coming Messiah who requires repentance. Today, the only remedy for our sin is found always in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
The message of John the Baptist points directly to the message of Jesus in verses 14-15. These are our theme verses for 2026. Following Jesus is a choice begin with believing the good news.
Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Mark begins his Gospel by outlining the prophecy of and the carrying out of John the Baptist’s ministry. John was faithful to the task that he was given. Sin’s remedy is found in Jesus Christ alone. Have you applied that remedy to you sin today?
We as Christians are in need of the work of Jesus on the cross as well. We have a new nature in Christ but our old nature pulls us into rebellion against the law of God. Just as Israel turned from God and complained in the wilderness, we doubt God and miss out on the blessings that He has for us. Will we look to Jesus again for all that He will do to grow us? This year, we will follow along with Him as He preaches and heals and carries out the plan of redemption. Will you resolve today to apply the remedy of Jesus’ sacrifice to your sin and live a holy life through Him? Confessing and repenting of our sin involves choosing Jesus over what satisfies our sinful hearts. May we choose rightly today.
Those who have not received the remedy are just as those who came to see John in the Jordan. They have sin and they must choose to confess it. The promise of God is that He will forgive your sin. This is the preaching of John, Jesus and the disciples. Do you want forgiveness? Come receive it today! Only those who have been forgiven will spend eternity with God in heaven.
The beginning of the Good News is the preaching of Jesus and what He is going to do on Calvary. Will we apply the remedy to our sin today as we follow along with Him? John’s message is simple, “Repent and be ready for Jesus!” Let’s be ready today!
