Who Jesus Is?

1. The Hook

Anyone like to read biographies?

One of the interesting things about biographies is that the author will often tell you who a person is before showing you who they are. Early in the book, the biographer introduces the defining characteristics, themes, or tensions that shaped that individual’s life.

Then, as the story unfolds, the reader begins to see those traits appear again and again through the person’s decisions, relationships, successes, and failures.

Walter Isaacson does this masterfully in his biography of Steve Jobs. Near the beginning of the book, Isaacson identifies three ideas that would define Jobs’ life: abandoned, chosen, and special. Jobs wrestled with the reality that he had been given up for adoption, yet he was also raised with the conviction that he had been specifically chosen by his adoptive parents. Over time, those realities contributed to a deep sense that he was somehow different. Isaacson doesn’t simply mention those ideas and move on. Instead, he spends the rest of the biography showing how they surface throughout Jobs’ life. His relentless drive, his extraordinary confidence, his difficult relationships, his perfectionism, and even his ability to convince others to attempt the impossible are all connected back to those themes introduced at the beginning.

Gospel of Mark

Mark does something very similar in his Gospel. In the opening fifteen verses, Mark introduces us to Jesus. Before we see His miracles, hear His teaching, or witness His death and resurrection, Mark tells us who Jesus is.

What is also fascinating as your read throughout this gospel account Mark is approaching this message by recording questions from the people ultimately asking the question, “Who is this Jesus?.”

They didn’t have the blessing we have today to read the first 15 verses of Marks Gospel. Instead they witnessed Jesus life and teachings and miracles and asked questions that would help them understand who Jesus is…

Mark 1:27 “27 And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.””

Mark 2:7 “7 “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?””

Mark 2:12 “12 And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!””

Mark 4:41 “41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?””

Mark 8:27 “27 And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?””

Mark 8:29 “29 And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.””

Mark 14:60–61 “60 And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” 61 But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?””

Again we are blessed to have the beginning of Mark’s Historical Biography of Jesus which answers all of those questions in the first 15 verses.

3. The Text

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

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

Gospel = good news - this is the good news about Jesus Christ.

Jesus -

The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament 2424. Ἰησοῦς Iēsoús

Jesus means Savior (

Christ -

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. Χριστός

fulfiller of Israelite expectation of a deliverer, the Anointed One, the Messiah, the Christ.

When Saul is anointed, “the Spirit of God came upon him mightily” (1 Sam. 10:10). When David is anointed, “the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward” (1 Sam. 16:13). The anointing of the king is frequently accompanied by a visible empowerment of the Spirit for leadership, warfare, judgment, and the administration of God’s kingdom.

By contrast, when Aaron is anointed in Exodus 29 and Leviticus 8, there is no statement that the Spirit rushes upon him. Instead, the emphasis falls on consecration, holiness, cleansing, and access. Aaron is washed, clothed, anointed, and sanctified so that he may draw near to God on behalf of the people.

That distinction seems intentional.

Kings are empowered for rule

The king’s task is outward. He must lead the nation, defeat enemies, execute justice, and preserve covenant faithfulness. Therefore, the Spirit often comes upon kings to equip them for a task.

The emphasis is:

* Authority

* Leadership

* Power

* Administration

The Spirit enables them to represent God before the people.

Priests are consecrated for access

The priest’s task is different. He does not primarily represent God to the people. He represents the people before God.

The emphasis is:

* Holiness

* Purity

* Mediation

* Access

The anointing does not empower Aaron for conquest. It prepares him to enter sacred space without being consumed by God’s holiness.

In a sense, the priest’s greatest privilege is not power but presence.

The priest enters where others cannot

Think about the movement of the priestly ordination ceremony.

Aaron is:

* Washed

* Clothed

* Anointed

* Covered by sacrificial blood

Mark 1:2–3 “2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, 3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’ ””

LORD - YHWH - Jehovah God

Mrk 2:7

John is going to approach a little bit different in his opening. He will let the reader know that Jesus (The Word is God) and He became Flesh!

4. The Application

Purpose: Move from understanding to transformation.

Elements:

Show what this truth means for our lives today [Describe practical, real-life application]

Use stories or examples that make obedience concrete [Add modern illustration or testimony]

Appeal to both head and heart—conviction and hope [Write your emotional appeal or challenge]

5. The Invitation

Purpose: Unite the congregation around the shared call of God.

Elements:

Summarize the key truth in one simple, memorable sentence [Rephrase your main point or truth here]

End with a vision of what life looks like if we all live this truth together [Picture of kingdom life]

Invite response—repentance, baptism, prayer, encouragement [Describe call to action or invitation moment]