Sermon Tone Analysis

John the Baptist Preparing the Way

Mark 1.1-8

Introduction:

The writer of the Gospel of Mark is John Mark.

He was the young man that went with the apostle Paul and Barnabas on one of their mission trips decided that it was not for him at the time.

As a matter of fact, Paul and Barnabas later a falling out over whether or not to bring John Mark back into the ministry.

As a result of this discussion between these two godly men; the apostle Paul chose a man by name of Silas and Barnabas took Mark with him on his missionary journeys.

The gospel of Mark is the shortest of the gospels.

It is commonly believed that the apostle Peter was the main resource for the writing of the Gospel of Mark.

Although many of the books in the Bible have key verses, the Gospel of Mark doesn’t have a particular verse that outlines the book; but rather it has key phrases that it uses: straightway, immediately, these are action type words.

The Gospel of Mark contains many of the same narratives and stories that the other Gospels do concerning the Lord Jesus Christ, but Mark seems to focus more on the miraculous than the others do.

With this desire to emphasize the miracles that Jesus performed, is understood that Mark believes that Jesus is deity will be shown through his actions rather than the author stating it.

Even though Mark presents the miracles of Jesus as something that only Jesus can do his main focus is presenting Jesus as a tireless servant.

This is definitely a character trait that we can imitate in our Christian walk.

Throughout the Scriptures, especially in the New Testament God’s people are called upon to be servant leaders.

The Gospel of Mark presents Jesus: The Compassionate Servant of God.

1.

The Proclamation of Jesus-vs. 1

Mark’s first sentence serves as a title to the book and it serves to plunge us immediately into the earthly ministry of Jesus.

Mark is going to share with his readers the good news concerning who Jesus is and what He did while He was here.

Mark calls the Lord “Jesus Christ, the Son of God”.

The Proclamation of the Man-vs.1

His Name-Jesus

The name “Jesus” is the Greek transliteration of the Hebrew name “Joshua”.

It means “Jehovah is Salvation”.

Jesus is a human name and it reveals the reason Jesus came into this world.

Jesus came into this world to save lost sinners, .

The name “Jesus” declares His Person.

His Title-Christ

He is called “Christ”.

This identifies Jesus as the “Jewish Messiah”, or “the Anointed One”.

The name “Christ” declares His Position.

Jesus is pictured as the One Who will deliver His people from their enemies.

His Power-The Son of God

Then Mark raises the stakes.

He calls Jesus “the Son of God”.

Mark lets us know in very clear terms that he is writing about a man, Who is no ordinary man.

He is writing about a man Who is God in the flesh, The name “Son of God” declares His Power.

So, this title declares four important truths regarding Jesus.

1.

He is truly human – He has a human name – Jesus.

2. He is truly divine – He is the promised Messiah.

He is the Son of God.

3.

He is truly unique – He is both humanity and deity in one Person.

4.

He is the true source of Good News – Jesus alone is the source of salvation!

The Proclamation of the Message-vs. 1

The Gospel means “Good News” and it is good news to all men!

Message to all men.

Message content-The Gospel

2. The Prophecy of John-vs.

2-3

It was not unusual for a king to have a forerunner that came before him announcing his soon arrival, this man had two duties:

First, he was to make certain that the roads were passable.

There were to be no delays when the king passed through.

He was to have a clear, open route through the kingdom.

Second, the forerunner was let the people know that the king was coming.

He was to go along the route before the king came through and he was to tell the people to get ready for the king.

John the Baptist fulfilled both duties seen in the ancient forerunner.

He came to this world with a divine mission.

John was given a heavenly mandate, which he fulfilled while he was here.

The Miracle of the Prophecy-vs.

2

John the Baptist fulfilled two important Old Testament prophecies concerning the coming of Jesus.

These prophetic writings were written hundreds of years before John.

In, fact Isaiah was written about 700 years before, and Malachi about 450 years before John the Baptist was born.

John cleared the way for the coming of the Lord by appealing directly to the people.

The Jewish religious leaders had long ago forgotten the common man.

John came preaching to the people, calling on them to repent because the Lord, the King was coming to deliver His people.

The Message of the Prophecy-vs.

3

John was a lone voice against the dead legalism of the Jews.

He was a hard preacher in a dark day and God used him to touch a generation.

(Note: John the Baptist preached during a period when the Jewish religion had become nothing more than dead orthodoxy.

Legalism and ritual ruled the day.

The Jews were in desperate need of a spiritual revival.

The Gentiles had given up on religion and viewed most religious beliefs as superstition and foolish tales.

Both groups needed just what John preached: the Truth!

We are living in similar day!

Many churches have abandoned the great doctrines of the Bible to preach either a message rooted in humanism or legalism.

People are either never challenged regarding their sins or they are beaten down with the Word of God.

There is a great need for men of God in our day who will stand up, open their Bibles, open their mouths and preach the Word of God.

Jesus is coming soon!

Where are the forerunners who are preparing the way of the Lord and proclaiming His return?

3. The Preaching of John-vs.

4-8

The Place of John’s Preaching-vs.

4

The wilderness…have you ever felt like you were in the wilderness?

Don’t feel that you are out of the Will of God when you are in the wilderness.

Many of God’s choicest and finest servants I spent much time in the wilderness.

But note in this passage of Scripture as John is in the wilderness crying about God and proclaiming Jesus, Jesus himself shows up!

Always remember this, God knows exactly where you’re at.

The Purpose of John’s Preaching-vs.

4

He came telling men of the need for repentance.

His message was a message of confrontation.

John came confronting sin and calling on people to repent.

The word “repentance” means “a change of mind that results in a change of action.”

The people had sinned and John called on them to change their minds regarding sin.

John was calling on them to clean up their lives in preparation for the advent of Jesus!

He was saying, “The Lord is coming!

The Savior is coming!

You need to straighten out your crooked hearts.

You need to get the way into your heart prepared for the coming of the Lord.”

John’s message was also a message of change.

John told the people that their “repentance” would result in the “remission of sins”.

The word “remission” means “forgiveness or pardon of sins as though they had never happened.”

John told the people that their repentance would result in God’s forgiveness!