The Arrival of the King
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· 4 viewsThe King has arrived to identify himself with sinful humanity, acheive victory over sin and Satan, and preach good news to all who will receive Him.
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Introduction:
Many years ago, Larry King interview Stan Lee, one of the co-founders of Marvel Comics. Larry King asked Stan Lee,
Larry King: “What constitutes a hero?”
Stan: “I guess a guy who just does good things and is willing to take chances to help other people. Basically to me, a hero has to be somebody who will sacrifice or will take great chances to help others, but still have human traits.” For Stan, a Hero is someone you can relate to.
Basically to me, a hero has to be somebody who will sacrifice or will take great chances to help others, but still have human traits, still not be perfect. When they become perfect, they become dull.”
We love hero movies. I’m sure there are some of you who are eagerly waiting for the next Marvel movies to come out. And we love heroes we can identify with. Heroes who face defeat. Heroes who have personal struggle. Heroes who have fears. Heroes who share in our brokenness. When a hero has identifies with us, they become that much more inspiring because they defeat their enemies against all odds.
Well, today, we get introduced to the hero of the Bible: Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ, although he was the divine Son of God who existed in eternity past, He also became a man who shared our weaknesses and identified with us.
Although he was God and fully perfect, this does not mean his temptations and trials were any different than ours. In fact, the One who was complete in purity and holiness must of felt the greater pressure of the darkness because he was undefiled and holy.
And as we will see today, Jesus becomes that much more beautiful to us because He relates to us as one who entered our humanity and shared our pain, so that he could achieve for us something no one has ever achieved against all odds.
Recap
Last week, we saw the forerunner of the King who pointed to the One who fulfills Old Testament prophecies and the One who is greater than all other prophets because He is the One who can only save.
Today, we look at the Arrival of the King. And we see that our King is the greatest hero who ever lived because he achieved something for humanity what no one else could achieve: our salvation. We will look at how Jesus is the Hero of the Bible today by looking at:
I. The King’s Approval (vv. 9-10)
II. The King’s Testing (vv. 11-13)
III. The King’s Good News (vv. 14-15)
Scripture Reading:
In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
First, we see that Jesus is the true hero of the story because He is the One approved by God. He is the true King because he is the One who get’s heaven’s affirmation.
I. The King’s Approval (vv. 9-11)
I. The King’s Approval (vv. 9-11)
II. The King’s Victory
In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
In those days has a biblical ring to it just how the OT prophets were introduced. Jesus came from Nazareth.
III. The King’s Proclamation
When I was in Seminary, there were students studying from all over the world. When they asked me where I lived, I told them West Covina and they would stare with a blank face.
Most students who not know where West Covina was, so I would say I live 25 minutes from Los Angeles. Once I said LA, people knew what I meant.
In the same way, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee. We know that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, but he was raised in Nazareth. Nazareth was an obscure village southwest of Galilee that no one really knew about. Jesus came from a small town of nobodies.
The New American Commentary: Mark 2. The Baptism of Jesus (1:9–11)
“Nazareth” was such an obscure village it is not mentioned in the Old Testament, Josephus, or rabbinic literature.
Brooks, J. A. (1991). Mark (Vol. 23, p. 42). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
And that is why Mark includes Galilee because most people would be familiar with the Sea of Galilee the same way people are more familiar with Los Angeles than West Covina.
And Jesus travels to John to be baptized in the Jordan. As we studied last week, the Jordan was a muddy and dirty was was believed to be the border between the Wilderness and the Promised Land in the OT. John was preparing people to meet the Messiah, yet the Messiah is wanting to be baptized by John. The other gospels tell us that John did not want to baptize Jesus:
His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”
“Are you crazy? I’m unworthy to take off your sandals and you want me to baptize you!”
But the baptism of Jesus was a preview of his humility ultimately at the cross.
The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
The question arises, why did Jesus get baptized if he had no sins to confess or repent of?
Jesus is getting baptized for four reasons.
A. Identification
But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.
Or we can say He is being baptized to fulfill prophecy. The Son of God would be the Servant of Yahweh would bring back God’s people through his sufferings as mentioned in Isaiah.
Behold my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my Spirit upon him;
he will bring forth justice to the nations.
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
I
B. Identification
Jesus is identifying with humanity in his humility. To go into muddy Jordan even though he had no sins to confess was an act of humility. And just like Moses would go lead the way though the Red Sea to deliver the people from Egypt, Jesus would go through the waters to lead Second Exodus and deliverance from sin. But not only does he get baptized to identify himself with humanity, second, he is baptized to be set apart as heaven’s champion.
C. Preview
And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,
Mark 10:
Mark
B. Set Him Apart
And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.
I’m assuming he was baptized by immersion, that is why the text tells us he came up out of the water.
Immediately is used 42x in Mark’s Gospel. It is a a fast moving gospel shifting from scene to scene. It can also be translated “and then”.
Skizo which we get the word “schism” from. The word “torn open” is "splitting apart" NLT or Message "sky split". Again in Isaiah’s writings, Isaiah wrote of a time where the sky would split before the appearing of Yawheh. Again, Mark may be using Isaiah’s imagery.
Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down,
that the mountains might quake at your presence—
The same word is used at the end of Mark maybe to bookend the book.
Mark 15:58-59
And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”
Jesus’ is getting Heaven’s affirmation as he prepares to do the will of the Lord as the One who is pleasing to God.
C. Preview
And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.
Dove. There are at least 16 interpretations of what this means. Some say that the Spirit of God was hovering like a dove in Genesis.
The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
Then he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters had subsided from the face of the ground. But the dove found no place to set her foot, and she returned to him to the ark, for the waters were still on the face of the whole earth. So he put out his hand and took her and brought her into the ark with him. He waited another seven days, and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark. And the dove came back to him in the evening, and behold, in her mouth was a freshly plucked olive leaf. So Noah knew that the waters had subsided from the earth. Then he waited another seven days and sent forth the dove, and she did not return to him anymore.
But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the livestock that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind blow over the earth, and the waters subsided. The fountains of the deep and the windows of the heavens were closed, the rain from the heavens was restrained, and the waters receded from the earth continually. At the end of 150 days the waters had abated, and in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat. And the waters continued to abate until the tenth month; in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains were seen.
At the end of forty days Noah opened the window of the ark that he had made and sent forth a raven. It went to and fro until the waters were dried up from the earth. Then he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters had subsided from the face of the ground. But the dove found no place to set her foot, and she returned to him to the ark, for the waters were still on the face of the whole earth. So he put out his hand and took her and brought her into the ark with him. He waited another seven days, and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark. And the dove came back to him in the evening, and behold, in her mouth was a freshly plucked olive leaf. So Noah knew that the waters had subsided from the earth. Then he waited another seven days and sent forth the dove, and she did not return to him anymore.
In the six hundred and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried from off the earth. And Noah removed the covering of the ark and looked, and behold, the face of the ground was dry. In the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth had dried out. Then God said to Noah, “Go out from the ark, you and your wife, and your sons and your sons’ wives with you. Bring out with you every living thing that is with you of all flesh—birds and animals and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth—that they may swarm on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth.” So Noah went out, and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives with him. Every beast, every creeping thing, and every bird, everything that moves on the earth, went out by families from the ark.
Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done. While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.”
And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth and upon every bird of the heavens, upon everything that creeps on the ground and all the fish of the sea. Into your hand they are delivered. Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything. But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. And for your lifeblood I will require a reckoning: from every beast I will require it and from man. From his fellow man I will require a reckoning for the life of man.
“Whoever sheds the blood of man,
by man shall his blood be shed,
for God made man in his own image.
And you, be fruitful and multiply, increase greatly on the earth and multiply in it.”
Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, “Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you, and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark; it is for every beast of the earth. I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.”
The sons of Noah who went forth from the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. (Ham was the father of Canaan.) These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the people of the whole earth were dispersed.
Noah began to be a man of the soil, and he planted a vineyard. He drank of the wine and became drunk and lay uncovered in his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father and told his two brothers outside. Then Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned backward, and they did not see their father’s nakedness. When Noah awoke from his wine and knew what his youngest son had done to him, he said,
“Cursed be Canaan;
a servant of servants shall he be to his brothers.”
He also said,
“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Shem;
and let Canaan be his servant.
May God enlarge Japheth,
and let him dwell in the tents of Shem,
and let Canaan be his servant.”
After the flood Noah lived 350 years. All the days of Noah were 950 years, and he died.
These are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Sons were born to them after the flood.
The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. The sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim. From these the coastland peoples spread in their lands, each with his own language, by their clans, in their nations.
The sons of Ham: Cush, Egypt, Put, and Canaan. The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. The sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan. Cush fathered Nimrod; he was the first on earth to be a mighty man. He was a mighty hunter before the Lord. Therefore it is said, “Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the Lord.” The beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. From that land he went into Assyria and built Nineveh, Rehoboth-Ir, Calah, and Resen between Nineveh and Calah; that is the great city. Egypt fathered Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim, Pathrusim, Casluhim (from whom the Philistines came), and Caphtorim.
Canaan fathered Sidon his firstborn and Heth, and the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites, the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites. Afterward the clans of the Canaanites dispersed. And the territory of the Canaanites extended from Sidon in the direction of Gerar as far as Gaza, and in the direction of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha. These are the sons of Ham, by their clans, their languages, their lands, and their nations.
To Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the elder brother of Japheth, children were born. The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram. The sons of Aram: Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash. Arpachshad fathered Shelah; and Shelah fathered Eber. To Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided, and his brother’s name was Joktan. Joktan fathered Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, Obal, Abimael, Sheba, Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab; all these were the sons of Joktan. The territory in which they lived extended from Mesha in the direction of Sephar to the hill country of the east. These are the sons of Shem, by their clans, their languages, their lands, and their nations.
These are the clans of the sons of Noah, according to their genealogies, in their nations, and from these the nations spread abroad on the earth after the flood.
Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built. And the Lord said, “Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another’s speech.” So the Lord dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth. And from there the Lord dispersed them over the face of all the earth.
These are the generations of Shem. When Shem was 100 years old, he fathered Arpachshad two years after the flood. And Shem lived after he fathered Arpachshad 500 years and had other sons and daughters.
When Arpachshad had lived 35 years, he fathered Shelah. And Arpachshad lived after he fathered Shelah 403 years and had other sons and daughters.
When Shelah had lived 30 years, he fathered Eber. And Shelah lived after he fathered Eber 403 years and had other sons and daughters.
When Eber had lived 34 years, he fathered Peleg. And Eber lived after he fathered Peleg 430 years and had other sons and daughters.
When Peleg had lived 30 years, he fathered Reu. And Peleg lived after he fathered Reu 209 years and had other sons and daughters.
When Reu had lived 32 years, he fathered Serug. And Reu lived after he fathered Serug 207 years and had other sons and daughters.
When Serug had lived 30 years, he fathered Nahor. And Serug lived after he fathered Nahor 200 years and had other sons and daughters.
When Nahor had lived 29 years, he fathered Terah. And Nahor lived after he fathered Terah 119 years and had other sons and daughters.
When Terah had lived 70 years, he fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran.
Now these are the generations of Terah. Terah fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran fathered Lot. Haran died in the presence of his father Terah in the land of his kindred, in Ur of the Chaldeans. And Abram and Nahor took wives. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran the father of Milcah and Iscah. Now Sarai was barren; she had no child.
Terah took Abram his son and Lot the son of Haran, his grandson, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram’s wife, and they went forth together from Ur of the Chaldeans to go into the land of Canaan, but when they came to Haran, they settled there. The days of Terah were 205 years, and Terah died in Haran.
Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan, Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him. From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord. And Abram journeyed on, still going toward the Negeb.
Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land. When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, “I know that you are a woman beautiful in appearance, and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me, but they will let you live. Say you are my sister, that it may go well with me because of you, and that my life may be spared for your sake.” When Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful. And when the princes of Pharaoh saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh. And the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house. And for her sake he dealt well with Abram; and he had sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male servants, female servants, female donkeys, and camels.
But the Lord afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. So Pharaoh called Abram and said, “What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her for my wife? Now then, here is your wife; take her, and go.” And Pharaoh gave men orders concerning him, and they sent him away with his wife and all that he had.
It was a picture of humility. A picture of deliverance. A picture of a new creation.
Genesis
The descent of the Spirit clearly represents an affirmation of Jesus’ identity and his empowerment for messianic service.
Strauss, Mark L.. Mark (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament) . Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
The baptism would be a confirmation and preview of his identity.
saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.”
And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.”
saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.”
And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?”
saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.”
And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.”
Strauss, Mark L.. Mark (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament) . Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized,
who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.”
And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.”
And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?”
Jesus was previewing his suffering and crucifixion. So we see identification, set apart as Heaven’s champion, preview of his work, and affirmation by God.
D. Affirmation
And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
There may be some biblical allusions here. Notice the three members of the Trinity: the Father Speaking, the Son in the waters, and the Spirit descending like a dove. Some say there may be an OT allusion “beloved” with predicting the sacrifice of Christ.
He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”
Others think it is the fulfillment of Isaiah 42:1
Behold my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my Spirit upon him;
he will bring forth justice to the nations.
And Psalm 2.
I will tell of the decree:
The Lord said to me, “You are my Son;
today I have begotten you.
enthronement Psalm. beloved Son. I am well pleased is . Unique Son of God who God the Father is pleased who will offer Himself as a sacrifice for the sins of the people. This is the Son who God the Father was pleased from all eternity past and continues to be pleased because he would be the perfect obedient servant who bring about salvation and the kingdom.
The baptism of Jesus shows us he identifies with us, he is set apart for us, he is previewing his work on the cross on which He gains divine approval.
He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”
Application:
If Jesus identifies with us, part of your identification with Him is through repentance and baptism. Baptism is a sign of repentance and obedience. We identify ourselves with the One who identifies with us.
Repent and Be Baptized.
After Peter preached the gospel, you remember what the people said?
until I make your enemies your footstool.” ’
Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:4
Just as baptism marked off Jesus as God’s chosen servant, baptism marks us off as God’s chosen people.
The Church Baptizes
We don’t baptize ourselves. The church is the one whom Jesus authorize to affirm true believers vs. false.
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
If you haven’t been baptized, talk to one of the elders. Take a baptism/membership class. And identify yourself with Christ and His people.
Non-Christian
If you are unwilling to identify yourself with the King now in his humility, then He will not identify with you when he comes in power and glory and judgment.
For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
Transition: Jesus gets heaven’s affirmation in his baptism, and he get’s hell’s opposition in the wilderness. Jesus is the true King because He passes the test.
II. The King’s Testing (vv. 12-13)
II. The King’s Testing (vv. 12-13)
Some of our members are in the military and marines. They tell me before you can become a true marine, you have to go through boot camp and the last week is the hardest week which is often called the “crucible”, where we get the word crucifix from. The purpose of the crucible is to put you under immense pressure and difficult circumstances to see whether or not you can hang. It is meant to be physically and mentally, and morally demanding. Recruits are deprived of sleep and food, under immense pressure through various tests, and march 45 miles. It is a rite of passage for the recruit. They are testing them to see if they will break under immense pressure. Some quit and never get to become a marine. Some endure and then after their endurance and suffering, then they are able to graduate and have the title of Marine. Some pass. Others who do exceptionally well pass with honors and even get awarded with a higher rank.
You see Jesus is in his
Well the wilderness was Jesus’ boot camp if you will. Jesus is getting a test “crucible” before he gets “crucified” literally. It was his place of testing on whether or not he would obey God. It is a place of testing of whether he would pass or fail. Jesus did not have one week of hell, but over a month of testing.
After Jesus is affirmed by Heaven, the Holy Spirit is leading Him into the wilderness to battle on behalf of heaven.
The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.
NLT says Spirit "compelled" Jesus to go into the Wilderness. Message says, "pushed" Jesus and KJV "driveth". Ekballo is the word used for casting out demons.
Why did the Spirit drive him into the wilderness?
The Spirit was leading him to accomplish his task of salvation. Before he would achieve salvation for sinners, he would need to overcome sin and temptation. He would need to pass “hell’s temptation”.
Democratic Affirmation of Abortion
And he was in the wilderness....
Wilderness had OT background. It was the place of meeting (Moses), it was the place of trial and testing (Numbers 14:34) and it was the place one would travel before going into the promised Land.
We can even go back to Genesis where Adam was removed from paradise and now lives in the “wilderness” because of his sin.
Forty Days
Forty days is a common period of time in the OT: forty days of rain during the flood (), Moses twice on the mountain for forty days (; ), the spies in the Promised Land for forty days (), Goliath challenging Israel for forty days (), and Elijah’s forty-day journey to Mount Horeb (, ).
Strauss, Mark L.. Mark (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament) . Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
40 could mean a time of testing or time of judgment.
The other gospels tell us he did not eat anything.
And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.”
Have you ever sinned whenever you were hungry? Maybe you were impatient with your spouse or friend because you didn’t eat all day? We have a word for that “hangry”.
Have you ever sinned whenever you were hungry? Maybe you were impatient with your spouse or friend because you didn’t eat all day? We have a word for that “hangry”. You should see my daughter when there is not breakfast on the table in the morning after I get her. She thrashes and throws herself if breakfast is not on the table when she first wakes up.
Or have you ever acted in an ungodly manner because you are sleep deprived? Helen and I yell at each other far too often at 1am and 3 am. “Slangry.”
And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.”
We sin when we’re hungry and tired. Yet, Jesus didn’t. He completely obeyed even though he was hungry and the devil was putting fresh hot pandasal in front of his face. He didn’t give it like the first Adam.
Being tempted by Satan.
Being tempted by Satan.
Satan means “Adversary”. This is the one in conflict with Adam from the very beginning. And the Second Adam is going into conflict and hand to hand battle with Satan.
We often have traditionally read the temptation of Jesus as a moralistic story and make the story all about us. But the story and hero of temptation is all about Jesus.
Forty days is a common period of time in the OT: forty days of rain during the flood (), Moses twice on the mountain for forty days (; ), the spies in the Promised Land for forty days (), Goliath challenging Israel for forty days (), and Elijah’s forty-day journey to Mount Horeb (, ).
Strauss, Mark L.. Mark (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament) . Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
Strauss, Mark L.. Mark (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament) . Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.
Every valley shall be filled,
and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall become straight,
and the rough places shall become level ways,
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ ”
He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.”
As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people. But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done, added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison.
Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Sala, the son of Nahshon, the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan, the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.”
We often have traditionally read the temptation of Jesus as a moralistic story and make the story all about us. But the story and hero of temptation is all about Jesus.
Have you ever sinned whenever you were hungry? Maybe you were impatient with your spouse or friend because you didn’t eat all day? We have a word for that “hangry”.
Or have you ever acted in an ungodly manner because you are sleep deprived? Helen and I yell at each other far too often at 1am and 3 am. “Slangry.”
See, the point of the testing of Jesus is not primarily how to overcome temptation like Jesus, but how Jesus overcame temptation and won for us.
Adam in the Garden gave into temptation. Like Israel in the Wilderness gave into temptation and were judged for 40 years. Like the people of God in Exile who gave into temptation. Like YOU who too often give into temptation.
When I was in college, one of the GE classes everyone took was statistics. No one really like statistics, except maybe accountants. But everyone in the class did horribly. And the professor would usually grade on a curve. If someone in the class only got 70, then the curve would be 70s.
We too often think God grades on a curve. But because God is Holy, he cannot grade on a curve. It is either pass or fail. We have failed. Jesus did not fail.
Jesus is going to show us that he is the one who was hungry, yet did not sin. Jesus did not become “hangry” or “slangry”. He was holy and set apart by God.
Mark’s purpose in this passage is not primarily exemplary—to compare Jesus’ temptation to our own or even to prepare us for testing—but christological, namely, to confirm that Jesus is indeed the Spirit-empowered Messiah who will defeat Satan and bring salvation to the people of God.
Strauss, Mark L.. Mark (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament) . Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
Strauss, Mark L.. Mark (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament) . Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
When I was in college, one of the GE classes everyone took was statistics. No one really like statistics, except maybe accountants. But everyone in the class did horribly. And the professor would usually grade on a curve. If someone in the class only got 70, then the curve would be 70s.
We too often think God grades on a curve. But because God is Holy, he cannot grade on a curve. It is either pass or fail. We have failed. Jesus did not fail.
And he was with wild animals.
It can mean he literally was with wild animals, that is to say he was in a dangerous and desolate place where animals could harm him.
It can also mean wild animals in a symbolic way, as the realm of fallen creation. You remember Adam and Eve were in paradise and they were commanded to rule and subdue the earth. They even named the animals to show authority over them.
But because of sin, not only was Adam alienated from God and one another, but from creation including animals.
This is why we hear stories of Lions eating their trainers or Shamoo sometimes turning on the swimmers. Because of the Fall, animals are no longer subdued as it originally was before sin entered the world.
But Jesus would do something where one day animals would be at peace with man again:
but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist,
and faithfulness the belt of his loins.
The wolf shall dwell with the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat,
and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together;
and a little child shall lead them.
The wolf shall dwell with the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat,
and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together;
and a little child shall lead them.
Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist,
and faithfulness the belt of his loins.
The wolf shall dwell with the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat,
and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together;
and a little child shall lead them.
We know that Jesus did not give into the three temptation of the Devil. Matthew and Luke tells us that the devil left him until he could tempt him again.
Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,
“ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God
and him only shall you serve.’ ”
Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.
Luke tells us that because he passed the test, because he passed spiritual boot camp, because he came out victorious, he now begins preaching the good news.
matthew 4:
And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.
And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country.
Gospel
Luke 3:
Jesus did not give in to temptation. He passed spiritual bootcamp.
When I was in college, one of the GE classes everyone took was statistics. No one really like statistics, except maybe accountants. But everyone in the class did horribly. And the professor would usually grade on a curve. If someone in the class only got 70, then the curve would be 70s.
We too often think God grades on a curve. But because God is Holy, he cannot grade on a curve. It is either pass or fail. We have failed. Jesus did not fail.
He did what Adam could not do. Adam had everything in the Garden and was cast into the wilderness through his disobedience. The second Adam had nothing in the wilderness and restored paradise to sinners through his obedience.
Luke
And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.
Angels ministered to Jesus after the temptation. We can think of where angels gave food to Elijah. The word angels can also be translated messenger. And the word ministering is where we get the word deacon from. In other words, there were messengers there to serve and encourage Him. They were there to praise Him because he passed the test. And although we do not have details, whatever they did, they encouraged Christ.
Christian, you need the church.
If Jesus needed encouragement. So do we. We need a community of believers to fight the temptations of the evil one and remind us of the one who endured and had victory over temptation whenever we given into temptation.
When you fail and give into temptation, go back to Jesus who did not fail and give into temptation.
III. The King’s Preaching (vv. 14-15)
III. The King’s Preaching (vv. 14-15)
III. The King’s Preaching (vv. 14-15)
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
When you watched porn again after you confessed it. When you yelled at your wife and kids again. When you failed to share the gospel with your neighbor because of fear. There are so many things we fail to do for the Lord. Now we can stay depressed and defeated, or look to the One who defeated sin and temptation for us, so that he would give his strength to us to get up again and fight again.
The Gospel of Mark 3. Temptation in the Wilderness. Ch. 1:12–13
Jesus’ obedience to God is affirmed and sustained in the wilderness, the precise place where Israel’s rebellion had brought death and alienation, in order that the new Israel of God may be constituted
G
You can overcome temptation by the power of the Holy Spirit.
You cannot overcome temptation on your own. Jesus had the Spirit’s Help. The Spirit was there to strengthen Him to overcome temptation. We must rely on His Spirit as well to overcome temptation.
Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:31
And the Spirit of God uses the Word of God and prayer to overcome temptation.
and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
Transition: Jesus received Heaven’s affirmation at his baptism, he received Hell’s opposition in the wilderness, now we see why Jesus is the rightful King to proclaim good news to sinners because He was the beloved and obedient Son with whom the Father was pleased.
III. The King’s Gospel (vv. 14-15)
III. The King’s Gospel (vv. 14-15)
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
After Heaven’s affirmation and Hell’s opposition, Jesus now begins his mission as the Servant of Yahweh who will bring salvation to his people. In fact, because Mark was traditionally the interpreter of Peter, Peter summarized Jesus’ whole life
As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
to grant to those who mourn in Zion—
to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.
They shall build up the ancient ruins;
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.
Acts 10:36-
Behold my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my Spirit upon him;
he will bring forth justice to the nations.
He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice,
or make it heard in the street;
a bruised reed he will not break,
and a faintly burning wick he will not quench;
he will faithfully bring forth justice.
He will not grow faint or be discouraged
till he has established justice in the earth;
and the coastlands wait for his law.
Now after John was arrested.
John was put in prison and the word is “handed over” or “betrayed”. This would be very similar to what Jesus would also experience in the future. John was arrested as we will see later in for preaching against Herod’s unlawful and incestuous marriage. He was a preacher who was not afraid of calling out sin as we saw last week. “The axe is laid at the root, bear fruit in keeping with repentance”
Jesus came into Galilee.
Now after John was arrested.
Jesus came back to Galilee. And notice what he did there.
A. The Proclamation of the Kingdom
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God,
p
Jesus is proclaiming the gospel of God. Proclaiming was the main thing Jesus did. He healed people, but that was secondary to his proclamation. He was fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy.
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
The reign of God has begun. The curse of Adam is being reverse because the King has come.
B. The Message of the Kingdom
The Gospel of God. It is either message about God or God’s message. This is divine news that Jesus is proclaiming.
Jesus came into Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God.
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
to grant to those who mourn in Zion—
to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.
They shall build up the ancient ruins;
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.
Strangers shall stand and tend your flocks;
foreigners shall be your plowmen and vinedressers;
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
to grant to those who mourn in Zion—
to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.
They shall build up the ancient ruins;
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.
Gospel of God
God’s message. Not man’s.
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,
Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— and all the brothers who are with me,
To the churches of Galatia:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
“The Time is Fulfilled”
In other words, a new day has come. A new age is beginning. All that the prophets wrote about is finding is climax and culmination in the King.
“The Kingdom of God”
The kingdom was central in Jesus’ teaching. It was the topic used in many of his parables. Yet so many people are confused about what the word actually means. One NT scholar says,
Some people say it refers to the
“You cannot know anything about Jesus, anything, if you miss the kingdom of God…you are a zero on Jesus if you don’t understand the term. I’m sorry to say it that strongly, but this is the great failure of evangelical Christianity. We have had Jesus without the kingdom of God, and therefore had literally done Jesus in.”
Kingdom is a buzz word that church people use, but don’t really know what it means.
Kingdom is a place you go when you die.
Kingdom is synonmous with the church.
Kingdom is the good deed we do in relieving the poor, helping the sick, fight inequality and seek to establish justice.
Kingdom is God’s sovereignty.
God’s rule in your heart.
But one of the best definitions I think which fits the Bible’s storyline is this:
“God’s rule over God’s people in God’s place”
Kingdom needs a King. Kingdom needs a people to rule. And Kingdom needs a place.
Adam was originally to rule and subdue creation as a representative of the sovereign King in Eden. Yet he failed.
Israel was supposed to be a kingdom of priests in the promised land under God’s rule. Yet they failed and were exiled from the land because of their disobedience.
Jesus appears goes hand to hand conflict with Satan and He is going to rule the nations because of His obedience. He is the rightful King over all the earth whether they submit to him and not. And He will renew all creation and establish his kingdom fully and finally when he returns.
Good News is that our King has come to defeat sin and Satan by achieving victory for us by dying as man’s sin bearer. He rises again from the dead and is drawing people to himself from every tribe and nation and tongue. And He is going to renew all creation when he comes again so that our King will rule over His people in a new creation where man will dwell in harmony with God and creation again just like it was in Eden.
“Is at Hand”
At hand/Draw Near/Fulfilled/Has come
Already/Not Yet aspect of the Kingdom. The dawn of a new age has come in the Arrival of the Son of God. Yet noon will come when He renews and remakes all things.
The Kingdom is at hand because the King is right in front of you! He is here! And when the King comes again, he will rule over all creation.
C. Response to the Kingdom
And how you respond to the King will determine whether you are in the kingdom or cast out of the kingdom into outer darkness and weep and gnashing of teeth. The King offers good news because he is the chosen messenger set apart and annointed by God, and the obedient Son who overcame the Devil’s temptation.
How should you respond?
and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
"Time's up! God's kingdom is here. Change your life and believe the Message!" (Message)
Both these are commands after the news has been announced.
A. Repent
Let us not confuse modern evangelism
Too often we confuse a profession of faith like a prayer, or a altar call, or a card, or even confession of sin as repentance. Those are merely external.
True repentance must affect the whole person.
Repent means literally means to “change of mind”. In the OT to repent means to return to the Lord. Repent means to do a 180. It means to do a complete U-Turn. Repent means that you need to change your mind because of what is being proclaimed, and reorient your whole life and affections towards God. To repent is to experience sorrow over your sin, and forsake it and turn to another path.
Repentance affects the mind in light of what has been said.
Repentance affects the emotions in light of God’s holiness.
Repentance affects the will where the sinner now hates what displeases God and want to do what pleases God. This is true repentance.
Annoucement and Appropriate Response
B. Believe
And believe is the second person plural imperative. We are all commanded to believe. To trust. To believe means to trust and put your whole life into this thing. Believe implies more than facts about something, but facts you stake your very life on which you will commit and forsake everything that stands it this message way.
Belief is willing to lose everything to gain a better treasure in Jesus.
C. The Gospel
The Good News. The Announcement. The Good News is Jesus. As we will see later in Mark’s gospel, Jesus shows his authority by subduing creation, casting out demons, healing sicknesses, raising the dead because the King is bringing a new age because He has arrived.
And Jesus will have authority in heaven and on earth because he was the perfectly obedient Son who would be so obedient to the Father’s will, that He would sacrifice Himself on the cross as a sin-bearing substitute for those who have failed God and failed the testing of temptation. He would achieve for us salvation through his death and resurrection.
And the only appropriate response is to repent and believe.
Application:
Have you Submitted to the King?
The Gospel of Mark 1. Entrance into Galilee. Ch. 1:14–15
Either a man submits to the summons of God or he chooses this world and its riches and honor. The either/or character of this decision is of immense importance and permits of no postponement. That is what repentance is all about.
The Preaching of the Kingdom
You are either in the Kingdom or your are out of the Kingdom. There are only two ways. There is not a third option. Have you repented of your sins and embraced the King?
Church as Embassy of the Kingdom
The church is not the kingdom, but the embassy of the kingdom. We live as citizens of the kingdom now, although we still pray that God’s kingdom would come. We continue to preach the gospel, mark off those who belong to Him through baptism, disciple them in the word of God, and regularly reaffirm our faith through the Lord’s supper as we gather weekly. We our giving people a preview of the kingdom when we live for the King now. When the church loves, forgives, embraces the outcasts and weak and helpless, we are showing forth what will come in the future.
Pray the Kingdom would Come
Represent the Kingdom
Therefore we must represent the Kingdom as we live for the King.
Ambassadors of the Kingdom
And God calls us to be heralds of the Kingdom. To proclaim this good news to the end of the world until he comes.
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Let us not confuse modern evangelism with repentance.
Summary:
The King’s Approval (vv. 9-10). He is identifying himself with sinners as set apart as heaven’s champion and the One who is pleasing to God because He will suffer for sinners.
The King’s Testing (vv. 11-13). He is the better Adam who passed the test in the wilderness where Adam failed in Paradise.
The King’s Gospel (vv. 14-15). He has the best news in the world because the King has come for his people to die for them and rise again to inaugurate the kingdom which is both present and future. The only appropriate response is to repent and believe the message of the King.
Conclusion
When Israel was a child, I loved him,
and out of Egypt I called my son.
The more they were called,
the more they went away;
they kept sacrificing to the Baals
and burning offerings to idols.
Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk;
I took them up by their arms,
but they did not know that I healed them.
This April, the last Avenger movie is to be scheduled to be released after 10 years of super hero movies. It is the most anticipated movie of the year. It will probably will be exceed box office expectations and pull in billions of dollars.
The Gospel of Mark 3. Temptation in the Wilderness. Ch. 1:12–13
Jesus’ obedience to God is affirmed and sustained in the wilderness, the precise place where Israel’s rebellion had brought death and alienation, in order that the new Israel of God may be constituted
Our fascination with heroes and villains show us that we all long for a hero we can identify with, a hero who will defeat the forces of evil, and who will bring harmony to the created order.
The Gospel of Mark 1. Entrance into Galilee. Ch. 1:14–15
Either a man submits to the summons of God or he chooses this world and its riches and honor. The either/or character of this decision is of immense importance and permits of no postponement. That is what repentance is all about.
Well, what we long for in our imagination and fantasy has already taken place in reality. What we hope for in comics has already taken place in the Bible. What we hope for in fantasy, actually will come to fruition when Jesus Christ comes again.
God Doesn’t Grade on a Curve
The greatest hero who ever lived was the One who identified with humanity, defeated the forces of evil by dying on the cross for man’s sins, and is bringing us back to God as His redeemed people in a new creation when He comes again.
Repentance is a UTurn. Return. Change of heart.
This is the best news the world has ever heard and will hear. The question is how will we respond before the King comes a second time in glory?
Abortion Illustration