The Beginning of the Gospel

1. The beginning a. of a new series i. What a wonderful journey through the psalms we've had - as we saw what God's people are to sing about - both the laments and the praises - laments over sin and praises of God for his faithful love - his HESED. (1) and now we turn to the gospel of Mark. (a) because it's important for us to keep coming back to Jesus. (i) it's so easy to fall into thinking that being a Christian is just about living a certain way, or going to church (2) whereas what it's really all about is a living relationship with a living human being, who is also God. (a) so it's important, I'd say necessary, to keep fixing our eyes on Jesus. Hearing and learning about him and his life and death and resurrection. (i) he is after all the pioneer and perfecter of our faith ii. encountering Jesus (1) and we need to remind ourself that while the out-workings of knowing Jesus are really important - the changed life, disciplines of godliness, love for others, (a) they mustn't be mistaken for the very heart of the Christian message which is found in knowing and loving the Lord Jesus Christ (i) knowing him better, and letting him challenge us in what what we think and how we live 1) Whether we don't know him yet, or are somewhere on that journey of knowing Christ. (2) So today we turn to encounter Jesus in Mark - which was probably written by John Mark (though he's never named in the gospel) - a companion of Paul and while not an apostle, clearly a companion of the apostles. (3) It's also probably the first gospel to be written, most likely within 20 years of Jesus death - within easy living memory. (4) and it begins very much "in your face". There's no rambling prologue or long introductions. It starts at speed! v1 (a) The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, 2. Jesus - the new beginning a. the beginning of... i. it's a start that reminds you of Genesis 1 (1) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. ii. it's the same few words here in Mark as in Genesis (1) indicating that this is a beginning - with echoes similarities to the original beginning (a) If you've ever seen the first 2 Bourne movies, you will remember that the first minute or so of the second is to remind you of the first movie. To bring to mind how where we are and just who Jason Bourne is. (2) this beginning to Mark is showing us that we have a new beginning from God, a new start that's somewhat like the first start. iii. but this time we're seeing a different sort of creation - a new creation - in fact it's an inauguration - but we'll see that shortly. (1) for this he uses a very special word (a) evangel (b) or good news. b. the good news.... i. and it *is* good news - which gets unpacked over the next 16 chapters as Jesus walks among us as a human being, as he teaches, he heals, and he goes to his shameful redemptive death at the end of the gospel account. (1) but calling it good news is not quite enough - good news is only half the story. It really means a "grand announcement" - a big story. (a) I don't know what you think of our current Prime Minister, and I honestly don't really want to know, (2) but when he was elected this time a little over a year ago, (a) it was a big story. An important one too. (b) if you were a coalition supporter it was good news, but if you were a labor or greens supporter, it was not good news. (i) either way it was still a big story - it was an evangel. c. Jesus the Messiah i. and this big story is about a new leader - Jesus the Messiah - the chosen king of God (1) which for some was *not good news* - if you were king Herod, you immediately wanted him dead, and we see that in Matthew ch 2 when he kills all the boy babies under 2 years old because he was so scared of this new king. ii. but the Messiah (1) and the Greek word for Messiah is Christ (a) is good news for those who have been looking forward to it. (2) Since David's day, they have been looking for the king who would sit on David's throne and reign forever. 2Sam 7:12-13 (a) When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. (3) and this Messiah also has a special name: d. Son of God i. this is the name that relates this person to the God of Israel. The king is both Messiah and son of God, but even more significantly the nation Israel are called God's son - Exodus 4:22 (1) Then say to Pharaoh, 'This is what the LORD says: Israel is my firstborn son ii. So Jesus steps onto the scene and Mark says - here's the one making a new start - it's big news, and he is Messiah and God's Son! (1) and immediately Mark pulls on another thread of the Old Testament story and quotes to us from the prophet Malachi - that Cansy read for us, and Isaiah - prophecies about Elijah. (verse 2 and 3) 3. John - the new Elijah a. prophesied i. as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way" - "a voice of one calling in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.' " (1) long before Jesus came both Malachi and Isaiah prophesied the coming of someone who would prepare the way of the Lord (a) so this moment has been long expected and long waited for. Malachi prophesied 400 years previously and Isaiah prophesied about 300 years before that. b. fulfilled i. and now - someone appears in fulfilment of those prophecies (verse 4) (1) And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. (verse 6) John wore clothing made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. ii. he's in the wilderness - the desert - like Isaiah prophesied, and he was dressed just like Elijah was in camel's hair and leather belt (1) Here is someone just like Elijah come again - and Elijah played a very special place in Israel's history. We remember the miracles that Elijah performed but his really important work was preaching: c. repentance i. Malachi (1) as we heard in the reading from Malachi - what Elijah is coming to do is to preach repentance to the people of Israel. chapter 4 verse 6 (a) He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; ii. and so what *John* does is preach for the people to change their ways, to turn back to God and be forgiven of their sins. (1) repentance is always the first step for real forgiveness. When we can acknowledge that we've done wrong. When we're truly sorry for what we have done, and turn around, then the path to real restoration and forgiveness is opened. iii. and so they come to be baptised (verse 5) (1) The whole Judæan countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptised by him in the Jordan River. iv. and that's a big deal, because you only baptised gentiles - people who were not Jews. (1) So they are in effect saying we're like people who are not God's people and we want to be God's people, so wash us clean. (2) that's challenging and confronting but it *is* true repentance! d. prophecy i. will baptise (1) and in the midst of that, John says - you ain't seen nothing yet! (verses 7 and 8) (a) And this was his message: "After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.I baptise you with water, but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit." (2) John prophesies that there is someone coming who - if we were listening to Isaiah - is "the LORD God" - and he won't just use water, but he'll baptise with the Spirit of God! (a) He will cleanse in a way John never could - because all water does is wash your outsides, but he is coming to washed with the Spirit who makes things holy, so you will be clean inside - which is much more important and much harder to do. ii. *this is a grand announcement indeed.* 4. Jesus - the new Israel a. fulfilling the life of Israel (1) and the significance of how Jesus is introduced is picked up quickly here. This new beginning for the Son of God - the people of God and so (2) He's shown to be fulfilling the life of Israel - the way Israel should have been doing it. ii. baptised in the Jordan (1) he was baptised (verse 9) (i) At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptised by John in the Jordan. (b) but Jesus didn't need to be baptised for repentance (c) and that's not what happened (i) no, he is baptised just like Israel were in the Red Sea, and then through the Jordan into the promised land (ii) it was the mark of them being chosen and in a special relationship with God - which we saw in Exodus 4 earlier. iii. confirmed by the voice of God (1) but unlike Israel, God confirms his son, and instead of judging him for rebellion, like he did to Israel, God affirms Jesus in the words of Psalm 2 and Isaiah 42 (a) Psalm 2 verse 7 says (i) I will proclaim the LORD'S decree: He said to me, "You are my son; today I have become your father. (b) So God confirms with a voice from heaven that Jesus is the son whom he loves (i) and then from Isaiah 42 verse 1 1) "Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him (ii) he is the one who pleases God! 1) and the Spirit is seen to descend on him - in way that is like a dove landing on a perch. (iii) so he will baptise people with - the Spirit that John prophesied - now visibly comes upon Jesus. 1) it's a very strong affirmation and confirmation of who Jesus is. iv. 40 days in the desert (1) and then he is sent into the desert (verses 12 and 13) (a) At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him. (2) so he wandered in the wilderness for 40 days, just like Israel did for 40 years. (a) and as Israel was tempted in the desert, so was he. And God sent angels to attend him, just as he did to Israel in the pillar of cloud and pillar of fire. (3) Jesus is living out the life of Israel - he is the new Israel b. sinless in the face of temptation i. but unlike Israel, who caused God anger and pain over and over again and were rebellious and difficult Jesus never sinned, (1) despite being tempted and tested. (2) Despite having human form and human emotions and a human heart, he never turned his back on God. ii. he didn't just live the life of God's chosen people Israel, he did it perfectly. (a) and so the setup is there. (i) Jesus - prophesied about, confirmed by God, living the life of Israel (b) is now amongst human beings. What is it all about? 5. The time has come a. not just about time i. Jesus' message is clear and confronting (verses 14 and 15) (1) After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God."The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!" ii. the time has come, is not just about hours and minutes and seconds. (1) it's about the appropriateness of what is about to happen (a) how important the next 3 years will be, not just for Israel but for the whole world (2) because while the kingdom of God has always felt distant now... b. the kingdom is amongst you i. it has come near. If you want to find a kingdom, you look for the king, and where he is reigning. The Kingdom is amongst you! (1) so here is Jesus - walking amongst them - the king, Messiah, Christ (a) whom God has confirmed and approved of (2) that king is now walking amongst them and the most important thing to ask is what he going to say?? What matters to this king? What does he want from us? ii. well that's what we will unpack as we go through the gospel of Mark and see the life and teachings of Jesus, (1) and it's deep and wonderful and simple and glorious. (2) the message of the kingdom now come amongst us by the *king* coming amongst us (a) but the message he leaves us today challenges us c. repent and believe i. it's not good enough just to live the way we always have. We can't trust in our own goodness or our own intelligence, or strength or religiousness. (1) no - change your mind. Repent. and believe - that God's chosen king - Jesus Christ the righteous one, has come amongst us and is calling us to believe in this great news - this grand announcement (2) the king of the kingdom of God is here. Jesus Christ is Lord - to the glory of God the father. Father, hear our prayer and move us to trust in your son. May we hear the call - that the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the Gospel. page 5 of 5 Mark 1:1-15 The Beginning of the Gospel 7 June 2020