Hope

“I’m sorry I got caught.” —> Is that a real apology? (Parents didn’t think so, either.) Not sorry for what I did wrong but that they found out about it.

“I’m sorry you’re mad.” —> Real? (‘Rents) That’s like saying they are the ones who are wrong, and if they just didn’t get made over it, everything would be OK.

“I’m sorry I was careless and put a hole in the wall.” —> Real? (‘Rents) What I was doing wrong and the damage I caused.

Then they could forgive me! Not RE getting caught or them getting mad.

Then I had to pay for what it cost to repair the hole in the wall. I still had some consequences. But they forgave me. They paid more for the repair than I did.

Real “confession” - with God, we don’t hide or confess only part - we want to confess everything we can think of: 1) what we were doing what was wrong and 2) the damage that we caused.

When you pray, tell God all things you did wrong to confess and then tell Him “Thank you” for forgiving you because Jesus paid for the damage when He died on the Cross

Intro

Grab: Newspaper RE Good News?

SRV (while looking)

OneKC

Cheer up! - GN for ppl w/wrong adjectives

PV: Hope - Mark’s haste (like a good article - main point in 1st paragraph)

The Hope of Prophecy via the Holy Spirit

++We need hope

OT BG - right away in Mark we’re gonna see OT prophecy and crowds of people ready to respond - a lot has been going on before verse 1

(Bad leaders) 2 Kings 1:8

2 Kings 1:8 NASB95

They answered him, “He was a hairy man with a leather girdle bound about his loins.” And he said, “It is Elijah the Tishbite.”

Elijah hairy, leather, fire “b/c you leaders consult everything but God, God will bring justice”

(us: don’t need to be partisan in order to observe that too many of our leaders are godless and unwise)

—> we need hope b/c government can’t deliver

(Living as aliens) Isa 40:1-8

Isaiah 40:1–8 NASB95

“Comfort, O comfort My people,” says your God. “Speak kindly to Jerusalem; And call out to her, that her warfare has ended, That her iniquity has been removed, That she has received of the Lord’s hand Double for all her sins.” A voice is calling, “Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God. “Let every valley be lifted up, And every mountain and hill be made low; And let the rough ground become a plain, And the rugged terrain a broad valley; Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, And all flesh will see it together; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” A voice says, “Call out.” Then he answered, “What shall I call out?” All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, When the breath of the Lord blows upon it; Surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.

Comfort = hope (but b/c judgment happened), living as aliens, forgiveness (b/c sin), but clear the way (stuff needs to change first), glory is coming, word of Lord remains forever (—> unbreakable, which is GN and BN)

(us: we do not live in a Christian culture - the folk religion of our land is not to serve the God of the universe and follow Christ as Lord and Savior and to make disciples; we live as aliens)

—> we need hope b/c we’re surrounded by lies and we need a promise of comfort to cling to

(Religious corruption) Mal 3:1-6

Malachi 3:1–6 NASB95

“Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the Lord of hosts. “But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. “He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the Lord offerings in righteousness. “Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years. “Then I will draw near to you for judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers and against the adulterers and against those who swear falsely, and against those who oppress the wage earner in his wages, the widow and the orphan, and those who turn aside the alien and do not fear Me,” says the Lord of hosts. “For I, the Lord, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.

Clear the way (b/c bumpy, esp b/c religious leaders), purify (b/c unpure), acceptable offerings (b/c sin), justice via Lord of Armies (—> sin will be paid for)

(us: the list of nationally-known Christian leaders who have fallen in one way or another is getting way, way too common and way, way too awkward to answer questions about - some haven’t surprised me, but some have )

—> we need hope b/c not even religious leaders are completely reliable

Also before Mark 1: Birth narrative - from Matt & Luke

Of HS & virgin, by the HS: save ppl from sins, God w/us, throne of His father David, reign w/o end, redemption of Israel, light to the Gentiles, good news for all the people, Savior, cause the fall and rise of many, one day a sword will pierce mother’s heart, Messiah - waiting!

(us: we, too, are in a time period of waiting for the Messiah to come, but for the second time)

—> we need hope … and everything seems to rest on this Messiah showing up as promised

++CR: But we won’t find hope on the front page / business section / sports / entertainment / comics

Front page: the buzz that everyone is talking about at the moment, but even if you like what the article says, we’ve seen time and time again we can’t put our hope in it

Biz section: job numbers, market indices - can’t hope

Sports: learned the hard way, winning team, accomplishments & accolades - can’t hope

Entertainment: pretend world of movies and music and celebrities - can’t hope

Comics: escapism - can’t hope

(Our hope for our difficult life situations is ultimately in God’s promises and in God’s promises alone)

++Hope via the HS: prophecy (promises), virgin birth (as promised), rest upon this one person (the Messiah who showed up as promised)

The Hope of Forgiveness through the Holy Spirit

++We’re hungry for hope - RV: we need hope

Read Mark 1:1-8

Mark 1:1–8 NASB95

Recognize 2Kg1; Isa40; Mal3 - all that’s been going on before Mark 1

The Messenger before the Messiah, a sign of hope (2-3, 6) - messenger, ~Elijah the Mighty (honorable) —> JC: greater than the mighty and honorable Elijah

Coming from all over (5) =

news spread (^ RE JC, *)

hungry! (most rejected, but more ppl are hungry for hope than who are willing to accept the only one who brings hope)

Still only RE this Messiah (7):

Mightier: Elijah the Mighty << John << JC (mightier baptism)

Honorable: Elijah the Honorable << John << JC (sandals)

Prepare the way -

b/c bumpy!

what makes the path straight? repentance (4) - makes the bumpy path smooth for the arrival of JC

++CR: Because our names keep showing up in the local crime statistics

Sin problem (read, every edition every day - my name)

Hope, but through ack’ing that our names are in this section daily, and repenting in order to receive forgiveness

ST: see Kids’ lesson - Why hide your sin from God when it’s admitting your sin to God that opens you up to receive forgiveness? Confession makes the bumpy path smooth.

(Our hope for forgiveness is only through repentance)

++Hope through the HS (8): a signature act of this Messiah (bapt) is going to involve the HS (just ~ virgin birth, upon Him, conveyed to us)

The Hope of Baptism in the Holy Spirit

++Hope is to die for - RV: we need hope, we’re hungry for hope

Read Mark 1:9-13

Mark 1:9–13 NASB95

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; and a voice came out of the heavens: “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.” Immediately the Spirit impelled Him to go out into the wilderness. And He was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by Satan; and He was with the wild beasts, and the angels were ministering to Him.

Switch

John to JC - eg. 9

OT to NT - Isaiah (etc., proph by HS) —> John ~Elijah (water, filled HS b4 birth) —> JC (HS, baptize)

Trinity

JC (9, 13): the center of attention, the one in whom we were told to have hope

Father (11): endorsement from on high of the one in whom we were told to have hope

HS (cf 8, 10, 12): descended upon the one in whom we were told to have hope, impelling Him in His earthly ministry, signaling something totally new has come (era of the HS)

1st order of biz = Preaching “Gospel of God” (14): Yes, the Gospel about JC, but truly of God/FSHS

++CR: Our hope is found in the obits section

Xit: The section we don’t read until you reach a certain age, then to see if you know anyone, and to make sure your name isn’t there

But we want to see our name in the obits - that we have died in Christ, that we have died to self, that we have died to the old person we were and repented of all that, died to the person who kept showing up in the local crime section

But God’s newspaper has not only an obits section, but also birth announcements for those who are born again by grace through faith *

This is the baptism of the HS

Water baptism is a picture of DBR in X

Baptism of HS - dying to the old self (assassinated by HS thru conviction) to be raised to new life in the new self indwelt by the HS

(Our hope for Good News is dying in Christ and being raised with Him, both by the power of the HS)

++Hope in the Power of the HS that Jesus can baptize us into

Our Only Hope

The unsaved

They need hope that the world cannot bring (front page, biz, sports, entertain, comics)

They are hungry for hope - that’s why they keep looking for hope and running toward false promises of hope (but keep seeing own name in local crime)

Their only hope is to die for (obits, but then birth announcements) - it’s their only hope, but they must die in Christ in order to be raised in Christ

Q: What parts of the newspaper do you talk about with them? Offer for them to read? [] Do we ever point them to the obits for GN? (so that we can later find their name in the birth announcements?)

Hope contra fear - hope is not just the opposite of despair, it’s the opposite of fear; if we have let fear grab hold of us, we need to dispel it with hope - the hope that is found only the Messiah who has promised to come back

Hope through total confession, no hiding from God, tell Him everything because that’s the smoothest path to forgiveness

The Good News

Mark 1:1 - the beginning of the Gospel of JC, the SoG - “gospel” = GN, and the GN is JC came to us in order to baptize you with the HS

Prayer: Psa 32.1-11; Psa 51.1-17

Psalm 32:1–11 CSB

How joyful is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered! How joyful is a person whom the Lord does not charge with iniquity and in whose spirit is no deceit! When I kept silent, my bones became brittle from my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was drained as in the summer’s heat. Selah Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not conceal my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah Therefore let everyone who is faithful pray to you immediately. When great floodwaters come, they will not reach him. You are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with joyful shouts of deliverance. Selah I will instruct you and show you the way to go; with my eye on you, I will give counsel. Do not be like a horse or mule, without understanding, that must be controlled with bit and bridle or else it will not come near you. Many pains come to the wicked, but the one who trusts in the Lord will have faithful love surrounding him. Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones; shout for joy, all you upright in heart.

Psalm 51:1–17 CSB

Be gracious to me, God, according to your faithful love; according to your abundant compassion, blot out my rebellion. Completely wash away my guilt and cleanse me from my sin. For I am conscious of my rebellion, and my sin is always before me. Against you—you alone—I have sinned and done this evil in your sight. So you are right when you pass sentence; you are blameless when you judge. Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me. Surely you desire integrity in the inner self, and you teach me wisdom deep within. Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Turn your face away from my sins and blot out all my guilt. God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore the joy of your salvation to me, and sustain me by giving me a willing spirit. Then I will teach the rebellious your ways, and sinners will return to you. Save me from the guilt of bloodshed, God— God of my salvation— and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. You do not want a sacrifice, or I would give it; you are not pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. You will not despise a broken and humbled heart, God.

Benediction: Rom 15:13

Romans 15:13 CSB

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Good News: I want to see your name in the obits *, so that I can then see it in the birth announcements *

Meeting

Stack chairs after

Notes

Psgs: Mal 3:1-6; Isa 40.1-8; 2 Kings 1:1-18; Psa 51:1-17; John 1:19-28; Psa 32:1-11

Mark 1:1–13 NASB95

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You, Who will prepare Your way; The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord, Make His paths straight.’ ” John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey. And he was preaching, and saying, “After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals. “I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; and a voice came out of the heavens: “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.” Immediately the Spirit impelled Him to go out into the wilderness. And He was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by Satan; and He was with the wild beasts, and the angels were ministering to Him.

Strains

The need for hope

2 King (Elijah hairy, leather, fire)

Isa - comfort, forgiveness, clear the way, glory, word of Lord remains forever (unbreakable)

Mal - clear the way, purify, acceptable offerings, justice via Lord of Armies

Birth narrative - angels

John did what?

Immediate events

Coming from all over = news + hunger

Prepare the way = repentance

The way = the one more powerful

Outline:

RE John Mark 1:1-8; hope RE

Forgiveness

The crowds

Something new

RE Jesus Mark 1:9-13 , hope RE

(Trinity)

HS (see v. 8), something new

Father’s endorsement

See v. 14 (“Gospel of God”)

The Hope of Prophecy via the Holy Spirit

The Hope of Repentance before the Holy Spirit

The Hope of Baptism in the Holy Spirit

Benediction: Rom 15:13

Why hope?

God’s Word remains forever and therefore …

Hope because of forgiveness through repentance (yes, JC, but)

Contra fear

Mark 1:1 - the beginning of the Gospel of JC, the SoG

Psa 32.1-11; Psa 51.1-17

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