Gospel for a Return to In-Person Church

Gospel a prepared way - spade work to be done before… gospel is fundamentally connected with Jesus Christ, its origins actually predate his ministry and reach back to the Old Testament. Mark cites a fused text from Exod 23:30; Isa 40:3; and Mal 3:1 but attributes

So interesting begins with baptism and gift of the Holy Spirit - why BIOS/LIFE but with twist - not imitate this person’s life - but significance of his life is his saving death - and life called to follow imitate - life - by which we too can hear my beloved son or daughter from God, WITH YOU I AM WELL PLEASED … is the LIFE OF the Son of God!

like Roman good news-es - gospels… multiple propaganda machine … this great Julius Caesar from the gods… Like our culture Marvel Super heroes… advertisement in way people could understand, unique ab out Mark’s gospel - Gentile - Rome or Alexandria - simplest language - oral communication, but perhaps you remember him saying toward the end in Mark 13 let the reader understand … community of committed but maybe disillusioned believers, writing for all churches, earliest evangelistic TRACT, action packed, and - not so much the teaching of Jesus - but demonstration of his mighty acts, prove his authority, and whole series topically put together in Jesus life and then a section of the objections, conflicts - don’t need to be super pious, ask a neighbour to read this .. don’t need all sorts of religious knowledge - but presented with the SON of God, His GOSPEL and Kingdom - … not so much what will you or make of this sermon series, what will my neighbor think if come to Bible study or invite to Church, or Christianity Explored course. Interesting two neighbours in Exeter - Alpha doorway to worship. What will the make of the gospel! No, but what will the gospel make of you, what will Christ who presents Himself and His Kingdom make of them.

ie. world's renowned scholars of the classics, Dr. E. V. Rieu, completed a great translation of Homer into modern English for the Penguin Classics series. He was sixty years old, and he had been an agnostic all his life. The publisher soon approached him again and asked him to translate the Gospels. When Rieu's son heard this he said, "It will be interesting to see what Father will make of the four Gospels. It will be even more interesting to see what the four Gospels make of Father." He did not have to wonder very long. Within a year's time E. V. Rieu, the lifelong agnostic, responded to the Gospels he was translating and became a committed Christian. His story is a marvelous testimony to the transforming power of God's Word. Experiences like this have been repeated time and time again.

Why halt after the first half of the book of Revelation - book begins not only revelation of Jesus Christ, but He says I am coming again - and when he does 1-6 of seals, trumpets and judgment done, when he comes, no more opportunity for the church to be in prayer for this world, when He comes the time of witness over - Great earthquake repeated 6x time, in 7th climactic Day of the LORD’s Coming - The Second half is going to now describe in greater detail - what is this battle between the Lamb and the Beast - starts in Rev 12 all the way at the beginning of the gospel - Woman with Child Christ arrives on scene, cover much of the same ground, but different perspective - but focus is going to be especially about how the beast attacks the Lady the church of Christ, but protected here in her desert dwelling on earth - eagle wings, bring us to promised and but not yet. And this time takes from birth of Christ, to conflict in this world between Babylon and Jerusalem past Final Judgment to the New Creation. Act 2! I need some more time preparing to preach the place of the church until the end, But this summer before my Sabbatical - we are going to focus on what the church in the book so far and especially in the second half must be doing - its how they overcome, how they have success, how they have communion -= hold to the testimony of Jesus = with church confessing Christ to the world!

And you need to understand, not only a little different camera angel, not chronological, not long teaching section,1/2 as long as Luke, and 1/2 book is the action and events of Christ going to the Cross , his last week. The whole book divides in two ministry in Galilee and then just description of last trip to Jerusalem. You need to understand Mark’s purpose

A. Mark’s Purpose: People must come to know Jesus as Christ & Son of God to receive God’s good news of God (life & death), but also to be transformed & become like Jesus! (Both an early discipleship manual, but also an evangelism tract)

Understand Matthews Gospel detailed treatment of fulfillments, of the OT. Understand John's the most sayings of Jesus and teachings for jew and Gentile for believing audience, understand Luke with stance for the outsiders and outcasts. But Mark, who the the others used, is the earliest and the shortest like an action packed tract, told with purpose of presenting this Jesus - understand a biography like no other - because real Son of God - calling you not only to be saved but follow him, to join Him, to commit to His Kingdom! Are you doing that - in this pandemic, are we - Remember in the end its those who follow the Lamb wherever He goes - in humble service and witness -they are the ones in Revelation who are saved! And so this is the punchiest of the gospels and in many ways the one that you can just read to slowly absorb. This is the page turn, action pack- calling for response! 2 hours slower reader through it - you will respond to this gospel

And that brings me to the second reason we are going to go through the gospel of Mark this summer. Not just to get the activity Revelation calls the church too, but because of what is going on in your faith life through this year of pandemic. One of the biggest changes in your lifetime, many not so in work or family - But church life! In worship and to following Jesus in His Church. And this time of isolation is coming to an end… and you are kind of like an 18 year old, leave the house for the first time, don’t have to go to church - don’t have join with Jesus disciples who make up his spiritual kingdom, don’t have to walk with and like them, don’t have to serve and worship - in this community of disciples - Like that 18 year old all sorts of big decisions, tired of t making them, and this next one seems insignificant to life decisions you in the middle of. But listen to Kevin DeYoung who used to serve a church right across from big State university campus - Some came first Sunday , some dropped off, some remained all of, but one thing he hardly ever saw was a student - who did’t that first Sunday of the rest of their lives, he seldom saw them ever darken the doors of a church during their college years away from home, if didn’t make it a priority. Can say: But I read my Bible still, can say I will go to midweek campus ministry , can say still have Christian friends, ,,, But this Jesus who says in my Church through my word in Worship meeting time of God meeting with His people, in the ministry of loving and friending in face to face real time - in reaching out and serving community we’re part of - I have called you to this community. And congregation - I know so many you are so done with Zoom, I know that at the same time some of you found some great resources internet preachers, podcasts. But here’s the deal - the Living Jesus in His Living Church is calling you to discipleship and it is committing to Him in His in person earthly body-

Not so different than Mark’s original audience, most likely Rome, and then later went to Alexandria in Egypt. But 64AD as we saw with the rearrest of Paul, real change in Christians lives, events of Nero blaming fire on Christians, all out persecution in local spots, then Roman Jewish War, and destruction of Jerusalem in 70 Ad.. This is when the first gospel was written, as some driven to catacomb to worship - and Mark writes this tract to be told in worship the greatest story of the greatest life.

But you’d expect him to begin like Matthew or Luke or even John - with physical birth or his early life or even life in God before coming to earth. But Mark begins the first gospel signalling what the significance of this Life of the Son of God must be to you and me, in two very surprising ways.

B. Jesus’s Life is about a WAY, Prepared Highway that You must Take

Mark does something so risky here. He dares to start with Jewish Scripture that many of readers didn’t grow up with. But its like spade work before someone can really know and follow Jesus. The Roman propaganda machine sent heralds of the Roman way, said Julius Caesar - bringing you plebs a glorious way. Mark announces that life of Jesus both past and present is about a way that the living God has prepared. And it is interesting that Mark think Gentiles can get this. Apparently Paul did too - churches in Rome and in Alexandria - took the time to know the Greek translation of the OT writings, familiar even if couldn’t read. Didn’t dumb down the gospel and turn it into just our felt-needs - but also didn’t just tell the gospel story in old fashioned way of Jewish world they couldn’t relate too. Look at the three OT texts Mark puts together and says you need this spade work before understanding and turning to Jesus. Exodus 23:20

Exodus 23:20 ESV

“Behold, I send an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared.

People had heard of the Jewish Nation, set free by their God from Egypt, and Mark says: You can’t know what the Christ, the Anointed One has come to do - set you free yes, from sin brokenness - neighbours might not really know those realities from God’s perspective, but listen Mark says - God shows up like in OT Exodus - and He wants to fight for you against the forces of evil - He is a great God who made this world good and beautiful a place to dwell with us, we’ve turned it into a COVID infested, war , abusing, mess - Jesus has come to liberate us from all that evil - but listen to lead us on a highway to life a a community that will inherit a paradise from God. He’ll lead us to the Promised Land.

And your neighbour says, huh, or as that college student - say well the world says, more fun more money more satisfying, easier more comfortable life - going our own way - and like Dr Phil you can ask - how has the road your treading worked for you during Covid - bored out off skull, you anxious and worries, you listless restless no real point. And we have opportunity to testify to the way of Christ and how through this time of Covid, through times when suffering anxiety weighed on us, here this voice - Here is the way full and abundant life, here is the way back to paradise everyone is chasing , here is the way back to and into the presence of God.

That’s the second part of this quotation from Isaiah 40:3

Isaiah 40:3 ESV

A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

That was a prophetic voice in a world of people just going there own way. Elijah who seemed a little odd yet so respected and powerful and in touch with the people of his day. Could march up to people knowing that he really cared, and ask the tough questions. People in wilderness around you and they need a voice. Who was the voice in the coming of Jesus - another Elijah - John the Baptist: Where in the desert places by the Jordan River, What would the way of the LORD look like in your neighbours life, how about your own, what in terms of spade work - would require leveling, a high place brought low, what in your life - place of such suffering and brokenness needs rising up? - What would be one step you take so path to and for the the LORD becomes a highway. That voice is needed by you, but also your neighbor.

But then look at the third part of the quotation from the end of the OT: Malachi 3:1

Malachi 3:1 ESV

“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare 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.

Do you get this great announcement, its not just that your neighbour has to tidy up his life to come to God, or that you do, but that this highway is one that the LORD Himself own and builds, we do some of the spade work but the real deal is the Messenger, Angel of the Covenant, the Mediator, the Delegated Saviour from heaven he comes down like he did 2000 years ago, and - and he suddenly comes to those who are seeking him and where in His temple the community of his followers. Do you believe it? Not only 2000 years ago, not just in life before the pandemic, but now in God’s temple the church, Jesus dwells and acts and builds this highway in to your life and mine, he can into your neighbors - and we as little messengers are to go out and announce it too.

C. Mark’s Gospel Begins with Baptism

IS this the starting point, of Your Life, Are these the realities that you will re-boot coming back into in person worship, and in person discipleship? Is this what we would envision and expect to be what our unbelieving family members and neighbors in doing?

I am not talking about re-baptizing you as a symbol of your renewed commitment - we’ve covered this that baptism is one-time initiation into the promises of God’s faithfulness, bringing us into the orbit of His work of grace in the church. Its an outward sign of this inward reality not of a response faith, our obedience, but that Jesus Christ and his forgiveness his saving grace. Jesus Christ and the gift of His Spirit are what I am all about!

Let me give you an illustration. Used to train ourselves at Camp Shalom for most special week of year - Special Needs Week. In staff training, meal and part of a day - trying on a disability - blind, floppy muscle tone, hand eyes coordination a little off everything with left hand, no legs, - You know what spiritually much more serious disability than any physical or intellectual challenge.

And Mark’s gospel as a I mentioned is for sinners, not religious self-righteous - sub theme and organizing principle of Mark’s gospel is growing conflict - interesting conflict isn’t between Rome and Christ not between OT Israel and Christ. Its at a deeper level between those who - trust in their own religious performance, think morally fit - self-sufficient. And you know what this year in some way has been a little bit of a training ground, like that Staff Training for Special Needs Week. We’ve all tried on a spiritual disability or at least part of one - there are people in trenches everywhere - who struggle they’ve blown in morally, cheated lied in big way in crisis , they’ve cheated on their spouse, they struggle with their sexuality - they don’t feel they measure up - and because of this they’ve done church like we have for a whole year in this pandemic that’s how they’ve experienced church year after year- keep people at a distance, put on a mask - don’t let pain, or weakness, or struggle show .

But look how the gospel begins, the gospel you and I have to reengage with in following Jesus this year, The gosoep if our neighbour coworker family member is going to be saved. Our goal isn’t just to trick them to coming to church, entertain them so they add church activity or worship service as another thing they consume and find fulfillment, meet good friends at. No the goal is that you and I and our neighbor - get the reality of being baptized into Christ. I am not talking about John’s baptism of water - though water baptism will be a part of this, but of the what John spoke of in Mark 1:7-8

Mark 1:7–8 ESV

And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

I learned this from the wisest old professor I know on biblical worship. Am an who his wife had to lead him going blind, in lesson he gave a bunch of worship leaders and pastors and church members on baptism. Seemed so out of place with hipsters and all the latest fads in worship to attract people. He came in looking like an aged John the baptist but in tweed old professor suit but wild big white beard. And I had a Luke Sky-walker and Joda moment as he explained biblical evangelism and discipleship involved in doing church!

He says, the gospel begins with baptism, because people need to be in that place of repentance and preparation that God’s law or their own conscience brings them too. It’s a place in the wilderness - which like for Israel is the place of new beginnings. Told you in Sinai desert - used to be every student spend some time understanding where nation born. But this baptism not just in the desert, where you and I and our neighbours are, but this Baptism is very specifically by one River. In the wilderness at the Jordan, that is where Joshua led God’s people into the Promised Land. And now listen John had to do that ministry in the wilderness - just like you and I do going into people's wildernesses of suffering, sin, isolation with a message and pointing to a new path. But John couldn't bring them across to the Promised Land, Moses with his law couldn't do that, not his part. It was Joshua’s part - to bring people across the Jordan into the promised land.

And guess what the Son of God came to earth, guess what name God directs Mary and Joseph to have him be called by JESHUA . DO you get this Jesus is the new Joshua. Is he in your life now? Leading people into the long promised kingdom of God. Why so dramatic beginning of the gospel at the Jordan. And merely self-righteous people , including those in the membership of God’s covenant community - saying I don’t need that, - I am clean, I am in no spiritual danger, I can fend for myself with my sin, with death - I can prance into the after life without being reconciled to God - it’ll all be alright!

There is only One Person who ever lived that doesn’t need the repentance and baptism for forgiveness of sins that John was doing - and it isn’t you or your neighbor. It was Jesus. And look at the climax of our text, told in Mark’s punchy fast paced way with no commentary: Mark 1:9

Mark 1:9 ESV

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

I’ve had friends who have stayed up at night, really wondering about John the Baptist - why had to suffer, why not know fullness of Jesus it seems, why did Jesus have to be baptized? Listen, don’t let this remain a mystery to you, it’s at the heart of why you need to come to Jesus, why our neighbours must, why day by day we need Him. Jesus didn not go down to the River because he needed his sins forgiven and washed away. No Jesus took on the baptism for us, because it was part of his ministry to lead the new Israel in the new kingdom of God. And he comes up from the River Jordan River and says Now follow me. Let’s enter into the New Kingdom of God together! Do you see that baptism is the prophetic sign at the beginning of everyone's new spiritual life brought into the the covenant community - its what pictures and initiates living toward and into God’s new kingdom!

You recommitting to Christ, post-pandemic, your neighbor or family member or friend - turning to Christ really for the first time - its about this act of repentance - acknowledging lost in sin, and committing to bear fruit that befits repentance Call to start making the crooked in our lives and in our world straight. A witness that we can’t take away our own sin, but that Jesus i the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Water baptism can’t do that - but Christ is the cleanser of all sins. Water baptism that all the disciples had from John just pointing them to Christ, and water baptism that any new convert experience here, water baptism that any child of the covenant including you does the same thing pointing to this Christ forgiveness he can give, to the turning to the new kingdom of God!>

And you know what? If we as God’s prophets with John, Elijah, with Jesus supremely too - if we will bear witness - and that really all John's job was - spot like your half-cousin, because he’s the Son of God … John said it - you must increase I must decrease. John the Baptist before Christ led his disciples and really the whole church in all ages across the Jordan to journey to the Promised Land, John was Israel Rock Star, Now John just says, listen I am just the Friend of the Bride-Groom - My job is to bring him safe sound to His bride, His people, the church. That’s our job - to raise the profile of Jesus not ourselves with those around us!

And when we do that kind of witness to Christ, and people get baptized here - you know what we can expect? Things will happen. Supernatural things. Look at the last part of Mark’s intro to the life of Jesus, that will transform you!

D. Mark’s Gospel Begins with Baptism & the Promise of the Holy Spirit

Mark begins this first gospel - this tract for discipleship and evangelism about the most important life ever lived, of the Son of God, and the life is still being lived from Heaven and shared by His Spirit. Look what happens when people repent, and get what Mark’s Gospel is about Jesus in all his power leading us to the Promised Land, bringing us into the Kingdom by the strongest but most surprising ways imaginable. The last way Mark introduces the gospel is this: Mark 1:10

Mark 1:10 ESV

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 really really would have loved to have seen that. Mark describes things more vividly and concisely - see the supernatural realities of this world at work around the life of Jesus. That is what all Christian baptism signifies: that when our lives are united to Christ, when we live by faith and repentance two wings we fly through the Christian life to heaven with, as we get on the path the WAY, that this is the reality that is empowering it all!

If you were to read this gospel yourself -be confronted, like no other gospel with who Jesus is and what He’s like. And it is the most confrontational - We live in a world that God is at work, we live in a world Mark records where Jesus supernatural power and success and work - growing an d mounting - do you believe it - and when God’s pressing in on the world like that, the broken part of this world that says - don’t get near, fine just by ourselves, keep my quarantine life - buffered self in life without God or God’s people or supernatural action happening. But you will be confronted with the very Spirit of God, and faith will mean the Spirit of Holiness renewing your whole life:

Jesus leading any who will follow into renewed Israel into the New Testament the New Covenant And do you remember what was promised there: We become sons and daughters of our heavenly Father by receiving his Spirit. We know that we are his children because his Spirit dwells within us. In baptism the promise of the prophets is fulfilled: “I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean.… A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; … and you shall be my people, and I will be your God” (Ezek. 36:25–28).

Ezekiel 36:26

Ezekiel 36:26 ESV

And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

Exactly what Jeremiah said the new covenant would be marked by. And what we just remembered and celebrated in Pentecost that the prophesy of Joel - that God is now indeed pouring out his Spirit upon all flesh! Now who wants in on that? Who wants in on Crossing the Jordan to this new kingdom where not only Jesus at work as Lord and Saviour in our lives, but His very Holy Spirit within. That’s the goal that you and I, one with Jesus in His Death and Resurrection, now adopted by God the Father - now live as Christ in this world. Not just equipped and directed and discipled and taught. But do you remember the greatest comfort pictured by baptism including Christ’s? Mark 1:11

Mark 1:11 ESV

And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

Both Mark and the rest of the NT, the big deal of the gospel, of Jesus incarnation, not his birth or childhood, but these three years, and especially the last week of what He accomplishes. But it is all summed up in that one word SON.

One of the either very positive parts of the pandemic, or worst negative effects - those closest to us - sure irritation learn to live closer more time together - you are bone of my bone flesh of y flesh - Communion of family - or in this broken world also experience not only the friction , but the worse - ache of rejected , not enough, not valued and loved and accepted - not enjoying and reflecting all the good in our lives together. We’ve had neighbors separated through this time - and prayed for them We’ve had kids move back at different points of pandemic - wonderful but hard…

But you know what cosmically - each person you know made to know God like that - like family , not at a distance, but listen to how the Old Covenant put it: Lev 26:12

Leviticus 26:12 ESV

And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people.

Jesus who took on our sin who lived out the repentance and obedience we owe to God - he fulfilled all righteousness, He is our righteousness, live by grace - and you live in uio with him, and what God said to Jesus - what we actually long for from our earthly parents, our Divine parent says to the divine son, My Beloved - I delight in You. I love you the way you are. I am so pleased in you.

Do you feel the astonishing divine comfort in those words - not just to Jesus but to all who are truly baptize inwardly in His Spirit - Jesus is saying - You get that sonship that daughter-ship that so bleoved by God status and relationship and guess what community - God will walk among us, but not just among us by the Holy Spirit in us! This promise is for you and your children, but remember who else, - for the nations. For all who are far off, to all whom the Lord our God will call. Q. Who is that in your life, might be surprised how quickly things can change.

Conclusion: What an introduction to the greatest life the great story of a life, not gone, but continuing and transforming us and our world still. Need a witness, need cast a vision of new kingdom that Jesus is about, but above all need this deep sense of how we can become children of God greatest need! Do you know who Mark was? Not an apostle. Didn’t follow Jesus at first. When introduce had a great start, like some of us all fired up and excited. But then made a blunder - had terrible falling out with Paul and Barnabas - remember why - we looked at in Acts. Remember as started to have difficulty going North, people not all that receptive sometimes, and he left them hardly before got started. I wonder if you ever feel like that, I cooled my jets, I messed up, I stepped back. Well Mark signed up with Peter, Mark became the originator of the first gospel, Mark later reconciled with Paul in Rome sent out while in prison - dear friend. Could have retreated and stood-off - but filled with the Spirit, full of a vision for how Jesus forgiveness and restores who heals and at work in our world with greatest supernatural power and most amazing grace, Mark got up again, even as we church of God must after these strange times of COVID. Amen .