Who Are We?

Introduction

Good morning and welcome back!

And Happy Father’s Day to all those out there who have filled that role.

This morning we are going to be looking at the Gospel of Mark, chapter 1, verses 9-15.

And we are going to be talking about the subject of Who Are We?

And when thinking about this, I thought about who we are and where our identities are rooted.

Who do we get our personalities from?

Who do we get our faults from?

How much are our identities our own and how much have those identities been molded and influenced by others, by our parents?

And in our passage this morning, we are going to be taking a look at Jesus’ identity.

And actually Jesus coming into His own identity, not as a man, the son of Mary and Joseph.

But as Jesus, the Son of God, the Messiah, the anointed One.

And just a little background about the passage and Mark in general.

Mark is the oldest of our Gospel recordings about Jesus and his life.

I know our Bibles are organized with Matthew being first, but the Bible is not in Chronological order.

It is actually a collect of letters and books that have been compiled together.

One thing that all of the Gospel accounts share though is a description of the beginnings of Jesus’ earthly ministry.

And here in the Gospel of Mark, we pick up right away with that ministry.

Matthew and Luke start with Jesus’ genealogy and birth but Mark gets right down to business, and John fills in the gaps.

And the reason Mark is written in the way it is, is due to the audience that the Gospel is written for.

Mark’s audience was different than the other Gospel messages.

Mark was primarily written as a witness to Gentiles, who although had knowledge in Jewish tradition, were more interested in the redemptive work of Christ being sufficient, as opposed to the Jews who were interested in Jesus' lineage, showing how He was the Messiah.

So, the Gospel begins with a short introduction into the life and ministry of John the Baptist and our text picks up with John baptizing in the Jordan River.

Which is where our passage will pick up this morning.

So, Mark 1, starting in verse 9, it says . . .

Scripture Focus

Mark 1:9–15 NIV84

At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert, and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him. 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 is near. Repent and believe the good news!”

True Identity

So, that is the overall picture of the passage, but for us to really get a good understanding, we need to break it down into it’s smaller chunks if you will.

So, again in verses 9-11 we learn . . .

Mark 1:9–11 NIV84

At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

So, what we have going on here is John preaching that people need to repent of their sins and baptizing them in the Jordan River, and the day came when Jesus came before John and was baptized there in the Jordan.

And we could talk about and discuss all day why Jesus was baptized and all the purposes behind that, but today I want to focus on what happened after Jesus was baptized.

In some of the other other translations the Bible actually reads that "straightway" or "right away" or "immediately, with urgency" when Jesus came up out of the water, "he saw heaven being torn open."

So what Mark is describing here is when Jesus was baptized and the heavens were torn open, the access to heaven and God that was once closed off by humanity’s sin was now open for business.

Humanity now has access to God, through Jesus Christ, His Son.

This access is witnessed and verified by the Holy Spirit that descended on Him, “like a dove.”

And I can only imagine what this would have looked like for those witnessing these events.

They would have known that this is the Son of God.

No doubts and no questions.

However, there is more to it than just witnessing this amazing event.

What is symbolized here is the fact that #1-Christ has made a way.

#2-the Holy Spirit was witness to it.

And #3- it is completed in verse 11, when the Father Himself shows up and says . . .

Mark 1:11 NIV84

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

So now the way to God has been sealed and confirmed and patterned for all times.

It is no different for us today.

We hear the message, are drawn to God, respond in obedience.

And then Jesus provides the means, the Holy Spirit acknowledges the change in heart, and God the Father confirms our status as one of His.

All of this is about identity though, confirming who we truly are.

Through this act, the world came to know who Jesus really is.

All of those there witnessed the Holy Spirit descending, they all heard the voice of God, confirming Jesus as the Christ.

And there was no questioning it at that point, even later on in the chapter, Jesus encounters a demon possessed man, who the demons knew who He was . . .

Mark 1:23–24 NIV84

Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”

So it has been established long ago who Jesus is, but what about us?

Who are we?

Are we a blood bought born again child of God ?

Are we a child of God?

The Bible tells us that when we belong to God, the Holy Spirit will bear witness as to our status with God.

Romans 8:14–17 NIV84

because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

So the first challenge for us this morning is this question—can the Holy Spirit bear witness of who we are in Christ?

So many times we have fooled ourselves into an intellectual knowledge of Christ, we have "head salvation" but no "heart salvation."

Jesus himself speaks of this condition . . .

Matthew 7:21–23 NIV84

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

Folks, we have to know that we know and this can only be done by the confirmation of the Holy Spirit, bearing witness.

Temptation is Part of Life

It is so important that we have this straight because of exactly what came next in Jesus’ life and what we are faced with each and every day.

Let’s go on to verses 12-13 . . .

Mark 1:12–13 NIV84

At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert, and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.

So, the Bible says that "at once the Spirit sent him out into the desert."

So, without delay the Spirit compelled Christ to go into the wilderness.

The wilderness represents isolation, aloneness, a barren place.

It is a perfect picture of how our life is at times.

There are seasons in all of our lives when we are in the wilderness, alone and isolated.

And in those times that is when temptation comes.

Peter describes it this way . . .

1 Peter 1:6–7 NIV84

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

And the common misconception is that because we are being tempted then we are not in a right relationship with God.

This is not true!

TEMPTATION DOES NOT DETERMINE YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO GOD, HOW YOU HANDLE THE TEMPTATION DETERMINES THE HEALTH OF YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.

Look at what Peter wrote, he said we endure temptation for a little while.

But he says we may have to go through this, meaning it is not just because, but it is for a purpose and the purpose is this . . .

1 Peter 1:7–9 NIV84

These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

And it all boils down to this.

The temptation helps us grow, helps us mature, helps us develop a closer relationship with God.

When we realize through temptation that we do not have all the answers that we really do not have control, then it enables us to turn to God and relinquish control and follow His perfect plan for our lives.

However, what happens when temptation comes and we do not know who we are in Christ?

When He has not identified us as one of his own?

James 1:13–15 NIV84

When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

Folks, if we have no identity in Christ, if we have no Holy Spirit to guide us, we are left to our own devices.

And when the devil comes, and he will, not just once but he will continually come.

If you look at Luke’s account of Jesus' temptation says that the devil departed "for a season," meaning he was going to come back.

And if the devil was going to tempt the Son of God, what makes us think he will leave us alone?

He is coming to tempt you, and as James writes the temptation will entice us and when we do not have the Holy Spirit to buffer that, we are drawn away by our own lust and that lust leads to sin and sin to death.

How Do We Handle It

That is why we have to be diligent.

That is why we have to be aware.

That is why we have to be in tune with the Holy Spirit.

That is why we have to find our identity in Jesus Christ.

That is how we handle it, but we have to get there first.

Look at the first thing Jesus preached and taught after His temptation.

Mark 1:14–15 NIV84

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 is near. Repent and believe the good news!”

John gets locked up and what does Jesus do?

Does he go and hide?

No he goes out “proclaiming the good news of God!”

And what was that “good news?”

“The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”

Altar/Challenge

Jesus gave us the answer.

Jesus gave us the formula.

Jesus defined our identity.

All we have to do is accept that identity.

And how do we do that?

Glad you asked.

Paul taught us . . .

Romans 10:9–10 NIV84

That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

Confess Jesus is Lord with your mouth—have you done that?

Believe in your heart hat God raised Him from the dead—have you done that?

Find your identity, not in your earthly father and mother, but in your Heavenly Father, in your Savior.

Can we say that we have done that this morning?

Let’s pray . . .