"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."
Good Morning my beloved,
We
welcome you to worship in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is an honor and a privilege is to come together with you today for the study God's Word. I thank God for those of you who have been moved to join us. It is so exciting to be reaching people and places we've never imagined, bringing even more people to Christ. May God continue to bless this ministry in reaching the lost and the deceived. To God be the glory!
I believe most of us had that terrible sinking feeling of being unprepared, whether as a student remembering there was a test that you forgot to study for. Or as an adult waking up realizing the deadline to submit your taxes is today, and you are not even ready. Proper preparation is the key to many things going right. That's why Mark begins his Gospel with the greatest preparations of all, the work of John the Baptist, with a call to action in preparing to make the way ready for the promised Messiah, the Lord Jesus. The people needed a voice renouncing the religion of the day.
Before the gospels were written, about half way through the first century, there were many living eyewitnesses who had seen and heard Christ that were able to give testimony to the story of Jesus Christ. By the time the gospels were written, there were already several New Testament books in existence, such as the book of James, because believers were already beginning to suffer persecution, and were in need of comfort and encouragement. And, when Paul wrote the book of Galatians, people needed direction and to be protected from the false teaching. As many of the eyewitnesses begin to die off, it became crucial that the testimonies to the life and ministry of Jesus Christ be written down. Matthew was the first gospel written and Mark was the next written, the Luke. John's was written about 30 years later, around 90 A.D. The authors of all four gospel wanted the focus to be about Christ, that's why none of them identifies himself as the author.
Mark's gospel written in Rome, begins his historical account of the life of Jesus, and is unique in the fact it does not contain the same degree of theology that the other three gospels do, but a condensed version, so that can be easily understood and hold the interest of it's reader because it is written primarily to Roman Christians and non-Christians who were illiterate. Which explains why it is the shortest of the four gospels. All four gospels end with the resurrection of Christ, then you transition to the book of Acts also written by Luke picks up with Jesus' 40 days after His resurrection, gathering His disciples together and instructing them with important teaching concerning the Kingdom of God and equipping them to fulfill their commission when the power when the Holy Spirit comes upon them.
In our text, Mark focuses on two Old Testament Scriptures that connect the coming Messiah with the coming Christ. Notice Mark begins verse 1 with "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God." We often use the word gospel today when referring to the writings of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. But, I believe it's important to understand how they would have understood it in the first century since Mark doesn't explain it for us. The Greek word "euaggélion," or gospel, literally meaning "God's good news," a joyous message which is always refers to the message of salvation, which is the best news possible.
Isaiah 40:3, "A voice is calling, "Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God." At the time of Isaiah’s prophecy there was preparation when a king would
travel. A team would go before the king and cut down trees, fill in
valleys, bring down mountains and straighten crooked roads. The way was
prepared so the king could travel on a smooth road. That is the way the would have understood John's message of baptizing and repentance was preparing the way and making it straight for the King of Kings.
Malachi 3:1, "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."
Finally, after 400 years of silence, there comes a voice and that voice was John the Baptist,
the promised forerunner that appeared in the wilderness, who was
preaching a message of baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of
sins. John’s purpose was to fulfill both prophesies, while announcing with authority, the arrival of the only true King Who is soon to arrive. John was willing to denounce anybody's sin at any price with burning conviction, even calling the Jewish religious leaders a brood of vipers. Even King Herod did not scare John the Baptist, in fact, Herod was afraid of John. People like John the Baptist, who boldly proclaim the Truth no matter the cost get their heads chopped off.
Let us pray
Heavenly Father,
Father, thank You for Your Word. Your Word is precious to those of us that love You, so clear to those of us who truly seek to understand it. How gracious are You Lord to make it known it's true meaning to even the simplest, most fallible minds among us that humbly serve You, so that others might receive the precious gift of salvation through Christ. Thank You for reminding us that we are never seek our own glory, our own greatness but to exalt Christ, for Your glory alone. May we never be a people who profess something we don’t live but to walk in His ways as we journey through this world.
In Christ's Name we ask and pray
Amen
Today's Message: The Voice of one Crying in the Wilderness
In Matthew 10:34, Jesus said "Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." I believe that when the Lord calls us to be His selfless sacrificial disciples, he does not call us to a life of ease, but a life of hardship, in fact, I believe that if the gospel is ever received in peace than it isn't the true gospel. Nothing proves that someone is a true disciple of Christ more convincingly than someone who is
willing to sacrifice everything, even his family and his own life, in order to follow Him!
As I was studying for this message, mulling it over and over again it in my mind, I began to feel an overwhelming sadness for the millions of people who call themselves Christians that need so desperately to hear and understand the Truth of what it means to authentically follow Christ. It's disturbing how completely disconnected they are from the reality that God sent His Son to earth in order that He might rescue sinners from eternal death and that went He launched His ministry by assaulting the corrupt religious leaders who running the temple operations and faced nothing but conflict with them, having a desire to kill him for the two and a half years since. All false religions claims to represent God, but they represent Satan. That's why all of the attacks on the Truth come from false religion teaching error, they are part of the kingdom of darkness. There are many people who claim to be disciples, followers of Christ, they may even appear to be dedicated, but there's no self-denial, no self-sacrifice, their claims are false.You may justify your behavior in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts. We shouldn't be surprised it's been that way all throughout church history. So, if Satan and his humans agents are coming after you, it's a sign that you’re doing something right.
As we come to our study of God's Word, we begin a new journey in the Gospel of Mark. Mark chapter 1, verses one through eight. So, open your Bibles to Mark chapter 1 and follow along with me if you will as I read these verses to you to set the text in our minds. I pray that the Lord would help us to hear and apply what He has to say to each of us today. Mark 1:1-8.
"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 verse 1, Mark immediately establishes in his opening sentence what this book is about, "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God." Keep in mind that Mark is writing to Gentiles and Roman Christians. Unconcerned about the Jews he doesn’t bother to give specifics about Jesus' genealogy or the virgin birth like Matthew and Luke. He simply begins by saying Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Mark knows if there was going to be a new King, they would expect to see that there would be an authoritative herald, a forerunner who would announce the kings arrival to prepare the way, cut down trees, fill in valleys, bring down mountains and straighten crooked roads so the king could travel on a smooth road and to make the people ready. Even today, there is much work in advance that takes place before a dignitary is to arrive, roads are closed while others are prepared to ensure the dignitary's passing through is smooth.
So, in verse 2 quoting Malachi, and in verse 3 quoting Isaiah, he writes, "
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.’" He quickly goes to two of the most important scriptures that tell us of the one who will prepare the way for Jesus in the Old Testament, to make the introduction of forerunner, to give authenticity to John the Baptist as the fulfillment of the prophesy to establish
the promise of the new King. By the way, this is the only time Mark goes to the Old Testament, quoting from ancient prophets, not to connect the prophecy of the new King, but to connect His forerunner that announces the Kings arrival, this is consistent with the Gentile approach.
Isaiah was well-known to Gentile Christians. Notice he identifies the messenger as someone who will be a voice crying in the wilderness, he wanted them to know that John the Baptist was divinely commissioned, that he is the one being described in these prophecies. By the way, all four Gospel writers use "As it is written," to point to John the Baptist being the fulfillment of these prophesies. It was not uncommon to refer the more prominent Old Testament prophets, then mention prophecy of a minor prophet, since it was all the Word of God. The title "minor" refers to only to the length, not significance of the writings. Sometimes they directly quote them and other times it is an interpretive quote, but they always give the true interpretation of the text. In this case, the messenger is John the Baptist announcing the King who is coming, which we already know is Christ. These verses make a very important statement, Jesus, the Son of God is the new King and John the Baptist is the divinely commissioned forerunner.
John the Baptist had a wonderful story, he was miraculously conceived by parents who were old and had been barren. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and he
was filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb. He was the last
of the Old Testament prophets and there hadn’t been one for 400 years.
He was given the greatest responsibility of any man ever had lived, to point to the Messiah. John was not just a prophet he came with an anointing on his head from God, he came in the spirit and power of Elijah. Mark doesn't mention any of that.
In verse 4, Mark writes, "John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins." That's is good news! So John's mission was to make the way straight through his preaching and call to repentance for Jesus, the King of Kings, Who will come to His people to provide salvation. It’s a new day for human history, as the world has never seen a King like this, God Himself. That sets John the Baptizer apart from every other forerunner, because nobody else has ever done that because the Jews didn’t baptize anybody, except when a proselyte who came out of Gentileism and baptized into Judaism to worship the true God.
In verse 5, Mark tells us "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." The baptism didn’t bring forgiveness of sin; it only declared their intention to repent of their sins. That is a huge admission for the Jews, they believed only a Gentile needed a symbolic baptism but here's John telling to repent and be baptized saying they're no better than Gentiles, they needed to bring forth the fruit of repentance. He was preaching judgement, that’s what drove the people to want to deal with their sins. It's the same message today, God offers forgiveness of sins to those who recognize their sinfulness, who
repent and turn away from their rebellion. You have to come to terms with your own sinfulness!
In verse 6, "John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey." Living in the wilderness, John wasn't concerned about his outward appearance like the scribes and Pharisees, he was concerned about staying warm, if could get pretty cold at night in the desert. That doesn’t mean he actually wore a camel's hide, they would take camel’s hair and weave a garment out of it. Much like the camel hair sport coats we have today.
In
2 Kings 1, Elijah the Tishbite, who called down fire from heaven, was a hairy man with a leather girdle bound about his loins, he basically set the fashion trend for true prophets. So, if you wanted to be taken seriously as a true prophet, you would
wear a hairy robe and a leather belt as opposed to something made out of
cotton or linen. When Jesus said, "Beware of wolves who come in sheep’s clothing," He was saying beware of a false teacher wearing wool as if they were true prophets. Eating locust and wild honey were a good way to sustain yourself in the desert they were plentiful. If it seems particularly odd that Mark would mention John's diet while leaving out other details, perhaps it was a prophetic symbol like wheat and chaff, locusts were a sign of judgement and honey was sweet, symbolic of blessing and salvation. John was identified with Elijah from the beginning, he even ministered near where Elijah did. The wilderness signifies Israel’s history of disobedience and rebellion. If you're going to take a stand against the culture, preaching a message of baptism and repentance for the forgiveness of sins, you need to act and speak in the tradition of a true prophet. And, that's what they did, they came confessing, repenting and being baptized.
In verse 7, Mark tells us, "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 believe John is the model for every preacher today, he never points to himself, he always points to Christ. A true servant of God never points to himself, he points to Christ, the Only One who offers forgiveness of sin to those who repent and gives you the Holy Spirit to transform lives. That's the message of the Gospel; salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone and those who reject Christ therefore forfeit any hope of salvation, any
hope of heaven. Any preacher that suppresses the truth in unrighteousness or distorts the Gospel of Christ, does not know God, but develops a false gospel of his own. That is always the case false teachers, they corrupt the true Gospel, while holding a form of godliness, although they deny its power to transforms lives.
The
more we mature we become in Christ, our actions of self-will must
decrease while our obedience to God's will must increase! That's what
redemption is about, understanding that ALL authority begins with God,
thereby renewing our position with God. John denied his own worthiness because that honor belongs to Christ alone.
That brings us to verse 8, "I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." John is saying I can't do that, he's referring to the soul-transforming work of salvation through Christ, being born again in the power of the Spirit, Who has the power to transform lives. This is the new covenant of new birth, regeneration and transformation. That's why Christ is everything to those of us believing in His name. Everything point back to Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God!
In Closing..
If you want to see the salvation of God, then you have to prepare the way in the wilderness of your heart through the repentance of sin, embrace Christ as Lord and Savior, and personally submit to the work of the Holy Spirit in you. That's the message of salvation that John offered, forgiveness of sin through repentance. That is the same consistent message I offer you today while there is salvation still available. I pray that you will come to the open arms of grace and the Savior Who calls the sinner to Himself.
May it be so..
And now may the Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen
Copyright © 2019-2023 All Rights Reserved
