Introduced! Mark 1
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
The Gospels - why four? Why not one, definitive, exhaustive volume?
The books could not hold all that Jesus said, did
Authors wrote with different audiences, purposes in mind
Why two eyes? perspective
Multiple witnesses to the truth - no collusion
Which gospel authors were disciples (the 12) ? - John, Matthew
Luke - associated with Paul; also wrote Acts
Mark (John-Mark) - associated with Peter
Matthew - demonstrate to the Jews that Jesus is the promised Messiah (starts with a genealogy)
John - large theological themes; presents Jesus as the savior of the world
Luke - A detailed, careful account of Jesus’ ministry so that believers can have confidence
John Mark - History
Son of Mary, cousin of Barnabas
(It was at the home of Mary where Peter went after being freed from prison)
Deserted Paul, Barnabas on first missionary journey
Eventually did become valuable to Paul
Who was Mark? A helper
Not an apostle, disciple
A helper to Paul
A helper to Peter (did Peter speak/write Greek?)
God uses helpers!
Audience
Wrote memories of Peter from Rome
To (mostly gentile) Christians living in Rome and the surrounding regions
During a time of persecution
Date - late 60’s ?
64 AD - Rome burns, Nero blames Cristians
70 AD - Fall of Jerusalem
First gospel written?
Shortest synoptic gospel; perhaps the starting point for Matthew, Luke
Written after James, Galatians - why? When the eye witnesses are still alive, there is less of a need for a written account. Just go ask Mary!
Message: Mark 10:45 “45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Themes
Jesus’ ministry in Galilee (who better than Peter?)
Jesus as the Lord’s servant (“immediately”, “straightway”); a servant in action; “Jesus: Servant and Savior” - commentary title for Mark
The Kingdom of God
Authority
A book of action, more than ideas/dialog. This would have been appealing to the Romans (and Americans?)
1. Prophecy
1. Prophecy
1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way. 3 A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way for the Lord; make his paths straight!
v.1 “beginning” - essentially starts with the beginning of Jesus’ ministry
“gospel” - not a Christian word, but meaningful to both Jews and gentiles
The Gospel according to Mark The Key to Mark (1:1)
The word for “gospel” (Gk. euangelion) literally means “good news.” In both the OT and in Greek literature euangelion was commonly used of reports of victory from the battlefield.
The Gospel according to Mark The Key to Mark (1:1)
In 9 B.C., within a decade of Jesus’ birth, the birthday of Caesar Augustus (63 B.C.–A.D. 14) was hailed as euangelion (pl.). Since he was hailed as a god, Augustus’s “birthday signaled the beginning of Good News for the world
“Jesus” - Greek form of Joshua (Hebrew) - Yaweh saves
“Christ” - anointed one (Greek) or Messiah (Hebrew)
Note: not first-name last-name
v.2-3 An OT quotation (two, actually)
Mal 3:1 “1 “See, I am going to send my messenger, and he will clear the way before me. Then the Lord you seek will suddenly come to his temple, the Messenger of the covenant you delight in—see, he is coming,” says the Lord of Armies.”
Is 40:3 “3 A voice of one crying out: Prepare the way of the Lord in the wilderness; make a straight highway for our God in the desert.”
Why is only Isaiah cited? Modern rules for citations (Chicago manual of style? Turabian format) did not apply.
Isaiah was the more major prophet
Isaiah’s message was more relevant
What happens when the president comes to town? The secret service come first! The route is prepared; alternate routes also.
Jesus is the ultimate king! John the baptist (baptizer) prepares the way
The prophecy indicates that this was God’s plan all along - hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus.
2. Prepared
2. Prepared
Mark 1:4–8 (CSB)
4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. 6 John wore a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He proclaimed, “One who is more powerful than I am is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of his sandals. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
v. 4 “the wilderness” - what do you think of? Deliverance from Egypt?
“baptism” - normally done for gentiles converting to Judaism; not for Jews.
Why are we baptists and is it important?
Early translators of the English Bible did not translate the Greek word, which simply means “to submerge in water”; rather they “transliterated” the word to make up a brand new word in English which had never before existed
John was in the desert in part because there was a large body of water there; he could have sprinkle-baptized anywhere
The immersing in water presents a different picture than pouring or sprinkling
Baptism illustrates a believer’s identification with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. “Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life” (Romans 6:3-4). The action of being immersed in the water pictures dying and being buried with Christ. The action of coming out of the water illustrates Christ’s resurrection. As a result, baptism by immersion is the only method of baptism which illustrates being buried with Christ and being raised with Him. Baptism by sprinkling and/or pouring came into practice as a result of the unbiblical practice of infant baptism.
God only gave to the church two ordinances; should we not try to get it right?
v.5 - “the whole Judean countryside and all of Jerusalem” - not an easy journey! 20 miles from Jerusalem with a descent of 4,000 feet! They must have been hungry for a true message from God.
v.6 - “a camel-hair garment with a leather belt”; what is the significance?
2 Kings 1:8 “8 They replied, “A hairy man with a leather belt around his waist.” He said, “It’s Elijah the Tishbite.””
“locusts” - one of the few clean insects which could be eaten; not too bad? pull off the wings and dip in honey. Sometimes modern health fanatics promote an aesthetic diet.
v.7 - “One who is more powerful than I”
Mark 3:27 “27 But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can plunder his house.”
“not worthy to untie his sandals” - the most lowly job for the most lowly slave
v.8 “baptism of the spirit” - “the forgiveness and empowerment that the Spirit provides at the moment of salvation”
3. Baptized
3. Baptized
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. 10 As soon as he came up out of the water, he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well-pleased.” 12 Immediately the Spirit drove him into the wilderness. 13 He was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels were serving him.
v.9 - “from Nazareth” - a journey of up to 50 miles! Jesus wasn’t just “in the area”!
Why did Jesus need to be baptized?
1. Jesus was about to embark on His great work, and it was appropriate that He be recognized publicly by His forerunner
2. John was of the tribe of Levi; John the Baptist’s baptism of Jesus could be seen as a priestly presentation of the Ultimate Sacrifice
3. Jesus wasn’t a sinner, but his baptism showed that He identified with sinners. Recall John’s protest (you should be baptizing me!)
4. Jesus’ coming to John showed His approval of John’s baptism, bearing witness to it, that it was from heaven and approved by God
5. The occasion of the public baptism recorded for all future generations the perfect embodiment of the triune God revealed in glory from heaven
Note: Andrew, John started to follow Jesus after this event
v. 10 “As soon as” - so characteristic of this gospel
“like a dove” - graceful?
v. 11 - The voice of the Father - affection, affirmation
v. 12-13 “Immediately” - another action
“the Spirit drove him” - the same Spirit that had just alighted on him
Not a great evangelistic campaign, an impressive healing to start the ministry
Protoevangelium - Gen 3:15 “15 I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”
An opportunity for Jesus to fulfill all righteousness - on our behalf
Applications
Believers can know with confidence that Jesus is the messiah
Believers can point others to Jesus as the son of God (as did John the baptist)
Believers can find joy in acknowledging Jesus as the son of God - regardless of circumstances