The Commencement of the Good News
1) 1-18-08…AM…SBC 2)
“The Commencement of the Good News”
Mark 1:14-45
Introduction: Recap of 1:1-13
Proposition: What effect has the Gospel been having on your life recently?
Prayer - ACTS[1]
Outline:
Ø Throughout this section (1:14-8:21) Jesus demonstrated His authority over all things both by His words and deeds.[2]
Ø The preparation for, and official unveiling of the work which the Father had given his Son to do is ended.[3]
Ø Galilee was the northernmost region of Palestine, and the most heavily populated.[4]
· Show slide of Galilee
· Palestine was divided into three provinces, Judea, Samaria, and Galilee, which comprehended the whole northern section of the country (Acts 9:31), and was the largest of the three. [5]
· situated between the Litani River in modern Lebanon and the Jezreel Valley in modern Israel.[6]
· According to John 2-3 Jesus had already been ministering in Judea (south) before coming to Galilee
Transition: It is in this region that God chose to reveal the free gift of salvation through His Son Jesus Christ
v14-15 – the message of Christ’s Gospel – see 9 marks section on repenting and believe p90
1- Following Herod’s arrest of John – due to John’s confrontation of Herod’s incestuous relationship (Mt 14:3)
2- Was Jesus message and ministry just a continuation of John’s ministry - No
· The word translated “time” (kairos) means a favorable, opportune, or significant time as opposed to mere chronology.[7]
· Mark referred to the time appointed by God for the fulfillment of his promises. The period of preparation, that of ancient Israel and John, was complete. [8]
· The divinely appointed time had come. The prophecies were being fulfilled in Jesus.[9]
3- Jesus came to Galilee with a specific message to announce/preach to the people
· His content was the that of the Gospel of God – direct revelation from God resulting in good news to man
· The good news was that Jesus came as the substitute sacrifice for our lives as the only means of salvation
· the Gospel is non-negotiable – the desired effects of the Gospel are non-negotiable
· if you are going to claim Christianity then your life has to reflect the effective change of the Gospel
4- Jesus claimed that the kingdom, which to Jews seemed far in the future, had drawn near with his appearance.[10]
· The future Kingdom of God came much closer in the presence of Christ’s earthly ministry then it had ever been before
· The reign of God drew near in the presence of the King (Jesus), but it was not fully manifested then and will not be until Jesus returns.
· Jesus came to Galilee as a preacher, heralding the Good News that God’s kingdom had come to men in the person of the Servant of God.[11]
5- What is the requirement for entrance into the Kingdom? – What should be our response to the King?
· Repentance[12] – to be renovate your thinking (to remodel a house or room or church) – to make it look completely new
- some say that repentance means that you feel sorry for your sin – abuser, drunk, addict, adulterer
- repentance begins by understanding that sin is wrong and then affirming that Scripture is accurate and authoritative in its teaching on sin, and that heart ascent then concludes in a personal decision to turn from it.
- To repent is to change your mind. However, this only defines the word, not the concept, for you need to ask, Change your mind about what?[13]
- If repentance is understood to mean changing your mind about your sin—being sorry for your sin—this will not necessarily save.[14] Many have been sorry for their sins without accepting Christ
- Sorrow over one’s actions does not constitute genuine repentance unless it is accompanied by a sincere decision to forsake sin that is being committed against God
- But if repentance means changing your mind about the particular sin of rejecting Christ, then that kind of repentance saves, and of course it is the same as faith in Christ.[15] Sorrow and reformation
· Belief – the other requirement for entrance into the Kingdom is belief (in what?)
- the belief referenced in this text is more than just believing in facts (2nd coldest day in 10 years)
- belief is more than just a mental agreement – it is believing and relying on the content of the Good News for salvation
- we must come to grips with the fact that we are unable to satisfy God’s demands on us no matter how morally we live
- salvation doesn’t come by trusting a little in ourselves and a little in God, we should come to realized that we must rely on God fully, to trust in Christ alone for our salvation
Ø repentance and belief are two sides of the same coin – two different aspects of the one event of conversion
Ø neither one of these comes first and the other later– they must come together
Ø Christianity is not simply an addition to something you are already believing
· it is an about face that all Christians make as we come to rely on Christ’s finished work on the cross
· to say that you trust without living as you do is not to trust in any biblical sense of the word
· we can change the way we act but only if we change the what we believe about the Good News
Illustration: Illustration – Captain of Ship
“Change your course”—“You change your course”—“I’m am a naval sea captain with 30 years experience you change your course”—“I’m a 4th class seaman – you change your course”—“I’m a 40,000 ton ship, you change your course”—“I’m a lighthouse, you change your course”
Application: – God’s word is the unmovable, nonnegotiable rock that demands that we change our course
Transition: Christ now calls His first disciples based on their own belief and repentance.
v16-20
1- Jesus’ call of four fishermen, two pairs of brothers, to be His followers comes immediately after the summary of His message.[16]
2- Mark made clear that to repent and believe in the gospel (Mark 1:15) is to break with one’s old way of life and to follow Jesus, to make a personal commitment to Him in response to His call.[17]
3- The words Come, follow Me are literally, “Come after Me,” a technical expression that meant “Go behind Me as a disciple.”[18] (Δεῦτε ὀπίσω μου)
4- He had “caught” them for His Kingdom; now He would equip them to share His task, to fishers who catch “men”[19]
· When God calls he empowers you to be able do things you never once thought possible
Ø There comes a time for each of us when the call of Jesus comes to us personally, and we must make a decision whether to follow him or not. Mark concentrates here on that one moment.[20]
Ø These men had to decide to leave all that they had, whether little or much, and follow Jesus. [21]
Ø Think of the absurdity of leaving their vocation to follow a preacher
· He is still seeking for those who will follow him today. He is seeking but are you following and at what distance are you following (John Danek and I are both employees of DR but in different ways)
· Discipleship requires:
- A relationship with Jesus
- Active promotion of His mission
- Absolute commitment to His cause
Transition: Lastly this morning we see Jesus’ healing mininstry
v21-45 – throughout the tenure of His ministry Jesus was known for his miracles
Ø The authoritative nature (v22) and importance (v38-39) of Jesus’ word already experienced by the four fishermen was demonstrated further by His powerful deeds.[22]
Ø These signs or miracles authenticated both the messenger and the truth of his message
1- v21-28 - healing of man with unclean spirit - this demonstrated Christ’s power over the Spirit world
2- v29-34 – healing of Simon Peter’s mother-in-law – demonstrated Christ’s power over diseases
3- v35-39 – Jesus still took time to pray – of all people he had an excuse to be too busy to pray
· we are given the reason for Christ coming – to preach to the message of repentance and faith
4- v40-45 – healing of the leper – don’t forget – these actions are authenticating the message he was preaching
? – Why did Jesus not want the demons or the leper to proclaim Him as the Son of God?
· there is much speculation on why Jesus silenced demons and people from testifying about His power
· Contextually in Mark 1, I think the option that makes the most sense is that it is His message that will bring repentance and belief not the miracles themselves – they were just meant to authenticate the message
· Possibly, Christ didn’t want to be just a miracle worker because it is only by belief in the words of His message that anyone is saved.
Summary:
- This section of Mark reveals a little more of God’s divine decree put into action
- The miracles that Jesus performed substantiated the claims He made when He preached – Son of God
- With repentance and faith presented as the requirements of entrance into the Kingdom we must ask our selves two questions: Will I enter into the Kingdom? And What kind of disciple am I?
Application:
1- Unsaved:
· Does your life need some renovating?
· The renovation you need is to change your mind in how you think about Christ and rely on Him alone for your reserved entrance into His Kingdom
· Christ is making the same appeal to you as he make to those in Galilee that day? Repent and Believe
2- Saved – How has the Gospel changed they way you live?
3- Whatever your occupation, your calling is to a fisher of men!
a. This is not abandonment of everything in the sense of complete separation
b. Yet this is a decisive action
4- The gospel Jesus proclaimed was a call to discipleship, a call to follow him in submissive obedience, not just a plea to make a decision or pray a prayer.[23]
5- Discipleship is the expected norm for all who believe the gospel (1:15).[24]
Is Christ satisfied with your commitment to discipleship?
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[1] See Dever: The Deliberate Church p83.
[2]John F. Walvoord, Roy B. Zuck and Dallas Theological Seminary, The Bible Knowledge Commentary : An Exposition of the Scriptures (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1983-c1985), 2:107.
[3]William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, vol. 10, New Testament Commentary : Exposition of the Gospel According to Mark, Accompanying Biblical Text Is Author's Translation., New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953-2001), 54.
[4]John Jr MacArthur, The MacArthur Study Bible, electronic ed. (Nashville: Word Pub., 1997, c1997), Mk 1:14.
[5]M.G. Easton, Easton's Bible Dictionary (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1996, c1897).
[6]Paul J. Achtemeier, Publishers Harper & Row and Society of Biblical Literature, Harper's Bible Dictionary, Includes Index., 1st ed. (San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1985), 329.
[7]James A. Brooks, vol. 23, Mark, electronic e., Logos Library System; The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001, c1991), 47.
[8]James A. Brooks, vol. 23, Mark, electronic e., Logos Library System; The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001, c1991), 47.
[9]James A. Brooks, vol. 23, Mark, electronic e., Logos Library System; The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001, c1991), 47.
[10]James A. Brooks, vol. 23, Mark, electronic e., Logos Library System; The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001, c1991), 47.
[11]Warren W. Wiersbe, Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the New Testament (Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1997, c1992), 106.
[12] Grudem – Systematic Theology p713-714
[13]Charles Caldwell Ryrie, A Survey of Bible Doctrine (Chicago: Moody Press, 1995, c1972).
[14]Charles Caldwell Ryrie, A Survey of Bible Doctrine (Chicago: Moody Press, 1995, c1972).
[15]Charles Caldwell Ryrie, A Survey of Bible Doctrine (Chicago: Moody Press, 1995, c1972).
[16]John F. Walvoord, Roy B. Zuck and Dallas Theological Seminary, The Bible Knowledge Commentary : An Exposition of the Scriptures (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1983-c1985), 2:108.
[17]John F. Walvoord, Roy B. Zuck and Dallas Theological Seminary, The Bible Knowledge Commentary : An Exposition of the Scriptures (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1983-c1985), 2:108.
[18]John F. Walvoord, Roy B. Zuck and Dallas Theological Seminary, The Bible Knowledge Commentary : An Exposition of the Scriptures (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1983-c1985), 2:108.
[19]John F. Walvoord, Roy B. Zuck and Dallas Theological Seminary, The Bible Knowledge Commentary : An Exposition of the Scriptures (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1983-c1985), 2:108.
[20]D. A. Carson, New Bible Commentary : 21st Century Edition, Rev. Ed. of: The New Bible Commentary. 3rd Ed. / Edited by D. Guthrie, J.A. Motyer. 1970., 4th ed. (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, Ill., USA: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994), Mk 1:14.
[21]D. A. Carson, New Bible Commentary : 21st Century Edition, Rev. Ed. of: The New Bible Commentary. 3rd Ed. / Edited by D. Guthrie, J.A. Motyer. 1970., 4th ed. (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, Ill., USA: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994), Mk 1:14.
[22]John F. Walvoord, Roy B. Zuck and Dallas Theological Seminary, The Bible Knowledge Commentary : An Exposition of the Scriptures (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1983-c1985), 2:108.
[23]John MacArthur, F., The Gospel According to Jesus : What Does Jesus Mean When He Says "follow Me", Includes Index., Electronic ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Academic and Professional Books, Zondervan Pub. House, 1997, c1988).
[24]John F. Walvoord, Roy B. Zuck and Dallas Theological Seminary, The Bible Knowledge Commentary : An Exposition of the Scriptures (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1983-c1985), 2:108.