The Gospel of Mark.
Chapter One – Getting Ready to Serve.
(Mark 1: 1-13)
Introduction
What would you say was the main purpose of the Christian Life?
I believe it is what the bible calls being conformed to the image of Christ, in other words, behaving and thinking like Christ in every situation. But, how might we achieve that together day?
One way we could do that is to look closely at any one of the four books in the Bible that were written directly about the life of Jesus. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. To study the words of Jesus and what these four accounts of his life and ministry say about him. Each book has a particular perspective.
Mathew portrays Christ as the Messiah, the king of the Jews.
Luke particularly focuses on what it means to see Jesus as the Son of Man.
John focus on Jesus as the eternal Son of God.
If we were to look at Christ in the scripture, there right there are four ways (lens if you like) through which we can see and get an understanding of what he is like. You might, that’s a bit of a tall order, how can we be like him, how can we be like the Son of God, he did some amazing stuff, and he was perfect we can’t be perfect like him? Well, that true, but on the other hand the Bible actually refers to Christian believers as Children of God. In fact, in John’s account of the life of Christ John says.
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
(John 1: 12-13)
Maybe it’s not as difficult as it seems because this clearly tells us that when we trust in Christ, we become participants of the divine nature and by doing so become Children of God. Of course Jesus is the Son of God in a unique way, that we are not. In fact, John also tells us.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
(John 3: 16)
King James translates it as the “only begotten son”, and our NIV points in the same direction when it says, “one and only” son”. Therefore, Jesus as the Son of God, is fully God, in a way we are not. We are beneficiaries of His divine nature, but he is the divine nature.
Luke in his account portrays Christ as the Son of Man, that’s an easier one, for we are all fully human and we all come from human decent. Everyone, of us is someone’s daughter or someone’s son. When Christ took on human form he became fully man, in order to identify completely with us because each and every one of us is already a child of humanity.
Matthew portrays him as king, how can we be kings. The bible does tell us if we endure, if we are faithful, we will reign with him. We are also told that in heaven at the judgement seat of Christ we will receive a crown of righteousness.
In Mark Jesus Christ is portrayed as a servant. In fact, Mark summarising this for us towards the end of his account of the life of Jesus where it says.
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.”
(Mark 10: 45)
Most theologians agree that this verse give us the main subject of the whole gospel of Mark. But notice this statement also applies to us if we go back to verse 43 and read all three verses in context.
Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 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.”
(Mark 10: 43-45)
According to this we are to take on characteristics of a servant because that is what it means to be like Christ. To be like Jesus, we are to be like servants. So, what I propose this season as we study the life of Christ in order that you try and use what you learn to become more Christ like as we discover how Jesus was as a servant, we too might then know how we can serve. And sometimes you might just be surprised at just what that means.
Scriptures.
The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way “a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”
(Matthew 1: 1-3)
These opening 13 verses of Marks gospel serves as an introduction to the entire book. I believe they says 3 things about Jesus and his life and ministry.
Firstly, they talk about a forerunner, someone called John the Baptist, and a lot of this opening passage is taken up with describing this forerunner of Jesus.
The second thing this passage does is tell us that Jesus was baptised.
The third thing it does is tell us he was tempted.
In introducing this Gospel I am going to go back through the passage and explain in why, and in what way Jesus had a forerunner. Then why he was baptised, and how he was tempted. Quite reasonably you might ask, what all that got to do with being a servant. Well stick with me and you will find out.
Most conservative scholars who study this book tell us the opening passage is telling us about the preparation Jesus underwent before becoming a servant. And in studying it, I believe we too might have an understanding in how we too should also be prepared for service.
If Jesus himself prepared for service, prepared for ministry, then perhaps we too might benefit from understanding what went on here.
Let’s begin by looking again at this opening verse that stands as an introduction and tells us about John the Baptist, as the forerunner.
“The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God”.
(Mark 1: 1)
This verse is simply telling us, this is the beginning, this is how this good news, this story of Jesus Christ, the Son of God all began. Isn’t it interesting although the book is about portraying Jesus as a servant, he begins by stating he is both the Messiah, and the Son of God. So, let’s pause here before we start and talk about that for a second.
How can anyone be a son and a servant at the same time? Why are we being told we are a child of God, and a servant of God at the same time? Perhaps we are being made aware that it is dangerous to think of your yourself as just a child of God if you don’t recognize that you are also a servant of God and a servant of other people as well. If you only think of yourself as a Child of God, then the danger is you might come to think that the world should bow at your feet. On the other hand, if recognise that you are a servant you also then you might understand that you have a more humble position in the great scheme of things. The truth is we are both the Children of God and his servant at the same time and we always need to remember we are both. With that in mind the passage goes on to explain how Jesus himself prepared to be a servant. Interestingly verse 2 and 3 are in fact quotations from the Old Testament.
As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way. A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him”.
(Mark 1: 2-3)
Verse 1 is from Isaiah and verse 2 is taken from the book of Malachi, who himself is referencing Isaiah by saying I will send a messenger before you. The passage then goes on to explain, that messenger is John the Baptist, and he is the one who came to “prepare the way of the Lord”. This was a very well-known passage for the people of that time, reminding them that a forerunner would appear, someone to prepare the way for the Messiah to come. The second quotation, in verse 3, is from Isaiah 40:3 Which talks about him preparing the way by being “a voice crying in the wilderness”. So, these verses introduce the fact that this is all about the preparation of the coming of the Messiah and as the one who would prepare the way is John the Baptist.
And so, John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
(Mark 1: 4)
Let’s just talk about this “baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins”, that for a minute. By speaking about repentance, he is saying to the people, “you might think you have special privileges because you are a son of Abraham, but I am telling you first need to repent and change your whole perspective”. He is warning them not to think they have any special merit individually before God, just because they are part of the nation of Israel. Rather you should change your mind, repent, and cast yourself upon the mercy of God. Once the people had done that, we see that they were then baptised. That’s what John did. The clue was in the name, he preached “repentance” for the forgiveness of sins, then he baptised people.
The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
(Mark 1: 5)
This verse tells us that a great number of people were responding, such a mass of people that it seemed almost as if the whole town was heading out, confessing their sins and requesting baptism. It is at this point that Mark describes John.
John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.
(Mark 1: 6)
What a description that is, it really struck me the first time I heard it as a child. In my young mind he seemed a cross between a hippy and wild Tarzan like figure. I probably entirely missed the main the point being made in the description, the fact that he wore clothing made of camel hair and a leather belt. That is actually quite important, because Elijah also dressed exactly like that. Remember when John the Baptist’s was born, an angel appeared to his father and told him his son would come in the spirit and power of Elijah. So, this is telling us that John the Baptist was not only in the spirit of Elijah, but he even dressed like Elijah, in his role as the forerunner of the Messiah. The text then begins to tell us what he actually said.
And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.
(Mark 1; 7-8)
What a statement, John is saying I am proclaiming the Messiah and I am not even worthy to untie his laces. I am not worthy to even untie whose shoes, furthermore I only baptise with water, but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit. These opening verses through to verse 8 are simply telling us about the forerunner of Jesus Christ. That he (John the Baptist) came, and he preached, preparing the way for Jesus. John the Baptist prepared the way by preaching that you need to repent and turn away for your sinful entanglements. You need to trust in God mercy through his coming Messiah and you need to be baptised in order to identify yourself with Christ, and the group of believers you are now part of. When you do that the Messiah is going to meet you personally and baptise you with his Holy Spirit.
I began this morning message by saying the purpose of the Christian life is for us to become like Christ. I would like to suggest that if we are servants then there must have been things prepared in advance for us to do. A servant doesn’t just do whatever they want to do, they do what the master tells them to do, and what he had prepared in advance for them to do. I want to suggest that when you talk to some people about the Lord you are going to meet some that are going to reject the message. They won’t want to hear it but there will also be those out there who are prepared in advance to hear what you say. The Lord himself has prepared them so that when you speak. We often hear that God has given someone a gift of evangelism, or a gift of preaching. It seems reasonable to me if God calls some to preach, then he must also be calling some people to listen. God is even now preparing people for you to speak to. People that will listen to you and won’t listen to me. There have been people who have been prepared to hear what you are going to say. The people have been prepared in advance, so go find them.
So, the first thing that happened as preparation of Jesus coming as a servant king, is that a forerunner went before him. The second thing is that Jesus did was get baptised.
At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
(Mark 1: 9)
Jesus was baptised by John but this baptism by John was different to the baptism of the ordinary people. How do I know that, well the people that were baptised by John were baptised for the remission of sin, and that didn’t apply to Jesus? Let’s look at Matthews account of these events for a moment.
And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfil all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him.
(Matthew 3: 14-15)
Matthew tells us the baptism of Jesus by John was not for the forgiveness of sin but, “to fulfil all righteousness”. The baptism of Jesus was carried out in order that he might fully identify with the people he was to serve and become a sacrifice for. So, Jesus is baptised by John in this way and the next verses then tells us.
Just 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.”
(Mark 1: 10)
When he was baptised by John, we are shown and told that this was approved by the father. Think about this, at this point Jesus is about 30 years old, and the father says; all you have done up to this point in your life meets my approval. Jesus is living the ordinary human existence living as a carpenter in Nazareth working alongside his father Joseph. Then at the age of 30 he is baptised, and God the Father speaks from heaven and says, “this is my beloved son everything that you have done so for, I am well pleased with”. So, part of him being prepared to serve, was living in an ordinary human life in a way that was pleasing to the father. Jesus is baptised, and the Spirit descends upon him, and notice this is one of the few passages in scripture when all three persons of the trinity are involved. Jesus is in the river Jordan. The Spirit descends upon him and the father in heaven speaks. Let’s be clear, part of Jesus’ preparation for service was that he was baptised and the presence of the trinity, the full complete presence of the Godhead being present at this event testifies to the importance of this.
But after his baptism there is a third thing that happens. Because almost immediately after these events Jesus is tempted. The next verses tell us that instantly after these events this happens.
“At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.
(Mark 1: 12-13)
It tells us he is in the wilderness, so he must face his trail, and temptation, alone. Alone accept of course for the Holy Spirt. It was the holy Spirit that drove him into the wilderness, and it would be the holy Spirit that would be with him throughout. Previously we know the children of Israel had spent some time in the wilderness, and it was in the wilderness that they too were confronted by the will of God. They faced a temptation and they failed and because they failed, they also failed to enter the land which had been promised to them. But now, Jesus goes into the wilderness and faces temptation and succeeds.
He faces the temptation of Satan and succeeds. Unlike Matthew and Luke’s account, Mark does not go into the detail of the temptation, he simply tells us that he was tempted, but he adds something that Matthew and Luke don’t include, because it also adds in verse 13 that; “He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him”. Why mention that?
It is mentioned because this book of Mark was written to the Romans Christians. Each of the Gospel account have a slightly different emphasis because they were written to different ethnic or cultural groups of people? Matthew was written to a Jewish audience around 70AD, to introduce them to Christ as the Messiah. Luke was written around 80AD to the early Christians church to be read out at worship and communion service across the early Christian world. John was written into a Greek culture around 90AD to help evangelise those from a Greek philosophical background and worldview. Mark on the other had was written first, around 60AD at least 20-30 years before the others and Mark was written to a Roman audience. Written at a time when Nero the Roman Emperor was persecuting Christians. They knew what it meant, first hand, so see their Christian brothers and sisters thrown into the arena to be devoured by wild animals.
Mark is subtly saying, Jesus faced what you today are facing. He is tempted like you are tempted, and he resisted on all points. Even the wild animals that we may face one day were brought into submission by him, and they are even seen to be attending to him. What a message of hope.
In conclusion I hope working through these opening verses I trust you notice the main big thing. Jesus went from Baptism to the wilderness. Jesus went from “This my son in whom I am well pleased”. Straight to the wilderness and an attack of enemy. Jesus in his preparation for service went from the peak of the mountain top to a spiritual wilderness in the valley. And that my friends, is life. That’s the way it often goes in real life. What I am suggesting is that before Jesus even began to serve. There had to be preparation, even for him. He had to be baptised to identify with us at the most profound level and he also had to resist temptation.
Let me conclude this opening passage by making some suggestions. One suggestion is you need to know who you really are. You’re a child of God and you shouldn’t forget that. However, you also need to know, if you are to be like Christ, you are also a servant. From now on you should walk around thinking you know what, I am a servant, therefore how can I serve in this situation. Jesus himself said, I didn’t come to be served, I came to serve and if you want to be great in the kingdom of God, then in every situation ask, how can I serve.
Another thing you need to know if you wish to be prepared for service, is you need to be baptised, because God said to be baptised. When we get baptised, we make a public statement identifying with Jesus Christ the Messiah and with other Christians.
We say yes, I am also a follower of Christ, and like others before I wish to testify that my sins have been forgiven. Jesus himself was baptised as a statement of identifying with us as ordinary human beings in the closest way and we should do likewise.
Finally, of course, if you are going to serve the Lord, and be his servant you need to learn to withstand temptation and you do that by calling upon the name of the Lord, and by trusting in his word. So, if we are truly to be like Christ, we are to be prepared, by doing these things and by adopting the attitude of being a servant Do you think of yourself as a servant?
A s we embark on this journey through the Gospel of Mark, and the life and ministry of Jesus, one of the great messages I hope we will have soaked up is the fact that you are a child of God, and as a child of God, you are a servant. That’s the essence of being a servant, it is thinking about the other person all the time. That’s’ it, and Jesus is of course the ultimate example of being a servant. A servant is not a lowly position in the sight of God. Being a servant has the highest honour, the highest value in the economy of God. In the kingdom of God those who serve are given the place of highest honour in the kingdom of God.