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Come Expecting |
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The Firehouse Church |
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Notes on Mark (1:1-28) |
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Kevin is working through the book of Mark and we would like to share his notes with you.
Mark 1:1 (ESV) 1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Mark starts his account by announcing it is good news! Jesus (Yahweh saves) Christ (Anointed One) is the Son coming directly from the Father to save humanity with power from heaven and will fulfill all the prophecies concerning the Messiah. He is fully man, Mark as well as his mentor Peter, were eyewitness to his humanity, yet he is also fully God. He is not a son of God in the generic sense applied to humanity but he precedes from God the Father and has for all eternity. He is uncreated, eternally begotten, like begets like. He has always been God, and since the incarnation he is forever human. Mark 1:2-3 (ESV)
Malachi 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3 prophecy that one will come before the Messiah and his declaration would prepare people for the coming of the Messiah. John the Baptist appears in all four gospels so his ministry is seen as important and the fulfillment of these prophecies. Isaiah 42:9 says “9 Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.” John is the one through whom God keeps this promise. He is declaring and preparing the people for the arrival of Jesus. He is an emissary announcing the coming of the King. As an emissary John speaks on behalf of the King he represents, therefore he is a voice, not his words, but a voice for the words of the King. He cries out so all can hear. He is in the wilderness, the solitary place so he can hear the words he must speak, and hungry people come to him. Silence and solitude are two neglected practices of modern Christians in the western world. Therefore we don’t have much to cry out and people do not flock to us. It is in solitude and silence that we hear the living voice of the author of life and the author of the Bible. It is from the hearing of that voice that we have something to say. Mark 1:4-6 (ESV)
John preached against sin. He preached the commandments as is evident by his condemnation of the adultery of Herod. The repentance spoken of was mostly common people agreeing with the preaching of John and the law of God. They were convicted of their half-hearted observance to the laws of God. They repented, changed their way of thinking and behaving, and were baptized to wash away previous sins and start fresh. Many people continued to come out to John. He became such a phenomenon that the Pharisees and Scribes took notice of him, though they did not for the most part repent and submit to baptism. Even Herod took notice which ultimately led to John’s arrest and execution. Often it is the religious leaders and political leaders who resist the fresh voice of God. The common people, looking for hope and help are the ones who hear. Those in power tend to protect the status quo. The poor and desperate often have their ears open to a living word from heaven. John is clearly identifying with the prophet Elijah with his clothing, diet and location. Elijah was the first of Israel’s prophetic line, John is the last. Although he appears in the New Testament, he is an Old Testament prophet, he bookends Elijah as the prophets of pre-messiah Israel. With Jesus and the baptism in the Spirit he brings a new prophetic line will begin. It is the day when all God’s children can hear his voice, dream his dreams and see his visions. It is a day not so much to condemn a nation of sin but a day to give strength, comfort and encouragement to a new people filled with His Spirit. Mark 1:7-8 (ESV)
There are two parts to John’s message about Jesus. One was the honest and humble assessment of his ministry compared with the ministry to come in Jesus the Messiah. John is a messenger, a servant, but the King is coming. John is a prophet, but the living Word is about to appear on the scene. It is as the author of Hebrews declares the difference between a house and the builder. It is not just a difference of degree but a difference of type. Israel had seen miracles and heard the prophetic voice; they had been delivered time and time again from their enemies. But the miracles, voice and deliverance they were about to encounter in a short period, through one man would be like nothing they had ever seen before. The second part of John’s message was even more astounding. This coming one would immerse or saturate his followers with the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament the Spirit was given to a particular person, for a particular time, for a particular task. Now this newcomer would immerse all flesh in His Spirit. The messianic prophecy of Joel was about to be fulfilled in the life and ministry of Jesus.
Joel 2:28-32 (NIV)
Mark 1:9-11 (ESV) Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan River but why? John’s baptism was for repentance and forgiveness of sins. Of all people who have walked the planet, Jesus is the only one who didn’t need to have his sins forgiven. Hebrews 4:15 says he was like us in every way but without sin. Jesus’ baptism was even a mystery to John; he questioned Jesus on why he should be baptizing him instead of the other way around. (Matt. 3:13-15) What Jesus is doing is twofold; first he is completely identifying with fallen humanity, Jesus is demonstrating in his baptism that he is one of us. In his baptism Jesus is prophetically showing that he will take on our sin, he came to conquer that enemy for us. Second Jesus is showing us that baptism in the entry point for God’s favor and Holy Spirit fullness. Everywhere in the book of Acts where the Holy Spirit fills God’s people it is associated with water baptism. Jesus is showing us that baptism is not an option for disciples but part of the process of walking in God’s favor and power. This passage is clearly evidence of the Christian doctrine of the Trinity. All three are present at the same time, the Son on his messianic mission to save the world, the Spirit coming upon him and empowering him for that mission and the Father with his divine voice of affirmation. Truly we have an amazing God beyond imagination. He is entirely one yet also three. Completely united in the Godhead to seek and save a lost world. Just as Jesus identifies with us in his baptism, so we when we believe and are baptized we are given the Holy Spirit and the Father’s affirmation. God actually says of us we are his beloved children in whom he is well pleased. We are actually anointed by the Spirit to continue to do the ongoing ministry of Jesus. We become Christ-like-ones, or Christians, that designation needs to be lived out in the character and power of Jesus that come from being filled by his Spirit. We are not Christians based on church attendance but by resemblance to Jesus, participating in his anointing. Mark 1:12-13 (ESV) Jesus is anointed by the Holy Spirit for ministry and the first thing that happens is temptation in the lonely place. Fasting and solitude are often places of spiritual warfare. It is in the wilderness in the time of fasting that Jesus sets the foundation for his public ministry. To often public ministry is done without the disciplines of fasting and solitude and when temptation comes the ministry fails. It is in fasting and solitude that we are equipped to live victoriously in public. That is why it was the Spirit who took Jesus there. The Spirit led or even drove Jesus into the wilderness and into this conflict. God does not tempt us, the devil does, but God will allow us or even take us to the place of testing. It is here, in the lonely place where spiritual muscle for fruitful and victorious living is developed. Mark makes a strange reference to the wild animals being with Jesus. This is a sign that a new kingdom has come, restoring the order of creation in the Garden of Eden. Adam had perfect peace with the animal kingdom before the fall. He ruled them with love. After the fall the animal kingdom became wild and needed to be domesticated. Much of the animal kingdom has not been domesticated. Yet Jesus lives at peace with the wild animals, pointing the way to a restored creation. Finally the angels ministered to Jesus. They served him the whole time he was in the wilderness. Again the spiritual resources of heaven, by way of angels, is realized in the time of loneliness, fasting and temptation. There is a renewed interest in angels in our day. Among the New Agers angels serve as a means of spiritual help and care without commitment to God and his Christ. This is deception. It gives people the false hope that there is salvation without repentance and faith in God’s Son. Among Christians this renewed interest is mostly a healthy correction to years of ignoring angelic presence. Angels are among us and according to scripture they serve those who are saved. (Heb. 1:14) However there is always the concern of getting so worked up over angelic presence that we forget who angels are pointing too. Angels are a blessing from God, but they are not to be sought out or bossed around by us. We are to worship the Lord and when angels come we thank him for this and all his means of help and provision. Mark 1:14-15 (ESV) As John’s pubic ministry comes to an end Jesus’ public ministry begins. This is the beginning of a new age on planet earth. From the time of the fall of Adam and Eve God was preparing the world, through the Jews, for the coming of the Messiah. He had shown them the consequences of sin. He had given them his law. He had displayed his power. He had warned and promised through the prophets. But in Jesus the good news had come. The good news was and is Jesus himself. He is the King and he brings his kingdom with him. The kingdom of God is the rule of God. Through Jesus God is re-establishing his rule on planet earth through the lives of human beings. The kingdom of God is good news; it is heaven invading a fallen earth. It is life eternal, forgiveness of sins, health, peace, prosperity; joy… all the things we know life should be because we were created for them. They come with King Jesus. They come as the kingdom of God enters a human life. The way the kingdom enters a life is through repentance and belief. Repentance means to change the way we think. We change from self-sufficient to God dependent, from looking out for number one to seek first his kingdom, from loving our lives first and only to loving God and neighbor. To believe means to believe that Jesus truly is the King of the universe, the Son of God incarnate and to put our lives in his hands. We enter the kingdom by allegiance to the King. As we believe in Jesus he transforms our lives from the inside out. We then begin to live in a new kingdom. We begin to live in the kingdom of God and we become contagious carriers of the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. (Ps. 27:13) Mark 1:16-20 (ESV) This is not the first time Jesus had encountered these fishermen brothers. The other gospel accounts give us more detailed information. Mark’s gospel is the gospel of immediately. Mark’s gospel bears the mark of Peter. The gospel is abrupt. The call of the disciples is abrupt. It was a time for decision, to stay in the boat and with family and friends, or to risk all and follow Jesus for a new destiny. To be a disciple means to follow the leader. To be a disciple means to go where Jesus leads and it always involves leaving things behind. These disciples ultimately became first century world changers. They truly left all to follow Jesus. Maybe one reason for modern western Christians and churches anemic track record is that we are not taught or willing to leave things to follow Jesus. We want the American dream with a slice of Christianity. We want to go to heaven when we die, but we don’t want to pay the price of living by faith to bring heaven to earth now. We invest a lot in financial security and pleasures now. Jesus dares us to say good-bye to the cultural dreams and follow him. It doesn’t mean we won’t have houses, cars, vacations and pensions. It does mean we can’t live for them and we are to carry them and all other worldly possessions lightly. This even includes relationships. We have to be willing to say good-bye to our Zebedees, our family and friends in order to follow Jesus and in order to release them to follow Jesus. Now is the time. The call and opportunity will not last. When we hear his invitation to be a world changer and to step into our destiny, will we leave our boats and follow him? Mark 1:21-22 (ESV)
The synagogue served as a forum for the teaching and expounding of the scriptures. Both Jesus and later Paul use the opportunity availed them by local synagogues to begin to teach. Both were later not allowed in the synagogues because they were too threatening to the status quo. This happened in the Wesleyan revival in England in the 18th century. Wesley was an ordained Anglican priest, but usually only had one chance to preach in the church until he was asked to not return. Like Jesus and Paul, Wesley took the message to the streets and had great impact. It was the religious leaders who were threatened by Jesus. The common people who heard Jesus were not threatened but amazed. He stood out. He taught, not by quoting the traditions of the Scribes and Pharisees, but he taught on his own authority. He taught as the author of the law and the author of life. This was the first thing people noticed about him. People could agree or disagree with him, people could accept or reject him, but people could not question he believed he was speaking the absolute truth and embodying that same truth. Bill Johnson makes an excellent point when he says it is not religious experts who mark a genuine move of God on planet earth. A much better witness is the prostitute, drug addict, prisoner etc… Sinners saved by amazing grace, common people, broken people, give the best testimony to what God is doing on earth. Religious leaders and experts may come along and endorse or condemn, but lives changed by the power of God speak a stronger word. Mark 1:23-26 (ESV)
The presence of demons, bad spirits that infiltrate people and bring havoc, disease, death, violent behavior, addictions, etc… has been recognized by most cultures in history. Only modern western cultures have relegated the subject of demons to superstition. But for those who have dealt with them demon are not superstition, but a troubling reality. Jesus recognized the existence of demons and came to destroy their work. The deliverances recorded in the New Testament represent a clash of kingdoms. The kingdom of God present in Jesus clashes with the kingdom of the devil present in the world and especially in those afflicted by demons. Jesus always wins a clear and decisive victory. Two notes of interest concerning these demons; first they cannot keep silent in the presence of Jesus. His light brings the demons out and they are exposed before him. I doubt these demons cry out and show themselves voluntarily, for they must have known their doom was before them. Yet when Jesus comes on the scene demons manifest themselves publicly. The presence of God draws them up and out to face judgment. This has been seen historically in revivals. In quiet and sleepy times and places demons don’t often show themselves. This doesn’t mean they are not present, it means they are not disturbed and they go about their work with quiet malice. But in times when the Spirit is active in the body of believers there are often many recorded instances of demonized people crying out and trying to disrupt meetings. The strong presence of the kingdom of light is exposing the kingdom of darkness in order to destroy the works of the devil. Secondly, although Satan is called the by Jesus the father of lies, in Christ’s presence the demons don’t lie, they confess the truth concerning the identity of Jesus. Jesus rebukes them, not for lying but for speaking out of turn. They are trying to reveal who Jesus is before the Fathers time. Jesus will be revealed and glorified in God’s timing not satan’s, so they are silenced. Mark 1:27-28 (ESV)
Again Mark makes note of how amazed the people were at the teaching of Jesus. He not only taught with authority but he exercised authority over the demonic realm. There was a buzz going on about Jesus in Capernaum, by the next day the whole region had heard of this new teacher. The new content of Jesus teaching was repent and believe, instead of obey the traditions of the elders. Jesus was inviting people into a relationship with him as disciples, not just telling them follow the old code. He wasn’t replacing the code; he was living it and fulfilling it. People were witnessing in Jesus the author of the law and the heart behind the law. They were witnessing the author of life and the king of heaven bringing defeat to the kingdom of hell. It must have been quite a day in little Capernaum.
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Holy Spirit, spirit-filled, power, Word, Jesus, Christ, Bremerton, Washington, WA, Firehouse, Holy, Spirit, Christian, worship, disciple, radical |