#1331 Mark 1 And Yet

 

A little intro to the Gospel of Mark. Mark was also called John Mark and was very close to the Apostle Peter, much of what he records is probably from Peter. When Peter was released from prison by the angel, it was to the home of Mark's family that he came. This was during a time of very severe persecution, so this was a house where Peter must have had good relations. It is the early church.

…11Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent His angel and rescued me from Herod’s grasp and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating.” 12And when he had realized this, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered together and were praying.  Acts 12: 11-12

John Mark was also cousin to Barnabas, and both men were contemporaries of Paul. 

…24But the word of God continued to spread and multiply. 25When Barnabas and Saul had fulfilled their mission to Jerusalem, they returned, bringing with them John, also called Mark. Acts 12: 24-25

Mark went with Paul and Barnabas on a missionary journey but abandoned them, much like the disciples abandoned Jesus. Peter, having dealt with the pain of his betrayal of Jesus, was probably much help to Mark in his repentance and restoration. Barnabas still saw something in his cousin but Paul was unimpressed, and he refused to have Mark travel with him at one point in his ministry. It was so heated that Paul and Barnabas split ways for a time. 

…37Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark. 38But Paul thought it best not to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work. 39Their disagreement was so sharp that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,… Acts 15: 37-39

But John Mark’s earlier vacillation evidently gave way to great strength and maturity, and in time he proved himself even to the Apostle Paul. When Paul wrote the Colossians, he instructed them that if John Mark came, they were to welcome him (Col. 4:10). Paul even listed Mark as a fellow worker (Philem. 24). Later, Paul told Timothy to “Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry” (2 Tim. 4:11).

John Mark’s restoration to useful ministry may have been, in part, due to the ministry of Peter. Peter’s close relationship with Mark is evident from his description of him as “Mark my son” (1 Pet. 5:13). Peter, of course, was no stranger to failure himself, and his influence on the younger man was no doubt instrumental in helping him out of the instability of his youth and into the strength and maturity he would need for the work to which God had called him. 

Mark presents Jesus as the suffering Servant of the Lord (10:45). His focus is on the deeds of Jesus more than His teaching, particularly emphasizing service and sacrifice. Mark omits the lengthy discourses found in the other gospels, often relating only brief excerpts to give the gist of Jesus’ teaching. Mark also omits any account of Jesus’ ancestry and birth, beginning where Jesus’ public ministry began, with His baptism by John in the wilderness.

Mark demonstrated the humanity of Christ more clearly than any of the other evangelists, emphasizing Christ’s human emotions (1:41; 3:5; 6:34; 8:12; 9:36), His human limitations (4:38; 11:12; 13:32), and other small details that highlight the human side of the Son of God (e.g., 7:33, 34; 8:12; 9:36; 10:13–16). - J Mac

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,

“Behold, I send my messenger before your face,

who will prepare your way,

3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness:

‘Prepare the way of the Lord,

make his paths straight,’”

4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” Mark 1: 1-8 ESV

Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God - Gospel or Godspell is the story of God, God's revelation of Himself to man, but to a now fallen mankind, so it is the story of God's reconciling man to Himself, by the Way of His Son, through the power of His Spirit. It is the story of redemption, Jesus meaning deliverer, rescuer, and Christ meaning anointed One, Messiah. Son of God further sets Him apart, as Jesus was the eternally begotten Son of the Father, One with Him and the Holy Spirit as far as the Godhead, yet each individual persons accepting our worship. 

Written in Isaiah the prophet - John the Baptist's ministry is recorded in the Old Testament prophets, Isaiah being the first of the prophets and the name used of them collectively. The exact quote comes from the last of these prophets, Malachi. Malachi speaks of the herald, messenger that calls men to repentance, to prepare the way of the Messiah. He announces Jesus, whose ministry the prophet Isaiah describes in vivid detail as the suffering Servant. Isaiah describes the Baptist as "a voice of one calling".

1“Behold, I will send My messenger, who will prepare the way before Me. Then the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple—the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight—see, He is coming,” says the LORD of Hosts. 2But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He will be like a refiner’s fire, like a launderer’s soap. 3And He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will present offerings to the LORD in righteousness.… Malachi 3: 1-3

…2“Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her forced labor has been completed; her iniquity has been pardoned. For she has received from the hand of the LORD double for all her sins.” 3A voice of one calling: “Prepare the way for the LORD in the wilderness; make a straight highway for our God in the desert. 4Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill made low; the uneven ground will become smooth, and the rugged land a plain.… Isaiah 40: 2-4

13Behold, My Servant will prosper; He will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. 14Just as many were appalled at Him—His appearance was disfigured beyond that of any man, and His form was marred beyond human likeness—… Isaiah 52: 13-14

Confessing their sins - John's message was a message of repentance, and the baptism was only for those who were willing and able to confess their sins. This would have been a difficult sell for a lot of Jews, because this is a one time baptism that is similar to the ceremony of inducting a gentile into their faith. By acknowledging yourself as a sinner, you are not only having a change of mind, but entering upon a life that is a 180 from your present. They would affectively be saying that, like a gentile, an unbeliever, I am outside of the camp in my sin, and I am wanting to leave my sin behind and come inside the camp. This is a humbling refutation against works, against tradition, against supposed birth right, it was true repentance that resulted in the desire to be baptized. 

…8For not only did the message of the Lord ring out from you to Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone out to every place, so that we have no need to say anything more. 9For they themselves report what kind of welcome you gave us, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and TRUE God 10and to await His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead—Jesus our deliverer from the coming wrath.… 1 Thessalonians 1: 8-10

…9And now I rejoice, not because you were made sorrowful, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you felt the sorrow that God had intended, and so were not harmed in any way by us. 10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 11Consider what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what zeal, what vindication! In every way you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.… 2 Corinthians 7: 9-11

Locusts and wild honey - He wasn't a high roller, but was very similar to his predecessor Elijah, who also wore camel's hair and lived in the wilderness.

After me comes He Who is mightier than I - John was happy to be considered only a messenger, the last of the great OT prophets, reminding men of their infraction against God's law and calling them to repent. Jesus is mightier because He will baptize with the Holy Spirit, His will bring regeneration, the power unto repentance and everlasting life. 

14The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15John testified concerning Him. He cried out, saying, “This is He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’” 16From His fullness we have all received grace upon grace.… John 1: 14-16

I am not worthy - This honor of being Christ's herald was not earned by anything John could do, and so he expresses utter humility.

…25But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated Me without reason.’ 26When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father— the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father— He will testify about Me. 27And you also must testify, because you have been with Me from the beginning.… John 15: 25-27

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