9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately 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.”
The Temptation of Jesus
12 The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13 And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.
Jesus Begins His Ministry
14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
Jesus Calls the First Disciples
16 Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19 And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him. Mark 1: 9-20 ESV
Mark 1: 9-20
Baptized by John in the Jordan - John's baptism was a call to repentance, and in the gospel of Matthew it is recorded that he was hesitant to baptize Jesus, confused as to why. Jesus tells him it is to fulfill all righteousness. He is conforming in every way to the law of God, doing what men should have done. He is the sinless offering, the Lamb without spot, but here identifies with those whose places He will take. Jesus is identifying with sinners, the people He came to save.
…31Jesus answered, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” Luke 5: 31-32
He saw the heavens being torn open - I don't want to speculate too much on what this looked like, but here Heaven testifies to the Christ, the Savior of the world, and the earth testifies by way of the messenger, John the Baptist, who was the voice of one crying in the wilderness, preaching the gospel of repentance. We see both the holiness or otherliness of Christ as God the Son, and the humanity of Christ in His obedience to the will of the Father. We see the Spirit descend upon Him, marking the beginning of His Spirit led ministry, modeling the way of the new Adam, the way that men had fallen away from. And then we hear the voice of the Father, testifying to the holiness of the Son. This look into heaven only happens on a few rare occasions to some of the prophets, including the Apostle John, but this even differs from those visions, it is not isolated to one individual.
After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. 4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. 6 Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. Revelation 4: 1-6
The Spirit immediately drove Him out into the wilderness - Mark keeps a fast pace, and so I will try to move more quickly through this book and reference Matthew when they are discussing like events. You can see, as it should be with all ministers, Christ modeling the Spirit filled walk.
15But if you keep on biting and devouring one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another. 16So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want.… Galatians 5: 15-17
The time is fulfilled - The time of Christ arrival as predicted by the prophets was at hand. Isaiah's suffering servant has arrived, the King of the line of David is here, and in whatever age you are born, that is your time to encounter Jesus, to repent and be saved. It is also chronological in that He will shortly fulfill Daniel's 69th week when the Anointed One is cut off.
The time is fulfilled: There are two ancient Greek words that can be translated time. One is chronos, meaning simple chronological time. The other is kairos, meaning “the strategic opportunity, the decisive time.” Jesus used this second word when He said, “the time is fulfilled.” His idea was, “The strategic time for the kingdom of God is now. Now is your time of opportunity. Don’t let it pass you by.” - E Word
12See to it, brothers, that none of you has a wicked heart of unbelief that turns away from the living God. 13But exhort one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. 14We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly to the end the assurance we had at first.… Hebrews 3: 12-14
…43For the days will come upon you when your enemies will barricade you and surround you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will level you to the ground— you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God.” 45Then Jesus entered the temple courts and began to drive out those who were selling there.… Luke 19: 43-45
Repent and believe the gospel - John preached repentance, and Christ continues this message, but points them back to the cure for sin as well. They need to believe in Him, His works, His merit, His Holy life, offered in place of them for their sin. The innocent dies for me, the guilty, so that I may live.
…46And He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47and in His name repentance and forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem. 48You are witnesses of these things.… Luke 24: 46-48
Fishers of men - As noble a calling as fishing is, and as wonderful a pursuit as I have found it to be, there is a greater calling. This is not to say that one must throw away their current job, passion or even hobby, but while doing those they must be as unto the Lord, a venue for His glory. However, as in the case of these fishermen, sometimes the Master calls us far away from the sea, sometimes to the desert, but always to serve others and proclaim the name of Jesus.
…11So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many, the net was not torn. 12“Come, have breakfast,” Jesus said to them. None of the disciples dared to ask Him, “Who are You?” They knew it was the Lord. 13Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and He did the same with the fish.…
14This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after He was raised from the dead. 15 When they had finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus replied, “Feed My lambs.” 16Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus told him, “Shepherd My sheep.”… John 21: 11-16
With the hired servants and followed Him - The sons of thunder were also called and they left a successful fishing business, one doing so well as to have hired servants.
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