Apr. 17, 2024

Dear Friends,

I hope you can join us tonight as we begin a study in the Gospel of Mark. Tonight we look at Mark 1:1-14.

LIVING THE CHRISTLIFE

WAYNE BARRETT

HILLTOP LAKES CHAPEL

APRIL 17, 2024

Mark 1:1-14

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.”

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.”

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.

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.”

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v 1 – “The beginning of the gospel…”

more lit. “Beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, Son of God.”

Might be understood as a heading—it signals what it to follow

From the very first sentence—Jesus Christ is the Son of God

v 2 – “As it is written…”

Some mss. read: As it is written in the prophets

“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me….”—Malachi 3:1

A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a

highway for our God.”—Isaiah 40:3

This is the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ—the gospel begins with OT prophecies. (John goes

back even further—to before creation!)

2

As the gospel early on was preached primarily to Jews, it was especially important that they understood

that the (OT) Scriptures pointed to Christ.

Also, the Scriptures foretold that before the Messiah would come, there would be a messenger to prepare

his way.

Before a royal (or other important) personage would visit a new place, it would not be

uncommon for him first to send a herald or messenger of some kind, to prepare the people for

his arrival (an “advance team”). Lay the groundwork.

v 4 – “John appeared,…”

The herald sent by God to prepare the way for Jesus was John the Baptist, not a typical herald.

10 And the disciples asked him, “Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” 11 He

answered, “Elijah does come, and he will restore all things. 12 But I tell you that Elijah has

already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also

the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that he

was speaking to them of John the Baptist.—Matthew 17:10-13

The preparation: “baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the

forgiveness of sins.”

In the wilderness—God needed no human trappings

Also, people had to care enough to go there

Baptism was known to Jews—when proselytes became Jews, they were baptized

In a way, Mark “clarified” the meaning for this new type of baptism, that it was one

corresponding to repentance for the forgiveness of sins. A. T. Robertson – “a

repentance kind of baptism.”

“John is treating the Jewish nation as pagans who need to repent, to confess their sins,

and to come back to the kingdom of God.”— A. T. Robertson

So what was needed as preparation for the appearance of Christ was a preaching of and

movement of repentance—and this among God’s people.

v 5 – “And all the country..”

City folk and country folk…

“confessing their sins”—meaning specific sins

v 6 – “Now John was clothed with camel's hair…”

Prophets were often called to live in unusual ways, separate from the people to whom they

prophesied

God’s word and messenger used no worldly trappings

v 7 – “And he preached…”

John was preparing the way for Jesus

He elevated Jesus far above himself—it was about Jesus, not John

v 8 – “I have baptized you with water…”

John’s oft-quoted line

John’s preaching and baptism was one of repentance

Jesus would give life through the Holy Spirit.

Probably few understood what John could be talking about

v 9 – “In those days, Jesus came…”

But why? Jesus did not need to repent

3

It was as an example

It signified that Jesus was initiating his public ministry, the proclamation of himself as the Son of

God

vv 10-11 – “And when he came up out of the water…”

Jesus himself received an affirming vision, including a voice from heaven [lit. the heavens]

“and the Spirit…”

This is a mystery; Jesus was conceived by the Spirit…

It certainly represented God’s full pleasure and blessing upon him

more lit. “You are my Son, the beloved, with you I am well pleased.”

v 12 – “the Spirit immediately drove him…”

A contrast with v 10!

Mark—frequent use of “immediately” and the historical present

Here more lit. “And immediately the Spirit drives him out into the wilderness.”

v 13 – “And he was in the wilderness…”

A summary of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness

Significance of the “wilderness”

“forty days”

“with the wild animals” – perhaps emphasizing his solitude, that he was only with the wild

animals

“and the angels…” – we do not know much more than this

v 14 – “Now after John was arrested…”

God’s messenger persecuted (and later killed)

Jesus begins his ministry

The time is fulfilled – all according to God’s plan and timing

the kingdom of God is at hand—Jesus himself represents the appearance and the coming of

God’s kingdom

repent and believe in the gospel—the message of Christ, which continues