True Hope and Change
The Book of Mark
Mark 1:9-15
I. We have been hearing a lot about hope and change these days.
A. That phrase has become well worn and almost meaningless.
B. People want to hope in something.
1. Hope in the future of their family.
2. Hope in the future of our country.
3. Hope for a future life.
4. That is why that word resonates with so many people.
C. People do really seek change.
1. They want to change their life situation.
2. They want to change jobs.
3. They want to change the way things are done.
II. My intention is not to get into a discussion of political change which frankly is becoming less and less apparent as both parties present options to us that are fundamentally the same.
III. I want to talk about true hope and change which came about almost two centuries ago.
A. Isaiah in his prophecy spoke of dark days into which the messiah would come 8:20-9:2.
B. The world at that time was much the same as it is now.
1. People had little use for God.
2. Religion was mostly for show.
3. People oppressed others for their own benefit.
4. Most people lived in abject poverty.
C. John’s job was to introduce the One who would bring real change vs.7-8.
D. Vs.9 through 15 introduces us to that One, the one who brings change you can truly believe in.
I.A new baptism.
A. John’s baptism was on the basis of repentance.
1. His baptism was ceremonial and symbolic.
2. The one who was baptized by John was still under the OT Law Acts 19:3-4.
3. It was an outward sign of preparation acknowledging their sin.
4. It by no means took away their sin.
B. Jesus’ baptism was an internal baptism.
1. This wasn’t just another ceremonial washing.
2. Baptism in the Holy Spirit.
3. This is the act of God placing believers into the Body of Christ 1Cor.12.
a) This is referring to the new life in Christ.
b) By this means sin would be removed forever.
c) This was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost.
C. Why was Jesus baptized? Warren Wiersbe suggests 6 reasons:
1. 1. Obligation—“to fulfill all righteousness” (cf. John 8:29).
2. 2. Consecration—the OT priest was washed, then anointed. Jesus submitted to water baptism, then the Holy Spirit came as a dove. See Ex. 29.
3. 3. Commendation—Jesus gave His approval of John’s ministry and thus obligated the people to listen to John and obey him. Instead, the religious leaders rejected John’s baptism (21:23–27).
4. 4. Proclamation—this was John’s official introduction of Jesus to the Jewish nation. See John 1:31.
5. 5. Anticipation—this water baptism looked forward to His baptism of suffering for us on the cross (Luke 12:50). Jesus fulfilled all righteousness through His sacrificial death on Calvary.
6. 6. Identification—Jesus identified Himself with sinful men. Immediately after, the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. There may be here a picture of the “scapegoat” that symbolically carried the nation’s sins into the wilderness (Lev. 16:1–10).
D. So the new baptism signifies a new relationship.
1. No longer external in keeping the law.
2. Now it is an intimate personal relationship with God by means of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
II.A new intercessor vs.9-13.
A. Under the old system a prophet or a priest was necessary to intercede on behalf of the people.
1. They could entreat God but their ability was limited by their humanity.
a) Heb.7:23-25.
b) Heb.9:6ff.
2. Jesus has become our permanent intercessor.
3. Ro.8.
B. Our intercessor is the second person of the trinity God the Son vs.10-11
1. This is one of the strongest examples of the trinity we have in Scripture.
2. The Spirit descended into Him not upon Him.
3. It was well pleasing to the Father to have it this way vs.11.
C. He is not untouched by the cares and troubles we face in our lives vs.12-13.
1. Mark tersely describes the Lord’s temptation in one sentence.
a) Matthew takes 11 verses.
b) Luke 13.
2. Drove Him.
a) Not suggesting that He went reluctantly.
b) Rather it means that he went with strong purpose.
c) He had a battle to engage in for our sakes.
3. The verb usage indicates that Satan was after Him during the whole time.
4. Three purposes.
a) For Hs own sake as proof of His character.
(1) He is the 2nd Adam being put to the test to see if he as Wuest puts it “was equipped and ready for His ministry as prophet, Priest and King.
(2) He passed the test with flying colors though Mark doesn’t record it.
b) For our sake to empathize with our temptation
(1) Heb 2:18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
(2) Heb 4:15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
c) To instruct – to show us how we can resist temptation.
III.A new message vs.14-15.
A. Remember John’s message was a message of repentance in preparation to accepting the Messiah.
1. It is a negative message.
2. It points to one’s sinfulness.
3. This was the message of the OT.
4. The Law was an instructor which taught people about their utter helplessness and hopelessness because of the effect of sin.
B. Jesus message changes all of that - He came preaching the gospel.
1. Good news
2. The phrase “kingdom of God” is not in most manuscripts.
C. The old is now gone and God has opened the way to heaven through His Son.
1. Not through our righteousness.
2. Not through our efforts
3. Not through affiliation with some ritual.
4. But through a personal relationship with His own Son.
D. The time is fulfilled.
1. There is no more need to wait nothing else needs to be done.
2. 2Cor.6:1-2 For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
3. Gal.4:4 -5 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
E. The kingdom of God is at hand – we will talk more about this but this simply means God’s rule in the hearts and minds of those who come to Christ.
F. Entrance into God’s kingdom is acquired through faith.
1. Repent
2. Believe.
IV. Conclusion:
A. I believe we are living in dark days today similar to the ones Isaiah described.
B. People are looking for change and something they can hope in.
C. Jesus Christ is that hope.
1. He brings forgiveness for sin and a hope for a future in heaven.
2. Through His death and resurrection He gives us direct access to the throne of God.
D. He will also change your life.
1. He removes the oppressiveness of sin.
2. He will give you a new heart to love others.
3. He will give you the strength to live a dynamic life of faith.
