The Miracles and the Ministry of the Messiah in the Book of Mark
Week 1: The Preparation: Preparing the Way and our Hearts for Jesus
Crossroads Community Church
Rev. Ricky A. Rohrig Sr., Founding Pastor
March 8, 2015
Today I am starting a new series as we explore the book of Mark together for the next several weeks entitled, ‘The Miracles and the Ministry of the Messiah in the Book of Mark.’
Let me give you an overview so you can understand the purpose, place, setting, and special features of this book.
• Purpose: is to present the person, work, and teachings of Jesus
• Author: John Mark – he was not one of the 12 disciples but he did accompany Paul on his first missionary journey (Acts 13:13), so we know he was a missionary
• Theme: is Jesus Christ as Jehovah’s servant, the servant character is seen throughout the book
• Written to: Christians in Rome, where he most likely wrote the gospel
• Written between circa 55-65 A.D.
• Setting: The Roman Emperor under Tiberius Caesar. The Empire with its common language and excellent transportation and communication systems, was ripe to hear Jesus’ message, message which spread quickly from nation to nation.
• Key people: Jesus, the 12 disciples, Pilate, the Jewish religious leaders
• Key places: Capernaum, Nazareth, Caesarea, Philippi, Jericho, Bethany, Mount of Olives, Golgotha
• Statistics: 41st book of the Bible, 16 chapters, 678 verses, 15,171 words, 121 questions, 11 OT prophecies fulfilled, 30 new prophecies given, 582 verses of history, 43 verses fulfilled, and 53 verses of unfilled prophecy; 2 distinct messages from God (1:11 and 9:7)
• Special features: Mark was the first gospel written. The other Gospels quote all but 31 verses of Mark. Mark records more miracles than does any other gospel.
• How it’s different than the other gospels:
o Jesus is seen as the servant of God
o Original readers were Gentiles and Romans
o Jesus backed His words with action
o Mark is written from a story teller point of view
o The greatest emphasis is on Jesus’ miracles and actions
How many of you like to eat? All of us right? How many of you like to cook? Not as many hands this time. I am sure you will agree there is a direct correlation between eating and cooking. If you want to eat someone has to cook it first. But there is a step even before the cooking process can take place and that is the preparation progression.
How many of you have eaten a nice sit down restaurant? Think about all of the preparation that goes on before the gourmet feast is in front of you. Let’s say you order a steak dinner with a baked potato, steam veggies, a dinner roll, and a side salad. You normally don’t think about all the preparation that goes into the process of getting that side salad to your table do you?
Let’s explore it together: the lettuce and veggies start off just seeds that a farmer or gardener had to purchase, and then the seeds had to be planted in the ground, with just the right amount of dirt, water, and sunlight. The gardener had to make sure to take care of the ground and make sure weeds did not infest the ground and animals did not eat the vegetables before they reach maturation and were able to be picked. Once picked, they had to be cleaned, packaged and sold to a food distributor, re-packaged, and then resold to the restaurant. Then the manager had to review the veggies, make sure they were charged correctly, they look okay, and then pay for the vegetables. The prep cook would have to rewash, cut the vegetables to the right proportions, build the salad and wait for the server to take it to your table. That’s a lot of work just for a side salad huh? I may have missed a step or two in there but you get the idea. Don’t forget that is just the salad, think about the steak, but we won’t go there.
When preparing something there has to be a start, or the setup and that is what I am going to minister, teach, and focus on today. So today I would like to kick off the series with today’s message entitled: Preparing the Way and Our Hearts for Jesus.’
1. The Preparation for Christ (Mark 1:1-8)
Mark 1:1-2
1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;
2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
Malachi 3:1
1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.
Mark 1:3
3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
Isaiah 40:3-5
3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:
5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
Mark 1:4-6
4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
5 And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.
6 And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;
2 Kings 1:8
8 And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite.
• Elaborate on Elijah – had an unwanted message - 450 prophets of Baal
Mark 1:7
7 And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.
John 1:15-17
15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.
16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
Mark 1:8
8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
2. The Presentation and Person of Christ (Mark 1:9-13)
Mark 1:9-10
9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.
10 And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:
11 And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
12 And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness.
13 And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.
3. The Promise from Christ (Mark 1:14-15)
Mark 1:14-15
14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
1 John 1:9
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Romans 10:9-10
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
John prepared the way and had a central focus of a message repent for the kingdom of God is at hand. Jesus came to fulfill the prophecy of the OT and reiterate John’s message. Jesus’ message was is and always will be one that is not complicated to understand, has the potential, power, and ability to transform lives, and is the gospel, good news.
We all have access to that same good news today because we all have the ability and accessibility to love God, to start or deepen our relationship with Jesus Christ, and the capability to be led and guided by the Holy Spirit.
So right now today, you heard the good news, you be able to comprehend the good news, but what will you do with this good news.
If you have not already made Jesus Christ the Lord of your life will this good news drive you to make a decision for Christ, right now today.
If you have a relationship with Jesus Christ, how will the god news impact that relationship going forward, to be more on fire for Him and may want to pledge to do that today, right now.
Finally for all of us, who will you commit to tell you’re your story, and His story, the good news too, starting today right now?
The only way we as the body of Christ can make an impactful dent in the kingdom of God for His glory in our families, neighborhoods, jobs, schools, communities and beyond is to listen know the good news, live out the good news, and share the good news with others.
No matter what you have been through, what you may be going through currently, or what life is going to be like in the future, you have the best news ever in
John 3:15-17
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
So again what will you do with the gospel of Jesus Christ, the greatest news ever?
