INTRODUCTION
- Today, we move to the next series in our Core 52 study, "A Beginners Guide to Greatness."
- Mark was the youngest biographer of Jesus, and he had a string of failures in his ministry resume.
- But he never quit, and by the end of his life, both Peter and Paul considered him a spiritual son.
- That's why his Gospel is such a valuable guide as a "Beginner's Guide to Greatness."
- He embedded Jesus' best advice on how to achieve success in life.
- First, to give some more context to the date of the writing of the Gospels, we see that Matthew wrote his Gospel in Aramaic between 45 and 50 AD.
- Matthew translated his Gospel into Greek sometime between 50 and before 70 AD.
- The Gospel of Luke was written in 60 AD.
- The Gospel of Mark was written shortly before Peter's death and finished just after Peter's death.
- Peter died in Nero's 14th year (about 68 AD), so Mark's Gospel was written in that year.
- John batted clean up and wrote the final Gospel between 85 and 90 AD.
- Matthew was written to a Jewish audience, Mark to a Roman audience, Luke was written to a Greek audience, and John wrote the Christians in Asia Minor.
- Understanding these facts will help one to know why the Gospels are unique.
- Now, let's get back to Mark.
- Mark's Gospel was primarily written for a Gentile audience, particularly the Romans.
- This is why you see so many explanations of Jewish customs and Aramaic terms, indicating that the intended readers were unfamiliar with Jewish traditions.
- The Gospel of Mark was written to present the person, work, and teachings of Jesus Christ.
- Mark's Gospel emphasizes Jesus as the suffering servant and the Son of God, portraying His actions and miracles to demonstrate His divine authority.
- Each Gospel has a different starting point, and understanding the intended audience helps one understand why this is the case.
- Matthew Begins with the genealogy and then the birth of Jesus.
- Luke: Begins with the birth of John the Baptist, the Messiah's forerunner.
- John Begins his Gospel from eternity, where the Lord was found coexistent with God.
- Mark begins with the ministry of John the Baptist, which was the launching point for Jesus's public ministry.
- According to tradition, particularly from Papias, Mark's Gospel reflects Peter's teachings and memories.
- Mark is described as Peter's interpreter, recording Peter's accounts accurately.
- Mark, also known as John Mark, was a well-connected figure in the early Christian community.
- Although he was not an apostle or an eyewitness to most events in Jesus' life, his close association with Peter and other apostles, combined with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, makes Mark a reliable author of the Gospel that bears his name.
- Let's turn to Mark 1:1 as we look at the Gospel!
Mark 1:1 (NET 2nd ed.)
1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
SERMON
I. The beginning of the Gospel.
- The term "beginning" in Mark 1:1 signifies the start of the narrative that will unveil the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
- This starting point is crucial as it marks the initiation of the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan for humanity.
- Beginnings are essential, and the Gospel marks a new beginning for humanity.
- Have you ever reflected on your spiritual beginnings and the continuous need for renewal through the Gospel?
- John the Baptist prepared the way for the ministry of Jesus, and that is where Mark takes us on the journey through his Gospel account.
- John the Baptist is described as the messenger sent to prepare the way for Jesus.
- John's mission involved preaching repentance, baptism, and the coming of the kingdom of God.
- This preparation is likened to the practice in oriental countries where messengers are sent ahead to prepare the way for a king's journey.
- Since Mark's audience is not Jewish, he does not start with the genealogy as Matthew does.
- For Mark's audience, this would cause their eyes to glaze over.
- Therefore, Mark immediately declares Jesus as the Son of God without delving into genealogical details important to Jews.
- The word "Gospel" is an interesting word.
- Today, when we hear that word, we usually associate it with the first four books of the New Testament.
- The word in Greek means "good tidings" or "good news."
- The word is also the word we use, called evangelism.
- However, before the New Testament usage, the word GOSPEL was more of a political word.
- The word was used whenever a King sent a messenger to the people with good news.
- Maybe the Queen just had a child or a general won a battle for the King.
- The person bringing the good news was an evangelist.
- The concept of bringing good news was also found in the Old Testament.
Isaiah 52:7 (NET 2nd ed.)
7 How delightful it is to see approaching over the mountains the feet of a messenger who announces peace, a messenger who brings good news, who announces deliverance, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
- Mark takes the political term GOOD NEWS and makes it a term referring to the GOOD NEWS of Jesus!
- The GOOD NEWS or Gospel is that Jesus died for our sins and rose from the grave so that we have our sins forgiven so we can be justified (declared innocent and pure) before God.
- Unlike "good news" from a political figure, the Gospel can transform your life!
- Let's look at verse 1 again.
Mark 1:1 (NET 2nd ed.)
1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
II. The content of the Gospel.
- What is the content of the Gospel?
- It is noteworthy that before the New Testament, the word was typically a message from a King to bless his subjects.
- We have received the good news from the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords!
- Verse one immediately identifies Jesus Christ as the central figure of the Gospel and affirms His divine identity as the Son of God.
- This declaration sets the tone for the entire narrative, emphasizing the unique and divine nature of Jesus.
- Mark 1:1 sets the stage for the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies.
- The Gospel of Mark will show how Jesus fulfills the messianic prophecies, thus validating His mission and identity.
- The content of the Gospel centers on Jesus Christ, His identity, and His mission.
- Jesus is not just a historical figure, but the Christ, the anointed one, the Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament.
- We must understand who Jesus is - the Savior sent by God to redeem humanity.
- We must deepen our knowledge of Jesus through scripture study and build our relationship with Him.
- Paul explains the Gospel to us.
1 Corinthians 15:1–4 (NET 2nd ed.)
1 Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel that I preached to you, that you received and on which you stand,
2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
3 For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received—that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures,
4 and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures,
- Then Paul continues on verses 50-58!
1 Corinthians 15:50–58 (NET 2nd ed.)
50 Now this is what I am saying, brothers and sisters: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.
51 Listen, I will tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—
52 in a moment, in the blinking of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.
54 Now when this perishable puts on the imperishable, and this mortal puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will happen, “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
58 So then, dear brothers and sisters, be firm. Do not be moved! Always be outstanding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
- Central to the Gospel is the death and resurrection of Jesus.
- His sacrificial death atones for humanity's sins, and His resurrection conquers death, offering eternal life to all who believe.
- Let's go back to verse 1.
Mark 1:1 (NET 2nd ed.)
1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
III. The power of the Gospel.
- Check this out.
- Mark called Jesus' CHRIST."
- The word Christ means Messiah!
- "Christ" was the Greek translation of "messiah," a Hebrew word meaning "anointed one."
- Since Israel's kings were designated by anointing, the King many Jews expected God to send in the future was called the Messiah.
- By identifying Jesus as Christ, Mark indicates that Jesus fulfilled centuries-old Jewish expectations of a coming Messiah.
- For the Roman/Greek audience, Mark calls Jesus THE SON OF GOD!
- Emperors used that phrase because the emperors were deified.
- Mark gives his audience a reality check: the emperor is not the son of God; only Jesus is.
- That title was a direct shot across the bow of the people who thought the emperors were gods.
- The Gospel has the power to save!
Romans 1:16 (NET 2nd ed.)
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
- There is no other name by which one can be saved!
- The Gospel can transform a life!
- When a person accepts the message of the Gospel and is baptized into Jesus, the Holy Spirit begins a work of transformation, renewing their mind, heart, and actions.
- This transformation leads to a new way of living that reflects the character of Christ.
- The Gospel has the power to help us overcome!
- The Gospel equips believers with the strength and resources they need to face life's challenges.
- Through the power of the Holy Spirit, believers can overcome sin, resist temptation, and stand firm in the face of adversity.
1 Corinthians 10:13 NET 2nd ed.
13 No trial has overtaken you that is not faced by others. And God is faithful: He will not let you be tried beyond what you are able to bear, but with the trial will also provide a way out so that you may be able to endure it.
- Let's consider a final thought.
IV. The call of the Gospel.
- I stated earlier that the word we translate, GOSPEL, is the word we get EVANGELISM.
- What do we usually do with GOOD NEWS?
- We share it!
- We have talked about how intimidating it can be to share Jesus with others.
- We are afraid that we will say the wrong thing or that we will not be able to answer a question.
- Let me make this easy for you.
- Start with you.
- We can tell someone that Jesus died for our sins, rose on the third day, defeated death, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father.
- We can tell them about how to accept the gift of salvation through faith, confession, repentance, and baptism.
- Those things are essential, but you know what people really want to hear, something they really cannot argue with; YOUR STORY!
- When the opportunity presents itself, tell someone the story of how Jesus changed your life.
- Evangelism is simply the story of His life and a declaration of your story that can become their story.
- People love to hear a story; tell them your story about how Jesus worked in your life!
CONCLUSION
- I want to strongly encourage you to experience and embrace the power of the Gospel in your own life.
- Then, you share this powerful message with others, knowing that it has the ability to change lives.
