The Ministry Begins Series

The Ministry Begins

Mark 1:1-15

- Today will begin our study of the Gospel of Mark; runs for couple of months

-- Expository method of preaching: verse by verse, examining context & meaning

-- Very important to discover God’s word in this way (tackle even the tough stuff)

∆ Introduction

- Mark was born in Jerusalem; he was part of a well-to-do family

-- Acts 12:12-16 shows his mother hosted place for church to meet

-- Mark is the nephew of Barnabas; point of contention for him and Paul (Acts 15)

-- Mark is GREAT example that redemption is possible (shunned by Paul; restored)

--- 2 Timothy 4:11, “Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.”

- Mark emphasizes what Jesus “did” vs. what He said (gives the headlines)

-- Other Gospels weave stories and lessons: Mark is straight to the point

-- Probably because Mark was not original disciple, didn’t walk with Jesus

-- His writings are most likely recollection of stories he heard from Peter

- Jesus is demonstrated in this book as a “servant” who acts, immediately

-- He is the ultimate servant; giving Himself clearly for all who will receive

-- Key verse: Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

- Read Mark 1:1-15

∆ Point 1 - The Purpose (v1)

- What we see is Mark being very deliberate about the purpose of this book

-- Jesus is referred to by Mark as a servant, or literally: a slave of God

-- This book is written to a Roman audience, who’ve no need to know lineage

-- IMP: Slaves have no genealogy (no considered people), and Mark knows this

-- APP: He delivers a complete, concise, biography in 14 words (re-read v1)

- His name is Jesus, which is as common as the name Joshua

-- His name literally means “the salvation of Jehovah” or “God’s salvation”

- Christ is a formal title which means “Messiah”; He is the anointed One

-- Being the “Son of God” is a direct representation of who He is

- This is told up front, without apology, so even we would “get it”

-- APP: We need to see this throughout the whole book: make no mistake

-- Jesus is of God, the redeemer promised, and a servant of His Father’s will

∆ Point 2 - Make Way! (v2-8)

- The promise of Jesus coming was foretold long before this book written

-- We’ve covered this in our study of creation … Gen 3 refers to Him first

- Mark quotes from two prophets that Jews would know when they heard it

-- Malachi 3:1 (v2) and Isaiah 40:3 (v3)

- From the end of Malachi to Jesus’ ministry was approx. 400 years

-- 400 years of SILENCE from God: no prophets, no ministry, no nothing!

-- Then God sends a messenger to prepare the way (John the Baptist) “and so…”

- This messenger had one purpose: to preach and prepare others for the Christ

-- IMP: If you are hearing nothing else, hear the voice of the John in this (see v7)

- His clothes were ordinary, that of a beggar and one who owns nothing

-- No fancy degree, no trained theology, just messenger “because God called him”

-- This servant was declaring that another servant was coming … MAKE WAY!

- The message is one of repentance for forgiveness; something we couldn’t earn

-- GET THIS: Do you need a good example of repentance (look up): You can’t keep walking down the wrong road & expect it to turn right

- John preaches that those would hear, and know that someone else is coming

-- He is a warning to the unfaithful; to the rebellious; and to the CHURCH!

-- This is for you and I; no sugar coating what John says in v8 (re-read)

- APP: My ministry is an announcement; it’s only symbolic of the real ministry

- The baptism that Jesus brings will rock your world; and it will be permanent

-- The Holy Spirit brings about TOTAL change (ref Acts 1 – Pentecost)

-- Mark writes here that John was bent on sounding the alarm

- TRANS: John’s ministry is a testament that being popular doesn’t matter

∆ Point 3 - Preparing the Servant (v9-13)

- Two things happen here after John’s announcement that changed the world

- 1) Jesus submits to baptism

-- IMP: He did not do this to be forgiven of sin; He knew NO sin in Him

-- He did this to identify Himself with the sin which humanity had in it

-- 2 Cor 5:21, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”