This sermon explores the concept of forgiveness, emphasizing that Jesus offers more than just forgiveness - he offers freedom from sin and a constant, abiding presence through the Holy Spirit.
Hello Church! We’re going to look at the opening to Mark’s gospel today. One of the unique things about the Gospel of Mark is how to-the-point Mark tells the story of Jesus. He doesn’t beat around the bush and he omits a lot of material that we find in Matthew, Luke, and John.
In fact, Mark uses the word, euthus, which is translated as “immediately,” over 40 times in his gospel! This creates a sense of urgency and action throughout the story, which is intentional. When Jesus speaks or acts, there’s an immediate and decisive response. Jesus has all authority over the cosmos. He has all authority over sickness, demons, nature, and death.
Jesus has all authority over sickness. When he rebukes an illness, the illness goes away immediately. Jesus has all authority over nature. When he rebukes a demon the demon obeys immediately. Jesus has all authority over nature. When he rebukes the storms the winds calm immediately. Jesus has all authority over death. He endured death in order to overcome death. He is risen and death has no hold on Him.
Jesus has all authority over nature, sickness, demons, and death. But here’s the important question: does he have all authority over you?
When you sense God leading you a certain way, or nudging you to do or say something, how quickly do you respond to Him? Are you slow to obey, or do you obey immediately?
When you read scripture and there’s a clear command to obey or an example to follow, how quickly do you adjust your life to that command? Are you slow to obey, or do you obey immediately?
Letting Jesus have all authority in your life is the way to abundant life. It’s the way to joy. It’s the way to peace and love. It’s the way to restoration and healing. Being slow to obey only delays your joy, peace, and love. It slows the process of restoration. I want to encourage you to listen to Jesus and obey him “immediately.”
Many of us want the forgiveness of Jesus but not the leadership and Lordship he offers. Forgiveness is necessary! But it’s not everything God has for us. There’s more! And this is part of the good news.
What could be better than forgiveness? That’s what we’re going to discover today.
Read Mark 1:1-8. Mark begins his gospel linking the good news of Jesus to the Old Testament prophets: 'The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way’— ‘a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him’ (1:1-3). Then, Mark links those Old Testament prophets with current-day John the Baptist.
John the Baptist drew large crowds of people way out in the wilderness! He didn’t conduct his ministry in Jerusalem or in the local towns where the people lived, but out in the wilderness where people had to make an effort to go to him. Who came to John? People who wanted and needed forgiveness. People came from all over the region. He drew a large crowd without free coffee, childcare, laser lights and fog machines!
John offered them a baptism of forgiveness ... View this full sermon with PRO Premium
Since Jesus is more powerful than John, Jesus’ baptism is more powerful than John’s too. Jesus’s baptism in the Holy Spirit is better than John’s baptism of forgiveness. Jesus’ baptism includes forgiveness, but also so much more!
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