Imagine that! In a world full of bad news, there is some awesome Good News for everyone in the world! Today we start a journey waking with Jesus from baptism to burial to the greatest miracle ever — the Resurrection. We will get to know Jesus the Savior of the world, who came to save everyone from eternal damnation. Let’s dig in…
Mark 1:1-20 — Meet the Messiah!
First, let’s meet the author…
Mark wasn’t part of the 12 disciples, though he did hang around them as a youth, and his mom was a wealthy supporter of “The Way”. As, Barnabas’ cousin, he accompanied Paul on some of his missionary journeys, and was friends with Peter. In fact, bible scholars think that Mark’s Gospel is a collection of Peter’s memoirs. Historically, Mark is the first Gospel written, circa 69 AD.
Where Matthew wrote to the Jews (hence the genealogy of Jesus’ ancestors), Luke wrote to the Greeks, and John wrote to everybody, Mark wrote to the Romans.
Mark doesn’t cover the story of Christ’s birth. He focuses on His miracles, relaying Jesus’ ministry, while walking us to the cross in short, concise stories. Mark begins with His baptism and the calling of the first disciples. …Therefore, he starts…
The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, 2 as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
“I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way”— (Malachi 3:1)
3 “a voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’” (Isaiah 40:3)4 And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6 John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
The Baptism and Testing of Jesus
9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, 13 and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.
Jesus Announces the Good News
14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
Mark 1:1-15 NIV
Jesus Calls His First Disciples
16 One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. 17 Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” 18 And they left their nets at once and followed him.
19 A little farther up the shore Jesus saw Zebedee’s sons, James and John, in a boat repairing their nets. 20 He called them at once, and they also followed him, leaving their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired men.
Mark 1:16-20 NLT
Believe the Good News!
- Though Mark was writing to Romans, he opens with how Jesus is fulfilling several Old Testament prophecies. He was a Jew, so that fact was important to him.
- We then have 4 main events…
- Jesus is baptized. Why? He was sinless! Why would He need to be baptized? Because, He’s establishing credibility. John the Baptizer said that he baptized with water, but Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit. Jesus also accomplished righteousness. He is worthy.
- The Holy Spirit Descends. He received the Spirit so He could give it to us later.
- God, the Father speaks. Here we see the Trinity.
- Jesus is tempted. Notice that Mark doesn’t go into detail on the temptations like the other Gospels. (Read about this in-depth in Matthew or Luke.)
- All this happened before Jesus starting to preach and teach.
- He then goes and calls His first disciples. He tells them He’ll show them how to fish for people. It’s not like He’s sending them out right away. There is a learning process. The same thing is true for us believers. Once we are born again, we need to be trained to make disciples, to spread the Good News of Jesus’ true salvation. To “fish” for people.
Repent and Be Baptized!
Paul writes in his letter to the Romans about Baptism…
Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? 2 Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? 3 Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? 4 For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.
Romans 6:1-4 NLT
Get it? We get new lives — new “eternal lives” when we repent of our sins, surrender our lives to Jesus and show the world and ourselves that we’ve died to our old ways and rise again with Christ to a NEW LIFE!
If you’re not sure if you’re saved or not, if you truly want to be born again and have the assurance of salvation, receive the Holy Spirit, feel His Shalom — a peace that surpasses all understanding, and get a 1-way, non-stop ticket to Heaven after you die, or that you won’t be left behind at the Rapture, which can happen at any moment, this is what you have to do…
Believe. Repent. Be Baptized. Receive the Holy Spirit.
- Believe — have Faith — that Jesus is the Christ and He died taking your sins away forever and that He rose from the dead 3 days later.
- Repent of your sins — stop sinning! Do a complete 180-degree turn in your life and surrender your life to Him. When you ask Jesus to forgive you He will. ALL your sins will be wiped clean — past, present, and future! And All means ALL!
- Be Baptized by water baptism — show the world and yourself that you have died to your old life and are born again in Christ.
- Receive the gift of Holy Spirit in your heart.