April 27, 2016
NOW LET'S GET ONE THING STRAIGHT
Mark 1:1–13
Roger Haynes
Central Truth
Mark gets right to the point with an indisputable assertion of the deity of Jesus Christ by relying on the authority of the prophet Isaiah and eyewitness testimony.
Key Verse | Mark 1:7–8
And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” (Mark 1:7-8)
Mark 1:1–13
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 1 1:1 Some manuscripts omit the Son of God
2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, 2 1:2 Some manuscripts in the prophets
“Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way,
3
the voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare
3
1:3
Or crying: Prepare in the wilderness
the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight,’”
4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
The Baptism of Jesus
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; 4 1:11 Or my Son, my (or the) Beloved with you I am well pleased.”
The Temptation of Jesus
12 The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13 And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.
Dive Deeper | Mark 1:1–13
In the book of Mark, no time is wasted getting to the point. I will attempt to do the same.
How do we authenticate something? As an attorney, I search for a case that has been previously decided by a higher court, establishing a rule of law that supports my argument. Then, I use that authority to establish my point.
At the time Mark was written, everyone in Jewish culture accepted that Isaiah was a prophet sent by God. To question the authority of Isaiah would be foolish. Isaiah 40 says a messenger will point out the Messiah, and the messenger will be a unique person. John the Baptist is that person. Just like case law supports my argument, Isaiah’s writing supports the authority of John the Baptist. So when John the Baptist says Jesus is the Christ, that settles it.
But wait, to further authenticate the deity of Christ, Mark then describes a specific event, Jesus’ baptism. When John baptizes Jesus, a voice comes from heaven identifying Jesus as the beloved Son of God, and the Spirit descends on Him “like a dove” (verse 10). This event further establishes Jesus as the Son of God. What other authority do you need? The Gospel of Mark continues to use examples of miracles and verifiable events to clearly prove that Jesus is the servant king promised in the Old Testament.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” I believe that. The Bible was written by approximately 40 people over 1500 years on three different continents and in three different languages. Still, every word was inspired by God and, when read in context, is the most consistent and irrefutable story ever written.
Discussion Questions
1. Today, we read how the Lord has anchored the truth of His Word in history by tying together God-inspired writing from the Old Testament with a truth revealed in the New Testament. Are you as amazed by this as I am?
2. How will you share this amazement with a friend today? It could lead to an eternally important revelation for them.
3. Have you heard that the "Old Testament is the New Testament concealed, and the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed?" The Bible is not a random collection of stories; it is a "metanarrative" (Todd Wagner’s word, not mine). What other sections of Scripture that illustrate this inspire you?
4. Did you know that the "metanarrative" continues today, and you are a part of it? Continue to study the Word, and God will reveal the part He wants you to play. It was created for you.