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Introduction…
- Mark – the Gospel to the Gentiles – showing Jesus as the servant of all (Mark 10:45)
- Mark 1:1-3 – The Beginning of Jesus’ Ministry
- The Gospel – Good News of salvation – is all about Jesus Christ!
- John the Baptist came preparing the way for Jesus…
- There were a lot of idea on how to get to heaven – John showed the one true way
- He preached repentance – turning from your sins
- Jesus came to John to be baptized…
- Not that Jesus needed to repent – His life was an example for us to follow
- Immediately after the baptism – the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness – 40 days
- He was tempted there by satan – after which Jesus began His ministry…
Beginning of Jesus’ minsitry… (3 thigns) vs. 14-22
- 1st – Jesus’ Message… vs 14-15
- After John the Baptist was put in prison – Jesus left Judah and came to Galilee…
- The ministry of John the Baptist was completed – Jesus ministry had now begun…
- John 3:30 – “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
- John was cast into prison by Herod Antipas – reproved him for his adulterous marriage
- Herod had married Herodias – the wife of his brother Phillip
- Leaving Judea (where He had been baptized) – Jesus came to Galilee…
- Of all the places on earth – Jesus began His ministry in Galilee…
- You’d think Jesus would begin in the great cities of the world – Rome, Athens…
- Instead He came to the little province of Judea – kind of place you can’t find on a map
- He did not even begin in the capitol – Jerusalem – He began in a small village
- In Galilee – nowhere special – the province – the “Bukid”…
- God is not impressed by a who we are – where we come from – who we know
- Jesus chooses the foolish things of this world – to baffle the wise – II Corinthians 1:26
- That means God uses sinners like you and me – from nowhere special – ordinary…
- That way when God does a work through us – everyone knows it was God!
- Jesus message: The Gospel of the Kingdom…
- The time is fulfilled – the Kingdom of God is at hand…
- II Corinthians 6:2 – “Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
- God does not guarantee anyone tomorrow – Right now is the time to believe!
- There are many people who wait till 12:00 to receive Jesus – only to die at 11:59
- Therefore repent and believe in the Gospel…
- Repentance – not being sorry because we’re caught – sorry that we’ve sinned…
- II Corinthians 7:10 – “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”
- To be sorry that we are caught it worldly sorrow – there is no change of heart
- Godly sorrow means we are sorry for what we did and we desire to change
- If we repent – we have access to the Good news – Jesus takes away our sin!
- The time is fulfilled – the Kingdom of God is at hand…
- After John the Baptist was put in prison – Jesus left Judah and came to Galilee…
- 2nd – The discuples – Simon (Peter), Andrew, James, and John… vs 16-20
- There were no doubt many fishermen whom Jesus passed as He walked around Galilee
- Perhaps He called out to others to come and follow Him
- These 4 men not only heard the call of Jesus – they all immediately followed!
- James and John had hired servants – they were VERY successful business…
- If they had nothing to lose – it would have been easy to walk away…
- But they were successful fishermen – a prosperous business
- Yet they realized Jesus was far greater reward – than any success this world could offer
- When God calls – are we are too busy to answer – caught up in the cares of this world
- Or when the Lord calls are we ready to follow Jesus… immediately
- We never hear the names of those who did not follow – those who did… The Disciples!
- I will make you – become – ‘Fishers of Men’…
- They had used their time and talents – to catch fish – for themselves
- Now Jesus was going to take their time and talents – to catch men – for God!
- Whatever gifts or abilities we have – we tend to use for our own purpose / gain
- But God desires to use those gifts – the reason He gave them – was to use them for Him!
- There were no doubt many fishermen whom Jesus passed as He walked around Galilee
- 3rd – Teaching with Authority… vs. 21-22
- Jesus left Nazareth (hometown) – after they rejected & tried to kill him – Luke 4:29
- Luke 4:24 – “Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country.”
- When we share Jesus – the hardest people to reach – are the ones who know us best
- They saw us grow up – say all our mistakes – know who we were… ‘before Jesus’
- It can be very hard for them to see we are new creations in Jesus – II Corinthians 5:17
- Coming home – many still just know me as a troubled teenager – show them Jesus!
- So Jesus came to Capernaum – became the headquarters for much of Jesus’ ministry
- Jesus immediately went in the synagogues – and began to teach the people…
- But He did not teach as the other religious leaders – He taught with authority!
- The religious leaders tended to quote the words of men – not God’s Word…
- Too often we focus on the words/wisdom of men – pastors quote books – not the Bible
- God does not promise to bless our word – He says His Word is powerful
- That is why simply teach the Bible – God Word is what…
- Brings faith Romans 10:17/Changes hearts Hebrews 4:12/Salvation Romans 1:16
- Jesus left Nazareth (hometown) – after they rejected & tried to kill him – Luke 4:29
Power of Jesus’ minsitry… (3 things) vs. 23-45
- Power over…
- Keep in mind that Mark is all about the actions of Jesus – what He did…
- No sooner had He begun teaching – then He showed His power over…
- The spiritual world – sickness – and even sin!
- 1st – Power over demons… vs. 23-28
- There was (Imperfect) a man in the synagogue who was demon possessed…
- This was not this man’s first time in the synagogue – he was a regular ‘member’…
- The demon in him knew who Jesus was – and trembled… James 2:19
- He immediately recognized Jesus – Holy One of God – and that Jesus had all the power!
- Jesus simple answer – ‘shut up’ – ‘come out of him’…
- The Bible tells us very little about demons – satan – or the spiritual world…
- The NT mentions satan/demons 83 times – but the name of Jesus – 941 times!
- The Bible focuses on Jesus – so that is where we should put our focus as well!
- And we do know for sure… Jesus has ultimate power and authority! – John 4:4
- As believers we have NOTHING to fear – Jesus is greater than anything in this world
- There was (Imperfect) a man in the synagogue who was demon possessed…
- 2nd – Power of sickness… vs. 29-39
- Peter’s mother in law – was sick with a fever…vs. 29-31
- Side note: There are those who argue Peter was never married – the Bible disagrees
- Peter had a Mother in law – confirming that Peter was married
- Peter (Cephas) would even take his wife with him to minister… II Corinthians 9:5
- She was sick (burning up) with a fever – the disciples told Jesus at once!
- Jesus lifted her up – immediately the fever left her…
- If someone you know is sick – bring them to Jesus – He is the great physician
- Sometimes we hesitate – because we are not sure if God will heal them or not
- We might even wonder if God can heal them – especially if it is more than just a cold
- Jesus healed sickness / made the blind see / healed the lame / raised the dead
- God never changes – He healed in the days of Jesus – he still heals today…
- Hebrews 13:5 – “For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’”
- If you know someone who is sick or suffering – bring them to Jesus today!
- All who were sick or demon possessed – the whole city – gathered at His door… vs. 32-34
- When the Sabbath had ended – at sunset – the people all came out to see Jesus
- Word of what had happened in the Synagogue and with Peter’s mother had spread
- Jesus showed He not only had power of demons but also over sickness/disease…
- Early in the morning (3-6am) – Jesus went to pray in a solitary place… vs. 35-39
- Talking to the Father…
- The ministry had begun – the demands and crowds were enormous
- Jesus took the time to get away – recharge by talking to the Father…
- When we have a good day, when we have a hard day, when things go right…
- When we don’t know what to do next – find a quiet place and pray (CR?)
- No because God needs to know – God already know what we are going to say
- But so that we can hear from Him – so He can lead us and give us strength
- Everyone is looking for you…
- Peter saw all the needs – all the opportunities – and wanted Jesus to ‘get to work’
- What Peter missed – the time in prayer was as important as the needs…
- Often we get so caught up in the business of life we miss taking time for Jesus
- We get so involved in work – chores – school / for forget to read and pray…
- Yet it is when we put Jesus first – all else falls into place – Luke 12:32
- Talking to the Father…
- 3rd – Power over sin… vs. 40-45
- A leper came to Jesus – if you are willing (subjunctive) you can make me clean..
- Leprosy is a disease that attacks the body’s nervous system so that you can’t feel
- It can be very dangerous because you don’t know you harm yourself…
- Today it is called Hansen’s disease and can be treated with antibiotics
- Biblically speaking it’s a generic term that refers to any kind of skin disease
- Carried with it a horrible stigma…
- Leviticus 13:44-45 – “He is a leprous man. He is unclean. The priest shall surely pronounce him unclean; his sore is on his head. Now the leper on whom the sore is, his clothes shall be torn and his head bare; and he shall cover his face, and cry, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’”
- If you were diagnosed with leprosy you would be cut off from the community
- If anyone even walked close to you, you had to cry out “unclean!”
- No one could touch you because if they did they became unclean…
- Symbolically used to refer to sin…
- Just like leprosy, sin takes away your sensitivity to what is right and wrong
- The first time you commit a sin (lying) it is the hardest – you feel it’s wrong
- It gets easier and easier each time though – you stop feeling the guilt after a while
- Eventually you lose all feeling of guilt and remorse…
- Causing you to be cut off and isolated from God – unclean!
- Leprosy is a disease that attacks the body’s nervous system so that you can’t feel
- A leper came to Jesus – if you are willing (subjunctive) you can make me clean..
- Jesus touched the leper – “I am willing”…
- It was forbidden to touch an unclean leper – Leviticus 15:7 – you also became unclean
- Yet Jesus here showed the leper that he was a man that God loved!
- And when he touched him – immediately he was clean (healed)!
- Jesus showed He not only had power of demons, sickness – but also (symbolically) sin!
- Jesus came to give us the Good news of Gospel…
- Today is the day of salvation – to repent of our sin – and believe in Jesus
- He calls us to follow after him – if we are willing – and to share the Gospel with others
- Jesus did not just come in words – He came in power!
- No matter where we are in life – Jesus is the answer…
- If we are afraid – if we are caught up in the superstitions of this world…
- If we are sick – we have given up hope of being well…
- If we are in sin – with our hearts hardened – ‘unclean’
- Jesus has the power to overcome evil / heal every sickness / forgive any sin!
- Jesus came to touch us – to show us His LOVE for us – to give us new life!
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