Bible Study PH

Mark 1:1-13

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Introduction…

  • The whole counsel of God
    • Our desire to is to teach through the whole Bible Genesis to Revelation
      • Acts 20:27 – “For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.”
    • We are working our way through the 4 Gospels 1st – whole purpose of the Bible is Jesus!
      • John 5:39 – “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.”
      • We have finished Matthew – and will now move on to Mark (then Luke, and John…)
  • The 4 Gospels
    • 4 perspectives of the same event – the life of Jesus – all inspired by God – II Timothy 3:16
    • God used men with different backgrounds & personalities to accomplish His purposes 
    • Each of the Gospel’s authors had a distinct purpose behind his Gospel…
    • Each emphasized different aspects of the person and ministry of Jesus Christ
      • Matthew – Jesus as the King of the Jews (Messiah) / Mark – Jesus as the servant of all
      • Luke – Jesus as the perfect man / John – Jesus as God almighty 
    • Together they give us a complete picture of Jesus – the author and finished of our faith!

The Book of Mark…

  • Overview …
    • 16 Chapters / 678 verses – the Book of Mark is not written in chronological order
    • It will take us about 6 months to go through the book
    • Outline:
  1. The beginning of the Jesus ministry – 1:1-13 (very short in Mark)
  2. Jesus ministry in Galilee – 1:14-6:6
  3. Jesus withdrawal from Galilee – 6:7-8:21 
  4. Revelation of Jesus as the Christ – 8:22-38 (at Caesarea Philippi)
  5. Jesus going to / in Jerusalem – 9:1-13:37
  6. Crucifixion 14:1–15:47
  7. Resurrection – 16:1–16:20
  • Who wrote the Book of Mark…
    • Internally anonymous, the authorship has been traditionally credited to the John Mark
      • The surviving testimony of the church fathers is unanimous in this view
      • Christians have accepted the tradition as early as the 2nd century up to modern times
    • John Mark (Acts 12:12,25; 15:37), was the cousin of Barnabas  – Colossians 4:10
      • Perhaps the young man who fled naked in the Garden at Jesus arrest – Mark 14:51-52
      • Apparently Mark was converted by the apostle Peter – I Peter 5:13
      • Disciples met in the house of his mother, Mary, to pray for Peter – Acts 12:12
      • Mark was not a direct disciple of Jesus Christ – he was not an eye witness to His life
      • Although written by Mark, the facts contained are thought to be the account of Peter 
      • The outline of Mark follows the Gospel presentation of Peter – Acts 10:36-41
    • Mark was the traveling companion of Paul and Barnabas on 1st missionary trip – Acts 13:5
      • But he left Paul and Barnabas before the trip ended… – Acts 13:13

When Paul and Barnabas decided to go on a second journey together…

  • Barnabas wanted to take Mark, but Paul refused – Acts 15:36-38

Their disagreement was so sharp that Paul and Barnabas parted company…

  • Paul took Silas with him, Barnabas and Mark went to Cyprus – Acts 15:39-41
  • We do not hear of Mark again until Paul’s imprisonment (many years later)…
    • At end of Paul’s ministry he writes about Mark – Colossians 4:10 / Philemon 24
    • Paul asked for Mark because – “he is useful for me to ministry” – II Timothy 4:11
  • Uniquely qualified…
    • Mark had an ongoing and close relationship with Peter for at least ten or twenty years before he penned his gospel. At the same time, he had an ongoing and close relationship with Paul and Barnabas. This double association placed him in a unique position for writing a gospel to Gentiles (motivated by Paul’s mission) based on the teaching of Peter.
  • When was it written…
    • Uncertain – but possibly between the years 40-60 A.D.
    • Certainly written before 70 A.D (the destruction of the Temple)
    • Many scholars believe – because of copied language – Matthew and Luke ‘copied’ Mark
  • Mark is thought to be the 1st of the Gospels – then Matthew, Luke, and finally John
  • Whom was it written to…
    • Where Matthew was written to the Jews…
    • The Gospel of Mark was written to the Romans / Gentiles
    • Only Gospel to have no Genealogy – Romans did not care about Jewish lineage
    • Makes no mention of the childhood of Jesus – focuses only on the ministry of Jesus
    • Mark takes the time to explain Jewish customs – Mark 14:12 / 15:42
    • He translates Aramaic (language of the Jews) into Greek – Mark 3:16, 5:41, 7:11
    • He only quotes once from the Old Testament (in comparison to 54 times in Matthew)
  • Why was it written…
    • Mark intends to show to the Gentiles – Jesus Christ as the perfect servant of all
    • There are only 10 parables in the Gospel of Mark (compared to 23 in Matthew 24 in Luke)
    • Yet there are 24 miracles of Jesus recorded…
    • Key word  ‘immediately’ – used 42 times in Mark (Matthew uses it 7 times / Luke 1 time)
    • The focus in on the actions of Jesus – showing Him serving all…
    • 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 a ransom for many.”

the beginning of Jesus’ ministry… vs. 1-13

  • The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ… vs. 1
    • The word Gospel literally means ‘the Good news’
    • The Good news is that God took away our sin – and opened the way to go to heaven!
    • But that ‘Good News’ – begins with Jesus Christ…
    • Without Jesus – there is no good news – no Gospel – no salvation – no heaven
    • Which makes it all the more reason why we want to study and learn all about Jesus!
  • John the Baptist… (3 points) vs. 2-8
    • 1st – Mark begins his Gospel with John the Baptist…
      • The son of Zacharias (a priest) and Elizabeth (a relative of Mary) – Luke 1:5-80
        • Filled with the Sprit, even from his mothers womb – Luke 1:15
        • He was the greatest (and last) of all the Old Testament prophets…
        • Matthew 11:11 – “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist.”
        • Elijah returned to those who believe…
        • Malachi 4:5 – “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.”
      • In the desert – he came clothed in camel’s hair – leather belt – eating locust and honey…
        • John was not a man concerned about appearances – he did not follow the crowd
        • He was not rich – he did not wear designer clothes – he kept it simple (ate bugs)
        • Because he was not in love with/follow this world – he was sold out for God!
        • Romans 12:2 – “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
        • Where is out heart – where do we spend out time – resources – talents…
        • It is easy to get caught up in the cares of this world – the things of this world
        • But if we are in love with this world – we will not follow the Lord
        • I John 2:15 – “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
    • 2nd – John the Baptists’ message…
      • As it was written – Malachi 3:1 / Isaiah 40:3 – The only OT quote in the book of Mark
      • John came to prepare the way for Jesus…
        • People had lots of ideas about how to get to heaven – John came to show THE way
        • There are still a lot of different ideas about how to get to heaven – a lot of paths…
        • Muslim – Buddhism – Hinduism – and countless other ‘…isms’
        • One is left to ask – which is the RIGHT way – do all roads lead to heaven…
        • Matthew 7:13 – “For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.”
        • The Broadway – the easy way – with all the people – is the wrong way to go!
        • The ONLY one way to get to heaven is Jesus – only He can forgive all our sins!
        • Matthew 7:14 – “Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
      • Preaching a baptism of repentance…
        • John showed the narrow ‘path’ by revealing the sinful hearts of men
        • Man’s problem is sin – but many do not know they have the problem…
        • People tend to think they are ‘good’ – they only compare themselves to others…
        • But God’s standard of ‘good’ is perfection – not one sin – Matthew 5:48
        • When we realize we are HUGE sinners – and the penalty is death – Romans 6:23
        • We then see our GREAT need for Jesus – we see the narrow ‘path’
      • John knew he was not the answer – he came to point others to the answer…
        • There comes one after me who is mightier than I…
        • John was not there to be the solution – only to point others to the solution – Jesus
        • If men come to us looking for answers and help – it’s easy to try and be the answer…
        • And men would much rather look to someone they can touch and see…
        • Therefore they are much more inclined to trust in a man than God
        • But we cannot forgive sin – we cannot save those who are lost – we can only point…
      • John came baptizing in water – Jesus would come baptizing in fire…
        • Water Baptism…
          • John’s baptism was a picture – picture of what happens when we believe in Jesus
          • Romans 6:4 –“Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
          • Baptism does not make us part of a denomination…
          • Baptism does not save us – it is simply a picture of our repentance and salvation
          • We die to our old selves – are buried with Christ – are born again in new life!
        • Baptism of fire – the Holy Spirit…
          • John said that when HE (Jesus) came – He would baptize with fire – Holy Spirit!
          • Matthew 3:11  – “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
          • If I told you I had a ‘gwapo salakyan para sa inyo’ – ‘pero, wala gas…’
          • The best car in the world without gas– is useless & slow – how fast can you push
          • The POWER – gas – for the Christian walk – is the Holy Spirit!
          • Jesus not only gives us salvation – He gives us the POWER to live for Him!
          • John knew he could only point to the one with the real power – Jesus!
          • I can tell you where the gas station is – but you have to go there to fill up!
          • If you are struggling with Christian walk – feel weak – like your pushing the car
          • Go to Jesus – He will freely give you the gas – the Holy Spirit – Luke 11:1 3
    • 3rd – The response of the People
      • Jerusalem – Judea went out to him (Imperfect) and were baptized confessing their sins
      • Sinners, the downcast, the poor, the unwanted, anyone who needed hope
      • They came and repented – confessing their sins
      • We find forgiveness when we are willing to confess and repent to Jesus!
      • No matter what we’ve done – what burden we carry – drop them at the foot of the cross
      • I John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
      • John was mightily used by the Lord – to being people the message of forgiveness
      • Because he was not tied up in the world – and pointed them to the Lord!
  • Baptism of Jesus… (3 points) vs. 9-13
    • 1st – Jesus came to John – and was baptized in the Jordan…
      • Jesus did not get baptized because He needed to repent – He had no sin
      • He was baptized as an example for us to follow – everything He did was an example
      • In everything we should seek to pattern our lives after Jesus – I Corinthians 11:1
      • The perfect role model – the perfect example – following in the footsteps of Jesus!
    • 2nd – The triune nature of God…
      • As Jesus came out of the water – the Holy Spirit descended on Him like a dove…
      • The voice of the Father came from Heaven – ‘You are my beloved Son…’
      • The Bible makes no attempt to explain to us how God can be 3 in 1…
      • But you can be certain it is true!  The Bible is VERY clear – there are 3 in heaven
      • God the Father / God the Son / God the Holy Spirit – and theses 3 are 1 – I John 5:7
    • 3rd – Immediately after the Spirit drove him into the wilderness…
      • Wilderness – solitary, lonely, desolate, uninhabited, deserted by others, deprived of the aid and the protection of others, especially of friends, acquaintances, or family
        • We are called to walk in the Spirit  – Romans 8:1, Galatians 5:16
        • But walking in the Spirit – might mean God will lead us into the wilderness…
        • God does not promise that we will have an easy life if we choose to follow Him
        • John 16:3 – “I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
        • God will allow us, bring us into trials so that we learn the most important lesson…
        • We must learn not to trust in ourselves! Instead we learn to trust in God!
      • There he was tempted by satan for 40 days and 40 nights…
        • Forty the number of trials or temptation in the Bible…
        • Noah, Moses in Midian, Children of Israel wandering… 
        • Jesus was lead by the Spirit into the wilderness for 40 days – a trial
        • Jesus had to go through the wilderness temptation before He began His ministry
        • We want God to use us – we want to draw closer to the Lord… but…
        • Often we will find that before God a work through us – He first does one in us!
        • Do not be surprised if you ask God to use you – only to find you are in a trial
        • I Peter 4:12 – “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you.”
        • This morning let us follow in Jesus’ footsteps – having new life in Him…

Understanding the reason for the wilderness places…

God is preparing us – molding us – shaping us – into Godly men and women!

  • And let us be like John the Baptist – not bound up in this world…

But pointing others to the answer – to Jesus – were they can also find forgiveness

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