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

• 1^st – 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!
• 2^nd – 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!
      
• 3^rd – 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

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!
    
• 1^st – 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
      
• 2^nd – 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

• 3^rd – 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!
• 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!