LYRICS FOR TODAY'S SONGS
CCLI License # 1613304

January 28 | Mark 1:1-15| ISG
Surrendering To God's Purpose to Start the Year Right.

Mark 1:1-15 (ESV)

1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way,3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare 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.”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. 14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

Text in Context
Jesus has been heralded as the Messiah by prophetic witness (1:2–3) and by the announcement of the wilderness prophet (1:4–8). Now authoritative proof is given with his messianic anointing via his baptism. In a trinitarian act the Spirit descends on him, and the Father announces him as the beloved Son (1:9–11). The opening test of God’s Messiah is his defeat of Satan in the wilderness. The section concludes with Mark’s summary of the kingdom message of Jesus (1:14–15). This prologue introduces the reality of Jesus the Messiah as he begins his ministry.

Theological Insights
There are three primary insights. (1) Through a trinitarian act God proclaims Jesus as his Son by anointing him with his Spirit, thereby telling all that the new age of messianic fulfillment has begun. (2) God tests Jesus by using Satan to tempt him to use his messianic authority for his own benefit, but Jesus, using Deuteronomy, tells the devil that he will not repeat the error that Israel committed in the wilderness, thereby beginning his messianic ministry with a cosmic victory over the powers of evil (this is explicit in Matt. 4 and Luke 4). (3) The arrival of Jesus the Messiah marks the “fullness of time” (see Gal. 4:4), the moment when God’s plan for the salvation of humankind comes to fruition and the final age of history is inaugurated.

Relevance
1. Jesus’s baptism is a new creation that introduces the new age of the Spirit. The God-man connects with both his mission to bring redemption to humankind and his divine purpose in inaugurating the age of the Spirit. In one sense, his baptism is his “anointing” as the Messiah, and as such it launches his messianic ministry with the Twelve. But Jesus was the Messiah “from the moment of his incarnation. Mainly, in baptism he identifies with the need of everyone to be “right” with God, thus bringing about God’s righteous plan of salvation (see Matt. 3:15). It was a major apocalyptic event in which the very heavens were split apart and the Spirit descended in a new way, not only on Jesus but also on this world, inaugurating a new kingdom reality, a new age of salvation dominated by the intervention of God and the Spirit.

2. Jesus begins his ministry by being tested in the wilderness and defeating Satan. Mark’s narrative is deceptively simple but nevertheless portrays this event as a recapitulation of Israel’s (and Elijah’s) test in the wilderness. Jesus’s ministry must begin with a confrontation with Satan, for Mark will be emphasizing spiritual warfare throughout his story. It is God who is testing his Son, and Satan’s temptation is a tool to that end. The battle with the cosmic powers plays a critical role, and the forces of darkness are at all times opposed to the light. If the “wild animals” are indeed part of an Isaianic “paradise” theme (see above), the idea is that Jesus in his glorious presence transforms this world. Either way, the victory over Satan and his forces provides a powerful beginning to Jesus’s ministry.

References:

Excerpt From
Mark (Teach the Text Commentary Series)Grant R. Osborne

Financial Report for the month of November.

Giving: $ 8,980.00
Expenses: $ 8,187.50
-----------------------------
Surplus: $ 792.50

Discussion Guide
1. Mark opens his gospel by picking up the story from the Old Testament. He quoted Isaiah directly (Isaiah 40:3), it's about two things: (v.2) _______ and (v.3) _______.
2. When Mark mentions wilderness and “way of the Lord,” what comes to mind? What story in the Old Testament fit the bill? (hint: Exodus 14:3, 12; Psalm 136:13-16)
3. Verses 4-8 is about the messenger, in Mark’s presentation who and why was he the messenger? Verses 9-11 is about the coming of the Lord, who and why was he the Lord?
4. The language in verses 10 and 12 sounds like an Exodus language. Can you see the images portrayed here?
5. John mentions his baptism to be of repentance and cleansing, what of Jesus’ baptism? How did he baptize people in the Spirit? (1 Corinthians 10:1-2, Mark 8:34; 10:38-39)
6. Do you see yourself baptized in the Spirit? What areas in your life are still in need of surrender?



Prayer

Father we come to you with humility knowing that we have failed in many things but because of your love and mercy we boldly come. Help us to see our pride, our unsurrendered self, areas in our lives that we try to hide from you. Father forgive us and allow us to fully surrender to your lordship. Amen.