Reading: Mark 1:1-15
Context: Why was John the Baptist’s ministry of preparation necessary before Jesus began His public work?
There’s the importance of fulfilling prophecy – a crucial element in terms of ensuring we know that what’s going on has been spoken by God well in advance. Then there’s the nature of what John the Baptist is doing. He’s giving people a major hint of what is to come after him in what he’s doing.
Content: What three key events does Mark record about Jesus before His public ministry begins?
Event 1 – His baptism
Event 2 – Father’s affirmation with the Spirit’s confirmation after the baptism
Event 3 – His temptation
Concept: Jesus announces that “the kingdom of God has come near” (v.15). What does this proclamation mean?
The significance of this proclamation is that it is the realisation of the hopes of his audience, who have been told for years that the kingdom shall return. They have been waiting for the incoming rule of the God who gave them glory in the years of David and Solomon. This is the fulfilment, but in a manner they were not expecting. Additionally, the proclamation outlined aspects that would illustrate what the rule would entail. This was an invitation to embrace something coming – and was already there – that was of far greater substance and power than anything else that passed itself as ruling.
Conclusions: John’s message was “repent and believe the good news.” How do these two responses work together in the Christian life?
Every day I must keep repenting. Every day I must keep believing. This is not a one-and-done deal, as if once I’ve done both, I’m cool. There are always course adjustments I make in the light of the Lord’s leading, and those adjustments see me acknowledging that I need to be in line with His will and turn from the course I was heading down. And to follow the way He leads is about believing the good news – the news that He rules, the news that His rule is here, the news that He has expressed and established His will if I turn to see it. And this rule is expanding from person to person as people hear it and repent, so they can turn from and turn to the living God. Every believer needs this message every day of their life, just as they need prayer and the Word of God to feed and nurture them, thereby gaining a better understanding of who God is.
Next time
Episode Three: The Call to Discipleship
Reading – Mark 1:16-34
John’s mission as the forerunner of Jesus has much to teach us about Jesus’s mission and our role, likewise, for others. This is another reason to get the Word In so we can get the Word Out.
For His Name’s Sake
C. L. J. Dryden
Shalom
Life With CD 