Mark 1:9-15 Proximity

Note: This Post is part of the series “Studies in Mark” see the Series Index for other posts in this series.

9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens opening and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” 12The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him. 14Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”–Mark 1:9 – 15 (ESV)

The other gospels tell us that when Jesus came to John to be baptized that John protested saying “I need to be baptized by you.” But Jesus tells him to go ahead and do it to ‘fulfill all righteousness.’ One of the Lord’s commandments is for us to make disciples and then baptize them. I think it’s an important step for a new believer. It identifies them as a Christian and it marks a spot in their memory where they can say “This is where I began to live for Christ.” Things get tough sometimes, as we all know, and its important to have those memories. When the skies ‘are like brass’ and there just doesn’t seem to be any end to the misery we need to be able to look back upon those spiritual milestones and say, “God is near.” We need to remember the mountain, to plumb an old metaphor, when we’re in the valley.

Here we are reminded that the valleys and the mountains are often in close proximity. In verse 11 Jesus hears a voice from heaven proclaiming, “You are my beloved Son with you I am well pleased.” In the very next verse Jesus is driven into the wilderness by the spirit of God to be tempted by Satan for forty days.

Forty days is a long time. It’s longer when you’re being tempted every step of the way. For Jesus I think it was just a matter of his being like us in every way. He was a man being tempted. With what we cannot even imagine. We get a glimpse when, in last ditch effort, Satan offers Jesus what he already has: the whole world.

It’s an old trick. It is, essentially, the same thing he offered Adam and Eve. They knew God in a direct face to face manner. They walked with him of an evening and tended the garden of Eden. They knew God. And yet when they were offered a cheap substitute, they fell. This temptation was no different. “Worship me…” Satan said, “And I will give you all of this.” “Let me be God in your place” is what he meant. Are we no different? Don’t we try to usurp the place of God day by day in our own lives, doing what we please and worshiping ourselves and our own desires? Jesus knew better than that, though, and replies, “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” An emphatic declaration that he was God and would be God no matter what his own creation did to him.

In v.14 we see that John was arrested, an event which, effectively, marked the end of his ministry. Jesus came into Galilee right after that “proclaiming the gospel of God,” in v.15 saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Repent and believe.

It’s a simple message. Repent of your sin. Believe in the gospel.

Other posts in this series.

House Work

When you’re a stay at home Dad the term ‘house work’ takes on a whole new depth. What I mean is that all the things you would expect the parent who stays home to do fall into the house work column plus all the things you’d expect a Dad to do as well. So today I’ve vacuumed, cleaned up the kitchen, and re-plumbed a toilet and patched some drywall. I’ve done some more mouse-assassination too, which is firmly in the ‘man’ column.

Let’s not even talk about the barfy car seats, OK?

Anyway, we’re a little behind in Mark, but that’s why. Life happens.

Mark 1:4-8 John the Baptist

Note: This Post is part of the series “Studies in Mark” see the Series Index for other posts in this series.

1The 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,’”
4John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
5And 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. 6Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. 7And 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. 8I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
–Mark 1:1 – 8 (ESV)

We are exhorted, so far, to keep trying to get it right. To press on to the high calling. And to be faithful with what we have because God can use that.

John was such a one as that. He was faithful and true to the end though his head ended up in a ‘charger’. He was a rough customer with his leather belt and garment of camel’s hair. He ate locusts and wild honey: he was fully dependent upon the Lord for all of his needs. How many of us would preach or teach on those rations? In spite of that he was faithful to preach. At the top of that great voice of his he came as the prophets of old came preaching “Repent!” and “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.” (v.7) He preached Christ and preached that he was coming soon and I’ll tell you what, that was something that got your attention in that day. One commentary I read says that the whole of Israel was awaiting the coming of their Messiah. Whatever their reason they knew he was coming.

“I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” (v.8) We who call upon the name of Christ and call him Lord are sealed with the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1:13 – 14 (ESV) 13In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. Do I know the fine points of how this is done? No. But I am comfortable knowing that the Word of God states it for a fact we are sealed with His Spirit when we are converted and he is a “guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it” meaning we who are Christians have already been separated out.

It’s time we started living that way don’t you think?

Further, this passage in Mark sort of shoots a hole in that bucket that holds that the water of Baptism is what saves you. Baptism is a mark of obedience. It’s foolhardy in the winter, uncomfortable in the Summer, and if you’re a girl, it does terrible things to your hair and makeup but it’s the Lords command. “Go thou and make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” That’s what matters. But sinners we are and sinners we remain, though redeemed, until that day when Christ takes us away. No water can change that. The Spirit of God can and does though, setting us free from the bondage of sin and death and allowing us to do that which pleases the Lord. Without it, that is not possible. (Romans 5, 6,7,8—just read the whole thing.)

Other posts in this series.

The Beginning

Note: This Post is part of the series “Studies in Mark” see the Series Index for other posts in this series.

1The 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,’”
4John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
5And 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. 6Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. 7And 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. 8I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
–Mark 1:1 – 8 (ESV)

See also: Malachi 3:1; Matthew 3:1-12; Luke 3:2-17

“The beginning” we are told here in verse 1, “of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God,” is right here in Mark. “In the beginning God said let there be light” we are told in Genesis and John starts his gospel in the same way “In the beginning was the word…he was with God in the beginning. Mark skips over everything in Jesus earlier days but goes right to his Baptism, the beginning of his fulfilling his ministry.

…but v.2 anchors this narrative in the Old Testament. Mark 1:2-3 “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,’” And that voice was John the Baptist, Jesus cousin, and of whom he said there had never been anyone greater “born of women” which pretty well covers everyone up to that point.

The question that came to mind as I read this was how effective would one voice in the wilderness be? It’s that same question about ‘if a tree falls in the woods and no one hears it did it make any sound?’ Truly from day to day most people go about their day listening to no one and nothing whatsoever except exactly what they want to listen to. They listen to their iPods or their radios or their blue-tooth headsets but the fact is that there aren’t very many people who listen. A preacher in this day is like one crying out in the wilderness. A single voice preaching the word of God…if no one listens does it matter? Is that voice any less true if no one hears it?

The answer, praise God, is yes. Yes it matters. The Word of God preached to an empty room has an impact, if on no one else, the preacher. The Word of God always does that which he sends if forth to do. Isaiah 55:10 – 11 (ESV) 10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” Don’t be afraid, then, to be a voice crying out in the wilderness because let me tell you something—not that you haven’t already figured this out—there’s a lot of wilderness out there. Don’t worry if it doesn’t seem like you’re making any dents in your community or your workplace with your witness. Just go about the business of the cross and live that life to which Christ has called you. Live out the Word of God day by day and it will work the purpose for which God has sent it.

I remember the last time I had an office job it was a huge facility and I was sort of tucked away in what had once been, I was quite certain, a storage closet. Immediately outside my door was a copy machine, which was handy when I needed one, but loud. If someone was using it while I was on the phone I had to close the door. After a while though it turned out to be a blessing because I got pretty good at fixing it and saving someone’s copy job was a great opportunity to share the gospel.
When I first got there I got a lot done because no one knew me. After awhile when someone had trouble they would show up at that copy machine and want to talk. So I’d listen and offer some encouragement or some scripture.

You see? A voice…crying out in the wilderness. Be faithful with what you have, don’t bury it. God can use whatever it is, even if it’s just fixing a copy machine.

Other posts in this series.

The Gospel of Mark

Note: This Post is part of the series “Studies in Mark” see the Series Index for other posts in this series.

I think of all the gospels Mark is my favorite. There are a number of reasons for this so I’ll share some of them. It’s a short, powerful book—which is good. Mark is a quick read if you’re trying to re-establish a Bible study routine. If you could only have one book for preaching and teaching about Jesus you could do a good job with Mark. I also love it because Mark was flawed. He was just a kid the night Jesus was crucified and fled like the others. Worse, in fact, he fled naked. The next we hear of him he’s working with Paul and, once again, leaves the work because it’s too hard.

The third time, though, something has happened. Something important that deserves out attention. We hear about Mark a third time from Paul in 2 Timothy 4:11 (ESV) “Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.” Paul, who had once been so adamant about Mark not participating in his ministry that he split up with Barnabas who was his long time partner in the work, here instructs Timothy to “Get Mark and bring him with you….” And it had to be a blow. I mean we are talking about the Apostle Paul here. A denunciation from him stuck. In spite of this, Mark didn’t quit. He kept trying to get it right and, it seems, he finally did.

That’s encouraging to you and me and those of us who, it seems, take many more than three swings before we finally get it right. Mark did and not only did he get it right, but God chose him to write down the story of Jesus in a book of the Bible. The Gospel of Mark, the story of Jesus ministry from Baptism to the Cross.

Originally I was going to start this on Christmas but then I realized that Mark didn’t start with Jesus birth he started with his Baptism. See? I NEED to do this study…

Other posts in this series.

Our Certainty

1Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, 2just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, 3it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.–Luke 1:1 – 4 (ESV)

Christmas Eve, the beginning of the beginning. Mary and Joseph are coming up on Bethlehem, they know they are running our of time. They are trying to get there early enough to find some food, water, and shelter. Mary is going to need it soon. I am reminded of Luke’s Gospel where he begins with a note to his publisher. It may seem superfluous to us if, after reading the Gospel’s in order, we come to Luke after reading Mark who got right to the point. But important things happen just before the ‘beginning’ that need to be told. Otherwise, we would have missed this important piece what may seem like trivia. Luke writes to Theophilus so that he would have certainty concerning the things he was taught. And I think it’s a note to us as well. The Gospels are for our certainty too. They are letters to the whole church concerning the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke tells us they were eyewitnesses from the beginning. They followed Jesus and ate with him and watched him die on a cross…then saw him again, resurrected and glorious.

So here we sit not seeing yet believing because we’ve heard the Gospel and the Holy Spirit opened our eyes to see and our ears to hear. We have the Bible and the Spirits witness and that’s about it.

But that’s enough isn’t it? Our assurance, our hope, our Lord and Savior Jesus and all he did that we need to know written down in these few books. Our ‘certainty’ as Luke tells us ‘concerning the things we have been taught.’

The Word of God is not bound…

Are you?

Live From Tulsa!

Yes, I’m live-blogging our road trip to Tulsa with four children for a family Christmas celebration. Of course by the time you read this I’ll probably be home..or locked up in the looney bin.

HEY! Get away from the toilet with that toothbrush…

But seriously, it hasn’t been too bad. We ate at Johnny Carino’s Italian at about 41st and Harvard and it was simply fantastic. We had Italian Nachos which is sort of hard to explain. There’s this fabulous cheese sauce on won-ton like chips with chicken and Italian sausage, tomatoes, black olives, jalapeno’s and some sort of sweet pepper. Mmmm…. I had a skillet meal called Timballo. Very spicy and seriously not heart healthy…pasta, pepperoni, more black olives, peppers, tomatoes, and more cheesy goodness. And they have pretty good tea too.

It was snowing earlier and just as we got back to the hotel the wet roads were freezing up in spots.

Excuse me, I have to go re-tuck a child into bed.

An Athiest’s Musings About God

I ran across the Two Headed Blog through the Blog Oklahoma site–or vice versa, I can’t remember. It’s definitely at least a PG-13 blog but I enjoy Sarah and Dwight’s candor on just about whatever they write about. Especially the restaurants…if I ever get back up to OKC I’m going to hit some of those places for sure.

Recently I asked them if they’d engage in some thought about God and Sarah has done so with: Sarah’s (Very Rambling) Thoughts on God I promised a link and no Biblical karate-chops so have a read and comment if you please, civil-like. Sarah’s a good sport and has yet to take a pot shot at me just because I’m a Christian.

Here’s a teaser: “If there is a God (and I still strongly suspect there isn’t) then “God” is something too bizarre and cosmic for our poor little primate brains to comprehend.” Except for the primate reference I this part is pretty close to right, in fact its downright theological.

If you’re an atheist and you’d like to participate CIVILLY, please just link back here and we’ll see what you have to say about the question: “If God WAS real, what would be have to be like?”

Properly Humble, yes sir…

OK. There hasn’t been a lot of activity at this blog but these ads are new and they are…well just have a look.

The effect of hopelessness

Next time you wonder why the boomers are so self-absorbed, take a look at this. I think they earned some of it.