Mark 1: 1-20
Why Follow Jesus?

This message will mark the beginning of a series of sermons following the narrative of Mark’s gospel.  I have chosen Mark not least because it is the shortest of the four gospel accounts (16 chapters), but also because my sense is that the distinctions of Mark are often neglected or overshadowed by the longer synoptic gospels (i.e. Matthew and Luke).  Christmas, for example, is probably our favorite time to read from the gospels, but the Christmas story of Jesus’ birth is not even mentioned in Mark. 

As we’ll see today, Mark’s account of the good news of Jesus Christ opens abruptly with the declarative preaching of John, the forerunner, and it swiftly moves on through the baptism and temptation of Jesus, to his first calling of disciples. 

Though there are, of course, many vital details included in the other gospel accounts (I encourage you to read them as we go), yet in this sermon series I will avoid placing a heavy emphasis on parallels and harmonies with Matthew, Luke, and John, in the hope that through abiding in Mark’s account we will better capture the contextual force of his language and his perspective on the coming of the Son of God, the beginning of the age of repentance and forgiveness in which we now live. 

Scripture Reading 

Prayer 

Intro:

Have you ever been on a long road trip, where you travel hundreds of miles a day in the car, perhaps crossing several state lines, passing through cities and towns, and sometimes traversing vast stretches of open countryside?  If you’ve planned your trip at all then you will have some idea of where you’re going or at least where to make the next turn.  As the driver you’ll be watching (or at least you should be watching) the signs on the road to make sure you don’t miss your turn.  But have you ever been on one of those stretches of road in which there are no signs at all for miles and miles and miles – or what’s worse – there are signs, but none of them indicate what you’re looking for, they’re all leading in the wrong direction. What happens in this situation?  People get hungry and tired and uncomfortable.  Everyone in the car starts to wonder whether you’re even on the right road at all.  You check the map, these days you might try to call someone if there’s cell coverage, but what can they tell you anyway if you don’t even know where you are? You begin blaming one another – especially the driver.  Some will suggest giving up and going back, some may resign themselves to whatever fate – pretending not to care.  Some may even begin quietly praying that the sign will come – everyone’s waiting, hoping for a change. Now this is all aggravated if you’re on a bad road to begin with, perhaps a twisting, poorly paved, mountain road with lots of bumps and potholes – or – an urban highway that’s plagued by accidents, traffic jams, and construction projects.

But what happens when you see the sign?  A lot of things could happen actually, you’d be right to rejoice, hopefully you’re beyond congratulating yourself by this point, you may still miss the turn altogether because you weren’t expecting to the see the sign anymore.  But whatever happens, you will do whatever it takes to follow the sign.  It is what you’ve been hoping and praying for, it’s your only shot at heading in the right direction, and you’ll turn around at first chance to go back and follow the sign if you have to.  It’s the only way to set your path straight.  You set your eye, make the turn, and head for your destination. 

This frustration of waiting for a sign, looking for direction, and longing for the next turn describes something of the experience of the Jewish people during the 400 year period between Old Testament and New Testament, 400 years of long silence between the last of the prophets and the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ – 400 years of oppression and confusion and sin.  John the Baptist was the tipping point, he broke the silence, he was the long expected sign. When the people of Judah and Jerusalem heard his voice, they listened, they turned and headed in a new direction. 

***Waiting is hard, especially when you’re not sure what’s coming next, not even sure if you’re on the right track or headed in the right direction.  The frustration of waiting for the right sign and longing for refreshment easily provokes in us an attitude of grumbling and discontent, we quickly resort to selfish withdrawal, accusing neighbors, and blaming God when we don’t see our way. And yet we remain reliant upon God to show us the way. Humanity has longed for direction for all of history, for a chance to turn down a new path, for refreshment and purification from our selfishness and sin.  The world needs cleansing and renewal. 

Bond:  The book of Mark opens by coupling two prophetic lines from the Old Testament.  One from Malachi 3: 1 and the other from Isaiah 40: 3.  In doing this Mark makes it clear to us that what follows should be read as a continuation of the story of Israel.  Mark does not declare his good news into a vacuum as though the incarnation of God in Jesus Christ marks the beginning of all human history.  No, instead Mark claims that the prophet John, as forerunner and herald of Jesus Christ, marks the new beginning of an old history.  Both Isaiah and Malachi speak of a messenger who comes to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord.  He is the messenger who comes in comfort, but also in judgment.  He prepares the way by calling Israel to repentance.  He is the signpost declaring that it’s time now to turn at last.  But, the only thing better than finding the sign and making the turn is reaching the destination. Mark’s story is about reaching the destination.  Mark’s good news is not that the messenger (the signpost) has come, but that the Lord himself is here and it’s in him we find our destination. 

Mark proclaims that…

Prop:  In Jesus, God incarnate calls us to repentance,

So we must seize our opportunity to follow him. 

First…

MP1: Since, in Jesus, the Son of God mediates our repentance,

      We must seize our opportunity to follow him.

The Son of God mediates between God and men because he is both God and man. 

SP1:  The Son of God is our God.  It’s critical for us to see that the Son of God, the Christ in this context is also the Lord (kurios, adonai, YHWH).  The full verse quoted from Isaiah in verse 3 reads; - A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. (Elohaynu, our God)  According to Mark, the Christ for whom John prepares the way is none other than YHWH Elohim, the Lord God of the OT, the Covenant God, the Creator God.  The word from Malachi is the same – Malachi 3: 1-2 Behold, I send my messenger and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts.  2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap.  The Christ and Son of God named here in Mark is not just a special prophet, he is the Lord of Hosts.  He is our God.  Jesus, the Son of God, is our God, he is the second person of the Godhead, the three in one, He is the Son sent from the Father, but he is not less than the Father, he is the Lord. 

Of course the Son of God is not only our God, he is also our man.

SP2:  The Son of God is our man.  John makes it clear that Jesus is much greater than he is – he’s in a different category, not worthy to touch his feet.  But when Jesus submits to the baptism of John – a baptism for forgiveness of sins (mind you) – he does this not because he needs to repent, but in order to make it clear that he fully identifies himself with the needs of the people of Israel, with the common people.  He is one of us.  By taking this baptism he identifies himself even with our sins, and in doing so he, the Son of God, represents us before his Father.  We believe that Jesus is both fully God and fully man.  He is our mediator.  The Father is pleased with his Son – and in that delight God also shows his love and pleasure for us. 

Illus: In his famous sermon titled - The Weight of Glory – C.S. Lewis rightly perceives that the scriptural view of Heavenly glory foremost involves standing before the countenance of God the Father and finding him well pleased to gaze upon us.

He says,

“In the end that Face which is the delight or

the terror of the universe must be turned

upon each of us either with one expression

or with the other, either conferring glory

inexpressible or inflicting shame that can

never be cured or disguised. I read in a

periodical the other day that the

fundamental thing is how we think of

God. By God Himself, it is not! How God

thinks of us is not only more important,

but infinitely more important. Indeed,

how we think of Him is of no importance

except in so far as it is related to how He

thinks of us. It is written that we shall

“stand before” Him, shall appear, shall be

inspected. The promise of glory is the

promise, almost incredible and only

possible by the work of Christ, that some

of us, that any of us who really chooses,

shall actually survive that examination,

shall find approval, shall please God. To

please God...to be a real ingredient in the

divine happiness...to be loved by God, not

merely pitied, but delighted in as an artist

delights in his work or a father in a son—it

seems impossible, a weight or burden of

glory which our thoughts can hardly

sustain. But so it is.” 

App:  Mark 1: 10-11 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens opening and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.  11 And a voice came from heaven, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased." -- Here we find not only an affirmation of Jesus in his mission and role as the Son of God, it is that, but it is also a display of God’s delight in us as Jesus, the mediator, represents us before the Father by identifying himself with the baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  You see if we have participated in that baptism, through Jesus, we also enjoy the delight of the Father’s countenance.  And if you and I have the Father’s delight, then what else do we need?  Jesus is willing to identify with you.  Are you willing to identify yourself with Jesus Christ, to follow him, and accept his baptism, and accept his Father’s delight?  Can you accept Jesus as your mediator, or are you still trying to prove yourself before God, to earn his favor on your own account?  If so, Mark shows that you can put your burdens down, the mediator has come, the Son has come and His Father delights in him as he also delights in those who are found in him.  All that’s left to do is follow Jesus.  Remember, he is not the signpost, he is the destination. 

Jesus mediates our repentance by accepting baptism with water and taking our sins with him to the cross, but he also seals our repentance by baptizing us with the Holy Spirit.  And…

MP2: Since, through Jesus, the Spirit of God seals our repentance,

We must seize our opportunity to follow him.

(SP1:  The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus Christ.)

Jesus holds authority to baptize us with the Holy Spirit because the Holy Spirit just is the Spirit of Jesus Christ.  Though his baptism is a uniquely vitalizing experience for Jesus, yet he did not receive the Spirit of God for the first time when the dove descended upon him in the Jordan, just as he did not become the Son of God when he heard the voice from heaven.  No, the anointing of the Spirit and the blessing of the Father were confirmed for Jesus in his baptism, not initiated there.  Luke makes it clear that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and John’s gospel clarifies that Jesus is at all times eternally one with both the Father and the Spirit.  But Mark simply tells us of the beauty and power at the Jordan River of the trinity in community, the three in one, all converging upon the person of the Son, each in relationship delighting in the other. The Spirit of our God is not impersonal.  He is the Spirit of the Father. He is the Spirit of Jesus Christ.  So when we identify ourselves with Jesus Christ and follow him we will also participate in the power of the Holy Spirit of God, we bear his mark as a seal of our repentance.

Illus:  When we baptize someone into the Christian Church we anoint them with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  In the ceremony the water is sometimes sprinkled or poured (or dunked) three times over the head to emphasize Trinitarian power and presence in the ordinance which is a sign and seal of repentance and of the remission of sins.  And as the cleansing water trickles down over the head we are right to be reminded of the baptism of Jesus who identified himself with our sins and typologically identified water with the anointing of the Holy Spirit. 

App: SP2:  The Holy Spirit is united to water baptism.

In his book on the sacraments Dan emphasizes that baptism is primarily to be understood as a dramatic symbol of the washing away of sin.  But as such baptism is also a symbol of our union with Christ in his atonement for our sins and of the coming of the Spirit who wakens us to new life.  Dan says in his book –  “One may, therefore, refer to baptism as the sacrament of the coming of the Holy Spirit and of life with Christ.”  Do you rejoice in remembering your own water baptism as a dramatic participation in the coming of the Holy Spirit in your own life?  I hope that you do. Even if you were baptized as an infant you can give thanks to God for your participation in the blessings of his church through that sacramental initiation and anointing before you were even aware.  Indeed, infant baptism dramatizes your dependence upon God’s Spirit and his movement toward you.  That’s the application here, you can and should celebrate your baptism as a participation in the blessings, benefits, and power of the Triune God who saves you despite your sins.  Give thanks to him vocally in your prayers for his anointing you with water and with the Spirit.  And remember that it’s the Holy Spirit who lays hold of you, not vice versa.  Give thanks that he has called you and claimed you to follow him. 

So Jesus mediates our repentance, he seals our repentance in the Spirit, and in his temptation facing Satan, Jesus shows that he himself has no need to repent.  And… 

MP3: Since Jesus proves himself no need for repentance,

We must seize our opportunity to follow him.

SP1:  Jesus faced temptation, and overcame it.

The book of Hebrews makes it clear that Jesus is an effectively great high priest because he was tempted like us.  Hebrews 4:15 - 5:1 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.  16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.  We should find greater confidence to follow Jesus in knowing that he was tempted like us and yet overcame.

SP2:  Jesus faced Satan himself, and overthrew him.

After Jesus baptism V. 12 says that “The Spirit immediately drove him out (ekballei) into the wilderness.”  The language of Mark is distinctively strong.  It’s more forceful than the verb “lead” (ago) used in Luke to describe the same thing.  Mark uses his verb later in this chapter to describe driving out demons.  And Matthew uses the same verb to describe the thrusting out of laborers in to the spiritual harvest field.  Sinclair Ferguson – in his book on The Holy Spirit says, “These further uses give colour to the significance of the Spirit’s ministry here: ‘driving out’ expresses the energy and power of the Spirit as the Lord who advances the kingdom of God into enemy-occupied territory.  This is precisely the ambience of Jesus’ wilderness ministry”.  This clearly follows the pattern between the anointing of the Spirit of God coming upon men in battle and bringing victory in the Old Testament. 

Illus: All warfare requires strategy and direction from generals. The man on the ground relies upon direction from above and the best men obey on command, whether they know what is ahead or not.  And the best generals will meet imposing threats with apt timing.  Borrowing from Ferguson again, he suggests that “the Spirit’s role in Jesus ministry …serves as divine strategist…[directing] the Warrior-King to the strategic point of conflict.  He is Christ’s adjutant-general in the holy war which is waged throughout the incarnation.”    Jesus first action after baptism is to confront Satan head on, the face the accuser who loves to lie, to steal, to kill, and to destroy. 

App:  Instead of giving intimate details (like Luke does), the temptation of Christ in Mark simply indicates to the reader that Satan has been put on notice, that, unlike God’s people Israel, Jesus has prevailed and he has been faithful in the wilderness.  We should be quick to follow a man who has been through the gauntlet and prevailed, who has faced the enemy prince without backing down.  If Satan is your enemy, and I hope that he is, then Mark is indicating that you should be running behind Jesus.  Jesus is our champion.  He holds the way to victory, and by the end of this story he claims it.  Knowing that Jesus has gone ahead of us, fought the battles and won the victory, should make all the difference when we face the mundane choices of everyday obedience.  If your are struggling today as a Christian with temptation and with slanderous accusations from the evil one, who is our real and common enemy. Mark assures us that your are not fighting a battle that your Lord has not entered before you and won before you.  Have confidence in the fray and do not hesitate to turn and obey, follow your Lord out.  Temptation is not the same as sin.  Slander is not the same as truth.  Don’t let the enemy define you.  Let Jesus define you, follow him.  He mediates for you, he seals your repentance with his Spirit, and he himself has no need of repentance, for he is Holy. 

Conc. The last verses of the section we read today are all about application aren’t they.  Listen again to vv. 14-20. 

Mark 1: 14-20 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."  16 Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.  17 And Jesus said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men."  18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him.  19 And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets.  20 And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him. 

Mark’s narrative is rather unadorned here isn’t it. Jesus called men to follow him and they followed.  They left their nets behind.  They left their father behind to follow Jesus.  There is an intrinsic authority to the person of Christ which Mark has already established by this point in his narrative.  Jesus commands attention; we he calls, you follow.  Jesus may call you to leave your present occupation, he may call you leave home and family to serve him.  Then again he may not call you away from those things.  But one thing is sure, when Jesus comes calling, as he calls to us now from the text today, if we hear him, if we turn to him, we will not do our occupations the same way, and we will not treat our families the same way as we did before following Jesus.  The Son of God calls us to change, a radical change of orientation from the self towards him and from self towards others.  Rather than simply striving to feed ourselves we will become those who call men to repentance like Jesus and John, oaks of righteousness in the wilderness, fishers of men in the harvest.  Though he has gone before you and won the day, yet the enemy still fights and Jesus invites you, like Simon and Andrew, to join him in the struggle.  He wants us to engage.  By asking us to follow him he invites us to real participation in his final victory.  Follow Jesus, you can trust him.  Your occupation will be better for it.  Your family will be better off for it.