Mark 1:1-11
POWER-PACKED PREACHER, 5/29/05
Life of Christ #5
· I want you to reflect for just a minute on the most powerful preacher you ever heard preach, and what made him so powerful.
There are several power-packed preachers mentioned in the Bible. There was the fiery Elijah, and the apostles Paul and Peter. There was the first Christian martyr, Stephen. Each of these were powerful preachers in their own right.
As we continue our series in the Life of Christ, after seeing Jesus as a boy in the temple last week, we are brought face to face with one of the most powerful preachers who ever lived. His name was John the Baptist.
John the Baptist was a miracle baby, son of a woman named Elizabeth who was called “barren”. He was also son of Zecharias, a Godly priest. Zechariah was told about the birth of John, whose name means “God is gracious”, by the angel Gabriel, who appeared to him in the temple.
Luke 1:15-17 - For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. [16] And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. [17] And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
Approximately 30 years later, John began to fulfill the preaching and baptizing ministry that God had called him to.
The ministry of this power-packed preacher is seen in Mark 1:2-11.
Let’s consider:
THE PROMISE OF JOHN’S MINISTRY – Vss. 2-3
THE PARTICULARS OF JOHN’S MINISTRY – Vss. 4-8
THE PINNACLE OF JOHN’S MINISTRY – Vss. 9-11
Vs. 1 – The Gospel of Mark is unique in that it has no introductory material concerning the Lord Jesus. John tells us about the Jesus being preexistent eternally, and Matthew and Luke each give two chapters concerning his birth and what happened before his birth.
Mark jumps in and says, “This is the good news about Jesus Christ who is the Son of God!” WHAM! We are hit with the reality that we are entering the story of the Son of God, and Mark hits the deck running with it.
Mark is the Gospel of action and 19 times Mark uses the word “straightway” which means immediately.
Mark keeps his story moving.
THE PROMISE OF JOHN’S MINISTRY – Vss. 2-3
After just one verse Mark starts talking about the ministry of John the Baptist, the power-packed preacher who came as a forerunner to Jesus.
Mark tells us that the ministry of John the Baptist had been promised in the Old Testament. He quotes two passages: Malachi 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3.
Vss. 2-3 – Last year when we had “Recharge Weekend”, you might remember that I brought it up often before it got here. I pushed, tried to get you ready so that you were willing to attend when it got here. I tried to give you a mindset for our special meetings.
John the Baptist was sent to get the Jewish people ready for the coming of their Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Someone had to point attention to Jesus, and get them ready for His arrival.
When an emperor would visit a part of his Kingdom, a messenger was sent ahead. One of his jobs was to get the roads that the emperor would travel on ready. He prepared the way and made the paths straight. Roads were mostly in poor condition and needed attention, especially if someone important had to travel on them.
The road that leads to a person’s heart is in poor shape as the heart is itself.
Jeremiah 17:9 - The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
There are large boulders in the road – sins of commission, things which we have done wrong.
There are giant potholes in the road – sins of omission, things which we should have done but didn’t.
John was sent to get the people thinking of their need for a Savior.
I think that sometimes we Christians are too nice. We don’t like to identify the sins of others. But if someone doesn’t identify sin for an unbeliever, the unbeliever won’t realize that he needs a Savior.
We identify sin to help a person see their need for Christ. We are trying to remove the boulders and fill in the potholes so that path to a person’s heart will be straight.
Vs. 3 – John’s ministry was in the wilderness along the Jordon River. He was crying from the wilderness and people came to him.
Sometimes people have to get away from their normal routine before they will see that they have a need.
And notice that John was getting people ready to receive Jesus. John was always pointing to Jesus.
This is a challenge to me.
I’m good at pointing people to my favorite sports teams.
I’m good at pointing people to my family and how great they are.
And I’m good at pointing people to my problems, my accomplishments, my needs.
In other words, I’m good at pointing people to me.
How foolish that is!
I can’t help people the way Jesus can.
I’m not God.
I didn’t die for their sins.
I can’t help them apart from pointing them to Jesus and His Word!
Even when dealing with those of you who are Christians, the best way I can help you is to point you to Jesus and His Word!
THE PROMISE OF JOHN’S MINISTRY – Vss. 2-3
THE PARTICULARS OF JOHN’S MINISTRY
Vs. 4 – John had a two-fold ministry.
First John preached.
He preached the need for repentance, before the arrival of the coming Messiah.
Second, John baptized.
John’s preaching was not pleasant. He did not tickle ears.
Luke 3:7-14 - Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? [8] Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. [9] And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
John called the people to repentance.
Repentance is a change of mind about sin that leads to a change in behavior.
Someone who is truly sorry for sin, will confess it, and forsake it.
John was preaching repentance and baptism.
This was a baptism in preparation for the coming Messiah.
The word baptism means to dip or immerse.
The person who was baptized was publicly professing repentance.
A person repented, indicated repentance by baptism, and their sins were remitted. They were dismissed! They were sent away.
How is baptism today different from John’s baptism?
John’s baptism was in view of the coming Messiah.
Our baptism is in view that Messiah has come.
We are baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Our baptism is the ultimate testimony that our faith is in Christ.
We are not to be baptized in order to be saved.
We are to be baptized because we are saved!
Vs. 5 – John’s ministry was a success.
It was Negative in many ways because he rebuked sin.
It was successful because they confessed their sins, or agreed with God about their sins, and were baptized.
And the sheer number of people who responded!
One estimate is about 300,000 people were baptized by John.
Vs. 6 – John’s clothing was rugged, the attire of a wilderness dweller.
It was similar to the clothing worn by Elijah the prophet.
In fact John was the fulfillment of a promise that Elijah would come.
Malachi 4:5 - Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:
John’s diet was very austere. Locusts and wild honey were his fare. Not exactly what we call great food.
For John it was not a time for fancy clothes.
For John it was not the time for a fancy diet.
John had serious business to carry out! People needed to ready for the coming Messiah.
Today people need to be ready for the coming Messiah.
Jesus is coming back, and we need to be ready.
Luke 12:40 - Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
Unsaved people need to become ready for the coming of the Lord Jesus by trusting Him for forgiveness and eternal life.
John 3:36 - He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Those of us who know Jesus as Savior need also be ready for his coming.
Titus 2:11-13 - For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, [12] Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; [13] Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
It is time for Christians to repent.
It is time for Christians to confess sin, forsake sin, and live a Godly life until Jesus comes.
James 4:4 - Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
James 4:8-10 - Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. [9] Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. [10] Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
What is it that you need to repent of?
What is it that you need to forsake?
Christian, we can only lead unsaved people to Christ, if we live Godly lives ourselves!
Luke 6:39 - And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?
Vs. 7 – In effect, John is saying, “You think I’m a mighty
preacher? You haven’t seen anything yet!”
“The one that’s coming after me is so mighty that I am not even worthy enough to unloose his sandals, the most menial job that a servant can do!”
If we compare ourselves to John the Baptist, none of us would compare favorably. He was far holier, far more committed than we are.
So, if John was not worthy enough to untie the sandals of the Son of God, where does that put us?
Where would we be without the grace of God?
Vs. 8 – John baptized with water.
Jesus baptized with the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is the part of God that takes up residence inside of it. Jesus promised that the Spirit would indwell believers, and He has!
John 7:38-39 - He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. [39] (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
1 Corinthians 12:13 - For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
As a result of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives we have been blessed.
· We have the blessing of the fruit of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, [23] Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
· We have the blessing of the instruction of the Spirit.
John 16:33 - These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
· We have the blessing of the intercession of the Spirit
Romans 8:26-27 - Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. [27] And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
· We have the blessing of the power of the Spirit
Acts 1:8 - But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Galatians 5:16 - This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
THE PROMISE OF JOHN’S MINISTRY
THE PARTICULARS OF JOHN’S MINISTRY
THE PINNACLE OF JOHN’S MINISTRY – Vss. 9-11
What was John’s greatest moment of ministry?
Vs. 9 – It was the day, that John the servant, baptized Jesus,
the Son of God. John didn’t want to do it!
Matthew 3:14-15 - But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? [15] And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
John knew who Jesus was, the Son of God.
I believe John knew that Jesus was sinless.
John knew that Jesus had more right to baptize John, a sinner, than John did Jesus, who was sinless.
Jesus said that it had to be done to fulfill all righteousness!
Jesus was baptized so he could associate with our sins.
Jesus came to take our sins on His sinless shoulders.
Jesus’ baptism was symbolic that He was taking the responsibility for our sins. He was identifying with us and our sins.
If Jesus confessed sins when he was baptized, He would have confessed the sins of the whole world.
Baptism was a symbol of death, dying to sin, rising to new life.
Jesus’ baptism was a picture that He would die for our sins and rise again.
2 Corinthians 5:21 - For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Vs. 10 – The presence of the Holy Spirit rested upon the Lord Jesus. He would minister in the power of the Holy Spirit?
How can we do less?
We should be constantly asking for the Holy Spirit’s power to be manifest in our lives.
Vs. 11 – God gave his approval!
This is my Son! I’m pleased!
God was pleased not only because Jesus was obedient, but because He wanted to please His Heavenly Father.
John 4:34 - Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
May this be our goal too!
THE PROMISE OF JOHN’S MINISTRY
THE PARTICULARS OF JOHN’S MINISTRY
THE PINNACLE OF JOHN’S MINISTRY
Friend are you ready for the coming of the Lord Jesus?
Are you saved?
If you are saved, would you have any problem if Jesus came back and caught you doing what you did yesterday, or any day this past week?
Is it time for you to repent?
Is it time for you to baptized?