"The Time Has Come"

2

through the new testament mark

Mark 1:1-45

The Gospel of Mark hits the ground running.  There’s no introductory genealogy.  There’s not an elaborate backstory with a description of Jesus’ miracle conception and birth.  There’s not even much of a theological explanation of what you are about to read.  There is simply, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”

What does this tell me about God?

This chapter tells me that God always keeps His promises.

“As it is written in Isaiah the prophet…” God had promised His people that He would send His messenger to proclaim the coming of the Messiah and 700 years later John steps on the scene.

Isaiah 40:5 promises in the Messiah, “The glory of the Lord shall be revealed.”

Malachi 3:1 promises, “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.”

Mark 1 delivers on those promises.

I can count on God to keep His word. “God is who He says He is. God can do what He says He can do.” (Beth Moore) It may not be in my timing, but He will be right on time.

What does this tell me about myself?

I love the humility and the faith of John. What a contrast with the response to the Messiah that we read about yesterday: "One from whom men hide their faces."

John really saw Jesus for who He was!  Others missed Him all together.  I want to recognize the hand of God, the voice of God and the Spirit of God and respond like John did.

John lived for one thing.  His whole life's purpose was to point to Jesus.  He lived to help people know who Jesus is.  I share that purpose.  That's what I was made for.  However, if I want to follow John's example, I need to jettison all the competing "one things" and fight for Jesus to be the center.

I am also challenged by the faith of Peter and Andrew who “immediately” (not eventually or reluctantly) “left their nets to follow Him.”  It also says that when they saw that Peter’s mother-in-law was sick, “Immediately” they told Jesus.  It made me think: What is my first response to a problem?  Is it prayer or is it worry or do I just try and fix things myself?  I think that for many (including me), prayer has been replaced with a quick google search, investigating symptoms on webMD and a updating my status on facebook.

What does this tell me that I need to tell others?

The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

I think that Jesus is still “moved with pity” when He sees our world sick in sin.  So, instead of getting irritated with sinful people or shocked that lost people are living like lost people or angry that that our culture is so jacked up, I need to personally share the good news about Jesus with everyone I can.

Michael Horton writes in Pilgrim Theology, "The New Testament word translated 'gospel' refers to a report brought by an official herald from the frontlines of the battlefield, announcing that victory has been achieved and the war is over."

"A battle has been fought for you and a victory has been won for you."

Prayer:

Father, thank you for keeping your promises.  Thank you that I can count on you.  You are my sure foundation.  You are the one that I can run to when everything falls apart.  I know that I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  Thank you that on the cross, Jesus fought our battle and won our victory. Through Christ I pray, Amen.

 

Bobby Pruitt BOBBY PRUITT  |  Lead Pastor

Bobby was born and raised in Atlanta, GA. He is the youngest of 13 children and was the first believer in his family. He graduated from Columbia Bible College and served in churches in South and North Carolina before coming to Texas in 1994. Bobby and Amy have been married since November of 1990 and have 3 children (Riley, Beau, and Emma Grace).

2 Comments

Wow. I am so convicted about my lack of obedience to God. When Jesus called Simon and Andrew while they were immersed in their daily duties, and also calling Levi to follow Him in Chapter 3, I was struck by all of their immediate obedience. My thoughts are: if it were me, I would sit and contemplate and consider and even say, "Lord, okay, but let me finish what I'm doing, and once I'm at a stopping point I'll follow you." And I'd probably experience aggravation at having my task interrupted to do something that I hadn't planned ahead of time. This is just what I do.... Call the shots. And whine while I eventually "obey". Lord Jesus, forgive me for making it all about me.

This passage shows Jesus strongly and effectively assuming His roles as servant, teacher, prophet, leader, healer, call-er of men and reminds me of the central and crucial roles the Son of Man should take in our lives as His disciples. As a father, I am humbled and challenged by God the Father's blessing on His Son Jesus, in one clear moment affirming and confirming Jesus' person, mission, purpose, faithfulness and value. God the Father demonstrated in His public expression to Jesus -"This is My beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased" - the blessing we long to hear from our earthly fathers that is available to us as His adopted sons and daughters (amazing!) as co-heirs with Jesus, we have the blessing of God's unlimited favor! What a great Father we have and how rich the opportunity to bless our physical or spiritual heirs in that same way - affirming their person, mission, purpose, faithfulness and value.

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