Moonday Night @ First B Oct 24
First B Jackson
2023-10-24

Automatically transcribed. Where this and the recording disagree, the recording is the record.

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There are people around the globe that are not exposed to the gospel. And that shoebox, I was a Christian before, but I know how impactful that was. I am one of millions around the globe that receive a shoebox. My name is Sakusa Roccovasa Vakandewa Tambua junior. I go by Zach, and I'm originally from the Fiji Islands.

My childhood was different from what a typical kid would go through. There were no toys, no video games. We'll play with sticks.

Alright. Hello, everybody. Welcome to another Monday night. So we're gonna start the gospel of Mark this evening. That's why I I brought those outlines.

Feel free to take them home, use them tonight. But it's still conversation style on Monday night. And but before we get there, can we worship in song together? If you finished eating, sing with us. If you're still eating, keep keep eating.

Let's sing together. God, it's good to be able to sing and, express this, the greatness of who you are. And, Lord, thank you that we get to open up the word tonight. And and you show us why you're great and how you are great. But, God, may you use this time, this moment just for us to to warm up to you.

In Jesus name, amen.

In your love. My feet doesn't stand the chance. Ran up, stand in My feet doesn't stand the chance. Ran up, stand in your love. Chance when I stand in your love.

There's power. There's power that break up every shake. Power that empty outer gray. There's resurrection problems that can save. Power in your name.

Power in your name. My fear doesn't stand the chance when I stand in your love. My fear doesn't stand the chance when I stand in your gut. My fear doesn't stand a chance when I stand in your gut.

God, I think of the verse where you say perfect love casts out fear. God, thank you for your self giving, others focused, sacrificial love that you show us. God, may we learn, continue to learn in this love this evening. In Jesus' name, amen.

Oh, glorious day. One day they lay in Calvary's Mountain. One day they neigh to die on a tree day. Oh, glorious day.

Man, you can have a seat here for a moment. I got a a video that I I wanna play for you.

The Gospel of Mark is a book in the Bible about the life of Jesus. And the earliest reliable tradition tells us that it was written by a guy named John Mark.

Now, Mark didn't just grab a bunch of random stories about Jesus and throw them together. He's designed this book to address some really specific questions about whether or not Jesus was the Jewish Messiah.

So let's stop right there because that's a term a lot of people like me aren't very familiar with.

Yeah. So the Messiah was a royal figure, sometimes called the son of God, that Israel was expecting to come and set up a kingdom here on Earth. And around the time of Jesus, Israel was occupied by Rome, and so many Jews were hoping that the Messiah would come and overthrow the Romans and rule as king.

But Jesus didn't overthrow the Romans.

In

fact, he was killed by them.

And that brings us to the very issues Mark is trying to get at in this book. So in the first half, he focuses on who Jesus is. Is he really the Messiah? And then in the second half, he's addressing how Jesus became the messianic king. And then right here in the middle of the book is this pivotal story that brings the two halves together and Jesus answers both of these questions.

Okay. So let's talk about the first half of the book, who Jesus is. So Mark makes his beliefs about Jesus very clear from the first line of the book. The beginning of the good news about Jesus, the Messiah, the son of God.

One of the next stories is Jesus getting baptized and God's voice announces from heaven, this is my son. So it couldn't be more clear. It's presenting Jesus as the Messiah.

Yes. But as you're reading through this first half of Mark, you'll notice something really interesting start to happen. Jesus is going about healing all these different people, and he's constantly telling them to keep quiet about who he is. This happens so many times in Mark's account. It's very strange.

Yeah. Why keep it a secret?

So remember, lots of Jews had lots of different expectations about what the Messiah would be and do. And so Jesus doesn't want people to misunderstand what it means for him to be Israel's Messiah. And so with all that in mind, we come now to the pivotal story at the center of the book where Jesus takes his disciples away and he asked them, who do you all say that I am?

And Peter says what everyone's been saying, you're the Messiah, the son of God.

But then something new happens because Jesus starts explaining to them how he's going to become the messianic king, and it is not what they expected. He says he's going to suffer and die and rule by becoming a servant. Or in his words, the son of man did not come to be served but to become a servant and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Peter is startled by this and he rebukes Jesus because there's no way he's gonna let Jesus die. And Jesus responds, get behind me, Satan, which is really intense.

It really is. But it highlights how important it is for Jesus that his disciples come to understand who he really is. And so here now in this pivotal section, Jesus tries three different times to have this conversation with them and every time they respond in confusion and even fear.

Okay. So this launches us into the second half of the book where Mark addresses the question of how Jesus becomes the messianic king. It's the last week of Jesus' life. He goes to Jerusalem, gets in conflict with religious leaders, and gets arrested.

And he's put on trial as someone who's claiming to be the king of the Jews. He's even given a crown and a purple robe like a king would get, but it is all a cruel joke. Then he's mocked and beaten and hung up on a cross where he dies. And it's here in this crucial scene that we meet a new character.

A Roman soldier

who suddenly gets everything that's going on.

He says, surely, this is the son of God.

Which is crazy. It's an enemy who's first putting it all together that Israel's messianic king is the crucified Jesus.

That's the structure of the book of Mark But the book doesn't end with Jesus dead on the cross.

No. So, on the third day, some women go to visit Jesus' tomb only to find that it's empty. And then there's this angel standing there instructing them to go and tell this good news that Jesus is alive from the dead. But instead, they run away and they don't tell anyone because they're afraid and that's how the book ends.

Which is a really abrupt ending.

Yeah. It's so abrupt that later scribes did add an ending that brings more closure to the story. And you'll find that story in your Bible with a little footnote that says it was added much later. But Mark's a brilliant storyteller, and he's intentionally ended this book abruptly. So all through the book, the disciples have been confused about Jesus' plan to give up his life, the story in the middle and now right here at the end.

It's like Mark is acknowledging just how startling this claim really is, and he wants you, the reader, to wrestle with it for yourself. Is this crucified Jesus really the Messiah that they've been waiting for?

So I wanted to to just share that little overview, of Mark. Does it do you guys feel like the the video can be just kind of helpful through the I I I do. I feel like Bible Project did a really, really good job of of explaining the the And so does this this outline here, and you you see them on the tables too. Feel free to grab one and take it home. But, in chapters one through eight there, it describes who Jesus is.

And then in chapters eight through 10, it describes what it means for Jesus to be the messiah that this video is talking about here. And then in chapters 11 through 16, it describes how Jesus then becomes the the messianic king. I just feel like it's an excellent guide, an excellent guide to bring us through Mark. But my goal here is to simply tell the story. That's what I that's what I wanna do.

Just as Mark presents it, to tell the story of this right here. Let me see if this works. There it is. To tell the story of the good news about Jesus, the Messiah, the son of God. And just to put it in our lap.

For some, maybe they've never heard it before. But for others, we've been hearing this for our whole lives. And may we never get tired of hearing this good news about Jesus, the Messiah, the son of God. So here we go. Mark is is very, very fast paced.

He starts with this punch line right away. Good news about Jesus, the Messiah, the son of God. There's there's no mention of, Jesus' birth or his genealogy like there is in, say, like, the gospel of Matthew. And that's because Mark is is writing to a different audience here. Whereas Matthew is writing primarily to a a Jewish audience, and lineage was very, very important to them.

Lineage was everything. Mark is writing to Roman Christians, and where Roman Christians were there was there in in excuse me. Roman Christians, there were many, many gods, and what he's doing is presenting Jesus as the true, the one true son of God. But in Rome, there were they were always preceded by an announcer's announcement. Like, somebody important was always preceded by an announcer, and that's that's where Mark begins.

And that's why John the Baptist is that announcer. He's that that messenger. So we're gonna cover verses, one through 13. The headings in my Bible are John prepares the way for Jesus, and then we have the baptism of Jesus, and then Satan tempts Jesus in the wilderness. So I'll read and and just share a few thoughts.

And then at the end, I'll open up for conversation. If you've got a little something to add, I'd love for you to. So here's here's Mark's account of the gospel. This is the good news about Jesus, the Messiah, the son of God. And it began just as the prophet Isaiah had written.

Look. I'm sending a messenger ahead of you, and he'll prepare your way. He's the voice shouting in the wilderness, prepare the way for the Lord's coming. Clear the road for him. This messenger was John the Baptist.

And he was in the wilderness. And he preached that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven. Verse five, all of Judea, including all the people of Jerusalem, went out to see and hear John. And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River. His clothes were woven from coarse camel hair.

He wore a leather belt around his waist. And for food, he ate locusts and wild honey. Kind of a strange dude. So verse seven, John announced someone is coming soon who is greater than I am. So much greater, I'm not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals.

I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. One day, Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. As Jesus came out of the water, he saw the heavens split apart and the Holy Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, you are my dearly loved son, and you bring me great joy. The spirit then compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness where he was tempted by Satan for forty days.

He was out among wild animals, and angels took care of him. So I'd like to stop there for now and, just pray first on on what we read and and then kind of comb over this some more. So would you pray with me? Lord, I thank you for this powerful true story of the life of Jesus so we can know you and come to trust you and follow you. And God, like that soldier who came to that conclusion, this man truly was the son of God.

Lord, that we would be thoroughly convinced to as we read through the gospel. You say, God, that faith comes by hearing. So, lord, that we would hear and believe and receive and then follow after you. We ask that you'd bless the reading of the word, the conversation tonight, and we pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

So right out of the gate here, Mark gives the punch line. He gets right to the point, and I I I like that. It's it's kinda growing on my this book was a little bit intimidating because it is so succinct and fast paced, and the events just go boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. The other gospels, in many ways, they they share more. They're a more detailed account.

Mark is sharing these. It's in chronological order, event by event by event. But Mark gives a punch line right away. This is the good news about Jesus, the Messiah, the son of God. And remember, again, he's writing to these Christians in Rome.

Many gods are worshiped there, and he wants his his readers to know right out of the gate, Jesus is the one true son of God. And he does that by jumping right into this prophecy from Isaiah predicted hundreds, hundreds of years earlier, a messenger will prepare the way for the messiah. A voice shouting in the wilderness, prepare for the prepare the way for the Lord's coming. And that messenger, here he is, is John the Baptist, and there's no doubt about it. He's the one that Isaiah was talking about, and his message to the people was be baptized, repent of your sins.

So in other words, turn away from sin and turn to God to be forgiven. And Jesus would say the same thing later on where as as we read, we'll hear Jesus say the same thing. But what's interesting here to me is Jews would often baptize non Jews who had converted to Judaism. But John here is asking all Jews to repent. He's asking everybody to repent.

And so he took this custom of baptism, and he gave it new new meaning, and people are showing up. They're showing up. In verse five, it says, all of Judea, including all the people of Jerusalem, went out to see and hear John. And there was something about John's message that was intriguing, that was drawing these people in. So real life application for today, what I see is the message of Jesus is intriguing.

We we know what it's like to walk in darkness. We know what it's like to feel that burden of sin. But, really, when we repent, turn away from that, turn away from sin, and turn to God for forgiveness, that's where we experience new life and freedom. And I believe that's what these people are looking for. They're looking for new life.

They're looking for freedom, not just a dead religion, but a living God. Are you are you with me? And so which why, by the way, is why baptism is such a huge celebration today. It's why we we make such a big deal about it. Over the weekend, Ray got to baptize the Ross family.

And so there you see Reagan and Wyatt and Slade. And really what they did there in that baptism was to show their outward expression of their inward faith. Does that make sense? So baptism represents being buried with Christ, going under the water, and then raised to new life in him coming out of the water. I just think it's awesome, you know, that this is so good and applicable, and we're celebrating this today.

And the meaning is so rich. And by the way, really, if anybody has not been baptized, you you believe, but you have not been baptized, whether it's in the Snake River this time of year, Ray would be glad to do it for you. I'll stand by with a towel. But, really, it's, it's a sign of obedience that you've put your faith and trust in Christ. So John's message was this.

Guys, I'm just the messenger here. That's what he's saying. I'm not even on I'm not even worthy to untie Jesus' sandals. So to I'm baptizing you with water. I'm just here to prepare your hearts for Jesus' message.

But when Jesus comes on the scene, he's gonna baptize you with the Holy Spirit. And to me, that was one of the most impactful parts of the scripture as I'm reading this because the Holy Spirit is what really transforms a person's life. The Holy Spirit is what does the work in us to convict us of our sin and convince us of Jesus' righteousness, but the Holy Spirit is also our helper, our comforter, our guide. He leads us into truth. He is with us always.

He gives us spiritual gifts so we can work together as a body of Christ. He fills us with the fruit of the spirit. And and you know these, but we're we'll hear them again. Love and joy and peace and patience and kindness and goodness and faithfulness and self control. That's what the Holy Spirit does in our lives.

And so this is a huge deal when John says, hey, Jesus is gonna baptize you with the Holy Spirit. He's talking about a spiritual baptism here. Where John's was a water baptism to prepare them for Jesus' message, Jesus was gonna baptize them with the Holy Spirit. This is a very, very big deal. So when Jesus was baptized physically in the water in verses nine through 11, it was not a baptism of repentance or to prayer prepare Jesus' heart.

That that wasn't it. Jesus' baptism marked the beginning of his ministry, and it showed God's approval. And just like we read there, the heavens split apart, the Holy Spirit descends on him like a dove. God's voice from heaven says, you're my dearly loved son, and you bring me great joy. I just think it's such a sweet confirmation.

And in inauguration, the start, it was official, very, very official that Jesus was beginning his ministry on Earth. But I wanna make note of this too in verses 12 through 13 is we see that Jesus is not exempt from temptation. Jesus was tempted in every way like we are. So although he is fully God, he's also fully human like us. He lives in the flesh, And so he experienced the same temptations that we do, yet he didn't sin.

There is a a more detailed account of that in Matthew four and also Luke four and how Jesus resisted that temptation. And it's so powerful tonight. We're just doing a brief overview, so I'm not getting into it. But I'll say this, the short answer in how Jesus resisted temptation was by the word. He used the word of God to resist temptation.

And so he didn't only know it, but he he put it into practice. He did what it said. But just for tonight and this very brief introduction here, My goal is to to just put this book in front of me, the whole outline that you see right in front of you there. But how in these few verses, how John prepared the way for Jesus, just like Isaiah said he would. This wasn't, a surprise.

This wasn't some rando dude who just shows up and says, hey. I'm the Messiah. No. This had been predicted hundreds and hundreds of years earlier. The people were waiting.

They were waiting for this messiah. And then how John's baptism was that of repentance. He's preparing people's hearts for Jesus' message. But one of the keys, again, for me was how Jesus would later baptize with the Holy Spirit and just how impactful that is. I think it's also important to show how Jesus' baptism marked the beginning of his ministry.

It was a very, very important and crucial part of Jesus' ministry. This baptism marks the beginning, and it showed God's approval that he indeed is God's dearly loved son. Also, for Jesus to be tempted in every way that we are, yet he was without sin. And, again, you see a greater account in Matthew four and Luke four, of that. But I wanna wrap I just wanna wrap this up by by saying my hope is that the more we read through the scripture and the more we read this gospel story, and some for I mean, how many times have we heard it in our lives over and over and over again that the more that we hear it, the more our faith and our trust would grow as we see who Jesus is and what it means for him to be the Messiah and then how he becomes the king.

And so that's that's the intro to Mark, and, I would like to just pray one more time. And and, if there's anything that you'd like to to, mention from these these verses and you'd like to comment, we could have a a bit of a conversation about it in this room. So, Lord, what a privilege, truly, to hear the good old gospel story again through Mark. The good news about Jesus, the Messiah, the son of God, how it was just as the prophets said it would be, and how John prepared the way for you. And he shared the promise that you would baptize us with the Holy Spirit, a true promise that we're experiencing today.

God, as we study this book, I do pray that your life and your teachings and your miracles and your death and your resurrection would spur us on toward a deeper faith, a deeper trust in you, recognizing you as our risen king, our savior, our lord. In Jesus' name, amen. So so from Mark, this is where I'd just love to to open it up for conversation. But was there anything in these first 13 verses that may have jumped out at you, kinda grabbed ahold of you, maybe something that you hadn't seen before or just tonight, it it made an impact on you. And if and if not, that's okay.

We, you know, we we let the scripture be the scripture. We can just read it. But if there are any comments, I'd love to hear. Yep. Yep.

Me too. And I I do appreciate in the other gospels that that it is truly marked out how he resisted that temptation. Because if he hadn't resisted that temptation, then he couldn't have become the perfect messiah and sacrifice for our sins. And so that temptation was it was absolutely huge that well, not only that he went through it, but also that he was able to resist. So I'm with you, Blake.

That's that's good. And he understands. Jesus understands what we are going through. He was tempted in every way that we are. There's a verse that say, no temptation has seized you except what's common to everybody else.

But God is faithful, and he'll he will help you to resist that temptation so you could stand up underneath. That's good. Good stuff. Thanks, Blake, for sharing that. Yep.

Any others? Any other comments from the the few verses that we read? Tim, have you got one? Right. Right.

Yeah. Absolutely. I I agree. As you were talking about that, was thinking, you know, what if what if, John the Baptist was some superstar? You know?

And he and he wasn't. He was kind of he was kind of weird from the description that you get. But it just shows us once more it was the message that's most attractive about Jesus, Jesus, not the messenger. That's a really good point. Thank you, Tim, for bringing that up.

I appreciate that. Yeah. Yeah. The message is the most important part. And I think what grabbed a hold of me was, you know, that that baptism, yeah, that was one to prepare their hearts.

He's preparing them for that message of Jesus. But that little phrase there, Jesus is gonna baptize you with the Holy Spirit, that's what really grabbed a hold of me because I think, oh my goodness. Where would we be without the Holy Spirit? You know, later on in Jesus' ministry, when he gives the gift of of his Holy Spirit, hey. The Holy Spirit's here.

He's gonna be our comforter, our our guide. He's gonna convict the world sin, but he's gonna convince it of of Jesus' righteousness. He's gonna lead you into all truth. He he's going to be with you all of the time, I think. Oh my goodness.

This news right here that John's giving is just unbelievable. It's so good, and they wouldn't know it yet. Not now. Their their hearts were just being prepared for for that message, for for Jesus' message. But later, they would receive the Holy Spirit.

And look, I mean, look what we have today because of the Holy Spirit. Look how the gospel is spread because God's spirit is inside of believer. It's just huge. It's amazing. Any other comments from from Mark?

Oh, shiny. Yeah. Yep. Absolutely. And I and I do like that in that temptation, he's he's saying you know, because he's offered he's offered food at one point because he's hungry.

He's in the desert for for forty days. Well, why don't you turn these these stones into bread? And Jesus could have. Absolutely. He could have.

But then what he says is, well, man doesn't live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. I mean, he was completely dependent on God. There was something even greater than just fee filling his stomach for a little bit. And, boy, I could learn from that one. I could tell you that.

Really. Thank you for sharing. Yeah. Any any other comments from from Mark? Appreciate the conversation tonight.

I really do. Because when when you when you share some of these things, then it brings it it into the light even more. And I think, oh, I didn't think of that. That's so great. And we get to share that in this room.

Appreciate that. So yeah. Any others? What can we can we close in song? We got one more.

A newer song. A Crowder song. This is one of my favorites lately describing who Jesus is.

Here's what he is.

Alright. One more, just one more verse I wanna leave us with here before we part, but it's a little benediction here from from first Timothy, and it's all all honor and glory to God forever and ever. And he's the eternal king, that messianic king that Mark is gonna describe in his gospel. The unseen one who never dies, he alone is God. Amen.