Welcome to Week One of our series of messages based on the Gospel of Mark. This is a two-part series. Part One is on the identity of Jesus. What understanding does Mark give us of who Jesus was? Obviously, he was the Son of God, but he was also a complex person who inspired a wide range of reactions from people. Part Two will be on the mission of Jesus.
This week we’re in Mark chapter one. Each of the gospels has a unique starting point in their record of the story of Jesus. Matthew begins with his genealogy. Luke starts with the record of his birth. John takes us back to the beginning of creation. But Mark just picks up in full stride with the ministry of John the Baptist. As we progress through the chapter, these study notes will give you five aspects of the identity of Jesus.
Study notes by Mark Lautenschlager, prayer guides by Tracy Lautenschlager.
Index to Days 2 through 5
Day 1
Baptizer
Observe
John baptizes Jesus in the Jordan river, but John tells us Jesus has come to be a baptizer as well.
{Mark 1:1-11 ESV} {1} The 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,'” {4} John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. {5} And 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. {6} Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. {7} And 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. {8} I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” {9} In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. {10} And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open 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.”
{John 1:29-34 ESV} {29} The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! {30} This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ {31} I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” {32} And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. {33} I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ {34} And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”
{Acts 1:3-5 ESV} {3} He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. {4} And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; {5} for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
To understand this, we need to talk about the English word baptize. This word was transliterated from the Greek (a process in which each Greek character is assigned the closest English equivalent). We usually represent Greek words using English characters anyway, to give English readers at least a chance to pronounce them. For example, the actual Greek spelling in their alphabet is βαπτίζω. But we would write that word as baptizo, from which we take baptize. The word means to dip or immerse (immerse being more likely). Before Jesus came to John, John had preached there was one coming after him, someone mightier, and he would baptize them with the Holy Spirit. We don’t usually think about Jesus in terms of being a baptizer, do we? John the Baptist, sure. Even the disciples of Jesus would baptize. But not Jesus himself. That’s because we keep thinking about baptism in water. Jesus has a much greater baptism for those who believe in him. Jesus will immerse them in the Holy Spirit.
- When you think about being immersed in something, what are you imagining? How does it feel? What changes about you, or perhaps your perceptions?
- When we think about being immersed in something, or flooded by something, those are dramatic words. For some of us, however, the reality of what has taken place spiritually doesn’t produce great emotion as it happens. If that’s you, how have you subsequently perceived the Holy Spirit working in you, perhaps over an extended period of time?
Heavenly Father, thank you for including this picture in scripture of Jesus, fully God and perfectly human, submitting himself to baptism by John. Help me to submit to you. Teach me to welcome the filling by your Holy Spirit. I want to be immersed in the life of your kingdom. Thank you for your patience and mercy toward me, calling me back again when I try to fill my life with lesser things. Amen.
Day 2
Incorruptible
Observe
Immediately after his baptism, Jesus is sent into the wilderness to encounter Satan, who tempts him for 40 days. (Mark does not give much detail, so be sure to read your Related Scriptures today for an alternate version from the Gospel of Matthew.)
{Mark 1:12-13 ESV} {12} The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. {13} And 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.
{Matthew 4:1-11 ESV} {1} Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. {2} And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. {3} And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” {4} But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'” {5} Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple {6} and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'” {7} Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'” {8} Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. {9} And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” {10} Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.'” {11} Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.
{Hebrews 4:15-16 ESV} {15} 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.
{Philippians 2:5-7 ESV} {5} Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, {6} who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, {7} but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
“Everyone has their price.” How many movies have we heard use that line? The implication is that no one is beyond temptation. What about you? Is there something you want so much that you’d give up anything else to get it? The author of Hebrews puts it to us that our high priest, Jesus, has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet has not sinned. For that to be true, what Satan offered Jesus as temptations must have indeed been things Jesus wanted. This was no fake test. What did Jesus want? Well, after 40 days, he sure wanted some food. The rest we infer from Satan’s other two offers. Satan quotes the Psalms to Jesus (Psalm 91:11-12), urging him to demonstrate his power and status as divine. But Jesus had chosen to not hang on to equality with God (that is, the rights of his divine nature). Jesus refrained from demonstrating his power. Finally, Satan offered to surrender the kingdoms of the world to Jesus, if Jesus would bow and worship him (which, by the way, means Satan in some sense owns the kingdoms of the world, because Jesus would not be tempted by a false offer). Jesus loves his creation and to wrest them free from Satan’s grasp must have tempted him powerfully. Yet again Jesus stayed his course. He had a much greater and more eternal freedom planned for his people. Jesus does have something he wants more than anything else. He wants eternity with his people.
- We are never tempted to do good; we are always tempted away from what is good. Is there something we can do to protect ourselves from temptation? What would that be?
- Think about something you deeply desire. It can be anything, even something as impossible as the return of a loved one who has died, anything that pulls at you so strongly your heart can barely stand it. Jesus wants you that much (or more!). How does that truth shape your relationship with him?
Dear Jesus, I am so prone to excuse my own sin because I was too tired or overwhelmed to do the right thing. Because I’m only human. I let my desires for the wrong things drive my poor choices. I know that you understand and have forgiven me and love me anyway, but help me to do better, Lord. Help me to recall scripture at those times of temptation and weariness. I will come to you, and “find mercy and grace in time of need.” Thank you, Jesus.
Day 3
Visionary
Observe
The first step toward a changed world was Jesus calling his disciples to follow him.
{Mark 1:14-20 ESV} {14} 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 8:34 ESV} {34} And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
{John 12:26 ESV} {26} If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
{Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV} {8} For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, {9} not a result of works, so that no one may boast. {10} For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
The other gospels also have Jesus calling disciples and both the Gospel of Luke and the Gospel of John describe demonstrations of his supernatural power. Even with that said, there must have still been quite a presence about Jesus, for men to leave homes and careers immediately, the first time they were asked, to follow him…where? Jesus didn’t lay out the plan other than to broadly say he was going to make them fishers of men. The heart of it was to come and follow him. So it is with us. Jesus says anyone who serves him must follow him (John 12:26) and anyone who wants to come after him must deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow him (Mark 8:34). But he doesn’t say where. That’s the thing about visionaries. They may or may not explain their vision, but most probably do not. Details may change, for example. And laying out the entire plan from the beginning invites second guessing and judging. As a visionary, Jesus gained followers because they believed in him. Now Jesus does certainly reveal some of his vision through his word, but that is to disciples (people who’ve already made the decision to follow him). When Jesus asks you to follow, you don’t ask where, because you trust him, no matter where he leads you.
- Where has following Jesus led you that you did not expect? What happened?
- What are some of the means by which God leads us as we follow him?
Dear Jesus, Thank you for saving me and calling me to follow you! Across all time and from around the world you have called your people to follow, and our roads have each been unique. My road has gone through both joy and sorrow, but you have been with me. Lord, help me to see and hear your presence. Show me the next step and I will take it, because I trust you. Amen.
Day 4
Healer
Observe
The next two sections contain both preaching and teaching, and healing. Jesus engaged in all three. You’ll therefore notice some overlap between today’s passage and the one tomorrow.
{Mark 1:21-34 ESV} {21} And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. {22} And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. {23} And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, {24} “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are–the Holy One of God.” {25} But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” {26} And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. {27} And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” {28} And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee. {29} And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. {30} Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. {31} And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them. {32} That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. {33} And the whole city was gathered together at the door. {34} And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.
{Exodus 23:25-26 ESV} {25} You shall serve the LORD your God, and he will bless your bread and your water, and I will take sickness away from among you. {26} None shall miscarry or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days.
{Psalm 103:2-5 ESV} {2} Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, {3} who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, {4} who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, {5} who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
{Jeremiah 30:17 ESV} {17} For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the LORD, because they have called you an outcast: ‘It is Zion, for whom no one cares!’
Setting a precedent for his apostles to eventually follow, Jesus would enter town, go straight to the synagogue, and begin to teach. He spoke with the authority of an author describing his own book, or a craftsman describing what he’d fashioned with his own hands. It was immediately apparent to those in the synagogue that he was special—including one man who had an “unclean spirit.” Jesus cast out the demon with a word and his fame began to spread. But he wasn’t healing to create a sensation. He was healing because that’s what he does. In his Lord of the Rings trilogy, author J.R.R. Tolkien, who was himself a Christian, offered this line in The Return of the King, “One of the city’s nurses recalled a legend of Gondor, which said, ‘The hands of the king are the hands of a healer, and so shall the rightful king be known.’” Jesus doesn’t get to be king because he heals people, he brings healing because he is the rightful king. Throughout the Old Testament, God promised to bring healing to his people, and Jesus fulfilled those promises.
- Do you think that some Christians are hesitant to ask the Lord for healing, either for themselves or someone else? If so, why do you think that hesitation happens?
- In some instances, Jesus healed all who came to him, while at other times he healed just a few, or even just one. Why do you think he didn’t heal everyone, everywhere, all of the time?
Heavenly Father, I praise you and thank you for the ultimate healing you have secured for me, healing from sin and death. But here I see that you sometimes heal from illness; what mercy and relief for those who are healed, and I praise you for it. I pray that all things will bring you glory: suffering with grace, healing, and even the death of your people. Help me to trust that your will is being done in all of these outcomes. Amen.
Day 5
Preacher
Observe
Jesus goes off by himself to pray, because everything does (or should!) start with prayer. His preaching ministry grows exponentially.
{Mark 1:35-45 ESV} {35} And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. {36} And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, {37} and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” {38} And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” {39} And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons. {40} And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” {41} Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” {42} And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. {43} And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, {44} and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” {45} But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter.
{Matthew 4:25 ESV} {25} And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.
{Mark 3:7-8 ESV} {7} Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea, and a great crowd followed, from Galilee and Judea {8} and Jerusalem and Idumea and from beyond the Jordan and from around Tyre and Sidon. When the great crowd heard all that he was doing, they came to him.
{Luke 9:10-11 ESV} {10} On their return the apostles told him all that they had done. And he took them and withdrew apart to a town called Bethsaida. {11} When the crowds learned it, they followed him, and he welcomed them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God and cured those who had need of healing.
Jesus began preaching at towns throughout Galilee and continued to display his authority by casting out demons as he went. He encountered a man with leprosy who asked Jesus to cleanse him. Despite what was certainly a terrible disease, the man showed remarkable humility. (Being a leper in those days would result in you being driven out of the town to live on your own or with other lepers. In many cases, a death sentence.) He says to Jesus, “If you will, you can make me clean.” In one sentence, he expresses his confidence that Jesus can heal him and a humble attitude in acknowledging if Jesus does heal him, it would be according to Jesus’ will. No doubts and no demands. Remarkable! And Jesus cleanses him, after which Mark tells us the leper was sternly charged not to tell anyone what Jesus had done, then sent on his way to see the priest and make the offering for his cleansing. It doesn’t take much imagination to picture one of his disciples saying to Jesus “You know he’s going to tell everyone, right?” (I’m picturing Peter, because he was always the one to speak up.) I imagine the answer from Jesus, “Yes, I know.” Of course Jesus knew. So why tell the man to say nothing? Scripture doesn’t say, but we trust that if Jesus hadn’t been willing for word to spread, he would not have cleansed the leper. The result was that Jesus’ fame spread so widely he could no longer openly enter a town, and people were coming to him from every quarter. Of course we cannot say for sure, but reading between the lines, that does seem like a more efficient way to gather big crowds for preaching, as opposed to going into each town one at a time. (Once again, total conjecture here. Your theory can be just as wrong as mine. One day, we’ll ask him why.)
- Why do you think Jesus might tell this leper to say nothing, when he knew that just the opposite would occur? We’ve shared one theory, what is yours?
- Why might Jesus want to preach in desolate places instead of in the cities?
Dear Lord, The story of your ministry on earth is amazing. Three brief years of traveling and preaching to small groups and crowds, without the power of modern broadcasting or social media, transformed the world. Remind me each day to read and meditate on your word, for it continues to have the power to transform. I pray that the preaching of your gospel will continue here and throughout the world. Show me how to support that. Teach me, even me, to be a preacher of your word in my speech and in my actions. Amen.