New Testament Studies: Mark (1): Chapter 1 v1 to v13 -- David Pawson

Summary

The video script presents an in-depth exploration of the Gospel of Mark, focusing on the beginning of Jesus Christ's ministry as recorded in Mark 1:1-13. It emphasizes the historical and theological significance of Mark's Gospel, highlighting its status as the earliest and shortest of the four Gospels, while also being the most lively in its narrative pace. The speaker delves into the character of John the Baptist, his role in preparing the way for Jesus, and the profound meaning of Jesus' baptism. This event is portrayed as a pivotal moment where Jesus is anointed by the Holy Spirit, marking the commencement of his public ministry. The summary underscores the Gospel's message of victory over spiritual warfare, the importance of repentance and baptism, and the centrality of Jesus Christ as both the Son of God and the savior of humanity. It invites viewers to reflect on the continuous relevance of these teachings in their spiritual journey and to recognize the presence of Jesus as an enduring force in their lives.

Takeaways

• 📜 The Gospel of Mark is likely the earliest of the four Gospels, possibly written by John Mark, a companion of Peter and Paul, and is based on Peter's accounts.
• ✝️ The Gospel of Mark is not a biography but a 'gospel', which in the context of the Roman Empire meant the announcement of victory, peace, and good news.
• 🕊️ Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist in the River Jordan is a pivotal moment, where the heavens open, the Spirit descends like a dove, and God's voice affirms Jesus as His beloved Son.
• 🔥 The Gospel of Mark is characterized by a sense of immediacy and urgency, often using the word 'immediately' to convey the rapid pace of events in Jesus' life and ministry.
• 📖 Mark's Gospel is the shortest and most concise of the four Gospels, yet it contains enough of Jesus' words and actions to lead someone to become a Christian.
• 👑 Jesus is portrayed as both the highest Sovereign and the humblest servant, combining these roles perfectly in His ministry.
• 🕰️ The Gospel narrative slows as it approaches the crucifixion, emphasizing the significance of Jesus' sacrifice and the culmination of God's plan for salvation.
• 💧 John the Baptist's ministry was to prepare the way for Jesus by calling people to repentance and baptism for the forgiveness of sins, fulfilling and reviving the prophecy.
• 🙏 Repentance is a key theme in Mark's Gospel, involving a change of mind and will, turning away from sin towards God, and is closely associated with baptism as an outward expression of this inward change.
• 🌐 The Gospel of Mark is relevant to all people, not just the Jews, because it tells the story of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who fought the ultimate battle against evil and won, offering salvation to all who believe.
• 🛡️ The spiritual battle between good and evil, God and Satan, is central to the Gospel narrative, with Jesus' life, death, and resurrection marking the victory of God's kingdom over the forces of darkness.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the Gospel of Mark?

The Gospel of Mark primarily focuses on the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It emphasizes the action and drama of Jesus' ministry, leading up to the ultimate victory over sin and death.

Why is Mark's Gospel considered the earliest of the four Gospels?

Mark's Gospel is believed to be the earliest because it is thought that Matthew and Luke used Mark's account when writing their own Gospels, adding details they found from other sources. Mark, being a close associate of Peter and Paul, likely received much of his information directly from Peter.

What is the significance of the wilderness in the Gospel of Mark?

The wilderness is significant as it is the place where John the Baptist preached and where Jesus was tempted by Satan for 40 days. It symbolizes a place of testing and preparation for ministry.

How does the speaker describe the pace of events in Mark's Gospel?

The speaker describes the pace of events in Mark's Gospel as lively and fast, akin to an express train, with the use of the word 'immediately' occurring 41 times in the first few chapters, indicating the rapid sequence of events.

What does the speaker suggest about the importance of reading Mark's Gospel in its entirety?

The speaker suggests that reading Mark's Gospel in its entirety is important because it provides a comprehensive view of Jesus' life and ministry. Despite its brevity, it contains enough information to lead someone to become a Christian and experience a life-changing transformation.

How does the speaker describe the role of John the Baptist in the Gospel narrative?

The speaker describes John the Baptist as a messenger and preparer of the way for Jesus. He fulfilled and revived the prophecy, calling people to repentance and baptism for the forgiveness of sins. His role was to connect the people of Israel with their coming King, Jesus Christ.

What are the two baptisms mentioned at the beginning of the Gospel?

The two baptisms mentioned are John's baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, which is a physical act symbolizing cleansing from past sins, and the baptism with the Holy Spirit, which is a spiritual act associated with empowerment for the future.

How does the speaker interpret the significance of Jesus being baptized by John?

The speaker interprets Jesus' baptism by John as an act of humility and an approval of John's ministry. It also signifies Jesus' need for an anointing by the Holy Spirit to empower him for his ministry, and it marks the beginning of Jesus' public ministry.

What does the phrase 'Thus saith the Lord' signify in the context of the Gospel?

The phrase 'Thus saith the Lord' signifies divine authority and the direct communication from God. Its absence for 400 years before John the Baptist signifies a period of silence from God, making John's ministry a revival of prophecy.

How does the speaker relate the concept of the Trinity to the Gospel message?

The speaker relates the concept of the Trinity to the Gospel message by highlighting the roles of God the Father, who forgives sins; Jesus Christ, who is mightier than John and through whom salvation comes; and the Holy Spirit, who indwells believers and empowers them for service.

What is the importance of understanding the Gospel as a 'gospel' and not just a biography?

Understanding the Gospel as a 'gospel' emphasizes that it is a message of good news about a victorious battle won by God through Jesus Christ, offering peace and forgiveness of sins. It is not merely a biography, but a declaration of victory and the offer of salvation to all who believe.

Outlines

00:00

📖 Introduction to Mark's Gospel

The speaker begins by inviting the audience to open their Bibles to the Gospel of Saint Mark, specifically chapter 1, verses 1-13. The study aims to explore the Gospel's account of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, leading up to Easter Sunday. The text highlights the prophecy of Isaiah, the role of John the Baptist, and the baptism of Jesus. The speaker emphasizes that the Gospel is not merely a biography but a record of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, with a focus on his teachings and actions. Mark's Gospel is noted for being the earliest and possibly the most neglected, attributed to John Mark, a companion of Peter and Paul, and likely written for a Roman audience seeking a narrative of action and drama.

05:01

📚 Mark's Gospel: The Shortest and Liveliest

The speaker describes Mark's Gospel as the shortest of the four Gospels, encouraging the audience to read it in one sitting to grasp its essence. Despite its brevity, Mark encapsulates Jesus' teachings in just 20 minutes of speaking and portrays his actions over three weeks, asserting that this is sufficient for life transformation. The Gospel is characterized by its lively narrative, with the repeated use of 'immediately' to convey a sense of urgency and pace. The speaker suggests that the Gospel's structure is like a speeding train that slows down as it approaches the crucifixion, emphasizing the significance of Jesus' sacrifice.

10:03

📜 The True Meaning of 'Gospel'

The speaker clarifies that 'Gospel' does not simply mean a story about God but originates from the concept of announcing victory in the Roman Empire. It signifies that a battle has been won and peace can be declared. Mark's Gospel is thus presented as an account of a war won by God through Jesus Christ, offering the good news of victory over evil and the promise of peace. The Gospel is about Jesus Christ, the Son of God, whose life and mission are central to the Christian faith.

15:04

🧝 The Role of John the Baptist

The narrative shifts to John the Baptist, who is portrayed as a fulfillment and revival of prophecy. John lived an ascetic life in the wilderness, dressing in camel's hair and eating locusts and wild honey. Despite his austere lifestyle, he attracted large crowds due to his message and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. The speaker highlights John's humility and his role in preparing the way for Jesus, the Messiah, by calling people to repentance and baptism.

20:06

📣 The Baptist's Mission of Preaching and Baptism

John the Baptist's mission is explored in depth, with a focus on his preaching about the necessity of repentance and baptism for the forgiveness of sins. The speaker counters modern suggestions that the Church should focus on social work rather than preaching, arguing that the primary need is for the forgiveness of sins, which can only be achieved through the Gospel. John's message is a call to action for morally responsible adults, emphasizing the importance of personal repentance and baptism as outward expressions of an inward transformation.

25:08

🌐 Jesus' Baptism and the Trinity

The speaker recounts the moment of Jesus' baptism by John, highlighting the unique aspects of the event. Jesus' baptism is marked by a vision of the heavens opening, the descent of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove, and a voice from God declaring Jesus as His beloved Son. This event signifies Jesus' anointing with the Holy Spirit's power, necessary for His ministry. The speaker also touches on the humility of John and Jesus, the concept of the Trinity, and the importance of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer.

30:09

🏺 The Spiritual Battle and Jesus' Victory

The final paragraph describes Jesus' time in the wilderness following His baptism, where He faced temptation by Satan. The speaker dispels the notion that Jesus was alone, noting His companionship with the Holy Spirit, angels, and the presence of wild beasts and Satan. This period marked the beginning of a spiritual battle, which Jesus won, empowering Him to preach and liberate those oppressed by evil. The speaker encourages the audience to recognize the ongoing spiritual warfare and to seek the same power that Jesus had in order to deepen their spiritual journey and understanding of the Gospel.

Keywords

💡Gospel of Jesus Christ

The Gospel of Jesus Christ refers to the good news concerning the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In the video, it is central to understanding the message of salvation and God's intervention in human history. The speaker discusses how Mark's Gospel is a record of these events, emphasizing the significance of Jesus' life and ministry.

💡John the Baptist

John the Baptist is a key figure in the Gospel narrative, known for preparing the way for Jesus. He is depicted as living a life of simplicity and humility in the wilderness, preaching a message of repentance, and baptizing people for the forgiveness of sins. His role is to connect the people of Israel with their coming King, Jesus Christ.

💡Repentance

Repentance is a crucial concept in the Gospel, signifying a change of heart and a turning away from sin towards God. It is more than mere regret; it involves a conscious decision to stop sinning and to seek God's forgiveness. In the video, the speaker explains that repentance is a necessary step for believers to receive forgiveness and to be baptized.

💡Baptism

Baptism is a sacrament representing the cleansing from sin and admission into the Christian faith. In the context of the video, John the Baptist's baptism with water symbolizes repentance and forgiveness, while Jesus' baptism signifies the start of his public ministry and his anointing with the Holy Spirit. The speaker also discusses the importance of baptism as an outward expression of an inward change.

💡Spiritual Warfare

Spiritual warfare refers to the struggle between good and evil, or between God's kingdom and Satan's influence. The video emphasizes that Jesus' ministry was not just about teaching but also about engaging in a battle against the forces of evil. This concept is illustrated by the account of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness after his baptism.

💡Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is personified in the Christian tradition as the third person of the Trinity, guiding and empowering believers. In the video, the Holy Spirit descends upon Jesus at his baptism, signifying his divine anointing and the empowerment for his ministry. The speaker also suggests that the Holy Spirit's presence is available to Christians today for strength and guidance.

💡Forgiveness of Sins

Forgiveness of sins is a central theme in the Gospel, representing the freeing of individuals from the consequences of their wrongdoing through God's grace. The speaker highlights that the greatest need of people is to have their sins forgiven and that this is achieved through repentance and baptism, as taught by John the Baptist and exemplified by Jesus.

💡Humility

Humility is showcased as a significant virtue in the video, particularly in the person of John the Baptist and Jesus. John's humility is evident in his acknowledgment of his inferiority to Jesus, and Jesus' humility is demonstrated in his willingness to serve others, even to the point of washing the feet of his disciples. The speaker emphasizes that humility is a foundational aspect of Christian character.

💡Prophecy

Prophecy plays a vital role in the Gospel as it foretells the coming of the Messiah and outlines the divine plan for salvation. The video discusses how John the Baptist is both a fulfillment and a revival of prophecy, as he comes in the spirit and manner of the ancient prophets, preparing the people for the coming of Jesus, who is the subject of many messianic prophecies.

💡Anointing

Anointing, in the context of the video, refers to the act of being consecrated or set apart for a holy purpose, often by the laying on of hands or the application of oil. Jesus' anointing at his baptism with the Holy Spirit signifies his divine appointment to his messianic role. The speaker suggests that Christians can also receive this anointing for empowerment in their spiritual lives.

💡Triune God

The Triune God, or the Trinity, is the Christian doctrine that God exists in three persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. The video touches on this concept by mentioning the roles of the Father (through the voice from heaven), the Son (Jesus' baptism and ministry), and the Holy Spirit (descending upon Jesus). The speaker underscores the Trinity as a fundamental aspect of Christian belief.

Highlights

The Gospel of Mark is considered the earliest written account of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection.

Mark's Gospel is believed to have been written with the assistance of Peter's firsthand experiences.

John the Baptist's appearance in the wilderness signifies the fulfillment and revival of Old Testament prophecies.

Jesus' baptism by John in the River Jordan marked the beginning of His public ministry.

Jesus' encounter in the wilderness after His baptism represents a spiritual battle between good and evil.

The Gospel of Mark emphasizes the concept of Jesus as both the King and the Servant, combining the highest and lowest aspects of leadership and humility.

Mark's Gospel is noted for its lively narrative style, using the word 'immediately' frequently to convey a sense of urgency and action.

The Gospel of Mark is the shortest of the four Gospels, condensing Jesus' teachings and actions into a powerful and concise account.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is described as 'good news' in the context of a battle won, bringing peace and victory.

The Holy Spirit's descent upon Jesus during His baptism symbolizes empowerment for His ministry ahead.

Jesus' time in the wilderness was not solitary; He was accompanied by the spirit, Satan, wild beasts, and angels, signifying a spiritual encounter.

The Gospel of Mark is designed to be read in one sitting, providing a complete overview of Jesus' mission in a compact form.

John the Baptist's message of repentance and baptism for the forgiveness of sins is central to the Gospel narrative.

The Gospel of Mark presents a clear depiction of the spiritual warfare that Jesus engaged in, setting an example for believers.

The Gospel of Mark is not a biography but a 'gospel', focusing on the divine message and mission of Jesus Christ.

The significance of the Gospel lies in the person of Jesus Christ, who is presented as the Son of God, the anointed King, and the savior of humanity.

The Gospel of Mark is structured to gradually slow down its narrative pace, culminating in a detailed account of Jesus' passion and resurrection.

Transcripts

if you have your Bibles with you will

you now please turn to The Gospel

According to Saint Mark

tonight we're going to begin a study in

this gospel which will take us right

through to Easter and finish on Easter

Sunday morning Mark's gospel chapter 1

and tonight we're only taking the first

13 verses

the beginning of the Gospel of Jesus

Christ the son of God

as it is written in Isaiah the prophet

behold I send my messenger before thy

face who shall prepare thy way

the voice of one crying in the

wilderness prepare the way of the Lord

and make his path straight

John the baptizer appeared in the

wilderness preaching a baptism of

repentance for the Forgiveness of sins

and there went out to him all the

country of Judea and all the people of

Jerusalem and they were baptizing

baptized by him in the River Jordan

confessing their sins

now John was clothed with camel's hair

and had a leather girdle around his

waist and ate locusts and wild honey

and he preached saying after me comes he

who is mightier than I the song of whose

sandals I am not worthy to stoop down

and untie

I have baptized you with water

but he will baptize you with the Holy

Spirit

in those days Jesus came

from Nazareth of Galilee and was

baptized by John in the Jordan

and when he came up out of the water

immediately he saw the heavens opened

and the spirit descending upon him like

a dove and a voice Came From Heaven

Thou Art my beloved Son with thee I am

well pleased

the spirit immediately drove him out

into the Wilderness and he was in the

wilderness 40 days tempted by Satan and

he was with the wild beasts

and the angels ministered to him

I'm sorry to say that the earlier part

of the first sentence of this study was

not recorded

our Bibles about Jesus about his life

that is Matthew Mark Luke and John there

are a number of other mentions of Jesus

and a number of other so-called Gospels

too full of Legend and man-made details

to be reliable

but it's quite amazing how much

information about Jesus has come to

light over the last 100 years in secular

histories and Records but we are

concerned with these four because they

come straight down to us from the

experience of those who lived with him

Mark's gospel is sometimes the most

neglected of all four I want to say

three things about it just to get us

interested and the first thing is it is

probably the earliest

probably the earliest

I can't prove that to you but I'll just

ask you to accept the opinion of those

who've studied such matters that Mark

was the first to write down the things

that Jesus did and an account of his

life and death and Resurrection

it seems that Matthew and Luke both used

Mark's copy Mark's details when they

wrote theirs and added to him

what they had found out from other

sources so it is probably the earliest

and John Mark was a friend of both Peter

and Paul

and it seems very likely that in his

home the upper room was where the last

supper was held and where a number of

other important events took place

certainly there is one very unusual

little story in the middle of this

gospel about a young man having to run

away in the middle of the night without

any clothes

and it's such an inconsequential detail

that many have felt this is Mark's way

of saying I was there

for there's no point in including that

story unless he's referring humbly and

indirectly to his own part in this great

drama

what does seem absolutely certain is

that he got most of his details from

Peter

this is the one Gospel of all four that

constantly brings Simon Peter down a peg

or two

and one would have thought this would

not have happened unless Simon Peter

himself

passed on these details and wanted

someone to tell everybody else that he's

Simon Peter was a simple sinner like

everyone else

so that it's probably the earliest

secondly it's certainly the shortest

and you could read it through quite

quickly at one sitting and I'm going to

ask you to do this not now but when you

get home sometime in the next few weeks

will you please sit down and read

through Mark's gospel without stopping

Sunday afternoon would be a very good

time for you to do it but if you want to

get the most benefit from these studies

this would be a great help to you it's

the shortest

if you add up everything Jesus says in

this gospel it only comes to 20 minutes

speaking that's all we've got

and if you add up all the events that

are portrayed in this gospel they only

come to three weeks

and Mark is saying that if you just had

20 minutes of what Jesus said and three

weeks of what he did you've got enough

to go on to become a Christian

to have your life change completely

I know a very few if any other people of

whom you could say that

20 minutes of what he said three weeks

of what he did and that is the gospel

that's the good news

thirdly it's not only the earliest and

the shortest it is easily the liveliest

and if you want a narrative with

tremendous Pace read Mark's gospel

he's got a favorite word I'm sure by now

I've been long enough with you for you

to spot my favorite words every preacher

has them and you have them as well

and his favorite word is immediately

immediately immediately immediately 41

times in the first few chapters

somebody has said that Mark's gospel is

like an expressed train well that's true

you rush from one thing to the next and

immediately the boat is at the other

side how it got there so quickly nobody

knows but Mark has this tremendous sense

of immediately everything's happening

straight away immediately it's all the

same word in the language he used

but I would say that Mark's gospel is

like an expressed train slowing up

and finally coming to a grounding hot

let me show you what I mean in the first

few chapters you raced through months in

a few sentences

then you begin to slow down and you look

at weeks then you slow down and you

begin to look at days then you begin to

slow down further and look at hours

until finally you are left at a

standstill

on a hill outside the city of Jerusalem

as if the whole thing was leading you to

that platform

as if the brakes were trying to slow you

up

and bring you to an utter standstill

before the cross and make a look at it

it's very cleverly done

and I'm sure the Holy Spirit was guiding

Mark to write this way

now he was probably writing for the

Romans

and the Romans were very practical

people and they loved an exciting drama

and they wanted action they weren't

interested in mystical

philosophy they were interested in

action they were very down-to-earth

practical people and so Mark said all

right if you want action here it is

if you want excitement here it is

if you want a drama here it is if you

want something that really does

something to history here it is I'm

going to write it down for you and so he

wrote it down and his pen kept writing

that word immediately so it's the

shortest the earliest and the liveliest

of the four gospels so now go home and

sit down and read it through preferably

in a translation with which you're not

familiar and then you'll be able to get

the new flavor of it

now I've given you an outline on the

paper so I'd better get on to that now

and describe two things about the book

first of all what is it about

let me underline that Mark's gospel is

not a biography

it is not a biography

sometimes I've heard people say that

Matthew Mark Luke and John wrote

biographies of Jesus well it's a very

funny biography

it only mentions three out of his 33

years that's an extraordinary biography

no mention of his birth no mention of

his Boyhood

no mention of the 30 years he spent

working as a carpenter no mention

furthermore a third of this book is

spent on his death

now I know that in Victorian biography

they used to lay the emphasis on the

deathbed scene and they used to give you

all the details and really lay it on

thick Victorian novels are full of them

that's a third a third this is going a

bit too far surely if Mark was giving us

a biography he would not have spent a

third of the book on this man's death

no it's not a biography what is it it's

a gospel

it's a gospel it's not meant to be a

story it's not meant to be a biography

it is a gospel

now what does this word mean

I suppose you know that in English it

means the story of God

it goes back to two Anglo-Saxon words

god and spell and spell means a story

and God's spell or gospel means God's

story

but that's not the meaning of the word

that he used what is it in his language

let me tell you it's exciting

very often in the Roman Empire there was

a big war going on at some distant

boundary of the empire

and they waited breathless in the city

of Rome waiting for news of the battle

waiting to hear if it had been one or

lost

and if it had been won

the messenger came running and as he

came running into Rome he shouted gospel

gospel gospel

and he meant victory

good news the battle's over and it's

been won now that's what the word gospel

means

it doesn't just mean something nice to

hear or a good story or even the story

of God it means this a battle has been

fought a Warfare has been engaged and we

can now announce the victory peace

and so Mark says I'm not writing a

biography I'm writing a gospel

I'm going to describe a war

and how the victory was won and you can

now have peace

and so that puts the word gospel into a

really exciting context and it's my job

as a preacher to be a preacher of the

Gospel when I was ordained a minister I

was told to preach the gospel

to tell people the war's over and you

can have peace because the victory has

been won

well now what war is going on here you

might say it looks like a war between

Jesus and the Jews

and that comes out again and again

and if that's the war then Jesus did win

you don't realize that till the last

page but don't read that first it spoils

it reads through the plot

but that's not the Warfare that Mark is

referring to

you might say that here is a war between

good and evil well there's a truth in

that too because you see in Jesus

goodness personified and you see in some

of the other people Herod and pilate and

the others evil personified and you see

a battle between the two and you could

say that good wins like all the Best

Westerns and all the nice stories but

it's more than that

in the very first part of the Gospel

that I've read to you the battle is

shown to be between God and Satan

that's the Warfare

and that battle was engaged two thousand

years ago and the victory has been won

by God

the beginning of the Gospel the good

news of victory

and how did it all take place where did

the battle

come where was the Warfare engaged the

answer is in a man called Jesus Christ

who was also the son of God and so the

real question about this book is not

what is it about but whom is it about

well it's about a man called Jesus

a historical human being who lived two

thousand years ago called Jesus

but if that is all you could say about

him it would not be a gospel

I have met people and some quite

recently who believe that Jesus was a

great man

a great healer a great teacher a great

leader

but they believe no more

and the simple result is they have no

gospel to preach

they've no good news to offer people

they can only say well try and copy him

try and live as he would have you live

they've got no good news

they've got no Victory to announce

because they only have Jesus as a human

being but Mark says my gospel is about

Jesus Christ

and that's a word full of tremendous

meaning it was already a thousand years

old when he used it and it went back

through the history of this people of

God called Israel to the days when they

first got a king

and the word Christ means to anoint with

oil

when our Queen Elizabeth II was crowned

in Westminster Abbey they anointed her

forehead with oil and in the order of

service in the radio times I noticed it

was called this act was called the

chrism

c-h-r-i-s-m the chrism

it means to be anointed to be king or

queen

it's a gospel because it's not just

about a human being called Jesus it's

about a king

someone who is

King anointed king that's what the word

Christ means anointed king

but if you believe that Jesus was a

human being and also believed that he

was the king of the Jews their Christ

you still haven't got a gospel of what

possible interest is it to us Gentiles

in 1969

that there was a Jesus A Man Called

Jesus who was anointed king of the Jews

no interest at all unless you're

interested in history why then is this a

gospel for 1969 because this was not

only a human called Jesus

and not only a Jewish King the Christ

but Son of God

here was no ordinary human being he was

God's own son on Earth that's what makes

it a gospel

because For the First Time God was in

the Battle For the First Time The

Warfare was being fought by God and not

just by men

and God's own son was fighting it

and got the victory so that it's the

beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ

the son of God now we've got some good

news now we've got a gospel to look at

this then is an account of how our

religion began

this is an

AK and from the very beginning one could

write this in large golden letters

Christianity is Christ

we are not preaching opinions we don't

have a new philosophy we don't have a

new system or even a way of life we have

a person to preach about

Jesus Christ the son of God

and it's his story

I once put up on a church notice board

this

saying history is his story

I had people ask me what it meant

gave me a grand opportunity to tell them

history is his story

he split history into AD and BC this is

his story

and the only bit of History you really

need to know everyone really needs to

know is this bit of History if they

don't know this they are lost

if they do know this and believe in the

person

who is described here they are saved

well now we come to the beginning of the

story and we begin with the Baptist

His Story begins not with Jesus himself

but with his cousin Joan the First

Baptist

that's not the commercial but I put that

word in because that's where it all

began I was asked this week when did

people first start baptizing as we did

last Sunday night and I I said 2 000

years ago

well now look at the men first of all

here is the most amazing man

take first the place he lives now we

live in a very nice part of England in

comfortable circumstances this man

didn't

he lived in the most terrible place I

think I've ever seen

it's not very large it's about 30 miles

long and 15 miles across

I've never seen anything so horrible

utterly desolate

death Broods in its valleys it's in the

rain shadow so that no Grass Grows there

and it's a sloping piece of land between

the top of the Julian Hills and the Dead

Sea

many thousands of feet below

and since no rain falls it's barren

and it's deserted and it's dead it's the

most horrible place

and this man lived here

he didn't have any fruit to speak of and

so he lived on Locust and wild honey he

didn't have any decent clothes

he had an old camel's head

coat around him and a leather girdle and

that was it

and this man was getting a congregation

into thousands

there was something about this man that

was different

what was it well two things

first of all he was a fulfillment of

Prophecy

and second he was a Revival of Prophecy

let me just take these two things

many many centuries before God had made

certain predictions which were promises

and they were these that one day he

would send to them a Christ

but that as with every royal visit there

must be someone to get ready for this

visit

I remember when the queen came to a town

in which I was living and some

servant of hers I don't know his exact

title came down months before to get it

already

and dear me where was she going to drive

along and which streets would have to be

cleaned up and where would the flags

have to be hung and all the rest of it

oh the queen was coming get ready for

the Queen the road down which she came

must be free of traffic it must be

smooth all the potholes filled up the

whole thing must be made ready the queen

was coming

and God said when I send your king I

will send someone first to make straight

the road

The Valleys must be filled up the

mountains brought low we must have a

highway a straight level Road in the

king is going to come

and so God said I'll send someone first

Isaiah said that

about 600 years before Jesus came and

about 400 years before Jesus came the

very last prophet of the Old Testament a

man called Malachi said that when he

comes

he will have to clean you up

with soap

you'll read it in Malachi chapter 3.

that this man coming to prepare the way

would have to come and clean them up

because when the king comes they must be

ready and things must be clean for the

king

I'll tell you this if the queen were

going to visit your house tomorrow you

wouldn't stay for the rest of this

sermon you'd be home with the Hoover out

if the queen were going to come to your

house you'd want it spotless wouldn't

you

and God said I'll send my Messenger to

prepare the way to clean you up

and John the Baptist was that messenger

he came to get a road into their hearts

he came to clean the road up to make it

straight for the king to come straight

into his people and John the Baptist was

one of these Great Men whose were his to

play second fiddle to someone else

and he was a humble man and he could do

it

I'm quite sure you've all heard of the

name Billy Graham but have you all heard

of the name Jerry Bevin

without Jerry Bevin haringey would have

been impossible in Britain

because Jerry Bevin came months earlier

and prepared the way and did all the

Spade work and got it all ready and

organized and got everything laid on

well I'm not drawing any false

comparisons between Billy Graham and

Jesus Christ because he would be the

first not to want that I'm using it as

an illustration

you don't always hear of the man who

prepares the way

for God's messenger

John the Baptist prepared the way

he got them ready and he was a

fulfillment of Prophecy but more than

that he was a Revival of Prophecy do you

realize what it must be like to wait for

400 years before God speaks to you

the children of Israel had been waiting

for four centuries for a man to say just

five words

or four words rather thus Seth the Lord

they hadn't heard those words in four

centuries and after all the prophets

from Moses to Malachi this was a

terrible loss and incidentally this is

why in our Bibles

there is a gap of 400 years between

Malachi and Matthew simply because

nobody spoke from God or there are

Jewish books you can find them in the

Apocrypha

but we don't have them in the Bible for

the simple reason they never include the

words thus saith the Lord and were not

interested in history

except God's speaking

through it and with it

and summer had come and gone and winter

had come and gone and parent had passed

it on to child and child had passed it

On to the Next Generation the

grandchildren said someday God will

speak to us again

and generations came and went over a

dozen Generations came and went without

a single word from God and then one day

one day a man called John said thus

saith the Lord no wonder they went out

from all Judea and Jerusalem to see this

man they'd waited 400 years

and prophecy was revived again once

again there was a man who could say this

is what God is saying to you now and

they dashed out to hear

then they noticed that he was wearing

the exact dress

of Elijah did you ever know that

exactly the same dress

they got the message all right God is

speaking again now that was the men

what then was his mission I'm taking

these two points in reverse order

this man came preaching

preaching

and those of you who were here at my

induction service here will remember

Jeffrey King's rather stretched

application of the word of the Lord

coming to John the Baptist but this man

came preaching

now I've been at conferences recently

where Christians and clergy have

suggested that the church should stop

preaching and should get outside and

should help to meet the needs of men and

stop preaching that preaching is going

out and it's a waste of time and it's

just talk that we must feed the hungry

and clothe the naked and care for the

immigrants and this is Mission

and this is what God is telling us to do

there is a place for these things and

they ought to be done

but what is the first thing we're told

to do

I can put it another way what is the

biggest need of men and women today food

for their bodies no

freedom for their minds no

forgiveness of sin

is still the greatest need of men

and I know of no way to meet that apart

from preaching the gospel

and this is the first test

to suggest that the church cannot preach

until she's opened clinics and hospitals

and schools is just belied by the New

Testament

John the Baptist came preaching and he

said the first thing you need

is to have your sins forgiven it's the

greatest need you've got

and he went straight through every other

need to this

and preach the Forgiveness of sins

that is the heart of what I'm to preach

to you

it's the greatest blessing I can offer

you and it's the fundamental need you

have because to live with a guilty

conscience is the worst thing that you

can go through

and forgiveness of sins is the loveliest

thing to experience

a great congregational Minister Peter

Forsyth once said this we have churches

full of the nicest kindest people who

have never known the despair of guilt

or the breathless Wonder of being

forgiven

that's an indictment

but that is our basic need to be

forgiven

when we come to church we come to a God

who is a pardoning God

there's nobody else quite like him for

this

so he preached forgiveness of sins that

was the first thing

what was needed to express it two things

repentance on the one hand baptism on

the other and this message goes straight

through into the rest of the New

Testament it it's still my message if

you are needing forgiveness of sins the

two things I must say to you I repent

and be baptized

what is repentance I mentioned it last

Sunday night it's not just feeling sorry

that could be just remorse or regret

repentance is more than the emotions it

is the mind saying it is wrong and I

don't want to do it again

but above all it is the will saying I

turn away from it

and I tend to God

repentance may have feelings it will

certainly have thoughts but if it's real

it will issue in an act

and baptism is also an act

now the word means to dip or to plunge

or to drench and so John was given a

nickname he was called the Dipper or the

plunger

or the or the drencher or the baptizer

whichever word you use baptized is not

an English word and the English word is

better translated or used plunge or dip

and so John dipped them John plunged

them why

he was saying to people do you want to

be clean

do you want to be clean then this is how

to show it

do you want to be clean from head to toe

then this is how to show it wash

yourselves and express your appeal to

God for a clean conscience this way Wash

Me thoroughly from head to toe that's

what it means it always did mean that

but the significant thing is that until

John came no Jew had ever been baptized

only Gentiles because to the Jew it was

the Gentile who was unclean and who

needed to wash himself it was the

Gentile who needed to get his past

washed away and so the Jew was quite

happy to baptize gentiles

when they came to the synagogue but he

wouldn't baptize a Jew

after all if you were a Jew you'd been

circumcised when you were a baby you'd

have been through all the ceremonies you

belonged

and the most startling thing about John

the Baptist is that he's saying to

people who've been through all the

religious ceremonies

who outwardly belong to the people of

God repent and be baptized for the

Forgiveness of your sins

and I must say today however offensive

it may seem to some that I cannot what

religious ceremonies you went through as

a baby

and whether your name is on a membership

role of a church or not

my messages repent and be baptized for

the Forgiveness of sins

this is what John was saying and it was

offensive to them we've been circumcised

but you know Jesus had been circumcised

and Jesus had been dedicated as a baby

but Jesus came at 30 and said baptize me

and approved John's Ministry in so doing

and this was his mission and I

underlined because I think it's

important that John's appeal was not to

babies but to believers

you can't tell a baby to repent and be

baptized it was to mature morally

responsible people who were guilty and

needed cleansing

and I believe that what this country

needs more than anything else today is

an appeal to mature morally responsible

adults repent and be baptized for the

Forgiveness of your sins

and don't rely on any connection

outwardly or physically or by heredity

with the people of God

now what was his message

this great man's humility pointed to

others not himself

and he spoke of two other people that

they would need to help them further

he said first of all is somebody coming

after me

so much greater than I am that I

couldn't even untie his shoelaces now I

find here a most interesting little

insight

in the order of slaves

they had a very carefully graded system

whereby each slave had certain duties

and among the slaves there was a very

definite grading

and the job of the second from the

bottom was to untie shoes

the second from the Bottom I want you to

notice that

and after the second slave from the

bottom had untied the shoes do you know

what the bottom one had to do the bottom

one had to wash the feet

does that speak to you about the

humility of Jesus

John said I'm in relation to him I'm not

even fit to be the second from the

bottom that when Jesus came

came to be the bottom one

but it speaks of the humility of John

when he says I'm not even worthy to be

the second one up

then he said something else now this

mighty one who's coming after me you'll

need him because he can give you a

baptism that I can't give you I can

drench you in water but he needs to

drench you in something else and he can

do it for you he can drench you in God

he can drench you in the holy spirit of

God and that's a baptism you'll need as

well

here are two baptisms mentioned at the

beginning of the Gospel itself

one is a physical one the other is

spiritual one is an outward saying the

other is an inward Thing One deals with

your past the other deals with your

future

one is connected with pardon and the

other is connected with power

and here are the two and John says

I can only help you to a certain point

but you'll need two other people to take

you on

you'll need the one who's coming after

me

and you'll need after him the Holy

Spirit whom he can give to you

and once again we are right into the

fact that Christianity believes in a

trinity

God

who forgives us

the one who came after John who is

mightier than John and the Holy Spirit

who indwells us

and we can never get away from the fact

of the trinity in the Gospel of Jesus

Christ

John's work then can be summed up by

saying trying to connect you do you hear

this on the telephone sometimes in a

very nice impersonal voice trying to

connect you

usually means they can't get through the

other end they're keeping hold of you

and they're trying to get hold of the

person you're trying to get through to

John the Baptist was saying I'm

chew

ing you and getting hold of you but now

the other thing that John needed was to

get hold of this Christ how is he going

to do this

if John was going to connect Israel with

Israel's King he must be in contact with

both and so far he'd only contacted

Israel and then one afternoon we're told

after the others had been baptized and

gone home John was standing by the

Jordan at the end of the day I've stood

at this place in fact I've conducted a

baptismal service here baptized in the

same spot it's very moving and he stood

there at the end of the day thought

overall had been baptized then he saw

one figure coming down the riverbank

his cousin Jesus

and to his astonishment Jesus said will

you baptize me now

we know from the other gospels why John

thought he shouldn't be and why Jesus

thought he should be and I'm not going

to dwell on that because it's not here

the simple fact is that Jesus was

and if Jesus was and calls me to be can

I refuse

there were however three unique features

of Jesus baptism which I point out in

closing

first of all the vision

the clouds it must have been a cloudy

day because the phrase the heavens open

mean that the clouds parted and they saw

the deepest Blue Sky in the middle so

the clouds parted

and suddenly they saw right up through

the Heavens to the deepest blue of the

sky and way down there through the Gap

in the clouds there came a white dove

not the symbol of peace as we often

think it is but the symbol of God's

power

the dove that brooded over the chaos in

Genesis 1 verse 3 and brought the order

of the universe out of the chaos the

dove that brings order and power the

Holy Spirit was coming can I put it this

way

Jesus didn't preach a single sermon or

perform a single Miracle before this not

one

why not

because being a human being as well as

the Son of God but being a real human

being he couldn't do it without God

and therefore what I'm saying is this

firstly I'm saying that Jesus needed an

anointing of the Holy Ghost with power

to do what he did

and secondly I'm going to say what D.L

Moody the Great American evangelist of a

hundred years ago once said

if the Holy Spirit who came down on

Jesus

and enabled him to do what he did

is available to me

and to a man today

what could that man not do with that

same spirit

and then he wrote in his diary that

night I intend to be that men

Dale Moody began the great work that he

did that day

you realize that if the same Holy Spirit

who came down on Jesus that day at the

Jordan River is available to you then

what Jesus said is true the works that I

do you shall do also

I wonder if any Christian has ever had

Faith to believe that he meant what he

said

because he even went on to say and

Greater Works than these shall you do

Lord we believe

help thou unbelief

that was the vision

and it should encourage every Christian

today to seek that same anointing with

power secondly

a voice obviously God's speaking and I

gather you were thinking of the other

occasion when God spoke at the

Transfiguration in this morning's

service do you notice that

the Old Testament twice but then he's

only quoting himself because it was his

word originally but what he said is most

interesting it comes from Psalm number

two and Isaiah 42 and it refers to two

things that he'd said hundreds of years

before up to a thousand years before one

was

Thou Art my beloved Son

which in the context of Psalm 2 is a

coronation service for a sovereign

but in Isaiah 42 the words in whom I am

well pleased refer not to a sovereign

but to a servant

now here is the amazing thing in Psalm 2

it is of the highest place that man can

have a sovereign

beloved Son but in Isaiah 42 in whom I'm

well pleased it is the lowest and when

Jesus was baptized God said I want you

to combine the highest and the lowest

the greatest Sovereign with the humblest

servant

in your ministry

that's what his baptism meant to Jesus

it meant taking the responsibility of

being King of Kings and servant of

servants

and it is this amazing combination how

do you combine them I only know that

when I look at the life of Jesus Christ

and study this figure I see the highest

and the lowest perfectly combined

I see someone who can wash feet and wear

a crown with equal dignity I see someone

who fits anywhere in the social scale I

see someone who is equally at home with

the highest and the lowest in the land

with the religious and political leaders

and with women of the streets

I see someone who combines The Sovereign

and the servant perfectly that's what

the voice means

and thirdly the vigil that followed

I've read in books that Jesus was alone

for 40 days after his baptism don't you

believe it

he was anything but alone I know there

were no human beings but it's a pretty

crowded scene in the wilderness the

spirit led him into the Wilderness so

the spirit was with him

Satan met him there so Satan was with

him he was with the wild beasts they

proud around him and the angels came and

ministered to him don't tell me that

Jesus was alone for six weeks

if you have no other human beings near

you're not alone

sometimes when you're sitting by

yourself with nobody in sight

the room seems crowded

I remember going with a dear old

Minister across the Northumberland Fells

to a Christmas day service we went

through the snow the two of us and we

went to a farmhouse

and there were only the farmer and his

wife at the service and the dear old

Minister who whose hands were laid on me

when I was ordained for the ministry he

repeated every sentence into the ear of

the farmer then into the ear of his wife

because they were both very deaf

and he preached his heart out to those

two

and as we drove back through the Slate I

said to Mr Evans you preached as if all

the angels in heaven were there he said

they were David they were

therefore with all the company of heaven

with Angels and Archangels we worship

and magnify thy Holy Name we need to

remember that the Angels worship with us

on Sundays here

Jesus was not alone in the wilderness

the battle had begun

on the one side the spirit and Jesus and

the angels on the other the wild beasts

and the devil natural and Supernatural

forces were engaged and it is

significant that it was after the high

moment of his baptism that this battle

took place believe me there's been a

battle this week I've met Satan every

day this week

since last Sunday night

there's a spiritual battle on and we're

fools if we think we can just have nice

times in church without engaging in this

Warfare

but Jesus went into it and he came out

in the power of the Holy Ghost and the

first round was one

and in the power of that Victory he

began to preach and Liberate the victims

of Satan in Galilee

but you must come next Sunday night for

us to look at that the first public

episode in his ministry let us pray

oh God our heavenly father we thank you

for the good news of Jesus Christ your

son our savior

we thank you that he came to Earth and

that he engaged in this spiritual

warfare to liberate men from Evil and

the powers of Darkness

and we pray that as we study this gospel

we may realize that it's not just

something that happened years and years

ago but that Jesus Christ is the same

yesterday today and forever and that

he's waiting and willing to fight for us

too and to give us the Victory and we

ask that as we understand these things

our spiritual pilgrimage May deepen and

continue and that every one of us may

come to a closer understanding of the

Gospel of Jesus Christ we ask it for his

name's sake amen