The Story of Jesus According to Mark: Pt 2

 

April 14, 2024             NOTES NOT EDITED 
The Story of Jesus:  “Inauguration Day—Decision Time”
Mark 1:9-13

LAST WEEK: Radical Roots. Jesus is the most radical figure in history and his followers should live radically different lives.

THIS WEEK: Decision Time

 SIS: The Joy in our lives, both now and for eternity, is the result of the decisions we make at crucial crossroads in life—the first being the decision we make to follow Jesus.

Examples of Crucial Decisions: Who we going to live WITH, what are we going to live ON; and Who/What are we going to live FOR.

READ: Mark 1:9-13

The baptism of Jesus reveals 2 Important Lessons related to our launch into a life of Christian love and service.

1.  His Inauguration into Ministry (vv 9-11)

(NIV84) 9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

BAPTISM is the inaugural event in the Christian life. It is the official statement of your allegiance to Jesus. It is the “Christian Oath of Office”

Come the middle of next January, an inauguration ceremony will be held for the 47th President of the U.S.  Many of us are praying it won’t be the same one who was the 46th president.  Regardless of who it is, “Inauguration Day” marks the official beginning of the next president’s term.  For Jesus, as with all His followers, our baptism is the official inauguration (or beginning) of our ministry.

Every great journey begins at a crossroads of decision.  That’s what we can learn from the baptism of Jesus.  Though His baptism is not perfectly parallel to ours (for He had no sin to repent of) it is instructive for our life.

Every great journey in life begins at a cross-roads.  A life of Christian ministry (not, the Christian life) begins with baptism.  We can and are saved wholly and completely apart from baptism (or any other work).  Christian life begins with another cross-roads: where obedience and rebellion split—which is repentance from sin.

But, I do not believe any man, woman or child can begin a world-changing ministry apart from baptism as an act of obedience.  Here, the crossroads is quite simply:  yes, or no.

Jesus, though without sin, said “yes” to baptism.  In Matthew we are told that John hesitated to baptize the Lord.  But Jesus declared,

“Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” (Mat. 3:15). 

We see four lessons emerge from the waters of our Lord’s baptism that weigh upon the issue of Christian living and ministry (Barclay).

(1)  It was a moment of decision.  Matthew 3:14-15

14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

Many a Christian has stopped dead in the waters of life because of indecision.  Some new believers never even get started because they fail even in the inaugural decision to be baptized.  And I’m not talking about being sprinkled or poured as a baby.  There is no other appropriate, obedient path to a continued life of holiness than to rise from the deep waters of full immersion.

Many problems in life come from bad decisions to be sure, but our greatest problems seem to arise from indecision at the point of a significant crossroads.

William Barclay said so eloquently, “The undecided life is a wasted life, the frustrated life, the discontented life, and often the tragic life.”

One of my favorite quotes on the importance of timely decisions of obedience was oft repeated in many a chapel service at college.  Dr. James Staples would quote from John Oxenham:

“To every man there openeth // A way, and ways, and a way //

The high soul treads the high way // And the low soul gropes the

low // And in between on the misty flats, // The rest drift to and fro.”

But, I cannot leave off the idea of decision without a few lines from the poet laureate under President John F. Kennedy.  Robert Frost wrote:

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

 And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I marked the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way

I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh

 Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,

I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

It would be easy to misapply the baptism of Jesus in comparison to the baptism of one such as you and I who are in need of repentance from sin.  But, it is clear to draw from the text of Mark that “baptism” is an important moment of decision at the crossroads of obedience and rebellion. It is a moment that will make “all the difference!”

Acts 2:41 (NIV84) 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

(2)  Nearly all preachers who preach on the baptism of Jesus point out that it is a moment of identification. 

Mark 1:10–11 (NIV84)

10 As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

Baptism was a Trinitarian Event. It Identifies Jesus as God, the Son, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity

For a believer, baptism identifies, or marks, a person as a follower of Jesus Christ.  It identifies us with the manner of Christ’s death, and it identifies us with the promise of resurrection.  Paul describes this identification process in this way:

Acts 2:41 (NIV84)

41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day 

Baptism identifies a new believer as a born-again follower of Jesus Christ.  It also identifies one with the great movement of God Among Men.  It is not only an individual identification, but a group identification as well.

Baptism is:

• the outward SYMBOL of an inner change
• the first SERMON you will preach
• the START of church membership

During this period of Jesus’ life, at around the year 30 A.D., give or take a couple years as needed to balance different calendars, there was a movement of people back to God.  A revival of sorts.  Look at verse 5:

“The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were flocking to him [that is, John] and they were baptized by him. 

This was a move of God, and Jesus wanted to “identify” it as such, and to “identify” with God’s people.  Baptism is a “grand inauguration” of one’s beginning of a life of service among people who are a movement of God.

We call ourselves “Baptists,” because we “identify” with the movement of God Among Men that began with the incarnation. Baptism identifies us a community of faith on mission for God.

(3) It was a time of approval   (12-13)

Mark 1:11 (NIV84)

11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

God’s favor is God’s promise of power.

Romans 8:31 (NIV84) If God is for us, who can be against us?

Before anybody makes the decision to be “born-again spiritually” they have a birth over which they have no part in the decision.  Some babies are more stubborn than others—but they all come out even if the doctors have to go in and get them!

From that wonderful moment when we “fall into life” we seek the approval of those who are most significant in our lives – first and foremost our fathers and mothers—for me, it was more my father.  When I was born I received what I consider to be the most significant sign of my father’s approval:  he gave me his name—not just the last name which all my siblings have, but the first name.  I am called “Jack.”  Though technically not a “Jr.” because that was my Dad’s common name and almost no one knew his real name.  That’s another story.

The point is, I received the full approval of my father and it has affected me greatly throughout the years—and even moreso as I get older.

Jesus always had His Father’s approval, but at His baptism God made His favor of Jesus known publicly.  The Jews had a saying about the “voice of God.”  In the rare occasions God spoke they would refer to it as Bath Qol: or the “daughter of the voice.”  It is what we call an “echo.”

God was too Holy to speak directly with men, but He was not so distant as to not speak at all.  But, except for a few rare instances, in the Bible God’s voice came from far away.  But not this time.  Look at verse 10:

¹⁰ As soon as He came up out of the water, He saw the heavens  being torn open and the Spirit descending to Him like a dove. ¹¹ And a voice  came from heaven: You are My beloved  Son; I take delight  in You!

The language is very strong and emphatic:  the heavens are literally “ripped open” and God speaks directly to His Son, “You are My Beloved Son.” There is no Bath Qol, or distant echo, but the thundering, authority voice of God declaring His approval.

The baptism of Jesus teaches us that all those who decide to serve God receive God unqualified, eternal approval.  That is why baptism is so important.  Without baptism, even if a person did really get saved—and that’s a theological possibility—the approval of God will only be a faint echo from the distant heavens. 

A faint echo of God’s approval will never launch a person on a “world-changing ministry.”

Hearing clearly God’s approval by a daily, moment to moment devotion to God is absolutely a critical part of one’s inauguration into ministry. Without this approval, ministry dies before it draws breath.

But, approval alone is not all we gain through our baptism.

(4) It was a moment of equipping.  (10)

In verse 10 we also read:  the Spirit [descended] to Him like a dove.

The simile, “like a dove,” has deep, theological meaning in describing the Person of Jesus Christ.  The picture Mark paints (as the other chroniclers of Christ’s life) describes personification of meekness.

Meekness is often used as a synonym in English for “gentleness,” but the Greek word for “meekness” is much more vivid and descriptive, and energetic than the word, “gentleness.” The word for meekness comes from the keeping of horses.  It means, “power under restraint” as a bit and bridle restrain the power of a horse.

The Holy Spirit does not make us “wimps” and “sissies.”  The Holy Spirit gives us “power under restraint” to meet any challenges the world might present – and I mean any challenges.

Jesus promises us: “You will receive POWER when the Holy Spirit comes upon you” (Acts 1:8).

I love to tell the story of Wilbur. He loved Jesus very much and he died a hero.  He didn’t look like a hero.  Wilbur was skinny, bald, and wore thick glasses. While in the waiting room before entering heaven upon his death, Wilbur struck up a conversation with another man as they were waiting for mansion assignments.  The man asked Wilbur, “So, did you ever do anything significant with your life?” Wilbur replied, “Well, one time I defended a little old lady from a motorcycle gang.  All of their motorcycles were lined up in front of this bar.  I saw them tormenting this little old lady and so I went and pushed over the first motorcycle in the row.  They all fell like dominoes making a terrible noise.  While they were distracted with the sound of their prized motorcycles crashing, the little lady ran away.”  “Wow,” the other man replied, “You don’t look like the type to take on a motorcycle gang.”  Then the man asked, “How long ago was that incident?”  Wilbur smiled and said calmly, “About 3 minutes ago.”

We can be bold and heroic as we minister in this world because God has “equipped” us with the Holy Spirit. 

Acts 1:8 (NIV84) 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

We have a power from on high that people of the world do not have—including motorcycle gang members.  Jesus baptism was a “time of equipping.”

That’s why Mark begins verse 12 with the word, “immediately.”  Immediately after we are inaugurated into ministry including being equipped for ministry—we are tested.

2.  TESTED for Ministry (vv 12-13)

¹² Immediately  the Spirit  drove  Him into the wilderness.  ¹³ He was in the wilderness 40 days, being tempted  by Satan.  He was with the wild animals,  and the angels  began to serve Him. 

The baptism of Jesus, as with all Christian baptism, inaugurates a person into Spirit-empowered, world-changing, radical ministry.  It is a time of decision, a time of identification, a time of approval and a time of equipping.

That’s why we need the moment of equipping that comes at baptism. Over the years it has become almost an axiom:  those that delay baptism hasten the fall into doubt and temptation.

I’ve gathered the teaching in regard to “temptation” with that of “baptism” because of the word, “immediately” in verse 12.  This word is a favorite of Marks.  It occurs in one form or another over 30 times.  That’s what makes Mark’s gospel so exciting.  It is like an action movie that begins with a car chase and the action never stops.

The text declares and human experience has demonstrated that even before the water stops dripping from the one just baptized, the Devil comes with flaming arrows of doubt and temptation.  COUNT ON IT!  We need to view Christian ministry as being in an army, not relaxing in an arm-chair.

 Take special note that the “testing” of Jesus came at the direction of God:  “the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness.”

God is sovereign.  That means His authority extends to every thing:  good, bad, or otherwise.  There is nothing that is not subject to His Sovereign authority—including evil. 

God’s Sovereignty can be diagrammed grammatically. The NIV says, “the Spirit sent; the NASB says, “the Spirit impelled.” The NLT says, “The Spirit compelled.” There are many different descriptions of what was DONE, but total agreement and no equivocation about WHO DID IT. The Subject of the Sentence is: God, the Spirit.

This is why Reformed Theologian R.C. Sproul teaches, “nothing bad ever happens to a child of God.”  That sounds shocking at first blush but makes perfect sense when you understand how “testing” works in the life of a believer.

The word in our text translated,“being tempted, (sometimes tested or proved),  version is peirazō.  This word can be used to speak of an “evil enticement to sin” or of a “test designed to approve a saint.”  The key issue is, who is doing the “tempting.”  Here’s how the idea of “tempting” plays out in the N.T.  

I put this in the sermon notes so I won’t dwell on it, but to simply emphasize that EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS IN OUR LIVES FALLS UNDER THE SOVEREIGN CONTROL OF ALMIGHTY GOD—INCLUDING THE WILDERNESS OF TRIALS.

The Wilderness was not only an expression of God’s punishment but also God’s provision.

Or, as Rick Warren says, “God never wastes our pain.”

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1. “Peirazo” used in a positive sense (Jam. 1:2): any situation which  
     requires a person to exercise faith.  Jesus is the object of faith, so

     that does not apply here.

2.  “dokimazo” another Greek word that describes successfully over-

     coming a test (Jam. 1:3,12). Could have been used here, but wasn’t

3.  “Peirazo” can be used to describe the evil activity of Satan to try

      to influence (entice) a Christian through his sin nature. Jesus does
      have a sin nature so this does not appy here. Satan is just a tool

      in this text (Jam. 1:13-15; Rom. 7:15-25). 

4. “Peirazo” used in positive sense: describes a situation God uses

             or allows for Godly purpose (Heb. 11:17; 1Cor. 10:13). 

 

     This is how “peirazo” Our text shows God’s hand upon His Son.

     This truth applied to reminds us that God will never bring a
     “test” into our lives that we cannot overcome (1Cor. 10:13).

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You can think of temptation as “on the job training.”  If you are a believer – it is different if you are not a believer – you are guaranteed to pass every test God sends, or allows to come your way.  How beat up you get during that test may depend on how well you are prepared, but there is never any danger of failing the test.

There are many examples in the O.T. of saints who were sorely tested. Abraham, for one, and of course there was Job.  Because we have the benefit of a heavenly perspective, we see that in every case, God, the Sovereign King of the Universe, was always completely in charge and the success of those being tested was never in jeopardy.

This is why R.C. Sproul says, “Nothing bad ever happens to a believer.”  God has His Sovereign Hand on every event in our life.  When we go through “testing,” as Jesus did, we come out more pure and more effective in ministry.

LIKE GOLD REFINED BY FIRE.  The ore often lies encrusted in worthless rock, but the fire of the smelter—white hot in intensity—does not destroy the gold, but releases it from the confines of its worthless capsule and makes it useful and valuable.  Likewise the testing of our lives makes us more useful and valuable to God.

Often, someone will come up to me and ask, “What time is it?”  The standard wisecrack answer is:  “Time for you to buy a watch.”  That would be rude—and perhaps dangerous depending on the size and disposition of the one asking.

A better answer would be:  “It’s decision time.”  That’s really the critical issue.  Though, I’m not sure that is really any safer.

It is “decision time,” however.  Your entire eternity rests on the decision you make today to either:  1) put your full faith and trust in Jesus, or 2) reject Him and live for yourself.

Decide for Jesus, today.