Calvary Bible College 1100 Caprice Drive Castle Rock Colorado Tel: Web:

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1 Calvary Bible College 1100 Caprice Drive Castle Rock Colorado Tel: Web: Mark: The Servant Gospel, NT352 Introduction Part I. The Servant Who Came Before The Servant Son. Chapter 1:1 13 Part II. The Servant s Work: Not to be Ministered to, But to Do Ministry. Chapters 1:14 10:52 Chapter 1:14-45 Class 1 Introduction and Chapter 1 John: Introduction Scofield will suffice, we are drawing from him: Human author. The writer of the second Gospel, Mark, called also John, was the son of one of the New Testament Mary s, and nephew of Barnabas. -He was an eye witness, Mark 14: He was an associate of the apostles, and is mentioned in the writings of Paul and of Luke (Acts 12:12, 25; 15:37, 39; Col. 4:10; Phm. 24, 2 Tim. 4:11;). -Early on he was not trusted to be faithful by Paul (see Acts 15:37-38). But Mark re-earned trust from Paul towards the end of Paul s ministry (see 2Tim. 4:11). The date of Mark has been variously placed between A.D. 57 and 63. -Whereas Matthew s date has been placed at 37 AD Theme. The scope and purpose of the book are evident from its contents. -In it Jesus is seen as the mighty Worker/Servant, -Rather than as the unique Teacher, as in Matthew, or the Son of Man as in Luke, or God the I AM in John. -Mark is the Gospel of Jehovah s Servant the Branch (Zech. 3:8), as Matthew is the Gospel of the Branch unto David (Jer. 33:15). -Everywhere the servant character of the incarnate Son is manifest. -The key-verse is 10:45, For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister. -The characteristic word is immediately, a servant s word. -There is no genealogy, for who gives out or traces the genealogy of a servant? -The distinctive character of Christ as portrayed in Mark is that set forth in Phil. 2: Let this mind (the servant s mind-set) be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 1

2 -But this lowly Servant, who emptied Himself of the form of God, and was found in fashion as a man, -This Servant, was, nevertheless, the mighty God (Is. 9:6), as Mark distinctly declares (1:1), and therefore mighty works accompanied and authenticated His ministry. -As befits a Servant-Gospel, Mark is characteristically a Gospel of deeds, rather than of words. Mark is in five principal divisions: Part I. The Servant Who Came Before The Servant Son. Chapter 1:1 13 Part II. The Servant s work: Not to be Ministered to, But to Do Ministry. Chapters 1:14 10:52 Part III. The Servant Presented as King and Rejected. Chapters Part IV. The Servant Lamb: Giving His Life For Many. Chapters 14 15:47 Part V. The Servant Risen, Instructing and Ascended. Chapter 16:1-20 -Each of these divisions are broken up into paragraphs of verses -Each paragraph is given a servant related theme, whether of The Servant, our Lord Jesus Christ -Or a Servant such as ourselves, perhaps in identity with the Disciples or other servants in the text Our Approach and Methodology -We will travel back in time and place ourselves among the predominantly gentile people who would have received and read the Book of Mark with only Matthew and the Old Testament as Scriptures available to them. -Remember to the Jew first, hence Matthew in 37AD, then to the gentiles, Mark in AD. -There may have been some NT letters in circulation, but we will approach our class with only Matthew and the Tanakh in hand as we study the Book of Mark -We will look at words and analyze them but not how they are used outside of Mark or Matthew in the NT, -But we available to us as the audience of Mark, the LXX, which is the Greek Translation of the OT. Part I. The Servant Who Came Before The Servant Son. Chapter 1:1 13 Chapter 1:1-13 Joey: The Servant Son Had a Forerunner v.1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. * -Right away Mark tells us His earthly name and mission: Jesus Christ and then who He was before He became a man named Jesus who was and is the Christ, the Messiah. -We have the beginning of this gospel because this is the beginning of Mark, the Official beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God! -The Bible is full of gospel, good news, but here in Mark we have the heights of gospel or good news v.2 As it is written (perfect passive) in the Prophets: "Behold, I send (verb of Apostle) My messenger (the angel ) before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You." v.3 "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.' " -Mal. 3:1: "Behold, I send My messenger -Then Mark gives us a summary of Is. 40:3: v.3 cont. The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God. -The Servant had messengers (both written and orally thru a person) sent before Him -He Himself is THE ultimate messenger sent to others, with a message and service/works, that verifies His message -Servants are sent to others before He comes into their lives 2

3 - the voice -Servant Ambassadors are first to be heard and not seen -BUT once servants are heard then their message needs to be seen The Pre-Jesus Servant is... v.4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for or with a view to the remission of sins. -The order here is interesting: preaching followed by baptism into the remission of sins, which can only occur with the shedding of blood, which was still future, for he was far the Temple sacrificial center. - in the wilderness, which means they came to him, he did not go to them -This is the opposite of our mandate from Matthew: Go into all of the world -Matthew s account reads this way: 11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. -Edwards: Like Elijah (1 Kgs 17:2 3), John is identified with the wilderness the vast and barren badlands of Judah, seared by wind and heat. -Edwards: John s appearance in the wilderness fulfills both the Mosaic and the prophetic prototypes: it is a reenactment of the mighty inaugural event of Israel s history in the Exodus... frequented by John and is precisely the region associated with Elijah (2 Kgs 2:6 14). -John summons people away from the routines and comforts of their urban domiciles, and especially away from the hypocritical temple of Jerusalem, to a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins in the wilderness. -Very often people have a hypocritical view of the church as symbolized by the building, and will not come to it. -Are we then to be ready to go into the wilderness of their lives to bring them good news? This is how John s Ministry unfolded. v.5 Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. -John covered all of the southern part of the country, by staying in one place, the south eastern area, near the top of the Dead Sea -All came to him -Who covered the north, above unclean Samaria, which was right in the middle? -Matthew says this of Jesus (after His baptism by John, His temptations in the wilderness and after He had heard that John was put in prison probably at the end of Jesus first year of ministry)... Matt. 3: Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali v.6 Now John was clothed with camel's hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. -John came as himself though from a priestly family -John dressed and reflected his inner Elijah -Matthew tells us this about John and Elijah: 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 3

4 14 And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear! What was the essence of what John preached? v.7 And he preached, saying, "There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. v.8 I indeed baptized you with water (Matthew adds: unto repentance), but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit (Matt. Adds: and fire)." Matthew s Account, 3:11-12 *Purple wording unique to Mark John: The Personal Preparations of The Servant Son 1 st preparation for servanthood: Identification baptism V.9 It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. -He came from was stationed in the Galilee, from the town He was raised in, Nazareth 2 nd preparation for servanthood: Being filled with the Holy Spirit v.10 And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. -It came upon and the Spirit dominated or enveloped Him? -How so in Matthew 12:28 we read this 28 But if I cast out demons by or in the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. -Matt. 4:1 says this about the influence of the Spirit upon Jesus: 4:1 Then Jesus was led up by (hupa, under) the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 3 rd preparation for servanthood: Assurance that you are a beloved child of God v.11 Then a voice came from or out of heaven, "You are My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." 4 th preparation for servanthood: letting the Spirit drive us, and not we the Spirit v.12 Immediately the Spirit drove Him 5 th preparation for servanthood: learning deal with people, enemies and dealing with ourselves! v.12 cont. into the wilderness. 6 th preparation for servanthood: There is a time limit to our wilderness training and testing: God knows v.13 And He was there in the wilderness forty days, 7 th preparation for servanthood: servants must tested so that they can see where there is lack, where there is readiness v. 13 cont. tempted (to break down, to find fault & faithfulness) by Satan, and was with or amongst the wild beasts; and (after His temptations were over) the angels ministered (diakinos) to Him. Matthew s Account, 3:13-4:11 4

5 Part II. The Servant s work: Not to be Ministered to, But to Do Ministry. Chapters 1:14 10:52 Chapter 1:14-45 Joey: One Servant is Finished, Four Servants Begin v.14 Now after John was put in prison, -Why was John put into prison? -Hint All had come out to him... -We lament when a great name in Christendom is gone... -We often say what is the kingdom of God going to do without Him or Her? -Little do we know that at the opposite end of the country at least four more are being trained to take his place! v.14 cont.... Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And what is the gospel of the Kingdom of God? V. 15 tells... v.15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel." -Did the gospel message s content change from the Gospel of the Kingdom of God is at hand to a different Gospel? -Yes we have hints of this change in Matt. 26:12-13, just before His arrest and crucifixion and after His rejection of Israel in Matt. 12 and foretelling His disciples of His death, burial, and resurrection starting in ch.16, but not until He had rejected Israel, who first rejected Him. 12 For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial. 13 Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her. v.16 And as He walked by or along side of the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a circular net into the sea; for they were fishermen. -The Servant looked for a connecting bridge from the current occupation to their future occupation -Pillar: casting a net: With practice and dexterity the casting net could be handled by a single fisherman who, either standing in a boat or, as is the case here, wading out into the water, gathered the net on his arm and heaved it forcefully outward in a circular motion so that it would land like a parachute on the water, trapping fish as it sank to the bottom. Fish were retrieved by the fisherman diving to the bottom, gathering the weights of the net together, and dragging the net and its catch to shore v.17 Then Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men." -From Matthew and Mark we do not know how long they knew Jesus... BUT logic says we do not drop all we are doing and follow someone we do not know. -So knowledge of, trust in, Is not the issue it is obedience to go from being believers to disciples Three steps: 1-Follow me 2-In the act of following Him, He will make them... 3-Fishers of men v.18 They immediately left their nets and followed Him. -They were so sure of this that they obeyed immediately and followed Him v.19 When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. 5

6 v.20 And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him. -Both sets of brothers were busy working, one set casting nets, and one set mending nets -In our two NT Books the Greek word for mending appears three times. -Once is it used in Matt. 21:16 in a different way and said to Him, Do You hear what these are saying? And Jesus said to them, Yes. Have you never read, Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise? -What is the word here that is the same as mending? - perfected. Who perfected them? The Lord did. -What does mending/perfected mean? -Louw-Nida: to make adequate, to furnish completely, to cause to be fully qualified, bring adequacy. -So here we have two sets of brothers -Both dealing with fishing -One set to be made fishers of men -Peter certainly became that -John and James menders or perfecters, John certainly became that as a ministry -His servants are to be fishers and menders of men, perfecters as instruments of the Lord. Matthew s Account, 4:12, John: The Servant Teaches and Establishes His Authority v.21 Then they (Jesus and at least the four) went into Capernaum, and immediately (our key word, 4 th usage thus far) on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. -What is the best place and the right time to reach the most people? -Saturday s Sabbath at the synagogue v.22 And they were astonished at His teaching, -Why were they astonished at His teaching? v.22 conts. with the answer... for He taught them as one having- possessing authority, and not as the scribes. -He did not quote other men as the Scribes, BUT He became quotable -What were the two sources of His authority? v.23 Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit (singular). And he cried out (continuously), -What was the goal of the unclean spirit? -Unclean spirits are known by two other descriptors: Demons (18 times in Mark) and Devils (none in Mark but 6 times in Matthew) v.24 saying, "Let us alone (who is us?)! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are--the Holy One of God!" -What did the demon know about Jesus? -What do demons/ the devil know about you? -How did the demon lie to his possessed host? 6

7 v.25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet (same word He said to the sea in 4:39), and come out of him!" -rebuke = 2 commands. -#1: Be quiet!: The servant is taking control of the room... -#2: Come out of him!: separating the demon from the man and thus delivering the man v.26 And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. -The demon has no voice except thru the vocal cords found in a human body v.27 Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him." -How was Jesus actions towards the demon possessed man a new doctrine? -See Matthew 12: And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. 28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. v.28 And immediately His fame or report regarding Him, spread throughout all the region around Galilee. -Without the internet, or phones, just word of mouth, face to face -Is this something Jesus was looking for? Fame or report of Him? -Yes and No! Matthew s Account, 4:13-17 Joey: The Servant Lifts up in order that We Might Serve v.29 Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, (in Capernaum) with James and John. -Probably hungry, great ministry at the Synagogue was finished, now it is time to eat and relax? v.30 But Simon's wife's mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. -Ministry can be so inconvenient... -Interesting that they told him about her. -They knew He had abilities to heal that they did not have v.31 So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served (diakineo, ministered to them all) them. -Which came first: The lifting up or the fever leaving her immediately? -Servants lift up others... the rest is up to God! -But whatever the measure of grace, ministry will follow! Reports must have spread in and around Capernaum because... v. 32 At evening, when the sun had set (and the Sabbath was over), they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed. -Why only these two types of disabling s? v.33 And the whole city was gathered together at the door. -traffic cops were directing traffic -the front yard rock garden was being trampled upon! v.34 Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did 7

8 not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him. -Heaven does not need nor does it not want promotion from hell. Why? Matthew s Account, 4:14-17 John: The Servant Prays in the Dark to Walk in the Light v.35 Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. -After a very day and night... He sleeps in. Not! -He does not do what is natural on earth, but He does what is natural in Heaven v.36 And Simon and those who were with Him intensely searched for Him. -They seemed to be in a panic! v.37 When they found Him, they said to Him, "Everyone is looking for You." -They want to make you mayor or even something greater if they could! v.38 But He said to them, "Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth or come out." -How did He know it was time to leave? -What is the priority here in the other towns? -What does He not say He is going to do? -What is our priority? -Notice He does not say: For this reason I was born, but for this purpose I came forth! -No He has come forth. From where? v.39 And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons. -His mission being back on track and the opposition s disruptive demons thru people were probably trying to distract the hearers and the messenger! No Matthew Account Joey: Submissive Faith Moves the Compassionate Servant v.40 Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, "If You are willing, You can make me clean." -What are the five characteristics of this man: 1-He was an incurable leper, he therefore was alone, had no human touch except perhaps w/other lepers 2-In spite of social dogmas and stigmas He came boldly by faith to Jesus 3-He implored Him, not because the Leper wasn t sure of Jesus ability, but he wasn t sure of Jesus will! 4-He worshipped Him, and Jesus did not stop him. He knew who Jesus was. 5-Next he did not implore Him again but made a statement: If you are willing... you can, you are able, but are you willing -This is a new category of disabling s, diseases if you will. -Regarded as incurable and at least as a type of sin if not sin caused v.41 Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed." 8

9 -The HOLY One remains Holy when He touches the leper. -A change does not happen to the toucher, but the touched -Grace is greater than sin or its minions v.42 As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. -The leper needed to hear Jesus speak these words before he was cleansed: I am willing; be cleansed! v.43 And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once, v.44 and said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded (in Lev. 14), as a testimony to them (the priests)." -Being under the law Himself He commands the former leper to follow Moses instructions and go show Himself to the priests and do what the law commanded. -BUT not just to keep the law but be a testimony to them of the great thing that God did for them -There are often opportunities to be a witness of the things God has done for us. -Sometimes these opportunities we gladly do, here the man had to travel many miles to fulfill a legal obligation and by dong so be a witness! v.45 However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction. -His disobedience hindered the spreading of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God! -How would Jesus handle His disobedience, the hindrances? -What would be the lasting effect of this crowd excitement? Would they follow Him or were they just looky lous? -We ll discuss next week. Matthew s Account, 8:2-4 9

10 Calvary Bible College 1100 Caprice Drive Castle Rock Colorado Tel: Web: Mark: The Servant Gospel, NT352 Introduction Part I. The Servant Who Came Before The Servant Son. Chapter 1:1 13 Part II. The Servant s Work: Not to be Ministered to, But to Do Ministry. Chapters 1:14 10:52 Chapter 1:14-45 Class 1 Introduction and Chapter 1 Introduction Part I. The Servant Who Came Before The Servant Son. Chapter 1:1 13 One of the key verses of Mark Mark 10:45 (also in Matthew 20:28) For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. - to die so that believers may be freed from the power of sin and death. Jesus lived the human life of a true and faithful servant. Completely obedient and totally reliable on The Father. 1

11 Serve and give are our part as Jesus did these for us. - The church has too many wide receivers in it today Ransom Only Jesus could do this for us! If we desire to be and to do the same, the book of Mark is going to be a valuable manual of what that true and faithful service should look like. John and I are going to be approaching this gospel mostly from an application point of view. We will only dive into interpretation unless the text is not clear. In the book of Mark there is less teaching and more action. If the book of Mark had a movie rating it would be under Action - Being a servant means that you live your physical and spiritual life serving God and others by action. One commentary I read said this The emphasis in this gospel is on activity. Mark describes Jesus as He busily moves from place to place and meets the physical and spiritual needs of all kinds of people. One of Mark s favorite words is straightway, meaning immediately. He uses it forty-one times - What would this world look like if followers of Jesus Christ, obeyed and served with that motto immediately.? o I ve learned in 15 years of ministry that people often talk themselves out of the mission that God wanted to send them on. They rationalize it I m too busy, I m not capable of doing that? I need to pray about it. Let s take some application from Mark s life When Mark was young in age and in faith, he went on a missionary journey with Paul and his uncle Barnabus and he had a toddler moment (NO J) he packed his bags, he chickened out, turned away, he quit and went crying home to momma. He abandoned the mission that God had sent him on. Have you ever had one of those moments? Are you having one tonight? - Have you ever dropped the ball on something God asked you do? Something he wanted you to say or didn t go somewhere he asked you go? 2

12 Mark s life gives me hope - Even though Mark failed early in his ministry, God didn t say, I m done with you! I ll never use you again! Yes, there was consequences for his toddler moment, the Apostle Paul didn t trust him and therefore didn t take him on the next missionary journey. Although there was failure in the beginning there was no failure at the end of his life and he was profitable to Paul in the ministry. He finished strong. What changed? He grew up he didn t run away from the life he has been called to live and he no longer ran away from his responsibility that had been entrusted to him. He was willing to be willing to cross the bridge that John talked about a few weeks ago. - At the end of his life o Mark was Dragged behind chariots with a rope around his neck - They let Mark go free. The next day, they again dragged Mark through the streets with a rope around his neck, but this time they did not stop until he was dead. He dies the day after Easter. He did not run away at the end and became useful to God and to Paul - It s not how you start, but how you finish o God s grace will see us to the finish line!! The Servant Son Has a Forerunner - (Joey s) 1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. * The starting point of the Gospel of Jesus Christ The Servant and we as His servants are sent on missions from above - Jesus is on mission from above so is John the Baptist and John Mark - There is a starting point and an ending point to those missions o the gospel of Jesus Christ is our starting point where all of us begin our faith and servant journey - Mark begins his letter with the Gospel only gospel writer to do this. o It s the 1 st thing he s inspired to write Does the Gospel of Jesus Christ still inspire you? Is it just your fire insurance or are motivated by God s love for you that he would send His Only Son to die for you? 3

13 o Is the Gospel still your 1 st thing? Has the Gospel of Jesus Christ diminished or lost its value to you over time? Yeah, yeah I m saved. How does our heart get to that place? Remember the price tag that was paid to purchase it and that you and I didn t pay for it. o Mark starts with the Gospel maybe because he appreciated it so much after his toddler moment at the beginning of his ministry. 2 As it is written in the Prophets: "Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You." 3 "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.' " Only 2 times in does Mark quote the Old Testament. Vs 2 & 3 Mark cites two quotations from the Old Testament prophets, Malachi 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3 (note also Exodus 23:20). The messenger and voice refer to John the Baptist, the prophet God sent to prepare the way for His Son In ancient times, before a king visited any part of his realm, a messenger was sent before him to prepare the way. He repaired the roads (filled the holes and knocked down the hills that were in the way) like building a highway. He also, prepared the people for the coming of the King. The king is coming get ready! By calling the nation to repentance, John the Baptist prepared the way for the Lord Jesus Christ. Isaiah and Malachi declared that Jesus Christ is the Lord, Jehovah God. - Are you willing to be sent as His messenger? Are you willing to pave the way for the Gospel of Jesus Christ? o To your family o People in the grocery store o People eating at a restaurant o People you work with Not at work on company time. John was God s bulldozer to build the highway that would lead the people to the good news of Jesus Christ and the mission that God sent on, which was to save people from their sins 4

14 The practice of John s ministry 4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. Where was John in this verse? - In Jerusalem where all the action was at? o NO he s in the wilderness! So, John didn t go to them they came to John Why did people come to seek John in the wilderness? - Was it his awesome big beautiful building that was drawing the people to him? - How about the awesome programs he built? Religion wasn t satisfying them When we have a real need we seek out what will fulfill that need. - John wasn t preaching a message of reform...he was preaching a message of repentance o That s what they needed to hear back then and what we need to preach today Repentance! No repentance; no relationship with God This is how John s ministry unfolded 5 Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. People kept coming from all over the place. -John covered all of the southern part of the country, by staying in one place, the south-eastern area, near the top of the Dead Sea -All came to him -Who covered the north, above unclean Samaria, which was right in the middle? -Matthew says this of Jesus (after His baptism by John, His temptations in the wilderness and after He had heard that John was put in prison probably at the end of Jesus first year of ministry)... Matt. 3: Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali 5

15 6 Now John was clothed with camel's hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. In his personality and ministry, John the Baptist was patterned after the bold Elijah (2 Kings 1:8), who fearlessly called Israel to repentance. John lived a simple life - His home was a dessert - His clothes were not from Nordstrom s like Elijah s they were course and simple - He did not dine at Flemings Steak house o He set his hand to the glorious task of making Jesus Christ known to other people. 7 And he preached, saying, "There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. John is saying I m not even worthy be Jesus s slave - John has a right understanding of who he is and Who Jesus is? o Do we? We are not worthy, yet he makes us His sons and daughters, heirs, his workmanship and he has called us friends. John preached Jesus, not himself. We can learn from his method and example 8 I indeed baptized you with water, (Matthew adds unto repentance in his account) but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." Matthew s Account, 3:11-12 *Purple wording unique to Mark The Personal Preparations of The Servant Son (John s) 9 It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. 6

16 11 Then a voice came from heaven, "You are My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." 12 Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. 13 And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him. Matthew s Account, 3:13-4:11 Part II. The Servant s work: Not to be Ministered to, But to Do Ministry. Chapters 1:14 10:52 Chapter 1:14-45 One Servant is Finished, Four Servants Begin - (Joey s) 14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, Why was John put into prison? - Cause Herod married his brother wife, Herodias, which was unlawful and John called him out on it, so Herod put him in prison o Is that fair? Ask Joseph about fair God worked out the unfairness in his life, didn t He? He was just doing what was right. What did John do wrong? Do what s right and let God determine the outcomes o God is Sovereign trust him for your outcomes God is the one who determines the beginning and end of our mission. He is the author and finisher of our faith. John s mission is about to come to a close, but at least 4 more people are coming behind him to take his place. What is the gospel of the Kingdom of God look at vs and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel." -Did the gospel message s content change from the Gospel of the Kingdom of God is at hand to a different Gospel? 7

17 -Yes, we have hints of this change in Matt. 26:12-13, just before His arrest and crucifixion and after His rejection of Israel in Matt. 12 and foretelling His disciples of His death, burial, and resurrection starting in ch.16, but not until He had rejected Israel, who first rejected Him. 12 For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial. 13 Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her. the time is fulfilled. The idea was, The strategic time for the kingdom of God is now. Now is your time of opportunity. Don t let it pass you by. How many steps do you to see in vs Repent - change your mind Do an about face and head in the correct direction 2. Believe in the gospel what mechanism do we use to do this? Faith a. It speaks of a relationship of trust and dependence. Most people wanted a political kingdom that would replace the oppressive occupation of the Romans. The same is true today, people seek something other than Jesus to the solution to their perceived problems. - Our main human problem isn t politics, poverty or the economy. o Our main human problem is that we need to be rescued from the punishment from our sins. Eternal separation from God God has provided a solution to our main human problem and the solution is the cross of Jesus Christ Once we respond to that, we can use his power and word to have an effect on our secondary human problems. 16 And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. - The Servant looked for a connecting bridge from the current occupation to their future occupation (Wiersbe) Surely the good qualities of successful fishermen would make for success in the difficult ministry of winning lost souls: courage, the ability to work together, patience, energy, stamina, faith, and tenacity. Professional fishermen simply could not afford to be quitters or complainers! 8

18 Jesus did this with me God used what I was taught in the corporate world and lessons I learned and brought what I learned in the corporate world into the ministry. 17 Then Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men." I will make you become: Does this process happen overnight? - No it s a gradual process of training and learning o I m still in the process; you are still in the process Enjoy the process J What kind of men did Jesus choose to follow him? - common men, no seminary degrees or status in the world. - Jesus chose these disciples not for who they were, but for what Jesus could do through them. o You don t need to be extraordinary for Jesus to use you I m not If you want to be extraordinary just be obedient to what he has sked you to be and do in His name We don t know how long they knew Jesus... BUT logic says we do not drop all we are doing and follow someone we do not know. -So, knowledge of, trust in, Is not the issue it is obedience to go from being believers to disciples It s a Three step transition process: 1-Follow 2-In the act of following Him, He will make them... 3-Fishers of men 18 They immediately left their nets and followed Him. They left their former physical life behind to follow Jesus? Have we done the same spiritually? 19 When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. 20 And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him. -Both sets of brothers were busy working, one casting and one mending nets 9

19 -In our two NT Books mending appears three times. -Once is it used in Matt. 21:16 16 and said to Him, Do You hear what these are saying? And Jesus said to them, Yes. Have you never read, Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise? -What is the word here that is the same as mending? - perfected. Who perfected them? The Lord did. -What does mending/perfected mean? -Louw-Nida: to make adequate, to furnish completely, to cause to be fully qualified, adequacy. -So here we have two sets of brothers -Both dealing with fishing -One set to be made fishers of men -Peter certainly became that -John and James mending or perfecters, John certainly became that as a ministry -His servants are to be fishers and menders, perfecters as instruments of the Lord. Matthew s Account, 4:12, The Servant Teaches and Establishes His Authority - (John s) 21 Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. 22 And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 23 Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 saying, "Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are--the Holy One of God!" 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!" 26 And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. 10

20 27 Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him." 28 And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee. Matthew s Account, 4:13-17 The Servant Lifts Us Up that We Might Serve - (Joey s) 29 Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew (which was in Capernaum), with James and John. Don t leave Jesus at the church take Him home with you and share your blessings and your burdens with Him - People can come to church and leave Jesus there o Our goal is to be the same person we are at church at home They just got done seeing Jesus do great things that everyone was amazed by. Maybe they are tired and hungry and they begin to move into time to eat and relax mode - You all know that mode, right? o We pastors get that way after serving too But sometimes Go will interrupt your mode and ask you to do something for Him. How are you going to respond to God s interruption? o It will probably come when you least feel like doing it and be very inconvenient for you Ministering to others is inconvenient at times Here comes the interruption 30 But Simon's wife's mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. Peter s mother-in-law was suffering from what the Talmud called a burning fever. 11

21 What do you do when there is a need that needs to meet that you can t meet? o There are times in ministering to others that I have the ability to meet a financial need, physical need or spiritual need, but there are also times when the need is beyond my ability to meet it. - What Can I do? o Ask that One that has the resources that can meet the need to meet it 31 So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them. Which came first: The lifting up or the fever leaving her immediately? Servants lift up others... the rest is up to God! We leave the result of that lifting up to Him! Peter s mother-in-law responded the way we should when Jesus blesses us. She immediately served Jesus out of gratitude for meeting here need! - Is our name thankful? NOW The Word must have gotten out around Capernaum, because more ministry comes their way The lame and weirdos come out at night J 32 At evening, when the sun had set (and the Sabbath was over), they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed. Was it just Jesus reputation of healing people that brought people out this night? - They came out because Sabbath has just ended and they were free from the Sabbath restrictions on travel and activity, the people came to Jesus to be healed. Jesus had been ministering all day and now He is still ministering at night? - Isn t He tired? o Isn t it time for a mandatory break time? Sometimes we have seasons of day and night ministering I don t see that Jesus complained about how many hours The Father was working Him that day. o He didn t file a grievance with the labor board Jesus worked very hard to serve the needs of others and so should we 12

22 Jesus puts their needs before His. A good example for us to follow when God interrupts our mode 33 And the whole city was gathered together at the door. That line was longer that a store opening of Krispy Kreme Donuts. 34 Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him. Why did Jesus not allow the demons to speak? The reason the demons were commanded not to make Jesus known (1:25; 3:11 12) was to keep Jesus from being regarded as a political threat to the Roman Empire. Jesus commands of silence remained in effect until Jesus entered Jerusalem to proclaim his messiahship by what he said and did. His identity was to be revealed by God in human hearts. The demons knew things that Jesus was not ready to have revealed. Jesus wanted to first show by his teaching and deeds that He was the Messiah before he openly declared it. Matthew s Account, 4:14-17 The Servant Prays in the Dark to Walk in the Light - (John s) 35 Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. 36 And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him. 37 When they found Him, they said to Him, "Everyone is looking for You." 38 But He said to them, "Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth." 39 And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons. No Matthew Account 13

23 Submissive Faith Moves the Compassionate Servant -(Joey s) 40 Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, "If You are willing, You can make me clean." -What are the five characteristics of this man: 1-He was an incurable leper, he therefore was alone, had no human touch except perhaps w/other lepers 2-In spite of social dogmas and stigmas He came boldly by faith to Jesus 3-He implored Him, not because the Leper wasn t sure of Jesus ability, but he wasn t sure of Jesus will! 4-He worshipped Him, and Jesus did not stop him. He knew who Jesus was. 5-Next he did not implore Him again but made a statement: If you are willing... you can, you are able, but are you willing -This is a new category of disabling s, diseases if you will. -Regarded as incurable and at least as a type of sin if not sin caused Leprosy brings numbness to the physical body We have to be careful not to contract spiritual leprosy of the Heart where are heart becomes numb to the things of God 41 Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed." We are often moved with compassion when we meet sick people, but lepers usually did not provoke compassion. Their whole appearance was too repulsive, and they usually made people feel disgust instead of compassion. Are there people that disgust you so much that you won t reach out to them? People that repulse you? - Jonah was like that; Jesus was not o Ask God to give you compassion where compassion does not currently exist. Did the leper infect Jesus with his leprosy? -The HOLY One remains Holy when He touches the leper. -A change does not happen to the toucher, but the touched -Grace is greater than sin or its minions 42 As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. -The leper needed to hear Jesus speak these words before he was cleansed: I am willing; be cleansed! 14

24 v.43 And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once, v.44 and said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded (in Lev. 14), as a testimony to them (the priests)." -Being under the law Himself He commands the former leper to follow Moses instructions and go show Himself to the priests and do what the law commanded. -BUT not just to keep the law but be a testimony to them of the great thing that God did for them -There are often opportunities to be a witness of the things God has done for us. -Sometimes these opportunities we gladly do, here the man had to travel many miles to fulfill a legal obligation and by doing so be a witness! v.45 However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction. -His disobedience hindered the spreading of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God! -How would Jesus handle His disobedience, the hindrances? -What would be the lasting effect of this crowd excitement? Would they follow Him or were they just looky lous? -We ll discuss next week. 15

25 Calvary Bible College 1100 Caprice Drive Castle Rock Colorado Tel: Web: Name: Mark: The Servant Gospel, NT352 Homework for Class #1 List at least one personal application not mentioned in class under each of our paragraph headings. 1:1-13: The Servant Son Had a Forerunner 1:14-20: One Servant is Finished, Four Servants Begin 1:21-28: The Servant Teaches and Establishes His Authority 1:29-34: The Servant Lifts up in order that We Might Serve 1:35-39: The Servant Prays in the Dark to Walk in the Light 1:40-45: Submissive Faith Moves the Compassionate Servant 1