The Essential Jesus as

Revealed in the Gospel of Mark

“If we only spent more of our time in looking at Christ we should soon

forget ourselves.”

If we want to become like Christ, then we must get

to know Christ!

D. MartynLloyd-Jones

Sharpening Our Focus on Christ!

Five passages each week to help us “fix our eyes upon Jesus!”

The Essential Jesus as

Revealed in the Gospel of Mark

Gospel of Mark: Background

▪ The author - “John Mark”

- Mentioned 8 times in the NT- Was Roman (Marcus)- Close associate of Apostle Peter

Gospel of Mark: Background

▪ The recipients – From evidence from within the book, it appears that Mark was writing his gospel primarily for a Roman audience.

Gospel of Mark: Background

▪ “Signature” word: Mark uses a certain word 42 times in his gospel (a word used only 7 times in Matthew and once in Luke)

- “eutheos” = immediately, straightway

Gospel of Mark: Signature Word

Mark’s emphasis in his gospel account is not so much on what Jesus taught as it is on what Jesus did!

The Gospel of Mark contains :- Only 18 of the 70 parables of Jesus- Over half of the 35 miracles of Jesus

Gospel of Mark: Signature Word

The Gospel of Mark is a fast-flowing narrative. Among the gospels it is the

Gospel of Action!

Gospel of Mark: Gospel of Action

Who was his target audience?

Romans!

Gospel of Mark: Signature Word

The Gospel of Mark is a fast-flowing narrative. Among the gospels it is the

Gospel of Action!

The Gospel of Mark is also theGospel of Passion!

Gospel of Mark: The Emotional Side of Jesus

References to the emotions of Jesus:

Matthew – 6 referencesLuke – 7 references John – 4 references

Mark – 16 references to Jesus’ emotions!

Gospel of Mark: Background

The Gospel of Mark is the Gospel of Action and the Gospel of Passion!

Very relevant to us in 21st century America as we tend to be both

pragmatic and passionate!

Gospel of Mark: Theme Verse and Structure

Mark 10:45“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Mark1:15-10:52

Mark 11:1-15:47

Mark 16:1-20

Mark 1:1-14

An informative PROLOGUE

The Servant’s

revelationto the world

ACT 1“Even the

Son of Man did not

come to be served, but

to serve. . .

ACT 2

and to give His life a

ransom for many.” (10:45)

The Servant’s serving

The Servant’s sacrifice

An incredible

CONCLUSION

The Servant’s

resurrection from the tomb(3 ½ years) (8 months)

Mark 1:1The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

The Servant’s revelation to the world (1:1-13)

GOOD NEWS!

The Servant’s IDENTITY

The Servant’s revelation to the world (1:1-13)

Mark 1:1The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

The Servant’s IDENTITY

The Servant’s revelation to the world (1:1-13)

He is JESUS, our Savior, fully man and fully God, the Messiah of God!

The Servant’s IMPORTANCE

The Servant’s revelation to the world (1:1-13)

Mark 1:2-4aAs it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’” John appeared . . .

The Servant’s revelation to the world (1:1-13)

Air Force One

John the Baptist . . .

The Servant’s revelation to the world (1:1-13)

▪ He fulfilled prophecy▪ He experienced a fruitful ministry

John the Baptist . . .

Mark 1:4-5John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

John the Baptist . . .

The Servant’s revelation to the world (1:1-13)

▪ He fulfilled prophecy▪ He experienced a fruitful ministry▪ He practiced a simple lifestyle

John the Baptist . . .

Mark 1:6Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey.

John the Baptist . . .

The Servant’s revelation to the world (1:1-13)

▪ He fulfilled prophecy▪ He experienced a fruitful ministry▪ He practiced a simple lifestyle

John the Baptist . . .

From outside of Mark . . .

▪ All four gospel writers begin their accounts of the ministry of Jesus with the ministry of John the Baptist! (as do Peter and Paul in their sermons in the book of Acts!)

John the Baptist . . .

From outside of Mark . . .

▪ Even later in his ministry, Paul encountered disciples of John in far off Ephesus (Acts 19:4)

John the Baptist . . .

From outside of Mark . . .

▪ Jesus had this to say about his cousin, “Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist.” (Matthew 11:11)

The Servant’s revelation to the world (1:1-13)

Mark 1:7-8And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

The Servant’s IDENTITYThe Servant’s IMPORTANCE The Servant’s MISSION

The Servant’s revelation to the world (1:1-13)

Mark 1:9In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

The Servant’s revelation to the world (1:1-13)

Matthew 3:14-15John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.

The Servant’s revelation to the world (1:1-13)

2 Corinthians 5:21For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

The Servant’s revelation to the world (1:1-13)

Mark 1:10-11And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

The Servant’s revelation to the world (1:1-13)

In allowing John to baptize him, Jesus was making his mission known. He was

here to save sinful humanity! To take man’s place on the cross! His baptism marked the public declaration of his

mission!

The Servant’s IDENTITYThe Servant’s IMPORTANCE The Servant’s MISSIONThe Servant’s CONFIRMATION

The Servant’s revelation to the world (1:1-13)

Mark 1:12-13The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.

The Servant’s revelation to the world (1:1-13)

Hebrews 1:14Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?

The Servant’s revelation to the world (1:1-13)

So what is the significance of Christ’s temptation by Satan?

The Servant’s revelation to the world (1:1-13)

- Stones to bread- Worship Satan for world’s glory- Jump off Temple to see God save

Each temptation was an enticement for Jesus to take a short cut --- to go the easy way rather than God’s way.

With each temptation, Jesus withdrew a sword from its scabbard

and he slew the temptation with three simple words: “It is written!”

The Servant’s revelation to the world (1:1-13)

In turning back the Tempter’s temptations, Jesus confirmed that He was indeed qualified to be the

sin-bearer of all humanity!

Mark introduces us to the servant’s identity, importance, mission and

confirmation.

The Servant’s revelation to the world (1:1-13)

1. God calls us all to live for Christ and to point others to Him! Does your life reflect that? And does your lifestyle help or hinder you in the fulfilling of this call?

Today’s Takeaways

2. If Jesus Christ, the Son of God required the anointing of the Holy Spirit to fulfill his mission and a knowledge of God’s Word to apply as he resisted temptation … how much more do we need the Spirit and the Word in our lives?!!

Today’s Takeaways