Lindsey Blair and Bobby Gilles recap and discuss Pastor Jonah Sage's sermon this past Sunday from Mark 1:1-13.
Lindsey Blair and Bobby Gilles recap and discuss Pastor Jonah Sage's sermon this past Sunday from Mark 1:1-13.
Bobby: Welcome to the Midweek Checkup. My name is Bobby Gilles, and my colleague is Lindsey Blair. This past Sunday, Pastor Jonah Sage preached from Mark One, verses one through thirteen in our new series called Good News People.
Lindsey: Pastor Jonah said that Mark is a book of good news about promises coming true. If you’ve forgotten or missed the sermon, it’s time for the Midweek Checkup.
Bobby: Jonah began by referring to the verse verse in Mark which says, “The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.
"the BEGINNING." This is how the book of Genesis begins in Greek.
Alarm bells ringing for those with ears to hear...according to Mark, the introduction of Jesus into the world is no less significant than the creation of the world.
Lindsey: Mark is a book of GOOD NEWS about JESUS. Mark’s Greek-speaking audience would know this word that we translate as good news or GOSPEL. Most often it was used to announce victory in battle. And Mark is good news about Jesus THE MESSIAH. This means chosen one, anointed one, fulfiller of promises.
Bobby: Verses two and three quote the prophets Malachi and Isaiah...a promise is being fulfilled. Remember: we are starting with the ending in mind. These verses from Isaiah and Malachi promised someone would come to prepare the way for God himself. This person is John the Baptist. He appeared in the wilderness, just as it was promised. And he was preparing people for the Lord, just as it was promised.
Lindsey: First, John says, “Repent,” which means “Turn around and go.” For John, repentance was a preparatory response to God keeping his promises
How do we respond? BAPTISM. "Baptism" was not unusual…it occurred as ritual washing before meals, entering the table, or other prescribed times.
"Baptism" was something that happened over and over and over again because people kept sinning. But John's baptism happened one time. And John's baptism was not something you did yourself...someone did it for you.
Bobby: John's baptism of preparation would give way to a baptism of presence. This one who is to come would not offer us a ritual cleansing alone, but he would baptize us in his very presence. Just as people were submerged under the water of John's baptism, soon people would be IMMERSED IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD in Jesus' baptism. We would be united with God. That is our ultimate healing: restored to fellowship with God.
Lindsey: Mark is good news about promises coming true. A promise that the Lord would come: his name is Jesus. A promise that the Lord would save: we would be immersed in his presence. A promise that the steadfast love of the Lord would rescue: his voice speaks over his son within us, telling us he loves us, he is with us, and he is pleased.
Bobby: Our journey through the Gospel of Mark continues this Sunday. And in Bible Fellowship, we’ll discuss Psalm 85 together. Join us and bring a friend.