My first pastorate was awesome! Now that is not the way my wife Shay remembers it—but it was awesome! The sense of finding out what the Lord had called me to was exciting! Trying to fill the shoes of an awesome preacher while I was still learning to preach. The pain of watching friends leave the church and the joy watching God bring new friends into the church. Leading the church through a national disaster while trying figure out how to be a pastor…Absolutely amazing!
Everyone has a ministry. What is your ministry? How is the Lord preparing you for that ministry?
In the last article of this series on the Gospel of Mark, we explored the ministry of John the Baptist who was sent to “Prepare the way of the Lord”. This week we are going to explore how Jesus began his earthly ministry. We are going to find that he did not come on the scene in the unveiled glory of his deity as the Son of God. Remember, God became flesh, Jesus was a human, and he was subjected to being anointed, tested and required have boldness. This boldness came from the power of the Holy Spirit.
To understand these stages and the entire gospel we need to remember to look through the lens of this one verse:
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and give his life as a ransom for many” (Mk 10:45)
WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM JESUS’ PREPARATION?
Today we will be looking at Jesus’ preparation for ministry in three stages, (1) His baptism, (2) His temptation, and (3) His preaching.
1. WE ARE TO IDENTIFY WITH MAN AND GOD (1:9-11)
“In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And 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. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased” (1:9-11).
Jesus Identified with sinners to represent us. Did Jesus need the baptism of repentance? NO! Jesus was the sinless Son of God! But he was baptized by John in order to identify with our sin,
“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (1Co 5:21).
In Matthews Gospel, John did not see himself as being worthy to baptize Jesus…
“Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness” (Mt 3:15).
Jesus was baptized to identify with man, in order to fulfill righteousness for all men.
Jesus was Approved by the Father and the Holy Spirit to represent us on the cross. Notice that trinity present: Father, Son & Holy Spirit.
The heavens opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him, in order to anoint him for service as the Christ. He is the suffering servant prophesied of by Isaiah (Isa 53). The dove is a symbol of humility and sacrifice, it was the offering of the poor. The also Spirit empowers and commissions us for the service of the Lord!
At the start of Jesus ministry, seen in Luke’s Gospel, Jesus claimed these words of Isaiah were fulfilled in him,
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor” (Lk 4:18).
Peter explains in Acts,
“John proclaimed: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him” (Acts 10:38).
At his baptism, Jesus was ‘anointed’ with the Holy Spirit and power to perform his ministry on earth.
The voice of the Father witnessed and affirmed Jesus is the Son of God. Claiming his deity and Sonship—right to the throne. Look at these prophetic words from the Psalms,
“I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. 8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations you heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession” (Ps 2:7-8).
Each of us are called to be ambassadors for Jesus. The world tells us we are this, or that, and this or that is usually not good, or not good enough. Let us determine who we are by what Gods word says we are. If we have put our faith in Christ, then his spirit is in us. If seek the baptism of the Spirit, then his presence and power is upon us. Let us live in his identity and his power!
2. WE ARE REALIZE THE LORD WILL TEST US (1:12-13)
Mark moves the story from the glory of JC baptism ‘immediately’ to the barren wilderness.
“12The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13 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”(1:12-13).
Jesus was ‘driven out’ to the wilderness & wild animals for testing—The wilderness brings remembrance of the wilderness years that followed Exodus in preparation of the promise land of which only a few of the original generation entered into this promise. Jesus identified with their failures.
Jesus was driven out, literally, thrown out to the wild animals. Many of the roman believers who read this gospel experienced the persecution of Nero who threw Christians to be torn apart be wild animals for entertainment.
Jesus was tempted by Satan—Jesus was led by the Spirit to be tested, but it was Satan that did the tempting! This may be why Jesus taught us to pray,
“Lead us not into temptation!” (Mt 6:13).
If Jesus is without sin, was he truly tempted?
“For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted” (Heb 2:18)
and,
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Heb 4:15).
The Spirit purpose was that Jesus would defeat these attempts to make him fall—He would give Jesus everything w/o suffering—meaning no cross!
Learn this rhythm in ministry: God calls and anoints with his Spirit for ministry, then the Holy Spirit tests us and then devil tempts before the ministry is released in power!
3. WE ARE PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL CHRIST ALWAYS (1:14-15)
Jesus began his public ministry with powerful proclamation, but it is easy to miss the context,
“14Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel”(1:14-15).
Jesus’ ministry began in the light of John’s arrest—Here arrest literally means to be handed over to the fate of another to be judged and punished. This begins a major theme, JC would be betrayed by the hand of Judas, into the hands of Israel, into Rome—and he will train his disciples to expect the same.
John not only prepared the way of the Lord, but he also was arrested before him too!
In the start of most ministries, there will be a sense of unmistakable calling, but there may also be great trials that have to be worked through. We must be careful to not spiritualize the circumstances in such a way that would keep us from going forward, face temptations as a test, we must remain faithful!
Jesus preached the Gospel of God (Christ)—Jesus preached the Gospel of God, the word gospel was a military announcement of victory!
The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand— God had waited until human time was ready for his to send his Son into human history and bring many into the victory of his salvation! That he might receive them as sons!
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons” (Gal 4:4-5).
Repent and believe the gospel— Two actions were required to enter into the victorious rule of God, first, to repent, to turn away from old life, and second, is to believe! To put our eternal destiny in the hands of God!
Have you ever turned to follow Jesus? What do I need to believe? Simply stated, you must believe that Jesus is the Son of God, that his sacrifice on the cross paid the penalty for your sin, and that through him you will have eternal life because he rose from the grave. Do you believe that?
In his ministry Jesus himself required both repentance and their belief. As we testify to our world, we need to remember to share these requirements and to guide people through them so that everyone may truly know Jesus.
May you be fully aware of the presence of the Holy Spirit, that you may walk with the Spirit with each step you take, and have continual fellowship with Jesus Christ. May Christ be known in and through you. Amen.
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