Well, good afternoon, please meet me in the gospel of Mark
and chapter. 1 Mark chapter 1. We are beginning.
This journey in this new book and I'm eager to Join you on
this endeavor, Mark chapter 1. And today by the grace of God,
we will. We will hear the Lord through
through the first three verses. And so let's read in verse 1.
The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the son of God as
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 Lord.
We bow before you in our hearts. Oh God.
Lori tremble at your word. We believe that this is your
word. Your Eternal Word, your
sufficient word. It is like a fire.
And it is like a hammer, it can convict and cut and it can
comfort and bind up. Lord, as we come to this book.
Grab us by the hand and lead us through it.
Verse by verse and help us see the glories of your son.
Jesus Christ, Lord do the miracle, That you've started at
Salvation, in sanctification, mold ice melt us.
Make us into the people that you have purchased for your own
possession. Lord Jesus.
You assured us that it would be greater for you to go so that
the spirit of God would be in us and with us now, would his
ministry be known today as he makes much of you.
We ask this in Jesus name, amen. You will benefit the most out of
this series if you have a Bible, that's true of every single
Sunday. But there will be times where
this will be more of a teaching format.
And there will be other times where this will be a preaching
session and oftentimes it's a mixture of both but hold tight
to your copy of God's word. As we come through these three
first verses in this glorious gospel account.
What we just read is important. Mark says the beginning of the
Gospel of Jesus Christ. And what's so important about
that statement is that the word gospel is most used by this
gospel writer and comparison to his companions.
The word gospel is brought up a total of eight times in this
book and comparison to Matthew, brings it up four times and Luke
and John actually don't mention it at all at least directly.
But Mark seems to be very interested in this concept of
the Gospel. It's right there.
When we begin this text and it will be found in the closing
words of his testimony. Now, what's so important about?
That is when we understand what the word gospel means, you know,
it you're familiar with it, aren't you?
It simply means. Good news.
Glad Tidings something to celebrate about something that
brings about Glee, the light and Bliss.
And what we see here is that the fact that it is brought up, not
just in the beginning, but throughout this account, even to
the end, it says something about how the Holy Spirit wants to
remind us and reinforce an Glorious truth about the core
message of our faith and it is this.
It's about Joy. It's about Joy.
And so, we can properly interpret.
The first verse, the first part of it, at least the beginning of
the good news. Good news of Jesus Christ, the
son of God, This news is good and the joy that it produces is
glorious and this is something that we have to consider.
Because there are a lot of Christians who aren't very
joyful. This is exactly what the angel
at least one, Angel of the Lord told those Shepherds on that
Divine night. When they appeared with the
glory of God shining around them fear.
Not for behold, the angel says I bring you good news with great
joy. With great joy.
That will be for all people. Only those who have felt the
shame of their sin, and the condemnation that they deserve
because of it. Only those can testify about how
this news about this purses in is indeed very, very good
because that news to them. That's why you're here today.
I hope was the announcement and the Declaration of their
freedom. It liberated them, it
transformed them. It rescued them and so it is
indeed good. But I have to say at the same
time, those same precious people who can tell you so beautiful.
what that good news is from beginning to end and everything
in between those same redeemed Saints who could even testify of
when and how that good news, transform them have over time,
become numb have over time become stale I hope you're not
still this afternoon. I hope you're not indifferent to
this, but it is so often the case that the very same people
who have known the touch of God in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Become that way and live that way because the good news
becomes old news. It becomes old news.
I had a friend who was ministering in a nursing home
back in Canada and had a chance to be there a couple of times
and they had a small little chapel room with just a few
chairs for some of these elderly people.
And he told me one time we were laughing about it in time of
Fellowship, where he came to the front and he said to these
precious, you know, seasoned individuals.
I've come to tell you today about how Jesus Christ came to
die for yourself and one of those old ladies interrupted him
and said, we already know that. and some of you today, you
probably sink saying to yourself.
I already know what you're going to say. and it doesn't move you
anymore, doesn't stir you anymore, doesn't does it remind
you of how it delivered you We already know that preacher.
We were, you know what? You're going to say.
And my question is, is that right?
Is the good news of Jesus Christ depended upon the novelty of the
news of our forgiveness. Is it just only for that period
where that that news was fresh to us?
Or is there something that it leads us to?
I want you to know that the joy that comes from the good news is
not a momentary Joy. It is a joy that we live in.
It is a supreme happiness that you and I continue to experience
as we walk with Jesus and I want to prove that to you with a
verse that will Challenge and even contradict what you and I
have probably become very comfortable living with And that
is found in First Peter 1:18, IND.
Please turn their because when you see this It will eliminate
every type of justification for why our hearts would not know a
joy that is feelable. And a real.
Peter speaking to Christians and he says in First Peter 1829
though, you had not seen him. You love him though.
You do not now. See him you believed in him and
rejoice with joy. That is inexpressible and filled
with Glory. Obtaining the outcome of your
faith, the salvation of your souls The gospel.
This is not just produce a joy that is dependent upon the
newness of that news when it comes to us.
Because that same gospel that assures, you of redemption.
Also tells us of a purchase that has been made by Christ that
gives every single sinner access to fellowship with the very
person who died for you 2000 years ago. and so This Joy is
not just in the Redemption, the joy is in the relationship that
that Redemption purchased And that is a joy that you and I
continue to know and it is a joy that is not Dependable on
physical perception. That's what Peter says even
though you don't see him, you don't need to see him to know
this quality of happiness that floods your heart in a
miraculous way. And that brings you to a
category of Glee that is incomparable to any other
horizontal relationship. You may need your eyes and your
hands and your ears to know the joy of mutual friendship and
romance. But this joy that comes with
knowing Christ does not need your eyes.
It's something that the Holy Spirit does in you and the
deepest parts of Who You Are. And Peter could have said that
you what believe in him and rejoiced past tense but he
doesn't, he says you still are rejoicing.
He's describing their current experience as he's writing this
to them, you believe in him now and you love him now and because
of that day by day, you know, a true Joy.
And what I mean, Joy. This may this may cause some
friction to some of you. I'm not speaking about just a
theological idea. I'm speaking about you ready for
this word feeling. Something that you actually
experience something that is actually there, that's, that's
feelable. It's a sensation, it causes you
to sing, it makes you satisfied. It makes you happy in Jesus. and
what Peter is saying to these Believers is that this Joy is
ongoing, or at least it should be And this Joy is so strong.
It is so profound that Paul even says that we can rejoice in our
suffering you and I can actually rejoice in our suffering.
Now, think about that for a moment.
How realistic and honest is the Bible, it does not mean that we
are immune to pain is. I mean that we will not know
some kind of disappointment, but what it does mean is that
there's this deep-seated work of the holy spirit that keeps you
Curtin Christ, it's amazing, how suffering, propels us.
It's amazing how things in and events in life, that crush us
make us run two different saviors.
To either numb us or Medicaid us or guide us.
But what this Joy does, is that it keeps Us close to Christ.
It keeps Us close to him. And what's so amazing, is that
the standard of joy that Peter speaks about has no rival?
Because the Holy Spirit, informs us about the grade of this
happiness which stems from believing in him and daily
applying a love to the invisible one.
Who is still your savior? What does he say about this joy?
That it is inexpressible and filled with glory inexpressible
and what is inexpressible mean it means this Beyond human
speech. Language cannot articulate.
The Delight that Christ brings to that soul.
Even the Birds are singing about it.
There is no expression or any full way of being able to
communicate of being able to communicate, just what Jesus
Christ brings to your heart. When he becomes, Lord of that
heart. Now either Peter is lying
exaggerating or there's something happening in us that
is not lining up with the word of God.
Now some might say brother, I have to be honest that I have
known such a joy in this life. There have been moments in my
life where I was. So stunned by either a love.
That was brought to me or an event that I experienced or my
love towards someone else. I mean, I wish you were there
preacher. When my baby boy was born, I had
no words. All I can do was just cry.
Isn't that inexpressible? And brother, I love my wife.
I love my husband so much that there are times where I can't
even say those words. All I can do is embrace them and
let them feel the warmth of my love, because my love towards
them is inexpressible. And I know that their love
towards me is beyond human, like Beyond poetry Beyond Hallmark
cards. Beyond gifts, fair enough.
But what do you do with the second characteristic that that
Peter speaks of concerning this Joy filled with Glory?
Filled with Glory Full Of Glory. Do you understand what Peter's
trying to say? This joy in the Lord is in a
category all by itself? It transcends all other joys.
It takes it to another level, it exceeds natural Euphoria and it
is a contentment that cannot be found in this world.
Full of Glory. Let me ask this again, please,
please hear me. It's Peter lying.
Is Peter is Peter just stretching?
This is the holy spirit, just playing with us.
Is this poetic license or is this real?
Is it real? What did Jesus say?
He said something so amazing before, his disciples, these
things, I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you and
that your joy may be full. Do you know why this joy that
Peter speakers, which is the same joy that Jesus speaks of
this? The reason why it is full of
Glory, it's because it's Jesus own Joy.
It's a joy that he knows it's a joy that he enjoys and it's a
joy that he wants to share with those that belong to him.
The joy that Jesus has can be your joy and mine.
And do you know what Peter is doing?
In these verses. He is displaying before us the
standard of the Christian experience.
The average Christian should know this inexpressible enjoyed
that is full of glory. And I want to say that if you
and I are, True Believers. Does this resonate with us?
I'm not saying that Joy is in challenge.
I'm not saying that we don't feel suffering.
But what I am saying is how have there been moments and can you
point to something perpetually throughout your walk with the
Lord? That there is this satisfaction
that settles your soul. And you're not looking and
wanting for the newest toys and tricks and trinkets and life.
There's something that Christ has done in you as you believe
in him and love him, that keeps you calm with contentment?
It's good news, not just because we're forgiven but because we
know fellowship with him and I want to tell you today don't let
Satan convince you of a lower standard of how you walk with
the Lord Jesus Christ. And if you are in this place,
you saying, brother. I got to admit.
This is joy as foreign to me. I, I don't know if I can say
that it's inexpressible. I don't know if I can, I can
really say that it's been real in my life.
The most joyous moment was when I came to Christ and it's been a
downhill thing since then, then I had back in you If this is, if
this is Christ standard for you and I then come before him in
humility, say o God, renew the joy of your salvation and teach
me to how to maintain it. As I walk day-by-day
hand-in-hand with you, he will do it.
He will do well. How will I know if I have it?
It'll be inexpressible and full of Glory.
That's how you'll know. You see?
I'm scared sometimes. That in the pursuit of being
theologians, it's all Blackboard Theology and it doesn't become
experiential. The apostles who were the
foundation of the church laying the foundation of the doctrine
of the church experienced, what they preached.
And the Holy Spirit has no different standard for you and
I, how did we get here? Are we studying mark?
What does this have to do with our studying these first three
verses? Very simple.
The first verse in the gospel account of Mark, is reminding us
that the, the core message of our faith is good news.
Good news. I heard a story of a man who
evangelizing it came up to a person.
And he said, do you believe in Jesus Christ?
And he came so sour and somber and the person responded in this
way. It almost a comical way.
No, thank you. I have enough problems in my
life. We are to be a joyful people.
And here's why this is so important that as a collective
church family, where we believe that we must carry our cross
daily and that we must suffer, we will suffer.
And God is Sovereign over our suffering.
When we are even preparing ourselves spiritually, for the
greater persecution, that's coming to this nation, we must
not forget. Also that we are a people of
joy. We are.
A joy. So rich that it helps us Suffer
Well a joy. So rich, that that Joy itself is
somewhat of a testimony of the goodness of this gospel.
The core message of our faith is good news and listen, the
Christian experience as a consequence of responding to
that good news is filled with inexpressible.
And glorious Joy. So why be ashamed of the Gospel?
Why be ashamed of the good news of Jesus Christ, why blush?
Why shrink why let your voice Tremor and Quake when we have
something that is shores of serves?
As of Man rescue that brings us unmatched relief that promises
reward in this life and the next to those who respond to the
demands of this. Good news.
Why be ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. no need It's good
news and it produces good things.
Let's consider further what we see here in Mark 11.
The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Although that word gospel is a broad term.
It carries specific significance to an ancient Jewish audience
and even to a gentile audience who lived under some kind of a
monarch or with an emperor over them.
What do I mean by that? Listen to this is so important,
the idea of someone heralding, good news to the General Public.
Was often associated with the announcement of some kind of
military Victory or political Triumph.
So there was a word association there.
This this idea of good news was linked to an event and
specifically an event that was heralded by somebody.
When it came to some Conquest that was accomplished by their
government or by their military. And you see that in first
Samuel, you see it in the book of Kings where somebody was
designated to run back to the hometown.
Say victory has been brought, we have conquered the enemy.
Our King triumphs, we move forward.
And we even see it in the prophets.
We even see the idea of good news, especially in Isaiah and
what's amazing is the way Isaiah uses?
It is in the way in which God himself brings about some kind
of Deliverance. God himself brings about
salvation or God himself is reminding and reassuring.
His people that he is ruling and reigning in their favor.
Again and one of the most famous ways that we see that played
out, is an Isaiah 52. And the Old Testament, we see in
verse You know, it how beautiful upon the mountains?
Are the feet of him, who brings good news who publishes peace,
who brings good news of Happiness, who publishes
salvation, who says, to Zion your god reigns?
So, what is the essence of the good news here, proclaimed by
the prophet, your God rings. Your God rules.
He is exalted, he is upon his throne and because he is upon
his throne actively in your favor, he will bring about
Redemption for his people. He will destroy the oppressor,
he will rescue, he will bring peace, he will bring
righteousness. Once again, when Isaiah said,
these words, it had an immediate application to the Jewish people
of the time, but Paul by the spirit borrows the same words
and uses it in relation to gospel Ministry.
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings
good news? You know, this is a side thing
but I believe that's one explanation.
To why Believers feel a sense of Attraction and appreciation for
gospel preachers. How beautiful are those feet
that have dedicated their lives to preach and to declare the
goodness of God, there is a sense of Love towards them and a
specific type of adoration, not worship but appreciation.
But what we see here is so important because it's ultimate
fulfillment is when those beautiful feet who have been
pierced on our behalf. Well, land on the Mount of
Olives and where Jesus Christ will rule and Reign on the
earth. Subduing.
The nation's by his authority and his righteousness.
All to say that an Isaiah good news has the connotation of some
kind of enthronement that there is something taking place.
Somebody has been raised up who will rule and assured
Deliverance to those who are under their Authority, it's an
Isaiah 40. Also if you read that chapter as
well. And so this is important to
understand because when Mark says the beginning of the Gospel
of Jesus Christ, it is very likely that those who are yes,
Jews. But even Gentiles in Reading or
hearing these very words would say to themselves were about to
hear about a king. We're about to find out about a
king. And if you paid attention last
week, which I hope you did, perhaps there would be an
objection saying, but I thought you said that Mark was about
Jesus being a servant the suffering servant is in the
King, Jesus reserved for Matthew.
And you would be right. The theme is Jesus being the
suffering servant but he is no less of a king.
He is no less royalty. He is a specific type of king
one who humbles himself and comes to serve his.
So even though the following events and Records will.
So Jesus serving people and suffering, even for his people,
he is still a king. And I wonder if the Holy Spirit
knew that that would perhaps be some kind of obstacle in the
mind as they see a king. Going hungry, a king being hated
a king, being shoved around, a king being crucified.
Being very specific with the words, kind of solves it because
the Holy Spirit through Mark, says the beginning of the Gospel
of Jesus Christ, meaning why? This is not the complete story.
This is just the beginning of it.
The purpose of his writing is just to bring us the first phase
of this Kings. Redemptive plan and purpose on
the earth. You know, know what's going to
happen when it comes to the return of this king and the way
that Mark, introduces us to the beginning of the Gospel of Jesus
Christ. Just the first steps of what
this King will do, before he comes to bring, everything to
its completion is really interesting because she doesn't
speak about the birth of Christ. He doesn't begin with the To
describe as human lineage. None of that.
What he does is he actually goes to a prophetic prediction, that
doesn't even directly deal with Christ.
But speaks of his Forerunner in John, the Baptist.
Why? Why is John the Baptist showing
up in the beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
Because it was common in ancient times.
That if there was a true king prepared to come that there will
be a Harold that would go forth before his face and he would
prepare the people and even the physical aspects of that City,
so that the king can come and the people would be ready for
his arrival. And that is exactly who John the
Baptist is. that is exactly why he is, brought up, but notice
also, if I were to Tell you the beginning of the Gospel of Jesus
Christ. Where would I start?
What again, what I start with his birth, what I start with his
suffering, I mean the answers very, but Mark starts in the Old
Testament. Mark goes 100 years hundreds of
years rather before even Jesus incarnated and came in the
flesh. And the reason why the Holy
Spirit also wants to do that, this should excite you, is
because the reader should understand that the person and
Ministry of Jesus Christ, did not just appear out of nowhere.
Didn't just show up. Jesus did not just interject
into history unannounced. Jesus did not just come without
notice his life, his death, his resurrection his ministry.
Was the Fulfillment of an ancient expectation that was
built up as God raised up one man, after the other to give
another prediction after the next creating this expectation.
When will he come? When will he arrive?
And what we see here is that our faith, this Jesus his message,
his ministry, his mission was predicted long ago, It's not
detached from Redemptive history again, it's not random.
It's something that is part of a greater plot.
It's something that's been told of it's something of a greater
screenplay even from the beginning of time and that truth
alone silences the skeptic, who would say Christ is some kind of
a concept that was brought up from a band of delusional men.
Not so. Everything about Jesus Christ
was in total, accordance with God's blueprint from eternity
past. We have a solid faith.
Credible, reliable, weighty, true heavy, and part of that
divine plan that God had instituted was that there would
be a forerunner. And would, you know, it he was
predicted hundreds of years before his time as well.
And that's what we see here. As it is written in Isaiah.
The prophet behold I send my messenger before your face, the
voice of one crying in the wilderness.
Prepare the way of the Lord make his paths straight Please
understand. There's even this is why we're
staying on just 12 verses today because there's so many reasons
are so many layers for this. Yes, we want to see that.
Jesus is a king, even in the fact that there's a forerunner.
Yes, we want to see that our faith is connected to Deep
Roots. Credible roots.
But also, there is something to be said about the person of
Jesus Christ, not just that he's King, not just in the position
that he will occupy. But listen, the very nature that
he possesses, Mark through this even though he is speaking about
John the Baptist, even through those prophecies about John, the
Baptist is saying something about who Jesus is and you know
what? Mark believes what you should
believe. If you are a Christian this
King, this servant this predicted a messiah was in fact,
God himself. God himself.
Coming into our world. God himself as king instituting
and establishing a kingdom. Saying, how is that true?
Any student of the Old Testament?
Would know that well Mark is saying here from Isaiah.
The prophet is not actually just from Isaiah the prophet, right?
He actually is quoting Malachi and Isaiah and he's merging them
as one prophecy. And that was a common practice.
In this time when there were similar predictions and
prophecies with the same theme that were saying the same thing.
They would be there were brought forth together and then the
author would credit the most prominent messenger, the most
prominent profit and Isaiah is that man, Isaiah is the one who
has brought forth, though, Malachi is still recognized in a
veiled way. And what's so important about?
What we see here is that if we do the work in dice, Setting
this prophecy which is really two in one you and I will
recognize something that would make Our Hearts Leap.
If we care about who Jesus is, of course, well, Marcus saying
from the beginning, through this, this Jesus, this Jesus.
He's God. He's God.
I want to show you that turn with me to Malachi 3:1 and let's
look at this verse together, which is the first part of what
Mark is saying, behold, I send my messenger before your face
that's in Malachi. 3:1 let's read Malachi's writing on it.
In Malachi 3:1 just a few pages back.
Behold I send my messenger. And he will prepare the way
before me, and the Lord whom you seek will, suddenly come to his
Temple and the messenger of the Covenant, in whom you Delight.
Behold he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.
There's so much that can be said about this one verse, but let's
look at the part that Mark uses. The very first thing that we
have to establish is that it is God himself.
Who is speaking in this text? When it says behold I send my
messenger. That's not Malachi speaking.
That's Yahweh speaking I send my messenger and he will prepare
the way before me, the essence of the message is this that
there is one going forth. There is one who is going to be
sent out and he's going to prepare the A and he's not going
to be sent out to prepare the way for a human King like David
or for a mighty man of God like Moses.
It's so explicitly obvious that what God is saying is that this
messenger who is going forth, is preparing the way for me.
God, Yahweh, I myself will appear in my temple.
Sound familiar, I myself will arrive, but before I arrived, My
Messenger is going forth to prepare the way and more than
just removing rocks and stones and Paving out red carpet
preparing the way in the hearts of people to realize that Yahweh
is on his way. He will prepare the way before
who before me and all you have to do is break this down.
Logically to see the argument that is being made and it is
glorious one. Whoever the messenger is, his
mission will prepare the way of the coming of God.
To, we know that in multiple references, this messenger in
the New Testament is John the Baptist 3.
What we also know is that John the Baptist prepared the way for
the person of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
Her go. Jesus is Yahweh.
He is God in human form. The very Lord that Malachi was
speaking of. And coming to his own and his
own Temple. Now, what's so amazing is when
you compare Malachi's version of it to Marks there's a
difference. Did you notice a difference?
Go back to Mark. 1 verse 2 and notice the difference.
Behold I send my messenger. Remember I told you the bible
really help you here. Behold, I send my messenger
before your face. Every translation says it that
way. When you go to Malachi, doesn't
say that behold. I send my messenger and he will
prepare the way before me. Haha, contradiction mistake
error. Yeah, your Bible is filled with
error. Hold on.
What's Happening Here? When you read it carefully,
you'll realize that there is a very obvious difference.
Malachi says, before me Mark says before your face.
Before we get too nervous, maybe it will Comfort us a little bit
to know that when Jesus Christ himself quotes Malachi, he
quotes it in the same way that Mark does.
Proof you have your Bible, right?
Matthew when he gives tribute and chapter 11 to John the
Baptist and verse 10. Look at how he says it.
Look at the language that he uses.
He says in Matthew 11 10. This is he of whom it is written
behold I send my messenger before your face.
Who will prepare your way before you?
We're teaching today. In Malachi 3:1, you have two
persons present it in that verse Yahweh who says I send a
messenger before me so you have God and you have the messenger.
And Matthew and Mark in referencing Malachi, you don't
have two persons. You have three You have behold,
I send that God, my messenger, that's John the Baptist and now
we're left with the question. Who is before your face?
We have three. Now, we have three. and when we
look at this, we think, well if we understand what, before your
face means and we understand, I mean that much closer who were
speaking about before your face doesn't speak before an
audience, it means to go before one Before your face, I send my
messenger before your face somebody's going to go before
you. Well who's that guy?
Who are we speaking about here? and what's amazing is when we
look at this, all Matthew and Mark are doing because they are
inspired by the Holy Spirit. Jesus is speaking.
There are making a distinction, there are making a distinction
within the godhead so that people would better understand
that. Though, the Messiah does share
the same nature as Yahweh. He is a distinct person.
When Mark does this? And Matthew also does this, this
is what we have to understand. Yes, they're inspired by the
Holy Spirit and how they would often quote Old Testament
references varied sometimes in the New Testament have
word-for-word quotations with the Hebrew.
Sometimes they would go to Septuagint, the Greek
translation of the Hebrew Bible. Few hundred years before Jesus
came. There was a Greek translation of
the Hebrew Bible and at worded differently, sometimes they
would quote from the Septuagint. Have you as anybody has ever
noticed that you read the New Testament, you look at a quote,
you go that's different from when I go to the verse.
Yes. No Maybe and there are times
like what we see in mark, where the Holy Spirit leads the
writers to interpret, what the Old Testament verses speaking
about and that's what's Happening Here.
Mark is interpreting what Malachi is saying?
And the way he's interpreting, it is so glorious.
It's so wonderful by quoting by quoting it in this way.
What he's saying is, yes, God himself is coming.
Malachi said before me, he is coming.
But when Mark quotes it he points to Jesus, as a separate
person to show a distinction within the godhead.
We are trinitarians. We believe, God is one in
essence by has three persons. Co-equal and Divinity and value
and worth and worthy of worshipped and attributes.
So when he says before your face, he's saying before the
face of Christ and when you marry those things together, you
realize yes it is God, who is coming but it is God, the son
and particular who is coming. Andrew John, the Baptist is
preparing for its not God, the Father who is coming.
The message that was sent out before the face of God, the son
who is coming the second person of the Trinity will enter this
world with flesh. I hope that makes sense.
And then he just solidifies it. When he quotes, Isaiah and verse
3, the voice of one crying in the wilderness.
Prepare the way of the Lord make his paths.
Straight Isaiah says, prepare the way for our God.
And then Mark says the way of God is his his path.
This Messiah this Jesus Christ as well.
And so what we are understanding from this is that the the Gospel
of Jesus Christ. Who is a king.
He's not a king that comes from a human lineage necessarily, but
he is a king that comes from eternity past.
He is God, And I think here is a good place to understand
something that is that is quite important when it comes to
understanding the deity of Jesus Christ.
The deity of Jesus Christ. You know many people have asked
me this some of you might be thinking about it right now, why
so complicated. Well, why not?
Just have just just one verse where the Incarnate Christ.
Just just said, I am. God worship me, you want proof.
Here's some miracles. That would kill a thousand
arguments. That would put the death, a lot
of debate. Why not just do that?
Why make these connections and why?
Why does Jesus make these claims that to us seem ambiguous at
first at least That seemed unclear A seem like they're open
for interpretation. They're not when you really
understand the scriptures. Wouldn't it make it more clear?
Wouldn't there? Be less confusion?
I argued that actually, if Jesus would have come, it says, I am
God worship me. There would be more confusion.
Potentially. Have you ever thought about
that? And the reason why I believe
that is because he understood his immediate audience and his
immediate audience were Jews and to those Jews, a majority of
them who had a limited understanding of the scriptures.
Do they have the knowledge? The interpretive skill wasn't
very much their Jesus rebuked, the whole school of religious
people because of that. When they heard God, they
identified it with the father, Isaiah speaks of God as a
father, that's not a new testament concept.
God one who occupies Heaven. God, the one who is Sovereign
over all the universe. God, the one who cannot be seen
God. And so here's Jesus Christ.
He comes on what we wanted to do is say say, say it just say it,
your God worship you. Okay, tell us.
And yet that could be more of an obstacle than anything else if
he just said it so plainly. Because there would that would
leave those who are hearing it with an understanding of
backdrop of who God has to say. So you're the, you're the one
who's supposed to be in heaven. Who is supervising the universe?
You're the one that we cannot see and hear you are.
We know you're from Nazareth. Do you see how this can become
an issue? You see how this can become more
of a problem than of a benefit. And so, what Jesus does, as you
will see throughout this gospel, as you see, throughout the
gospels, is that he meets his people, where they're at with
their understanding. And what he does, is he shares,
and he declares that he shares the same nature as the father as
God. And the prerogative is that he
possesses, but at the same time wants to teach them that though
he does share them, he is distinct.
He is not the father. He is God, the son.
And some believed it some realized it While others were
ready to Stone him because of such blasphemy Jesus is the best
evangelist, Jesus knew how to explain these things.
And Jesus is infinitely wise, and we see it even here and we
see it even with his text like this, or we are invited to see
that Christ is distinct, but he is the same as God, and here's
the point as we bring it to a close.
That this whole introduction is to remind us Christians that we
have good news. And this good news was planned
and prepared and predicted long ago and although many Heralds
have gone down throughout history to announce the coming
of a new king. There is no King like this King.
Because this king is God himself. who wrapped himself in
flesh, entered into this world, not to be served but to serve
There is no King like him. And if he is not King of your
life, what are you waiting for? I have good news for you today.
That Jesus Christ, the son of God came into this world to save
you. To rescue you.
Some of you know this already, right?
Yeah. But I'll tell you that there is
something healthy going on, in your spirit, when you can hear
the gospel over and over again, and it makes you come alive.
Christ died. And Jesus Christ.
Had you in mind when he died. And as he hung there upon the
tree, he received the full account of your sin that lays
upon your shoulder today, if you are not connected to his saving
power, And you will have to pay for every single sin that you've
committed as you stand before. God, when he bids you to come
before him. And you give up your final
breath. That is not the end of your
existence. That's just the beginning of
one. That is much more real and as
you stand before, God, Though you may have been able to bury
your sin, from your parents barrier Sin, from your boss,
bury your sin from your pastor and hide it and live on as
though you were something and someone good, all of it will
surface up before the most holy atmosphere that you've ever
stepped foot in. And God will be there with a
trillion of his angels as they behold you there in that moment,
asking you to give an account for all that you've done against
his law. All Times that you violated your
conscience all the times that you have harmed.
Somebody else who was created in the image of who he is, what
will you do? What will you say?
I've heard many people say I will stand before God and I have
a list of questions to ask God. Oh really?
I have a feeling you're not even going to be able to look at your
list. As you stand before his blazing
holiness. That will make your bones feel
like they're Jello because you can't stand in such glory and
your corrupt state. Yet, at the same time.
For those who are in Christ, what would be so fearful and
intimidating. the scripture promises we can come before with
great joy and security what Jesus does for that appointment
that you have with this king who is also judge is that as you
stand before him you have nothing to account for.
If anything the Bible says, you will be crowned for a Perfection
of life that you have never lived but that you put your
trust in the person of Jesus Christ.
And all God will see and all those angels will see in that
moment is a life free from sin free from any violation of God's
law because the scripture uses a term, you are clothed in Christ.
You are clothed in Christ and he invites, you into his presence
forever and you enjoy his Fellowship, unfiltered,
unhindered forever, and ever and ever.
Do you want that? I'm not just saying you, if you
want it, you need that. And I just call you as I close.
Now, to run to the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ, while you
still have breath. And let the eyes of your heart.
Not these physical eyes, but the eyes of your heart, see his
Beauty, and his majesty and don't turn away from it.
Let it be. The very reason why you run
towards him and surrender, do it.
Do it. His arms are still open.
His blood still has power and there is no sin too great for
him. Not to forgive.
Oh, would you come to him? Come to this King.
Let's pray. Well, thank you for the news of
the arrival of Jesus Christ through mark.
Low. We pray that you would help us.
With this joy that this good news produces low.
We pray that if it was a spark for a few months, when we came
to know you originally oh Lord make it a fire again.
Bring us to that place where it is inexpressible and full of
glory. Lord.
We want to taste it. We want to know it.
Lori. Thank you.
How rich your word is, how deep it is.
We worship you today. For the person in here, who
doesn't know Christ. Although would your Holy Spirit
convict? For the one.
Who knows Christ. Who is lost this Joy?
Only you can bring it back again.
Well, we're so dependent on you and so we pray.
Help us help The Sinner. Help the saint.
We need you. In Jesus name.
Amen. We stand and Worship the Lord
together. Well, we're so dependent on you
and so we pray. Help us help The Sinner.
Help the saint. We need you.
In Jesus name. Amen.
We stand and Worship the Lord together.