January 18th, Sunday: Mark Overview & Chaps. 1-2

Brief overview of the entire book of Mark

John Mark was the cousin of Barnabas and a son of Mary, a leading woman in the Jerusalem church.

He helped Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey.

But for some reason did not remain with them.

And that failure caused Paul and Barnabas to separate.

But Barnabas gave Mark another chance.

In later years, Mark became one of Paul's associates, and Paul commended him for his work.

It all ended well.

Many Bible scholars believe that Mark's gospel is a record of Peter's reports of the ministry of Christ, presenting Jesus Christ as the Servant of God.

Mark often used the word 'immediately.'

He describes the work of the Servant, who was busy obeying His Father and meeting the needs of the people.

Mark 1-2

The book tells of Christ's ministry in Galilee, His journey to Jerusalem, His ministry in Jerusalem, climaxing with His crucifixion, and His resurrection and ascension.

In Mark chapter 1, we see that even a servant must have credentials.

And our Lord has the very best.

His coming was prophesied by Isaiah and Malachi, and announced by John the Baptist.

The Father and the Holy Spirit commended Him.

And Satan could not defeat Him.

He is a servant you can trust.

But what can He do?

What is His work?

Well, He can guide your life and make it a success. You can overcome Satan and sickness.

And use you to bring the message of salvation to a lost and needy world.

You can be a servant of the Servant, and share in His wonderful work.

Where did the servant get his power?

We will see that He depended on the Holy Spirit and prayer.

He did not allow the demands of the work to rob Him of the time He needed to renew His strength.

Many people mistake their active ministry for time with God.

And it is not the same thing.

If the Holy Son of God needed to pray, how much more do you and I need to pray.

In the Lord's service, you cannot run on empty.

Or better stated, 'you can't run on too long on empty' and continue to be authentic to those to whom you are ministering.

Consider the unique ministries of God's Servant - Jesus Christ forgives our sins.

That's good news for you and me.

Imagine a servant having such authority.

The healing of the body is a great miracle, but it does not last, for one day - all die.

The forgiveness of sins is God's greatest miracle – it lasts forever and accomplishes the greatest good.

The Servant forgives us and pays the price for the miracle.

We are actually putting on new garments.

Our first parents tried to cover their sins with garments they made there in the garden, but God would not accept them.

Instead He clothed them with skins - blood had to be shed.

Jesus did not come to do a patchwork job on our lives.

He came to make us whole.

We've been raised from the dead, and like Lazarus, we must take off the old garments of death, and put on the garments of new life.

We'll read about His fellowship with sinners.

Why?

Because they're sick.

And He is the only physician who can heal them.

He frees us from bondage.

He is Lord of the Sabbath, the Giver of rest.

Man's religious traditions can be a terrible yoke of bondage.

But when you follow the Lord, you experience freedom and rest.