Mark 1:1-11 - The Beginning of the Gospel

The Bible is a deep book. The more you know of it the more you realize how much there is to know.

The reformers taught something called the perspicuity of Scripture. Perspicuity is the idea that the Bible is simple enough to be understood by the average reader or listener. And this is true. The Bible, in its main teachings, is very clear and can be understood by the common man. But at the same time there is a depth to the word of God that is incredible. The more you learn, the more you are in wonder. The deeper you dig, the more there is to find. And it is all beautiful and it all points to redemption in Christ.

This past Sunday we looked carefully at the prologue to the gospel of Mark. This prologue is not just an introduction to the book, but also an introduction to Jesus Christ.

Here's the outline of the first eleven verses:

  I. The Introduction (v. 1)
 II. The Prophecy (v. 2-3)
III. The Prophet--John the Baptist (v. 4-8)
IV. The Baptism (v. 9-11)

In the sermon I preached Sunday I unpacked each of the first eleven verses in Mark's gospel. In it I explained exactly how Mark introduced Jesus Christ to us and what he meant in these verses. We took the time to dig deeper and find the wonders the word contains and to see it within the context of the Scripture as a whole. Here are my concluding remarks:

"And so we have introduced Jesus of Nazareth. We have the proclamation of the early church: 'Jesus Messiah, the Son of God.' We have the witness of the prophets: God coming down. We have the announcement of John the Baptist: 'one mightier than I for whom I am unworthy to even loosen his sandals. He will baptize us with the Spirit of life.' And finally the pronouncement of God: 'this is my beloved Son. With him I am well pleased.'

What will you do? What will you say? What will your response be to the gospel? The good news is that God has not left his people in their sin and misery. He has come to offer perfect obedience on their behalf, and then to offer himself up to the judgment of God--again on their behalf--so that he might pour out his Spirit upon them, giving them life. What will you say? Will you give yourself to Christ?

Click below to hear the sermon.



Click here: Mark:1-11 - The Beginning of the Gospel



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