Gospel Foundations - Mark 1:9-13

Gospel Foundations

Mark 1:9-13

Introduction:  The News, these days, is getting ridiculous. “Fake News” is offered as fact without verification. Political agendas make it hard to discern what is real and true and what is merely opinion.  One side says the real news is that stories were illegally leaked. The other side says that what matters is the “news” that was “uncovered by an unnamed source.”  Remember Sergeant Friday on the old TV show Dragnet?   “Just the facts mam, just the facts.”!  As we consider Mark’s portrait of Jesus, we get the facts, and let’s be sure to focus on the “Good News” in this Gospel!  Mark is not giving us a lot of detail about the teaching of Jesus, but rather he shows that Jesus came to reveal Himself in history and to carry out the plan of the Father. Jesus did not come primarily to teach us how to live a moral and respectable life. He did that, but the primary aspect of his mission was to save sinners, to give His life so that fallen humans could be reconciled to Holy God. That is REAL News, and it is really GOOD News! These two concise scenes at the beginning of the Gospel, the baptism and the temptation of Jesus, lay a foundation for the unfolding story of God.

The Maine* Idea:  Whereas Adam brought sin and death on all humanity, Jesus came as the second Adam, but without sin, to make possible forgiveness and life for all who will believe.

I. Jesus came in humility to meet the need of sinners: He was baptized not because of His own sin, but to identify with sinners (9).

“In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.”

       It was “in those days,” i.e. during the preparatory ministry of John the Baptist, that Jesus appeared publically, ready to initiate his messianic ministry.  Paul pointed to this moment when he said to the Galatians, “When the fullness of time had come...” Remember the setting in Judaism of the first century. After 400 years of prophetic silence, the Jews were now under the oppression of another force: the Romans. There was a widespread longing for the Messiah, a yearning for the Rescuer spoken of in Scripture. Precious few, however, linked His coming with the problem of sin. Most did not understand that the Messiah must suffer and die (cf. Mark 8:31-33).

       Mark doesn’t tell us anything about Jesus’ early life, and like John, He doesn’t mention that Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea. Simply, “...Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee...” John makes a big deal of it, starting in the first chapter when Nathanael asks, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46). Later, at the feast in Jerusalem, we read in John 7:40-42,  

⁴⁰ When they heard these words, some of the people said, "This really is the Prophet."  ⁴¹ Others said, "This is the Christ." But some said, "Is the Christ to come from Galilee?  ⁴² Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?"

John mentions this apparent conflict, but then leaves the reader hanging, he never explains that Jesus was, in fact, born in Bethlehem. It seems he is assuming that that tradition is so well known and so well established that he could assume that his readers already knew the answer. Mark doesn’t even mention the place of his birth, only that He came from Nazareth, from Galilee.

       Without giving any details, Mark simply states Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan. Consider the circumstances involved, and how shocking this is based on the information we have so far. John was announcing the coming of Messiah, he was the forerunner who would prepare the way.  And John’s baptism was associated with a call to repentance.   Now put those facts up against what we know so far about Jesus. He is Messiah, Son of God, and more than that, in light of Mark applying Mal 3:1 and Isa 42:3 to Him, verses that spoke of YAHWEH, Jesus is the Lord God, He is God the Son! God is Holy, sinless. If John’s ministry was preparing the way for Jesus’ ministry, why would Jesus go to him and submit to baptism?

       That brings us to the heart of the Gospel. Jesus was without sin. But He came to save sinners, by being our substitute.  So even as he went down into the waters of the Jordan, the same water symbolically polluted by the sins of the people who were being baptized by John, Jesus indicated His purpose, to take our sins in His body.  He who was sinless, would be made sin for us. Think about the Maine Idea* here: Whereas Adam brought sin and death on all humanity, Jesus came as the second Adam, but without sin, to make possible forgiveness and life for all who will believe.

II. He is God the Son, sent by the Father and Anointed by the Spirit for His messianic work (10-11).

¹⁰ And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens opening 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." 

       Just a side point at the beginning of verse 10, “...when he came up out of the water...” is most naturally describing a baptism by immersion. It seems clear that was what John was doing, and it seems certain that that is what the post-Pentecostal church practiced as well. It seems a little radical, to be immersed in water, but it symbolizes our unity with Christ in his death and resurrection (see Rom 6). 

       The ESV is a little weak on translating the verb, “...he saw the heavens opening...” [I noticed after publishing this post that the 2011 edition of the ESV corrected this using the phrase, 'He saw the heavens being torn open...' SN.]  It’s the verb schizo that usually has a stronger sense, “split, tear open.” Mark only uses this verb twice. The first is here, near the beginning of the gospel. The second is near the end, in 15:38, when the veil of the Temple is torn in two, from the top to the bottom. Think of the symbolism of that: the veil, separating the Holy of Holies, the place of God’s symbolic presence was ripped open, from the top to the bottom, only God could do that. And here in our context, Jesus sees heaven itself “torn open,” as the Spirit descends to anoint Him for his messianic work. Almighty God is reaching down into His fallen creation. John said it in his gospel explicitly, “The Word was God... and the Word was made flesh and dwelt [tabernacled] for a while among us...”

       Mark speaks of Jesus seeing the theophany of the Spirit’s descent and hearing the voice of the Father.  Whether John or the others present heard it he leaves as an open question. I think in comparing the gospels we can be sure that at least John did. Mark wants to emphasize what the Father said, the full import of His declaration. It seems God intentionally brought together three Old Testament scriptures to make it clear who Jesus is. He said in Mark 1:11,

“You are my beloved Son, with you I am well pleased.”

   1) He alludes to Psalm 2:7b, "...You are my Son; today I have begotten you.”

   2) He may allude to Genesis 22:2, where God tells Moses “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there...” Mark is showing us who Jesus is, and he is reminding us why He came. As Abraham was prepared to offer his beloved son on the mountain, the Father in fact offered His beloved Son, as the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world.

   3) A third text reflected here is Isaiah 42:1, “Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights [i.e. “with whom you are well pleased”]; I have put my Spirit upon him...” Remember he just referred in Isa 40:3 a couple of verses back, so the reader is already “attuned” to that context. Also, the reader of Mark has just heard the reference to the Spirit which fits exactly with this context in Isaiah.

If God indeed wanted us to think of Ps 2, Gen 22, and Isa 42:1, then he has brought together the three sections of the Hebrew Bible, The Law, the Prophets, and the Writings. The whole Bible points to Jesus. The reformer John Calvin eloquently said,

He [Christ] is Isaac, the beloved Son of the Father who was offered as a sacrifice, but nevertheless did not succumb to the power of death.

He is Jacob the watchful shepherd, who has such great care for the sheep which he guards.

He is the good and compassionate brother Joseph, who in his glory was not ashamed to acknowledge his brothers, however lowly and abject their condition.

He is the great sacrificer and bishop Melchizedek, who has offered an eternal sacrifice once for all.

He is the sovereign lawgiver Moses, writing his law on the tables of our hearts by his Spirit.

He is the faithful captain and guide Joshua, to lead us to the Promised Land.

He is the victorious and noble king David, bringing by his hand all rebellious power to subjection.

He is the magnificent and triumphant king Solomon, governing his kingdom in peace and prosperity.

He is the strong and powerful Samson, who by his death has overwhelmed all his enemies.

This is what we should in short seek in the whole of Scripture: truly to know Jesus Christ, and the infinite riches that are comprised in him and are offered to us by him from God the Father. If one were to sift thoroughly the Law and the Prophets, he would not find a single word which would not draw and bring us to him. . . . Therefore, rightly does Saint Paul say in another passage that he would know nothing except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

Wow! He, Jesus, is the culmination of all the revelation of God. The whole Bible points to Him. He is at the heart of God’s story and His redemptive plan. That is the Jesus who took a human nature, and came to make possible our redemption and our reconciliation with God. Does that stir your heart? He loved you that much!  Whereas Adam brought sin and death on all humanity, Jesus came as the second Adam, but without sin, to make possible forgiveness and life for all who will believe.

III. Where Adam failed, Jesus stood firm against the temptations of the Enemy (12-13).

¹² The 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.

       Mark’s account of the temptation of Christ is very concise. We don’t have the details of the temptations and the responses of Jesus.  The account begins in v.12 with the words, “And immediately the Spirit drove Him out into the wilderness...” There was no delay, no time for basking in the anointing of the Spirit and the confirmation of the Father, there was work to do. The word “immediately” [euthus] is used more in Mark than in the rest of the Bible combined. He wants the reader to know that mission requires movement. The language of the Spirit sending Jesus into the wilderness here is pretty strong, sometimes translated “cast out,” the ESV gets the idea with the phrase, “...drove Him out...” Matthew and Luke use a different word, and report that the Spirit “led” Jesus into the desert.  Again, Mark is emphasizing the urgency of the mission. Think about our situation in the world. We are “on assignment.” And sometimes we can feel the pressures of living in a fallen world. Have you ever looked up and asked, “Lord, is this a test?” It probably was! Remember James 1:2-3,  “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,  ³ for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness...” (see also I Pet 1:6,7).

       The duration of the temptation in the wilderness is expressed as “...forty days...” That again evokes the Old Testament.  After the Exodus from Egypt, the spies were sent by Moses to spy out the promised land.  They came back with a mixed report: abundance and prosperity of the land, but ten spies were also intimidated and frightened by the fortified cities, and the “giants” in the land. Only two, Joshua and Caleb, said “We can take these guys [with the Lord on our side!].” The people did not accept the minority report. Because of their unbelief, the Jews were in the wilderness forty years, one year for each day the spies were in the land (Num 14:34).  It was a 40 day period of testing, a call to believe, and they failed.  Moses was also on the mountain with God for forty days (Exod 24:18; 34:28). While Moses was there, getting the Ten Commandments, the people were having a wild party. They failed that time of testing.  We don’t know how long it took Adam and Eve to sin—could it have been forty days? Maybe. But now Jesus is tempted by the devil, and He stands firm in the face of the testing. By the way, that wasn’t the last time the devil attacked Jesus. One of the other gospels says “...he departed until an opportune time...” 
     Have you ever been in the midst of trial or temptation and asked, “How long O Lord?” Remember we have a High Priest who can sympathize with our weaknesses, he was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin.  Because of Him, we can have victory. 1 Corinthians 10:13, says “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

       Only Mark mentions the detail, “...and He was with the wild animals...” It may be that Mark is simply saying he was alone, no other people were with Him, only the “wild animals.” Perhaps Mark was noting that there was an element of danger in his being alone in the desert.  But consider this: in the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament that was in common usage in the first century, the word “wild animals” [therion] first appears five times in Genesis 1 and 2, describing the animals that were part of God’s good creation.  Then, the sixth usage is in Genesis 3:1, where we meet the Serpent, who was more subtle than “all the therion...”  That is a pretty exciting connection, since that is the context of the first temptation, a time of testing that Adam and Eve failed. Their sin brought the curse on creation. And so there would be danger in the wilderness as the man and his wife were driven from the Garden.  The animals that once were docile would now be a threat to humans.  So now Jesus was cast into the desert, and He was “with the wild animals.” There may be a hint, an anticipation of the coming messianic age of blessing spoken of through the prophet,

"Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old.  ¹⁹ Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.  ²⁰ The wild beasts will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches, for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people,  ²¹ the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise... (Isaiah 43:18-21).

A new beginning, a new age, is being initiated through the presence of the Son, of that there can be no doubt. Aspects of His kingdom will await His second coming, when

⁶ The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them.  ⁷ The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.  ⁸ The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den... (Isaiah 11:6-8).

Now, as Mark begins his gospel, as he is introducing the public ministry of Jesus, we see a hint of what one day will be realized in the Messiah’s kingdom.  

       As I was looking back in Genesis at the story of the temptation, and considering the reference to the “wild animals,” I looked across the page to another scene (Genesis 4), picturing a temptation being experienced by the third human, the first son of Adam, Cain. God spoke to Cain after he was apparently jealous that his brother’s offering was accepted by God, and his was not. The LORD said,

“If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it...” (Gen 4:7).

Sin is pictured as an animal (or a demon!) crouching, ready to attack. But notice, we are not helpless: “...you must rule over it...” We know how that worked out: Cain killed his brother Abel. Because of Jesus we can have victory over the temptations of the enemy. Because Jesus stood firm, and made possible our justification by grace through faith, we don’t have to battle the enemy in our own strength. He has given us His Spirit to fill us, guide us, and empower us.

      “...and the angels were ministering to Him...” Could it be an allusion to Psalm 91:11, “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways...”?  We don’t “see” angels a lot in the New Testament, but they are present, not guarding the entrance to Eden preventing access to the tree of life, but as ministering spirits, sent by God to do His will.

What is God saying to me in this passage? Whereas Adam brought sin and death on all humanity, Jesus came as the second Adam, but without sin, to make possible forgiveness and life for all who will believe.

What would God have me to do in response to this passage? I don’t know about you, but I am getting tired of the “fake news” that is being played out in the media. And I am thankful for the “Good News” that gives us a sure hope and peace even in the midst of chaos. Adam sinned, and brought death and separation from God on all humanity. Paul said, “By one man sin entered into the world and death through sin. And so death spread to all men, because all have sinned.” As Abraham told Isaac, God, Himself, has provided the Lamb. Because of Jesus, the One who took our sins in his own body on the cross, because of Him we can be reconciled with God. He identified with sinful humanity in submitting to John’s baptism. And he did not succumb to the temptations of Satan. The end of the story? “Jesus wins!” And if you trust Him, so do you. Remember who Jesus is and why He came. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no one comes to the Father, but by Him.  Consider what that means to you, to your calling to be His witness. Go home and tell your people what great things the Lord has done for you!    Think about that, AMEN.