Month: September 2025

Mark’s account of the temptation of Jesus (Mark 1:12–13) is far shorter than Matthew or Luke’s. Why? Is he being brief to the point of being cryptic? Or is he emphasizing something crucially important about Jesus — something that will equip you in your Christian life?

The Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness — for you. Being tempted is the first messianic task of Jesus. In this introduction to his Gospel, Mark has given you a snapshot of the preparatory work of John the Baptist. He has pointed you to the baptism of Jesus by John, and then the Father equipping his Son, with whom he is well pleased, with the Holy Spirit. That Spirit will enable the Messiah to be the mighty one announced by John, the one who will accomplish is work and will ultimately baptize his followers with the Holy Spirit. But there is one more step in preparation for that messianic work.

Continue reading “Temptation: Animals and Angels”

Mark has told you that his book is the good news about Jesus Christ. After describing briefly the work of John the Baptist preparing the way for him, Jesus himself is introduced in Mark 1:9–11 as he is baptized by John and then has the Spirit descend on him. Mark, who has not given you a birth narrative, considers this crucial to your coming to know Jesus.

Jesus was baptized for you by John. Jesus came into the wilderness to submit to John’s baptism. John had spoken of the coming of the one who is more powerful than he. But when that powerful One makes his appearance, it is Jesus, coming from the insignificant, even despised town of Natareth. Compare the coming of Jesus with the coming of the crowds to John. In common are: come / to John / for baptism / in the wilderness. But there are significant differences. Jesus comes from Nazareth, and he comes as the sinless One with no confession of sin. As we saw last week, John’s baptism was one of repentance, closer to the ceremonial cleansings in the Old Testament, than to baptism into the name of the triune God. Mark’s brevity invites you to reflect on the implied problem that Matthew spells out. Why should the Messiah, the Redeemer need to be baptized like the sinners who came to John?

Continue reading “Baptism by John and by the Spirit”

When s the last time you heard the word Repent? Is it used only by weird people holding up signs with that word? How often do you hear it in church circles? As the writer describes the beginning of he gospel of Jesus Christ he focuses in Mark 1:4–8 on John the Baptist’s call to repent. That missing word is what you need in order to meet God.

John’s baptism summons you to repent. The wilderness location calls you to the obedience of sonship. In the Old Testament the wilderness was a sign of separation to sonship. The Exodus was to be the release of the Lord’s firstborn son, Exodus 4:22, 23. In Hosea 2:14 the desert is the location for the call to renewed fellowship with the Lord. John’s location, dress, and diet, remind you of Elijah — the prophet who summoned Israel and King Ahab to repent. John’s baptism indicated a similar purification from sin. Its roots lay in the ceremonies of purification. Going out into the wilderness was a reminder of the 40 years of exile. It was more than just a reminder. It was part of the process of repenting.

Continue reading “What Do You Need to Meet God?”

I want to introduce you to someone today. Or to put it more accurately, the Holy Spirit, who inspired Mark to write his Gospel, wants to introduce someone to you. Perhaps you are thinking, well, I met that person a long time ago. I know Jesus. He’s my Savior. The same could be said of many of those who first heard Mark’s Gospel. But Mark 1:1–3 is good news, not only for those who have never met Jesus, but also for those of us who have known him for a longer or shorter time.

Listen to the beginning of the Gospel. Hear what Mark tells you. The name of Mark (or John Mark) has been associated with this Gospel from its earliest days. His mother was well to do enough to host a late night prayer meeting for large group of Christians praying for Peter’s release (Acts 12:12). That home might have been the location of the last supper. Mark accompanied Paul and Barnabas as they started their missionary journey (Acts 12:25; 13:13; 15:36–41). He is mentioned in Colossians 4:10,\; 2 Timothy 4:11 and 1 Peter 5:13. Papias (c. 140) quotes “the elder” as saying that “Mark became Peter’s interpreter, and wrote accurately, though not in order, all that he remembered of the things said or done by the Lord…. His one concern was to leave out nothing of what he had heard and to make no false statements in reporting them.” Understanding that likely origin does not undermine the inspiration or the authority of the Gospel. Mark wrote his Gospel, but he wrote it to be listened to by his audience. We have an advantage in being able to read (much more widely than in the first century), but we still need to listen—and to keep in mind that Mark wrote it to be heard. You can divide the Gospel into three scenes (not that Mark though of himself a writing a three-act play) identified by geography. After the introduction, Mark 1:14–8:21 takes place in Galilee, Mark 8:22–Mark 10 is a journey to Jerusalem, and Mark 11–16 takes place in Jerusalem. In any case, Mark structures his material differently than the other Gospels–but for his own inspired purpose.

“Who is Jesus of Nazareth? What is the good news (gospel) about him?

“We all have our own answer to that question. This book presents us with Mark’s answer. It is full of important information which will help us to understand what Jesus said and did, what his life was really like, and who he claimed to be. It is the earliest reliable record we have about him. For that reason, understanding Mark’s Gospel is a major step in coming to know, understand and believe in Jesus himself.”

Sinclair B. Ferguson, Let’s Study Mark, p. xiii

Continue reading “Have You Met Jesus?”