Jesus Is King from the book of Mark, Chapter 1:1-20

 

Matthew and Luke begin Jesus’s story by telling how he came as a baby. Our pastor talked recently about how the gospel of Mark introduces Jesus as king.

 

Mark 1:1-3:

The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

“I will send my messenger ahead of you,

    who will prepare your way”

“a voice of one calling in the wilderness,

‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”

 

Jesus is the Messiah, the anointed one. During Jesus’s time, if a king was traveling, he would send people before him, to make rough places in the roads ready for him to travel them. Isaiah 40:3 predicted that John the Baptist would come to prepare the way for God. John came to prepare people’s hearts and lives to hear from Jesus, God in the flesh.

 

Verses 9-11:

At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

 

Jesus’s baptism was his anointing as king. The heavens were torn open, God making a big move. The Spirit rested on him, anointing him as with oil. The Father proclaimed that he loved his son and was pleased with him.

 

Verses 12-13:

At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.

 

Jesus didn’t gather an army and go out against the enemies of Israel. He went into the wilderness to fight the worst enemy, Satan.

 

Verses 14-15:

After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

 

Jesus said that he was bringing God’s kingdom right then. He invited people to repent, to change their minds, to change what they were following and to turn to believe what he had to say to them. To go a different direction with their life.

 

Verses 16-20:

As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.

When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

 

Jesus didn’t call the smartest, strongest, most elite to be a part of his kingdom. He chose common ordinary men, fishermen.

 

I want to study the book of Mark with a focus on how it shows Jesus as king.