In Mark 1:1-13, the gospel writer introduces us to the “gospel of Jesus Christ.”
His first step is to recall Old Testament prophecy regarding God’s promise to send a messenger to prepare the way before the Lord/LORD (the Old Testament passages use both terms). So we have both a promise from God that he will send the Lord, and also a promise from Him to the Lord that he will prepare the way.
In comes the vivid imagery of John the Baptizer, dressed in camel fur and eating bugs in the desert. Obviously, from the text, he is the messenger preparing the way. But how? And why would the Lord come from God into the desert?
John prepares the way by baptizing people and preaching repentance for the forgiveness of sins. These are radical departures from the norm for Israel: baptism was for Gentiles and Israel secured forgiveness (atonement) through the sacrifice of animals. John’s preaching included the admonition that there was ‘one greater’ who would baptize with the Holy Spirit.
Then appears Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee: a nobody from nowhereville. He comes to the desert and gets baptized by John in the Jordan, just like everyone else. Could this be the ‘one greater’? Certainly not. But Mark confirms Jesus’ status by recording what he saw: the heavens opening, the Spirit descending, heaven talking. Then a curious thing happens: Jesus is expelled to the desert.
If everyone was in the desert already listening to John, how bad must it be if you are expelled from there to the desert?
Mark doesn’t leave us wondering at Jesus’ status, though. Even while he is in the wilderness being tempted, angels are tending to him.
So in Mark’s introduction we have Old Testament prophecy regarding the messenger and the Lord; John’s appearance and prophecy that ‘one greater’ was coming; the ‘one greater’ would baptize with the Holy Spirit; Jesus of Nazareth is baptized by John and baptized (to a degree) by the Holy Spirt; Jesus’ baptism is attended by eschatalogically significant events of heavens opening and heaven (God) speaking; Jesus is personally attended by angels.
Jesus of Nazareth is the promised Messiah (Christ), but not only is he flesh and blood — nobody from nowhereville — he is the Son of God, a kinship confirmed by miraculous and prophetic signs
Showing posts with label Jesus Christ. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jesus Christ. Show all posts
Monday, January 17, 2011
Friday, October 8, 2010
"Exhortations" are Good News?
Before Jesus began his earthly ministry, his cousin, John the Baptist, prepared the people for the coming Christ. Luke, in his Gospel, reports that the Baptizer's sermons were anything but user-friendly. He called the crowds a "brood of vipers," and challenged them to do works that confirmed their professed repentance.
These deeds included radical generosity: whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise (Luke 3:10). They included radical honesty: [tax collectors should] collect no more than you are authorized to do (Luke 3:13). They included radical restraint of power and lack of greed: [soldiers should not] extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages (Luke 3:14).
But the Baptizer gets even more radical. He describes Jesus' superior greatness in terms of His baptizing people with the Holy Spirit and with fire. In baptizing people with the Holy Spirit and with fire, Jesus will brandish his winnowing fork, He will clear the threshing floor, He will gather His wheat into His barn, and He will burn the chaff with unquenchable fire.
No wonder the Baptizer wore burlap and ate bugs. He probably was not given the key to many cities.
But Luke describes John's harshness this way: "with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people" (Luke 3:18).
"Good news"? Seriously?
John's exhortations -- even that Jesus will clear the threshing floor and burn chaff with fire -- point to the more glorious truth that Jesus will gather his wheat into his barn. No doubt. No uncertainty. No question. He will do it. He will save his people.
How do you know whether you are "Jesus' wheat"? Repent, and believe the good news.
These deeds included radical generosity: whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise (Luke 3:10). They included radical honesty: [tax collectors should] collect no more than you are authorized to do (Luke 3:13). They included radical restraint of power and lack of greed: [soldiers should not] extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages (Luke 3:14).
But the Baptizer gets even more radical. He describes Jesus' superior greatness in terms of His baptizing people with the Holy Spirit and with fire. In baptizing people with the Holy Spirit and with fire, Jesus will brandish his winnowing fork, He will clear the threshing floor, He will gather His wheat into His barn, and He will burn the chaff with unquenchable fire.
No wonder the Baptizer wore burlap and ate bugs. He probably was not given the key to many cities.
But Luke describes John's harshness this way: "with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people" (Luke 3:18).
"Good news"? Seriously?
John's exhortations -- even that Jesus will clear the threshing floor and burn chaff with fire -- point to the more glorious truth that Jesus will gather his wheat into his barn. No doubt. No uncertainty. No question. He will do it. He will save his people.
How do you know whether you are "Jesus' wheat"? Repent, and believe the good news.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Why followers of Jesus should stay at Motel 6
They leave the light on...
In 1 John 1:5-10, God declares, through his Spirit and through his servants, that he is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
God speaks truth about himself and about us, but we attempt to talk over him, to speak our own version of truth. Three times John describes the claims of darkness -- our speaking over what God has spoken: "if we say" we walk with God but walk in darkness; "if we say" we have no sin; "if we say" we have not sinned.
The one who follows God by walking in light, faithfully reflecting the glory of God -- 'glowing' with his glory -- will, first, declare God's character as light; second, reject the claims of darkness; and third, revel in exposure to God's light, confessing sin so that we are 'lit up' and rid of darkness. In other words, we speak not what we want to say, but what God has spoken about himself and about us.
As we flee darkness to dwell with God in light, he forgives, cleanses, and washes us in the blood of Jesus Christ.
Audio here.
In 1 John 1:5-10, God declares, through his Spirit and through his servants, that he is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
God speaks truth about himself and about us, but we attempt to talk over him, to speak our own version of truth. Three times John describes the claims of darkness -- our speaking over what God has spoken: "if we say" we walk with God but walk in darkness; "if we say" we have no sin; "if we say" we have not sinned.
The one who follows God by walking in light, faithfully reflecting the glory of God -- 'glowing' with his glory -- will, first, declare God's character as light; second, reject the claims of darkness; and third, revel in exposure to God's light, confessing sin so that we are 'lit up' and rid of darkness. In other words, we speak not what we want to say, but what God has spoken about himself and about us.
As we flee darkness to dwell with God in light, he forgives, cleanses, and washes us in the blood of Jesus Christ.
Audio here.
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