In past messages in this series, we have talked about the gifts that were brought Jesus and how they represent something.
Gold: a gift aligned with His royalty, and the fact that Jesus is King of Kings.
Frankincense: a gift aligned with the fact that He is God’s son and in fact God Himself.
Myrrh
・A gift aligned with the fact that Jesus was fully man.
・A resin from trees and a costly perfume. It was used in embalming and to preserve flesh.
You’ll remember that we said the reason we give gifts at Christmas is because it is an act of love.
The ultimate act of love is that most precious gift that God has given us, free to us, but incredibly costly to Him, His son.
He was born in the flesh, and for a specific reason…to die in the flesh, and conquer death that you and I may live if we trust in Christ.
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Today we’ll be in Mark 1:1-13.
1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,
“Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way,
3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight,’”
4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open 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.”
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.
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John the Baptist
When we see John the Baptist encounter Jesus in Mark, it is not the first encounter with Jesus.
Let’s look at Luke 1:39-42
39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
Verses 4-5:
4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
John would grow to become a man and spend his time in the wilderness, eating locusts and honey, clothed in animal skins, but most importantly, baptizing people who came confessing their sins.
This doesn’t mean that John the Baptist wasn’t a sinner, and that he had the ability to forgive the people for their sins. Remember, his mission is to point others to God, and to make a path for Christ.
It also doesn’t mean that to be righteous before God that you need to move into the wilderness and eat Locusts and Honey, and wear animal skins for clothing.
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We are all quite familiar with Romans 3:23, but I love 24-26 too, and don’t think we should skip over these important verses.
We should commit them to memory as much as we commit 3:23.
Romans 3:23:
24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
So in what are you justified? In your own actions? In baptism? In righteousness?
No…you are justified because God passes over your sins, because of the shed blood of Christ, His perfect son.
And this is because of Christ’s perfection as a human, but his death on a sinner’s cross…your cross…my cross.
And remember, He is God!
But each of us must individually choose Him.
This takes us back to the Abrahamic covenant. Do you remember this?
There is a passage of scripture in Genesis 15 which is representative to Abraham that God would not make the covenant and give Abraham land and offspring, but also that God himself will secure that covenant.
This is the fulfillment of that Christ came down as the covenant promise of God. John the Baptist was proclaiming that.
Not only was John the Baptist proclaiming it, but God Himself was proclaiming it.
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Look back at our text:
7 And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open 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.”
Jesus came, and we see this scene approximately 30 years after His birth. He is obedient to the father in Heaven, and goes to be baptized. He has no sin, but demonstrates for us an affirmation that God has made Him who knew no sin to become sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21).
What does this mean?
This means that Jesus has identified with us…God with us…fully Man and Fully God.
One of my favorite passages of Scripture are in Philippians 2:1-11.
Christ in His baptism is an encouragement to us in His humility.
Philippians 2:1-11
1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
So Jesus’ obedience is to the Glory of God the Father.
Our obedience is to the Glory of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Jesus was obedient to the point of death. Even death on a cross.
Have you died to sin and to self, and committed to following and living for Him?
Have you proclaimed this truth for yourself?
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Romans 10:9-10 says:
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
So here is the basis of our faith…the Gospel truth that we need a savior.
As we said in our Christmas eve services, there is a doctrine of salvation (Soteriology)…understanding that is essential for our life in Him.
The truth of the Gospel is that we need a savior. Why do we need a savior…because we are all sinners.
What does that have to do with anything.
Well, the penalty for sin is death…eternal death, separation from God.
Romans 6:1-11 says:
1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Romans 6:23 says:
What shall we The wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Our text goes on to say:
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.
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Yes, this season we celebrate the birth of a baby, but we must remember, that Jesus, would grow to be a man, and has always been Fully God.
He was tempted in every way like us but never succumbed to the temptation, and remained perfect.
And in perfect obedience, took the punishment that we deserved.
Truly our savior…but in order for Him to be your savior, you must receive Him in the truth of His gospel message. You must be born again…dead to sin, and alive to God.
There is an old Hymn that says-
I have decided to follow Jesus…No turning back.
The world behind me, the cross before me…no turning back.
Have you received the gift of Christ’s humanity, which is offered for your eternity?
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Discussion Questions:
- Is there anything in your life that stands in contrast to your faith in Christ? Have you confessed it to Him and believed the truth of 1 John 1:9?
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- Think back to your Baptism, and what it represents. Re-read Mark 1:9-11, and Romans 6:2-4. How are you living in light of these Scriptures? Is there anything you need to confess and receive forgiveness for that brings times of refreshing fellowship?
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- What does it mean that Christ humbled Himself as it says in Philippians 2:1-11? How does this passage relate to how you live your life for Christ? Do you you do actions out of selfish ambition or conceit, or do you count others more significant than yourself? How so?
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