Join us in exploring the first chapter of the Gospel of Mark, where prophetic insights come alive through the preaching of John the Baptist. Discover how preparation, as highlighted in the scriptures, plays a crucial role in the narrative of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. This episode delves deeply into the eight opening verses, illustrating the transition from prophecy to preparation, and finally to impactful preaching.
The Gospel of Mark begins simple, yet it is so concise. The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Mark 1 and verse 1. How beautiful to study from the Book of Mark today from the International Gospel Hour.
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On Jordan’s stormy banks I stand.
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Hi, this is Jay Webb for International Gospel Hour. Welcome to our broadcast today. For over 90 years, churches of Christ have proclaimed God’s word through our broadcasts. Just ahead is another Bible-based lesson with Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour. Let’s begin.
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Bound for the promised land.
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Well, thank you to our J-Web, and greetings and hello once again, everyone. It’s great having you with us for our studies here from the International Gospel Hour. Our studies, from time to time, we deal with topical matters, but sometimes we’d like to just take the text and begin and just work through verse by verse. And that’s what we’re going to do today with Mark chapter 1, and we’re going to look at the first eight verses as time allows. The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord, make his path straight. John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. Then all the land of Judea and those from Jerusalem went out to him, and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, There comes one after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. I indeed baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. Now, friends, when we look at Mark 1, 1 through 8, let’s notice three things quickly. First of all, it is written in the prophets. So the prophets of God prophesy of this one named John, who would, second, prepare the way of the Lord. And John, even in his preaching, says, there comes one after me who is mightier than I. The same Spirit that guided those prophets by inspiration. The same Spirit guiding John. Today we want to talk about from prophets to preparation. A study of Mark chapter 1. But before we do that, allow me to pause, take just a moment. And I want to mention our friends at AddedToTheChurch.com. That’s AddedToTheChurch.com. That’s one word, AddedToTheChurch.com. This is an earnest effort by our friends DJ and Sarah Curry of Parkersburg, West Virginia. Exceptional articles by them and others that you can find at that website. And you can subscribe, get this folks, free to two digital publications. The Mountain Messenger and the New Testament Expositor. So again, check them out at addedtothechurch.com and sign up today. That’s addedtothechurch.com Now, let’s talk about From Prophecy to Preparation. And then we’re going to look at from preparation to preaching and just spend some time here in Mark 1, 1 through 8. We can never underestimate preparation with anything. Preparing and getting ready for any matter is necessary before one pursues in doing something. I have to prepare and get ready whenever I travel for International Gospel Hour that when I arrive at my destination, then things fall through much easier. But, oh friends, let’s think for a moment about the power in prophecies from the Lord and their fulfillment in Scripture. The odds are astounding that one could happen, but when you consider the hundreds that did happen, The power in prophecies from the Lord and their fulfillment in Scripture. From our lesson text, let’s just see God’s divine preparation from the book of Mark. What about Isaiah 40 and verse 3? The voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Isaiah in the long ago prophesied it and never met Mark who wrote about it through inspiration. but yet they were accurate in what they said. What about Malachi 3 and verse 1? Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight. Behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. And from a living prophet, even John himself. Again, verse 7, he preached, saying, There comes one after me who is mightier than I. And when we look at John 1.29 and John 1.36, Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. That’s how he declared Christ. And at John 1.23, he said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness. Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Isaiah. So here is John, not only what Mark had recorded, but John is stating what Isaiah had said. to make that plea of one crying in the wilderness and make straight the way of the Lord and all. This is akin to the custom of the kings who would send representatives ahead to prepare the way, and those representatives would make the visit smooth and address the reason that the king is there. Oh, what greater one can John be the forerunner for, or the representative, if you will, than the King of kings and Lord of lords, Jesus Christ, 1 Timothy 6, 17. And you know of his own son, Zechariah said of John, And you, child, will be called the prophet of the highest. For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the remission of their sins. Luke 1, 76 and 77. Here is Zechariah speaking of John, what the prophet said. Friends, verse 7 is a beautiful text of humility. As a guest would enter the house of one, a slave would untie the shoes of the guest. This is what John is saying. Whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. So a guest would enter the house of one, and a slave would untie the shoes of the guest. And John saw himself less worthy than a slave in the presence of Christ. Friends, John was the perfect forerunner. None other could have done what John did, and the Lord knew the man that he had. From prophecy to preparation. Oh, friends, God’s hand in it all. Now, let’s move on. From preparation to preaching. And let’s consider some things about Mark’s account of the gospel of Christ. A little bit of background. Friends, it is believed that Mark’s account was written to Gentiles or specifically Romans. And Romans at that time were known as men of power and their works were great. Now, I want you to think about how powerful fulfilled prophecy truly is. To them, that’s powerful. It would catch their attention. And Mark’s inspired writing of this gospel would indeed catch their attention because of the power of the Christ and the power of John as the forerunner of Christ. They would be able to see it happen and knew that it did. And Mark divinely records around 20 or so miracles performed by Christ within 16 chapters. Again, the expression of the power of Christ that would reach the Gentile nation. The work ethic of the Romans is so noted, friends, and Mark records more of the actions of Christ with a servant spirit. Matter of fact, a number of writers acknowledge Mark 10, 43-45 as the theme verses of the book. Listen. Yet it shall not be so among you, but whoever desires to be great among you shall be your servant spirit. and whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many. Oh, friends, to those to whom Mark was writing the hard-working Romans, his inspired writings presented and affirmed John’s work ethic, his direction and his goals, and not only John, but Jesus the Christ, the one through whom the Gentiles would learn and learn salvation, Acts 10. Now, for us, let’s pick up some application here. Take our work ethic, friends. Let us carry through what God will ask of us. All we do in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord, Colossians 3.17. And in James chapter 3, or James chapter 2, rather, of faith and works, and James is speaking there of a faith that is an active faith. Think about our direction that’s afforded by God. The labors that we may be perfect or complete, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Timothy 3.17 And our goals all furnished by God. And we see how we are able to get there. As we look unto Jesus. The author and the finisher of our faith. Hebrews 12 verse 2. Beloved what a wonderful, wonderful study. To see the power of the prophets to the preparation. And the preparation to preaching. And how this wonderful book of Mark. Although concise. Yet powerful in presentation. Friends, we want to help you continue your studies. Here is our J-Web with our wonderful Bible study by mail, God and Man, How to be Saved from Sin. You can get your free copy today. Here is our J-Web.
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An additional Bible study by mail is now available from International Gospel Hour. It’s titled, God and Man, How to be Saved from Sin. This study booklet addresses a number of questions about the salvation from God to man. And friends, like all materials, it’s free. Call us toll free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name, address and just say God and man. Or you can go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com, click on the Contact tab, and leave us the same information, name, address, and type God and man in the message box. Another Bible study that is free from IGH. And our friends at godandman.com. That’s god-and-man.com. And, you know, since you can’t see it, let me just spell that out for you. We’d love to hear from you.
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Well, friends, we are grateful today to spend time in a study of God’s Word, to simply look at the text and to go through it in what’s called an expository manner, verse by verse, and to consider the context there, the preaching of John and being the forerunner of Jesus Christ. We hope that our study tools will be of help to you. And again, if we can be of assistance to you, 855-444-6988. And we will continue our studies together at another time. But for now, thank you always for joining me on the International Gospel Hour. I’m Jeff Archie, and friends, keep listening.
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God be with you till we meet again.
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Thank you for listening to our broadcast today, and we hope you continue onward with your search and study of God’s Word. Please join us next time and visit our website at www.internationalgospelhour.com
