Mark 1:4-11 Baptism: Repentance, Belonging, and a Beginning

Introduction: Sinclair Ferguson writes; “Mark begins his Gospel by telling us two simple things. First, the gospel is about Jesus Christ. It is not good advice about how to live, but good news about a person. Then secondly, Mark sets the scene for Jesus by telling us about John the Baptist and the significance of his ministry” (Ferguson, Let’s Study Mark, 2).Read: Mark 1:4–11[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.” (ESV)Prayer of IlluminationFirst a quick review of Mark’s outlineSecond, John a prophet of repentance (vv. 4-6)Third, John preaches a savior mighty to save. (7-8)Fourth, Our Baptism Belonging to the Covenant Community: Jesus’ Baptism Our Priest, Set Apart, commissioned for Holy ministry. (9, 10-11)#1 What is the Outline of Mark?What is the broad brush stroke outline of Mark’s Gospel? There are two parts to it!1. The first half of the book says WHO Jesus is: Jesus is mighty to save! John preaches repentance, John talks about the kingdom of God. Jesus actually forgives sins, and brings us into God’s kingdom and makes us a people.a. This builds as Jesus does miracles and makes statements that only God himself could back up, and culminates in Mark 8 with the question: who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” [30] And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him.i. This fulfills Mark 1-8 the WHO, the identity, you are the Christb. And Jesus says, people won’t understand that yet, they think that means I’m going to kick out the Romans…so to Peter, to even the demons who call Jesus the messiah, he says be quiet, not yet… [Techn. Messianic Secret]2. The Second half of Mark, Mark 8-16 focuses not on WHO Jesus is but WHAT he came to do…Not the Person, the WORKa. Mark 8:31”And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again.” (ESV)b. JESUS sets his face to Jerusalem to be the suffering servant who lays down his life as a ransom. Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” To die on a cross, where a centurion will say surely this is the Son of God! (15:39).i. So the first half of Mark – wandering Galilee with his disciples in POWER, miracles, with Authoritative words establishing WHO he is. The miracles are to prove the identity so we will believe his words, and so put our faith in his WORK.ii. …Second half of Mark setting his FACE to Jerusalem – in order to lay down his life, to suffer, and to die as a ransom for your sins.c. Both halves demand a response! Douglas O’donnell asks this? “d. “Will we follow, listen to, obey, and humbly serve Jesus? Will we suffer for Jesus, look to Jesus’ death and resurrection as our only hope of salvation, and await Jesus’ return? To Mark, those who genuinely believe the good news of Jesus the Christ and the Son of God respond in certain ways. Self-denial. Cross-bearing. Total dependence. Radical allegiance. Arise and follow the Son!” (O’Donnell, 9.)e. Our membership vows roughly follow this order; Mark’s entire gospel provides this flow…Mark knows the good news begins with repent & believe on the Savior, rise and Follow him…We took these vows so I think a constant reminder is good…And hopefully like wedding vows they are familiar.1. Our Need of the Gospel: Do you acknowledge yourselves to be sinners in the sight of God, justly deserving His displeasure, and without hope save in His sovereign mercy?2. Justification by Faith: Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and Savior of sinners, and do you receive and rest upon Him alone for salvation as He is offered in the Gospel?3. Sanctification: Do you now resolve and promise, in humble reliance upon the grace of the Holy Spirit, that you will endeavor to live as becomes the followers of Christ?4. Gathered Worship & Service: Do you promise to support the Church in its worship and work to the best of your ability?5. Honoring Delegated Authority: Do you submit yourselves to the government and discipline of the Church, and promise to study its purity and peace?I pray Mark’s gospel will make these vows flow from knowing and Loving Jesus and knowing and loving the Church, the covenant family bound by oaths that Jesus gathers, the kingdom of God gathered on earth, worshipping Christ with the saints in heaven.Well John launches straight into vow #1 – our need for revival, for cleansing from sin. Look in verses 4-6.#2 Verses 4-6 John: Prophet of Repentance[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.· John’s job is to prepare the way for Jesus’ three year ministry. He is getting Israel ready, to have hearts that are spiritually hungry, that know something is off in the spiritual life of Israel they need the messiah.o He dresses as a prophet, specifically he dresses like Elijah in 1 Kings 17o What kind of man was Elijah? 2 Kings 1:8 says, “He wore a garment of hair, with a belt of leather about his waist.” And he said, “It is Elijah the Tishbite.” (ESV)a. What kind of Prophet is he? John is a Prophet of Repentance (pointing us away from sin) and He is Heralding Jesus (pointing to the solution, life, forgiveness, and restoration in Jesus)i. We might call this addressing the problem of “nominalism” [external religion, in name only]ii. “I desire worship from your hearts not sacrifice” “I desire repentance, a turning from idols, and turning to God for forgiveness of sins”iii. ILLUSTRATION: What is repentance? Two metaphors, Holy SPIRIT light on sin (ah!) This focuses on the repentance side of the coin first; Or second Walking a cold dark path and the warm fire comes behind you. This focuses on repentance as inherently looking to the mercy of Christ.b. SO when people say, that Christian sinned! …Yes, it’s the first question, we are sinners. Saved sinners, still sin. We just repent and look to God for purification. We are in this life always going to be putting sin to death, asking forgiveness of sin, and forgiving the wounds of living with other…saved…sinners. John pointed out sin, so they would repent, the same in the church for the grace of repentance never self-righteous condemnation.i. So repentance is Good, and just preaches this word.Q. 87. What is repentance unto life?A. Repentance unto life is a saving grace, whereby a sinner, out of a true sense of his sin, and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ, doth, with grief [sin is sad…] and hatred of his sin, turn from it unto God, with full purpose of, and endeavor after, new obedience.Q. 89. How is the word made effectual to salvation?A. The Spirit of God maketh the reading, but especially the preaching, of the word, an effectual means of convincing and converting sinners, and of building them up in holiness and comfort, through faith, unto salvation.ii. John preaches repentance and, second he preaches JESUS.#3 John preaches a Savior Mighty to Save.1. Jesus is Mighty to SaveV. 7-8 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.”So Jesus is not merely a prophet, he is the one who gives the inward reality of baptism by the Spirit…Jesus pours out the third person of the Trinity, God the Holy Spirit poured out in your heart by Christ… So that the Church is filled with the Holy. He is Christ’s Spirit.2. Following Jesus is not just following a new Instagram account that gives you good advice, explains psychological techniques and health and fitness solutions. Its not a bunch of encouraging quotes…1. Jesus Spiritually rescues dead men and women who by his death and life and By the Holy Spirit filling their hearts and minds. If you go to Jesus and say, I am lost save me! The sin in me is stronger than I am – I trust you, save me! This is not just a well-advised move. It is a supernatural rebirth done in your heart and mind! That is now a Soul whose true north compass is changed forever.2. John preaches that Jesus will baptize his people with the Holy Spirit.3. The Holy Spirit is the fire and engine of the Christian life that makes our conscience alive and working, our hearts full of love that can overflow to our neighbors, that can make us truly sorrow for sin, and love God with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind so that All of live now revolves around HIM.a. All believers receive the spirit at conversation. He is not a special second tier membership a select few get.b. And for all believers; the Spirit delights to work through the WORD and to shine the spotlight on JESUS.c. John 16:13–14 says the Spirit is the spirit of truth that takes the word of Christ and declares it to our hearts glorifying Jesus!d. And in Christ we are by the Spirit, cleansed and forgiven, bearing his name. Reborn. Regenerated. Called, and united to Jesus. That’s the reality.]#4 Our Baptism Belonging to the Covenant Community: Jesus’ Baptism Our Priest, Set Apart, commissioned for Holy ministry. Look in verse 9.[9] In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.So John is calling people to repentance and baptizing them…Now Jesus is baptized.What is baptism?A Theology of Baptism: Holy & Clean, belonging to the covenant community1. Baptism Represents that we are: Purified: Clean & Belonga. This could be coming from the priest’s baptism (definitely Jesus’) it could be proselyte, various purification.i. Purify – Heb. 9 various washings (various baptisms1. Sprinkled blood as a purifier for holy things2. Anointing oil3. Water4. FIRE.2. Baptism as a Sacramenta. Second it is now a sign and seal of the covenant this is Rom. 4 language.b. OT precurs is Circumcision (cut off, bloody, represented a cleansed heart, call for internal to reflect the external).i. NT baptism, water, cleansed, united to Christ and all his benefits as a sign and seal of regeneration and a new heart by faith, of righteousnessc. Jesus…does not need this baptism to be clean, he Makes us clean. But it shows he is our priest who is Holy and Clean.i. Sinclair Ferguson say,“John knew that Jesus did not need to be baptised as a symbol of repentance - he had no sins from which he needed to repent. He was the spotless Lamb of God, who needed no offer of forgiveness. … His baptism inaugurates him publicly into his role as the priest who bears away the sins of men in order to bring them forgiveness and salvation.” …“The baptism of Jesus marked his public inauguration as the Messiah. He came into the world to be the Saviour of sinners…He has not come in pomp and circumstance to lord it over men; but in lowliness and humility, to save them. Here already he indicates how he will become our Saviour: by standing in the river in whose waters penitent Jews had symbolically washed away their sins, and allowing that water, polluted by those sins, to be poured over his perfect being.” – Sinclair Ferguson, 6.d. Our Baptism says we belong to Jesus and to the covenant community the church, it is a sign of our belongingi. Our Identity-holy to the Lord– represented (in the sign) Sealed as authentic and to be believed as from God that we belong to God and have an interest, a part, in the things of God.e. We are not pagans. We are God’s people. And in Jesus’ baptism we see that he is not just a member of God’s people, He is God’s son, and by him we belong to GodLook in verse 10.[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.”Illustration – Every child on the playground—Every child on a play stage or during a sporting game scans the audience for their Father’s face as they step out to perform—they desire the gaze and approval of their father. Look, look, look at me, do you approve?Now, Jesus is not an anxious child, but there is a fittingness of him in his earthly ministry, in his humanity, as the eternal son of God to be equipped and fueled for his ministry from these words…How often Jesus must’ve remembered this moment over the next three years…Even as he goes into the wilderness to be tempted, when times are difficult “you are my beloved son…I am well pleased with you!” See the sign of the dove…the dove of Noah’s ark saying, there is a new creation, a new beginning. Judgement will come to an end through Jesus. The world is redeemed from sin and misery in Christ. A foretaste now and in completion when he comes again at the end of the age. PEACE.You can say the dove represents peace….but what kind of peace…peace with God and new life because of Christ’s work to defeat sin and death in our place. Jesus will take the flood, the deluge of wrath in our place that we may have PEACE. It’s not a hippy peace achieved by ignoring reality and responsibility with drugs, free love, and finding yourself. A False peace.It is a peace that comes from finding your life in Christ, by being reborn, because Christ took judgment on your behalf and sent the Holy Spirit to come and live in your heart to make you a new creation reborn in the world made new. Forgetting all that lay behind and beginning again…And every time we repent it is a bit like that.Let me say in no uncertain terms—You have the approval of your heavenly father if you are in Christ Jesus—when you stumble and fall into sin, you are covered by Christ, you are not gaining and losing God’s love and approval…therefore we can always name our sin for what it is because we are SECURE, we are beloved, we can BOTH see the sin for what it is UGLY or Unholy repent of it put it to death—And in Christ Jesus we are not identified by our sin by as a son and daughter of God.The gospel of John proves clearly that the approval given to Jesus transfers to us in our Union with Christ…Two steps track with me.John 3 as Jesus’ described his ministry and John 17 as he describes the approval we gain if we are united to Jesus by faith and trust.: John 3:34–36 He, Jesus whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. [35] The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. [36] Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (ESV)John 3:35…Public, proud, approval…Spirit without Measure given to Christ. [35] The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand.J.C. Ryle says, the voice of the Father announces… “the Father’s acceptance of the Son as the Mediator, Substitute, and Surety of the new covenant.” (Ryle, 5). He’s the one who bridges the gap between sinners and a Just and holy judge, by being their subtitutes, cleansing, and guaranteeing the relationship promised in the new covenant by fulfilling our side of things in our place so that we have all the benefits of a secure relationship in Jesus….The Heavenly Father in Christ approves of you…God approves, he likes you, he hears your prayers attentively, being in a relationship with you was the plan set in motion by the Father & the SonSO Yes, Jesus has the approval of his heavenly Father. You do too, as adopted sons and daughters… if you have rested in Christ. Christ is the only begotton son by divine & eternal nature…we are adopted sons and daughters by being born again by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit witnesses that approval, witnesses the renewal of you and creation. Even as Jesus is beloved of the father, you are beloved of the father.John 17:6, 24-26 [6] “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word….[ [24] Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. [25] O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. [26] I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”Jesus is sent from his baptism to suffer and serve to rescue those the Father sent him to gather. He has made known God to us. He shows God’s love for us that we can repent we can be forgiven, we can belong, we can have peace with God and a renewed life –If we die to ourselves and hide our lives in Christ. Have you done this? If so, enjoy the peace of the Spirit, the belonging of a Son & Daughter.If you have this faith, God asks us to pronounce it publicly…John’s baptism was a public renewal… the book of Acts says we are to confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and we do this with vows and witnesses. …I would encourage a reading of the book of Acts to see this example.If you have never been baptized, God calls you in the same way the Holy Spirit was poured out on Christ from heaven, poured out in tongues of flame at Pentecost to be poured out on you, and to your children after you…Acts 2, for the promise is for you and your children, and all who are a far off to be Holy, Clean, and Belong to the covenant community of God.Prayer | Benediction This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jamesensley.substack.com