1. The Forerunner of Jesus (Mark 1:1-8)

This sermon was preached on 3/1/2010

Each of the Four Gospels tells the story of Jesus Christ but each begins in a different way. Matthew begins with a genealogy that identifies Jesus as the one promised to Abraham and to David by God; Luke begins with the birth of John the Baptist and the birth of Jesus; John begins by saying that Jesus is the eternal Word who always existed with God the Father; Mark begins by stating that Jesus was the Son of God. As he begins his letter, Mark does not refer to the birth of Jesus or to his childhood.

It is appropriate for us to contemplate reasons for this variety. One helpful suggestion is that in his introduction each Gospel writer suggests his particular focus on Jesus and the introduction becomes a pointer for readers to see where the author is going in his account. Mark begins with a statement indicating the divine dignity of Jesus and then describes the ministry of his forerunner (only an important person sent messengers ahead of him). Then Mark says that Jesus went through a self-humbling experience when he chose to be baptised. So we are being told by Mark that he is going to describe the humble service of the Son of God during the three years of his public ministry. In this connection, it is helpful for us to note the number of times that Mark uses the word ‘immediately’ of Jesus – such a word suggests a life of service.

Another interesting detail connected to Mark’s Gospel is his friendship with Peter. Mark is with Peter when the latter writes his first epistle (1 Pet. 5:13) and there is suggestions from the period of the early church which say that Peter was the source of much of the contents of Mark. It has been observed that reference is made to Peter quite often in Mark and you may spot interesting aspects of some incidents if you look out for references to Peter.

A third detail to note is that this Gospel is written by one who had made a big mistake early on in his Christian life. Mark had been with Paul and Barnabas on the First Missionary Journey but had returned home during it. Paul refused to take Mark on the second journey because of his previous lack of dedication. Nevertheless Mark recovered spiritually and eventually had a prominent role in the Christian church. So the existence of this Gospel is a reminder of the restoring grace of God.

Fourthly, looking again at the first verse, we can see that Mark describes his account of Jesus’ ministry as the beginning of the gospel. We may think that he is starting of his record by saying something like ‘the first thing I will mention is John’s ministry’. That is not what Mark means by ‘beginning’ – instead he means that his whole account is the ‘beginning’, with the rest of the story being what happened after the Saviour returned to heaven (Mark 16:20), which is continuing still.

The role of John the Baptist

Many people are searching for a role that will give them significance. With some the desire merely expresses self-interest, although with others the desire is connected to helping those in need. When we consider characters in the Bible we can see that they also had various roles, some more important than others. While it is not possible for us to grade them all, a good case can be made for saying that the person who had the greatest role, prior to the appearance of Jesus in public ministry, was John the Baptist. His role is great because he was the forerunner of Jesus and the Saviour mentions this when he says that no-one had been born of women who was greater than John the Baptist (Matt. 11:11). Jesus was not referring to John’s wealth, to John’s intellect, to John’s influence – rather he was referring to John’s role as the forerunner.

Mark mentions several details that highlight features of John’s significance in this regard. First, his role had been prophesied by two Old Testament prophets – Isaiah and Malachi. There are not many individuals apart from Jesus whose ministry was predicted in such a way. None of the apostles, apart from Judas Iscariot, were predicted in the Old Testament, but John was.

These Old Testament references refer to a common activity in ancient times. When a royal visitor was about to arrive in a location, he would send ahead of him a messenger to tell the inhabitants that the important person was due to arrive. The messenger was sent so that the inhabitants would prepare for the ruler’s arrival by tidying up the streets, by making provision for his entourage, and by appearing impressed by him. This illustration informed the readers that John’s role was to prepare his listeners for the coming of the King. How did he do so?

Second, John prepared the people by preaching a message that called for a visible expression of repentance. We have to remember that he preached to an audience who had a good grasp of Old Testament teaching, who were anticipating the arrival of the Messiah. Most of them did not need new information about God and his purpose; what they needed was a correct response to the information they already possessed, and that correct response was repentance. In this regard, they are similar to many people who attend church on a regular basis – they already have the information about Jesus and what they need to do is repent of their sins and trust in him.

We can use religious words and not appreciate what they mean and perhaps some of us are unsure about what repentance was and is. Repentance is a response made by one who has done wrong. When connected to a response to God it is an admittance by a person that he has broken God’s laws. Yet we have to distinguish repentance from two closely related responses – mere regret and mere resolutions.

Regret can be experienced because the disobedience has brought problems, but there may not be any regret about the disobedience itself. If the problems had not occurred, then there would be no regrets. A sinner may regret that his disobedience will result in divine punishment, yet he may enjoy the disobedience. Repentance is more than regret in that the former includes an awareness that sin itself is a problem as well as its consequences.

Resolutions indicate a person is looking ahead, determined to change his way of living. At one level, this is an appropriate response indicating maturity as a person gives up pointless activities. At another level it is more serious because it is an attempt to block out the past and live in a new way. With regard to the demands of God, resolutions may be an attempt to avoid repentance.

So what is repentance? Repentance includes recognition of sin, regret for sin and resolve to cease from sin. True repentance is the response by a sinner who realise he is a sinner. Repentance is also a turning to a merciful God who forgives sin through Christ – repentance is not marked by despair nor is it marked by an uncertainty about God’s character. The penitent sinner may find fault with his depth of repentance, but he does not find fault with God.

We noticed earlier that John performed on his hearers a visible sign indicating cleansing from sin – baptism with water. John’s baptism was not Christian baptism – this is confirmed by Paul’s rebaptising of some disciples of John in Ephesus who came to believe in Jesus. The baptism by John was a temporary arrangement whereby individuals could identify themselves as those preparing for the arrival of the Messiah.

It is worth observing here the benefit that comes from making a public statement about one’s faith in Jesus. Obviously it would have been possible for a person to prepare secretly for the arrival of Jesus, but such a response would have prevented meaningful fellowship because others would not know what was going on. Quite often, a person’s initial response after believing in Jesus is to keep it secret. This response may be due to personal temperament (shy) or to a desire to ensure the faith is genuine. Yet the most helpful response by such a person, both for himself and for others, is to tell humbly that he has faith in Jesus.

Thirdly, people found John’s message interesting. Normally today the church has to take the gospel to the world, and obviously such activities are expressions of obedience to Christ. Yet it was different with John because the people went to him, and they went in large numbers. James Stalker comments on this type of response and says, ‘No obstacles can keep people away when a voice sufficiently charged with the Holy Ghost is heard.’ In addition to the Spirit working in the preacher, the Spirit must be working within the listeners for such a response to take place. We should pray that the Spirit would lead individuals to find the gospel attractive and take whatever steps is needed to hear it.

Fourthly, John chose a lifestyle that matched his mission. His lifestyle is seen in his attire and in his menu. He had a message that spoke of another world and of a heavenly kingdom – and his lifestyle did not contradict his message. He took his role as the forerunner seriously and determined that none could accuse him of hypocrisy. They may have called him extreme or cranky, but they could not say he was inconsistent. In this response he is a model for his followers to copy, not in the sense of wearing the same clothes and eating the same food, but in the sense of ensuring that observers recognise the world we are living for.

Fifthly, John expressed his assessment of his role in a humble manner (vv. 7-8). The greatest born of women knew that in contrast to Jesus Christ he was small. Yet he did more than deduce it, he also gladly confessed it. When people heard John, they did not see the messenger instead of hearing the message. John ensured that his demeanour conveyed the impression that Jesus was great. We should note how he describes himself when he says that he is not worthy to stoop down and untie the sandal of Jesus. Such a task was usually the role of the lowest slave, but John puts himself below such a person. From his comment we can deduce that those who are great in God’s kingdom have humble estimation of themselves.

Sixthly, John exalted his Master. He referred to the power that the Messiah would possess and intimated that he would baptise his followers with the Holy Spirit. No doubt John amplified what he meant. We, looking back, can see that John was referring to what Jesus would do on the Day of Pentecost when he poured forth the Holy Spirit on his people. Jesus was going to give the Spirit in a universal way (Joel says that the Spirit would be poured out on all flesh), in a saving way (he would bring sinners into God’s kingdom through the Spirit), and in a life-transforming way (he would make sinners into holy people by the power of the Spirit).

What lessons can we deduce from this passage? First, God can be relied upon to fulfil his own Word (as he did regarding prophecies about John). Second, God often does his work in out of the way places just as he did through John in the desert. Third, the preparation for meeting with Jesus is repentance for our sins. Fourth, the way that Jesus works in his kingdom is through the Holy Spirit.