Message of the Week

The Little White Community Church

Scripture: Mark 1:1-11 July 6, 2025

Message: “Mark’s Gospel”       

by Pastor George Gnade

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Introduction:

1. So far this year, we studied the Book of Galatians and then the O.T. Books of Ezra and Nehemiah.  So it seems like a good time to consider the Gospel of Mark.

2. Almost everything in this gospel can also be found in the other gospels. Therefore most scholars believe it was the very first gospel to be written and distributed to Christians everywhere. Its accuracy would soon be backed up by the other gospels that would also add other details and truths about Jesus that are also part of Jesus’ story.

a. But one of the few stories that are unique is found in Mark 14:51. Jesus had just been arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane and all of His disciples fled. Then in vs. 51, it says: “A young man wearing nothing but a linen garment was following Jesus. When they seized him, he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.”

b. Most scholars believe Mark was that young man. How he heard about the events of that evening and chose to come wearing only the essentials, we will never know. But it certainly testifies to his love for the Lord. 

A. Let us begin this morning by taking a closer look at Mark. 

1. His full name was John Mark. He was related to Barnabas. He wanted to be a missionary like Barnabas. As a result he volunteered to go with Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey. In Acts 13: 9, it says: “John was with them as their helper. But in Acts 13:13, it says in a place called Pamphylia “John left them and returned to Jerusalem.”

a. After that first journey was completed, Barnabas wanted to give John a second chance and take him with them on their next missionary journey. But Paul refused.

b. As a result, Barnabas and John Mark went by themselves and Paul took Silas with him instead. 

2. Obviously, Barnabas had more patience than Paul. That patience bore fruit. It didn’t take long for John Mark to hook up with Peter. Mark often wrote things down for Peter. The early church attests to the fact that Mark felt led to write the first gospel based on all Peter had taught him.

a. I am reminded of how Peter got scared and denied the Lord at Jesus’ trial. Maybe that is why he and Mark made a good team. We believe that is exactly why Mark chickened out during Paul’s first journey. 

b. That is a good lesson for all of us. Always remember, that one big mistake does not mean a person doesn’t deserve a second chance.

c. If you think about it, Barnabas actually gave Mark a third chance. The first time he ran away with the other disciples when Jesus was arrested. And then he did the same thing again on Paul’s first missionary journey.

3. So praise the Lord, as we grow in the Lord, the Lord knows our hearts, and He often finds ways to use us too, even after we made some mistakes that we wish we never had made. 

B. Now that we know a little more about John Mark, let us consider the Gospel of Mark that he wrote.

1. Many believe it may have been dangerous to write this book so early in the history of the church. That may be why this gospel is shorter than the others. Mark had to be careful what he wrote – not only for the sake of accuracy but to protect the people mentioned in the gospel. 

2. You probably will also notice nothing is said about Jesus’ birth. 

a. Matthew tells us about the wise men. Luke tells us about the shepherds.  John begins by telling us about the incarnation, how “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14).  But Mark begins with Isaiah’s prophecy about the coming of John the Baptist! 

b. That is because each writer had a different theme and purpose. Matthew wanted to emphasize the kingship of Christ. Luke wanted to emphasize the humanity Christ.

John wanted to emphasize the deity of Christ. Many scholars believe Mark wanted to emphasize the servant-hood of Christ.

c. A servant’s background was not important. Whom he served was most important. Jesus came as the suffering servant of the Lord. 

3. In Phil. 2: 3-8, it says: “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: who, having the nature of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself (made Himself like nothing) taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness, and being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross…”

a. That is the primary theme of the Gospel of Mark.

Jesus set the greatest example by living His whole life as an obedient servant of His Father in heaven, culminating in His death on the cross for us. 

b. For us to love and follow Jesus, that is how we should live also. If any man should boast, let him boast about the Lord. 

C. With this background, let us consider what Mark wanted to teach us in Mark 1: 1-11. 

1. As I said earlier, it begins with Isaiah’s prophecy about John the Baptist who would be like “a voice crying in the wilderness.” In plain words, John did not come to glorify himself. He was sent “to prepare the way for the Lord.”  

a. John came preaching a “baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Mark 1:4). The timing was right. The Holy Spirit was at work in his life. God used him to create a great revival.

b. People came from everywhere and openly confessed their sins and were baptized 

2. Then something very strange happened. In vs. 9 it says: “At that time, Jesus came and was baptized by John in the Jordan.”  

a. It was strange because John knew Jesus. He was his cousin. He knew he was living a godly life. In fact, in Matt. 3: 14, he tried to deter Him, saying: “I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?”

b. But Jesus told John this is what God wanted Him to do. Did Jesus have some secret sin nobody knew about?

No, not at all.

3. In fact, God Himself made sure people did not draw some wrong conclusion. As Jesus came out of the water, in Mark 1:10, it says: “As Jesus came up out of the water, John saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said: ‘You are my Son, whom I love, in whom I am well pleased!”

4. Please make note of some important details:

a. One of the characteristics of Mark’s writings is his dramatic way of saying things. To say: “Heaven was torn apart!” means this happened in such a way that no one  there could miss it.

b. Secondly, everyone saw the dove descend and rest upon Jesus. Mark tells us that the dove represented the Holy Spirit.  In John 1: 32, John the Baptist told us that God told him in advance that when he saw the dove descending, he should know this was God’s Spirit. 

c. So while the crowd saw the dove, John knew it was more than just a dove. John knew it was the Holy Spirit anointing God’s Son for the special task He was giving Him.

d. Finally, the Father Himself made sure no one misunderstood what Jesus was doing. He affirmed that He was well pleased with Him. 

In conclusion:

1. If Jesus was not confessing His own sins, then why was He baptized and what was He confessing? 

2. The answer is very simple. He came to pray for us and represent us and to confess our sins. This was God’s way of introducing Jesus. It marked the beginning of His public ministry. Jesus would continue to obey His Father as God’s “servant of the Lord” until He fulfilled His mission approximately three and a half years later by dying on the cross for us. Praise the Lord!  Amen!