Today’s reading is Romans 4: 1-12 Today we see Paul talking about Abraham’s faith being what made him righteous. But we also see a bit of the conversation shift towards circumcision. Why is this significant? Paul walks us through Abraham’s call, … Continue reading
Today in Mark 1:9-15 we look at three different sections, 9-11 is Jesus’ baptism, 12-13 is His temptation and 14-15 is the beginning of His public ministry.
The Baptism of Jesus
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”The Temptation of Jesus
12 And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13 He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.The Beginning of the Galilean Ministry
14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”
First the baptism of Jesus. Yesterday we met John the Baptist. I’ve had people ask me before was John “inventing” something new in Baptism? The answer is not really. In the Jewish tradition there was the tradition of mikvah baths, these were ceremonial baths that would be taken before times of worship or for purification. Many scholars believe that these washings were the forerunners to baptism. But these were normally not done in a river, and were not done out of a heart of repentance, so John was not just doing what had always been done either.
Notice what happens after the baptism though. In that moment we see the Spirit descend on Jesus and the Father speak from heaven, so here we see all three persons of the Trinity in their “element” in relation with each other. The Trinity is at its core a relationship. The relationship between the Father, and the Son, and the Spirit.
And if God is Trinity, and Trinity is relationship, and we are made in the image of this Triune God, it means that we are made for relationship. We were not mean to be alone or to walk alone. We were meant and created to live in relationship with God and with each other.
So Jesus has this high point and then from there, He was led (or driven) by the Spirit into the wilderness, where He was tempted by Satan. A couple things here. First, temptation in itself is not sin. Jesus was tempted, but He did not sin. So, there is nothing “wrong” with temptation. Temptation can lead us into sin, but temptation is not sin. We are all tempted, and we will all face temptation. You will be tempted. If Jesus was, you and I will be too.
Second, He was not tempted by the Spirit. We are never tempted by God. He was tempted by Satan. There are times God may lead is somewhere for testing, but always know that testing is for our own benefit, not for God’s. God knows what we will do and what we will decide. So when we face temptation or testing, know it’s for our benefit and for our strengthening, not for God’s benefit. Jesus was going to face many trials and tough times during His ministry. He would be abandoned and betrayed by His friends, He would be beaten and mocked. This temptation may have been a time of “practice” or “preparation” for that. So may our temptations be.
And in our final section, we see Jesus’ message to people. Repent and believe the Gospel. Repent. Just like temptation is not sin, we often mistake conviction for repentance. Conviction is when we feel bad about our sins. Repentance is a turning from our sin. Jesus is saying this. Stop doing things that are hurtful and destructive to you and to others. Turn from them. And turn to me. Repent and believe the Gospel, or Good News.
What is this Gospel? We are broken and sinful. God sends us His son to love us, teach us love, show us love, die for our sins, be resurrected for our life, ascend for our glorification and one day, return for our victory.
So, turn from things that are destructive. And turn to Jesus. That’s the Gospel. That’s the good news. Jesus preached it. And we are called to as well!
What questions do you have? How does this strike you? Shoot me an email, comment below, or connect with me through social media.
Tomorrow we’ll look at Mark 1:16-28.
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I can tell you all about my calling to be a preacher. I first felt the call when I was about 16, sitting in a chair at Camp Wesley Pines, talking to Bro. Curtis Lott. I was a “CIT” a Councilor in Training, one of the youth that was a helper at Camp. Something happened in a worship service, and there was this feeling that I couldn’t explain where I knew that I felt like God was calling me to something.
But I didn’t know what.
So, I moved on, until a few years later, after struggling with what it was that I felt like I was supposed to do with my life, until sitting on a rocking chair at the old Gulf Side Baptist Assembly, reading through Romans, and I just knew that I was called to this. The only thing that would give me purpose in life was ministry. So, at that point I surrendered to ministry. By the way this should show you how messed up I am, the two “moments” of my calling took place, one at a Methodist camp, two at a Baptist camp!
Listen to what happens today in Acts 1:1-3:
Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
Paul and Barnabas had a calling from God. I have been called by God to ministry.
And so have you. Yes. You read that right. You have a calling.
If you are a baptized believe, then you are called. Every baptized believer is called to something. Has some purpose for God. Has some thing that the are called to do for the kingdom.
And it may be preaching. But it may not be. It may be becoming a teacher. Or nurse. Or lawyer. Or ditchdigger. I don’t know. But I know this.
If you are a baptized believer, then n matter where you find yourself, you are called to take the Good News with you. You are called to be Salt and Light. You are called to bring grace. You are called to make a difference.
No matter where you are. You are called. You are.
And there is something today, that only you can do.
Be faithful. Show grace. Forgive. Give mercy. Live. Love. Serve.
You are called to great things. Great things. Be faithful. God will show you. He will.
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