A sermon on Mark 1:9-39 by Coty Pinckney, Community Bible Church, Williamstown, MA 5/2/99

Why are you here? I don't mean why are you here at church this morning, but: Why are you on this earth? What is the purpose of your existence?

This is not a question we are used to answering. We frequently ask each other:

• What do you do?
• Where do you live?
• Where are you from? even
• Where did your family originate? When did your ancestors migrate to America?

But we much less frequently address the more important question: Why are you here?

Last week we began to examine the book of Mark, looking at the beginning of the gospel, the preparation for the coming of Jesus. In verses 9-29 of chapter 1 which we examine today, Mark helps us to answer the question: Why did Jesus come?

Why did Jesus come? What was his purpose?

Many of us would say he was born to die. As Charles Wesley wrote:

Undoubtedly Jesus came to die on the cross. But Jesus didn't simply appear on the scene and die. He spent three years in public ministry. Why? What purpose did that time serve? How did Jesus ensure that he served that purpose? And what lessons can we draw from Jesus' life so that we too serve the purpose for which God calls us?

The verses we consider today address the purpose of Jesus' coming again and again. Consider the following verses, which all contain the same Greek word for "come" (in some cases the word includes a prefix which adjusts the meaning to "come out of"):

• Verse 7: John says: After me will come one more powerful than I.
• Verse 9: At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
• Verse 14: After John was put in prison, Jesus went [came] into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.
• Verse 24: A demon asks Jesus about his purpose: Have you come to destroy us?
• Most importantly, verses 37 and 38: Peter finds Jesus alone, praying, and states: "Everyone is looking for you!" Jesus replied, "Let us go somewhere else-- to the nearby villages-- so I can preach there also. That is why I have come."

Before we examine verses 9-39 in detail, let's remind ourselves of what Mark writes in the first eight verses of this chapter, the beginning of the gospel as preached by John.

God prepares the way for Jesus by sending John into the wilderness. John did not follow man's prescriptions for drawing crowds; he did not stay in the city, in relative comfort, close to large numbers of people. Instead, God sent him into a dry, dangerous region, a long, hard walk from the population center. We suggested that John's preaching the good news in the wilderness is a picture of our needing to be uncomfortable, our needing insecurity, if we are to respond to the gospel message.

Second, John prepares the way by helping the Jews to see their need for a Savior. Jesus will say later that he came to call sinners, not the righteous, to repentance; John shows the people that they are all sinners, they all need a savior.

Third, John doesn't stop with declaring that people are sinners! He is preaching good news, not bad news. The good news is that, sinners though we are, God's grace is abundant: If we repent, God will forgive us. Recall that this message is in stark contrast to that preached by the teachers of the law at this time. They misunderstood and misapplied the Old Testament law, telling the people, "God requires you to do X, Y, and Z. If you make certain errors, you can offer sacrifices to assuage God's wrath. But if you make other errors, there is no hope for you!" John's message is a stark contrast: There is hope! Grace is abundant! God will forgive!

Finally, although John's message is good news indeed, it is only the beginning of the gospel. John recognizes that he is only preparing the way, that one is coming who will "baptize you with the Holy Spirit." For Jesus not only provides us forgiveness; the full gospel is that he will perfect us, he will transform us into His likeness -- we will become his perfect and holy bride.

In today's section, verses 9-13 describe Jesus' preparation for ministry. The rest of verses 14-39 show Jesus performing two different types of tasks: Preaching and teaching -- both to the general public and to an intimate, small group -- and compassionate acts, healing and casting out demons. The section culminates with Jesus going off alone, to pray, asking: "Why did I come? While I am on earth, am I primarily a preacher or a healer?" These topics outline the remainder of today's sermon.

Why did Jesus ask John to baptize him? John's baptism is "of repentance for the forgiveness of sins." Why then would a sinless man engage in it?

Jesus' baptism is the first step he takes on earth to identify himself with sinful humanity -- the first step of the road to the cross.

In addition, God uses this occasion to anoint Jesus with the Holy Spirit. Now, surely Jesus already had the Holy Spirit. The Bible tells us that John was filled with the Holy Spirit even while in the womb; certainly if that was true of John it was true of Jesus also. But the Holy Spirit descending upon Jesus here serves as his anointing for ministry, in the same sense that the Old Testament prophets and kings were anointed (with oil, symbolizing the Holy Spirit) for ministry. Jesus himself refers to this anointing when he reads from Isaiah 61 upon his return to the synagogue in Nazareth, as recorded in Luke 4:19:

God also speaks audibly (one of only three times this happens in Jesus' life). It is interesting to note that the words of God differ in the gospels; Mark and Luke record God speaking to Jesus: "You are by beloved son." But Matthew records God speaking to the spectators: "This is my beloved son." I believe each person heard what God intended him to hear: the people heard God declare to them his pleasure with Jesus' life to date, while Jesus heard God speaking directly to him. God the Father encourages Jesus in this way prior to the beginning of his public ministry.

The Spirit impelled Jesus -- to be tempted! Why? Why was it God's will for Jesus to undergo temptation?

Turn in your Bibles to Deuteronomy chapter 8. Jesus quotes this chapter in the Matthew and Luke accounts of his temptation:

The Israelites are in the wilderness forty years; Jesus is in the wilderness forty days. Jesus here recapitulates the experience of the Israelites. Why were they tested, or tempted those forty years? This passage gives two reasons: First, to humble them. To show them that all that they had came from God, the giver of all good gifts. To show them that they are to feed on the word of God, and not depend on the things of this world to sustain them, to give them joy. To bring them to the point of acknowledging their own weakness, and witnessing God's strength. Although Jesus certainly knew these truths prior to this period in the wilderness, knowing and truth and living it out are two different things. The author of Hebrews says Jesus was made "perfect through suffering" (Heb 2:10); that is the idea here, in his temptation.

The second reason given in Deuteronomy for the Israelites' period of testing in the desert is so that God would know what was in their heart, to see if they were willing to keep his commands. Matthew and Luke tell us that Jesus was tempted in exactly this way. Satan tempts Jesus:

• To use his power to meet his own needs, instead of depending on his Father's grace;
• To use his power to wow the people, instead of teaching them, serving them, and loving them;
• To become king of the world without going through the cross.

But Jesus proved his obedience through his dependence on the word of God to combat Satan.

Luke ends his account of Jesus' temptation with a very interesting phrase:

"Until an opportune time." Jesus' temptations did not end with these 40 days in the wilderness. Indeed, the book of Mark suggests that Satan tempted Jesus again and again. That opportune time came frequently, and it came soon, as we will see in the rest of this chapter.

With the preparation for ministry accomplished, Jesus begins to preach and to teach, as we read in verses 14-28:

Jesus preaches publicly and privately. Today we won't look at the private teaching, the teaching to his intimate group of disciples, except to note Jesus' purpose in that teaching: verse 17, "I will make you fishers of men." Jesus spends time with them in a small group not to make them superspiritual, not so they can attain for themselves some inner harmony with the universe, but so that they will be effective agents in God's plan to draw men to himself.

What was the content and nature of Jesus' public preaching and teaching? There are six characteristics given in this section: Three facts, two responses, and one quality.

1. First, Jesus preaches the gospel of God, the good news that John preaches: God's grace is abundant; He will forgive.
2. Second, the time is fulfilled. What time? I believe there are two: First, the time has come for the fulfillment of the prophecies regarding the Messiah -- prophecies that originate with God's curse of the serpent in the garden (Gen 3:15), continue through promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and are most detailed in Isaiah. The time that man has been looking forward to for centuries is now fulfilled. Second, the fulfillment of the law is here. As we saw in our series on Leviticus, the entire sacrificial and priestly system foreshadows the coming of Christ. Jesus is our perfect high priest, as well as our perfect offering. Jesus himself says that he has come to fulfill the Law (Matt 5:17).
3. Third, the kingdom of God is at hand, or the kingdom of God is near. The word translated "near" or "at hand" was used of a Gentile who wanted to become a Jew. He "drew near" to the Jews. Just so, James uses this word in his epistle: "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you" (James 4:8). In what sense is the kingdom of God near? There are three different senses: The kingdom is near in time: the king has arrived! There is no more waiting! The kingdom is near in space: He is right here among you! And the kingdom is near in opportunity: This is your chance to enter the kingdom!

These three facts lead Jesus to call the people to two logical responses: "Since all this is true, since you have the opportunity to enter the kingdom, you must repent and believe the gospel! Turn from your errors! Turn from sin! Turn from mere formalism! And believe that the good news is true!"

Finally, let's consider the quality of Jesus' teaching. Verses 22 and 27 say that the people were impressed with Jesus' authority. Matthew puts the words we find in verse 27 at the end of the Sermon on the Mount, giving us a clue as to the reason for this reaction of the people. Recall that at this time, most teachers of the law would spend considerable time quoting the interpretations of other rabbis. The authority was vested in these commentators, not in the speaker.

The pattern of Jesus' speech, as recorded in Matthew 5 to 7, is strikingly different. Again and again Jesus says, "You have heard it said . . . but I say to you . . ." For example, consider Matthew 5:27-28:

Furthermore, at the beginning of verse 28 (and every other similar verse in Matthew 5) there is a strong emphasis on the word "I." Jesus emphasizes his authoritative interpretation of the Scriptures. This was new, and astounds the people.

So Jesus preaches the gospel of God, the fulfillment of prophecy, and the nearness of the kingdom; he then calls people to repent and believe this gospel. And authority characterizes all that he says. This is the content and nature of his public preaching.

Beginning in verse 23, Jesus deals with demons and, subsequently, illness. It is important to note that the casting out of this demon takes place while Jesus is teaching. The demon tries to disrupt Jesus' teaching by crying out. Interestingly, his question concerns Jesus purpose: he suggests that Jesus came, not to teach, but to destroy demons. I suggest that this was a further attempt by Satan to divert Jesus from his primary ministry, not only by disrupting the teaching itself, but also by persuading him to spend his time and energy in the future casting out demons. Satan did not win Jesus over to his side while in the wilderness; he did not succeed in getting Jesus to bow before him. So he tries to divert him from his primary calling, and to divert the people from listening to his teaching.

The first cases of physical healing recorded by Mark occur later this same day:

Peter's mother-in-law was not trying to disrupt his teaching, nor were most of the ill who came to his door later that evening. But Jesus has compassion for these hurting people, and he heals them -- he heals many of them, for "the whole city" came to the door.

Now, isn't this a good thing? Jesus has attracted a huge crowd by his casting out a demon and by healing. He is curing people of all kinds of diseases, easing their suffering. He is freeing people from the presence of evil demons in their lives. Isn't this just what he wanted? Isn't this why he came?

Let's keep reading:

Jesus goes off alone, early in the morning, to pray. Why?

He had not followed Satan's advice -- he had not thrown himself off the top of the temple to impress the crowds. But now Satan has found an opportune time. The crowds are coming. They have real temporal needs, which Jesus can meet. They adore him when he heals and casts out demons, and Satan tempts him to perform for their applause. I believe Jesus is faced with a series of questions:

"Who am I? Am I a healer? Am I called to cast out demons? Am I looking for crowds, for political power? Human adoration and thanks for healing are welcome; is this what I should try to do?"

Jesus knew that he came to do the will of his Father in heaven. So he prays to that Father, submitting the humanness, the human attraction to crowds and adoration, to the Father's will for himself. He rejects the temptation to play to the crowds.

But the temptation continues:

"There are all these needs, Father! These illnesses are horrible; so many have demons! I can help! Is this my task -- to cure physical disease, to destroy demons?"

We see the answer to this question in the next few verses. The disciples wake up, thinking, "Oh boy! Look at the crowds! We're doing great! But where is Jesus? Where is our main attraction?"

I believe there is a reprimand contained in that statement to Jesus. "Jesus, you left us in an awkward position. All these people expect you to heal them. Now, come and do your job!"

That last phrase reads "that is why I have come" in the NIV. Jesus has been struggling with the question, "Why did I come?" And he knows the answer. Prayer, obedience to the Father, leads him to this decision. He tells Peter, "This is who I am; this is my purpose. I came to preach the gospel, to prepare you for ministry." And, though he does not yet tell Peter, he knows he has come to die. He realizes that his primary ministry is not dealing with the short term alleviation of human suffering, as great as those needs are. Instead, his call is to preach, to teach his disciples, to proclaim and live out the Gospel -- and then to die in order to make that Gospel a reality.

But note verse 39:

He emphasizes his preaching -- but note that he still casts out demons. And we will see next week that he still heals. Jesus' compassion does not end, and there are times when dealing with disease and demons provides wonderful pictures of the gospel message. But Jesus resists the temptation to follow the will of the crowds and become primarily a healer; he resists the temptation to be diverted from his calling: the calling to right, forever and ever, all the effects of sin on this world.

Ray Stedman puts it this way:

Jesus had a clear sense of mission, of purpose. Satan tried to distract him from that purpose, through direct temptations to use his powers for his own good, to become king of this world without going through the cross, and to draw men to himself by showmanship instead of sacrifice. After failing to get Jesus to yield, Satan also tried indirect methods: to divert Jesus into meeting short-term, temporal needs: fighting demons instead of conquering death; dealing with physical illness instead of spiritual salvation.

We frequently face similar choices, even on a secular level. A week ago Saturday I was in New York in a meeting sponsored by a foundation which is trying to help the Burmese people. As many of you know, there are hundreds of thousands of Burmese refugees who have fled oppression. The foundation is dealing with the question: How do we best use our scarce resources? Do we try to alleviate the short-term suffering of the refugees? Do we provide for their immediate needs? Or do we invest in education, so that if the present government falls, there will be qualified, well-trained people to lead this country? Should we focus on short term needs or long-term investments?

That foundation decided to do some of each; both are important. But there is always a temptation to allow the urgent to dominate our time and energy to the extent that we fail to make the investments that pay off in the years ahead.

What about you? Do you have a clear sense of mission, of purpose? Why are you here?

If you are not a Christian, I tell you: The kingdom of God is near! You have this opportunity to draw near to God; don't let it pass. You will find your mission, your purpose, by repenting and believing the gospel.

If you are a Christian: Why did God call you? For he did have a purpose in calling you. What is your gift? Are you exercising that gift?

If you are not a Christian, Satan will do his best to keep you from the Lord. When he fails in that task, he will try to make you ineffective and unproductive as a Christian, keeping you from acting out your faith. Failing that, he will do his best to distract you: if you are determined to engage in ministry, he will try to put you into a task for which you are not gifted, to divert you from your calling.

Jesus was called to teach and preach. But Jesus did have compassion on people, he did deal with some short term needs. Some of us here this morning are called to ministries of compassion; we together are the body of Christ. Not all of us are mouths, proclaiming the gospel. Some are gentle hands, soothing the hurts of this world. Some deal with long term, eternal issues; some deal primarily with short term needs.

But each of us has a ministry, a calling. Don't be diverted from yours! Don't try to become someone else!

We have access to the power of the Spirit to live lives worthy of his calling. Do so! Step out in faith! Open your eyes and see the opportunity for ministry!

This sermon was preached at Community Bible Church in Williamstown, MA on 5/2/99. I found Ray Stedman's two sermons on this passage especially helpful; they are available on the PBC web site.

This data file may not be copied in part, edited, revised, copied for resale or incorporated in any commercial publications or other products offered for sale, without the written permission of Thomas C. Pinckney, tpinckney@williams.edu, c/o Community Bible Church, Harrison Ave, Williamstown, MA 01267.