Welcome to Mark’s gospel study. Mark, the author of this Gospel, probably was the first to write down the events of Jesus’ life. It is believed that he is the same person who worked for many years as a missionary with Paul and Barnabas. The book of Mark, which stresses facts and actions rather than themes or topics, is the most exciting account of the life of Christ among the Gospels. Mark depicts Jesus as a suffering servant of all and the one who gave his life as a ransom for many. He begins his gospel story with a declaration that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and ends with one Roman centurion’s confession of faith, “Surely this man was the Son of God.” Mark stresses that Jesus died for our sins and rose again for our eternal life. Verse 1 is the introduction and the gospel narrative begins right away by introducing John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus. Then he introduces the baptism and temptation of Jesus and the calling of the first disciples. The key verse of Mark’s gospel is 10:45, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” This key verse inspired many sincere Christians to participate in Jesus’ life-giving ministry. Let’s learn how John made a spiritual environment for Jesus and how Jesus began his gospel ministry. May God bless us to accept the good news of Jesus with repentance so that we can be members of the kingdom of God. I pray that God may bless us to be a humble servant for America through the study of Mark’s gospel.

PART 1.  JOHN THE BAPTIST PREPARES THE WAY (1-8)
 

 Look at verse 1. “The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” This is one verse introduction of the Mark’s gospel. Like the other three gospel writers, Mark wanted to explain the beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He appealed to his readers directly through facts and miracles rather than theories and lectures. Let’s look at how John the Baptist prepared Jesus’ way as the forerunner and think about how we can prepare Jesus’ way for American students.
First, John’s coming was prophesied and fulfilled (1-3). Look at verses 2-3.  “It is written in Isaiah the prophet: ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way’—‘a voice of one calling in the desert, “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.”’” This is a prophecy concerning John’s coming as the forerunner of Jesus. John came in accordance with the prophecy and prepared the way for Jesus by preaching repentance to those waiting for the coming of the Messiah. Mark’s motive in introducing the prophecy of Isaiah is to emphasize the fact that the gospel is not a theory or a man-made story, but the fulfillment of God’s prophecies in history. The gospel was promised when man sinned and was repeated through the prophets and was fulfilled through Jesus. John’s role was defined in the Bible. John was chosen to be “a voice of one calling in the desert.” John lived up to God’s expectation. As a result, he became a great servant of God. It is a great blessing for us to find the will of God and to live up to his expectations.
Second, John’s message (4-5). What did John do as the forerunner of the Messiah? As was prophesied, he prepared for Jesus’ gospel work. How did he prepare? Luke 1:80 says, “And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the desert until he appeared publicly to Israel.” John was born six months earlier than Jesus. Therefore, he spent almost 30 years to prepare for Jesus’ gospel work. Though he was a priest’s kid, he lived in the desert giving up the comfort of home. In the desert he became strong in spirit because he only heard the voice of God. He was not influenced by the corruption of the world. In any given sport preparation is 80% and execution is 20%. This means that a team well prepared has a higher probability to win the game. In the same way John prepared well to become the forerunner of Jesus. He was ready to prepare the king’s highway for Jesus. Look at verse 4. “And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” Who could have uttered the word ‘repent’ other than John the Baptist? King Herod could not rebuke people because he lost his moral authority by taking his brother’s wife. But John did not belong to the Judean corruption circle. John was able to say to the people who came to him, “Repent!” In this case, “repent” meant, “Turn from your sins to God and prepare your hearts to accept Jesus as the Savior of the world.” If they repented, John baptized them with water. It was nothing but the expression of cleansing, so that they might be ready to receive Jesus’ baptism of the Holy Spirit for the cleansing of their sins. John and Jesus delivered the same message of repentance. Here we see the importance of repentance as the precondition of the forgiveness of sin.
How did the people respond when John preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins? Look at verse 5. “The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.” It is amazing to see that all the people from the capital city Jerusalem responded to John’s message and came and confessed their sins, beating their chests and saying, “Oh, Lord! I was selfish. I was complaining too much. I was cruel. I was critical.” Outwardly, these people looked unlikely to repent and confess their sins to receive John’s baptism. But they were willing to solve their sin problem. They were tormented by their sin problem. John did not have to go out to find sheep because people came to him from all of the country. His mission was successful because he pointed out the core of people’s problem, the sin problem.
Third, John’s lifestyle (6). When John prepared for Jesus’ gospel work he had his own personal lifestyle. Look at verse 6. “John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.” John the Baptist lived in a most simple way as a servant of God. John lived in the desert where he could give himself to the voice of God. His main menu was locusts and wild honey. Of course, it is impractical for us just to eat locusts and wild honey for mission. In a modern term he ate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches most of the time. He did not spend a lot of time for cooking. He wore a camel’s hair garment, which served as clothing by day and as a blanket by night. He did not spend a lot of time thinking about what to wear or what to drink. Instead, he spent a lot of time to hear the voice of God. He was born for mission, lived for his mission, and died for mission. His lifestyle and his message were identical. He practiced what he preached. He was different from the teachers of the law and the Pharisees who lived a double life with their hypocrisy. John lived a pure life. His pure life in the desert was his power source to be a servant of God. What kind of John the Baptist can we imagine if he lived in the 21st century America? Imagine that he has all kinds of communication tools like a cell phone, boom box and laptop PC for Internet access, and a small TV. Can he find time to hear the voice of God? He may hear only the voice of the world. It is very difficult to hear the voice of God because we are attached to this world too much. When we listen to the world, we become crazy and reactionary. Of course, a business man must listen to the Wall Street Journal to run a successful business. Students must read text books to master the subjects. In the same way God’s servant must listen to God to prepare the way of Jesus. If we are attached to the world too much, we can not serve God’s mission. We must detach from the world and hear the voice of God through the Scripture reading and prayer. S. Anthony Oporto was so powerful when he only heard the voice of God during the leader’s conference. He was like John the Baptist in spirit. Then he stopped hearing God’s voice and he began to hear the voice of the world. He lost his spiritual power and went to New York to watch the broad way drama show right after the conference.
Fourth, John testifies that Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit (7-8). Look at verse 7. “And this was his message: ‘After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.’” Here John makes it very clear that he is a mere man, and that Jesus is the Son of God. John the Baptist was the most influential man of his times. But he humbled himself to the position of a servant to magnify Jesus as the Son of God. He knew his position very well. He did not take advantage of his popularity but advertised Jesus when people came to him. He did not seek his own personal ambition but introduced Jesus to his followers. When people asked him who he was, he confessed freely, “I am not the Christ.” (John 1:20) Later he said in John 3:30, “He must become greater; I must become less.”
John the Baptist also testified that Jesus is God who baptizes people with the Holy Spirit. Look at verse 8. “I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” John admitted that he was a mere man who could only baptize people with water for ceremonial cleansing, but John proclaimed that Jesus is God who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. Why is it not enough to receive water baptism? Why is it so necessary to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit? It is because when Jesus baptizes us with the Holy Spirit, all evil spirits go away from us and we can be filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives us true rest and joy. The Holy Spirit regenerates our hearts and gives us a new birth into the kingdom of God. We must testify that Jesus is God. We must testify that Jesus baptizes us with the Holy Spirit.

PART II. THE BAPTISM AND TEMPTATION OF JESUS (9-13)
 

First, Jesus receives baptism from John the Baptist (9-11). In verses 9-13 we learn how Jesus prepared himself before beginning the gospel work.  Look at verse 9. “At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.” Jesus’ baptism by John was not a baptism of repentance, for he was sinless (Heb 4:15). But Jesus received John’s baptism anyway. Why did Jesus receive John’s baptism? Jesus received John’s baptism in order to succeed John’s work. John the Baptist represents the Old Testament and Jesus the New Testament. Jesus continued God’s work by receiving baptism from John the Baptist. Jesus could have ignored the work of John and started his own work newly. But he humbly received baptism from John in order to succeed him in God’s redemptive work and history. Jesus is truly obedient to God and humble to men. There is no one-man show in God’s work and history. God’s work can be done when all people work together in God. The work and history of God is that of Abraham, David and Jesus; it is that of John the Baptist and Jesus; and it is that of each of us who has a sense of history.
Most importantly, Jesus’ baptism by John was the inauguration ceremony of the Messiah. Look at verses 10,11. “As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.’” This was the inaugural speech for Jesus the Savior of the world. The inaugural ceremony was the most important historical event to God and to all humankind. George W. Bush was called as the president-elect before the inauguration day. After he was inaugurated before the Chief Justice as the 43rd American president on the 20th of January, 2001, people began to call him Mr. President.  At the inaugural ceremony of Jesus, heaven opened and the Holy Spirit came down on Jesus like a dove. The dove is thought to be the symbol of peace. As the Messiah of the world, he would serve people with love and peace. This also indicates that he will be led by the Holy Spirit. God was happy to see his Son begin the work of salvation. God waited for this moment so long. So God ordained Jesus personally as the Savior of the world. This inauguration of Jesus always renewed his spirit during the time of his earthly Messianic work. We also must come to God and renew our spirit that we are ordained by God and that we are chosen ones and we are shepherds of God’s flock. Those who are chosen by God as his servants must have the conviction that “I am ordained by God, not by men.”
Second, Jesus defeated Satan by 960 hours of prayer (12-13). Look at verses 12-13. “At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert, and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.” As you know, nobody likes to be tempted. At once the Holy Spirit began to work. The first task was to send Jesus out into the desert. Jesus had to fight with Satan before he began his public ministry. It was because the first man, Adam, was defeated by Satan’s temptation, and then the world was cursed and death came into the world. Therefore, the first thing Jesus had to do was challenge Satan, who had defeated Adam. In doing so, Jesus understands the nature of the temptation and will help us overcome Satan’s temptation. Hebrews 4:15 says, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet was without sin.” In order to fight against Satan, Jesus did not use his ability, even though he is the Son of God. Jesus depended totally on God through 40 days of fasting prayer. When Jesus went out into the desert, the battle with Satan was not a battle quickly won. Satan is stubborn like Pharaoh who refused to let the Israel people go until his first son died. This battle lasted forty days--960 long hours. Jesus had to fight all by himself as the second Adam. In this we learn that human life is a spiritual battle with Satan. Verse 13b says that Jesus was with the wild animals. The power of Satan seemed to be prevailing. Jesus did all his best and was at the point of falling to the ground. At that moment, God helped him through his angels to overcome the temptation of Satan. Here we learn that we should not give up fighting against Satan to the end. Matthew 4 listed the contents of the temptations like material problem, physical desire problem, and power problem. When we try to serve God, Satan’s temptation comes strong. In the modern world Satan’s temptation comes in the form of women, money, and power. Many successful ministers ruined their reputation and ministry when they were tempted by women, money, and power. Samson was a great leader of Israel in the time of Judges. But he yielded to the temptation of a woman named Delilah. He lost the source of power and died.  In order to be a great servant of God we must learn first how to overcome the temptation of Satan through the help of Jesus.
 

PART III. THE CALLING OF THE FIRST DISCIPLES (14-20)
 

First, Jesus began his ministry (14-15). Look at verse 14. “After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.” Jesus began his gospel ministry when evil men beheaded the righteous (Mk 6:18,19, 26-29). The times were so evil that it was a most unlikely time for anyone to start any work, much less start gospel work. But Jesus began his gospel work in that terrible situation. Jesus teaches us here that we can do gospel ministry in any circumstance by faith. The fact that Jesus began his gospel ministry in the horrible circumstances of those times gives us new hope for praying for America, that God would establish a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. As we know, America is experiencing moral decay and spiritual darkness. But in this circumstance many people woke up spiritually and turned to God more and prayer more. The gospel work is possible in any situation. We should not think that we can do gospel work only after we get good jobs or finish a degree or raise up children. Now is time to begin the gospel work.
What was Jesus’ message when he began his gospel work? Look at verse 15. “’The time has come,’ he said. ‘The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!’” What did Jesus say first to people in order to deliver the gospel message? He said, “The kingdom of God is near.” What a beautiful message! What an everlasting message to those who were suffering in the temporal world where everything perishes, spoils and fades away. Jesus’ message, “The kingdom of God is near,” is the best message because it gives us a living hope in this despairing time. The main theme of the Bible is “God’s kingdom lost and God’s kingdom restored.” Jesus came into this world to restore the kingdom of God. He came into this world to reclaim his kingdom. Jesus also said, “Repent and believe” as the conditions for entering the kingdom of God. We must stop our lives of sin and turn our hearts to God. This is the real meaning of repentance. Therefore, in proclaiming the gospel of Jesus we must first give all people a living hope in the kingdom of God and help them gradually repent and believe.
Second, the gospel work began with the choosing of disciples (16-20). At the beginning of his gospel work, Jesus chose his disciples. Look at verses 16,17. “As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’” What kind of people did Jesus call? He called men of action as his disciples. They were hardworking fishermen. Many women coworkers were happy because all hardworking people were women in Romans 16. They said, “What are all men doing?” Well, men work hard too. Jesus saw their potential as responsible fishermen. Also they were men of coworking. Peter and Andrew worked together casting their nets. Jesus’ calling consisted of two parts. He commanded them, “Come, follow me.” All we have to do is to follow Jesus. It seems to be very easy. But it is not. Many times we fail to follow Jesus. Rather, we follow the world or our own desires. The first step to become the disciple of Jesus is to follow Jesus closely. Then he promised, “I will make you fishers of men.” It is Jesus who makes us fishers of men. Jesus will fulfill his promise. He made Peter, Andrew, John, and James great fishers of men. Jesus’ calling fishermen as his disciples seemed to be too small compared with the power of this world. To raise several men would not seem to change world history much. But Jesus believed that God would change the world through them. He was right. The twelve disciples changed the world history. What was their response to Jesus’ calling? Look at verse 20. “Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.” When Jesus determined to raise disciples, God allowed him several people as his disciples. May God help us to have the kingdom of God through repentance and faith and serve others with the message, “The kingdom of God is near.  Repent and believe the good news!” May God help you to be a disciple of Jesus at the beginning of your life of faith so that you can be a shepherd of this nation. Let’s read the key verse 15.