{"id":36648,"date":"2025-07-17T22:00:42","date_gmt":"2025-07-18T05:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/?p=36648"},"modified":"2025-07-09T12:46:55","modified_gmt":"2025-07-09T19:46:55","slug":"mark-1_1-20-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/mark-1_1-20-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Don\u2019t Get Stuck in \u201cPreparation Mode\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mark 1:1-20\u00a0 \u00a0 (CLICK HERE FOR\u00a0BIBLE VERSES)<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Hi GAMErs,<\/p>\n

\n

Today\u2019s passage is Mark 1:1-20.\u00a0With a humble heart, see what sticks out to you in this passage.\u00a0 Is there a verse, a phrase, or a lesson you think the Holy Spirit may be highlighting for you in this passage?\u00a0 After you\u2019ve thought about the passage yourself a bit, read the GAME sharing below.\u00a0 Let\u2019s go!<\/p>\n

Today we begin the Gospel of Mark.\u00a0 Though the author does not identify himself in this gospel, early church writers unanimously claim Mark (also known as John Mark \u2013 see for example Acts 12:12, 25) as the author, which in some respects would be a strange choice if it were not true.\u00a0 Mark was a close co-worker of Jesus\u2019 disciple Peter, whom Peter even calls \u201cmy son\u201d (1 Peter 5:13).\u00a0 Thus many scholars believe that Mark wrote his gospel based at least in part on the eyewitness testimony of Peter.\u00a0 It is also believed by many scholars that Mark wrote this gospel while in Rome between approximately 57 and 63 A.D. (although some scholars have suggested an earlier date).\u00a0 Shortly after this Emperor Nero would begin his severe persecution of the church in Rome, which as tradition holds is where Peter eventually would die as a martyr.<\/p>\n

Many scholars agree that the gospel of Mark was probably the first of the New Testament gospels to be written and was an important reference book for Matthew and Luke to refer to when they wrote their gospels.<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s passage is\u00a0Mark 1:1-20.\u00a0 Let\u2019s go!
\n
\nMark 1:1-8 (NIV)<\/strong>
\n1\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
\n2\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0It is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way”–
\n3\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0“a voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'”
\n4\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
\n5\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0The 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.
\n6\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.
\n7\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0And 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.
\n8\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”<\/em><\/p>\n

On verses 1-8:\u00a0 Compared to Matthew, Luke and John, Mark is the shortest gospel.\u00a0 It\u2019s not hard to see why.\u00a0 Whereas the other gospels take their time in terms of setting up the background to Jesus\u2019 public ministry, Mark goes straight into the action.\u00a0 \u00a0The pace of Mark is incredibly fast compared to Matthew, Luke and John.\u00a0 By verse 9 of chapter 1 we\u2019re reading about Jesus\u2019 baptism.\u00a0 By verse 13 Jesus has encountered and overcome temptation from Satan.\u00a0 By verse 14, Jesus is preaching the good news.\u00a0 (By contrast, Matthew and Luke does not have Jesus preaching until the end or middle of chapter 4.)<\/p>\n

Still, despite the fast pace, Mark does take time to set up Jesus\u2019 story by talking about John the Baptist, how pursuant to Isaiah\u2019s prophecy John the Baptist\u00a0prepared the way for Jesus.\u00a0 It\u2019s the only \u201csetting up\u201d Mark will do before going straight into Jesus\u2019 public ministry.\u00a0 This should suggest to us how important John the Baptist was in Mark\u2019s eyes.\u00a0 It\u2019s as if Mark is saying that without the ministry of John the Baptist, the ministry of Jesus does not happen the way it does.<\/p>\n

Just as Mark takes the time to honour John for preparing the way for the world to meet the Saviour Jesus, may you take the time to honour those who prepared the way for you to meet Jesus.\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0Maybe it was a parent, a pastor, a friend, a teacher, a relative, someone in your church.\u00a0 Had God not used them the way He did, your story would not be what it is.\u00a0 So even in the midst of the busyness and the action of life, take time to thank God for those who made it possible for you to meet Jesus and to be who you are today.<\/p>\n

Mark 1:9-11 (NIV)<\/strong>
\n9\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
\n10\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.
\n11\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”<\/em><\/p>\n

On verses 9-11:\u00a0 Jesus\u2019 baptism was also important enough for Mark to mention in this short gospel.\u00a0 Here we see, in what is now generally understood to be the earliest gospel,\u00a0the importance of baptism<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 how Jesus was baptized not because he was a sinner, but as a way to identify with us sinners and to set an example for us to follow in baptism as well.\u00a0 We also see Mark’s understanding of\u00a0God as\u00a0a Trinity (Three-in-One)<\/strong>, as all 3 Persons of the Trinity \u2013 Father, Son and Holy Spirit \u2013 are involved at Jesus\u2019 baptism.<\/p>\n

Mark 1:12-20 (NIV)<\/strong>
\n12\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert,
\n13\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.
\n14\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.
\n15\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”
\n16\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.
\n17\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”
\n18\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0At once they left their nets and followed him.
\n19\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets.
\n20\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
\n<\/em>
\nOn verses 12-20:\u00a0 From Jesus\u2019 baptism and temptation in the desert, we\u2019re now into Jesus preaching (v14-15) and calling his first disciples (v16-20).<\/p>\n

When I read the first chapter of Mark, I get the sense that Mark is trying to quickly get through the preparation phase of Jesus’ ministry (including John the Baptist, Jesus\u2019 baptism, Jesus\u2019 temptation, and Jesus calling His disciples) so that he can get straight to what he considers the material most pressing for the reader to know: the amazing things Jesus did and said as a public minister.\u00a0 In verse 10 the Spirit of God descended upon Jesus like a dove and what we\u2019ll see next is Jesus ministering in the full power of the Spirit.<\/p>\n

The way Mark speeds through the preparation process for Jesus\u2019 ministry causes me to wonder:\u00a0do some of us live way too long in \u201cpreparation mode\u201d that we never get to living, doing and being as God wants us to soon enough?<\/strong>\u00a0 How many times have I heard people say, \u201cI\u2019m not ready yet\u201d, whether the topic is about receiving Jesus, getting baptized, serving in a new ministry, going on missions, sharing Jesus with others, committing to a local church, or something else that God wants them to do.\u00a0 That is not to say that preparation is not important.\u00a0 But it\u2019s a sobering thought: is there something that I know I should do where \u201cI\u2019m not ready yet\u201d has become my excuse?\u00a0\u00a0May we not use “I’m not ready yet” as an ongoing excuse, lest we and those nearest to us miss the blessing because of our delay.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Father, thank You for Jesus Your Son.\u00a0 Thank You that You didn\u2019t delay in sending Him.\u00a0 Rather at the perfect time You sent Jesus Christ so that we could know Him.\u00a0 Thank You also for the John\u2019s You have brought to my life to prepare the way for me to know Jesus.\u00a0 In Jesus\u2019 name, AMEN!<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

copyright \u00a9 2022 Justin Lim. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hi GAMErs,<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s passage is Mark 1:1-20.\u00a0With a humble heart, see what sticks out to you in this passage.\u00a0 Is there a verse, a phrase, or a lesson you think the Holy Spirit may be highlighting for you in this passage?\u00a0 After you\u2019ve thought about the passage yourself a bit, read the GAME sharing below.\u00a0 Let\u2019s go!<\/p>\n

Today we begin the Gospel of Mark.\u00a0 Though the author does not identify himself in this gospel, early church writers unanimously claim Mark (also known as John Mark \u2013 see for example Acts 12:12, 25) as the author, which in some respects would be a strange choice if it were not true.\u00a0 Mark was a close co-worker of Jesus\u2019 disciple Peter, whom Peter even calls \u201cmy son\u201d (1 Peter 5:13).\u00a0 Thus many scholars believe that Mark wrote his gospel based at least in part on the eyewitness testimony of Peter.\u00a0 It is also believed by many scholars that Mark wrote this gospel while in Rome between approximately 57 and 63 A.D. (although some scholars have suggested an earlier date).\u00a0 Shortly after this Emperor Nero would begin his severe persecution of the church in Rome, which as tradition holds is where Peter eventually would die as a martyr.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":36650,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-36648","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gametime-sharing"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36648","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=36648"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36648\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":36651,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36648\/revisions\/36651"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/36650"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36648"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=36648"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=36648"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}