#1: (Mark 1:1-5) Repentance was ‘preparation’ for the coming of Jesus: John the Baptist was sent by God to prepare the way for Jesus, and the way he did it was calling people to repent of their sins, and mark this ‘turnaround’ by being publicly baptized. It had been prophesied that this ‘messenger’ would come (Mal 3:1), and Jesus himself said that John the Baptist was the ‘Elijah’ to come again. (cf Mt 11:14, fulfilling the last prophecy of the Old Testament, Mal 4:5-6) Note: Repentance prepared the road for Christ, and was also part of Christ’s own message. (Mark 1:15) Repentance still prepares the way for Jesus, and is still called for by Jesus. (Acts 3:19) #2: (Mark 1:7-8) Repentance is the beginning, not the end, of the message of Jesus! John the Baptist clearly states in these verses that what is coming after him, is more ‘powerful’. Repentance is good, deep, necessary, but it is ‘done’ and marked by water baptism. It ‘prepares the way’. For what? Well, for the more ‘powerful’, as John says. (vs.7) Jesus comes with more power, and is the ‘point’ of all repentance. Repentance prepares, Jesus ‘finishes’. (cf John 19:30/Ps 22:31) And the ‘mark’ of coming to and being with Jesus is not done with water, but with the Holy Spirit. (vs.8) Note: Repentance is something we need as a ‘way of life’ (see Matthew 3:8), but our focus, the point of repentance, is to be with Christ. Don’t linger and languish in a worldly sorrow. When you repent, walk free, and ‘be’ the new and redeemed you that Christ paid for. (Rev 5:9; Is 49:16) The repentance that Christ gives, ‘leaves no regret’ (2 Cor 7:10) #3: (Mark 1:11) God quotes the bible! Jesus often quoted the bible (see Matthew 4:1-11, and Luke 20:17-18, and many more occasions!) But here, God quotes himself! See Mark 1:11 and Isaiah 42:1. Note: We need to read the bible regularly – daily. We need to read it methodically (maybe 1 chapter a day), so as to learn the history of God’s character through his acts, his teaching, his people. If God and Christ quote the scriptures, surely we need to know – and quote and/or reference – the scriptures! #4: (Mark 1:15) Jesus is the ‘good news’. ‘The time has come,’ he said. ‘The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!’ (Mark 1:15) If you look carefully at this scripture – and bearing in mind how Christ so often shielded his own truth (Mark 1:25, Pr 25:2, Mt 16:20, Mt 13:44, Is 6:9) – it is important to note the detail. ‘The time has come…’ This is an ‘arrival’ point. Jesus is saying the time is here, I am here, God is here! (Is 7:14, Mt 1:23) So when Jesus goes on to say that the Kingdom of God has ‘come near’, I believe we are to press in here and see that the Kingdom of God had actually come – i.e. ‘the time has come’. (see Matthew 20:18) Jesus goes on to say, ‘Repent and believe the good news!’ (vs.15b) Repentance was preparation, as we have seen, not the actual ‘time come’. So here Jesus is pairing, coupling the ‘repentance’ – i.e. the preparation – with the prize, the presence and revelation of ‘God with us.’ The good news is not the repentance, but that sins can now be forgiven here on earth. (see Luke 5:24) This forgiveness of sins is the ‘harder’ thing to do, according to Jesus. (Luke 5:24) Why? Because it cannot happen without his own shedding of blood. (Heb 9:22) You can repent without the shedding of blood, but your repentance has no forgiveness, no ‘arrival’ or redemption, without the shedding of blood. The good news is the forgiveness of sins, and ‘God with us.’ (Mt 1:23; Jn 17:3) The good news is Jesus Christ himself – the King of Kings not only in heaven, but here on earth (increasingly – Mt 6:9-13), and now in your heart! (Col 1:27) Note: The ‘pressing in’ to really ‘see’ Jesus, is a principle we are called to, and rewarded for doing. If you have some time, look up and consider these scriptures: Jeremiah 29:13, Isaiah 6:9, 2 Chronicles 15:15, Genesis 32:22-32 (note vs.26), Matthew 15:21-28, Mark 14:1-9, Matthew 20:29-34, John 20:11-18, Hebrews 11:6. #5: (Mark 1:17) Coming to Christ is the message of the Kingdom of God. I believe the ‘good news’ being Jesus is reinforced right here in verse 17 after that critical verse 15 above. Jesus calls Andrew to follow him, and says that in doing so, he will catch others. To follow Christ, is to enter into the good news. To come to Christ, is to be forgiven, and saved forever. To come to Christ is to access the good news of God, and to find a new purpose. What purpose? Well, to ‘catch other men’ for Christ. The good news is coming to Christ, and the call of Christ is to bring others to him. Here, as noted above, the King of Kings, comes to ‘King’ the earth, and also ‘reign’ in your heart. Jesus, King of heaven, King of the earth, and King of your heart. This is the Kingdom of God! Note: Every aspect of life comes from Christ. (Acts 17:25, Ps 24:1, Ps 50:10, Ez 18:4, Gen 1:27, Jn 10:34, Ps 82:6, Mt 5:45) However, the ‘kingdom’ here is one of darkness. It is a defeated kingdom of darkness (Jn 16:11), but it is here. For this reason, to bring the name of Jesus and the power of Jesus with faith to any corner of this dark world, and in any word, deed or deposit that the Spirit fills, is to bring the ‘Kingdom of God’ – i.e. the presence and aroma of Christ – to and through the kingdom of darkness. So ‘conversions’ to Christ are not the only aspect of bringing the Kingdom of God to earth. Every ray of light you bring in Jesus’ name is beautiful, powerful, eternal! However, we can so quickly substitute the King for his Kingdom, lose the man in the midst of his power and blessings. This is to lose our ‘first love’, and it is to lose the whole point of the Kingdom itself: the King! (Rev 2:1-5; Jn 5:39-40) Bless you as you crown Jesus King of your heart, follow him, and ‘catch’ others! (Mark 1:17) PWALKER YOUTUBE
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I have struggled to know when – and who – I should witness to. This has led to some really dark times in my spiritual life, where I lose heart to even be around unbelievers, where I have almost feared leaving the house, with some of these thoughts racing through my heart and mind: Do I say something now to this person? If I really believed what I say I believed, surely I would stand up and speak now… Do I give a tract to this person? Do I give a tract to this other person? Where do I draw the line? Why this person, but not that person over there? Do I take opportunities, or do I make opportunities? And to what degree? Should I be knocking on my neighbors’ doors today? Should I be canceling that special time with my family and using the time and money for evangelism…? This struggle has led me to some extreme ‘outreach’, which was not Spirit-led: One day on a bus, only recently married (with my dear, young wife at my side, and the bus full of our peer, college students), I found myself thinking some of above thoughts, and feeling that dark cloud descend. I stood up and said, ‘OK, everyone, since it’s Sunday and we’re not in church, I’ll share some scripture with you all here…’ And I proceeded to read a few verses from my bible, and share a couple thoughts. I thanked them and sat down. By God’s grace this led to a couple brief, follow-up conversations about the Lord, and I am confident that ‘false motive or true’ the Lord’s Word does not come back void. (Phil 1:18; Is 55:11) However… the truth is, my compulsion to share was not from, through and to the Spirit of the Lord. (Jn 5:19; Rm 11:33-36) It did not come in a wind of ‘Spirit and life’, which were the essence of Jesus’ words. (Jn 6:63) It came from a force of ‘theory’, and compulsion of pride, confusion, and fear. The Lord has a better way for us! Many years have passed since that time and era, and many battles fought in my heart and mind in this area. Let me cut straight to the ‘freedom zone’ here, and deposit a few insights to the way of witnessing in God’s freedom, courage, timing and guidance:
For more on freedom in sharing Jesus, please visit these pages on my website: Essays: ‘Feeling Pressure to be Rad’ for Jesus?’ http://sharingyourfaith.weebly.com/essays.html Videos: These video reflections are particularly aimed at ‘witnessing’: http://sharingyourfaith.weebly.com/videos.html This website is for believers only – family biz, so to speak!:) Please do use the tools, and feel free to share this website with other believers. Bless you! www.sharingyourfaith.weebly.com/ ‘God with us’ – i.e. Christ in you – is the prize God gives you! (Is 7:14; Mt 1:23; Col 1:27) We often get very busy with doing things for God – from good deeds, to even our efforts in ‘faith’ and ‘belief’. God does and will reward these efforts and deeds! (Mt 25:31-46; Mt 18:4,6,18) But what’s the ‘prize’? What is it that God actually came for, in the person of Jesus Christ? What is it that Christ actually died and suffered for? The prize of God – the very purpose of the gospel (and of heaven!) – is to be with you! To be in you! ‘The mystery of God is revealed… Christ in you!’ Colossians 1:27 This relationship with you, this ‘togetherness’ and intimacy, is the point of it all! You can do so much for God – both in secret and in public – and all of it be good, but then go home and feel lonely, not actually feel and enjoy the Lord’s presence. This saddens the Lord! You are doing great work for him, honoring him with your faith, but not actually allowing him to draw near to your soul, your spirit, your home, your heart. A powerful, historical example of this is the church of Ephesus. Jesus himself, through the prophet and disciple, John, speaks to the church and tells them that despite all their good deeds, their solid doctrine and testing of false apostles; despite their suffering for the Lord… they have ‘lost their first love.’ (Rev 2:1-5) Jesus calls them back to their childlike faith, their ‘first love’, and it is so significant to Jesus that if they fail in this ‘heart connection’, he says he is going to remove their lampstand – their church! The prize God has fought for, is to be with you. His very name – Emmanuel – means, ‘God with us’. (Mt 1:23) Know that you are loved. Know that your sacrifice and suffering is seen and noted by God. But put down your efforts for a while, and sit with God. He carved your name on the palm of his hand (Is 49:16); he really suffered so that he could be in your presence, and you in his presence. Be with him! For short, encouraging video reflections, subscribe to my YouTube channel @ PWALKER YOUTUBE |
AuthorPeter Walker. Archives
March 2022
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