1. Mark Christ’s Christian Mission
Look At The Book!
Mark
Christ’s Christian Mission

2. The Most Rapid Gospel
I relate with Mark’s gospel because it runs so fast.
A lot like my preaching at times.
The word IMMEDIATELY peppers his gospel, appearing 39 times.
His purpose is to reveal Jesus as the chosen Messiah.
Jesus defines Messiah with three strong statements of purpose in the gospel.
Each of those statements also can be applied to what Christians are in Christ.

3. Messiah as Kingdom Preacher
Mark 1:38 – “He said to them, ‘Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may preach there also; for that is what I came for. And He went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out demons.”
Jesus came to preach the gospel.

4. His Message Was Gospel
EUAGELLION early translation God Spell, now GOSPEL.
Mark 1:14 – “Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
Matthew 24:14 – “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.”

5. It Was A Gospel To Be Believed
Mark 1:15 – “… “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
The kingdom of God is still at hand.
We must continue also to preach a gospel of repentance and belief.

6. It Was A Message Of Salvation
Mark 8:35 – “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.”
Requires giving up ourselves and living for the sake of Jesus’ gospel.

7. Apostles Chosen To Preach
The primary reason for choosing apostles was to prepare them for gospel preaching.
Mark 3:14 – “And He appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach….”

8. We Inherit Their Charge
Christ expects us to preach as well
Mark 16:15-16 – “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.”

9. The Parable of The Life Saving Station
Written by Theodore O. Wedel in 1953
Life saving station on a dangerous coast. Small, plain, crude life saving station.
Few devoted members who rescued any in danger along their coast. Many lives were saved.
Became famous – grew. New members wanted a nicer building, etc.
Over time no one wanted to save lives, so hired it out.
Then didn’t want place messed up with those rescued.
Now many exclusive clubs, most shipwrecked drown.

10. Messiah As Sinner Seeker
Mark 2:17 – “And hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Luke 19:10 – “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

11. Jesus Saves Lost Sheep
Mark 6:34 – “When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.”
Luke 15:4-6 --“What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’”

12. Which Dismayed The Self-righteous
Mark 2: And it happened that He was reclining at the table in his house, and many tax collectors and sinners were dining with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many of them, and they were following Him. When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that He was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they said to His disciples, “Why is He eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners?”

13. Who were really the worst sinners
Mark 14:41 – “And He came the third time, and said to them, ‘Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough; the hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.”
Mark 15:31 – “In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes, were mocking Him among themselves and saying, ‘He saved others; He cannot save Himself.’”

14. Dying To Save Sinners
Mark 13:13, – “You will be hated by all because of My name, but the one who endures to the end, he will be saved….Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And then He will send forth the angels, and will gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of heaven.”

15. Messiah As Sacrificial Servant
The final statement of purpose in Mark is found in Mark 10:45
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

16. Not To Be Served
Though He was God, Messiah, Son of Man, Rabbi, Lord – He came as a servant, not to be served.
He came as a ransom – to buy back those who were lost.
He came to save because God wants all to be saved.

17. God Wants All To Be Saved
1 Timothy 2:3-6 – “This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.”

18. Christ Called Us To Serve
He called us to be servants for the gospel.
Mark 9:35 – “Sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, ‘If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.’”
Mark 10:43 – “But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant…”

19. Where Do We Fall Today?
Are you a sinner who needs to be saved? Today is the day of salvation.
Are you saved needing to serve others? To day is a good day to become the servant of all.
Are you a club member who needs to repent? Today is a good day to remember your first love.