1. SUNSET AT THE DEAD SEA

2. Mark 1:1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Very similar to: Gen. 1:1 “In the beginning” Gospel = Good News Jesus = Yahweh is salvation (God saves) Christ = (masiah) The anointed At the close of the OT anointed meant: “the ideal King anointed and empowered by God to deliver His people and establish His righteous kingdom”

3. 1:2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY; 3 THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.’” (From Is. 40:3) Why did God need a messenger? 1.To call attention to their sinfulness 2.To show them the need for repentance 3.To give them the opportunity for public confession Then and only then are they prepared for salvation!!!

4. 1:4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. What does repent mean? A change of mind, a deliberate turning Interesting note, this is exactly where Peter began his ministry: Acts 10:34 Opening his mouth, Peter said….. 10:37 you yourselves know the thing which took place throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed.

5. THE JUDEAN WILDERNESS

6. 1:5 And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.

7. Jerusalem to Jericho = 11 miles one way and 4000’

8. Road from Jericho to Jerusalem

9. 1:6 John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey. His belt is like the one worn by Isaiah (2 Kings 1:8) Locusts are listed as a clean food (Lev. 11:21-22) Mark’s point, John was a holy man who lived by the law.

10. 1:7 And he was preaching, and saying, “After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals. What is the sandal thing all about? It was a slaves job to perform for guests

11. 1:8 “I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” John’s baptism was an outward identification with a desire to repent Repentance paves the way for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit

12. 1:9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Jesus came to John, a trip of about 60 miles to be baptized WHY???

13. 1:10 Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; 11 and a voice came out of the heavens: “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.” Evidence of the? Trinity: Jesus-Flesh, HS-Dove, Father-Voice Notice the tense in 11: “You are” = present, now “I am” = past, a past choice

14. 1:12 Immediately the Spirit impelled^ Him to go out into the wilderness. 13 And He was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by Satan; and He was with the wild beasts, and the angels were ministering to Him. How soon did the temptation begin? “Immediately” Why did He go? He was impelled.

15. THE TRADITIONAL MOUNT OF TEMPTATION

16. Some observations on verse 13: Was it God’s plan for Him to encounter Satan or Satan’s plan?… God’s (led by the Spirit) How long was He there?… forty days How many temptations did He face?… ”being” is continuous (He was tempted more then the BIG three mentioned in Matthew and Luke) Why does Mark mention the wild beasts?… To bring us to the reality of what is really taking place! What do you think the ministry of the angels was?.. Possibly protecting Him from the wild beasts?? Note the number 40… each major King reigned 40 years, Moses was 40 when he left Egypt and spent 40 years being a shepherd and Israel wandered 40 years Etc. This period of isolation and temptation was hard, dirty, sweaty, hot- cold, and scary

17. Mark 1:14 Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, When did the ministry of Christ begin to increase? when John’s ended What did John say would happen to his ministry when Jesus came he must increase and I must decrease John 3:30 Mark goes to the heart of the matter here, the details of John’s arrest are given in 6:14-29 Point is the fore running is over and the presentation of the good news, (gospel) has begun Also note, whose gospel is it?

18. 1:15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” What two requirements are specified in this verse? repent and believe What does the ‘kingdom of God’ mean? The rule and reign of Jesus Christ Did He actually come to rule and reign? Yes, in the hearts of men What does He mean ‘believe in the gospel’? Have faith in and trust in the good news Why should men be ready for this message at this time? John prepared the way with his baptism of repentance!!

19. THE CALL OF THE DISCIPLES 1:16 As He was going along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” The action called for in vs 15 is: repent and believe Here it is: leave and follow

20. Galilee was a thriving fishing industry filled with small towns and villages. This is the area where Jesus spent most of His preaching ministry. The lake is 682’ below sea level and is 14 miles long and 6 miles wide. It is rather calm during the day but becomes very choppy as the winds come out of the horns of Hormuth and blow across the sea.

21. VIEW OF THE SEA OF GALILEE FROM THE HORNS OF HORMUTH

22. The Horns of Hormuth looking toward Capernaum (Dr. Sam will cover the storm on Dec. 16 th )

23. The ministry areas of Jesus

24. 1:18 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. 19 Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets. 20 Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went away to follow Him. How long did it take them to respond? “immediately” John and James worked for dad who owned boats and had servants, of the 4 brothers, which two gave up the most? They all gave the same, they got up and walked away from all they had

25. Acts 17:6 When they did not find them, they began dragging Jason and some brethren before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have upset the world have come here also; The questions are: Have we walked away from the world and given our all to Christ? Are we “upsetting the world” because of our testimony?