Sermon Tone Analysis

Copyright November 13, 2022 by Rev. Bruce Goettsche

The late Dr. R.C. Sproul used to say, “You can never go wrong preaching about Jesus.”

In one sense, the entire Bible is about, and pointing to, Jesus.

However, in the Gospels we read the story of His life and ministry in a way that is unique, focused, and precious.

The gospel of Mark is the shortest of the four gospels.

It is likely also the earliest of the gospels.

Most people believe Matthew and Luke borrowed from Mark extensively.

The Gospel of Mark (like the other gospels) is written as a testimony about Christ and not like a chronological biography.

This would be called a “witness document.”

Its purpose is to show reasons for putting faith in Christ.

As you read the memoirs of various of our Presidents, they generally arrange their memoirs thematically or topically.

A strict “this happened and then that happened” would be somewhat disjointed because so many things are going on at once in the White House.

It would be hard to follow the various topics.

Consequently, the President tells stories to help you gain a general picture of their job.

Mark writes somewhat the same way.

So do the other gospels.

Luke tends to group a bunch parables together that likely were given at various times.

Mark focuses more on the actions of Jesus than the teaching of Jesus.

Matthew and John are filled with long teaching sections (think “Sermon on the Mount” or John’s “Olivet Discourse in John 14-17).”

Much of the information Mark has is likely from Peter because it is believed they spent a good deal of time together.

In fact, the death of Peter (probably under Nero) may have prompted the writing of this gospel.

Mark wrote his gospel likely sometime before 70 A.D. (when Rome came in and destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple).

It was an interesting time in the history of Rome.

When Caesar Augustus was Emperor (After Julius Caesar, the name “Caesar” was a title more than a family name), he declared himself to be divine.

He was declared the “son of god” and was the one who would bring blessing to the people of Rome.

This title was handed down to those who followed him as emperor.

When Nero came to power, the notion of the Emperor being a god began to teeter.

Nero sought to destroy Christians and was a terrible human being.

He tortured Christians in unspeakable ways.

You may have heard the story of Nero playing the fiddle while Rome burned.

In 64 AD there was a devastating fire in Rome.

Once it was put out, another fire started.

Some think Nero was the arsonist.

Nero blamed the Christians and began his killing spree.

The Roman Senate finally had enough of Nero.

They declared him an enemy of the state and he was supposed to be crucified, but he escaped, and eventually took his own life.

After Nero’s departure, Rome had 3 emperors in quick succession; all of whom died violent deaths.

Finally, the crown rested on the head of Vespasian.

In a two-year time, Rome had 5 different emperors!

(Imagine having 5 different Presidents in 2 years!)

We can only imagine how cynical the people were becoming about their leaders.

The idea the emperor was a divine figure was now seen for what it was: rubbish.

This information makes the beginning of Mark’s Gospel jump out at us.

As Mark begins his gospel, he writes, “This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.” Mark knew exactly what he was doing!

He took this concept of the deity of the emperor and applied it to Jesus.

The message is simple: “The TRUE Son of God” is Jesus.

He is making a bold statement that could easily have gotten him killed.

The concept of “Good News” is also hijacked from Roman thought.

But the idea was also familiar to the Jews because of the book of Isaiah (40:9 52:7)

In Isaiah 40:9 we read,

9 O Zion, messenger of good news,

shout from the mountaintops!

Shout it louder, O Jerusalem.

Shout, and do not be afraid.

Tell the towns of Judah,

“Your God is coming!”

10 Yes, the Sovereign Lord is coming in power.

He will rule with a powerful arm.

See, he brings his reward with him as he comes.

Then in 52:7 we see the theme again.

7 How beautiful on the mountains

are the feet of the messenger who brings good news,

the good news of peace and salvation,

the news that the God of Israel reigns!

8 The watchmen shout and sing with joy,

for before their very eyes

they see the Lord returning to Jerusalem.

The argument of Mark is that Jesus was the one to whom the notion of good news referred.

He affirmed the deity of Christ (His God-nature) in the first sentence of the book.

Mark tells us, in essence, that this book is designed to show that Jesus is the only true Son of God, rather than the Roman emperors.

This is the key element that not only sets Jesus apart, but it is also the very reason this one man (God-Man) is able to give His life as a payment for the many who have come to Christ over the years.

The Forerunner

This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.

It began 2 just as the prophet Isaiah had written:

“Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,

and he will prepare your way.

3 He is a voice shouting in the wilderness,

‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming!

Clear the road for him!’

”

4 This messenger was John the Baptist.

He was in the wilderness and preached that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven.

5 All of Judea, including all the people of Jerusalem, went out to see and hear John.

And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.

6 His clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist.

For food he ate locusts and wild honey.

7 John announced: “Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals.

8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!”

Mark jumps into his story not with the birth narrative (like Matthew and Luke) but with John the Baptist (the Gospel of John has John the Baptist at the beginning of the book also.

Luke gives us some background about John the Baptist.

We are told in Luke that John was likely six months older than Jesus and they were related.

I have no idea how often their families got together over the years, but it appears they were related in some fashion (see Luke 1:36 where Elizabeth is called a relative of Mary’s).

Because Mary was an unwed mother, she went to see her relative Elizabeth (perhaps to check out her story with an angel and also to get out of town to escape the ridicule of her condition and the subsequent embarrassment and shame to her family).

When Mary arrived, John leaped in Elizabeth’s womb as a way of acknowledging the Lordship of Christ.

Because John’s parents were old (beyond child-bearing years) when he was conceived, they would likely have died early in John’s life.

He knew the Word of God, and saw himself as a prophet.

He dressed like Elijah, and ate locusts and wild honey, food that God supplied.

Mark took passages from Exodus, Malachi and Isaiah and put them together to attest that John was the forerunner of the promised Messiah.

And when you listen to John talk, John believed himself to be the forerunner.

Was John Elijah?

In the last two verses of the Old Testament we read these words,