Second Sunday in Advent
Notes
Transcript
The Gospel according to Mark
The Gospel according to Mark
This year- until Sunday Nov 21, 2020 the gospel readings will predominantly be from the Gospel of Mark, all summer long we are doing MARK! What I like about today’s reading is that it reintroduces you and I to the person of Jesus in 3 distinct acts, who Mark thinks he is, through who Isaiah believes he is and and who John the baptist believes He is.
The Gospel of Jesus
The Gospel of Jesus
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Mark starts at the beginning of the story- he intends for this to be a way of introducing Jesus, much as he was there at the original Genesis of the World.
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
The point is, if you do not know or if you think you know Jesus then perhaps you should start a new time with Him.
We are constantly barraged with what we believe is news- we have a perverse view of what NEWS actually is. Mark Zuckerberg was testifying about the ‘newsfeed’ on facebook when he said. ‘A squirrel dying in front of your house may be more relevant to your interests right now than people dying in Africa.’
Kayne West - Rapper turned Christian said ‘I don’t need no sauce on my bible’ - Mark provides no sauce just news.
The Good news of Jesus Christ begins and ends with JESUS. The word Gospel at its core means GOOD NEWS. The good news is that JESUS HAS COME. Mark wants you to be aware that this is his goal and you and I should be prepared to take this in.
Gunter Zuntz - a classical scholar wrote this reflection the first time he read through the gospel of mark. Mind you this cat had read every classic and was well respected.
The Gospel of Mark 1. The Subject of Mark’s Book
something very important was being put forward here with a superior purpose and concentration throughout the book.… The style and content of the story arouse a feeling of otherness, a feeling that this is not a history like other histories, not a biography like other biographies, but a development of the actions, sayings, and suffering of a higher being on his way through this anxious world of human beings and demons
Isn’t that exactly what we need to enter our lives today? A development of the actions, sayings and suffering of a higher being on His way through this anxious world of human beings and demons. We need the empathy of GOD.
For mark - Jesus as a person is good news. (Like a kid coming home or a hospital release)
Perhaps this is why Mark moves to Isaiah & Malachi so quickly-
The Gospel of Isaiah
The Gospel of Isaiah
Isaiah is building on a theme from the proverbs, a book of wisdom poetry that you and I should read regularly. In particular, wisdom is portrayed as calling out to young people who are lost on a path.
My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints.
Isaiah, and Mark are building on this idea that from the beginning God is calling out to His people and wanting to be known by His people.
357 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who ord’rest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.
The image of a pathway is helpful here as we think about our own lives and describe the terrain of our path to Jesus.
Have you felt the panic of being lost this season? Listen, the voice of Jesus is calling out to you in His word. His word is GOOD. In it is unchanging hope and peace.
Everything is subject to change but those things. Efficacy of viruses, efficacy of politics, EVEN WSU Basketball. (the word of the Lord endures forever)
To further the image of the pathway- Isaiah gives us the image of the presence of God as an enticing and terrifying revelation.
Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
This is the Cavode YHWH - the literal root is weight or burden, the pressure of God coming down! This is what Isaiah wants you and I to be ready for - the HUGE GLORY OF GOD that levels mountains. We should have some trembling.
For the prophets Jesus is both the weight and wisdom of God in flesh.
The grace is that when God does come down, He comes down not in weight or terror but as an infant. He issues life through things that used to cause fear- this is what John the Baptist proclaims
John the Baptist is the fulfillment of Elijah from Malachi 3-ff.
“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.
- made clear in ch 4:
“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.
The Gospel of John the Baptist
The Gospel of John the Baptist
John points out that the one coming after Him is GREATER - Greater than even the greatest OT prophets
This is a depiction of Elijah, arguably one of if not the greatest OT prophet:
They answered him, “He wore a garment of hair, with a belt of leather about his waist.” And he said, “It is Elijah the Tishbite.”
John is telling us that JESUS IS GREATER than Elijah (than himself)
For John the baptist - Jesus is GREATER than all things. Jesus is the fulfillment of all of God’s good news. He is the GREATEST - Superlative news!
And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.
According to John the Baptist this Jesus will dispense the Spirit of God that will take up residence in your heart.
How should one get ready? Be baptized and repent constantly.
Maxwell, church you have been baptized and it is the work of God to wash away your sins that you may receive faith.
Beyond this the Bible suggests that the best way for you to meet Jesus is to meet Him in His word. This year, if you do anything, read the gospel of Mark a few times, once a week. 16 chapters - quick.
Beyond this- trust that God has come to wash you and prepare you for Himself.
With the obstacle of your sins removed, with the voice of God calling to you - may you hear and see Jesus - knowing His peace as He is coming again. Amen.