A Change of Mind

Mark 1:15 - "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"

Repent. Ouch! This word scares us. Thanks to history, anyway. For 1400 years, the bible translated this word in Latin, penatentia, which is where we get the word "penitentiary!" Jail! Pain! Pay for your sins! Scary pictures of dungeons!

In the 1800's, they switched back to its Greek meaning, "to change your mind." How often do we change our minds? When we are lost, we want someone to change our mind! When we don't have an answer, we want someone to change our mind. When we feel confused and life seems empty, what do we want? A change of mind!

Kingdom

Mark 1:15 - "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"

Jesus says the kingdom is near. Have you ever played Marco Polo? Ever played hot or cold? You are getting closer and closer.

The kingdom is near! You can't have a kingdom without a King. If the kingdom is near, the King is near as well. Do you have a King? A King makes the laws. The entire kingdom belongs to him. The subjects manage and serve the King. Are you ready to live in a kingdom? Are you ready to have a King?

Ta-Daa!

Mark 1:14 - After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"

Here we get to hear the first words of Jesus. The curtain opens--it is about to begin! The preparations for this event have taken thousands of years. From the first breath of Adam, this verse was known. The time has finally come!

Have you ever waited and waited and waited for something? Maybe a birthday? Maybe a vacation? Maybe graduation? For the moms, maybe the birth of your child! Imagine the heavens waiting for thousands of years for Christ to start his ministry!

Forty Days

Mark 1:13 - . . . and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.

Forty days is a long time! Forty days in the desert! Moses fasted 40 days. Goliath opposed Israel for 40 days! For 40 days our Lord established himself and prepared himself for his messianic mission!

This was not unexpected. This was a test, a trial, a confrontation, to establish who was in charge. Jesus was tempted, he had a choice, and He chose God and defeated Satan.

Game On!

Mark 1:12 - At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert . . .

There is one word that is used over and over again in Mark. Actually, it's used 42 times! It is the greek word "euthys" which means "immediately" or "at once!" It is a word that shows urgency, action!

Jesus had just been baptized. Should he take some time to adjust, get used to the new life? No! Game On! At once the Spirit sends him to the fight! Time to take on the former head angel. Time to establish who Jesus is, and make it clear that he would not be intimidated.

3D

Mark 1:10 - As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."

Lots of films these days come out in 3D. I haven't seen one yet, but I can imagine what it must be like. Something that was only a two-dimensional reflection comes alive, right out of the screen! The effect is clearer, and much more exciting!

There are all kind of things happening in the spiritual world that we can't see! If we could put on spiritual glasses, we could see the angels, the demons and the battles raging. If we could see the heavens when we pray, if we could see what God and his army is doing, we would be forever changed!

Just Imitate Him

Mark 1:9-11 - At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

I was baptized by Mark. What a great day that was! Jesus was baptized by John. What a great day that must have been as well!

This is where it began for Jesus. This is were it begins for me and you. I realize the effect of baptism on Jesus was different than its effect on us, but the motivation for our baptism and His is the same. Obedience. Jesus wanted to fulfill all righteousness. He wanted to do what was right. He wanted to obey His Father.

Not Even On the GPS!

Mark 1:9-11 - At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

Nazareth. Really? Nazareth!? Never mentioned in the Old Testament. Never mentioned in the Talmud. As our brother Nathaniel asked in another gospel, could anything good come out of Nazareth? The answer, of course, is "yes," and not just from Nazareth!

Satan loves for us to feel insignificant. He loves for us to feel that we have nothing to offer and can't make a difference. This just isn't true. The world was changed from Nazareth. The world can be changed from Storrs, from Portland, from Springfield, from anywhere!

How does a guy from Overland Park, Kansas wind up in Kiev?

Moving In 

Mark 1:8 - I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.

Ok, get ready for the unbelievable. You need to sit down before you read this verse, or maybe you already fell over!

John's baptism was for the forgiveness of sins. Our baptism was for the forgiveness of sins as well. So what is the big difference? The most amazing thing that happened at your baptism was not just that your sins were forgiven, but that God moved into your heart!

The Holy Spirit who had taken up residence in the Holy of Holies, the Holy Spirit who had hovered over a shapeless and dark planet--with the coming of Jesus that same Holy Spirit is now a part of baptism!

No, Really--You First!

Mark 1:7 - And this was his message: "After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.

I must confess, I lack a certain level of culture. If it were not for my awesome wife, I would not have attended many classical concerts in my lifetime. There is one lesson I have learned from listening to classical music, though.

When the orchestra plays, it is important that every instrument plays its role. Not too fast, not too slow, not too loud, not too soft. Even the greatest violinest in the world still has to play with the group, or it will be a disaster!