Sermon – “The Immediacy of the Message”

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in the Prophets: “Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.” 3 “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.’” 4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 5 Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And he preached, saying, “There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. 8 I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” 9 It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. 11 Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” 12 Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. 13 And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him. 14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” 16 And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 17 Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 They immediately left their nets and followed Him. 19 When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. 20 And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him. 21 Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. 22 And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

In my message the title. The immediacy of the message. Or you could say the urgency of the message. And you know. Karen already shared some about this. Forty day challenge forty days for Jesus. And I’m excited about it. And I’m to give him all the glory and him all the praise. You know. Read and heard of a couple of other challenges out there. There was a thirty day challenge going on a thirty day challenge to read the word of thirty day challenge to listen to nothing but. Christian music and you know. At the struck a chord with me and Gary called and it’s like have an idea for today Chalons. I’m not taking any of the credit for this. I’m giving God the glory. Because he’s a want to deserve the glory he’s a wanted spark he’s the one it started it began it. Because you know why it’s all about relationship. That’s what this whole challenge is about is about relationship. It’s about getting into this word you know some might say well how I haven’t heard from the Lord so long will have you open your Bible then. Because his word still speaks to us today. His word is living. It is still Bible today he spoke of its continuation of his word we think the Lord’s not speaking will open the word and he will speak to you. So I’m excited about this some excited about the comments in the from so many people. There was a Jewish lady that. A Jewish Christian that shared her faith in her journey to Christ and she’s joined in the challenge and there’s family members that. Live far away that have joined in and just you know if just a few just get that close a relationship of the Lord. It’ll be worth the while. But you know it’s not just about that relationship it’s a relationship with the families it. Can grow through this. So I’m excited about how many people joined in and all you join in and taking this challenge and. I just pray that God will do great things and it will spread. Greater than we can even imagine. This is a wonderful thing. How many here feel like. Action. Yeah see hands going up you know if you watch a movie a war movie or a drama you like action. You know you watch your favorite sporting event you know you watch baseball you like action or wait a minute you’re going to laugh because it’s really not a lot of actual baseball wizard which is like you watched. There is or can be. You lots football you like a lot of action. We watch races we like a lot of action which means we like to watch directs. You know you were action oriented people we like. Action. Well if you’ve joined in this challenge and you’ve began reading Mark you’re probably in the third or fourth chapter by now you may be ahead. But you can see I believe if this book is filled with a lot of action. He jumps right into the ministry of Jesus Christ he jumps right into the miracles in the teaching. He doesn’t believe dally around there’s. This is an action packed. Book The Book of Mark I do like it it’s. It’s exciting to read there’s as a lot going on. If you join one is challenged. You also say. Well I should say if you have joined in this and. If you’re familiar with the four gospels. You probably already know that. Mark is the shortest of four gospels. Mark only has sixteen chapters it’s a source of the four. Matthew has twenty eight chapters but Matthew deals with the birth but also the genealogy of Jesus. Luke is very detailed. On the birth even. The angel appearing to Marion. And all and Joseph and all went along with that is very detail. The Gospel of John. It refers and it begins with revealing that Christ was with God in the beginning. In the beginning image creation it was with him. And it really reveals crisis be in the light. To the world. But Mark. Admits the birth of the. Does have a little bit about the with John the Baptist’s. But don’t trade into the ministry of Jesus Christ. Only sixteen chapters. Before I have the reading this morning I want to share a little bit about the author. Naaman a throw this to the kids because you probably are in all the dots now and not I think the kids we even know kids who wrote the book Mark. All think about real hard now it’s not a trick question. Who wrote the book Mark. Mark. Yes. But he’s also known as John Mark. That is the kids are Connell I go out and I’m not all these books the actual name of. You know who wrote it but he’s also known as John Mark and. This might sound a little odd but it’s likely that Mark was an eyewitness. To many of the events that he wrote about. Many of the events that he wrote about was shared to him through Peter or some of the other disciples. So he did not witness all of them but it’s very likely that he witnessed many of these. As a young man because Mark lived with his mother Mary. In their home in the city of Jerusalem which. They also open to many of the Christians. In that area. So he was able to see. Many of the miracles that was done. He was able to hear. Much of the teaching that was given by Jesus and the other disciples. So he was a witness to many of these things. It is believed by some that it was most likely Peter. Who led young John Mark. To the Lord Jesus Christ. Early Church tradition also states that Mark. May have been Peter’s interpreter. And it too became very close they had a close relationship with one another. Peter at one point called Mark. My son. And first Peter five thirteen. And as it is with many young people. And sometimes even with us older people. They tend to have weaknesses. Young people today young believers. May have and. Still we you know some weaknesses. It is believed that. Mark. John Mark. Is the young nameless man who fled was the first to flee a Jesus arrest. Fled in a panic I mean he got scared and truly was out of their. Course to his. Defense. The others fled also didn’t they but he was the first to put first to flee. But it was also marked that whenever Paul and Barnabas. And Mark were embarking on a missionary journey after they went so far. Mark. Turned back. Mark went home Mark went back to Jerusalem in Acts thirteen thirteen says now when Paul and his party set sail from path. They came to pergola in Pamphylia and John departed from them returning to Jerusalem. Now some speculate and think well. Mark was home sick and he may have been he was a young man he might have been homesick. Some say might have been ill. Others say well he may have only playing to go that far but he didn’t share that with Paul that I’m only going to go with you. To Prague. We don’t really know why Mark left but in the midst of the journey Mark decided. He’s going back to Jerusalem. Well Paul. Had an issue with that. Paul. Really did not care that he left in the middle the journey he didn’t go with them to the work in Acts fifteen thirty seven thirty eight says now Barnabas. Was determined to take with them John called Mark. He want to take them with them on another journey. But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pan philia. Who had not gone with them to the work. Poses no no no you know. He left us left us to go do the work he’s not going to go with us now and reap the. The joys of the ministry there. We’re not taking him an ear they had a dispute among themselves. So Barnabas took Mark and Paul took. Silas. They went to different mission. Ministries differ missionary work. So he did have an issue with that. But it would appear though that Mark. Did grow. And he did mature. Into a great follower of Christ. Have we not been reading his gospel. So we know that he was a faithful follower of Christ he grew. Paul wave even later. Grew to respect Mark. And respect. His faithfulness and his maturity in Christ. In Colossians four verse ten A says Aristocats my fellow prisoner greets you. With Mark the cousin of Barnabas. Which is John Mark. About whom you receive instructions if he comes to you welcome him. So Paul is saying you welcome him you because he is a follower of Christ. You know some people just tend to mature a little slower than others. We have to be patient with young believers with young people. We have to be patient with old people that are mature right. So now we’ll get to our reading. Mark chapter one verse as one through twenty two here the Gospel of Mark in the beginning of the gospel with Jesus Christ the Son of God. As it is written in the prophets. Behold I send my messenger before your face. Who will prepare your way before you. The voice of one crying in the wilderness prepare the way the Lord make his pads straight. John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. Than all the land in those from Jerusalem went out to him. And were all baptized by him in the Jordan River. And confessing their sins. Now John was close with Campbell had. Camel’s hair and with a leather belt around his waist. And he ate locusts and wild honey. I think that’s what we have for lunch today kids locusts and wild honey. Sounds yummy done. And he preached. Saying. There comes one after me who is. My dear Then I who sandal strap. I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. I indeed baptize you with water. But he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. In it came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John into Jordan. And here’s where the urgency kicks in and immediately. Coming up from the water. He saw the heavens parting and the spirit descend in upon him like a dove. Than A voice came from heaven. You are my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. A media at least the spear drove him into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days. Tempted by Jesus and was with the wild beasts and the angels minister to him. Now after John was put in prison. Jesus came to Galilee preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God and saying The time is fulfilled in the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the Gospel. And as he walked by the Sea of Galilee he saw Simon. And Andrew his brother casting net into the sea. For they were fisherman. Then Jesus said to them. Come follow me. Or he said to them follow me and I will make you become. Fishers of men. They immediately left their nets and followed him. When he had gone a little farther from them. He saw James the son as anybody and John his brother who also were in a boat mending their nets. And immediately. He called them. And they left their father’s dead body in a boat. With the hired servants and he. And went after him. Then they came. Then he went into Capernaum. And immediately. On a sabbath. He entered a synagogue and taught. And they were astonished at his teaching for he taught them as one having authority. Not as the scribe. It’s a man and he got out his blessing to the hearing. In a reading of His Holy Word. There’s a term which occurs quite frequently. In them. And gossip and. In the Gospel of Mark. Is a Greek word. You thoughts. Which is variously translated sometimes as translated straight away. Other or mean. Immediately. And there are a few occurrences greater in the very first chapter. Some I didn’t get to all the first chapter. Says he saw the heaven open up and as if straight away coming up out of the water. He saw the heaven open in a spirit like a dub descending upon him in verse ten. And immediately the spirit drove him into the wilderness Spurs twelve. And we go No father is Saul James the son is Eddie and John his brother. Who are also in a ship men in their nets and immediately. He called them. Versus one thousand and twenty. And they went to Capernaum immediately in the Sabbath day entered to synagogue. Verse twenty one. And immediately when a gone come out of the synagogue enter the house of Simon verse twenty nine. And he came and took her by the hand he lift her up and immediately that the real left her. Verse thirty one. And he straightway straight away charged him and immediately sent him away. Verse forty three. In all the word. Immediately or straightway is found no less than forty times in the Gospel of Mark. As I said he doesn’t even mention the birth of Christ. He jumps right into the ministry of Jesus immediately. There’s an urgency about his message isn’t there an urgency to share with Jesus had done. Has done many times. To have a better understand we have to know to whom. To whom. The writer was writing. It is believed that Mark was writing to the Roman Christians and they may not have been as concerned about the genealogy of Jesus. They may not have been concerned about the birth of Jesus. But they were concerned about who he was in what he was doing or what he has already done. They were concerned about that they would understand. The prepare the way. They would understand what he shared about. John the Baptist they would understand that. John the Baptist came to prepare the way for Jesus to make straight his path. Why would they understand at because the Romans understood that. Because whenever a king or an official was to go out to visit another land. They would send the messenger before the king. And that messenger would prepare the people. They would prepare sometimes they would even repair. Not Prepare but repair the roads and make the past straight make the path good for the official or the king. So this they would understand. That is why. Mark shared this about John the Baptist’s. Repair the people. Prepare for your savior is coming. Repent. Repent and turn. This they would understand. They would understand it. Jesus came to be a servant. To minister to the suffering people. And then to die for the sins of the world. So he makes this rapid transition. Rate into the ministry of Jesus Christ. No angel appearing to Mary. No birth in the manger. Disarray happened transition into the ministry of Jesus Christ the Gospel of Jesus. There was no tardiness about Christ service. But he was straight way. He was always about his father’s business. There was no delay. But he immediately. Perform the work that was given him to do. He come out of the wilderness and raid into the ministry where God prepared to do. There was a promise about his service there was an urgency about his mission. There was no reluctance. There was no holding back. I wonder how many times. We’ve been reluctant. Been reluctant to talk with someone you know God might have opened that door and we’re kind of reluctant about sharing what Jesus has done in our lives. Share what Jesus can do for them. Do we are reluctant to do that. Fraid of what they might think of us. They might. It might offend them. Were we so concerned about their souls that. We won’t let that reluctancy happen. But will share. Will have an urgency about sharing the gospel of Jesus. Because today’s the day is selfish and that may not be a tomorrow. We could all learn from his example from Mark Sanford to share with Jesus done. HOW WONDERFUL be if we caught the enthusiasm that Mark sings to have. Mark seems to have a great enthusiasm. A doozy as I’m about Cher and I in the not be able to talk now. Share with Jesus done. Now he’s sharing how Jesus has blessed me. Jesus healed Simmie people. He taught us about the father. He taught us about the kingdom. If we had that A to Z. else. You know it’s kind of like that kid that can’t wait to get home. To tell Mom and Dad I got a nail much today. There are excited. Little kids get excited about things. I was watching one of the playoff games. And it was the Carolina Panthers playing. One of them other teams it wasn’t a Super Bowl. Might have been a Seattle game I’m A Sure. But the players on the Panthers team I didn’t know that they all did this but as player will. Ran into scored a touchdown. And he was going back and forth in the end zone. And he spotted a little kid. And there was a little girl bought this big. Where in a pink panthers hat and he deserve or enhanced her that ball. That girl’s eyes got his biggest saucers. She’s holding that football like this is C’s Jope and up and now Tommy C. is excited. Kids get excited Don’t day. I later learned that they all they did that. Every time they scored a touchdown they’d find a little kid and give him the ball. Oh oh yeah. But we get excited. We get excited watching a football game though we jump up and down and we cheer for tame. Let’s get excited about Jesus. Let’s have that enthusiasm. Did more work seems to have for sharing what Jesus is doing in his or is done. We need to be enthused about what Jesus do in our lives. He saved me from my sins to begin with. He has blessed me beyond measure he’s blessed me with wonderful parents and. The spouse and children and grandchildren. I tributed all to him. He’s blessed us with a warm church to be in the small. Let’s be enthused about Jesus. Let’s be like that little kid that gets excited. Has some enthusiasm. Jesus entered rate into the ministry. Versus fourteen fifteen said Jesus came to Galilee preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God and saying The time is fulfilled. And the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the Gospel. What is the gospel. It is the kingdom of God is it hand it is the ministry of Jesus Christ. The gospel is the salvation of Jesus Christ the celebration which comes through Jesus Christ that is what the gospel which is that God is at hand. So I need to back up. In verse eight this kind of this just came to me yesterday morning as I was rereading this. It’s going to be my key verse because indeed it says indeed I baptize you with water. There is a comma there. But he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. To me that just spoke to me yesterday morning this is a point where we step from the Old Testament. Into the New Testament. John says I baptize you with water. It is a baptism of repentance Yes. In the Old Testament they were to come they were to bring their sacrifices they were to repent of their sins. But John says he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. We still need to repent. Because he says geez the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the Gospel. We still need to repent. We baptize you with the Holy Spirit that means the presence of God in you. That’s what the Kingdom of God is at hand means. It is here it is now. They just stepped from the Old Testament to the new Because Jesus A robbed on the scene Amen. The Kingdom of God is now it was that day and it is today. The city cited about it. Amen. But it is his reign in the lives of his people. You receive that. It is his reign in the lives of his people. That is the gospel that is the kingdom of God. Today. It is the gospel of God because it comes from God and brings us to God. Amen. Brings us to God but it is from God. Faith in the Savior brings you into His kingdom. And how will they come into His kingdom. By hearing. How are they here unless we preach unless we share. What he has done that he is here a man. How would a year. If a preacher doesn’t share the word. If a believer doesn’t share the word. They will come when they hear. Romans ten fourteen. I marked it down what I didn’t have it in my notes. Romans ten fourteen says. How then. So they call on Him in whom they have not believed. And how the house. They believe in him. Of whom they have not heard. And how so they hear without a preacher. And how so they preach unless they are sent. At is written How beautiful are the fate of those who preach the gospel to peace. Who bring glad tidings. Amen. He called his first disciples and said Follow me. And I will make you fishers of men in verse seventeen. Followed means. To accompany it means to be in the same way with you you get that. To be in the same way with to be advice. So he says follow me saying calm in be as I am. Be like me. Be imitators of me. That’s what Jesus saying or are you ready to follow or you are ready to follow Jesus. Are you ready to be like him. Are you ready to say Yes Lord. Here I am. Send me your aides say Yes Lord. Here I am. Speak through May. Are you ready say Yes Lord here I am. Work through May. As we said in Sabbath school faith without works is dead. Show me your faith without works and I’ll show you my faith. By my works. Where you are ready to say Yes Lord. I am ready. I’m excited. Let’s be excited about Jesus. When other see that. Excitement is contagious it in it is contagious. Well let’s be contagious for Jesus a man.