October 4: Matthew 3, Mark 1, Luke 3

October 4, Matthew 3, Mark 1, Luke 3

Matthew & Luke continued… introduction to Mark. Mark wrote the shortest Gospel and it seems as though everything had a sense of urgency to Mark. Notice all the verbs in this Gospel, especially all of the ‘immediately’ comments. Time was and is of the essence. It is definitely a fast paced narrative jumping from story to story defending Jesus’ worldwide call to discipling believers. In essence, convincing the world he lived in (and ours) that Jesus is something worth living and dying for. Mark is blunt and doesn't always explain himself - but the way he writes is compelling and convicting.  

Matthew 3 John the Baptist was in the desert preaching repentance to all because God’s kingdom was coming. He did this fulfilling the prophet Isaiah. He wore crazy clothes, made of camel’s hair and ate crazy foods - locusts and honey… Remember though he lived in the wilderness! He was baptizing people in the river Jordan. Historically, they say that this was near where Joshua crossed. John did not fear man but feared God and when he was the Pharisees and Sadducees coming (these were the religious leaders of their day) he called them out for their hypocrisy. 

John made sure that everyone knew that he was only  baptizing them with water but coming after him was a man that would baptize them with the Holy Spirit - a man so great that John didn't feel worthy to untie his sandals.

On the scene walked Jesus… to be baptized by John. John was thinking that Jesus should baptize him, not the other way around. “But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Jesus was setting the example for us. “And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him;  and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Think about this for a moment… God hadn't spoken in some 400 years and now you have many people seeing God speak about how pleased He was with this baptism and explained that this was His Son! This is also a sign of the Trinity - that God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are all one in essence with 3 unique roles. Pretty awesome. 

Mark 1 Mark starts out not with the virgin birth or any other stories, but with John the Baptist and Jesus’ public ministry. John the Baptist was doing what was foretold in Isaiah fulfilling Prophecy. John was proclaiming a baptism of repentance and forgiveness of sins. People were coming in droves confessing their sins and being baptized. John baptized Jesus and “And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” Very similar to Matthews account, just summarized a bit more! Then Jesus was immediately driven by the Spirit out into the wilderness for forty days and was tempted by Satan (we will learn more about this later…). The angels ministered to Him!  What it must have been like to be literally tempted by a literal satan for 40 days… 

We get a brief tidbit that John was arrested for proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus and for people to repent. More to come on that later…

Jesus then began calling his first disciples, starting with Simon (who he later named Peter) and his brother Andrew. They were fishermen and Jesus flat out told them to come and follow Him. They left their businesses and followed Jesus. Immediately they did… not delay. Next was James and John, also fishermen. They immediately left their fathers business and followed Him. 

Then Jesus and His new followers head to Capernaum and immediately entered the Synagogue on the Sabbath. All present were astonished at Jesus’ teaching because He spoke with such authority and the scribes didn't teach like that. While Jesus was teaching a man with a demon is there and Jesus rebuked the demon and it came out of the man. The man convulsed and the demon left him. The people were amazed that not only does this man teach with authority but even demons obey Him. He was becoming quite famous locally and somewhat regionally. 

After that, immediately Jesus left and went to Simon & Andrew’s house. Simon’s mother in law was sick and Jesus healed her (then she went back to work serving people!). I love how Mark just states it as a fact and moves on - boom, people to save and time is short! Jesus healed many more who were sick there and kicked out a bunch of demons. He didn't permit the demons to speak because they knew Him (obviously, Jesus had been there adversary since the fall of angels!). 

Jesus went early in the morning to go and spend time with His Father (God) alone. Not long after, the disciples were looking for Him because everybody was looking for Him. So, he went to the next towns and continued to preach and cast out demons. While there, a leper came to Jesus for healing. In those days, the lepers did not get to associate with the healthy. Jesus didn't care and because of this mans faith Jesus healed him - immediately. Jesus told the man not to go blabbing it all over town but to go the priests and show them and be cleansed as Moses commanded. The man did not do that but rather went throughout the town proclaiming what Jesus had done for him - now the peoples were coming in even more droves to this new and with a new kind of power… 

Luke 3 I will sum this up differently, as we have read most of these accounts earlier today. Not to disrespect Luke or his writings, but for the sake of brevity… 

• John the baptist was baptizing and preaching repentance, thus fulfilling Scripture. 
• John was very practical in his teaching. Share with those in need. Don’t extort people. The people were asking good questions and John was giving them practical Biblical advice. 
• John baptized Jesus.
• Herod was a bad leader. John made sure people knew that because Herod had married his brothers wife (a no-no from God). 
• Herod had John arrested - to add to his bad deeds
• The genealogy of Jesus Christ. Luke traces Jesus’ lineage all the way back to Adam and thus to God! Amazing. Jesus is in fact the Son of God. 

To sum it all up: 

• We are to be baptized. Jesus set the example for us, even though He wasn't doing it for Himself, but for an example for us. 
• Like the 1st disciples - when we meet Jesus our lives change. Period. 
• Logic and following Jesus do not always go hand in hand. Often times we over-evaluate everything and end up doing nothing.
• Hurry up and get going for whatever God is calling you to. Be obedient to Christ.