FEBRUARY 8 READING…MARK 1
Matthew presented Jesus as Messiah, King of the Jews…Mark presents Jesus as the suffering Servant. Mark does not record the birth of Jesus, but begins at the baptism of Jesus when He is 30 years old. Mark tells us about John the baptizer, who message was repent, and was the prophetic forerunner of Jesus. Jesus affirmed John’s ministry and message by having John baptize Him. He was not baptized for any sort of salvation, for water cannot offer anyone salvation, but the practice of baptism, which pre-dates the church, was a means to identify with a particular prophet or rabbi. At the birth of the church this practice was carried over as an act of obedience by a believer to identify with Jesus. Water baptism releases no grace to the participant, nor does it have any power to give salvation. Water baptism is not to bring one to salvation, but it is an act of obedience of one who is saved. Mark records for us the fact that after His baptism Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness…then He began His ministry in the region of the Galilee. Jesus begins to call His disciples, to cast out demons, heal the sick, and bring cleansing to the lepers. Jesus showed here in the first chapter of Mark that He came not only to save humanity, but to serve humanities greatest needs. We need to remember that of all our needs that Jesus in concerned about, the greatest of these needs is our need for the forgiveness of sin and eternal life.
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TOMORROW’S READING…MARK 2
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