Jesus Christ is God, Son, & Savior. (sermon: Mark 1:1-13) | 01/04/26

Jesus Christ is God, Son, & Savior. (sermon: Mark 1:1-13) | Pax Christian Church 01/04/26 – PAX Christian Church Sermons

This is from the Sunday Gathering worship service at 9AM at PAX Christian Church on 01/04/26We are a non-denominational church in Gardnerville, NV.This week's message is "Jesus Christ is God, Son, & Savior." (sermon: Mark 1:1-13)Speaker: Brian Lucas | Co-Lead Pastor Find out more about PAX: http://paxchristian.church

NOTES:

Mark 1:1-13 NIV

The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way;” “a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ ”And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Just 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.” At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.

THIS IS THE BEGINNING:

1. The beginning of the Gospel about Jesus.
2. God is fulfilling his promises (prophecy from OT).
3. John the Baptist is this great prophet preparing for Christ.
4. Jesus’ baptism shows us the Trinity all at once.
5. He is tested in the wilderness by Satan, led there by the Spirit.

JESUS CHRIST IS GOD, SON, & SAVIOR.
ΙΧΘΥΣ = ichthus “fish” in Greek.
You know the “fish” symbol for Christians?
In ancient times, it was sometimes drawn as a wheel with eight spokes.

Meaning of Ichthus (ΙΧΘΥΣ)
Ι (Iota): Iēsous (Jesus)
Χ (Chi): Christos (Christ)
Θ (Theta): Theou (God’s)
Υ (Upsilon): Yios (Son)
Σ (Sigma): Sōtēr (Savior)

Who is Mark?
You may have heard claims that the gospels are all anonymous, or that the authors didn’t even know Jesus or any apostles.

The text of the gospel (like the verses themselves) do not claim an author.
However, every ancient manuscript titles this gospel with Mark’s name.

THE MOST REASONABLE CONCLUSION REGARDING AUTHORSHIP:
John Mark, who traveled with Paul and Barnabas in Acts, later became a close disciple of Peter. Peter testified to the events of the gospel and Mark wrote them down.

Tradition (early church leaders, aka “church fathers”) is unanimous that this gospel was written by John Mark, and that Peter was the primary source of his information.

Mark 1:1 NIV

The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God

This is the beginning (genesis) of the good news (euangelion = gospel) about Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God

Thesis statement about this gospel: this text contains the good news that Jesus (Yeshua/Yehushua = “YHWH/The LORD is salvation”)
is the Messiah (christos = “Christ” = anointed one)
and is God’s Son (meaning that he is God).

Mark 1:2-3 NIV

as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way;” “a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ ”

He actually quotes two prophets here: Malachi, then Isaiah.

This style of quotation (only referencing one of them specifically) would fit the convention of that time.

Malachi 3:1 NIV

“I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the LORD Almighty.

Isaiah 40:3 NIV

A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

This is both fulfilled in John the Baptist in the following verses,
AND true of Mark’s recounting of the Gospel, which prepares the way for Christ to return.

Mark 1:4 NIV

And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

John’s baptism is not salvific, it does not save. It was a Jewish ritual baptism to be cleansed in anticipation of Christ who was about to show up.

BUT IT BRINGS UP SOME IMPORTANT POINTS:

Baptism does not save you.
Baptism is more than just a “symbol”.

There is salvation in placing our faith in Christ as savior (from our sins).
This act of placing our faith in Him and trusting Him to forgive and cleanse us is by both confessing verbally and being baptized in water.

Acts 2:38 NIV

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 10:9 NIV

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Galatians 3:26 NIV

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith

Baptism is part of the spiritual act of receiving salvation and becoming one with Christ and one in the church.

Mark 1:5 NIV

The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

Here we have all three members of the Trinity: Father speaking, Spirit like a dove, Jesus in the water.

Mark 1:6-8 NIV

John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

2 Kings 1:8 NIV

They replied, “He had a garment of hair and had a leather belt around his waist.” The king said, “That was Elijah the Tishbite.”

Mark 1:9 NIV

At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

Mark 1:10-11 NIV

Just 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.”

Mark 1:12-13 NIV

At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.

Mark 1:14-15 NIV

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 has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

The good news is that the Kingdom of God is near… because the King (God, YHWH, Jesus, the Holy Spirit) is in you (if you believe).

Our response is to believe and repent, and to show our faith by being baptized.

because JESUS CHRIST IS GOD’S SON, & SAVIOR.

Our declaration and invitation is to be people who represent our King to the world, and bring the Kingdom of Heaven with us wherever we go.

Matthew 28:18-20 NIV

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

2 Corinthians 5:20 NIV

We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.

REFLECT: How is God speaking to you through his word today?