Moments

  Mark: 1: 10-11   -  And straightway coming up out of the water, he say the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him.  And there came a voice from heaven saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.   I had never really taken it in how Jesus CHOSE.  He didn't have to accept His calling. He didn't have go to the cross.  But He did, and God was well pleased. And Jesus was affirmed of His calling and His choice by the Father, by the voice coming down from heaven and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him. It wasn't a falcon or eagle. It was a dove, a bird of peace.  He wasn't coming to overthrow the Roman occupation of His homeland.  He was coming to overthrow the bounds of sin and separation in the lives of those who chose Him. He came as love.  This wasn't going to be what most expected, not even John the Baptist, I would imagine.   It was a big step; a step into rejection, persecution and it was His first steps to the cross

  Mark 1:9  And it came to pass in those day, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan And it begins.  Jesus left his life to begin another life to give life by giving His life.  Some commentators say that the earthly father of Jesus, Joseph, had died and Jesus, as the oldest had to take care of the family for a number of years and now that period was over for Him. So given that, Jesus could now be assuming the role for which He came.  It was time to leave the safety and security of Nazareth to take His first steps to the cross.  When He returned He would find Himself rejected.   That life was over.   It was time.  It had "come to pass."   And it was no easy walk around the block from Nazareth to where John was baptizing.  Jesus had to put feet to rocks to follow His calling, His mission.  "For God so loved---"   Can we do that?  That would be hard to turn your life around completely toward the cross. But to one way or the other a

   Mark 1:7-8     And preached, saying, there cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost. John the Baptist lived a hard life and was up to it.  He was strong. He preached with such a power that people came from all over to hear his message, repent, and be baptized. But none of this went to his head.  He certainly didn't get rich from it.  He could have thought it a good time to take up a collection and maybe buy some real clothes and go out to eat at nice place.  John could have easily gone his own way with his ministry, like some preachers seem to have done today.  But no.   He realized and humbly told everyone that one stronger, more powerful, and with a larger message than he was coming and that  he would have to step aside when He does.   John was God's man crying in the wilderness, showing an absolute disregard for trying to i

A nd there went out unto him all the land of Judea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.   And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of skin about his loins: and he did eat locust and wild honey.  Mark 1: 5-6 John drew people to him; people from all over, and led them to confession, repentance, and baptism.  Why was he so effective? Just my view but it was easy to see that John wasn't it in for the gain or the glory He was that fashion conscious and was not wasting a lot on bells and whistles.  He lived hard, simply, and humble out in the harsh elements of the wilderness.  Perhaps they felt they could trust his motives of a man like that and consequently believe his message?  It was easy to see John was sold out to the message he was called to bring and consequently his message was easy to believe.   And, the people of the time and region had hoped and looked forward to a Messiah for a long time.  The

Mark 1:2-4  "As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare the way before thee. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the ays of the Lord, make his paths straight John did baptize in the wilderness and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.  The voice of one crying in the wilderness, John the Baptist, telling it like it is and is to be. A herald in some ways to the beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: the good news for a fallen world.  John the Baptist was telling people about Jesus before Jesus arrived on the scene.  Who told you about Jesus before He arrived on the scene in your heart?  I remember a young man I got to know and like in one of my college classes.  I wasn't a Christian at the time.  One day I made an offhand derogatory remark about Jesus and Christianity, and he became quiet.   I know now it took all his courage but when he looked at mee again, he witnessed his faith i

It starts out: "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God." Chapter 1:1 The beginning but Jesus was "In the beginning" already.  I see this as the beginning of God's effort to reach down in love to redeem His children through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  To me this is heralding the age of the redeemer:  "For God so loved the world that---".   We walk through this world oftentimes unaware we are so loved by God, and we ignore or rebel against God, consumed with ourselves.   To me that is not living life to the fullest and it is eternally dangerous.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ of repentance and redemption from sin through Him, has to begin within us as well.   Where was your "beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ" in your story?  Has there been a" beginning?"  Everyone who has had that beginning has a story, some more dramatic than others but just as valid nonetheless.   After my own "beginning,"  I wrote