Foundational truths

The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

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 desert, "Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him." '

And so John came, baptising in the desert region and 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 baptised by him in the Jordan River. John wore clothing made of camel's hair, with a leather belt round his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And this was his message: 'After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptise you with water, but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.' (Mark1:1–8)

The deity of Christ

Mark begins his Gospel by telling us that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, an essential truth that the world needs to hear and understand. A common mark of cults, such as the Jehovah's Witnesses, Christadelphians, Mormons etc, is that they rob Jesus of his deity. They say that Jesus was 'a' son of God; that he was a prophet; that he was a leader of men; but they will not acknowledge that Jesus Christ was 'the' Son of God; Immanuel—God with us; God living in a human body.

If anyone speaks to you on the subject of religion and you want to know whether you are talking to a Christian or a member of a cult, ask them who Jesus Christ was. If they say he was a prophet, or a leader, or a good man—but not the Son of God, then you know you are dealing with a cult.

Jesus asked his disciples:

'Who do people say the Son of Man is?'

They replied, 'Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.'

'But what about you?' he asked. 'Who do you say I am?'

Simon Peter answered, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' (Matthew 16:13–16)

Those words send a thrill into the heart of every true believer, because the Holy Spirit confirms that truth to God's people.

The humanity of Christ

The deity of Christ is such an important doctrine in the Bible that it forms the main theme of John's Gospel. The main theme of Mark's Gospel, however, even though it begins by proclaiming Christ's deity, is that Jesus Christ is the Son of Man. Fifteen times that title is given to Jesus in Mark's Gospel—an average of almost once per chapter. Jesus was not only fully God, but he was also fully man; he was God living in a human body.

But why should the Bible emphasize that Jesus Christ was the Son of Man? The Holy Spirit wants us to realize that Jesus knows what it's like to be human, because our Lord lived in a human body on this earth for thirty-three years. And he didn't have a superhuman body either, he had a normal body made of flesh and blood, just like ours.

Jesus was born of a woman as we are born of women, and he was born with the same kind of body that we have. Once we have grasped that fact it will be a source of constant encouragement to us as we walk and talk with the Lord.

Because he has shared in our humanity, Jesus knows what it's like to be tired:

…and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. (John 4:6)

Jesus knows what it's like to be hungry:

Early in the morning, as he was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. (Matthew 21:18)

Jesus knows what it's like to be thirsty:

Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, 'I am thirsty.' (John 19:28)

Jesus knows what it's like to feel frustrated:

When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. 'Lord, have mercy on my son,' he said. 'He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.'

'O unbelieving and perverse generation,' Jesus replied, 'how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.' (Matthew 17:14–17)

Jesus felt emotional pain:

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 'Where have you laid him?' he asked.

'Come and see, Lord,' they replied.

Jesus wept. (John 11:33–35)

Jesus knows what it's like to be betrayed by a friend:

While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus asked him, 'Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?' (Luke 22:47–48)

Jesus felt physical pain:

They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. And they crucified him. (Mark 15:22–24)

In those days a mixture of wine and myrrh was taken to relieve pain, but Jesus refused to drink it when it was offered to him. And even though the Bible makes no mention of the pain our Lord suffered at his crucifixion, knowing that he had a body just like ours, we can be sure he felt the same level of pain that we would have felt under the same circumstances.

And finally, Jesus knows what it's like to be tempted:

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:14–16)

Christians can feel condemned when they are tempted, but temptation is not sin. Jesus was tempted in every way, just as we are, and yet was without sin. Temptation only leads to sin when we yield to it. And Jesus, knowing what it's like to be tempted, is always ready to help those who are being tempted.

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

The Good News

The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. (Mark 1:1)

The Bible doesn't say: 'The beginning of the biography of Jesus Christ,' or 'The beginning of the story of Jesus Christ,' but 'The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ.' The Greek word translated 'gospel' in our Bibles means 'good news'. Jesus Christ is good news!

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…. (1 Timothy 1:15)

Are there any sinners reading this study today? The Bible says:

…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8)

So, if we are all sinners (and the Bible cannot lie), then Jesus Christ, who came into the world to save sinners, is good news for you, and for me, and for the whole world!

Repentance

At the beginning of his Gospel, Mark tells us about a man (John the Baptist) who came preaching repentance. That's because the gospel—the good news of Jesus Christ—begins with repentance.

When John started to preach, what was his message?

In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.' (Matthew 3:1–2)

When Jesus began to preach, what was his message?

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 is near. Repent and believe the good news!' (Mark 1:14–15)

When Jesus sent his disciples out to preach, what was their message?

They went out and preached that people should repent. (Mark 6:12)

When Peter preached at Pentecost, what was his message?

'Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins….' (Acts 2:38)

And when Paul addressed the meeting of the Areopagus in Athens, what was his message?

'Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man's design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.' (Acts 17:29–30)

The gospel begins with repentance. There can be no salvation without repentance. And God is still, today, commanding all people everywhere to repent of their sins.

According to Strong's Greek Dictionary, the meaning of the word metanoeo translated 'repent' in the above passages is to think differently about what one has done in the past, to reconsider one's past actions and to feel remorse (a deep regret for the wrongs one has committed).

We don't have to reform our lives before we come to Christ. Jesus accepts us, just as we are, providing there is genuine sorrow in our hearts for our sin.

Charlotte Elliott, the hymn writer, put it perfectly:

Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidst me come to thee,
O Lamb of God, I come.

Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come.

We come to Christ in the depth of our sin and he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). However, having been cleansed of our sins by the blood of his Son, God now wants us to turn from our sins and walk in obedience to him.

In Matthew 3:8, John the Baptist told the Jews that they should produce fruit in keeping with repentance (Greek: metanoia). This word has a slightly different meaning to metanoeo quoted earlier. It means not only to feel regret for one's sins, but also to reform oneself, implying a reversal of one's life—a change of direction.

God wants us not only to feel sorry for our sins, but also to turn our back on them and walk in the opposite direction, doing what is just and right in his sight.

Transformation

The Bible tells us that God originally made man perfect: he was made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). But sin has so scarred us, and sin has so deformed us that we no longer resemble the people he created.

However, there is good news for every believer. 2 Corinthians 3:18 tells us that we are now being transformed into the likeness of Christ with ever-increasing glory, as God's Spirit works within us.

The Greek word translated 'transformed' in that verse is metamorphoo, from which we get the English word 'metamorphosis' meaning 'to completely change; to be transformed'. A caterpillar spins a cocoon and emerges as a butterfly. That is metamorphosis—a complete change. Something that was ordinary has now become something of great beauty. In the same way God is transforming our lives, by his Spirit, into something that is beautiful in his sight.

The perfection of Christ

John wore clothing made of camel's hair, with a leather belt round his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And this was his message: 'After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.' (Mark 1:6–7)

Herod declared that John the Baptist was a righteous and holy man (Mark 6:20), and yet John felt unworthy to untie our Lord's sandals. That speaks of the absolute purity and sinless perfection of Christ. John would soon cry out: 'Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29)!' God was going to walk towards him in a human body. What a thought!

There was no other good enough
To pay the price of sin;
He only could unlock the gate
Of heaven, and let us in.

That God should choose to die for my sins is still a source of great amazement to me.

He will baptize you

'I baptise you with water, but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.' (Mark 1:8)

John said that he baptized with water, but that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit—and he still does today!

The fact that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is different, and in addition to receiving the Holy Spirit at conversion, can be seen from Scripture. In John 20:19–23, Jesus appeared to his disciples after his resurrection, breathed on them and said, 'Receive the Holy Spirit.' At that point they were born again and the Holy Spirit came to dwell within them (John 3:5–8).

However, a short while later, Jesus again appeared to his disciples and said:

'Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.' (Acts 1:4–5)

Those words were fulfilled at Pentecost (Acts 2:1–4).

But, if the disciples received the Holy Spirit when Jesus breathed on them in John 20, why did they now need to be baptized with the Holy Spirit? Jesus gave the answer in Acts 1:8:

'But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is given to empower God's people for ministry. And the result of that empowering can be seen in the Book of Acts.

Some Christians today acknowledge the baptism of the Holy Spirit, but don't feel a personal need for it. To such people I ask: Can any Christian have too much power in their ministry?

Even though his disciples had received the Holy Spirit when they were born again, Jesus told them not to go anywhere until they had been baptized with the Holy Spirit. By what stretch of the imagination can we believe that things are different today? Can we now do God's work without his empowering? God forgive us for such arrogance!

In Matthew 28:19, Jesus commanded the Church to make disciples of all nations: the baptism of the Holy Spirit empowers the Church to fulfil that command. Every Christian needs the baptism of the Holy Spirit for personal witness (apart from anything else), and there are many other benefits to be gained from this wonderful blessing.

So, how are we baptized with the Holy Spirit? The answer is 'by faith', which is the way we receive all of God's blessings (including salvation). As we've already seen, John the Baptist said that he (meaning Jesus) will baptize us with the Holy Spirit (Mark 1:8). He is ready and willing to do that. All we need to do is to ask him—and believe.

Jesus said:

'Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.' (Mark 11:24)

Jesus wants us all to have this empowering. Are we ready to ask him today?

Michael Graham
August 2001

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