Mark 1 - 2012.03.24

WITH WHOM WE HAVE TO DO
“The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” —Mark 1:1

Having pursued for some time now a topical approach to our weekly meditation, I am inclined to return to the former practice of taking a verse or passage chapter by chapter from a book of the Bible. Desiring to hear again the Savior’s emphases, I am going to “plow my furrow” for a while in the Gospel according to Mark, trusting that I have the Lord’s direction and endorsement.

Mark’s opening is abrupt, and quite different from the other three evangelists. He makes no reference to the virgin birth, but begins at once with a declaration of the deity of Christ, which, it seems to me, the rest of his gospel is intended to prove. If Mark’s was the only gospel, we would have no “Christmas story,” and the celebration of the Savior’s birth would never have entered our annual calendar of events. Without argument he simply declares, “Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”

That declaration is almost immediately reinforced by the introduction of John the Baptist and the account of the Savior’s baptism at his hand, prefacing His public ministry. “There came came a voice from heaven saying ‘Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” The endorsement from heaven preceded and grounded the conviction with which Mark begins his gospel. As with all truly Christian conviction, the “voice from heaven” provided the authority for the voice on earth. For the church, revelation must ever precede declaration. “If they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them [Isa. 8:20 - my italics].” We are not storytellers, but forth-tellers of that which God has spoken. Our gospel is not fiction, but facts confirmed by the word of “God Who cannot lie.”

This affirmation of that declaration with which the gospel opens is subsequently confirmed by Mark in his selection of events from the Savior’s life and ministry intended to demonstrate that this was no ordinary human being, but One altogether unique. Demons declared, “[We] know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God,” and the multitudes were impressed, crying, “What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him [v. 27].”

Not only did this Jesus command the unconquerable, but he touched the untouchable. Solicited by a leper who was convinced of His authority and power, “Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed [v.41-42].” Though commanded by the Lord to “say nothing to any man,” the cleansed leper could not keep silent, and “began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter [v. 45],” So ought it to be with anyone who has had a personal encounter with “Jesus Christ, the Son of God,” and experienced cleansing from the soul destroying leprosy of sin. “He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God…[Psalm 40:3].”

Shackled by a heavy zburden,
'Neath a load of guilt and shame,
Then the hand of Jesus touched me,
And now I am no longer the same.

Since I met this blessed Savior,
Since He cleansed and made me whole,
I will never cease to praise Him;
I’ll shout it while eternity rolls!

He touched me, Oh He touched me,
And oh, the joy that floods my soul!
Something happened and now I know
He touched me and made me whole.

Sadly, many professing Christians lack the sense of awe and wonder that should characterize the heart and voice of those who are convinced of the validity of the gospel of Jesus Christ. If we share the conviction that prompted Mark to write this gospel and thus to introduce it without preface, apology or compromise, His name should be for us as God intends for it to be, a Name that is “above every name,” and our testimony, whether in private or in public, whether in church or before the watching world, should be one of “praise to God continually.”

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. —Hebrews 13:15

"Pastor" Frasier