Jesus, Man of Action.

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Mark 1:9-45

9 It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 

10 And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. 

11 Then a voice came from heaven, "You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." 

12 Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. 

13 And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him. 

14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 

15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel." 

16 And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 

17 Then Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men." 

18 They immediately left their nets and followed Him. 

19 When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. 

20 And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him. 

21 Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. 

22 And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 

23 Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 

24 saying, "Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are--the Holy One of God!" 

25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!" 

26 And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. 

27 Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him." 

28 And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee. 

29 Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 

30 But Simon's wife's mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. 

31 So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them. 

32 At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed. 

33 And the whole city was gathered together at the door. 

34 Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him. 

35 Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. 

36 And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him. 

37 When they found Him, they said to Him, "Everyone is looking for You." 

38 But He said to them, "Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth." 

39 And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons. 

40 Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, "If You are willing, You can make me clean." 

41 Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed." 

42 As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. 

43 And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once, 

44 and said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them." 

45 However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction.

 

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Christ in Action.

In the Gospel of Mark, the emphasis is on the deeds of Jesus more than on the words of Jesus. “The Gospel of Mark pictures Christ in action. There is a minimum of discourse and a maximum of deed.” (Robertson)

The first thing that Jesus did when He began His ministry was to go to John and get baptised.
Why would Jesus submit himself to John’s baptism, which is described as accompanying “repentance” Matt. 3:2;

Mat 3:2  And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 
 

Linked with people “confessing their sins” (Matt. 3:6);  
Mat 3:6  And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. 

Linked to “fleeing from the coming wrath” (Matt. 3:7).
Mat 3:7  But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 
 

Anyone reading scripture would realise that Jesus did not need to be baptised for any of these things.

Matt. 1:19–25 He was born of a virgin. He did not inherit the sin of Adam.
He wasn’t born in sin. He had no need to repent.

2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 4:15 He was sinless. He was the spotless Lamb of God.

In spite of all these things, Jesus says it is fitting and appropriate that he be baptized (Matt. 3:15).
 

So, Why did Jesus need to be baptized?
 

Recognition.
He needed to be recognized publicly by His forerunner. John was the “voice crying in the wilderness” prophesied by Isaiah, calling people to repentance in preparation for their Messiah (Isaiah 40:3).
Declaration.
By baptizing Him, John was declaring to all that here was the One they had been waiting for, the Son of God, The Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. John 1:29.
He was the One.
The One he had predicted would baptize “with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Matthew 3:11).
Presentation of a holy spotless sacrifice.
John was of the priestly line of Levi and a direct descendant of Aaron. Both of John’s parents were of the Aaronic priestly line Luke 1:5. One of the duties of the priests in the Old Testament was to present the sacrifices before the Lord. John the Baptist’s baptism of Jesus could be seen as a priestly presentation of the Ultimate Sacrifice.
Identification with sinners.
Jesus’ baptism also showed that He identified with sinners. “fulfil all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15).
Acceptance.
To show the acceptance of the Father the descending of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus (Matthew 3:16-17
 

9 It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 
The word, Immediately is used 40 times in the Gospel of Mark.

10 And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. 

11 Then a voice came from heaven, "You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." 

Immediately One.

Jesus tempted of the devil.

12 Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. 

Immediately Two.
 

13 And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him. 

Jesus was identified with sinners in His baptism. Here He was also identified with sinners in their temptations. 
Jesus knows what we go through with our temptations, He knows.

Hebrews 4:15 reminds us, For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Why forty days and nights.

Well! it is no co incidence. Forty is linked to testing in scripture.

Noah’s flood, it rained forty days and nights.
The children of Israel wandered for forty years.
Moses was a shepherd keeping sheep for forty years.
Forty is a time of testing.

Jesus became our example as how we should resist the devil by quoting scripture to him.
The devil twists and misquotes scripture; we can quote the correct text back.

14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 

This was John’s decrease and Jesus increase. John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
 

15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel." 

John preached the gospel of repentance, to tell people to prepare for the Kingdom.
Jesus began to preach the gospel of the Kingdom.

16 And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 
17 Then Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men." 
18 They immediately left their nets and followed Him. 

Immediately Three.
 

How these next verses give hope to ordinary people like you and I.
He saw Simon and Andrew, just ordinary fishermen. No academic qualifications, uneducated men. Just normal working fishermen. Jesus chose these men, not for who they were but for what He could do through them.
God uses educated men and He uses uneducated men.

Acts 4:13 Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.
 

“Follow Me”. And “I will make you become”. It is not about what we are, it is about what He is.

Notice again. Immediately. Their response was immediate but Christ’s work was progressive.
This would be a progressive period of training for the ministry of the gospel.

Learning the ways of Christ, takes time. We must listen, learn, we must study, we are disciples. We sit at the feet of the Master and follow His direction.

“Fishers of men”.
This is not “Anglers”, this is net fishermen.
This is not dangling bait on a hook to attract and hook a fish. It is gathering in the harvest of fish, prepared from before the foundation of the world.

19 When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. 

20 And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him. 

Immediately Four.

Again, He calls and immediately they followed. They left their father and their boats, their hired servants and went after Jesus.

21 Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. 

22 And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 

Immediately Five.

Notice how fast moving, Mark records. Jesus as a busy man. Jesus was a man of action.

Jesus did not teach like the Scribes, who generally just quoted others. He taught with authority, He was speaking the words of God.

John 12:49 For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.

How often do we sit and listen to preachers that preach with no power. Sometimes we sit bored and falling to sleep listening to them. Then someone comes along and in the power of the Holy Spirit preaches a powerful message that captivates our hearts and speaks to our souls and moves us to action. These are men, moved by the Holy Spirit. It is the same with a teacher of the word, that understands the scripture and by the Holy Spirit can interpret the text with power.
Jesus taught with authority because He believed what He taught. When you believe what you teach, it comes through to your audience with authority.

John 3:11 Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness.

This is what happens when people submit to God.

Jesus submitted to His Father in baptism, He submitted to the Holy Spirit in going out to the wilderness. Now we see the authority of Jesus. Authority flows from submission. Real authority does not proceed from God unless we are also submitted to God.
 

23 Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 

24 saying, "Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are--the Holy One of God!" 

25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!" 

26 And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. 

The demons recognise Jesus. They know that He is the Holy One of God.
When the seven sons of Sceva in Acts 19:15 encountered demons. They answered: And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”

Jesus had power over the demonic realm.
 

27 Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him." 

28 And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee. 

Immediately Six.

No sooner had one event passed but another began.
 

29 Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 

30 But Simon's wife's mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. 

31 So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them. 

Immediately Seven.
 

There was no let up. Sick and demon possessed were brought to Him. He healed many, forbidding the demons to reveal who He was.

32 At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed. 

33 And the whole city was gathered together at the door. 

34 Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him. 
 

This was a campaign of miraculous works, of healings and casting out demons. Jesus must have been exhausted. He needed time to set Himself apart.

There are times for work and there are times of rest and refreshment.
Jesus needed to spend time with His Father alone.

There is a need for all of us to spend a quiet time. We can get wrapped up in work whether our secular work or work for the Lord that we neglect to be with the Lord. When we are busy, we sometimes forget where our power lies. We must remember it is not in our own strength but in the strength of Christ.

35 Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. 

The purpose of Jesus ministry was to preach the gospel, to bring salvation to sinners. The by product of His ministry was healing the sick and freeing people from demons.

We must never be waylaid from the main purpose of the gospel, which is the salvation of souls.
Too often, Christians get drawn into ministries that concentrate on the miraculous, the experiential, the music, even personalities, or the church itself, that they forget the main purpose of the preaching of the gospel. WE must remember OUR commission is to go INTO THE WORLD and preach the gospel, making disciples of ALL men.
 

36 And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him. 

37 When they found Him, they said to Him, "Everyone is looking for You." 

Oh, may we hear these words again in this land of ours, "Everyone is looking for You." 
Even though many do not know it, they are looking for something and someone to fill that void in their souls. We must show them Jesus. Let US go into the next town.
 

38 But He said to them, "Let us go into the next towns,  that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth." 

However, Jesus was so compassionate that He was compelled to have mercy on those that came to Him.
 

40 Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, "If You are willing, You can make me clean." 

41 Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed." 

42 As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. 

Immediately Eight.

All these things He did with compassion whilst trying to keep the real truth of His mission under wraps, because His time was not yet.

43 And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once, 

44 and said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them." 

Jesus wanted the whole law to be fulfilled. In the fullness of time.

However, the man could not contain himself and spread the news around.

Jesus had to go to a deserted place but the people still came to Him.
 

45 However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction.

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