First, let us consider the “making” of Jesus, by which we mean those things He experienced at the beginning of His ministry that prepared Him for that ministry.
· 1:9-11: The baptism of Jesus. One of the things about Mark’s record is the use of the word “immediately.” Mark is about action. Keep that in mind, especially in the first few chapters of Mark. John records this important event but without some details found in other Gospels. What we do see is His connection with the ministry of John, the receiving of the Holy Spirit, and the pleasure of His Father. This is the work of the Godhead. And Jesus, by the Spirit, has the help He must have in his humanity, in order to fulfill the will of the Father.
· 1:12-13: The Spirit’s first movement is to “driving” Jesus into the wilderness (it’s the same word used in “casting out” demons; the Spirit did this with strength). The forty days was important in His relationship with His Father and His word, which we know He used against Satan. Again, Mark doesn’t have any details, only that this happened.
Second, let us then consider Jesus’ ministry in making disciples. Remember: a disciple is one who is perfectly trained be like his teacher (Lk. 6:10). We also are to be those who make disciples (Mt. 28:19-20).
· 1:14-15: Making disciples begins with a call to the gospel. We have talked briefly about the “gospel of the kingdom? but let me remind you this.
o There is a kingdom. It is not just spiritual although it is that. But there is a material kingdom as well.
o This gospel tells us that the King is here. That is the good news.
o Jesus invited people to His Kingdom.
o You enter His kingdom by receiving the King which involves the “new birth.” Here Jesus calls them to repent and believe. What that meant in Jn. 3 was that you must be born again.
· 1:16-20: In this passage we have the first recorded calling disciples. There are two aspects to fishing for men, and we see it in how these men fished for fish.
o First, you must cast the net. The call must be extended and Jesus had been doing this (v15: “repent and believe in the gospel.”
o Second, the net must be attended to from time to time so that it is still effective. “Mending” is a term used on several occasions in the NT. Paul spoke of “perfecting” what was lacking in the faith of the Thessalonians (1 Th. 3:10). The writer of Hebrews prayed that Christ would “perfect” you in every good work. How does Christ do this? He gave men to the Church to “perfect” the saints (Eph. 4:12). He uses sufferings to “perfect” us (1 Pt. 5:10). The goal of Christian ministry so to make people “complete,” and every believer must be a willing participant (2 Cor. 13:9-11).
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