What is the best news you can imagine hearing?
> For most of us… that’s a question that would easily stretch our imaginations… and the ideas we
might consider would likely get more expansive the more that we thought… but still prove small
and simplistic because of our limited perspective on all that surrounds us.
This series… is about discovering or re-discovering the greatest news that could ever be
given… it’s about engaging the ultimate breakthrough… not of our limited scale of thought…
but one of cosmic proportions… that news of a spiritual breakthrough offers the ultimate
fulfillment of all our deepest needs.
The very source of such news comes in what is called “The Gospel of Mark”… which means
good news. Review:
Mark begins… the GOOD NEWS…
• Quotes from among the prophets who had declared God’s intent over hundreds of years
• A new prophet enters the picture…John the Baptist… just as the prophecies of the OT had
said… one would come crying out from the wilderness to prepare the way
• He speaks of one greater… who will baptize with the Holy Spirit… usher in a new era
(Again… announcing the fulfillment of what had been promised… Spirit of God only
experienced as anointing power upon a few… but Ezekiel 36… “will put my Spirit upon
you.”)
• Jesus enters the scene and Spirit descends upon him… and ministry begins… ministry of
God’s Spirit and power.
• Another figure quickly emerges… one noted only in the shadows of the OT… Satan. A
figure understood to have rebelled… deceived and gained dominance over human life and the
world.
What is all this about?
> The announcement at hand… the KINGDOM OF GOD breaking through.
I. The Definitive Announcement
Mark 1:14-15
After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.
15"The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good
news!"
He announced that the kingdom of God was at hand.
A kingdom represents the reign and rule of a sovereign. Jesus is announcing that the reign and
rule of God was at hand… re-taking the world from the powers of spiritual deception and darkness
that had come to rule both the human spirit (nature) and all that had been given to them to manage.
Don Williams (“Start Here”) – Notes our most common way of understanding Christ’s offer of
salvation… is in terms of accepting his forgiveness of sins… gaining assurance of eternal life…
and often we leave it at that. “But even more fundamental is the exchange of sovereignties. We
either live in Satan’s counterfeit kingdom of darkness or we live in the kingdom of God.”
> This is the central statement of all that Jesus came to proclaim. With these words he begins
his ministry and everything he said and did is a reflection of what he stated in this one
statement.
In the American Revolutionary War there was a shot at Concord that first got the war
going… that became known as “the shot that was heard around the world.”
> This was the shot that was heard throughout the universe.
“The time has come!”
Not merely chronological time (Gk. Chronos) but here he speaks of the appointed time (Gk.
Kairos)
Favorable, opportune, significant time has ‘Come’… implying a sense of fulfillment…the
prophecies and promises are coming true …Messiah is at hand
Time is now - a sense of urgency
The Message - “Time’s up!” –
The kingdom is near.
Near = at hand …God has begun the decisive, ultimate chapter of history. God has drawn close
in a dramatic fashion – in the person of Jesus. That’s as close as you can get!
“Repent, and believe the good news”
This stunning announcement requires a response.
You must RSVP!
How should we respond to this wonderful news?
Jesus says “Repent, and believe the good news”
It could be heard as implying that as God breaks forth with his reign and rule… enter this
way of life which I embody and will make possible. It’s the essence of what he offers when he
says…“Follow me”… it doesn’t mean let’s take a walk down the road… but rather follow
me into life under God’s reign and rule.
N.T. Wright
“When Jesus announced the kingdom, the stories he told functioned like dramatic plays in
search of actors. His hearers were invited to audition for parts in the kingdom.”
(The Challenge of Jesus, p. 43)
II. The Defining Call
Mark 1:16-20
As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net
into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you
fishers of men." 18At once they left their nets and followed him.
19When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a
boat, preparing their nets. 20Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the
boat with the hired men and followed him.
These guys had been around… understood that this rabbi was deemed some sort of greater
authority sent by God.
Rabbinic tradition… students begin young… only the top few stay with it while the others are
encouraged to return to their family professions / livelihoods… eventually the top of the top could
come to their Rabbi… and ask to come follow them.
Here Jesus goes to two that had obviously never reached such a point… and he uses those same
words and CALLS THEM. This is the God who believed in them !... and believes in YOU.
Fishers of men > Declares the heart of the Kingdom… and the ministry it’s bearers would
have…PEOPLE.
…The rest of the Gospel of Mark is the portrait of the consequences of the arrival of the
Kingdom. In other words, what Jesus does and what he says paints the picture of the in-
breaking Kingdom.
As N.T. Wright explains, "Jesus soon became better known for healing than for baptizing.
And it was his remarkable healings, almost certainly, that won him a hearing. He was not a
teacher who also healed; he was a prophet of the kingdom, first enacting and then explaining
that kingdom." (From Chris Macky)
III. The Demonstration of God’s Eternal Rule
The Ultimate Reign Over TRUTH and RIGHTEOSNESS
Mark 1:21-22
They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began
to teach. 22The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had
authority, not as the teachers of the law.
As was the custom in the synagogue, a visiting teacher was invited to teach that day.
His teaching "amazed" them.
A sense of alarm. Alarmed at his authority.
Rabbi generally referred back to the traditions and thoughts of others…as suggestions for
interpretation. Jesus quotes no one… but declares the heart of the Scriptures as the one who
bears that heart.
But there was someone there who got really alarmed. Notice who as I read vv. 23-28. If the
way he spoke on his own authority wasn’t enough, a demon-possessed man speaks out.
The Ultimate Reign Over SPIRITUAL CONTROL (Bondage)
Mark 1:23-28
Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, 24"What do
you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy
One of God!"
25"Be quiet!" said Jesus sternly. "Come out of him!" 26The evil spirit shook the man violently
and came out of him with a shriek.
27The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching--and
with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him." 28News about him spread
quickly over the whole region of Galilee.
A man possessed by a spirit bent on tormenting a distorting one created in the image of God.
The demon senses the threat that Jesus brings.
“Holy One of God” – attempt to disarm, not dignify him.
It recognizes and tries to control and discredit him.
Use of exact name was supposed to be a control device.
In fact, understands more clearly than the people did.
Jesus looks him in the eye and says, “Be quiet. Come out of him.”. "Be muzzled" - put a cork
in it!
“Shut up. Get out.”
He shows his absolute power over the demon.
It left with one last violent, epileptic fit.
Again, the people were amazed - astonished!
This was unlike their exorcists who connected themselves to some authority, used spells, etc, to
invoke the authorities power. Jesus just spoke directly, and the spirit obeyed.
There is no authority parallel to Jesus!
This is significant!
The silencing and expulsion of the demon affirms that God is taking control over a creation
which was subject to Satan’s invasion and rule.
The kingdom has drawn near. Jesus has come to confront Satan and strip him of his power.
With the coming of Jesus comes the power of God over the evil, over the bondage in your life.
To the many powers and spirits that seek to control our lives… Jesus says, “Shut up. Get out!”
His fame spread quickly, like rumors do.
With the arrival of the kingdom in the person of Jesus, we can expect to hear the truth. We can
expect to see evil overcome. What else can we expect? read vv. 29-34.
(David Asch)
The Ultimate Reign Over PHYSICAL CONDITIONS (Sickness and Death)
Mark 1:29-31
As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon
and Andrew. 30Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about
her. 31So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began
to wait on them.
Quite natural and beautiful… Jesus doesn’t design a public ministry… he simply ministers
God’s rule to those he engages… and the first is simply the mother-in-law of one of his
disciples… whose home they were going to.
‘Notice the disciples told Jesus of her, they began the relationship, but Jesus went boldly ahead to come
into a personal relationship with this woman. He acted. He took the initiative. He brought His grace into
the brokenness of this woman’s life.
We need to let Jesus bring His act of grace into our lives as He sees fit. We must trust as the disciples
did, trust Jesus with a faith and a conviction which will allow Him to act for us.’ (Tim Zingale)
Final summary of the picture…
Mark 1:32-34
That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed.
33The whole town gathered at the door, 34and Jesus healed many who had various
diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because
they knew who he was.
IV. Living in the Overlap of the PRESENT and FUTURE… the “Already and
Not Yet.”
What became clear was that this was not the end of the age… not simply a final judgment… but a
breakthrough of the future age into the present age.
Matthew 8:29
"What do you want with us, Son of God?" they shouted. "Have you come here to torture us
before the appointed time?"
1 Cor. 10:11
These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on
whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.
Hebrews 6:5 “…who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the
coming age”
It began to make sense as one looked at what God had been saying through the prophets of
both an anointed One who would rule… and yet be a servant sacrificed as a form of ultimate
power.
> So the picture becomes clearer that a new age had come that didn’t end what is often
referred to as ‘this present age.’
In Christ the future has broken into the present. He is the Alpha and Omega… the beginning and
end… who bridges the present and future.
The Present Age will come to an end upon His return… but until then we can enter the Divine
Rule of the future.
“Lord, Let Your Kingdom come.”
> Let healing and freedom come… justice and peace come… joy come.
The whole point is this: Not simply how to escape future judgment… but a call to JOIN THE
FUTURE NOW.
As C. S. Lewis expressed it,
Why is God landing in this enemy-occupied world in disguise and starting a sort of
secret society to undermine the devil? Why is He not landing in force, invading it? Is it that
He is not strong enough? Well, Christians think He is going to land in force; we do not know
when. But we can guess why He is delaying: He wants to give us the chance of joining His
side freely....God will invade. But I wonder whether people who ask God to interfere openly
and directly in our world quite realize what it will be like when He does. When that happens,
it is the end of the world. When the author walks on to the stage the play is over.
Philip Yancey
“When Jesus lived on earth he made the blind to see and the lame to walk; he will
return to rule over a kingdom that has no disease or disability. On earth he died and was
resurrected; at his return, death will be no more. On earth he cast out demons; at his return,
he will destroy the Evil One. The kingdom he set in motion on earth was not the end, only
the beginning of the end.”
STORY OF CAPTIVES REJOICING ON D-DAY INVASION EVEN THOUGH STILL
CAPTIVE
Murdo Ewen MacDonald, a prisoner of war in Germany and chaplain to American
soldiers, told how he learned of the Normandy invasion. Early on D-Day, he was
awakened and told that a Scotsman in the British prisoner-of-war camp wanted to see him.
MacDonald ran to the barbed wire that separated the two camps. The Scot, who was in
touch with the BBC by underground radio, spoke two words in Gaelic, meaning "They
have come." MacDonald ran back to the American camp and spread the news: "They
have come . . . They have come." And everyone knew the allied troops had landed at
Normandy. The reaction was incredible. Men jumped and shouted, hugged each other,
even rolled on the ground. They were still captives, but now they were certain of
deliverance.
> Christ declares to us… “They have come.” Though sin and suffering still prevail,
though trouble is often our lot, deliverance is certain.
The Choice
To those imprisoned by an enemy… who suffer destruction and death… there is no greater news.
The question is “Do we see the choice? In order to be liberated… we must decide we want to
leave. After all maybe the reign and rule of this world has come to work well for us… or at least
we’ve gotten hooked on some aspects… however quasi satisfying.
The kingdom of God is at hand… an exchange of sovereign rule is at hand… and we can enter.
Closing Prayer:
For those who may have made a commitment to accept Jesus… to follow him… and opportunity.
For many others… an opportunity to commit afresh to the deeper reality of this conversion…
perhaps we’ve tried to add Jesus to our lives… and we need to hear afresh the offer at hand… the
decision at hand…. to turn away from the ruler of this world… and enter life under God.
The world is going one way… and I have come to bring another… to reclaim all under God’s
goodness once again.
It’s a call to believe and turn my way… personal changes will come… just like his disciples… life
of learning… like the layers of an onion peeled away to deeper depths the transformation. But you
first must decide to follow me and enter this new way… this realm of God’s Reign.
