WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:15.040 The following sermon is made available by Lakeside Bible Church in Cornelius, North Carolina. 00:00:15.640 --> 00:00:19.160 For more information about our church or to find more recorded sermons, 00:00:19.660 --> 00:00:22.719 please visit us online at lakesidebible.church. 00:00:22.980 --> 00:00:25.719 We'd also love to connect with you on social media. 00:00:25.719 --> 00:00:30.679 You can find us by searching Lakeside Bible NC on Facebook and Instagram. 00:00:31.640 --> 00:00:37.879 For specific questions about the Bible or our church, please email us at info at lakesidebible.church. 00:00:39.500 --> 00:00:46.700 Well, we introduced this passage of verses last Sunday as we are specifically looking here 00:00:46.700 --> 00:00:53.280 at the transition that Mark is describing from the ministry of John the Baptist or John the 00:00:53.280 --> 00:00:56.679 baptizer to the ministry of Christ. 00:00:57.120 --> 00:01:01.280 And we've rehearsed over and over the purpose statement of the gospel of Mark. 00:01:01.400 --> 00:01:06.960 As Mark gives it to us in verse number one, he says that this is the beginning of the gospel 00:01:06.960 --> 00:01:09.319 of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 00:01:09.359 --> 00:01:15.460 In other words, everything that comes in this book as we study through is meant to support 00:01:15.459 --> 00:01:22.959 that thesis statement, the statement that Jesus is the Messiah, that he is the Son of God. 00:01:23.059 --> 00:01:28.500 And if he is the Messiah and is the Son of God, then that means he is the one that the scriptures 00:01:28.500 --> 00:01:35.739 have foretold for hundreds of years that would come and would bring God's kingdom and provide 00:01:35.739 --> 00:01:36.439 salvation. 00:01:37.179 --> 00:01:40.379 And so everything that flows in this book serves that purpose statement. 00:01:40.379 --> 00:01:45.280 But it's not until verse number nine that we're ever introduced by Mark to who Jesus is. 00:01:45.859 --> 00:01:53.019 And we see that this man named Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized of John. 00:01:53.599 --> 00:01:59.620 We're told in verse five that people from all over Judea and Jerusalem were flocking to the 00:01:59.620 --> 00:02:05.419 wilderness to hear this message that John was preaching, to participate in the baptism that 00:02:05.420 --> 00:02:08.240 he was baptizing with. 00:02:08.819 --> 00:02:13.140 And it was a unique and radical ministry as we understand it in the scriptures. 00:02:14.099 --> 00:02:20.659 He was calling for Jews to identify themselves as Gentiles, as those who are unclean and outside 00:02:20.659 --> 00:02:22.620 of God's kingdom. 00:02:22.840 --> 00:02:30.259 And so he preached a message of repentance and involved them in a baptism that represented that 00:02:30.259 --> 00:02:31.039 repentance. 00:02:31.039 --> 00:02:37.479 And so we see this time of transitioning begins to come because it was only meant for John to 00:02:37.479 --> 00:02:39.219 serve the Lord for just a little while. 00:02:40.180 --> 00:02:45.280 His time of ministry was relatively short and that was purposefully short. 00:02:46.299 --> 00:02:50.959 His calling of God was to prepare the way for Christ and then to get out of the way. 00:02:51.459 --> 00:02:52.759 And that's exactly what he did. 00:02:53.399 --> 00:02:58.959 And so as we understand this transition taking place, it was time for John to move off of the 00:02:58.960 --> 00:03:03.080 scene and it was time for Jesus to move on to the scene. 00:03:03.599 --> 00:03:09.719 And Mark uses verses nine through 15, I believe, to describe this transition. 00:03:10.080 --> 00:03:13.620 And he describes it in three distinct phases. 00:03:14.000 --> 00:03:17.760 The first one is the one that we covered last Sunday and it was the baptism of Jesus. 00:03:18.500 --> 00:03:24.379 And then immediately after this baptism, we see Jesus pulled of the spirit, driven of the 00:03:24.379 --> 00:03:28.099 spirit, compelled of the spirit to go into the wilderness. 00:03:28.560 --> 00:03:32.819 But we looked last week at what this baptism was and what it represented. 00:03:32.939 --> 00:03:36.460 And really we asked ourselves the question, why was it even necessary? 00:03:37.019 --> 00:03:39.139 We gave three explanations for that last week. 00:03:39.280 --> 00:03:40.800 The first one was confirmation. 00:03:41.680 --> 00:03:46.460 He was confirming and affirming the message and ministry of John the Baptist. 00:03:46.460 --> 00:03:52.300 He was putting his public stamp of approval on the fact that all of these Jews really did 00:03:52.300 --> 00:03:53.700 need this gospel. 00:03:54.480 --> 00:03:58.400 They really didn't need to respond to this message that John was preaching. 00:03:58.560 --> 00:04:04.740 And of course, by affirming the ministry of John, he affirmed his own identity as the Messiah. 00:04:04.879 --> 00:04:06.140 So why did Jesus get baptized? 00:04:06.500 --> 00:04:07.420 For confirmation. 00:04:08.340 --> 00:04:11.240 Secondly, we saw that it was for identification. 00:04:11.240 --> 00:04:17.579 Specifically, identifying himself with those whom he had come to save. 00:04:18.280 --> 00:04:25.240 We see in Christ's baptism a foreshadowing of what Christian baptism would eventually look 00:04:25.240 --> 00:04:26.480 back to and represent. 00:04:27.420 --> 00:04:28.480 And that is the gospel. 00:04:29.400 --> 00:04:32.900 The death and burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 00:04:33.379 --> 00:04:38.300 But most prominently in Mark's gospel, the reason was revelation. 00:04:38.300 --> 00:04:44.720 This amazing thing happens as Jesus comes into the water and as he comes up out of the water, 00:04:45.420 --> 00:04:52.220 Mark and the other gospel writers agree that the heavens opened, that the Spirit of God 00:04:52.220 --> 00:04:55.160 descended on him like a dove. 00:04:55.920 --> 00:05:01.800 And in this voice, God the Father spoke from heaven audibly in a way that people could hear. 00:05:02.600 --> 00:05:05.060 And he said, this is my beloved son. 00:05:05.060 --> 00:05:07.900 Or rather, he directed his language directly to Jesus. 00:05:07.899 --> 00:05:14.139 Jesus, you are my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased. 00:05:15.120 --> 00:05:19.060 It's a monumental moment for the people of God. 00:05:20.139 --> 00:05:26.500 A monumental moment as John and the others perhaps gathered on the side of the Jordan River 00:05:26.500 --> 00:05:33.439 that day, heard this voice, heard this great declaration, witnessed this amazing, extraordinary 00:05:33.439 --> 00:05:36.479 thing unlike anything they had witnessed or experienced before. 00:05:36.480 --> 00:05:42.000 Now when we read the Bible and we see lots of things like this happen, right? 00:05:42.060 --> 00:05:48.780 If you just start at the beginning in Genesis and you just read through, you almost grow accustomed to God's miraculous works. 00:05:49.340 --> 00:05:55.540 But then when you consider the everyday life that you live, the everyday life that these people would have lived, 00:05:55.540 --> 00:06:07.840 it's not everyday that the heavens open and God speaks audibly for everyone to hear and isolates a single individual to say that this is his son in whom he is well pleased. 00:06:07.839 --> 00:06:11.239 This is a monumental moment in the life of believers. 00:06:11.859 --> 00:06:13.599 And especially for John the Baptist. 00:06:14.259 --> 00:06:19.859 It became the basis for his witness of Jesus Christ later on as we study the Gospel of John. 00:06:19.919 --> 00:06:22.219 He said, I saw it with my own eyes. 00:06:22.299 --> 00:06:24.179 I heard it with my own ears. 00:06:24.399 --> 00:06:28.419 This is indeed the Son of God, Jesus of Nazareth. 00:06:28.559 --> 00:06:29.979 This is who he is. 00:06:29.980 --> 00:06:32.220 And so there's this amazing thing that takes place. 00:06:32.920 --> 00:06:36.340 And Mark describes it for us briefly in verses 9 through 11. 00:06:37.040 --> 00:06:40.939 Well, that was the first phase of transition as Mark describes it here in his Gospel. 00:06:41.040 --> 00:06:45.960 Let's move on to the second phase of this transition, which is the temptation of Jesus. 00:06:46.200 --> 00:06:48.980 The temptation of Jesus in verses 12 through 13. 00:06:49.200 --> 00:06:50.300 Let's read them together again. 00:06:50.720 --> 00:06:51.939 Look with me at verse 12. 00:06:51.939 --> 00:07:19.439 Now the extraordinary revelation in verses 9 through 11 at Jesus' baptism 00:07:19.439 --> 00:07:28.360 is immediately followed by an intense battle of the will in verses 12 and 13. 00:07:29.360 --> 00:07:36.180 Now each time the Bible speaks of this occasion, it's recorded in more detail in Matthew chapter 4 and in Luke chapter 4. 00:07:36.800 --> 00:07:42.319 Every time it's mentioned in the Scripture, it emphasizes the fact that it was the Holy Spirit, 00:07:42.319 --> 00:07:48.759 the third person of the triune God, that immediately led Jesus to the wilderness. 00:07:48.759 --> 00:07:50.480 For this time of testing. 00:07:51.120 --> 00:08:01.899 And in doing so, it gives us a glimpse into the unique union and fellowship and communion and oneness 00:08:01.899 --> 00:08:06.099 that the three persons of the Trinity have together. 00:08:06.219 --> 00:08:09.139 God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. 00:08:09.980 --> 00:08:11.959 Now our kids are learning about this right now. 00:08:11.959 --> 00:08:18.779 Last week in our Lakeside Kids program last Sunday night, we talked about the Trinity. 00:08:19.060 --> 00:08:20.439 You kids remember that, right? 00:08:21.199 --> 00:08:23.979 Let's work through our questions real quick to see if you remember, right? 00:08:24.299 --> 00:08:26.680 The question number one, what is our hope in life and death? 00:08:26.740 --> 00:08:27.599 And the answer is? 00:08:27.959 --> 00:08:32.740 That we are not our own, but we belong to God. 00:08:32.740 --> 00:08:34.860 That we are not our own, but we belong to God. 00:08:34.860 --> 00:08:38.460 And the second question that flows from that one is, what then is God? 00:08:38.759 --> 00:08:39.379 What's God? 00:08:43.379 --> 00:08:45.340 He's the creator of everyone and everything. 00:08:46.139 --> 00:08:47.539 And then there was the third question. 00:08:47.980 --> 00:08:49.940 How many persons are there in God? 00:08:50.039 --> 00:08:50.980 And the answer is? 00:08:50.980 --> 00:08:55.000 There are three persons in one God. 00:08:55.240 --> 00:08:58.860 The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 00:08:58.860 --> 00:09:00.879 The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 00:09:01.720 --> 00:09:04.800 One God, three persons. 00:09:05.600 --> 00:09:10.600 We see them together in the baptism of Jesus in one place, 00:09:10.700 --> 00:09:15.139 described in that way for the first time as we studied it last Sunday. 00:09:15.139 --> 00:09:21.659 In one place, we see the visibility of the Son of God in the water being baptized. 00:09:21.860 --> 00:09:27.580 We see the visibility of the Holy Spirit descending upon Jesus there. 00:09:28.559 --> 00:09:31.840 They didn't even know how to describe him, so they said it was like a dove. 00:09:31.939 --> 00:09:34.299 We didn't know how else to describe the Holy Spirit's descension, 00:09:34.399 --> 00:09:37.159 but it was kind of like a dove descending upon him. 00:09:37.500 --> 00:09:39.679 And then they hear the audible voice all at one time. 00:09:39.799 --> 00:09:41.899 And then immediately in connection with that, 00:09:41.899 --> 00:09:47.379 we see this incredible communion and oneness and unity that these three persons have together 00:09:47.379 --> 00:09:52.959 as it is the Holy Spirit that then immediately drives Jesus, the Son of God, 00:09:53.100 --> 00:09:57.519 into the wilderness in order that he might fulfill the righteousness of 00:09:57.519 --> 00:09:59.799 and follow the will of the Father. 00:10:00.579 --> 00:10:03.659 No person of the Trinity acts independently of the others. 00:10:04.539 --> 00:10:09.460 They are one God and therefore act in complete unity. 00:10:09.460 --> 00:10:13.120 And indeed, this is a great mystery to us. 00:10:13.740 --> 00:10:19.780 It's not very easy to understand and comprehend all that that means and all of who God is. 00:10:19.860 --> 00:10:27.540 But this is exactly how the scriptures describe Jesus, God the Father, and God the Holy Spirit. 00:10:28.440 --> 00:10:33.960 Now, the emphasis of the Holy Spirit driving Jesus into the wilderness, temptation, 00:10:33.960 --> 00:10:42.220 shows that this event was absolutely necessary to fulfill the will of God the Father. 00:10:42.940 --> 00:10:44.920 In fact, James Edwards is helpful here. 00:10:44.920 --> 00:10:45.320 He said, 00:10:45.440 --> 00:10:50.660 The temptation of Jesus is not presented as an unfortunate circumstance 00:10:50.660 --> 00:10:56.940 or as a hardship resulting from a lapse or failure on Jesus' part. 00:10:56.940 --> 00:11:05.500 What happens to Jesus in the wilderness is as divinely orchestrated as what happened to him at the Jordan. 00:11:06.540 --> 00:11:09.980 In other words, this didn't happen by chance. 00:11:11.360 --> 00:11:17.000 Jesus didn't get baptized and then just decide he was going to go on a wilderness exploration. 00:11:17.000 --> 00:11:24.220 And while he was on this exploration, he got caught up in some hardship and he didn't have any food with him. 00:11:24.259 --> 00:11:26.240 And then he faced this incredible temptation. 00:11:26.379 --> 00:11:27.759 This didn't happen by chance. 00:11:27.840 --> 00:11:32.000 The emphasis of the Holy Spirit's role shows that this was necessary. 00:11:32.340 --> 00:11:38.419 This was necessary for Jesus to go through in order to fulfill the will of God the Father. 00:11:38.419 --> 00:11:48.179 So like the baptism of Jesus, we must consider why this severe temptation and suffering of Jesus was a necessary part of God's plan. 00:11:48.599 --> 00:11:51.319 So let's look first at the necessity of the temptation. 00:11:51.839 --> 00:11:56.019 Why was it necessary for Jesus to be tempted? 00:11:56.979 --> 00:12:04.679 Matthew, Mark, and Luke all connect the temptation directly to Jesus' baptism. 00:12:04.679 --> 00:12:11.579 Those are the three of the four Gospels that actually reference every aspect of these two stories together. 00:12:11.699 --> 00:12:15.679 But every time Matthew, Mark, and Luke reference the temptation of Jesus, 00:12:16.019 --> 00:12:20.159 it is always directly connected to his baptism. 00:12:20.319 --> 00:12:21.879 And that's for a reason. 00:12:22.219 --> 00:12:25.179 Now, Mark has a habit of using this word immediately. 00:12:25.639 --> 00:12:29.539 He uses it at least 10 times in chapter 1 alone. 00:12:29.539 --> 00:12:34.399 And most often, he uses it to keep the narrative of the story moving along. 00:12:34.399 --> 00:12:38.139 He's very concise in his writing, and he keeps the story moving. 00:12:38.399 --> 00:12:43.179 If you're using a King James this morning, you'll see it mostly translated as straightway. 00:12:43.299 --> 00:12:47.100 But it's the same word immediately, keeping the story moving along. 00:12:47.819 --> 00:12:51.139 But when we get to the temptation of Jesus in verse 12, 00:12:52.039 --> 00:12:55.220 it's not that Mark is just trying to move the narrative along. 00:12:55.459 --> 00:13:00.379 In this case, it does have a significance to the timing of events. 00:13:00.379 --> 00:13:10.159 The Gospel writers didn't want us to understand the temptation of Jesus apart from the baptism of Jesus. 00:13:11.039 --> 00:13:13.860 They're companions in this body of evidence. 00:13:14.120 --> 00:13:15.700 Now, remember, that's what Mark is doing. 00:13:16.299 --> 00:13:21.419 He's writing this body of evidence to support his thesis statement in verse 1, 00:13:21.740 --> 00:13:24.919 that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ, the Son of God. 00:13:24.919 --> 00:13:29.039 And example number one is the voice in the wilderness, John the Baptist. 00:13:29.319 --> 00:13:33.699 And then flowing from that case of work is the baptism and the temptation. 00:13:33.919 --> 00:13:36.879 They are companions in Mark's evidence here. 00:13:37.679 --> 00:13:45.819 So the declaration of Jesus in his baptism as the Son of God that is well-pleasing 00:13:45.819 --> 00:13:48.699 was immediately put to the test. 00:13:49.639 --> 00:13:51.500 And we might expect that that would be the case. 00:13:51.500 --> 00:14:00.700 If Jesus really was the Messiah, if he really was the Son of God, he's going to have to prove it. 00:14:01.179 --> 00:14:02.240 He's going to have to prove it. 00:14:02.860 --> 00:14:09.179 Not because we demanded that proof of evidence, but because God the Father in his sovereign will 00:14:09.179 --> 00:14:12.000 desired to give us that proof. 00:14:12.639 --> 00:14:14.960 And we see that connected to the baptism. 00:14:15.320 --> 00:14:17.659 As this voice thunders from heaven and says, 00:14:17.659 --> 00:14:22.519 You are my beloved Son, and then immediately that is put to the test, and it is proven. 00:14:23.679 --> 00:14:29.759 For the Messiah to free us from sin and death, he must prove that he has power over both. 00:14:31.019 --> 00:14:34.740 Jesus' power over death is proven by his resurrection. 00:14:35.759 --> 00:14:44.639 But Jesus' demonstration of power over sin and Satan is first seen in this season of wilderness temptation. 00:14:44.639 --> 00:14:53.759 And it's not only that Jesus proved this power, but it's a monumental moment in the gospel story. 00:14:54.980 --> 00:14:56.960 In fact, MacArthur helps us again here. 00:14:57.059 --> 00:15:06.819 He says he could not claim absolute power over sin itself if he did not demonstrate personal power in defeating Satan. 00:15:06.820 --> 00:15:17.460 His call to deliver sinners would have been meaningless if Jesus himself had not been able to quench the fiery darts of the evil one. 00:15:18.220 --> 00:15:27.879 The temptation of Jesus was necessary because it gives immediate support to what the voice from heaven stated during his baptism. 00:15:27.879 --> 00:15:38.879 If this was truly the Son of God, he would have to perfectly fulfill the will of the Father, something no other human being has ever done. 00:15:39.720 --> 00:15:43.600 No other person has ever done what Jesus did in this passage. 00:15:43.939 --> 00:15:46.679 Why was it necessary for him to go through this temptation? 00:15:46.679 --> 00:16:00.459 So that he could prove that he is indeed the Son of God that has the power over sin, that has the power over Satan, that will one day prove that he has the power over death itself. 00:16:01.739 --> 00:16:06.120 So this season of temptation provides us with confidence. 00:16:07.019 --> 00:16:12.899 Confidence that Jesus would continue in obedience to the will of the Father. 00:16:12.899 --> 00:16:22.679 In every temptation that he would face, he would follow suit with what he experienced in this passage. 00:16:23.480 --> 00:16:30.720 And then we see that being so meaningful for us as we see once again in the Garden of Gethsemane, 00:16:31.840 --> 00:16:35.959 Jesus praying to the Father, no doubt being tempted once again. 00:16:37.340 --> 00:16:42.500 And Jesus praying, not my will, but thy will be done. 00:16:42.899 --> 00:16:46.480 And praise God that that was the prayer that he prayed. 00:16:47.539 --> 00:16:53.019 That pattern of submitting to the will of the Father is set here. 00:16:53.539 --> 00:16:56.079 So we see the necessity of Jesus' temptation. 00:16:56.559 --> 00:16:59.919 Secondly, let's look at more practically the nature of his temptation. 00:17:00.379 --> 00:17:01.620 The nature of his temptation. 00:17:01.759 --> 00:17:02.639 Look at verse 13. 00:17:02.639 --> 00:17:15.960 Now I want you to flip over with me just a few pages to the left. 00:17:16.019 --> 00:17:17.579 If you'll go to Matthew chapter 4. 00:17:18.859 --> 00:17:20.039 You really could take your pick. 00:17:20.119 --> 00:17:23.460 You could go to Luke chapter 4 too, but I'm going to read from Matthew chapter 4. 00:17:23.460 --> 00:17:30.640 And we're not going to explore in great depth Matthew's account of this, 00:17:30.740 --> 00:17:35.400 but I at least want you to hear read the fullness of what takes place in this moment. 00:17:36.360 --> 00:17:38.920 Matthew chapter 4, beginning at verse 1. 00:17:38.920 --> 00:17:44.560 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 00:17:45.180 --> 00:17:49.860 And when he had fasted 40 days and 40 nights, he was afterward hungry. 00:17:50.519 --> 00:17:52.920 And when the tempter came to him, he said, 00:17:53.680 --> 00:17:57.900 If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 00:17:58.900 --> 00:18:00.220 But Jesus answered and said, 00:18:00.220 --> 00:18:30.200 It is written, 00:18:30.220 --> 00:18:31.100 It is written again, 00:18:31.700 --> 00:18:33.740 Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 00:18:34.480 --> 00:18:37.779 And again the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, 00:18:38.160 --> 00:18:42.019 and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them. 00:18:42.600 --> 00:18:43.640 And said unto him, 00:18:44.200 --> 00:18:48.579 All these things will I give you, if you will fall down and worship me. 00:18:49.360 --> 00:18:51.160 Then Jesus said unto him, 00:18:51.819 --> 00:18:52.839 Get thee hence, Satan. 00:18:53.600 --> 00:18:54.380 For it is written, 00:18:54.559 --> 00:18:56.500 Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, 00:18:56.839 --> 00:18:59.420 and him only shalt thou serve. 00:18:59.420 --> 00:19:00.900 Then the devil left him, 00:19:01.340 --> 00:19:04.080 and behold, angels came and ministered unto him. 00:19:04.200 --> 00:19:05.860 Now I want you to flip back to Mark chapter 1. 00:19:05.859 --> 00:19:14.939 That gives us a little bit more of a fullness of what Jesus goes through in this moment that Mark doesn't fill in for us. 00:19:15.299 --> 00:19:18.819 And I'll leave it to you to study that in probably greater depth on your own. 00:19:18.819 --> 00:19:28.839 But what I want for you to consider at this point is the conditions in which Jesus proved this power over sin and Satan from Mark chapter 1. 00:19:29.579 --> 00:19:30.939 Three conditions. 00:19:31.359 --> 00:19:33.179 First, desolation. 00:19:33.879 --> 00:19:34.559 Desolation. 00:19:34.559 --> 00:19:35.980 Look at verse 13 again. 00:19:35.980 --> 00:19:40.440 He was in the wilderness is the description given. 00:19:41.579 --> 00:19:45.159 There's nothing comfortable about where Jesus was. 00:19:45.919 --> 00:19:52.159 There's nothing luxurious about where Jesus faced this temptation. 00:19:52.160 --> 00:19:58.880 He wasn't able to retreat to any kind of luxury in order to find solace or recovery. 00:19:59.019 --> 00:20:02.800 As he goes through this time of temptation, there's no breaks given to him. 00:20:03.040 --> 00:20:04.960 He's in desolate places. 00:20:05.080 --> 00:20:06.180 He's in the wilderness. 00:20:06.860 --> 00:20:08.680 It literally is a desolate place. 00:20:09.560 --> 00:20:10.800 It's treacherous. 00:20:11.600 --> 00:20:14.700 It's hard to be mobile in that area. 00:20:14.840 --> 00:20:15.540 It's hot. 00:20:16.019 --> 00:20:17.279 There's no food. 00:20:18.039 --> 00:20:19.559 There's barely any water. 00:20:20.059 --> 00:20:21.599 It's a terrible place to be. 00:20:22.019 --> 00:20:23.639 Completely desolate. 00:20:23.980 --> 00:20:28.980 And it is in this place that Jesus is driven to face this temptation. 00:20:29.960 --> 00:20:36.339 Now, the wilderness has a particular significance to the seasons of trial and temptation in the Old Testament. 00:20:37.339 --> 00:20:44.819 And as Jesus goes to this wilderness to be tempted, he identifies with his people from hundreds of years before 00:20:44.819 --> 00:20:49.000 as they too had been tested and tried in the wilderness. 00:20:49.319 --> 00:20:52.579 And yet they had miserably failed. 00:20:53.559 --> 00:20:58.439 He goes to the wilderness to be tested and to be tried, except he does not fail. 00:20:59.439 --> 00:21:04.299 He identifies with them in their temptation, but he conquers that temptation. 00:21:05.019 --> 00:21:05.740 So desolation. 00:21:06.179 --> 00:21:08.919 Secondly, we see starvation. 00:21:09.679 --> 00:21:10.200 Starvation. 00:21:10.299 --> 00:21:11.859 Now, Mark doesn't tell this part to us. 00:21:11.859 --> 00:21:14.259 That's why we read Matthew chapter 4. 00:21:15.019 --> 00:21:21.259 Matthew and Luke both say that in the 40 days that Jesus spent in the wilderness, he did so fasting. 00:21:21.859 --> 00:21:24.779 He didn't eat for 40 days while he was there. 00:21:25.279 --> 00:21:27.559 There's only two other people in the Bible that did this. 00:21:28.079 --> 00:21:30.379 One was Moses and the other was Elijah. 00:21:30.579 --> 00:21:31.839 One representing the law. 00:21:32.339 --> 00:21:33.539 One representing the prophets. 00:21:34.019 --> 00:21:39.319 And now we have the third representing the Messiah, who is indeed the Messiah. 00:21:39.319 --> 00:21:42.379 And he fasted for 40 days. 00:21:42.980 --> 00:21:53.019 Physically speaking, not only is he in a desolate place in the wilderness, but physically speaking, he is at his weakest moment in life. 00:21:53.879 --> 00:21:56.419 He's literally at the point of death. 00:21:57.419 --> 00:22:03.500 He can go no longer without food as a human without dying. 00:22:03.500 --> 00:22:10.660 And it's in this vulnerable state that Satan comes and brings his temptation. 00:22:11.059 --> 00:22:12.680 And it sounds familiar to us, doesn't it? 00:22:13.519 --> 00:22:22.339 But in this way, Jesus identified with those who have been tested and tried in the midst of physical weakness. 00:22:22.339 --> 00:22:26.379 And in the midst of physical illness. 00:22:27.119 --> 00:22:32.699 And in the depravity of worldly possessions and comforts and luxuries. 00:22:33.539 --> 00:22:39.699 So Jesus identifies with his people as he conquers a sin in a desolate place that they could not conquer. 00:22:39.779 --> 00:22:47.459 And then he identifies with his people once again as he conquers sin and temptation in weakness and in illness and in frailty. 00:22:47.460 --> 00:22:51.660 A temptation that we do not have the power to conquer in and of ourselves. 00:22:52.579 --> 00:23:04.980 How many times have we been in a place of physical weakness and the temptation be that much stronger as we face the deprivation of things that we not only want but things that we need. 00:23:05.640 --> 00:23:08.819 And we're tempted to doubt and we're tempted to sin against the Lord. 00:23:09.140 --> 00:23:13.680 Jesus identifies with us in this except he conquers that sin for us in this. 00:23:14.039 --> 00:23:15.759 And then there's isolation. 00:23:15.759 --> 00:23:17.839 Look with me again at verse 13. 00:23:18.200 --> 00:23:20.579 He was in the wilderness for 40 days, tempted of Satan. 00:23:21.119 --> 00:23:22.640 And he was with the wild beast. 00:23:22.940 --> 00:23:31.759 Now, Mark gives just kind of this side note, I think, to just remind us that not only was Jesus in a desolate place, but he was utterly alone. 00:23:33.359 --> 00:23:38.379 There was no one there to comfort him except the wild beast that posed a great danger to him. 00:23:38.380 --> 00:23:46.240 How many times have we been in moments of temptation, moments of weakness and frustration? 00:23:47.880 --> 00:24:01.820 But yet, in God's providence, we have had a spouse or friend or parent, someone we could run to for emotional support and emotional comfort. 00:24:01.819 --> 00:24:03.139 Jesus had none of that. 00:24:03.779 --> 00:24:04.839 He was utterly alone. 00:24:04.839 --> 00:24:07.899 Now, how many of us have also felt utterly alone? 00:24:07.900 --> 00:24:17.540 And in the midst of that loneliness, experience temptation and be unable to resist it. 00:24:18.080 --> 00:24:19.920 Well, Jesus identifies with us here. 00:24:20.759 --> 00:24:27.140 Not only is he in a desolate place, not only is he starving to death, but he's utterly alone. 00:24:27.140 --> 00:24:36.480 At his weakest moment, facing the severest of temptations, yet without sin, he does everything we needed him to do. 00:24:37.740 --> 00:24:43.220 Matthew and Luke tell us about these three specific temptations that Satan brought to Jesus. 00:24:44.580 --> 00:24:51.660 And while he could have assaulted Jesus with these temptations all throughout the 40 days, and there's some indications that that might have been the case, 00:24:51.660 --> 00:25:01.380 it does seem like the severest of these temptations, at least, came at the conclusion of the 40 days, when Jesus was at his most vulnerable place, 00:25:01.800 --> 00:25:10.820 which is exactly where Satan does his most severe temptation for us, when we're our most vulnerable, in desolation and starvation and isolation. 00:25:11.480 --> 00:25:13.340 Now, remember the three temptations. 00:25:13.420 --> 00:25:17.019 I'm going to leave it to you to study them, but it's hard for me not to at least talk about them a little bit. 00:25:18.220 --> 00:25:21.040 Three temptations are recorded for us in Matthew and Luke. 00:25:21.660 --> 00:25:23.820 All of them have the same purpose. 00:25:23.980 --> 00:25:28.820 There is one singular goal that Satan has as he is tempting Jesus. 00:25:28.960 --> 00:25:35.420 Now, his name itself means adversary, which means he is adversarial against everything that is God's will. 00:25:36.500 --> 00:25:43.940 His goal in these temptations is not necessarily to expose that Jesus is not the Son of God. 00:25:44.660 --> 00:25:50.019 He probably would have been happy for a fraud to exist claiming to be the Son of God. 00:25:50.019 --> 00:25:55.319 He would have had much use for a man like that, and he will have much use for a man like that in the end times. 00:25:55.960 --> 00:26:02.900 But as Satan comes to this temptation, he has a singular purpose, to get Jesus to go against the will of the Father. 00:26:03.579 --> 00:26:05.599 And in all three temptations, that's his goal. 00:26:05.599 --> 00:26:08.099 The first temptation, Jesus is hungry. 00:26:08.099 --> 00:26:14.939 And Satan comes and says, if you are the Son of God, take these rocks and turn them into bread and eat. 00:26:15.240 --> 00:26:16.259 Satisfy yourself. 00:26:16.740 --> 00:26:24.579 The problem was, it was the will of God the Father, driven by the Holy Spirit, that Jesus would fast for 40 days in the wilderness. 00:26:24.579 --> 00:26:31.099 For him to have turned those stones into bread and to have eaten would have just been something that would have gone against the will of his Father. 00:26:31.480 --> 00:26:33.039 The Father had not told him to do that. 00:26:33.099 --> 00:26:36.299 In fact, the Father had instructed him to do opposite of that. 00:26:36.799 --> 00:26:39.819 So he's trying to get him to go against the will of the Father. 00:26:40.000 --> 00:26:41.399 And how does Jesus respond? 00:26:41.960 --> 00:26:44.679 Men shall not live by bread alone, but by what? 00:26:45.079 --> 00:26:47.480 Every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. 00:26:47.480 --> 00:26:55.960 In other words, my goal and your goal is to fulfill the will of the Father, not the will of our flesh. 00:26:56.599 --> 00:26:59.640 So no, he responds with Scripture, Deuteronomy chapter 6. 00:26:59.900 --> 00:27:01.380 And then the second temptation comes. 00:27:01.920 --> 00:27:07.079 And it says that Satan takes him to the pinnacle of a temple, the highest peak on the temple in Jerusalem. 00:27:07.559 --> 00:27:10.539 There's a great abyss down at the bottom, a rocky crag. 00:27:10.539 --> 00:27:20.200 And he says, if you are the Son of God, jump off the pinnacle because you have all the angels that will come and will rescue you. 00:27:20.299 --> 00:27:23.639 He actually quotes a psalm that says that that would be the case. 00:27:23.799 --> 00:27:25.639 Except he misquotes the psalm. 00:27:26.339 --> 00:27:31.980 Right in the middle of his quotation, he leaves out the part that the angels will help him fulfill all righteousness. 00:27:32.379 --> 00:27:38.500 And he just says, if you jump, the angels will save you, irregardless of whether it's the right thing to do or not. 00:27:38.500 --> 00:27:40.579 But Jesus says the same thing. 00:27:41.480 --> 00:27:42.859 Don't tempt the Lord your God. 00:27:43.700 --> 00:27:45.759 It wasn't the will of the Father for him to do that. 00:27:45.839 --> 00:27:51.980 That wasn't going to be the demonstration that the Father had set aside for the Son to demonstrate that he was the Son of God. 00:27:52.039 --> 00:27:53.220 That was going to come on the cross. 00:27:53.880 --> 00:27:58.119 Not jumping off the temple in this great spectacle of angelic salvation. 00:27:59.220 --> 00:28:00.559 Then there was the third temptation. 00:28:01.440 --> 00:28:03.019 Satan takes him on the mountaintop. 00:28:03.519 --> 00:28:05.640 Shows him the kingdoms of the world. 00:28:05.640 --> 00:28:08.920 All of this that you want. 00:28:09.000 --> 00:28:11.060 This worship from the nations, Jesus. 00:28:12.440 --> 00:28:13.759 You can have it all. 00:28:14.800 --> 00:28:16.140 I'll give it to you. 00:28:17.000 --> 00:28:19.759 And you don't have to go to the cross to do it. 00:28:20.220 --> 00:28:21.640 That's the point of that temptation. 00:28:22.300 --> 00:28:24.000 You can have everything that you're looking for. 00:28:24.060 --> 00:28:24.880 All of the worship. 00:28:25.200 --> 00:28:26.120 All of the praise. 00:28:26.280 --> 00:28:27.780 But you don't have to go to the cross. 00:28:27.880 --> 00:28:28.580 I'll just give it to you. 00:28:28.640 --> 00:28:29.840 All you have to do is worship me. 00:28:29.839 --> 00:28:32.039 And he commands him to leave. 00:28:32.939 --> 00:28:34.500 Worship only the Lord thy God. 00:28:34.839 --> 00:28:36.000 Only him shall you serve. 00:28:36.199 --> 00:28:40.919 Third time he quotes scripture from Deuteronomy chapter 6 or Deuteronomy chapter 8. 00:28:41.539 --> 00:28:42.839 What was the purpose of all that? 00:28:43.319 --> 00:28:46.019 He's trying to get him to circumvent the will of the Father. 00:28:46.500 --> 00:28:52.480 Specifically circumvent the will of the Father for him to go to the cross to pay for the sins of mankind. 00:28:52.480 --> 00:28:59.420 And in each of those situations, Jesus conquered the temptation by submitting to the will of the Father. 00:28:59.539 --> 00:29:01.740 Which is your purpose and my purpose. 00:29:02.019 --> 00:29:06.039 And every time we fall into sin, it is because of the same temptation. 00:29:06.339 --> 00:29:09.220 Trying to get us to go against the will of the Father. 00:29:09.519 --> 00:29:12.579 Trying to get us to go against the word of God. 00:29:12.700 --> 00:29:16.720 And where we have fallen, Jesus did not fall. 00:29:16.720 --> 00:29:24.799 Unlike Adam, Jesus endured the temptation and never sinned. 00:29:27.059 --> 00:29:29.960 Now think about the differences between those two temptations. 00:29:31.339 --> 00:29:35.779 Remember Adam's temptation was in a utopian place. 00:29:38.120 --> 00:29:40.059 He wasn't in a desolate place. 00:29:41.200 --> 00:29:44.360 He was in the most beautiful garden to have ever existed on earth. 00:29:44.359 --> 00:29:46.859 He wasn't starving. 00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:49.859 He had all the food that he needed. 00:29:50.699 --> 00:29:52.279 At his beckoning call. 00:29:53.359 --> 00:29:54.639 He wasn't alone. 00:29:55.740 --> 00:29:59.099 He had companionship given to him by the Father. 00:29:59.319 --> 00:30:00.979 Perfect companionship. 00:30:01.319 --> 00:30:03.619 Perfect union with another human being. 00:30:03.899 --> 00:30:05.319 He was in a perfect place. 00:30:05.439 --> 00:30:07.479 Under perfect circumstances. 00:30:07.740 --> 00:30:09.079 And yet, he fell. 00:30:09.299 --> 00:30:11.199 But here comes the second Adam. 00:30:11.579 --> 00:30:13.479 Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 00:30:13.480 --> 00:30:15.440 And he's in the worst of places. 00:30:15.819 --> 00:30:17.120 He's in desolation. 00:30:17.299 --> 00:30:18.720 And he's in starvation. 00:30:18.960 --> 00:30:20.960 And he has no companionship. 00:30:21.079 --> 00:30:24.259 And even the companions that he has, they all leave him. 00:30:24.700 --> 00:30:25.180 Eventually. 00:30:26.400 --> 00:30:27.380 And what does he do? 00:30:27.759 --> 00:30:31.539 He endures the temptation that we cannot endure. 00:30:31.900 --> 00:30:36.000 Listen, there is only one person that could ever do this. 00:30:36.660 --> 00:30:38.559 Only one person could do this. 00:30:38.559 --> 00:30:41.779 And that's the point of why Mark is including it here. 00:30:42.159 --> 00:30:45.879 Yes, there's this extraordinary thing where the heavens open and a voice says, 00:30:45.980 --> 00:30:47.059 You are my beloved Son. 00:30:47.240 --> 00:30:52.259 But that is proven here as Jesus conquers the thing that none of us can conquer. 00:30:52.980 --> 00:30:54.559 And he did it for us. 00:30:55.039 --> 00:30:58.519 It's a proof that he does have power over sin. 00:30:58.779 --> 00:31:01.779 He does have power over Satan. 00:31:01.899 --> 00:31:03.480 A power that we do not have. 00:31:03.480 --> 00:31:05.579 What does this mean for us? 00:31:06.400 --> 00:31:08.299 Hebrews chapter 4 tells us. 00:31:09.120 --> 00:31:10.319 Remember verse 15. 00:31:10.440 --> 00:31:10.960 You know it. 00:31:11.620 --> 00:31:16.339 We do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, 00:31:16.339 --> 00:31:21.759 but one who has been tempted in all things as we are. 00:31:22.439 --> 00:31:25.299 Yet without sin, the writer says. 00:31:25.399 --> 00:31:27.459 And then he makes the application in verse 16. 00:31:27.720 --> 00:31:28.299 And he says, 00:31:28.299 --> 00:31:35.819 Therefore, because of this, let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace. 00:31:36.179 --> 00:31:39.259 Let us come boldly before the throne of grace, 00:31:39.359 --> 00:31:45.639 so that we may receive mercy and find grace and help in time of need. 00:31:46.440 --> 00:31:50.259 Why should the temptation of Jesus matter to you and matter to me? 00:31:50.420 --> 00:31:56.300 Because it is his power over this temptation that gives us confidence as we approach the throne of grace 00:31:56.300 --> 00:31:58.259 and approach the throne of mercy. 00:31:58.640 --> 00:32:02.080 That he sympathizes with us because he has been where we are. 00:32:02.840 --> 00:32:05.440 He has endured what we are trying to endure. 00:32:05.820 --> 00:32:07.620 And so he sympathizes with us. 00:32:07.620 --> 00:32:10.759 Therefore, come boldly to him for that mercy. 00:32:11.520 --> 00:32:13.100 It's an unending supply. 00:32:15.640 --> 00:32:18.640 Though his deity precluded him from any sinful action, 00:32:20.160 --> 00:32:27.600 Jesus' humanity made him subject to all of the same struggles and temptations as us. 00:32:29.060 --> 00:32:33.540 He can sympathize with our weakness because he has experienced that very weakness. 00:32:33.539 --> 00:32:39.559 He can sympathize with your loneliness because he has experienced that loneliness. 00:32:41.359 --> 00:32:48.839 He can sympathize with your ailment because he too has experienced that ailment. 00:32:48.839 --> 00:32:53.919 But he did it all without ever sinning. 00:32:54.879 --> 00:33:01.019 And because of this, we can come boldly and confidently to him. 00:33:02.299 --> 00:33:10.119 Because Jesus conquered sin and Satan, we can receive mercy and grace through him. 00:33:10.119 --> 00:33:15.579 Now I want you to think about this throne of grace real quickly before we wrap all of this up. 00:33:18.139 --> 00:33:20.039 See, Jesus conquered all of this. 00:33:20.959 --> 00:33:23.339 And then it says we can come boldly to this throne. 00:33:23.439 --> 00:33:25.139 We can come with confidence to this throne. 00:33:25.799 --> 00:33:28.319 We see in this the very heart of Christ. 00:33:28.319 --> 00:33:33.639 We get in our minds sometimes that because of our sinfulness, 00:33:34.480 --> 00:33:37.539 because of our inability to do what Jesus did, 00:33:38.539 --> 00:33:41.519 we feel as if we are repellent to him. 00:33:42.960 --> 00:33:45.039 Because God is holy and we are sinful, 00:33:45.240 --> 00:33:49.460 we believe that we cannot come with confidence to the throne because we disgust him. 00:33:49.460 --> 00:33:52.860 But this tells us the heart of Christ. 00:33:54.420 --> 00:33:57.819 The heart of Christ does not view you in your sin and turn away. 00:33:58.900 --> 00:34:02.960 He sees you in your sin and he pursues you in that sin. 00:34:03.200 --> 00:34:04.240 It is your weakness. 00:34:04.740 --> 00:34:05.860 It is your sin. 00:34:06.240 --> 00:34:14.220 It is your frailness that actually ignites a fire in his heart to pursue you with love and mercy and grace. 00:34:15.039 --> 00:34:16.760 That's the heart of Christ for you. 00:34:17.199 --> 00:34:18.940 Why do we come boldly to the throne? 00:34:18.940 --> 00:34:20.700 Because he wants us to. 00:34:20.920 --> 00:34:22.200 That's what he wants. 00:34:23.559 --> 00:34:25.720 He wants you to come believing him. 00:34:25.940 --> 00:34:30.019 He wants you to come casting yourself on his goodness and on his grace. 00:34:30.099 --> 00:34:34.099 Because in his heart, his heart for you and his heart for the world, 00:34:34.099 --> 00:34:36.800 is that he might extend that mercy and grace. 00:34:37.079 --> 00:34:40.240 And the more he sees your sin, the more he is drawn to you. 00:34:40.519 --> 00:34:40.780 Why? 00:34:41.000 --> 00:34:43.139 Because he can sympathize with your weakness. 00:34:43.679 --> 00:34:44.500 He's been there. 00:34:44.720 --> 00:34:45.980 He knows how hard it is. 00:34:46.179 --> 00:34:47.720 He knows what the struggle is. 00:34:47.719 --> 00:34:50.500 Yet he has conquered it on your behalf. 00:34:50.639 --> 00:34:55.919 And if you will just come to him, he will grasp you in his mercy and in his love. 00:34:55.980 --> 00:34:57.980 So you can come boldly to him today. 00:34:59.379 --> 00:35:00.519 Say, you don't know what I've done. 00:35:00.519 --> 00:35:03.179 No, I don't know what you've done. 00:35:03.559 --> 00:35:04.500 But he does. 00:35:05.159 --> 00:35:10.420 And he says, even though he knows what you've done, you can come with confidence to the throne of grace. 00:35:10.579 --> 00:35:17.179 If you will just come to him, he will provide the mercy and forgiveness that you are desperately in need of. 00:35:17.780 --> 00:35:20.239 He will give you a love that no other person will ever give. 00:35:20.239 --> 00:35:24.439 He will give you a grace that no other person is capable of giving. 00:35:25.359 --> 00:35:25.779 Why? 00:35:26.539 --> 00:35:28.000 Because he's been where you are. 00:35:28.719 --> 00:35:30.599 And he conquered it on your behalf. 00:35:32.000 --> 00:35:32.759 Well, that's the temptation. 00:35:32.939 --> 00:35:34.679 There's a third phase to this transition. 00:35:34.839 --> 00:35:35.739 We'll quickly cover it. 00:35:37.099 --> 00:35:38.479 Verses 14 and 15. 00:35:39.579 --> 00:35:43.159 We see the ministry of Jesus, or if you like, the message of Jesus. 00:35:43.759 --> 00:35:45.920 So we see his baptism is the first phase. 00:35:46.219 --> 00:35:48.559 We're transitioning from John to Jesus now. 00:35:48.940 --> 00:35:50.779 The temptation is the second phase. 00:35:51.879 --> 00:35:54.359 Jesus is being tempted as John is ministering. 00:35:54.399 --> 00:35:59.139 And now we get to the third phase where John is really being intentionally moved off the scene 00:35:59.139 --> 00:36:01.899 so that Jesus can begin his public ministry. 00:36:02.279 --> 00:36:03.199 Look at verse 14. 00:36:04.519 --> 00:36:06.420 After that, John was put in prison. 00:36:06.759 --> 00:36:09.199 We'll study about that in detail later on in Mark's gospel. 00:36:09.199 --> 00:36:13.919 And after he was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee. 00:36:14.480 --> 00:36:15.219 And here's what he did. 00:36:16.299 --> 00:36:18.359 He preached the gospel of the kingdom of God. 00:36:19.319 --> 00:36:20.379 This is what he said. 00:36:21.639 --> 00:36:22.839 The time is fulfilled. 00:36:24.039 --> 00:36:25.619 The kingdom of God is at hand. 00:36:26.899 --> 00:36:28.119 Repent and believe the gospel. 00:36:29.399 --> 00:36:30.519 Repent and believe the gospel. 00:36:32.599 --> 00:36:38.339 The transition from the herald to the king was made complete as John was arrested. 00:36:39.199 --> 00:36:40.559 He was put into prison. 00:36:41.559 --> 00:36:43.879 And Jesus began his public ministry in Galilee. 00:36:45.079 --> 00:36:54.500 Now these two verses provide a summary for us of everything that Mark will expound in Jesus' teaching and purpose throughout the rest of his book. 00:36:55.980 --> 00:36:58.539 Jesus had come to preach the gospel of the kingdom. 00:36:59.739 --> 00:37:02.179 He was introducing a new covenant to the people. 00:37:02.179 --> 00:37:08.179 This covenant would mark the beginning of the establishment of his eternal kingdom. 00:37:09.059 --> 00:37:15.419 The eternal kingdom that they dreamed of as they themselves studied Daniel chapter 7 that we read a few moments ago. 00:37:17.859 --> 00:37:23.440 His ministry was marked by the distinct message that is summarized in verse 15. 00:37:23.559 --> 00:37:24.619 Let's just break it down quickly. 00:37:24.619 --> 00:37:28.440 The first thing he says, the time is fulfilled. 00:37:29.659 --> 00:37:30.639 The time is fulfilled. 00:37:30.739 --> 00:37:36.799 In other words, the critical moment of all of history is now taking place. 00:37:36.800 --> 00:37:44.160 All of history prior to Jesus' first advent was rushing toward that moment. 00:37:44.240 --> 00:37:46.240 It was all pushing toward this moment. 00:37:46.580 --> 00:37:51.420 And Jesus is saying the critical moment of all of human history is now. 00:37:51.640 --> 00:37:52.380 It is here. 00:37:52.539 --> 00:37:53.320 And it is me. 00:37:54.100 --> 00:37:54.539 That's what he's saying. 00:37:54.560 --> 00:37:55.440 The time is fulfilled. 00:37:55.860 --> 00:37:56.500 It has come. 00:37:56.700 --> 00:37:58.720 The kingdom has come. 00:37:59.280 --> 00:38:04.200 He was stating that the critical moment of eternity was now fulfilled and he was that fulfillment. 00:38:04.580 --> 00:38:05.360 The time is fulfilled. 00:38:05.360 --> 00:38:09.039 Secondly, he says, the kingdom of God is at hand. 00:38:10.800 --> 00:38:15.220 It would take some time for the people to understand exactly what this meant. 00:38:16.039 --> 00:38:18.460 It takes time for us to fully understand what this means. 00:38:19.400 --> 00:38:21.599 They were expecting a different kind of kingdom. 00:38:22.420 --> 00:38:27.160 They were expecting that kingdom that Daniel spoke of as being at the end of the age. 00:38:27.440 --> 00:38:30.440 They were expecting that to be what Jesus was bringing. 00:38:30.440 --> 00:38:35.579 A revolution that would cast down the empire of Rome. 00:38:36.179 --> 00:38:38.280 That would establish this perfect kingdom. 00:38:38.579 --> 00:38:41.019 But it wasn't time for that. 00:38:41.179 --> 00:38:42.400 That time is still ahead. 00:38:43.980 --> 00:38:47.559 Jesus was beginning this kingdom now. 00:38:47.880 --> 00:38:49.460 A spiritual kingdom. 00:38:50.760 --> 00:38:52.599 A spiritual people. 00:38:52.599 --> 00:39:03.980 In fact, this term that the kingdom is at hand or the kingdom is near, it really speaks less of a chronological time frame and more of a spatial matter. 00:39:04.139 --> 00:39:08.000 In other words, he was the kingdom that was near. 00:39:08.000 --> 00:39:15.559 Not the grand, perfect kingdom that would one day be established, but he was the representative of that kingdom. 00:39:15.860 --> 00:39:17.539 That as he said, the kingdom is near. 00:39:17.599 --> 00:39:19.519 He's really saying, I am near. 00:39:20.039 --> 00:39:20.639 I am near. 00:39:20.880 --> 00:39:22.820 Spatially is what he's speaking to. 00:39:23.679 --> 00:39:26.500 William Lane said, the coming of the kingdom remains future. 00:39:26.500 --> 00:39:34.599 But it is certain precisely because God has begun to bring it to pass in the coming of his son. 00:39:35.460 --> 00:39:36.260 He is the kingdom. 00:39:37.780 --> 00:39:41.219 Thirdly, he says, repent and believe the gospel. 00:39:41.360 --> 00:39:43.380 And this is important for us this morning as we close. 00:39:45.780 --> 00:39:54.000 The declaration that the critical time had come and that the kingdom of God was at hand demanded a response. 00:39:54.000 --> 00:39:57.360 Do you notice the three phases of Jesus' message? 00:39:58.199 --> 00:40:00.039 The first two are proclamations. 00:40:00.719 --> 00:40:01.860 The time has come. 00:40:02.500 --> 00:40:03.400 The kingdom is near. 00:40:04.579 --> 00:40:06.239 The third was a summons. 00:40:07.079 --> 00:40:12.719 Because of the two proclamations, he says, repent and believe. 00:40:15.119 --> 00:40:17.519 He demanded a response from the people. 00:40:19.079 --> 00:40:19.579 Why? 00:40:20.760 --> 00:40:21.159 Why? 00:40:21.159 --> 00:40:24.259 Because of his baptism and his temptation. 00:40:24.460 --> 00:40:27.500 That's how it all fits together here in Mark's gospel. 00:40:31.119 --> 00:40:33.460 Jesus calls men to a radical decision. 00:40:35.159 --> 00:40:40.739 He proclaims the kingdom not to give content, but to convey a summons. 00:40:41.799 --> 00:40:48.819 Either a man submits to that summons of God, or he chooses this world and its riches and honor. 00:40:48.820 --> 00:40:58.019 If you want to enter the kingdom of God, Jesus says, you must repent and believe the gospel. 00:40:58.940 --> 00:41:02.420 That Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. 00:41:03.660 --> 00:41:04.900 That's the way to the kingdom. 00:41:06.700 --> 00:41:08.380 You say, what's Mark doing with this? 00:41:08.980 --> 00:41:10.220 What's the whole point of this? 00:41:10.240 --> 00:41:14.780 If he's going to spend this whole book conveying this message and showing us all this stuff, 00:41:14.980 --> 00:41:16.500 why is he mentioning it here? 00:41:16.500 --> 00:41:18.460 It's the third part. 00:41:19.179 --> 00:41:19.860 Do you see it? 00:41:21.460 --> 00:41:25.420 He quickly tells us, Jesus gets baptized and there's this great revelation. 00:41:25.940 --> 00:41:27.500 You are my beloved son. 00:41:27.780 --> 00:41:32.860 And then immediately in connection with that, he is driven of the spirit and he conquers this sin and death. 00:41:32.860 --> 00:41:42.059 And if this is who Jesus is, if he really is the Son of God, if he really did prove it by conquering sin and Satan in the wilderness, 00:41:42.240 --> 00:41:44.820 then we must listen to his message. 00:41:45.460 --> 00:41:49.559 And his message is, repent and believe. 00:41:49.559 --> 00:42:02.659 If you want the kingdom, if you want life, if you want joy, if you want God, if you want all the blessings that God is proclaiming, 00:42:02.900 --> 00:42:04.699 look at who Jesus is. 00:42:05.019 --> 00:42:10.500 See how he has conquered and then listen to his message, which is repent of your sin. 00:42:10.799 --> 00:42:15.840 Repent of your way and believe me, Jesus says. 00:42:15.840 --> 00:42:21.480 If this is who Jesus is, what are you going to do with his message? 00:42:21.480 --> 00:42:26.960 Jesus said in John 14, 6, you probably know the verse. 00:42:28.420 --> 00:42:29.740 He said, I am the way. 00:42:31.340 --> 00:42:32.559 I am the truth. 00:42:33.440 --> 00:42:34.659 I am the life. 00:42:36.059 --> 00:42:39.599 No one comes to the Father except through me. 00:42:41.159 --> 00:42:43.760 That's not an arrogant statement on Jesus' part. 00:42:44.500 --> 00:42:46.820 That's a truthful statement on Jesus' part. 00:42:46.820 --> 00:42:48.559 It's a compassionate statement. 00:42:49.300 --> 00:42:58.880 Rather than leave you in your desperate condition, he cries out a message that says you are not enough. 00:43:00.580 --> 00:43:02.760 Your goodness can never compare. 00:43:04.640 --> 00:43:06.519 But I am enough. 00:43:06.519 --> 00:43:18.059 And if you will abandon every other effort for eternal salvation and life and follow me as Lord and Savior, 00:43:18.940 --> 00:43:21.219 Jesus said, I will put you on the way. 00:43:22.059 --> 00:43:24.119 And I will open your heart to the truth. 00:43:24.900 --> 00:43:26.239 And I will give you life. 00:43:26.239 --> 00:43:30.399 Thank you for listening to this sermon made available by Lakeside Bible Church. 00:43:30.839 --> 00:43:32.500 Feel free to share it wherever you'd like. 00:43:33.039 --> 00:43:38.799 Please do not charge for it or alter it in any way without express written consent from Lakeside Bible Church. 00:43:39.279 --> 00:43:42.459 Don't forget to visit us online at lakesidebible.church 00:43:42.459 --> 00:43:47.099 or find us on Facebook and Instagram by searching for Lakeside Bible NC. 00:43:47.859 --> 00:43:52.219 If you live in the Charlotte or Lake Norman area, we'd love for you to attend one of our worship services. 00:43:52.619 --> 00:43:54.599 We meet every Sunday morning at 10 a.m. 00:43:54.599 --> 00:43:55.979 We'd love to meet you. 00:43:56.239 --> 00:44:26.219 We'd love to meet you.