humanity and of Israel in particular – the disobedient son who met God in the wilderness and rebelled. Note: Spiritual leaders (then & often now) take 40 days of fasting to enter into greater relationship with God; to learn dependence and be prepared for ministry. Why does Mark mention John’s arrest the way he does? What had John said about Jesus? After me… up to line 19 Jesus is mostly an object of action and John and actor. Here it switches. John was the preparer, now Jesus is here as the fulfillment and the protagonist changes. Jesus is proclaiming, I am the one, let’s do this! Why and how is the Kingdom of God now uniquely at hand? Jesus is here! The K of G is ready – the moment we have all been waiting for. (In Greek – KAIROS=decisive moment). The K of G is there in the person of King Jesus, who has now come after so many years of preparation! Summary – Preach it! (3-5 minutes) The King is here! The moment we have been waiting for throughout all of history! God has seen the need and brokenness of our world and responded by sending Jesus, his anointed one, into it. What Mark celebrates in his opening sentences is not merely the prophetic activity of John the Baptist, but the redemptive activity of God in providing salvation for all men. The appearance of John in the wilderness was the most important event in the life of Israel for more than 300 years! He prepared the way for Jesus who now says “I am here! The one you have been waiting for!” This requires a response – we need to do two things: repent and believe. Repent – prepare the way, turn from the old, clear the path and believe – choose to believe in the gospel, the good news that the KoG is at hand and Jesus is near! Application 1.2-1.27 (10 minutes) Give students 10 minutes to choose a question that resonates and to journal their response. Is the way prepared for Jesus’ reign in your life right now? If not, what needs to change so you can meet King Jesus this week? Talk to God about how you have been doing spiritually (be honest and real…don’t gloss over things…don’t artificially feel guilty either). What will you repent of and believe Jesus for right now?
humanity and of Israel in particular – the disobedient son who met God in the wilderness and rebelled. Note: Spiritual leaders (then & often now) take 40 days of fasting to enter into greater relationship with God; to learn dependence and be prepared for ministry. Why does Mark mention John’s arrest the way he does? What had John said about Jesus? After me… up to line 19 Jesus is mostly an object of action and John and actor. Here it switches. John was the preparer, now Jesus is here as the fulfillment and the protagonist changes. Jesus is proclaiming, I am the one, let’s do this! Why and how is the Kingdom of God now uniquely at hand? Jesus is here! The K of G is ready – the moment we have all been waiting for. (In Greek – KAIROS=decisive moment). The K of G is there in the person of King Jesus, who has now come after so many years of preparation! Summary – Preach it! (3-5 minutes) The King is here! The moment we have been waiting for throughout all of history! God has seen the need and brokenness of our world and responded by sending Jesus, his anointed one, into it. What Mark celebrates in his opening sentences is not merely the prophetic activity of John the Baptist, but the redemptive activity of God in providing salvation for all men. The appearance of John in the wilderness was the most important event in the life of Israel for more than 300 years! He prepared the way for Jesus who now says “I am here! The one you have been waiting for!” This requires a response – we need to do two things: repent and believe. Repent – prepare the way, turn from the old, clear the path and believe – choose to believe in the gospel, the good news that the KoG is at hand and Jesus is near! Application 1.2-1.27 (10 minutes) Give students 10 minutes to choose a question that resonates and to journal their response. Is the way prepared for Jesus’ reign in your life right now? If not, what needs to change so you can meet King Jesus this week? Talk to God about how you have been doing spiritually (be honest and real…don’t gloss over things…don’t artificially feel guilty either). What will you repent of and believe Jesus for right now?