Embracing Jesus: Our King and Daily Guide

 

Summary

In our journey of faith, it is crucial to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. As we embark on a new series through the Gospel of Mark, we are reminded of the importance of being shaped by Jesus Christ, our founder. The Gospel of Mark, the shortest of the four gospels, is action-packed and focuses on the life, ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus. Our goal is to strip off every weight and sin that hinders us, allowing us to run the race God has set before us with endurance. This involves daily surrender to Jesus, not just a one-time decision.

The Gospel of Mark was written by John Mark, a close associate of Peter and Paul. It is considered Peter's gospel, providing an eyewitness account of Jesus' life and ministry. Mark's gospel begins with the declaration that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. This is not just about Jesus being our Savior, but also our King. Recognizing Jesus as King transforms our relationship with Him from a one-time salvation experience to a daily walk under His lordship.

John the Baptist played a crucial role as the herald of Jesus, preparing the way for the new King and Kingdom. His ministry was marked by humility and a focus on pointing others to Jesus. John baptized with water, symbolizing repentance, but Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit, offering a new way of life. This new life is not just about forgiveness but about living in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.

As we delve into the Gospel of Mark, let us be open to the transformative power of Jesus as our King. May we embrace the call to be heralds of this new way of life, sharing the good news of Jesus with those around us. Let us trust in Jesus not just for salvation but for daily guidance and strength, allowing Him to lead us into abundant life.

Key Takeaways:

1. Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus: Our journey with Jesus requires us to strip off every weight and sin that hinders us, allowing us to run the race with endurance. This involves a daily surrender to Jesus, recognizing Him as the author and perfecter of our faith. [01:34]

2. Understanding the Gospel of Mark: The Gospel of Mark, written by John Mark, provides an eyewitness account of Jesus' life and ministry. It emphasizes Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God, and challenges us to see Him not just as our Savior but as our King. [11:09]

3. Jesus as King: Recognizing Jesus as King transforms our relationship with Him from a one-time salvation experience to a daily walk under His lordship. This new way of life involves surrendering to Jesus and allowing Him to lead us in every aspect of our lives. [16:55]

4. John the Baptist's Role: John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus, emphasizing repentance and pointing others to the coming King. His humility and focus on Jesus serve as a model for us to follow, reminding us to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. [23:25]

5. Living in the Spirit: Jesus offers a new way of life through the Holy Spirit, moving beyond mere forgiveness to a life of power and presence. This abundant life involves trusting Jesus daily and allowing Him to lead us into a new way of living with God and others. [25:22]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:44] - Introduction to the Gospel of Mark
- [01:34] - Stripping Off Weights and Sin
- [03:01] - Running the Race with Endurance
- [03:47] - Keeping Our Eyes on Jesus
- [04:27] - Prayer and Preparation
- [05:57] - The Story of the Gospel of Mark
- [06:44] - John Mark's Background
- [08:15] - Peter's Influence on Mark
- [11:09] - The Good News of Jesus
- [12:56] - Understanding Jesus as Messiah
- [16:55] - Jesus as King and Lord
- [19:25] - John the Baptist's Ministry
- [23:25] - Humility and Focus on Jesus
- [25:22] - Living in the Spirit

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Hebrews 12:1-2
2. Mark 1:1-8

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Observation Questions:

1. What does the author of Hebrews suggest we do to run the race with endurance? How does this relate to our journey with Jesus? [01:34]

2. According to the sermon, what is the significance of John Mark's relationship with Peter and Paul in the context of the Gospel of Mark? [06:44]

3. How does John the Baptist's lifestyle and message prepare the way for Jesus, according to the sermon? [19:25]

4. What is the primary message of Mark 1:1, and why is it significant in understanding Jesus' role as both Messiah and King? [12:56]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does recognizing Jesus as King, rather than just Savior, change the nature of a believer's relationship with Him? [16:55]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that John the Baptist's humility and focus on Jesus serve as a model for us today? [23:25]

3. How does the concept of living in the Spirit, as described in the sermon, go beyond mere forgiveness? What does this new way of life entail? [25:22]

4. What does it mean to "strip off every weight and sin" in the context of Hebrews 12:1-2, and how can this be applied to modern-day distractions? [01:34]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your daily life: Are there specific "weights" or sins that are hindering your spiritual journey? What steps can you take to address them this week? [01:34]

2. How can you actively recognize and honor Jesus as King in your daily decisions and actions? What might change in your life if you did this consistently? [16:55]

3. John the Baptist pointed others to Jesus with humility. In what ways can you practice humility in your interactions with others this week? [23:25]

4. Consider the role of the Holy Spirit in your life. How can you be more open to living in the Spirit and experiencing the abundant life Jesus offers? [25:22]

5. Identify a specific area in your life where you need to surrender more fully to Jesus' lordship. What practical steps can you take to make this surrender a reality? [17:42]

6. Think of someone in your life who needs to hear the good news of Jesus. How can you be a herald of this new way of life to them this week? [27:11]

7. Is there a tradition or past experience that you are holding onto that might be preventing you from experiencing the fullness of what God has for you now? How can you let go of it? [02:17]

Devotional

Day 1: Stripping Off Hindrances for Endurance
In our spiritual journey, it is essential to remove any obstacles that prevent us from fully following Jesus. This involves identifying and letting go of sins and burdens that weigh us down, allowing us to run the race set before us with perseverance. By fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, we can find the strength to endure. This is not a one-time event but a daily commitment to surrender to Jesus and seek His guidance in overcoming challenges. [01:34]

Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV): "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

Reflection: What specific weight or sin is hindering your spiritual journey today, and how can you begin to lay it aside to run with endurance?


Day 2: Embracing the Gospel of Mark
The Gospel of Mark offers a vivid and action-packed account of Jesus' life and ministry, emphasizing His role as the Messiah and the Son of God. Written by John Mark, a close associate of Peter, this gospel provides an eyewitness perspective on Jesus' teachings and miracles. It challenges us to see Jesus not only as our Savior but as our King, inviting us to live under His lordship. This understanding transforms our relationship with Him from a one-time salvation experience to a continuous journey of faith. [11:09]

Mark 1:1-3 (ESV): "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, 'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.'"

Reflection: How does recognizing Jesus as both Savior and King change the way you approach your daily walk with Him?


Day 3: Living Under Jesus' Kingship
Recognizing Jesus as King means surrendering to His authority and allowing Him to lead every aspect of our lives. This involves moving beyond a one-time decision for salvation to a daily commitment to follow Him. By acknowledging His lordship, we open ourselves to His transformative power, allowing Him to guide us in our decisions, relationships, and actions. This new way of life is marked by trust, obedience, and a willingness to let Jesus shape our character and purpose. [16:55]

Colossians 1:13-14 (ESV): "He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?


Day 4: Following John the Baptist's Example
John the Baptist played a pivotal role in preparing the way for Jesus, emphasizing repentance and pointing others to the coming King. His ministry was characterized by humility and a focus on directing attention to Jesus rather than himself. As followers of Christ, we are called to emulate John's example by living lives that point others to Jesus. This involves cultivating humility, prioritizing Jesus in our interactions, and being willing to step aside so that He may be glorified. [23:25]

John 3:30 (ESV): "He must increase, but I must decrease."

Reflection: In what ways can you practice humility and point others to Jesus in your daily interactions?


Day 5: Experiencing Life in the Spirit
Jesus offers a new way of life through the Holy Spirit, moving beyond mere forgiveness to a life of power and presence. This abundant life involves trusting Jesus daily and allowing Him to lead us into a new way of living with God and others. By embracing the Holy Spirit's guidance, we can experience transformation, empowerment, and a deeper connection with God. This new life is marked by joy, peace, and a sense of purpose as we walk in step with the Spirit. [25:22]

Galatians 5:25 (ESV): "If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit."

Reflection: How can you be more attentive to the Holy Spirit's guidance in your life today, and what steps can you take to walk in step with the Spirit?

Quotes


The author of Hebrews says this: let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. Have you ever felt like that in your journey with Jesus, that there's things that are holding you back from experiencing the fullness of what God has for you in Jesus? You're not alone. It's been happening from the beginning that people would say, all right, in order to do this thing, in order to follow this Jesus, we've got to throw these things off. [00:01:23]

We all have a race, and some of us feel like it's the rat race or it's racing after our neighbors and trying to keep up with what they have or racing after our kids and keeping up with their events. Whatever race we're running, there is a race that God has for us to run with him. And in order to do that, the author says this: we do this both the stripping off and the throwing off of the stuff that hinders and moving forward in the race that God has for us. [00:03:01]

We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. I love that. Maybe your translation says that he's the author and perfector. Whatever it is, he is the one that started this thing in you, and he is the one who will continue this work in you. That it's not just about this one-time putting our trust in Jesus, but it's about this daily surrendering to him. [00:03:34]

If we can't trust it, then the words that are contained within it don't really matter. But if we can trust it, then we can dig in and explore and discover and unpack and apply these things to our life. The gospel of Mark was written, according to historians, written by a guy named John Mark. And he isn't somebody that came out of nowhere in the Bible. He's recorded elsewhere as being a very close friend and co-worker of one of the followers of Jesus, Peter. [00:06:07]

John Mark, according to historians, was Peter's assistant and secretary, and he traveled around not only with Peter but with the Apostle Paul. And so many would consider the gospel of Mark to be Peter's gospel. And in Acts 12, we see this early on in the life of the church after Jesus ascends into heaven and Peter and John and the other Apostles are proclaiming who Jesus is both in Jerusalem and as persecution demands that they go outside of Jerusalem to share this good news of Jesus. [00:06:51]

John Mark went with them as their assistant. So this guy who was the author of The Gospel of Mark is now the assistant to Paul and Barnabas as they're sent out from the Jerusalem Church in their first missionary journey. And then maybe you know this about John Mark, but as they were traveling around the river of the Mediterranean Sea, they come to the region of Galatia, which was mountainous and rugged and as country as you could get in that point. [00:09:07]

Mark is then encouraged to either begin writing down what Peter had been preaching or to assemble what he had been writing all throughout these years together, which is more likely the truth. And it was soon after that, soon after that in roughly 65 AD, that the gospel of Mark began to circulate as its own document. And it was used as eyewitness testimony. The gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Luke use Mark's account of what Peter saw Jesus do as their own source documents. [00:10:48]

John Mark didn't know he was writing the Bible. He just knew he was writing down what people saw and heard. And it was through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that these things have been preserved and kept for you and me today. And so we can trust in what Mark has to say and truly what Peter had been preaching the entire time. It's real amazing to think that this is Peter's perspective on the life of Jesus. [00:12:00]

If you have been around church for a while, you might have developed a certain type of theology when it comes to Jesus. And your theology might look something like this: it might look like you believe that God created everything and then mankind sinned, and then God had to send Jesus to fix what mankind messed up. And if you believe, you go to heaven, and if you don't believe, you go to hell. [00:13:17]

This kind of theology reminds us that Jesus is truly our savior, that he is the one that saves us from our sin, and he saves us from a destiny apart from our heavenly father in hell, and that he is going to prepare a place for us in heaven where we can enjoy relationship with him forever. But if you only view Jesus as your savior, it limits your relationship with him. [00:14:23]

Mark is making a point with his first sentence. He's saying this: we need to understand that Christ is not just Jesus's—it's not Jesus's last name, right? It's not his formal name, but it's a title that the early church and we today give to Jesus. In Greek, the word is Christos, and Christ is just a direct transliteration of that word Christos. And so we say Jesus Christ or Christ Jesus. [00:15:55]

John announced someone is coming soon who is greater than I am, so much greater that I'm not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals. John, in the midst of the crowds and the attention and the cheers and the jeers that surrounded him, was able to keep his eyes fixed on the greater one, Jesus Christ, Jesus the Christ who was coming. He had a humility in his service and he offered himself simply as a vessel to God. [00:23:05]

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Transcript
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