The Paradox of God's Glory in Jesus' Arrival

 

Summary

The series "The Arrival of God" explores the profound mystery of God's entrance into the world through Jesus Christ. This message delves into the Gospel of Mark, emphasizing the paradoxical nature of Jesus' arrival. Mark's Gospel begins with a reference to Isaiah 40, highlighting the preparation for God's arrival and the revelation of His glory to all humanity. This glory is not just about God's grandeur but also His character and essence, which are revealed through Jesus.

Mark introduces Jesus as the "Son of God," a divine title that signifies His unique role in God's plan. The term "good news" or "euangelion" is central to Mark's narrative, contrasting the Roman Empire's claims of peace and prosperity with the true peace brought by Jesus. Unlike the plural "good news" of the Roman world, Mark speaks of the singular "good news" of Jesus, emphasizing His unparalleled significance.

The paradox of Jesus' arrival is that He comes not as a conquering king but as a humble servant. His baptism by John, a symbol of repentance, signifies His identification with sinful humanity. This act sets the stage for understanding Jesus as the suffering servant, a theme that runs throughout Mark's Gospel. The tearing of the heavens at Jesus' baptism signifies a divine revelation, affirming Jesus as God's beloved Son.

Mark's narrative challenges us to see God's glory not in power and might but in humility and servanthood. Jesus' life and ministry exemplify this, culminating in His crucifixion, where His identity as the Son of God is finally proclaimed by a Roman centurion. This moment reveals the true nature of God's glory—His willingness to suffer and serve for the redemption of humanity.

The message concludes by reminding us that God's presence is found even in the places we least expect, such as in suffering and perceived absence. Jesus' crucifixion assures us that God is present in our deepest struggles, offering redemption and new life through His Spirit.

Key Takeaways:

- The Paradox of God's Glory: God's glory is revealed not through power but through humility and servanthood. Jesus' baptism and crucifixion demonstrate His identification with humanity's suffering, showing that true divine glory is found in serving others. [16:02]

- The Singular Good News: Unlike the plural "good news" of the Roman Empire, Mark presents the singular "good news" of Jesus Christ. This emphasizes that Jesus is the true source of peace and salvation, surpassing any earthly power or authority. [18:29]

- The Messianic Secret: Throughout Mark's Gospel, Jesus often keeps His identity hidden, highlighting that His true nature is revealed through His servanthood and suffering, not just His miracles and authority. [23:43]

- The Way of the Cross: The way of the Lord is the way of the cross. Jesus' journey to Jerusalem and His crucifixion reveal that God's path involves sacrifice and suffering, leading to redemption and new life. [26:16]

- God's Presence in Suffering: Jesus' crucifixion assures us that God is present even in our deepest suffering. He identifies with the God-forsaken, offering hope and redemption through His Spirit, transforming our pain into new life. [36:20]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:15] - Introduction to the Series
- [03:45] - Isaiah 40 and God's Arrival
- [06:30] - The Glory of God Revealed
- [09:00] - Mark's Introduction of Jesus
- [12:00] - The Good News of Jesus
- [15:00] - The Paradox of Jesus' Baptism
- [18:00] - The Divine Revelation
- [20:00] - Servanthood and Suffering
- [22:00] - The Messianic Secret
- [24:30] - The Way of the Cross
- [27:00] - Jesus' Crucifixion and Revelation
- [30:00] - The Centurion's Proclamation
- [33:00] - The Spirit of Life
- [35:00] - God's Presence in Suffering

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Arrival of God

Bible Reading:
1. Isaiah 40:1-5
2. Mark 1:1-11
3. Mark 15:33-39

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Observation Questions:

1. What is the significance of the term "good news" or "euangelion" in Mark's Gospel, and how does it contrast with the Roman Empire's use of the term? [16:56]

2. How does Mark's Gospel introduce Jesus, and what divine title is given to Him? [18:29]

3. What event in Mark 1 signifies a divine revelation, and what does it reveal about Jesus' identity? [18:29]

4. How does the Roman centurion's proclamation at the crucifixion connect to the beginning of Mark's Gospel? [29:23]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the paradox of Jesus' arrival as a humble servant challenge traditional expectations of divine glory? [16:02]

2. In what ways does the tearing of the heavens at Jesus' baptism and the tearing of the temple curtain at His crucifixion symbolize divine revelation? [28:02]

3. How does the concept of the "Messianic Secret" in Mark's Gospel emphasize Jesus' identity as a suffering servant? [23:43]

4. What does the centurion's recognition of Jesus as the Son of God at the crucifixion reveal about the nature of God's glory? [31:05]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you expected to see God's presence in power and might but found it in humility and servanthood instead. How did that experience change your understanding of God's glory? [16:02]

2. The sermon emphasizes that God's presence is found in suffering. How can you become more aware of God's presence in your own struggles or in the struggles of those around you? [36:20]

3. Jesus' baptism signifies His identification with humanity's suffering. How can you identify with and serve those who are suffering in your community this week? [16:02]

4. The centurion's proclamation at the cross was unexpected. How can you be open to seeing God's work in unexpected places or people in your life? [31:05]

5. The sermon suggests that embracing a posture of servanthood can alleviate social anxiety. How can you practice this in your interactions this week, especially in situations where you feel anxious? [21:31]

6. Consider the idea of being a "mini-paradox" as a follower of Jesus. How can you balance your identity as a child of God with the call to serve others in your daily life? [20:21]

7. Reflect on a specific area in your life where you feel "God-forsaken." How can the message of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection bring hope and redemption to that area? [36:50]

Devotional

Day 1: The Humble Glory of God
In the Gospel of Mark, the arrival of Jesus Christ is portrayed as a profound paradox. Unlike the expected grandeur of a conquering king, Jesus comes as a humble servant, revealing God's glory through His humility and servanthood. This is vividly demonstrated in His baptism by John, a symbolic act of repentance and identification with humanity's sinfulness. The tearing of the heavens at this moment signifies a divine revelation, affirming Jesus as God's beloved Son. This challenges us to see God's glory not in power and might but in humility and servanthood, as exemplified by Jesus' life and ministry. His crucifixion, where His identity as the Son of God is proclaimed by a Roman centurion, further reveals the true nature of God's glory—His willingness to suffer and serve for the redemption of humanity. [16:02]

Isaiah 53:2-3 (ESV): "For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not."

Reflection: In what ways can you embody humility and servanthood in your daily interactions, reflecting the glory of God through your actions?


Day 2: The Singular Good News of Jesus
The Gospel of Mark presents the "good news" of Jesus Christ as singular and unparalleled, contrasting with the plural "good news" of the Roman Empire, which claimed peace and prosperity through earthly power. Mark emphasizes that Jesus is the true source of peace and salvation, surpassing any earthly authority. This singular "good news" is centered on Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, offering a peace that transcends worldly understanding. As followers of Christ, we are invited to embrace this singular message and find our true peace and identity in Him, rather than in the fleeting promises of the world. [18:29]

Ephesians 2:14-16 (ESV): "For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility."

Reflection: How can you prioritize the peace and salvation offered by Jesus over the temporary comforts and promises of the world today?


Day 3: The Hidden Identity of the Messiah
Throughout the Gospel of Mark, Jesus often keeps His identity hidden, a concept known as the "Messianic Secret." This highlights that His true nature is revealed not through His miracles and authority but through His servanthood and suffering. Jesus' journey is one of humility, where His divine identity is gradually unveiled through His actions and ultimate sacrifice on the cross. This invites us to reflect on the nature of true leadership and greatness, which is found in serving others and embracing the path of humility and sacrifice. As we follow Jesus, we are called to reveal His love and character through our own acts of service and humility. [23:43]

Philippians 2:6-8 (ESV): "Who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."

Reflection: In what ways can you reveal the character of Christ through acts of service and humility in your community?


Day 4: The Path of Sacrifice and Redemption
The way of the Lord is the way of the cross, as demonstrated by Jesus' journey to Jerusalem and His crucifixion. This path involves sacrifice and suffering, leading to redemption and new life. Jesus' willingness to embrace the cross reveals the depth of God's love and His commitment to redeem humanity. As followers of Christ, we are invited to walk this path of sacrifice, trusting that through our own struggles and challenges, God is working to bring about redemption and transformation. This calls us to a life of faith and surrender, where we find true life in laying down our own desires for the sake of others. [26:16]

2 Corinthians 4:10-11 (ESV): "Always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you can embrace sacrifice for the sake of others, trusting in God's redemptive work?


Day 5: God's Presence in Our Suffering
Jesus' crucifixion assures us that God is present even in our deepest suffering. He identifies with the God-forsaken, offering hope and redemption through His Spirit, transforming our pain into new life. This profound truth reminds us that God's presence is not limited to moments of joy and success but is found even in the places we least expect, such as in suffering and perceived absence. As we navigate our own struggles, we can find comfort in knowing that God is with us, offering His love and redemption. This invites us to trust in His presence and allow His Spirit to bring healing and transformation in our lives. [36:20]

Psalm 34:18-19 (ESV): "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all."

Reflection: How can you invite God's presence into your current struggles, allowing His Spirit to bring healing and transformation?

Quotes



The tearing of the heavens is letting us know that a divine revelation is taking place. A revelation straight from God. And the revelation, of course, is that Jesus is the Son of God. That's why the Father speaks, you are my Son whom I love. So God himself is affirming what Mark says in his introduction, that Jesus is the eternal Son of God. But this revelation of who Jesus is is so ironic because it takes place in conjunction with his water baptism. A baptism signifying repentance. And the point, again, is that God is being revealed to the world as the one who identifies himself with sinful humanity. [00:18:36] (32 seconds)


That God is revealed not through our might, not through our triumph, not ultimately through our victories. God is actually revealed through our posture of becoming servants and those who embrace even suffering at times. Jesus says this in the Gospel of Mark 8 .34. Then he called, and in the context of the whole Gospel of Mark and the revelation of Jesus as the Son, what we see is that you and I carrying our cross isn't just how we emulate Jesus as servants. [00:19:49] (32 seconds)


Mark wants to communicate this to us again and again and so there's so many ways to do that. There's something in Mark's gospel that Bible scholars call the Messianic secret. And they call it the Messianic secret because there's this constant occurrence that happens throughout Mark's gospel where Jesus is trying to keep his identity hushed. Again and again, you'll notice Jesus tells people, don't tell people what I did for you. [00:22:31] (20 seconds)


In fact, you see several of those instances of the Messianic secret right here in Mark chapter one. I mean, Jesus comes out of the waters of baptism. The father says, this is my son whom I love. And the very next thing that happens in the narrative is Jesus is driven by the spirit into the obscurity of the world. He goes into the wilderness for 40 days. Like the first thing he does isn't go to Jerusalem and announce himself as king. He goes into the desert for more than a month to face off with Satan by himself. [00:22:51] (24 seconds)


Mark's gospel is divided into two halves. And the first half, Jesus is ministering all throughout Galilee in northern Israel. But when you get to the second half of Mark's gospel, Mark frequently repeats this refrain, on the way, on the way, on the way to Jerusalem, on the way to Jerusalem. Jesus is going to Jerusalem because he knows he's going there to die. And so Mark brings in that refrain, on the way, because he's linking back to what we read in Mark 1. Prepare the way of the Lord. What is the way of the Lord? It's the way to the cross. [00:25:48] (29 seconds)


The way of the Lord is the way of the cross through which all people are drawn. The glory of God is revealed in Christ and His cross because at the cross, the nations see that God is glorious because there is only one God who has laid down His life at the hands of sinners while He was forgiving and cleansing them. And at the cross, the nations see that God is glorious because there is no greater display of love and humility than the Creator of the world laying down His life for creation. [00:32:06] (35 seconds)


And if this picture wasn't already stunning enough, it gets even better. Because on the cross, we don't just see the suffering of God. We also see the triumph of God, the power of God to make all things new. Back at the beginning of Mark's gospel, we saw that John the Baptist proclaimed that Jesus was the spirit baptizer. He would baptize you with the Holy Spirit. That word spirit in Greek is pneuma. And again, it's connected to the arrival of God's kingdom, of new creation, of God's victory. [00:32:41] (33 seconds)


But then after that pronouncement, Jesus shockingly doesn't start baptizing people in the Holy Spirit. Instead, He starts His journey of suffering and serving. But then here at the cross, Mark says that Jesus cried out with a loud cry and breathed His last breath. The word is literally, expire. One Bible dictionary defines it as to give up the ghost. And that's because it's connected to the Greek word pneuma. Jesus gives up His spirit, which can also be translated as breath. [00:33:14] (34 seconds)


And so the spirit that rested upon Jesus at His baptism, at the beginning of His mission to serve, is now depicted here as poured out from Jesus as He reaches the crescendo of His mission to serve. So that in His death, the spirit of life is poured out so that even while He dies, God wins. In fact, when Mark says that the centurion saw how He died, it's the same Greek word, expired. Literally, it's when the centurion saw how He breathed His last breath, he proclaimed, surely this man was the Son of God. [00:33:47] (35 seconds)


We talked a couple of weeks ago when we looked at the arrival of God, according to Matthew, that there's no failure too great, there's no low too low, no person too far, that Jesus could not reach and save them. And Mark is making much the same point here, just with more graphic language. Because you don't get any lower and you don't get any further than to be God forsaken. To be God forsaken is to experience the absence of God. It is to be in a place where God, so to speak, is not. [00:34:36] (31 seconds)


And yet, on the cross, Jesus, the incarnation of God, God in the flesh, on the cross, He is ironically present to the God forsaken by becoming God forsaken Himself. It's as if at the cross, you reach the edge of space. And you cross the threshold only to find out that there is more space where you did not expect to find it. Jesus on the cross is God exactly where you don't expect Him to be. But He's also God where you hope He will be if you ever find yourself there. [00:35:02] (46 seconds)


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Transcript
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