In the last couple of weeks, we began a new sermon series on the book of Mark. The Gospel of Mark - Simply put, is about following Jesus. Whether someone is seeking to understand who Jesus is or wants to grow as a follower of Christ, the Gospel of Mark tackles these issues head-on. Over the next few months, we will work through Mark and seek to answer these two questions: 1) Who is Jesus? and 2) What does it mean to follow Jesus?

This week in our Mark sermon series, we studied Mark 1:9-20. The sermon was entitled "All Eyes on Jesus" as Jesus entered his ministry. In these few verses, we see many things: Jesus' baptism, Jesus' temptation, the start of Jesus' ministry, and Jesus' calling his first disciples. All eyes are on Jesus as John the Baptist announces his presence, and Jesus takes "center stage."

We see Jesus for who He is and what it means to follow him in all these things. We see that through His baptism, he came to save sinners, identified with them, and was shown to be the Beloved Son of God who would take on the world's sins. In His temptation, we see that Jesus is the sinless savior. Jesus withstood the temptations of Satan in the wilderness where everyone else had failed.

As Jesus begins his ministry, we see that He is our savior king. He goes into Galilee, proclaiming God's gospel that the Kingdom is here and that you must repent and believe. The location of the start of Jesus' ministry is a reminder of how Jesus came. He came lowly, identifying with sinners so that anyone who might repent and believe could follow him.

Jesus is the Beloved Son of God and sinless Savior King who came to take on the sins of the world. Entrance into the His kingdom to follow him is through repentance and faith. Repentance is turning from sin, and faith is turning to Christ in dependence and allegiance. I need you—I'm a sinner. Your death and resurrection are enough—I trust you as my savior.

Resources:

• The Relation of the Old and New Testaments- David Schrock (TGC)

• Into the Waters: Five Reasons Jesus was Baptized - Gerrit Scott Dawson (Desiring God)

Reflection Questions:

• Are you confident that you are no longer living for your kingdom

  but for the kingdom of our beloved, sinless Savior?

• In this passage, Jesus draws near to those He came to save. How does this challenge the way

  we relate to and minister to others around us?