Mark 1:1-3...Jesus is God. . .and. . .A Picture of Repentance

I attended the Priscilla Shirer Simulcast 2016 a few weekends ago, and one point that she made is that Bible study really doesn't have to be all that difficult. She encouraged us to get in the Word even if it is just a few minutes a day. She also encouraged us to get a journal Bible. (A journal Bible is like what you see above. It has extra wide margins for taking notes, writing thoughts, and organizing ideas. Some people even use them to draw very ornate embellishments of key verses.)

She had a list of five "P's" that were supposed to help you when you study.

I will tell you, I have forgotten all of them. . .

But! I do remember the basic gist, and that is to go verse by verse and paraphrase each verse (or sentence) in your own words, and then either explain what that verse means to you personally, or point out something you've never noticed before about the passage. Of course it helps to read the verses in context first, take your time (it's not a race!), and come to study time prayerfully.

Okay, with that said, I have just purchased an NIV Journal Bible, and I will be blogging about what I find. I am starting with Mark because most people believe that was the first gospel written. (I want to go through the gospels chronologically.)

Some background into today's post: I recently watched a debate between a Muslim and a Christian. The Muslim scholar pointed out that since Mark was the first gospel written, and that the book of Mark never claims that Jesus was God, that Jesus' divinity was actually added later in subsequent gospels.

I found something really interesting in the first three verses of Mark that pretty much cancels that claim.

So without further ado. . .
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Mark 1:1-3

1 The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah,[a] the Son of God,[b] 2 as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

“I will send my messenger ahead of you,
    who will prepare your way”—
3 “a voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
    make straight paths for him.’”

My paraphrase - 

Vs. 1-2 "The gospel started with the fulfillment of Isaiah's (and Malachi's) prophecy: "My messenger will come first, preparing Your way.

3. "His sign will be 'One calling in the wilderness,' and saying, 'Repent!'"

My explanations - 

1. Jesus is God.

Mark has a heart to tell the gospel. Muslims criticize that Mark never called Jesus, "God"--that this idea came later from the other gospel writers. However, the actual wording of Isaiah's and Malachi's prophecies state: 

"I will send my messenger before ME. . .[emphasis added]." (Mal. 3:1)

Obviously, God is speaking. 

"Prepare. . .for the LORD; make straight. . .for our GOD [e.a.]" (Is. 40:3)

Mark knew what he was quoting! 

Mark uses the pronouns, "I will send my messenger before YOU," and, 

"Prepare. . .for the LORD; make straight. . .for HIM [e.a.]," 

Notice the difference in pronouns. In Malachi God says, "I. . .Me," but Mark says, "I . . .You." Isaiah says, "Lord. . .God" and Mark says, "Lord. . .You!" Interestingly, not only is Mark calling Jesus "God" by doing this, but he is also alluding to the Trinitarian concept that Jesus is both "I, Me" and "I, You." He is both God and the person of Jesus Christ!

2. A Picture of Repentance.

The wording "Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him" is a great way to describe true repentance, as repentance does not mean "feeling guilty," but rather, "a change of mind." How does one prepare the way for the Lord to enter one's heart? He makes straight paths. There is a sense of urgency here. A sense that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, and that the line needs to be made now. There is only one way to heaven--faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ. True repentance is allowing that simple, straight, non-embellished, non-additive fact into one's head and heart! God's way is straight and narrow. It is pure simplicity: Jesus. His yoke is easy and His burden is light!