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! 

The Truth About The Father of Lies

I'm not sure why this came into my head, but maybe it is a word for someone.

Father - n. any male ancestor, especially the founder of a race, family, or line; progenitor. (www.dictionary.com)

God is our Heavenly Father. That means that we are His children and we are made in His image. It means we inherit His power and glory, and he wants to take care of us. God's Word is Truth and he wants us to know the Truth. God's power is not dependent on us. He will always have supreme power whether or not we do, but because He loves us as children, He bestows it on us if we ask. God is everywhere and all we have to do is call out to Him.

Satan is the "Father of Lies." That means from the first lie that he spoke into existence in the Garden of Eden, all subsequent lies are in his image. Satan fancies himself as high as God, but he isn't. He's a fake god. Therefore his lies are fake versions of the truth. Satan's power is great and so is the power of his lies; however, the power of lies IS dependent on us. Without our belief, he and his lies are powerless. Satan is not omni-present, so he has to rely on his seed to do his work for him.

Here are some more thoughts:

1. Satan is far stronger than humans, but his might is totally incomparable to God's.
2. Satan is limited. He doesn't have time or the ability to attack everyone personally.
3. God is not limited. He can care for everyone at any time, anywhere.
4. It only takes faith the size of a mustard seed to bring demonic oppression crashing down.
5. God never speaks guilt or disappointment into your life.
6. Satan doesn't want you to accomplish anything, so he uses his lies to tell you that you can't or makes you feel foolish for trying.
7. Satan doesn't want you to be loved, so his lies tell you that you can't be, or else they make you look for love in the wrong ways.
8. If a person speaks evil into your life, he/she is buying into a lie. Therefore you need to pray for him/her, not hate.
9. If you feel oppressed, thank God that you are His child and that you have the victory.

The Highest Form of Non-Theist Love: Love of Body

Dennis McCallum, in a sermon on Thessalonians, said, "The ultimate statement of love that a non-theist can make is 'I love your body.'" I believe that statement is true, and I believe there is much at stake in the reality of that statement.

If a person is a non-theist (atheist, agnostic, or other variety), he or she must believe that there is no reason for anyone to exist, that everyone is the result of a mistake, that nothing in anyone is eternal, and that existence ends when a person dies. There is no soul because there is no evolutionary reason to have one. Period. Any wavering on that fact and the believer is not a true non-theist. Therefore, the concept of love can be only for the here and now. "I love your body" at its most shallow means casual sexuality and at its deepest means, "I love your existence." Even if an atheist loves someone for who he/she is on the inside, it is still just the body. Even if an atheist loves someone for the kindness he/she shows, it's still just the body. Even loving someone for being "as messed up as I am" is still loving him/her for the body.  A person's mind, personality, viewpoints. To an atheist, these can only be connected to the body. There is no sacrifice to this love except masochism. There is no commitment without ulterior motive. There is no security except Stockholm syndrome. To acknowledge the soul is to acknowledge an existence that is higher and deeper than this plane on which we live. A non-theist cannot love anything more than the flesh and blood of another person. 

I hope that breaks your heart as it does mine.

I hope every human, theist or not, can see what is at stake with this kind of love. There is something in all our hearts that yearns to be loved for more than just our mortal coil. We may have no problem giving that kind of shallow love, but we definitely hate receiving it. We may accept and commit with liberality every sin and form of debauchery this world has to offer, but we always hate betrayal. Loving someone for his/her mere present existence is the very epitome of betrayal because it is love that doesn't last. Our bodies decay. Our minds change. Our kindness is inconsistent. Our messy lives will eventually repel the ones who were attracted. If these are the only reasons for which we are loved, then we will not be loved forever. 

If love isn't meant to last, then why do we want so badly for it to last?

There is a God and He loves you. Forever.

The Great Commission

There are certain churches out there that don't like questions. It's rather humorous since the Bible completely promotes free-thinking. They will say, "You must agree with us, b/c if you question, you are threatening God." Let's not even discuss closed-mindedness right now. Let's focus on the more immediate question of: how can we even HOPE to threaten God? I mean, come on! It's ridiculous. They are so scared of everyone "falling away," and they take stuff like Hebrews 6 out of context. It's like...why do you even believe in God as Truth, if the slightest wind can blow you away? It doesn't speak much for faith at all...and it completely negates the concept of Truth.

Like...this is one I've heard all my life. The age-old line of questioning:

"Why did Jesus hang around with tax collectors and prostitutes?"

"B/c they were the only ones who were open, and the Jewish synagogue leaders in Jerusalem had rejected him."

"So...shouldn't we have a mission to those kinds of people if they are so open?"

"NO!!! ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!"

"Why not?"

"B/c of the danger of lust! And you could so easily fall into sin! And the appearance of evil!!!"

"But...aren't we supposed to follow Christ's example?"

"Yes!...but not in that way!"

"Why not?"

"B/c He was God! He could handle it!"

Okay, before I go another step, let me explain what I'm NOT saying, b/c I've just set myself up. I'm NOT saying that we should have our next Sunday School class at the nearest brothel. I don't know why I would be saying that anyway, b/c Jesus didn't go into strip clubs and adult content stores. However, He was friendly to those people. He even *gasp* went to their HOUSES! Yes, we are not to make ties with the world. But, there is a difference between being a close friend and being friendly.

Get out of your comfort zone and look up a youtube video or two about transamerica with an open heart rather than a wrinkled nose, or start a conversation with the Satanist at work about about the new dog he just bought. These people are searching! They desperately want love and so they look in all the wrong places!!!

They will never see the truth if all they see is hate. Of COURSE they know they are wrong! Their families turn on them. They lose close friends who are appalled at them. They can't walk anywhere without being stared at. You know what that does? It drives them farther in!!! Imagine what an impact we would have if, instead of preaching about staying away, we would actually do what Jesus and the apostles did and love them and talk to them and understand who they are as people.

Instead, we stay in our churches and sing our hymns and talk to our people. We crinkle up our noses at the mention of words like "gay." Like somehow we are being holy and making God happy b/c of our abstinence from a mass of people that He created in His own image.

You know...that argument just does not hold water at all. It's a stupid excuse, b/c actually we are scared of what other Christians will think. Okay...maybe it's not fear. Fear is a weakness, right? We aren't weak. No not us. So we call it "discernment". So...good for us b/c we had the fortitude to stay away from 'bad' people. Whoopti-doo...People need Jesus, and although some will stumble across Him without us, the majority probably will not. Do you realize how serious that is?

What? did the Great Commission say "All the world will go unto ye if they ever clean up their act and show up?" No. It's our responsibility--to ALL nations, it says. And besides, who are we that they should deign to darken our doors of their own accord?

The clock is ticking. Can we waste time waiting for people to come to us? Show the solidarity of a faith in Christ. A faith that can withstand temporary lusts. A faith that is more loving than a support group. A faith that is founded by truth, and a truth that is the essence of love.