Sunday – July 8, 2012

July 8, 2012 – Read the Word on Worship

Why Study the Gospel of Mark? from Sunrise Community Church on Vimeo.

Why are there four gospels? Is there more to be gained by telling the story four times and not just once? After all there are not four Books of Acts. This Sunday we begin our study in the wonderful Gospel of Mark. The gospels are like diamonds, each facet lets in new light, allows a new color to emerge, and causes the over all beauty to be enhanced in a way that one stone by itself can not accomplish. We encourage you to take the time and pull up a chair and join us as we begin our series with the question “Why Study the Gospel of Mark?” Our prayer is that you will come to agree it is the story of “the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” (Mark 1:1).


Word On Worship – July 8, 2012 Download / Print

Mark 1:1
The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. ”

One morning in Jerusalem, Jews from every nation in the Roman Empire pushed in closer to hear twelve men speak about God’s most recent display of power. Many were in Jerusalem seven weeks earlier as eye witnesses to the Roman execution of a rabbi the governor said was the King of the Jews. Then, the one called Peter stepped to the front of the crowd and spoke these words found in Acts 2:22-24, “Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.”

The words of Peter on the Day of Pentecost are the outline for the Gospel of Mark. Mark’s gospel is about the good news, Jesus the Messiah, and the Son of God. The gospel is the fulfillment of prophecies spoken of in the Old Testament, initiated with the baptism by John, manifested by His miraculous works, affirmed by His death on the cross and proven to be true by His resurrection from the dead. Many of the miracles and the healings were to be kept hidden from the masses during the public ministry of Jesus. Many times the instruction of Jesus was to tell no one. Now, through the Gospel of Mark, they are the church’s proclamation of the good news — Jesus Christ is indeed the Son of God.

The gospel is all about Jesus Christ, and we can never get too much of Jesus. The word Christ literally means “anointed one.” Any preconceived ideas of those who saw the work of Jesus had to have been thrown out because to understand the message of God’s Christ can only be comprehended from this side of the death, burial and resurrection of Messiah. The Gospel of Mark is about showing Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of Israel’s hope. Even if that hope is a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles, because He exposes our false hopes and selfish expectations.

I am glad you are coming along in our exploration of this book. Keep your hearts open to connect the dots between the prophecies of the Old Testament and the actions of Jesus Christ. Look for the evidence of Jesus being the Son of God from the introduction to this book, to His baptism, transfiguration and finally to His crucifixion. Demons will publicly acknowledge Him and the blind will see Him before He opens their eyes. Yet the disciples and the high priest will not comprehend just who is this Jesus of Nazareth. May your eyes be opened in this study as you come to see Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God!

What do you think?