Christ Rules! (Part 1) So I Am Somebody!

A Sermon By Jim Hammond

Christ Rules! Gospel of Mark Series

Mark 1:1-11

Focus:  Because Christ Rules! I am Somebody.  Because of Jesus’ identity, I have an identity. 

Outline:

I.        The “Who is Jesus” question answers the “Who Am I” question.

A.     At the Baptism:  Jesus’ Identity was Veiled YET  Revealed

B.    Jesus’ Baptism means 4 things

1.  Decision

2.  Identification

.....to be continued

God Rules!  He really knows what he is doing.  Just this week, I was on the phone with Gina while I was at the office.  The problem was that I really wasn’t listening very well.  I had just received an email with a question I was pre-occupied with.  Gina could tell I really wasn’t listening, she said something like “You aren’t really there Jim, I can tell.”  I gave some lame excuse about how busy I felt (which was true), and how behind I was (which was also true).  Then I got off the phone and finished reading my mail.  Let me read to you the very next email I read. 

HUSBANDS

            Bill Hybels is the Pastor of the largest church in America, Willow Creek Community Church, just outside of Chicago, Illinois.  His ministry began as an outreach from another church to teenagers during the early 70's.  They called the youth ministry Son City.  He and his wife Lynne recount the story of their explosive church growth in their book Rediscovering church.  It also talks about the stress it caused on their marriage.  Lynne, Bill’s wife, is very forthright when she writes:

            "In my mind I am walking again along the quiet, tree-lined streets from the church to the tiny home where we had just begun our married life in May 1974. I am sitting at the round kitchen table with the red tablecloth. Another lonely meal. Another empty evening. An hour earlier I had begged Bill to stay home. He had looked at me in disbelief. "Kids are dying and going to hell, and you want me to stay home and hold your hand?"  The words echo in my mind, and I hear them over and over in different forms: Don't bother me, Lynne. How can you demand that, Lynne? Six months into marriage, I am convinced I have made a horrible mistake. I love the man I married. I love Son City. But I hate our marriage. I hate the pain of disappointment. I hate mourning the death of so many dreams. And I hate the loneliness."  (Hybels, p. 44)

            Ephes. 5:25 NASB    “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her;”

Do you know what I did after reading that one?  I called Gina back and apologized for not listening.  God has a way of getting through to you sometimes.  For that I’m thankful.  Christ Rules!

This morning, we continue in the God Rules Series, but we are now going to be in the New Testament, so now we begin the Christ Rules! Series.  I will bring before you, examples from today as well as teaching from the New Testament about how Christ Rules! 

Today we are looking at the beginning of the Rule of Christ as the Gospel of Mark describes it.  I want you to picture the scene as I describe it to you—the scene of Jesus’ baptism:  The crowds were lined up and crowding around the shores and the man of the wilderness.   They crowded around the prophet from the wilderness.  There he stood in the dirty Jordan River.  He called the crowd to repentance.  They were being baptized one by one in the water.  These were Jews in line, passing through a ceremony which only gentiles normally passed through.  Gentile converts first were required to be baptized, to wash away their uncleanness, and to renounce their sin, and turn to God before they could become Jews.   But here was John asking Jews, those who were already called the “chosen” to repent and return to the place of their original adoption, the wilderness birth.  Here was a voice crying in the wilderness, asking them to return to the place of their calling—the wilderness.  They were consecrate themselves as their forefathers did, to be made clean once again because someone was coming that would bring the kingdom, the long awaited kingdom as foretold by the prophets.  They were making themselves ready. 

In the midst of this profound scene walks on the set, Jesus.  Rather than describe the scene and the words that were spoken in detail Mark chooses to describe an incredible contrast.  Before we take a look at those contrasts, let me say this.  The description of the Baptism is for me one of the most compelling descriptions about the wonder of who Jesus is.  You see, if men were making up the story of Jesus, would they have included this description of Jesus’ baptism?  No.  If men were making up the story of the Son of God come from heaven to save men, the sinless son of God, they would not have included this description of his baptism.  The baptism of Jesus creates some puzzling questions for us, because we believe that Jesus is the sinless Lamb of God,.  If Jesus was without sin, why did he submit to baptism?   This morning we will be answering that question and we shall also see that the baptism of Jesus was more profound than many Christians realize!

Focus:  Because Christ Rules! I am Somebody.  Because of Jesus’ identity, I have an identity. 

Millie’s Email (God Rules!)

READ Mark 1:1-11

I.        The “Who is Jesus” question answers the “Who Am I” question.

A.  At the Baptism:  Jesus’ Identity was Veiled YET  Revealed 

A STRANGE CONTRAST OF HUMILITY AND GLORY

The Glory of Jesus Identity:  (Mark 1:7)  "And this was his message: "After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. {8} I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

The Veil:  {9} At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

The Glory (Revealed)  {10} As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open [curtains opened—revealed, veil removed]  and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. {11} And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.""

He shows us a glimpse of glory then shows us how it was hidden again as though by a veil.  Mark lets you meet Jesus in a way that was a lot like being there without a commentator explaining what was happening.  Mark shows you a glimpse of glory then you see it hidden again by Jesus humanity, his humility, his mission as the suffering servant.  The glory is hidden till the right moment.  Mark shows these contrasts without editorializing.  The words of conversation in the other Gospels bring the contrast out explicitly.  Mark simply shows the contrast to us.  Look again at the contrast between verse 8 and 9.

{8} I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."   {9} At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

The one who baptizes with the spirit was baptized

To all the others crowding around John, Jesus looks just like another sinner asking to be baptized.  To John something wasn't quite right. 

(Matthew 3:14-15 NIV)  "But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" {15} Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented."

            To thinking people who have read the entire NT, the baptism of Jesus presents a problem or a question to be answered.  John's baptism was a baptism of repentance, meant for those who were sorry for their sins and who wished to express their determination to have done with them.  What had such a baptism to do with Jesus?  Was he not the sinless one. This is John the Baptist's question too.  Isn't He the unblemished lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world?

By skillfully placing the sentences of verses 8 and 9 next to each other Mark portrays the enormous contrast between the baptism which the Lord is to perform and that to which he himself submits.  Verse 8 speaks of the one who baptizes with the spirit.  The giver of life, actively creating the people of God.  Verse 9 shows that same one in the role of the lowly penitent, passively receiving the sign of repentance on behalf of the people of God.  The surprising and mysterious nature of the mission of this conquering king is set forth here.  The King has been heralded, but his kingdom is different than you would expect.  His Glory is veiled.  His Glory will only be seen through humility.  It will only be made manifest through his ministry as the humble suffering servant.

            The mystery that followed John's announcement shocks even John.  Jesus, the mighty one, the one identified as the sinless Lamb of God, presents Himself for a baptism of repentance.  This hits John hard.  Baptism was for repentance, for the cleansing of sin.  How could the Lamb of God submit Himself to it?

            "John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you and do you come to me?"  John had declared Jesus superiority to himself.  John insists that he should be baptized by Jesus, not the other way around.  Jesus` reply to John is crucial for our understanding of the whole purpose of Jesus' baptism:  "Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." (Matthew 3:15).  Jesus' reply to John is prefaced with the words, "Let it be so now" or "Permit it to be so now."  It is as if Jesus said, "Look, I can't explain it all now.  Trust me, I know what I am doing."  The specific reason Jesus gives to John is this: "It is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness."

            This is the key to understanding Jesus' baptism.  He submitted to baptism in order to fulfill all righteousness, that is--, to do EVERYTHING that God requires.  Through the prophetic command of John the Baptist, God required repentance on the part of his covenant people.  They must be cleansed in preparation for the coming of the kingdom. whatever Israel was required to do, the Servant of Israel was required to fulfill for the nation.  Jesus, as the Lamb of God, carries the entire burden of His people, including the requirement of baptism.  For Jesus to become our righteousness, He had to fulfill every command of God.

B. Jesus’ Baptism means 4 things

1.  Decision. 

For thirty years he had stayed in Nazareth.  Faithfully he had done his day's work and discharged his duties to his home.  For long he must have been conscious that the time for him to go out had to come. he must have waited for a sign.  The emergence of John was that sign.  This was the moment when he had to launch out upon his task.  In every life there will come moments of decision which may be accepted or rejected.  To accept them is to succeed, to reject them in a case like this is to fail. Some points of decision offer a decisive moment that will not present itself again.  The undecided life is the wasted life, the frustrated life, the discontented life, and often the tragic life.  His baptism marked the decisive moment when he took upon himself his mission for his people.

Some people have a difficult time making a Commitment

I saw a cartoon in Leadership Journal where the secretary buzzes the preacher and says, "It's Monty Williams. He wants to know if he can audit your discipleship class on 'Total Commitment.'"

These people generally have no idea the tremendous cost of their indecisiveness.  People talk about the cost of commitment, and commitment is costly.  But I believe there is a tremendous cost paid by the uncommitted.  No decision, is a decision, and it is costly.

Choice, A Wise Decision,

Max Jukes lived in New York. He did not believe in Christ or in Christian training. He refused to take his children to church, even when they asked to go. He has had 1,026 descendants; 300 were sent to prison for an average term of thirteen years; 190 were public prostitutes; 680 were admitted alcoholics. His family, thus far, has cost the state in excess of $420,000. They made no contribution to society.

   Jonathan Edwards lived in the same state, at the same time as Jukes. He loved the Lord and saw that his children were in church every Sunday, as he served the Lord to the best of his ability. He has had 929 descendants, and of these 430 were ministers; 86 became university professors; 13 became university presidents; 75 authored good books; 7 were elected to the United States Congress. One was vice president of his nation. His family never cost the state one cent but has contributed immeasurably to the life of plenty in this land today. [1]

   Boston preacher James Freeman Clarke said, "It may make a difference to all eternity whether we do right or wrong today." [2]

   There comes a crisis, a moment when every human soul which enters the kingdom of God has to make its choice of that kingdom in preference to everything else that it holds and owns.

   -- Catherine Booth. "William and Catherine Booth," Christian History, no. 26.

   If you don't make up your mind, your unmade mind will unmake you.

   -- E. Stanley Jones, Leadership, Vol. 17, no. 2.

Redemption is a conscious choice to serve the Lord, and that act is a denial.

n     Philip Yancey, Leadership, Vol. 1, no. 3.

Jesus understood this when he made his decision.  He also understands what it means when he asks you to make your decision.  

What was Jesus’ decision? 

He decided to deny himself and pick up his cross for you and me.  That is what began at the baptism.  Guess what?  He calls each one of us to a decision that is very much like his decision.

(Mark 8:34-38 NIV)  "Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. {35} For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. {36} What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? {37} Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? {38} If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels.""

2.  Identification. 

When I was baptized I was identified with Jesus.  I was united in His death, His burial, and His Resurrection.  I was identified with Jesus and His righteousness. 

(Romans 6:3-5 NIV)  "Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? {4} We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. {5} If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection."

(Galatians 3:27 NIV)  "for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ."

So when I was baptized I was identified with Jesus, and United with Him.  But what about when Jesus was baptized?  When He was Baptized what was he identified with?   Remember, Christ was without sin.  So this baptism was not for his own repentance, or for washing away his own sin.  So what was it for?

Whereas our baptism identified us with Christ, Christ’s Baptism identified himself with Us. 

He identified himself with sinful humanity.  He identified himself with sinful Israel.  Baptism is identification.  The word itself has this connotation.  The word baptism was not in itself a religious word.  It was a word found in the secular world also.  The word baptism was used often in the fabric dying industry.  When a cloth was dipped, or plunged, or submerged into the vat of colored die they used the term “baptized” into the dye.  The cloth is dipped and identified by the new color. 

Jesus Identifies with the ones needing repentance, in fact he is repenting of sin, but not his own personal sin, but for our sins, for the sins he is now identified with.  He is imputed with our sins.  He repents for the sins of those he identifies himself with. This baptism marks for him the taking on of the task before him, he must fulfill righteousness on behalf of you and me. He repents for those who are unable even to repent properly. By this act his mission as the suffering servant headed for the cross has begun.

As Israel was born in the Wilderness, Jesus representing the true Israelite is baptized in the wilderness.  As Israel went into the desert and was tried and tested for 40 years, Jesus goes from his baptism into the desert for 40 days of intense testing.  Jesus is identified with the True Israel, it is with the covenant people that Jesus is now identified.  But what the covenant people have failed to do, Jesus will not fail to do.  He repents on behalf of those he identifies himself with.

.....to be continued

Invitation

Jesus made a Decision:   But What about you, have you made the decision? 

Some of you were sprinkled as infants, that is the only baptism you have experienced.  That wasn’t your decision was it.  The baptism the New Testament describes is a baptism that marks your personal decision, a decision that nobody else can make for you.  It is a decision to Repent, turn away from your sin, turn to Jesus for forgiveness and cleansing. 

Jesus was Identified:  But What About You, Have you been Identified with Jesus in Baptism?

Jesus identified himself with you.  Have you identified yourself with Christ.  Christ stepped into the dirty water, so that we could step into the clean water.  You can become a child of God because the Son of God did what he did.  He identified himself with sinful humanity.  He stepped into the dirty water and got dirty, he got your dirt and my dirt all over him.  Our sins were placed all over him and he died for them.  So that his righteousness could be ours.  The Identity of Jesus as the righteous Son of God, gives me my identity.  Now I am somebody, I’m a child of God, and you can become a child of God too.  When you step into the water of Baptism, you are stepping into Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection.  As Paul puts it, you are uniting yourself with Christ in His death, His burial, and His Resurrection.  These become yours--Death to your old life, and buried with Christ, you rise to newness of life.