DAY #53: February 22, 2009 - Matthew 28:11-Mark 1:13

We end the book of Matthew today and start the Gospel of Mark.
The religious leaders’ worst fears had been realized —Jesus’ body had disappeared from the tomb! Instead of even considering that Jesus’ claims had been true and that he truly was the Messiah risen from the dead, the leaders decided to bribe the soldiers in order to explain that Jesus’ disciples came during the night and stole his body. This may have seemed like a logical explanation, but they didn’t think through the details. Why would Jesus’ disciples, who already had run off on him at his arrest, risk a return at night to a guarded and sealed tomb in an effort to steal a body—an offense that could incur the death penalty? And if they had done so, would they have taken the time to unwrap the body?

If this had occurred while the guards were sleeping, how could the guards possibly have known what had occurred? If this truly happened, why didn’t the religious leaders arrest the disciples in order to prosecute them? The story was full of holes and the guards would have to admit to negligence on their part, so getting them to spread this rumor required a bribe. The story circulated and many people believed the lie—also apparently not thinking through the information long enough to ask the obvious questions.

Jesus made several appearances to various people after his resurrection. The eleven disciples refers to those remaining after the death of Judas Iscariot. They went to Galilee, as Jesus had previously directed them. Among the eleven who saw Jesus there were some who still doubted. Matthew may have been reporting some of the doubts and concerns still lingering in the minds of the eleven chosen disciples. Of course, they would all eventually be fully convinced and believe.

When someone is dying or leaving us, we pay close attention to his or her last words. Jesus left the disciples with some last words of instruction. God gave Jesus complete authority over heaven and earth. On the basis of his authority, Jesus told his disciples to go and make disciples as they preached, baptized, and taught. (Church of the Valley's MISSION) “Making disciples” means instructing new believers on how to follow Jesus, to submit to Jesus’ lordship, and to take up his mission of compassionate service. Baptizing is important because it unites a believer with Jesus Christ in his or her death to sin and resurrection to new life.

Whereas in previous missions Jesus had sent his disciples only to the Jews, their mission from here forward would be to go to all the nations. This is called the Great Commission. The disciples had been trained well, and they had seen the risen Lord. They were ready to teach people all over the world to obey all the commands that Jesus had given. This also showed the disciples that there would be a lapse of time between Jesus’ resurrection and his second coming. During that time, Jesus’ followers had a mission to do—evangelize, baptize, and teach people about Jesus so that they, in turn, could do the same. The Good News of the gospel was to go forth to all the nations.

The first verse in the Gospel of Mark, begins the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, acts as both a title to the book and a summary of its contents. No mention is made of the author, generally considered to be John Mark. Mark was not one of the twelve disciples of Jesus but probably knew Jesus personally.

Mark gave no genealogy because he presented Jesus as the servant. A servant needs no pedigree, but demonstrates his validity by the worth of the service he provides. The book portrays Jesus as a man who backed up his words with actions that proved he was the Son of God. Because Mark wrote the Gospel for Christians in Rome, where many gods were worshiped, he wanted his readers to know that Jesus was the one true Son of God. He is coeternal with God—and is himself God. He alone was fully man (Jesus), God’s Anointed One (the Messiah), and fully divine (Son of God).

Some people thought John himself was the Messiah. John spoke like the prophets of old, saying that the people must turn from their sin to avoid punishment and turn to God to experience his mercy and approval. This is a message for all times and places, but John spoke it with particular urgency—he was preparing the people for the coming Messiah.

John preached in the wilderness in the area near the Jordan River, but he did more than that. He urged his listeners to be baptized. While it was customary for Gentiles to be baptized in order to become Jews, John was demanding that Jews be baptized to show that they had turned from their sins and turned to God to be forgiven. John’s baptism was immersion, and it was a visible sign that a person had decided to change his or her life, giving up a sinful and selfish way of living and turning to God. It was a public action signifying that a person had been cleansed of sin through repentance and had chosen a new way of life.

After Christ’s death and resurrection, baptism became an outward sign for identifying with Christ and his resurrection and for signifying entrance into the Christian community. (Romans 6:3-4; 1 Peter 3:21) Baptism did not give forgiveness; baptism was a visible sign that the person had repented and received God’s forgiveness for his or her sins.

Although John was the first genuine prophet in four hundred years, Jesus the Messiah would be far greater than he. John saw himself as even lower than that slave in comparison to the coming Messiah (John 3:30). What John began, Jesus finished. What John prepared, Jesus fulfilled.
John’s baptism with water indicated immersion in the water of the Jordan River. John’s baptism demonstrated repentance, humility, and willingness to turn from sin. This was the beginning of the spiritual process. To be effective, it had to be accompanied by an inward change of attitude leading to a changed life.

Mark proceeded to describe Jesus’ baptism by John. The signs of the voice and dove from heaven affirmed Jesus’ identity as the Son of God and showed the uniqueness of Jesus’ baptism. But the words of God the Father’s declaration clearly signified who Jesus was. If John’s baptism was for repentance from sin, why was Jesus baptized? Although Jesus didn’t need forgiveness, he was baptized for the following reasons: (1) to confess sin on behalf of the nation (Isaiah 6:5; Nehemiah 1:6; Ezra 9:2); (2) to inaugurate his public ministry to bring the message of salvation to all people; (3) to identify with the penitent people of God, thus with humanness and sin; (4) to give us an example to follow.

This temptation by Satan shows us that though Jesus was human and subject to temptations such as we are, he was also divine because he overcame Satan and was ministered to by angels. Jesus’ temptation was an important demonstration of his sinlessness. He faced temptation and did not give in. As his servants, we will also be prepared for discipleship by testing. Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit, takes the offensive against the enemy, Satan, by going into the lonely and desolate wilderness to fight temptation. The word for compelled is very forceful in the Greek, conveying the meaning of “thrown out” or “cast out.” This does not imply that Jesus was reluctant, but rather that God’s Spirit was intensely motivating him to go. As with Jesus’ disciples, the Spirit may have in mind to test us in order to prepare us for greater service.

From Jesus’ temptation we can learn that following our Lord could bring dangerous and intense spiritual battles. It warns us that we won’t always feel good; there will be times of deprivation, loneliness, and hostility. It also shows that our spiritual victories may not always be visible to the watching world. Above all, it shows that we must use and rely on the power of God to face temptation, and not try to withstand it in our own strength.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

Our mission is to make disciples. Lord, help me be about that mission everyday of my life. Lord, I pray for my disciples today. Work in them. Continue to refine them and build them into the men of God You desire. Lord, use me to help shape them, encourage them and inspire them. Lord, help them make it over the long haul. Protect their hearts and minds. Help them stand in times of temptation and trials. Mature them and build their character. God, build a church at COV, where evangelism and discipleship are the values of every member.

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ." Colossians 2:6-8 (NIV)

"And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others." 2 Timothy 2:2 (NIV)

PRAYER

Lord, draw people to Church of the Valley this morning. Speak to every heart and every mind. Lord, burden me, burden our people with the lostness of people and birth within them a desire to grow spiritually. All for you Lord. Only what's done for Christ will last. Lord, comfort the Lindberg family. Heal Pastor Dave. Heal all the folks impacted by this flu bug.