When was Jesus anointed as the promised Messiah?
(Mark 1:1-15; Daniel 9:24-27; Acts 13:1-13; 15:36-39) Blog June 30 – July 6, 2024
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: <PresentTruthLRI@gmail.com>
INTRODUCTION: Our study this quarter will cover the book of Mark.
The Author
1. What evidence, beside tradition, indicates that John Mark, the son of Mary the sister of Barnabas, is the author of the book that bears his name? Both Papias, bishop of Hieropolis, Justin Martyr, & Irenaeus say that John Mark was the interpreter of Peter & penned Peter’s memory of gospel events. Peter refers to Mark as his “son” & a number of Mark’s accounts reveal insights that only Peter would have known (Mark 14:54, 66; 16:7; 1 Pet. 5:13).
2. Where is John Mark first mentioned in Scripture? Mark’s name is first mentioned in Acts 12 as being the son of Mary in whose home the believers were praying for Peter in prison, but some see the story of the young man in Mark 14:51-52 as referring to Mark who probably followed the disciples from the upper room of his mother’s house to the Garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:51-52; Acts 12:12).
3. Where does Mark first appear in gospel ministry? Mark accompanies Paul & Barnabas on their first missionary journey into Cyprus (Acts 13:1-5).
4. What happened to Mark on his first missionary journey? After experiencing the rigors of mission travel & the opposition of powerful enemies in Cyprus, Mark returned home to Jerusalem (Acts 13:13).
5. What happened when Paul and Barnabas decided to make their second missionary journey? Barnabas wanted to take Mark, but Paul refused, so Paul took Silas & Barnabas took Mark (Acts 15:36-40).
6. What evidence is given that Paul later appreciated Mark as a co-worker in gospel ministry? Paul called Mark a co-laborer & desired his profitable companionship when in prison in Rome (Col. 4:10-11; 2 Tim. 4:11).
The Beginning of the Gospel
7. With what significant words does Mark begin his gospel story? Mark begins by stating: “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” These words tell us that Mark uses the word “gospel” not just for good news in general but specifically for the life of Jesus on this earth (Mark 1:1).
8. What was the difference between the baptism of John the Baptist and Christian baptism? While the mode of baptism is the same, John’s baptism was for repentance & forgiveness of sins with belief in a coming Messiah, but Christian baptism in the name of the Father, Son, & Holy Spirit is an expression of faith in an accomplished redemption, & those who enter by faith receive the indwelling Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19; Mark 1:4; Acts 19:4-6; Rom. 8:9).
9. What should we learn from the way John the Baptist came to announce the coming Messiah? We should learn not to judge God’s messengers by the way they are dressed, the food they eat, nor by the strange message they bring (Mark 1:4-8).
10. Why was Jesus baptized by John? As the Representative & Substitute of the human race Jesus was baptized by John to fulfill all righteousness for us who fall short of that standard (Matt. 3:14-15; Mark 1:9).
11. Who was present at Jesus’ baptism? While Jesus was coming up out of the water, the Holy Spirit was seen descending from heaven, the Father spoke from heaven, & John & his hearers were present (Mark 1:10-11).
12. When a person is baptized and led by the Holy Spirit will things aways go well and be easy? No, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, surrounded by dangers, & driven to fasting (Mark 1:12-13).
13. Why did Jesus fast for forty days in the wilderness? Because he was led there by the Holy Spirit to become weaker than any person showing that with the Word of God any attack by Satan could be resisted (Mark 1:12-13; 1 Cor. 10:13; Heb. 2:18; 4:15).
14. What is “the gospel of the kingdom” that Jesus preached? Jesus preached that the kingdom had come because he was God’s appointed king & that it was good tidings for he would bring salvation to those who believed & repented (Mark 1:14-15).
The Timing of the Gospel
15. To what does the phrase “the time is fulfilled” refer? The time refers to the prophesy of Daniel 9 in which 69 weeks were to pass from the decree to restore & build Jerusalem unto the anointing of the promised Messiah (Mark 1:15; Dan. 9:25).
16. When was Jesus anointed as the promised Messiah? In AD 27 at his baptism Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit so he could begin his ministry as the promised Messiah (Mark 1:9-11, 15; Acts 10:37-38).
17. Since three decrees were made to rebuild Jerusalem, how can we determine the starting point for Daniel’s prophesy? By working backwards from AD 27 we come to the third decree which was made by King Artaxerxes in 457 BC (Ezra 6:3, 8, 14; 7:12-13).
18. What should we conclude about the Gospel from this study? We should conclude that the Gospel is about one Person who in the first century accomplished our salvation (Mark 1:14-15; 1 Pet. 1:10-12).