Greater than John The Spirits Voice after Christ: A Chiasm in Mark 1.

.1-11 Luke Andrew Welch Sermon preparation notes, 2nd Sunday after Epiphany 2013 St Andrews Anglican Fellowship, Gambrills, MD Chiasm in Mark 1
Term A B Verse 1 2-3 Text The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight, John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And he preached, saying, After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 9 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased. Key Son of God The prophetic voice

C D E F

G H I H

Gods Messenger before Jesus Firmament Baptism (for repentance) Men coming from the South to be baptized by JTB at the Jordan Baptism = clothing with Spirit Leather strap Jesus is greater than John Leather strap

G F

E D C B A

10

11

Baptism = clothing with Spirit Jesus coming from the North to be baptized by JTB at the Jordan Baptism (for repentance) 1 Firmament Gods Messenger after Jesus The prophetic voice Son of God

The wilderness and the heavens are two forms of the same picture of the firmament. In Genesis 1.6-8, God divides the waters from the waters, and between the waters above and the waters below he places the firmament (which could mean something stretched out like a pavement, or like a fabric). Note that in this passage the heavens are torn open (like a fabric). The wilderness is between the Red Sea and the Jordan. It is also an intermediary space through which Gods people Israel, passed. Israel passes through the wilderness; John passes through the wilderness; the Spirit passes through the heavens. And Noah and Jesus pass through the waters themselves. The Dove reference ties this narrative to Noah also.

Greater than John The Spirits Voice after Christ: A Chiasm in Mark 1.1-11 Luke Andrew Welch Sermon preparation notes, 2nd Sunday after Epiphany 2013 St Andrews Anglican Fellowship, Gambrills, MD Things that Mark teaches us here: 1. An Eschatological Shift a. The Messenger b. The Voice of God c. The Holy Place

Jesus has brought the church into greater prophetic ministry than that of even the greatest of Old Testament Prophets. 1. Eschatological Shift: After the Advent of the Messiah, the message and power change. a. Jesus i. The ultimate prophet has come. 1.7 ii. He is both prophet AND message. Cf: 1. 1.1-2 (Forward from men) 2. 1.7 Message about Jesus, But Jesus will preach that message as greatest. Jesus will preach about himself. 3. 1.11 God will from here on out speak about his pleasure in the son who has come, not the future work of a vague messiah. b. The Messenger from God (this message is also in Heb 1) i. John, Jesus and Holy Spirit (Point C, vv4, 10) John is parallel to the Holy Spirit with Jesus in the Middle (v.7). John was a messenger (Is 40) to mark out the Messiah. The Spirit was a messenger to mark out the messiah. ii. Peter says the Prophets wanted to know what they were talking about 1 Pet 1.10-12, and that we have what they didnt. Clear knowledge accompanied by the Holy Spirit. c. The Voice of God. i. See Heb 1.1-5 ii. In Mark 1.2-3 the voice comes through the Prophet, in 1v11, it is Gods voice. This indicates an eschatological shift in clarity of Gods word, (see Heb 1.1-5) 2. Application: The greatest Old Testament Prophet was John the Baptist. Jesus was greater than John. We are in Christ, and all are greater than John. See Lk 7. a. Greater in what sense? i. Not in holiness. ii. In prophetic power. 1. Clothing with HS (Point G, vv.6,8) 2. Gal 3.27 iii. In proximity to God. b. All of this is due to the NT presence of the Holy Spirit.

Greater than John The Spirits Voice after Christ: A Chiasm in Mark 1.1-11 Luke Andrew Welch Sermon preparation notes, 2nd Sunday after Epiphany 2013 St Andrews Anglican Fellowship, Gambrills, MD c. The Spirit brings us the covenantal bond to the Groom Christ. The OT people of God were married but only up to engagement with the coming messiah. We are married and are in full relationship to the Lord. We are one body with him. d. When you share the gospel, remember that it is a mightier word than any OT prophecy, because it is i. Referring to the known Christ and his specific work at a known time. ii. Is about the messiah the church is one body with, and not just waiting to be married to iii. The power of his finished work is made manifest in us through the Holy Spirit. Other notes: Note that the Spirit was present with OT saints, but what he made known to them was veiled. Now the Spirit makes a husband known to the church, and this is a different manifestation of the Spirit. Reference to Rev 19.9-10 if you want to worship the Spirit, testify to Jesus. The Spirit testifies to Jesus. Compare: 1 Peter 1.10-12: 10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look. Heb 1.1-5: 1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. 5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, You are my Son, today I have begotten you? Gal 3.27: For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Rev 19.9-10: 9 And the angel said to me, Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said to me, These are the true words of God. 10 Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.