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Today is Wednesday October 13, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the Book of Mark, chapters 1-3. If you would like to read today's chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this link onto your browser: imfollowingjesus.com/bible-october-13
In today's Bible reading we will read about, Jesus being baptized by John the Baptist, fishers of men, Jesus preaching the Gospel and healing in the towns of Galilee, Jesus choosing His disciples, and doing the will of God.

Today's Message: The Ministry of Jesus
The Gospel of Mark is the second book of the New Testament, the forty-first book of the Bible, and contains sixteen chapters. The Author of the book is Mark and it was written to all believers, however, the first intended audience was to the Romans to whom Jesus is represented as just a servant. The purpose of the book was to present the ministry of Jesus, stressing His role as a servant and the Son of man. What we are to learn from the book is that we should seek to minister to or serve others rather than to be ministered to. The purpose for all four Gospels was to appeal to both Jew and Gentile and to show that we are all to receive and minister the Gospel to everyone. “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” - Mark 16:15.

Mark was a cousin to Barnabas, who is also known as John (not John the Baptist), and the son of Mary, a pious woman of Jerusalem, at whose house the apostles and first Christians assembled. Although in the book of Mark Jesus is recognized as just a servant of God, His Divinity is clearly beyond all doubt. Unlike the other Gospels, Mark begins with Jesus getting baptized by John the Baptist. “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins....And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” - Mark 1:1-5,9-11.


Jesus did not actually begin His ministry until He was about thirty years old, after He got baptized by John the Baptist. John was actually a type of cousin to Jesus, his mother was Elizabeth, a cousin of Mary, whom carried Jesus. He had been teaching people about repentance and baptizing them in a sense to cleanse away all the sin, now, Jesus has come to be baptized by him. So, why was Jesus baptized? Jesus was baptized for several reasons: 1. Since He was sinless and came to earth to give His life for sinners, He took upon Him all their sins. Getting baptized foretold what baptism represented, His death, burial, and resurrection. “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.” - Colossians 2:12.

2. He was publicly declaring His commitment to God and the beginning of His ministry, which we are to follow, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” - Romans 1:16.

3. He was setting an example for us to follow. “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:” - I Peter 2:21.

Jesus came here to show us how God wants us to live, He had the same flesh that we do, was faced with temptations, He got tired, hungry, and thirsty as well. He wanted to show people here in the flesh that they too can enjoy life and still live a righteous life in the will of God, but the most important reason of all for Jesus to come here was to save or heal those who were sick. “And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him. And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners? When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”- Mark 2:15-17.

Sin is like a disease, the guilt and shame it carries alone will cause physical and mental illness to occur, just like a physician is needed to help heal the body, Jesus, our great physician, is needed to heal the sin sick soul. Sin Jesus had people surrounding Him 24/7 to be healed it was time that He enlisted some help, so, He ordained twelve men to help. “And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils: And Simon he surnamed Peter; And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder: And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite, And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house.” - Mark 3:14-19.

Did you ever notice that Jesus chose people from all walks of life? Jesus wanted to show the Jews, Romans, and everyone else that it is not a specific religion or race that saves us, it is our belief in Him. “For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” - Romans 10:11-13. Why would Jesus choose someone who He knew would betray Him? He wanted to show us two things: 1. Not everyone that claims to be a Christian is one. “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.” - Acts 20:28-30.


2. It is not by works that we are saved, but only through our faith in Him that are we saved. “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” -Galatians 2:16.

Today, all whom have been saved are enlisted to help Jesus because there are many Judas Iscariot's out there keeping the lost from knowing and accepting the truth. Jesus said, “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;” -Matthew 9:38. We are but few, but we are blessed because we are sinners saved by grace. Praise God! Now, let's tell others so they too can have a least an opportunity to decide for themselves.

Enjoy the rest of your day/night and week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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