WordTruth Commentary

Commentary on Mark

2. Jesus Prepares For His Earthly Ministry (Mark 1:2-13).

A. Jesus is announced by John the Baptist (Mark 1:2-8).

(2) As it is written in the Prophets: "Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You." (3) "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.'" (4) John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. (5) Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. (6) Now John was clothed with camel's hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. (7) And he preached, saying, "There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. (8) "I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." (Mark 1:2-8, NKJV)
In this passage, Mark introduces us to John the Baptist. John was the last of the Old Testament style prophets sent to proclaim the word of the LORD. The job of the prophet was to clearly identify the sins of the people, declare God's message to the people, and point them to future events whereby they would know that the LORD had indeed spoken. In particular, the prophets would point forward to the Messiah or Christ who would usher in the kingdom of God. John the Baptist emerged on the Judaean landscape to prepare the hearts of the people for the imminent appearance of Christ.
Parallel passages: Matthew 3:1-12; Luke 3:1-20; John 1:6-8, 1:15, 1:19-28
Mark 1:2-3: Previous prophets had predicted the ministry of John the Baptist. Note that earlier manuscripts on which the NIV/NASB translations are based translate Mark 1:2 as "It is written in Isaiah the prophet…" (NIV). There are times where the name of a major prophet is used to represent all the Old Testament prophets. That may be what these earlier manuscripts were trying to do. But the KJV/NKJV both attribute these quotes to "the Prophets" because these two verses quote from both Malachi and Isaiah.
"Behold, I send My messenger, and He will prepare the way before Me: and the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight: Behold, He is coming," Says the LORD of Hosts. (Malachi 3:1, NKJV)
The voice of one crying in the wilderness, "Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God. (Isaiah 40:3, NKJV)
Mark introduces John the Baptist as the messenger of God. As God's messenger, John the Baptist has instant credibility with the reader. This credibility is important because his job is to announce the coming of Christ, the Son of God whom Mark wants to explain in this gospel (Mark 1:1).
The people of Israel, chosen by God to be His light to the world, had been without a prophet for 400 years. There had been no true prophetic utterances from God, no word from the LORD to guide the people. Furthermore, though the Israelites had regrouped to form their nation once again, they were now enslaved by the Roman empire. The people were confused about God's plan, discouraged, angry, and without hope. They lived in a spiritual wilderness.

John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. (Mark 1:4, NKJV)
Mark 1:4: It was in the spiritual wilderness, John the Baptist was called to minister the word of the LORD. Luke tells us that John grew up in the desert and there began his ministry: "So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts until the day of his manifestation to Israel" (Luke 1:80, NKJV).
Like so many of the prophets before John, his life was be a physical representation of God's spiritual reality. God often commanded prophets to perform specific object lessons that demonstrated symbolically the spiritual truth He was prophesying. For example:
Stand in the Temple gate: Jeremiah was called to stand in the gates of the Temple to call the people to repentance for entering God's temple with sinful lives and sinful attitudes (Jer. 7:1-3).
Wearing a Sash: God told Jeremiah to wear a "linen sash" (Jer. 13:1, KJV) and later hide it under a rock near the Euphrates river. The sash was ruined and useless. God gave Jeremiah this object lesson in how the prideful people who would not listen to the word of God would become marred and useless like the sash (Jer. 13:1-27).
A Yoke on the Neck: Jeremiah was called by God to wear a handmade yoke around his neck as a sign that God was about to deliver Israel into the hands of "Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon" (Jer. 27:6, NKJV). Later the yoke was broken in the presence of all the people to demonstrate how God would eventually deal with Babylon (Jer. 27:10).
Lie on the Ground for More Than a Year: Ezekiel was to lie down before a clay mock-up of the city of Jerusalem for 390 days and then 40 more days. This was to represent the siege of Jerusalem in the coming judgment at the hand of the Babylonians (Ezekiel 4:1-15).
Carry Around Packed Bags: Ezekiel was commanded to pack some bags as for a journery. He was instructed to then carry those bags day and night before the people of Israel to show them that they would go into captivity for their sins against God and each other (Ezekiel 12:1-20).
Wearing a Belt Tying Both Hands Together: The prophet Agabus demonstrated to Paul and the church that if Paul went to Jerusalem he would face imprisonment (Acts 21:10-12).
So John's preaching of God's word in the wilderness was an object lesson for the people of Israel who, at that time, were living in a spiritual wilderness. What was that lesson? John the Baptist had a powerful message for the people of his time: repentance. His message was that people should turn from their sins, confess them to God, and believe in the Christ who was coming into the world. The word of the LORD had come to them in the wilderness indicating the way out of the wilderness through repentance. Repentance is a dramatic change of mind, a change of heart deep within a person. It is like doing a "U-turn" in the road of life. Before repentance, you live life without submitting to God. After repentance, you submit your life to God.
John the Baptist bore witness to Christ. His ministry was intended to spark repentance in the hearts of the Israelites and turn them to Christ for redemption. Look at how John speaks of Christ:
Christ the Eternal One: "John bore witness of him, and cried out saying, 'This was He of whom I said, "He who comes after me is preferred before me: for He was before me"'" (John 1:15, NKJV).
Christ the Glorious One: "John answered them, saying, 'I baptize with water: but there stands One among you, whom you do not know. It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandel strap I am not worthy to loose'" (John 1:26-27, NKJV).
Christ the Saving One: "(29) The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, 'Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (30) This is He of whom I said, "After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me." (31) I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore am I came baptizing with water'" (John 1:29-31, NKJV).
Christ the Anointed One: "(32) And John bore witness, saying, 'I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. (33) And I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, "Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. (34) And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God" (John 1:32-34, NKJV).
Christ the Greater One: "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30, NKJV).
Note that John's message of repentance was given to the people before Christ began His earthly ministry. Before the time of Christ, people were saved from their sins by believing in God and in the Christ He would send into the world. Repentance is still needed today. We live in a time after Christ has come into the world and died for all our sins. We are saved by turning from our sins and believing in God and in Christ who has already come into the world.
John's mission was to prepare the nation of Israel for the coming of her King. Look at the pronouncement of the angel to John's father, Zechariah, concerning John's mission:
(16) And He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. (17) He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. (Luke 1:16-17, NKJV)
Zechariah, as High Priest of Israel, also prophesied concerning John's mission:
(76) And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways; (77) To give knowledge of salvation to His people By the remission of their sins, (78) Through the tender mercy of our God; with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us, (79) To give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace. (Luke 1:76-79, NKJV)
His was a message of national repentance at an individual level. Each person needed to turn to God and away from their sins. He also pointed people to the imminent coming of Christ who would usher in the kingdom of God.

Mark 1:5: His ministry was in the "wilderness" (1:4), a term for the desert area of the Holy Lands where rainfall is sparse and people are few. Typically, this term refers to the southern and eastern portions of Israel and across the Jordan River. Interestingly, the people came out to the wilderness to hear John preach. "Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins" (Mark 1:5, NKJV). John the Baptist had no church house, no evangelism program, no youth ministry, and no advertising program. He was simply faithful to proclaim the word of God in the power of the Holy Spirit and people came to him. The people heard God's word through John, confessed their sins and repentantly turned to God. John the Baptist was true to his name by baptizing the people in the Jordan River.
The word "baptized" comes from the Greek word "baptizo" which means to be overwhelmed by something. In this verse, the context is the Jordan River. The people who repentantly turned to God and Christ who was to come were overwhelmed, or immersed, in the cool water of the Jordan River. The idea of sprinkling is not conveyed by this word at all. Dyed fabric was cloth that had been "baptizo" in the dye; the suggestion of sprinkling as the primary meaning rather than immersion does not even make sense. Further, Scripture records that "immediately" after the baptism of Jesus He was "coming up from the water" (Mark 1:10, NKJV). He was clearly immersed in the Jordan River. Many denominations disagree with the Baptist position on immersion but they do so on the basis of tradition or personal bias rather than Scripture.
The immersing baptism of John must have caused offense to the Jewish people. Typically, proselytes (non-Jews) who wished to convert to Judaism were required by the first century tradition to self-baptize themselves for ceremonial cleanness. Now, the LORD calls the Jews themselves to be baptized in preparation of the coming of Christ.
Mark 1:6: By today's standards, John was certainly a strange looking preacher with a very rustic church. He wore a suit of "camel's hair and ... a leather belt around his waist." His diet consisted of "locusts and wild honey." The appearance and diet of John was consistent with people who lived in the desert regions of this time.
There was not much in John's ministry to attract people. His words were sharp with frequent attacks on the religious leaders: "But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said to them, 'Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance'" (Matthew 3:7-8, NKJV). John expressed this exact same thought to the multitudes that came to be baptized by him (Luke 3:7-8). He was direct with his rebuke of the crowds, tax collectors, and even with Roman soldiers (Luke 3:10-14). This is hardly today's prescription for church growth. Yet, we see that people traveled to the wilderness to hear John proclaim the word of God with boldness and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Many a pulpit committee would overlook a man like John the Baptist. It must have been discouraging to live in isolation, lonely to be so removed from other people, and depressing to constantly proclaim the sins of the people. Who would desire such a ministry? Nevertheless, John was faithful to do what God called him to do, even it was not a pleasant or desirable task. God will bless you also as you remain faithful in His calling on your life, whatever and wherever that might be. No church or ministry is small or insignificant in God's sight. While John was in prison, Jesus sent the following word to him regarding his ministry: "Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he" (Matthew 11:11, NKJV). What God desires in each one of us is faithfulness to His call. Faithfulness even in an unpleasant ministry is a tremendous lesson we learn from John the Baptist.

(7) And he preached, saying, "There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. (8) "I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." (Mark 1:7-8, KJV)
Mark 1:7-8: In his ministry, John exuded power that also drew people to hear his message. Powerful men have always attracted attention. The Bible says that John the Baptist "...will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God" (Luke 1:15-16, NKJV). From this description, it appears that John was also a Nazirite (Numbers 6:2-21), one who had devoted his life to serving the LORD. Abstinence from intoxicating beverages was critical to John's power; one cannot be empowered by the Holy Spirit and intoxicated at the same time: "And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18, NKJV). John also ministered "…in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord'" (Luke 1:17, NKJV). Elijah, was the great miracle working prophet who won a mighty battle over the false prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:17-40). During the first century, references to all the prophets were often made by naming Elijah or Jeremiah, two of the greatest prophets of Israel (Matthew 16:14; cf. Matthew 27:9 where quotations from both Zechariah and Jeremiah are attributed to Jeremiah;). So John's coming in the spirit and power of Elias (Elijah) denotes his association with all the other prophets of God. Like all the other prophets, the power of his ministry was the Holy Spirit Himself. Likewise, your power for ministry is found when you yield yourself to the will of the Holy Spirit. He will lead you, equip you, and empower you to accomplish His will.
The people saw John the Baptist as a mighty man, truly a prophet of God though John performed no miracle during his lifetime. Yet John pointed the people to Christ, "One after me who is mightier than I" (Mark 1:7, NKJV). As powerful as John's preaching was to the people, he always pointed them to Christ as the source of his strength and the One in whom the people were to believe. John described Christ as One who possessed:

Greater power ("mightier than I").

Greater honor ("whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose").

Greater gifts ("He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit").

Who can baptize people with the Holy Spirit but God alone?
To the reader, John appears as a powerful man but one who needed no sword. He preached a message of submission not domination. He called people to turn to Christ and away from self. John knew that Christ the LORD possessed supreme power over all the universe. His own response to this revelation from God (as should be ours) was to humbly repent and believe in Him.

B. Jesus is identified by God as His beloved Son (Mark 1:9-11).

(9) It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. (10) And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. (11) Then a voice came from heaven, "You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Mark 1:9-11, NKJV)
While John the Baptist is still at work preparing the hearts of the people for the coming of Christ, Jesus arrives! He even comes to John to be baptized like any other person. However, unlike any other person, when Jesus came up out of the water God the Father identified Jesus as His beloved Son. So Jesus is identified, not only by a prophet of God -- John the Baptist -- but also by God the Father Himself. His identification reveals a close, intimate relationship as a father and son enjoy. Further, the voice from Heaven affirms Jesus as One who pleases God.
Parallel passages: Matthew 3:13-17; Luke 3:21-22; John 1:31-34
Mark 1:9: Note the geographic and chronological references given by Mark in this gospel account. He points to specific places and times in history. Far from being legend, the events Mark describes were specific and verifiable by the readers of his day. This is just another example of the uniqueness of the Bible in works of antiquity.
Why was Jesus baptized by John? John himself was surprised at Jesus' request to be baptized. But one of the reasons for Jesus' baptism was to fulfill all righteousness:
Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?" But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him. (Matthew 3:13-15, NKJV)
It was right for Jesus to be baptized just like the people John exhorted in his preaching. Jesus went through this baptism to identify with sinful human beings. The baptism of Jesus identified Jesus with all humanity. Though Jesus was without sin (2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 4:15; 1 Pet. 2:22; 1 John 3:5), He chose to relate to sinful people. Though Jesus was and is fully God (John 1:1), He also wanted to show that He was fully human. You see, God does not expect you to somehow work yourself up to Heaven to have a relationship with Him. The Bible tells us that no one could ever do enough good things to make God accept you (Romans 3:20; Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 2:16). But God loves you so much that He brought Himself down to your level. God meets you at your own level. God comes to wherever you are. That is what Jesus Christ demonstrated in His baptism.
Mark 1:10: In Mark's gospel, you find repeated use of the word "immediately." This word occurs over forty times in just sixteen chapters. Mark focuses on Jesus as a Man of action, a Servant about the Father's business. Jesus is presented as confident and assured of what He must do. This is critical in the narrative because His death on the cross at the end would seem to be a failure when, in fact, it became His victory at the resurrection.
The reference "he saw the heavens opened" is to Jesus who saw the reality of Heaven before Him and the Holy Spirit descending upon Him. The gospel of John records that John the Baptist also saw the Holy Spirit descend upon Jesus (John 1:33-34). Note that Jesus did not become Christ at this baptism. Many cults will attempt to spiritualize Jesus at the baptism and remove this divine empowerment prior to the cross in order to fit into their false theological framework. We know from Scripture that the angels announced to the shepherds the day Jesus was born: "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:11, NKJV). Jesus was Christ the LORD and our Savior from eternity past to eternity future since God declared through Isaiah:
"You are My witnesses," says the LORD, "And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me. I, even I, am the LORD, And besides Me there is no Savior." (Isaiah 43:10-11, NKJV)
The Holy Spirit descended "like a dove" to anoint Jesus for His earthly ministry. The dove is a symbol for peace. The outworking of Jesus' ministry was and is to bring peace to the hearts of people everywhere. The world longs for peace on earth but it will not be found until there is peace inside the hearts of people everywhere. Through faith in Jesus Christ, you and I can find "peace with God" (Romans 5:1, NKJV).
Mark 1:11: "Then a voice came from heaven, 'You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased'" (Mark 1:9-11, NKJV). God the Father spoke in the present tense; He did not say Jesus "will be" His Son or "was" His Son but that He "is" My Son. Jesus is declared by God the Father to be His Son, a Son who is greatly loved. So the title for Jesus, "the Son of God" (Mark 1:1, NKJV), refers first to His sharing the character and nature of God. This title also refers to His intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father. Jesus enjoys a Father-Son relationship with God.
This is why Jesus was able to declare to all people, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6, NKJV). Because Jesus is God's Son, you cannot know God without accepting His Son, Jesus Christ, as your LORD and Savior.
The Bible says: "And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; and he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things have I written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God" (1 John 5:11-13, NKJV).
The phrase in whom I am well pleased'" (Mark 1:9-11, NKJV) presents a key point about Jesus' life. What is it that pleases God or would cause God to say He is pleased with His Son? Only One whose life reflected His own holiness, righteousness, love, and purity. This is the mark of Jesus' life which was different that every other human that ever lived. The gospel of Mark will show how Jesus pleased the Father in every aspect of His amazing life.
Verses 10-11 also present a clear view of the three persons of the Trinity. While no single verse teaches the entirety of the doctrine of the Trinity, this is one of several verses where all three persons are mentioned simultaneously. The doctrine of the Trinity can be summarized in three major parts:

There is but one God [ref. Deut. 6:4; Isa. 46:9; Mal. 2:10; 1 Cor. 8:4-6; 1 Tim. 2:5; Jam. 2:19],

The Father [ref. 1 Chron. 29:10; Psa. 68:5, 89:6; John 5:17-18, 6:27, 13:3; 1 Cor. 1:3; Eph. 4:6], the Son [Isa. 9:6; Dan. 3:25; Matt. 1:23, 14:33, 16:16, 26:63-64; John 1:1, 10:36, 11:4; Acts 7:56, 8:37; Rom. 1:4; Heb. 1:8; 1 John 5:20; 2 John 1:9], and the Holy Spirit [Gen. 1:2; Isa. 48:16, 61:1; Matt. 12:28; Acts 5:3-4; Rom. 8:14; 1 Cor. 3:16] are each distinct from the other but each referred to as God.

The three are one. Mark 1:10-11 supports part 3 of the doctrine of the Trinity along with Luke 1:35 (annunciation of Jesus' birth) and Matthew 28:19 (Great Commission).

Numerous applications can be made from Mark 1:9-11:

Consider the wonder of sinless Jesus, the Son of God, identifying with sinful people. "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Cor. 5:21, NKJV). Jesus comes down to meet you where you are to redeem you so that you can be with Him and He can be with you forever. "'And, lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.' Amen" (Matt. 28:20, NKJV).

Jesus is shown to be truly human, a real man who experienced life on this earth to the fullest that He might understand us completely. "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin" (Heb. 4:15, NKJV).

The old saying goes, "The apple does not fall far from the tree." To know God is to know His Son. To know the Son is to know God. And Jesus made it clear that He is the only way to know God (John 14:9-10) and the only way to find God (John 14:6). The beauty of the Father-Son relationship in the Trinity is that Jesus will grant that same relationship to all who trust in Him (not to become God but to have just as special a relationship with God as the Father and Son enjoy. "But as many as received Him, to them gave He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God" (John 1:12-13, NKJV). And "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now are we children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is" (1 John 3:1-2, NKJV).

C. Jesus overcomes temptation in the wilderness (Mark 1:12-13).

(12) Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. (13) And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him. (Mark 1:12-13, NKJV)
After Jesus' baptism, He is driven by the Spirit into the wilderness for a time of prayer and fasting prior to beginning His earthly ministry. He is also tested severely by the devil for forty days. Mark emphasizes the drive for His ministry was the Holy Spirit. The danger through His ministry was the devil and the world. Jesus is shown to be a mighty Servant of God by overcoming both threats.
Parallel passages: Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13
Mark 1:12: Again we see "Immediately" used to indicate the urgency of Jesus' life. As soon as the baptism and anointing by the Holy Spirit was complete, Jesus was driven to this time of preparation and testing. "the Spirit" is the Holy Spirit who "drove" (compelled) Jesus to follow this course. Jesus could follow no course but the Father's will. Being fully God, He knew what He had to do. Being fully man, He was led by the Spirit of God throughout His life. Being marked for ministry, Jesus was immediately tested.
Mark 1:13: What was Jesus doing "in the wilderness forty days"? One reason for this time alone was to fast and pray seeking the Father's will (Matthew 4:2,4). Jesus had to settle many questions such as where to go, when to go, what to say, how to respond to both criticism and success. The second reason was to be "tempted by Satan."
Now God cannot be tempted to sin. "Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am tempted by God;' for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone" (James 1:13, NKJV). The Greek word translated "tempted" can also mean to test, to try, or to prove. This is what was happening to Jesus. He was being tested to prove His authenticity. Further, the passages in Matthew and Luke provide details of Jesus' encounter with the devil during this time. The devil's goading words, "If You are the Son of God" (Mat. 4:3,6; Luke 4:3,9, NKJV) were a taunt since the conditional phrase indicates the statement is in fact true. We might say today: "If you are the Son of God, and you are, then turn the stones to bread." Like the melting of a gold nugget to prove its genuineness, Jesus' time with the devil was a proving ground to show that He was indeed the Son of God.
Application notes: When the Holy Spirit calls you into the ministry, you commit yourself to serving the LORD. You also present yourself to the devil as though there were a big target sign on your chest saying "beat me up!" The devil will test you as at no other time in your life than when you are first called. The purpose is to break you. If he can do so early enough in your call, he can get you to doubt that the LORD ever revealed His will to you in regard to the ministry. Never allow yourself to believe the difficulties you face indicate that God made a mistake. Nor should you think the hard times indicate that God despises you or somehow thinks you unfit for duty. No, but God does use such times to hone and refine our faith for greater ministry:
And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:
My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD,
Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
For whom the LORD loves He chastens,
And scourges every son whom He receives. [ref. Proverbs 3:11-12]
If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? (Heb. 12:5-9, NKJV)
The devil can never win if you lean with all your weight on the LORD Jesus Christ. "You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4, NKJV). Know with certainty the One who called you into the ministry and you will never be swept away by the enemies of god, "For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable" (Rom. 11:29, NKJV).

D. Conclusion of Section 2.
Jesus, the Son of God, is now prepared to begin His earthly ministry. A mighty prophet of God announced His arrival. God the Father announced His relationship with Jesus. And the wilderness experience proved these two announcements were true. The mighty servant of God was ready to change the world.
To run any race, one must be prepared to win (1 Cor. 9:24). Otherwise, why run the race? For the ministry, one must get prepared through an understanding of your call, a honing of your gifts, and proving time to demonstrate the reality of God's work in your life and ministry. Jesus took time to prepare. So must you and I if we are to be mighty servants of God. Education, such as you can receive through a Christ-centered, Bible-teaching Seminary, is vital to helping you understand and hone your gifts for ministry, especially in the preaching and teaching of God's word. Get the best education you can afford and the most education you are capable of attaining. Education may seem to be laborious and long. But a wise pastor once counseled me to prioritize in the short-term that which will yield the greatest long-term benefit. Education will position you for maximum ministry for the rest of your life.
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. (Heb. 12:1-3, NKJV)

Our Creator God loves you and wants you to know Him! If you would like to contact this ministry for further information or questions, please send your e-mail to:
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Copyright 7/05/2001, Randy Lariscy.