Christian Mission Outreach

Solomon said, “There is nothing new under the sun.” (Eccl. 1:9) I add, “Just new people who need to learn the same basic truths.”

 Mark’s gospel is about Jesus - the Christ, God’s only begotten Son and chosen Messiah. He begins with John the Baptist’s preparatory work. After years of waiting on God’s part, as well as His people’s, it was time.

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness. But is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Pet. 3:9)

 Because John spent time alone with God, he heard from the Father who helped him know what to say and do. Since he was to help others get back on track, bearing witness to Jesus. he too needed to learn the Lord’s way, how Jesus would do things. Besides remembering what he heard in the synagogue and temple, he needed to hear from God Himself. Today we have God again speaking in a discernible voice to many. Once again it is time to announce that Jesus, the true Light coming into the world, is coming.

 Today, we have the advantage of having personal Bibles with Old and New Testaments showing us the Lord’s way. Jesus even told us that He is “the way” to the Father. “‘I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” (John 14:6) Jesus magnified the Father, demonstrating His way and His qualities, and He still does. He told Thomas, Philip and the other disciples, “‘If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him….Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.’” (John 14:7, 10) As Jews, they would know that it is written, “‘Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.’” (Deut. 6:4) Jesus is God and the Son of God, one with the Father and Their Spirit.

 John came in the spirit of Elijah and in the power of the Holy Spirit who infilled him while he was still in the womb. He was God’s chosen messenger to prepare the way for God’s most special messenger, Jesus, who is coming again both by His Spirit and in His glorified flesh. Jesus did not come as judge the first time, although he cleared the temple, but He is coming to judge the living and the dead now, His Spirit convicting and convincing us of sin, righteousness and judgment. He knows we need help so He will lead us. “For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” (Rom. 8:13) Walking in the Spirit we will walk in His ways. Part of the Elijah task is to restore all things, to call people to cooperate with “‘the LORD; make His paths straight.’” Hopefully my book JESUS The Bridge will help in the restoration.

 Mark referred to: “‘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 [including the temple of Holy Spirit which is the members of His body,] even the Messenger of the covenant in whom you delight.

Behold, He is coming,’ says the LORD of hosts.” (Mark 1:2-3; Mal. 3:1)

 Jesus is the “Messenger of the covenant” and Jews and Gentiles seek Him and delight in Him today. There is a final judgment, but Jesus through His Spirit can come to each one of us for a preliminary judgment so we can get our lives into right alignment with His word. (1 Pet. 4:17) I am a witness to this because I was very surprised when it happened to me. I thought I was a good living person, but when His light shone on my heart, I could see evil ways from which I needed to repent, ungodly ways I had been blind-sided about. It is far better to repent now than to wait until the final judgment to have things revealed. Holy Spirit can separate the wheat from the chaff in our life and blow away the chaff if we are willing. Jesus can wash us with His blood and word, cleansing us with His refining baptism of fire so we can give right offerings to the Father.

 The great and terrible day of the LORD is near, great for those who follow Jesus, but terrible for those who refuse to repent. “‘But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like launderers’ soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi [we are a royal priesthood], and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the LORD an offering in righteousness….

And I will come near you for judgment; I will be a swift witness against sorcerers, against adulterers, against perjurers, against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans, and against those who turn away an alien—because they do not fear Me,’ says the LORD of hosts.” (Mal. 3:2-3, 5)

 John the Baptist knew this. Warning God’s people he preached “a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins” (Mark 1:4) and sent his disciples to Jesus to be baptized by Him “with Holy Spirit and fire.” (Luke 3:16) He can burn away the false ways in our life and lead us by His Spirit. Then it is up to us to follow Him. Jesus can even save us from future sins giving us a way out of temptation. Let us trust and obey our wonderful, gracious Saviour. “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) “If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (John 1:7) Thank You Jesus for Your blood.