Chapter one of the Gospel of Mark may be concise, but it is full of information.

One could read this chapter as if it was the announcement and coronation of a King.

A New King has an announcement, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mark 1:1). To Romans and Jews, it would communicate the coming of a King.

A New King has a herald or a forerunner that announces the New King. In the Roman world, when someone took the throne, a messenger would go to all the villages announcing the good news of the King. John the Baptist serves as the forerunner of Jesus. “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” (Mark 1:2-3).

John declares he is not the King. “There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose” (Mark 1:7).

A New King has a coronation. This is when a King is anointed before all the people to identify the New King. When Jesus is baptized, the Holy Spirit comes upon Him. This was the sign given to John to identify the Christ. “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 1:10-11). “And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost” (John 1:33).

A New King has an enemy to face. The New King brings peace by battling an enemy causing problems for the people. Jesus goes into the wilderness to battle against Satan. “And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness. And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him” (Mark 1:12-13).

A New King has servants. We make note from above that Jesus has angels that ministered to Him. They didn’t come to prevent nor rescue Him from the battle against Satan. Consider the angels that brought Elijah food in the OT, (1Kings 19:5-8). It makes sense that these angels brought food for Jesus after having fasted 40 days in the wilderness.

A New King has a message. Jesus begins preaching; “Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:14-15). This verse is significant in that it declares the prophecy from the Old Testament is fulfilled in Christ (cf. Dan 2:44; 7:14; 9:25)

A New King has followers and citizens. The first people called are four fishermen. The number will grow, but the text reveals that King Jesus has followers. “Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him. And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets. And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him” (Mark 1:16-20).

Mark Chapter One is the announcing, coronation, and the beginning reign of our King.

Agape,

Spencer

This is part of a series of sermons preached at the Franklin & Juniper st church of Christ in Borger, Texas. Click here for Mark 2.