1 00:00:02,800 --> 00:00:10,560 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:11,440 --> 00:00:14,200 Speaker 2: All right, everyone, welcome back to How to Say the Bible. 3 00:00:14,240 --> 00:00:16,959 Speaker 2: I'm your host, Nicole Yunis, and I'm so glad to 4 00:00:16,960 --> 00:00:19,120 Speaker 2: be with you. If you're joining us wherever you get 5 00:00:19,160 --> 00:00:22,799 Speaker 2: your podcast, fantastic. I hope that I am part of 6 00:00:22,840 --> 00:00:26,480 Speaker 2: your daily routine, your morning drive, your morning walk, your 7 00:00:26,520 --> 00:00:27,880 Speaker 2: morning chores, whatever. 8 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:29,320 Speaker 1: I don't know why I have to be in the morning. 9 00:00:29,360 --> 00:00:32,120 Speaker 2: It can be anytime, but you know, I've I've just 10 00:00:32,159 --> 00:00:34,239 Speaker 2: been reading Mark chapter one, which is what we're going 11 00:00:34,280 --> 00:00:37,000 Speaker 2: to look at today, and Jesus went off early in 12 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:39,680 Speaker 2: the morning to pray, So maybe it's morning time for you. 13 00:00:39,520 --> 00:00:40,600 Speaker 1: You're trying to get your day. 14 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:43,600 Speaker 2: Started right, And if you're joining us on YouTube, I'm 15 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:46,080 Speaker 2: so glad to be back with you here. We did 16 00:00:46,080 --> 00:00:48,919 Speaker 2: our whole Daniel series on YouTube and it was just 17 00:00:48,960 --> 00:00:51,480 Speaker 2: great to connect with a different audience that maybe likes 18 00:00:51,479 --> 00:00:54,840 Speaker 2: a different platform, and I love just getting to be 19 00:00:54,960 --> 00:00:57,360 Speaker 2: visually together in Bible study. So if you're here with 20 00:00:57,440 --> 00:01:00,840 Speaker 2: us on YouTube, welcome, and you can find us on 21 00:01:00,960 --> 00:01:03,480 Speaker 2: Nicole Unis my YouTube channel if you want to check 22 00:01:03,520 --> 00:01:05,880 Speaker 2: out the visuals for this podcast. 23 00:01:06,480 --> 00:01:08,160 Speaker 1: So it's been a great season. 24 00:01:08,319 --> 00:01:11,960 Speaker 2: We've been taking January to really think about our spiritual intentions, 25 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:15,039 Speaker 2: what God's inviting us to this year, and now we're 26 00:01:15,040 --> 00:01:17,920 Speaker 2: going to make a transition. And I originally had planned 27 00:01:17,959 --> 00:01:21,119 Speaker 2: on jumping right into the Book of Hebrews with another 28 00:01:21,160 --> 00:01:24,920 Speaker 2: study guide, but life happens. And if you're anywhere in 29 00:01:24,959 --> 00:01:28,400 Speaker 2: the South, I'm in Richmond, Virginia in the southeast, and 30 00:01:28,440 --> 00:01:31,640 Speaker 2: we have had a time with the weather and so 31 00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:34,760 Speaker 2: everything is just a little bit off kilter. And in 32 00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:36,800 Speaker 2: the midst of that, I was like, all right, Lord, 33 00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:38,800 Speaker 2: what is it that you have for us? What is 34 00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:41,040 Speaker 2: it that you want for us? And I just really 35 00:01:41,080 --> 00:01:43,640 Speaker 2: felt a sense that I wanted us to return to 36 00:01:43,720 --> 00:01:47,160 Speaker 2: the basics and really be able to say, hey, each 37 00:01:47,200 --> 00:01:49,720 Speaker 2: and every year, each and every season, we can never 38 00:01:49,800 --> 00:01:54,080 Speaker 2: get enough of understanding really who Jesus is. And it's 39 00:01:54,160 --> 00:01:57,920 Speaker 2: so easy to feel like our lives are full of 40 00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:02,520 Speaker 2: so many competing voices, so many people even telling us 41 00:02:02,680 --> 00:02:04,880 Speaker 2: how to think about God and how to feel about God, 42 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:05,880 Speaker 2: and how to feel about the. 43 00:02:05,840 --> 00:02:06,960 Speaker 1: Things happening in the world. 44 00:02:07,520 --> 00:02:11,040 Speaker 2: And I am here really to remind you that the 45 00:02:11,080 --> 00:02:14,000 Speaker 2: Bible is our source of wisdom, and that the Bible 46 00:02:14,080 --> 00:02:17,320 Speaker 2: is the place where the Word is living and active, 47 00:02:17,480 --> 00:02:19,600 Speaker 2: and we can really understand God's voice. 48 00:02:19,639 --> 00:02:21,200 Speaker 1: Now is it always easy? 49 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:21,600 Speaker 3: No? 50 00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:23,920 Speaker 1: Does? Your name's probably not in the Bible. 51 00:02:23,919 --> 00:02:26,880 Speaker 2: You're not. There's no particular letter written just to you 52 00:02:27,120 --> 00:02:29,799 Speaker 2: for this particular time, in this particular season. 53 00:02:29,480 --> 00:02:30,040 Speaker 1: Of your life. 54 00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:33,120 Speaker 2: But if we do the work and we apply the 55 00:02:33,160 --> 00:02:37,079 Speaker 2: principles that we understand, God's word is relevant to our life, 56 00:02:37,120 --> 00:02:40,600 Speaker 2: and the Holy Spirit will speak to you through that word. 57 00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:42,720 Speaker 2: But we have to put in the work and we 58 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:45,560 Speaker 2: have to be available to what God is saying. So 59 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:47,960 Speaker 2: I wanted to take us into a gospel and just 60 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:51,560 Speaker 2: be like, Hey, anytime you feel like you are a 61 00:02:51,639 --> 00:02:54,200 Speaker 2: little disoriented or a little lost, or just not sure 62 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:56,720 Speaker 2: where to go, you can always go to a gospel 63 00:02:56,800 --> 00:02:59,519 Speaker 2: and reread a gospel. And you may not understand every 64 00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:02,040 Speaker 2: single thing in it, but that's okay. So we're going 65 00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:04,800 Speaker 2: to be reading through the Book of Mark together. Mark 66 00:03:04,919 --> 00:03:09,160 Speaker 2: is the shortest gospel and the most action oriented gospel. 67 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:11,560 Speaker 2: So if you're new in the faith, or you want 68 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:14,240 Speaker 2: to invite someone who's new to the faith to read 69 00:03:14,280 --> 00:03:15,760 Speaker 2: with you and you're like, hey, do you want to 70 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:18,320 Speaker 2: just read one book of the Bible with me? Mark 71 00:03:18,440 --> 00:03:20,040 Speaker 2: is a great one, and I'm going to do everything 72 00:03:20,040 --> 00:03:22,040 Speaker 2: I can to set us up for success to really 73 00:03:22,120 --> 00:03:25,359 Speaker 2: understand what's happening in the Book of Mark. So if 74 00:03:25,440 --> 00:03:29,120 Speaker 2: you have your Bible, I have my very large Bible here, 75 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:31,720 Speaker 2: I've got an NIV Study Bible in front of me, 76 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:36,200 Speaker 2: and I've got my notes. Really simply just spending time 77 00:03:36,320 --> 00:03:39,520 Speaker 2: here in Mark chapter one. So if you have your Bible, 78 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:42,640 Speaker 2: you can go ahead and open up to Mark chapter one. 79 00:03:42,760 --> 00:03:44,640 Speaker 2: And what we're going to do is what we do 80 00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:47,480 Speaker 2: every single week. We're going to ask four questions of 81 00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:49,280 Speaker 2: this chapter of the Bible. We're going to ask what 82 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:52,400 Speaker 2: does it say? And this chapter has a lot of action, 83 00:03:52,560 --> 00:03:54,160 Speaker 2: so we're really going to zoom out and be like, 84 00:03:54,280 --> 00:03:57,000 Speaker 2: let's just kind of understand and overview of what happens 85 00:03:57,000 --> 00:03:59,480 Speaker 2: at this chapter what does it say? And then as 86 00:03:59,520 --> 00:04:01,680 Speaker 2: we're asking the question what does it say and we're 87 00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:04,200 Speaker 2: reading through the chapter, there's going to be places that 88 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:06,400 Speaker 2: we're going to stop and you may be more drawn 89 00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:09,600 Speaker 2: to certain aspects of the Bible or certain aspects of 90 00:04:09,640 --> 00:04:12,080 Speaker 2: this chapter for this season of your life. Which is 91 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:14,680 Speaker 2: why having a study Bible is huge, because the study 92 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:17,200 Speaker 2: Bible is going to have all of these notes and 93 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:20,800 Speaker 2: sort of places to help you go to better understand 94 00:04:20,839 --> 00:04:23,680 Speaker 2: the questions that you have. For our purposes, I'm going 95 00:04:23,720 --> 00:04:26,359 Speaker 2: to choose two different little pieces of this chapter for 96 00:04:26,480 --> 00:04:28,599 Speaker 2: us to go through. Okay, so each and every week 97 00:04:28,640 --> 00:04:30,520 Speaker 2: we're going to do a zoom out overview what does 98 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:33,280 Speaker 2: the chapter say? And then we're going to zoom in 99 00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:35,760 Speaker 2: on a couple of places, one or two places within 100 00:04:35,800 --> 00:04:38,440 Speaker 2: that chapter. And that's when we ask our second question, 101 00:04:38,560 --> 00:04:41,200 Speaker 2: which is what's the backstory? What do I need to 102 00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:45,840 Speaker 2: understand here to really get what the original readers or 103 00:04:45,880 --> 00:04:49,800 Speaker 2: listeners of this letter or book or chapter or whatever 104 00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:52,800 Speaker 2: we're reading. What do I need to understand in order 105 00:04:52,839 --> 00:04:55,560 Speaker 2: to really get what they would have understood here? 106 00:04:56,000 --> 00:04:57,800 Speaker 1: And of course there's a gap. 107 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:01,159 Speaker 2: Between our experience in twenty twenty six and the original reader, 108 00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:03,320 Speaker 2: so it makes sense that we do have to do 109 00:05:03,400 --> 00:05:06,240 Speaker 2: a little digging, a little bit of understanding, probably a 110 00:05:06,279 --> 00:05:08,000 Speaker 2: little bit of moving around our Bible, which is what 111 00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:11,160 Speaker 2: we're going to do today to understand the backstory that 112 00:05:11,240 --> 00:05:15,480 Speaker 2: the original listener or reader of this would have understood. 113 00:05:15,520 --> 00:05:26,800 Speaker 2: So that's the second question that we ask. Then we 114 00:05:26,880 --> 00:05:29,679 Speaker 2: take a jump and we ask the question, what does 115 00:05:29,720 --> 00:05:33,440 Speaker 2: it mean when we talk about asking the question what 116 00:05:33,480 --> 00:05:36,680 Speaker 2: does it mean? We are looking to distill the truth 117 00:05:36,960 --> 00:05:39,880 Speaker 2: that is in this chapter or this passage that is 118 00:05:39,920 --> 00:05:42,720 Speaker 2: the same truth as the original listener would have heard, 119 00:05:43,080 --> 00:05:45,280 Speaker 2: as it is to me. And when I look at that, 120 00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:47,480 Speaker 2: it's not going to be time bound, it's not going 121 00:05:47,520 --> 00:05:49,159 Speaker 2: to be bound to a nation. It's going to be 122 00:05:49,279 --> 00:05:52,240 Speaker 2: like the dug down deep truth that's the same as 123 00:05:52,279 --> 00:05:54,240 Speaker 2: it was then as it is for me today. 124 00:05:54,320 --> 00:05:56,040 Speaker 1: And then we'll ask the question what does it mean 125 00:05:56,160 --> 00:05:56,400 Speaker 1: for me? 126 00:05:57,000 --> 00:05:59,000 Speaker 2: So once I know what that truth is, I can 127 00:05:59,040 --> 00:06:00,960 Speaker 2: then say, Okay, what does that look like for our 128 00:06:01,040 --> 00:06:03,280 Speaker 2: lives today? What does that look like for the circumstances 129 00:06:03,279 --> 00:06:04,839 Speaker 2: you're facing the moment that you're in. 130 00:06:05,320 --> 00:06:08,520 Speaker 1: Let's take a look at that together. Okay, now that 131 00:06:08,560 --> 00:06:09,000 Speaker 1: we have that. 132 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:11,160 Speaker 2: Overview, as we get into the Book of Mark, let's 133 00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:14,000 Speaker 2: go to chapter one. We're going to be in chapter 134 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:16,960 Speaker 2: one for our overview, so we're going to zoom out here, 135 00:06:17,279 --> 00:06:19,080 Speaker 2: and the first thing that we're going to see is 136 00:06:19,080 --> 00:06:21,760 Speaker 2: that at the very beginning of the passage, we read 137 00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:25,359 Speaker 2: this the beginning of the good News about Jesus the Messiah, 138 00:06:25,400 --> 00:06:28,080 Speaker 2: the Son of God. And then we go from in 139 00:06:28,160 --> 00:06:31,839 Speaker 2: the beginning to an immediate connection to the Old Testament. 140 00:06:31,839 --> 00:06:34,680 Speaker 2: The next thing that happens is it says, this is 141 00:06:34,720 --> 00:06:38,080 Speaker 2: what was written in Isaiah the Prophet. Okay, So right away, 142 00:06:38,560 --> 00:06:41,599 Speaker 2: as the listeners of this text, we're like, okay, I 143 00:06:41,680 --> 00:06:44,440 Speaker 2: kind of need to understand who Isaiah is. When was Isaiah? Okay, 144 00:06:44,440 --> 00:06:47,120 Speaker 2: So Isaiah was six hundred years before. This is a 145 00:06:47,160 --> 00:06:50,719 Speaker 2: prophecy about the Messiah who was coming for the Jews, 146 00:06:51,040 --> 00:06:54,480 Speaker 2: to deliver the Jews, to save the Jews. And immediately 147 00:06:54,480 --> 00:06:56,159 Speaker 2: as we hear about the good news of Jesus, we 148 00:06:56,240 --> 00:06:58,560 Speaker 2: open up and we're taken back to Isaiah, and it 149 00:06:58,560 --> 00:07:01,000 Speaker 2: starts with this, I will send my cinger ahead of you, 150 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:04,560 Speaker 2: who will prepare your way, a voice of one calling 151 00:07:04,560 --> 00:07:07,560 Speaker 2: in the wilderness. Prepare the way for the Lord, make 152 00:07:07,640 --> 00:07:11,120 Speaker 2: straight paths for him. So then what happens next in 153 00:07:11,160 --> 00:07:13,040 Speaker 2: this passage? And if you have not read the chapter 154 00:07:13,120 --> 00:07:15,080 Speaker 2: and you have a moment or two, I would encourage 155 00:07:15,080 --> 00:07:19,560 Speaker 2: you to pause this podcast, pause your YouTube, read the chapter, 156 00:07:19,760 --> 00:07:22,920 Speaker 2: maybe take a few notes, Okay, just try to get 157 00:07:22,960 --> 00:07:26,320 Speaker 2: a handle on what is happening in this chapter. I'm 158 00:07:26,320 --> 00:07:27,800 Speaker 2: not going to read the whole thing to you, it's 159 00:07:27,880 --> 00:07:30,360 Speaker 2: quite long, but go ahead and read it to yourself, 160 00:07:30,440 --> 00:07:32,680 Speaker 2: and then here I'm going to give you the overview 161 00:07:32,680 --> 00:07:35,200 Speaker 2: I have so pause it here read the chapter. If 162 00:07:35,200 --> 00:07:38,200 Speaker 2: you can now come back to me. And as we 163 00:07:38,280 --> 00:07:40,840 Speaker 2: come back, here is an outline of what is happening 164 00:07:40,840 --> 00:07:43,360 Speaker 2: in this chapter. Okay, so we know in the beginning, 165 00:07:43,400 --> 00:07:45,680 Speaker 2: the beginning of the good News. We know it's the beginning. 166 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:49,280 Speaker 2: We hear this prophecy about a messenger. Then we meet 167 00:07:49,360 --> 00:07:52,080 Speaker 2: a messenger. We meet John the Baptist, and we hear 168 00:07:52,160 --> 00:07:54,560 Speaker 2: a little bit about who John the Baptist was, how 169 00:07:54,600 --> 00:07:57,520 Speaker 2: he was a prophet, that his message was come and 170 00:07:57,600 --> 00:08:00,520 Speaker 2: for be baptized for repentance of your sins, and that 171 00:08:00,640 --> 00:08:03,000 Speaker 2: John the Baptist began to speak about someone who is 172 00:08:03,040 --> 00:08:05,640 Speaker 2: more powerful than him, and the thing that would make 173 00:08:05,720 --> 00:08:08,680 Speaker 2: this person more powerful was that the Spirit of God 174 00:08:08,840 --> 00:08:12,360 Speaker 2: will be with this person. The next thing that happens 175 00:08:12,400 --> 00:08:15,240 Speaker 2: is that we meet Jesus, and we hear that Jesus 176 00:08:15,360 --> 00:08:19,280 Speaker 2: comes to be baptized by John. And as he is baptized, 177 00:08:19,440 --> 00:08:23,120 Speaker 2: the spirit actually proclaims a truth over him, and this 178 00:08:23,280 --> 00:08:26,640 Speaker 2: spirit gives his approval. We hear a voice from heaven saying, 179 00:08:27,040 --> 00:08:29,240 Speaker 2: this is my son whom I love with you. I 180 00:08:29,280 --> 00:08:34,320 Speaker 2: am well pleased. So right away we hear something different happening. 181 00:08:34,559 --> 00:08:37,160 Speaker 2: There is this callback to the Old Testament. There is 182 00:08:37,200 --> 00:08:41,080 Speaker 2: a messenger who's declaring who Jesus is. And then Jesus 183 00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:45,360 Speaker 2: himself appears. And as he appears with this spirit, the 184 00:08:45,440 --> 00:08:48,240 Speaker 2: spirit then appears. The next thing that happens is this 185 00:08:48,400 --> 00:08:51,720 Speaker 2: same spirit. Now this is crazy. This same spirit sends 186 00:08:51,920 --> 00:08:55,560 Speaker 2: Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted, to be tested. 187 00:08:56,080 --> 00:08:58,280 Speaker 2: Now there in the other gospels we hear more about 188 00:08:58,280 --> 00:09:00,040 Speaker 2: the temptation of Christ. We're not going to get in 189 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:03,600 Speaker 2: to it right here. It's a powerful, powerful passage. But 190 00:09:03,720 --> 00:09:07,199 Speaker 2: what we know is that as the Spirit proclaims approval 191 00:09:07,280 --> 00:09:10,040 Speaker 2: over Jesus, immediately Jesus. 192 00:09:09,640 --> 00:09:10,680 Speaker 1: Goes into a hard time. 193 00:09:11,080 --> 00:09:14,760 Speaker 2: We go into this forty days of difficulty that happens next. 194 00:09:15,320 --> 00:09:19,360 Speaker 2: So the forty days happens, and Jesus is tempted, angels 195 00:09:19,400 --> 00:09:22,520 Speaker 2: attend to him, and then he comes back and he 196 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:26,280 Speaker 2: proclaims that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. Repent and 197 00:09:26,360 --> 00:09:29,440 Speaker 2: believe the good news. This is in verse fourteen fifteen. 198 00:09:29,840 --> 00:09:32,840 Speaker 2: And after that we then see Jesus begin to call 199 00:09:32,920 --> 00:09:36,840 Speaker 2: his disciples. We're beginning to see what discipleship, as it's 200 00:09:36,880 --> 00:09:39,800 Speaker 2: called now in the church looks like. The concept of 201 00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:44,920 Speaker 2: discipleship is following Jesus. Jesus calls ordinary people to himself, 202 00:09:45,240 --> 00:09:48,119 Speaker 2: and then he brings them along as he does ministry, 203 00:09:48,440 --> 00:09:52,040 Speaker 2: and he sees them, He sees them do what they do, 204 00:09:52,480 --> 00:09:55,320 Speaker 2: they see him do what he does. And so even 205 00:09:55,400 --> 00:09:58,400 Speaker 2: early on in this chapter, immediately we begin to see 206 00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:01,440 Speaker 2: Jesus do what he does. And the word I used 207 00:10:01,440 --> 00:10:03,760 Speaker 2: to describe when I read this passage, the word I 208 00:10:03,840 --> 00:10:08,839 Speaker 2: used to describe what Jesus is doing is wellness. He's 209 00:10:08,960 --> 00:10:14,400 Speaker 2: bringing people to wellness, to wholeness, to healing. He's driving 210 00:10:14,440 --> 00:10:18,640 Speaker 2: out demons, he's bringing people to peace, he's healing sickness, 211 00:10:18,679 --> 00:10:21,439 Speaker 2: he's bringing people to health. And in the midst of that, 212 00:10:21,520 --> 00:10:25,240 Speaker 2: he's teaching about what the kingdom does. Specifically, we see 213 00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:29,760 Speaker 2: here that what Jesus is doing is he's magnifying his power. 214 00:10:29,760 --> 00:10:31,920 Speaker 2: We're actually able to see that he has the power 215 00:10:32,080 --> 00:10:35,760 Speaker 2: over a variety of things that we often feel like 216 00:10:35,880 --> 00:10:39,800 Speaker 2: are out of our control, an unwell spirit and unwell body. 217 00:10:40,320 --> 00:10:43,640 Speaker 2: And Jesus begins to heal in all the places he goes. 218 00:10:43,840 --> 00:10:46,400 Speaker 2: While he's teaching about what it means to be part 219 00:10:46,840 --> 00:10:49,080 Speaker 2: of the kingdom. So we start to see about what 220 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:52,520 Speaker 2: Jesus cares about. We see Jesus go away early in 221 00:10:52,520 --> 00:10:54,880 Speaker 2: the morning to pray to his father, and then we 222 00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:57,600 Speaker 2: see him allow himself to be interrupted. The disciples come 223 00:10:57,600 --> 00:11:01,240 Speaker 2: to find him, and he begins to continue to minister 224 00:11:01,400 --> 00:11:04,520 Speaker 2: in the villages. So all of this is happening just 225 00:11:04,720 --> 00:11:08,360 Speaker 2: in the first chapter. Jesus cares about wellness, he cares 226 00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:11,640 Speaker 2: about peace, he cares about his disciples, and the very 227 00:11:11,760 --> 00:11:14,600 Speaker 2: last thing that's said in this chapter is the people 228 00:11:14,679 --> 00:11:19,240 Speaker 2: still came to him from everywhere in one chapter of 229 00:11:19,280 --> 00:11:22,040 Speaker 2: the Bible, in one chapter of the Gospel, we already 230 00:11:22,120 --> 00:11:27,360 Speaker 2: see how popular Jesus became so quickly. The word spread 231 00:11:27,480 --> 00:11:29,720 Speaker 2: about what he could do and what he was saying. 232 00:11:29,760 --> 00:11:33,280 Speaker 2: People were astonished by his teaching. But what's really amazing 233 00:11:33,360 --> 00:11:36,600 Speaker 2: also is that Jesus is thirty years old, like he's 234 00:11:36,640 --> 00:11:39,760 Speaker 2: been living in obscurity for all of this time. And 235 00:11:39,800 --> 00:11:43,400 Speaker 2: then when the father says it's time to go, Jesus 236 00:11:43,520 --> 00:11:46,760 Speaker 2: goes and we know from his forty days of testing 237 00:11:46,760 --> 00:11:49,640 Speaker 2: in the wilderness, he was ready. He was prepared for 238 00:11:49,679 --> 00:11:52,199 Speaker 2: what was to come. He was ready for what God 239 00:11:52,400 --> 00:11:55,520 Speaker 2: was calling him to do. So that's kind of the 240 00:11:55,559 --> 00:11:58,400 Speaker 2: overview what happens in chapter one. If you have not 241 00:11:58,480 --> 00:12:01,880 Speaker 2: read it again, go read after one sometime between now 242 00:12:01,960 --> 00:12:04,200 Speaker 2: and next week. We're going to do chapter two next week. 243 00:12:04,280 --> 00:12:07,240 Speaker 2: So reach chapter one, read chapter two, start to take 244 00:12:07,280 --> 00:12:09,320 Speaker 2: some notes about what you see and what you hear. 245 00:12:09,520 --> 00:12:12,920 Speaker 2: So after all that happens, we then ask the question, Okay, 246 00:12:12,920 --> 00:12:15,200 Speaker 2: what's the backstory? And I want us to focus on 247 00:12:15,240 --> 00:12:17,640 Speaker 2: two places here at the beginning and the end. So 248 00:12:17,679 --> 00:12:19,839 Speaker 2: at the very beginning, as we've already talked about, Jesus 249 00:12:19,920 --> 00:12:22,760 Speaker 2: announces the good news, we know that the good news 250 00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:25,200 Speaker 2: is what this is about. And we hear about this 251 00:12:25,440 --> 00:12:29,560 Speaker 2: prophecy from Isaiah. And if you look at your study notes, 252 00:12:29,679 --> 00:12:32,240 Speaker 2: you will see then, if you have a study Bible, 253 00:12:32,480 --> 00:12:34,480 Speaker 2: you're going to look down and see in your study 254 00:12:34,520 --> 00:12:36,640 Speaker 2: notes that you are going to be brought to two 255 00:12:36,720 --> 00:12:41,000 Speaker 2: other places in scripture, that this immediate quotation at the 256 00:12:41,000 --> 00:12:43,480 Speaker 2: beginning of this passage that says, I will send my 257 00:12:43,559 --> 00:12:46,280 Speaker 2: messenger ahead of you, who will prepare the way a 258 00:12:46,360 --> 00:12:48,920 Speaker 2: voice of one calling in the wilderness. Right here in 259 00:12:48,960 --> 00:12:51,280 Speaker 2: your study notes, it's going to tell you that these 260 00:12:51,440 --> 00:12:55,439 Speaker 2: verses come from Malachi three verse one and Isaiah forty 261 00:12:55,679 --> 00:12:58,640 Speaker 2: verse three. So if you have your Bible, this is 262 00:12:58,679 --> 00:13:00,959 Speaker 2: now the time to hunt, going to go backwards. In 263 00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:05,360 Speaker 2: our Bible, Malachi is the last letter, the last book 264 00:13:05,640 --> 00:13:08,959 Speaker 2: in the Old Testament, so it's not far away from 265 00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:11,120 Speaker 2: where you were in Mark. And we're going to look 266 00:13:11,160 --> 00:13:14,920 Speaker 2: at Malachi three verse one, and then we're going to 267 00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:17,240 Speaker 2: go to Isaiah forty verse three, which is going to 268 00:13:17,280 --> 00:13:19,240 Speaker 2: tell us about So I'm coming over to Malachi three 269 00:13:19,360 --> 00:13:21,959 Speaker 2: verse one. That's where my study Bible told me to go. 270 00:13:22,360 --> 00:13:26,480 Speaker 2: Nothing like no special knowledge needed, no special education needed 271 00:13:26,520 --> 00:13:29,000 Speaker 2: to go. Listen to what your study Bible says. And 272 00:13:29,040 --> 00:13:31,440 Speaker 2: when I hunt backwards and I go to Malachi, now 273 00:13:31,440 --> 00:13:33,680 Speaker 2: this is what I'm going to read. Malachi three verse one. 274 00:13:34,160 --> 00:13:37,000 Speaker 2: I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way 275 00:13:37,040 --> 00:13:40,320 Speaker 2: before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will 276 00:13:40,360 --> 00:13:43,880 Speaker 2: come to his temple. The messenger of the Covenant, whom 277 00:13:43,880 --> 00:13:48,440 Speaker 2: you desire, will come, says the Lord Almighty. The original 278 00:13:48,520 --> 00:13:52,000 Speaker 2: listener would have known that in the Old Testament there 279 00:13:52,120 --> 00:13:54,840 Speaker 2: was prophecy that there was one coming who was a 280 00:13:54,920 --> 00:13:58,440 Speaker 2: messenger of the Covenant, who is coming to fulfill the 281 00:13:58,520 --> 00:14:02,000 Speaker 2: promises that God is spoken about since the beginning of time, 282 00:14:02,320 --> 00:14:06,440 Speaker 2: and that would have not been unfamiliar to the original reader, 283 00:14:06,520 --> 00:14:08,360 Speaker 2: So we want it to not be unfamiliar to us. 284 00:14:08,360 --> 00:14:10,920 Speaker 2: We want to know where it's coming from. And then 285 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:14,720 Speaker 2: also in Isaiah forty verse three, it talks about confirming 286 00:14:15,000 --> 00:14:19,200 Speaker 2: and establishing the covenant that something new was happening. And 287 00:14:19,240 --> 00:14:22,240 Speaker 2: in the Isaiah forty passage we know that it is 288 00:14:22,280 --> 00:14:25,200 Speaker 2: not just about the Jewish people. Way back hundreds of 289 00:14:25,280 --> 00:14:29,800 Speaker 2: years before, already God was signaling that there would be 290 00:14:29,840 --> 00:14:32,680 Speaker 2: one to come who would not just be for the Jews, 291 00:14:32,720 --> 00:14:36,560 Speaker 2: but for the Gentiles, for the whole world. And now 292 00:14:36,600 --> 00:14:40,120 Speaker 2: here comes Jesus, the one who is being prophesied about, 293 00:14:40,160 --> 00:14:43,040 Speaker 2: and John the Baptist is filling that role of being 294 00:14:43,080 --> 00:14:45,880 Speaker 2: the messenger of the one who was to come. 295 00:14:45,960 --> 00:14:49,160 Speaker 1: Isn't that cool? Isn't that awesome to read about? 296 00:14:49,480 --> 00:14:52,240 Speaker 2: And even in these Old Testament passages, what we also 297 00:14:52,320 --> 00:14:56,160 Speaker 2: begin to get a feel for is this concept of repentance. 298 00:14:56,600 --> 00:14:59,640 Speaker 2: John the Baptist was talking about repentance, and then we 299 00:14:59,680 --> 00:15:03,880 Speaker 2: go back and these prophecies also talking about repentance. Repentance 300 00:15:04,040 --> 00:15:08,760 Speaker 2: is the ability to have your mind changed to turn around, 301 00:15:09,320 --> 00:15:12,680 Speaker 2: to see things differently, and to begin to act accordingly 302 00:15:12,840 --> 00:15:16,600 Speaker 2: because you now see the world differently. When we talk 303 00:15:16,640 --> 00:15:19,360 Speaker 2: about the good news of Jesus, we're not just talking 304 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:23,400 Speaker 2: about a good tale to be told that you can 305 00:15:23,440 --> 00:15:25,880 Speaker 2: add into the other good things that you know about life. 306 00:15:26,560 --> 00:15:30,520 Speaker 2: We are talking about a completely different framework for the 307 00:15:30,520 --> 00:15:34,560 Speaker 2: way that you experience yourself, the way that you experience God, 308 00:15:34,600 --> 00:15:37,120 Speaker 2: and the way you experience the world. When we talk 309 00:15:37,160 --> 00:15:39,680 Speaker 2: about a different framework, another analogy would be like an 310 00:15:39,720 --> 00:15:43,400 Speaker 2: operating system, like this isn't like a software update on 311 00:15:43,440 --> 00:15:46,200 Speaker 2: your phone when you're like, oh, yeah, software update. This 312 00:15:46,280 --> 00:15:50,120 Speaker 2: is a new different system completely. It's like a different 313 00:15:50,120 --> 00:15:53,000 Speaker 2: phone altogether. It's not the same. It's not like an 314 00:15:53,080 --> 00:15:57,160 Speaker 2: upgrade from what you already believe. It's a completely different 315 00:15:57,200 --> 00:15:59,520 Speaker 2: way to see the world. And so when Jesus talks 316 00:15:59,520 --> 00:16:04,000 Speaker 2: about this discipleship and he calls his disciples, he's calling 317 00:16:04,040 --> 00:16:07,640 Speaker 2: them to walk with him, to journey with him on 318 00:16:07,720 --> 00:16:11,120 Speaker 2: a completely different way of seeing the world, of being 319 00:16:11,440 --> 00:16:13,960 Speaker 2: not a part of the kingdom of the world anymore, 320 00:16:14,000 --> 00:16:16,280 Speaker 2: but a part of the Kingdom of God. That's the 321 00:16:16,320 --> 00:16:19,000 Speaker 2: backstory at the beginning of this passage. Now let's talk 322 00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:20,720 Speaker 2: about the backstory at the very. 323 00:16:20,640 --> 00:16:31,520 Speaker 3: End mark one verse forty. 324 00:16:31,560 --> 00:16:33,320 Speaker 2: If you're with me and you're in your Bible, let's 325 00:16:33,360 --> 00:16:36,640 Speaker 2: go there. We're seeing Jesus do these healings. We're seeing 326 00:16:36,720 --> 00:16:41,080 Speaker 2: him heal physical illnesses, spiritual illnesses. And now we hear 327 00:16:41,280 --> 00:16:43,680 Speaker 2: that he's going to heal a man with leprosy, and 328 00:16:43,720 --> 00:16:46,240 Speaker 2: so in verse forty it says this a man with 329 00:16:46,360 --> 00:16:49,040 Speaker 2: leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, 330 00:16:49,480 --> 00:16:52,800 Speaker 2: if you are willing, you can make me clean. Jesus 331 00:16:52,880 --> 00:16:56,560 Speaker 2: was indignant. Now Jesus wasn't indignant at the man. He 332 00:16:56,600 --> 00:16:59,520 Speaker 2: was indignant at the world, at the fact that there's 333 00:16:59,560 --> 00:17:04,320 Speaker 2: this man and who is suffering deeply, who is ostracized 334 00:17:04,320 --> 00:17:06,520 Speaker 2: from his community. If you had leprosy, you couldn't be 335 00:17:06,560 --> 00:17:09,480 Speaker 2: around anyone, You couldn't be in your community, you couldn't 336 00:17:09,520 --> 00:17:13,159 Speaker 2: come to the temple, you couldn't worship with your people. 337 00:17:13,560 --> 00:17:15,680 Speaker 2: You had to be away from people because you were contagious. 338 00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:19,160 Speaker 2: Jesus was indignant, so he reaches out his hand and 339 00:17:19,280 --> 00:17:22,920 Speaker 2: touched the man. I am willing, He said, be clean. 340 00:17:23,480 --> 00:17:26,800 Speaker 2: Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed. Jesus 341 00:17:26,840 --> 00:17:29,440 Speaker 2: set him away at once with a strong warning. See 342 00:17:29,440 --> 00:17:31,760 Speaker 2: that you don't tell this to anyone, but go show 343 00:17:31,800 --> 00:17:35,200 Speaker 2: yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses 344 00:17:35,200 --> 00:17:39,480 Speaker 2: commanded in your cleansing as a testimony to them. Okay, 345 00:17:39,520 --> 00:17:42,720 Speaker 2: so what is happening in this story. What I want 346 00:17:42,720 --> 00:17:45,400 Speaker 2: you to know from this story is that Jesus touching 347 00:17:45,480 --> 00:17:49,600 Speaker 2: this man would also make Jesus unclean according to the law. 348 00:17:49,680 --> 00:17:52,600 Speaker 2: You can read about that in your study notes. When 349 00:17:52,600 --> 00:17:55,160 Speaker 2: this man says, will you make me clean? And Jesus, 350 00:17:55,400 --> 00:17:59,639 Speaker 2: unbidden reaches out and touches him, we see that Jesus, 351 00:17:59,720 --> 00:18:05,520 Speaker 2: in him his actions, is prioritizing compassion over ceremonial law. 352 00:18:06,240 --> 00:18:11,920 Speaker 2: He's prioritizing people over legalism over rules, and he's beginning 353 00:18:11,960 --> 00:18:15,320 Speaker 2: to shift what it means to follow the law into 354 00:18:15,400 --> 00:18:18,000 Speaker 2: what is the priority of the law, What is the 355 00:18:18,080 --> 00:18:18,920 Speaker 2: greatest law? 356 00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:21,040 Speaker 1: What is the highest moral law? 357 00:18:21,400 --> 00:18:25,840 Speaker 2: And he makes himself unclean by touching this man with leoprosy. 358 00:18:25,920 --> 00:18:30,040 Speaker 2: But what's amazing is that with just a touch Jesus 359 00:18:30,119 --> 00:18:33,920 Speaker 2: heals this man. This story would have taken people back 360 00:18:34,119 --> 00:18:36,320 Speaker 2: to a very famous story in the Old Testament that 361 00:18:36,359 --> 00:18:38,720 Speaker 2: the original readers would have known about. It's in Second 362 00:18:38,800 --> 00:18:42,000 Speaker 2: Kings chapter five, and it's the story of Naman. And 363 00:18:42,040 --> 00:18:43,920 Speaker 2: you can go back and read as fascinating story a 364 00:18:44,000 --> 00:18:46,480 Speaker 2: Second Kings chapter five. But I'll give you the backstory. 365 00:18:46,560 --> 00:18:49,680 Speaker 2: Naeman is a man who has leprosy and he's unclean, 366 00:18:50,080 --> 00:18:53,200 Speaker 2: and he hears that the God of Israel can heal people. 367 00:18:53,600 --> 00:18:56,280 Speaker 2: And so this Naman is a servant who's sent to 368 00:18:56,520 --> 00:19:00,000 Speaker 2: Israel to be cleansed. And he goes to a lie. 369 00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:04,840 Speaker 2: I believe Elijah, not Elisha. Maybe it's Elisha. You guys 370 00:19:04,880 --> 00:19:06,480 Speaker 2: could correct me if I'm wrong. Let me go there 371 00:19:06,480 --> 00:19:08,399 Speaker 2: and tell you. I would hate to use the wrong 372 00:19:08,880 --> 00:19:12,879 Speaker 2: name of those two very amazing prophets, Elijah and Elisha, 373 00:19:13,520 --> 00:19:16,679 Speaker 2: and a lie I think it's Shah. I think it's Elisha. 374 00:19:17,680 --> 00:19:20,919 Speaker 2: This is in Second King's five. Naming goes and he 375 00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:26,200 Speaker 2: goes to Elisha Sha Elisha, and he goes to him 376 00:19:26,240 --> 00:19:28,879 Speaker 2: and says, this man can come and be healed. 377 00:19:29,080 --> 00:19:31,160 Speaker 1: And he's told that he needs to. 378 00:19:31,119 --> 00:19:34,200 Speaker 2: Go dip his body in the Jordan seven times. He 379 00:19:34,240 --> 00:19:35,800 Speaker 2: has to go dip in the Riven seven times. And 380 00:19:35,880 --> 00:19:38,320 Speaker 2: Naman is so mad about this, He's like, why do 381 00:19:38,359 --> 00:19:39,680 Speaker 2: I have to do this. This isn't going to work. 382 00:19:39,680 --> 00:19:41,120 Speaker 2: I could have dipped in. 383 00:19:41,040 --> 00:19:44,400 Speaker 1: The water somewhere else. Why didn't he use great signs? 384 00:19:44,440 --> 00:19:45,480 Speaker 1: And wonders over me? 385 00:19:45,600 --> 00:19:48,679 Speaker 2: Because there was this real sense that healers and like 386 00:19:49,080 --> 00:19:52,399 Speaker 2: shaman or people who were like the priests of healing 387 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:55,480 Speaker 2: in a tribe, would have all of these elaborate rituals 388 00:19:55,520 --> 00:19:57,560 Speaker 2: that they would do. And the only thing that Elishah 389 00:19:57,800 --> 00:20:00,000 Speaker 2: told him to do was go dip himself in the Jordan. Finally, 390 00:20:00,160 --> 00:20:02,520 Speaker 2: egoes and does it. It does make him clean. It 391 00:20:02,560 --> 00:20:08,240 Speaker 2: does work. Now, fast forward to Jesus. What does Jesus do? 392 00:20:08,240 --> 00:20:10,520 Speaker 2: Does he cast a spell? Does he do all these 393 00:20:10,560 --> 00:20:13,200 Speaker 2: weird rituals? Does he even tell him to go dip 394 00:20:13,200 --> 00:20:16,520 Speaker 2: in the river? No, he just touches him. Can you 395 00:20:16,560 --> 00:20:22,159 Speaker 2: imagine the power, the simple power that Jesus holds, that 396 00:20:22,240 --> 00:20:25,520 Speaker 2: he doesn't need any rituals, he doesn't need any spells, 397 00:20:25,600 --> 00:20:29,400 Speaker 2: he doesn't need any elaborate plans, he doesn't need anything 398 00:20:29,440 --> 00:20:33,119 Speaker 2: at all to heal completely a disease that, according to 399 00:20:33,119 --> 00:20:35,680 Speaker 2: Second Kings five, that the original listener would have known. 400 00:20:35,880 --> 00:20:38,240 Speaker 1: Can't be healed by anyone but God. 401 00:20:38,840 --> 00:20:41,119 Speaker 2: So in the first chapter of Mark, we are already 402 00:20:41,160 --> 00:20:44,040 Speaker 2: seeing that there's something different about Jesus. There's something powerful 403 00:20:44,080 --> 00:20:47,840 Speaker 2: about Jesus. He is doing things already that only God 404 00:20:47,880 --> 00:20:51,040 Speaker 2: can do, and we want to keep that with us. Okay, friends, 405 00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:52,920 Speaker 2: what does it mean for us? What does it mean 406 00:20:53,200 --> 00:20:55,240 Speaker 2: that we're seeing all this. Here's a couple of things 407 00:20:55,280 --> 00:20:57,879 Speaker 2: I wrote down about maybe come of the timeless Truth 408 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:00,240 Speaker 2: that we can take from this chapter. The first is 409 00:21:00,280 --> 00:21:04,080 Speaker 2: this repentance is necessary to prepare the way for Christ, 410 00:21:04,520 --> 00:21:07,560 Speaker 2: to prepare the way in our hearts. Repentance is necessary, 411 00:21:07,560 --> 00:21:11,080 Speaker 2: it's an ongoing need. And the second is that Jesus 412 00:21:11,280 --> 00:21:14,560 Speaker 2: is not surprising in his presence. He doesn't bring this 413 00:21:14,760 --> 00:21:18,399 Speaker 2: powerful presence or all of these elaborate rituals, but he's. 414 00:21:18,280 --> 00:21:19,560 Speaker 1: Surprising in his way. 415 00:21:20,280 --> 00:21:24,080 Speaker 2: His way of being, his way of going is surprising people, 416 00:21:24,119 --> 00:21:26,760 Speaker 2: and we want to keep that in mind. So what 417 00:21:26,760 --> 00:21:28,680 Speaker 2: does it mean for me? Here's the takeaway I think 418 00:21:28,720 --> 00:21:30,840 Speaker 2: from this chapter, at least for me. There could be 419 00:21:30,880 --> 00:21:33,840 Speaker 2: a lot of different takeaways, but I was so struck 420 00:21:34,320 --> 00:21:36,879 Speaker 2: by what Jesus says in the end of the chapter 421 00:21:37,000 --> 00:21:41,240 Speaker 2: when he says, I am willing the man comes to Jesus. 422 00:21:41,440 --> 00:21:44,320 Speaker 2: He needs healing, he wants to be healed. He wants 423 00:21:44,320 --> 00:21:47,679 Speaker 2: to be cleansed, and he says, Jesus, are you willing? 424 00:21:48,000 --> 00:21:52,800 Speaker 2: And Jesus, indignantly about life, about sin, about what's wrong 425 00:21:52,880 --> 00:21:56,919 Speaker 2: with the world, says, I am willing. So Jesus is 426 00:21:56,920 --> 00:22:00,199 Speaker 2: saying to all of us, I am willing. Jesus is will. 427 00:22:00,640 --> 00:22:03,680 Speaker 2: He's willing to change us, He's willing to heal us, 428 00:22:03,960 --> 00:22:06,760 Speaker 2: he's willing to forgive us, he is willing to free us. 429 00:22:07,200 --> 00:22:12,400 Speaker 1: The question is are you willing? All right? Friends, thanks 430 00:22:12,440 --> 00:22:13,320 Speaker 1: for joining me this week. 431 00:22:13,320 --> 00:22:15,520 Speaker 2: We'll be right back here again next week for mark 432 00:22:15,720 --> 00:22:17,199 Speaker 2: Chapter two. 433 00:22:20,440 --> 00:22:23,000 Speaker 4: How to Study the Bible with Nicole Unis is a 434 00:22:23,040 --> 00:22:26,480 Speaker 4: production of Live Audio and Salem Media. If you like 435 00:22:26,520 --> 00:22:29,000 Speaker 4: what you heard today, please take a second to rate 436 00:22:29,040 --> 00:22:32,239 Speaker 4: and review the podcast in your favorite podcast app so 437 00:22:32,280 --> 00:22:35,399 Speaker 4: that more listeners like you can find the show. For 438 00:22:35,520 --> 00:22:48,119 Speaker 4: more faith filled inspirational podcasts, visit us at liveaudio dot com.