John Meinen's Notes on Mark 1:9-11

Fire and Water

(Mark 1:9-11, Preaching: Rev. John Meinen, June 10, 2018)

[9] In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. [10] And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. [11] And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

I. Our problem is we all have problems.

a. We have small problems and big problems.

b. We are looking for “messiahs” (little ‘m’) to fix our problems.

c. Evil and injustice is bad enough, but exile—feeling cut off from God, that he is remote, indifferent, impotent to do anything about it—that’s the worst, makes all the other suffering unbearable!

d. Isaiah 63:11, 64:1: “Where is he who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of his flock? Where is he who put in the mist of them his Holy Spirit…? Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence!”

II. God has given us a Solution (His Son).

a. The heavens do open up!

b. The holy Spirit does come down!

c. And the “spotlight” is on God’s very own Son—the Messiah (big ‘M’) who is the ultimate answer to our ultimate problems.

d. Isaiah was looking for “fire” (judgment) against God’s enemies (cf. Isaiah 64).

e. Jesus bore that fire so his Holy Spirit “fire” can fall on us.

f. Jesus doesn't just bear the fire. He walks through it with us too!

III. Application/Conclusion

a. What “messiahs” are you looking to? Look to Jesus.

b. Listen to Jesus.

c. Be baptized unto Jesus. (He identifies with you, so you can identify with Him.)

Sermon Point: The one and only Messiah

Old Testament Reading—Psalm 61 – The Eternal King

New Testament Reading—1 Peter 2:1-10 – Christ our Cornerstone