Jesus the Evangelist

Jan. 25, 2009

Third Sunday After Epiphany (B)

Mark 1:14-20

Two men who were earthly cousins shared a common faith and a heavenly Father. In this passage John the Baptist is ending his ministry in the Machaerus prison. Jesus is beginning His ministry in the Galilean hills preaching. John came pointing others to the Word. Jesus was the Word. John was mighty in his preaching. Jesus was the Almighty. John called for repentance. Jesus commanded a new birth.

John was the messenger. Jesus was the Messiah. John baptized physically with impure water from the river Jordan. Jesus baptized spiritually with pure water from the river of life. John was a prophet after the order of Elijah. Jesus was the High Priest after the order of Elohim. John ends his ministry with the exclamation, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30, KJV). Jesus begins His ministry with, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15).

I. Repentance

Repentance is a compound word that results in a complete transformation. It means “to have a change of mind and heart.” The Apostle Paul put it this way, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Cor. 5:17). When Jesus told Nicodemus, “You must be born again,” He was saying, “You must repent.” Nicodemus was a Pharisee, but he was not a believer. He was a member of the Sanhedrin, but he was not saved. He was rich by Jerusalem standards but poor by the standards of heaven.

Repentance implies you are heading in one direction and suddenly you turn and proceed in the opposite direction. It is an exchange of destinations. An unrepentant person is headed for hell. A repentant person has heaven as his or her final port of call. Repentance involves an exchange of authority. Before repentance you live under your own authority. After repentance you live under the authority of Christ. This is not a reformation but a rebirth.

II. Regeneration

Along with repentance follows regeneration. It means, “born again.” Revival means “to live again.” One reason many of our churches are in a decline is that we have members who are trying to live again who have never been born again. Goodness and church membership have nothing to do with regeneration. The Bible tells us, “No one is good, but One, that is, God” (Matt. 19:17). In Genesis 2:7, man was generated. In Genesis 3:7, man became degenerate. In Luke 24:7 Jesus provided regeneration through His resurrection. Romans 3:23 explains the degenerate state of man. Romans 6:23 explains the results of regeneration. This is only possible through Jesus. There is no other way. All faiths do not lead to God.