In our verse by verse study of Mark last time we concluded our study on the temptations of Jesus that are referenced in Mark 1:12-13; and recorded in Matt 4:1-11;
Summary of the Three Temptations of Christ
The First Temptation: Asserts that the self-gratification of the needs of the physical body is the highest good. It implies that man is only biological life. The suggestion is that the only reason for man's obedience to God is if God meets every demand of his need as it arises. Self-gratification is presented as greater than the will of God. But Jesus shows us that submission to the Word of God is equal to submission to the will of God.
The Second Temptation: This is a temptation of arrogance. If you have confidence in God then no test is necessary. If Jesus to removes Himself from the directive will He is removed Him from God's protection.
The Third Temptation: This temptation seeks to elicit a lust for stuff and to bypass the cross that is the Father's plan for Jesus' life. Christ's worship of Satan would fulfill his ambition stated in Isa 14:14; "I will be like the Most High."
It is the plan of the Father that Jesus Christ should rule the world, but this plan demands the cross before the crown as the basis for establishing an eternal kingdom.
In the third temptation Satan offers a plan that bypasses the cross and Satan tempts Jesus to accept the crown, without the cross. Satan is the only one who could tempt Jesus this way because he is the ruler of the world.
The offer of Satan to give Jesus the kingdoms of the world is a legitimate offer because Satan is the ruler of the world Satan's plan always ignores, distorts, obscures, or rejects the cross.
1John 2:15; Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
v16 For everything in the world-the cravings of sinful man, the lust of the eyes and the boasting of what he has and does-comes not from the Father but from the world.
Matt 4:11; Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him. "Then," chronologically, "the devil left him" Satan obeyed the order to get lost. The word translated "leave" means to depart quickly; "and, behold angels came and were serving him".
Mark 1:13; And He was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by Satan; and He was with wild beasts, and the angels were ministering to him. We see from this that the Lord's evidence test with regard to life support took place in the desert which was populated by wild beasts.
Elect angels ministered to Him by preventing any demon possessed animal from causing Him any harm. During this time the Lord maintained tranquility of soul based on the promise of Psa 4:8; In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, do make me to dwell in safety.
From these passages we are able to draw a conclusion regarding our own security in the devil's world. If we are walking in the Word by means of the Holy Spirit and utilizing the Divine Power System for spiritual advance, then we may enjoy tranquility of soul regarding any danger that threatens us in the devil's world including terrorism. 2Pet 2:12;
The Lord is the only source of security in the devil's world because human government is powerless to provide security no matter how many freedoms are given up in an attempt to secure it. Psa 127:1;
The result of this great victory propels Jesus Christ into His ministry. He is prepared for this ministry because He has faced the greatest possible temptations and testings.
He has endured pressure and His ministry is based on the decision He made at His baptism. Remember that the water in his baptism represented the plan of the Father. The cross, and at His baptism Jesus made His decision.
You cannot function in any ministry apart from decision, and there have to be decisions made along the way. In effect the temptations of Jesus became a series of decisions that provided momentum for and that propelled Jesus into His ministry.
Mark 1:14-15; And after John had been taken into custody;... Herod arrests John the baptizer and he will not be released. We see from this that when one person in the Lord's service is removed another immediately takes his place. Jesus immediately takes the place of John. The concept is that there are many servants but one message.
v14-15 Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, saying, "The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."
"preaching is the present active participle of the Greek word "kervsson" that means the kept on preaching, announcing or proclaiming "the Gospel of God", translated from the Greek words "euaggelion tou theou", a subjective genative meaning it is the gospel or "good news" from God.
The words "the time is fulfilled" is translated from the Greek "peplerotai ho kairos" it is in the perfect tense, passive voice so is more accurately translated "the time has been fulfilled" or the "time has now arrived.
We have seen that John the baptizer said the time was imminent, Jesus says the time has now arrived. This is the same idea the Paul presents in Gal 4:4; and Eph 1:10; as a time of opportunity.
Jesus is making it clear that a new time has dawned that is a special time of salvation, an opportunity to receive God's love that is expressed in his grace and experience His salvation through the person and work of the long-awaited Messiah, Savior, King, Jesus Christ.
The Savior, has now entered into human flesh, in the fullness of time and He will die for our sins, be raised from the dead, ascend and sit at the right hand of God and this exalted position, through the work of the Holy Spirit and the church He will draw all men to Himself. John 12:32;
Mark 1:14-15; "the kingdom of God is at hand" or "the kingdom of God is near" the word translated "near" is the perfect active indicative of the Greek word "engiken" that because of the perfect tense means the time is "now"
The words "kingdom of God" are "basileia tou Theou" is a reference to regenerate mankind. The kingdom of God is comprised exclusively of those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and as a result are "born again of the spirit." John 3:3,5,7;
"repent and believe in the gospel" is how a person becomes "born again" The unbeliever must first "change his mind" about who Jesus Christ is and what He did for mankind on the cross and then belief in Him brings salvation. This is only possible as a result of the convicting ministry of the Holy Spirit to the unbeliever.
The word translated "repent" is the Greek word "metanoeo" means to change your mind. The cognate noun "metanoia" in, Rom 2:4; Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance (metanoia), means a change of mind, a conversion, a turning away. Doctrinal viewpoint changes human viewpoint.
All believers in Jesus Christ repented at the moment of salvation. Repentance is a decision based on mentality, not emotion. It is rational. The Hebrew word for repentance is "nacham".
When witnessing, you only give information, you do not try to get the unbeliever to "repent." Repentance is the result of the work of God the Holy Spirit who uses the Gospel information you have provided. God the Holy Spirit will encourage them to change their mind about Christ; you just present the correct information to them.