Mark 1:1-11 NIV [1] The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, [2] as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way”— [3] “a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ ” [4] And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. [5] The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. [6] John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. [7] And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. [8] I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” [9] At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. [10] Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. [11] And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
1 Corinthians 15:6 NIV [6] After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.
2. It takes Faith to believe but it doesn’t require abandoning reason to have faith.
3. Scripturally rooted
Isaiah 40:3 NIV [3] A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Malachi 3:1 NIV [1] “I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty.
Malachi 4:5 NIV [5] “See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes.
Malachi 4:6 NIV [6] He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.”
When God shows up:
1. Jesus is Lord
Ezekiel 39:29 NIV [29] I will no longer hide my face from them, for I will pour out my Spirit on the people of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord.”
Joel 2:28 NIV [28] “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
Mark 1:3 NIV [3] “a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ ”
Mark 1:3-4 NIV [3] “a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ ” [4] And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
3. His way is the cross
Mark 8:34-35 NIV [34] Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. [35] For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.
Mark 10:33-34 NIV [33] “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, [34] who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”
4. Jesus is our perfect representative
Mark 1:9 NIV [9] At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV [21] God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
1 Peter 2:22 NIV [22] “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
5. Jesus is the beloved son
Hebrews 2:11-12 NIV [11] Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. [12] He says, “I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly I will sing your praises.”
who makes us loved sons and daughters
Mark 1:11 NIV [11] And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
Galatians 3:26 NIV [26] So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith,
Hi I’m Marie Nicole. I’m 43 and I have cerebral palsy. I love sharing the story of what God has done in my Life and I hope I can use my story to inspire and encourage you to follow him and his plans for you and your life.
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