The Messiah Arrives

The reign of God began to invade the Earth in the ministry of Jesus, starting with his baptism in the Jordan River – Mark 1:1-3. The Gospel of Mark opens with a declaration based on passages from the Hebrew Bible that provide the scriptural basis for the ministry of John the Baptist. They also set the stage for the arrival of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. In this way, Mark’s account opens with a note of fulfillment. This man from Nazareth was the King and Savior promised by the God of Israel.

[Photo by Jessica Ruscello (California) on Unsplash]

Implicit in Mark’s declaration is that the long-awaited “season of fulfillment” had commenced with the appearance of the Baptist along the banks of the Jordan, and especially with John’s baptism of Jesus and the descent of the Spirit:

• (Mark 1:10) - “And immediately ascending out of the water, he saw the heavens torn asunder, and the Spirit as a dove descending upon Jesus.”

The Greek term translated as “beginning” is the first word of the Greek text of the Gospel of Mark, making the word emphatic. The sudden appearance of John marked the start of the Good News of the Kingdom of God.

• (Mark 1:1-3) - “Beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. According as it is written in Isaiah the prophet, Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way. A voice of one crying aloud, in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord, be making his paths straight.”

Other New Testament passages also link “the beginning” of the Gospel to the Baptist. He “prepared” the way for the Messiah as predicted in Scripture. The term “beginning” echoes the creation story in the Book of Genesis:

• (Genesis 1:1) - “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”

• (John 1:1-3) – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.”

• (Acts 1:21-22) – “It is needful then that of the men who accompanied us during all the time in which the Lord Jesus came in and went out over us, beginning from the baptism by John until the day when he was taken up from us.”

The life, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus, and his resulting Exaltation, indicated that the redemption of humanity was now underway. This included the outpouring of the promised Gift of the Spirit. Christ’s initial arrival and baptism also carried universal implications since his message constituted “Good News” for all men and nations:

• “This is that which has been spoken through the prophet Joel: And it will be in the last days, says God, I will pour forth of my Spirit upon all flesh…” – (Acts 2:16-17).

• “Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly, that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified. Now, when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, Brethren, what will we do? And Peter said to them, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God will summon” – (Acts 2:36-39).

• “That it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying, The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Nations! The people that sat in darkness saw a great light, and to them that sat in the region and shadow of death, to them did light spring up. From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” – (Matthew 4:14-17).

The Greek term commonly translated as “gospel” means “good news, glad tidings” (‘euangelion’ - ευαγγελιον). The New Testament employs this word as it is used in the Book of Isaiah for the announcement of God’s salvation to His people. For example:

• “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that brings Good News, that publishes peace, that brings Good News of blessing, that publishes salvation, that says to Zion, your God has become king” - (Isaiah 52:7).

• “The Spirit of the Lord Yahweh is upon me, because Yahweh has anointed me to preach Good News to the meek…” - (Isaiah 61:1).

The announcement of the “Good News of Jesus Christ” marked the arrival of the salvation and reign of God. The genitive construction of the clause can mean either that Jesus was the content or the herald of the Good News, or perhaps both.

The term ‘Christ’ or “anointed one” was not his surname but the designation of what Jesus was, the Messiah of Israel.

MESSIAH

In the Hebrew Bible, two categories of men were “anointed,” priests and kings. The ritual of anointing was performed by pouring olive oil on the head of the man, thus separating him for specific offices or tasks - (Leviticus 21:10-12, Psalm 89:20).

‘Jesus’ is the anglicized spelling of the Hebrew name ‘Yehoshua’, which means “Yahweh saves” or “Salvation of Yahweh.” As the angel commanded Joseph, “Call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” - (Matthew 1:21).

Among first-century Jews, the term “Son of God” had messianic and royal connotations. It was part of the promise of kingship to David and his House, a royal legacy the Messiah was expected to fulfill when he was crowned in Jerusalem - (2 Samuel 7:14, Psalm 2:6-9. Matthew 1:1, “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David…”).

The reference in the Gospel of Mark to the passage “as written in Isaiah” provides a composite of verses from the books of Exodus, Isaiah, and Malachi:

• (Exodus 23:20) – “Behold, I send a messenger before you, to keep you by the way, and to bring you to the place which I have prepared.”

• (Isaiah 40:3) – “The voice of one that cries, prepare in the wilderness the way of Yahweh; make level in the desert a highway for our God.”

• (Malachi 3:1) - “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me: and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple, and the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire. Behold, he comes, says Yahweh of hosts.”

The quotation from Exodus was appropriate. Jesus was the true representative of Israel and the Supreme Lawgiver who would traverse the “wilderness” and lead his people to the Kingdom of God, the true and ultimate Promised Land. By combining these passages, Mark summarizes the Messianic expectations of the Hebrew Bible.

The Gospel of Mark uses other themes from the history of Israel in its narrative, although the ministry of Jesus was much more than a replay of that ancient story, or of any attempt by Jesus to succeed where Israel failed.

The plan of God to redeem humanity from bondage to sin and death began to unfold in the life of Jesus. His mission was far larger than the nation of Israel and encompassed territory that extended well beyond the limits of Palestine.

The reign of Jesus would reach “the ends of the Earth,” and upon him, the Nations of the Earth would learn to place their hope, and this is why he now sends his disciples to announce his sovereignty and salvation to all nations:

• “Behold, my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom my soul delights. I have put my Spirit upon him. He will bring forth justice to the nations” – (Isaiah 42:1).

• “Yahweh said unto me, You are my son! This day, I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession” – (Psalm 2:7-8).

• “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” – (Acts 1:8). 

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SEE ALSO:

• The Son of Man - (The figure of the Son of Man from the Book of Daniel is the source of Christ’s self-designation - The Son of Man)

• Rend the Heavens Asunder! - (The Spirit of God and the voice from Heaven confirmed the calling and identity of Jesus – Son, Messiah, and Servant of the LORD

• The Forerunner - (John the Baptist prepared the way for the Messiah, the Herald of the Good News of the Kingdom of God – Mark 1:4-8)

• L'arrivée du Messie - (Le Royaume de Dieu est arrivé sur la Terre dans le ministère de Jésus, en commençant par son baptême dans le Jourdain – Marc 1:1-3)