Date: 2-21-10
Title: Putting First Things First: Mark; The First Witness to the Servant of the Lord, Part 4
Text: Mark 1:1

I. The preparation of the witness (1:1–3): Mark begins his Gospel by quoting from two Old Testament prophets as he shows the preparation for the Servant of the Lord.

1. Malachi, who spoke of God’s messenger (Mal. 3:1) (1:1–2): The messenger is John the Baptist.
2. Isaiah, who spoke of God’s message (Isa. 40:3) (Mark 1:3): The message is, “Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight!”

II. The practice of the witness (1:4–6): John practices a consistent life in his public and private witness to the Servant of the Lord.

1. John’s public practices (1:4–5): John baptizes as people confess their sins.
2. John’s private practices (1:6): John wears a prophet’s clothes and eats a prophet’s food.

III. The preaching of the witness (1:7–8): John preaches about the coming mighty ministry of the Servant of the Lord.

1. The Servant’s contrasting might (1:7): The Baptist’s message of the Servant of the Lord’s superhuman authority.
2. The Servant’s contrasting ministry (1:8): The Baptist’s message of the Servant of the Lord’s superhuman ministry.

Conclusion