Scripture Reading : Mark 1:1-13
Theme : The Coming of the Perfect Servant
One of the main themes of the Gospel of Mark is Jesus Christ as the Suffering Servant. Mark wrote the Gospel to encourage Christians in Rome during the persecution brought about after the Emperor Nero set fire to Rome but accused the Christians of doing so. Mark wanted to show the Christians in Rome that their Lord also suffered and died, but a greater glory awaits those who persevere in trials. One of the key verses highlighting the theme of the Suffering Servant is Mark 10:45.
- The Announcement of the Perfect Servant. John the Baptist made the announcement that the Perfect Servant, the Saviour, will be coming. John the Baptist was the herald whom the Old Testament prophesied about. The Perfect Servant is Jesus Christ, who is God, because He will “baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” (Mark 1:8)
- The Baptism of the Perfect Servant. John was “proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” (Mark 1:4) Jesus, however, is perfect and He has no sin, so there is no sin that He needs to repent from. However, Jesus was here to save sinners, so He was baptized in order to identify with sinners. God the Father bears witness that the Perfect Servant was doing everything in submission to God’s will.
- The Challenge of the Perfect Servant. The Perfect Servant was challenged by the Devil in the wilderness, but all these happened within the sovereign plan of God, because it was the Holy Spirit who “drove him out into the wilderness.” (Mark 1:12)
Praying the Scripture
- John the Baptist was very humble and he accepted his God-given task as the herald who would come before the Saviour. He regarded himself as “not worthy to stoop down and untie” (Mark 1:7) the strap of Jesus’ sandals. Let us pray that we will be willing to serve our Lord humbly, just like John the Baptist.
- Salvation does not only involve Jesus bearing our sins on the cross; it also includes Jesus imputing onto us the righteous life that He lived (2 Cor. 5:21). Jesus had no need to repent from any sin, but He was baptized in order to identify with us, the real sinners. Let us thank Jesus for living a life of righteousness on our behalf.
- The temptation of Jesus was within God’s sovereign plan. For the Christians in Rome undergoing persecution, it was a great encouragement to know that the persecution that they faced was according to God’s sovereign will. Let us pray that we will acknowledge God’s sovereignty in our lives, especially during trials and persecution, and pray that we will have the strength to persevere.
经文：马可福音1:1-13
主体：完美仆人的到来
马可福音的其中一个主题是：耶稣基督，受苦的仆人。马可写这福音的目的是要鼓励当代的罗马信徒；尼禄王曾放火烧罗马，却咬定那是基督徒所干的，此而使他们遭受逼迫。马可想要显示给罗马信徒说他们的主也是受苦受死的，但凡在试炼中忍耐的必有更大的荣耀。其中强调受苦仆人这主题的经文是马可福音10:45。
- 完美仆人的公告。施洗约翰宣告那位完美的仆人和救主即将来临；他就是旧约所预言要报好信息的。那位完美的仆人就是耶稣基督。祂是神，并“要用圣灵给你们施洗”（8节）。
- 完美仆人的洗礼。约翰“传悔改的洗礼，使罪得赦”（4节）。然而，耶稣是完美的，并无罪，因此不需要为罪悔改。可是，祂来是要救罪人，所以也受洗，与罪人认同。天父见证这位完美仆人所做的一切都是顺着神的旨意而行的。
- 完美仆人的挑战。完美仆人在旷野中受到撒旦的试探，但这一切都在神的主权计划中，因为是圣灵“把耶稣催到旷野里去”（12节）。
用经文祷告
- 施洗约翰很谦卑；他接受了神赐予他的任务，作救主到来之前报好信息的。他视自己为“就是弯腰给他（耶稣）解鞋带也是不配的”（7节）。让我们祷告我们能像施洗约翰一样，甘心谦卑服侍主。
- 救恩并不只是耶稣在十字架上担当我们的罪；它还包括耶稣将祂活出的义赐给我们（林后5:21）。耶稣无罪需要悔改，但祂受洗，为要与真实罪人的我们认同。让我们为耶稣替我们活出的义向祂感恩。
- 耶稣的试探是在神的主权计划中。对受逼迫的罗马信徒而言，这是一份很大的鼓励，知道他们受的逼迫乃在神的主权旨意内。让我们祷告我们能承认神在自己生命中的主权，尤其在试炼和逼迫中，并祈求我们会有力量忍耐。
