ASSEMBLIES OF GOD SUNDAY SCHOOL FOR March 10, 2024.

Lesson Bible Text:

Mark 1:1-35.

Lesson Central Truth:

Jesus still ministers to those who believe in Him.

One of the striking things about Jesus is how quiet His life was for most of His first 30 years. Jesus‘ childhood seems unremarkable. To those in His hometown, He was simply known as “the carpenter’s son” (Matthew 13:55, KJV). He seemed so ordinary to them that they could not believe He was anything more than they themselves.

Unlike the other Gospels, Mark began his account of Jesus’ life with His introduction into public ministry, which was launched with His baptism in water. From that day on, Jesus lived a life that changed the world forever.

A. Preparation By John – Mark 1:1-8

B. Inauguration Of Jesus’ Ministry – Mark 1:9-13.

2. PREACHING AND CALLING DISCIPLES

A. Announcing The Good News – Mark 1:14-15

B. Calling The First Disciples – Mark 1:16-20.

3. TEACHING AND HEALING

A. Authoritative Ministry – Mark 1:21-28

B. Miraculous Power – Mark 1:29-35.

Every great ministry has a beginning. Jesus’ ministry has a begining. Mark starts at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry ie the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The gospel of Mark is a wonderful book that describes the good news of Jesus Christ. So Mark begins his Gospel by quoting Old Testament passages (Malachi 3:1; Isaiah 40:3) which anticipated John’s ministry. John the Baptist was the prophesied forerunner of Jesus’ ministry. John prepared the way for Jesus by preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sin. Many people responded, turning from their sins. They demonstrated their repentance by being baptised by John in the Jordan River. John was “the voice of one crying in the wilderness.” John’s major role was to help people be prepared for the life-changing ministry of Jesus. John preached Jesus, not himself. John pointed to Jesus, not to himself. We have many so called Christians today who points to themselves, their churches or ministries and not to Jesus. John offers several contrasts between his role and that of the Messiah. He is a servant, while the Messiah is the Master. He lacks power, while the Messiah has much power. His message and baptism of repentance is only a small taste of the baptism of the Holy Spirit Jesus would offer. We must learn from John to always lift Jesus above our personal gains or ministry.

Jesus voluntarily submitted to the same baptism of repentance that John called his hearer to. Though He did not require repentance, Jesus’ being baptised in water was an act of identification and dedication. As Jesus would later bear our sins by taking our place on the cross, by being baptised in water, He identified himself with sinful people. He dedicated himself to the ministry that was to climax in the death and resurrection water baptism pictures. So in water baptism we identify ourselves with Christ’s death and resurrection and dedicate ourselves to live for Him (Romans 6:3-4). We make a public declaration of our faith in Christ and our intention to live a lifestyle that will continue to testify for Him. On coming out of water, the heavens opened and the Spirit descended on Him like a dove. A voice identified Him as the beloved Son of God. This shows the beginning of Jesus’ ministry received the divine witness of the Father and the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ preparation for ministry continued as the Spirit led Him into the wilderness. He was there 40 days, being tempted by Satan. Wild beasts were there with Him. However, angels ministered to Him and kept Him safe. As Jesus became victorious in His temptation, we too will be victorious in Christ as we pass through any form of challenge or temptations.

When John was taken out of the picture, Jesus continued on. It seems that God planned for Jesus’ ministry to fully begin only after John had finished his. The harvest had been prepared and now it was time to start picking it. The content of Jesus’ message was very similar to John’s. The main focus was on repentance. But He also asked them to “believe in the gospel.” Here we start to see how faith and belief are so important. Even if we repent, it doesn’t mean we will never sin again. Faith is trusting that God will forgive us even when we sin. Jesus said, “the time is fulfilled.” The Jews had been waiting for the Messiah for centuries. They had thought perhaps John the Baptist was the Christ, but he said he wasn’t. Now Jesus is telling them that their time for waiting is over. God’s plan of salvation is now coming to fruition. His Kingdom was at hand. They had the opportunity to be part of it right in front of them. All that they needed to do was repent and believe. Christ is the good news and through Him the world have seen a great light.

The four disciples who later would form Jesus’ inner circle were fishermen. Jesus met them by the sea of Galilee. They were not highly educated. They didn’t have a high position. They were not rich. They were part of a lower socioeconomic class. Jesus met them as they laboured as common men. Jesus chose these disciples not for who they were, but for what Jesus could do through them. Jesus commanded them, “follow Me and I will make you to become fishers of men. Here we see Jesus’ authority. This was a simple, but powerful instruction. The command is a call to action. The disciples needed to respond in obedience. There was no room for passivity. A disciple must be active to obey Jesus wherever He leads. At the same time, this instruction shows the new direction the disciples needed to go. They could no longer follow their own desires, plans, or pursue their own careers. Rather they must submit themselves to the Lord and agree to put Him as the first priority. Following Jesus also meant giving up something, namely their past lives. It is an important reminder that we cannot follow Jesus while still living our lives the same way as before. They left everything and followed Jesus immediately. Will you give up all to follow Jesus? Or do you try to follow Jesus while still living your life the same as before? Jesus transforms. He is still in the business of transforming people today. He wants to transform us if we let Him. Will you follow Jesus no matter what the cost?

Jesus went to the synagogue in Capernaum on the Sabbath and began to teach. The people in the Synagogue were astonished because Jesus taught with authority, not as the scribes did. Jesus taught with boldness. Jesus taught with authority because He had authority. He brought a divine message and was confident that it was from God. He wasn’t quoting from man, but from God. A man with an evil spirit cried out in the synagogue by calling Jesus by name. This shows the evil spirit acknowledged Jesus’ power and His relationship to God. Jesus’ authority often evoked strong responses from demons, for they know that He had the power to destroy. Jesus rebuked the demon and ordered it out of the man. This was one of the first miracles that demonstrated Jesus’ divine authority. Even the evil spirits had to submit to His power. Not only did the demon come out, but it didn’t speak any more. The people were once again amazed. Word of mouth spread and the news of what Jesus was doing went like wildfire into the surrounding districts.

After the healing in the synagogue, Jesus returns to Simon Peter’s house. There lies Simon Peter’s mother-in-law in the grip of a fever. When they told Jesus about woman’s health condition, He went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her immediately, she got up to serve them by preparing meal for them. This woman showed her gratitude to God by getting to work in order to servant Jesus and others with Him. As believers, we must always be grateful to God for His miraculous healing in our lives. The healing of Peter’s mother-in-law triggered a citywide response. Many sick and demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. Huge crowd of people from all over Capernaum also gathered outside the door to watch what will happen. So Jesus healed great numbers of sick people who had many different kinds of diseases, and he ordered many demons to come out of their victims. This shows that Jesus has the matchless power to heal any sickness and cast out demons. The next day, Jesus woke up early before anyone to go out alone into the wilderness to pray. Jesus prayed for daily renewal. We must learn and follow our master’s step to always pray without ceasing.

Mark chapter one portrays Jesus as our end-time ruler (ruling over demons), priest (making the leper clean) and prophet (speaking with unrivaled authority).

Lesson Prayer Point

Father, minister to all the needs of our hearts in Jesus Matchless Name. Amen!

Remain blessed as you join us in our Sunday school both online and at any Assemblies Of God Church close to you as we study together under the Feet of the Master.

Share your contribution and as well ask your question from the lesson.

Shalom!