The Gospel of Matthew starts out with Abraham begetting Isaac. The Gospel of Luke begins with Zacharias having a spiritual experience burning incense in the Temple of the Lord. The Gospel of John begins at the true beginning where the WORD is.
The Gospel of Mark begins with the baptism of Jesus- not at the year zero but at the year of 30 AD. We meet Jesus and his Father God in verse 1. We then meet Isaiah the Prophet and John the Baptist in verse 2 and we meet John the Baptist baptizing and baptizing Jesus in Verse 9.
We do not meet Jesus’s Uncle, or his mom or dad and we do not encounter his birth, or a political situation.
We do meet the words of the Prophets straight away which comes from Isaiah 40 and the words that this section of prophecy is fulfilled in John the Baptist.
We learn that John the Baptist is very popular among the people living in Judea and Jerusalem. People came out of the woodwork to be baptized by him and to confess their sins.
What does this say about discipleship?
1. Humankind has a need to repent
2. Humankind has a need to confess their sins
3. Humankind has a need to have their sins remitted
4. Even Jesus got John’s baptism
5. The Prophets spoke the truth, and therefore are worthy of study
6 Supernatural things happened when Jesus was baptized that are recorded in all of the gospels. Heaven parted and the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus like a dove. God the Father spoke. “You are my Beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”
7. The Holy Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness.
Jesus first speaks preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God:
The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.
To the Moon 