Mark 1:1-13

LET'S WALK AROUND THE LAND OF ISRAEL TOGETHER -- and as we do it, let's do a pictorial version of Mark's Gospel a little bit at a time -- that way, we can be reading God's Word together and seeing something of His Land at the same time. Why do I want to do this?

Because --

1. I love God's Word, and it is constantly changing the way I think and live!
2. This 2004 trip to Israel changed my life -- I have not been the same since!
3. I want to share this with all of you!

Most all of the photos will be from the trip we took to Israel in 2004. Some of them will be grandpa's pictures but others will be ones our friends took; namely, Bob and Kay Scott as well as Dennis Arbogast (just to give credit where credit is due!) Occasionally, we'll cheat and take some off of the Internet; but that will only be now and then.

All Scripture will be from THE BOOK, a very conversation translation, which I love very much.

AUTHOR: Mark (This is John Mark who traveled with the Apostle Paul). He is telling Peter's story; you know -- Peter, the disciple of Jesus!
PLACE: Rome
DATE: A.D. 60-65

THE GOSPEL OF MARK

Here begins the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God. In the book of the prophet Isaiah, God said,

"Look, I am sending my messenger before you,

and he will prepare your way.

He is a voice shouting in the wilderness:

'Prepare a pathway for the Lord's coming!

Make a straight road for him!'"

The Judean desert

This is where sheep were raised and still are today!

A broom tree

(used for shade/shelter from the heat

as well as fuel for fire)

This messenger was John the Baptist. He lived in the wilderness and was preaching that people should be baptized to show that they had turned from their sins and turned to God to be forgiven.

The Jordan River at flood stage, February 2004

People from Jerusalem and from all over Judea traveled out into the wilderness to see and hear John. And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River. His clothes were woven from camel hair, and he wore a leather belt; his food was locusts and wild honey. He announced: "Someone is coming soon who is far greater than I am -- so much greater that I am not even worthy to be his slave. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and he was baptized by John in the Jordan River. And when Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens split open and the Holy Spirit descending like a dove on him.
And a voice came from heaven saying, "You are my beloved Son, and I am fully pleased with you."

Immediately the Holy Spirit compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness. He was there for forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was out among the wild animals, and angels took care of him.

The Judean Wilderness

See how rocky and dry it is?

An Acacia tree

Used for shade/shelter in the desert

This tree can remain dormant for decades

without water!

Remember? The Ark of the Covenant was made from acacia wood!

Jesus would have been familiar

with the harshness of desert life!

THOUGHTS: The desert is a difficult place to live! Right Jesse? When we were out in the desert, we studied about people in the Bible who lived there like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and their families -- women and children! In the desert, you depend upon God for everything! For water! For shade! For fuel to make a fire so that you can cook! Life gets right down to the nitty-gritty there -- how can you survive? And God comes and meets those daily needs, as well as the deep needs of your heart. I like thinking about Jesus being out in the wilderness for 40 days being tempted by Satan. He knows! He has gone before us and knows how hard it is! Thank you, Jesus, for coming here to earth, becoming human, so that you could give us victory through every desert in our lives!