1. The very first sentence from Peter in The Gospel of Mark is wonderful!
Mark 1:1-3 (NLT)
This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God. It began 2 just
as the prophet Isaiah had written: “Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of
you, and he will prepare your way. 3 He is a voice shouting in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the LORD’s coming! Clear the road for him!’”
Luke 1:39-41 (NLT)
A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town 40 where
Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. 41 At the sound
of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled
with the Holy Spirit.
Luke 1:65-66 (NLT)
Awe fell upon the whole neighborhood, and the news of what had happened
spread throughout the Judean hills. 66 Everyone who heard about it reflected on
these events and asked, “What will this child turn out to be?” For the hand of the
Lord was surely upon him in a special way.
2. John the Baptist preached to the Jews to repent of their sin and turn to God.
Mark 1:4-6 NLT
This messenger was John the Baptist. He was in the wilderness and preached
that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and
turned to God to be forgiven. 5 All of Judea, including all the people of
Jerusalem, went out to see and hear John. And when they confessed their sins,
he baptized them in the Jordan River. 6 His clothes were woven from coarse
camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts
and wild honey.
Mark 1:7-15 NLT
John announced: “Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much
greater that I’m not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of
his sandals. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy
Spirit!”
9 One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized him in the
Jordan River. 10 As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting
apart and the Holy Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice from
heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.”
12 The Spirit then compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness, 13 where he was
tempted by Satan for forty days. He was out among the wild animals, and angels
took care of him.
14 Later on, after John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee, where he
preached God’s Good News. 15 “The time promised by God has come at last!”
he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the
Good News!”
3. Throughout scripture, The Lord commands us to repent and turn to God.
Acts 17:30 (NLT)
“God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now
he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him.
Matthew 4:17 (NLT)
From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for
the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”
Luke 5:32 (NLT)
I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know
they are sinners and need to repent.”
Luke 15:7 (NLT)
In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents
and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t
strayed away!
2 Peter 3:9 (NLT)
The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he
is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but
wants everyone to repent.
4. Can we ignore Jesus’ command to repent and still be saved? No.
Luke 13:2-5 (NLT)
Do you think those Galileans were worse sinners than all the other people from
Galilee?” Jesus asked. “Is that why they suffered? 3 Not at all! And you will
perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God. 4 And what about the
eighteen people who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them? Were they the
worst sinners in Jerusalem? 5 No, and I tell you again that unless you repent,
you will perish, too.”
2 Corinthians 7:10 (NLT)
For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and
results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow,
which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.
2 Corinthians 12:21 (NLT)
Yes, I am afraid that when I come again, God will humble me in your presence.
And I will be grieved because many of you have not given up your old sins. You
have not repented of your impurity, sexual immorality, and eagerness for lustful
pleasure.
Revelation 9:20-21 (NLT)
But the people who did not die in these plagues still refused to repent of their evil
deeds and turn to God. They continued to worship demons and idols made of
gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood—idols that can neither see nor hear nor
walk! 21 And they did not repent of their murders or their witchcraft or their
sexual immorality or their thefts.
5. Sin is a dead end. Sin lies. Sin doesn’t satisfy.
John 14:6 (NLT)
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the
Father except through me.
Acts 3:19-20 (NLT)
Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.
20 Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he
will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah.
Further Study Questions:
1. Read Mark 1:1-3. What is the Good News? Who is the Good News?
2. In Mark 1:4-6, why would Jews need to repent of sin; aren’t they the chosen
people?
3. John gave three instructions, repent of sin, turn to God and be baptized.
Why is the order of these instructions crucial?
4. In verse four, what did the baptism do? What does baptism not do?
5. Read Mark 1:7-15. John had a tremendous following of people. How does
his humility shine through?
6. What instructions did Jesus give in Galilee?
7. Summarize in one sentence the instruction of Acts 17:30, Matthew 4:17,
Luke 5:32 and Luke 15:7.
8. What is the difference between Godly sorrow and worldly sorrow? See 2
Corinthians 7:10.
9. What “Good News” promise is in Acts 3:19-20?
