1   The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
      2   Even as it is written in Isaiah the prophet,
      Behold, I send my messenger before thy

      9   And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in the Jordan. 10   And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens rent asunder, and the Spirit as a dove descending upon him: 11   And a voice came out of the heavens, Thou art my beloved Son, in thee I am well pleased.

Verse 1. What are the fundamental facts of the gospel? 1 Cor. 15:1-4. What part of the gospel have we here? (Comp. Acts 10:37; Heb. 2:3). What the meaning of "gospel"? Acts 13:32.

Verses 2-4. Who came even as it was written in Isaiah? What was it that was written of him? Taking the first quotation (v. 2) whose messenger was John? (John 1:6). Before whose face was he sent? Look up Mal. 3:1. What sort of voice did Isaiah hear and tell of 700 years before? Comp. John 1:22, 23. How did John prepare the way of the Lord and make His paths straight? What was the main subject of his preaching? Can the Lord find easy entrance into the hearts of a repenting people? Comp. Rev. 3:19, 20. What was the blessing to those who in penitence submitted to John's baptism? What is said of those who refused? Luke 7:30.

Verse 5. Did John's work meet with much response? What did those who were being baptized do?

Verse 6. Whom did John especially resemble? 2 Kings 1:8. What connection between John and Elijah? Luke 1:17; Matt. 11:14; 17:11-13.

Verse 7. Of whom did John before bear witness? Acts 19:4. How much greater than John was this One? Why? See John 1:15, 29, 30.

Verse 8. What greater baptism would He and He only, be able to perform? Did He ever perform? Acts 2:33; 11:15, 16. What

baptism was it He charged His apostles to perform? Matt. 28:19, 20; Acts 10:47, 48.

Verse 9. Did the baptism of John mean the same thing in Jesus' case as in the case of others? For what then was He baptized? Matt. 3:15; John 1:31-34.

Verse 10. Who saw the Holy Spirit descend upon Jesus? Who else? John 1:33, 34. Did the Spirit abide upon Him? To what purpose? Luke 4:18-21; Acts 10:38. When do Christians receive the (indwelling) Spirit? Acts 2:38; Gal. 3:26, 27 with 4:6.

Verse 11. What word of assurance and approbation did He receive from God? When do we become sons of God? John 1:12; Gal. 3:26, 27. Is Jesus the Son of God in a sense higher and distinct from our own sonship? John 1:18; 3:16. [515]

      The year begins with the study of Christ as He is set forth in the shortest of the four gospels: the gospel of Mark. The four gospels are not exactly biographies. They record only the chief facts of the life and person of our Lord Jesus Christ, and a careful, God-ordained selection of His words, works and incidents of His ministry. "The evangelists (Matt., Mark, Luke, John) never describe Christ--they set Him forth. They tell us almost nothing of what they thought about Him, but let Him speak and act for Himself." "What is most important is that through these narratives we should come to see and know Him whom they reveal." ("Scofield Bible.")

      The plainly told purpose of John's gospel (John 20:30, 31) is also the purpose of the other three. All four were written "that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye may have life in his name." "Dost thou believe on the Son of God?" "Who is he, Lord, that I may believe on him?" (John 9:35, 36). The gospels answer the latter question; and thus comes faith in Jesus. (Rom. 10:17).

      These four records are independent and faithful testimonies. Matthew, by his much appeal to Old Testament scripture, and by other marks, indicates that he wrote for the Jew. "Mark" bears evidence of having been written for the Romans; "Luke" for Greeks, or for Gentiles generally; but John for all. Each emphasizes one of the striking features of Jesus' person or office. "Matthew's is the gospel of Israel's Messiah, the promised and predicted King. . . . Mark's is the Gospel of the Servant of Jehovah, the mighty Minister of God, who does God's will perfectly on earth. The keyword is "straightway,"a term which describes activity and energy in the prosecution of the work given Him to do. . . . Luke's the gospel of (the Man) the Kinsman Redeemer, whose compassions go out to all sorts of people, whose pity is as wide as the race of man. . . . John's is the gospel of the Son of God" (Moorehead). His royalty, obedience, humanity, Deity, are thus set forth by the four respectively. John gives them all full expression while specially dwelling on His eternal Being and Divinity.

      The word "gospel" means "good tidings." "Jesus" is the Lord's personal human name, indicative of the great task He should accomplish; "Thou shalt call his name Jesus, for it is he that shall save his people from their sins." (Matt. 1:21.) But "Christ" is an official title, the Greek form of the Hebrew title Messiah, the Anointed One. Notice the distinction in Acts 17:4 and in 1 John 5:1. A true faith confessions that the Man Jesus is the Christ. 1 John 3:22. This is in important point in our day.

      According to Mark the beginning of the gospel is not found at the birth of Jesus. . . . but from the time when John began to baptize, and when Jesus began to show Himself. . . . It is indeed the habit of the apostles to represent the publication of the gospel as historically commencing at the same point of time. Acts 10:36, 37; 13:24." (Bernard).

      Have you read Jesus' estimate of him in Matt. 11:7-19? Though equal to the greatest of those who are born of women, John himself declared himself unworthy to stoop down to untie the shoe-latchet (which was the meanest slave's task) for the Lord. The Lord Jesus' superiority rests on His eternal priority. (John 1:15). For his goings forth are from everlasting (Micah 5:2). In Luke's gospel we find the fullest account of John the Baptist's birth and life; in John's gospel the fullest record of the testimony he bore to his Lord.

      What is the purpose of the four Gospels? What the special features of each one? What does the word Christ mean? What true confession underlies the Christian faith? What can you tell of John the Baptist?

Source: First Lord's Day Lesson of January. Lesson 1. January 6, 1918. John Prepares the Way for Jesus