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Mark 1:9-13
Real Humanity

There's an old rhyme that says, "In Adam's Fall, we sinned all." Let's think about it for a moment.

Let's begin with Adam himself – the first man.  We're told that God formed him from the dust of the ground, then, when He was finished, God commissioned Adam to work in the garden, and He gave him everything he could possibly need for the task. Not only so, but He also walked with Adam daily to bless him, and to point out things he needed to know, and to help him understand things.  What an ideal setup!

But there was a fruit tree of some sort in the midst of the garden, and Adam was commanded not to eat any of its fruit.  Not that there was anything magical about it, but Adam had enough of everything anyway, and God simply told him to leave that one tree alone, because it was going to be a very significant symbol that would later be used to teach Adam some very important things.

But then there was Satan – he was in the garden, too.
Now please understand that neither I nor the Bible have anything against snakes, but since Satan is a spirit being, and since he had to assume some physical form in order to communicate with Adam and Eve, he took or was given the form of a snake.

But Satan was a nasty fellow, having already rebelled against God and fallen from Heaven.  So, hating God as he did, he told Adam and Eve a pack of lies about the tree in the middle of the garden. He wanted to tempt them to eat from it – and they did!

Well, guess what - we're all Adam's descendants, so what he did affected all of us as well.  We may not like that idea. In fact we might even argue with God and complain and say, "Why should THAT affect ME?  I didn't do it."

But there are at least four reasons why it did and still does affect absolutely every one of us.  Firstly, it affects us because of the immensity of the evil that's involved in sin against THAT God.  He's infinitely good, so a sin against Him is an infinite sin, a sin that can't help affecting all people down through the ages.  Secondly, at that point in time in the garden of Eden Adam and Eve WERE the human race – they were us, and they were everybody. Thirdly, we're as human as they were and just as capable as they were of doing what they did (we probably would have).  So think about it from God's standpoint – We couldn't even have blamed Him if He had cast out the entire race (Adam and Eve – and therefore us) immediately!  And then besides, God already had a plan in place for NEW human race, a rescued race that would come about through a Savior Who would also be their Lord.

But let's go back to Adam and Eve in the garden. What we find is that, after their fall into that sin, there was no longer any natural goodness in them or us.  History clearly shows that the whole race, in Adam, really did become fallen and naturally rebellious. Just witness Adam trying to find excuses for his own sin and blaming Eve.  Then notice Eve trying to excuse herself too.  Then very soon there's Cain murdering Abel.  So the story goes on – and on.

Adam, Eve, their children, their grandchildren, etc. – could & would no longer love one another enough to cooperatively carry out their original mandate to care for God's creation.

They could no longer engage in their work, their play, and their resting in a way that glorified their Creator.  Just look around.  Observe the crime, greed, pollution of God's earth, etc., etc., etc. – read the newspaper on any given day.  Is the race fallen or what?!

So Adam's sin was accounted as ours, and his sinful disposition has been passed along to us as well – what we need is a new Adam and a new start!

But we can't have that, right?  Wrong!  What I want to point out today in Mark's Gospel is that there is indeed "good News" – news that says that we actually HAVE a new Adam, a better Adam, and a new human race!  The Greek word for "Gospel," in fact, just means "good news" or "good announcement."

Remember the tremendous approval God the Father expressed to our Savior at His baptism. In fact, remember that the Holy Spirit came upon Him like a dove, the heavens were ripped open, and a Voice came saying, "This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased!" Obviously, God the Father thoroughly approved of what His Son was going to do!

Actually, I have to admit that it didn't look very much like He approved of Him in what happened next. We read here in Chapter 1 of Mark's Gospel, "Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness!"  In that part of the world, "wilderness" equals dry, hot, barren . . .

And, as if that weren't enough, He had to fast for 40 days while He was out there!  Matthew tells us, "He afterward became hungry!"  What a rediculous thing to say!  Even those who go on hunger strikes in our day don't go that long.  He was without food long enough not only to be hungry, but to be extremely weak as well. And all of that was – get this - preparation for being tried at the hands of the Devil!

But the most important fact of history is that He did if all for us – He went to the extreme so that none of us could ever argue that their case is too extreme for Him to help!

And there's even more here.  In overcoming the temptations of the Devil, He did what Adam wasn't able to do.  Adam fell to the Devil's temptations in the best of circumstances – he was not weak, he had beautiful surroundings, he was comfortable and in perfect health, and he enjoyed daily walks with God.  But he fell!

Our Lord on the other hand, was tried under far worse circumstances than was Adam.  The Devil suggested, during our Lord's extreme hunger that He turn the stones to bread.  He could have done so.  The Devil also suggested that He escape the trial by casting Himself down from temple.  The suggestion was made that He could be given all the kingdomss of the world – without sacrificing Himself – if only He fell down and worshipped the Devil.  Right there, within His reach, there was bread for extreme hunger, escape from excruciating circumstances, and ultimate gain without sacrifice!

But He DIDN'T FALL!  Our Lord Jesus became the new Adam of a new race by going forward!  That's what the apostle was talking about when he said,– "So also it is written, 'The first man, Adam, became a living soul.'  The last Adam became a live-giving Spirit!" (1Cor. 15:45)  After His resurrection our Lord Jesus did indeed send His life-giving Spirit.  For that reason, He can & will "Keep you from falling and present you faultless before His glory with exceeding joy!" (Jude 24)

But there's even more.  In Romans 8:20ff we read, "For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him Who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God!"

You see, God had said to Adam, "Be fruitful & multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."  And so we were originally God's lieutenants, intended to rule & work in His creation under His wonderful direction.

What happened? Why didn't things work out as intended?  The answer is quite simple – in Adam we turned away from God & His direction.  The entire creation has suffered since!

But now there's a new and better Adam.  As Paul puts it, "the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God!" In fact, when we read elsewhere of the coming of "new heavens & new earth," the word "new" would really be better translated "renewed."

It means that we're going to have work to do! Under our new Adam, the Lord Jesus Christ, we're going to "rule and reign" once again – but this time successfully!

So the entire creation is going to benefit under the new Adam and His people!  Then will be fulfilled the words of Psalm 8: "O Lord our Lord, how excellent is Your Name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens!  Out of the mouths of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, because of Your enemies, that You may silence the enemy and the avenger.  When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?  For You have made him a llittle lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor.  You have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen – even the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea that pass through the paths of the seas.  Or Lord, our Lord how excellent is Your Name in all the earth!"

All this is going to come about because our Lord PASSED the test!  There's going to be a renewed heaven, a renewed earth - in which dwell righteousness – through our Lord Jesus Christ!

what are applications of all this to us?  I hope it's obvious that the first response we should have is praise and worship!

Hebrews 4:15 tells us, "For we do not have a high priest Who cannot sympathize with our weaknessses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin." He was tempted as we are, but with a much more difficult temptation.

So, considering our relatively minor experiences of trial and temptation we ought to be able to praise Him Who endured so much more for us!  I hope very much that we can see that He knows our troubles – far better than we do, for He endured much more!  We can never tell Him that He dosen't understand what we're going through!

Hebrews 2:18 tells us, "For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted."  In fact, by His Spirit, this same One Who overcame temptation dwells in us.  And we can call on Him anytime, and He knows how to help us.  So instead of trying to figure out our own solutions to temptations and trials,  we ought to turn to Him FIRST!

Finally, there's one more application for us today: our new Adam is Head of a new race, a race of which each of us is a part.  Because He's already been exalted as Lord, we don't have to wait to start living on this earth as members of that new race!  We can begin to deal – now - with this earth and everything around us as His servants, knowing that it belongs to Him.

We can create art, music, etc. that glorifies Him.  We can undertake education that reveals Him in all of its facts.  We can even engage in politics that reflect the way He would have us deal with the people of this world.  In other words, we can start – even now – being the humanity He intended us to be!

Superb bro. Could not be clearer. It may be worth splitting it in two and having it posted in NEM for two days. Very edifying.

Thankyou Pastor.  I agree with Iain, very well interpreted.

"Subjected in hope" yes and "Hope maketh not ashamed" Amen!

Wow, that "Same Spirit" dwells in me.  Isn't this wonderful, so wonderful Pastor Al?

This has done me good this morning. So easy to understand.

God Bless you,
Jenny.

Wow!  Thanks for mentioning this, Jenny, in NEM as I hadn't noticed that Al had posted this.

Thanks so much Al.  As Iain has said, "Superb"!

Thank you for your comments, dear ones.  Because He lives - we can live!  His Resurrection means the coming of His Spirit to live within us!

AL thank you very much
This is making my day good and as Iain say
put it in New Every Morning in once ore two time
GOD BLESS YOU AL
Thank you RIA

That is so clear and easy to understand, Pastor Al.  Perfect for new believers....and old one's also.  God Bless and thank you.

Dear Al, that is a super piece of work you turned out from Mark 1:9-13 "A New Adam, A New race.  

Now as you remember me from the old Bible study days, I can come off the wall sometimes.  

This may not fit with Theology, but I sometimes think the following.

God said His Creation was good.. He never said it was perfect.  Even though God is perfect.

So I wonder if perhaps Adam and Eve not only disapointed God but pointed to a flaw in the Creation.  That being our own will aided by the work of Satan.

Stay with me here I am going somewhere.

In His wisdom after giving mankind a chance, (which by now God certainly knew man would not and could not do it on his own) God sent into the world the second Adam (the perfect Adam if you will).

Thanks for your hard work and dedication in telling us the word of God.

Your Brother in Christ
Boots

QuoteGod said His Creation was good.. He never said it was perfect.  Even though God is perfect.
So I wonder if perhaps Adam and Eve not only disapointed God but pointed to a flaw in the Creation.  That being our own will aided by the work of Satan.
Stay with me here I am going somewhere.
In His wisdom after giving mankind a chance, (which by now God certainly knew man would not and could not do it on his own) God sent into the world the second Adam (the perfect Adam if you will).

It's ok to "come off the wall" Boots.  At least you're thinking!  Many more than you'd care to think simply say, "wonderful, Al," then forget they've even read it.

That said, though, we need to do a little thinking.  When God, on the last day of Creation, looked it all over, He pronounced it "very good."  

Now think about that for a moment.  If I pronounced something I'd made "very good," it should not inspire extreme confidence in others that it actually was "very good."  I am flawed.  My mind is clouded by sin.  But God's is not.  When He pronounced it "very good," I suspect we should place ABSOLUTE confidence in it, should we not?  I suspect we could say it was perfect.

In my understanding, there are no "flaws" in anything God does - ever.  Nor is He surprised by anything.  

Nothing creeps up upon Him unaware.

I believe He knew that man would fall.  I believe He knew Satan would assist man in that fall.  I believe He knew all this in eternity past.  But He also already had it solved from eternity past via the New Adam.  In His infinite Mind, a Mind not bound by time, it was all accomplished in exact accord with a perfect plan - from eternity.  We cannot call any of this a "flaw," can we?

As Paul said, "What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction - and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand ..."

I think this points to the answer, though it is undoubtedly too great for our poor minds to fully grasp it.

Boots

Some call God a scientist, I believe He is the greatest Scientist.  He had Jesus waiting in the wings so to speak., However unlike all other great inventions Jesus was His final attempt. Absolute perfection.

Yes God is the Master Potter..."and the vessel that He made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so He made it again another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make it.    Jer 18:4

God Bless you Boots.
Jenny

Thank you Al and Jenny for commenting on my post.  The question I raised is really a mute point as far as us figurig out what God did, does and will do.  

We as His creation are given a brain and we do try to figure things out.  Had we not been equipped that way, we would truly be useless to God or our fellow humans.

I still think about and wonder about much of our beginnings and just why Adam sinned in the first place.  Of course it is a nice "crutch" for us to blame "old Adam" for all our sinful nature.    

So in a slanted way we owe Adam and Eve a debt of gratitude.  (big smile)

Have a nice day
Boots

Boots

Yes I agree it is nice to blame someone!

I do believe it's all about choice though.  I've made lots of wrong "choices" in life and I did need a Saviour.  Praise God for Jesus. He alone makes sense of it all for me.

Where does evil come from if God made everything?
Some things are so hard.  We are "of purer eyes than to look upon evil and canst not look on iniquity" Hab 1:13.

It's a straight and narrow way brother, that leads to salvation and few there be that find it.

Goodnight Boots.
Jenny.

Al - Thats a wonderful piece you printed here.  Its been a long while since I've read the book of Mark.,..I tend to read Romans, John., and other gospels... now I'm going to read Mark, and see if I can add to what you have written here.

I really appreciate the "studies" you have taken the time to post... really I do!

I should be in bed but I've just gone through this part of Mark and thoroughly enjoyed it.  I'm going to meditate on this study again in the morning.

Thanks so much, Al.