Jesus, the Man upon Whom the Spirit Came to Rest Introduction This book is written as a view of Jesus, the Man Upon Whom the Spirit Came to Rest. It is about how Jesus was affected by the Holy Spirit after he came upon him in the form of the Dove. It is also about what affect it had upon his life and ministry. It is also about how the Holy Spirit affects us when we have received the infilling of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Having knowledge about this subject does not in any way imply that knowledge is equal to experience. It is my prayer that the Holy Spirit will infill each reader as a result of having studied this subject. I pray that hunger will arise to know the Lord better. The presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer is of vital importance. We are dependant upon him for every form of spiritual life function. We will observe the influence of the Holy Spirit upon the life of Jesus and in so doing will understand his role in our lives as well In our present day it seems the gospel message has been diluted and stripped of its power as well meaning individuals have sought to make it more palatable to an ever increasingly corrupt society. There are some within the church who have mistakenly thought that because we are under grace and not law, that what is taught in the law is no longer effectual. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Though the law is no longer law to us, it by no means became useless in the life of a growing Christian. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday today and forever, his view of sin has not changed, sin is still sin. Sin still separates man from fellowship with God. The redemptive role of Jesus is taught both in prophetic scriptures and in typological lessons. In the law of the sacrifices we see portraits of the life and death of Jesus and how his life, lived in our behalf, became an effectual sacrifice both for our redemption as lost sinners, but also for our continuing source of life. Jesus came to meet our every need as members of this fallen race. No one gospel is sufficient to tell his story, therefore four gospels were written, each with a unique view and mission. Though many of the stories are the same, yet details vary. This difference, in most cases, serves to add additional light to the subject being presented. Since none of the authors give us an exact chronology, fitting the fact together in that manner is a difficult task. Adding to this is the further complication of similar events and sermons being reported without a clear distinction between them. It is for this reason that studying each gospel as a separate message comes closest to the intended purpose of the writings. It is my prayer that as you read this book you will discover the depth of your own need as well as the true source of eternal life. May the Spirit of Truth and Grace be upon you as you read the words of this book. Table of Contents Chapter 1 A Man and a Message Mark 1:1-8 Chapter 2 The Spirit's Entry Mark 1:9-13 Chapter 3 Follow Jesus Mark 1:14-22 Chapter 4 The Helping Hand of Jesus Mark 1:23-31 Chapter 5 Led by the Spirit's Power Mark 1:32-45 Chapter 6 Forgiveness or Healing, Which is Easier? Mark 2:1-17 Chapter 7 The Old is Out, the New has Come Mark 2:18-21; 3:1-5 Chapter 8 Do What on the Sabbath? Mark 2:21-28 Chapter 9 The Family of God Mark 3:7-34 Chapter 10 Seed Time and Harvest Mark 4:1-41 Chapter 11 The Spirit Brings Life Mark 5:1-43 Chapter 12 How Should We Go Forth to Serve? Mark 6:1-13 Chapter 13 Kill the Prophet!! Mark 6:14-29 Chapter 14 Balancing Faith and Reason Mark 6:30-44 Chapter 15 Hardness of Heart Mark 6:45-56 Chapter 16 Contaminations Come From the Heart Mark 7:1-23 Chapter 17 A Woman, a Dog? Mark 7:24-30 Chapter 18 Loose the Tongue—Open the Ears Mark 7:31-37 Chapter 19 Is Government Accountable too? Mark 8:1-21 Chapter 20 Seeing is Not Always Seeing Clearly Mark 8:22-26 Chapter 21 How Do We See Jesus? Mark 8:27-9:1 Chapter 22 The Glory of the Lord Revealed Mark 9:2-13 Chapter 23 Cast it Out!! Mark 9:13-32 Chapter 24 Greatness Defined Mark 9:33-50 Chapter 25 So You Want a Divorce? Mark 10:1-12 Chapter 26 Children, Our Treasure, Our Hope! Mark 10:13-16 Chapter 27 Who is Good? Mark 10:17-22 Chapter 28 Why Couldn't He Keep His Riches? Mark 10:23-31 Chapter 29 Straight Ahead to Crucifixion Mark 10: 32-34 Chapter 30 Greatness Redefined Mark 10:35-45 Chapter 31 Healing Blind Men. Mark 10:46-52 Chapter 32 Behold, Your King Comes! Mark 11:1-11 Chapter 33 The Fig Tree Must Die Mark 11:12-14 Chapter 34 Cleansing the Temple Mark 11:15-19 Chapter 35 Pray Believing and Forgiving Mark 11:20-26 Chapter 36 By What Authority? Mark 11:27-33 Chapter 37 Parable of the Tenants Mark 12:1-12 Chapter 38 Pay Taxes? Mark 12:13-17 Chapter 39 Marriage in Heaven Mark 12:18-27 Chapter 40 The Greatest Commandment Mark 12:28-34 Chapter 41 Whose Son is Christ? Mark 12:35-40 Chapter 42 Teachers of the Law, a Widow Gives a Gift Mark 12:41-44 Chapter 43 Look at These Buildings! Mark 13:1-2 Chapter 44 What the Future Holds Mark 13:1-37 Chapter 45 A Woman in Tune with the Spirit's Desire Mark 14:1-9 Chapter 46 Betrayed Mark 14:10-11;17-21 Chapter 47 The Lord's Supper Mark 14:14-26 Chapter 48 Jesus Predicts Peter's Denial Mark 14:27-31 Chapter 49 Agony in the Garden Mark 14:32-42 Chapter 50 The Kiss of Death Mark 14:43-52 Chapter 51 Crucify Him Mark 14:53-64 Chapter 52 Peter Denies Jesus Mark 14:65-72 Chapter 53 Pilot Condemns Jesus to Crucifixion. Mark 15:1-20 Chapter 54 The Crucifixion of Jesus Mark 15:21-39 Chapter 55 Burial of Jesus Mark 15:40-47 Chapter 56 The Resurrection Mark 16:1-20 Chapter One A Man and a Message Mark 1:1-8 The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It is written in Isaiah the prophet: "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way" – "a voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'" And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. John wore clothing made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And this was his message: "After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." This is how our quest for God begins. How can we find him? Listen to his messenger, "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way." (Mark 1:2) Could it be that to approach the Lord requires preparation? Often arrogant men hastily say prayers, or make some challenging statement to God that if he is real, he ought to prove himself to the world; as if God is made better when we worship him. Do we see God as some egotistical weakling who needs our praise, thinking we have some special quality that is so valuable that we would bless him by coming to him? Perhaps we do have some great value, in fact, I am sure we are worth far more than our minds can grasp, but what it is of value about us, and God's reason to pursue us, is quite different from what most of us suppose. It is not our abilities to love, worship, think, reason or act, that are of value to God, since he is already loved and worshipped by the host of heaven. As far as our abilities to act, think or reason, let's be realistic, God certainly doesn't need that! Why God cares about us humans is one of the great wonders of God! What a marvel that God has even bothered with us, this fallen human race, being so selfish, self-centered, arrogant, rebellious and untrustworthy. Yet, for reasons that are still clothed in mystery, God sent Jesus Christ into this world to provide a way for humanity to return to God. Few people seem to understand it, but from God's point of view; preparation is required if God is ever going to meet with man again. To communicate effectively requires more than simply having two entities in the same location talking to each other.