Out Of Darkness, Into Comfort- Mark 1:1-8 & Isaiah 40:1-2

As we came to the end of the Book of Judges, we saw the importance of dealing with our sin in a biblically informed way. For example, in Judges 19 we saw that there are ‘sinful individuals, living in sinful families, who live in a sinful community’ and left to ourselves we will deal with sin and its effects in ways that ‘appear to be right in our own eyes’. You cannot deal with sin and its effects with temporal, carnal, or fleshly means.

In Judges 19 we saw that individuals, a family, and a community tried to deal with sin through separation, by allowing time to pass, through eating, drinking, and making the heart merry. Not one time did we read anything about repentance, prayer, read the bible, etc. Because of this, when a time of trouble and tribulation comes there was no wisdom or grace seen in their responses. There was no faith in them that these trials could perfect, mature, and be completed. (James 1)

Then when we came to Judges 20-21 it initially appeared that we would see a better response to sin than we had witnessed in that first scene in Judges 19. In Judges 20:18-28 it appeared that God was at work among the people of Israel to promote in them true repentance. If the story had ended there we would have to conclude that Israel had repented; however, in the rest of Judges 20-21 we saw evidence that what was done in 20:24-28 and in 21:2-4 was not true repentance. It looked like repentance on the outside, but there was no fruit seen in the hear, mind, mouth, or in the actions.

Judges 19-21 taught us two important lessons. You cannot deal with sin through fleshly and carnal means. And you cannot deal with sin through religious looking things but faith and grace are missing. In the end, the Holy Spirit Himself testified in the last verse of the Book of Judges, “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in their own eyes.” (21:25) When they repented they did not submit to the LORD or to His Word!

Because of what we saw in the book of Judges we might be tempted to ask, “If God’s people had become so faithless so quickly when they came into the Promised Land, could God fulfill the promise that he had spoken of to the serpent in Genesis 3:15, ‘I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel?’” Clearly, God would fulfill the promise that He had made.

As we drew closer to the end of the Book of Judges, I wanted to turn our attention to the KING that was promised to come who was full of grace and truth. This is why we will study the Gospel of Mark next. In just a moment, as we read Mark 1:1-8 you will see familiar themes that were in that last story in the Book of Judges. For example,

• Judges 19:1 began with these words, “In those days, when there was no king in Israel…”. Now, in Mark 1:1 we are introduced to the King with these words, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus came proclaiming, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand…”. (1:14-15; Ps. 2)

• A second parallel is seen in the importance of true and genuine repentance. Mark 1:2-3 is a quote from Isaiah 40 which speaks of the importance of repentance in seeing and receiving Jesus the KING. In Mark 1:4 shows us that John the Baptist came fulfilling Israiah’s prophecy when he was in the wilderness preaching “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”

Let’s read Mark 1:1-8,

“The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,

‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’”

John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, ‘After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’”

As a transition from the book of Judges into our study the Gospel of Mark, I would like to spend a few weeks in Isaiah 40 where this Old Testament quote is taken from in Mark 1:2-3. We saw in Judges what a faulty repentance looked like, but Isaiah 40 will help us to see how God helps us to do this rightly. As we considered Judges 19-21 you may have felt a bit overwhelmed by the importance of repentance and by how easy it is to mess it up. Well, Isaiah 40 will bless you as you see how the LORD helps us in this.

This morning we will look at Isaiah 40:1-2 which says, “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins.”

Let me begin by giving you a couple facts about the structure of the book of Isaiah and these particular verses. First, the book of Isaiah mirrors the structure of the Bible. For example,

• There are 66 books in the bible; and there are 66 chapters in the book of Isaiah.

• There are two sections in the bible (The Old Testament and the New Testament); similarly, there are two sections in the Book of Isaiah.

• The first section in the bible has 39 books; similarly, the first section in Isaiah has 39 books.

• The second section in the bible has 27 books; similarly, the second section of Isaiah has 27 books.

• If you were to read through this book you would notice that in the first 39 chapters speak a lot about God judging sin in all of the nations. But as you come to the last 27 chapters we are introduced to the coming Suffering Servant who will save His people from their sins.

In Isaiah 40:1-2 you initially see that this is a message of comfort. We will see that this message of comfort is not just contained in these verses but it permeates the whole context. After this message of comfort is spoken about we are then given three reasons for this comfort in Isaiah 40:2.

The message of comfort that begins in Isaiah 40 is such a contrast to the first 39 chapters where you often saw that God was at war with idolatrous sinners. This war between God and sinners permeates the message in the first section. For example, Isaiah 5:25 says, “Therefore, the anger of the LORD was kindled against His people, and He stretched out His hand against them and struck them, and the mountains quaked; and their corpses were as refuse in the midst of the streets. For all this His anger has not turned away, and His hand is stretched out still.” (9:12,17,21;10:4;23:11) God’s anger is a fire that is kindled that cannot be quenched by us.

But as you begin to read Isaiah 40:1-2 you see that something has changed. Where there has been war and enmity, there is now a word of comfort. This word of comfort comes right after God has just told Israel that the Babylonians were going to carry them off into exile. Isaiah 40:5-7, “Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, ‘Hear the word of the LORD of hosts: Behold, the days are coming, when all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have stored up till this day, shall be carried to Babylon. Nothing shall be left, says the LORD. And some of your own sons, who will come from you, who you will father, shall be taken away, and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.’”

When Hezekiah hears these things he is forced to find comfort in the fact that there will be peace and security in his days. That is how the first section ends! (1-39) In this moment, Hezekiah is here like those people in Judges 19-21 who sought comfort in temporal things and external things; rather than repenting.

A word of comfort is the last thing that you would expect to receive as you begin to read Isaiah 40. Truly, God is the God of all comfort who can comfort us in our time of need {not just temporal need but in our desperate spiritual need}. (2 Corinthians 1) He does not give comfort and peace as the world gives, but real gracious comfort and peace that goes beyond our circumstances.

This comfort is experienced by all of those who surrender to the LORD and stop fighting against Him. Our sinful nature is alienated from God. In that condition we hate the LORD and His Word. A person cannot serve two masters and in our fallen nature we love our sin and will not submit to the LORD. When the LORD rebukes us because of our sin we hate Him all the more. It is a vicious cycle that leads us farther into faithlessness. (Similar to the cycle we saw in Judges)

Wasn’t this why in Judges 19-21 Israel was described as a people who had no king and they did what was right in their own eyes? Israel would not truly repent and the war continued between them and God continued.

This word of comfort in Isaiah 40:1 rests upon three realities.

• First, this comfort comes from knowing that this warfare between them and the LORD is over. Those who have this comfort are reconciled to God, justified, and at peace with Him. Not because of something they have done, but because of what the LORD has done. What a stable comfort this is.

• Second, this comfort comes because our iniquities have been pardoned and forgiven.

• Third, comfort is given because all of our sins have been paid in full.

Let’s consider Isaiah 40:2b, “Speak tenderly (comfortably, gently)...that her warfare is ended (accomplished)…”. I mentioned earlier that Isaiah 5 is one of many passages that speaks of the war that is raging between God and sinners. However, Isaiah 40:2b may be stressing something else that we have not yet considered. In the footnotes of your bible you may see that the word ‘warfare’ can also be translated ‘hardship’, or ‘harsh service’, or ‘hard labor’. This word can refer to an enlisted soldier whose hard service is coming to an end.

Hezekiah found some comfort in knowing that he would not be effected by Isaiah’s prophecy even though his offspring would be subjected to such a harsh service in captivity. Similarly, those who go into exile and experience such a hardship could be comforted in knowing that their children would one cay return to the Promised Land. But surly these words of comfort are referring to more than the fact that the Babylonian captivity which is spoken of in Isaiah 39:5-7 would be temporary and would come to an end.

We know that Isaiah 40:1-2 is speaking of more than this because Israel’s exile could not be the basis of their sins being forgiven (2c). Nor could this be the basis for them receiving from the LORD’s hand double for all their sins (2d). Texts like Isaiah 5 shows us that if God judges us for our sins His anger would still remain and His arm would still be stretched out over our dead corpses.

This warfare only ends when God’s enemies surrender to God. Those who do this will be freed from their harsh service to sin. They will be liberated from their hard labor and slavery to sin. Isaiah 30 speaks of this when it says, “The LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore He exalts Himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for Him. For a people shall dwell in Zion, in Jerusalem; you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. As soon as He hears it, He answers you.” (30:18-19) But to those who will not turn to the LORD we read, “For thus said the Lord God the Holy One of Israel, ‘In returning (repentance) and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.’ But you were unwilling, and you said, No! We will flee...” (30:15)

Our second reason for comfort is “that her iniquity is pardoned…”. (Isaiah 40:2c) ‘Iniquity’ speaks of something that is twisted, warped, distorted, perverted, and ugly. Our sin warps every area of our life: thoughts, actions, words, intentions, etc. In the Book of Judges we saw that when Israel rejected the LORD as their King and forsook His Word, they formed twisted, warped, distorted, and perverted views about Him and what He says. They would not look to Him or receive His Word so they decided what was right in their own sinful eyes.

Jesus speaks of this when He told the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:24-25, “Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant!” What will the LORD do to such a wicked servant? In verse 28 Jesus says, “Cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” Isaiah 40:2c is very good news that such evil sins, such a warped perception of God that effects how we think, speak, and act can be forgiven and pardoned.

The word ‘pardoned’ speaks of something which is ‘acceptable’ and ‘delightful’. This seems odd, but this word is used in Isaiah 42:1 where we read, “Behold, my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry aloud or lift up His voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed He will not break, and a faintly bruning wick He will not quench; He will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be discouraged till He has established justice I the earth; and the coastlands wait for His Law...I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.” (42:1-4, 6-7)

Those verses show us that God accepts the punishment of our iniquity in what Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has done when He offered Himself up for sinners. This pardon is given to all those who will repent and believe upon Jesus Christ. Oh the mercy and grace of God that saves wretches like us!

Finally, let us consider Isaiah 40:2d which says, “…that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins.” The word ‘double’ means ‘exact equivilent’. This means that the Father has pardoned our sins and brought an end to the war because Christ has made atonement for every single sin, transgression, and iniquity that His people have committed. Consider just how many sins in thought, word, and deed you have committed. Think of the sins of omission and of commission that you have done. Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God Who takes away all of our sins. Not one is forgotten. Not one sin is overlooked. Not one sin will be neglected to be dealt with so that it will accuse you some time in the future.

What a comfort it is, that we sinners, have our sins cast as far as the east is to the west. That we, who are such great sinners, can be forgiven and justified so that we do not need to look over our shoulder and wonder when the hand of God will fall upon us in judgment killing our bodies and casting our eternal souls into hell. Jesus Christ is the acceptable sacrifice for sins, the war is over, and our sins have been pardoned.

With this in mind, think of the words of comfort that the Gospel of Mark begins with, saying, “The beginning of the gospel (Good News) of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” Oh how quickly we loose this comfort if we stop looking at Christ and remembering what good He has graciously and mercifully done for us.

Over the next few weeks I’d like you to practice four principles that we see in Mark 1:1-8.

• First, spend time meditating upon Mark 1:1 regarding who Jesus Christ, the Son of God is. Ask yourself, “Do I qualify for the comfort spoken of in Isaiah 40:1-2? Have I repented and believed upon Christ?” Or you might ask yourself, “What part of my life is not yet submitted to His Lordship and authority?”

• Second, spend some time each day reflecting upon Mark 1:2-5 to see what crooked parts of my thinking, my heart, my life needs to be dealt with?

• Third, According to Mark 1:6-7, what parts of your life needs to decrease so that Christ can increase? What parts of your life are you seeking attention, credit, or control which needs to be submitted to the LORD?

• Fourth, According to Mark 1:8, spend some time praying to be filled with the Spirit and living in dependence upon Him. Are you living according to His power and strength, or your own? Are you using the gifts He has given you, or are you running from them like Jonah?