by David Scott Robertson
I was reading the first chapter of the gospel of Mark
And a recurring word kept popping up – “immediately” - eight times in forty-five verses.
I thought to myself,
There’s something there, what is it?
Why does there seem to be an accelerated shift in spiritual momentum?
Let’s take a quick look at these eight verses and see if we can discover some principles…
1. Mark 1:9-11 (NKJV)
It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. [10] And IMMEDIATELY, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. [11] Then a voice came from heaven, "You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." [emphasis mine]
To fulfill all righteousness, Jesus was baptized in water.
John the Baptist had protested to Christ that it was the Lord who should be baptizing him,
But Jesus insisted that it be so.
So it was and the results were nothing short of spectacular!
(1) Immediately the heavens opened
(2) The Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus
(3) God the Father spoke, audibly, to His Son Jesus
(4) God affirmed Jesus of His beloved relationship and His exceeding pleasure in Him
The point: Immediate obedience brings the miraculous!
2. Mark 1:12-13 (NKJV)
IMMEDIATELY the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. [13] And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him. [emphasis mine]
Consider the scene:
John the Baptist, the forerunner of the Messiah, is there,
Jesus is there,
God the Father is there,
God the Holy Spirit is there.
One would think this to be a premier opportunity to inaugurate the public ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Negative.
Rather than seize the moment to address the crowds the Holy Spirit elects to IMMEDIATELY usher Jesus away into a desolate place.
The point: God knows what He is doing and the correct order to sequence events in our lives to accomplish His purposes.
3. Mark 1:16-18 (NKJV)
And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. [17] Then Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men." [18] They IMMEDIATELY left their nets and followed Him. [emphasis mine]
Here we see Peter and Andrew responding to Jesus’ invitation to follow Him.
At once they left the “for profit” fishing industry and became “non-profit” students in the school of Christ.
Can you imagine them trying to explain this to their wives?
Can’t you just hear Peter’s wife asking him over the supper table “how are we going to pay our taxes?”
The point: The most rewarding sacrifices one will ever make are time, talent, and treasure given with pure motives to the kingdom of God.
4. Mark 1:19-20 (NKJV)
When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. [20] And IMMEDIATELY He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him. [emphasis mine]
Jesus didn’t hesitate to call James and John to follow Him and they did not hesitate to follow.
They immediately abandoned the family business on the spot and followed Christ.
The man with whom they had the closest earthly relationship, their father Zebedee, they left standing with other employees to continue the family business.
I wonder, did the boys look to daddy for a nod of approval?
Did Zebedee urge them to go and fulfill their destiny or verbally object?
Had Zebedee and his sons listened to Jesus speak many times before and daydreamed out loud about what it would be like to be one of His close friends?
The point: No earthly relationship can transcend in importance our relationship with God.
5. Mark 1:21-22 (NKJV)
Then they went into Capernaum, and IMMEDIATELY on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. [22] And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. [emphasis mine]
Jesus didn’t waste any time getting about His Father’s business.
He was in touch and in tune with the voice of His Father.
We have already seen that when Jesus was in front of receptive, teachable crowds of people – he was restrained from teaching (at His baptism).
Later in the gospels we will see when Jesus is in front of unreceptive, unteachable crowds of people – he is constrained to teach.
And they will reward His wisdom and authority with thoughts of unbelief, rejection, and murder.
The point: Jesus didn’t allow people to manipulate Him, His obedience to the Father in all things is our example.
6. Mark 1:27-28 (NKJV)
Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him." [28] And IMMEDIATELY His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee. [emphasis mine]
The point: When we are in the right place (our destiny) at the right time (God’s will), the results will bring glory (fame) to the name of our righteous God.
7. Mark 1:30-31 (NKJV)
But Simon's wife's mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. [31] So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and IMMEDIATELY the fever left her. And she served them. [emphasis mine]
Simon Peter’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever.
They didn’t hesitate to tell the Master about her at once
And He didn’t hesitate to heal her at once.
And then she didn’t hesitate to get up and serve them at once!
The point: When God impacts our lives the only rational, reasonable response is to get up at once and serve Him!
8. Mark 1:40-42 (NKJV)
Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, "If You are willing, You can make me clean." [41] Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed." [42] As soon as He had spoken, IMMEDIATELY the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. [emphasis mine]
The size of any problem that encounters Jesus Christ is irrelevant.
Whether the issue is relatively minor like a fever or terminal like the scourge of leprosy,
Both and all must bow its knee to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
The point: This passage proves to me that God cares about everything in our lives, big or small.
In conclusion:
(1.) Jesus didn’t procrastinate in doing God’s will, neither should we.
(2.) The disciples didn’t hesitate to forsake all and follow Him, neither should we.
(3.) The sick didn’t have their hope deferred when Jesus ministered healing to them, neither will we.
(4.) Christ followed the Spirit’s leading into a wilderness or synagogue, we must learn to walk in the Spirit also.
(5.) Immediate obedience brings the miraculous. Remember, partial and delayed obedience is disobedience.
(6.) Obedience is the way to go even if we don’t live to see the manifestation and fruit of that obedience. Faith in God’s is sufficient in those circumstances.
DSR
11/18/02