Beginning of expositional series on the Gospel of Mark. Cuts off with about 2 minutes left due to a technical glitch in recording. The entire manuscript is in the below notes, which you can view or download. Here is the rest of the sermon, from the manuscript, picking up around where it cut off:

"This first step can be rather difficult, as so many people self-justify their sin. But, after that first step, then there comes repentance, and they receive the forgiveness that is only found in Jesus Christ—the healing and the comfort that comes with reconciliation with God. Jesus meets them in their wilderness, and he leads them out of the wilderness.

Maybe this scenario sounds familiar to you. In the wilderness, Jesus comes to save us. Because of his work, when we repent our sins we actually are forgiven by the Lord. As the Scriptures say: “If we repent our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” And so, Jesus leads us from the wilderness to the Promised Land, the Kingdom of God, in which his people dwell even now.

If you have never answered Jesus’ call to follow him in faith, as your Savior, know that you are out in the wilderness separated from God. The fact is that everyone who has not trusted in Jesus as his or her Savior, and answered his call to follow him will die, lost in the wilderness.

So, if you are not a Christian, you are lost with no means of finding your way out on your own. You will die there, unless you follow the one who comes to rescue you.

But, the good news is, your rescuer is right before you now. Jesus Christ, the Savior, has come to you in your wilderness, and he’s saying, “Follow me!” Hear his call, follow him. And he will lead you out of the wilderness into the eternal joy that comes from being one of his redeemed people.

Jesus meets us in the wilderness. He is the promised One, and without him the wilderness will swallow us whole.

Because of our need for a Savior in the wilderness, we must follow Jesus."

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