The Beginning of the Good News
April 11, 2023
Mark 1:1-8 | Malachi 3:1
“The beginning of the good news…”
Mark’s gospel moves quickly. No birth story, no genealogy. No Mary, no Joseph. This book will continue to feel swift as we read it. The shortest of the four gospels, Mark does not mess around with long dialogue or explanation. However, this gospel is not short on details.
The beginning of the good news…
As do all the gospels in some way, Mark begins with the role of John the Baptist. John’s charge was to clear the way for Christ. But that’s it. John won’t see any of Jesus’ healings. He won’t be there for the feeding of the multitudes or the raising of Lazarus. In fact, though he fulfills his purpose - clearing the way for Christ - John will lose his life by beheading before Jesus barely even gets going. Doesn’t seem fair by our standards.
The beginning of the good news…
The mission of God has seasons. We might like to see all things to completion, but it’s an unrealistic expectation. Even Jesus, though he completed the mission, did not see the full implementation of the mission while on earth. Seasons…
And so, with the notion that much more is to come, Mark begins:
“The beginning of the good news…”
Mark 1:1-8
The beginning of the good news about Jesus Christ, God’s Son, happened just as it was written about in the prophecy of Isaiah:
Look, I am sending my messenger before you.
He will prepare your way,
a voice shouting in the wilderness:
“Prepare the way for the Lord;
make his paths straight.”
John the Baptist was in the wilderness calling for people to be baptized to show that they were changing their hearts and lives and wanted God to forgive their sins. Everyone in Judea and all the people of Jerusalem went out to the Jordan River and were being baptized by John as they confessed their sins. John wore clothes made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey. He announced, “One stronger than I am is coming after me. I’m not even worthy to bend over and loosen the strap of his sandals. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
Malachi 3:1
Look, I am sending my messenger who will clear the path before me;
suddenly the Lord whom you are seeking will come to his temple.
The messenger of the covenant in whom you take delight is coming,
says the Lord of heavenly forces.
Prayer
God -
We really do think we can control a lot, don’t we? Forgive me for thinking if I just get everything in the right order, I can make things happen as they should. Beyond forgiveness, help me see my role within it all. I’d like to be the recipient as much as I would the contributor. But I know this isn’t possible.
Help me to stand on the shoulders of others, even as I store up for others to come after me. Give me grace for timing out of my control. Give me vision for things to come that I will never see. Give me patience to endure.
Mold me in the likes of the baptizing John who did what was necessary without seeing the best of it all. Help me to follow Christ, who lived to completion, but handed off the authority to others, trusting that by your Spirit, they would pick up the ball and run with it.
I give you this day, begin in me now.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.