The Beginning of the Good News
Mark'll move fast. Don't miss it.
Happy Second Sunday of Easter to you. Today we begin the gospel of Mark. We just took a longer time with John, working it through slowly (which is something for John!). Mark will be a bit faster this year, which isn’t all that disparate from the way Mark works. It’s not just the shortest gospel, but it’s also quick-moving. Mark doesn’t leave much space for meandering. Even so, we will see a Jesus who is committed to rest and getting away. Just don’t miss it. In fact, it’s easy to miss things in Mark because it can seem to move so quickly. It can even feel disjointed. But it really isn’t. Though Mark can feel like a cut and pasting of various events, there are themes, movements, and threads strung throughout. It’s a good gospel to read all at once in one sitting. I will try to remind you to do that in the next 45 days or so we’ll be going through it. Maybe that’s a challenge you can make to yourself in the next 6-7 weeks? Read the whole of Mark one time through in one sitting once a week. I guarantee it will change the way you see the smaller parts. Let’s begin…
Much has been made about the first verse in Mark - The beginning of the good news. Is the beginning this first verse and prophecy from Isaiah? Or is it the next part about John the Baptist? Both of these could be true.
Maybe it’s referring to the whole book. That the beginning of the good news is this story about Jesus Christ and all we’re about to read of him.
Our passage today is book-ended by good news. The beginning, John the Baptist, Jesus’ baptism, temptation (told you we’d move quickly…we’re just a few verses in!)…and then Jesus’ first words in this gospel, a great summary of the whole gospel:
Now is the time!
Here comes God’s kingdom!
Change your hearts and lives,
and trust this good news!
Mark 1:1-13
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.”
About that time, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. While he was coming up out of the water, Jesus saw heaven splitting open and the Spirit, like a dove, coming down on him. And there was a voice from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I dearly love; in you I find happiness.”
At once the Spirit forced Jesus out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among the wild animals, and the angels took care of him.
After John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee announcing God’s good news, saying, “Now is the time! Here comes God’s kingdom! Change your hearts and lives, and trust this good news!”
Psalm 96:1-6
Sing to the Lord a new song! Sing to the Lord, all the earth! Sing to the Lord! Bless his name! Share the news of his saving work every single day! Declare God’s glory among the nations; declare his wondrous works among all people because the Lord is great and so worthy of praise. He is awesome beyond all other gods because all the gods of the nations are just idols, but it is the Lord who created heaven! Greatness and grandeur are in front of him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
Prayer
God,
Thank you for the good news. Not just good advice or helpful teaching, but good news—a world-changing announcement that you are near. Help us not to rush past what you are saying and doing. Give us hearts and minds ready to receive your kingdom,
ready to change and trust, ready to see the good news unfolding around us, even in unexpected ways.
Teach us to live each day as if the good news is beginning again—fresh, urgent, and alive.
By your Spirit & in Christ,
Amen.