Scripture

This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.

Observation

Mark’s Gospel is about the Good News about Jesus.

The message starts with John the Baptist, the prophet. He prepares the way for Jesus. John preached in the wilderness that people must repent, turn to God for forgiveness, and then be baptised.

John the Baptist was a wild figure. He wore clothes made from camel hair and ate locusts, and wild honey.

John told them that someone was coming, who was much greater than he is. John was not worthy to loosen the straps of his sandals. John baptised in water, but the Messiah would baptise in fire and the Holy Spirit.

Application

Mark’s gospel always reminds me of those videos that start “Let’s jump straight in.” He doesn’t want to waste time with stories about Jesus’s, birth, or even spend too much time in talking about John, important as he is.

This is good news, He tells us. The good news centres around the death and resurrection of Christ. Because of this, the kingdom of God is open to everyone. The war between God and people is over, and everyone who chooses the way of the Cross is able to make peace with God.

Jesus is the Messiah, He is the anointed one, the one whom Israel has been waiting for.

Jesus is the Son of God. This is a mystery that we struggle to understand, because our minds are limited. At Christmas time, we celebrate the Incarnation, God becoming a human being. God is with us. This may be beyond understanding, but it is Good News to be received by faith.

Listen

My child this mystery of salvation took place in history at a time and a place, but it was in my heart before the beginning of creation. When we planned to create a physical realm with people who are my image bearers, I knew that they would fall. But my grace and my love was such that I could not let that be the last word. I have written the Good News into the heart of every created thing from the tiniest atom, to the most distant Galaxy. Every person carries my image, but every subatomic particle expresses hints of my love.