...Welcome to Mark...

After spending some weeks with you in the Psalms, I am turning to Mark’s Gospel. I want to invite you to join me in some daily reflections on Mark’s Gospel. On February 18, Ash Wednesday, I will step back from Mark, and lead us through some thoughts and prayers during Lent. After Easter Sunday I will return to Mark and finish it together with you.

So let’s begin this day with the beginning of Mark’s Gospels.

“1 The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,

‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; 

3 the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:    

‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight’,

4 John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He proclaimed, ‘The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8 I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’

9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11 And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased’” Mark 1:1-11.

Mark begins as Genesis 1 begins: “In the beginning”, yet here Mark is speaking of a new beginning, the beginning of a new creation, if you will. The “good news” is beginning, Mark says, which means the “Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” is beginning here on the earth God created. So from the beginning, Mark wants us to see the Gospel as Good News, and Jesus is both the “proclaimer” of the Good News, and the “proclaimed.” You and I are expected, then, to respond to Jesus, who is the Good News, and the One who is calling us to respond to the Gospel, the Good News. And of equal importance are the two names of Jesus: Jesus Christ — the Messiah — and the Son of God. These are the two most important titles of Jesus in Mark’s Gospel. Jesus is His name and Christ (Messiah) is the title of Jesus. In many ways, Mark’s gospel is the attempt to look at and clarify how Christ, the Messiah, is the Son of God. So at the very opening of the Gospel Mark is telling us that Jesus is both the Messiah and God’s Son.

But what is the “beginning of the Good News?” The beginning is from the prophets, especially Isaiah, who announced that a messenger, John the baptizer, would prepare the way of the Lord. The beginning happens with the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan, who comes to baptize us with the Holy Spirit. And we can tell how successful John is because “the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem” came to John for his water baptism. John is one who lives a nomadic life and whose voice proclaims the coming of Jesus who is infinitely both more powerful and more worthy than John. John baptizes with waters of repentance and preparation for Jesus’ baptism of the Spirit, God’s Spirit who will bring end-time salvation.

But make no mistake about it, Jesus is the central figure here, not John. Jesus is baptized, tearing apart the heavens by coming physically to earth, signaling that there is no separation between humanity and God. And with the heavens torn open, the Spirit now descends, becoming the driving force of God with the Spirit that lies within Him! Jesus now operates with the force and presence of God, not a demon as some later accused Jesus of being under its influence! Then, after the dove descends upon Jesus, which symbolizes the Spirit of God, comes the voice of God from heaven. The Father and the Son are One, assuring Jesus of the Father’s love!

So consider today all that Mark is telling us about Jesus in these opening words of the Gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ! Open your hearts up completely today, and receive the Holy Spirit!

Oh Lord, come down upon us sinners in need of your Spirit,

and fill us with Your merciful power.

Help us respond to You as “the whole Judean countryside

and all the people of Jerusalem” responded to John!

Descend upon us and fill us with your Word.

In Your name we pray, Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Amen!

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.