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RSSSo it is time for me to wrap up this blog series on Mark 1 and the question of what is the gospel. If you haven’t been following along…take a few minutes to catch up
In Mark 1:15, Jesus opens his mouth to speak for the first time. The gospel writer has spent the first 14 verses helping people understand that Jesus is the real deal. He’s the guy Isaiah spoke about. He is the one John publicly affirmed. And he is the one that God spoke about from heaven. Jesus is the Messiah and he has come to bring good news or the gospel. But what is the gospel that Jesus will proclaim?
As someone who grew up in the evangelicalism of the north America, I expect Jesus to say something that mirrors the teaching I heard in Sunday School or to proclaim a message that sounds like the words of the booming preaching that I sat under in revivals and tent meetings. I am looking for him to say something like, “Believe in me and I will forgive your sins.” Or, “Believe in me and I will rescue you from hell and take you to heaven when you die.” He doesn’t say that.
Instead he says, “The time has come…the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news.”
What!?!
The good news has to do with sin and forgiveness…right? And heaven and hell…right? Not according to Jesus. He looks beyond those issues and says that the kingdom of God has come near and you can access it. It is at hand. You can enter it. Just turn from your current way of living and believe.
A couple of things to point out…
- Jesus shifts the focus from “after you die” to “how you live.” It is not about where you go after you die, but entering into the kingdom, or God’s leadership/authority/rule/way here and now. This raises the stakes for how we live our lives. It is not just about praying a prayer to get my sins taken away; it is about living the rest of my life as a part of a new kingdom.
- Jesus shifts the location from “there” to “here.” Jesus message isn’t about another place and another time; it is about this life on this earth now. Though he doesn’t expound on it here, I think this statement is pregnant with all kinds of implications. One of those implications is that the gospel is not about populating heaven; it is about transforming earth. This happens as person and after person repents (turns from their current way of living to live in God’s kingdom where Jesus is Lord) and puts faith in Jesus to change their lives and their world.
In Jesus declaration about the good news, he lets us know what the gospel is. The gospel…the good news…is that people can be transformed by Jesus and as people are transformed the world can become different and better.
Questions:
- What else can we learn about the gospel of Jesus from these verses?
- What has caused us to shy away from this message of the gospel?
- How does this understanding of the gospel change your faith journey?
Respond to these questions or make a comment below.
Nov 16, 2009 @ 11:01:46
I guess I’m really focusing on your third question in this comment, but my faith journey CONTINUES to be changed as I remember that it is truly how I live here earth that matters. It’s not just about getting to heaven. And I think that’s why the preaching & teaching over the years that has included that message has to stop. Yes, heaven is important. Yes, having my sins forgiven is essential. But what are we doing to do with the years of life we have left on this earth? (God-willing)
Realizing that the journey is more important than just the finish line has not come naturally for me. Because I’m a problem solver. I like answers, solutions, & fixes. But life is a continual journey with twists & turns, and life is not predictable. I want to live it to the fullest & become the man that God wants me to be, not just hold on & hang in there until I die one day so that I can make it to heaven.