THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 1:14-15
“The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15)
Jesus is proclaiming the ‘good news’ (or gospel) of God.
Often the word gospel makes us think of Jesus dying for our sins.
The good news that I am forgiven, and will go to heaven one day.
But how is this related to the good news of the kingdom of God being near?
Jesus is constantly talking about the kingdom of God, and we hardly speak of it.
The kingdom of God is this world as God intended it to be (see Genesis 1-2).
There we see that God arranged for humans ‘like God’ to run His kingdom.
The bad news is that we humans have screwed it up, the world is no longer ‘very good’.
Jesus is saying that things are about to change, God’s world is about to be set right.
Satan will be defeated, humans restored, and all things will be ‘very good’ again.
This means more than being forgiven, it means love, joy, peace, healing, blessing, etc.
How… because an Adam has come who will beat Satan by refusing his lies (v.12-13).
Look around at all the evil and suffering and brokenness in the world.
All this will end, because Jesus has come to make God’s world ‘very good’ again!
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, we need more than forgiveness, we need help. Help me to join with You in refusing Satan’s lies and choosing to live ‘like God’ in my life.