Reflecting on Mark 1:14-20“Proclaiming the good news of God…” (Mark 1:14)
As a Jesus follower, I have put my confidence in Jesus’s good news message.
We use the word ‘gospel’, but it is another way of saying ‘good news’.
The good news of Jesus is the gospel; the gospel is the good news of Jesus.
But what is the good news of Jesus, according to Jesus?
“The time has come, the kingdom of God has come near.” (Mark 1:15)
Here there is no reference to the cross, or to forgiveness.
According to Jesus, the good news has to do with God’s reign and rule.
It is both a place to be (creation) and a way of being (under God).
The first time we encounter this idea is in Genesis 1.
There Adam and Eve are placed in God’s place, under God’s will.
The kingdom of God is this world as it was meant to be.
With God-like humans ruling on God’s behalf in God’s way.
Jesus is saying that the time has arrived for this reality to return.
Jesus is the new Adam, ruling this world in a God-like Way.
How Jesus reigns, in humble gracious love, seems weak to us.
Riding on a donkey, humbly washing feet, turning the other cheek?
Yet what seems weak and foolish is the strength and wisdom of God.
We don’t see things this way, which is why we need to ‘reconsider’.
The word repent literally means to reconsider, rethink or change your mind.
Jesus, the unlikely messiah from Nazareth, represents what God is like.
Something in Jesus and His message attracted the disciples.
They did not understand the kingdom of God yet (see Acts 1:6).
They still saw it as a worldly kingdom, like Rome, ruled by force.
Jesus repeatedly stressed that God does NOT rule that way:
“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave — just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:25-28)
Here we see how the weakness and folly of Jesus IS the good news.
Satan and sin are the way of self-assertion and self-serving.
This is why our world is a dominion of darkness, not a kingdom of light.
Had Jesus used worldly power to establish God’s kingdom, it would not be God’s way.
He would have given in to the serpent, and fallen like all Adams and Eves.
Jesus takes the fall, refuses the serpent’s lies, suffers for it, yet wins.
Death, the penalty for sin, couldn’t hold him; there was no sin to hold!
The kingdom comes near because Jesus/Adam reasserts God’s will, God’s way!
The penalty for sin is lifted, we are released (forgiven) and restored!
Now in Jesus we reign in God’s world… but in God’s way, not a human way!
As Jesus followers, we need to reconsider our understanding of the gospel.
Yes, it involves forgiveness and the hope of a future kingdom.
But it involves this world, and how we live in this world NOW.
We bring the kingdom of God near when we rule like Jesus, like God.
Not by making ourselves great again, not by forcing others to obey God.
Not by establishing christian government, or by imposing christian laws.
Wherever we see humble servants loving others, we see the kingdom.
Riding on a donkey, humbly washing feet, turning the other cheek!
Appearing weak and foolish, yet truly the strength and wisdom of God.
Overcoming evil with goodness, not with human force or power.
I wonder how many christians today would choose to follow this gospel?
How many of us would leave everything to become slaves, and suffer for others.
It is the Jesus Way, the way of humility and grace, the good news of the kingdom!
It is the Jesus Way, the Jesus Truth and the Jesus Life!
He’s calling us to believe and follow… can you believe it?
Will I leave everything to follow it?
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, Your good news message seems foolish and weak, yet it beat Satan, sin and death. You are on the throne, and ruling by humility and grace.
You are inviting me to reconsider what I think about life and how it works. You are calling me to reign with You, to overcome evil and restore goodness in Your servant-like way. This is good news!
As the disciples ‘lived’ with Jesus to becom like their Master so I too need to become like Christ unto others. Servant leadership. Serving in my living for Jesus. One of my favourite text is- as far as it depends upon me,live at peace with all mankind. That’s the Jesus Way. Jesus first – others second -yourself/myself last -and that gives you the JOY of the Lord Who is my daily strength. Make me Lord Your servant true.