The Gospel According to the Gospelsنموونە

The Gospel of Mark

One word: Jesus.

Peter Bolt is Director of Academic Strategy, and Director of the Centre for Gospels and Acts Research at Sydney College of Divinity. He’s also an author, including of several books on Mark’s Gospel. Peter’s happy to use only one word to distill ‘what is the Gospel?’ However, as he discussed during our The Gospel According to The Gospels episode, there’s so much contained within that all-important word: Jesus. For example, read Mark’s Gospel in one sitting. Peter reckons it will take us about ‘a tall drink of water’ to get through. As you connect with this account of Jesus’ teachings, miracles, death, and resurrection, notice its pace and focus. Why are there so many references to ‘immediately’ during the first half? How does this make you feel about what you’re reading? And after such a rapid start, why does the second half of Mark’s Gospel decelerate and dwell upon Jesus’ final week on earth?

The first words of Jesus recorded in Mark are a terrific encapsulation of the content and consequences of the Gospel (Mark 1:15). Peter Bolt knows that the kingdom of God, repentance, and belief are huge subjects that any of us will struggle to survey across our lifetime. But our experience of the height, depth, and riches of Jesus should only encourage us to pursue more and more of His good news for the whole world.

Decades down the track, since responding in repentance and belief, Peter still is moved by and passionate about the life-changing difference Jesus has had upon him. How about you? What does the drawing near of the kingdom of God mean to you?

Written by BEN MCEACHEN