Following Jesus in the Gospel of MarkSample

IMPORTANT WORDS

Look Closely: There are three important terms in Mark's first verse that show up again and again throughout Mark’s story: The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God. (Mark 1:1 NIV)

Good News/ Gospel/ Euangelion

“Gospel” was an ordinary term used in Greek (euangelion). It meant “good news,” as in the proclamation of the good news of victory or of the birth of an heir to the Emperor. As Jesus’ followers adopted the word, “Gospel” came to mean the entirety of Jesus Christ’s life, work, teaching, miracles, death, and resurrection- all of that being God’s plan of salvation for humankind. And God’s plan for our salvation began long before Jesus came to be baptized by John. Which leads to the second term…

Messiah/ Christ/ Anointed One

If the good news is that Jesus is the Messiah, we must understand who the Messiah is. The Messiah or the Christ is the title (not the last name!) of the One anointed by God to save His people. The Jewish people were waiting for this anointed one to come and rescue them from Roman oppression. They expected a King, promised by God, to reign on David’s throne. No earthly mind could conceive of the Messiah coming as a Servant or sacrificing Himself on the cross. Which leads to the third term…

Son of God

The Jewish people were waiting for God to fulfill the promise of a King. They never imagined that the coming King would be fully man AND fully God. But Jesus is the Son of Man and the Son of God. He comes to save God’s people, just not in the way they expected it.

In The King Jesus Gospel, Scot McKnight writes,

“The gospel Story of Jesus Christ brings to completion the Story of Israel as found in the Scriptures (our Old Testament)… The gospel Story of Jesus Christ is a story about Jesus as Messiah, Jesus as Lord, Jesus as Savior, and Jesus as Son.”

As you read Mark, consider how good the news of Christ is for you and for the world.

Challenge: Before reading further, what questions do you have about the Story of Jesus? Write those down in a journal and keep this journal handy throughout this plan. Use it to record observations, ask questions, and write prayers.

Challenge: What is God saying to me? What am I going to do about it?

Pause to Pray: Jesus, I believe You are the good news, the promised King, the Son of God. Open my eyes, to see You, my mind to know You, and my heart to be transformed by You … Amen.