Mark: Journeying With JesusSample

Opening lines are always revealing.

You read, “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…” and you’re imagining stars and planets and spaceships. You hear, “It was a dark and stormy night…” and you’re picturing a haunted house and some spiderwebs strung over creaking doors. A well-written book will grab you from the first sentence and draw you into the story. It tells you what it’s all about.

Mark’s Gospel is just like that. It’s a no-nonsense account of the life of Jesus. And it begins with an announcement of good news.

“Good news” is more than just a light-hearted story at the end of a TV bulletin. It is a declaration that something life-changing has happened and that things will never be the same as a result. Mark introduces Jesus with two job titles which explain why his arrival is seen as such good news.

Mark 1:1-3

The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

“I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way - a voice of one calling in the wilderness,

‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”

Jesus is, first, “the Messiah” - that is, God’s chosen King who would save his people. The Old Testament prophets said someone would come before Jesus to prepare the way for him. That was John the Baptist, who was himself a great prophet.

And Jesus is, second, “the Son of God” - that is, God himself, comes in the flesh to put right what is wrong with the world. When Jesus was baptized by John, God’s voice was heard. God called Jesus his Son, whom he loves and with whom he is pleased.

Mark 1:10-11

Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

As you journey on this study, Mark’s challenge to us, right from the top, is to stay curious and pay attention. Lots of people claim to speak for God but if someone claims to be God - and then backs it up with evidence - then that would have serious implications for all of us.

REFLECT | What were your early impressions of Jesus? Think about who your family and friends think Jesus is [i.e. a good teacher, a prophet, a political leader].