- Lesson 2 in the BaptistWay Press Connect 360 unit “The reMARKable Journey Begins” focuses on Mark 1:9-15.
Mark tells us Jesus began his ministry after John the Baptist was arrested. The Gospel of John indicates there was a period of time when their ministries coincided. Whatever the case, Mark’s readers must have been familiar with the story of John’s suffering. Mark saved the details of the story until chapter 6.
The setting for much of Jesus’ ministry is in Galilee. Although Mark does not mention Nazareth here, we know Jesus’ hometown is in Galilee. In Galilee, Jesus began to preach the good news God had assigned.
Some translations use the word “gospel” to describe the word Jesus preached. The word “gospel” simply means, “good news.” John preached a word of warning about what was coming. When Jesus preached, he brought good news about God’s kingdom. It must have been a relief to hear good news instead of bad news. It must have been joyful to know that the coming of God’s kingdom was full of grace instead of condemnation.
The good news Jesus preached was not complicated. It announced that the decisive moment in God’s saving plan had arrived. All of history was leading up to this very moment. The call of Abraham, the exodus from Egypt, the period of the judges, and the preaching of the prophets all led to the moment when the Messiah would appear. The good news announced that the moment had arrived.
New kind of kingdom
The good news announced that the kingdom of God was invading the world. People had been hoping an earthly kingdom would save them. They trusted that God would set on the throne of Israel a king like David, who would make them powerful and save them from the kingdoms of this world. But the good news announced a new kind of kingdom—a kingdom that was not of this world but was invading this world.
The good news announced a change of direction. The word “repent” simply means to turn around and go a different direction. When Jesus preached, he was calling people to live a different kind of life—a life of love, mercy, forgiveness and sacrifice. These life characteristics were the opposite of this world’s values.
Finally, the good news called people to put their trust in Jesus. Jesus preached that faith in the gospel would bring salvation. Instead of hoping for a political messiah, they should trust that God was providing grace with the invasion of his kingdom into the world. God was offering salvation through Jesus. Jesus was calling people to believe it.
The remainder of Jesus’ ministry is an outgrowth of the good news he preached from the very beginning. The miracles he performed, the things he taught, his sacrifice on the cross, and the victory of resurrection all look back to the simple message Jesus proclaimed at the very beginning.
Compiled by Stan Granberry, marketing coordinator for BaptistWay Press.
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