Turning towards the good news

𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝟭:𝟭𝟰‭-‬𝟭𝟱 𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱, 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗲, 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗼𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴, “𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱; 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗹.”

Mark 1 covers a lot of history of Jesus’ life in just a few verses, but this statement from the Lord at the beginning of his ministry is both terse and deeply engaging.

The time being “fulfilled” provides the historical context for the life and ministry of Jesus. It happened exactly when God determined it would, and all things were set in place. From the dire spiritual state of the nation of Israel to the rule of Rome, with all the roads and travel lanes that had opened, the point of Jesus’ entry onto the scene was ordained.

The kingdom of God being “at hand” announced what was now available through Christ. Humankind would be touched as never before with miracles, teaching and opportunity to walk out lives directed and blessed by God the Father in Heaven. “It’s right here” says Jesus, come and get it.

There is no translation of the Greek word for gospel – εὐαγγέλιον (pronounced euangelion) – means anything gloomy or burdensome. It simply means good (“eu” prefix) news or message (angelion). Jesus repeatedly urges people to believe it – that there is good will from God for them in life – both to save and restore and give hope and a future. It makes all the difference in how people live.

Coupled with the word for “gospel”, “repent” – meaning turn and go the other way – refers to mindset and faith that is “bad news” or at least laced with that. Rather than thinking about this sin or that, the call is to change our minds and believe that God loves and cares for us. All other actions and thoughts related to believing the bad news simply fall away – though some certainly die hard.

Let me then believe, practice and thus preach the good news where and when God enables and opens the door. He loves me and loves us and wants the best for us.

Ministry of preparation

Luke 1:76-79: And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Zechariah had been struck with being mute during his wife Elizabeth’s entire pregnancy.  For he had not believed the word spoken by the angel Gabriel in the Holy of Holies as he had performed his priestly duties.  He had regained his ability to speak when he confirmed the name of his newborn son, John (the Baptist).

The prophecy he then uttered could well be seen as pent-up words, stored deep within his spirit for months. It begins with a proclamation of God’s promises over his people Israel, for their redemption and salvation from their enemies.  In the first century, Israel’s “enemy” in that context was the occupying Roman army.  But Zechariah then finished his prophecy with a word for his newborn baby, John.  In these words, we have a precursor to the nature of the salvation which was to define John’s ministry and that of the Messiah, Jesus.

Work in preparing the way of the Lord echoed back to Isaiah 40.  There would be a reformation of repentance that John would be instrumental in performing.  National and personal sin would need to be reckoned with, turned away from in advance what was to happen.  It was not judgment but tender mercy that would motivate and accomplish the coming move of God, with its forgiveness and salvation in tow.

John’s ministry would be one of making known, revealing and getting ready.  That work was vital because thoughts and speech about salvation would necessarily imply the political/military kind and that was not to be the way God was going to move on the lives of people.  No, as Zechariah’s words concluded, this was a salvation from darkness to light and from war to peace.  It would require no military advance; indeed, it would penetrate military ranks with the commanders powerless to stop it.  And its fruit was to witness the very visit of heaven to earth.

On this side of all those events, I know well the nature of this salvation, of this Jesus.  Yet truthfully it is easy to fall prey to encroaching darkness even so.  Let me be found coming into the light continually, being cut to the quick and caught up short where I have devolved into former ways of thinking, speaking and acting.

Let me also know that there is a preparation ministry in my own heart to experience God’s deepest presence and re-establish his salvation in the present and with power.  It’s not that the Lord is unavailable without some prior spiritual push-ups; Hebrews 4:16 clearly says otherwise.  It’s that in my human existence, there is a spiritual place of fellowship with God that is only found by pushing through my flesh and intellect.  All the calls to prayer in the NT point there.

 

One act of righteousness

Romans 3:18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.

It was only one piece of fruit.  One time.  “How bad could that be?” asks all of humanity.  Well, it was an act of rebellion that led to the condemnation of all men.  If I would deny God a central attribute of holiness, I would certainly insist on the primacy of my own ethics, rules and perspectives.  If God does not conform to my compromises and indulge my pleasurable tastes, however they progress and escalate, then I want nothing to do with that God.  For it is not only one piece of fruit.  It is an endless orgy of fruit, and one that I delight in discovering, uncovering and feasting on, my mouth dripping with juice.

Why does this condemn?  Isn’t fruit good?  If I entertain there is a Creator, wasn’t it then created for my enjoyment?  What kind of spoil-sport God would show me a tree and its fruit then deny its consumption?

The kind of God whose limits and boundaries are for my good, not my harm.  The kind of God who desires my trust through obedience.

It is a chief fault of mine if I fail to see the reason in this verse.  I made choices.  They were NOT good, no matter how I revel in them and point to other factors in making them.  And Holy God does not endorse rebellion or rebels like me.  I have separated myself deliberately, even exuberantly.  God finds me hiding behind a tree in the garden and I decide to miss out on the most pleasurable walk in the company of One so intimate and loving.  I leave behind the most precious time I have ever known and could ever know, in the cool of the day with God.  Oh, what I’ve traded for my indulgence!

It was only one man, perhaps erroneously killed by oppressive authorities who were jealous of his persuasion over the people.  That injustice was scarcely unique, and is not unique to this day.  Yet the dying man had said prior that his death was voluntary, that there is no greater love than someone who dies for his friends.  He called himself the Good Shepherd and his sheep were people.  He taught denial and lived it and died it.  His proposition was that in giving up his life he was purchasing mine.  And even in that, granting me the volition to say yes or no to him.

That “one act of righteousness” speaks through time.  Hallelujah!  God did not leave me this way.  Blood drips from the veins of the crucified One, not any man but the dying Messiah.  The pleasure fruit and its effects die with him, along with the shame that I bore and curse I swore.

My rebellion is justified, paid for and I am reconciled to take that walk through the garden in the cool of the day again.  My obedience doesn’t come at once, salvation is progressive and my depravity deep and pervasive.  Yet his cleansing deeper still.

My life is his; there is no one else.