Today’s Scripture

Psalm 32:1-7               Genesis 3:1-21            Mark 1:1, 9-15

 

Mark 1:1  The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

 

            In these opening words, the Holy Spirit inspired Mark to state what this book is all about.  It is the gospel, the good news given us in God’s son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.  It is a new beginning.  The well worn things of this sinful world get us nowhere.  We need to start again.  And that is what Mark’s gospel is all about, the new beginning all have in Jesus Christ.

 

            During this Lenten season we are all invited to be Together in the Word as we follow a set of readings that take us through two different sections of Scripture.  The first section is Genesis and Exodus through the Red Sea crossing.  The second section is Mark’s gospel that is a record of Jesus’ ministry beginning with John the Baptist’s prophecy and culminating with the suffering, death, resurrection and ascension that cements our hope for eternity.

 

            Who is this Mark?  He was not a disciple.  It was the unanimous testimony of the early church that this Gospel was written by Mark.  Papias (circa AD 140) quotes an earlier source as saying, “Mark was a close associate of Peter, from whom he received the tradition of the things said and done by the Lord.”  (Concordia Self-Study Bible)  Mark is also known as John Mark who was a traveling companion and emissary with Paul, Barnabas and Peter.  It is believed that Mark was the young man who was stripped of his clothing in the Garden of Gethsemane.  The first mention of Mark is in connection with his mother whose house in Jerusalem served as a meeting place for believers.  Mark accompanied Paul and Barnabas but, for some reason deserted them and returned to Jerusalem.  Paul was upset about this.  Barnabas then takes Mark (who is his cousin) under his wing on a missionary journey to Cyprus.  Paul later commends Mark and refers to him in favorable context [Colossians & 1 Timothy].

 

            Back to the text.  “The beginning of the Gospel.”  From Wednesday on we have read about creation, “In the beginning,” and the earliest events of man in this earth.  We just read the Genesis 3 account of the fall into sin.  Today’s daily reading (Genesis 4) tells us how sin and the sinful nature are manifested in the account of Cain and Abel.  Sin results in death. 

 

            In front of the church is the bell tower.  The first sign ascending that tower is the flaming sword that guarded the gate to the Garden of Eden.  That flaming sword is a sign of our sinfulness.  That flaming sword is a sign that tells us we cannot go back to Eden and the tree of life on our own strength or merits.  Remember, however, that it is in that garden that God makes the promise to send a savior and pronounces eternal judgment on the serpent, Satan.

           

            When Eve later gives birth to Seth, her naming him as she did indicates that she was hopeful this was her “seed” who would be the savior.  Isaiah prophecies of “The people walking in darkness…”  The Psalms speak of God as our savior and redeemer.  The books of the law by Moses show us our sinfulness and also God’s plan of salvation.  There must be a sacrifice for the sins of the people.  How joyful God’s people were each year on the Day of Atonement when they were comforted that sins were paid for, that blood was shed for them.  How relieved God’s people were when the angel of death passed over them in Egypt and as they celebrated the Passover yearly from entering the promised land through the perfect completion on the final Passover weekend.  We know that “Passover” in Jesus’ words, “You have crossed over from death to life,” [John 5:24].

 

            Mark’s opening is that Jesus has come.  He has been obscure from the time of this birth with the exception of that moment as an adolescent in the temple.  That is God’s plan.  John the Baptist begins the completion of prophecy as he points to the “Lamb of God” and the “one who will baptize with the Spirit” and “whose sandals I am unworthy to untie.”

 

            The beginning of the Gospel is one word, “Repent.”  The beginning of the Gospel is that Jesus repents for us in John’s baptism as he is already taking our sins upon him.  That does not absolve you from repenting yourself.  You receive that absolution when you come with a heart of repentance for the sins you know and the sins you do not know. 

 

            Lent is a season that we focus on repentance because that is the beginning of the Gospel.  The beginning of the Gospel is also the message, “The kingdom is near.”  We are anxious people, wanting the things of tomorrow already yesterday.  A thousand years in God’s sight is like a day that has just gone by [Psalm 90:4].  It is great comfort to know that God’s kingdom is always at hand, whether one lives a minute more or many years, it is already there no matter what occurs on this earth.

 

            The beginning of the Gospel is “Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men.”  The Gospel message does not begin unless someone tells this good news to another [Romans 10:14].  The beginning of the Gospel is when each one leaves a sinful life behind and follows Jesus and tells of that great love to another that they might believe and receive salvation.  Yes, the disciples left their vocations (fishermen, tax collector, Pharisee, and who knows what else).  We have our pastors and some others who leave other lives to full time lead God’s people in proclaiming this good news.  But each believer leaves behind moments to escape talk of “religion and politics” to confidently state the “reason for the hope that you have,” [1 Peter 3:15].  You do that so another heart will then be turned by the power of the Holy Spirit through hearing the “Beginning of the Gospel” of Jesus Christ.

 

            Repentance is the beginning as Jesus eats at Matthew’s home with tax collectors and sinners.  They knew their sins and came to him for the new beginning; that of receiving forgiveness and knowing the kingdom is for them too.  They could not be healed unless they knew their sickness and that sickness is sin.  Neither can you or I or anyone else today be healed unless and until we come to the cross for its forgiveness too.

 

            “In the beginning…” God created all things.  He put his holy and perfect and good order into the chaos as a sign of the holy and perfect and good order Jesus brings into the chaos of our sinful lives.  In the beginning, God made all things good, very good.  When Adam and Eve sinned, God came into the garden.  The first thing he asked was their acknowledgment of their sin, their repentance.  With repentant hearts they would then hear and believe his words of forgiveness and his plan to save them from the death of knowing good and evil. 

 

            The beginning of the Gospel is the beginning of knowing God’s perfect goodness again.  In God’s perfect and holy goodness you are given in faith and baptism into Jesus Christ.  The beginning of the Gospel is the beginning of repentance, trusting the body and blood that won forgiveness on the cross.  The beginning of the Gospel is knowing and living for the resurrection at the last day when all believers will follow that final trumpet call, “Come follow me,” for all eternity with him.

 

            Together in the word in Jesus’ undying love. Amen.