We start the year 2018 with a study in the gospel of Mark. The word gospel, meaning good news, is found eight times in this gospel. Eight in Scripture is the number of new beginnings. How fitting that God would have us starting a new book, to start a new year, with good news. The first verse of Mark reads: The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The good news is that Jesus Christ is The Son of God. Not a created or adopted son like you or me, but God’s only begotten Son, Who is fully God and fully man. Jesus Christ, Son of God is The Gospel.
Mark also informs us of the fact that Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God. He came into a world of darkness and despair, and proclaimed a kingdom of good news. A gospel of hope. A gospel of life. A gospel of new beginnings. To enter into this kingdom, Jesus said: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the Gospel”. (Mark 1:15) Repent, or turn back to God and believe the good news!
That same gospel message of repentance and believing the gospel is Jesus’ message to mankind today. Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature, all creation, everyone! How is Jesus and His gospel and this kingdom to be received? “And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.” (Mark 14:3) “Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.” (Mark 14:9) Our reception of Jesus Christ will manifest itself with a sacrificial, lavishing display of love and public devotion to Him. Selah
