Very Good News!
Mark 1:1: "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God."
As we move into this second week of the season of Advent, Mark reminds us of the very best news in the world. It is not that there will soon be a Covid vaccine available, though that is wonderful news. Instead, Mark began his letter with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We get the word "gospel" from the Greek word "evangelion" which means good news or good spell. God had come to dwell with his people, to show the way to the Father, and to make the perfect sacrifice for sin. The good news was that sin is defeated, death is defeated, and Satan is defeated through the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Salvation was available not just to the Jew but to the Gentile. The Lord had come, and he made a way for all people to be in an eternal relationship with the Father. What great news!
Sadly, many do not hear the Gospel message as good news. Many Christians do not live as if they have been given the greatest gift through the Gospel. There are those who think the Gospel message is just one of restrictions, what one should do and what one should not do in this world. There is nothing compelling about rules! Jesus didn't come to give rules. In fact, Jesus broke many of the rules enforced by the religious leaders of his time. Instead, Jesus came to be in relationship with people. He came to heal the sick, the blind, the leper, and the lame. He came to restore those who had been lost - the prostitutes, the tax-collectors, and other notorious sinners. Jesus came to seek and save the lost. He also came to offer himself as the perfect sacrifice for sins so that sinful man could be in an intimate relationship with a holy God. As we come to love the Father, we come to love his way for our lives; that is where transformation occurs.
What won your heart to the Lord? Is that what you share with others? Do you tell them your miraculous salvation story, and does your life reflect the grace and mercy that the Lord has lavished upon you? We are called to live the Gospel and to share the Gospel. There is no greater news than that of the Lord Jesus Christ coming to live among us.
Let's shake off our somber and serious ways and embrace the love, grace, and joy of this Advent season. Not only has Jesus come, but Jesus is coming back again to make all things right.
Reflection:
Does your life reflect the joy of the Gospel message?
As we move into this second week of the season of Advent, Mark reminds us of the very best news in the world. It is not that there will soon be a Covid vaccine available, though that is wonderful news. Instead, Mark began his letter with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We get the word "gospel" from the Greek word "evangelion" which means good news or good spell. God had come to dwell with his people, to show the way to the Father, and to make the perfect sacrifice for sin. The good news was that sin is defeated, death is defeated, and Satan is defeated through the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Salvation was available not just to the Jew but to the Gentile. The Lord had come, and he made a way for all people to be in an eternal relationship with the Father. What great news!
Sadly, many do not hear the Gospel message as good news. Many Christians do not live as if they have been given the greatest gift through the Gospel. There are those who think the Gospel message is just one of restrictions, what one should do and what one should not do in this world. There is nothing compelling about rules! Jesus didn't come to give rules. In fact, Jesus broke many of the rules enforced by the religious leaders of his time. Instead, Jesus came to be in relationship with people. He came to heal the sick, the blind, the leper, and the lame. He came to restore those who had been lost - the prostitutes, the tax-collectors, and other notorious sinners. Jesus came to seek and save the lost. He also came to offer himself as the perfect sacrifice for sins so that sinful man could be in an intimate relationship with a holy God. As we come to love the Father, we come to love his way for our lives; that is where transformation occurs.
What won your heart to the Lord? Is that what you share with others? Do you tell them your miraculous salvation story, and does your life reflect the grace and mercy that the Lord has lavished upon you? We are called to live the Gospel and to share the Gospel. There is no greater news than that of the Lord Jesus Christ coming to live among us.
Let's shake off our somber and serious ways and embrace the love, grace, and joy of this Advent season. Not only has Jesus come, but Jesus is coming back again to make all things right.
Reflection:
Does your life reflect the joy of the Gospel message?
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