January 7, 2024 – “Gospel Orientation” – Mark 1
Who is Jesus? What does it mean for me to follow Him? The answers to these questions are way better than the world tends to think. The gospel of Christ is beautiful in what it reveals and in what it accomplishes. Mark repeatedly motivates us to take action by prompting us to reflect on Jesus and His mission on earth. It also urges us to assess our own relationship with Him as disciples and what it means to be His followers in the world today.What is the “gospel”? The orientation of the Gospel inwardly centers on Jesus- to know him; the orientation of the gospel outwardly, is focused on Jesus – to make him known. The gospel centers on the person of Jesus Christ. Mark shows us how the gospel goes deeper than Jesus dying on the cross for my sins. Jesus himself embodies the fullness of the gospel. We begin to understand how the gospel is good news for us today by encountering Jesus who is both “Christ” and “Son of God.” This series invites us to get curious about this man Jesus so we too will be compelled to follow him.
Mark 1 NRSV
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Proclamation of John the Baptist
1 The beginning of the good news[a] of Jesus Christ.[b]
2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,[c]
“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,[d]
who will prepare your way,
3 the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
make his paths straight,’ ”
4 so John the baptizer appeared[e] in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And the whole Judean region and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him and were baptized by him in the River Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of his sandals. 8 I have baptized you with[f] water, but he will baptize you with[g] the Holy Spirit.”
The Baptism of Jesus
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove upon him. 11 And a voice came from the heavens, “You are my Son, the Beloved;[h] with you I am well pleased.”
The Testing of Jesus
12 And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13 He was in the wilderness forty days, tested by Satan, and he was with the wild beasts, and the angels waited on him.
The Beginning of the Galilean Ministry
14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the good news[i] of[j] God 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near;[k] repent, and believe in the good news.”[l]