January 22, 2018
Mark 1:1
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Revised Standard Version (RSV)
                 Our Old Testament reading began, “In the beginning God . . .”  We want to begin with God, not only every year, but every day.   Mark was likely the first of the four gospels to be written.  Notice the similarity:  the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, Son of God.
                Few words carry as many connotations as the word “gospel” does to us.  If I walked down the hallway in my office, my fellow ministers would each have a different lens to it.  When I was in middle school, my friend Ray Felts, the oldest kid in the eighth grade introduced me to “blue grass” gospel music.  I soon discovered the my own father loved this music as well.  Somewhere along the way people started using it to refer to the “plan of salvation.”  It comes from the same greek word which gives us “evangelistic” and “evangelical.” 
                 I wonder what it meant in the first century when Mark wrote it with ink and quill on a scroll.  If we can figure out what it meant, we might figure out what it means today.  The gospel was the word used to announce the beginning of a new kingdom and the coronation of a new king.  Imagine Rome sending out a messenger to all the inhabited world to stand in the gates of the cities and say, “Now hear this:  Nero has become the emperor of Rome, the Son of God.”
                 The early Christians went to those same cities and said, “Jesus Christ, the Son of God has established his Kingdom on earth.”  They were calling the ancient world to give their first allegiance to the Lord of all.  Michael Horton writes:  “The gospel is not good instructions, not a good idea, and not good advice. The gospel is an announcement of what God has done for us in Jesus Christ.”  As we read the story in Mark, we will discover whether or not this King is our King.  Then we will have to decide who rules on the throne of our lives.    Since he reigns at the right hand of the Father in heaven, shouldn’t he be the One? 
Pray with me:
Father, we need to hear good news today.  Remind us again that you reign on the only throne that matters in this world.  Help us today to live our lives under your sovereignty.  We pledge our first and highest allegiance to Christ our Lord.  In his name we pray.  Amen.    
This year we focus our Every Day with Jesus readings on Jesus’ story.  With references    to Tallowood's Read Through the Bible in 2018 daily reading plan, let's focus our                          undivided attention on Jesus and follow where he leads.                                          He will not fail.  Neither will we!  
Joyfully, 

Duane 
About Duane Archives
Subscribe to our email list.