Read
The Preaching of
(Matthew 3.1-12; Luke 3.1-18; John 1.19-28)
1This is the good news about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 It began just as God had said in the book written by Isaiah the prophet,
“I am sending my messenger
to get the way ready
for you.
3 In the desert
someone is shouting,
‘Get the road ready
for the Lord!
Make a straight path
for him.’ ”
4So John the Baptist showed up in the desert and told everyone, “Turn back to God and be baptized! Then your sins will be forgiven.”
5From all Judea and Jerusalem crowds of people went to John. They told how sorry they were for their sins, and he baptized them in the Jordan River.
6 John wore clothes made of camel's hair. He had a leather strap around his waist and ate grasshoppers and wild honey.
7John also told the people, “Someone more powerful is going to come. And I am not good enough even to stoop down and untie his sandals. 8I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!”
Reflect
Mark starts his book by declaring, “This is the good news about Jesus Christ.” There is no birth narrative here but instead there’s the birth of a literary genre—the gospel (from the old English “god-spel”—“good news”).
There is so much meaning packed into the first two sentences of Mark. He states that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. The name “Jesus” is the Greek form of the Hebrew name “Joshua” which means, “The Lord is Salvation” and was the name revealed to Joseph in Matthew 1:21. “Christ” is the Greek word meaning “anointed” and the “Son of God” is a repeated phrase throughout Mark’s gospel.
Mark’s first language would have been Aramaic. But, living in Palestine, Mark would have been multi-lingual (as many people are in different parts of the world today). Greek was the “lingua franca” of the time (like English today), and as Palestine was a Roman province the local people would have heard Latin spoken all around them. The educated knew Hebrew as well. Writing in Greek, Mark’s style is distinct and energetic. The adverb “immediately” appears 41 times and he describes the reactions of people and the emotional responses of Jesus in ways that other writers do not.
Mark begins where he sees the good news beginning: in the Old Testament, with Isaiah’s and Malachi’s words (Isaiah 40:3, Malachi 3:1). All that he is about to tell is firmly grounded in Old Testament scripture.
Mark’s enthusiasm to write the gospel truth was not in any way hindered by the fact that Greek was not his first language. Instead, what many might see as a limitation becomes a strength, as Mark moves us quickly into the heart of the gospel message.
Respond
Lord God, just as Mark starts his gospel, may I too ground my truth in scripture and may I never let my perceived limitations stop me from speaking the truth about your Son Jesus Christ, in whose name I pray. Amen.
Sarah Patterson
Sarah has loved Jesus since she was four years old and continues to be formed by her relationship with Him in her marriage, friendships, and as a godmother to six godsons. Sarah also loves her new city, St Catharines, Ontario, where her husband Rob pastors a Mennonite Brethren church, exploring the Niagara Region, and experimenting with various art mediums. Sarah gives spiritual direction to directees across Canada, including pastors, leaders and people living in small and isolated communities.