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THIS WEEK’S BIBLE INSIGHTS ARE BY:
Ian Moore and are based on Mark 1 (NIV)
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ MORE ON THIS WEEK’S MAJOR THEME:
Luke 4
1 The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, 2 as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way” - 3 “a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”
4 And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of5 repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptised by him in the Jordan River. 6 John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And this was his
message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I baptise you with water, but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.”
9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptised by John in the Jordan. 10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” 12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, 13 and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.
Sunday May 25 - The good news
The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.
Mark 1:1
Today, we begin a journey together – a journey of good news. The word ‘gospel’ is derived from a Greek word meaning just that. Put simply, this good news (the gospel) is the joyful proclamation of the message of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection – the embodiment of the message of salvation for mankind.
Mark’s gospel account is the briefest, omitting any details of Jesus’ birth, and boldly starting with the declaration that Jesus is the Messiah (God’s Anointed One) and the Son of God (revealing his divine nature). There is no attempt to justify or explain, just to state what Mark knows to be true. The book of Genesis starts in like fashion: ‘In the beginning God...’ The rest of the gospel unpacks the full meaning and consequences of these life-changing truths.
Mark is generally accepted as the John Mark we find in Acts 12:12, who served alongside Paul and Peter and was a cousin of Barnabas. He was not one of Jesus’ hand-picked twelve disciples but could well have been one of the larger group of followers. Mark’s gospel is considered to be the first written, relying on the first-hand knowledge of Peter, who looked upon Mark as his own spiritual son (1 Peter 5:13).
Praise God! It’s only the ‘beginning’ of good news – news that continues to this very day. So let’s journey with Mark, gaining revelation and giving praise.
Father God, thank you for the good news that you so loved the world that you gave your one and only Son. Today, I receive him afresh as my Lord and Saviour. Amen.
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PRAYER FOR TODAY