The gospel of Jesus according to Mark focuses on the person and work of Jesus more so than what He said. The first half is filled with evidence that Jesus is the Son of God and climaxes with Peter’s confession, “You are the Christ” (8:29). After this climax, the account turns more towards Jesus preparing His disciples for what was to come in his suffering, death, and resurrection. The second half of the gospel climaxes in 15:39 when the Roman centurion says, “Truly this man was the Son of God.”
Notice the “beginning” of the gospel according to Mark was the fulfillment of prophecy.
1:1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
Mark quoted Malachi 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3 with reference to John the Baptist’s work, which was to prepare the way for Jesus. When the appropriate time came John understood that it was time for him to decrease so that Jesus could increase. John understood this well before that time as evidenced by his words recorded in Mark 1:7.
“After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals.”
Jesus ultimately fulfilled over 100 prophecies proving Him to be the Son of God. These prophecies had to do with his birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection. Even the person of Jesus (attributes and titles) was prophesied of and fulfilled by Him.
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; 11 and a voice came out of the heavens: “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.” 12 Immediately the Spirit *impelled Him to go out into the wilderness. 13 And He was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by Satan; and He was with the wild beasts, and the angels were ministering to Him.
Jesus was baptized to “fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:13-17). In Jesus’ baptism we see the three persons of God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) unified in their mission among mankind. Immediately, following this event, the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness for forty days where he was tempted by Satan (cf. Matthew 4:1-11). There in the wilderness Jesus dwelt among the beasts, and the angels of God ministered to Him.
14 Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
Jesus saying, “The time is fulfilled” is a reference to that being the fulfillment of prophecy. As was spoken before, I am here and it is time. This is extremely exciting. Think upon these next words carefully. “The kingdom of God is at hand.” Wow!! God’s kingdom is here! Where? What must I do to enter?
Jesus doesn’t answer the where, but he does teach beginning in Galilee what the people must do.
“Repent and believe in the gospel.”
What does it mean to repent? What is the gospel?
To repent is threefold: (1) feeling of guilt, shame, sorrow from sinfulness and selfish living (2) change of mind/heart to turn from sin and selfishness (3) actions reflect this change of mind/heart
A person hearing Jesus teach that they need to repent and believe in the gospel in order to enter the kingdom of God should focus on coming to Jesus and learning from Him (discipleship). As they learn from Him, they will be able to turn or change from their old ways and begin living in a manner that pleases God.
A person that says that they have repented, but is continuing to live according to their own desires has not repented. We must come to Jesus (Luke 9:23) daily, deny ourselves, take up our cross (suffering), and follow Him. Following him for us today is learning from Him and becoming like Him based on His life and teachings.
Believing in the gospel is considering the evidence (internal evidence from the Bible as well as external evidence—God’s creation, archaeology, the alignment of Biblical text and discovered truth externally) and then being convicted that Jesus did die and was raised therefore proving He is the Son of God. That being the case I have every reason to commit my life upon the earth to living for Him. In doing so, I reap the greatest possible reward, which is eternal life with God.
Do you know Jesus? Do you believe the good news that He is the Son of God? Why or why not? What evidence have you considered? If you do believe, have you repented of your selfish way of life and given yourself over to daily serving Him?
My prayer is that you will consider these things with the tremendous sense of urgency that they demand. Nothing is more important. With love I do write and I pray it is with love that you do receive.
Trent Dean
dean008@gmail.com