The kingdom of God has come near

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Mark 1:1

Mark begins his account of Jesus’ life and ministry with a sentence that sums up what the book is, who is is about, the profound significance of the book, and provides a hint as to what the requisite response to it should be.

The “gospel” of Jesus is momentous news and it is all about one man; Jesus the Christ, the Son of God. The Gospel According to St. Mark reveals three major interconnected ideas:

1. Jesus’ Identity- who Jesus is
2. Jesus’ Mission- what Jesus came to do
3. Jesus Call on our lives- arising from Jesus’ identity and mission.

From the opening verse and throughout the “Gospel” Mark reveals more and more about who Jesus is; The Saviour, The Messiah- the great high priest, the one true prophet, the king of kings, the One true Son of God, the One more powerful than John the Baptist, the One with authority to preach, teach and call people to respond, the Holy One of God…

Jesus declares that He came to announce the in-breaking of the kingdom of God;

“The time has come,” Jesus said. “The kingdom of God has come near”. 

Jesus reminded His disciples that He had come to preach the gospel (Mark 1:38)

Jesus calls all people to respond to the gospel:

“Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15)

Jesus entered our world to call people to respond to the incredibly good news of the gospel. How might we live, speak and act this Christmas so that people will hear and respond to His call this Christmas?

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