Prayer: Lord may your Holy Spirit open our hearts and minds to hear and respond to your message this day. In Jesus name. Amen.
Who likes to read a fast-paced book? Gripping you with excitement and adventure, captivating you so that you want to keep reading to find out what is going to happen next…
If that is you, then you should enjoy the gospel of Mark. It is fast paced, action packed, written with a sense of urgency as it tells the story of Jesus life on earth with far fewer words than the other gospels. The word “immediately” is used 42 times in this gospel.
After reflecting on the transfiguration in Mark 9 last week, this first Sunday in Lent we return to the beginning of the gospel. In these 7 short verses Mark covers a lot of ground…Jesus’ baptism, his temptation, his announcement of the coming near of the Kingdom of God, and his call to repentance and belief!
Mark gives no birth narrative but begins his gospel introducing Jesus as an adult about to begin his Father’s mission. A far more important mission than say the fictional, fast paced movie “Mission impossible” with Tom Cruise (I watched the latest action-packed installment in January) …God’s mission is “mission possible”, a genuine mission to save people from death for all eternity – made possible through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus…the main character of this book. Mark opens his book telling us that it is all about the good news of Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God.
Mark briefly mentions the role of the herald, John the Baptist preparing the way and then Jesus is introduced as he comes to be baptised. I spoke about his baptism back in January, so I won’t spend much time on that today. But just a quick reminder – When Jesus was baptised, he was introduced as God’s son, Mark may not have a birth narrative, but he makes sure we know that Jesus is God’s son. God spoke as Jesus came out of the water and assured him of his identity and of his great love for him. You are my son, whom I love, with you I am well pleased.
Last week I pointed out that these words were repeated at Jesus transfiguration, but that time directed to the disciples…instead of you, it was this is my son…listen to him.
So, Jesus is introduced at his baptism as the Son of God, and we also need to note that Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit. This was the power of God in him to direct him and enable him to do the works of God here on earth and to complete his mission.
Filled with the Spirit, Jesus was now ready to set off on “mission possible”. But first he was tested for fitness for the task ahead.
We read that the Spirit “immediately” or “at once”, sent him out into the wilderness, and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted (or tested) by Satan.
There was no time for Jesus to enjoy his baptism and revel in the wonderful acknowledgement of his heavenly Father. No…there was a mission to be done and he had to get prepared. The celebration would come after the mission is accomplished and he returns to his Father’s right hand.
While his baptism may be seen as a commissioning, his 40 days in the wilderness being tempted by Satan, can be seen as a strengthening, toughening, hardening experience. Jesus’ mission was to be obedient to his Father, taking the path of suffering which would ultimately lead to his death on a cross. He needed to be able to resist any temptation to take the easier path, which would result in a failed mission.
So, into the wilderness he goes, or rather he is sent, where he will confront Satan. The other gospels give details of the Devils temptations, but Mark just gives it a few verses, ending with the fact that Jesus was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.
Mark is the only one mentioning the wild animals. Typically, we would think of reptiles rather than wild animals in the desert. Some scholars suggest that Mark intends to show Jesus living side by side peaceably with the animals, (the lion lying down with the lamb) but most see the wild beasts as allied with Satan…hence the need for angels to attend him. It could be an allusion to Psalm 91:
For he will put his angels in charge of you, to guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, so that you won’t dash your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and cobra. You will trample the young lion and the serpent underfoot.
We don’t know the details of Jesus time in the desert, even the other gospels are quite brief given that Jesus was out there for 40 days. What we do know is that he re-emerged, having resisted Satan, ready to proceed with his Father’s mission.
While Jesus was in the desert it seems that John was wrapping up his mission of preparing the way for Jesus. Or rather it was wrapped up for him, no doubt all in God’s timing, as he was put in prison. What happens to John gives us a warning of what will happen to Jesus as those in power wanted to silence rather than warmly greet and embrace the message of good news.
Jesus now takes over from John, continuing with the message of repentance, but adding the message of good news. Mark simply says this as Jesus began his mission…
After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come”, he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
Jesus announces that it is time. The time they had all been waiting for. The time when God was going to send the rescuer, the Messiah. Finally, the great day had come, the Kingdom of God was near. This was the good news Jesus came to proclaim on his “rescue mission possible”.
What exactly is the Kingdom of God you might ask? Jesus uses this phrase frequently in his teaching, you will notice this as you read through Mark…in chapter 4 Jesus says the Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed as he talks about faith. In chapter 10 he says that the Kingdom of God belongs to the little children, and he tells his disciples to pray for God’s Kingdom to come…
God’s Kingdom is his universal, sovereign reign as Creator of the Universe.
After the reign of Judges, the Israelites ask God to give them a King like the other nations (1 Samuel 8). God should have been mightily offended, because He was their King, but they wanted someone they could see and touch. God gives them their request, but these Kings are not perfect, not even David who was a “man after God’s own heart”. The prophets announced that God’s King, the Messiah was coming. The King above all Kings. The perfect King.
When God’s son, Jesus, came to earth, the Kingdom of God was established, it was near. It won’t be complete until Jesus returns, but it came with Jesus and is here with us now. In Luke 17 when the Pharisees asked Jesus when the Kingdom of God was coming, Jesus responded with this…
“The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, 21 nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.”
Other translations say, “the Kingdom of God is within you”.
Both are true. For Jesus brought the Kingdom of God in his very being – so the Kingdom of God was literally in their midst…the pharisees just couldn’t see it.
But also, for those who surrender to Jesus’ Kingship and surrender themselves to sit under his rule and reign, then the Kingdom of God is within them, within us. It is a spiritual rule in our hearts and lives.
In that understanding, then Jesus’ instructions after declaring that the Kingdom of God has come near are vital. Repent and believe the good news.
That is the response to hearing the good news. That is the response needed for us to enter the Kingdom of God, or for the Kingdom of God to enter us.
What does it mean to repent? I like this definition…
The repentance (metanoia) called for throughout the Bible is a summons to a personal, absolute, and ultimate unconditional surrender to God as Sovereign. Though it includes sorrow and regret, it is more than that. … In repenting, one makes a complete change of direction (180° turn) toward God.
Repentance involves surrender to self, and transformation, becoming more like Jesus as we turn to him. Jesus tells Nicodemus in John 3 that he must be ‘born again’ to enter the Kingdom of God, to be a new creation in Christ.
This season of Lent is a time when we focus on our need to repent, humbling ourselves before God, acknowledging when we do not submit and follow him as our King. We read Psalm 51 on Ash Wednesday and I believe this is a great prayer for us – Create in me a clean heart, Oh God, and renew a right spirit within me. King David, the author of this psalm had sinned big time – adultery and murder and he needed to repent and be transformed.
Jesus calls us to repent and to believe the good news. As we read through the gospels, we understand more what, or who is the good news. Jesus himself is the good news that we are called to believe. A reminder for us all from John 3:16…
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Jesus calls us to believe in him. He proclaims the good news at the beginning of his mission, and he makes the promise of eternal life possible once his earthly mission is accomplished. When he bears our sins on the cross, defeats death and rises again in glory. This is the good news that Jesus proclaimed.
What is our response?
To repent and believe in Jesus Christ. I encourage you to take time this Lent to ask Jesus to show you areas where you need to turn around, ask for forgiveness and for his help to transform your life. I know for myself pride is always something I need to turn from and turn to boasting in Jesus Christ instead.
For you it might be something from the fasting and feasting list I found a few years back…Change the word ‘fast’ to “repent’…
Fast from judging others; Feast on Christ dwelling in them. Fast from fear of illness; Feast on the healing power of God. Fast from words that pollute; Feast on speech that purifies. Fast from discontent; Feast on gratitude. Fast from anger; Feast on patience. Fast from pessimism; Feast on hope. Fast from negatives; Feast on encouragement. Fast from bitterness; Feast on forgiveness. Fast from self-concern; Feast on compassion. Fast from suspicion; Feast on truth. Fast from gossip; Feast on purposeful silence. Fast from problems that overwhelm; Feast on prayer that sustains. Fast from anxiety; Feast on faith.
So, we are to repent, and we are to believe. Pray that your faith in Jesus may grow as you read his word and spend time in prayer and trust him in all areas of your life. The Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed…when planted it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants…
Once we have ‘responded’ with repentance and belief in the good news – then what is our ‘responsibility’?
We are to proclaim the good news of God’s Kingdom. We are God’s ambassadors here on earth. After Jesus rose from the dead and before he ascended to heaven, he told his disciples to go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.
That is our mission. Mission made possible because as we repent and believe, Jesus sends his Holy Spirit to live in us, God’s Kingdom, his power to give us the faith, and the courage and the strength and the wisdom and the love to preach the good news.
Let us pray: Father God, thank you for sending your son Jesus to earth, bringing your kingdom. Jesus, thank you for carrying out God’s mission to rescue us, giving us eternal life, made possible through your death and resurrection. I pray that we will continually repent, turning to you to be transformed and increasing our faith in you day by day. Holy Spirit, thank you for living in us and equipping us for mission.
Jesus, as you were obedient to your Father, may we be obedient to your command, may we have mission hearts to proclaim the good news. May we proclaim you, Jesus, that many will turn from trusting in themselves and submit to your rule and reign and experience the joy of living in your Kingdom.
Lord, we pray your Kingdom Come. In Jesus mighty name. Amen.