Title: “What Kind of ‘Good News’ Is This?”

Summary: Mark begins his story of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus with a vivid and demanding description: Jesus is the God-King. Writing to Gentiles during the middle of the 1st century A.D., Mark references politically and religiously-charged words that his audience was familiar with to identify his subject. The Greek word for “good news” was one that Caesar Augustus and his subjects were fond of using to refer to the birth and conquests of self-declared “divine” Roman emperor. But set against the backdrop of YHWH’s revelation through the prophet Isaiah (cf. 40:9; 52:7; 60:1), it is clear that the authentic “good news” was the promise that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob would come into the midst of His people to set all things right. Given by His Father a common name in 1st century Israel, Jesus is the “Second Joshua”—the One who would truly give Sabbath to YHWH’s people. He is the “Christ” — the “Messiah” or “Anointed One”—the Davidic king whose reign of righteousness would go on forever and ever (2 Sam. 7:13). And He is the “Son of God”: a person of unspeakable power who alone does the will of His Father. This description was not a gentle way of introducing Jesus’ story, but a clear statement about who He is that demanded that Mark’s audience begin making serious decisions. Since Jesus is King, Caesar could only be a servant. The radical demand of Mk. 1:1 is no less for those in or outside of the Church today. Since Jesus is King, we must obey Him. We must worship Him. We must desire to know and please Him. This is the beginning of the “good news” that Mark was about to relate concerning Jesus of Nazareth.