Good news

This is the Good News about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It began as the prophet Isaiah had written: ‘God said, “I will send my messenger ahead of you
   to clear the way for you”.
Someone is shouting in the desert,
   “Get the road ready for the Lord;
   make a straight path for him to travel”.’
So John appeared in the desert, baptising
   and preaching.  (verses 1-4a)

Read Mark 1:1-13

In ancient Greece the ‘gospel’, or good news, usually heralded a victory and better times to come. The readers of the Gospel according to Mark are told the same thing. A great victory – the victory of the Son of God over the power of Satan, and the power of sin and death over humanity – is about to take place.

As a result of this victory, the good news is that people’s sins will be forgiven and that they will live in a new relationship with God. John the Baptist, the one sent to prepare the way for the Christ, pointed towards the one who would come. In Jesus this prophecy – and all prophecies about the Messiah – are fulfilled.

So, better times are definitely ahead! Instead of being God’s enemies, usurped by Satan and in his power, people will become his friends again. In Jesus people will see the power of God and the love of God. People will not just get to know about God; they will know him in the God-man, Jesus. They will meet him, be confronted by him and see his love.

Truly good news.

Thank you, God, for telling me the Good News and allowing me to meet you in Jesus. May I proclaim what I have heard. Amen.

by Bob Turnbull, in ‘New Strength for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 1998)

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