KING JESUS
November 7, 2024
(John) Mark, the younger relative of Barnabas, wrote one of our four accounts of the life and times of Jesus. The opening lines are very different from what we read in Matthew, Luke, or John. Here’s Mark’s launch: [MARK 1:1] THE BEGINNING OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD…
Those words open the book, but Mark was saying far more than, “This is the start of my story about Jesus.”
Each word in this line is significant.
By “THE BEGINNING,” scholars agree that Mark was referring to the first words of Genesis. He’s telling us that there is a “new beginning” afoot. God started the cosmos in “THE BEGINNING.” He has now begun a fresh, new “BEGINNING” with Jesus.
Then, too, “GOSPEL” was a word with rich meaning to Mark’s first century audience. While we may use “gospel” to refer to the book of Mark, Mark wasn’t referring to his book.
The word “gospel” was commonly used in both the Old Testament and in secular Greek literature to refer to a military victory. The enemy was vanquished and THAT was “gospel.” (See 1 Samuel 31:9) More generally, “gospel” came to refer to any good news.
Of special note is that within a decade of Jesus’ birth, the birthday of Caesar Augustus was referred to as “gospel.” The thinking was that Caesar was a god-like figure, and so his birthday signaled the “beginning” of “gospel” for the world.
Significantly, too, when “gospel” shows up in the literature of the Graeco-Roman world, it always occurs in the plural. The sense is that one particular “gospel” is not the only one; there are lots of “gospels.”
But in Mark 1:1 (and in the rest of the New Testament), the word is always singular. The only “gospel” that is REALLY good news is the “GOSPEL” of Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God.
Any first century reader of the book that Mark wrote would have seen in the first verse a contradiction of every claim made about Caesar. He’s not gospel. Jesus is GOSPEL.
The book that Mark wrote shouts from every breathless page that the kingship of Jesus is superior to that of Caesar. The whole book is a polemic, denying sovereignty to Caesar, affirming not only that Jesus is Lord. Jesus is the ONLY Lord.
You and I found out early Wednesday morning who won Tuesday’s presidential contest. I was surprised by the early notice, expecting that it would be days before the announcement came. And it could have been either Kamala Harris or Donald Trump. But now we know who will be the 47th President of the United States of America.
It is critical that you and I think about the president, his administration, our government, and national politics in a distinctively Christian manner. Jesus helps us do that.
Once, trying to trip Him up, some religious rulers asked Jesus if they should pay taxes to Caesar. In response, Jesus asked that a coin be brought to Him (implying that Jesus didn’t have any money?).
When all were agreed that the image on the coin was Caesar’s, Jesus confirmed that they were certainly to pay taxes to Caesar’s Rome. By the same token, you and I are to pay taxes to our own government.
Regardless of who had won the presidency, Harris or Trump, we would give them what is due to them: our money in taxes for its support; our respect for and obedience to its laws; our prayers for its stability and justice.
We will do all of that because Jesus commanded, [MARK 12:17a] “PAY TO CAESAR THE THINGS THAT ARE CAESAR’S.”
But Jesus wasn’t finished. He concluded with this. [MARK 12:17b] “PAY…TO GOD THE THINGS THAT ARE GOD’S.”
You and I bear the stamp of God’s image. We are each created in the image and likeness of God, as surely as US currency is imprinted with the nation’s images.
So…Christians, who not only bear God’s image but have been “BOUGHT WITH A PRICE” (1 Corinthians 6:20), have been given the “GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE” (Romans 6:23), and have received “ADOPTION AS HIS SONS AND DAUGHTERS.” (Galatians 4:5) are to give to God and to His Son, Jesus, the things that are His – our lives. We are to give to Him our hearts, souls, minds, and strength. Our worship. Jesus is our King. To Him we pledge allegiance.
In these days that follow on the heels of intense political turmoil, let’s shine as bright lights for Jesus, be distinctively on mission for Jesus, be wholeheartedly focused on Jesus, be committed to taking our own “next step” with Jesus, and be ready to talk about Jesus and His gospel.
As Mark reminds us, there is no other gospel than “THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD.”
Yours…His,
Dave