3/2 - Wed – Mark 1:1-20
3/3 - Thur – Mark 1:21-45
3/4 - Fri – Mark 2:1-17
Imagine you wake up one morning and there is a full-page advertisement in the national newspaper (anyone remember newspapers?). You turn on the TV and the same ad is there also. Every site you look at on your phone has the same ad. It is the announcement of a new political candidate who is running for president. You’ve seen these before but this one catches your eye. The messaging is punchy. It brings together seemingly unrelated history in a way that is compelling. Finally, the color schemes lack the typical “Red, White, and Blue” though there are clear references to America’s core history. This seems to be a new kind of candidate indeed.
John the Baptizer is out in the wilderness, connecting Israel with her past while pointing them to something new. He leans on two different images in the First Testament: God’s presence will return to his temple and the King (Messiah) will come and lead the people. John the Baptizer presents these two images in the one person of Jesus who will come and baptize them with the Holy Spirit. He calls his hearers to be prepared for this coming. This is a time of renewal. In the same way you would tidy up your house if you knew important guests were coming, John is calling everyone to tidy up their lives because God is coming to reclaim his throne. What kind of citizens will the King find when he returns? This message is intended for us as well. Jesus is coming. What kind of followers will he find when he arrives?
John sets the scene for Jesus to begin his ministry. “The Kingdom has come near…” is the good news that he proclaims. The opening message about the good news proclaimed by Jesus, himself, is news of the Kingdom coming near. When we limit the gospel to what happens to our souls when we die, we look too narrowly at the gospel message and miss the depths of the good news Jesus brought. God is reclaiming his rightful place a King and bringing his presence back to his people.
In the opening readings for this week, we see Jesus speak on his own authority, confront the cowering dark forces in the world, dine with tax collectors and sinners, and clashes with the religious leaders. Returning to the opening analogy about the politician, the media and political rivals would quickly be digging for dirt on this guy. Who does he spend time with? Where is he from? How does he speak? We see the same thing with Jesus. He is already on the scene as a person of interest and being evaluated based on who he spends time with. When questioned about his associations, Jesus replies, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” You might find a doctor who wants to make himself look good by filling his hospital with well people, but a doctor who wants to truly help people fills her hospital with sick people. To take this analogy further, she doesn’t leave them sick.
Jesus meets people in their dirt and sin and invites them to follow him. He doesn’t begin with how they need to change (though sometimes that conversation is needed). He invites them to follow him because the journey is salvation. The journey is transformation. The journey is where healing happens.
Questions for reflection:
Who would Jesus spend time with today that would turn heads and raise questions?
Who do you associate with that causes others to raise questions?
Following Jesus means you are walking the journey from death to life, from sick to healthy. Are you able to articulate to others what parts of your life are healthier because of walking with Jesus?
We are called to meet people where they are and invite them to walk with Jesus. But first, we must have a visible walk with Jesus that demonstrates the transformative power of walking with him. Are we willing to submit to the King and be part of his Kingdom?