Heavenly Father, we thank you so much that your word is living and is active.
And although we're reading a narrative account of your son's early ministry,
it is for us today, even though it is centuries and even millennia old.
Lord, we thank you that your word can shape our hearts.
We ask that you open our eyes to see and our ears to hear
and our hearts to embrace the truth of your word.
In Jesus' name, amen.
We will observe Remembrance Day in less than two weeks.
And it's based on Armistice Day.
I mean, we see it as remembering not just the end of the Great War,
but the end of World War II, of Korea, of the war in Afghanistan.
We see it, we call it Remembrance Day, but really it's based on Armistice Day.
It marked the end of the Great War some 100 plus years ago.
And it was in papers plastered across the world.
War is over. War is over.
This declaration that war is done.
It was good news.
It still is good news.
But it wasn't good news that was kind of mentioned in some backwater paper,
in some obscure place.
It was declared across the world.
Because good news is something that ought to be proclaimed.
If it is good news, and I mean good news, something to celebrate,
we need to hear about it and celebrate it.
It's the same when, on a lesser scale,
when a child graduates high school or goes off to university,
I don't know if it's still done,
but in the smaller town where I grew up,
parents would take out little ads in the paper, congratulating.
They're graduates.
It was actually quite wonderful.
Not so long ago, a girl that I went to high school with,
who, I mean, we weren't really friends.
She was awfully quiet.
In our paper from back home,
her parents took out a thing.
She graduated from med school.
I had no idea.
But it was this proclamation of good news,
of the hard work that she did.
And her parents didn't want to be quiet about it.
It was lovely.
They blasted it all over this tiny town's newspaper.
It's not so tiny, but I still think of it as a tiny town.
Good news needs to be proclaimed.
It can't be hidden.
It can't be...
It shouldn't be quickly forgotten.
It has to be shared and declared and proclaimed.
So we pick up the story after Jesus is baptized and driven into the wilderness,
or he is tempted.
He's driven into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit.
And between verses 13, which was the last verse of last week,
and verse 14, it's very clear that some time has passed.
Jesus has come out of the wilderness.
John the Baptist has been arrested.
And Jesus returns from the Judean wilderness back up to Galilee.
So that's...
It's a bit of a distance.
So there's a lot of time that elapsed between verses 13 and 14.
It's interesting.
John the Baptist, in verse 14, it says that he's arrested.
But really, it's...
The idea is that he was handed over.
This is...
If you guys are grammar geeks,
or you are interested in the original language,
the term that John...
We have it in the English Standard Version as arrested.
He was handed over.
And this is a bit of an aside,
but this will be a term that Mark uses
to describe kind of the fate of the faithful people in the Gospel.
Jesus himself will eventually be handed over.
If we continue on into the Acts of the Apostles,
although Mark doesn't write it,
there's a lot of handing over of the righteous people to the authorities.
So, a lot of time has elapsed.
Jesus is back in the Galilee,
which is the western shore of the Sea of Galilee,
in this area.
And he begins his ministry.
Jesus begins his ministry.
And it's interesting,
if you look with me,
again,
in verse 14,
he doesn't begin his ministry with an exorcism,
or a healing miracle,
or some sort of
nature miracle,
all of which we will see
in, like,
an incredible way
in the rest of chapter 1,
chapter 2,
and into chapter 3.
But how does he start
his ministry?
Well, look with me.
Verse 14.
It says,
Jesus came into Galilee
proclaiming the Gospel of God.
Verse 15,
and saying,
the time is fulfilled
and the kingdom of God
is at hand.
Repent and believe
in the Gospel.
Jesus begins his ministry
with a proclamation
of good news.
Of good news.
He proclaims something
that is worth hearing
and worth proclaiming.
So, here's the question.
The good news,
or the Gospel,
that Jesus is calling people
to repent and believe in.
Um,
what is it?
What is the Gospel?
For the longest time,
and I think,
I'm not poo-pooing this at all,
I'm not trying to be controversial,
but for the longest time,
the Gospel was,
believe in Jesus,
that he takes your sins away
so you can go to heaven.
And,
end.
Full stop.
But hold on a second.
If it's,
believe in Jesus
for dying on the cross
for our sins
so that we can go to heaven,
Jesus is proclaiming
this Gospel
before he heads
to the cross.
So,
what's going on?
What's the Gospel message here?
What is the Gospel?
It's also connected
to the Kingdom of God.
Jesus says
the Kingdom of God
is at hand.
He also says
that the time is fulfilled.
Why?
What kind of time
are we talking about?
Also,
um,
what is this idea
of repentance
and what are we
to believe in
the Gospel?
Like,
first we need to figure out
what this Gospel is
before we can repent
and believe in it.
So,
there's a lot of questions
if we just scratch a little bit.
If we kind of park
our,
um,
the,
our stereotypical
understandings
of the Gospel.
And by the way,
the Gospel most certainly
is God
taking away our sins
through Jesus
on the cross.
It definitely includes
us going to Heaven.
Okay?
But here we have to ask
the question,
what is Jesus
declaring
as the Gospel?
So the question is,
what is the Gospel?
And simply put,
the Gospel
is the person
and work of Jesus Christ.
It's His life.
And,
and we will see
that His life
is,
is divine
and full of authority
and full of power
and it is on full display.
especially in the first
eight chapters
of Mark.
It's also His death
which will be
an atoning sacrifice.
We will get to this
and we will spend
some time
understanding
what it means
for Jesus
to be the atoning
sacrifice
for all people.
And it's also
His resurrection
from the dead
which means that
sin and death
are conquered forever
and that those
who believe
into Him
will share
in His victory.
but it means
the good news
of God
is a person.
It's not just
about a person
but most certainly
the Gospel
is about a person.
It's about Jesus.
But it's also
a person.
The Gospel
is a person.
And I don't know
how that really
makes sense
because Gospel
is news
and Gospel
is a declaration
that war is over.
Right?
My son or my daughter
has graduated.
I'm getting married.
It's a declaration
of an event.
It can't be
about a person.
And yet
that's exactly
what the Gospel
is about
and this is what
we'll see.
The Gospel
is the good news
of God
in Jesus.
It is Jesus Himself.
The Gospel
personified
Jesus Christ.
So how can
good news
that is proclaimed
to be a person?
How is this
even possible?
And I think
that the key
in understanding
this is
what Jesus says
right off the bat
in verse 15
the time is fulfilled.
So what kind of time?
And why is it fulfilled?
So simply put
the time being fulfilled
is that the entire
history of the Bible
leading up to
Mark chapter 1
verse 15
is the
all of history
culminates
into this point.
All of history
up until
this point
is eagerly
pointing
and eagerly
awaiting
for Jesus Christ
to come onto the scene.
The time
is fulfilled.
So from the very
beginning
Adam and Eve
are in the garden.
God makes everything
and what does He say
about everything
that He's created?
Does anybody know?
Remember?
It's good.
Everything that He makes
is good.
Adam and Eve
choose to rebel
against God's goodness
and they sin
against Almighty God
and from then
sin
and death
and calamity
overtakes
the human condition.
Overtakes the human heart.
And this is
the song
that is sung
by humanity
ever since that moment
and you can read about it
in Genesis chapter 3.
But right
on the heels
of their rebellion
God makes a promise
that He'd send a Savior.
That the bent ways
would be made straight.
That the wrongs
would be made right.
That the brokenness
would be restored.
That hearts
that used to be
hearts of flesh
that were now
hearts of stone
would be made
hearts of flesh
once again.
It's a remarkable
remarkable promise.
And He doesn't just
promise it
to Adam and Eve.
He promises it
to Abraham
and He promises it
to Moses
and He promises it
to His prophets
and to the entire nation
of Israel
but not just for Israel
but for everybody
that God
would send
a Savior
to make things
right again.
And
isn't this something
we all feel?
That when
there's something
that isn't right
it
it shouldn't be
this way?
that it shouldn't
be this way
to have families
break apart
and to have
children estranged
from their parents
or husbands
estranged
from their wives
families
breaking up
people
making bad
life decisions
that snowball
and snowball
and inability
to rectify
the bad things.
on a grand scheme
we see war
and war is not
the way it's supposed
to be.
We see that there's
this brokenness
this unrest
and we
somehow know
in our bones
that something
isn't right
and it needs
to be fixed.
It just needs
to be.
Doesn't this
doesn't just
this is a part
of what it
means to be
human
to see
something
that's
broken
and wish
that it
weren't so?
It seems
as though
from the very
beginning
God created
us in such
a way
to
long
after
wholeness
and
because of
sin
entering in
and because
of death
entering in
we have been
grasping at
that idea
not even
really sure
what that
idea is
but knowing
most certainly
what it's
not
grasping
at it.
So doesn't
this promise
of God
restoring
and fixing
and mending
and replacing
seem exactly
what hope
is?
So
God always
another part
of this
is that
what was
also lost
in the
garden
is that
God no longer
dwelt with
his people.
The garden
sure it is
this beautiful
picture of
God creating
and man
naming
the animals
and it
seems like
everything is
fantastic
and beautiful
and wonderful
but the
most beautiful
thing about
the garden
is that
God is
dwelling
with his
people.
There's
this bit
where it
says that
God was
walking in
the garden
in the
cool of the
day
but Adam
wasn't with
him and he
calls out to
find Adam.
what's
implied there
is that
Adam would
be walking
with God
in the
garden.
That he
would know
that relational
intimacy
and connectedness
and vulnerability
without the fear
of getting
trampled on
this complete
wholeness
of God
dwelling with
his people
and yet
that was
lost.
And ever
since then
what happens
is that we
get little
pictures of
God wanting
to dwell
with his
people again.
We see it
in the
tabernacle.
God rescues
Israel from
Egypt but
then he
makes a
tabernacle,
this big
tent where
his presence
dwells.
And then in
the temple
he tells
King David
to make
the temple.
Eventually
his son
makes it
but it's
the idea
that's where
God dwells
among his
people.
And then
the time
is fulfilled.
And why
is it
fulfilled?
Because when
Jesus comes
it is
God
himself
entering
into
this world
into the
human experience
dwelling with
his people.
The gospel
of John
John will
say not
to be
confused
with John
the Baptist
the gospel
of John
John will
say in
chapter 1
verse 14
that God
he became
flesh
and dwelt
among us.
And this is
exactly what
we're seeing
here.
So when
Jesus says
the time
is fulfilled
it is
all of the
hopes
and all
of the
desires
of wholeness
and of
sin being
eradicated
and us
returning
to this
relationship
with God
himself
him dwelling
with us
and us
dwelling
with him
this is
what it
leads to.
The time
is fulfilled
and all
of a sudden
Jesus
appears
proclaiming
the gospel.
The gospel
is a
person.
The good
news
is a
person.
The time
is fulfilled
in verse
15
and it
is a
marvelous
it's just
four words
and yet
it is so
heavy
and weighted
and the
anticipation
is just
it's
exploding
because God
is now
among his
people.
God has
arrived.
Good news
incarnate
has arrived.
God himself
would be the
savior and
he would
destroy sin
and he would
destroy death
on the cross
forever.
It's
interesting
that
in the
garden
God
makes
the
garden
he dwells
with
mankind
in the
garden.
The
garden
is set
upon
a
hill
it is
this
kind
of
image
of
a
temple
the
tabernacle
is
kind
of
this
image
of
a
temple
where
man
meets
God
and
then
the
temple
obviously
is
a
temple
so
imagery
of
a
temple
but
we
will
see
that
what
ends
up
happening
is
that
we
become
the
very
temple
of
God
we
do
the
church
but
also
individuals
we
become
the
very
temple
of
God
he
lives
within
us
the
separation
between
God
and
man
is
no
longer
in
the
person
of
Jesus
Christ
but
it
also
is
no
longer
because
God
now
dwells
in
his
church
and
it
is
called
the
house
of
God
the
church
is
but
also
the
imagery
and
this
kind
of
speaks
to
the
closeness
of
this
redemption
is
that
we
the
church
are
called
the
body
of
Christ
the
very
body
of
Christ
he
is
our
head
we're
not
trying
to
say
we
are
now
divine
like
God
but
the
scriptures
describe
it
as
the
body
of
Christ
we
are
that
united
with
God
so
now
it's
not
that
we're
trying
to
get
back
to
Eden
because
what
we
have
in
Christ
and
our
hope
for
what
is
to
come
is
better
than
the
garden
it
it's
crazy
to
think
it's
a
scandal
that
God
would
dwell
among
us
again
but
in
a
way
that
far
exceeds
any
other
way
he's
dwelt
with
us
in
the
history
of
mankind
this
is
the
good
news
it
is
the
good
news
of
God
in
Christ
Jesus
himself
is
the
good
news
it
is
wonderful
this
you
know
verses
14
and
15
we're
reading
16
to
20
and
16
to
20
are
very
helpful
for
us
to
understand
to
know
how
we
are
then
to
live
the
first
thing
is
Jesus
says
to
repent
and
believe
so
what
does
it
mean
to
repent
and
believe
in
the
gospel
it
simply
is
to
not
trust
false
saviors
the
repentance
part
it's
to
not
trust
false
saviors
anymore
self
help
is
a
good
thing
but
when
destroy
you
because
you
can't
help
yourself
in
the
way
to
bring
complete
wholeness
if
you're
trying
to
justify
yourself
as
though
that
you know
your
sin
is
you're
proving
the
reason
why
you've
lived
a
life
of
brokenness
and
sin
it's
this
pride
that is
welling
up
if
that
becomes
your
savior
you
will
push
people
away
and
brokenness
will
be
your
calling
card
because
you
can't
justify
yourself
you
just
can't
we
trick
ourselves
all the
time
in
thinking
that
we
are
really
finding
the
true
savior
and
we
are
living
in
a
fiction
it's
not
real
reality
and
it's
hard
it's
not
like
I'm
saying
this
I mean
technically
I'm
raised
but
I
am
in
the
midst
of
you
guys
too
because
I
trust
in
many
things
apart
from
Christ
if
I'm
going
to
be
honest
and
it's
not
easy
but
the
Christian
life
is to
what
repent
and
believe
in
and
this
idea
of
repenting
and
believing
in
verse
15
it
is
not
just
a
one
time
only
thing
but
it
is
to
keep
on
repenting
and
keep
on
believing
not
as
though
we
were
going
to
get
saved
afresh
every
single
time
we
repent
and
believe
because
we
are
trusting
in
God
but
our
flesh
is
feeble
so
the
call
is
to
keep
on
repenting
keep
on
believing
keep
on
trusting
God
that
is
the
call
of
the
Christian
life
and
interestingly
we
open
up
our
service
here
I
mean
we'll
because
we're
doing
holy
communion
we'll
enter
into
a
time
of
repentance
in
a
bit
after
the
sermon
but
the
entirety
of
this
service
is
built
upon
repent
and
believe
repent
and
believe
repent
and
believe
again
we
will
come
to
the
table
I
am
not
worthy
as
to
gather
the
crumbs
under
your
table
but
I'm
trusting
in
your
mercies
oh
God
it's
beautiful
so
we
are
friends
with
God
the
call
is
to
repent
and
believe
and
continue
on
repenting
and
believing
and
the
wonderful
thing
about
this
is
that
we
will
have
our
citizenship
transferred
from
the
earth
to
heaven
so
Jesus
says
this
he
says
the
kingdom
of
God
is
at
hand
and
just
to
be
clear
that
the
kingdom
of
God
being
at
hand
is
an
implication
of
the
gospel
it's
not
the
gospel
itself
the
gospel
isn't
the
kingdom
the
gospel
is
Jesus
but
the
implication
is
Jesus
is
king
and
we
come
under
his
we
submit
ourselves
to
his
lordship
and
we
become
citizens
of
heaven
we
talked
about
this
in
our
bible
study
last
week
Philippians
chapter
3
our
citizenship
is
in
heaven
so
we
get
to
participate
in
the
kingdom
of
God
and
what
is
the
kingdom
of
God
well
Jesus
will
show
us
what
the
kingdom
of
God
is
in
the
chapters
to
come
but
the
kingdom
of
God
is
where
there
is
wholeness
and
where
sin
is
not
counted
against
us
anymore
where
sickness
isn't
a
thing
in
the
kingdom
of
God
where
oppression
isn't
a
thing
in
the
kingdom
of
God
where
there's
no
higher
authority
than
the
king
in
the
kingdom
of
God
our
priorities
change
and we
pledge
allegiance
to a
new
crown
and
unlike
the
crowns
and
governments
here
on
earth
this
king
doesn't
change
and his
crown
is
eternal
and it's
only for
his
head
his
victory
and rule
is forever
and he
embodies
the very
kingdom
the very
kingdom
that he
establishes
this is
why
when we
come to
church
we
will
we will
partake at
the table
as
a renewal
of our
covenant
with the
king
we
will
say
the
creed
and we
will
pray
the
lord's
prayer
as
almost
like a
pledge
of
allegiance
so to
speak
that
here
we
are
in
God's
church
in
his
kingdom
and
we
get to
experience
what
life
is
like
in
part
in
heaven
you
get
little
tastes
of it
little
pieces
of it
little
whispers
of it
and
then
we
go
out
and
we
bring
this
message
to
everybody
that
we
see
because
again
verses
16
to
20
Jesus
is
calling
us
like
he
is
calling
his
disciples
his
apostles
this
is
what
it
says
passing
alongside
the
sea
of
Galilee
Jesus
saw
Simon
and
Andrew
the
brother
of
Simon
casting
a net
into
the
sea
for
they
were
fishermen
and
Jesus
said
to
them
follow
me
and
I
will
make
you
fishers
of
men
fishers
of
men
Jesus
is
calling
us
to
follow
him
calling
the
disciples
to
follow
him
it
wasn't
like
regular
rabbis
at the
time
for a
couple
reasons
number
one
you don't
follow
the
rabbi
you
follow
the
Torah
you
follow
the
teachings
the
rabbi
the
teacher
follow
the
law
follow
me
as
I
exposit
the
ten
commandments
or
something
he
says
follow
me
pattern
your
life
after
me
he
is
communicating
his
authority
his
divine
authority
and
also
he
is
inviting
the
disciples
into
his
own
ministry
this
is
what
it
says
I
will
make
you
become
fishers
of
men
and
these
were
fishermen
Jesus
went
right
to
them
they
didn't
clean
up
their
act
after
two
three
years
of
devotion
to
the
Bible
or
to
whatever
Jesus
went
to
them
straight
to
where
they
were
and
called
them
right
where
they
were
from
and
that's
what
he
does
for
us
we
don't
come
to
God
because
we
have
cleaned
up
lives
we
come
to
him
because
we
recognize
our
desperate
need
for
him
and
he
doesn't
say
come
and
you'll
be
rock
stars
overnight
what
does
he
say
to
his
disciples
he
says
I
will
make
you
become
fishers
of
men
and
we
know
that
maybe
you
don't
but
the
story
of
the
gospels
are
his
disciples
not
getting
it
failing
tripping
over
their
feet
we
will
see
later
on
where
Peter
in
chapter
8
will
declare
who
Jesus
is
and
then
in
the
same
moment
rebuke
Jesus
for
going
to
the
cross
but
then
we'll
see
in
Acts
where
the
Holy
Spirit
fills
them
and
they
grow
and
they
mature
and
they
become
fishers
of
men
the
call
for
you
is
to
follow
Jesus
and
he
will
teach
you
he
will
disciple
you
this
is
what
church
does
this
is
why
we
need
the
body
because
people
are
going
to
be
able
to
teach
each
other
and
point
each
other
to
the
Lord
we
come
here
to
pledge
our
allegiance
and
our
love
and
our
fidelity
to
Christ
every
week
and
we
partake
with
him
in
the
great
commission
and
just
if
it
seems
overwhelming
it
is
overwhelming
but
listen
let's
be
overwhelmed
together
it
is
not
easy
I
was
I
was
I
need
a
break
every
now
and
then
when
I
when
I'm
working
at
home
we
have
three
young
kids
whom
I
love
but
they're
busy
and
they're
loud
so
every
now
and
then
I'll
go
to
a
coffee
shop
and
I
was
at
a
coffee
shop
and
this
guy
behind
me
he's
on
a
spiritual
quest
because
he's
talking
about
his
business
stuff
and
then
he
phones
up
his
friend
and
he's
like
hey
listen
man
do
you
believe
in
psychics
because
I
talked
to
the
psychic
and
like
he
totally
read
my
journal
like
it
give me
strength
I'm
going
to
do
this
right
because
and
you
know
the
guy
got up
and
left
before
I
mustered
courage
it
is
not
easy
being
fishers
of
men
I'm
supposed
to be
a
pastor
like
listen
that
doesn't
mean
that
I'm
supposed
to be
some
world
class
evangelist
but
it's
hard
and
maybe
you
guys
have
stories
as
well
where
you
want
to
bear
witness
to
Jesus
but
you're
afraid
God's
honest
truth
that
happened
to
me
I'm
not
making
it
up
it
was
Friday
it
happened
but
what
will
he
do
we
follow
him
we
repent
and
believe
we
continue
to
repent
and
believe
we
trust
in
the
gospel
and
what
will
he
do
he
will
make
us
fishers
of
men
the
apostles
are
unique
they
are
okay
they
God
used
them
in
an
unbelievably
mighty
way
but
the
principle
still
exists
the
call
to
follow
Jesus
still
exists
it's
our
call
it is
our
call
and
it
is
hard
but
I
think
we
can
do
this
together
by
God's
strength
Jesus
also
calls
the
sons
of
Zebedee
and
the
interesting
thing
is
they
immediately
drop
their
nets
and
they
follow
Jesus
he
is
asking
you
to
follow
him
and
that's
why
when
we
share
about
the
good
news
of
the
gospel
it
is
important
to
have
these
apologetics
and
these
answers
ready
but
at
the
very
core
of
it
we
are
introducing
people
to
Jesus
he's
the
gospel
we
are
introducing
him
to
our
friend
and
I
don't
mean
friend
in
a
kind
of
a
kitschy
way
like
a
deep
friend
that's
what
we're
inviting
people
to
and
it's
hard
but
listen
we
pray
we
get
encouraged
we
encourage
one
another
we
can
do
this
we
can
and
we
just
trust
that
in
the
end
when
we
introduce
people
to
Jesus
we're
not
saying
hey
listen
you
need
to
drop
everything
you
have
and
follow
me
as
I'm
following
Jesus
we
just
trust
that
God
is
the
one
who's
going
to
draw
and
John
his
brother
James
the
other
disciples
the
countless
Christians
so you
and me
if you
have put
your
faith
and
trust
in
Jesus
is
not
because
somebody
had
a
fantastic
little
sermon
going
on
or
you
saw
like
a
wonderful
slideshow
or
saw
this
video
and
that's
what
was
the
thing
it
was
God
using
means
but
God
who
is
drawing
you
to
himself
friends
the
call
is
to
repent
and
believe
in
the
gospel
the
kingdom
is
at
hand
the
kingdom
is
here
I'd
encourage
you
encourage
you
that
if
you
have
not
put
your
faith
and
trust
in
Christ
do
so
and
if
you
have
continue
a
life
of
repentance
and
belief
in
him
please
stand
let
us
pray
heavenly
father
we
thank
you
so
much
for
your
word
that
it
is
I
mean
number
one
that
we
have
a
copy
of
it
that
we
can
read
it
that
we
don't
have
to
be
afraid
that
secret
police
are
going
to
bust
in
and
shut
us
down
Lord
we
thank
you
for
the
freedom
we
have
here
in
Canada
to
read
and
study
to
mark
and
inwardly
digest
your
word
and
Lord
I
pray
that
we
would
do
just
that
we
would
believe
repent
and
believe
in
your
son
that
your
desire
is
to
make
your
home
with
us
and
among
us
and
you
have
done
just
that
in
Jesus
and
Lord
I
pray
that
just
like
the
call
to
Andrew
and
Simon
James
and
John
was
to
follow
your
son
that
we
would
do
that
Lord
and
that
in
mountaintop
experiences
with
Jesus
but
in
especially
valley
type
of
experiences
with
Jesus
that
we
would
continue
to
follow
him
Lord
help
us
to
believe
help
our
unbelief
we
pray
in
Christ's
name
Amen