Reading 02—So It Begins

Read Mark 1:1-45

Taken separately, the brief individual scenes within Mark’s first chapter seem thin, with hardly enough detail to make a good story. But try reading Chapter 1 as one continuous narrative, or better yet, read it aloud, and you’ll feel the breathless intensity of a story that pulls you into its current.

Mark sets his focus quickly and directly. Unlike Matthew and Luke, Mark provides no genealogy to establish Jesus’ lineage. Nor does he offer angels or shepherds, anxious parents, or guiding dreams—in fact, he offers no birth story at all. Within the first 13 verses of this first chapter the adult Jesus is baptized by John, addressed directly by God, and tempted by Satan.

The message here is “Pay Attention” to these critically important moments, during which Jesus receives firm assurance that he is God’s beloved Son, the chosen one, who will not be stopped by hunger, fear, or the temptations of Satan.

Then in the space of a few paragraphs we watch Jesus make John’s call to repentance his own, gather his first disciples, deal with demons, heal with his touch and attract a crowd that will not let him rest.

The best news of this chapter’s good news may just be its final story. The leper who kneels and begs for healing knows what Jesus can do. And like Jesus, he knows the power of being chosen: “If you choose, you can make me clean.” Jesus replies, “I do choose. Be made clean.” And immediately the leprosy is gone.

So it begins. With this miracle and the leper’s bold and widespread proclamation, Jesus’ ministry gains such high visibility that there is no turning back. God’s Messiah, who will choose over and over to give himself away to a wounded world, does indeed fulfill God’s plan and bring the Kingdom near.

What if you took Mark’s opening words literally, that his Gospel is only the “beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ”? In what ways do you see the church continuing that good news? In what ways could you keep that good news alive in your own life?

When in your personal, church or professional life have you felt chosen? How did that feeling change the way you approached your daily life or your challenges?

Holy One, you have chosen us as your beloved children. Through the life and witness of Jesus, fill us with breathless excitement in sharing with others the good news of your love and mercy. Amen.

Jennifer Ginn is Senior Pastor of Cross and Crown Lutheran Church in Matthews. A former teacher and editor, she enjoys writing, preaching and telling gospel stories by heart. She is married to a pastor, and they relax by cooking together and watching PBS mysteries with their Jack Russell Terrier, Brisket.