Did You Hear the News?

Mark 1:1 - The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Good Friday, everyone! I hope you had a great night's sleep!

Lets talk about Mark 1:1. What do we notice about this first sentence? There is no verb in this sentence. It is not taking us anywhere; it is not going anywhere; it's not doing anything! It is just stating a fact.

There will be no debate about it, no discussion--and we won't take a vote. This is Truth!  This is the Gospel. It's all about Jesus, who is the Christ. He is the Son of God, period! Mark doesn't attempt to prove this. There is no insecurity. It is assumed that this is an uncontested fact!

"The beginning of the gospel . . ."

This is it--the beginning! I love coming early to the movies. Not only do I like watching previews, but I hate missing the beginning of a story. This is the beginning of the greatest story you have ever heard, or ever will hear! No greater drama has ever been told, no greater mystery ever solved, no greater adventure ever taken, no greater love story ever told! This is it--the beginning! Take a seat, turn off the cellphone, and open your heart to hear your Maker's story!

Gospel means "good news." Not just any good news--this word is used when something significant happens, like a birth, or a wedding, It isn't typically used for daily things--it is reserved for LIFE-CHANGING EVENTS!

How would the Romans translate this phrase?  Good news to them would be joyful news about the emperor. Imagine how this made the current politicians and authorities feel--thousands of disciples running around Rome proclaiming the joyful news about the emperor Jesus!

Our brothers and sisters preached the Gospel with considerable threat to their own lives and their families' lives. It is the good news that our sins can be forgiven, that we can belong to the family of God and one day go to live with God in heaven. It is the announcement of victory over sin, death, and hell!

When I got married, when I had my first child, when I was baptized, when I was invited to come on the mission team to Kiev--all these events were "Gospel" for me! I would not keep quiet--I had to tell everyone about my "Good News!"

Your salvation today, is it Good News? Is it Gospel, that Jesus died for you, that he took away your sins, that you have a brotherhood who helps you daily to follow Him?  Is this still Good News?

If you were to pass away today, what would you say as your last words?  What has happened in this life of yours that is your Best News? Would it be your favorite movie? Would it be the car or apartment you own? Would it even be how thankful you are that you have a great wife or husband or kids? 

With my last breath, I think I will be thanking God that I became a Christian, that Jesus saved me from death and an eternity in hell! My Gospel is that I chose to follow Jesus and stayed faithful to Christ and his way of life! Consequently, I will get to spend eternity with God, I will get to see His face!

Make time today to reflect on your "Good News!"

Pray for Madrid, Spain

Welcome to the capital of Spain, a city with over 5 million people! The Madrid Church was planted by the Boston Church, and even without full-time leaders the church has been growing for several years!

Last year, the church in Madrid sent out a mission team to Barcelona. Please pray for the church in Madrid, for the Christians to have great faith, and that God will bring open hearts! Also be praying for the young church in Barcelona, that the team there will help many to find their "Good News!"

See you tomorrow . . .