Mark starts off, "The beginning of the gospel..."
It's the beginning and there's lots more to come.
What about the beginning.
"Prepare the way of the Lord." Mark 1:3
The beginning is about preparation.
And part of the preparation is confessing of sins.
And there's acceptance.
You are my Son whom I love; with you I am well pleased. Mark. 1:11
Jesus went about proclaiming this good news.
"The time has come," He said.
"The kingdom of God is near." Mark 1:15
Hear it?
The kingdom is near.
His rulership in everything is near.
It's right here and it's right now.
"Repent and believe the good news!" Mark 1:15
Kingdom teaching is good news, exciting news.
So much so that when Jesus said to some fishermen,
"Come, follow me,"
they left their nets at once and followed Him. Mark 1:17-18
Nets.
More than just their jobs, I believe.
Anything and everything that had them all caught up.
They dropped it all to follow Jesus.
And Jesus had a plan.
"Let us go somewhere else...so I can preach there also.
That is why I have come." Mark. 1:38
To preach the good kingdom news.
Later Jesus says,
"The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you." Mark 4:11
It's like a seed that is sown.
Some falls along the path.
Some in rocky places.
Some is sown among thorns.
Thorns.
The worries of this life.
The deceitfulness of riches.
The desires for other things. Mark 4:14-20
All choking out the good news of the kingdom.
The seed is supposed to grow.
"This is what the kingdom of God is like," says Jesus.
First the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. Mark 4:26-28
Progression. Steps. Observable steps. Quantifiable steps.
It's also like the small mustard seed that when planted grows and becomes the largest of all. Mark 4:30-32
Growth.
"Let's go over to the other side," says Jesus. Mark 4:35
Movement.
Are you itching to "go over to the other side"?
Do you sense the Lord calling you to move on?
The kingdom of God is near.