No matter how many times I crack open God’s Word, I’m struck anew by the ways God meets me. Whether it’s a verse that pops of the page in a fresh way, a story that challenges me to live different, or a character that connects with me on a personal level, the Bible truly is living and breathing.
This living breath of God has spoken of the hope found in Christ for centuries. And every time I think I’ve learned all there is about Jesus or his teachings, I’m reminded I’ve barely skimmed the surface.
This Lent (beginning on February 14th), I’m inviting YOU to plumb the depths of God’s Word as we commit to reading and studying the Gospel of Mark. Don’t worry—it’s not a lot of reading each day, just a handful of verses. We’re aiming for depth not breadth this time around. And from the very opening sentence, I’m struck by all there is to drink in.
When Mark says, “The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ the son of God” (Mark 1:1), the Greek word euangelion (meaning good news or good tidings or gospel) would have been understood through two lenses.
1) Through a Greek (Hellenistic) lens. This same word meaning good news or gospel would have been used by rulers and kings to announce birthdays or good tidings or news of a military victory.
2) Through a Jewish lens. A Jewish hearer would have heard Mark declaring euangelion and be immediately reminded of the good news the Old Testament prophet, Isaiah, proclaimed in Isaiah 52:7:
How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
who bring good tidings,
who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion,
“Your God reigns!”
These lenses would immediately create a picture of who the audience imagined this Jesus to be—1) a political ruler, like the Greeks might have imagined. 2) a bringer of the fulfillment of hope, like the Jews might have imagined. They were both surprised—big time!
Perhaps Jesus is both a ruler and bringer of hope, but not in the ways Mark’s audience would have imagined. (And we’ll explore this in more depth on February 14 at the start of Lent).
This raises the question or us: If Jesus is both a ruler and bringer of hope, how is he unleashing his rule and delivering hope in ways we never imagined in our daily lives?
Where is Jesus crashing into your world and turning it upside-down?
Where is the place of disappointment in your life that’s really a God-appointment?
Where is the area in your life where Jesus is not what you expect?
Lent kicks off on February 14, and we have so much to discover and learn together! We’ve been overwhelmed by the number of small groups, friends, and readers like YOU, who are joining us to dive into Remarkable: 40 Days in the Book of Mark.
Inside you’ll find the Gospel of Mark divided into 40 readings along with 40 devotions and 40 sets of reflection questions. By the time Easter arrives, your heart will be overflowing with awe and wonder at Jesus.
Many of you have asked can you put together a multi-pack of Remarkable so that you and your friends can dive into Scripture. Well, we heard you!
And I’m excited to announce we now have a Four-Pack of Remarkable in our store just for you!
Lent is just around the corner, and I’m counting down the days to the Remarkable study of the Gospel of Mark.
Praying for the Holy Spirit to move in our lives in powerful ways as we prepare our hearts for the Resurrection.
With Much Love,
Margaret
