Advent 2

Preparation

Please begin by reading Mark 1:1-8 in your Bible. If you do not have one at hand, we have provided that text for you at the end of this reflection.

Reflection--The Main Event

  Mark can be a breath of fresh air.  Some New Testament writers are masters of sophisticated argument and subtlety, but not Mark.  There is no beating around the bush with Mark!  We know right off the bat why he is writing and what he wants us to know.  He has good news to deliver!  That good news is that Jesus is the Christ, God’s anointed one, the Son of God.  God has arrived among God’s people to remove any doubt about God’s love.

In his direct fashion, Mark skips the stories of Jesus’ infancy and childhood and goes directly to an opening scene that sets the stage for Jesus’ ministry.  He introduces us, briefly, to the mysterious figure of John the Baptist (reportedly once described by a Sunday school child as “the one who ate bugs”).

John is fascinating, but Mark would not have us stop and spend too much time on him.  One commentator hits it right on the head by saying “Mark portrays John somewhat like a ‘roadie’ for Jesus, the one who goes on ahead to prepare folks for the ‘main event.’” 

And what a main event it is!  Another commentator puts it this way:

“We come to comprehend who Jesus Christ is … only when we follow him through this Gospel.  …  Above all, Jesus … is the one who does God’s will and God’s work in battling the forces of evil for the salvation of humankind.  Above all, Jesus … is the one who dies on the cross, giving his life in behalf of humanity for humanity’s salvation.  Thus, Jesus the Son of God is God’s selfless servant who gives even himself to save others!  Jesus, the Son of God, makes provision for the salvation of humanity.  He reveals with utter clarity the depth of God’s love and the essential, selfless, serving nature of God.  And Jesus, the Son of God, shows human beings the manner of life to which God calls us all.”

        revclay

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Mark 1:1-8

The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:  ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’”

John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.  Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.  He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals.  I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” 

[NRSV]