THE BEGINNING OF THE GOSPEL

Mark 1:1
The book of Mark has the distinction not only of being the shortest of the Gospel accounts but also is believed to be the earliest Gospel written. The Bible is not arranged by
chronology but by subject matter. And although Matthew is placed in our modern Bibles first, the book of Mark is actually believed to have been written first. This book was penned by none other than John Mark the nephew of Barnabas, the one who abandoned Paul and Barnabas on the first missionary journey and was the subject of the falling out of Paul and Barnabas at the
beginning of the second. (Acts 15) Mark although not an apostle appears to have been a companion of the apostles and of Christ and as such was a first hand witness life, teachings and work of Christ. We are going to just barely take a step into this book and examine just this first verse this morning. This verse although considered by many to be no more than just a title,
is nonetheless filled with meaning and significance.

I. WHAT THIS BEGINNINGIS NOT
This is not the origin of the good news of Christ, for according to Rev. 13:8 Christ is “…the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Before there was a sinner there was already a Savior, and before there was ever a sin there was already a sacrifice, that is to say that in the counsel of the will of the Father before man ever fell He had already provided the remedy. From the moment humanity fell a promise went forth (Gen. 3:15), and from that time He was spoken of in the Law, and in the Psalms and in the Prophets. 1 Peter 1:18-20 "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold,from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you," He was foreordained to be this Lamb, Whose blood would be the currency of our redemption, but He was manifest, was brought to light, revealed to this generation who gave us these Gospel accounts. Some say all this verse is is the title of the book and thus means nothing more than the beginning of Mark’s account of the life of Jesus. If that is the case why did Mark not begin with a genealogy as in Matthew? Or why did he not begin with the events surrounding the birth of Jesus as in Luke? Or why did Mark not follow John’s footsteps and begin in the expanse of eternity past?

II. WHAT THIS BEGINNING IS
The N.T. begins with a beginning in the same way the O.T. begins with a beginning, and how appropriate Mark would begin where he did. If you’ll read down you’ll discover where Mark begins is the ministry of John the Baptist who was the forerunner of Christ. His ministry simply put was to prepare the Jewish nation for the arrival of the kingdom of God and the King of
the kingdom, Christ. Luke 16:16 “The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.”

The O.T. although filled with greatest of God, is also filled with the failure of Adam and his posterity. Although it does chronicle the goodness of God and the hope of a bright future we have by placing our trust in Him, it also chronicles the absolute depravity of mankind, failure after failure to obey God, even in post exilic times decay ensues. Then comes 400 long years of silence from heaven, where God does not address Israel as a nation. And then all of a sudden we hear
a voice coming out of the wilderness and he is saying prepare ye the way of the Lord. The O.T. ends with the promise “He is coming”…the N.T. begins with “He is here.” This is the chronicle of the second Adam Who has come to restore all things and to usher in the kingdom of God on
earth. This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.