The Beginning of the Gospel (Mark 1:1-10) - a podcast by Don Shoemaker, Steve Williams, and Bob Wriedt
from 2022-12-04T16:00
Mark 1:1 - "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God."
This week at Grace, we begin a new, year-long study in the Gospel of Mark.
Why Mark? Because we all need to be continually reminded about what Jesus is like, or else we will start to imagine a warped form of him, remade to fit our biases, fears, and preferences, rather than the One who is.
Mark is the shortest and almost certainly the oldest of the four gospels. Written by John Mark probably about 30 years after Jesus' death, burial and resurrection, it represents the teaching and memories of Peter. The book begins with the thesis statement about Jesus' identity: he is the Christ, the Son of God, and then unfolds the proof of that for the next 16 chapters, culminating with a Roman soldier professing the same truth at the foot of the cross: "Truly this man was the son of God!" (Mark 15:39)
Throughout the next year, I pray that you and I would be continually struck with awe over the same realization: Jesus is God with us.
Looking forward to going on this journey through Mark with you!
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,
“Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way,
the voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight,’”
John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.
- Mark 1:1-10
Further episodes of Grace Community Church of Seal Beach
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