Here Begins the Good News: The Coming of the Messiah – Cynthia Holder Rich
Read Neal D. Presa’s Essay, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”
Read Jooseup Keum’s Essay, “The Coming of the Messiah: A Reflection on Matthew 2:1-18”
Read Patricia Sheerattan-Bisnauth’s Essay, “Waiting Expectantly”
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 thy face, who shall prepare thy way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight–” John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, and had a leather girdle around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong 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 opened and the Spirit descending upon him like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased.” The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to him. Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:1-15
Advent has come, and in the U.S., that means we are celebrating Christmas, a season that began sometime in October – as indicated by stores, malls, and the myriad and growing number of online sites where you can spend money and buy gifts, holiday decorations, and party and event fare that can help keep celebrations appropriately merry. Christmas music fills the air and has done so on many radio stations and shopping centers for months; scenes of Santa, elves, reindeer, candy canes and candy-bedecked lanes encourage a jolly mood and, presumably, provide more impetus to buy, buy, buy.
In the midst of all this holiday hubbub, Mark’s Gospel takes an unexpected and disconcerting tone. There is no appearance of a baby, no shepherds, no star, no gifts, no manger…no birth narrative at all. The Gospel starts with an announcement that it is the beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As any student of the New Testament knows, the story moves quickly from there, with little time wasted or spent in any one locale. In the first 15 verses, John has proclaimed a baptism of repentance and baptized Jesus, Jesus has been tempted, John has been arrested, and Jesus proclaims that the time has been fulfilled and God’s realm has come near, and calls upon people to believe this good news.
Mark was written during and/or immediately after what must have seemed like the single most cataclysmic and life-altering event in all of life for the people of first-century Judea – the Roman war against their rebellion and the eventual destruction of Jerusalem and, most important, the Temple. Many died; the rest of the population were scattered, exiled, destined to become diasporic Jews, a status most Jews would retain for many centuries. This was a time of terror, bloodshed, violence and death. This was a time when to stand up and be counted meant to be crucified, tortured, killed, imprisoned, and violated in the million other inventive ways the Romans had devised to deal with and humiliate those they conquered. There is evidence that the authorities in Rome particularly relished the conquest of Jerusalem and its pesky, rebeliion-given residents. The Arch of Titus, which still stands near the Coliseum in Rome, was completed in the early 80s CE – that is, scarcely a decade after the Roman victory in Palestine was complete. Relief carvings on the arch still show the carrying off of the treasures of the Temple by Roman soldiers. There was joy in Rome when Jerusalem was destroyed.
It is in this context of violence, terror, death and loss that the author of Mark sat down to write, and did so by saying, “The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”
What does it mean to affirm and proclaim good news in the midst of death?
For the author of Mark, it is clear that the destruction of the Temple and the city, and the ensuing terror, exile and death, were not the most important thing going on at the time. In fact, for Mark, the reality of knowing Jesus and sharing Jesus’ Good News was the most life-altering event of life – an event sufficiently powerful and compelling that the urgent sense of responsibility to share this story, even as the world literally fell down around him, was all that could take his focus.
So, there must be something really quite special and amazing about this Good News, then. It must include an ability to both take account of the full reality of the bad news in the world – and to work in the midst of the worst of the bad news this world can serve up, knowing that this Good News is bigger and more powerful than the bad news, as harrowing and crushing as it can be.
We who are called to participate as agents of Jesus’ Good News must reflect on what this means. Here are a few ideas for reflection that leads us into faithful action, as Advent continues.
It means remembering this story and its meaning and power. It means remembering that in his earthly life, Jesus took seriously the death-dealing of the world, and took on and confronted the powers of death, and overcame them.
It means seeing the power of Jesus in our world. It means looking for the signs of Jesus’ Good News and pointing these out to a world in need.
It means responding to these signs and these memories by participating in the Good News. We who have found our eyes open to Jesus’ Good News, who have found our lives changed through Jesus’ power, are moved to take joyful part in Jesus’ mission.
In this holy season, as we reflect on the meaning of the incarnation, let us remember, see and respond in ways that bring honor and glory to God’s Anointed One, the Messiah God has sent us, even Jesus Christ, the Son of God; and let us affirm and proclaim with Mark the power of this Good News to overcome.
The Rev. Dr. Cynthia Holder Rich is Executive Pastor for Ministry at Village Presbyterian Church in Prairie Village, KS, and is the director of ecclesio.com.
Read Neal D. Presa’s Essay, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”
Read Jooseup Keum’s Essay, “The Coming of the Messiah: A Reflection on Matthew 2:1-18”
Read Patricia Sheerattan-Bisnauth’s Essay, “Waiting Expectantly”