January 15, 2012 Good News?

Good News?

Mark 1:14-16 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”

DO YOU see anything odd here? How does it strike you that “John was put in prison…and Jesus went proclaiming the good news of God.”
God created John to point God’s people to Jesus. He baptizes Jesus as Jesus began his mission. John has clearly fulfilled the purpose of his life.
So this is how you reward people, Jesus? You put John, your faithful servant, in prison where Herod will have him beheaded? Why would you do that, Jesus?
What do you think? Seems unfair, even disdainful, doesn’t it? Pause and consider other things Jesus knew. He knew John’s future was a heavenly future. Eternal reward this faithful servant. Jesus knew that his faithful preaching the good news of God lead him to a brutal death.
The lesson here is that when God calls you to be a good news giver, you could (likely will) face many challenges. You could be socially cast “in jail”, shut off from your friends and family. And in certain parts of the world, you could be killed.
The thing is, as a good news giver, you are never alone. As a good news giver, you never die because the good news is: (John 11:25) “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies”
Seeing your life as limited to your earthly existence, you may often say, “it’s not fair, Lord?”
Seeing your life as eternal in the hands of Jesus you will say, (Luke 22:42) “yet not my will, but yours be done.”


Pause and consider that Jesus suffered and died so you may rejoice and live.