The Message From Galilee Series

THERE IS A LOT GOING ON HERE! MARK TELLS US OF MANY EVENTS, BUT IN JUST A FEW WORDS. WE HEAR OF THE BAPTISM OF JESUS; THE FATHER’S AFFIRMATION AND AN IMMEDIATE TEST OUT IN THE DESERT FOR THE NEXT FORTY DAYS. THERE IS JUST A QUICK MENTION OF JOHN THE BAPTIST BEING IN PRISON AND THEN JESUS IS BACK IN GALILEE.

I COULD SPEND OUR TIME GOING OVER ALL THE TEMPTATIONS THAT JESUS ENCOUNTERED WITH SATAN. I COULD POSSIBLY DRAW A UNIQUE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE 40 DAYS JESUS SPENT IN THE WILDERNESS WITH THE 40 DAYS MOSES SPENT ON MT. SIANI AND OUR 40 DAYS THAT WE SPEND IN THE LENTEN SEASON.

HOWEVER, I THINK, THIS YEAR, THAT WOULD OVERSHADOW THE MESSAGE THAT CAME FROM JESUS IN GALILEE. IN FACT, IT IS MORE THAN A MESSAGE, BUT A PROCLAMATION.

“PROCLAMATION” MEANS TO “PREACH” OR TO “ANNOUNCE A MATTER OF GREAT IMPORTANCE.”

THE MESSAGE JESUS BRINGS TO GALILEE IS “GOOD NEWS.” THE GRACE OF GOD IS MANIFESTING ITSELF IN THE WORDS OF JESUS TO ANNOUNCE HIS PLAN OF REDEMPTION KNOWN AS THE GOSPEL. WE UNDERSTAND THEM AS LIFE-GIVING WORDS, BUT NOT FOR MANY WHO HEARD THEM FOR THE FIRST TIME.

WHEN IT CAME TO JESUS, MOST PEOPLE WANTED A POLITICAL LEADER AS WELL AS A KINGDOM THAT WOULD REPLACE THE OPPRESSIVE OCCUPATION OF THE ROMANS.

CONTRARY TO THE EXPECTATIONS OF MOST PEOPLE, JESUS BROUGHT A KINGDOM OF LOVE, NOT DOMINATION AND CONTROL; OF GRACE, NOT LAW; OF HUMILITY, NOT PRIDE; FOR ALL PEOPLE, NOT ONLY THE JEWS; TO BE RECEIVED ONLY BY ONES OWN CHOICE, NOT FORCED.

THE GOOD NEWS THAT JESUS PROCLAIMS IS THAT GOD IS GETTING READY TO FULFILL ALL HIS PROMISES TO HIS PEOPLE. THE LONG-AWAITED MESSIAH HAD COME TO BREAK THE POWER OF SIN AND BEGIN GOD’S PERSONAL REIGN ON EARTH. THIS IS, INDEED, GOOD NEWS! JESUS COMES TO OFFER US FREEDOM FROM SIN, REDEMPTION, AND HOPE.

JESUS SAYS “THE TIME IS FULFILLED, AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD HAS COME NEAR.” JESUS IS LITERALLY SAYING THAT GOD’S LONG AWAITED PLAN OF REVELATION AND REDMPTION IS NOW HERE AND “ACTUALLY HAPPENING” RIGHT BEORE THEIR EYES! THE REIGN OF GOD, THROUGH THE DESCENDENT OF KING DAVID, CONFRONTS THEM “IN THE FLESH.”

GOD ALWAYS WORKS TO FULFILL HIS PROMISES TO US AT THE MOMENT WHICH IS ALWAYS PERFECTLY TIMED ACCORDING TO HIS PLAN TO SAVE US. ROMANS 5:6, “WHEN WE WERE UTTERLY HELPLESS, CHRIST CAME AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME AND DIED FOR US SINNERS.”

THE GOOD NEWS, OR GOSPEL, THAT JESUS NOW PROCLAIMS IS BOTH FROM GOD AND ABOUT GOD. THE GOSPEL IS THE VERY BEST NEWS TO EVER BE HEARD BECAUSE IT CONTAINES THE MESSAGE OF FORGIVENSS, RESTORATION, AND NEW LIFE IN JESUS CHRIST.

2 CORINTHIANS 5:17, “THIS MEANS THAT ANYONE WHO BELONGS TO CHRIST HAS BECOME A NEW PERSON. THE OLD LIFE IS GONE; A NEW LIFE HAS BEGUN!” WITH THE COMING OF JESUS, GOD WAS DOING SOMETHING INCREDIBLY AMAZING BY USHERING IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD. PSALM 29:10, “…THE LORD REIGNS AS KING FOREVER.”

THIS IS WHY JESUS GIVES US INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO RESPOND TO SUCH GOOD NEWS. JESUS SAYS, IN VERSE 15, “REPENT OF YOUR SINS AND BELIEVE THE GOOD NEWS!” WE ARE TO REPENT AND BELIEVE.

FIRST, WE ARE CALLED TO REPENT. JESUS CALLS US TO MAKE A RADICAL DECISION. IT IS RADICAL BECAUSE IT IS AN ACTION THAT IS TO BE IMMEDIATE. IT ISN’T SOMETHING TO SIT AROUND AND THINK ABOUT.

THE WORD “REPENT” MEANS “TO CHANGE ONE’S MIND” OR “TO THINK DIFFERENTLY.” THE WORD EMPHASIZES URGENCY AND WITHOUT DELAY. WE MUST FORSAKE OUR SINS AND SURRENDER FULL CONTROL OF OUR LIVES OVER TO CHRIST. IT IS WHY JOHN 3:30, NOTES JOHN THE BAPTIST SAYING, “[JESUS] MUST BECOME GREATER; I MUST BECOME LESS.”

WE MUST CULTIVATE GODLINESS IN OUR LIVES AND BECOME INTENTIONAL WITH ERADICATING HABITS, PRACTICES AND OTHER DETERRENTS THAT LEAD TO SIN. WE MUST BE GRIEVED NOT BY JUST THE GUILT AND CONSEQUENCES OF OUR SIN, BUT BECAUSE OF THE SIN ITSELF.

OUR PURPOSE IN THIS WORLD IS TO EXALT CHRIST, AND NOT OURSELVES. ACTS 20:21, “I HAVE DECLARED TO BOTH JEWS AND GREEKS THAT THEY MUST TURN TO GOD IN REPENTANCE AND HAVE FAITH IN OUR LORD JESUS.” WE MUST REPENT.

JESUS, THEN PROCLAIMED FOR US, TO BELIEVE THE GOOD NEWS. THE WORD FOR “BELIEVE” MEANS “TO PUT ONES TRUST IN” OR “TO BE COMMITTED TO.” THIS WORD JESUS USED FOR BELIEVE MEANS MUCH MORE THAN KNOWLEDGE OR AGREEMENT IN THE MIND. IT SPEAKS OF A RELATIONSHIP OF TRUST AND DEPENDENCE.

I HAVE FOUND THAT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THE GOSPEL, BUT THEY DO NOT BELIEVE IN IT. THEY ARE AWARE OF IT, BUT THEY DO NOT ACCEPT IT ENOUGH TO ALLOW IT TO CHANGE THEIR LIVES. WHEN JESUS INVITES US TO “BELIEVE” THE GOOD NEWS, HE IS ASKING US TO ACCEPT IT AND FULLY TRUST GOD, TAKE HIM AT HIS WORD, AND LIVE IN A RELATIONSHIP OF DEPENDENCE ON HIM.