Originally posted: 06/29/2019
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, (1:1).
The Gospel literally means the good news of Jesus Christ. But before the good news was delivered, the way had to be made ready.
As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You,
Who will prepare Your way; 3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness,
‘Make ready the way of the Lord,
Make His paths straight,’” (1:2-3).
His Gospel was to be introduced by His faithful servant, John, declaring the same message Isaiah the prophet had prophesied some seven hundred years previous, the message of repentance and confession to make ready His way and His paths straight.
John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, (1:4).
Consider the Beginning of His Gospel
The Gospel is good news. The Gospel of Jesus Christ promises the coming of His Holy Spirit and His authority and compassion to bring healing, cleansing and salvation for all who believe. But before the good news, there is serious bad news that must be confronted, bad news affecting all of humanity.
The Beginning of His Gospel was initiated by a call to repentance and confession of sin; awaking mankind to their fatal condition and desperate need of redemption, leading to an insatiable desire to leave all else to follow Him, the Only One able to cleanse and heal the deadly disease of sin.
- Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel,” (1:14-15).
- And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. 19 Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets. 20 Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went away to follow Him, (1:17-20).
- And a leper came to Jesus, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” 41 Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed,” (1:40-41).
How do we respond to the Beginning of His Gospel?
- Before we can experience the Beginning of His Gospel we must understand and agree with the bad news declared by Holy God.
- For all of us have become like one who is unclean,
And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment;
And all of us wither like a leaf,
And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away, (Isaiah 64:6). - …for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Romans 3:23).
- For all of us have become like one who is unclean,
- Agreeing with Him about our sinful condition is the Beginning of His Gospel; it is His kindness leading us to repent and believe.
- Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? (Romans 2:4).
- When we consider His Gospel, His gracious offer of salvation, how can we not forsake all else and follow Him?
- “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. 35 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:34-36).
- The Beginning of His Gospel is very bad news; all are doomed to eternal condemnation with no means to remedy man’s sinful state apart from His saving grace. We cannot ignore this critical truth of His Gospel in sharing with others, or in examining our own faith. But the Beginning of His Gospel reaches His faithful fruition in a hope that is sure.
- This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast… (Hebrews 6:19).
- Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; (Hebrews 10:23).
- Let us hold fast to Jesus, our Hope, Who has promised to bring the Beginning of His Gospel to perfect completion, for He is the Beginning and the End.
- For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus, (Philippians 1:6).
- And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” 6 Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. 7 He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son,” (Revelation 21:5-7).
- “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end,” (Revelation 22:12-13).