The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God
…Mark 1:1
From Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words we find the word Gospel originally denoted a reward for good tidings; later, the idea of reward dropped, and the word stood for “the good news” itself. The Eng. word “gospel,” i.e. “good message,” is the equivalent of euangelion (Eng., “evangel”)
I like looking at “the beginning’s” of something. They generally hold the blueprint for future practice. Our verse today tells us about the “beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It reveals to us that the beginning started with a message and a messenger. “Behold I send my messenger before your face who will prepare your way.”
In Hebrew, the word for good tidings, or gospel, is besora and the bringer of the message is a mevaser. From an article written by Andrew J. Spallek @ http://www.ctsfw.net/media/pdfs/spallekoriginandmeaning.pdf. we find the word originally connected to messengers bringing word in battle. It had connotations of victory. Spallek explains that since the message came to be associated with the battlefield and news of victory, every messenger from battle came, by extension, to be called a mevaser .This is the same word as evangelist in Greek.
We understand that this gospel of Jesus Christ is called “good news” because it announces to all that there is now a new King and Kingdom that gives life and liberty to all.
John the Baptist’s father, Zechariah, prophesied over his son decreeing John was the beginning of the Lord promises fulfilled to His people. John would give knowledge of this salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercies of our God. To give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death to guide our feet into the way of peace; Luke 1:67-79.
John the Baptist was literally the first messenger holding the good news of Jesus Christ. His message was not about himself, for we preach not ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord; and led people into an awareness of their sin, repentance and salvation. How much of our message in the church has changed today!
‘I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ Jesus to Paul in Acts 26:15-18.
Paul wrote to the church at Rome that he was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it was the power of God unto salvation. How can they know unless someone tells them. We hold this treasure in earthen vessels, committed with a word of reconciliation and charged with a ministry of reconciliation. We, like the apostles in the upper room, have need of boldness to speak the word as we ought for signs and wonders to be done inHis name with all the glory unto Him. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the son of God, today continues with you and me.
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,’ ”