January 4: Accepting His Love.
HIS CONQUEST.
"The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."--Mark 1:15
As the Olympics, the World Cup of soccer is a much-awaited world-wide event involving many countries, represented by their national teams. In 1978, Argentina hosted the Cup, and the national team won the trophy. I will never forget this victory. I was in high school, and the country ground to an absolute stop for three days in order to celebrate this momentous event. Even though the victory had been won by able athletes, all of us had won; their victory was ours, the victory belonged to the whole country! They were our representatives!
Mark opens his book by stating, "The beginning of the gospel [good news] of Jesus Christ" (Mark 1:1). The Greek noun euangelion is translated into English as "good news" or "gospel"--term that comes from the Old English godspell, which means "good news." This term was used when messengers came from the battlefield, announcing that the king had fought on behalf of his subjects and had won; the messengers who brought the good news were called evangelists. The Greek term was used in the Greek translation of the Old Testament (LXX) to announce God's ultimate deliverance of His people:
How lovely on the mountains
Are the feet of him who brings good news,
Who announces peace
And brings good news of happiness,
Who announces salvation,
And says to Zion, "Your God reigns!"
(Isaiah 52:7).
When Jesus proclaimed, "The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe the gospel" (Mark 1:15), He was announcing that the good news of God's victory through Jesus was about to be revealed. It is highly significant that Mark chose this term to introduce his book about Jesus. Jesus has won the battle on our behalf! Don't ever let fear of the future, or anything else, take away the joy of your salvation. Jesus our Representative and Substitute, has conquered in our place! Rejoice!
My Response:______________________________________
HIS CONQUEST.
"The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."--Mark 1:15
As the Olympics, the World Cup of soccer is a much-awaited world-wide event involving many countries, represented by their national teams. In 1978, Argentina hosted the Cup, and the national team won the trophy. I will never forget this victory. I was in high school, and the country ground to an absolute stop for three days in order to celebrate this momentous event. Even though the victory had been won by able athletes, all of us had won; their victory was ours, the victory belonged to the whole country! They were our representatives!
Mark opens his book by stating, "The beginning of the gospel [good news] of Jesus Christ" (Mark 1:1). The Greek noun euangelion is translated into English as "good news" or "gospel"--term that comes from the Old English godspell, which means "good news." This term was used when messengers came from the battlefield, announcing that the king had fought on behalf of his subjects and had won; the messengers who brought the good news were called evangelists. The Greek term was used in the Greek translation of the Old Testament (LXX) to announce God's ultimate deliverance of His people:
How lovely on the mountains
Are the feet of him who brings good news,
Who announces peace
And brings good news of happiness,
Who announces salvation,
And says to Zion, "Your God reigns!"
(Isaiah 52:7).
When Jesus proclaimed, "The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe the gospel" (Mark 1:15), He was announcing that the good news of God's victory through Jesus was about to be revealed. It is highly significant that Mark chose this term to introduce his book about Jesus. Jesus has won the battle on our behalf! Don't ever let fear of the future, or anything else, take away the joy of your salvation. Jesus our Representative and Substitute, has conquered in our place! Rejoice!
My Response:______________________________________
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