This is Just the Beginning

Yesterday's sermon was on the gospel for the day Mark 1:1-8, or more specifically Mark 1:1 "The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God."  It is a strange opening line, one that has puzzled scholars for generations.  

Oh and I'm not completely avoiding John the Baptist, we get him again this coming Sunday so I'm sure he will actually appear in my sermon next Sunday. 

Enjoy

Either our gospel reading for today and the entire gospel of Mark has the lamest opening line of all times, or there is something truly remarkable happening. The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 

What story begins with “this is the beginning of the story”?  They don’t.  They begin with “Call me Ishmael.”  Or “It was the best of times it was the worst of times.”  Or “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.”  Good stories catch you from the start, from the opening line. Not “The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”

How does that draw you in? 

Well maybe it not until the end of the story, the end of what was written that you think back on this opening line.  Does anyone know how the Gospel of Mark ends? 

The Gospel of Mark ends with the empty tomb.  Not with the appearance of Jesus.  Not with Jesus ascending into heaven.  Not with great power and joy.  The Gospel of Mark ends with the two Marys, May Magdalene and Mary the mother of Jesus, going to the tomb, finding the stone rolled away, an angel sitting there telling them Jesus has risen and it ends with the line: “So the women went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.” 

So as oddly as this gospel begins, it ends just as oddly. 

So maybe Mark is actually trying to tell us something else.  Not that “I’m going to start telling you a story now” or “hey listen up this is the start of my story.”  But this, the entire story, is just the beginning!  Jesus’ life on earth is just the beginning of the good news for us.  Jesus’ life on earth is just the beginning of how Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God who is present in our lives.  And the entire Gospel of Mark, the entire 16 chapters of scripture is just the beginning, just page one, or a remarkable story about good news of Christ in our lives that still continues today.

Christ is still active in our lives.  This story still continues.  New pages are being written each day.  New members of the body of Christ are being added to daily as people come and are baptized with the Holy Spirit.  The body of Christ is still being strengthened and added to as we confess our sins. 

This story has not yet ended. 

How do you see this story of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God still being written?