The beginning of the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Mark 1:1 WEB

This statement begins Mark’s gospel account of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Mark follows by describing the ministry of John the Baptist as fulfillment of biblical prophecy. Specifically, Mark refers to prophecies from Malachi and Isaiah. Each of these predict the coming of the Messiah. 

First, Mark shared the Lord’s words from Malachi 3:1 which reads, “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. KJV”

Next, the evangelist refers to prophecy from Isaiah 40:3 which reads, “The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. KJV” Mark interprets these two verses as prophetic of the ministry of John the Baptist in preparation for the Good News of Jesus Christ.. 

Forgiveness and Eternal Life

Before Jesus came calling sinners to repentance, John and many others prepared the way. Throughout the entire biblical narrative, God prepared humanity for the salvation made available in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. Through the prophets, the presentation of the law, and through the Psalms, God prepared mankind for redemption through Christ. John the Baptist completed preparations for the revelation of the Good News of Jesus Christ. 

The Good News of Jesus is forgiveness of sin and eternal life. The Good News of Jesus is that God redeemed sinful humanity through our Savior’s sacrifice on the cross. As we read in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. WEB” The Good News of Jesus is reconciliation with our Father in heaven. 

Yesterday’s Devotional: For the Faith