1st Sunday in Lent - A New Life
Mark 1:9-15
9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptised by John in the Jordan. 10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.’
12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, 13 and he was in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.
14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 ‘The time has come,’ he said. ‘The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the Good News!
The focus today is on verses 14 to 15, as we talked about Jesus baptism and temptation a few weeks ago.
‘Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God’ and, ‘Repent and believe the good news!’ Throughout the gospels, Jesus brings good news. On occasion he warns of the consequences of not heeding his good news, but he is never legalistic, demanding or demeaning. Those qualities are well catered for by everyone else in the gospel reports, the elders of Israel, the pharisees and scribes, the priests and even Jesus disciples.
Jesus has faced the devil in the wilderness, been tested and tempted and not given in to base human desires and make no mistake, Jesus who is God is also very much, human. He could be tempted, and he could give in, but he trusted the Spirit of the Father within him and conquered himself.
Leaving the desert and discovering that the Baptist’s ministry had come to an end, it was time for Jesus to enter his public ministry. His message? ‘The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!’
So many of us have experienced the ugly side of evangelicalism, with the harsh wagging of the finger and the pointing out of our failures and the word ‘repent’ used as a blunt instrument to bludgeon us out of hell. Jesus does no such thing, not even on his most frustrating day.
When Jesus uses ‘repent’ he does so to call us back from the dark sidetracks of life into a bright new day. We have all had our sidetracks. We’ve all made wrong decisions from out of poor thinking and by giving into the tests and temptations of the devil and a world gone wrong.
Repentance means to be reoriented, turned around from a increasingly darker path to the light of a brand new life offered by Jesus. Jesus, who is God and who is human and who has conquered himself for our sake.
The Good News is an offer of a new life; full, rewarding and full of willing and generous contribution to the lives of those who we have been given to love and who, in many instances, love us.
Of course, repenting, turning around comes with cost. We must leave the damaging and dark pleasurable things behind. We may need to rebuild bridges with family and friends. We must learn not to point out other people’s failings and judge them. We will need to be aware of our own failings and give them to God so, he can forgive and heal us. There is much to be gained in turning around also. A new life, full of the realization that God has been with us all along, especially in the dark places. Now, in lighter places, we can recognise the presence and grace of God with us and joyfully participate in that life with others.
For Monday
- Have you been down any dark paths recently?
- Have you asked for help? Help me Jesus!
- Do you want to turn around and re-connect with God and with people? Help me Jesus!
For Help also, seek out a forgiving and gentle local Christian congregation, full of people who know their own sin and won’t judge you for yours. ‘The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!’