Mark 1: 1 -8
The Gospel of Mark begins with a very solemn tone. It is solemn in both style and word choice. It tells us from the very outset of what and who the book is about - this is the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God.
The author bases his solemn proclamation on two authorities - the word of God spoken through the prophet Isaiah and the testimony of John the Baptist, who is well-known to Mark's audience. (1)
God's word continues to be an authority in our time. It is an authority on its own because "God's word is alive and active." God's word is also an authority in people's acceptance of it. Most Jews and Christians believe and honor the Bible as the revealed word of God.
The challenge for us, then, is to identify the new John's for our time. In his appearance and his message, people recognize John as the promised messenger. That is why "people of the whole Judean countryside and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins." Who in our time have that authority and authenticity? Will we be willing to listen to them?
But the call to be messengers for Jesus is not reserved to a chosen few. It is the vocation of all the baptized. Here is another challenge for us, namely to be the new John's for our time. The Messiah is coming; and there is still the need for people to be his messengers. People may recognize the authority and testimony of God's word. But do they see us as John's, the messengers of the Messiah? Moreover, are we the type of messengers as authentic and well-known to our people as John was to his?
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(1) Moloney, Francis J. The Gospel of Mark: A Commentary. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2002; p. 37.
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