The Beginning - Sermon on Mark 1:1-8 Advent 2B

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Mark 1:1-8

The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’” John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 

Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

This is Mark’s nativity story.  There is no decree for census.  No overcrowded motels.  No journeys on a donkey.  No stable. No animals, other than the locusts John is eating.  No shepherds, wise men, or angels.  Nothing that resembles our childhood Christmas pageant.

It’s a far dispatch from the scene we’re familiar with this time of year.  On Wednesday, when I was hanging out with my new friends in preschool chapel we talked about manger scenes.  I showed them one of my favorite scenes, which is made of knitted snowmen dressed to match the parts of a classic nativity.  For Mark, there is none of that, at least not in a sentimental “once upon a time” scene.  

No for Mark, it’s much more “to the point” …”straightforward.”  For some it might feel rushed.  For Mark’s nativity moment he begins with a bold statement.  A title for his writing.  A declaration really.  Verse 1, “The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the son of God.” Full stop.  The beginning, the starting point, the foundation, the origin.  Everything that follows then must necessarily fit within this declaration.  The events and experiences, the lessons and miracles, even the grief, deceit, death, and denial that are about to take place are, in fact, within the framework of good news.  Specifically the beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the son of God.

I dwell on this because we’re going to be in Mark all year long, and this is a significant theme for his writing.   And to that point it becomes a significant theme for us today.  

Mark’s gospel is a short 16 chapter proclamation of prophecy fulfilled.  He roots his Jesus narrative in the prophets of old, and points us to Jesus, the fulfillment of those prophecies.  In Jesus we find our hope, our salvation, our future.  

After 16 short chapters, Mark’s gospel will end rather abruptly with Mary and others visiting the tomb early in the morning, only to be told by a young man in white that Jesus is not there.  He is risen.  Go and tell others that Jesus will be ahead of you to meet you.  And with that they Go and the story ends.  

That is the “to be continued…” of Mark’s gospel account.  “The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, son of God…” and “He is risen, go and tell.”

For Mark, Jesus’ arrival, life, death and resurrection, is the beginning of the good news. The good news of God in Jesus does not find its culmination in the resurrection dawn, Rather the resurrection serves as a beginning, a foundation, a starting point, an origin for a new way of life in Jesus Christ.  

The beginning of the good news that is longer narrative of God’s salvation.  

That is the significance of today’s text.  It is only the beginning.  From now, to Easter, and beyond it is only the beginning of the good news….and Advent, this precious blue season of anticipation and waiting reminds us that we live and participate in the kingdom of God within God’s time.  

God’s reign of salvation, the new and heaven earth find their beginning in Jesus Christ, and we are gifted the opportunity to be a part of that something new, part of the fulfilment..

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Isaiah 40, our Old Testament lesson for today, is the start of second Isaiah.  In this new section of Isaiah, the prophet looks for God’s intervention to restore Israel from Babylonian Exile.  The prophet calls for courage and confidence that God reigns.  

“See the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; his reward is with him; and his recompense before him.  He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep.”

In a time of great uncertainty, persecution, and exile, Isaiah prophesies the promised reign of God.  “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.”

Isaiah prophesies about a voice crying out of the wilderness. “Prepare the way of the Lord...for the glory of the Lord shall be revealed…”

As much as Isaiah spoke to a people in great need of hope, a people tired of persecution and feeling lost, a people desperate for a savior, Mark speaks a similar message in a similar setting.

For Mark’s community in that day there is war and rebellion.  Some radical Jews found their breaking point and revolted against Rome.  Jerusalem was under siege and falling.  People were divided. Neighbor against neighbor, friend and friend.  They were lost. They were desperate for a savior, and he had not yet returned.   They were a people in need of hope.   

Enter John the Baptist.  I should note that I often like to refer to him as JTB.

But since moving to Jacksonville, JTB has taken on a new meaning for me.   

So, in all likelihood if I refer to JTB, I mean the burly, camel-haired, locus-eating, leather-belt, baptizing, proclaiming person who emerges from the wilderness...not State Road 202.  

In seminary we call that knowing your context.    

For John the practice of confession and forgiveness, repentance and reconciliation was central to preparing the way for the Lord.  In their world of broken relationships, rebellion, siege, uncertainty, and hopelessness John preaches that hope is rooted in confession and forgiveness.  

And ultimately, he points to the one in whom all hope is found, all reconciliation is possible, Jesus the Messiah.  Prepare the way of the Lord, for he is coming, and it will be the start of something new.

I think there are parallels throughout our texts today, they resonate perhaps too close to home for us.    Isaiah prophesies to the people of God who feel lost, tormented, and exiled in the world.  They are hungry for something or someone to believe in….the promised Messiah.

John proclaims to the wandering crowds in the midst of political chaos, siege and war, rebellion, civil unrest, mass uncertainty.  The crowds find themselves lost, damaged, discarded, or anxious in their world.  They are hungry for something or someone to believe in...the promised Messiah.

Could scripture possibly resonate with us today?  Civil unrest.  Political uncertainty.  Rebellion.  Foreign occupancy.  War abroad and the threat of war at home.  Natural disaster.  Neighbor against neighbor. Tension between world powers. Exploitation? Greed?

After all, one needs not look too far to find an awful lot of darkness in the world.  A world of people who daily experience loss, uncertainty, exile, anxiety, voicelessness, persecution, oppression.  Could it be that some 2000 years later we too are hungry for the message of hope?

Often the temptation is to think of waiting as only for the Lord’s return.  And the frustrating part is that everyday that passes by is another day waiting on the Lord.  Another day spent preparing for his arrival.  

...Here’s the good news.  And honestly, it might sound a bit frustrating, but it is good news none-the-less.  And good thing we have the freedom in Christ to wrestle with it.  

Friends, we live in the beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ. In God’s time, we participate in, live in, experience and witness to the beginning of the good news.    

2nd Peter pierces through the parallels, “But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day.  The Lord is not slow about the Lord’s promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with us, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance.”  

Peter writes to say that we are in God’s time, not our own.  Worry not that God will return, but rather worry about leading lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God...we wait for new heavens and a new earth, That IS the culmination.  That is where righteousness is at home.

In the meantime we participate in the beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the son of God.  Every day in the promise of the Lord is a new beginning.  Every new day we are gifted with the opportunity to witness to hope in Christ, to proclaim the good news of Jesus.

And perhaps the long delay in Christ’s return is really God’s gracious way of demonstrating patience; saying to us, wait in penitence and hope.  Strive to be found by the Lord in peace, without spot or blemish, and regard patience of our Lord as salvation.

Our call this day and every new day is to be people of God, people washed in the water, people who witness to hope.  People who exude hope in the promise of God.  To shine a light in the darkness of the world.  To give voice to the voiceless.  To act for justice and peace, and defend and advocate for the oppressed.  

Sometimes waiting even looks like confession and repentance for the forgiveness of sin.  Hope empowers confession and forgiveness.  Repentance reveals hope.

So Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight, For in God’s time, this is only the beginning.

© Pastor Daniel Locke Dec. 10, 2017, St. Mark's Lutheran Jacksonville, FL