The Beginning of the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God (Mark 1:1-5)

The Beginning of the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God (Mark 1:1-5)

What is truly good news to us? In our lives, joyful news might be things like graduation, getting a job, getting married, having a baby, receiving a promotion, or retiring. Even going on a trip can bring a lot of happiness. But the problem is, all of that happiness is temporary.

So, what is the good news that lasts forever? It is the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. People tend to think that happiness or unhappiness depends on circumstances, wealth, or fame. But that’s not the case. Nothing on this earth can fully satisfy us. Why? Because we are spiritual beings created in the image and likeness of God. Physical and mental pleasures can’t fill that space. It’s not hard to check this in our own lives.

It may seem like everything in life ends with death. But that’s not true. There is a kingdom of heaven that never perishes. If that were a lie, then “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied” (1 Corinthians 15:19).

Our years on earth are limited—“Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures” (Psalm 90:10). Life is like a morning mist, like the flower of the grass.

That’s why our life on earth is actually preparation for entering the eternal kingdom of heaven. Everyone is invited to the heavenly kingdom—but not everyone enters. The way into the kingdom is through the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

The Beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ

“The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God” (Mark 1:1).

After the final prophet of the Old Testament, Malachi, there was 400 years of silence—no word from God. Then, at last, that silence was broken. But the message that came was unlike any other: it was the coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. This fulfilled God’s promises given to Adam, Abraham, David, and the prophets.

God’s plan of salvation started immediately after the fall of Adam—this is the Adamic Covenant (Genesis 3:15). That promise is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who came to earth in the flesh.

Why must the Christ be the Son of God?

Because the Son of God is equal with God—He is God (John 1:1). All have fallen short of the glory of God, which means only Christ, the sinless Son of God, can cleanse humanity from sin. This truth is foreshadowed in the Old Testament sacrificial system, which required the shedding of animal blood. However, that blood was only a shadow—a temporary symbol pointing to the true and perfect sacrifice: the blood of the Son of God, which cleanses sin once for all.

Now, the wholesome gospel of salvation has begun here. And it means that everyone—yes, even the saints of the Old Testament—are saved through Jesus Christ. Abraham and David, just like us in the 21st century, are saved by grace through Christ.

So then, why is the gospel of Jesus Christ the true way to salvation?

Because in this world, truth is often mixed with lies. So many cults and false religions have deceived people and destroyed lives. The world falsely and boldly proclaims that money, power, and fame will save us. Others suggest that peace can be found through health or meditation. But if these things were true paths to salvation, then we wouldn’t need the gospel of Christ.

But we cannot call anything “salvation” if it leads to ruin. Even those with wealth and status cannot satisfy their soul, because human desire never ends. At the end of the day, the spirit remains dry and weary.

On the other hand, even someone who has nothing—like our Lord Jesus—can lack nothing. That is real salvation. Jesus always dwells in the Father, and all power, authority, and glory belong to Him.

The psalmist says:

“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing” (Psalm 23:1).

Paul says:

“Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything” (2 Corinthians 6:10).

So salvation comes only from the Creator God. To save us from our sins, He gave us His Son, Jesus Christ. That is the beginning of the gospel—the good news of great joy for all people.

John the Baptist, the Forerunner

2 as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way”—3 “a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” 4 And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. (Mark 1:2-5)

Mark begins his Gospel by quoting the prophet Isaiah. He tells us that someone was sent ahead to prepare the way for Jesus Christ, the Son of God. That person was John the Baptist.

How do we trust Mark’s quote of Isaiah’s prophecy? Because, as 2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All Scripture is God-breathed.” God gave the prophetic word about Jesus’ coming seven hundred years before it happened, and Mark is testifying that this prophecy was fulfilled.

John the Baptist and Mark lived around the same time. John preached in the wilderness, giving a powerful message that the kingdom of heaven had come near, and he baptized people in the Jordan River. Eventually, he was martyred by Herod. Mark may have learned about John through Peter or even witnessed these things himself. Either way, he bears witness by faith.

John's mission was to prepare the way for the Lord. He preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. This clearly shows that forgiveness comes before salvation. Without forgiveness, even wealth, power, or influence can only make life temporarily easier, but they can’t lead to eternal salvation.

So, what is sin? Sin is any thought or action that says we can live without God. It’s when we try to take God’s place and decide for ourselves what’s good and evil. Why is that wrong? Because only God is truly good. We are not made to live without God and can’t tell the right from wrong on our own. We have to relate to God to discern the right from wrong.

Take Genesis 4, for example. Adam had two sons—Cain and Abel. Both brought offerings to God, but God accepted Abel’s and not Cain’s. Cain got angry and jealous. Then God said:

6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” (Genesis 4:6–7)

But Cain ignored God’s warning and killed his brother Abel (Genesis 4:8). Instead of trusting God’s judgment, he acted on his own, and committed murder. That’s the root of sin—rejecting God’s goodness and choosing our own way.

John the Baptist’s ministry fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy.

Isaiah 40:3–5 says:

3 A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. 5 And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

In the dry, barren desert—symbolizing the thirsty and broken condition of people's hearts—he preached a message to prepare the way for Jesus. Valleys, hills, rough and rugged places all represent wounds, pains, pride, and confusion in human hearts. John's role was to make those hearts ready to receive the coming Christ, the Son of God.

He called out to hurting, thirsty, searching people: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” And those who came to him confessed their sins and were baptized. As Matthew 3:5–6 says:

“5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.”

John's message was powerful and straightforward. When he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming, he didn’t hold back:

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Matthew 3:7–10)

John’s urgent message pierced the hearts of those who were spiritually dry. Even though they had the Scriptures, their worship had become mechanical. But now they were responding to this urgent message of salvation. Even tax collectors and soldiers came to hear and receive it.

John’s message had urgency: unless people received Jesus, the Savior, they couldn’t escape God’s coming judgment. It was a loving but urgent warning, especially for those who assumed that simply being Abraham’s descendants guaranteed salvation.

This is God’s loving voice to all people—especially believers. Scripture clearly says who will not inherit God’s kingdom:

9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9–10)

God desires fruit in our lives—the fruit of forgiveness and love, of faith, peace, and gentleness. Jesus once cursed a fig tree that had leaves but no fruit. When the disciples saw it withered from the roots, they were shocked. But Jesus was showing that an appearance of godliness without true fruit is judged.

Then He said:

22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23 “Trul y I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” (Mark 11:22–25)

Jesus made it clear in the parables of the ten virgins and the talents that when the Lord returns, He will look to see whether we have borne the fruit that God desires.

What is that fruit?

The fruit of someone who believes in God is love and forgiveness. And who’s the hardest person to forgive? Usually the one closest to us—because we know their weaknesses best. But today’s message reminds us that forgiving, accepting, and loving those close to us is urgent. Forgiving someone requires faith strong enough to move mountains. When we do, God’s kingdom enters our hearts.

This is the grace and blessing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Amen!

June 8, 2025
Buffalo Livingstone Church ©2025, David Lee Ministries ©2025 – All Rights Reserved.
Scripture quotes are from the NIV.