Once John has been removed from Galilee, Jesus takes his
place center stage in Mark’s story.
He is an angellos
(see Thursday, week one, to refresh your memory), but not an angellos of the ruling authorities. He
hasn’t come with a trumpeter or an edict from the emperor. He has come alone, with
the edict of God. He comes proclaiming a new world order, to which the whole
world must bend its will.
Make no mistake. Jesus’ proclamation is not about sin. It’s
not about spiritual righteousness. It’s not about guilt, shame, or right
religion. It’s not about asking God to cleanse our auras and put a right spirit
within us. It’s not even about individuals. Jesus’ proclamation is about
empire. It’s about world order. It’s about everyone, altogether. Mark writes
about Jesus using empire language and puts a message of empire proclamation in
his mouth.
“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come
near; repent, and believe in the euagellion.”
Believe not in the messages heralded by trumpeter’s and announced from unrolled
scrolls from Caesar. Believe not in taxes, control, force, or earthly rule of
any kind.
Jesus calls people to bend their wills on their own. Away
from Caesar. Away from Herod. Away from Pilate. Away from them and toward
someone else. The empire of God, which trumps the Roman Empire, and all other
empires, is near.
Jesus’ ministry is a ministry of proclamation. He hasn’t
come to teach, or heal, or cast out unclean spirits. He has come to proclaim.
He will reiterate that. He has come to tell everyone to align their loyalties with
the One who just split the heavens open.
Text for the day:
Things to think
about:
Jesus has come to proclaim, and not to teach or heal. What
do you think of that?
How much power and promise do proclamation hold?
How much authority do you give to earthly authorities?
Which parts are appropriate and which are inappropriate?
Have you relegated Jesus to the spiritual realm?
Things to do:
Spend some time in prayer for the world’s political
leaders, especially the ones you don’t like.
Spend some time in prayer for those who suffer at the hands
of political powers.
Jesus
Christ, proclaim the euangellion to all the world.
No comments:
Post a Comment