The Blog of E. Dale Nixon

Mark 1:15 (New International Version)  —   ¹⁵“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”

Mark 1:15 (The Message)  —  ¹⁵ “Time’s up! God’s kingdom is here. Change your life and believe the Message.”

Mark 1:15 (The Latest EbenDale Version)  —  ¹⁵“The time is now! God’s kingdom is here … put your right hand in and shake it all about….

While Jesus was talking about peace and reconciliation, turning the other cheek, walking an extra mile and other similar issues, one has to eventually wonder how we ever get so wrapped up in things like war, a hostile take-over or fighting among ourselves, suing one another and other similar issues; as if the teachings of Jesus apply only in theory, or individually at best –– especially to those individuals for whom these values don’t (yet) negatively effect their quality of life. But is that what Jesus really meant? (really?)

Well, let’s just get it out in the open: although Jesus’ message was meant to be understood personally, it was never intended to be understood as a private message. What kind of Good News would that be? How is it really Good News if it isn’t shared openly? And what good is a message that doesn’t make any difference in the quality of peoples’ lives?

Let’s get this straight here in the beginning; Jesus called his message the “Gospel,” a word that commonly referred to imperial  proclamations, usually about something that would change everyone’s life for the better. That kind of background gives the “Good News” Jesus was proclaiming a very strong political context. So, notice in the brief history of the Hebrew people, that it is dominated by captivity, defeat, exile and occupation by foreign governance.

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~2000 BC — Abraham–Isaac–Jacob–Joseph–

– Egyptian Captivity — Moses — Exodus — Land of Promise –

~1000 BC — Saul — David — Solomon == Kingdom United

– Kingdom Divided —  Assyrian Conquest/Exile (721 BC) —  Babylonian occupation/Exile (586 BC) – Greek occupation (333 BC) – Roman occupation (63 BC) –

~1 AD — Jesus –

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So, Mark begins his story with the ministry of John the Baptist, and it is quite literally surrounded [or bracketed] by the notion of this Gospel/Good News, (cf. vs.1 & vs.14).  Furthermore, the simplicity of Jesus’ message is as personally incredible as it is politically revolutionary…. and, in all honesty, the Gospel Jesus shares doesn’t add up to any kind of addition to, or extension of, the religious rituals of Judaism –– and it certainly doesn’t lend itself to what would eventually become the megalithic religiosity of institutionalized Christianity…Jesus is simply teaching people how to live in ways that honor our creator, God.

Image what would happen if everyone began to live The Way Jesus says the Kingdom of God is.