We are now reading the “showing and telling” of the story of Jesus by Mark, who is also like an excited child, spilling out the facts in rapid fire, so you will know Jesus and be excited with him!

Intro…Eugene Peterson…The Message:

“Mark wastes no time in getting down to business–a single sentence introduction, and not a digression to be found from beginning to end. An even has taken place that radically changes the way we look at and experience the world, and he can’t wait to tell us about it. There’s an air of breathless excitement in nearly every sentence he writes. The sooner we get the message, the better off we’ll be, for the message is good, incredibly good: God is here, and he’s on our side.”

“God is here right now, and on our side, actively seeking to help us in the way we most need help–this qualifies as news! For, common as belief in God is , there is also an enormous amount of guesswork and gossip surrounding the subject, which results in runaway superstition, anxiety, and exploitation. So Mark, understandably, is in a hurry to tell us what happened in the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus–the Event that reveals the truth of God to us, so that we can live in reality and not illusion. He doesn’t want us to waste a minute of these precious lives of ours ignorant of this most practical of all matters–that God is passionate to save us!”

Even Mark’s opening words exude excitement…”The good news of Jesus Christ–The Message!–begins here, following to the letter the scroll of the prophet Isaiah.” (Mark 1:1, The Message)

Dear Heavenly Father, Restore and joy of our salvation that brings sheer pleasure and excitement as we read Your Word according to what You gave Mark to tell. Then help us boldly tell it, too…with the same excitement in knowing that YOU are on our side. Life is, indeed, all about You and Your story of saving us.
In Jesus Name, Amen! I believe. I will tell it!