Mark: Jesus is King
At City Church we have been talking about what it means to be “always growing” in Christ. For a Christian this continual growth always comes from the gospel–the good news that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to rescue, redeem, and restore us.
If the “gospel” is a word that you’ve heard but never fully understood, Tim Keller offers a good definition:
“A gospel is an announcement of something that has happened in history, something that’s been done for you that changes your status forever… The gospel is that God connects to you not on the basis of what you’ve done (or haven’t done) but on the basis of what Jesus has done, in history, for you.”
Because of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection for us–a real event in history–our relationship to God can be changed forever.
The New Testament contains four books which are called Gospels; each is an unique telling of the story of Jesus. These gospels are not legends or myths but they are credible, candid accounts passed down through eyewitnesses which tell us about Jesus Christ, God become man to rescue mankind. The Gospels help us see what God has done in history to bring about salvation.
As we seek gospel growth in our life of faith, we must hear and remember what Jesus has done, and so this fall the Women’s Bible Study will explore the Gospel of Mark. The action of the story continuously drives forward with Mark even using words such as “immediately” throughout the book. Mark presents the good news that Jesus is the King, the Messiah, that Israel (and all mankind) has been looking and waiting for and that God is fulfilling his promises through Christ. However, the King Jesus and his Kingdom are not what many were expecting. Rather than coming with military might and dominance, Jesus comes to serve and sacrifice.
As I have read and prepared for Bible Study, it has been refreshing to look to Jesus and to see that he really is the true king that my heart–and the whole world–longs for. He is the King who rights wrongs, heals wounds, and brings joy. He is the true King who is on a mission to establish his kingdom in the world and in my heart. This is good news indeed!
Here are some resources I'm using throughout our study of Mark, if you want to read along...
- Jesus the King: Understanding the Life and Death of the Son of God by Tim Keller
- Mark for Everyone by N.T. Wright
Our fall women's Bible study meets on Wednesday mornings, 9:30am to 11am in room 303 at Grace Covenant. We'll meet weekly through mid-December, taking a break the week of Thanksgiving. Childcare is available for a small fee. Study booklets are $5. For more information, email Meg at meg@citychurchrva.com.