Scripture: Mark 1:1
The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Thought for the Day: You’ll often hear people say Christianity is a religion about spiritual matters, and not about social or political issues. There is nothing further from the truth, for the opening words of Mark’s Gospel are a call to a radical revolution against the Roman Empire. The language of this one verse is not original to the Gospel writer. Long before Jesus, it was used by the Roman Emperor to describe himself. Good News (Gospel) was used to describe the military imposed Pax Romana (Peace of Rome). Of course, this peace was extended only to a Roman citizen. With the birth of Jesus, the angels declared divine peace as being extended beyond the boundaries defined by humanity. Caesar described himself as the Son of God, Savior and Lord, yet when those words became connected to Jesus, their meaning was dramatically altered. Even the word used in the book of Acts to describe the church was the same term used to describe the cult gatherings for Emperor worship. The Biblical stories of Jesus and the early church dramatically defy the violent authority of the Empire. The Christian message as recorded in the Gospel of Mark is one of peaceful revolution that looked to bring down the empire of violence through an alternative method, including the redefining of the Emperor’s own language.
Prayer: O Lord of life and love, you have created a divine conspiracy against those who have used cruelty and violence to maintain their power. May I find the courage to speak grace where grace is unwelcome. Amen.
This Wednesday
Both daytime and evening classes
