Wellspring
of Joy
Mark 1:14-15
After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
~ Jesus
Pondering Point
Today's celebration, our wellspring of joy, is the good news that we have forgiveness of sins from our Heavenly Father. It might seem odd to highlight this over against the imprisonment (and impending death) of John the Baptist.
The good news that Jesus speaks of in Mark 1 does not point to John the Baptist ending up in prison. It points to what John was (and Jesus now is) proclaiming: Repentance. Through the call to repent, John's role was to prepare people for Jesus' coming as the Messiah (see John 1). Of course, Jesus Himself also called for repenting while proclaiming His good news.
Like John, not everyone responded well to His message. Jesus' detractors figured that killing Jesus would end His movement. But God's kingdom was coming, and nobody could stop it. That same kingdom continues to advance, thanks be to Jesus. You are invited to be a part of it by repenting and believing the good news that, although you are a sinner, Christ died for you so you could be a forgiven child of God.
Prayer for the Day
Father God, teach me to not ignore, minimize or excuse my sins, but instead to repent of them and joyfully believe in the good news that I am forgiven of my sins because of Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.