“Mark’s Christmas”
About that time, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. While he was coming up out of the water, Jesus saw heaven splitting open and the Spirit, like a dove, coming down on him. And there was a voice from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I dearly love; in you I find happiness.”… After John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee announcing God’s good news, saying, “Now is the time! Here comes God’s kingdom! Change your hearts and lives, and trust this good news!” -Mark 1:9-11, 14-15
As it is December, and we’re in the midst of Christmas, I wanted to share with you this wonderful Christmas passage! No, I didn’t insert the wrong passage from the wrong Gospel. This is the Christmas story! It’s just not the one we’re most familiar with. It’s not the one we decorate our mantle or altar with, and it’s not going to be illustrated on too many Christmas cards. So…how is it a Christmas story?
Strictly speaking, it’s not a Christmas story…at least not in the traditional sense. To be clear, only the Gospels of Matthew and Luke tell us anything about Jesus’ birth, and even with those two Gospels, Matthew’s focus is primarily on the coming of the Magi. It’s in Luke that we – along with Charles Shultz (“Peanuts”) – find the shepherds, a room-less inn, a manger, and the heavenly hosts. So, what are Mark and John up to?
John, while a wonderful Gospel, opted for a beginning that is a bit more poetic: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…” Again, it’s amazing and full of good news, but not necessarily a description of Grandma’s favorite nativity set.
And then, there’s Mark. Mark begins his Gospel with the Baptism of Jesus. Mark takes a running start and jumps over about 30 years of Jesus’ life. Is it because Mark doesn’t like shepherds or has something against Bethlehem? Not at all! Mark just sees the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist as the start of Jesus’ real life. Mark starts with the baptism as his way of saying, “it is HERE that we discover the Lordship of Jesus. Sure, the manger, shepherd, angels, and all were important, but it’s in the baptism that we discover that Jesus really is Lord – the Messiah.” For Mark, the proverbial “birth story” is found in the proclamation that Jesus is God’s son. Not as cute, but just as meaningful!
Okay, if that sounds way too nerdy, it’s okay. I am nerdy, so your thinking is on point! But this nerdy stuff gets really cool!
I promise…
In Mark 1:15, right after his baptism, Jesus enters the region of the Galilee and begins to shout (kind of like the town crier), “Now is the time! Here comes God’s kingdom! Change your hearts and lives, and trust this good news!” Once again, to put it in other words, “God is present! The incarnation of God is here! It’s time to straighten up and fly right! Sounds kind of Christmasy, doesn’t it? Jesus, the incarnation of God, is born into the world, not in the way the world expects, but in precisely the way the world needs!
Now, don’t get me wrong, I still love a good nativity scene, and the image of baby Jesus lying in a feeding trough – it’s important! But this Christmas, I’d love to start a new tradition. Just as we’re getting ready to sing “Joy to the world” on Christmas Eve, I want to close my eyes and imagine that Jesus is walking into the sanctuary, all while shouting, “Now is the time! Here comes God’s Kingdom! Change your hearts and lives, and trust in this good news.”
Mark’s Christmas might be just what we need this year.
Peace,
Pastor Brian
Pastor Brian
