In June of this year I started a new job. I went from being the boss in my own financial practice to working under a boss in his. I went from choosing my daily duties and routines to submitting to duties and routines assigned to me. It meant a surrender of my way of doing things in order to come under the authority of another. This transition has formed a picture for me of what Mark meant when he opened his gospel talking about the “good news.”
In our world today, gospel is primarily used to mean “good news” in a religious sort of way. To a Roman audience, gospel (euangelion in the Greek) was contextually robust. It meant a new king and a new kingdom. It meant new laws, new leaders, and a new way of life. This first verse in the gospel of Mark would have been controversial by itself because it was an announcement of the arrival of a new king, Jesus.
This gospel message carries the same controversy and authority as it did for the original audience. The call is to surrender our old allegiances to self and to every idol we worship — money, superiority over others, political affiliation, pride, and more.
At home, at work, and in every aspect of life, let us submit to Jesus’ authority.
Heavenly Father, I am prone to build allegiances to things other than you. Would you show me my misplaced allegiances and do your work in me to help me know and love Jesus more? Amen.
Go Deeper — As you go through your day, be conscious of the things you have yet to submit to God’s authority. Tonight, pray about that, embracing his authority over your life as good news.
Photo Credit: Hakan Hu