MARK - My Words

 

A meditation from the account by Mark of the life of Jesus.

We start at the beginning. 

Many years prior to these events, it was recorded by Isaiah that a messenger would come to ‘prepare the way’, as a ‘voice in the wilderness’, a foretelling of something incredible.

So John arrived, urging people to commit themselves to goodness, and to honour the Creator.  He went to all people urging them to sort out their wrongdoing and commit themselves to the way of love.

John looked strange.  He wore rough clothing and survived off handouts.  Many people were in awe, but he stopped them, saying

“I am not worthy to shake the hand of the one who is to come.  I convince you with my words.  The one who comes will convince you with the authority of the Creator”.

And so a man named Jesus, of Nazareth, came to John and asked him to commit his own life to the Eternal One.  Jesus entered the waters of the river Jordan, and as he rose out of the water, a dove flew down from the sky and settled on his head.  A voice was heard saying…

“This is my child, the one I love.  I delight in him.”

After this, Jesus went off alone for forty days into a remote part where he was challenged and tested in every way.

Soon after this, John was arrested and imprisoned.  Jesus himself began mixing with people, speak the same message as John, about the need to turn toward good, and commit to the Creator’s ways. 

Jesus was near the lake of Galilee when a group of fishermen saw him.  Simon and Andrew knew that Jesus was offering them a better life.  And Jesus said, ‘people’ not ‘fish’ would be their prize.

James and John were next.  With their father Zebedee’s blessing, they too join the gang.

The only time that exists is the split second of existence right now.  All else is past and future. 

In the past this story was spoken about.  Many people knew what was to come, and that it would catch fire and burn.  It would rise up for a moment before being rudely snuffed out.  After three day there would be an almighty explosion.  Nothing would be the same after that.  The fire would spread across the globe.  This would be an eternal flame.  It would be a portent of even greater things to come. 

People did not really know what to expect.  Over the years the image of what to come was greatly distorted.  Strange interpretations of the one to come were discussed.  Those in authority really did not have a clue.  But the weirdo John did.  Even though this Jesus was his slightly younger cousin, John knew that Jesus had something that was unique.  John's parent's had known from the the children's infancy.  

Jesus committed himself to the Creator.  John knew that this was a paradox.  This was like a child being adopted into their own birth family.  And a dove descended.  A real dove, something everyone could see.  And a voice was heard saying "this is my child, with whom I delight."

We are adopted into this family.  The Creator, once estranged, is now our legal guardian.  Just as I delight in my children, the Creator delights in me and you.