Prayer: O God, help us share your Good News with those we meet, in Christ. Amen.
Mark, Evangelist
(Adapted from Christ in Our Home – daily devotions)
14 Now after John (John the Baptist) was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the good news of God 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”
Today the church calendar remembers the Apostle Mark. Mark’s gospel is very fast paced and in fifteen short verses covers the basics of the gospel beginning with John the Baptist, Jesus’ baptism, the testing in the wilderness, and start of Jesus’ ministry.
Mark’s gospel urgently teaches the important facts of Jesus’ coming; that He was the Messiah proclaimed in the scriptures and by John the Baptist, and the importance of having a personal relationship with Jesus. In Mark’s gospel we are also called to proclaim the good news of God’s kingdom and Jesus as the source of life that we are to share with our neighbors.
Who among us knows just how to talk about Jesus to others? Isn’t it time we learned? I confess that it is a hard thing to do, but we call upon God to give us courage to share with the urgency of Mark and John the Babtist.
Prayer: “God of good news, help us be witnesses of your gospel to our neighbors. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Mark 1:1-15
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Proclamation of John the Baptist
1 The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ.
2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,
“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way,
3 the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
make his paths straight,’ ”
4 so John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And the whole Judean region and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him and were baptized by him in the River Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of his sandals. 8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
The Baptism of Jesus
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove upon him. 11 And a voice came from the heavens, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”
The Testing of Jesus
12 And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13 He was in the wilderness forty days, tested by Satan, and he was with the wild beasts, and the angels waited on him.
The Beginning of the Galilean Ministry
14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the good news of God 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”
Gary's Devotion Comments 
My paternal grandmother spent countless hours reading the Bible to me, from my earliest recollection, teaching me about all God would have us know. She encouraged me to embrace in my own daily life, and to share with anyone and everyone, the things I learned from this sacred book. I am forever grateful to her for that teaching.