David Bahn – Reflections

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Today’s readings are Mark 1-2; Psalm 1. I hope you will join me in reading these passages.

Mark 1:1-15

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

² As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,

“Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
    who will prepare your way,
³ the voice of one crying in the wilderness:
    ‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
    make his paths straight,’”

⁴ John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵ And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. ⁶ Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. ⁷ And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. ⁸ I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

⁹ In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. ¹⁰ And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. ¹¹ And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

¹² The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. ¹³ And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.

¹⁴ Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, ¹⁵ and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

I may pick back up with the 49 week challenge next year (2027), but since we are reading the Bible together at St. John, I thought I would join in that process and use readings from the Follow the Word reading plan we’ll be using as a church this year. So here’s my reflections on the reading for day 1, January 1, 2026.

I can’t help but think of one of my favorite Movies, Sound of Music, and sing, “Let’s start at the very beginning…” Maria is teaching the Von Trapp children to sing. It’s a delightful scene, ending with an astounding rendition of “Do a deer…”

Mark’s beginning of the gospel [good news] of Jesus Christ, Son of God begins not only with his identity as the Son of God, but also with a call back to a 750-year-old prophecy of the coming of God’s messenger who will prepare the way for Jesus’ coming. John comes on the scene and declares that Jesus will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire – abundant grace poured out in power, and a fire that both cleanses and judges. John recognizes that he is not worthy to untie Jesus’ sandals – Jesus is that great. That from the one of whom Jesus will say there is no one greater than John in the kingdom of heaven!

Jesus does come and helps us to understand the nature of the Good News. He announces that the time has come. This is an historic moment – a defining moment in the history of the world and of the kingdom of God. It is such because the reign and rule of God is at hand.

It is remarkable that Mark ties Jesus’ inaugural message – the kingdom of God is at hand – with the imprisonment of John the baptist. God’s reign and rule is mysterious, complex, and elegant all at once. It is also not dependent on outward circumstances. Wherever Jesus is present there is the reign and rule of God. And in the face of this terrible miscarriage of justice, Jesus comes and proclaims that God reigns.

He then tells us how that is really to happen. It happens when men and women repent and believe the gospel. In the face of sin, injustice, suffering, guilt, and shame stands Jesus. He is the embodiment of the good news of God.

Repentance is a life-long every-day process. Luther says, “When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ called men to repent, he meant that the entire life of the believer should be one of repentance.” The fullness of repentance is not only sorrow for sin, but faith in the goodness, mercy, love, and grace of God in Jesus.

This is the beginning and the end of the Good News: The kingdom of God is at hand when Jesus is present, and we must repent and believe this good news.