Texts in Context | Imagining the Texts -- First Lesson;  Epistle;  Gospel
Prayer&Litanies | Hymns & Songs | Children's Sermons | Sermons based on Texts

• Repent, and Believe in the Good News, Mark 1:40-45   (see below)
  Rev. Karen A. Goltz
   
• Just Do It, 2 Kings 5:1-14, by Dr. Robert Jack

• Cleanliness is Next to Godliness, Mark 1:40-45, by Rev. Randy L. Quinn 

• Heart of a Champion, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, by Rev. Thomas Hall

• Compassion and Anger, Mark 1:40-45, by DWR
• Reaching Out in Solidarity,  Mark 1:40-45, Susan in San Pedro

Valentines Day Sermons:

• What’s Love Got to Do With It?, a message based on Valentine's Day; John 13:34-35; Mat 5:23-24
• St. Valentine, Matthew 17:1-9, by HW in HI
• more Valentine's resources

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Repent, and Believe in the Good News
based on Mark 1:40-45
Rev. Karen A. Goltz

            “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” (Mark 1:15)  It was with these words that Jesus began his ministry early in the first chapter of Mark.  But what does it mean?  What time?  How has it been fulfilled?  How has the kingdom of God come near?  What does it look like?  Repent from what?  And believe in the good news?  What is this good news that we’re supposed to believe in?  That the kingdom of God has come near?  We’ve already pointed out the problem with that.  So what are we supposed to do with all this?

            If I seem a little frenetic right now, it’s because I am.  Mark’s gospel does this to me: for five of the last six weeks the lectionary has had us in Mark, and we’re not even out of the first chapter yet!  First Jesus was baptized in the Jordan by John the Baptist, then we took a quick jump over to John’s gospel to see him call Philip and Nathanael.  Then back to Mark’s gospel, where we find out that John the Baptist has been arrested, and Jesus begins his ministry in Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”  As he’s passing along the sea of Galilee he sees Simon and Andrew, then also James and John.  Now hold onto your seats because as soon as he sees them he calls them, and they immediately drop what they’re doing and follow him.

            From there they go straight to Capernaum, and on the Sabbath they enter the synagogue where Jesus begins to teach in such a way that astounds everyone, and even casts out a demon from their midst.  And at once his fame begins to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.  Now as soon as they leave the synagogue, they enter the house of Simon, where they at once tell Jesus about Simon’s sick mother in law, whom he heals.

            Then that very evening at sundown, the whole city gathers around the door to the house, hoping to be healed.  And he does indeed heal many, well into the night.  Just a few hours later, while it’s still dark, Jesus goes off by himself to pray.  Before he’s there long his disciples find him, and he tells them it’s time to move on, that there’s work to do elsewhere.  So they go and continue proclaiming the gospel throughout Galilee.

            And then a leper finds him and begs him, saying, “If you choose, you can make me clean.”  And moved with either pity or anger—the Greek isn’t clear which—Jesus says, “I do choose.  Be made clean.”  And immediately the leper is healed.  And at once Jesus sends him away with a stern warning, which the leper ignores, and Jesus is forced into the countryside because of his fame, but even in the wilderness people come to him from every quarter.

            Did you follow all that?  That’s chapter one.

            One thing Mark’s gospel is clear about: Jesus is on a mission, and he doesn’t have any time to waste.  His mission we know: he’s already told us.  Last week we heard him say, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the good news there also; for that is what I came out to do.” (Mark 1:38)  And that lines up well with how he began his ministry: with the words, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”  And back at the beginning we are, and round and round we go, and don’t you just love circular arguments so early on a Sunday morning?

            But the urgency of Jesus’ message should tell us something.  The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near.  It’s here now!  Things are different today than they were yesterday.  The waiting is over!  God’s kingdom has broken out of the constraints of heaven and is flooding over the earth as we speak!  Come on, come on, there’s no time to waste!  [continue]