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EASTER – IT REALLY IS GOOD NEWS!
I have just re-read the Gospel of Mark in one sitting, mainly because I was preparing for my Lent sermon series on Jesus. But I was also prompted by an interesting lecture I heard on Shrove Tuesday at the London School of Theology in Northwood, and in response to Bryan Wadland’s suggestion to do so in his Ash Wednesday sermon. It took me about 2 hours; it could have been less, but I did stop to ponder quite a few things en route.
 The word gospel comes from the Old English god-spell, meaning good news or glad tidings. Mark compiled his gospel to tell the story of the good news of Jesus. We are not accustomed to much good news in the papers, the 10 o’clock news or the BBC website, so the old adage that ‘no news is good news’ too often seems right. However, Mark, along with fellow gospel writers Matthew, Luke and John, all believed there was such a thing as good news and that it was worth telling.
Despite appearing second in the New Testament, Mark is widely thought to be the first of the four to have written his Gospel. (Just to confuse us, New Testament books are not in chronological order - the writings of St Paul are believed to be the earliest of all.) The nearest St Paul gets to writing a ‘gospel’ is in Romans, although his letters to the churches of various lands do focus on the good news of the death and resurrection of Jesus as the means of being forgiven, restored in our relationship to God and given new life.
As we move towards Easter this month, we are heading towards the events that are the focus of all four Gospels and the writings of St Paul – the good news that under the cover of defeat on the cross, God achieved His great work of saving the world. What appeared as defeat was in fact victory. And when Christ rose again, He demonstrated that neither the sin He bore on behalf of the world, nor physical death, could defeat Him. We might be defeated by sin and death, but through faith in Christ, we can share His victory. Now that is good news!
God bless you this Easter, Adrian
DROP-IN FOR THE BEREAVED. Third Monday of each month. St Giles’ Church Hall, 2pm to 3.30pm. A friendly, informal opportunity for a chat, over a cup of tea, with other bereaved people and bereavement visitors. The next meeting is on Monday 18th March (then Monday 15th April). Just come along, or ring the Rectory (622970) if you would like to talk to someone first. |
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