The opening week of every semester brings the need to explain Christianity to a new group of students. But how to do it quickly, efficiently, and effectively? I’ve taken to using the first chapter of the Gospel of Mark…
Narrator’s Introduction:
Mark 1:1-45 The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 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,’”
First off, the Christian message is good news. Why? Hm. Well, we’ll have to talk more about that one. Just file it away for the moment. Next up, Jesus. Affirmed to be Messiah and Son of God. The two titles introduce the idea that Jesus of Nazareth was someone special. What kind of special? Well, his status as messiah links us thru him to all those OT promises. Son of God has its own nuance in Mark, but at this point it identifies Jesus as someone who has a unique relationship with God. That’s the basics, right there.
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