The Beginning of the Gospel

Mark opens his account with simple yet profound words: “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mark 1:1). In this single verse, we find the heart of the Christian message—the source, the focus, and the goal of our faith.

A Gospel Rooted in History

The Gospel of Mark was written in the perilous days of the Roman Empire, during Nero’s reign. Christians were accused of setting fire to Rome, hunted down, and slaughtered for sport in the circus arenas. In the midst of such suffering, John Mark, companion of Peter, recorded the apostle’s eyewitness memories of Jesus’ life and ministry. What he gave the church was not rumor or speculation, but the Spirit-inspired testimony of Christ’s words and works.

Mark’s first word, “beginning” (Greek: arche), echoes the opening of Genesis. Just as the world began with God’s creative word, so the story of new creation begins with the Word made flesh. This gospel account is not merely history but the dawn of redemption—God breaking into the chaos of sin with the light of salvation.

The Good News of Victory

The word gospel means “good news,” but it is more than pleasant information—it is news that brings joy, news that changes lives. In the Roman world, evangelion was used for announcements of military victories or imperial decrees. In Israel’s scriptures, the Hebrew word basar carried the same sense of glad tidings, often tied to God’s deliverance of His people (Isaiah 61:1; Psalm 40:9).

Mark declares that the true victory does not belong to Rome or its emperors, but to Jesus Christ, the suffering Servant and risen Lord. His good news is not about fleeting conquests but about eternal redemption. It is the message for which Peter, Paul, and the early church willingly gave their lives.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God

The gospel is centered not on ideas or philosophies but on a person: Jesus Christ. His name means “the Lord saves,” and His title declares Him to be the Anointed One—the Messiah who fulfills the Law and the Prophets.

Mark adds the title “Son of God” to make plain that Jesus is not merely a teacher or prophet. He is the eternal Son, sent by the Father, anointed with the Spirit, and given to be both Priest and Sacrifice for the sins of the world. In Him, God has drawn near. He is both transcendent Lord and immanent Savior, the One who washes away our sin and restores us to fellowship with the Father.

The Endgame of the Gospel

Why does Mark write? Why does the church continue to proclaim this gospel today? The purpose is clear:

• To glorify the Author of redemption.

• To proclaim the grace, mercy, and justice of God.

• To invite every hearer to surrender to their Creator and Redeemer.

The beginning of the gospel is not just the start of a story long past—it is the opening of a reality that continues to transform lives today. The same Jesus Christ who walked the roads of Galilee, who suffered under Pontius Pilate, who was crucified, risen, and exalted, is the Savior who calls us now.

A Call for Today

As we study this Gospel, may the Lord transform us as He transformed those first disciples. May we hear afresh the glad tidings of victory in Christ. And may we, like Mark’s first audience, find courage to confess Him as Lord in a world still hostile to His name.