Jesus is

Today’s Gospel Text:  Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching 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."

16 And passing along by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men." 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19 And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zeb'edee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 And immediately he called them; and they left their father Zeb'edee in the boat with the hired servants, and followed him. Mark 1:14-20

Reflection: What Gospel did Jesus preach when he himself is the gospel (good news)?

While preaching the gospel did he preach about himself to the people or was it just a message or some moral or philosophical thought?

The gospel narrative does not explain or give us much in detail about the actual content of Jesus’ preaching except that he proclaimed thus: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel."

We need to first understand that the gospel message cannot be separated from the person of Christ and there is no such thing as ‘gospel values’ if it is separated from the person of Christ.

Jesus Christ is the good news for men of all ages; he is the one who saves us if we acknowledge our sinfulness, our limitations and our weaknesses and turn to him in order to trust him. 

In other words, he is God's plan of salvation for humanity and his sacrificial death on the cross is a proof and assurance. 

Hence he is the one who has to be proclaimed as the savior of mankind and in whom alone men find their salvation. 

Thus in Jesus’ proclamation we find clear indications of him announcing his very  presence as the good news of salvation when he affirms that the kingdom of God is at hand.  

In order to find that salvation one need only to express and live by that aspect of faith which communicates hope and by living in that sure hope, which transforms us, is our salvation attained. 

From this we know that this good news was first proclaimed to Adam after the fall and it is his belief and hope in this saving message that was his salvation: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel." Gen 3:15

Prayer: My God I hope in your salvation above all things, may I never be ashamed to proclaim you as the Lord and savior. 

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