What is The Gospel? One word: Jesus.

“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” Mark 1:15 NIV

Key points

May our experience of the height, depth and riches of Jesus encourage us to pursue more and more of his Good News for the whole world.
Listen to ‘The Gospel According to the Gospels’ Real Hope series and others on the Hope 103.2 app, at Real Hope | The Podcast or wherever you get your podcasts.
Hear more from Ben McEachen in his brand-new podcast of the same name ‘The Gospel According to the Gospels’, where he expands even further on these themes.

One word: Jesus.

Peter Bolt is Director of Academic Strategy, and Director of the Centre for Gospels and Acts Research at Sydney College of Divinity.

He also is an author, including several books on Mark’s Gospel.

Peter is happy to use only one word to distill “what is The Gospel?”

However, as he discussed during our The Gospel According to The Gospels episode, there is so much contained within that all-important word: Jesus.

For example, read Mark’s Gospel in one sitting.

May our experience of the height, depth and riches of Jesus encourage us to pursue more and more of his Good News for the whole world.

Peter reckons it will take us about “a tall drink of water” to get through.

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As you connect with this account of Jesus’ teachings, miracles, death and resurrection, notice its pace and focus.

Why are there so many references to “immediately” during the first half?

How does this make you feel about what you are reading?

And after such a rapid start, why does the second half of Mark’s Gospel decelerate and dwell upon Jesus’ final week on earth?

The first words of Jesus recorded in Mark are a terrific encapsulation of the content and consequences of The Gospel (Mark 1:15).

Peter knows that the kingdom of God, repentance and belief are huge subjects which any of us will struggle to survey across our lifetime.

But our experience of the height, depth and riches of Jesus should only encourage us to pursue more and more of his good news for the whole world.

Decades down the track since responding in repentance and belief, Peter still is moved by and passionate about the life-changing difference Jesus has had upon him.

How about you? What does the drawing near of the kingdom of God mean to you?

Listen to this episode of Real Hope | The Podcast in the player above, on the Hope 103.2 app or wherever you get your podcasts.