Quote:
Originally posted by Preach
In Mark 1:14-15, we have a specimen of Jesus' preaching. In v.15, He says to "repent, and belive the Gospel". In v.14, He seems to equate, or relate that to the "kingdom of God".
The Apostle Paul defines "the Gospel" in 1 Corinthians 15 uniquely as 'the death, burial, and resurrection' of Christ.
Question: What did Jesus mean by the term "the Gospel"? Any help/thoughts are appreciated?
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You're onto something, Bobby!
Jesus' content of his teachings were largely based upon "kingdom" language. Recall, Jesus continually alludes to the kingdom being "at hand"; "my kingdom"; Etc. (Do a word-search on "kingdom" in all the Gospels and notice what Jesus is driving at!)
Since Christ is The King of this Kingdom, he is doing some specific things in his ministry. One is, acting as the last OT prophet, Jesus both pronounces blessings and curses (in a judicial manner) upon Israel; he inaugurates the "New Covenant" and ratifies it upon a Roman cross in blood (see Genesis 15 where YHWH swears the oath to Abraham) and in the NT, Jesus, the God-man, indeed fulfills that Promise made to Abraham! In Mark, Jesus (the greater "Moses") mediates the New Covenant, leading his people "through the desert" in a "new exodus," feeding them manna from heaven; healing the sick; proving his authority over nature - as his miracles attest to. Remember, all the OT types that point to Christ? This is why Christ is said to have fulfilled them ALL. There is not one thing that Jesus says or does that is random or without pregnant eschatalogical meaning.
Bobby, look again at the entire context of the passage you mentioned:
Mark 1:14-15
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God
is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."
Doesn't this make better sense? Jesus IS The Gospel (of course) and as such He is proclaiming the time has finally come - what time? Eschatalogical fulfillment of Genesis 3:15; of Genesis 15; and the OT declarations of God promising to provide a King of a Kingdom that will never end - Heaven, the home of righteousness. At last, the "kingdom" where God will indeed dwell among his people is on the earth. Wherever Jesus is, the kingdom is. Jesus is the same God who was a pillar of fire/cloud in the OT. In Christ, now God can dwell safely among His people (without consuming them like a bug-zapper!) And yet, the final consumation is to come!
Jesus' Gospel is the Gospel of God -- the message of The Kingdom and The King. They are necessarily linked. It is the story of the The Great Creator-King who promised to give a people and kingdom to his Vice-Regent.
Robin
[Edited on 6-6-2006 by Robin]