This Sunday we begin a six-week sermon series looking at the beginning of Jesus public ministry. The Gospel of Mark starts with this line: “The beginning of the good news about Jesus….” And the balance of the first chapter includes six key areas of Jesus ministry. We will look at what Jesus emphasized with the hope of growing to be more like Jesus in both character and competence.
I walked to work today, and Krystal and the boys walked with me then returned home. On our way to church we passed a woman on the sidewalk. We did the Covid sidewalk passing routine – single file, edging off the concrete on our side. As we passed, she smiled and said, “I hope you have as good a Christmas as you can.”
We think we understood what she meant, but when she was out of earshot, Krystal looked at me and said, “As good a Christmas as you can?” Our experience of the season might change, but Christmas doesn’t.
In the early days after Pentecost, the Apostles Peter and John were arrested and made to appear before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council, to explain by what name or power Peter had healed a lame beggar. Without apology Peter told them, “It is by the name of Jesus!” I’ve always loved the next line in scripture: “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished, and they took note that these men had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13).
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