An Urgent Gospel

The Gospel of Mark is different than the other gospels in the Bible. Have you noticed the word immediately throughout his gospel? Mark seems to be this type-A, driver personality that sees life on the go. He can't sit still. He has ants in his pants. I can just see him writing this gospel while riding on the back of a camel, eating a pita, drinking some goat milk and telling his companion Peter to hurry up. Teenagers and college students would love Mark. Everything is fast, full of adventure and with urgency. This is how he wrote his gospel. He wanted to get the facts about Jesus to readers. No need for details. Bullet points will do.

Take a look at a few examples of his urgent style: "Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him…" (Mark 1:10). Right off the bat, just 10 verses in, Mark shows us Jesus coming out of the water from His baptism with urgency. "Immediately [the disciples] left their nets and followed Him" (Mark 1:18). "Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed" (Mark 1:42).

Around 40 more times, more than any other book in the Bible, Mark uses the word immediately to describe what happened in the life of Jesus. This shows us that the Savior of the world was urgent in His actions of love and compassion. Mark wanted to show off Jesus' humanity and divinity throughout the gospel so the gospel would get out with urgancy.

How are you living your life for God? Are you living with passion and urgency to get the gospel out to those around you? The gospel means "good news." It is the good news for those who do not know Jesus Christ as their Savior because it provides a way for them to be in right relationship with God the Father. Live life with urgency to share the gospel with those you know. Live life expecting God to do great things through you as you look to college and beyond. Live life today!