Here’s something that might be fun to do. Try it if you’d like. In your Bible, browse Mark chapter 1 and count how many times Mark uses the word “immediately”, or something to that effect. How many did you find? I count 9.
If you came up with a different count, that’s okay. The point is Mark uses this word many times throughout his gospel. It almost gives you the impression that Mark is desperate to get his message about Jesus out to his audience and that there was a certain immediacy to Jesus’ ministry. That’s why I like to call the Gospel of Mark, “Jesus in a Hurry”. What was the rush? Mark gives us the answer in 1:15—“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand…” The turn of the ages, anticipated by many at Jesus’ time, had finally arrived in the person of Jesus. This meant that the present age at that time was on the way out. Many would cling to that present age and they would find that there would be nothing left of that age. Every last vestige and sign of that “present age” would be torn down. Read Mark 13 for what Jesus said about that.
A transformation was taking place, and Mark was urging his readers to climb on board. We in the 21st century are blessed with the fruits of this transforming work of Jesus. Through the cross, resurrection, and ascension of Christ and the destruction of the temple in AD 70 we have fully crossed over from death to life in the New Heavens and the New Earth. The time is fulfilled. The kingdom of God is among us. Christ reigns as King of all creation. There’s nothing left of our sinful selves and the accusations of the Law. It has been obliterated. Sin is dead, and we have died to sin. But through Christ Jesus we are alive to God! We are renewed and transformed, no longer in darkness, but living in His marvelous light!
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Douglas Hoag
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About this blog
Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, New Lenox, Illinois.
I'm married with two children.
My MBTI type is E/INFP, in case that means anything to you.
My prayer: Lord, help me finish everything I sta
Most importantly, I believe that the reality and personage of God was uniquely and fully realized in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. No one else comes close.
Disclaimer: I am in no way responsible for the seizures and/or convulsions you may experience while reading this blog.
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I'm married with two children.
My MBTI type is E/INFP, in case that means anything to you.
My prayer: Lord, help me finish everything I sta
Most importantly, I believe that the reality and personage of God was uniquely and fully realized in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. No one else comes close.
Disclaimer: I am in no way responsible for the seizures and/or convulsions you may experience while reading this blog.
Doug Hoag's Profile
Create Your Badge
4 comments:
Pastor Hoag,
Does the destruction of the temple simply signify that the old covenant has passed or does it have some other significance?
Yes! The Old Covenant and everything associated with it (temple, tradition, etc.) is gone! We have come to Mt.Zion! We're no longer defined by Sinai!!
If the new heaven and new earth are already here, do you think we will see any physical changes to this new heaven and new earth when Christ returns in His glory?
I'm not sure about any physical changes we might see. But the NH/NE is not about physical changes. It's more about covenantal realities. The apostolic era was a time of transition. The OC was fading and becoming obsolete. See Hebrews 8, esp. verse 13. The NC was coming into full focus. See verses 8-12. The NC was about knowing God through God's remembering sin no more. It was put into place at the cross and resurrection of Christ, but was fully accomplished at the destruction of the Jerusalem temple, which Jesus tied to his return in glory in Mark 13, for example. Not one stone was left on another.
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