Introductory Comments on A Book About Jesus

"The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, 
the Son of God..."

(Mark 1:1)

Recently I have found myself with a deeper need to dig into Jesus. (Honestly, God has sort of providentially backed me into the corner of deeper need! OK, so that's a vast understatement.)


In the past month I have truly begun to ask, "Who is this Savior of sinners and do I REALLY know Him or do I just know a decent bit about Him?" In striving to answer the question and answer it well, I found myself drifting to the gospel of Mark. There's a reason for that.

I Cursed Christ - Galatians 3:13

"Christ redeemed us 
from the curse of the Law,

having become a curse 
for us -for it is written,

'Cursed is everyone 
who hangs on a tree.'"

(Galatians 3:13)

Sometimes I tend to just "poo poo" my sins away - thinking of them simply as slight slip ups, minimal mistakes, and average accidents. "Oh, this is really no big deal. What's it really matter? What'll it really cost?"


If, like me, you've ever thought that sin is just really "no big deal" then let this note help us think again.


You know, my sin and your sin cost Christ His life. Jesus came and "gave Himself for our sins." He "delivered Himself up for me." That folks is a big deal- a BIG big deal. Our sins killed Christ!


OK -'nuff said? 
Nope!  Not nearly enough!

The Gospel Beforehand - Galatians 3:8

"And the Scripture, foreseeing that God

would justify the Gentiles by faith,

preached the gospel beforehand

to Abraham, saying,

'All the nations shall be blessed in you.'"

(Galatians 3:8)

Justification is no new thing. It is not a New Testament invention. It is not the new and improved way of salvation. The way to heaven didn't used to be through works and suddenly somewhere around 33 AD it morphed into grace. No, since the dawn of time the people of God have been saved by grace, through faith, in Christ. No man has ever been justified by the works of the Law. Every saved sinner has always been justified by faith in Christ Jesus.


"How can it be?" You may protest.

"Come on, Jesus didn't even pop on the scene until the dawn of a new time marker. What about all of those sacrifices that were required? What about all of that blood that was spilt? What about...?"