The Good News of God - Mark 1:14-15 Post 2

The time has come. The kingdom of God is near because the kingdom's King is here walking among them,  proclaiming the good news of God (Mark 1:14-15). 
 But they just don't know how to recognize You.  They've never been close enough to You, acquainted enough with You to realize that the one standing beside them is - the One.

Am I close enough, acquainted enough to

After John...Jesus - Mark 1:14-15 Post 1

John - who stood on the banks of the Jordan proclaiming the impending arrival of THE ONE, who introduced Jesus when He came - who baptized Him...

is now in prison, in a desert of his own (Mark 1:14).

While Jesus goes on to Galilee, where He begins to proclaim the good news of God. 

Sent to the Desert - Mark 1:12-13

Forty days.  Desert.  Wild animals.  Tempted by Satan. (Mark 1:12-13).  By day Five I would have been wondering where I had gone wrong.  Did I misunderstand?  Did I blunder into this desert by accident, or  - worse - did I miss God or ignore Him?  What have I done wrong that I am in this place?

This Is My Son, Whom I Love - Mark 1:9-11 Post 3

Why is this recorded here? Why do I need to be teased - haunted - with the painful reminder of Your pleasure and love for Him, Your Son (I love Him, too) in light of my knowledge of who I am and how short I fall of being anything near like Him?  Of being something that You could take such pleasure in?