Okay. Time To Get Down To Business.

13 Jan

After John had been arrested,
Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God:
“This is the time of fulfillment.
The Kingdom of God is at hand.
Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”  (Mk 1:14-15)

Psychologists talk about a “fight or flight” response that takes place in the midst of a perceived threat.  The nervous system gets itself ready either to fight or to flee.  Both responses are designed to save one’s life.

Jesus had to make a “fight or flight” response.

The arrest of John the Baptist served to ramp up the persecution that was taking place as the leaders of the people went after Jesus.  Jesus knew that the persecution would not end with the arrest of John.  It would intensify.  And He would be the one who was in the sight of the leaders now that John the Baptist was out of commission.

Jesus had two choices: flee for His life or confront the situation head-on.

We see that he chose the later.

He picked up the message of His cousin, John, reminding the people that the Kingdom of God was at hand and that all people had a choice to make.  They had to repent and believe in the Gospel if they wanted any chance at all to save their eternal souls.

Choosing that path, however, would put them in the sights of the same people who were after Jesus.

Jesus never ran from confrontation.  He never became silent.  He continuously proclaimed the Good News.

Let us not turn tail and run.  Rather, let us do the same thing Jesus did: pick up the ball and proclaim the Good News.

FAITH ACTION:  At school, at work, at home — wherever you find yourself today — how will you proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom?