The word that stood out reading chapter one of Mark was “immediately.” About a dozen times we read about things happening “immediately” or “at once.”

But were things so immediate?

The chapter begins calling it the “beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” Was this the beginning of the good news?

The good news begins at the foundation of the world. We’re chosen in Him long before we’re created. The beginning of the good news goes back to God who created man knowing he was going to fall and having a rescue plan to restore our relationship to our Father. The good news goes back to not only being chosen before the foundation of the world but to a Lamb that was slain from the beginning.

The good news continues with a God who chooses a people for Himself and makes a promise to be their God, to give them a new heart, to remove their sins.

John preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. People confessed their sins and had them washed away.

Jesus preached, “Repent and believe in the gospel.”

What was the gospel, meaning good news? There was no death and resurrection yet, but they were told to believe in the good news.

The good news Jesus preached was the kingdom. God’s kingdom was at hand. God’s rule had come.

All authority had been given Jesus. He is king and rules. All is subject to Him. He taught with authority and proved it with casting out demons who had to obey Him.

The first disciples recognize His authority and immediately leave their families and work and homes and follow after Jesus who was Himself the good news.